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 82
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Like many boys, our subject did not manifest much interest in his studies, and consequently his education was not as thorough as it might have been. As he was only an infant when his father died, he remained with his mother , who kept her family together) until his enlistment for
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WOOD COUNTY, OHIO.
service in the Union army during the Rebellion. On August 15, 1862, at Perrysburg, Ohio, he joined Company I, ilith O. V. I., as a private, and while stationed at Covington Heights, Ky., was detailed as teamster. He was later made orderly to Gen. I. R. Sherwood, and served in that capacity until the close of the war, when he was honorably discharged July 15, 1865. Re- turning to Wood county, he began threshing with his brother-in-law, Franklin Diver, which busi- ness he followed for nine years during the sum- mer season, while in the winter he was employed in the woods.
On October 27, 1866, in Freedom township, Wood county, Mr. Ostrander was united in mar- riage with Miss Eliza M. Morgan, who was born in Montgomery township, February 12, 1847, and is the daughter of Griswold and Rhoda (Shuman) Morgan. After Mrs. Ostrander had completed her education in the common schools of the county, she engaged in teaching for one term. The following children have been born of this union: Sanford, of Prairie Depot, Ohio; Ulysses G .. a farmer of Montgomery township; Walter, Mabel M., John, Irvin and Edward, all at home; and two sons who died in infancy.
After his marriage, Mr. Ostrander located at what is now Grand Rapids, Wood county. where he conducted a hotel; but a few weeks of that business satisfied him, and he returned to Mont- gomery township, where he lived until his re- moval to Waterford, N. Y. He engaged in deal- ing in horses at that place for four years, but has since made his home in Montgomery township, living upon his present farm since 1893. He is a wide-awake, progressive citizen who has made many friends in this community, and is well and favorably known throughout the county. Polit- ically, he hes ever been a strong supporter of the Republican party, and socially is a prominent member of the Grand Army Post, at Prairie Depot.
ASA BAIRD, a retired farmer of Perry town- ship, was born in Bloom township, September 7, 1835, the son of Ora A. and Rebecca (Randalls) Baird. Ora A. was the son of Charles Baird. and was born April 1, 1804, in Bethlehem town- ship, Berkshire Co., Mass. He came to Wayne county, Ohio, with his parents in the early part of the century, and was married in Mohican town- ship, Ashland Co., to Rebecca Randalls. She was born August 9, 1808, in Spafford township, Onon- daga Co., N. Y. Ora A. Baird was one of the earliest settlers in Bloom township, Wood county, to which he came in the summer of 1834, loca- i
ting in Section 26. He camped under a black walnut tree until a three-sided shanty was built in the midst of a dense forest. This was one of the pioneer settlements in Bloom, as data in the historical part of this work will show. The fa- ther lived with his family on this farm, which he cleared and improved, until April, 1864, when he removed to Section 17, Perry township, where he died December 29, 1870, his wife surviving him until October 2, 1890. Both are buried in Perry Center cemetery.
Mr. Baird was a great sufferer from a pecu- liar disease, the first results of which were seen after he had fallen asleep one day, in the fall of 1862, while sitting in an arm-chair. He had thrown his right leg over the arın of the chair. and the circulation of the blood being impeded, started a peculiar growth called anasinm, which crippled him for the remainder of his life. His foot finally came off at the ankle joint, and, for some years previous to his death, he wore an ar- tificial limb. He was naturally a stout. robust man, full of energy, rather quiet in his manner, but of a quick temper. He was always a farmer, and at one time was also engaged in the thresh- ing-machine business. He was originally a Whig, later a Republican, and was one of the early of- fice holders in Bloom township. He was a poor man when he came to Wood county, but, by in- dustry and good management, acquired a com- fortable fortune. To him and his wife came the following children: Milton B., born July 30, 1828, died May 5, 1833; Louisa L., born June 27, 1830, died May 10, 1833; Irving (twin of Louisa) is living in Michigan ; Lydia A., born Jan- uary 21, 1833, is the wife of John F. Dunn. of Perry township; Asa is our subject; Lecta L., born July 20, 1839, married Charles Richard. and. later wedded S. Griffith (she died in Attica, Ohio .; Hannah, born Sept. 28, 1841, married Wash- ington Cupp. and died in Perry township; Kan- dall, born October 2, 1846, lives in Perry town- ship; Ora, Jr., born April 20, 1848, died April 11, 1869.
Asa Baird was reared upon a farm, and bal but few advantages for an education, the schools of that early day being very poor in comparison to those of our time, and the children of the pro- neer had but little leisure to give to books, So much was there for them to do in clearing off brush, chopping wood and otherwise assisting their parents to make a home. He remained with his father until his marriage. January 1, 1851, in Perry township, to Martha J., daughter of Sam- nel Spitler, who was born in Ashland county. Olio, October 25, 1837. She bete him two
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children: Charles I., born April 11, 1857, and now living in Eaton county, Mich. ; and John M., born March 19, 1859, who died June 18, 1887. The mother died February 8, 1862. and was in- terred in the cemetery at Perry Center.
In August, 1862, Mr. Baird enlisted in Com- pany B, ILIth O. V. I., under Capt. T. C. Nor- ris, in defense of the Union, and was mustered in at Toledo, September 6, following. The regi- ment was sent to Kentucky, where they remained some time and took part in the expedition which captured Morgan. It was during this exciting chase that Mr. Baird became overheated and was taken ill in August, 1863, being left at Lebanon, Ky., while his regiment moved on to Knoxville. The hospital being full, he was cared for with some fifty others in a church, which was arranged for their reception. After recovering his health he was for some eight months detailed as a guard in a government clothing store, rejoining his regi- ment in time to take part in the battle of Kene- saw Mountain, which was the first fight in which he was engaged. In July, 1864, he was detailed to support a battery at Atlanta, and was com- pelled to lie for several hours in a trench, from which exposure he contracted rheumatism. How- ever, he remained with his command and partici- pated in every fight thereafter except the one at Fort Anderson, N. C., when he was one of nine men sent to look after the officers' baggage. He was mustered out June 27, 1865, at Salisbury, N. C., and was discharged at Cleveland, Ohio.
The war being over, Mr. Baird, with the proud satisfaction of having served his country well and faithfully in her time of need, returned to the peaceful pursuits of farm life, taking up his residence with his father, who had care of his two little motherless sons, and who had in the meantime removed to Perry township. On Octo- ber 18, 1865, our subject was again married. the lady of his choice being Mrs. Polly Leslie, the widow of Conrad Leslie, who was a member of Company B, ILIth O. V. I., and who perished in the horrible stockade prison at Andersonville, March 18, 1864. Mrs. Baird's maiden name was Fry, her parents being George and Julia A. Iler) Fry. She was born August 17, 1837, in Holmes county, Ohio. By her marriage with Mr. Leslie she became the mother of one son, Levi, who was born December 3, 1858, and who was cared for until manhood by our subject. He now resides at Jerry City, Ohio.
lives at West Millgrove; Isaac W., born May 29. 1872, is at home; Clara E., born August 17. 1876, is now Mrs. Ford Campbell, of Bloomdale, Ohio: Eva M., born September 4, 1881; and Edna, born July 14, 1885, are at home with their parents. For one year after his return from the army, Mr. Baird resided in Bloom township, but with that exception has always lived on his present farm, which was the old homestead, and comprises 78 acres. For the past two years he has done no active work, and only oversees his property. He was at one time a member of Urie Post, G. A. R., at Bloom- dale, but on account of ill health, was obliged to give up attending its meetings. He has always been a stanch Republican, but has never cared to hold public office. He is highly respected as a loyal citizen and good neighbor.
JOHN J. SHINEW, a resident of Center town- ship, is well esteemed as a man of industry and enterprise. He comes from the beautiful land of the Alps, his birth having occurred in Switzer- land, January 9, 1831. His father, Francis Shinew, was also born in that country, brought his family to the New World in 1834, making a location in Columbiana county, Ohio, where he carried on agricultural pursuits for a time. Later he removed to Portage township. Wood county, where he took up eighty acres of land, which he operated until his death in 1844. His wife long survived him, dying on the old homestead in 1875.
Our subject received his education in the dis- trict schools of Portage township, but as at that time they were very primitive, his training in that respect was rather limited. From early youth he worked upon his father's farm, until the latter's death, when he was left to provide for himself. He found employment on a farin where he worked for eighteen cents per day during the summer months, the winter season being spent in cutting wood at eighteen cents per cord. He also engaged in fishing on the lakes to some extent. and worked at any thing by which he could earn an honest dollar.
At the breaking out of the Civil war Mr. Shinew enlisted in Company C, 144th O. V. !.. under Col. Miller and Capt. Ketcham. He was one of the 100-day men, and during his service suffered much from exposure, from the effects of which he has never fully recovered. He remained at his post of duty until honorably discharged in September, 1865. On his return home, Mr.
To Mr. and Mrs. Baird six children have been born, as follows: George F., born August 16, 1866, lives in West Millgrove; Elnora, born , Shinew began the development of his faim of August 6, 1868, married George Pelton, and eighty acres, which he had previously purchased.
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and has since added forty acres to the original tract; so that he now has a good faim of 120 acres of some of the best land in his county. His efforts upon his farm have been eminently success- ful, and he has rapidly progressed toward an ample competency.
In October, 1850, Mr. Shinew married Susie Phillips, daughter of Adam Phillips, a farmer of Center township, and to them were born four children, three of whom still survive, namely: Salina, wife of Henry Drumheller, a farmer of Kansas; Lewis, a farmer of Center township, who married Maggie Stacy, and has six children; and William, a telegraph operator in the West. The mother of these died in 1861, and in 1863, for his second wife, Mr. Shinew married Catherine Dau- terinan, daughter of J. Dauterman, of Portage township. One child graces this marriage: John D., a farmer, who married Mary Zimmerman, by whom he has three children.
Mr. Shinew filled the office of trustee of the township three years, and was supervisor five years. His industry in pursuit of his own busi- ness, and his spotless private life, have placed him in the highest estimation of the community in which he lives. In his political affiliations he entirely coincides with the doctrines and platforms of the Republican party, and in the exercise of his elective franchise he supports the candidates of that organization. In religious faith he is a member of the United Brethren Church.
ELI STOCKWELL, a prosperous farmer of Lib- erty township, was born May 20, 1856, in Ben- ton, Hancock Co., Ohio, son of George and Nancy (Fisher) Stockwell. The father was born in New York in ISO5, and the mother was a native of Ohio. Soon after their marriage they settled near Benton, where the mother died in 1860, but the father survived until 1876, passing away in Hancock county. For his second wife he chose Rebecca Harris. The children of the first marriage were Nicholas, of Liberty town- ship; Minerva, wife of W. G. Conkey, of Lib- erty township; Libby, who died in infancy: and Mrs. Margaret M. Farington, of Salem, Oregon.
The school privileges which our subject en- joyed were limited; but through his own efforts , he has become a well-informed man. He was reared a farmer lad. and remaincd at home most of the time until his marriage. That important event in his life was celebrated in Findlay, De- cember 30, 1876, Miss Mary S. Cookson be- coming his wife. They located on a farm in Hancock county, residing there until the spring of 1881, when they came to Wood county, set-
tling in Liberty township, where Mr. Stockwell purchased eighty acres of land. In the fall of that year he erected a sawmill, which he operated seven years. In 1887 and ISSS he drilled three oil wells on his farm, afterward selling the wells and also the sawmill. In 1890 he purchased eighty acres more in the same township, where he has erected a handsome and substantial res- idence, and he has a very desirable home. Since I 890 he has helped to drill nine wells in Liberty township, and seven in Portage township, and in 1895 and 1896 he drilled three in Middleton township.
To Mr. and Mrs. Stockwell have come five children: Albert E., born November 8, 1877; Amandus, born October 6, 1879; Ross B., born July 25, ISSI; Sarah Ellen, born April 6, 1884; and George Edward, born April 24, 1893. The family is widely and favorably known in this lo- cality, and in social circles they occupy an envi- able position. In politics Mr. Stockwell is a Republican, and for three years he held the office of school director. In religious connection he is a most active member of the United Brethren Church of Liberty township, and has acted as class-leader for four years in South Liberty and Mt. Zion Churches. Mr. Stockwell united with the Church at the age of eighteen years, and has since been an active worker in the cause of the Master. However, he was never immersed, having no vices, neither using alcohol or tobacco in any form. His entire family are members of the U. B. Church. He is a popular citizen, de- voted to the best interests of the community in which he makes his home.
WILLIAM HECKART, a leading lumber dealer and sawmill operator of Bradner, is one of the representative citizens. The architect of his own fortune, his life has been one of steady and close attention to business, while he has, at the same time, given practical support to helpful public movements, and taken an intelligent in- terest in the questions of the day.
He was born in Crawford county, Ohio, Sep- tember 29. 1851, the son of Peter and Elah (Heller) Heckart, who were both natives of Pennsylvania and descendants of German ances- try. In 1862 they moved to Jackson township, Seneca county, where his father bought a farm of 210 acres-a fine property. Later he moved his family to Scott township, Sandusky county. and was successfully engaged in the sawmill busi- ness near Risingsun, until his death, being for some time a partner of Joseph Blackford the well-known lumberman. His wife survives him,
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and, although she owns a good home, she spends most of her time among her children.
Mr. Heckart was one of nine children-six boys and three girls-and until the age of seven- teen spent his life after the fashion of the average farmer's boy. German was the language spoken in the family, and when he was eight years old he knew but little of any other, and while attending school then, and even later, he was often referred to as "Little Dutchman" by schoolmates who were more familiar with English. His . first day in school " was at Leesville, Crawford coun- ty; the district schools there, and at the new home, furnished his only opportunity for an edu- cation. For about four years he worked in his father's sawmill, learning the details of the busi- ness in which he has since been so successful, and in the spring of 1872 began farming on his own account at the homestead-his father giving him the few months' time remaining before his majority.
In December, 1874, in Montgomery town- ship, Wood county, he was united in matrimony with Miss Anna E. Walters, daughter of Emanuel and Eliza (Gould) Walters, and took his bride to the old home. where they remained until ISSI, when he moved to Montgomery township. Soon after he joined his father's old partner, Joseph Blackford, in the sawmill business, which he bought out three years afterward. A few years later he purchased a large tract of timber land in Section 36, Freedom township, and moved his business there while it was being cleared. He made fine improvements upon the place during his stay, and still owns a forty-acre farm there. In September, 1893, he removed his machinery to Bradner, where he had bought a lot and erected commodious buildings for carrying on his work on an extensive scale. A planing machine and other machinery were added to the outfit, enabling him to manufacture all kinds of lumber. His thorough acquaintance with the best methods of work, together with his general business ability and invariable fairness in dealing with the public, have brought him a large and profitable trade, which keeps from six to twelve men men employed to fill orders.
requiring his attention; but in all that constitutes good citizenship he has not at any time been found wanting.
THOMAS A. ROSENDALE, an enterprising mer- chant, and the popular postmaster of Ted, in Bloom township, was born in Bloom township, Wood county, January 9, 1867, and is a son of Thomas and Sarah (Noecker) Rosendale. The father's birth occurred in Grafton, Lorain Co .. Ohio, in 1846, and though very young he enlisted in the Union army January 1, 1864, joining Com - pany E, 49th O. V. I. At the close of that ter- rible struggle, he was discharged at Camp Chase, Ohio, by order of the War Department, June 19, 1865. In Richland county, Ohio, in 1866. he was united in marriage with Miss Noecker, who had formerly lived in this county. At Eagleville. the father worked until his death, which occurred in February, 1867, a short time after the birth of our subject, and his remains were interred in Bloom Chapel cemetery. In politics he was a Republican. His widow later became the wife of George W. Urie, and died in Bloom township.
Our subject was their only child, and after the death of the father, was taken to the home of his maternal grandfather. Benjamin Noecker. who lived one mile east of Shenandoah, in Rich- land county. There he remained for eleven years, during which time he attended the district schools, and then went to live with Isaac G. Noecker, near Ganges, in the same county. He made his home with that gentleman until he reached his majority, but in the meantime they removed to Crawford county, Ohio. At the age of twenty-one, he began work as a farm hand. in which he continued three seasons. when, in the fall of IS90, he went to Toledo, Ohio, there at- tending the Tri-State College. During the fol- lowing January, however, he entered the employ of Briggs & Leibus, of that city, as clerk, gain- ing his first experience in his present line of bus . iness. At the end of a few months he came to Eagleville, where he began clerking for his uncle. E. J. Rosendale, and January 1, 1893, bought out his employer, since which time he has con- ducted his business very successfully, winning a liberal patronage by his honorable dealings and the courteons treatment of his customers. In Perry township, Wood county, he was married October 6, 1892, to Miss Adda Bailey, of Eagle- ville, a daughter of William Bailey. They take an active part in religions work, belonging to the Christian Church, in which Mr. Rosendale now , holds office. He is a member of the Knights of
He has built a beautiful home in Bradner, probably the finest in the place. He and his wife are leading members of the Evangelical Church, and he gives liberally to that and other worthy causes. Of their three children, the eldest, Nora O., married F. A. Bryan, of Brad- ner; and Mollie R. and Jessie are at home. i While he is a stanch Republican and a regular voter, he has never aspired to office, his business | Pythias Lodge No. 278, of Bloomdale, and in
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politics is a stalwart Democrat. In 1893 he was appointed postmaster of Ted, and is acceptably filling that position.
J. H. BURNETT, M. D., a leading physician of Risingsun, is one of the practical, energetic sons of the Buckeye State, who have made their way to the front in the face of all obstacles.
He is descended from pioneer stock, Elisha Burnett, his grandfather, having located with his family in Jackson township, Wyandot county, when that region was a wilderness, through which they had to cut out their road before them. His second son and child, Samuel Burnett, our sub- ject's father, was born in New York State, and was but a boy at the time of this removal; but the hard toil of his early days did not deter him from taking up a farm in the woods for himself in early manhood. He was married, in Wyandot county, to Miss Sarah Tilbury, a native of Ohio, and daughter of David Tilbury; and they made their home in a log cabin some distance from a road, along which but few travelers passed. Dur- ing their first years there he could not make a living, and worked as he could for others in Ma- rion county, adjoining, taking his pay often in eatables, which he would carry home on his back. Potatoes were their staple article of food, and for days they would subsist almost entirely upon them; their corn was ground in a handmil !. He was active, strong and hardy, and, from genuine public spirit, chopped out a great deal of road- way in his vicinity. His later years have been blessed with prosperity, his farm now comprising over 300 acres of good land. Our subject's grandparents made their home with him, the grandfather living in good health to the age of ninety-nine years, and dying then from the effects of an accident, his hip being broken by a fall upon the ice as he was walking about the farm.
In 1894 the Doctor's parents moved to For- est, Ohio, where they are now living in retire- ment, Mr. Burnett being seventy-six years of age. They have lived to enjoy their golden wed- ding, and to see their seven living children estab- lished in life near thein. Nine children were born to them: Emma J., Mrs. Joseph Dye, of Forest; Eliza, Mrs. Alonzo Yant, also of Forest; William, a farmer in Hardin county, Ohio; J. H., our subject: Benjamin, a resident of Hardin county; Samnel, who died at twenty-three: Ella, Mrs. Henry Rothrock, of Ada, Ohio; Elisha, who died in childhood: and Joseph, who lives in For- est. In addition to this large family, they gave a home to eleven others-the children of two de- ceased brothers, and three grandchildren, who
are now living with them. Mrs. Burnett is ex- ceedingly well-preserved, and does her own house- work, as she has always donc. She is a member of the Methodist Church. Kind and charitable to everyone, this worthy couple have won the respect and esteem of all who know them, and Mr. Burnett has been a prime mover in many helpful enterprises. In early years he was a Whig, and later a Republican, and his interest in party success has always been keen. He served creditably as a justice of the peace for some years.
Dr. Burnett was born near Forest, February 3, 1856, and attended the district schools of the locality until he was fourteen years old, when he entered the High School at Forest. In his six- teenth year he entered the North Western Ohio Normal School at Ada, and at seventeen years was competent to teach. His first school was one where two others had failed, and he was prevailed upon to try it. His success was com- plete and established his reputation as a teacher. which was sustained by eight terins of good work in Hancock and Hardin counties. From his youth he had entertained the idea of studying medicine, and he began his course in Forest with Dr. Lillibridge and Dr. Gammel. In February. 1879, he became a student in the Eclectic Med- ical College of Cincinnati, Ohio, and was grad- uated in June, 1881, standing third in a class of twenty-six. His expenses were borne by him- self, his savings covered them in part, and for the rest he accepted assistance from his father on condition that the money should be returned with interest, as he was too proud to rest under any obligation. In August, 1881, he began his pro- fessional work in Risingsun, where he was then an entire stranger, and he has established a hi- crative and constantly increasing practice.
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