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 84
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WV. L. Ketcham, the subject of this sketch. received his early schooling at West Millgrove. and when nineteen years old taught school one terin at Center, Perry township. When he was twenty-one he took a business course at the Fos- toria Academy. When a boy he spent most of his time with his grandfather on the farm on which he now resides, a short distance from West Millgrove, where his parents live. Here he gained his knowledge of farming, and after his marriage began housekeeping on the farm, which is now owned by him, his brother Richard B .. and his sister Gertrude. His marriage took place in West Branch, Cedar Co., Iowa. August 10. 1894, when he was united to Miss Alice Dubell. who was born May 2, 1868, in Johnson county. lowa, and is a daughter of A. R. and Olive
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(Baldwin) Dubell. One child has come to then, Lois C., who was born September 4, 1895.
Mr. Ketcham is a stanch Republican; in the spring of 1894 he was elected treasurer of Perry township, and was re-elected in 1895, being the youngest incumbent ever to hold that office. That he has performed his duties to the satisfac- tion of the public is shown by his retention in the office. He looks after more land than any other farmer of his age in the township, and means to understand thoroughly the art of agri- culture. He exhibits excellent judgment and business ability, and is among the leading farm- ers of his community. He possesses the esteem and confidence of the people. and has a wide circle of friends. Mr. and Mrs. Ketcham are members of the First Congregational Church at West Millgrove, and are ever ready to assist in all worthy enterprises.
JAMES D. RALSTON, one of the oldest of the surviving pioneers of Wood county, was born in Armstrong county, Penn., June 4, 1822.
His father, Joseph Ralston, was born in Ire- land in 1799, and was brought by his parents to this country in 1801. They settled in Armstrong county, Penn., where he grew to manhood and, in 1820, was married to his first wife, Miss Jane McCormick, a native of the same county, born in 1801. He was a carpenter and joiner by trade; but in 1834 he moved to Wood county, and took up 180 acres of timber land, which he cleared and cultivated. He became a leader in his locality, and was a justice of the peace, trustee, and school director for many years. By his first marriage he had ten children: James D., the subject of this sketch; Rebecca; John and Ann, twins; Mary, Joseph, Elizabeth, Sarah, Alfred and Alicia. Our subject's mother died in 1852, and his father married again. The second wife also died, but left no children. Mr. Ralston married for his third wife, Mrs. Stacy. He died in 1887, fol- lowed a few years later by his widow.
James D. Ralston was twelve years old when he came to Wood county, and his education was mainly obtained in the log school houses of Cen- ter township. He worked upon his father's farm until he was twenty-one, and can recall the time when that locality was literally a howling wilder- ness. He was a noted hunter in his youth, and spent days and nights in the forest hunting wolves, decr. bears, and other wild animals. After he reached his majority he took up one hundred acres of land in Plain township, near what is now known as Union Hill, and after making improve- ments, he sold it and bought fifty acres in the
same vieinity, which he also improved and sold. He then moved to Center township, renting for a time, and then he bought his present property in Center township, near Bowling Green.
In 1843, he was married to Miss Ellen Mc- Ginnis, who was born in 1826, the daughter of David McGinnis, one of the earliest settlers of Plain township. Five children were born to them: Dallan, 1845, was a soldier in the Civil war, and died in hospital from wounds received in battle; Harriet, 1848, died at the age of twenty- four; Elizabeth J., 1850, married Samuel Brad- brook, of Perrysburg; John, 1859, an able and energetic young farmer, married Sarah Perrin, a daughter of the late William Perrin, a leading farmer of Center township, and is now managing the homestead; Viola, 1864, resides with her parents.
For more than half a century Mr. and Mrs. Ralston have shared their joys and sorrows, and they are now passing their declining years at their old home, reaping the fruits of their past labors. Mr. Ralston is one of the best known men of the community. and his influence has been widely recognized. He has at times taken an active in- terest in public affairs, especially in educational movements, and has been school director for sev- eral years. He and his family are prominent members of the U. B. Church. In politics he is a Democrat.
AUGUST FLECHTNER, one of the extensive farmers of Perry township, is a good example of what industry, thrift and ambition can accomplish. Coming to this country, an unsophisticated Ger- man lad of nineteen, with no money, and only his strong, willing hands as a means of support, he is to-day the owner of a large tract of valuable land, and a man of wealth and influence. -
His birth occurred in Bavaria, Germany, Aut- gust 11, 1853, and he is the eldest of five children of John P. and Johanna (Knopf) Flechtner. His father was a butcher by trade, and also a cattle buyer and a brewer, was well-to-do and was pros- pering in his business during August's boyhood. The latter obtained a good education, and was in his youth quite well read in the French language. of which he made a special study. An unexpected reverse in his father's fortunes resulted in his financial ruin, and brought all the young man s plans for the future to an abrupt termination. He saw the necessity for immediate action on his part, as a three-years' service in the German army would be imposed upon him shortly, and he felt that his native land was no place in which to seek his fortune. He had learned the butcher's
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trade with his father, and determined to discover what the New World had in store for him. Ac- cordingly, on June 22, 1872, in company with his brother George, he sailed from Bremen in a ves- sel named for that city, "Bremen," and after a voyage of eleven days landed in New York. His destination was Boston, where he had acquaint- ances, and hoped to find employment. But after four months spent in that city, during which time he only made enough to pay his board, he camne to Fostoria, where he had a cousin in the butcher business. He arrived in Fostoria in the fall of 1872, and hired out, working at his trade. After spending a year and a half in that city, he went to Tiffin, where he remained a year, and then to Peru, Ind., living there eleven months. During this time he had been working on wages, and had saved $500, with which he returned to Fostoria, and in the fall of 1876, with his brother George as a partner, he opened a meat market in an old frame building, where the First National Bank now stands. In this business, which he carried on for several years, was laid the foundation of his future success.
On May 19, 1877, Mr. Flechtner was married, in Fostoria, to Miss Catherine, daughter of Peter and Catherine (Miller) Ecker. She was born in Washington township, Hancock county, Decem- ber 25, 1853, and was educated in the district schools. Of the children born of this union -- Charles, Pearl, Orrin, Nellie, Moses, Celia, Blanche and Tillie, are all living except Tillie, who died when four years old. In 1890 the family removed to their elegant home in Section 36, Perry township, where Mr. Flechtner has sixty-one acres of very valuable land, and here their friends are welcomed with true German hospitality.
The first property in which our subject held an interest was two lots in Fostoria, himself and brother each having a half-interest. These lots were traded for six acres of land in Jackson town- ship, Seneca county, on which they built a slaughter-house. He now owns, in addition to the home place, 196 acres of excellent land, which is known as the " Old Ash farm," in Perry township, and which cost $15,000. This is one of the finest farms in Wood county. Mr. Flecht- ner also owns eighty-five acres elsewhere, mak- ing in all over 342 acres of valuable property in the vicinity of Fostoria, all acquired by his own industry and economy.
Our subject is the most extensive stockman in Wood county. His large landed property fur- nishes an abundance of grain and hay, and in- stead of marketing these products he feeds many
head of stock; while thus converting the produc- tions of his farm into money he also greatly in- creases the fertility of the soil, one feature of successful farming which many overlook.
Mr. Flechtner is a Democrat, but takes na active part in politics. He is a member of th. Lutheran Church, as is his family, with the es- ception of his wife, who belongs to the Reformel Church. He is yet in the prime of life, and one of the most industrious, active men to be found in the county, and is highly esteemed by every one. His parents, who came to this country some years ago, make their home in Fostoria.
HEZEKIAH S. KIGER is a representative of one of Ohio's pioneer families. He was born . Octo- ber 18, 1830, in the town of Lancaster, Fairfield county, a son of William and Christina (Wal- duck) Kiger, who were natives of Germany. The father was a lifelong farmer. He left his native land when a mere boy, and his wife crossed th .. Atlantic at the age of eight years. They were married in Ohio, and located in Fairfield county, where, in Lancaster township, Mr. Kiger owned 340 acres of land, making his home thereon until his death. The children of his family were: Louis, who died at the age of fifteen; Henry, of Fairfield county; Margaret, deceased wife of John Bucher, of Millgrove, Wood county; Jere- miah, who died in Millgrove: William, who died in Fairfield county; Josiah, who died in Mill- grove; Mary, deceased wife of Harvey Harris; Elizabeth, wife of George Rigby; Jesse, of Lan- caster, Ohio; Hezekiah S .; Susanna, wife of Silas Williamson, of Fairfield county; and Amos, also of Fairfield county.
Our subject acquired his education in the public schools near his home, and assisted in the cultivation of his father's farm until his marriage. which was celebrated in Fairfield county, Novem- ber 27, 1860, Miss Samantha Jane Hunter be- coming his wife. She was born in January, 1831. Their union was blessed with three children, viz. : Charles, who died in his twentieth year; William. who died in infancy: and Effie Belle, wife of Otte Myers, of Liberty township, by whom she has one child, Bessie. Mrs. Kiger is a daughter et Thomas R. and Abigail (Brumfield Hunter. Il. father was born in Hocking township, Fairfield county, April 27, 1801, and was the second mas child born in that township His father, James Hunter, a native of Philadelphia, married M.u garet Reese, and followed school teaching Ohio. Their son. Thomas, began to learn the blacksmith's trade, but was obliged to aban lon this, on account of a disabled arm, and turn !
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his attention to the operation of 160 acres of land, which his father gave him. He died May 11, 1882, and his wife, who was born in October. 1805, departed this life April. 13, 1882. . Their children were Amanda P., wife of Benjamin Franklin, of Boone county, Iowa; Margaret, who died September 1, 1854, at the age of twenty- four; Mrs. Kiger; James, who died at the age of six years; Hannah, wife of William Cochran; Solomon, who is living on the old homestead; Joseph and Mary, twins, both of whom died at the age of five years; John Wesley, who died in infancy; and Ann Maria. who died in childhood.
For a few years after their marriage our sub- ject and his wife lived in Fairfield county, where Mr. Kiger owned 125 acres of land, that he in- herited from his father. At length he sold this, and, in 1872, came to Wood county, purchasing eighty acres of land in Liberty township, of which thirty acres had been plowed. The im- provements were very poor, but he has trans- formed this into a fine farm that to-day is a monument to his thrift aud enterprise. Although his life has been a busy one, he always finds time to faithfully perform his duties of citizen- ship, and efficiently served as school director for six years. He takes quite an active part in poli- tics, is well informed on the issues of the day, and is a stanch Republican.
JOHN MYERS, a well-known fariner and man- ufacturer, of Webster township, was born in Franklin county, Penn., October 13, 1826. His father, Adam Myers, a day laborer, was born in Lancaster county, Penn .. and married Miss Eli- zabeth Guipe, a native of tlie same State. They had ten children: Catherine, deceased; Eliza- beth, deceased; Fanny, the wife of John Heck- man, of Franklin county, Penn. ; Sarah, deceased; Mary, the wife of John Walters, of Pennsylvania; Nicholas, a farmer of Illinois; John, our subject; Adam, who died in the army; and two deceased in infancy.
John Myers attended the district school dur- ing boyliood, and at an early age learned the trade of a mechanic, becoming an expert carpen- ter and joiner. For some years he was engaged in building houses and bridges on contract, and in the fall of 1852 he came to Wood county. where he purchased eighty acres of land in Web- ster township. He resided there until ISSo when hc removed to another farin of 120 acres near Scotch Ridge, which he has improved, erecting a handsome residence and other buildings. Here lie has a tile and brick factory and a sawmill and employs a number of men. He is the inventor
and patentee of a wire-fence inachine, which he also manufactures.
He was married in Pennsylvania in 1848 to Miss Malinda Whitmore, who died in 1875 leav- ing no children. Mr. Myers is a Republican in politics, but does not take an active share in party work. He is a man of fine and upright character, and a member of the U. B. Church, and was one of the founders and builders of the church at Scotch Ridge. His success in life is due to his industry and foresight, as he began his business career with but $50 in his pocket.
MARION- GOODELL, a well-known agriculturist of Webster township, residing near Luckey, was born in Townsend township, Huron Co., Ohio, July 1, 1844. His grandparents, David and Electa (Melliman) Goodell, were natives of New York State. They had three children, among whom was Cyrenus Goodell, our subject's father, who came from New York when a young man and settled upon a farm in Huron county. He married Miss Lucretia Studley, and reared a fam- ily of five children, a sixth dying in early infancy. Orrin is a farmer in Troy township; Marion is the subject of this sketch; Electa Jane married Henry Sternaman; John is a blacksmith at Dun- bridge; and Albert. In 1857 our subject's father came to Wood county, and took up eighty acres of land in Troy township, adding to it afterward until he owned 320 acres, on which he erected a sawmill, the first in the township. He was one of the leading men of his locality, a Republican in politics, and a member of the M. E. Church. He died at Bowling Green, March 11, 1885, his wife surviving him until August 11, 1894.
Our subject shared the family fortunes in his youth, undergoing all the experiences of frontier life. When the war broke out he enlisted in Company K, ILIth O. V. I. (Capt. D. W. H. Day commanding), and participated in thirty-two hard-fought battles, among them the engage- ments at Stone River, Resaca, Lost Mountain, Kenesaw Mountain, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Ce- dar Rapids, Stone Mountain, Alatoona, Fort An- derson, and Raleigh. In June, 1865, he was mustered out, and, returning to the old home- stead, he remained there until he was twenty-five years old. He then bought eighty acres of land in Troy township; but, in 1882, he sold this and moved to Michigan, where he engaged in the meat business. Returning to this county, he purchased his present property, an eighty-acre farin in Webster township, upon which he has made many improvements. Beginning life poor, he has made his well-deserved success by indus-
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try and good management .. On November 2, 1870, he married Miss Malinda Dennis, a daugh- ter of Franklin and Sarah (Smith) Dennis, of Troy township, and they have six children: Al- bert, Richard, Jessie, Roxcene, Kitty, and one whose name is not given. In politics Mr. Good- ell is a Republican, and in all local movements is an interested and helpful worker. He has been school director in his district, and he is a member of the G. A. R. Post, No. 690.
H. L. COE. Almost the entire life of our sub- ject has been passed in Perry township, where he now owns a fine farm of forty acres in Section 13. Comparitively young in years, and having com- menced life with but little, his financial position is ample evidence of the manner in which he has employed his time, and the good judgment of which he is the fortunate possessor. He has one of the best appointed homesteads in the town- ship, and, on account of his strict integrity and high character, is numbered among its valued citizens.
His birth occurred March 2, 1862, in Section 13, Perry township, a son of David E. and Mar- garet (Hyter) Coe. After completing a course in the District School, No. 5, of Maple Grove, he finished his education in the academy of Fostoria, which he attended for six months. In the sum- mer of 1883. he went west, with a party of young men from his neighborhood, visiting Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas and Colorado, and during his stay was employed at sheep-shearing and at work- ing as a farm hand, and in a nursery. Most of his time, however, was passed on the home farm, until his marriage, which occurred March 22, 1888, in Perry township, when he wedded Miss Ida Wells, who was born in Franklin county, Penn., May 12, 1864, a daughter of Elden and Susan (Gossard) Wells, who came to Wood county in the spring of 1865. For a time Mir. Coe made his home with his father, but in the spring of 1889, he located upon his present farm, which he and his brother, Walter, had purchased in the fall of 1887, though our subject is now the sole owner. Ilis land is well tilled and cultivated, and the home has been brightened by the presence of a little daughter, born December 4, 1892, Velma by name.
Mr. Coe takes quite an interest in political affairs, always casting his ballot with the Repub- lican party, and desires to see good men placed in office, but, for himself, cares nothing for polit- ical honors. He and his wife are members in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and are earnest Christian workers.
F. J. SCHRIBER, a dealer in agricultural im- plements at Moline, is numbered among the hon- orable business men of Wood county, and since the fall of 1894 has efficiently served as one of the infirmary directors, succeeding John Isch. He was born, in 1861, in Oregon township, Lucas Co., Ohio, and is the son of Gilbert and Mary Ann (Arn) Schriber, the former a native of Wur- temberg, Germany, and the latter of Pennsyl- vania. About 1853, the father located in Oregon township, where his marriage was celebrated, and where he opened up a farm, on which his wife died in 1865, leaving two children: F. J., subject of this narrative; and Mary Ann, now the wife of Mr. Linchshy, of Detroit, Mich. £
The father was again married, his second union being with Louise Henry, and to them were born three chil- dren: Mrs. Amelia Gross, of Lake township, this county; William, a resident of Oregon township, Lucas county; and Lilly, also of Oregon town- ship. Upon the old homestead in Lucas county the mother of this family is still living, but the father's death occurred there in 1876.
Reared to manhood in Lucas county, our sub- ject received his education in the schools of Ore- gon township and East Toledo, and on leaving the parental roof, in 1878, he engaged in building railroads until coming to Lake township, Wood county, in 1882, when he resumed agricultural pur- suits, and he still owns a good farm of forty acres in that township. He began merchandisingin 1886 at Moline, buying out H. J. Rudolph, and estab- lishing the firm of Schriber & Co., which con- tinued to do business for four years. On dispos- ing of that stock, in 1890, he entered his present business, now dealing in all kinds of farm imple- ments, for which he finds a ready sale. From 1886 to 1890, he also served as postmaster and station agent at Moline. In Lake township, in 1883, Mr. Schriber married Elizabeth Gross, who was born, in 1864, in Lucas county, Ohio, where her parents, Emanuel and Anna E. Gross, natives of Germany, had removed at an early day. Her father died in Lake township in 1888; the wid- owed mother now makes her home in Toled In his political views, Mr. Schriber coincides wit !: the Republican party, but has no aspirations for the onerous duties and vexations of political pre ferment, though for four terms he served as as sessor of Lake township. Socially, he is con. nected with Corn City Lodge No. 734, I. O. ( F., of East Toledo. He is highly respected an ! esteemed by the entire population of the county and looked up to as a mian truly honorable. nyright in all things, and one whom they can de pend ou as a friend.
F. J. SCHRIBER.
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JOHN R. LUNDY, a leading agriculturist of Center township, is a native of the same, having first seen the light on the farm he now owns, June 2, 1845.
Henry Lundy, father of our subject, was born October 15, 1811, at Greenwood, Columbiana Co., Penn., of Quaker parents, whose ances- tors for several generations lived and died in this country. When Henry was but a child his father died, leaving a widow and two children in comfortable circumstances. In the spring of 1834 Henry Lundy passed through Ohio on horse- back, traveling along primitive roads cut through the dense forest, and, on his arrival in Indiana, he bought a farm of 160 acres of government land in Elkhart county. In the fall of the same year he came to Ohio on foot, journeying by way of Michigan, and, having relatives in Wood county he came here, purchasing, along with Mr. Munn, 200 acres of land (just west of where now stands the infirmary), built thereon a log cabin, and made it their home. In those early days they had to go to Perrysburg to trade, and some- times, in dry seasons, to Blissfield, or Monroe, Mich., to mill. In 1836 Mr. Lundy sold his In- diana farm, and bought Mr. Munn's share of the Ohio onc.
On April 18, 1839, Mr. Lundy was married, in Wood county, to Miss Margaret Smith, who was born October 17, 1817, in Massillon, Ohio, and the young couple then went to housekeeping in the log house on the farm, experiencing all the inconveniences and vicissitudes incident to pio- neer days. Here they jogged along the highway of life till about 1848, when they moved into the stone house built by them, and here they lived till 1886, in which year they moved into Bowl- ing Green, where Mrs. Lundy died in 1890. Mr. Lundy then made his home with his daugh- ter, Mrs. Elizabeth Boughton, passing the rest of his days there; he died February 22, 1894. aged eighty years. To this honored couple were born seven children, as follows: James, a resident of Clay county, Iowa, who was a soldier for over four years in the Civil war, serving in Company C, 21st O. V. I. ; Charles, wlio was also a soldier in the same company for three years, and was murdered in Bowling Green, July 3. 1869; Eliza- beth, the wife of Sanford Boughton, of Bowling Green; John R., our subject; Mary, who died at the age of four years; Lettice, the wife of Henry Wade, of Clay county, lowa; and Alice, who married Frank Reid, of Bowling Green.
In his political preferences Henry Lundy was originally a Democrat, casting his first Presiden- tial vote for Van Buren, and continued on that 83
ticket till the Republican party was organized in 1854. In his day he was one of the most promi- nent pioneers of Wood county, and served in var- ious offices of honor and trust. As one of the first members of the county infirmary board, he did much to place that institution upon a successful basis. He also served for many years as trustee and clerk of Center township. When the little Bowling Green & Tontogany railroad was built, he was one of the foremost workers and contrib- utors, backing the project with his own credit, and serving as one of the directors of the com- pany. In religious faith he was liberal, though reared a- Quaker, and contributed to all the Churches of his vicinity, identifying himself, how- ever, with the Methodists.
John R. Lundy, the subject proper of these lines, grew to manhood in Center township, and in 1864 followed the patriotic example of his el- der brothers by offering his services to the gov- ernment, enlisting in Company C, 144th O. V. I. His regiment was assigned to the Eastern depart- ment; but happily the war closed four months later, and he returned to the homestead, where he has since. resided. Part of the farm he owns in fee simple, and conducts the remainder in the interest of all the heirs, whom he is now buying out as occasion offers. In 1876 he was married to Miss Eleanor Kridler, who was born in Seneca county, Ohio, December 24, 1850, and five children have been born to them: Fred, Frank, Florence, and Charles, all at home, and Ralph. who died at four years of age.
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