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 87
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On October 3. 1881, in Henry township, Mr. Bryant married Miss Mary Helbrick, who was born in Lancaster county, Penn., November I, 1856, and they have four children: Gracie, born June 17, 1882; Scott Le Roy, born April 22, 1884; William, born November 6, 1888, and died January 14, 1889; and Ruth Jane, born September 6, 1890. Mr. Bryant is a stalwart Republican, and has served as school director for six years and supervisor for three years, but has by no means been an office seeker. He holds membership with the United Brethren Church.
W. M. Amos is one of the leading aud influ- ential business men of Portage, carrying on a first-class meat market there. He is an enter- prising and progressive citizen, and his pleasant and genial manner has won him a large circle of friends, while his honorable dealing has secured him a liberable patronage.
Mr. Amos is numbered among the native sons
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of Wood county, his birth having occurred in Portage township, April 25, 1861. He is one of ten children whose parents were Michael and Theresa (Brackey) Amos. This family numbers Michael and Philip, both of whom carry on agri- cultural pursuits in Portage township; John and Katie, twins, who died in childhood; Anthony. a farmer of Center township; W. M .; Charles, who carries on agricultural pursuits in Portage town- ship; Mary, wife of Manuel Helm, of Portage township; and a son and daughter who died before the recollection of our subject.
WV. M. Amos acquired his education in the district schools near his home, and was reared as a farmer boy, remaining under the parental roof and giving to his father the benefit of his services until he had attained his majority. He then as- sumed the management of the old home place, which he operated for nine years. His father also gave him forty acres of land in Portage town- ship, which he afterward traded for another forty acres in the same township, paying $1,000 addi- tional. His second farm he afterward exchanged for a tract of similar size in Portage township, and on selling this he bought eighty acres of im- proved land in Center township. He continued to operate all these different farms in connection with the improvement of the old homestead. In 1893, however, he sold his farming land, and pur- chased a meat market in Portage, where he has since carried on business. During the first year he was associated in partnership with Wili John- son, but, buying out his interest, has since been alone. He has a well-conducted establishment. He is a man of excellent business and executive ability, and carries forward to completion what- ever he undertakes. Perseverance and energy are his chief characteristics, and have brought to him a very comfortable competence.
Mr. Amos was married in Portage township, Wood county, March 14. 1886, the lady of his choice being Miss Mima Ulis, who was born in Crawford county, Ohio, November 27, 1868, and is a daughter of Samuel and Susan (Helm) Ulis. Five children graced this union, but Clyde and Samuel, the eldest and youngest, have passed away. Those still at home are Jesse, Paul and Oscar.
A. L. POLLARD, an influential citizen of Port- age township, is a native of Pennsylvania, born May 3, 1856, in Lawrence county, son of Abner and Anna (Wymer) Pollard. The family came to Perry township, Wood county, when our sub- ject was about nine years old, and, in about 1871, settled in Portage township, at Six Points, where
the mother died, and the father still makes his home. Of their family A. L. Pollard was the fifth in order of birth, and the eldest son.
During his boyhood Mr. Pollard attended the district schools of the home neighborhood, and also received a thorough training in agriculture, which he has followed more or less all his life. When he came to Six Points this region was still a wilderness, and the site of his present store was then in the midst of a forest. He remained at home until his marriage, at that time locating on eighty acres of land at Six Points, later re- moving to Jerry City, in Portage township, and finally settling on his present place, which con- sists of thirty-six acres of good land at Six Points. In July, 1889, he established the mercantile busi- ness which he has ever since conducted with well- deserved success, and during his business career he has won the confidence and respect of all with whom he has come in contact for fair dealing and honest methods. He is a self-made man in the true sense of the word, the comfortable property and home which he now possesses having all been acquired by his own efforts.
In March, ISSO, Mr. Pollard was married to Miss Abbie Bisbee, daughter of Joseph Bisbee, and she died and was buried in Mount Zion cem- etery. For his second wife our subject wedded Miss Hannah Brand, who was born in Seneca county, Ohio, daughter of Michael Brand, and six children have come to this union, as follows: Arthur L., Lucy M., Raymond, Luther (who died in infancy), Bessie, and Zella. Mr. Pollard is a life-long Republican, and, though he takes an interest in public affairs, he is not active ex- cept in school matters, being a warin friend of educational progress in every way; he has been school director in District No. S for some time. Socially he is a member of the K. O. T. M., Ex- celsior Tent. at Prairie Depot, and he affiliated with the Grangers during their existence. On May 1, 1892, lightning struck Mr. Pollard's barn, and destroyed $1, 500 worth of property, on which there was no insurance whatever, seven horses, a large amount of grain, and a number of farming implements being consumed.
ALFRED R. WILLIAMS, of Perrysburg, one of the most enterprising and successful young busi- ness men of Wood county, was born September 5. 1868, at Perrysburg.
His father, the late Alfred G. Williams, was one of the prominent men of the county in his day, and a leading operator in the oil fields. Ii. inother, formerly Miss Mary Cranker, is a descont. ant of one of the pioneer families, and has lon :
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A.R. Ailliams
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held an important place in all the social and philanthropic movements of the community. Our subject enjoyed excellent educational oppor- tunities in his youth, his training in the public schools of Perrysburg being supplemented by study at Baldwin University, at Berea, Ohio. After leaving school he became shipping clerk for Davis Bros., of Toledo; later with Chapman & Sargent, with whom he was serving when his father died, October 17, 1892. He was then appointed administrator of the latter's estate, also the estate of Margaret Cranker, his maternal grandmother, both of which responsibilities he has managed with credit to himself and the sat- isfaction of all concerned. His father was one. of the first operators in the Cygnet oil field, and the family interests now extend from that locality to Bradner, including over forty wells. Apart from this interest, our subject is operating some twenty wells, also in Wood county, in company with other oil men, and in all his speculations he displays great sagacity and shrewdness. In February, 1895, he was appointed assignee for the O'Connor Oil Company, of Wood county.
On June 28, 1892, Mr. Williams was mar- ried to Miss Clara Chappuies, who was born in Stryker, Ohio, January 1, 1869. Two children have blessed this union: Alfred R., born March 6, 1893, and Elbert J., born March 7, 1895. Mr. Williams is a Republican; is a member of the F. & A. M. and the I. O. O. F, and he and his wife are esteemed highly for their superior personal qualities. They are leaders in the best element of Perrysburg society, taking an active and influential part in the varied work of the M. E. Church, and in all worthy local movements.
ERASMUS CHAMBERS, an extensive landowner and prosperous farmer of Portage township, is a native of Ohio, born August 9, 1814. in Jefferson county, son of William and Catherine (Barrick) Chambers.
William Chambers' father was a native of England, and came to this country in young man- hood. He was the owner of a plantation and a number of slaves, and was quite wealthy. Will- iam became a farmer, and settled in Ohio in pioneer days, dying in Crawford (now Wyandot) county, Ohio, in 1838, when about sixty years old. Mrs. Chambers died there December 20. 1848. There were nine children in their family -seven sons and two daughters-all of whom lived to good old ages, and, though our subject was considered the delicate one of the family, he has survived them all. During his youth he received but two weeks' schooling, for the coun-
try in which his parents had settled was sparsely settled at that early day, and the settlers were for the most part French, who did not give liber- ally to the support of the schools. They were then living in the vicinity of Louisville, Stark county. After his father's death Mr. Chambers lived with his widowed mother up to the time of her decease. In 1850, he was united in marriage, in Wyandot county, withi Miss Martha Mansfield. who died in that county in 1852, leaving one child, Clara, who is now the wife of Sylvanus Newcomer, of Gratiot county, Mich. For some time after his wife's death our subject lived in Logan county, this State, and in 1869 he came to Wood county, settling in Montgomery town- ship, where he lived until March, 1872, since which time he has had hi, home in Portage township, on his present farm, which lies in Sec- tion 36. Here he has acquired a comfortable property, for which he has worked hard, and is now the owner of 215 acres of good land, besides which his wife owns eighty acres. With the ex- ception of twelve years during which he was en- gaged in mercantile pursuits, he has devoted him- self almost exclusively to farming, and now, in his later years, surrounded by all the comforts of life, he has no reason to regret his choice. His vitality is remarkable, and in spite of his four score years he is still an active man. When Mr. Chambers came to Wood county much of the land was still in its primitive condition, wet and swampy, and he thought at that time that " Mud " county would be a far more appropriat name.
On March 13, 1870, our subject was married to Mrs. Maria Lane, widow of William Lane, and daughter of David and Margaret (Henry) Tyson, who came to Wood county in 1847, locat- ing in Portage township, where she has since lived; she was born November 24, 1840, in Stark county, Ohio. To this union have come chil- dren as follows: Eli P., born January 28, 1871; John F., born September 21, 1872; William H., born August 20, 1874; David S., born September 1, 1876, and died in infancy; Urias A., born May 22, 1878; and Emma M., born December 19, ISSO. Mrs. Chambers in religious connec- tion is a member of the Dunkard Church. Dur- ing his early manhood Mr. Chambers was an Old- line Whig, and he voted for William Henry Har- rison; since the organization of the Republican party he has been one of its stanch supporters.
R. C. SANTMYER is a popular citizen of Lib erty township, whose geneine worth has won him the good will and respect of many friends. Sen-
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eca county, Ohio, numbers him among her native sons, his birth occurring there October 27, 1854. His father, Christopher Santmyer, was born in Virginia, and, having attained his majority, mar- ried Susan Updike, also a native of that State. Four years later they removed to Seneca county, Ohio, where the father followed farming, also carried on blacksmithing and shoe making. In 1861 in Delaware, Ohio, he enlisted in the Union army and served until the close of the war, and participated in many important battles. He aft- erward went to Saginaw, Mich., where he con- tinued for a number of years, then returned to Seneca county. He is still a resident of Ohio. Their children were John, a farmer of Hancock county, Ohio; Robert, a farmer of Bloom town- ship; R. C., our subject: David H., of Wayne county, Ohio; and Mrs. Jane Vogelson.
R. C. Santmyer was about eleven years of age when he came to Wood county with his inother, who purchased five acres of land in Bloom township, and there resided until her death. He attended the district schools and followed farming during his boyhood, earning his own livelihood from the time he was eight years of age. He was married March 12, 1882. to Miss Annie Walker, a native of Bloom township, and a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Soles) Walker. They at once located on the farm of sixty acres which Mr. Santmyer had previously purchased. He is now living in the oldest dwelling in Wood county, it having stood for sixty-three years. Many were the hardships and difficulties they encountered in the early days, for Mrs. Santmyer suffered much from ill health; but as time has passed our sub- ject has propered. He has now tiled and fenced his place, planted a good orchard, and has a well- improved farm. There are five oil wells upon his land, and he adds to his income by acting as district agent for the Solid Comfort Plow Com- pany.
Mr. and Mrs. Santmyer have had a family of three children: Carrie Emma, born April 12, 1883; Harley J., born August 29, 1886, and died July 8, 1887; and Sylvia Jane, born August 26, 1890. Our subject was formerly an advocate of Repub- lican principles, but is now identified with the People's party. He has served for five years as supervisor, discharging his duties with a prompt- ness and fidelity that have won him high commen- dation.
FRANK WAGONER, a general merchant of Stony Ridge, was born in Lake township, Wood county, January 13, 1864, and is a son of B. and Elizabeth (Weaver) Wagoner. The father's
birth occurred in Troy township, but he was reared and married in Lake township, where his wife died in 1879. In their family of seven chil- dren only two are now living: Frank, and Mrs. Nettie Korn, of Stony Ridge.
In the common schools of his native township our subject obtained his education, and at the age of fifteen went to Fort Scott, Kans., where he was employed for nine months, after which lie proceeded to White City and Parsons, same State, and then again went to Fort Scott. Re- turning to Ohio, he attended the academy at Fostoria for a year, and on leaving that institu- tion, again journeyed westward, this time going as far as Seattle, Wash., where he remained three months. On his return he located at To. ledo, Ohio, where for nine months he was employed, and then obtained a situation in the store which he now owns. In ISgo he began business here, and now carries a large line of groceries, crockery, boots, shoes-in fact, every- thing found in a first-class general store. He owns a two-story frame building, 24 x 60 feet. with two additional rooms, one 12 x 60 feet, and the other 16 x 36 feet. He well deserves the liberal trade that is accorded him, and is meeting with a well-merited success.
Mr. Wagoner was married at Stony Ridge, in 1892, to Miss Mary Reifert, who died in January 1895, leaving one child: Chester Mckinley. In politics, our subject endorses the principles an.l policy of the Republican party, in the success ot which he takes an active interest; socially, he is identified with Fort Meigs Lodge No. 774, I. O. O. F., and the Knights of Honor.
THOMAS J. PUGH. Among the merchants and business men of Weston none is better known than the subject of this sketch. Born in Henry county, Ohio, November 13, 1871. he came to Wood county with his parents when bu: one year old. His education was acquired in i! : district school, and he afterward worked on L - father's farm until reaching his majority, att : which he farmed for one year on his own count. Moving into Weston he embarked in th grocery business, which rapidly increased to st .! an extent that he found it necessary to have . sistance. He, therefore, became associated w ; Mr. A. N. Pauft, under the firm name of Push :. Pauff. They deal only in first-class grocer their stock is well kept up, and they cater to t best class of people in Weston.
In April, 1893, Mr. Pugh was united py tt riage with Miss Maud Guver, daughter of P. Guyer, and they have one child, Sylvia. Om -
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ject is a member of the K. of P. and the Knights of the Maccabees. In politics he is neutral. He is an enterprising, progressive young man, and possesses great business tact and ability, which has been fully demonstrated by the manner in which he has overcome all obstacles and built up an enviable trade. He is genial, affable and courteous by nature, and his integrity and hon- esty have been the means by which he has gained the confidence of all who have any business deal- ings with him.
ABRAHAM MERCER, whose well-spent life has won him the regard of all, is numbered among the progressive, enterprising citizens who give a hearty ,endorsement and active support to all en- terprises calculated to prove of public benefit. He was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, July 8, 1820, and is a son of William and Charity (Pettit) Mercer. The father was born in Lancaster county, Penn., and at various times followed the trades of cooper, miller and mason. In his na- tive county he married Miss Pettit, who was there born July 7, 1781. After several years they re- moved to a farm on the banks of the Susque- hanna river, and later went to Columbiana coun- ty, Ohio, where Mr. Mercer carried on farming to some extent, but mostly followed the mason's trade. In the fall of 1834 he brought his family to Wood county, and secured 160 acres of land in Liberty township, on which he erected a log house, 16 x 20 feet. Two years later he built a frame residence, and there made his home until his death. His widow afterward returned to Pennsylvania; but while visiting in Columbiana county, she died at the home of her son Daniel, February 9, 1855. The children of this marriage were: Martha (deceased) was the wife of Andrew Pettit; George, who died in Liberty township, at the age of eighty-seven: William, who died in Portage township, at the age of forty-three; Mary Ann, who became the wife of Enos Mone- han, and died in Pennsylvania; Daniel, who died near Georgetown, Columbiana county: Beulah (deceased) was the wife of William Pike, of lowa; Caleb, of Bowling Green, Ohio; Charity (deceased): Lucretia (deceased) was the wife of Henry Groves, of Liberty township; Abraham; Elesana, who died at the age of two years; and Charles, who lives in Bowling Green.
Our subject received somewhat limited edu- cational privileges for the nearest school house was three miles distant; but through reading, ex- perience, and observation he has become a well- informed man. To farm work he devoted his energies until his marriage, which was celebrated
in Liberty township, January 8, 1840, Miss Har- riet Elizabeth Rice becoming his wife. Born in Cattaraugus county, N. Y., April 13, 1820, she was a daughter of Calvin and Electa (Allen) Rice, natives of the Empire State, and with her parents came to Wood county in 1835, her father and mother both dying in Liberty township.
In 1846 Mr. Mercer removed with his family to the farm which his father first purchased, tak- ing eighty acres. He cleared the place, erected a good residence, and there carried on agricultural pursuits until about January, 1887, when he dis- posed of that property and removed to another farm. His wife died January 31, 1887, and the old home was therefore broken up. Of their marriage were born seven children-Charity Electa, wife of Alex Lashuay, of Bowling Green ; James C., of Denver, Wood county; Charlie Allen, of Liberty township; Porterfield, of Liberty township; Wm. Marion, of Liberty township; Clinton B., of Mt. Pleasant, Isabella Co., Mich. : and Harriet Isadore, wife of Francis McIntire, of Liberty township. For a year after the death of his wife, Mr. Mercer lived with his son-in-law. and then wedded Mrs. Mary A. Bacon, widow of Warren H. Bacon. In politics he is a stalwart Prohibitionist, and served as township treasurer for one year, while for many years he has been clerk of the school board, and a director. He holds membership with the Disciples Church. and his life has been well spent. He is num- bered among Wood county's honored pioneers, has witnessed much of its growth and upbuilding, and is a public-spirited, progressive citizen.
CHRISTIAN EISENMENGER. Among the well- to-do farmers and landowners in Wood county, there are a number of Germans, and our subject is a representative, thrifty and shrewd type of this class, who have everywhere been noted for their industry and sterling worth.
Mr. Eisenmenger was born in the Grand Duchy of Baden, Germany, October 6, 1839. son of Andrew and Catherine Eisenmenger, the former of whom was a saddler by trade, and also 1 followed farming, owning twenty acres of land in Germany. In June, 1854, the family consisting of parents and four children, sailed from Ant- werp on the vessel . David Hoadley," and as there were large numbers crossing the ocean that year, passage was at a premium, so they were obliged to pay a high price. When they were only a few days out, however, the vessel struck a rock, and, being in poor condition, was obliged to turn back, reaching Southampton in cight days. Four weeks were required wherein to
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make repairs, and after the second start they were thirty-five days in reaching New York City. They at once started west, journeying by vail to Buffalo, N. Y., then by lake vessel to Cleve- land, Ohio, thence to Sandusky, and from there by rail and team to their destination, Bloomville, Seneca Co., Ohio. Mr. Eisenmenger had sold his property in Germany, and now had a little over $500 to commence life in the New World with, which he proposed to invest in land. But property was high in Seneca county, so in abont six weeks they came to Wood county, arriving here in October, and he purchased sixty acres of land lying in Sections 27 and 34, Portage town- ship, which was then almost in its primitive con- dition, only the higher portions of the land being cleared. A log cabin and barn were the only buildings that adorned the place, and the family began life here in true pioneer style, living in the midst of a forest where game abounded and civil- ization had as yet made little impression. They also suffered the hardships which settlers in such a country must undergo, and in addition to the ordinary inconveniences and privations of life in an unsettled region, the fever and ague caused by the swampiness of the land impaired their health, and rendered them almost unfit for work. But, nevertheless, they carried on the work of clearing until a fine farm had been made out of the wilderness, and the family were installed in a comfortable home. From the age of forty-five until his death, Mr. Eisenmenger had poor health, and he passed from earth in December, 1861, after a lingering illness. Mrs. Eisenmenger survived until March, ISSI, and both are buried in the Mennonite cemetery; they were members of the Evangelical Protestant Church. Mr. Eisen- menger opposed slavery, but took no part ill politics, the constant wrangling over public affairs in those days destroying any inclination he might have had for such matters. There were four children in his family, viz. : Catherine, now the widow of John Hachtel, of St. Joseph county, Ind .; Henry, who died in Portage township, in 1865; Christian; and Christopher, who lives in St. Joseph county, Ind. (he served over three years in the Civil war, as a member of Company F, 72nd O. V. I.).
Our subject attended the schools of the Fatherland, and received the greater part of his education there, for he only had two weeks schooling after he came to this country. How- ever, he learned to read and write English in that short time, his teacher being Orin Hays, who taught the " Red School" in District No. 7, Portage township. He was reared to farming on
the pioneer farin of his parents, and has been on the home place all his life. After his father's death his older brother came home, conducting the farm until his decease, in 1865. after which our subject and his brother Henry carried on the work. The latter, however, soon left home, and since that time Mr. Eisenmenger has been in charge of the place alone, buying out the other; after his mother's death. He has added to the place until it now comprises 170 acres of fertile .. productive land, from which, by good manag .- ment and systematic care, he derives a good in- come. He is as good a business man as he is a farmer; but in all his dealings he has gained an enviable reputation for honesty and fairness. and there is no more highly respected citizen in the township.
On May 10, 1868, Mr. Eisenmenger was married, in Portage township, to Miss Catherine Hardman, a native of Stark county, Ohio, who was born about 1835, daugliter of George Hard- man, a native of Pennsylvania. Our subject and wife are both members of the Gerinan Baptist Church, in which he is an active worker, at pres- ent serving as trustee. Formerly he was a Dem- ocrat in politics, but he usually votes for the candidate whom he thinks best fitted for office without regard to party lines.
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