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 88

Author: Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.) cn; J.H. Beers & Co. cn
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1140

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 88

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G. F. PEABODY, M. D., one of the leading physicians and surgeons of Wood county, and a registered pharmacist, has since January, 1892. engaged in practice at Luckey. On his arriva! he also bought a building and a stock of drugs. conducting business along that line until his place was destroyed by fire in July, 1893, after which. in company with L. H. Rolfes, he erected a two- story brick building. In this new store he carries a full and complete line of drugs, and lie also en. gages in the practice of his profession.

The Doctor was born in Mulliken, Eaton C ... Mich., February 12, 1867, and is a son of Sy !. vanus and Jane E. (Compton) Peabody, also na- tives of Michigan. At an early day the grand. father, William Peabody, Sr., entered a tract o: government land in Eaton county, on a part . : which now stands the village of Mulliken. Litr our subject's father settled on this land, and. i. connection with his agricultural pursuits, he noa engages in the real-estate business. Our subje : is the fourth in order of birth in the family of sa children, the others being William, of lox. county, Mich. ; Elbert, of Eaton county, Mich Hiram, a farmer of Mulliken. Eaton county. Fr ! chief clerk of and a stockholder in the Valley Cits Milling Co., of Grand Rapids, Mich. ; and Char's-

HAZEL F.

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who is attending Medical College in Toledo, Ohio.

The elementary education of the Doctor was acquired in the common schools of his native county, and he completed the literary course in Portland (Mich.) High School; was a matriculate of the Michigan College of Medicine in ISSS, aft- er which he entered Toledo Medical College, where he was graduated in the class of 1890. He began practice in Sunfield, Eaton county, where he remained until coming to Luckey in 1892. Here he has secured a large and lucrative practice, has been very successful in his treatment, and has had four small-pox cases, in which he tri- umphed over that dread disease. 'He was regis- tered a pharmacist by examination, in 1893.

At Toledo, Ohio, February 2, 1892, Dr. Pea- body was married to Miss Katie H. Dachsteiner, a native of Fort Wayne, Ind., and a daughter of John W. and Caroline (Kersting) Dachsteiner, who were born in Germany, and now make their home in Toledo, where the father is foreman of the upholstering department of the Wabash car shops. To the Doctor and his wife was born Oc- tober 29, 1892, a daughter, named Hazel F.

Dr. Peabody uses his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Demo- cratic party, was appointed postmaster at Luck- ey, July 1, 1893, but after two years he resigned in favor of the present incumbent. For two years he has served as health officer of Webster township. In his social relations he is connected with Freedom Lodge No. 723, I. O. O. F. He owns fifty-two acres of land, one-half mile south of Luckey, which he rents.

Mrs. Peabody was born December, 23, 1866, at Fort Wayne, Ind., and was educated at the Broadway High School, and at the Davis Busi- ness College, in the same city. She is a mem- ber of the German Lutheran Church at Luckey.

wife died April 2, 1895. Their children were: Nicholas, of Cincinnati, Ohio; Kate, who became the wife of Andrew Schrothe, and died at her home in Cincinnati; Henry, a farmer of Seneca county; Louisa, wife of John Schrothe, of Cin- cinnati; David F .; and Caroline, wife of Scott Wagner, of Tiffin, Ohio.

Our subject began his education in the public schools of Seneca county, and obtained a fair knowledge of English. He also early became familiar with the duties of farm life, and gave the benefit of his services to his father until his mar- riage, which was celebrated in Tiffin, Ohio, January 26, 1876, the lady of his choice being Miss Anna Margaret Hoke, a native of Seneca county, born February 8, 1857. They began their domestic life on a rented farm in that county, where they lived twelve years, when, in 1888, they removed to Wood county, and pur- chased eighty acres of partially improved land in Henry township. This place has undergone a great transformation since it came into the pos- session of Mr. Biehler. He has made many excellent improvements upon it, laid many rods of tiling, fenced the place, set out a good orchard, erected a large barn and other necessary out- buildings, and now has nine oil wells upon the place. In October, 1893, he established his gen- eral store in Hammansburg, which he has since successfully conducted. He is a wide-awake and enterprising business man, fully abreast with the times, and has won a well-merited success. Mr. and Mrs. Biehler have had a family of ten children, four of whom, including twins, died in infancy; the others, May, Augustus, Edna, Allie, Howard and Lloyd, are all at home. The par- ents are consistent members of the German Reformed Church, and in politics Mir. Biehler is an active worker in the ranks of the Democratic party, and has served as constable for four years.

DAVID F. BIEHLER is numbered among the WESLEY LEATHERS, president of the People's Bank at McComb, Hancock Co., Ohio. and a leading and progressive citizen, is a native of the State, having been born in Bloom township, Wood county, August 27, 1844, son of Jacob and Mary (Ewing). Leathers. enterprising business men of Hammansburg, where he is engaged in general merchandising, and the community numbers him among its rep- resentative citizens. He was born in Maryland, October 1, 1852, son of Andrew Biehler, a native of Germany, who in that country married Miss Jacob Leathers, father of our subject, was born, in 1811, in Bald Eagle Valley, Center Co., Penn., and when a young lad came to Ohio with his parents, who first located in Fairfield county, later moving to Wayne county. Here Jacob married Miss Mary Ewing, who was born, in ISIt, in Pennsylvania. In the fall of 1832 he Catherine Wetley. Some years later, with his wife and two children, he sailed to America from France, landing in New York. For a short time he made his home in Maryland, and then re- moved to Tiffin, Seneca Co., Ohio, where, later, he purchased forty acres of land and devoted his time and energies to agricultural pursuits. His ' and his brother John came on foot several miles death occurred April 27, 1876, in Tiffin, and his | through the forest to Bloom township, Wood

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county, each entering land, Jacob in Section 34, John in Section 33, and in the following spring they moved to the farm. Here they lived in In- dian huts until a log house could be erected, and our subject's mother assisted in sawing the logs for their first home. At that time there were but few other families in the township, although they were fortunate in having some neighbors near by. Game was plentiful -- deer, turkeys and bears in abundance-and the larders of the settlers were well provided at all times with ven- ison. Here the brothers and their families en- countered all the obstacles presented by the frowning haunts of wild animals, and here they experienced all the hardships incident to clearing up homes in the wilderness, their labors, how- ever, being repaid in course of time with comfort- able homes, smiling fields of grain and well- stocked barns. On their respective farms Jacob and John Leathers passed the rest of their busy lives, Jacob dying January 6, 1879, his wife on May II, 1877, and John passing away March 12, 1851, aged forty-five years, his wife Eliza on July 10, 1855, at the age of forty-seven. They were all pioneer members of the Methodist Church in Bloom township.

The children born to Jacob and Mary (Ewing) Leathers were as follows: William (the first white child born in Bloom township), who met with a tragic death in a gristmill at Eagleville, Ohio (his widow now lives in Bloomdale, Ohio); Elizabeth A., who died unmarried, May 14, 1870; John, who was a member of Company H, 149th Regiment O. V. I., and died December 20, 1863, at Knoxville, Tenn .; Wesley, the subject proper of tliese lines; Lavina (now Mrs. George Franks), residing at Baltimore, Ohio; and Benton, of Hammansburg, Wood county. The father of this family was an extensive land owner, at the time of his death possessing several hundred acres; was in all his undertakings, especially in agriculture, a highly successful man, ranking among the leading citizens of the township, where, as will be seen, he passed the best years of his life. He was a Whig and Republican con- secutively, exhibiting considerable interest in the success of his party, although not an active pol- itician.

Wesley Leathers, whose name introduces this sketch, was reared after the manner of farm- er boys of his day, receiving his education at the old log house known as the "Leathers School," which stood on the home farm, and is now known as " District School No. S, Bloom Township." To this primitive seminary of learn- ing our subject used, in winter time, to take his

"shining morning face " through the intricacies of the then dense woods, many a day almost im- passable. owing to the depth of the snow. Prior to his marriage, he passed the greater part of his time at home, assisting in the labors of the farm, the comparative monotony of which was broken by a three-months' service in the army during the war of the Rebellion. In May. 1864, he went to the front as a member of Company E. 144th Regiment O. V. I., which was sent to Wilmington, Del., where our subject passed the greater part of his term of service, in the govern- ment stables; he was discharged in August, 1864, and returned home.

On August'23, 1862, in Cass township, Han- cock Co., Ohio, he married Miss Minerva C. Dust- man, a native of Mahoning county, Ohio, and daughter of Josiah and Sarah (Gress) Dustman. For several years they made their home in the old log cabin on his father's farm, where he fol- lowed agricultural pursuits. In September, 1890, Mr. Leathers commenced interesting himself in the banking business, and in the fall of 1890, he moved from Wood county to McComb, Hancock county, where he established the People's Bank of McComb, of which he has been president ever since.

To Mr. and Mrs. Leathers have been born children as follows: Hester, now the wife of E. S. Crawford, of McComb, Ohio; John J. and Benton W., farmers of Bloom township, Wood county; Edward, a merchant of McComb, Ohio; Lula, at home: Pearl, who died young; Ervin, a clerk in McComb; and Ellis and Anna, both at home. Mr. Leathers is the owner of 320 acres of very valuable land in Bloom township, includ- ing the first pre-emptions made by his father. over sixty years ago. He is a successful business man, shrewd, careful, and thoroughly conserva- tive, as is evidenced by the flourishing condition of the monetary institution which he in a large degree controls, not to speak of his own phenom- enal success. He is also prominently identified with the Palmer Oil Company. In his political preferences he is a stanch supporter of the Re- publican party, and in social life he is recognized as a representative self-made man, enjoying. along with his family, the respect and esteem of a wide circle of friends and acquaintances.

JULIUS DUCAT, deceased, had many excellen- cies of character, which gained him the high re- gard of friends and neighbors. He was born in Michigan, near the Ohio line, in 18344. and is a son of Joseph and Victoria (Jacob) Ducat. When a youth of sixteen he came with his parents to

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Wood county, the father settling upon an eighty- acre farm in Plain township, which he afterward sold, removing to Liberty township. Later he became a resident of Ottawa county, Ohio, where his wife died. With his children he returned to Liberty township, and purchased twenty acres of land, on which the town of Ducat now stands, named in his honor.

Our subject early became familiar with all the arduous duties of developing wild land, and, owing to the very limited circumstances of his parents, he received no school privileges, for he had to aid in the work on the farm. He worked by the month as a farm hand for $15, and has often worked for forty cents per day. Thus from humble surroundings he rose, and for his success he deserved great credit.

Mr. Ducat was married, in 1863, to Victoria Ganger, and to them were born four children -- Daniel L., of Rudolph, Ohio; Exea, a farmer of Milton township; John, an agriculturist of Lib- erty township; and one who died in infancy. The mother died in 1870, and the following year Mr. Ducat was joined in wedlock, in Toledo, Ohio, with Elizabeth Minnower. They also had four children-Alec and Samuel, both of Liberty; Adolph, at home; and one who died in infancy.

At the time of his first marriage, Mr. Ducat located on a ten-acre tract of land in Liberty township, which he had previously purchased. This he later sold and bought twenty acres, which was afterward disposed of, and his capital was invested in twenty acres owned by him at the time of his death. This property, however, he had doubled in extent, making forty acres of rich land. There are five oil wells on the farm, one of which is the largest ever struck in the county, it being known as the big Ducat well. It was sold, the first time, by Clarence Potter for $10, 000, and a short time afterward for $14,000. In the fall of 1888, Mr. Ducat erected the present resi- dence and hospitable home, which is the resort of many friends. In politics he was a Democrat, and was an active member of the Roman Catho- lic Church, of Bowling Green. His death oc- curred September 12, 1895.

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BENTON W. LEATHERS. To farming and stock-raising this gentleman devotes his energies, and his capable business methods are winning him prosperity. The record of his life will undoubt- edly prove of interest to his friends in this county, who are many. He was born in Bloom town- ship, June 1, 1868, on the old Leathers home- stead, the third child and second son of Wesley and Minerva (Dustman) Leathers. He attended

school in District No. 8, his first teacher being Leona Taylor: also pursued his studies in Bairds- town, while his parents were living at that place. He has always made farming his life-work, and now has charge of a part of the old homestead, operating 160 acres of land, which he has placed under a high state of cultivation. He also en- gages in stock dealing in connection with his brother, John J. He is a prosperous young farmer of, excellent business ability, and is meeting with success in his undertakings.

On March 3, 1888, Mr. Leathers was united in marriage, in Eagleville, to Miss Olive L. Em- erson, who was born January 28, 1870, in Bloom township, the eldest daughter of E. P. and Cath- erine (Smalley) Leathers. They have three chil- dren, Bessie E., born September 12, 1889; Park E., born January 28, 1892; and Naomi, born born February 1, 1894. Mr. Leathers gives his political support to the Republican party, and has served as school director in his district. He is a member of Bloomdale Lodge, Knights of Pythias, and his wife is a charter member of Jewel Temple, Rathbone Sisters, of Bloomdale. She belongs to the Christian Church of Eagleville.

ROBERT DIGBY, JR. The subject of this notice is certainly entitled to be considered not only one of the enterprising farmers of Washington town- ship, but one of its respected and honored citizens, and a man of more than ordinary ability. He was born in Erie county, Ohio, August 15, 1856, and is a son of Robert and Eliza (Ray) Digby. The father's birth occurred in England, October 2, 1828, and he crossed the Atlantic to the United States in IS51, first locating in New York State.

Our subject spent his boyhood mostly in attendance at the district schools of Washington township, and aiding in the duties of the home farm. He remained under the parental roof until he had attained his majority, when he started out in life for himself, for eleven years renting a part of the land belonging to his father. He then purchased forty acres across the road from his present place, which he improved and cultivated some four years, at the expiration ot which time he bought the eighty acres which com- prises his present fine farm. He has tiled and drained his place, ten acres of which he has cleared, built barns, erected a windmill which cost $100, and bored a well at a cost of $60. For his land he paid $72 per acre. On February 22, 1881, he was married to Miss Susan Shoaff. a daughter of Reuben Shoaff, and they have two children, Eliner, born May 8, 1882; and Bertie. born October 8, 1885. Our subject is a stanch

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and reliable member of the Republican party, and he and his family attend Washington Chapel of the United Brethren denomination.

S. C. REARICK has been a resident of Jerry City for a number of years, and is one of the most useful, progressive citizens of that place. He is a native of Lewistown, Mifflin Co., Penn., born April 20, 1853, son of Oliver P. Rearick, who was born May 10, 1830, and was married, in Laurelton, Union Co., Penn., to Martha Corl. born July 16, 1833. Mr. Rearick was a weaver, and followed that trade up to the breaking out of the Civil war, when he became a member of Company E, 53rd P. V. I., and he died August 8, 1862, at David's Island, of fever. He left five children -- three sons and two daughters.

Our subject was but a boy at the time of his father's death, and from that time until he was fourteen years old, lived and worked with his uncle, George Schnure, who was a tanner near Laurelton. He then entered the Soldiers' Orphans School, at McAllisterville, Penn., which his brothers and sisters also entered at the proper ages, Thomas, George and Katy Rearick being three of the first six pupils at that school. Be- fore entering this institution S. C. Rearick had but limited educational privileges, but during the time he remained there he acquired a good prac- tical training. When sixteen years of age he left the school and commenced life for himself, en- gaging in farm labor in White Deer township, Union Co., Penn., receiving $8 per month. Soon afterward he began to learn harness mak- ing in Lewisburg, Penn., serving an apprentice- ship of three years, during which he received his board and $25 per year for two years, and $45 and board the third year. He was now a full- fledged tradesman, and in July, 1873, he came to Fremont, Ohio, and engaged to work for William Schroeder, a harness maker. He earned the money for the trip by working on the railroad, receiving $1. 85 per day, and he followed his trade in Fremont two years, when he was compelled to abandon it on account of ill health. Having no other trade, he worked at wood chopping for farmers in the vicinity of Fremont until the win- ter of 1875, when he went to Bloomville, Seneca county, and hired out to Robert Reed, a distant relative, for whom he did farm work two years. In 1878 he commenced work with J. D. Wilsey & Son, of Bloomville, who were engaged in the manufacture of boat oars, and with thetn be con- tinued some twelve years, removing with them to Jerry City, and remaining with them until their removal to Savannah, Ga. He received flatter- 1

ing inducements to accompany them thither, but declined, and he has since fonnd employment in the oil business, having for over four years been pumper for the Standard Oil Company.

In the fall of 1879 Mr. Rearick's mother and sister, Katy. came to Bloomville, Ohio, to live with him, and later removed with him to Jerry City, where the mother passed away March 29, 1890; she was laid to rest in Jerry City ceme- tery. They made a most comfortable, pleasant home here, which Mr. Rearick and his sister still occupy. He is one of Jerry City's most active men, and has served his fellow citizens in several town offices, having been city councilman one term, and street commissioner one term, and he is at present a member of the board of education, of which body he is treasurer. He is a Repub- lican in political sentiment, but is not bound by party lines, supporting the best men irrespective of party, and is a friend of the Prohibition cause. In religious connection he is a Methodist, and an active worker in the Church, in which he has been class-leader, trustee and steward, still sery- ing in the last named office. He has been super- intendent of the Sabbath-school for the past seven years. Mr. Rearick is an intelligent. wide-awake member of the community, taking an interest in all measures which he considers beneficial to the general welfare. He has won an honorable position for himself among his fel- low townsmen, and is comfortably situated in life as a result of continuous hard work.

W. J. JEWELL, an energetic young business man of Tontogany, was born November 12. 1801 on a farm in Plain township, where his parents still reside. His father, Samuel Jewell, was a native of Virginia, and came to Wood county in early times, and married Miss Louisa Johnson.

The subject of this sketch received an ele- mentary education in the old Hampton school house in his neighborhood, and was early trained by his parents to those habits of industry which have proven the basis of his success in life. In 1887 he was married to Miss Phoebe Gross, who was born in Indiana, January 2, 1861, and they have two children: Guy and Beatrice. After lus marriage Mr. Jewell settled on a farmi in Plat township, which he cultivated until 1890. with the exception of a few years during which he was engaged in pumping oil. Having the income from forty acres of land, and four good oil well -. he retired from business and came to Tontosally to reside. But, belonging to that class of meu who cannot exist in idleness, he soon determined to engage in business; accordingly, on April 1:

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1895, he opened a meat market, where his en- ergy and ability have a profitable field of action. If his past gives any reliable promise of his fu- ture, Mr. Jewell will some time rank among the leading business men of the county. He is inter- ested in every movement tending to the general welfare, and is a prominent member of the Plain Congregational Church.

FRED SWARTZ, a prominent and influential farmer of Lake township, located on his present farm in 1867, at that time purchasing sixty-seven acres of timber land, to which he has since added and now has a fine tract of 143 acres under a high state of cultivation. He is a man of great energy and perseverance, and has effected many improve- ments upon his farm since taking possession. in- cluding the erecting of a good frame residence in 1876. He was at once recognized as a valued addition to the community, a man possessing excellent judgment, and giving support and en- couragement to those enterprises calculated for the general welfare.

Mr. Swartz is a native of Medina county, Ohio, born in Liverpool township, January 10, 1841, and is a son of Frederick and Fredericka (Henning) Swartz, whose births occurred in Ger- many. They were' married in Medina county, where the father engaged in farming, and in 1855 removed to Troy township, Wood county, where his death occurred in 1886, and his wife died two years later. To them were born eight children: Fred, subject of this review; Jacob, who enlisted in the same company and same regi- ment at the same place as our subject, and died at Bowling Green, Ky., November 30, 1862; John, a resident of Perrysburg township, Wood county ; Lucien, who makes his home in the same town- ship; Andrew, of Webster township, Wood coun- ty; Mrs. Carrie Puse, who died in Perrysburg township, in 1875: Mrs. Kate Frantz, of Troy township; and Mrs. Christine Puse, of Perrys- burg township.

Our subject spent his boyhood in Medina county, where he attended the common schools, and in 1855 accompanied his parents to Troy township, where he made his home until locating upon his present farm. His entire life was de- voted to agricultural pursuits, and he has been very successful in his chosen calling. In 1862, at Stony Ridge, in Troy township, Mr. Swartz joined Company K, ILIth O. V. I., for three years' service and was mustered into service at Toledo, where he was assigned to the 23d Army Corps, under Gen. Sherman. At the battle of Resaca he was wounded by a shell, and was taken

to the field hospital, from which he was sent to Nashville, and later to Camp Dennison Hospital at Cincinnati, Ohio, where he received an hon- orable discharge in 1865, and returned to his home. In Liverpool township, Medina county, in 1865, Mr. Swartz married Miss Louise Nollen- berger, a native of that county, of which her father was one of the early pioneers; he died in Medina county, and his wife in Wood county, about 1883. Nine children have been born of the union of our subject and his wife, namely: William, who is married and resides in Lucas county, Ohio; Fred, a resident of the same coun- ty; Frank, of Toledo, Ohio; Isaac; George; John; Albert: Arthur; and Katic.

Mr. Swartz votes the straight Republican tick- et, and takes an active interest in politics, but cares nothing for public office. He is promi- nently identified with J. B. Wolford Post No. 153, G. A. R., of Perrysburg. Both he and his estimable wife are consistent members of the Lu- theran Church, are foremost in all good works, and are highly respected in the community. They have witnessed the many changes that have taken place in the county since their arrival, and give their support to all interests for the public welfare and advancement.

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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 88

Author: Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.) cn; J.H. Beers & Co. cn Publication date: 1897 Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers & Co. Number of Pages: 1140

Author: Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.) cn; J.H. Beers & Co. cn
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1140