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 9
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J. S. Benschoter attended the district schools
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of the neighborhood of his boyhood home, later the schools of Grand Rapids. On July 4, 1863, he enlisted in Company F (Capt. Squire), 86th O. V. I. (Col. Lemert) "six-months service men," and, after a short stay at Camp Chase, the regi- ment took part in capturing Morgan's men when they made their raid into Ohio. Later it served in the army of the Cumberland, participating in the battle of Cumberland Gap, and the siege of 'Knoxville. Mr. Benschoter received his dis- charge February 14, 1864, returning home, re- sumed his studies for a time at Perrysburg, and then spent three years in teaching. He and his brother William took charge of the homestead for several years, but, in 1869, our subject began farming independently, and now owns an eighty- acre farm near Grand Rapids, besides his interest in the old homestead of 240 acres. His farm is well tiled, has a productive orchard, fine barns, and a brick dwelling house costing $2,000.
He stands well in the esteein of the com- munity, is a Republican in politics, and has held many local offices, such as supervisor and school director, for a number of years, trustee for two terms, member of the school board twelve years, 'and he is now serving as justice of the peace. He is a member of the M. E. Church, in which he has been steward for many years, and has faithfully discharged the duties of trustee, class- leader, and Sunday-school superintendent. He belongs to the G. A. R., Bond Post No. 24, Grand Rapids, also to the F. & A. M., Grand Rapids Lodge No. 289, and is past master of the Lodge; also of the Enterprise Grange, in which he has served both as secretary and master. He has always taken an active interest in the Farmers Institute, and for three years was president of the Tri-county Institute of Henry, Lucas, and Wood counties.
On February 25, 1869, Mr. Benschoter was married to Miss Rachel S. Hannah, and three children have blessed their union: Lilly May, a young lady of fine abilities, who was educated in Grand Rapids, and is now at home; Charles E., a graduate of the Grand Rapids schools, later attending Oberlin College; Effie Belle, now at school. Rachel S. Hannah was born February 10, 1845, in Portage township, Ottawa Co., Ohio, and is a daughter of William P. and Eliza- beth (Dalzell) Hannah, who were the parents of ten children, as follows: Nancy Isabel (Mrs. McMann), now deceased; James Gill, who died when nineteen months old; Robert D., a farmer of Grand Rapids township; Elizabeth Jane, wife of C. C. Gundy, county commissioner of Wood county, and residing in Washington township;
Mary Ann, deceased wife of William Spangler; Rachel S., Mrs. J. S. Benschoter; Sarah M., de- ceased wife of George Cummings, farmer of Washington township; Cynthia R., wife of W. U. Baker, a farmer of Washington township; William H., a farmer of that township; and Alice E., wife of R. J. Collin, mayor, and a druggist, of Tontogany.
William P. Hannah, father of Mrs. Benscho- ter, was born January 1, 1809, in Adams county. Ohio, of Virginia parentage, of Welsh descent; was a farmer by occupation, and settled in Wood county, in 1864. On December 26, 1833, he was married in Marion county, Ohio, to Miss Elizabeth Dalzell, who was born February 8, 1813, in County Down, Ireland, and when six years old came to America with her parents. She died August 22, 1891. Mr. Hannah passed from life February 27, 1867, in Grand Rapids township. In politics he was first a Whig. later a Republican, a zealous worker for his party, but no office-seeker, and was a self-reliant, trust- worthy man, highly respected. On the 8th of February, the anniversary of the birth of Eliza- beth Dalzell, the Hannah family have each year, for twenty-seven years, held reunions, happy events that serve to link the past with the pres- ent, and preserve the unity of the family. In June. 1895. the descendants of the Dalzell fam- ily held their first reunion, at the home of C. C. Gundy, near Tontogany, Ohio. Their second reunion was held the 18th and 19th of August, 1896, at the home of Milton H. Rhoads, near Cochranton, Marion Co., Ohio.
W. H. MILLIKIN is one of the largest oil oper- ators in Wood county, and a wealthy and in- fluential citizen of Bowling Green. He is the architect of his own fortunes, and, as an example of a successful self-made man, his life record is worthy of more than a passing notice.
Mr. Millikin was born April 3, 1854. in Venango county, Penn. During his earlier years he attended the common schools, and later be- came a student at the State Normal School at Edinburg, in his native State. For six winters he was occupied in teaching. Some twenty years ago Mr. Millikin was induced to go into the oil business, in which he was at once successful. and in which he has been interested ever since. He at first operated in Pennsylvania and south- ern New York, coming thence to Ohio, and for a time making his home in Lima. He afterward removed to Wood county, finding a more exten- sive field for his operations in this section. Be- sides having a number of wells of his own, he is
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interested with others in some eighty-seven wells, and also owns the leases of a large amount of land in the vicinity of his oil fields, which he su- perintends in person. He is an enterprising, en- ergetic business man, and the oil industry is not the only line of business in which he is interested. He owns considerable valuable property at Bowl- ing Green, where he is now completing a hotel and business block, with all modern improve- ments, which will take place among the finest in this part of the State. The cost of the building will be at least $50,000, and it is a material im- provement to the business section of the city. Mr. Millikin is also a director in the First Na- tional Bank of Bowling Green. He is the owner of a fine 300-acre farm in Hardin county, on which he raises onions, potatoes and corn. Mr. Millikin is a shrewd financier, and one of the best oil operators in Wood county, and by his skillful management he has accumulated a snug fortune. His success is well merited. for he has risen to his present high position by energetic application to his business affairs, conquering the obstacles that rose in his path by his indomitable perseverance, and allowing nothing to discourage him, or destroy his ambitious spirit. Unassum- ing in manner and honorable in purpose, with a just regard for the rights and feelings of others, he is popular among both his business and social acquaintances, and occupies an enviable position in the city where he makes his home.
Mr. Millikin is a leader in, and liberal con- tributor to, all enterprises that have for their object the welfare and advancement of Bowling Green, and he is regarded by his fellow citizens as a valuable member of the community, loyal to all its interests. He has twice been elected a member of the city council of Bowling Green, his good judgment and business ability making him valuable in this important position.
In 1884 Mr. Millikin was married to Miss Alice Delphine David, who was born in New York in 1857, and four children have blessed their union, namely: Carrie, Mary, Grace and Charles William. Mrs. Millikin is a lady of in- telligence and refinement. She is a leader in Church work, she and her children belonging to the M. E. Church, to which Mr. Millikin is a liberal contributor, though he is not a member. He is a strong advocate of temperance, and in political sentiment is a stanch Republican.
Charles B. David, Mrs. Millikin's father, was a native of Maine, born in October, 1830. When a boy he removed with his parents to Fort James, N. Y., and later to Allegany county, that State, where he was married to Miss Clarissa Burns,
who was born September 17, 1834, in Con- necticut, reinoving thence with her parents to Allegany county, when she was six years old. Mr. David was a stock farmer, became quite well-to-do, and was highly respected in the com- munity in which he resided. He died in August, 1894, leaving a widow and four children, viz. : Alice D., Mrs. Millikin, born in May, 1857; Charles E., .a merchant at Belmont, N. Y. ; Frank E., a merchant; and Minnie A., now Mrs. George H. Osborn, of Watertown, N. Y. Mr. David and all the family became members of the M. E. Church. He was a member of the Masonic Fraternity, and took great interest in that order, becoming a Master Mason.
The parents of our subject, John and Ann (Smullin) Millikin, were natives of Ireland, the former born in County Donegal, near Strabane. They were married in that country, and after the birth of one child, James, came to America, in about 1840, locating in Venango county, Penn. There the father carried on farming until his death, in 1877, at the age of seventy-four years. His wife survived him until 1883, when she, too. passed away, at the age of sixty-seven years. They were estimable people, and consistent mem- bers of the Methodist Church. Twelve children were born to this worthy couple (of whom ten are still living): James resides in Springfield, Mo. : Eliza married Samuel Weaver; John died in Salina, Kans., when forty-nine years old; L. S. lives in Fremont county, Iowa; Mrs. Mary Cramer lives in Pennsylvania; Maggie is the widow of Homer Hull; Thomas S. lives in Saline county. Kans .; Charlotte is the wife of W. R. Christy, and lives in Hardin county, Ohio; Peter P. resides in Warren, Ind. ; Canston Z. is an attor- ney at Salina, Kans .; Sarah died when two and a half years old; W. H. is the subject of this sketch.
ORRIN HENRY. The subject of this sketch. who has been a resident of Bowling Green since 1877, is a native of Wood county, Ohio, his birthi taking place October 24, 1840. His grandpar- ents, - and Rebecca (Follett) Henry, were born in New Hampshire, and at an early day came to Ohio, settling in Portage township. They hàd thirteen children.
Hosea Henry, the father of our subject, was born in New Hampshire in 1807, and accompa- nied his parents to this State. He settled on a farm near Millgrove. Perry township and there spent the remainder of his life, dying on March 17, 1883, at a good old age. His wife, whose maiden name was Nancy Smith, was a native of
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Pennsylvania, born in 1820, and is still living on the farm where they first made their home. They were consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mr. Henry was an Old- line Whig. To this estimable couple nine chil- dren were born, of whom six grew to maturity, namely: Orrin; Charles, a physician residing in Fostoria, who served during the Civil war in the 144th O. V. I .; Lorinda, deceased, was the wife of D. Lusk; Perry lives in Millgrove, Wood county; Alice married D. O. Furth, and lives in Chicago, Illinois.
Orrin Henry grew to manhood in Perry town- ship, attending the public and select schools dur- ing his boyhood, and on December 5, 1861, was married to Miss Mary S. Bosler, who was born in Pennsylvania, April 2, 1842, and who died April 22, 1891. Three children were born of this union: W. O. : Hattie, who died when eight years old; and Dwight L.
Soon after the breaking out of the Civil war, Mr. Henry enlisted in Company I, 100th O. V. I .; but being unable to leave when his regiment was mustered in, he again enlisted, August IS, , 1862, in Company A, 11Ith O. V. I., at Toledo. His command was assigned to the army of the Ohio, subsequently known as the army of the Tennessee. Mr. Henry was sergeant of his com- pany. Among the battles in which he took part were the siege of Knoxville, the Atlanta cam- paign, Perryville, Wilmington and Raleigh. He was honorably discharged from the service, at Salisbury, N. C., and reached Cleveland, Ohio, July 5, 1865, it lacking but a few days of being three years he had spent in the army.
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On his return from the South Mr. Henry took up farming for a time in Perry township, and also had the management of a sawmill. For some six years he had charge of a hotel, but in 1876 sold out his interests in that business, and went out West to the Black Hills, remaining there some two months. In the fall of the same year he was elected sheriff of Wood county, and held that office for four years, afterward serving for one term as deputy sheriff under his successor. He was then appointed U. S. Deputy Internal Revenue Collector, filling that position for two years, when the district was changed, and he lost the place.
Mr. Henry remained at home for over a year when he was appointed captain of the night watch in the State Penitentiary, where he was employed for twenty months, at the end of which time, on December 31, 1887, he was given a clerk- ship in the trust fund department of the State Auditor's office, where he served for four years.
On January 1, 1892, he was appointed land clerk in the State Auditor's office, which position he still holds. Mr. Henry is a Republican in poli- tics, a Chapter Mason, a K. of P., and a member of Wiley Post, G. A. R., at Bowling Green. He has filled the various positions of trust which he has held with great ability, and is esteemed by all who know him.
ENOS GOLDNER. Among the energetic and prosperous tillers of the soil who have made Bloom township the center of a high type of rural life, the subject of this sketch ranks with the foremost. Twenty-seven years ago his fer- tile fields were a stumpy waste, and now his farm is second to none in the county for produc- tiveness and beauty.
George Goldner, the father of our subject, was a native of Schuykill county, Penn,, and a carpenter by trade. He married Miss Susan Folk, of Austintown township, Mahoning Co., Ohio, and settled in that vicinity, purchasing a farm of 160 acres, whereon he made his resi- dence. He died in 1879, at the age of sixty- six, and his wife in 1873, aged fifty-eight.
Enos Goldner was born October 1, 1839, in Jackson township, Mahoning Co., Ohio, the eld- est of ten children-four sons and six daughters. His boyhood was spent in useful work at home, indoors as well as out, as he lightened his mother's labors whenever he could. He never liked to go to school, probably because the ad- vantages then offered to the pupil were not strikingly apparent. At the age of seventeen he began to learn the carpenter's trade with his father, a younger brother taking his place on the farm, and he followed his trade for seven or eight years, but has since been a farmer. On November 16, 1868, he was married at his native place to Miss Christina Handwerk who was born there May 20, 1850, the only daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Brobst) Handwerk. Mrs. Elizabeth (Brobst) Handwerk was the daughter of Daniel Brobst, who was born November I. 1797, in Pennsylvania, and died August 14. 1894, at our subject's home, where he had lived for eighteen years. In 1818 he married Magda- lena Folwiler. She was a member of the Presby- terian Church, he of the Lutheran. Joseph
Handwerk was born in Schuykill county, Penn., and came thence to Ohio with George Goldner. our subject's father, driving across the country. He died December 3. 1893, at his home in Bloom township, aged seventy-six years, nine months and twenty days. In Is48 he married Elizabeth Brobst, who was born October 13.
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Enas Goldres
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1825, in Campbell, Mahoning Co., Ohio, and now makes her home on the old home farmi. Both were members of the Lutheran Church.
In March, 1869, Mr. Goldner and his father- in-law came to Bloom township, and bought eighty acres in Section 29, and 160 in Section 32, adjoining, for which they went in debt to the extent of one thousand dollars. A small old house was the sole improvement, the fields standing full of stumps. They took up their residence in the township the same year, com- menced to clear the tract, and afterward added to it until the farm now comprises 444 acres, with 335 acres under cultivation. In 1892 they built the handsomest farm house in this region at a cost of $4, 200, but Mr. Handwerk, did not long enjoy it, his death occurring December 3, 1893.
Mr. and Mrs. Goldner have no children of their own, but four boys and two girls have found a home under their hospitable roof at different times. Mr. Goldner was a strong man physically, and was always a hard worker until 1889, when his health was affected by " La Grippe." He is a Democrat politically, but in local mat- ters votes for the ablest and most honest candi- date without regard to party. He and his wife are leading members of the Lutheran Church, and to bring a case of need to their attention is to secure ready and generous help.
WILLIAM HARMAN, one of Montgomery town- ship's best citizens, is a native of Prussia, born June 13, 1829. His father, who was a carpen- ter in Germany, married Miss Catherine Stur- mer, and in 1836, when our subject was seven years old, they sailed from Bremen on the vessel " Brilhiff," bound for New York, the trip taking eleven weeks and three days. They first went to Albany, N. Y., thence to Toledo and Sandus- ky, and remained a short time in each place, the father working at various odd jobs. He was em- ployed on the Wabash canal at Toledo, and in the same capacity at Napoleon, Ohio, where he remained two years. He next went to Maumee City, helped to put in locks and side-cut, and lived there until September 1, 1842, when he came to Section 30, Montgomery township, here buying seventy acres of land, a few acres of which had been chopped over, and on which was a small log cabin. He had saved $350 from his work on the canal with which to get a home. Here he lived until September, 1852, when he moved to Freeport and opened a hotel called the " Washington House," of which he was the pro- prietor for twenty-seven years. He then returned to Section 30, where he died August 21, 1883.
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In politics he was a Democrat. His widow passed away August 7, 1896, in Montgomery township, at the age of ninety-two years, mourned by a host of friends who knew this grand old pio- neer lady only to love her.
Our subject attended the district schools of his time, and was in his " teens" when his par- ents came to Montgomery township. On May 27, 1849, he was married to Miss Mary Kyser, who was born near Philadelphia, August 21. 1825, daughter of George and Mary (Shut) Ky- ser, who came to Columbianacounty in 1833. and died there. Afterward Mary visited her sisters in Montgomery township, where she met and married our subject. They began their married life on the home farm, and in 1872 came to Sec- tion 29, where they now reside. The following children have been born to them: George H., who is a farmer of Montgomery township; Fred- erick William, who lives near Hicksville, Ohio; Milton, who died in infancy; John H., a resident of Freeport; Frank P., a farmer of Portage; Daniel, living in Pulaski county, Ky .; Catherine, who died when twelve years old; and Andrew J., who is farming in Montgomery township. Mr. Harman has helped all his children to obtain homes, and has plenty of means left. He is no partisan in politics, but his sympathy is with the Democrats, and he has held a school office. He is a member of the Lutheran Church, as was also his wife. He has been a successful farmer, and is one of the good citizens of his township, than whom no one is more respected. On January 14, 1894, he had the misfortune to be completely burned out; but he has rebuilt the farm buildings, and to-day has one of the best homes in the township.
ADDISON LANSDALE, who is well and popularly known not only in Montgomery township, where he resides, but throughout Wood county, was born April 7, 1821, in Champaign county, Ohio. His parents, Richard and Jemima (Hyatt) Lans- dale, were married in Maryland in 1804, and in I SOS came to Ohio, settling in what is now Cham- paign county, on the banks of Little Darby creek, near Mechanicsburg, where our subject was born and where Mr. and Mrs. Lansdale both died. Their family consisted of eight children, of whom our subject was the youngest, and all of whom are deceased except himself and his brother Rich- ard, the latter a resident of Olympia, Washington.
Mr. Lansdale was an infant when his parents died, and he was reared by strangers. His school- ing, which was somewhat meager, was obtained in a log schoolhouse of the rudest description.
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There was then no common-school system as to- day, and educational affairs were managed in a manner which seems very strange to us. Each pupil was required to furnish a load of wood to keep the schoolhouse warn, the teachers ~"boarded round," and very few of them were able to instruct their pupils beyond the "three Rs." Our subject was early put to work on the farm, and earned a shilling a day, riding horses for the men who were raking hay. When a boy of sixteen years he learned the trade of a mason, plastering and brick-laying included. The family had been scattered on the death of the parents, and one of the sons. Alpheus, who was a molder by trade, had located at Lower Sandusky, now Fremont. Here our subject went to visit him, traveling on the Mad River railroad-the first road built in Ohio-to Tiffin, and walking the remaining distance. He easily found work there, and was soon after married, in June, 1850, to Miss Martha, daughter of Elisha Moore, a farmer liv- ing near Freinont. At the time of his marriage, Mr. Lansdale was the proud owner of twenty dollars in gold, which represented his entire capi- tal. In October of the same year the young couple took up their residence in Prairie Depot, where the wife died in the spring of 1851, and was buried in Bradner cemetery. She left one child, Martha, now Mrs. David Bowie, of San- dusky county. On November 18, 1852, Mr. Lansdale was inarried in Sandusky county to Miss Sarah King, who was born in Franklin county, April 13, 1831. Her father, Samuel King, was a pioneer of Sandusky county, having come there in 1832. Mrs. Sarah Lansdale died January 9, 1896. Two children were born to this union, Mary E., who became the wife of Franklin Palmer, and died January 15, 1879; and Florence, who married Samuel Pennell, and died, leaving one child, Mabel M., who makes her home with our subject.
In the fall of 1850 Mr. Lansdale traded a horse and buggy for his present lot, on which there was then only a log shanty. He subse- quently bought other lots, for one of which he gave a shot-gun, and, for another, $35. About this time he went into the grocery and clothing busi- ness, having a stock worth $200. His business increased steadily, and he carried it on for twen- ty-five years, when he sold out. In the mean- time he had purchased a couple of farins in Mont- gomery township, where he carried on general farming. In 186t he was elected county com- inissioner on the Union ticket, although he was a Democrat. Originally a Whig, he joined the Democratic forces on the dissolution of that party,
but voted for Abraham Lincoln for his second term. Since 1880 Mr. Lansdale has retired from active work, and only attends to the supervision of his business interests. He owns two business rooms in Prairie Depot, and two dwelling houses. Beginning life a very poor boy, he has acquired his present comfortable competency by his own unaided exertions. He is the pioneer of Prairie Depot, and is known over a large portion of Wood county. He is a jovial man, one who thoroughly enjoys life, and is a most agreeable companion and entertaining conversationalist. In his relig- ious views he is a Free Thinker. As a citizen he is public-spirited, and greatly interested in the cause of education.
CHRISTIAN BAY, a wealthy retired agricultur- ist of Perrysburg, is one of our typical German- American citizens, who, by their industry and frugality, make their way to success over every obstacle. He was born December 31, 1825, in Wittenberg, Germany, which for generations had been the home of his forefathers. His parents, George and Catherine Bay, died when he was still a youth, and in 1852 he came to Ohio. He spent one year in Wayne county, three in Lorain county (part of the time residing at Columbia Sta- tion), remaining until 1861, when lie came to Wood county. Here he settled in the unbroken wilderness, in the heart of the . Black Swamp." where he experienced all the disheartening trials of pioneer life. For thirty-four years he lived there-the locality being now known as . Bay Station," on the C. H. & D. railroad-and had already acquired a competence when the discov- ery of oil upon his land enabled him to sell it for a large sum-a fortune, in fact. He then removed to Perrysburg, where he is spending the leisure which he can so well appreciate after his early years of toil. Politically, he is a Demo- crat, and for many years has been a member of the Lutheran Church.
Mr. Bay was married in Liverpool, Medina Co., Ohio, to Miss Jane McConnell, who was born in 1835, and died September 13. 1894. mourned by a large circle of relatives and friends. Of the seven children born of this union: (1) Je- rusha B. married G. Mercer, and has three children -- Mabel, Vernie and Edith; (2) Eliza- beth married William Bower, of Milton Center. and has four children (three sons and one daugh- ter)-Clarence, Bearl, Karl and Marie : (3 George W., born June 20, 1860 died October 2, 1866; (4) William S., born December 0. 1867, died October 11, 1871: (5) and (6) Mary J. and Miny A., born August 10, 1870, the for-
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