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 95
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Mr. McCrory was married to Miss Rachel Milbourn, whose birth took place in Bloom town- ship, February 16, 1854. Three children have been born to them: Bertha, who died when two years and nine months old; Alda, born May 27, 1884, and Charles, born February 17, 1887. Our subject is in sympathy with the principles of the Prohibition party, but in local elections cares { more for the qualifications of the candidate than for mere party considerations, and votes accord- ingly. He is a consistant member of the Chris- tian Church, and is liberal to all worthy causes. Fraternally, he belongs to the I. O. O. F., and in all relations of life, bears his part as an honest man, a good neighbor and worthy citizen.
JOSEPH ENGESSER was born in Baden, Ger- many, March 11, 1844, and his parents, John and Maria Ann Engesser, were also natives of Baden, but the great-grandfather of our sub- ject was a native of France. By trade, John Engesser was a miller, and also followed farming. His death occurred in his native land, February 26, 1875, while his wife survived him a few years. To them were born the following children- Johann, who was drowned in a river one stormy night; Anna and Theresa, in Germany; Joseph, of this sketch; Mary and Katrina, in Germany; and George who came to America in 1870. He went to Kansas but died twenty-six days after reaching his destination.
Joseph Engesser attended school in his native land until fourteen years of age when he began to learn the trade of a miller and baker in Tre- burg, serving a two-years-and-a-half apprentice- ship and paying $50 for the instruction he re- ceived. During that time he had to arise at one o'clock in the morning and work until quite late at night, for he attended evening school. His ap- prenticeship being ended, he went to Austria, to Bavaria, to Tyrol, Switzerland, and to Alsace, working in these various places, his ability en- abling him to command the highest wages. On April 3, 1870, he sailed from Bremen on the steamer "Taain", which reached New York harbor on the 15th of April. He was accompanied by a friend. From New York he went to Cincinnati, and had just money enough to pay one week's board for himself and friend. He soon, how- ever, obtained work in a bakery, where he con- tinued until the fall, when he went to Wapa-
koneta. Ohio, where for three years he worked at the miller's trade. He next went to Auglaize county, and in the summer of 1874 he came to Wood county, establishing a feed-mill in Custar. which he operated for a year. He then pur- chased the hotel, which was in poor condition, but he has made many excellent improvements, and is now conducting the "Washington Hotel", an establishment that is first-class in every particular.
Returning to Wapakoneta, Mr. Engesser was married November 26, 1874, to Magdalena Wieser, who was born in Auglaize county, Oc- tober 15, 1855. They at once came to Custar, and on May 1, 1875, opened the hotel. To them have been born the following children-Josephine, August 13, 1875: Anna Wilhelmina, December 27, 1876; Clara Maria, November 1, 1878; Franz J., September 30, ISSI; Elizabeth, May 4, 1884; Magdalena, February 26, 1887; Theresa Ger- trude, May 30, 1890; Vernika Julia, August 2, IS93; and Mary K., April 6, 1895. The first named died September 6, 1876, but the others are all living.
Mr. Engesser is a stanch Democrat, and is a member of St. Louis' Catholic Church. In the spring of 1894, he returned to his native land, where he spent several months visiting his sisters and friends, and then returned home content to reside in America.
JOHN EAKEN, who has taken quite a promi- nent part in public affairs in Jackson township, was born in Medina county, Ohio, June 6, 1846. and is a son of George Clark Eaken, a native of Pennsylvania. The mother bore the maiden name of Sarah Lance, and was a native of Wayne county, Ohio. Soon after their marriage they removed to Medina county, where the father owned and operated a farm until his death, which occurred in 1860. His wife passed away the previous year. Their children were Elizabeth, who died at the age of two years; George, a farm- er, of Medina county, Ohio: Abraham, also a farmer there; Mrs. Sarah Jane Albert; Isabel, of Medina county; Hannah, wife of Conrad Eckerly, who died in Michigan; John; Mary, wife of Duat Hickoks, of Massillon, Ohio.
Mr. Eaken, of this sketch, acquired a fair ed- ucation in the public schools, and at the time of his father's death, started out in life for himself, being then fourteen years of age. The following year he became a brakeman on the N. Y. P. & O. railroad, and in a wreck he sustained severe injuries, which prevented him from working for six months. He afterward was employed as a farm hand for a year, and then enlisted with the
1865
WOOD COUNTY, OHIO.
hundred-day men in Company D, 79th O. V. I., and, after reaching Washington, was assigned to the heavy artillery. After the war he again worked as a farm hand.
On October 10, 1867, in La Fayette, Ohio, Mr. Eaken married Susan Catherine Hollowell, and a year later came to Wood county, where several years previous he had purchased forty acres of land in Jackson township. This he at once began to clear and improve, making it his home for eleven years, and clearing it of all in- debtedness; but through going security for an- other, he lost all his property. He afterward bought forty acres, which he farmed for a year, then sold, and purchased eighty acres. While living there his wife died. Eight children were born of that marriage-Luella, wife of Dora El- linwood, of Hoytville; Ida May, wife of S. D. Leatherman, of Hoytville; William C .; Edward Dwight, who died at the age of five years; Har- ley; Minnie Maud, and Finney Tot, twins; and Mertie Ann. For his second wife, Mr. Eaken married Catherine A. Mills, widow of John Kiger, by whom she had six children, four yet living. By the second marriage have been born five chil- dren-Mary Catherine Lillie Alverna, at home; Jennie, who died of diphtheria at the age of seven; Johnnie Guy, who died at the age of six- teen months; Roy, who died in infancy; and Flora.
At the time of his second marriage, Mr. Eaken traded forty acres of his farm for a building that stood on the site of his present home, but which was burned in 1889. He has since erected there a good residence and store room. Before the fire he carried on a grocery store for a year and a half, and then rented his store room, while he went on the road for six months. selling sewing machines. Returning to Hoytville, he then em- barked in the saloon business, which he has since successfully carried on. He also owns forty acres of land, which he farnis. In politics he is a strong Republican, and for many years has served as township clerk. For eight years he was con- stable, has also been school director, and super- visor, and has continually held office since loca- ting in the county.
ASHER SARGENT, a resident of Liberty town- ship; post office, Portage, Ohio.
ZAHM STEVENS. The salient points in the life of this intelligent and enterprising farmer, who, besides general farming, is also engaged in stock dealing in Washington township, are as follows: He was born m Sherman township. Hu-
ron Co., Ohio, August 24, 1853, and is a son of John A. and Ether Linda (Heath) Stevens. The father was born in the same county, and was a son of William K. Stevens, of German descent. There the parents were married, and in their family were nine children, as follows: Daniel, deceased; John E., the present mayor of Grand Rapids, Ohio; Amelia, wife of E. Gill; Zahm; Almina, deceased wife of William Potes; Prudence, deceased; Roxy Ann, wife of Jeff Dots; Mary Elizabeth, wife of Abner Gill; and Emma Jane, wife of John Curtis Ames.
In the district schools of Wood county, Mr. Stevens, of this review, pursued his literary stud- ies, he having coming to this county with his parents in October, 1855. He grew to manhood upon the home farm, aiding in the work of the fields, and there remained until his marriage. That important event occurred on December 15. 1873, the lady of his choice being Lucy Ann Bur- ditt, a daughter of Greenbury Burditt, and a sister of Andrew. She was born May 6, 1852. By her marriage she has become the mother of four children-Rosa, who was born July 20, 1875, and died September 10, 1876; Ether Linda, who was born September IS, 1877, and is now the wife of Florus Thompson, who assists in the operation of the Stevens farm; Car- oline Eldora, who was born February 22, 1882, and is at home; and William K., who was born September S, 1887, and died in infancy.
After his inarriage Mr. Stevens worked for others for about four years, on the expiration of which time he removed to the farm where he now resides, renting the land from his father-in-law, for two years. He then purchased the place, which comprises forty acres of fine arable land, most of which he has cleared, drained and tiled. and erected thereon a good residence at a cost of $1,000. The land is very productive, he having raised thirty bushels of wheat to the acre the past year. He also deals quite extensively in stock and sheep, finding it a profitable employment. For nine years he has been serving his fellow towns- men as school director, and has been president of the board of education for eight years. The Re- publican party receives his earnest support, and all interests calculated to benefit the community receive his substantial aid. He attends the Dis- ciples Church.
JACOB ASH, whose well-spent life has won him the esteem of young and okl, rich and poor, is now, at the age of seventy-nine years, living at his pleasant home in Milton township amid many warm friends who have for him the greatest
£
1366
WOOD COUNTY, OHIO.
regard. He was born in Somerset county, Penn., October 8, 1817, and is a son of David and Elizabeth (Zimmerman) Ash. The father was born (it is supposed) in Cumberland county, Penn., in 1792, and was a farmer by occupa- tion. . When a young man he moved to Somer- set county, where he married Miss Zimmerman, a native of New York. They lived in that county until 1834, and then removed with their family to Stark county, Ohio, locating on a fifty-acre farm. In 1842 Mr. Ash, with his wife and five children, came out to De Kalb county, Ind., where his death occurred in 1875; his wife had passed away ten years previous. In their family were the following children: Sallie, deceased wife of
Jacob Miller; Katie, who was twice married, and is now deceased; Josiah, a retired farmer of Ash- land county; Jacob; Betsy, wife of John Meiser, of De Kalb county, Ind .; Mary, wife of Hugh Maxwell, of De Kalb county; David. deceased; Aaron. of De Kalb county; and Henry, who died in Kansas.
Our subject was educated in subscription schools in his native State, and at the age of sev- enteen came with his parents to Ohio. He was reared on a farm, and has throughout life carried on agricultural pursuits. In Stark county, in November, 1837, he married Sallie Putnam, a native of that county, born in 1819. They re- moved to Seneca county, Ohio, locating on a partially-improved farm of eighty acres; but after two years returned to Stark county. They lived for a similar period in Sugar Creek township, and then came, with their family, to Wood county. making the journey with two horses and a wagon. Mr. Ash was given eighty acres of land by his father-in-law. It was then wild land, and he at once began to clear and improve it. He erected a log cabin with the assistance of his neighbors, and as time passed kept improving the dwellings upon his place. In 1886 he erected his present commodious residence, and is to-day the owner of a highly-improved and well-cultivated farm.
In 1870 Mrs. Ash died, and her remains were buried in Weston cemetery. Their children were as follows: Gabriel; Elizabeth, wife of Jo Stan- show, of Weston township; Susan, wife of Abra- ham Reams, of Milton township; Franklin, a farmer of Milton township; David, who died in boyhood; Mary, wife of Samuel Hoover, of Lima, Ohio; Henry, who died in childhood; Josiah, a minister in Nebraska; Monroe, who died at the age of nineteen; and Hattie, wife of Otto Sock- man, of Knox county, Ohio. Two years after the death of his first wife, Mr. Ash married Sarah Miller, who was born in Marion county, Ohio,
August 27, 1841, a daughter of Jacob and Mary (Drosen) Miller, natives of Ohio. Her father, who was a farmer, became a resident of Marion county at an early day, and in his family were five children: Isaac, of Morrow county, Ohio; Rebecca, wife of John Powell, of Findlay, Ohio; Eli, deceased; Hannah, deceased wife of Gabriel Ash; and Sarah. To our subject and his wife have been born two children: Jesse, at home; and Irena, who died at the age of eight months.
In politics Mr. Ash is a Prohibitionist, and has served as school director and supervisor for many years, also as township trustee. He has taken quite a prominent part in religious work. and he and his wife are faithful members of the. Evangelical Church.
OSCAR LYON, a farmer; post office, Water- ville, Lucas county, Ohio.
ANTON DIEFENTHALER. Among the enter- prising and substantial farmers of Lake township, there is probably none more widely or favorably known than this gentleman. He comes from across the sea, his birth having occurred in Hessen-Darmstadt, Germany, in 1840, and is a son of Philip and Susan (Young) Diefenthaler, who were also natives of that duchy, and in : 857, accompanied by their family, they sailed from Havre, France. At the end of a long and tedious voyage of thirty-one days they landed safely at New York, whence they came to Lake township, Wood county, where the father purchased eighty acres of timber land, and on that farm the par- ents spent their remaining days. In their fam- ily were three children-Mrs. Christina Burch, of Lake township; Jacob and Anton. The mother was twice married, her first husband being Philip Kahler, who died in the Fatherland, and to them: were born four children-Philip, who located in Lake township as early as 1842, and died in To- ledo, Ohio; John, who arrived in that township in 1852, and there died in 1895: Mrs. Barbara Young, of Toledo; and Mrs. Mary Young, of Ottawa county, Ohio.
In the public schools of his native land our subject acquired his education, and was seven- teen years of age at the time of his arrival in Lake township, where he has since engaged in farming, now owning a fine farm of eighty acres in Section 1. At Toledo, Ohio, in 1865, he en- listed in Company B, 189th O. V. I., for one year. or until the close of the war, and participated in the engagements at Huntsville and Brownsboro. After hostilities had ceased, he was honorably dis- charged at Columbus, Ohio, in 1865, and re-
1367
WOOD COUNTY, OHIO.
turned to his home. In Lake township, in 1866, he was married to Miss Caroline Shafer, a daughter of Louis and ( Kolb) Shafer, also natives of Germany, and on coming to the United States first located in Ottawa county, Ohio. They are both now deceased. Eight children have been born to our subject and his estimable wife -- six sons and two daughters-namely: John, Philip, Henry, Charley, Louie, Rudolph, Mary, and Christina.
Mr. Diefenthaler uses his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Re- publican party; socially, he affiliates with Doug- las Post, G. A. R., at Millbury, Wood county, and in religious sentiment he is a Protestant. No one is more interested in the development and progress of Wood county than is our sub- ject, who gives his support to all worthy enter- prises, and is justly entitled to a position among the representative citizens of Lake township.
JOHN TAYLOR is a farmer in Middleton town- ship; post office, Hull Prairie, Ohio.
PHILIP WETZEL, a well-known cigar manu- facturer of Perrysburg, was born November II, 1858, in Hessen-Darmstadt, Germany, where his ancestors, both paternal and maternal, had their home for generations. Jacob Wetzel, his fatlier, was born January 13. 1836, and his tnother, Catherine Artz, on December 18 of the same year. They were married November 10, 1857, and five years later came to Perrysburg. where the father carried on his trade of merchant tailor until 1879, when he began the manufactur- ing of cigars in partnership with our subject, his eldest soll. In 1892 he retired from business, and with his wife is enjoying well-earned leisure at his home in Perrysburg. A brief record of their six children is as follows: Philip is our subject; Mary married James Kinnear, of Morri- son, Mich .; Willie died at the age of eight months; Katie is the wife of Rev. E. H. Jamison, of Kingston, Tenn. ; Charles died aged five years; Amelia lives with her parents.
Perrysburg having been our subject's home since childhood, his education was obtained in her excellent public schools, and the early friend- ships then formed, and the admirable business training acquired with his father, have smoothed the way to success in later years. His present factory, opened in September, 1894, is already a prosperons enterprise. In 1891 Mr. Wetzel was married to Miss Ethel Baird, a native of Perrys- burg, born December 28, 1869, and they have one child, Dorcas. Politically our subject is a
Democrat, and he is one of the most influential and popular workers in local affairs. In 1883 he was elected clerk of Perrysburg township, by a majority of 222, and has held the office for three terms. The second time his majority was .245, and so well did his performance of his duties satisfy the public that at the last election he had no opposition. He is now serving his sixth con- secutive year. A stanch supporter of the rights of the workingman, he belongs to the Cigarmakers National Union, and he is also a member of the I. O. O. F., holding the office of district deputy grand master.
ISAAC CHARLTON, an honorable and well-to- do farmer of Center township, is a native of Sugar Creek township, Stark Co., Ohio, and made his appearance on the stage of life April 26, 1823. The birth of his father, John Char !- ton, occurred in Pennsylvania, where he followed farining, but when a young man removed to Stark county, Ohio, where he operated a farm of sixty acres. In 1855 he came to Wood county and purchased sixty acres in Center township, where both he and his wife died, and they were laid to rest in the cemetery of Bowling Green. In Stark county he had wedded Polly Augusteen, a native of Columbiana county, Ohio, and our subject was the younger of their two children, the other being Fanny, who was born in ISIS, and became the wife of Charles Elliott, but is now deceased.
In the uneventful manner of most farmer boys, Isaac Charlton spent the days of his child- hood and youth, acquiring the rudiments of his education in the district schools of Stark and Wood counties, and gave the benefit of his labors to his father in clearing and operating the home farm. He is numbered ainong the pio- neers of the county, having arrived here in 1855, when few roads had been laid out, and most of the land was still in its primitive condition. He aided in the transformation that has taken place since that time, working hard in clearing the land, digging up the stumps, draining the land, etc. His first purchase made him the possessor of sixty acres of partially-improved land in Cen- ter township, and after operating it for several years he sold out and purchased the forty-acre tract which is still his home. The many im- provements seen thereon are the work of his hands, and the land now constitutes one of the most highly cultivated farms in the neighbor- hood.
In Stark county, in 1847, Mr. Charlton was united in marriage with Christiana Ebersole, who
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WOOD COUNTY, OHIO.
was born there March 24, 1825, and to them have been born nine children, namely: Caro- line, wife of Jacob Snider, of Plain township, Wood county; Frances, at home; John, a farmer of Huron county, Ohio; Euria, a farmer of Plain township; Sarah, at home; Marion, an agricultur- ist of Center township; Emma, wife of Herbert Underwood; Maggie, wife of Simeon George, a farmer of Center township; and Charles, who was born March 24, 1868, and assists in the operation of the homestead farm,
On starting out in life, Mr. Charlton had no capital, but by energy and economy has become possessed of a handsome property. A good orchard is one of the features of his place, his residence and barns are neat, and everything that surrounds him evinces the thrift and care of the owner. His political views are in accordance with those of the Republican party, and he always uses his ballot in support of its men and measures.
FRANK JOSETT, foreman of the machine shops of the Hardy Machine Company, at North Baltimore, Ohio.
WILLIAM SAVORY, who is widely and favor- ably known in Wood county, was born in the city of Toledo, September 15, 1859, and is of English lineage. His father, James Savory, was born in Oxfordshire, England, where he followed the various callings of a butcher, shoemaker and baker in the county of his nativity. In 1854 he crossed the Atlantic to the New World, and took up his residence in Toledo, Ohio, where, for sev- eral years, he worked at market gardening. Coming to Wood county, he here purchased twenty acres of timber land, which he improved for two years, when he sold, and bought eighty-
five acres, all of which he placed under a high state of cultivation, continuing its operation until ISoo, when he retired to private life. For three years he had his residence in Perrysburg, and then removed to East Toledo, where he now makes his home. He was married in England. to Esther Tiffin, and they became the parents of four children: Thomas, a carpenter and joiner: Mary, wife of Charles Taylor, a farmer of Lucas county, Ohio; William, the subject of this sketch: and Charles, who was killed near the homestead. in 1887, by the bursting of a gun. The father of this family served as trustee in Middleton township for six years, and gave his political support to the Republican party. His wife died in Perrysburg, in 1893.
Our subject was educated in Wallbridge, Lu- cas Co., Ohio, and in Middleton township, and worked on his father's farm from boyhood till early manhood, when he started out to make his own way in the world. For two years he fol- lowed the carpenter's trade, and was then for four years engaged in the wholesale butchering business. He then returned to the old home- ~ stead, and has since conducted the farm. He now cultivates 125 acres, upon which he has made excellent improvements, and in addition operates a threshing machine during the harvest season. His business is well managed, and is a prosper- ous one. In 1887, in Maumee, Ohio, he mar- ried Miss Maggie Collier, who was born in Per- rysburg, in 1860, and they have five children: Chace, James, Catherine ( "Katie"), Edward and Elmer. Iu politics Mr. Savory is a stalwart Republican, but prefers to give his attention to his business interests rather than to politics. He is a gemal, whole-souled gentleman, of a bener- olent, kindly disposition, and makes friends whier- ever he goes. 1
INDEX.
PAGE
Wvery, Joshua O.
Battles, John P.
Battle of the Thames 14
Battle of Frenchtown.
Battles of the Maumee, Plan of. .
Bam. I. M ..
Baumgardner, Michael. 1242
Bay, Christian.
Bays, Village of
Beach, W. B.
Beatty, Mrs. Delilah.
1016
Beatty, Hiram
Beck, A. D.
Beck, Mrs. Mary J :3:
Beck, Titus
Beil, Adam 148;
Beil, Conrad .. 344
Bell, Jabez. 281
Bell, George W 941
Bell, Dr. W. M.
Bender, Joseph ..
Benn, Mrs. Martha
Benn. W. IL .. . 128
Benschoter, Charles W
Benschoter, Jeremiah S.
Benschoter, Samuel W
Benton, A. F.
821
BENTON:
By Whom Founded 411
Baker, Adam. 837 For Whom Named. 411
Baker. Almon ..
1009
Its Business Men .. £11
Site of the Town ..
Berkley. N. G
Bernthisel, Henry 860
Bernthisel, Jacob. 250
Bever, I. T. 1235
Beverstock, Edward. 82. GOT
Beverstock, E. B.
Beverstock, Otis.
559 Bichler, David F
Bierly, Cornelius 11;5
Bierly, George. 551.875
Bierly. Thoma Bimedick, Henry 0012
Birdsall, James .. 321
Bishop, Mrs. Juliette
Bishop, William .. 1020
Black. George W.
Black, John.
Black. Capt. Luther
Blair, Andrew J
Blair, J. B.
Blake. Village of
Blasins, Mathias ..
Blasius, Peter
Blessing, Adam.
Blessing. George
Blessing, 1. W.
Atkins, Henry
Barr, Robert
213
Auctioneers
Bartlett, Joseph 251
barton, Daniel
Barton, F. 1 Vil
Anrand. Michael
Barton, Hugh.
Austin. Ira B ..
1049
Barom, James 110:
Wovorter, Chantes E
1.3
Barton, Sanmiel.
Avery, Dudley H ..
Barton, William K
Avery, Mrs. Harriet
Bates, David.
PAGE
Abbott, B. L. 82,503
Abbott, Mrs. Helen .. 569
Abbott, M. ..
360
Abbott, Sylvester B. 568
Ackerman, David. 1158
Ackerman, Isaac.
1158
Acts of Congress ( Public Lands)
191-200
Adams, Capt. A. W 555
Adams, David (Bloom). 1167
Adams, David (Montgomery). 1362
Adams Family. 1362
Adams, F. B .. 943
Adams, George
1167
Baird, Asa 1.
1179
Adams, Henry
889
Adams, J. Q ..
696
Adams, Mrs. Jane J.
696
Adams, Madison.
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