County of Williams, Ohio, Historical and Biographical, Part 53

Author: Weston A. Goodspeed, Charles Blanchard
Publication date: 1882
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 885

USA > Ohio > Williams County > County of Williams, Ohio, Historical and Biographical > Part 53

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Digitized by Google

547

BRYAN AND PULASKI TOWNSHIPS.

ANDREW CALVIN was born in Portage County, Ohio, April 10, 1834, and is a son of Josiah and Elizabeth (McGowan) Calvin, who were respectively born in Virginia and Ohio, and parents of twelve children. In 1848, they came to Williams County, and here the mother died in 1850 ; the father then married Nancy Cosity, who died in August, 1858, the remains lying interred in Lick Creek Cemetery ; for his third wife he selected Esther Norris. Andrew Calvin was married, January 1, 1860, to Emily Byres, of Portage County, and to them have been born six chil- dren-Jerome B., Emil E., Charles, Rosa, Harry and Ella Dell. Mr. C. always resided with his parents, and now owns the old homestead. He and wife are members of the church of the Disciples, in which his father is an Elder.

F. M. CARTER, druggist and grocer, was born in Loudoun County, Va., April 11, 1828, and is the eldest of two children, a son and a daugh- ter, born to Eden and Susanna (Hann) Carter, who were natives of Vir- ginia, and of English and German descent respectively. Both families came to America about the same time, settling in New Jersey, the Carters being Quakers. Eden Carter was a stone mason by trade, but after his marriage engaged in farming. In September, 1852, he and family moved to Williams County, Ohio, having a previous knowledge of the county and his daughter being the wife of Dr. Kent, of Bryan. They located in Bryan, then a village of between 400 and 500 people. Mr. Carter did not engage in active life, but lived retired until his death, which occurred August 15, 1857, preceded by his wife April 29, 1855. He and wife were respected and esteemed people, and were widely known and universally beloved. F. M. Carter's advantages in youth were but limited, and he received only a common school education. He preceded his parents to Williams County in 1850 to look at the country. He purchased an in- terest in Dr. Kent's drug store in the building Mr. Carter yet owns, and enlarged their stock to a general stock of goods besides their drugs. Since that time, he has been actively engaged in mercantile pursuits in partner- ship and alone. He is now doing business alone, and has two rooms, one drug and the other grocery, and carries a stock valued at upward of $10,- 000. He does a first-class business, averaging annually $20,000. He came here a poor boy, but has made a comfortable home and established himself in a good trade by his honorable dealings. He has been three times married. First, to Lucy A. Moore, who bore him two sons, both of whom are now dead. He married Miss Moore November 29, 1855; she died April 5, 1861. His second wife was a niece of his first, Ellen M. Moore, to whom he was married April 7, 1862. This lady died No- vember 9, 1871, leaving two children-Frank L. and Minnie B. His third and present wife is Zilpha E. Myers, to whom he was married June

Digitized by Google

548

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

23, 1873. To this union was born one son, George M. The mother is a daughter of G. W. Myers, whose biography accompanies this volume. Mr. Carter is a member of the I. O. O. F., and a Democrat in politics. He was elected to the State Legislature the fall of 1877, and served in the regular and special sessions of 1878 and 1879. Besides the above, he has held various other positions of honor and trust.

W. W. DARBY, marble dealer, is one of six living children of a family of eight born to Darius and Ann (Gardner) Darby, who were natives of Maryland, and of English descent. Darius Darby, who had made agriculture a life pursuit, died on the Maryland homestead in 1851. at the age of sixty-one; his widow came to Williams County in 1868 where her son, our subject, was then living, and here died in 1879. W. W. Darby was born June 13, 1845, in Montgomery County, Md., and was there reared to manhood, receiving an ordinary education. He re- mained farming in his native State until 1863, when he came to this county, where his brother-in-law, Judge Willett, was then living. He began working at the marble cutter's trade, at which he continued about four years, when he formed his partnership with J. H. Willett, which has ever since continued. Mr. Darby has been steadily working at his trade since 1863, with the exception of four years when he was elected to the office of County Sheriff by the Democratic party, and re-elected and served in this position with honor to himself and satisfaction to the citizens of the county. Mr. Darby is one of Bryan's prominent and en- terprising citizens, having been identified with its best interests since becoming a resident. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and of the O. F. Encampment, having passed through all the chairs of these two lodges, and also a member of the Patriarchal Circle, the Royal Arcanum, and the F., & A. M. He was married in June, 1868, to Miss Olive A. Griffith, who died in 1869, and in February, 1881, he married Miss Laura M. Reynolds. Mr. Darby began life principally with his own resources, and by good management has acquired a comfortable home, and secured a trade in marble that promises to meet all reasonable expectations of reward.

A. C. DILLMAN was born in Centre Township, Williams Co., Ohio, April 6, 1844. His father, Jacob Dillman, was a native of Penn- sylvania, of German descent; was a wheelwright by trade; went to Canada when a young man, and there married Mariah Crocker, afterward moving to Summit County, where he remained working at his trade until his removal to Williams County. In 1834, he started west through Ohio to look up a mill location. He was attracted to Williams County by its bright prospects, and selected a location in Centre Township, but made no entries that year. He then returned to Summit County, and in March of

Digitized by Google

549

BRYAN AND PULASKI TOWNSHIPS.

that year sold his interests there, and the same year moved out, locating on Section 34, when he took up a large tract of land and engaged in a general trading business, having brought out a stock of goods that would be needed in a new country. He came to the county a comparatively wealthy man, and with this wealth did more for the general welfare of the county than perhaps any other one man. He took an active part in the building of churches, schools, etc. He built the first schoolhouse in Centre Township with his own means ; built the first steam saw-mill in the county ; was active in the support of the County Agricultural Society at its organization, and, in fact, all matters of a public benefit found in him a warm supporter. He was a temperance man in principle, a rare thing among our pioneers, who deemed pure corn juice a necessity ; was a member of the United Brethren Church, and a Republican in politics. His first wife died January 8, 1843, leaving a family of six children. The same year, June 29, he married Mrs. Lois (Horton) Stoddard, widow of Israel Stoddard, with four children. To this union were born three children, all living. The mother died in August, 1855, Mr. Dillman afterward marrying a Mrs. Maynard. Mr. Dillman continued a long life of usefulness, and died in March, 1870, beloved and esteemed by all who knew him. A. C. Dillman was reared in Williams County, and at the age of seventeen joined the regimental band of the Thirty-eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, afterward with the One Hundredth and Twenty- eighth. He received his final discharge from the service July 13, 1865. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant of militia in 1863 by Gov. Tod. For seventeen months succeeding the war, he was in Kansas and the Indian Territory, afterward coming home, where, October 30, 1862, he married Miss Mell E. Huffman, who has borne him three children- Loal B., Grace E. and Jessie B. Previous to his coming to Bryan in 1871, he resided in Indiana, working at carpentering and cabinet-making. Since being here, he first started a dimension mill, afterward engaging in a general furniture trade, also undertaking, still carrying on the last named. In 1882, he took charge of the wheel-barrow factory, and is doing well. Mr. Dillman is a Republican, and he and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church.

R. D. DOLE, Postmaster at Bryan, was born May 5, 1838, at Salem, Columbiana Co., Ohio; is one of seven children (six of whom are still living), born to Michael and Leanorah (Dunlap) Dole. The father of this subject, Michael Dole, was born in Elizabethtown, N. J., of English an- cestors, June 19, 1808. He was born, reared, and died in the Quaker faith of religion. His mother, Leanorah, was born the 17th of May, 1814, near Salem, Columbiana Co., Ohio (of Irish parents); these parents lived in Butler Township, Columbiana Co., Ohio, after their marriage,

Digitized by Google

550

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES :

to wit: June 18, 1835, until 1847, when they moved into Edinburg Township, Portage Co., Ohio., on a small farm of sixty acres, purchased by them, where they lived and prospered till in May, 1854, they, with seven children, came to Williams County, Ohio, and settled on 150 acres, nearly all woods, part in Jefferson and part in Superior Township, and with the boys cleared up the farm, and carried on farming. Here, Janu- ary 25, 1867, Michael Dole departed this life, his widow, Leanorah. still surviving him. Our subject worked at farming and carpenter work up to September 1, 1861, when he enlisted in Company H, Thirty-eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, as a private, and was discharged November 25, 1863, re-enlisting as a veteran in the same company and regiment, con- tinuing in the service until May 25, 1865, when he was finally discharged a non-commissioned officer. Mr. Dole served through the great Shiloh campaign, and also the siege of Corinth; was among the first to enter this city on its evacuation ; participated in the campaign from Corinth, Miss., to Winchester, Tenn., and from there in the great forced march to Louisville, Ky., a distance of 600 miles, in the months of August and September, and immediately after this, in the Perryville and Crab Or- chard campaign ; still later in the Stone River, and Triune and Tullahoma campaigns ; then in the Chickamauga and Chattanooga campaigns ; was among those who made the gallant charge up Mission Ridge, and here, after his re-enlistment and veteran furlough of thirty days, he rejoined the army, and set out with it and Sherman in the great march to the sea : continued with it till September 1, 1864, at Jonesboro, Ga. ; in that terri- ble charge upon the enemy's works, he was wounded in the left knee-joint, which necessitated the amputation of the leg above the knee. Thus total- ly disabled, after remaining in different hospitals till May, 1865, he was discharged, having served three years and eight months at the front, in active, hard campaigning, and returned home very much emaciated, and unable to do anything until January, 1867; having been elected by the Republicans to the office of County Recorder, he entered upon the duties thereof. He was twice re-elected, and served nine years; and in the meantime, in the summer of 1868, suffered a second amputation of his leg, which had not as yet, up to that time, become sound. Since the ex- piration of his third term as Recorder, he has been engaged in insurance, pension and real estate business. In politics, he has been a Republican from the organization of the party. He was one of the Representatives of this (then Sixth) Ohio Congressional District in the Chicago Convention that nominated the lamented Garfield for President, and in 1871 the Republicans again put him on their ticket, this time for Probate Judge. against the Hon. Martin Perky, who was the Democratic candidate for re-election, and who won the office. On October 24, 1868, he was mar-

Digitized by Google

551

BRYAN AND PULASKI TOWNSHIPS.

ried to Miss Jennie E. Terpening, of Hudson, Mich., and to them have been born three children-Georgie E., Fred and Roy Emor. In March, 1882, Mr. Dole was commissioned Postmaster of Bryan, which office he now holds.

J. A. DORSHIMER, County Sheriff, was born in Jefferson Town- ship, this county, November 30, 1838, one of five children (three yet living) born to George D. and Catharine (Andre) Dorshimer, who were natives of Pennsylvania and of German descent. The father was reared a farmer and moved with his wife to Seneca County, Ohio, about 1835, and thence, in February, 1838, to what is now Jefferson Township, this county, where he entered 200 acres of forest land, which he cleared up and on which he and wife now live. On this farm our subject was reared. In October, 1861, he enlisted in Company K, Sixty-eighth Ohio Volun- teer Infantry, as private, and during the late war took part in the battles of Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, Iuka, Metamora, Thompson's Hills, Raymond, Jackson, Champion Hill, Fort Hill, Vicksburg, Monroe raid, Bayou Chitto, Meridian, Big Shanty, Bush Mountain, Kenesaw Mount- ain, Nickajack Creek, Atlanta, twice, and in the siege also, Jonesboro, Lovejoy, Milledgeville, and some nine others. February 14, 1863, he was made Commissary Sergeant, and December 24, 1864, was commis- sioned First Lieutenant; January 27, 1865, he was promoted to a Cap- taincy, and July 26, 1865, received his discharge. He then came home and engaged in farming, and in 1876 he entered into the drug and gro- cery business in Montpelier, which he followed till 1881, when he was elected Sheriff of the county by the Republicans. He was married, April 27, 1864, to Margaret M. Durbin, who was born in Jefferson Township, November 18, 1840, a daughter of George W. Durbin, one of the old settlers. To this union have been born three children, viz. : Mary K., M. Belle and Bertha May.

E. G. FAY was born in Madison County, N. Y., December 13, 1824, and is one of six surviving children of a family of fourteen, born to Perrin and Sally (Farr) Fay. Mr. Fay's ancestors were English people, and came to America in about 1650. They settled in Boston, Mass., and the family have since scattered and have became prominent in all trades, professions and business, and have been known in both legislative affairs and in the defense and support of their country. E. G. Fay was reared in his native State, working in a woolen factory, his father's occu- pation being that of carder and cloth-dresser. He came to what was then Williams, now Defiance County, Ohio, in 1844, and began teaching school. He came with his parents, his father dying in Defiance County in 1852, followed by his widow in Bryan in 1871. E. G. Fay taught school and clerked in Ohio for a number of years, and was married in

Digitized by by Google

552

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

1848 to Miss Cynthia D. Haymaker. This lady died in 1873, leaving two children-Frederick E. and Frank E., now Mrs. Joseph Neumann, and residing in Berlin, Germany. Mr. Fay married his first wife's sister, Miss Frances A. Haymaker, in December, 1879. In 1848, Mr. Fay kept hotel in Brunersburgh, and in 1853 traded his hotel for land, moved upon it, and there remained until 1856, when he came to Williams Centre, Williams County, and engaged in mercantile pursuits. In 1862, he returned to Defiance County and farmed until the spring of 1864, when he sold out, came to Bryan and engaged in the manufacturing of woolen goods. In 1865, he sold out this and engaged in the manufacture of plows, at which he has since continued. Mr. Fay began life's battle with- out a cent. By hard work and economy he has acquired a comfortable fortune. He is a seventh degree Mason, is a Republican in politics and is a Universalist in religion ; his wife is a member of the Baptist Church.

JOHN FAY, a native of Northern England, is the first of that name who came to America, the descendants of whom are now living in Bryan, Ohio. At the age of eight years (1656) he took passage on the good ship " Speedwell" bound for the new country across the Atlantic Ocean where he had friends living. On the arrival of the ship at Boston, he learned of his friends' death, and at that age he began for himself. After remaining there a short time, he drifted to different places, and finally died in Boston.

HON. EDWARD FOSTER, attorney at law, was born October 27, 1824, in Portage County, Ohio, and was the son of Jonathan and Eliz- abeth (Eggleston) Foster, natives of Massachusetts, and of English descent. They were the parents of seven children, four of whom are still living. The father was born October 25, 1773, and was a farmer, an occupation which he followed chiefly through life. At the age of twenty- one, he emigrated to Portage County, this State, where he married, about 1807, Miss Betsy Eggleston, who was born in 1783, and was a daughter of Benjamin Eggleston, who settled in Portage County about 1804. The mother died September 20, 1866, and was followed by her husband six days later, after a married life of nearly sixty years. He enjoyed the full confidence of his fellow-townsmen, and was elected by them to several offices, among them, Justice of the Peace, Township Trustee, County Commissioner, etc., and was also appointed by the Legislature Associate Judge. He was also a member of the seventeenth and eighteenth ses- sions of the House, and of the nineteenth and twentieth of the Senate of the General Assembly. Edward Foster's youth and early manhood were passed in Portage, with the exception of the time passed at school. He acquired a thoroughly practical education, finishing at the Western Re-

Digitized by Google

& Gamble

Digitized by Google

Google

Digitized by

555

BRYAN AND PULASKI TOWNSHIPS.

serve College. In 1844, he began the study of law under the instruction of Judge Day, of Ravenna, afterward under Tilden & Ranney, and was admitted to the bar in the fall of 1846. In 1848, he came to Bryan, engaged actively in his profession, and occupied a leading position as a member of the bar of Williams until the spring of 1867, when, because of ill health, he sold out his practice and retired to a less active life. He has been prominent in county affairs ever since his arrival; has been Presi- dent of the Bryan Bank (now the Farmers' National Bank), for ten years, and has filled several other responsible positions. Previous to the war, he acted in harmony with the Democrats, and by them was elected to represent the counties of Williams, Defiance, Paulding, Van Wert, Mercer, Allen and Auglaize in the State Senate. He served in the same session with Gen. Garfield, Gov. Cox, Judge Key and other men who have risen to prominence. While in the Senate in 1861, Fort Sumter was fired upon, and Lincoln issued his call for troops. Mr. Foster then took an active part in the support of the Administration, and since then has affiliated with the Republicans. He formed his present law partnership with Judge Bowersox in December, 1879, which has since been successfully con- ducted. Mrs. Serena C. Foster, wife of our subject, is the eldest daugh- ter of Levi and Amanda Cunningham, and was born in Zanesville, Ohio. She has borne her husband four children, three of whom are still living- Emmett C., aged twenty-six, and a lawyer; B. Douglas, aged twenty- four, and a student of medicine at Jefferson University, Philadelphia, and George C., aged twenty. Mr. Foster is a Royal Arch Mason, and one of the oldest residents of Bryan.

SIMON FRASER was born in Perry County, Penn., March 3, 1817. He is one of the seven sons of Paul and Jane (Kirkpatrick) Fra- ser, the former being a native of Scotland and the latter of Pennsylvania. Paul Fraser, at the age of about seventeen, left his native land and came, with his parents, to the United States. The family purchased a large tract of land in Pennsylvania, upon which a fine home was made. Paul was married here, but, in 1832, he moved, with his family, to Richland County, Ohio, and here himself and wife passed the remainder of their lives. Simon was reared on his father's farm, receiving, meantime, a common education. He lived with his parents until the age of twenty- five, when his marriage with Miss Rebecca Cooper was celebrated, Febru- ary 15, 1842. This lady was born in Washington County, Ohio, May 16, 1822. Mr. and Mrs. Fraser have had no children of their own, but they have reared four other children, and have given them a good educa- tion, and a start in life. In 1844, Mr. Fraser and wife came to this county, locating on a farm of eighty-three acres, on Section 6, Brady Township, which Mr. Frazer had bought two years before. Here he

Digitized by Google

556

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

farmed until 1874, when he moved to Bryan, in which place he has since resided. He owns a small property in the city, besides considerable land outside. At one time he owned an eighty-acre farm in Hillsdale County, Mich. Mr. Frazer was formerly a Whig, but is now a Republican. Himself and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church. He is a man who says but little regarding the good deeds he may have done in life, but the past speaks for itself; it tells of a good citizen and an honest man.

PETER S. GARLOW was born in Alleghany County, Md., June 22, 1824. His parents, John and Barbara (Shockey) Garlow, were natives of Pennsylvania, and passed their lives in that State and in Virginia and Maryland up to 1831, when they moved to Wayne County, Ohio, where they resided until 1841. They then came to this county, and for a number of years resided in what is now Washington Township, Defiance County. The father died September 28, 1863, at Georgetown, and after that sad event, the mother resided with her son, Peter S., until her death, May 6, 1877. Of their eight children, two sons and one daughter only are now living. Peter S. Garlow was reared on a farm, and received such education as the common schools of his youthful days afforded, until twenty-three years of age, when he entered upon a two years' course of study at Edinburg Academy, Wayne County, Ohio. He then taught school for several terms in that county. In 1850, he started, with a company, for California, overland, and after considerable trouble with the Indians and a tedious journey of seven months, reached his destination in safety. There he engaged in mining and merchandising, and accumu- lated considerable property. In 1859, he returned to Williams County, and in the fall visited Dubuque, Iowa, where he married, September 8, 1859, Miss Mary L. Bostater, who was born in Wooster, Ohio, August 11, 1837. Shortly after marriage, he came to Bryan, and three years later purchased 160 acres of land, one-half mile south of the town. On this farm he now resides, and owns, besides, seven and a half acres on Portland street, Bryan, and considerable other property. He is a Dem- ocrat, and for three years filled the office of County Commissioner. He is a member of the Universalist Church, a Mason, a member of Toledo Commandery, No. 7, and was also a prominent member of the Grange. Mr. Garlow began life & poor boy, and has gained all he has by his own exertions. He has done much toward enhancing the resources of the county and toward liquidating its indebtedness, and has been identified with all enterprises that have tended to build up the town and advance the interests of the community in which he lives.

JOHN A. GARVER was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, Feb- ruary 11, 1832, and is one of eight children (three now deceased), born

Digitized by Google

557

BRYAN AND PULASKI TOWNSHIPS.

to Martin and Susan (Shaffer) Garver, who were of German descent. John A. Garver was reared on his parents' farm, and received a fair dis- trict school education. When about seventeen years of age, he learned the tinner's trade in New Philadelphia, and in 1850 came to Bryan, opened a shop, and began general manufacturing and dealing in tinware. September 22, 1853, he married Miss Helen Fay, sister to E. G. Fay, of Bryan, and the same year of his marriage moved to Williams Centre, where he kept a general country store. In 1859, he returned to Bryan and established the firm of Garver Bros. He continued this occupation for about ten years, when, owing to ill health, he was obliged to relinquish active business, which he did, turning the same over to his two younger brothers, who yet continue it. Mr. Garver was identified with some of the leading industries of Bryan, and without doubt contributed largely to making the town what it now really is. Through his endeavors, the Morrison & Fay Manufacturing Company was established, and he was the founder of a factory for the manufacture of a wheelbarrow, of which he was the inventor. When in the hardware trade, he also was connected with like stores at Wauseon, Butler and Edgerton. He came to Williams County with scarcely any capital whatever. By careful management and untiring labor he amassed a comfortable fortune, and in every sense of the word was a self-made man. In April, 1881, he removed to Des Moines, Iowa, where he and family all now reside, except one daughter, the wife of C. W. Pitcairn, of Bryan. Mr. and Mrs. Garver were the parents of five children-Ella M., Emma (Mrs. C. T. Sperry), Warren F., Laura and John. Mr. Garver is a stanch Republican, and both he and wife yet retain their membership with the Universalist Church of Bryan.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

County of Williams, Ohio, Historical and Biographical, Part 53

Author: Weston A. Goodspeed, Charles Blanchard Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Number of Pages: 885

Author: Weston A. Goodspeed, Charles Blanchard
Publication date: 1882
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 885