County of Williams, Ohio, Historical and Biographical, Part 54

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 54

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SIMEON GILLIS, of the Bryan Press, was born near Iberia, Mor- row Co., Ohio, May 2, 1842, and is one of eleven children, six yet living, born to William and Jane (McClaren) Gillis, who were natives respectively of Jefferson County, Ohio, and Northern Ireland. They were married in Ohio and engaged in farming. Mr. Gillis, Simeon's father, is one of the pioneers of Ohio, as well as of Williams County, having come to the latter place in 1845. They settled in Florence Township, where they are both yet living. Simeon Gillis was reared on the farm, in youth receiv- ing but a very limited education. October 22, 1861, he enlisted as private in Company K, Sixty-eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. They went into camp at Napoleon, afterward at Camp Chase. They left the latter place the Sunday previous to the battle of Fort Donelson, and were present but not actively engaged in that battle. Mr. Gillis was at the battle of Shiloh, and was with Grant on his Mississippi campaign in the fall of 1862. Was at Port Gibson, Jackson, and engaged in the battle of Raymond. Early

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in the battle of Champion Hill, he was shot by a minie ball through the left leg, the result of which was the amputation of that limb below the knee. After lying on the battle-field from about 1 o'clock to sundown, he was conveyed to the field hospital, and ten days later, on the 26th of May, was taken prisoner and remained in rebel hands twenty-nine days. He was then in the hospital at Memphis until December 1, 1863, when he was discharged. The fall of 1866, he was elected County Auditor by the Re- publican party ; re-elected in 1868, and again re-elected in 1870, serving in all six years; and by act of the Legislature, in changing time of taking seat of office, served eight months longer than six years. In 1875, Mr. Gillis engaged in the saw-mill and lumber business, which he ran until the fall of 1877, when he and Judge Bowersox purchased the Bryan Press, continuing as its proprietors and publishers for one year, when Mr. Bow- ersox sold his interest to Elisha M. Ogle, since when Gillis & Ogle have conducted the periodical. The Press, under the supervision of Gillis & Ogle, has increased its circulation, and has prospered, and to-day is the leading Republican paper of Williams County, and one of the best county papers of Northern Ohio. Mr. Gillis was married, July 7, 1870, to Miss Myra Ball, and to this union have been born three children-Ethel, Fay and Wright. The mother is a daughter of Thomas and Phebe (Wright) Ball, of Williams County, Ohio. Mr. Gillis is a member of the G. A. R., and he and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church. James F. Gillis, brother of Simeon and two years younger, enlisted in the same company and regiment one year later than did Simeon. By exposure, he contracted bronchial consumption, and went to the hospital, when Simeon was wounded, and acted as nurse, not being able to do active service in the field. After doing efficient services in this capacity, he was paroled, sent to St. Louis, and a few days later sent to the hospital at Columbus. He was discharged September 23, 1868, and died at Mount Gilead, Ohio, four days later, while on his way to his home in Williams County.

PHILETUS S. GLEASON. Among the old pioneers of Williams County, Ohio, is the subject of this sketch, who was born June 24, 1814, in Tompkins County, N. Y. He is & son of Luther and Lydia (Ryder) Gleason, who were natives of Wales and Connecticut respectively, and farmers by occupation. Philetus S. was raised to manhood in his native county, and at an early age was apprenticed to learn the cabinet-maker's trade. He was married, September 13, 1835, to Jane Douglass, and the following month emigrated to Williams County, Ohio, locating in Spring- field Township. At this time, Williams County was in a state of nature. Mr. Gleason took up a piece of land, which he began clearing, at the same time working at his trade when opportunity afforded. From Spring- field Township he removed to Pulaski Township, where his wife died,

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April 29, 1854. They were the parents of six children-George B., Jerome D., Lettie J. (now Mrs. Frank Teeter), Sydney M., Emily (de- ceased) and Alfred (deceased). The father married his present wife, Mrs. Mary (Bostater) McNary, March 1, 1855, and in November, 1865, moved to Bryan, where he and second wife are yet living. To his second marriage there were born three children-Emma L. and Charles E. (deceased) and Alvin Frank. He and wife are members of the Baptist Church.

JEROME D. GLEASON was born May 3, 1839, in Springfield Township. He was reared on a farm in Williams County, receiving only ordinary educational advantages, and September 1, 1861, enlisted as private for three years, or during the war, in Company H, Thirty-eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. The winter of 1861-62, he was campaigning in Eastern Kentucky, succeeding which he participated in all the move- ments and engagements of his regiment. In the winter of 1863, he was discharged by reason of re-enlistment, took a thirty days' furlough home, after which he re-joined his regiment at Chattanooga as veteran. He actively participated in the engagements of Corinth, Stone River, Hoo- ver's Gap, Missionary Ridge, all through the Atlanta campaign, ending with the battle of Jonesboro. At this engagement, Mr. Gleason was Third Duty Sergeant, but, owing to all his superior company officers being either killed or wounded in the early part of the battle, he com- manded the greater part of the time. After Lee's surrender, he went to Washington and participated in the grand review of Sherman's army. From here he was ordered, with his company, to Texas, but, while on the way, the order was countermanded, and they were discharged at Louis- ville July 5, 1865. Mr. Gleason then came home, and November 2, 1865, married Miss Sarah Newman, who has borne him a family of four children-Henry N., Fred S., Vera E. and Olin W. He engaged in the grocery trade in Bryan, but at the end of two years embarked in the produce-shipping business in partnership with Joseph B. Jones, under the firm name of Jones & Gleason, which has since been carried on success- fully. Mr. Gleason is a Republican in politics, a member of the Royal Arcanum, and he and wife belong to the Presbyterian Church, of which denomination Mr. Gleason is Elder, and in 1881 was one who repre- sented the Maumee Presbytery, in the General Assembly of that church, that convened at Buffalo, N. Y.

SYDNEY M. GLEASON was born August 2, 1842, in this county, of which he is yet a resident. In 1861, he went to the State of New York, and engaged in farming. While there, he enlisted, August 18, 1862, as private in Company G, One Hundred and Ninth New York Volunteer Infantry. His company was detached from the regiment and detailed to

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guard the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad and arrest deserters, until the latter part of 1863, when they joined the Ninth Army Corps under Gen. Burnside, and in 1864 engaged in the Eastern campaign under Gen. Grant. Mr. Gleason participated in the battle of the Wilderness, where, on the 16th of May, 1864, he was shot through the left hip by a minie ball. He was sent to Fredericksburg, where he obtained such med- ical aid as the surrounding circumstances allowed, and twenty days after being wounded was transferred to Washington. He remained there until December 15, 1864, when he was discharged for disability. He then went to New York, and in January, 1865, was elected door-keeper in the New York House of Representatives. At the end of the session, he came back to his old home in Ohio, and engaged in the grocery trade with his brother, Jerome D., in Bryan. At the end of two years, he began clerk- ing in a hardware store. In 1870, he and D. C. Baxter purchased the stock and have since been operating one of the leading hardware stores of the county. Mr. Gleason was married, May 3, 1866, to Miss Kate Shorthill, daughter of James Shorthill, deceased, an old settler of Will- iams County. To this union three children were born-Ora (deceased), Berta and Claire. Mr. G. is a Republican, a member of the G. A. R., is a Royal Arch Mason, and, with his wife, is a member of the Presby- terian Church.

DR. Q. H. GRASER is a native of Hungary, his birth occurring in 1822. He emigrated with his family to Baden, Germany, at the age of fourteen, where he at once commenced the study of medicine under some of the most skilled physicians of Germany. He entered a course of study at Prague Medical School, from which he graduated in 1847. Shortly after this, he came to America, and began the practice of his profession in Pittsburgh and other portions of Pennsylvania. He married in this State, and in 1862 moved to Bryan, where he has ever since remained in active practice. He came to this place a poor man, with scarcely a dollar in his pocket. By industry, he has made a comfortable fortune, and by hard and indefatigable labor, he has acquired one of the finest and largest collections of natural curiosities to be found anywhere in the United States. He has given much attention to scientific writings, and bis arti- cles on evolution, and the " Crime of Vaccination " and various other articles on scientific subjects have attracted widespread attention from all classes. Many are the complimentary notices he has received at the hands of the press and distinguished citizens of the United States. His walls are graced by nine different diplomas, and for one year he occupied the chair of " Professor of Natural Science and Histology and Curator of the Museum" in the College of Physicians of Topeka, Kan. Since being a resident of Bryan, his presence has been highly appreciated in

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many ways. He has carried on a most successful practice, and is now paying special attention to chronic diseases, and his fame has extended so far as to bring him patients from many hundred miles distant. To one who has attained the knowledge and standing of Prof. Graser under the difficulties he has had to surmount, is due great credit. Long after he is dead and gone his name will be known and honored. He is the father of three children, only two, a son and daughter, yet living. The Doctor is a fine linguist, speaking six different languages-English, Latin, Greek, Hebrew, German and Hungarian.

JACOB HALM, brewer, came from Wurtemberg, Germany, to America in November, 1854, and worked in a wholesale wine house in New York City until 1858, when he married Caroline Kiesel, and the same year came to Bryan, Ohio, to look for a location, his brother- in-law, Kiesel, then living here. Not being pleased with the coun- try, he returned to New York, but in 1859 he returned and engaged in the grocery and saloon trade. This he carried on until 1864, when he sold out, purchased a farm in Washington Township, Defiance County, and engaged in farming. In 1865, he sold out and returned to Bryan, and purchased the old brewery of Henry Arnold, which was then very poor in comparison with the one he now owns. He carried the business on in that brewery until 1873, when he began the erection of his present brewery, which was completed in 1874. The building is a four-story brick with basement, 84x88 feet, on which he has all the latest and best improved machinery, together with ice houses, etc., etc. The beer man- ufactured by Mr. Halm is pronounced by those who know best to be su- perior in quality and taste to the greater part that is manufactured in our country, and this is not to be wondered at when it is known that he is one of the cleanest Brewers in the United States. Every day the whole build- ing is renovated and cleaned up, and Mr. Halm can congratulate himself in having one of the best breweries in the State of Ohio. This has cost him between $70,000 and $75,000 and he does an average annual busi- ness of from $35,000 to $40,000, keeping employed from six to seven men. The machinery is operated by a twenty-five horse-power steam en- gine. Mr. Halm was born in 1834, March 16, in town of Baltmanns- weiler, County of Schorndorf, State of Wurtemberg, Germany. He is a member of the Royal Arch Masons, the I. O. O. F., K. of H. and Royal Arcanum, and he and wife are members of the German Lutheran Church, and the parents of six children, only the following-named yet living-Rosa T., Jacob, Julia and William. The dead are Caroline and one that died in infancy. Mr. Halm is a Democrat in politics, has served two years as a member of the Town Council, and is an enterprising citi-

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izen, favoring the advancement of all laudable public enterprises. In connection with his brewery he operates an extensive grocery store.

WILLIAM HARDING, JR., son of William and Matilda (Bayliss) Harding, was born in Licking County, Ohio, June 9, 1848. The father was a native of Buckinghamshire, England, and was born April 5, 1809. In 1832, he came alone to America, and engaged in boat-building at Utica, N. Y. January 8, 1834, he married Miss Bayliss, who was born in Oxfordshire, England, December 4, 1811, and also came to America in 1832. They came to Licking County, Ohio, in 1837, where he worked at carpentering and farming, and in 1863 moved to Bryan, where Mrs. H. died December 17, 1876. In October, 1877, he married Mrs. Maria (Freeman) Baker, a native of Virginia, and they are now living in retire- ment at Bryan. He had born to him by his first wife the following children : Sarah A., deceased ; Annie, deceased ; Matilda, now Mrs. Dally; George W .; Joseph H .; Susanna, deceased; Hattie, now Mrs. Perkins ; William ; and Levi, deceased. Mr. Harding is a Republican, and he and wife are members of the English Lutheran Church. William Harding, Jr., came from Licking County to Bryan with his parents, and here enlisted, February 13, 1865, as private in Company C, One Hun- dred and Ninety-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was at first engaged in active duty with the Twenty-second Army Corps of the Shenandoah Valley, but latterly was chiefly engaged in guard duty, and received his discharge December 16, 1865, at Alexandria, Va. On his return home, he resumed his trade as harness maker at Waterloo, Ind., and in 1868 opened out in Bryan on his own account. He was married, April 2, 1878, to Miss Ida Haller, and to his marriage has been born one son- Bert O. Mr. Harding is a Republican, a member of the G. A. R. and one of Bryan's successful business men.

GEORGE W. HOPKINS, son of George S. Hopkins, was born in New London County, Conn., April 1, 1844. His father was born in Rhode Island, and was a direct descendant of Stephen Hopkins, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and of English descent. He married, for his first wife, Mrs. Esther (Rose) Cooley, who died in 1838. September 1, 1843, he married Dianthia Robinson, who bore him one son-George W. George W. was reared in his native State, receiv- ing a good common school and academical education. At the age of about fifteen, he began doing for himself, and in 1862 came to Bryan, Ohio, where he had friends living. He has remained here ever since. He first embarked as clerk in O. C. Ashton's dry goods store, with whom he continned six years. He then became a partner of Samuel White, in the hat and cap trade, in the building they now occupy, and they have ever since carried on the business with success. He was appointed U. S.

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Express Agent at Bryan the spring of 1882, and is serving in that ca- pacity at present. May 15, 1867, he was united in marriage with Miss Tillie E. White, daughter of his present partner 'in business. To their union has been born one daughter-Edith .L. Mr. and Mrs. Hopkins are members of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Hopkins is a Democrat in potitics and held the position of City Clerk of Bryan for eight consec- utive years, beginning in 1870. He has also been Clerk of the Board of Education for a number of years, and was Democratic candidate for County Auditor in 1881, but defeated by a Republican majority in the county. Mr. Hopkins has taken an equal part with the citizens of Bryan and Williams County in the support of all laudable enterprises, and he is one of the successful business men of Bryan.

SETH B. HYATT was born in Wayne County, Ohio, February 1. 1818. His father, Meshach Hyatt, was a native of Maryland, where he was reared, afterward moving to Pennsylvania, where he married Sarah Brownfield, and this couple in 1815 moved to Wayne County, Ohio, and were among the first settlers of that part of the State. They both died in Wayne County, and they were the parents of four sons and four daughters, all of whom are still living. S. B. Hyatt is the eldest sor. and second child of this family. He was reared in Wayne County, Ohio. first receiving a good education from the common schools, afterward at- tending Apple Creek Academy, where he studied the higher branches. paying particular attention to mathematics and surveying. He expected to come West and make surveying his business, and accordingly thor- oughly posted himself in all the different branches of that study. In the fall of 1843, he came to Williams County, Ohio, and that same fall was appointed by the County Commissioners to the office of County Surveyor. to fill the unexpired term of Miller Arrowsmith, who was the Surveyor of the county before the boundary lines were changed. The reason of the change was the making of Williams County what it now comprises. and Mr. Hyatt was its first County Surveyor. After serving out his ap- pointment he was elected to the same office, and after serving out the reg- ular term of three years was re-elected. In 1843, he purchased his first land in the county, consisting of town property in Bryan. He has made his residence in the county since his first arrival, and in this time he has figured considerably in important work here; has farmed, taught school. etc. He was among the early teachers of the county, and has had an experience of several terms. He is at present living retired in Bryan, and confines his attention to brokerage. He owns 160 acres of land in Brady Township, besides good town property in Bryan. The 160 acres of land when he went upon it was only worth $400. Time and improve- ments have wrought wonderful changes in the price of the property. as

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it is now worth $10,000. Mr. Hyatt is a Republican in politics, and he and wife are members of long standing with the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was married first to Ellen Bodel, November 27, 1845, and this lady died February 28, 1854, leaving three children-Alonzo R., Sarah I. and Cordelia G. Mr. Hyatt's second marriage was solemnized May 23, 1856, his wife being Emily Keeler.

JOSEPH B. JONES, Secretary and General Manager of the Bryan Boot & Shoe Company, is a native of Logan County, Ohio, and was born September 28, 1832. His father, William Jones, was three times mar- ried, his first wife being Margaret Beath, by whom he had six children, Joseph B. being one; his second wife, Catherine Stevenson, bore him three children ; his present wife was a Mrs. P. Smith, and they are now living in Putnam County, Ohio. Mr. Jones was a farmer, and Joseph B. assisted on the farm till he was sixteen years old, when he began teaching a country school. At the age of twenty he purchased a stock of goods and opened a general store at Columbus Grove. In 1853, he there married Miss Anna Edmon, and continued in active business until 1864, when he removed to Bryan and engaged in a general grocery and provis- ion trade. In about 1867, J. D. Gleason was admitted a partner, which has ever since continued. The spring of 1882, he was elected by the Bryan Boot & Shoe Company, of which he was a stockholder, Secretary and General Manager, and at once entered upon the performance of his duties at which he is yet engaged. Under his management the business of the company has materially increased and is one of the leading indus- tries of Bryan. Mr. Jones is a Republican in politics and has been since the organization of that party, and is a member of the Presbyterian Church of which he has occupied all the official positions. To him and wife have been born six children, only four of whom, Elwood S., Laura E., Charles H. and Florence A. are living. The two eldest of these are married, the former to Miss Ada Fitch, and is one of Bryan's successful merchants, and the latter is the wife of William R. Starr, of Williams County, Ohio, formerly ; now of Iowa.

E. B. KAUKE, one of the oldest merchants of Bryan, is a native of Wayne County, Ohio, where he was born May 11, 1830. His father, Frederick Kauke, was a native of Amsterdam, Holland, and was educated by the Dutch Government, receiving good, practical instruction, for which he gave his services about three years. He studied navigation and spoke eight different languages. He came to America at the age of eighteen years, and for some time was at Philadelphia engaged in morocco dressing, afterward going to Wilkes Barre, Penn., where he mar- ried Mrs. Elizabeth (Blaine) Inman, a widow with two children. He re- mained there for some time and moved to Wayne County, Ohio, at a very

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early day, where he assisted in laying out the county seat-Wooster. In 1850, he went to California, and after remaining there that season re- turned to the States, and while on his way home took sick and died in New Orleans in the fall of 1850. To his marriage with Mrs. Inman, there were born nine children, two of whom are yet living. E. B. Kauke, of Bryan, is the youngest of this family. He remained in Woos- ter until the age of eighteen, when he began learning the tinner's trade. In 1848, he went to Medina County, finishing his trade and working at the same there about six years. He married there, in 1851, Jane I. Par- dee, and in the spring of 1854 moved to Bryan, then a village of about five hundred inhabitants. He began working at tinning alone, after- ward putting in stoves, and in about 1870 added hardware. He carries a full line of hardware, tinware, etc., and is doing a good business. His wife died in 1856, leaving one son-Walter E. His second and present wife, Sallie E. Caldwell, to whom he was married the fall of 1856, has borne him three daughters-Evelyn E., Cora A. and Emma L. Mr. Kauke began as a poor man, but has succeeded in acquiring a comfort- able home and a lucrative business. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. of Bryan, and in politics is a Prohibitionist.

KEISER BROTHERS. Dr. E. A. Keiser was born in Richland County, Ohio, April 4, 1838, and was there reared to manhood, receiving such education as the county schools afforded. He is one of a family of twelve children, nine of whom are yet living, born to Jacob and Eliza- beth (Worst) Keiser, who were natives of Pennsylvania and of German descent. Jacob Keiser was reared in Somerset County, Penn., and at the age of about twenty-three moved to Wayne County, Ohio, where he married and engaged in farming. He moved from there to Richland County, Ohio, in about 1833, and was among the old settlers of that county. He continued farming there until 1875, when he moved to Williams County, where his sons were then living, and here Mr. Keiser died in 1876, fol- lowed by his widow in Hillsdale County, Mich., in 1878. The parents of the Doctors Keiser were honest, respected and industrious people, be- ginning poor and acquiring, only through hard and continuous labor, a comfortable fortune. Dr. E. A. Keiser came to Williams County, Ohio, in 1860, and began the study of medicine with Dr. A. Netz, of Primrose, remaining here two years. He then returned to Richland County and completed his studies in 1863, under Dr. Francis Stohl. He attended medical school at Cleveland the winter term of 1863-64, and graduated from the same institution (Homoeopathic Medical College) the spring of 1866. Dr. Keiser then began the practice of his profession near where he was reared, and in 1867 came to Bryan, entering into active practice. In this he has been quite successful, and has by diligence and close at-

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tention to business acquired a first-class practice. He began a poor boy, and by laboring at odd times, while pursuing his studies, acquired suf- ficient means to carry him through college. He was married, October 10, 1867, to Miss Lydia J. Brown, and to them have been born two children -Romeo O. and Forest L.

SAMUEL KEISER, D. D. S., was born in Richland County, Ohio. January 11, 1840, the son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Worst) Keiser, and there reared till twenty-one years old, when he engaged in farming on his own account till about 1865, when he moved to Madison Township, this county, purchased eighty acres of new land, and began clearing up, but was compelled by ill health to abandon farm life. In the fall of 1874, he began the study of dentistry, and for two years read under the instruction of his brother, Dr. G. W. Keiser, of Bryan. He then attended the Philadelphia Dental College, and graduated in February, 1879, since when he has been engaged in professional work. He was married in 1863, to Miss Sarah A. Hall, of Richland County, and to this union have been born four children-Minnie J., Ora A., Zella M. and Pearl G. The Doctor is a Democrat, but liberal in his views of local politics, and he and wife are members of the German Baptist Church.

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County of Williams, Ohio, Historical and Biographical, Part 54

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