County of Williams, Ohio, Historical and Biographical, Part 55

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

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G. W. KEISER, D. D. S., is & native of Richland County, Ohio; was born August 20, 1845, and is one of the twelve children of Jacob and Elizabeth Keiser. His early life was passed on the home farm, and at the age of twenty-one he began the study of dentistry under Dr. Will- iam Mitchell, of Mansfield. After reading for two years. he began prac- tice for himself, and in 1870, located in Shelby, Ohio, where he practiced three years, attending, meanwhile, the Philadelphia Dental College, from which he graduated in the spring of 1873. The fall of the same year, he located in Bryan, and has here remained in practice ever since. He was married in December, 1870, to Miss Hettie W. Duffee, of Shelby, and by ber is the father of three children-Gertie B., Zula S. and Bessie E. The Doctor is a Democrat, and a member of the German Baptist Church. Keiser Brothers have been very successful in their practice, which has from the first rapidly increased, and now extends over Northwestern Ohio, Northeastern Indiana, and Southeastern Michigan.

JACOB KELLY, was born in Stark County, Ohio, January 3, 1822, and is the son of John and Christina (Brothers) Kelly, natives of Dela- ware and Pennsylvania respectively. They were married in Stark County, in 1820, moved to Holmes County in 1830, thence to Wayne in 1839, and to this county in 1854. In 1840, Jacob Kelly began milling in Wayne County, and for fourteen years followed that business at various points. In 1850, he made an overland trip to California ; returned in 1851, and purchased seventy-two acres of land in this township, on which

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he now has his home. January 2, 1855, he married Miss Elvira J. Shorthill, a native of Pennsylvania, who has borne him nine children- James Jeff, John C. Fremont, Maryauzonetta, Lew Wallace, A. Sher- man, Lincoln, Earl, Harry M. and Tina. Of these, Earl and Tina are dead. In 1872, Mr. Kelly was elected by the Republicans to the Auditor's office, and re-elected at the expiration of his first term. In religion, he and wife are Methodists. In 1861, Mr. Kelly enlisted in Company H, Thir- ty-Eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, served two years, and re-enlisted at Defiance, September 10, 1863. On the 7th of August, 1864, he was shot through the jaw, near Atlanta, Ga., and was discharged at Cincin- nati, December 22, 1864, with rank as Second Lieutenant.

FREDERICK J. KLEIN was born in Bavaria, Germany, March 12, 1854, the son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Deszloch) Klein, also natives of Bavaria, and is the youngest of a family of ten children. He was left an orphan when about thirteen years of age, lived with an elder brother, a farmer, until 1869, and then came to Williams County. He was em- ployed at ditching for some months, and then engaged with Charles Nebe- long, a barber of Bryan, with whom he remained nearly three years, and then started business on his own account ; ran his shop about four years, then started as an insurance and real estate agent, which he followed about two years, and then resumed his trade. He was married, May 25, 1875, to Caroline Arnold, who was born in Bryan, November 9, 1854, and is now the mother of his two children-Mary L. and Caroline M. In 1878, Mr. Klein was commissioned a Notary Public, and again in 1882; he is agent for the Hamburg and Bremen Steamship line ; keeps employed in his shop two barbers, and is prospering in his three vocations. Mr. Klein is well educated, both in German and English, and has acquired a thorough understanding of the laws and business customs of his adopted country.

SAMUEL KEMBLE was born in New Jersey, July 21, 1805, and is the fifth child of a family of thirteen, only two of whom, a daughter and our subject, are now living. The parents, Samuel and Susan (Blizzard) Kemble, were also natives of New Jersey, the father of English and the mother either of Irish or Scotch descent. They moved from their native State to Columbiana County, Ohio, near New Lisbon, in the year 1810, and consequently were among the pioneers of Eastern Ohio. They were farmers, and lived there until their respective deaths, the father dying in about 1847 and the mother being drowned by a flood in 1861. Samuel Kemble was reared in Columbiana County, receiving only such education as the common schools of that early day afforded. He was married, Feb- ruary 27, 1828, to Miss Jane Hollingsworth, who was born near Wilming- ton, Del., August 20, 1809. Succeeding their marriage. they engaged in

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farming for a number of years in Columbiana County, afterward moving to Hancock County, where they remained until 1872, when they con- cluded to come to Williams County, where their only living son Seth was then and is yet living. They settled on the place where they now reside adjoining the corporate city limits of Bryan, where they have ever since resided. Mr. Kemble owns 196 acres of good land, and besides this owns town property. He makes no specialty in active farming as he is too old for that, and he and wife are really living retired. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and have had born to them a family of ten children-Cynthiann, now Mrs. Lewis J. Dales ; Seth, who married Thamer Crawford and came to Williams County in 1865; Err H., who died at home from effects of army life; Phebe, deceased; Susannah, de- ceased ; John, who served his country in the late war and died at home from effects of exposure during the war ; Carey, who served in the war, and during the engagement at Dallas was missed, being either killed or taken prisoner, and has never been heard of since; Samuel, deceased ; Josephine, deceased, and Emma J., who is single and resides with her parents. The Kemble family are among the most respected and esteemed citizens of Pulaski Township.

FRANCIS KENNEDY was born in Ashland County, Ohio, Septem- ber 25, 1842. His father, George W. Kennedy, was a native of Somer- set County, Penn., where he was reared, was taught the saddler's trade, and when he married Charlotte C. Glessner, about 1840, he moved to Ashland County, and farmed and worked at his trade. In May, 1852, his wife died, leaving a family of six children. In the fall of 1854, he married Mrs. Ann R. Buchan, and in the spring of 1855 moved to Pu- laski Township, this county, and purchased 200 acres of land on Section 1, where he died February 16, 1879. His widow is still living at the old homestead. Mr. Kennedy was a thrifty and thoroughgoing farmer, and a man of some considerable mark. In Pennsylvania, he was a com- missioned officer in the State Militia, and during his life in this State held several positions of public trust. From the time he was thirteen years old, Francis Kennedy has made his home in Williams County. He received an ordinary education from the common schools, and September 1, 1861, became a member of Company H, Thirty-eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He participated in Buell's Campaign, the battles of Stone River and Hoover's Gap, the Tullahoma Campaign and Missionary Ridge, all through the Atlanta Campaign, and while he was at Atlanta, Ga., re- ceived his discharge September 5, 1864, and was mustered out of service at Louisville. On his return from the army, Mr. Kennedy engaged in going to and teaching school and farming. He finished his studies at Oberlin, and followed teaching in Ohio and in Kansas, being in the latter

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place eighteen months. In 1871, he came to Bryan and engaged as a drug clerk with Dr. H. Coomy. The fall of 1866, he engaged in the drug trade at Ottawa County, Ohio; in Elmore, under firm name of Hughes & Kennedy. He sold out the spring of 1878, and came back to Bryan, engaging as a clerk to Long Bros., druggists. In August, 1878, he be- came a partner in the store, and now owns a half-interest with William H. Long, under the firm name of Long & Kennedy. This partnership has ever since been continued with success. Mr. Kennedy is a Republican in politics, and a member of the K. of H. and the Presbyterian Church. John A. Kennedy and George W. Kennedy, both brothers of Francis, were members of the same company and regiment as Francis. John A. was wounded twice at the battle of Jonesboro, from the effects of which he died December 24, 1864, in the hospital at Evansville, Ind.

A. KENNINGER was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, February 28, 1882. His father, John Kenninger, was a native of Bavaria, Germany. He there married, and came to America in 1819, and began working at his trade, wagon and carriage making, in Philadelphia. They moved from the city of Brotherly Love to Columbiana County, Ohio, living there many years, and from there to Galion, Crawford County, in the spring of 1840, where Mrs. Kenninger died the fall of the same year, leaving a family of four children, all of whom continue to survive her. Mr. Kenninger continued to reside in Crawford County until his death, which occurred the fall of 1880. Mr. K. was a hard-working and indus- trious man, of steady and temperate habits, a member of the Lutheran Church, and an esteemed and respected citizen. The name of Ken- ninger is very familiar to the people of Crawford County, as some of that name are yet residents there. A. Kenninger was reared principally in Crawford, where he received a fair education from the common schools. He learned carriage-making in Bucyrus, and, in December, 1859, went west to Illinois, and from there to Glasgow, Mo., working at his trade. On the breaking-out of the late war, he returned to Illinois, and located at Salem, Marion County, where he continued his trade. In the mean- time he had returned to Bucyrus, where, on the 24th of January, 1861, he was united in marriage with Miss Margaretta Kissinger. After living in Illinois until the fall of 1862, he returned to Bucyrus, where he remained until the spring of 1863, when he removed to Bryan, where he has ever since resided. Mr. Kenninger has been steadily working at his trade, opening a shop on meager means, and by doing good work and paying close attention to business, has become one of the leading manu- facturers of the town. He now has three different buildings, employs from eight to ten men steadily, turns out from 75 to 100 carriages and buggies per annum, and transacts an average annual business of 812,000.

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Mr. Kenninger is a member of the Masonic fraternity of Bryan, and he and wife are the parents of four children-Mary Myrtle, Mabel Rebecca, Anna E. and John Jay.

DR. THOMAS KENT was born in Loudoun County, Va., March 30, 1806, the son of Benjamin and Sarah Kent. The father was a plas- terer, and about 1824 came to Columbiana County, Ohio, where he worked at his trade till 1840, when he came to Pulaski Township, this county, where he died, December 27, 1860, his widow following August 11, 1866. They were the parents of seven children, six of whom are still living. Dr. Thomas Kent was reared in Virginia until seventeen years of age, when he preceded his parents to Ohio, and engaged in card- ing and fulling in Columbiana County. In 1835, he began the study of medicine under Dr. Hugh Martin, of Unity ; then went to Willoughby, finished his studies under Dr. George McCook, and graduated in 1838. In 1839, he began practice at Lafayette, this township, and there remained till Bryan was located in 1841, in the midst of the woods, when he came here, and here has since remained, with the exception of a few years taken for rest in Michigan, where he was established in the drug business at Lansing. His then wife died September 14, 1875, when he returned to Bryan to pass the remainder of his days in retirement. Dr. Kent has been four times married. First, November 17, 1825, to Eliza- beth Garretson, who died August 27, 1845, the mother of seven children -Oleva (deceased), Miranda C., Stanley E., Fenimore C., Somerton E., Arminda (deceased), and one that died unnamed. Second, in 1851, to Susan A. Carter, who died August 20, 1867. Third, June 4, 1870, to Hannah M. Edgar ; and fourth, February 16, 1877, to Sarah Kittedge, who is yet living. The Doctor is the oldest physician in the county, and has been a very successful one, his practice having extended over the entire county. In politics he is a Democrat, and under the old constitu- tion was one of the Associate Judges of Williams County.

ANDREW KUNKEL, was born in Knox County, Ohio, March 30, 1826, the son of Martin and Susanna (Mock) Kunkel, natives of Bed- ford County, Pennsylvania, where they were married in about 1816. They soon after moved to Knox County, and, in 1848, came to Williams County, where Andrew settled in Jefferson Township, and cared for his father until the latter's death in 1852. The mother died in Noble County, Ind., in 1872. April 2, 1846, Andrew married Susanna Leedy, daughter of Daniel and Susanna (Holsinger) Leedy, and to them have been born eight children-Alexander (deceased), Daniel, Lyman, John, Abraham (deceased), Alice, Newton and Dora. Mr. Kunkel sold his land in Jefferson Township, and went for awhile to Bryan and worked out by the day ; he then bought forty acres in this township, and engaged

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in getting out shingles and hickory timber, at which he did well; he cleared up his land, and, from time to time, has added to it, until now he owns 112g acres. He is an active school worker, is a Democrat, and with his wife is a member of the German Baptist Church.

JUDGE JOHN W. LEIDIGH is a native of Cumberland County, Penn., his birth occurring April 4, 1840, and is a son of David and Cath -. arine (Brownwell) Leidigh, who were natives of Pennsylvania, of German and English descent, and the parents of ten children, six of whom are yet living. They were farmers by occupation, and moved to Knox County, Ohio, in about 1848, afterward moving to Morrow County, where Mr. L. died November 6, 1856. John W. Leidigh was reared on a farm, receiv- ing a good common school education. He enlisted October 22, 1861, at Lexington, Richland County, in Company C, Sixty-fourth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, as private. He soon went into active service in the Army of the Cumberland, and, December 23, 1863, re-enlisted in the same company and regiment, and was veteranized. He participated in the bat- tles of Shiloh, siege of Corinth, Iuka, Perryville, Stone River, Mission -. ary Ridge and Rocky Face Ridge in Georgia, at the latter engagement receiving a gunshot wound in the thigh and other injuries. He was sent to the hospital, and was absent from his command one year lacking three days. He then rejoined his regiment at Nashville, and was promoted to Sergeant Major, and from that to Second Lieutenant. His regiment was then sent to Texas, where he remained until December 15, 1875, when they sailed for home via New Orleans, Cairo, etc. They were mustered out of service at Camp Chase January 3, 1866. During his term of serv- ice, his mother and the rest of the family moved to Bryan, and, succeed- ing his discharge, he came to this place and engaged in carpentering sum- mers, and teaching school winters. While operating in a spoke and hub factory, in 1868, he lost his left hand. He then began the study of law with Hon. S. E. Blakeslee and Judge Long, and clerking in the Probate Judge's office. At the October election of 1869, he was elected Probate Judge of Williams County, and re-elected in 1872, serving in all six years. Since that time, he has been engaged in the practice of law, and is at pres- ent senior member of the firm of Leidigh & Scott. Judge Leidigh is a Republican in politics, and a member of the Baptist Church. He was married, February 1, 1870, to Miss Florence E. Pollitt. He was one of the original incorporators of the Farmers' National Bank of Bryan, and is still a stockholder and one of its Directors. He began life a poor boy, but by his own exertions has placed himself in comfortable circumstances.

WILLIAM LONG (deceased), father of the Longs of Bryan, was a native of Donegal County, Ireland, where he was born in 1795, one of a family of six children born to John and Susanna Long. William Long

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was reared in his native county ; married Miss Mary W. Hamilton in about 1819, and, in about 1830, emigrated to America for the purpose of improving his circumstances, and located in Carroll County, Ohio, where he engaged in farming. He removed from Carroll County to Williams County in about 1849, settling in Superior Township, where he purchased half a section of land, all in the woods. He erected a log cabin into which he moved his household goods and family, and engaged in clearing and farming. Mr. Long was honest, hard-working and industrious, and in time he made a comfortable home. To him and wife there were born a family of nine children-George E., Henry C., William H., Rosanna (now Mrs. P. S. Slevin, of Toledo), Susanna (who died in childhood), John W., James H., Thomas (deceased), and Loretta (now Mrs. Dr. J. U. Riggs). The father of these died in about 1874. His widow is yet living and resides in Bryan aged eighty-one years. George E. Long, or Judge Long as he is more familiarly known, was born May 1, 1821, in Donegal County, Ireland. He came with his parents to the United States, and with them moved to Carroll County, Ohio. When about twenty-four years of age. he began the study of medicine under his brother, Dr. H. O. Long, of Mount Vernon. He came to Williams County in about 1850, and began the practice of medicine in Superior Township. The winter of 1854-55, he attended the Eclectic Medical Institute of Cincinnati, and, the spring of 1855, graduated, and came back to Williams County, which has been his home ever since. He was first a Whig in politics, but afterward an Abolitionist, and now a stanch Republican. He has held the position of Justice of the Peace and Mayor of Bryan, and, in 1864, was elected Pro- bate Judge of Williams County. After serving his term of three years, was re-elected, serving in all six years. He was married, the fall of 1856, to Miss Harriet H. Parker, daughter of Judge Parker, of Williams County. Shortly after his marriage, Judge Long moved to Bryan, but remained here only one winter, when, owing to his father-in-law's death, he moved out to the Parker farm. He remained there until his appointment as Probate Judge. He owns a farm of 365 acres in St. Joseph Township, besides town property in Bryan. He is a member of the Masonic frater- nity, and he and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church, and the parents of three children-Mary J. (deceased), Parker W. and John P.

HENRY C. LONG (deceased) was born in Donegal County, Ireland, October 4, 1823. He came across the Atlantic with his parents and with them located in Carroll County, Ohio. He was apprenticed to learn the tailor's trade when eleven years old, but owing to ill health, gave that up and read medicine. He began practicing in Waynesburg, Ohio, in part- nership with Dr. Crane, but shortly after removed to Mount Vernon. From here he moved to and practiced in Wooster, Wayne County ; thence

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moved to Bryan, Williams County, and was one of the most successful practitioners of the county during his time. He married Miss Armenia Ehle March 20, 1851, and to them were born four children-Mary and Emma living, and Edwin and Hattie deceased. Dr. Long was a man of strong, energetic disposition ; a Republican in politics ; a member of the I. O. O. F., and also of the Baptist Church. He died April 11, 1867 ; his widow is yet living and residing in Bryan. Mrs. Long was born in Syracuse, N. Y., May 24, 1832, and is one of eight children, three only of whom are living, born to Abraham and Elizabeth (Godard) Ehle. The mother is dead, but Mr. Ehle is a resident of Bryan and makes his home with Mrs. Long.

ISAAC McQUILKIN was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, in July, 1831. He is one of five surviving children of a family of ten born to John and Nancy (Laughlin) McQuilkin, who were natives of Pennsyl- vania. John McQuilkin was a farmer, and he and wife both died and were buried in Columbiana County. Isaac McQuilkin was reared on his parents' farm, receiving a good common-school education. In 1858, he began working as boatman on the Ohio River, taking loads of coal down the river to different destinations. At the end of three years he discontinued this occupation, and in October, 1863, came to Williams County, to look at the country and visit friends and relatives who were living here. In January, 1865, he married Mrs. Elizabeth (Deakins) McHenry, and the same month and year came to Bryan, and embarked in a general grocery store on the west side of the square. That same fall he sold out, and during the season of 1866 was employed as clerk for Samuel S. Will. In 1867, he formed his present partnership with his brother Harvey in the grocery and provision trade. They have ever since continued the business with success, and the firm of H. & I. Mc- Quilkin are the oldest grocers of Bryan. They carry a full and clean stock of everything found in a store of the kind, and their success can be attributed to close attention to business and a knowledge of how to carry on the business. Mr. Isaac McQuilkin is a Democrat in politics, and he and wife are the parents of one daughter-Anna A., born in August, 1866.

PHINEAS H. MAGNUS was born in London, England, in 1837, and is one of five children (three yet living) born to Harry and Rosetta (Isaacs) Magnus, who were also natives of England. The father died when Phineas was only two and a half years old, and the mother died November 19, 1871. Phineas Magnus was reared and educated in Lon- don, and has been doing for himself since about his fifteenth year, engaging in various pursuits until 1860, when he came to America. When he arrived at New York, his capital amounted to only $10 cash, and this

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he invested in pocket-books and notions, and began retailing. This he continued about six months, when he formed the acquaintance of Col. Christian of the Twenty-sixth New York Regiment, and at the same time became acquainted with Alexander Keller, book-keeper for a wholesale house in the city. Through the influence of the former he secured a position in Washington, D. C., as a member of the Citizens' Relief Corps, whose duty was the caring for sick and wounded soldiers, etc. Subsequently, in 1862, through the advice of Mr. Keller, who had a brother-in-law named Jacobs residing at Kendallville, Ind., he accepted a position as book-keeper for Mr. Jacobs and his subsequent partners. He remained at Kendallville till 1873, when he went to Ligonier as book- keeper for Sheets & Wertheimer, with whom he remained until the fall of 1874. March 23, 1874, he married Miss Paulina Pickert, and the fall of that year bought out Neuberger, a clothier of Bryan. The following March he moved to this place, and took control of the store, as a partner- ship concern, under the firm name of Magnus & Scheuer. Their stock amounted to about $5,500. In 1878, Mr. Magnus bought out his partner's interest, has since conducted the business alone, and now carries a stock valued at from $16,000 to $18,000, and does an annual average business of from $35,000 to $40,000, carrying a full line of clothing and gents' furnishing goods. Mr. Magnus has always taken an interest in American politics, and in his early days was strongly Abolitionist in his views. He allied himself with the Republicans on attaining citizenship, has since been quite active in furthering the interests of the party, and has been Secretary of every Republican County Convention held in Williams since he has been a resident thereof. He is considered to be one of the best book-keepers in Northern Ohio, as the many solicitations made to him to straighten complicated or mixed accounts at Toledo and other points fully testify. He and wife are members of the Jewish Church, and quite liberal in their religious views. They have had born to them three children-Edward (deceased), Lucille R. and Alfred J. Mr. Magnus is a Royal Arch Mason, is a Knight of Honor, and is an upright man and a merchant of undoubted integrity.

THOMAS F. MORRISON, born in Pennsylvania April 28, 1838, came with his parents to Ohio in early childhood. . His father was a farmer and miller, and Thomas was reared on the farm and in the mill. In his early manhood, he learned carriage-making, which he followed in the beginning of his business career. April 8, 1862, he was united in marriage to Miss Olivia Burras, who was born in Olena, Huron Co., Ohio, October 12, 1840, and to their union two children were born- Blanche and Fred. Mr. Morrison came to Bryan in 1862 with Robert Park, for whom he worked, first in building and afterward in operating a

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County of Williams, Ohio, Historical and Biographical, Part 55

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