USA > Ohio > Williams County > County of Williams, Ohio, Historical and Biographical > Part 72
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CHARLES H. ELLIOTT was born January 1, 1858, in Lenawee County, Mich., and is the eldest of six children born to William and Mary A. (Swift) Elliott, who came from the North of Ireland. When a young man, Wm. Elliott emigrated to America and settled in New Hamp- shire, where he married and engaged in farming. About 1852, he re-
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moved to Lenawee County, Mich., where he also undertook farming, afterward working as foreman for the L. S. & M. S. Ry. Charles H. Elliott was likewise engaged on said railway as baggagemaster. He be- gan telegraphing in 1876, acting as night operator and ticket agent at Bryan, in this county. Here he remained until 1880, when he came to Stryker as day operator. He was married in October, 1879, to Jennie E. Bond, daughter of Josiah and Mary Bond. One son has blessed their union-Arthur. In the present year, Mr. Charles Elliott was elected a member of the Town Council. In politics, he is a Democrat ; he is also a rising young man, and permanent fixture of Stryker.
ADAM FISSEL was born in Germany May 26, 1856, one of nine children of George and Catharine (Muhl) Fissel, both natives of Ger- many. Adam Fissel received a good education in his native country, and emigrated to the United States in 1872 ; settled at Cincinnati and learned the trade of gilder and molder; came in 1873 to Stryker, where he clerked in the furniture store of his brother, John Fissel, becoming a partner in 1880, under the firm name of Fissel Bros. Mr. Fissel was married May 21, 1876, to Miss Josephine Justice, a daughter of David Justice, and herself and parents are natives of Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Fis- sel are parents of two children. Mr. F. is a member of the I. O. O. F. and of A., F. & A. M., and is the Mayor of Stryker. John Fissel, sen- ior partner of the firm of Fissel Bros., was born in Germany in 1845, where he was educated and learned the trade of cabinet-maker. He trav- eled extensively in the German States and Switzerland until 1866, when he emigrated to the United States, coming first to Cincinnati; then to Spencerville, remaining two years in each place; then to Stryker, where he stayed one year, when he went to Defiance, but returned to Stryker and established himself in the furniture business, where he has since re- mained. His wife was Miss Catherine Fissel, a native of Germany and is the mother of two children. Mr. F. is a member of the I. O. O. F., and has served two terms as Treasurer of Springfield Township. The Fissel Bros. are enterprising, prominent business men ; have an extensive trade, and are among Stryker's best citizens.
OSCAR L. GAMBER was born June 6, 1846, in Canoga, Seneca Co., N. Y., and is one of four children born to George and Mary C. (Singer) Gamber. In 1856, George Gamber and family moved to Gor- ham Township, Fulton Co., Ohio, where he purchased 187 acres, and there has since resided, having been Township Trustee several terms. Oscar L. Gamber attended school and worked on a farm until eighteen years old, when he enlisted in the One Hundred and Ninety fifth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, serving until disbanded in 1865. He then fol- lowed farming until 1872. In 1873, he established a livery stable at
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Metz, Steuben Co., Ind., remaining until 1874, and thence moving to Columbia, Williams Co., Ohio. He was engaged in the mercantile busi- ness here one year, returned to Indiana, and in 1877 came to Springfield Township and farmed for two years. In 1879, he came to Stryker; worked for Von Behren & Shaffer two years, and in 1881 began the liv- ery business. Mr. Gamber was married in 1869 to Elizabeth C. Bender, of Williams County. They have one child-David W. Mr. Gamber is a member of Stryker Lodge, No. 611, I. O. O. I., and Mrs. Gamber of the M. E. Church.
WESLEY B. GREEK is a native of the Buckeye State, and was born in Hancock County January 28, 1848; his parents, Frederick and Martha (Brubaker) Greek are Pennsylvanians. Frederick Greek came to Richland County soon after his marriage, where he worked at his trade (that of carpenter! for several years, when he removed to Hancock County, where he engaged in the saw-mill and lumber business until 1856, when he came to Madison Township in this county, where he pur- chased a farm, which has since been the home of the family. Mr. Greek and wife are connected with the German Baptist Church. Wesley B. re- ceived the benefits of a liberal education, attending school for several years at Bryan, afterward at Ann Arbor, Mich., and graduating at Ohio Central Normal College at Worthington. Mr. Greek has made teaching his profession, beginning at the early age of twenty. He has been Prin- cipal of the graded schools at West Unity and Pioneer, in this county, and in the fall of 1881 accepted the position of Principal of the High School at Stryker, which, under his management, is in a most healthy and flourishing condition ; he has also served on the Board of County Examiners, for which his education and natural ability have peculiarly fitted him. October 22, 1874, he married Sarah A. Stiving, who is a native of Richland County, Ohio, a daughter of Philip and Leah (Dohm) Stiving, and of German descent. Mr. and Mrs. Greek are parents of five children, four living, and are members of the United Brethren Church.
JOHN HARRIS was born June 15, 1798, in Masson, Bedfordshire, England. He is one of nine born to Richard and Sarah (Thomas) Har- ris. John Harris received no education in youth, but has acquired an excellent knowledge of men and things. At five years of age he was hired to herd sheep. When seventeen years old, he worked for one shil- ling a day, afterward working at farming and baking. Mr. Harris was first married in England, in 1819, to Elizabeth Helson. To this union fourteen children succeeded, six of whom only remain. In 1850, he emi- grated to America and settled in Springfield Township, purchasing 160 acres of unimproved land, which he cleared and improved, and where he
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now resides. To this tract he added until he now owns 581 acres of fine land. Mrs. Harris died in May, 1861. Mr. Harris remarried in Octo- ber of that year. To the last union only one child was born-Cora B. Mr. Harris is a Methodist and Mrs. Harris a Presbyterian.
SOLOMOM JOHNSON is a native Ohioan, and of English descent on the paternal side. His father, George Johnson, was a native of Lin- colnshire, England. and emigrated to this country about fifty years ago. He settled on Tiffin River, Fulton County, Ohio, entered land, built a cabin and began clearing. In about 1840, himself and brother William secured a mill privilege on Tiffin River (or Bean Creek) from the State, where they erected a saw-mill, and later, a grist-mill, known to this day as the " Johnson Mills." The first wife of Mr. Johnson was Miss Han- nah Donutt, who died in 1846, leaving five children, three of whom are yet living. He was married to Miss Catherine Croutz November 16, 1847, and eight years after that event, died at his home in Fulton County November 28, 1855. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mrs. (Johnson) Coy is now a resident of this county. Solomon Johnson was born in Fulton County, Ohio, March 2, 1850, one of three children of the second Mrs George Johnson. He received a good education, and engaged both in farming and teaching ; he taught in Williams, Fulton and Defiance Counties-in the latter as Principal of the High School at Evansport. Mr. Johnson is a graduate of the Law Department of Michigan State University, and a member of the Ohio bar, and contemplates establishing himself at Bryan for the practice of his profession, in the near future. Mr. Johnson served as Assessor for two terms in Springfield Township, this county, in 1876 and 1877; served on the Board of Trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Stryker for three years, and for the same length of time on the Board of School Examiners for Williams County. His defeat as candidate for Recorder in 1878, and State Representative in 1881, was not due to any lack of talent or ability, but to the fact that he was marshaled in the Democratic ranks, while Obio's majorities were counted on the other side.
LEWIS KING, JR., was born June 12, 1816, in Saratoga County, N. Y., and is the only child of Lewis and Betsey (Sprague) King. In 1819, the elder King came to Delaware County, Ohio, but soon after returned to Saratoga County, N. Y., where he was largely engaged in farming until his death. Louis King, Jr., when only twelve years old, came with his grandfather, Solomon Sprague, to Springfield Township. At fourteen years of age, he began clearing and chopping, and, when but a young man, was one of the best axmen in the country. In 1836, he purchased 100 acres in this township. In 1840, he removed to Cincin-
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nati, and traveled through many States, leoturing and giving exhibitions in ventriloquism. In 1877, Mr. King published a work entitled, "The Celestial Messenger ; or, A Key to the Book of Revelation," wherein some novel ideas are set forth. Mr. King was married in 1836, to Jane Prettyman, with an issue of one son only-Prettyman. Mr. King belongs to the order of I. O. O. F., and is one of the oldest pioneers of the town- ship. Mrs. King is a native of Pickaway County, Ohio, and the daughter of Thomas and Lydia (Wyatt) Prettyman, both natives of Maryland.
WESLEY B. KITZMILLER was born in Gettysburg, Adams Co., Penn., June 2, 1840, the eldest of fourteen children of his parents, who were both natives of Pennsylvania, where they were married in 1838. His father, Adam Kitzmiller, was a cabinet-maker, and followed his trade at Gettysburg, and also at Mansfield, Ohio, where he removed in 1844, remaining till 1846, when he went to Rome, Ohio, where the family re- sided until 1853, when he purchased a farm of forty acres of unimproved land, which was afterward a portion of the present site of Stryker. This he sold, buying another, when he met his death, February 2, 1874, from injuries caused while chopping. Mr. Kitzmiller was a prominent mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and active in Sunday school work. Wesley B. was well educated, and was taking a collegiate course at Otterbein University, Westerville, Ohio, when his country's call inter- fered with his studies, and he enlisted in Company C, Thirty-eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, seeing active service with his regiment until, becom- ing incapacitated for duty, he received a discharge in . 1862. He was married the year following, to Miss Mary J. Schaefer, a native of Williams County, and a daughter of John and Mary (Winters) Schaefer, both from Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Kitzmiller have seven children. Mr. Kitzmiller has engaged, at different times, in painting, grocery and dry goods business, and has held the office of Clerk, Councilman and Mayor of Stryker ; is now in the insurance business, acting Justice of the Peace and Notary Public ; a zealous church member of the Methodist Episcopal faith, Sunday School Superintendent, and is always found in the front ranks of every good work.
BENJAMIN F. KNIFFEN was born April 13, 1827, in Huron County, Ohio, being one of six children of Benjamin and Bloomy (Hobby) Kniffen, the former a native of Westchester County, N. Y., the latter of Connecticut. In 1817, Benjamin Kniffen came to Huron County, then an untrodden wilderness, and located a military land grant of 800 acres for his father, James Kniffen, one-half of which was subsequently deeded to him by his father; he was the third white man to locate in Greenfield Township, Huron County, and continued to travel between Ohio and New York until 1823, when he was married, and the following
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spring, with his father's family, moved on their land, each building a log cabin, and clearing the land extensively. Soon thereafter Mr. Kniffen opened a store in a log building, and for years carried on a large trade with the Indians; this was the first store in the south part of Huron County. In 1828, he built a new frame store building near the old log one, which was the first frame store building in that portion of the county. In the same year, he drove the first cattle taken from Huron County over the mountains, and from that time until his death he was largely engaged in the stock business. In 1836, Mr. Kniffen built a tavern on his farm ; this was situated on the main road from Wooster to Norwalk, and was known as the " Western Emigrants' Home." Although a life-long Dem- ocrat, Mr. Kniffen was for more than fifteen years continued as Justice of the Peace in a township which was largely Whig in its politics. Pos- sessing but an ordinary education, he was by nature a man of broad mind and superior judgment, and his opinions and counsel were constantly sought by his neighbors, particularly in matters relating to finance. He was one of the largest farmers and stock-dealers in the county. He died at his home in Huron County July 12, 1877. The Kniffens are a long- lived family. Out of the six children before mentioned, the youngest reached seventy-six years, the eldest being still alive, and eighty-nine years old. During forty-five years, not a death occurred among them. Benjamin F. Kniffen (the subject of our sketch) received a fair school education, and worked on the farm of his father until 1850, when he left for California too seek his fortune, and in which he was not wholly un- successful ; he took the overland route, accomplishing the whole journey on horseback. While in California, he was engaged in mining and pack- ing, returning to the States in the fall of 1851, by way of Nicaragua and New York, and being one of the second boat's crew to come by that way. On November 18, 1859, he was married to Margaret E. Papino, of Richland County, Ohio, and daughter of David L. and Jane (Apple- man) Papino, the former born in Orange County, N. Y., the latter in Pennsylvania, near Harrisburg. Mr. Papino and Hon. William H. Sew- ard were classmates in boyhood. Mr. and Mrs. Kniffen have had five children. After his marriage, Mr. Kniffen bought a farm in Huron County, where for several years he engaged in stock-raising and farming. In the spring of 1865, he sold this farm and moved to Springfield Town- ship, where he purchased 500 acres from David Carpenter, an old settler of the township. Mr. Kniffen now owns one of the largest, and perhaps the best-improved farms in the township, 805 acres; he also owns 193 acres elsewhere in the county, 80 acres in Fulton County, 160 acres in Nebraska, 320 acres in Iowa, and 1,200 acres in Texas, thus aggre- gating 2,758 acres of land. He is the largest land-owner in the county,
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and has been extensively engaged here in the stock business; he has also given attention to blooded horses, now possessing some of the highest bred running stock in Northwest Ohio. Although not a church member, Mr. Kniffen is exceedingly liberal in his religious views, and in his contribu- tions for church purposes. He is a member of the order of A., F. & A. M.
EDWIN A. LANGLEY was born April 17, 1843, in Coshocton County, Ohio, and is one of six born to Moses B. and Martha B. (Chilo) Langley. Moses B. Langley moved with his family and bought a farm in Coshocton County, residing there until his death on February 14, 1855. Mrs. Langley is living with her son Edwin ; she is a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church. Edwin A. Langley labored on the farm until fifteen years of age. When eighteen years old, he commenced the black- smith trade. In 1864, he enlisted in the Eightieth Ohio Regiment, and served until mustered out in 1865; a portion of this time he was regi- mental blacksmith. In October, 1865, he came to Springfield Township, and purchased the eighty acres on which he now resides. He was mar- ried, October, 1865, to Clarissa Leavitt. Mr. and Mrs. Langley have had four children, three of whom are living-Zine E., Milo E. and Edna M. Mr. Langley is a leading farmer of Springfield Township. Mr. Langley's father was a native of Merrimack County, and his mother of Cheshire County, N. H. Mrs. Langley's parents, Gideon and Mary (Sickles) Leavitt, were natives respectively of Coos County, N. H., and Sussex County, N. J.
THOMAS LAVEY was born in Castletown, County Westmeath, Ire- land, December 21, 1857, and is the eldest of the six children of Patrick and Ellen (Fox) Lavey. Patrick Lavey first came to America in 1847, and returned to Ireland in 1848 ; in 1849, he came over a second time, and in 1851 or 1852, revisited his native land, and was there married in 1856. In the spring of 1860, he came over to remain, bringing with him his wife and two children. He was employed as a gardener in New York City until the spring of 1862, when, without his family, he visited Stry- ker, and for a few months, was employed on a farm near by. His family joined him the next August, and for the next ten years he was employed on the L. S. & M. S. R. R., since when, he has been principally engaged in gardening. Thomas Lavey received a fair schooling until thirteen years old, when he went to work in a flax-mill at Stryker for a year, at 50 cents per day ; he then worked in the same factory until 1873, at $1.50 per day, and was then employed on the L. S. & M. S. Railway for about seven years. In 1880, he engaged in peddling, commencing with a small pack, which he carried on his back, and so continued with success until the spring of 1882, when he engaged in business as a sewing machine
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agent, which he is still following. He is an enterprising young business man, and in politics is a Democrat.
SETH LINSLY was born, June 24, 1821, in Trumbull County, Ohio. and is one of thirteen children born to Elam and Lydia M. (Wright) Linsly. When a young man, Elam Linsly came to the Ohio Reserve, then an unbroken wilderness ; he was a soldier of 1812, and resided in Trumbull County until his death, about 1858, being more than ninety years old. Seth Linsly worked on his father's farm until his fifteenth year, going later to Ashtabula County to learn cabinet-making, and serving three years. In 1848, he lived in Adrian, Mich., and West Unity, Ohio, and came to Stryker in 1859. In 1861, he served as a three months' soldier, and again, in 1863, in the Eighty-sixth Ohio Vol- unteer Infantry, remaining until mustered out in 1864. Returning to Stryker, he engaged in mechanical pursuits ; he was one of the first to or- ganize the Whig party in Williams County ; is a charter member of Su- perior Lodge, 179, A., F. & A. M., the first lodge of Masons west of the Maumee, and a charter member of Northwest Chapter, 45, R. A. M. He was married, in 1845, to Sarah A. Luce, a relative of Hon. Daniel Webster. Mr. and Mrs. Linsly had one child, Frances M., now Mrs. A. S. Wilson. The Linsly family is a very old one in this country, the founders here having been three brothers, who came to America some 200 years ago, and settled in East and West Branford, Conn.
PETER LUTY, JR., was born February 8, 1822, in Canton Berne, Switzerland, and the only child of Peter and Elizabeth Luty. Our sub- ject received an ordinary education, and worked on his father's farm until seventeen years old, when he learned the trade of & cooper. He worked in Switzerland until 1846, when he emigrated to America, settling in Wayne County, Ohio, and remaining until 1852 ; then going to seek a fortune in California. He returned in 1854, and moved to Allen County, Ind., where he purchased land and remained until 1863, when he sold his land and removed to Springfield Township, and bought 336 acres of well-improved land. Mr. Luty was married, May 28, 1849, to Margaret Bouvie, of France. They have eight children, seven living. Both are members of the German Reformed Church, and he is one of the promi- nent farmers of the township.
JOSEPH MALTBY was born in Longeaton, Derbyshire, Eng., March 4, 1817. He was one of three children born to Thomas and Elizabeth (Halam) Maltby. Joseph having acquired a common school education, learned the lace-making trade, and later that of a wheelwright; still later, he engaged in lace-making. In 1846, he married Catherine Lees, of Derbyshire, Eng. As a result, seven children were born- Thomas, Sarah E., Catherine, Ann, Joseph, Samuel L. and Hannah.
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Mr. Maltby came with his family and settled in Springfield Township, purchasing 120 acres and increasing the same to 277 acres, and resided thereon until his death, September, 1879. His widow and three chil- dren now dwell upon the estate. One of the sons, Joseph, Jr., was mar- ried, December 25, 1881, to Bertha R. Boyer, a native of Springfield Township, and daughter of David and Harriet (Schaeffer) Boyer, natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio. To their union one daughter has been born. Both Joseph, Jr., and wife are members of the M. E. Church, and also of Springfield Grange, No. 499.
JOHN E. MEEK, the fourth in a family of seven children of Hugh and Jane C. (Adams) Meek, was born in Henry County, Ohio, Novem- ber 4, 1836. His parents were both natives of Hamilton County, Ohio, and of Irish and Welsh descent. They were married in their native county, and there Hugh Meek learned the carpenter's trade. In the fall of 1832, he moved, with his wife and one child, to Henry County, where he followed his trade until 1859, when he came to Stryker, this township, and made his home with his son, John E:, until his death, September 14, 1867. He was Justice of the Peace in Henry County for several years, and also served about a year in a pioneer corps, during the last war, under Col. George D. Center. Mrs. Jane C. Meek died in Henry County Feb- ruary 28, 1845, a member of the M. E. Church. John E. Meek was about nine years old when his mother died, and, until about thirteen, he lived with an uncle in Henry County. For two years, he was a driver on the Wabash & Miami Canal, and at fifteen entered an apprenticeship to & carpenter for three and a quarter years ; he then learned painting at To- ledo, serving three years ; he then returned to Henry County, where he carried on both trades for about two years. In 1859, he came to Stryker, where he engaged in contracting and building for about twelve years, and then for two years carried on a grocery and provision trade. He has been for twenty years identified with insurance more or less, but for the past ten years has made it a specialty: Mr. Meek has been three times married-first, to Sophia Richards, a native of Stark County, Ohio, who died in Stryker December 20, 1872, leaving three children-Frank E., John E. and Nora; June 28, 1874, he married Mary Barber, a native of Stryker, and daughter of E. D. and Sarah (Swank) Barber (this lady died May 1, 1875); June 21, 1876, he married Miss Olie Barber, a sis- ter of his deceased wife, and to this union one child has been born-Verl W. Mr. Meek has been Constable seven years, and for eight years Dep- uty Sheriff of Williams County. He has also served as Township and Town Clerk several terms, and one term as Mayor of Stryker. He is a charter member of Stryker Lodge, No. 611, I. O. O. F., and in politics is a Republican.
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JAMES MIGNEREY was born July 80, 1880, in France. He is one of eight children born to John C. and Catherine (Fevre) Mignerey. Our subject received the rudiments of an education in his native country. When seventeen years old he learned the blacksmithing business, after which, in 1849, he came to the United States, locating at Buffalo, N. Y., where he worked ten years. In 1859, he moved with his family to Springfield Township, where he purchased 100 acres-the same on which he lives. Mr. Mignerey was married, at Buffalo, in 1858, to Louise Colen. Mr. and Mrs. Mignerey are the parents of twelve children, ten of whom are living. Both are members of the Baptist Church. Mr. Mignerey belongs to Stryker Lodge, I. O. O. F. In politics, he is a Re- publican, and he is a most enterprising citizen.
GEORGE L. MIGNEREY was born in Buffalo, N. Y., February 14, 1860 ; he is one of twelve children born to James and Louise (Colen) Mig- nerey, both natives of France. The subject of this sketch received a good common school education at Stryker, working on his father's farm until his seventeenth year, when he went to learn the business of a butcher with Fred Barber, remaining two years, when he opened a mest-market on his own account at Stryker, and where he now continues the business. He was married, March 8, 1879, to Miss Mary Klopenstine, a native of Fulton County, Ohio, where she was born in September, 1860; she is a daughter of Peter and Barbara (Cramer) Klopenstine, also natives of France. Mr. and Mrs. Mignerey have had one child-Bertie M. Mr. M. is one of the enterprising and rising young men of Stryker.
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