USA > Ohio > Allen County > History of Allen County, Ohio and Representative Citizens > Part 19
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After his return to peaceful pursuits, Mr. Scherger spent a month in his old home in Seneca County and then went to work with Samuel Stuter & Son, his previous employers. He remained with that firm for about one year, for three months of that time being in partnership with them, and then be- gan the wagon-making business for him- self at Delphos. He continued in this busi- ness for four years and then spent two years farming for his brother in Van Wert County; but failing health brought him back to Delphos. Here he was given the position of foreman in Kollsmith's wood-working shop, but ere long he found his health would not stand this strain. About 1874, he associated with his late brother, John Scherger, in purchasing the marble shop of James Tolan; they remained together about two years, and then our subject bought his brother's interest and continued in the business by himself. It was commenced in a small way, but through Mr. Scherger's industry and abil- ity it continued to grow from year to year until at the present writing ( 1905) he has the largest marble works in Delphos and one of the largest in Allen or Van Wert County. Formerly he also owned a shop in Ottawa; but that he sold; he still maintains a branch of his' business at Defiance. Mr. Scherger gives constant employ- ment to six skilled workmen, keeps three sales- men on the road and sells his work over a very large territory, covering the greater part of several counties in every direction. The pres- ent firm name was adopted on January 1, 1892, when our subject's son, John A. Scher- ger, became a member of the firm. On Jan- uary 1, 1905, two other sons, Barney T. and Joseph, became active partners. The firm of C. Scherger & Sons, therefore, is made up of Constantine Scherger, John A. Scherger, Bar- ney T. Scherger and Joseph Scherger. The business is conducted as the Delphos Marble & Granite Works, dealers in all kinds of marble and granite monuments. Their shops are well equipped with all necessary machinery of a modern kind and all their lettering, tracing and carving is done with pneumatic tools. The head of the firm may be said to have practically retired from the business after his long years of continuous activity.
In 1868 Mr. Scherger was married to Fan- nie Fischer, who was born in Huron County, Ohio, and was a daughter of Saffron Fischer. Her death occurred February 10, 1883. She was the mother of nine children, the survivors being : John A., Barney T, Theresa, Anna and William. On April 22, 1884, Mr. Scher- ger was married to Mrs. Mary (Dolt) Suever, who was the widow of Frank Suever and a daughter of Joseph Dolt, who was one of the old pioneer settlers and respected citizens of Delphos. To Mr. and Mrs. Scherger were born these children: Joseph, Leo, Ida and An- thony. The parents and all the children are members of the Church of St. John the Evan- gelist at Delphos.
Mr. Scherger has taken an active part in public and political matters at Delphos and has been more or less a leader in the Democratic party. He has been a member of the City Council for a number of terms, where he is valued for his excellent judgment. In all his decisions he has the welfare of the city at heart. He has served also in other offices of responsi- bility, one of these being that of city treasurer, to which he was appointed. He can look back over a long and successful business life; one which has brought him material prosperity and has added to the prestige of Delphos as a com- mercial center.
JOHN A. SCHERGER, the eldest of our sub- ject's sons, was born August 6, 1869, at Del- phos. He was reared here and was educated in the parochial schools and in both the German and English departments of the public schools. He was 17 years old when he entered his father's marble shop and he has continued in the business ever since, being at present general supervisor of the work. He understands the selling and the mounting of monuments and looks after that department, besides having general charge of the clerical work.
On August 9, 1892, John A. Scherger was married to Agnes Weible, daughter of Henry and Mary Weible, the former of whom was county commissioner and a member of the Board of Public Works in Van Wert County for 40 years. Mrs. Scherger died May 19, 1893, after the birth of twin sons, Constantine and Henry, named for their grandfathers. The
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former lives with his grandfather Scherger. The latter died August 27, 1893. In 1897 Mr. Scherger married, for his second wife, Mary G. Goebel, a daughter of John Goebel, and they have two daughters-Leona and Ruth. Mr. Scherger and family reside in a very handsome home on West Fifth street, Delphos. Frater- nally, he belongs to the Knights of Columbus, Catholic Knights of America and Catholic Knights of Ohio. He is a member of the Del- phos volunteer fire department, and is now serving his third term of city councilman.
BARNEY T. SCHERGER was born March 8, 1871, in Delphos, and was educated in the parochial and public schools. At the age of 19 he learned the trade of marble worker. On October 22, 1892, he was married to Lizzie Behm and they have had two children-Elmer (deceased) and Erwin.
In 1894 he took charge of the firm's marble business at Ottawa, Ohio, where he remained ten years and six months. He then returned to Delphos as a resident partner of the firm. He belongs to the Knights of St. John and Catholic Knights of Ohio, and, like his brother, is a member of the Delphos volunteer fire de- partment.
E N. ZETLITZ, an esteemed resident of Lima, has won a high reputation as a florist, not only in Allen County but throughout this section of the State. Mr. Zetlitz was born in 1856 in Norway, and has been accustomed to the care of plants since his childhood. Coming to America when a young man, he first secured a position in Toledo, Ohio, as florist at the State Asylum for the Insane, remaining there two years. After some time spent in Toledo, Tiffin and Bryan, Ohio, he came to Lima where, in 1898, he purchased the greenhouses and busi- ness of Swan Brothers, which he has since con- ducted. Having devoted 33 years to this work, it was to be expected that he would succeed; but few people realized, at that time, the im- portance of the transfer, as Swan Brothers were then the leading florists of Lima. Mr. Zetlitz
soon produced flowers of such exquisite beauty and in such profusion that the attention of plant. lovers was attracted to his greenhouses, and the number of his patrons was increased until to- day he has one of the leading greenhouses in this section of the State, his flowers finding a ready market in many distant cities. Some idea of the magnitude of the business may be formed when it is known that over 10,000 square feet of ground are under glass.
Mr. Zetlitz was married in Norway in 1880 to Emilie Berner, of that country. They have four children, Barghild, Randi, Rolf and Thor. The family stand high in the estima- tion of their neighbors, and are members of the First Evangelical Lutheran Church in which they are active workers. Mr. Zetlitz is a mem- ber of the Elks, the Maccabees and the Knights. of Pythias, and commands the highest confi- dence of the general public. 1
AMUEL A. POST, deceased, was a leading citizen of German township for many years, a substantial farmer and a representative man. Mr. Post was born November 22, 1856, and died March 24, 1899. His parents were L. H. and Elizabeth J. (Stewart) Post.
Mr. Post was reared on his father's farm and attended the local schools where he pre- pared for college, subsequently entering the Ohio Normal University at Ada. He spent but one term here on account of delicate health, re- turning to farm work, the out-door life suiting him better than the confinement of the school- room.
In 1880 Mr. Post was married to Sarah A. Crites, who is a daughter of Jacob and Emily Crites. Mrs. Post was born in German town- ship and has passed her life in Allen County. Five children were born to this marriage, as. follows: William Stewart, born October 19, 1881, who was married January 23, 1901, to Clara Carey, of Shawnee township, and has one child, Helen, born in January, 1902; Cora Ethel, born November 22, 1882, who was. married to Alva Benedum, of German
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township, August 8, 1902, and has one child, Ruth Evelyn, born December 2, 1903; Louis Crites, born November 10, 1884; Charles B., born December 8, 1888, and Clar- ence B., born December 7, 1892. The last three are at home and take all the responsibility of the farm work. They are capable young men, worthy representatives of their excellent father.
The death of Mr. Post occurred very sud- denly. He was stricken with spinal meningitis and survived the attack but four days. He was laid to rest in the Allentown cemetery. He was the kind of man to be much missed, both in his household and in his neighborhood. Honest and upright in all his dealings with others, he secured friendship and esteem. He was intel- ligently interested in all public matters in his township and served for a long time as school director. In politics he was a Republican and at the time of his death was his party's candi- date for township treasurer.
HE J. M. SEALTS COMPANY, wholesale grocers, is one of the large and important business combina- tions of Lima. It was established in 1883 by the late J. M. Sealts, under his own name. In 1888 the firm name of J. M. Sealts & Company was adopted and in 1891 the company was incorporated with a capital stock of $100,000, the corporation name being the present one. The first officers were as fol- lows: J. M. Sealts, president; M. E. Sealts, vice-president, and C. T. Sealts, secretary and treasurer. J. M. Sealts died in the spring of 1904 and was succeeded as president by his brother, M. E. Sealts. The latter's death in December, 1904, made another change neces- sary, and since then Sturgis S. Sealts, son of the founder, has been president; M. M. Sealts is vice-president and C. T. Sealts is secretary and treasurer. It requires the assistance of three traveling men to handle the extensive business done by this company outside of Lima, while their local connections are large and valuable.
The late J. M. Sealts was born in Knox County, Ohio. He removed to Mansfield, Ohio, in 1878, and became a member of the grocery firm of Bissman & Sealts. In 1883 he sold out to his partner and came to Lima, where he established, as above mentioned, the grocery business of J. M. Sealts. Until his death, 21 years later, he was one of Lima's upright, hon- orable business men and prominent citizens, taking a part in her business life and promoting her best interests in every way.
In Sturgis S. Sealts, who is now president, the company has also an able man at the helm. He was born in Knox County, Ohio, in 1868. and was reared and educated at Mansfield. Al- most his whole life has been associated with the wholesale grocery business, as he was only 15 years old when he first became so connected. He has an intimate knowledge of the business along all lines. He was for 12 years one of the firm's representatives on the road. In 1904 he was married to Louise Black, a daughter of Thomas Black. Mr. Sealts belongs to the United Commercial Travelers' Association.
OHN R. MARSHALL, the proprietor of "White Haven Farm," is a represen- tative agriculturist of Monroe town- ship. He was born near Poland, in Mahoning County, Ohio, February 22, 1851, and has been a resident of Allen County since the autumn of that year, his parents, Cy- rus and Mary (Reed) Marshall, having located here at that time. His great-grandfather was born in County Down, Ireland, and was of Scotch descent. He emigrated to Pennsylva- nia, where James Marshall, the grandfather of our subject, was born. The remainder of his life was spent in Lawrence and Beaver counties as a large farmer and stock-raiser.
Cyrus Marshall, father of John R. Mar- shall, was born near Mount Jackson, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, June 22, 1826, and re- mained there until after his marriage. His wife, Mary Reed, was a daughter of Samuel and Margaret Reed and was born in Mahoning County, Ohio, December 24, 1826. After
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marriage, they resided in Mahoning County about one year, and then, in the fall of 1851, came by wagon to Allen County and took up their residence in a small log house in the tim- ber. Here Mr. Marshall entered land which he cleared and turned his attention to the tilling of his soil and to stock-raising. He was suc- cessful and had accumulated, at the time of his death in 1891, about 500 acres of land by his own industry and good management. He left a widow, who still resides on the homestead first entered here, and two sons-John R. and Albert H., who lives in Richland township. Cyrus Marshall was a man of upright charac- ter who strove always to attain the high stand- ard of living which was his ideal. He was quiet and domestic in his taste, finding his greatest enjoyment at his own fireside and in his labors for his church, which lost one of its strongest members when he was called to the life beyond.
John R. Marshall has passed his entire life in Richland and Monroe townships, where he has devoted his time and attention to farming and more particularly to stock-raising and feed- ing. He remained with his parents until his marriage when he moved to his present farm, which consists of 270 acres, located in section 13, Monroe township and in section 18, Rich- land township. Like his father and grand- father before him, Mr. Marshall is engaged in breeding stock and also buys large numbers which he feeds, in addition to those raised on the place. He makes a specialty of Delaine sheep. Mr. Marshall has been prominently identified with many of the leading interests of his township and is always ready to aid when the best interests of the community demand his services. He has been a director in the Com- mercial Bank & Savings Company of Bluffton since its organization; was school director for many years and for the past four years has served as township trustee.
On December 24, 1874, Mr. Marshall was married to Ida Irene Boyer, who was born on the adjoining farm August 4, 1854, and is a daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Lippincott) Boyer, formerly prominent residents of Lima. The mother was born in Champaign County,
Ohio, in 1816, and the father was born near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, in 1811. Mr. Boyer was one of the earliest settlers of Lima, coming on foot to that place when it was yet a village and there opening a tailor-shop-the first to be established in the village. Later he moved to a farm in Monroe township where he and his wife resided when the final summons called them to the higher life. To Mr. and Mrs. Marshall six children have been born, namely : Earl, who died at the age of 18 years; Lois, wife of J. O. Cupp, of Monroe township; Mary, wife of J. C. Begg, of Monroe township; and Elnora, John Harold and Herbert B., who reside at home. Mr. Marshall is a Republican. He is a devout member of the Presbyterian Church of Rockport and has served as elder for 30 years.
A LONZO SMITH BOWER, whose portrait is shown on the opposite page, conducts the leading bakery and con- fectionery of Lima. He was born at Piqua, Ohio, in October, 1855, and is a son of Robert Bower, who died in this city December 3, 1903, in the 81st year of his age. Robert Bower came to Allen County when he was a lad of 12 years, about 1835, and from that year, with the exception of eight years spent in Piqua, was a resident of Lima until the time of his death. He first learned the trade of a saddle-maker and followed it for several years, part of the time at Delphos. Later he engaged in the manufacture of carriages, and in 1858 established a shop in Lima, which he conducted until his permanent retirement from active business.
A. S. Bower has been a resident of Lima since his third year. He attended the public schools and worked in his father's carriage shop during his boyhood. At the age of 20 he se- cured work with Mr. Heffner, who conducted a bakery, and finding the employment to his lik- ing, continued in his service until 1884, when he opened a small establishment himself. He has succeeded beyond his expectations, and now has the finest bakery and confectionery in Lima,
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making a specialty of superior ice cream and producing about 1,800 loaves of bread daily, his "Nox-em-al" brand being the local favorite. He has been in his present location about 18 years and is one of the substantial citizens of Lima. Mr. Bower is a stockholder in The East Iron & Machine Company, and has other business interests here.
In 1881 Mr. Bower was joined in marriage to Clara Bowyer, a daughter of Madison L. Bowyer, a venerable and esteemed citizen of German township. Mr. Bowyer still owns the land which his father entered from the govern- ment in 1829, when his son, Madison, was a child of four years. Mr. and Mrs. Bower have three children, viz : Robert Sidney, who is as- sociated with his father in business; and Helen and Ruth, both at home. Mr. Bower and his wife are members and active workers of the First Congregational Church, he himself being a trustee of the church, while Mrs. Bower has served as president of the Ladies' Circle for the past four years. Fraternally, he is a Royal Arch Mason and a past chancellor of the Knights of Pythias.
E DWARD J. FORD, a worthy represen- tative of one of the old pioneer fami- lies of Allen County, resides on a well-developed farm of 93 acres in section 34, Marion township, on the east side of the Auglaize River, situated on the Lima turnpike and the Delphos road. Mr. Ford was born December 19, 1853, near Ur- bana, on his father's pioneer farm in Cham- paign County, Ohio, and is a son of Joseph and Isabella (Moore) Ford.
Joseph Ford, the venerable father of our subject, who had his 89th birthday on Septem- ber 17, 1905, was born on a farm situated one and a half miles southeast of Urbana, Champaign County, Ohio, and is a son of Jo- seph and Catherine (Snell) Ford.
Joseph Ford, the grandfather of Edwin J. Ford, was born March 4, 1781, near Hagers- town, Maryland, where he lived in peace and plenty on his lands after the close of the Revo-
lutionary War. On April 12, 1803, he married Catherine Snell, who was a daughter of Samuel Snell. She was born May 4, 1781. After mar- riage, Joseph and Catherine Ford joined the army of pioneers who sought homes in Ken- tucky, but soon left the rich valleys there, which then were overrun with Indians, and came to the more peaceful settlements in Ohio. Grand- father Ford located in Champaign County, which then, with the exception of scattered clearings, was a dense forest, and cleared a farm situated four miles from Urbana. He was also an old-time teamster and engaged in hauling freight between Cincinnati and Day- ton, Ohio, and likewise did teaming for Gen- eral Wayne's army. The children born to Joseph and Catherine Ford were: Sarah, James, Christiana, Nancy, John Harrison, Jo- seph, William, Mary and a babe which died in infancy. For 18 consecutive years Joseph Ford served as a justice of the peace and he also was captain of a rifle company. He owned a fine farm of 134 acres in the vicinity of Ur- bana. He died in Champaign County at the age of 72 years. He was a life-long member of the Methodist Protestant Church, and for many years was a deacon. His wife was equally devoted to this denomination.
Joseph Ford, father of our subject, the sev- enth child of his parents family, is the only sur- vivor, and what a vast gulf of history his long life has covered! He was educated in the primitive subscription schools, the sessions of which were held in little log cabins, with none of the luxurious surroundings which the mod- ern child expects both at home and at school. However, these early schools taught thorough- ly the elemental principles and turned out able men and women. Mr. Ford, like his father, began to assist in teaming when but a strip- ling, easily managing the four and six-horse teams which were attached to the immense freight wagons. He recalls one of his early trips which took him through Allen County, when the present flourishing little city of Lima was erecting its first log cabin in the woods. He continued to follow teaming until 1843 and then entered into general farming. In 1844 he married and continued to live in Champaign
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County until 1854, and then removed to Allen County, settling on a tract of 160 acres, right in the woods, which he had purchased in 1849, the land being situated in a desirable part of Marion township. This farm he cleared from the forest and increased its acreage to 200 acres. In his efforts he was assisted by his admirable wife whose frugality and excellent management provided a cheerful, happy home, in which a family of worthy children were reared to respected and useful maturity.
On January 5, 1844, Joseph Ford was mar- ried to Isabella Moore, who was a daughter of Maj. Thomas and Martha (Dodson) Moore. Major Moore, who was an early settler in Kentucky and a farmer, drover, teamster and soldier, obtained his title in the War of 1812. He was surrendered with the garrison at De- troit by Gen. William Hull, having cut his way through 200 miles of forest to Detroit from Urbana. Major Moore was the first man to plant an orchard in his county. He was twice married. His first wife was a Miss McConkle, and five children were born to the union. The second marriage was to Martha Dodson, and the following children were born to this mar- riage: Jesse, Samuel, William. Isabella and Martha J. The death of Major Moore oc- curred during one of his teaming trips, his lifeless body being found in his wagon. He was 50 years of age.
The children of Joseph Ford and wife were: Dora, deceased, who was the wife of Irenus Stooky; John C., a farmer of Marion township, who is also in the stone business; Mary, deceased, who was the wife of Edward Tucker; Anna, the wife of Henry Boroff, of Hardin County, Ohio; Thomas, deceased; Ed- ward J., of Marion township; Frances, de- ceased, who was the wife of Sheldon Sarber; Alice, the wife of Rev. George W. Mell, pastor of the Christian Church at Delphos; Maly, a farmer on the old homestead, who married Emily Lee; and Ollie, who married Charles Morgan and resides on the homestead. The mother of the above mentioned children, full of years and possessed of all the Christian vir- tues, passed away in the old home in section 2, Marion township, on January 13, 1902. Since
1885 Mr. Ford has lived retired. He has al- ways been identified with the Democratic party and for a number of his active years served as township trustee. His venerable age causes him to find the larger part of his enjoyment in the associations of the home and hearthstone, and he still deeply mourns the loss which be- reaved him of his companion of so many happy years. He is held in the highest respect and greatest esteem by the residents of Marion township.
Edward J. Ford, our immediate subject, was only three months old when his parents came to Allen County and settled on the' farm in section 2, Marion township. Mr. Ford was reared on the farm where the summer seasons were filled with agricultural labor, while the winters were given over to attending school. About two years after his marriage, in associa- tion with his brother, John C. Ford, he opened up a stone quarry business in section 9, Marion township, and was interested in this business for four years. Then he started in business alone on his own farm. Following his mar- riage, he located on a tract of 35 acres of land which had been partially improved and culti- vated, and later he came to his present produc- tive farm, settling here in March, 1889. He carries on general farming in connection with his stone business, having ditched and tiled his land and improved it with excellent buildings. Much of his time, however, is still demanded by his stone interests. The capacity of his stone-crusher is from 50 to 60 yards a day, the average product being the former quantity, and sales are made all over the county. He is a member of the township School Board and is one of the directors of the beautiful Walnut Grove Cemetery. Fraternally he is a Knight of Pythias.
In January, 1880, Mr. Ford was married to Lovina Phillips, who is a daughter of Isaac .and Polly (Crites) Phillips. The former was born in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, and was a son of Daniel Phillips, who moved to Ohio at a very early. day and settled near Day- ton for a short period and then removed to Fairfield County. There he bought 80 acres of land and spent the rest of his life upon it. He
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