USA > Ohio > Allen County > History of Allen County, Ohio and Representative Citizens > Part 25
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In 1878, Mr. Andrews was married to. Rosalia A. Porter, daughter of the late A. V. Porter, of Warren County, Pennsylvania. Two children were born to this union: Blanche, who is the wife of George S. Moffat, D. D. S., of Pittsburg, Kansas, and Orren L., a student of Purdue University, class of 1907. For sev- eral years Mr. Andrews was trustee of Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church, of Lima, of which he is a devout member. He is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias of this city, and is also prominent in Masonic circles, being a member of the Blue Lodge, Chapter, Council and Commandery at Lima, Antioch Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Dayton, and Lake Erie Consistory, S. P. R. S., at Cleveland.
B ERT WOHLGEMUTH, proprietor of the California Wine Company, wholesale and retail dealers in choice wines and liquors, at Lima, occupies a prominent place among the city's successful business men. He was born in Hungary in 1860.
Mr. Wohlgemuth was 15 years of age when he emigrated to America and he is a note- worthy example of a self-made man. After ,
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reaching the United States he went immediate- ly to Cincinnati, and began his business career by carrying a pack and selling goods through- out the country. In three years he had accum- ulated a little capital, which he invested in Chil- licothe by associating himself with the firm of Feldman & Company, dealers in fancy dry goods, with whom he continued for nine years. In 1886 he came to Lima and, with Mr. Feld- man, established the firm of Feldman & Com- pany. For two years he was in sole charge of the business, when his brother, Jonas Wohlge- muth, also became associated in the enterprise. The firm has continued here for the past 19 years, occupying a local position second to none in its line of business. Seven years ago its scope was expanded and removal was made to the present quarters, Nos. 211-213 North Main street, adjoining the old stand.
On November 1, 1905, Mr. Wohlgemuth purchased the business of the California Wine Company, wholesale and retail dealers in fine wines and liquors, at No. 135 South Main street. This is a well-established business and requires the constant services of four travel- ing representatives to visit the trade in all por- tions of the United States.
In 1898 Mr. Wohlgemuth was married to Martha Schachne, of Chillicothe, Ohio. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and of the Royal Arcanum. Personally he is a man of fine business perceptions and of pleasant, genial nature, and is held in high esteem by the residents of Lima.
P ETER ZIMMERLY was born in Riley township, Putnam County, Ohio, February 2, 1839, but has been an honored resident of Allen County since 1868, when he moved to Rich- land township and purchased his present farm of 120 acres, located in section 10. Mr. Zim- merly is a son of John and Anna (Berner) Zimmerly, both of whom were natives of Al- sace, France. The father, who was born about 1780, came to America when a young man, locating first in Wayne County, Ohio, and
later in Putnam County, where he died in 1855. He had entered a quarter-section of land in Riley township, most of which he had cleared and put under cultivation. It was in this county he met and married Anna Berner, who was born in 1801 and came to this country when a young woman with her mother and a party of emigrants. She passed away on the homestead on March 23, 1895, at the ripe age of 93 years, 11 months and 18 days, leaving three children and a large circle of friends to regret her death. Our subject is the eldest son. John has passed to the higher life. Chris- topher lives on the homestead in Riley town- ship, Putnam County, and is a preacher of the Mennonite faith.
Peter Zimmerly spent the earlier years of his life in his native county where he was mar- ried on May 5, 1868, to Annie Bixel, who was born in Holmes County, Ohio, in 1842, and was a daughter of Peter and Fannie (Dealer) Bixler. Soon after his marriage, Mr. Zim- merly came with his bride to Allen County to make a home for himself. Three children have blessed their home, namely: John, who resides in Richland township; Lucinda, wife of Wil- liam Balmer, of Richland township; and Eli, who lives in Bluffton. Mrs. Zimmerly died in 1881, and in 1882 our subject was married to Mary Ann Kiner, who was born in Canton Bern, Switzerland, August 4, 1858, and came to America when a young girl of 17 years, ac- companied by two brothers. Her parents were John and Barbara (Zurgher) Kiner. Mrs. Zimmerly has borne her husband seven chil- dren, viz .: Ida, wife of Frederick Kratz, of Pandora, Ohio; Maggie, who lives at home; Elvina, Llewellyn, Clara, Melvin and Mary Ann. All the members of the family can un- derstand and speak English perfectly; but when at home they converse wholly in German in order that the younger members may be thorough in their knowledge and use of that tongue. Mr. Zimmerly is one of the influen- tial and prosperous farmers of Richland town- ship, and has his farm well improved, the land being all under cultivation except some 12 acres of woodland pasture. He raises large quantities of grain and also deals quite exten-
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sively in stock. He is a member of the Men- nonite Church and a good man. A Democrat in politics, he has served as a member of the School Board and also as road commissioner.
ALTER E. GRAY, an extensive oil operator in various fields, whose home is in Lima, was born in 1851 at Covington, Kentucky, and is a son of Francis Gray.
Francis Gray was a large woolen manu- facturer for 50 years, and during half of this period was located at Piqua, Ohio, where he was very prominent in business and public life. During the Civil War he raised a company of Home Guards which was called upon for serv- ice. He was prominent in Masonry for half a century.
When an infant, Walter E. Gray was taken to Cynthiana, Kentucky, where his parents lived during his boyhood and school days. In 1865 they returned to Covington and subse- quently located at Piqua, Ohio. In his father's mills at the latter place, our subject first found employment, remaining there for about five years. In 1881 he accompanied his father to Lima, and they founded the handle factory which they sold in 1882 to O. B. Selfridge & Company. Mr. Gray then embarked in a mer- cantile business which he carried on until the fall of 1885, when he disposed of it in order to give attention to the oil industry. These in- terests have been expanded and he is connected with the Planet Oil Company, which operates extensively in various fields-the Trenton rock of Ohio and Indiana, the Canadian fields and also rich California fields. The company is in- terested in quite a number of productive wells.
Mr. Gray was married October 19, 1881, to Ida N. Dalzell, who is a daughter of Isaac Dalzell, one of the oldest settlers of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Gray have one daughter-Mary J., an accomplished young lady, who is a grad- uate of Mount Vincent Academy, of Price Hill, Cincinnati. Mr. Gray and family belong to the Protestant Episcopal Church. Like his father, Mr. Gray is prominently identified with
the various Masonic bodies, being a member of Blue Lodge, Council, Chapter and Command- ery. He is one of the city's enterprising men of business, takes part in its various public- spirited movements, and assists in upholding Lima's reputation as a great commercial center.
e LAIR B. WELLS, proprietor of livery, feed and sale stables at Lima, St. Marys and LaFayette, Ohio, is a very large buyer and seller of fancy saddle and driving horses, and one of the best authorities in this line in the State. He was born at Wauseon, Fulton County, Ohio, in 1878, and is a son of J. G. Wells, a large real estate dealer of that place.
Although Mr. Wells was born in Ohio, his rearing was in the West, his parents migrating to Colorado and to Kansas. When he was about 19 years of age he returned to Ohio, completed his school course in the Lima High School, and in 1900 graduated from the Lima Business College. For some time he was en- gaged as a stenographer and later associated in a grocery business. From boyhood he had evinced the qualities of a natural horseman. During his residence in Kansas City this tend- ency had induced him to take lessons in the training of horses and in the teaching of the art of horsemanship, so that, after disposing of his grocery interests in 1903, he established his present business at Lima. From the first he was successful and now has branch stables at LaFayette and St. Marys. He has enlarged the scope of the business, and now owns a garage both at Lima and St. Marys, keeping a large line of automobiles of every description. He is thorough and scientific in his training of fine horses, and his stables are known to turn out only reliable, well-trained animals. At one time he owned a fine Arabian team, which he sold to Cleveland parties. Outside of his stables he has other business interests, and is one of the most enterprising young business men in this section of the State.
In 1901 Mr. Wells was married to Ger- -
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trude Reis, who is a daughter of M. C. Reis, deceased, a conductor on the Lake Erie & Western Railroad. She is a charming and ac- complished lady.
Mr. Wells is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and the Young Men's Christian Association, and is identified with the First Christian Church.
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R EUBEN SHINDOLLER, whose handsome modern home stands within its neat iron fence and surrounded by a beautiful lawn, on a valuable piece of property just outside the corpo- ration limits of Spencerville, where Mr. Shin- doller owns a 20-acre farm, in section II, Spencer township, was born in Delaware County, Ohio, May 25, 1839. His parents were Michael and Frederika (Yager) Shin- doller.
The parents of Mr. Shindoller were quiet, farming people in Delaware County. The father died in 1846, leaving his widow to rear as best she could a family of 10 children. Her duty was nobly performed, and the seven who still survive unite in recalling her many vir- tues and the sacrifices she was willing to make in order to rear them to useful lives. She passed away on October 20, 1878. Our sub- ject and seven of his brothers served in the army during the Civil War. Henry was a member of Company E, 66th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf .; John, late a resident of Delaware, Ohio, was a member of the 83rd Regiment, Illinois Vol. Inf., and died January 13, 1906; Louis was a member of Company E, 66th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf .; William was a member of Company H, Fourth Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf .; David was a member of the Fourth Regiment, Ohio Vol. Inf .; and Samuel was a member of the 171st Regiment, Ohio Vol. Inf. One sister, Mrs. Loren Miller, of Delaware, Ohio, still survives.
There are easier things in life than to be left fatherless at the age of 10 years and, with this, to be almost entirely dependent for life and fortune upon one's own efforts. This was the situation which faced our subject. Nec- essarily his education was a limited one, but he grew to young manhood strong and stal-
wart, a trained farmer. The opening of the Civil War turned the attention of our subject and his brothers from the peaceful pursuits which had hitherto claimed their energies. On May 25, 1861, Mr. Shindoller enlisted at Peoria, Illinois, as a private in the 17th Regi- ment, Illinois Vol. Inf., and bravely, cheer- fully and honorably served until May 25, 1866. He was attached to the 17th Army Corps, Army of the Mississippi, a part of the great force which did much of the strenuous fighting of the war. Mr. Shindoller partici- pated in the battles of Fredericktown, (Mary- land), Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Vicksburg and Mobile, and in the miles of weary marching and counter-marching, skirmishing and guard duty which made up a soldier's life.
After his return from the army, in the spring of 1868, Mr. Shindoller moved to Auglaize County, where he secured 77 acres of Woodland on the old Ridge road, near the Allen County line. This land he cleared and engaged in farming until he removed, in 1891, to Spencer township. As mentioned above, he occupies a handsome home which he erected here. The substantial barn was already a fea- ture, but the comfortable home was made after Mr. Shindoller's own ideas and is mod- ern throughout. It attracts favorable notice, with its air of comfort and well kept-lawn.
In 1864 Mr. Shindoller was united in mar- riage with Catharine Webb. Although they have no children of their own, they have gen- erously reared a boy and girl, the latter still being an inmate of their household. The former, William Webb, resides in Spencer- ville. Mr. and Mrs. Shindoller are members of the Christian Church, in which he is a trus- tee. He is a member of and takes much in- terest in Fair Post, No. 322, G. A. R., of Spencerville.
U. BASINGER. One of the lead- ing business men of Lima is M. U. Basinger, whose large jewelry establishment is situated at No. 63 Public Square, and who is an ex- perienced manufacturer in this line as well as a dealer in cut glass and diamonds. Mr. Bas-
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inger is a native of Putnam County, Ohio, born in 1868.
Mr. Basinger remained on the home farm until he had reached the age of 19 years, alter- nately farming and attending the local schools. He accompanied his mother when she removed to Ada, and remained there three years, coming then to Lima. At that time one $5 bill repre- sented his capital in money, but in addition he possessed youth, health, ambition and persist- ent industry, and, in time, this strong combina- tion of qualities brought about a large degree of prosperity. For the first six months, after contracting with D. A. McComb, then a leading jeweler of Lima, the young man worked for the sum of $4 per week. By the end of the period, his employer realized that he had se- cured an honest, intelligent, capable and indus- trious assistant, and was willing to retain him on a living salary. Mr. Basinger remained until 1893, when Mr. McComb retired and was succeeded by the firm of Basinger & Company, its members being M. U. Basinger and William Melville. This partnership lasted until 1897, when Mr. Basinger sold his interest to his partner and founded an independent business. He continued alone for one year and then as- sociated himself with Mr. Cameron, the firm remaining as Basinger & Cameron until Febru- ary, 1903. Then Mr. Basinger sold his inter- est to Mr. Cameron, and in the following May opened his present fine establishment on the Public Square. He conducts a very large bus- iness in the manufacturing line, and carries a valuable stock of jewelry, cut glass and expen- sive gems. He is also interested in other bus- iness enterprises, one of these being the Hu- mane Horse Shoe Company.
On September 25, 1895, Mr. Basinger was married to Blanche Douglass, who for some five years previously had been a teacher in the Lima schools, and is a daughter of J. C. Doug- lass, of Forest, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Basinger have two children-Warren and Helen. Mr. Basinger is a member of the Market Street Presbyterian Church. of which he is an elder and the treasurer. His fraternal relations are with the Tribe of Ben Hur. Modern Woodmen of America and Knights of Pythias.
J. WEADOCK, attorney-at-law, a member of the law firm of Motter, Mackenzie & Weadock, of Lima, was born in this city on September 4, 1873, and is a son of the late Dr. T. M. Weadock.
The father of Mr. Weadock was a native of Canada and at the time of his death, January 20, 1905, was one of the oldest practitioners of medicine in Lima. He was a graduate of the medical department of the University of Mich- .gan, and settled at Lima in 1870.
J. J. Weadock received his early education in the local schools, the parochial school at Sid- ney, Ohio, and St. Rose Parochial School at Lima, graduating from the Lima High School, in 1892, and from Assumption College, at Sandwich, Ontario, in 1894. Two years later he graduated from the law department of the University of Michigan, and at once passed the bar examination at Columbus, Ohio, which ad- mitted him to practice in this State. He en- tered into practice alone, but afterward was as- sociated for one year with Kent Hughes, and since 1900 has been a member of the strong firm of Motter, Mackenzie & Weadock.
Mr. Weadock was married June 24, 1903, to Mollie Cunningham, who was born and reared in Lima.
In political sentiment, Mr. Weadock is a Democrat and has always taken an active in- terest in party matters. Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of Columbus, the Bene- volent and Protective Order of Elks, the Cath- olic Knights of Ohio, the Ancient Order of Hibernians and the Knights of St. John. He belongs to St. Rose Catholic Church and is the director of the choir.
ADISON EDGECOMB, a retired farmer of Beaver Dam, is one of the substantial, influential men of the county and formerly lived on the old Edgecomb homestead in Richland township. He owns the adjoining farm of 120 acres in section 31. Mr. Edge- comb was born in Bath township, Allen County,
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Ohio, June 9, 1850, and is a son of Marquis and Hannah (Everett) Edgecomb. His paternal grandparents were Uriah and Eliza- beth (Doud) Edgecomb, both of whom were of English descent. Lord William Henry Edge- comb, of England, is a relative of our subject and his photograph is among the family pic- tures which adorn the Edgecomb home. The name was originally spelled "Edgcumbe."
Marquis Edgecomb was born December II, 1826, in Trumbull County, Ohio, and was a lad of five years when his parents settled in Bath township, this county. He was one of 13 children, 12 of whom grew to maturity. By occupation he was a farmer, though he als ran a hotel at Beaver Dam for about five years. He was a member of the Home Guards during the Civil War and was at all times a patriouc citizen. His wife, Hannah Everett, was a daughter of Jacob and Betsey (Bush) Everett, and was born November 9, 1826, near Solon, New York. Her parents came to this county when she was a girl of 12 years and she has been a resident here ever since. She has made her home with our subject since the death of her husband on May 20, 1901. The child- ren born to this worthy couple were as follows : Sarah Ann, who died in infancy; Madison ; Margaret Ann (Phillips). deceased; Elisha, who died in his 21st year : Betsey M., deceased, who married P. R. Bailey: Sarah Priscilla, who died at the age of five years; George Wash- ington, of Lima; and William, born December .25, 1874, who resides on the homestead at Beaver Dam.
Madison Edgecomb resided continuously on the same farm from 1857 to 1891. In ad- dition to general farming, he has engaged in the production of oil, having nine wells on his land, which yield a handsome income. In 1900 he bought his present residence in Beaver Dam-a cozy, pleasant home and the most at- tractive in the village. Mr. Edgecomb was at one time interested in a flouring mill which he. with others, operated for three or four years in Beaver Dam. He has been twice married: first, on December 19, 1872, to Philena M. Barnhard, who was born in Knox County, Ohio, February 24. 1855, and died February
8, 1882. There were two children by this union, both of whom, Orrin and Virgil, are de- ceased. On June 5, 1884, Mr. Edgecomb mar- ried his present wife, Mrs. Mollie (Frisbie) Fee, widow of the late James M. Fee. Mrs. Edgecomb is a daughter of Lewis and Nancy (Trout) Frisbie, and was born in Licking County, this State, September 6, 1855. They have no children. Mr. Edgecomb does not take an active part in politics, but supports with his vote the Republican party.
A DOLPH WEIXELBAUM, one of the leading newspaper men of North- western Ohio, publisher of Der Lima Courier, was born in Germany in 1855, and is a son of the late Moses Weixelbaum, formerly a teacher in Germany, who resided in America for 10 years previous to his death.
Our subject was 16 years old when he came to America, having already completed the com- mon-school course. At Ironton, Ohio, he enter- ed the printing office connected with a German newspaper, and there remained four years, in which period he thoroughly mastered the trade. Going then to Akron, he was foreman of a German paper there for another four years, when he removed to Wooster, where he estab- lished a German paper which he continued to publish until he came to Lima and purchased Der Lima Courier. Under his management it has become the leading German newspaper in this section of the State, being ably edited and liberally supported. In connection with his newspaper, Mr. Weixelbaum operates a first- class job-printing office. His place of business is located at No. 312 North Main street, Lima. He takes a prominent part in the political dis- cussions of this section of the State and his pa- per has great influence.
Mr. Weixelbaum was married (first) in 1880, to Jennie Stern, who died in 1891, leav- ing four children, viz: Harry, who is a com- mercial traveler in the South for a New York business house; Milton, who is in the cigar bus- iness at Lima; Gertrude, who is a popular
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teacher in the Lima schools; and Martha, who resides at home. Mr. Weixelbaum was mar- ried (second) in 1894 to Esther Goldwater, of New York, and they have two children-Selma and Elsie.
Mr. Weixelbaum is a member of the Elks and the Maccabees, as well as a number of the local German organizations of a social and charitable nature. He is also identified with the Lima Progressive Association, having al- ways taken an active interest in all public en- terprises. In all his relations, whether public, professional or private, he is highly esteemed.
A DAM V. PFEIFER, deceased, was a successful farmer of German town- ship, and later a highly respected resi- dent of Elida, where his death took place, after a short illness, on Novem- ber 23, 1903. He was born at Ash Grove, German township, Allen County, Ohio, Janu- ary 19, 1853, and was a son of Nicholas and Eva Pfeifer.
Mr. Pfeifer was reared on his father's farm and during all his active years carried on agri- cultural operations. He was married October 31, 1875, to Bertha Crites, a daughter of Dan- iel L. and Martha (John) Crites, and a grand- daughter of Charles and Sophia Crites. The last named were early settlers in Allen County, coming from Pickaway County, and founded a numerous and prominent family. Daniel L. Crites was one of the leading Democratic poli- ticians of his day and filled county and town- ship offices. He served as deputy under Audi- tor William Dowling, in the old Court House at Lima, and later was deputy and still later county clerk of Allen County. He died March 30, 1885, leaving a property aggregating 106 acres, 42 acres of which are located in Elida, south of the railroad, the remainder being just beyond the corporation limits. This property was left to his widow and his two daughters- Mrs. Tirzah Sanford, wife of M. J. Sanford, of Lima, and Mrs. A. V. Pfeifer.
Immediately after marriage Mr. and Mrs. Pfeifer lived on a farm owned by Mr. Crites,
which was situated about a quarter of a mile east of Elida. Four years later they moved to another tract, just across the street, and then established themselves in the residence still oc- cupied by Mrs. Pfeifer and family. This is now a home with modern comforts, having un- dergone much improvement in the past 10 years. Mr. Pfeifer is survived by his wife and these of his children, namely: Emery Crites, born October 9, 1878, who conducts the home farm; India L., born April 21, 1884; Mildred, born October 20, 1890; and Beulah, born September 15, 1886, who died August 12, 1887.
The family are members of the Lutheran Church at Elida, in which Mr. Pfeifer was a deacon and trustee for many years. He was a man of upright character, quiet and unostenta- tious in manner and commanding the respect of all that knew him.
EORGE L. DAVIS, who has been a resident of Lima since the spring of 1899, is interested in oil production and also owns some valuable property in the city, as well as in Auglaize County. He was born in May, 1851, near Au- burn, the county seat of Cayuga County, New York, and remained there until his 17th year, when he entered the oil field of Pennsylvania. In a short time he was taking contracts for drilling oil-wells, and met with great success in the several States in which he operated. In 1873 he extended his operations to Ecuador, South America, where, for about two years, he was engaged in drilling deep wells to furnish the inhabitants with a much needed supply of water. About 1893 he began operations as an independent oil producer, and has since been thus engaged.
In 1899 Mr. Davis moved to Lima and in- vested largely in real estate. Besides his hand- some home on Spring street, he owns the Hotel Manhattan property in the heart of the city. It is the intention of Mr. Davis to remodel this building during the next few months, add a number of rooms to meet the growing demands
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