USA > Ohio > Allen County > History of Allen County, Ohio and Representative Citizens > Part 39
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55
years. In 1897 the brothers sold their business in order to give their attention to the oil inter- ests in which they had commenced to invest in 1887. In that year they assumed the first leases in the vicinity of Cridersville, and to them is mainly due the development of the rich oil field of Auglaize County. Mr. Hover also became interested in the oil field in the neigh- borhood of Geneva, Indiana. At one time they operated 100 wells in Ohio and Indiana, and of that number still retain 50. In 1897 Mr. Hover removed to Lima, where he has a pleas- ant home and has ever since been connected with the city's business and civic life.
In 1878 Mr. Hover was married to Ella Brown, who is a daughter of the late Hon. D. I. Brown, formerly a prominent attorney and Democratic politician at Ottawa, Ohio. Mr. Brown served three terms in the State Legis- lature-first during the Civil War, and again from 1876 until 1880-and died in 1901. Mr. and Mrs. Hover have one daughter, Hazel. Mr. Hover is connected with several fraternal organizations, and is prominent in business and social societies.
HARLES W. JOHNSTON, ex- mayor of Harrod, and at present a member of the Board of County Commissioners of Allen County, was born March 18, 1857, in Fair- field County, Ohio, and is a son of Samuel and Mary (Kelsey) Johnston. The Johnston fam- ily originally came from Scotland, while our subject's paternal grandmother was of Ger- man descent. His grandparents were among the pioneers of Fairfield County, which was the birthplace of his father and mother. In 1859 his parents moved from near Bremen, Fair- field County, to the farm of 80 acres in section II, Auglaize township, Allen County, which the father had bought in the fall of 1858. They continued to live there until the spring of 1872, when they moved to Hardin County, having bought a tract of land near Kenton on which was located a sand and gravel bank, whose product was furnished the town of Ken-
Digitized by Google
728
HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY
ton in addition to the crops of the farm. Both father and mother resided on this farm during their remaining days, the father dying Febru- ary 19, 1892, and the mother, July 18, 1894. They were members of the Methodist Episco- pal Church at Kenton. Samuel Johnston en- listed in Company D, 180th Reg. Ohio Vol. Inf., at Lima, on September 22, 1864, and served until the close of the war. He was a strong Republican, and an ardent friend and admirer of U. S. Senator J. B. Foraker. Mrs. Johnston was a voluminous reader and brilliant conversationalist. Four children survive them, namely : Hattie A., whose husband, Professor Hufford, occupies a chair in the Ohio Northern University at Ada; Charles W; Newton D., a prosperous farmer of Hardin County ; and Ed- ward C., who at present is in the hospital at Toledo, suffering from a severe attack of ty- phoid fever.
Coming to this county with his parents, at the age of two years, Charles W. Johnston may be claimed as a lifelong resident. When 15 years of age he accompanied his parents to Hardin County, and at 17 began teaching school. He continued in that profession until 1880, teaching in winter, and attending the Ohio Normal University at Ada, during the spring and fall terms. He pursued a full course in mathematics, which included survey- ing and civil engineering, and when he had al- most completed the classical course became the agent of a school-book publishing house, con- tinuing on the road for several years.
On January 1, 1888, Mr. Johnston moved to Harrod and the following fall resumed his old calling as a teacher, serving as superinten- dent of the Harrod schools for two or three years. He then accepted a position as travel- ing salesman with Seiberling, Miller & Com- pany, manufacturers of harvesting machinery, and later represented The Deering Harvester Company, as an expert. Later he became gen- eral agent for Aultman, Miller & Company, having charge of their branch office at Fos- toria, Ohio. He retired from the road in 1903.
Mr. Johnston has been a resident of Har- rod about 18 years and fully 15 years of that time has seen him closely identified with muni- cipal government, either as councilman or
mayor. Three times he has been elected to the mayoralty, from which he resigned before the expiration of his last term on account of his frequent enforced absences from the city. In 1890 he was elected justice of the peace, serv- ing six years. So faithful and fearless has he been in discharging the trust confided to him that he was elected county commissioner in the fall of 1904, succeeding Albert Hefner, whom he defeated. This contest was a close one, as both men were exceptionally popular and each had a strong backing, resulting in the polling of one of the largest votes ever cast in the county-in fact, exceeding the number cast for Roosevelt and Parker at the same time, the Republicans winning the day. Mr. Johns- .ton is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, for the past two years serving as venerable consul of Harrod Camp.
Mr. Johnston was married October 10, 1886, to Clara Groff, who is a native of Lan- caster, Fairfield County, Ohio, and a daugh- ter of Isaac Groff. They have two children- Pansy, born August 29, 1887, and Lily, born March 8, 1890.
OHN W. SCHNABEL, cabinet maker, who has been connected with the coach department of the C., H. & D. Railway Company, at Lima, since 1899, was born in this city in 1861, and is a son of John Schnabel.
The late John Schnabel was an old resident of Lima, coming to this city from Germany in 1854. He worked in a foundry for some time and then became an employee of King & Day, pork packers, with whom he remained for a long period. He married Magdalena Beck, who was also a native of Germany, and the two sons born to them were: Henry, who for 12 years was in charge of the shoe-making department in the Institute for the Feeble Minded at Fort Wayne, Indiana, and who died in December, 1905; and J. W., the subject of this sketch.
J. W. Schnabel was reared at Lima and attended school in the old West School Build- ing. He first worked in a furniture factory, where he remained for 17 years. Then he ac-
Digitized by Google
.
Digitized by Google
i
i
: 1
JOHN B. AUGSBURGER
-
Digitized by
731
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
cepted a lucrative position in the coach depart- ment of the C., H. & D. Railway shops, assum- ing his duties in April, 1899, where, as a valued employee, he has remained for the past seven years. Mr. Schnabel owns his pleasant home at No. 314 West Wayne street, and is a substantial citizen.
In 1882 Mr. Schnabel was married to Maggie Walther, who is a daughter of George J. Walther, and they have three children, viz : Philip W., who is time-keeper at the Solar Re- finery; Lena, a graduate of the Lima High School, who is in her second year as a teacher of the Spring Street School, Lima; and John Leonard, who is a member of the graduat- ing class of 1906, at the Lima High School. The family belongs to the German Reformed Church, and Mr. Schnabel has been a member of the board of elders. He is one of the promi- nent Odd Fellows of this part of the State, and is past grand of the lodge and past chief patri- arch of the Encampment, and on several occa- sions has attended the Grand Lodge of the United States. Mrs. Schnabel belongs to the auxiliary body, the Rebekahs.
J OHN B. AUGSBURGER, one of the substantial farmers and representative citizens of Richland township, is a large land owner, residing on his well- improved homestead in section 10, sev- eral miles west of Bluffton, which embraces 80 acres of land; he also owns 13534 acres in sec- tions 3 and 4. He was born in a pioneer log cabin in Union township, Wayne County, Ohio, January 18, 1835, and is a son of John and Magdalena (Balmer) Augsburger.
John Augsburger was born in Neuensberg, Switzerland, where he was educated and lived until he was 35 years of age. At that time he married and he and his wife departed the fol- lowing day for America. They took passage on a sailing vessel, which required three months to make the voyage, but were safely landed in the port of New York and made their way to Wayne County Ohio, where it is probable that other friends had already settled. They lived
for 12 years in Wayne County and then lo- cated in Allen County, where John Augsburger died, aged 65 years. The mother of our sub- ject was also a native of Switzerland. She died a few years after coming to Allen County. The family consisted of five sons and two daugh- ters, namely : Benjamin, who died in infancy ; John B., of Richland township; Moses, of Richland township; Mrs. Elizabeth Amstutz, deceased; Alidia, widow of Mathias Badercher, of Richland township; Benjamin (2), of Riley township, Putnam County; and Aaron, of Bluffton.
John B. Augsburger can easily recall the journey from Wayne to Allen County, which took place in May, 1847, when he was 12 years of age. All the family possessions were taken along. The great white, covered wagon was drawn by two yoke of oxen, three cows fol- lowed peacefully behind, and even the family watch-dog was not forgotten. The long jour- ney was mostly through the woods, and the route frequently led across streams and over tracks but poorly broken. When the family arrived at the place where the father. had bought land, they found their only shelter was a log. stable, and they were obliged to occupy this until a log house could be built, which was for- tunately completed before the winter snows set in. The beloved mother died in the following year, and the father became so discouraged that he broke up housekeeping, sold the household effects, and for two years boarded his children with the neighbors. Mr. Augsburger subse- quently recalled the children and once more a family home was established. Our subject re- mained there eight years and then worked in the neighborhood for a year, and eight months. He learned to make shoes and for four winters before leaving home he busied himself at his trade, finding patrons in the neighborhood who were pleased with his work, his industry and his perseverance. When he was 21 years of age, one of his first purchases was an axe, with which he cleared timber land for other parties. He also learned the business of shingle making, which at that time was entirely hand work. That Mr. Augsburger became a very expert workman may be imagined when it is stated
Digitized by Google
732
HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY
that he, with a companion, made 70,000 shingles from a tree that grew where the Cratz Church now stands, the body of which was 70 feet high and seven feet in diameter. In the following fall he helped to cut timber to build the largest bank barn in this vicinity, which still stands and is 46 by 109 feet in di- mensions.
During the following summer Mr. Augs- burger worked until the latter part of August on this structure and then returned to Wayne County, where he was married September 3, 1857. He returned to Allen County, bringing his bride with him, and remained with his brother-in-law, C. U. Amstutz, until he had completed a comfortable hewed-log cabin on his present farm and in which the house-warm- ing was held on December 24, 1857. During that winter he made 300 pounds of maple sugar and 60 gallons of maple molasses, and cleared 18 acres of his land. He continued the im- provements of his property for 14 years and then built his first frame barn; previously he had built a log house, a log barn, horse stable, corn crib and wagon shed, all serving their pur- poses until he was prepared to make more mod- ern improvements. In 1873, two years after building the barn, he erected his present con- venient and attractive residence, and in 1876 he completed other substantial buildings on his place. In 1877 a convenient summer kitchen was built, adding greatly to the comfort of the inmates in hot weather; he completed his im- provements by building, in 1880, a first-class workshop. Few mechanics have a better equipped shop than Mr. Augsburger, and it may be remarked, few know better the use of tools.
Mr. Augsburger has been generous in his support of the Swiss Mennonite Church. He gave an acre of land to the church and assisted in the construction of the present church as well as the one that preceded it. The school- house of District No. 2 stands on his homestead tract of 80 acres, opposite the church.
At one time Mr. Augsburger had the best orchard in the vicinity, but a severe storm in 1895 partially destroyed it. He has a fine sys- tem of ditching and drainage, and has thus, in a marked degree, increased the productiveness
of his land. He devotes his attention mainly to the growing of live-stock, and raises large crops of corn, wheat, hay and clover. He has a fine farm in which he takes a reasonable pride, for he has worked faithfully in its developing and literally brought it out of the woods.
On September 3, 1857, Mr. Augsburger was united in marriage with Barbara Neuen- schwander, who was born in East Union town- ship, Wayne County, Ohio, March 22, 1834, and died on the present farm of our subject, July 8, 1900. She was a daughter of Ulrich and Elizabeth (Basinger) Neuenschwander, who were born in Germany near the Switzer- land line. The children of our subject and wife were: Elizabeth, who is the wife of Daniel Moser, of Riley township, Putnam County; Leah, who died in infancy; Daniel, who died aged eight years; John, who died aged seven years; Sarah, who died in infancy; Mary, the wife of Peter J. Moser, of Richland township; Lydia, the wife of David Burkholder, her hus- band operating Mr. Augsburger's second farm; Magdalena, the wife of Amos Neiswander, of Richland township; Barbara, who died aged eight years; Susan, the wife of Amos Thut of Richland township; and Lavina, the wife of M. S. Burkholder, who manages our subject's home farm.
Mr. Augsburger has been a stanch and life- long Democrat, but has never accepted political office. He is a devoted member of the Men- nonite Church and has assisted in the erection of three religious edifices, and has otherwise liberally contributed to the cause of religion. A portrait of Mr. Augsburger acompanies this sketch.
I SAIAH GARRETSON, timekeeper at the Lima Locomotive & Machine Works and formerly a well-known educator and business man, is also a survivor of the Civil War, in which he bore an honorable part. He was born June 7, 1843, in Perry township, Allen County, Ohio, and is a son of William Garretson. The father. was born in Bedford County, Pennsyl- vania, in 1812, and came to Allen County in 1836, entering land from the government in
Digitized by Google
733
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
Perry township. This tract at a later period he traded for a farm in Shawnee township, on which he lived until his death in 1886.
Isaiah Garretson was reared on his father's farm, and his education was secured in the dis- trict schools in its vicinity. At the outbreak of the Rebellion, he was eager to enlist, but was induced to remain at home until he was 20 years of age, when, in 1863, he was mustered into the service, at Cleveland, as a member of Company G, 12th Reg., Ohio Vol. Cav. Dur- ing his years of army service he had his full share of hardship and during his first battle, at Mount Sterling, Kentucky, was captured by the enemy. Fortunately for him, conditions in the Confederacy at that time were such as to preclude the transportation of large bodies of prisoners to any of their prison camps, and Mr. Garretson was paroled in less than a week. His regiment was stationed at Johnson's Isl- and until the spring of 1864, and was then dis- patched to Kentucky, subsequently making a creditable record in the campaigning through Kentucky, Virginia, the Carolinas, Georgia and Tennessee.
After his return from the army, Mr. Gar- retson engaged in farming and teaching until about 1888-from 1869 to 1873 in Missouri. Since 1888 he has been a continuous resident of Lima, where he engaged for a number of years in a large real estate business. Since closing out those interests he has been time- keeper for the Lima Locomotive & Machine Works.
In 1873 Mr. Garretson was united in mar- riage with Barbara A. Jenkins, who was born in Ohio and is a daughter of Reuben Jenkins. Her parents removed to Iowa, when she was a child of two years, and subsequently settled in Missouri, where she was reared and edu- cated. Mr. and Mrs. Garretson have four children, viz : Laura, who is the wife of S. T. Garber, of Greenville, Ohio; Flora, cashier of the Western Ohio Railway Company; Lena, employed in the office of The Lima Locomotive &. Machine Company ; and Ora Earl, a student in the senior class of the Lima High School.
Mr. Garretson and family are members of the First Congregational Church at Lima, and
their attractive home is situated at No. 923 West High street. Mr. Garretson is a member of Mart Armstrong Post, No. 202, G. A. R., an organization which is held in very high re- gard in this city, its membership being com- posed of men who deserve the grateful con- sideration of their fellow-citizens.
RED SNOOK, superintendent of the packing department of the Deisel- Wemmer Company, of Lima, is one of the capable and experienced men which this manufacturing concern has a reputation for selecting. Mr. Snook was born at Lima, July 3, 1866, and is a son of Fred and Rosa (Miller) Snook.
The parents of Mr. Snook were both born in Germany. Fred Snook, Sr., was one of the early residents of this county. For a period of 28 years he was a section foreman for the Pennsylvania Railroad, a man noted for his fidelity to duty and most highly respected by his employers. He was struck and killed by an engine on January 19, 1887, his wife still surviving him and residing in Lima.
The subject of this sketch was reared at Lima and enjoyed the advantages afforded by the city's excellent public schools. His first work was as an employee in a brick-yard, for one summer, and then commenced his connec- tion with the Pennsylvania Railroad Com- pany, which was continued for a period of II years. After leaving railroad work, he en- tered the packing department of The Deisel- Wemmer Company, where his ability and faithfulness brought him such promotions that he finally became superintendent of the entire department. This proved a very important position, carrying with it the supervision of 58 employees and the proper packing of the firm's enormous output.
In September, 1890, Mr. Snook was mar- ried to Annie Wolf, who was born in Ger- many. They have three children-Bertha, Carl and Lester. Mr. Snook is a worthy mem- ber of the German Reformed Church.
Digitized by Google
734
HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY
€ DWIN J. YOST, second foreman of the great Deisel-Wemmer cigar fac- tory, at Lima, has been a resident of this city for a period of 15 years. He was born in Germany in 1873, and is a son of Philip Yost, whose entire life was spent in Germany.
At the age of 18 years Edwin J. Yost emi- grated to America and located at Lima, where he was soon employed at the bench by The Deisel-Wemmer Company. As this corpora- tion has a well-deserved reputation for re- warding faithfulness and ability among its employees, Mr. Yost gradually advanced until he became foreman over the cigarmakers in one of the largest cigar factories in the world. C. C. Hosselman is general superintendent, and Mr. Yost, his able assistant.
On August 3, 1895, Mr. Yost was united in marriage with Magdalena Decker, who was born in Germany and is a daughter of the late William Decker, who was also a native of the Fatherland. Mr. and Mrs. Yost have two children, Florence and Ruth. Both Mr. and Mrs. Yost are members of St. Rose Catholic Church, Lima.
EWIS KREILING, of the firm of Kreiling & Bedford, proprietors of the Riverside Mills of Lima, was born in 1839 in Wayne County, Ohio, where he grew to manhood and acquired an education. His father was the late Henry Kreiling, for many years a wagon-maker of Marshallville, Wayne County.
Mr. Kreiling learned the trade of a plas- terer and for many years followed that call- ing, abandoning it, after 30 years, to engage in farming and dairying in German township, Allen County. He engaged in these occupa- tions for six years, then moved to Lima on the day which saw Benjamin Harrison elected to the presidency. He soon entered the River- side Mills, and in 1901 formed his present partnership with Mr. Bedford. Messrs. Kreil- ing, Bedford and others also have four oil-
wells in active operation within the city limits of Lima.
Mr. Kreiling was married June 9, 1863, to Mary E. Berkhart, by whom he has three children, namely: Alice, wife of F. M. Mul- lenhour; Maud, wife of Benjamin Dennis; and Edward, a resident of Findlay, Ohio. Both daughters reside in Lima, where their hus- bands are engaged in business. Mr. Kreiling was formerly a Republican, but in more recent years has cast an independent vote. He is an active member of the Epworth Methodist Episcopal Church, and has held the office of treasurer ever since the present edifice was erected. He is also a member of the board of trustees.
e HARLES ADGATE HOVER, one of the prominent farmers and repre- sentative citizens of Shawnee town- ship, resides on his valuable farm in section 14, which adjoins that of his father. Mr. Hover was born in the Shaw- nee Council House, on the home place, Novem- ber 22, 1861, and is a son of David Ezekiel Hover and a member of one of the oldest set- tled families of the county.
Mr. Hover has been a resident of Shawnee township all his life and since his school days has been actively engaged in agricultural pur- suits. He owns 67 acres in section 14, which farm he operates himself, also assisting in the operation of the homestead.
On February 29, 1888, Charles A. Hover, was married to Jennie McCoy, a daughter of Alexander H. and Margaret A. McCoy, of whom extended mention will be found else- where in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Hover have two children, viz: Myra Ethel, born Au- gust 30, 1892; and Harry Howard, born May 20, 1895.
Mr. and Mrs. Hover commenced house- keeping in an old log cabin which stood on the farm at that time, but in 1891 their present comfortable residence was built. All of the sub- stantial improvements, to be seen here on every side, are the result of Mr. Hover's own industry-with the exception of the orchard,
Digitized by Google
735
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
which was set out by his father many years ago. In the patent to his farm of 67 acres, Mr. Hover possesses a very valuable and in- teresting document. It was given first to Griffith Breese, passed then into the Hover family, and bears the signature of Andrew Jackson, President of the United States in 1835.
Like his father, Mr. Hover is identified with the Republican party. He has taken lit- tle interest in politics, but his active participa- tion in educational matters is evidenced by his present membership on the School Board. In religious faith he is a Methodist.
J AMES COCHRUN. Among the old families of this county which pos- sesses a most interesting history- both on account of the prominence of its living representatives and its con- nection with the public affairs and personages of this section for almost a century-is that of Cochrun, the earliest record of which relates to the birth of Rev. Simon Cochrun, the great- grandfather of our subject, James Cochrun.
Rev. Simon Cochrun was a notable man in his day, having been a Revolutionary soldier and subsequently, for 47 years, an active min- ister of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was born in Montgomery County, Kentucky, about 1756, and died in this county January 9, 1845, aged 89 years, 11 months and 6 days. In all probability he came to Allen County very early in the '30's, being then a minister ; as, in the old records, may be found the state- ment that he performed the marriage service for Elias Wright and Sarah Bowman early in 1835. Rev. Simon Cochrun had three sons : Thomas, born in Kentucky in 1800, who lo- cated on a farm in German township, in 1800; and Wesley and John, both of whom served in the War of 1812. In 1833 the first school- house in the township was built on the Coch- run farm, with either Asa Wright or John Summerset as teacher. Church services were held in the home of John Cochrun by Rev. Krellum, the pioneer members being John Cochrun and wife Hester, James Hayes and
wife, a Mr. Ryan, a Mr. Jackson and Nancy Lippincott. Later Rev. Sullivan ministered in a church that was destroyed by fire, another being erected in the northeast corner of the township.
In 1832 Wesley Cochrun, the grandfather of James Cochrun, of Spencerville, located four miles north of Lima, where he entered land and improved a farm on which he lived until the close of his life, dying at the age of 85 years. He was an enthusiastic member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His wife survived him some years, dying at the age of 88. Of their children, seven reached matur- ity, viz: John, Simon, William, Rebecca, Susan, Jane and Sarah. John located in Franklin County, where he engaged in agri- cultural pursuits; Simon, named for his grandfather, became the father of the Spencer- ville Cochruns; Rebecca is deceased; Susan, widow of A. G. Pague, lived and died on the old homestead; Jane married a Mr. West and they removed to Texas; and Sarah married a Mr. McGuire and resided at Ada, Ohio.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.