USA > Ohio > Allen County > History of Allen County, Ohio and Representative Citizens > Part 40
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
Simon Cochrun was born in Ohio in 1822, and died at his home in Amanda township, February 11, 1895. He was 10 years old when the family came to this county. He settled in Amanda township in 1855. While he en- gaged in various kinds of employment work- ing for a time on the canal, then in course of construction, and following agriculture as suited his convenience-he was more fitted for a professional life, being a man of natural mental superiority. In the early days he taught a subscription school in the old log schoolhouse, being thus irregularly employed throughout the township until after his mar- riage.
When he reached mature years, Simon Cochrun married Lucinda Miller, a daughter of William Miller, who, with his wife Nancy, resided some two miles west of Cairo, where they reared a family well known throughout the county. Mrs. Cochrun survived her hus- band and later moved to Spencerville, where she died. The five children of this union were . James; Lambert Y .; William and Elizabeth, both deceased; and Jasper L.
James Cochrun, the eldest son of Simon
Digitized by Google
736
HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY
and Lucinda Cochrun, was born in Amanda township in 1847. He was reared on the home farm, completed his education in the lo- cal schools, and, like his father, for some years combined farming and teaching. In the win- ter of 1865, after his return from military service in the previous August, he began his career as a teacher and continued thus em- ployed through the four succeeding winters. He conducted a farm in section 10, Amanda township, in partnership with his younger brother, Jasper L. Cochrun, the firm making a specialty of stock-raising. After moving to Spencerville, in 1888, he continued to be in- terested in stock and still handles a large amount, being probably one of the best judges in that line in the county. From his dealings in live-stock was developed his butchering business, and for a number of years he con- ducted a fine meat-market at Spencerville, to which he later added an ice business. The lat- ter increased to such proportions that he dis- posed of his meat business and devoted his at- tention to ice, coal, lime, sand and cement. He now controls the largest coal business in the place and is one of the town's representative business men as well as a leading citizen in other ways.
In political sentiment Mr. Cochrun has al- ways been a Republican. He has twice been honored by the citizens of Spencerville by elec- tion to the mayorality, and has served two terms as justice of the peace. His enlistment in February, 1865, for service in the Civil War, was for one year, but the close of hostil- ities brought about his honorable discharge in August of the same year. He was a member of the 19Ist Ohio Reg. Vol. Inf., under General Brooks and was mustered out of Company H., at Winchester, Virginia. His service had been in the Shenandoah Valley.
Mr. Cochrun was married (first) to Jen- nie Martin, who died in 1881, and they had two children, both of whom died in infancy. She was a daughter of Archelaus and Cather- ine (Russell) Martin, the latter of whom was a sister to Susanna Russell, who was the first white child born in Allen County. her birth occurring July 13, 1817, at Fort Amanda.
Archelaus Martin was born in Bourbon Coun- ty, Kentucky, July 30, 1805, and removed in youth to Champaign County, Ohio, settling four miles east of Urbana. Subsequently he removed to Amanda township in what is now Allen County, and was the second teacher here, having 15 pupils in 1829. He later re- turned to Champaign County, but permanent- ly located in Allen County, in 1833 marrying Catherine Russell, daughter of Andrew Rus- sell, and settling in section 10, Amanda town- ship. He was a justice of the peace for three terms.
In 1840, after Mr. Martin's death, his widow married Hon. Charles C. Marshall. She died at Delphos, in 1871. Mr. Marshall was born in Shelby County, Ohio, in 1814, was elected to the Ohio Legislature, in 1857, and to the State Senate in 1861. In 1865 he removed to Delphos, where he served as justice of the peace, and later as mayor, being in offi- cial life for a period of 10 years.
Andrew Russell was one of the founders of Fort Amanda. With his family he occu- pied the block-house in the southeast corner of the fort and here his daughter Susanna was born. He died in 1822, and was buried near the fort.
In 1887 Mr. Cochrun was married (sec- ond), in Amanda township, to Minnie Hover, who is a daughter of Cyrus and Martha (Post) Hover-the former of whom is de- ceased, while the latter resides in Lima. with her daughter, Mrs. Hitchcock. The Hover family is very numerous in Allen County and holds yearly reunions, the last one being held at old Fort Amanda. Cyrus Hover, father of Mrs. Cochrun, was an early settler of this county, locating at Lima, with his parents, in 1833. In 1846 he engaged in a foundry busi- ness, removing it to Delphos in 1850. In 1863 he purchased a farm of wild land in Amanda township, which he improved, but later re- moved to Spencerville and retired from active labors. On August 4, 1847, he married Martha Post, a daughter of C. C. and Eliza- beth (Bryant) Post. She was born in Knox County, Ohio, August 7, 1827. Of their II children, Mrs. Cochran is the eighth. Mr.
Digitized by
Digitized by
MR. AND MRS. THEODORE A. HANDEL
Digitized by
739
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
and Mrs. Cochrun have no family. They re- side in the old Cyrus Hover home, on the Lima turnpike, where they enjoy the comforts of a beautiful modern residence. They are members of the Baptist Church. Mr. Cochrun is identified with the Knights of Pythias.
C HEODORE A. HANDEL, a pioneer of Marion township, was born in Granville, Ohio, May 1, 1834, and died May 28, 1904, having just passed his 70th birthday. He was a son of Nicholas and Myla ( Hays) Handel.
John Handel, the paternal grandfather, was the founder of the family in America. For generations the family occupation had been milling, and as a young man in his native land John Handel was employed as a traveling grain buyer. While on one of his purchasing trips, he was accompanied by four assistants and the entire party were seized by the military author- ities, being impressed into the service of King George III, of England, who was then engaged in his struggle with the American Colonies.
On the arrival of the vessel at Boston har- bor, John Handel and his companions evaded the vigilance of their captors, escaped to an American vessel by swimming, and enlisted with the patriot forces. Grandfather Handel proved a valiant defender of American liberty and fought throughout the Revolutionary War. After the close of the struggle, he settled in Baltimore and engaged in milling. He mar- ried there and then moved to a point on the Shenandoah River, Virginia, about 20 miles above Harper's Ferry. There his first child, Nicholas Handel, was born, and the only other record is of the birth of a daughter, Elizabeth. John Handel probably died in the locality men- tioned aged about 80 years. It is a family be- lief that the great musical composer Handel, was of the same original stock as John Handel.
Nicholas Handel, father of our subject, adopted the family calling, and in early days he also dealt in grain and other products all along the Potomac River, as far as Alexandria. He enlisted as a soldier in the War of 1812, when
a youth of 18 years. The date of his coming to Ohio has not been recorded, but it is known that for 40 years he was chief miller in the Fassett mills, on Raccoon Creek, near Gran- ville, Licking County, where he was a grain contractor and a large shipper of flour.
Nicholas Handel married Myla Hays, who was a daughter of Alanson and Rhoda (Slater.) Hays, both of English descent, but natives of New York. The Hays family consisted of seven children, the mother of our subject being the fifth in order of birth. Her father came to Allen County in 1848. The latter part of the life of Nicholas Handel was spent at the home of his son, Theodore A., but just prior to his death he returned to Granville, Ohio, and there passed away at the age of 86 years. For a long period he was a worthy member of the Baptist Church.
Theodore A. Handel attended the common schools at Granville, Ohio, until he was 10 years old, when he came to Allen County. From the age of 14 until he was 21, he worked on the farm of his uncle, Ormond Kephart, in section 4, Amanda township. At the age of 23 he mar- ried and settled on a farm of 40 acres in that township, which property proved the nucleus of a property that afterward was increased to 200 acres. He continued to farm until 1861, when he loyally offered his services to his country. At the close of the war he resumed agricultural pursuits in Allen County, continu- ing to reside on his farm until the time of his death and to increase its value through many substantial improvements.
When Mr. and Mrs. Handel settled on the present farm it was almost a wilderness, very little of the land having then been cleared, and their first home was a small, windowless log cabin. Mr. Handel used his original capital of $500 to such good advantage that at the close of his life he was one of the most substantial men of his township. During his early days he dug ditches, chopped wood, split rails, and was always one of the foremost not only to im- prove the roads, but to promote education and religion.
On August 8, 1861, Mr. Handel enlisted for three years in Company I, 34th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., and served until he was honorably
Digitized by Google
740
HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY
discharged at Columbus, Ohio, in September, 1864. He took part in 35 regular engagements and many skirmishes, chiefly in Virginia and West Virginia, a partial enumeration being : Chapmansville Gap, Fayetteville, Louisburg, 'I renton, Fayetteville (2), Charleston, Red House, Mud Bridge, Cloyd Mountain, Green- brier, James River, Lynchburg, Staunton, Paw . Paw Station, Stone Spring House, the Shen -; andoah Valley campaign, including Winches- ter; Martinsville, the two battles of Freder- icksburg, Monocacy Junction, Charlestown and Cedar Creek, the closing battle being a fiercely contested engagement in the vicinity of Win- chester. Mr. Handel was wounded in his first battle while humanely supporting an injured comrade. The shot was in his ankle, and he was the second unfortunate in the company. In spite of his painful wound, he refused to leave the battle-field and did not even enter a hospital. He was promoted to the rank of corporal, for more than two years performed the duties of a deputy sergeant, and at all times was a reliable, loyal and courageous soldier.
On April 5, 1857, Mr. Handel was mar- ried to Angelina Harris who was born October 13, 1836, at Lockland, Hamilton County, Ohio. She is a daughter of Calvin Harris, who was born at Olean, New York, a son of Samuel Harris, of English descent. Calvin learned the trade of a wagon-maker, his father being a boat-builder. His parents settled in Hamil- ton County, Ohio, when he was six years old. At the age of 24 he married Edith Dunn, a daughter of Beracha and Mary (German) Dunn. In 1847 Mr. Harris sold his shop at Lockland and bought and operated a boat on the Miami and Erie Canal, subsequently trad- ing the latter for 120 acres of partly cleared land in section 20, Amanda township, this county. His son now resides on the place. Mr. Harris was township trustee, township clerk and filled other public offices. He was a dea- con in the Baptist Church and for many years a trustee. The four survivors of his nine chil- dren are: Mary Angelina, widow of our sub- ject; Roscoe B., living on the old home farm; Florence B., wife of David Ditto, of Marion township; and Clarence Blake, residing on the
Harris homestead. The mother of these chil- dren died December 9, 1881, aged 68 years, 9 months and 16 days. The father died on the farm on January 28, 1892, aged 81 years, 8 months and 28 days.
Mr. and Mrs. Handel had no children of their own. They reared and educated four other children, and one of these, Ernest Han- del, has proven a son indeed to those who took pity on his helpless infancy. During the long sickness which preceded the death of Mr. Handel this adopted son's filial devotion was so genuine that no child of the blood could have been kinder or more helpful and loving. He was deeded 45 acres of land, lying opposite the old homestead. He married Lydia Heisler, who died in April, 1905. They had these chil- dren : Myrtle Angelina and Burton Alfred (twins) ; Gladys Gail, Bessie Nelore, and John. Myrtle Angelina, one of the twins, born in 1884, is the wife of E. Humphreys and resides with Mrs. Handel, who adopted her when she was four weeks old.
Mrs. Handel lives just north of her father's old home, the farms adjoining. She has 120 acres in section 17, Marion township, and rents the farm to her adopted grandson. Her resi- dence is beautifully situated in a grove. The property will finally revert to Mrs. Humphreys.
Mr. Handel was baptized in the Marion Baptist Church, on November 17, 1867, having been converted in the preceding October by Rev. D. D. Spencer, assisted by Father Bryant. At the time of his death he was the oldest mem- ber of this church, a position now filled by his venerable wife. He was deacon and trustee for several years. Mrs. Handel comes of a long line of Baptists. She was converted in the winter of 1854, was baptized by Elder Freyer and first united with the Amanda Baptist Church. Al- though for the past seven years Mrs. Handel has been an invalid from rheumatism, she has always found time to devote to religious and charitable work.
For a number of years Mr. and Mrs Han- del were members of the Patrons of Husban- dry, and he served as overseer and lecturer of his grange. He also was a member of Reul Post, No. 95, G. A. R. of Delphos. Portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Handel accompany this sketch.
Digitized by Google
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
741
EORGE M. MCCULLOUGH, propri- etor of Mccullough Lake and Park, the finest summer resort in the vicin- ity of Lima, belongs to one of the old families of the county. He was born at Lima, October 9. 1856, and is a son of Hon. M. H. and Sarah J. (Mckibben) McCul- lough.
Hon. M. H. Mccullough, who died at Lima in 1901, was born in Washington Coun- ty, Pennsylvania, in 1818. In 1835 he mi- grated to Ohio and settled at Lima, where he became a man of wealth and influence, an ex- tensive farmer and a leading dealer in real estate. He was prominent in public life, served in the Ohio Legislature, and stanchly supported the Democratic party. For a num- ber of years he was an elder in the First Pres- byterian Church. He married Sarah J. Mc. Kibben, a daughter of John McKibben, a pio- neer of 1835, who located on the farm which is now the site of Mccullough Lake and Park. In 1893, the Senior Mccullough presented this property to our subject and his one brother, J. C. Mccullough, of Texas, who is connected with the Texas Oil Company. In 1898 George M. Mccullough purchased his brother's interest and has been sole proprietor of the beautiful resort.
Mccullough Lake and Park cover 44 acres, 26 acres of which is water, the lake fur- nishing the water used by the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Railway Company at Lima. In 1903, after having already made many improvements on the property, Mr. Mc- Cullough erected a fine auditorium, with a seating capacity for 2,000 people, the resort being equipped with bath houses, pleasure boats and every modern convenience demand- ed by visitors. In winter the lake affords fine skating and in summer, excellent fishing, its waters abounding in black bass. The new au- ditorium has been fitted with a stage, 30 by 40 feet in size, and entertainments of an interest- ing character are frequently presented. Dur- ing the season it is largely patronized by those who thus find, near at home, better accommo- dations and attractions than can be obtained at a distance.
George W. Mccullough was educated in the schools of Lima and the Iron City Com- mercial College of Pittsburg, from which he was graduated in 1882. He then entered into a mercantile business on East Market street, Lima, which he conducted until 1898. Since then his attention has mainly been given to his present enterprise.
In 1886 Mr. Mccullough was married to Ella E. Kelly, who is a daughter of H. B. Kelly, editor of the Allen County Democrat. Mr. Mccullough has been active in civic life, and at one time served as a member of the City Council.
OSEPH WOOLEY, a substantial busi- ness man of Lima, and an extensive dealer of walnut lumber, was born in Miami County, Ohio, October 12, 1845. His father was W. L. Wooley, who, during the childhood of our subject, moved to Shelby County, this State, and there was engaged in farming until his death.
Joseph Wooley was reared and received his education in Shelby County and was a farmer there until he was about 32 years of age, when he embarked in the sawmill busi- ness. This he continued until 1885, when he located in Van Wert, Ohio, and opened a mill for the manufacture of sporting goods. While thus engaged he was led to realize the diffi- culty experienced in obtaining the raw material, and in 1901 came to Lima to establish a saw- mill for the purpose of better supplying this demand. He thus handles walnut lumber and sporting goods exclusively, and sells to man- ufacturers of golf clubs, ball bats, tennis rac- quets, etc. He has been supplying stock for the manufacture of the "League" bats to A. G. Spalding & Brothers, of Chicago, who have recently placed an order with him for 30 car- loads of timber to be used in this line. Mr. Wooley's stock now sells so readily that he not only disposes of the output of his own mill, but the product of four other establishments as well.
Mr. Wooley was married, in 1876, to Laura E. Monroe, who is a native of Shelby
Digitized by Google
88
742
HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY
County. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and a man whose energy and enterprise have placed him among the leading business men of. this section.
J AMES ALEXANDER, an influential citizen of Allentown, this county, was born December 31, 1842, in German township, Allen County, Ohio, about one mile from his present home. He is a son of Adam and Elizabeth (Howsel) Alexander and a grandson of James Alexan- der, who came here from Pennsylvania about 1838.
James Alexander, subject of this sketch, was reared to manhood in German township, where he enlisted in the 118th Regiment, Ohio Vol. Inf., and served during the Civil War. He was a farmer and upon returning home resumed his old-time occupation. He owns a fine farm in section 32, German township and the home residence in Allentown.
Among the near neighbors of the Alexan- ders was the family of John and Nancy (Dougherty) Cremean, who had also located in the county at an early day. The children of the two families played together, attended the same school and grew up together, and, on December 24, 1865, a still stronger bond was formed in the union of James Alexander and Lydia Cremean. Six children were born to them, namely: William, born October 7, 1866, who married Annie Coon, resides in Lima, and was the father of one child, who died in infancy; Elizabeth. born March 20, 1868, who married Richard Smith and is the mother of six children-Terry Palmer, Violet Chloe, Lela, Belbe, James Berlin and one who died in infancy; Elizabeth, who resided in Van Wert County, where she died May 30, 1905; Charles, born January 7, 1870, who married May Snyder, of Albany, Indiana, and has one child, Beatrice-he resides in Bloom- dale, Wood County, Ohio, where he is en- gaged in the ministerial work of the United Brethren Church; Oras Albertus, born March 12. 1874, who died January 26, 1881 ; Emma, born April 12, 1876, who married John Bow-
ersox and is the mother of two children- Irene and James Cecil; and Harley, born April 12, 1884, who married Jesse Long and is the father of one child, James Wayne. Mr. Alexander is a member of the United Breth- ren Church of Allentown, and a man of integ- rity and sterling worth.
T. AGERTER, secretary and treasurer of The Lima Locomo- tive & Machine Company, whose works are among the largest in- dustrial plants of this city, was born in Wyandot County, Ohio, October 16, 1859, and is a son of John Agerter, formerly a well-known civil engineer who now lives re- tired at Upper Sandusky.
Mr. Agerter was reared and educated at Upper Sandusky, and later completed a com- mercial course at the Poughkeepsie (New York) Business College, after which he en- tered the employ of F. B. Hedges & Company, at Pittsburg, as bookkeeper. On January I, 1881, he assumed a similar position with The Lima Machine Works. In 1884, on the death of his uncle, Frederick Agerter, he became sec- retary and treasurer of the Lima Machine Works, and continued in the same capacity after the reorganization of the business and the forming of The Lima Locomotive & Ma- chine Company. He has other business con- nections, being proprietor of The Dairy Im- plement Company. He is also interested in the "Glen Oak Stock Farm," situated 10 miles west of Lima on the Auglaize River. He owns much valuable live stock, all of high grade and much of it registered.
Mr. Agerter married Carlotta Disman, a daughter of George W. Disman, one of the proprietors of the Lima Machine Works, who died in 1900. Mr. and Mrs. Agerter have two children-Rose E. and W. T., Jr., both of whom are attending school at Lima.
For eight years Mr. Agerter was a mem- ber of the Lima Board of Education and is one of the most useful members of the Lima Pro- gressive Association.
Digitized by Google
-
- - ----
743
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
Politically Mr. Agerter is a Democrat. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Fra- ternally he is a Knight of Pythias, an organi- zation which, in Lima, numbers the majority of the business men. Socially, Mr. Agerter belongs to the Lima Club and the Shawnee Country Clubs.
E MORY H. DORSEY, one of Lima's hustlers, was born in Carroll County, Maryland, in the year 1868, being a son of A. C. Dorsey, who was a painter by trade. In the year 1871, when three years of age, he came with his par- ents to Lima, which city has since been his home.
He began his active business career in 1889 at the age of 18 years as a clerk in the grocery of Watson & Company. Later he opened a store himself, engaging in the flour and feed business with a very limited capital, which business he conducted with very good success. In the year 1900 he added a complete line of staple groceries, since which time he has pros- pered beyond his expectations. He is re- garded as one of the leading business men of Lima.
In 1899 Mr. Dorsey erected the Dorsey Block, a beautiful two-story structure at Nos. 206-208 South Main street, in which the lower floor is divided into two fine business rooms, while the upper floor is arranged in two ele- gant flats. This building he recently sold and then purchased the Judge Collett property at No. 218 South Main street, and is at the pres- ent time preparing to erect a three-story struct- ure upon the lot with ground dimensions of 52 by 100 feet. The lower floor is to be di- vided into two business rooms, while the sec- ond and third floors are to be fitted up into up-to-date flats. He also owns other very valuable real estate in Lima, among which is a very modern and comfortable home at No. 742 West Spring street, in which the family reside.
In 1888 Mr. Dorsey was married to Ella Anspach and to them have been born three
children: Two sons-Earl C. and Karl J., aged 16 and II years respectively-and one daughter-Gail, aged nine years. All the chil- dren are attending school. Mr. Dorsey be- longs to that class of citizens whose push and energy have so materially assisted in the devel- opment of the city, and in bringing about its present prosperity.
ASSIUS M. JOLLEY, one of Lima's most esteemed residents and older business men and also an honored veteran of the Civil War, was born in Marion County, Ohio, in 1844, and is a son of Elisha and Achsa (Davis) Jolley.
Elisha Jolley was a pioneer at Lima, coming here first from Harrisburg, Pennsyl- vania, in 1833. He remained but a short time, locating then in Marion County, but in 1845 he returned to Lima and engaged in a mer- chant tailoring business during the remainder of his active life. His wife was born in Ohio.
Cassius M. Jolley was only one year old when his parents came to Lima, and this city has been his settled home ever since, his ab- sence from it being only during the years in which he was at the front as a soldier of the Civil War. He was one of the earliest to en- list after the first call for troops; during this term of three months he suffered so severe an injury to his foot that he was obliged to return home. About two years passed before the member was sufficiently strong to enable him to again return to the ranks. In 1864 he was a second time accepted and became identified with Company F, 32nd Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., being mustered into the service at Columbus.
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.