USA > Ohio > Allen County > History of Allen County, Ohio and Representative Citizens > Part 44
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
Mr. Mason has been twice married; first, in 1858, to Maria Angus, who was born in Wooster, Wayne County, Ohio, June 16, 1838,
and was a daughter of Jacob and Katherine (Monshire) Angus. She died in 1877, leaving nine children, namely: Jeanette, who was a successful school teacher for 10 years and is now the wife of William Wright, of Monroe township; Sumner F., of Bath township; Reu- ben, deceased; Franklin E., of Monroe town- ship, who has been a teacher since he was 17 years of age and who is now a member of the Board of County School Examiners; Charles Edward, of Bath township, who has been a teacher since his early manhood; Ida, deceased ; Jessie L., deceased; and Irving Hayes, who taught school for some time and is now town- ship clerk. In 1878 Mr. Mason was married to Elizabeth Kidd, who was born in Monroe township, June 2, 1839, and was a daughter of Nat G. and Rhoda (Jennings) Kidd, the form- er born in 1811 and now a resident of Monroe township. To the second union was born one child, William Z., who died at the age of seven years. Mr. Mason is a Republican and cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln. He has served as assessor of the township and has al- ways stood well with his fellow-citizens. He was formerly a member of the Methodist Church but is now identified with the United Brethren.
D AVID CULP, a retired farmer of Al- len County, supervisor. of German township, was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, October 10, 1838. His parents were Christian and Elizabeth (Goode) Culp, the former a native of Augus- ta County, Virginia. When he was about 15 years of age, the parents of Christian Culp moved to Logan County, Ohio, and he later went to Fairfield County, where he married Elizabeth Goode, daughter of Joseph Goode, of that county. Nine children were born to them, viz .: David. Noah, Christian, Magdalena, wife of John Hawthorn, of Osborn, Ohio; Fannie, wife of Anthony Miller; Nancy, wife of John Shank; Annie, wife of Ephraim Howard; Sophia, wife of Jacob Amstutz, of Allen County, Indi- ana; and Elizabeth, wife of Henry Goode, of Virginia. All reside in Allen County except
Digitized by Google
767
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
Magdalena and Sophia. When the parents moved to this county in 1851, they made the trip in covered wagons, five wagons being re- quired to convey them and their goods here. Our subject passed his 13th birthday while they were en route to Sugar Creek town- ship, where they lived several years. David Culp has devoted his life to agricult- ural pursuits and has been uniformly suc- cessful in his work retiring a few years ago after years of industry to enjoy the fruits of his labors. He was married on June 20, 1861, to Nancy Brenneman, daughter of John Brenneman, of Fairfield County, Ohio, formerly from Virginia. They had the following children : John B., who mar- ried Annie Steman and has six children; Elizabeth, who died October 10, 1880 in her 15th year, just as she was budding into wom- anhood; Emma J., wife of Samuel G. Moore, of Virginia; Nancy, who married Moses D. Evers, formerly of Virginia, now of Oregon- they have five children; Malinda, who married C. H. Steinbuck, a native of Virginia, and re- sides in Allen County-they have three child- ren; Martha, wife of Thomas H. Steinbuck; Ellen Merilla, who died in 1884 at the age of eight years; Sarah, wife of Burdette LaRue, of Allen County and the mother of one child; Lena, who lives at home; and Christian, who married Laura Showalter, of Virginia, and has one child. The subject of this sketch has al- ways supported the Democratic ticket. He is is a member of the Mennonite Church and was trustee for many years.
e C. HOSSELLMAN, who is general superintendent of The Deisel-Wem- mer Company's factory at Lima, was born in 1869, at Middletown, Butler. County, Ohio, and is a mem- ber of a respected family of that section.
When 16 years old, after completing the common school course and learning the trade of cigarmaker, he went to Hamilton, Ohio, where he worked at this trade for nine months. From there, in search of employment, he went to Louisville, Kentucky, where he worked as a
cigarmaker for 15 months, going thence to Connersville, Indiana, where he had six months' of experience in a cigar factory. Other engagements followed, Mr. Hossellman working at Marysville, Kentucky, and at Wapakoneta, Ohio, through the following eight years, and then he came to Lima. Here he entered the employ of The Deisel-Wemmer. Company, after working on the bench for two years, he was promoted to be foreman of the shops, and still later to be general superintend- ent. This position Mr. Hossellman has most efficiently filled for the past four years; during which time the business has expanded to a re- markable degree. His long, practical experi- ence makes him exceptionally well-equipped for his present office, while his executive abil- ty and his tact in the management of a large force of skilled workmen make him almost in- valuable to his employers. He also owns stock in the dry goods house known as Feltz Broth- ers & Company.
On February 25, 1892, Mr. Hossellman was married to Eliza A. Sefered, who is a daughter of David A. Sefered, of Wapakone- ta, Ohio. They have two children, Vernon C. and Margaret E. The family residence is at No. 1,000 Wayne street. The family belong to the English Lutheran Church. Mr. Hossell- man is a member of the Knights of the Macca- bees and of the Knights of Pythias at Wapa- koneta, and of the German order of Red Men at Lima.
R EV. C. H. ECKHARDT received his ordination into the Lutheran minis- try in the spring of 1878, came to Lima on the 19th of September, 1879, and for more than a quar- ter of a century has been a prominent worker and an inspiration in the advance- ment and progress of the community. Born in Hessen Darmstadt, Germany, February 6, 1851, he was four years old when his parents came to the United States and settled near Germantown, Montgomery County, Ohio, so that our subject is an American by education and sympathies. His father, George Eckhardt, who passed away in December, 1904, at the
Digitized by Google
768
HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY
age of 85 years, was a farmer, and it was in the invigorating atmosphere of a country home that our subject spent his boyhood and received his early education.
Desirous of devoting his life to the good of humanity, he entered Capital University at Co- lumbus, Ohio, and was graduated from the theological department in 1878, when he was ordained and immediately installed as pastor of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, near Crid- ersville, Auglaize County, and is still the be- loved leader of that flock. He was pastor of Zion Lutheran Church of Lima for 10 years, and in addition to the heavy demands upon his time found opportunity for doing much good outside work. Lima College, dedicated in 1894, was founded through our subject's un- tiring efforts in its behalf. He was president of the college for many years and is still closely associated with it. He is a member of the Joint Synod of Ohio, and is a man who stands well, not only with the members of his own church, but with the general public.
Rev. C. H. Eckhardt was married in 1876 to Ida May Dearth, whose father, S. M. Dearth, is one of the prominent agriculturists of Warren County, Ohio. They have a fam- ily of four children, namely : Herman, who is engaged in insurance work in Lima; Carrie, wife of Frank J. Cupp, a civil engineer en- gaged in the construction of railroads at Ap- pleton, Wisconsin; Ethel, who married Roland B. Mikesell, a teacher in the commercial de- partment of Lima College, and has one child, Byron; and Ruth, who is at home. Politically .Mr. Eckhardt has always affiliated with the Republicans.
OHN A. COLE. Few residents of Al- len County are more favorably known or more generally esteemed than John A. Cole, who has been engaged in the milling business at Harrod for many years, and whose industry and integrity have placed him among the influential men of his section. Mr. Cole was born at Pemberton, Ohio, July 28, 1853, and is the only surviving
child of William and Angeline ( Reams) Cole, who were the parents of two children, one of whom died in infancy. His grandfather. was Henry Cole, a native of Virginia, and of Scotch-Irish descent.
William Cole was born in Ohio and became a resident of Pemberton at the time of the "Big Four" Railroad was built through. In 1854 the family moved to North Lewisburg, Cham- paign County, Ohio, where the father died two years later.
John A. Cole began the battle of life for himself at the tender age of nine years when he secured employment on a farm. He remained on the farm until 1867, when he obtained work in a mill and learned to run an engine. For 28 years he was engineer in a mill. This business has appealed to his fancy as he has been identified with milling for almost 40 years, with the exception of a few months. In 1873 he enlisted in the regular army and was sta- tioned at Newport until his discharge the fol- lowing spring. He then resumed his career as miller, finding practical training in the mills of Bloom Center, West Mansfield, Rushsyl- vania, Westminster, Bellefontaine and Harrod.
The Harrod Mill was established about 1884 by James Harrod. Becoming part of the assets of the Bank of Lima which failed, the mill property passed into the hands of Benja- min C. Faurot, by whom it was sold to Donze & Day, who were the properietors at the time Mr. Cole came here. For four years he was an employe of this company and he then rented a half interest in the business from Mr. Donze and carried on the enterprise with Mr. Day. He and Mr. Day continued to operate the plant successfully until 1900 when Mr. Cole disposed of his interest in the business. This step was taken that he might take advantage of what he considered an excellent opening to en- gage in business at New Lexington, Ohio. However, owing to the shortcomings of his partner, the enterprise failed, and Mr. Cole saw his money, which represented many years of persistent. toil and self-denial, slipping out of his hands. This misfortune would have meant complete financial ruin to a less courageous and enterprising man, but Mr. Cole had been
Digitized by
Digitized by Google
Digitized by
MRS. SARAH ALICE WITHERILL
REUBEN WHITE
MRS. MYRTLE SIMMONS HOBART SIMMONS (Five generations).
MRS. REBECCA M. WHITE
Digitized by
MRS. IDA EDELLA FETTER
MRS. SARAH ALICE WITHERILL
MRS. ANN ELIZA WHITE MRS. MYRTLE SIMMONS EDROW WINGATE
MRS. EVA WINGATE MRS. LAURA EDGECOMB
(Five generations)
HOBART SIMMONS
.
.
Digitized by
-
773
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
engaged in the contest for a competency too many years to sit idly down and repine over his loss. Instead, he gathered together the rem- nants of his shattered capital and returned to Harrod, where he again purchased a half in- terest in the mill and set bravely to work to re- pair his loss. He returned to Harrod on Sep- tember 6, 1901, the day on which President Mckinley fell a martyr at the hand of an as- sassin. Once more a partner of Mr. Day the mill was operated by them until 1905, when Mr. Day retired from the business. On June 1, 1905, Dr. M. L. Johnston became an equal partner in the mill with Mr. Cole and it has since been conducted under the name of Cole & Johnston. This is one of the solid industries of Harrod and gives constant employment to four men. The output of the mill is 75 bar- rels per day, the product finding a ready mar- ket in this vicinity.
Mr. Cole was married on June 23, 1875, to Mary Louise Curl, who was born in Logan County, Ohio, April 26, 1857. Her grand- parents were James R. and Louise (Bayliss) Curl, who came to Logan County, Ohio, from the State of Virginia and were engaged in farming. Her parents, John M. and Caroline M. (Munsell) Curl, were natives of Logan County, and had eight children, namely : Mary Louise; James Nelson, who lives in Logan County ; Clement, a resident of Lima; Emily, deceased; Nellie, who married Sylvester Seig- ler and resides in Michigan; Robert, who died at the age of 21 years; Hulda, who married Dalton Alexander and resides in Union County, near York Center; and Charles, who lives at Columbus. Mr. and Mrs. Cole are the perents of three children who have passed to the higher life and seven who are living, viz : Lindon, born June 16, 1878, and residing in Columbus, who married Emma Ingledue, and has two children-Herbert and Florence; John, Jr., born December 27, 1879, who mar,- ried Rosetta Shockey and is the father of one son, Paul; Lillian, born January 25, 1882, who married James Leroy Thomas and resides in Pasadena, California; Leota, born February 26, 1884, who lives in Lima; Raymond, born May 14, 1886, who died October 16, 1891, as
the result of a kick in the head from a horse; Lena Vivian, born May 7, 1888, who died on August 17th following; Edna M., born May II, 1891 ;Cleo H., born June 27, 1893; Mckinley Hobart, born November 6, 1896, the day of the election of Mckinley and Hobart; and Leland, born December 30, 1901, who died October 9, 1902. Mrs. Cole is a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and a lady whose personal magnetism has made for her many warm friends. Mr. Cole is a Republican. He was made an Odd Fellow in White Lodge, No. 576, while residing in West Mansfield, Ohio, and has always retained his membership in that order.
R EUBEN WHITE, one of Lima's es- teemed and honored retired citizens, is a valued member of Mart Arm- strong Post, No. 202, Grand Army of the Republic, having gained his right to the same by over three years of loyal, faith- ful service in defense of his country in the perilous days of 1861-65. Mr. White was born in Bath township, Allen County, Ohio, November 7, 1837, and is a son of Adam and Rebecca M. (Walton) White.
The paternal grandfather of Mr. White, Adam White, was born in Germany and came to Brown County, Ohio, as a pioneer. His maternal grandfather, was Joseph W. Walton, a native of New York, who settled in Bath township in 1826. Adam White, the second, father of our subject, was born in Kentucky and became a resident of Bath township in 1828. He became a very prominent man of Allen County and was its first treasurer, in the days when Allen County included what is now Auglaize and Mercer, counties. He was a justice of the peace in Bath township for many years and was a man looked up to and respected by his fellow-citizens.
Reuben White was reared and educated in Bath township, his education being that af- forded by the local schools. Up to the outbreak of the Civil War he led a quiet, agricultural life. In October, 1861, he donned the Union blue, became a member of Company E, 81st
Digitized by Google
774
HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY
Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., and soon, with his com- pany, was sent to Benton Barracks, Missouri. Here he remained until March, 1862, when his regiment was sent to Pittsburg Landing in time to make a record for gallantry at that great battle, and then followed Corinth, a name which brings sad memories to many households to this day on account of the brave soldiers who fell there. Mr. White was kept with his com- mand in that vicinity for 17 months, and then entered upon the Atlanta campaign, taking part in all the engagements, including the battles of Jonesboro and Lovejoy. Mr. White was hon- orably discharged at Rome, Georgia, October 3, 1864. He had been wounded only once dur- ing all these years of danger, and was one of seven left in his company of the 85 who went to war with him, a fact which tells its own tale of the dangers encountered by this gallant band.
After the close of his service, Mr. White re- turned to his old home and, as his parents were dead, bought out the other heirs and subse- quently improved the property very much, sub- sequently selling it to great advantage. Later he purchased another, fine property, within two miles of Lima; as indications here pointed to probable oil deposits, he sold it during the first oil "boom." Mr. White next engaged for about five years in a mercantile business at Beaver Dam, and then retired to Lima, where he owns a very comfortable home on Second street.
On August 21, 1859, Mr. White was mar- ried to Ann Eliza Edgecomb, the eldest daugh- ter of Walter and Laura Edgecomb. Mr. Edgecomb was an early settler in Allen County, entering land here in 1838. Mr. and Mrs. White have had II children, namely: Sarah Alice; Ida Edella, deceased; Kirby; Laura; Albert, Walter. Edwin, Emmet Oscar, John Errett, Carey Mott, deceased; Willis Adam; and Rebecca. Sarah Alice married John F. Witherill, of Spencerville, and to them were born nine children ; Myrtle, the eldest, married Charles Simmons and has four children living, the eldest being named Hobart. Ida Edella was the wife of Daniel E. Fetter. Five of her children are now living; of these the eldest, Eva, married Lewis Wingate, and has one son, Edrow. Kirby, who is postmaster at Harrod, Ohio, has four children. Laura is the wife of
Frank Rudy, of Allen County, and has five children. Albert died in infancy; Walter Ed- win reached the age of 18 years; Emmet Oscar died at the age of two years; John Errett, at his death, at the age of 29 years, left a wife and one daughter; Carey Mott died as an in- fant of one year. Willis Adam, who is a resi- dent of Huntington, Indiana, has two children. Rebecca married Lee Higgins of Lima and has two children.
Mr. White has always been a Republican and has held office in both townships in which he has lived. He is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Mr. and Mrs. White are members of the Church of Christ.
On preceding pages, in connection with this sketch, are presented two group pictures of the White-Edgecomb family, in each of which frve generations are shown, Mr. White and his mother appearing in one, and Mrs. White and her mother in the other.
O TTO F. RAMSEYER, of the firm of Woolevy & Ramseyer, proprietors of the City Book Store, at Lima, Ohio, was born near Bluffton, Ohio, in 1870, and is a son of Abraham Rams- eyer, formerly engaged in the book-binding business at Lima.
Otto F. Ramseyer was five years old when his parents removed from Indiana to Lima, and here he was reared and educated. In 1885 he went into the City Book Store, a business house which had been established at Lima in 1870 by George P. Waldorf, who was suc- ceeded by W. G. Nichols. The latter was suc- ceeded by Trevor & Robinson and this firm by T. A. Robinson. Mr. Ramseyer remained with the store under its different managements and in 1889 he became its manager. In 1899 in partnership with W. H. Woolevy, he bought Mr. Robinson's entire interest. Since that time the business has been enlarged to cover other lines than formerly, a fine art department hav- ing been added, which is the only one in the city and the most complete to be found in this section of the State.
In 1898 Mr. Ramseyer was married to
Digitized by Google
Digitized by
J. M. LONGCOY, M. D.
Digitized by Google
777
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
Laura E. Reynolds, who is a daughter of D. R. Reynolds, of Lima, and they have one son, Richard Lee.
Mr. Ramseyer is a Royal Arch Mason, a Knight of Pythias and belongs also to the Maccabees. He is a member of the German Reformed Church.
J M. LONGCOY, M. D., a prominent physician and surgeon of Lima, and proprietor of the X-Ray and Electro- Therapeutic Laboratory at Nos. 214- 218 West Market street, was born in New Jersey, June 24, 1848, and is a son of Jacob and Catherine ( Fredenburgh ) Longcoy. Dr. Longcoy is one of a family of six chil- dren. He was reared and educated in his na- tive State, entering Princeton College and graduating there in 1868. Dr. Longcoy is en- titled to write many degrees after his name, both literary and medical, and he is a graduate of many of the leading institution's of the country, viz: McGill University, Montreal, Canada, in 1873; Joplin Medical College, Jop- lin, Missouri, in 1882; Little Rock Univer- sity, Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1884; National College of Electro-Therapeutics, Lima, Ohio, in 1898: Institute of Pharmacy, Columbus, Ohio, in 1900; and Chicago School of Phychology in 1901. Since 1900 he has been professor of general electro-therapeutics in the National College of Electro-Therapeutics at Lima. Dr. Longcoy is also associate editor of The Electro-Therapeutist, at Lima, and is con- sulting surgeon at the Lima Hospital.
In 1900 Dr. Longcoy established the Elec- tro-Bathatorium on the corner of Market and West streets, which soon became known all over Ohio for the wonderful cures effected. The X-Ray and Electro-Therapeutic Labora- tory, conducted by Dr. Longcoy, who is a scientific physician, is an institution designed to cure those diseases not curable by ordinary medical treatment. The institution has been fitted with all forms of electric currents, elec- tric light baths, X-Rays, Minin's rays, hot air cabinets, mechanical electro-vibrators, pneu- matic massage, magnetones, induction coils,
high frequency solenoids, in fact every mod- ern appliance of value known to scientific medicine. The diseases treated are: Diseases of women, fibroid and other tumors, Bright's disease, diabetes, cancer, piles, consumption, nervous prostration, varicose ulcers, tubercu- losis of the joints and spine, varicocele, neu- ralgia, rheumatism and lumbago, insomnia, constipation, eczema, moles, warts, scars, birthmarks, superfluous hair and all blemishes. This institution, with its various and modern facilities is recognized as the greatest concern of its kind in the State and it numbers patients all over the country.
Dr. Longcoy was married to Marie C. Wolff, who is a daughter of John Wolff, of Pennsylvania. Their handsome home is lo- cated at No. 214-218 West Market street. Dr. Longcoy and family are Presbyterians.
As a most intelligent man and good citi- zen, Dr. Longcoy takes an interest in civic advancement and has done his part since lo- cating here to make Lima a business and scien- tific center. In political sentiment he is a Re- publican. His portrait is herewith presented.
OHN W. FETTER, deceased, was one of Bath township's most reliable and respected men, and one of the large farmers of Allen County, owning and operating a well-improved farm of 100 acres. Mr. Fetter was born on this farm October 21, 1855, and was a son of George and Sarah (Ward) Fetter. He died January 2, 1902.
The father of Mr. Fetter was born in Ger- many and the mother in Ohio. They had a family of five sons and four daughters and John W. was the eldest. George Fetter oper- ated a farm, a sawmill and a stone quarry and his eldest son was his right-hand man for many years.
Mr. Fetter remained with his father until his marriage and then he rented the farm for a time, and subsequently bought 20 acres and his father gave him 80 acres, and here he spent the remainder of his life. He took much pride in the cultivation and improvement of his
Digitized by Google
778
HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY
property and he erected the excellent and sub- stantial buildings which are now in evidence. In addition to carrying on his agricultural projects successfully, raising some of the best crops produced in the neighborhood, he did considerable teaming and grading and con- structed turnpike roads under contract.
Politically Mr. Fetter was a stanch sup- porter of the Democratic party and on numer- ous occasions satisfactorily filled responsible offices to which the votes of his fellow-citizens elevated him. He served two terms of two years each as township treasurer, and several terms as road supervisor.
Mr. Fetter was a man of the highest in- tegrity and is recalled as a good neighbor, an affectionate husband and a kind father. He reared a family which was a credit to him and left them well provided for.
On March 3, 1878, Mr. Fetter was mar- ried to Ella E. Hadsell, who was born in this township, December 20, 1856, who is a daugh- ter of Anson M. and Adeline (Thayer) Had- sell. The father of Mrs. Fetter was born in Connecticut and removed to Trumbull County, Ohio, with his parents. Later he settled in Allen County, where he owned a fine farm and being a man of education, taught school a number of terms. He was a man of local prominence, and was justice of the peace for a number of years. In the latter capacity it is remembered that he often performed the mar- riage ceremony without any charge, and that it was his habit to present to the newly wedded couple a Bible, intimating that within its pages all the counsel needed for their future lives could be found. He was an active worker in the Methodist Episcopal Church and was noted- ly kind and benevolent in his conduct toward others. He married, for his second wife, Ade- line Thayer, who was the mother of Mrs. Fetter.
The children of Mr. and Mrs. Fetter are : Charles E., of Bath township, who has two children-Ella E. and Frank; Mary E. wife of Brice B. Hefner of Jackson township, who has two children-Elsie J. and Fred A .; and Fred A., who has three children-Brice B., Claud K. and Harry L.
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.