USA > Ohio > Allen County > History of Allen County, Ohio and Representative Citizens > Part 47
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In 1886 Mr. Kissel was married to Kate Koch, who died in 1902, leaving four children, namely : Lenore, William, Florence and Ma- bel, all students in the Lima schools. The fam-
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THOMAS J. EDWARDS
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ily belong to the German Reformed Church. Mr. Kissel is a member of the Royal Arcanum and the Elks.
C HOMAS J. EDWARDS, clerk of the courts of Allen County, whose por- trait accompanies this sketch, is one of the county's most popular officials. He was born at Gomer, Allen County, Ohio, on the 20th day of June, 1871, of Welsh parentage and is a son of Isaac D. and Eliza- beth E. Edwards, who were residents of this county for many years. Our subject's father, who was an extensive merchant at Gomer, died in 1892, at Chattanooga, Tennessee; his widow still survives, as do also three of their family of six children.
At the age of 12 years, Thomas J. Edwards began earning his own way. During school vacations he would drive a mule in the coal mines, receiving for his work very liberal pay for one who would take up the work at that age. At the age of 14 years Mr. Edwards at- tended Grant University at Chattannoga, Ten- nessee, for two terms. Soon after this, his father embarked in business as a merchant, conducting a large store at Chattanooga, Ten- nessee, with a full line of stoves and hardware, and also a large tinning and cornice establish- ment. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Thomas learned the tinner's trade and com- pleted his trade under his father. He was of pleasant address and was gifted with excellent business ideas; these facts coming to the atten- tion of the Southern Construction Company, he was engaged for four years as a commercial traveler. After severing his relation with this company, he came back to Lima, Ohio, and visited relatives and friends at Gomer, re- turning to Lima on the 2nd day of January, 1894. He at once secured a position as a clerk in a shoe store, afterwards going with the firm of Hoover Brothers. Two years later he took up his old position as a commercial traveler and thus continued to be engaged until 1902. In this year at the urgent requests of his many friends, he became a candidate for the office of county clerk. Although there never before had -
been a contest for the nomination on the Re- publican ticket for a county office, a lively con- test was now precipitated, as two of the most prominent men of Allen County aspired for the nomination ; Mr. Edwards received the nomin- ation on the third ballot. After the nomina- tion, he went out and campaigned the county, man to man and was elected clerk of the courts, he being the first Republican ever elected to the office in Allen County. His friends stood by him most loyally in this election and he did not forget them when he went into office. As the end of his term of three years ap- proached, his friends again secured for him the Republican nomination and on November 7, 1905, he was reelected clerk of the courts with a majority of 1,559 votes, the largest ma- jority ever given any county candidate, with the exception of one or two. It was a remark- . able election; the State losing its Republican Governor, who was running for a second term, and the Democratic candidate for that office carrying Allen County by 1,490 votes; the city of Lima, normally Republican by 800 votes, be- ing carried by the Democrats, who elected all of their candidates save one councilman. Mr. Ed- wards has proven himself to be a very active and progressive citizen. It was largely due to his efforts that Walter B. Richie was selected as a member of the commission to locate the site of the new State Hospital for the Insane. Owing to the over-crowded condition of the insane hospitals of the State, the General As- sembly of 1903 empowered the Governor to appoint a non-partisan commission of five members to locate a site for a hospital for the insane. A public meeting of the citizens of Lima was called and the name of Walter B. Richie was selected and the same was pre- sented to Governor Myron T. Herrick for his consideration. Mr. Richie was appointed a member of this commission on June 9, 1904. After visiting sites in different parts of the State, the commission's final decision was Allen County and the report was accepted by the Governor. The Governor will recommend to the next General Assembly that an appro- priation be made to erect a State Hospital for the Insane, to be built in Allen County.
Mr. Edwards was united in marriage with
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Caroline M. Hoover, who is a daughter of John Hoover, a well-known citizen of Lima. They have one son, Louis B. Mrs. Edwards is a de- voted member of the Catholic Church, while Mr. Edwards was reared a Congregationalist. Mr. Edwards' fraternal connections include the Elks, Odd Fellows, Modern Woodmen of America, Knights of Pythias, Maccabees and Eagles. He is 3d vice-president of the Na- tional Travelers' Protective Association of . America and in 1906 he was elected president of the Clerks' Association of the State of Ohio and was further honored by being elected pres- ident of the organization of the county officials of the State of Ohio. His residence is No. 452 North West street, Lima. As county clerk, Mr. Edwards has met with public approval, giving close and careful attention to the duties of the office, which are of no light character, four assistants being required. He possesses genial qualities, which have made him a suc- cessful business man and which are very de- sirable in a public official.
ARRY NEELEY, oil operator and oil contractor, at Lima, has been a resi- dent of this city for the past 15 years. He was born in this county in 1870, and is a son of H. C. Neeley.
The father of Mr. Neeley was born in Allen County, Ohio, in 1843, and is a son of Will- iam Neeley, one of the early pioneers of the county. H. C. Neeley was a farmer and also an oil contractor during his active years, but is now living in retirement at Ottawa.
Harry Neeley was reared on his father's farm and obtained his education in the local schools. Almost all of his business life has been devoted to oil interests. In 1895 he com- menced to contract at Lima and through the Ohio oil field, and this has been his main occu- pation ever since. For the past seven years he has been associated with the Ohio Oil Com- pany. He owns three separate sets of drilling tools and, with the exception of a few months, these have been in constant use ever since he has been engaged in the business.
On October 23, 1896, Mr. Neeley was mar-
ried to Della B. Johns, who is a daughter of T. W. Johns, of Lima. They have one son, Robert L.
Mr. Neeley is one of Lima's first-class citi- zens, although he devotes very little time to politics. For some years he has led a very busy life, and is probably as well posted on the dif- ferent oil fields, their present value and future promise, as any man in this section. He be- longs to Allen Lodge, No. 223, I. O. O. F., at Lima.
AMES L. MAUS, the well-known wagon-maker of Lafayette, was born in Perry township, Allen County, Ohio, November 14, 1840, and is a son of Nicholas Dill and Elizabeth (Creps) Maus, who were natives of Mary- land. The father was born in 1803 near where afterward was to be fought the battle of Gettysburg. He came to Ohio in 1832 and entered land in Perry township, Allen County, where he carried on farming for many years and also operated a sawmill which was run by water-power. He was a miller by trade and followed that business in his native State. He made his home in Perry township until he retired from active life when he spent some time in Fort Wayne and later returned to Westminster, this county, where he passed away at the age of 95 years. He was a Whig and later a Republican. His wife died in 1895 at the age of 85 years. There were four chil- dren, namely : William A., Margaret Eliza- beth, Rebecca Barbara and James L. William A. served 12 months in the 180th Regiment, Ohio Vol, Inf., under Capt. Calvin S. Brice, and is now a resident of Vaughnsville, Putnam County, Ohio. Margaret Elizabeth became the wife of Samuel Moore and resided in Hardin County where she died about 1899. Rebecca Barbara married Taylor Hefner and lived in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
James L. Maus was the fourth and young- est of the family. He attended school until he was 14 when he learned the trade of a car- penter, at which he continued to work for sev- eral years. In 1867 he moved to LaFayette and began his wagon-making business, and has
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MR. AND MRS. ADAM SIMONS
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been thus engaged almost ever since. He oper- ated a sawmill for some 12 years and also started a feed-mill, now run by his sons.
On April 13, 1869, he was married to Han- nah E. Leatherman, daughter of Michael Leatherman, a prominent character of the early days of Allen County and for many years probate judge. Their children are Arthur Dill, a machinist and a member of the firm of Maus Brothers; Charles Vinton, who was killed in the mill when in his 17th year; Harry Page, another member of the firm of Maus Brothers; Frank H., who conducts a hotel at Fort Wayne, Indiana; Ruea Mrytle, who lives at home; Jesse Donald, who has great ability as a mechanic and is a photographer and electrician of Fort Wayne, Indiana, and two daughters who died in infancy. Mr. Maus is a Republi- can and cast his first vote for Abraham Lin- coln. He is a member of Sager Lodge, No. 513, F. & A. M., and was a member of the G. A. R. post until its disorganization.
In the Civil War Mr. Maus was in Com- pany H, 8Ist Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., under Capt. Charles M. Hughes and Colonel Morton; but after four months became ill with measles and was discharged on account of disability. As soon as he recovered he reenlisted in June, 1862, in Company E, 99th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., under Capt. John Walters and from that time was in the thickest of the fray, following Bragg's army and taking part in the battles at Stone River, Chickamauga, Chattanooga, Lookout Mountain and the Atlanta campaign, not missing an engagement in which his regi- ment participated. While waiting in 1865 for a transfer home from Salisbury, North Caro- lina, he was taken down with fever, which ended his army experiences.
H DAM SIMONS, prominent in the brick manufacturing line at Lima, has been one of the city's leading business men for a quarter of a century. He was born in Seneca County, Ohio, in 1844, and is a son of the late John Simons, who formerly was a substantial and well -- known farmer of Upper Sandusky.
Mr. Simons spent all the earlier years of his
life on a farm in Wyandotte County, and there obtained his education. In 1872 he left home and removed to Delphos, where he engaged in the manufacture of brick until 1880, when he came to Lima. Here he found an excellent field for his industry and now stands at the head of the brick manufacturers of the city. The qual- ity of his product has done its own advertising, and a canvass of Lima's most substantial struc- tures will prove how large is his local trade.
In 1869 Mr. Simons was united in mar- riage with Maria Hoffman, who is a daughter of Eli Hoffman, a farmer of Upper Sandusky. They have reared a family of nine children, namely: Frank, who is in business at Lewis- ton, Illinois; Henry, who is the engineer of the Lima central fire department; Charles, who is chief engineer of the LaFayette (Indiana) Traction Company; Minnie, who is the wife of A. McPheron, of Lima; Permilla, who is the wife of E. F. Flaving, of Chicago; Rosa, who is the wife of Byron S. Langin, of Lima, employed in the Lake Erie & Western Railroad office; Bertha, living at home; Earl, who is employed at the Lima Locomotive Works; and Raymond, who is attending school. The in- clinations of Mr. Simons' sons have led them into mechanics, where each one is giving an excellent account of himself.
In late years Mr. Simons has paid little at- tention to politics. Both he and his wife are members of St. John's Catholic Church. Their portraits accompany this sketch.
APT. JOHN M. BINGHAM, auditor of the National Roofing Tile Com- pany, of Lima, with offices in the Ma- sonic Building, is one of the city's well-known and representative men. He was born in 1865 at Harrisburg, Pennsyl- vania, and is a son of the late John M. Bing- ham and a member of one of the oldest fam- ilies of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.
Captain Bingham was reared in Warren County, in his native State, attending school until the age of 12 years. After working there on a farm for several years, he became a clerk in a general mercantile store at West
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Newton. He clerked also at Jamestown, New York, and in 1882 was engaged for, some months in the same line at Cherry Grove, dur- ing the period of the oil excitement at that point. From there he went to Bradford and again was connected with a mercantile estab- lishment. Coming to Lima in 1887, he was for one year in a shoe business and for three years was interested in a grocery. In 1892 he en- tered the employ of the C., H. & D. Railway Company. He filled various positions with this corporation, finally becoming chief clerk to C. H. Cory, who is chief of the department of motive power of this line. In April, 1905, he accepted the position of auditor with the Na- tional Roofing Tile Company and has a num- ber of other interests.
Captain Bingham has been more or less prominent in military affairs ever since March 29, 1888, when he enlisted as a private in Company C, Second Regiment, Ohio National Guard, of which he was made corporal in 1891, sergeant in 1892, 2nd lieutenant, June 15, 1892, being recom- missioned as lieutenant on June 15, 1897. On April 1, 1899, he was commissioned cap- tain and adjutant on December 12, 1899. In June, 1903, he resigned, but was reappointed on June 20th. During the Spanish-American War he served as 2nd lieutenant of Company C, Second Ohio Infantry, U. S. Volunteers, from May 10, 1898, until February 10, 1899. Dur- ing his term of service in the United States army his regiment was in camp at Knoxville, Chickamauga and Macon. He is one of the best-known military men, in connection with the State organization, in Northwestern Ohio.
On October 3, 1899, Captain Bingham was married to Catherine Lawlor, who is a daugh- ter of P. H. Lawlor, of Lima. One son, Charles, has been born to this union.
Captain Bingham was a charter member of Lodge No. 436, Knights of Columbus, at Lima, and was its financial treasurer. He be- longs also to the United Spanish War Veter- ans, and to the Knights of St. John. For many years he has been a member of St. Rose Cath- olic Church, and for an extended period was leader of its noted choir.
ILLIAM W. YOAKAM, one of the leading agriculturists of Bath township, has been a resident of the township for almost 60 years, and has a fine farm of 120 acres, located in sections 22 and 23. He was born May 31, 1821, in Virginia (now West Vir- ginia), near Beverly, the county seat of Ran- dolph County. He is a son of Jacob Yoakam and grandson of Michael Yoakam. The grandfather was among the early settlers of Randolph County, Virginia, and also of Ohio, as he located in Mount Vernon, Ohio, during his later years.
Jacob Yoakam was born in Randolph County, February 28, 1790, and spent his en- tire life there, with the exception of one year spent with his father in Knox County, Ohio. He was in the War of 1812, at which time he was stationed at Norfolk, Virginia. He was a planter of prominence, his plantation con- sisting of some 300 acres of valuable land. He married Jane Wamsley, who was born in the same county on July 25, 1790, and died at the age of 44 years, while Jacob Yoakam reached the extreme age of 98 years and 6 months. They reared a large family of children, viz : John, who was born February 18, 1812 and died at the age of 93 years; Mary born Aug- ust 13, 1813, who was also past 93 years of age when she died; Jonathan, born December 14, 1814, a resident of Homer, Ohio; Sarah, born July 29, 1816, who died at the age of 24; Jane, born April 24, 1818, who is a resident of Randolph County, West Virginia; William W., our subject; Eliza, born February 28, 1823, who resides in Randolph County, West Virginia; Matthew, born August 23, 1825, who is a wealthy retired citizen of Homer, Ohio, having an extensive acreage of some of the choicest land in Licking County, Ohio- he formerly shipped hogs to New York on a large scale and was the first man in Allen County to ship hogs by railroad; Washington, born June 26, 1827; Eliza, born August 19, 1829, who is now deceased; Jacob, born Jan- uary 20, 1832, who resides near Beverly, West Virginia; and Rebecca, who died in infancy. The longevity of the Yoakam family is re-
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markable. Of 12 children, four brothers and two sisters are still living, their ages ranging from 73 to 91 years, while as noted above, of those who died, one lived to be 93 and another to be more than 93 years of age.
William W. Yoakam remained on the farm with his parents until he was 22 years of age, when he removed to Licking County, Ohio, and rented a farm near Utica. Six years later he moved to a farm near Columbus Center, and in 1848 came to Allen County and bought his present farm of 120 acres in Bath town- ship. A log cabin of one room had been built, but no attempt had been made to clear the timber which covered the tract. The deed which Mr. Yoakam holds this property is the oldest document of its kind in the town- ship. He has the land all under cultivation and splendidly improved with good buildings.
Mr. Yoakam was married in 1847 to Nancy C. Channell, a native of Randolph County, Virginia. They had one child, Nor- ton, who died about six years ago at Sidney, Ohio, where he had been in the railroad ser- vice for 14 years. Mr. Yoakam was a mem- ber of the Ohio National Guard just before the Civil War. His wife died just as his company and regiment was ready to start for Washing- ton to guard that city, but he was able to se- cure a substitute and to remain at home. On September 8, 1864, he was married to Rebecca A. Chenoweth, who was born April 23, 1843, and is a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Van- thorn) Chenoweth. The fruits of this union were three children, namely: Allie, born Oc- tober 27, 1865, who is the wife of William French, who has charge of Mr. Yoakam's farm; Nancy E., born August 1, 1868, who is the wife of Theron Hadsell, of Bath township; and Minta L., born December 27, 1872, who is the wife of William Faze, of Perry town- ship. Mr. Yoakam's grandchildren are Char- les and Bonnie Yoakam, Lee and Virgil Had- sel and Dorothy and Evon Faze. He was formerly a Democrat and voted for James K. Polk. Later he voted for John C. Fremont and Abraham Lincoln, and has ever since been an ardent Republican. He served as justice of the peace for six years and has held a num-
ber of minor offices. He is a member of the Christian Church, but was formerly affiliated with the Methodists during pioneer days until the society to which he belonged disbanded. He is hale and hearty, a splendid type of Amer- ican manhood and might easily pass for a much younger man.
5 JARRY A. ALBRECHT, proprietor of one of the largest clothing establish- ments in Lima, was born in Delaware, Ohio, and is a son of A. F. Albrecht, deceased. In 1865, when our sub- ject was a child of four years, the family moved to Spencerville and there he was edu- cated. At the age of 19 he secured a position as clerk in a clothing store in Lima and about a year later accepted a more desirable place with a similar establishment in Mansfield, where he remained there 10 years. He then turned his attention to other lines of industry, going to Chicago where for six and a half years he was associated with his brother, F. J. Albrecht, since deceased, in the publishing business. For one and a half years he was man- ager of the clothing department of a store in Youngstown, Ohio. On March 1, 1899, he moved to Lima and engaged in his present bus- iness, putting in a complete line of gent's furn- ishing goods and keeping a thoroughly first- class store. For the first five years the firm was Albrecht Brothers; but in 1904 our sub- ject purchased the entire business and has since conducted it alone as H. A. Albrecht, "The American Clothier."
In April, 1885, Mr. Albrecht was married to Margaret B. Ackerman, daughter of G. P. Ackerman, formerly a leading business man of Mansfield, Ohio. Their family consists of five sons and a daughter. Raymond R., the eldest, was educated in the Lima High School and following this took a two years' course in the military school at Miami. He is now em- ployed as timekeeper for the gas line company of Delaware, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Albrecht are members of Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he has been steward during
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his residence in Lima. He is active in Masonic circles and is also a member of the Odd Fel- lows and Royal Arcanum.
ILLIAM T. PIERSON resides in section 7, German township, where he owns a fine farm of 106 acres half a mile northwest of Elida. This is one of the best improved and most highly cultivated properties in Allen County, and shows the result of modern and progressive ideas when applied to farming. Mr. Pierson was born February 1, 1851, in Fairfield County, Ohio, and is a son of Joseph and Hannah (DeLong) Pierson. His father was born November 18, 1826, and his mother, July 1, 1825. They were married in Fairfield County, December 1, 1847. In 1854 they came to Allen County and for about five years lived in the village of Elida. Then they moved to Fort Amanda, Auglaize County, where the mother died May 15, 1886, and the father, March 4, 1900. They were the parents of seven children : William T .; J. E., a resident of German township; Jane (Baber), deceased; Margaret (Zerkle); Hannah Sophia (Um- baugh), deceased; Rosetta (Baber) and Cora Belle ( Anderson).
William T. Pierson was educated in Aug- laize County and remained with his parents until his marriage in 1874, when he moved to a farm one mile south of where he now lives. He has always been engaged in farming, and lived on his first farm for 18 years. On Thanksgiving Day 1893, he moved to the farm upon which he now lives and nine years later, in 1902, built the handsome, II-room frame house that is so much of an ornament to the property. He also erected barns, etc., and has placed the land under the most thor- ough cultivation.
Mr. Pierson was married October 22, 1874, to Ellen M. Riley, and their union has been blessed by the birth of one son and one daughter, namely : Eva A., born May 25, 1875 ; and Ira E., born December 5, 1881. Both are living at home. Mrs. Pierson was born May 2, 1855, in Bath township, and was living
near Spencerville at the time of her marriage. She is a daughter of Joseph and Amanda (Berrihill) Riley, both of whom were natives of this county, the former having been born, March 16, 1833, and the latter, October 16, 1833. The father, while living in Keokuk County, Iowa, enlisted for service in the Civil War in which he met death January 2, 1863. The mother resides in Amanda town- ship. Her children were as follows: George A., born September. 15, 1857, who died Sep- tember 22, 1858; Leile Evangeline, born May 30, 1860, who died October 10, 1860; Joseph H., born May 28, 1863, who is a resident of California; and Ellen M. (Mrs. Pierson). When Mrs. Pierson was one year old, her par- ents moved to Iowa where they resided seven years, the family returning to Ohio on a visit at the time of the father's enlistment and re- maining here because of the death of Mr. Riley. Her grandfather was Rev. George Riley, who was born in Burlington County, New Jersey, August 27, 1792, and died in Sugar Creek township, Allen County, Ohio, in 1883. He was a missionary, assisting Rev. J. B. Findlay in his work among the Upper Sandusky Indians of the Wyandot tribe. Mr. Pierson is a member of the Methodist Episco- pal Church of Elida and is one of the trustees.
OHN MAY, one of the well-known bus- iness citizens of Beaver Dam, who has been engaged in a livery business here for some 25 years, was born at Mon- roeville, Huron County, Ohio, Febru- ary I, 1852, and is a son of Thomas D. and Elizabeth (Plowright) May.
The parents of Mr. May were born, reared and married in England. They came to Amer- ica in 1850, settling at Monroeville, Ohio. The father died at Beaver Dam and the mother in Michigan, many years ago. The children were: Thomas, of Bluffton, Ohio; John, of this sketch; Annie (Young), of Beaver Dam; and Elizabeth (Stiner), of Akron, Ohio.
John May was four years old when his parents moved to Eaton County, Michigan. In the following year his mother died, and in
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