USA > Ohio > Allen County > History of Allen County, Ohio and Representative Citizens > Part 50
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
helped in the building of the C., H. & D. and the P., Ft. W. & C. railways.
William F. Hoover received his education in the public schools of Lima and at the age of 12 years entered the employ of Charles Gar- rison, remaining with that gentleman until he went out of business. His next employers were Donze & Campbell, in whose employ he continued four years, until 1889, when he and his brother John opened a furniture store under the firm name of Hoover Brothers. In 1899 the death of his brother occurred and since then Mr. Hoover has conducted the busi- ness alone. He has built up a large business and in addition to the store in Lima has a branch store at Mansfield. He is the veteran furniture man of Lima, having been in the business for more than a quarter of a century. He is also interested in real estate and is in every way a representative citizen of the county.
In 1893, Mr. Hoover was united in mar- riage to Ida M. Reed, a daughter of Salem Reed, a prominent farmer of Shawnee town- ship. Two bright children have been born to this union, Palleene and Alleene. While Mr. Hoover is a Democrat in his political views, he does not always vote the straight ticket, as he always gives his support to the man best fitted for the office. He is a member of the B. P. O. E. and the Eagles and has been an officer in both orders.
RS. MARY CHAMBERLIN, an esteemed resident of Elida, is the widow of the late William Cham- berlin. She was born in Perry County, Ohio, May 1, 1841, and is a daughter of George and Mary (Stemen) Hunsaker, who located in Marion township, Allen County, when their daughter Mary was a child of II years. She obtained her educa- tion in the district schools of Marion township and at the age of 19 years, in 1860, became the wife of James Carman, a farmer of Sugar Creek township. Three years later he was laid to rest in Carman cemetery and his widow was left with two children, George and Eliza- beth, who married Abel Pitzenberger and at
-
Digitized by Google
822
HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY
death left one child-Ebert. George Carman was born January 2, 1861, and married Re- becca Goode, a native of Perry County. Seven children have been born to them, only four of whom survive, viz: Vernie, who married Ora Herring; Alveda, who became the wife of Carl Billimack and is the mother of two children- Agnes and a child that died in infancy; James and Bessie.
Eleven years after the death of Mr. Car- man, his widow was maried to Armstead Hunt who died one year later. One child was born to this union, Armstead Mason Hunt, Jr., whose splendid manhood fulfilled the promise of his earlier years. Seeking to make his own way in life, he had entered the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company as brakeman and, in January, 1901, while running on a local at Upper Sandusky met his death in the service. He had been reared and educated in Sugar Creek township, where he was a univer- sal favorite and his untimely death cast a gloom over the entire community.
In September, 1890, Mrs. Hunt was mar- ried to William Chamberlin, a carpenter who resided in Elida. Her life has been one of mingled sunshine and shadow but the latter has often been so dark that it gave no hint of recurring sunshine, and only her abiding trust in her heavenly Father has enabled her to bear her crosses with fortitude and calmness. She is a devout Christian, a member of the United Brethren Church of Elida, and her life has been an inspiration to those about her. Mrs. Chamberlin is well situated financially, own- ing the home in Elida and also a good farm of 115 acres in Sugar Creek township. She pos- sesses marked business ability and is a woman who is esteemed and respected by all who know her.
ON. HOWARD W. PEARS, president of the Lima Business College and a member of the State Legislature, is among the most prominent and influ- ential citizens of the county. He is a native of the Buckeye State, having been born in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, in 1868. At the age of 12 years Mr. Pears started to fight
his own battles, which he has continued to do in order to achieve whatever he has accom- plished in the fields of education, business and politics. He was educated at Willoughby, Lake County, and engaged in teaching in that county for several terms. In 1890 Mr. Pears went to Colorado and, desiring to equip him- self for a business career, completed a course in the business college in Colorado Springs, and for one year held a position as private sec- retary to the president of the Rio Grande Hotel Company. He then established a private school of stenography and engaged in general reporting until the spring of 1893. The ex- perience gained during the three years he was thus employed proved invaluable to him in later years.
Returning to Ohio, he located in Lima and purchased the Lima Business College in 1893. At that time its pupils numbered about 40, and Professor Pears at once set about improving the school by establishing a practical system of Itraining that would enable the student who had finished a course in his institution to at once take charge of the work for which he had studied. A high grade of work was required from the pupil, and no pains were spared to make the training as thorough and practical as though obtained in actual business, and the re- sult soon began to be manifest in the facility with which the students of the Lima Business College obtained desirable situations. Not only was there a constant demand for them, but it soon became apparent that they were generally satisfactory to their employers, and these combined circumstances resulted in an increased attendance at the school. One year after taking charge, Professor Pears found it necessary to engage an assistant in the work, which was growing to such proportions that he could not do it the justice he wished, and I. F. Clem became a partner and is now secre- tary of the institution. In 1896 the college was incorporated, with a capital stock of $5,000, and has steadily grown until it now has an annual enrollment of 300 pupils, and ranks second to none in Ohio.
In 1899 Professor Pears was united in marriage to Anna Schnabel, a daughter of Charles Schnabel, of Lima, and a lady of
Digitized by Google
823
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
many pleasing and gracious qualities. They are members of the Disciples' Church and take a prominent part in the social life of the city. The Professor has been a lifelong Democrat, and has always taken an active part in the ad- vancement of that cause. That he is popular among his colleagues is shown by the fact that he was nominated for the Legislature over two of the older politicians at the county primary election held August 14, 1905, and in the fall election received next to the highest number of votes of any candidate.
5 W. BENNETT conducts the principal undertaking and embalming business at Lima and is a veteran in this busi- ness, although he has been located in Lima only about four years. He is a son of Henry Bennett, a prosperous farmer of Medina County, Ohio, where our subject was born in 1869. After finishing his school- ing, he became a teacher in his native county and for five years was a very successful one; but desiring a more permanent occupation and one in which he could engage throughout the entire year he went to Wellington, Lorain County, and opened a furniture store in con- nection with which he had an undertaking de- partment. In order to perfect himself in this work he took lessons in embalming and re- ceived diplomas from Professor Myers, of Springfield, Ohio, and from Prof. Charles A. Renoaurd, of New York City. In 1901 he moved his business to Lima and now has the largest establishment of the kind in this part of the State. He is a member of the National Funeral Directors' Association and president of the Ohio Funeral Directors' and Embalm- ers' Association, keeping in close touch with all the latest developments and discoveries in his particular line of work.
Mr. Bennett was married in 1890 to Ida Bauer, daughter of Jacob Bauer, of Liverpool, Medina County, Ohio. Their family consists of three bright children. They are members of Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church and are earnest workers in that body. Fraternally
Mr. Bennett is connected with the Masonic order, Elks, Odd Fellows, Modern Woodmen of America and Woodmen of the World.
ULIUS KENDALL FETTER, one of the substantial farmers and well- known citizens of Bath township, was born on his present farm in section 27, which consists of 109 acres of well- improved land, on November 28, 1870, and is a son of George and Sarah (Ward) Fetter. George Fetter was born in Baden, Ger- many, August 15, 1826, and died on the home- stead in Bath township, Allen County, on Jan- uary 2, 1895, at the age of 68 years. He came to the United States in boyhood with his par- ents, who settled in Allen County. Here George Fetter's whole life was passed. He had few early advantages of any kind, but was a man of persevering industry and frugal hab- its, and when he died he was the largest land- owner in the township, having fully 1,000 acres. He was an extensive dealer in live- stock, and for a number of years received a good income from a fine stone quarry on his place. For many years he was connected with financial institutions in Lima, and was inter- ested in gold mining at other points. Always a stanch supporter of the Democratic party, he was elected to offices of trust and responsi- bility in his township. He was strict in his observances of the tenets of the Lutheran Church.
George Fetter married Sarah Ward, who was born in Ohio and died in 1885 at the age of 52 years. She was a good Christian woman and a faithful wife and mother. The nine chil- dren born to them were: John W., deceased; Elizabeth (Gray) ; Eliza Ellen (Hull), also of Bath township; Daniel E., George R., Jacob E. and Julius K., all of Bath township; Allie (Mrs. Joshua Bible), of Bath township; and Ida Sarah (Griffith), of Bath township.
Julius K. Fetter has always resided on the homestead farm and has followed teaming and farming. For some years he did a great deal of teaming in the oil field and has had as many
Digitized by Google
1
824
HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY
as nine teams in operation at once. He has carried on a general line of farming, his land being well adapted to the growing of the staple grains. His buildings, which are com- modious and substantial, were erected during his father's lifetime.
In 1890 Mr. Fetter was married to Susan Coon, the daughter of neighbors, William and Jane Coon, now residing in Amanda township. They have one son, Orris D., who is attending school.
Mr. Fetter, like his father, is a stanch Democrat and he has always been a zealous party man. He has served in local offices and during his term as road supervisor gave great satisfaction throughout the township.
A RTHUR L. JONES, M. D., physician and surgeon at Lima, and the city's careful and capable health officer, was born at Manchester, England, August 20, 1871, and is a son of Lloyd and Mary ( Burbeck ) Jones.
The parents of Dr. Jones are of English birth and rearing. The father brought his family to America during the youth of our subject and settled at Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he was engaged for a number of years in a mercantile business, and where he now re- sides retired. His family consisted of 10 children.
Arthur L. Jones was mainly reared and educated at Fort Wayne. From his boyhood he was interested in medicine. In order to hasten the time when he could enter medical college, he taught physical culture and en- gaged in an electric business. His medical studies were completed at the Fort Wayne Medical College, where he was graduated in the class of 1897. He chose Lima as his field of practice and established himself in this city in April, 1897. He belongs to all the leading medical associations of the State, thus keeping in touch with the latest medical thought, and is practical enough to recognize the real value of many of the most widely heralded modern methods of practice. He has shown the skill and ability which have brought him a large
clientele. His standing in the profession and known ability caused his selection as city health officer.
Dr. Jones was united in marriage with Harriet A. Wilson, who is a daughter of Wal- ter B. Wilson, formerly of Fort Wayne, In- diana, but now of Lima, and they have one daughter, Mildred. Dr. and Mrs. Jones are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The family residence is situated at No. 418 West Spring street. Politically Dr. Jones is a Republican. Fraternally he is connected with the Masons and the Odd Fellows.
OHN QUINTON JAMIESON, one of the popular and public-spirited citi- zens of Spencerville, who is largely interested in oil production and is identified with numerous other enter- prises, was born December 27, 1865, in Mc- ยท Kean County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of Quinton and Amanda (Snyder) Jamieson.
The parents of Mr. Jamieson still reside at Bradford, Pennsylvania, where they have reared II children, all of the eight survivors residing in that State, with the exception of our subject and a younger brother.
From the age of 15 years Mr. Jamieson has made his own way in the world. He has worked in every capacity in the oil business, beginning at the bottom of the ladder and suc- cessfully climbing until now he ranks with the capitalists of Ohio. As a driller he gained a wide acquaintance and reputation for efficien- cy, in connection with his uncle, R. S. Jamie- son, with whom he took up the first leases in and around Spencerville. For two and a half years prior to 1892, when he came to Allen County, Mr. Jamieson was engaged in drilling salt-wells in England. The first work under- taken by him in Allen County was drilling on the farm of J. B. Sunderland, in Amanda township. Then with his uncle he entered into contract drilling for the Standard Oil Com- pany, but from 1895 until 1900 they produced for themselves. At the latter date R. S. Jamie- son sold his interest to Harry D. Weill, and the firm then became Jamieson & Weill, which continued until 1903, when our subject bought
Digitized by Google
--
Digitized by
MRS. SOPHRONIA H. LUDWIG
L __
ISAAC LUDWIG
Digitized by
-
827
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
Mr. Weill's interest and since then has been alone. In connection with caring for his own interests, he looks after those of Henry Weill, of Buffalo, New York, the father of his former partner. He has an interest in 16 different wells, he and his uncle having drilled some 300 wells in Allen and adjacent counties. Aside from his large oil interests, Mr. Jamie- son is interested in a commission business, which ships from the neighborhood of Spen- cerville from 1,000 to 2,000 pounds of dressed poultry a week and from one to two car-loads of hogs. He is a man of recognized business ability and is a notable example of the success which attends persistent endeavor, even in the face of most discouraging conditions.
In 1890, in England, Mr. Jamieson was married to Mary Heslop, who was born in Port Clarence, near Middlesborough, York- shire, England, one of a family of 11 children, she being the only one whose home is in America. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Jamie- son in Spencerville is one of beauty and lux- ury ; it stands on South Elizabeth street in the center of a park of two acres in extent, one of the most attractive of the modern residences of Spencerville. The one daughter of this marriage, Maud A., born in England in De- cember, 1891, died before her childhood was over, being aged but a few months beyond 13 years.
Although a very public-spirited citizen, Mr. Jamieson has never consented to accept any political favors, refusing on many occa- sions nominations to county offices. He is a member of the Blue Lodge F. & A. M., and the Chapter, R. A. M., at Spencerville, and be- longs also to the Knights of the Maccabees.
I SAAC LUDWIG, one of the prominent farmers of Marion township, residing on a well-improved farm in section 32, is a survivor of the Civil War. He is a member of a stanch old Ameri- can family and of a pioneer one in Ohio. He was born January 3, 1842, at Stringtown, Pickaway County, Ohio, and is a son of Jacob and Louisa (DeLong) Ludwig, and a grand- son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Fink) Ludwig.
The Ludwig name in America dates back to the time of George Washington, for it was during the War of the Revolution that an an- cestor of the subject of this sketch joined the army under Washington. He was the great- grandfather of Jacob Ludwig, our subject's father, who came as a pioneer into Marion township, Allen County, Ohio. One of the sons of the above named Revolutionary soldier, Jacob by name, married a Miss Reece, who is supposed to have been a native of Germany. She became the mother of nine children and died at her home on the banks of the Susque- hanna River, near the towns of Mifflinville and Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, many years before her husband, who lived to the age of 90 years. One of their children was given the family name of Jacob and he was the father of Jacob Ludwig, grandfather of our subject.
This Jacob Ludwig was born in Pennsyl- vania, probably near the Susquehanna River. He married Elizabeth Fink, a member of an old Pennsylvania-Dutch family which was es- tablished near Milton, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. Their children were: Sophia, William, Jacob and George W. Grandfather Ludwig was a soldier of the War of 1812. In 1818 he moved to Pickaway County, Ohio, and died on his farm in that county in 1824, aged 33 years. His widow married George Crites, and they had two daughters-Fredericka and Ozilla, the former, of whom married John Deal and the latter, Josephus Drum, both of Upper Sandusky, Ohio. Mrs. George Crites died September 26, 1879, and George Crites died in Pickaway County, prior to this. Sophia Ludwig, the only daughter of Jacob Ludwig, married Charles Crites in 1833, and removed with her husband to Allen County in 1839; it was at her home that her mother passed away. The chil- dren of Charles and Sophia (Ludwig) Crites were: Daniel, Jacob, Catherine, Betsey, Re- becca, Cyrus, Elias, Emanuel, Mary E., Charles, George and Fredericka.
Jacob Ludwig, father of our subject, was born in Salt Creek township, Pickaway County, Ohio, December 10, 1818, and was six years old when his father died. At the age of eight, on account of his mother's strait-
Digitized by Google
828
HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY
ened circumstances, he was bound out, first to Peter Maney and then to John Pontius. His experience with these men, both of whom were harsh task-masters, was the sad one to which childhood, in those days, was obliged to submit. He endured privations, indignities and long hours of labor until he was 15 years old, when his mother took him to the home of John Crites, where he remained until he was 18 years of age. He was then apprenticed to the blacksmith trade, with Charles Crites, his brother-in-law, with whom he almost com- pleted his apprenticeship. Then he returned to John Crites, with whom he lived two more years, during a part of this time being proprie- tor of a blacksmith shop.
On March 2, 1841, Jacob Ludwig was married to Louisa DeLong, who was a daugh- ter of Andrew and Catherine (Laudig) De- Long, a family originally from Pennsylvania; later, pioneers in Pickaway County, Ohio. The DeLongs had II children, and Louisa, mother of our subject, was the seventh child. Their names were as follows : John, Rebecca, Isaac, Elizabeth, Susan, Catherine, Louisa, Caroline, Sarah, Amelia and Andrew. Louisa DeLong was a descendant of Huguenot families, which were driven out of France, about 1620, during their persecution. An ancestor by the name of Peter DeLong came to this country in 1720. On his arrival at Philadelphia, Penn- sylvania, he took his family to Berks County near the present city of Reading, Pennsyl- vania. A descendant of his was drowned or crushed under a raft of logs in the Little Schuylkill River about 1799, leaving a wife and five children, one of whom, Andrew, was the father of Louisa DeLong, the mother of Isaac Ludwig. Andrew DeLong married Catherine Laudig, a daughter of Peter and Catherine Laudig. Peter Laudig was a de- scendant of a Huguenot family; his wife Catherine was a descendant of a Hebrew fam- ily, which were driven out of France and came to New York on account of religious persecu- tions.
After this marriage, Jacob Ludwig settled at Stringtown, Pickaway County, where the family lived until after the birth of our sub- ject, and then removed to Adelphi, Ross
County, for, seven years and from there to near Elida, Allen County, in May, 1849. He worked there at his forge until the following September, when he purchased a tract of land containing 3914 acres in section 33, Marion township, Allen County, situated on the Aug- laize River. The land was all wild with the exception of 16 acres, on which Mr. Ludwig found a log cabin, which served for the fam- ily home until the following year, when he completed the residence which still stands in good condition. He became a very large land- owner before his death, having accumulated some 575 acres, mainly situated in Marion township. He had excellent business percep- tions and was of industrious habits, and was aided in his work by the help and advice of his good wife Louisa. He was also a man of moral purpose and religious conviction. Prior. to moving to Allen County, he had been a Lutheran, later he attended the Methodist Church, but on February 12, 1869, he united with the Presbyterian Church, of Delphos, Ohio, under Rev. Reed. Two of his sons, Isaac and Obed A., are elders in the Presby- terian Church-Isaac in the Delphos church and Obed A. in the Bluffton church.
The children of Jacob and Louisa Ludwig were as follows : Isaac; John D., born October, 14, 1849, who lives at Fort Wayne, Indiana; Charles C., born May 12, 1853, who lives in Marion township; Mary Jane, born February 2, 1856, who is the wife of George W. King, residing near Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio; Obed A., born March 20, 1859, who re- sides at Bluffton; and Jacob L., born Decem- ber 13, 1861, who resides in Marion township near the residence in which he was born.
Jacob Ludwig died February 21, 1903, at the age of 84 years, 2 months and II days. At that time six of his nine children were living, 25 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. He was also survived by his second wife, formerly Mrs. Sophia (Crites) Dennis, a daughter of John Crites. At the time of his first marriage Mr. Ludwig's means were so small that he was obliged to borrow the money with which to pay the minister his fee, Mr. Ludwig lived to see his signature honored at every financial institution where it was pre-
Digitized by Google
829
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
sented and for almost any amount. Although his education was meagre, attending but part of a three-months term of school, he was a well-read man and a thorough student of the Bible, many of the leaves of a number of copies in his home being worn from constant perusal as to be no longer usable when his kindly eyes were no longer able to read over promises precious to him. His was no lip service at his church, for he loved the sanctuary and was sel- dom absent from his accustomed place, until he partly lost the sense of hearing. He still continued, however, to pay liberally to the support of the church when asked.
Isaac Ludwig was the eldest born of these estimable, worthy parents and his home train- ing was all in the direction of industry, tem- perance and morality. He was seven years old when his parents came to Allen County and his schooling was secured in the little log structures, which at that time were considered entirely adequate for the educational needs of the children. He was reared a practical farmer and prior to the outbreak of the Civil War his horizon was probably bounded entirely in his thoughts with the limits of his county. When recruits began to pour into the towns from the peaceful, surrounding farms, our subject was one of the first to offer his services and was en- listed in Company B, Mclaughlin's Squadron, Ohio Vol. Cav., in which he served three years, receiving an honorable discharge as a paroled prisoner from Libby Prison, where he had been incarcerated for a time. Mr. Ludwig relates many interesting incidents of war times, many of those which seldom get into print and in many of which he took part. Space must be given here for at least one of these on account of its pleasant sequel. On March 11, 1865, while the command was sta- tioned near Fayetteville, North Carolina, he, with four companions, was detailed to go on a foraging expedition. The party soon reached a mill not a great distance from their camp. Two of the party were detailed to grind corn in the mill while the other two went to the farmhouse to prospect for some chickens. In the meantime a squad of Wheeler's troopers, belonging to the Ninth Kentucky Cavalry, slipped up to the mill, and in short order our
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.