USA > Ohio > Allen County > History of Allen County, Ohio and Representative Citizens > Part 51
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subject and his companions were made prison- ers of war. The officer in charge of the arrest- ing party was Lieut. Albery K. Houk, who, with southern courtesy, treated his prisoners well. Before sending them on to Richmond, the officer asked a favor of Mr. Ludwig, to whom he seemed especially attracted. This was, that when exchanged, the Union soldier should write up the circumstances and send the account to the father of Lieutenant Houk, the son he could not reach, and assure him of his son's welfare. It is needless to add that Mr. Ludwig did so, and the reply he received he values as one of his treasures. This did not close the incident. In 1895, when attending the National Encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic, held at Louisville, Kentucky, Mr. Ludwig learned that the former Confed- erate officer was living on a farm near, Row- letts, Kentucky, on the route to the Mam- moth Cave. He quickly made his decision to call on his former captor after visiting the great natural wonder. He relates that the genuine Southern hospitality afforded him and his wife by members of the Houk family, will . never be forgotten. The acquaintance and friendship is still maintained, pictures have been exchanged, and it is likely that should either Mr. Ludwig or Lieutenant Houk be questioned as to what is the present point of issue between the Blue and the Gray, both would answer with emphasis, "Nothing."
In 1866 Mr. Ludwig was married to So- phronia J. Harbaugh, a daughter of Thomas and Mary (Exline) Harbaugh. The late Thomas Harbaugh died in Steuben County, Indiana, April 7, 1884. He was born in Har- baugh's Valley, near Sabillasville, Frederick County, Maryland, in 1796, and was a son of Yost Harbaugh, a farmer in the valley. He and his family were among the first converts of Otterbein and Boehm, the founders of the United Brethren Church. His commodious barn was used for many years as a temple of worship. His grandfather, named Ludwig Harbaugh, born in Switzerland about the year. 1728, was a member of the original family that emigrated from Switzerland to America in 1732.
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Thomas Harbaugh's education was limited
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in scope, his chances for attending school being very small. He was apprenticed in boyhood to a cabinet-maker, and became a thorough workman at the craft. He always said that what was worth doing at all was worth doing well and carried this idea out in all his activi- ties. His pioneer life taught him frugal habits and these he retained through life. His character was steadfast; his manner of life, simple and unostentatious. He lived every day alike. His word was one of honor among all his acquaintances.
Mr. Harbaugh was married in Maryland, but soon after marriage moved to Muskingum County, Ohio, and later to Sandyville, Ohio, where all his children were born, except the first four. In 1846 to 1847 he removed to Putnam County, Ohio, and bought a quarter- section in Pleasant township, and the next year moved his family to the new home, which at that time was in the midst of a forest. Set- tlers were few and far apart. His children numbered 13; three of these died in infancy, and one at the age of 17 years. Nine lived to marry and rear families of their own and, of the nine, six are still living, the youngest of these nearing his 60th birthday. Two sons were volunteers in the Civil War; one of these, Valentine Harbaugh, now resides at Bunker Hill, Kansas, while the other, Rev. T. J. Har- baugh, is a minister well known all over this part of the State. Mr. Harbaugh, wife and daughter lie side by side in Truro Cemetery near Columbus Grove, and an enduring gran- ite shaft marks their resting place.
The children born to Isaac Ludwig and wife were four in number, namely: Thomas J., Omar I., Luella and Edwin Guy. Luella died at the age of 16 years, a crushing grief to the family. Thomas J. married Daisy Peters, of Allen County and has two children-Mary and Lawrence Dana. They reside on "Sunny Side Farm," owned by Mr. Ludwig. The sec- ond son married Daisie Musetta Taylor, and they have four children-Cecil Rowland, Sid- ney Merwin, Nellie and an infant. They live on the old homestead farm, in section 28, a property owned by Mr. Ludwig. Edwin Guy, the youngest son, lives in Fort Wayne, Indi- ana, and is employed in the operating depart-
ment of the P., Ft. W. & C. Railway. He is not only a splendid specimen of physical man- hood, weighing over 200 pounds, but is also a manly, pleasant young gentleman. He spent three years in the Philippine Islands as a mem- ber of the Hospital Corps, in the United States Army.
Mr. Ludwig has long been one of Marion township's representative citizens, foremost in all movements of local importance and one of the solid, substantial, well-informed men of his neighborhood. He is president of the Farm- ers' Institute in Marion township, is a member of Marion Grange, No. 302, of which he has been master, and belongs to Edith Lodge, Knights of Honor. For many years he has been identified with Masonic bodies, being a member of Hope Lodge, No. 214, F. & A. M .; Delphos Chapter, No. 105, R. A. M .; Council No. 72, R. & S. M., and is also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. He takes an active interest also in Reul Post of the Grand Army of the Republic, of which he is a val- ued member. Politically he is identified with the Republican party.
Portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Ludwig accompany this sketch, being presented on a foregoing page.
EORGE W. HARNER, a prominent and influential citizen and large prop- erty owner of Allen County, residing in section 23, German township, was born April 22, 1850, in Mercer County, Ohio, and is a son of Ruhel and Sallie (Ryder) Harner.
Ruhel Harner was born and reared in Mercer County where he was married. He was the soul of loyalty and patriotism, and when the Civil War cast its dark cloud over our country, he was among the first to enlist in the 31st Regiment, Ohio Vol. Inf. How- ever the company had more than its quota and he was sent home. He reenlisted in the same regiment but was sent home from Columbus, Ohio, on atcount of sickness. He then tried enlisting as a teamster, but was no more suc- cessful than before and his fourth enlistment resulted as the previous ones had done. Soon
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after the fourth failure, he again enlisted as a teamster and was sent to the front where he forfeited his life in behalf of the country and the flag he loved so well. On New Year's Day, 1864, while out foraging at Cumberland Gap, the entire company of 35 men, except two were taken prisoners by the enemy and sent to Libby Prison, the "Inferno" of the Rebel stronghold, where so many brave boys in blue suffered agony and death. Not one of this party of 33 ever breathed the air of freedom again. Of the two who escaped capture, one was Miles Ryder, an uncle of our subject, and the other a sick man whom Mr. Ryder man- aged to hide from the enemy. After three weary days of hiding and untold hardships, they succeeded in returning to the camp in safety.
George W. Harner was reared in Mercer County and attended district school until his 13th year, when he left the school-room to learn his lessons in the larger school of ex- perience. The family owned 130 acres of land in Center township, Mercer County, and it was here he first engaged in farming. After several years devoted to agricultural pursuits, he became a commercial traveler and for 10 years was engaged in selling farm machinery for the McCormick, Deering and International harvester companies. He has made a success of whatever he has undertaken and has been able to accumulate considerable property, being constantly engaged in buying and selling land.
On August 25, 1870, Mr. Harner was mar- ried to Charlotte Walker, daughter of Samuel and Susan (McMullin) Walker, of Wayne County, Ohio, and nine children have been born to them, namely : W. V., born February 8, 1871 ; B. F., born December 8, 1872 ; C. O. born September 11, 1875; Harry, born August 28, 1877; Edward, born April 26, 1881 ; Lil- lie May, born September 9, 1883, deceased October 27, 1902; Elden, born July 1. 1889; Oscar, born July 9, 1892; and Hershell, born March 17, 1897. W. V. Harner married Ida Turner, of Indiana and resides at Montpelier, Indiana, where he is a driller in the oil field. B. F. Harner, who resides at Van Buren, Indi- ana, and is working in the oil field, married
Mary Shillinger of Lima and has four chil- dren. C. O. Harner, who resides near his father's place, married Pearl Wooster and has four children living and one deceased. Harry Harner, who resides at Van Buren, Indiana, and works in the oil field, married Annie Blaize, of Lima, and had four children, one of whom is dead. Edward Harner married Louie Judkin. Mr. Harner is a member of the I. O. O. F. lodge at Elida and a member of the United Brethren Church at Lima. He was a church trustee for. 15 years while residing in Mercer County.
S AMUEL SPYKER, for many years a prominent resident of Shawnee township, was the father of Joel Spyker, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. Locating in . Shawnee township early as 1837, he materially aided in the development of what is now one of the richest townships in Ohio, clearing his farm and assisting in the building of roads.
Samuel Spyker was born at Circleville, Ohio, November 13, 1813, and was a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Todd) Spyker, his father being a native of Pennsylvania and his mother, of Kentucky.
His parents were pioneers of Pickaway and Allen counties, dying in the latter at advanced ages.
Samuel Spyker was reared in his native county and acquired the trades of plasterer and brick mason. He worked on a farm and at his trades in Pickaway County until 1837, when he located in Allen County, settling upon a farm in section 25, Shawnee township, which is still owned by his heirs. He cleared this farm, as well as a 100-acre tract east of the homestead and in the same section. Here he resided until his death in 1897, in Shawnee township thereby losing one of its most sub- stantial and public-spirited citizens.
Samuel Spyker was first married December 13. 1835, to Sarah Weaver, a daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Fox) Weaver, and they had eight children, seven of whom reached maturity as follows: Martin; Lewis; Eliza- beth, wife of Francis Stevenson; Allen; Mary,
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wife of Francis Mohler; Henry, deceased; and Jocob. After the death of Mrs. Spyker, Sam- uel Spyker formed a second union August 13, 1851, with Margaret Losch, a daughter of Michael and Eva (Smith) Losch, by whom he had 12 children, as follows: Jonathan; Sarah, Samuel, Peter and Theodore, all deceased; Effie, wife of D. Tippy; Charles, deceased; Joel; Nettie; Addie; and twins who died in infancy. Two of his 12 sons served with dis- tinction in the Civil War.
Politically, our subject was a lifelong Dem- ocrat. In religious connections both he and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
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J OEL SPYKER, one of the substantial and prominent citizens of Perry town- ship, president of the Consumers' Fuel, Building & Supply Company, a large oil operator and producer for a number of years, has recently taken possession of his fine farm of 240 acres in section 9, Perry township. Mr. Spyker was born in Shawnee township, Allen County, Ohio, March 29, 1865, and is a son of the late Samuel .Spyker, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume.
Joel Spyker attended the schools of Shaw- nee township, passed two years in academic study at Cridersville, and later went to Otta- wa, where he was graduated in 1887. He then returned to the old homestead farm in Shaw- nee township, but soon interested himself in the oil industry and became a large operator, and producer in the Ohio and Indiana oil fields. For a considerable period he was the most ex- tensive operator of this section. Mr. Spyker is gradually reducing his interests in this line, disposing of his oil properties in order to give more attention to his productive farm in sec- tion 9, Perry township. He is still associated with the German-American and the Niagara oil companies and is the president and a stock- holder of the Consumers' Fuel, Building & Supply Company.
In point of location, fertility and improve- ments the farm owned by Mr. Spyker is among the finest in the county. In connection with
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other interests he operates a dairy for which he keeps a herd of choice Jersey cows. Amid beautiful surroundings, his stately brick resi- dence has been constructed according to the most modern architectural designs, and is the type of an ideal rural home, in which is com- bined the advantages of the country and the conveniences of the city. The out-buildings are also modern and commodious. The great barn, especially is convenient, sanitary and even ornamental, and the lighting is entirely by electricity.
In 1887 Mr. Spyker was married to Mary Driscoll, who was born in Williams County, Ohio, and is a daughter of Dennis Driscoll, who died when Mrs. Spyker was but 18 months old. Mr. and Mrs. Spyker have a family of five children, viz: Lawrence K., Gertrude, Florence, Erma and Elenor. The family is identified with the Presbyterian Church.
Mr. Spyker has always been a leader in movements conductive to the public welfare. He has served for four years as a member of the Lima Board of Education, and has evinced much interest in all movements tend- ing to civic advancement. His fraternal con- nections include membership in Solar Lodge, No. 783, and Lima Encampment, No. 62, I. O. O. F. He also belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America.
OHN N. BAILEY, one of Spencer- ville's prominent and esteemed citi- zens, president of the Farmers' Bank of Spencerville, has been one of the leading members of the Allen County bar for many years. Mr. Bailey was born in Moulton township, Allen County, which sec- tion now is included in Auglaize County, Sep- tember 3, 1839, and is a son of Christopher and Nancy (Noble) Bailey.
Thomas Bailey, the grandfather, was born in Virginia and there married Mary Timber- lake, a member of an old family still promi- nent in the "Old Dominion." In 1808 Thomas Bailey and wife migrated to Ohio as pioneers in Highland County. They brought with them their son Christopher, then a babe less than one year old, who was reared in
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CYRUS D. CRITES
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Highland County under the conditions which made the youth of that period and locality ro- bust of frame and strong of brain. He taught school, studied civil engineering by himself, followed farming and remained in Highland County until 1835. He was 28 years of age when he came to Allen County and entered 160 acres of land, in Moulton-township, which he developed into a fine farm. Here he reared a creditable family with comfort, and after a long and useful life, during which he had filled almost all the offices of trust and responsibility in the county, he passed away in 1891. His wife preceded him in 1888. During his earlier years he adhered to the family religious belief, the Baileys being Quakers as far back as the perilous days of their religion in the reign of King Charles II .; but later he became identi- fied with the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he was an exemplary member.
Christopher Bailey was married, first, to Phoebe Baker, who died after the birth of two sons, Jacob and Walter, both of whom are now deceased. He married, second, Nancy Noble, who was born in, Clinton County, Ohio, in 1815. The issue of this marriage was as fol- lows: John N., of Spencerville; Girard, a practicing physician of Mercer County, who served in the Civil War as captain of his com- pany; Joshua, who was a member of Com- pany B, 99th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., and lost his life in the battle at Paris, Kentucky, during the Civil War; Greene, a farmer in Auglaize County, Ohio, and Elisha, who died in early manhood.
Until his 17th year our subject lived at home, attending the district schools and assist- ing in the work on the farm. He then learned the carpenter's trade, at which he worked dur- ing the summer seasons and taught school in the winter, until he was 40 years of age. Al- though his success was sufficient to insure him a comfortable income, it was not in the line in which his inclinations led, his ambition being to enter the legal profession. When not other- wise engaged, he read by himself and during the winters of 1880 and 1882 attended the Cincinnati Law School, where he was gradu- ated in the latter year. He located at Spencer- ville where he still resides, and is considered
one of the most active as well as capable prac- titioners in the county. His name has been associated with the successful prosecution of many of the most important cases which have come into the courts in this section of the State. He is the owner of several large stock- farms in Spencer and Amanda townships. Since 1891 he has been president of the Farm- ers' Bank of Spencerville, which he and his son-in-law, Austin Britton, who was cashier, established in that year.
Mr. Bailey was married, first, to Minerva Baber, who died at the age of 36 years sur- vived by these children: Mary A. (Wilson) ; Minnie, wife of O. P. Hephart; Alice (Wil- liams) deceased; Emma (Britton) ; Charles T., Lillian M., wife of Bert Colt, of Spencer- ville; and Arthur H., who married Bertha Ey- senbach. The second marriage of Mr. Bailey was to Mrs. Hannah Caldwell, of Darke County, Ohio. She is a lady much interested in the Sunday-school work of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which the family belong.
Politically Mr. Bailey is affiliated with the Republican party. Fraternally he is a Mason, being a member of Acadia Lodge, No. 306, of Spencerville, and belongs also to the Knights of Pythias. Mr. and Mrs. Bailey have traveled extensively ; in 1889 he enjoyed a long sojourn in Europe where he visited many points of historic interest.
YRUS D. CRITES, cashier of The First National Bank of Lima and a leading citizen of Lima and Allen County, is a member of one of the best known and most highly re- spected families of the county. He was born in German township, Allen County, Ohio, May 11, 1855, and is a son of Jacob and Mary J. (Cremean) Crites. He remained on his father's farm working in summer and attend- ing the district school in winter until 20 years of age, except that the last three winters he taught school in Amanda township.
He then left the farm to accept the princi- palship of the schools at Cridersville, Aug- laize County, in which position he served four
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consecutive years, during which time he served as secretary and president of the Auglaize County Teachers' Institute. His last year in educational work was as principal of the schools at Beaver Dam, Allen County. In 1881 he entered the office of the county audi- tor of Allen County as chief deputy. He served for a period as deputy United States marshal for the Northern District of Ohio un- der the first Cleveland -administration, relin- quishing this position to assume the duties of county auditor of Allen County, to which office he was elected in 1887. He was re- elected in 1890, receiving a majority of 2,200 votes over Jacob Moser, the Republican can- didate, this being the largest majority ever received by a county candidate in Allen Coun- ty. Having accepted the appointment of na- tional bank examiner for Northern Ohio under the second Cleveland administration, he re- signed the county auditorship September I, 1894, six weeks before the expiration of his second term. On April 1, 1895, he resigned the bank examinership to assume the manage- ment of The First National Bank of Lima as its cashier, which position he still holds.
Mr. Crites has always been active in Dem- ocratic politics of the State, district and coun- ty. He served as a member of the Democratic State Central Committee from 1889 to 1904 and as its chairman from 1892 to 1894. He directed as chairman the Ohio campaign of 1892, which resulted in a division of the elec- toral vote. He was a member of the Ohio Democratic Executive Committee of 1901, when Col. James Kilbourn was the candidate ยท for Governor.
On June 17, 1891, Mr. Crites was married to Grace A. Cass, daughter of Dr. D. W. Cass, of Findlay, Ohio. He has two bright sons : Clarence Daniel, born January 23, 1893; and Virgil Cass, born January 15, 1895, both now enrolled at the Cloyne School, Newport, Rhode Island. Mr. and Mrs. Crites are prominent in the social life of Lima.
Mr. Crites is a truly representative citizen of Lima and Allen County, active in all things looking to the good of the city and community. He was one of a committee of three to plan the
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successful reception for the State commission and the presentation before this body of the - claims of Lima for the proposed new State Hospital for the Insane. He is regarded as one of the best financiers in Ohio and has made The First National Bank what it is to-day- one of the soundest institutions in Ohio. A portrait of Mr. Crites accompanies this sketch.
D AVID .C. BIXEL, jeweler and opti- cian, one of the leading business men of Bluffton, was born on a farm one mile north of the town, May 26, 1866, and is a son of Abraham and Mag- dalena (Schumaker) Bixel.
The father of Mr. Bixel now lives retired at Pandora, Putnam County, having been a farmer all his life. He was born May 18, 1843, and came to Allen County when a child of three years. He married Magdalena Schu- maker, who was born March 31, 1842, in Rich- land township, and is a daughter of Rev. Peter and Elizabeth (Sutter) Schumaker, the former of whom was pastor of a Mennonite Church. They were natives of Germany, where the father of Mrs. Schumaker, Peter Sutter, spent his whole life. The children born to Abraham and Magdalena Bixel were II in number, seven sons and four daughters, our subject be- ing the second in order of birth.
Mr. Bixel remained on the farm until he was 13 years old and then spent several years at La Porte, Indiana, where he learned the watchmaking and optical business in Hutchin- son's Optical and Watchmaking School. For the past 12 years he has been established at Bluffton, where he not only has one of the largest and most complete jewelry and optical stores, but also deals in pianos and other musi- cal instruments.
On December 3, 1892, Mr. Bixel was mar- ried to Delilah Baumgartner, who was born in Wayne County, Ohio, near Mount Eaton, January 1, 1867, and is a daughter of Peter and Barbara (Lehman) Baumgartner. The four children of this union are: Dora, Mil- dred, Gordon and Fern. ,
In political sentiment, Mr. Bixel is a Demo-
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crat and he has more than once been elected to responsible township offices. In the conduct of his business and in his intercourse with his fellow-citizens socially, he has established a reputation which insures him the respect and esteem of the community.
D A. WHIRRETT, city treasurer of Delphos, was born in Marion town- ship, Allen County, Ohio, April 3, 1863, and is a son of William A. and Salome (Herring) Whirrett.
William A. Whirrett was born at Hagers- town, Maryland, January 31, 1825, and moved with his foster parents to Ohio about 1838. His own father had owned a woolen mill at Hagerstown, but had died when William was two years old. He spent years of his youth and early manhood along the Auglaize River and frequently ferried travelers across, this being prior to the building of the canal. The nearest house to the one in which he lived was seven miles distant. For a number of years he was in the employ of H. Ricker, engaged in hauling lumber. William A. Whirrett was married in Allen County, January 20, 1853, to Salome Herring, who was born in this county in May, 1833, and is an adopted daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Stookey. Our sub- ject's parents still reside at Delphos.
Mrs. Whirrett can recall many of the inter- esting incidents of her girlhood. She attended the primitive log school-house and, being of quick intelligence, soon picked up enough knowledge to teach a subscription school, for which she was paid about $2 a month and boarded around in the homes of the district. Her spare time was taken up in making her homespun garments. She learned all the mysteries of cooking at an open fireplace and with a Dutch oven. She wore home-made shoes as did every one else and read and sewed and studied by the light of a candle. In her childhood deer and wolves were still numer- ous around her home. The interesting tales of her pioneer life would fill a volume. She remembers that her mother was the first to be buried in Woodlawn Cemetery south of Elida, whose location she selected.
Philip Herring. father of Mrs. William A. Whirrett and grandfather of our subject, came to Allen County about 1827 or 1830. He was a weaver and wove all kinds of intri- cate-patterned coverlets and bed-spreads. For 40 years he was a magistrate in German town- ship. He purchased grain at 37 cents per bushel and hauled it from the country near Elida to Sandusky, where he was able to sell it at $1.50 a bushel.
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