USA > Ohio > Allen County > History of Allen County, Ohio and Representative Citizens > Part 9
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In politics Mr. Gengler is a Democrat. He has served on the School Board and is an ardent friend of the public schools. He has done his full share in the material development of his section of the county. In his earlier years he worked many a day on the roads of Marion township, giving his time to advance the gen- eral welfare. Since 1880 he has been a justice of the peace, and it has always been his endeav- or in his official position to serve as far as pos- sible as a peacemaker while administering the law. He is a Catholic and is one of the leading members of the Church of St. John the Baptist and, like his father before him, is a member of the church choir.
RANCIS ASHTON, a retired business man of Lima whose portrait accom- panies this sketch, was for many years largely interested in the grocery and lumber industries of this city. He is a son of Francis and Elizabeth (Mackinder) Ashton, and was born March 9, 1831, in Lin- colnshire. England.
Mr. Ashton came to America in early boy- hood and received his education in the State of Ohio. His first business venture was at Ken- ton. Ohio. where he and his brother, William Ashton, engaged in the hardware line. This was continued until 1854, when he came to Lima and opened a hardware store, which he conducted alone for about 15 years. Soon
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after retiring from this work, Mr. Ashton be- came interested in the grocery business, his partner being John Wheeler. The firm of Wheeler & Ashton was continued five years, when Mr. Wheeler retired and his place was taken by Henry Ashton, another brother of our subject. F. & H. Ashton conducted the business very successfully until 1880, when Francis Ashton became associated with Thom- as R. Dobbins and opened a lumber-yard on South Main street. Here they soon worked up a prosperous trade, which was continued until Mr. Ashton's retirement from business in the latter part of the '80's.
Mr. Ashton was married in 1856 to Mary Lantz and the following children have blessed their union : Elizabeth, wife of Charles Dunan, of San Francisco, California; Annie, wife of R. M. Hughes, with the MacDonald Jewelry Company of Lima; John R., of Lima; Hattie B., wife of Frederick J. DeGrief, of Lima; and F. L., a prosperous hardware merchant of Celina, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Ashton attend the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Ash- ton has been prominent in Odd Fellow and Ma- sonic circles for many years. He was treas- urer of Allen Lodge, No. 223, I. O. O. F., for 25 years and for several years held the same office in the Shawnee Commandery, No. 14, K. T. He was also for many years treasurer of Lima Council, No. 20, R. & S. M. He is one of the city's representative men, and has con- tributed largely to the prosperity and advance- ment which have attended the community in which he still takes a lively and substantial in- terest.
H. GLOVER, wholesale and retail dealer in millinery, of Lima, is a Canadian by birth, having first seen the light of day in that country in 1844. Mr. Glover was raised on a farm, and since early manhood has been engag- ed in mercantile business, first as a clerk in a dry goods store, later in a general merchan- dise store, and finally in a store of his own in Lima. Mr. Glover had traveled on the road for 25 years when he came to this city in 1889, and in partnership with A. A. Winters opened a
millinery store under the firm name of Glover & Winters. The business was a success from the start, and the volume of trade has extended until it has become one of the most extensive enterprises in Lima. In 1894 Mr. Glover pur- chased his partner's interest and has since then been sole owner. The business is both whole- sale and retail, the former covering an exten- sive territory.
Mr. Glover is interested in a number of en- terprises in Ohio, including properties in Tiffin and Van Wert. He has paid up stock in the Ger- man American Oil Company to the value of $6,000 and is owner of a thriving fertilizing plant at Muncie, Indiana. He has added materi- ally in the development of Lima. He is a mem- ber of the Masonic fraternity. Mr. Glover has been too much occupied with his business to dabble in politics. He was married in 1876 to Currence Winters.
EORGE D. KANAWL, formerly a member of the Board of County Com- missioners of Allen County, and now a retired resident of Lima, has been more or less actively identified with this city's interests for almost 30 years. He was born in 1849 in Juniata County, Pennsylvania, and there obtained the greater part of his edu- cation.
In 1866 Mr. Kanawl came to Allen County, and after working on a farm for three years went into contracting and bridge-building. He was so employed in Allen County, for 25 years, and during that period he put in the founda- tions of almost all of the important business blocks on Main street, Lima, and built the foun- dation for the Solar Refinery. His careful and lasting work is seen in many of the finest resi- dences all over the city. He did a large busi- ness all over the county in building bridge abutments and in bridge-work generally. He was well and favorably known in almost every branch of the building trade.
For many years Mr. Kanawl has been con- nected with politics and public affairs in Al- len County. Prior to his first election as coun- ty commissioner in 1897, he had been an official
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in Bath township and had served as supervisor, trustee and justice of the peace in German town- ship. After serving most efficiently as a mem- ber of the Board of County Commissioners for three years, he was reelected in 1900 and serv- ed three years more. For the past three years he has lived without business care or official re- sponsibility, on account of failing health, and has taken this opportunity to travel over a large part of the United States. He spent last winter in the genial climate of Southern California and Mexico. At every point he has made new ac- quaintances and left friends behind.
Mr. Kanawl has been thrice married. His first wife was Adeline Ransbottom, a member of one of the pioneer families of Allen County, and they had two children-Charles and Fan- nie. The former is a commercial traveler and the latter is the wife of George Deimer, of Lima, who is foreman for The Lima Telephone & Telegraph Company. Mr. Kanawl married (second) Mary I. Murray, who was a daughter of John Murray, of German township, a mem- ber of one of the county's influential families. His third marriage took place September 6, 1905, to Mrs. Tina ( Moore) Crossley, who was the widow of Elmer Crossley.
Mr. Kanawl is a member of the Epworth Methodist Episcopal Church which he assisted very materially while it was in course of con- struction. Fraternally he belongs to the Odd Fellows and the Elks.
B F. WILLIAMS, an extensive oil pro- ducer, stands among the leading busi- ness men of Lima. He was born in Erie County, New York, in 1849, and is a son of the late J. W. Williams, a millwright. by trade and a resident of New York.
B. F. Williams was reared and educated in Erie County, and as early as 1868 became in- terested in the Pennsylvania oil field, being a producer at Shamburg and Pleasantville until 1877, when he entered the Bradford field, where he operated until he came to Lima in 1898. His present interests are located in the Ohio, Indiana and Kansas fields, being a mem- 26
ber of the firm of The Roth-Argue, Maire Brothers Oil Company, one of the most import- ant independent companies now operating, having 16 wells in the Bartlesville (Indian Territory) field. This company has just shot a new well, which promises great results, as it already produces 800 barrels of oil daily. On October 8, 1904, the company drilled well No. 4, which proved a natural well, flowing 800 bar- rels of oil, and that the same conditions attend their latest boring speaks well for the value of the field. In addition to these large interests, Mr. Williams is a stockholder in other enter- prises, one of them being The Lima Trust Com- pany.
In 1875 Mr. Williams was married to Ida J. Allport, who was born in Canada and died April 1, 1891, leaving four children, viz. : Harry, who is the manager of a wood-fiber company at Birmingham, Alabama ; Maud E .; Silas, who is a student at Orchard Lake, Michi- gan; and Helen. The religious connection of the family is with the Baptist Church. Mr. Williams is a good citizen, but not an active politician. He is a member of the Elks.
D ANIEL LORY resides on his farm of 80 acres in section 34, Richland town- ship, which he purchased about 35 years ago, soon after coming to Allen County. He grew to manhood on the farm upon which he was born May 26, 1847, near La Chaux de Fonds, in Canton Neuchatel, Switzerland. This property had been in the Lory family for more than 150 years, and was the home of his parents, Henry Louis and Mar- ion ( Herschey) Lory during their lifetime. Our subject was one of 12 children, three of whom died in childhood. Three of his brothers, -Louis, Frederick and Ulysses-came to this country and settled; Louis in Illinois and Fred- erick in New York. Ulysses returned to Switzerland and died there.
Daniel Lory came to America alone at the age of 18, and after spending one year on a farm in Wayne County, Ohio, came to Allen County and hired out by the year as a farm- hand for three years. He purchased 40 acres of land in section 34, Richland township and
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was afterwards able to secure an adjoining 40, which he has in an excellent state of cultivation. He has erected substantial buildings on his property and is one of the progressive farmers of the county. A man of comprehensive know- ledge and a deep thinker, he brings to his work an intelligent understanding that Iplaces him among the foremost agriculturists of his section and a leader in whatever he undertakes. Mr. Lory has had the advantage of a good educa- tion and is a fluent speaker in German, French and English, which he writes with equal facil- ity. The German language was taught in the home, the French was acquired in schools in his native land, while the English was picked up after coming to this country.
Mr. Lory was married in 1867, soon after coming here, to Katherine Basinger who was born in Richland township, Allen County, Ohio, December 26, 1843, and is a daughter of Simon and Barbara (Steiner) Basinger. Her parents were among the first settlers of Allen County, coming here from Alsace, France, the place of their nativity. Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Lory, four of whom died in infancy. The others are: Ferdinand, a resi- dent of Bluffton; Louis, living at home; Eman- uel, who lives in Lima; Marianne, who died at the age of 20 years; Ida, living at home; and Daniel, who also lives at home. They are members of the German Reformed Church, of Bluffton, of which our subject was one of the first elders, serving in that capacity for a num- ber of years. He has always been a prominent citizen and has served as trustee of the town- ship for six years and as supervisor for eight years, having been elected on the Democratic ticket.
RANK W. HOLMES, one of Lima's prominent citizens, president of the Fi- delity Coal & Supply Company, and identified for years with the oil and other industries of this section, was born in Lima, March 18, 1858, and is a son of Branson P. and Jane W. Holmes.
The Holmes family is one of the oldest in the county. For ever 33 years Branson P. Holmes, father of Frank W., was a success-
ful merchant at Lima, and was an acknowl- edged founder of the city's prosperity. He died in 1870, a man generally esteemed and beloved. The aged mother still survives him, and is an honored member of the family of her son Frank.
The death of the father of Frank W. Holmes, when the latter was only 12 years old, placed heavy responsibilities on the lad as the eldest son; but he was equal to the task and zealously assisted his widowed mother in her struggles to provide for the support and educa- tion of the family. Much space might be de- voted to narrating the various ways in which the youth concienciously tried to take his fath- er's place in the family, often willingly sacri- ficing his own ambitions and comfort. Thus he was able to keep intact the estate left by his father, which increased so much in value in later years. Under many discouragements he also continued his studies, and in 1876 graduat- ed in a class of 15 from the Lima High School. If conditions had been different, he would have taken a college course, but as that was impos- sible at the time he turned to the business field, accepting at first a position in the bank of a neighboring town. Here his only compensation was his board, but he remained nearly a year in order to increase his knowledge, and gain an insight into financial methods. He then return- ed to Lima and secured a position as clerk in the Lima Postoffice, at a salary of $20 per month, serving in that capacity for two years.
Mr. Holmes' first entrance into the oil busi- ness, with which he subsequently became so closely identified, was in the capacity of book- keeper for W. L. Porter, at a yearly salary of $600, which then seemed to the young man al- most a fortune. His business relations with Mr. Porter were of the most satisfactory nature, the most cordial personal feelings being mutually entertained by both throughout Mr. Porter's life. Mr. Holmes held the position until 1881, when, on account of close application to his duties, his health became impaired and his phy- sician recommended a change of climate. He then visited the West and engaged in mining for a short time in Colorado. His health became restored, but he did not advance financially, and he returned to Lima no richer in pocket, but
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better prepared to stand the stress of business life. In 1882, soon after his return, he was of- fered the secretaryship of the Lima Iron Fence Company, a position he held for three years.
In the meantime the value of his father's estate had been much increased, on account of the general progress and development of the city. In 1885 he undertook, for the Holmes es- tate, the building of the present Holmes Block. At that time he was residing with his mother on the old homestead. On account of the general municipal progress his property had become too valuable for business purposes to justify its retention as a place of residence. It was there- fore decided that a fine business block could be erected which would return a large income in rentals, although, at that time, it was a con- siderable distance from Lima's business cen- ter notwithstanding which, contracts were se- cured with desirable tenants for long-term leas- es, on low payments. Mr. Holmes had a debt of $3,000 with which to contend, and it requir- ed all his business ability to accomplish the erec- tion of the business block, which was satisfac- torily completed in 1885.
It was soon after the completion of this work, and while Mr. Holmes was unemployed, that the first oil well was opened at Lima. He was offered a humble position with the Trenton Rock Oil Company-a corporation supposed to control nearly all the oil territory of any value in Ohio-and this he accepted, his work being that of a notary whose business it was to ac- knowledge oil leases. As this work occupied but a short period, he was soon out of employ- ment; but later, from a chance conversation with a friend, Mr. Holmes secured one of the earliest valuable oil leases in this locality. As a diversion and as an experiment, the friends, both then out of employment, went into the country with the idea of securing an oil lease which they hoped they might be able to sell to some investor. The result was that, after a long day spent with a farmer, who had little faith in the oil business but was of a friendly, accommodating spirit, they secured a lease upon his farm. This lease proved one of the most valuable taken in Allen County, and the well subsequently drilled upon it was really the pio-
neer in the opening up and extension of the oil field here.
The operation of this lease was conducted, through a business combination, with parties in Olean, New York, who subsequently dealt with Mr. Holmes in connection with many other leases. At this time he was associated with Frank and Charles Coss, practical oil men, formerly of Olean. New York. While final prosperity came, the early days of Mr. Holmes' oil enterprises were filled with discouragement. When the old J. K. Speer, well was drilled, which daily produced 700 barrels of oil, and was followed by the John Ridenour well, whose capacity was 1,000 barrels a day, Mr. Holmes soon acquired sufficient capital to meet all his liabilities.
The history of the oil operations in this sec- tion, with the great promise of financial pros- perity to hundreds of those, who, like Mr. Holmes, had gone into the business with small capital, and the quenching of hope and extin- guishing of opportunity, is too well known in these days of publicity, to recount the tale, with its many details of the greed of the great Oc- topus which brought ruin to many happy homes. In Mr. Holmes' case, before he could sell any of his oil, the Standard Oil Company decided that they had made a mistake in considering that the product was of any value whatever ex- cept as fuel, and they therefore lowered the price, day after day, until the time came when 42 gallons of this oil brought the sum of 15 cents. Under these conditions, the various oil producers outside the Standard felt themselves justified in combining for self-protection, and each man's property, including that of Mr. Holmes, was turned into the company at a value which was established by a board of appraisers. He was one of the incorporators and, later, a director in what was known as the Ohio .Oil Company. This company continued one year but was forced to sell to the Standard Oil Com- pany.
Prior to the sale of his interests, Mr. Holmes had become associated with S. M. Jones in taking up a large block of territory in the western section of Allen, and the eastern section of Van Wert County,
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forming what became the Geyser Oil Company. Although this venture did not prove as satisfactory as anticipated, Mr. Holmes made money out of it. Immediately afterward he became interested near Marietta, and later in valuable holdings of the Silurian Oil Company, of which he was a member, and in both of these connections he was eminently successful. For six months after this he was on the leasing force of the Ohio Oil Company and, while the work was exhausting, in that it ex- posed him to all weathers, he secured 100 leases in one month, on farms ranging from 40 to 800 acres. When the Manhattan Oil Company was organized, he was invited to enter the employ of this organization and as its object (an effort to build up a market for Ohio crude oil outside the Standard) appealed to him, he consented to enter its service for a short time. His connec- tion with the company, however, covered a per- iod of 10 years; first as cashier, then as secre- tary, and finally as general manager. There is little in connection with the oil industry with which Mr. Holmes is not perfectly familiar. He has watched the business from its beginning, has suffered from the rapacity of competitors, has assisted manfully in protesting against in- iquitous business methods, and through sheer ability and brave persistency has reaped finan- cial success where many others have failed.
His oil interests are by no means all that have claimed Mr. Holmes' attention. For a number of years, with W. L. Mackenzie he was interested in the Fidelity Lumber Company and, with Mr. Mackenzie, he organized the Fidelity Coal & Supply Company, which has grown into an enterprise of large importance. He con- tinues to be president of this company, being its main directing head. Its great warehouse at Lima has a frontage of 500 feet on the C., H. & D. Railway, and 200 on the L. E. & W. Railway. He is a stockholder and director in The Hall & Woods Company, of Lima, opera- ting the Model Mills; a director of The Ohio National Bank, at Lima, and is one of the in- corporators and directors of the South Side Building & Loan Association. On the Holmes farm he has erected several hundred houses which he has sold to good tenants, on easy monthly payments. He has retained large real
estate holdings and is an extensive operator in realty.
In 1882 Mr. Holmes was married to May R. Harley, who is a daughter of Dr. L. G. Har- ley, of Wayne County, Ohio, and they have had four children, viz. : Van Cleve, Branson Harley, Donald (deceased), and Frank H. The eldest son, having completed his course at Amherst College, is now in business in New York City. The second son is a student in the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, and is also cultiva- ting a remarkable musical gift, being under the instruction of noted teachers of the violin, at Detroit.
For many years Mr. Holmes has been deep- ly interested in the Young Men's Christian As- sociation, and has been prominently identified with its work. He has served as president and . director of the organization at Lima, and has devoted time, money and effort to many other charitable and philanthropic enterprises. Not being a man who heralds his beneficences, much of his practical helpfulness is known only to the recipients. He is a member of the Presbyter- ian Church and has served as a member of the session.
ILLIAM W. CURTIN, a well- known and highly respected citizen of Lima, interested in the produc- tion of oil, is a son of Erin who has made his fortune in the oil fields of America being at this time largely interested in the most productive wells scattered through the oil belt of the United States. Mr. Curtin was born August 1, 1842, in Cork, Ireland, and was reared in that country to the age of 15 when he came to America. For the following eight years he was employed in New York and vi- cinity, but in 1865 he located in Venango Coun- ty, Pennsylvania, where on April 11th of that year he engaged in the oil industry, and has prospered beyond his most sanguine expecta- tions. He operated first in the Pennsylvania field as a contractor and producer, but in 1886 extended his operations to the Findlay and St. Marys fields, and in 1900 located at Lima. In addition to several wells which he operates in Ohio, he has a number in Indian Territory, the
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output from which brings him in a considerable income.
Mr. Curtin was united in marriage July 13, 1866, to Rebecca Kells, a native of Ireland. Four children were born to this union, viz. : E. R. Curtin, vice-president and general superin- tendent of The Manhattan Oil Company, of Lima; Annie Bell, wife of N. J. Loveless, of Bradford, Pennsylvania; James A., who is in the oil business; and John F., a mechanic. Mrs. Curtin died November 4, 1900, and Mr. Curtin was married on the first of the March follow- ing to Wealthy Riddle, of Allegany County, New York. Mr. Curtin is a director of The Lima Trust Company.
A UGUSTUS E. WEGER, one of the prominent business men of Delphos, the leading photographer and also the junior member of the undertaking firm of Jauman & Weger, was born April 20, 1878, at Newcastle, Pennsylvania, and is a son of Frank A. and Margaret Eliza- beth (Deitzel) Weger.
George K. Weger, the paternal grandfather, was born in Germany. He came to America in 1852, locating in Baltimore, Maryland, where he followed the trade of cooper. His son Frank A., the father of Augustus E., learned this trade also and worked as a cooper for some years in Baltimore and then removed to New- castle, Pennsylvania. Here he was married, in 1871, to Margaret E. Deitzel, who was born in that place, and was a daughter of Michael Deit- zel, a native of Prussia. They had five chil- dren, viz. : Katie, George, Augustus, Mary and Frank. Mr. Weger removed from Newcastle to Pittsburg and in 1878 came to Delphos as foreman for the Pittsburg Keg & Barrel Com- pany, with which concern he continued until he joined interests with H. Goette in the hoop and stave business.
Augustus E. Weger has spent the main part of his life at Delphos, being an infant when his parents came here. He was educated in both the English and German departments of the parochial schools and, after completing the usual course, received private instruction at
Delphos. For a time he assisted his father in the hoop and stave factory, later turned his at- tention to other activities, but in 1899 definitely decided to become a practical photographer, having always had an inclination in this direc- tion. He has been in the business for himself for the past three years and until September 23, 1905, was alone. On account of needed ex- pansion and great press of business, Mr. Weger then admitted Mr. Fry to partnership and now the firm stands Weger & Fry. The well-equip- ped studio is located on Main street between .Second and Third streets. Mr. Weger is a na- tural artist and in giving way to his inclina- tions but followed what promises to be a prom- ising and prosperous career. An enthusiast in his work, each year finds him better able to compete with those who have elevated the pho- tographic art to the level of other artistic achievements.
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