USA > Ohio > Allen County > History of Allen County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part One > Part 50
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Samuel W. Wright was reared on the farm and attending the local schools, graduating from
the Delphos High School. He then taught school for some nine years, mainly in Allen and Putnam counties. Subsequently he settled on his present fine farm of 160 acres, which is sit- uated in sections 29 and 32, Marion township, on the Delphos and Lima road, where he has made his home since 1889. He makes a spe- cialty of raising thoroughbred Polled Durham and Short-horn cattle and Percheron horses, exhibiting at the various fairs and carrying off many of the ribbons.
Mr. Wright has long been considered one of the substantial men of Marion township and is about completing his first term as county commissioner; he was elected in November, 1905, for a second term.
In 1873 Mr. Wright was married to Min- erva Long and they have one child -- Gracie, wife of Jesse Cochran, a resident of Lima.
Fraternally Mr. Wright is a member of Hope Lodge, No. 214, F. & A. M., of Delphos, and also belongs to the Odd Fellows and- Knights of Pythias.
RANK P. RUSHER, of the Frank P. Rusher Lumber Company, of Lima, is one of the city's active business men. He was born in Hardin County, Ohio, January 1, 1858, and is a son of George Rusher, who was a native of Germany and later became a successful farmer in Har- din County, where he died in 1894.
After completing the work in the common schools, Frank P. Rusher at the age of 17 en- tered the employ of his uncle, Nicholas High. He remained with him three years, working his way up from the bottom to a good position. He then took a course in the Ohio Normal Un- iversity at Ada, which included civil engineer- ing, sciences and the classics. After this he taught for a time in Hardin and Putnam coun- ties. He was then elected superintendent of the Leipsic schools; but the arduous work and close confinement affected his health, and after one year, during which he established a reput- tation for great ability, he resigned this posi- tion. He then accepted the position of deputy postmaster at Ada, Ohio, but impaired health
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made it necessary for him to resign this posi- tion also after one year and to accept a position offered him by the Ada Lumber Company. He remained with that corporation for about two years. Later he managed a lumber yard at an- other point in Ohio, resigning his position there in order to come to Lima to associate himself in the retail lumber business with John Rossfeld. They established the firm of Rusher & Rossfeld. After two years G. V. Guyton was admitted to partnership and the firm name became the Rusher-Rossfeld Lumber Company, which continued until it was succeeded by the F. P. Rusher Lumber Company, wholesale and retail dealers in lumber, lath, shingles, etc. This company was incorporated with a capital stock of $15,000, with F. C. Jocelyn, of Chi- cago, president, and F. P. Rusher as manager. The business is on a sound basis and is one of Lima's large and flourishing industries.
Mr. Rusher was married October 28, 1886, to Ida Shuster, who is a daughter of Daniel Shuster, deceased, who was a farmer and me- chanic of Hardin County. They have three children : Paul W., Ross W. and Virgil. Mr. Rusher takes a good citizen's interest in politics and devotes attention to the forwarding of the various enterprises calculated to build up the city.
R OBERT J. PLATE, secretary and treasurer of The Deisel-Wemmer Company, extensive cigar manufac- turers, with headquarters and plant located at Lima, is not only promi- nently identified with this immense business enterprise, but is interested in other Lima con- cerns of magitude. Mr. Plate was born in 1868 at Miamisburg, Montgomery County, Ohio, and is a son of T. F. and Hannah ( Karr) Plate.
The father of Mr. Plate was also a native of Montgomery County, Ohio, but his mother came from New Jersey. They have been resi- dents of Lima for some four years.
In the year 1886 Robert J. Plate came to Lima and lived with his uncle, Henry C. Heck- erman, who conducted a confectionery business. The young man assisted his uncle for several
years and during this time he took a commer- cial course in the Lima Business College, at- tending the night sessions. Graduating from this institution, he accepted a position in the office of, J. A. Chapin, architect, and from there he went into local railroad offices. In all the positions he filled he gained the approbation of his employers and in this way attracted the attention of the then Deisel-Wemmer Com- pany, whose members have been noted, in building up their great business, for surround- ing themselves with a most capable and reliable force of assistants. In 1892, when the com- pany required the services of a competent book- keeper, the offer was made to Mr. Plate and was accepted. Shortly afterward he came in- to a still closer business relations, taking over the credit department also, and in 1902, when the business was incorporated, he was elected secretary and treasurer of the corporation, his brother, C. B. Plate, succeeding to the position of head bookkeeper.
Mr. Plate was married in December, 1902,. to Berenice M. Willaman, who is a daughter of Lee J. Willaman. Mrs. Plate is an accom- plished lady, formerly a teacher in the Lima public schools.
For a number of years Mr. Plate has been actively identified with the work of Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church and for three years was superintendent of the Sunday-school. He has long been deeply interested in the work of the Young Men's Christian Association and has been a member of its working force, serv- ing eight years as treasurer, two years as chair- man of the finance committee and is still an active member of its directing board. Mr. Plate is a member of the Lima Business Men's Progressive Association and is very loyal to Lima and her interests.
H. WAHMHOFF, one of the well- known citizens and the oldest drug- gist at Delphos, was born March II, 1851, at Buffalo, New York, and is a son of Y. Stephen and Frederika (Reuter) Wahmhoff.
The parents of our subject were born on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, the father
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in Hanover, Germany, and the mother in Prus- sia. They came to America prior to marriage and were united in Erie County, New York. There the father served an apprenticeship to the boiler-making trade and learned draught- ing, and for many years subsequently was a master mechanic in the employ of the Erie Central Railroad. He lost his life on the road, through accident, on December 9, 1858. His widow, three sons and two daughters survived him. In 1861 Mrs. Wahmhoff and her family moved to Van Wert County, Ohio, where they owned farming land about two miles from Del- phos. Here she resided four years and then removed to Delphos.
John H. Wahmhoff, was the eldest of his parents' children and he accompanied his widowed mother in her removals and always carefully looked to her comfort. He attended the parochial schools in Buffalo and the country schools in Van Wert County and after locating at Delphos, he attended night school. When 15 years old he entered upon an apprenticeship to the drug business with Hunt & Walsh, and continued with the firm after the retirement of Mr. Walsh. He then became manager for Mr. Hunt, continuing as such until 1878, when Mr. Hunt retired, Mr. Wahmhoff purchasing the business. For 40 consecutive years he has continued in the drug business and is the old- est in this line here.
Mr. Wahmhoff is one of the city's promi- nent and useful men, and he has always shown the public spirit and enterprise needed in citi- zens to bring about general prosperity. In 1872 he became a member of the volunteer fire department with which he continued for 18 years, filling every office from private to chief, and holding the latter office some years. In 1885 he was elected to the Delphos City Coun- cil from the Second Ward and in 1888 he was re-elected, serving until 1890. In 1894 he was again returned to the Council. During his administration and mainly through his efforts the city secured many improvements and the placing of a number of its utilities. For three years he served with the Board of Health and the Board of Education. Since 1880 he has been a member of the Ohio State Pharmaceu- tical Association. He was one of the five
pharmacists who drafted the old Ohio State pharmacy laws. He is also connected with the pharmaceutical associations of the United States and of Canada.
In 1881 Mr. Wahmhoff was married to Christina C. Eich, a native of Indiana. They have six children: Elizabeth, Henrietta, Ag- nes, John, Anna and Celestine. The family belongs to St. John's Catholic Church.
For years our subject has been a contrib- utor to various literary publications and might almost be called the historian of Delphos. He is a very prominent member of the Delphos branch of the Catholic Knights of America, a society organized for beneficial, educational and social purposes. He has been a delegate to its supreme council and State president. Its finely equipped hall in Delphos is located in the Wahmhoff Building on North Main street. Here our subject has delivered many lectures on live topics and has read many papers of more than passing interest. His ideas are clear and decided, whether in address or debate, and he has given a great impetus to the interests in literature and discussion in this society. He has liberally contributed to fitting up its club-room, making it an inviting place in which young men may pass their evenings.
ILLIAM S. EAST, president and manager of The East Iron & Machine Company, of Lima, is a man who possesses mechanical ap- titude of a high order and is one of the leading manufacturers of the city. He was born at Lima, December 25, 1866, and is a son of Abraham East.
Isaac East, the grandfather of William S. East, was one of the pioneers of this section in the flouring-mill business and in this indus- try was succeeded by his son Abraham. The latter continued in this business at Lima for a number of years.
William S. East completed the common and high school courses at Lima and then learned the trade of machinist, at which he worked for 12 years in shops where his ability was thor-
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oughly tested. He has been in business for himself for some eight years.
The East Iron & Machine Company was founded a number of years ago and the plant has been established at its present location for the past two and a half years. The officers of the company are: William S. East, president and manager; J. L. Sampson, secretary and treasurer, and A. D. Neuman, vice-president. The company is capitalized at $100,000. The business is the manufacturing of all classes of structural iron work, a leading feature being steel bridge work. Their trade covers Ohio and a large portion of the territory in adjacent States, particularly Pennsylvania. It is ranked with the large and important indus- tries of Lima.
In 1891 Mr. East was married to Blanche Truesdale, who is a daughter of S. D. Trues- dale, a prominent retired citizen of Delphos, Ohio.
H. EAST, secretary and treasurer of The Lima Trust Company, is one of Lima's prominent men. He was born March 21, 1869, near Lima, and was educated in the public schools of this city.
Mr. East's ealier business associations were with railroad work, for four years being con- nected with the freight department of the Penn- sylvania Railroad. On July 16, 1889, he ac- cepted a position as bookkeeper in The Ohio National Bank and on January 1, 1895, he be- came assistant cashier. He continued in this position until March, 1903, when he resigned in order to accept that of secretary and treas- urer of The Lima Trust Company. He had other important business interests, having or- ganized and founded, in association with his brother, William S, East, The East Iron & Machine Company, one of the leading indus- tries of Lima.
The Lima Trust Company was organized and incorporated in February, 1903, with a capital stock of $200,000, fully paid up, and they began business with these officers: Davis J. Cable, president; J. D. S. Neely, Ist vice- president : J. Oscar Hover, 2nd vice-president ;
and C. H. East, secretary and treaurer. Sub- sequently J. D. S. Neely was made president and E. R. Curtin, Ist vice-president. A gen- eral banking business is carried on, also a sav- ings department ; they hold the largest deposits of any financial institution in the city.
Mr. East is a charter member of the Y. M. C. A. of Lima. For years he has been a mem- ber of Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church.
A. BURKHARDT, joint agent of the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton and the Lake Erie & Western railroads, at Lima, was born in Shawnee town- ship, Allen County, Ohio, December 31, 1872, and is a son of George and Mary (Bowsher) Burkhardt.
George Burkhardt came to Allen County in 1865 and has since been identified with the agricultural interests and public affairs of Shawnee township. He married Mary Bow- sher, a member of one of the old and prominent families of the State. She is a daughter of Benjamin Bowsher, who came from Pickaway County to Allen County in 1836. His father, William Bowsher, was a soldier in the War of 1812, coming to Ohio from Pennsylvania, in 1804. The father of William Bowsher was Daniel Bowsher, who lived in Berks County, Pennsylvania, in 1755, and was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. The family has been very conspicuous in Allen County in political, business and social life. For the past 10 years our subject has been engaged in tracing its ancestral branches and this work, when com- pleted, will possess interest for the family and make a valuable addition to local history.
F. A. Burkhardt has been a resident of Lima since he was 20 years old. He was af- forded excellent educational advantages and at- tended the Ohio Normal University at Ada and Lima College, and then taught school for two years in Allen County. He was then made as- sistant agent for the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Railway, at Lima, in 1896, and on Jan- uary 1, 1900, became agent for the Lake Erie & Western Railroad; on June 16, 1901, he was made joint agent of both roads. This position of importance he has filled ever since. Its du-
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ties require special talents and these Mr. Burk- hardt is fortunate enough to possess.
On June 16, 1896, Mr. Burkhardt was married to Nannie Dearth, a daughter of Sam- uel Dearth, a prominent farmer of Warren County, Ohio. They have two children, E. Lu- cile and Lorene. The family belongs to the English Lutheran Church, in which Mr. Burk- hardt is a member of the board of trustees. Mrs. Burkhardt is a graduate of the National Nor- mal College, at Lebanon, Ohio. For some time prior to her marriage, she was a successful teacher in the public schools of Lima.
Mr. Burkhardt for eight years was a mem- ber of the board of trustee of Lima College. He is a member of the board of directors of the Lima Young Men's Christian Association. He is treasurer of The Brunswick Bowling Com- pany, at Lima and is also secretary of the or- ganization known as the Ohio Checken As- sociation.
OHN B. MORRIS, township trustee, well-known citizen and substantial farmer of Sugar Creek township, re- sides on his well-improved farm of 80 acres, located in section 23, following farming and stock-raising. Mr. Morris was born in Oneida County, New York, five miles north of Utica, February 16, 1848, and is a son of Edward and Sarah ( Breese) Morris.
Edward Morris was born in 1818 in North Wales and came to the United States in 1838 immediately following his marriage. He lived a short time in Licking County, Ohio, and then moved to Oneida County, New York, but in September, 1854, came to Sugar Creek town- ship, Allen County, Ohio, and lived the re- mainder of his life on the farm now owned by our subject. Here he died in March, 1901, a man respected by all who knew him. He was for a number of years one of the leading mem- bers of the Welsh Congregational Church at Gomer. He married Sarah Breese, who was born in North Wales in 1820, and who died on the Sugar Creek township farm in 1872. They reared a large family, our subject being the fifth in order of birth. The family record is as follows: Jane, who died in infancy; Thomas
N .; Jane (Ruggles), deceased; Elizabeth (Well) ; Sarah (Rockey) ; Mary (Jones), of Vaughnsville, Ohio; Anna (Buskirk), of Beaver Dam; Harriet (Garner), of Cairo; George W., who died in childhood; and Will- iam, who died aged 32 years.
John B. Morris accompanied his parents from New York to Allen County, the trip be- ing made by way of Buffalo to Toledo, on Lake Erie, and then by canal to Delphos. He re- mained on the farm assisting his father until his marriage, having also learned the carpenter's trade while working on the farm. After his marriage he rented land for about seven years and then went to Cairo, where he embarked in a mercantile business with Robert Davies, un- der the firm name of Davies & Morris, which continued about four years. After selling his interest he went to Knoxville, Tennessee, and during the following II years worked at farm- ing and at his trade. He then returned to Allen County and rented the homestead of his father and at the latter's death purchased it. It is a valuable piece of property and Mr. Morris car- ries on large agricultural operations here, giv- ing the greater part of his attention to the rais- ing of corn and hogs.
Mr. Morris was married first to Clara J. Ridenour, a native of Sugar Creek township, who was a daughter of Daniel and Sarah (Risen) Ridenour, natives of Germany. They had four children, namely : Sarah Lilian, who died aged 16 years; Roy B., of Monroe town- ship, who is married and has one child-Walter Lloyd; Oscar B., who lives at home; and John, who with his mother, died in Tennessee. Mr. Morris was married, second, at Knoxville, Tennessee, to Scerena Kirby, who was born within nine miles of Knoxville, and who is a daughter of Joseph and Margaret (Harris) Kirby.
Mr. Morris has been a Democrat all his life and has been an active member, of his party in Sugar Creek township. As one of the substan- tial, representative men, he has been frequently elected to office. He has served two years as supervisor and is now serving as one of the township trustees. He is a member of the Odd Fellows, belonging to Lodge No. 464, of Co- lumbus Grove.
SAMUEL DAVISON FRENCH
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AMUEL DAVISON FRENCH, whose portrait appears on the opposite page, is one of the prosperous and influen- tial farmers of Allen County. He has been an honored and esteemed resi- dent of Perry township for upwards of 70 years, having spent almost his entire life upon the 160-acre farm which is still his home. He was born in Trumbull County, Ohio, July 10, 1823, and is a son of William and Elizabeth (Davison) French, and grandson of Alexan- der French. The last named was born in Washington County, Pennsylvania, and was a soldier in the Revolution before he located in Trumbull County, Ohio. On October 5, 1784, he was married to Elizabeth Morrison; a fam- ily of five daughters and one son were reared, namely : Margaret (Mrs. John Hannah) ; William; Ann (Mrs. Robert Russell) ; Jane (Mrs. John Sheefleton) ; Betsey (Mrs. John Davison) ; and Sally (Mrs. William Moore). The maternal grandparents of our subject were Benjamin and Ann (Buchanan) Davison. Benjamin Davison, who was from Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, came to Ohio and lo- cated in Trumbull County May 7, 1800, before Ohio became a State, being then the best known portion of the Northwest Territory. Very few white men had ventured into the new country at that time as it took more than an average amount of pluck to invade the country of the Indians. Benjamin Davison spent the last years ·of his life in Newton Falls.
William French was born in Washington County, Pennsylvania, March 15, 1787. In 1834 he located in Allen County, Ohio, where he purchased 160 acres of land. Of this land 80 acres lay in Bath township, where he made his home and the other 80 was situated just across the road in Perry township and upon it is located the buildings of his son, our subject. On August 11, 1819, he was married to Eliza- beth Davison and a family of eight children were born to them, as follows: Ann, wife of John Rankin; Elizabeth, unmarried; Samuel Davison; David; John; Mary Jane; George; and Newton. Our subject and his brother 'George, who lives in Bath township, are the only survivors. William French had always been a Democrat until the first nomination of
William H. Harrison for the presidency, when he decided to give his support to the hero of Tippecanoe in preference to Martin VanBuren, but died in 1836 before the election at the age of 49 years.
Samuel Davison French came to Allen County with his parents when he was II years of age. It was a memorable journey, con- trasting strongly with the present-day travel by electric car over the same land, which is criss- crossed by electric and telephone wires and dotted with every indication of prosperous civ- ilization. The little company of emigrants who started with their ox teams to traverse the long miles which lay between Trumbull and Allen counties numbered 22 people, only three of whom-our subject; his brother George and Hank Agate-are living. It took 131/2 days to complete the journey. When they reached Marion County, on the Hardin County line, their provisions were exhausted and they were obliged to remain there three days, unshel- tered by a roof while the women of the party were busily engaged in cooking enough to sus- tain them on the remainder of the trip. The trail was followed with great difficulty as the forest was so dense it was almost impossible to penetrate its labyrinths and it was necessary to proceed with caution. They camped one night at Hog Creek marsh, where the wolves were so numerous it was found necessary to watch the sheep the entire night to keep them from being killed. The Indian was still a menace to the white man and one of the relics which Mr. French prizes as a reminder of those days is a cane made from a log which formed a part of the historic old Council House of the Shawnee's in Shawnee township, the old structure having long since given way to the Allen County Chil- dren's Home.
Mr. French was married April 23, 1847, to Margaret T. Roberts, daughter of William and Hannah (Morrison) Roberts, and an aunt of Thomas C. Roberts, whose biography will be found in this volume. They have four children, namely : Lois A., who died at the age of one year ; William, who was killed while taking a team of mules to water : Elizabeth, who is un- married and is housekeeper for her parents ; and Leola, the wife of Jesse Growdon and the
,
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mother of six children -- Lois, S. D. (who is married and has three children), Walter, Effie, Ross and Eunice.
When Mr. French first came to this farm, there was a small clearing and a cabin on the 80-acre tract in Bath township. Shortly after his marriage, he built a cabin on the 80 in Perry township and continued to live in it until 1861 when his present residence was built. He has put all the improvements on this land and has done all the clearing except the first 20 acres. When he took possession, the land was covered with a heavy forest and it required much hard work to convert it into his present well-cultivated acres. In addition to general farming, Mr. French is also engaged in stock- raising, but has lately left the active manage- ment of the work to his son-in-law. He is a genial, generous, kindly gentleman who is ven- erated.and loved by all. He has been identified with the Republican party since its organization and before that was a Whig. He has never sought nor desired public office.
ARRY H. ADKINS, oil operator and well-known business man at Lima, was born August 21, 1865, in Pick- away County, Ohio, and is a son of Barzillai Adkins, now a resident of Circleville, Pickaway County, who has long been one of the leading men of the county, prominent in political and business life, and who has served two terms in the State Legis- lature.
Completing his schooling in boyhood, Mr. Adkins began to teach when about 16 years of age and continued in the profession for eight consecutive years. He then became commer- cial traveler, for the American Furniture Com- pany, and in this capacity traveled all through the West, visiting Colorado, Kansas and Mis- souri in the interest of his house. In 1900 Mr. Adkins came to Lima, attracted by the business opportunities offered in the oil business. In association with his brother he became an oper- ator and producer and is still engaged exten- sively in operations in the Trenton rock fields of Ohio and Indiana and also, to a smaller ex-
tent, in Western oil fields. His success has been such as to place him among the prominent oil. men of the locality.
In 1902 Mr. Adkins was united in marriage. with Corda May Burkett, a daughter of Joseph W. Burkett, who is one of the leading farmers: of Perry County, Ohio. Her brother, Prof. Charles Burkett has a national reputation as an instructor. Mr. and Mrs. Adkins have one daughter-Anna Louise, born February 9, 1904.
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