USA > Ohio > Allen County > History of Allen County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part One > Part 53
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Thirza, wife of Charles Schook; Charles, un -- married; O. H., who married ( first) Dora Mc- Laughlin and (second) Leona Cahill and re- sides at Spencerville ; Ida, wife of Cyrus Staver, of German township; and Margaret, who died in infancy.
On February 20, 1881, William H. Bene- dum was united in marriage with Lydia Coon, who is a daughter of Wesley and Caroline (Hadsell) Coon, and is a sister of Mrs. Scott Rumbaugh. Mr. and Mrs. Benedum have these children : Alva, born February 20, 1882, who married Ethel Post, a daughter of S. A. Post, and has one child, Ruth; Iva Myrtle, born De- cember 7, 1884, residing at Lima; Zelma Pearl, born February 21, 1886, who lives at home; Vilas, born December 16, 1888; and Carrie Marie, born April 23, 1897.
Mr. Benedum bought his present farm in 1897, a very valuable property. He has been a resident of Allen County since 1864 and has always taken an active interest in its general advancement. He has been a member of the School Board since locating in German town- ship. For many years he has been connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is a member of the board of trustees of the church at Allentown. His fraternal connection is with the lodge of Odd Fellows at Elida. He is well known in all these localities, and is held in high esteem as a man of sterling character.
ILLIAM KLINGER, prosecuting at- torney of Allen County, was born September 11, 1870, in this county, and is a son of Philip and Mary (Naas) Klinger.
The parents of Mr. Klinger were born in Germany. They came to America and for many years were respected citizens and well-to- do farmers in Allen County. They now live retired in Lima. They were the parents of five children.
William Klinger obtained his early educa- tion in the common schools and pursued his law studies in the law department of the University of Michigan, from which he was graduated in 1895. He returned to Ohio, and has been one
of the most successful of the students turned out from the firm of Ridenour & Halfhill, his pre- ceptors. Mr. Klinger is associated in practice with Mr. Secrest, the firm name being Klinger & Secrest. They control a large part of the important litigation coming before the courts of Allen County. Their well-appointed offices are located at Nos. 21-22 Metropolitan Block.
Mr. Klinger has a charming home cir- cle consisting of wife, who was formerly Ida Hood, daughter of John Hood of Al- len County, and two interesting children- Clarence and Helen. The pleasant family resi- dence is at No. 530 North Elizabeth street.
Politically, Mr. Klinger is a Democrat, and on that ticket he was elected prosecuting attor- ney in 1899 and was reelected in 1902 by a large majority. He has made a fine record in the office, and is entitled to the approbation ex- pressed on every hand for his impartiality and for the courage which he has shown in doing his full duty without fear or favor. Mr. Klin- ger's fraternal connections are with the Odd Fellows and Red Men.
RED CLARENCE SNOW, editor and proprietor of the Journal-News, at Spencerville, the leading newspaper of the southwestern part of Allen County, was born May 8, 1858, at Paw Paw, Michigan, and is a son of Montraville and Fan- nie Flavilia (Tanner) Snow.
Mr. Snow comes of good old American stock. His father was a foundryman and man- ufacturer at Paw Paw, Michigan, for a num- ber of years. Both he and his wife are de- ceased.
F. C. Snow was reared at Paw Paw and ob- tained his education in the public schools. After completing the common-school course, he en- tered his father's foundry for a time, but as he did not like the business he soon turned his at- tention to one more congenial, and entered a printing office. Mr. Snow came to Lima, Ohio, in 1882, where he worked for a time at molding and then became foreman in the office of the Times-Democrat. In 1889 he started a job printing office at Lima, which he continued
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until the spring of 1900, when he bought the Spencerville Journal. Under Mr. Snow's man- agement this newspaper has made rapid strides and is now numbered with the leading papers of the county.
On December 25, 1883, Mr. Snow was mar- ried to Fannie Mumaugh, who died June 13, 1903. Seven children-three sons and four daughters-were born to this marriage, of whom two sons and three daughters still sur- vive. On May 15, 1905, Mr. Snow was mar- ried to Mrs. Harriet V. ( Watkins) Arter, who is a daughter of Thomas J. Watkins, one of the oldest Welsh settlers of Gomer, and the widow of a prominent physician of Lima. Mrs. Snow is a lady of culture and accomplishments, and is a prominent member of Spencerville's social circles.
Mr. Snow is well known in fraternal life, being a Mason, Knight of Pythias and an Odd Fellow. In 1905 he was master of Arcadia . Lodge, No. 306, F. & A. M.
R ICHARD T. SUTTON, proprietor of the "Fountain Farm," one of the best- improved properties in Amanda town- ship, situated in the best part of sec- tion 3, belongs to one of the oldest families of Allen County. He was born in 1852 in the old frame house which stood on the present farm, one of the first frame structures in the neighborhood. He is a son of Thomas and Susan ( Kephart) Sutton, and a grandson of Joseph and Sally (O'Hara) Sutton.
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Joseph Sutton was one of the greatest woodsmen of his day. He was a scout during the War of 1812, and he it was who blazed the State road through Allen County. He came here from Montgomery and Champaign coun- ties, locating in Allen County in 1822. His life had been one of much adventure and gave him a roving disposition. He was a great hunter and trapper, and took up land in various por- tions of the county but retained none of it per- manently. He was friendly with the Indians and did much bartering with them, his family being one of the very first white ones to settle here.
Thomas Sutton was an entirely different man. When he reached manhood, he took up land in section 3 and kept adding to his orig- inal tract until he owned a large farm. He was born in Champaign County, Ohio, January 27, 1809, and married Susan Kephart, who was born February 22, 1816, and died July 27, 1891. She was a daughter of George Kephart, a pioneer miller. Mrs. Sutton was one of the little band of worshipers that was faithful to the Amanda Baptist Church, in the pioneer days, when it required loyalty. She was con- verted, when quite young, and her life was one of consistency to her Christian faith. She was permitted to see her husband also become a member of the same faith, he joining the church November 18, 1869. Mrs. Sutton was affec- tionately known all through this neighborhood as "Grandma Sutton," and her many acts of kindness endeared her to both old and young.
Thomas Sutton was one of the trustees of Amanda township and both he and his brother were school directors for many years. The first school-house was on his farm, located about 50 feet south of where Richard T. Sutton's pres- ent residence stands. It was a log structure and its fittings were exceedingly primitive. The early teachers were George Maxom, Pell John- and Misses Williams and Vincent. Mr. Sutton died in 1877. Of his eight children, the sur- vivors are: Robert, a veteran of the Civil War and a resident of Spencerville; Mary K. Spen- cer, of Spencerville; Catherine, wife of Francis Bice; and Richard T.
To look back to the childhood and youth of our subject, takes the reader to days of pioneer simplicity. He recalls with lively interest when his father's log house was the center of social life in Amanda township, and after a new plank floor was put in the old log barn that edifice became the favorite meeting place for social gatherings from miles around. While in many ways the life of the pioneers was one of toil, hardship and privation, it was by no means lack- ing in pleasures, many of them, of course, of a simpler nature than modern life demands, but no less enjoyable. Both father and mother were industrious ; in fact, with a large farm to clear and eight children to rear, there was but little time for idleness. The careful mother made all
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JOSIAH JONES
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the family clothing by hand from flax, which, in all probability, she sowed and pulled herself and spun into thread and wove into cloth, or, from the wool grown on the home farm, and her busy, capable hands also spun the yarn and knitted the stockings and mittens for her family. She made the candles and the soap, tried out the lard at the yearly butchering, and baked those loaves of sweet, wholesome bread which her children still, most likely, believe never to have been equalled; in fact, in recalling all the good mothers did in those days, their descendants are lost in admiration and wonder. In Mr. Sut- ton's youth there were no lucifer matches in use, fire being produced with the old flint upon punk or tow, and upon occasion live coals had to be procured from the neighbors.
Ploughing was done with the old wooden mold-board plow, which stirred the virgin soil then rich enough to produce without fertiliza- tion, and the harvesting was done with a reap- ing hook and sickle, and later with the hand cradle. Corn was dropped in the long, tiresome rows by the barefooted boys of the family, grain by grain, and was then covered with the hoe. As but 10 acres had been cleared when Thomas Sutton settled here and as the land was heavily timbered, oxen had to be used for the work. Our subject remembers that when bad weather prevented outside work his father was kept busy fashioning the family shoes and even earning an addition to his income by making them for others. Hand mills were in general use as established grinding mills were then far distant, Piqua being the nearest point to the Sutton household. Mr. Sutton has seen all this fair locality developed out of a forest and-in his youth did a large part of the work of redeeming this farm.
The present home is known as the "Foun- tain Farm." Mr. Sutton has been an extensive stock-raiser for a number of years and now has 200 head of sheep, 20 head of horses and about the same number of hogs. In its equipments of machinery, cultivation and improvements, it is one of the most modern in all Amanda town- ship. The handsome residence has been built upon a slight elevation which gives a wide out- look in every direction. The grounds are care- fully attended to, and the result is a beautifully
shaded lawn and a profusion of flowers in their season. In 1882 Mr. Sutton lost his fine home and all his buildings by a destructive fire. They were rebuilt and again burned to the ground, in 1894; by 1895 he had replaced the buildings with still better ones, and in 1903 he erected his new barn, a substantial structure, 48 by 36 feet in dimensions, modern in every particular. He is a man with very practical, sensible ideas and in making his many improvements has built entirely along modern lines.
Mr. Sutton was married to Amarella Bice, who is a daughter of the late William and Ta- bitha (Sunderland) Bice. Mrs. Bice was a daughter of Dye and Mercy ( Berryman) Sun- derland. Mr. Sunderland was one of the very first settlers at Fort Amanda. The father of Mrs. Sutton was a man of prominence in the county, and served for some years as county commissioner.
Mr. and Mrs. Sutton have two children-a daughter and son; the former, Ura Lucretia, is the wife of George Daugherty, of Spencerville; and the latter, Charles Thomas, assists on the home farm.
In religious belief Mr. and Mrs. Sutton have always been identified with the Methodist Epis- copal Church. They are well and widely known all through Amanda township, representing, as they do, two of the old and prominent pioneer families. Their beautiful home is one of great hospitality, its owners showing a hearty wel- come to their many friends on all occasions. Mr. Sutton has never been very active in poli- tics but he has always been ready to do his full part in advancing the township's interests in the way of public improvements, and the mak- ing and upholding of good laws.
LEWELYN JONES, funeral director and undertaker at Gomer, and also engaged in farming in Sugar Creek township, resides on his farm of 65 acres located in section 32. 45 acres of which belong to the old Jones homestead. Mr. Jones was born on this farm, March 17, 1856, and is a son of Josiah and Mary (Hughes) Jones.
Josiah Jones, whose portrait is shown on
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the opposite page, was born at Braichodnant, Llanbrynmair, North Wales, July 4, 1807. Prior to coming to America in 1850, he was a large woolen manufacturer in his native land. He settled in the town of Gomer, Allen County, Ohio, where he engaged to some extent in farming. His main business, however, was undertaking. His death took place October 15, 1887, at the age of 80 years and three months. In North Wales he married Mary Hughes, who died in September, 1889, aged 80 years. They had a family of eight children, as follows : Thomas, who died in infancy in Wales; Thomas Henry, the present treasurer of Allen County, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work; Mary M., who married Israel Jones and died April 13, 1872; Annie C., who married Lewis Hughes, of Cincinnati, and died October 17, 1879; Josiah E., deceased April 13, 1886; Martha E., who resides with her brother Llewelyn on the old homestead; Margaret Lydia, deceased January 1, 1893; and Llew- elyn, the subject of this sketch. Josiah Jones was for 45 years a deacon of the Welsh Con- gregational Church, of Gomer. He was very well educated, being especially conversant with the Welsh language and literature. He was also gifted as a poet and composed in Welsh a number of hymns, some of which are still be- ing sung in the Gomer church and in many other Welsh churches in this country and in Wales. He wrote under the nom de plume of "Josiah Brynmair" his history of the Gomer church and settlement, written in Welsh and dating from the organization of the church to 1867, has been translated by his nephew, John R. Jones, and appears in the history of Sugar Creek township in Chapter VII of this work.
Llewelyn Jones has always lived on the homestead farm and for the past 35 years has carried on undertaking. He is the only funeral director in Sugar Creek township and his calls come from all over the northern portion of Al- len County and from neighboring counties as well. A part of the present farm of 45 acres belonged to the old homestead and Mr. Jones and his sister Martha bought 20 acres addi- tional in section 33. They reside together, neither having married, and in the old home keep up many of the old Welsh customs of their
parents. The large family has been reduced to three members. All are well and favorably known and are among the leading members of the Welsh Congregational Church of Gomer, of which the subject of this sketch has been a member since he was 12 years of age. He has never taken a very active part in politics, but votes with the Republican party.
H. BLATTENBERG, D. V. S., of Lima, was born in Wayne County, Ohio, and is a son of H. M. Blatten- berg, one of the prominent citizens of that county, engaged in farming and in conducting a harness business.
Dr. Blattenberg comes of Revolutionary an- cestry and is a member of the Sons of the Amer- ican Revolution through his maternal great- grandfather, Philip McCracken. The Doctor prizes highly the document in his possession, bearing the signature of George Washington, which proves the honorable discharge of this ancestor from the Patriot Army. His paternal grandfather, John Blattenberg, served in the Mexican War. His father served four years in the Civil War and in this period enlisted four times and was honorably discharged four times, the last discharge being dated October 30, 1865. This is a very unusual record. His first enlist- ment was in the First Regiment, Delaware Vol. Inf., April 18, 1861. Thereafter he enlisted and served in the Sixth Ohio Vol. Cav., 166th Ohio Vol. Inf. and Fifth Ohio Vol. Cav.
J. H. Blattenberg was reared in Wayne County and, after completing his literary educa- tion in the Smithville Normal School, took a professional course in the Ontario Veterinary College at Toronto, Canada, where he was graduated in 1892. After practicing one year in Toledo, he came to Lima, where he has been located ever since. His fine horse sanitarium on North Union street is one of the best equipped establishments of its kind in the State. Horses are brought in a regular ambulance kept for the purpose and skilled surgery speedily applied. Ilis work covers not only Lima but all the coun- ties adjacent to Allen County. He has served as president of the Ohio State Veterinary .Asso-
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ciation, is a member of the national body and is recognized as one of the leading veterinary sur- geons of the United States.
In addition to his extensive professional in- terests, Dr. Blattenberg is interested in many other enterprises. He is vice-president of the Humane Horse Shoe Company, which is cap- italized at $25,000. This company manufac- tures the latest style of horse shoe and owns the patents. He has large real estate holdings in Lima and has erected, on Elizabeth street be- tween North and Market streets, a fine three- story, brick, flat building, 40 by 66 feet in ground dimensions. The lower floors have been fitted up for business purposes and the two up- per floors are divided into cosy, comfortable apartments. They are heated by steam and lighted by electricity.
Dr. Blattenberg is a 32nd degree Mason and belongs to the Blue Lodge, Chapter, Council and Commandery at Lima, to the Shrine at Dayton and to the Consistory at Toledo, and has filled offices in the various bodies. He be- longs also to the Elks and the Knights of Pythias. He is a member of Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church.
Dr. Blattenberg has frequently been a del- egate to the national assemblages of the Sons of the American Revolution. During the past few years he has indulged his fancy for making a collection of old colonial furniture and now has in his possession some rare and valuable pieces. Some are treasured old family relics and others have come into his hands by the costly methods of modern collectors. He has long been one of the city's prominent and public spirited men. During his membership on the Board of Education, the new High School Building was built ( 1904-05), which is one of the finest structures of its kind in the State.
ACOB PIPER, the leading retail grocer of Lima, and a director of The Lima Trust Company, was born in 1855 in Sidney, Ohio. He is a son of Jacob Piper, now deceased, who was for many years the largest and most popular grocer of that city. Our subject was educated in Sid-
ney and then entered his father's store, succeed- ing to the business in 1880. He remained there until 1901 when he disposed of his stock and came to Lima where he opened his present large store. He has one of the best stores in the city and keeps a complete line of fancy and staple goods to meet all the requirements of his exten- sive trade. Some idea of the magnitude of his business may be gained when it is known that it requires 20 employees to attend to the wants of the patrons and keep the stock in order.
Mr. Piper was married in 1885 to Aggie Line, daughter of David Line of Sidney. They are zealous members of Trinity Methodist Epis- copal Church, and are always ready to lend a helping hand in any good cause. Mr. Piper was made a Mason at Sidney and has taken the 32nd degree in that order. Mr. Piper still con- tinues to be a director of the Citizens' National Bank of Sidney and is also, as stated above, a director of The Lima Trust Company. He takes an active interest in all that pertains to the welfare of the city.
HOMAS K. JACOBS, M. D., a native of Lima, and one of the extensive own- ers of real estate in Allen County, is a son of the late Hon. Thomas K. Ja- cobs, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume.
He received his literary training in the com- mon and high schools of Lima and in the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware. In 1880 he was graduated in medicine at the Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati. He practiced for a short time at Akron, Ohio, and then went to Chicago and was engaged in practice there for II years. In 1891 it became necessary for him to return to Lima in order to look after his large property interests and he has not resumed practice on ac- count of the great demands upon his attention made by his numerous investments. For the past 15 years he has been engaged in laying out and platting additions in the southeastern sec- tion of Lima.
In 1887 Dr. Jacobs was married to Helen Fisher, who is a daughter of Joseph Fisher, of Akron, Ohio. They have two children. Paul
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and Margaret, students in the Lima High School. The family belong to the Presbyterian Church.
OAH CALVIN HIRSCHY, A. B., D. B., president of the Central Mennonite College, at Bluffton, where he also fills the chair of Greek and Biblical languages and literatures, is one of the distinguished ministers and educators of the Mennonite Church in Ohio. Mr. Hirschy was born February 25, 1867, on a farm in the en- virons of Berne, Adams County, Indiana, and is a son of Philip and Maria ( Richer) Hirschy.
Philip Hirschy was born in Canton Neuen- berg, Switzerland, in 1824, and was brought to America, when II years old, by his mother and step-father. He lived a number of years in Stark and Wayne counties, Ohio, prior to lo- cating in Indiana, where he engaged in farming in Adams County until the close of his life, his death occurring in October, 1899. He owned a half section of land in that county and was one of its most substantial as well as highly es- teemed men. Although he had had but 45 days of schooling in his life, he was a well-informed and liberal-minded man. He was a devoted member of the Mennonite Church. In 1848, in Indiana, he married Maria Richer, who was born near the village of Erikur, France, in 1826, and came to Wayne County, Ohio, in 1837. Her death took place in 1893. The fam- ily consisted of eight sons and one daughter. Of the sons, Noah Calvin is the second young- est, the whole family still surviving; most of its members are engaged in agricultural pur- suits.
Noah Calvin Hirschy remained on his fath- er's farm until 18 years of age, but as he grew to youth and early manhood the advantages af- forded by the country schools in no way satis- fied his expanding mind. He secured a certifi- cate to teach, and as a school teacher during the five succeeding years earned the means with which to pursue higher branches of study. He attended the Tri-State Normal College at An- gola, Indiana, from 1889 to 1891. During 1891-92 he was principal of the village schools at Berne, Indiana. and in the latter year became
pastor of the Mennonite Church at Wadsworth, Ohio. From 1893 to 1898 he attended and graduated from Oberlin College and Theologi- cal Seminary. He became the first president of the Central Mennonite College at Bluffton in 1901. A historical sketch of this college ap- pears elsewhere in this work. He has been a student in the University of Chicago at differ- ent times from 1900 to 1905. On May 6, 1894, Mr. Hirschy was ordained to the full ministry of the Mennonite Church by Rev. Ephraim Hunsberger. In 1896 he was chosen a member of the home mission committee of the General Church Conference, which position he still holds.
Mr. Hirschy was married at Wadsworth, Ohio, September 5, 1895, to Augusta Huns- berger, daughter of Rev. Ephraim Hunsberger, pastor of the church there and an eminent man in the Mennonite body. She was born at Wads- worth, Ohio, April 22, 1867. They have two children, viz .: Hermon Delos, born June 11, 1898, and Lois Elizabeth, born June 12, 1904.
ILBUR T. COPELAND, of the firm of Copeland & Rogers, enterprising and prosperous attorneys of Lima. is a native of this State and one of three children born to William N. and Ellen E. ( Robinson) Copeland. He was born May 5, 1871, was reared on his father's farm, and attending the public schools to ob- tain the rudiments of his education. Later he read law in the office of Ex-Congressman F. C. Layton and was admitted to the bar Decem- ber 7, 1893. He began practicing his profession the first of the following April in Lima and has met with flattering success in building up a large clientele.
Mr. Copeland was married to Lizzie Mabel Herbst and is the father of one son, Don H. They the members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and contribute liberally both of their time and means towards the advancement of their church. They are pleasantly located at No. 220, South Collett street. The offices of Copeland & Rogers embrace Rooms 19, 20 and 21 Holmes Block. Our subject is a member of
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the Allen County Bar Association, a life mem- ber of the Allen County Law Library Associa- tion, a prominent Modern Woodman of Amer- ica and is also affiliated with the Knights of the Golden Eagle and the Royal Neighbors of America. In politics Mr. Copeland is identified with the Democratic party and takes a lively in- terest in its success.
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