USA > Ohio > Allen County > History of Allen County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part Two > Part 11
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53
John P. Jacobs was born in Warren County, Ohio, June 3, 1806, and was there married in 1829 to Elizabeth Hazard, daughter of John and Elizabeth ( Miller) Hazard, of Dutchess County, New York. They were the parents of four children, viz: Elizabeth, who died in in- fancy ; James A .; Phoebe D., widow of Wil- liam Harrod and a resident of Auglaize Coun- ty; and Ann, wife of John Harrod,-both now deceased. In 1833 John P. Jacobs came to Allen County on a prospecting tour, and the following year brought his family, locating in Union township, which is now in Auglaize County. They were the seventh family pos- sessing sufficient temerity to venture into the new country and the hardships and privations endured uncomplainingly by them cannot now be appreciated. In 1858 Mr. Jacobs moved to Perry township and lived in section 21 until April 2, 1880, when his wife died. Thereafter he made his home with our subject until his own death in February, 1888. He was a Dem- ocrat in politics and a man of strong conviction and resolute character.
James A. Jacobs remained at home until his 23rd year, when he spent two years in Aug- laize County, returning in 1859 and settling on the homestead where he still lives. In 1862 he
went to California and for about four years en- gaged in mining in that State, and in Washing- ton and Idaho. The trip out was made by boat, but the return was on horseback with a party of about 20 other travelers. Mr. Jacobs has de- voted the greater part of his life to farming. He has taken advantage, however, of the fact that his land lies in the oil belt and had 10 oil- wells sunk on his farm, which are no inconsid- erable source of income. Mr. Jacobs was mar- ried on April 17, 1856, to Martha J. Bitler, daughter of Samuel and Mary ( Rumer) Bitler, of Union township, Auglaize County. Six children have been born to this marriage, viz. : Elwin, John C., Samuel D., Charles D., Wil- liam H. and Olive O. Elwin, born February 24, 1857, became the wife of F. M. Bacome (now deceased), by whom she had one child, Frankie G. She was married, a second time, to Thomas P. Leatherman, of Auglaize town- ship. John C., born November 23, 1858, re- sides near his father. He married Luella French, daughter of George French, and is the father of two children,-Jessie and Charles D. Samuel D., born October 28, 1860, lives at home. Charles D., born March 27, 1870, died in 1890. William H. was born March 3, 1872. Olive O., born October 2, 1874, is the wife of H. C. Franklin, whose biography appears on another page of this work. Mr. Jacobs is a Democrat and has held a number of township offices, serving as justice of the peace and as- sessor. He is a member of Siskiou Lodge, No. 105, F. & A. M., having joined that order while in Siskiou County, California. In relig- ious belief Mr. and Mrs. Jacobs are Uni- versalists.
B. PALMER, of the firm of Palmer & Owen, carriage manufacturers of Lima, is a native of Columbus, In- diana, and was born in 1859. His father, George W. Palmer, is still a resident of Columbus and is now in his 87th year. He has been one of the leading citizens of Bartholomew County, was treasurer of the county for two terms and was employed to re- write the records of the county, a task which required two years of hard work to complete.
518
HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY
He was employed in the pension office for 16 years.
When J. B. Palmer was a lad of 14 years, he went to Rochester, New York, where he en- tered a carriage-shop and learned how to manu- facture a buggy and carriage from the raw ma- terial. He was with the James Cunningham, Son & Company for two years and then worked at different places throughout the United States until 1899, when he came to Lima and formed a partnership with M. D. Owen. They opened a factory at the rear of No. 121-123 West Mar- ket street, where they make a specialty of manu- facturing first-class buggies and carriages. During the six years since their establishment they have done a good business, having a splen- did local trade and extending their sales into the surrounding territory. They have the name of putting out the best vehicles manufactured in the State and merit the large patronage ac- corded them.
In 1887, Mr. Palmer was married to Caro- line Kaiser, whose father is Henry Kaiser, of the Henry Kaiser Buggy Company, of Kenton, Ohio. Their only child is Pauline Marie. Mr. Palmer is a member of the Knights of Pythias of Lima.
ILLIAM FRANKLIN BOOGHER, who for many years has been the most prominent business man and citizen of Hume, is a man of great business capacity, and has success- fully engaged in various ventures.
He is a man of public spirit and enterprise and for years has performed his share in mak- ing Hume an active business point. He is at the present extensively engaged in the grain business, serves as agent and operator for the Lake Erie & Western Railroad, and is post- master of the town.
Mr. Boogher was born in Greene County, Ohio, May 15, 1861, and is a son of Seely and Margaret (Helwig) Boogher. His grand- father, Daniel G. Boogher, who was a native of Pennsylvania, located in Montgomery Coun- ty, Ohio, when the city of Dayton had but four houses. His farm was situated on the Green County line, and a part of the family lived in
that county. He resided there until his death in 1882. He married Rachel Danford and they had a large family of children.
Seely Boogher, father of our subject, was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, and upon marrying located across the line in Greene County. His wife, Margaret Helwig, a native of Allegheny, Pennsylvania, was seven years old when she moved from Pennsylvania to Cincinnati with her father, William Helwig. Two children were born of this union, William Franklin, the subject of this sketch, and Alvin G., who lives in Santa Fe, Auglaize County, Ohio.
William F. Boogher was a boy when his parents moved to Montgomery County and there received his educational training in dis- trict schools and in the public schools of Day- ton until he was 13 years old, when his wid- owed mother moved to New Bremen, Ohio, in 1874. He then entered the postoffice at that place, and continued there until 1880, when he came to Hume, accepting the position of agent and operator for the Lake Erie & Western Rail- road. He served as such until 1890, and after that date served solely as agent until 1900, since which time he has again discharged the duties of operator as well.
In 1881 he bought the general store and grain business of William L. Metheany and has been in the grain business ever since. He dis- posed of his store in 1895. In December, 1881, he was also appointed postmaster and has served as such ever since, except from 1893 to 1897, during Cleveland's second adminis- tration.
He also operated a sawmill and engaged in the lumber business from 1885 to 1900. In addition to the many duties devolving on him in the capacities enumerated, he was engaged as oil producer and contractor during the oil activ- ity in his section of the county, continuing dur- ing the 12 years ending in 1902. He has an unlimited capacity for work and at the time mentioned was putting in about 20 hours a day in hard work.
It is to his untiring efforts and a natural capacity for business he owes his continued success.
On August 13. 1882, Mr. Boogher married
519
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
Louisa Fritz, a native of St. Marys, Ohio, and a daughter of Adam Fritz, of New Bremen. Six children blessed their union, of whom the following are living : Alice M., William F., Jr., Charles Oscar and Hazel Augusta. Those deceased are : Nellie E. and Edward L.
Politically, Mr. Boogher has always been an ardent Republican and has held numerous township offices; among them, township clerk for two years, and member of the School Board for six years, serving one year as president of the board. He was candidate for county re- corder one year in opposition to Peter T. Mell, and although defeated made a remarkable race. In the Democratic stronghold of Shawnee township he received the handsome majority of 52 votes. It was the first and the only time the township has ever gone Republican on a State election. For three years he served on the board of directors of the Allen County Fair. Fraternally, he is a member of the Knights of Pythias and of the Fraternal Order of Eagles.
--
Although a comparatively young man, just entering middle life, Mr. Boogher is a man of wide experience and has been the longest resi- dent of the town, being sometimes referred to as the "Father of Hume."
OHN N. HUTCHISON, probate judge of Allen County, and one of the most able members of the bar, is an old and highly respected resident of Lima, hav- ing been a citizen for upwards of 30 years. He was born in Monroe County, Ohio, July 10, 1845, and is one of six children whose parents were Alexander C. and Rachel (Nelson) Hutchison. The elder Hutchison was a native of Washington County, Pennsylvania, and his wife was a native of Ireland. In his early days he had learned the trade of a tanner and he car- ried on this work in connection with his farm- ing operations. He died in 1894.
John N. Hutchison was a student of Wash- ington and Jefferson College, of Washington, Pennsylvania, graduating with the class of 1872. James G. Blaine was present at the graduating exercises of the class, and was cele-
brating the 25th anniversary of his graduation from the same college. He then read law at Wheeling, West Virginia, under the preceptor- ship of Bridge Cracraft and was admitted to the bar by the Supreme Court of West Vir- ginia in 1874, at which time he was also ad- mitted to the practice of the law in Ohio. In the fall of the same year he came to Lima and at once formed a partnership with M. L. Becker, the firm of Hutchison & Becker being continued two years. Then this partnership was dissolved and our subject became associ- ated with Hon. John E. Richie. Later the old firm of Hutchison & Becker was reestablished and continued until Mr. Hutchison began prac- ticing alone. He has a large clientage among the best class of people and gives to his cases his best efforts.
Mr. Hutchison was married to Emily C. Cunningham, daughter of James Cunningham, of Lima, who was an old settler and a veteran of the Civil War. Two children were born to this union, namely : Clarence C., deceased, and Halce, who lives at home. Clarence C. en- listed in the late Spanish-American War and underwent exposures that resulted in his con- tracting quick consumption, from which he died in 1899. The family are members of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Hutchison once served as justice of the peace and also served as city solicitor of Lima, and it is the general con- sensus of opinion that there could not have been a wiser selection for the office of probate judge. He is a member of the local bar association and is also a prominent Odd Fellow and Knight of Pythias.
B ETER M. NEUENSCHWANDER, deceased, who for over 30 years was a resident of Richland township, mainly engaged in agricultural pur- suits, was born in Wayne County, Ohio, June 14, 1842, and was one of a family of 13 children born to John and Magdalena (Loyman) Neuenschwander, the former a na- tive of Switzerland and the latter of Wayne County, Ohio.
At the age of about seven years Peter M.
520
HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY
Neuenschwander accompanied his parents to Iowa where they lived until he was 14. Re- turning to Ohio, they moved to the present homestead of our subject's widow, where he continued to live until 1870, when he went to Bluffton and for 12 years was engaged as a brick and stone mason. He then returned to the farm, but continued to work at his trade in addition to farming up to the time of his death. The farm originally consisted of 160 acres, 100 acres of which were afterwards sold :and an adjoining 50 purchased. In addition to this, he also owned 40 acres about half a mile from his home farm. He was an energetic, in- dustrious man and spent few idle hours. His spare time during the winter was spent in hew- ing timber to be used in the construction of his barns and other buildings. His first home was a log cabin; but he built for his family four good homes at different times during his life, one being a fine brick residence in Bluffton and one the substantial brick house which is now the residence of his widow.
Mary Katherine Zerbach was born in Hes- sen, Darmstadt, Germany, February 14, 1852, and is a daughter of John and Barbara ( Thom- asbarger) Zerbach, with whom she came to the United States when a girl of 16. Her father is now in his 86th year, hale and hearty, and makes his home with his daughter, Mrs. Neuen- schwander. The mother passed away about three years ago. In May, 1870, Miss Zerbach and Mr. Neuenschwander were united in mar- riage and a family of 13 children were born to them, namely: Noah, a resident of Bluffton; William, a resident of Richland township; Louis, also of Richland township; Dora, wife of Albert Logbrake, of Findlay, Ohio; Alma, wife of David Steinbrenner, of Bluffton; Henry ; Mary ; Sarah; Walter, who is a student in the Ohio Northern University at Ada ; Clara ; Gertrude; Bessie and one who died in infancy. Mr. Neuenschwander was a Democrat and held various school offices, always using his influ- ence for the upbuilding and improvement of the schools. He was a member of the German Reformed Church, and a man whose sterling worth caused him to be universally respected. His death, which occurred January 1. 1902,
was regarded as a personal loss by all who knew him. His voice is no longer heard, but the influence of his noble life will continue to be felt long after the present generation has passed away.
OHN H. BERRYMAN, one of the in- fluential agriculturists of Shawnee township, residing in section 3, was born August 19, 1843, in that part of Allen County, which has since been set off to Auglaize County. His parents were Rus- sell and Margaret (Slain) Berryman and his grandparents, William and Rachel (Clausen) Berryman. The grandfather came from Eng- land and settled in New Jersey, from which State he entered the Continental Army. Later he moved to Virginia and about the year 1800 located in Montgomery County, Ohio. He and his sons entered a large body of land which extended along the Auglaize River some two miles and included what is now the Fort Amanda farm. Here he tilled the soil and also did considerable work at shoemaking, which trade he had learned in early life.
Russell Berryman was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, January 10, 1814, and seven years later accompanied his parents to Allen County. The two white families who had al- ready settled here comprised the entire white population of the county at that time. Their supplies were to be had only at the expense of a long, tedious journey to Dayton or Toledo, and most of what we consider necessities were unknown to the pioneer homes. As Russell Berryman grew older he helped clear the farm and care for the growing crops and, as the land was rich and mellow, the wooden mould-board plow answered very well for breaking up the soil and making it ready for planting. When the grain had ripened, the sickle and cradle were used for harvesting it, many of the pio- neers boasting of their skill and the rapidity of their work with these implements. The In- dians were a constant menace to the quiet of the rapidly growing community and a military company was formed for defense against them, Mr. Berryman being the captain. He
1
HON. RICHARD E. JONES, M. D.
523
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
died on the homestead in 1877 in the 63rd year of his age. He married Margaret Slain, who was a native of Virginia, and the following children were born to them, viz .: Cornelia (Stocken) ; Ephraim, deceased; Rosabelle (Blackburn), deceased; John H .; and James. Mr. Berryman was a Democrat.
John H. Berryman was reared to manhood on a farm about one mile south of Fort Amanda, where he remained until 1867. He then rented a farm and began buying and feed- ing cattle for the market. This proved profit- able and enabled him to purchase the Dickey farm, and afterwards the Goodman farm, then known as the Turkey Foot farm. Following this, he moved to Lima and engaged in the manufacture and sale of buggies for about one year after which he returned to the country and located on his present farm. About 1879 Mr. Berryman had purchased this property from the heirs of his wife's father. In addition to buying and shipping stock, he also began butch- ering, a business which he conducted for many years. For about seven years he ran a dairy, keeping 60 cows to supply the milk. His land is situated in the oil belt, and at the present time eight wells are being pumped.
On March 12, 1868, Mr. Berryman was married to Sally Columbia Boyd, who was born February 3, 1845, on the farm which is still her home. Her parents were Abraham and Maria (Hover) Boyd. Her maternal grand- father, Ezekiel Hover, came from New Jersey about 1832 and settled in Trumbull County, Ohio, removing in 1833 to Allen County as one of the first pioneers. Mr. and Mrs. Berryman have been blessed with a family of seven chil- dren, viz .: Myrtle, wife of William Minton; Margaret, who married John R. Bristow and has one child, John R. Jr. ; Russell, who was a naval cadet four years and died in his 26th year : Mabel, who died when four years of age; Harriet, who married J. M. Davis and died leaving two children-Calvin Russell and Har- riet Berryman: Robert Fulton, a graduate of Oberlin College, who is now a teacher in the Philippines : and Waldo, a member of Company C. Second Regiment, Ohio National Guard, who lives at home. Mrs. Berryman is a mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church, while Mr. Ber-
ryman holds a membership in the Methodist Episcopal denomination. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. Like his father, he is a Demo- crat, and has served as school director, justice of the peace, trustee, assessor and supervisor. He was the party candidate for nomination for Congress, but withdrew his name, much to the disappointment of his many friends who would have strongly supported his candidacy.
ON. RICHARD E. JONES, M. D., whose portrait accompanies this sketch, may be aptly referred to as the "Grand Old Man." When this title is bestowed, it is conferred on one who is not only eminent in one or more direction, but whose life, achievements and character ap- peal to all that is best and highest in human nature. Hon. Richard E. Jones, M. D., is the "Grand Old Man" of Gomer, where, for half a century he has gone in and out among his fellow-men, ministering to them in sickness, advising them in trouble, defending them with ripe judgment in business complications, rep- resenting them with dignity and fidelity in the Legislature, and setting them a high example in his interpretation of Christian life and fel- lowship. Dr. Jones is not an American by birth, but he is one by development. Although in accord with American ideas and institu- tions, his heart still fondly turns to the home- stead at Tawelfan, Llanbrynmair, Montgom- eryshire, North Wales, where he was born on April 19, 1834. His parents were William and Mary (Evans) Jones, names familiar to every Welshman.
William Jones, the father, was born at Tymayr, North Wales, and lived to be 90 years old, dying in Allen County, Ohio, a man gen- erally respected and esteemed. In April, 1848. William Jones decided to emigrate to Ameri- ca with his little family, and hence took pass- age on the sailing vessel bearing the friendly name of "William Penn." After a more or less trying voyage of eight weeks on the At- lantic Ocean, the strangers were landed at Philadelphia, with a long journey by rail, river and canal still before them ere they could
524
HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY
reach their destination in Allen County. In time the father acquired a half-section of land and throughout his entire active life was an agriculturist. He was interested in the found- ing and supporting of the Welsh Congrega- tional Church at Gomer, and for many years was one of its deacons. He married Mary Evans, who was born in North Wales, and survived her husband but two years, dying at the age of 79. The three children of this union were: Richard E .; William, a resident of Lima; and Mary, who died unmarried.
Richard E. Jones was a bright, intelligent youth of 14 years when the family reached Sugar Creek township and settled on the se- lected farm, some seven miles north of Lima. He readily recalls the pioneer surroundings and the wild state of the country between Delphos and Gomer, wagon tracks taking the place of roads, this condition of affairs mak- ing transportation during bad weather almost an impossibility. He remained with his father for about two years, assisting on the farm un- til the second son could take his place, and then turned his attention to the study of medicine, an ambition he had long cherished. About 1851 he became a student under Dr. Monroe, at Vaughnsville, and under his direction con- tinued his professional reading through some four years, afterward attending the medical lectures and pursuing the course at Miami Medical College, Cincinnati, from which he was graduated in February, 1856.
The year of 1855 was one of unusual sick- ness in this locality and, in dating the beginning of his practice, Dr. Jones may justly name this year, during which he probably was kept as busy in visiting patients all over the township as for any like period in his career. Dr. Jones has always been a general practitioner and a close student, having been very active in the diffusion of medical knowledge. He was one of the carly promoters of medical societies in the county, is a member of various medical or- ganizations throughout the State, and for a number of years served as president and secre- tary of the Northwestern Ohio Medical Asso- ciation. Outside of his profession, he has served on many civic bodies, and has taken a prominent part in business and social life. For
a long period he has been one of the directors of The First National Bank of Lima. When the Elida Pioneer Society was organized 12 years ago, he was naturally chosen as its presi- dent. It is probably the largest organization of the kind in the State, having an attendance of about 10,000 at its annual meetings, which are looked upon in the light of most enjoyable events. The Elida Pioneer Society held a nota- ble meeting on August 11, 1904, and in the list of its officers may be found the names of the leading men of importance in Allen County, beginning with the president, Dr. R. E. Jones.
Dr. Jones has always been identified with the Democratic party, casting his first presi- dential vote for James Buchanan. For 42 years he served as treasurer of Sugar Creek town- ship, during 40 years of this period being obliged to contend with a large Republican ma- jority in the township, but his personal popu- larity has always been so great that in any con- test where he has been concerned party lines have been entirely ignored. He served two terms in the General Assembly, demonstrating there his ability as a statesman, and but adding to the confidence and trust which his fellow- citizens already reposed in him. For 57 years he has been a member of the Welsh Congrega- tional Church at Gomer and has been one of its most liberal supporters and useful members. During the erection of two church edifices and the remodeling of one, he has served on the building committee, his care and judgment being the means of obtaining the best results through the least possible expenditure.
Dr. Jones has never married; seemingly he has so given his life and energies to those who have needed his services as to ignore the possi- ble possession of a domestic circle of his own. While he has acceptably filled many positions, he has always been first and foremost a physi- cian, and as such has borne many of the heav- iest burdens of the community for more thas two-score years. Between him and those to whom he has ministered so faithfully exists a sentiment much deeper than confidence and esteem; for his faithfulness in times of trouble and distress, his heroic efforts to save life. or to prolong it, and his deep, warm sympathy when all his skill, experience and learning could
525
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
not combat disease, are so well known that herein lies the feeling with whichi his fellow townsmen regard him. Admired as he is as a physician, he is beloved and reverenced as a man. In him the weak and friendless, the hum- ble and the obscure, have found as true and faithful a friend and physician, as have those whose lives of affluence and case have not pre- vented the inroads of disease or the grip of affliction. That Dr. Jones, with his multitudi- nous interests, his private friendships and pub- lic tasks should have remained the same kind, unobtrusive, gentle-mannered citizen, accessi- ble to everyone-ready to freely give himself, his time, his money, his skill-might surprise a stranger, but to those who know him best, this is but an example of what they have always found and is one reason why he is the "Grand Old Man."
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.