USA > Ohio > Allen County > History of Allen County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part Two > Part 18
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LONZO SMITH BOWER, whose portrait is shown on the opposite page, conducts the leading bakery and con- fectionery of Lima. He was born at Piqua, Ohio, in October, 1855, and is a son of Robert Bower, who died in this city December 3, 1903, in the 81st year of his age. Robert Bower came to Allen County when he was a lad of 12 years, about 1835, and from that year, with the exception of eight years spent in Piqua, was a resident of Lima until the time of his death. He first learned the trade of a saddle-maker and followed it for several years, part of the time at Delphos. Later he engaged in the manufacture of carriages, and in 1858 established a shop in Lima, which he conducted until his permanent retirement from active business.
A. S. Bower has been a resident of Lima since his third year. He attended the public schools and worked in his father's carriage shop during his boyhood. At the age of 20 he se- cured work with Mr. Heffner, who conducted a bakery, and finding the employment to his lik- ing, continued in his service until 1884, when he opened a small establishment himself. He has succeeded beyond his expectations, and now has the finest bakery and confectionery in Lima,
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making a specialty of superior ice cream and producing about 1,800 loaves of bread daily, his "Nox-em-al" brand being the local favorite. He has been in his present location about 18 years and is one of the substantial citizens of Lima. Mr. Bower is a stockholder in The East Iron & Machine Company, and has other business interests here.
In 1881 Mr. Bower was joined in marriage to Clara Bowyer, a daughter of Madison L. Bowyer, a venerable and esteemed citizen of German township. Mr. Bowyer still owns the land which his father entered from the govern- ment in 1829, when his son, Madison, was a child of four years. Mr. and Mrs. Bower have three children, viz: Robert Sidney, who is as- sociated with his father in business; and Helen and Ruth, both at home. Mr. Bower and his wife are members and active workers of the First Congregational Church, he himself being a trustee of the church, while Mrs. Bower has served as president of the Ladies' Circle for the past four years. Fraternally, he is a Royal Arch Mason and a past chancellor of the Knights of Pythias.
€ DWARD J. FORD, a worthy represen- tative of one of the old pioneer fami- lies of Allen County, resides on a well-developed farm of 93 acres in section 34, Marion township, on the east side of the Auglaize River, situated on the Lima turnpike and the Delphos road. Mr. Ford was born December 19, 1853, near Ur- bana, on his father's pioneer farm in Cham- paign County, Ohio, and is a son of Joseph and Isabella (Moore) Ford.
Joseph Ford, the venerable father of our subject, who had his 89th birthday on Septem- ber 17, 1905, was born on a farm situated one and a half miles southeast of Urbana. Champaign County, Ohio, and is a son of Jo- seph and Catherine ( Snell) Ford.
Joseph Ford, the grandfather of Edwin J. Ford, was born March 4, 1781, near Hagers- town, Maryland, where he lived in peace and plenty on his lands after the close of the Revo-
lutionary War. On April 12, 1803, he married Catherine Snell, who was a daughter of Samuel Snell. She was born May 4, 1781. After mar- riage, Joseph and Catherine Ford joined the army of pioneers who sought homes in Ken- tucky, but soon left the rich valleys there, which then were overrun with Indians, and came to the more peaceful settlements in Ohio. Grand- father Ford located in Champaign County, which then, with the exception of scattered clearings, was a dense forest, and cleared a farm situated four miles from Urbana. He was also an old-time .teamster and engaged in hauling freight between Cincinnati and Day- ton, Ohio, and likewise did teaming for Gen- eral Wayne's army. The children born to Joseph and Catherine Ford were: Sarah, James, Christiana, Nancy, John Harrison, Jo- seph, William, Mary and a babe which died in infancy. For 18 consecutive years Joseph Ford served as a justice of the peace and he also was captain of a rifle company. He owned a fine farm of 134 acres in the vicinity of Ur- bana. He died in Champaign County at the age of 72 years. He was a life-long member of the Methodist Protestant Church, and for many years was a deacon. His wife was equally devoted to this denomination.
Joseph Ford, father of our subject, the sev- enth child of his parents family, is the only sur- vivor, and what a vast gulf of history his long life has covered! He was educated in the primitive subscription schools, the sessions of which were held in little log cabins, with none of the luxurious surroundings which the mod- ern child expects both at home and at school. However, these early schools taught thorough- ly the elemental principles and turned out able men and women. Mr. Ford, like his father, began to assist in teaming when but a strip- ling, easily managing the four and six-horse teams which were attached to the immense freight wagons. He recalls one of his early trips which took him through Allen County, when the present flourishing little city of Lima was erecting its first log cabin in the woods. He continued to follow teaming until 1843 and then entered into general farming. In 1844 he married and continued to live in Champaign
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County until 1854, and then removed to Allen County, settling on a tract of 160 acres, right in the woods, which he had purchased in 1849, the land being situated in a desirable part of Marion township. This farm he cleared from the forest and increased its acreage to 200 acres. In his efforts he was assisted by his admirable wife whose frugality and excellent management provided a cheerful, happy home, in which a family of worthy children were reared to respected and useful maturity.
On January 5, 1844, Joseph Ford was mar- ried to Isabella Moore, who was a daughter of Maj. Thomas and Martha (Dodson) Moore. Major Moore, who was an early settler. in Kentucky and a farmer, drover, teamster and soldier, obtained huis title in the War of 1812. He was surrendered with the garrison at De- troit by Gen. William Hull, having cut his way through 200 miles of forest to Detroit from Urbana. Major Moore was the first man to plant an orchard in his county. He was twice married. His first wife was a Miss McConkle, and five children were born to the union. The second marriage was to Martha Dodson, and the following children were born to this mar- riage: Jesse, Samuel, William. Isabella and Martha J. The death of Major Moore oc- curred during one of his teaming trips, his lifeless body being found in his wagon. He was 50 years of age.
The children of Joseph Ford and wife were: Dora, deceased, who was the wife of Irenus Stooky; John C., a farmer of Marion township, who is also in the stone business; Mary, deceased, who was the wife of Edward Tucker; Anna, the wife of Henry Boroff, of Hardin County, Ohio; Thomas, deceased; Ed- ward J., of Marion township; Frances, de- ceased, who was the wife of Sheldon Sarber; Alice, the wife of Rev. George W. Mell, pastor of the Christian Church at Delphos; Maly, a farmer on the old homestead, who married Emily Lee; and Ollie, who married Charles Morgan and resides on the homestead. The mother of the above mentioned children, full of years and possessed of all the Christian vir- tues, passed away in the old home in section 2, Marion township, on January 13, 1902. Since
1885 Mr. Ford has lived retired. He has al- ways been identified with the Democratic party and for a number of his active years served as township trustee. His venerable age causes him to find the larger part of his enjoyment in the associations of the home and hearthstone, and he still deeply mourns the loss which be- reaved him of his companion of so many happy years. He is held in the highest respect and greatest esteem by the residents of Marion township.
Edward J. Ford, our immediate subject. was only three months old when his parents' came to Allen County and settled on the farm- in section 2, Marion township. Mr. Ford was. reared on the farm where the summer seasons were filled with agricultural labor, while the winters were given over to attending school. About two years after his marriage, in associa- tion with his brother, John C. Ford, he opened up a stone quarry business in section 9, Marion township, and was interested in this business for four years. Then he started in business alone on his own farm. Following his mar- riage, he located on a tract of 35 acres of land which had been partially improved and culti- vated, and later he came to his present produc- tive farm, settling here in March, 1889. He carries on general farming in connection with his stone business, having ditched and tiled his land and improved it with excellent buildings. Much of his time, however, is still demanded by his stone interests. The capacity of his stone-crusher is from 50 to 60 yards a day, the average product being the former quantity, and' sales are made all over the county. He is a member of the township School Board and is one of the directors of the beautiful Walnut Grove Cemetery. Fraternally he is a Knight of Pythias.
In January, 1880, Mr. Ford was married to Lovina Phillips, who is a daughter of Isaac and Polly (Crites) Phillips. The former was. born in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, and was a son of Daniel Phillips, who moved to Ohio at a very early day and settled near Day- ton for a short period and then removed to Fairfield County. There he bought So acres of land and spent the rest of his life upon it. He
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reared seven sons and five daughters. The father of Mrs. Ford learned the blacksmith's trade in Fairfield County. In 1855 he moved to Allen County and settled on a farm in Mar- ion township, one mile east and south of Mr. Ford's place. He remained on this farm in section 3 for a number of years. His wife died some years before he was accidentally killed by a train on the P., Ft. W. & C. Railway, at Scott's Crossing.
ON CARLOS HENDERSON, an at- torney of the Allen County Bar, was born at Tranquility, Adams County, Ohio, February 13, 1862. He is a son of Dr. James Kyle and Susanna Henderson, who now reside at Weston, Ohio. Dr. James Kyle Henderson, now of the age of 82 years, is a graduate of the New York Col- lege of Medicine, and for many years was one of the leading physicians of Western Pennsyl- vania and Eastern Ohio.
Don Carlos Henderson attended the public schools at Bucyrus, Ohio, and completed his course of studies at the Ohio Normal Univer- sity in the year 1887, at which time he received the degree of A. B. The year following he at- tended college at Delaware, Ohio, and later studied law, completing his course of reading in the office of Hon. Moses A. Hoagland, of Lima, and being admitted to the bar in Octo- ber, 1889. After admission to the bar, he be- gan practice with Mr. Hoagland as the junior member of the firm of Hoagland & Henderson. This partnership continued for a period of one year, and since that time Mr. Henderson has practiced alone.
On the 14th of May, 1892, Mr. Henderson was united in marriage to Minnie W. Kahle, a daughter of Frederick and Isabelle Kahle, both of whom are still living, and reside at Frank- lin, Pennsylvania. Mr. Kahle was one of the early operators of the Pennsylvania oil field. Two children, Dudley Kahle Henderson, aged 12, and Marjorie Isabelle Henderson, aged II, have been born of this marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Henderson are members of the Market Street Presbyterian Church.
Mr. Henderson was elected city solicitor in the spring of 1897 for a period of two years and was reelected in the spring of 1899. From the beginning of his business career he has been recognized as one of the leaders in city and county affairs, and has been active in local and State politics. He is an untiring worker, and, to his great credit, is one of those who believe that his chosen profession should receive his undivided time and energies. Mr. Henderson is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, Ancient Order of Essenees and Royal Arcanum. While yet young in years, he is prominent in his profession, and in the social and business- interests of the community.
- HOMAS S. HANTHORN, one of the good citizens of Bath township, where he is a very large land-owner and has the reputation of raising and handling the best draft horses put upon the market, is also a survivor of the Civil War, having given three years and more of his young manhood to the defense of his country. Mr. Hanthorn was born December 17, 1845, in Perry township, Allen County, Ohio, and is a son of Thomas and Elizabeth ( Hardesty) Han- thorn.
The grandfather was George Hanthorn, who was probably of Irish birth and parentage. He was a very early pioneer in Perry County, Ohio. Thomas Hanthorn, the father, was born March 17, 1810, in Perry County, Ohio, and was still a youth when his parents moved to Allen County. His first purchase of land was a tract of 40 acres, the same on which a portion of the city of Lima now stands. He subse- quently owned 200 acres, and spent his whole life here with the exception of eight years, dur- ing which he lived in Branch County, Michi- gan. He died at the age of 68 years. He was one of the early organizers of the First Baptist Church, at Lima. He married twice: first, Myrea Daniels, who lived but two years; in 1840 he married Mrs. Elizabeth ( Hardesty)
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Colvin, who was born May 29, 1814, on the way between Connecticut and Ohio, when her parents, Henry and Elizabeth Hardesty, were making their pioneer journey hither. She was reared in Allen County near Westminster, mar- ried (first) William R. Colvin, and died May 1, 1893.
The children of Thomas and Elizabeth Hanthorn were: Nancy Caroline, who died young ; Elizabeth, wife of Daniel Rowlands, of Lima; James Milton, born in 1843, who died aged three years; Thomas S., of this sketch; Frances Emeline, wife of John Crumrine, of Lima; George L., born in 1850, who died in Nebraska in 1895; Sarah Alice, wife of James Frost, of Lima; Howard and Harmon (twins), the latter is deceased, the former a resident of Fort Wayne, Indiana; and Viola Bell, wife of James McGuire, of Lima.
Thomas S. Hanthorn remained at home until the opening of the Civil War. He then began preparations to enter the Union Army ; in September, 1862, he enlisted in Company G, 12th Reg., Ohio Vol. Cav., under Captain Monroe, and during his long service of three years he participated in 24 engagements, in- cluding the battles of Mount Sterling, Ken- tucky, Saltville, Virginia, and Cumberland Gap, Maryland. For three months he was con- fined in the hospital at Knoxville, suffering with typhoid fever. He did not receive any in- jury in battle and on his return home resumed farming. In the following spring he accom- panied his parents to Branch County, Michigan, and remained there for seven years, engaged in farming.
Upon his return to Perry township, Allen County, Mr. Hanthorn for some 16 years worked a sand-bank on the west side of the cor- porate limits of Lima, and with his numerous teams supplied almost all of the sand used for building purposes in the city. He then bought 55 acres which he later traded, and then pur- chased 182 acres north of Lima, on which are situated two excellent dwellings now occupied by his sons. He formerly owned town prop- erty and still retains as a homestead a farm of 156 acres, which is admirably improved, with two sets of farm buildings. Mr. Hanthorn
gives his attention entirely to dealing in horses now and lives with his grandson, who rents his farm.
Mr. Hanthorn was married on June 21, 1866, to Hester A. Shannon, who was born near Fremont, in Clark County, Ohio, Septem- ber 7, 1847, and is a daughter of Isaac and Margaret ( Hollinger) Shannon. They have three children, namely: Emma, who married O. J. Fields, of Lima, and has four children; William Henry, who has six children; and Rollie, who has two children. The two sons live on our subject's farms in Bath township.
Mr. Hanthorn has always been identified with the Republican party, but has never been very active politically; his other interests ab- sorbing his time and attention. He is a good citizen and is always ready to lend a helping hand in movements for the public welfare.
ALTER C. BRADLEY, one of the leading business men of Lima, treasurer of the Lima Pork Pack- ing Company, was born in Cayuga County, New York, in 1866, and is a son of Daniel Bradley.
Daniel Bradley was born at King's Ferry, New York, where his ancestors had been pio- neer settlers. He still resides in Cayuga Coun- ty, New York, where he is a large farmer and extensive stock dealer. Two of his brothers served in the Union Army during the Civil War.
Walter C. Bradley was reared in Cayuga County. He had good educational opportuni- ties, being for a considerable period a student at the Sherwood select school, a private acad- emy of note in that locality. When about 18 years of age he left school and taught through one year, after which he entered into the pro- duce business, in the interest of a New York commission house. He also engaged in farm- ing and did quite a successful business in the sale of agricultural implements. His financial success was sufficient to procure him the posi- tion of local manager for Swift & Company, of Chicago, when but 29 years old. He was
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located first at the branch house at Springfield, Ohio, then spent a year at the branch house at Lima; the following year he was at Toledo; after a short time at Erie, Pennsylvania, he came back to the important branch house at Lima, and continued here as manager of Swift & Company's business for three years.
Then Mr. Bradley entered into business for himself, in association with B. F. Thomas, Ira P. Carnes, D. W. Leichty and A. R. Thomas, incorporators of the Lima Pork Packing Com- pany, with a capital stock of $20,000, which, in 1903, was increased to $60,000. The officers of this company are: B. F. Thomas, president ; Ira P. Carnes, vice-president; W. C. Bradley, treasurer, and D. W. Leichty, secretary. This board of officers has remained intact since the incorporation of the business. They moved from the old stand on North Elizabeth street, near the P., Ft. W. & C. Railway tracks to their present fine quarters on South Central street, occupying Nos. 215-217-219-221-223 where they do a general packing business, their spe- cialty being the manufacture of all kinds of sausages. The company requires the assistance of two traveling men to cover Ohio territory ; exclusive of these and the office force, they em- ploy about 30 men. This business promises to be a strong competitor with the great pork packing concerns already in the field.
Mr. Bradley was married September 9, 1885, to A. Luella Price, who is a daughter of the late David Price, of New York. They have three children, viz .: David R., who is a graduate of the Lima public schools and the Lima Business College; Violet Luella; and Anna Maybel. The family belong to the Pres- byterian Church, Mr. Bradley having been a member of this religious body since young manhood.
OHN B. SEVERNS, a farmer of sec- tion 28, Perry township, was born in Holmes County, Ohio, June 21, 1850. His parents were Simon and Catherine (Schaffer) Severns, the former of whom was born in Knox County, Ohio, Octo- ber 13, 1820, and the latter, in Maryland, Sep-
tember 14, 1819. The paternal grandfather came from Virginia at an early day and settled in Ohio. In 1852 Simon Severns brought his family to Allen County and located on the farm now occupied by Jonathan McPheron, where they continued to reside during the remainder of their lives. He met his death April 2, 1879, by the explosion of a boiler at a sawmill, at which he had stopped for a moment while pass- ing. His wife survived him many years, dying April 14, 1890. Their children were as fol- lows: Samantha R. (Budd), of Colorado; Merriman, unmarried, who resides in Colo- rado; Sarah Ann, who died young; Llewellyn A., a resident of Van Wert, Ohio; John B .; Franklin P., who died in Van Wert County ;. and Stephen D., who died in early life.
John B. Severns was educated in the dis- trict schools of Perry township and remained. at home until the death of his mother, when he went to Colorado. He learned the carpenter's trade and followed it for several years during early manhood, but finally abandoned it and. turned his entire attention to agriculture. He remained in Colorado from September, 1890, until February, 1895, when he came back to Allen County and purchased his present farm.
Mr. Severns has been twice married; first, on September 4, 1879, to Sarah J. Hanthorn, a native of Perry township and a daughter of James A. Hanthorn. She died April 26, 1883, leaving two children: Roscoe, born July 21, 1880, and Florence R., born March 30, 1883, who married George W. McClain, a farmer of Perry township, and has two children-Viola P. and Lawrence S. On July 20, 1889, Mr. Severns was married to Hattie E. Cummings. who was born in Auglaize township, Allen County, Ohio, January 3, 1867, and is a daugh- ter of W. E. and Mary A. Cummings, pioneers of Perry township. Five children have blessed this union, namely : Hazel M., born May 13, 1890, in Perry township; Etta I., born June 19, 1891, in Colorado; Frances E., born April 26, 1893, in Colorado; Velma P., born July 9. 1895, who was born in Ohio; and Simon E., who was born in Ohio May 27, 1902. They are members of the Disciples' Church. Mr. Severns is a Democrat and has served the
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township both as clerk and treasurer. He is a prominent Knight of Pythias, being a member of Uniopolis Lodge, No. 685.
ILFORD E. HEATH, mayor of Harrod, is one of the most capable and efficient officials that has ever presided over the affairs of that vil- lage, and has been equally success- ful in looking after his bakery and confection- ery business. Mr. Heath was born in Medina County, Ohio, February 18, 1863, and is a son of Thomas E. and. Martha ( Aldrich) Heath.
The paternal grandfather was a native of Vermont but of Scotch descent. He moved to Pennsylvania at an early day and secured 200 acres of land, which is now in the heart of the anthracite coal field. This land, together with all his property, was lost through his going bail for some merchants of Philadelphia; but no word of complaint was ever made by his noble wife, whose property was also swallowed up in the misfortune.
Thomas E. Heath was born February 20, 1820, in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, near Pottsville, and was eight years of age when his parents 'moved to Medina County, Ohio, where he lived until his death. He learned the trade of carpenter and became one of the most successful contractors in Medina County. He took an active interest in politics, was a stanch Republican and for several years served as con- stable. A member of the United Brethren Church, he was a man of noble principles and consistent deeds. His death in 1898 resulted from a stroke of paralysis and terminated an upright and useful life. His wife, Martha A. Aldrich, was born January 6. 1832, and was of Scotch-English origin, her immediate ances- tors being Roswell and Eva Aldrich. She died at the age of 47 years, leaving three children : Leonard M., a farmer residing near Kenton, Ohio; Rosa, who married F. D. Marble and resides at Ravenna. Portage County, Ohio ; and Wilford E. Mrs. Marble is the mother of four children, only two of whom are now living. Frank B. Marble. her son, graduated from the
Case School of Applied Science, Cleveland, Ohio, and then entered the service of the Bal- timore & Ohio Railroad Company, being em- ployed as an engineer in bettering the grades for the heavy freight traffic of that road. Later he accepted the position of chief engineer of the American Steel & Wire Company, and is still retained by them at a large salary. He married Loie Davis, of Cleveland, and their little daughter, Helen, is the youngest of four generations of Marbles. The family have a photograph of this group of four generations which is highly prized. Eva Marble, daugh- ter of Mrs. F. D. Marble, lives at home and is an accomplished musician.
Wilford E. Heath remained at home until his 13th year when the death of his mother occurred, after which he made his home with his sister. He attended the schools of Medina County and also was a student in the schools of Bedford. Leaving school, he secured work in the hardware store of J. B. Haines, and for two years was not only the bookkeeper but a handy man in the store. The next three years were passed in the employ of the A. L. Shat- tuck Chair Company, after which he went to Galva, Illinois, and, in partnership with his cousin, engaged in the bakery business. The continued ill health of his father necessitated his return home, where he remained four years until his father's death, when he located a. Harrod, Allen County. Erecting a suitable building, Mr. Heath opened a bakery, adding also a line of confectionery, patent medicines, tobacco and groceries. He has built up a good business and has endeavored to merit patronage by having everything of the best. His bakery is well equipped, all his mixing being done by machinery operated by steam power, and everything entering into the composition of his goods is the purest and cleanest that can be procured.
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