USA > Ohio > Allen County > History of Allen County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part Two > Part 23
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IRA P. CARNES
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The parents of Christian Lehman came to Ohio and settled in Columbiana County, when he was eight years old, and in 1849 the family came to Allen County and settled on a farm of 160 acres in section 23, German township. To this was later added a tract of 40 acres sit- uated in section 3, Sugar Creek township and, still later, 40 acres more in German township, the aggregate being 240 acres of excellent land. The parents passed away on this farm and were laid to rest in the Sugar Creek Men- nonite Cemetery.
Christian Lehman learned the carpenter's trade in his youth and worked at the same for some 20 years and then turned his attention to farming. He resided on the homestead, which he acquired, until the close of his life.
Christian Lehman married Susanna Leh- man, a daughter of Christian and Elizabeth ( Bookwater ) Lehman, who came from Cum- berland County, Pennsylvania, to Richland County, Ohio, and settled in Allen County in 1848. Mrs. Lehman was born November 16, 1830. Although she is the mother of 13 chil- dren, she retains her health and activity and takes an interested part in household affairs and in church work. The children were: Simon, who died aged five years; Joseph, who works. as a carpenter in Lima; Elizabeth, who married John Barnes, resides in Kansas and has one daughter, Lydia Belle; Adeline, who married Peter Zuercher, lives in Sugar Creek township and has these children-Eno, Salome, Leroy, Christian and Cora; Hosanna, who died at the age of 33 years; Elzina, who died aged 21 years; Rachel, who married Christopher Good, formerly of Kansas, but now of Sugar. Creew township, and has these children-lda, Irvin, Jesse and Susanna ; Daniel, who superin- tends the work on the home farm and in season operates a steam thresher, work in which he has been engaged for six years past; Lydia, Isa- bella and Henry, who reside at home; Kate, who died at the age of 30 years; and George, who resides at Pandora, Ohio.
The family belong to the Mennonite Church, in which Mr. Lehman was a deacon for many years. His life was one of quiet use- fulness and he is recalled with feelings of affec- tion and esteem.
RA P. CARNES, vice-president of The Lima Locomotive & Machine Com- pany and vice-president of the Lima Pork Packing Company, is one of the city's representative business men. He was born at East Barre, Washington Coun- ty, Vermont, in 1850, and is the eldest son of John and Mary ( Baldwin) Carnes.
Mr. Carnes was a child of three years when his parents moved to Sycamore, Ohio, and shortly after to Upper Sandusky, where his father was the owner of a foundry and machine shop. He attended school in both these cities, always be- ing considered a very apt student, especially in mathematics. Like his father and grand- father, he early showed a mechanical talent and from boyhood took an interest in machinery ; after 1869, when his parents settled at Lima, he was constantly employed in the shop of Carnes, Agerter & Company. The father, as related in a sketch which will be found in this volume, was the founder of the Lima Locomo- tive Works, which succeeded the firm of Carnes, Agerter & Company. When this re- organization took place, Ira P. Carnes became a member of the firm and since then he has been one of the important factors in shaping the business course of this immense concern. In addition to the important duties pertaining to this office, he has other interests, one of these being the vice-presidency of the Lima Pork Packing Company, another institution of which Lima is justly proud. He has also been con- nected with the Lima Home & Savings Asso- ciation since its organization. In all that con- cerns the welfare of the city he takes an intelli- gent and public spirited interest and is num- bered with the most progressive as well as most popular men of the city. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church.
In 1880 Mr. Carnes was married to Louisa Wuichet. of Dayton, Ohio, and to them were born two children-Sabine and Walter. Mrs. Carnes died in January, 1885. Mr. Carnes was again married, in 1889, to Anna Robb, sister of Hon. Theodore D. Robb, mayor of Lima. They have one child. John, who is named for his grandfather, John Carnes. A portrait of Ira P. Carnes accompanies this sketch.
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€ G. CONNER, a member of the whole- sale and retail millinery firm of Light & Conner, of Lima, is one of the city's prominent and substantial citizens. He is a native of Perry County, Ohio, born in 1871, and is a son of Rev. William H. Conner, who is the pastor of the First Congre- gational Church, at Portland, Indiana.
E. G. Conner was seven years old when his parents settled in Elida, Ohio, and his educa- tion was all secured in the schools of Allen County. When but a youth he learned the printing business and for some 10 years worked on various newspapers in Ohio and In- diana. In April, 1901, he returned to Lima, and in the July following became a member of the firm of Light & Conner. The house does an immense business, both wholesale and re- tail, and is recognized throughout the State as absolutely reliable.
In 1895 Mr. Conner was married to Irene C. Light, who is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Franklin Light, who have been residents of Lima for the past 14 years and are the senior members of the millinery firm of Light & Con- ner. Mr. and Mrs. Conner have two children -- Helen Isabel and Eugene Frantz. The former is a talented child, a remarkable elocu- tionist for one of her age.
Mr. and Mrs. Conner are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Conner being a member of the board of trustees and a steward in Trinity Church, Lima. Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of the Mac- cabees.
L. ANDREWS has been a resident of Lima for almost 20 years and during the entire period has been a powerful factor in pushing the various indus- trial enterprises of the city and, by his own example in kindling the interest and enthusiasm of others until success was assured. Although a careful business man he is, at the same time, progressive and enterprising, and his name may be found among the stockholders of many of Lima's leading institutions. Mr. Andrews was born in July, 1849, in Pittsfield,
Warren County, Pennsylvania, and was there educated and developed into manhood. At an early age he engaged in the production of oil in his native State, and continued in business there until 1887.
At that time the industry was in its infancy in this county, and Mr. Andrews soon took ad- vantage of the situation by removing to Lima and contracting for the production of oil. He located here in November, 1887, and the oil industry at once began to assume activity, con- tinuing to increase until it has reached its pres- ent importance. Mr. Andrews is now operat- ing in the Indiana oil field, but his business in- terests have extended until they embrace shares in the East Iron & Machine Company, First National Bank, A. B. Klay Company (of which he is director), The National Roofing Tile Company, and a number of other enter- prises.
In 1878, Mr. Andrews was married to Rosalia A. Porter, daughter of the late A. V. Porter, of Warren County, Pennsylvania. Two children were born to this union: Blanche, who is the wife of George S. Moffat, D. D. S., of Pittsburg, Kansas, and Orren L., a student of Purdue University, class of 1907. For sev- eral years Mr. Andrews was trustee of Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church, of Lima, of which he is a devout member. He is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias of this city, and is also prominent in Masonic circles, being a member of the Blue Lodge, Chapter, Council and Commandery at Lima, Antioch Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Dayton, and Lake Erie Consistory, S. P. R. S., at Cleveland.
P
B ERT WOHLGEMUTH, proprietor of the California Wine Company, wholesale and retail dealers in choice wines and liquors, at Lima, occupies a prominent place among the city's successful business men. He was born in Hungary in 1860.
Mr. Wohlgemuth was 15 years of age when he emigrated to America and he is a note- worthy example of a self-made man. After
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reaching the United States he went immediate- ly to Cincinnati, and began his business career by carrying a pack and selling goods through- out the country. In three years he had accum- ulated a little capital, which he invested in Chil- licothe by associating himself with the firm of Feldman & Company, dealers in fancy dry goods, with whom he continued for nine years. In 1886 he came to Lima and, with Mr. Feld- man, established the firm of Feldman & Com- pany. For two years he was in sole charge of the business, when his brother, Jonas Wohlge- muth, also became associated in the enterprise. The firm has continued here for the past 19 years, occupying a local position second to none in its line of business. Seven years ago its scope was expanded and removal was made to the present quarters, Nos. 211-213 North Main street, adjoining the old stand.
On November 1, 1905, Mr. Wohlgemuth purchased the business of the California Wine Company, wholesale and retail dealers in fine wines and liquors, at No. 135 South Main street. This is a well-established business and requires the constant services of four travel- ing representatives to visit the trade in all por- tions of the United States.
In 1898 Mr. Wohlgemuth was married to Martha Schachne, of Chillicothe, Ohio. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and of the Royal Arcanum. Personally he is a man of fine business perceptions and of pleasant, genial nature, and is held in high esteem by the residents of Lima.
P ETER ZIMMERLY was born in Riley township, Putnam County, Ohio, February 2, 1839, but has been an honored resident of Allen County since 1868, when he moved to Rich- land township and purchased his present farm of 120 acres, located in section 10. Mr. Zim- merly is a son of John and Anna ( Berner) Zimmerly, both of whom were natives of Al- sace, France. The father, who was born about 1780, came to America when a young man, locating first in Wayne County, Ohio, and
later in Putnam County, where he died in 1855. He had entered a quarter-section of land in Riley township, most of which he had cleared and put under cultivation. It was in this county he met and married Anna Berner, who was born in 1801 and came to this country when a young woman with her mother and a party of emigrants. She passed away on the homestead on March 23, 1895, at the ripe age of 93 years, II months and 18 days, leaving three children and a large circle of friends to regret her death. Our subject is the eldest son. John has passed to the higher life. Chris- topher lives on the homestead in Riley town- ship, Putnam County, and is a preacher of the Mennonite faith.
Peter Zimmerly spent the earlier years of his life in his native county where he was mar- ried on May 5, 1868, to Annie Bixel, who was born in Holmes County, Ohio, in 1842, and was a daughter of Peter and Fannie ( Dealer) Bixler. Soon after his marriage, Mr. Zim- merly came with his bride to Allen County to make a home for himself. Three children have blessed their home, namely : John, who resides in Richland township; Lucinda, wife of Wil- liam Balmer, of Richland township; and Eli, who lives in Bluffton. Mrs. Zimmerly died in 1881, and in 1882 our subject was married to Mary Ann Kiner, who was born in Canton Bern, Switzerland, August 4, 1858, and came to America when a young girl of 17 years, ac- companied by two brothers. Her parents were John and Barbara (Zurgher) Kiner. Mrs. Zimmerly has borne her husband seven chil- dren, viz .: Ida, wife of Frederick Kratz, of Pandora, Ohio; Maggie, who lives at home; Elvina, Llewellyn, Clara, Melvin and Mary Ann. All the members of the family can un- derstand and speak English perfectly; but when at home they converse wholly in German in order that the younger members may be thorough in their knowledge and use of that tongue. Mr. Zimmerly is one of the influen- tial and prosperous farmers of Richland town- ship, and has his farm well improved, the land being all under cultivation except some 12 acres of woodland pasture. He raises large quantities of grain and also deals quite exten-
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sively in stock. He is a member of the Men- nonite Church and a good man. A Democrat in politics, he has served as a member of the School Board and also as road commissioner.
ALTER E. GRAY, an extensive oil operator in various fields, whose home is in Lima, was born in 1851 at Covington, Kentucky, and is a son of Francis Gray.
Francis Gray was a large woolen manu- facturer for 50 years, and during half of this period was located at Piqua, Ohio, where he was very prominent in business and public life. During the Civil War he raised a company of Home Guards which was called upon for serv- ice. He was prominent in Masonry for half a century.
When an infant, Walter E. Gray was taken to Cynthiana, Kentucky, where his parents lived during his boyhood and school days. In 1865 they returned to Covington and subse- quently located at Piqua, Ohio. In his father's mills at the latter place, our subject first found employment, remaining there for about five years. In 1881 he accompanied his father to Lima, and they founded the handle factory which they sold in 1882 to O. B. Selfridge & Company. Mr. Gray then embarked in a mer- cantile business which he carried on until the fall of 1885, when he disposed of it in order to give attention to the oil industry. These in- terests have been expanded and he is connected with the Planet Oil Company, which operates extensively in various fields-the Trenton rock of Ohio and Indiana, the Canadian fields and also rich California fields. The company is in- terested in quite a number of productive wells.
Mr. Gray was married October 19, 1881. to Ida N. Dalzell, who is a daughter of Isaac Dalzell. one of the oldest settlers of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Gray have one daughter-Mary J., an accomplished young lady, who is a grad- uate of Mount Vincent Academy. of Price Hill, Cincinnati. Mr. Gray and family belong to the Protestant Episcopal Church. Like his father, Mr. Gray is prominently identified with
the various Masonic bodies, being a member of Blue Lodge, Council, Chapter and Command- ery. He is one of the city's enterprising men of business, takes part in its various public- spirited movements, and assists in upholding Lima's reputation as a great commercial center.
LAIR B. WELLS, proprietor of livery, feed and sale stables at Lima, St. Marys and LaFayette, Ohio, is a very large buyer and seller of - fancy saddle and driving horses, and one of the best authorities in this line in the State. He was born at Wauseon, Fulton County, Ohio, in 1878, and is a son of J. G. Wells, a large real estate dealer of that place.
Although Mr. Wells was born in Ohio, his rearing was in the West, his parents migrating to Colorado and to Kansas. When he was about 19 years of age he returned to Ohio, completed his school course in the Lima High School, and in 1900 graduated from the Lima Business College. For some time he was en- gaged as a stenographer and later associated in a grocery business. From boyhood he had evinced the qualities of a natural horseman. During his residence in Kansas City this tend- ency had induced him to take lessons in the training of horses and in the teaching of the art of horsemanship, so that, after disposing of his grocery interests in 1903, he established his present business at Lima. From the first he was successful and now has branch stables at LaFayette and St. Marys. He has enlarged the scope of the business, and now owns a garage both at Lima and St. Marys, keeping a large line of automobiles of every description. He is thorough and scientific in his training of fine horses, and his stables are known to turn out only reliable, well-trained animals. At one time he owned a fine Arabian team, which he sold to Cleveland parties. Outside of his stables he has other business interests, and is one of the most enterprising young business men in this section of the State.
In 1901 Mr. Wells was married to Ger-
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trude Reis, who is a daughter of M. C. Reis, deceased, a conductor on the Lake Erie & Western Railroad. She is a charming and ac- complished lady.
Mr. Wells is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and the Young Men's Christian Association, and is identified with the First Christian Church.
R EUBEN SHINDOLLER, whose handsome modern home stands within its neat iron fence and surrounded by a beautiful lawn, on a valuable piece of property just outside the corpo- ration limits of Spencerville, where Mr. Shin- doller owns a 20-acre farm, in section II, Spencer township, was born in Delaware County, Ohio, May 25, 1839. His parents were Michael and Frederika (Yager) Shin- doller.
The parents of Mr. Shindoller were quiet, farming people in Delaware County. The father died in 1846, leaving his widow to rear as best she could a family of 10 children. Her duty was nobly performed, and the seven who still survive unite in recalling her many vir- tues and the sacrifices she was willing to make in order to rear them to useful lives. She passed away on October 20, 1878. Our sub- ject and seven of his brothers served in the army during the Civil War. Henry was a member of Company E, 66th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf. ; John, late a resident of Delaware, Ohio, was a member of the 83rd Regiment, Illinois Vol. Inf., and died January 13, 1906; Louis was a member of Company E, 66th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf. ; William was a member of Company H, Fourth Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf .; David was a member of the Fourth Regiment, Ohio Vol. Inf. ; and Samuel was a member of the 17Ist Regiment, Ohio Vol. Inf. One sister, Mrs. Loren Miller, of Delaware, Ohio, still survives.
There are easier things in life than to be left fatherless at the age of 10 years and, with this. to be almost entirely dependent for life and fortune upon one's own efforts. This was the situation which faced our subject. Nec- essarily his education was a limited one, but he grew to young manhood strong and stal-
wart, a trained farmer. The opening of the Civil War turned the attention of our subject and his brothers from the peaceful pursuits which had hitherto claimed their energies. On May 25, 1861, Mr. Shindoller enlisted at Peoria, Illinois, as a private in the 17th Regi- ment, Illinois Vol. Inf., and bravely, cheer- fully and honorably served until May 25, 1866. He was attached to the 17th Army Corps, Army of the Mississippi, a part of the great force which did much of the strenuous fighting of the war. Mr. Shindoller partici- pated in the battles of Fredericktown, ( Mary- land), Fort. Donelson, Shiloh, Vicksburg and Mobile, and in the miles of weary marching and counter-marching, skirmishing and guard duty which made up a soldier's life.
After his return from the army, in the spring of 1868, Mr. Shindoller moved to Auglaize County, where he secured 77 acres of Woodland on the old Ridge road, near the Allen County line. This land he cleared and engaged in farming until he removed, in 1891, to Spencer township. As mentioned above, he occupies a handsome home which he erected here. The substantial barn was already a fea- ture, but the comfortable home was made after Mr. Shindoller's own ideas and is mod- ern throughout. It attracts favorable notice, with its air of comfort and well kept-lawn.
In 1864 Mr. Shindoller was united in mar- riage with Catharine Webb. Although they have no children of their own, they have gen- erously reared a boy and girl, the latter still being an inmate of their household. The former, William Webb, resides in Spencer- ville. Mr. and Mrs. Shindoller are members of the Christian Church, in which he is a trus- tee. He is a member of and takes much in- terest in Fair Post, No. 322, G. A. R., of Spencerville.
U. BASINGER. One of the lead- ing business men of Lima is M. U. Basinger, whose large jewelry establishment is situated at No. 63 Public Square, and who is an ex- perienced manufacturer in this line as well as a dealer in cut glass and diamonds. Mr. Bas-
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inger is a native of Putnam County, Ohio, born in 1868.
Mr. Basinger remained on the home farm until he had reached the age of 19 years, alter- nately farming and attending the local schools. He accompanied his mother when she removed to Ada, and remained there three years, coming then to Lima. At that time one $5 bill repre- sented his capital in money, but in addition he possessed youth, health, ambition and persist- ent industry, and, in time, this strong combina- tion of qualities brought about a large degree of prosperity. For the first six months, after contracting with D. A. McComb, then a leading jeweler of Lima, the young man worked for the sum of $4 per week. By the end of the period, his employer realized that he had se- cured an honest, intelligent, capable and indus- trious assistant, and was willing to retain him on a living salary. Mr. Basinger remained until 1893, when Mr. McComb retired and was succeeded by the firm of Basinger & Company, its members being M. U. Basinger and William Melville. This partnership lasted until 1897, when Mr. Basinger sold his interest to his partner and founded an independent business. He continued alone for one year and then as- sociated himself with Mr. Cameron, the firm remaining as Basinger & Cameron until Febru- ary, 1903. Then Mr. Basinger sold his inter- est to Mr. Cameron, and in the following May opened his present fine establishment on the Public Square. He conducts a very large bus- iness in the manufacturing line, and carries a valuable stock of jewelry, cut glass and expen- sive gems. He is also interested in other bus- iness enterprises, one of these being the Hu- mane Horse Shoe Company.
On September 25, 1895, Mr. Basinger was married to Blanche Douglass, who for some five years previously had been a teacher in the Lima schools, and is a daughter of J. C. Doug- lass, of Forest. Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Basinger have two children -- Warren and Helen. Mr. Basinger is a member of the Market Street Presbyterian Church. of which he is an elder and the treasurer. His fraternal relations are with the Tribe of Ben Hur. Modern Woodmen of America and Knights of Pythias.
J. WEADOCK, attorney-at-law, a member of the law firm of Motter, Mackenzie & Weadock, of Lima, was born in this city on September 4, 1873, and is a son of the late Dr. T. M. Weadock.
The father of Mr. Weadock was a native of Canada and at the time of his death, January 20, 1905, was one of the oldest practitioners of medicine in Lima. He was a graduate of the medical department of the University of Mich- gan, and settled at Lima in 1870.
J. J. Weadock received his early education in the local schools, the parochial school at Sid- ney, Ohio, and St. Rose Parochial School at Lima, graduating from the Lima High School, in 1892, and from Assumption College, at Sandwich, Ontario, in 1894. Two years later he graduated from the law department of the University of Michigan, and at once passed the bar examination at Columbus, Ohio, which ad- mitted him to practice in this State. He en- tered into practice alone, but afterward was as- sociated for one year with Kent Hughes, and since 1900 has been a member of the strong firm of Motter, Mackenzie & Weadock.
Mr. Weadock was married June 24, 1903, to Mollie Cunningham, who was born and reared in Lima.
In political sentiment, Mr. Weadock is a Democrat and has always taken an active in- terest in party matters. Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of Columbus, the Bene- volent and Protective Order of Elks, the Cath- olic Knights of Ohio, the Ancient Order of Hibernians and the Knights of St. John. He belongs to St. Rose Catholic Church and is the director of the choir.
ADISON EDGECOMB, a retired farmer of Beaver Dam, is one of the substantial, influential men of the county and formerly lived on the old Edgecomb homestead in Richland township. He owns the adjoining farm of 120 acres in section 31. Mr. Edge- comb was born in Bath township, Allen County,
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Ohio, June 9, 1850, and is a son of Marquis and Hannah (Everett) Edgecomb. His paternal grandparents were Uriah and Eliza- beth (Doud) Edgecomb, both of whom were of English descent. Lord William Henry Edge- comb, of England, is a relative of our subject and his photograph is among the family pic- tures which adorn the Edgecomb home. The name was originally spelled "Edgcumbe."
Marquis Edgecomb was born December II, 1826, in Trumbull County, Ohio, and was a lad of five years when his parents settled in Bath township, this county. He was one of 13 children, 12 of whom grew to maturity. By occupation he was a farmer, though he als ran a hotel at Beaver Dam for about five years. He was a member of the Home Guards during the Civil War and was at all times a patriouc citizen. His wife, Hannah Everett, was a daughter of Jacob and Betsey (Bush) Everett, and was born November 9, 1826, near Solon, New York. Her parents came to this county when she was a girl of 12 years and she has been a resident here ever since. She has made her home with our subject since the death of her husband on May 20, 1901. The child- ren born to this worthy couple were as follows : Sarah Ann, who died in infancy; Madison ; Margaret Ann (Phillips), deceased; Elisha, who died in his 2 Ist year ; Betsey M., deceased, who married P. R. Bailey; Sarah Priscilla, who died at the age of five years; George Wash- ington, of Lima; and William, born December 25, 1874, who resides on the homestead at Beaver Dam.
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