USA > Ohio > Allen County > History of Allen County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part Two > Part 36
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Mr. Arnold was entered at the Cairo hos- pital and was detained there under medical care until his regiment was sent in pursuit of Bragg, who made his last stand at Pilot Knob. Our subject did not accompany that expedi- tion, but was dismissed from the hospital and ordered home on a furlough. He was honor- ably discharged at Peoria on October 28, 1865. Having profitably spent his furlough at Prince- ton, Illinois, he returned there and engaged as a carpenter with the firm of Archer & Robbins, but in the following November he returned to Allen County.
On January 25, 1866, Mr. Arnold was mar- ried to Sarah Emeline Millikin, who was born August 27, 1843, in Richland County, Ohio, and died June 5, 1904. She was a daughter of Thomas B. and Elizabeth (Moore) Milli- kın, the father a native of Washington County, Pennsylvania, and the mother, of Monroeville, Ohio. The children of this marriage were: Thomas, of Bath township, who married Alma Cramer and is the father of Mabel, Madge, Harley, Wava and Herbert; Emmet B., of Marshall County, Kansas, who married Belle Robison and has three children-Stanton, Maud, Hazel, Joseph and Minor .; William A., of Jackson township, who married Eva LeRue, and has these children-Roy, Thurman, Gene- vieve and Merrill William; Joseph, who mar- ried Dile Ransbottom, has had two children (now deceased) and resides with his father on the farm; Carey C., who married Clara Heff- ner and resides near, the homestead, and is the father of Rolla, Walter, Wilbur, Garold and Velma Levern; and Isaac Fremont, who died aged two years. The death of the mother of
these children was a great blow to Mr. Arnold and family, and a matter of deep degret to all, who fully appreciated her as a kind neighbor and a faithful friend. With Mr. Arnold she took the most affectionate interest in her bright, intelligent grandchildren and her love was re- turned by them all.".
After his marriage, Mr. Arnold removed to a farm of 100 acres two miles from the one on which he now lives. This he sold two years later and bought the 160 acres composing the homestead, for which he paid $6,000. Five years later he erected his present modern brick residence at a cost of $3,000, which was the first brick house built in the vicinity. He erected also a substantial barn, 57 by 40 feet in dimensions, and has added such other buildings as became necessary. Later Mr. Arnold bought the 240-acre Milikin farm adjoining, 40 acres of which he sold to his son, and on this property he built a barn 40 by 60 feet, and made many improvements thereon, including the building of a wind pump. He has cleared. 30 acres of each farm. He also owns an in- terest in a farm at Beaver Dam. He has been a very extensive dealer and raiser of fine stock and the results of the 10 large stock sales which he has conducted indicate that the products of the "Golden Ridge Stock Farm" have a first- class reputation throughout the State.
Politically, Mr. Arnold is a Democrat and cast his first vote, while in the army, for Gen- eral McClellan. He has been township trustee, served six years as infirmary director and has been many times selected as a delegate of his party to important conventions. He belongs to Mart Armstrong Post, No. 202, G. A. R. at Lima ; is president of the Farmers' Institute, of Jackson township, and was a member of the local grange until the work of the order was discontinued in the township. He is a member and a liberal supporter of the Meth- odist Church, being one of the trustees; he was formerly Sunday-school superintendent and president of the township association.
Personally Mr. Arnold, like the other men of his family, is of fine presence and large and generous stature. He recalls his great-grand- father, John Garee, as of similar appearance,
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and remembers sitting on the latter's knee and listening to his tales of the War of 1812 and of the pioneer struggles with the Indians. Mr. Arnold's only brother, the late Joseph Arnold, weighed 229 pounds, was as large mentally as physically, and a very successful business man. The younger generation is also coming to the front, and the indications are that Mr. Arnold will have reason to be as proud of his grand- children as he is justified in being of his chil- dren. Mabel, when a little miss of 10 years, successfully passed a very difficult examination at the Boxwell examination; she graduated from the Lima High School in 1905, and is now teaching in the Garfield School, Lima, as a substitute.
A group picture of the Arnold family ac- companies this sketch, being shown on a fore- going page.
E ZEKIEL HOVER, the veteran ice dealer of Lima, was born in this county in 1849 and has lived here all his life, having been reared and edu- cated in Shawnee township. His father was Charles Adgate Hover, who came to this county in 1833 with his parents, Ezekiel and Sarah (Adgate) Hover, and followed agricultural pursuits throughout his life. Charles Adgate Hover married Adaline Smed- ley. and to them were born eight children.
The subject of this sketch was reared on the farm and followed agricultural occupa- tions until 1875, when he located in Lima and engaged in the ice business, which he has since conducted. For 28 years the company was known as Thomas & Hover, his partner being John Thomas, who retired in January, 1902, leaving Mr .. Hover in sole possession of the business. In addition to his large ice business, which he has conducted so profitably, Mr. Hover is interested in various enterprises, and is an energetic, enthusiastic citizen whose in- fluence is an inspiration to his community.
In 1872 Mr. Hover was married to Eliza- beth A. Bresler, a daughter of the late Joseph- Bresler, who was a pioneer citizen of Lima and was marshal of the city during the Civil War. Of the children born to this union, three are
living, namely : C. A., manager of the Muncie (Indiana) Builders' Supply Company; Kath- rine, wife of Charles Herbst, of Nelson & Herbst, merchant tailors of Lima; and Har- riet. Mr. Hover is a member of the Knights of Pythias. He was reared a Presbyterian.
ACOB MOSER, secretary and treas- urer of the South Side Building & Loan Association, of Lima, and a member of its board of directors, is- one of the city's well-known and re- spected business men. Mr. Moser was born in Moutier, Canton Bern, Switzerland, April 13, 1835, and is a son of David and Anna (Ha- begger.) Moser.
David Moser was also a native of Switzer- land, where he married and carried on busi- ness as a hatter. After he came to America, in 1853, he engaged in farming in Wells County, Indiana, in the vicinity of Newville. His family consisted of five children, viz : Jacob; Mary, wife of A. Ramseyer, of Lima; Eliza, wife of G. Sourer, of Newville, In- diana; Mrs. Rosina Anner, of Newville, In- diana; and Fred, who is in the drug business at Lima.
Jacob Moser, who was the eldest of the family, was educated in Switzerland and learned the hatter's trade with his father. After coming to America, he located at Bluff- ton, this county, and embarked in the drug business, in which he continued for some eight years, then locating in Lima, where, in asso- ciation with J. Myers, he conducted a well- patronized drug-store for five years. In 1884, after selling his interest, he engaged in the furniture and undertaking business and as a member of the firm of Townsend, Moser & Company, was so occupied until 1893. Mr. Moser is known as one of the honest and up- right business men of this city, and has a wide circle of personal, as well as business friends. He is social by nature, and for many years has been active both in the Odd Fellow and Ma- sonic fraternities.
In 1888 Mr. Moser became associated with the South Side Building & Loan Association,
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and has been its secretary since that year. He is a man of public spirit and may always be found with those who work for the best inter- ests of the city.
On March II, 1861, Mr. Moser was united in marriage with Elizabeth Neuenschwander, of Wayne County, Ohio, a native of this State. Four children have been born to them, viz: Emma, who married Dr. F. G. Stueber, of Lima; Bertha, wife of W. H. Deakin, of Lima; and Calvin and Albert, both deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Moser have a very pleasant and attractive home, which is located at No.' 506 West North street.
Albert Moser, A. M., M. D., Mr.,and Mrs. Moser's younger son, was a graduate both of Oberlin College and the medical department of Harvard University. He served in the Span- ish-American War, where he contracted the illness which terminated in his death, Decem- ber 8, 1903, at the Saranac Lake Sanitarium, New York.
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OHN BIXEL, cashier of the First Na- tional Bank of Bluffton, has been a lifelong resident of the town, having been born here June 1I, 1869. His father is Peter Bixel, Sr., a farmer re- siding near Bluffton. Mr. Bixel acquired a good, practical' business education, attending the Bluffton High School, from which he was graduated in the class of 1889. The following eight years were spent in teaching in district schools, during which time he took the work of the Ohio Normal University at Ada, Ohio. His first venture in the commercial world was in the grocery business with his brother David. Bixel Brothers conducted their store for three years, and then our subject disposed of his in- terest in the concern to his brother and became a partner of B. C. Mann, who was engaged in the shoe and clothing business. Two years later the firm of Bixel & Mann was dissolved by Mr. Bixel's withdrawal from the company.
About this time the First National Bank was organized, Mr. Bixel being one of the promoters of the enterprise, and he was chosen as cashier, a position which he has since re- tained to the perfect satisfaction of all con-
cerned. The first officers of the bank were: Simon Herr, president; Lewis S. Duper, vice- president; John Bixel, cashier, the foregoing with Amas A. Geiger and A. J. Solomon con- stituting the board of directors. The only change made since in this list of officers was occasioned by the withdrawal of Mr. Solomon, who sold his stock to Henry Gratz, who was later elected a director. Mr. Bixel was one of the chief promoters of the Beaver Dam Bank, which was organized in 1902. This is a private bank, of which Mr. Herr is president and our subject, one of the directors."
Mr. Bixel married Halla Russell, who is a native of Bluffton and a daughter of Orin and Ella (Halla) Russell. Her grandfather was Daniel Russell, one of the first residents here. He was president of the first bank established, the People's Bank, and also conducted a gen- eral merchandise store and grain depot, his son Orin being a partner under the firm name of Russell & Son. Both are deceased. Mr. Bixel has one child, a son, Russell L., born April 19, 1899. Our subject is a member of the Men- nonite Church and one of Bluffton's most forceful and enterprising men.
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AMES M. COCHRAN, one of the well-known residents of Marion town- ship and a veterinarian of great skill, belongs to one of the very old famil- ies of Tennessee, which is also num- bered among the old and honored pioneer. families of Allen County. His male ancestors were distinguished both in the War of the Revolution and in the War of 1812.
James M. Cochran, the great-grandfather of the present James M., was born in Scotland and came to America prior to the Revolution- ary War. He settled among the mountains of Tennessee, took an active part in the affairs of his section, participated in the border wars and, as far as known, protected his property and family in those pioneer days, as became a man of sturdy courage. His three sons were named, William, Benjamin and Isaac.
William Cochran, the eldest, was our sub- ject's paternal grandfather. He was born in Tennessee and served seven years in the In-
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dian wars of his native State. In the War of 1812 he also served as a soldier and for this service received a land grant of 200 acres lo- cated in Paulding County, Ohio. He had set- tled, prior to this, among the pioneers of Ross County, Ohio, where he married Betsey Man- nery, a lady of Irish extraction and of Revo- lutionary ancestry. To this marriage were born 10 children, of whom the following reached mature years : John M., Jane, James, Catherine, Nancy and William. Of these, John M. was treasurer. of Putnam County. When he went to the county seat to make set- tlement, he carried the funds in his wallet on horseback, the amount at that time not exceed- ing $60. William, his brother, was one of the early sheriffs of Putnam County, a represen- tative man of his day, prominent in political and business life.
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William 'Cochran the elder was an able man and left the impress of his sterling char- acter. on every locality in which he lived. From Ross County he moved in 1821 to what is now Allen County. He "squatted" on, a small farm on the Auglaize River and during his short period of residence cleared up one field. This farm, located in section 4, Marion township, is now owned by the King family and is occupied by a Mr. Wagner. After the land came into the market Benjamin Cochran bought it and William then removed to the farm now occupied by Mr. Long, located two miles north of Dr. Cochran's home in section 22, with the Auglaize River bordering it on the west. Later he bought 103 acres at Mid- dlepoint, Van Wert County, and this, together with his land in Paulding County, made him the owner of 310 acres. He died on his farm at Middlepoint, at the age of 88 years, one of the few survivors of the pioneers who had come to Allen County before the Shawnee In- dians had departed. I He served officially in Putnam (Allen) County, and was a circuit court judge, being appointed at Kalida, Ohio.
James Cochran, the third son of William Cochran and the father of Dr. Cochran, was born in Ross County, Ohio, November. 25, 1804. Born among pioneer surroundings, his education was limited. School terms were of short duration in those days and accommoda-
tions necessarily poor in the small, hastily con- structed log school-houses ; but he possessed the native ability of his family and was reckoned among the well-informed men of his day. The large amount of active, outdoor exercise in- volved in clearing and cultivating the pioneer farm, gave him a stalwart frame and the ro- bust health which prolonged his years for be- yond those of his contemporaries. He died in Marion township, Allen County, June: 12, 1893. His son, our subject, can recall many of the conditions of pioneer. life from his own experience and many others from hearsay, and they are very interesting as presenting a pic- ture so different from what may be seen here at the present day.
The family home was built first of round logs, right in the forest, but a-more secure one was later constructed of hewed logs. The clearing of the 100 acres, on which Dr. Coch- ran now resides, was done with ox teams, the great strength of the oxen performing the tasks which now would be done by machinery. Mr. Cochran used the old wooden mold-board plow and threshed his grain with a flail. The Shawnee Indians were yet a powerful tribe in this section, in fact, when Mr. Cochran came to the county he had but three families of white neighbors. Treating the Indians with justice, Mr. Cochran made friends with the braves and they traded together to their mutual benefit, and no Indians ever endangered the peace of his family. With the assistance of his white neighbors, Mr. Cochran blazed paths through the forests. Wild animals still roamed all through this section, the wolves and deer com- ing to the very door. A number of the latter were shot from the doorstep, for food. The larder was also easily supplied with fish from the clear Auglaize River.
For household supplies it was necessary to go to Defiance by boat, and to Pickaway with grain for the mill, the latter trip being one of importance and requiring a week's absence from home. With his neighbors Mr. Cochran assisted in the building of the canal, worked in the timber getting out material for the build- ing of the locks on the same, and also worked on flatboats which were built at Wapakoneta for use on the river.
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James Cochran was twice married; first on September 10, 1826, to Julia Ann Russell, who was a daughter of one of the first settlers in Amanda township, where he located in 1817, lived at Fort Amanda and was a large Indian trader. The children of this marriage were: William R., who was born in 1829, and two daughters, both of whom died. The mother of these children died in 1834. Two years later Mr. . Cochran married Isabella. Sunder- land, and 12 children were born to this union, the survivors being: Elizabeth, wife of Isaac. Stemen, of Huntington, Indiana; Julia Ann, wife of Henry Temple, of Convoy, Ohio; Mary, wife of Robert Martin; of Nebraska; James, the subject of this sketch; Ellen, wife of William Daniels, of Missouri; Nancy, wife of Clarence Hurlbutt, of German township; and Orlando, a resident of Boston, Massa- chusetts. Hattie, deceased, was the wife of Frank Elder. George served in the Civil War as a member of Mclaughlin's Squad, Ohio Cavalry, and was taken prisoner in Stone- man's raid. He was incarcerated in Ander- sonville Prison and died in Mellon Prison in October, 1848. James Cochran was a magis- trate in Marion township and served in a num- ber of the township offices. He was an elder in the Presbyterian Church.
James M. Cochran, the immediate subject of this sketch, was educated in the schools of Marion township, in which township he has always had his residence. When not more than seven years of age, he assisted in filling in the embankment of the P., .Ft. W. & C. Railway near his home, hauling the dirt in his little cart. He well remembers the old days of harvesting, when he used the old-fashioned cradle almost from sunrise to sunset, for 75 cents a day. His present fine farm is operated by a tenant along modern lines. His beautiful residence and substantial farm buildings are very noticeable from the Lima turnpike road, the highway which passes his gate.
Dr. Cochran has always taken more than the usual interest that an agriculturist and stockman takes in the health and development of animals, appreciating their many admirable qualities and understanding their structure and ailments. During the Civil War, as a member
of Company B, Mclaughlin's Squad, Ohio Cavalry, he put many of his theories into prac- tice, which resulted in the saving of many horses to the service. Since 1880 he has given almost constant attention to a veterinary prac- tice which extends all over the county. He has attended no college; but he has gained a wonderful amount of useful knowledge in his profession through practical experience and real interest in his work.
Dr. Cochran has been twice married; first to Ellen Roush, who was a daughter of Jacob Roush . of Amanda township. The death of his first wife and two sons, William S. and Edward, left him not only with his domestic peace disturbed, but just at that time overcome with financial difficulties, in fact without a dol- lar. He was living on his father-in-law's farm and Mr. Roush insisted upon his remain -- ing there. Through great industry and perse- verance he managed to regain his financial standing, and now is one of the substantial men of the township. In 1878 he married, second, Catherine Baxter, who is a daughter of Samuel Baxter. He has one daughter by his first marriage, Almerta, who is the wife of Charles Ford, of Marion township. The three children of his second union are: Dora, wife of Jesse S. Myers, who resides in Marion township, south of the homestead; Orlando _Bertrue, living at home; and Viola, wife of Ernest East, of Cleveland, Ohio.
Dr. Cochran remained for a time on Mr. Roush's farm in Amanda township, then rented the homestead farm and finally pur- chased it. It is a fine property and possesses more than the usual amount of interest for the Doctor, as he assisted very materially in the clearing of the greater part of it from the primitive forest.
OWARD B. HOVER, pharmacist, controls one of the largest drug- stores in the city of Lima, liis busi- ness having a very favorable location at No. 38, Public Square. Mr. Hover represents one of the old pioneer fam- ilies of the county. A son of David E. Hover, he was born in 1868 in Shawnee township,
B. F. THOMAS
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within 1,000 yards of the old Shawnee Council. House, on the first ground cleared by the In- dians.
The Hover family claims Scotch descent, but the founders of it in the United States sailed from Holland. The American fore- fathers were. John, Emanuel and Peter, who probably settled in New Jersey some time prior to the Revolutionary War, in which they all participated. John Hover was killed by the Indians in the early period of the conflict; and Emanuel Hover, the head of the branch from which our subject sprung, was a captain under Washington.
Ezekiel Hover, the great-grandfather of our subject, removed in 1800 from Sussex County, New Jersey, to Western Pennsylvania, and then to Trumbull County, Ohio, in the Western reserve. In 1833 he located in Allen: County as one of the first settlers. His son, Emanuel Hover, was born in the Western Re- serve and accompanied the family, to Allen County. In 1836 he returned to - Trumbull County, there married Margaret Carlisle and then returned to Allen County, locating first in Amanda township and later removing to Shawnee township. Two children were born to him and his wife: David Ezekiel and Sarah Ann (Hanson) the latter deceased in 1881 .:
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David Ezekiel Hover, was born in the cabin of the Shawnee chief, Pht; in Shawnee town- ship, in 1837, but he was mainly : reared in Trumbull County. In 1859 : he returned to. Allen County. He resides in Shawnee town- ship near Lima and is a member of the board of trustees of the Allen County Children's Home., He married Susan Boyd, and to them were born five children, of whom Howard. B. and his twin sister, Margaret Anna, are the youngest.
Howard B. Hover was reared and educated in Shawnee township. His literary training was obtained at the Ohio Normal University at Ada, where he also took a course in pharm- acy. He then entered the drug-store of Mr. W. M. Melville, and in 1893 became connected with Mr. Truesdale, at Lima. In 1897 he purchased Mr. Truesdale's entire interest and has not only continued the business, but has greatly enlarged its scope. He is recognized
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as a reliable pharmacist and compounder of prescriptions and an enterprising and honor- able business man. His professional standing is evident by his close association with the leading drug organizations of the country; he is a member of the National Association of Re- tail Druggists, and the Ohio State and Lima pharmaceutical association, and has served as secretary of the last named body.
In. 1897 Mr. Hover was married to Flor -. ence Fisher, a daughter of George Fisher, who is a hardware merchant of Auglaize County. They are members of the Lutheran Church. Mr. Hover's fraternal connections are with the Elks and Knights of Pythias.
F. THOMAS, while yet a young man, `has evinced an aptitude for business which has placed him at the head of · one of the leading industrial establish- merits. of Lima .. As president of the Lima. Pork: Packing:„Company, which he founded several years ago, he occupies a prom- inent position among the leading men of the city, and has been-the means of drawing to this city a volume of business which has largely added to her present prosperity. Mr. Thomas was born in New York City in 1871, and is a son of Morgan Thomas, who conducts a very. profitable butter, egg and poultry business in Lima and is one of the city's representative men.
B. F. Thomas was a small child when his - parents moved from New York to Sidney. Ohio, and a lad of 12 years when they located in Lima. . After his school days were past, he became a partner with his father in the butter, egg and poultry business, the company of M. Thomas & Son doing an extensive business and handling large quantities of produce. Young Thomas saw the success that would result from a packing plant in Lima, and in 1898 withdrew from the partnership with his father and opened a pork packing plant. This he conducted more profitably than he had anticipated, and as the volume of business continued to increase the present company was incorporated in 1901, with a capital stock of $60,000. The officers
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of the company are : President, B. F. Thomas; vice-president, Ira P. Carnes; treasurer, W. C. Bradley; secretary, D. W. Leichty. The plant slaughters weekly from 40 to 60 beeves, and from 200 to 600 hogs, besides sheep, lambs and calves, in addition to handling about 25 car- loads of pickled meats a year. It manufactures daily about 4,000 pounds of sausage, bologna. Employment is given to some 35 men. The two traveling salesmen of the concern visit 60 or 70 of the leading towns in this part of the State, where they find a ready market for the products of the plant. Mr. Thomas is a stock- holder and' director of The Ohio National Bank and the Superior Brick Company. He was married in 1896, to Anna M. Armstrong. His portrait accompanies this sketch.
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