USA > Ohio > Allen County > History of Allen County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part Two > Part 41
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In 1903 Mr. Webb was married to Mar- garet Ballinger, who is a daughter of Rev. A. W. Ballinger, a minister of the United Breth- ren Church, formerly pastor of the church at Toledo, but now in charge at Findlay, Ohio.
Mr. Webb is a member of the Presbyterian Church. He is one of the active members of the Young Men's Christian Association at Lima.
ON. WILLIAM RUSLER, one of the most prominent and substantial citi- zens of Shawnee township, whose portrait is shown on the opposite page, resides upon a fine farm of 180 acres in section 17. He has not only attained success as a farmer, but as a public officer so discharged his duties as to gain the respect and hearty commendation of the people.
Mr. Rusler was born in Shawnee township, about two and a half miles east of his present farm, on March 7, 1851, being a son of Philip and Elizabeth (Anthony) Rusler, and a grand- son of George Rusler. The grandfather was a native of Pennsylvania, and about 1820 lo- cated in Trumbull County, Ohio, where his death subsequently occurred. He married Elizabeth Ellenbarger, a native of Germany, and of a large family of children but two came to Allen County-John, who later. settled near St. Marys, and Philip.
Philip Rusler was born in Trumbull County, Ohio, October 17, 1825, and about 1847 moved to Allen County, where he there- after farmed, with the exception of two years during the early part of the Civil War, when he lived just north of St. Marys. Although always of delicate health, he was anxious to serve his country's cause when it needed him. Consequently, during the winter of 1864-65, when the affairs of the nation were at a crisis, he deemed it his duty to offer his services. He enlisted, but owing to his continued ill health never got beyond Camp Dennison, where he remained until the close of the war. He then returned to his farm, but as he never regained good health the bulk of the farm work was done by his son William. He died in 1874, aged 49 .years.
Philip Rusler married Elizabeth Anthony, a native of Jackson County, Ohio, and a daugh- ter of David and Nancy Anthony, by whom he had five children, namely : William, the subject of this sketch; David A .; Mary Catherine ; Franklin, and a child who died in infancy, un- named. Of these children all died in child- hood but William and Franklin ; the latter lived to the age of 30 years, when he too passed away. Philip Rusler was a Democrat in poli- tics. Religiously, he was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
William Rusler was reared in Shawnee township until the removal of his parents to St. Marys at the beginning of the war. Two years later they returned, and his education was completed here in the district schools and in the Lima High School. Owing to his father's death he was unable to pursue his stud-
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ies to graduation in the High School. He en- gaged in teaching during the winter months and during the summer worked upon the farm. He taught school 13 years, always in this county, except for two terms. He has always been an enthusiastic Democrat and has worked hard for party success. He has frequently been called upon to serve in official capacity and ably discharged his duties. He has been township clerk, land assessor and twice a member of the School Board. For three years he served as Indian farmer of the Lake Court Oreilles Res- ervation, one of the seven reserves constituting the LaPoint Agency in Northwestern Wiscon- sin. At the end of that time he was appointed agent of the LaPoint Agency and served until the end of Cleveland's administration. In 1893, he was elected to the State Legislature, and during his four years' service in that body secured much needed legislation for his con- stituents. Some of the measures fostered by him showed that he possessed unusual capacity for that service and was somewhat in advance of the times. One of them, an "Anti-Shoddy Bill," required the labeling of all articles of merchandise to show of what they consisted, a measure resembling the pure food laws of the present day. This bill passed the House by a vote of 70 to 10, although there were but 23 Democratic members in that body; but it was killed in the Senate. Another bill, whose aim it was to prevent bossism and corruption in se- curing party nominations, was the "Primary Election Law," which has since been adopted in many States.
Mr. Rusler has å fine farm, improved ac- cording to modern methods. To the original tract of 80 acres secured by his father, he has added 100 acres, most of which he aided in clearing. He built a fine modern home, and · made all the substantial improvements on the place. He was reared to hard work, and the success attained by him is the result of his in- dividual effort.
Mr. Rusler was married, in 1874, to Anna McClintock, who died in 1884, leaving four children : Tessie J., who married D. A. Bow- sher and lives in Shawnee township; C. A., liv- ing on the north end of the farm, who married Maud Zurmehly-he teaches school and farms
the home place; Eva May, who married John Seref and lives in Shawnee township; and Daisy, who married Ira Coon and lives in Amanda township. His second marriage, in 1884, was to Sophronia Wiesenmayer, a native of Shawnee township, and a daughter of George Wiesenmayer, who lives in Amanda township. They have a daughter, Bessie M., who was named after an Indian. She married Guy Culp and they live in Shawnee township. Mr. Rusler is a member of the Shawnee Meth- odist Episcopal Church, and affiliates with the Knights of Pythias.
€ LIJAH EDMAN, a retired citizen of Lima and an honored veteran of the Civil War, was formerly a promi- nent farmer of Shawnee township, and still retains possession of his well-improved farm of 196 acres there. Mr. Edman was born November 7, 1827, in Lick- ing County, Ohio.
He was educated in his native county and grew to young manhood a practical farmer. In 1853 he came to Allen County and followed farming until 1861, when he enlisted for the Io0-day service in the Union Army, under Captain Titus, in the 15Ist Regiment, Ohio Vol. Inf. His first term of enlistment was spent mainly in the forts around Washington, on guard duty, after which he returned home for a few months; but in the spring of 1862 he reenlisted, entering the 192nd Regiment, Ohio Vol. Inf. During this enlistment he saw much hardship as a soldier, participating in the campaign in the Shenandoah Valley ; but dur- ing the whole period he was fearless in the dis- charge of duty and was honorably discharged after making a record for fidelity and bravery. He is one of the valued members of Mart Arm- strong Post, No. 202, G. A. R., at Lima. He draws a pension of $12 per month.
Until 1888 Mr. Edman continued his agri- cultural operations. His fine farm in Shaw- nee township had been cleared through his own industry and during his many years' residence upon it he continued its improvement. Since coming to Lima, he has lived retired from ac-
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tive participation in business affairs. His pleasant home is situated at No. 706 East High street.
On November 28, 1853, Mr. Edman was married to Martha Jane Wagner, and many years of happy wedded life were afforded them before the death of Mrs. Edman on January II, 1906. This recent bereavement has sad- dened a hitherto unbroken family circle. These children were born to them: Wilson, of Portland, Indiana; Marion, of Auglaize Coun- ty, Ohio; Charles and Amos, of Hume, Allen County ; Emma, wife of Louis Neff, of Lima; Martin, of Lima; Grant, of Waynesboro, Vir- ginia ; and Ida, wife of Grant Mckay, of Lima.
P ETER DILLER, who for over 30 years has been one of the leading business men of Bluffton, was born in Riley township, Putnam County, Ohio, near the Allen County line, Septem- ber 14, 1847, when Bluffton was only a trad- ing-point. He is a son of Peter and Barbara (Sutter) Diller.
The father of our subject was born in Al- sace, France, February 26, 1813. His father died while he was but a boy, and in 1824 he and his brother John accompanied their mother to America. They located at first in Holmes County, Ohio, and removed from there in 1836 to Putnam County, this State, where the moth- er died in 1847. Peter Diller, Sr., was a farmer all his life. He cleared a tract of 160 acres in Putnam County, which he entered from the government and to which he later added by purchase. His death occurred Sep- tember 1, 1866. On January 5, 1837, he married Barbara Sutter, who was also born in Alsace, France, October 5, 1818, and came to Ohio with her parents in 1825. They set- tled in Virginia, and moved in 1834 to Putnam County, Ohio. She died April 5, 1860. They had eight children, our subject being the fifth in order of birth.
Peter Diller, our immediate subject, re- mained on his father's farm until 18 years of age, and during this time worked for a season at the carpenter's trade. In 1869 he came to 39
the village of Bluffton and for a short time was a clerk in the clothing and dry goods store of John Henderson. In June, 1872, in part- nership with A. D. Lugibihl, he bought Ran- som Bartlett's hardware business, and togeth- er they operated one of the first hardware stores in Bluffton, continuing in business part- nership for more than a quarter of a century, under the firm name of Diller & Lugibihl. The partnership was dissolved in November, 1898, when Mr. Diller sold his interest.
.For some time Mr. Diller was engaged in the manufacture of a photographic attach- ment, the "Klay" multiplying plate holder, a unique patented device for producing from 2 to 28 different pictures on a single plate. It was an attachment which proved of the great- est value to photographers, and Mr. Diller con- tinued in the manufacturing business for four years.
In 1902 Mr. Diller embarked in his present large enterprise, the cream separator business, which has developed into one of the largest and most important industries of this section. He continued under his own name for two years, then formed a stock company and the business was incorporated under the laws of the State of Ohio, in November, 1904, as The Sanitary Cream Separator Company. Mr. Diller is president and general manager of this large concern. The introduction of the "Sanitary" cream separator has been of the greatest bene- fit to the dairyman and farmer. It has many noted advantages over its competitors in its general construction, and has been received with the greatest favor by the large dairymen, while it is equally useful to the farmer's wife who looks after the milk from but a few cows. The company gives employment to eight hands. Mr. Diller has other important interests, being the president of and a stockholder in the Com- mercial Bank & Savings Company. He is a member of the Council and was one of the water-works trustees. In politics he takes no very active part, but votes with the Republican party.
Mr. Diller was married May 24, 1876, in Tennessee, to Mary Stalder, who was born in Switzerland, and is a daughter of Ulrich Stal- der. They came here in 1859. Mr. and Mrs.
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Diller have two children: Estella, born March 2, 1877, who is the wife of Dr. H. O. Fred- erick, of Bluffton; and Waldo E., born June 25, 1881, who is a stockholder in The Sanitary Cream Separator Company and represents its interests on the road.
For a long period Mr. Diller has been a leader in affairs of moment at Bluffton, and his fellow-citizens testified to their continued esteem and confidence by reelecting him a mem- ber of their governing body in November, 1905.
R. COULSTON, roadmaster of the L. E. & W. Railroad, at Lima, where he has been located since May, 1900, was born in 1870 at Toledo, Ohio, and is a son of Mathew Coulston, a landscape gardener of that city.
Until 10 years of age, Mr. Coulston' at- tended school both in Ohio and Pennsylvania, and then returned to Toledo, where his educa- tion was completed. After teaching school for several years, he studied for a year in the city civil engineering office at Toledo, and in the fall of 1890 went with the engineering corps of the L. S. & M. S. Railway. In the spring of 1891 he entered the government ser- vice as harbor inspector of the district between Cleveland and Toledo, efficiently filling this important position before he had attained his majority after completing the season's work he returned to the engineering corps of the L. S. & M. S. Railway and remained connected with the Lake Shore engineer's office until 1893. At this time he was transferred to Adrian, Michigan, where he served as assistant road- master of the Coldwater Division until 1896, being then promoted to be roadmaster of the Fort Wayne Division of the L. S. & M. S. Railway, with headquarters at Jackson, Michigan.
After one season's work there, Mr. Coul- ston was placed in charge of the Lansing Divi- sion, his duties being doubled. He then came to Lima as roadmaster of the Lake Erie & Western Railroad. Much of the efficiency of this road is directly due to Mr. Coulston's ef-
forts. All the work with which he has been directly concerned has advanced most satisfac- torily and the value of the property has been greatly increased.
On October 5, 1894, Mr. Coulston was married to Nita F. Houston, who is a daughter of James and Anna M. ( Allardyce) Houston. The former is deceased. Mrs. Houston still survives and makes her home with her daugh- ter, Mrs. Coulston. Mr. and Mrs. Coulston have one child, Joseph F. They are members of Christ Protestant Episcopal Church at Lima.
Mr. Coulston's railroad supervision covers the Lake Erie & Western tracks from San- dusky to the Indiana State line, a stretch of 145 miles. His ability is so well known that he has been given an opportunity to entertain. a proposition connected with the construction of the Panama Railroad.
D. EVANS, now living retired in his comfortable residence at No. 41I East High street, Lima, is one of the best-known railroad men of this sec- tion, and is also an honored survivor of the Civil War, in which he served almost continuously from its beginning to its tri- umphal close. Mr. Evans was born August 29, 1842, in Fairfield County, Ohio, and is a son of William H. and Caroline ( Eleck) Evans.
The name of Evans was well-known among the pioneer settlers of Allen County. The father of S. D. Evans came here in 1848. He became a prominent farmer and also followed his trade of blacksmith in Marion township, where he and his wife passed away.
S. D. Evans attended the primitive log schoolhouse in the vicinity of his father's farm. He was 18 years old when the Civil War came upon the land, and was one of the first in his locality to proffer his services when a call was made for soldiers for a term of three months. He enlisted on April 20, 1861, in Company F., 20th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., and was mustered in at Columbus. His regiment was used in
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guarding the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad lines in West Virginia. After the close of his first term he came home, but on February 6, 1862, he reenlisted, entering Company F, 46th Reg. Ohio Vol. Inf. During the years which fol- lowed, Mr. Evans saw much of the hardship and hazard of a soldier's life, his regiment tak- ing an active and important part in some of the most dangerous campaigns of those years. At the battle of Shiloh he received two wounds; but he was too good a soldier to permit these to incapacitate him long, and he was soon on duty and participated in the seige of Corinth, the march to Memphis and to Vicksburg, the long siege there, then back and up the Mississ- ippi, across to Chattanooga, in the terrible fight on Missionary Ridge and then to the relief of Burnside at Knoxville. Then followed the wearying march to Scottsboro, Alabama, where the regiment was veteranized. . Mr. Evans reenlisted for a possible three years more, enjoyed his furlough of 30 days at home, and then returned to his regiment, which took part in the Atlanta campaign with General Sherman, participated in the last fight, at Ben- tonville, and then, covered with rags and glory, with battle-flags showing the rents of shot and shell, made the long march to Washington, D. C., and participated in the Grand Review. He was honorably mustered out of the service on July 22, 1865. For 18 months of his service he was detailed as orderly to his colonel.
After the close of the war, Mr. Evans re- turned home and soon entered into the service of the C., H. & D. Railway, with which com- pany he served as freight conductor for II years and as passenger conductor for 20 years. He retired from the railroad in October, 1901, with an honorable record and with the most cordial relations existing between him and his superiors in the service. Mr. Evans is one of the stockholders of the Consumers' Fuel, Building & Supply Company and has numer- ous other business interests in Lima.
On September 3, 1868, Mr. Evans was married to Zerelda Bussert, who died in 1901. She was a daughter of Abraham Bussert, one of the earliest settlers in Allen County. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Evans,
namely : M. S., an engineer on the C., H. & D. Railway ; and Maud, deceased in 1891, who graduated from the Lima High School and be- came the wife of Lewis Sanford.
OTTLIEB F. HENNE, who is now living retired from active business life in his comfortable and attractive home in Spencerville, has been a resi- dent of Spencer township for 39 years, during which period he has been identi- fied with the material development and agricul- tural progress of the western section of Allen county. Mr. Henne is of German birth and ancestry, being born in Wittenberg, December 14, 1840.
Our subject was the eldest of his father's seven children, and was 16 years of age when his parents decided to emigrate to America. The objective point was Marion County, Ohio, where William Britsch, Mr. Henne's maternal uncle, had already settled. The father possessed but little capital, the sum total being $200 when he came to Ohio, in 1856; but he was a man of very practical ideas and a good manager. Two of his sons were old enough to work, and he soon found work with a farmer for our subject for $5 and for his brother William for $4 a month, to be paid presumably in cash. Some- times this arrangement was not carried out to the letter, as our subject remembers that on one occasion his father came to his employer in Marion County and took, in payment for his services, two likely shoats, which he trundled away on a wheelbarrow. The father lived for a time in Monroe County but later returned to Marion County, and in 1866 settled in Aug- laize County. This was Mr. Henne's last re- moval. He bought a tract of wild land situ- ated half a mile from what is known as Deep Cut, on the canal, and with our subject's faith- ful assistance cleared this, added to it and placed it under cultivation. At the time of his death he owned 200 acres, which he divided justly among his children. He died on that farm, aged about 83 years, while the mother died near Celina, Ohio, at the same ripe age.
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They were quiet, industrious, frugal people, finding enjoyment in accumulating property and in following out the dictates of kind hearts in their immediate neighborhood. The child- ren of these worthy people who still survive are the following: Gottlieb F., of Spencerville; William; Frederick, of Auglaize County ; Kale, who is engaged in the saddlery business at Spencerville; George and Jacob, the last named being the only one born in America. Mr. Henne's brother William is a veteran of the Civil War. He served three months in the Fourth Regiment, Ohio Vol. Cav., and then re- enlisted for three years.
Gottlieb F. Henne came to Allen County in the spring of 1867, going to housekeeping in a little log cabin in what was then a wild portion of Spencer township. Like many other set- tlers he had his belongings shipped from Dela- ware, Ohio, down the canal to Delphos. He had been married but a few months and it was to a lonely and uninviting home he had to bring his bride in those early days. His cabin little resembled the fine brick residence which is the family home. at present. This is situated on the west side of the canal, one block from the Keeth House, at Spencerville. On every side may be observed evidences of Mrs. Henne's in- dustry and housewifely accomplishments. To her frugality and cheerful helpfulness Mr. Henne attributes a large part of his success in life. In the years that followed their settling in Spencer township, both she and her husband found hard and constant labor their portion, and each one did work which their children have never been called upon to perform.
Prior to his marriage, at the time of the last call for volunteers for the Civil War, Mr. Henne enlisted in the 186th Regiment, Ohio Vol. Inf., but the services of this regiment were required only a short time and he never parti- cipated in any great battle. He has always been interested in the Grand Army of the Re- public since his army days, and attends the meetings of the post at Spencerville.
In recalling the early events of his life, Mr. Henne can show that his present fortune has been built up through industry combined with good management. In his day the little things -
were considered of value, and he says that he dates his rise to affluence from the time when he bought for $3.00 a calf which he cared for until by the time of his marriage it had grown to be a valuable cow. This cow was the first of a number that he owned, and was the beginning of the dairy business which he successfully carried on for a number of years. He is well- known in Lima, where he supplied choice but- ter to some of the leading citizens. He car- ried the mail for 20 years and also ran a livery and omnibus business for a considerable period.
After settling on his property in Spencer township,Mr. Henne not only cleared his land and put it under cultivation, but he also did much forest clearing and assisted in the build- ing of public roads which were cut through his property. He broke his ground with horses, but he used the old-fashioned plow and for many years employed the old-time cradle in cutting his grain. He raised good stock while on the farm. By the advice of his physician he left the farm in 1884 and located at Spencer -. ville, where he owns a large amount of valuable real estate, still retaining his farming land in the country. He has erected almost all of the business blocks on Main street.
Mr. Henne was married December 27, 1866, to Christina Schmidt, who was born in Delaware County, Ohio. Her mother was born in Germany and came to Ohio when 13 years of age, where she married and became possessed of large means. She died in Allen County, where she had made her home with Mrs. Henne. While on a visit to the latter, she became impressed with the fertility of the soil of Spencer township and the general lay of the land, and purchased 200 acres with the un- derstanding that Mr. Henne should manage it for her. This he did in connection with his own business. Mr. and Mrs. Henne have had three children: Irwin, who is married and settled in Spencer township; Bertie, who is the wife of George Haas, also residing in Spencer township; and Mary, who died in her 15th year. Mr. Henne gave all his children excel- lent educational advantages. His son is a. graduate of the Lima Business College. Mr. Henne has always been one of the active sup-
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porters of educational and religious work in his section. When he first came to this local- ity, there was a few houses and no church in Spencerville. In a short time Mr. Henne with John Long, Mr. Sweinfort and Mr. Gaberdiel, took the matter in hand, and together they pur- chased the old building which was made use of by the German Methodists until they later erected their present church edifice, Mr. Henne being one of the trustees of this church. He has never taken any very active part in politics, his time and interest being concerned closely in his own affairs. He is a man well known in the community where his name stands for hon- esty and integrity and where he is respected and esteemed by his fellow-citizens.
JOSEPH R. MARSHALL, one of the highly esteemed citizens of Lima, now living retired from business activity in his pleasant and attractive home at No. 731 West High street, has been identified with this city for the past 30 years. He was born in Champaign County, Ohio, in 1839, and is a son of Richard B. and Emily (Bartlett) Marshall.
Richard B. Marshall was born in Fairfax County, Virginia. In 1840 he came to Allen County and entered a 40 acre tract of land in the woods, where the growth was so dense that he was obliged to clear a spot before he could erect his log cabin. He became one of the lead- ing farmers of the county. He married Emily Bartlett, who belonged to the Virginia Bart- letts, and they reared a family of II children, the survivors being: Thomas B., a farmer of Perry township; Malinda, wife of Jacob Stevenson, of Perry township; William, form- erly a soldier of the Civil War, now a resident of Lima; Mary, widow of Peter Tracy, of Lima; Hamilton, also a survivor of the Civil War and a resident of Lima; and Joseph R., of this record.
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