USA > Ohio > Allen County > History of Allen County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part Two > Part 6
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The father of Mr. Morris was born in Ross
County, Ohio, a son of James Madison Morris, who served in the Mexican War with credit and was also a sergeant in the Civil War. In 1853 J. N. Morris, when four years of age, came to Allen County and for 30 years was a successful business man of Elida. He died Oc- tober 18, 1904.
J. R. Morris was reared and educated at Elida and taught school for six years in Ger- man and Sugar Creek townships, during the last year serving as assistant principal of he Elida schools. In June, 1904, he resigned this position in order to more closely devote his at- tention to his pressing business interests, hav- ing been connected for three years with the fur- niture house of J. W. Rowlands, of Lima. The firm of Morris Brothers is made up of J. R. and O. B. Morris and they have the control of the largest establishment of its kind and the greatest volume of business in the town of Elida.
Mr. Morris has always been a zealous Dem- ocrat and on this ticket he was elected, in No- vember, 1905, mayor of Elida, by a majority of 58 votes. This is in the nature of a personal triumph as he is the first mayor ever elected here on a straight Democratic ticket.
In 1899 Mr. Morris was married to Alma T. Curtis, who is a daughter of T. J. Curtis, formerly a soldier of the Civil War, now a farmer of German township. Mr. and Mrs. Morris belong to the United Brethren Church, in which both take an active interest, Mr. Mor- ris being superintendent of the Sunday-school. His fraternal connection is with the Odd Fel- lows and the Knights of the Maccabees. ,
ILLIAM C. AUGSBURGER, man- ager and half owner of the Arras Cream Separator Company, of Bluffton, was born at Bluffton, Au- gust 23, 1874, and has been a con- tinuous resident of the town. His parents are Frederick and Sophia ( Villiard) Augsburger.
The father of our subject was born in Switzerland and came to Bluffton with his par- ents when a child of six years. He married in Wayne County, Ohio, and both he and his wife reside at Bluffton. Their children are: Wil-
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liam C., of this sketch; Lulu, wife of Ross Bo- gart, of Bluffton; Elfa, wife of Frank Moran, of Mount Cory, Ohio, and Elmer, still at school.
While our subject was still a pupil at school, he assisted in his own maintenance, employing his spare time in selling newspapers. When 21 years of age, his small earnings having been saved by his careful mother, he was able to buy a lot and was prepared to build a house on it. The thrift taught him by his excellent mother has assisted greatly in his success as a business man. When 16 years old he left school and clerked in a hardware store for a year and a half at Beaver Dam and for the same period at Kenton, and then for eight years at Bluffton for John Fett. In 1901, with Mr. Fett, he en- tered into partnership in the manufacture of cream separators and they formed the company which does such a large business under the name of the Arras Cream Separator Company. Employment is given 15 competent persons at the factory, and it is one of the town's flourish- ing industries.
In 1895, Mr .. Augsburger was married to Belle Lewis, who was born at Bluffton, and is a daughter of W. I. and Eliza Lewis. They have four children, viz. : Hazel, Donald, How- ard and Villiard.
In political affiliation, Mr. Augsburger has always been a Democrat. He has taken an active part in local affairs, is a member of the Town Council and is chairman of the finance committee. Fraternally he belongs to two or- ganizations-the Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America. He is one of the lead- ing business men of the community.
AMES M. LIPPINCOTT, a prominent farmer of Monroe township, living in section 36, was born at Rockport, Ohio, May 11, 1851. He is a son of James T. and Mary A. (Kidd) Lip- pincott, both deceased. His paternal grand- father. Morgan Lippincott, entered a large body of land north of Lima, where he engaged in farming.
James T. Lippincott was born in Cham-
paign County, Ohio, but came to Allen County with his parents at the age of 13 and continued to live here until his 69th year, when his spirit passed into the great beyond. He was a farmer and also shipped stock quite extensively; and, being a money-maker, he accumulated 320 acres of land. He married Mary A. Kidd, who was born at Mansfield, Richland County, this State, and who died at the age of 71 years. Two brothers survive her-Nathaniel, who is in his 94th year and resides at Columbus Grove, and Wesley, who resides in Illinois and is a minister, of the Methodist Protestant Church. Mrs. Lippincott was the mother of 12 children, six of whom have died. Those living are: Charles, of Columbus Grove; Joseph, of Put- nam County; Rena ( Marshall), of Columbus Grove; Dora (Lora), of Monroe township; Ina (Bogardus), of Lima; and James M.
James M. Lippincott was brought up on the farm, but was given all the advantages of a good, practical education, going from the dis- trict schools to the Ohio Normal University at Ada, where he studied one year. While there he was a prime factor in organizing the Philo Literary Society, of which he was a charter member. After leaving college, he taught school one term, and during the '70's began the manufacture of tile, his factory being the first in the vicinity and one of the first in the county. In 1873 he purchased his present farm, upon which he has erected substantial buildings and made many improvements. The 80 acres upon which he lives is located in section 36, Monroe township, while 40 acres lie in section 31, and 60 acres in section 34, Richland township. This farm is one of those historic spots which abound in Ohio. the spring from which Craw- ford took his last drink before he was carried away prisoner by the Indians being located here. This was also the camping ground of the Indians, some of whom are buried beneath the sod on this farm; many interesting relics have been found by Mr. Lippincott.
On February 6, 1873. Mr. Lippincott was married to Mary E. Stewart, who was born in Monroe township. Allen County, Ohio. No- vember 2. 1853, and is a daughter of Alexan- der and Sarah Jane ( Rockhill) Stewart. Her father was born July 26. 1818, in Highland
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County, Ohio, and the mother was a native of New Jersey. Mr. and Mrs. Lippincott are the parents of two children, Otis T. and Eugene T., both of whom give promise of a brilliant future. The elder son, Otis, was graduated from the law school of the Ohio Normal University at Ada and is now practicing his profession at Lima, where he is associated with Mr. Sprague under the firm name of Sprague & Lippincott. Eugene, the younger son, was graduated from the Ohio Normal University at Ada and the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, after which he attended the Western Reserve Law School at Cleveland for one year and then ma- triculated at the University of Chicago, where he is preparing for admission to the legal pro- fession. Mr. Lippincott has been a member of the Prohibition party since its inception in 1876, and has takes an active part in its ad- vancement. Besides being chairman of the ex- ecutive committee of Allen County and attend- ing many of the conventions as a delegate, he has allowed his name to be used as candidate for several county offices, for the Legislature and for probate judge. He is a member of the Beaver Dam Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is a steward and has been a trustee for 30 years. He is the efficient superintendent of the Sunday-school, which position he has held for a number of years.
LBERT HEFNER, who recently com- pleted a term of three years on the Board of County Commissioners, a portion of this period serving as presi- dent of the board, was born in Dela- ware County, Ohio, October 23, 1839, and is a son of David and Frances (Frederick) Hefner.
The parents of Mr. Hefner were natives of Pennsylvania. In 1840 they came to Allen County, Ohio, where the father engaged in agricultural pursuits until the close of his life. He reared a family of eight children, all of whom are well settled in life.
Albert Hefner was reared a farmer boy and was educated in the public schools of Bath township. His life has been mainly spent as a
farmer and stock-raiser and he still owns a fine estate, although his official duties prevent his close supervision of its operation. He has al- ways been one of the county's intelligent, pub- lic-spirited men and for many years has been a force in politics. As a leading Democrat he has filled a number of local offices and in 1901 was elected a member of the Board of County Commissioners and was honored by being chosen as president of that important body. His term expired in September, 1905. His services on the board were eminently satisfactory to the public.
Mr. Hefner was married October 20, 1893, to Emma B. Ziler, a daughter of John Ziler, a well-known citizen of Allen County, and they have three children-Ruth, Esther and James E. The family belong to the Christian Church.
REDERICK G. STUEBER, M. D., oculist and aurist, at Lima, is a native of Germany, a country which has con- tributed largely to the ranks of sci- entists in the United States, and par- ticularly to the medical profession. He was born May 18, 1860, being one of the two sons born to his parents, Andrew J. and Catherine (Marx) Stueber. His only brother, Louis J. Stueber, also an eminent physician of Lima, died December 8, 1904.
Frederick G. Stueber was seven years old when he came to America and he was reared and mainly educated in American institutions. His home has been at Lima since 1867. After preliminary preparation he entered Rush Med- ical College, Chicago, where he was graduated in 1882. Subsequently he took post-graduate courses in Chicago and New York and in vari- ous cities of Germany, spending a year in his native land. Dr. Stueber is a man of high attainments in his profession and keeps thor- oughly informed through attendance on the sessions of the various leading medical socie- ties, having membership in Allen County Medi- cal Society. the Ohio State Medical Society, the Northwestern Ohio Medical Association. the American Medical Association and the American Ophthalmic-Oto-Laryngological So-
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EBENEZER B. GOBLE
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ciety, meeting and exchanging views and ex- periences with the most notable men of medical science in the country.
Dr. Stueber was united in marriage with Emma Moser, a sketch of whose father will be found in this volume. Dr. and Mrs. Stueber have two children, namely : Paul, who is taking a collegiate course at Oberlin College; and Ruth, who is attending the Lima High School. They have a beautiful home at No. 502 West North street and Dr. Stueber has well-ap- pointed offices in the Metropolitan Block. He limits his practice to diseases of the eye and ear. Politically he is identified with the Republican party. Fraternally he is a Knight of Pythias. He and his family belong to the German Re- formed Church, of Lima.
€ BENEZER B. GOBLE, one of the rep- resentative farmers and valued citi- zens of Richland township, who re- sides on his well improved farm of 80 acres in section 27, belongs to one of the fine old pioneer families of this township. He was born within one mile of his present home on the 29th of November, 1848, and is a son of George W. and Jane ( Allison) Goble.
George Washington Goble, father of our subject, was born in Washington County, Penn- sylvania, March 20, 1819, and is a son of Dan- iel L. and Elizabeth (Dilly) Goble, the third of their family of seven children. George W. was 14 years of age when he accompanied his parents overland to Allen County, his new home being in the vicinity of Bluffton. In his early manhood he taught school for some win- ters, but devoted the greater part of his time to practical farming. On September 16, 1841, he married Margaret Fenton, who died shortly after, and on June 16, 1845, he was united to Laura Acklev. She also lived but a short time and on March 26, 1848. Mr. Goble married, as his third wife, Jane Allison. The children of this marriage were : Ebenezer B. ; Allen B., de- ceased, at the age of 41 years; Mrs. Martha
Jane Yerger, of Bluffton; and Charles, of Rich- land township.
After his marriage, George W. Goble set- tled on a farm of 160 acres, which was a gift from his father, and to this he subsequently added two tracts of 80 acres each. He cleared and developed the greater portion of the prop- erty, of which he has retained 75 acres, his children enjoying the remainder. He has many old papers and records, not only of this neighborhood, but some that have descended from his grandfather, Ebenezer Goble; the lat- ter was born in New Jersey, of French parents, who spelled the family name Goblee. George W. Goble has lived on his farm in Richland township for the past 64 years, and is one of its most venerable citizens.
Ebenezer B. Goble has spent the years of a useful and busy life almost entirely in Richland township. He remained on the paternal home- stead until his 30th year, and then settled on his present farm, which was given him by his father .. He has cleared 32 acres and has made many valuable and substantial improvements thereon. In 1881 he erected his comfortable and convenient family home, and in 1886 com- pleted the large barn and other buildings. He conducts general farming, but within the past three years his property has greatly advanced in value, on account of the discovery of oil. eight wells having been developed within this period.
Mr. Goble was married August 21, 1879, to Christianna Rummell, who was born in Tuscar- awas County, Ohio, August 1, 1849, and is a daughter of Francis and Mary (Hall) Rum- mell, the former a native of Ohio, and the lat- ter of New Jersey. Two children were born to our subject and wife, viz : Earl, who died in infancy ; and Mary Blanche, who is the wife of J. A. Badertscher, of Athens, Ohio.
The father of Mr. Goble has been a stanch Democrat since 1840, but our subject affiliates with no party, voting independently and con- senting to fill only school offices in his town- ship. He belongs to the lodge of Odd Fellows at Beaver Dam. For many years he has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His portrait is shown on a preceding page.
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O RRIE HERRINGTON, residing on the old family homestead in section 5, Shawnee township, is extensively en- gaged in dairying, conducting the "Model Dairy" in partnership with his brother Reuben, under the firm name of Her- rington Brothers. He embarked in this busi- ness some five years ago and has two milk routes in Lima. He keeps from 12 to 20 milch cows on the farm, and in addition buys milk to supply his trade.
The Herrington farm, pleasantly located on the Spencerville road, about five miles from Lima, is one of the best in its section of the county. A handsome two-story residence has been erected in recent years, which in arrange- ment, construction and finish compares favor- ably with modern city homes. It is finished in hard wood throughout, the parlor and lower hall being in quarter-sawed oak.
Mr. Herrington was born in Allen County, and is a son of James Horace and Catherine (Andrews) Herrington, and a grandson of Reuben Herrington, who was a native of Penn- sylvania.
James H. Herrington was born in Lewis- town, Pennsylvania, October 22, 1851, and was three years old when his mother died, being thereafter reared by his maternal grandfather, Abel Davis. He was seven years old when brought to Allen County, his grandparents lo- cating in South Lima. They subsequently lo- cated in Bath township, where he lived until he reached the age of 19. He then went to Altoona, Pennsylvania, and served an appren- ticeship at the painter's trade. Returning to Lima, he followed his trade four or five years. He then engaged in farming at Allentown for some time and from there moved to the Kes- sler farm. In 1888, he located upon his present property.
In 1876 James H. Herrington was married to Catherine Andrews who was born in Allen County, Ohio, and is a daughter of Isaac and Mary (Ireland) Andrews. Her father was born in Ross county, Ohio, April 6, 1830, and was 10 years old when he accompanied his fath- er, Thomas Andrews, to Allen County. the lat- ter dying on the old Andrews farm in Shawnee
township. Isaac Andrews also farmed on this place until his death July 5, 1886, which re- sulted from injuries sustained in a run-away. He married Mary Ireland, who was born in Ohio and came to Allen County with her father Charles Ireland, when about four years old. They had two children : Charles T. who now lives on the old Andrews homestead ; and Cath- erine, mother of our subject.
To Mr. and Mrs. Herrington were born the following children : Orrie; Clara, who died in December, 1903; Reuben, in partnership with our, subject and living in Lima, who married Pansy Owen, of Urbana, Ohio; Laura, living at home, who was graduated from the Lima High School in 1903; Hugh, who lives in Lima; Homer, who lives on the home place; and Irma, who lives at home and attends school. Religiously, the family are Methodists.
ILTON C. CRAIG, deceased, was a resident of Ohio from 1856 until his death, which took place April 2, 1902. He was closely identified with railroad construction in the early days and later was a well-known and suc- cessful business man of Lima. Mr. Craig was born at Beaver, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, February 20, 1821, and was a son of Samuel and Elizabeth Craig.
The parents of Mr. Craig were natives of Pennsylvania. They reared six children, and when the Civil War broke out gave three sons to the support of the Union cause. These have long since passed away, although they survived the dangers of the battle-field.
Prior to coming to Ohio, Mr. Craig had at- tended school in his native State, had carried on farming and milling and had married and become a man of family. When he came to this locality, the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne and Chi- cago Railway was in course of construc- tion and he helped to lay the rails on this great transportation line and then entered the employ of the Dayton & Michigan Railroad Company, with which he was connected for 18 years. In 1881 he came to Lima, established his
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permanent home here and later opened up a feed mill on East Market street, with which he continued to be connected during the re- mainder of his active life. He was a man of business stability and of personal integrity.
In 1898 Mr. Craig married Mrs. Elizabeth Chew, who was born in Ohio and who still survives, residing in a very pleasant and com- fortable home at No. 402 McPheron street, Lima. Mr. Craig by his first marriage had six children-Samuel, Sarah and Grace still sur- vive and Harvey, William and Ellen are deceas- ed. Mrs. Craig had two children by her union with Archibald Chew-of whom Irvin Chew, D. D. S., survives and resides in Toledo, Ohio. Laura married Edison Kuenzli and at her death left four children.
ILLIAM M. FLETCHER, M. D., prominent physician and business man of Lima, of two decades ago, whose promising career was cut short at the early age of 34 years, was born in 1854 in Dalton, Wayne County, Ohio, and is a son of William and Ann Eliza ( Moffitt) Fletcher.
The late Dr. Fletcher was of Irish ancestry, both of his parents having been born in Ireland. The family was founded in Ohio by his grand- father, who came from Ireland at an early day and settled in Wayne County, Ohio, in 1833. where he reared a large family. Dr. Fletcher was one in a family of eight children born to his parents, namely : Belle, Ella, Frances, Wesley, William M., Charles, John and Emma.
Dr. Fletcher obtained his literary education in the local schools and very early in life decid- ed to study medicine. Much of his earlier read- ing was done without special direction but it was no less thorough, and he prepared for and later took a course of lectures at the P. M. Med- ical Institute at Cincinnati. He began his prac- tice among his old friends at Dalton, but two years later removed to Auglaize County, Ohio, and there engaged in practice for almost five years. In the fall of 1884 Dr. Fletcher came to South Lima and opened a first-class drug-
store, giving it the name of the "South Lima Drug Store." This he continued to conduct in association with his practice until his death, which took place July 22, 1888. Few men were better known in his section of the city. He did much in the way of charity and at all times was a liberal supporter of move- ments for the general welfare.
Dr. Fletcher married Pauline A. Herring, a daughter of William M. Herring. She sur- vives him, together with two children : Carl J., of Lima, who married Borghild Zetlitz, No- vember 15, 1905, and Bernice A., who lives with her mother in the pleasant family home at No. 719 South Elizabeth street.
HRISTIAN U. AMSTUTZ, a well- known farmer of Allen County, and owner of 200 acres of land in section 3, Richland township, is a French- man by birth and an American by adoption. He was born August 28, 1829, and was five years of age when his parents, Ul- rich and Barbara (Clay) Amstutz, came to this country. The father was a native of France and was twice married in that country. By the first union there were three children, one of whom died and the other two came with him to America ; these were Mary and Anna Amstutz. His second wife was Barbara Clay, a native of Switzerland, by whom he had two children, Christian U. and John U., who resides in Rich- land township. The family landed in New York in 1834 and soon after settled in Ohio, lo- cating in Wayne County in 1837. Later they moved to Allen County where they spent the remainder of their lives, the father dying at the age of 77 and the mother at the more ad- vanced age of 95 years.
In 1854 Christian U. Amstutz moved to his present homestead, which at that time consisted of 80 acres of woodland, and built a rude log cabin as a home for himself and bride. He lost no time in clearing and getting his land un- der cultivation, and has added to the original purchase until he now owns 200 acres. 80 of which are in section 16. In 1866 he built his present commodious residence and the other
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improvements he has effected make it in every way a desirable home. Grain is his principal crop.
Mr. Amstutz was married in 1854 to Fan- nie Neuenschwander, a native of Wayne Coun- ty and a daughter of Ulrich and Elizabeth (Basinger) Neuenschwander, both of whom were natives of Germany. The following chil- dren were born to this union, viz .: Eli, who died in infancy ; David, who resides in section 16, Richland township; Samuel, a widower, who with his daughter Paulina, lives with his father-his other child is dead; Christian D., who resides in Bluffton; Barbara, who lives at home; Adam, also living at home; Ulrich, who lives at home and is a teacher of vocal music; and Ephraim, who lives on an adjoining farm. Mrs. Amstutz, who died December 16, 1895, at the age of 66 years, 8 months and II days, was a woman of noble qualities and had scores of friends. Mr. Amstutz is a Democrat and has served as trustee of the township one term and as a member of the School Board for 12 years. He is a member of the Mennonite Church and for 28 years has been janitor of Ebenezer Mennonite Church, which he assisted in building.
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VAN L. THOMAS, cashier and general manager of Branch "A" of The Lima Trust Company, was born in Jay County, Indiana, in 1855, and is a son of Andrew J. Thomas, who was born in West Virginia in 1816. Andrew J. Thomas went to Indiana when 16 years old and engaged in farming until his death in 1892, at the age of 76 years. He was the youngest of a family of 13 children, whose average age at death was 77 years.
Evan L. Thomas received all the advantages of a superior education, attending Farmer's Academy in Jay County, then the Whitewater Academy, and finishing at the Indiana State Normal School at Terre Haute. In 1872 he en- gaged in teaching school, and, with an excep- tion of two years, was thus employed for 25 consecutive years. He rapidly advanced in his profession. being superintendent of the schools at Sevastopol and West Richmond, and later
accepting a like position in the New Paris schools, Preble County, Ohio, where he remain- ed seven years. He was recognized as one of the foremost educators of the State and was for years a member of the Preble County Board of School Examiners, being president of that body when he removed from the county. Hav- ing accepted a lucrative position with the O'Connor insurance agency, Mr. Thomas came to Lima in 1897 and acted as its representative until December 31, 1904, when this relation was dissolved and the next day he assumed his du- ties as cashier and general manager of Branch "A" of The Lima Trust Company. This is one of the strongest and most substantial bank- ing institutions in Allen County, and the choice of the directors for the important office of man- ager of the branch was a most suitable one, as Mr. Thomas is abundantly qualified for the po- sition.
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