USA > Ohio > Ashland County > History of Ashland County, Ohio > Part 47
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H. C. WESTOVER.
H. C. Westover, auditor of Ashland county, in which position he is render- ing the community valuable service, is a man of good judgment and administra- tive capacities, and from all points of view is justly entitled to honorable mention among the municipality's representative men. His birth occurred in Nevada, Ohio, August 14, 1860, a son of James M. and Phebe (Alban) Westover, his father a native of Crawford county, this state, while his mother was born in Hancock county. The birth of the elder Mr. Westover occurred in January, 1829, and in his native county he was reared to manhood, there becoming familiar with the miller's trade. About the time of his marriage he removed to Nevada, where through his own exertions and industry he finally acquired ownership of a grist mill which he operated for a number of years. To this city he removed in 1875 and here also was identified with the· milling business until his death, which occurred February 6, 1906. He was prominent in democratic circles, being an ardent supporter of the principles of that party. He always upheld its candidates during campaigns and for two terms served in the position of street commissioner. Mrs. Westover, who is still living at the advanced age of seventy-four years, resides with her son and daughter in this city.
H. C. Westover was reared under the care of his parents, acquiring his education in the common schools and the high school here. After completing his studies, being ambitious to launch out in the business world for himself, in
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1880 he apprenticed himself to the tinsmith's trade, which he successfully completed and for several years followed as a journeyman. In the fall of 1902 his brother, Edson B. Westover, was elected to the office of county auditor, taking his seat in the fall of the following year, and one year later, in October, 1904, H. C. Westover was made deputy auditor and at the death of Edson B., which occurred August 25, 1908, the deputy auditor was appointed by the county commissioners to perform the duties of the office until the time for the regular election. That time having arrived the subject of this review was nominated for the position on the democratic ticket and elected without opposi- tion to fill the unexpired term of his deceased brother, this term ending the third Monday in October, 1909. Since assuming the duties of this office he has been transacting its affairs with uncommon ability and is recognized as one of the most efficient auditors in the service of the commonwealth.
In 1888 Mr. Westover was united in marriage to Miss Delia M. Knoth, a daughter of Frank and Catherine (Snyder) Knoth, her father being deceased. Mr. Westover's fraternal affiliations are with the Masonic order, being a member of Ashland Lodge, No. 151, A. F. & A. M .; also Mohican Lodge, No. 85, I.O.O.F., the Ashland Encampment, No. 130, and Canton Ashland, No. 41, Uniform Rank. At one time he was commander of the regiment, and he is also a member of the Knights of the Maccabees, being a charter member of the organization, while his religious affiliations are with the Presbyterian church. Mr. Westover is one of the most popular men in the county, and deserves the excellent reputation he sustains as one of Ashland's representative citizens.
JOHN C. SHAFER.
John C. Shafer owns and cultivates a good farm of seventy acres in Orange township and is numbered among the representative agriculturists of the com- munity. He was born April 22, 1866, in Monroe county, Ohio, and is a son of Isaac W. and Pluma (Conger) Shafer. The father also followed the occupation of farming and both he and his wife are still residents of Monroe county.
Spending his boyhood days under the parental roof, John C. Shafer was early trained to the work of the fields and pursued his education in the district schools and the county normal. He engaged in teaching for thirteen years in the country schools, and was quite successful, imparting readily and clearly to others the knowledge that he had acquired, and thus contributing to the intel- lectual progress of the community. Since February, 1902, he has resided in Orange township and now has seventy acres of good land which he has brought under a high state of cultivation. He carefully tills his fields according to the modern methods of farming and as a result annually gathers good harvests as a reward for his industry and perseverance.
On the 6th of February, 1890, Mr. Shafer was united in marriage to Miss Campie Moose, a daughter of John J. and Sarah (Early) Moose, of Monroe county, Ohio. Her father served his country as a soldier in the Union army in the Civil war and was wounded in the battle of Gettysburg. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Shafer
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there were born four children : Bessie, a school teacher; Crystal; Myrtle; and Opal, but the third daughter has passed away. The parents are well known in Orange township where their genuine worth has won them many friends and gained for them the hospitality of the best homes of the community in which they reside. Mr. Shafer has been somewhat active in public life. He has never ceased to feel the deepest interest in the cause of education, has served as president of the school board and for two years has been its clerk. In this connection he has done effective work in the interests of education. He also belongs to a teacher's organization and is a member of Mohican Lodge, No. 87, I. O. O. F., at Ashland and of the encampment. He gives his political allegiance to the democratic party, keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day and does all in his power to promote the growth and insure the success of democratic principles. He is now serving as a member of the county central committee and was clerk of the county election board in Monroe county. He has likewise frequently been a delegate to the county conventions and his opinions carry weight in the local councils. His religious faith is indicated in his membership in the Christian church, to which his family also belong. He takes an active and helpful interest in the church work, is serving as one of the deacons and is a worker as well in the Sunday school. He is justly regarded as an intelligent, progressive citizen, favoring everything that is good and practical and lending helpful aid to many measures which have been of marked benefit in promoting the interests and upbuilding of the county.
DANIEL L. MOHN, M. D.
Dr. Daniel L. Mohn is one of the self-made men who, actuated by a lauda- ble ambition and strong purpose, laid the plans for his own advancement and, choosing a professional career, provided for the necessary collegiate training through his own labors. His strength of character and earnest purpose have also been manifest since he entered upon the active practice of medicine and surgery and have carried him into important professional relations so that he is now well known as one of the representative and honored followers of this calling. He was born in Richland county, Ohio, six miles west of Ashland on the 2d of December, 1867, his parents being John B. and Elizabeth S. (Miller) Mohn, the former a native of Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, and the latter of Lancaster county, that state. They arrived in Richland county, Ohio, with their respective parents during their youthful days and were there reared and married. The father learned the millwright's trade as a young man under the direction of his father and about the time of his marriage he purchased the Olivesburg grist mills which he operated for eighteen years. Failing in health he sold the mills and invested in a small tract of.land of ten acres near Shiloh, in Richland county. Upon that little place he took up his abode and there spent his remaining days in retirement from business cares. At the time of the Civil war he had espoused the cause of the Union and joined the boys in blue with Company B, One Hundred and Sixty-first Ohio Regiment, with which he served for more
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than three years. He was with Sherman on the march to the sea, was wounded in one battle and at another time suffered a sunstroke. He was frequently on the firing line and at all times displayed a spirit of undaunted loyalty and valor. His political allegiance was given to the republican party of which he was a stanch advocate. Ile died in the Lutheran faith July 26, 1905, when he was fifty-seven years of age, and is still survived by his wife who now resides in the village of Shiloh.
In the Olivesburg public schools Dr. Daniel L. Mohn acquired his early education and afterward spent two terms in the Shiloh high school. As early as his fifteenth year he began working as a farm hand and in 1888, when but twenty-one years of age, he took up the profession of teaching which he followed through the ensuing winter. In the early fall of 1889 he entered upon a course of study at the Ohio Northern Normal University and in the winter of 1889-90 he again engaged in teaching. In the summer of the latter year he took up the study of medicine under Dr. S. S. Holtz of Shiloh, now of Plymouth, and he obtained collegiate training in preparation for the practice of medicine and surgery in the fall of 1890, matriculating in the Hahnemann Medical College of Chicago, pursuing his first course of lectures that winter. He afterward engaged in teaching school until the fall of 1892 when he entered the Cleveland University of Medicine & Surgery where he took his second course. He after- ward accepted a position in the office of the Cherry Valley & Salem Iron Works in Latonia, Ohio, where he continued until September, 1895, when he again entered the Cleveland University of Medicine & Surgery, being graduated therefrom with the class of 1896. Dr. Mohn paid his own way through college . with the funds secured in teaching and in commercial lines, and although a period of some time had elapsed since his previous study in college and he had two extra studies that year, he was given charge of his class and in this way paid his tuition. In 1905 he pursued a post-graduate course in the New York Homeopathic Medical College Hospital and he also took a course in the Cleve- land City Hospital. Following his graduation he took charge of Dr. Roseberry's practice in Olivesburg while that physician was away on a vacation, and in October, following, he located in Ashland where he has been successfully engaged in practice through the intervening twelve years. He is a member of the Ohio State Homeopathic Medical Society and of the Ashland County Medical Society. Ile also belongs to the Sixth District Medical Association comprising eight counties. The same determination which enabled him to gain an education in the face of difficulties and obstacles which would utterly have discouraged many a man of less resolute spirit, has actuated him in his progress, prompting him to put forth indefatigable effort for the benefit of his patients and he performs each professional service with a sense of conscientious obligation.
On the 23d of December, 1896, Dr. Mohn was united in marriage to Miss Ella E. Clegg, a daughter of Samuel Clegg of Otego, Otsego county, New York. Mrs. Mohn is a graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston and is the leader of the choir in the Methodist Episcopal church, being quite accomplished in both vocal and instrumental music. Their home is the center of a cultured society circle and its hospitality is most attractive. Dr. Mohn is well known in fraternal circles, belonging to Ashland Lodge, No. 151, A. F. &
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A. M .; to Mohican Lodge, No. 85, I. O. O. F .; to the Tribe of Ben Hur; to the Modern Woodmen of America; the Mutual Benefit Association and the Pro- tective Home Circle; as well as the Physicians' Casualty Company. He is likewise connected with the Ustion Society, a medical fraternity. In politics he is a republican, interested in the work of the party and for two terms he served as chairman of the executive committee. He is also a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and is now serving on its official board. Honorable manhood, upright principles and fidelity to duty in all relations of citizenship and of the profession, he well merits the regard entertained for him in the position which he has won in his chosen calling.
FRANKLIN P. BUCHANAN.
Franklin P. Buchanan, a retired agriculturist of Sullivan township, this county, who however is vet the owner of valuable farming property, is of Scotch descent. The American branch of the family was founded in Pennsylvania. His grandfather, David Buchanan, came to this state with his family in the early days making the journey from Pennsylvania by wagons. His parents, Wil- liam and Rebecca (Plummer) Buchanan, who were united in marriage in Middle- ton, Pennsylvania, April 10, 1838, came to this state shortly afterward and settled in Jackson township, where they lived for several years before locating in Sullivan township. Upon their arrival they purchased one hundred and sixty
acres of land. The surrounding country at that time was covered with forest. Here after having constructed a log cabin home, Mr. Buchanan began clearing the land and putting it in a fit state for cultivation. Prosperity from year to year attended his efforts and to the original one hundred and sixty acres upon which he settled, he added from time to time, until at his death, which occurred August 29, 1892, he was probably the largest individual land owner in the county. In addition to having engaged in the producing of general crops he also paid much attention to stock-raising, especially sheep, of which he usually kept on hand in the neighborhood of one thousand head. He had been twice united in marriage, his first wife, who passed away April 13, 1868, leaving six children, the surviving ones being Jane H., of Albion, this state; Robert P., an agriculturalist of this county, and Franklin P .; and by his second wife he had two sons, namely : Wiley A., and David L. C.
In the public schools of Albion, this county, Franklin P. Buchanan acquired his education, and until he was twenty-four years of age remained upon his father's farm, at which period of his life he was united in marriage and then repaired to this township where, with the exception of three years, between the years 1894 and 1897, which were spent in Medina county, he has since engaged here in general agriculture and stock-raising, in which he is meeting with splen- did success. He now possesses several splendid farms aggregating three hundred and fifty acres, all of which are well improved and under a high state of culti- vation. In addition to this property he owns considerable valuable real estate in the village of Sullivan and also an elegant residence in which he is now re-
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siding. He superintends his farming interests and looks after other financial affairs, but does no active work on the farms. Moreover, his property interests are not confined to this place since he also possesses one hundred and forty acres of land, together with residence property in Medina county.
On the 20th of September, 1877, Mr Buchanan was united in marriage to Miss Emma J. Smith, a daughter of William B. and Mary (Rowley) Smith, of Homer, Medina county. She departed this life on June 25, 1904, and he wed- ded Miss Ada M. Hiar, a native of Medina, on August 10, of the following year, his second wife being a daughter of Robert J. and Anna N. (Lane) Hiar. Her father was a prominent farmer of Ionia county, Michigan, and was for- merly largely identified with agricultural interests in Medina county, this state.
In politics Mr. Buchanan is a democrat, and although he takes considerable interest in public questions and keeps well informed on the issues of the day he does not aspire to office holding and is not active during elections beyond cast- ing his vote for the candidates of his party. Being a progressive man and one who is public spirited he is always ready to assist any movement in the direc- tion of local improvements and was one of the promoters of the local telephone company, of which he is now the treasurer. He belongs to Sullivan Lodge, No. 331, A. F. & A. M., Wooster Council, Knight Templars, and has been treas- urer of the lodge here for the past sixteen years. His wife also has a number of lodge affiliations and belongs to the Eastern Star, the Maccabees, and Wom- ans Christian Temperance Union. She is also a member of the Congregational church, in all of the departments of which she is a leading factor. Mr. Buchan- an is a man of sterling qualities of character, progressive in his ideas, and his upright life and straightforward dealings have merited the confidence and respect of the entire community.
JOHN F. OBRECHT.
John F. Obrecht, the owner of two hundred and forty acres of rich farm land in Lake township, where he carries on general farming and stock raising, was born October 21, 1867, on the farm which he now makes his home. His parents, George and Christina (Kunkle) Obrecht, were natives of Alsace-Lorraine, his birth occurring August 20, 1830, while she was born on the 18th of May, 1831. They were both reared in their native land and were there married in 1852, while the following year they sailed for the United States, coming direct to Loudonville, Ohio. Here he became engaged in agricultural pursuits, renting a farm for a while and then purchasing eighty acres of land, which he continued to operate until his demise. Death came to him December 19, 1900, while his wife survived him for only a few years, passing away January 24, 1904. In their family were four children : George, who died April 4, 1894, at the age of forty-four years, five months and twenty-four days, leaving a widow; Mary, the wife of Martin Arnholt, of Mohican township; William H., who resides on a farm near that of John F .; and John F. of this review.
JOHN F. OBRECHT AND FAMILY
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On his father's farm John F. Obrecht was reared and acquired his education in the common schools of the neighborhood. His early training was supple- mented by study in Greentown Academy at Perrysville and after completing his course at that institution he engaged in teaching in the district schools of Lake township. Following this profession for six winters, he then turned his attention to farming and has continued to direct his energies along this line of activity to the present time. In addition to the old home farm of eighty aeres upon which he is now residing, he also owns another adjoining farm, his entire holdings consisting of two hundred and forty acres located on section 6, Lake township. There are two sets of good buildings on the land and the atmosphere of neatness and progress which pervades the place speaks of the thrift and perseverance of the owner. In addition to general farming interests he has also given much attention to breeding thoroughbred stock, making a specialty of Shropshire sheep, Duroc Jersey hogs, Shorthorn cattle and Percheron horses which he often exhibits at the local fairs.
On the 31st of March, 1896, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Obrecht and Mary Garst, and unto them was born one child, Mary Christina. The wife and mother passed away November 28, 1899, and on March 3, 1903, Mr. Obrecht was again married, his second union being with Phoebe Horn, a daughter of George Horn and a native of Lake township. The children of this union are
Fern O., G. Harold and Carry Carol. In politics Mr. Obrecht is a stanch democrat, although not seeking public office as a reward for party fealty. His fellowmen, however, recognize his sterling characteristics, and called him to the office of township clerk, which he occupied for six years, while he also acted as township assessor for two years. A life-long resident of the community in which he now makes his home, Mr. Obrecht has an extensive acquaintance, and the fact that he is most liked where he is best known indicates that his life has ever been an honorable and upright one. Moreover, in all business matters his methods have been such as to command the trust and confidence of all with whom he has come in contact.
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN DOWNS.
Benjamin Franklin Downs, proprietor of a jewelry establishment in Ash- land, is of English extraction, his birth having occurred here December 31, 1876. His grandparents were George and Sarah (Jones) Downs, natives of England, who came to America in 1870 with their family, locating in this county, where two of the children had settled in 1868. Here the grandfather pursued the occupation of draying until he departed this life. Among his children was Richard, whose birth occurred in England in 1844. There in 1865, he was united in marriage to Sarah Latter, who was born in that country in 1847. His first work in Ashland county was that of stationary engineer, which occupa- tion he followed for ten years and then devoted his time to landscape gardening, sodding and all kindred lines of work, in which he is still engaged, being so successful that at the present time he has one year's work ahead of him, includ-
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ing the contract of decorating the Ashland cemetery. In the year he was married, he came to this country on a sailing vessel named Cornelius Cornell and the voyage required forty-seven days. The long trip made in that primi- tive way, while it was accompanied by many interesting incidents, was not one which Mr. Downs cares to repeat, although he delights in recalling the points of the voyage and in comparing its humble accommodations with those afforded by the large ocean liners now in use. In his family were ten children, namely : Elizabeth Mary, Caroline, Robert Fulton, Esther Jane, Benjamin Franklin, Richard Walter, Albert William, Charles Henry, Edward James and Ada May.
After acquiring his education in the public schools Benjamin Franklin Downs was engaged by H. C. Platner, a jeweler in Toronto, Canada, with whom
he learned his- trade. He remained there for two years, at the expiration of which period he went to Jamesburg, New Jersey, where he was in charge of a jewelry store for fourteen months, subsequently working for Harry Downs in Bellevue, and Louie Ott, of Mansfield, Ohio. In 1902, he located in Ash- land, where he engaged in business for himself and, his means being limited, he initiated the enterprise on a small scale but within the six years he has been in business he has so increased his trade that now he stands on an equal footing with his competitors and as far as his mechanical skill is con- cerned he is surpassed by none. His solicitations to please his customers, together with his honest business methods, has caused his business to grow rap- idly and as he is still a young man, endowed with business ability, the future undoubtedly has in store for him a place where he will be of still greater prom- ience and usefulness in the commercial circles of the community.
On August 20, 1903, Mr. Downs wedded Isadore Toony, whose birth oc- curred August 20, 1884, and who is a daughter of James and Ella (Bowman) Toony, who are now residing here with their children, Isadore and Milo, Mr. Toony being associated with the Ashland Flax Mill Company. Politically Mr. Downs supports the republican party and is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Masons. Being a man of a religious turn of mind, recognizing that one's duties in that direction are of paramount importance, he never permits the pressure of business affairs to usurp the time he should devote to the church and is a faithful supporter of that denomination of Christians, known as the Disciples of Christ. He deserves great credit for the strides he has made in building up the business of which he is now proprietor and being a man of good character he merits the confidence of his fellow citizens and a place among the leading business men of the state.
REV. CHRISTIAN GOTTLIEB JULIUS SCHAUB.
Rev. Christian Gottlieb Julius Schaub, fearless in defense of what he believes to be right, is the exponent of the prevailing idea from which few take exception at the present day that the work of the minister is not to lead his people out of the actual life of the day in preparation for the life to come, but to make them a force for good at the present hour, realizing that each moment
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holds its opportunity and counts either on the profit or loss side in the continuous struggle to make the world better. He has come to be known as "the man that made Loudonville dry"-a characterization of which he has every reason to be proud. Coming to Loudonville in 1906 as the pastor of the Lutheran church here he recognized that one of the strongest forces against morality and religion in the town was the saloon and he resolutely set to work to put before the people the fact that they must choose between the church and the saloon. The result was seen in the ensuing election and today there is no more honored or valued citizen of the village. He bears his honors, however, with becoming modesty, intent upon the work of the church to accomplish all that it should mean as a factor for good in the daily lives of the people of the community.
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