USA > Ohio > Ashland County > History of Ashland County, Ohio > Part 64
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William D. Otter was reared at home, acquiring his preliminary education in the public schools, and subsequently having the advantage of a two years' course of study in Ashland College. He next engaged in the jewelry business with Henry Van Tilberg, with whom he remained for about four years, and, his father's death having occurred about that time, he gave up this occupation and took charge of his father's saloon and restaurant business, when about eighteen years of age. Notwithstanding his youth he possessed a fund of good common sense and innate business ability which enabled him to at once take hold of the enterprise and conduct the business to exceptional advantage. In this he remained until he was twenty-one years of age, in the meantime having devoted one year to the meat business, and in 1902 his success in business had enabled him to secure sufficient means with which to construct the Otter Hotel, which is the leading hostelry in the city. He has since been engaged in conducting this business. It is widely known, not only throughout the city and immediate surroundings, but also throughout the entire state and as a hotel keeper he has an extended reputation which has drawn to his place of business an excellent class of patrons.
On December 22, 1881, Mr. Otter wedded Miss Henrietta Woods, of Ash- land, by whom he had one daughter; Ethel Wilhelmina, bookkeeper and stenographer for the Safety Door Hanger Company. In May, 1890 Mr. Otter was united in marriage to Miss Fannie Jane Crippen, of this city, and to her have been born three children: Edna Wilhelmina, deceased; Gustave William; and Frederick William. Mr. Otter is interested in all movements purposing to advance the commercial and financial welfare of the city, and is vice president
2
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of the Ashland Board of Trade and one of the leaders in the organization of the Commercial Club, both of which associations are devoted to enhancing the business possibilities of the community. Politically he is a democrat, always loyal to the candidates of his party and a stanch upholder of its principles, while as to his religious convictions, he belongs to the Disciples of Christ, the members of his family also belonging there. His excellent business ability and solicitation for the highest interests of the community have given Mr. Otter a wide reputation as a local promoter, and his sterling qualities of character, together with his upright life, have enabled him to gain a high place in the estimation and respect of his fellow citizens. He is also justly numbered among the substantial business men of the city.
AARON L. GARBER.
Aaron Leedy Garber was born on a farm in Jefferson township, Richland county, Ohio, on the site of the first settlement of the Leedys in 1811. His parents were David and Susan (Leedy) Garber, the latter being a cousin of the paternal grandmother of our subject. Samuel Garber, the grandfather, married a daughter of the pioneer settler, John Leedy. Several of the ancestors of Aaron L. Garber emigrated to this country as religious refugees.
A. L. Garber spent the first twenty years of his life on a farm and did not permanently leave pastoral scenes until about ten years thereafter. He obtained his primary education in the country schools, afterward spent two winters in a high school and also studied for many weary hours at home in the evenings by the light of a tallow candle. At the age of twenty years he was called to the ministry by a congregation of his relatives called the Leedy Brethren, who held chiefly to the teaching of the Tunker fraternity. In 1875, in association with his brother, E. L. Garber, he purchased a small hand printing press, erected it in an upstairs bedroom, with a little type and other equipment, and there began a printing business. The first publication was called The Christian Guide. Two years later, in company with his brother, E. L. Garber, he launched the Bellville Star, which was sold after ten years. In the meantime he published
the democratic paper in Shelby for a short time. In 1884 he located in Ashland, purchasing an interest in the Brethren Evangelist and publishing and editing that paper for about five years. In 1888 he began the publication of the Prophet Age, now in its twenty-first year ; in 1897 the Leedy Chronicle, a quarter- ly family paper in its twelfth year; and later the Mission Tidings, now in its eighth year. The first and last named are monthlies devoted to prophecy and Bible church interests. In 1908 he published a work of two hundred and eight pages on diet and health that is regarded as one of the most practical now in print. His printing plant on Orange street, Ashland, Ohio, is one of the largest and most complete in this section of the state and is occupied chiefly in commercial printing.
In politics he is a stanch prohibitionist, converted from the democratic ranks in early manhood. For about six years, or from 1887 until 1893, he
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served as pastor of the Brethren church, occupying the chapel of Ashland College as a place of worship. Since this date other duties have prevented service regularly in the ministerial calling and at the present time he is working under the names of The Watch Mission and Church of Jesus Christ along lines not recognizing the denominational separation in the rank of the Christian faith as having a biblical right to exist; and he earnestly believes that a new and higher era in the history of men is now unfolding in the fulfillment of Bible prophecy. He also gives some attention to the development of a natural health food business.
In 1887 Mr. Garber was married to Miss Mary Etta Myers, a daughter of Henry K. and Hannah (Shoemaker) Myers, of Ashland. One son and two daughters make merry their home on Orange street. In early manhood Mr. Garber taught a term of school was instructor of classes in music, attended the winter session of a medical school in 1874-5 and also became quite proficient at carpentering and blacksmithing. Industry and not idleness has been the rule of his life and his career has been one of usefulness and activity. He has never indulged in a glass of any alcoholic beverage or a cup of coffee and by right living, fair diet and the blessing of heaven has not been disabled by sickness for a single day during the last twenty-five years.
JOHN SHELLEY.
One of the most respected and honored of the early settlers is John Shelley, now eighty years of age. He was but a few months old when brought by his parents to Ohio and has since lived in this portion of the state. He was born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, October 7, 1829, a son of Jacob and Mary (Raudebaugh) Shelley, who were natives of Cumberland and of Mifflin counties in Pennsylvania, respectively, the former born in 1798 and the latter in 1804. The Shelleys are of German descent and the grandfather, Jacob Shelley, was also a native of Pennsylvania. He wedded Elizabeth Snavely, who was born in the Keystone state and both passed away in Plain township, Wayne county, Ohio. He was lame and during the last twenty-five years of his life walked with two canes. He and his wife had a family of eight children, namely : Jacob, Abram, Michael, Elizabeth, Esther, Barbara, Katharine and Nancy. The maternal grandfather of our subject was Jacob Raudebaugh, who spent his entire life in Pennsylvania, his native state. His widow afterward came to Ohio and died in Wooster. They, too, were the parents of eight children : William, Daniel, Solomon, John, Peter, Elizabeth, Katharine and Mary. The father's death occurred in March, 1839, while his wife long survived him and passed away in June, 1880. Their family numbered six children: Daniel; Samuel; John; Elizabeth, who became the wife of Jacob Frick; Rebecca, who died at the age of twelve years; and Anna, the wife of B. H. Palmer.
John Shelley, who is the only living member of his father's family, came to Ohio with his parents and grandparents, who on the 1st of May, 1830, arrived in Plain township, Wayne county, at which time the grandfather purchased
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nine quarter sections of land. Both the grandfather and the father spent their remaining days in that township and there John Shelley resided until the spring of 1881, when he removed to Mohican township, where he lived until 1891. In that year he went to Logan county, Ohio, where he resided until 1894, when he returned to Ashland county and made his home in Montgomery township until 1900. At that date he removed to Perry township, a mile north of Jeromeville, and made it his place of residence until March 23, 1909, when he removed to Jeromeville, where he is now living retired. During his early life he gave his attention to the live-stock business, dealing in cattle and sheep, and after his sons reached mature years he turned his attention to general farming. He has walked and driven sheep from Wayne county, Ohio, to Hackettstown, New Jersey, within thirty-five miles of New York city. He has many times crossed the mountains on foot with his sheep and became well known on the way as a drover.
On the 30th of October, 1852, Mr. Shelley was united in marriage to Miss Katharine Smith, who was born in Chester township, Wayne county, Ohio, June 29, 1833. She was a daughter of John and Susanna (Lightfoot) Smith, who were natives of Maryland but were married in Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Shelley traveled life's journey together for more than fifty-six years and were then separated by the death of the wife, who passed away on their farm about a mile north of Jeromeville on the 21st of December, 1908. In their family were five children : E. F., a very prominent and influential citizen of this county ; Emma, who is the widow of W. B. Swarts and resides in Ashland; A. J., living in Akron, Ohio; Alice, the wife of H. J. Buffenmyre, of Perry township, Ashland count) . and Maude, at home with her father.
Since the death of his wife Mr. Shelley has removed to Jeromeville. He is a democrat in politics, having been identified with the party since casting his first presidential vote for Franklin Pierce in 1852. He remembers well the presidential campaign of 1840 when William Henry Harrison was elected. He has for several terms served as assessor and as treasurer of Plain township, Wayne county. He has a remarkable memory for details and relates many interesting incidents concerning the early days. He can remember every school teacher to whom he went, when they taught and how old he was at the time. He first at- tended school in a little log cabin but in 1839 a stone schoolhouse was erected and the first district in Plain township was organized. Mr. Shelley attended there through the winter months until twenty-one years of age and one teacher had between eighty and one hundred pupils, at which time he made all the copies and mended all the pens, for goose quills were at that time used as a writing utensil. Those were the good old days of simplicity and sunshine when all enjoyed themselves. Mr. Shelley lost his father when quite young and worked out by the month through the summer seasons, while the winter months were passed on the home farm. He was thus employed from the time he was able to earn two dollars per month until he was able to earn nine dollars per month, which was the largest amount of wages he received. He has mowed all day with a scythe for fifty cents per day and has done other arduous work for an equally small wage, for little money was in circulation at that time. In 1850
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he crossed the plains to California, where he engaged in digging gold one summer and then returned by way of Central America and crossed Nicaragua Lake on the second trip that was made by the first boat there.
In June, 1856, Mr. Shelley united with the Disciple church, with which he has since been actively identified, being one of the faithful workers in the church. He was made a Master Mason at Wooster, Ohio, August 11, 1852. His stories of pioneer times and conditions are most interesting and give a cor- rect picture of life on the frontier. For seventy-nine years he has been associated with the development of this part of the state, witnessing its wonder- ful transformation as it has been converted from a wild forest region into one of rich fertility, highly cultivated fields being seen on all hands.
REUBEN LANDIS.
In that picturesque and attractive district of Ashland county through which the Black Fork meanders, is the home of Reuben Landis, who owns and cultivates one hundred and forty acres on sections 10 and 11, Mifflin township, bordering the Richland county line. His place is a splendidly improved prop- erty, on which are two sets of good farm buildings and the place presents a most attractive appearance, while an air of neatness and thrift pervades the entire farm. It was near this place that Reuben Landis was born, November 8, 1843, his parents being John B. and Mary (Kagey) Landis. The father's birth occurred in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, in 1816, and when eight years of age he was brought to Ashland county, then a part of Richland county, by his parents, John and Nancy (Brubaker) Landis, who were natives of Lan- caster county, Pennsylvania, and came to this county about 1824, locating near the farm upon which the subject of this review now resides. John Landis, Sr., was a son of another John Landis, who was a native of Germany and became the founder of the family in the new world, settling in Lancaster county, Penn- sylvania, where he continued to reside until called to his final rest. Having removed westward from the Keystone state, John Landis, grandfather of our subject, purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 2, Mifflin township, built a little cabin home in the midst of the forest and at once began to clear away the trees and prepare the fields for cultivation. As he had no door to his cabin at first, a curtain was hung up to close the entrance. The little building was heated by a fire place and the furnishings were primitive but as the years passed and he prospered in his undertakings, he was enabled to provide a much more substantial and commodious home and to enjoy many of the comforts and some of the luxuries of life. His remaining days were spent here, his death occurring when he had reached the age of fifty years. His family numbered four sons and four daughters, namely : John, Benjamin, Henry, Tobias, Mrs. Mary Burk, Mrs. Susan Roland, Mrs. Elizabeth Kagey and Mrs. Nancy Roland.
John B. Landis, father of our subject, was reared on the old home- stead farm amid the wild scenes and environments of frontier life and after
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attaining his majority he continued in the occupation with which he had become familiar in his boyhood days. As the years passed he was recognized as one of the substantial and representative farmers of the community. He suffereu from blindness during the last years of his life and at the age of eighty years and twenty-seven days he passed away. His wife, who was a daughter of Martin and Nancy (Charles) Kagey, died in 1894, at the age of sixty-three years. Of their children John and Mary both died in childhood, leaving Reuben Landis as the only survivor of the family.
Reuben Landis has always been a resident of Mifflin township and for about a half a century has resided upon his present farm. Here he now owns one hundred and forty acres of land situated on sections 10 and 11, lying along the Black Fork, which is the Richland county line. There are two sets of good buildings upon this place, furnishing ample shelter for grain and stock. The fields are carefully tilled and the farm constitutes an attractive feature in the landscape. He devotes his time and energies to the raising of both grain and stock and has good success in cultivating his crops.
In 1865, Mr. Landis was married to Miss Katharine Young, who was born in Mifflin township, in 1841, and is a daughter of David and Katharine (Horner) Young, who were natives of Pennsylvania but spent their last days in Ashland county. Their family numbered three children: Nettie, the wife of Joseph Bauhm, of Mifflin township; Martin, who is living on his father's home farm, is married and has a family of four sons and three daughters; and John, who is a resident of the same neighborhood, is married and has one son and two daughters. In his political views, Reuben Landis is a stalwart demo- crat, interested in the growth and success of his party and for three years he has served as trustee of his township. He has never been a politician, however, in the sense of office seeking, preferring to concentrate his time and energies upon his business affairs, which, capably directed, have brought him well earned success.
W. V. B. TOPPING.
Among the native sons of Ashland who have attained success and promi- nence in business circles is numbered W. V. B. Topping, now conducting a profitable and extensive business under the name of the Safety Door Hanger Company. He was born July 15, 1852, of the marriage of George H. and Amelia F. (Graham) Topping. The father was born in Worthington, Ohio, in 1813 and when sixteen years of age went to Columbus, where he secured a clerical position in a mercantile establishment. There he remained for several years, after which he removed to Cleveland, where he was similarly employed for several years. Later he came to Ashland county and, as it was then thought that Nankin would be the county seat, he took up his abode in that town where he embarked in the mercantile business on his own account. The county seat, however, was located at Ashland and he removed hither. In company with Luth- er Crall & Company he engaged in the operation of a flour mill and later they organized the Bank of Ashland, the first banking institution in this city. Fol-
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lowing his military service he was appointed the first agent for the Atlantic & Great Western Railroad Company, now the Erie line, remaining in charge of their business in Ashland until 1871. For years Mr. Topping figured as one of the most prominent and influential factors in the business development of Ashland, his commercial and industrial interests being at all times of such character as contributed to public progress as well as to individual success. He reached the advanced age of eighty-eight years, retaining his faculties unim- paired up to the time of his death. He was a veteran of the Civil war, serving as major of the One Hundred and Second Regiment and later he maintained pleasant relations with his old army comrades through his membership in Lorin H. Andrews Post, G. A. R. He was also a member of the Masonic fraternity and in later life was an active and helpful member of the Congregational church. His wife, a most estimable lady, was the daughter of Francis Graham, the first postmaster of Ashland.
Spending his boyhood days in his father's home, W. V. B. Topping acquired his education in the public and high schools and afterward entered the Naval Academy at Annapolis. He had attended that institution for two years when he became ill with typhoid fever and returned home on a six weeks' furlough. When he had somewhat recovered his health he again went to Annapolis and found that he had overtaxed his strength, for he was taken with a relapse and once more returned home, remaining on the sick list for almost a year. Because of the condition of his health he resigned from the service and when it was possible for him to become a factor in business life he entered the hardware store of Bird & Topping in Mansfield, Ohio, his father being the junior partner in that enterprise. A year later the father disposed of his interests in Mans- field and purchased the drug store of Nelson & Gates in Ashland, after which W. V. B. Topping was employed in the store until his father sold out about a year later. At that time the father purchased an interest in the hardware business of Charles Woodhouse and Mr. Topping of this review became a clerk in the hardware store. Two years later Mr. Woodhouse retired and the father succeeded to the business, while in 1878. W. V. B. Topping acquired an interest in the store which was then conducted under the firm style of G. H. Topping & Son. He remained an active factor in the ownership and conduct of that business until 1882 when they sold out. In the previous year Mr. Topping had accepted a position with the Reading Hardware Company, of Reading, Pennsyl- vania, as commercial salesman, but soon afterward they withdrew their traveling salesmen from the road and he then accepted a similar position with the Simmons Hardware Company of St. Louis, being thus identified with that extensive enterprise until 1885, when he accepted a position with the hardware firm of McIntosh, Good & Company. Mr. Topping was associated with that house for sixteen years as one of its most faithful and capable representatives.
In 1901 he established his present manufacturing business, manufacturing a patent door hanger and track, invented by J. H. Burkholder of this city. The firm was organized as a partnership concern, the members thereof being Mr. Topping, Mr. Burkholder and G. C. Bowman. Two years later Mr. Burk- holder retired from the firm, after which Mr. Topping and Mr. Bowman conducted the business until January 20, 1906, when Mr. Topping became sole
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owner. From a small beginning the enterprise has grown in seven years to one of the leading business concerns of the city, its annual trade amounting to one hundred thousand dollars. It has been conducted along well defined lines of labor and the mature judgment and business discernment of Mr. Topping have been notable factors in its success.
In 1879 Mr. Topping was united in marriage to Miss Nellie E. Roller, of Ashland, a daughter of W. A. Roller, now deceased. They have become parents of five children : Edward W., Ruth A., Maurice T., Roger W, and Frances S., the three sons being now associated with their father in business. Mr. Topping attends and supports the Congregational church, of which his wife is a member. They are both widely known and esteemed in the community, the hospitality of the best homes being freely and continuously accorded them. Mr. Topping has at all times enjoyed the respect and trust of his fellowmen in a business way and those who have known him from his youth rejoice in his advancement and prosperity.
BENJAMIN F. ZERCHER.
Benjamin F. Zercher, an influential, public-spirited and prosperous citizen of Orange township, was born in Chester township, Wayne county, Ohio, on the 10th of January, 1863, his parents being Benjamin F. and Mary (Hershey) Zercher. In the year 1850 the father came to Ohio with his parents from Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, while about the same time the mother also accompanied her parents on their removal from Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, to this state. Benjamin F. Zercher, the father of our subject, spent the remainder of his life in Wayne county, where he became an extensive landowner and a teacher of prominence. He likewise served as justice of the peace for many years and was frequently called to settle and administer large estates, his unquestioned integrity and ability causing his services to be in great demand. His demise occurred when he had attained the venerable age of eighty years, while his wife passed away at the age of seventy-six years.
Benjamin F. Zercher of this review spent his youthful days on his father's farm in Wayne county and in the acquirement of an education attended the district schools and Smithville Academy. Subsequently he taught for a number of years in the schools of his native county, imparting clearly and readily to others the knowledge that he had acquired. When twenty-five years of age he was married and then became identified with agricultural pursuits in Chester township, Wayne county, where he was thus engaged until 1893, when he took up his abode on his present farm in Orange township. Ashland county. He has two adjoining farms in this township. aggregating two hundred and. forty-five acres of rich, productive and well watered land. which is splendidly improved and especially well adapted for general farming and stock-raising purposes. His holdings likewise include a tract of one hundred and twenty acres in Montgomery township. In recent years, however. he has put aside the active work of the fields, now giving his supervision to his extensive landed and other interests and also devoting considerable attention to stock raising. The success
MR. AND MRS. B. F. ZERCHER
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which has attended his efforts is but the merited reward of his untiring industry and capable business management and he is widely recognized as a most substantial, enterprising and progressive citizen.
On the 6th of September, 1888, Mr. Zercher was united in marriage to Miss Jennie M. Shidler, a daughter of Hartman H. and Susanna (Shutt) Shidler, her father being a prominent agriculturist of Perry township and a man of affairs in the county. By this union there have been born three children, namely : Rhea G., Benjamin F. Jr., and Donald S.
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