USA > Ohio > Ashland County > History of Ashland County, Ohio > Part 94
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JOHN COLE.
John Cole, who is making the occupation of farming his life work, was born on a farm about a mile northwest of Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, March 24, 1824. His parents, George and Katharine (Ovely) Cole, were also natives of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, where the
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greater part of their lives were spent and where the father devoted his attention to the interests of farm life. Their family consisted of the following children : John, of this review; Henry, who died in Iowa; Jacob, a soldier of the Civil war, who was killed in a coal pit in Pennsylvania; Isaac, of Texas, who also served in the Civil war, enlisting at first for three months and later for three years and was at length veteranizing; Cyrus, a resident of Irwin, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, who also saw service in the Civil war; Margaret, the wife of David Music, of Irwin, Pennsylvania; Eliza Ann, residing in Pennsyl- vania; and Mary Rush, of Fayette county, Pennsylvania. The parents both passed away at the home of their eldest son in Ohio.
John Cole was reared on his father's farm and early became familiar with the tasks that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. As the years passed he aided more and more largely in the work of the farm and he resided with his parents until his marriage, in 1851, when he rented two pieces of land and engaged in agricultural pursuits on his own account. There he remained until November 10, 1859, when he removed to Ohio, settling on his present farm near Perrysville. On his arrival in Ohio he purchased a farm of eighty acres, but as the years have come and gone and he has prospered he added to his original holdings until his place today consists of eighty-nine acres in Hanover township, Ash- land county, and one hundred and five acres adjoining in Worthington township, Richland county, the county line running through his farm. Mr. Cole has de- voted his entire life to general farming and stock raising, and that he has met with gratifying success in this branch of business activity is indicated by the fact that his fields are under a high state of cultivation and an air of thrift and prosperity pervades the entire premises. He has erected good outbuild- ings upon the place and his residence, which stands on the Richland county section of his farm, is one of the finest homes in this part of the county.
In November, 1851, Mr. Cole was united in marriage to Hannah Jane White, a native of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, who was born on a farm adjoining that on which her husband was born. She was a daughter of Joseph and Margaret (Got) White, both natives of Pennsylvania, the former, however, coming of Irish lineage. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Cole were born seven children, namely : A. E., a resident of Greene county, Iowa, who has four sons and two daughters; Margaret Jane, the wife of Clark Graven, also residing in Greene county, Iowa, by whom she has four sons and two daughters; Wesley Curtis, living in Cleveland, who is the father of three sons; Nancy A., who mar- ried M. McCardy, of Indiana, and has one son; Ida the deceased wife of M. M. Darling, by whom she had one son; John E., the father of one son, who owns eighty-two acres in Ashland county, and operates the eighty-nine acres of his father's farm lying in that county; and Homer F., the father of four children, three sons and one daughter, who resides with his father and assists in the operation of his farm. The wife and mother was called to her final rest June 15, 1897, at the age of sixty-eight years, seven months and four days.
About thirty-six years ago Mr. Cole was called upon to suffer the loss of his right arm, the accident occurring while he was operating a threshing ma- chine. In politics he is an independent democrat, but he has never sought nor desired public office. However, he is greatly interested in all that per-
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tains to general welfare and lends his cooperation to all movements that have for their ultimate aim the progress and upbuilding of the community in which he resides. He enjoys the respect and good will of his neighbors and friends and is recognized as one of the prosperous and representative agriculturists of his section of the county.
JOSEPH W. HOUSEMAN.
Joseph W. Houseman, who during his commercial career has been affiliated with a number of enterprises, being at present associated with the financial interests of Ashland, as a hay and grain shipper, is a native son of this county, his birth having occurred in Sullivan township, January 8, 1864. His parents were Frederick and Elizabeth (Spencer) Houseman, the former a native of Germany and the latter of Harrison county, this state. The father was born in Alsace, February, 1819, and in 1834 with a party of neighbors, a half-sister and a half-brother came to the new world, locating in the city of Pittsburg, Penn- sylvania, where he learned the shoemaking trade. After a three years' residence in that city he repaired to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he was employed at his trade for about six years, at the termination of which period he removed to Jackson township, Ashland county, following his trade there for some time. After his marriage he purchased a farm in Sullivan township, this county, where he pursued general agriculture until he passed away in July, 1882. A democrat in politics, he was always loyal to the candidates of his party but not an office seeker, preferring rather to live within the peace and quiet of his home circle, being contented with casting his vote for his favorite ticket. He belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he was an active worker. His wife was born in 1833 and when twelve years of age located with her parents in this county. When she became a widow she was united in mar- riage to Joseph Dale, who still survives her, she having departed this life May 28, 1907.
Joseph W. Houseman was reared under parental care, acquiring his pre- liminary education in the common schools, subsequently completing a course of study in the Ohio Normal University at Ada, Ohio, and the National Normal University, at Lebanon, Ohio. When he was eighteen years of age his father passed away and upon his shoulders fell the management of the farm. He continued to conduct the business of the home place until 1899, when he re- moved to this city, where for two years he operated a feed barn, being quite successful in this enterprise. Later he engaged in the farm implement business, which he carried on for three years and subsequently engaged in shipping hay, in which undertaking he prospered, the business developing rapidly under his excellent management and business ability. In 1904 he disposed of his in- terest in the farm implement enterprise and has since devoted his entire time to buying and shipping hay. The business has gradually grown until at pres- ent he is recognized as one of the largest shippers of hay in this section of the country.
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In 1894 Mr. Houseman was united in marriage to Artie Hopkins, a daughter of Charles Hopkins, an agriculturist of Huron county, this state, and to this uniou have been born Charles Chester and Elizabeth Christine, twins; and Edwin S.
Mr. Houseman is a democrat in politics and belongs to Montgomery Lodge, No. 355, K. P., and Ashland Lodge, No. 515, K. O. T. M. In the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is a member, he is a leading factor and he also belongs to the Ashland Commercial Club.
F. E. HARRIS.
F. E. Harris, who has charge of the wholesale sales department of the F. E. Myers & Brother Manufacturing Company of Ashland, to which responsible position he has gradually worked his way up on the strength of his own business resources, was born in Perry township, this county, January 28, 1859, his parents being Joseph W. and Margaret J. (Strayer) Harris. His father was a native of the same county, to which his grandfather, James Harris, who was of Scotch- Irish extraction, came from Virginia on an early day, settling in Perry township. Joseph W. Harris, who was a carpenter by trade and in connection with this occupation engaged in farming, was born in 1825 and passed away in his forty- fourth year. His wife, of German descent and a native of Clinton county, Pennsylvania, entered into rest in 1905 when seventy-five years of age.
In the district schools F. E. Harris acquired his education, starting out upon his business career when seventeen years of age, his first venture being as a canvasser, handling novelties among the rural residents. Subsequently he engaged in selling reapers, in which business he was quite successful and secured sufficient means with which to pursue a course of study in Oberlin Commercial College. Upon being graduated from this institution he returned to Rowsburg, where he worked in a store for three days each week, driving an egg wagon. He held that position for two years, at the termination of which time, in 1880, he secured a place with the Peerless Reaper Company, of Canton, Ohio, obtaining the agency for their goods in this county. In this business he prospered and one year later, the agency having been given to F. E. Myers, he entered his employ in 1881 as general utility man, receiving a salary of forty dollars a month. His duties consisted of the care of the horses and during the summer season the sale of reapers and pumps. Mr. Myers was at that time a retail dealer, handling plows and general farm implements, and in 1882, when he began the manufacture of pumps Mr. Harris was commissioned to look after the business in the smaller towns while the proprietor of the establishment attended to the affairs at home. The business grew rapidly and Mr. Harris, traveling throughout the states, worked hard to bring the goods of his concern before the public, gradually developing the business until he had placed salesmen in many localities through- out several states, reserving this state for himself. Finally the enterprise under his expert management grew to such proportions as to necessitate a special wholesale sales department, demanding the attention of one man, and the
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position was given to Mr. Harris. He has supervision of the entire field of the United States, Canada and Mexico and from the small salary of forty dollars a month his invaluable services to the concern have enabled him to many times multiply the amount. He owns a magnificent residence at No. 38 Claremont avenue and in addition to this possesses other excellent dwelling houses in the city and also a valuable stock farm containing one hundred and ninety-two acres in Perry township, this county.
In 1884 Mr. Harris wedded Miss Mary E. Ecker, a native of Perry township, and to this union have been born the following children : Don C., who met with an accident while horseback riding, which caused his death at the age of ten years; Harry D., who passed away in his fourth year; and Frieda E.
Mr. Harris is an enthusiastic automobilist and a member of the Automobile Association and also of the Ashland Commercial Club. He attends divine services at the Methodist Episcopal church, of which his wife is a prominent member. She is well known in charitable work and belongs to the Ashland Colonial Club. Mr. Harris is a man of acknowledged business ability, whose aggressiveness has not only assisted in building up the trade of the firm with which he is affiliated but has done much to enhance the commercial interests of the city of which he is one of the leading business men.
M. J. WOLF.
M. J. Wolf, who for a number of years has been closely connected with various phases of the business life of Loudonville, is one of Ohio's native sons, having been born in Hanover township, Ashland county. His parents, John and Margaret (Humm) Wolf, were born in Alsace, near Heidelberg, Germany, where they were married, and in 1848 they came to the United States, locating on a farm about four miles south of Loudonville in Hanover township, Ashland county, Ohio. Their family consisted of eight children, four girls and four boys. The mother died when M. J. Wolf was but two years of age, and subse- quently the father remarried.
Reared on the home farm until sixteen years of age, M. J. Wolf then came to Loudonville and entered the grocery store of Jacob Brecheisen as a clerk. He continued in this connection for some time and later, when he felt that his means permitted, he embarked in business on his own account and in partnership with C. F. Goll established a grocery and crockery business, employing five clerks to handle the trade, much of the success of the concern being attributable to the efficiency and perseverance of Mr. Wolf. This relation continued for eighteen years and then Mr. Wolf sold his interest in the firm to Mr. Goll and became connected with the Loudonville Banking Company as assistant cashier, remaining in this position until the company was reorganized and incorporated under the name of the First National Bank, at which time he was made assistant cashier. To his efforts is due much of the success of the institution. In 1905 he was prime mover and factor in the organization and establishment of the Citizens Savings Bank, and in August, 1905, was elected cashier, which position
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he still holds, being very active in all its affairs. While a member of the firm of Wolf & Goll, engaging in the grocery business, Mr. Wolf was also connected for six years with the Loudonville Furniture Company as secretary, treasurer and general manager. Under the stimulus of his executive ability the business prospered but subsequently failed after he severed his connection with the enter- prise. Not alone in financial, industrial and commercial circles has he been a well known factor, for his fellowmen, recognizing his ability and true worth as a citizen, elected him on the democratic ticket treasurer of the township, which position he occupied for two terms, while for eight years he served on the city council.
In September, 1884, occurred the marriage of Mr. Wolf and Mary Ann Goll, a sister of C. F. Goll and a native of Shanesville, Tuscarawas county, Ohio. Her parents were George and Maria (Smith) Goll, natives of Germany and Switzerland respectively, who emigrated to the United States in early life and were married in Stark county, Ohio.
A man of deep religious convictions, Mr. Wolf has been a life-long member of Zion Lutheran church and .is greatly interested in the various phases of church work, while he has served as secretary of the Sunday school for ten years. He belongs also to the Knights and Ladies of Security, is a member of the Knights of Pythias fraternity and also of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Public spirited in his citizenship, he readily lends his cooperation to all matters of material welfare to the community, and measures having for their object the financial, political or moral upbuilding of the community receive his hearty endorsement and support. His career has ever been such as to warrant the trust and confidence of the business world, for he has always been actuated by the strictest principles of honor and integrity, while in his private life he has drawn about him a large number of warm friends. Loudonville has been an indirect beneficiary of all of his various enterprises and he is classed among her foremost representatives.
J. F. KETTENRING.
J. F. Kettenring, who owns and operates a well improved and valuable farm of one hundred and five acres on section 35, Green township, was born in Knox township, Holmes county, Ohio, on the 18th of June, 1856. His parents, Melchor and Christina (Price) Kettenring, were both natives of Canton Pir- masens, Germany, the father's birth occurring July 25, 1815, while the mother first opened her eyes to the light of day on the 10th of January, 1815. They were married in this country and both passed away on the farm on which our subject now resides, Melchor Kettenring dying October 10, 1887, at the age of seventy-two years. while his wife was called to her final rest on the 14th of April, 1894, when seventy-eight years of age. The record of their children is as follows : Henry, deceased; Jacob, a resident of Green township; Katharine, the wife of John Kaylor, of Wisconsin; Adam, who makes his home in Loudonville; Lany, the wife of Jacob Wolf, of Viola, Kansas; Elizabeth, the wife of Jonas
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Etzwiler, of Green township; John, who died in early life; and J. F., of this review.
In 1869, J. F. Kettenring accompanied his parents on their removal to the farm on which he has since resided in Green township, the property com- prising one hundred and five acres and being located one and three-fourths miles northwest of Loudonville on the Perrysville road. Here he is success- fully carrying on general farming and stock raising, both branches of his business bringing to him a gratifying financial return, owing to his well directed labor and capable management. In 1906 he built a large bank barn, thirty- six by seventy-two feet, and his place is lacking in none of the accessories and equipments which go to make up a model farming property of the twentieth century. He is likewise a director in the Farmers Telephone Company and is widely recognized as a most substantial and enterprising citizen of the community.
In 1875 Mr. Kettenring was united in marriage to Miss Caroline Miller, a native of Washington township, Holmes county, Ohio, her natal day being April 13, 1856. Her parents, Frederick and Katharine (Swaidner) Miller, were born in Bavaria, Germany, and Columbiana county, Ohio, respectively, the father coming to the United States at the age of seventeen years. Both Mr. and Mrs. Miller passed away in Holmes county, Ohio, and all of their eleven children, with the exception of one who died at the age of fourteen years, lived to reach maturity. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Kettenring have been born the following children : Clara Ida, the wife of J. S. Barr, of Cleveland, by whom she has three sons, Brick, Robert E. and Paul; Dora Anna, who is the wife of Frank Carey, of Green township, and has one child, Vera Margaret; Minnie, who died in infancy; and Clarence William, at home. He is a graduate of Loudonville high school and the Fort Wayne Business College of Fort Wayne, He was married June 3, 1908, to Freda B. Lemon of Loudonville. Indiana. Politically Mr. Kettenring is a democrat and for four terms capably served as township trustee. He is now a member of the township board of education, the cause of public instruction finding in him a stalwart champion. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Evangelical church of Loudonville, in which he has acted as a trustee for the past twenty years. Having lived in this county for forty years, he is widely and favorably known within its borders, his life record having ever been honorable and upright and such as to win for him the respect and esteem of those with whom he has been associated.
GEORGE J. LEONHART.
George J. Leonhart, proprietor of the Elks Cafe, a popular dining parlor of Ashland, is a native of Sullivan county, New York, born in the village of Callicoon, June 10, 1858. His parents were John and Mary (Gundlach) Leonhart. His father was born in Alsace, then a French province, and came to the United States when a young man, locating in the above named village, where he engaged in the mercantile business until 1862 when, with his wife and
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family, he came to Ashland. Here he remained but a few months, when he removed to Nashville, Holmes county, Ohio, and there for three years was proprietor of a hotel. Subsequently he settled in Leesville, Crawford county, this state, where he engaged in the hotel business until his death, which occurred April 2, 1870, when in his thirty-eighth year. His widow then returned to New York state, where her parents resided, and later was united in marriage to a Mr. Kauffman, after whose death she wedded Jacob Broadt of Akron, Ohio, who departed this life leaving his widow now living in Ashland.
In the public schools George J. Leonhart received his educational advant- ages and at an early age, when about fourteen years old, started out to make his. own way in the world, his first venture being at farming at which he continued for two years. On the expiration of that time he was apprenticed to a butcher, by whom he was employed for five years, and upon becoming of age, in the meantime having laid by the greater portion of his earnings, he entered the saloon business in Zanesville, Ohio. After carrying on this enterprise for about a year he disposed of it and located in Ashland where he carried on the same business until February, 1905, when the Beall law went into effect and the saloons were compelled to close their doors. Mr. Leonhart from that time until 1907 lived in retirement, and two years ago established himself in his present business.
On December 21, 1882, Mr. Leonhart wedded Miss Delia Merling of Ash- land. He is an energetic business man and of everything to which he has thus far turned his attention he has made a success. His present enterprise is thriving under his careful management and is among the best paying businesses in the city.
J. W. BROWN.
The financial interests of the city of Ashland are associated for the most part with conservative business men, among them being J. W. Brown, whose connection with the firm of J. W. Brown & Company, dealers in coal and builders' supplies. gives him a high standing in the business circles of the city. A native of Richland county. Ohio, he was born near Olivesburg, October 13, 1867, a son of John B. and Ellen (Lee) Brown. His father was a native of Ashland county and his mother of Holmes county. the Brown family having been among the early settlers of Ashland county whither they came from Vir- ginia at an early day. John B. Brown located in Richland county after his mar- riage but subsequently removed to Holmes county, where he resided until 1906. During that year he came to Ashland where he is now living in retirement. His business career was spent in agricultural pursuits, and being a man actuated by industry and enterprise he succeeded in turning his energies to advantage and surrounding himself with such a measure of prosperity as to insure him the comforts of life during his remaining days. In politics he is a republican and, although he takes a lively interest in the issues of the day, he has never aspired to hold publie office, being contented with doing his duty in casting his vote and
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using his influence in behalf of the candidates of his party. He was one of the first to answer his country's call for soldiers during the Civil war and served in Company G, One Hundred and Sixty-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, receiving an honorable discharge at the close of the conflict. Prominent in Grand Army circles, he is an active member of Andrews Post of Ashland. He is a man whose life has been in harmony with the principles of Christianity, considering his religious obligations as of paramount importance and with his wife he attends divine services at the Methodist Episcopal church.
J. W. Brown spent his boyhood days upon his father's farm, engaging in the daily routine of agriculture and to the public-school system he is indebted for his education. He began his business career as a school teacher when seven- teen years of age, following educational work for five years, at the expiration of which period he became affiliated with a mercantile establishment in Wooster, Ohio, engaging in the capacity of a clerk and remaining with the firm for about four years. He then accepted a clerical position with the Pennsylvania Rail- road Company, being stationed four years at Wooster, and he was subsequently transferred to the Cleveland office of the same company, where he remained until the fall of 1900. He then came to Ashland to accept the position of agent of the A. & W. Railroad, with which he remained for three years, when on account of his invaluable services he was promoted to the responsible position of auditor of the company, performing the duties of that office until March, 1908. He next entered the coal business, buying out the A. & W. Coal Company in this city, of which he is now the proprietor. He is a conservative business man of keen discernment, and under his careful management his business is gradually growing and is numbered among the important concerns of the city.
In 1889 Mr. Brown was united in marriage to Miss Bertha McGrew, of Wooster, Ohio, and they have one child, Ada H., who resides with her parents. In politics Mr. Brown is a republican but, being liberal in his views, he is not what might be termed a stanch adherent of its principles although in the majority of instances, particularly those relative to national issues, he generally votes that ticket. Well known in fraternal organizations, he belongs to Ashland Tent, No. 515, K. O. T. M .; Wooster Lodge, Modern Woodmen of America ; and he is also a member of the Ashland Commercial Club, being on the board of directors of that organization. Mr. Brown is recognized as an agitator of public improvements and is influential and aggressive in advancing the interests of the city.
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