History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 100

Author: Hopley, John E. (John Edward), 1850-
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago,Ill., Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1302

USA > Ohio > Crawford County > History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 100

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George M. Birk married Miss Florence Mae Eckhart, who was born at Marion, O., a daughter of William H. and Julia C. ( Martin) Eckhart, the former of whom was born in Pennsylvania and the latter in Ohio, both of German parents. Mr. Eckhart died in Marion county, O., at the age of fifty years, while his widow makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Birk, who was an only child. Mr. and Mrs. Birk have one daughter, Kathryn Eck- hart, who was born May 12, 1898. Mr. and Mrs. Birk are members of the Presbyterian church. Fraternally he is identified with the Masons, the Elks, the Knights of Pythias and the Woodmen of the World. Politically he is a Democrat.

WILLIAM SIDNEY SWENEY, who owns and carefully cultivates the old home- stead farm of 61 acres, which is situated in Whetstone township, Crawford county, O., was born on this farm, June 28, 1850, and is a son of John L. and Jane (McCurdy ) Sweney.

The father of Mr. Sweney was of Ccotch- Irish parentage but was born in Adams county, Pa., near the historic city of Gettysburg. He came to Crawford county in early manhood and followed farming and stock raising as long as he lived, he and wife both now resting in the Stewart cemetery. She was born in Franklin county, Pa., and was also young when she came to this section and subsequently

was married to John L. Sweney. They had the following children born to them: James Addison; Sarah Elizabeth, who died when aged twenty-four years; Martha Jane, John W., Isaac Newton, Nancy Louise and Thomas Leander, all of whom are deceased; and Wil- liam Sidney, the youngest born. The latter's paternal grandfather was John Sweney. His maternal grandfather, James McCurdy, was one of the three first elders in the First Pres- byterian church at Bucyrus.

William S. Sweney was not quite satis- fied when he had completed the common school course and therefore spent one term at Leba- non, O., after which he willingly returned to the farm, where he has led a contented and prosperous life ever since. He assisted his father until the latter's death and then took en- tire charge of the homestead and carries on a general farming line and raises enough stock for his own use.

Mr. Sweney was married (first) to Miss Margaret Ellen Hess, who died March 29, 1888, a daughter of Andrew and Mary (Hen- ery) Hess. Three children were born to this union: Alva May, who is the wife of Earl Preston; Edgar Blaine, and a babe that died. On May 14, 1891, Mr. Sweney was married (second) to Miss Anna Crall, a daughter of Henry and Julia Crall, farmers in Liberty township, well known people. Mr. and Mrs. Sweney attend the Lutheran church. He has always been identified with the Republican party but has been no seeker for office, but is one of the township's steady and reliable men.

CHARLES E. GEIGER, a well known business man of Bucyrus, a member of the firm of Dobbins & Geiger, wholesale and retail dealers in live stock, meats, sausages and fish, doing all their own butchering and manufac- turing, was born at Sandusky, O., January 6, 1879, and is a son of John E. and Adelia (Barbarick) Geiger.

John E. Geiger was born at Sandusky, a son of Rudolph Geiger, who was born in Germany. After coming to the United States the latter followed the brickmaking trade at Sandusky for some years and then purchased a farm in Huron county on which he lived during the rest of his life, his death occurring at the age of seventy-nine years. For many years John

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E. Geiger has been a substantial business man of Sandusky, where he now lives. He mar- ried Adelia Barbarick, also a native of Ohio and they had five children, four surviving.

Charles E. Geiger attended school at San- dusky and secured a commercial course in one of the business colleges before he entered into business for himself. His father was a butcher and market man and he has been in the business more or less all his life. The pres- ent Bucyrus house is an old one, started about forty years ago and for some time prior to Mr. Geiger's interest in it, the name was Snavely & Dobbins. The present style has been' in operation for the past twelve years. Both partners are practical butchers and reliable business men and they have a large trade and their business is on a substantial foundation.

Mr. Geiger was married in 1904 to Miss Lil- lian Ehrhart, who died eight months after- ward. He was married secondly to Miss Co- lette Kronenbarger, who was born in Craw- ford county and educated at Bucyrus. Mr. and Mrs. Geiger are members of the Roman Catholic church. He belongs to the fraternal order of Eagles. In public matters Mr. Geiger has shown himself an earnest and public spir- ited citizen and was elected alderman at large on the Democratic ticket, in which office he is at present serving.

DAVID B. EICHELBERGER, a well known man in Crawford county, O., and a leading citizen of Sandusky township, resides on one of his several farms, eight and one- half miles northeast of Bucyrus, O. He was born in 1846, in Crawford county and is a son of Isaac H. and Catherine (Bibler) Eichelberger.

Isaac H. Eichelberger was born in Virginia but came to Ohio when three years old; his wife was born in Ohio. The following chil- dren were born to them: Charles, Sarah, Rebecca, Catherine, Casper, Isaac, Oscar, Elizabeth, Noah and David B.

David B. Eichelberger grew up on his father's farm and in boyhood attended the district schools with his brothers and sisters, all of whom survived infancy except Noah and Elizabeth. Mr. Eichelberger owns a great amount of land, some 400 acres, fer- tile and well improved, and its value is an-

nually increasing. He has additional inter- ests, being a director in the Farmers & Citi- zens Bank at Bucyrus and is the adjuster for the Farmers' Fire Insurance Company of Crawford county.

Mr. Eichelberger was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth J. Decker, who is a daugh- ter of Aaron and Nancy (Bishop) Decker, and six children have been born to them: Elta, Ladema, Williard, Edgar, James and Cora. Elta is the wife of Alexander Smith, a pros- perous farmer in Sandusky township, and they have four children: Lester, Wayne, Ivan and Edgar. Ladema married C. L. Laughbaum and they have five children : Emmerson, Glenn, Charles, Jennie and Donald, the family home being in Auburn township. Williard is a resi- dent of Whetstone township. He married Elizabeth Sherer and they have two children: Miriam and Loren. Edgar is a farmer in San- dusky township, married Fannie Crider and they have three children: Helen, Mildred and Florence. James is a farmer in. Sandusky township, married Jessie Littler and has two children : Elden and Dale. Cora is the wife of Charles McKeehen and has three children- Lois, Wendell and Orlo-and they reside in Sandusky township. Mrs. Eichelberger's father was born in New Jersey and her mother in Ashland county, O. She has two brothers and one sister, namely: James, who married Alice Briggs and lives in Crawford county; John, a resident of Bucyrus, who married Mary Steiffle; and Melvina, who is the wife of Emer Swonger and lives in Arkansas. Mr. Eichel- berger and family are members and liberal supporters of the English Lutheran church.

FRED F. HARTER, who carries on gen- eral farming and moderate stock raising on his sixty acres of valuable land, situated one mile east of Oceola, O., is a son of the late Cap- tain J. H. Harter, and was born in 1868, at Nevada, O.

Fred F. Harter was educated in the public schools of Nevada and Oceola, O., and for twelve years afterward taught school in Crawford county, and was considered an ex- cellent educator. As his father then needed his assistance he engaged in farming the home place and in 1898 came to his present farm

MR. AND MRS. DAVID B. EICHELBERGER

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where he erected a modern residence and made other substantial improvements.

Mr. Harter married Miss Kitty Steiner, who was born in Crawford county, and they have three children : John R., William F. and Stephen F. In politics, Mr. Harter is a pro- nounced Republican and at present is serving on the school board. Fraternally he is iden- tified with the Knights of Pythias, the Wood- men and the J. O. U. A. M. With his family he belongs to the United Brethren church.

HUGH McFARQUHAR, a retired ma- chinist and one of Galion's highly respected citizens, was born in Inverness, Scotland, Jan- tiary 12, 1838, and is a son of Duncan and Isa- bella (Frazier ) McFarquhar.

The parets of Mr. McFarquhar were born in Scotland and the father followed the trade of stone cutter until his death in 1847, when aged sixty years. His widow subsequently crossed the ocean to Canada and died at To- ronto. They were members of the Presby- terian church. Of their family of two sons and four daughters, one son and one daughter survive : Hugh and Margaret, the latter being the wife of Frank Holder, of Chicago, Ill., where they have a son and daughter.

Hugh McFarquhar was the youngest born of the family. In 1854 when he accompanied his mother to Canada, he was sixteen years of age and his school days were over. They joined other members of the family who were at Toronto and Hugh soon was apprenticed to learn the machinist's trade. After completing his apprenticeship he went to Dunkirk, N. Y., and was chief machinist for two years with the Erie railroad and then settled at Galion and became a machinist for the Atlantic & Great Western, now the Erie Railway, with which he was identified more or less continuously since '1875. For over twenty years he was at the head of the gang and foreman in the locomo- tive building department, a man always to be depended upon, steady, efficient and faithful to his employers.

At Litchfield, Il1., Nov. 3, 1864, Mr. Mc- Farquhar was married to Miss Margaret Tan- nock, who was born in Ayreshire, Scotland, July 28, 1843, and was seven years old when her father brought her to America. He had been dispatched to Paterson, N. J., to take

charge of a department in the Rogers Loco- motive Works, and later, for five years was foreman in the Erie Railway shops at Sus- quehannah, Pa., removing from there to St. Thomas, Canada, later to Guelph. During the Civil war he returned to the United States and settled at Fort Wayne, Ind., after the war moving to Litchfield, Ill., at all these places being connected with railroad work. His death at the age of ninety years, occurred March 8, 1912, at the home of Mr. and Mrs. McFarquhar. His wife died here in 1910, when aged eighty-eight years. They were members of the Presbyterian church.

Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. McFarquhar: Elizabeth J., who was born at Galion, and who is the wife of C. G. Smith, of Cleveland, and has four children-Louise, Eugene, Garrett and Hugh; John, who occu- pies a responsible position as manager of the office of a manufacturing concern at Denver, Col .; Margaret, who died when aged but sev- teen years; Andrew, who lives at Buffalo, N. Y., and is assistant to the general foreman of the Erie Railway, who married Myrta Kin- caid and has one son, William; Charles, who was accidentally killed on the Erie Railroad when aged seventeen years; and Janette, an accomplished and educated young lady, who is acceptably filling the position of secretary to a manager of a Working Woman's club at Davenport, Ia. Mr. and Mrs. McFarquhar are members of the Presbyterian church in which he has been an elder for ten years.

VICTOR L. KEMP, one of the represen- tative citizens of North Robinson, Crawford county, O., manager of the elevator at this place for the Switzer & White Elevator Com- pany and a member of the town council, was born at Union City, Ind., and is a son of Joshua and Rachel (Fields) Kemp.

Joshua Kemp was born at Baltimore, Md., in early manhood, locating in Randolph coun- ty, Indiana, where he married Rachel Fields, and they both are deceased, their burial being at Union City, Ind. Mr. Kemp was a farmer and made a specialty of gardening. His chil- dren were as follows: Alonzo; Lola, who is the wife of William Haney; Laura and Hat- tie, both of whom are deceased; Victor L .;

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY

John; Herschel; Ora, who is the wife of Al- bert Bogan; and Robert.

Victor L. Kemp attended the public schools in Indiana and then learned the carriage paint- ing trade which he followed for some eleven years and was afterward otherwise engaged until April, 1907, when he accepted the man- agement of the North -Robinson elevator. A large business is done here and the Switzer & White Company is known all over the county.

Mr. Kemp was married December 31, 1898, to Miss Aretta Newhouse, who is a daughter of Michael and Olive (Johnson) Newhouse and a granddaughter of Charles Newhouse and Henry Johnson. Her father was born in Germany but spent his last years in Crawford county. The mother of Mrs. Kemp was born in Crawford county and now resides with Mr. and Mrs. Kemp, the latter being the youngest of four children, the others being as follows : Oliva, wife of Augustus Tracht; William H., deceased, and Lawrence. Mr. and Mrs. Kemp are members of the English Lutheran church. In politics Mr. Kemp is a Democrat and is active in local affairs. He is identified with Tent No. 256 K. O. T. M., at North Robinson.

JOSEPH F. WARNER, who occupies the position of a Government railway mail clerk. with home at Bucyrus, O., belongs to an old New England family of more or less prom- inence in colonial days. His grandfather, William Warner, came, in 1815, from Con- necticut, to Medina county, O., accompanied by his wife, formerly Clarissa Warner. They were people of thrifty ideas, just the resource- ful kind that made successful pioneers. When they started for the new lands in Ohio it was a great undertaking, but they had a strong ox-team and they decided to load their wagon with buttons and, by disposing of these at Cleveland, would secure money that would be very useful when they had left civilization behind them. and also would enable them to provide housekeeping necessities to take with them. In all probability their plans were suc- cessfully carried out and by the time they reached their new home with their two babies, a log cabin was awaiting them, it having been ordered built by William's father. They lived

into old age on their land in Medina county and were respected and esteemed people.

Three sons and one daughter were born to William and Clarissa Warner. Lucius, the eldest, lived and died in Medina county, sur- vived by one daughter, Mary, who lives in California, the widow of Alfred Armstrong. Lorenzo was educated in Kenyon College, at Gambier, O., for the. Methodist ministry. He married and had three sons and one daughter. Joseph was born June 3, 1818, on the new farm, in Liverpool township, Medina county, O., and died in 1903. The one daughter died in infancy.

Joseph Warner inherited the old homestead and gave his parents filial care in their declin- ing years. At the time of his death he was the oldest resident of Liverpool township, be- ing aged eighty-five years. In his early polit- ical life he was a Whig but in 1857 identified himself with the Republican party at its birth. He was married in Medina county, O., to Emily A. Mathewson, who was born also in Liverpool township, in 1822 and died at the age of seventy-seven years. They were mem- bers and liberal supporters of the Methodist Episcopal church. To them the following children were born: Lucius W., who was born October 1, 1841, who is a farmer in Lorain county, O., and who married Julia Mc- Millian and has three children-Cora, Eva and Adella; H. Ellen, born June 12, 1843, who is the widow of Rev. D. O. Fox, and has an adopted son, John Fox; Olive, born April 9, 1845, who is the wife of David Torbet, of Albany College, at Albany, Ore .; Clarissa P., who died at the age of sixteen years; Philip L., who is a farmer on a part of the old home- stead; and Joseph Fremont. The above fam- ily all had excellent educational advantages. Mrs. Fox was graduated with the highest honors at Baldwin University, Berea, O., and won the degree of M. A. She became a mem- ber of the faculty and held the chair of mathe- matics and was also a colaborer with Prof. A. Schuyler in his mathematical works and is also the author of several volumes. In early womanhood she went to India as a missionary and while there met Rev. D. O. Fox, who was sent into the missionary field from Illinois. After twenty-five years of faithful missionary

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work Mrs. Fox does not yet feel that the har- vest is ripe enough for her to rest from her labors. She is a woman of extraordinary mentality, Christian zeal and executive ability.

Joseph Fremont Warner was born on the old homestead in Medina county, O., July I, 1855. He completed his education at Bald- win College and afterward, for twelve years, devoted himself to educational work, teaching in Ottawa, Cuyahoga and Medina counties. In 1890 he accepted the position of Govern- ment railway mail clerk and during all this time has been on the Pennsylvania Railroad, being now a fifth grade clerk. Every one does not realize the knowledge that is made a re- quisite for a position of this kind and in the five states covered by his distribution- Pennsylvania, Iowa, Illinois, South Dakota and. Nebraska-Mr. Warner declares that he is not only familiar with every post-office loca- tion but with every fence corner. For five years prior to locating at Bucyrus, in 1890, he resided at Mansfield, O.

In Medina county Mr. Warner was married to Miss Mary L. Gano, who was born in Wood county, O., July 2, 1859, and died at Mansfield, August 26, 1894. She was sur- vived by the following children: Blanche A., born July 16, 1878, who is the wife of F. M. Young, of Logansport, Ind., and has one daughter, Frances; Maude A., born July 13, 1880, who is the wife of Jesse Casteel, a farmer at Lake Geneva, Wis., and has three children-Luella, Harry and Ellis F; Jessie M., who was born July 26, 1882, and died March 6, 1902; and Greeta L., who was born November 7, 1886, and died December 8, 1902.

At Mansfield, O., Mr. Warner was married (second) in 1895, to Miss Georgia Casteel, who was born at Haysville, Ashland county, O., January 9, 1872, where she was educated. She comes from an old Castilian family of Spain, her ancestors having been driven from that country by religious persecution. They found their way to the eastern coast of the American continent and were among the early settlers at Jamestown, Va. Mrs. Warner is a daughter of Elias and Sarah M. (Fry) Cas- teel. Her father was born in Ohio and her mother at Evansville, Ind., and they were married at Hookstown, O. On July 4, 1876,

they settled at Evansville, Ind., later moving to Mansfield, O., where he carried on business as a shoe merchant. In 1861 he enlisted for service in the Civil War, entering the IOIst O. Vol. Inf., from which he was subsequently discharged on account of disability, when he returned to Haysville, O., and there his death occurred December 3, 1884. His wife sur- vived until January 12, 1897. The family be- longed to the Methodist Episcopal church and to the same religious body Mr. and Mrs. Warner are attached. They have had two children: Fremont Casteel, who was born September 7, 1902, and died October 5 in the same year; and Lolo Belle, who was born October 20, 1907. Politically Mr. Warner is a Republican but his busy life scarcely affords him time or opportunity to accept any public office although few men are better qualified, but he takes an intelligent citizen's interest in all that promises to benefit his city. For many years he has been a member of Trinity Lodge F. & A. M., at Bucyrus. He and family enjoy an attractive and comfortable residence and their circle of friends is a large one.

J. E. JOHNSON, general farmer and stock raiser, who owns a well improved farm of 42 acres, which lies four and one-half miles north of Bucyrus, O., was born in Washington county. Md., September 7, 1871, and is a son of Luther and Mary (Furry) Johnson.

Luther Johnson was born in Maryland and from there went to Franklin county, Pa., where he engaged in farming for many years and died at the age of 62. Some 30 years ago he came to Crawford county and spent a few weeks here but returned to his old home in Pennsylvania and never came back. He was married in that state to Mary Furry and they had the following children born to them: J. E., William, Clara, Lizzie, Mac and David, Mac being now deceased.

J. E. Johnson had common school advan- tages in Franklin county, Pa., and assisted his father afterward until 1886, when he came to Crawford county, O. For thirteen years afterward Mr. Johnson worked on farms in this county, becoming well acquainted with the people and with the relative value of different sections in the farming districts. After mar- riage he purchased a farm in Marion county

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and operated it for two years and then moved to Galion, where his wife died and after dis- posing of his property there he went to Henry county. Subsequently he married again and then returned to Galion and later went to Bu- cyrus where he worked for one year for the American Clay Machinery people, after which, in 1907, he bought his present farm and has been here ever since. The buildings were sufficiently comfortable and in good enough repair for use but there were many other improvements that Mr. Johnson has thought desirable and has put them in place. He is numbered with the competent and suc- cessful agriculturists of Holmes township and is one of its most respected citizens.

Mr. Johnson was married first to Miss Cora Meyers and second to Miss Kate Meyers. His two children, Howard W. and Stanley C. were both born to his first union. In politics ' Mr. Johnson is a Democrat and while living in Marion county he served on the school board, but has accepted no office since coming to Holmes township.

D. W. BRICKLEY, M. D., physician and surgeon at Galion, O., specialist in general surgery and a member of the medical firm of Morgan & Brickley, operating a private hospi- tal, was born at Galion, O., in 1877 and is well known to the people of this city. He is a son of Samuel and Mary (Hershner ) Brickley.

Samuel Brickley was born in Morrow county, O., was a farmer and carpenter in both Crawford and Morrow counties and died in Troy township in the latter county, in June, 19II, when aged seventy years. His widow survives and continues to occupy the old homestead in Troy township. She is a mem- ber of the United Brethren church. The fam- ily consisted of four sons and one daughter.

D. W. Brickley enjoyed educational advan- tages in different sections and attended the Johnsville High School and completed addi- tional work in Mansfield, O., and later, from 1896 until 1900, engaged in teaching and study, after which he entered the Ohio Med- ical University at Columbus, O., where he was graduated in the class of 1904. Subsequently he took a post-graduate course in the New York Post-Graduate ( Medical) School and Hospital, where he secured valu-

able surgical and hospital experience. He was engaged in practice at Canal Winchester prior to coming to Galion. Here, in partnership with Dr. Morgan he conducts a private hospi- tal and the firm are the surgeons for the Big Four and the Erie Railways and official ex- aminers for the U. S. Marine corps. He is a member of the county and state medical bodies and of the American Medical Association.

Dr. Brickley was married in Morrow coun- ty to Miss Luetta B. Baker, a daughter of C. A. and Ellen (Emig) Baker. Mr. Baker is now established in the undertaking and furni- ture business at Truman, Minn. Dr. and Mrs. Brickley have two sons: Daniel W. and Charles Lester. They are members of the United Brethren church. He is a 32nd degree Mason, belongs to the Blue Lodge and Chap- ter at Galion, the Council at Bucyrus, the Commandery at Mansfield, the Consistory at Columbus, and the Shrine at Toledo. His time is too much occupied to permit of much political activity but in national matters he casts his vote with the Democracy.

T. M. DROLESBAUGH, who has been a resident of Crawford county, O., since his nineteenth year, carries on general farming and stock raising on his well improved place six miles northwest of Bucyrus. He was born at Oil City, Pa., and is a son of James and Elizabeth Bell (Marshall) Drolesbaugh.

James Drolesbaugh was a farmer before he enlisted for service in the Civil War, becom- ing a member of the 17Ist Pa. Vol. Inf., and contracted illness during his service which caused his death, when he was 41 years of age. He married Elizabeth Bell Marshall, who now resides in Perry county, Pa., being in her seventieth year. They had three chil- dren: T. M., Mrs. Catherine Gray and Mrs. Amanda Smith, both sisters of Mr. Droles- baugh being residents of Perry county.

T. M. Drolesbaugh was young when his parents moved to Perry county, Pa., and he attended the public schools and Bloomfield Academy. Afterward he migrated to Craw- ford county, O., and worked for some years as a farm hand, and then embarked in the implement business and conducted the same for fourteen years at Bucyrus. After selling he purchased a farm which he operated for

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History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 100

Author: Hopley, John E. (John Edward), 1850- Publication date: 1912 Publisher: Chicago,Ill., Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company Number of Pages: 1302

Author: Hopley, John E. (John Edward), 1850-
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago,Ill., Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1302