History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 101

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 101

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AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

two years and later bought his present place land county, O., to Priscilla Hunter, who was of 150 acres on which he has resided ever since.

Mr. Drolesbaugh was married in Perry county to Miss Anna Meminger, who died in October, 1908, at the age of 46 years, leaving two children: Guernsey and Amy, both of whom reside with their father. Mr. Droles- baugh served almost ten years in Company A, 8th Regiment O. N. G., and has in his posses- sion three honorable discharges and also tele- grams received during the strike of 1895 fromn President Mckinley, who was then Governor of Ohio. As captain of the Sons of Veterans Mr. Drolesbaugh put Col. Lemet Camp on a substantial basis as to membership and finances. He has a wide acquaintance with big game hunters, having been near Hudson Bay, Canada, and all over the northern por- tion of the Province of Quebec. In politics, Mr. Drolesbaugh is a Democrat and locally is influential in his party. He served four years as constable of Bucyrus. At present he is serving in the office of constable for Holmes township.

JOHN W. McCARRON, attorney at law, who has been engaged in the practice of his profession at Galion, O., since 1901 and is a representative and useful citizen, was born in Richland county, O., February 12, 1874, and is a son of Fred., and a grandson of James McCarron.

James McCarron was of Scotch-Irish an- cestry and possibly was born in New Jersey, from which state he came to Ohio at an early day. He located first in Columbiana county but later moved to Fredericktown, in Knox county, where he engaged in brick manufac- turing until his death, when aged fifty years. He married Jane Baker, who lived to the age of eighty-five years, passing away in Ashland county. They were among the early sup- porters of the Methodist Episcopal church, in that section.

Frederick McCarron was born in Colum- biana county, O., and has spent the greater part of his life as a farmer. He still resides near Fredericktown, in Knox county, where he is well known and much respected. He is a Democrat in his political views but has never sought public office. He was married in Rich-

born there in 1848, and died in Knox county, March 10, 1908. Her parents were Benjamin and Sarah (Jump) Hunter, and her brother, Robert Hunter, who is a graduate of Dart- mouth College and a resident of Richland county, is a prominent man of that part of the state. The grandfather, James Hunter, who served in the War of 1812, was a son of a Revolutionary soldier. To Frederick McCar- ron and wife a family was born and five of their children survive, all of whom, with one exception, have domestic circles of their own.

John W. McCarron was reared in Knox county, attended school at the Ohio State Nor- mal School, Ada, O., and for a few years be- fore graduating in law, taught school, but was admitted to the bar shortly after his twenty- first birthday, in June, 1895. For about six years Mr. McCarron engaged in law practice at Mt. Vernon, O., and then came to Galion, where he has built up a very satisfactory practice.

Mr. McCarron was married to Miss Julia Menges, who was born at Sandusky, O., a daughter of Jacob and Julia (Stecker) Menges, who came to America from Germany when young. The parents of Mrs. McCarron reside at Crestline, O., and are aged about seventy-five years. For fifty years Jacob Menges has been a piano instructor and is a man of great musical talent. Mrs. McCarron, the only daughter in a family of four children, has inherited a large measure of musical tal- ent. She was two years old when her parents moved from Sandusky to Crestline and was .educated there. Mr. and Mrs. McCarron have two children: Ruth M. and Robert F., aged respectively eleven and six years. The family belongs to the First Presbyterian church. Mr. McCarron is identified with the Knights of Pythias, the Maccabees and the Foresters. His political rearing was in the Democratic party and he has continued loyal to its principles.

CHARLES G. F. REIFF, who owns a fine, well improved farm of eighty-two acres, sit- uated in Holmes township, Crawford county, O., has spent almost all his life here but was born in Seneca county, O., in 1862, and is a son of J. C. and Mary (Shaub) Reiff.

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J. C. Reiff was born in 1836, in Germany, and from there came to the United States when he was eighteen years of age and lo- cated in Seneca county, O., moving from there to Crawford county in the fall of 1862. He died here October 23, 1887, and of his ten children there are seven yet living.

Charles G. F. Reiff was an infant when his parents came to Holmes township. After his attendance in the district schools was over he engaged in farming and also learned the stone- mason's trade. While he has continued to operate his farm he has also done consider- able work in this section as a mason and is well known in that connection all over the county. Mr. Reiff has improved his property and has built a comfortable and commodious residence. He married Miss Minnie A. Snavely and they have four children: Floy E., Lulu F., Arthur A. and O. M. Mr. Reiff and family attend the United Brethren church. He is an active citizen in local mat- ters, takes much interest in the public schools and at present is serving as a school director. In politics he is a Democrat.

J. E. GELSANLITER, one of the substan- tial citizens and representative business men of Galion, O., proprietor of the Boston Street Meat Market, was born in Polk township, Crawford county, O., April 2, 1861, and is a son of George and Elizabeth (Burgener) Gel- sanliter.

George Gelsanliter was born in Hesse- Darmstadt, Germany, in 1834, and some years later accompanied his parents to America, crossing the Atlantic Ocean in a sailing vessel that required three months to make the voy- age. The family located in Richland county, O., and ten years later the father died. He helped to clear off the timber that then covered the present site of Crestline. For many years he was a well digger and pump manufacturer but later became a farmer and since 1865 has resided on his valuable farm located just outside the limits of Galion. He married Elizabeth Burgener, who was born in Morrow county, O., and she also survives, and, like her husband, is in the enjoyment of excellent health. They are members of the English Lutheran church. One son and two daughters were born to them, the latter being

Alice Rosella and Bertha May. The younger daughter was the first wife of Leonard Fick- ersen and at death she left two children: George and Leonard. Mr. Fickersen subse- quently was married to the older daughter and she is now living at the home of her par- ents with the boys. Mr. Fickersen died about five years ago, leaving no children of his second marriage.

J. E. Gelsanliter has always lived in Polk township, Crawford county, and he lived on the home farm until he came to Galion and went into business, some twenty-four years since. He started in the grocery business on the corner of Grove Avenue and Boston Street, opening up his place April 30, 1888, and he conducted the Boston Street Grocery for ten years, when he sold his grocery business to Evans & Kurrley and since then has devoted himself exclusively to his meat business. When he started he opened with his first stock of goods in a private house and now has a large and commodious establishment and owns property extending along Grove Avenue from Boston to Union Street.

Mr. Gelsanliter was married near Galion, O., to Miss May Belle Cummings, who was born in Crawford county and is a daughter of Samuel and Emily (Baker) Cummings. The father of Mrs. Gelsanliter still lives on his old farm, being now in his 67th year, but his wife died in early life at the age of 28 years, survived by two children: Mrs. Gelsanliter and Charles, the latter of whom lives in Polk township and is a machinist by trade. To Mr. and Mrs. Gelsanliter six children were born, namely: Bessie, who died at the age of eighteen months; Olive, who graduated from the Galion High School and is now a member of the class of 1913, at Wittenberg College, Springfield, O .; Norma Ethel, who graduated from the Galion High School in 1910 and is a student at Wittenberg College; Charles and George, both of whom are students in the Galion High School; and Alice May. All the family, except the youngest child, are members of the English Lutheran church. Politically a Democrat, Mr. Gelsanliter has served two terms on the city council and for the past six years has been a member of the board of education.

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CHARLES L. SHAWK, general farmer and stock raiser, residing six miles northwest of Bucyrus, O., where he owns seventy-six acres, was born on the old home place north of Bucyrus, in 1861, on which his father, J. T Shawk, still resides, being now in his seventy- sixth year.

Charles L. Shawk attended the schools of Crawford county and afterward was a student for two terms at Hillsdale, Mich., and then returned to the home farm and assisted his father for several years. From there he moved one mile south of Wingert's Corners or Brokensword, where he remained until March, 1883, when he returned to the home farm for two years and then settled on the old Thomas Shawk's farm, south of Wingert's Corners or Brokensword, and after two years there came to his present place. He has made all the substantial improvements here and also on his other farm of eighty acres, which lies one-half mile to the west.

In March, 1885, Mr. Shawk was married to Miss Laura Wilhelm, a daughter of the late Christian Wilhelm, and they have three chil- dren : Guy, Arthur and Grace. In politics Mr. Shawk is a Democrat. With his family he belongs to the United Brethren church at Bethe in Holmes township.

T. C. Shawk, who resides four miles north- west of Bucyrus, on his farm of eighty acres, was born on the old Shawk farm north of Bu- cyrus, in 1872. Since leaving school he has been continuously engaged in farm pursuits, remaining on the homestead for some ten years following his marriage and coming then to his present farm on which he built both the house and barn. In 1896 he was married to Miss Emma Meck and they have three chil- dren: Russell, Willard and Warren. With his family he belongs to the Evangelical church at Harmony. Politically he is a Democrat.

CHARLES JEFFERSON CRISSINGER, who controls a large amount of the real estate and insurance business at Galion, O., was born in Crawford county, O., August 6, 1846, and is a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Coblen) Crissinger, and a grandson of George Cris- singer.

George Crissinger was of German extrac-

tion but was born in Northumberland county, Pa., was reared there to farm pursuits and all his life expressed himself in the Pennsylvania German dialect. He married in Pennsylvania and there his five sons and perhaps an equal number of daughters were born and they ac- companied him when he moved to Crawford county, O., in the early thirties.

Jacob Crissinger, son of George and father of Charles J., was born in Pennsylvania, in February, 1812, and died in Ohio, May 13, 1885. He was a young man when he accom- panied his parents to Ohio but subsequently returned to Pennsylvania to marry Elizabeth Coble, who was born there in 1817 and died in Ohio September 23, 1861. After returning to Ohio they lived in Whetstone township, Crawford county, and became some of its most respected people. Jacob Crissinger was a carpenter by trade and also was an auc- tioneer and cried sales all over the county in both the German and the English languages. They were members of the Methodist Episco- pal church. Their family contained the fol- lowing children: Catherine, who was born October 20, 1838, died in 1876, married Samuel Kennedy and left seven children, all now deceased; Malinda, born in 1840, died July 17, 1881, married William Hile, also now deceased; Eli, who was born March 26, 1843, died unmarried, September 22, 1873; Emanuel C., who follows the carpenter trade at Galion; Daniel, who follows the same trade, in Whet- stone township; William, who was born in 1848, died unmarried in 1861; Andrew, who was born in 1859, died in 1862; Sarah, who was born in 1854, died in 1856. Jacob Cris- singer was married (second) to Mrs. Keziah Cramer and the following children were born to this union: Moses, who was born Septem- ber 26, 1866, died April 7, 1873; Jacob, who is a resident of Marion, O., and has a wife and three daughters; Sarah, who is the wife of a Mr. Fisher, of Marion county, and they have a large family; and Hattie, who is the wife of Joseph Reber, and they live at Chicago, Il1.

Until he was sixteen years of age, when he started out to take care of himself, Charles J. Crissinger attended school and gave his father assistance. He continued to work at farming until he was twenty-three years old and then learned the carpenter trade, which he followed

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until 1887, when he embarked in the grocery business and continued until 1901. In that year he disposed of his grocery interests and went into the real estate and insurance busi- ness and has been very successful along this line and through his efforts much real estate has changed hands here and capital has been brought to this section. Mr. Crissinger is one of the representative business men of the city.

In early manhood, in Whetstone township, Mr. Crissinger was married to Miss Civilla Noblit, who was born there October 4, 1850, and they have been residents of Galion since 1872. Her parents, Robert and Susanna (Al- bright) Noblit, were born in Pennsylvania and came to Crawford county as early settlers and lived and died on their farm in Whetstone township, the father passing away at the age of sixty-three years but the mother surviving to the age of seventy-four years. They were members of the Reformed church. Five chil- dren were born to Mr. and Mrs. Noblit, name- ly: Samuel, who died unmarried, in 1861; John, who resides with his family in Whet- stone township; Mary M., who is a resident of the above township; and Isaac, who is a resident of Bucyrus, O.

Mr. and Mrs. Crissinger had one son, Ed- ward Wilson, who was born September 30, 1872. He was a young business man of promise and had a bright future before him when he was accidentally killed on a railroad crossing, January 4, 1901. He was survived by his young. wife, Mrs. Mary F. (Burwell) Crissinger. She was born in Jefferson town- ship, Crawford county, O., a daughter of Cal- vin and Martha (Gledhill) Burwell, old resi- dents of Jefferson township, where they spent their entire lives. Mr. and Mrs. Crissinger were members of the United Brethren church. In his political views he is a Democrat.

WINFIELD S. SPEIGEL, who owns and resides on the old Miller homestead, which is situated four miles north of Bucyrus, O., was born near Pleasant Home in 1872, and is a son of John Speigel, one of the early settlers of Holmes township, Crawford county, O. The family is of German extraction and it has many representatives in this section, all sub- stantial and respected people.

Winfield S. Speigel attended the country

schools and then turned his attention to farn ing, beginning on a place just west of h present farm, where he cultivated eighty acre until 1912, when he moved to the farm } recently purchased. In the latter he has fifty nine acres and he still retains his first farm o which he made all the improvements an erected the substantial buildings. Gener: farming has been successfully carried on an moderate stock raising.

Mr. Speigel was married in early manhoc to Miss Amanda Walther, who was born i Liberty township, Crawford county, O., an they have two children: Marie and Albert As a citizen, Mr. Speigel takes an interest j public matters and votes with the Democrat party but he has never desired to assume th cares of office.

RALPH O. PERROTT, secretary ar. manager of the American Clay Machin ery Company, of Bucyrus, O., has bee identified with this large manufacturing co1 cern since 1901 and has occupied his presei position since 1906, entering the business a a stenographer immediately after his gradu: tion from the Bucyrus High School. He wa born in this city in January, 1883, a son c John R. and Nancy J. (Bacon) Perrott.

The parents of Mr. Perrott were bor: reared and married in the western part ( Pennsylvania and for a number of years hay been residents of Bucyrus, where they recent celebrated their fifty-second wedding annive sary. About 1860 they came to Ohio and 1 cated at Crestline where John R. Perrott w: employed in the shops of the Pennsylvan Railroad Company as a skilled machinist. ] the early seventies they removed to Bucyri and this has been their home ever since, ar during the greater part of this time up to th present, Mr. Perrott has been with the Buc rus Steam Shovel & Dredging Company. $ highly do his employers regard his capaci as an expert machinist that they entrusted him the making of their exhibition dredg which excited much interest when they we shown at the Columbian Exposition at Ch cago, Ill. Mr. Perrott is now 73 years of a but, nevertheless, quietly and efficiently ca ries on his usual activities daily and his cor pany yet relies on his skill and judgment

RALPH O. PERROTT

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everything concerning their machinery. With is a director of the Farmers National Bank; his wife he attends the Presbyterian church. They have five children, two of whom are married.

Ralph O. Perrott was educated in his na- tive city and, as he has taken care of himself, in a practical way, since he was seven years of age, may justly be termed a self made man. As a lad he delivered newspapers and then conceived the idea that he would like to be a printer. Accordingly he entered the Hopley printing establishment and learned the busi- ness in all its departments. From the very first he had saved a portion of his earnings and when he decided to turn his attention to other than newspaper work, he had enough means laid by to ensure him against financial em- barassment. After showing ability as a stenog- rapher with the American Clay Machin- ery Company, he was transferred from the general office to the credit department, where his powers of organization were soon shown and he was placed at the head of this important branch of the business. Through his systematic methods and good judgment he soon established this department on a firm basis and not only succeeded in collecting debts of large volume that had been considered worthless by the firm, but so regulated the line of credits that such embarassments in the future could be largely eliminated. His value as an executive officer could not be overlooked and in 1906 the board of directors elected him first secretary of the corporation and man- ager of the Bucyrus factory, a timely recog- nition of his talents, fidelity and industry. Mr. Perrott is yet numbered with the city's young business men but he stands high in this con- nection and enjoys the confidence of people who have known him all his life.

Mr. Perrott was married at Bucyrus to Miss Blanche Quilter, who was born and edu- cated in this city, a daughter of Frank and Bridget (Kane) Quilter, the former of whom is superintendent of the Broken Sword Stone Company of Bucyrus. Mr. and Mrs. Quilter and Mrs. Perrott are all members of the Ro- man Catholic church. On May 24, 1909, a daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Perrott, whom they named Margaret Maxine. Mr. Perrott is a member of the Episcopal church. He is active in local interests of various kinds,

secretary of the Bucyrus City Hospital As- sociation; and chairman of the finance com- mittee, of the Y. M. C. A., in which relation he assisted in raising the sum of $17,000. He is a Knight Templer Mason and is an active member of the order of Elks. Politically both he and his father are Republicans.

JOHN SANFORD BURNISON, who has been identified with the Erie Railway Com- pany for 33 years-continuously since 1876 with the exception of three years-has been conductor on the Fourth Division between Marion and Dayton, O., since 1884 and is justly popular with the public as he is held in high regard by the company. He was born near Galion, O., October 1, 1858, and is a son of John and Mary (Myers) Burnison.

John Burnison was born February 20, 1819, at Canton, O., and died in Hardin county, November 27, 1880. His father, who was born in Scotland, came to the United States quite early in life and secured later 200 acres of land in Stark county, on which the city of Canton now stands. He and wife both died in Wyandot county: John Burnison became a farmer and followed agricultural pursuits in Marion, Crawford and Hardin counties. He was a man of sterling qualities and was well known and much respected. He married Mary Myers, who was born in Germany, March 4, 1820, and was sixteen years of age when she came to the United States and died in Ohio at the age of sixty years. In early married life they were members of the United Brethren church but later united with the Dunkard body. They had ten children, seven sons and three daughters. The three surviv- ing members of this family are: John San- ford; James H., who lives in Hardin county, O .; and Emma, who is the wife of Alvin Wall, a resident of Hardin county.

John Sanford Burnison was married (first) in Hardin county, to Miss Jennie Wall, who was born there in 1860 and died March 14, 1906, survived by one son, Roy O., who was born August 27, 1882. He was educated in the Galion schools and has his home at Crest- line, being a conductor on the Pennsylvania Railroad. He married Miss Kittie Fecke, and they have one daughter, Dorothea, who was

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born December 14, 1905. Mr. Burnison was married (second) to Miss Viola May Cole, who was born in Sandusky township, Craw- ford county, November 11, 1882, a daughter of Samuel F. and Delora N. (Lauchbaum) Cole. The parents of Mrs. Burnison retired from their farm to Galion, in 191I. The father is a Republican in politics and both he and wife are members of the United Brethren church. Mr. and Mrs. Burnison have a bright little son, John Franklin, who was born April 25, 1909. They attend the United Brethren church. Mr. Burnison belongs to the order of Railroad Conductors, No. 109, at Galion.

FERDINAND HECK, a respected resident of Galion, where he owns property, is a loco- motive engineer, employed on the Cincinnati division of the Erie Railroad, was born in Prussia, Germany, about 20 miles from Ber- lin, Feb. 12, 1861. His parents, John and Frederica (Erest) Heck, were natives of the same place. In 1864 they emigrated with their family to the United States in a sailing ves- sel, the voyage occupying six weeks. They landed at Castle Garden, New York City and continued on to Mansfield, Ohio, where John Heck found employment at his trade of mason. After following his trade in Mans- field for ten years, he turned his attention to farming, at the end of ten years thus occupied locating on a five-acre tract of land near Shelby, Richland county, O., where he died September 24, 1898, at the age of 78 years. His wife died March 17, 1905, at the age of sixty-two. They belonged to the German Lutheran church and he was a Democrat in politics. Their children-five in number- were as follows: Amelia, who is the wife of Michael Menchen, resides on the old home- stead near Shelby and has two children-Wil- liam and Anna. Ferdinand, whose name ap- pears at the head of this sketch; Rena, who lives near Shelby, O., is the wife of Jacob Ginder and has two children-Wilbur and Edith; Augusta, who was born on the voyage to America and who died in Mansfield, O., at the age of four years; and Anna, born in Mansfield, O., who is the wife of Martin J. Molder, resides in Shelby, O., and has three children-John, Myrtle and Glenn.

Ferdinand Heck was reared and educated

in Mansfield and in Richland county, Ohio. He acquired a knowledge both of mason work and farming, but at the age of 24 years ob- tained employment on the Big Four Railroad. Later he secured a position as fireman on the Erie road and was thus employed for twelve years, at the end of that time being promoted to engineer on the Cincinnati division of the Erie road (known as the Third Division) and has since been thus occupied. Some time ago he purchased half a block of land on East Main street, Galion, on which he has two large residences, one of which he occupies.

On June 25, 1885, he was married in Mans- field, O., to Miss Susie Placer, who was born near Richland, Ohio, March 10, 1862, and who was there reared and educated. Her par- rents were Conrad and Elizabeth (Christman) Placer, natives of Germany, who came to America when young people and who were married in Mansfield, later locating in Rich- land county, where Mr. Placer died in 1868 at the age of about forty years. His wife died in Crestline, on the Richland county side of that city, June 19, 1888, when she was nearly 60 years of age. They were German Lutherans in religion. Their daughter Susan (Mrs. Heck) was the fourth born of six children, three of whom are yet living, namely: Mrs. Heck; a half brother, J. C. Klingelhafer, who resides in Galion, is married and has three children-Ruth, Robert and Mary; and a sis- ter, Mrs. Sarah Placer, who is now residing with Mrs. Heck. Mr. and Mrs. Heck have no children; the latter is a member of the English Lutheran church. Mr. Heck is a socialist in his political views. He is a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and is a reliable and progressive citizen.

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History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 101

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