History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 104

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 104

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

In 1885, Mr. Murphy was united in mar- riage with Miss Lucinda Heinlen. She is the daughter of Mathias and Elizabeth (Bickel) Heinlen, who were very early set- tlers in Crawford county, but who were na- tives of Germany. Their children were,

namely: Elizabeth, the wife of A. E. Bollin- ger ; John; Samuel; Lena, the wife of Byron Kent; Frank D .; Matilda, the wife of James Johnston; Mathias; and Lucinda, the wife of the subject of this article. To Mr. and Mrs. John S. Murphy have been born chil- dren who were named as follows: Eliza- beth (Mrs. D. C. Lust) ; Charles ; Dora, de- ceased; Lloyd, who met his death from the kick of a horse; Frank, deceased; Cooler; Lula, deceased; Roy, John, Thomas and Stella.

Mr. Murphy is a Democrat in politics. He and his family attend the U. B. Church. He belongs to the F. & A. M. at Nevada, Ohio.

CHARLES A. GUISS, civil engineer at Bucyrus, O., and formerly county surveyor of Crawford county, is numbered with the reliable men of his profession in this section and has satisfactorily completed every con- tract he has undertaken. He was born at Sulphur Springs, Crawford county, O., Aug. 24, 1878, and was two years old when his parents moved to Chatfield township, where he was reared. He is a son of John and Susan (Fry) Guiss, who are highly re- spected retired residents of New Washing- ton.

The Guiss family is of German ancestry and it was founded in Ohio by the grand- father, Abraham Guiss, who came to Craw- ford county prior to 1838 and secured a large tract of land from the Government in Cranberry township. As soon as he had secured a home here he sent for his family and it is said that his wife drove with chil- dren and household goods, an ox-team, the entire distance from Columbia county, Pa., to Crawford county. O. She was a typical pioneer woman, strong and resourceful. and outlived her husband, dying at New Wash- ington in extreme old age. They were mem- bers of the German Lutheran church.

John Guiss, father of Charles A., was born in Cranberry township, Crawford county, where he was reared and lived for some years after his marriage, when he moved to West Liberty and later to Sulphur Springs, engaging in mercantile pursuits

665

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

and was a member of the firm of Albert, Fry John Meuser, was born in Prussia and & Co. Afterward he engaged in farming served in Napoleon's Army at the Battle of Waterloo, in 1815, receiving a medal for his bravery, which is still in the possession of the family. He afterward came to the United States and settled in Richland coun- ty, O., where he followed the cabinetmaking trade. Late in life he came to Galion, where his death occurred Aug. 11, 1869, when he was aged 79 years. He was twice married, his first wife dying without issue. His sec- ond wife, Catherine Swain, was born in Switzerland, in November, 1823, and was brought to America by her parents in child- hood. She died at Galion in 1863, the mother of nine children, eight of whom grew up, six of whom married and three of whom survive. in Chatfield township and served in numer- ous township offices, elected to the same on the Democratic ticket. He was township clerk and trustee and also a justice of the peace. He married Susan Fry, a daughter of John Fry, who was born in Switzerland and came in early manhood to Chatfield township, securing Government 1.nd on which he lived until his death when aged 89 years. He married a member of the Helm family, in Crawford county. Six children were born t John and Susan Guiss, namely : William H., who is a physician at Tiro, O .; Melville O., formerly auditor of the Bir- mingham & Nevada Railroad and general manager of the Georgia & Alabama Iron Company, now located at Memphis, Tenn .; Ethie R., who is the wife of Frank Derr. of New Washington; Charles A .; Warren G., who is in the oil business at Tulsa, Okla .; and Maude R., who lives with her parents.

Charles A. Guiss was graduated in the State University at Columbus, in the class of 1905, with his Civil engineer degree and afterward was appointed deputy county sur- veyor of Lake county, O., under County Surveyor J. C. Ward, and continued his duties there for about one year and then came to Bucyrus. He followed his profes- sion privately from 1906 until 1907, when he was elected county surveyor of Crawford county and satisfactorily served out his term, retiring then to give his entire atten- tion to his personal business. He is a Dem- ocrat in his political leanings and frater- nally is identified with the Elks and the Eagles, both of Bucyrus.

JOHN MEUSER, deceased, was identi- fied with the Erie Railway for a number of years, for 19 of these operating a freight engine and for more than ten years being a passenger train engineer. He was born in Richland county, O., Dec. 31, 1842, and his accidental death occurred, while in the path of duty, Dec. 30, 1901, the direct result of the explosion of an engine pipe.

John Peter Meuser, father of the late

John Meuser was the eldest born of the above family of children and remained in Richland county until 1865, when he came to Galion, entering the Erie Railway service. Through ability and fidelity he rapidly gained promotion and enjoyed the confi- dence of both his superiors and his asso- ciates in business. It was while running the Wells Fargo Express train on the Fourth Division, between Marion and Caledonia, O., that the accident occurred that cost this brave and experienced man his life. He was quite prominent in railway circles, and for many years had been a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. He was fraternally identified also with the Odd Fellows. Politically he was a Democrat, while in his religious connection he was active in the First Lutheran Church.

On July 1I, 1869, Mr. Meuser was mar- ried at Galion to Miss L. Agnes Sheaffer, who was born in Whetstone township, Crawford county, O., Aug. 8, 1852, but has been a resident of Galion for 56 years and owns the valuable property on which he lives. Her parents were William W. and Savilla (Albright) Sheaffer, the former of whom was born in Dauphin county, Pa., April 16, 1827, and died May 20, 1889. He came to Whetstone township, March 17, 1850, in the following year was married to Savilla Albright, who was born in Whet-

666

HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY

stone township, June 11, 1833, and died No- vember 29, 1884. Her parents were John and Sarah (Sheaffer) Albright, who were pioneers in Crawford county, from Penn- sylvania. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Meuser: Letta L., who is the wife of R. C. Case, of Richwood, O .; and Wil- liam W., a fireman on the Erie Railroad, lives at. Galion, who married Virda Nelson. Mrs. Meuser is very active in the First Eng- lish Lutheran Church, to which her parents also belonged, and is interested in the For- eign Missionary Society.

JOHN M. LEITZY, whose well culti- vated farm of 80 acres is located in Dallas township, is a son of Francis and Hannah (Smith) Leitzy. He was born in Holmes township, Dec. 26, 1855.

Francis Leitzy was born in Germany but came to this country when young. His father, also named Francis Leitzy, resided in Crawford county at his death. Francis Leitzy, Jr., upon his arrival in the U. S., se- cured land and followed his occupation as a farmer. He married Hannah Smith, a na- tive of Columbiana county, Ohio, and they had seven children, namely: Catherine, who is the wife of George Strohm; Rose Ann, the wife of Philip Strohm; Mary, the wife of Jacob Staiger ; John M., our subject; Eliza- beth, the wife of Frederick Schiefer; Wil- liam; and Joseph. He was a Democrat po- litically and in religious faith, a Lutheran. He is buried in Crawford county, Ohio.

John M. Leitzy since completing his edu- cation has spent his life in farming. His first experience in the cultivation of land was obtained while working for his father, with whom he continued until about 25 years of age. He then went to Bucyrus township, Crawford county, and rented a tract of land there. After five years spent at that place he went to Tod township, where he also rented land but before long he returned to Bucyrus township. Seven years ago he bought his present farm from M. M. McBeth and he has here successfully followed general farming since that time. He also raises stock for his own use.

In February, 1881, Mr. Leitzy married Miss Barbara Staiger. Her parents, John and Rickey (Klink) Staiger, were promi- nent farming people of Crawford county, but are now deceased. Their children be- sides Mrs. Leitzy were: Samuel; Joseph; Lena, the wife of Robert Rice; Rickey, de- ceased; Elizabeth and Mary, twins, the for- mer the widow of Jacob Beller and the lat- ter deceased; and Lydia, the wife of William Roaker.

To Mr. and Mrs. John M. Leitzy there have been born the following children: Frederick, a music teacher and dealer in musical instruments; Laura, who is the wife of Clarence Shroll; Irvin G. and Corvin C., twins; and Richard F.

Mr. Leitzy is a Democrat and has served his township on the school board and as road supervisor. He with his family are at- tendants of the Martin Luther Church.

CHARLES A. BEILHARZ, the leading contractor in painting and decorating at Bucyrus, O., has been a resident of this city since boyhood, but was born in Republic township, Seneca county, O., April 16, 1853, a son of Dr. William and Maria B. (Crock- ett) Beilharz, and a grandson of Rev. John P. Beilharz.

Rev. John P. Beilharz was born in 1795 and was educated in Germany and for many years after coming to America served pas- torates in the German Lutheran church in Ohio. It is remembered that he preached the impressive sermon at the laying of the corner stone of the present old German Lutheran church edifice at Bucyrus. He died in Seneca county in May, 1867, aged 72 years, honored and esteemed to the end. His remains are buried in Fremont, O.

William Beilharz, son of Rev. William and father of Charles A., was born in 1819, in Germany, and was a child when his parents came to America and they settled in Birks county, Pennsylvania. He became a dentist and prior to the Civil War prac- ticed dentistry at Tiffin, O., and from there came to Bucyrus and opened an office on Sandusky Street, where he continued in his

667

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

profession for some years and then retired, his death occurring June 23, 1899. He was married in Seneca county to Maria B. Crockett, who was born in Thomaston, Maine, March 30, 1824, and was a child when her parents moved to Seneca county, O., and settled in Eden township. She sur- vived her husband, dying May 14, 1903, at the age of 79 years. Dr. and Mrs. Beilharz were members of the English Lutheran church. They had three children: Charles A .; Anna, who is the wife of F. L. Ingman, a merchant, farmer and real estate dealer in Iowa ; and Cassius M., who was accidentally killed at Columbus, O., Aug. 29, 1891, while attending to his duties of conductor, on the T. & O. C. Railway. His widow, Henrietta Beilharz, died June 20, 1900.

Charles A. Beilharz was educated in the Bucyrus schools and learned his trade under the supervision and direction of Samuel Welsh, who was a very competent man in his line. For 25 years Mr. Beilharz has been engaged in contracting in painting and deco- rating and has had important work to do with both public and private buildings and his judgment is pretty apt to be asked when any work of especial magnitude is contem- plated.

Mr. Beilharz was married to Miss Ella M. Choate, who was born at Napoleon, Henry county, O., a daughter of Col. William A. and Rosina (McGill) Choate. Colonel Choate was killed in battle while leading his regiment during the Civil War. In politics Mr. Beilharz, like his late father, is a Re- publican. He is identified with the Elks and since 1883 has been a member of the Knights of Pythias.

PERRY CHALMERS FULTON, a highly respected retired resident of Bucyrus, O., is a member of one of the early families of this city, in which he was born, Dec. 26, 1849. His parents were Andrew and Eliza- beth Harper (Scott) Fulton.

Andrew Fulton was born in Stark county, O., in 1820, where he lived until 21 years of age and then came to Bucyrus. Here he fol- lowed the cabinetmaker's trade, which in-

cluded the manufacturing of furniture, by hand, and the making of coffins. Many of the latter were constructed of walnut and as they were usually ordered after the death of an individual, it was no unusual thing for Mr. Fulton to work sometimes the entire night fashioning the last receptacles for the dead, polishing and making them as attract- ive as possible. For some ten years he was in partnership with his brother, David Ful- ton, but in 1863 David went into the gro- cery business and Andrew became sole pro- prietor of the former concern, but died in the following year, on Nov. 13, 1864. He married Elizabeth Harper Scott, a daughter of Wilson Scott. She was born in West- moreland county, Pa., in 1826, and was only two years old when her parents moved to Crawford county, reaching Bucyrus on Dec. 25, 1828, and camping over night on what. was then the village square. Shortly after- ward Mr. Scott secured 300 acres of Gov- ernment land in Whetstone township, on which he erected a log cabin and there he and family spent many years. Late in life, when aged 75 years, he went to Springfield, Mo., and afterward all record of him was lost. Mrs. Fulton survived until Oct. 28, 1898, passing away at the age of 73 years. Both she and husband were members of the Presbyterian church. Five children made up their family, Perry Chalmers being the first born. Anna Z. married Fred Tipple and they live at Youngstown, O., and have a family of children. James T. went out to Fairbanks, Alaska, but his wife and daugh- ter have not yet joined him. Estella E. died at the age of 18 months. Andrew D. resides with his wife and two sons at Somerville, Mass.

Perry Chalmers Fulton attended the pub- lic schools of Bucyrus and all his subsequent business life has been passed here and since June, 1888, he has been connected with the T. & O. C. Railroad. He was married at Bucyrus, Sept. 20, 1888, to Miss Mary Heller, who was born in 1840, and died at Bucyrus, Sept. 11, 1911. She was a daugh- ter of Jacob D. and Margaret (Daniel) Heller. For some years she was connected

668

HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY

with the U. B. church, but later became a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Bucyrus and was always actively inter- ested in its mission and charitable work. Mr. Fulton has four children, namely : Chalmers C., who resides with his wife, son and daughter, at Bethlehem, Pa .; Blanche Estella, who married Homer Eggleston and they live at Chicago, Ill., and have one daughter; Wesley J., who resides with his family at Cardington, O .; and Harvey Wil- liams, who is in business at Dubuque, O. Politically, Mr. Fulton is somewhat inde- pendent but nominally a Republican, and is connected fraternally with the order of For- esters and Royal Home.

M. H. SCHILL, doing business under his own name at New Washington, O., in the clothing and gent's furnishing line, custom tailor and representative of the Royal Tail- ors, of Chicago, Ill., is well known in this part of Ohio and is a representative citizen of New Washington. He was born Sept. II, 1865, in Richland county, O., but was mainly educated at Shelby, O.

Mr. Schill entered upon his business ca- reer as a dry goods salesman, afterward traveling for a firm for two and one-half years through southern Ohio and West Vir- ginia, and then went into the clothing busi- ness and resided for the following seven years at Shelby, being connected with the Kennedy Clothing House. On Jan. 16, 1907, he came to New Washington and here for three years was manager for Kennedy-Robi- son Company, of Shelby, on April 12, 19II, embarking in business for himself and his trade name is Schill, the clothier. In addi- tion to the stocks above mentioned, he handles a fine line of suit cases and trunks, having excellent business accommodations on West Mansfield Street. Mr. Schill is acknowledged to be a man of taste, skill and practical knowledge in his special line and attracts a very high class of patronage.

Mr. Schill was married to Miss Elizabeth Fabian, who was born at Galion, O. They are members of the Roman Catholic church. Mr. Schill is identified with the Knights of

Columbus, Mansfield Council; with the Eagles, at Shelby, O., and C. K. of O., of the same city.

JOHN W. LOOMIS, a well remembered educator in several sections of Ohio, has been a resident of Bucyrus since 1904, when he became connected with the U. S. Railway mail service and at present is a railway postal clerk on the Pennsylvania Railroad between Crestline, O., and Chicago, Il1. He was born in Seneca county, O., in 1871, and is a son of George and Susan C. (Beery) Loomis.

The Loomis family is of New England ancestry but has been established in the State of Ohio for about 100 years. Reuel Loomis was one of the early colonists from Connecticut to settle in the Northwest Ter- ritory and secured land in Sandusky county shortly after Ohio became a State. In 1820 he moved to Tiffin and was one of the pio- neer farmers of Seneca county. There his son, Wildman Loomis, grandfather of John W. Loomis of Bucyrus, was reared, his birth having taken place in 1819 in Sandusky county. He died on his farm in Eden town- ship, Seneca county, when aged 83 years. He was intensely loyal to the Union and when civil war was precipitated entered the Federal Army, accompanied by his son George, and served as corporal of Co. B, 164th O. Vol. Inf., throughout a full term of enlistment.

George Loomis was born in Seneca coun- ty, O., in April, 1841, and died at Hicksville, O., in 1905. He engaged in farming through most of his active period and was well known in his native state. He married Susan C. Beery, who was born in April, 1847 and died at Hicksville, O., in 1892. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Their children were seven in num- ber, as follows: John W .; Mary C., who is the wife of Noah Ames, residing at Hicks- ville, O., and they have two children-Rich- ard D. and Rachael N .; Ella E., who died unmarried at the age of twenty-two years; H. Edward, who is engaged in the harness- making business at Hicksville, married there

669

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

Ruby Coburn and they have three daugh- the Garretsville High School, after which ters-Susan L., Lulu M. and Alma L .; James W., who died in infancy; Lula M., who died when aged seven years ; and Laura E., who died in infancy.

John W. Loomis enjoyed excellent educa- tional advantages in youth and early man- hood, attending school both in Seneca and Wyandot counties and completing the scien- tific course at the National Normal Univer- sity, at Lebanon, O. For some ten subse- quent years he taught school in Defiance and Henry counties and for some time was at the head of the schools of Florida, O., and was principal of the Hicksville High School. After two years of travel in the South he was connected for a few years with the circulating department of the Bucyrus Journal and Daily Telegraph. For the past eight years as mentioned above, Mr. Loomis has been in the Government service.

Mr. Loomis was married at Bucyrus in January, 1908, to Miss Maude May Minton, who was born in 1881, at Bradford, O., where she attended school and later per- fected herself in music at Ada, O. She is a daughter of Ellis and Bertha (Burt) Min- ton, natives of Ohio and Kentucky, respect- ively, and a granddaughter of Dr. Henry Harrison and Elizabeth (Shellenbarger) Minton. Dr. Minton was a prominent physician at Bradford, where he practiced for 32 years. Mrs. Loomis has one sister, Alma G., who is supervisor of drawing and music in the New Comerstown schools, in Tuscarawas county, O. Mr. and Mrs. Loomis have one daughter, Grace Isabel, who was born Sept. 6, 1910. They are members of the Presbyterian church. In politics Mr. Loomis is a Republican and fraternally he belongs to Demas Lodge No. 108, Knights of Pythias.

H. O. DUTTER, manager of the Bucyrus Telephone Company, a prosperous business concern of Bucyrus, O., was born at Garrettsville, Portage county, O., Jan. 16, 1873.

In 1891 Mr. Dutter was graduated from

he gave two years to electrical study and practice at Athens, O., which prepared him to fill a position of some responsibility in the electrical engineering department of the Electric Light and Power Company, of that city. From 1893 until 1896 he was connected with the Light and Power Com- pany at Delphos, O., and from then until 190I was superintendent of the Clyde, O., Light and Power Company and for one year was also city engineer there and after that occupied a similar position with a municipal plant at Bryan. From 1902 until 1905 he was superintendent of the gas de- partment, with the Peoples Gas and Elec- trical Company, at Defiance, O. In 1906 he was connected for some time with the Light and Power Company at Alliance, O., coming from there to Bucyrus, where he became superintendent of the Light and Power Company of this city, assuming the management of the present company in October, 1910. The Bucyrus Telephone Company was incorporated in 1898, with an authorized capital of $150,000. Its officers are: Dr. J. A. Chesnes, president; H. S. Blair, vice president; A. D. Stoltz, secre- tary and treasurer, the board of directors including the officers and three additional capitalists : Benjamin Shearer, J. Wentz and E. Blair. The company operates 1000 automatic telephones and 500 farm tele- phones and they also have long distance connection with the Bell and Independent companies. Constant employment is given to twenty people. This is one of the most successful local enterprises of this section.

Mr. Dutter was married at Delphos, O., to Miss Katherine Florence Mahoney, who was born and educated there. Mr. Dutter is a Knight Templar Mason, belonging to the Commandery at Marion, O., and to the minor branches at Bucyrus. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias at Defiance, O., and is past chancellor of Clyde Lodge No. 146, Clyde, O .; to the Elks, at Bucyrus; to the Maccabees at Defiance, O .; and is a member of the American Gas Institute and an associate member of the American Insti-

670

HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY

tute of Electrical Engineers. Mr. Dutter is a busy, practical, competent man and is valued as a citizen.

ISRAEL ULMER, one of the represent- ative farmers and good citizens of Craw- ford county, who owns a fine farm in Bucyrus township, in partnership with his brother, William Ulmer, containing 113 acres, was born in Crawford county, March 18, 1853, and is a son of Adam and Cather- ine (Bahler) Ulmer.

Adam Ulmer and wife were born in Wurtemberg, Germany, and they came when young to Crawford county, married here and had the following children: John, William, Minnie, Israel and Mary. The father of the. above family died in 1856 and in 1860 the mother married Henry Miller and they moved to Henry county, O. They had four children: Sophia, Jacob, Pauline and Margaret.

Israel Ulmer obtained his education in the public schools and afterward learned the carpenter trade which he followed for five years, all the rest of his mature life having been spent as a farmer. In 1884 he was married to Miss Mary Steiger, a daughter of George G. and Magdalena (Stohm) Steiger. The parents of Mrs. Ulmer were farmers in Holmes township where the father still lives, the mother be- ing now deceased. Of their family of chil- dren, Mrs. Ulmer was the second born, the others being: Charles; Magdalena, wife of Charles Unger; George Emanuel; David; Moses; Emma, wife of Noah Lust; and Martha, wife of Warren Dinnenger ; Philip; and Amelia, the wife of Casper Meyer.

To Mr. and Mrs. Ulmer the following children have been born: George F .; Emma, who is the wife of Arthur Luke and has two children-Clinton and Leola ; and Minnie, Otto, Milo, and Eunice. Mr. Ulmer and family attend the German Lutheran church. The Ulmers have always been stanch in their support of the Democratic party. Mr. Ulmer has served three years as school director, taking much interest in school matters in his township and in every

other way performing his duties as a re- sponsible and reliable citizen.

HENRY A. BARTH, who is a member of the business firm of William F. Barth and Brother, barbers, at Bucyrus, O., is a prominent Democratic politician of Craw- ford county and is serving in the office of city auditor. He was born in Chatfield township, Crawford county, O., Aug. 4, 1862, and is a son of Frederick and Cather- ine (Boll) Barth, who reared a family of seven children. The father was born in Germany and when he came to Ohio settled. on a farm in Chatfield township. His death occurred in 1882.

Henry A. Barth was reared on his father's farm and was educated in the country schools. In 1880 he came to Bucyrus and here learned his business and in association with his brother, conducts a large establishment. He has been for years an active, interested and reliable citizen, served one term as a member of the city council representing the Third Ward, and in 1907 was elected city auditor. He is an officer in the National Union and is a mem- ber of the Barbers' Union and is treasurer of the local organization.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 104

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