History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 108

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 108

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GEORGE LEROY SHEMER, a suc- cessful farmer of Dallas township, who is also one of that township's prominent citi- zens, was born in Crawford county, Ohio, March 8, 1872, a son of Levi and Martha (Mckinney) Shemer. The parents of our subject were early settlers in Crawford county, the father, Levi Shemer, coming here from Stark county, Ohio, when a child of eight years; his wife, Mrs. Martha Shemer, is from Richland county. They are still living and reside in Dallas town- ship, Levi being a farmer by occupation. Their children are: George LeRoy, whose name appears at the head of this sketch; Mary Matilda, who is the wife of Daniel Parcher ; Charles Otis; Velma Maude, who is the wife of Leo White; and Earl.

George LeRoy Shemer in his boyhood attended the common schools and was early trained to agricultural pursuits. He has re- sided in Dallas township for 29 years, and is engaged in general farming, keeping stock enough for his own use. A Republi- can in politics, like his father, he is now serving in his third term as clerk of the township.

He was married Oct. 16, 1895 to Mary E. Parcher, a daughter of John and Adelia (Wilson) Parcher, farming people and prominent residents of Dallas township. John Parcher, Mrs. Shemer's father, was born in Bucyrus township, this county, in 1846. His father, Daniel Parcher, was also a native of this county, while his mother, Mrs. Mary (McNeal) Parcher, came from Pennsylvania. John Parcher was county commissioner for six years and has also served as township trustee. He is a man highly respected in the community. Mr. and Mrs. G. L. Shemer attend the Metho-

dist Episcopal church. They are industri- ous thrifty people, good neighbors, and well liked in the community and have a wide cir- cle of friends.

DANIEL M. TOBIAS, a well known resident of Bucyrus, is a member of the firm of D. M. Tobias & Co., doing business at Columbus, O., dealers and manufacturers of fine blank books and legal stationery. Mr. Tobias was born at Greencastle, Pa., May 8, 1859.

Daniel M. Tobias was four years old when his parents came to Crawford county and settled on a farm in Liberty township from which they later moved to another in Holmes township, and there he grew to manhood. His education was secured in the district and Bucyrus schools and at Oberlin College. After learning the cab- inetmaker's trade he followed that for some time and then acted as deputy for his broth- er, Hon. James C. Tobias, who was judge of the Probate Court. For ten years after the termination of his term as deputy, he was superintendent of the Bucyrus Stock Farm, in which position he exhibited excellent judgment and successfully handled and drove the high bred horses for which the farm was noted all over the state. In November, 1903, after some time devoted to pattern work in a cabinetmaking shop, he entered the employ of the Dayton Blank Book and Lithographing Company, and after the second year became stockholder and director in the company and for nine years was a salesman for that concern, at the end of that period establishing his own business at Columbus, where he has con- tinued to prosper until the present. He has always been an active Democrat and has frequently been a delegate to important conventions, has served in numerous local offices and is the present candidate of his party for county auditor.

Mr. Tobias was married (first) at Bucy- rus and by that marriage had two children: Ray J., who resides in the West; and Jessie M., Mrs. Smith, whose home is in California. Mr. Tobias was married (second) at Bucy- rus, to Miss Sallie Stewart, who was born

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at Fort Wayne, Ind., but in childhood was brought to Bucyrus by her parents, Joseph and Mary (Snyder) Stewart, the former of whom was born in Columbiana county, O., March 9, 1839, and died Feb. 3, 1905. For more than thirty years he was a railroad engineer, in 1881 becoming identified with the T. & O. C. Railroad and continuing with that line until within a few years of his de- cease. He was the instructor of Eugene Debs, the labor leader, when the latter be- came a fireman on his engine, and was well known to railroad men all over the country. His widow survives and resides at Bucyrus. She is a member of the Lutheran church. Mr. and Mrs. Tobias have four children : Ruth M., who was born May 24, 1894, and stands at the head of the class of 1913, in the Bucyrus High School; Russell Stewart, who was born May 21, 1897; Daniel Milton, who was born August 9, 1899; and Cath- erine, who was born August 25, 1906. Mr. and Mrs. Tobias attend the Lutheran church. He is secretary of the Order of United Commercial Travellers of America and has represented this body as a delegate to its national convention for several years. Since 1885 he has been identified with the Knights of Pythias at Bucyrus, with which he has, at times, been officially connected. Although Mr. Tobias carries on his busi- ness at the capital, he has continued to maintain his home at Bucyrus and his hand- some residence is situated at No. 411 East Mansfield Street.

J. P. WHALEN, proprietor of the Whalen Laundry, a very successful busi- ness enterprise of Galion, O., doing busi- ness at No. 241 East Main street, was born in this city in 1867, a son of Richard and Mary (Riester) Whalen.

Richard Whalen was born in New York and was a young man when he came west- ward and during the larger part of his after life was connected in some capacity with railroads, both at Galion, O., and Indianap- olis, Ind., being last identified with the Erie Railroad. His death occurred in April, 1907, when he was 68 years of age. He was mar- ried at Galion to Mary Riester, who was

born in Ohio, of German parents, and she survives. She is a member of the German Catholic church, as was her husband.

J. P. Whalen was reared at Galion and Indianapolis and attended school regularly in boyhood. He has been identified with the laundry business practically all his life since then, or since 1882, and in 1888 started his present laundry. At first it was a somewhat small concern, a hand laundry, but Mr. Whalen had no idea of remaining satisfied with what were then, necessary conditions, and gradually made improve- ments as his patronage increased and by 1900 had built up such a substantial income- bringing business that he felt justified in securing his present commodious quarters and installing modern laundry machinery. He gives continuous employment to ten in- dividuals and guarantees the finest work in the city.

Mr. Whalen was married at Galion, O., to Miss Nellie Mitchell, who was born and reared at Urbana, O., and they have two children: Eileen, an attractive little girl of thirteen years who- attends the parochial school; and Joel, who has not yet reached his third birthday. Mr. and Mrs. Whalen are members of the Roman Catholic church, and he belongs to that world-wide organiza- tion, the Knights of Columbus. He is an energetic and enterprising business man and reputable citizen.

LEO WHITE, who is one of the enter- prising and successful agriculturists of Dallas township, Crawford county, O., and one of the representative and reliable citi- zens, now serving in his third term as town- ship trustee, was born in Dallas township, July 17, 1870, and is a son of Willard T. and Clementine (Swigart) White.

Willard T. White was born also in Dallas township and has been a farmer all his life and is one of the large landowners of Craw- ford county, at present having 800 acres. He has been twice married, first to Clemen- tine Swigart, who died when her two chil- dren, Leo and Ida Irene, were small; Ida Irene is the wife of E. H. K. McComb, who is assistant superintendent of the Manual

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Training School at Indianapolis, Ind. After the death of his first wife, Mr. White mar- ried Ella Brown, who, like the first Mrs. White, was a native of Wyandot county, and two sons were born to them: Garrett B. and Abraham Jay.

Leo White attended the local schools and afterward enjoyed two terms at Ada, O., since when he has devoted himself to gen- eral farming and stock raising. He oper- ates a large body of land including 240 acres of his father's farm and an additional 160 acres, which he rents. He is progres- sive and up-to-date in his methods and his industries are prospering.

In October, 1898, Mr. White was united in marriage with Miss Velma Maude Shemer, who was born in Crawford county. Her parents, Levi and Martha (Mckinney) Shemer, are residents of Dallas township. They have the following children: G. L .; Matilda, wife of D. L. Parcher; Otis; Mrs. White, and Earl. Two daughters have been born to Mr. and Mrs. White: Helen Lorena and Hazel Martha. The family be- longs to the Methodist Episcopal church. Politically an ardent Republican, Mr. White has been frequently tendered public office by his party and has served as township trustee with efficiency as well as township treasurer for three terms. He is a mem- ber of the Elks at Bucyrus, O.

JOHN T. LUSCOMBE, master me- chanic for the Toledo & Ohio Central Rail- road, at Bucyrus, O., was born in County Cork, Ireland, thirty-seven years ago and accompanied his parents, John and Eliza- beth (Pitchford) Luscombe, to America. In May, 1884, the family landed in the Do- minion of Canada.

John Luscombe and wife reside, in com- fortable retirement, at Belleville, Ontario, he having served thirty years with the Grand Trunk Railroad, for fifteen years of this period being in charge of the car de- partment. He is a pensioner of the British Government, having served for 21 years in the British army and held the rank of color sergeant during a part of the time. He served three terms of enlistment, each of

seven years. He and wife are members of the Baptist church. Ten children were born to them, as follows: John T .; Langford G., who died at the age of 23 years; Henry J., who died at the age of 25 years, and is survived by his widow; Alfred P., who is a prosperous farmer and wheat grower in Alberta, where he married and has three children ; Reuben C., who is an engineer on the B. & O. Railroad at Newark, O., and has two sons; Maude M., who resides with her parents; Walter R., who is in charge of a department in a large clothing house in Canada, and who married there and has twin daughters; Edith Clara, who lives at home; E. Agnes, who also resides with her parents; and William Oliver, who is in the employ of a manufacturing company at Belleville.

John T. Luscombe was graduated from the Belleville High School and when only fifteen years of age entered the employ of the Grand Trunk Railroad and continued, in various capacities until 1901, when he became identified with the B. & O. In the meanwhile he had not neglected his educa- tion, in 1900 graduating from the National Correspondence School, at Scranton, Pa. He has filled important positions with dif- ferent companies and when with the Chi- cago & Alton Railroad, was machine fore- man and with the B. & O., was general foreman. Prior to March, 1908, when he became master mechanic for the Toledo & Ohio Central, he was general foreman of the shops at Bucyrus. Mr. Luscombe fills a very responsible position and enjoys the entire confidence of the company.

Mr. Luscombe was married at St. Thomas, Can., to Miss Alberta Bradley, who was born at Chicago, Ill., a daughter of George and Emma (Oxley) Bradley, natives of England, who now reside in Al- berta, Canada. Mrs. Luscombe is the eld- est of four children, the others being : George J .; Mrs. H. L. Emmet, of Chicago; and Alice, wife of George Martin, also of Chicago. Mr. and Mrs. Luscombe have two sons, Harold Bradley, who was born in November, 1904, and Edgar Allen, born September, 1908. They are members of

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the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Lus- combe belongs to the minor orders of Ma- sonry at Bucyrus and to the Commandery at Marion, O., and is identified also with the Elks.

Note .- Since this sketch was made Mr. Luscombe has resigned his position with the T. & O. C. to accept a more responsible position with the Big Four R. R. and is now located at Bellefontaine, Logan county, O.

EDWARD KAVANAGH, who has a long and honorable record as an employe of the Erie Railroad Company, having be- come identified with the same in June, 1872, when it was known as the A. & G. W. Railroad and the Broad Guage. He was born at London, Canada, Feb. 1, 1858, and is a son of Thomas and Bridget (Shae) Kavanagh.

Thomas Kavanagh and wife were born in Ireland, the former being a son of Mar- tin and Juda (Delaney) Kavanagh, natives of County Kilkenny. When Thomas Kav- anagh was young he went to live with an aunt, who apprenticed him to a shoemaker to learn his trade. Four years afterward he went to London and worked in different English cities before coming to the United States in 1846. For some time he worked at his trade on King Street, New York City, after which he went to Philadelphia and from there to other places and finally crossed the line into Canada and located at London. There he met Bridget Shae, a daughter of William and Johanna (Ken- nedy) Shae, who spent their lives in Ire- land, the daughter having come to Canada in 1852. She lived at London, Canada, some four years before her marriage to Mr. Kavanagh. In 1863 Mr. and Mrs. Kav- anagh moved to Cleveland, O., and after- wards moved to Kent, where Mr. Kavanagh died in May, 1904, his birth having taken place March 5, 1819. Mrs. Kavanagh sur- vives and resides at Kent. She was born March 24, 1830. She is a member of the Roman Catholic church as was her hus- band. They had sixteen children born to

them, Edward being the only survivor of this large family.

Edward Kavanagh began at the bottom when he entered the service of the Erie Railroad, working at first in the mechanical department, from which he was promoted to be a hostler. In January, 1883, he was given a position as fireman and continued as such until December, 1886, when he was made an engineer and has filled this posi- tion ever since, for the past ten years be- ing in the passenger service. Mr. Kav- anagh has handled every known make of engine, from the little primitive one that was fed with wood, to the great giants of the road that only men of real engineering knowledge can control, be the motive power steam or electricity. He is justly proud of the fact that he has never received a repri- mand for dereliction of duty since he came to the road. He has witnessed many changes in ownership and in operating and has kept a record of these which makes in- teresting reading concerning this very im- portant line.

Mr. Kavanagh was married to Miss Agnes King and they had the following children: Arthur Lewis, a railroad con- ductor on the Erie, who lives at Hunting- ton, Ind., and has a family of one son and two daughters; George, who was acci- dentally killed at the age of fifteen years, by a switch engine, while working for the Erie as a call boy; John E., who is in the pattern department of a steel bridge manu- facturing plant at Chicago; and Catherine V., who is the wife of T. T. Glennor, re- siding in Pennsylvania, and has one son. Mr. Kavanagh was married (second) to Mrs. Lydia A. Firstenberger, widow of Jacob Firstenberger, who died in 1900. She was born and reared at Marion, O., her family name being Dutt. Mr. Kavanagh is a member of Division No. 16, B. L. E., and for twelve years was its chief and in 1898 was sent as a delegate to the Conven- tion of Engineers held at St. Louis, Mo. He has been chairman of the General Com- mittee of Adjustment from Division 16 for the past ten years.

Mr. and Mrs. Kavanagh have been ex-

MAJ. EDMUND R. KEARSLEY

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tensive travelers, having visited almost ev- ery state in the union and also Mexico and Canada. He relates many stories of inter- est of his travels as well as incidents rela- tive to his work as an engineer but they would occupy too much space to be given here.

MAJOR EDMUND ROBERTS KEARS- LEY, deceased, whose birth took place at Harrisburg, Pa., May 18, 1816, died at his palatial residence, No. 309 East Mansfield Street, Bucyrus, O., in January, 1901. His long and busy life had covered an important epoch in his country's history and his personal experiences, in public and military life, form an interesting and instructive record. De- scended from military ancestors, all his life, even in old age, he continued to be interested in military affairs, favoring and substantially encouraging a military organization at Bu- cyrus, bearing his name, when past his four score years and ten, in their spirit and en- thusiasm living over again many of the events of his own earlier life.

Edmund Roberts Kearsley was the first child born to Major Jonathan Kearsley and Mar- garet (Hetich) Kearsley, and a grandson of Captain Samuel Kearsley, with whom he lived for some years after the death of his mother, in 1821. His father, Major Jonathan Kear- sley, graduated at Washington College, Pa., now called Washington and Jefferson Col- lege, in 1811, and in the following year was appointed by President Madison, a lieutenant in the U. S. Artillery, and in 1814 was com- missioned assistant adjutant-general, with the rank of major. He was engaged in the bat- tles of Niagara, Stony Creek and Chrysler's Field, and in the sortie from Fort Erie, in which latter engagement he was so seriously wounded that it resulted in the loss of a leg. In 1817 he was appointed collector of revenue in Pennsylvania, and in 1820, receiver of pub- lic moneys for the District of Michigan, at which time he removed to Detroit, where he resided until his death. There his son, the late Edmund Roberts Kearsley joined him in 1825 and immediately became a pupil in the public schools. His father then sent him to a private school at Utica, N. Y., and from 1829 until 1832 he was a student at Kenyon Col-

lege, O. Upon his return to Detroit he became assistant receiver in the Michigan Land Of- fice, under his father, in which capacity he attracted the attention of Major John Bid- dle, register of the Land Office, who re- quested the transfer of so efficient a helper to his department. As chief clerk of this im- portant office, Major Kearsley continued until 1840, when failing health caused his resigna- tion. From then until 1847 he resided on his father's farm of 600 acres located in Oakland county, Mich. About this time he returned to Detroit and entered into business. He superintended the erection of the Biddle House at Detroit, which was one of the largest and most complete hotels in the state of Michigan for many years.

His first connection with military matters was when he assisted in the organization of the Brady Guards, a well drilled body of young men that did excellent service during the troubles along the Canadian and Michi- gan border during the rebellion of 1837-8 in the Dominion. During this time Captain Kear- sley was appointed assistant adjutant with the rank of major, a title he retained until the close of life. Later he was appointed assistant quartermaster-general of Michigan and while in that position served, with Captain U. S. Grant, who later became commander of the army and subsequently President of the United States. A warm personal friendship existed between them until the death of General Grant. Major Kearsley's active participation in military affairs was not so much on the field as in the no less necessary official de- partments which regulate and make possible effective action on the battle ground, and his sincerity, honesty and general efficiency, which were ever placed at the service of his country in time of need. Perhaps no man in Crawford county, O., to which state he re- moved in 1851, could have so advantageously and peacefully managed the difficult matter of carrying out the law, in 1862, as did he as draft officer. Where another equally patriotic official might have brought about local trouble as the minds of men were inflamed by partisan feeling at that time, Major Kearsley's tact, diplomacy, understanding of human nature, together with his personal high character in- spiring confidence, brought about satisfactory

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results and Crawford county sent in its full quota.

As noted above, Major Kearsley came to Bucyrus early in 1851 and this city remained his home during the rest of his life. At that time his maternal uncle, Hon. Charles Hetich, was county treasurer of Crawford county, and Major Kearsley became his assistant and in the following year was made deputy auditor and in 1853 was elected auditor. So popular an official had he become that in 1855 he was nominated for a third term by both parties and elected, this being a notable occurrence in Crawford county that has never since been repeated. It was during his term of official life that he superintended the erection of nu- merous buildings of a public nature, including the first brick jail ever built in the county. He continued his interest in county affairs after retiring from office, cheerfully giving advice when consulted, his many years of ex- perience making this particularly valuable. Bucyrus is indebted to him in many ways for he was ever awake to the city's needs and was ready to lend his influence and give substan- tial support to all measures which he deemed worthy of the same. Through his energy and financial assistance the Bucyrus Memorial Library became a fact and it was a pleasure to him to continue his benefactions to this insti- tution. From the time he reached manhood until the closing years of his life, his gifts to people in all walks were numerous and con- tinuous, but in large part his benefactions were given quietly and with no thought or de- sire that public approval should mark them. In early life a Whig, he later became a Dem- ocrat although he gave political support in the election of President Lincoln.

Major Kearsley was married in Illinois, to Miss Susan Phillips, who was born April 5, 1827, at Salem, O., and was 18 months old when her people came to Bucyrus, where she has spent all her life with the exception of three years, during which period she lived with an aunt in Illinois. Her father, James Lewis Phillips, was born in Ohio, Jan. 14, 1798, and died Sept. 20, 1827. His father, Robert P. Phillips, was born in Wales, July 21, 1773, and came to America when a young man and became a teamster and carrier, first in Penn- sylvania and later at Salem, O., where he also

conducted a tannery. He married Susanna Snyder, who was of Dutch descent. James Lewis Phillips was married in Ohio, Dec. 16, 1824, by Rev. Kenneth Vallandingham, who, it may be noted, later baptized their daughter, Mrs. Kearsley, to Maria McCracken, who was born April 25, 1796. Her parents were James and Susan (Kelley) McCracken, the latter of whom was a distant relative of General Grant's maternal ancestors. The McCrackens came from Scotland and the family was well known in Wayne county, O., and at Colum- bus. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Maria Phillips left Salem and with her two daughters, Samantha and Susan, came to Bu- cyrus, where her kindred lived and here her death occurred October 14, 1834. Mrs. Kearsley's only sister died unmarried, Jan. 5, 1872.

Major Kearsley was married (first) July 2, 1857, to Martha C. Sweney, who was born at Gettysburg, Pa., in 1824, and died at Bu- cyrus, in 1874. Two children were born to that union: an infant daughter, who died on the day of birth; and Rebecca M., who was born Nov. 28, 1866, and who married Elmer L. White, of Pittsburgh, Pa. They had one daughter, Margaret Sara, who resides with her grandmother, at Bucyrus. The family has been identified with the Presbyterian church for many years and in this relation Major Kearsley was faithful and conscientious. He belonged to the Sons of the American Revolu- tion and was justly proud of this connection, and he was also affiliated with the old fra- ternities, the Masons and Odd Fellows.

DR. JAMES F. FITZSIMMONS, who at the time of his death on April 12th, 1910, was the oldest practicing physician in Bucy- rus, was also a citizen widely known and much esteemed. He was born on a farm in Whetstone township, this county, Sept. 18, 1843, and was therefore in his 67th year at the time of his demise. His parents were William and Anna E. (Holman) Fitzsim- mons, who came overland to Bucyrus from Huntingdon county, Pa., in 1831, settling in Whetstone township.

The subject of this sketch was reared on his parents' farm and there resided until his nineteenth year, when he went to Up-

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per Sandusky, where he attended school for several terms. In May, 1864, he enlisted in the 134th O. V. I., and was discharged with his comrades in August of that year. In the fall of 1864 he attended the Vermil- lion Institute at Hayesville, O., remaining until the summer of 1865, when he entered the office of Drs. Ferris and Byron at Upper Sandusky. In the winter of 1865-66 he at- tended his first course of lectures at Charity Hospital Medical College at Cleveland, go- ing thence to Ft. Wayne, Ind., where he studied and practiced with Dr. J. S. Gregg of that place until 1867. He then entered Chicago Medical College from which he was graduated in March, 1868.

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History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 108

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