History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 116

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 116

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James W. Gamble was born in 1851, in Franklin county, Pa. His grandfather, Fil- son Gamble, was born in Pennsylvania and his great grandfather was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. The grandparents lived and died in Pennsylvania and their children who survived infancy were: Samuel, who became a Presbyterian minister; Ezra, who went to the far West and engaged in gold mining ; Calvin, who served in the Civil war and afterward became a farmer ; Frank, who

died from injuries received during his serv- ice in the Civil war; Mrs. Amanda Blair, who lived in Kansas; Tirzah, wife of Dr. Mackey, of Colorado; and James Filson, father of James W.

James F. Gamble was born in Franklin county, Pa., in Path Valley, Feb. 11, 1826, and died in the state of New York. He served an apprenticeship to several mechan- ical trades in Cumberland county, Pa. He was married Jan. 24, 1850, in Cumberland county, to Bathsheba McCune Morrow, who was born in Cumberland county, Dec. II, 1826, and died in Franklin county, Pa., May 24, 1905. Both she and her husband were members of the Presbyterian church. Her parents 1 were William and Mary (Boyd) Morrow, the former of whom was born January 26, 1767, and died June I, 1843. Mary Boyd was born Nov. 1I, 1781, and died June 5, 1855. There were nine children born to William and Mary Mor- row, namely : Margaret M., who died April 19, 1884, at the age of 71 years, was the wife of Thomas Lindsey; Agnes B., born in 1814, married Rev. John McCullough, and died in 1894; Mary, born in 1815, who mar- ried William Ferguson in 1843, died when aged; Jane McCune, born in 1816, died April 5, 1887, who married Elias Asper ; William, Jr., born in 1817, died in 1883, and who married Carolyn Wallace; Elizabeth, born in 1819, died in 1884, the wife of Sam- uel Shoemaker; James B., born Sept. 14, 1820, who died Oct. 12, 1869, while a miner in the gold fields of California ; John B., who was born Feb. 24, 1822, died Dec. 25, 1894, married Rebecca Stauffer; Bathsheba Mc- Cune, who married James F. Gamble, being the youngest.

To James F. Gamble and wife the follow- ing children were born: James W .; Mary C., who is the widow of George Alexander; Wilbert Elton, an oil operator residing near Parker's Landing, Pa., who married Sadie Parton; Curtis L., who died June 18, 1906, at Youngstown, O., and who is survived by a widow and children; Rosa Bell, who is the wife of Putnam Doran, residing in Frank- lin county, Pa., and has two daughters; and Frank Elmer, a business man of

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Youngstown, who married Alice Dille and King's Daughters and other church and so- cial organizations.

has one son.

In 1863, when he was twelve years old, James W. Gamble came to Crawford county, O., with his uncle, Calvin. He at- tended school for several years and then became a farmer and continued until 1885, when he came to Bucyrus. Here he fol- lowed the carpenter trade for a few years and then became a member of the city po- lice force and still later entered upon the duties of his present position as special watchman.

On Oct. 21, 1873, Mr. Gamble was mar- ried to Miss Elizabeth McCreary, who was born Feb. 26, 1852, and died Nov. 17, 1904. near Lincoln, Neb. She was a member and active worker in St. Paul's Lutheran church of Bucyrus. She was a daughter of Thomas and Eliza (Boyer) McCreary.

Thomas McCreary was born July 15, 1826, and died at Bucyrus when over 80 years of age. He was of Scotch ancestry and possessed many of the characteristics of that hardy and thrifty race. For a num- ber of years he engaged successfully in farming in Crawford county and was a man of considerable worldly substance. His wife, Eliza Boyer, was born Jan. 30, 1829, and died Dec. 24, 1867. She and husband were English Lutherans.

To Mr. and Mrs. Gamble four children were born, namely : Mabel Grace, who died in infancy ; Curtis Guy, who was educated at Bucyrus and is engaged in the oil fields in Illinois as a contractor; and Ella M. and Ina Imo, both of whom are highly educated, cultivated and capable young women. The former was graduted from the Bucyrus high school in the class of 1900 and since then has filled the position of confidential secretary for the late Judge Beer and his heirs, settling up his estate and then enter- ing into business on her own account. She is a member of the literary club known as Crocus Junior. The younger daughter completed her high school course in 1903 and now has charge of her father's home. Miss Imo is also a member of the Crocus Junior Club. Both she and sister are active Sunday-school workers and belong to the

Mr. Gamble is a Republican in politics. He belongs to the fraternal order of Mac- cabees.

SIMEON G. KURTZ, who is a worthy representative of one of the old families of high standing in Crawford county, O., re- sides on his valuable farm of 1211/2 acres. which is situated in Whetstone township. He was born in this township, Dec. 10, 1875, and is a son of Samuel and Margaret (Rex- roth) Kurtz, and a grandson of George Kurtz.

Samuel Kurtz and wife were both born in Crawford county and for many years lived in Whetstone township, where they are pleasantly remembered, but now live in comfortable retirement at Bucyrus. To them the following children were born : George, Aaron, Simeon G., Catherine. Bertha, Harrison, Paul and Edwin. Of the above, Bertha is the wife of Russell Meyers. All survive except Catherine and Paul. The parents are members of the Reformed church.

Simeon G. Kurtz attended the public schools in Whetstone township and one term at Ada college, Ada, O., after which he engaged in teaching school for three win- ter terms and during the summers carried on farm operations for his father. When he married he rented his present farm from his father-in-law and purchased it three years later and has devoted his attention to general farming and stock raising ever since, keeping up his grade of stock but not making calculations to have any to sell.

On Nov. 20, 1901, Mr. Kurtz was mar- ried to Miss Emma Stump, who is a daugh- ter of Isaac and Elizabeth (Heinlen) Stump. Her father was born in Pennsyl- vania and her mother in Crawford county and they now live retired on their farm but one-fourth mile west of their son, Henry J. Stump's farm in Whetstone township. Mr. and Mrs. Kurtz have two children : My- ron Clinton and La Verne Simeon. The family belongs to the Reformed church and Mr. Kurtz is superintendent of the Sunday-

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school and is also a member of the board of trustees. Both he and wife belong to the Grange at Bucyrus and take part in its work and enjoy its social features. In politics Mr. Kurtz is a Republican.

W. E. ARNOLD, D. D. S., who has been professionally established at Bucyrus, O., since 1905, is in the enjoyment of an ex- cellent class of practice, having won confi- dence and approbation through his techni- cal skill, complete mastery of his science and his honorable methods of business. He was born at Mt. Vernon, O., June 24, 1878, and is a son of Charles and Mary Ann (Flocken) Arnold.

Charles Arnold was born in Baden, Ger- many, and is now 62 years of age and a resident of Bucyrus. He came to America when 19 years of age and for some years followed the trade of a machinist, but for the past 20 years has been engaged in a manufacturing business. Politically he is a Democrat and fraternally is an Odd Fel- low and a 32nd degree Mason. He married Anna Flocken, who was born at Bucyrus, and they are parents of two sons: W. E. and Charles F. The latter is a resident of Akron, O., and married Myrtle Collins.

Since he was 18 years of age Dr. W. E. Arnold has been interested in dentistry and after graduating from the Mt. Vernon high school, at the age of 18, he entered the dental department of the Ohio Medical Uni- versity, at Columbus, where he was grad- uated in the class of 1901. Prior to 1905, when he came to locate permanently at Bu- cyrus, he practiced at Wheeling, W. Va., and at other points. He makes a specialty of crown and bridge work, does fine porce- lain work also and keeps thoroughly abreast with the times in a profession which is con- tinually advancing along scientific lines.

Dr. Arnold was married at Wheeling, W. Va., to Miss Blanche Smouse, a daughter of Thomas Smouse. The father of Mrs. Arnold was of German ancestry. His death occurred in 1890 and that of his widow in IgII, she being then over 70 years of age. They were members of the Roman Catholic church. Of their large family eight sur-

vive. Dr. and Mrs. Arnold have two sons: Henry William, who was born April 8, 1908; and Robert Charles, who was born May 21, 1910. Mrs. Arnold was educated at Wheeling and Grafton, W. Va. Politi- cally Dr. Arnold is a Democrat and frater- nally he belongs to the Elks, at Mt. Vernon. He was reared in the German Lutheran church.

OTTO FEIRING, merchant tailor and one of the representative business men of Bucyrus, O., conducting his business on the northwest corner of the public square, was born at Bucyrus, March II, 1867, and is a son of Frederick and Elizabeth (Schuler) Feiring, and a grandson of Frederick Feir- ing.

Frederick Feiring, the grandfather, was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, in 1818, and died in Ohio in 1866. He came to America and settled in Crawford county about 1833 and his first work here was on what was commonly called the Big Ditch, or the Hahn Ditch, not far from Bucyrus, the completion of which proved the advan- tage of draining the low wet lands that then composed a large part of the present most valuable farming sections. With the money thus earned he purchased a team of horses and then went into the carrying business, transporting merchandise between San- dusky and Bucyrus. No railroads had yet been constructed and for some years this industry was very profitable. He then be- came associated with William Hahn, in the manufacture of brick and they did some of the earliest brickmaking in the county and continued together for four years. Mr. Feiring then went into the meat business and prospered, becoming a large cattle deal- er and butcher and was in this business until 1852, when he purchased the Western. Hotel of its former owner, Mr. Kingsinger. This is now known as the old Royal Hotel. and Mr. Feiring continued to be its pro- prietor until his death. in the meanwhile having improved the property to the value of $7,000. He was a strong character and is still remembered by the older residents of Bucyrus. He was a very ardent Demo-

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crat and it is said that occasionally, when he found that his guests were just as ardent Republicans, he would suggest that they find another place of entertainment. He married Barbara Price, also of Wurtem- berg, a woman of fine character, frugal and resourceful, and she was of much assist- ance to her husband. They had three sons and five daughters; Frederick J., George Henry, Charles, Mary, Callie, Emma, Mat- tie and Ida. The mother died at the home of a daughter, Mrs. A. J. Keller, of Kenton, Ohio.

Frederick Feiring, Jr., son of Frederick and father of Otto Feiring, was born at Bucyrus, O., and when he went into busi- ness, in mature life, became a butcher and stock buyer and was one of the well known business men of the city. Like his father he was a strong Democrat and once was a candidate for the office of city marshal, failing of election by but four votes. His death occurred in 1883, at the age of forty- one years. He married Elizabeth Schuler, who was born at Bucyrus in 1848 and died in 1877, at the early age of twenty-nine years. She was a daughter of Frederick and Eva (Stoll) Schuler, natives respect- ively of Baden and Wurtemberg, Germany. They came to America in 1832 and landed at the harbor of New York and remained in that city for five years, when they mar- ried, and in the following year, 1838, came to Bucyrus. Frederick Schuler was a shoe- maker by trade and this he carried on in this city during all his active years, his death occurring in 1892. He and wife were German Lutherans. One son survives, Ja- cob Schuler, who follows his father's trade and lives also at Bucyrus. Five children were born to Frederick and Elizabeth Feir- ing, three of whom died in infancy. The two survivors are: Otto and Annetta, the latter of whom lives with her brother.

' Otto Feiring obtained his education in the Bucyrus schools and at the age of eight- een years began to learn his trade, and from 1885 until 1897, when he went into business for himself, he worked at the same in this city and at Crestline. His present location is an excellent one and with the exception

of seven years, he has been here ever since embarking in the business. He carries a large stock and caters to the best trade.

On Nov. 16, 1898, Mr. Feiring was mar- ried in this city to Miss Clara Wagner, who was born in Bucyrus, Ohio, in 1869. Her parents, Robert and Mary Ann Wagner, were natives of Saxony, Germany where they were married. After the death of Mr. Wagner his widow married Edward Meis- ner, of Bucyrus. Mrs. Feiring has one sis- ter and one brother: Anna and Frank. The former is the wife of M. A. Charlton, who is at the head of a department in the State Industrial School near Lancaster, Mrs. Charlton being the matron in one of the cottages. They have two children: Paul and Susan.

Mr. Feiring is a Democrat in politics and is serving in the office of treasurer of Bu- cyrus township. He belongs to Demas Lodge, No. 108, Knights of Pythias, of which he is past chancellor, and is also identified with the Modern Woodmen. Mr. and Mrs. Feiring are members of the Ger- man Lutheran church.

FRANCIS E. COOK, who has been freight and passenger agent for the Erie Railway, at Galion, O., since 1904, has spent many years in the employ of this corpora- tion and stands high with its officials and with the traveling public. He was born in Richland county, O., near the Crawford county line, Aug. 19, 1865, and is a son of Richard E. and Isabel (Sanderline) Cook.

Richard E. Cook was born in Richland county, O., where he married, and then moved to Wyandot county, where he en- gaged in farming for a number of years, afterward returning to Richland county, and in 1883 retiring and coming to Galion, where he died in 1903, aged 81 years. His widow still resides at Galion, occupying her comfortable residence on First Avenue, and the family still owns the farm. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and has a wide circle of congenial friends and seven of her children survive, as fol- lows: Marion E., who lives at Painesville; Charles A., who lives at Mansfield; Arminta

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A., who married Adolph Bersinger of Galion, and has three children; Lawrence R., who lives in California ; Ida M., who mar- ried W. A. Townsend, of Galion, and has four children; Sidney C., who married Wil- liam Helscher, of Galion, and has two chil- dren; and Francis E., who lives in Galion.

Francis E. Cook, after graduating from the Galion high school in 1887, entered the Spencerian Business College at Cleveland, and after being graduated there accepted a clerical position in the offices of the Erie Railway Company at Galion, and for eight years was bill clerk and later foreman at Galion Transfer until being appointed to his present position as general agent in 1904. Since 1888 he has been continuously con- nected with the freight and passenger de- partment. Faithfulness and industry have contributed to his frequent promotions, and the mere fact of these testifies to his efficiency and reliability.

At Galion, O., Mr. Cook was married to Miss Etta J. Rinehart, who was born and educated here, a daughter of Charles and Clara B. (Wilhelm) Rinehart. The father of Mrs. Cook was born in Pennsylvania and the mother in Ohio, in which state they were married. The father died near Galion in which city the mother resides, being aged about 65 years. Mr. and Mrs. Cook have one son: Howard Edsel, who was born February 12, 1894, graduated from the Galion high school in 1911 and is a member of the class of 1915 in the Wesleyan Col- lege at Delaware, O.

Politically Mr. Cook is a Republican and he is active in local matters as well as out- side affairs, belongs to the Commercial Club and has served three terms in the city council. He is a 32nd degree Mason, be- longing to Blue lodge and chapter at Galion, council at Bucyrus, commandery at Mansfield and the consistory at Columbus. O. He and his wife are both members of the Order of the Eastern Star, Mrs. Cook at present being Worthy Matron. He is a charter member of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics and has held several important offices in this organiza- tion. Mr. Cook is also a member of the

National Association of Railway Agents, with whose members he and his family have traveled extensively, having visited cities and other points of interest in almost every state in the Union, also Cuba and Canada.

The Cooks are Methodists and a remark- able incident in the family is that Mr. and Mrs. Cook and son are all graduates of the Galion high school.

EDWARD C. HEINLA, an enterprising and successful business man, who is exten- sively interested in the stock business, owns 260 acres of valuable land in Whetstone township, Crawford county, and 160 equally valuable acres in Marion county, O., and ad- ditionally is a stockholder and director in the Farmers and Citizens Bank at Bucyrus. He was born in Whetstone township, May 27, 1875, and is a son of Lewis B. and Mary Jane (Fink) Heinla.

Lewis Heinla was born in Germany and came to Ohio in early manhood, where he married and subsequently became a sub- stantial farmer in Crawford county. He was a member of the German Reformed church but his wife was reared in the United Brethren church. The following children were born to them: Henry; Lavina, who is the widow of Byron Neish; Amanda, who is the wife of \V. G. Roberts; James and Edward C.

Edward C. Heinla attended the public schools in Whetstone township, and for about 18 months afterward was engaged in a general mercantile business at New Winchester. After disposing of his store to his brother he embarked in the stock business and has developed a large connec- tion in this line, buying and selling, his markets being Cleveland, Buffalo and Pitts- burg, Pa.

Mr. Heinla was married in 1898 to Miss Gertrude R. Loyer, a daughter of Henry and Maggie (Gracie) Loyer, the latter of whom is now the wife of Isaac Albright. She is a daughter of James and Sarah (Evans) Gracie, who were born in Ireland. Mr. and Mrs. Heinla have two children: Floyd S. and Irma G. They attend the United Brethren church. Mr. Heinla is

T. B. CARSON

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identified fraternally with the J. O. U. A. M. and the F. O. E., both at Bucyrus, and with the Owls at Galion. He is independ- ent in his political opinions but is never lacking in any quality of good citizenship.

T. B. CARSON, who now lives in comfort- able retirement at his home situated on South Kibler Street, New Washington, O., for many years was a public official here, before which he was a faithful soldier through the great Civil War. He was born in Seneca county, O., June 7, 1837, and is a son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Willoughby) Carson. Both the Carsons and Willoughbys originated in Ire- land and both families came early to Ohio. Grandfather Robert Carson served through the Revolutionary War under General Washing- ton, while Samuel Carson, the father of T. B. Carson, served through the War of 1812 and survived all its dangers, subsequently settling in Ohio, marrying and rearing his family of eleven children in Seneca county. Of these but two survive, the youngest son and the youngest daughter.

T. B. Carson enjoyed better educational advantages than did many of his companions and associates, attending the district schools at least during the winter sessions until 1858 and afterward was a student in the Seneca County Academy. Whatever future plans he had made, they were changed by the breaking out of the Civil War and in 1861 he enlisted as a private in Co. H, 14th Vol. Inf., under Captain Stafford, and participated in all the engagements in which his company took part 11p to the time of his discharge, Sept, 19, 1864, at Atlanta, Ga. He never was captured and never injured except on one occasion when he was kicked by a mule at Camp Dick Robinson. in Kentucky.

After his honorable discharge from the ser- vice, Mr. Carson returned to Seneca county, where he engaged in teaching school and in farming. Samuel Carson, father of our sub- ject, entered 240 acres of land three miles north of New Washington. T. B. Carson devoted his summers to his land and in win- ter time taught school, five terms in Seneca county, one term in Huron county and eleven terms in Crawford county. In 1869 he bought 80 acres in Cranberry township, which

he cleared and improved and then sold, after which he bought 160 acres one-half mile to the east, to which he added 80 adjoining acres and spent his time engaged in farming until 1886, in which year he moved to New Wash- ington, where he was interested in the real estate business until 1889. Samuel Carson erected the buildings on his farm on what is known as the old military road between Mansfield and Tiffin, this road having been laid out to run on west to the Ohio river. The situation of his home made it a con- venient depot for what was once known as the Underground Railroad and as he had been reared with a hatred of human slavery, he often sheltered escaping slaves in the old days and on many occasions assisted them at night throught the woods to the next stopping place, Sandusky City, from which depot they made their way to Detroit, Mich., and from there, if fortunate, soon reached freedom in Canada. There is no doubt but that many prosperous and respected people live in the Dominion of Canada at the present day whose grandparents were once in American slavery and were helped over the border by such phil- .anthropists as Mr. Carson.

As indicated above, Mr. Carson imbibed anti-slavery views in his youth and later, when the Republican party was formed he became identified with it and has so contin- ued. In 1889 he was appointed postmaster at New Washington and served in that in- portant office for over 18 years although not qute continuously. He was postmaster from 1889 until 1893. In September, 1897 he was l'eappointed and continued until March 21, I911, when he was succeeded by the present official, S. A. Pugh. Many changes in the service came about during Mr. Carson's long incumbency, including the establishing of the rural mail delivery service. He inaugurated reforms and made improvements at different times and through these raised the class of the office and insured more satisfactory con- ditions for the public. Mr. Carson has never accepted any other public office although, as one of the local party leaders, many have been tendered him. When he came to New Washı- ington he was one of the seven Republicans in the voting precinct.

On May 2, 1861. in Seneca county, O., Mr.

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Carson was married to a schoolmate, Miss Sarah Rebecca Smith, who was a daughter of Jonathan and Elizabeth (Bigam) Smith. Mr. and Mrs. Carson had seven children, three of whom are living, the others dying in infancy. Those living are: John W., Violet E. and Mabel. John W. married Lillie Smith and to them have been born five children- Lloyd, Nellie, Ethel, Irene and Robert. Vio- let E. was married first to A. J. Schwartz and they had two daughters, Mildred and Marie; she was married secondly to B. F. Long. Mabel O. is the wife of Edward Neis. The mother of the above family died Dec. 24, 1904, and her burial was at Swamp Center Cemetery, three miles north of New Wash- ington. She was a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church, to which Mr. Carson also belongs. He is a member of the G. A. R. Post at New Washington and for many years has belonged to the Knights of Pythias.

FRANK J. HOERIGER,* whose excel- lent farm of 601/2 acres lies in Liberty town- ship, Crawford county, O., four and one- half miles northeast of Bucyrus, was born at Ridgeton, Crawford county, in 1878, and is a son of Christian W. and Catherine (Trautman) Hoeriger.

Christian Hoeriger was born in Ohio. Hc was twice married and two daughters, Alice and Ida, were born to his first union. Alice now lives with her second husband, John Pitke, at Cleveland, O. Her first husband, Elmer Sponseller, left two children at death, Lloyd and Florence. Ida resides at home. To his second marriage four children were born : Laura, Lillie, Lee and Frank J. Laura is the widow of John Cooper, who was ac- cidentally killed in 1907, and she resides in Liberty township with her two children, Hartland and Mary. Lillie married C. H. Kenzuli and they reside at Bucyrus and have one daughter, Evaline. Lee is in busi- ness at Bucyrus.

Frank J. Hoeriger has been engaged in farming ever since he left school and has a well cared for and productive property. He married Miss Mary Beck, who is a daugh- ter of Daniel and Alice (Rittenhour) Beck. who are well known and substantial people

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History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 116

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