History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 117

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 117

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of Liberty township. The Beck family is a very old one in Liberty township, the grandparents of Mrs. Hoeriger having been brought to this section by their parents in pioneer days, coming by wagon from Penn- sylvania. Mrs. Hoeriger has three sisters and two brothers, namely: Ida, who is the wife of A. L. Hildebrand, of New Win- chester, O., and has two children, Maurice and Cleo; Alice, who is the wife of William Smalls, of Liberty township and has one son, Chester; Pearl, who is the wife of E. J. Housberg, of New Winchester. and has two children, Howland and Orval; and Harry and Russell, who live at home. Mr. and Mrs. Hoeriger have one daughter, Alice Catherine. Mr. Hoeriger is a Demo- crat in politics. His standing in his neigh- borhood is that of a substantial, honest and useful citizen.

OLIVER K. CRALL, a general farmer and well known citizen of Bucyrus town- ship, Crawford county, O., who owns 78 acres of valuable land in this township, was born June 13, 1856, in Liberty township, Crawford county, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Raysor) Crall.

John Crall was born in Pennsylvania and was a son of Henry Crall. For many years he was a respected resident of Liberty township, Crawford county, where he car- ried on farming, and there both he and wife died and their burial was in the Crall graveyard. They were members of the United Brethren church. Their family was made up of the following children : John R .; David, who was a soldier in the Civil war and died while imprisoned by the Confed- erates in an old jail at Danville, Va .; Eliza- beth, who was the wife of E. M. Moore, both of whom are now deceased; William H .; Elias; Oliver K .; and Susan, who is the wife of S. D. Meyers.

Oliver K. Crall attended school in Lib- erty township and enjoyed one term in the Normal school at Fostoria, O., following which, before settling down as a farmer, he taught one term of school. He remained on the homstead for one year after mar- riage but in November, 1881, came to Bu-

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cyrus township, where he has lived ever since and has become one of the representa- tive men of this section of the county. Al- though the land of his present farm was well situated and in every way desirable, yet he was not satisfied with the buildings and kept on improving until he had remod- eled the house into a modern residence and had built not only a substantial new barn but machine sheds and other farm build- ings. He has devoted himself to general farming and moderate stock raising and is generally regarded as one of the township's capable and prosperous agriculturists.

On Dec. 21, 1880, Mr. Crall was married to Miss Mary C. Kerr, who is a daughter of David E. and Margaret (Dobbins) Kerr. The father of Mrs. Crall is deceased, but the mother, now in her eighty-fifth year, lives comfortably at Bucyrus. To Mr. and Mrs. Kerr the following children were born : John A .; Margaret, wife of Robert 'An- drews; Belle J .; Mary C., wife of Mr. Crall; and Celestia I., who is the wife of John Eckard.

Mr. and Mrs. Crall have had three chil- dren, namely: Arthur K., who is deceased; Homer Boyd, who is a farmer in Bucyrus township, and married Susan Ebert; and Nellie B., formerly a student at Wooster College, who is now teaching, in her fifth year, in grade No. 8 in the Union school at Bucyrus. She is an educated and accom- plished young lady and very successful in her educational work. Mr. Crall and fam- ily are members of the Presbyterian church. Politically he is a Republican but is not active in politics, taking the part only of a good citizen who has the best interests of the country at heart. He belongs to the Royal Arcanum at Bucyrus.

FRANK J. QUILTER, superintendent of the Broken Sword Stone Company, at Bucyrus, O., was born in the province of Ontario, Dominion of Canada, Nov. 1, 1853, a son of John and Bridget (Lawler) Quil- ter.

Grand Trunk Railroad, in Canada. He mar- ried Bridget Lawler and both she and hus- band were born in Ireland and married there. She died at Bucyrus, in 1905, aged 85 years. Three children were born in Ire- land-Catherine, Bessie and Matthew. About 1848 the family came to America and while living at Black Rock, N. Y., one son was born, John, who lived to maturity, mar- ried and died in New York, where his chil- dren still live. After moving to Canada, two more children were born: Frank J. and Joanna, the latter of whom lives in Colo- rado.

Frank J. Quilter was five years old when he accompanied his widowed mother to Cat- taraugus county, N. Y., and he was reared in that state and learned the carpenter trade. At the age of twenty-five years he came to Ohio, since when he has been largely connected with railroads. For one year he was with the Lake Erie & Western and prior to 1881, when he came to Bucy- rus, he was located for a year at Fostoria, with the T. & O. C. Company, and for 30 years was general foreman of the car de- partment for that road. Since March II, I9II, he has been superintendent of the Brokensword Stone Company, of which Dr. John A. Chesney is president ; P. J. Car- roll is vice-president and general manager ; William H. Pickerington is treasurer. This business is capitalized at $10,000 and is in a prosperous condition. Employment is given 65 men in the quarries, six miles northwest of the city. A speciality is con- crete and crushed stone for macadamizing streets, and the trade territory is Ohio, to- gether with West Virginia. Mr. Quilter is a director in the Citizens Stone Company and also in the Peoples Savings and Loan Company.

In 1877, in New York, Mr. Quilter was married to Miss Bridget Keane, who was born in Ireland in 1860 and in girlhood ac- companied her mother to New York City. Her father, Patrick Keane, had died in Ire- land but the mother survived until 1907. Mr. and Mrs. Quilter have had five child- dren: Margaret, who died when aged 21

John Quilter was of French extraction. When he died, in the prime of life, he was a foreman on the construction work of the years, an educated young lady and a grad-

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uate of the high school; John, a machinist, who lives at Olean, N. Y., and who mar- ried Mary Martin; Frank S., who died in 1904, and was a young man of brilliant promise; Blanche A., who is the wife of R. O. Parrott, general secretary of the Amer- ican Clay Machinery Company, at Bucyrus, and has one daughter, Margaret M .; and Harry K., who is with the T. & O. C. Rail- road Company, at Bucyrus. Mr. and Mrs. Quilter are members of the Holy Trinity Roman Catholic church. Since the Civil war he has been a Republican and has been act- ive in public affairs and for seven years was a member of the city council. His fraternal affiliations include: the Elks, Modern Woodmen of America, Modern Woodmen of the World and the American National Association.

EDWARD E. COULTER, a well known agriculturist of Crawford county, owns and operates a farm of 15712 acres in Whet- stone township. He was born March 3, 1862, in Marion county just across the line from where he now lives. His parents, Harvey and Mary A. (Carmean) Coulter, were natives of Huntingdon county, Pa., and Ross county, O., respectively. The father died about 1895 but the mother still survives and makes her home with her son, Edward E. Coulter. She was 82 years old on July 3, 1912.

Harvey Coulter was a farmer by occupa- tion and politically adhered to the princi- ples of the Democratic party. He and his wife became the parents of the following children : Malissa, the wife of Lewis Spiece ; Rachel, now Mrs. J. W Dowling; William; Mathew; Sarah, deceased, who was the wife of S. G. Hurr: Samuel; Edward E .; John S .; Effie, wife of Thomas Gruber; Orphia and Elger J.

before it came into his possession. Mr. Coulter also raises very fine stock, having Poland China hogs and full-blooded Dur- ham cattle. He and his neighbors have formed a company which owns two full- blooded horses, one of which is a French coach horse and the other a French draft horse. Mr. Coulter has a modern residence which he has erected, as well as up-to-date farm buildings.

On Sept. 29, 1885, Mr. Coulter was mar- ried to Miss Emma Ruff, a daughter of Mar- tin and Jacobina (Weidner) Ruff, natives of Germany, where they were married and where the father was a tailor but in later years owned a farm although he did not operate it. Both Mr. and Mrs. Ruff are now deceased. They were the parents of children as follows: Charles ; William Phil- ip; Mary, deceased, who was the wife of Philip Erb; Jacob; Henry, John, deceased : Catherine, wife of James Lance; Emma (Mrs. Coulter) ; and Sarah, deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Edward E. Coulter have raised two orphans: Cora Lighty, wife of Paul Virgin; and Charles Lighty, who married Hazel Lee.

Mr. Coulter is independent in politics. He is serving as a member of the board of edu- cation, on which he served first three years and then was re-elected to serve four years more. He and his wife attend the Reformed church.

C. L. WHITMEYER .* whose excellent farm of 120 acres lies in Holmes township, Crawford county, O., nine miles northwest of Bucyrus, was born in Lykens township. Crawford county, three-fourth miles north of Brokensword, O. His parents were Hen- ry and Eliza (Shupp) Whitmeyer.

Henry Whitmeyer was born at Lan- caster, Pa., and was four years old when his people came to Stark county, O., and twelve years old when he came to Crawford county. He followed farming until 1903. when he retired and still resides at Bucyrus. He married Eliza Shupp, a daughter of

After completing his common school ed- ucation, Edward E. Coulter began farming, his first experience in this occupation being with his father. Farming has been his life work since, but for three years he was in- terested in the implement business in con- Michael Shupp, of Dauphin county, Pa., nection with it. He has cleared his land and they have three children : C. L .; Sarah, who is a resident of Bucyrus; and Cather- himself, it never having had a plow in it

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ine, who is the wife of John Brown, of Bu- cyl.11s.

After completing his years of school at- tendance in Crawford county, C. L. Whit- meyer taught seven terms of school and was considered an excellent teacher. After mar- riage he engaged in farming and ever since has resided on his present place and car- ries on stock raising and general agricul- ture. On April 2, 1895, he was married to Miss Tillie M. Miller, a daughter of Joshua and Catherine (Zeller) Miller, the former of whom is deceased. Mrs. Whitmeyer had one brother, John, who is now de- ceased.

To Mr. and Mrs. Whitmeyer five chil- dren have been born, namely: Gertrude, Lailah, Russell, Wayne and Ida Fay. The family attend the Evangelical church. Mr. Whitmeyer has served nine years in the of- fice of justice of the peace. Politically he is a Democrat and fraternally is connected with the Foresters.

STANSBURY LEMMON MILLER, a prominent farmer of Dallas township, owns 80 acres of well cultivated land. He was born in Crawford county, May 10, 1864, be- ing a son of Daniel and Maria (Lemmon) Miller.

John Miller, father of Daniel and grand- father of the subject of this sketch, was a native of Little York, Pa., from which place his parents removed to Perry county, Ohio, when he was young, and there he grew up. He became a cabinet maker and went to work at that trade in Licking county, Ohio, where he met and married Miss Lydia Mur- dick. In 1825 they removed to Crawford county and settled in the then small town of Bucyrus and here worked at his trade and also engaged in the hotel business and dry goods trade. He was one of the most prominent and successful men of his day and it was he who built the first carding mill which was for years one of the leading in- dustries of the county. He was twice elected sheriff of Crawford county. He died in 1858 and his wife survived until 1871.

Daniel Miller was born in Perry county, Ohio. June 1. 1824, and was raised on a

farm. After completing his education in the common schools he took up farming and followed that all his life. In 1847 he was united in marriage with Miss Maria Lem- mon, as before indicated. She was born May 20, 1827, in Seneca county, N. Y., but came to Ohio when a child. To Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Miller the following children were born: Jennie, deceased, who was the wife of Abel De Walt; John D .; Charles R .; Francis E .; Nettie, who died at the age of 18 years; Cassius M .; and Stansbury L., whose name heads this article.

After having attended the common schools of his neighborhood, Stansbury L. Miller secured employment in a railroad shop but remained there only one year when he turned his attention to farming, working with his father until the latter's death. Mr. Miller continued farming the home place until his mother died, when this farm was sold, and in 1898 he bought his present farm from Lorena Fisher, it being known as the Fisher farm but it was at first a part of the Wesley White farm. Mr. Miller has built the new house and barns and has greatly improved the prop- erty since it came into his possession. He does general farming and raises stock for his own tise.

Stansbury L. Miller was married in 1885 to Miss Clara E. Mehaffey. Her parents, John and Margaret (Suloff) Mehaffey, re- sided in Juniata county, Pa., at the time of her birth. John Mehaffey met his deatlı during the Civil war at Andersonville pris- on. To him and his wife there were born two children, named as follows: Ephraim and Clara E. Mrs. John Mehaffey later mar- ried Ephraim Mehaffey, a brother of her first husband, who had also served in the Civil war. To them was born one daugh- ter, Anna. Mr. and Mrs. Stansbury L. Mil- ler have one son, Stephen Lester, who lives at home.

Mr. Miller is a Republican in his politi- cal principles but votes for the man he judges best rather than his party's choice. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias at Bucyrus. He and his family attend the Baptist church.

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HON. EDWARD J. SONGER, mayor of the city of Bucyrus, O., is a member of one of the old families of Crawford county. He was born October 6, 1867, one of two children born to his parents, Jonathan and Ruth (Stewart) Songer. The father of Mayor Songer engaged in farming until he enlisted for service in the Civil war, be- coming a member of the 12th O. Vol. Cav., and on the field of battle received wounds which caused his death.

Edward J. Songer had no educational op- portunities beyond those offered by the public school, in early manhood learning the trade of a molder, at which he worked almost continuously until he was elected mayor of the city, in November, 1897, on the Democratic ticket, having previously served as president of the city council. May- or Songer is deservedly popular. He is di- recting the affairs of the municipality with- out fear or favor, solving many important problems, carefully looking after public util- ities, and is promoting the city's develop- ment by giving it a solid business adminis- tration.

Mayor Songer married Miss Cora Risher, a daughter of William Risher, who is a well known engineer in charge of a passenger train out of Bucyrus on the T. & O. C. Rail- road. Mayor and Mrs. Songer have a very attractive home at No. 720 E. Warren Street. He is identified with the Elks and the Odd Fellows.

CALVIN D. TUPPS, a member of one of the old and substantial families of Whet- stone township, Crawford county, O., re- sides on his finely developed and improved farm of 280 acres, which lies not far from Galion, O. On the old homestead part of this farm Mr. Tupps was born, Oct. 5, 1860, and is a son of Jechonias Tupps.

On a groundwork of good, common school education Calvin D. Tupps success- fully pursued his course thus far in life, de- voting himself almost entirely to agricul- tural pursuits. When prepared to become an independent farmer he purchased 80 acres of his present farm from George Kraner and the balance from his father.

General farming occupies his attention, his stock raising being only for his own use. In 1903 he erected one of the fine residences of this township, one that is architecturally attractive while its comfort is assured by the installation of a water plant and a sys- tem of hot air heating. All his other build- ings are equally substantial and well adapt- ed for use on a large estate.

On Dec. 30, 1883, Mr. Tupps was married to Miss Elizabeth Ellen Myers, a daughter of highly respected retired residents of Galion, Charles and Catherine (Beach) Myers. Mrs. Tupps has the following broth- ers and sisters: Isaac, Laura, who is the wife of Lewis P. Tracht; Samuel; Washing- ton; George; and Malinda, who is the wife of Edward Donbeck. Mr. and Mrs. Tupps have two children: Luther C. and Mabel, - both of whom live at home. The family at- tends the Lutheran church. Mr. Tupps is a wide awake, intelligent citizen but no seeker for office, and is identified with the Republican party.

BENJAMIN F. COUTS, whose business is the exacting one of railroad engineer, has been a railroad man for the past 17 years and for II of these has been an engineer on the Toledo & Ohio Central Railroad. He was born May 14, 1872, in the old family homestead at Bucyrus, O., and is a son of William H. H. and Harriet (Mead) Couts.

It is possible that the great-grandfather of the Couts family of Crawford county, O., was born in England and settled early in the state of Pennsylvania. There his son, Hen- ry Couts, was born and from there, 60 years ago, he came to Crawford county and estab- lished himself near the now flourishing city of Bucyrus. Later he acquired land along the Sandusky river, on which he erected saw mills and from these mills came the lumber used in early building through this section. From his land he furnished all the wood used by the railroads through here when they were first constructed and his act- ivities covered other fields. He was elected a county commissioner and proved an able and useful official. It was through his ef- forts that the earliest postal service was

HON. EDWARD J. SONGER

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established in Crawford county. His death was caused by accident, he then being in his 78th year. In public life he set an ex- ample of public spirit, while in private life he set one of self denial and temperance, his objections to stimulating beverages extend- ing even to tea and coffee. During the Civil war he served in an Ohio regiment in the capacity of a veterinary surgeon. He gave his seven sons to his country's serv- ice, five others being too young to shoul- der a musket, and all-John, William, H. H., Samuel, David, Hiram, Jacob and Jere- miah, lived to return home. Several were slightly wounded in the conflict and for a time Jeremiah was confined at Anderson- ville prison. Of his thirteen children only one was a daughter, she being given the name of Barbara. She survives and lives in Kentucky, being the widow of Jacob Schupp. Almost all of this large family grew to maturity and the following are yet living: William, John, Jeremiah and Sam- uel, all at Bucyrus except John, whose home is in Upper Sandusky.

William H. H. Couts was born March 16, 1839, and was quite young when his parents came to Bucyrus. He had no op- portunity to study or to learn the contents of books until after he enlisted for service in the Civil war. Fortunately for him a comrade, who had enjoyed many education- al advantages, took an interest in the un- lettered young man and proposed teaching him, a proposition gladly accepted and car- ried out, and when the soldiering days were over he had a good, practical education, which he turned to account. He became a contractor and a skilled workman, as many of the structures at Bucyrus stand to bear testimony. He now lives retired, making his home with his son, Benjamin F. Couts, but yet takes a large degree of interest in everthing that pertains to the growth and development of Bucyrus. He is a valued member of Kelly Post, G. A. R., of this city, having served for four years and six months in the army during the Civil war. He was a member of the 34th and 36th O. Vol. Inf., and participated in many of the serious battles of that great war and

on two occasions was wounded and left on the battlefield as dead, and once suffered from sunstroke. He still carries scars of his honorable service.

During a furlough home, Mr. Couts was married to Miss Harriet L. Mead, who was born in the state of New York, a daughter of Isaac and Lydia R. (Lenard) Mead, who came to Ohio in her childhood. For many years afterward Isaac Mead and wife lived at Bucyrus, and she died in this city when aged 77 years, his death occuring one year before at Welden Center, Mich. The wife of William H. H. Couts died at Bu- cyrus in September, 1907, at the age of 66 years. She was a consistent member of the Baptist church, to which her husband also belongs. Their family consisted of three sons and two daughters, as follows : Addie B., who died Mar. 7, 1912, and who was the wife of George Wolf, of Bucyrus; William Lenard, who was accidentally killed in September, 1892, while attending to his duties as a fireman of the Missouri Pacific Railroad; Frederick F., who is a prominent citizen of South Milwaukee, Wis., one of the board of aldermen, and who is married and has two children, Maria and Ada; Benjamin F .; and Viola, who is the wife of Edward Cosgrove, who is an electrical engineer, living at Kalamazoo, Mich.

Benjamin F. Couts was married at Stra- kers, O., to Miss Edith Meade, who was born at Homestead, Mich., Oct. 24, 1877. where she was educated and lived until her marriage. She is a daughter of Jerome and Lucy (Kentner) Meade, the former of whom was born in New York and the latter in Michigan. Mrs. Meade died at Home- stead in 1885, when aged 32 years. For a number of years Mr. Meade was connected with the Govenment Life Saving Station, belonging to the Lake Michigan service, but now is a farmer. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, as was his wife. In politics he is a Socialist.

Mr. and Mrs. Couts have one daughter, Burdette Meade, who was born May 17, 1910. They attend the Baptist church, Mrs. Couts being a member. Mr. Couts is very

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prominent in the order of the B. L. F. & E., having served as financial secretary of the organization for four years, and now is the legislative representative of that order. He is an earnest, clear-headed, competent man. In his attitude on public questions he is a Socialist, while his father remains a Republican.

DAVID SHEARER, who owns and cul- tivates his farin of IIO acres in Whetstone township, Crawford county, was born in this township Dec. 4, 1839. His father, John Shearer, was a native of Lancaster county, Pa., and his mother. who was in maiden- hood Catherine Miller, was born in Ger- many, coming to this country when six years old.

John Shearer, who was a son of Michael and Barbara Shearer, was a farmer all his life and a Democrat in his political views. He and his family attended the German Reformed church. Both he and his wife are now deceased and are buried in Shearer cemetery in this township. Their children were named as follows: David, Benjamin, George, Isaac, Samuel, Mary and Daniel, the four last named being deceased.

David Shearer received his education in the common schools of his native township, and when the time came for him to choose his life's occupation he began work with his father on the latter's farm. He continued working in this way until his 27th year, when he purchased the farm from his father and here he has spent his subsequent life. He has cleared the land and has erected the substantial house and farm buildings found thereon.

Mr. Shearer was united in marriage with Miss Rachel Paulin, Nov. 30, 1865. She was born in Columbiana county. O., a daughter of Peter and Rachel (Cox) Paulin. Her father was a native of Maryland and served in the war of 1812. Mr. and Mrs. Paulin had a large family of children, all of whom are deceased except a son named Solomon and Mrs. Shearer. The others were: Na- than, Daniel, John. Samuel, Peter, Joshua, Mary (Mrs. John Rupert), and Anna (Mrs. Jerry Hoag).

Mr. and Mrs. David Shearer have one son, Samuel C., a resident of Denver, Colo., and traveling passenger agent for the Den- ver & Rio Grande R. R. He married Ella Laughbaum, who is now deceased. He has a daughter Clarice.

David Shearer is independent in politics.

E. E. HEINLEN,* one of the enterpris- ing and successful agriculturists of Holmes township, resides on his well improved farm of 80 acres, which is situated nine miles north of Bucyrus, O. He was born in Holmes township, Crawford county, in 1880, and is a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Auck) Heinlen.

The parents of Mr. Heinlen were born also in Crawford county and the father en- gaged in farming during life, his death oc- curring at the age of 34 years. The mother resides in Whetstone township. They had three children, namely: Cora, who is the widow of Charles Miller; E. E .; and Caro- line, who married E. Sury.

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History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 117

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