History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 118

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 118

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E. E. Heinlen obtained his education in the public schools of Crawford county and afterward engaged in farming on the home place, and in 1900 came to his present farm. Here he has made notable improvements, including the building of a comfortable resi- dence. He raises excellent stock and car- ries on a general farming line.

Mr. Heinlen was married to Miss Hattie Kellogg, a daughter of William Kellogg, of Crawford county, and they have one daughter, Mary. They attend the Evan- gelical church. Mr. Heinlen is a Democrat but is no political agitator, merely taking a good citizen's intelligent interest in public matters.

WILLIAM L. TUPPS, a leading citizen of Whetstone township, Crawford county, O., township trustee and successful farmer, resides on his well .improved place contain- ing 97 acres, near the old Tupps homestead, and he was born there Dec. 9, 1871. His parents were Jechonias and Sarah ( Schreck) Tupps.

The parents of Mr. Tupps were both born in Crawford county. the father on the pio-

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neer farm which his father, Jacob Tupps, entered from the government when he came here from Pennsylvania, and it has never been out of the family. The father of Mr. Tupps has been a farmer all his active life and has spent his life in this township. His first marriage was to Sarah Schreck, and after her death he married Mrs. Rachel (Shearer) Gibler, the widow of Adam Gib- ler. To his first marriage the following children were born: Dorothy, who is the wife of Washington Bair; Calvin D., who lives on the old homestead; Catherine, de- ceased, who was the wife of Joshua Preble ; Homer I .; Amanda, who is the wife of Sam- uel W. Guinther; Samuel E. and William L. The mother of the above children died March 28, 1881, and her burial was in the Whetstone cemetery. The father still sur- vives and is in the enjoyment of good health although he was born Dec. 19, 1832. In his youth he attended the old Campbell school and afterward, as noted above, settled down to farming. His parents were Jacob and Catherine (Whitmer) Tupps and he was the youngest born of three children, the others being: Amanda, who was the wife of Ed- ward Campbell; and Urias. Jechonias Tupps is a Republican in politics and at one time served in the office of road supervisor. He resides with his son, William L.

William L. Tupps obtained his education in the public schools of Whetstone town- ship, and with the exception of three years, during which he was a railroad employe, he has been engaged ever since in agricul- tural pursuits. He bought this farm in De- cember, 1899, and carried on general farm- ing, raises stock for his own use and deals in Delaine sheep. After coming to the place he remodeled the house and built substan- tial barns and these, with other improve- ments, make this one of the most valuable farms in the township.

Mr. Tupps was married on March 23, 1893, to Miss Bertha F. Holtshouse, a daughter of Benjamin and Mary (Noblit) Holtshouse, the former of whom was born in Pennsylvania and is now deceased, and the latter in Crawford county. To Mr. and Mrs. Holtshouse the following children

were born: Blanche Louellen, deceased ; John C .; Bertha F .; Amanda F., wife of E. J. Line ; Della, wife of Isaac Beach ; Ollie, wife of Oliver Beach; William Franklin, deceased; Jay L .; and Warren W. Mr. and Mrs. Tupps have four children : Chester E., Bessie M., Harold B. and Dorothy Lou- ellen. Mr. Tupps is a Republican in poli- tics and is an intelligent and wide awake citizen. As one of the township trustees he looks carefully after public interests. He is a member of Pope Grange, at Galion, O.

SANFORD W. BURKHART,* who is one of the well known farmers and stock raisers of Whetstone township, Crawford county, O., residing on his valuable tract of 82 acres, was born in Marion county, O., Oct. 7, 1866, and is a son of John S. and Elizabeth (Shaffer) Burkhart.

The Burkhart family is a numerous and respected one in Pennsylvania and there John S. Burkhart was born. An enterpris- ing spirit brought him to Ohio in youth and in Morrow county he was married to Elizabeth Shaffer. They reside on their farm in Marion county, O., where they have lived for many years and have taken part in the useful activities and interests of that section. The following children were born to them: Sanford W .; Louise, who is the wife of Abraham Guinther ; Ella, who is the wife of John Lepp; and Ora.

After his school days Sanford W. Burk- hart assisted his father on the homestead and remained with him until he was 32 years of age and then purchased his present place from Isaac Noblit. A new barn and. en- tirely remodeled house changed the appear- ance of the property in a very short time and a pleasant air of thrift and prosperity is very noticeable. Mr. Burkhart raises some excellent stock for his own use and grows the grains that do best in this climate.

On March 4, 1898, Mr. Burkhart was married to Miss Emma Christman, who is a daughter of Henry and Lucinda (Speace) Christman, both of whom are now deceased. The father of Mrs. Burkhart was a farmer in Marion county and his children were as follows: Sadie, who is the wife of Silas

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Hill; Edward, who is deceased; Iva, who is the wife of Rev. David Raiser, pastor of the Reformed church at Tiffin, O .; Bertha, who is the wife of Ora Bensley ; and Emma, who is the wife of Mr. Burkhart. To the last named have been born: Verda, Lester, Joan, Mildred, and a babe that died. They are members of the Reformed church. In politics Mr. Burkhart is a Democrat.

ALBERT M. ENSMINGER, formerly special examiner for the State Bureau of Uniform Accounting, for many years was prominent in the public affairs of Bucyrus, O., and was favorably known as a journalist and as a member of the Bucyrus bar. He was born in Perry county, Pa., Sept. 27, 1858, and died at his home on the corner of East Rensselaer and Iron streets, Bucyrus, Sept. 27, 1909. His parents were John Wil- liam Henry and Susan (Jacobs) Ensminger.

John William Henry Ensminger was born in Perry county, Pa., Feb. 2, 1826, and died at Bucyrus, O., Feb. 24, 1892. He was a son of David and Barbara (Messinger) En- sminger, the former of whom was the second son of Christian Ensminger, who was born in America, June 8, 1762, and died March 6, 1836. A younger son of David and Barbara (Messinger) Ensminger, George Benjamin Franklin, was born in Perry county, Pa., Nov. 26, 1845, and died January 2, 1869, in Crawford county, O. He was married Nov. 4, 1868, to Miriam A. Ebert, a daughter of Dr. Philip Ebert of Crawford county. No children were born to this union. The widow was married Dec. 12, 1876, to Dr. H. S. Bevington, of Crawford county, and to this union two children were born: Elwood and Rebecca.

John William Henry Ensminger was mar- ried April 13, 1854, to Susan, daughter of Henry and Christina Jacobs, of Cumberland County, Pa. She was born March 14, 1835. Of this union there were born five children, three sons and two daughters, namely: Frank- lin Pierce, who was born Dec. 31, 1855, mar- ried April 11, 1878 Anna E., daughter of Hiram and Rachel Cross, born July 3, 1856, and they had one son, Edgar Albertus, born March 1. 1880, who died April 21, 1881; Albert Milton, the subject of this sketch:

Charles Edgar, who was born Nov. 23, 1860, married August 12, 1886, Emma, daughter of Benjamin Beal, born June 7, 1866, and they have three children-Gertrude Augusta, born Aug. 22, 1887, Arthur Beal, born Jan. 8, 1890, and Charles Edgar, Jr., born Nov. 14, 1896; Anna May, who was born May 30, 1868, died Dec. 28, 1871; and Alberta Etta, who was born Sept. 22, 1876. In 1866 John William Henry Ensminger moved with his family to Jefferson township, Crawford coun- ty, 'O., and in 1879 the family home was transferred to Bucyrus.

Albert M. Ensminger was educated in the public schools of Bucyrus and afterward en- tered the law department of the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, where he was graduated with the class of 1882. In the same year he was admitted to the bar and entered into the practice of law at Bucyrus. In 1885 he was first elected city solicitor and was subsequently re-elected and when his second official term ended, he became editor of the Daily Forum, at Bucyrus, and ably upheld the policy of that newspaper from 1890 until he was appointed postmaster in 1894, during the second administration of President Cleveland. He served as postmas- ter at Bucyrus until September 1, 1898, and then resumed his newspaper connection, in which he continued until 1901, when he again turned his attention to other interests. Sub- sequently, however, he was more or less con- nected with the Bucyrus newspapers, being a special reporter for the Evening Telegraph and the Bucyrus Journal. In 1905 he was appointed special state examiner, a position for which he was eminently qualified and in which he proved satisfactory to the fullest extent.

Mr. Ensminger was married Dec. 16, 1886. to Miss Carrie Blair, daughter of -Elias and Anna (McCrory) Blair, a prominent family of Bucyrus. The parents of Mrs. Ensminger still survive and she was the third born in their family of children. To Mr. and Mrs. Ensminger one son was born, Edward Blair. who is attending school in Bucyrus. Mrs. Ensminger is a member of St. Paul's Luth- eran Church, to which Mr. Ensminger also belonged, and is active in the work of the missionary society.

ALBERT M. ENSMINGER

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Fraternally, Mr. Ensminger was a member of Bucyrus Lodge No. 156 Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and of Demas Lodge, Knights of Pythias. He belonged also to the Crawford County Bar Association. Few men of the city are remembered with more sincere sentiments of regret, for in every relation of life he was upright, honorable and helpful.

WILLIAM R. SHADE, who has been identified with the great Erie Railway for the past 44 years, is probably one of the best known engineers connected with this line and is the oldest one in point of service on the Cincinnati division, also known as the Third division. Mr. Shade was born at Harrisburg, Pa., Nov. 19, 1850, and is a son of David and Ann M. (Sholey) Shade.

David Shade and wife were natives of Pennsylvania and from there came to Ohio in 1854 and located at Mansfield, where the father operated a saw mill for some years, afterward moving to Hartford, Ind., where he died in 1872, when aged 45 years. His widow, who was born Dec. 17, 1826, survived until Jan. 2, 1911, dying at the home of her son, William R., at Galion. She was a member of the English Lutheran church. The family consisted of three sons and two daughters, William R. being the eldest. One son, Norton, lives in California, and one daughter, Ida, who is the wife of Amos Warner, lives at Battle Creek, Mich., and they have three sons and one daugh- ter. The others are deceased.

After his school days passed William R. Shade entered into railroad life, in 1868 be- coming a brakeman with the C. & G. W (now the Erie) road; in the following year he was promoted to be fireman and con- tinued in that position until Oct. 1, 1876, when he was given an engine and entered upon the responsible duties that make an engineer one of the most important factors in the whole operating department of a rail- road. No mistake was made in according this privilege to Mr. Shade as his record as an engineer shows that his careful su- pervision and thorough knowledge of rail- roading has enabled him to avoid accidents

and thereby save lives and property through a continuous period of service in this posi- tion of 36 years. As a token of apprecia- tion, in 1911 his name was placed on his en- gine as the oldest engineer of his division and at the same time he was given a letter of commendation from Charles A. Allen, the division superintendent, who mentioned his years of faithful service. For 13 years past Mr. Shade has been assigned to the most important passenger service.

Mr. Shade was married at Galion to Miss Susie Gates, who was born in New York in 1858, and died in this city in 1895 Three sons were born to this marriage, two of whom, Ellis and Elmer, died in early child- hood. The third son, Arthur R., who was born in 1876, is a commercial traveler. He married Ella Epley and they have two chil- dren, George and Paul. Mr. Shade was married (second), also at. Galion, to Miss Ella Warren, who was born in Meigs coun- ty, O., her father being a veteran of the Civil War. Mr. and Mrs. Shade attend the Christian church, of which Mrs. Shade is a member. In politics Mr. Shade is a Democrat and fraternally belongs to the Knights of Pythias and for more than 30 years has been identified with the Brother- hood of Locomotive Engineers.

JACOB K. KLEINKNECHT, whose one farm of 82 acres lies in Whetstone township, Crawford county, O., owns an equally valuable one of 93 acres, situated in Jefferson township. He was born May 10, 1844, in what was then Richland but now is Crawford county, O., and is a son of Peter and Elizabeth (Kitch) Kleinknecht.

The parents of Mr. Kleinknecht were born in Pennsylvania, the father in Berks county, a son of John Kleinknecht, and the mother in Cumberland county, a daughter of George Kitch. They came to Ohio in youth and were married here. The father followed farming. He was a member of the United Brethren church and at the time of death was living in Wells county, Ind., where he was buried. The mother was a member of the Church of Christ and her death occurred in Crawford county. They

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had the following children : Jacob K .; John; ried Mary Crawford; Sylvia A., who is the William, who is deceased; and Mary Jean- etta, who is the wife of William Hillbolt, of Bellefontaine, O.

Jacob K. Kleinknecht had district school advantages in his boyhood and afterward' worked by the month on different farms for two years, up to 1861, when he enlisted for service in the Civil War. The company he joined was one that was organized at Bucyrus by James A. Marsh and became a part of the 56th Ill. Vol. Inf., in which he served about four months. He reenlisted in the First Battery, Ill. Light Artillery, in which he served for eighteen months under Captain Boutin, who later organized the 59th U. S. O. Vol. Inf., and Mr. Klein- knecht remained in that regiment until the close of the war and was finally mustered out January 31, 1866.

Returning then to Crawford county he went to work on the farm of Rev. William Nevill, remaining six months, and then spent the winter in Minnesota and after he again returned to Crawford county was married and passed the following year on his wife's folks' homestead. She inherited 26 acres and they moved on it, and in 1885 Mr. Kleinknecht bought his home farm from Allen Scott. The second farm came later to his wife as a part of the old Stine- baught homestead.

On March 27, 1867, Mr. Kleinknecht was married to Miss Permelia C. Stinebaught, who was born in Crawford county, a daughter of Adam and Catherine (Ash- croft) Stinebaught. The father, a farmer and saw mill man, was born in Virginia, while the mother was born in Pennsylva- nia, a daughter of Adam Ashcroft. They had the following children: Mary Ann, de- ceased, who was the wife of Henry Brad- ford; Elizabeth and John, both of whom are deceased; Margaret, who is the wife of Henry Sheidler; George D., who died from the effects of a wound received in the Civil War: Harriet B., deceased, who was the wife of a Mr. Pinkerton; Newton, and Per- melia C., who is the wife of Mr. Klein- knecht. To the last named the following family has been born: Robert C., who mar-

wife of John D. Snyder; and George G., Henry H., Willis W., Charles F., John C., Joseph O., Alfred E., and Elzie E. The family attend the United Brethren church. Politically a Republican, Mr. Kleinknecht has been elected frequently to township of- fices and has served on the school board and as road supervisor.

SAMUEL W. GUINTHER, whose fine farm of 170 acres lies in Whetstone town- ship, Crawford county, O., was born in Marion county, O., April 15, 1861, and is a son of John G. and Christiana (Delker) Guinther. The parents were both born in Pennsylvania and both are now deceased, resting side by side in the old Shearer ceme- tery. They were well known and highly respected people. They had the following children: Catherine, wife of John Witea- mire; Rosena and Salome, both died in in- fancy; George, deceased; Abraham; Mary, deceased; and Samuel W.

Samuel WV. Guinther attended the public school in boyhood and assisted his father until old enough to work as a farm hand on neighboring farms and was thus engaged for two years prior to 1884, when he bought 40 acres of his present farm. To the first purchase he added and now is the justly con- tended owner of 170 acres of valuable land. He has done considerable improving which includes the building of a fine new barn, and carries on a general farming line, rais- ing just enough stock for his own use. He is a good manager and a practical and sensi- ble farmer.

On Dec. 25, 1884, Mr. Guinther was mar- ried to Miss Amanda Ellen Tupps, a dangh- ter of Jechonias and Sarah (Schreck) Tupps, prominent people in Whetstone township, where Mr. Tupps owns a fine farm. To Mr. and Mrs. Guinther the fol- lowing children have been born: Oscar L .: John C., who married Ethel Sharrock; Ethel May; and one who died in infancy. The family attend the English Lutheran church. Mr. Guinther is nominally a Demo- crat but he is quite capable of thinking for himself and frequently casts his vote for

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the man rather than the party. He has served as a school director and on one oc- casion filled out the unexpired term of town- ship trustee.

JOHN F. ECKSTEIN, who carries on general farming in section 13, Cranberry township, Crawford county, O., where he owns 80 acres of valuable land, situated two miles east of New Washington, O., was born in this township, Aug. 25, 1876; and is a son of Adam and Catherine (Fike) Eck- stein.

Adam Eckstein was born in Germany, Feb. 15, 1845, and at the age of three years was brought to America by his parents, George and Catherine Eckstein. They lived for two years in Crawford county and then moved to Richland county and resided there for six years, but returned to Crawford county, where George Eckstein died in his 69th year and his wife when aged 73 years. Adam Eckstein attended the district schools in boyhood and afterward worked as a hired man until 24 years of age, an industrious and willing helper at all times and one who made friends and kept them, and about this time was married to Miss Catherine Fike. She was born in Germany and lived there until she was 24 years old, a daughter of George Fike. After marriage Mr. Eck- stein and wife settled on the farm of 120 acres, lying in section 12, Cranberry town- ship, where he now lives retired. When Mr. Eckstein came into possession he found a great deal of improving and fertilizing necessary and his years of experience on different farms had given him so excellent a training that he soon was able to put his own place into fine condition, and during his active years was known as one of the best farmers in this section. In politics he has always been a Democrat, but has never accepted any office except that of school director. He is a member and an elder in the German Lutheran church, and when the present church edifice was erected, was a member of the building committee. To Adam Eckstein and wife six children were born, namely: Mary, who died when aged two years; Catherine, who is the wife of

William Kessler, residing in Auburn town- ship; John, who lives in Cranberry town- ship; Adam G., who follows the carpenter trade and lives at New Washington; Will- iam, who assists his father; and Julia, who is the wife of Israel Steiger, of Cranberry township.

John F. Eckstein attended what was called the Brick or McDougal's school, in Cranberry township, in his boyhood, and was reared to farm life. When he started out for himself he received a gift from his father, the latter giving all his children cash or its equivalent amounting to one thou- sand dollars. Ever since marriage he has lived on his present farm and has done con- siderable improving and carries on his agri- cultural operations more or less according to modern methods, assisted by the latest improved machinery.

Mr. Eckstein married Miss Margaret Amelia Shaffer, who was born in Chatfield township, Crawford countv. O., a daughter of Adam B. Shaffer, and they have four children : Mary M., Elsie Amelia, Frederick Adam and Esther Margaret. Mr. Eckstein and family are members of the Lutheran church. Life his father he is a Democrat and has served Cranberry township one term as supervisor and two terms as school director.

ISAAC H. TUPPS, general farmer and highly respected citizen of Whetstone town- ship, Crawford county. O., and a member of one of the old and substantial families of this section, was born on the old Tupps homestead in Whetstone township, Nov. 24, 1864, a son of Jechonias Tupps.

After completing his period of school at- tendance, Isaac H. Tupps assisted his father until he was 21 years of age and then pur- chased his present excellent farm of 80 acres, which was known as the Henry Low- miller farm. Here he successfully carries on general farming and raises blooded horses, his stable including the five-year old Belgian stallion Kronas, which Mr. Tupps purchased in 1912, and the imported Bel- gian mare, Sabine.

One Dec. 2. 1884, Mr. Tupps was married

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to Miss Mary E. Snyder, a daughter of Isaac and Rebecca (Albright) Snyder. The parents of Mrs. Tupps are deceased. They had the following children : Laura Ann, de- ceased, who was the wife of David Beach ; Lucinda, who was married (first) to Eli Beach, and (second) to Adam Beach; Lewis; John and Mary E., and two who died young.

Mr. and Mrs. Tupps have one son, Ivor Gillespie, who was born Nov. 8, 1894. They attend the Lutheran church. Mr. Tupps is a Republican in politics, and he served two terms in the office of township supervisor.

MISS LOUISE MILLER, who com- mands universal respect at Galion, O., where she is held in the highest possible esteem, is widely known all over Crawford county and in farther sections whither her pupils have wandered as their life work has led them, for Miss Miller has devoted her- self to educational work since she was 16 years of age. She was born at Galion and for many happy years her home has been at No. 240 South Pierce Street. Her par- ents were Casper and Margaret (Schnei- der) Miller.

Casper Miller was born in Hesse-Darm- stadt, Germany, and early in the forties came to the United States, on a sailing ves- sel, and subsequently worked at the plas- tering trade at Galion for a number of years and in this city his death occurred in 1861. He married Margaret Schneider, who was also a native of Germany, and they had one daughter, Louise. After the death of Mr. Miller his widow contracted a second marriage, with John Baldinger. He was born in the canton of Argau, Switzerland, and came to the United States when a young man. He died in early middle life, leaving one daughter, Mary. Mrs. Bal- dinger survived until 1908 when in her 86th year, passing away at Galion. Both she and Mr. Miller were members of the German Lutheran church, while Mr. Baldinger was of the Reformed body.

Louise Miller still resides in the house in which she was born. She attended the Galion schools, deciding to become a

teacher even in girlhood, and as early as 1879 taught in the public schools, in the first grade, giving instruction in German. The life of a conscientious teacher is one that may not always be envied, and that Miss Miller for so many continuous year, longer than any other teacher in years of service, has kept up her courage, enthusi- asm and efficiency proves the possession of rare natural talents for this profession. In these days it is not only necessary for an acceptable instructor to be well grounded in the elements, broadened by reading and widened in outlook by travel, but there are so many technical studies required and so many accomplishments demanded, that to succeed in all these branches and for so long a time, denotes high proficiency and unself- ish devotion to the interests of others. All these qualities Miss Miller combines, and hence her place would be hard to fill, either in the educational field or in the confidence and affection. of those who have benefited through her patience and scholarship. Miss Miller as well as Miss Baldinger are mem- bers of the German Evangelical Lutheran church, in which they were confirmed when young, and they take a deep interest in the work of the Sunday-school.

LEVI BEACH, a retired farmer residing at New Winchester, O., where he and wife own valuable property, still retains his farm of 92 acres, which is situated in Whetstone township, Crawford county. He was born in that township, Aug 2, 1850, and is a son of Peter and Magdalena (Meyers) Beach.

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History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 118

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