History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 120

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 120

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John A. Noblit attended the public school that was nearest the old homstead, on which he has practically spent his life, 40 acres of his present farm being a part of it. This land he inherited and added the remainder by purchase. His farm shows the effects of intelligent cultivation and the stock in his fields demonstrate that he is careful also in that industry although he aims to raise only enough for his own use.

Mr. Noblit was married to Miss Hannah Morgan, who was born in Hancock county, O., a daughter of Richard and Margaret (Shira) Morgan. The father of Mrs. Nob- lit was a blacksmith by trade. Her broth- ers and sisters were: Angeline M., who is the wife of Daniel Warner ; Mary Jane, de- ceased, who was the wife of George Baxter ; Richard S .; Susanna, who is the wife of David Perkins; Mahala, who was the first wife of Vet Erskin, and Julia, who became his second wife, both wives being now de- ceased; Robert F .; and William M.

To Mr. and Mrs. Noblit six children were born, namely: William, who married Anna Wise, and has two children-Carma and Flossie; Benjamin, who married Bertha Shaftsall, and has one son, Denzel Dean; Amanda Jane, who is the wife of John H. Wise and has one daughter, Bernice Irene ; Alta R., who is the wife of Charles H. Cris- inger, and has three children-Thelma, Le- ota and Theodore Jennings; and two who died young. Mr. and Mrs. Noblit are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is a Democrat politically but is no seeker for public office.

ISAAC COOK, one of the representative men of Whetstone township, Crawford county, O., who carries on general farming and stock raising on his 205 acres of fine land, was born in this township, March 25, 1854, and is a son of John and Sarah (Die-

Isaac Cook attended the district school in boyhood with his brothers and sisters and then gave his father assistance on the home farm and remained until he was 30 years of age, when he purchased 85 acres of his present farm and settled here, subsequently, as suited his convenience, adding until it reached its present large dimensions. Mr. Cook is an experienced farmer and applies practical and tried and proven methods in his work. He cultivates the grains that are most profitably grown in this section and raises enough cattle and stock for home use. He has a fine appearing property, new barns and a handsome modern residence adding to its attractiveness and value.

On Sept. 30, 1884, Mr. Cook was united in marriage with Miss Lilah C. Nungesser, who is a daughter of Christian and Eliza- beth (Helfrick) Nungesser, and they have one son, Irvin Lee, who assists his father and also teaches school; and a daughter, Ada Malinda, who is a student at the Galion high school. Mr. Cook and family attend the Lutheran church. He is a Democrat in his political opinions and keeps well posted concerning public affairs. On numer- ous occasions he has been chosen for town- ship offices and has served acceptably as school director, trustee and road supervisor.

DANIEL R. GORMAN,* a well known business man of Galion, O., who is engaged in the real estate line, came to this city after three years of honorable service in the Civil war and has been identified with many of its interests. He was born near Chambers- burg, in Franklin county, Pa., Sept. 18, 1840. and is a son of Daniel and Sophia (Kissell) Gorman.

Daniel Gorman and wife were both born in Pennsylvania, he in 1801 and she three years later. Her death occurred in 1877, while he survived until 1881. In 1853 the family moved to Indiana and the parents spent the remainder of their days on a farm near Newcastle. They were highly re- spected people and were members of the Lutheran church. Of their family of six

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children, Daniel R. was the youngest born. Two are deceased: Maria, who was twice married, died in Indiana at the age of 74 years, leaving children. Fianna is survived by husband and three children, her death oc- curring at the age of 71 years. George W. still resides in Indiana, a widower, and both of his two daughters are married and reside at Newcastle. John J. lives in Mills county, Ia., a widower, with three children. Susan is the widow of Joseph Rigle, has one son and six daughters, all of whom have mar- ried and reside near Newcastle, Ind.

Daniel R. Gorman was twelve years old when his parents moved to Indiana, where he had some school opportunities while helping on the home farm, but had not reached his 21st birthday when he enlisted for service in the Civil war, on Aug. 5, 1861, entering Co. C, 36th Ind. Vol. Inf., a pri- vate soldier under Captain Woodward and Col. William Gross. Although he remained in the service until his honorable discharge on Sept. 21, 1864, and was in the front of battle at Shiloh, Stone River, Laverne, Wild Cat and many other places, he escaped all serious injury, although danger came very near to him on many occasions. In one battle a musket ball passed through his hat so close to his head that it cut the hair and passing on with its swift message of death, killed a comrade immediately behind him.

After his return to Indiana, Mr. Gorman worked at the plastering trade and followed the same more or less until 1905, after com- ing to Galion becoming a plastering con- tractor, and in this relation for years was connected prominently with the building trades here. Mr. Gorman has been a resi- dent of Galion since 1865 and with the ex- ception of six years, during which he was a conductor on the Big Four Railway, he has been interested in the business above mentioned, continuing up to seven years ago, since when he has been in the real estate business.

On June 1, 1867, Mr. Gorman was mar- ried to Miss Maggie Barrett, who was born in Chester county, Pa., in 1848, and was twelve years of age when she was accom- panied by her parents, Lemuel and Ann

(Young) Barrett to Galion. Her father was a stone mason by trade and lived at Galion for some years and then went to Kansas, where his death occurred at the age of 70 years, his wife having previously died at Galion, in 1875, at the age of 63 years. They were members of the Presby- terian church.

Mr. and Mrs. Gorman have two daugh- ters, Bessie and Madge C. The former is the wife of Harry C. Tram, of Cleveland, O. The latter is the wife of John Weiden- kofer, and they have one son, Robert Gor- man, and reside at Cleveland. Mr. and Mrs. Gorman are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Gorman is a mem- ber of Dick Morris Post No. 30, G. A. R., of which he was commander for seven years, and has filled other offices, including that of adjutant. He has been officially con- nected also for a number of years with the Soldiers' Relief Corps. In politics he is a Democrat. Mr. and Mrs. Gorman have a very pleasant home at Galion and a visitor there is sometimes favored with an exhibi- tion of valuable and historic relics. These include a handsome punch bowl and spoon said to have been used by both General Washington and General LaFayette when entertained by the Barretts, and left as an heirloom to Mrs. Gorman by a grandaunt. Mr. Gorman is justly proud of being the custodian of a volume that was presented to the Dick Morris Post by friends, in which the G. A. R. records are carefully preserved.

HENRY A. KEHRER, a prominent citi- zen of Whetstone township, Crawford county, O., residing on his valuable farm of 120 acres, has been a public official for a number of years and enjoys the confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens. He is a native of this township, born Nov. 30, 1868, and is a son of Daniel and Lydia (Kes- ter) Kehrer.

The Kehrer family was established in Crawford county by the grandparents, Mar- tin and Nancy (Brooklaugher) Kehrer, who came from Pennsylvania and lived in Whet- stone township, where their son, Daniel Kehrer was born and spent his life. He

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was a carpenter by trade and also engaged in farming. His death occurred in July, 1908. In politics he was a Democrat and he belonged to the Reformed church. He married Lydia Kester, who was born also in Crawford county, a daughter of Jacob Kes- ter and she still resides on the farm in Whetstone township. They had the fol- lowing children: Samuel, Henry A., Ella, William D., Jacob M., Emma E., Joseph A. and Reuben E.

Henry .A. Kehrer obtained a common school education and afterward gave his father assistance on the farm for two years, in the meantime beginning to work under his father at the carpenter trade, and then went to Galion and completed his appren- ticeship by working two years more. Fol- lowing this he moved on his father-in-law's farm, the Peter Beach place, and operated it for two years and for five years prior to moving on his present farm he cultivated it. In 1896 he bought 75 acres from Wil- liam Beltz and 45 acres from Samuel Stine- helfer, immediately beginning to improve. In 1900 he erected his handsome residence, which is one of the finest in Whetstone township, and three years later his substan- tial. barn, adding fencing and tiling as nec- essary. General farming and moderate stock raising are the industries.

On Nov. 21, 1894, Mr. Kehrer was mar- ried to Miss Matilda T. Beach, a daughter of Peter and Amanda (Cook) Beach, and a granddaughter of Adam Beach and John and Sarah (Deibler) Cook. The parents of Mrs. Kehrer now live retired at Galion, where they attend the Reformed church. He is a veteran of the Civil war. Mrs. Kehrer has one sister, Ellen E., who is the wife of Peter Neuman, of Whetstone township. Mr. and Mrs. Kehrer have two sons: Arthur C., who was born June 23, 1895; and Clinton G., who was born Feb. 12, 1903. The family attend the German Reformed church. In politics Mr. Kehrer is an influential member of the Democratic party and at present is serving his second term as township treas- urer and has served five years on the school board.

JACOB J. NEUMAN, who owns one of the fine farms of Whetstone township, Crawford county, O., a tract of 80 well-im- proved acres, was born Sept. 28, 1853, in Crawford county, but was reared in Marion county. His parents were Henry and Susan (Young) Neuman.

Jacob J. Neuman attended the public schools until he was 15 years of age and then began to work on farms by the month and continued until he was 24 years old, taking care of his wages during this time and after marriage settled on his present farm. Here he carries on general farming and stock raising, grows fruit for home use and successfully carries on all the industries which serve to make the modern farmer one of the most independent men of the day.

Mr. Neuman was married Feb. 17, 1878, to Miss Salome Dinkle, a daughter of Chris- topher and Catherine (Meyers) Dinkle, the former of whom was born in Germany and the latter in Pennsylvania. The father of Mrs. Neuman was a farmer and a carpenter and also worked as a millwright. In poli- tics he was a Democrat. His children were as follows: George; Joseph F .; Salome, wife of Jacob J. Neuman ; Lena, wife of John O. Neuman ; and Elizabeth, wife of John H. Neuman. Mr. and Mrs. Neuman have had six children born to them, namely: Christo- pher H., who was married (first) to Della Guinther, who died after the birth of one son, George Russell, and was married (sec- ond) to Mabel Yeagley, and they have one son, Emerson ; Francis F., who married Alta Albright, and they have two children, Viola and Harold; Otto E., who married Bertha Gerstenslager, and they have three chil- dren, Harley, Edwin and Frederick Wil- liam; Margaret, who is a trained nurse re- siding at Galion; Pearl, who married Albert Sellers and they have two children, Estlier and Christina; and Blanche, who married Howard Heinlen, and they have two chil- dren, Elesta and Gladys Lavina. Mr. Neu- man and family belong to the Lutheran church, of which he is a trustee and in which he has served both as deacon and elder. In politics he is a Democrat and has frequently

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY

been chosen for public office and served three years as township trustee, has also been supervisor and school director, and at present is a member of the township board of Health.

GEORGE BEACH,* who has been iden- tified with one of the successful business enterprises, of Galion, O., since its organi- zation in 1908, the Perfection Road Machin- ery Company, of which he is foreman, was born in Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, Jan. 21, 1871, and is a son of Michael and Barbara (Bormuth) Beach. Both parents were born in Hesse Darmstadt. In 1881 the family came to America, on the ship Persian, land- ing at New York City and from there com- ing to Galion, and here Michael Beach has worked at his trade of millwright. His wife died in 1897, when aged 53 years.

George Beach is the only surviving child of his parents and was ten years old when they came to America. He attended school until he was 16 years old and then was ap- prenticed, to the machinist's trade and worked at the same with different firms from 1889 until 1908, for eight years before accepting his present position, being with the Schupe Carriage Works. He is not only an expert mechanic but has ability as an executive and manages the force of 30 workmen in the factory without friction.

In 1901, Mr. Beach was married at Galion to Miss Clara Kiess, who was born in this city, June 16, 1871, a daughter of Emanuel and Catherine (Hetter) Keiss, who have lived in Galion for the past 40 years. Mr. and Mrs. Beach have one child, Esther N., who was born Jan. 21, 1904. They are mem- bers of the First Reformed Church at Gal- ion. In politics Mr. Beach is a Democrat and for some years he has belonged to the order of Knights of Pythias. He is recog- nized as one of the reliable and useful citi- zens of Galion, exceedingly resourceful in business and law-abiding under every cir- cumstance.

ISAAC A. LAUGHBAUM, one of the leading citizens of Whetstone township, Crawford county. Ohio, a member of the

board of directors of the Crawford County Infirmary, resides on his farm of 160 acres, which he devotes to general agriculture. He was born in Henry county, O., Nov. 17, 1853, and is a son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Pfeifer) Laughbaum.

The father of Mr. Laughbaum was born in Pennsylvania and the mother in Ger- many. Farming was his occupation through life. Both Joseph and Elizabeth Laugh- baum are now deceased, their burial having been in Sandusky township. They had the following children: Nancy, who is the wife of John H. Beltsing; Emanuel R .; Isaac A., Allen; Samantha J., who is the wife of Jo- seph Parr; Amanda E., who is the wife of Norman Palmer; Ida, who is the wife of George Weaks; Clement L .; Winona, who is the wife of William Walters; and Della, who is the wife of Samuel Cole.

Isaac A. Laughbaum went to school in boyhood but was yet young when he began to engage, to some extent, in farming and has continued along the same line all his life. His first purchase of land was 40 acres of his present farm, which he bought from his father-in-law and later the remainder came to his wife through inheritance. On Oct. 9, 1875, he was married to Miss Susan Shearer, a daughter of Adam and Hannah . (Clark) Shearer. The father of Mrs. Laugh- baum was thrice married and she is the only surviving child of his second union, two hav- ing died in infancy.

To Mr. and Mrs. Laughbaum the follow- ing children were born : Nettie, who married Lewis Walter and has one son, Ralph; Wil- liam C., who married Mabel Dolbeer and has one child, Naomi; Edwin, who married Julia Johnson and has three children, How- ard, Ellen and Hattie; Carrie, who married Albert Gerstenslager and has three children, Lucile, Irene and Donald L .; Earl, who mar- ried Edna Ross and has two daughters, Helen and Lola Belle; Erman, who mar- ried Blanche Flowers and has one child. Blossom; John; Ora, who married Rachel Cook, and has one child, Marvel; Harold and Valma, who are at home. Mr. Laughbaum's children have been given good educational ad- vantages. William C., the eldest son, is a

ISAAC A, LAUGHBAUM

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graduate of Wittenberg college and seminary days Jay L. Holtzhouse has worked the and is pastor of the English Lutheran church homestead farm on shares with his mother. He is an industrious and intelligent farmer and in his agricultural operations shows good judgment and thorough knowledge. at Nevada, O. Edwin H. is principal of the schools of Galion and is also on the board of county school examiners. Earl is also a school teacher and additionally is a sub- stitute mail carrier at Galion. After grad- uating from Wittenberg College, John, en- tered upon his studies preparatory to becom- ing a minister. The other sons have become successful farmers and all are credits to their parents and the community. Carrie was a teacher in the public schools for a number of years before her marriage, and Valma is now a junior in the Galion High School.

In politics Mr. Laughbaum is a Democrat and has served four years as township trustee and also as school director. He was twice elected to the office of County Infirmary Di- rector. He is a member of Polk Grange at Galion, being past master of the same and also deputy master of the Ohio State Grange. The whole family has membership in the English Lutheran church. Mr. Laughbaum has served for a number of years as superintendent of the Sunday school at North Robinson, also as a member of the church council, and also as sec- retary of the joint council of the North Robinson charge.

JAY L. HOLTZHOUSE,* a member of one of the old and respected families of Whetstone township, Crawford county, O., and one of the heirs of an estate of 109 acres of very valuable land, was born on the old homestead where he still lives, Aug. 31, 1883, and is a son of Benjamin F. and Mary G. (Noblit) Holtzhouse.

In 1903 Mr. Holtzhouse was married to Miss Jessie Coulter, who is a daughter of William and Margaret (Hager) Coulter, well known residents of Galion, O. Mrs. Holtzhouse has one half-brother, George F., and a half-sister, Etta, who is the wife of Lewis Hallay, while her full sister and brothers are: Roma, who is the wife of Fred Robison; and Clyde and Howard. Mr, and Mrs. Holtzhouse have one son, Floyd. They attend the United Brethren church and have many pleasant social interests in the neighborhood. In politics he is a Re- publican, as was his father.

WILLIAM KRAUTER, who is one of the leading men of Bucyrus township, Craw- ford county, O., a very successful agricul- turist and owner of large bodies of land in the county, is interested also in several suc- cessful industrial enterprises. Mr. Krauter was born in Germany, April 8, 1849, and was six years old when his parents, John and Catherine (Borner) Krauter, brought him to this country.

John Krauter, with wife and five children, came to America in 1854, crossing the At- lantic ocean in a sailing vessel that afforded few comforts and no luxuries to the passen- gers but nevertheless safely landed them on solid ground. From New York they came to Crawford county, O., and John Krauter was a farmer in Liberty township until twenty-six years before death, when he moved to Bucyrus and died there. His wife died in Liberty township. They had seven children, namely : Jacob, Christian, John C., William, Gottlieb, Frederick and David, all surviving except Gottlieb. They were good, Christian people, strict members of the Ger- man Methodist church.

Benjamin F. Holtzhouse was born in Pennsylvania and was of German parent- age. He was a veteran of the Civil war and for many years was a respected citi- zen of Crawford county and carried on farm- ing on his land in Whetstone township, where his death occurred in 1894. He mar- ried Mary G. Noblit, who was born in Craw- ford county, and the following children were born to them : John; Bertha, who is the wife William Krauter obtained his book edu- cation in the common schools, but during a long and busy life has learned many other lessons. He helped his father clear off the of W. L. Tupps; Nettie, who is the wife of Jay Line; Della, who is the wife of Isaac Beach; Ollie, who is the wife of Oliver Beach ; Jay L. and Warren. Since his school · land and develop a productive farm and re- 45

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mained at home until he was 25 years of huts and her experiences of pioneer life en- age, and then started out for himself. On abled her in after years to relate many in- teresting stories to: her descendants, especially stories connected with the then fast dis- appearing Indians. Her death occurred on her ninetieth birthday, in 1895, she having survived her husband for many years. They were parents of five sons and two daughters, namely : James, William, Jeremiah, John B. and one not named, Margaret and Elizabeth, all of whom have now passed away except John B., who is proprietor. of the Union Foundry at Mansfield, O. April 9, 1874, Mr. Krauter bought 82 acres of land from George Cook, to which he later added until at present his home farm con- tains 157 acres, situated in Bucyrus town- ship, while he owns an additional 100 acres in Whetstone township, all well improved and fertile, productive farm land which he devotes mainly to farming, raising only enough stock for his own use. Mr. Krauter has other sources of income, being a stock- holder in the Carroll Foundry & Machine Company, at Bucyrus, and also in the Inde- pendent Telephone Company.

On April 2, 1874, Mr. Krauter was mar- ried to Miss Caroline Gebhart, a daughter of Adam and Susan (Brand) Gebhart, resi- dents of Holmes township, Crawford county, but natives of Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Gebhart had five children: Catherine, Caroline, Susan, Jacob and John. To Mr. and Mrs. Krauter five children have been born, as follows: Amanda; Emma, who is the wife of Rev. Blume, a minister in the German Methodist church; Amos B., who married Mary Yaussy; Charles E .; and Clara. Mr. and Mrs. Krauter are members of the German Methodist church. In his po- litical views Mr. Krauter is a Republican and he gives hearty support to that party but has no fault to find with those whose opinions differ from his own. He is widely known and universally respected.

JEREMIAH NIMAN, for many years was known as one of the far seeing business men and reliable citizens of Bucyrus, O. He was born in Richland county, O., not far dis- tant from Mansfield, and died at Bucyrus, Feb. 1, 1900, when aged about 62 years. His parents were John and Margaret (Bradley) Niman.

John Niman was born in Pennsylvania and his wife in England, but they were married in Richland county, O., the Bradleys having settled at Mansfield when the present city had but three primitive huts and when the Indians were still numerous in that section of the country. Mrs. Niman was quite young when her father took possession of one of these

Jeremiah Niman had such educational op- portunities as the village afforded in his day. When quite young he began to assist his father in the latter's furniture and cabinet- making shop and had practically learned the business by the time he was eighten years of age. He then determined to become a soldier and enlisted for service in the Civil War with his two brothers, one of whom, William, was captain of his company, the other, John B., being a musician in the regiment, which had been raised by Col. McLaughliflin, of Mans- field. Jeremiah Niman, in spite of his youth, became a brave and efficient soldier, acting as color bearer-a post of unusual danger-and, with the exception of an attack of typhoid fever, passed through the war unharmed and received an honorable discharge. In 1865 he came to Bucyrus and embarked in the furni- ture and undertaking business and prospered and some years later erected the Niman Block at No. 130 South Sandusky street, in which he carried on his business until 1896, when he retired. The closing years of his life were spent in the quiet way most congenial to old age and he passed out of existence leaving behind him a record of an honorable life dur- ing which he had harmed no man by word or deed. Politically he was a Republican. For many years he was a member of Keller Post, G. A. R. and the National Union and Royal Arcanum. He was a Presbyterian and gave liberally to religious movements.

At Toledo, O., in 1870, Mr. Niman was married to Miss Mary J. Seaman, who was born at Woodville, Sandusky county, à daughter of Capt. Ira Kent and Mary (Swartzman) Seaman. The father of Mrs. Niman was born in New Jersey and her 1.

JEREMIAH NIMAN

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mother in Pennsylvania. They were married at Fremont, O., where they lived until 1862, when they moved to Toledo, where Mr. Sea- man became a prominent member of the bar and a representative citizen. He served through the Civil War and raised Co. I, 21st O. Vol. Inf., which was the first company that went out of Sandusky county. He lived usefully many years afterward, his death tak- ing place at the home of Mrs. Niman, when he was 89 years, seven months and six days old. His wife had died previously at Toledo, when aged 60 years. The family ancestry has been preserved. His father was Daniel Seaman and his grandparents were Micah and Jemima (Ball) Seaman. The original settler had been born in England and, with a brother, had owned a whaling vessel that probably was stranded on American shores, as the earliest settlement of the family traced was on Long Island. This ancestor par- ticipated in the Revolutionary War under General Washington. Daniel Seaman, Sr., came from New Jersey to Sandusky, O., where subsequently the family became one of more than usual prominence. Mrs. Niman has two surviving sisters-Mrs. M. Belle Bushanan, who is a resident of Bucyrus (her husband is a great nephew of President Bu- chanan) ; and Mrs. Emily Kinnear, who lives at Galesburg, Ill. Jackson Daniel Seaman, a brother of Mrs. Niman, served on the gun- boat Ozark in the Civil War. Charles F., another brother, was in the regular army and was one of the guards placed over Sitting Bull, when that bad Indian was captured. Mrs. Niman is a member of the Presbyterian church and is interested in the work of for- eign missions. She is a lady of education and culture, belongs to the Current Events Club 'and to the Keller Post Relief Corps.

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History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 120

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