History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 121

Author: Hopley, John E. (John Edward), 1850-
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago,Ill., Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1302

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JOHN MESSNER, deceased, was one of those worthy citizens and kind, good, Chris- tian men whose death is not only a loss to their community and family, but is felt in a wider circle to which the influence of their useful lives have extended. He had but few advantages in his youth as his father died when he was very young and his mother had four other children to claim her attention and be provided for. After

her second marriage to an excellent man, Thomas Collier, the family came to Craw- ford county, O., and here John Messner spent almost the whole of his subsequent life.

John Messner was born in 1818, in Penn- sylvania, and it is possible that he served his four years of apprenticeship to the shoe- making trade before he came as a perma- nent resident to Crawford county. Later he became a farmer and still later, after moving to Bucyrus, a business man here. He was not only respected but highly esteemed and it has been said of him that his mere presence was a tonic, so cheerful and happy was his temperament. Nomi- nally he was a Democrat in his political views but was very apt to cast his vote for those candidates whose private life sus- tained their public utterances. He never identified himself with any religious body although every act of his life proclaimed that he possessed those characteristics which make men true Christians. He found good in all men, he forgave those who did him wrong, he cheered the unfortunate and gave to those in need. His life was, therefore, one of beneficence, and his memory is ten- derly cherished. His death occurred at Bu- cyrus, O., June 20, 1902.

John Messner was married first to Miss Maria Clapper, who was born in Crawford county, O. She died following the birth of her only child, Thomas William, now of Allegheny, Pa. Some years later Mr. Mess- ner returned to Pennsylvania, and while there married Margaret Gardner. She was born there, a daughter of parents who had crossed the Atlantic ocean from Scotland and Ireland prior to the War of 1812, in which the father of Mrs. Messner partici- pated. Seven children were born to this marriage, one son and six daughters, all of whom survive. Two daughters, both of whom reside with their mother at Bucyrus, are prominent educators in Crawford county, one of them, Miss Martha Messner, Being county school examiner and city ex- aminer, the first woman ever appointed to this office in Ohio.

Mary Ellen Messner was the eldest of the

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above family and was born and educated at Bucyrus. She married Herschel Quinby Johnston, Feb. 16, 1875, and they have two children: Martha Pearl and Ida Blanche. The former was born at Bucyrus, May 16, 1876, and was graduated from the Bucyrus high school in 1895. Six years later she mar- ried Hiram Benjamin Sears, who was born, reared and educated in Crawford county. Mr. Sears is a charter member of the Craw- ford County Forestry Association and its present treasurer. He is deeply interested in the movement as applied to local sur- roundings and frequently has exhibits at county fairs in order to secure the attention of other farmers to this very important mat- ter. Mr. and Mrs. Sears have two sons: Richard Elkanah, who was born April 21, 1903, and John Frederick, who was born March 13, 1905. The second daughter of Mrs. Johnston, Ida Blanche, was born Oct. 27, 1878, and was graduated from the Bucy- rus high school in the class of 1896. She married Judge Charles F. Schaber, and they have 3 children: Bertha Mary, who was born April 15, 1905; Virginia May, who was born Jan. 12, 1909; and Ruth Marion, born June 8, 1912. Mrs. Johnston and daughters attended the Methodist Episcopal church. The venerable mother of Mrs. Johnston is in ex- cellent health despite her 75 years. Her favorite book is the Holy Bible and this she has read and studied for so many years until its precepts and promises are familiar and she can readily apply them to almost every problem of life.

W. S. DEERWESTER,* one of the rep- resentative citizens of Holmes township, Crawford county, O., a farmer and carpen- ter and house builder, was born in Clermont county, O., in 1860, and is a son of Peter Deerwester, an early settler there.

W. S. Deerwester was given public school advantages and afterward learned the car- penter trade and also followed farming to some extent. In 1876 he came to Crawford county and located at Brokensword, and since then has built more than 100 substan- tial barns and a large percentage of the best farmhouses in this section. He owns a small

farm located eight miles northwest of Bu- cyrus and gives it attention, but still fol- lows work at his trade.

Mr. Deerwester was married (first) to Miss Ida M. Smith, a daughter of William Smith, and an infant was born to them, now deceased. After his first wife passed away, Mr. Deerwester was married (second) to Miss Adella George, who is now deceased, neither of their two children surviving in- fancy. Mr. Deerwester is a very intelligent, broad-minded man and has given much study to public questions and has more or less identified himself with the Socialist party.

LEWIS H. ASSENHEIMER, who suc- cessfully operates a farm of 83 acres in Bu- cyrus township, was born in this township July 12, 1866, a son of Christian and Bertha (Marggraf) Assenheimer. His paternal grandparents were Ludwig and Rosena (Stoll) Assenheimer, the former of whom, Ludwig, was born in Wurtemberg, Ger- many, about 1802 and was a weaver by trade. In 1832 he came to New York and there, in 1833, he married Miss Rosena Stoll, who was also a native of Wurtemberg, Ger- many, born in 1811, and who, it is thought, came over in the same vessel. He brought a large stock of clocks with him, which he traded to his brother-in-law, George F. Stoll, for the building of a house. He fol- lowed his trade of weaver for many years and afterwards kept a grocery store. His death took place Oct. 19, 1855. He and his wife had thirteen children.

Christian Assenheimer, was born in New York City, Aug. 12, 1834, and was there- fore little over a year old when his father located in Bucyrus in the fall of 1835. He attended school in the village until he was twelve years of age, learning both English and German, and worked at anything he could find to do until his 17th year, when he was apprenticed to Peter Shallenmiller, a cabinet-maker, to learn the trade. Having followed his trade as apprentice and jour- neyman until 1859, he then bought out his old employer, going in debt for a large part of the stock. He carried on the furniture

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business and undertaking for about twelve years with good success, paying for his stock and buying the property where C. M. Mat- hews was afterwards located, where he car- ried on business until 1871. He then ex- changed his town property for 96 acres of land, on which he resided until 1879, when he purchased a farm on the Sandusky road, five and a half miles from Bucyrus, on which he made various improvements. After ope- rating this farm for a number of years he retired and is now living in Bucyrus with his wife, to whom he was married Oct. 6, 1859. Her name in maidenhood was Bertha Marggraf; she was born in Stadtilm, Sax- ony, Germany, Oct. 17, 1837, and came to America with her parents when but six years of age, they settling in Bucyrus, this county. They have had children as follows : Emma C., born June 26, 1860; Margaret T., March 15, 1862; Frederick C., May 28, 1864; Lewis H., July 12, 1866; Franklin E., Aug. 22, 1868; Edward C., July 26, 1871; William C., March 15, 1875, and Otto A., Oct. 5, 1877. The parents are members of the German Lutheran church.

Lewis H. Assenheimer acquired his edu- cation in the common schools of this local- ity and in the meanwhile was initiated into farm work by his father, whom he assisted until his marriage. The farm of 83 acres which he owns formed a part of the parental homestead and he has resided here since he was five years of age. It is a fertile and well cultivated piece of land, well supplied . with good buildings, and here he carries on general farming, also keeping enough stock for his own use. A Democrat politically, Mr. Assenheimer has been somewhat active in township affairs; he is a member of the board of education and is also road super- visor, looking after 18 miles of road.

He was married January 23, 1895, to Mag- dalena Stuckman, a daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Speigle) Stuckman, farming peo- ple of Bucyrus township. Of this marriage, four children have been born: Arno, Har- old, Howard and Bertha Elizabeth. The family attend the English Lutheran church.

HARRY MACKEY, a well known engi- neer with the Erie Railroad, who has been

identified with this line since his 24th birth- day, was born at Gallion, O., June 25, 1859, and is a son of James and Mary (Pensinger) Mackey.

James Mackey was born in Pennsylvania but in childhood accompanied his parents to Zanesville, O., and in 1850 to Galion, where his father, William Mackey, died. While living at Zanesville James Mackey learned the carpenter trade but after he came to Galion engaged in butchering and meat packing for some years, after which he became a very successful building con- tractor here and continued in that line as long as he was active. His death occurred at Galion in 1900. He was married in Ohio to Mary Pensinger, who was born in Penn- sylvania and had accompanied her parents to Ohio. Her death occurred at Galion in 1864. She was a member of the English Lutheran church. The family consisted of three sons, Thomas, John and Harry, and one daughter, Jennie, who is the widow of James Stewart, now of Montana.

Harry Mackey was reared and attended school at Galion, and afterward for a time was with his brother, Thomas, in the meat business and as a side interest learned to operate a stationary engine. Mechanics came to him naturally, and as he found his bent was in that direction he decided to enter upon railroad work, and on his birth- day, June 25, 1883, became an employe of the Erie Railway Company. He served for three and one-half years as fireman and then was given an engine and ever since has been connected with the Cincinnati East Di- vision. His promotion has been unusually rapid, probably because he has never had a single accident and because never a single complaint has been entered against him. He has had his name added to the Red Star list, which indicates that he is one of the most valued passenger engineers in the service.

Mr. Mackey was married at Galion to Miss Katherine Pfeffer, who was born in this city in 1857, a daughter of Frederick Pfeffer, and died here Jan. 8, 1904, leaving no children. She was a member of the Pres- byterian church. Mr. Mackey was married (second) to Miss Anna Sames, who was

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born at Galion, July 29, 1861, a daughter of Henry and Mary (Lanius) Sames. The par- ents of Mrs. Mackey were born in Germany but were married at Galion, where their sub- sequent lives were spent, the father dying at the age of 63 years and the mother sur- viving to be 71 years old. They were mem- bers of the German Reformed church. Mrs. Mackey had two brothers: Henry C., who died at Brightwood, Ind., when aged twen- ty-six years, survived by a widow and son; and William H., who is a hardware mer- chant at Mt. Gilead, O.

Since she was fifteen years of age, Mrs. Mackey has been a member of the German Reformed church, which Mr. Mackey also attends. Since 1886 he has been identified with the Brotherhood of Locomotive En- gineers, and has filled almost all of the po- sitions in the local lodge at Galion and has recently as a delegate of Division No. 16, the convention of the International Brother- hood recently convened at Harrisburg, Pa. He belongs also to the Junior Order of American Mechanics, No. 106, at Galion, to Lodge No. 186, Knights of Pythias, of this city, and to Order of Owls, Nest No. 1700, of Marion, O. In politics he casts an independent vote.

SIMEON G. BEAL,* who is a representa- tive of one of the old agricultural families of Crawford county, O., follows farming and stock raising in Bucyrus township, ope- rating two farms, one of 80 acres, which be- longs to his father, and his own property, where he has 40 acres. He was born in Bucyrus township, Oct. 19, 1856, and is .a son of Isaac Beal.

Simeon G. Beal attended the district schools near his father's farm in his youth and afterward was trained to be a practical farmer and raiser of stock, and in order to be successful there is a great deal to be learned along both lines. Mr. Beal raises only enough general stock for his own use but devotes considerable attention to sheep growing and through his excellent methods makes this industry a profitable one.

Mr. Beal was married to Miss Catherine Sherer, who died Dec. 17, 1910, a daughter

of Samuel Sherer. Her burial was in the Sherer cemetery in Whetstone township, where other members of her family rest. One son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Beal, Milton Sherer, a bright youth who was graduated from the Bucyrus high school in the class of 1910. Mr. Beal is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church as was his wife. He is a Democrat in his political views.

FREDERICK C. ASSENHEIMER, a farmer of Bucyrus township, who owns 82 acres of land and also works 80 acres be- longing to his father, was born in the town of Bucyrus, May 28, 1864, a son of Chris- tian and Bertha (Marggraf) Assenheimer. His father, Christian Assenheimer, was born Aug. 12, 1834, in Cherry Street, New York City, and was a son of Ludwig and Rosena (Stoll) Assenheimer. In 1835 Ludwig As- senheimer brought his family to Crawford county, Ohio, locating in Bucyrus, and young Christian grew up in the village, learning both German and English. He at- tended school until twelve years old, at which time he began to do odd jobs and work at anything he could find to do. ] his 17th year he was apprenticed to Peter Shallenmiller to learn the trade of cabinet- inaker, remaining with him three years and a half and subsequently following his trade as a journeyman until 1859, when he bought out his old employer. He carried on the . furniture business and undertaking for about '12 years and finally bought the property sub- sequently occupied by C. M. Matthews & Co., where he did business until 1871. He then exchanged his town property for 96 acres of land in Bucyrus township, on which lie resided until 1879, when he bought a farm of 160 acres on the Sandusky road, five and a half miles from Bucyrus, on which he made fine improvements and took up his permanent residence. He was married Oct. 6, 1859, to Miss Bertha Marggraf, of Bu- cyrus, who was born in Stadhilm, Saxony, Germany, Oct. 17, 1837, and who came to America with her parents when but six years of age. Of this marriage six sons and two daughters were born, as follows : Emma

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C., June 26, 1860; Martha T., March 15, 1862; Frederick C., May 28, 1864; Lewis H., July 12, 1866; Franklin E., Aug. 22, 1868; Edward C., July 26, 1871; William C., March 15, 1875; and Otto A., Oct. 5, 1877. Christian Assenheimer and wife are mem- bers of the German Lutheran church and he is a Democrat politically, serving six years as a member of the town council and three years as township trustee. They now live retired in Bucyrus.

Ludwig Assenheimer, the father of Chris- tian and grandfather of our subject, was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, about 1802, and was a weaver by trade. In 1832 he came to New York, where he married Rosena Stoll, a native also of Wurtemberg, born Aug. II, 18II, and who probably came over in the same vessel. They were mar- ried in 1833, and came to Bucyrus in 1835. He brought a large stock of clocks with him, which he traded to his brother-in-law, Geo. F. Stoll, for the building of a house. He followed his trade for many years, then kept a grocery store until his death, which occurred Oct. 19, 1855. He and his wife had thirteen children.

Frederick C. Assenheimer acquired his education in the common schools and was trained to agriculture, becoming a practical farmer. He started in for himself when 28 years old, working for a year and a half by the month and then being associated with his father, from whom he later bought his farm, which he has operated alone. He does general farming and keeps stock enough for his own use. In politics he is a Demo- crat. He was married Feb. 28, 1907, to Mrs. Viola (Mollenkop) Harmon, who is a daughter of Philip Mollenkop and was mar- ried previously to Jay Harmon, now de- ceased. Of her first union there were two children, Ward C. and Alice Ruth. Mr. and Mrs. Assenheimer are the parents of one child, Elsie Rowena. Mr. Assenheimer be- longs to the German Lutheran church, while his wife is a member of the United Brethren church. They have a fine homestead and are prosperous farming people, well known and respected throughout the township and vicinity.

JOHN HALEY, who entered into the service of the Erie Railway Company as a call boy, away back on Nov. 20, 1869, has been identified with this road ever since, and through regular promotions in 1902 was made a passenger engineer and now fills that very important position, one of the oldest and most relied on engineers in the Erie service. Mr. Haley was born at Cleveland, O., April 4, 1855, and is a son of John and Mary (Carroll) Haley.

Both parents of Mr. Haley were born in 1814, in County Cork, Ireland, and there they were married in 1839 and a few years later came to America and subsequently lo- cated at Cleveland, O., and from there came to Galion, in 1857. The father was a rail- road man and for some years he was con- nected with the Big Four and the Erie Rail- roads while living at Galion, where his death occurred Dec. 5, 1894. His widow survived until Jan. 15, 1899. They were members of St. Patrick's Roman Catholic church. In politics he formerly was a Dem- ocrat, but after the conclusion of the Tilden- Hayes campaign, voted the Republican ticket until the end of his life. He was the father of a family of three sons and three daughters, all of whom survive except one daughter.

John Haley accompanied his parents to Galion in 1857, being then an infant, was reared here and obtained his education in the public schools, leaving at the age of four- teen years in order to become a railroad man, for which he had a strong natural in- clination. In November, 1869, he became call boy for the Erie and four years later was made fireman on the Fourth Division of what was then the Atlantic & Great Western, in June, 1873, when it was also called the Broad Gauge. Later the road be- came the N. Y. & P. O., later changes be- ing made until the present name of the Erie Railway was adopted, and during all this period of changing names and owners, equally important changes were being made in the methods of railroading and equipping. He recalls the time when the engines were fired with wood, and few, if any, of the most fore-sighted railroad men could have

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pictured the present day steam engines, su- perheated with steam or electricity, which often weigh 250 tons. On July 29, 1879, Mr. Haley was made an engineer and in No- vember, 1880, was given a crew, and now, with one exception is the oldest engineer of the Third Division, running from Marion to Kent, O. He has an excellent record as a train man, his caution and prudence being proverbial, and few engineers of this line enjoy more fully the confidence of employ- ers or comrades.

Mr. Haley was married at Sandusky, O., to Margaret Mullen Manz, who was born and educated at Sandusky. She is of French and German extraction, a daughter of Jo- seph and Frederica Manz. Joseph Manz was one of eight brothers that enlisted in the Union army and fought throughout the War of the Rebellion. He was a member of Company A, 32nd O. V. I., and served under General Grant. He belonged to Mc- Meens Post, G. A. R., Sandusky, O. Joseph and Frederica Manz were married in New York City and it was there Mrs. Haley was born. Mr. Manz was accidentally killed at Sandusky by a Lake Shore engine, July 12, 1891, when sixty years of age. He was a well known citizen of Sandusky and a mem- ber of the Roman Catholic church. The mother of Mrs. Haley survived until Febru- ary 22, 1911, for many years having been a member of the Lutheran church. Mrs. Haley has one brother, Anthony, and one sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Larkin, both of whom live at Sandusky. Mr. and Mrs. Haley are members of St. Patrick's Catholic church. He is an active and interested member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. In politics he votes independently.

GODFREY YAUSSY, proprietor of the Willow Brook stock farm, a valuable tract of 357 acres situated in Whetstone town- ship, Crawford county, O., is one of the well known and substantial citizens of this sec- tion, to which he came in 1905, from Mon- roe county, O., where he was born July 25, 1851. His parents were Christian and Eliza- beth (Muhleman) Yaussy.

Christian Yaussy and wife were both born

in Switzerland but they were married in America. He followed farming in Monroe county, O., for some years and his wife died and is buried there, and he then made, his home with his son, Godfrey, where he died May 1, 1912. The family numbered seven children, three of whom died in in- fancy and one, Anna, who was the wife of Joseph Winkler, is also deceased. The sur- vivors are: Godfrey, Edward and Samuel. The mother was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, while the father was a Lutheran. He was a Democrat in his po- litical sentiments. His parents were Daniel and Mary Yaussy.

Godfrey Yaussy attended the common schools in Monroe county in boyhood and then went into a cheese factory, where he continued for eleven years. There are no people who understand the making of cheese quite so well as the Swiss, and Mr. Yaussy knows the manufacture of many varieties of this food-dainty. After coming to Crawford county in 1905 he purchased 197 acres of land from John Albright, 80 acres from a Mr. Miller and 80 acres more from a Mr. Rowse. Prior to coming here he sold his farm of 190 acres in Monroe county. He carries on dairying and is a breeder of registered Holstein-Friesian cattle.

In October, 1874, Mr. Yaussy was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Gehrig, a daughter of Christian and Mary (Dahler) Gehrig, who were natives of Switzerland. They were married in that land and after- ward came to the United States and en- gaged in farming in Monroe county, where both died. They had the following children : Sarah; John; Rebecca, deceased, who was the wife of Edward Brenzikofer ; Lydia, who is the wife of Fred Roth; Hannah, who is the wife of Samuel Yaussy; Selma, who is the wife of Carl Bock ; and Ernest and Net- tie. To Mr. and Mrs. Yaussy fourteen chil- dren have been born, all of whom survive, namely: Clara H., who is the wife of Charles W. Luthy; Lydia, who is the wife of John Fraley; Ella, who is the wife of Sanford Fraley; Robert; John; Mary, who is the wife of Amos Krauter; Henry; Sel- ma; Otto; Edna, who is a teacher in Whet-

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stone township; Esther; Paul; Clarence and bers of the Lutheran church. He is identi- Verna, the younger members attending the fied with the Order of Maccabees. Bucyrus high school. Mr. and Mrs. Yaussy have reared their children in the Methodist Episcopal church. Although he is inde- pendent in his political views, Mr. Yaussy has been so generally recognized as a good citizen that he has frequently been elected to office.

CHARLES ULMER,* general merchant at Sulphur Springs, Crawford county, O., and a public spirited and substantial citi- zen, was born in Liberty township, Craw- ford county, O., in 1868, and is a son of Gottlieb and Barbara Ulmer, who were na- tives of Wittenberg, Germany. After com- ing to America they settled in Crawford county, O. Eleven children were born to them, namely: Henry, who married Anna May, a daughter of Lewis May, is deceased but his widow survives and lives in Vernon township; Mary, who married John Kleop- enstine, and they live at Mansfield, O .; Rosa, who lives with her husband in Lib- erty township; Jacob F., who is a resident of Liberty township, married Nora Pfleid- ener; John W., who is a farmer in Liberty township, married Eliza Brown; David G., who is a resident of Liberty township, mar- ried first Tillie Knobenger and after her death married Mrs. David Lutz; Frederick, who is a resident of Cranberry township, married Anna Sanders; Charles, the subject of this sketch ; and Lizzie, Katie and Eliza, all of whom died in infancy.

Charles Ulmer obtained his education in the public schools. After leaving the home farm he went into the general mercantile business and has continued and enjoys a large trade. He is one of the active and enterprising men of Sulphur Springs and at present is serving in the office of treas- urer of Liberty township.

Mr. Ulmer was married to Miss Amy Striker, who died October 15, 1911, a daugh- ter of Daniel and Mary Striker. They had the following children: Harvey, Mabel, Ar- thur, Robert, Edward, Sarah, all of whom live with their father, and one who died in infancy. Mr. Ulmer and children are mem-

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History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 121

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