History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 125

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 125

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William F. Hoover obtained his education in the public schools of Holmes township and has devoted all his mature life to carrying on

his agricultural activities. He has brought the land to a fine state of cultivation and has made many substantial improvements here. Mr .. Hoover keeps well informed concerning all that goes on in the world and does his full duty as a citizen in local matters. In his polit- ical views he is a Republican. Mr. Hoover has never married.

WEBSTER H. SPROUT,* who is en- gaged in the confectionery and ice cream busi- ness at No. 124 South Sandusky street, Bucy- rus, O., since 1902, has conducted a first class establishment of this kind here and has one of the best equipped confectionery stores in the city. He was born at Fostoria, O., in 1884, and is a son of David and a grandson of Samuel Sprout.

David Sprout, who resides at Fostoria, O., an honored veteran of the Civil war, now in his 77th year, was born in Ohio, a son of Samuel and Mary (Good) Sprout. Samuel Sprout was a farmer in Seneca county during almost his entire life. David was one of a family of II children, of whom six sons and three daughters are yet living. He served through the Civil war as a member of the 49th O. Vol. Inf., and suffered imprisonment in Libby prison. He is a member of the G. A. R. Post at Houston, O. For some 50 years he operated a sawmill in Seneca county. He was married there to Ella Rosenberger, a daughter of David Rosenberger, formerly the owner of a large farm in Seneca county. David Sprout and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church as were their par- ents. The following children were born to them: Minnie, Marcella, Louis, Webster H. and Harry. Minnie is the wife of Rev. Ar- thur Chenneworth, a minister of the Method- ist Episcopal faith. He is at the head of the Methodist Publishing House in the Philippine Islands and is postmaster and leading man of the town in which he lives. They have two sons. Marcella is the wife of Frank B. Kieb- ble, of the large dry goods house of Kiebble, Wilson & Co., of Fostoria. They have one son. Louis is a machinist and is employed at Fostoria. He married Maude Good and they have children. Harry is engaged at Fostoria with the mercantile house of Kiebble, Wilson & Co.

Webster H. Sprout was educated at Fos-

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toria and there learned the confectioner's busi- ness and is a practical worker and does all of his own manufacturing of dainties with the exception of chocolates. For a short time before coming to Bucyrus he was in business at Fostoria. He is in the enjoyment of a liberal patronage and his special confections have quite a reputation and large sale.

Mr. Sprout was married at Van Wert, O., Jan. 19, 1901, to Miss Nellie Cupp, who was born and educated in that place. She is a daughter of Peter B. and Edith (Penn) Cupp, the former of whom was born at Ashland and the latter at Zanesville, O. Mrs. Cupp was a daughter of John Penn, who was directly descended from the great Quaker settler of Pennsylvania. He came early to Van Wert, O., and conducted a furniture business there for many years. Peter B. Cupp and wife were married there and still live on the old Penn property on Jefferson street, Mr. Cupp suc- ceeding to the John Penn furniture business. He is now retired. Mrs. Sprout is.the young- est of their four children, the others being: Cuta, wife of F. M. Gorham, of Mansfield, O .; Clara, wife of W. C. Terrill, a confectionery dealer at Upper Sandusky, they having two daughters; and Charles, a.confectionery dealer at Fostoria, who married Grace Doe. The father of Mrs. Sprout has a fine military rec- ord, having served all through the Civil war in the 49th O. Vol. Inf., and suffered im- prisonment in Libby prison. On one notable occasion, single-handed, he captured thirteen Confederate soldiers. Mr. Sprout is a mem- ber of Demas Lodge, No. 108, Knights of Pythias, the Elks and Jr. O. U. A. M.

vember, 1907, removed from earth's scenes one of Dallas township's substantial and re- spected citizens, was born in Crawford county, O., in 1847, a son of John and Cath- erine (Miller) Shearer. John Shearer, who was a son of Michael and Barbara Shearer, was born in Lancaster county, Pa., and his active years were devoted to farming. His wife Catherine, the mother of Isaac, was born in Germany and came to America when a child of six years. Both are now deceased and their remains rest in the Shearer cemetery in Whetstone township. Mr. Shearer and his

family attended the German Reformed church. Their children were David, Benjamin, George, Isaac, Samuel, Mary and Daniel, the four last named being now deceased.

Isaac Shearer was educated in the common schools and became a practical farmer, own- ing at the time of his death 177 acres of good land, which now belongs to his heirs. He was a Democrat politically and attended the Evan- gelical church at Bucyrus. He was married in November, 1872, to Vesta Elmira Shellen- berger, who was born in Mahoning county, O., a daughter of John and Rachel ( Paulin) Shel- lenberger of that county. Of this marriage the children born were Charles Wesley, Mil- ford Guy, Franklin Abraham, and two that died in infancy. Three brothers of our sub- ject are still living-David, Benjamin and George; two-Samuel and Daniel-are de- ceased, and a sister died when quite young. The family is one well known in Crawford county, there being various members. scat- tered throughout the different townships, and all are in general industrious, thrifty and sub- stantial people, worthy members of the com- munities in which they reside.

FREDERICK J. PHELPS,* a well known citizen of Bucyrus, O., who has been associ- ated with the firm of Nassbaum & Bach, lead- ing clothiers of this city, since 1894, comes of New England ancestry. His parents were Andrew Henry and Helen Phelps, and his grandfather was Julius Phelps on the maternal side and Frederick Phelps on the paternal side. Andrew Henry Phelps was born at East Ham- den, Mass., and died at Ann Arbor, Mich., Nov. 20, 1910, aged 69 years. He was a to Ann Arbor, after the death of his wife in 1882, four children surviving-Sadie, Fred- erick J., Frank C. and Harold A., all residents of Ann Arbor except Frederick J.

ISAAC SHEARER, whose death in No- stationary engineer. In 1885 he had moved

Frederick J. Phelps was reared in his na- tive place and enjoyed excellent school ad- vantages. The larger part of his business life has been passed at Bucyrus, where for 17 years he has been connected with his present firm, where he enjoys full confidence and has a large amount of responsibility. Mr. Phelps was married at Jackson, Mich., to Miss Clara Butler, who was born at Indianapolis, Ind.,

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but was educated at Jackson. They have two children: F. Norman, who is a student in the Bucyrus high school, a member of the class of 1913, and Helen M., a little maiden of five years. In politics Mr. Phelps is a Re- publican and fraternally is identified with Demas Lodge, No. 108, Knights of Pythias. Mrs. Phelps is a member of the Presbyterian church.

PETER T. NEUMANN, a general farmer and leading citizen of Whetstone township, Crawford county, O., resides on a farm of 80 acres and owns a second farm, containing 201/2 acres, which lies southeast of the first one. He was born Sept. 29, 1862, in Marion county, O., and is a son of Henry and Susan (Young) Neumann.

Henry Neumann and his wife were both born in Germany, and after their marriage they came to the United States and directly to Marion county, O., and both are now deceased. Henry Neumann was a wagonmaker by trade but in his later years he became a farmer. He was a Democrat in politics, and he and his wife were members of the Evangelical Lutheran church of Galion, O., until 1894, when they joined the Evangelical church at Olentangy, O. They had the following children: Jacob J., John O., Maria, George J., Peter T., Henry A., Mary A., Harmon and Anna, three of these surviving, namely: Jacob J., John O. and Peter T.

Peter T. Neumann attended the public schools and afterward Ada College for one term and then assisted his father on the home farm until he was 21 years of age. For the next five years he worked by the day- and month and was careful with his earnings. For the next six years he rented farm land on shares and at the end of that time was ready to purchase a farm of his own, this transac- tion with Peter Beach taking place in 1896. The present buildings were all on the place but Mr. Neumann has practically rebuilt the house and has a handsome residence and attractive surroundings. For eight years he also fol- lowed threshing in partnership with his broth- ers. Mr. Neumann has been a very busy man all his life but notwithstanding he has found time to make experiments and develop some of his mechanical ideas into practical machin-

ery and has secured two patent rights from the government. His first patent was secured on appliances to be used on traction engines and threshing machines, and his second on a convertible hay rack, the utility of which has been recognized by a number of farmers in this towniship who are using them.

On Dec. 13, 1888, Mr. Neumann was mar- ried to Miss Ellen M. Beach, a daughter of Peter and Amanda Beach, now of Galion, and they have three children: Nettie M., who is the wife of Cornelius Guinther ; Elmer C. and Clara Mildred. They attend the Evangelical Lutheran church at Olentangy, O., Mr. Neu- mann having been assistant superintendent of the Sunday-school for two years and superin- tendent for twelve years, and at present is one of the church trustees and treasurer of the trustees' fund. Politically he is a Democrat and has frequently been elected to responsi- ble offices, serving five years as township clerk, two terms as road supervisor, three terms as school director and at present is ditch super- visor of Whetstone township, Crawford county, O.

J. A. BITTIKOFER, proprietor of the West Bucyrus City Dairy, at Bucyrus, O., has other city property and additionally owns 332 acres of fine farming land in Crawford county, was born in Liberty township, Crawford county, in 1860, and is a son of Frederick and Rebecca (Myers) Bittikofer.

Frederick Bittikofer was born in Switzer- land and in boyhood accompanied his parents to America and assisted his father after the latter settled in Crawford county and later carried on farming for himself and also started into the dairy business, founding the industry which his son continues. He was an industrious and enterprising man but did not live into old age, his death occurring when he was in his 58th year. He married Rebecca Myers, who was born in Columbiana county, O.

J. A. Bittikofer has been in the dairy busi- ness for 28 years and has been a farmer ever since he left school. His father was the pio- neer in the dairy business in this section of the county and during his lifetime operated a wagon and faithfully served patrons at Bu- cyrus. His son not only has continued what

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his father commenced but has greatly enlarged the business, operates a wagon that requires two men to handle the trade. He has a fine location just outside the city limits and has all modern improvements and sanitary dairy appliances. Mr. Bittikofer is one of the busy men of this county, what with his dairy, oper- ating his farm, looking after his 85 head of cattle and attending to numerous other inter- ests which engage the time and attention of leading citizens of a community. Politically he is a Democrat but has never been a seeker for office although well qualified to fill many responsible positions, but nevertheless is a wide awake and useful citizen.

Mr. Bittikofer married Miss Ellen Tobin, and they have had six children, namely: Wal- ter, Lee, Bessie, Mike, Florence and Esther. Mr. Bittikofer attends the Reformed church at Bucyrus, his family attending the English Lutheran church. He belongs fraternally to the M. W. A.

VORNDRAN BROS. Herman J. and Jo- seph A. Vorndran, who own 160 acres of well drained land, situated in section 22, Cranberry township, Crawford county, O., two and one- half miles south and east of New Washington, O., are successful farmers and stock raisers and representative men of their neighborhood.

John Vorndran, the father, was born in Bavaria, Germany, and from there he came in early manhood to Ohio. At Tiffin, in this state, he was married (first) to Rosa Barn- holtzer, who was born also in Germany, and died in Ohio, when aged 40 years. She was a faithful member of the Catholic church and her burial was in the Catholic cemetery at Tif- fin. She was survived by six children, namely : John, Michael, Catherine, Charles, Mary and Joseph A. John Vorndran was married (sec- ond) to Theresa, a sister of his first. wife, and two children were born to them: Herman J. and Clara. Both John Vorndran and wife died at New Washington, he in 1908 and she in 1907.

Joseph A. Vorndran was born at Tiffin, O., July 26, 1872, and, with his brother, Joseph A. Vorndran, is half owner of the home farm of 160 acres. The two brothers have lived there for 15 years and have been in business together for the past three years, taking charge

when the parents died. They successfully carry on general farming and are giving spe- cial attention to sheep growing, raising from 25 to 30 head of thoroughbred Rambouillet and Merino sheep annually. They are thrifty, hard working men, good citizens in every sense of the word and highly respected wherever known. They are members of St. Bernard's Catholic church at New Washington. They have all their land under cultivation with the exception of thirty acres of woodland and pasturage for their Shorthorn cattle and Po- land China hogs, which, together with sheep raising, are profitably bred and raised here.

JOHN MARTINITZ,* a representative business man of Bucyrus, O., who owns and conducts a first class bakery on the southeast corner of the public square, was born in Wur- temberg, Germany, Jan. 24, 1875, and is a son of Andrew and Rosa (Gekler) Martinitz.

The parents of Mr. Martinitz spent their lives in Germany, where his mother died in 1887 and the father in 1904. The latter was a small farmer. They were highly respected people and members of the Lutheran church.

John Martinitz remained at home and at- tended school until 1893, when he decided to try his fortune in America, being the only member of the family to have this ambition. In that year he took passage at Bremen on a steamer that safely landed him in the harbor of New York and from there he came to Bucy- rus and immediately set about learning the bakery trade, entering the establishment of Leander Reiger for this purpose. After com- pleting his apprenticeship he worked for a time as a journeyman and then started a small bakery at Cary, O., which he operated until 1902, when he returned to Bucyrus and in November, 1903, established his present busi- ness in this city. He has prospered from the first and in addition to his retail establishment has his bakery plant, on Oakwood avenue, near his home on Walnut street. This plant is equipped with all kinds of modern machinery and his ovens have a capacity of 600 loaves of bread an hour, together with pies and cakes of endless variety. He takes pride in the sani- tary condition of his bakery and invites in- spection. While all his products are invit-

FERNANDO J. NORTON

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ing and toothsome, his specialty of Sweet Home Loaf bread is particularly so.

Mr. Martinitz was married at Bucyrus, to Miss Rosa Goebelt, who was born at Baden, Germany, Nov. 28, 1878, and was two years old when her parents brought her to America and she grew up in this city. She is a daugh- ter of John and Lena Goebelt, residents of Bucyrus. They are members of the German Reformed church. Mr. and Mrs. Martinitz have two children: Gladys Ruth, who was born in 1902, and John Carl, who was born in 1908. Mr. Martinitz is identified with the Knights of Pythias, the Eagles, the Elks and the Odd Fellows, and in the last named order is past senior warden and chief patriarch of Wyandot Encampment, at Cary, O. In poli- tics he is nominally a Democrat but is inclined to be independent in his views on many public questions that now concern the country.

FERNANDO J. NORTON, florist, who has been established in this business at Bu- cyrus, O., since 1882 and since 1888 has oc- cupied his present desirable quarters on the corner of Spring and Warren streets, is one of the representative business men of this city. He belongs to the oldest family of Bu- cyrus, it being his grandfather who built the first structures in the hamlet that was but a frontier settlement at that time, erecting them on his own land that he had secured from the Government. Fernando J. Norton was born in this city, Dec. 28, 1859, and is a son of Jefferson and Eleanor (Byron) Norton, and a grandson of Samuel Norton.

Samuel Norton was a very interesting fig- ure in Crawford county history. At a very early day he came to this section of Ohio from New England and immediately recognized that the land he had acquired was beautiful as to location and ideal as a future place of homes. Before long he had his land surveyed and laid out into building lots by Col. Hilburn and when the time came to give the proposed city a name he chose the given name of a personal friend, which was Cyrus, prefixing the ad- jective beau, abbreviated, which indicated the beauty of the landscape, surrounded as it is by fertile plains and watered by the Sandusky River. Hence came Beau-Cyrus, then short- ened to Bucyrus, a city which in every way

has justified the hopes and ambitions of its founder. He spent his remaining years here, as did his wife, Mary (Butler ) Norton.

Jefferson Norton, son of Samuel and Mary (Butler) Norton, was born Feb. 22, 1824, and he too became a prominent factor in the development of the various interests of Bu- cyrus. When he reached manhood he em- barked in the business of carriage manufac- turing and continued all through his active life and for many years was also in the gren- house business as the senior member of the firm of Norton & Elliott. Although an ardent Whig and later a Republican, he was a politi- cian only so far as good citizenship demanded and never accepted public office. He was lib- eral in his contributions to public movements and to charities and was generous in his su- port of the Baptist church, of which he was a member. His death occurred Aug. 20, 1876. He was married at Bucyrus to Eleanor Byron, who was born in 1822, who came of a noble Irish family. Mrs. Norton died in 1878. Her parents were of the Roman Catholic faith but she was a Protestant. Six children were born to them, namely: Flora, the widow of Oswald E. Gravell, who resides at Cleve- land; Charles, who resides in the far West; Byron, who is ticket agent and telegraph op- erator for the Rio Grande Railroad at Den- ver, Colo .; Hattie, the wife of Charles Wy- burg, who resides at Denver; Fernando J., and one who died early.

Fernando J. Norton was educated in the schools of his native city and very early dis- played a taste for his present line of work. For a time he was engaged in railroading and became a qualified engineer on the T. & O. C. Railroad. In the meanwhile his greenhouse business developed so that he found it neces- sary to give it his entire attention and from a mere window garden it has grown to nearly a whole city block and more than 15,000 square feet of glass. His trade is both retail and wholesale and he supplies choice plants and cut flowers for every occasion, having his greenhouses fully equipped with modern ap- pliances.

Mr. Norton was married first to Miss Anna L. Adams, who was born near Galion, O., in October, 1859, and died at Mansfield, O., in 1910. Of their six children one died in in-

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fancy. The following survive: Myrtle B., who is the wife of Dr. Joseph Daley, of Ober- line, Tex .; Arthur F., who is associated in business with his father, and who has one son, Edwin; Fairy E., a graduate of Neff College, who is a teacher of elocution and conductor of the Norton Concert Company and is a matron in the order of the Eastern Star; Mable, who resides at home; and Harry James, who is with his father's business. Mr. Norton was married (second) to Miss Helen W. Roehr, a daughter of Charles Roehr, of Bucyrus, an educated and accomplislied lady. Mr. and Mrs. Norton are members of the Eastern Star, in which she has been an official. Mr. Norton is a member also of Demas Lodge, Knights of Pythias; of the Royal Arcanum; is past commander in the Maccabees; is a Mason in all branches here, and belongs also to the I. O. U. A. M. and the Royal Home.

DAVID GRAHAM, who is well known as a citizen and as a judicious and successful farmer all through Crawford county, owns 197 acres of fine land situated in Bucyrus township, on which he has lived for many years. He was born in Seneca county, O., and is a son of Richard and Mary Ann (Smith) Graham.

The parents of Mr. Graham were born in Ireland and after coming to America lived in Seneca county, O., where the following chil- dren were born to them: David; Ellen, who married Christopher Bowman; Richard; Mary and Margaret, twins, the former of whom be- came the wife of Charles Ebel; David; John; Sarah E .; Martha, who married Monroe Un- derwood; and James. Richard Graham fol- lowed farming as an occupation. Both he and his wife are now deceased, their burial being in the Episcopal cemetery at Bucyrus.

With his brothers and sisters, David Graham attended the district schools in boyhood, after which, as soon as old enough, he began to take care of himself and worked by the month on farms. He thus gained a great deal of experience and finally rented a farm for three years and then bought 40 acres of his present estate to which he has added as opportunity has been presented. It requires a great deal of hard work and good management to suc- cessfully cultivate almost 200 acres but Mr. Graham accomplishes it.

On March 18, 1882, Mr. Graham was mar- ried to Miss Mary McHenry; a daughter of Caleb and Mary (Palmer) McHenry. To Mr. McHenry's first marriage the following children were born: Curtis, Emma, Milord, Mary, Esther and Joseph. To his second mar- riage, with Addie Rex, four children were born: Mattie, Orpha, Myland and William. To Mr. and Mrs. Graham sons and daughters have been born and some of these have estab- lished homes of their own, while others still remain under the safe old home roof with father and mother. Anna Z. married Edward Rogers. James married Cleo Wistman and they have three children: Walter, Arthur and Laverne. Richard Chloe married Belle Ober- lander and they have two children: Ethel and Inez. Mildred, Kenneth, Ivan, Burt, Mary and David Elmine, live at home. The family belongs to the United Brethren church. In his political sentiments, Mr. Graham is a Re- publican and fraternally he is a member of the Knights of Pythias, at Bucyrus.

J. W. SPIEGEL, who resides on his well improved farm of 180 acres, which is situated six and one-half miles northwest of Bucyrus, O., in Holmes township, Crawford county, was born just one mile north and one east of his present place, in 1869, and is a son of John A. and Amanda (Miller) Spiegel.

John A. Spiegel was born in Germany and was three years old when his parents brought him to America. They came to Crawford county, O., and were among its early settlers and among its best class of citizens. John A. Spiegel followed agricultural pursuits through life, and at the time of death owned 120 acres of land northeast of this farm, which he had cleared up from the forest. He married Amanda Miller, who was born in Crawford county and they had five children, namely: Ella, who is deceased; J. W., the subject of this sketch; Edward and Winfield, both of whom live in Holmes township; and Wesley, who is deceased.

J. W. Spiegel grew up on his father's farm and obtained his education in the township schools. He has made farming his business in life, early taking charge of affairs on the home place and from there came to his pres- ent farm in 1901. The excellent improve-

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ments seen on every side prove that Mr. Spie- gel takes interest and pride in his home. Gen- eral farming and stock raising are carried on and all the farm industries are conducted in so systematic a manner that they result profit- ably.

Mr. Spiegel was married to Miss Nettie Fra- lick, who is a daughter of Henry Fralick, who still survives, now well along in life, and lives on his farm north of here. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Spiegel : Amy, Minnie, Charles, Dorothy and Hazel, all of whom survive except Hazel, who was the sec- ond born. The family attend the United Brethren church. Mr. Spiegel gives his polit- ical support to the Democratic party.

MARTIN F. SEIBEL, superintendent of the Crawford County Infirmary, Crawford county, O., and owner of 40 acres of excellent land in Jefferson township, was born in that township, March 4, 1862, and is a son of John Nicholas and Margaret (Schellhass) Seibel.

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History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 125

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