History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 126

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 126

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The parents of Mr. Seibel were born in Germany and came to the United States in 1846, previous to marriage. They then came immediately to Crawford county, where the father worked on farms and also in stone quarries, an industrious and reliable man. Of their family Martin F. was the youngest born. The others were: Elizabeth, who is the widow of Carl Lyon and lives at Oakland, Cal .; George, who is deceased; Philip and John, twins, the former of whom is deceased, while the latter lives at Los Angeles, Cal.

Martin F. Seibel attended school at Lees- ville, O., in boyhood and afterward spent two years as a student in college at Ada, O., and thus prepared himself for teaching. For 20 years Mr. Seibel taught school, for 13 of these in the country and for seven at Leesville, at which place he taught for six years in the high school. Although he was so continuously engaged with his educational duties, Mr. Seibel found time to pay some attention to farming and poultry raising and also learned the stone mason trade, engaging in this work during his summer vacations. In 1906 he retired from the educational field and also gave up work at his trade, his industry having brought him independence, and after that he gave much attention to farming and poultry raising. In

1907 he was elected president of the Farmers' Institute for a term of two years, in which body he was very active, urging progressive methods and increase of agricultural knowl- edge.

On March 31, 1885, Mr. Seibel was mar- ried to Miss Lucetta Ludwig, a daughter of John and Maria ( Rettig) Ludwig. The father of Mrs. Seibel was born in Germany, in which country he was a shoemaker, but became a farmer after coming to Ohio. He married Maria Rettig, who was born in Seneca county, O., and both are now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Ludwig the following children were born : Caroline, who married Adam Hawk; John; Leonard, who is deceased; Henry; Catherine, who married Peter Bauer; Lucetta, who is the wife of Mr. Seibel; Elona J., who is the wife of Oliver Jacobs; and Ettie, who is the wife of John Fetter. Mr. and Mrs. Seibel have five children: Fern, who is the wife of Elihu Bogan; Vera Fay, who is the wife of Harvey Pfahler and has one daughter, Marie; Haz- lette; George Dewey and Voyle. Mr. and Mrs. Seibel are members of the U. B. church at Bucyrus.

In politics, Mr. Seibel is a Democrat and served two terms as township clerk of Jeffer- son township prior to being elected superin- tendent of the Crawford County Infirmary, an office that was tendered him without any solicitation on his part. He is well qualified for this position of responsibility, and as a man, enjoys the confidence of his fellow citi- zens, irrespective of party. He has served in numerous important positions, was treasurer of the Teachers' Institute for two terms, has been trustee of the U. B. church and is president of the cemetery association. He belongs to the Patrons of Husbandry and to the Junior Order of United American Mechanics.

CHARLES VOLLMER,* a highly re- spected retired business man of Bucyrus, O., for many years was active both in business and in politics and served four years as sher- iff of Crawford county, O. He was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, March 13, 1852, and is a son of John and Dorothy (Stahl) Voll- mer.

The father and mother of Mr. Vollmer were both born in Germany, he in 1819 and she in

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1818, both coming of sturdy and respected parentage. John Vollmer was a son of John Vollmer, who was a soldier in the Napoleonic wars and was one of the 1,000 brave men that marched with that mighty army to Mos- cow, this handful being all that finally strag- gled back. He survived however, to the age of 70 years and left a large family of descend- ants, one son yet surviving in the person of Jacob Vollmer, a venerable citizen of New Washington, O. With his brother, John Voll- mer, he came to America after serving in the German Revolution of 1848.

John Vollmer (2), father of Charles Voll- mer, grew to manhood in Germany and learned the family trade of miller, one that had been followed by his father and grandfather. He married and became the father of 12 chil- dren and after some of the older ones came to America, in 1868, he and wife also crossed the ocean and finally reached Craw- ford county, O., where the latter died in 1872, he surviving to be 80 years of age. They were German Lutherans in religious faith. Of the children who came to the United States there are but two surviving: Charles and Mrs. Louisa Fritzmeyer, the latter of whom re- sides at New Washington, O.

Charles Vollmer was 16 years of age when he left Germany for America, with the inten- tion of joining an older brother, John Voll- mer, who had come to Ohio in 1866. The latter died at New Washington when aged 42 years and was survived by one son and five daughters. From Germany, Charles Voll- mer went to Hull, England, and from there to Liverpool, where he took passage on a vessel for New York, where he was safely landed and immediately made his way to New Washington, O. He had already had two years of experience in a blacksmith shop and soon found work at this trade in his new home and shortly afterward started his own shop and continued until 1897, in which year he was elected county sheriff. He made an ad- mirable officer in that as in other positions to which he was called by his fellow citizens, serv- ing in the city council and for many years as city marshal. In June, 1902, he came to Bucy- rus and established a restaurant at No. 210 North Sandusky avenue, which he conducted until October, 1911, when he laid aside busi-

ness responsibilities and is enjoying well earned rest.

Mr. Vollmer was married (first) at Lansing, Mich., to Miss Catherine Roller, who was born in Michigan, of German ancestry, and died there June 6, 1877, leaving two sons: Fred- erick, who is purchasing agent for the Carroll Machine and Steel Works, at Bucyrus; and Benjamin, who is a resident of Lansing, Mich. Mr. Vollmer was married (second) at New Washington, O., to Miss Elizabeth Walter, who was born, reared and educated in Cran- berry township, Crawford county, and is a daughter of Frederick and Barbara (Trem- bler) Walter, the former of whom was born in Germany and the latter in Crawford county. The mother of Mrs. Vollmer died some 40 years since but the father survived until De- cember, 1910. They were members of the German Lutheran church. They had two sons John and Jacob, both of whom live in Crawford county, and two daughters, Mrs. Vollmer and Mrs. Mary Brown, who resides with her four daughters in Columbus.

Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Vollmer, namely: William, who lives at St. Paul, Minn .; Rosa, who is the wife of George Blumenschein, of Bucyrus, and has an adopted son; Charles, who is associated with his brother William, at St. Paul; John who is in business at Bucyrus; Ruth, who is cashier in a business house at Bucyrus; and Martha and Elizabeth, both of whom are students. Mr. Vollmer is a Knight Templar Mason and be- longs also to the Knights of Pythias, the Mac- cabees, the Elks and the Odd Fellows, being past grand master of the last organization. In politics he is a Democrat.

ULYSSES GRANT HARVEY, a well known resident of Bucyrus township, Craw- ford county, O., who resides on the old home farm of 211 acres, being one of the heirs of the late Andrew Jackson Harvey, was born in Bucyrus township, March 4, 1867, and is a son of Andrew Jackson and Elizabeth ( Price) Harvey.

The Harvey and Price names are very fa- miliar ones in Pennsylvania , in which state Andrew J. Harvey and wife were born. In early married life they came to Crawford county and for many years Andrew J. Harvey

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was a successful farmer in Bucyrus township and one of its most respected citizens. His death occurred in the fall of 1903 and his burial was in the Bucyrus cemetery. He was an intelligent and public spirited man in all that related to the section in which he made his home and he gave support to educational and religious enterprises. His widow sur- vives and still occupies the old homestead. The children, six in number, were: Ollie, Lawrence, Minnie, Ulysses Grant, Clay M. and Nettie.

Ulysses G. Harvey obtained his education in the public schools and has spent his life on the homestead, where, under his father's di- rection, he was trained along agricultural lines. He still remains with his mother and carries on the industries that are necessary on so large an estate. His parents reared him in the Presbyterian church. Like his late father he is a Republican in National affairs but in local matters frequently uses his own judg- ment. For some years he has been identified with the Knights of Pythias, at Bucyrus, and takes much interest in the work and aims of this world-wide fraternal organization.

EDWARD A. SPIEGEL, whose home farm lies in Holmes township, Crawford county, O., five miles northwest of Bucyrus, O., was born in this township, Feb. 21, 1869, and is a son of John A. Spiegel, one of the old settlers of this section.

Edward A. Spiegel attended the public schools and then chose farming as his business in life, preparing for the future on the home farm. In 1892 he came to his present farm of 80 acres and additionally has two other tracts in this township, one containing 40 acres and the other 39 acres. Mr. Spiegel is an enterprising man and believes in improve- ments, hence his lands have never been neg- lected and his buildings are equal to any in the township, his handsome residence having been erected in 1899. This place is known as Center Farm, and Mr. Spiegel engages in general agriculture, raising excellent crops and considerable stock, his market for his ex- tra produce being Bucyrus.

In 1891 Mr. Spiegel was married to Miss Matilda Thatcher, a daughter of Thomas Thatcher of Wyandot county, where he for-

merly was a farmer and lumberman. He mar- ried Naomi Hall, who survives but he died when Mrs. Spiegel was eight years old. To Mr. and Mrs. Spiegel the following children have been born: Neal, born Nov. 19, 1895, who is his father's capable assistant; Naomi, who was born March 10, 1900; Esther, who was born Jan. 11, 1902; Edith, who was born March 20, 1904; and Catherine, who was born Aug. 21, 1910 and died Sept. 17, 1910. Mr. Spiegel and family are members of the United Brethren church in Holmes township. In pol- itics he thinks for himself and votes inde- pendently.

JAMES O. CRIDER, owner and proprietor of a general store at Leesville, O., is a mem- ber of one of the old Crawford county fam- ilies, his grandparents, Daniel Crider and wife having come to this part of Ohio from Penn- sylvania at a very early day. He was born in Jefferson township, Crawford county, in Au- gust, 1878, and is a son of John and Mary (Ashcroft) Crider.

John Crider was born in Crawford county, O., and spent his life here mainly engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was a man of good standing in his community, a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and a sup- porter of law and order. His death occurred in May, 1906. He married Mary Ashcroft, who still survives, residing at Leesville, and they had the following children: Frank; Ilo, who is deceased; Lulu, who is the wife of Frank Lutz; William; Nellie; Lyda, who is the wife of Chauncy Channel; Sidney, who is the wife of Charles Gledhill; James O .; and Ressie, who is the wife of Allen Smith.

James O. Crider obtained his education in the public schools and afterward learned the stone mason trade and followed the same un- til October, 1911, when he purchased the stock and good will of J. P. Herr, a merchant at Leesville, and has continued in the general mercantile line ever since. He carries a very well assorted stock and enjoys patronage drawn from the town and surrounding coun- try. He is a Democrat in his political views but has no desire to hold public office.

On Oct. 19, 1905, Mr. Crider was married to Miss Mary Herr, who was born in Craw- ford county and is a daughter of J. P. and

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY

Catherine (Reibel) Herr and a granddaughter of John Peter Herr. The mother of Mrs. Crider died on Aug. 20, 1910, and her burial was in Vernon township. The father still carries on his farm industries. Mrs. Crider was the third born in her parents' family, the others being: John, who is deceased; Eliza- beth, who is the wife of Harvey Hahn; and Magdalena, William and Catherine, all of whom are deceased.

ELLIOTT A. SMITH,* foreman in the painting department of the Toledo & Ohio Central Railroad main shops at Bucyrus, O., has been connected with this corporation since 1885 and has filled his present responsible of- fice since 1897. He was born July 20, 1845, at Mansfield, O., and is a son of Cyrus A. and Jane (Rowland) Smith. Cyrus A. Smith was born in Broome county, N. Y. and from there came to Ashland county, O., in young manhood. There he was married to Jane Row- land, who was born in Pennsylvania and came to Ohio with her parents in 1816. They lo- cated on untilled land in a wild section and she often recalled seeing Indians in her youth and of sitting, on the knee of that strange old philosopher, Johnny Appleseed, who, in her day, went up and down the country, scattering his apple seeds, that he had faith to believe would fill the land with bounteous orchards.

A few years after marriage, Cyrus A. Smith moved to Mansfield, O., where he engaged in merchandising during the rest of his active life, spending the closing days with his son Elliott A., at Bucyrus, where his death oc- curred in 1882. He had survived his wife for two years, her death occurring at Savanna, Ashland county, where they had lived for a few years. Of their children, Ellott A., was the only one to reach maturity. They were Baptists in religious faith and practice.

Elliott A. Smith was mainly reared at Mans- field and there learned his trade and in 1885, when he came first to the Toledo & O. C. Rail- way, it was as a letter and ornamental sign painter. He thoroughly understood every branch of the business, however, and so proved his qualifications that he was rapidly pro- moted and finally was made foreman of his department.

Mr. Smith was married at Mansfield to Miss

Ella Chandler, who was born in that city, a daughter of Dr. J. M. and Rachel E. (Mount) Chandler, old residents there. Dr. Chandler was born in 1817 and died in 1863. His widow survived into extreme old age, her death occurring Jan. 10, 1912, in her 87th year. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have two sons: Rowland M., who is an artist on what is per- haps rightly termed, the world's greatest news- paper, the Chicago Tribune, and who is mar- ried and has one daughter, Janet; and Charles, a graduate of the Western Dental College, Kansas City, who has been established in prac- tice at St. Louis, for three years, and who married Elizabeth Peckham.

Politically Mr. Smith has always been a Republican. During the Civil war he served four months in Co. A, 163d O. Vol. Inf., and was present at the blowing up of the mines in front of Petersburg, Va. He is a member of Keller Post, No. 108, G. A. R., of which he is adjutant. He belongs also to the Royal Arcanum and formerly was identified with the Knights of Pythias.

ALBERT L. BEASTON, who is a mem- ber of one of the old and substantial families of Crawford county, residing five and one- half miles south of Bucyrus, O., on the Marion road, where he has 120 acres of finely im- proved land, owns a second farm, containing 84 acres, which lies to the west of his home tract. He was born in Bucyrus township, Jan. 13, 1870, and is a son of Thomas and Mary (Drolesbaugh) Beaston.

The parents of Mr. Beaston were born in Pennsylvania and came of German ancestry. For many years they were well known and highly esteemed residents of Crawford county, where the father was a successful farmer and a good citizen but was never willing to accept public office. Both father and mother of Mr. Beaston have passed away, their burial being in the Mt. Zion cemetery in Bucyrus town- ship. They had three children: John A .; Anna, now deceased, who was the wife of Harry Price; and Albert L.

Albert L. Beaston has devoted the greater part of his life to agricultural pursuits, be- ginning to assist his father as soon as his school days were over and continuing along the same line up to the present. General farm-

DAVID CHRISTIE

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AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

ing is his main industry, his raising of stock being limited to just enough for his own use.

On Oct. 16, 1895, Mr. Beaston was mar- ried to Miss Lavena M. Welsh, a daughter of George H. and Amelia ( Palmer) Welsh, former very highly respected residents of this township, where the father was a farmer. They are survived by two daughters: Effie M., who is the wife of E. E. Harvey; and Mrs. Beaston. Mr. and Mrs. Beaston have one daughter, Wilma A. The family belongs to the Scioto Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Beaston has always believed in the principles of the Republican party.

DAVID CHRISTIE, deceased, who, for many years was a busy and highly respected citizen of Bucyrus and an honorable man in every relation of life, was born at Cross Gate, Fifeshire, Scotland, Oct. 17, 1832, a son of Ebenezer and Catherine (Anderson) Christie, and a grandson of Captain Anderson, who was, in his day, a well known military man and Scotch patriot.

David Christie learned to be a blacksmith and general machinist and with this knowl- edge, in 1852, came to the United States after serving three years in the shipyards at Grav- enstock, Scotland. For some years he fol- lowed his trades at St. Louis, Mo., and at Cincinnati and Chillicothe, O. Later he trav- eled over other sections of the country, work- ing at Cochran, Ind., and at points in Ken- tucky, and while residing at Maysville, in the latter state, enlisted and served three months in the Civil War. After that he returned to the above mentioned Ohio cities, easily find- ing employment in the different railroad shops, as he was so skilled a workman. In 1879 he came to Bucyrus, being then in the employ of the T. & O. Railroad and later became foreman of the railroad shops here in the blacksmith department, where he contin- ued until 1892, when he resigned in order to enjoy some years of ease and comfort after many years of hard work. These were af- forded him, his death occurring Dec. 16, 1908. He was a man who was held in much esteem for his many sterling qualities. Politically he was a Republican and at one time was a member of the city council. From boyhood he had been a member of the Presbyterian church.

Mr. Christie was married (first) at Chilli- cothe, to Margaret Dickson, who died in that city in February, 1865, leaving four children : James and Anna Jane McCall, both of whom are deceased; Ezenezer, who lives at E. St. Louis; and David, who now lives at Toledo. At Aurora, Ind., Mr. Christie was married (second) on Jan. 24, 1866, to Mrs. Agnes Laird, who was born near Belfast, Ireland, in 1833, a granddaughter of James and Nanna Marshall, who left Scotland and settled in Ire- land. Their second son, Samuel, was born near Belfast in 1799, married Jennie Berk- ley and after the birth of three children- Agnes, Mary and Eliza-determined to come to America. They crossed the Atlantic Ocean in the sailing vessel, the Thomas P. Cope, and after a voyage of seven weeks on a rough sea, were safely landed at Philadelphia, Pa. They located at Aurora, Ind., from which place they later moved to a farm of 80 acres in Dearborn county. There the father developed a productive farm from very discouraging original conditions and replaced the old log cabin with a comfortable residence. He died there in December, 1852, when aged 53 years, having survived his wife, who died in 1849, aged but 37 years. Additions were made to their family after they settled in Indiana, as follows: James, who died in infancy; Jane, a resident of Bellefontaine, O., who is the wife of Ebenezer Christie; and Sarah R., who is the widow of Michael Tracy, residing in Indiana.

The first marriage of Mrs. Christie took place in 1854, to Robert Laird, who died in 1857, leaving two children: Jennie B. and Mary E., who died in early life. To Mr. and Mrs. Christie the following children were born, all of whom survived: Margaret, who is the wife of John De Hart, of Bucyrus, and has three sons-Laird, David J. and Andrew; Catherine, who is the wife of George Stuck- ert, and has four children-Nayvere, Robert, Donald and Anna Jane; Mary, who is the wife of William Mckinley, a railroad con- ductor, living at Toledo, O., and has three children-Hobart, Walter and Agnes; Agnes, who is the wife of Murray Lidey, and lives with her mother; and Robert, who resides at Toledo and who is married and has three children-Robert, Don and Helen.

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY

PETER BAER, who is a prominent citizen of Tod township, Crawford county, O., and one of the successful agriculturists, resides on his well improved farm of 130 acres, which is situated one and one-half miles southwest of Oceola, O. He was born in Allegany county, Md., Feb. 14, 1846, and is a son of Peter and Mary (Logsdon) Baer.

Peter Baer, the father, was born in Mary- land, where his parents had settled when they came to America from Germany. He was a cabinetmaker by trade and also followed farming and auctioneering. In 1851 he moved with his family to Marion county, O., where he located on a farm but died in the follow- ing year, at the age of 52 years. He married Mary Logsdon, who was also a native of Maryland, and she lived to see her 82d birth- day. Six children were born to them, namely: Jonas, who died at the age of 66 years, in Cal- ifornia; Eli, who was a farmer in Marion county and died there at the age of 82 years; Herman, who died in Marion county, when aged 70 years; John, who is a resident of Marion county ; Mrs. Honora Ellen Hord, who lives at Clinton, Hardin county, O .; and Peter. From this branch of the Baer family also de- scended George F. Baer, the coal baron of Pennsylvania.

Peter Baer attended the schools of Marion county and became proficient in his studies and during his last term was called on to assist the teacher. Afterward he worked as a farmer on the home place until he moved to the vil- lage of Wyandot, in Wyandot county, where he was in business until 1873, when he came to Tod township, Crawford county, and set- tled on his present valuable farm. General farming is his main industry but he also raises some stock, poultry and fruit. Since early manhood he has been an active and interested citizen and his stability as such has been fre- quently recognized. When only 21 years old he was elected township clerk in Marion county and continued in that office as long as he re- mained there. In Tod township he was elected township trustee on the Democratic ticket and served four terms, still later was made land appraiser and at the present time (1912) is his party's selected candidate for county com- missioner.

Mr. Baer married Miss Catherine Flock,

who was born at Bucyrus but was reared in Wyandot county, and they have three chil- dren: Henry Herman, who is a teacher in a high school in Nevada, and who married Grace Burnside, they having an infant un- named; George P., who is a resident of Cleve- land, a judge of the municipal court there, and who married Elizabeth Wurtz; and Mary, who is the wife of Charles R. Snyder, residing one and one-half miles east of the homstead, and has one son, Wilfred. Mr. Baer and wife attend the Lutheran church.

FLAVIUS S. KEPLER, whose valuable farm of 160 acres is situated in Whetstone township, Crawford county, O., and who is one of the stockholders in the Farmers and Citizens Bank at Bucyrus, is a leading citizen of this section of Crawford county, both as a business man and as a politician. He was born June 10, 1866, in Hocking county, O., and is a son of Lucius and Margaret (Snyder) Kepler.

Lucius Kepler is one of the substantial farm- ers of Green township, Hocking county, O., a prominent Democrat and a liberal supporter of the Methodist Episcopal church in that section. He married Margaret Snyder and the following children were born to them: Flavius S .; Julia, who is the wife of Crom- well Nelson; Margaret, who is the wife of Edward Hamlin; John; Jacob; Hannah, who is the wife of James Lemon; Barnett; Hester, who is the wife of Richard Herld; and Frank and Grover.

Flavius S. Kepler had common school ad- vantages and remained on the home farm and assisted his father until he was 19 years of age. After leaving the farm he went into railroad work and continued for seven years but again resumed farming as his occupation and for 13 years operated his present place under rental before he purchased it from C. F. Rexroth. It was the old John Brehman homestead, a fine piece of property, which, under Mr. Kepler's care and good manage- ment, has been developed into one of the best farms in Whetstone township.

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History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 126

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