History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 133

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 133

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The parents of Mr. Wert were both natives of Ohio, he of Tod township, Crawford county, and she of Wyandot county. The father was a carpenter and contractor. Both he and wife are now deceased, their burial be- ing at Bucyrus. They had three children: Rahland B., Charles Sheldon and Jessie, the last named being the wife of Stewart Laune, who is in the grocery business at Spring- field, O.

Charles S. Wert attended the public schools and for some years afterward engaged in farming and then embarked in a general store business at Mortimer, O., where he continued for two and one-half years and then came to Monnett, where he has built up a fine trade. In addition to carrying the usual merchandise of a general store, he handles farm imple- ments. He has the leading place of business in the town and for the past year has been postmaster, being an ardent Republican. The only other public office he has held was that of constable for one year while living in Dallas township.

Mr. Wert was married Feb. 29, 1902, to Miss Agnes E. Linn, who was born in Marion county, O., a daughter of Jacob and Mary ( Martin) Linn, who were substantial farmers there. Mrs. Wert is the youngest of their three children, the others being: Vela, who is the wife of Welcome Lewellyn, and Minor. Mr. and Mrs. Wert have a son and a daughter . Raymond and Mary. The family belongs to the Christian church at Bucyrus and Mr. Wert is identified with the fraternal order of Junior United American Mechanics of the same city.

CHARLES S. SPORE, one of the well known men of Holmes township, Crawford county, O., who carries on general farming and stock raising on his farm of 62 acres, which is situated six and one-half miles north- west of Bucyrus, was born in Liberty town- ship, Crawford county. O., July 28, 1858, and is a son of S. L. and Sarah E. (Brahman) Spore, and a grandson of David C. Spore, who

made the record of teaching forty consecutive terms in the schools of Crawford county.

S. L. Spore was born in 1834, in Canada, and was two years old when his parents moved to Crawford county and settled in Liberty township. Prior to his enlistment in 1862, for service in the Civil War, Mr. Spore engaged in farming. He served out his first enlistmnt of nine months and served nine months more un- der his second contract and then received an honorable discharge, on account of disability. Subsequently he learned the cooper trade and followed that with farming until again pros- trated by ill health, after which he was in the real estate business until his health failed en- tirely and he retired to the Soldiers' Home, at Marion, Ind., where he could have constant care and medical attention and died there in 1906, his burial being in Crawford county. Although he did not fall on the field of battle, nevertheless he was a victim of the Civil War, his hardships and exposure having under- mined his health. At the time of death he owned 80 acres of land. He married Sarah E. Brahman, who was born in Huron county and died in 1893, aged 56 years. Of their nine children three died in infancy, the others be- ing : Charles S .; Mrs. Honora Linn, of Bucy- rus; And David; Rufus D., who has a large grocery business at Bellevue, O .; Benjamin M., who is a foreman in the Pennsylvania Railway shops at Fort Wayne, Ind .; and Mrs. Loretta M. Goodwin, who is a resident of Bucyrus.

Charles S. Spore obtained a district school education and afterward taught school in Holmes and Chatfield townships for three years. After marriage he settled on his pres- ent farm and his main interests since have been agricultural. He is a Republican in his political sentiments and is a member of the township school board. For two years he car- ried the mail from Bucyrus to certain points and in 1900, also 1910, was one of the census enumerators. Mr. Spore is a reliable, trust- worthy citizen and is universally respected in this section.

On March 1, 1883, Mr. Spore was married to Miss Lucy A. Linn, who is a daughter of William Linn, who is a resident of Holmes township, and they have had four children. namely: Lula G., who is the wife of R. A. Rexroth, who is in the real estate business at

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Rock Creek, O .; Carrie E., who lives at Bucy- rus; Harry W. B., who resides at Newell, W. Va .; and Ray E., who assists his father on the home farm. Mr. Spore is connected by mem- bership with the Odd Fellows, the Grange, the Home Guards of America, the I. O. F., and the Rebecca branch of the Odd Fellows, tak- ing an interest in all these organizations and as nearly as possible setting an example as to their aims and benefits.

FREDERICK BEACH, whose finely equipped farm of eighty acres lies five miles northwest of Crestline, O., in Vernon town- ship, Crawford county, O., is one of the well known residents, his whole life having been more or less passed in this section. He was born in Crawford county in 1837, and is a son of Rinehardt and Louisa (Klahn) Beach. The parents of Mr. Beach came to the United States from Germany in 1829 and settled in Crawford county. They had the following children: Adam, Frederick, Margaret, Sarah. Elizabeth, George, Caroline, William, Samuel. Susan and Louisa, the last named dying at the age of 15 years.

Frederick Beach attended the district schools in boyhood although their advantages were meager compared with those of the present day, and remained at home assisting his father until he was 15 years of age. Then he learned the cabinetmaking trade and worked at the same for six years and then returned to the farm and has been mainly interested in farm- ing ever since. He bought one farm and after- ward sold it and then purchased his present one on which he has made many improve- ments. He carries on general farming and raises stock, having always been a man of in- dustry and good judgment and has prospered.

Mr. Beach was married to Miss Margaret E. Feick, a daughter of John G. Feick, native of Germany, and ten children have been born to them, namely: Emma S., who married William Harter and lives at Sandusky City, O .: George H., who married Ida Brendle and lives at Toledo, O .; Tohn W., a physician practicing at Arlington, O., who married Florence Rigle; Samuel F., who lives at Sandusky, and who married Hattie Takes ; Minnie M., who is the wife of Albert Bender, of Sandusky: Charles C., deceased, September 21, 1907, who was a

physician in Indiana, and married to Emma Cline; Callie A., the wife of William Beyers, who lives at Shelby, O .; Augusta, who died in infancy; Cornelius, who is superintendent of the Irondale schools in Jefferson county and lives at home; and Luetta, the youngest, who also lives with her parents. Mrs. Beach has two sisters in Germany, Mary and Barbara, while two, Elizabeth C. and Catherine, and a brother, John G., are in America. Mr. Beach and family are members of the German Re- formed church and all are people who are held in the highest esteem in their neighborhood.

CALEB B. FOSTER,* now living retired after many years of successful business en- deavor and efficient official life, occupies his comfortable home which is situated at No. 510 Spring street, Bucyrus, O. Mr. Foster was born May 17, 1831, in Stark county, O., and is a son of William and Elizabeth (Croh- minger ) Foster.

William Foster was born in New York and his wife in Pennsylvania and both came when young to Stark county, O., where they married and continued to live. By trade William Foster was a shoemaker and he also conducted a farm. He was a quiet, industrious, well meaning man and was known all over the county. In his political views he was a Jack- sonian Democrat. He survived his wife, his death occurring during the Civil War, when aged about 60 years. They were members of the U. B. church. Of their large family of children three survive: Caleb B. and George, the latter of whom resides at Lansing, Mich., being now in his 76th year. The father was twice married and one daughter of the first union survives, Sarah A., who is the widow of a veteran of the Civil War.

Caleb B. Foster was quite young when his parents came from Stark county to Bucyrus and here he was reared and schooled. He learned the carpenter trade and later became a building contractor and erected many of the substantial structures of Bucyrus before he re- tired from active life quite a long time since. He was then elected a justice of the peace and served in that office for 21 years during which time his decisions were seldom reversed. He has been a Democrat since he first exercised his citizen's privilege and for some years was

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a member of the Democratic county organi- zations.

Mr. Foster was married first in Crawford county to Miss Maria Simmons, who died in 1862, aged 35 years, at Oceola, where Mr. Foster lived for some 12 years. At Oceola he was married again, Miss Annetta Fox becom- ing his second wife. Her death occurred in March, 1908, at Bucyrus. Both wives were estimable women but neither left issue. Al- though Mr. Foster has no daughters he has had the tender care of an estimable woman during his declining years, in the person of Miss Jennie Smith. She was born at Cham- bersburg, Pa., 45 years ago, and came to Bucy- rus when aged 19 years, and for some ten years has been at the head of Mr. Foster's household.

WILLIAM GUNDRUM, who is one of the leading men of Vernon township, Crawford county, O., township trustee and a prosperous farmer, owns 5114 acres of valuable land, sit- uated eight miles north of Crestline, O. He was born on his father's farm in Crawford county, eight miles east of Bucyrus, O., and is a son of Silas and Lavina (Buck) Gundrum.

Silas Gundrum was born in Pennsylvania and was five years old when his parents moved to Ohio and settled in Crawford county. Here he grew to manhood and then married Lavina Buck, who was born in Ohio and they had eight children born to them, namely : John, who lives two and a half miles east of Galion, O., and who married Maggie Ostermeyer; Anna, who is deceased; Joseph, living in Sandusky town- ship, who married Ruie Fetter; Silas, who is deceased; Maggie, who married Albert Heller, of Sandusky township; Emma, who is de- ceased; and Frank and William. Silas Gund- rum died March 9, 1902, his wife having passed away some years before, the date of her death being Oct. 2, 1898.

William Gundrum obtained his education in the district schools and assisted his father until he was 21 years of age. After that he engaged in farm work for other agriculturists, by the day or the month for a time and afterward rented land for five years, at the end of which time be bought his present place, on which he carries on general farming. He has made all the excellent improvements here and has doubled the value of his property.

Mr. Gundrum married Miss Emma Fix, who is a daughter of Andrew and Matilda Fix, and they have three children: Grace, Blanche and Zella. Mrs. Gundrum has one sister and two brothers: Bert, Charles and Lilly. One sister, Mary, is deceased. In politics Mr. Gundrum is a Democrat and frequently has been called upon to serve in local offices. For a number of years he has been a member of the township school board and at present is a very efficient member of the township board of trustees. He belongs to the United Brethren church.

L. H. NAGEL, a prominent business man of Brokensword, O., who conducts the largest general store in the place, was born in this town in 1880 and is a son of John and Eliza- beth (Gearhert ) Nagel.

John Nagel was born in Erie county, O., and from there came to Crawford county when aged 21 years and for 21 subsequent years was engaged in the hotel business at Brokensword. He is now a manufacturer of soft drinks, at Bellevue, O., being in his sixty-fourth year. He married Elizabeth Gearhert, who was brought to America when a child of four years and spent her after life at Brokensword, where she died in her 54th year. They had three children: Esther, who is the wife of Henry Shealy, of Bucyrus; Emma, who mar- ried George Grower; and L. H., of Broken- sword.

L. H. Nagel was educated in the public schools and first entered into business at Bucy- rus, in the clothing line, and continued until May 16, 1904, when he opened his present store at Brokensword, where he owns his own building and has, by far, the largest patronage of any business house in the place. His stock includes a complete assortment of groceries, dry goods, boots, shoes and hardware.

Mr. Nagel is a Democrat in politics and fra- ternally is connected with the Maccabees, the Foresters, and belongs to the National Protec- tive Legion at Bucyrus. Mr. Nagel is un- married.

HENRY PHILLIPS, a representative citi- zen and a native of Whetstone township, owns 274 acres of land located in this township, 100 acres of which constitute the farm on which

A. N. PHILLIPS

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he lives. He was born Feb. 26, 1850. His father, Benjamin Phillips, was born in North- umberland county, Pa., but came to Ohio when a boy of 12 years and spent most of his life in Whetstone township, where he followed farming. He married Sarah Null, a native of Parks county, Pa., and to them were born four children : Rebecca, Henry, Franklin and Sam- uel, all of whom are deceased except Henry, whose name heads this article. Benjamin Phillips was a Democrat in politics and he and his wife attended the Reformed church. They are both now deceased and their remains rest in Whetstone cemetery.

After completing a common school educa- tion, Henry Phillips went to work on the farm with his father. He later owned a threshing machine and a saw mill which he operated in connection with his farm work. His first pur- chase of land was a tract of 20 acres, which he bought in partnership with his brother Samuel and to this through his industry and ambition he has added until now he owns 274 acres of excellent land on which he carries on general farming and raises stock for his own use.

Henry Phillips was united in marriage in 1883 to Miss Sarah Kunert, a daughter of Charles W. and Mary (Franks ) Kunert, farm- ing people of this county. Their children were: Charles, John, Frank, Jacob, Samuel, Sarah, Josephine (wife of John Dapper) and Anna (wife of William Crider).

To Mr. and Mrs. Henry Phillips have been born children as follows: Ada P., wife of Wil- liam H. Ruth; Edwin R., who lives on the homestead farm; Ida, the wife of Arthur Gearhart; Mary S., the wife of Fred Stiger; Russell S., Luther H., Anna M., Paul B. and Esther S.

Mr. Phillips is a Democrat in his political views and has served several times as road supervisor. Religiously, he is identified with the Reformed church.

A. N. PHILLIPS, deceased, for many years was a prominent and representative man in Crawford county, O., and a useful, respected and esteemed resident of his com- munity. He was born in Frederick county, Md., June 25, 1846, and died on his valuable farm of 235 acres, situated in Tod township, June 1, 1911. His parents were John and

Ruth Phillips, who were natives of Maryland, where the father died in February, 1860, she in the following May coming to Crawford county, and died in August of the same year.

A. N. Phillips attended the country schools and later became a student at Heidelberg University and was ever afterward consid- ered a man of well trained faculties and ex- cellent judgment, this general opinion making his fellow citizens anxious to secure his ad- vice on perplexing questions and eager to see him serving in responsible offices. For 18 months, soon after returning from the university, he served as deputy auditor. In 1875 he went into the flour mill business on his own place and continued until 1886 and afterward, for many years, carried on the usual farm activities. From his own quarries he furnished the stone for the building of many of the good roads in this section. "For 30 years he was a notary public and he set- tled up and administered many estates. Those who knew him well remember him as a man faithful and conscientious in the performance of every duty, a man who was honest in all business relations and was kind, thoughtful and considerate of his friends.

In April, 1884, Mr. Phillips was married to Miss Alice Teeterick, a daughter of Samuel and Margaret Teeterick. Her father was born in New York and her mother in Ger- many, the latter having been brought to Am- erica when six years old and lived for a time in Pennsylvania and then came to Bucyrus, O., where she was married to Mr. Teeterick on Sept. 14, 1842. They have had eleven chil- dren born to them and eight of these still live To Mr. and Mrs. Phillips two children were born: an infant that died early; and Charles Albert, who was born July 4, 1897, and died when aged five years, six months and eighteen days. In his views on public questions Mr. Phillips was a consistent Democrat. While he never united with any particular church body he was a Christian in faith and works and gave liberally to every worthty cause, and for 20 years taught the Bible class in the Methodist Episcopal church. Mrs. Phillips owns the valuable farm left by her husband and it is under the excellent management of her brother, Frank Teeterick, a well known farmer of Tod township.

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AMANDUS FENNER,* deceased, for many years was a well known business man at Bucyrus, O., where the larger part of his life was passed and where he was held in high es- teem. He was born April 25, 1855, at the Delaware Water Gap, Monroe county, Pa., a son of George and Elizabeth (Bush) Fenner.

The parents of Mr. Fenner came to Craw- ford county, O., in 1857, settling at Bucyrus, where they spent the rest of their lives, the mother dying at the age of 60 years and the father, of heart disease, when aged 70 years. He was a carpenter contractor and in his line of business was well known all over the county. There were five children in his fam- ily, four of whom reached maturity: Frank, Foster, Eliza and Amandus. George Fenner and wife were members of the Lutheran church.

Amandus Fenner remained at home and at- tended school until he was 15 years of age, when he went to Cleveland in order to learn fine house painting and decorating under com- petent instructors and remained in that city until he was 21, when he returned to Bucyrus, where he followed the above trade during the rest of his active life. He built up a large busi- ness of his own in this direction, giving em- ployment to from five to eight expert helpers, and all over Bucyrus may be found examples of his taste and skill.

On Nov. 7, 1878, Mr. Fenner was married to Miss E. O. Hufrangle, who was born Dec. II, 1865, at Bucyrus, O., which has always been her home. Her parents were Frederick and Frederica (Roch) Hufrangle, natives of Germany. They came to Bucyrus when young people, married and spent their lives here, the death of the father occurring July 3, 1894, at the age of 65 years, and that of the mother on March 4, 1902, when in her 6Ist year. For some years he followed the trade of harness maker and saddler and afterward successfully engaged in the dairy business. Mrs. Fenner has the following brothers and sisters: Otto, August, Frederick, Edward, Cora, William and Elsie, all of whom are married and in com- fortable circumstances. To Mr. and Mrs. Fenner the following children were born: Maybell, who was born November 8, 1890, and married Walter V. Bybee, who is in the elec- trical supply business in Cincinnati ; Irene Julia,

who was born April 26, 1892, and resides with her mother; Marie Elizabeth, who was born August 23, 1898; and George, who was born June 15, 1902. Mrs. Fenner and family are members of the German Lutheran church as were her parents. Both her father and hus- band were Democrats in their political affilia- tion. Mrs. Fenner owns considerable valuable property in this city, including her handsome residence at No. 718 Rogers street.

LOUIS EDWARD SHEALY, who is one of the representative citizens and careful and prosperous farmers of Liberty township, Crawford county, O., resides on his highly im- proved farm of 983/4 acres, and was born in this township in 1869. He is a son of Gottlieb and Frederica (Bauer) Shealy.

Gottlieb Shealy and wife were both born in Wittenberg, Germany. He came to the United States when aged 14 years and after marriage lived in Liberty township, Crawford county, O. They had the following children born to them: George, who is a resident of Liberty township as is his next brother, Jacob, neither of whom have married; Catherine, who is the wife of Jacob Green, and lives in Liberty township; Louisa, deceased, who was the wife of Jacob Ackerman of Chatfield township; Ricka, deceased, who was the wife of John Green, of Mercer county ; Elizabeth, who keeps house for her unmarried brothers; and Louis E.

Louis E. Shealy secured a district school edu- cation and continued to work on his father's farm afterward until his marriage and for four years longer and then bought the home farm, it pleasing him better than any other sit- uated in Crawford county. He remodeled the barn and erected a modern residence and made many other improvements which serve to place this farm among the best in this section of the county. He carries on stock raising and general farming and is a practical and pros- perous agriculturist.

Mr. Shealy was united in marriage with Miss Lydia F. Hieber, who was born in 1870, in Liberty township, a daughter of Christian and Christiana (Wagner) Hieber. Mrs. Shealy had one brother, John G., who died in 1902, survived by his widow, Elizabeth (Shie- ber) Hieber. Mrs. Shealy's sisters were:

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Louisa, who married Emanuel Shieber, of Liberty township; Anna, who died at the age of 20 years; and Bertha, who lives in Liberty township.

Mr. and Mrs. Shealy have two children: Luella Lydia and Alton Edward, both of whom reside at home. The family belongs to the Lutheran church, in which Mr. Shealy is an official, being treasurer and also a member of the board of trustees of this church. He has served his township in the office of road supervisor and is well informed concerning the subject of good roads.

JOHN H. HARTER, deceased, who was a well known and highly respected citizen of Crawford county, O., for many years was a successful agriculturist and held numerous of- fices of responsibility in his section and was a veteran officer of the great Civil War. Cap- tain Harter was born at Aaronsburg, Center county, Pa., Aug. 11, 1838, and was a son of William and Rebecca Harter, both of whom are buried at Aaronsburg, Pa.

Mr. Harter had district school advantages in boyhood and then learned the blacksmith trade and was engaged at work in that line at Mifflinburg, in Union county, Pa., when he en- listed for service in the Civil War, in July, 1862. He entered Company D, 150th Pa. Vol. Inf., as a private, and participated in 20 battles and had been promoted many times for gallantry before his injuries when he was forced to retire from military life on Oct. 20, 1864, on a surgeon's certificate. His company was first detailed to do guard duty at the sum- mer home of Abraham Lincoln and then was sent to the front to partake in the battles of Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, the Wilderness campaign and Petersburg. Capt. Harter's army record is the subject of frequent refer- ence in a popular library book entitled "The Recollections of a Drummer Boy," which ap- peared first in St. Nicholas Magazine and later was published by Ticknor & Co., of Boston, Mass. The author of these recollections, Rev. Harry M. Kieffer, was the drummer boy of the company of which Mr. Harter was captain and the two were bunk mates and personal friends.

In July, 1862, Mr. Harter was made cor- poral in rank and on May 3, 1864, had reached the rank of first lieutenant and on June 26,

1864, was commissioned captain. He was wounded at Spottsylvania on May 10th, at Petersburg on June 18th and again on Aug. 10, 1864, and these injuries so disabled him that he unwillingly had to accept his discharge, honorable although it was. He united with the G. A. R. at Nevada, O., and was valued as a comrade in that body .

After his first marriage, Mr. Harter settled at Nevada, O., as a blacksmith and carriage builder and was associated with his brother, Thomas H. Harter, in the ownership of the old Nevada enterprise, a weekly newspaper, selling his interest in it on Jan. 3, 1879, to J. N. Wilcox. In 1882 he bought a farm north of Oceola, on which he resided until 1901, when he retired to Oceola, where his death oc- curred on March 9, 1912. Mr. Harter owned 182 acres and was an expert farmer. For a number of years he had been vice president and a director of the Crawford County Mutual Fire Insurance Company, and a member and official of the Crawford County Agricultural Society. He became a Republican in politics at the resumption of specie payments in 1879 and was steadfast in his political faith till his death. He was many years a member of the Masonic fraternity and belonged also to the Jr. O. U. A. M.

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History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 133

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