History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 135

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 135

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The ten children born to this pioneer couple are briefly sketched as follows: All but one lived to maturity, all were reared in the Meth- odist faith and united with that church in early life, all had such school privileges as the pioneer communities afforded, four, succeed- ing the oldest in age, were born at Bucyrus, O., the rest at New Winchester. Each of the liv- ing is enjoying a material competency obtained by observing the natural laws of success-pa- tient industry, economy, sacrifice and good management. In politics, the sons are Repub- licans as their father was, who, previously, had been a Whig.

Adam, born at Gettysburg, Pa., March 28, 1832, died at Bucyrus, O., Jan. 10, 1855; a young man of superior mental endowments ; a faithful helper to his father, and devoted to the welfare of the family. His leisure was employed in acquiring knowledge, his books showing a purpose to have a liberal education. His last illness was protracted and full of suf- fering. Incidents of the sickness and death resulted in the conversion of his physician, a highly educated German, who had been an atheist. The last audible words of Adam Rex- roth were a quotation from Shakespeare in German: "Ende gut; alles gut," spoken to his father.

Catherine, born Nov. 21, 1833, is living at Nevada, O., at the age of seventy-nine; is well, with mental faculties unimpaired, sur- rounded by most of her children. She mar- ried Emanuel Albright, the children born of this union being, William W., Joseph R., George H., married Harriet Snyder; Mary, deceased, married Lewis Kissling; Gertrude, married John Kissling; Grace, married John W. Stuckman, president of the Crawford County Agricultural Society; Nellie, married George Fahl, deceased; Frederick married Beril Kerr; Margaret M., married Henry Gushman; and a deceased infant. Mr. Al- bright was a great-nephew of Jacob Albright, founder of the Evangelical church and served the full time in the Civil war. He died in 1897 and is buried in Nevada cemetery.

John, born May 10, 1836, died May 8, 1895, at his home on the Sandusky Pike; successful farmer and stock raiser; member of the M. E. church, in which he held many official posi- tions ; director of the First National Bank, the

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officials being his pall-bearers; a man honored and beloved. Dec. 18, 1867, he married Mag- dalena Frey, a worthy lady, who survives. Children : Charles married Catharine Kieffer ; John, deceased; Lillian I .; Roy married Lula Spore; Clyde; Elva married Edward Campbell.

Daniel, born Oct. 24, 1837, living at his home on the Marion Road; successful agricul- turist, helped to found Scioto chapel; many years president of Crawford County Mutual Insurance Company. Dec. 2, 1862, married Mary Purkey, strong personality, now de- ceased. Living children: Edward K. mar- ried Margaret Montgomery; Anna married D. N. Harvey; and Raymond C. married Maud Chesney. Deceased, Charles, the first born, at thirteen months; Effie Nina and Nellie Belle in young womanhood; and several infants.

Elizabeth, born May 20, 1840, died in the Methodist parsonage at Upper Sandusky, Oct. 19, 1889. Graduate of Mt. Union College, teacher of drawing and oil painting at the college, also teacher in Bucyrus public schools, an almost perfect reader of human nature, and a humorist of the first order. On Sept. 6, 1870, married the Rev. Gershom Lease, one of the ablest ministers of the Central O. M. E. Conference. No children. Mr. Lease had been previously married and had three chil- dren, Emma, Lura and Edward. He was a General Conference delegate at New York City, May, 1888; died Feb. 8, 1901, aged about seventy-three years.

Sarah, born May 4, 1842, living at S. WV. corner Poplar and Charles streets, Bucyrus, O., graduate of Mt. Union College, taught in the college. At 16 years of age began teaching, taught seven terms in the country, about seven years in Bucyrus public schools, from primary to principal of the high school. Sept. 4, 1872, married the Rev. Thomas J. Monnett, an able minister of the North Ohio Conference M. E. church, with whose sketch elsewhere given, appears other brief items.

Lydia, born Nov. 6, 1843, died at her home south of Bucyrus, April 30, 1889, educated in Bucyrus public schools and O. S. N. S. Taught school-gentle refined lady. In May, 1872, married Benjamin Beal, farmer, secretary of the Agricultural Society, secretary Crawford County Mutual Insurance Company for many years, Methodist; held many official positions ;

died March 4, 1898 at Bucyrus. Living chil- dren, Benjamin married Bertha Snyder; Mary J. married Rev. Thomas H. Housel of Cen- tral O. M. E. Conference; Edwin G., cashier First National Bank, married Rachel K. Mon- nett; William D., minister, missionary, mem- ber Bengal M. E. Conference, on leave of ab- sence from Belgaum, India, married Bessie El- lice Robinson; Bertha E., history teacher Bu- cyrus high school, married Abraham J. White. Deceased children: Frederick Alexis and an infant. Mr. Beal had been previously married and had three children: Albert, who became a minister of the North Ohio Conference, M. E. church, died April, 1908, married Mary Mc- Cully; Wesley, prosperous farmer, married Eva Beall; Emma married Charles E. Ens- miniger.

David, born June 4, 1846, living at Marion, O., progressive farmer and able business man, on building committee and generous giver M. E. church, Oxford, Ind., Civil War veteran. Feb., 1873, married Margaret Purkey, noble wife, deceased February, 1896. Children, John Nicholas, wealthy farmer, married Eleanor Walters; Oliver Morton, deceased; Mary, do- mestic science graduate; Bessie married Oscar Hord, prosperous farmer; Elizabeth Lease, graduate O. WV. U. and Cincinnati Missionary Training School, under appointment Woman's Foreign Missionary Society, M. E. church, missionary to North India.

Samuel, an infant, died early in 1845.

Margaret, born Aug. 24, 1848, is living at Bucyrus, O., educated in local public schools and O. S. N. S., taught; for many years cared for her aged mother. February, 1873, mar- ried Samuel Kurtz, now deceased. Living chil- dren: George, S. Aaron, Simeon G., Bertha R., Harrison and Edwin. Deceased, Catha- rine and Paul. More complete data of this family are given in the sketch of Samuel Kurtz, given elsewhere in this history.

Rexroth relatives meet in Annual Reunion on the last Wednesday in August, thus far at Seccaium Park, as being most central. Ob- ject, mutual encouragement and helpfulness. About one hundred have attended to enjoy a short literary and business program, a bounti- ful dinner and general exchange of greetings. Last year a motion prevailed to undertake some work in a united capacity and an annual do-

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nation to the missionary work of the Rev. Wil- liam D. Beal was agreed upon.

HARRY E. LOTT,* a successful general farmer in Dallas township, Crawford county, O., who operates his wife's farm of 215 acres, known as the old Monnett homestead, was born in Clark county, O., Sept. 25, 1872, and is a son of William Henry Harrison and Mary (Yarnell) Lott.

The parents of Mr. Lott were born in Clark county and the father follows farming there. He was married first to Mary Yarnell, who died after the birth of the following children : Stella, who is the wife of Ernest Keyes; Jen- nette, who is the wife of William A. White; Louie, who is the wife of R. A. Garlough; and Harry E., Walter and Charles. To his marriage with Elizabeth Crampton four sons were born: Fred, Frank, Crampton and Har- vey.

Harry E. Lott attended the public schools in Dallas township and the high school at Selma, where he was graduated in 1888, after which he perfected himself in the art of teleg- raphy and was a telegraph operator for rail- roads for 20 years. Since settling on the pres- ent valuable farm, in March, 1911, he has devoted himself entirely to farming, and stock raising and his agricultural undertakings have proven judiciously planned and well carried out.

In February, 1899, Mr. Lott was married to Miss Emma Lois Monnett, a daughter of Oliver and Mary (Raymon) Monnett, this family being one of the old and best estab- lished ones in the county. Mr. and Mrs. Lott have three daughters: Mary Eloise, Bonnie Lois and Bess Virginia. The family attends the Presbyterian church. He is identified with Lodge No. 402, Knights of Pythias, and Lodge No. 32, Elks, both at Marion. Politically he is a Republican.

JOHN SCHIMPF, one of the well known farmers and respected citizens of Sandusky township, Crawford county, O., residing on one farm of 120 acres and owning a second one, of 82 acres, lying also in the same town- ship, was born at Bucyrus, O., in 1857, and is a son of Frederick A. and Lizzie (Molen- koff) Shimpf.

Frederick Schimpf was born in Germany, where he grew to the age of 18 years and learned the shoemaking trade. He then came to the United States and located at Bucyrus, O., where he worked at his trade until he moved on his farm first in Lykens township and then in Chatfield township, after which he engaged in farming until his death, at the age of 56 years. He married Lizzie Molen- koff and they had II children.

John Schimpf attended the district schools in boyhood and gave his father assistance on the home farm, which was good land but re- quired much improving. In 1888 he came to his present home farm, making all the im- provements on the place, and here has been successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits ever since.

Mr. Schimpf married Miss Eliza Layer and they have one son, Clarence, who resides at home and takes many of the responsibilities in the operating of the two farms. In poli- tics Mr. Schimpf is a Democrat. He served on the school board seven years.

H. J. ROOP, a successful farmer and highly respected citizen of Sandusky township, Craw- ford county, O., residing nine miles northeast of the city of Bucyrus, where he and wife own 389 acres of fine land which has been highly improved, belongs to one of the solid old families of this section and is a son of John and Sarah Roop.

John Roop was born in Pennsylvania and came to Ohio in early manhood, where he lived until his death, for many years having been a farmer and stock raiser in Crawford county. He married after coming to this state and a family of 13 children was born to him and wife, all but two of whom, Rebecca and Joseph, still survive. Those living are: Alice, Marinda, Fancina, May, Laura, Frank, Ells- worth, Wellington, Peter, Charles and H. J. The parents of these children are both de- ceased and are buried in Roop cemetery, Lib- erty township. John Roop died June 18, 1912.

H. J. Roop obtained his education in the public schools and his main occupation has been farming. He is a progressive and intelligent agriculturist and his operations are on an ex- tensive scale. He has devoted much care and attention to the improvement of his large prop-

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erty. and his residence is of modern construc- tion and very attractive from every point of view.

Mr. Roop married Miss Angeline Songer, who is a daughter of Jacob and Lydia (Schreck) Songer, and they have two chil- dren : Lester C. and Orlo E. Mrs. Roop has one brother, William H., who married Marie E. Reiff and they have two children: Lloyd W. and Delwyn E. Mr. Roop and family be- long to the Lutheran church.

JOSHUA MCNEAL,* one of Bucyrus' most respected citizens, has been a resident of Crawford county since he was 12 years of age and has witnessed and taken part in much of its material development during the past 65 years. He was born in Huntington county, Pa., April 3, 1825, and is a son of Alexander McNeal.

The McNeal family undoubtedly is of Irish extraction but Alexander McNeal was born in America, in Huntington county, in 1790, and lived there many years afterward. He married Jane Goshorn and in 1837 they came with their children to Crawford county, pio- neers in every sense of the word, and found land that suited them in Bucyrus township, on which they lived out long and useful lives. Alexander McNeal died when aged 75 years and was survived by his wife for several years although she was some years his senior. They were among the founders of the Presbyterian church in Bucyrus township. Of their twelve children, five were sons and seven were dangh- ters and all grew to maturity except one, and three yet survive: Joshua; Alexander, who resides north of Bucyrus with his children, his wife being deceased; and Eliza, who is the wife of William Young, of Ada, O.

Joshua McNeal was a sturdy boy of 12 years when he came with his people to Craw- ford county and remained on the home farm until he was 25 years of age. Farming was his main business during all his active life and he has spent it in Bucyrus and Dallas townships, where he has owned property, residing in the latter from 1865 until 1910, when he was pre- vailed upon to come to Bucyrus and become a member of the household of his son, Dennis A. McNeal Although his 87 years preclude any active participation in business, Mr. Mc-

Neal in mind or person gives no indication of such a passage of time, being in excellent health and interested in all that transpires not only in the domestic and social circles but in the larger life that takes in public enterprises and outside affairs.

Mr. McNeal was married in Bucyrus town- ship to Miss Loett Palmer, who was born in 1829, in Lorain county, O., and was ten years old when she accompanied her parents, Den- nis, and Olive (Terrell) Palmer, to Crawford county. Dennis Palmer was born in England and his wife in Massachusetts, where they were married. They finally came to Bucyrus town- ship and died there when aged about 70 years.

To Mr. and Mrs. McNeal the following chil- dren were born: Esther, who is the wife of Lawrence Murphy, and has children, Alfred, Joshua and Daisy, the last named being mar- ried; George and Anna, the latter being mar- ried; J. Curtis, who lives at Detroit, Mich,, who married Martha Wise and has three chil- dren-Marvin J., Charles and Eula; Dennis A .; and Francis, who is a business man at Bucyrus.

Dennis A. McNeal was born on the old homestead in Bucyrus township, July 15, 1859, and attended the public schools through boy- hood. For a number of years he engaged in farming and lumbering and is a man of sub- stantial fortune, owning a valuable farm and also city realty. He was married in Craw- ford county to Miss Hulda Beamer, who was born in Perry county, O., and was ten years old when her parents came to Crawford county. She is a daughter of Henry and Re- becca (Grove) Beamer, the former of whom was born in Perry county, April 8, 1837, and still survives. The mother of Mrs. McNeal was born in 1846 and died Dec. 22, 1887. She was a member of the old-school Baptist church. Mrs. McNeal is one of the following family: Calvin, who is a resident of Nevada, O .; Corda, who is the wife of John Starner, also of Ne- vada, O .; Noble B., who is a farmer in Wyan- dot county: Myrtle, who is the wife of Wil- liam Van Horn, of Crawford county; Elva L., who is the wife of Charles Harvey, of Bucyrus township; George, who lives in Cali- fornia; a babe that died; and Mrs. McNeal, who is the eldest born of this family.

Mr. and Mrs. Dennis A. McNeal have two

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children : Frances C., born October 6, 1885, graduating in the class of 1909 from the uni- versity at Ada, O., who is principal of the East Side public school at Bucyrus, and is married and has one son, Webster M .; and Orpha A., born June 9, 1891, who has been given ex- cellent educational advantages and holds a teacher's certificate. Mr. and Mrs. McNeal are members of the English Lutheran church.

SAMUEL KURTZ, whose well improved and finely cultivated farm of 112 acres, lies two miles northeast of Sulphur Springs, O., in Liberty township, Crawford county, be- longs to one of the highly respected old Ger- man families of this section, his grandparents having come to America with their families when his parents were children. He was born March 22, 1850, in Chatfield township, Craw- ford county, where his parents had settled on a farm of 40 acres.

Samuel Kurtz had district school advantages in boyhood and grew up as a farmer, and has continued to follow agricultural pursuits ever since. In 1883 he settled on his present fine farm which he has improved with excellent buildings and here carries on his agricultural operations with complete success.

Mr. Kurtz married Miss Kate Kessler, who was born in Schuykill county, Pa., and three children have been born to them, James Gar- field being the only surviver, the two other dying in infancy. This son has remained with his father and gives him assistance, being a competent agriculturist, trained to the business under his father's supervision. He married Miss Elizabeth Hoss and they have had three children: Ruth, John Wesley and one that died in infancy. Mr. Kurtz and son are Re- publicans but neither are seekers for political prominence. The family belongs to the Re- formed church.

.G. FRANKLIN LASH, who resides on his valuable farm of 120 acres, which is situated in Sandusky township, Crawford county, O., two and one-half miles northeast of Sulphur Springs, was born in 1868, on his father's farm northwest of Tiro, O., and is a son of George and Eliza (Hutson) Lash.

The parents of Mr. Lash was born in Wayne county, O., and the father was five years old

when his people came to Crawford county. He was a farmer and resided northwest of Tiro, where his death occurred at the age of 67 years. His widow, Eliza (Hutson) Lash, now in her 79th year, lives at Tiro. George F. Lash had three brothers, one survivor, Ben- jamin, residing at Tiro, while William and Elmer are deceased.

G. Franklin Lash obtained his education in the district schools and then assisted his father until he was 25 years of age. Since 1894 he has lived in Sandusky township continuously with the exception of seven months when he resided at Sulphur Springs. He carries on general farming and stock raising, having made many excellent improvements. His sur- roundings indicate good management and thrift.

Mr. Lash married Miss Leila A. Stock, daughter of George W. and Mary (Loudon) Stock, both of this county. Mr. and Mrs. Lash have two children: G. Nellis and O. Ells- worth. Politically a Democrat, Mr. Lash is a hearty party worker. He enjoys the confi- dence of his fellow citizens, irrespective of party, and has served seven and one-half years as township trustee.

JAY F. SHAWK, a prosperous farmer and well known citizen of Holmes township, Craw- ford county, O., carrying on agricultural oper- ations on 160 acres of finely improved land situated seven miles north of Bucyrus, O., was born on the old family homestead in this town- ship, April 25, 1870, and is a son of Jennings T. Shawk, a grandson of Thomas Shawk and a great-grandson of Jacob Shawk, who was a Revolutionary soldier. The family is one of age and prominence in Holmes township and the father of Mr. Shawk is the oldest native born man here.

Jay F. Shawk was educated in the schools of Crawford county and received his agricul- tural training on the home farm and in 1894 took charge of his present one. General farm- ing and moderate stock raising are the in- dustries engaged in and his methods are those of the progressive agriculturists of the day.

On Feb. 21, 1883, Mr. Shawk was united in marriage with Miss Lizzie Fralick, who was born in Richland county, O., but came with her parents to Holmes township when

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young. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Shawk, namely: Ruth, who mar- ried Ralph Lahman, of Lykens township, and has one daughter, Hilda; Willis, who is de- ceased; Naomi ; and Laverne, who is deceased. In politics Mr. Shawk is a Democrat like his father, and has served one term as township trustee and also as road superintendent. He takes much interest in the Patrons of Hus- bandry and is a member of the Bucyrus Grange. He and wife attend the Protestant Methodist church at Broken Sword.

BLOOMER B. GILL, a representative and enterprising business citizen of Galion, O., be- longs to one of the early families of this part of Crawford county, one that has had a great deal to do in developing this section along every line. Mr. Gill was born here, in 1859, and is a son of James Woodgill and Louise (Baker) Gill, and a grandson of David Gill.

David Gill, the grandfather, was the found- er of this family in Ohio, coming from an eastern state, and was the first teacher in this section of Crawford county. He married a Miss Wood, whose people were of English extraction. Of their family of children there is but one survivor, Mrs. Catherine Monnett, of Crawford county.

James Woodgill Gill, father of Bloomer B. Gill, was the only son of the family. His birth took place in 1824, on what is now the site of Galion, and he died here April 24, 1866, at the age of 42 years. He secured 160 acres of land and lived to see a part of this beautiful city built on this property, its rapid development resulting largely from his ef- forts in securing the construction of the rail- road. He was married here to Louise M. Baker, who was born in Pennsylvania and was brought to Ohio by her parents, who set- tled near Galion but in Richland county. She survived her husband and not only carried forward the plans that were interrupted by his death, but pursued a business policy of her own and laid out what is known as the Gill Addition to Galion. For the past 27 years she has been an esteemed resident of Dixon, Ill., where she is interested in social matters and church relationships, still pos- sessing an active mind as well as perfect phy- sical health although she is now in her 83rd

year. Her second marriage, after which she removed to Dixon, was to the late Theron Cumins, for many years a prominent and re- spected citizen of that city. Mrs. Cumins was reared in the Society of Friends but in later years united with the Methodist Episcopal church. Of her four children, two survive: Bloomer B. and Mrs. Carrie G. Todd, of Dixon, Ill. One son, Jay, died at the age of 18 months, and another, James Woodgill, Jr., at the age of 17 years.

After completing his High School course, at Galion, Bloomer B. Gill engaged first in the hardware business an later became a man- ufacturer and as such is prominent in local circles. He is secretary and treasurer of the Howard Motor Car Campany which has re- cently been merged and the new corporation is known as the Cleveland- Galion Motor Truck Company, which is capitalized at $500,000. Mr. Gill, like both parents, has great faith in the future of Galion and not only invests in local enterprises himself, but is ever ready to foster the interests of others and has been the means of bringing much outside capital here. He owns one of the finest residences in Crawford county, which he erected in 1884, patterning it after the old southern colonial mansions, with wide veran- das inviting to repose and broad pillars pro- (lucing a fine architectural effect.

Mr. Gill was married at Galion to Miss Nellie Stewart, who was born, reared and educated here, a daughter of A. M. and Han- nah (McClelland) Stewart, the former of whom came to Galion from Boston, Mass., and for many years was livestock agent for the Erie and the Big Four Railroads at this point. His death occurred in this city when he was 58 years old, his widow surviving. She is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. and Mrs. Gill have four children, namely: Mary L., who is a graduate of Galion High School and the Phelps School of Columbus, O .; Isabel Stew- art, who was graduated at the Hathaway- Brown School, Cleveland, in the class of 1910; Mina Miller, who, for several years has been an art student at Chicago, Ill., giving especial attention to portraiture, for which she has de- cided talent : and Tames Cumins, who is study- ing mechanics and resides at home. Mrs. Gill

JAMES W. GILL

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belongs to that cultured body of ladies at Galion which forms the membership of the Fortnightly Club. Mrs. Gill is a member of the Methoodist Episcopal church. Politically Mr. Gill is a Republican.

JEREMIAH HOPPLE,* one of the sub- stantial retired farmers of Crawford county, O,. resides in his comfortable residence at NO. 321 Spring street, Bucyrus, but still owns his valuable tarm of 242 acres, which is situated near Sulphur Springs. He was born in North- ampton county, Pa., Dec. 5, 1848, and is a son of Reuben and Christianna ( Deal ) Hopple.

Mr. Hopple comes of German and French ancestors, many of whom came to America and several served in the Revolutionary War. Reuben Hopple was one of a family of six sons and three daughters. He grew to man- hood in Northampton county, l'a., and there married Christianna Deal. They continued to live in their native section until 1856, when they came to Ohio and settled in Crawford county. Reuben Hopple first bought land in Liberty township and sold the same in 1861, but purchased another tract in the sante town- ship and on that farm his wife died, and a few years later he moved to a farm near Bucyrus, where he passed the rest of his life, dying in 1898, at the age of 80 years. He was a mem- ber of the German Reformed church, and was a Democrat in politics.

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History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 135

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