History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 136

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 136

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The children born to Reuben Hopple and wife were: Anna, deceased, who was the wife of John Davison; Ephia, who married Joseph Kneisley, both now deceased; Jeremiah, the subject of this sketch; Emma, who is the wife of Amos B. Charlton, of Liberty township. Mr. and Mrs. Charlton have seven children : Virgil, Parry B., Michael, Anna, Maybell, Orlo and Donald H.

Jeremiah Hopple remained at home until he reached manhood and afterward engaged in agricultural pursuits for himself. His finely improved farm is known as the old Michael Charlton farm. In April, 1904, he came to Bucyrus to reside and is one of the well known and well informed citizens of this place. In national movements he is identified with the Democratic party politically while in local matters he exercises his own judgment.

In 1873 Mr. Hopple was married in Liberty

township, to Miss Mattie Sheiber, a daugh- ter ot Christopher and Lydia ( Hershberger) Sheiber, the former of whom was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, and the latter in Penn- sylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Sheiber were married in the above state and then came to Crawford county and they died on the same farin they settled on in their early married life. Mrs. Hopple has two brothers: Jacob, a farmer in Liberty township, who married Elizabeth Knabberger and has the following children- Ella, Anna, Amelia and Pearle; and John, who resides on the old homestead. He married Caroline Klink and they have children-Henry, Charles, Anna, Albert, Cora, Verne, Walter, Irving and Mary. Mary was accidentally killed at the age of 14 years, while on a railroad crossing.

Mr. and Mrs. Hopple have four children : Myrtle, who married Ralph McCalacan, of De- catur, Ill., and has two children-Helen and Myra; Otis Milton, who is a resident of Los Angeles, Cal .; Elden J., who is a member of the business firm of Mccullough & Hopple; and Helen, who is a student in the Domestic Science School, north of Decatur.

CHARLES M. WERT, general farmer, who owns 80 acres of valuable land which is situated ten and one-half miles northeast of Bucyrus, O., in a productive section of San- dusky township, Crawford county, was born at Sulphur Springs, in Liberty township, and is a son of J. H. and Elizabeth Wert. His father and grandfather were born in Pennsyl- vania, but his mother was born in Ohio. He has one brother, Herbert B. Wert, who mar- ried Minnie Markle and they have four chil- dren : Logan, Harold, Paul and Warren. The father, J. H. Wert, is deceased, but the mother survives.

Charles M. Wert has devoted himself to agricultural pursuits since he has been of suit- able age. After his district school days were over he assisted his father and in the course of years became the owner of his present well stocked and well improved farm. He takes much interest in it as his many substantial im- provements show, and is numbered with the prosperous agriculturists of this section of the county. In politics he is a Democrat.

Mr. Wert married Miss Edith Darr, a

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY

daughter of Aaron and Mary Darr, and they have four children : Eldon, who lives at Mar- ble Head, O., and who married Miss Frances Mckean and has one daughter, Marian Luise; and J. Darr, Karl F., and Sarah N. Mrs. Wert has three brothers, George, William, deceased, and Frank, and two sisters, Harriet and Lu- cetta. Mr. Wert and family belong to the Lutheran church.

JOHN GORDON, a well known and highly respected resident of Tod township, Crawford county, O., and one of the most successful agriculturists, resides on his finely improved farm of 165 acres, which is situated two and one-half miles southwest of Oceola, O. He was born in County Glamorgan, South Wales, March 3, 1849, and is a son of Thomas and Catherine ( Morris) Gordon.

The parents of Mr. Gordon were farmers in South Wales and in comfortable circum- stances. The father died in 1869, when aged 61 years, but the mother survived to the age of 73 years. They had the following children born to them: Mary, who is the wife of George Bevan and lives in Wales; Thomas, who manages the old homestead farm in Wales; Eliza, who lives in Wales, being the widow of Lewis Bowen, who was a surveyor and civil engineer; John, subject of this arti- cle; Richard, who is deceased; Ann, who was the wife of George Fleming, both of whom are deceased; and George, who still lives in Wales.

John Gordon obtained his education in the schools of his native land. When 21 years of age he decided to come to the United States and after reaching an American port he made his way to Trumbull county, O., where he found employment on a dairy farm and con- tinued for four years, when he married, and then moved to a place near Bucyrus and two years later came to his present farm in Tod township. He found a large amount of im- proving necessary and immediately began its- renovation and has made of this one of the finest farms of this part of Crawford county. Mr. Gordon's methods have resulted in much prosperity. He has always been a hard-work- ing man and still looks carefully after his farm interests.

Mr. Gordon married Miss Callie F. Flock

and they have had six children: . Luella, who is the wife of Edward Mclaughlin, who oper- ates an elevator at Nevada, O., and has two children-Velma and Gordon; Henry, who as- sists his father; Alice, who helps her mother; and Florence, Elva and Letty, all three of whom are now deceased. Mr. Gordon is a Democrat in his political views and for a term of six years was township road commissioner and still keeps up his interest in the good roads subject, his long experience in the above office having made him an authority on the subject. Mrs. Gordon is a member of the Lutheran church.

JOSEPH KNISELY,* who is a member of one of the old and substantial families of Craw- ford county, O., now lives retired at Bucyrus, which city has been his preferred home since 1887. He was born Feb. II, 1830, at Knisely Spring, in Sandusky township., Crawford county, O., and is a son of Samuel and Sarah Knisely.

Samuel Knisely was born in 1782, in York county, Pa., and was a young man when he accompanied his German father to Ohio. The name of the latter has not been preserved but he was one of the enterprising pioneers of Tus- carauwas county, where he entered 1,600 acres of land and probably was the founder of New Philadelphia. He died there in extreme old age. It is said of him that with the old flint- lock musket, which his grandson carefully pre- serves, he made it a practice to kill just 100 deer each season, laying aside the fowling piece then until the next year. Samuel Knisely enlisted for service in the War of 1812 and assisted in the construction of the block-house at Mansfield, built to preserve the settlers from the Indians and took part in the battles there with the savages and helped to inter the unfor- tunate families who were slain. He was first lieutenant of his company and the annals speak of him as a brave and daring soldier. In 1823 he came to Crawford county and settled in the isolated little log hut village of Bucyrus, secur- ing later Government land lying eight miles west of here, the place being still known as Knisely Springs. Like his father he was a great huntsman and made use of the old flint- lock musket. The Indians learned to both fear and esteem him, for he was a just as

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well as kind man, and on many occasions he assisted savages and fed them and won their good will. Thus he was able to travel far without fear, both on his hunting trips and also on his missions of mercy, for he was ever ready to assist other settlers in the building of their cabins. the sowing of their grain or to give help in times of sickness and death. He was so well known that people as far dis- tant as Marion county frequently begged his presence. In May, 1867, this admirable man, who had been likened by his admirers to Daniel Boone, passed out of life at the home of his son Joseph Knisely. His wife died in 1859, when aged 73 years. She was a member of the Baptist church. They had 13 children, four of whom survive.

Joseph Knisely grew up on the Crawford county farm and has always resided in this county with the exception of seven years prior to his marriage, which he spent in Illinois and Indiana. He acquired the old homestead of 160 acres and continued farm activities there until 1887, when he traded the farm for a large tract of land in the immediate environs of Bucyrus. Much of this land has been dis- posed of for building purposes as the city has grown. Mr. Knisely has occasionally worked at the mason trade and a large part of his time has been occupied with the duties of pub- lic office, to which he frequently has been elected on the Democratic ticket.

Mr. Knisely was married to Miss Minerva Baughman, who was born Oct. 12, 1839, in Putnam county, O., a daughter of Abram and Jane (Book) Baughman, the former a na- tive of Pennsylvania and the latter of Wayne county, O. After Mr. and Mrs. Baughman married they began housekeeping in a thatch- roof log cabin in Van Buren township, Put- nam county, on the 400 acres of land which Mr. Baughman subsequently developed into a fine farm. They were members of the Meth- odist Episcopal church and among the most worthy and respected people in that section. To Mr. and Mrs. Knisely the following chil- dren were born: Fannie, who was born in 1860 and died in 1881; Sabilla, born Feb. 26, 1861, who is the wife of George Dinkle, of Bucyrus ; Florence, born Dec. 4, 1863, who is the wife of David Knisely, of Goshen, Ind., and has one son, Clyde; Lewis, born Dec. I, 1864, who resides with his wife at Bucyrus;

Sadie, who was born Oct. 25, 1868, and is the wife of William Hizer, of Galion, O .; Minnie, who was born Nov. 12, 1870, and is the widow of Joseph Burger and has one daughter, Imogene; and Maude, who was born April 10, 1873, who is the wife of Edward Miller, residing at Columbus, O., and has two children-George and Dorothy. Mr. Knisely and family attend the Methodist Episcopal church.

G. P. WELSHONS, whose finely improved farm of 120 acres is located three miles north- east of Sulphur Springs, O., was born in 1859, at Crestline, O., and is a son of Stephen and Lucinda (Rininger ) Welshons.

Stephen Welshons was born in Pennsyl- vania, of German ancestry. He came to Craw- ford county, O., in 1858, and selected Crest- line as his home. He had learned the cabinet- making trade in Pennsylvania. He spent five years in California in the gold mines. He was then employed by the railroad company in Crestline and later worked in the Big Four yards, during the remainder of his active life, but was living on a farm east of Crestline, his death occurring at the age of 76 years. He married Lucinda Rininger and they had four children, the two survivors being G. P. and Elwood, the latter being a railroad engineer.

In the schools of Crestline, O., G. P. Wel- shons obtained a common school education and then went into railroad work, serving for two and one-half years as a fireman and later as an engineer. He tried farming for a short time but returned to the railroad, but later re- sumed farming and has made a success of his undertaking. All the substantial improvements on his place show a sensible interest and much forethought and his modern residence is both comfortable and attractive. He raises grain, hay, potatoes, fruit, poultry and stock and is one of the prosperous agriculturists of this section.

Mr. Welshons married Miss Mary Peppard, and they have two children: Samuel and Er- nest. He is a good citizen but no seeker for public office, and casts his vote with the Re- publican party.

ELIAS CRISSINGER, who is a leading citizen of Dallas township, Crawford county, O., active in its public affairs and successful

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY

in his agricultural activities, owns 120 acres of very productive land and carries on gen- eral farming. He was born Aug. II, 1853, in Illinois, and is a son of William and Mary (Baker) Crissinger, and a grandson of Benaiah Baker.

The father of Mr. Crissinger was born in Crawford county and was a farmer and la- borer prior to entering the Federal Army for service in the Civil War and died while a sol- dier. He married Mary Baker, who was also born in Crawford county, and died when their son Elias was but two years old. Their other children were: James A .; Mary, deceased, who was the wife of Henry Zoll; Emma, who is the wife of Elias Stiger; Isabel, who is deceased; and Dora I., who is the wife of John Lyons. The parents of the above family were members of the German Reformed church.

Since his school days, Mr. Crissinger has been interested continuously in farm pursuits and in late years has received assistance from his son but still retains the general manage- ment of his estate. He is largely a self-made man, becoming an orphan when ten years old and afterward living with relatives and strang- ers until he made a home for himself.

On Oct. 20, 1874, Mr. Crissinger was mar- ried to Miss Harriet L. Houser, who was born in Scott township, Marion county, O., a daugh- ter of Anthony and Eliza (Wise) Houser. The father of Mrs. Crissinger was a farmer in Marion county, O., and also followed the carpenter trade. Mrs. Crissinger was the youngest but one of his children, the others being : John, Eliza, who married (first) Mi- chael Mathias, and (second) Christian Pom- mert; Catherine, who married Robert Highley ; Sarah, who married Elliott Denman; and Ma- linda, who married Jacob Spiece. To Mr. and Mrs. Crissinger the following children were born: Manford Roy, who married Agnes Keckler, and has two children, Julia and Frank. Daisy Viola, who married Wallace Lindsay, and has two children, Plites, and Reo May; William A .; Ray, who married Hattie Mollen- koff, and has five children-Helen, Homer, Raymond, Velma and Wilma; Grover O., who married Mary Oberlander, and has two chil- dren, Harold and Eveline; Blanche E., who is the wife of David Pierce; Mervin E .; and

Florence. Mr. Crissinger and family are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he served some years as steward and for six years was a class leader. As a citizen Mr. Crissinger has been interested in all that has promised to build up and make more stable good laws and good influences in his com- munity. Politically his opinions have made him a Democrat and for many years both in Marion and in Crawford counties he has served honestly and efficiently in township offices, be- ing assessor for five years in the former and for three years in the latter, and for six years served Dallas township on its board of trus- tees.

JOHN WILLIAM EXLEY, one of the highly respected residents of Bucyrus, O., who is a well-known blacksmith, was born here, May 19, 1858, and is a son of John Jacob and Frederica (Krebs) Exley.

John Jacob Exley was born in 1825, in Baden, Germany, and in childhood his father died and shortly afterward his mother. In 1838, being then only 13 years of age, he started for America in company with two friends, the late Jacob Schoub being one of these and Daniel Bauslinger, the other. These youths embarked on an old sailing vessel that required 42 days to transport them to New York. They managed to make their way from that city to Crawford county, O., and all came to Bucyrus. They were too young to have yet learned a trade but all three became re- spected men and useful citizens. John Jacob Exley died after a very short illness, on Sept. 12, 1868. He was a Democrat in politics and was a member of the Lutheran church. He was married at Bucyrus to Frederica Krebs. who was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, in 1836, and died Dec. 4, 1904. She accompanied her parents to America in 1854, landing at New York, and came to Crawford county by way of Buffalo. Her parents, Gottlieb and Rica Krebs, subsequently moved to Wyandot county where the mother died aged 68 years. after which the father returned to Bucyrus and lived to be 87 years of age.

To John Jacob Exley and wife the following children were born: John William; Charles. who is a blacksmith, living in this city; Cal- lie, who died Aug. 28. 1897. who was the wife

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of Joseph Nutter and the mother of two chil- dren-Willie and Georgia, both now of De- troit, Mich .; Emma, who is the widow of Al- bert Miller, and lives at Bucyrus, having one son, Carl; and Katie, who resides with her sis- ter, Mrs. Miller.

John William Exley attended school in boy- hood and afterward learned the blacksmith business with the late John Horvald, and fol- lowed this trade in connection with other work, being a natural mechanic. Through industry, thrift and prudence he has accumulated a com- petency and owns several valuable pieces of city property. With the exception of four years he has spent his life here and is well known to the majority of the citizens. On many occasions he has filled public office with efficiency, for eight years has been a member of the city council, of which he was president two years and vice president four years, and has been a member of all the committees. He is a Democrat.

Mr. Exley was married at Bucyrus to Miss Augusta Petersilge, who was born here Nov. 22, 1861, a daughter of Ferdinand and Fred- erica (Winegartner) Petersilge, natives re- spectively of Saxony and Wurtemberg, Ger- many. The father of Mrs. Exley came to the United States in 1852. He was born Jan. 21, 1836, and died Sept. 7, 1902. His widow sur- vives and was 73 years old, May 22, 1912; she has been a resident of the United States since 1854. Two of her children survive: Mrs. Exley and Fred. The latter was born in 1865 and is a resident of Bucyrus and formerly was engaged in the restaurant business. He mar- ried Anna Trautman and they have two chil- dren: Augusta P. and Ralph F. Mr. and Mrs. Exley are members of the German Luth- eran church. He is a member of a German organization and for 28 years has been a Knight of Pythias, this long connection en- titling him to the order's gold medal.

J. H. KIESS,* who has lived on his pres- ent farm of 160 acres, situated in Whetstone township, Crawford county, O., for 42 years, has owned this land for 36 of these, purchas- ing from Jonathan Heinlein, it then being called the old Burkhardt farm. Mr. Kiess was born in Lycoming county, Pa., a son of Jacob and Catherine ( Roth) Kiess.

Christopher Kiess, the grandfather, was born in Germany and came from there in 1806 and settled in Lycoming county, Pa., where he was one of the early school teachers. In 1850 the family decided to come to Crawford county, O., and it required two weeks for the loaded farm wagons to make the long overland jour- ney. They settled in Whetstone township and among the good citizens of this section the name is not an unusual one. The mother of J. H. Kiess died after coming to Crawford county, leaving two children: J. H. and Lydia, the latter of whom is now deceased and is survived by her husband, Lewis Cripes. Jacob Kiess married Catherine Delker for his second wife and they had the following chil- dren : Simeon, Joseph, Daniel, Samuel, W. C., Christiana and Mary Margaret.

J. H. Kiess had but meager school advan- tages in the English language but in Penn- sylvania attended a German school. His help was needed by his father when he was yet young and he has devoted his whole business life to agricultural pursuits. He has enriched his land and carefully cultivated it and it gives bountiful returns, and his buildings are those that are found on the farms of substantial and self-respecting people, built and kept up not only for shelter but for comfortable living. Mr. Kiess makes no attempt to raise any great amount of stock but always has enough for his own use.

In 1864, Mr. Kiess was married (first) to Miss Elizabeth Cook, a daughter of Jacob and Mary (Kiess) Cook, and to this marriage the following children were born; Mary B., Frank- lin J., Ella Lucinda and Matilda, all of whom are deceased; Rebecca, who is the wife of J. P. Crawl; and Ida E., who is the wife of Sanı- uel Keiser. Mr. Kiess was married second to Miss Rachel Cook, a daughter of George and Rebecca (Young) Cook, and they have had five children : Reuben, who is deceased ; Wes- ley, who is a mail carrier ; and Olen, Charles F and Bertha May. Mr. Kiess has frequently served in public office but it has not been any political reward as he votes independently. He has been very useful and progressive in rela- tion to educational matters and has been equally concerned in giving the people good roads, for some years serving as road supervisor. With his family he attends the Evangelical church.

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY

EMANUEL NEFF, residing nine miles northeast of Bucyrus, O., and two miles east of Sulphur Springs, is the justly contented owner of a well improved farm of 215 acres, well located, well drained and exceedingly pro- ductive. He is a son of Joseph and Sophia (Yeiter) Neff, the oldest of nine children, namely: Aaron, Amos, John J., Joseph C., Elizabeth, Mary, Emma, Tillie and Emanuel, all surviving except Tillie. Aaron married Cora Orweiler and they live in Liberty town- ship. Amos married Anna Schieber and they live at Bucyrus, O. Jacob married Ella Schie- ber and they live in Liberty township. Joseph married Myrtle Schieber and they live in Holmes township. Elizabeth married Joseph Durr and their home is in Liberty township. Mary married Abraham Scheiber and they re- side at Bucyrus, while Emma is the wife of Albert Scheiber and they live in Holmes township.

Emanuel Neff attended school at Holmes township. He has devoted himself to agri- cultural pursuits and has been very success- ful, being progressive and enterprising in his undertakings. He has greatly improved his property since it came into his possession, has two very fine barns and other substantial build- ings and carries on his operations along mod- ern lines with due regard to family comfort. He has been a member of the township board of education for some years and is much in- terested in the public schools.

Mr. Neff married Miss Sarah Krauter, one of a family of ten children born to Jacob and Anna Krauter, the others being: Jacob, who married Elizabeth Baker, and lives at Cleve- land, O .: Otilla, who is the widow of Elias Durr; Martha, who married William Baker, of Galion; Esther, who married Hershel Eshel- man, of Seville, Medina county, O .; Elmer, who lives at home; and John. Christianna, Sophia and Netta, all deceased. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Neff; Lester E., Ralph A., Herbert J., Elsie M. and Karl F. Mr. Neff is identified with the Republican party but is no seeker for office, just a sensible, law-abiding, interested citizen.

CHARLES B. SCHUMACHER, who is now numbered with the substantial citizens of Galion, for many years was interested here

successfully in the real estate and insurance business and is well known all over Crawford county. He was born in Northumberland county, Pa., and comes of German people.

Johannes Schumacher, the grandfather, was born in Pennsylvania, of German parents, so that a number of generations back must be followed to the little German village where great grand-father Schumacher was born. He came to the United States when young and became a farmer, he and wife passing their later days in Schuylkill county, Pa., where they died in advanced age.

John Schumacher, father of Charles B., was born in Schuylkill county, Pa., and died Sept. 17, 1856, when aged 66 years. His first marriage was to a Miss Hicks who died in Pennsylvania in middle life leaving eight chil- dren, all of whom are now deceased. His second marriage was to Catherine Baker, who died Sept. 20, 1873, aged 73 years, 10 months and 6 days. To the second union the follow- ing children were born: Catherine, Elvina, Jane, Julia, William, Robert, Charles B., Thomas and Sarah.

Charles B. Schumacher was born Dec. 15. 1835 and was reared and obtained his educa- tion in his native county. Before coming to Ohio in 1864, he had been variously employed, and after reaching the state located for a time in Fairfield county and then came on to Galion. Here he began work as a blacksmith in the Erie Railway shops, where he contin- ued until 1874, becoming a master blacksmith. After leaving shop work he was made con- stable and served for four years in that office, when he was elected a justice of the peace and continued in that responsible office for 15 consecutive years and after being out of office for one year. was re-elected justice of the peace and as such continued until 1885, termi- nating this connection after serving for 24 years. In 1886 he was elected mayor of Ga- lion and after the close of an admirable ad- ministration, he was elected a member of the city council for two succeeding years. Mr. Schumacher has thus been a very highly hon- ored citizen and has always realized his re- sponsibilities and has fearlessly and honestly pursued his course in public life.

On Dec. 31, 1857, Mr. Schumacher was married in Pennsylvania to Miss Rachel A.

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History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 136

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