History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 137

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 137

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CHARLES B. SCHUMACHER

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Smith, who was born Aug. 14, 1839, in Wil- liams county, O., but was reared in Penn- sylvania and died at Galion, March 7, 1908, a woman of many virtues and excellencies. She was the loving and careful mother of a large family. Helen, Oliver, Harry and Walter, all died young. Alice L., who died Jan. 28, 1901, was the wife of Theodore Stewart, and the mother of two children, Charles and Helen, the latter of whom died at the age of 16 years, and the former, who lives with his grand- father, a graduate of the class of 1912, in the Galion High School and now employed by United Fruit Company, of New York; Thomas M., who is general traffic manager of the American Smelting Company, and resides in New York; Clara T., who is the wife of George Stoltz and lives at Dawson, Neb .; S. Emma, who cares for her father and is his capable housekeeper; and Wilbert A., who is general traffic manager of the United Fruit Company-Steamship and Railway Service, of New York. The last named is a very success- ful business man. After graduating in the class of 1894, from the Galion High School, he was with the Illinois Steel Company for two years and with the Armour people for 14 years, becoming assistant traffic manager for them and later traffic manager for his present Company. He has two children, Ruth and Herbert.

Politically Mr. Schumacher is a Democrat. For many years he has been very active in Odd Fellowship, uniting with the order in September, 1869, and has filled all the chairs in the local lodge. For 15 years he was treas- urer of Galion Lodge No. 215, and is the sec- ond oldest past grand initiated in this lodge. He is a member and an elder of the Christian church, his family being of the same religious faith.

JENNINGS T. SHAWK, who enjoys the distinction of being the oldest native born man of Holmes township, Crawford county, O., now lives retired on his farm five miles north of Bucyrus. He was born Sept. 11, 1835, in an old log house that then occupied the present site of the Opera House, at Bucyrus, and is a son of Thomas Shawk and a grandson of Jacob Shawk, who was a Revolutionary soldier.

Thomas Shawk was born in Columbiana

county, O., March 4, 1806, came to Craw- ford county in 1829, and died Dec. 29, 1885. After his marriage he moved to Bucyrus by wagon, the state of the roads at that time making the journey of three day's duration, and at Bucyrus purchased the block on which the Opera House now is located and went to work as a blacksmith for a man named Gil- more, whose shop was in this vicinity. Shortly afterward the old Trimble House was erected. Thomas Shawk spent the larger part of his life at Bucyrus and died there. For three years he lived in Whetstone township and for some years in Holmes township, but Bucyrus was his chosen home and he was identified with its early enterprises and was considered a valuable citizen. He married Esther Al- bright, whose father was the brother of Jacob Albright who was the founder of the Evan- gelical church in Pennsylvania. Daniel Al- bright was a man of much prominence in Craw- ford county during its early history. This was his second marriage, his first one taking place in Columbiana county, to which six children were born. Jennings T. Shawk, son of Thomas Shawk, is the only survivor of his father's fam- ily and he was third in order of birth, his two brothers and three sisters all being deceased. Adeline was the wife of Edward Sheckler. Aurelia was the wife of Alexander Ruhl, Ben- jamin Franklin and Thomas as well as Mary, the youngest, died early.

Jennings T. Shawk had educational oppor- tunities that served to qualify him for teaching school but he did not teach, working instead at the blacksmith trade until his marriage, when he came to his present farm, on which his wife was born, and later bought the place. For many years afterward he engaged in farm- ing and stock raising, but has been retired for some time and his son carries on the farm in- dustries. He owns 320 acres, all situated in Holmes township, and his improvements are probably the best in the township. He erected two comfortable residences and has built six barns, three of which were destroyed by fire.

Mr. Shawk was married to Miss Sarah Lah- man, a daughter of Charles Lahman, who was born in Germany, May 30, 1810, and died in Ohio, Feb. 10, 1892. When he came first to Crawford county he entered 80 acres of land and then returned to Germany, where he was

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married to Christina Gearhart and returned with his wife to Ohio and they settled on the present farm of Mr. Shawk and lived there through life. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Shawk, namely: George E., who lives in Sheridan county, Mo., and who mar- ried Elizabeth Pfeifer and has five children- Mary, Pearl, Sarah, George and Jessie ;. War Veterans. Charles L., who lives in Holmes township who married Laura Wilhelm and has three chil- dren-Guy, Arthur and Grace; Jay, who is his father's farmer, who married Lizzie Fra- lick and has two children-Naomi and Ruth; and Thomas, also a resident of Holmes town- ship, who married Emma Meck and has three children-Russell, Willard and Warren. In politics, Mr. Shawk and sons are Democrats and he has served as township trustee. He is a member of the Evangelical Association.

HOWARD M. GREEN,* who is engaged in the house painting and decorating business at Galion, O., and additionally, is interested with his brother, in a 500-acres stock farm in Washington township, Morrow county, O., be- longs to one of the old Crawford county fami- lies and is well known all through this sec- tion. He was born at Galion, in 1871, and is a son of James Henry and Lenora H. (Mc- Clain) Green, and a grandson of Henry and Anna Green. He is the eldest of four sons, the others being: Frank, Dahl and James.

Howard M. Green attended school at Galion and completed his education at Evanston, Ill. In May, 1898, he enlisted for service in the Spanish-American War, entering Battery H, First O. Light Artillery, under Captain Stew- art and Colonel Brooks and was discharged as head driver of his section. Later he became a furniture finisher, displaying much skill in this line of work and then learned decorating. For the past 12 years he has been interested in the Spring Grove Stock Farm, in Morrow county, where horses, mules and hogs are raised for market.

Mr. Green was married at Galion, to Miss Grace Blazier, who was born at Chicago, Ill., but was reared and educated at Galion. She is a daughter of Henry and Sarah E. (Slick) Blazier, the former of whom died at Galion in 1887, at the age of 45 years. Mrs. Blazier re- sides on East Main street, Galion. Mr. and

Mrs. Green have two children : Ruth Leanora, who was born July 4, 1893, and is a member of the class of 1913, at the Galion high school; and Frank M., who was born October 27, 1899. They belong to the Methodist Episcopal church, have many pleasant social connections and Mr. Green is a member of the Spanish-American

CHARLES A. SHROLL, who is engaged in general farming in Dallas township, Craw- ford county, O., where he owns 80 acres of excellent land, was born in Bucyrus township, Crawford county, March 27, 1859, and is a son of Jacob and Elizabeth ( McNichol) Shroll. Jacob Shroll was of German parentage but he was born in Pennsylvania, where his wife was also born, she being of Irish an- cestry. Both died in Crawford county, his burial being in the old Schroll cemetery, while her resting place is in Mt. Zion cemetery. in Bucyrus township. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Eight chil- dren were born to them, Charles A. being the youngest : William; Mary, wife of Norman Mount; Sarah, wife of Porter Leighbarger; John; Nancy, wife of Noah Seitz; Louisa, wife of Richard Kellar; and Matilda, wife of R. P. Young.

Charles A. Shroll was left fatherless when seven years of age and on this account had fewer advantages in youth than had many other boys of his acquaintance. His mother was obliged to let the family be broken up and he was placed with strangers with whom he lived and as opportunity offered, attended the district schools. He was naturally industrious and before long was able to earn enough to provide for his own necessities and afterward continued to work on farms, by the month, until he was 27 years of age. In all this time he had never had a real home, living always with strangers, but now he married and founded his own hearthstone and has a happy domestic circle of wife and eight children. For some 20 years after marriage Mr. Shroll rented land from different farmers, after which he purchased his present place and to its culti- vation and improvement has devoted himself ever since. He is a self-made man and may be cited as an example of what may be accom- plished through industry and persistent effort.

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Mr. Shroll was married July 19, 1884, to Miss Ida A. Argrave, who was born in Mercer county, Pa., a daughter of George R. and Mary Argrave, who had three children: Henry; Olive, wife of George Paup; and Ida A., who became the wife of Mr. Shroll. To Mr. and Mrs. Shroll the following children have been born : Reginald, who married Victoria Eckert; Clyde; Frank, who married Effie Fillinger ; and Walter, Dice, Beth, Theodore and Ivan K. Mr. Shroll has always been a busy man but never neglects his duties as a citizen and has taken much interest in the public schools, serv- ing as school director and giving his children all the advantages within his power.

W. A. WATERS, who is one of the most substantial citizens and the largest land owner in Liberty township, Crawford county, O., car- ries on general farming and stock raising on his large estate of 400 acres and resides two miles southeast of Sulphur Springs, O. He was born in Wyandot county, O., March II, 1862, and is a son of Philip A. and Mary (Daugherty) Waters.

Philip A. Waters was born in Westmore- land county, Pa., and by his parents was brought to Crawford county, at the age of four years. At a later date he moved to Wyan- dot county and there engaged in farming for a number of years, when he removed to In- diana and died in that state in advanced age. He married Mary Daugherty and one child was born to them, W. A., the wife and mother dying in 1864.

Being left motherless at the age of two and one-half years, W. A. Waters was reared on the present farm in his uncle's home, the later, Reuben Waters, being now deceased. He ob- tained his education in the district schools and was trained from boyhood to be a farmer. This farm has always been his home from in- fancy and since he took possession as sole owner, he has made a great many improve- ments, including the erection of a handsome modern residence.

Mr. Waters was united in marriage with Miss Ella Caris, who was born in Wood county, O., a daughter of Eli Caris, and they have one daughter, Ada. She is the wife of Delbert Butterff, who resides on an adjoin- ing farm, and they have five children: Zelma,

Bernice, Robert, Mendel and Richard. Mr. Waters is a Republican in politics but has given more attention to his agricultural activities than to public matters, although he never neg- lects the duties of good citizenship.

EMANUEL C. CRISSINGER,* carpenter and builder, a well known citizen of Galion and a reliable business man of this section, was born in Whetstone township, Crawford county, O., May 13, 1850, and is a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Knoble) Crissinger, and a grandson of George Crissinger, who was the founder of the family in Ohio, moving to Crawford county from Northumberland county, Pa. The father was twice married and Emanuel C. was the sixth born of the first family, there being two surviving brothers: Charles J., a well known business man of Galion; and Daniel, who is a farmer and also a carpenter and lives in Whetstone township.

Emanuel C. Crissinger was reared on the home farm and worked with his father at car- pentering and under his supervision became an expert mechanic. In 1884 he moved to Galion and three years later he erected the com- fortable residence which he has since occu- pied, at No. 334 North Market street. From 1903 until 1909 he was engaged in the grocery trade at Galion, but with that exception, he has been giving his attention exclusively, for the past 38 years, to carpenter work including building. In his political affiliation he is a Democrat but he has never been what may be called a politician, just a good, earnest and interested citizen.

Mr. Crissinger was married in 1884 to Miss Susie E. Fail, who was born near Galion, Sept. 4, 1856, a daughter of John and Julia A. (Sny- der) Fail. John Fail was born in Germany and was eight years old when his parents brought him to the United States. He was reared in Crawford county and was married, near Bucyrus, to Julia A. Snyder, who accom- panied her parents to this section, from Penn- sylvania, when 17 years of age. Mr. Fail was a farmer in Polk township, Crawford county, until 1898, when he and his wife retired to- Galion, where his death occurred in 1899, when aged 75 years. Mrs. Fail, now in her 80th year, resides with a daughter at Galion. To

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Mr. and Mrs. Crissinger the following chil- dren have been born: William A., born Sept, 15, 1887, who resides at Galion and married Ada Shaw; and Charles Addison, who was born May 9, 1890, and lives with his parents. He is a graduate of the Galion High School and is now cashier for the Erie Railway Com- pany at Galion. Mr. and Mrs. Crissinger are active members of the United Brethren church, of which he has been a trustee and for some years was a class leader in the same.

WILLIAM I. MUTCHLER, one of the progressive agriculturists of Tod township, Crawford county, O., residing on his well im- proved farm of 160 acres, situated one mile northeast of Oceola, O., was born on this farm, in 1866, and is a son of Isaiah and Harriet (Kisor) Mutchler.

In the death of Isaiah Mutchler, which oc- curred in 1906, in his 83rd year, Crawford county lost one of its most respected pioneers. He bought the farm which now belongs to his son, William I., in 1846, from the Government, paying $2.25 per acre, and it has been carefully preserved in the family ever since, and has never had even a mortgage entered against it. Isaiah Mutchler was born in Seneca county, O., and took possession of his Crawford county land in 1847. Subsequently he acquired much other property, aggregating some 600 acres of land, and each one of his children were given a farm by this generous and provi- dent father. He was a member of the United Brethren church and had filled almost every church office, taking much more interest in it than in the political life of the community in which his long life was spent. He married Harriet Kisor, who was born near Sycamore, Wyandot county, and died in Crawford county, when aged 73 years and 6 months. The record of their children is as follows: Catherine and Barbara, twins, the former of whom married Adam Fisher, and the latter, Frank Karns; Amanda, who married George Aurand; Frank, deceased, who married Dora Miller ; Susanna, deceased, who married John Beamer ; George, who married Susan Little; Harriet, who mar- ried Samuel Lambert; Melissa, who is de- ceased; twin infants, both deceased; Matilda, who married Philip Hoker; William I., and Leafy, deceased, who was the wife of William Nicholson.

In the schools of Tod township, William I. Mutchler secured a good, common school edu- cation, and ever since has devoted himself to farm industries on the homestead. Since the farm has been his own he has done considerable improving, replacing all the buildings with the exception of one barn. He owns valuable stock and improved machinery and is contem- plating the building of a fine silo in the near future.

Mr. Mutchler married Miss Rebecca Patton, who was born in Mifflin county, Pa., and a family of ten children has been born to them, as follows: Flora, who married Orlo Bash and has two children, Cecil and Laura; Fred; Jesse, who married Bessie Cox; and Sylvia, Russell, Mary, Goldie, Ethel, Paul and Dwight L., all of whom survive with the exception of Paul, who died in infancy. Mr. Mutchler is a Democrat in politics and he has served as school director. He is one of the leading members of the United Brethren church and has served as class leader and steward.

GEORGE W. SCHIEFER, who is one of the enterprising and successful farmers of Bu- cyrus township, Crawford county, O., where he carries on modern agriculture on his farm of 94 acres and operates additionally the 257 acres belonging to his mother-in-law, Mrs. Ellen Mckinstry, was born in Crawford county, Dec. 19, 1878, and is a son of Isaac and Margaret Ellen (Berry) Schiefer.

The parents of Mr. Schiefer were born in Crawford county, where they still reside, the father being a farmer. They have the follow- ing children: George W., James W., Weldon S., Cordelia, Moody L., Grace J., and Mary. Mr. and Mrs. Schiefer are members of the Evangelical church.

George W. Schiefer completed the common school course and then became a student in the Ohio Northern University at Ada, O., after which he taught school for eight terms during the winter time while he devoted his summers to the farm. Since then he has given all his attention to his agricultural pursuits, doing general farming and being an extensive stock raiser, keeping only good grades and finding a ready market.

Mr. Schiefer was married Oct. 2, 1901, to Miss Mary E. Mckinstry, the only child of William Thomas and Ellen (Warner) Mc-

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Kinstry. The mother of Mrs. Schiefer sur- vives but her father died in 1901, leaving a large estate. Mr. and Mrs. Schiefer and Mrs. Mckinstry attend the Methodist Episcopal church. Politically he is a Republican but has never accepted any public office although well qualified for the same, being an educated, well balanced, reliable man.

HENRY R. KURRLEY,* a representative business man of Galion, O.,-junior member of the firm of Evans & Kurrley, proprietors of the Boston Street Grocery House and also con- ducting a store at Delaware, O., was born in the latter city, Jan. 2, 1879, and is a son of William and Fannie (Wittinger) Kurrley.

The parents of Mr. Kurrley were born in Wurtemberg, Germany. They were young when they came to America and were reared near Delaware, O., where they married and now live in comfortable retirement. In 1859 William Kurrley started in the grocery busi- ness at Delaware and continued active in the trade until 1895, when he sold to his son, Leopold D., and the business is continued at the old stand. Mr. Kurrley and wife are both in their middle seventies but are hearty and well and there is promise of many years before them. All their seven children survive and four of these have domestic circles of their own.

Henry R. Kurrley was reared and educated at Delaware and learned the grocery business in his father's store. In October, 1898, Mr. Kurrley and Mr. Evans, the latter of whom was born at Delaware in 1873, came to Galion and purchased the Boston street store from J. E. Gelsanliter and have conducted it success- fully ever since and subsequently bought the Delaware store, which Mr. Evans mainly man- ages. Both partners are young men of energy, discretion and enterprise and conduct their large volume of business along honorable lines, such as have won them the confidence and patronage of the public.

At Delaware, O., Mr. Kurrley was married to Miss Amelia L. Osterly, who was born, reared and educated in that city. They have one daughter, Edna A., who was born at Dela- ware, April 28, 1898, and is now attending school at Galion. Mr. and Mrs. Kurrley are members of the German Lutheran church.

Politically he is a Democrat. The firm of Evans & Kurrley has membership in the Com- mercial Club in this city.

MISS INEZ MILLER, who has been a teacher in the public schools of Galion, O., since 1889, and has been interested in and . identified with the remarkable advancement in educational matters in this section during this time, belongs to Galion, for here she was born, reared and educated and here has found her chosen field of work. She is a daughter of Charles R. Miller and a granddaughter of Charles and Mary (Riblet) Miller.

Charles Miller, the grandfather, was born in Pennsylvania and was young when he accom- panied his parents to Richland county, O. Later he married Mary Riblet, a daughter of Daniel Riblet, who had also moved to Rich- land county, from Pennsylvania. Daniel Rib- let was a school teacher and later owned and operated a stage coach line between Galion and Mansfield, with headquarters six miles east of Galion. For some years he was postmaster of Galion and was active in politics, serving in the state legislature. After marriage, Charles Mil- ler and wife lived for a time in Ashland county and then settled in Sandusky township, Rich- land county, on a farm adjoining that of the Riblets, and remained there until their death, when aged about 75 years. They were mem- bers of the Lutheran church. Of their four children who reached maturity, all married and three sons survive: Charles R., William W. and Henry F., the two younger brothers still living on the old homestead.

Charles R. Miller was born in Ashland county, O., and was reared on the home farm. Afterward he served as assistant postmaster at Galion and later became a landscape decorator and artist. He was married at Crestline to Miss Mary Lowe, who was born in Denbeigh- shire, Wales, and when ten years old accom- panied her sister Elizabeth to the United States to join their step-father and guardian, Charles Charlton, who formerly was well known in railroad circles in the United States and Can- ada. To Charles R. Miller and wife the fol- lowing children were born: Mary, who is the wife of J. H. Barr, residing at Galion, Mr. Barr being a rural mail carrier, they having three children-Jessie, Howard and Ruth;

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Inez L .; Albert E., who is a merchant at Cleve- land; and William H., who is in commercial art work at St. Louis, Mo., and who married Margaret DeNaux.

Miss Inez Miller was creditably graduated from the Galion High School in 1887 and be- gan teaching in 1889, and for the past four years has been, also, elementary superintendent of the Crawford County Sunday School Asso- ciation. She is so eminently a teacher and so thoroughly qualified in every way to be an in- structor, that her availability is recognized wherever educational work is proposed and on many occasions she has been tendered positions of responsibility. While she is progressive and ambitious yet she is careful and understanding and the advancement made by her pupils is on a sound foundation. She is well known in the city's pleasant social life and, with the other members of her family, belongs to the English Lutheran church.

MRS. FRANCES CRUM, a well known and highly esteemed resident of Liberty town- ship, Crawford county, O., residing on her well improved farm of 90 acres, was born in Lib- erty township and is a daughter of the late Abraham Grogg, and the widow of D. O. Crum.

D. O. Crum was born in Dauphin county, Pa., and was brought in childhood to Craw- ford county, his father locating in Liberty township. He grew to manhood on his father's farm and helped to clear and cultivate it, in the meanwhile attending the district schools and acquiring a fair knowledge of books. For some three years after his mar- riage, he worked his father-in-law's farm and then settled on the property now owned by his widow and here he lived as a busy and con- tented farmer until his death, March 27, 1896, at the age of 45 years. In everything pertain- ing to this property he felt an interest and con- tinued to make improvements which included the erection of new and substantial buildings. He was widely known and much respected.

In 1871 D. O. Crum and Frances Grogg were united in marriage. Her father, Abra- ham Grogg, was born in Pennsylvania but spent the larger part of his life in Crawford county. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Crum, namely: Chester C., who lives at

Mansfield, O .; Maude, who is the wife of I. W. Rodgers, who resides at Bucyrus and has three children-David, Donald and Mildred; E. L., who married Emma Loyer, and lives in the western part of Liberty township and who has three children-Lawrence, Opal and Alice; Estella, who is deceased; Fred, who resides with his mother; Lulu, who married Howard Gwinner, and has two children-Elmer and Josephine; and Mckinley, who lives at home. Mrs. Crum and family belong to the United Brethren church. Mr. Crum was a Republican in politics but he was a quiet, peaceful man and never sought office nor engaged in political campaigns.

CLAUDE B. SHARER, superintendent of the sales department of the American Clay Machinery Company of Bucyrus, O., has been connected with this branch of one of the large industries of the city since 1904, coming from Philadelphia, Pa. Mr. Sharer was born July 30, 1871, at Delaware, O., and is a son of George W. Sharer, whose name has been car- ried to many sections of this and other coun- tries as the inventor of modern brickmaking machinery. He was also a valiant soldier in the Union Army during the Civil War, a mem- ber of Co. C, 40th O. Vol. Inf. He was the patentee of the Sharer Brick-Dryer.

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History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 137

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