History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 138

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 138

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Claude B. Sharer was educated in the public schools of Terre Haute, Ind., and then became interested in brick machinery with his father, and 20 years of his active life was devoted to introducing and establishing modern brick plants with improved machinery. He is a prac- tical brick man and probably is as well known in that trade as any man in the country, of his age, and has also had foreign experience, hav- ing visited the great brick centers of Europe and introduced the Sharer and other patents. For some time before coming to Bucyrus he had maintained his headquarters at Philadel- phia, which is one of the greatest brick mak- ing centers of the country. His long experi- ence as sales manager has made him a man of great value to his present company and he has charge of all the selling interests of this concern.

Mr. Sharer was married in 1895, at Phil- adelphia, to Miss Laetitia Call, who was born at Philadelphia, a daughter of Morris Call, and

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they have four children : Beryl W., Claude B., Jr., Harvey B. and Morris C., their ages rang- ing from fourteen to eight years, and all are pupils in the public schools. Mr. Sharer is a Republican but no politician, nor is he addicted to the club habit. His family, his home and his business afford him contentment.

JACOB HILDEBRAND,* whose excel- lent farm of 30 acres lies in Whetstone township, Crawford county, O., has resided here since 1907 and was born in Liberty town- ship, Crawford county, Feb. 14, 1851, a son of John and Margaret ( Rapp) Hildebrand.

John Hildebrand was born in Germany and died in Liberty township, Crawford county, O. By trade he was a butcher and he also followed farming and was a well known man in his day in his neighborhood. He married Margaret Rapp, who was born in Pennsylvania and both are now deceased. The following children were born to them: Solomon, George, Mary, Emanuel, Jacob, Christian, Matilda, John, and Sophia, the last named being the wife of Terry Tupps. Mary, who is now deceased, was the wife of John Green, and Matilda is the wife of John Sheeley.

Jacob Hildebrand obtained his education in the schools of Liberty township and farming has occupied a large part of his time since then, although he has also been engaged in saw-mill work and also has traveled with a threshing machine in the threshing seasons. Prior to coming to Whetstone township he had lived for three years in Cranberry township and five years in Auburn township, and in the latter served as road supervisor and as school di- rector. He has always been an industrious man and is one who enjoys the respect of his neighbors.

In September, 1884, Mr. Hildebrand was married to Miss Maria Utz, who was born in Canada, a daughter of Frederick and Gertrude (Hirnlein) Utz, natives of Germany. Mrs. Hildebrand has two brothers and one sister : Daniel, Augustus and Louisa. Mr. and Mrs. Hildebrand have four children, namely: Fred- erick, who married Della Kile; Florence ; Har- vey, who married Mabel Raiser; and Paul. Mr. Hildebrand has the assistance of his sons Florence and Paul on the home farm. The family belongs to the German Lutheran church

at Bucyrus. Mr. Hildebrand and son are Democrats in politics.

REV. THOMAS J. MONNETT, 1826- 1901. From pioneer days to the present time the Monnett family has been numerously and honorably represented in the financial, educa- tional and religious life of Crawford county.

Isaac Monnett was the first of the name to arrive. In 1828 with his wife, Elizabeth Pit- tinger Morris Monnett, and their family of adult children, including a step-son, Jeremiah Morris, he located on section 36, Bucyrus township, four and a half miles south of the county seat. The married children later located on adjacent lands. They were indus- trious, thrifty and religious people and while seeking personal and family advancement, ever had in mind the public welfare. Almost co- existent with a place of abode for himself and family, provision was made for religious serv- ices at his home, which was continued until better facilities could be arranged.

In 1835, the Rev. Jeremiah Monnett, a brother of the above, arrived and located in the vicinity near what is now Monnett Memor- ial chapel. His family was composed of his wife Aley (Elsie) Slagle Monnett and a num- ber of adult children, most of whom after mar- riage settled in the locality and thus in a brief period of time a large element of desirable citizens was implanted in the community.

These brothers had come from Pickaway county, O., and were respectively the oldest and youngest sons in a large family born to . Abraham and Ann (Hillary) Monnett, pio- neers from Virginia to Pickaway county, O., at the beginning of the last century.

For generations a tradition had been held that the family had descended from Huguenot refugees, who left the "vine-clad hills and sunny vales" of their beloved France upon the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes and fled to England and some of them afterward to America, establishing themselves in Virginia and Maryland from whence descendants emi- grated to Pickaway county, O., and in 1828 and 1835 some of them to Crawford county, as stated.

Within the past two years, a family history, entitled: "Monnett Family Geneaology, A Huguenot Lineage," has been compiled and

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edited by the Hon. Orra Eugene Monnett, joined in his boyhood, soon recognized his fit- formerly of Bucyrus, O., but now of Los ness for the Christian ministry in her com- munion, and at eighteen years of age, he was licensed to exhort, and recommended for ad- vancement in the ministry. His father, also had noted with interest and pleasure the same evidences of "a call to preach" and in further- ance of a good foundation for the work had the son read Clarke's Commentaries on the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments. This was mainly done in winter evenings. Meanwhile, young Monnett taught the district school, worked on the farm, attended a select school in the neighborhood and for a time, the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, Ohio. As the "fields were white to the harvest and the laborers few," those in authority urged him to enter at once, the active ministerial ranks and trust to and utilize his opportunities for acquir- ing academic knowledge while fulfilling his studies as a minister. This unwise policy made his later work unduly hard and had much to do with enfeebling his constitution, which had never been robust. Angeles, California. He brought to his task an equipment, well-nigh perfect for such an undertaking-youth, health, enthusiasm, broad culture, including a legal training and ample financial resources to cover all expenses of travel and necessary investigation to insure ut- most accuracy in the history. Traveling, per- sonally, over the grounds of the various re- movals and migrations in America, back to England and France, searching records, muster rolls, records of historical societies, by such earnest, devoted and intelligent services unre- mittingly applied for several years, aided by an able corps of expert assistants and contrib- utors, he has established, incontrovertibly, that the traditions were founded upon fact- that the family belonged to the nobility, eligible to the use of a coat-of-arms, with a most sig- nificant motto : "Florens suo orbe Monet," and in the services of ancestors in the land of their refuge, in colonial and revolutionary days, en- titled their descendants to qualify as Sons of Colonial Wars, Colonial Dames, Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution, Men- bers of the Huguenot Society of America, etc.

In view of this interesting and honorable in- heritance, it is hoped, there will be nothing of the parvenu in the kindred of this and later times; and it is trusted, that fidelity to prin- ciple; incorruptible integrity ; self-sacrifice and strong self-reliance which has made the name honorable, down the centuries, wherever rep- resentatives have lived for a considerable time, will have an inspiring effect upon descendants to live up to high ideals of life.

It is the object of this sketch to present, in brief review, one of the representative mem- bers of this family-the Reverend Thomas Jefferson Monnett, the youngest son and thir- teenth child born to the Rev. Jeremiah and Aley (Elsie) Monnett.

He was born in Pickaway county, O., Jan. 16, 1826. In 1835, he came to Crawford county, O., with his parents, where they lo- cated four and a half miles south of Bucyrus. Here he grew to manhood. He early evi- denced a keen intellect, a fine gift of language and other endowments which gave promise of a successful professional career. Officials of the Methodist Episcopal church, which he had

Mr. Monnett joined the North Ohio Confer- ence of the Methodist Episcopal church in 1852 and for the full period of time, served successively, in the following order : Melmore Circuit, Fostoria, Kenton, Upper Sandusky, Latimberville Circuit, which at the time em- braced a wide area and contained nine appoint- ments. He was an extremely hard worker in his pastorates, conducting revivals and church building or repairing enterprises in all of them. Finally, in the rigorous winter of 1860-61, after an unusually prolonged series of meet- ings, at most of the appoinments on the large circuit, his health became seriously impaired, especially from a siege of acute bronchitis. This trouble afterward became chronic and compelled his retirement from the active min- istry. In taking up secular work from 1864 to the time of his death he was ever ready to answer the calls of the church when health per- mitted. He never ceased to regard the min- istry as his calling and on the testimony of one, who knew conditions better than anyone else, his secular activities were largely incidental and not studied voluntary business enterprises, as business men pursue them.

The many calls for services at quarterly meetings, Sunday-school conventions, farmers'

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institutes, temperance and many other organi- zations met with a ready response, if possible, and his services were in requisition to the time of his fatal illness. At that time he was clos- ing his thirteenth consecutive year as president of the Crawford County Sunday-school Asso- ciation and held official relations to other relig- ious and moral organizations.

Mr. Monnett's ministerial services were without financial consideration, no moneyed re- ward excepting the occasional wedding fee came to him, and no minister, in the region of his residence rendered so much gratuitous min- isterial service and for the long period of his life, few, if any, were so popular. He could only cope with his chronic malady by leading an out-of-door life, so he continued on his farm and by this course he maintained a fair average of health and accomplished a larger measure of work for the Master's Kingdom than would otherwise have been possible.

In his secular work he was for twenty years head of the woolen mills of Bucyrus ; for eigh- teen years president of the Bucyrus Gas com- pany, and principal owner of the plant; at the same time he was interested in banking and stock-raising and engaged in looking after his landed estate. He spurned all sham methods of accumulating wealth and in commercial and business circles, his word was as good as his bond.

His own acquaintance with the hardships of the business world, on account of the fluctua- tions of the markets and the intricacies and uncertainties of trade, greatly broadened his sympathies for business men and they under- stood and honored him for it.

Notwithstanding his attention given to church and educational work he amassed a comfortable fortune as well as endowing his children with a liberal education and financial opportunities.

Mr. Monnett died of bronchitis at his home in Bucyrus, O., May 10, 1901, in the seventy- sixth year of his age and was buried in Mon- nett cemetery. His last sickness indicated a complication of diseases, but an autopsy re- vealed all organs normal but the bronchial sys- tem and bronchitis was therefore the primary cause of his death.

Thomas J. Monnett was married Oct. 17,. 1847, to Miss Henrietta Johnston, daughter of

Esquire Thomas D. and Martha (Walton) Johnston, wealthy and highly respected pio- neers of Marion county, O. Seven children were born of this union; two of them, Webster and Agnes J., died in infancy. John Gilbert, "Bertie," died in his young manhood, March 26, 1879. A daughter, Mrs. Effie Monnett Bennett, in the early prime of a noble and most beautiful womanhood, died Oct. 27, 1898, leav- ing a husband, Hon. Smith W. Bennett and two children, Hugh Monnett and Grace Liz- etta. Mr. Bennett, who is a highly successful lawyer and who was for ten years special coun- sel in the attorney-general's office at Columbus, by a second marriage, this time to Miss Anna Drought, a beautiful and accomplished lady, well-fitted for such a position, has had his home sweetly reestablished and with his fam- ily is living at Columbus, O.

The oldest surviving son, Orin Bruce, mar- ried Anna Hoffman, daughter of Charles and Catharine (Snyder) Hoffman and they have two children, Ethel and Bessie, both married. Mr. Monnett is in the real estate business and the family home is at Conroe, Montgomery county, Texas. William Arthur married Annetta Boyer, daughter of Joshua and Char- lotte (Slough) Boyer and they have three chil- dren, Kay, Grace and Charlotte. Kay married Harriet Homes and they are the parents of six children. William Arthur Monnett and fam- ily live on the old homestead on the Sandusky Pike.

Francis Sylvester, graduate of the O. W. U. and National Law School, Washington, D. C .; was twice attorney-general of Ohio; practicing now in all the courts including supreme court of the United States; married Ellen Kate Gormly, daughter of James B. and Virginia (Qwingley) Gormly and their home is at Columbus, O.

The devoted, faithful wife, and mother of this family, Mrs. Henrietta Monnett, lived with her husband during his active ministry and was a constant inspiration to him and the work. She was ever honored and greatly be- loved by all who made her acquaintance. Her useful life came to a close, Nov. 20, 1871.

Mr. Monnett was twice married. His sec- ond union was with Miss Sarah Rexroth, M. S., a daughter of John Nicholas and Anna Maria (Rittmann) Rexroth, a graduate of

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Mount Union college and late principal of the Bucyrus high school. She brought with her into the family life a rich Christian experience, a well-trained intellect and a mind and heart full of noble inspirations. She gave the best years of her life to the rearing of the family and fitting them for the serious duties of life and training them for high school and college education along with her other arduous family duties. She fully sympathized with her hus- band in his religious activities and ever strove to make his work successful. She was a de- voted companion to Mr. Monnett in his de- clining years.

The family home had been in Bucyrus, a number of years before Mr. Monnett's death and here Mrs. Monnett became identified with various activities, helping to establish the Cur- rent Events Club and in earlier years the for- eign and home missionary societies of the First M. E. church, and in recent years W. F. M. society at Monnett Memorial Chapel; was one of the nine women incorporators of the Bucy- rus public library and served as trustee, was chairman of the building committee of Mon- nett Memorial Chapel and administered her husband's estate. Mrs. Monnett lives at Bucyrus, O.

ALBERT RENSCH,* market gardener and proprietor of the Renschville Greenhouses, lo- cated just outside the city limits of Galion, O., is carrying on a business which was established 43 years ago by his late father, Jacob Rensch. Albert Rensch was born July 1, 1863, in the large brick house which was erected here in 1853. and is a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Deinkeldein) Rensch.

Jacob Rensch was born in Baden, Germany, in 1828, and in 1833 accompanied his parents to the United States, they locating on the pres- ent site of the Renschville plant, just outside of Galion, it then being covered with native timber and entirely a wilderness. They had two sons and one daughter: Jacob, Frederick and Martha, all of whom are now deceased. the death of Jacob Rensch occurring May 17. 1903. On the portion of the home land which became his, he started a market garden and as he prospered, enlarged the scope of his busi- ness and in 1889 built the first hot house. He had a natural leaning in the direction and built

up a large business which he continued to be interested in as long as he lived. He married Elizabeth Deinkeldein, who was born in Hesse- Darmstadt, Germany, and was seven years old when her parents, Peter and Martha Dein- keldein, came to Ohio and located near the Rensch land, under similar conditions. She survived until April 23, 1900. Jacob Rensch and wife were members of the German Re- formed church. Of their family of ten chil- dren all survive except one, Clara, who died at the age of 17 years, the others being: Henry, Edward, Janet, Frank, Albert, Emma, Mary, Emanuel and Amanda, all of whom have mar- ried with the exception of Albert and all are residents of Crawford county.

Albert Rensch with his brothers and sisters attended the country schools and willingly gave his father assistance in his farming and gar- dening, having a taste in this direction, and before his father's death became the practical manager of the business. Since the property became his own he has made many changes, tearing down the old buildings and erecting five greenhouses in which he has installed modern equipments and carries on his under- taking in a scientific way. He is a good busi- ness man and a representative citizen, being a member of the Commercial Club. With his brothers he is identified with the Democratic party, and with the other members of his fam- ily, was confirmed in the Reformed church. He has assistants in his brothers and they cul- tivate 63 acres and in the greenhouses have 12,000 feet of glass and in the spring their trade is very heavy, shipping their forced plants to outside points, while their local trade is very satisfactory.

JOSEPH HEINLE. One of the substan- tial old families of Holmes township, Craw- ford county, O., is the Heinle family and a member of the same, Joseph Heinle, lives on the old homestead which his father acquired as wild land, some 60 years ago. Mr. Heinle was born on this farm of 94 acres, which lies four miles west of Bucyrus, May 26, 1857, and is a son of John G. and Maria (Leittz) Heinle.

John G. Heinle was born in 1819 in Ger- many and came to Crawford county, O., in 1837, engaged first in farming in Bucyrus township and then came to Holmes township

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and bought the present place. To the develop- ment and improvement of this property he de- voted many years of life and lived into old age, dying in 1899, when 80 years old, his wife sur- viving to be 75 years of age. They had eight children, namely: Eliza, who is the wife of Adam Brown; Frances, who lives in Bucyrus township; George, who also lives in Bucyrus township; Mrs. Kate Gibson, of Oceola, O .; Mrs. Mary Ann Meyers, of Van Wert, O .; John and Philip, both of whom live in Bucyrus township; and Joseph.

Joseph Heinle obtained his education in the schools of Crawford county and ever since has been engaged in farm pursuits on the old home- stead which he purchased. In addition to gen- eral farming and some fruit raising he gives attention to stock raising to a moderate degree, and through his systematic methods produces fine returns.

Mr. Heinle married Miss Emma Snavely, a daughter of David Snavely and they have had four children: Kate, who married Moses Steiger, and has one daughter, Valeria ; Agnes ; Mary and Stella, the youngest daughter being deceased. Mr. Heinle and family belong to the Martin Luther church in Tod township. In politics he is a Democrat and has served in the office of road supervisor.

JOHN GRAU, who owns 113 acres of finely improved land situated three and one-half miles northeast of Bucyrus, O., in Liberty township, Crawford county, is a careful and competent farmer and has every reason to feel satisfied with his agricultural success. He was born in 1870, in Tuscarawas county, O., one of a family of nine children born to his par- ents, who were Gottlieb and Dora (Esterley) Grau. Two of the children died in infancy, but the following survive: John; George, who married Mary Crall, lives near Bucyrus ; Jacob, who lives in Marion county, O., married Mary Scherer; Edward, who lives two miles south of Bucyrus, and married Anna Wise; Albert, who lives at Cleveland; Mary, who is the wife of Frederick Metzger, of Bucyrus; and Emma, who resides at Cleveland.

John Grau had the usual district school ad- vantages of a farmer's son and very early be- came acquainted with many of the practical facts that are foundation stones in successful

farming. After purchasing the property on which he lives he did considerable improving and has one of the most valuable and attractive farms in this section.

Mr. Grau married Miss Rachel McCullough, who is a daughter of Thomas and Mary (Mc- Cleland) Mccullough, and they have two chil- dren, Louise and Earl. Mr. Grau and family are members of the Presbyterian church. He is identified with the Democratic party but takes no very active part in public matters. He is interested, however, in having good schools and good laws concerning the construction and repair of the public highways, as becomes a good citizen.

J. BERT ROBINSON,* one of the enter- prising and active business men of Galion, a member of the transportation firm of Walford & Robinson, proprietors of the Central Deliv- ery company, with business stand on Ware- house Alley, Galion, was born in Polk town- ship, Crawford county, O., Jan. 23, 1876, and is a son of J. Chalmer and Emma Robinson.

Hon. James Robinson, grandfather of J. Bert Robinson, was born in Pennsylvania but spent the greater part of his active life in Crawford county, where he became a man of large estate and considerable political prom- inence, for years being a public official and a member of the state legislature. He was the founder of the thriving village of North Rob- inson. His death occured at Galion, when he was 75 years of age. His son, J. Chalmer Robinson, was born in Crawford county and has been a successful farmer for many years, in 1885 moving to North Bloomfield township, Morrow county, where he now resides. His family consists of four sons : James H., a prac- ticing physician at Selma, Calif., who married there and has one daughter; J. Bert, our sub- ject; Richard W., a civil and mechanical en- gineer with the American Bridge company, at Chicago, who has one son; and Karl, a pro- fessional ball-player with the Western League, who has his home at Omaha, Nebr., and has one daughter.

J. Bert Robinson attended school at Galion and later was a student in the Tri-State Nor- mal school, at Angola, Ind., and at Ada, O., and for a time taught school and very success- fully. He then turned his attention to rail-

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roading and for ten years was fireman and later engineer on the Erie railway, leaving the road to embark in his present business and in partnership with Mr. Walford has been pro- prietor and half owner of the Central Delivery Company here, succeeding the Central Deliv- ery Company, a corporation. This company is well equipped, having nine wagons and nine drays, for the accommodation of the mer- chants. They have so systemized the work by dividing the city into five routes, their schedule being for five daily deliveries of merchandise, that both the public and the merchants are ad- mirably served.

Mr. Robinson was married in Morrow county, O., to Miss Ella Walford, who was born, reared and educated there, and is a sister of K. J. Walford, Mr. Robinson's partner. Mr. Walford is in the transfer and dray busi- ness, at Ashland, O. Mr. and Mrs. Robinson have three sons: B. Austin, a manly lad of eleven years; J. Harold, aged nine years; and Clarence W., who is five years old. Mr. and Mrs. Robinson are members of the Christian church. He is a Democrat in his political views but his tastes lie more in the direction of business than politics.

O. J. KELLER, who is engaged in the mer- cantile business at Sulphur Springs, Crawford county, O., is one of the substantial citizens of Liberty township and is an honorable veteran of the great Civil War. He was born in North- ampton county, Pa., in 1843, and is a son of Joseph and Lavina Keller. There were II chil- dren in the family, namely: O. J .; Jeremiah, who lives in Pennsylvania; Josiah, who is de- ceased; Reuben, who died at Lindsay, O., and who was a Reformed Lutheran minister ; Mary Katherine, who is deceased; John H. and Ma- tilda, both of whom died young, and four who died in infancy.

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History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 138

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