History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 140

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 140

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LEWIS MILLER, who enjoys the distinc- tion of being the oldest teacher now living in Crawford county, where his educational work was carried on for a number of years, re- sides on his excellent farm of 160 acres, sit- uated two miles northeast of Lemert, O. He was born in 1836, in Seneca county, O., and is a son of Jacob and Phebe ( Pennington) Miller.

Jacob Miller was born in Fairfield county, O., and in young manhood went to Seneca county and latter came to Crawford county. He followed farming in both counties and at one time owned almost 1,000 acres of land. His death occurred in his 82d year. He mar- ried Phebe Pennington and of their eight chil- dren there are two survivors: Lewis and Levi, the latter being a resident of Benton, O.

Lewis Miller attended school in boyhood in both Seneca and Crawford counties and afterward taught school for some years and there are many yet living who recall him as their able and helpful teacher. For four years he served as school examiner, has been a school director and has always taken much interest in the public schools. After coming to his present farm he made many improvements and erected all necessary buildings and re- paired the others. He still keeps up his in- terest in his farming and stock raising indus- tries and has the assistance of his son.

Mr. Miller married Miss Crilley A. Hous- burg, who was born in Crawford county, one mile west of the Miller farm, a daughter of Leonard Housburg, and they have had seven children, namely: Jesse, who married Daisy Dewell, and has one son, Wesley; Mary Effie, who married A. Horton, and has four chil- dren-Oscar, Donald, William and Nellie; Ira J., who assists in the management of the home farm; Ruphena, who is the wife of J. Heinle; Arletta and Lawrence, both of whom live at home; and a babe that died. In politics Mr. Miller is a stanch Democrat and has served in public office at times and formerly

was township clerk. He is one of the county's most highly respected citizens.

ALLEN W. OCKER,* who is connected with the E. M. Freese Works, at Galion, in the capacity of blacksmith, a skilled man along this line and one of large experience, was born in Richland county, O., Nov. 16, 1859, a son of Josiah and Mary A. (Winters) Ocker.

Josiah Ocker and wife were born in Mary- land and after marriage moved from Carroll county in that state to Troy township, Rich- land county, O., where the mother of Allen W. Ocker died when he was 12 days old. The father contracted a second marriage and one son also was born to that union. The father died at the home of his son, Allen W., in 1911, when aged almost 78 years.

Allen W. Ocker remained in Richland county and obtained his education in Troy township, in 1876 coming to Galion, where he learned the blacksmith trade, later going to Bucyrus where he entered the employ of the Bucyrus Steam Shovel and Dredge Company and remained with that concern for 12 years. On Jan. 12, 1894, he came to Galion and ac- cepted a position with the firm of E. M. Freese & Co. Mr. Ocker is a skilled workman along the line of machine blacksmithing and tool making.

Mr. Ocker was married in Crawford county in 1888, to Miss Carrie Berger, who is a sis- ter of Mrs. E. M. Freese. Mrs. Ocker was born in Switzerland and came to the United States with her parents when ten years of age. To Mr. and Mrs. Ocker three children have been born, namely: Earl J., who grad- uated from the Galion High School in the class of 1909, who is a pattern maker; Olive B. and Howard L. Mr. Ocker and family are members of the First Reformed church. In politics he is a Democrat and fraternally he is identified with Galion Lodge No. 15, Odd Fellows.

MRS. LIZZIE HIEBER, who resides on her well cultivated farm of 140 acres, situated in Liberty township, Crawford county, O., be- longs to one of the old and substantial fam- ilies of this section, the Scheibers, and is the widow of the late John G. Hieber, for many

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years an esteemed and respected resident of this section.

John G. Hieber was born in Crawford county, O., April 8, 1867, and died on the present farm, May 19, 1903. He was a son of Christian and Christiana (Wagner ) Hieber and was reared on his father's farm and ob- tained his education in the district schools. He was a man of industry and excellent busi- ness judgment and was very successful in his agricultural operations and wise in his invest- ments. At the time of death he was able to leave a valuable farm and other property to his widow and three children. In his death the community lost a worthy citizen and his fam- ily a kind, loving and careful protector, and the Lutheran church a consistent member.

On Dec. 31, 1891, John G. Hieber was united in marriage with Miss Lizzie Schieber, who is a daughter of Jacob and Eva ( Mauer) Schieber, and a granddaughter of Gottlieb and Magdalena Schieber. To Mr. and Mrs. Hieber the following children were born: Roy Ellis, who was educated in the Bucyrus High School and in an agricultural college, operates the home farm; Milo W., who is a student in the Bucyrus High School; Grace Elizabeth, who resides at home; and Mary E., who died at the age of 13 months. Mrs. Hieber and family are members of the Luth- eran church.

ANDREW W. DENZER, who is a mem- ber of one of the old and substantial families of Tod township, Crawford county, O., lives on his well improved farm of 100 acres ly- ing one and one-half miles northeast of Oce- ola, O., was born in Bucyrus township, Craw- ford county, three and one-half miles from the city of Bucyrus, on July 8, 1853. His par- ents were Jacob and Matilda (McNeal) Denzer.

Jacob Denzer was born in Germany and was 13 years old when his parents brought him to the United States. For several years he lived at Tiffin, O., and then came to near Bucyrus and for several more years worked for farmers in that neighborhood. After his marriage he secured some land through his own labor and to the original purchase kept on adding, through his industry and prudence, until he owned 500 acres and at the time of

his death was one of the largest land owners in this section of the county. He lived to the age of 81 years and was widely known and much respected. His death occurred on the farm on which his son, Andrew W. was reared. He married Matilda McNeal, who was born in Pennsylvania, probably of Scotch parents, and was a child when she came to Ohio. Of the 13 children born to Jacob Den- zer and his wife, ten are yet living.

Andrew W. Denzer went to the district schools in his boyhood and afterward gave his father assistance on the home farm in Bucyrus township In 1882 he purchased the farm on which he has lived ever since. It is well cared for and finely im- proved and Mr. Denzer put up all the sub- stantial buildings except the residence, which he remodeled and made entirely comfortable. The property is very valuable and Mr. Denzer is a thoroughgoing and successful farmer.

Mr. Denzer married Miss Mary Jane Shroll, who was born in Bucyrus township and is a daughter of Samuel Shroll, who was one of the early settlers here. Mr. and Mrs. Denzer have had seven children, as follows: Violet, who is the wife of William Flocken, and has two children-Corinne and Donald; Wal- don, who is engaged in farming one mile west of his father, and who married Hazel Young and has one son, Sherman A .; Willis, who is his father's capable assistant; Della and Hul- dah ; Ethel, who died at the age of eight years ; and an infant, deceased. Mr. Denzer has al- ways voted the Democratic ticket. On sev- eral occasions he has served in local offices with efficiency and has been school director and turnpike road commissioner.

LEWIS DAY PICKERING,* proprietor of one of the important and well established business houses of Bucyrus, O., dealing in a full line of agricultural implements and car- riages and wagons, at No. 321 North San- dusky Avenue, is a native of Bucyrus, born here 36 years ago, and has been more or less directly connected with city interests all his life. His parents were William W. and Martha J. (Phelps) Pickering.

The father of Mr. Pickering was born in England and came to America when a young man, while the mother, born in Carroll county,

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O., was of direct English ancestry. They came to Bucyrus after the birth of their eld- est child and spent the rest of their lives here, the mother dying when aged 45 years and the father surviving her four years, passing away in 1882. They were members of the Lutheran church. The father owned farm land near Bucyrus but his main business was that of stock drover, in which he made many long trips over the mountains to eastern mar- kets. There were ten children in the family, five sons and five daughters, and the following survive: Emma, who is the wife of John Dodge, of Haverhill, Mass., and has one son and two daughters ; Joseph M., who is a farmer residing in Michigan; Grove L., who is a farmer in Henry county, O .; Edward C., who lives at New Comerstown, O., a machinist, who has wife and two daughters; Lewis Day, our subject; Lula A., twin sister of Lewis Day, who married Charles Young and lives at Winchester, Mass .; Mary, who is the wife of S. Larkins, and who resides at Alliance, O., and has one daughter. The names of those deceased were : Charles C., who died in 1910, at Chicago, and is survived by a widow and four children; Caroline, who died young; and Gertrude, who is survived by her husband, J. C. Brinkman.

Lewis Day Pickering was left an orphan when eight years old and motherless when only four years of age. He grew up partly on the farm and partly in the city and was educated here in the public schools. Since 1897 he has been proprietor of his present busi- ness, one that was established many years earlier by W. N. Koons, who was succeeded by J. M. Pickering, a brother to the present owner. Mr. Pickering has a first class estab- lishment and while his stock is very large and complete in every line, he carries only the best goods. He takes pride in his business reputa- tion for reliability and his methods have made him a popular merchant with the class from whom his patronage comes. Politically he is a Republican but is active in politics only to the extent of good citizenship. He is a mem- ber of the United Commercial Travellers' As- sociation. Mr. Pickering is unmarried.

JOHN WESLEY KRAUTER, one of the representative men of Liberty township, Craw-

ford county, O., resides on his excellent farm of 80 acres, which he devotes to general agri- culture. He was born in Liberty township, Dec. 14, 1871, and is a son of John C. and Cathe- rine (Gebhardt) Krauter.

John C. Krauter was born in Germany and his parents were John and Catherine Krauter. For some years he has been a successful farmer and stock raiser in Holmes township, where he still resides. He is a Republican in politics and is well known over Crawford county. Mr. Krauter is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He married Catherine Gebhardt, who was born in Ohio and died July 4, 1906, her burial being in beautiful Oakwood Cemetery at Bucyrus. To this marriage the following children were born: Susan, who is the wife of John K. Leimenstoll; Dora, who is the wife of Amos Lust; William E .; Lydia; Alma, who is the wife of Herman Portman; Caroline; Harry and John Wesley.

John Wesley Krauter attended the public schools and afterward assisted his father un- til his 25th year when he rented the home- stead for a period of seven years and at the end of that time purchased his present farm. It is a fine property situated three-fourth miles east of the Columbus turnpike road and is still known as the old Gottlieb Krauter home- stead. Mr. Krauter's activities include farm- ing and stock raising and he is numbered with the prosperous agriculturists of this section.

Mr. Krauter was married to Miss Sarah Leimenstoll, who was born in Crawford county and is a daughter of the late Henry and So- phia Leimenstoll, former residents of Chat- field township, who lived and died there and were buried in the Lust Cemetery. They had the following children: Mary, who is de- ceased, was the wife of Henry Geissman; Christian; Sophia, who is the wife of Charles Geissman; John; Jacob; and Sarah, who is the wife of Mr. Krauter.

To Mr. and Mrs. Krauter three children have been born, namely: John Wesley Paul, Carl Edwin and Arthur Harvey, the last named dying in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Krauter are members of the Methodist Epis- copal church, and they take much interest in the work of the Sunday-school, Mr. Krauter serving as its superintendent for a number of

CHRISTIAN S. CRIM

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years. In politics he is a Republican but he has never been willing to accept the responsi- bilities of office, with the exception of those of township trustee, in which position he is serv- ing very acceptably to his fellow citizens.

GEORGE AURAND, one of the represen- tative agriculturists of Tod township, Craw- ford county, O., who owns a fine farm of 165 acres, situated two miles north of Oceola, O., was born two miles southeast of Bucyrus, O., and has spent his life in his native state.

After his school period was over, George Aurand, in 1862, came to his present farm where he has remained until the present. He erected the comfortable residence here and made all the other improvements, having com- pleted the clearing of the land. He operates all of his 165 acres with the exception of 25 acres, which he rents.

Mr. Aurand married Miss Amanda Mutch- ler and they have had seven children, namely : Georgia, deceased; Albert, who died young ; Tillie, who is the wife of S. Heft and has two children-Russell and Laura; Stella, who is the wife of Albert Gingery and has four children-Nora, Willis, Carl and Dorsey; Ira B., who died when aged 18 years; Herbert I., who assists his father on the farm and who married Rosa Laipply, and has three children -Ethel, Wallace and George; and Esther, who is the wife of Virgil Starlin, their two children dying in infancy. Mr. Aurand is a Methodist in religious faith, Mrs. Aurand be- longing to the U. B. church at Oceola. Mr. Aurand votes with the Republican party.

CHRISTIAN S. CRIM, deceased, for many years was a prominent business man of Galion and widely known in banking circles. He was one of the organizers of the First National Bank, its first president and was continued at the head of that institution for 37 years, its prosperity during this time hav- ing largely been due to his business sagacity and careful and conservative banking meth- ods. He was born in Lancaster county, Pa., in 1820, and died at Galion in September, 1895. His parents were Jacob and Eliza (Smith) Crim, who lived and died in Penn- sylvania, both being of German parentage.

In 1839 Christian S. Crim left his father's farm and the local school. He made his way

to Lancaster, O., and engaged in merchandis- ing there, later at Johnsville, in Morrow county, and in 1851 reached Galion. Here, in 1854, with his brother, Levi S. Crim, he went into the dry goods business and remained a resident of Galion although his brother sub- sequently went to Bucyrus and later to To- ledo. Christian S. Crim decided that Galion, even then, offered excellent business oppor- tunities and he quietly kept seeking them and built up a large trade in dry goods. Later he built the first grain elevator here and became a factor in the grain trade and during the Civil War, in association with his brother, they handled thousands of bushels of grain and seed, including flax seed. They also dealt in wool and in horses for the Govern- ment. Mr. Crim was one of the organizers of the First National Bank of Monroeville. Dur- ing his many years of active business he gained an enviable reputation, for, while he was credited with great shrewdness, he was known to be of unquestioned integrity. His judgment on all questions was so invariably correct that it was frequently sought and followed. He believed in political parties and was a strong Republican but business always interested him to such an extent that no time was left for acceptance of political positions.

Mr. Crim was married at Galion, O., to Miss Martha Rosianna Casner, who was born in 1841, in Juniata county, Pa., and was four years old when her parents, Thomas and Sarah (Steese) Casner, came to Galion. Later they moved to Missouri and Mr. Casner served in a Missouri regiment in the Federal Army until the close of the Civil War, sev- eral times being wounded and probably on this account his life did not extend much longer. His widow, the mother of Mrs. Crim, died in the same year, three sons and two daughters thus becoming orphans. Mrs. Crim and two brothers are the sole survivors. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Crim : Olie, Ella, Charles and Henry. Mrs. Crim is an unusually capable business woman as well as one deeply interested in benevolent, philanthropic and educational movements. For eight years she was vice president of the First National Bank and since her husband's death has continued a member of the board of directors. She was the moving spirit in the organization of the Galion Public Library,

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which was incorporated March 26, 1901. This community has much reason to be grate- ful to Mrs. Crim in this connection. She was a member and chairman of the library board and largely through her efforts it was made possible to accept Mr. Carnegie's gift of $15,000 and in 1902 the beautiful and appro- priate library building was completed. She was the organizer of the Current News Club, the first literary society in this city and has been its president. Her enthusiasm and help- fulness have been potent in the founding of other organization designed for a better social order and her charities have been generously bestowed but are never exploited.

CHARLES F. BONEBRAKE,* manufac- turer of all kinds of cement supplies, doing an extensive business at Bucyrus, O., where he occupies the building at No. 210 Jones street, and who also takes contracts for stone work and sidewalk making and additionally has been in the plastering business for some ten years, is one of the busy and representa- tive men of this city. He is a native of Bucy- rus, born Nov. 24, 1880, and is a son of Samuel F. and Catherine (Schepp) Bone- brake.

Samuel F. Bonebrake was born in Penn- sylvania and accompanied his parents to Crawford county during the Civil War. He followed the plasterer's trade all his active life and both he and wife still reside at Bucy- rus. She was born in Ohio, of German ex- traction. They had two children: Nellie, who died at the age of 20 years, and Charles F.

Charles F. Bonebrake obtained his educa- tion in the common schools and the High School at Bucyrus, after which he worked with his father for a number of years be- fore beginning business for himself. He has been in the cement business for 15 years and brought to this city the first cement block ma- chine ever used in this section. Mr. Bone- brake has been sole proprietor of his busi- ness for two years and has been at his pres- ent excellent location for four years, where he has a plant fully equipped with modern machinery for his line of work. He turns out both plain and decorated cement blocks and has a large dryhouse which ensures the proper amount of drying that is necessary in

order to make his product perfect. His trade, as yet, is largely local but there is every reason to anticipate that it will not continue so, each year with its progressive developments open- ing up wider and wider fields for the use of cement, and Mr. Bonebrake possesses the en- terprise to take advantage of every oppor- tunity.

Mr. Bonebrake was married at Bucyrus, to Miss Ida Deppler, who was born in Ohio, Feb. 4, 1880, and was educated in her native state. Mr. and Mrs. Bonebrake have no children. They are members of the Presbyterian church. Politically he is a Democrat and fraternally he is identified with the Knights of Pythias, the Eagles and the National Union.

AARON NEFF, whose valuable farm of 113 acres lies in Liberty township, Crawford county, O., four miles northeast of Bucyrus, is a member of one of the old county fam- ilies and was born in Holmes township, Feb. 21, 1873, a son of Joseph and Sophia ( Yeiter) Neff.

Joseph Neff was born in Pennsylvania and came to Crawford county, O., when about 25 years old, ever afterward residing here and becoming a successful farmer and respected citizen. He was married in early manhood to Sophia Yeiter, who was born in Liberty township, Crawford county, and the follow- ing children were born to them: Emanuel, who resides in Sandusky township, and who married Sarah Krauter and has one daugh- ter, Elsie; Lizzie, who is the wife of Joseph Durr and lives in Liberty township; Amos, a twin of our subject, who is a resident of Bucyrus, and who married Anna Sheiber; Jacob, a farmer in Liberty township, who married Ella, daughter of Jacob Sheiber; Mary, who is the wife of Abraham Sheiber and resides at Bucyrus; Tillie, who is de- ceased; Emma, who is the wife of Albert Sheiber and lives in Holmes township; Joseph, a farmer in Holmes township, who married Myrtle Sheiber ; and Aaron, the subject of this article.

Aaron Neff obtained his education in the schools of Holmes township and with the ex- ception of one year spent in the West, has al- ways lived in Crawford county. On his well improved farm in Liberty township he car-

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ries on general farming and raises some ex- cellent stock and in the management of his different industries finds enough work to make him a very busy man.

On Feb. 1I, 1904, Mr. Neff was married to Miss Cora Orewiler, who is a daughter of Jacob and Jennie (Steen) Orewiler, and they have two children, son and daughter; Carol Irene and Forest A. Mrs. Neff has one brother, Harry N. Orewiler, who is a resi- dent of Bucyrus. In politics Mr. Neff is a Republican. He is a wide awake, intelligent citizen and keeps thoroughly posted on public affairs and well informed concerning agricul- tural matters.

H. A. LEA, who is a leading and substan- tial citizen of Tod township, Crawford county, O., and a member of one of the oldest county families, resides on his well improved farm of 80 acres, and, with his son, Don Lea, owns and operates an additional 100 acres, the first farm being situated one mile west of Lemert, O., and the second farm north of the town. Mr. Lea was born on the old homestead in Tod township, in 1848, and is a son of Thomas and Polly ( Miller ) Lea and a grand- son of Zacheus Lea.

Zacheus Lea was born in the Isle of Wight, England, and was 20 years old when he came to the United States and took up his residence near Jersey Shore, Pa., where he became a farmer and large land owner. He married a member of one of the neighboring German families and about 1832 they came to Craw- ford county, O., where he purchased a farm for each of his children. He lived to the age of 79 years.

Thomas Lea was born in Lycoming county, Pa., and came with his parents to Crawford county. He cleared and improved the farm in Tod township that his father gave him and continued to reside here until the close of his life, dying at the age of 62 years. He mar- ried Polly Miller, who was born in Union county, Pa., and was ten years old when her parents came to Crawford county and her death occurred on the homestead, in her 51st year. They had ten children, as follows: Mrs. Sarah A. Armstrong; Mrs. Amanda Pease Cook, who is deceased; Jane, who died in 1869; H. A., our subject; Isaac, a resident

of Oceola, who is pastor of the United Breth- ren church; James, who died in 1910, who was a physician and for 27 years a minister in the Methodist Episcopal church; Mrs. Mar- tha Cook, who died in 1879; Adella, who died in 1887; Mrs. Carrie Coon, who is deceased; and Lucy, who died in infancy.

H. A. Lea attended school at Lemert and at Heidelberg College and prepared himself to teach school and for the greater part of 15 years was engaged in educational work, mainly in this section but also teaching for a few terms in three different states. From 1878 until 1903 he lived on his present place and then moved to Fostoria in order to give his children the best of educational advantages and remained in that city for seven years. Afterward he resided for two years at Syca- more and then returned to the home farm and in association with his son general farming and stock-raising is carried on by them on both farms.

Mr. Lea was married to Miss Josephine Eyestone, who is a daughter of George Eye- stone, who was a pioneer in Wyandot county, O., and they have two children: Don and Clara, the former of whom is in business with his father as indicated above, and the latter, who is a graduate of the Fostoria High school, resides with her parents. Don Lea married Miss Cora Markley and they have children : Jessie, Josephine, Arlene, Dorothy and Hattie. In politics Mr. Lea prefers to be independent. Being an educated and well informed man, he feels that he can take a broad-minded view of policies, principles and platforms for him- self and therefor casts his vote as his own judgment suggests. He has served on the school board and for ten years did serve as township trustee.

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History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 140

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