History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 141

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 141

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GEORGE M. MARQUART, who carries on farming and stock raising in section I, Cranberry township, Crawford county, O., where he owns 149 acres of fine land, situated one and three-fourth miles north of New Washington, O., was born and has always lived on this farm.

Mr. Marquart obtained a good, common school education and ever since has devoted himself closely to his farm and stock inter- ests, succeeding his father, Michael Marquart,

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on the place. He has done a large amount of improving and has a set of substantial build- ings and much of his land is tiled. All is cul- tivated with the exception of 22 acres which are still in timber. Mr. Marquart grows grain, cattle, sheep and hogs, raising and feed- ing many of the latter.

Mr. Marquart married Miss Caroline A. Leonhart, a daughter of John Leonhart, and they have six children, all of whom were born on this farm. The three older ones, Estella O., Edna M., and Lester G., are attending school and are making rapid progress, while the three younger ones, Iona May, Ralph E. and Lloyd C., remain at home. Mr. Mar- quart and family are members of the Lutheran church and he assisted in the building of the present church edifice. He has always given his political support to the Democratic party, and has taken a good citizen's interest in all local matters.

JEROME BLAND, M. D., a well known and highly respected resident of Bucyrus, O., who is now living retired from the active prac- tice of his profession, was born on a farm in Muskingum county, O., July 22, 1840. He was the eldest of the family of ten children -three daughters and seven sons-of Ebe- nezer and Harriet (Lane) Bland. At an early day the Blands were prominent and rep- resentative people in the states of Virginia, Kentucky and Missouri, a conspicuous figure in the last named state being Congressman "Silver Dick" Bland.

John Bland, the paternal grandfather of our subject, was a native Virginian and of Virginian parentage. He came from his na- tive state to Ohio as early as 1798, settling in Muskingum county, and the land which he obtained by patent from the general govern- ment is still in possession of his descendants, who are numerous in that county. The maiden name of his wife is not now recalled. They established a good homestead and both died at an advanced age.

Ebenezer Bland, the Doctor's father, was born in Muskingum county, O., in 1811, and died on his substantial farm in Muskingum county in 1888. His wife, Mrs. Harriet Lane Bland, was a native of Maryland.

Jerome Bland, our direct subject, spent the

first 23 years of his life on the farm, where he learned most useful lessons of industry and perseverance, which have been character- istic of his entire career. At the age of 19 he began teaching in the country schools, and, in all, he taught nine winter terms. In 1862 he became a student in Denison College at Granville, O., where he remained until 1864, after which date he taught several terms of school. In 1864 he began the study of medi- cine under the preceptorship of Dr. Joseph McCann, of Irville, O. Later he attended one term of lectures in Starling Medical Col- lege, of Columbus, O. He then began the practice of his profession at Hanover, this state, where he remained two years. He then reentered Starling Medical College, where he graduated in 1869.

Settling in Crawford county, he located at Benton, now Poplar, where he was engaged in a most active and lucrative practice for 14 years, being "on the go" almost day and night. No other physician of the county even had a larger, if as large a country practice as had Dr. Bland while he was located at Benton. From that place he came to Bucyrus in 1883, from which time until 1905, the year of his retirement, he was numbered among the most active and successful physicians and surgeons of the city. He gave up his practice only on account of extreme ill health, which unfitted him for the arduous labors of his profession, with its urgent calls at all hours of the day and night. As an item of family history, it may be mentioned that Dr. Bland had two brothers, Charles and John Bland, who stud- ied medicine under him. Both entered med- ical college and died of consumption during the last year of their studies in college, and both at the age of 28, though their deaths oc- curred some eight years apart. A third brother of the Doctor's also died of consump- tion, though his other brothers and himself were large and robust men.

In politics Dr. Bland is a Democrat. He served five years as county coroner and was a member of the Pension Board of Examiners under the second administration of Grover Cleveland. He has important business inter- ests, being proprietor of Knisely Springs stock farm, owning and breeding high-bred horses. On his farm are also valuable mineral springs,

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the water from which is bottled for public consumption by the Knisely Mineral Springs Bottling Works. The Doctor is a member of the County, State and National medical associations.

Dr. Bland stands high in the Masonic order. Besides holding membership not only in the Blue Lodge, Chapter, Council and Command- ery, but also in the Mystic Shrine, Scottish Rite (Al Koran Temple), at Cleveland. He was a charter member and one of the organ- izers of the Elk lodge in Bucyrus and was voted a life member of that organization on Dec. 23, 1909.

Dr. Bland was married in 1867 to Miss Lucy Coon, who was born in Hanover, Lick- ing county, O., Aug. 8, 1849, and who was there reared and educated. Her parents were Israel and Maria (Edwards) Coon, both na- tives of Ohio, the father being of Pennsyl- vania parentage and the mother of Welsh an- cestry. Mr. Coon was for many years pro- prietor of a hotel in Hanover, O., in which place he and his wife were married, and where he died at the age of 59 years. His wife had preceded him to the grave a few years pre- viously leaving two children, one of whom, Is- rael, Jr., died when 16 years of age. The other, Mrs. Bland, still survives. She is a member of the M. E. church and is active in its good work.

Dr. and Mrs. Bland have been the parents of four children-Harriet Belle, Ebenezer, Charles, who died in infancy, and Alice Bar- bara, whose further record is briefly as fol- lows: Harriet Belle was born in Benton, O., June 21, 1870. She was educated in the Bucy- rus High School and was married in this city in 1893 to A. J. Yawger, who was born in Elmira, N. Y., of good parentage, May 26, 1866. He graduated from Cornell Univer- sity with the degree of C. E. and later became a contractor on railroad and municipal engi- neering work in various parts of the United States, but his headquarters for some time have been at Indianapolis, Ind. He is a Ma- son. Mrs. Yawger is a member of the Meth- odist church. She is a lady of culture and refinement and of strong filial affection and resides with her parents in Bucyrus. She has no children.

Ebenezer, the Doctor's second child, was a

well educated young man. On the breaking out of the War with Spain, he joined Com- pany A, Eighth Regiment O. V. I., as a pri- vate and accompanied his regiment to Cuba, where he died from cholera, July 11, 1898, when within a few days of being 24 years of age. He is buried in Arlington Cemetery, at Washington, D. C.

Alice Barbara Bland was born in Benton, O., Dec. 14, 1882. She graduated from Bucy- rus High School and has since remained at home with her parents, to whom she is much attached. She is unmarried. She, like her married sister, is a member of the Methodist church.

HON. J. R. MILLER, mayor of New Washington, O., and president of the Miller Merchandise Company, of this city, is a rep- resentative citizen of Crawford county and practically all his life has been identified with many of her important interests. He was born at New Washington, Jan. 19, 1861.

Mr. Miller attended school at New Wash- ington and afterward took a Spencerian Com- mercial course at Cleveland, O., and then went into the grocery business under the firm style of J. R. & G. Miller. In 1890 G. Miller re- tired and a general store was opened, Mr. Miller admitting A. P. Miller and the busi- ness was continued under the name of J. R. & A. P Miller until April 9, 1906. Mr. Miller then opened his present store, under the style of the Miller Merchandise Company, which is one of the largest and most complete depart- ment stores in this part of Ohio, the spacious building being three stories high, including basement and covering an acre of ground. It is one of the largest business enterprises at New Washington. J. R. Miller is president of the company; A. O. Miller is vice presi- dent ; and Mrs. A. O. Miller is secretary. In addition to the officers there are three other directors: J. W. Kibler, Dr. C. E. Kimerline and Frank Derr. The first officers and di- rectors were: J. R. Miller, president and manager; A. P. Miller, vice president; F. J. Miller, treasurer ; C. A. Miller, secretary, and Jacob Uhl, J. W. Kibler and A. O. Miller, directors. The officers and directors are elected annually. J. R. Miller is additionally inter- ested in the Toledo Life Insurance Company.

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He is a member of the Knights of Columbus and was reared in the Roman Catholic church.

Mayor Miller was married to Miss Anna E. Uhl, who is a daughter of Jacob and Mag- gie Uhl, old residents of New Washington. In politics Mr. Miller has been a zealous Demo- crat all his mature life and has held many offices of responsibility and for the past three years has been mayor of New Washington and has given the city a business administra- tion that has been very popular and decidely beneficial.

JACOB F. GUINTHER,* a representative farmer, who owns and operates 143 acres of land, 53 of which are located in Marion county and the balance in Crawford county, was born on the homestead farm on which he still lives, March 20, 1864. His parents were Jacob and Catherine (Shalenmiller ) Guinther, the former of whom was born in Wurtem- burg, Germany, and the latter in Lycoming county, Pa. Both are now deceased and are buried in Sherer cemetery.

Jacob Guinther was a farmer during the time he spent in this country. He was a Democrat in politics and attended the German Reformed church. He and his wife were the parents of the following children: Mary, the wife of George K. Ulmer; John George; Sophia, deceased; Catherine, wife of Samuel Rexroth; Isaac C .; Charlotte, wife of S. J. Stump; and Jacob F., the subject of this arti- cle, who was the youngest born.

Jacob F. Guinther received a common school education and then went to work on the farm where he has spent his entire life. His father died when he was 20 years of age. After the death of his parents, he bought the farm from the other heirs and here he carries on general farming.

On Dec. 5, 1889, Mr. Guinther married Jennie Nungesser, a daughter of Christian and Elizabeth (Helfrich) Nungesser. Her father was born in Germany where he learned the shoemaker's trade. Upon coming to the United States he located first in Cincinnati, but later moved to New Winchester, Craw- ford county, and purchased a farm of 13I acres in Whetstone township, which he still owns. He and his wife live retired at Galion. They belong to the German Lutheran church.

Their children, besides Mrs. Guinther, are as follows: Delilah (Mrs. Isaac A. Cook) ; Margaret, widow of H. P. Rexroth; and Melancthon G.

Mr. and Mrs. Jacob F. Guinther have had the following children : Edith Catherine, Ruth E., Laura M., and Clara M.

Mr. Guinther has served as township as- sessor for two years and township trustee for six years. They attend St. John's Re- formed church.

LINCOLN HOOVER, who is one of the substantial citizens and prosperous farmers of Vernon township, Crawford county, O., suc- cessfully carries on general farming and stock raising on his improved tract of 60 acres, which lies six miles northwest of Crestline, O. He was born in Crawford county in 1864, and is a son of Gideon and Nancy (Teeter) Hoover.

Both the Hoovers and Teeters came origin- ally from Germany and many of the name can be found in different sections of the United States. Gideon Hoover was born in Mary- land and his wife in Richland county, O., the Teeters having come to Ohio from Pennsyl- vania. To Gideon Hoover and wife ten chil- dren were born: John, Moses, Lavina, Aaron, Amos, Alice, Lincoln, Frank, Henry and Lotta, and of the above, Moses, Aaron and Amos, are all deceased. John married Amanda Buck and they live in Vernon town- ship and have five children: Wilson, Ladena, Silas B., Anna and Fern. Lavina married John Parr and they live in Sandusky town- ship and have six children: Calvin, Nancy, Gideon, Amanda, Bertha and Lotta. Alice married Quinn Dewalt and they live in Craw- ford county and have four children: Stella, Clark, Nancy and Mary. Frank, who mar- ried Nellie Dewalt, lives in Sandusky town- ship and has four children: Vance, Lorin, Mary and Amos. Henry lives in Richland county and has two children: Nancy and Frank. Nancy, the wife of Gideon Hoover died Jan. 4, 1900. They were both well known people, members of the United Brethren church.

Lincoln Hoover obtained a district school education and continued on the home farm with his father until he was 27 years of age

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and then bought his first farm but sold it after operating it for a time and then purchased his present more desirable one. Here he has everything convenient and in good shape, his improvements including the erection of sub- stantial buildings and keeping them in order, and investing in good stock and improved farm machinery. His time and attention are mainly devoted to his agricultural operations and he is numbered with the most successful men in this line in this section.

Mr. Hoover was married to Miss Minnie Bilsing, a daughter of Adam and Lavina (Swisher) Bilsing. The parents of Mrs. Bil- sing had the following children: John H., who lives in Kansas; Barnett, who lives near Crestline, O .; Albert, who lives in Vernon township; a son that died in infancy; Mollie and Anna, both of whom are deceased; Eliza, who lives in Washington; Flora, deceased, who married Prof. Frank Brining, a college pro- fessor in India; and Minnie. Mr. and Mrs. Hoover have three children: Bessie, Adam and Ivan. Bessie is the wife of George Wert, and they reside in Crawford county. Mr. Hoover and family are members of the United Brethren church, of which he is a trustee and which he is serving as treasurer. Politically he is a Republican but has never cared for public office, serving, however, at one time, as township constable.

MRS. CATHERINE GANGLUFF, who for 45 years has resided on her valuable farm of 61 acres, which is situated in section II, Cranberry township, Crawford county, O., one and one-fourth miles west of New Wash- ington, O., is well known all through this sec- tion and is held in high regard. She was born in Seneca county, O., Nov. 17, 1847, and is a daughter of Frederick and Barbara (Deis- ler) Flexer, and the widow of Henry Gangluff.

The parents of Mrs. Gangluff were born in Germany but they were married after coming to America. They settled in Seneca county, O., where the father engaged in farming and died there in his 60th year. The mother sur- vived to be 74 years of age. They were good, virtuous, industrious and kind-hearted people and were respected by all who knew them. Of their family of five sons and three daugh- ters there are but two survivors: Mrs. Gang-

luff and Mrs. Christine Blinn. The latter was born in Seneca county and when she reached womanhood married Charles Blinn and they reside in Lykens township, Crawford county. Mr. and Mrs. Blinn have had five chil- dren: Nora, who has lived with her aunt, Mrs. Gangluff, since she was eight years of age; Pearl, who is the wife of Frank Shiefer, residing in Cranberry township; and Bertha, Harvey and Alvin, all living at home.

In girlhood Mrs. Gangluff attended school with her sisters and brothers and was reared to womanhood by a careful and loving mother.

In April, 1867, she was married to Henry Gangluff, who was born on the farm she now owns and occupies, a son of Philip and Annie (Reel) Gangluff, who came from Germany and settled here at an early day. Henry Gang- luff grew up on his father's farm and became a good judge of stock and a very capable farmer and also engaged in threshing during the season, until he met with an accident that fractured his thigh and that more or less crippled him until the close of his life. After marriage the old log house on the home farm was utilized and is still standing, but after- ward Mr. Gangluff erected the present com- fortable farmhouse. Here his death occurred when he was aged 71 years, in September, 1908, and his burial was in the Lutheran ceme- tery at New Washington, he having been a member of the Lutheran church since youth. He was a Democrat in his political opinions and supported Democratic candidates, but he was never willing to accept any office for him- self although he was a man gifted with many of the qualities which are needed in public officials. To Mr. and Mrs. Gangluff the fol- lowing children were born: George, who lives near Attica, O., and married Rosa Schimpf; John, who assists his mother in managing the home farm; William, who lives in Chatfield township, and who married Emmeline Leon- hart; Christine, who is the wife of William Shoup, and resides at New Washington; and Lewis and Charles, who remain on the home place with their mother. The family belongs to the Lutheran church.

WILLIAM C. SEELE, a prominent citizen of Holmes township, Crawford county, O., re- siding on his finely improved farm of 108

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acres, which lies just south of Brokensword, O., was born on this farm Aug. 6, 1863, and is a son of Emil and Catherine ( Spade) Seele.

Emil Seele was born in Germany, came to America when a boy of 16 years and died in Ohio in 1896, in his 73d year. For a num- ber of years he followed shoemaking together with farming in Holmes township, Crawford county, and erected the present comfortable farm-house on this place. He was a highly respected man and reared a creditable family. He married Catherine Spade, who was born in Pennsylvania and the following children were born to them: Mrs. Malinda Gersten- berger, Edward, Mrs. Matilda Ditty, Delma, Albert J., Mrs. Celesta Smith, William C. and Charles W., all of whom survive.

William C. Seele was educated in the coun- try schools and at Ada and New Washington, O., and afterward taught school for 12 terms and during six summers engaged in the ice business at Cleveland. After retiring from the educational field he turned his attention to farming and stock raising, following these industries along modern lines and meeting with excellent results. He has been a lead- ing factor in Democratic politics for many years in Holmes township and has served with the greatest efficiency in numerous important public positions, for four and one-half years being township clerk. for four years township treasurer, for 15 years a member of the school board and for nine years a member of the turnpike road commission.

Mr. Seele married Miss Metta Margraff, a daughter of Charles Margraff, who resides just east of Mr. and Mrs. Seele. Mr. Seele is a valued member of the Grange at Bucyrus and is identified fraternally with the Foresters and the knights of Maccabee.

FRANK H. SPILLETTE, who is one of the representative business men of New Washington. O., the junior member of a com- pany that owns and operates three elevators, was born in Auburn township. Crawford county. O., Oct. 1. 1875. and is a son of James and Lucinda ( Glosser ) Spillette, old residents of that township.

Frank H. Spillette attended school at New Washington and for eleven years taught school in Auburn and Cranberry townships.

Later he went into the elevator business, handling coal, flour, feed, seed and building material in connection, starting first at North Auburn, later becoming interested on the Northern Ohio Railroad and later at the pres- ent elevator where he has his office just across the track from the passenger depot of the Pennsylvania Railroad. He has other business interests, being a stockholder in the Toledo Life Insurance Company; in the Underwriters Security Company; in the Cran- berry Nursery Company at New Washington, and in the local telephone company. He is a wide awake business man and is well known all through the county, his business partner being Jacob Gottfried.

Mr. Spillette was married to Miss Laura Hoak, a daughter of Samuel and Amanda Hoak, the latter of whom died in Auburn township. Mr. and Mrs. Spillette have one son, Gordon. In politics Mr. Spillette is a Republican but somewhat independent in his views, but is no seeker for office.

GEORGE W. HARRIS, an honored citizen of Bucyrus, O., has been engaged in the prod- uce business since 1875. For the past seven years he has been commander of Keller Post, No. 128, G. A. R., of this city, being a veteran of the great Civil War. He was born Nov. 25. 1847, at what is now Waterville, O., and is a son of William Henry and Sarah E. (Hickox) Harris.

William Henry Harris was born in 1812, at Hoosick Falls, N. Y., a son of Asa Harris, who was born in 1780, in the north of Ire- land. The latter was of Scotch-Irish ances- try and came to America in early manhood and settled in New Hampshire. He was one of the early Baptists of that section and was a man of good report. It was known that he had five sons and possibly there were daugh- ters. William Henry Harris grew to manhood in New York State and learned the trade of wagonmaker at St. Johnsboro, Vt., from which place he moved to Ohio in 1833, and at Loudonville, in Ashland county, established the first wagonmaking shop in that section. He was married there to Sarah E. Hickox, who was born at Cuyahoga Falls, O. in 1822, of an old pioneer family. They lived in that village until after the birth of their first daugh-

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ter, and then moved to Wauseon, Fulton county, O., and lived there until 1857. Mr. Harris then removed with his family to Mans- field, O., where he established himself at his trade and worked at the same until after the close of the Civil War. He then spent ten years at North Fairfield, O., after which the family moved to Kansas, settling at Chapman, and there Mr. Harris spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring in 1898, at the age of 86 years. In principle he was opposed to human slavery and was a great admirer of Abraham Lincoln. He was a man of exem- plary life and a firm believer in the Baptist faith. His widow survived until 1902, her death occurring at Topeka, Kan. They were parents of five sons and two daughters and the following survive: Emma; born in Ashland county, O., who is the widow of William Johns and is a resident of Newark, N. J., hav- ing a son and daughter ; George W., subject of this record; William H., who is a coal mer- chant and owner of a wheat elevator at Rus- sell, Kan., and who resides there with his fam- ily; Grace, who is the wife of Charles Schwarts, a prominent attorney of Belling- ham, Wash., and has three children; Henry Franklin, a prominent citizen of Mansfield, O., who formerly resided at Bucyrus; and Joseph Asa, who is in business at Newark, N. J., and has three children. One son, Charles, died at the age of five years.

George W. Harris was nine years old when he went to live with his grandparents and later accompanied them to Mansfield. Those were days of great public unrest and the gravity of the danger threatening the country was not only recognized by men of years and discre- tion, but also by the young, a great wave of patriotism sweeping over the country resulting in the enlistment of thousands to suppress re- bellion. That so youthful a candidate for en- listment as was George W. Harris at that time, should have been accepted as a member of Co. I, 32nd O. Vol. Inf., may be explained by the fact that he had the health and manly bearing of a much older youth, but the fact re- mains that when he was enlisted on Aug. 8, 1861, he was aged just 13 years, 8 months and II days. His officers were Capt. J. Dyer and Col. Thomas H. Ford. This regiment was ordered to the front and on Oct. 4, 1861, Mr.

Harris participated in the battle of Greenbrier, Va., and was honorably discharged Dec. 10, 1861. He returned to Ohio and attended school during the succeeding winter, but in the spring determined to reenter the army and on March 6, 1862, reenlisted, entering Co. B, 6Ist O. Vol. Inf., his commanding officers being Capt. P. J. Duffy and Col. Stephen J. Mc- Groaty. This regiment was attached to the eastern army until after the battle of Gettys- burg, when it was transferred to Sherman's western army, and took a prominent part in its military movements. On the first day of the fateful battle of Gettysburg, Mr. Harris, who had been made a corporal and color guard, was captured by the enemy and for five months afterward . was a prisoner at Libby prison and Belle Isle. He was young, ingen- ious and resourceful and as he had nothing to occupy his mind during the terrible days and still more terrible nights than a hope of es- cape, he finally formed a plan that succeeded and through a mistake of his guards succeeded also in being paroled in December, 1863. In May, 1864, he rejoined his company at Chat- tanooga, Tenn., and continued throughout the whole campaign, which ended with Sherman's march to the sea. He saw much hard fighting and on more than one occasion proved himself a brave and ready man and at Kenesaw Mountain, by ruse, aided by darkness, cap- tured single handed, three Confederate sol- diers. When he was honorably discharged, March 31, 1865, he had served three years and five months and was then not yet 18 years of age. Although years of peaceful pursuits fol- lowed he never lost interest in military affairs and still retains something of the appearance of a military man. From the first he has been interested in the Grand Army movement and has been identified with Keller Post, No. 128, ever since its organization, has served in var- ious capacities in this body and, as noted above, has frequently been honored by election to the position of post commander.

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History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 141

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