History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 146

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 146

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Father Kunnert has not only continued the work done for St. Bernard by his predecessors but his plans have far outrun them. He has improved every part of the church property,

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has put in a beautiful new altar, has enlarged the school buildings and improved the parson- age, and has introduced steam heating and electric lighting. From this congregation a new church at Honey Creek was formed but the present congregation includes 85 families, there are 94 pupils in the parochial school and it is under the care of two Sisters of St. Francis, from Tiffin, O., while Father Kun- nert teaches the Bible and catechism. In addi- tion to attending to the spiritual needs and looking after the material welfare of his church here, Father Kunnert developed a church from a mission at New Auburn. He owns a farm at Upper Sandusky and takes in- terest in seeing good stock through the country.

WILLIAM T. RESCH, senior member of the well known hardware firm of Resch & Casey, at Galion, O., is a native of this city and has been in the hardware trade since he was 15 years of age. He was born Feb. 3, 1865, and is a son of Adolph and Mary (Purkey) Resch.

Adolph Resch was born in Baden, Germany, in 1837, and was nine years old when he ac- companied his parents to America. Early in the forties they became residents of Galion, O., and here Adolph grew to manhood and learned the tinner's trade, one that he fol- lowed for the rest of his life, doing his last bit of work for the firm of Resch & Casey. He was a Democrat in politics, at one time was connected actively with the Odd Fellows and at the time of death, in 1904, was a mem- ber of the English Lutheran church. He was married at Galion to Mary Purkey, who was born in Pennsylvania and when young was brought to Galion by her parents, Joseph and Margaret (Kern) Purkey. Joseph Purkey was well known in business circles and dealt extensively in horses for the eastern markets. Nine children were born to Adolph Resch and wife, two of whom died young, and all of the seven survivors but one live in Crawford county, and all married with the exception of one son.

After his school days were over, William T. Resch learned his business and is a practical mechanic, entirely qualified as a tinner and plumber and also thoroughly acquainted with

the entire hardware business. On April I, 1892, William T. Resch, with his brother, Harry P. Resch and Forest Casey, formed a partnership under the firm style of Resch Bros. & Casey, which continued as such until 1904, when Harry P. Resch withdrew and since then the other partners have conducted the business under its present name. The store is located at No. 123 East Main street and has a 24-foot frontage, with 196 back, run- ning entirely across the lot to the next block, the back part of the building being utilized as a tin shop and warerooms. A heavy stock is carried and the reputation of the firm is so well established that its business continues pros- perous year after year.

Mr. Resch was married to Miss Emma Rensch, who was born at Galion and is a . daughter of Henry Rensch, who came to this city from Germany, in the fifties. By trade he was a boilermaker and for many years was in the employ of the railroad companies here. Mr. and Mrs. Resch are members of the Eng- lish Lutheran church, in which Mr. Resch is a member of the choir, having sung in the church choirs in Galion since boyhood. Po- litically he is a Democrat and fraternally is a Mason, Knight of Pythias and Elk.

ADAM F. HIGH, one of the most progress- ive and successful agriculturists of Crawford county, O., owns 154 acres of fine improved land, situated in section 25, Cranberry town- ship, where he resides and has all the com- forts and conveniences of modern life. He was born northwest of New Washington, O., Jan. 12, 1864, and is a son of Michael and a grandson of Adam High, an old and substan- tial family of this section.

Adam F. High started to school in Cran- berry township and then attended the High School at New Washington and was graduated in the class of 1884, after which he took a course in the Ohio Normal School at Ada, O. For some ten years afterward he engaged in teaching school, both in Cranberry and Lykens townships, and then turned his attention to insurance and undertaking, in which lines he continued for nine years. At the end of that time he sold to High & De Roche and then engaged in farming on the place on which Jacob Lererer now lives, in Cranberry town-

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ship, and remained there for four years. After selling that farm he removed to New Wash- ington and for one year was engaged in sell- ing farm machinery. Mr. High then pur- chased his present property from the Harris heirs. It is known as Cloverdale Farm and is situated two miles south of New Washington. One of the first undertakings he entered into after taking possession was to remodel all the buildings and perhaps there are no better farm and stock structures in all Crawford county than on Mr. High's place. He has built a thoroughly modern and sanitary barn and has introduced a water system so that his stock can be watered in their stalls. He has the reputation of being a farmer who can produce, from his well tiled and scientifically fertilized land, two bushels of grain where other less enterprising agriculturists could raise but one, but the main feature of the farm is the raising and feeding of cattle, sheep and hogs, large shipments being made annually.

Mr. High married Miss Caroline Asch- bacher, a daughter of William Aschbacher, and they have eight children: Laurie A., J. Proctor, Russell F., E. Ferdinand, C. Milton, Chester A., Herbert L. and Ruth P. Mr. High and family are members of the Lutheran church. He is a prominent factor in Demo- cratic politics in Crawford county having served as a delegate to state conventions, and served two terms as a member of the New Washington School Board, being clerk of that body. He has served two terms as clerk of the corporation.

ELIAS STIGER, who owns 122 acres of some of the choicest land in Dallas township, Crawford county, O., on which he successfully carries on farming, is one of the self-made men who can attribute his financial independ- ence entirely to his own industry and good management. Mr. Stiger was born in Lycom- ing county, Pa., April 20, 1857, and is a son of Jacob and Sophia (Entz) Stiger.

The parents of Mr. Stiger were also born in Lycoming county and died on their farm there, the mother in middle age and the father when farther advanced. He was twice mar- ried, first to Sophia Entz and second to Mary Plankenhorn. The children of the first union were: Elias, Levi, George W., Samuel, Wil-

liam and Julia, while those of the second mar- riage were: Pierce, Henry, Mary and Lydia.

Elias Stiger was given common school ad- vantages in his native section and remained with his father until he was about 20 years of age when he came to Ohio. He found himself in Crawford county, among strangers, with a capital of seven dollars in his pocket, but he did not long remain a stranger, for he readily made friends, and as he immediately secured farm work with James Miller, he was able to add to his capital. After one year with Mr. Miller he engaged to work by the month for Anthony Houser, with whom he remained for three years and then worked for one year for Dr. Miller. About this time Mr. Stiger married and then rented land until 1896, when he purchased his present farm from Oliver Monnett. On the land at that time stood a small house and barn but in his improving, Mr. Stiger has repaired the former and re- placed the latter with a very commodious and substantial one. He carries on general farm- ing and raises enough stock for his own use and is numbered with the prosperous agricul- turists of the township.

Mr. Stiger was married in 1881 to Miss Emma Crissinger, who is a daughter of Wil- liam Crissinger, and they have the following children : Loma, who was a successful school teacher before marriage, who is the wife of Walter Schiefer, and has two children-Ellis and Weldon; Bertha, who, like her sister, taught school acceptably for several years, and is now the wife of Loren Spiece and has one daughter, Esther; and Gerald and Zella, both of whom are at home. Mr. Stiger and fam- ily attend the Methodist Episcopal church. He gives his political support to the Democratic party.

ROBERT W. JOHNSTON was born near Hayesville, Ashland county, O., where he re- sided until 1876, when he became a student in the law office of the late H. C. Carhart, at Ga- lion. After the usual time spent at district school, he attended Vermillion Institute, at Hayesville, and pursued his professional studies during the full course at the law school of Cin- cinnati College. Upon admission to the bar in Hamilton county, in May, 1879, he entered into partnership with his preceptor, Mr. Car- hart, and has continuously resided at Galion,

JOHN K. ZERBE

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but for several years has devoted much of his time to business interests at Columbus. He has served his city as solicitor and mayor.

His father, Thomas Johnston, was born at Frederick, Md., soon after the arrival of his parents from County Fermanagh, Ireland, the family later moving to Uniontown, Pa. In 1828, when eighteen, Thomas came to that part of Richland county now included in Ash- land county, walking the entire distance. Soon after becoming of age he became what is commonly known as a "Wagoner," and for a number of years, and till the advent of the railroad, engaged in wagoning, with six horse teams, the products of the west to Pittsburg, Baltimore and Philadelphia, returning with merchandise from these cities to the merchants of Ohio. Later, farming became his occupa- tion, and he was among the first in his part of the state to engage in raising Durham or Short Horn cattle.

Sarah (Workman) Johnston, mother of Robert W., was born at Gettysburg, Pa., her father settling in the eastern part of Richland, now Ashland, county in 1815, when he pur- chased land from Baptiste Jerome, from whom Jerome's Town, an Indian town or village lo- cated near the present village of Jeromeville, derived its name. She died at Galion, Jan. 27, 1893, in her eightieth year. Her father, Jo- seph Workman, was born in County Mona- ghan, Ireland, and came to America when quite young with his father, who was one of a class who holds an honored place in our country's history, "The Irish School-Master." Joseph Workman was justice of the peace in an early day in Richland county, and was the first president of the Ashland County Agricultural Society. He served with a Pennsylvania regi- ment in the War of 1812, and two of his uncles, Hugh Workman and James Workman, were with Col. Crawford in his disastrous campaign against Sandusky.

JOHN K. ZERBE, one of the highly re- spected retired citizens of Sulphur Springs, Crawford county, O., and a valued member of the Grand Army of the Republic post at Bucyrus, was born in 1838, in Schuylkill county, Pa., and is a son of George and Han- nah Zerbe.

In 1856 Mr. Zerbe came to Crawford county, O., and began to learn the carpenter

trade with Jacob Shull and continued work as a carpenter and on his father's farm for five years. In 1862 he began work in the coal mines in Pennsylvania and in the fall of the same year was drafted into service for the Civil War on the nine-months call, was ac- cepted and served as corporal of Co. F, 173rd Pa. Inf., and at the expiration of ten months received an honorable discharge and returned home, but on Feb. 29, 1864, he enlisted in Co. A, 50th Pa. Vol. Inf., which belonged to the First Div., Ninth Army Corps. He remained in the army until the close of the war and was a second time honorably discharged, on April 30, 1865. During his second period of ser- vice he took part in the battles of the Wilder- ness, Nye River and Spottsylvania Court House and at the last named place he was made a prisoner and only by good fortune and quick action escaped. When a squad of Union soldiers, by chance met the Confederates by whom he was held, he suddenly made a dash from the ranks of prisoners and soon after rejoined his regiment:

In 1868 Mr. Zerbe moved to Crawford county, buying a farm of 76 acres and later purchasing 120 acres and engaged in farming and stock raising for some years and then came to Sulphur Springs and here followed his trade. In the meanwhile he bought the hotel property of M. Heiby and three other desirable properties, all of which he still owns. In 1894 he was appointed postmaster of Sul- phur Springs and during his term he was also engaged here in the hardware business. He then retired and spent three years at Bucyrus but for the past four years has maintained his home at Sulphur Springs.

In 1859 Mr. Zerbe was married to Miss Elizabeth Mundinger, a daughter of Leonard and Hannah (Wolf) Mundinger, and eight children were born to them, as follows: Alvin P., who married Emma Berry, who died in 1900, has one son, Charles Henry; Henry Albert, who died Dec. 12, 1870, at the age of 18 years ; John Wesley, who resides at New Washington, Crawford county, married Tillie Gossman and their one son, Ora, married Huldah Marks and have two children-Helen and Beta Irene; Lewis Washington, who re- sides at Cleveland, O., married Jane Flick- inger; William P., who lives at Shelby, O., married Letta Weidemyer and their one son,

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Frank E., married Grace Overlander and they reside at Bucyrus; Grant A., who is a resi- dent of Sandusky City, O., married Frances Teel and they have one son, Claude; Ida, who died when aged one year and four months; and Laura S., who married H. Frank Snyder, and they live at Wadsworth, O. Mr. Zerbe has always been a good and reliable citizen and is known all over Crawford county and for two terms was one of the directors of the Crawford County Infirmary.

GEORGE H. KICHLINE, who is sole proprietor and manager of The Old Honesty Hatchery, which occupies over ten acres on the town limits of New Washington, O., at the end of East Mansfield street, and is an important business enterprise of this place, was born in Northampton county, Pa., Aug. 5, 1862.

Mr. Kichline came first to Crawford county in 1884 and spent two years as a farmer three and one-half miles southeast of New Wash- ington. He was unmarried and free to follow his own fancy so he concluded to visit Florida but six months convinced him that for a man of his energy a different section of the coun- try would be more congenial. He then went back to Hellertown, his native place, and worked there in the steel mill and a planing mill, and also, for two years, was a brakeman on a railroad. From there he drifted to Tiffin, O., and in that city secured employment as conductor on a street car line, that being be- fore electricity had been introduced as a mo- tive agent, and drove a car for three years. After marriage he lived for seven years at Northampton Heights and New Bethlehem, Pa., and then moved to Rockaway, in Craw- ford county, O., where he operated a farm of 100 acres for a time. In the meanwhile Mr. Kichline had been carefully looking into the profits of the hatchery, or egg and poul- try business, and had convinced himself that the undertaking, if property conducted, could not fail of success. He moved then to his present place on East Mansfield street, where he built his hatchery, doing all the grading and constructing himself. He started with P. F. Lantz as a partner, who did the office work and correspondence, while Mr. Kichline was general overseer and manager. Mr. Kich- line bought this land in 1907 and since the

fall of 1910 has been sole proprietor, and outside of his own family conducts an im- mense business with the assistance of two men. His two ell-shaped buildings are 20 x 50 feet, with an addition of 20 x 33 feet, all under one roof, and another with dimensions of 10 x 31. The business is providing pure grade eggs for hatching and early chickens for market and sales are made all over the United States, in Argentine Republic, South America and in Canada, the trade mark, The Old Honesty Hatchery, bearing with it the cer- tainty of goods being just as represented.

At South Bethlehem, Pa., in 1891, Mr. Kichline was married to Miss Mary Hepp, a daughter of George Hepp, who died at New Washington, O. To Mr. and Mrs. Kichline five children have been born: Gertrude, who died in 1903, aged ten years; Warren Wilfred, who assists his father; and Catherine, Anna Isabelle and Mary Elizabeth. This is a musi- cal family and the home concerts, with piano, violin and banjo selections, are worth going many miles to enjoy. Mr. Kichline is a stock- holder and director in the Cranberry Nursery Company, of New Washington. In politics he is a Democrat but has always been too much of a business man to be willing to add to his cares the responsibilities of office. The family belongs to the Roman Catholic church.

JULIUS BRACHER, a retired merchant, capitalist and useful citizen of Galion, O., owner of valuable real estate and vice presi- dent of the Home Insurance Company of Ga- lion, was born in the Prussian province of Nassau, Prussian-Germany, Aug. 9, 1843, and is a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Krey) Bracher.

Jacob Bracher was born also at Nassua and when he reached the proper age entered the army for the necessary term of military serv- ice and after it was over engaged with a local produce firm that supplied a number of cities with its commodities. Three years after mar- riage he decided to seek better fortune in America and in 1854 set sail with his family for the United States, embarking at Havre, France and after many weeks on the ocean, landed safely in New York harbor. From there Jacob Bracher brought his family with him to Alliance, O., finding employment in that city and subsequently becoming a brick

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contractor there, prospered and at the time of death, in 1865, was on the highway to a com- fortable competency. He was reared in the Reformed church but at time of death was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Shortly after reaching Alliance his wife had died of cholera, an epidemic then sweeping the country. She left three children: Julius, subject of this article; Charlotte, who married William Barr and has one daughter, Myrtle; and Victor, who died in California, when aged 56 years. After the death of his first wife, Jacob Bracher married Soloma Binkert, who died in 1907, at Alliance, O., when aged 76 years. She left two sons: John, a resident of Alliance, who is married and has two chil- dren; and Frank, who also resides with his family at Alliance.

Julius Bracher was reared at Alliance, O., and obtained his schooling there. When he left school he learned the machinist's trade but before he had a chance to establish a business the Civil War broke out and in 1861 he en- listed for service, entering Co. H, 19th O. Vol. Inf., as a private under Capt. P. A. Lobby, now Judge Lobby, of Salem, O. From the battle of Shiloh, in April, 1862, until the fall of Atlanta, in July, 1864, he participated in all the battles in which his regiment took part, including Stone River, Chickamauga, Mission- ary Ridge and Kenesaw Mountain, his hon- orable discharge being given him on Oct. 5, 1864, after the battle of Atlanta in which he proved himself a brave and helpful soldier. Although many of his comrades were either killed, captured or injured, he was fortunate enough to escape all these perils and returned home practically unharmed.

Mr. Bracher then went to work at his trade, continuing to live at Alliance until his mar- riage, in 1876, when he moved to Galion and here went into the grocery business for three years and afterward, for 25 years was in the clothing business, at the end of which period he retired from active business life. In all his undertakings Mr. Bacher displayed excel- lent judgment and prospered, and at the same time, retained the respect and esteem of his fellow citizens on account of his business in- tegrity. He erected the Bracher Block in 1877 and still owns that property. In public matters he has been active and influential, serving at times in the city council and under a late law

was made a member of the board of sinking fund commissioners.

Mr. Bracher was married at Galion to Miss Hattie Riblet, who was born at Galion in 1850, her people being old settled ones in this sec- tion, and they have two children: Ora and Maybell. Both ladies have been carefully edu- cated and the latter, after completing her col- lege course at Springfield, taking first honors in her class, engaged in teaching and was very successful and exceedingly popular, both at Bucyrus and Mckeesport, Pa. Mr. Bracher and family are members of the First English Lutheran church at Galion. Mr. Bracher is a Mason, belonging to the Blue Lodge at Galion, and is identified also with Dick Morris Post G. A. R.

ANDREW KAPLE, general farmer and highly respected citizen of Crawford county, O., resides on his valuable farm of 81 acres, which is situated in section 3, Cranberry town- ship, one mile north of New Washington, was born Nov. 9, 1836, in Germany, a son of Andrew and Catherine Kaple.

The parents of Mr. Kaple came to America in 1850 and located in Ohio, acquiring a farm in Cranberry township, Crawford county, on which they lived for six years and then sold and moved to Putnam county, where they spent the rest of their lives.

Andrew Kaple was 14 years old when the family came to Crawford county and the larger portion of his life since then has been passed in the same county. For one year after marriage he continued to live in Cranberry township and then moved to Huron county, but eight years later came back to Cranberry township, where he subsequently bought the farm of Paul Miller. This is excellent prop- erty and Mr. Kaple has it all under cultivation with the exception of a valuable ten-acre tim- ber tract, and the farm is drained by tiling. He found the buildings in fair condition, the residence only requiring remodeling.

Mr. Kaple was married to Miss Caroline Wachter, who was born at Rochester, N. Y., a daughter of Joseph and Madeline Wachter, and the following children have been born to them: Catherine, who is the wife of Joseph Welfle, of Henry county ; Frank, who is a resi- dent of Crestline, O., Bernard, who lives at New Washington; Albert, who lives on the

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home farm; and Josephine, Cecil and Rose, all of whom live at home, the youngest daughter being engaged as a clerk with the Miller Mer- chandise Company at New Washington. Mr. Kaple and family are members of St. Bernard's Catholic Church at New Washington. Mr. Kaple has never accepted any political office but he has been a strong Democrat all his mature life.

ALFRED E. WISMAN, whose highly cul- tivated farm of 81 acres lies four and one-half miles west of Bucyrus, O., in Holmes town- ship, Crawford county, on the Oceola road, was born in this township, Dec. 3, 1863, and is a son of Frederick and Melissa (Aumiller) Wisman.

The parents of Mr. Wisman were also born in Crawford county, the family being pioneer ones in this section. Frederick Wis- man is now retired but still retains his farm of 140 acres in Bucyrus township, on which he led a busy life for many years. He mar- ried Melissa Aumiller, a daughter of Daniel and Sarah Aumiller, and they had three chil- dren born to them, two sons and a daughter, namely: Alfred E .; Alice, who is the wife of Joseph Starner, residing at Bucyrus; and Charles, who lives in Bucyrus township.

Alfred E. Wisman went to school in Bucy- rus township, where he grew up, and then helped his father, remaining at home for some time after his marriage and then lived for one year at Bucyrus. In 1894 he came to his present farm and on this place erected all the substantial structures except the barn. He has so enriched his land and so carefully culti- vated it that it is numbered with the best farms of the township. Mr. Wisman raises the usual crops of this section of the state and each year puts out a fine lot of stock and if he is more successful than many of his neigh- bors it is because he devotes closer attention to these industries, having made this his life work. He is a Democrat in his political con- nection but has never accepted any office ex- cept that of being a member of the Board of Education.

Mr. Wisman was married Dec. 6, 1888, to Miss Kathryn Brown, a daughter of John and Kathryn (Christman) Brown, who for- merly lived just east of Mr. Wisman. Mr. and Mrs. Wisman are members of the Luth-

eran church in Tod township, Crawford county.

A. G. LEDERER, whose fine stock farm of 86 acres lies in section 14, Cranberry town- ship, Crawford county, O., on the south side of the east and west road, one-half mile east of New Washington, O., is one of the pro- gressive, enterprising and successful men of this county. He was born in Cranberry town- ship, Dec. 19, 1852, and is a son of Jacob and Magdalena (Domenwirth) Lederer, a grand- son of Charles Lederer and George Domen- wirth.

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History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 146

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