History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 148

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 148

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Mr. Sprow was married in 1875, to Miss Elizabeth Zimmerman, of Richland county, O., a daughter of Peter Zimmerman, and a family of seven children have been born to them, as follows : Emma, who married M. C. Muth, of Cleveland, O., and has twin children, Victor and Ethel; Albert, who is now deceased; Ellen, who married Ellsworth Overlander, and has one daughter, Bernice; Edward, who married Myrtle Gearhart; John, who assists his father ; Reuben, who is deceased; and Bertha, who is the wife of W. H. Smith. Mr. Sprow is a member of the Evangelical Association in Lykens township while his wife is a Methodist. For a number of years Mr. Sprow has served in the office of justice of the peace, his decis- ions being seldom reversed. In politics he is a Democrat, and fraternally he is connected with the order of Maccabees.

F. X. BLUM, a well known general farmer, residing in Cranberry township, Crawford county, O., where he has two 80-acre farms, both situated in Section 23, was born in Alsace-Loraine, France, Dec. 27, 1853, a son of Joseph and Mary Blum, the latter of whom died when he was nine years old.

In 1872 F. X. Blum came along to the United States and located at first in Seneca county, O., and continued to live there for three years after he married, when he came to Crawford county. Here he bought one farm of Horatio Markley, on which the only im- provements were a house and stable, and the other land of J. M. Beiber and Adam Zaebst. He immediately began to improve his farms and has built all the substantial buildings which make them attractive and increase their value.

Mr. Blum was married at New Washington to Miss Madeline Kreim, who was born in Austria and was brought to America by her parents when two months old. They were Joseph and Barbara Kreim and they located at Plymouth, O. To Mr. and Mrs. Blum four children were born, namely: John, who mar- ried Josephine Hatzer, and lives on his father's north farm, having two children-Agnes and Claude; Barbara; Joseph, who is proprietor of the Twentieth Century Hatchery; and Frank, who assists his father. Mr. Blum and family are members of the Catholic church. On Sept. 6, 1904, the beloved wife and mother passed away and her burial was at New Washington. Mr. Blum is a Democrat in politics, but uses his own judgment in casting his vote; he has served in the office of road superintendent in Cranberry township.

JACOB F. ULMER, who owns a valuable and well improved farm of 120 acres, which is situated seven miles northeast of Bucyrus, O .. and one and one-fourth miles west of Sulphur Springs, is a representative citizen of Liberty township, Crawford county, and is a member of the school board. He was born in Liberty township, in 1858, and is a son of Gottlieb Ulmer, who was born at Wittenberg, Ger- many, and came in early manhood to the United States.

Jacob F. Ulmer remained with his father on the home farm until he was 21 years of age, after which he worked for other farmers by

977

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

the month, for two years, and then rented land for two years more and later bought a farm of 60 acres. For two years he operated that farm and then sold it to advantage and pur- chased his present one of 120 acres. Here he has made many admirable improvements in- cluding the remodeling of house and barn, and the place gives evidences of careful and intelli- gent cultivation.

Mr. Ulmer was married to Miss Leonora Pfleiderer, who is a daughter of David and Mary Pfleiderer. The father of Mrs. Ulmer was born in Germany and the mother in Columbiana county, O. Mrs. Ulmer has seven sisters and three brothers: Anna Mary, Mag- daline, Margaret, Barbara, Lydia, Caroline, Clara, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, all of who reside in Liberty township, Crawford county, O., with the exception of Abraham, whose home is in Indiana.

Mr. and Mrs. Ulmer have three children: Lester E., a resident of Whetstone township, who married Miss Iva V. Meck and has one daughter, Margaret; and Catherine E. and John F., both of whom live at home. Mr. Ulmer and family are members of the Evan- gelical church.

The farm on which Mr. Ulmer is located is known as the Pfleiderer homestead, having first been owned by Mrs. Ulmer's grandfather, Christian Pfleiderer, who entered it from the government.

J. J. HIGH, whose excellent farm of 40 acres lies in section 10, in the southeast corner of Cranberry township, Crawford county, O., three-fourths miles east of New Washington, O., was born April 26, 1861, in the northwest corner of this township, and is a son of Mi- chael and a grandson of Adam High.

Adam High and his wife, Madeline, were both born in Germany as were the following children : Valentine, Michael, Adam, Margaret and Elizabeth. In the fall of 1832 he came with his family to the United States and settled in Crawford county and cleared and cut the logs with which he built his log house. He was a shoemaker by trade and here he plied it during his entire active. life afterward, mov- ing late in life to the home of a daughter north of New Washington, where he died.

Michael High was twelve years old when his

parents moved to Crawford county and after- ward had little chance to attend school. He learned the blacksmith trade at which he worked for several years and then was forced to give it up on account of an injury he had received from an unruly horse. He then turned his attention to farming, locating in the northwest corner of Cranberry township and there his death occurred at the age of 63 years. He was a lifelong member of the Lutheran church and his burial was in the Lutheran cemetery. It was in the house of his father that the Lutheran church organiza- tion at New Washington was effected and Adam High was one of the first members and church officials. Michael High married Mary Donnenwirth and they had nine children, eight of whom survive. She was born east of Can- ton, O., near Waynesburg, and died on the old homestead in the northwest corner of Cran- berry township when aged 75 years, 70 of which had been spent there. Michael High was a very strong Democrat in his political opinions but cared little for public office al- though occasionally serving as a trustee of the township.

J. J. High attended the Klein school in Cranberry township and afterward settled down to farm life and has continued his inter- est. After marriage he resided on a farm that he owned in Chatfield township, for 17 years, and then came to Cranberry township and in the spring of 1911 bought his present farm from Andrew Krebs. It was originally owned by his uncle, George Donnenwirth, who paid $400 for it but when Mr. High purchased it he paid a large sum for the same property, al- though it had in the meanwhile, been finely im- proved, this of course being taken into consid- eration. It remains a very valuable property and here Mr. High, through modern methods of agriculture, is continually adding to its pro- ductive possibilities.

At New Washington, Mr. High was mar- ried to Miss Ella Tribolet, a daughter of John and Louisa Tribolet, and they have five chil- dren : Bertha May, Carl Frederick, Marie Louise, John Michael and Emma Margaret. Mr. High and family are members of the Lutheran church. In politics he has always been identified with the Democratic party and has been a prominent man in township affairs,

978

HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY

serving for nine years as a member of the Chatfield township school board and at pres- ent is road supervisor of the northeast side of. Cranberry township.

JOSIAH H. G. KECKLER, who is one of Bucyrus township's most respected and best known residents, having spent a half century. here, owns a large body of land, 331 acres, all of which is valuable and so situated that it is adapted to general farming. He was born in Adams county, Pa., Feb. 16, 1829, and is a son of John and Rosana (Gordon) Keckler.

In 1837 the parents of Mr. Keckler decided to move to Ohio and the only means of trans- portation over the mountains was by wagon. Mr. Keckler was then. a boy of eight years and can remember the many adventures of that long trip, the family being 15 days on the way before reaching Harrison county, where the father established himself on a farm and opened his blacksmith shop. The mother died in Harrison county and afterward the father went to Kansas and there his death occurred. They were members of the Pres- byterian church. Their children were : Martha, who married Jacob Barger; Mary Ann, who was the wife of James P. Beall; Josiah H. G., subject of this sketch; Rosanna, who married John Rogers; and Malinda, who married Henry Vincent.

The schools in Harrison county, when Josiah H. G. Keckler was a boy did not offer the advantages that those of the present day present, but he was grounded in the necessary elements before he had to start out to take care of himself. For nine years he worked by the month for farmers in Harrison county and then came to Crawford county and bought, in partnership with James P. Beall, his brother-in-law, 120 acres and they remained together for about five years, when he sold to his partner and bought 80 acres on Mud Run. That land he traded for 320 acres in Pike county, Ill. In 1862 Mr. Keckler located in Bucyrus township, purchasing his first land, 104 acres, and gradually adding to it until. as stated above. he now has 331 acres. He has been a careful buyer and has no useless land, all being productive. and it is devoted to gen- eral farming and moderate stock raising.

On April 3, 1872, Mr. Keckler was married

to Miss Juliet Parcher, a daughter of Daniel and Mary (McNeal) Parcher. Mr. Parcher was born in Crawford county but his wife was a native of Huntington county, Pa. They had the following children : John, Juliet, Welling- ton, Benjamin, Allison, Edith, George and Daniel. Mr. and Mrs. Keckler had four chil- dren born to them, namely: John F., who is deceased; Agnes, who is the wife of Roy Crisinger and has two children-Julia and Frank; Orie G., who married Maggie Rogers and has one son, Anderson; and George, who married Flora Clark and has one son, Clark. Mr. Keckler and family belong to the Method- ist Episcopal church. In his early, manhood Mr. Keckler was a Whig in politics but later identified himself with the Republican party. He has seen many changes come over this sec- tion since he first located here and in many ways life is easier and more comfortable than in the old days, but he does not believe that all the modern methods, in farming or in other directions, are more, sensible or reliable than those which prevailed when he was a boy. He can relate. many interesting tales of early days in Ohio.

WILLIAM LAHMAN, residing eight miles north of Bucyrus, O., operating his ex- cellent farm of 108 acres, situated in Holmes township, is widely known in Crawford county as an educator, for 32 years having devoted himself to work in that line. He was born in Holmes township, Dec. 23, 1861, and is a son of Jonas and Phoebe ( Uhl) Lahman.

Jonas Lahman was born in Baden. Ger- many, and after coming to the United States passed his life mainly engaged in farming in Holmes township, Crawford county, O. Here he died in honored old age, having attained his 85th year. He married Phoebe Uhl, who was born in Alsace Loraine and died at the age of 79 years, having passed her life from girlhood in Ohio. Two of their children died in in- fancy and six survived to maturity, six still living: MIrs. Elizabeth Rupert; John: Mrs. Caroline Waugh; George: William, and Mrs. Sarah C. Hurless.

William Lahman secured his primary educa- tion in the schools of Holmes township and afterward attended at both Lebanon and Ada, O. Unusually intellectual he then turned his

JOSIAH H. G. KECKLER

MRS. JULIET P. KECKLER

981

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

attention to an intellectual profession and be- came a teacher. In that field he met with such success that for 32 years he continued as a teacher in Holmes township, making a record. It is doubtful if Mr. Lahman can tell how many pupils have been under his instruction, but it must be gratifying for him to realize that many of these have gone from under his care into successful and honorable life careers.

Mr. Lahman was married to Miss Emma J. Fralick, a daughter of David Fralick, and they have three children : Mamie Floy, Rollo G. and Cloden J. D., thelast named being his father's capable assistant. In politics Mr. Lahman has always been a Democrat and for six years was a justice of the peace and at present is a notary public. Fraternally he is identified with the Odd Fellows and the Maccabees.

JOHN W. FRENCH, who is a well known citizen of Crawford county, O., and a re- spected retired resident of Cranberry town- ship, residing on his valuable farm of III acres, situated in section II, on the west side of the north and south road, was born at Col- umbiana county, O., Nov. 8, 1832, and is a son of Samuel and Rebecca (Welch) French.

Samuel French was born in Columbiana county, O., and there was reared and married Rebecca Welch, who was born at Wellsville, on the Ohio river, a daughter of James Welch. Her grandfather, Erastus Welch, was born in Ireland and was the first white man to settle near Rocky Creek church in Seneca county, O., not far from Tiffin. After marriage Samuel French and wife came to Crawford county, with the family, in 1848, and settled in Lykens township and lived there for 12 years and then moved to Huron county, O., and he died on his farm there at the age of 57 years, his widow surviving to the age of 65 years and their burial was in Seneca county. They were members of the Presbyterian church. At the time of death Samuel French owned no land in Crawford county. They had the following children: Rebecca and Kathe- rine, both of whom died in Wood county; James, who lived and died in Seneca county ; John W .; Joseph; Reason, who died in Craw- ford county; Elizabeth, who is the wife of Martin Corbett, and lives at Chicago Junction ; and Esther, who died in Huron county.

John W. French was eight years old when. his parents moved to Wood county, and after that he had no chance to attend school and when he was 24 years of age educated himself by using the school books of his younger brothers and sisters. He was the only one of the sons to learn a trade, becoming a skilled carpenter and for a number of years worked with a Mr. Waller in general building, partic- in Lykens township and was in partnership ularly barns. When Mr. Waller married, Mr. French went to Tiffin and there was engaged with a Mr. Chamberlain, a contractor there. In 1861 he married and then settled in Lykens township once more, in 1866 moving to Huron county. At the outbreak of the Civil war he enlisted in a home guard organization, Co. E, 136th Regiment and served for four months, when he returned to Lykens township and went to farming. His health broke down two years later so that work at his trade was im- possible but after moving to Huron county he steadily at the same for six years. He then sold his interests in Huron county and bought his present farm in Cranberry township. He again resumed carpenter work and continued had some of the clearing and considerable draining to do and put up the present substan- tial farm buildings and has a valuable property.

On Feb. 24, 1861, Mr. French was married to Miss Elizabeth Jane Perky, who was born in Seneca county, O., Nov: 17, 1837 and prior to marriage was a teacher in Crawford county. Her parents were David and Mary (Seitz) Perky, the former of whom was born April I, 18II, in Westmorland county, Pa., and died Feb. 13, 1896. He came to Seneca county in 1827 and married Mary Seitz, who was born March 3, 1814, in Fairfield county, O., and died July 15, 1853, a daughter of John and Madelene Seitz. After their marriage they lived in Seneca county until 1848 and then moved to Lykens township, Crawford county. Mr. and Mrs. Perky had eleven children, two of whom are living: Mrs. French and Mrs. Abigail Corey, who lives in Stone county, Mo. Four of the sons served in the Civil war, two in the 55th O. Vol. Inf., one in the 25th and the other in the 136th and the only one who returned was the one who belonged to the 25th regiment. Ohio sent many volunteers into the Civil war and in the school district in which

982

HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY

Mr. French then lived, 28 men offered their services.

Two sons were born to Mr. and Mrs. French : Sherman L. and David P. The latter resides on the home farm. He married Cora Cummins, a daughter of William and Matilda Cummins and they have two daughters: Mary Elizabeth and Esther Matilda. Mr. French and wife are members of the Methodist Epis- copal church. He has always been a good, law-abiding citizen but prefers to cast an in- dependent vote, not identifying himself with any political party and has never accepted any office except that of school director.

JOHN ENGLISH, a retired merchant re- siding in Galion, O., who is also a veteran of the Civil war, was born in Johnsville, Mor- row county, Ohio, April 9, 1840, a son of Samuel and Sarah (Hall) English. His pa- ternal grandfather was Abel English, who was born in Lancaster county, Pa., as early as 1785, and who died in his native county while still a young man. Abel married Margaret Mutch, a Pennsylvania girl, who was afterwards three times married, and who late in life went to re- side in Naperville, Ill., where she died in 1866 at the age of 76 years. She had children by each husband, except the last-Adam Shifler. She was a woman remarkable for her strength and activity.

Samuel English, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born Aug. 7, 1813, in Elizabeth township, Lancaster county, Pa. He grew up in his native place and learned the trade of shoemaker. At the age of 20 years he came to Ohio, locating in Johnsville, Morrow county, where he followed his trade and was thus en- gaged for some years. He then changed his occupation and followed farming for several years. Afterwards he engaged in the stone quarrying industry, which was his final occu- pation. He died in Galion, O., in 1896. When 48 years old, he enlisted as a private in Co. K, 23d O. V. I., and as teamster and ambul- ance driver he remained for three years in the service, escaping injury. He was a man re- markable for physical strength and was of a religious disposition, a consistent member of the M. E. church. At first a Whig in politics, he later became a Republican. In that section of Ohio now know as Morrow county, he was

married to Miss Sarah Hall, who was born in that locality in 1817, her father being William Hall and her mother, in maidenhood, Mary A. Cook. The latter was a New Jersey woman, whose father, a life-long resident of that state, had served in the Colonial army in the Revolu- tionary war. William and Mary A. Hall were pioneer settlers in Morrow county, where they were probably married, and where they fol- lowed farming. William died there in middle life. His widow, surviving him many years, died at Iberia, Morrow county, O., at the home of her son Isaac, she being then past 85 years of age. She was the mother of seven chil- dren, a good woman and a life-long Methodist.

Samuel English and wife were the parents of five sons and five daughters, all of whom married and all but one had issue: Four of the sons and three of the daughters are still living. The mother, Mrs. Sarah English, sur- vived her husband and died near Galion, O., at the age of 90 years and four months. She was a Methodist in religion.

John English was the second son and child of his parents and is the eldest now living. He was reared and educated in Johnsville, O. On Feb. 26, 1862, when in his 22d year, he en- listed in Company D, 23d O. V. I. and was or- dered to the front with his regiment. In Sep- tember of that year he took part in the battle of Antietam and there received three gunshot wounds within five minutes. At the hospital he was found to be seriously hurt and on Octo- ber 23d his leg was amputated. Discharged on March 3. 1863, he returned to his home in Galion and has since resided in this city. He was for some time engaged in mercantile busi- ness and for 35 years has been a notary public. He is an active member of the Republican party and belongs to Dick Morris Post, G. A. R. No. 130, having served the Post as quar- termaster two terms.

He was first married to Maria Noblet, a daughter of Adam Noblet. She died in 1881, leaving a child that is now living-Anna May Burgener, wife of Charles E. Burgener of Marion. O. Mr. English married secondly Mary C. West, who died Jan. 12, 1906, leav- ing no children.

BERNARD YOUNG, who is one of the representative men of Cranberry township,

983

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

Crawford county, O., valued in public councils and respected in private life, carries on large agricultural operations on his valuable farm of 97 acres, and is serving in his second term as township trustee. He was born on this farm, Jan. 1, 1855, and is a son of Peter and Mary (Stein) Young and a grandson of Lewis Young.

Lewis Young, the grandfather, was the pioneer of the family in America, coming from his native land Alsace, then in France, in 1833, and settling in Crawford county, then Richland, on the west township line of Auburn township. In later years, after his wife died, he went back to visit the scenes of his youth and died in the neighborhood of his old home and was interred there.

Peter Young, father of Bernard Young, was 16 years of age when he accompanied his parents to the United States and died in Craw- ford county, in 1867, when aged 51 years, the greater part of his life having been spent on the present farm. His burial was in the Roman Catholic cemetery at New Washington. He left an estate of 320 acres of valuable land. He married Mary Stein and they had ten chil- dren, four of whom survive and two of whom live in Crawford county. His wife died in 1886, when aged 67 years.

Bernard Young attended school with his brothers and sisters in boyhood, after which he helped his father and also worked for other farmers by the month and additionally en- gaged in teaming. After marriage he became the home farmer and subsequent owner of this property and has continued here, making improvements as they have become necessary and building and remodeling as he has deemed advantageous. His father owned about one square mile of land and made things comfort- able about his home and the barn he built is yet standing. The Northern Ohio Railroad passes through his land and the station is lo- cated on the next farm to the east. Mr. Young is a stockholder in the Toledo Life In- surance Company, of Toledo, O.

Mr. Young married Miss Catherine Kast- ner, a daughter of Andrew Kastner, and they have four children : Charles, Frank, Cecil and Joseph, all of whom were born and reared on his farm. Mr. Young and family belong to the Roman Catholic church. In politics he

has always cast his vote with the Democratic party.

GEORGE P. MARTIN, whose exceedingly valuable farm of 219 acres, belonging to the Bucyrus Development Company, lies in Liberty township, Crawford county, O., two and a half miles northeast of Bucyrus, O., is one of the reliable and representative men of Crawford county. Mr. Martin has charge of the city reservoir and leases the farm. He was born in 1857, in Marion county, O., and is a son of Benjamin F. and Elizabeth (Culver) Martin. He has three sisters and one brother: Ruth, Anna, Robert A. and Sarah. Ruth is the wife of Clayton Andrews, residing at Hartford City, Ind., and they have had four children- Otto, Wanzo, Carrie and Bartlett, the last named being deceased. Anna is the wife of L. J. Pooler, also residing at Hartford City, and they have one son, Phineas. Robert A., who is in business at Hartford City, Ind., married Eva Lockwood and they have had the follow- ing children: Henry, Inez, Blanche, Claudia, Robert, Goldie, Walter, James, Princess and Rose, the last two being deceased. Sarah is the wife of Frank Collins and . they live at Bucyrus and have had five children : Benjamin, Isaiah, Howard, Danzel and an infant, de- ceased.

George P. Martin obtained his education in the public schools and has been engaged in agri- cultural pursuits ever since. His large estate is devoted to general farming and stock rais- ing. The Bucyrus City Reservoir is located on his farm and he is overseer of the same.

Mr. Martin married Miss Emma Schurr, a daughter of George and Mary (Koop) Schurr. Mrs. Martin has three brothers and one sister : George J., Christian F., Charles Robert and Mary Catherine. To Mr. and Mrs. Martin five children were born : Ora Cozetta, Lulu A., Minnie, Ruth and George, and of these Ruth and George still reside at home. Ora Cozetta is the wife of Garfield McMichael, of Bucyrus, and they have one son, Robert. Lulu A. mar- ried Elger Pfleiderer, a farmer in Liberty township and they have one son, Richard. Minnie is the wife of Prof. Lycurgus Mar- shall, who is principal of the Crestline, O., High School. Mr. Martin and family belong to the Lutheran church. He is a stanch Re-

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 148

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