History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 149

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 149

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publican and is a useful and conscientious member of the township school board.

MRS. MARY UTZ, whose valuable farm of 105 acres lies in section 12, Cranberry town- ship, Crawford county, O., is one of the best known and most highly esteemed residents of this section, in which she has practically passed her entire life. Mrs. Utz was born in Cran- berry township, on what was known as the George M. Klein farm, July 16, 1854, and is a daughter of Conrad and Margaret (High) Klein.

As a girl, Mrs. Utz attended the Cranberry township schools near her home and was care- fully reared by a capable mother and reached young womanhood proficient in all housekeep- ing arts. On Feb. 13, 1873, she was married to John L. Utz, who was born on the farm that she now owns, July 19, 1850, and died here May 30, 1911. His parents were Jacob and Helena (Fredericks) Utz. After mar- riage, Mr. and Mrs. Utz settled on this farm and many years of happy wedded life fol- lowed. Mr. Utz completed the clearing of the farm which his father had commenced, made many improvements here and successfully car- ried on farming and stock raising, remaining active until the time of his death, in his 6Ist year. He was one of the influential men of his township and was often called upon to give ad- vice concerning public movements and fre- quently has offices tendered him, serving at times as school director and as township trus- tee.

Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Utz, as follows : Jacob F., who married Amelia Loy, a daughter of Jacob Loy, of Chatfield township, who resides in section 2, Cranberry township, and has had two children-Paul and Carl Franklin, the latter dying when aged but five days; Louisa, who is the wife of Patrick McCarty, living in Cranberry township, and has three children-Lewis, George and Edna Isabella; Margaret E., who married Theodore Kahler, of Seneca county, and has two chil- dren-Clarence and Glendo; and Adolph; Al- bert, Franklin Carl, deceased; and Adam, last three living residing at home and operating the farm for their mother. Mrs. Utz is a mem- ber of the Lutheran church, to which Mr. Utz also belonged. In his political views he was

somewhat independent but nominally was a Democrat.

THOMAS W. LONGSTRETH, monument maker and dealer, who has occupied his busi- ness quarters at No. 134 West Main Street, Galion, O., for 43 years, is one of the city's best known and most respected citizens. He was born in Muskingum county, O., March 4, 1848, and is a son of John and Mary A. ( Pat- ten) Longstreth.

"John Longstreth was born March 1, 1816, in Morgan county, O., and was a son of Bar- tholamew Longstreth, who was a son of John Longstreth. The last named died in Pennsyl- vania but his four sons, Bartholamew, Mi- chael, James and Philip, all came to Ohio in 1812 and settled in York township, Morgan county, and were among the first permanent set- tlers in that section. Bartholamew died in 1824, when aged 35 years. He had been mar- ried in Pennsylvania to Margaret O'Hara, who survived him many years, dying in Morgan county in 1866. They were interred in the old family burying ground. They were par- ents of five sons and four daughters, the last child being posthumous, and all lived to be heads of families. Although all have passed away in the course of Nature, nine of the chil- dren survived to the age of 70 years and sev- eral were in the eighties at time of death.

John Longstreth settled on 80 acres of Gov- ernment land that he received from his mother, in Brush Creek township, Muskingum county, and spent his entire subsequent life there as a farmer, his death occurring April 19, 1887, when he was aged 81 years. He was a Democrat in his political opinions. He mar- ried Mary A. Patten, who was born in Morrow county, O., Sept. 22, 1822, and died in Decem- ber, 1892. She was a daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Porter) Patten, the former of whom was a native of Ireland and the latter of Maryland. They were married in Chester county, Pa., and came to Morrow county, O., in pioneer days and spent long and useful lives in that section. Of their children but one survives, he being James Patten, a venerable resident of Des Moines, Ia., who is now in his 87th year. To John and Mary A. Long- streth six children were born, two of whom died as infants. The survivors are : Margaret,

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who is the wife of Lewis Miller, residing on a farm in Morrow county and has six children; Tamzen, who is the widow of George Brown, and resides in Morrow county and has six children; Thomas W., our subject; and Abi- gail, who is the widow of Porter Kirkpatrick, and is resident of Galion, having one son.

Thomas W. Longstreth had district school opportunities until he was 16 years of age, when he left home and went to Mt. Gilead, in Morrow county, where he served an appren- ticeship to a marble cutter. Five years later, December, 1868, he came to Galion and started in the marble and monument business, as noted above, and his stand is one of the city's land- marks. In 1880 he introduced the first granite monuments and at present this stone replaces almost every other for monumental purposes. Mr. Longstreth favoring it for his most beauti- ful designs.

In Muskingum county, in 1873, Mr. Long- streth was married to Miss Euphemia Ann Swingle, who was born and reared there, a daughter of old pioneer settlers. They have two sons; E. Homer, the older, learned the marble cutting trade with his father but at present is bookkeeper for a gas company oper- ating at Dunkirk, N. Y. He married Miss Maybell Atkinson and they have one son, Mer- rill, a bright lad of five years. Earl, the younger son, is a graduated pharmacist and at present is in the drug business at Sacramento City, Calif. He married there and has one son, Roy. Mrs. Longstreth and her two sons are members of the English Lutheran church. The name is a well known one in Pennsylvania to this day and many of those bearing it are prom- inent in the Society of Friends. Mr. Long- streth has seen many changes come about since he first selected Galion as his home and he has done his part in assisting general prog- ress and is an interested member of the Com- mercial Club. In politics he has always been affiliated with the Democratic party.

JACOB LEDERER, proprietor of the Jacob Lederer & Son's livery, feed and sales stables at New Washington, O., is one of the best known men of Cranberry township, Crawford county, where his valuable farm of 53 acres, known as Middlebrook Farm, is situated, ly- ing in section II, along its western border. He

was born April 30, 1848, in Cranberry town- ship, two miles southwest of New Washington, and is a son of Jacob and Magdalena (Don- nenwirth) Lederer.

Jacob Lederer the younger remained on the old homestead for 62 years but in the spring of 1911 he purchased and moved on the old Adam High farm, which had been well im- proved. With the assistance of his sons he carried on general farming but has additional interests. On Aug. 11, 1910, he purchased his livery and feed and sale barn at New Wash- ington, succeeding Edward Donnenwirth, and is here associated in business with his son, un- der the firm name of Jacob Lederer & Son. The livery business is carried on with all kinds of vehicles, including automobiles, two men are kept busy at the barn and the business is prospering under the direct management of the junior member of the firm.

Jacob Lederer was married to Miss Mary Guiss, who was born in the same school dis- trict in Cranberry township as himself, a daughter of Henry Guiss, and they have the following children: Ada Matilda; Ella, who for 15 years has been a successful teacher in the public schools of New Washington and also for four years in Cranberry township, a highly educated lady ; Glenn T., who resides at Toledo, O., where he is connected with the American Express Company ; Elmer, who lives on the home farm; Lee, who, in addition to managing the livery stable and feed and sales barn, is an auctioneer ; L. W., who is employed at Tiffin, O .; and Ivan, who lives at home. Mr. Lederer is a member of the German Lutheran church. He has never considered himself a politician but usually votes with the Demo- cratic party, although occasionally inclined to be independent in his choice as to public rep- resentatives.

DANIEL W. HOOT,* who has been in the employ of the Erie Railway for the past 34 years and is now conductor on one of its speedy passenger trains, with home at Galion, O., has won promotion by close attention to his duties and faithful service in every posi- tion to which he has been assigned. He was born at Reedsburg, O., Nov. 30, 1854, and is a son of Nathaniel and Susan (Zewmy) Hoot. Nathaniel Hoot was born in Pennsylvania,

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May 17, 1817, and died at Galion, O., about 1885. He was a custom shoemaker and was considered very skillful. After leaving Penn- sylvania he lived in different parts of Ohio, in Ashland, Richland, Morrow and Crawford counties, coming to Galion, April 6, 1879. He was married first to Phebe Ostadit, who, at death, left one son, J. B., who is a resident of Columbus, O., and has a family of eight chil- dren. The second marriage of Nathaniel Hoot was to Margaret Frye, who died without chil- dren. His third marriage was to Susan Zewmy, who was born in Ohio in 1823 and died in 1856, leaving three children, namely : E. N., who is a resident of Warsaw, Ind., where he married and has one son; Anna, who is the wife of Shunk Youngblood, of Nankin, O., and has two sons and two daughters; and Daniel W. Nathaniel Hoot's fourth marriage was with Mary Golady, who died without issue.

In his boyhood, Daniel W. Hoot had the usual school opportunities and as soon as old enough began to take care of himself. For three years he worked as a fence-maker before becoming a brakeman on the Erie Railroad, in 1878, being assigned to what was called the Cincinnati Division. In 1880 he was made freight conductor and in 1884 became passen- ger conductor and is one of the best known and highly valued conductors in the employ of the company, relied on by his employers and esteemed for his courtesy and efficiency by the traveling public.

Mr. Hoot was married at Galion, to Miss Emma Myers, who was born in 1859, at Mans- field, O., but was reared and educated at Gal- ion. Her parents were Jeremiah and Sarah J. (Long) Myers, both of whom were born in Pennsylvania, the former Nov. 24. 1819. After marriage, in 1841, Jeremiah Myers came to Mansfield, O., where he later became well known, a pioneer railroad man. He was one of the oldest railroad engineers in the state and ran the first engines on the Baltimore & Ohio and on the Bee line, now known as the Big Four. He closed his railroad life as fore- man of the round-house of the Big Four Rail- road, at Galion, where he died Jan. 21, 1875, when aged 75 years and two months. Al- though never an aspirant for public office, he was in sympathy with the principles of the old-

time Republican party. The mother of Mrs. Hoot survived until Dec. 1, 1897, dying when aged 74 years, three months and two days. She was a devoted member of the Baptist church. Ten children were born to Jeremiah Myers and wife, three of whom died in in- fancy. One son, Samuel, was killed in a rail- road collision at Mansfield and was survived by a widow and three children. The survivors are the following: Elizabeth, who is the widow of Zibe Huntington, a railroad en- gineer, who was killed in the line of duty ; De- witt, who is a railroad engineer, living at Toledo, and has one son; Mrs. Hoot; and Daniel N., who is an engineer and resides at Gary, Ind., and has wife and two sons. All of the sons of Jeremiah Myers became en- gineers when they reached maturity and after serving a proper apprenticeship all became men of reliability and trustworthiness.

Mr. and Mrs. Hoot have had four children : Burt O., Harry Clayton, Melvin C. and Wade Morris. Burt O., who was born October 25, 1881, completed the high school course at Gal- ion and then studied practical mechanics and is employed in West Virginia. Harry Clay- ton, who was born June 26, 1883, after grad- ating from the Galion High School entered the employ of a railroad company and is yard- master at Joliet, Ill. Melvin C., who was born July 26, 1887, is an automobile chauffeur, and resides at Adena, O. He married Nellie Ham- ilton, of Galion and they have two sons, Ken- neth and Lorain. Wade Morris, who was born Oct. 29, 1900, died Aug. 25, 1910. He was a natural musician and had he lived, no doubt would have been heard of in the musical world. Mr. and Mrs. Hoot attend the Baptist church. He is a Republican in politics and fraternally is an Odd Fellow and a member of the O. R. C.

CHARLES HEYDINGER, who conducts a furniture and undertaking business at New Washington, O., was born in Cranberry town- ship, Crawford county, O., March 24, 1883, and is a son of John and Mary (Gullong) Heydinger.

John Heydinger was born in Germany and came to Crawford county and settled in Cran- berry township when he was 20 years old. In early manhood he married Mary Gullong, a

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native of that township, a daughter of Peter and Barbara Gullong, who came to this county in about 1834 or 1835. In Germany, John Heydinger worked at the trade of nailsmith but after coming to America engaged always in farming. After marriage he and wife con- tinued to live in Cranberry township and there their. family of ten children were born, Charles being the youngest. John Heydinger was a highly respected man, a faithful member of the Roman Catholic church at New Wash- ington, and always gave support to the Demo- cratic party because he believed in its prin- ciples. His death occurred on his farm of 109 acres, in his 67th year. For 35 years this farm has been the family homestead and the mother and three of the sons still live on it, one of whom is married.

After attending the country schools and graduating from High School at New Wash- ington, Charles Heydinger took a short busi- ness course at Toledo, O., and then became a clerk in a business house at New Washington and continued from the spring of 1904 until November, 1907, when he bought a one-half interest in the Miller hardware and furniture business at New Washington. This partner- ship was continued for 18 months when a di- vision was made, Mr. Heydinger taking over the furniture stock and Mr. Miller the hard- ware stock. In November, 1911, Mr. Hey- dinger came to his present excellent business location and now occupies the first and second floors of the Bordner Block, which was for- merly the old Lutheran church building. He has a fine stock of furniture on hand at all times, including sewing machines, while his undertaking department is specially fitted for that purpose and he has graduated embalmers in charge.

On Feb. 24, 1908, Mr. Heydinger was mar- ried to Miss Mary Kanney, who was born in Seneca county, O., a daughter of John and Mary (Book) Kanney, and they have two chil- dren : Dorothy and Earl. Mr. and Mrs. Hey- dinger are members of the Catholic church, In politics he is a Democrat, while fraternally he belongs to the Knights of Columbus and the Catholic Mutual Benefit Association. The family has an attractive home situated on the corner of Mansfield and Center streets, New Washington.

CHARLES E. TRIMBLE, M. D., physi- cian and surgeon and specialist in diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat, has been in ac- tive practice at Crestline, O., for more than 20 years and has a professional reputation that extends all through this section of Ohio. He was born in Richland county, O., Nov. 15, 1863, and is a son of James S. and Lucinda (Murphy) Trimble.

Davis S. Trimble, grandfather of Dr. Trimble, was born in 1793, in Lancaster county, Pa., where he married Margaret Ster- rett, who was born there in 1795. In early married life they came to Ohio and settled in Richland county, taking up Government land near Mansfield, and there their subsequent lives were spent, the death of Mr. Trimple being oc- casioned by an accident, but his wife survived into old age. They had a family of 13 child- ren.

James S. Trimble, father of Dr. Trimble, was born in 1826 and still survives, being one of the venerable residents of Richland county, where, for many years he successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits and took a good cit- izen's part in advancing the welfare of his com- munity. In Richland county he was married to Lucinda A. Murphy, who was born there Nov. 8, 1825, and died in the old home in Springfield township, Feb. 16, 1902. Her parents were John and Rachel (Gedis) Mur- phy, natives of Pennsylvania, but of Irish ex- traction. They came to Madison township, Richland county, at an early day and their farm is the present site of the State Reform- atory.

Dr. Charles E. Trimble of Crestline, is the third youngest in a family of seven sons and two daughters, four of whom are yet living, namely: David F., who lives in the State of Washington, and is engaged there as a stock raiser and dealer; Willard L., a farmer in Springfield township, who is married and has ten children; Della, who married W. S. Brooks, a farmer in Springfield township, and

has six children; and Charles E. The studies of the last named, from youth, were more or less directed in the line of his profession and he is a graduate of Starling Medical College, at Columbus, O., and in 1905 was graduated from the Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat College,

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at Chicago, Ill., and has been in active practice at Crestline since 1891.

Dr. Trimble was married in Richland county, O., to Miss Cora A. Condon, who was born there Feb. 13, 1868, a daughter of Mar- shall and Maria ( Walters) Condon, who were natives of Richland county, the father being a prosperous farmer there for years. He died in Springfield township when aged 84 years, and his wife at the age of 57 years. Formerly they were Presbyterians but later united with the Methodist church. To Dr. and Mrs. Trimble two children were born: Cecil Maria, who was born April 10, 1891, and Starling F., who was born May 6, 1893. The daughter completed the High School course and a busi- ness college course, while the son, after grad- uating with the class of 1912, from the Crest- line High School, has entered the medical de- partment of Wooster University. Dr. Trim- ble is identified with the Elks at Bucyrus. In politics he is a Republican.

LOUIS KIEFFER, whose death in Galion, Aug. 28, 1902, removed a worthy and re- spected citizen from the community, was a native Ohioan, born in Stark county, July 3, 1827, a son of Adam and Elizabeth (Rine- hart) Kieffer. The parents of our subject were of Pennsylvania-German stock, coming to Stark county at an early day and soon after their marriage. They later removed to Craw- ford county, settling on a farm on "the plains," where they resided for some years. Subsequently, however, they went to Wyan- dot county, where Adam Kieffer bought 100 acres of land near the town or village of Nevada, which he improved into a fine home- stead, and where he died at the age of 86 years. His wife died at the age of eighty- four. They were hardworking, thrifty people and their efforts to succeed in life were re- warded by prosperity. They were members of the Lutheran church. Their children were seven in number, of whom five are still living. All married and had issue.

Louis Kieffer, the direct subject of this notice, was yet a young man when his father gave him a good farm in Wyandot county, which he cultivated and improved. Later he became the owner of substantial farm prop- erty in Crawford county and took up his resi-

dence here. From his parents he had learned the lessons of thrift and industry and, like them, he attained success. He was a member of and an officer in the Luthern church and in politics he was a Democrat.

He was married in Whetstone township to Mary Ann Christman, who was born near Salem, N. J., April 3, 1835, and who was six years old when she came to Whetstone town- ship, Crawford county, with her parents, Adam and Elizabeth (Snyder) Christman, they ar- riving here in 1841. Her parents were born and married in Germany and came to the United States after the birth of their three first children. Their daughter, Mary Ann (Mrs. Kieffer ) was the only one of the family born in New Jersey. After coming to Craw- ford county, they purchased a farm, on which Mr. Christman subsequently died before at- taining the age of 50 years, his death being the result of an injury. His widow took up her residence in Galion, living to be over 79 years old. They were earnest Christian peo- ple, active in good works, and exemplifying their religion in their lives and character. They were the parents of 13 children, of whom five are still living, all being married.

Mr. and Mrs. Kieffer have been the parents of seven children, as follows: Franklin, a Crawford county farmer, is married and has three children-Hazel, a school teacher, Gladys and Mercil. William H. lives at Battle Creek, Mich. David W., who is conducting his mother's farm of 152 acres, is married but has no children. Lewis M. is a photographer in Toledo. O. He is married and has five chil- dren-Don, Mabel, Russell, Harland and Mary C. Clara E. is the wife of Edward Lowmil- ler, a farmer residing near Bucyrus; has no children. Mrs. Kieffer is a devoted member of the English Lutheran church. She is a lady well known in Galion and the vicinity and is as highly esteemed. She has brought up a worthy family, who are creditable mem- bers of the communities in which they respec- tively reside and has the right to feel that she has well and faithfully performed her task in life.

HENRY POISTER, proprietor of a fur- niture store and also engaged in the under- taking business at Galion, O., in connection

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: with Peter Boehm, has been established in this city for some 30 years and stands high in com- mercial circles and as a private citizen. He was born Oct. 16, 1845, in one of the Rhine provinces, in Prussia, and is a son of Theodore and Margaret (Schmidt) Poister, and a grandson of Christian Poister.

Christian Poister was born in Prussia and was a quiet, peaceful, hard-working man when he was conscripted and went as a soldier from his country when it made the compact with Napoleon and marched to Moscow. He sur- vived the horrors of that unfortunate cam- paign and returned for a few years to his cabinetmaking business in his old home, but, in 1856, with his wife came to the United States and joined the sons who had come to Galion, O., two years previously. Both died at Galion in old age; worthy and respected people and devout attendants of the Peace Lutheran church.

Theodore Poister was born in Prussia in 1822 and learned his father's trade and then served three years in the regular service in the Prussian army. In his own neighborhood he married Margaret Schmidt, who was born in 1828, and in 1854, with their three children, Henry, Sophia and Catherine, they set sail for America in search of more favorable liv- ing conditions. The vessel, the Rio de Ja- neiro, landed them safely in the harbor of New York, after a voyage of seven weeks. They yet had quite a long distance to travel for transportation facilities were not then so numerous and a round about way had to be taken in order to reach Galion, O., their ob- jective point. They sailed up the Hudson River to Albany, then crossed the state to Buf- falo on the Erie Canal, then to Cleveland by lake and then over the Big Four Railroad, which had but lately been constructed, to Galion. Theodore Poister secured work in the railway shops and later bought a farm which he operated for 15 years and then retired to Galion, where his death occurred in 1894, hav- ing survived his wife some years. Her father, Philip Schmidt, had served with the German army, under the Duke of Wellington at Water- loo. Theodore Poister and wife were mem- bers of the German Reformed church. Of their family of children three sons and two daughters are yet living.

Henry Poister learned the trade of cabinet- maker and was employed in the shops of the Big Four Railroad for 15 years and assisted in building and finishing the first sleeping coaches put out by that company. Afterward he went into business for himself, purchasing the interests of Campbell & Bryant, who had started the business in 1876. The present firm, Poister & Boehm, has been in existence for 30 years. Its location has always been on East Main Street and in 1889, Mr. Poister erected the present commodious building, di- mensions being 44x80 feet, at Nos. 243-45, East Main, where a fine stock of furniture is carried, and in which are located the funeral directing parlors.

In 1870, in this city, Mr. Poister was united in marriage with Miss Louisa Beck, who was born in Ashland county, O., in 1849 and died in 1901. Two daughters were born to them: Clara F. and Laura N., both of whom are graduates of the Galion High School. Mr. Poister is a Democrat in politics and has served as a member of the city council and in other offices. Fraternally he is a Royal Arch Mason.

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History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 149

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