History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 150

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 150

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HUGH O. DOBBINS,* deceased, for many years was a well known citizen of Bucyrus township, Crawford county, O., where he owned and conducted the old Dobbins home- stead farm. He was born in Wayne county, O., Feb. 1I, 1830, and died on the above farm. His parents were John and Annie (McCul- .lough ) Dobbins.

John Dobbins was born in Pennsylvania and accompanied his parents when young to Ma- honing county, O. He was married in Har- rison county to Annie Mccullough, who was also a native of Pennsylvania, and six chil- dren were born to them. From Harrison they moved to Wayne county, where John Dob- bins secured 72 acres of land, on which he lived until 1834, although, two years pre- viously, he had entered 160 acres in section 4, Bucyrus township, Crawford county. To this land the family came in 1834. A dense for- est surrounded this pioneer home and the family endured many of the hardships inci- dent to life in a new section to which civiliza- tion had scarcely penetrated. In 1858 John Dobbins and his wife retired to Bucyrus and

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there he died in 1859, his widow, of more robust constitution, surviving until 1880. They left descendants who have perpetuated the family and have maintained its reputation for the solid virtues that marked their lives.

Hugh O. Dobbins, the eldest son of John and Annie Dobbins, had but indifferent edu- cational opportunities in his youth but he had much practical teaching as to the management of a farm and the carrying on if its various activities, and this acquired knowledge he put to good use and brought the old homestead farm to a fine state of cultivation. He was a man of quiet tastes, was honorable in his business transactions and was kind and neigh- borly in his community. While thoroughly identified with the Democratic party, he never was willing to accept political office.

Hugh O. Dobbins was married in 1859 to Miss Rachel Cleland, who was born in Craw- ford county in 1836, a daughter of William Cleland, who was an early settler in Vernon township. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Dobbins. One of the surviving sons, Hugh M., is a substantial farmer and stock raiser and is a valued member of the board of county commissioners of Crawford county.

GEORGE DONNENWIRTH, president of the Bucyrus City Bank, of Bucyrus, O., has been identified with the business interests of this place for over a half century and occupies an enviable position in the esteem of his fel- low citizens that he has won through his per- sonal characteristics. He is a man of broad and abundant sympathies, keeping ever in memory the struggles of his own youth, and has so built up his own fortunes that the path he has traveled lies plain for another to fol- low, through the exercise of the same industry, frugality and integrity. The life of such a man is always interesting.

George Donnenwirth was born Jan. 28, 1835, at Columbus, O. His parents were George and Sophia (Anthony) Donnenwirth, and his grandparents were George and Magdalene (Ruth) Donnenwirth. It was in 1827 that the grandparents left France and came to Amer- ica, making their first stop at Buffalo, N. Y., and from there moving to Stark county, O. The grandfather was seeking farm land and

this he secured to his satisfaction when he came to Crawford county, in 1834, settling in Cranberry township.

Of their five children, one son, George, was born at Strasburg, France, (now in Germany) in 1810, and in 1827 accompanied his parents to the United States. Prior to 1833 he worked as a blacksmith at several points and also as- sisted in the construction of the Ohio Canal. In 1838 he came to New Washington, Craw- ford county, where he opened his blacksmith shop and also invested in property, and ere long was recognized as an enterprising and worthy citizen, 1846 being elected a repre- sentative to the state legislature. Subse- quently, in 1855, when elected county treasurer, he moved to Bucyrus, where the remainder of his life was spent and there he was twice elected mayor.

Until he was 14 years of age, George Don- nenwirth, Jr., attended school, but his father was a very practical man and in accordance with his decision the son began to learn a self-supporting trade and spent four years at his father's forge. He then went to Sandusky and worked in a grocery store for almost two years and afterward became a clerk at Bur- lington, Ia., from there returning to Ohio and locating in Bucyrus. Deciding to make this city the seat of his business efforts he shortly afterward entered into partnership with Henry Anthony in the establishing of a brewery. This partnership continued for but a brief time, however, Mr. Donnenwirth's father then buying the Anthony interest and becoming the senior partner. The business was conducted under the style of George Donnenwirth & Son until 1875, when the senior partner retired. At this time the junior member of the firm became the senior; he admitted his half- brother, Frank P. Donnenwirth, and the busi- ness was continued until 1889.

In the meanwhile, George Donnenwirth had become a banker in a small way, and in 1881 was one of the organizers and vice president of what was known as the Monnett Bank of Bucyrus. January 1, 1892, the investment was increased and the style of the concern was changed from the Monnett Bank to the Bu- cyrus City Bank. Mr. Donnenwirth was elected president of the institution Jan. 2, 1888 which position, as above indicated, he still

GEORGE DONNENWIRTH

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holds. He has been a member of its directing board from its organization. Aside from the importance of his business interests, Mr. Don- nenwirth has been in other ways a foremost citizen. For years he has served as a city councilman; he was a member of the school board 25 years and treasurer of the same for 20 years ;and at all times has been ready to heartily cooperate with other citizens in pro- moting the general welfare. In politics a Democrat, his influence in party councils has been valuable on many important occasions. He is a Mason and an Elk.

C. C. COYLE, secretary and treasurer of The Galion Lumber Company, and a member of the board of education, of Galion, O., is one of the reliable and representative business men of this city. He was born in 1863, in Jefferson county, O., but was brought to Galion when a child of two years and largely the business life of Mr. Coyle has been associated with Galion interests. He is a son of Dr. C. L. and Julia ( Rinehart) Coyle.

Dr. C. L. Coyle was a native of Ohio and died at Galion in 1892, when aged 65 years. After completing his medical education at Philadelphia, he returned to Ohio and in 1865 opened his practice at Galion where he became a physician of high standing. He married a daughter of Rev. John Rinehart, a minister of the Lutheran faith who was also a farmer in Jefferson county. Mrs. Coyle survives and resides with her son, C. C. Coyle. He has two sisters : Estella, who is a highly educated lady and is city librarian, at Galion; and Cordelia, who is the wife of Ross W. Funck, who is an attorney at Wooster, O., and has one son and three daughters.

C. C. Coyle attended school in Galion. He was with the Citizens National Bank and later was a bookkeeper in a wholesale house in Cleveland and subsequently was southern agent for five years for the Stirling Water-tube boil- ers, with headquarters in Cincinnati, and after returning to Galion he entered into the lumber business. When The Galion Lumber Com- pany was merged from a firm into a corpora- tion in 1902, Mr. Coyle was made secretary and treasurer and became one of the five di- rectors. The business is an extensive one, is well financiered and ably managed, the manu-

facturing output being all kinds of builders' supplies and store and bank furniture, employ- ment being given twenty workmen, trade be- ing largely local. The company deals also in masons' supplies and coal.

Mr. Coyle was married at Toledo, O., to Miss Lulu Winter, who was born at Bucyrus, O., and they have two children: Elizabeth Eleanor, who was born July 8, 1905; and Charles Winter, who was born August 8, 1908. Mr. and Mrs. Coyle are members of the Pres- byterian church. In politics he is a Republican and fraternally belongs to the Knights of Pythias. He is president of the Commercial Club.

ADAM DONNENWIRTH, a highly re- spected citizen of Cranberry township, Craw- ford county, O., a retired farmer residing two miles south and east of New Washington, O., where he owns 70 acres of well improved land, was born at Columbus, O., Jan. 28, 1835, and is a son of George and Sophia Donnenwirth.

Adam Donnenwirth attended school at Co- lumbus and also in Cranberry township after his father moved here with his family, and then decided to devote his attention to agri- cultural pursuits and ever since has been en- gaged in farming and stock raising, retiring from the active management of his industries after many years of success. After marriage he settled one-half mile east of New Washing- ton and remained on that farm for ten years, when he came to his present one and operated it until 1907, when he practically retired. He not only followed farming methods that en- riched his land and made it more productive but he took a deep interest in improving his surroundings and after erecting a handsome residence, turned his attention to his other farm buildings and a substantial bank barn soon replaced the earlier one.

Mr. Donnenwirth married Miss Elizabeth Shaffer, a daughter of George Shaffer, and a member of one of the old county families. Mrs. Donnenwirth died in April, 1911 ,and her burial was at New Washington. To Mr. and Mrs. Donnenwirth II children were born, as follows: Jefferson, who lives in California : Charles. who died at Bucyrus ; John, who died in 1908; Annie, who is the wife of Jacob Biber and resides in Cranberry township; Ed-

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ward, who lives in Holmes township; Martin, who lives near Crestline; Robert, who carries on the home farm; and the others died in in- fancy. Mr. Donnenwirth and family attend the Lutheran church.

EMERY RUPERT, who resides on the old Rupert homestead situated in Lykens town- ship, Crawford county, a valuable tract of eighty acres, was born here Dec. 12, 1866, and is a son of Solomon and Lydia ( Haas) Rupert.

Solomon Rupert was born in Stark county, O., and after coming to Crawford county, O., followed farming in Lykens township. He married Lydia Hass, who was born in Craw- ford county, and here their three children were born, namely : Aaron; Ellen, wife of A. J. Seele; and Emery. Mr. Rupert and wife were members of the Pietist church in Chat- field township. Their burial. was at Broken- sword.

Emery Rupert attended the public schools in Lykens township and then during one term was a student at Ada, O., after which he returned and gave his father assistance on the farm until the latter's death. A few years later he purchased the homestead and has con- tinued here. He carries on general farming. He is enterprising and progressive in his meth- ods and succeeds in making every acre of his land profitable.

On March 19, 1911, Mr. Rupert was mar- ried to Mrs. Alice ( Angene ) Hawkins, widow to Walter Hawkins, and daughter of Adam and Mary (Gerhart) Angene. To her first marriage, Mrs. Rupert had five daughters born, namely: Irene, Ruth, Irma, Elizabeth and Helen. Mr. Rupert and family attend church at Brokensword. In politics he is a Democrat and he has served two terms as township as- sessor. He belongs to the Patrons of Hus- bandry at Brokensword and to the Knights of Pythias at Lykens.

JOHN LUST, a retired farmer and highly respected citizen of Cranberry township. Crawford county. O., where he owns 104 acres of very valuable land which is situated in section 15 and lies two miles southeast of New Washington. O., was born in Chatfield township. Crawford county. June 5. 1845. His parents were Conrad and Magdalena (Myer) Lust.

Conrad Lust was born in Germany but came to the United States when about five years old, his parents settling first in Pennsylvania and later coming to Ohio, where Conrad at- tended school in Marion county. He married Magdalena Myer, who was born in Pennsyl- vania, but was reared in Columbiana county, O. After marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Lust settled in Chatfield township, and continued to live there throughout life, the death of Conrad Lust occurring in his 64th year, while his widow survived to the age of seventy-three. They were members of the Pietist church. Of their nine children, eight reside in Craw- ford county, Daniel and Solomon, together with John Beal, a son-in-law, residing on the old homestead of 333 acres.

John Lust has been engaged in farming all his mature life, first on the home place and later for himself. For seven years he re- mained in Chatfield township, but in 1875 moved to the present farm in Cranberry town- ship, from which he moved to Liberty town- ship in 1886 and remained for five and one- lıalf years and then returned to his Cranberry township property.

Mr. Lust married Miss Susanna Pfleiderer, a daughter of Jacob Pfleiderer of Liberty town- ship and two children were born to them: an infant son, deceased; and William, who lived to the age of eight months. Mr. and Mrs. Lust are members of the Pietist church. While Mr. Lust has never been active in pol- itics, he has always been interested in the sub- stantial progress made by his community and has lent his influence in the direction of tem- perance, education and religion.

A. W. MONROE, one of Galion's able and representative business men, secretary of the Home Savings & Loan Company. at Galion, O., a capitalized concern of $2,000,000, and for many years additionally interested in en- terprises of large importance, was born in Ohio, and in 1877 was graduated from the Galion High School.

His business career began early and for a long period he was cashier of the First Na- tional Bank of Galion, severing his relations in 1905 in order to devote more attention to his many other interests. He is secretary and treasurer of the Galion Metallic Vault Com- pany, which is capitalized at S100.000, and

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has been manufacturing steel burial vaults since 1905, a successful business being done all over the country, seven traveling men be- ing on the road and employment being af- forded 50 persons. Mr. Monroe is concerned officially or otherwise, with numerous other manufacturing concerns but probably is best known in his connection with the Home Sav- ings & Loan Company of Galion. The organ- ization of this company took place in 1891, with a capital of $300,000, which was first increased to $600,000, and in 1903 was again increased to $1,000,000 and since then has again doubled its capital. It was organized as a State institution under State laws and under its original officers has made remark- able progress and in all that has been done, Mr. Monroe has been the moving spirit. He came to Galion in 1870, from Norwalk, where he was born in 1859, in company with his parents, Orin and Julia ( Pettis) Monroe, and has occupied a representative position here for many years, not only in the business world but as an interested and responsible citizen.

In 1880, Mr. Monroe was married at Galion, O., to Miss Mary E. Armacost, who was born in Darke county, O., attended the Galion pub- lic schools and pursued her musical and artistic studies in the Wesleyan University at Dela- ware, O., and Baldwin University near Cleve- land and for some time prior to her marriage was a teacher of music, possessing great nat- ural ability in this direction. Her early life was partly spent in Indiana. Her parents were William M. and Hannah Britton (Young) Robbins Armacost. Her father was born near Baltimore, Md. For a number of years he was a merchant tailor in the city of Washing- ton and many notable names were on his books as patrons. He was twice married, his second wife being the mother of Mrs. Monroe. He was born in 1800 and died in Darke county, O., in 1865. The mother of Mrs. Monroe was born in 1819, at Lancaster, Pa., and died in 1900, at Galion, O. She was married first to Isaac Robbins and the two children born to that union survive. To her second marriage two children were born: Mrs. Monroe and James Murray, the latter residing with his family at Barberton, O.

Mr. and Mrs. Monroe have two sons: Otho Lee and E. Paul. Otho Lee Monroe was

graduated from the Galion High School and then entered the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, O., where he was graduated in the class of 1904, and four years later was grad- uated from the medical department of Colum- bia University, New York, with his degree. Subsequently he took a post graduate course of two years in St. Luke's Hospital, New York City. He is at present engaged in pro- fessional work, having a large practice in the metropolis. The second son, E. Paul Monroe, was graduated from the Galion High School in the class of 1903 and from the Ohio Wes- leyan University in the class of 1907, both he and brother taking high honors as students. He is, at present, occupying a clerical position with the Galion Metallic Vault Company and with the Home Savings & Loan Company of Galion. He married Miss Georgetta Pavey, of Leesburg, O. Mr. and Mrs. Monroe are mem- bers of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Galion, with which he has been connected as Sunday-school superintendent for 21 years, while Mrs. Monroe has been church organist for 18 years. They have many social duties to perform, being leaders in many circles, and Mrs. Monroe has been a trustee of the Public Library since its incorporation in 1901, a very active and efficient member of this body.

JACOB UHL, who is one of the highly re- spected citizens of New Washington, O., re- siding in his comfortable home, which is sit- uated on East Mansfield Street, has been re- tired from agricultural activities since 1907, but still retains valuable properties in Cran- berry township, Crawford county. He was born at Offenbach, Bavaria, Germany, Jan. 25, 1833, and was brought to Cranberry town- ship, Crawford county, O., when three and one-half years old, by his parents, Benedict and Anna Mary ( Mesmer ) Uhl. Jacob Uhl's paternal grandfather was John Uhl and the maternal grandfather was Benedict Mesnier ; the former died in 1801, never having come to the United States.

Benedict Uhl and a fellow countryman pur- chased 80 acres of land in partnership and when an equal division was made, Mr. Uhl took that portion which is the present site of New Washington and he lived in one of the seven cabins in the place, his home being one

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mile north of town. There is always some particular reason to account for the naming of a village and in the case of New Washington it perpetuates the name of George Washing- ton Meyer, who laid out the plan and secured the services of a surveyor to divide the land into lots and then gave his name to the set- tlement. It might, with good reason, have been named for the Uhl family as this one has been identified with its development from the beginning. Benedict Uhl was a wheelwright by trade and in many a household in this neighborhood may be found spinning wheels of his constructing, this domestic industry be- ing one of importance in almost every family in his day. He resided north of New Washing- ton for two years and then moved on his farm of 40 acres, which he cleared and here built a round log house which was later replaced by a large frame one, and to his original pur- chase subsequently added fifty acres of the Daniel Murphy farm. His death occurred on the first farm, in August, 1863, and was sur- vived by his wife for a few years, their burials being at New Washington. They had the following children born to them: Appleonia, Catherine, Benedict, Jacob, Daniel and Mary Ann, the last named dying at the age of 18 years. The parents were members of the Ro- man Catholic church.

Jacob Chl with his brothers and sisters were reared near New Washington and there attended the early schools. He spent a busy boyhood and youth, working at the carpenter trade and on the home and neighboring farms and worked also as a farm hand in Huron county before the outbreak of the Civil War, when he enlisted for army service and served through the Rebellion as a member of Co. C, 49th O. Vol. Inf. His first enlistment was in 1861, he reenlisting in 1863 to serve through the war. His commanding officer was Captain Keller of Sulphur Springs. He was seriously wounded at Atlanta, Ga., June 27, 1864, by a shot through the neck. which kept him in the hospital until the following February. when he rejoined his regiment and received his hon- orable discharge in January. 1866, at Colum- bus.

Mr. Uhl returned then to New Washington and was married here to Miss Margaret Nedo- last, who was born in Rocheway, Bohemia, a

daughter of John and Elizabeth Nedolast, who settled in Cranberry township in 1854. They became well known people there. To Mr. and Mrs. Uhl the following children were born: Elizabeth, who is the wife of J. R. Miller ; George Jacob, who married Mary Shell; Michael B .; Joseph, who is a teacher at Day- ton, O .; Lawrence, who married Mary Ray- mond; and Mary, who is the wife of Cornelius Miller, of Toledo, O.

After marriage, Mr. Uhl settled on his farm of 80 acres one mile north east of New Washington and to his first farm added twenty adjoining acres and later ninety acres, situated near Waynesburg, and still later the eighty- acre farm now owned by his son, George Uhl. As noted above Mr. Uhl has lived retired from business care for the last five years. He has never been a very active politician but served one term as supervisor of Cranberry township, elected on the Republican ticket. Mr. Uhl and family belong to the Roman Catholic church.

WILLIAM H. SONGER, a thoroughly representative citizen of Crawford county, a man of large means and public prominence in his community, resides on his finely improved farm of 160 acres, which is situated in San- dusky township, ten and one-half miles north- east of Bucyrus. His other 269 acres in this county lie in Whetstone and Liberty town- ships. He was born in 1873, in Sandusky township and is a son of Jacob and Lydia (Schreck) Songer.

Jacob Songer was born in Pennsylvania and he had eight brothers and sisters, namely : Daniel J., John, Jonathan, Rose, Elizabeth, Sophia, Sarah and Mary, the surviving ones being : Daniel J., Rose, Elizabeth and Sarah.

William H. Songer was reared on his father's farm in Sandusky township and at- tended the public schools. He married Miss Marie E. Reiff, who was one of the following family born to her parents: Charles A. F., living in Holmes township, who married Min- nie Snavely and has four children-Lulu, Floy, Arthur and Olan : Marie E., wife of our subject ; Paul O., deceased; John C., who lives in Holmes township and who married Estie Frost and has two children-Chester and Rus- sell; Hannah M., the wife of W. O. Taylor, who lives in Andrews, Ind .. and has three chil-

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dren-Earl, Ralph and Mary; Henry J., who married M. Miller and lives in Bucyrus; Rosa, widow of Lawrence Messnard, who lives in Andrews, Ind., and has one son, Donald; and Lewis W., who married Hazel Schofield, and lives in Andrews, Ind., and has a daughter, Edith.

Mr. and Mrs. Songer have two children: Lloyd and Delwyn, both of whom live at home. In politics Mr. Songer is a stanch Democrat and is an influential man in many directions in the county. He is one of the trustees of Sandusky township and is also treasurer of the township school board. His farm home is considered the finest rural residence in San- dusky township, being beautifully situated and fitted with modern comforts and conveniences.

CAPT. WILLIAM R. DAVIS, a veteran of the Civil war, who was formerly engaged in agricultural pursuits but is now living retired in Galion, is a native of Crawford county, born in Sandusky township, April 7, 1835. He is a son of John and Mary (Hamilton) Davis, the former of whom was born in Maryland in 1797, and the latter in Pennsylvania in 1802, she being a relation of Alexander Hamilton. They were early settlers in Columbiana county, Ohio, where they lived until after the birth of their ninth child. In 1829 or 1830 they set- tled in Crawford county, locating in Sandusky township on partly improved land, where they built up a substantial home. His land con- sisted of 240 acres, which he brought to a high state of cultivation. During their early residence here they had many hard experiences, being obliged to haul their grain to the Lakes to market it, and drive their live stock to Philadelphia. John Davis died in Sandusky township, this county, in 1883 at the age of 88 years, his wife having previously passed away, in 1878. They were Methodists in religion and he was a Whig and later a Re- publican in politics. They were the parents of 13 children-seven sons and six daughters -- all of whom married and had children, ex- cept one daughter. All, however, are now de- ceased, except the subject of this sketch.

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History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 150

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