History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 156

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 156

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Catherine Kreim was educated at Ripley and at Plymouth, O., and under a good mother's supervision, learned all housekeeping mys- teries. On Nov. 12, 1868, she was married to Joseph M. Shell, who was born in Austria, Sept. 17, 1845, and they had ten children born to them, the survivors being: Mrs. Rose B. Alt, Edward W., Mrs. Mary M. Uhl, Mrs. Catherine Emlinger, and Frank Joseph and Leon Francis, both of whom live at home. Mr. and Mrs. Shell lost the following chil- dren: an unnamed infant; Joseph A., who died when aged three years and nine months; Mary Celesta, who was but two weeks old; and Amelia Josephia, who lived to the age of 18 years.

Joseph M. Shell is a son of Joseph and

Catherine (Lautner ) Shell. His father was born in Austria in 1824, a son of Frank Shell,. a potter by trade. Joseph Shell, Sr., came to America in 1872 and located in Venice town- ship, Seneca county, O., where he bought 26 acres of land, on which he lived until his death, April 1, 1877. He was a faithful mem- ber of the Catholic church. His wife was born in 1825, a daughter of John Lautner, who was a potter by trade. She died in 1896, the mother of eleven children.

Joseph M. Shell attended school before com- ing to the United States and afterward at- tended three months in order to learn the language. In 1865 he came to America, land- ing at New York and when he reached Cleve- land, O., he had two dollars as his sole capital. He immediately found work as a potter, and after two years at his trade, embarked in the pottery business for himself, at Shenandoah, Richland county, O., where he remained until the spring of 1868, when he came to New Washington, where he erected a residence and shop and engaged in the pottery business. By this time, however, industrial life and methods had been changed by the concentration of capital and he found his venture unprofit- able. He then went to work on the railroad then in course of construction here, and con- tinued until 1874, when he bought 40 acres of land situated one mile west of his present farm in section 24, Cranberry township. He sold his first land for $100 per acre, and in 1884 purchased the first 80 acres of his present farm, to which he has added two adjoining tracts and now has IIO acres, situated three miles southeast of New Washington. Mr. Shell has always been an industrious and enterpris- ing man and a good, law abiding citizen. He is a Democrat in politics and has served as a trustee of Cranberry township for six years and in 1900 was appointed land appraiser. He is a member of the Catholic church.

CHRISTIAN A. NUNGESSER, who, for many years contributed to the agricultural prosperity of Whetstone township, Crawford county, O., where his farm of 100 acres is situated, has lived retired since 1898, and has occupied his comfortable residence on the cor- ner of West Main Street and Klymer Avenue, Galion, O. He was born at Auerbach, Ger-

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many, in the province of Hesse Darmstadt, Feb. 16, 1833, and is a son of George and Eva (Kyle) Nungesser.

The parents of Mr. Nungesser lived and died in Hesse Darmstadt. The father fol- lowed the shoemaking trade and by that means was able to take care of his family al- though he could afford them no luxuries. The parents were members of the Lutheran church. Three sons were born to them: Peter, who learned his father's trade, and spent his en- tire life in Germany ; Christian A., our subject ; and George, who spent his life as a farmer in Germany.

Christian A. Nungesser was taught the trade of shoemaker by his practical father and before he left his native land had become a skilled workman. Those were the days when all footwear was made by hand and the de- mand was greater in many sections than the supply. In June, 1852, the youth embarked for America on a sailing vessel and, although he was compelled to be on the water for 47 days, he was safely landed in the harbor of New York. He soon made his way to Cincin- nati, O., where he worked at his trade for three years, after which he located at Winchester, in Crawford county, where he conducted a shop until he was married, when he moved on a farm in Whetstone township and developed his land into one of the fine farms of that section.

Mr. Nungesser was married in Whetstone township, to Miss Elizabeth Helfrich, who was born at Galion, May 22, 1840, and has always been a resident of her native county. She is a daughter of Peter and Margaretta (Barmouth) Helfrich, natives of Wurtem- berg, Germany, who came to the United States and became farmers in Whetstone township, settling there in 1833. They had a family of three sons and two daughters and two sons and two daughters still survive. To Mr. and Mrs. Nungesser four children were born: Lila, who is the wife of Isaac Cook, residing in Whetstone township and has a son and a daughter; Maggie, who is the widow of Henry Rexroth, and who lives in Whetstone town- ship and has six children; Jennie, who is the wife of Jacob Guinther and resides on a farm near Winchester and has four daughters; and M. G., who is a prominent citizen and well

known farmer in Whetstone township, a leading Democratic politician and his party's nominee for state representative. Mr. and Mrs. Nungesser are valued members of the German Lutheran church. They are kind and hospitable people and have a wide circle of friends both at Galion and in the country where they lived so long.

A. R. CRIDDLE, a leading citizen and representative business man of Tiro, O., man- ager and owner of the Tiro Handle Factory of this place, one of the town's most important industrial enterprises, was born at Coal Brook, Ashtabula county, O., Dec. 30, 1867, and is a son of Robert F. and Charity (York) Crid- dle. Of their nine children there are seven yet living.

A. R. Criddle was reared and educated in his native county and was engaged there in business until he came to Tiro, in August, 1910, and built his present plant, locating in the northwestern part of the town, employ- ment being given 16 men and the product being all kinds and sizes of wood handles, a sta- tionary boiler being used and the motive power being steam. Mr. Criddle is a very enterpris- ing and far sighted business man and has much manufacturing experience.

In Ashtabula county, Mr. Criddle was mar- ried to Miss Carrie B. Fobes, who was born ·in Wayne township, Ashtabula county, a daughter of Riveris and Dila (Albridge) Fobes, and they have five children: Robert Carl and Riveris, both of whom are employed in the factory; Ethel, who is a student in the Tiro High School; Ruby, who still is in the common school; and Raymond. Mr. Criddle and family are members of the Brethren church. He belongs fraternally to the Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the Re- beccas. Mr. Criddle is not actively interested in politics.

HENRY BIEBIGHAUSER, for a number of years an active business citizen of Galion, O., now practically retired, was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, March 10, 1848, and is a son of John and Ephra ( Rauth) Bie- bighauser. The father, a horseshoer by trade, spent his life in Hesse-Darmstadt, where he died in 1857, aged 55 years. His

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widow survived until 1880, dying when aged 70 years. They were members of the Ger- man Lutheran church. Of their family of two sons and five daughters, Henry was the youngest. One sister, Kate, who is the widow of John Sozten, and his brother, August, also came to the United States and all live at Galion.

Henry Biebighauser was nine years old when his father died. He attended a German school in boyhood and then learned the shoe- making trade and in 1866 came to America and joined his brother at Upper Sandusky, O., and in 1867 they came to Galion. He worked for one year at his trade and for another year was with his brother in the blacksmith busi- ness, but in 1869 he went into the butchering business and successfully continued in the same until 1905, when he retired, turning over his heaviest responsibilities to his son. In business circles he gained the respect of his fellow citizens for his honest and upright methods and in all that has concerned the pub- lic good of the city since he has been a resi- dent, he has been enterprising and public spirited.

On Feb. 6, 1873, Mr. Biebighauser was married to Miss Margaret Helfrich, who was born in Crawford county, O., where her life has been passed. Her parents were Philip and Catherine (Rhinemuth) Helfrich, who came from Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, to the United States and settled on a farm in Whet- stone township, Crawford county. The father was a blacksmith by trade. He and his wife died at Galion. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Biebighauser, the survivors being: Carl, who operates the meat market located at No. 322 East Main Street, which his father established, and who married at Galion and has three children-Helen, Fred- erick and Isabel; Emma, who is the wife of Leon Zigler, of Galion, and has two children- Margaret and Ida; Ida, the wife of Harry Beach, who is in the employ of the Erie Rail- way Company; and Elizabeth, the wife of Clyde Smith, who is associated with her brother in the meat business. They have one son, Henry. The family belongs to the Ger- man Lutheran church. In politics Mr. Bie- bighauser and sons are Democrats and fra- ternally he is identified with the Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias.

MRS. AMELIA WECHTER, a property owner and a very highly esteemed resident of Auburn township, Crawford county, O., her farm of 150 acres lying in section 7, was born at Milan, O., and is a daughter of Anthony and Josephine Fisher, both of whom died at Milan, O.

Amelia Fisher was reared at Milan and at- tended school there. On Oct. 10, 1872, she was married to Joseph A. Wechter, who was born at Rochester, N. Y., a son of Joseph and Magdalena Wechter, and died at Toledo, O., suffocated by gas. He was buried at New Washington, Crawford county, Dec. 1, 1897. At the time of his death he was aged 48 years, six months and fourteen days. After mar- riage, Mr. and Mrs. Wechter settled on a farm in Cranberry township, two miles east of New Washington, and after the birth of two of their children, moved to east of Norwalk, O., where there were three children born. They moved then to Chatfield township where they re- mained 16 years, when they came to the pres- ent farm, known as the old Curtis place, which was partly improved, but Mrs. Wechter and children remodeled the buildings and made many additional improvements. All the farm is under cultivation except 30 acres still in valuable timber.

To Mr. and Mrs. Wechter the following children were born: Josephine, who is the wife of John Fries and lives near Norwalk, O .; John, who also lives near Norwalk; Elizabeth, who is the wife of Martin Kramer, and lives near Milan, O .; Mary, who is the wife of Au- gust Heydinger, of Auburn township; Frank, who married Clara Pifher and lives in Auburn township; Rose, who is the wife of Searl Daugherty and lives in Huron county; Willie and Millie, twins, the former of whom married Rose Landoll, of Huron county, and the latter of whom married Phillip Mellein and lives at Milan; Charles, who operates the home farm; Patronillia, who is a successful teacher in Au- burn township; Linus, who assists on the home farm; and Gertrude, who lives with her mother. Mrs. Wechter and family are mem- bers of the Catholic church, as was Mr. Wech- ter. In politics he was a Democrat and while living in Chatfield township, served two terms as road supervisor. He was an industrious and successful farmer and was well known all through this section and had many friends.

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JOHN FAILE, deceased, was a member of one of the old German families that came early to Crawford county, O., where through in- dustry, sobriety and thrift they became people of substance and of esteem in the commu- nities in which they lived. He was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, Jan. 18, 1822, and was eight years old when he accompanied his parents, William and Mary Faile, to the United States.

In 1830, when the Failes came to America the only means of reaching the Aemrican shore was by way of the slow sailing ships and the family spent two long months on the water. After landing, as rapidly as possible, they came on to Crawford county and settled on wild land in what is now Chatfield town- ship. There his first wife died and he married Mrs. Caroline Jacob, who had two children : Hester and Caroline, who reside in Iowa. To the first marriage of William Faile five chil- dren were born, all of whom are now deceased. John Faile was the eldest born. Christian was accidentally killed by a fractious horse when aged 30 years. Adam was accidentally burned when young, at a maple sugar camp. Daniel was a soldier in the Civil War and was accidentally killed by an exploding shell. William followed his trade of brickmaker, at Galion, where he died in middle life. To the second marriage of William Faile a daughter was born, who now resides in Iowa. Late in life William Faile retired to Galion, where his death occurred when aged 80 years, his wife surviving to the age of 75 years.

John Faile was a quiet, industrious man and followed farming all his active life, meeting with a large degree of success. At the time of death, which occurred at Galion, April 1.3, 1899, one year after retiring to this city, he was able to leave to his widow a valuable farm of 100 acres, which is situated in Polk town- ship. In politics he had always been a strong Democrat and as a man of good judgment and high standing in his community, had been elected at times to township offices. He was a faithful member of the German Lutheran church.

On April 1, 1851, Mr. Faile was married in Whetstone township, Crawford county, O., to Miss Julia Ann Snyder, who was born in York county, Pa., Oct. 15, 1831, a daughter

of Rev. Jacob and Elizabeth (Spotts) Snyder. The parents of Mrs. Faile were born and mar- ried in Pennsylvania and the father was a teacher and also a preacher in the United Brethren church. He was born in York county, Oct. 30, 1794, and spent his entire life of 60 years there. His wife was born Oct. 23, 1794, and died in 1870. Mrs. Faile was carefully educated by her father and in the public schools. She was 18 years of age when, in 1849, she accompanied her married sisters, Sarah and Elizabeth, to Galion and with the exception of her years of married life spent on the farm, has ever since been a resi- dent of this city. She is well known and greatly esteemed, being an active Christian worker wherever she sees her services needed. She has been almost a lifelong member of the United Brethren church. Of her ten children, eight grew to maturity and six survive. Ida M., who is now deceased, was the wife of Al- bert Newhouse and left one son. Amanda, who is now deceased, was the wife of Frank Ness, a carpenter at Galion, and she had two sons, Luther Ness, and Roy, deceased. Those living are: Mary, who is the wife of Daniel Dye, of Galion, and has had two children- Archie Leroy, and one who died when aged 14 months; Lucinda Ann, who is the wife of John Raymond, of Alvordton, O., and has one daughter, Olive, who is married and has two children; Susan, who is the wife of Emanuel Crissinger, of Galion, and has two sons, William and Addison; Henrietta, who is the wife of Samuel Christman, of Galion, and has one daughter, Julia I., who was born Sept. 3, 1900; Ella Elizabeth, who is the sec- ond wife of Frank Ness; and William, who conducts a boot and shoe business at Bucy- rus, and married Elizabeth Andrews. All these children were given good educational op- portunities and are representative people who reflect credit on their parentage.

JACOB ANSON DENZER,* a prosperous farmer of Bucyrus township, who in company with his sister Jennie, owns 126 acres of land, the latter being one-third owner of same, was born in this county, Dec. 31, 1857, a son of Jacob and Matilda ( McNeal) Denzer. He is a grandson of Andrew Denzer, who was born and reared in Baden, Germany, and who

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fought as a soldier under the great Napoleon, taking part in the disastrous Russian cam- paign. Andrew survived the horrors of that campaign, where so many thousands of his comrades fell or perished from cold, and about 1833 came to America with his family. Here he lived seven years, dying about 1840. He married in Germany, Hester A. Finfgelt and they had four sons and one daughter, namely : Andrew, George, Jacob, Mary and Simon. Two of the number died in the Fatherland and were buried in Upfingen, Baden. The mother" survived her husband many years, passing away in 1876 at the age of ninety-four.

Jacob Denzer, father of our subject, was a lad of 13 years when he accompanied his par- ents to the New World. Not long after their arrival they became residents of Crawford county, the father (Andrew) purchasing 15 acres of timber land in Liberty township, which he cleared and on which he build a log cabin. In the following spring Jacob began to earn his own living by working as a farm hand. He was thus employed until he was 25 years of age, giving his wages to his parents until he attained his majority. At the age of 25 he began farming on rented land, which he oper- ated for three years. On March 13, 1850, he married Matilda McNeal, of Crawford county. She was born in Huntingdon county, Pa., Dec. 6. 1826, and was a woman of energy and thrift, proving of great assistance to her hus- band. After his marriage Mr. Denzer rented a farm for six years and in the meanwhile purchased 38 acres of land. In 1863 he pur- chased his fine homestead-one of the best farms in the county-as a result of his energy and thrift and that of his wife. Besides car- rying on general farming he operated a saw- mill for some ten years. He was prosperous and became one of the representative farmers and stock raisers of the county. He was con- tinually improving his farm and erected all the substantial and commodious buildings which stand on it today. When well advanced in vears he retired from active labor and he and his wife spent their last years on this homestead, seeing their children growing up around them and becoming worthy and re- spected members of the community. These children were Mary L., Jennie, Andrew, Esther, Simon J., Anson J., Ella, Alexander,

Maggie, Lewis I. and Electa V. Two died in childhood-Florence and an infant son.

Jacob Anson Denzer attended the common schools in his boyhood and was brought up on the farm, being trained to agricultural pur- suits. He has spent all his life up to the pres- ent time on the farm on which he now resides with the exception of three years when he was farming in the West. His sister Jennie, who, as already stated, owns one-third of the prop- erty, has charge of the household, which she manages capably, there being no idlers in the Denzer family. The other children are mostly married, Mary being the wife of Stephen Brehman, Esther, the wife of James Dobbins, Ella, the wife of Myron Andrews, Margaret, the wife of Ira Quaintance, and Electa, the wife of Lewis Beard. Mr. Denzer is a Dem- ocrat politically, as was also his father, but is not an active politician. .

CHARLES HESS, one of the leading business men of Galion, O., a member of the firm of Hess Brothers, conducting a large meat market at No. 229 South Market Street, successors of their father who established the business at this location, was born at Galion, July 29, 1864, a son of Henry and a grandson of Henry and Mary (Snyder ) Hess.

The grandparents of Mr. Hess were born in Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, and came from there with their children in 1851, on a sailing vessel to New York City, and from there by team, to Galion, O. They prospered and owned a small farm which is now included in the city limits, on West Main Street, which property is yet owned by their descendants. Only one of their sons survive, Daniel Hess, who lives retired.

Henry Hess, Jr., father of Charles Hess, was born in 1832, in Germany, and was 19 years old when he came to Galion. For some years he was in the grocery business in part- nership with Jacob J. Schaffer, but afterward went into the meat business and for more than 40 years conducted his market, being probably one of the first men in the city to conduct the same along modern lines. He was a useful and respected citizen. He survived his wife, dying in 1905, she having passed away in 1876. She was a member of the Lutheran church. Of their children two died in infancy and one

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daughter, Mary, some years after her marriage Henry A. Kinsev was reared and obtained his education in his native place and in early to William Weisterman and is survived by two daughters. The survivors are: Henry, manhood came to Galion desirous of learning who resides at Galion; Charles, our subject; Emma and Lizzie, all of whom reside together. on the old homestead on West Main Street and all are members and liberal supporters of the German Lutheran church.

Charles Hess obtained his education in the public schools of his native city, grew up in his father's business and in 1888, in partner- ship with his brother, succeeded to the busi- ness, at which time the present firm name was adopted. Both partners are practical meat men and carefully supervise their output and direct their 15 helpers. Both brothers, like their late father, are Democrats. Charles Hess is identified with the fraternal order of Elks, while Henry belongs to the Eagles and also to a German order. They stand high as reliable and enterprising business men.

HENRY A. KINSEY, foreman of the erecting department of the Erie Railway shops at Galion, O., came to this city in 1874 and has been identified with these shops since 1888. He was born in Morrow county, O., Dec. 7, 1855, a son of Christian and Mary (Kinsey) Kinsey.

The parents of Mr. Kinsey were born in Switzerland and the father came to the United States when a young man and the mother, with her parents. Her father, John Kinsey, was a well known pioneer and gunsmith in Morrow county, O., and there he and wife lived and died, members of the Reformed church. The parents of Henry A. Kinsey were married in Bloomfield township, Morrow county, and began married life there and passed the remainder of their days in that neighbor- hood, becoming people of property and known and respected far and wide. They were not long separated by death, only a few weeks in- tervening, the father passing away in March, 1907, when aged 80 years, and the mother in May following, when aged 76 years, their burial being in Fairview Cemetery. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. They had three sons: Daniel, who still lives in Bloomfield township, who is mar- ried and has two children-Frank and Lulu; Jacob, who is unmarried; and Henry A., our subject.

the machinist's trade, and entered the shops of the C. C. & I. Railroad. In 1876 he decided to return to farming and was engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1880, when he went to work for Squires & Horner, foundrymen. In 1888 he entered the employ of the Erie people and has continued here, being gradually advanced until he now fills a position of recog- nized responsibility.

Mr. Kinsey was married in Morrow county to Miss Anna A. Cronnenweth, a granddaugh- ter of Frederick Cronnenweth, who was born in Germany, May 19, 1793, and came to the United States and settled in Morrow county in 1848, where he died Sept. 19, 1884, one of the Old Guard of Napoleon, under whom he had enlisted for the Russian campaign, in 1815. He served 14 years and was at the battle of Waterloo. His son, Frederick, was the father of Mrs. Kinsey and was born in Ger- many. He married Elizabeth Baker in Mor- row county, who died there when aged 75 years, her husband passing at the age of 72 years. They were members of the German Lutheran church. Two sons were born to Mr. and Mrs. Kinsey: Harry G. and Roy E. The former, after graduating from the Galion High School in 1898, learned the machinist trade and later became editor of the Galion Leader, a position he resigned in order to be- come advertising man for the Canton Republi- can-News, of which he later became editor. Roy E. graduated from the Galion High School in 1909 and in the same year became teller in the Citizens National Bank. Mr. Kinsey and sons are all Republicans. The fam- ily belongs to the English Lutheran church and the sons are both identified with the fra- ternal order of Elks.

JOHN F. SAWYER, who is one of the leading men of Auburn township, Crawford county, O., treasurer of Special School Dis- trict at Maple Grove, resides on his farm of 160 acres, situated in section 21, one and three-fourths miles north and one mile east of Tiro, O. He was born in Auburn town- ship, Crawford county, Jan. 31, 1871, and is a son of Albanus and a grandson of Erastus

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Sawyer, who came to this section in very early days.

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History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 156

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