History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 163

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 163

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After securing a fair common school edu- cation, George W. Miller attended the North- western Normal School at Fostoria and then engaged in teaching school, continuing in edu- cational work for a part of each year, for a protracted period. During the last three years of his career as an instructor, he had charge of the Oceola, O., schools. He has always been greatly interested in the educa- tional advancement of his county and in order to further it has frequently consented to serve on educational bodies. For a number of years his business interests have been important, and as the head of the Farmers and Citizens Bank and Savings Company, he has become relied on as a financier. The security felt by the public in this institution is largely due to his careful and conservative attitude. He has been officially connected with local fire insur- ance organizations since 1898 and is now president of one of the prosperous and sub- stantial companies of Crawford county. In politics Mr. Miller was reared a Democrat by a father who took a deep interest in the success of Democratic principles. He has frequently been elected to important township offices and served two terms as treasurer of Crawford county, and in the fall of 1911 was elected a delegate to the Constitutional Convention, and made chairman of the Agricultural Committee.

Mr. Miller was married in 1880 to Miss Dell

GEORGE W. MILLER

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A. Sigler, a daughter of George E. and Har- riet (Horrock) Sigler, who were highly re- spected residents of Todd township. Mr. and Mrs. Miller lost their only child. They are interested in the quiet social life of the city, are hospitably inclined and have a wide circle of attached friends.

JACOB BOLLERER, who is engaged in the bakery business, at No. 740 East Church Street, Galion, O., is a thoroughly experienced, practical baker, having been in the business for more than 30 years, learning his trade at Wiesloch, in Baden, Germany, where he was born Feb. 10, 1863. He is a son of Jacob and Catherine ( Metz ) Bollerer.

The parents of Mr. Bollerer were lifelong residents of Baden and the father was in busi- ness there during the entire space of his active life. His death occurred in 1888, in his 74th year, he having survived his wife since 1877. They were members of the German Lutheran church and in that faith they reared their three sons and three daughters, all of whom survive, only two of them, however, living in the United States : Jacob and George, the lat- ter being with the Erie Railway Company, in the Galion shops.

After completing his apprenticeship to the baking trade, in his native land, Jacob Bollerer, entered the German Army in which he served faithfully for three years as the laws of his country demand. Believing that the United States offered better business opportunities to young men than Germany or other countries of Europe, in 1888 he left Germany and landed at the harbor of New York and from there came on to Galion. With the exception of seven years he has been continuously in the baking business. He carries on a wholesale and retail business, arranging for an output of 700 to 800 loaves of bread daily, the excel- lence of which has carried his name over a wide territory and has caused frequent en- largement of his original plant. He has first- class ovens and all the equipment which go to make up a modern bakery according to sanitary regulations. In 1903 he purchased two acres of land on which site stand his buildings and he thus has space for still further expansion.

Mr. Bollerer was married at Galion to Miss Johanna Schnautz who was born near the

birthplace of her husband, Nov. 29, 1865, a daughter of Lonkin and Marie (Steinbrenner ) Schnautz, who came from Baden, Germany, to America in 1883 and located at Galion, O., where the father died at the age of 73 years. He was a blacksmith by trade and both he and wife were faithful members of the Ger- man Catholic church. They had a family of three sons and four daughters, all of whom married. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Bollerer, as follows: Catherine, who lives at home; Frederick, who assists his father in the business; Albert, who also as- sists in the same business; and Emily, Edna, Mary, Johanna, Loretta and Esther. Mr. Bol- lerer and family are members of the Roman Catholic church. Politically he is a Democrat, while fraternally he is identified with the Owls and the Moose. As a business man Mr. Boll- erer stands very high in the city and equally so as a citizen.

DAVID BATCHELDER, president of the Citizens National Bank, at Galion, O., has hon- orably and ably filled this position for the past 17 years. He was born in Richland county, O., March 22, 1839, where he was reared and had school advantages.

Mr. Batchelder was 23 years old when the Civil War opened and he was one of the patriotic young men who answered the first call of President Lincoln for soldiers, enlisting as a private and being continuously promoted until he was commissioned captain on Nov. 18, 1864, being mustered out on Nov. 23, 1864. He has a fine record and participated in the battles of Chickasaw Bayou, Siege of Vicks- burg, Jackson, Grand Couteau, Sabine Cross Roads, Cane River, and Forts Gaines and Mor- gan. After the war was over he engaged in the shoe business at Johnsville, O., until 1870, when he came to Galion, where he embarked in the fire insurance business, in which he con- tinued until he became identified with the Citi- zens National Bank of Galion. For eight years he traveled as adjuster for the Pacific Fire Insurance Company and then admitted the late A. M. Mathena to a partnership, the latter's son continuing the old business.

The Citizens National Bank of Galion was established in 1866 and on March 9, 1872, was chartered, its present capital being $60,000,

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with $41,000 as surplus. For some time prior to being elected president of this old institu- tion, Mr. Batchelder was vice president. The report of its condition at the close of business on Feb. 20, 1912, shows that the affairs of the bank are in a very prosperous condition. The officers are all capitalists, the cashier being A. F. Lowe, and the board of directors : D. Batch- elder, J. J. Schafer and H. Gottdiener.

Mr. Batchelder married Miss Anna E. Ross, who was born in Wyoming county, Pa., and they have two children: Alice Adelia, who is a graduate of a college at Painesville, O., and is the wife of C. S. Northrup, formerly city solicitor of Toledo, O., where they reside, they having two children-Katherine M. and John D .; and Henry J., who is in business at Galion. Mr. and Mrs. Batchelder are mem- bers of the Baptist church. He is a Knight Templar Mason and belongs to the Blue Lodge and Chapter at Galion. He is a Democrat in National politics but in local matters exercises his own judgment. Mr. Batchelder is num- bered with the public spirited citizens and be- longs to the Commercial Club.

WILLIAM H. McWHERTER, who is con- nected with the blacksmith department of the Erie Railway shops at Galion, O., was born in Marion county, O., Sept. 5, 1846, a son of Peter and Mary (Swisher ) McWherter.

Peter McWherter was born in Marion coun- ty, O., where his Scotch parents had settled as pioneers. He grew up on the old home farm and was 28 years of age when he married Mary Swisher, a native of Cumberland county, Pa., who was brought to what is now Crawford county in 1823. After the death of her first husband she married Henry Bilsing and sur- vived until 1905, dying at the age of 81 years, the death of Mr. Bilsing occurring in 1909, when aged 83 years. In 1867 they had moved to Galion. To Peter McWherter and wife three children were born, two daughters and one son. One daughter, Ellen, was the wife of John Seanor and at death left seven children. The other, Samilda, resides at Galion.

William H. McWherter was married (first) to Miss Alice Neff, who was born at Galion, a daughter of Henry and Isabel (Buckingham) Neff, who came to Galion in 1841, after their marriage in Pennsylvania. Mr. Neff was a

member of the Lutheran church which he at- tended until his death, in 1884, when aged 71 years. Mrs. Neff was 69 years old when she died in 1882, a member of the United Brethren church. Mrs. McWherter was born in 1854 and died in 1896, the mother of one daughter, May, who was born in 1878. She married Charles King and died in the State of Wash- ington after a residence of 16 months, leaving no issue. Mr. McWherter was married (sec- ond) in 1908, at Baltimore, Md., to Miss Flor- ence A. Reagle, who was born at Manchester, Md., in 1872, a daughter of Henry Reagle. The latter was born at Manchester, in Feb- ruary, 1819, and worked there as a carpenter until 1909, when he came to the home of Mr. and Mrs. McWherter, where he died June 3, 19II. Mr. and Mrs. McWherter are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church. Politically he is a Republican and for 23 years he was active in the order of Odd Fellows.

PETER H. KEIFER, whose fine farm of 76 acres lies in Lykens township, Crawford county, O., is one of the representative citizens of this section, a veteran of the Civil War and a man who, through industry and prudence, has been successful in his various undertak- ings. He was born in Bavaria, Germany, Nov. 12, 1843, and is a son of Jacob and Anna (Bool) Keifer.

Jacob Keifer and wife were natives of Ger- many and the former died in that country when his son, Peter H., was eight years old. By trade he was a millwright. In 1853 the mother came to America with her children and subse- quently located in Ohio.

Peter H. Keifer was ten years old when he accompanied his mother to the United States. He was one of the following children born to his parents: Emma, deceased, who was the wife of Charles Stuckey; Mary and Jacob, both of whom are deceased; Adam; Louise, who is the widow of John Wax; Peter H .; and Margaret.

While attending school, Peter H. Keifer provided for himself by working for his board and lived on a farm until January, 1864, when he enlisted for service in the Civil War, enter- ing Co. H, 55th O. Vol. Inf. in which he served until the close of the war and was honorably discharged in June, 1865, at Louisville, Ky.,

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having participated in the great march to the sea under General Sherman. He then learned the carpenter trade, which he followed about 25 years. Mr. Keifer then bought 40 acres of land in Lykens township and began farming for himself and later added 40 more acres, but subsequently sold four acres to the rail- road company, which reduced his farm to 76 acres, all of which, with the exception of three acres, is tillable. He carries on a general farming line and raises sufficient good stock for home use.

On June 28, 1870, Mr. Keifer was married to Miss Sarah Feighner, who was born in Stark county, O., but was reared in Crawford county, a daughter of John and Margaret (Gratz) Feighner, both now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Feighner the following children were born: Sarah; Ellen, deceased, who was the wife of Lewis Angene; James; L. C. and El- len.

Mr. and Mrs. Keifer have two sons Richard and Charles. The former who is superin- tendent of the Upper Sandusky schools, mar- ried Ida Sanford and they have had the fol- lowing children-Herbert, Homer, Walter, Paul and Helen, deceased, Charles, the younger son, is ticket agent with the Big Four Rail- road, and he married Nettie Rhodes and has one son, Herold. Mr. Keifer and family at- tend the Baptist church. Politically he has always been a Republican and for 18 con- secutive years served as a justice of the peace and has held other responsible offices, for two years being assessor, three years township clerk and one year constable. He belongs to Robert's Post, G. A. R., to the Odd Fellows at Lykens and to the Masons at Bloomville, O.

HOMER COX, one of the trusted and val ued employes of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, a corporation that is noted for the care with which it selects its men and also for the just treatment it accords them, has been in the service since August, 1890, when he began as a fireman, being steadily advanced until he now is engineer on the longest run in the whole system. He has spent the greater part of his life at Crestline, and was born in Crawford county, April 23, 1862, a son of William and Elizabeth (Bleeks) Cox.

William Cox and wife were born in Wayne

county, O., both being of Pennsylvania parent- age. They were reared in Ohio and married in Crawford county and spent the rest of their lives on their farm in Crawford township, where his death occurred in December, 1900, at the age of 70 years. His widow survived him four years, being then aged about 75 years. They were parents of five children : Maria, who died after marriage, leaving no issue; Mary, who married Madison Flohr, lives at Newton Falls, O. and has two daugh- ters-Maybell and Hazel; Adelaide, who is sur- vived by her husband, Henry Orewiler; Homer, our subject; and Everett, who resides in the far West.

Homer Cox attended school in Liberty town- ship and then entered railroad life with which he has been identified continuously ever since. After serving for eight years as a fireman for the present company, he was promoted to be an engineer and has continued his connection with the freight department, and his appoint- ment, two years ago, to the Pitcairn run, was an evidence of confidence and appreciation. He has never had a serious accident and has never been injured and his record speaks for itself of his carefulness, caution and railroad effi- ciency. He is an active and valued member of the B. L. of E., belonging to Division No. 306, and for four years has been chief of this division and has been a delegate to the last two Biennial Conventions. He is also a member of the General Committee of the Adjustment of the entire northwest system of the Penn- sylvania, and this indicates that he is a broad minded and well informed man.

Mr. Cox was married in Richland county, O., to Miss Carrie Brown, who was born in Crawford county in 1864 but was reared and educated in Richland county, a daughter of G. C. and Caroline (Richardson) Brown. The father of Mrs. Cox is a retired merchant liv- ing at Shelby, O., but her mother died in 1908, at the age of 67 years. Mr. and Mrs. Cox have two children : Harry A. and Ethel May. Harry A., who will celebrate his 27th birthday in February, 1913, is chief engineer of the heat- ing and electric lighting company of Middle- town, N. Y., married Myrtle Shumaker of Crawford county, and they have one daughter, Mary E., who was born Aug. 9, 1911. Ethel . May, who was born at Richmond, Va., gradu-

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ated with her brother from the Crestline High School in the class of 1908. She is the wife of Wilber Jones, who is an engineer with the Pennsylvania Railway, on the Conway Divi- sion. Mr. Cox erected the first residence in the block in which he lives, his home being at No. 623 West Bucyrus Street.

A. A. ARNOLD, superintendent of the Galion Metallic Grave Vault Company, of Galion, O., and one of its organizers, in- corporators and directors, was born at Mt. Vernon, O., Aug. 7, 1862, and is a son of Galion High School. Mr. Arnold was mar- George William and Elizabeth (Austin) Arnold.

Both parents of Mr. Arnold were born in England, the father in the great city of London, and the mother in beautiful County Kent. They were married in the city of London and when they started for the United States in 1856, they had one daugh- ter, Ellen, the eldest of their children. She is the wife of John Dice, a locomotive engi- neer, and they reside at Galion and have two children. Four more children were born, the two survivors being: Mamie, who is the wife of Frank Brown, a barber, and lives at Muncie, Ind., having two daughters; and A. A., of Galion. The Arnold family resided at first in Cleveland, O., and from there moved to Mt. Vernon, and in 1864 to Ga- lion, where the father died in 1876 and the mother in 1894. They were members of the Episcopal church.

A. A. Arnold attended school at Galion until he was 14 years of age and then en- tered upon an apprenticeship to the ma- chinist's trade, afterward entering the Erie Railroad shops and two years later was pro- moted to be foreman of a department, after- ward general foreman and still later re- ceived his degree of master mechanics. In 1904 Mr. Arnold became interested in his present enterprise and the Galion Metallic Grave Vault Company was organized as a corporation, its business being the manufac- turing of steel grave vaults and was the first to construct an open end grave vault. These vaults are made of the best steel and in sizes ranging from a child's body to what is called the Mammoth, the last named weighing as much as 500 pounds. Fifty

people are given employment at the plant and in the business, and sales are pushed all over the country, Mr. Arnold finding his time fully occupied in looking after the same.

At Galion, O., Mr. Arnold was married to Miss Ella Johnson, who was born in Ontario, Canada, in 1868, came to Galion in her 19th year and died here Aug. 30, 1910. She was a devout member of the Episcopal church, to which Mr. Arnold and their one son also be- long. The latter, Roy J., is a graduate of the ried (second) to Mrs. Emma Louise (Biehl) Fox, who has been a lifelong resident of Ga- lion. By her first marriage she had one son, William Fox, who is a student in the Galion High School. In politics Mr. Arnold is mod- erately active and votes with the Republican party. He belongs to the Masonic Blue Lodge and Chapter.

CHARLES ODER, who, in association with his wife, owns a fine farm of 160 acres, which lies in Texas township, Crawford county, O., was born in Seneca County, O., a son of Edward and Elizabeth (Chamber- lain) Oder.

One of the early settlers in Seneca county . was Edward Oder, who was born in Logan county, O. After marriage in Seneca county he followed farming there and as a respected and reliable man, a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and one of the leading Dem- ocrats in his neighborhood. His family con- sisted of the following children: Nancy, who is the wife of D. M. Eastman; and Charles, the subject of this article. The mother of these children died in March, 1865, and later he married Elizabeth Pfau and they had two children: Jennie, who is the widow of Elmer Rhodes, and Frederick.

Charles Oder has devoted himself entirely to his farm pursuits since his school days and for the past 17 years has lived on this farm, which he purchased from his father-in-law, H. Shalters. He cultivates the grains which experience has proved do best in this section and sufficient stock is raised for his own use. He is an industrious, sensible man, well in- formed as to public matters and interested in all things that are important to this particular

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part of his native state. He votes the Re- May 17, 1881, he was made conductor on Di- publican ticket, and is serving in his second term as township trustee.

In 1884 Mr. Oder was married to Miss Laura Shalters, a daughter of H. and Mary (Clark) Shalters. Mrs. Oder has one brother, Frank. To Mr. and Mrs. Oder three chil- dren were born, namely: Glenn, who mar- ried Florence Sponseller, and has two chil- dren-Kenneth and Evelyn; Mary, who is the wife of Albert Gregg; and Clark, who mar- ried Hazel Lee, and has one son, Lee Albert. Mr. and Mrs. Oder attend the Methodist Epis- copal church.

PORTER F. RHOADS, whose connection with the great Pennsylvania Railroad system dates back to May 17, 1872, has a clear record for fidelity and efficiency during all these years and the confidence and esteem that he feels for his company is mutually felt by its officers. He was born at Haney Creek Junction, Sen- eca county, O., Nov. 19, 1853, and in 1859 was brought to Crestline, by his parents, Wil- liam and Julia A. (Shade) Rhoads.

William Rhoads was born in Pennsylvania and his wife in Columbiana county, O. They were married in Seneca county and afterward he followed his trade of carpenter at Haney Creek until 1859, when, as noted above, he came to Crawford county and continued to work at his trade here almost to the time of his death, in 1900. He as a stanch Repub- lican and with his wife belonged to the Eng- lish Lutheran church. His widow, born in 1829, survived him for eight years. They had five children, as follows: Eliza, who is the wife of Frank Reeves of Columbus, O., and has six children; Porter F., subject of this article; Frank, who has been with the Pennsylvania Railroad at Crestline since 1879, and who is married and has a famliy; Ella, deceased, who was the wife of John Sears of Mansfield; and Sherman, who is a resident of Mansfield and a commercial traveler.

Porter F. Rhoads attended the public schools of Crestline and since then has been continuously connected with the Pennsylvania Railroad. In 1872 his name went first on the books of this road, in 1873 he was made a yard brakeman and in 1875 began as brake- man of Division B, Crestline to Alliance. On

vision B, and eight years afterward was given a crew and a run from Crestline to Conway, Pa. In June, 1910, appreciation and con- fidence was shown him by his appointment to what is considered the best run on the road, that being to Pitcairn, Pa., consisting of 208 miles. Railroad life, at best, is one of hazard and to avoid accident year after year, under all conditions, including weather, indicates a caution and measure of judgment that marks the highest type of railroad man.

Mr. Rhoads was married (first) to Miss Lucretia Dodane, who was born and reared in Crawford county and died at her home at Crestline, in 1901, at the age of 42 years, sur- vived by no issue. Mr. Rhoads was married (second) to Mrs. Carrie (Perman) Carlin, who was born in 1856, in Morrow county, O., where her parents, Michael and Margaret ( Fisher ) Perman, had settled when they came from Germany. The Permans secured Gov- ernment land and the father developed it into a valuable farm. Mrs. Rhoads was reared by her parents in the German Reformed church. She was married (first) to Edward Carlin and the following children were born to them: Margaret, who is the wife of Albert Menes of Crestline and has one daughter, Norma; Bertha, who is the wife of George Gresmer, of Crestline, and has one son, Roy ; Nora, who is the wife of Barley Neff, resid- ing in Canton, and has five children-Ray, Harold, Maria, Ralph and Donald; Abaline, who is the wife of Richard Freeman, of Crest- line; Charles, who lives at home; Lena, who is the wife of Clyde Kirby, and has one son, Kenneth; Agnes, who is the wife of Robert Nelson, of Pittsburg, Pa .; and Louis, who died at the age of 21 years. Mr. Rhoads and wife have no children. He belongs to the English Lutheran church. Since 1882 he has been a member of the Railway Conductors' organization and belongs also to the Knights of Pythias.

ALLEN A. CRAWFORD, a member of the board of county commissioners of Craw- ford couity, O., was born near Mt. Gilead, Morrow county, O., May 20, 1856, six months after the death of his father. His parents were Allen and Ann (McAtee) Crawford and

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on both sides of the family his ancestry is Irish.

Alexander Crawford, the grandfather, who was one of the pioneers of this family in Ohio, was born in Ireland. His parents came to America and settled in Licking county, O., and moved from there to Morrow county, at a very early day, Alexander crossing the At- lantic Ocean some years afterward and join- ing the other members of the family. He followed an agricultural life and lived to the age of . 75 years. His wife, Mary Eckles, probably was born in West Virginia, and they" had a family of four sons and three daughters. The only survivor of that family is the young- est born, Joseph, now in his 87th year, resid- ing at Cameron, Mo.

Allen Crawford, the eldest son of Alexan- der Crawford, was born in 1818, either in Licking or Morrow county, being reared in the latter and at the age of 23 years was mar- ried at Mt. Gilead, O., to Ann McAtee, who was born in 1817, in Loudoun county, Va., a daughter of Colley and Della (Ashford) Mc- Atee. They moved from Virginia to Morrow county in 1829. Allen Crawford died in Boone, Boone county, Ia., Oct. 4, 1855, leaving four sons : Theodore, who is engaged in farm- ing in Holt county, Neb., and who married Sarah Berry, and has five sons and one daugh- ter; James, who owns a fine farm on the state line between South Dakota and Nebraska, who married Nancy Johnson and has two sons and two daughters; William, who is located near his brother, in South Dakota, and who married Mary Sparks; and Allen A., the sub- ject of this sketch.

Allen A. Crawford was reared by an uncle, Floyd McAtee, and obtained a good, common school education. A natural inclination di- rected his early business efforts to agricultural pursuits, including the raising of stock, par- ticularly horses, and in the course of years he became widely known over the state as a successful breeder of fine livestock. He gave much attention to the improvement of horse stock in his section and for a long period was considered an authority along this line, and has been officially connected with agricultural associations and those bodies that encouraged the development of speed in horseflesh, and in this connection has owned many valuable

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History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 163

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