History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 164

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 164

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animals. Mr. Crawford is an ardent Dem- ocrat and his party in Morrow county first elected him a county commissioner, where he overcame a large Republican majority, and in November, 1910, he was elected a county commissioner of Crawford county.

Mr. Crawford was married first in 1877, to Miss Jennie James, who died in 1883. In 1888 he married Miss Cora Thomas, who was born and reared near Mt. Gilead, O. They enjoy a beautiful home at Galion, O., and they are members of the Methodist Episcopal church in that city . Mr. Crawford is identi- fied with the Knights of Pythias, the Odd Fel- lows and the U. T. C.

JACOB HOLCKER, carriage manufac- turer, vice president and secretary of the Holcker Bros. Buggy Co., at Crestline, O., is one of the solid, substantial and representa- tive citizens and a member of a family that has contributed largely in the last quarter of a century to the prosperity of this section, along industrial lines. He was born in Ba- varia, Germany, April 26, 1846, and is a son of Philip and Charlotte (Dietz) Holcker.

The parents of Mr. Holcker lived and died in their native neighborhood, the father pass- ing away on his estate, at the age of 78 years and the mother when aged 68 years. He was a man of industry during his active years and understood and followed both blacksmith- ing and carriage and wagon making.

Jacob Holcker grew up in his native place and secured a fair German education and then learned the trade of carriage smith. He early cherished a desire to come to the United States but remained in his own land until after he had complied with the law in regard to army service, then secured his passport and in 1868 set sail for America and was safely landed in the harbor of New York. From there he came to Bucyrus, O., there to join his brother, Louis Holcker, who had preceded him by two years, and the brothers went into business together at North Robinson, in Crawford county. In 1870 their brother, Charles Holc- ker, joined them and since then has been closely connected with their joint manufactur- ing interests.

The history of the Holcker Bros. Buggy Co. dates back to 1873, when the three

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brothers above mentioned, Louis, Jacob and Charles, established themselves as a firm at Crestline, coming from North Robinson. Here they first put up a frame shop on Seltzer street, in the heart of the town, and in the course of a comparatively short period had to enlarge their facilities, a brick addition be- ing first added to the plant and this being sup- plemented with still further additions until now a half block is covered with substantial buildings, the plant extending 300 feet back from Seltzer street to the Big Four Railway. The product of this plant is sold all over the country, their traveling men covering the main business sections of the United States. Con- stant employment is afforded 35 skilled work- men for no buggy or carriage ever leaves this factory unless a careful inspection proves that it is first class in material and perfect in mechanical construction. The firm has built up a name for honest workmanship that is a valued asset. In 1888, Louis Holcker with- drew and went to Kansas City, Mo., where he embarked in a similar business and prospered, continuing until recent years, when he re- tired. The business at Crestline was contin- ued by Jacob and Charles Holcker and had a steady growth and in 1902 was incorporated with a paid up capital of $50,000, and was officered as follows: Charles Holcker, presi- dent and treasurer; and Jacob Holcker, vice president and secretary. The board of di- rectors include the above officers and addition- ally, William Monteith, C. F. Frank and Joe Schill, all of Crestline. At the present date of writing (1912) Jacob Holcker has prac- tically retired but retains his official position, his name having great weight in the commer- cial world. Like his brothers, Mr. Holcker is a member of the German Reformed church. They all are of the same political faith and Charles Holcker has been quite prominent in Democratic circles and has served as a mem- ber of the city council and for some years on the board of Public Affairs.

Jacob Holcker was married at Crestline, O., to Miss Magdalena Plocher, who was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, Nov. 19, 1855, and came to the United States and to Crestline, in 1872. She died at her home here, Jan. 31, 1900. In every relation of life she was an

admirable woman and is tenderly remembered by family and a wide circle of friends. She was a devoted member of the German Re- formed church. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Holcker: a babe that died early; Charlotta Maria, who completed her education in the Crestline High School, and who married Charles E. Brown, who is an engineer with the Pennsylvania Railway and has two children-Olive Magdalena and David Holcker; and Louise C., who is the wife of Dr. D. W. Peppard, a successful physician at Mansfield, O. Dr. and Mrs. Peppard have three children : Gretchen Louise, Ruth Bettina and Heloise. After graduating from the Crestline High School, Mrs. Peppard taught German in the public schools for some years. The family is socially prominent.

HENRY W. HUNSICKER, a well-known farmer of Lykens township, who is at present serving his township as treasurer, operates a 160-acre farm owned by his mother. He was born in Lykens township, Aug. 12, 1884, be- ing a son of William and Catherine (Lust) Hunsicker.

Jacob Hunsicker, father of William and grandfather of Henry W., was born in Ger- many. After emigrating to America he lo- cated first in New York state where he met and married Miss Matilda Knerieman, also a native of Germany. From New York they removed to Stark county, O., and it was there on April 15, 1842, that William Hunsicker was born. In 1851 the family again moved, this time coming to Crawford county and lo- cating in Chatfield township.

William Hunsicker grew up on the farm and all his subsequent life was spent in tilling the soil together with threshing. He was married on Nov. 24, 1874, to Miss Catherine Lust, who was born Dec. 30, 1850, and was a daughter of Conrad and Magdalena Lust. In April of the year following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. William Hunsicker moved to a farm of 160 acres in Lykens township, on which he erected good buildings and made many improvements. To him and his wife were born the following children: Peter Franklin, Madalena Elizabeth, John Wesley, Charles Simon, Henry W. and Laura Ellen.

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William Hunsicker is now deceased but his wife still lives on the 160-acre farm in Ly- kens township, owning also a tract of 80 acres in this township. She is, as was her husband, a member of the German Methodist church.

Henry W. Hunsicker, the direct subject of this sketch, after completing a common school education, spent one year at the Ohio North- ern University at Ada, Ohio, and one term in the Ohio State University at Columbus. He then went to work on his mother's farm and has since operated it for her. He has also become well known in his locality as an auctioneer.

Henry W. Hunsicker is a member of the Knights of Pythias at Lykens and of the Grange at Brokensword. He attends the Re- formed church and in politics is a Democrat, as was also his father.

E. W. HADLEY, one of the best known citizens of Crestline, O., with which place he has been identified since its founding, is yet one of its active business men, for a num- ber of years since retiring from railroading, having been engaged in the grocery business. He was born in Richland county, O., Jan. 16, 1833, a son of Savannah and Martha ( Rid- dle ) Hadley.

Smith Hadley, the grandfather, was born and grew to manhood in New York and there married Mary Van Norman, probably of Hol- land birth. They were very early settlers in Richland county, O., where they lived into old age.

Savannah Hadley, father of E. W. Hadley, was also born in New York and was a young man when his parents came to Richland county, where he followed farming until late in life, when he moved to Noble county, Ind .; where he died at the age of 83 years. In Richland county he married Martha Riddle, of Scotch-Irish descent, whose parents, James and Margaret (Marshall) Riddle, were pio- neer settlers, the former being born in Ire- land in the latter in Scotland. Twelve chil- dren were born to Savannah Hadley and wife, five of whom are yet living, E. W. being the fourth born of the family.

E. W. Hadley was reared in Richland county and there attended the district schools. In 1852 he came to what is now Crestline, it

then being but a flag station surrounded by heavy timber. For some years he worked at getting out heavy timber and in a saw mill for the Big Four Railroad, then in course of construction, and afterward became a brake- man on the road and in three months was given a place as conductor and for 26 years he worked as a conductor on the Pennsylvania Railroad. After retiring he purchased his present store and has continued in the grocery business ever since. In politics Mr. Hadley is a Republican and has been an active factor in his party in the county, for about 12 years a delegate to the county conventions and at present is serving as a member of the county central committee and as a member of the board of elections.

Mr. Hadley was married in Richland county to Miss Eliza P. Garver, who was born in Ashland county, O., and died at Crestline, April 22, 1901, aged 62 years. She was an admirable woman in every relation of life and the mother of five children: Augusta A., who is her father's housekeeper; Horace G., who was accidentally killed in a railroad accident at Lucas, O., when aged 24 years; Martha E., who resides at Crestline; Frank E., who was a railroad man for a time and died at St. Louis, Mo., when aged 46 years; and Min- nie May, who taught school for some years and at present assists in her father's store.

BENJAMIN F. LAUCK, a representative business man of Bucyrus, O., dealing largely in wool, was born May 27, 1839, in Craw- ford county, O., not far from this city, and is a son of George and Mary (Deardoff) Lauck, and a grandson of Peter Lauck.

Peter Lauck was born in Holland, married there and together he and wife came to Amer- ica about the time of the Revolutionary War, locating in Lancaster county, Pa., where he be- came a successful farmer. His wife died there at the age of 78 years and afterward, Peter Lauck came to Ohio and died at the home of his son, near Bucyrus. His family consisted of two sons and two daughters: George; Lydia, who married a Mr. Diller, of York County, Pa., where their son lived and died; Mary, who married a Mr. Fries; and John. who was a farmer and miller in Perry county, Pa.

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George Lauck was born in Lancaster coun- ty, Pa., in 1800 and died in 1852 on his farm in Crawford county, O., to which state he had come in 1827. He married Mary Deardoff, in Lancaster county, a member of a well known old Pennsylvania Dutch family, and her deathı occurred in 1859. They were members of the Lutheran church. George Lauck was prom- inent and influential in the Democratic party in Crawford county and served in local offices and three terms as county treasurer. To George and Mary Lauck the following chil- dren were born: John, who died at the age of two years; Jane, who married Andrew Failor, formerly a merchant at Bucyrus but later a resident of Iowa, where both he and wife died, leaving seven children-Emma, Andrew, George, Mary, Samuel, Charles and Frank; Amanda, who was the wife of Judge Josialı S. Plantz, both now deceased, who had four children-Justinian, Gailor, Frank and Anna; Henrietta, deceased, who was the wife of C. W. Fisher and left six children-Mary, deceased, Edwin, Charles, Frank, Blanche and Grace, deceased; Nettie, who married L. B. Lyday and died in Texas, while Mr. Lyday died at Indianapolis, Ind., they having had four children, the one survivor being Mary, who lives with her family in California; Benjamin F., whose name heads this article; and George, who died at Toledo, O. For some years he was a merchant at Bucyrus. He and wife were survived by four children : Clarence, Stella and Ella, twins, and Mary.

Benjamin F. Lauck was educated at Bu- cyrus, later was a student at Wittenberg Col- lege and still later had educational advantages at Newton, Ia. In 1860 he went into the grocery business but closed it out shortly after- ward in order to become a soldier in answer to President Lincoln's call for volunteers. He enlisted in Co. I, 86th O. Vol. Inf., and served four months under Captain Stone and Col. Burns, in this connection, and then reenlisted, becoming a member of the 57th O. Vol. Inf., under Captain Skelton and Colonel Munyon, and one year later was honorably discharged at Black River, Miss. He participated in the siege of Vicksburg and the following battles : Deer Creek, Haines' Bluff, Jackson, Chapin Mills, Blue Ridge, Chickamauga, Holly Springs, Black River Bridge and many others

and saw hard and continuous service. He was ever at the post of duty and was a cheer- ful, efficient and dependable soldier.

For some years following his army experi- ence, he was a clerk in business houses and in 1866 he embarked in the dry goods business with a partner, under the firm name of Fisher & Lauck, which continued for nine years. Failing health caused Mr. Lauck to retire from the above firm and for some years after- ward he traveled as a representative of a grocery house. In 1880 he became a partner in a grain buying house and continued for 21 years and then went into the wool buying business, purchasing largely for Jeremiah Williams & Co., of Boston, Mass. He has the northwestern part of Ohio as his territory and in IgII handled the enormous amount of 700,000 pounds of wool. He is widely known and has both business and personal friends in every section.

Mr. Lauck was married at Plymouth, O., in 1860 to Miss Laura E. Bodine, who was born in Cayuga county, N. Y., Feb. 1, 1838. She was one year old when her parents, Peter and Susan (Erving) Bodine, moved to Ply- mouth, O. Peter Bodine was born in 1784, in Pennsylvania, and his wife in 1796, in New Jersey. They were married in 1814 at Niles, N. Y. Her father, Peter Erving, was a na- tive of England and later came to the colonies and served as an officer in the Patriot army. Peter and Susan Bodine came to Richland county in 1837 and he acquired much land and became a man of substance. His deatlı occurred there Sept. 20, 1849. His widow survived until Oct. 28, 1868, her death oc- curring at the home of Mrs. Lauck. They were members of the Presbyterian church. Of their 12 children, three are living. One daughter is the widow of D. R. Locke, the author of the Nasby Letters, once editor of the Bucyrus Journal, founder of the Plymouth Advertiser and later owner of the Toledo Blade, which she yet owns. One daughter. Martina, who is the widow of Alfred Parks, was married first to Daniel Locke, a brother of D. R. Locke. She resides at Bucyrus and has a family.

Mr. and Mrs. Lauck have had three chil- dren: Anna L., who is the widow of James Franey, and has one daughter, Marion Alice.

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who was born Nov. 13, 1896; Frank B., a machinist by trade, who is shop superintend- ent in one of the large plants at Bucyrus; and James L., who died in 1908. He was a mer- chant. He married Grace Reed, of Mansfield, O., who survived him for two years.

In politics Mr. Lauck is a Republican and has always been an active and interested citi- zen. He served five terms, eleven years, as a member of the city council. He is past com- mander of Keller Post, No. 128, G. A. R., Bucyrus, and is a Royal Arch Mason.

HARVEY CANDEL, one of the represen- tative citizens and public officials of Lykens township, Crawford county, O., resides on his excellent farm of 130 acres and belongs to one of the old county families. He was born in Whetstone township, Nov. 12, 1875, and is a son of Elias and Sarah (Shupp) Candel.

Elias Candel was well known in Crawford county. By trade he was a tile maker and he established the Candel factory in Lykens town- ship, which is now operated as the Zellner factory. He died and was buried at Broken- sword by the side of his wife in the Evan- gelical church cemetery. They were parents of the following children: Harvey; Clarence; Cora, wife of Marion H. Kline; Ada, wife of Robert Reamsnyder; and Florence, wife of Roy Gatchell.

Harvey Candel attended the public schools and after the death of his father, when he was 18 years of age, took charge of the tile factory and conducted the same for his mother for five years. He then purchased 50 acres of land and cultivated it and when his mother died, he bought the tile plant and operated it for seven years. After disposing of the tile works he bought 80 acres of land adjoining . her age was 82 years, 2 months and 18 days. his first purchase and has continued here as a general farmer and moderate stock raiser. He is also engaged, to some extent in con- tracting in concrete work. In politics he is a Democrat and is now serving very satisfac- torily in the office of turnpike road commis- sioner.

In 1899 Mr. Candel was married to Miss Louisa Laipply, who was born in Lykens town- ship, a daughter of Simeon and Matilda (Bower) Laipply, who still reside on their farm in Holmes township. Mrs. Candel has the fol-

lowing brothers and sisters: Adam; Eliza- beth, wife of John Volkmer; Frederick; Abra- ham; Rosa, wife of Herbert Aurand; Wil- liam; and Pearl, wife of Lloyd Zellner.

Mr. and Mrs. Candel have six children, namely: Edison, Arthur, Alverta, Gladys, Harry and Lloyd. They are members and active workers in the Evangelical church.

FRANCIS MARION FOSTER,* who has been a resident of Crestline, O., where he now lives retired, for 40 years, for 36 of these was a faithful and valued employe of the great Pennsylvania Railroad Company. He was born in Bracken county, Ky., in July, 1841, a son of James and Prudence (Knight) (Walk- er) Foster.

On the paternal side Mr. Foster's ancestors came from Scotland and Ireland and were early settlers in Tennessee. Grandfather Fos- ter was born in Tennessee and was married seven times and survived all his wives, the fourth one being the grandmother of Francis M. Foster of Crestline and was the mother of four children, one of whom was James Foster. He was born near Knoxville, Tenn., in 1817. In early life a farmer, he later be- came mate on a Mississippi River steamboat, but afterward returned to his farm and died at St. Louis, Mo., in 1869. Prior to the Civil War he was a Democrat but afterward was identified with the Republican party. He mar- ried Prudence Knight Walker, who was a first cousin of Hon. James G. Blaine, and was born in Westmoreland county, Pa. After the death of her husband she came to Crestline and for 32 years was a member of the house- hold of her son, Francis Marion Foster, where her death occurred in January, 1900, when

Her grandfather Knight died while serving in the War of 1812. During the life of her husband she attended the Baptist church, to which he belonged, but later she united with the Presbyterian church. She was the revered mother of four sons, all of whom grew to manhood and three married, Francis Marion being the eldest and the only one living.

Francis M. Foster was 15 years of age when his parents moved to Indiana and later to Illinois. When he started out for himself he entered railroad life as an employe of the old

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I. & St. L. line and engaged in construction work for one year and then became fireman, later a brakeman on the Illinois Central Rail- road and still later, on the O. & M. Railway, which is now the B. & O., southwest. In 1872 he came to Crestline and accepted a po- sition as freight conductor with the Pennsyl- vania Railroad, beginning a connection that lasted for 36 years, when he retired with a clean record, this move being made at his own request, when he was 68 years of age, his pension being dated August 1, 1909. Mr. Foster is well and favorably known to all railroad men in this section and is highly es- teemed by the company he served so long and by his comrades who had confidence in his skill and knowledge and affection and admira- tion for him as a man. Since 1885 he has been a member of the order of Railway Con- ductors and was a charter member of the di- vision order at Alliance, O., known as Divi- sion No. 177, with which he has always been in good standing. From 1875 until 1885 he was chief conductor in the old order of Bro- therhood Conductors, when that organization had its headquarters at Crestline. Aside from his own business, Mr. Foster has also been a progressive and energetic worker and a use- ful and public spirited citizen. In politics he has been a supporter of the policies of the Republican party since the close of the second administration of President Cleveland. In 1881 he became a Mason and belongs to the Blue Lodge and Chapter at Crestline, actively interested in the fraternity and living up to its teachings.

On June 20, 1872, in Knox county, O., Mr. Foster was married to Miss Mary E. Wertz, who was born in Holmes county, O., where she was reared and educated. Mr. and Mrs. Foster had three children: Charles H., whose lamented death occured in his 26th year, and who married Josephine Dunlap who survives with their daughter, Marion, now 14 years old; Ira G., a funeral director at Crestline, who married Almira Geiger, and has one son, Eugene Francis; and Benjamin, who died at the age of seven months. Mrs Foster died Dec. 23, 1906. Mr. Foster is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, as was his wife.

ABRAHAM SCHIEFER, one of the en- terprising farmers of Lykens township, Craw- ford county, O., who owns 93 acres and also operates 80 acres for his father, was born in Holmes township, Crawford county, O., April 16, 1866, and is a son of Christopher G. and Sarah Ann (Miller) Schiefer.

Christopher G. Schiefer was born in Ger- many, July II, 1824, and is one of Lykens township's venerable and respected citizens. He married Sarah Ann Miller, who was born in Texas township, Crawford county, O., who died in 1907, her burial being in the Broken- sword Cemetery. They were parents of the following children : Sarah, deceased, who was the wife of Lewis Schiefer; Jacob F., Isaac and Abraham; and Amanda, who is the wife of C. H. Ahlefield. Mr. Schiefer is one of the oldest members of the Evangelical church in this section, in which he and wife were active for many years. He is identified politically with the Republican party.

Abraham Schiefer attended the local schools during boyhood and one term at New Wash- ington in the High School, and afterward, for one term was in the Normal School at Ada, O., since when he has given the home farm attention and has devoted himself almost ex- clusively to agricultural activities. In 1887 he was married to Miss Emma J. Smith, who was born in Crawford county, a daughter of Frederick and Lucy Ann (Shupp) Smith. The father of Mrs. Schiefer was a substantial farmer and a well known man. He was mar- ried (first) to Christabel Lipman, who was born May 15, 1815, and died June 2, 1846, the mother of four children: Louis F., Her- man, John F. and Adolphus G. He was mar- ried (second) to Lucy Ann Shupp, and to that marriage the following children were born: Clara, who is the widow of Joseph Laipply; Christabel, who is deceased; Cor- nelius W .; Martha and Matilda, both of whom are deceased; Catherine, who is the wife of Jacob Meck; Frederick T .; Henry W .; Lucy Ann; Jefferson I .; Emma J., who is the wife of Mr. Schiefer ; L. Melanchton; and Sarepta G., who is the wife of Clarence H. Flickinger.

Mr. and Mrs. Schiefer have eight children, as follows: Guy Arden, Charles Richard, Harry Edwin, Christopher Frederick, James Gerald, Russell Washington, Helen Camile

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and Dorothy Rebecca. They have been given excellent educational and other advantages and are intelligent and interesting young peo- ple. The family attends the Evangelical church. Nominally Mr. Schiefer is a Repub- lican but there are occasions when he is led into depending entirely upon his own good judgment in casting his vote. He has served his township on the school board and as land appraiser and for two terms was assessor. He is now representing the Crawford County In- surance Company as its agent in this section. For some years he has been an active member of the Grange, at Brokensword.

FREDERICK STAIR,* manager and sup- erintendent of the Western Union Telegraph Company offices and also of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company offices at Crestline, O., was born near Orville, O., Jan. 11, 1865, attended the public schools there and spent one year in a Normal School, after which he became a tele- graph operator.

After learning his profession at Orville, Mr. Stair accepted a position in 1885 with the Wheeling & Lake Erie Railroad and later be- came connected with the Pennsylvania system at Pittsburg, three years was with the same corporation at Wooster, O., and in 1893 came to Crestline as an operator under C. N. Frye. In 1899 he succeeded Mr. Frye, who then be- came manager of the District Telegraph Com- pany at Columbus. Mr. Stair thus became manager of the Crestline office and addition- ally, is wire chief of the Pennsylvania lines from Crestline to Alliance. Mr. Stair is an interested and active citizen of Crestline and for some time has been clerk of the city school board.

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History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 164

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