History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 165

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 165

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At Crestline, Mr. Stair was married to Miss Flora Hoffman, who was born in this city in 1869 and has survived her parents. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Stair: Ethel, who is a member of the class of 1913, in the Crestline High School; Helen, who is a Junior in the High School; Madge and Charles, both of whom are in the High School; and F. Wayne, who is preparing for the same in the grade schools. Mr. Stair and family are members of the Methodist Epis- copal church, of which he has been treasurer for some years, and for three years was Sun-

day-school superintendent and at present is teacher of the Bible class. In politics he is affiliated with the Democratic party.

FRANK LA RUE, an honored veteran of the great Civil War and one of the best known and most highly respected citizens of Lykens township, Crawford county, O., in which sec- tion lies his valuable farm of 140 acres, was born in Seneca county, O., July 22, 1842, a son of J. B. and Jane (Gray) La Rue.

The parents of Mr. La Rue were both born in the State of New York and did not come to Crawford county but settled in Seneca county after marriage and there the father be- came a substantial farmer. They were mem- bers of the Free Will Baptist church, most worthy people in every relation of life. Their ashes rest in the Rock Creek Cemetery in Sen- eca county. Seven children were born to them : Frank, Charles, C. W., Levi G., George, Jan- ette, and Albertus, of whom all are deceased ex- cept Frank and C. W.

Frank La Rue attended the public schools and afterward spent one year at Hillsdale Col- lege and then taught one term of school. He then enlisted for service in the Civil War, be- coming a private in Co. K, 45th O. Vol. Inf., and remained a soldier for three years, less 28 days, during this time bravely facing death on many a battle field. He survived, however, to return home although numerous comrades were left behind, many in unknown graves. Mr. La Rue very soon afterward settled down to the peaceful pursuits of agriculture and con- tinued a farmer and stock raiser as long as he remained in active life and then turned over his responsibilities to his capable sons. A gen- eral farming line is carried on, stock for home use is raised and something of a specialty is made of Delaine sheep. A combination of fertile land and careful methods of cultivating it, has resulted in bountiful crops and financial independence.

Mr. La Rue was married Feb. 20, 1868, to Miss Ardella Waller, who was born in Craw- ford county and has passed her life here. Her people, L. M. and Arletta (Cory) Waller, were old settlers and her father became a man of large estate. After the death of his first wife, Mr. Waller married Ann Jane Yingling and they had one child that died in infancy.

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To Mr. and Mrs. La Rue the following chil- dren have been born: Charles, a civil engineer, who married Gertrude Blazer and has one son, Baxter B .; L. W., who is one of the home farmers; Cora, who is a successful school teacher, having taught for five years and after- wards graduated from college at Ada, O .; Ralph W., who married Edith Flickinger, and has two children-Forest and Stanley; Guy G .; Harry G., who married Mabel Caldwell, and has two children-Ellen G. and Lois Marion; James O .; Edna; F. E .; and Ger- trude. Mr. La Rue and sons are Republicans as was the father of the former from the organ- ization of the Republican party. He is a mem- ber of the Grange at Brokensword and belongs also to the G. A. R. and the Knights of Pythias. The family attends the Baptist church.

JOHN W. RONDY, who has numerous business interests in Crawford county, O., and is a director and stockholder in the Weaver Bros. Company, extensive dealers in grain and other commodities at Crestline, and one of the incorporators of this company, was born in Richland county, O., Feb. 28, 1873, and is a son of Jacob and Catherine (Sutter) Rondy.

Jacob Rondy was born at Nassau, Germany, in 1840, and was three years old when his par- ents came to the United States. They secured Government land in Sharon township, Rich- land county, O., and Mathias Rondy cleared and improved the same and it subsequently be- came the property of his son Jacob, who still resides there, being now in his 72nd year. His father lived to the unusual age of 96 years, retaining all his faculties to the day of his death. To Jacob Rondy and wife nine chil- dren were born and seven of these are living and all have married but one, John W., our subject, was the third of the family in order of birth. The parents are members of the Roman Catholic church.

John W. Rondy was reared in Sharon town- ship, Richland county and obtained his educa- tion in the public schools. He was married at Mansfield to Miss Mary A. O'Rourke, who was born at Spring Mill, Richland county, May 2, 1876, a daughter of Christopher and Mary (Brannon) O'Rourke. They were born in Ireland and came to Richland county when young and married there, where the mother

of Mrs. Rondy still resides, the father being deceased. Mr. and Mrs. O'Rourke reared their children in the Roman Catholic faith. Mr. and Mrs. Rondy have an adopted daughter, a child of three years, who has been named Mary Dorothy. In his political affiliation Mr. Rondy, like his father, is a Democrat. He belongs to the Knights of Columbus, the Knights of Ohio and the Eagles. Mr. Rondy and wife are members of St. Joseph's Catholic church at Crestline.

VICTOR D. CAMPBELL, who is a leading citizen of Texas township, Crawford county, O., who is serving in his tenth consecutive year as township treasurer, and is owner and proprietor of a general store at Benton, O., was born in Wyandot county, O., July 30, 1859, a son of Curtis and Isabel (Caldwell) Campbell.

Curtis Campbell was born in Washington county, Pa., and during the greater part of his life was a school teacher. He married Isabel Caldwell, who was born at Bucyrus, O., a daughter of John and Martha (Martin) Cald- well, the former of whom was once sheriff of Crawford county. They died in Wyandot county and their burial was in the Union Cem- etery. Their family consisted of four sons : Fremont and John, both of whom are deceased; Victor D .; and Elmer E., who is a resident of Los Angeles, Calif.

Victor D. Campbell attended the public schools of Wyandot county, and with the ex- ception of seven years has been in the mer- cantile business all his mature life. In 1901 he came to Crawford county and bought his present store from R. O. Seery and now con- ducts the only mercantile establishment at Benton, serving a wide territory and carrying a very large stock of well selected goods. He is an active citizen, in every way possible ad- vancing the interests of the town. Politically a Republican he has frequently been called on to serve in local offices, his fellow citizens hav- ing great confidence in his integrity and busi- ness ability.

Mr. Campbell was married in 1891 to Miss May Caldwell, who was born in Crawford county, a daughter of David S. and Sarah Jane (Doyle) Caldwell, the former of whom, now deceased, was a native of Maryland and

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a minister in the Reformed church. The mother of Mrs. Campbell was born in Canada but was reared in Crawford county. To Mr. and Mrs. Caldwell four children were born: Ellsworth; May; Blanche, who died at the age of 14 years; and Alpha O., who is the wife of R. E. Hillborn. The father of Mrs. Camp- bell was a veteran of the Civil War, having served as captain in Co. H, 123rd O. Vol. Inf. For eight months he was a prisoner at Libby Prison and was one of the fortunate unhappy men who managed to escape from that vile dungeon by tunnelling his way to freedom. He served all through the war in the company which was organized at Benton. To Mr. and Mrs. Campbell four children have been born: Beth, Dale, Roscoe and Faythe, of whom Roscoe is now deceased. The eldest daughter is a teacher of Stenography in the Lorain Busi- ness College, at Lorain, O., in which Dale is at present a student. Mrs. Campbell and daughter Beth are members of the United Brethren church. Mr. Campbell is identified with the Odd Fellows at Upper Sandusky, O.

REV. JOSEPH R. WAECHTER, pastor of St. Joseph's Catholic church, at Crestline, O., has charge of one of the most important and prosperous parishes in the diocese. He was born at New Washington, O., where his peo- ple still reside, Aug. 9, 1876.

Father Waechter attended the parochial schools at New Washington and completed his theological training at St. Mary's Seminary. On May 24, 1902, he was ordained to the Priesthood by Bishop Horstman, after which he was assigned as assistant priest under the presiding priests at Tiffin, O., where he re- mained until Sept. 14, 1909, when he took charge of St. Nicholas' church, at Berwick, Seneca county, O., and continued in charge there until Dec. 25, 1911, when he came to Crestline and took charge of St. Joseph's church, succeeding Rev. H. E. Boesken, who had been sent to Toledo after a pastorate of nine years at Crestline. Father Waechter en- tered upon his duties with characteristic zeal and has aroused fresh interest in every branch of church work. This is one of the old strongholds of the Catholic church and for years has been steadily advancing both spirit- tally and materially. There are few better

established congregations in the Toledo diocese and Father Waechter is a man well qualified to carry on the present church enterprises and to add still further to their efficiency and useful- ness. His parochial school is flourishing, with 130 pupils and is in charge of a number of Catholic Sisters.

HENRY M. HEER,* whose well cultivated and very productive farm of 80 acres is situ- ated in Lykens township, Crawford county, O., was born in Lykens township, Jan. 29, 1873, and is a son of Philip C. and Catherine (Herrwagon) Heer.

Philip C. Heer was well known in Lykens township where, for many years, he followed the shoemaking trade. Afterward he went to Missouri and died there. His wife died in Crawford county and her burial was in Chat- field township. They had the following chil- dren born to them: Henry M., our subject; Louisa M., who is the wife of Jacob Bower; Emma E., who is the wife of William Huse- mann; Matilda C., who is the wife of Daniel F. Long; Edward M .; and Rosena C., who is the wife of William Marquis.

Henry M. Heer attended the public schools in boyhood and since then has practically taken care of himself. For II years he worked for farmers by the month and thus accumulated the means to purchase 40 acres of his present farm, this being about 1888. The second 40 acres he bought in February, 1911, and now has about as much land as he cares to give attention to. He carries on general farming and raises some good stock but only for his own use. Mr. Heer was reared a Democrat but uses his own judgment when he casts his vote, frequently putting men before party when he gives support. He attends the Luth- eran church. Mr. Heer has never married.

GEORGE F. NESS, one of the well known citizens of Galion, O., where he has been con- nected with the building of many of the sub- stantial structures, and also owns a tract of farming land, was born at Tipton, Ia., July 16, 1856, and is a son of Charles and Phebe Jane (Auten) Ness.

Michael Ness, the grandfather, was of Ger- man ancestry but was born in York county, Pa. In 1835, accompanied by his wife, he

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came to Galion, O., when it was but a small place and finally became a landowner and farmer in Polk township, Crawford county. He died in 1870, when aged 75 years and his wife survived him for eight years. They were industrious, respectable, thrifty people and were consistent members of the German Lutheran church. To them were born three sons and one daughter ; the last, Rebecca, who has been twice married, lives at Waterford. All three sons, Jacob, Michael and Charles are now deceased.

Charles Ness was born in York county, Pa., Dec., 16, 1833, and was two years old when his parents came to Crawford county. He grew to early manhood here and learned the carpenter trade, afterward married and then moved to Iowa and for a few years lived at Tipton, in Cedar county. He was always a hard-working man, mainly at his trade but he also engaged to some extent in farming and it was said of him that few could excel him in the use of the old cradle in a wheat-field. His death occurred in 1890. He was married in this city to Phebe Jane Auten, who was born west of Galion, in 1833, and was two months younger than Mr. Ness. She accom- panied him to Iowa but willingly returned to Crawford county after a few years in the western state and here her death occurred in January, 1885. Of their five children the fol- lowing survive : James H., living six miles from Galion, in Marion county, who is a barn car- penter, and who is married and has nine chil- dren; George F., whose name heads this sketch; Mary, the youngest, who is the wife of Sidney Hill, a railroad man, living at Spring- field, O., and having six children.

George F. Ness was young when his parents returned to Crawford county and his education was secured in the district schools. Under his father he learned the carpenter trade and is considered an expert workman. In politics he has always been a Republican but is not in- terested beyond the demands of good citizen- ship.

On Feb. 8, 1880, in Whetstone township, Mr. Ness was married to Miss Rachel Bair, who was born in Whetstone township, Jan. 5, 1859, and was reared and educated there. Her parents were John and Rebecca (Sherer) Bair, the former of whom was born in Penn- sylvania and the latter in Whetstone township

and all their married life they spent in that township. John Bair died there in 1896, at the age of 65 years. His wife, who was born March 12, 1835, died on the farm on which she was born, Oct. 12, 1888. Her father had entered the land from the Government and it has been kept in the family and is now owned by the two brothers of Mrs. Ness, Michael and Samuel Bair. To Mr. and Mrs. Ness two sons and one daughter were born, which died in infancy. One son, Sherman H., born Nov. 14, 1888, who died Nov. 7, 1910, was a bright and promising young man. The other, Cloyd L., born Oct. 4, 1882, who operates his fath- er's farm in Marion county, married Dessie Geiger and they have two children: Willard C. and Geraldine. Mr. and Mrs. Ness are members of the United Brethren church.

FRANK A. NEFF, proprietor of the lead- ing barber shop at Crestline, O., and an enter- prising business man of the city, is a native of Crestline, born July 4, 1860, a son of John and Catherine (Burkhart) Neff.

The grandparents of Mr. Neff, on both sides, were natives of Germany, but both par- ents were born in Germany and were married at Marion, O. They afterward took up their residence in Galion, coming later to Crestline, spent the rest of their lives here. The father, who was a car finisher with the Big Four Rail- road for some years, was a skilled cabinet- maker and also manufactured delicate musical instruments. He was well known to the peo- ple of his adopted city and universally re- spected. In his religious faith he was a Luth- eran, while his wife was a Roman Catholic. They had four children: Catherine, John, Frank A. and Edward, the last named being a dry goods merchant at Crestline.

After his school days were over, Frank A. Neff learned the barber trade in 1871 and has been in business for himself since 1886, after spending about ten years in New York state, and has established himself here, having a modern tonsorial parlor, with three chairs and skilled attendants to care for patrons. Through his courtesy, skill and careful attention to de- tails, Mr. Neff has built up a heavy patronage and conducts a place that compares very fa- vorably in its equipments with these found in a much larger city.

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Mr. Neff was married at New York city to the Methodist Episcopal church. He is inde- Miss Elizabeth Cohan who was born in pendent in politics but is a respected and re- lied on citizen and has been elected to the school board and is serving also in his first term as township trustee. Rochester, N. Y., and who losing her parents was reared by an aunt. They have the following children: Bertha, who is the wife of Oran Blanford, of Crestline; William L., who is a factory worker at Crestline; and FRANCIS M. ANDERSON, a substantial and representative citizen of Crestline, O., where, for many years, he has been interested in fire insurance, has been a resident here for 50 years and has a financial interest in many of the prospering enterprises of this city. He was born in Fairfield county, O., Feb. 12, 1830, a grandson of James and Priscilla ( House) Anderson. Alfonso, who is a brickmason by trade, both sons living at home. Mr. and Mrs. Neff are members of the Evangelical Lutheran church. In politics Mr. Neff is a Democrat and frater- nally he belongs to the Knights of Pythias, the Maccabees and the Modern Woodmen. In ad- dition to his business location, Mr. Neff owns some valuable residential property here.

ROBERT U. WALCUTT,* one of the pub- lic officials of Texas township, who owns and resides on the old homestead farm, was born on this farm, one of the best in Crawford county, O., Nov. 20, 1868, and is a son of Mason and Susan (Walters) Walcutt.

Mason Walcutt and wife were born in Ohio, she being a native of Wyandot county, surviv- ing her husband and residing with her son, Robert U. All his active life Mason Walcutt was a farmer. He voted with the Republican party and was a member and liberal contrib- utor of the Methodist Episcopal church. To Mason Walcutt and wife the following chil- dlren were born: Daniel; Alverta, who died when aged 20 years ; Amelia, who is the widow of John Smith; Jane, deceased, who was the wife of James Brown; Laura, who is the wife of Frank Bower; William and Robert U.

In the public schools of Texas township, Robert U. Walcutt secured his education and since then has devoted himself to his agricult- ural industries, carrying on general farming, dealing in Durham cattle and buying and selling horses. About four times yearly, Mr. Walcutt makes a business trip to the West and ships by car load his market being Crawford and adioining counties.

On Feb. 2, 1890, Mr. Walcutt was married to Miss Alice Klase, who died in 1897, her burial being at Benton, O. She was survived by four children : Raleigh, Mason, Inez Floy and Zelma Merl. In 1000, Mr. Walcutt was married (second) to Miss Rose Merbaugh, and they have two children: Ralph Edward and Mercy Dell. Mr. Walcutt and wife attend

On account of the stormy times in which they lived, the ancestors of Mr. Anderson succeeded in preserving but few of the family records. Among these may be found proof that William Anderson, who was born in Scotland in 1693, was a supporter of the claims of one of the pretenders to the British throne and was obliged to fly in disguise, on account of political troubles and first reached England and from there crossed the Atlantic Ocean to Virginia. He located in Hampshire county, Va., and his estate is still known as the Anderson Bottoms, although at that time, it was a wild and unsettled region by white men. He became a well known warrior, took part in the French and Indian campaigns and served under General Braddock. He died in Virginia when aged 104 years. His family consisted of two sons and two daughters.

Mention is also made of Capt. Thomas An- derson, who was born in 1733 and died in 1808.

James Anderson, probably a grandson of William Anderson, was born in England, Feb. 17, 1768, and died Oct. 24, 1844. He entered the cavalry branch of the military, with the rank of second lieutenant, and assisted in put- ting down the Whiskey Insurrection and after- ward served under General Anthony Wayne, and for meritorious services was made a cap- tain. In 1808 he came to Fairfield county, O., late in life moving to Lafayette, Ind., where he died at the home of a son. He married Pris- cilla House, in Virginia, who survived him for a few years, passing away also in Indiana. They had eleven children and ten of these grew to mature life, married and reared families of their own.

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John Anderson, son of James and Priscilla Anderson and father of Francis M. Anderson, was the third born child in the above family, his birth taking place in Virginia, March 4, 1803, but he was reared in Fairfield county, O. Subsequently he learned the cooper's trade, which he followed for eight years and then moved to Marion county and in 1838 pur- chased 120 acres of wild land there. This land he cleared and cultivated and occupied it until his death, on Jan. 4, 1888. In Fairfield county he married Martha Roult, who was born in Ohio of Pennsylvania parents who were of Irish extraction. Mrs. Anderson died in Marion county in 1847. The Andersons were members of the Methodist Episcopal church in this generation. In politics they were Whigs until the formation of the Republican party, when they became identified with it.

Nine children were born to John and Martha Anderson, five sons and four daughters, and eight of these grew to maturity. One son, Thomas T., enlisted for service in the Civil War, in the 12th Ind. Vol. Inf., and was stricken with an illness from which he died before arriving home. John, the next son, died in 1859, while Levi died in 1864, all be- ing unmarried. Three daughters survive, Susan, Ellen and Margaret. Susan is the wife of Rev. Walter Scott, a retired Episcopal min- ister, residing at Oberland, O., and they have four children. Ellen is the wife of John Blue, of Belleplaines, Ia., and they have six children. Margaret is the wife of John B. Hines, of Marion county, O., and they have three children.

Francis M. Anderson had common school and academic advantages, and afterward, for eleven years was a school teacher, and for five years was in the mail service on the Pennsyl- vania Railroad. In 1862 he reached Crestline and shortly afterward became agent for lead- ing fire insurance companies and has continued in the business, one of the oldest and most suc- cessful agents here. He is a director in the Crestline Building and Loan Association and owns stock in many of the industrial plants in this section, his investments having been made judicially. He has been very active as a citizen and has served as mayor of Crestline. For some 15 years he was a justice of the peace and for many years was a member of the

school board. He is identified with the Re- publican party.

Mr. Anderson was married (first) in Marion county, O., to Miss Sarah E. Geiger, who was born in Marion county, in 1834, and died at her home in Crestline, in 1899, leaving one son, Harry W. For a number of years he was in the furniture business at Crestline but now lives retired, a man of ample fortune. He married Mary Etsinger, and they have two children : Bertha and Frank M., the latter of whom fills a clerical position with the Penn- sylvania Railway at Crestline. In 1900 Mr. Anderson was married (second) to Miss Elizabeth A. Thrush, who was born in Craw- ford county. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

TOBIAS MORCKEL, who is a highly re- spected retired citizen of Galion, is a native of Ohio, born at Windfall, Crawford county, April 16, 1838. His parents were Peter and Anna M. (Stuber) Morckel.

Peter Morckel and wife were born in Hesse- Darmstadt, Germany, where they grew to maturity and married. It was after the birth of three children, Christian, Katherine and Elizabeth, that they decided, in the later twen- ties, to come to the United States. They took passage on a sailing vessel and after 76 days on the Atlantic Ocean, were safely landed on American soil. They made their first home in Pennsylvania and while living there another son, George, was born. About 1832-3 the family came over the mountains with teams, accompanied by other immigrants, and when they reached Jefferson township, Crawford county, found land which seemed desirable, al- though it was in what seemed to be a cyclonic section and was named Windfall on that ac- count. Here they bought many acres of land and erected a log cabin that withstood all sub- sequent storms. With land clearing and im- proving climatic changes were evidently brought about and the parents of Mr. Morckel lived peacefully and undisturbed until the end of their lives, the mother dying when aged 65 years and the father surviving to his 82nd year. They were of the German Lutheran faith and assisted in building the Windfall church. After coming to Crawford county the following children were born: Tobias, whose

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name heads this article; Maria, deceased, who married here; Leah, who lives with her family at Cleveland; and Elizabeth C., who lives three miles west of Galion.

For the first 23 years of his life, Tobias Morckel lived on the old home farm. Later he went to Crestline and for ten years afterward was with the Pittsburg and Ft. Wayne Rail- way, subsequently moving to Cardington in Morrow county, where he operated an engine in a grist mill for some time for his father-in- law. Still later he went to Upper Sandusky and from there to Columbus, where he engaged in a business enterprise and was also engaged in this way at other points prior to coming to Galion, in 1876, in which city he was success- ful in business ventures for years. He had the foresight to buy some valuable tracts of city property and these he has improved, much of his improved realty being on East Main Street, right in the heart of the business cen- ter, and he also has valuable holdings at Crest- line. He occupies his leisure in looking after his property interests.

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History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 165

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