History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 169

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 169

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Mr. Block was married at Galion to Miss Louisa S. Ricker, lifelong resident in the near vicinity of Galion, and they have the following children: Amelia, who married Peter Wiener, of Galion and has three sons-Edward, Rob- ert and Julius; Bertha, who resides with her

husband, A. W. Bradfield, dealer in art sup- plies, at Columbus, O., and has two daughters, Mary Louise and Margaret; Arthur W., who is proprietor of several drug stores at Colum- bus, O., and who married Florence Fisher, of Columbus, O., and has one son, Nelson; Carl F., who is located at Columbus and who is connected with the Marion Publishing Com- pany, of Springfield, Mass. ; and Oscar M., who is an artist connected with the Art Institute of Chicago, Ill. Mr. Block and family belong to the Reformed church. He and sons were Republicans in their political affiliation, and he is identified fraternally with the Masons. The family is one widely known at Galion and in every way is held in esteem.

GEORGE LAFAYETTE WAGONER, who is a valued employe of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, and the oldest freight conductor on the main line between Pittsburg and Chicago, has been connected with this road for 41 years and has witnessed many changes and a remarkable growth in this great system. He was born in Stark county, O., March 3, 1850, a son of Henry and Sarah ( Nolan) Wagoner.

Henry Wagoner and wife were both born in Pennsylvania, he being of German an- cestry and she of Irish. They were married in Stark county, O., having accompanied their parents there when young, and afterward they secured Government land which they devel- oped into a valuable property and on their farm spent 47 years of married life. Mr. Wagoner was born in 1801, a son of Johanus Wagner, as it was then spelled, and died in 1882, the death of his wife following in 1884, her birth having been in 1815. They found their church home in the Reformed body. Fifteen children were born to Henry Wagoner and wife, seven of whom reached maturity, all married and five became heads of families. Of these three sons and one daughter are yet living.

George L. Wagoner was the third youngest of his parents' children and he grew up in Stark county and attended the country schools. In 1871 he came to Crestline and on Sept. 23, 1871, entered the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad, first as a brakeman. On Jan. 19, 1874 he was promoted to the office of con-

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ductor and has served continuously in this capacity ever since and with one exception lias never had any serious accident, in which he fortunately escaped with his life but lost his fireman. From 1871 to 1892 his run was between Crestline and Alliance, O. and after- ward from Crestline to Pittsburg. For 32 years he has occupied the same "caboose" and undoubtedly would feel homesick should an- other car of this kind be substituted. While a fireman probably has to possess more muscle and endurance than a conductor, it is largely the latter's good judgment that ensures the . brother and sister of New York State and as safety of the train.

At Crestline, O., Mr. Wagoner was mar- ried Sept. 19, 1876, to Miss Cornelia Fecher, who was born at Columbia, Lancaster county, Pa., Feb. 1, 1853. When she was 14 years of age she came to Crestline with her parents, Oliver P. and Catherine (Ort) Fecher. Her father was born in Germany and her mother in Pennsylvania and they were married in Lan- caster county. Mr. Fecher began railroad life in Pennsylvania and for some years was yard- master at Allegheny, Pa., before the Civil War closed, and prior to coming to Crestline, where his death occurred at the home of Mrs. Wagoner, on Sept. 8, 1905, the death of his wife having occurred at Crestline Jan. 8, 1890. They were members of the German Lutheran church. In politics he was a Dem- ocrat while fraternally he was a Freemason. Of the seven children of Mr. and Mrs. Fecher, Mrs. Wagoner was the third eldest and two sons and two daughters are yet living. Mrs. Wagoner's grand-uncle was a military man and served in the War of 1812, and Mr. and Mrs. Wagoner carefully preserve the sword he carried and no doubt bravely wielded it on many a battle field. They take an interest in heirlooms and have a number of souvenirs with interesting histories. They have no chil- dren.

In politics Mr. Wagoner has been allied with the Republican party since early man- hood. He is one of the oldest members of the Order of Railway Conductors and now be- longs to Alliance Division No. 177, and for 22 years he has been identified with the fra- ternal order of Knights of Pythias. Mr. and Mrs. Wagoner are faithful members of the English Lutheran church, and they have many

friends at Crestline, both in and outside of railroad circles.

WILLIAM JONES, a well known and re- spected citizen of Crestline, O., a retired rail- road man, was born at Watertown, Litchfield county, Conn., July 4, 1840. Beyond the fact that his grandfather came to New England from Wales and that his parents lived and died in Connecticut, Mr. Jones knows little of the early history of his people. He was an orphan, when, in childhood, he was taken by a far as he knows, has survived them.

On a farm in New York William Jones grew to the age of 20 years and then made his way to Pittsburg, Pa., and in 1860 entered the railway shops at Allegheny, Pa., in the painting department, where he continued for ten years, during a part of this time being assistant foreman of the shops. In 1870 the company sent him to Crestline to take full charge of the car painting department at this place and he continued as foreman until August, 1910, when he was retired on a liberal pension, hav- ing been a faithful employe for 50 years. As a further testimonial of appreciation he was presented with a pass over all the company's lines. It is a matter of justifiable pride to Mr. Jones that his well rendered services were ap- preciated. He has a circle of friends at Crest- line that includes all the old railroad men as well as neighbors of many years' standing and a birthday celebration was arranged in 1910, his 70th anniversary, which was a memorable occasion for all present. Mr. Jones was pres- ented by his railroad and other friends with a handsome leather reclining chair and an em- blematic Knight Templar pillow, tokens of affection which could not fail of appreciation. For 45 years Mr. Jones has been a master Mason and for 42 of these he has belonged to the Commandery at Mansfield. He takes a deep interest in the stirring public events of the. times and in his political views maintains an in- dependent attitude.

Mr. Jones was married (first) at Allegheny, Pa., to Miss Catherine Van Winkle, who died at Crestline in 1880, at the age of 40 years. the devoted mother of five children, four of whom died young. One daughter, Lillie B. sur- vived until Feb. 23, 1907, and she is survived

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by her husband, Marion Jones, and two daugh- ters. Mr. Jones was married (second), at Crestline, in October, 1881, to Miss Mary Clark, who was born in Knox county, O., Dec. 9, 1844, and was reared and educated in Richland county, a daughter of Willis and Anna (Speer) Clark. The father of Mrs. Jones was of Welsh ancestry but was born in New York, while her mother, of Irish par- entage, was born in Pennsylvania. They came young to Ohio, where they subsequently were married and settled down as farming people in Richland county. Mr. Clark was born Aug. 10, 1810 and died at Butler, O., in 1877. Afterward his widow came to Crestline, where her death occurred June 19, 1899, her birth having taken place June 19, 1810. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, but Mr. Clark was of the Universalist faith. Of their children two daughters are living : Mrs. Jones and her sister Lucy, who is the wife of A. B. Eicher, a retired farmer of Jef- ferson, Greene county, Ia. Mr. and Mrs. Eicher have no children.

To Mr. and Mrs. Jones one daughter was born, Maybell, who was born, reared and edu- cated at Crestline, being a graduate of the Crestline High School, in the class of 1904. In 1905 she was married to Paul H. Blum, who is in the employ of the Pennsylvania Rail- way Company, having charge of the oil cars and oil house. Mr. and Mrs. Blum have the following children: William David, who was born April 27, 1906; Mary Winnifred, who was born Dec. 28, 1908; and Robert Paul, who was born May 21, 1912. Mr. Jones and fam- ily are members of the Presbyterian church.

WILLIAM M. BELTZ, a native son of Crawford county, was born in Polk township, Oct. 29, 1853. He is the owner of 107 acres of land, 80 of which are located in Polk town- ship and 27 in Whetstone township. His father, John C. Beltz, is still a well known resident of this county, but his mother, who was in maidenhood Nancy Reed, died Dec. 26, 1899.

John C. Beltz was born in Center county, Pa., coming to Ohio with his parents, where he grew up and married. To him and his wife were born the following children: Sarah Jane, who became the wife of William Shearer; Elias, deceased; Jemima Jane, who

was married first to John Keifer and upon his cleath became the wife of John Shumaker; William M., the subject of this article; Alonzo Perry; Elizabeth, the wife of William Wiggs; Willard J., deceased; and Nancy Margaret, who lives at home with her father.

After attending the common schools of his locality, Willianı M. Beltz spent two terms at the normal school at Fostoria and after spend- ing two terms in teaching turned his attention to farming and has since made this his life's occupation. He first bought 35 acres of land, to which he added 45 acres ten years ago and it is on this latter tract that he has built his comfortable home. The 27 acres in Whetstone township he has owned for 18 years.

William M. Beltz was first united in mar- riage with Miss Ida J. Kile, a daughter of Tobias and Catherine (Knipp) Kile. She died April 6, 1889 and he then married her sister Amanda. Tobias Kile was a well known farmer of Crawford county. Both he and his wife are now deceased and are buried in Kile cemetery, in Whetstone township. Tobias and Catherine Kile were natives of Germany, who emigrated to America where they entered land from the government. They were in religious faith German Lutherans and Tobias Kile was a Democrat in his political views. To them were born the following children : Eva, the wife of Jacob Helfrick; Philip; Peter; Elizabeth, who married Peter Knipp; Catherine, the wife of Simeon Kiess; Sarah, the wife of Joseph Dinkle; Fred; Eli; Amanda, the wife of our subject; and Ida, now deceased, who was the first wife of William M. Beltz.

In politics William M. Beltz is a Democrat and has served four years as school director. He is a member of Polk Grange at Galion.

JOSEPH MOTSCH,* who is in the brick and tile making business at Galion, O., with plant on East Main Street, has been in the butcher business here since 1868 and controls the leading meat and fish market in the city. He was born in Baden, Germany, Oct. 14, 1847, and is a son of John and Mary Anna ( Thoma) Motsch.

The Motsch family, father, mother and the child, Joseph, the latter being the only one of several to survive, left Germany in 1854 and. took passage on the sailing ship Ravensworth, for the United States. Thirty-two days were

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passed on the Atlantic Ocean and after land- ing they came immediately to Galion, O. 1he father was a stone mason by trade and fol- lowed the same for many years and he was a good business man up to the time of his death in 1871, both he and wife dying at the age of 58 years although he survived her two years. They were Roman Catholics in religious be- lief.

Joseph Motsch grew to manhood at Galion and attended both the parochial and public schools and afterward went into the meat business and continued for 18 years, closing up that line in 1900, when he went into the brick business, to which he added tile manu- facturing in 1908, and recently reopened his market and placed it under the management to his son Bernard Motsch. Mr. Motsch is a man of enterprise and his different undertak- ings have prospered because of the close at- tention he devotes to them and the foresight and good judgment with which he entered into. them.

Mr. Motsch was married at Galion to Miss Louise Reister, who was born in this city and died here when aged 40 years, the mother of four children : Clara, who lives in Ohio, and is married and has two children; Emma, who is the wife of Edward Englehart, residing at Cuyahoga Falls, and has one daughter, Louise ; Henrietta, who is the wife of Charles Mc- Laughlin, and who lives at Tucson, Ariz., and lias three daughters; and Bernard, who man- ages the meat business as before mentioned, and lives at home. Mr. Motsch was married (second) to Miss Catherine Mclaughlin, who was born at Ashland, Pa., and has lived at Galion since she was ten years old, and they have three children: Mary Carmel, Joseplı, Jr., and Paul, all of whom are students in the public schools. Mr. Motsch and family are members of St. Peter's Roman Catholic church and he belongs to the Knights of Co- lumbus. In his political views he is a Dem- ocrat and has served two terms in the city council, where his practical business way of looking at things has made him a very useful official.

HARRY. M. McJUNKIN, assistant post- master at Crestline, O., a reliable, well known and representative citizen, was born at Ne- vada, Wyandot county, O., June 18, 1870, and

is a son of John A. and Mary (Montgomery) McJunkin.

John A. McJunkin was of Scotch-Irish an- cestery. During the Civil War he was a sol- dier in the Federal Army, serving in Co. C, 163rd O. Vol. Inf., and after his return en- gaging in farming and subsequently in mer- chandising at Nevada, O., and still later be- came a stationary engineer with the Pennsyl- vania Railroad. At the age of 70 years he retired from active life and is one of Crest- line's well known and respected citizens. In politics he has long been a stanch Republican. He married Mary Montgomery and two sons were born to them: Horatio and Harry M.

Harry M. McJunkin was brought to Crest- line in 1871 by his parents and attended the Crestline schools, afterward serving an ap- prenticeship of three years in a pottery situ- ated in southwestern 'Indiana and one year as kiln placer. Afterward he was a clerk in a grocery store at Crestline and was then ap- pointed assistant postmaster, on April 1, 1898. The Crestline office belongs to the second class and does a large volume of business. Three carriers cover the territory, with three daily deliveries.

In 1898 Mr. McJunkin was married at Crestline to Miss Grace Hunt, a daughter of Nelson D. and Laura B. (Howten). Hunt, residents of this city. The father of Mrs. Mc- Junkin was born in Ohio and his wife in In- diana. They were married at Crestline, where Mr. Hunt is an employe of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. They are members of the English Lutheran church. Mr. Hunt is iden- tified with the Republican party. Mr. and Mrs. Hunt have three children: Walter, who lives at Cleveland, O .; Jessie, who is the wife of Walter Mans, of Cleveland, and has two children; and Mrs. McJunkin. To Mr. and Mrs. McJunkin five children have come, the record being as follows: Robert, born July 13, 1899; Albert, Aug. 10, 1902; Marion, Aug. 1, 1904; Kathleen, Oct. 26, 1906; and Winifred, Oct. 2, 1909. Mr. McJunkin was reared in the Presbyterian church. He is a Freemason and is past master of the lodge at Crestline.

HOLLISTER F. DOLL, who is one of the prominent men of Crawford county, widely known through family connections and busi-

HOLLISTER F. DOLL

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ness interests, is making a success of a very necessary industry, the growing of farm seeds, to which he devotes a part of his 190 finely cultivated acres, his place being situated seven miles north of Crestline, O. and four miles west of Shelby, O. He was born in that part of Crawford county, which was formerly in Richland county, in 1853, and is a son of John and Mary (Rogers) Doll. The parents were born in Adams county, Pa., and came from there to Ohio by wagon in 1836. The father was a carpenter by trade and after serv- ing a four years apprenticeship in the city of Baltimore, he entered in association with Rev. Joshua Crause, they being the only carpenters in the vicinity. They erected most of the pioneer residences in the Dixon settlement. Later John Doll became a farmer in Crawford county. He and his wife were the parents of the following children: Horatio, Wesley, a soldier in the Civil War, Luther, John, Sarah J., Mary A., Lucinda, Caroline and Almira. The survivors are: Mrs. Sarah J. Hershiser ; Mrs. Mary A. Baker, Mrs. Elmira Dixon and Hollister F.

Hollister F. Doll followed an agricultural life for 25 years after leaving school, and then embarked in the insurance business and dealt also in real estate. For a number of years he was connected with the Crawford County Fire Insurance Company as a director and ad- juster, and during this time was also notary public. Failing health compelled him to re- tire from that line of work and since then he has devoted himself exclusively to his farm interests together with attending to the duties that public office frequently entail. He con- ducted a dairy business in connection with his farming for 12 years. He built the first two silos in Crawford county and at that time was a member of the Ohio State Dairy. Association. For ten years Mr. Doll served as a member of the election board, was Supervisor for a num- ber of years and also member of school board being president of said board a part of that time. He has written many articles for news- papers on political, dairy and agricultural topics.

Mr. Doll married Miss Eveline Markley, a native of this county and a daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Stough) Markley. Her grandfathers were Horatio Markley and John

G. Stough of this county. To her parents were born the following children: John G .; Ho- ratio W .; Jonas, deceased; Jennie, wife of James L. Lauker; and Fenia, wife of R. T. Bower. Upon the death of Joseph Markley, Mrs. Markley married Peter Rutan and to them was born one daughter, Anna, who is the wife of Oliver Horton, superintendent of the steel plant at London, Canada. Mr. and Mrs. Doll have two daughters: Jennie Z., who married Jacob Stevens, of Toledo, O .; and Bessie J., who is the wife of Ora Taylor, a son of Dr. Taylor, of Marietta, O., and has four children-Thurman Hollister, James E., Donna E. and Kathleen M. Mr. Doll and family belong to the Lutheran church.

WILLIAM LAUER, mason contractor in business at Galion, O., who bears the repu- tation of being one of the most thoroughly re- liable men in his line in Crawford county, is a native of Germany, born in Wurtemberg, Feb. 27, 1849, a son of Mathias and Mary (Hild) Lauer.

Mathias Lauer and wife spent their lives in Germany, where they died aged respectively 50 and 64 years. They were consistent mem- bers of the German Lutheran church and they lived on a small farm all their lives and reared their seven children carefully and frugally. One son, David, was killed in the French and German War of 1871, and when but 20 years of age, their son William became a soldier for the same service.

For seven years William Lauer fought for the Fatherland in the wars and campaigns of that period and before he returned home had seen much danger and hardship, and before Paris fell received a dangerous wound in the jaw. In 1878 he set sail for the United States, landing at the port of New York and going from there to join his brother Mathias, who had reached this country ten years before and subsequently died in Indiana. In 1880 William Lauer came to Galion, went to work at the trade he had learned in his own land be- fore becoming a soldier, and for the past 18 years has been in the contracting business on his own account. In a large part of the build- ing work that has contributed to make Galion a city of homes as well as of commercial struct- ures, Mr. Lauer has been interested in a busi-

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ness way and so creditably that he is natur- ally considered when anything of importance along this line is proposed.

Mr. Lauer was married in Germany to Miss Elizabeth Scheifer, who was born, reared and educated in the same town as himself, a daugh- ter of Frederick and Mary (Reiley) Scheifer. Mrs. Lauer was also reared in the German Lutheran church.

To Mr. and Mrs. Lauer the following chil- dren were born: William, who now resides at Memphis, Tenn., is a master mechanic with the Illinois Central Railroad, married Estella Petri, of this city and they have one daughter, Florence; Mary, who is the wife of Edward Neuman, of Galion, a machinist, and they have two children-Harriet and Robert; Karl F., who is a Lutheran minister and pastor of a church at St. Clair, Mich., was educated at Capital University, Columbus, married Flor- ence Gotchal, and they have one son, Roland; and Albert, who lives at Alliance, O., a ma- chinist by trade, who married Blanche E. Williams. On election day Mr. Lauer and his sons assist in swelling the Democratic majority, when possible, all being identified with that party, and as a family they are all well established in life.

JACOB GOTTFRIED,* a member of the firm of Gottfried & Spillette, who are in the grain and elevator business at New Washing- ton, O., and manager of the Gottfried elevator, near the Northern Ohio Railroad, is a well known business man of New Washington. He was born in Chatfield township, Crawford county, O., March 20, 1867, a son of Philip and Barbara Gottfried, who were born in Germany. The father came to Crawford county when 27 years of age, was twice mar- ried and lived to be 71 years old. His second wife, the mother of Jacob Gottfried, died at the age of 61 years. They were members of the Reformed church in Chatfield township.

Jacob Gottfried attended school near his father's farm and later at New Washington and afterward engaged in farming and school teaching up to 1902, when he bought the Anem farm in Auburn township, from W. A. Kessler. It contained 60 acres and he operated it one year. In 1003 he bought the elevator at North Auburn, which he operated for fifteen

months, in 1904 purchasing his second ele- vator and in the spring of that year admitted Frank H. Spillette to partnership, and to- gether they do a large business with their chain of three elevators.

Mr. Gottfried married Miss Olive Spillette, a daughter of James and Lucinda Spillette, and they have two children: Norman and Theora. Mr. Gottfried is a stockholder in the Toledo Life and Underwriters Insurance Company. He votes with the Democratic party but is not very active. For some years he has been identified with the Knights of Pythias and is vice chancellor of the local or- ganization. With his family he belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church. Since 1904 he has lived at New Washington, his residence standing on Center Street.

WILLIAM H. BESSINGER, one of the stable and representative business men of Ga- lion, O., who does a large business as a sad- dler and harnessmaker, located at No. 121 South Market Street, was born at Galion, Sept. 2, 1870, and is a son of John and Susan (Errett) Bessinger.

The parents of Mr. Bessinger were born and reared in Crawford county, the father be- ing of German and the mother of English extraction. The latter survives but the for- mer died in Polk township, Crawford county, in February, 1910, at the age of 67 years. He was one of the leading Democrats of that sec- tion and for many years served as township trustee and in other offices. The two chil- dren survive : William H. and Anna, the latter of whom resides with her mother on the old homestead in Polk township.

William H. Bessinger attended school at Galion and learned his trade here and is a skilled mechanic in his line. He has been es- tablished in a business of his own in this city since 1895 and has one of the largest and best equipped stores on his street, the dimensions of which are 20x66 feet, with a work shop of equal space. He carries a large stock of re- liable goods and has steady patronage. Mr. Bessinger was married at Bucyrus, O., to Miss Emma Keller, who was born there in 1876 and is the only surviving child of her parents who were Philin and Lovia (Fink) Keller. Mr. and Mrs. Bessinger have one daughter,

REV. FRANCIS J. KEYES

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Susan Keller, who was born Jan. 5, 19II. They are members of the English Lutheran church. Politically Mr. Bessinger is a Dem- ocrat and fraternally belongs to the Knights of Pythias.

JOHN SIEFERT, who is a successful merchant at New Washington, O., where he deals in poultry, seed and agricultural imple- ments, is one of the well known and reliable business men of this place. He was born in Cranberry township, Crawford county, O., one mile northwest of New Washington, July 26, 1866.

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History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 169

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