History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 172

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 172

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Church of God, of which religious body his wife was a faithful member.

WILLIAM B. MITCHELL,* deceased, for a number of years was connected with the Erie Railway shops at Galion in the ca- pacity of master carpenter and was considered one of the most skillful men in his line of work in the service. He was born in Jeffer- son county, O., Sept. 18, 1838, and met death through an accident, while working on a rail- road bridge, at Akron, O., Oct. 31, 1902.

William B. Mitchell attended school in Jef- ferson county in boyhood and afterward learned the carpenter trade and after his mar- riage moved to West Salem, in Wayne coun- ty, and still later to Galion. Here he entered the employ of the Erie Railway Company, with which he continued until his death, a period of 34 years. He became a master builder and was entrusted with many of the important structures that required skilled work in their building or repairing and it was while attending to a very important contract that he met his death. His loss was deeply deplored by the company, and his fellow citi- zens united in their grief with his family. Mr. Mitchell was twice married, first in Jeffer- son county, to Miss Isabel McLane, who died at West Salem when aged 28 years, survived by one daughter, Florence, who is the wife of Frank Beuberger, of Galion, and has three children.

Mr. Mitchell was married (second), at West Salem, O., to Miss Rebecca Handwork, who was born there, Oct. 31, 1862, a daugh- ter of Abraham and Mary ( Esselburn) Hand- work. The father of Mrs. Mitchell was born in Lehigh county, Pa., and the mother in Ger- many. Both came young to West Salem, O., where they were subsequently married and the following children were born to them: Amaryllis, who died when nine years old; Rebecca, who became Mrs. Mitchell; Ella, who married Park Williams, a farmer near Salem; Jennie, who married C. F. Camp, of Homerville, O .; William, who resides at West Salem, with wife an two sons; Edward, who lives on a farm near New London, O., and has wife and four children; Alice, who is the wife of Harry Webber; and Frank, who lives in the Northwest.

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To Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell the following children were born: Mary Kate, who was graduated from the Galion High School in the class of 1900, and who for some years has been an acceptable teacher and has a wide circle of friends at Galion; Edna May, who is the wife of Arthur J. Shumaker, and re- sides on a farm in Polk township, Crawford county; Hugh William, who, after attending the public schools at Galion, spent one year in the Ohio Normal College, received an ap- pointment as a member of the class of 1910, at West Point Military Academy, from the Thirteenth Congressional District; Fanniel Belle, who was graduated from the Galion High School in the class of 1911, and now fills a position with the Galion Inquirer that permits her to live at home; and Ruth F., who is a student in the Galion High School. Mrs. Mitchell is a member of the Lutheran church, Hugh W., of the Babtist church, Kate, Fannie and Ruth, of the Presbyterian, while Edna belongs to the First Reformed church. Mr. Mitchell was a member of the National Building and Bridge Association. He was a man of sterling character, honorable and up- right in his business life, charitable to those who were worthy of help, and considerate to his family and loyal to his friends.

JOHN WILLIAM ROSS, who is a retired business man of Crestline, O., for many years was among the foremost men in the lumber industry in this section and is well known throughout Crawford county, having been identified particularly with the business ac- tivities of Crestline. He was born in Hessen Darmstadt, Germany, May 25, 1847, a son of Peter and a grandson of Peter Ross.

The father of Mr. Ross was born also in Hessen Darmstadt, in 1803, one of a family of six children and one of the two to come to America, the other one being his brother, John Ross. The latter came also to Crawford county and after marriage lived in Lykens township, where he and wife died and his des- cendants still live there. Peter Ross, Jr. grew up on his father's small farm in Germany and in early manhood was married to Margaret Simmermacher, who was born in an adjoin- ing province, in 1807. In 1853, after the birth of their children: Catherine, Peter,

George, Margaret, Philip, Lizzie and John William, Mr. and Mrs. Ross made prepara- tions to emigrate to America, led to this step, undoubtedly, by a desire to provide better op- portunities for the future of their children, in an industrial way, than they could command in the crowded old country. The family em- barked at Havre, on the sailing ship, William Tell, and after a safe and enjoyable voyage of 38 days, having fine weather, were landed safely in the harbor of New York, in June, 1853. From there, by way of boat, they reached Cleveland and proceded on to San- dusky City, O., and from there to Shelby, where a kinsman met them and transported them to Vernon township. From there they came to Lykens township and here very soon Mr. Ross purchased 80 acres of wild land, a discouraging appearing property at that time but one, which, after developing, proved that Mr. Ross' judgment and foresight were not at fault. This fine land, now highly im- proved, belongs to his son and namesake, Peter Ross, the third in the family of that name. On this farm in Lykens township the parents lived until they died, he in 1856, prob- ably of one of the malarial diseases that at- tacked the early settlers in almost every sec- tion and were responsible for many sudden deaths. His widow survived him for many years, her death occurring when within three months of her 84th birthday. They were members of the Evangelical church. One of their children, Lizzie, died in infancy, but six accompanied them to America and of these there are three still living.

John William Ross grew to manhood on the home farm and in the meanwhile went to school and in association with English-speak- ing children, soon learned the language. He was only 22 years old when he was acknowl- edged to be a competent saw mill operator, and in 1884 came to Crestline to go into the lumber business. Here he entered into part- nership with William Eckstein, also a practical man in the business, and success attended them from the first. From their saw mill, planing mill and lumber yards came a large portion of the material that went into the material upbuilding of this city. The above partner- ship continued for seven years, when Mr. Ross became sole proprietor and carried on the

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large enterprise alone until 1905, when he to America married Miss Barbara Fissel, a leased his plant and retired to private life, but still retains ownership. In many ways Mr. Ross has been a useful citizen, investing his capital in different concerns which in their infancy needed a little help and encouraging others by his enterprise, energy and public spirit, and today he stands as one of the city's representative men, enjoying to the fullest ex- tent the esteem of business associates and competitors and a wide circle of personal friends.

Mr. Ross was married at Crestline, to Miss Mary Foltz, who was born here Sept. 12, 1856, a daughter of Bartholomew and Catherine (Helfrich) Foltz. In early life they accom- panied their parents from Germany and were reared in Holmes township, Crawford county, where they attended school and after mar- riage at Bucyrus, moved to Crestline, where Mr. Foltz became connected with the Penn- sylvania Railroad Company. Both he and wife died in this city when aged about 71 years. They were members of the German Lutheran church, to which Mr. and Mrs. Ross also belong and in which Mr. Ross has been a deacon for 15 years. To Mr. and Mrs. Ross was born one son, who died in infancy. Mr. Ross is a Democrat in his political views.

DERR BROS. & CO., proprietors of a large meat business at New Washington, O., are prominent business men of this city who have been in this line of trade for many years. The business was founded here in 1869, hence is one of the old and solid houses of the city, and throughout its whole existence, with slight changes in ownership, has deserved the large volume of patronage it has received.

In 1869 L. J. Kimmerline embarked in the meat business at New Washington and contin- ued under his own name until 1885, when he sold out to J. W. Derr and brothers, the firm then being made up of J. W. and Frank Derr, who continued the business until 1901, when F. A. Kimmerline was taken in as a partner and the firm style since then has been Derr Bros. & Co.

J. W. Derr and Frank Derr were born, reared and educated in Crawford county, sons of John and Barbara (Fissel) Derr. John Derr was born in Germany and after coming

daughter of John Fissel, of English extrac- tion. John Derr died at the age of 37 years, after which his widow, Mrs. Barbara Derr, married L. J. Kimmerline. Mr. Kimmerline was born in Germany and was brought to the United States and to Wayne county, O., by his father, John Kimmerline. Later he re- moved to Crawford county, where he still resides. Mr. Kimmerline has the following children : C. E., a physician at New Washing- ton, who married Mary Scott; Frederick A., a member of the firm of Derr Bros & Co., who married Lela Hawblits, resides at New Washington and has three children-(Charles W., Ruth L. and Alberta B.) ; and Maud F., Ida L., Jennie and Clara, all of whom reside with their mother, Miss Jennie being book- keeper for the above named firm. To Mrs. Kimmerline's first marriage two sons were born, J. W. and Frank, both of whom, as previously indicated, are members of the firm of Derr Bros. & Co. J. W. Derr married Miss Emma Martin, and Frank Derr married Miss Etha Guiss. All are well known people of New Washington and are prominent in social as well as business life.

WILLIAM HENRY AUCK, a representa- tive and reliable business man of Bucyrus, O., who is engaged in the real estate and general insurance business, belongs to one of the old and substantial families of Crawford county. He was born Sept. 11th, 1871, in Whetstone township, Crawford county, O., and is the son of Michael and Caroline (Ehmann) Auck, a grandson of Christopher and Rachel (Wag- ner) Auck, and a great-grandson of George and Rosina (Frank) Auck. The parents of Mr. Auck survive and reside at Bucyrus, O., where they are numbered with the city's most respected and esteemed citizens.

William Henry Auck obtained his educa- tion in the public schools of Whetstone town- ship and at the Ohio Normal University, at Ada, O., entering that institution in the Fall of 1891 and was graduated with the degree of B. S., in 1896, having also taught school during the winter seasons in the vicinity of Bucyrus. His father having been elected county treasurer in the spring of 1897, he be- came his deputy and served as such with en-

JOHN J. SCHAEFER

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tire efficiency for 18 months. In August, 1898, he accepted the position of assistant cashier of the Second National Bank of Bu- cyrus, O., and filled the same until January, 1904, when he resigned in order to become cashier of the American National Bank of Barberton, O., and continued in the banking business there for five years. When his resig- nation from the latter institution was accepted he returned to Bucyrus and in January, 1909, in association with his brother, Samuel E. Auck, embarked in his present business. The firm deals in farm property in Crawford and adjoining counties as well as city real estate, writes fidelity and surety bonds, and carries a general line of fire, life and casualty insur- ance with some of the oldest and best com- panies in the country. Both as a firm and individually the Aucks have a high rating.

Mr. Auck was married June 20, 1899, at Brookville, Pa., to Miss Terressa E. Syphrit, who was born Oct. 23, 1877, in Jefferson county, Pa., a daughter of Christopher and Mary M. ( Plotner) Syphrit, the former of whom was born in Jefferson county, Pa., on Feb. 9, 1846, and the latter in the same county and state on March 1, 1850. The grandfather, Joseph Syphrit, was born in the Dominion of Canada, Feb. 16, 1814, and in 1816 his father moved to Westmoreland county, Pa. Joseph Syphrit was there married in 1837 to Mary Campbell and in 1841 they moved to Jeffer- son county, where she died early in 1884. He then married Caroline Allison, in 1885, who survives him and resides at Reynoldsville, Pa. Thirteen children were born to his first union, one of whom was Christopher Syphrit. Jo- seph Syphrit died April 8, 1895, aged 81 years, I month, and 22 days. Mary M. ( Plot- ner) Syphrit was the daughter of John and Elizabeth (Bowersox) Plotner. John Plot- ner was born Sept. 20, 1803, in Center county, Pa. About 1828 he was married to Elizabeth Bowersox, who was born Dec. 15, 18II, in the same county and state. Later they moved to Jefferson county, where they resided until their death. Grandfather Plotner died Oct. 23, 1869 and his wife, Elizabeth, died May 4, 1900.

In his early business life, Christopher Syph- rit was a lumberman and later became a farm- er. He was married in 1869 and three chil-

dren were born to him and wife. Mr. and Mrs. Auck have one son, Dale Kenneth, who was born Jan. 3, 1902, and who is now a bright pupil in his classes in the public school. Mrs. Auck is a cultured and accomplished wo- man and was graduated in music from the Ohio Normal University at Ada, O., in the class of 1897. Both are members of the Pres- byterian church,, of which he is a trustee, and while a resident of Barberton, O., an elder. Politically Mr. Auck is a Democrat and fra- ternally is identified with the Masons.

JOHN JACOB SCHAEFER, a retired merchant and highly respected citizen of Ga- lion, O., owner of the Schaefer Block, No. 133 and 13572 East Main Street, Galion, was born Feb. 3, 1831, in Hesse Darmstadt, Ger- many, and is a son of Johanas and Elizabeth (Gosz) Schaefer.

The Schaefers were well known and highly thought of people in their native province, small farmers, church supporters and law- abiding citizens. The four sons of Johanas and Elizabeth Schaefer all grew to manhood and all inherited the leading family traits.

John Jacob Schaefer was the eldest born in his parents' family and during his school days he lived on the home farm and afterward learned the tailor's trade. In 1857 he decided to come to the United States and took passage on the steamer Indiana, which took two weeks to make the passage but safely landed the voy- agers at the port of New York. He found work in that city among his fellow country- men and after the completion of the railroad to Galion, came here and found such encourage- ment in the line of business that he determined to make the growing city his permanent home. For some time he worked at his trade and then embarked in the grocery business in which line he continued for 25 years, at the end of which period he retired. Through en- terprise and industry he prospered and with great public spirit he invested in land here which he improved, the Schaefer Block on East Main Street being one of the well built and attractive business blocks of the business district. He also owns a block on South Mar- ket Street. He is one of the directors of the Citizens National Bank of Galion. Politic- ally he has always been a Democrat and at

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one time he was a member of the city council. His judgment has often been consulted in re- gard to civic affairs and he has long been con- sidered a representative man.

Mr. Schaefer was married at Galion to Mrs. Elizabeth (Tracht) Heis, who was born and reared in Jefferson township, Crawford county, and was married there to George Heis. He is now deceased as are the three children of that union. Mrs. Schaefer is a daughter of George and Eve Elizabeth (Ding- ledine ) Tracht, natives of Prussian Germany, who crossed the Atlantic Ocean in one of the old slow-moving sailing vessels, long since swept off the waters, from which they were safely landed on the American shore. They came to Crawford county, O., where the father of Mrs. Schaefer secured wild land which he cleared and improved and there both he and his wife died in advanced age. They were members of the German Lutheran church. Of their nine children all reached maturity, eight of these married, and four are yet living all residing in Crawford county. Mr. and Mrs. Schaefer have no children but Mr. Schaefer was also previously married and three of his four children survive. Their mother, Eliza- beth (Crider) Schaefer was born in Germany and died at Galion at the age of 45 years, leaving the following children: Charles, a business man of Galion, a member of the gro- cery firm of Crider & Schaefer, who is mar- ried and has three sons and one daughter; August, a machinist in business at Canton, O., who is married and has five children; Jacob, who died when aged 43 years, leaving one son and three daughters; and Frederick, a dry goods merchant at Galion, who married and has two daughters. Mr. Schaefer and sons are all men of high personal standing. He and wife belong to the German Lutheran church.

JEROME M. BRONKAR .* who is well known in the business life of Crestline, where he conducts a shoe repair shop and also, in partnership with John Russell, manufactures a special chair, which is particularly adapted for use in hotel lobbies and other public places, is a native of Crawford county. O., and was born near Crestline, July 20, 1856. He is a son of James and Lucina (Thorp) Bronkar.

The parents of Mr. Bronkar were born in Muskingum county, O., and were reared and married there, afterward moving to Craw- ford county, in 1850 locating on the line be- tween Crawford and Richland counties. James Bronkar died in 1908, when aged 84 years and six months, having survived his wife since 1892, she being 66 years and eight months at the time of her death. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. They had four sons and five daughters born to them.

Jerome M. Bronkar was educated in Craw- ford county and has been a continuous resid- ent of the same with the exception of 20 years, during which time he was engaged in business at Huntington, Ind., and Elyria, O., in the contracting and building line in the former city and in the laundry business at the latter place, which industry he also carried on for four years at Crestline. He then estab- lished his present repair shop, installing a large Champion shoe-repairing machine, and does an extensive business aside from the manufacturing of the comfortable chair above alluded to, the sale of which is rapidly in- creasing.

In politics Mr. Bronkar is an Independent Republican.

CHARLES A. SIMONTON, superintend- ent of the Schill Bros. Co., manufacturers of furnaces, stoves and ranges, doing a large business at Crestline, O., was born in Lau- rence county, Pa., in December, 1865, and since 1899 has been identified with his present company.

Mr. Simonton enjoyed exceptional advan- tages, attending Grove City College where he received a degree and in 1891 was graduated from the Oregon State Normal School at Monmouth, with his B. S. degree. For 13 years he followed educational work and dur- ing five years of this period was principal of Greersburg Academy at Darlington, Pa. and for one year was principal at New Galilee, in Beaver county, Pa.

For five years after becoming connected with the Schill Bros. Co., at Crestline, Mr. Simonton was a salesman and then became assistant secretary and a director and since January, 19II has been superintendent of the

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plant. This is an important industry of this section, 100 people being given constant em- ployment.

Mr. Simonton was married at Darlington, Pa., to Miss Elsie B. Wells, who was born at New Galilee, Pa., in 1866. She was educated at the State Normal School at Slippery Rock and for seven years before marriage was a teacher. Mr. and Mrs. Simonton have two children: Sarah Dorothy, who was born Aug. 17, 1899, and Ruth Evelyn, who is seven years old. Mr. and Mrs. Simonton are members of the Presbyterian church. He is prominent in Masonry, belonging to the Blue Lodge and Chapter at Crestline, of which he is past mas- ter and past high priest, and to the Council and Commandery at Mansfield, O. Mr. and Mrs. Simonton take part in the pleasant social life of the city. He is somewhat independent in politics, looking upon public questions from the stand point of an educated, broad minded man.

A. F. DONNENWIRTH, who is railroad agent for the Pennsylvania lines at Tiro, O., was born at New Washington, O., Dec. 9, 1872, and is a son of John and Malinda Don- nenwirth.

A. F. Donnenwirth was reared and educated at New Washington and after his school days learned the art of telegraphing and for a time was in the offices of the Pennsylvania road there, was then transferred to Waldo and be- fore coming to Tiro had a large amount of ex- perience at Bucyrus and other points. At each place he has been interested in the raising of poultry and is a member of the Tiro Poultry Association and is treasurer of this body. Mr. Donnenwirth not only raises poultry as a diversion but makes it very profitable, handling mainly the White Orpingtons. His residence on Homer Street is one of the most modern and best fitted in the town, in which he has a hot and cold water system and an acetylene light plant.

In November, 1898, Mr. Donnenwirth mar- ried Miss Emma Siefert, a daughter of Michael and Christine Siefert, of New Washington, O., and they have four children : Oliver, Helen, Walter and Ruth. They are members of the German Lutheran church at New Washington. While a stanch Democrat, Mr. Donnenwirth is

not in any sense a politician, his main interest in public matters being the carrying out of the will of the people and the furthering of move- ments that will be of permanent benefit to this section. He is a member of the Tiro Fire De- partment.

EGBERT MORTON FREESE, president of the First National Bank of Galion, O., and one of the leading business men of this section of the State, is president of the firm of E. M. Freese & Co., manufacturers of clay-working machinery. Mr. Freese is now in the prime of life. He was born in 1845 in Medina coun- ty, O., and belongs to one of the old pioneer families of this state.

Mr. Freese's paternal grandfather, B. W. Freese, was born at Lee, Mass., where he grew to manhood and married Sally Beaumont. In 1818 they set out with their children to make the long overland trip to Ohio, in the hope of carving out a home in the wilderness, pausing in Medina county, and within a mile of Brunswick, O., acquired 1,000 acres of un- broken land. Their efforts to better their con- dition resulted in success, and they attained a good old age, being surrounded in their latter years with the comforts to which they were en- titled by reason of their industry and per- severence. They were people of thrift and in- telligence and, while looking after material things, as was necessary, gave careful atten- tion also to the moral and educational rearing of their large family of children.

Harlow Freese, eldest child of B. W. and Sally Freese, and father of the subject of this sketch, was eight years old when he accom- panied his parents from Massachusetts to Ohio, and spent the larger part of his subse- quent life as a farmer on a portion of the land secured by his father. His death took place in 1890, when he was about eighty years of age. He had never identified himself with any political party, but gave unqualified sup- port to law and order. He and his wife were both active in the Methodist Episcopal church. He was married in Medina county, in 1840, to Almira Morton, who was born at Pittsfield, Mass., in 1817, a daughter of Erastus and Prudence (Butler) Morton. From Pittsfield the Mortons came to Medina county in 1833, where Erastus Morton became a brick manu-

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facturer. He was also a lay preacher in the Methodist Episcopal church. The Butlers were of Wethersfield, Conn. ancestry. All these families were among the early and sub- stantial people of Medina county. Harlow Freese and wife were the parents of two chil- dren-M. L., born May 12, 1852, who died in 1882, and Egbert Morton, whose name ap- pears at the head of this article. Mrs. Har- low Freese died in 1886, at the age of 68 years.

Egbert Morton Freese attended the country schools in Medina county. As his inclinations lay in the direction of mechanics rather than farming, he was permitted to learn a trade and became a skilled workman. In 1881, with John D. Fate and George Wilson as partners, he started in the business of manufacturing clay-working machinery. In the following year the firm became Fate & Freese, which style was continued until January, 1890, at which time Mr. Freese became sole proprietor of the business. Since then he has built up what is one of the largest and most important business enterprises in Crawford county. It was established at Plymouth, O., removal be- ing made to Galion in 1891. The present plant, one of the largest of its kind in this sec- tion of the state, ships its products to every part of this country and also to many foreign countries, and affords remunerative employ- ment to a large number of people. The extra- ordinary growth of this enterprise and the im- portance to which it has attained is due to the business and mechanical ability of Mr. Freese, which has also been displayed in other direc- tions. Although now interested in banking, he is still active in the management of the manufacturing business and spends a consid- erable part of each day at his office at the plant. He has been identified with the First National Bank since 1903 and during that period the capitalization of the bank has been increased from $50,000 to $100,000. As a banker and manufacturer, Mr. Freese occupies a prominent place. He has done much to ad- vance the business and commercial interests of the city and has been a leader in various move- ments for the common good. His business sagacity is widely recognized and his counsels are sought and his advice acted upon with re- spect to many of the important commercial en- terprises of Galion and the vicinity.

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History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 172

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