History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 174

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 174

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ARTHUR C. NEWKIRK,* who is an em- ploye of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company at Crestline, O., of many years standing, since 1899 having been freight conductor with his own crew, was born in Wayne county, O., Nov. 28, 1865, and is a son of Faxton and Helen ( Pocock) Newkirk.

The Newkirks and Pococks were pioneer set- tlers in Wayne County, and the parents of Mr. Newkirk were born and reared on neigh- boring farms. After marriage they settled on the Newkirk homestead and three children were born to them : Arthur C .; Francis F., who was a railroad man and was accidentally killed while on duty, being survived by a widow and daughter ; and Emily J., who married Dr. J. A. Dalton, of Pasadena, Calif. The father of Mr. Newkirk died at the age of thirty-five years and afterward the mother contracted a second marriage, becoming the wife of J. D. Cameron of Loudonville, O. To that marriage two children were born: Florence and Harry.

Arthur C. Newkirk attended the public schools in Wayne county and remained in that section until he entered railroad life, when he came to Crestline and on April 3, 1883 entered the service of the Pennsylvania Railroad as a brakeman and was on the run from Crestline to Alliance for some ten years. He then was made a flagman and later a freight conductor as mentioned above, and has continued with the company, with which his record is excellent, his care and good judgment having prevented accident and loss to the company on many an occasion.

Mr. Newkirk was married at Shreve, O., to Miss Lyda Bruce, who was born, reared and educated in Holmes county. Mr. and Mrs. Newkirk have two sons : Bruce Faxton, who is a graduate of the Crestline High school of the class of 1912; and Rex, who is a member of the class of 1914, in the High school. The fam-

ily belongs to the Presbyterian church. In politics Mr. Newkirk is a Republican. He is identified with several railroad organizations, both at Alliance and Crestline, and belongs to the fraternal order of Maccabees.

JAMES DECKER, one of the prominent men and successful agriculturists of Whetstone township, who is serving with much efficiency in the office of road commissioner, was born in Sandusky township, Crawford county, Oct. 29, 1850. His parents were Aaron and Nancy Y. (Bishop) Decker.

Aaron Decker was born at Patterson, N. J., a son of James and Jane (Luke) Decker. After coming to Ohio he engaged in carpentry in Crawford county for many years and finally became a very successful farmer. He mar- ried Nancy Y. Bishop, who was born in Ash- land county, O., a daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Young) Bishop, and the following children were born to them; Melvina, who is the wife of E. L. Swonger ; Elizabeth J., who is the wife of D. B. Eichelberger; James and John B.

James Decker obtained his educational train- ing in the public schools in Whetstone town- ship, the grammar school at Bucyrus and at Oberlin College, where he remained through one term. With this preparation, Mr. Decker began to teach school and succeeded so well that he continued a teacher for five years, after which he returned to agricultural pursuits and gives careful and intelligent attention to his fine farm of 200 acres, which is well stocked and suitably improved. Mr. Decker is on the directing board of the Farmers and Citizens Bank and Savings Company, and is one of the stockholders. He has been more or less prominent in politics for a number of years, and on two occasions was his party's choice for representative. For eleven years he has been commissioner for Road District No. 1 ; for a long period has served on the school board; for twelve years has been a member of the Fair board and for many years was a director of the Crawford County Insurance Company. His many interests have served to widen his acquaintance and in many sections he has cemented lasting friendships.

In September, 1876, Mr. Decker was mar- ried to Miss Alice C. Briggs, a daughter of

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Albert R. and Sylvia Ann (Blowers) Briggs, and a granddaughter of John O. Blowers. The father of Mrs. Decker was a farmer in Liberty township. He was married three times, first to a Miss Smalley, and the two children of this union died young. His second marriage was to Sylvia Ann Blowers and they had two children : A. R. and Alice C. The third mar- riage was to Sarah Elizabeth Andrews and two children were born to them : Ida Jane, who is deceased; and F. M. Briggs. Mr. and Mrs. Decker have one daughter, Eva A., who mar- ried W. H. Albright. The latter was accident- ally killed by a railroad train at North Robin- son, Crawford county. The family belong to the English Lutheran church. Mr. Decker is a Republican in politics, as was his father.

WALTER L. NOGGLE,* proprietor of the Emmerson Hotel, a well kept hostelry at Crest- line, O., and one of the oldest in the city, was born at Jeromesville, Ashland county, O., Oct. 14, 1866, and is a son of John and Rebecca (Ridgeley) Noggle.

John Noggle was born in Wayne county, of Pennsylvania parents and German ancestry, while his wife came from English people. They were married at Jeromesville and Mr. Noggle engaged first in farming but in 1865 took charge of the Wetherbee House in connection, retaining his farm largely for the breeding of race horses, in which industry he became widely known and at different times owned some noted racers, the names: Jim Crow, Baxter, Whistler and others being familiar to all in- terested in racing or trotting horses. In 1862 he went to Mansfield and for two years was in the wholesale tobacco and cigar trade and also for some years was an extensive dealer in provisions at Jeromesville. In 1872 he re- turned to the hotel business and operated the Noggle House, later the European and still later the Park Hotel, now known as the South- ern Hotel, which he conducted until he took charge of the Emmerson Hotel at Crestline in which he continued to be interested until within a few years of his death, in February, 1907, at the age of 69 years. At one time he was prominent in Democratic politics, both in Ash- land and Richland counties. His wife died in 1905, an estimable woman and a faithful member of the Christian church. Of their

children, three sons survive: B. Frank, who is a farmer in Medina county, O .; John W., who resides at Norwalk, O .; and Walter L., of Crestline.

Walter L. Noggle's early training prepared him for a successful career in the hotel busi- ness. The Emmerson Hotel building was erected 50 years ago and a hotel has been con- tinuously operated. Under different propri- etors many changes have been made and it is a very popular hostelry, especially for transients and for railroad people, who find here com- fortable quarters and an excellent table at a very moderate price. In 1898 R. J. and Walter L. Noggle took charge and conducted the same until 1908, when Walter L. Noggle became sole proprietor and continued alone until 1910, when he admitted J. M. McClellan to a part- nership and this continues. This hotel has 32 well furnished sleeping rooms and all other hotel equipments and is kept open day and night.

At Bucyrus, O., Mr. Noggle was married to Miss Caroline Derfler, who was born in Holmes township, Crawford county, in 1867. Mr. Noggle is a member of the Knights of Pythias, Uniform Rank and belongs also to the Crestline lodge of the order of Eagles. He is a Democrat in politics but has never been willing to entertain any offer of public office.

LEWIS L. KNOBLE, V. S.,* who has been professionally established at Galion, O., since 1890, and after an exceedingly successful period of practice is on the eve of retirement, was the pioneer in veterinary surgery in this city and became the leading practitioner in Crawford and Morrow counties. Dr. Knoble was born near Wooster, in Wayne county, O., March 27, 1856, a son of Anthony F. and a grandson of Anthony Knoble.

Both the father and grandfather of Dr. Knoble were born in Switzerland, in Can- ton Bern, the former in 1831. When the fam- ily came to the United States it was on a sailing vessel that required three months to cross the Atlantic Ocean and after landing in the harbor of New York, he came imme- diately to Mt. Eaton, in Wayne county, O. Land was cleared and improved and the fam- ily grew and prospered. Anthony Knoble

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and wife had four sons and three daughters, all of whom married. One son, Charles E., served all through the Civil War, was twice wounded in battle and is now an inmate of the Soldiers' Home at Sandusky, O. Another son, Alexander, lives in Loudenville, O .; Ellen is the widow of Peter Graber and lives at Wooster, O .; Josephine lives at Apple Creek, Wayne county, O .; and Lena died in young womanhood.

Anthony F. Knoble was two years old when his people settled in Wayne county and dur- ing his active life was a farmer and auction- eer. He had the gift of language and could speak French, German and English equally well .and could cry sales in all three tongues. In advanced age he retired to Canton, O., where he died January 12, 1911. In Wayne county he married, November 2, 1851, Celes- tine Cueine, who was born in a French set- tlement in Switzerland, August 13, 1829, of French parentage. Her people came to the United States in 1842 and settled on land near Mt. Eaton and lived there until the close of their lives. They belonged to the Reformed church. After marriage Anthony F. Knoble and wife resided in Paint township, Wayne county until they retired to Canton, as men- tioned, and there the mother of Dr. Knoble died February 26, 1910. They were faith- ful members of the Reformed church. They had nine children: Edward, Cecelia, Lewis L., Albert A., Charles C., Lyda E., Edmund E., Lee and Alma A., all surviving except Eward who died at the age of nine years.

Lewis L. Knoble was reared in Wayne county and assisted his father in the indus- tries pertaining to the home farm and in this way became interested along the line of vet- erinary science, seemingly having a natural talent in that direction. Almost from boyhood he practiced to some extent and after locating at Galion he continued a student and in 1892 was graduated from the Chicago Veterinary College. Dr. Knoble has often been called in a professional way long distances from home and his opinion has carried weight on many occasions, when public inspection was being carried forward, according to law. There are many who will learn with regret of his retirement from a field in which he had shown such marked ability. His immediate succes-

sor will be found in Dr. Joy C. Wickham, a native of Delaware county, who is a graduate of the Ohio State Medical College in the vet- erinary department, in the class of 1912.

Dr. Knoble was married at Mt. Eaton, O., Dec. 26, 1877, to Miss Felicia P. Pinkerton, who died at her home in Galion, Dec. 20, 1910. She belonged to the well known family that has made the name of Pinkerton known alf over the world. She was a daughter of James Y. and Lydia (Beam) Pinkerton, natives of Pennsylvania and of Scotch-Irish ancestry. After their marriage in Pennsylvania they came to Wayne county and invested in land in Paint township, where they owned a whole section and were people of local importance there, living into old age.

To Dr. and Mrs. Knoble five children were born: Grace P., who is the wife of Homer Jacobs, who is in the tailoring business at Battle Creek, Mich .; Carl R., who is a prac- ticing physician at Sandusky, O., being a graduate of Starling Medical College, is mar- ried and has two children-Ross and Grace; George Warren, who died at the age of four years, and Clyde Leroy at the age of two years, both being victims of diptheria; and Glenn G., who is a graduate of the Galion High School and is in the transfer business at Galion. The mother of the above children was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, to which body Dr. Knoble also be- longs. He is fraternally identified with the Foresters at Galion, in which he has held high official position and belongs also to the Mod- ern Woodmen. Politically he is a Democrat and has served two terms in the city council and once was president of that civic body.

JOSEPH KING, one of the highly re- spected citizens of Galion, O., who lives in his handsome residence which stands on the corner of Columbus and Sherman Streets, Ga- lion, has been retired from active business life since 1907 but for many years previously had been identified with the building trades. He was born near Lewistown, Mifflin county, Pa., July 12, 1845, and is a son of Joshua and a grandson of Jonathan King.

Jonathan King was born in Berks county, Pa., married there, reared his family on his

JOSEPH KING

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farm and died there in old age. Joshua King was reared in Berks county and he became a woolen manufacturer, making yarns, blankets and flannel. After removing to Mifflin county he married Catherine Miller, a daughter of John Miller, and they continued in Miffin county until 1860, when, with their three chil- dren : David M., Michael H. and Joseph, they came to near Sidney, O., purchasing 160 acres of land in Shelby county, on which both died. Joshua King was born in 1808 and died in 1872 and was survived ten years by his widow, who was then aged 70 years. They were most worthy people in every relation of life, faith- ful members of the Dunkard church and kind and sympathetic neighbors. Of their children, David M. died on the old farm near Sidney, on Sept. 20, 1911, when aged almost 71 years and is survived by his family. Michael H. is a resident of Sidney, while Joseph belongs to Crawford county.

Joseph King was 15 years of age when the family moved to Shelby county and there he grew to manhood. For two years he worked at the carpenter trade when his enlistment for service in the Civil War interrupted, he in 1864 becoming a member of Co. K, 134th O. Vol. Inf., under Col. Armstrong and Capt. Rhinehart. Mr. King took part in the battles of Waltham and before Petersburg, during his four months' service, at the close of his en- listment being honorably discharged, with the rank of corporal. After completing his ap- prenticeship, after the war, he came to Galion and worked as a carpenter, subsequently as a contractor and in this relation took part in the erection of many of the handsome buildings of this city. In 1905 he erected a planing mill which he operated until 1907, when he retired. An honest business man and a reliable, sub- stantial citizen is his reputation at Galion.

Mr. King was married first in the vicinity of Galion to Miss Catherine Shindler, who was born at Bucyrus, O., and died at her home in this city, at the age of 45 years. She was the devoted mother of the following children : Edward, a mechanic, who is a resident of Cleveland, where he married and has one daughter; John H., who lives on his farm in Richland county, O., and who is a contractor, and has a wife, three sons and two daughters ; Lewis F., a carpenter, who resides at Galion; Catherine, who lives at home; and Clara, who

now deceased, who was the wife of Clarence Kinsey and is survived by a granddaughter, who lives with her grandparents. Mr. King was married second, to Miss Catherine Swine- forth, who was born and reared in Richland county, and they have two sons : Clarence W., who is a machinist in business at Galion; and Wilbur, who lives with his parents. Mr. King and sons are Republicans in their political leanings and all are men of dependable qual- ities. The family belongs to the First Re- formed chruch at Galion. Mr. King is a mem- ber of Dick Morris Post, No. 130, G. A. R.

JOHN SCHILL, hardware merchant, at Crestline, O., senior member of the firm of John Schill & Sons, is one of the reliable, representative and substantial business men of this city. He was born in Sharon township, Richland county, O., Oct. 9, 1859, a son of George and Rose (Horning) Schill.

The parents of Mr. Schill were born in Baden, Germany and the father, George Schill, was three years old when his parents, Lauder- line and Theresa (Hummel) Schill came to the United States and located in Sharon town- ship, Richland county, O., being among the earliest settlers. George Schill grew to man- hood on the home farm and became a farmer and lumber manufacturer. He came to Crest- line in 1892 and here his death occurred July 14, 1911, when aged 81 years. His widow sur- vives, being now aged 72 years. Her parents, Joseph and Catherine (Melcher) Horning, were very early settlers in Liberty township, Crawford county, from which section they subsequently moved to Richland county and both died in old age in Sharon township. They were members of the German Catholic church. To George Schill and wife eight children were born, namely: John; Cathe- rine; Joseph, who was formerly a business partner of his eldest brother, and who met an accidental death on Nov. 9, 1909, while walk- ing on a railroad track and is survived by his wife and son; Peter, who is a hardware merchant at Cleveland; Jacob, who is a farmer near Alberta, Canada; Sarah, who is the wife of Joseph Metzger, a farmer in Sharon town- ship; Lena, who is the wife of Edward Etts, of Mansfield; and Henry, who is connected with the Pennsylvania Railroad at Crestline.

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John Schill was reared and attended school in Richland county. In 1876 he came to Crestline to learn the trade of tinner, and afterward, with his brother the late Joseph Schill, started a hardware store under the firm name of Schill Bros., a number of years afterward disposing of their interest to the firm of Brown & Trimble. In 1892 Mr. Schill and brother started a foundry to manufacture heating furnaces, after their own pattern and patent, and two years later added the manu- facture of steel ranges. In 1899 the business was incorporated, the name becoming Schill Bros. Co., of which John A. Schill is a stock- holder and director, W. H. Weaver being president. They work with a capital of $200,- 000. Since January, 1911, Mr. Schill has been additionally interested as a merchant, with quarters on the corner of Thoman and Bucy- rus streets, a full line of hardware, stoves of all descriptions, and farm implements, being carried and the firm also are tinners and roofers.

At New Washington, O., Mr. Schill was married to Miss Louisa Mutt, who was born in Auburn township, Crawford county, and their children range in age from twenty-one to four years: Charles E., Clement A., Helene R., William Joseph, George A .. Maria I., Leo F. and Paul E. They have been educated in the parochial school of St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church and also in the public schools. Mr. Schill is a Democrat in politics and is identified with the fraternal orders of C. K. of O., and the W. O. W.

AARON MAPLE, a general contractor and builder at Galion, O., whose activities in this direction have covered a period of 18 years, was born near Richmond, Jefferson county, Ohio, May 20, 1866.

The first Maples came from England to Princeton, N. J. Six brothers emigrated to Huntington, Pa., in the year 1761. William Maple and his brother Thomas came from Port Homer, Jefferson county. Ohio, they being two of the six brothers above mentionel. coming here from Huntington. William Ma- ple married Kessiah Larrison in the year 1791. When the state was admitted to the Union in 1803 he bought a farm, paying for it with Continental money. He was a farmer and

veterinary surgeon by occupation. To this union were born four sons-William, George, Benjamin and Jacobs, and five daughters- Abbie, Polly, Sarah, Clara and Kessiah. Wil- liam emigrated to Bourbon county, Kentucky. George emigrated to Coshocton county, Ohio. Benjamin married Mary Rick and was the father of 23 children and was captain on the northern lakes in the War of 1812, but still retained his residence in Jefferson county, Ohio. Jacob married Catherine Adams and lived in Jefferson county, Ohio. Polly mar- ried Robert Maple and lived in Jefferson coun- ty, Ohio. Sarah married John McClain and also lived in Jefferson county, Ohio, of which marriage there were eleven children born. This John McClain was the grandfather of the mother of the subject of this sketch, con- sequently a maternal great grandfather. Clara married James McClelland. Kessiah married George Culp. Abbie, who was the eldest daughter, married her cousin, Aaron Maple, son of Thomas, this Aaron being our sub- ject's great grandfather in the direct paternal line. To them were born two sons-Thomas, who died in infancy, and Aaron (2nd), the latter being the grandfather of the present Aaron Maple.

Aaron Maple (2d), above mentioned, was born May 19, 1798. In 1822 he married Cath- erine Bowers, who was of German descent and born in Jefferson county. In 1826 he secured land from the Government, the deed being dated Oct. 6th and signed by President J. Q. Adams. This document is now in the possession of his grandson, Mr. Aaron Maple of Galion. Aaron Maple (2d) died in 1873, having attained his 75th year. His wife Cath- erine lived to the advanced age of 86, dying in 1888. They were good people in every relation of life and worthy members of the English Lutheran church. To them were born three sons and three daughters: Abbie died June 6, 1850. Thomas Maple married Eliza- beth Wright of Jefferson county, Ohio and moved to Alexandra, Kansas in 1878. Wil- liam B. Maple married Anna Maple and moved to Pawnee, Kansas in 1881; to them were born nine children. Sarah Maple mar- ried William Heisler and moved to Harrison county. Ohio: to them were born two sons- John T. and Henry A. Anna Maple married

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George Maple and to them were born ten children. Tillie Maple moved to Columbiana county, Ohio and resided with her niece, Mrs. Thomas Randolph.

George B. Maple was born January 4, 1826. He grew to manhood on his father's farm, of which he came into subsequent possession and where he continued to live until his death, which took place in 1893, when he was 67 years old. He was married Sept. 10, 1857 to Jane McClain, by the Rev. L. Grier, a United Brethren minister. She was of Scotch- Irish ancestry, her people having been early settlers in Jefferson county. She died there in 1889, when aged 57 years. Both she and her husband were members of the Lutheran church. To them were born four sons and one daughter : Lewis H. Maple married Moody McClain of Harlem Springs, Carroll county ; in 1888 they moved to Galion, O., where he worked on the Erie Railroad for 22 years in the carpenter and interlocking department. In 1911 he resigned, to take a position with his brother Aaron in the building line. To them were born five sons-John R., Lewis M., Dean P., Joseph D. and Roderick W. Etta Maple married George W. McClain and lives on the old homestead. William M. and Olive C. died in infancy.

Aaron Maple, the direct subject of this sketch, whose nativity has been already given, attended country school and worked on the farm for his father until he was 21 years old. He then learned the carpenter's trade, at which he was employed until 1891, when he went to Galion, O., and worked four years there for the Erie Railroad in the carpentering de- partment. In 1895 he resigned this position and 'entered into his present occupation as contractor and builder. He is a competent and reliable contractor and for many years has done a large share of this work in Galion.

Mr. Maple was married at Galion, May 21, 1896, to Miss Bertha M. Aukerman, of Ga- lion, who was born in this city and graduated from the Galion High school in the class of 1895. Her parents, James L. and Sarah C. (Cockrell) Aukerman, were natives of Wayne county, Ohio, where they lived before coming to Galion. Mr. Aukerman was identified with the Erie Railway from the time it was built until his death in 1898, at the age of 53 years.

Mrs. Maple's mother resides in Cleveland, O., and is now in her 66th year. A brother of hers, Clayton E., succeeded his father with the Erie and resides at Galion, with wife and son, James McClure. Mrs. Maple has one sister, Winifred, now the widow of William Ritzhaupt, who left five children-Roy, Laura, Catherine, Mary and Hazel.

Mr. and Mrs. Maple have one daughter, Georgetta, who was born March 26, 1899. They are all members of the Methodist Epis- copal church. Mr. Maple is identified with the Knights of Pythias, the Modern Wood- men and the Order of Ben Hur, and he be- longs also to the Commecrial Club.

JAMES L. MORROW,* secretary of the Burch Plow Works Company, at Crestline, O., has been connected with this important busi- ness concern since 1907, and is recognized as one of the able young business men of this city. He was born in February, 1883, a son of Truman J. and Mary M. (Smith) Morrow.

The parents of Mr. Morrow were born in Crawford county, O. Among the early set- tlers near Leesville, came James and Aseneth Morrow, his grandparents, who were natives of Pennsylvania. They secured land there and James Morrow operated a stone quarry for some years. in after life moving to a farm near what is known as Porchers' Corners. There he and wife died in advanced age. Of their children, Truman J., father of James L. Morrow, was born Oct. 17, 1859 and now resides on his farm in Jefferson township, hav- ing always lived in Crawford county. He was married in Jefferson township to Mary M. Smith, a daughter of Isaac W. and Susan (Sechrist) Smith, and three children were born to them: James L., Oscar C. and Hazel E .; Oscar C., who was born in 1889, operates a stone quarry on his farm near Leesville. He married Olivia Retting, daughter of Nich- olas Retting, and they have one son, Burwell; Hazel E. is the wife of John K. Mckean and they reside at Bucyrus. James L. Morrow and wife are members of the United Breth- ren church.

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History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 174

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