History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 175

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 175

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James L. Morrow was educated at Crest- line and at the Northern Ohio University at Ada, O. He afterward became bookkeeper for the Leesville Stone Quarry Company dur-

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ing the summer seasons and taught school during the winters for five terms. In Decem- ber, 1907 he became bookkeeper for the Burch Plow Works Company at Crestline, later as- sistant secretary and in December, 1908, was elected secretary, a position that he fills with the greatest efficiency.

Mr. Morrow was married in 1905, in Jef- ferson township, Crawford county, to Miss Jessie S. Hart, a daughter of Salmon and Elizabeth (Helfrich) Hart. Mrs. Morrow was born in Jefferson township, March 30, 1885, and lost her father when quite young. Her mother subsequently became the wife of Henry Dopper and they still reside in Jeffer- son township. They are members of the Ger- man Lutheran church, while Mr. and Mrs. Morrow belong to the English Lutheran church. The latter have one daughter, Lucile E., who was born Dec. 7, 1906. Mr. Morrow is a Republican in his political affiliation.

ELMER J. FRY,* who lives on the old homestead farm of over 140 acres, which is situated in section 27, Cranberry township, Crawford county, O., belongs to an old Craw- ford county family that was established in Cranberry township by the grandfather, John Fry, who secured this land during the admin- istration of President Andrew Jackson. Elmer J. Fry was born here June 24, 1867, and is a son of John C. and Mary A. (Becker) Fry.

John C. Fry was born in Crawford county, one mile north of Sulphur Springs and did not settle on this farm until after he married, when he purchased it from his father. He was an educated man, having attended Ober- lin College in youth, afterward engaging in farming. He continued to live in Cranberry township until he retired, when he moved to Tiffin, O., but subsequently returned to the farm to end his days among early surround- ings. He married Mary A. Becker, who was born near Harrisburg, Pa. Her people later moved to Crawford county and her father lived one mile south of Sulphur Springs for a number of years and then moved to Michi- igan. She died Jan. 4, 1898, her husband sur- viving until Feb. 3, 1911. They had three sons and one daughter, namely: Eugene, who was born June 30, 1864, married Ida McKee- hen, and they live in Cranberry township north

of the home farm; Elmer; William, who was born July 24, 1872, married Catherine Bozen- ville and live at Toledo; and Minnie, who is the wife of Clarence Hathaway, and they live at Lansing, Mich. The father of the above family was a lifelong Republican, and he and his wife were faithful members of the Methodist Protestant church.

Elmer J. Fry not only remained at home through a happy boyhood but was able to at- tend school without leaving his father's land, the old log building utilized for school pur- poses then standing eighty rods south and west of the present residence .. His tastes proved to be agricultural and after his school days were over he decided to remain with his parents and cultivate the home estate and has continued here, purchasing the property when his parents died. He still has twenty- five acres in valuable woodland but all the rest of the land is under a high state of cul- tivation.

Mr. Fry married Miss Leeanna McCam- mon, who was born in Sandusky township, a- daughter of R. B. and Sarah McCammon, former well known residents of Sandusky township. Mr. and Mrs. Fry have had three children, the youngest, Bertha, alone surviv- ing. She is a bright little seven-year old school girl. Robert R. died when almost two years old and the second born, a son, died in intancy. Mr. and Mrs. Fry attend the Lutheran church, Mrs. Fry being a member. Mr. Fry has al- ways been a citizen interested in public mat- ters and enjoys the confidence of his fellow citizens. He has been a school director and for six years served as a trustee of Cran- berry township.

JOHN CHRISTOPHER BELTZ, one of the old and well known residents of Craw- ford county, lives on his farm of 84 acres, in Polk township, three miles west of Galion.

His father, Christopher Beltz, was a son of Christopher and Wilhelmina (Barkins) Beltz, and was born in Philadelphia, Pa., on the morning of July 8, 1791. He was married to Elizabeth Wetzel, who was born near Sun- bury, Pa., Aug. 8, 1789. By this union were the following children: Elizabeth, born June 23, 1814 in Center county,, Pa., died Aug. 31, 1903; Lydia, born April 4, 1816, died Feb.

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8, 1889; Isaac, born Sept. 30, 1818, died Aug. 1, 1889; Catherine, born Dec. 11, 1820, died Oct. 10, 1895; John C., our subject, born April 19, 1823; Margaret, born Jan. 25, 1826, died Feb. 16, 1879; William W., born Oct. 28, 1827, died Aug. 16, 1874; Eliza, born April 20, 1830, died Oct. 5, 1851; Sarah, born March 28, 1832; and Elias, born July 4, 1834.

Christopher Beltz came to Crawford county with his family in 1829, spending the first win- ter in Galion, and in 1830 he purchased 160 acres of John Brown for $450, and on a part of this land the subject of this sketch still resides.

John C. Beltz came to this county with his parents when a boy of six years. He was born in Center county. Pa., April 19, 1823. He assisted his father on the farm and re- ceived his schooling in the old log school house which stood on his father's farm, attending school when the weather was too bad to work. He has lived on the farm ever since he came to the county, a period of 83 years. On April 19, 1845, his 22nd birthday, he mar- ried Miss Nancy Ree, who died Dec. 26, 1899 and was buried at Galion. She was a daughter of David and Elizabeth ( Pletcher) Reed, who had the following children: Jacob, Catherine, wife of Jacob Ramer; Elizabeth, wife of Sam- uel Pletcher; Andrew; Nancy, the wife of our subject; and David.

Mr. and Mrs. John C. Beltz had the follow- ing children born to them: Sarah Jane, the wife of William Shearer; Elias, who died in 1864; Jemima Jane, who was married first to John Kiefer and secondly to John Shumaker; William M., Elizabeth, who married William Wiggs; Willard John, who died in 1864; and Alonzo Perry and Nancy Margaret, who live at home with their father. All these children were born in Polk township.

Mr. Beltz is a Democrat in politics and was trustee of Polk township several terms. He belongs to the English Lutheran church.

FRANK A. WALTHER,* one of the rep- resentative business men of Bucyrus, O., who has been engaged in the hardware line at No. 201 Sandusky street, for the past sixteen years, was born in this city, May 23, 1862, and is a son of Christopher and Margaret (Schuler) Walther.

Christopher Walther, was born in 1839, in Baden, Germany, and was ten years old when he accompanied his parents to America. His father, Christian Walther, settled in Liberty township, Crawford county, O., and there he and wife died in old age. They had three sons and two daughters, all surviving, Chris- topher being the first born. He grew to man- hood in Liberty township, where he learned the carpenter's trade and afterward moved to Bucyrus, where he later became a well known contractor. He built many business blocks and other structures in this city, in- cluding the Union schoolhouse, but has been retired for some years. He still takes much interest in local matters, especially in the ma- terial development of Bucyrus, and occupied a comfortable residence on the corner of Pop- lar and Charles streets. In politics he is a Democrat and at times has served in civic offices very satisfactorily. At the time the city charter was granted he was a member of the city council and served two terms.

Christopher Walther was married at Bu- cyrus, to Miss Margaret Schuler, who was born in New York in 1833, being an only child. Her parents were born in Germany, married in New York and later were residents of Bucyrus. Mrs. Walther spent her entire life in this city, where she died in 1902. She was a member of the Lutheran church. To Christopher Walther and wife five children were born, namely: Metta, who is the widow of Paul Bovaiter and resides with her son at Fort Wayne, Ind .; Frank A .; Fred E., who died at Grand Rapids, Mich., in January, 19II, and is survived by his widow; Lena, who is the wife of Charles Flocken, of Bucyrus, and has one child; and Lizzie, who is the wife of Philip Marquart, residing at Crestline, O.

Frank A. Walther obtained his education in the public schools of his native city and then learned the carpenter's trade with his father, although he has devoted but little time to it. For some five years before he became inter- ested in the hardware business, he operated a flax mill. The hardware store with which Mr. Walther has so long been identified was started in 1895, by the firm of Fisher & Howe, Mr. Walther later taking over the Howe interest and still later assuming the position of head of the concern, when the style became F. A.

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Walther & Co. which continued until 1905, when he bought the other interests and since then has been sole proprietor. He carries a complete line of shelf and builders' hardware, stoves, furnaces and tinware, together with roofing of all kinds and all goods connected with the roofing business. As one of the sub- stantial business men who has proved his re- liability, Mr. Walther easily leads the hard- ware trade in this city.

Mr. Walther married Miss Otilla Renkert, who was born at Bucyrus, Sept. 21, 1864, a daughter of Christian and Helen (Wolrath) Renkert. They were born in Germany, came to America when young and were married in this city. For many years Mr. Renkert was in the shoe business here. Mr. and Mrs. Wal- ther have two children: Harry George F., who was born Feb. 18, 1883 and was grad- uated from the Bucyrus High School in the class of 1903. Since leaving school he has assisted his father in the hardware business. He is also active as a citizen and has served two terms as a member of the city council. He married Miss Nellie Bachman, of Galion, O. The second child of Mr. and Mrs. Wal- ther, Cora E., was born at Bucyrus, November 30, 1887, and was graduated from the Bu- cyrus High School in the class of 1906. She is her father's capable bookkeeper. She is well known in social circles and is also an earnest church worker and belongs to the Y. W. Missionary Society and the Young Peo- ple's Society of the German Lutheran church, to which her parents and brother also belongs. Mr. Walther and son are Democrats in politics and both have been useful to the city as mem- bers of its board of aldermen. Mr. Waltlier belongs to the Elks and the Knights of Py- thias, at Bucyrus.

JOHN B. DECKER, who has lived in com- fortable retirement in the city of Bucyrus, O., for a number of years, for a long period was a successful agriculturist and still owns an excellent farm of 120 acres which is situated in Liberty township, Crawford county, O. Mr. Decker was born in Sandusky township, Crawford county, Sept. 17, 1852, and is a son of Aaron and Nancy (Bishop) Decker.

The Decker family is of German ancestry. Previous to becoming residents of Crawford

county in 1830, the Deckers lived in New Jer- sey and many of the name still may be found there. Aaron Decker was born in New Jer- sey, a son of James Decker, who established the pioneer home in Liberty township, Craw- ford county and died soon afterward. His widow survived until 1856 and perhaps it was through her thrift and industry that the farm continued the property of the family. As evidence of her frugal housekeeping, her des- cendants preserve several implements that she used in weaving cloth from flax and wool. She was the mother of seven sons and six daughters and one of the latter survives in the person of Mrs. Emma Trimble, widow of William Trimble. She has long since passed her four-score and ten years and owns and lives on the old homestead in Liberty town- ship.

Aaron Decker, father of John B. Decker, was born at Paterson, N. J., but was reared in Crawford county where he helped his mother on the farm for a time and then learned the carpenter trade, after which he located in Whetstone township. He was a skilled workman and accumulated capital which he invested in land and thus acquired 430 acres which he put under a fine state of cultivation, devoting his personal attention to it after mid- dle life. His death occurred on his large farm, July 17, 1887. In politics he was a stanch Republican and gave active support to the can- didates of that party. He married Nancy Bishop, who was born in Ashland county, O., in 1826, and died July 29, 1911, being then within six weeks of her 86th birthday. Both Aaron Decker and wife were members of the English Lutheran church. They were unpre- tentious, virtuous and worthy people who faced every situation that life presented to them, with an abiding faith that all was for the best. Four children were born to them, namely: Melvina, who is the widow of E. L. Swonger, and who now resides in Arkansas and has eleven children; Elizabeth, who is the wife of David Eickelberger, residing on a farm in Sandusky township, and has three sons and three daughters; James, a farmer living and owning a part of the old estate of his father in Whetstone township, who married Alice Briggs and has one daughter; and John B., of Bucyrus.

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John B. Decker obtained his schooling in Whetstone township and afterward engaged in farming on the home place and later on a farm given him by his father. That prop- erty he subsequently sold and bought 120 acres in Liberty township, on which he re- sided until 1891, when he moved to Bucyrus, where he served some years as superintendent of streets but is now entirely retired from both business and office. In politics he is a Republican.

Mr. Decker was married in Holmes town- ship, Crawford county, to Miss Mary Steifel, who was born in Huron county, O., April I, 1853, and was seven years old when she ac- companied her parents to Crawford county. They were Dr. John and Catherine ( Brubach) Steifel, natives of Fryeburg, Baden, Germany, where they were reared and well educated and subsequently married. Fully 63 years ago, Dr. Steifel, wife and one child Louis Philip, left Germany on a sailing vessel and after a voyage of three months, reached the United States in safety. He had been educated as a physician but after reaching America he endeavored for a few years to become a suc- cessful farmer. In this profession he was scarcely successful for it requires training and knowledge just as surely as do other profes- sions. Dr. Steifel then moved to Crawford county and for some time engaged in the prac- tice of medicine in Holmes township, after which he came to Bucyrus and here became a well known practitioner of medicine. He died March 17, 1903, being then 78 years of age, having survived his wife since March, 1901. She was within one month of being 76 years old. They were active and liberal members of the German Lutheran church and were examples of the sure reward in love, respect and esteem, that is given to those who live worthy and estimable lives, marked with use- fulness and unselfishness. They had nine chil- dren and six of these live in Ohio.

Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Decker, as follows: George E., a railroad man, who lives at Enid, Okla., and who mar- ried Emma Heinlen; Clara A., a graduate of the Bucyrus High School in the class of 1897, who married H. C. Field, of this city, and has two sons-James Edward, born June 20, 1904, and Robert Eugene, born Feb. 18, 1910; W.

Ernest, who manages and operates his father's farm in Liberty township, who married Flor- ence F. Heft; and Lewis Leroy, who resides at home and is in the employ of the Bell Tele- phone Company. Mr. Decker and family are all connected with the Lutheran church.

Harry Wayne Decker, a son of John B., was born Aug. 29, 1888 and died in February, 1891.

JAMES FREER,* who is an engineer with the great Erie Railway system, an ex- perienced man in this exceedingly responsible position, and well known in railroad circles all through this section, was born at Dundee, Scotland, in March, 1856, a son of Robert and Elizabeth (Hunt) Freer.

Robert Freer and wife were born in Scot- land and in 1870 the family came to America and settled at Kent, in Portage county, O., where Mr. Freer became connected with the Erie Railway and continued with that cor- poration for many years. Later in life he retired to a small farm near Kent and there his death occurred in 1902, when he was aged eighty years, having survived his wife, who died in her fifty-fourth year. They were good people, faithful members of the Wesleyan Methodist church. They were parents of a large family but only three survive, namely : James; Isabel, who is the wife of Charles Brown, who is a resident of Kent, O., and they have one daughter, Maybell; and Anna, who is the wife of James Bradley, residing at New Castle, Pa., and has one son, Paul, , and a daughter, Bessie.

James Freer was fourteen years of age when the family came to the United States and shortly afterward he entered the employ of the Erie Railway Company with which he has remained ever since. In 1892 he came to Galion where he has since resided and is a valued citizen here. Mr. Freer has been an engineer with the above company since 1885 and it is a tribute to his carefulness and re- sourcefulness that he has avoided accidents, never having had a serious one and seldom having been brought face to face with a dan- gerous situation from which his quick judg- ment and ready action have not sufficed to ex- tricate him and safeguard the lives and prop- erty committed to his charge.

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At Akron, Ohio, Mr. Freer was married to Miss Minnie Coffey, who was born at Greens- ville, Pa., a daughter of Patrick and Ellen (Conners) Coffey. The parents of Mrs. Freer were born in Ireland and came when young to the United States and settled at Greenville, Pa. Mr. Coffey was a shoemaker and followed his trade at Greenville and Ak- ron until 1902, when he came to spend his declining years with his daughter, Mrs. Freer. He died at Galion, in February, 1910, when aged seventy years. The mother of Mrs. Freer survives and is a beloved member of the latter's household. There were seven chil- dren born to Mr. and Mrs. Coffey, Mrs. Freer being the only survivor. Two sons died from accident: Frank, from inhaling gas, and Ed- ward, who was killed while performing his duties as brakeman on the Erie Railroad, at Girard, O. Both left widows and children who live at Akron, O.

Mr. and Mrs. Freer have three daughters: Nellie J., Isabel B. and Jean. Nellie J. Freer, born Jan. 3, 1893, graduated from the Galion High School in the class of 1910 and then entered Meadville College, at Meadville, Pa., as a member of the class of 1914. Isabel B. Freer was born March 22, 1894, and was graduated from the Galion High School in the class of 19II. She now occupies a posi- tion in the office of Mr. Gunther, who is super- intendent of the public schools. Jean Freer was born Nov. 29, 1897 and is a student in the Galion High School. The family belongs to the Presbyterian church. Mr. Freer be- longs to Rockton Lodge No. 316, F. & A. M. at Kent, O. and to the Brotherhood of Loco- motive Engineers, while Mrs. Freer is a mem- ber of the latter's auxiliary order and of the Eastern Star.

WILLIAM HENRY GEISSMAN, who in the fall of 1911, entered the service of the U. S. Government as a mail carrier, working from Chatfield, O., is a well known and sub- stantial citizen of Crawford county, O. He was born in Chatfield township, Crawford county, O., June 14. 1860, and is a son of S. W. and a grandson of Christian William Geissman.

Christian William Geissman was born in Saxony. Germany, attended the old time Ger-

man schools and learned the blacksmith's trade. He was married there and with his wife Sophia and his two sons, S. W. and Charles, emigrated to America in 1852 and subsequent- ly-in 1854-settled in the southern part of Chatfield township, Crawford county, O. There he bought sixty acres of land on which the family lived for some years, when he sold and moved to another place situated one and a half miles south of the village of Chatfield. He and wife spent their closing years of life with a son, S. W. Geissman, where the latter died at the age of 75 years, he surviving to be 82 years of age. They attended the Luth- eran church and her burial was in the old Lutheran cemetery.

S. W. Geissman was eighteen years of age when the family came to America. He as- sisted in his father's blacksmith shop and then learned the cooper's trade, at Bucyrus, O., and later engaged in farming. now being retired but still owning a 60-acre farm. He is a Dem- ocrat in politics and formerly served as a mem- ber of the board of township trustees. He married Caroline Baldosser, who was born at Pittsburg, Pa., a daughter of Christian Bal- dosser, and the following children were born to them, all in Chatfield township: W. H .; Matilda, who died at the age of twelve years; Charles F., who married Sophia Lenstoll, and has five children-Leo, Reuben, Milo, Daniel and Frederick; Lewis, who died when two years old; Gustave, who died when aged twenty-eight years; Emma, Annie, who is the wife of William Hoffsis, and has four chil- dren; Clara, who is the wife of Christian Leu- tholt, and has eight children; Edward, who married Edna Bacon, and has five children- Marcella, William, Milton, Ethel and Robert; Minnie, who is the wife of Clarence C. Mar- graft, and has four children; Albert, who makes his home in Portland, Ore .; Callie, who lives at home; and an infant daughter, de- ceased. The mother of the above children died in 1900, aged fifty-nine years.

William H. Geissman obtained his educa- tion in the public schools and chose farming as his business. He was married to Mary A. Seimenstoll in 1881. After marriage he resided for one year in Holmes township and for nine years in Chatfield township, moving then to his farm of 114 acres, south of New

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Washington, where he resided until the fall of 1910. He then rented his farm in Cran- berry township and retired to Chatfield, one year later accepting his present position. He owns also twenty acres in Auburn township. His first wife died in 1904, at the age of forty-one years, the mother of the following children: John E., Bertha Louisa, Lizzie Matilda, Washington Irving, Lillie Alvina, May Ruth, and two now deceased. He was married secondly to Mrs. Rose Klink, widow of Daniel Klink. Mr. Geissman has always been a Democrat in politics. He is a member and .liberal supporter of the Pietisten church, located two and a half miles south of Chat- field.

LOUIS H. SUTTER,* who is engaged in the plumbing business at Crestline, O., with quarters at No. 14I Seltzer street, is an expert workman along a line that is one of the most useful and necessary factors in all modern building. Mr. Sutter was born near Crest- line, in Jefferson township, Crawford county, O., in March, 1879, and is a son of Henry and Matilda (Bigland) Sutter.

Henry Sutter was born and reared near Sutter Hill, in Richland county, O., where several families of the name settled when the country was yet wild, sometime in the thir- ties. The older members died there while

some of the younger ones established homes . and the strides made by Mr. Cunningham in other sections, Grandfather Henry Sutter coming to Crawford county and locating in what was then Vernon township, and there spent the rest of his life, he and wife dying when aged people. Henry Sutter married Ma- tilda Bigland and they survive and reside on Mr. Sutter's fine farm situated in Jackson township. They are members of the Settle- ment Roman Catholic Church, of the same faith as their parents. Of their eleven chil- dren all survive except one, who had been born a twin. Of the ten survivors all have reached maturity, Louis H. being the eldest, and three have married and have families of their own. along his path of self imposed toil until the present time when he finds himself the right hand man in one of the largest industries in the state of Ohio. He was only ten years old when he began to work in a woolen-mill and later was employed in a box factory and also in a printing office and he probably faced every problem that comes to a boy dependent upon himself at a tender age. While he had thus tried different lines of work as circumstances guided him, he had a natural aptness for mechanics, together with an ambition to im- prove himself and it was fortunate that about the time of making a choice of life work that he met a man who sympathized with him and was able to give him judicious advice. This was John Black, who was a master mechanic, a native of Lima, O. Following the advice of this friend, Mr. Cunningham bought such books as he could afford and studied the tech-

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History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 175

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