History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 180

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 180

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Mr. Herr was married in Morrow county, O., to Miss Margaret M. Shafer, who was born in that county April 2, 1851, a daughter of Conrad and Catherine (Snyder ) Shafer. The parents of Mrs. Herr were born in Ger- many and came to America in 1833, landing at Baltimore after 53 days on the Atlantic Ocean. They were sturdy and resourceful German people and the necessity of walking the entire distance from Baltimore to Mans- field, O., where they wished to locate, was not, to them, an undertaking of unusual difficulty, for they had been reared to labor and take exercise and throughout the whole of their long lives were examples of strength and hardihood. In Marrow county Mr. Shafer bought an improved farm and at the time of death owned 210 acres of valuable land. In 1897 they came to Galion. Both passed away at the home of Mrs. Herr, in 1899, Mrs. Sha-

fer dying Oct. 29, at the age of 85 years and Mr. Shafer surviving until Nov. 4, being then in his 90th year. They had been reared in the Reformed church but for many years had been united with the Methodist Episcopal church. They had four daughters and one son: Mrs. Elizabeth Burkhart, who lives with her family in Marion county, O .; Caroline, who is the wife of Abraham Burkhart, a retired farmer residing on Jefferson street, Galion; Louisa, who is the widow of Jacob Sifer, residing on Gill avenue, Galion; Mrs. Herr; and John, who resides with his wife and three children in Morrow county. A son and daughter were born to Mr. and Mrs. Herr, the latter, Louisa, dying unmarried at the age of 32 years. John H. Herr now resides on his farm in Morrow county and is a contractor. He married Mercy Swinfelt and they have one son, Edwin, who is a bright student in the Galion schools. Mrs. Herr owns some very valuable residence prop- erty at Galion. She is a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church.

FREDERICK SOLZE, a general farmer in Lykens township, Crawford county, O., where his TIO acres of valuable land are located, was born in Lykens township, Jan. 20, 1851, and is a son of John Frederick and Frederica (Fotenhaver) Solze.

The parents of Mr. Solze were natives of Germany who came to America probably after marriage and settled on a farm in Lykens township, Crawford county, O., where both died in advanced age. They rest side by side in the Brokensword Cemetery. They were estimable people and were members of the German Lutheran church. Frederick Solze is the youngest of their family, the others being as follows: Christian, who was killed in the Civil War; Ferdinand; Louisa, wife of Henry Blinn; Charles; Gotfried and Caleb (twins) Adam and Tillie.

Since his school days ended, Frederick Solze has been occupied with farm pursuits on the old homestead, with the exception of two years during which he was in the livery busi- ness at Tiffin, O. He bought the interests of the other heirs and in 1891 secured his title. In addition to the homestead he owns a resid- ence at Brokensword. In 1875 he was mar- ried to Miss Caroline Baldaser, who died

FRANK LEWES HOPLEY

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March 10, 1912. She was a daughter of Con- rad and Sophia (Menlen) Baldaser and had two brothers, August and William.

To Mr. and Mrs. Solze six children were born: Louisa, who is the wife of Frank Haller; Frederick; Charles F., who married Clara Bower and has two children-Carl and Alice; Lawrence; Hattie, who is the wife of Harry Lahman and has one child, Helen; and Albert. Frederick, Lawrence and Albert died of diphtheria in 1891. Mr. Solze and family attend the Protestant Methodist church. In politics he is a Democrat but lias never sought public office. He is one of the township's most reliable and respected citizens.

WILLIAM D. BAUER,* one of the repre- sentative men of Chatfield township, Crawford county, O., whose well improved farm of 170 acres is situated in section 7, was born in this township, Feb. 26, 1868 and is a son of Peter Adam and Catherine (Fike) Bauer.

Peter Adam Bauer was born in Germany and probably was about 18 years of age when he came to the United States and in New York learned the shoemaking trade. After coming to Crawford county he followed his trade first in Lykens township and afterward in Chat- field township, in the latter also becoming a farmer. He bought 180 acres, on the most of which stumps were still standing, and after clearing up engaged in farming until he re- tired, after which he lived on a tract of 80 acres, adjoining on the east. He was a Dem- ocrat in politics but had no desire for public office. He died when aged 63 years, his widow living to the age of 72 years. They were members of the German Lutheran church and their burial was in the Windfall cemetery. Five children were born to them, namely: Elizabeth, who is the wife of Frank Lutz, re- siding in Chatfield township; Laura, now de- ceased, who was the wife of Fred Leonhart; Emma, who is the wife of Jacob F. Knecht, living in Chatfield township; William D .; and Louisa, who is the wife of Daniel Schimf, of Chatfield township.

William D. Bauer attended school in Chat- field township and assisted his father, being the only son, and has always lived on the home farm which owes its fine improvements to him. It is well drained and tiled and all the

buildings now standing have been placed here by the present owner. General farming is carried on and some high grade stock and cat- tle are raised.

Mr. Bauer was married to Miss Malinda Knieriemen, a daughter of John and Rosetta (Koehler) Knieriemen, residents of New Washington, and four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bauer; Edwin S., Clayson E., Hilda M. and Carl. Mr. Bauer and family are members of the German Lutheran church. In politics he is a stanch Democrat and he has served for five years on the school board and for several years has been road superintendent.

FRANK LEWES HOPLEY was born in Bucyrus Oct. 29, 1866, and has always made Bucyrus his home. He is one of the "live wires" of the town. He talks Bucyrus and works for Bucyrus with an ease and efficiency which have made him generally recognized as the leading "booster" of the city. His educa- tion was obtained at the Bucyrus public schools. Of a naturally bright mind, and being early introduced into the newspaper work because of association with the papers of his father and brother, he took much interest in, and gave great thought to the matter of effective adver- tising. His work for the Bucyrus Evening Telegraph was so markedly clever and excel- lent that Col. W. C. Lemert, head of the old Frey-Sheckler Company, employed him to take charge of the advertising end of that manufacturing business. He continued with the company when it became the American Clay Machinery Company, and he has studied and talked his line so persistently and with such good effect that his friends say he is all wrapped up in clay-working machinery and clay products in general. He believes in brick and originated a campaign of nation-wide scope which stimulated brick for building. He has great ability in other lines, and the productions of his pen have made popular many departments in his newspaper. In ad- dition to his work as advertising manager of the American Clay Machinery Company, he was, in 1911, elected secretary and manager of the Clay Products Exposition at Chicago, and was one of those responsible for the tre- mendous success of that educational event. Being the first thing of the kind ever held in

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this country it naturally required much origi- nality of thought and intelligent direction to accomplish the success of the exposition which was held in March, 1912, and many of its at- tractive features were due to the efforts of Mr. Hopley. He was elected secretary and mana- ger of the Clay Products movement for their second exposition to be given in February- March, 1913. Mr. Hopley is secretary of the Bucyrus Industrial Association, a position in which he has done much good for Bucyrus, and in fact in some campaigns for Bucyrus better- ment he has mastered important affairs almost entirely alone. In early campaigns for more lawns, more trees, better walks and improved streets he gave direction to public thought to an extent that shows results in the beauty of the city of Bucyrus. It was through his in- dividual initiative, persistent and intelligent effort that the Marion-Bucyrus electric rail- way was built and his energy and far-sighted enthusiasm bids fair to bring to Bucyrus other traction enterprises and other substantial ad- vancements for the city. Mr. Hopley is un- married.

GEORGE T. CARPENTER,* superintend- end of the Burch Plow Works Co., at Crest- line, O., has been identified with this import- ant business concern, in one capacity or an- other, since 1891. He was born near Crest- line, but in Richland county, O., June 28, 1866, and was only two years old when his parents, Jeremiah J. and Lydia (Fox) Carpenter, came to Crestline, the family moving on a farm in Jefferson township, two years later.

Jeremiah J. Carpenter was born also in Richland county, 72 years ago, and for 23 years has been in the woodwork department of the Burch Plow Works, being a skilled mechanic. He married Lydia Fox, who was born in 1839 and died in August, 1897. She was a member of the Presbyterian church, as is her husband. To them three sons and five daughters were born, as follows: Edwin B., who is employed in the Burch shops; George T :; and three daughters yet surviving, of whom we have no record, the others being de- ceased.

George T. Carpenter attended school and made himself useful at home until about 18 years of age when he went to the West and

spent about eight years working on railroads as brakeman and engineer, in several western states. When he returned to Crestline he ac- cepted a minor position with the Burch Plow Works Company and has continued, being ad- vanced from one position to the other and like his father and brother, is a practical mechanic. The combined years of service with this com- pany of the three Carpenters, father and two sons, aggregate 66 years. When present plant was founded by Nicholas Burch but since January, 1896, the business has been con- ducted by the present management, Jacob Babst being president of the company, while Mr. Carpenter has entire control of all the departments, employment being given to from 43 to 45 men and no period of business depres- sion has ever caused a closing of this plant.

Mr. Carpenter was married at Crestline to Miss Elizabeth Frye who was born at Mans- field, Feb. 9, 1874, a daughter of John and Anna ( Pletcher) Frye, natives of Ohio. The father of Mrs. Carpenter died here when aged more than 60 years, but the mother still lives at Crestline. Politically he was a Democrat and he was a member of the Presbyterian church. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter: Grace, who is 16 years of age, and who attends the High School; Helen, Mildred and Bertha, all of whom are in school; and Edna, who is aged two years. Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter attend the Presbyterian church. Politically he is a Republican, and for the past 16 years he has been identified with the fraternal order of Maccabees. One of the fundamental principles of success in any un- dertaking is assiduous application to hard work and this combined with technical knowl- edge, good judgment and firmness of charac- ter, have been valuable factors in keeping Mr. Carpenter in the responsible position which he has so long and capably filled.

WILLIAM A. McCLENATHAN, who is one of Galion's well known and highly es- teemed retired citizens, was born Aug. 2, 1837, in what was then Marion county but is now Morrow county, O., a son of Samuel and Rachel C. (Dalriple) McClenathan, and a grandson of William McClenathan.

The McClenathan family originated in Ire- land and prior to the Revolutionary War the

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great-grandfather of William A. McClenathan came to America and became a resident of Berks county, Pa. He followed an agricul- tural life and lived on his farm in that fertile section of Pennsylvania until death, passing away when aged 80 years. The names of all of his children have not been preserved but one son named William and he became the grandfather of William A. McClenathan, of Galion, O. He was born in Dauphin county in 1780 and in early manhood married Mary Colson, who was born in Pennsylvania and was of English parentage. After marriage William McClenathan and wife moved to Washington county, where he entered 160 acres of Government land, improved the same after clearing it and there he and wife spent their lives. They were members of the Pres- byterian church. Their family of eight sons and three daughters grew to mature years and all married and reared families of their own.

Samuel McClenathan, the eldest son of Wil- liam and Mary McClenathan, was born in Amwell township, Washington county, Pa., Feb. 15, 1803, and grew to manhood on his father's farm. He married Rachel C. Dal- riple, who was born in Amwell township, Washington county, in 1809, a member of an old New Jersey family that was of English ancestry. In 1832, Samuel McClenathan, wife and their one child, came to Ohio. He entered eighty acres of land in Marion county, pur- chased eighty more and an additional eighty acres in Richland county. He thus became a large landowner and engaged in farming during all his active life. He died on his well improved farm on the day following his 70th birthday. His widow survived some years longer, passing away in her 86th year. They were people who were held in high regard by all who knew them and were devoted members of the Presbyterian church. They were par- ents of the following children: Mary A., who married John Dalriple, a farmer residing in Kansas; William A .; Sarah E., who married Chester Rhodebeck, resides at West Point, Morrow county, and has three sons and two daughters, all of whom are married, and John McClenathan, who is a farmer in Morrow county and has a family of two sons and four daughters.

William A. McClenathan grew up on the old homestead and obtained his education in

the public schools. After his first marriage. he located at Huntington, Ind., in 1862, and went into the furniture business, moving from there to Goshen in 1870, where he resided until 1890. He then sold out and traveled until 1896, when he returned to Ohio. For some years Mr. McClenathan has lived re- tired at Galion.

Mr. McClenathan was married first to Miss Martha A. Robinson, who was born in Mor- row county, O., March 26, 1838, and died Jan. 24, 1885. She was the mother of the follow- ing children: Florence, who married and re- moved to Kansas and is now a resident of Topeka; John, who is connected with the U. S. Express Company, lives at Buffalo, N. Y., and has a family of two sons and two daughters; Nettie C., who married John B. Rust, of Elyria, O .; William S., who is a resident of Chicago, Ill., where he is secretary and treasurer of a labor organization; George F., who died at the age of one year; Ida, who married George Davison and is now deceased, being survived by one daughter; and Maybell B., who is the wife of Dr. J. W. Boss, of Birmingham, O., and mother of one son and one daughter.

After returning to Ohio following several years of absence, Mr. McClenathan was mar- ried to Miss Violet G. Iiams, who was born in Morrow county, O., Oct. 26, 1844, a daughter of Thomas and Mary ( Hardesty) Iiams. The father of Mrs. McClenathan was born at Bal- timore, Md., but was reared in Washington county, Pa., and died in Morrow county, Feb. 16, 1862, when aged 72 years. Mrs. Mc- Clenathan's mother was born in Belmont county, O., and lived to the unusual age of 101 years, seven months and twenty-seven days. Mr. and Mrs. Iiams were pioneers in Congress township, now Morrow county, and he devel- oped a fine farm from an absolute wilderness. They had three sons and ten daughters born to them, all of whom survived early youth and four of whom are yet living. Mrs. McClen- athan was reared in the Christian church, while Mr. McClenathan, like his parents, is a Presbyterian. He maintains an independ- ent attitude in politics.

EDWIN DEISLER,* whose valuable farm of 50 acres lies in section 8, Chatfield town- ship, Crawford county, O., has additional

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business interests and is well known all through this section of Ohio. He was born in Seneca county, O., Nov. 12, 1862, and is a son of Conrad and Emeline Deisler, the former of whom died Jan. 5, 1912. The latter survives and resides at Attica, O.

Edwin Deisler was reared and attended school in Seneca county and engaged in busi- ness there for some years. On April 9, 1902 he came to Chatfield township and as a renter, settled on the Lutz farm, which property he subsequently bought from the Lutz estate. He is enterprising and progressive and soon be- gan the improvements which make this one of the finest in this section, erecting a hand- some, modern residence which stands one and one-half miles north of Chatfield on the east side of the Columbus turnpike road. His other buildings are of substantial construc- tion, his land is drained by tiling and he has a fine silo, which adds materially to the suc- cess which attends his dairy enterprise, ship- ments of cream being made to Cleveland. He raises considerable stock all of excellent grade. Mr. Deisler has been in the threshing business for a number of years and in this enterprise owns, keeps in order and operates two trac- tion engines, doing custom threshing all through this section in adjacent counties, and he also owns two hay balers and operates a saw mill. He is one of the busy men of the day and has always considered himself too fully occupied to accept political office, al- though he has been, practically, a lifelong Democrat and intelligently interested in pub- lic matters.

Mr. Deisler married Miss Lucinda Shell- horn, who was born in Chatfield township, a daughter of John Shellhorn, and they have three children: Lester, Hadee and Helen, all of whom were born in Seneca county. Mr. and Mrs. Deisler are members of the English Reformed church. He is identified with Lodge No. 651 Knights of Pythias. at New Wash- ington.

CHALMER DEVOE MORGAN, M. D.,* specialist, is owner and proprietor of a finely equipped general hospital at Galion, O., and is an eminent practitioner in diseases of the eye. ear, nose and throat, and a surgeon of such acknowledged skill that his reputation

extends all over the country. Dr. Morgan is a native of Ohio, born at Upper Sandusky, and is a son of Charles and Jennie E. (Henry) Morgan.

Charles Morgan was born in Wyandot county, O., Dec. 15, 1841, and died at Galion, Dec. 22, 1899. He was a prominent Repub- lican and a leading Mason in the state and for some years was proprietor of the Central Hotel, at Galion. He married Jennie E. Henry, who was born and reared at Upper Sandusky, O., and died at Galion, June 8, 1909, when aged 64 years. She was a mem- ber of the Presbyterian church.

Following his graduation from the High School of Mt. Clemens, Mich., Chalmer D .: Morgan kept right on with his studies, al- though he was almost entirely dependent upon his own efforts to secure further advantages, and succeeded in securing his M. A. degree at Ann Arbor, University of Michigan and later a degree from the Northern Ohio Uni- versity at Ada, after which he pursued his medical studies and in the class of 1896 was graduated from Starling Medical College, Co- lumbus, O. This, however, was merely a be- ginning as regards his medical education. He attended as a post graduate, the Physicians and Surgeons Medical College, Chicago, Ill., during 1898 and 1900; the Roosevelt Hospital, New York City, in 1901; the great schools of Vienna, Austria, in 1910; studied also at Guy's Hospital, London, England; the Berlin University, Germany; worked with those world-wide known surgeons at Rochester, Minn .; under Kelley at Baltimore, Md. and under Deaver, at Philadelphia. Dr. Morgan makes a specialty of major surgery.

After graduating and receiving his medical degree, Dr. Morgan bought the practice of Dr. Kelly, then a prominent practitioner at Galion, and shortly afterward founded his hospital, this being the first one established as such at Galion. Since then many changes have been made, its size has been more than doubled and its equipments brought up to the latest devices in hospital furnishings. The present large brick building utilized for hos- pital purposes is located at Nos. 227-229 Columbus street, Galion. Patients come from every part of the country and receive careful scientific attention and with such beneficial

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results that Dr. Morgan's name has become as a household word in many families. Dr. Morgan has associated with him Dr. D. W. Brickley, a competent and experienced surgeon who had charge of the hospital after 1901 while Dr. Morgan was pursuing his investiga- tions abroad. Dr. Morgan is a member of the American Medical Association and the state and county organizations, and for many years has been surgeon for the Big Four Railroad Company and the United States Marine Corps here.

At Findlay, O., Dr. Morgan was married to Miss Fannie E. Allie, who was born, reared and educated in that city. They have one daughter, Ruth Eleanor, who is a student in the Galion High School, preparatory to en- tering the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, being a young lady with much talent in the direction of music. Dr. Morgan and family are members of the Presbyterian church. He is a Knight Templar Mason and a Shriner and belongs also to the Elks and the Knights of Pythias. Politically he is a Democrat.

HOWARD B. PORTER, whose exacting profession is that of a railroad engineer, has been so identified with the Pennsylvania Rail- road Company since 1898, his first run being from Conway, Pa., to Crestline, O. Later he was given the coveted long run of 208 miles between Crestline and Pitcairn, Pa., which he has operated since June, 1910, being one of the first engineers to be entrusted with this duty. He was born at Canal Fulton, O., Nov. 8, 1864, and is a son of Richard A. and Sarah (Whitecraft) Porter.

The Parents of Mr. Porter were born and reared in the neighborhood of Lawrence town- ship, Stark county, O., where they married. Richard A. Porter was a son of John and Mary (Scott) Porter, who came early to Stark county, from Pennsylvania. They set- tled on a farm in Lawrence township on which they died and the estate then came to their son, Richard A. Porter. The latter continued to live on the farm until 1909, when he sold it and retired to Canal Fulton. He is now living at the age of 84 years, though crippled as the result of a fall he had some months ago, at which time he broke his hip. His wife passed away April 3, 1901. She was, as he

is, a member of Presbyterian church. Of their children, one son, William O., was accidentally killed in a railroad accident, in April, 1902. Two daughters and one . son, Howard B., survive.

Howard B. Porter was reared on the home farm above mentioned and remained there until he was 26 years old, when he came to Crestline and entered the employ of the Penn- sylvania Railroad. Like all his people he is well fitted physically for the strenuous life of a railroad man, being six feet in height and thus easily carries his weight of 208 pounds. He is one of the best known railroad men in his division and deserves the popularity he enjoys.

Mr. Porter was married near Fort Wayne, Ind., to Miss Emma Kline, who was born in Stark county, O., a daughter of Martin and Fannie (Wingeter ) Kline, the latter of whom died when Mrs. Porter was young. The father of Mrs. Porter, formerly a farmer and merchant, now lives retired at Auburn, Ind., in his 70th year. Mr. and Mrs. Porter reside in their handsome residence which stands at No. 615 West Bucyrus street, which Mr. Por- ter erected in 1903. Mrs. Porter is a member of the Lutheran church. For many years he has been identified with the B. L. E. and be- longs also to the Junior Order of American Mechanics and to the Protective Home Circle.

CARL M. BABST,* attorney at law and an active member of the bar at Crestline since 1901, was born in this city, Feb. 19, 1875, and is a son of Hon. Daniel Babst, the well known jurist.

After graduating from the Crestline High School, Carl M. Babst spent two terms at Oberlin College and two years at Kenyon Col- lege, and after returning to Crestline, read law in his father's office and at the same time engaged in civil engineering work, being chief engineer for the Street Railway Company be- tween Mansfield and Galion. Since being ad- mitted to the bar he has somewhat divided his time. He was elected a justice of the peace for a term of three years but resigned after serving for a time in order to accept engineering work with a construction company in the West, and since resuming practice is serving in his second term as city solicitor.

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History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 180

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