History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 97

Author: Hopley, John E. (John Edward), 1850-
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago,Ill., Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1302

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY

ticular church organization, his life was in ac- cordance with moral principles.

On December 28, 1898, Mr. Schack was married at Bucyrus, to Miss Mary Amelia Matthew, who was born at Leipsic, Crawford county, O., a daughter of Charles M. and Mar- garet (Schack) Matthew. The father was born April 25, 1825, in Rheinish Prussia, and died at Bucyrus, March 5, 1901. In 1847 he came to America, both parents being dead, and after landing at the port of New York, went to the copper regions of Michigan and Wisconsin, where he engaged there in work in the mines. Later he moved to Seneca county, O., and started a wagonmaking business at Republic, where he lived for ten years. He came then to Bucyrus and for a number of years was em -. ployed as a patternmaker and foreman in some of the large manufacturing plants. In his na- tive land he had learned the cabinetmaking trade and previous to retirement he conducted a furniture and undertaking establishment. He was a worthy church member, one of the leading men in the Reformed body, and at all times he gave liberally in the way of charity. He was a member of the order of Knights of Honor.

At Tiffin, O., April 15, 1853, Charles M. Matthew was married to Margaret Schack, who was born in Bavaria, Germany, and came to the United States after reaching young womanhood. She died November 23, 1886. Her daughter pays a high tribute to her as a devoted mother, an example of Christian liv- ing, kind, wise and loving in every domestic relation. She was the mother of seven chil- dren, namely: Jacob H., who is deceased; Charles F .; Louise Lucy, who lives at Albany, Ore .; Mrs. Schack; John Philip, a clothing merchant at Bucyrus, who has one son, Donald S .; William E., who is in business at Cleve- land, and has three children-Helen L., Paul C. and Janet A .; and George F., who resides with his sister, Mrs. Schack. She is a mem- ber of the Presbyterian church and is interested in its many avenues of usefulness and has a pleasant circle of friends, many of whom she has known all her life.

ARTHUR C. ROWSE, whose excellent farm of 70 acres lies one mile north of Osce- ola, O., is one of the successful and enterpris-

ing young agriculturists of this part of Cra ford county. He was born in 1881, in Wya dot county, and is a son of Walter and Co nelia (Straw) Rowse.

Walter Rowse belonged to an old family Crawford county and was reared at Bucyr until he was fourteen years of age and th went to Wyandot county, where he engaged farming until one year before his death, wh he moved into Marion county and died the when aged 54 years. He married Corne Straw, of Wyandot county and the followi children were born to them: Quincy, Frar Arthur, Grace, Ella, and Sallie and Miltc twins, there being yet five survivors.

Arthur C. Rowse turned his attention agricultural pursuits as soon as he left scho assisting his father on the home place f some years and then locating in Whetsto township, Crawford county, for six years. December, 1909, he bought his present far on which he carries on his farm industries a very satisfactory manner, according to t best recognized methods. They include a ge eral line of farming and the raising of co siderable stock.

Mr. Rowse married Miss Alice Harvey, w! was born in Crawford county but was rear in Wyandot county, O., her parents residi near Mt. Zion. Mr. and Mrs. Rowse have o daughter, Marie. They are members of t United Brethren church at Osceola, O. politics Mr. Rowse is a Republican. He known as one of the reliable men of T. township and his interest may be counted on relation to beneficial and public-spirited mov ments in his section.

PHILIP ROSS, deceased, was a leadi business man of Bucyrus, O., for many yea and was valued and esteemed by his fellc citizens. He was born in Hesse-Darmstad Germany, July 3, 1843, and was a son of Pel and Margaret (Zimmerman) Ross. The far ily came to America on a sailing vessel in 18: landing at the harbor of New York, and frc that city they came on to Crawford county a secured heavily timbered lands in Lyke township. There Jacob Ross died, two yea later, before he had time to develop a far His widow afterward made her home with h son Peter and died there in 1893, aged eight

PHILIP ROSS

GEORGE ROSS

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three years. In Germany they had been con- firmed in the Lutheran church and they were attendants of the same at Chatfield, O.

Philip Ross was the third youngest in a fam- ily of seven children and was eighteen years of age when the family came to America. He attended school at Chatfield and later a me- chanics and arts school at Sandusky, and after- ward became a skilled carpenter and builder, following this business for many years. He went into partnership with his brother George, in building contracting in 1868, at Bucyrus, and continued in the same until his death, on January 24, 1905, having survived his brother for six years. They were considered reliable and efficient men in their line and erected many of the halls, private residences and public buildings in this city, including the Opera House. Politically Mr. Ross was a Democrat and enjoyed the confidence of his party and served for some terms as a valued member of the city council.

Mr. Ross was married at Bucyrus, on May 26, 1878, to Miss Theresa Vollrath, who was born in this city, March 17, 1857, and has always lived here. Her parents were Albert and Catherine (Mader) Vollrath, natives of Saxony, Germany, who came to America with their parents in 1852, in the days when it re- quired three months to cover the great waste of water rolling between Europe and Amer- ica. For one year afterward they lived at Rochester, N. Y., and then came to Bucyrus, where Albert Vollrath died November 15, 1907, aged seventy-eight years. He was en- gaged during his active life in the planing mill business. The mother of Mrs. Ross died August 5, 1895, aged sixty years. They were members of the German Lutheran church. Mr. and Mrs. Vollrath had one son and four daughters born to them: Mrs. Ross; Malink, who is the wife of E. R. Birk, of Bu- cyrus; Carrie, who is the wife of Charles Fisher, of White Plains N. Y .; and William and Louisa, both of whom died unmarried.

Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Ross namely : Otto C., born April 1, 1879, who resides at home and is connected with the T. & O. C. Railroad Shops; Harry Jacob, who was born August 12, 1880, and who is a machinist with the American Clay Machinery Company ; and Ora Irene, born August 2, 1881, who

is a graduate of the Bucyrus High School in the class of 1900. She is a member of the English Lutheran church, while her mother and brothers retain membership with the Ger- man Lutherans .. The late Philip Ross was a Scottish Rite Mason and was also a member of the Knights of Pythias.

GEORGE ROSS was an honorable, up- right and successful business man of Bucyrus, O., for many years and was closely identified during that time in its material development. He was born in Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, May 31, 1839, and died at his home in Bu- cyrus, May 29, 1899. He was one of a fam- ily of seven children born to his parents, who were Peter and Margaret (Zimmerman) Ross.

George Ross was 15 years old when he ac- companied his parents to America and grew to manhood on the old farm in Lykens town- ship, Crawford county, O. His father died early but his mother survived into old age. After his school days were entirely over he learned the carpenter trade which included house building, at Sandusky, his younger brother, the late Philip Ross having also learned his trade at the same place. The brothers came to Bucyrus and formed a part- nership and continued together in a building and contracting business in this city as long as they lived, the younger member of the firm continuing for six years after the death of the older. Many of the fine buildings of all kinds which adorn this city were erected by this firm and from their own plans. Mr. Ross was noted for his reliability and it was often remarked that this firm was thoroughly dependable. He was a man of quiet life, a Democrat in his political opinions but no seeker for office, and a faithful member of the Ger- man Lutheran church. He provided an in- surance for his family, being identified with the Royal Arcanum and the Royal Home Society.

Mr. Ross was married in 1865 to Miss Em- ma Jacobs, who was born in Lykens township. Crawford county, in June, 1843, and is a daughter of August and Frederica (Bear) Jacobs. They were natives of Germany, where they were reared and married, soon after embarking on a sailing vessel for Am- erica. They reached the United States after

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a voyage of seven weeks and were landed at the port of New York and from there came to Springfield, O. After two years there they came to Lykens township, where they were among the early settlers. Their first home was a log cabin built in a little clearing made by Mr. Jacobs and their neighbors were In- dians. By trade he was a carpenter and he followed the same and also managed to clear and develop his farm of 100 acres. Here he died in 1890, aged 79 years, having outlived his wife for 19 years. In their youth, in Ger- many, they had been confirmed in the German Lutheran church and they continued in that faith during the rest of their lives. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Jacobs, the two survivors being Mrs. Ross and Charles Jacobs, both being residents of Bucyrus. To Mr. and Mrs. George Ross were born a daugh- ter and a son-Carrie May and Frank George. The former, who was born in 1875, died May 6, 1909; she was the wife of Peter Bossler, who died six years after their marriage, leav- ing no children. The latter, Frank George, was born Dec. 16, 1877, is unmarried and makes his home with his mother. He is a well known and popular engineer on the T. & O. C. Railroad. He is a Knight Templar Mason, an Elk, belongs to the Uniform Rank, Knights of Pythias, to the order of Eagles and to the Forester organization and to the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. Mrs Ross is a member of the German Lutheran church, in which Mr. Ross was an elder for many years.

MERVIN J. GIBSON, who is successfully carrying on agricultural operations on his mother's farm of eighty acres, which is sit- uated in Whetstone township, Crawford county, O., was born in this township, October IO, 1883, and is a son of Andrew and Letty J. (Campbell) Gibson.

Andrew Gibson was born in Crawford county, where he has been engaged in farm- ing ever since his term of service in the Civil war closed. He married Letty J. Campbell, who was also born in Crawford county, and three children were born to them, namely: Iva M., who is the wife of Jeremiah Low- miller ; Mervin J. and Claude M. Andrew Gibson and wife are members of the Presby- terian church.

Mervin J. Gibson obtained a common school education and afterward assisted his father on the home farm. He remained until March, 1910, when he took charge of his mother's farm in Whetstone township, where his intel- ligent methods have brought about very satis- factory results. Mr. Gibson is not an experi- menter, his whole previous training having been along the line in which he is engaged, but he is wide awake and keeps posted as to modern methods of procedure and makes use of labor-saving machinery.

On December 22, 1909, Mr. Gibson was married to Miss Austie B. Seif, a daughter of David and Caroline (Deisen) Seif, the for- mer of whom was born in Morrow county, O., and the latter in Germany. Mrs. Gibson has one brother and one sister : Carl D. and Erna C. On December 13, 1910, a daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Gibson, to whom they gave the name, Edith Caroline. They attend the Lutheran church. In politics, Mr. Gibson, like his father, is a Republican. The family is a highly respected one in Crawford county.

REV. ISAAC BEAL, a highly respected re- tired farmer of Bucyrus, O., and a lay preacher in the German Methodist church, was born in Lycoming county, Pa., August 28, 1828, and is a son of George and a grandson of John Michael Beal, the latter of whom mar- ried in their native village near Stuttgart, Ger- many. He was born September 3, 1759, and she was but a few years younger. After the birth of their children, namely: John Michael, Jr., George, Frederick and Dorothea, they joined a colony that had determined to seek a country where religious opinions were not regulated by law. With this party of their

friends and neighbors, the Beals came down the Rhine river to a secluded seaport and on June 9, 1804, embarked on a sailing vessel, the Margaretta, for America. They were tossed on the waves of the Atlantic for two and one-half months before they reached their safe haven, at Philadelphia, Pa.

From Philadelphia the party proceeded to Germantown and in the following spring went on their way to the point for which they had started, Williamsport, in Lycoming county. There they built a rough hewn edifice which they dedicated to church purposes, in 1828

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and the little building still stands. There Conrad F. Haller expounded the Scriptures to them as a lay reader, being a man of some learning. In 1833 a part of the colony came on to Crawford county with a view of im- proving their material condition, and from the favorable reports received from them, the Ohio lands were fertile and desirable. This in- formation led to a part of the Beal family . coming to Crawford county in 1842 and the remainder in 1843. They purchased land situ- ated about three and one-half miles southeast of Bucyrus and a part of this is still in the possession of the Beal family. The original purchase of 200 acres was made for $3,000, while this same land at the present time could not be purchased for $100 per acre.

The grandmother of Rev. Isaac Beal, and one daughter, died in Pennsylvania, but the grandfather survived until he was eighty- nine years old and died in 1848, in Crawford county. His sons became farmers here and all have been noted for good citizenship. A few of the older members of the family have always subscribed to the doctrine of the Piet- ist community, that being the name given the religious colony, while others have become identified with more liberal sects. While still residing in Pennsylvania, George Beal was married to Barbara Sherer, who was also born in Germany and came to America with her parents when she was five years old. George Beal and wife were among those mem- bers of the family who continued in commu- nion with the Pietists. They were worthy, virtuous, self denying people, examples of Christianity, and they were permitted to live long lives together, his death occurring in 1882, two years after that of his wife, when they were about eighty-seven years of age. Four children were born to them, Isaac, the eldest, being the only survivor. Mary, the second in order of birth, died in December, 1910. She was the wife of Nathan Mutchler, who is also deceased. Jacob, the third mem- ber of the family, died at Youngstown, O., in 1909, and is survived by a family. Benjamin, the youngest, was a citizen of Bucyrus and for many years was secretary of the Crawford County Mutual Fire Insurance Company. A family survives him.

Isaac Beal was reared in Lycoming county

and was with the first section of the Beal fam- ily that came pioneering to Crawford county in 1842 and has been identified with this sec- tion ever since. After his father's death he became owner of a part of the old homestead and for many years has carried on extensive operations both in farming and stockraising. During his active years on the farm he made a specialty of growing sheep. He continued his agricultural activities until 1891, when he re- tired to Bucyrus, where he has resided ever since. For many years a member of the Ger- man Methodist church, he has also been a trus- tee and lay preacher, and in the latter relation is valued by a congregation that holds him in the highest esteem.

Mr. Beal was married in September, 1853, to Miss Christina Hurr, who was born in Pennsylvania, December 25, 1831, and was a member of the Pietist colony that came to Crawford from Lycoming county. She is a member of the German Methodist church, in which faith the children have been reared. They are as follows: Simon George, who is a farmer in Crawford county, married Catherine Sherer, who died December 17, 1910, leaving one son, Milton S .; Mary A., who is the wife of H. F. Miller; Lizzie, who is the wife of J. G. Hipp, of Bucyrus, and has five children- Raymond, Rufus, Mary, Naomi and Martha; Benjamin F., a minister of the German Meth- odist church, and a graduate of Wallace Theo- logical college, having a charge at Cleveland, who married Josephine Deitrich and has six children-Carl, Paul, Theodore, Maria, Catherine and Wilbur; Catherine, who is the wife of Rev. J. C. Gerlach, a German Meth- odist minister at Cincinnati, a graduate of Wallace college; Ellen B., who lives with her parents; and Martha M., who graduated from the Bucyrus High school in the class of 1894 and for ten years has been an acceptable teacher in the city public schools. The Beal family enjoyed a reunion on August 29, 1911, and among the other entertainments was an interesting history of the family that had been prepared with much care by Miss Martha and was read by her to those present. The record showed a long line of sober, faithful, honest, industrious, law-abiding and God fearing an- cestors.

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EMANUEL SCHIEBER, who is one of the prominent and representative citizens of Liberty township, Crawford county, O., now serving in his second term as township trus- tee, resides on his finely cultivated farm of eighty acres, situated not many miles distant from Bucyrus, O. He was born in Liberty township, March 31, 1865, and is a son of Ja- cob and Eva (Mauer) Schieber, and a grand- son of Gotleib and Magdalena Schieber.

Jacob Schieber was born in Germany and was brought by his parents to America when eighteen months old. He became a successful farmer and a highly respected citizen of Lib- erty township, where his death occurred in 1884, his burial being in the Shealy cemetery. He married Eva Mauer, who was born in Stark county, O., and now resides with a daughter in Liberty township. They became parents of the following children: John; Louisa, deceased, who was the wife of Hari- son Klink; Henry; David S .; Emanuel; Mary, who is the wife of F. W. Hieber; Elizabeth, who is the widow of John Hieber ; Samuel A., and Jay W., who died when eight years of age.

Emanuel Schieber attended the local schools through boyhood and after enjoying one term at the Northern Ohio University, at Ada, turned his attention to school teaching. He taught five winter terms and proved very ac- ceptable to his pupils but since then his farm and other enterprises have claimed his entire attention. He carries on his agricultural oper- ations scientifically and meets with very satis- factory results.

Mr. Schieber was married in January, 1891, to Miss Louisa M. Hieber, who is a daughter of Christian and Christiana (Wagner) Hie- ber, who were farming people in Liberty township for many years. To Mr. and Mrs. Schieber four children have been born, namely : Millard E., who is a graduate of the Bucyrus High school in the class of 1911, and has accepted a position with the Second Na- tional Bank, Bucyrus, O .; Harry, who is a member of the class of 1913, in the Bucyrus High school; Elsie C., and Dorothy E. Mr. Schieber and family are members of the Lutheran church. He is a Democrat in poli- tics and has frequently been elected to office on that ticket; for six years he served as a justice of the peace and for three years as a

member of the township school board. Mr. Schieber is a stockholder in the Second Na- tional Bank of Bucyrus, O.

HERBERT S. BLAIR, a leading business man of Bucyrus, O., manufacturer of husking gloves, husking pins and other specialties and a jobber all over the great corn belt of the country, has been in this line of business for the past twenty-seven years and has developed a large enterprise from a small beginning. He was born at Bucyrus, August 3, 1859, and is a son of Elias and Anna (McCrory) Blair.

Elias Blair, who is president of the Second National Bank of Bucyrus, one of the old and honored citizens of this city, was born in 1824, near Mt. Vernon, O., being of English parent- age. In 1852 he made the overland trip to California and spent two years as a prospec- tor and miner in the gold fields, returning to his native state by way of the Isthmus of Panama, with substantial evidences of his suc- cess while there. He located in what was then the village of Bucyrus where he embarked in the hardware business being the pioneer mer- chant in this line. Mr. Blair, together with unmistakable business qualities, has been more or less of an inventor all his life and several of his inventions are made use of in almost every agricultural and stock-raising district in the United States and Europe. Reference is made to his hog anti-rooter device and his hog snout ring, the manufacture of which is still carried on under his name. Mr. Blair is one of the substantial citizens of Bucyrus, the owner of a large amount of property which he and his son have improved. For some years he has been a semi-invalid but still main- tains his interest in business and all current af- fairs. He was married at Mansfield, O., to . Miss Anna McCrory, who was born in Penn- sylvania and when young was brought to Mansfield by her parents. Two sons and four daughters were born to them. One daughter died in infancy and one son, Bennington, died at the age of eighteen years. The survivors are : Herbert S .; Carrie B., who is the widow of Albert Ensminger, of Bucyrus, and she has one son, Edward; Lizzie B., who is the widow of Edward Roehr, of Bucyrus; and Anna, who is the wife of F. I. Ruhl, who is manager of Mr. Blair's large hardware store. They have

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one son, E. Blair Ruhl. Mr. and Mrs. Blair are members of the English Lutheran church, in which he has been an officer for many years.

Herbert S. Blair was reared and educated at Bucyrus and practically grew up in the hard- ware and manufacturing business. The first husking implement was a simple affair, a pin or peg, which was quite useful but of not nearly the utility of the present device which has been developed together with many other instruments, more than thirty in all, which are manufactured by Mr. Blair, all of these being covered by patents. A large force of work- men is kept at all times and his sales are enor- mous, one business house of St. Louis, Mo., alone, ordering a shipment of these specialties to the amount of $7,000. Mr. Blair has sel- dom purchased an invention, almost all of the original implements and the improvements having been the issue of his own brain and skill.

Mr. Blair was married at Bucyrus, to Miss Belle Frayer, a daughter of the late J. G. Frayer. They have three children: Marietta, who is the wife of Oren E. Smith, of Bucy- rus; John, who is a student in a military in- stitute; and Anna Belle, who attends the pub- lic schools. One son, Milton Blaine, died aged seven years. Mr. and Mrs. Blair are members of the English Lutheran church. Fraternally he is an Elk and a Knight Templar Mason and Shriner. Politically he is a Republican.

GEORGE F. DONNENWIRTH, a well known business man of Bucyrus, O., dealing in fine wines and liquors, and a citizen whose public spirit and liberality may be counted on in every emergency, was born in this city, De- cember 6, 1869, and is a son of William and · Catherine ( Assenheimer ) Donnenwirth.

William Donnenwirth was born at New Washington, O. The greater portion of his life was spent on his farm in Liberty town- ship but his death occurred at Bucyrus, when in his fifty-eighth year. He married Catherine Assenheimer, who survives and is a resident of Bucyrus and a member of the German Lu- theran church. To William Donnenwirth and wife the following children were born: Car- rie; Frank E., who is assistant cashier of the Bucyrus City Bank; George F .; Elizabeth; Rose; Charles A., who is with the American

Clay Machinery Company; Mrs. Bertha Dar- ling; and John, who died at the age of two years.

George F. Donnenwirth was educated in the public schools and gave his father assistance on the farm and continued agricultural pur- suits until 1896. In 1900 he became interested in the grocery business, with J. A. Leifer un- der the firm name of Leifer & Donnenwirth, and continued with that firm until June I, 1903. On September 8th of that year he em- barked in his present business.

Mr. Donnenwirth was married April 4, 1909, to Miss Sue P. Streib, a daughter of M. K. and Kate Streib, residents of Crawford county. In politics Mr. Donnenwirth has al- ways been identified with the Democratic party.

WILLIAM F. MADER, a merchant and chief of the fire department of the city of Bucyrus, O., was born on the lot he now uses for business purposes, Nos. 109-11I-113 North Sandusky street, April 27, 1865. He is a son of John George and Christina (Dinkel) Mader.

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History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 97

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