History of Crawford County and Ohio, Part 107

Author: Perrin, William Henry, [from old catalog] comp; Battle, J. H., [from old catalog] comp; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852- [from old catalog] comp; Baskin & Battey, Chicago, pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey
Number of Pages: 1034

USA > Ohio > Crawford County > History of Crawford County and Ohio > Part 107

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

744

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

through the elementary law books very slow. In 1845, he removed to Logan, Hocking Co., where he induced the School Directors to estab- lish graded schools ; these were among the first in Ohio, and they were a great success. In 1848, he married, at Logan, Miss Georgiana Rochester, fourth daughter of John Rochester, Esq., and, desiring to study the nature of so- ciety under the system of slavery, he went to the South to teach. He had schools at Yellow Creek, in Montgomery Co., Tenn., also, near Elkton, Todd Co., Ky., and also at New Provi- dence, near Clarksville, Tenn., from which place. at the close of 1852. he returned to Logan, and taught there for three years. The present sys- tem of school supervision had been inaugurated in his absence, and he resumed his duties at Lo- gan as Supervisor of the schools, which, however, were scattered over the village, as closely to- gether as rooms, far from snitable, could be ob- tained for them. In 1855, he removed to Columbus to take the position of teacher of Mathematics and of Commercial Arithmetic, in what was then known as Granger's Commercial College. After, however, about six months of labor in this new sphere, he found the " college," so-called, a very unstable institution, and he left it to take charge of a fractional term of the Wellsville Union Schools, from which place he removed with his family to Bucyrus, arriving on Saturday, 12th of April, 1856. The schools were at that time comparatively in their infancy as union schools, and were far from being in a prosperous condition. Mr. Hopley, however, prosecuted his new duties with his usual thor- oughness, industry and zeal, and soon made them the wonder and admiration of his fellow-citi- zens. In 1858, he formed a partnership in the practice of law with A. M. Jackson. Esq., for a year. and was admitted to the bar. At the ex- piration of the term, he opened an office by himself, and practiced, with encouraging success until the close of July, 1862, when he went to England in company with Mr. Thomas Alsop, on professional business. Upon his return in Oc- tober, he found the law practice ahnost de- stroyed for the time being ; scarcely any cases were tried. In nearly all, either one of the par- ties, or some important witness, was in the army. In this emergency, he obtained from Mr. Chase, the Secretary of the Treasury, an appointment to a clerkship in the office of the Second Auditor of the Treasury. Soon after,

by special order of the Secretary, he was trans- ferred to the Secretary's own office. He then had a desk in the library of the Treasury, and commenced a thorough study of finances, em- ploying his pen effectively in sustaining the financial policy of the Secretary, and the estab- lishment of national banks. When the national bank bill became a law. he was transferred to the Banking and Currency Burean. Hon. Hugh McCulloch was then Comptroller of the Cur- rency, and he placed Mr. Hopley in charge of the statistical division of the bureau. This in- cluded the examination of the regular reports required by law of the banks, and of the re- ports made by the Bank Examiners. In this position, it frequently became his duty to fur- nish distinguished members of Congress with such data for their speeches on financial ques- tions as made them distinguished. In 1864, he resigned to accept a position in a large bank in New York. In 1866, he returned to Washing- ton, in a private capacity for his employer, and was appointed National Bank Examiner for all the Southern States, except Delaware, Maryland and Virginia. Kansas was afterward added, and he entered upon his duties in the fall of 1866. Having completed the examination of the list of banks, he returned to Bucyrus, and in September, 1867, he purchased the half-in- terest in the Bucyrus Journal, of the senior editor, J. G. Robinson, Esq .. for $2,000. It was at that time conducted by the brothers Messrs. James and Ralph Robinson. In May, 1868, it was arranged for Mr. Ralph Robinson to sell ont to John Markce. Esq., of whom Mr. Hopley the same day purchased the other half-interest for $2,000. Although he entered upon journal- ism only as a temporary resource, preliminary to returning to the practice of the law, yet he soon became absorbed in his new profession to the exclusion of everything else. In August, 1870, he entered upon the duties of Postmaster, and retained the office until January, 1879. He still continues to edit the Journal. His family is as follows : Charles Rochester, John Ed- ward, Thomas (who died in infancy), Thomas Prat, Mary Catherine, Georgiana Eliza. Harriet Evaline, James Richard, Frank Lewes and Jo- seph William, ten in all, of whom nine are yet living.

JOHN HOLMES, Bucyrus ; is a native of Holmes Co., Ohio, where his birth occurred April 21. 1822. His parents, Jacob and Mar-

745

BUCYRUS TOWNSHIP.

garet (Orr) Holmes, were sober and intelligent people, and both were natives of the Keystone State. A few years after their birth, and pre- vious to the war of 1812, they were taken by their respective parents to Harrison Co., Ohio, where they were raised and where they were subsequently married. Soon after their mar- riage, in 1821, they removed to Holmes Co., and, after remaining there about two years, left and located in Richland Co. Here they fol- lowed the not unusual occupation of farming until 1833, at which time they came to Craw- ford Co., locating on what is now known as the Stewart farm, in Jackson Township. They were the parents of six sons and two daughters, all of whom are yet living. The mother died about a year after coming to the county, but the father is yet spared and has reached the unusual age of 95 years. The father was a soldier in the war of 1812, and served his country with distinction. He became thorough- ly familiar with all the details and perplexities of pioneer life, and a complete record of his eventful days would be well worthy of perusal. His son, the subject of this sketch, was reared on the farm, receiving but a limited early edu- cation. At the age of 16, he was apprenticed to a carpenter, and, after learning that trade, followed it to a greater or less extent for about fifteen years. When the last war broke out and the Government began buying horses for its cavalry, Mr. Holmes, who was a good judge of horses, bought large numbers, over a range of several counties, and then sold them to the various Quartermasters of the army who were authorized to purchase. In this manner a profit of several thousand dollars was real- ized in a short time. After the war he kept a hotel for a short time, at Leesville, Crawford Co., and a few years later served as Superin- tendent of the County Infirmary. Subsequent- ly he resided two years in Crestline, where he kept a livery stable. His thorough knowledge of "horse flesh," has, to some extent, shaped his life-labors. Himself and family are at present residing in Bucyrus. He was married to Miss Mary J. Morrow Nov. 2. 1854. This lady is a native of Crawford Co., her birth oc- curring Aug. 24, 1834. She is the daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Seanor) Morrow, natives of Westmoreland Co., Penn., where they were married and resided until 1833, when they came to Crawford Co., locating in Jackson

Township. They were the parents of fifteen children, and eleven are yet living. The mother died in 1872, and the father two years later. Mr. Morrow was a stone-cutter and a mason, and followed these occupations through- out life. A family of four children has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Holmes. Mary E. and William W. are living, and Ella Beatrice and Oliver H. are dead. "Lizzie" and "Willie" have been educated at the country schools, where their parents formerly resided. at the Crestline schools, and, finally, at the fine schools in Bucyrus. They are both living with their parents at the county seat.

HOLM & GARNER, Bucyrus. This firm is well and favorably known in Crawford and adjoining counties. Though young men, they have, by close attention to business and straight business habits, placed themselves in the front rank of cigar-makers. They both re- ceived the benefit of a common-school educa- tion, and, when yet boys, entered the cigar store of Mr. Horn, of Bucyrus. where they learned the business, and, in 1878. formed a partnership and began business for themselves. They manufacture "Palmer's Choice," one of the best 10-cent cigars in the market ; their "H. & G.," " Nox Aall," " All the Go," and " Our Choice," all 5-cent cigars, are second to none in the trade. They use only the best stock in the filling and wrappers of these cigars, and, in this way, have secured an enviable reputation among the cigar-men of Central Ohio. Mr. Holm was born in Bucyrus. Ohio, July 9, 1855 ; he is one of a family of five children born to Abraham and Jane (Haish) Holm, the former a native of Clarion Co., Penn., and the latter of Baden, Germany. The mother's people came to this country in 1827, and settled in Holmes Township ; the father came to the county about one year later. and was married here. He was an educated man, and. in early days. taught school in different portions of the county. Ile was also Colonel of a regiment of State militia for a number of years, besides holding other po- sitions of honor and trust in Bucyrus and Craw- ford Co. He died April 14, 1878. Ilis wife sur- vives him. and resides in Bucyrus. Mr. Garner was born Oct. 2, 1850, in Allegheny Co .. Penn .: his parents, William and Rosa (Briar) Garner, were both natives of the Emerald Isle. They came to Bucyrus, Ohio, in 1860. where they have since resided. Mr. Garner, of the firm of

746

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

Holm & Garner, was united in marriage with Miss Caroline Berkdorf, a native of Akron, Ohio, in 1874. They have one child-Nellie May. Messrs. Holm & Garner are doing a large and steadily increasing business, and the writer of this predicts for them a brilliant and suc- cessful future.

GEORGE HARMON, farmer, etc .; P. O. Bu- cyrus ; a son of John and Mary (Bordner) Ilarmon ; was born Feb. 3, 1815, in Dauphin Co., Penn. His youth was spent there on a farm and in attending the common schools. He lived with his father until he was 23 years of age, when he was married, Feb. 23, 1838, to Miss Elizabeth Sells, of Trumbull Co., Ohio. His father had removed to Columbiana Co., Oho, in 1835, remaining there a little over one year, then returning to Pennsylvania and set- tling in Mercer Co. Mr. Harmon has been twice married ; by his first wife, he had eleven children-Hannah, Angeline, Louisa, Mary Ann, Harrison, Frank and Moses living ; Sophia (lied in her 32d year, Isabel in her 6th year, Israel in his 3d year, Ellen in her 28th year. His wife died Sept. 1. 1872, and, Nov. 22, 1874. he was married to Miss Mary Bertikofer, of Liberty Township ; by her he had two children -Anna and Louis W. Our subject removed to Richville, in this county, in September, 1841, driving in a wagon from Pennsylvania, 160 miles, in five days ; he rented a house in the village, which at that time only had about ten houses, and began working at the carpenter's trade, which he had learned while living in Mer- cer Co., Penn., and built many houses in the vil- lage and vicinity, which are vet standing, monuments of his industry. In 1843, he moved to Liberty Township, where he followed his trade till about 1855. Since then, he has been engaged in farming, buying, in April, 1878, 15 acres in Liberty Township, which he has improved very much. He has accumulated a nice little prop- erty by honest toil and industry. At present, he lives in Bucyrus Township, but will move to his place in Liberty Township in a short time. He was an Old-Line Whig until 1847, when he became a Democrat, and has ever since been of that political faith. He has been Constable and Trustee of Liberty Township for fourteen years, and, in April, 1880, was elected Trustee of Bucyrus Township. He has been a member of the German Lutheran Church since 19 years old. His father was a native of Pennsylvania,

born about 1770, and died Aug. 19, 1853 ; his wife died June 16, 1860. The elder Harmon was a farmer, and was in the war of 1812, serv- ing through the entire campaign. He raised thirteen children, viz .: John, Jacob, Michael. Catharine, Polly, Susan, Elizabeth, George (our subject), Margaret, Joseph, Jonas, Christina and David living ; Ely, William, Isaac and La- vina are dead. David Harmon, the grandfather of our subject, came from Germany, and was stolen from his parents when a child but 8 years old.

CHARLES HETICH, retired ; P. O. Bucy- rus ; whose portrait appears elsewhere, is a son of George and Martha (Immel) Hetich, and was born June 11, 1810, near Chambersburg, Franklin Co., Penn., and lived on a farm until about 18 years of age ; he attended subscrip- tion school in the neighborhood, finishing his education at Gettysburg ; he then served an apprenticeship of three years in a mill ; this business, together with lumbering, he followed until 1836 ; in October. 1837, he came to Ohio, driving through from Chambersburg in a car- riage, making two trips between that place and Bucyrus, one on horseback ; his mother had come out here some four years previously ; he settled on the corner of Warren and Main streets, and has lived in the town ever since, with the exception of about nine years spent on an es- tate which he owned in Cranberry Township. He had a great fondness for hunting, and he and Henry Minich hunted much together, often killing as many as thirty deer in a sea- son ; he himself often killed three in a single day, killing a great many within a mile and a half of town, and often caught fish in Grass Run. Mr. Hetich and two brothers bought 900 acres of land in Cranberry Township. In 1848, he was elected Treasurer of Crawford Co., and served two terms with satisfaction to his constituents; he has been Township Trustee and Town Councilman many years ; was a member of the Board of Education when the Bucyrus schools employed but one teacher, and hired Judge Plants from his shoe bench to teach the school of the town. He was married, Feb. 14, 1833, in Franklin Co., Penn., to Miss Susan Clark ; four of their children are living-Paul I., Elizabeth, George A. and Martha J., wife of Cyrus Fisher, of Denver, Colo .; George A. lives in town, and Paul I. lives in Cranberry Township. His

Emanuel Deardor

749

BUCYRUS TOWNSHIP.

father, George Hetich, was born at Little York, Penn., where he lived until manhood ; he mar- ried Martha Immel, near Chambersburg, whose family was wealthy ; he settled there, manag- ing farm and saw-mills; he was soon after elected Sheriff of the county, and served sev- eral years as such ; he raised four sons and two daughters-Paul I., George A., John and Charles (our subject), and Rebecca H., widow of Hon. George Sweney, and Martha, wife of Jonathan Kearsley ; he died on his farm, near Chambersburg, Penn.

DAVID HEINLEN, farmer ; P. O. Bucy- rus ; is the son of Lewis and Christina (Regi- na) Heinlen, and was born Feb. 23, 1834, in Whetstone Township ; here he was brought up and attended district school ; his father was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, and was edu- cated there ; he also learned tailoring in the town of Fullingen ; came to America in 1817, and was under bonds to pay the cost of his passage by labor ; he served three and one-half years at Portsmouth to pay his indebtedness ; he afterward lived six years at Circleville, Ohio, and from there came to Whetstone Town- ship, bought 80 acres of land, and lived upon it until his death, following his trade but little after he removed to this county ; he raised eleven children-Elizabeth, Jacob, Magdalena, Lewis, Mary and Catharine (both deceased), John, Samuel, Christian, David and Sarah ; David lived with his parents until they died, and on the homestead until 1876; he has now a fine farm of 150 acres in Bucyrus Township, and is in good circumstances. In April, 1865, he married Miss Mary Wirick, of Whetstone Township ; they have seven children living- Charles I., Lewis H., Anna M., Laura S., Amy A., Jennie M. and an infant son. He is a member of the German Reformed Church of Whetstone Township, and in politics has al- ways been a Democrat.

JOHN HOWALD, carriage-maker, Bucy- rus ; is one of the substantial business men of Bucyrus, and was born Jan. 9, 1824, in the Province of Alsace, France. His early life un- til he was 15, was passed in his native land, where he received a good education, and as- sisted in tilling the soil. In the spring of 1840, his parents removed to the United States, and young Howald came with them to tread the path of success in the New World. The family lived for a short time near Utica, N. Y. In

December, however, they came to Canaan Township, Wayne Co., Ohio, where his father bought a farm and there lived until his death. Young Howald remained on the farm assisting his father until he was 19, when he commenced learning his trade of carriage- making with a man near Millersburg, learning the department of wood-working. He was here a short time and also spent a short time at Wooster, com- pleting his trade at Tallmadge, Summit Co. He worked there three years after the end of his apprenticeship, and at that time it was the largest carriage-shop in the West. Mr. How- ald was the first foreigner employed in these shops, which employed about sixty men. He then traveled until 1843, working at his trade in different places in Ohio and New York. In 1853, he settled in Ashland, and worked there until 1857, when he removed to Bueyrus in March. He here became a workman for Jef- ferson Norton, remaining in his employ about two years. He then commenced business for himself as partner with David Lindsay, the business union lasting two years with success. He then sold out his interest to Mr. Lindsay and located on Walnut street. Mr. Howald and John Schaber, the present Sheriff, were to- gether in the business, but Schaber withdrew at the end of six months ; since when, Mr. Howald has conducted the business himself. Since 1861, he has built a fine frame residence and a two-story carriage and blacksmith shop, in which he employs from eight to ten first- class workmen. He has a wide reputation for making carriages, buggies and spring wagons, and enjoys a handsome patronage. He started without capital, and is a self-made, substantial business man, of whom the city might be proud. He is a member of Crawford Lodge, F., & A. M., and has always been a Democrat. He was married, July 31, 1852, to Miss Louisa Rappold, of Upper Sandusky. There are two children of this marriage-Julia and William.

JACOB HALLER, tanner ; P. O. Bucyrus ; is the son of Jonathan Haller, and was born Aug. 20, 1844, in Lycoming Co., Penn., where, until his 8th year, he lived on a farm, and re- ceived the rudiments of an education. At this period in his life, his parents removed to Ohio, and settled near Bucyrus. Here he lived with them till his 17th year, when he entered the employ of J. J. Myers Bros., of Bucyrus, and remained one year. The next year saw him

750

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

return to his native State, where he worked amid the hardships and privations of camp life in the pineries. He was next a locomotive fire. man, running from Williamsport to Elmira- This occupation lasted him some six months, when he relinquished it to drive a mill wagon at Williamsport. This occupation was also short-lived, and, at the end of nine months, Mr. Haller returned to Bucyrus and was employed by C. H. Shonert in the tannery, and here Mr. Haller finished his apprenticeship in the busi- ness, continuing another year, however, as a regular workman. He then traveled throughout Ohio, Indiana and Michigan, working at his trade in various places. At the end of a year he returned, and was employed by Shonert at pine work. Soon after, in company with Ben- jamin Ernst, Mr. Haller rented the Myers Yard, and, for three years, they conducted the busi- ness under the firm name of Haller & Ernst. In 1872, our subject formed a partnership with C. H. Shonert, and this business union has con- tinued for the past seven years, and has been

very successful. The firm do an extensive business in tanning, paying cash for hides, and dealing extensively in leather and shoe-findings. Mr. Haller is a Democrat in politics, and has been a member of the City Council for two years. He is a member of Bucyrus Lodge, No. 139, F. & A. M .; also P. G. of La Salle Lodge, No. 51, I. O. O. F., and of Demas Lodge, K. of P., No. 108. He was married, Dec. 29, 1878, to Mary Schaeffer, of Bucyrus, a daughter of G. A. Schaeffer. They have one daughter- Carrie Belle, born in April, 1875.

J. H. HOFMAN, jeweler, Bucyrus ; is a son of J. H. Hofman, and was born Aug. 26, 1833, in Mansfield, Ohio. At the age of 10, he en- tered the store of his brother, and removed to Bucyrus in his fifteenth year, coming with his father, who died in 1851. At the age of 18 years, our subject took full charge of a repair shop of clocks and watches, and assisted in the support of the family for several years. In the year 1853, he made his first venture in busi- ness, buying a stock of jewelry of the value of $80. He took in his brother, R. E. Hofman, as partner in 1860, and together they have sold goods in their present room in Rowse's Block for the past twenty years. They still continue in business. and have a fine stock, unexcelled by any in the city. On May 30, 1869, he was married to Charlotte E. Sweney, of Bucyrus.

They have two children-Mabel and Carrie. His wife died April 16, 1879. His father was born in Shepherdstown, Penn., in 1798, and was educated in his native State for the ministry of the German Reformed Church, and preached for a time in that State, and came to Mansfield, Ohio, in 1824. He evineed a natural taste for mechanics and was naturally skillful in that direction. For some time he printed a paper at Mansfield, and then engaged in watch and clock repairing. Dr. Johnston is the only busi- ness man who commenced when our subject did that is still in business. He was married, in 1820, to Elizabeth Hoffman, of Chambersburg, Penn. Of that marriage ten children are liv- ing. Augustine died in October, 1878. The names of those living are Catharine, Eliza, Charles, George, John H., Rufus, Allen, Mary, Laura and Frank. His father was a man well versed in Latin, Greek and German, and was a devoted, earnest, Christian worker. His mother is still living at the advanced age of 78. Mr. Hofman possesses many rare qualifieations for his business, and is a valuable member of so- ciety. Few men have taken charge of business when so young and succeeded so well.

FRANK HAMAN, Marshal, Bueyrus ; a son of William and Mary (Happ) Haman ; was born Dee. 13, 1834, in the State of New York, near Lake Seneca. When he was aged about 4 years, his parents removed to the vicinity of Shelby, Ohio, his father engaged in farming, and his son attending district school. In 1851, he came to Bucyrus and commenced a term of apprenticeship in the blacksmith-shop of James Kelly, which he completed at the end of three years. He then engaged for himself, and sub- sequently worked for Phillip Ossman six years. In 1861, he started a horseshoeing-shop, in which business he continued until 1878. In 1874, he was elected Marshal of Bucyrus as an independent candidate, and is now serving his fourth term. In 1852, he was married to Jane Crumley, of Richland Co., and of this marriage there are four children living-Louis C., Lor- ing, Josephine and Frankie. Three of their children are dead. As a public officer, Frank Haman has been a success. He is one of the most efficient Marshals that the city has ever had, and has always acted conscientiously in the discharge of his duty.

LEWIS W. HULL, cashier, Bucyrus ; was born April 30, 1853, in Radnor Township, Dela-

751

BUCYRUS TOWNSHIP.

ware Co., Ohio. When he was aged 3, his par- ents settled in Morrow Co., Ohio, where the subject of our sketch lived until he was 19 years of age. During this time he spent two years in teaching. When 19 years of age, he took charge of a large farm of 600 acres, in Dallas Township, Crawford Co. He was there for some time, then moved to a farm in Wyan- dot Co., near Upper Sandusky. He lived there four years, and at the organization of the Craw- ford Co. Bank, he was elected Cashier, a posi- tion which he has filled ever since. The bank was organized with the following officers: Ab Monnett, President ; G. W. Hull, Vice Presi- dent ; Lewis W. Hull, Cashier ; L. B. Harris, of Upper Sandusky, and E. Blair, of Bucyrus, being directors. Since its organization it has done a discount business of $250,000, has a capital stock of $100,000, and an associate cap- ital of $700,000. Mr. Hull was married in Wyandot Co., Oct. 20, 1874, to Miss Mary Morral. They have one child, Cora D., born Oct. 6, 1875.

FREDERICK G. HESCHE, retired mer- chant, Bucyrus ; is a son of John C. Hesche, and was born in the Province of Saxon Meiningen, Germany, March 1, 1811. Ac- cording to the prevailing system in his na- tive land, he attended school from his 6th to his 14th year. When 16 years of age, he commenced his apprenticeship with a butcher, and served three years, after which his aptitude at the business kept him industriously at work as a journeyman for three years longer. At this time, he became imbued with a desire to go to America, with several of his companions, his employer, however, being loth to have such a good workman leave his establishment. But young Hesche resolved to try his fortunes in the New World, and accordingly took passage from Bremen in the early summer of 1834, and, after a voyage of fifty-eight days, landed at Baltimore Sept. 2 of the same year. Shoulder- ing his shot-gun-which he brought from the Fatherland-he trudged his way from Balti- more through a country wild in many parts, and from which the traces of barbarism had not yet departed, to what was then the small ham- let of Bucyrus. Arriving here, his means en- abled him to enter 40 acres of land, situated in Lykens Township. Here he became a farmer for about a year, when he went to Sandusky City and followed his trade of butchering, at

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Crawford County and Ohio, Part 107

Author: Perrin, William Henry, [from old catalog] comp; Battle, J. H., [from old catalog] comp; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852- [from old catalog] comp; Baskin & Battey, Chicago, pub. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey Number of Pages: 1034

Author: Perrin, William Henry, [from old catalog] comp; Battle, J. H., [from old catalog] comp; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852- [from old catalog] comp; Baskin & Battey, Chicago, pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey
Number of Pages: 1034