History of Crawford County and Ohio, Part 108

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

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which he was noted as being a skillful and valuable workman. He remained in that place at his business one year, when he returned to Bucyrus and engaged in laboring, at small wages. Traveling westward, he spent some time in Indiana, and was taken siek, and was afflicted for over a year, being unable to work, and spending, in that time, what money he had saved as the product of his hard labor. Becoming better, he was for some time employed at Lauck's Hotel, in Bucyrus. In 1839, he commenced in the employ of William Miller, and continued with him three years. Next, with his family, he removed to Osceola, then in Center, now in Todd Township, and there worked for a time in a saw-mill, and after- ward rented the business and ran it for his own interests for about a year and a half, when he again came to Bucyrus and re-entered the em- ploy of Mr. Miller, his old employer. Soon after, he purchased the lot where stands his present residence, and erected a frame building on the corner, in which he started a store with a stock of groceries. Four weeks rolled around, and the store became a victim to the fire fiend. Mr. Hesche arose, Phoenix-like, from this mis- fortune, and again commenced, and continued until 1876, when he retired from business. He is now spending his old age in quiet retirement, and looks back with satisfaction on his long life of trial, industry and gradual success. He was married, Oct. 1, 1843, to Salomo Sterner, a na- tive of Pennsylvania. Six children were born of their marriage, and all are living, named. re- spectively, Charles .A., Mary J., Clara B., Violet, Harmon F. and Ida M. Mr. Hesche is a gen- tleman who has shared considerably in public esteem, and, during his residence in Center Township, he filled several offices of that cor- poration.

S. R. HARRIS, lawyer. Bucyrus ; is the son of Stephen and Sybil (Clark) Harris, and was born May 22, 1824, in Stark Co., Ohio. Spend- ing his youth up to 14 years of age on a farm, he commenced as elerk in a store, remaining until 18 years of age. He then attended Wash- ington Academy, Pennsylvania, where he grad- uated in 1846. He read law with his uncle, John Harris, of Canton, who was an eminent man in his profession. He was admitted to the bar in 1849, and came to Bucyrus June 14 of that year, and immediately entered upon the practice of his profession. Commeneing with-

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out capital, he has worked himself into affluence, having been a successful practitioner. He was at one time Mayor of Bucyrus, and has filled many other offices. He was married in Septem- ber, 1853, to Mary J. Monnett, daughter of William Monnett. They have four children living-Sallie J., Willie, Gavin Hamilton and Nellie. Mr. Harris is one of the descendants of the Hamilton clan, of Mauchline, Scotland, one of his ancestors being Gavin Hamilton, mentioned in the poems of Scotia's idol-Rob- ert Burns. Alexander Hamilton was also an ancestor of his, belonging to the same race of Hamiltons. Mr. Harris' grandfather was in the war of the Revolution, fighting for the inde- pendence of his country. Our subject's father came to Stark Co., Ohio, in 1805, emigrating from Washington, Penn. His father was a farmer, and was self-educated, having fine men- tal endowments, and was well versed in litera- ture and history. He reared twelve children to maturity, six of whom are living, our subject being the youngest of all.

LEVERET C. HINMAN. attorney at law, Bucyrus ; though a resident of Bucyrus but a short time, has already risen to a place of dis- tinction as a member of the Crawford Co. bar. He was born in Meriden, Conn., on Feb. 22, 1855, and is the son of Franklin E. and Phoebe E. (Camp) Hinman. The former was a descend- ant of Serg. Edward Hinman, who settled in Stamford, Conn., about the middle of the seven- teenth century, and the latter is descended from Theophilus Eaton, who was the first Governor of the colony of New Haven. At the early age of 15 years, Leveret C. graduated from the schools of Meriden. He was very proficient in the study of Latin and Greek, as at that early age he had completed Cæsar, Cicero and the books of Virgil. Of the latter, while his class was reading two books, he completed six. He also became a very thorough scholar in classics, for which he had a profound admiration. Hard study had so injured his health as to not admit of his beginning the study of a profession without some recreation. He therefore went to Nebraska, where he spent nine months on the broad prairies of that State. This movement effected a perfect restoration of his health, after which, he entered the Iowa State University, where he remained one year, and was then called home on account of the illness of his father. While engaged in the charge of home

affairs, he spent his spare time in the study of law. Afterward he entered the office of Judge Smith, of Meriden, with whom he read law un- til 1875, when he entered the Law Department of Yale College, from which he graduated with honors in the spring of 1877. In the follow- ing June, he was admitted to practice in the Superior Courts of the State of Connecticut. He first located and began the practice of his profession in the little town of Wallingford, Conn., in which place, and at Meriden, he prac- ticed until April of 1880, when he came West, and located at Crestline, Crawford Co. In the following June, he was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of Ohio, and in November he removed to Bucyrus. He at once opened an office in the Bowman Block, and, as before stated, has already made long strides toward success and prominence. Should no misfortune befall him, it is safe to predict for Mr. Hinman a career as glorious, and a place as prominent in the profession, as any of those members of the bar of Crawford Co., whose names stand on the pages of history, and whose works are safe criterions for aspiring genius. Mr. Hinman was married on June 18, 1879, to Miss Jennie E. Burns, of Middletown, Conn.

WILLIAM HOOVER, retired, Bucyrus; a son of Christian and Mary (Simmons) Hoover, and was born Nov. 1, 1816, in Pickaway Co., Ohio. In 1822, when he was about six years old, the family removed to this county, and settled in Antrim, now Dallas Township. His father entered about 400 acres of land, to which he continued to add, until his death, at which time he owned 700 acres of fine land. His mother died when he was but 1 year old ; and, after removing to this county, he lived with an uncle for about one year at Little San- dusky, when his father married again, and he lived at home with him on the Sandusky River Plains. IFere he went to school in an old, de- serted cabin, his first teacher being Jos. Newell. He attended school until he was 16 years old, when, with his brother-in-law, he took charge of his father's farm ; his father going to San- dusky City. He continued on the farm until 1866, and, at his father's death, which took place in August, 1849, of cholera, he received his portion of his wealth. For several years he dealt largely in stock, devoting also considera- ble attention to stock-raising. In November, 1866, he came to Bucyrus, since which time he

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has been engaged in the care of his large estate. In March, 1877, he became a partner in the firm of Frey, Sheckler & Hoover in the Eagle Machine Works; he represented the firm in the Cincinnati Exposition of 1880. He was mar- ried, Oct. 18, 1838, to Miss Phobe Swisher, of Groveport, Franklin Co., Ohio, who was born in Franklin County, March 7, 1817. Ten chil- dren have been born of this union, all of whom are living. John T. is a farmer in Dallas Township; Christian, also a farmer in Dallas ; George, at home ; Marcellus, a farmer in Dallas ; Charles F., a student in Capital City Commer- cial College; Emily, wife of Henry Welsh, farmer of Wyandot County ; Maggie, wife of David E. Fisher, a merchant of Bucyrus ; Alice, wife of Mark H. Lea, farmer of Taylor Co., Iowa ; Flora, wife of H. L. Weber of Bucy- rus ; Lillian at home. He is a member of the English Lutheran Church, and one of its trustees. He has always been a Republican in politics, and before the organization of that party was an Old-Line Whig. His father was born in Pendleton Co., Va., and when a young man, married and came to this county. He was a soldier in the war of 1812 ; built the first brick house, probably, in the county. He had two children-the subject of this sketch, and Hannah (now deceased), wife of Charles W. White.

GEORGE W. HULL, banker, Bucyrus; was born in Delaware Co., Ohio, July 21, 1824, and is a son of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Smith) Hull. In 1828, his parents moved to Whet- stone Township, in this county, and located on a farm, where they lived until he was 11 years old. He remembers the luxuries (?) of pioncer days, when he wore buckskin pants and a coon- skin cap, and was glad to get them. lle went to school in a cabin with a dirt floor and greased paper windows; was treed once by wild hogs ; a bear was killed in their dooryard ; a panther, which he saw, was killed near his home. The family removed back to Delaware County, and located in Radnor Township, where his mother died when he was 15 years old, and he then began to care for himself, working on a farın at $10 per month. With the first earn- ings of his labor, he bought 40 acres of land, which was his beginning in life. At the age of 20, he was married to Attie Scribner, of Marion County, and lived, after marriage, in Delaware County until 1855, when he removed to Mor-

row County and settled near Cardington. He has five children living and one dead. Jasper G., Cashier of Farmers' Bank at Findlay, Ohio ; Olive A., now Mrs. M. J. Monnett, of Crawford County ; Lewis W., Cashier of Crawford County Bank ; Laura died when five years old; J. C. F., Assistant Cashier of Farmers' Bank, and Cora D., at present at Ohio Wesleyan Female College. Mr. Hull owned 800 acres of fine land on Shaw Creek, of which 240 was his original purchase in that neighborhood. In 1877, he sold out, at which time he owned 1,500 acres of land in Crawford, Morrow and Wyan- dot Counties, all made by his honest exertions and industry. In the stirring times before the late war, when the underground railway was in successful operation through Ohio, he was one of its most zealous supporters and trusted agents, and can still tell many a startling story, in which he ran almost hair-breadth risks, in carrying his contract and freight over this mys- terious line of railway. And although, like Othello, his occupation is gone in that direc- tion, yet he often regales his friends, fighting his battles over again. In April, 1877, he came to Bucyrus and opened the Crawford County Bank, of which he is Vice President; Jan. 1. 1879, he opened the Farmers' Bank at Findlay, Ohio, being a third partner in it. He assisted in organizing the stock company for building the Crawford County Grain Elevator. He has been a member of the Methodist Church for forty years ; has been steward, class leader ; was County Commissioner while a citizen of Mor- row County one term, and a Justice of the Peace for twelve years.

F. M. HAMILTON. Superintendent of Pub- lic Schools, Bucyrus ; is a son of James and Elizabeth (Walker) Hamilton, and was born in Rush Co., Ind .. July 3. 1838. His early youth was spent on a farm until he had attained the age of 20. In the meantime, he had attended school in the winter months. and had proved himself proficient. At the age of 20. he en- tered the high school at Roanoke, Ind .. where he continued as a successful student for two terms. Ile next entered the high school at Ft. Wayne, from which institution he graduated in 1862. Before this he had taught school to a certain extent, and for two years after his graduation he taught in the public schools of Ft. Wayne. In 1864 and 1865, he was Princi- pal of the Perry Center Seminary, ten miles

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north of Ft. Wayne. In 1865, he entered the Freshman class of the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, and graduated in the classical course in 1869. He then became Principal of the South Side High School of Flint, Mich .. where he continued one year. He was next Superintendent of the North Side Schools from 1870 to 1872. During the next year, he was Superintendent of the Public Schools at La- peer, Mich. He was elected Superintendent of the Bueyrus Public Schools in 1873, and has served in that capacity ever since, and, as evi- dence of his efficiency and popularity, we would state that he has been re-elected to serve for the three years following. He was a delegate to the National Teachers' Asso- ciation, at Baltimore, in 1876, and is an active and vigorous worker in county associations. lle is connected greatly with educational work, and is a popular lecturer on various educa- tional topics. He was married, Aug. 1. 1871, to Miss Josie A. Conover, of Ann Arbor, Mich .; they have one son-Walter M.

JAMES O. HOLLAND, farmer; P. O. Bucy- rus ; is the son of Nehemiah and Lucinda (Bentley) Holland. and was born in Mahoning Co., Ohio, Dec. 20, 1841. His boyhood was spent on a farm, and in the acquirement of a limited education. At the age of 16, he began learning the carpenter's trade, following it some three years. Aug. 22, 1861, he enlisted in the 21st O. V. I., Company B, and was at Stone River, Chickamauga, Jonesboro, At- lanta, and in the famous "march to the sea." He was taken prisoner at Nolansville, N. C., and was paroled after fourteen days' imprison- ment, and sent back to the Union lines. He was mustered out at Columbus June 20, 1865, and, Oct. 10, 1866, he was married to Ellen Starner, of Bucyrus Township. After mar- riage, he removed to Nevada, Ohio, where he followed carpentering until he moved to his present home, on the Sandusky road, where he has a farm of 81 acres. He has repaired the buildings, enlarging the house, and has a com- fortable home. He is a member of the School Board, and Supervisor. In politics he is and always has been a Republican, and in religion is a member of the Second-Day Advent Church. Of his marriage, there is one child-George W., born Oct. 4, 1870.

HERMAN F. JAHN, salesman, Bucyrus ; son of Gustavns and Amelia (Brennert) Jahn,

was born April 9, 1858, in Bucyrus. He went to the public schools here until he was 16 years old, when he accepted a clerkship in the store of M. Emrich, where he has been employed ever since, with the exception of six months spent in a wholesale house in Cleveland. He is now in charge of the hat and cap and furnish- ing department, and is among the best salesmen of the city. His parents were born in Saxony, Germany. The father was born Oct. 13, 1826, and the mother Nov. 22, 1832. His father went to school in Germany until he was 14 years old, when he learned the shoemaking trade, and, in 1848, came to the United States ; tarried one year in Paterson, N. J., and, in 1849, came to Bucyrus, working at his trade for some nine years after his arrival, when he abandoned it for mercantile pursuits. In 1854, he married Miss Amelia Brennert, of Seneca Co., Ohio, but a native of Germany. From this marriage, there are five children, of which the subject of this sketch is the second son.

ALONZO M. JONES, physician, Bucyrus (whose portrait appears in this work), is a son of Ludwig and Mary (Hale) Jones ; was born April 4, 1811, in Berkshire Co., Mass. His father, a native of this county. moved to the Western Reserve in the spring of 1817, settling in Lorain Co., then a densely wooded tract, with the county seat at Warren, a hundred miles away. Here with but eight families in the territory now within the limits of Lorain Co., Mr. Jones began the career of a pioneer at the age of 6 years. There was plenty of work for even little hands to do at that time, and, until he had reached the age of 12 years, there was no opportunity for schooling. About this time, he went a few terms during the winter months to the primitive schools of the time. His father dying when he was at the age of 14, threw the care and support of the family upon his young shoulders, to which he thenceforward devoted himself until 21 years of age. He now began to look forward to a permanent settle- ment in life, and, adopting the profession of medicine, began study in the spring of 1832 with Dr. E. W. Hubhurd, of La Grange, Ohio. After studying in the office about a year, he attended lectures at the medical school in Wor- thington, Ohio, graduating in July, 1834. In the meanwhile, he had established himself in Norton, Ohio ; but, after a practice of some four months, and attending his final lectures,

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he went to Toledo, Ohio, practicing there, how- ever, only six months, when he came to Bucy- rus. This was in December of 1835, and he continued in his profession with scarcely an interruption until 1843. In the spring of this year, in company with Samuel Clapper, Mr. Jones bought the old woolen-mill property, en- larged and repaired the establishment, bringing the second steam engine ever in the county. After some seven years' successful operation in this business, Mr. Jones sold to his partner in 1846, and turned his attention to real estate speculation, purchasing large tracts of wild land of the Government. About 1866, he again en- gaged in manufacturing business, forming a partnership with W. C. Lemert, Capt. Lyman Parcher and John Jones, in the hub, spoke and bent-work business. Changes in the partner- ship took place a little later, leaving the present firm of A. M. Jones & Co., who are doing a successful business. Beginning life with little assistance, Mr. Jones has accumulated his large property -save 180 acres of land-entirely through his own exertions. The necessity of his situation, however, has not narrowed the scope of his enterprise. Every public under- taking has found in him an active worker, and, in the various railroad projects, he has borne a prominent part. To these characteristics of a good citizen, Mr. Jones adds the accomplish- ments acquired by extended travel, and the culture of a well-read man. He was married May 15, 1838, to Miss Elizabeth Norton, of Bucyrus, Ohio. Of eight children born to him, five died in infancy and childhood. The three now living are Mary L., wife of W. C. Lemert, Lorenzo E. and Volney W.

Mrs. Elizabeth (Norton) Jones (whose por- trait appears in this work) ; is a daughter of Samuel Norton, the earliest pioneer and original proprietor of the village of Bucyrus. She was born in Luzerne Co., Penn., near Dundaff, and was 17 months old when her father moved his family to the site of Bucyrus. The nearest house at that time was eight miles away, and for three days they lived in a bark hut which had been deserted by the Indians, until a more substantial residence was erected, near the pres- ent site of the Main Street Mills. The Indians were at that time in full costume, and greatly frightened the family by their yells and actions. The land, though wild, was found to be a great improvement upon the hilly soil full of hemlock

roots just left in Pennsylvania. A good crop of corn was raised the first year, and the woods supplied all the necessities and many of the luxuries of life. Plums, wild grapes and honey were found in abundance. The absence of mills was felt to be a serious drawback, the nearest one being at Mansfield. To this mill Mr. Nor- ton went, frequently leading a horse laden with sacks through the woods. When S years old, Mrs. Jones began her education in the duties of a pioneer maiden, by taking her first lesson in spinning. To accommodate her size, the legs of the spinning-wheel were sawed off, and a plank arranged to raise her up so that she could manage it. Although hampered by the shortness of the board, she accomplished her task of five knots a day without difficulty. At this time her father kept nine or ten cows, and made cheese every week, in all of which she had a prominent part. Her first teacher was Miss Alta Kent, who gave to her pupils " rewards of merit," cards ornamented with colors derived from blood-root and "' golden- seal." She continued her school days until she was 19, attending the Granville Baptist Semi- nary, in 1836, for some three months, where she studied philosophy, music, etc. In 1838, at the age of 20, she married Dr. A. M. Jones, then practicing in Bucyrus.

SAMUEL JONES, retired. Bucyrus ; was born near Chambersburg, Penn., March 17, 1805, and was but 12 years old when his par- ents moved to Columbiana Co., Ohio, in the latter part of 1806. Here his youth was spent on a farm, where the family remained until 1815, when they removed to Wooster, Wayne Co. Here his father died in 1817; he lived with his mother until 1820, assisting her in keeping tavern. His mother married a second time, and, in 1820, he left home and be- came a teamster from Wooster to Pittsburgh and other points. He followed this and farming until the spring of 1825. He then apprenticed himself to George Bechler, of Wooster, to learn chair-making, working two years with him, a part of the time in Coshocton Co. In January, 1827, they returned to Wooster, where he worked as journeyman until March, then removing to Newark, where he worked until the spring of 1829. In May of this year, he came to Bucyrus on foot, with no capital but a set of tools, but by some means these and his clothes never reached here. He bought tools and stock on a

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credit, and opened a chair and paint shop. There were more Indians in the county at that time than whites. He traded chairs for cran- berries at 373 cents a bushel. Soon after com- ing to Bucyrus, he erected a hewed-log house south of the railroad, near a large pond. He worked at making chairs and bedsteads and house-painting until 1847 ; his wife often paint- ing and ornamenting his work for him ; he also farmed some on shares ; quit his shop in 1847. He was married, Dec. 24, 1829, to Miss Sarah Campbell, of Wayne Co., Ohio, and, in July, 1844, she died. Two children were the fruit of this marriage-John and Maggie. The latter was born Jan. 16, 1838, in Bucyrus. She lived here until her marriage with J. B. Rothchild in November, 1854. Mr. Rothchild came to Bu- cyrus from Cincinnati about 1850. and engaged in the clothing business until 1855, when they removed to Janesville, Wis., but returned to Ohio in 1858 and located at Findlay,where he was for some time employed as Revenue Col- lector ; he is now a wholesale merchant at that place. They have four children-Fannie, Jennie, Emma and Wilber. Mr. Jones married a sec- ond time Dec. 24. 1846, to Miss Nancy Mc- Claren, of Whetstone Township, this county. They had one son-Griffith, now a harness- maker at Massillon. In 1847, he moved to a farm on the pike, where he lived one year, and then returned to Bucyrus. In the spring of 1848, he became the partner of R. T. Johnston in a drug store, continuing some three years. In 1857, he and his son John, formed a part- nership in the tin and stove business for six years, and then he took a contract on the At- lantic & Lake Erie Railway. He was origi- nally a Democrat, voting twice for Gen. Jackson for President, then became a Whig, and on the organization of the Republican party became a member of it, and still votes that ticket. He was elected Street Commissioner of Bucyrus in 1848. He has been a member of the Baptist Church for thirty years, and served also as a Trustee of church. His second wife died June 22, 1877. He brought a load of goods to Bu- cyrus with ox team in 1824. Rattlesnakes were plenty when he came here ; he has often killed as many as twelve in one day ; was once sitting on a heap of hay when a Dutchman toid him that a rattlesnake was crawling in hls pocket, he gave a good-sized jump, when the snake dropped to the ground and he killed it.

JOHN JONES, Bucyrus ; is the son of Sam- uel and Sarah (Campbell) Jones, and was born Jan. 20, 1834, in Bucyrus, Ohio. He attended school in this town until he was 15, when his parents removed to a farm, and he there attended school about three terms more. In 1850, his parents removed to Bucyrus again, and his father became the partner of Dr. Johnston in the drug store, and Mr. Jones assisted in the store for four years. In April, 1855, he went to Janesville, Wis., where he clerked in a cloth- ing store. He then went to Nebraska and as- sisted in the Government survey among the Pawnee Indians, at a time when it was de- cidedly wild and dangerous, two corps of en- gineers having been driven away some time before. In 1857, he returned to Bucyrus and engaged in the stove and tinware trade with George Quinby for some six years with good success. In the spring of 1861, he enlisted in the 86th O. V. I. as Sergeant and soon became Sutler. The 86th was re-organized for six months, and he was again Sutler. On his re- turn home he became Sutler of the 129th O. V. I. He next became an employe of the Bellefontaine Cotton Company, going to Island No. 10 in 1865. The company abandoned the enterprise, and, in company with Col. Lemert and Mr. Atwood, Mr. Jones purchased the stock and operated the plantations for one year, mak- ing a handsome margin. He next ventured in oil boring near Smith's Ferry and sunk a shaft about one thousand feet, but found no oil. He returned to Bucyrus, and, in company with Col. Lemert, organized the hub and spoke factory and kept it in operation about four years. Then, in partnership with his father, he took a contract of grading four miles on the Atlantic and Lake Erie Railroad, completing it in two years. He was next a clerk in the store of W. H. Drought for four years, and afterward served Mr. J. Hall in the same capacity. In January, 1879, he purchased the bakery of J. G. Miller & Sons three doors south of the public square, and is now doing a prosperous business, having in connection with the bakery a lunch-room and grocery. He is a prominent member of the Royal Arcanum, having been its presiding offi- cer. On Dec. 3, 1862, he was married to Miss Mary J. Smith, of Sandusky City. They have two children-Frederick S. and Charles E.

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History of Crawford County and Ohio, Part 108

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