History of Crawford County and Ohio, Part 111

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 111

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

moved with his family to Crawford Co., arriv- ing about Dec. 12. The family lived on Mr. Ludwig's first purchase until the following spring, when he bought of John Coalman 80 acres, lying east of Bucyrus, on the Mansfield road. There Mr. Ludwig made his home for thirty-eight years, and the property is still owned by his son, Samuel Ludwig. Jr. Mr. Ludwig engaged largely in the purchase of lands, and, in 1840, he owned 3,000 acres of choice land lying in different parts of Crawford Co. He was a shrewd, careful business man, and an excellent financier, and was well known as one of the wealthiest men of Crawford Co. This position was attained almost wholly by his own efforts, he having received from his father's estate only $400. In 1849, the atten- tion of the whole country was turned to the golden lands of California, which, at that time, was in a Territorial condition. Father Lud- wig, then 62 years old, and one of the wealth- iest men of Crawford Co., raised and equipped a small company of young men, who had every confidence in his ability to pilot them across the Great American Desert, to the Eldorado of the West. Various persons urged him to de- sist from his perilous enterprise, asking him to turn back, as the journey was too great for one of his years. With his usual decision of character, he told them he had "made up his mind to cross the Rocky Mountains, and cross them he would, if life and health were spared him," and he did cross them, and in due time landed his little company on the Pacific coast. Mr. Ludwig visited San Francisco, which was then a small village of miserable log huts and tents. He remained there about fifteen days, and, having seen all other places on the Pacific coast, of note in that day, he decided to return to his home. He sailed from San Francisco to the Isthmus of Panama ; from thence he sailed across the Gulf of Mexico to New Orleans ; thence up the Mississippi to Cairo; thence northward on the Ohio to Cincinnati, from which city he completed his journey by rail to his old home in Bucyrus. His trip had cost him about $4,000 ; this, however, he did not consider as lost, as his great journey and voy- age to and from California in his 62d year, was ever after a source of satisfaction to him. The few closing years of Mr. Ludwig's life were spent with his daughter, Mrs. Henry D. E. Johnston (now Mrs. Abraham Monnett) and to

whom whom we are indebted for Mr. Ludwig's portrait and this sketch of his life). His death occurred, after a brief illness, on the 20th of December, 1876, aged 88 years and 11 months. Mr. Ludwig was the father of eleven children, seven of whom are living-five sons and two daughters-all of whom are wealthy, honored and respected people.

COL. WILSON C. LEMERT, Bucyrus. The subject of this sketch is a son of Lewis and Ruth (Purdue) Lemert. This family are among the pioneers of Crawford Co., and an appropri- ate sketch of its early history will be found among those of Texas Township, where Wilson C. was born March 4, 1837. He assisted his father on the farm until 14 years of age, when he went to the Republic Academy, in Seneca Co., for one year; from there he went to Heidelberg College, which had just been estab- lished at Tiffin, Ohio ; he there completed the preparatory course. In about 1854, he entered the Ohio Wesleyan University, at Delaware, and continued four years, teaching public school in this county in the meantime. He graduated in 1858, and studied law for some months with the Hon. James R. Hubbell, of Delaware, then came to Bucyrus and further pursued his law studies in the office of Franklin Adams, Esq., for about one year. From there he went to the Cleveland Law College, from which he graduated, and was admitted to the bar in 1859. Mr. Lemert then returned to Bu- cyrus, where he engaged in the practice of his profession for one year, then removed to Greensburg, Ind., in 1860. Six months after his removal to Greensburg, he enlisted as a private soldier in the 7th Ind. V. I., and, before going to the field, was made Second Lieuten- ant. During the first year of service, he was promoted to the position of First Lieuten- ant, and then Captain of his company. He led his company in the decisive battle of Win- chester, Va., and, for gallant conduct on the field, was recommended for promotion. He participated in the battles of Philippi, Rich Mountain, Carrick's Ford, Greenbrier and Win- chester. Some three months after the last- named engagement, he was commissioned Ma- jor of the 86th O. V. I., and took part in the West Virginia campaign. In July, 1863, he re-organized the 86th O. V. I., and was com- missioned Colonel of that veteran regiment. The regiment was assigned to Gen. Burnside's

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Corps, and joined in the East Tennessee inva- sion. At the conclusion of that campaign, Col. Lemert was appointed to the command of a brigade, and stationed at the post of Cumber- land Gap, then a vital strategic point. His command as Brigadier General consisted of Ohio, Michigan, Tennessee and Illinois troops, numbering over 7,000 soldiers, including thirty pieces of artillery. He was mustered out in February, 1865. In 1865-66, the Bellefontaine Cotton Company was organized at Bellefon- taine, Ohio, and, at the solicitation of its stock- holders, Mr. Lemert became its President and General Manager. Floods disheartened the as- sociate adventurers, and, at the end of five months, lie purchased the interest of those de- siring to abandon the venture, and, in company with John Jones and Dr. Nathan Atwood, organized a new partnership. and continued the business until the spring of 1866. It proved a dangerous but very fortunate enterprise, yield- ing a handsome return to those who had the hardihood to weather it through. In August, 1866, Col. Lemert became a partner in and busi- ness manager for the wagon and carriage wood- work factory of A. M. Jones & Co., at Bucyrus, and continued in that relation until 1877. This business was conservative, and yielded results far above the hopes of the investors. In about 1871, the firm of B. B. McDanald & Co. was or- ganized for railroad building, and did about a half-million dollars' worth of work for the A. & L. E. and the O. C. R. R. Owing to the insol- vency of these corporations, McDanald & Co. became scriously embarrassed, and, in 1878, Mr. Lemert assumed control and management of the property and business of MeDanald & Co., and closed its affairs without loss. At the same time, he was Secretary and Treasurer of the Atlantic & Lake Erie Coal Co., an organiza- tion owning a very large area of coal and iron lands in Perry Co., Ohio. During the same period, he served the A. & L. E. and the O. C. R. R. in the capacity of director, and, when its financial condition became hopeless, he assisted in its re-organization, and is now the only per- son connected with the road who played a con- spicuous part in its carly history. Though persistent yet misguided criticisms have been directed at these gentlemen for their share in the railroad scheme, it is believed the consum- mation of their labors and the enduring good achieved by it, will bring in future the just

mecd of credit so richly earned. The fight was long and rugged, yet marvelously successful in the end. In 1877, Mr. Lemert organized and became President of the Moxahala Iron Co., of which he is still President and General Man- ager. In 1879, he superintended the construc- tion of the southern division of the O. C. R. R., which embraces the Moxahala tunnel with its heavy approaches, in all nearly a half a mile long, furnishing the work in good order, in six months, which was the quickest and cheapest work of its kind ever done in Ohio. In the spring of 1880, Col. Lemert superintended the raising of $100,000 local aid along the line of the O. C. R. R., between Bush's Station and Toledo. To accomplish this work, he held forty meetings, raising the amount in two months. He was assigned the management of the Ohio Central Coal Co., in Perry Co., Ohio, and again exhib- ited executive ability of the highest order, by carrying on the work through one of the most dangerous strikes ever known to the mining interest, which occurred there in the fall of 1880. Col. Lemert was Postmaster at Bucyrus during the years of 1866-67, and is at present Chief Engineer of the State of Ohio. In 1879, he laid out Corning, in Perry Co., Ohio, which in one year has become a village of over 1,000 inhabitants. In December, 1880, he organized a company, which purchased the foundry and machine works of Bucyrus, Ohio, and changed it from agricultural to railroad and mine work. Aug. 2, 1860, our subject was married to Miss Mary L. Jones, only daughter of Dr. A. M. Jones, of Bucyrus ; of this union there are two daughters-Katie and Blanche.

DANIEL H. LOWMILLER, contractor and builder, Bucyrus ; is a son of Adam and Cath- arine (Baker) Lowmiller ; was born Aug. 12, 1838, in Union Co., Penn .. where he remained with his parents until 21 years of age, in the meanwhile attending subscription school a few terms in winter and working by the month at farm labor the remaining time ; in February, 1859, he and his brother William came to this county, he being employed by Charles Rochr and Lewis Kuhn to learn the carpenter's trade, serving three years ; at the expiration of his term of apprenticeship, he enlisted in a com- pany of the 1st Mechanics' Fusileers, under Capt. Marsh ; after serving about six months, he re-enlisted in the 1st Ill. Light Artillery, Battery I; as a member of that body. he

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fought in the battles of Corinth, Jackson, Nashville, Russell's House, Mission Ridge and Pittsburg Landing ; after serving there about two years, he enlisted as a veteran, at Scottsboro. Ala., Jan. 26, 1864, in the same battery as above mentioned, serving until the close of the war, being mustered out of the service in July, 1865, at Chicago, Ill .; he was miraculously saved by a kind Providence through the many dangers of his long army life and permitted to return to his home at Bu- cyrus a short time subsequent to the close of the war; after his return to Bucyrus, he engaged in contracting and building, working on some of the principal buildings of the place ; among them may be mentioned Mr. Kearsley's, J. B. Gormley's and W. P. Rowland's. His marriage occurred Aug. 29, 1865, to Miss Louisa Keafer, of Holmes Township, of this county ; by this union, there are four children living-Emma C., Laura E., Cora M. and Marise Gilbert, Daniel H. dying in infancy. He and wife are members of the German M. E. Church, also taking a great interest in the Sunday-school work, he having filled ac- ceptably the offices of Treasurer and Librarian. By his industry and frugal habits, although coming to Bucyrus without any capital, he has gained a comfortable sufficiency of this world's goods.

COL. WILLIAM MONNETT, Bucyrus ; is the son of Isaac and Elizabeth (Pittinger) Monnett, and was born in Ross Co., Ohio, April 22, 1808 ; when he was 5 years old, his parents removed to Pickaway Co., and here our subject lived on a farm till he was 20 years of age ; during this time, he was given the ad- vantages of a subscription school ; his father set apart a room as a study for his boys, recog- nizing the necessity of thorough education, and our subject so applied himself that, when 18 years of age, he was sufficiently advanced to teach school himself; in the fall of 1828, his father's family removed to Crawford Co. and settled on the Plains of the Sandusky, about five miles south of Bucyrus ; here his father entered 1,440 acres of land, giving to each of his children 160 acres ; in company with his brothers John and Abraham, Col. Monnett had charge of 1,300 acres of land which their father had purchased of Samuel Stutz; they fenced it in, making one large field ; in 1830, they pastured 300 cattle for

Allen Kelly, and, another year, drove for John Wylie and David Holderman ; the following fall, he purchased a large drove of cattle, and, being successful in this venture, he continued for several years to buy, graze and sell large numbers of cattle, and has been very success- ful; in 1837, just preceding the panic, he owned 700 cattle, and, at one time, he owned 1,400. Mr. Monnett had united with the M. E. Church at the age of 12, and, at the age of 32, he was licensed to preach, and continued for ten years, at the end of which time he was compelled to abandon the ministry on account of his health. On the same day that he was licensed to preach, he was appointed Colonel of the 1st Regiment, 3d Brigade, of 11th Division Ohio Militia, and for seven years served efficiently, when he resigned. He lived where W. H. Kinnear now lives until 1851 ; here he taught school several terms, and then came to Bucyrus to give his children the advantages of a better education. On coming to Bucyrus, Col. Monnett formed a partnership with Patterson Marshall, keeping a general store, one of the largest of that day ; he con- tinued some three years and then retired, pur- chasing 400 acres just east of Bucyrus, and also about 1,100 acres near Cranberry Marsh, of Paul Hetich ; he has since been engaged in keeping large numbers of cattle and sheep, his son Abraham engaging with him from 1864 to 1875. Mr. Monnett has been one of the promi- nent men of this county, and especially prom- inent in religious work ; he has been Recording Steward of the church for several years, and fills that position at the present writing ; he is a Republican in politics, and, previous to the organization of the party, he was a Whig. He was married, Jan. 11, 1831, to Elizabeth Ca- hill, of Bucyrus, a daughter of Abraham Ca- hill, and sister of Hon. Richard Cahill ; of this union there were five children-Mary J., wife of Hon. S. R. Harris, of Bucyrus ; Rachel, wife of W. H. Kinnear, of Bucyrus Town- ship ; Sarah L., wife of L. L. Walker, of Whet- stone Township; Isaac W., died in his 43d year in Washington Territory, and Abram C., died at Bueyrus, in his 41st year, both leaving families.

ABRAHAM MONNETT, banker, Bucyrus ; few of the residents of Crawford Co., and per- haps none of those who may be numbered among the pioneers, have risen to a place of

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greater prominence as a citizen and a man of sterling worth and business ability, than the subject of this sketch-Mr. Abraham Monnett -whose portrait appears in this work. He is a descendant of Mr. Abraham Monnett, who, with his family, moved from Virginia to Ohio, in the year 1800, and settled near the village of Chillicothe. His family consisted of Isaac, Thomas, Margaret, Jeremiah (the father of our subject), John, William, Osborn and Elizabeth. Jeremiah Monnett returned to Virginia, where he was married to Miss Alcy Slagle. They set- tled near Cumberland, on the Potomac River, and resided there until 1814, he then, with his family of a wife and five small children-one of whom was the subject of this memoir-removed to Ohio and settled in Pickaway Co. Their trip from Virginia was a very hard one, and probably would not have been undertaken but for the help of a Widow Jones, with whom Mr. Monnett joined teams. Mr. Monnett was a regularly ordained minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and when arriving in Picka- way Co. he had only $5 in money, and his team and small supply of household goods. He re- mained a resident of Pickaway Co. until 1835, and then removed to Crawford Co., settling four and a half miles south of the village of Bucy- rus, where he resided until his death, which oc- curred in September of 1863. Mr. Abraham Monnett was born on the 12th of October, 1811, in the State of Virginia and near the Maryland line. His life was spent in the home of his birthplace until his parents removed to Ohio in 1814. In that carly day of the settle- ment of Pickaway Co., but few opportunities were afforded him for attaining an education. Always active, energetic, and endowed with great decision of character, he had before leaving Pickaway Co. with his father, in 1835,

taken an active part in all local matters, and while residing there he joined a company of Militia, of which he was First Lieutenant ; his commission for this office was signed by George McArthur. Shortly after his father moved to Crawford Co., Abraham bought a forty acres of land lying in Scott Township, Marion Co., Ohio. Soon after his going to Marion Co., he joined the Militia Company commanded by Capt. Beckley, in which he also was elected First Lieutenant. In June of 1836, Mr. Monnett returned to Pickaway Co., where on the 9th of that month he was married

to Miss Catharine Brougher, who had been an orphan from her 4th year, and by whom he re- ceived $2,500, the proceeds of the sale of land of which she was the heir. This, with the ex- ception of $120, given him by his father, was the only money received by him, and the only part of his extensive fortune, not accumulated by his own energy and industry and economy. Shortly after his marriage, Mr. Monnett took up his residence in Scott Township, Marion Co. In 1838, he began the handling of cattle, many of which he bought in Illinois, and drove through to his farm in Marion Co., to do which would sometimes require a thirty-days drive. Later in life, he assisted largely in the organi- zation of the Marion Co. Bank. an institution in which he has since held an interest and of which he has been the President since 1864. At present he is also the President of the Farmer's Bank of Marion, Ohio. He is also at the head of the Crawford Co. Bank of Bucyrus, where much of his time is spent. Besides his interest in the above enterprises, Mr. Monnett owns, in Crawford and Marion Cos., 11,000 acres of choice land. Truly, this is a fortune for one man to accumulate, whose early life was spent in a new country, where, to attend a very common school, he was obliged to walk two and a half miles. Mr. Monnett has not been successful in financial affairs only, but in the rearing of a family of twelve children to honorable man and womanhood. They are sit- uated as follows : Ephraim B., farmer, of Dallas Township : Martha, wife of G. H. Wright, of Bueyrus Township ; Oliver, farmer, in Dallas Township; John T., farmer, residence Marion Co., Ohio ; Alcy, wife of James Maleom, of Bucyrus ; Augustus E., farmer, of Bucyrus Township; Marvin J., farmer and stock-dealer, Dallas Township ; Mary J., wife of George Hull, banker, Findlay, Ohio ; Madison W., Teller Crawford Co. Bank ; Nelson, on the old homestead, in Marion Co .; Amina J., wife of Calvin Tobias, of Bueyrus, and Kate, wife of Louis Ross, farmer, of Dallas Township. Mrs. Monnett died on Feb. 8, 1875, and on May 30, 1877, Mr. Monnett was again married. His present wife was Mrs. Jane Johnston, daughter of Mr. Samuel Ludwig, whose portrait appears in this book, as does also the biography of his life. They resided for a short time after this marriage on a farm owned by the widow, but later removed to Bueyrus, where they now re-

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side. Mr. Monnett has for many years been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In his early manhood he was a member of the Whig party, but since the organization of the Republican party he has cast his vote and in- fluence for it. His first Presidential vote was cast for J. Q. Adams.

REV. THOMAS J. MONNETT, farmer and minister, Bucyrus, whose portrait appears in this work, is a son of Rev. Jeremiah and Alcy (Slagle) Monnett, and was born Jan. 26, 1826, in Pickaway Co., Ohio. When nine years of age, his parents removed to this county and settled on the place where he now lives. They came from an old and thickly settled country, and, arriving at their new home in a heavy rain, drenched to the skin, the prospect before them seemed anything but inviting. In the midst of all this his mother was taken sick, which added to the anxiety of the situation. Young Mon- nett was employed in herding stock, and riding among the yellow-blossomed weeds, which cov- ered the Plains; he was often lost almost in sight of his father's cabin. An old cabin resi- dence near by was converted into a schoolhouse during the summer of 1836, and Harriet Bover, an Eastern lady of some attainments, taught the first school in it. Pupils came four or five miles to the first winter school, which was taught by a Mr. Kenough. In these schools young Monnett studied until he was 16, mas- tering the common branches as far as taught by those early teachers. In his 16th year, Rev. Osborn Monnett, of the Norwalk Seminary of the Methodist Episcopal Church, came to the neighborhood, and soon after started a school at his own residence, in which he was enrolled among the first pupils. He was a very thorough teacher, and for two years, young Monnett pur- sued the studies of grammar, philosophy and algebra. About the year 1845, he entered the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, and returned and took charge of the home school that winter at $18 per month, it being the first school under the district system. He taught two terms, at the same time occupying himself with individual study. At 21 years of age, he began reading medicine with Drs. F. Swingley and Douglass, of Bucyrus, and recited to them for one year. Previous to attaining his ma- jority, he read Clark's Commentaries through to his father, who was a minister of the Gospel, and the church licensed him to preach, but, not

feeling sure of his duty, he did not then enter the ministry. A few years later, however, be- ing called by the church and his own convic- tions, he took charge of Melmore Circuit, under Presiding Elder Wm. Disbra, for one year, as supply. He was then recommended unani- mously by the circuit to the North Ohio Con- ference, and in 1853, he joined the conference and was sent to Fostoria, where he labored for two years, having a glorious revival each year ; he was then sent to Kenton, one of the strong- est charges at that time in the conference ; and was ordained Elder, having completed a com- prehensive course of study in four years- which usually requires six years. He remained at Kenton one year, and then went to Upper Sandusky, laboring there two years with good success. He was then removed to the Cale- donia Circuit, which enabled him to be at home, and here he labored for two years, having a large revival at Monnett Chapel, in which 108 persons joined the church ; he labored continu- ously for forty-two nights, which proved too much for his already over-tasked system, and brought on a hemorrhage of the lungs, and he retired for two years, much broken down in health. In 1861, he took a superannuated re- lation to the North Ohio Conference, and on his recovery he labored in the ministry in vari- ons places. He has been called upon to settle up some large estates for T. F. Johnston and others. About 1861, he began stocking his farm and had good success, and some years later, he purchased the old homestead ; he now owns about 1,200 acres of fine farming and grazing land. He has been engaged in various public enterprises, among them the Bucyrus Woolen Mills, and is now, with J. G. Frayer, owner of the Bucyrus Gas Works. In 1848. he was married to Henrietta Johnston, of Dallas Township, and had born to him by this mar- riage, seven children, viz. : Orwin Bruce, of this township; Wmn. A., commission stock-dealer of "Chicago; Francis S., still at home; John G. (deceased 10 years) ; Effie at home; Webster and Agnes, died in childhood. His wife died Nov. 22, 1871, in her 43d year, and on the 4th of September, 1873, he was married to Miss Sarah Rexroth, of Bucyrus, who was born at Winchester, in this county, May 4, 1842, and educated in the Bucyrus schools, and at Mt. Union College. She began teaching at 15, and taught seven terms in this county; in 1862,

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she began teaching in Bucyrus Union Schools, and continued until 1873, teaching in every grade, and in the high school department. She was identified with the missionary work in this county, having been Corresponding Secretary of the Cincinnati branch of the Women's For- eign Society and Sunday school work, and is now Superintendent of the Sunday school. Mr. Monnett's father and uncle came about 1835, and were the first Methodists in the neigh- borhood. His father married Aley Slagle, who was born in Virginia, and received from her father's estate a number of slaves, which he brought across the Ohio River to free them, when he moved to Pickaway County in 1801. Mr. Monnett, the subject, has always been a Republican in politics. He was nomi- nated for the State Senate in the district com- posed of Crawford, Wyandot and Seneca Coun- ties, and cut down the Democratic majority 400 votes ; was also nominated for Representa- tive in 1879.

ABRAHAM C. MONNETT, deceased ; son of William and Elizabeth (Cahill) Monnett ; was born in Bucyrus Township, March 31, 1839, and lived on the plains until 1851, when he came to Bucyrus and attended school until he was 21, when he attended the Ohio Wes- leyan University at Delaware one year, but was compelled to come home on account of siek- ness. In 1861, he enlisted as a private in the 34th O. V. I., Co. E, and rose to the rank of Sergeant. He participated in the battles fought in Virginia, and was honorably discharged in 1864. On his return, he engaged with his father in stock-raising and farming until about 1870, when they dissolved partnership, and Mr. Monnett continued alone until 1878, when he was stricken down with consumption, and died April 17, 1879, after a lingering illness. He was a man highly esteemed by all who knew him-a kind and affectionate husband and lov- ing father. He was married, Dec. 11, 1867, to Miss Jennie E. Walwork, of Bucyrus. She was born at Saratoga, N. Y., June 6, 1840. She re- ceived her education at the Albany State Nor- mal School, graduating there in July, 1860. The following August, she came to Bucyrus, and, in September, 1861, she accepted a posi- tion in the Bucyrus Union Schools, where, for five successive years, she taught with gratify- ing success. Five children were born of her marriage-Frank W., born March 18, 1869 ;

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History of Crawford County and Ohio, Part 111

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