History of Crawford County and Ohio, Part 116

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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to his home, some four miles distant; a few weeks later, he had a dream, in which he was required to go to his stranger friend, as he needed his assistance ; three times this vision appeared, each time as if a person talking to him and telling him to go ; he went to work in the morning, but could not rid himself of the impression, and finally he decided to go and see the man ; upon his arrival, he found him dying. Mr. Rexroth was the father of ten children, nine of whom grew to man and womanhood-Adam (deceased), Catharine Al- bright, John, Daniel, Elizabeth, Sarah, Lydia, Samuel (now also dead). David. Margaret (wife of S. Kurtz), Elizabeth (is the wife of Rev. G. Lease, of Kenton, Presiding Elder) ; Lydia is the wife of B. Beal, Esq.

JAMES H. ROBINSON, County Auditor, Bucyrus; was born in Chatfield Township, Crawford Co .. Ohio, Feb. 22, 1839, and is the son of James M. and Mary E. (Cooper) Robin- son, who were parents of the following family : John, James, Nathan (deceased), William. Abner (deceased) and Melvina (deceased) ; the father was born near Wheeling, Va., in October, 1807, and, about the year 1825, he. together with his parents, came to Chat- field Township, where our subject was born ; the grandfather of James H. was a man of considerable means, and, on his arrival, he purchased a large tract of land, which he tilled for many years; at his death, his son, the father of James H., took charge of the farm. which he also farmed until his death, which event occurred in October, 1874. It was on this farm that James H. passed his early years ; he received a good education, which was finished by attending the Otterbein Uni- versity during the winter of 1860-61; Mr. Robinson then began teaching, and continued eight terms with success, three of these terms being taught in Richville ; while in the latter place, he was in the mercantile business in connection with teaching. On July 4, 1865, he was united in marriage with Miss Louisa Hipp, of Chatfield Township, and by her had two children-Minnie, born Nov. 19, 1867, and Francis M., who died when 5 years old. Mr. Robinson was elected County Surveyor during the fall of 1872, and continued in that office until 1877, when the people of the county, rec- ognizing his ability, selected him for Auditor of Crawford Co .; he was elected, and re-elected

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in the fall of 1880. Mr. Robinson is a consist- ent Christian, and takes an active part in the advancement of his church.

WILLIAM P. ROWLAND, retired, Bucy- rus ; is the son of John M. and Martha (Mar- tin) Rowland, and was born Feb. 6, 1837, in Green Township, Richland Co., Ohio ; his father was a native of Washington Co., Penn., and came to Ohio when very young, and was consequently one of the pioneers of that county ; his grandfather was in the war of the Revolu- tion ; there are two sisters and one brother of our subject living-Mary Hickoks, of Denver, Colo .; Laura Miner, of Mansfield, and Shan- non, of Leadville, Colo. The subject of the present sketch attended district school until he was 18 years of age, and then became yard dispatcher at Crestline, which position he held for four years ; next, he spent two years in the ticket and freight office ; in the fall of 1861, he became proprietor of the St. James Hotel (then the Weldon), of Mansfield, and was its landlord for two years; in 1863, he came to Bucyrus and engaged in the sale of stoves, tin and hardware as a partner in the firm of Rowland & Picking, this partnership exist- ing until 1874, when Picking died, and Mr. Rowland sold out the business to J. G. Ott & Sons, and retired from active business life ; since then, he has visited several of the West- ern States, and has spent one winter with his family at Lookout Mountain, Tenn. He was for three years President of the School Board, and also a member of the City Council. He is a member of Masonic Lodge, No. 272, and of the Knights of Pythias, Demas Lodge, No. 108. He was first married in October, 1858, to Miss Lizzie Sloane, who died eleven months thereafter ; he was married again, July 9, 1862, to Miss Kate Picking, of Bucyrus, daugh- ter of John Picking ; they have two children - Jesse and Mollie.

CHARLES ROEHR, Bucyrus ; is the son of Henry and Caroline (Gresky) Roehr, and was born July 26, 1835, in Ihna, Saxony. He at- tended school until his 14th year, and then for six years following he clerked in a store. In August, 1855, he sailed for the new world from Hamburg, and arrived in New York after a voyage of six weeks. He came at once to Bu- cyrus, where he commenced an apprenticeship with George Stoll, in the carpenter's trade. After serving two years, he commenced business

for himself in contracting work, and continued until 1868. In October of that year, he became a partner in the firm of Stoll Bros. & Co., and this business union lasted five years. John Stoll retired at the expiration of this time, and Mr. Roehr became an equal partner with Jacob Stoll and John Shealy, running a large planing- mill and lumber-yard at Bucyrus, also running a branch establishment at Upper Sandusky. Mr. Roehr has managed the business for twelve years, which began with the help of eight men, while they now employ thirty-five and occupy some three acres. "Mr. Roehr is a member of the German Lutheran Church. He has dealt considerably in real estate, and has built over twenty buildings in the town. He was married, in November, 1858, to Miss Lizzie Eberth, of Bucyrus. They have eight children-Kate, Edward, Emma, William, Helen, Henry, Carl and Alma.

HENRY M. ROWE, liveryman, Bucyrus ; is the son of Norman Rowe, and was born March 22, 1828, in Oswego Co., N. Y. ; was a farmer's son, and spent the first sixteen years of his life on a farm, working after he was 16 at $8 per month. In 1844, he came to Ohio and stopped at Newark. He then commenced traveling throughout the State selling notions and medi- cines until 1853. He also made a trip to the West to see the country. Having made Bucy- rus his headquarters, he started a livery-stable here in 1856, in partnership with C. D. Ward, which business relation existed for six years. In 1862, Mr. Rowe bought out his partner and continued the business as sole proprietor until 1868. During the war he was prominent in the shipping of horses, and also was engaged in this branch until 1875. In 1868, he sold out his stable to John Keil. In 1876, he went to New York and engaged in the mercantile business with his brother at New Haven. He retired in September, 1879, and, in June, 1880, he started a new livery, sale and feed stable in Bucyrus in the southwest corner of public square, where he is doing a thriving business. Mr. Rowe is a member of Crawford Lodge, No. 443, A., F. & A. M .. also of Ivanhoe Chapter. Has also been a member of City Council. He was married in September, 1849, to Martha Burke, of Wyandot Co., Ohio. His wife died May 5, 1872.

CHARLES G. RUPP ; P. O. Bucyrus ; is the son of Peter and Hellena (Earnst) Rupp, and was born Feb. 3, 1822, in York, York Co., Penn.

Catharine Miller

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.BUCYRUS TOWNSHIP.

His grandfather, Gottleib Rupp, was a native of Germany, and came over late in the eight- eenth century, settling at York, where he was a butcher. He raised four sons and two daugh- ters, of whom Peter, the father of our subject, was the third son, and followed the trade of his father. Peter married Hellena Earnst, a native of York, and they were blessed with four sons and two daughters, three of whom are now living-Dr. Peter Rupp, of South Bend, Ind .; Melvina, widow of Rev. A. Kuhn, for- merly of Galion, and later the widow of David Seltzer, of Crestline. The father died at York, Penn., in 1825, while the mother survived him fifty-three years, dying at Wapakoneta, Ohio, in March, 1878, aged 93 years. The subject of our sketch received but a limited education, and, at the early age of 11 years, he entered a store in his native town, where he was employed for ten years. In May, 1843, he came to Ohio by stage and canal, the journey occupying two weeks. He remained a year at Galion, where his sister lived, and then went to Leesville, at that time a better trading-point than Galion. He kept a general store there for three years, and removed to Bucyrus in 1848, and was em- ployed as a clerk for four years. He then opened a store in partnership with John Mod- erwell, continuing two years, and, upon the re- tirement of Mr. Moderwell, Horace Rowse be- came a partner for three years. He next en- gaged in business with Fisher and Hall, doing a large business on the old Kaler corner. Mr. Rupp retired from the firm in about a year, on account of ill health. He then became a clerk for his old partner, Horace Rowse, and contin- ued in that capacity until the close of the war. He then left mercantile pursuits and purchased an interest in a woolen-mill, and also, some time after, an interest in the Bucyrus Machine Works; also in a grist and saw mill, selling out this last-mentioned venture, however, in a short time. About the year 1868, he became a partner in the firm of Rupp, Rowse & Lauck, and afterward, of William Rowse, in the shoe-store. On the failure of the Bucyrus Machine Works, Mr. Rupp became assignee and settled up the business, which occupied some three years. He has also been engaged in settling up some fifteen estates. In 1873, he bought a stone quarry at Leesville, which has been lucrative, the stone being known as the Waverly group, and of the same grit as the Berea, and a fine

stone for building purposes. He was Postmas- ter at Leesville during the administration of James K. Polk, and was, during the Kansas and Nebraska troubles, a Free-Soiler, and is now a Republican. He was a candidate for County Treasurer in 1858, and made a popular run, cutting down the Democratic majority to the extent of 600. He was married, July 18, 1848, to Margaret J. Ruhl, of Galion. Four children-Annie, Clara, Maggie and Lincoln- are living, and five died in childhood.

JOHN ROSS, farmer ; P. O. Bucyrus ; is the son of Linus H. and Jane (Emerson) Ross, and was born Dec. 12, 1831, in Pickaway Co., Ohio. His father was born near Elizabethtown, N. J., Oct. 19, 1799, and was of Scotch-English de- scent. He came with his parents to Pickaway Co. when 6 years old, and, at the age of 25, he was married to Miss Jane Emerson, a native of Kentucky. They had seven children, three of whom are yet living-Abigail Monnett, of White Co., Ind .; Eliza Hostler, of Cairo, Ill .; and our subject. The father died in August, 1871, in his 72d year, the mother dying Sept. 28, 1878, in her 73d year. His father commenced life poor, first as a brick-burner, and later as a ma- son ; but at one time owned 1,700 acres of land. The subject of this sketch worked on a farm until he was 14 years of age, at which time his father's family came to Crawford Co. and set- tled in Dallas Township, where, in 1827, the father had entered a large tract of land, and had grazed large numbers of cattle on it until 1845, when he removed there. Mr. Ross re- ceived a common-school education, and, at the age of 17, began handling cattle, doing quite a prosperous business. In 1853, he removed to his present farm, where he has 340 acres of fine farming land. He is at present engaged in raising thoroughbred cattle, and has a fine herd of fifteen short-horn Durhams, being of the finest Kentucky blood. He is also engaged in buying and feeding sheep. He is one of the prominent, influential men of his township, and is enterprising and a good business manager. He is a Republican in politics. He was mar- ried, Oct. 19, 1853, to Miss Lucinda W. Tharp, of Bucyrus Township, the daughter of Joseph Tharp and Phobe (Kinnear) Tharp, and was born in Whetstone Township June 20, 1834. They have seven children all living-Linus H., born Aug. 21, 1854; Jennie, Feb. 15, 1857 ; John P., Dec. 28, 1858 ; Maggie H., March 24,

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1862 ; Anna K., Jan. 3, 1865 ; Joseph W., April 16, 1868 ; and Talmage J., Nov. 28, 1871.

JAMES G. ROBINSON, deceased. He was born on the 25th of December, 1828, at Wash- ington, Penn., where his father, William Robin- son, a merchant, then resided. At the age of 14. he entered the printing office of John Baus- man to learn the mystery of type-setting, going to Pittsburgh a few years later and acting as foreman in the office of the Pittsburgh Dispatch. Here he began a friendship with D. R. Locke, which lasted over a quarter of a century. In 1853, on the occasion of a printer's strike, he left Pittsburgh with Mr. Locke, and in company with him revived the Plymouth Advertiser, in Huron Co., Ohio. Soon after, in 1855, he and his partner disposed of this paper, and pur- chased the Mansfield Herald, in company with a young lawyer, Rudolph Brinkerhoff. In a few months, Mr. Locke sold out his interest and bonght the Bucyrus Journal, and urged Mr. Robinson to join him in this new venture, which he did in April, 1857. Here Mr. Robinson was marked for his public enterprise, to whom, in company with Mr. Locke, is due many of the public improvements enjoyed by the citizens of Bucyrus to-day. In 1861, he was appointed Postmaster, and in 1863, Mr. Locke having ac- cepted a position elsewhere, he associated his younger brother, J. Ralph Robinson, with him- self in the printing business. In September, 1867, he disposed of his share in the business, and engaged in the drug business with Dr. Cuykendall, whose interest he purchased in January, 1870, and continued the business un- til his death, April 14, 1872. He was univer- sally esteemed by the community in which he lived, was sincerely and conscientiously a Chris- tian gentleman, and in his daily life was an ex- emplary model for all. He was married to Miss Sarah Benscooter, daughter of Dr. Benscooter, of Plymouth, Ohio, in October, 1854. Her grandfather was a Van Benschoter, one of the famous Knickerbocker family who first settled New York. The marriage of our subject was blessed with six children-three of whom are living-as follows : Irene, wife of Rev. C. S. Sprecher, of Ashland, Ohio ; Sarah J., and Jay G. Since the death of her husband, Mrs. Rob- inson has resided in Bucyrus, where she has educated her family.

DANIEL REXROTH, farmer; P. O. Bu- cyrus ; son of John N. Rexroth ; was born

in Bucyrus, Ohio, Oct. 21, 1837. The fam- ily were in moderate financial circumstances, and young Rexroth spent his youth in town, working for the farmers during the busy seasons, at $6 per month, doing a man's work at 15. During the winter months he acquired such education as the public schools of the time afforded. At the age of 16, in com- pany with a younger brother, with only $45 in money, he bought a horse and the necessary implements to put in 100 acres of corn. Here- tofore he had contributed his earnings to the support of the family, but thenceforward these boys started out for themselves, gaining the confidence of the farmers by their honesty and industry, and achieving a good degree of sus- cess. Marrying in 1862, he enlarged the scope of his industry, dealing in sheep for about a year. In 1864, he purchased 195 acres of his present farm for $11,700, where he has since made his home. He has devoted his attention since that time entirely to farming, and has been remarkably successful. He now owns 315 acres of as fine farming lands as are to be found in the county. It is finely watered, has a deep soil of great richness. Here his labor has been bestowed with such good judgment as to gain the credit of having the second-best farm in the county. In 1879, he erected a fine frame dwelling of ten rooms, which is an orna- ment to the place. He devotes his care to the growing of grain and the raising of sheep, keeping a flock of some 600 constantly on his farm. Mr. Rexroth's father was a German Re- publican, who came to this country for that free- dom of speech and action for which this land claims pre-eminence. The subject of this sketch has followed in the footsteps of his father, and is, politically, a member of the Re- publican organization. He and his wife are members of the Scioto Chapel M. E. Church. He was married, Dec. 2, 1862, to Miss Mary Purkey, of Bucyrus, a daughter of John and Phobe (Kinnear) Purkey. She was born near Galion Dec. 29, 1835. Four children have re- sulted from this union-Edward K., born Sept. 30, 1866 ; Effie N., March 27, 1868 ; Anno M., Dec. 4, 1870, and Nellie B., Jan. 20, 1872.

THE RELIABLE CLOTHING HOUSE. Among the substantial business firms of Bu- cyrus, the above-mentioned house has a history worthy of note. Joseph Nussbaum, the pres- ent proprietor, to whose eminent business qual-

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ities the signal success of the house is almost wholly due, was born in Bavaria, Germany, Sept. 11, 1853. He was carefully educated in his native land until 13 years old, when he left school and worked at tailoring one year. In 1867, he sailed from Bremen, and, after a short voyage, he arrived at New York July 19. He came at once to Cleveland, Ohio, where he at- tended the public schools for six months. He gained a fair knowledge of the English tongue, and started on foot through the country to sell notions. He followed this occupation about six months, then accepted a clerkship in a dry- goods store, which he held four years. He next opened a dry-goods store of his own in the city of Cleveland, where he did a prosper- ous business for three years. In August, 1877, Mr. Nussbaum came to Bucyrus, and, in com- pany with Edward Braun, opened a large stock of elothing in Niman & Fisher's Block, where they have built up a large and constantly in- creasing business. The dimensions of the present room are 80x25 feet, making an area of 2,000 feet, with every available space occupied by the different departments of the business. The ready-made clothing department is ar- ranged on the plan adopted by the large houses of the cities, not on high shelves, but on a great number of large tables, within easy reach of the customer, who may examine the vast stock without the aid of clerks. The merchant- tailoring department is represented by a full line of imported and domestic cloths, and a full corps of skilled workmen, among whom is Ben- jamin Nussbaum, lately arrived from Europe, brother of the proprietor. He is a tailor of ability and experience, who will devote his time to the trade. The gents' furnishing and hat and cap department furnishes the customer with an almost bewildering variety of the latest and most attractive styles to select from. The en- tire stock of this enterprising house is pur- chased by Mr. Nussbaum of Eastern manufact- urers, at the most favorable seasons of the year. His purchases are made for cash, giving his cus- tomers the benefit of large discounts thereby. Mr. Braun retired in January, 1880, leaving Mr. Joseph Nussbaum sole proprietor. He is aided in the different departments by his brothers Isaac and Benjamin, who, like himself, have been raised in the business, their father having been a tailor. They labor constantly to- gether to build up the honor and good name of

the house. Among the factors that have con- tributed largely to the success and popularity of their store, was the adoption of the one- price system in the clothing trade. This has produced a much-desired revolution of the old scheme of asking overmuch and taking less, and is hailed with satisfaction by buyers of clothing. The term "reliable " is synonymous with the operations of this house, where goods are represented as they are, and offered at their true value.

CHRISTIAN RENKERT, shoemaker and dealer, Bucyrus ; was born March 28, 1831, in Baden, Germany, city of Freyburg, and is a son of Christian and Anna M. (Buckmiller) Ren- kert. He went to school from the age of 6 to 14 years. In his 15th year his parents came to the United States, and settled in Erie Co., N. Y., about the year 1845. They lived on a farm here for three years, but in the meantime the subject of this sketch was apprenticed to learn the shoemaking business with a man named John West, of Buffalo, N. Y., serving two years, and remaining one year after his term had expired. He came to Bucyrus in the fall of 1849, and was employed by Fred- erick Schuler for seven years. In 1856, he started a shop of his own, north of the railroad, where he worked three years. In 1876. he re- moved to his present room in Schaber's build- ing, where he keeps a full stock of boots and shoes of every style and quality ; has a repair- shop and manufactory, turning out the best kind of work. He was married, Dec. 25, 1856, to Miss Helma Vollrath, of Bucyrus. Eight children have been born to them, of whom six are living, viz .: Frank, Tillie, Otto, Aggie. Frederick and Agatha. Charles died in his 7th and Anna in her 18th year. Mr. Renkert has always been a Democrat, and is now Trustee of the township; was President of the Loan and Building Association. He and family are mem- bers of the German Lutheran Church, he is also a member of the Howard Lodge of Knights of Honor. He began life with but little capital, and by his own energy and industry has ac- cumulated sufficient of the world's goods to render him comfortable.

WILLIAM M. REID, grain dealer, Bueyrus ; was born in Whetstone Township Nov. 23. 1834, and is a son of George and Mary A. (Foster) Reid. The latter gentleman was born in Ire- land Jan. 7, 1812, and came with his parents

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to America in 1816, stopping near Newburg, N. Y., but shortly afterward removing to Wash- ington Co., Penn., and some six years later (in 1824) to Crawford Co., Ohio, settling near Bu- cyrus, on new land, which his father had entered some two years before. There was no school at that time in the neighborhood, and young Reid, who was an only child, was deprived of educational advantages. At the age of 21, he married Mary A. Foster, and settled on the homestead, where he lived until 1863, when he removed to Bucyrus. His wife died in 1860, and in 1865, he was married to Mrs. M. P. Bodge, of Worthington, Ohio ; four children were born to Mr. Reid-Robert, William M. (the subject), George and James H. ; two are dead, a son and daughter ; he owned 280 acres of land. Will- iam M., whose name heads this sketch, at- tended the district school until he was 18 years old, when he entered the Bucyrus High School ; in 1854, he went to the Granger Commercial College, at Columbus, Ohio. from which he grad- nated the same summer, and afterward taught two years ; in 1857-58, he engaged in the mer- cantile business in Bucyrus, but sold out April 1, 1860, and went to Utah Territory by over- land journey. There were four in the party, and, after a pleasant journey of forty-five days with a team, they arrived in the vicinity of Breckenridge City, where they worked with moderate success, returning home in November of same year. Upon his return to Bucyrus, he commenced buying grain. continuing the busi- ness alone until 1866, when John Kaler became his partner, and the business is still continued under firm name of Reid & Kaler. They leased the present warehouse in 1870, and do a large business in grain, seeds, pork and wool. He was married, Jan. 1, 1862, to Mary E. Moder- well, of Bucyrus ; one daughter (Anna M.) was born of this marriage. His wife died in 1863, and Aug. 16, 1864, he married Emily Mc- Cracken, of Ft. Wayne, Ind. Seven children have been the fruit of this marriage, one of whom is dead ; Edward G., Lathrop F., Will- iam T .. Charles, Robert T. and Sue. At the age of 15 years, Mr. Reid united with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in 1863, he joined the Presbyterian Church, of which body he has since remained a consistent member. He has been Superintendent of Sabbath school for sixteen years ; Trustee several terms, and is at present an Elder in the church ; was Treasurer of the

State Sunday School Union for six years, and is now a member of Executive Committee. He has been elected by the people Mayor of Bucy- rus, a position he held with credit.

ALBERT J. RICHARDS, insurance agent, Bucyrus ; a son of Samuel R. and Amy (Eg- gleston) Richards, was born Oct. 13, 1852, at Leroy, Medina Co., Ohio, where he spent his youth going to school until about 17 years old, when he entered, in 1869, Baldwin University, at Berea, Ohio, remaining two years. (His father was Postmaster, and in youth subject as- sisted him in the office.) In 1872, he became the agent of the Ohio Farmers' Insurance Com- pany, located at Leroy, but worked Crawford County, which has since been his field of opera- tions. Dec. 20, 1876, he was married to Mrs. Mary E. Charlton, a daughter of W. B. Tobias, of Bueyrus, and widow of the late Alexander Charlton, by whom she had one son-Marquis. Of the present marriage one child is living- Mabel ; one son, Guy, died in his second year. After his marriage, Mr. Richards lived in Holmes Township until September, 1879, when he moved to Bucyrus. He has done a large business in insurance, having over 2,000 risks in the county at this time. This company is a very reliable one, with a cash capital of nearly a million dollars. Mr. R. and wife are members of the Lutheran Church. His father was born in Watertown, Conn., probably in June, 1816. He lost his father when about 8 years old, when the family moved to New York, where he learned the trade of blacksmith. He came to Akron, Ohio, and worked at his trade, and abont 1842 removed to Leroy, Medina Co., where he now resides. He married Amy Eggleston, then living in Medina County. They have five children living-Maria, William, George. Albert J. (the subject) and Cora. He has been Postmaster at Leroy since 1861. In 1855, he became agent for Ohio Farmers' In- surance Company, has worked in the county for twenty-five years and is well known and respected.

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History of Crawford County and Ohio, Part 116

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