History of Crawford County and Ohio, Part 122

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 122

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POLK TOWNSHIP.

JOHN C. BELTZ, farmer; P. O. Galion. Mr. Beltz was born in Center Co., Penn., April 19, 1823. He is a son of Christopher and Elizabeth (Wetzel) Beltz. His father was born in Philadelphia, Penn., July 8, 1791, and his mother in Dauphin Co., Penn., in August, 1789. They came to Crawford Co., in 1829, and located where Galion now stands, and, in the spring of 1830, purchased 160 acres of land of John Brown, where their son John now resides, paying $450 for it. Christopher Beltz died in September, 1858, but his wife is still living with her son. She is over 90 years old; is the oldest person in the township, and, although at such an advanced age, she is hale and hearty, and in possession of all her faculties, being troubled with only a slight deafness. The subject of this biography worked on his father's farm until he was 22 years old, and, April 18, 1845, he was married to Miss Haney Reed, daughter of David and Elizabeth Reed, of Polk Township. For three years he lived on his mother-in-law's farm, and, in 1850, went to Indiana, but only remained there a few months. Returning to Polk Township, he bought 60 acres of land of Samuel Geltman, and farmed it for five years, when he sold to John Waters, and rented one year of the Johnsons-on the Plains. He then moved to near Leesville, and bought, in partnership with his brother Elias, a mill property, consisting of grist and saw mill, for $4,500. They improved the grist-mill by putting in steam-power, and ran the mill for two years, when they sold to John Whitman and Adam Heller. In 1861, he moved back to Polk Township, and bought out the heirs of his father's old farm, and has since resided upon it. The farm at present consists of 158 acres of fine improved land, located a few miles from Galion, on the Bucy- rus road. He has improved the property by new buildings, draining the land until it is a valuable and desirable piece of real estate. He has six children living-Sarah J.,

Jemima J., William M., Alonzo P., Elizabeth and Haney M., and five deceased-Elias, Williard J., Elizabeth G. and two infants. Mr. Beltz, wife and family, are all members of the English Lutheran Church. He is a prominent and energetic member of the Dem- ocratic party, and takes an active and deep interest in the affairs of the county manage- ment. He is at present serving a term as Township Trustee.

JOHN BLYTH, baggage-master, C., C., C. & I. R. R., Galion; was born in Kirkcaldy, County of Fife, Scotland, Aug. 22, 1841. At the age of 14 he emigrated to Cornwall, Canada West. He came to Galion in 1863, and worked on the construction of the A. & G. W. R. R. In December, 1863, he enlisted in the 32d O. V. I., Company B, and was in service until he was wounded, in front of Atlanta, July 22, 1864. The wound became gangrenous, and, after lying in various hospitals for several months, he was finally discharged, March 14, 1865, in consequence of the wound. Return- ing to Galion, he again entered into the em- ploy of the A. & G. W. R. R., and remained with that company until 1868, when he en- gaged with the C., C., C. & I. R. R. as baggage- master at Galion. He was married, in 1868, to Miss Louisa C. Wittibslager, daughter of Jacob and Hannah Wittibslager, of Polk Township. She was born in Buffalo, N. Y., May 29, 1849. They have four children living- Lester W., Thomas O., Bertha A., and Edith J .; also one deceased, George L. His mother, Margaret Blyth, emigrated to this country in 1867, and is still living with him: she was born in the county of Fife, Scotland, Aug. 17, 1817. Mr. Blyth has always taken an active interest in the educational affairs of Galion, and is one of the School Directors at the pres- ent time. He is a member of Galion Lodge, No. 414, F. & A. M. He was elected Master of this body in 1873, and has held the office up to the present time; he is also a charter mem- ber of Crawford Chapter, a charter member

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of Mutual Lodge K. of H., No. 32, and a member of the Grand Lodge of Ohio, K. of H.

A. M. BROWN, foreman machine shops, N. Y., P. & O. R. R., Galion. Mr. Brown was born in Essex Co., Mass., May 19, 1833. His early life, up to 19 years of age, was spent in Massachusetts. He learned his trade as machinist at Andover, Mass., and from there, in 1852, went to Dunkirk, N. Y., re- maining there but six months, when he went to Toronto, Canada, working at his trade there for a short time. In 1853, he went to Marion, Ohio, and engaged with the C., C., C. & I. R. R., working there until the shops were moved to Galion, in 1854, when he came there and remained in the shops until June, 1864, when he went to Ft. Wayne, and worked for the Pennsylvania Company, until October, 1864, when he returned to Galion and engaged with the A. & G. W. R. R., and then with the N. Y., P. & O. R. R., and has been with that company up to the present time. He was appointed foreman of the machine shops, in June, 1873, which position he still holds. He was married Nov. 22, 1853, to Miss Nancy Cather, of Dun- kirk, N. Y.

JAMES W. COULTER, lawyer, Galion; was born July 4, 1846, in West Bedford, Coshocton Co. His father, R. M. Coulter, now deceased, was born in Pennsylvania. His mother, who is now living with her son-in-law, O. W. Aldrich, L.L. D., Editor of the Monthly Jurist, at Bloomington, Ill., was born and reared in Ireland; her maiden name was Phœbe Greer. The subject of this sketch is a fair type of the "self-made " men, who are the strength and pride of our commonwealth. Mr. Coulter was educated at Spring Mountain. Coshocton Co., Ohio. By his own personal exertions, he supported himself and paid his way at school, receiving no pecuniary assist- ance from home. He read law with Hon. A. M. Jackson and Hon. Thomas Beer, of Bucy- rus, who is now Judge of the Court of Com- mon Pleas of that district. He was admitted to the bar in 1866, when he immediately located in Galion, and commenced the prac- tice of his profession, in which he has been very actively and successfully engaged since. For four years, he was Prosecuting Attorney

of the county: six years a member of the Board of County School Examiners; also, four years a member of the Board of Education of the Galion union schools, and was President of that board. He has always been a Demo- crat, but in no sense a partisan politician; is now 33 years of age, unmarried. Mr. Coulter is a thorough business man, and has been very successful in a pecuniary way; in fact, his judgment and practical ability in this respect are first-class, both in the management of his own interests and in conducting others that may be intrusted to his care. His opinion has much weight with local capitalists, and in point of public spirit he stands in a front rank in the community where he resides; has uniformly seconded his views by liberal in- vestments or donations, and habitually helps to advance the private enterprises of his fel- low-citizens, as far as he can consistently with correct business principles. As a lawyer Mr. Coulter is keenly perceptive, incisive, logical and spirited in debate, yet courteous. religion, he is tolerant, extending the same In charity to others that he desires from them. With good health and the greater part of an ordinary lifetime before him, judging from the last decade, it is easy to predict what, in all probability, the future has in store for Mr. Coulter, now one of the successful self-made men of his native State.

C. S. CRIM, banker, Galion. Prominent among the energetic and prosperous business men of Galion, and one worthy of especial mention, is C. S. Crim, banker and capitalist. Mr. Crim was born in Lancaster Co., Penn., in 1820. He is the son of Jacob and Eliza- beth (Smith) Crim. His father being a farm- er, his early life was spent upon the farm. and his education such as the common schools of the times afforded; he also attended select school at Lexington, Ohio. In 1839, Mr. Crim started out in life for himself, as clerk in a dry goods store in Lancaster, Ohio. He received no pecuniary aid from home, and his success in life is due to perseverance and industry, coupled with good judgment and practical ability. In 1843, he removed to Jeromeville, Wayne Co., Ohio, and engaged in the mercantile business for himself, and also engaged in the same business in Johnsville,

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Morrow Co., remaining at the latter place until 1851, when he removed to Galion, and has since been identified with numerous enter- prises there. In 1854, he started a dry goods store on the corner of Main and Columbus streets, and at the same time engaged in the grain and produce trade, which he is still interested in. In 1864, he established the First National Bank of Galion, and has been its President ever since. This bank has a capital of $50,000, and does business aggre- gating several millions yearly. In 1866, in connection with John S. Davis and H. P. Stentz, the Exchange Bank of Monroeville, Huron Co., was organized, and, in December of 1869, it was changed to a national bank, and is now known as the First National Bank of Monroeville. Mr. Crim is a Director of this bank. He is a Republican, but has never taken an active part in politics, his time being occupied in the management of his numerous business interests. Mr. Crim was married, on April 8, 1858, to Miss Martha R. Casner, of Ohio, who received her education at Ober- lin, Ohio. They have four children living- Ollie E., Ella E., Charles S. and Don. Another son. Georgie S., died, Feb. 6. ISSO, aged 6 years. He and his wife and daughters belong to the Methodist Church. Mr. Crim, by in- dustry, economy, pluck and fair dealing, has acquired great wealth, which he uses in a quiet, unostentatious way, to advance every public enterprise that possesses merit. As a man of public spirit, devoted to his family, loyal to his church and his business, he has few equals and no superiors, and presents a bright and shining example to the young men of to-day of what it is possible for them to accomplish by acquiring correct habits and adhering to honest convictions and scrupulous integrity.

T. COSSLON, conductor, Galion; was born in Springfield, Ohio, in 1854. He has been railroading for the past ten years, and, during that time, had three fingers taken off in an accident. At the present time he is running a train on the C., C., C. & I. R. R.

O. S. CULP, livery, Galion; was born in Pennsylvania, in 1833, and received a good common-school education, and. in 1854, went into the livery business at West Newton, West-

moreland Co., Penn., and remained there until 1865. He then went to Warren Co., Ill., and farmed for five years. At the expiration of that time he removed to Cleveland and en- gaged in the livery business, again remaining there for over six years, when he removed to Galion, and has been engaged in the livery business up to the present time. He was married in 1854, to Miss Anna F. Carl, of Westmoreland Co., Penn. They have nine children.

P. F. CASE, wholesale hardware, Galion; was born in New Haven, Huron Co., Ohio, in 1848. His parents moved to Vernon Town- ship. Crawford Co., in 1850. His education was limited to country schools. He came to Galion in 1866, and clerked three years with Roger & Duck, in the hardware business. He began business for himself in 1870, in the retail hardware trade, and, in 1875, he changed from retail to wholesale, and is en- gaged in that line at the present time (1880). He has just completed one of the largest build- ings in the city for the better accommodation of his increasing trade. In 1879, he started a brass band of thirty pieces, named after himself. It is considered one of the best bands in this locality. He was married in 1872, to Dora Monnett, daughter of Dr. Mon- nett. They have three children-Laura, Frank L. and May. He was a member of the Common Council for two years.

ROBERT COWDEN, Postmaster, Galion; was born in this county, May 24, 1833, and had the benefits of but a limited education. At the age of 5, death robbed him of his father, and, at 15 years of age, he commenced carpentering as an apprentice, which business he followed on his own account from the age of 19. By dint of close private study, he prepared himself to teach in the common schools of his time, which he practiced during winters. At 19 years of age he was converted, and joined the United Brethren Church. At 21 he was married to Miss Lydia T., daughter of Daniel Miller, who is also a native of this county. In the spring of 1857, he moved to Franklin Co., Kan., where he worked at his trade, and where, on the organization of the county, he was elected its first County Clerk. About the first of the year 1860, he returned

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to his native county. On the 9th of Septem- ber. 1861, he enlisted as private in Company B, Ist U. S. Mechanic Fusileers, but on the organ- ization of Company H, which he had aided in recruiting, he was appointed First Lieutenant of that company, but, because of informality in the enlistments, this regiment was mustered out, by order of the Secretary of War, on the 29th of January, 1862, and he immediately enlisted as private in Company I, Ist III. Light Artillery. He was rapidly promoted to Corporal, Sergeant and First Sergeant, and, in May, 1862, for meritorious service at the battle of Pittsburg Landing, Tenn., he was commissioned Second Lieutenant. On the 11th of May, 1863, he was appointed to aid in the or- ganization of the 39th U. S. Colored Infantry, and was commissioned Major of the regiment, and, on the 18th of May, 1864, was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. He was in command of the regiment from December, 1863, until its muster-out on on the 31st of January, 1866, at Memphis, Tenn., except while incapacitated by wounds. At the head of his regiment, he received a severe gunshot wound in his right hip, at the disastrous engagement at Gun- town, Miss., on June 10, 1864, from which he has suffered ever since. The principal en- gagements in which he participated were Pittsburg Landing, Corinth, Vicksburg, Jack- son and Guntown. After the war, he be- came noted as a leader in Sunday-school work, and was Secretary of the Ohio Sabbath School Union six consecutive years, from 1871 to 1877. He has been Secretary of the Sun- day School Union of this county ever since its organization, in 1867, till this time (1880). He has also been General Secretary of the United Brethren Sabbath School Association since May, 1877, in which capacity he has traveled over much of the United States, hold- ing Sunday School Normal Institutes. His commission as Postmaster in Galion is dated January 29, 1878, and he entered on his duties on the 4th of March of the same year.

R. W. CHASE, physician, Galion; was born in Chautauqua Co., N. Y., in 1842. He had the benefit of a good common-school edu- cation, and taught school in 1858 and 1859, in Charlotte, Chautauqua Co., N. Y., after which he spent 1861 and 1862 attending college,

after which he clerked in a dry goods store in the years 1863, 1864 and 1865. In 1866, he bought a half-interest in a dry goods store in Chautauqua, Chautauqua Co., N. Y., and remained in said business three years, and sold out in 1869, and commenced study- ing medicine with Dr. D. S. Pickett, of Chau- tauqua, N. Y., and remained one year, and completed his studies with Dr. Fenner, of Fredonia, N. Y. In 1874, he commenced the practice of medicine in Chautauqua, N. Y., where he remained three years, when he went to Bradford and remained three years, and graduated at the Eclectic Medical College, in 1875. He came to Galion in June, 1880, and is established in practice on West Main street.

S. G. CUMMINGS, attorney, Galion. Mr. Cummings was born in Crawford Co., Ohio, in October, 1839. In 1861, he commenced to read law with Bartly & Johnston, of Mans- field, Ohio, and remained with them until 1864. He was admitted to the bar in Janu- ary, 1864, at Columbus, Ohio, when, in April, 1864, he went to Montana, and engaged in gulch-mining until 1866, and was successful, and then came to Galion, Ohio, and com- menced to practice law there in 1867. He was elected Prosecutor of Crawford Co., Ohio, in 1873, and again in 1875, and served four years. He has been elected several times a member of the School Board and Council, and is a member of both at the present time. Is also a member of the firm of Cummings & Meuser, attorneys at law, who have a good practice. He married Miss Sarah G. Ruhl, of Galion, Ohio, in January, 1867, and has one son.

HERBERT DECROW; physician, Galion, was born in Licking Co., Ohio, in 1846, and received a good education at the union school at Johnstown, Ohio, and at Dennison Univer- sity, at Granville, Ohio; he lived on a farm until 20 years of age, and when not at school canvassed for books. In 1867, went to Quincy, Ill., with Dr. Decrow, dentist, and worked in his office, and studied medicine with Dr. Baker, and remained there three years, when he came home and traveled sixteen months for the Austin Powder Company, of Cleve- land, Ohio. He then taught school and read

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medicine under Drs. Stinson & Williams, of Alexandria, Ohio, until the fall of 1873, when he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, and attended lectures at the Eclectic Medical Institute, and graduated in the spring, having attended his first course in 1869 and 1870, in Jefferson Medical Institute, and Pennsylvania Dental College at Philadelphia. He commenced the practice of medicine at Utica, Licking Co., Ohio. March 1, 1874, and remained there until April 1, 1880; he then moved to Galion, Ohio, and has established a first-class practice, being very successful. He was married to Lucy A. Holmes, of Brownsville, Licking Co., Ohio, and has three boys.

THOMAS C. DAVIS, grocer, Galion; was born in that portion of Richland Co. which is now Morrow Co., in October, 1837, and re- mained there until 1861. He then enlisted in Company C, 15th O. V. I., and served four years and four months. He served two years as private, then was commissioned as First Lieutenant, and afterward as Captain. He returned from the army in March, 1866, and commenced the grocery and daily market busi- ness at 26 West Main street, Galion, Ohio, where he is still in business. On his return from the army he married Angeline Rinehart, daughter of John and Catharine Rinehart.

JOHN D. DEGOLLEY, attorney, Galion, was born in Washington Co., Md., May 26, 1850, and received his education at the Quincy Academy, of Franklin Co., Penn. In 1868, he commenced reading law with D. Watson Rowe (Judge of Court of Common Pleas), and took a three years' course, and was admitted to the bar at Chambersburg in 1871. He came to Galion, Ohio, May 27, 1874, and was admitted to the bar at Columbus, Ohio, June 6, 1876, and has been practicing law in Galion, Ohio, ever since. He was elected the first City Solicitor of Galion, in April, 1879. He was married in October, 1878, to Miss Anna M. Parsons, of Galion, Ohio, and has one son.

REV. E. P. ELCOCK, Pastor Presbyterian Church, Galion; was born in Covington, Miami Co., Ohio, Ang. 20, 1847. His education was commenced at home, his mother having been a teacher in the public schools at Dayton, Ohio, before her marriage. He commenced the study of Latin at the age of 7 years, assisted

by his father, Rev. Thomas Elcock; also attended public school at Van Wert, Ohio, and Decatur, Ind. He was also sent to Vermillion Institute, Ashland Co., Ohio, remaining there about three years. At times, during his at- tendance there, he taught school at various places, having at one time a select school in Decatur, Ind., of 125 pupils. From Vermill. ion Institute he went to Cannonsburg, Penn., attending Washington and Jefferson College, graduating in 1869. After spending three years at Theological Seminary at Princeton, N. Y., he was installed as Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church at Port Deposit, Md., on May 7, 1872. He remained there fifteen months, and then went to Bridgeville, Del., remaining there nearly three years. He came to Galion in August, 1875, and has been Pas- tor of the First Presbyterian Church up to the present time.

JAMES H. GREEN, bank cashier, Galion; son of Aaron and Nancy Green, he of Penn- sylvania, she of Tennessee. He was born March 4, 1834, at Norton, Delaware Co., Ohio, and during his youth attended the common schools of his neighborhood, and in 1850 he went to Cardington, Morrow Co., and clerked in a hardware store until 1856, when he went to Mt. Gilead, and carried on the merchant- tailoring business until 1861. He enlisted in Co. B, 43d O. V. I., and served three years and a half, then went to Cardington, Ohio, for two years, as Assistant Cashier of the First Na- tional Bank. In August, 1866, he came to Gal- ion, Ohio, and has been Cashier of the Citizens' Bank and Citizens' National Bank up to the present time. He owns and superintends four farms and two stone quarries, and a wholesale oil and varnish jobbing house. He was mar- ried to Miss Lola H. McLain, of Galion, Ohio, and has four children.

JOSEPH S. GRAVER, hotel, Galion; was born in Philadelphia, Penn., in 1844, and had the benefit of a good common-school educa- tion. He commenced to learn the butcher's trade in 1854, and stayed at that one year, then worked in a morocco manufactory until 1859, when he started a milk-wagon, and ran that until 1861. He then enlisted in Com- pany F, 3d Penn. V. C., and remained three years, and came home in 1864, and went to

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Alliance, Ohio, to work for the P., F. W. & C. R. R., in 1865, after that going to Philadel- phia, and remaining eighteen months. He

- returned to Alliance, Ohio, in 1867, and com- menced railroading as conductor until 1872. In 1873, he went back to Philadelphia and to New York City, then to Savannah, Ga., in the hide business, for three months. He then traveled extensively through the Southern and Western States, to Cincinnati, Ohio, and Pittsburgh, Ft. Wayne, Lafayette, Ind., Tole- do, Ohio, Mansfield, Ohio, then in the fall of 1873, he came to Galion, Ohio, and com- menced with the A. & G. W. R. R., and left in the spring of 1874 and went to work for the C., C., C. & I. R. R., and remained there until August, 1879, when he took the National House, near the depot of the N. Y., P. & O. R. R., and is still there. He was married to Minnie Scott Mathews, of Allegheny City, Penn., Aug. 26, 1572, and has two children living and two dead.

ASA HOSFORD, miller and farmer; P. O. Galion. Among the early settlers of this county, and one worthy of special mention, is Asa Hosford, the subject of this sketch. He was born in Richfield, Mass., in 1799. At the age of 6 years, his parents removed from Litch- field, Conn., to Jefferson Co., N. Y., and located upon a farm, remaining there for fourteen years, when they again removed to Ontario Co., N. Y., remaining there for four years. Mr. Hos- ford then being of age, and having a strong desire to see Ohio, he, in company with his brother Horace, started upon a tour. They came to Cleveland upon the first steamboat upon the Lakes, and then started for the in- terior of Ohio on foot. This was in the fall of 1819. Mr. Hosford remained in Huron Co. all winter, and in the spring was joined by his parents, who located in what is now Crawford Co. Mr. Hosford worked for several years to get his first $100, when he entered 80 acres of land near Galion. In 1824, he opened the first hotel in the neighborhood. It was located somewhere in the present site of Galion, and for eight years was the pro- prietor. He finally sold the hotel property to Ruhl for $600, and invested this money in 43 acres of land, which was situated where the heart of Galion is to-day. It was the inten-

tion of Mr. Hosford to lay out a town. Ruhl also had the same intentions, and finally bought the 43 acres of Mr. Hosford. He then, in 1832, bought the mill property in Polk Township, where he still resides, build- ing a mill which is in operation to-day. He was married in 1825, to Miss Alta Kent, of Bucyrus. They have three children living -Rebecca, Eri and Stephen. Mr. Hosford has been honored by many offices of trust by his friends, and in all has discharged them with ability and honor. His connection with the railroad, in which he deserves great credit, appears in the history of Galion.

J. R. HOMER, foundry and machine shop, Galion; is the present Mayor of Galion, Ohio. Although a Republican in a Democratic com- munity, he was elected by twenty-five ma- jority. He was born in Monson, Me., April 7, 1833. He attended the common schools and also an academy two terms. He worked on a farm when not at school until he was 21 years of age, and afterward served his time in a foundry at Galion, Ohio, and worked five years as journeyman, and also as foreman three years. In 1862, he enlisted in Company E, 101st O. V. I., and served three years in all the offices except Orderly Sergeant up to First Lieutenant, and came home in 1865, and took a position as foreman in a foundry for two years. He then bought a half-interest in a foundry and machine shop, known as the Gal- ion Machine Works. He has served several terms as a member of the Council, and has been President of the School Board, and has been Director of a building association through its full term. He was married to Jane E. Nave. of Galion, and has one son, who works in the machine shop, and one daughter, who teaches in the public school at Galion, Ohio.

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History of Crawford County and Ohio, Part 122

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