History of Crawford County and Ohio, Part 132

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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He also, during that time, cleared with his own hands 60 acres of heavily timbered land. From boyhood to the present time, he has paid close attention to diseases of the horse. He uses only new and rational remedies, and is one of the most successful veterinary surgeons in Crawford Co. He owns 180 acres of well- improved land ; is a stanch Republican, and a member of the English Lutheran Church.

ADAM SHERER ; P. O. Galion ; was born in Washington Co., Penn., Sept. 7, 1812. He is the son of John and Elizabeth (Singhans) Sher- er, mention of whom is made in the biography of John Sherer, in this work. Adam was reared upon a farm, receiving but a limited ed- ncation. He was married to Miss Nancy Clem- ens in 1835 ; she was born in Stark Co., Ohio, in 1820, and died in 1850. She was the mother of seven children-William and Abraham, liv- ing ; Sarah, Clarine, Adam, Henry and John,

deceased. Mr. Sherer was married to Hannah Clark in 1851; she was born in Stark Co., Ohio, in 1822. Four children were born of this union-Susan, living; Elizabeth, Levi and James, deceased. Mr. Sherer came to Craw- ford Co. in 1837. He owns 162 acres of land, which he has made by his own exertions. His sons William and Henry were soldiers in the late war, in Co. E, 101st O. V. I. ; Henry died at Bridgeport, Ala., in 1863. Mr. Sherer is a stanch Republican in politics, and a member of ths English Lutheran Church. He began life as a poor boy, and has, by close attention to business, obtained a goodly share of this world's goods. Himself and family are much- respected citizens.

JOHN SHERER, farmer ; P. O. Galion. The parents of this gentleman, John and Eliz- abeth (Singhaus) Sherer, were both natives of the " Keystone State," where they were married and resided until 1813, when they came to Stark Co., Ohio. The wife died March 1, 1815, and Mr. Sherer was subsequently married to a Miss Kieffer. By his first marriage there were four children, and by the second, eleven. He died Sept. 30, 1871, and his wife Oct. 26, 1864. The father had been a soldier of the war of 1812, under Gen. Harrison, and was for a num- ber of years, the captain of a company of mili- tia. He was an exemplary Christian gentle- man, and held, during his life-time, numerous positions of honor and trust. The subject of this brief sketch was born Feb. 22, 1809, in

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Washington Co., Penn. His youth and early manhood were passed upon his father's farm, and his education consisted of such instruction as was given to the pupils of the common schools of that early day. Soon after reaching his majority, he came to Crawford Co., Ohio, which, with the exception of three years, he has since made his home. He was married, March 31, 1831, to Miss Sarah Kieffer, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1808. From this union there were eight children, five of whom are yet living-Belinda, Rebecca, Rachel, John K. and Francis M. The names of those who died were Samuel, Michael and Adam. Michael and Adam well and faithfully served their country in the war of the rebellion, in Co. E, 101st O. V. I. Adam was killed at the battle of Stone River, and Michael died of typhoid fever at Edgefield Junction, Tenn. Mr. Sherer began as a poor boy, and has been very successful in his business undertakings, and at one time owned over 800 acres of land in the county. He has given liberally to his children, and to all enterprises that had a tendency to build up the community in which he lived, or benefit his fellow-man. He and wife are consistent mem- bers of the English Lutheran Church. He is a stanch Republican, and has held numerous po- sitions of honor and trust in his long and eventful lifetime. The world would be much better if it held more of such people as Mr. and Mrs. Sherer.

SAMUEL SHERER, farmer ; P. O. Bucyrus ; was born March 3, 1828, in Lycoming Co., Penn. He is the son of Jacob and Christina (Gross) Sherer, both of whom were natives of Germany, from which country they came when yet children, with their parents, to Lycoming Co., Penn. Here they were married and re- sided until about 1833, when they came to Crawford Co., and settled on the farm now owned by George Kurtz, in Whetstone Town- ship. The mother died Dec. 1, 1870, and the father June 22, 1877. Samuel has always re- mained upon the old homestead. He lias been twice married ; his first wife was Miss Magda- lena Heckenlively, who bore him two children- Catharine and Mary J. This lady died Jan. 3, 1860. Mr. Sherer's second wife was Miss Eliza- beth Haller ; she also bore him two children- Simeon and Matilda. This wife died April 5, 1872. Mr. Sherer owns 308 acres of well- improved land. He is a Democrat, and has

held the offices of Township Trustee and Clerk. He is a man of broad and liberal views, always supporting men and measures, and not party. He has an intelligent family, and is looked up to and respected by all who know him.

C. R. SHECKLER, physician ; P. O. North Robinson. This gentleman attended the public schools of Bucyrus until the age of 15, when he began the study of medicine in the same town, in the office of Dr. Cuykendall, under whose instruction he completed his medical education in about three years, after which he attended the Columbus Medical College, at the capital of the State, at which institution he graduated during the spring of 1876. Soon after his graduation, he began the practice of his profession in the village of North Robinson, where he has since remained, with a rapidly in- creasing business practice. He was born in the county seat March 7, 1855, and is the son of E. F. and A. G. (Shawk) Sheckler, both natives of Pennsylvania, from which State they emigrated to Bucyrus at quite an early day. The subject of this sketch was united in marriage with Miss Kate Bogan April 15, 1880 ; she was born in Whetstone Township, Crawford Co., Ohio, in January, 1862. Dr. Sheckler is also engaged in the drug business in the village, and has quite a flourishing trade, which is on the in- crease. He is a member of the Democratic party.

ISAAC SNYDER ; P. O. New Winchester ; was born in Northumberland Co., Penn., Feb. 27, 1831. His parents were George and Mar- garet (Null) Snyder, the former being a native of Pennsylvania, and the latter of Baden, Ger- many. They were married in Pennsylvania, and were the parents of one child, the subject of this sketch. The mother was a widow at the time of her marriage with Mr. Snyder, and the latter had also been previously married. When Isaac was 3 years of age his father died, and the mother remained on the old homestead until 1836. At this time, Nicholas Myers, a relative who had been living in Crawford Co., Ohio, for several years, went to Pennsylvania, and when he returned to Ohio Mrs. Snyder and family accompanied him. On her arrival, Mrs. Snyder purchased a farm, upon which she re- sided until her death, which occurred in 1872. The mother was a hard-working, kind-hearted Christian lady, with a loving and affectionate disposition. Isaac, throughout his life, lias

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been trained and inured to hard work, and, be- ing deprived of his father at an early age, was ealled upon when young to assume many manly responsibilities, and later had charge of his mother's farm. He was married to Miss Re- becca Albright on the 9th of January, 1857, the lady having been born in Whetstone Town- ship Feb. 17, 1830. Seven children have been born to this union, five of whom are now living, as follows : Laura A., Lucinda, Lewis R., John D. and Mary E. Those deceased are Emeline and Charles W. Mr. Snyder has been honored with various township offices-was Justice of the Peace three years and Treasurer four years. He is a Democrat and a member of the Ger- man Reformed Church. He owns 390 acres of land, nicely improved, with good buildings, ete. He raises good stock, and is one of the most intelligent, enterprising and prominent men in the township.

MRS. SUSAN SAVAGE; P. O. Bucyrus ; this lady was born in 1805, in Columbia Co., Penn. Her father, Asa Coho, was a native of the Keystone State, and the parent of eight children. He died when Mrs. Savage was 7 years of age, after which she went to live with a cousin, with whom she remained until her marriage with Mr. Daniel Savage in 1824. Four years after this event they removed to Crawford Co., Ohio. Mr. Savage was a shoe- maker by trade, a business he followed in con- neetion with farming, after he came to Craw- ford County. He was a consistent Christian gentleman, and an influential, respected citizen. He died in 1877, while visiting friends in Indi- ana. His marriage was fruitful of fifteen chil- dren, eight of whom are now living, viz .: John, Daniel, Thomas, Benjamin F., Mary A., Debo- rah E., Elizabeth and Angeline. The deceased were William, Asa, Francis R., Joseph, Charles and two infants, who died without naming. Mrs. Savage is now living upon the farm set- tled upon by herself and husband in 1828. It

consists of 163 aeres, all of which is under cul- tivation and nicely improved. She has been a member of the Lutheran Church a great many years, and is one of the most respected and in- telligent Christian ladies in Whetstone Town- ship.

LEANDER L. TEEL, Bueyrus ; the eldest son of George W. and Elizabeth (Markley) Teel ; was born March 27, 1847 ; attended the schools taught in Sulphur Springs, where he received a

knowledge of the common branches. At the age of 16, he entered the college at Oberlin, Ohio, where he remained eighteen months, and attended Duff's Commercial College, at Pitts- burgh, during the winter of 1865-66. Was married, May 4, 1869, to Sabina E., daughter of Phillip Keller, of Sandusky Township. Five children are the result of this marriage-Harry Clay, Ester M., Herbert K., Gertrude E. and Errie P. Resided in Sandusky Township after his marriage until the spring of 1874. The year previous, he was elected Clerk of the township, although a Republican. He engaged in the mercantile business at Sycamore, Wyandot Co., from the spring of 1874 to April, 1875, when he returned to Crawford, and acted as agent of the South Bend, Ind., Iron Works for some twelve months ; then for three years farmed a portion of his father's land. Taught the higher department of the Sulphur Springs schools for three winters, and also one winter in Sandusky Township. In the spring of 1880, he removed to his present residence in Whetstone Town- ship east of Bucyrus, and during the past twelve months has assisted his father in business eon- nected with the Ohio C. R. R. The subject of this sketch was instrumental in securing $10,- 000, the quota of Wyandot Co., to the guaran- tee fund of the road, and through the efforts of Mr. Teel this county was the first to report. He is at the present time Assistant Secretary of the Crawford Co. Farmers' Fire Insurance Co., and was President of the Garfield Club of Bu- cyrus during the recent Presidential campaign. Mr. Teel is the great grandson of Adam Link, who was one of the last five surviving veterans of the American Revolution. Link was born near Hagerstown, Md., Nov. 14, 1761, and died at the residence of his daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Horatio Markley (both since de- ceased), near Sulphur Springs, Aug. 15, 1864, aged 102 years 9 months and 1 day. When Link was 6 years of age, his parents removed into Fayette Co., Penn., and afterward settled in Washington Co., which was then on the extreme borders of civilization. Being thus exposed to the subtle danger which then surrounded a frontier life, in the vicinity of Indians un- friendly to the whites, Adam acquired, in the hardships and dangers of border warfare, an experience which fitted him for future service in the cause of his country. He entered the American army in 1777, and, upon the com-

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mencement of hostilities, the Indians made a descent upon the settlement, captured his father, John Link, then murdered and scalped him, burnt the house and barn, destroyed a large field of corn, 100 hogs, 40 sheep, all the cat- tle and horses, and 300 bushels of wheat. From this period, the family, from having enjoyed an unusual amount of wealth and independence, was at once depressed into poverty, and suffered great privation and danger during the remainder of the war. Link served at different periods in the garrisons at Wheeling, Moore, Dements and Shepherd forts, and acted as an Indian spy, as well as scouting along the frontier. In 1791, Gen. St. Clair made a levy of two men from each county for the frontier service. These men were to be drafted in 1791 in case they did not vol- unteer. The men, on a set day, were drawn up in line and the object made known, and any two who were willing to go were asked to step for- ward. Link was the first to advance, and with another man, offered to clear their county from the draft for $10 each, certainly a very low bounty, but nevertheless it was not paid. Men in those days would not pay much money in order to avoid fighting for a good government when its life was in peril. Link was married at the age of 30, and resided in Crawford Co. for several years previous to his death, and saw his posterity to the fourth generation.

JOHN TRIMBLE, retired, Bucyrus ; is a native of the Buckeye State, having been born in Jefferson Co., Feb. 15, 1805. His parents, Hugh and Ann (Long) Trimble, came from Ireland to the United States in the latter part of the eighteenth century, locating in Pennsyl- vania until 1800, when they came to Jefferson Co., Ohio. In 1823, they came to Whetstone Township, locating in the northern part, on land now owned by Mr. Eichelberger. The father had come to Whetstone Township the previous year, and entered 320 acres of land. He was singularly upright, and after many years of toil secured a comfortable home. The mother died in 1830, and the father followed her in 1840. They were the parents of nine children, two of whom are yet living-John and William, the latter living in Liberty Town- ship. John Trimble remained with his father until the age of 22, when he was sent to Dela- ware, Ohio, to enter the eighty acres of land upon which he now lives. He walked to and from Delaware, and upon his return was given

twenty acres of the eighty he had entered. On the 31st of January, 1828, he was united in mar- riage with Miss Icy, daughter of Daniel and Patience Parcher, his wife being born in Ver- inont, Jan. 30, 1803. Her parents had come to New York, thence to Mentor, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, thence to Crawford Co., Ohio, in 1823. To John and Icy Trimble was born the follow- ing family: Asenath, Icy, Mary A., Lafayette, Nelson J., Sarah, John W., Lyman and Eliza ; the former three are the only ones now living. After his marriage, Mr. Trimble began living on his twenty-acre tract of land. In time he added considerably to his small farm ; but soon afterward gave it to his children, that they might have something to start with in life. Mr. Trimble has been a Republican since the or- ganization of that party, and was formerly a stanch Whig. Two of his sons, John and Nel- son, were soldiers in the late war. John did not live to return home ; his daughter Asenath is the wife of G. W. Kieffer ; Icy is the wife of Franklin Bowers, and Mary A., the wife of J. A. McMichael ; the latter son-in-law, was also in the late war. Mr. Trimble has held several township offices, always serving with honor to himself and satisfaction to his constituency. His wife died on the 25th of February, 1874 ; he has the unlimited respect and confidence of his fellow-citizens. As a member of the Baptist Church, he has lived a long, consistent life.

ANDREW R. WALKER, Bucyrus ; was born in Hampshire Co., Va., Jan. 14, 1827. He is the son of Robert and Martha (Leeper) Walker, the former being a native of Virginia, and the latter of Pennsylvania. They were the parents of seven children, only two of whom are now living-Andrew R. and his brother, L. L. Walker. In 1826, the father came to Craw- ford Co. and entered 160 acres of land. In 1828, he returned with his family and began the improvement of his forest home. Abont eight years after their coming to the county, the father died. This left five small children de- pendent upon the mother. She was a woman of great force of character and energy, and managed, through the assistance of the neigh- bors, to raise her children quite nicely, giving them such education as the schools of that early day afforded. Andrew R., being the oldest son, learned, when quite young, what it was to have persons dependent upon him for their daily bread. This, although hard for the boy, was, in

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the end, very beneficial to the man. Habits of industry and economy, then of necessity, learned by him, have, in a great measure, characterized his walk throughout life. He was united in marriage with Miss Imus Campbell Sept. 25, 1860. She was born in Crawford Co., Ohio, Jan. 7, 1833. There was one child from this union-Robert J., born July 4, 1861. The wife and mother died Nov. 17, 1862. Mr. Walker was again married, June 10, 1878, to Miss Han- nah E. Gibson, daughter of John Gibson, Esq., one of the early settlers of Crawford Co. She was born in Crawford Co., Ohio, July 16, 1844. Mr. Walker has resided nearly all his life on the old homestead in Whetstone Township. Pre- vions to the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Bill, Mr. Walker voted with the Democratic party. Since that time, he has been a stanch Republican. He is a member of the Presby- terian Church, and an influential and prominent citizen. He owns 260 acres of nicely improved land, situated near the center of Whetstone Township.

WILLIAM A. WILLIAMS, Superintendent of County Infirmary, Bucyrus, was born Dec. 15, 1825, in Berks Co., Penn. The parents, Price and Ann (Hughes) Williams, were both natives of Pennsylvania, where they were raised, married, and resided until 1836, when they came to Crawford Co., Ohio, settling in Auburn Township. The father's occupation was charcoal burning, a business he followed quite extensively after his coming to Crawford Co., and until the advent of the railroads in the county. He also owned a farm, but his sons did nearly all the work upon this, as his time was occupied in charcoal-burning. Will- iam A. being the eldest son, on him devolved the responsibility of clearing and improving the farm. This gave him but little spare time, and his opportunities for obtaining an educa-

tion were very limited. In early life, he mani- fested a strong liking for the rearing and train- ing of horses, and, on reaching his majority, began in a small way to deal in horses. During his life, he has owned some of the best horses ever kept in Auburn Township, and has done much to improve the grade of farm horses in the county. When 25 years of age, he pur- chased 80 acres of unimproved land, and be- gan its improvement. In the late war, he served in Co. H, 123d O. V. I., from August, 1862, to August, 1864. At the battle of Win- chester, Va., he was taken prisoner, and for eight months endured all the hardships inci- dent to prison life in the historical Libby Prison of Richmond, Va. He was one of the men who planned and successfully established a tunnel, through which 104 men escaped from Libby Prison. After his escape, he rejoined his company, of which he was Second Lieuten- ant, although during the year of 1864, he had charge of Co. H, and, from the time of his es- cape to his discharge, he had command of that company. After his return home, he devoted his time to farming and stock-growing. In 1877, he was appointed by the Infirmary Direct- ors Superintendent of that institution. Mr. Williams possesses superior executive ability, and, under his skillful management, the Infirm- ary has become almost self-supporting. Dur- ing his residence in Auburn Township, he was honored with many positions of profit and trust. His marriage with Miss Rebecca J. Bleeks occurred Aug. 29, 1852. She was born in Medina Co., Ohio, Aug. 2, 1832. From this union there are three children-Allison, living ; Emma and Oscar, deceased. Mr. Williams owns a nicely improved farm of 160 acres in Auburn Township, which he has obtained by his own exertions. He is a Democrat, politi- cally, though liberal in his views.

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LIBERTY TOWNSHIP.

ELI ADAMS, retired farmer ; P. O. Sulphur Springs ; was born in Massachusetts, about forty miles from Boston, March 18, 1803. His father, Ephraim, was a grandson of John Adams, of Revolutionary fame. Ephraim Adams married Martha Mason, and they moved into Cayuga Co., N. Y., in 1804, Eli being then only about a year old. They set- tled among the hemlock and brakes, where it was almost impossible to raise anything by cultivation but beans and a few potatoes. The greater part of their subsistence while there was bean porridge. During their residence in New York, Mrs. Adams died, leaving altogeth- er six children-Annie, Buckley, Eli, Sarine, Angeline and Ephraim. Mr. Adams married a second wife, by whom he reared three girls. The Adams family and one Jacob Sweetland, with wife and large family, left New York in the spring of 1814, with the intention of going to the settlement then being made along the Huron River near where Sandusky City is now located, and which was then known as the old "Gault Place ;" but, on their arrival in this State, at its northeastern border, they were ad- vised to pass the summer there, as it would be easier to procure provisions later in the season in the new settlement whither they were bound. Acting on the advice given, they (both fami- lies) stopped, and put up in a vacant cabin from June until August, when they proceeded on their journey. This was on the Grand River, and, during their stay, Adams and his boys went to work in the harvest-fields of Gov. Huntington. When harvest was over, they proceeded to the settlement on the Huron River. Sweetland and family occupied a va- cant hut which had been built on the " bottom land," and, in a few weeks, himself, wife and two children were victims of malarial fever. The other children were taken back to their friends in New York by one of the oldest boys. who was able to drive the team. Adams and his family remained there about five years. be- came tired of their location, and moved to Sen- eca Co. in 1819. In October, 1820, Mr. Adams died, leaving a widow and three helpless ehil-

dren, besides some of the younger children of his first wife. Eli then began to do for himself, as he was then in his 18th year. The only thing he ever received or could be spared from his father's estate was a scythe, which he traded to a cobbler to make him a pair of shoes. He then hired ont on a farm at $6 per month ; worked three years, and the highest wages received was $9 per month. He then made a visit to the place where he was partly reared, in New York, and then hired at $9 per month for seven months. He returned with about $60 in his pocket, hoping to collect $40 which was dne him for labor in Ohio, with which he hoped to form the nucleus of his fu- ture fortune by entering 80 acres of land. But, to his sorrow, his debtor had gone to parts un- known during his sojourn in New York. He went to work, carned the required $40 and something more, pnt it to his $60 already earned, went to Delaware, where the land office was, and entered 80 acres in what is now Tex- as Township, of this county. in 1824. He be- gan to clear and improve his land, and boarded with a Mr. Paul. giving two days' work for a week's board. He lived in this manner three years, when he built a cabin and married Mary, daughter of James Andrews, of Seneca Co., Nov. 27, 1827. They were both reared in poor circumstances, and were familiar with the hard- ships of pioneer life from early childhood. Mr. Adams had got a cow in payment of work done, and his wife had been likewise obliged to take a young heifer a year or two before for work she had done, which by that time was de- veloped into a valuable cow. These two ani- mals were the only things of value they owned when they began housekeeping. Adams went to work to make a bedstead, and, unfamiliar with the proportions it should be, and not much of a mechanic at best, when completed discov- ered that their bedding would scarcely cover half of it. The first season they lived there, they were often hard up to find provision enough for their support. The milk which they got from their cows was no small part of their living. One Sabbath evening in October of

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that year, they used for supper the last morsel of food in their possession, and, on the follow- ing morning, Mrs. Adams proceeded to paddle what little milk they had gathered for the pur- pose of obtaining butter enough to grease a pan in which she contemplated grating a few ears of corn, and thereby make a cake. While she was so engaged, Mr. Adams took his gun and stepped into the woods to shoot a squirrel which attracted him thither, when two deer sprang up, one of which fell a prey to his trusty rifle. He dragged it to his cabin with no little pride, and dressed it. By that time, Mrs. Adams had made the little butter she could, and had her cake of grated corn under way, to which they added a good steak of fresh venison, and considered themselves well supplied. They had eight children-Ephraim, James, John, Arthur. S. E., Angeline, Ruth A. and one deceased. While hoeing busily at his first patch of corn one day, two Indians, who were passing in the woods, came up stealthily behind him, one of them coming within an arm's-length before Adams observed them. Being startled at sight of the Indian so near him, on the impulse of the moment he made a sudden break, which was the source of consid- erable amusement to the Indians, who meant him no harm, and assured Adams that they only wanted to scare him. He sold out in Texas and moved to Lykens Township. After- ward sold out there and moved to Bloom, Sen- eca Co., where his wife died Nov. 28, 1875, after a married life of forty-eight years and one day. He sold his property in Bloom, and came to live with his son S. E., in this village, in 1879. S. E. was born May 16, 1847. When 18 years of age, he began to learn the carpen- ter's trade, and taught school during the winter months. In April, 1870, he moved to Kansas, and engaged at the carpenter's business in Dickinson Co., and taught school every winter term he was there, besides three summer terms, and several summers he worked on the farm. He returned to his father's, in Seneca Co., in 1875, and the two succeeding seasons worked on the farm. In the fall of the latter, he took a district school, and taught there that winter. On March 19, 1878, he married Mary Rader, who was born in Northampton Co., Penn., April 15, 1856, and came here with her parents when about 12 years old. They have one child- Bessie. Mr. Adams works at the carpenter's

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History of Crawford County and Ohio, Part 132

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