History of Crawford County and Ohio, Part 134

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 134

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JOHN CRALL (deceased) ; born in Dauphin Co., Penn. Dec. 18, 1809 ; he was the son of Henry and Elizabeth (Henshew) Crall, who were natives of Pennsylvania. When young, Mr. Crall worked at the millwright trade, until he was married, which event occurred April 16, 1835, with Elizabeth Raysor, daughter of John and Susanna (Fackler) Raysor. Mrs. Crall was born Feb. 10, 1817, in the same county as her husband. After their marriage they lived with his father's family one year, when they moved to the farm of her father ; where they remained nine years ; he gave them money to purchase the farm of Mr. Crall's parents, who were about to sell and move to the West. The Crall family moved to Ohio and settled in this county, and the flatter- ing accounts sent back by them of this country induced John Crall to move here ; accordingly, he, with wife and five children, left Harrisburg in a two-horse wagon in April, and arrived in Crawford County, in June, 1852; they pur- chased the Samuel Foster place, where their son Elias lives. They were parents of twelve children, three of whom died in Pennsylvania in childhood, and two died in childhood after they came here. Those living are John, who resides at Milan ; Elizabeth, now Mrs. E. M. Moore ; William, Elias, Oliver and Susie reside with their mother. David enlisted in August, 1861, in Company C, 101st O. V. I., and served through the war until captured by the rebels at the battle of Chickamauga, and sent to Danville Prison, where he died May 24, 1864. thus terminating his sufferings in the rebel prison, which he had withstood from the preceding September. Mr. John Crall was called from his earthly scenes Nov. 25, 1879. He and Mrs. Crall had been members of the United Brethren Church since shortly after their marriage ; her father, John Raysor, was a minister of that persuasion.

ELIAS CRALL, farmer; P. O. Bucyrus ; is the son of John and Elizabeth (Raysor) Crall ; he was born Oct. 9. 1850, in Dauphin Co., Penn., and is one of the five children who came here with his parents in 1852; his early life was spent on the farm and attending school. In 1870, he began his studies at Oberlin Col- lege, but ere two months had elapsed he was taken down sick, and had to retire from the college. The following year he resumed his studies at Republic, but, as at Oberlin, he was compelled to give up on account of failing health.

In 1872, he began teaching school in Sandusky Township, this county, and taught three winter terms. The second term was a school at State Line, and the third was in his own district. On Sept. 24, 1874, he united his fortunes with Lovina Spahr-daughter of Geo. A. and Cath- arine (Cover) Spahr, who came from Columbia Co., Penn., and settled in this county upward of forty years ago. Mrs. Crall was born in this county, Nov. 8, 1852. They have one child, Eva L., born Oct. 14, 1877 ; they reside where Mr. Crall's parents bought and settled, when they came here in 1852. They own 75 acres of well-improved land, and reside in the substantial brick residence which was built on the premises over 44 years ago.

HENRY C. COOPER, farmer ; P. O. Sul- phur Springs ; was born in Coshocton Co., Ohio, July 4, 1817. His father, Noah, and his mother, Martha (Carpenter) Cooper, were both natives of Pennsylvania, where they lived to man and woman's estate ; were married there ; and subsequently moved to Ohio, and settled in Coshocton, being among the early pioneers of that county. They were the parents of sev- eral children. but all died in early childhood. except Henry C., and one sister who lived to maturity. When these children were quite young (Henry C., about 2 years old) their father died, and being but a few years in the new settlement, the widow and orphans were as yet but poorly provided for. But in the lapse of time, Mrs. Cooper married one John Robinson, who was himself a widower with a family ; and in due time two children were born of this union. Mr. Robinson having on- ceived the idea that it would be to the advan- tage of all to push further West into the sparsely settled frontier, where more and better agricultural land could be easily secured. Ac- cordingly, they disposed of their effects in Co- shocton County, and set out for Crawford Coun- ty ; and arrived here in the year 1827. They located where Chatfield now stands ; and there Mr. Robinson purchased, of second hands, 300 acres. Here they were getting along nicely, everything seeming to prosper, and the family enjoyed their new home without many neigh- bors for several years ; when that grim mon- ster, death, assailed the family once more ; this time taking from their circle the fond wife and mother. At this time our subject (Henry C. Cooper) was only about 17 years old ; and

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he then began to work out by the month. He made his home with one Luke Dorland, in Lib- erty Township, and with him he hired at $7 per month for some time ; and while he worked at other places in the vicinity, he made a tempo- rary home at Dorland's for about four years, occasionally working for him also when he re- quired his services. In the course of time Mr. Dorland became tired of his location, and pro- posed to sell out ; Mr. Cooper, being industrious and of a very economical turn, had saved his earnings closely, and with what funds he could raise, purchased the "Dorland " farm in 1839. Being yet single, he preferred to rent the farm rather than endeavor to carry on the business without a housekeeper, so he rented it to differ- ent parties for two years ; and. at the expira- tion of that time, rented it to James Robinson- a son of his step-father, by his first wife, and who was then married to Mr. Cooper's sister ; with his brother-in-law he lived and worked six years. In the meantime, John Robinson, his step-father, had sold out, and moved to the State of Missouri. Mr. Cooper was united in marriage with Margaret Davidson on Jan. 28, 1847. She was born in Knox Co., Ohio, March 20, 1828, and came here with her parents, who settled in Chatfield Township in 1830. Her father's name was Richard, and her mother's Rebecca (Hill) Davidson, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter of Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Cooper have five children living- Aquilla, now Mrs. Gerrard Teel ; Martha A., Mary J., John H. and Ida B. Josephine is dead. He owns 79 acres of good land where he first purchased, which is the farm where he was hired to work for $7 per month when abont 17 years of age. He has held the office of Constable for several years in this township.

SIMON CRALL, farmer ; P. O. Sulphur Springs ; was born June 2, 1808, in Danphin Co., Penn. He is the eldest of six children, and had little opportunity of going to school, as he would have to work on the farm, and go to school alternate weeks with his brothers, for a few months only in the winter season, for they were all kept steadily at work through the sum- mer, as soon as they were able to do anything. In February, 1830, he married Elizabeth Becker, and lived on his father's place one year after he was married. He then moved to his father-in law's place, where they lived one year, after which they rented a farm in that vicinity, on

which they lived eleven years. In 1845, they sold out in Pennsylvania, and started with a four-horse team, besides a carriage for the wife and five children, for Ohio. They located in Richland Co., near Shelby, but stayed there only about a year, when they moved again, and that time settled in Liberty Township, Crawford Co. Here he purchased 120 acres of land, and set about improving it. Since then he has pur- chased at various times, until he owned 590 acres ; but has since sold and given his chil- dren, in value, to the amount of $20,000. Mrs. Crall was born in the same county as her hus- band, and, after many years of useful toil, the fond mother was taken from her family by death, Aug. 16, 1855, leaving six of her nine children- Jacob, Elizabeth (deceased), Henry (deceased), Annie, Samuel, Mary A., John, Emos and Da- vid. Mr. Crall married a second wife, Elizabeth McGinnis, in May, 1858, and sustained the loss of his second partner, April 11. 1875. His third marriage was celebrated with Fannie Kider, widow of the late John Ostander. His family were all the children of his first wife. Jacob is living in Berrien Co., Mich. ; Annie was mar- ried to Daniel Keller, and, in 1860, when about fourteen months married, she died of that ter- rible disease, milk-sickness, which was then prevailing in some sections of this county. Samuel enlisted in 1862, and served three years in the late rebellion. He was once taken pris- oner, and spent several months in Libby Prison ; thenee brought to Annapolis, Md., where he was released, and got leave to come home. He and two others started from there on foot, and walked to his father's, in this township, in about three weeks. He now resides in Eaton Co., Mich. Mary A. is now Mrs. Ebenezer Istone, of Knox Co., Tenn .; John lives in Wyandot Co., this State. Emos had been residing in Michigan. but is now in Shelby. this State. David is the only one of the family residing here. He has a good farm, principally given him by his father. He was born in this county Feb. 23, 1848, and spent his youth like the generality of young men who are reared to farm- ing. In 1870, he went to Seneca Co. to work a farm of his father's. There he fortunately formed the acquaintance of Fannie Snyder, who, on Oct. 24, 1872, became his bride. They re- mained there one year afterward. He then, with his wife, returned to Crawford Co., and rented the farm where he now lives ; and,

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shortly afterward, with his father's assistance, he purchased it. Mrs. David Crall was born in Seneca Co., in November, 1852. They have three children-Nine M., Elizabeth M. and Eltie J. Mr. and Mrs. Crall are members of the United Brethren Church, and Mr. Simon Crall has been a member of the same church for over thirty-nine years. He is one of the most robust, quick on foot and healthy men to be found, con- sidering his advanced age and weight, which is upward of 200 pounds, although he is of low stature.

DR. M. M. CARROTHERS, physician, Sul- phur Springs ; was born in Vernon Township, this county, Feb. 8, 1845 ; is the youngest of eight children, and, like most young men who are brought up to farm-life, his time was occu- pied between the duties of the farm and attend- ing school ; but he showed a decided taste for the latter, and a desire for general knowledge, which has been duly gratified. In May, 1864, he enlisted in the 163d O. N. G., and served until the following September, that time being the expiration of his term of enlistment. He then returned home, and in the following No- vember he began teaching school, and taught five winters, living at his father's and helping on the farm in the summer months. When about 23 years of age he began the study of medicine with Dr. A. E. Jenner, of Crestline ; he studied there three years, including two terms of lectures-first, at the Miami Medical College, of Cincinnati ; second term of lectures was at the University of Wooster, in Cleveland, where he graduated in February, 1872. That same spring, he came to this village and began the practice of his profession, and was favored with a patronage beyond the most sanguine ex- pectations ; his medical skill is daily growing in favor. He is a young man, quiet and un- assuming, and not given to any display, but understands thoroughly his profession, as his success attests. He owns a valuable property in the village, and the only two-story brick res- idence there at this writing, and is otherwise well prepared, financially, to enjoy life. On July, 1872, he united his fortunes with Mary Wert; she was born in Sandusky Township, this county, Jan. 7, 1846. They have three children-Carrie M., Eva E. and John R.

NATHAN COOPER, farmer ; P. O. Bucy- rus ; was born in this county, near Galion, April 4, 1831. He worked on his father's farm

until he was married, which event occurred Feb. 28, 1856, with Catharine Crider ; they have five children-Mary L., Eliza A., Laura B., Daniel and Sarah E. Mrs. Cooper was born Aug. 14, 1831, in Pennsylvania, and came to this county with her parents when about 6 years old. Mr. Cooper rented farms for a num- ber of years after he was married, and, on Oct. 25, 1865, they moved to the farm of 100 acres, which they own ; is well improved, and is sup- plied with the best of water privileges, as it is situated on the Sandusky River. It is one of the first settled farms of Crawford Co., and was entered by one Daniel McMichael, who im- proved and built a mill, and planted some apple trees, one of which stands on the south side of the river, and its trunk is, by actual measure- ment, nine feet eight inches in circumference four and a half or five feet from the ground. It is bearing well a good grade of ungrafted fruit. The father of our subject (Edward Cooper) was born in Harrison Co., Ohio, March 22, 1810 ; his father's name was George Cooper, and his mother's maiden name Mary Wood, both natives of Pennsylvania ; the latter came to Belmont Co. with her parents when young ; she was in the block-house at Wellsville at the time of the infamous massacre of the Riley family by the Indians in that vicinity, in 1812. Edward Cooper's father died, leaving a widow and six small children ; she married one Dis- bury Johnson, who was himself a widower with an equal number of children, as his second wife ; by this union six other children were born-in all, eighteen children in one family. Thus came the above-mentioned family to this vicinity. The said Johnson, with the six Cooper and eleven of his own children (his eld- est daughter, having married, did not come), set out for Crawford Co. with a four-horse team, driving some cattle and hogs ; and, of all the· herd, an old sow was complimented as being the best leader through the woods, consequently, she was assigned the duty of carrying the bell. They arrived where Galion is now located on Oct. 15, 1821. Johnson died at Galion, some time ago, in his 104th year. Edward Cooper worked on the farm until he had attained his majority. He has been married three times ; first, to Eliza Burwell, June 8, 1828 ; they had eight children-Sally A., Nathan, Margaret, Louisa, John, William, Artemon and Mary. He is quite a genius, as he is competent to make a

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bucket, boot, barrel, or frame a building ; and many of the pioneer yonth are indebted to his musical talent for their early training. Dec. 13, 1865, his first wife died ; he then married the widow of J. H. Smalley, whose maiden name was Mary Walter ; by her he had three children-Franklin, Eddie and Mary ; second wife died Nov. 11, 1874. His third wife was Catharine Bresler ; there are no children by this union.

JOHN ESSIG, deceased. Mr. Essig was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, February 14, 1798, and while yet young resolved to try his fortune in the United States. Accordingly he left his native place and arrived at Hagers- town, Maryland, in 1817. Here he settled and worked at his trade, dyeing, which art he had learned in the old country, and at which he seemed to prosper in Hagerstown. But, still restless and desiring to procure some land, he and his young wife-who were made one in Maryland-set out for the West and arrived in this county in 1832. They entered eighty acres on the Sandusky River and purchased eighty acres more adjoining. They had scarcely begun to feel themselves in their own home in the new country when death ruthlessly snatched from his side the loving young wife. He married a second wife some years after the death of the first ; she was Mary E. Gerhard, who was born in Germany, and came to this country in 1839. By this union there were born six children, three of whom lived to ma- turity, viz .: Carolina, who died in March, 1873 ; Lonisa, who was married to Phillip Haer (she died March, 1872, leaving one child), and Mary E., now Mrs. C. L. Meinzer, who resides on the old homestead. Her husband, C. L. Meinzer, was born in Baden, Germany, Feb. 17, 1846, and came to the United States in the fall of 1867. He located in Cleveland, where he worked at his trade of blacksmithing for sev- eral months, thence to Upper Sandusky, and went into the country, where he worked about four months ; he then returned to town (Upper Sandusky) and worked at his trade for some time, and in 1871 came to Bucyrus and worked there three months at his trade; thence to West Liberty, where he worked until 1873. On Dec. 26, 1872, he married Mary E. Essig. He then went to Crestline, where he pursued his trade nine months. At the expiration of that time he moved to his father-in-law's place,

where he has been farming ever since. Mrs. Meinzer was born on the place where they live Feb. 12, 1850. They have five children living, viz., Rosey A., John C. L., Louisa, August H. and a babe. Mr. Essig owned at his decease, 2742 acres, besides valuable property in Galion, which is owned by Mrs. Meinzer and her sister heir-Haer.

J. H. FRY, deceased ; was born in the Can- ton of Zurich, in Switzerland, Nov. 14, 1791. His passport to this country bears date March 11, 1817 ; he landed at New York, and went thence to Chambersburg, Penn., where he re- sided several years, when he resolved to come to the West, and in 1824 he came to Crawford Co., entering 160 acres of Government land, west of where the village of Annapolis is located. In January, 1827, he married Catha- rine-daughter of Thomas Williamson, and in 1833 they sold out, but purchased 160 acres about half a mile north of where the village is located, of one Matthias Markley; this location Mr. Fry made his home until he was called hence by the messenger of death. They were quite prosperous in their farming pursuits, and were also blessed with a family of ten children -Henry, Elizabeth, Catharine, Thomas, Alfred, Hannah, John, Sarah, Joshua and Francis, all of whom are living except Elizabeth. Mrs. Fry was born in Schuylkill Co., Penn., October, 1809, and came to Crawford Co., Ohio, with her father's family, in 1826; they located on the Broken Sword, in Liberty Township, but in 1829 they moved to St. Joseph Co., Mich., with seven of their children, four sons and three daughters. There Mrs. Fry's mother, Mrs. Williamson, died, and, after the death of his wife, Thomas Williamson went, with others, to California, and died in San Francisco in 1846. While they resided here, their daughter Polly was married to Jacob Whetstone; she and Mrs. Fry being the only members of the Williamson family to remain here. For years Mr. Fry had been a member of the Lutheran Church, and on March 11, 1875, he received the summons to enter into the full enjoyment of a higher and better life. His widow still survives, and although her 72d year is rapidly approaching, she is as quick, both mentally and physically, and as ambitious as many who have scarcely passed eighteen sum- mers. Her memory is replete with incidents of pioneer life, when this district was almost an unbroken forest, and when neighbors, though

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far apart as to location, were as one in feeling and sociability.

ALFRED FRY, merchant and Postmaster. Sulphur Springs ; was born near Sulphur Springs, this county, Feb. 7, 1835. He is the son of J. H. and Catharine (Williamson) Fry, whose sketch is in this work. Being among the pioneer settlers, his school advantages were very limited for those in the country who were earnestly endeavoring to carve out a habitation in the woods. Mr. Fry got but the ordinary course in the common schools ; but, being nat- urally apt to learn, he made more of his oppor- tunities than most boys do. He spent the sum- mers of 1856 and 1857 in the Primary Depart- ment of Oberlin College. Although he returned to work on the farm, he improved his leisure moments until in the end he acquired a prae- tical business education. He enlisted in the war of the rebellion in May, 1861, in Co. C, 8th O. V. I. At the battle of Winchester, Va., March 22, 1862, he received a serious wound ; an ounce ball entered the side of his right thigh, immediately below the hip-joint, passing through both thighs and lodging near the outer surface of the left thigh. As a souvenir from the confederacy. he has carefully laid the mis- sile aside. He lay in the hospital at Winches- ter seven weeks, and then got a furlough, but had been home only a few days when inflam- matory rheumatism set in. When convales- cent, he joined the regiment, in September of the same year. at Alexandria, and served until November, when he was discharged on account of physical disability, which was brought on by the severity of his wound. He came back to his father's, and took a tour of several months through the Western States. When he arrived again at home, he accepted a clerkship with Jay & Biddle, of Sulphur Springs, which lasted one year. With a view of improving his commercial education, he entered college at Pittsburgh, Penn., attending the winter terms of 1864 and 1865, and the following spring he built a business-room at Sulphur Springs, and put in a stock of general merchandise, and opened in trade on his own responsibility in October, 1866, where he has been ever since, with several changes in the firm. John Guiss, Jr., bought an interest in April, 1867, with Mr. Fry, which partnership continued until 1876, when Guiss sold out to C. A. Keller, with whom he conducted business one year, under

the firm name of Fry & Keller ; subsequently. he sold out his interest in the stock to Isaac Klopfenstein, and still retained the building, which is equivalent to one-third interest in the business, the firm name being Klopfenstein & Co. Mr. Fry received the appointment of Post- master in 1869, which position he has held ever since. In 1872, he was elected Township Treas- urer. He was united in marriage with Laura C., daughter of Thomas and Marie Gillespie, Sept. 16, 1874. They have two children-Ed- gar and a babe. Mrs. Fry was born in Bucy- rus Oct. 8, 1843. Her father, Thomas Gillespie, came here from Pennsylvania. He was twice married ; his first wife died in Bucyrus in 1845, leaving two children-Laura C. and Charles. He afterward moved to Paulding Co., but finally returned to Sulphur Springs, and died at the residence of Mr. Alfred Fry, July 31, 1880.

JOHN H. FRY, hardware merchant, Sulphur Springs ; was born Dec. 28, 1839, in Chatfield Township, Crawford Co. His father, John Fry, was born in Switzerland Dec. 17, 1799, and em- igrated to the United States in 1834. He came direct to Ohio, and worked four years for his brother, J. H., in this county, who had been here several years previous. In 1838, he mar- ried Rachel Helm, who was a native of Somer- set Co., Penn., and came to Liberty Township with her father's family about the year 1825. They reared three children-John H., Susanna (now Mrs. John Guiss), and Lorene (who mar- ried William Guiss, and who are both deceased). John H., being the eldest and only boy in the family, was compelled to apply himself steadily to the farm, and therefore had little time to de- vote to educational exercises, and having but poor schools, at best, in the vicinity where he was reared, made it so much the worse. The bulk of his schooling was one term, which he attended in Liberty Township with one Will- iams, whose reputation as a teacher was good. He then resumed work on the farm the follow- ing spring, and continued until he was 28 years of age, when, on Nov. 1, 1876, he united his fortunes with Julia Warner, who was born in Vernon Township, this county, June 15, 1844. They have four children living-Rilie R., Daisy D., Cora and Elve A .; and one deceased-Wil- lie J. He continued to work on his father's farm for about one year after they were mar- ried, and, in 1868, he purchased a half interest in

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the hardware store of Henry Fry, in this village. For about five years they did business together under the firm name of H. Fry & Co., when, in 1873, the subject of this sketch bought the re- maining half interest of H. Fry, and, since then, has been doing a very prosperous business. in his own name. He carries a very good and large assortment of everything in his line, both shelf and heavy hardware, such as is seldom equaled in much larger towns-a minimum es- timate of which would no doubt be about $4,000 in value. His well-deserved patronage is daily increasing, as he has in his line all that i's required in any farming community, and his patrons show their appreciation of honorable dealing by increased patronage and confidence.

FRANCIS FRY, farmer; P. O. Sulphur Springs ; is the youngest of the family of John H. and Catharine (Williamson) Fry, and was born near the village of Annapolis, May 13, 1848. He remained at home until nearly 22 years old. and received a good common-school education. He united his fortunes with those of Jennie, daughter of Lewis Perse, on Oct. 27, 1869. She was born in this township April 26, 1847. When she was quite young, her mother died, and she was reared by Charles Perse, her father's brother. They have five children- Charlie F., Myrtie C., Maudie O., Laura J. and Katie. Mr. Fry owns 80 acres of well-improved land in a beautiful location, to which he moved in November, 1870. They are members of the Lutheran Church. Mr. Fry is a member of the Knights of Honor, Liberty Lodge, No. 845.

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History of Crawford County and Ohio, Part 134

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