History of Crawford County and Ohio, Part 136

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 136

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ceasing industry, the basis of his comfortable home, as he was actually in debt over $100 when he was married, and no means of any con- sequence within his control. Since 1871, he has devoted his attention to his farm, seldom doing anything at his trade. He was elected Justice of the Peace in 1865, and served three terms, in which office he is now holding his fourth term. He has been Township Treasurer six years ; also held the office of Township Trustee for several years.

J. A. KLINK, farmer; P. O. Sulphur Springs ; was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, Jan. 29, 1824. His parents, John G. and Cath- arine Klink, emigrated, with their three children -Catharine, J. A. and J. G .- to this country in 1828 ; after a long, severe passage, they ar- rived in New York. They pushed their way westward by canal or other available convey- ance, until they arrived in Columbiana Co., Ohio, where they stopped, as it was then the approach of winter, and they had no means to carry them further, as their all was expended. Their father had been in good circumstances in Germany, but lost all his property by going se- curity for a milling firm which failed, and when he sailed from Germany, it was only by the lib- eral and generous aid of relatives and friends that he was enabled to bring his family along ; consequently, he had nothing left when they got here. Mr. Klink, Sr., found employment in Columbiana Co., and worked there through the winter, and in the spring of 1829 he had saved enough to purchase a pair of oxen and an old cart. He packed his family in the cart, and set out for Crawford Co. They settled in Liberty Township in the woods, and soon after he en- tered 80 acres, paying for it with a little money which remained, and two watches. His family got the shelter of a cabin of some one who had settled there a short time before them, until a log cabin could be erected on their own location, which was hastily and roughly done. When they had lived here about two years, another member was added to the family by the birth of J. D. They seemed to prosper nicely, but had many inconveniences to bear with in the new and unsettled country. Their cattle would stray off through the unbounded forest, and on several occasions, the oldest boy (John A.), when a mere lad, lost his way when sent in search of them ; once, overtaken by the shades of night, he was unable to get back or find any

way out, and after wandering until exhausted, he crept into a liollow tree and remained unti! daylight. Search was instituted by his parents and the neighboring settlers, who were unsuc- cessful in meeting with him, and were about to give up the search, supposing he had been killed by wolves, when, to their surprise, he came home. On a similar occasion, he found an Indian camp, at which he stayed all night and was well treated by them, and in the morn- ing one started with him to conduct him home. When they arrived at Klink's cabin, the Indian assured Mr. Klink, if they ever found his boy, they would neither let him get lost nor injure him. About the time that they were getting things in shape to enjoy themselvss and live comfortably, Mrs. Klink died. Mr. Klink mar- ried a second wife, Katie Deppler ; she was a native of Germany, and came here with her people. By this union there were two children -Mary and Rosy, who finally married and moved to HIenry Co. Mr. Klink, Sr., died on his farm (which is now owned by I. Klopfen- stein), on Feb. 25. 1853. John A. remained with his father until of age ; he worked early and late on the farm, and had no opportunity of attending schools, as there were none in the neighborhood when he was small, and soon as he was able to work his services were consid- ered too important at home. He married Melis- sa Kohlman, March 8, 1848, and that year they moved on to a farm of 110 acres, which was all woods, and which Mr. Klink had bought some time before he was married, with $200 which he had earned by chopping. He worked un- ceasingly, and was very economical, and he is now among the ablest farmers of Crawford Co. In about eight years after he was married, he began to make other purchases of land, and has kept on increasing his broad acres, from time to time, until he now owns 940 acres (ex- cept + acres, which he sold off), of as good land as there is in the county, and in an excellent state of cultivation, with very good buildings. Of these 936 acres, 780 acres are in one contin- uous tract, lying in the corners of three adjoin- ing townships. His first team was a yoke of oxen, with which he did a great part of the log- ging in this neighborhood ; he used cattle for his work for about fifteen years. All he ever received from home was $260, after his father's death ; his start in business was the proceeds of his work by the month and days' labor, which he

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saved carefully ; now they enjoy the possession of one of the best farms of this county. They had twelve children-Mary M., now wife of B. Jacobs ; Carolina, now wife of John Shieber ; John H., married Jennie Feighner, and farms the Lykens Township place ; Henry is farming 80 acres in Chatfield Township-his wife is Flora Feighner ; Adam, Daniel, Solomon, Will- iam, Emma, Melissa and Charles are single, and reside with their parents ; also, one boy, who died in childhood. The whole family are members of the Lutheran Church. Mrs. Klink was born in Prussia Dec. 22, 1832, and came to this country with her parents when 4 years old. Her father, Daniel Kohlman, came here with three children, viz. : Catharine, Charles and Melissa ; the boy died when they had been here about three years.

CHARLES KEPLINGER, farmer; P. O. Bucyrus ; was born in York Co., Penn., Feb. 2, 1809. His father, Daniel Koplinger, was also a native of Pennsylvania. He married Annie M. Leister, of Maryland. After their marriage they settled on a farm. They reared a family of eight children, viz., Jacob, Hannah, Sarah, Polly, Lydia, Charles, Daniel and Cath- arine. They all moved to Columbiana Co., Ohio, in 1825, except Hannah, who, with her husband, followed a year and a half later, and in the spring of 1827 they moved to a farm which they purchased in Stark Co., where the children grew up to maturity, and began to "strike out" for themselves. On account of the delicate condition of their father's and old- est brother's health, Charles was obliged to render all the assistance in his power, from the time he was 11 years old. Almost the entire care of his father's farm was left to him, consequently he got no chance of attending school. He remained at home until 24 years of age, and on Dec. 24, 1833, was united in marriage with Sarah Wersthler. She was born in Stark Co., Ohio, Oct. 9, 1813. They lived with his father and farmed the homestead for three years. They then moved to the farm of his father-in-law (George Wersth- ler), where they farmed three years. In the meantime, his father (Daniel Keplinger) died ; therefore they moved back to care for the old homestead, and lived on it one and a half years. He purchased 160 acres of his present farm in August, 1839, and moved to it, arriving here on the 3d day of November, 1840. The farm

was all under wood and without any improve- ments of any kind when he purchased it; by the time they get here there was a log cabin erected by one John Werner, under contract. The roof was on, but the cabin was yet unten- antable, so his wife and little ones got shelter in the house of his brother-in-law, Jacob H. Sells, who had been here several years, until their own cabin was fixed up so they could live in it. They were in poor circumstances, financially, as all they possessed was one team, and were $150 in debt on their land. They worked hard, and by unceasing energy and industrious habits of himself and noble wife, they have secured a competence of this world's goods. They built a substantial and commodious brick residence in 1857, and besides his well-improved farm here, he owns 320 acres in Nebraska. They had eleven children, eight of whom are living- Mary A., wife of Isaac Kinney, of Indiana ; Josiah, in this township ; Emanuel, in Nebras- ka; William E., in this township; Daniel E. and Jacob W., also in Nebraska ; George W. and Emma at home with their parents. Three children, two girls and one boy, died here of scarlet fever, which was epidemic shortly after they came to this county. The second year of their residence here, Mr. Keplinger was elected Township Trustee, and served several years, and then Township Clerk for two years ; was re-elected Trustee, and held the office several years. He was then elected Township Treas- urer for two years, and when one year had elapsed after his term had expired, he was elected to the same office and served nine years. In 1860, he was elected Land Appraiser, and officiated in the same capacity in 1870. He was elected Justice of the Peace in 1846, for one term, and on account of his own business interests, which demanded his undivided atten- tion, he refused to serve any longer in that office. In 1859, he was elected County Com- missioner, and held that office until December, 1865, and in the fall of 1875, he was again elected County Commissioner, and is now serv- ing on his second term. Although his school education was deficient, he acquired a good, practical, business education through his pow- ers of quick perception and varied experience. Almost continuously, since his residence in the county, he has been, in some capacity, faith- fully serving the public. In 1862, his son Emanuel enlisted in Co. H, 123d O. V. I., and

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served until the close of the war. He received three wounds-once through the calf of the right leg, and was shot through the right foot, the ball entering in his heel, passed through his foot lengthwise, emerging between the sec- ond and third toes ; the third was less serious, though none the less dangerous, as it came closer to more important organs of life ; in this case a ball grazed the top of his ear so closely that it bled, but luckly from this he sustained a mere scratch.

JOHN KAFER, farmer; P. O. Sulphur Springs ; was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, Jan. 13, 1812. His father Michael, and mother Elizabeth (Klienknecht) Kafer, with their seven children-Mary, Jacob, Catharine, John, Fred- rick, Rosey and Christiana-emigrated from the old country in 1832, and in the spring of 1833, came to Crawford Co., Ohio. They purchased 80 acres in this township, which one of the family now owns; this served as a home for all the family until they began to drop off, one by one, into homes of their own. The old folks still remained on their first location, until removed by death a few years ago. Mr. John Kafer remained in the parental home for some time after he was of age. He then thought best to make a beginning on his own account, and prudently secured a housekeeper, who would take a life interest in his affairs. She was named Elizabeth Hamm, and they were married March 22, 1838 ; she was born in Stark Co., Ohio, Oct. 8, 1818. While yet in limited pecuniary circumstances, they enjoyed their lot; but erelong that mutual enjoyment was crushed by the death of Mrs. Kafer; she left one child, Elizabeth, who is now the wife of Adam Durr. Mr. Kafer married a second wife, Fredrecka Layer, on March 15, 1841. She was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, Nov. 29, 1821, and came to the United States with her parents (Christian and Catharine Layer), when about 15 years old. In 1839, Mr. Kafer bought 80 acres of the farm where he resides, and has lived there ever since ; he is unlike many, in that he has not only been able to barely hold on to his first purchase of 80 acres, but by his unceasing labor and economy, has added, by various pur- chases, until he now owns 319 acres of good land, and lives a quiet unassuming life, enjoy- ing the fruits of his early industry. His chil- dren by the second marriage are Mary A., wife of Daniel Pfleiderer ; Carolina, wife of Fred

Heiby; Catharine, wife of Jacob Ackerman ; Louisa C., at home with her parents ; Rosy, wife of Phillip Heiby ; Jacob S. and Emma R., at home. They are members of the Lutheran Church.

SAMUEL B. KOONS, farmer ; P. O. Sul- phur Springs ; was born in Sandusky Town- ship, this county, Nov. 17, 1840. He is the son of Abraham and Jane (Mills) Koons. His father was born in Pennsylvania June 16, 1783, and, when a young man, he learned the millwright's trade, which he followed for many years, besides owning a farm. He was twice married, first to Susan Shrader, by which union there were thirteen children, six of whom grew to manhood and womanhood and reared fami- lies of their own ; they were Margaret, Daniel, John, Charlotte, Susan and Abraham. After about twenty-four years of married life, his first wife died. April 15, 1830, he married Jane Mills, who is his surviving widow ; she was born in Maryland July 1, 1812 ; of her father's family there were seven children left to do for themselves when quite young. Mrs. Koons was taken by a family to rear, and they moved to Pennsylvania when she was about 5 years old. There she grew to womanhood, and, as stated above, was married to Mr. Koons. Notwithstanding he was much her senior, they got along the very best. Two years after their marriage, they came to Ohio, first settling in Richland Co. in the spring of 1832, and, in the spring of 1839, they sold out and moved into Sandusky Township, this county, where they purchased 160 acres, and afterward added 37} more. In the course of time, there were four- teen children born to his second wife, twenty- seven children in his family in all, as his first wife was mother of thirteen, seven of whom died in childhood ; but the fourteen of the sec- ond marriage are all living and doing well, the youngest about 26 years old. Their names and present residences are as follows : William L., in Fulton Co., Ind .; Annie E., in Crestline, at the millinery business ; Mary M., in Kansas- was married to R. Armstrong ; he was killed by a runaway team ; Sarah J., now Mrs. Moore, of Lansing, Mich .; David S., farming in Han- cock Co .; Martha E., is married to Rev. James M. Roberts, a missionary in New Mexico ; Samuel B., in this township; Harriet, Mrs. James Stevenson, of Annapolis ; Ben. F., is now pursuing his studies at Yale College,

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New Haven, Conn .; R. Catharine is on mission- ary work among the freedmen of Mississippi, and teacher in Tougaloo College, near Jackson, Miss .; R. Porter, is a physician in Kansas ; Oliver H., is studying music in Philadelphia ; F. Mills, is studying in Oberlin, Ohio ; Joanna is married and living in Illinois. Mr. Koons, Sr., died March 22, 1869, and, after the settlement of the estate and several unimportant changes, Mrs. Koons got herself a comfortable residence in the village, where she is spending the remain- ing years of her life quietly and alone. Samuel B. received a common-school education, besides one term in Oberlin ; his time beyond school hours was occupied on the farm until Aug. 15, 1861 ; at that date he enlisted in Co. C, 49th O. V. I., and participated in several of the deadly engagements of the war, viz., Shiloh, Liberty Gap, Stone River (and at the close of that engagement he was promoted to Sergeant), Chickamauga and Mission Ridge ; in the latter conflict, Nov. 19, 1863, he sustained a serious injury by being struck on the back of the head by a piece of wood which formed a partition between the powder and ball in the construction of cannon cartridges, from one of their own guns, which was firing over them. From the effects of this wound he lay insensible for eighteen days. After a month's hospital care, he was able to come home on a furlough, and remained about two months. When his regi- ment was re-enlisted, he went in the Atlanta campaign as far as Buzzard's Roost ; his term of enlistment had then expired, and he was dis- charged Sept. 5, 1864. He then came home to Crawford Co., and, on Nov. 17 of the same year, he was married to Margaret Stevenson ; she was born in Seneca Co. March 27, 1845. For three years, he worked his father's farm, and, in the spring of 1868, they purchased the farm of 71 acres where they now live. Mrs. Koons' parents came to live with them, and here her father died Aug. 16, 1871, but her mother is still with them at the advanced age of 73 years. On account of his wound received in the army, which affects him seriously if he takes the least cold, he draws a pension of $8 per month. They have a family of five chil- dren-Clarence A., Virgil C., Sarah J., Maggie M. and Samuel R.

ISAAC KLOPFENSTEIN, farmer and stock- dealer ; P. O. Sulphur Springs ; was born in Polk Township, this county, March 10, 1837. His

father, Abraham, was twice married ; by his first wife there were four children-Susan, John, Elizabeth and Abraham ; the three younger ones emigrated with their father from Switzerland to Canada in 1829. Susan re- mained in their native country. Mr. Klopfen- stein was a widower, and when he settled in Canada he married Elizabeth Reiter, who came from Switzerland when he did. They built a cabin in the woods and bought some land and were getting along nicely. A brother in Swit- zerland wrote to Abraham in Canada, that he was about to start for the United States, and would prefer to see him there. John came from Switzerland to Crawford Co .. and Abra- ham from Canada, they located in Polk Town- ship, where the latter entered 200 acres in 1833 ; and brought his youngest son, by first wife, along, leaving John and Elizabeth on the property in Canada. Abraham went to Buffalo, N. Y., where he took sick and sent for his father to come and see him, which he did on foot, and returned in the same manner; from then they lost all track of Abraham, as he never re- turned. When Mr. Klopfenstein came here he built a cabin in the woods and began the clear- ing and improvement of his land, and got along well until 1846, when he was called by death, leaving widow and. three children, viz .: Mary, Elizabeth and Isaac. (Mary is now widow of Jacob Freidley, of Van Wert ; Elizabeth is wife of Charles Noyer, of Allen Co., Ind.) Widow Klopfenstein married Jacob Millemater about two years after the death of her first husband ; Millemater assumed control of affairs, and in April of 1851, Isaac (our subject) left home to do for himself, and engaged with Charles Noyer in a brickyard, and did odd jobs until spring of 1852 ; when he again engaged on the brickyard, and in the fall he purchased a half interest in a threshing machine on credit, in partnership with John Kinsey. Having poor success that season, he sold out his interest to Kinsey, receiving something for his labor. In January, 1853, he went to Wayne Co., Ind., where he took a job of cutting eighty cords of wood at 60 cents per cord, and paid his board at the rate of $1.50 per week ; this job he completed in forty days. He then began to work by the month a short time at $15 per month, but soon got another job of cutting ont a road three rods wide and one-fourth of a mile long, through heavy timber, cutting it all into cord-wood, re-

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ceiving for his job 62₺ cents per cord for as much as it would make, and board himself, which he got at the old rate, $1.50 per week. He then returned to the county and sold his one-third interest in the homestead of eighty acres, for which he received $600. His guard- ian turned over the money to him, and he straightway purchased eighty acres in Chat- field Township ; twenty-five of it was partially cleared, and had a cabin house and barn on it. He returned to Wayne Co., Ind., and worked in a slaughter-house until about Christmas of that year, when he returned to this county, and, on Feb. 5, 1854, he married Mary Bitik- offer ; she was born in Switzerland, Dec. 4, 1831, and came with her parents to Stark Co., in 1836, and to Crawford Co. in 1843. April 1, 1854, they moved to their farm, which he had lately bought, and while they lived there made several purchases and sales ; they re- mained there twelve years ; during that time he was twice drafted into the army, first time he furnished a substitute, and second time the township was cleared by subscription, costing him $595, in all. In 1866, he bought 100 acres and added to it 44, which constitutes the farm where he resides, besides 40 acres in Chatfield, 160 acres in Sandusky, and 144 acres in Bucyrus Townships, and, in 1877, he purchased a half-interest in the stock of dry goods and groceries of Fry & Keller (Mr. Fry owning the building). He has a family of seven children living, viz .: Abraham, who is living on the Bucyrus farm, 80 acres of which he has bought; John is on the San- dusky farm, 80 acres of which he has pur- chased ; Mary E., Susan C., Emma S., Isaac E. and Maud M .; the five last named are at home with their parents. In 1861, he was elected Township Trustee for one term. He built a good brick residence on his farm in Chatfield, and in 1860 he put up a barn, 56x44 feet ; the frame-work cost only $105, taken off the stump. He has tried his hand at many kinds of busi- ness, and, although a man of very limited edu- cation, has succeeded at all. After he was 9 years old, he was only two weeks at school, and when he was married he could not write his own name. Being totally ignorant of mathe- mathics when he began to deal in stock in 1860, he found it necessary to study the sim- ple rules, and for that purpose he went to school along with his own children. His first

start was farming, next project was threshing in partnership with Mr. Bitikoffer, in 1855, and in 1856 he made brick ; in 1857 he bought and " run " a thresher on his own account, and in 1858 he resumed the manufacture of brick ; and in 1860 he began stock-dealing ; in that he has been very successful; while others have failed on every side of him he has and is still doing a prosperous business ; some farmers in this vicinity have sold to him exclusively for the past twenty years, which is good evidence of fair dealing. His success in farming can be best understood by the following figures and data : His first crop of wheat was four and one- half acres, which himself and wife harvested in 1856, the entire crop amounted to eight bush- els, and this year (1880) himself and sons har- vested 110 acres, from which they realized 2,750 bushels and marketed it at 95c@$1 per bushel. He joined the German Reformed Church when 14 years of age, and was Deacon from 1859 until 1865 ; since latter date he has been an Elder, and officiates in that capacity now. Mrs. Klopfenstein and the three oldest children are members of the church. His father settled up the estate so as to leave the property in Canada to John and Susan, of the first wife, giving a quit-claim deed to it, and taking the same from them as against his Crawford Co. property, which was intended for his other three children, but by neglect his father never recorded the quit-claim from those in Canada. and after his death they came here and claimed and got an equal share with Isaac and his two sisters.

DANIEL LIGHT, retired farmer ; P. O. Bu- cyrus ; was born June 30, 1806, in Dauphin Co., Penn. His parents, Adam and Mary (Did- die) Light, were also natives of Pennsylvania. In early life, Daniel learned the weaving busi- ness, but due regard for his health forbade him following it long ; so he abandoned it for the more invigorating life on the farm, to which he has ever since devoted his whole attention, both in Pennsylvania and Ohio. He moved here in 1854, purchasing 80 acres where he now lives, but has added, by purchase, until his farm con- sists of 120 acres of good and well-improved land, where he is passing the declining years of his life in peace and enjoying the fruits of his early industry. He has been twice married ; first to Polly Heller, September, 1828. She was called away by death, leaving four children,

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viz., William, John, Emanuel and Adam. His second marriage was with Lucetta Harmon ; she was born in Dauphin Co., Penn., Jan. 15, 1823; the children by this union are Mary E. and Daniel A. They brought his first wife's four children along with them when they came to Ohio ; his daughter by second wife was only a few months old ; his youngest son, Daniel A .. was born in this county. Shortly after the out- break of the rebellion, his son, Adam, enlisted on Nov. 2, 1861, in Co. K, 64th O. V. I., and served through the war, until the engagement at Chickamauga, where the Union soldiers were forced to yield, and during the retreat he was stunned by a bullet, which grazed the top of his head, stripping its breadth of hair and scalp from his skull, which felled him to the ground, when he became an easy prey. as a prisoner, to the rebels ; he was forthwith con- veyed to Andersonville Prison, and later, to Florence Prison, spending seventeen months of starvation and misery in the two places. Hle was paroled in February, 1865, and returned to his father's, as his discharge had been granted before he was released from the Southern prison. Emaciated with hunger and dejected in spirits. his recovery seemed very doubtful; but with strict attention of his parents, good care and nourishment, he regained his usual strength ; he afterward married here. where he died. leaving a widow and three children. William lives in this township ; Emanuel resides in Henry Co., Ohio ; John owns 40 acres of land in Holmes Township, but makes his home with his father ; he is unmarried ; has devoted his time to farming, and like those whose quiet lives are unallured by the gush and glare of society. lives a quiet, practical life. Mary E. is now Mrs. Henry Stevenson, of this county ; Daniel A., the youngest, also resides with his parents. Mr. and Mrs. Light are members of the Ger- man Reformed Church.

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History of Crawford County and Ohio, Part 136

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