History of Crawford County and Ohio, Part 139

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 139

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GOTTLIEB SHIEBER (deceased), farmer ; P. O. Bucyrus ; was born in Wurtemberg, Ger- many, Sept. 23, 1823 ; was the third child of Gottlieb and Magdalena (Brosey) Shieber, (whose sketch is connected with that of Jacob Shieber. Gottlieb lived with his parents until he attained his majority, and, on Oct. 11, 1847, he married Christina Heckenlively ; she was born Oct. 25, 1827, in Columbiana Co., Ohio, and came here with her parents when about 7 years old. Her father, John, and her mother, Margaret (Leffler) Heckinlively, came from Germany when young ; they married in Balti- more and came on to Columbiana Co., where they bought 80 acres of land, where they lived about six years. The following January after Mr. and Mrs. Shieber were married, they moved to 80 acres which he had purchased, and on which he had built a log house ; the farm was all woods when they came to it, and, anxious to make a start and get their farm cleared, Mr. Shieber worked very hard and unceasingly. They replaced the log cabin with a good sub- stantial frame residence, in 1859, and, subse- quently, added 38 acres to their farm. Mr. Shieber's health began to fail him, no doubt caused partially by constantly overworking himself, such was his ambition to surmount every financial embarrassment. The messenger of death called him away from his worldly cares, June 18, 1866, leaving a widow and eight children, the oldest only 17 years of age, and the youngest born four months after Mr.

Shieber's death. The names of the children

are as follows : Elizabeth (now Mrs. George Eberhart), John (who is married to Lovina Williams, and lives in Holmes Township), An- nie, John, Sarah, Reuben, Lydia and Gottlieb Wesley. Lydia has been teaching school, and is preparing herself for that avocation. Mrs. Shieber has managed the affairs of her family and farm with much credit and ability, since her husband's death ; their wants are well sup- plied with all the necessaries of life, and she has everything prepared to make her mature years pass smoothly by.

JACOB SHULL, carpenter ; P. O. Sulphur Springs ; was born in Perry Co., Penn., Dec. 4, 1822 ; the son of Jacob and Sarah (Flick) Shull, and the only child of that union, as death called the paternal parent when he (Jacob) was only a few weeks old. After his father's death he was taken and reared by his mother's father. John Flick, and lived with him until about 18 years of age. In the meantime, his mother had again married one Jefferson Wallace, a carpen- ter by trade ; and with his step-father he began to learn the carpenter's trade when in his 18th year. When he had served about two years apprenticeship, he was employed to work by the month, and worked steadily for his step- father four years, and one year for another car- penter. In 1831, they (John Flick, his grand- father and his step-father) sold out and moved to Ohio ; they settled near Mansfield, making the journey in about three weeks. There he assisted his grandfather in the improvement of his farm for about nine years, which includes the time spent at his apprenticeship. His mother and step-father moved to Crawford Co. and located in Sandusky Township, but finally moved to Indiana, where both died ; they had seven children, who moved to Indiana likewise, except one daughter, who was married and re- mained here. In 1845, Mr. Shull began work- ing at the carpenter's trade on his own respon- sibility, and has been very successful, having raised to date, about three hundred buildings, and some of the largest in the country without the slightest accident to any one around. He formed one resolution when he began on his own account, viz. : " That intoxicating drink of any kind should not be used where he was rais- ing a building," and be it said to his credit, that that resolution was never, in a single instance, deviated from ; even in the early time, when it

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was considered a dishonor not to have a good- sized, well-filled jug on the ground, when a few persons were gathered to perform any piece of work. Simple as it would now appear to live up to such a resolution, it was then a matter of considerable moment, as it was antagonized by society in general, therefore, it involved the man's popularity who would hold out ; and that was not all, it involved the mechanic's ad- missibility to employ, consequently his bread. Notwithstanding, he held firmly to the princi- ples involved. He is, and has been for years, radical in his advocacy of prohibition princi- ples, and has frequently discussed the subject publicly. As illustrative of the undaunted en- ergy of which he was possessed in youth, and which would correspondingly apply at the pres- ent ; he started on foot, when about 21 years old, and walked from here through the then sparsely settled country, to Columbia City, Ind., a dis- tance of 150 miles, on the circuitous route tak- en, in five days, and returned on foot, making a circuit of some of the more northern coun- ties. In those days there were no railroad pal- ace cars flying on their beaten course at the rate of forty miles an hour, but the ox team in- stead would plod its way, " with no bad luck," at the rate of ten miles per day ; and a year or so later, he made the same trip again on foot. When about 20 years of age, he united himself with the church, and in 1868 he was ordained a minister of the M. E. Church ; since that date he has held many meetings in various States. He has traveled over nine States, viz. : New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennes- see, Alabama, Indiana, Illinois and Iowa, and held religious meetings in five of them, princi- pally in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa and Ten- nessee ; and although he has no regular charge, he does considerable work for the cause of re- ligion wherever an opportunity presents itself. He is Superintendent of the Sabbath school, which office he has diligently applied him- self to for the last twenty-five years. He is a man of liberal views, inasmuch as he believes in the advancement of all institutions which tend to the general welfare of mankind, irrespective of their race or color, and, not only liberal in thought, but, with the goods he pos- sesses, giving cheerfully to the support of teachers and missionary work among the freed- men of the South, besides annual donations of considerable amount to the church at home.

Nor are his circumstances less comfortable than those who would be more selfish and grasping ; he enjoys the pleasures of a comfortable home in the village, and has a well-improved farm of 90 acres besides, which he has prudently saved of his own earnings. July 3, 1847, he was mar- ried to the widow of the late B. Spahr ; her maiden name was Sarah Peterman. She was born in Cumberland Co., Penn., March 14, 1823. They have three children living, viz .: Francis A. (who married Lucetta Darr-is farming his father's place), Sarah A. and Eva A. Mrs. Shull has one child-Benjamin Spahr-by her first husband.

GEORGE W. TEEL, farmer and purchasing agent for the Ohio Central Railroad; P. O. Bu- cyrus and Sulphur Springs. The subject of this sketch is one of the most active, energetic and successful business men of Crawford Co. He was born at Aslıland, Ohio, May 16, 1821, the son of poor but industrious parents. At the age of 10 and 11, having received a limited education, he worked in John Moffit's brick- yard for two summers, and for the next two seasons drove a team on the Ohio Canal ; he then worked for different farmers in Stark Co., for some two years. In the meantime his father, John C. Teel, had removed to Guernsey Co., and purchased a small farm. The subject of this sketch managed this farm for some two years, while his father worked at the black- smith trade. In his 17th year, he taught school during the winter in Wayne Co., and also fol- lowed this same occupation in his 19th year. After this he attended the Ashland Academy for one term of five months ; then clerked a year for Josiah Blackburn, at Benton, Holmes Co. He removed to Navarre, Stark Co., in the spring of 1843, and from April to July pur- chased horses, took them to Canada and sold them to British officers. Mr. Teel removed to Crawford Co., Aug. 7, 1843, and purchased of George W. Galloway the farm upon which he now resides ; he taught school at Sulphur Springs and vicinity for fifteen winters, as fol- lows: Five winters in the village, three in the Broken Sword District, two in the Charlton District, two in the Rice District, two in the Stephens District and one in the Clingan Dis- trict. He conducted in the Broken Sword District the first English school taught in that neighborhood, and afterward they could never persnade the residents to support a German

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school. For some six months, about 1844, he was engaged in the mercantile business at Sul- phur Springs, with a man named Allen, and the establishment was known as the Great Western Store. In 1862, he was appointed Revenue Assessor for Crawford Co., and served in this capacity for nine years. During the fall of 1872, he was employed by the A. & L. E. R. R., as collecting agent for the corpora- tion, and continued with the company for three years. In the spring of 1877, he removed his family to Bucyrus and was engaged for one year as assignee in settling up the business of Messrs. Osman & Woodside. The family re- moved to Crestline in the spring of 1878, and remained there some twelve months, when they returned to the farm in Liberty Township. During this time, however, Mr. Teel still con- tinued as a partner in the carriage establish- ment at Bucyrus ; is owner at the present time of 303 acres of land in Crawford Co., and 80 acres in Paulding Co., but has not been actively engaged in farming since 1862 ; is at the present time Secretary of the Crawford Co. Farmers' Fire Insurance Company, and also purchasing agent of the Ohio Central Railroad ; as agent for this corporation and also the old A. & L. E. R. R., he secured nearly all the right of way for the road-bed from the coal fields to Toledo, including also the depot grounds lately pur- chased in that city. He was instrumental, to a great extent, in securing the guarantee fund of over $100,000 subscribed in 1880, by the count- ies along the route of the road, as the "local aid " to complete this new enterprise, and with Messrs. D. W. Swigart, C. Fulton, S. R. Harris and James B. Gormly, succeeded in getting the Machine Shops Bill passed by the Legislature. The subject of this sketch was married Sept. 17, 1844, to Miss Elizabeth Markley, and they are the parents of the following children : Leander L., Jennie (formerly Mrs. Byron Ben- son, but now deceased), Jared, Laura L., Ella, George W., Horatio Markley and Fannie.

JOHN F. WILLIAMS, deceased. He was the progenitor of the Williams families in this section. He was born in Lebanon Co., Penn., and was brought up to farm life. When about of mature age, he was united in wedlock with one Elizabeth Flora ; they moved from their native place to Belmont Co., Ohio, at a date which can not be accurately ascertained, but about the year 1806 they located near Steu-

benville, and enjoyed their new home about five years, when Mrs. Williams was taken from the family by death, leaving five children, viz., Frederick, Catharine, Isaac, Susan and Eliza- beth. At this time he had a brother-in-law living in Stark Co., and, after disposing of his effects, he repaired to Stark Co. with his five children, and leaving them in charge of his rel- ative, he returned to his native place in Penn- sylvania, and there he married Elizabeth Gar- tie, and, having spent about a year on his visit, he returned with his young bride to where his children were, arriving in 1813. During his unsettled condition and his removals to and from Ohio, he escaped the draft, which would, in all probability, have drawn him into the war of 1812. He was in very poor financial cir- cumstances, and was unable to enter the amount of land specified by law, but bought 60 acres of his brother-in-law, which he improved, and, by his unceasing industry and the enhance- ment in value of the property, he got to be in easy circumstances. In the course of time there were born to him, in Stark Co., by his second marriage, five children, viz., Thomas, George, Joseph, Mary A. and Jacob, three of whom are now aged and respected citizens of this county. An earnest feeling was pervading in the family as to finding a more suitable ag- ricultural location, where farms might be se- cured for his growing family. Thus prompted, one of his elder sons, Isaac, made a tour of inspection, and purchased, in 1828, 160 acres near Bucyrus, in Holmes Township. He re- turned with a description of this locality. which induced Mr. Williams to come here with his family. They started in the spring of 1829, with a two-horse team and wagon, driving a few cattle along. When they arrived at Spring Mills, Richland Co., the family stopped there and Mr. Williams came on here and bought 80 acres in Liberty Township, where his son Jacob now resides. He then went back to Spring Mills and moved the family there. During his absence the oldest boy, Thomas, helped in the harvest at Spring Mills, reaping with a hand- sickle. When they came to Galion, they found the country so soft and impassable that it was necessary to hire a team to hitch on and help them through here. Elizabeth, the youngest child of his first wife, was the only one of hers who came at that time. She died shortly after their settlement here. But Isaac and his wife

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soon followed, to the location he had purchased when out here in 1828. Susan married Benja- min Gants and remained in Stark Co., where she lives to this day. Catharine married Leon- ard Mowin and moved to Wood Co., and is still living. Frederick came here and bought con- siderable land in Holmes Township. and built a saw-mill, which was not a success on account of want of water sufficient to run at all seasons, and when a dam was built, at a heavy expense, failed to serve the purpose, continually break- ing because of quicksand surroundings. Ex- hausting much of his means, and becoming discouraged, he started for California with the first tide of emigration to that State, leaving here his wife and four children, with the hope of returning in the carly future with a repleted fortune ; but he never returned, and many years since died. In December, 1836, death again visited the family of Mr. Williams, this time summoning the loving wife and devoted mother. He married a third wife-Elizabeth Fox, widow of Michael Fox, late of Seneca Co. She had two children by Mr. Fox, but left no heirs by Mr. Williams. The children by his second wife we will make mention of elsewhere, except George, who will come in this connection. He lived at home until about 18 years old, when he went to sail on the lakes with Capt. Cobb. More than twenty years of his life were spent on the lakes; ten years of that time he was Captain of a steamer plying between Buffalo, N. Y., and Chicago, III., and intermediate points. He died in Buffalo, N. Y., (his home for years), in 1866. Mary Ann married Josiah Jackson ; they moved to Iowa, where she died. Thomas, Joseph and Jacob are still here, and spoken of, with their families, in the following sketches. Mr. Williams was living on the old homestead with his son Jacob, when his final dissolution came. His widow went back to her children by Mr. Fox.

THOMAS WILLIAMS, farmer ; P. O. Bu- cyrus ; is the eldest child of John F. Williams' second marriage ; was born in Stark Co., Ohio, Feb. 16, 1814. He lived with his father until of age, working on the farm, and being of a mechanical turn of mind, and genius of that kind being in demand, he took up the boot and shoe making trade, without ever spending an hour as an apprentice. By doing jobs of re- pairing for themselves and others, he soon

acquired a knowledge of the business that en- abled him to do any kind of work, doing a great portion of all that the early settlers of their vicinity required, not because he ever expected to make a lifetime business of it, but more for the accommodation of their own family and neighbors. In 1833, he married Sarah Shaff- stall. She was born in Dauphin Co., Penn., Jan. 25. 1816. and came here with her father's (Solomon Shaffstall) family in 1832. Mr. Will- iams had got 80 acres of his father, which was all in wood. He set about improving it, but his health failed him the first year, which interfered seriously with further progress on his farm. The following year he regained his health and worked for his brother in the summer, at the building of a mill in Holmes Township, at $10 per month. At this time they lived near the mill-site, and boarded the hands employed at its construction. In 1832. he had the logs cut and hewcd to build a house, doing all the work himself. and after the completion of his work on the mill, he returned to his farm, five acres of which he had succeeded in clearing. He then set about making general improvements on his place, working hard both carly and late. The old log building which he first erected stands on the premises to this day. The nails which he put on the roof with, cost him 10 cents per pound, which he paid for with maple sugar, made by himself and wife ; that was their resi- dence from 1832 until 1860. In 1838. Mr. Williams worked some time at the construction of the Erie & Wabash Canal, near Defiance, and lost no opportunity in those early days to do whatever kind of work presented itself, whether considered hard or light, and all with the intent of securing an independent home, which now he so fully enjoys. Besides giving his children a good start, he owns 160 acres of good land. They had eleven children, viz .. Al- mira, wife of George Seits ; Henry, whose sketch appears here : William, deceased ; Elizabeth, was married to Edwin Ferrall, and died in May, 1879, leaving three children ; Catharine, wife of Isaac Dial ; Joshua, deceased, in his 25th year ; Laura, wife of John Davidson ; Harrison, married Frances Slocum ; Mary, wife of Joseph Hill ; Amelia, wife of Jacob Payne ; Emma, wife of Lawrence Sponseller. Those living are all married and doing for themselves, and Mr. and Mrs. Williams are spending their later years enjoying the fruits of their early industry.

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JOSEPH WILLIAMS, farmer ; P. O. Sul- phur Springs ; is a son of John F. and Elizabeth Williams. He was born in Stark Co., Ohio, March 4, 1819. Mr. Williams had but a poor opportunity of obtaining an education, conse- quently his schooling was very limited. His early pursuits were those of the farm, as they have always been. He has been twice married, first to Catharine Nigh. She was born in Dauphin Co., Penn., July 16, 1816. Shortly after their marriage, they settled on 20 acres, which he owned along the creek, and lived there about two years. He then sold that and worked a rented farm for three years. Having saved a little money by that time, he purchased 80 acres (for which he paid $800) lying about two miles east. They lived there two years, when he sold out and purchased 138 acres, where he now lives, which is well improved. In 1877, he built the fine two-story frame dwelling which adorns the premises, at considerable cost. Mrs. Williams died in October, 1878. They were parents of nine children, four of whom are living, viz., Eliza, now Mrs. John Rush ; Amanda, now Mrs. John Schaal ; Lovina, now Mrs. George Schie- ber, and Matilda, now Mrs. J. J. McBride. Mr. Williams married his second wife, Polly Miller, Feb. 19, 1880. She was born in this county, March 5, 1837, and is a daughter of Jonathan Miller, who came to this county at an early date. She was the widow of the late Hon. John Welch, of Wyandot Co. He was among the first set- tlers there, and served about eight years in the Legislature from that county. She was married to him Feb. 18, 1858. He died Dec. 9, 1859, leaving one child-Wesley E. Mr. Williams was drafted into the late rebellion in October, 1862. He served in Co. L, 10th Ohio Cavalry, eight months, without having encountered much of the hardship which was incident to that difficulty. He has been a man of remarkable constitution, as he has scarcely ever experienced sickness, even in the early settlement of this country, when malarial affections prevailed in every community, almost in every family in the fall of the year, except an attack of scarlet fever, when he was quite young, which affected his hearing very seriously ; but, as he advances in years, the organs of hearing become more sensitive and his hearing improves. His son- in-law, J. J. McBride, farms the place, and has ever since he was married. That event occurred Jan. 8, 1873. They have three children, viz., ;

Altha L., Stella S. and Aida B. Mr. McBride was born in this county September, 1849.

JACOB WILLIAMS, farmer and teacher ; P. O. Bucyrus ; is the son of John F. and Elizabeth Williams, and was born in Stark Co., Ohio, March 23, 1823. His boyhood was spent on the farm, without many privileges of obtain- ing an education, much as he desired it. As he approached the age of manhood, he felt still more keenly the necessity of acquiring knowl- edge ; and so he studied closely during the odd hours of leisure, and being naturally apt, soon acquired a fair amount of learning. In 1842, he taught school through the winter term, receiving $15 per month, each month compris- ing twenty-six days. The proceeds of that term were turned over to his father for neces- sary general purposes. The next winter, 1843 -44, he went to school, that being the only term that he ever attended school as a pupil. The following winter he taught a school four miles west of Marion. The next term he taught in Holmes Township, and continued for three terms, where he taught his first term. Oct. 8, 1848, he married Catharine Hershberger ; and soon afterward they moved to Holmes Township where he worked a rented farm in the summer and taught school during the winter for two years. At that time his father wished him to return and take charge of the old homestead, which he did in 1852, and in 1855, purchased the farm, and has lived here ever since. Al-

though he then had the charge of a farm and family, he pursued his studies by night, kept up with the advance in that direction, and has taught school almost every winter; having taught fifteen terms in their own distriet. Mrs. Williams was born in Lancaster Co., Penn., June 8, 1829, her mother (Magdalene Eberly) died when she was about 11 years old. There were thirteen children of them ; ten of whom grew to maturity, and came with their father to this State in 1847. He (Jacob Hershberger) now resides with Mr. and Mrs. Williams, at the advanced age of 85 years. Mr. and Mrs. Will- iams are the parents of four children-Mary A. (deceased), John F., Sally J., now Mrs. Jef- ferson Correll, and George H. The latter has prepared himself for teaching, and taught his first term in Holmes Township, where his father first began. Mr. Williams owns a good farm of 121 acres of good land, which he has earned by his own tact and industry.

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HENRY WILLIAMS, farmer ; P. O. Bucy- rus ; is the oldest son of Thomas Williams ; he was born in this township Dec. 24, 1836, and worked on the farm with his parents until after he attained his majority. He united his for- tunes with those of Elsie Cobb on March 19, 1859 ; she was born in this township May 17, 1838. In August, 1862, he enlisled in Co. C, 101st O. V. I., and was rushed to the front im- mediately. The regiment which he was in suf- fered severely from the long and hurried march which they were obliged to make almost as soon as enlisted. Many of them had only been a few days drilling, and were green re- cruits, unused to every phase of warfare. Mr. Williams was in the engagement at Perry- ville, and at Edgefield Junction, Tenn .; he was taken sick and sent into hospital for some time, and was terribly afflicted with rheumatism. which disabled and reduced his otherwise strong frame to a mere shadow. He received his discharge from army duty in January, 1865. He is a sufferer from the effects of the disease contracted in the service, to this day for which he is worthily among the list of pensioners. While Mr. Williams was in the army, Mrs. Will- iams taught school, as she was well prepared for that vocation before they were married, and had taught school several years previous. From the date of his return from the army, they re- sided on his father's farm until 1872. when they removed to their present farm of 40 acres, where they live very comfortably. They have only two children, viz., V. K. and Sadie M .; the former is attending school, with the intention of preparing himself for teaching. Mrs. Will- iams' parents were Henry and Sallie (Mitchell) Cobb ; they had twelve children, ten of whom grew up to maturity. He died at Bucyrus Feb. 20, 1878, in his 73d year, his widow still sur- viving.

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History of Crawford County and Ohio, Part 139

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