USA > Ohio > Defiance County > History of Defiance County, Ohio. Containing a history of the county; its townships, towns, etc.; military record; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; farm views, personal reminiscences, etc > Part 50
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HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY.
it would cut off all hopes or prospects of a bridge at Second street. It was found that, in addition to the
hostility of the Commissioners, no direct relief to prevent the letting of the Hopkins street contract could be obtained by injunction from either Judge .
begun to crowd the hotels, when as a desperate al- less. Already contractors from several States had residing in the county, and the case seemed hope-
ternative, Mr. Holgate entered the Auditor's office
ing, be sustained, but knowing it would tide over fully conscious this appeal would not, on final hear- dismissed the assembled bidders. Mr. Holgate was their files in proper shape authorizing a letting, and the Commissioners found they had no papers on of Common Pleas. When the hour for letting came, bridge, by appeal, to the Clerk's office of the Court Commissioners' proceedings about the Hopkins street caused the transfer of the papers relating to the with responsible parties, and gave security, and so
the dangerous emergency, he waited until a good case
could be made up for an injunction before Judges
to Mr. Holgate, the latter's success was complete. conrt in which Mr. Waite was the opposing counsel It sulfices to say that in this, as in the first case in and the great public interests affecting the matter. of Commissioners that should take care of their own might have an opportunity to rally and elect a Board keep it in, in order that the people of the county proceed with the letting, while Mr. Holgate tried to sought to get the case out of court, so that they could sioners and the other prominent officials of the county R. Waite as their adviser. All the County Commis- leading attorneys of the town, supported by Morrison The case was now in court, with some few of the dont within. He took the appeal as his only chance. ontside of the county, in the absence of those resi-
summer of 1875. While the proposed Hopkins street Second street, and they caused its erection in the constructing the bridge over the Auglaize River at new Commissioners were elected in the interest of Commissioners. While this suit was pending, two cision of the Supreme Court of the State against the The case was ended late in the year 1874 by a de-
east. This had a direct outlet given to it by an old line across the Auglaize River to a point half a mile ter of the business part of. the town in a straight avenue running by tho court house through the cen- proaches narrow and crooked, Second street is a broad bridge was on the outskirts of the city, with its ap-
.
county road to the east and by another one running
south. The town of Holgate, twelve and one-half miles
out by the citizens of Defiance, was named as a compli- east of Defiance, on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, laid
to their place He always took a warm interest in the inent to Mr. Holgate for his efforts in securing that road
real estate improvements of the town, and his brain teemed with projects to promote its growth. His efforts, with those of his partners, have secured to the town of Holgate many important factories and other
over his land and extended its limits a mile westerly. opened it to the public, and the village soon spread and making it inviting to those seeking homes, he residence. After lining the street with shade trees the west, on which, in 1858, he built a honse for his owned by him, adjacent to the city of Defiance on by Mr. Holgate about 1844, through a fifty-acre tract the town. Holgate avenue was originally a road graded ton Railroad, which adds greatly to the prosperity of interests, together with the Toledo, Delphos & Burling-
gate Pike," by which name only it is known. After Free Turnpike road, but the people called it the " Hol- was changed to that of the Defiance & Michigan which he secured the passage, about the year 1856, on this line. Its name, by another special act of of the Williamstown & Ridgeville Free Turnpike road secured the passage of a special act for the locating Williams County. About the year 1850, Mr. Holgate mee River bridge in Defiance on section lines to Holgate pike reaches from the north end of the Man --
along this pike, which are already giving it a pleas- wide. He then planted three rows of maple trees a half north of the river, making it one hundred feet to it a strip of land forty feet wide, for a mile and fair grounds on this road in 1875, Mr. Holgate added the Defiance County Agricultural Society located its
ant and beautiful appearance. Assisted by his son
sists of about 900 acres north of the Maumee, ity one of the best stock farms in the State. It con- Curtis, he is now engaged in opening in this vicin-
200 acres south of that river. In "Sulphur Hollow," embracing what is known as " Sulphur Hollow," and
to resign on account of sickness. In politics, he was management for five years, when he was compelled tary, and took upon himself nearly all the business drafted its by-laws, performed the duties of Secre- organizing the Defiance County Agricultural Society, mainder being for sale. He was the prime mover in and lands as he can properly improve, all the re- wish and desire seems to be to hold only such lots he is improving every year. Mr. Holgate's expressed acres, besides a large amount of city property, which lands not adjacent to the city, amounting to 5,000 his whole herd full bloods. He has other farming est pedigrees, the increase of which will soon make tive of which are thoroughbred short-horns of the fin- keeps about one hundred head of cattle, about twenty- this tract, making of his farm a beautiful park. He on most of the subdivision lines of sections through Holgate is opening out, grading, and building roads there is located a very valuable mineral spring. Mr.
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HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY.
formerly a Whig, but since a Republican. Mr. Hol- gate has always been too much engrossed with im- portant matters affecting his own interests as well as those of the public to devote much of his time to the business of politics. Being a man of great determi- nation, he has always been eminently successful in all his undertakings, whether of a private or public nature, and especially has this been the case in mat- ters of public interest, which he has always pushed to success regardless of personal inconvenience, and yet he has never held or sought any public office. Strictly honorable in all his dealings and prudent in all his business matters, he has acquired a handsome fortune, without sacrificing the esteem and confidence of his fellow-citizens, by whom he is regarded in the highest manner --- and especially is this the case among those who have known him from pioneer days down to the present time. He is a member of the Presby- terian Church. He is President of the Merchants' National Bank of Defiance, and also of the Defiance Manufacturing Company, a strong organization, manufacturing hubs, spokes and bent work. Mr. Holgate was married in 1850 to Miss Mary Hoel- rich, who died June 6, 1865. They had two children -W. Curtis Holgate, born November 29, 1854, who was married September 14, 1876, to Miss Florence Gleason, who have also had two children .- William Curtis Holgate, born July 19, 1877, and Robert Gleason Holgate, born October 1, 1880; Fannie Maud Holgate, born October 2, 1856, was married to Commodore Perry Harley, July 9, 1874, who have had one child-Holgate Christian Harley, who was born June 19, 1876.
Curtis Holgate was born in Dummerston, Vt., Au- gust 28, 1773. He was of English and Scotch descent, and was a son of Asa Holgate, whose father came from England, while we were colonies of Great Britain, as a Surgeon in the British Army. He died while in the " service and was buried at sea between Boston and Hali- fax. Dr. Holgate left one son, Asa, who at seventeen years of age, being without a home, enlisted as a'private in the British Army, and was engaged in the old French and Indian war. At the close of this war, he mar- ried a daughter of Capt. Kathan, a Scotchman, who had settled on the Connecticut River, near Brattle- boro, Vt., and owned fine lands for nine miles along the river. Curtis Holgate was born on a farm, and was one of the younger children of a large family. While yet a child his father moved to Lake Cham- plain. The young man toiled vigorously at what- ever he found to do, and at the age of thirty-six had accumulated a capital of about $1,500, the savings of his own labors. He received nothing from his father, as the fine landed estates on the Connecticut River had been lost to the family. His first wife
having died, he married Miss Alvira Prentice, the daughter of a physician in Northern Vermont, and shortly after, gathering together all of his worldly possessions, he moved to Burlington, Vt. It had considerable commercial importance, but was without a wharf, though situated upon the broadest and most exposed part of the lake, and where one would be of the greatest value. Many had been built, but none of them permanently enough to stand, on account of the exposure of the coast to heavy storms and ice-drifts. Mr. Holgate felt confident that he could build a dock that would withstand the storms, and applied to the Legislature for a sole right to wharf privileges, which was granted to him for the term of fourteen years. He had nearly completed his first structure when it was all swept away in one night by ice and a heavy storm. Arriving at the scene the next morn- ing he saw where the weak points were, and decided to try again. To give up was not in his character. He was called the Napoleon of Burlington, on ac- count of his energy and perseverance. Having no money, but the full confidence of all who knew him, he went to a leading capitalist and laid the case be- fore him, telling him if he would lend him the amount he needed to build another wharf, he would give him one hundred per cent interest. His appli- cation was successful. The required aid was granted, and in a short time the second dock was built. It an- swered his expectations and stood for a long time against all storms, thereby giving to the city of Bur- lington an accommodation indispensable to its com- mercial interests and prosperity. The wharf is still in existence, and has made it the chief city of the State. It was completed. together with the necessary ware- houses, just before the war of 1812. The commence- ment of the war found him with all the debts for the construction or the wharf paid up in full, according to contract, and a very prosperous business on his hands. Commodore McDonough found the dock of great use during the war of 1812, for here he fitted out for the battle of Plattsburg, where he gained his great victory over the British. Previous to this bat- tle, the British considered themselves masters of the lake. Their ships of war went sailing up and down its broad expanse, firing into the villages and towns. One of their largest vessels anchored opposite to Bur. lington, but three miles distant, and sent a gunboat within about a mile of the place, which commenced cannonading the town. A prominent object was the house of Mr. Holgate, which stood on the wharf. One ball entered the roof of the house, passed into the dining-room, struck a corner post, bounded back and rolled under the dining table, from which the family had just been hastened to the back country. Other balls struck his yard and garden fences, leveling
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HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY.
them to the ground. Going to Commodore McDon- ough, Mr. Holgate asked him to tit out a gunboat to drive off the British marauders, and agreeing to fur- nish the mon necessary for the purpose. The Com- modero granted his roquest and furnished the boat with cannen. Mr. Holgate and his fellow-citizens set forth, and in a very short time silenced the Brit- ish gunboat, driving it back to the ship. . At the close of the war, Mr. Holgate sold the dock to Messrs. Mayo & Follet for $22,000, and moved on a farm two miles south of Burlington, also buying 800 acres of land across the lako opposite Burlington. Having some money left, he purchased six or eight vessels, and put them on the lake. On the tract of land op- posite Burlington, he laid out a town, calling it Port Douglas, and building a wharf, warehouse, hotel, store and saw mill. About this time, the " Steam- boat Company of Lake Champlain," which was vory wealthy, laid out a town in opposition to his, about three miles to the north, and called it Port Kent. Mr. Holgate feeling that his investment would prove a loss if Port Kent should succeed, offered to sell out to the steamboat company if they would give him first cost and interest, which they declined to do. He therefore sold his farm, moved to his hotel at Port Douglas stocked his store with goods, built a turnpike three milos through the mountains to Keeso- ville, a great conter of the iron .business, and now a notod pleasure resort in the Adirondacks, and started a line of stages to connect with the line of packets from Burlington, thereby causing their boats to stop at Port Douglas instead of Port Kent. . Mr. Holgate secured the business of the Peru Iron Company at his dock and also a large lumber trade. Theso enter- prisos he carried on for one year in competition with the steamboat company without charge, when that corporation offered to accept the terms of sale made to them a year provions, on the basis of which Port Douglas was closed out to them, he receiving all his expenditures together with six per cent interest. About 1823, he had made a trip West with his own team to see the country, pursuing the lino afterward followed by the Erie Canal, passing through and spending some time at Buffalo, Cleveland, Columbus and Nowark. This trip occupied the whole summer. He formed a very high opinion of the prospects of the towns and country which he visited, and, after disposing of Port Douglas, arranged to remove to the West. He went by the way of Whitehall and the Northorn Canal, in his own boat, and, stopping at Troy, he bought a stock of general dry goods in New York, taking it to Syracuse, and opening a store at Salina, now a part of Syracuse. In that place he bought two salt works, which he carried on about one year, in connection with his storo. About this time
he lost three children with the measles, who died and were buried within the space of three weeks. This so disheartened him that he sold out all of his property and moved to the city of Utica, where he lived until he had educated his children, engaging in no business. But while here the part of the New York Central Railroad from Schenectady to Utica was located, and he became one of the original sub- scribers to the stock, taking about $28,000 worth. Shortly after and before the road was completed, he sold his stock at a premium of twenty-eight and a half per cent, and then made a trip to the West, purchasing property in Buffalo and in and near Fort Wayne, Ind. About 1835, he visited Toledo, and bought an interest in Manhattan prop- erty; then going to Defiance and purchasing the interest of Benjamin Leavell, one-half of the town of Defiance and one-third of the town of Napoleon, together with some adjacent land. In 1836, he re- moved to Buffalo, N. Y., and thence to Defianco, Ohio, in the fall of 1837. He and his family were very much prostrated by sickness up to his death, which occurred January 15, 1810, at the age of sixty- six years. When about sixty years old, he united with the Presbyterian Church. He took very radical grounds on the side of temperance, as will be shown . in the following instance: In the summer of 1839, when help was very scarce, he applied to the canal contractors for men to help harvest his wheat. The contractors were willing, but the men refused to go unless they were permitted to have liquor on the ground. Mr. Holgate told them he would not allow that, but would give them $2 per day, the regular wages being $1.25. They agreed to this offer, and the wheat was harvested. Though Mr. Holgate re- sided at Defiance with his family but a few years, death calling him away, his memory is fresh in the minds of the people, who feel that they owe a great deal to his help in the infancy of their town. He was almost the first citizen that brought any capital with him into the place. Strict moral principles governod him in every walk of life.
Hon. Eliner White, second son of Lyman and Louisa White, the former of New York State, the latter of New Hampshire, was born at West Lodi, Seneca Co., Ohio, . April 16, 1847. His parents came to Ohio in 1836 and located at Titlin, Seneca County, where Ehner passed most of his carly life. He received his educa- tion in the public schools of that place, graduating June 4, 1864, with the highest honors of his class. Choosing the printer's trade, he learned the business in the Tiffin Advertiser office, under the preceptorship of Hon. W. W. Armstrong, afterward Secretary of State, and now proprietor of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Mr. White was united in marriage with Miss Celia
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HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY.
A. Hoyt, of Onondaga Connty, N. Y., on January 22, 1868. The fruits of this union were three children, two of whom are living-Irving E., born July 26, 1870, at Tiffin, Ohio ; Lyman, Jr., born October 30, 1875, at Defiance. A little daughter, Mary, was born February 26 1874, and died September 29, 1875. In 1869, Mr. White established the Tiffin Stur, and continued its publication until the fall of 1873, when he removed to Defiance and became editor and part owner of the Defiance Democrat, succeeding Hon. J. J. Greene, who had published the paper twenty-four years. Is still connected with the Demoerat and is also, in connection with Frank J. Mains, proprietor of the Weekly Herald, a German paper of influence. Mr. White was elected City Clerk of Defiance in 1873, and held the office for two terms. In 1881, he was elected a State Senator, representing the Thirty-second District, comprising the counties of Williams, Defiance, Paulding, Van Wert, Allen, Auglaize and Mercer. Mr. White has the repu- tation of being a zealous and active worker in the Dem- ocratie party of Northwestern Obio. He comes of good Democratic stock, his father before him (who is still living), having always been a strong worker in that party. In the State Senate he took a leading part iu legislation, and well merited the words of praise fre- quently bestowed upon him by the press and public. In the Legislature, he was one of the champions of the canal interests of Ohio, and through his work and influence the State made a large appropriation to rebuild the Wabash & Erie Canal west of Junction in Paulding County. Local interests were well cared for by him, and in public matters he was a defender of the people against jobs and schemes of all kinds. Mr. White is a fine speaker and able writer. His eulogy of the late Senator O. Hogan, from the Thirtieth District, delivered in the Senate Chamber January 9, 1883, received the highest encomiums of the press and his fellow-members, Gov. Charles Foster doing him the honor of calling upon him at his desk, to personally tender his congratulations, and afterward, many distin- guished citizens of the State publicly expressed their admiration of this masterly and eloquent tribute to the memory of their departed friend and colleague. Mr. White is now in the prime of health and vigor, and has still an eminent and useful career before him. A brother of Mr. White, now Lieutenant Commander Edwin White, United States Navy, is Executive Officer in the flagship Hartford, of the Pacific squadron, now stationed at the Society Islands. He entered the naval service of the United States in 1861 and graduated at the Naval Academy in June, 1864. His home is in Princeton, N. J., his wife being a daughter of Rear Admiral Emmons, of the United States Navy, and a niece of Rear Admirals Thornton and Jenkins.
William Gaylord Blymyer, son of John and Sarah Blymyer, was born August 31, 1841, at Mansfield, Ohio. In July, 1857, his parents moved to Booneville, Cooper
Co., Mo., where, in the fall of that year, he commenced the trade of a printer in the Observer office. He served faithfully as an apprentice for three years, after which he took charge of the mechanical part of the office, which position he held until the office was closed, on the approach of Gen. Lyons' army, in June, 1861. From that time until 1864, he spent his time between his old Ohio home and Missouri. In 1864, he established the Booneville Monitor, a weekly paper devoted to the cause of the Union. It was the first Union paper pub- lished in Central Missouri, and, indeed, we might say one of the first published in the State. On account of the many bushwhackers in that part of the State, and the great danger in publishing a Union paper, he was forced to give it up after issuing twenty-six numbers. After the Monitor was discontinued, he came to Mans- field, Ohio, and was married, December 17, 1864, to Miss Susan A., daughter of George and Sarah Sheets. They have two children-Olive S., born April 4, 1868, and George S., born February 28, 1880
In 1865, Mr. Blymyer purchased the Fostoria News, which paper he published for about one year, when he "pulled up stakes " and became one of the publishers of the Kansas City, Mo., Daily Advertiser. Not liking the place, he again returned to Ohio, and became interested in the Findlay Jeffersonian, with the Locke Bros. 'In 1868, they sold the Jeffersonian, and pur- chased the Tiffin Tribune, which they continued to publish until 1873, when Mr. B. sold his interest to his partners and moved to Defiance, and purchased a half- interest in the Democrat, with which he remained con- nected till June, 1881, when he sold his interest to his partner, Hon. Elmer White. In October of the same year. he founded the Democratic Times, which paper was a success from the start, supplying what seemed to be a want in the political papers of the city and county. The Times is in a prosperous condition, having a large circulation in both city and country, and does an exten- sive job printing business.
Frank C. Culley, editor and publisher of the Defiance County Express, son of Matthew D. and Emily Culley, was born at Fremont, Ohio, July 2, 1838. At the age of fifteen, he began to learn the printer's trade, and has been connected with the newspaper business ever since. In April, 1861, he enlisted as private in Company F, Eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served till February, 1863. Soon after his discharge, to wit, February 16, 1863, he was united in marriage at Perrysburg, Ohio, with Miss Emma R., daughter of J. R. and Mary A. Rudulph, who was born at New Lisbon, Ohio, in 1842. They have four children-Ollie M., born at Haskins, Ohio; L. Belle, born at Bowling Green, Ohio ; Fritzie Allen, born at Eaton Rapids, Mich. ; and J. Ray, born at Defiance, Ohio.
In 1867, Mr. Culley founded the Wood County Sen- tinel, and published it for two years, when he sold out and moved to Eaton Rapids, Mich., and published the
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HISTORY OF DEFIANCE COUNTY.
Journal at that place for eight years ; after which, in 1879, he came to Defiance and bought the Express, the the history of which paper appears in another part of this work. Mr. Culley comes of a patriotic family, his ancestors being in the Revolutionary war. lle is a stanch Republican, advocating earnestly the principles of the party, though he has never held office.
Dr. I. N. Thacker, born January 27, 1811, in the town of Essex and county of Essex, Stato of New York. He came with his parents to Cincinnati, Ohio, in the fall of 1815. In the spring of 1816. his par- ents moved on a farm in Clermont County, Ohio, where the Doctor grew up, attended district school in the winter season and helped his father on the farm in summer, till nineteen years of age. In 1831, he studied medicine under Dr. John Thacker, a cousin of his, in Goshen, in the same county. In 1835, he attended a course of lectures at the Ohio Medical College, at Cincinnati, and in 1840 he gradu- ated at the same college, and commenced practice at what was then Rochester, now Morrowtown, Warren County, Ohio, and remained there about fifteen years. He was married to Miss Lydia Haywood, of Goshen, Clermont County, Ohio, November 21. 1833. Six children were born to them, four boys and two girls, viz. : Joseph O., William H., L. G., Sarah A., Isaac N. and Mary A. Mr. Thacker came to Defiance October 27, 1853, where he has continued the prac tico of medicine for nearly thirty years. Three of his sons were physicians: William H., was a gradu- ate of Ann Arbor Medical University, Michigan; I. N., of Starling Medical College, Columbus, Ohio; L. G., gradnated at Bellevue Medical College of New York City, and commenced practice at Defiance, March, 1866. He has an extensive practice, and was mar- ried to Miss Lillie Noble, Jannary 27, 1869. They havo two children, Engenie and Myrtle, aged respect- ively thirteen and five years. The surviving brother, Isaac N., is practicing medicine at Chihuahua, Mox- ico. Joseph O. also studied medicine, but died at the age of twenty years, before completion of studies. He died May 3, 1858. William H. died in Denver, Colo., July 30, 1876.
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