USA > Ohio > Hancock County > History of Hancock County, Ohio : containing a history of the county, its townships, towns portraits of early settlers and prominent men, biographies, history of the Northwest Territory, history of Ohio, statistical and miscellaneous matter, etc > Part 80
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721
FINDLAY TOWNSHIP AND VILLAGE.
FINDLAY TOWNSHIP AND VILLAGE.
JAMES T. ADAMS, manufacturer, Findlay, was born in Perry County, Penn., April 22, 1825; son of William and Elizabeth (Ball) Adams, who came here in 1860. William Adams was a worthy minister in the Church of God and died here in 1882, leaving four sons and three daughters: Mary Ann, deceased wife of Levi Tarr, of Wood County, Ohio; James T .; Sarah J .; Elizabeth, wife of John Ferguson, of Liberty Township, this county; William B., hardware merchant, of Corunna, Ind .; John and Newton, prom- inent business men in Findlay. The subject of our sketch served an appren- ticeship to the tinsmithing business in his native county, and, upon coming to Findlay, Ohio, in 1854, embarked in hardware, tin and stone business. In 1862 he engaged in linseed oil manufacturing, with which he remained successfully connected for twenty years, retiring from it to give his more especial attention to his already extensive foundry business, in which he had become interested some years previous. He married, in Richland County, Ohio, in 1849, Harriet L., daughter of Peter Bodine, by whom he has one son and one daughter: Frederick C., and Lizzie B., wife of John A. Weeks, Jr. The family attend the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Adams has been an Odd Fellow for over forty years. He has always avoided holding public office, but has served in the council for sixteen years and is now a worthy member of the school board of Findlay. In politics he is a Republican.
JOHN ALTMAN, builder and contractor, Findlay, was born in Marion Township, this county, March 6, 1837; son of John and Delilah (Young) Altman, natives of Pennsylvania and Virginia, respectively, and, who came of worthy pioneer ancestry in their respective States. They settled in this county in 1832. Of their nine children seven are residents of this county. One son resides in Allen County, Ohio, and one, Henry, lost his life in the army during the war of the Rebellion. John Altman, the subject of this sketch, was reared a farmer, but at the age of twenty-four years he engaged in con- tracting and building, and has taken a leading part in that industry in this county, both in private building and public improvements. In 1857 he was
united in marriage with Elizabeth Wingate, who died in 1864, in full com- munion with the United Brethren Church. Of her three daughters and one son, only one daughter survives: Eliza, wife of Henry Dillman, a saddler, in Findlay. The deceased are John Wilbur, who died at the age of twenty-four years; Ida May and Lillie, both of whom died young. For his second wife John Altman married, in 1870, Amanda, daughter of William and Harriet Burns, and by her he has four children: Orpha Caroline, Edward Orrin, Augusta Millard and an infant daughter. Our subject and wife attend the services of the Evangelical Union Church. He has, in company with William Presnell, Esq., an extensive stone quarry in addition to his large building interests, and gives employment to a goodly number of skilled workmen. Mr. Altman is a public-spirited man and contributes liberally to all measures calculated to benefit his county.
AARON BAKER, farmer, P. O. Findlay, was born in Rockingham
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
County, Va., February 8, 1810; son of John and Mary (Dane) Baker, natives of Virginia, who came to Ohio in 1812 and located in Madison Township, Franklin County, where they remained until 1830, when they removed to this county, settling in Findlay Township, and here passed the remainder of their days. They had nine children, of whom two are now living: Reu- ben, in Kosciusko County, Ohio, and Aaron. The subject of this sketch was married, January 29, 1833, to Mary Hartley, and by her he had ten children (seven of whom are now living): Tabitha, wife of Joseph Wagoner; Benja min P .; Perry D .; Hester A., wife of Emory Rice; John W., who was a soldier in the One Hundred and Eighteenth Regiment Ohio Volunteer In- fantry, under Capt. Howard. and was killed in a skirmish in Tennessee; Diana, wife of George Sager; Elizabeth, wife of John Sager; Reuben H .; Isaiah M. and Lurie, wife of Mason Bibler. Mr. Baker began his business career one mile and a half northeast of Findlay, Ohio, where he remained for nineteen years. He then sold and afterward purchased the John P. Hamilton farm, which had been entered by Mr. Hamilton during Presi- dent Monroe's administration. This farm, which is located on the bank of the Blanchard fork, Mr. Baker improved. Our subject is a well-to-do farmer; in politics a stanch Republican.
N. J. BAKER, proprietor of livery and feed stable, Findlay, was born in Allen Township, this county, October 11, 1845; son of George and Mar- garet Baker, natives of Fairfield County, Ohio, and of Pennsylvanian and Virginian ancestry, respectively. They settled in this county in an early day, and reared a family of seven sons and five daughters. The father and one daughter, Almira, who married A. J. Roberts, of Allen Township, this county, are deceased. The surviving children are Hannah, wife of Wilson Decker, carpenter and builder, North Baltimore, Ohio; Solomon, a farmer, in Johnson County, Iowa; Thomas, a farmer, in Putnam County, Ohio; Almeda, wife of Stewart Skinner, of Allen Township, this county; Benjamin F. a farmer, of Allen Township, this county; George W., a farmer, of Allen County, Kas .; Malissa, wife of J. C. Overholt, of Pleasant Township, this county; Ella (unmarried), Clement and William C., living at home; and the subject of this sketch. N. J. Baker was reared a farmer and still owns a fine farm in Section 16, Cass Township, this county. During the war of the Rebellion he served in Company C, One Hundred and Ninety- eighth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He embarked in the livery busi- ness in 1883. Mr. Baker was united in marriage in Allen Township, this county, with Verona, daughter of William and Mary Miller. The family attend the services of the United Brethren Church.
WILLIAM H. BALDWIN, M. D. (deceased), was born in Champaign County, Ohio, January 16, 1810, and settled in Findlay, Ohio, in the fall of 1832. Having studied and attended lectures at Cincinnati, he entered the medical profession in early life and rose to a very respectable rank as a phy- sician. His high reputation and success gained him a very large practice which extended into adjoining counties, as well as all over the one in which he lived. His extensive practice necessitated long and frequent rides, and those who enjoy the advantages and improvements of the present day know but little of what those rides involved; there were but few well-beaten roads and scarcely any bridges; streams had to be forded, swamps and marshes had to be crossed, and large tracts of country often under water had to be traveled; but distance, difficulties and ceaseless labors neither discouraged
723
FINDLAY TOWNSHIP AND VILLAGE.
nor checked this faithful physician in his untiring efforts to relieve the afflicted, honor his profession, and supply the wants of those dependent on him for support. These hard and indefatigable labors at last produced their effects; the vigorous constitution was impaired, and he who had been the embodiment of health, and had so successfully practiced the healing art upon others, became prematurely old and feeble, as all can testify who saw him totter on his staff during the few years before his death, which occurred December 14, 1868. Dr. Baldwin was married, April 19, 1835, to Mary J. Patterson, who was born July 13, 1817, in Harrison County, Ohio, daughter of John Patterson, who came to Findlay in 1834. In all the relations of life Dr. Baldwin was considerate, respectful, just and honorable, and enjoyed the highest esteem of all the people. He experienced the bless- ing of a saving peace under the ministry of Rev. J. Tibbals, and joined the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1842. He was unassuming and unswerv- ing in all his Christian duties, and made all his worldly interests conform to these. Family worship was regularly attended to, besides which it was his custom, to the close of life, to retire into his closet several times each day, to commune with his God, so that when the Master called we may well be- lieve it was with the words "Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." At a meeting of the members of the med- ical profession of Findlay, Ohio, Drs. Spayth, Detwiller and F. W. Firmin were appointed a committee to draft resolutions, expressive of the feelings of the profession at their loss of Dr. Baldwin by death, and the following res- olutions were presented and adopted:
Resolved, That the medical profession of Findlay have heard with feelings of pro- found regret and sorrow of the death of our colleague, Dr. William H. Baldwin.
Resolved, That in Dr. Baldwin we have always found the polite gentleman, the agreeable associate, the zealous student, and the attentive and skillful practitioner of medicine, always at his post of duty, despite its dangers and responsibilities.
Resolved, That we, members of the medical profession of Findlay, tender, individ- ually and collectively, to the family of Dr. Baldwin, our deepest sympathy in their affliction, and assure them that we will always cherish the memory of our deceased associate with heartfelt gratitude.
Resolved, That as a body we attend the funeral of Dr. Baldwin.
Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be transmitted to the family of Dr. Bald- win, and that they be published in the county papers.
Mrs. Dr. Baldwin united with the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1836, and remained to her death a consistent and active Christian. She died Feb- ruary 5, 1881. She was attended during her last hours by her four sur- viving children: Mrs. W. S. Osborn and Miss E. E. Baldwin, New York City; John J., Ada, Ohio, and L. A. Mrs. Dr. Baldwin was highly respected by all who knew her, and esteemed most by those who knew her best. As a Christian she was quite unobtrusive and strongly averse to all parade. Her house before her death was always a home for Methodist Min- isters, and many such recall with kindly feelings her generous hospitality in years gone by.
L. A. BALDWIN, produce dealer, Findlay, was born in Findlay, this county, July 13, 1836. His father, Dr. William H. Baldwin, settled here, coming from Champaign County, Ohio, in 1830, and was for many years one of the leaders in the development of the then new country; he served Han- cock County, as clerk of the common pleas court, from 1836 to 1843; he married here Mary Jane Patterson, who bore him ten children, of whom two sons and two daughters survive: L. A., John J., a produce dealer in Ada,
724
HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
Ohio; Elizabeth E. residing in Brooklyn, N. Y .; Mary Jane, wife of W. S. Osborn, a commission merchant in New York City, residing in Brooklyn. The subject of this sketch, when a lad, engaged in merchandising, with which he has since been connected He spent four years in the drug trade at Mount Blanchard, where he also served as postmaster (this occurred during the war). After the Rebellion, he returned to Findlay and engaged in his present business, with which he has since been successfully connected. He married in Findlay, March 6, 1862, Ellen, daughter of the late John Decker, Esq. Mr. Baldwin has always held aloof from public office. He is a worthy member of the I. O. O. F., and is at present Grand High Priest of Ohio. He is also a member of the Masonic fraternity. The Baldwins are descended from worthy Virginians and of Scotch-Irish pioneer stock in that State.
ALFRED H. BALSLEY, publisher, Findlay, was born in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Penn., December 15, 1828, and resided in that city until the fall of 1853. At the age of twelve years, or in the fall of 1840, he obtained employment in the nail factory of Miltenberger & Brown, and remained there until the spring of 1841, when the iron mills and nail factor- ies were shut down in consequence of the financial crisis and until the tariff of March 6, 1842, was passed; same year he became a "devil" in a print- ing office, where he learned the rudiments of the art, in which he acquired instruction from 1845 to 1847. He then worked alternately at either busi- ness until 1851, when he obtained a "case" on the Pittsburgh Dispatch, where he remained till the strike of 1853 again threw him out of employ- ment. In the fall of that year he located at Painesville, Lake Co., Ohio, and published the Grand River Record until July of the following year, when he moved to St. Clairsville, Belmont Co., Ohio. There he remained until October, 1855, publishing the St. Clairsville Independent. Early in October he located at Plymouth, on the line of Richland and Huron Coun- ties, having purchased the Plymouth Advertiser, the paper first established by "P. V. Nasby." Here he remained thirteen years. In the fall of 1868, having purchased the Fremont Journal, he removed to that city on the day Gen. Grant was first elected President of the United States, and there remained till the spring of 1876, when he purchased the Findlay Jefferson- ian, removing here with his family in August of that year. He still retains the Jeffersonian, and November 15, 1880, brought out the Daily Jeffersonian, which has now become a necessity to the good people of the city. While located at Plymouth, in 1861, he was elected postmaster, serv- ing acceptably eight years, or until his removal to Fremont. In 1861 he purchased the Shelby News, which he published till the spring of 1862, and then incorporated it with the Plymouth Advertiser. Soon after his removal to Fremont he established The Advertiser, at Milan, Erie Co., Ohio, which he still continues to publish, and, in 1874, began the publication of the Times at Huron, same county, but discontinued it after his removal to Findlay. In 1878 he purchased the Attica Journal, which he carried on in connec- tion with his other papers, until the fall of the next year, when he sold it. He afterward purchased the Carey Times, the outside of which he still prints in his office at Findlay, as well as the outside of his most recent vent- ure, the North Baltimore Beacon. Mr. Balsley, who has been twice mar- ried, had one child (a daughter, now Mrs. G. H. Tallman, of the Carey Times) by his first wife, and five sons and three daughters by his second;
725
FINDLAY TOWNSHIP AND VILLAGE.
three sons and one danghter living: Alfred W., Rollin and Rollo (the last two twins) and Nellie M. Our subject has had reasonable success in bus- iness; owns a fine residence in Findlay; the block in which his office is sit- uated, and several residences in the city of Fremont, Ohio, besides other real estate. In politics he is a Republican.
T. G. BARNHILL, physician, Findlay, was born in Wayne County, Ohio, May 5, 1851; son of Joseph and Sarah (Frankhauser) Barnhill, for- mer a native of that county, and of Pennsylvania pioneer ancestry, latter born in Pickaway County, Ohio. In 1853 they removed to this county and settled in Liberty Township, where they reared four sons and three daugh- ters. T. G., who is the third child, received a good common school educa- tion, and at seventeen engaged in teaching; at eighteen he began the study of medicine in the office of Drs. Oesterlin & Detwiler, and in his twenty- second year graduated from the Cleveland Homoeopathic Hospital College class of 1873. He immediately began the practice of his profession in Findlay, and has been successfully connected with it since, introducing, in 1880, his valuable medicated baths. He married here, in 1874, Mary J., daughter of Conrad and Christina Renninger, pioneers of Liberty Town- ship, this county, and they have one son, Joseph C. The Doctor is a public- spirited citizen, and contributes liberally to the advancement of Hancock County's interests. He is a worthy Odd Fellow, a member of the Legion of Honor; has served as coroner of the county three terms; county physi- cian eleven successive years; has been a member of the Board of Education of Findlay; has just lately received his appointment as district physician by the Board of Health of Findlay. He is an active member of the American Public Health Association of the State Society of Ohio. In politics he is a Democrat.
ABRAHAM RUSSEL BELDEN, Findlay, was born in the city of New York, the youngest child of Richard Nathaniel and Hilah (Russell) Bel- den, the former a native of New London, Conn., and the latter of New York. At the death of his mother, our subject, when but six years of age, went to live at New London, Conn., and at twelve was sent to Wilbraham, Mass., to school, and at fourteen returned to New York, shipped on board the brig "Paulina," and sailed for Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Ayres, South America; was absent nine months and then joined the ship "Canada," Rad- cliff Hicks, commander, on which he was clerk and supercargo for nearly five years on a trading voyage around the world, during which time he doubled Cape Horn four times, and Cape of Good Hope twice. He was in every quarter of the globe, at Valparaiso seven times, and lay at Canton nine months waiting for teas. He afterward sailed as mate on several ves- sels, losing one in coming into New York. The ship "Rienzi" was the last ship he sailed in, having been around the world twice. Mr. Belden gave up seafaring life, and, leaving New York, went to Louisville, Ky., where he remained for two years in the dry goods business; from there he went to Sandusky, Ohio, where he continued ten years in the drug trade, sold out in 1858 and came to Findlay, this county, and took charge of the Findlay Branch Railroad and elevators, and was largely interested in the grain, pork, salt and coal business for twenty-four years; was also United States Express agent for sixteen years. At that time this was a great grain point, and one day he took in 10,000 bushels of wheat off of wagons, and would aver- age from 400,000 to 500,000 bushels a year. He has paid out to merchants
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
and farmers for grain as much as any other person living here, if not more. He was married, in 1861, to Sadie E. Bope, of Lancaster, Ohio, and they have five children-four daughters and one son. The eldest, Sadie Estell, was married October, 1883, to Charles R. Huffman, and lives in Battle Creek, Mich., Mr. Huffman being in the grocery business at that place; Grace Russell, James C., Carrie E. and Mary Edna; are all living with their parents in Findlay. Mr. Belden is now in the real estate and insurance business, which he expects to continue in, the residne of his life. He is of English descent, and looks and feels as if he was just in the prime of life, though he is past sixty.
CHARLES H. BIGELOW, farmer and stock raiser, P. O. Findlay, was born on his present farm, in Findlay Township, this county, June 5, 1854, son of Philip Doddridge and Harriet H. (Frisbie) Bigelow, natives of Vermont, the former of whom came to this county July 4, 1841, and sold goods for a time, but subsequently engaged in farming, in which latter industry he accumulated nearly 300acres of farm land and some fine town property in Findlay, Ohio. Philip D. Bigelow was always known as a leader in his vocations as well as in his public life. He served with credit in different local offices and upon the board of appraisement of Findlay Township, this county, in 1859-60, subsequently becoming a member of the State Board of Equalization. He was an exemplary member and worthy official of the Presbyterian Church. In politics he was a stanch Republican. He died August 13, 1868, leaving a handsome competence to his family and an honored name among public and social circles, and this county may well feel proud of his record. His widow is still living. The other surviving members of his family are a daughter and two sons: Ella Jane, wife of George L. Cusac, Esq., a mer- chant of Findlay, Ohio; Frank F., a farmer, married to Viola A. Stephen- son (they have three children: Clarence, Edna and Ethel), and Charles H., who is married to Flora May, daughter of H. M. Vance, Esq., of Findlay (they have one son, Bernard). In politics Charles H. Bigelow is a Repub- lican; his father was also a stanch Republican.
JAMES A. BOPE, lawyer, Findlay, was born in Winchester, Adams Co., Ohio, November 30, 1833. His ancestors on the paternal side, were Moravians. At the age of sixteen his grandfather did duty as a soldier at the battle of Yorktown, and emigrated from Rockingham County, Va., about the year 1804. The family name was originally Pope, but has been altered in some of the branches into Bope. Our subject's father, Philip Bope, was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, and was a merchant. Our sub- ject, on his mother's side (whose maiden name was Eliza Weaver) is of Scotch and German stock. James A. Bope lived in Adams County, Ohio, until he was six years of age, when the family moved to Lancaster, Fairfield Co., Ohio, where his father continued in mercantile business. Our subject then attended the public schools until he was ten years of age, when he went into his father's store, where he remained until he was seventeen. He then attended Wittenberg College, Springfield, Ohio, and remained at that insti- tution five years, graduating in 1855, when he commenced the study of law with Hunter & Daugherty, at Lancaster, Ohio. He was admitted to the bar in the fall of 1857, commenced to practice at Lancaster in 1858, and re- moved to Findlay in 1859. In July, 1862, he was elected captain of Com- pany D, Ninety-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and while storming earth- works at Atlanta was wounded and sent home. Subsequently recovering
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FINDLAY TOWNSHIP AND VILLAGE.
from his wounds he returned to his regiment, and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel, in command of the Fiftieth and Ninety-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. This occurred in North Carolina, in the spring of 1865. Altogether he was wounded four times. He continued in the service until he was mustered out, in July, 1865, when he returned to Findlay, Ohio, and resumed the practice of law. Mr. Bope has the reputation of being an exceedingly careful and conscientious lawyer. He has been thoroughly and classically educated, and has carried into the profession the scholarly habits acquired in a collegiate course. His papers are industriously and accurately prepared, and have often received the encomiums of the court. He has a high regard for the honor and dignity of the profession, and discredits ev- orything that would degrade it. He enjoys a large and growing practice, and is frequently called to do business in the United States Courts. He prefers civil tu criminal practice, but practices with success in all branches of the profession. May 7, 1861, Mr. Bope married Miss Martha, daughter of Rev. John S. Meeks, formerly pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Findlay, but now preaching near that town. They have had four children, two of whom are living. In politics Mr. Bope is a Republican.
HENRY BROWN, State Attorney for Hancock County, Findlay, was born in Albion, Orleans Co., N. Y., November 5, 1826, son of Oliver and Sarah'(Wiltz) Brown, the former a son of Benjamin and Sarah (Cass) Brown, of Welsh and English pioneer descent in Rhode Island and New Hampshire, respectively; the Wiltz family were of Holland pioneer stock on the Hudson River, in New York State. Oliver and Sarah Brown were born on the Hudson River, New York, and reared eight sons, of whom Benjamin died in Humboldt County, Cal., leaving a family; Hiram is a farmer in Ionia, Mich .; Anthony is a mechanic in Findlay; Jeptha is a farmer in Wyandot County, Ohio; Ezra is an attorney and justice of the peace in Findlay; Alfred, who died without issue, was a farmer in Fostoria, Wood County; Franklin is a farmer in Albion, N. Y., and Henry, the youngest child. Our subject obtained a good literary and classical educa- tion at the academy in Albion, his native city, and became a clever linguist, especially in Latin and Greek. At the age of eighteen he came West, and was engaged in teaching in the vicinity of Fostoria, meantime reading law in the office of the Hon. Warren P. Noble, an eminent member of the Tiffin bar, and was admitted to practice in 1848. He soon after located in the practice of his profession here with Edson Goit and A. H. Bigelow, with whom he remained successfully engaged for a few years. Upon the dissolution of this partnership he united with Aaron Blackford, with whom he remained for a few years, retiring from this partnership to accept the office of auditor of Hancock County, to which he had been elected, retiring at the end of his term for a few years from all active professional work, on account of ill health. He had during his partnership with Mr. Blackford united with that gentleman in the proprietorship of the Hancock Courier, which he ably edited for about six years. In this connection it may be said to his credit that among the many progressive interests advocated by him, that of the railway enterprises (which were calling the attention of the peo- ple of this portion of the West) demanded considerable recognition, wherein he originated and recommended a project of a connection of the Lake Erie and the Ohio River, the germ of the present Lake Erie & Western Railway. After recuperating his health he returned to active professional work again.
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