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 84
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SAMUEL DUNBAR FREY, retired druggist, Findlay, was born in Somerset Count, Penn., July 18, 1826, and comes of worthy German an- cestry (on his father's side) in Maryland. His grandfather, Frey, settled in Baltimore, Md. (from Germany) where he was prominently connected with his profession of civil engineering and surveying, and did some im- portant contracting and building, among which might be mentioned the Na-
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tional Road from Baltimore to Washington, D. C. He left a large family. Dr. William Frey, father of our subject, left a good practice in Pennsyl- vania and returned to Maryland, where he represented Alleghany County on different occasions in the Legislature of that State. He died in 1865, aged sixty-five years, leaving a family of seven sons and one daughter. Three of the sons have worthily represented the father's profession. Our subject completed a good education at Uniontown Academy, graduating in a classical and scientific course of study, and read medicine for a few years. He, however, disliked the practice of medicine, and turned his at- tention to other pursuits. In 1851 he came West, and was connected with railway building for some time with headquarters at Bellefontaine, Ohio. In 1857 he came to Findlay, and subsequently embarked in the drug busi- ness. He was married, in Somerset County, Penn., in 1851, to Priscilla B., daughter of John Slicer, and by her he has one son, William, who car- ries on the drug business. Mr. Frey has always been a liberal supporter of measures tending to the growth of his adopted city. He is a worthy Mason of over twenty-three years' standing, a liberal supporter of the Methodist Church, and socially is an excellent gentleman.
JACOB W. GASSMAN, clerk, Findlay, was born in Eppingen, Baden, March 7, 1845, son of William and Catherine Haasinger Gassman, who came to this country in 1848, the former of whom, a baker by trade, left his native country in consequence of the Revolution there, that he might enjoy his liberty in free America. William Gassman removed from Seneca County, Ohio, to Findlay, where he at present resides. Of his three sons and two daughters, Elizabeth is the wife of M. B. Weaver, of Valley Falls, Kas .; Emanuel and Daniel (twins) are invalids, and only Jacob W., who is the eldest, and Lena, the youngest, are now living at home. Upon the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion Jacob W. Gassman enlisted in Company A, Sixty-fifth Regiment New York Volunteer Infantry, and did active and honorable service for over three years. He was wounded at the battle near Petersburg, Va., and after receiving an honorable discharge re- turned home and enlisted in Company A, One Hundred and Ninety-eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, serving two months. Mr. Gassman is a worthy citizen and an exemplary son, and since his father's health failed has taken entire charge of the family's support, and has attended to the necessities of his invalid brothers. He is a member of Stoner Post, G. A. R.
LEWIS GLESSNER (deceased) was born in Somerset County, Penn., September 1, 1811, and when six years of age removed to Columbiana County, Ohio, with his parents, who settled in the woods, where he remained at farm work (meantime learning a trade at New Lisbon) until 1833, when he located at Delaware, Ohio. In 1861 he came to Findlay, Ohio, and pur chased the Hancock Courier, which, in company with his son, W. L. Gless- ner, he published till 1865. He then began publishing the Newark, Ohio, Advocate, which was continued by him for a year and a half, after which he returned to Findlay and again assumed control of the Hancock Courier, to which, from that time, he devoted his undivided energies. Thus for nearly eighteen years he was identified with the business interests of this section, as well as being the molder and expounder of the principles of the political party of his convictions and choice. He did not make the Hancock Courier "a stepping stone to something else." He never sought nor claimed any other reward for his labor in behalf of his party, or in advocating the gen-
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eral good, than the approval of his own conscience and the knowledge that his efforts were appreciated. While at any time the people would gladly have called him to the councils of the State and Nation, they knew his ambi- tion was to serve in the sphere he had chosen. Rarely do we find such sin- gleness of purpose as displayed by him. Acting from the highest motives the editor of the Hancock Courier was thus able to take a fearless. inde- pendent position, that gave his utterances weight in the councils of his party, and won for him the respect of those whose principles he opposed. Not a great while before his death, which occurred March 13, 1879, he con- structed a handsome brick building, the "Courier Block," and at the ded- ication of the building a large gathering of friends of the paper and personal friends of Mr. Glessner took place, and congratulatory addresses were made, which gave evidence of the high esteem in which the publisher was held. In Mr. Glessner's reply to these addresses, he said, among other things: "In purchasing the Courier and locating here, I did so with the purpose of becoming identified with the interests, improvements, growth and prosperity of Findlay and Hancock County, and if the course pursued by the Courier has been such as to foster and encourage a spirit of substan- tial public improvement of streets, sewerage, public and private buildings, or otherwise improving and beautifying our thriving town, to the greater health and comfort of its people; if, by precept or example it has induced the planting of one more shade tree, or ornamental shrub, or bed of flowers, to cheer some weary mortal on life's journey, than would otherwise have been planted, its aim, as a local paper, has been partially accomplished and the labors of its editors have not been altogether in vain." Lewis Gless- ner was married, April 8, 1838, in Delaware, Ohio, to Georgiana Cowles, by whom he was blessed with a large family. A writer says, relative to Mr. Glessner's death, "he was well thought of and respected abroad, as well as in Hancock County, where he had hosts of friends. A life of integrity and pur- ity, such as he lived, is an unspeakable blessing. It is something to live such a life, it is much for a community to lose it." Mr. Glessner was a kind husband, and was blessed in having a wife ready to sympathize with him in all his trials, and rejoice with him in all his successes.
F. H. GLESSNER, editor of the Hancock Courier, Findlay, was born in Delaware, Ohio; son of Lewis and Georgiana (Cowles) Glessner, natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio, respectively. In 1861 Lewis Glessner came to Findlay with his family from Delaware County and purchased the Hancock Courier, which he ably carried on till his death in 1879. He had learned the chair- making business, and later engaged in farming and stock raising in Del- aware County, which he carried on till coming to Findlay. He reared a family of five sons and four daughters, of whom William L. is publisher of the Recorder at Americus, Ga .; Leonard C. is publisher of The Earth at Sedalia, Mo .; Douglas is publisher of the News at Griffin, Ga .; Fred H. is editor and publisher of the Hancock Courier. Edward, the second son, a member of the Fifty-seventh Ohio Volunteer Infanty, died of wounds received at the battle of Kenesaw Mountain. The mother is living with her daughters and is proprietor of the Hancock Courier; she is a worthy woman and mother, and an ardent worker for the Ladies' Benevolent Society in Findlay. Fred H .. our subject, was reared to the profession of journalism, and after his father's death took charge of the paper, which he has ably con- ducted since. He has always been a public spirited and progressive citizen,
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and has contributed in no small degree to the advancement of the social and industrial life of his locality. He assisted in the organization of the Findlay Natural Gas Company, and served as its secretary, and upon the second year of its existence as its president. Mr. Glessner is an active member and secretary of the Findlay Improvement Company. He was united in mar- riage at Findlay, in 1872, with Ara A., daughter of Henry Isham, Esq., of Findlay.
CAPT. JOSEPH F. GUTZWILLER, United States Messenger, House of Congress, Washington, D. C., Findlay, was born in Pittsburgh, Penn., April 30, 1842, son of Victor and Catharine (Monk) Gutzwiller, natives of Switzerland and Alsace, France (now Germany), respectively. Victor Gutz- willer who was born in Basel, in the Canton of Basel, Switzerland, came to this country when a lad, and learned harness-making in Pittsburgh, where he married. In 1857 he removed to Mansfield, Ohio, where he now resides. He reared eight children-five sons and three daughters-of whom the fol- lowing survive: Joseph F., Victor (an attorney at law in Cleveland, Ohio), Henry (in railroad business in Mansfield, Ohio), Mary (wife of Frank Jonas, cigar manufacturer in Upper Sandusky, Ohio), Lizzie (wife of William Epke, also a cigar manufacturer in Upper Sandusky) and Rosa P. (wife of Edward Christian, of Lima). The subject of this sketch, after receiving a good rudimentary education at the Roman Catholic Schools of Pittsburgh, com- pleted it at Mansfield. In 1861 he entered the military service in Company H, Fifteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, upon the first call doing honorable duty for the term of service. He then re-enlisted in Company F, Eighty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry; was wounded at the battle of Bull Run, and was promoted for gallant service to the second lieutenancy of Company F. He soon after received promotion to first lieutenancy; at Chancellorsville he was taken prisoner in May, 1863; was exchanged just before the battle of Gettysburg, and received promotion to the captaincy of Company D, at Gettysburg, in which rank he served till the close of the war. After that he returned to Mansfield, Ohio, and in 1865 came to Findlay, this county, where he has been favorably known since. For three years he served as assistant sergeant-at-arms of the Ohio Legislature, and for two years as such of the Constitutional Convention. In 1877 he was elected recorder of Hancock County, which incumbency he honorably filled for six consecutive years. December 11, 1883, Captain Gutzwiller was appointed messenger in the House of Representatives at Washington, which position he ably holds. He married, in Findlay, May 7, 1867, Delia S., daughter of Jacob and Delia (Grate) Rosenberg, pioneers of this county, the former having held several important official positions in the early history of the county, being sheriff for several years. Mr. and Mrs. Gutzwiller have one son and one daughter: Francis Joseph and Lula M. The family are regular com- municants of the Roman Catholic Church. Our subject is a member of St. Michael's Benevolent Society and of Stoker Post, G. A. R.
JOSEPH HAGERMAN, farmer and stock raiser, P. O. Findlay, was born in New Jersey, in 1815, son of Joseph and Susan Hagerman, who re- moved to Northampton County, Penn., where Joseph, Jr., was reared. In 1863 our subject came West, and after spending a few years in Wood County, Ohio, settled in Findlay Township, this county, in 1867. He married in Pennsylvania, Miss Catherine Zlisloft, and they have four sons and three daughters: Corson, a farmer, in Portage Township, this county; Susan,
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wife of Noah Spitler, in Portage Township, this county; Addison, in Find- lay, Ohio; Mary, wife of Lewis Chamberlain: Sarah, wife of William Stew- art, of Seneca County, Ohio; Sandford and Daniel. Mr. and Mrs. Hager- man attended the services of the English Lutheran Church. He has accumu- lated a nice property, the result of his own unaided labor, and has reared his family well.
W. S. HAMMAKER, present postmaster of Findlay, was born at Tif- fin, Ohio, December 28, 1851, and was left an orphan at the age of three years by the death of his father. He received his schooling at a country school near Tiffin, and at the age of fifteen entered the office of the Seneca Advertiser, the Democratic organ of Seneca County. Remaining here two years he went to New York to join the sympathizers with Cuba (in her struggle for freedom from the parent country, Spain), who were prevented from sailing by the United States authorities. He then proceeded to New Bedford Mass., where he joined a whaling expedition to the Indian Ocean, and spent four years off the coast of Australia and among the East India Islands, serving on board the bark "Mermaid." In 1874 he returned to Tiffin and entered the Tiffin Star office as foreman, but was soon after promoted to city editor, which position he relinquished several months later for a sim- ilar place on the Wyandot Union, a paper published at Upper Sandusky, Ohio. Here he remained nearly two years, when he again accepted the city editorship of the Tiffin Daily and Weekly Star; but in a few months, the proprietors having made an assignment, Mr. Hammaker went back to the Wyandot Union and continued in service there until early in 1877, when he purchased the Bloomville Banner, running it about a year, but becoming dissatisfied with the narrow field, closed the office and returned to Tiffin, where he assisted in founding the Gazette, the best paper that city ever had, acting as its local editor, solicitor and collector. In January, 1879, Mr. Hammaker came to Findlay, having accepted the position of local editor of the Jeffersonian, which place he continued to hold about five years, and as- sisted in establishing the Daily Jeffersonian, a paper that has been on a pay- ing basis from the start. He worked for the Jeffersonian at different periods, left that paper in 1882 and started the Daily Star, continuing its publi- cation twenty-one months, doing very well, from a financial standpoint, but finally sold the office, together with the good-will of the paper, to the proprietor of the Jeffersonian, and returned to his old position on that jour- nal, where he remained until appointed postmaster by President Cleveland, in November, 1885. The subject of this sketch has always been an unswerv- ing Democrat, but never sought any office except the one he now occupies, to which he was twice elected by its Democratic patrons. He was married in 1874 to Miss Emma Six, of Tiffin, the ceremony taking place at Put-in- Bay. The union has been blessed with six children-three sons and three daughters-all of whom are living.
JOHN F. HASTINGS, farmer and stock raiser, P. O. Findlay, was born in Richland County, Ohio, September 14, 1850, son of Joseph and Mary (Alexander) Hastings, the former of Merrimack County, N. H., the latter of Richland County, Ohio, and the daughter of Peter Alexander, Esq., of Maryland stock. In 1875 Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Hastings, with their family of one son and two daughters, removed to this county, where Joseph Hastings now owns 420 acres of land, and in February, 1876, he buried his wife; his family are John F., the subject of this sketch; Elizabeth Jane,
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and Mary Isadore, wife of Philip J. Reimund, of Liberty Township, this county. Joseph Hastings died February 12, 1886, deeply regretted by a large number of relatives and friends. While in Richland County, Ohio, he served with credit in many public offices, but after coming to this county he has held aloof from public office and has given his attention to his farm- ing interests. As a worthy citizen he was highly respected everywhere. John F. Hastings married, in Richland County, Ohio, Miss Nancy Jane, daughter of Melzar and Abigail (Crawford) Coulter, and by her he has three sons and two daughters: Alpheus Melvin, Mary Abigail, Jane Lyadell, John Laverne and Charles.
W. H. HAVEN, druggist, Findlay, was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, November 12, 1841; son of Dr. P. L. and Maria (Swindler) Haven, the former descended from worthy pioneers of Massachusetts; the latter of Pennsylvania pioneers. Dr. P. L. Haven located at New Lisbon, Ohio, from Pittsburgh, Penn., about 1839, and died at Mansfield, Ohio, in 1849, leav- ing three sons and two daughters (of whom two sons and a daughter survive): John P., clerking for W. H .; Amelia H., widow of the late C. N. Locke, of the Tiffin Tribune, a resident of Findlay; James L., who died in the United States Military Service, in the Big Sandy Campaign, in 1862, in Kentucky; Mary E. (deceased wife of E. S. Kimber, of Kansas City, Mo.) and W. H. In 1850 our subject became apprenticed to merchandising here in the store of Hugh Newell. He afterward took up the drug trade, and in 1859 em- barked in it on his own account at Ottawa, Ohio. In 1861 he sold his inter- est there, enlisting his services in the army, and was with the Ninety-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in the commissary department, till 1864, when he joined the Mississippi and West Gulf Squadron, with which he remained till the close of the war, retiring at that time from the charge of the United States steamer "Peri." After the war he traveled in the interest of the drug trade and read medicine. He subsequently practiced his profession, but, in 1868, engaged in manufacturing, which he followed for several years. In 1876 he purchased his present business which he has raised to a leading prominence here. He was married, in Michigan, to Nancy J. Rawson, niece of Dr. Bass Rawson. To this union were born five children: Clarence, Ruth (deceased), Emma, Mary and Elsie. Mrs. Haven is a member of the Pres- byterian Church, to which her husband is a liberal contributor. Mr. Haven is a member of the Blue Lodge, Chapter and Council, Findlay, and Shawnee Commandery, F. & A. M. at Lima. He is also a member of K. of P., Royal Arcanum, and Stoker Post, G. A. R. He is a member of the Ohio State Pharmaceutical Association, and was one of the original committee who drafted the bill for the new pharmaceutical law of Ohio. He is also a member of the Traders' and Travelers' Association of New York City. He has worked his way up in business, and, through his own indefatigable exer- tions has accumulated a nice competency.
EDWIN R. HAY, farmer and stock raiser, P. O. Findlay, was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, March 15, 1830, son of Peter and Christiana (Plat- ter) Hay, both of whom are of direct descent from German people. Our subject was reared to farming, with which he was successfully connected in Fairfield County, Ohio, until 1870, when he came to this county and subse- quently took up his present property in Findlay Township, which he has very handsomely improved. Mr. Hay married, in this county, Angelicia, second daughter of Amos and Abigail (Bigelow) Frisbie, who settled in this
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county in 1865. Mrs. Hay departed this life in 1879, leaving two children: Abigail and Charles. Of the remaining family of Mr. Frisbie only one daughter survives-Celestia-who has never married; she assists her broth- er in-law, our subject, in the charge of her sister's family. Edwin R. Hay is a public-spirited citizen and a clever business man. He has always held aloof from public office, but has done his share for the public good when called upon. At the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion he enlisted in Company A, Sixty first Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in which he held a lieutenancy during his term of service. Mr. Hay is a liberal con- tributor to measures advancing the public welfare. He is a kind and indul gent father, and a worthy gentleman. In politics he is a Democrat.
PRESLEY E. HAY, clerk of the court of common pleas, and county clerk of Hancock County, Findlay, was born in Girard Township, Erie Co., Penn., December 16. 1844; son of John and Nancy (Laughlin) Hay, pioneers there. He was reared to farming, which he followed, together with lumber milling. In 1880 he came to this county, and engaged in lum- ber milling here, with which industry he has been actively connected since. He had meanwhile become favorably known to the people of this county, and in October, 1884, they acknowledged their appreciation of him by electing him as their clerk, a deserving compliment to him as a Republican, in a Democratic county. He married in his native township Martha, daugh- ter of Giles B. Cole, and by her he has one son and two daughters: Will iam Clinton, Carrie and Lottie. Mr. Hay is a member of the A. O. U. W., K. of P. and I. O. O. F. societies. He is an active, energetic business man, and a worthy official, and has by his upright conduct drawn around him warm friends from all political circles.
JOHN HECK, farmer and stock raiser, P. O. Findlay, was born in York County, Penn., October 11, 1836, son of George and Martha (Maish) Heck, who settled in this county in 1844. Our subject spent his early life in farming, and, with the exception of a few intermissions, has been actively connected with that industry since. He married, December 18, 1856, Miss Lydia, daughter of Peter Sherick, Esq., of Wayne County, Ohio, and by her he has two sons and a daughter: Barbara Etta, wife of Saxon C. Shoupe, of Wyandot County, Ohio; David and William, worthy young farmers of Findlay Township, this county. Mr. Heck has always been active and energetic. and has accumulated a handsome fortune, the reward of his industry, owning now 280 acres of valuable land and some valuable town proporty in Findlay, Ohio. He is public-spirited, and contributes freely to worthy measures. He is an active member of the Church of God, and an honored official in that body. Upon the building of the beautiful college in Findlay, this county, Mr. Heck donated $500 in cash, and assisted in many other ways toward the completion of that noble edifice. In politics he is a Republican.
ANDERSON C. HECK, dealer in lumber, lath, shingles and all kinds of building material, Findlay, was born in Findlay, Ohio, October 11, 1854, son of George and Martha (Maish) Heck, natives of Cumberland County, Penn., of German pioneer ancestry, and who settled in Findlay in 1844; both are still in active life; their family consists of the following named children: Catherine, wife of David Sherk; John; Sarah, wife of Joseph Lytle; Will- iam; Mary, wife of Frank Gardner; George; Anderson C., Joseph and Bird, widow of Willis Kimmel. Of these George and Mary reside in Alle-
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gan County, Mich., all the others being residents of this county. The de- ceased are Susan, wife of William Watson; Harry, Jacob and an infant. Anderson C. Heck spent his early life in mercantile pursuits, and was con- nected with the hardware trade in Findlay, Ohio, for ten years, but retired from same recently to engage in his present business. He married, in 1879, Miss Jennie E. Livingston, and to them have been born two children: Birdie Marie and Clare Gerald (the latter deceased). Mr. and Mrs. Heck attend the services of the Presbyterian Church, of which she is a worthy member, and to which he is a liberal contributor. Upon the organization of the board appointed to conduct the building of Findlay College, Mr. Heck became an active member, and served with credit until the completion of that work. Our subject is vice-president of the Findlay Natural Gas Company, and was lessee and manager of the Opera House in Findlay, Ohio, for two years. He is at present building a large sash and blind factory in Findlay. He is a member of the I. O. O. F.
MARTIN HIRSHER, proprietor of pottery works and stone quarry, Find- lay, was born in Thengen, in Baden, August 17, 1829, son of John George and Mary (Marter) Hirsher, the former a maker of brick. He came to America in 1852, and remained in Dayton, Ohio, until 1854, in which year he moved to Xenia, Ohio, where he resided until 1857. He then spent two years in Bellefontaine, Ohio, and came to this county in 1859. Mr. Hirsher was united in marriage, at Xenia, Ohio, with Elizabeth Enz, a native of Gim- ildingen, Bavaria, who bore him ten children: Louisa, Charlie, George, John, Henry, Benjamin, Willie, Fred, Nellie and Flora. Our subject learned pottery-making in his native country. He has been successful in his several enterprises, and has accumulated a nice competency. His os- tensible business is pottery-making, but he also carries on an extensive stone quarry. He is an energetic business man and an esteemed citizen; is public-spirited, and contributes his share to all worthy public enterprises. The family attend the German Reformed Church. Mr. Hirsher is a worthy member of the I. O. O. F.
PETER HOSLER, president of the Farmers' Bank of Findlay, was born in York County, Penn., May 14, 1821, son of Christian and Mary (Gansler) Hosler, natives of that county, and of Swiss pioneer descent. His parents moved to Stark County, Ohio, in 1823, with a family of five sons and two daughters, five sons and three daughters being born to them after their arrival in the State. Christian Hosler was a cooper by trade, and was connected with it and farming in different parts of Ohio, moving from Stark to Wayne, and from Wayne to Seneca Counties. He died in Bloom Town- ship, latter county, in 1865, where his wife had also departed this life, in 1862. Our subject completed learning the carpenter's trade in Stark and Wayne Counties, and at the age of twenty-two years came to Hancock County, where he was prominently identified with the building industry for several years. In 1850 he engaged in farming and stock raising, and has been one of the most successful men in that connection in this portion of the State. He has ever been a leader in the development of social and in- dustrial matters in this locality, and has served his (Washington) township as treasurer and in other official positions. In 1874 he was elected treas- urer of Hancock County, which position he creditably filled until 1880, when, upon retiring, he established the present bank, which he has since ably presided over. He had, however, been a stockholder and supporter in
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