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 86
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102
763
FINDLAY TOWNSHIP AND VILLAGE.
DAVID JOY, of the "Joy House," Findlay, comes of a long and wor- thy line of ancestors in this country. His paternal ancestor, Thomas Joy, is supposed to have come to our shores in the fleet with Gov. Winthrop of Massachusetts, in 1630. He was a member of the "Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company" of Boston, and owned two acres of land in the center of that city, and land adjoining, as his allotment from the Governor, received in 1634. He married Joan Gallop and reared five sons and three daugh- ters and died at Hingham, Mass., in 1678. Of his children Joseph (Sr.) reared a large family of whom Joseph (Jr.) had also a large family. Of his sons David, in turn, had a son David, who begat Abiather, who removed with his father from Rehoboth, Mass., to Guilford, Vt., and who, later, set- tled in Herkimer County, N. Y. Abiather reared his family in Herkimer County, and, of his sons, David married Ann Hubbard, and they became the parents of our subject. David Joy was born in Herkimer County, N. Y., October 10, 1834, and learned the business of his father (harness-making). He afterward engaged in hotel business there. Upon the breaking out of the late civil war he enlisted in Company I, Thirty-fifth New York Volun- teers, and was assigned as musician. in which capacity he served till mus- tered out in 1862 by special act of Congress. After peace had been pro- claimed he joined his brother Abiather and engaged in the hotel business at Carey, Ohio, in 1866, which they retired from in 1873 to give their entire attention to the present house, which they had purchased in 1870. Mr. Joy has always taken an active part in the development of the public, social and industrial life of his locality and has contributed in no small degree to its advancement. He has been an able advocate of his party's interests, in recognition of which they have placed him before the people on different oc- casions to represent their interests in State and National affairs. In 1875 he was defeated in the convention for a seat in the Ohio House of Represen- tatives. In 1876 he received the nomination and was elected, with Gen. J. B. Steadman, to represent the Thirty-third Senatorial District for 1878- 80. In 1882 Mr. Joy was the choice of the Hancock County Democracy to represent the Seventh Congressional District, but Hon. George E. Seney was the choice of the convention. Upon the organization of the Findlay Im- provement Association he took a leading part and has since continued one of its board of directors and has given important aid to many other worthy local enterprises. He was married in his native State to Miss Hannah Knicker- bocker, of worthy New York pioneer stock, and of a family of nine children by this union, three daughters and two sons survive: Julia, wife of Henry C. Stearns, a druggist, of Janesville, Wis .; Alice A., wife of E. B. Davis, of Marion Township, this county; Martha M., Frank K. and Orville are at home. Mr. Joy has been a worthy Odd Fellow for many years and has passed all the chairs in that society. He is of medium build, strong phi- sique, has indomitable will-power and carries his force of character into all his business connections. He is, however, of a genial nature and forms strong friendships. In politics he is a Democrat.
JOSEPH R. KAGY, lawyer and farmer, ex auditor of Hancock County, Findlay, was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, December 21, 1842, son of Samuel and Hannah (Baker) Kagy, natives of that county, the former of whom, a son of Christian Kagy, who located in that county in 1800, from Shenandoah County, Va., comes of pioneer stock in Virginia and Pennsyl- vania. Hannah (Baker) Kagy was a daughter of Charles Baker, also a
764
HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
pioneer of Fairfield County. In 1847 Samuel Kagy settled in Allen Town- ship, this county, where he cleared and improved land, and was a worthy citizen. He reared and educated his family well, and was altogether an active and energetic business man; he died May 7, 1884, in full communion with the Baptist Church, of which he had ever been a liberal supporter. Of his twelve children, four sons and four daughters survive: Joseph R., Solomon D., a farmer in Waverly, Neb. ; Barbara E., wife of Samuel Swab, a farmer in this county; David B., a farmer and teacher; Samuel A., attor- ney at law, Findlay; Clara R., a teacher; Alice C., wife of L. A. Heminger, a farmer and teacher in this county; and Frances E. Joseph R., the eldest, obtained a good education and taught school for many years here. During this time he accumulated a nice competency and carried on farming, with which he is still identified. He has always taken an active part in public affairs, and has held many of the offices of the township. In 1871 he be- came a member of the board of school examiners for the county, and served in that incumbency for six years; in 1877 he was elected auditor of Hancock County, which position he creditably filled till November, 1883, when he retired from public affairs, and is now pursuing the study of law in order to adopt it as a profession. He married in Van Buren, Ohio, Jan- uary 21, 1864, Catharine M., daughter of John and Mary (Bookman) Zar- baugh, pioneers of this county, from Pennsylvania. They have a family of three sons and two daughters: Nora B. and Edith, the eldest two, are ladies of literary attainments and teachers of excellent reputation; Earl C., David Dudley and J. Rodney are young lads yet attending school. Mrs. Kagy is a member of the Christian Church, to which Mr. Kagy is a liberal contributor. He is a worthy Odd Fellow and member of the Encampment. Since locating in Findlay Mr. Kagy has taken an active interest in the development of the social and industrial life of Findlay, and has always been a liberal contrib- utor to measures tending to its welfare. He is of good physique, strong constitution and vigorous nature, and bids fair to take rank in the line of long-lived citizens of this section of the county. In politics he is a Dem- ocrat.
KARL AUGUST EMANUEL KARG (formerly Karch), meat market, Findlay, was born at Bænnigheim, in the Kingdom of Wurtemburg, Ger- many, March 8, 1829; son of Jacob Friederich and Regina (Zimmerman) Karch, whose family of three sons and one daughter came to America, viz. : Wilhelmina, wife of Edward Dietsch, a furniture manufacturer; Lewis, a butcher and farmer; Frederick, who died in Findlay in the spring of 1885, leaving a family, and K. A. E. Karg. In 1850 our subject came to Amer- ica and spent two years in New York City, coming to Findlay in 1852. While in New York he married Margaret Young, who was born in Auerbach, Hessen-Darmstadt, Germany, January 4, 1827, and came to America (to New York City) in 1850. Mr. and Mrs. Karg have a bright, intelligent family of five sons and two daughters: Eliza, wife of John Klentchy, residing in Findlay; Jacob Frederick, in meat market business; August, in meat market business; Charles, in meat market business; Minnie, wife of William M. Hull, a harness maker in Silver City, N. Mex .; Albert, in meat market business, and William, too young as yet for business. Mr. Karg learned his father's trade (meat business) in his native land, has taken an important rank in that industry here, and has accumulated a handsome competency. He is also a taxidermist of considerable skill, to which, in his later years, he
765
FINDLAY TOWNSHIP AND VILLAGE.
has paid considerable attention. He is a worthy gentlemen, an excellent citizen and a thorough-going business man. He has served in the councils of his adopted city. Mr. and Mrs. Karg and family attend the services of the Lutheran Church. In politics he is a Republican.
FRANK KARST, grocer, Findlay, was born at Bingen-on-the-Rhine, in Hessen-Darmstadt, Germany, March 29, 1827; son of Martin and Eliza- beth (Bertram) Karst, who came to America in 1849, and settled in Findlay, Ohio, where Martin Karst died in 1880, at the age of ninety-three years and five months. His family consisted of Peter and John (twins); Susanna, now Mrs. Jacob Lau; Barbara, now Mrs. Joseph Fleck; Jacob, in Defiance, Ohio; Frank; Lizzie (deceased wife of Josiah Zoll). Our subject learned merchandising in his native land, and after coming to Findlay in 1849, em- barked in same, which he has carried on successfully since. He was mar- ried, in 1852, to Anna Snyder, a native of Austria, who bore him five sons and three daughters (of whom but one son and two daughters survive): Frank L., Joseph P., Kate, Adelina, Augustus, Amelia, Julius and Martin. Of this family the mother, Joseph P. and Frank L. (he left three children, of whom two survive) died in 1881, and Julius and Martin died young. The family are communicants of St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church, to which Mr. Karst has always been a liberal contributor, and in which he has served as an active official. He is a worthy member of the Catholic Benev. olent Society. Mr. Karst has always taken an active part in the develop- ment of Findlay's social and industrial life, and has served in its councils for several years. In politics he is a Democrat.
FRANK J. KARST, proprietor of saloon and restaurant, Findlay, was born at Bingen-on the-Rhine, Hessen-Darmstadt, Germany, February 28, 1845; son of John and Barbara (Roskopf) Karst, who came to America in 1852 and settled in Findlay, Ohio. They had two sons and three daughters: Frank J .; Kate (deceased wife of Jacob Fleck); John, in the express business; Isabel, all residing in Findlay; and Mary, wife of Martin Kunemire, a blacksmith in Defiance, Ohio. Our subject spent several years at the car- pentering in Findlay and in 1873 embarked in his present business. He was married, in 1869, by the Rev. Father Watman, of St. Michael's Church, to Lucy, daughter of John G. Kissberth, Esq., of Gilboa, Ohio. They have two sons and one daughter; Charles, William and Lulu. Mr. Karst is a regular communicant of St. Michael's Church, and a member of St. Michael's Benevolent Society. He has rather held aloof from public office, but has served his county as coroner and deputy sheriff. He is a thorough- going, public-spirited business man and citizen, and has accumulated a very respectable competency.
J. A. KIMMEL, physician, Findlay, was born in Carroll Co., Ohio, Sep- tember 17, 1844, son of David and Christiana (Oakes) Kimmel, the former of York County, the latter of Bedford County, Penn., and of Holland and English pioneer ancestry in Pennsylvania. In 1851 David Kimmel settled in Mar- ion Township, this county, where four sons and three daughters grew up, viz. : George W .; Ellen, died at five years of age; Kate; Samuel B .; David J .; Margaret J .; Jacob A. and Tabitha E .; and three daughters are buried: Ellen, who died at the age of five years; Henrietta and Samantha Ann. Our subject received a good common school education and attended Find- lay High School. In February, 1863, he enlisted in defense of the Union, in Company A, Twenty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and did active
4 1
·
766
HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
and honorable service till the end of the war, when he received his discharge. After the close of the struggle he read medicine in the office of Drs. Entrikin & Ballard, here, and graduated from Cleve- land Medical College in 1867. He then located in Cannonsburg, where he carried on an active practice till 1872, when he came to Find- lay. In 1875 he took a post-graduate course at Bellevue Hospital Medical College of New York City, from which he received a creditable diploma. He married here, in 1869, Eliza Ellen, daughter of the late Robert Bonham. She passed away this life May 28, 1873, in full com- munion with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is laid to rest in Maple Grove Cemetery. Dr. Kimmel was again married; this time in 1875, to Rosa E., daughter of Ambrose Graber, Esq., and by her has one son, Alfred Graber. Dr. Kimmel is a worthy F. & A. M. and a member of the G. A. R. He is a clever professional man and a public-spirited, energetic citizen, con- tributing liberally to all measures conducive to the public weal. In pol- itics he is a Republican ..
DAVID KIRK, proprietor of the Eagle Flouring-Mills, Findlay, was born in Dumfermline, Fifeshire, Scotland, May 5, 1849, son of James and Margaret (Swan) Kirk, of that country, who reared three sons and three daughters, of whom the sons came to this country. James is a miller at Akron, Ohio; David and John are in this county. Our subject was reared to milling in his native land. In 1869 he came to America and followed his trade at Akron, Ohio, for ten years. In 1879 he came to Findlay, this county, and united with W. W. McConnel (now of Toledo) in the present mill, and in January, 1885, he purchased Mr. McConnel's interest. Mr. Kirk was married, February 28, 1872, in Akron, Ohio, to Margaret White, of Loch Galey, Fifeshire, Scotland, daughter of Robert and Mary (Wat- son) White. To Mr. and Mrs. Kirk were born three sons and three daugh- ters: James, Robert, Mary, Margaret, David and Bessie B. (latter de- ceased). Mrs. Margaret Kirk died August 12, 1884. Mr. Kirk is a hard- working, painstaking and industrious business man, and has, by his own exertions, built up his present extensive business and his large trade is the result of first-class work. On December 3, 1885, a gas well was drilled on the mill property, by D. Kirk, to the depth of 1,171 feet, and a large and inexhaustible vein of natural gas was found and same was immediately applied to his mill for manufacturing flour and also domestic uses.
ELMER L. KRIDLER, carriage manufacturer, Findlay, comes of worthy pioneer families of Seneca County, Ohio, son of Frederick and Ele- nora (Creeger) Kridler, latter of whom died when our subject was but four years old, and some years after Frederick Kridler married Miss Mary Leper, of Kenton, Hardin Co., Ohio, and they now live in Wood County, Ohio. Elmer L. Kridler was born in Tiffin, Ohio, October 20, 1847, and in early life became apprenticed to carriage painting in the shop of Peter Van Nest, in his native town. After completing his trade he came to Findlay, this county (in 1870), and here worked at same till 1879 when he embarked in business on his own account, and has been promptly identified with the carriage manufacturing interests of this city since. He was married here, in 1876, to Elizabeth, daughter of Peter Kuntz, and by her he has one daughter and one son: Leora Louise and Earl. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. During the late war of the Rebellion Mr. Kridler did service in Company C,
76"
FINDLAY TOWNSHIP AND VILLAGE.
One Hundred and Sixty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He is a member of Stoker Post, G. A. R, Royal Arcanum and American National Union Societies. Mr. Kridler is a careful and painstaking workman, a clever business man and a genial gentleman, characteristics which have added materially to the building up of the large trade that he now enjoys in his line of manufacture. In politics he is a Republican.
PETER KUNZ, hardware, stove and tinware dealer, Findlay, was born in Baumholder, Kingdom of Prussia, December 2, 1831; son of Fred- erick and Elizabeth (Maurer) Kunz. In 1849 our subject came to America, and settled in Tuscarawas County. Ohio, where he was connected with mer- chandising in groceries and provisions at Ragersville. He served Tuscara- was County as its clerk from 1864 till 1867, when, upon retiring from office, he came to Findlay and engaged in the grocery business with M. Henry Schwartz for five years, and three years on his own account; then embarked in the hardware, stove and tin business. He was married in Ragersville, in 1852, to Rosetta, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth Gribble, natives of Bavaria, who came to this country in 1833 and settled in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Kunz have one son and five daughters: Elizabeth, wife of E. L. Kridler, carriage manufacturer, of Findlay; Louisa, wife of C. O. Parker, proprietor of restaurant here; Charles A., associated with his father in business, forming the firm of Peter Kunz & Son; Clara, Callie and Rosa, at home. The family attend service at St. John's Lutheran Church, of which Mr. Kunz has geen a worthy official for several years. He is a member of the Masonic order and of the K. of P .; has served the city as a member of its council. Upon the organ- ization of the Findlay Natural Gas Company he became one of its stock- holders, and is an active supporter of other interests of Findlay. In politics he is a Republican.
WILLIAM M. LOWTHER, deputy clerk of the court of common pleas, Findlay, was born in Washington County, Penn., July 19, 1830, son of William and Eleanor (Farrar) Lowther, natives of that county, who settled in Holmes County, Ohio, in 1834, and who reared a family of five sons and four daughters, of whom three sons and one daughter survive. The Lowthers and Farrars were of old Irish pioneers in Maryland and Pennsylvania; of the former belongs Sir James Lowther, of the Irish peerage. Our subject is the grandson of Adam Lowther, one of three brothers of an old Irish family, two of whom, Adam (just mentioned) and William, came to this country, landing at Baltimore, Md. The subject of this sketch married in' Holmes County, Ohio, Delilah, daughter of George Uhl, a pioneer of Holmes County, from Maryland, and sister to the Hon. D. S. Uhl, an attorney, of Holmes County. Mr. and Mrs. Lowther have one child, Mollie Cameron. Mrs. Lowther is a worthy member of the Lutheran Church. Our subject is a Royal Arch Mason. He is also Worthy Past Grand in the I. O. O. F. Since coming here, in 1871, he has been almost continuously in county work as deputy auditor, clerk, etc. In poli- tics he is a Democrat.
LEMUEL McMANNESS, sheriff of Hancock County, Findlay, was born in Cumberland County, Penn., October 1,1846, son of John and Jane (Stubbs) McManness, natives of that county. In 1856 they moved to Findlay, Ohio, where John McManness died in 1866, preceded by his wife a few days. They left one son, Lemuel, and two daughters: Anna C., wife of J. H. Deck-
768
HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
er and Mary (now deceased). The subject of this sketch, when a lad of eleven years, apprenticed himself to the grocery business here, in the store of Isaac Davis, and was prominently identified with that industry here, em- barking in it in 1870 and retiring in 1883. In 1882 he had purchased an interest in the Findlay Linseed Oil Mills and latterly in the Rake Factory with both of which he is still connected. He has always been a hard-work- ing, painstaking, business man and citizen, and has accumulated a handsome competence in his business. He is of fine physique, vigorous disposition and versatile nature, and this, coupled with his long experience of upright dealing with the people of Hancock County, have made him one of their most popular men. Although often requested to accept offices in their gift, Mr. Mc Manness declined till, in 1884, he accepted the nomination to sher- iff, as a Republican, and carried the ticket largely in a Democratic County. He had previously held the clerkship of the city. During the war of the Rebellion he offered his services in the ranks, but was too young; he how- ever served from 1862 till the end of the war in the medical department and the sutlers' corps in connection with the quartermaster's department of the Army of the Tennessee. Mr. McManness was married in Findlay, in 1875, to Amanda E., daughter of Jacob Kimmons, this union being blessed with one girl, Katie. Mrs. McManness is a worthy member of the Lutheran Church, to which her husband is a liberal contributor. He is a F. & A. M. and a member of the K. of P. Sheriff McManness has always been a lib- eral supporter of the social and industrial development of Findlay and Hancock County, and is esteemed by all parties in this locality.
J. J. MILLER, manufacturer, superintendent of the Findlay stave and handle factory, Findlay, was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, Feburary 1, 1853, son of the Rev. John Wesley Miller, who served for many years in eastern Ohio in connection with Baptist Church work. He died in 1855, leaving his widow, Ellen (Ellison) Miller, and a son and three daughters. The subject of this sketch was early educated to wood-working and manu- facturing business in Findlay (coming here in 1862) and has been creditably connected with that industry here since. He was united in marriage in Find- lay, in 1872, with Barbara, daughter of Theodore and Catharine Seibel, natives of Germany. They have two sons and two daughters: Albert, Maggie, Estella and John. Mr. and Mrs. Miller are members of the Church of God.
S. C. MOORE, lumber dealer and manufacturer of lumber, Findlay, was born in Jackson Township, this county, September 18, 1839, son of James B. and Hannah Moore, pioneers of Jackson Township. The Moores came of Irish stock in Virginia. The children of James B. Moore (by two marriages) were John, Armenia Euretta, and Rachel, Jackson (deceased), S. C., Adam, William, George and Mary E. The subject of our sketch was reared to mechanical work which he followed till the break- ing out of the war of the Rebellion. He enlisted in 1862, in the Seventh In- dependent Ohio Volunteers Sharp Shooters and served in Sherman's body guard until the end of the struggle. A few years after the war he went to Mis- souri where he spent some four years and then returned to Findlay, this coun- ty, where he has since been prominently connected with manufacturing in- terests. Mr. Moore was married in this city to Sidney A. Winders, who died in 1873. He was married on second occasion to Sarah J., daughter of John Poven- mire, a pioneer of this county. He has a family of five children: Elizabeth, by first wife, and Myrta N., Addie M., Alice and an infant by his second marriage.
769
FINDLAY TOWNSHIP AND VILLAGE.
The family attend the services of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Moore is a member of Stoker Post, G. A. R.and of the I.O.O.F. He is one of Findlay's public-spirited citizens, and has contributed in no small degree to its material advancement, not only in manufacturing but in the development of the social and public life.
SOLOMON MORE, of the firm of S. & I. S. More, proprietors of lumber mills, Findlay, was born in Carroll County, Ohio, October 25, 1827, son of John and Elizabeth (Kleckner) More, the former a son of Andrew More, a na- tive of Germany; the latter a daughter of Frederick Kleckner, also a native of Germany. The families of More and Kleckner came from Washington County, Penn., to Carroll County, Ohio. John More settled in Big Lick Town- ship, this county, in 1834, where eleven sons and three daughters were reared. Solomon More, our subject, took up milling some twenty-eight years ago and has since been successfully connected with it. He married, December 14, 1854, Margaret, daughter of Jonathan Fenstenmaker, who settled in Amanda Township. this county, in 1838. They have one son, Isaac Stofer, who married Lida, daughter of William Casteel, of Marion Township, this county, and by this union has one son and one daughter: Otto Harry and Eva Blanche. The family attend the services of the United Brethren Church. Solomon More is a strong temperance man, and has always advocated Prohibi- tion principles in good strong terms. He and his son are enterprising busi- ness men and do a nice trade in lumber milling here.
GEORGE W. MYERS, judge of probate court, Findlay, was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, March 14, 1833. son of Matthew and Barbara (Beck) Myers, the former of whom, a native of Baden, came to America in 1823 when a lad and settled in Fairfield County; the latter, a native of Wurtem - berg, came to this county with her parents, who settled in Fairfield County in 1819. They reared one son and one daughter: George W. and Eliza, wife of Henry C. Graffe, jeweler in Ft. Wayne, Ind. The family re- moved here in 1848, when Mr. Myers carried on merchandising. The sub- ject of this sketch received a good education, and at sixteen joined a party who made an overland trip to California, and, after an interesting journey of sixteen months, arrived at Weaverville, September 1, 1849. Af- ter spending a few years in the Golden State, Mr. Myers returned, in 1852, and embarked in the jewelry business at Goshen, Ind., which he retired from to accept a position in the postal department on the Lake Shore Rail- way. Retiring in 1859 he came here and built the Lake Erie & Western Elevator and has been very prominently engaged in the grain trade here since, meanwhile serving as agent for that corporation here till 1881. Mr. Myers was married in Findlay, in 1855, to Sally W. C., daughter of Squire Carlin. They have two sons: Clark, in the grain business in Find- lay, and Carlin, a farmer and stock raiser in Kosciusko, Ind. Judge Myers has always been an active business man and citizen, and has contributed in no small degree to the development of many of Findlay's important indus- tries; he has been a worthy official in local matters and, in 1884, the peo- ple of this county testified their appreciation of him by electing him to his present incumbency.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.