USA > Ohio > Henry County > History of Henry and Fulton counties, Ohio : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 29
USA > Ohio > Fulton County > History of Henry and Fulton counties, Ohio : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 29
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John Diemer was born in Bavaria, February 2, 1837. He was married in Napoleon, in 1860, to Josephine Greber, who was born in Bavaria in 1840. They had twelve children. Mr. Diemer enlisted in the Fourteenth Ohio three months troops, and served four months. He was honorably discharged and returned to Napoleon. He was in many skirmishes and battles during his term of service, among which were Philippi, Laurel Hill, Cheat River and Car- rick's Ford. Since the war he has continued to reside with his family in Na- poleon. He has kept a meat marrket for many years. He came to Henry county in 1850.
John D. Belknap came to Henry county in 1850, and was one of the first men to enlist in the Fourteenth Regiment, three months men, and was in- stantly killed at Laurel Hill. He was married before coming to this county. They had three children. His son, J. P. Belknap, is the editor and proprietor of the Henry County Signal.
Jonas Shumaker was born in Wayne county, O., October 26, 1821. He was married in Crawford county, O., May 25, 1847, to Esther Speigle, who was born in Stark county, O., December, 1829. They had seven children. He was a member of the board of education nine years. He settled in Henry county in 1850.
Joseph Shumaker, brother to the above, was born in Wayne county, O., May 13, 1828. He was married in Crawford county, O., October 18, 1853, to Mary A. Weiler, who was born in Pennsylvania, of German parentage. They had seven children. Mr. S. came to Henry county in 1858.
Jeremiah J. Thompson was born April 12, 1850, in Holmes county, O .; was married in Henry county September 3, 1871, to Mary Foncannon, who was born in Seneca county, O., May 21, 1853. They had two children. Mr. Thompson settled in Henry county in 1853.
George Stoner was born in Maryland, July 16, 1828. He was married in Seneca county, O., November 16, 1852, to Louisa Wilkins, who was born in Ohio, January 31, 1830. They have a family of eleven children. He settled in Henry county in 1866.
Thomas J. Howell was born in Ohio, February 15, 1850. He was married in Henry county November 4, 1870, to Eliza Elarton, who was born in Sen-
AN. Dylan
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HENRY COUNTY.
eca county, O., October 15, 1852. Mr. Howell settled in Henry county in 1867. Mrs. Howell's father, Samuel Elarton, enlisted in the 100th Regiment O. V. I., during the War of the Rebellion. He served his country three years, and died in Libby prison. Richard Howell, a brother of the subject of this sketch, belonged to the 113th Regiment O. V. I., and served three years.
John Snyder was born in Ohio, August 13, 1841, of German parentage. He was married in Henry county October 31, 1864, to Catharine Leifer, who was born in Richland county, O., August 8, 1841. They had five children born to them. Mr. Leifer, the father of Mrs. Sny Jer, settled in Henry county in 1853.
William M. French was born in Licking county, O., July 18, 1847, and was married in Henry county March 31, 1868, to Sarah E. Miller, who was born in Marion county, O., January 24, 1850. The parents of Mr. French, William S. and Mary G. French, settled in Henry county in 1862.
Henry H. Freytag was born in Germany, in 1845 ; was married in Henry county June 24, 1869, to Catharine Rohrs, who was born in Germany in 1849. Mr. F. settled with his parents in Henry county, in 1851. Ilis wife's parents, John and Mary Rohrs, came to the county in 1858.
Justin H. Tyler was born November 15, 1815, in Massachusetts, and was married June 21, 1847, to Alice Olmsted, who was born in New York city, in 1825, and died in Napoleon, January 2, 1860, leaving two children. Mr. Ty- ler was married the second time, on February 21, 1861, to Hattie M. Peck, at Shelbourne, Mass., where she was born June 21, 1832. Four children were born to them. Mr. Tyler was admitted to practice law in 1841. He first lo -. cated at Huron, O., where he held the office of township clerk, and also was clerk of the village of Huron, three years. He then came to Henry county, where he has held the office of prosecuting attorney four years. He was also a member of the Ohio Legislature two years ; he was also school examiner for several years, and was the first mayor of the village of Napoleon, which office he held three terms. When he first came to the county, in 1852, Napoleon was a village of about three hundred inhabitants, and a large portion of the county was an almost unbroken wilderness. He has practiced law in the county thirty-five years. He does not now engage actively in the duties of his profession, leaving the bulk of the work to be performed by his son, Julian H. Tyler, who promises to fill with credit the position so long held by his father. Although Mr. Tyler is not a member of any church, he has been a most liberal contributor to the construction of church buildings, claiming that he has contributed to nearly every church built in the county. Mr. Tyler was originally a Whig in politics ; and after the disruption of that party he became an ardent Republican, and, although always in the minority, he continues firm in his allegiance to that party. He resides in Napoleon.
Lewis Y. Richards was born December 20, 1831, in Greene county, O .; was
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HISTORY OF HENRY AND FULTON COUNTIES.
married November 8, 1860, to Harriet Augusta Brancher, who was born in 1839, at Defiance. They had two children. He came to Defiance county in 1846, and removed to Henry county in 1853. He enlisted October 3, 1861, in Company A, 68th O. V. I., as second lieutenant. He was soon promoted to first lieutenant, and afterwards became captain of his company. He was in the battles of Pittsburgh Landing, Fort Donaldson, Siege of Corinth, Hatchie River, Port Hudson, Raymond, Jackson, Champion Hills and Big Black. He was offered a commission as major, in 1863, but declined, and was mustered out of service at the expiration of his period of enlistment, November 24, 1864, at Chattanooga, Tenn. Since that time he has resided at Napoleon.
Christian E. Axe was born in Wayne county, O., September 16, 1837, and was married in Henry county December 9, 1860, to Mary A. Freysinger, who was born in Wayne county, O., May 31, 1840. They had three children. Mr. Axe's parents settled in Henry county in 1849, and those of his wife in 1859.
Thomas W. Durbin was born in Maryland, August 24, 1822, and was mar- ried May 22, 1850, to Lucinda King, who was born in Perry county, O., July 8, 1832. They had five children. Mr. Durbin was clerk of the Court of Com- mon Pleas for Henry county during one term of three years ; he also held the office of county commissioner during one term, and has been county recorder since January 7, 1884, being now in his second term. He came to Henry county in 1843.
CHAPTER XXVI.1
HISTORY OF PLEASANT TOWNSHIP.
0 F the early organization of this township it appears that no written records are preserved, but in common with many other of the county's civil divi- sions, the early records have been neglected and allowed to become destroyed or lost.
The township occupies a position in the extreme southwestern part of the county and its territory was formerly embraced within Flat Rock. The earli- est settlers in this locality were George A. Hofricker, Henry Saur, Frederick Loesch, George 'Dirr, Andrew Gardner and Peter Grimm, who came here in the year 1836. The following year, 1837, there were others, some of whom can be recalled. They were John P. Hornung, George A. Young, Adam Min- sell, John Friberger and Paul Renolet. From this time down to 1844 there were Casper Mangas and his sons Peter, Jacob and Henry; Paul Eding and.
1 By James E. Scofield.
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HENRY COUNTY.
his sons Gerhart (Jared) and Harmon; Theobold Bolley, George and Daniel Wolfe, John Bates, John Helrich, Stephen Byal, John Wilhelm, Daniel Des- granges, Frederick Martz, James Shasteen (the first justice of the peace), Henry Schall and John Diemer, all heads of families, with exception of the sons of Mangas and Eding. About 1840 Mr. Easterbrook, an Englishman, taught the first school in the settlement and continued three or four winter terms of three months each. While thus engaged he wrote a pamphlet biography of his life, styling himself David Crocket second. Among other things it contained rem- iniscences of his teaching among the "benighted beings," as he styled them, of the wilds of Henry county. James E. Scofield, the writer hereof, followed him as teacher of the same school in 1844-5, two winter terms, of three months each, and remembers many of the inhabitants of that time, together with many of his pupils, including his wife, then a school girl ten years his junior. Here may be given the names of the younger heads of families, some of whom have married daughters of the first settlers: John Hofrieter, Joseph Schneider (a shoemaker), Henry Dirr, George Dirr, John Bawman, Charles Kesselmeyer (a wagon maker), and perhaps other names not remembered. The following are names of remembered pupils, now old men and women, having well im proved farms and families of grown up children, some of whom are settled for themselves on farms and others in villages and cities, in business; George N. Wolf, Harmon Eding, Henry Grimm, Peter Grimm (deceased), William Saur, John Loesch, Henry Loesch, Meni Loesch, Adam Loesch (deceased), Andrew Loesch, Margaret Saur, Caroline Wolf, Elizabeth Wolf, Daniel Wolf, Phil- lip Dorider, John M. Young, Elizabeth Grimm (deceased), Henry Bates (deceased), 'Paul Heisch and others perhaps whose names are not remembered, children then between the ages of four and twenty years, and attending school.
It is supposed this township was detached from Flat Rock in the year 1843. It was then a howling wilderness of water, frogs, wolves, bear, deer, turkeys, coon and other animals of various kinds, all of which have now disappeared, and this vast wilderness, by the energy of its inhabitants, made to blossom like the rose. The records of Flat Rock township show names of heads of families residing in town three, north of range six, east, now Pleasant township, then attached to Flat Rock. Their children, that is, of the families, enumerated for the public schools in the year 1838, were as follows: Joseph Waddel. 1 male; Casper Mangas, 4 males; Peter Hornung, I male and i female; Peter Hornung, jr., I female; - March, 4 males; G. A. Hofrickter, 2 males, I fe- male; George Dirr, I female; Peter Grim, 2 males, i female ; Andrew Gardner, 2 males, 5 females; John Friberger, I male, 4 females; David Dorider, 2 males, 2 females ; John Bates, 2 males, I female; - Helrich, I male, I female ; in all 22 males and 19 females; total, 41 children between the ages of four and twenty years.
In the four original surveyed townships, three and four north of ranges six 34
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HISTORY OF HENRY AND FULTON COUNTIES.
and seven, east, Flat Rock, Pleasant, Marion and Monroe, all these included in Flat Rock, contained 56 male and 5 1 female school children; total 107. None of these children were then enumerated in three and four, north of range 7, east, now Marion and Monroe. After the detachment of Pleasant and Marion from Flat Rock, Marion remained in Pleasent for a time (from recollection of the oldest inhabitants). It is known that James Shasteen was the first justice of the peace and officiated as such in 1844. Who were the first trustees and clerk is not certainly known, but it is supposed that Henry Schall was first clerk, and continued for several terms. A few years later Charles Hornung was clerk, and also justice of the peace for thirty-nine years in succession. It is also supposed that Theobold Bolley was first treasurer. The writer well re- members that he was treasurer in 1844-5, from the fact of drawing his wages as school teacher from him.
The village of New Bavaria was known by that name from the name of a post-office situated on the Ridge road as early as 1844-5. Charles Hornung was postmaster, who has been continued since, with the exception of one year (1860), when he acted with the Republicans in the Lincoln and Hamlin campaign of that year, for which he was beheaded, and Henry Schall appointed to fill the vacancy. Immediately after Mr. Lincoln's inauguration Mr. Hor- nung was reinstated and has been continued since.
New Bavaria was surveyed and platted in the year 1882, a short distance west of the old post-office site, at the crossing of the Ridge road and the To- ledo, St. Louis and Kansas City Railroad, and estimated to contain about one hundred inhabitants. This railroad gives it an outlet for the products of an excellent farming country surrounding it. Messrs. Charles Hornung & Sons, for a number of years, have been engaged in merchandising, together with farming and stock raising. Recently, Charles Hornung has retired from the mercantile business, leaving that branch with his sons, Jacob and John H., but attends to his farm and stock, of which he has a fine herd. Jacob Hornung is also engaged in extensive manufacturing, using steam power. He manufac- tures heading, hoops, lumber and staves, for which he finds a ready market. The firm of the store have a warehouse connection, and buy all kinds of pro- duce. This makes a home market for the products of the farms in the vicinity. J. Hammerer is engaged in the manufacture and repair of boots and shoes. About two miles south, on the same railroad, is located Pleasant Bend, a sta- tion established at or about 1879, at the time of the completion of said railroad, with a post-office of that name. Jacob J. Fraker is the postmaster. The vil- lage was surveyed and platted in 1882. It is estimated to contain about one hundred inhabitants. Jacob J. Fraker, in connection with the post-office, is dealer in general merchandise and grain, also all kinds of country produce. Being only a short distance from New Bavaria, the trade, from necessity, is di- vided, both places doing a thriving business, and each having the trade of an
Chas Hornung
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HENRY COUNTY.
excellent farming community. J. W. Jones & Co., general merchandisers, to- gether with factory (steam power), manufacture lumber, hoop and heading. The village contains two saw-mills, owned by Philip Burrel and William Martz, both doing a thriving business, and will, no doubt, so long as the timber lasts. There are no churches in either of these villages, but in the vicinity near, erected before their existence. The German Methodist, a fine, roomy frame building, situated a short distance north of Pleasant Bend and northwest of New Bavaria, near to both places, and well attended. The German Reformed, a larger, more expensive and commodious brick building, is located on the Ridge wagon road, about one mile west of New Bavaria. It is accessible from both villages and vicinity. It has a large membership and is well attended. It has mounted in its belfry a large, expensive bell of modern manufacture.
Nicholas Laubenthal, the present clerk of the township, lives about two miles east from New Bavaria, along the Ridge wagon road. He is engaged in merchandising and the sale of agricultural machinery and wagons; also, he is engaged in farming and saw-milling,-the latter when water is plenty, which is not in good supply only part of the year. A little farther east of him is now being erected a Catholic church edifice, of brick, at an estimated cost of twen- ty-four thousand dollars. This building is to replace the old one destroyed by fire some time ago. The society have a large membership, many of whom come from a long distance.
Peter Mangus, one of the foremost farmers and stock dealers of the town- ship, commenced business for himself about the year 1844; then a poor young man, without any capital except his hands and energy. Now he has one of the finest of farms, of about one hundred and eighty acres, with good buildings and al necessary implements for modern farming ; besides this he has other wild lands. In about 1851-2 he was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Jack- man. They have raised a large family of boys, who have left the parental roof, except the three younger ones, whose ages range from fourteen to eighteen years, and are yet under the care of kind and indulgent parents. The same may be said of Henry Dirr and family. These gentlemen and the writer were much together in the early days of settlement of this township. Much might be said of many others of later date.
Pleasant township is traversed from northwest to southeast by a beautiful ridge, which enters on the west line of section seven, one and a half miles south of the northwest corner ; thence passing through the central part through sec- tions seven to seventeen, part of sixteen, through twenty-one and twenty-two, and corners of twenty-three and twenty-seven, through twenty- six and twenty- five, where it passes out some distance north of southeast corner into Marion township. At a very early time there was a wagon road survey along this ridge for ingress and egress, which extended from Defiance and Independence, -the latter a small village four miles east of Defiance,-to Maderia, in Putnam
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HISTORY OF HENRY AND FULTON COUNTIES.
county, where was erected a steam flouring-mill. Maderia, like Independence, is among the things of the past. Settlement was first made along the ridge. From this ridge the land immediately descends into lowlands on either side, which is of very rich soil. The ridge was crossed in many places by swales and rivulets which are now made into artificial creeks, thereby making an ex- cellent drainage outlet, thus rendering available an immense quantity of as good farming land as is in this or any other State. Along this road the very first settlements were made, as the vicinity afforded very passable roads. The land had also dry places enough for immediate farming, as fast as the woods could be cleared away, thereby giving the settler an early crop.
HOLGATE.
This village is situated in the northeast portion of the township, the corpora- tion line being on the township line between the townships of Pleasant and Flat Rock, in sections one and two, at the junction of the Baltimore and Ohio, and Toledo, St. Louis and Kansas City Railroads, and crossed by the Napo- leon and Kalida pike, a wagon road much used for many years before Holgate was known. The village having six directions for ingress and egress,-four by rail and two wagon roads, makes it a desirable place for business. It contains about thirteen hundred inhabitants, including about three hundred school youth between the ages of six and twenty one-years, within the school limits, which includes something more than the corporate limits of Holgate. It has also a large and commodious school-house, brick structure, which is presided over by Professor William E. Decker (editor of the Holgate Times), as principal, to- gether with his assistant, Miss Tillie Eager. This school has a large attend- ance.
Andrew J. Weaver commenced general merchandising here in the autumn of 1873, at the time of completion of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and laying out and platting the place. He has recently retired from business on account of failing health, and is now erecting a fine residence. The present business houses are those of E. W. Poe & Co., general merchandising; Daniel Fribley, general groceries, flour and feed ; Valentine, Kimmick and Frederick Spicer, boots and shoes, connected with making and repairing; B. W. Justice and Ed. Swartout, barbers and hair-dressers ; Isaac Sadesky, general clothing; Roller, tin and hardware ; Newton S. Cole, general hardware, includ- ing stoves, farming utensils, wagons, buggies, and general farming machinery of all kinds. He commenced there in the spring of 1874, and is now erecting a large and commodious building of brick, for the accommodation of his exten- sive and increasing business. Henry H. Fast, general hardware, farming uten- sils, machinery, etc. He has only been in the business about four years, but has recently erected a fine residence. L. Gillet, general merchandise ; Henry Voigt, meat market; F. H. Voigt, general druggist and pharmacist. In con-
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HENRY COUNTY.
nection with his drugs he keeps clocks, watches and jewelry. L. M. Turney, general druggist and pharmacist ; William S. Schuyler, general merchandise in two separate buildings ; Joseph Voigt, furniture and undertaking ; physicians, Drs. J. Townsend, J. C. Becker, J. B. Archer and James M. Stout ; Brayer Brothers, manufacturers of staves and heading; Shelly Brothers, manufacture staves and hoops; Jacob Laubenthal, saw and planning mill, and sash and door factory ; --- Gates, saw-mill, sawing only sycamore for tobacco boxes ; G. W. Walker, general saw-mill; E. L. Hartman, flouring mill; William Kauf- man, postmaster and proprictor of the Kaufmanville portion of the city, origi- nally known as an ashery. In connection with his business as postmaster he manufactures black salts. F. Buchenberg, merchant tailor and ready made clothing ; Jesse Ware, blacksmith ; Harman Binger, blacksmith ; Mrs. Harris, milliner ; Mrs. Mangas, milliner; Christ Brickle and Hartwick, wagon-makers and blacksmithing; J. M. McEwing, groceries; H. D. Tripp, bakery and canned goods; Frank Edwards, groceries; William Edwards, dentist; E. E. Nothistinc, photographer. The present officers of the corporation are as follows: Dr. James M. Stout, mayor; Ed. Swartout, marshal ; B. T. Burrin, William Ritz, Henry Bortz, Valentine Kimmick, Henry Meyer and Jacob Laubenthal, coun- cilman ; William E. Decker, clerk. The latter person, William E. Decker, is editor of the Holgate Times, published weekly.
The village has five livery stables and seven saloons; E. Minsor is a paper- hanger and painter. There are two hotels, the Holgate House, 1 .. Heacock, proprietor, and the Forest House, S. Margrat, proprietor ; other business inter- ests are, E. B. Linde, dealer in organs and pianos; G. Zachreck, carpenter, builder and general contractor; William Retz, Christian Stauber and Phillip Fahrer, general carpenters and builders; Lot Barter and Izadon Hurr, masons and plasterers.
Holgate was surveyed and platted in the year 1873. The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was completed in the same year. The Toledo, St. Louis and Kansas City Railroad, built as a narrow guage in 1880, but changed to stand- ard in 1887. George W. Edwards, proprietor of one of the liveries with his father (now deceased) settled near the vicinity about 1836, and has resided here ever since. The father was known as " Edwards, the bear hunter of Henry county." Mrs. Edwards is a daughter of Michael Hill (deceased), a settler of about the same time, and who opened up a farm on the banks of Turkey Foot Creek, northeast of Holgate. The writer well remembers these families as they obtained their mail as late as 1846 at Florida, he being a clerk in the post office and store of that village at that time, and later was postmaster and proprietor of a store ; he also surveyed the road along Turkey Foot Creek, through this settlement.
The progress of opening up this wilderness was, of necessity, slow and tedi- ous, taking many years. After Napoleon, the beautiful county-seat, loomed
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HISTORY OF HENRY AND FULTON COUNTIES.
up to pretentious proportions, equal to or in excess of Florida, this settlement, with its increasing numbers, used Napoleon for mail and other supplies, there- fore, the acquaintance became limited, and finally ceased almost entirely. The first settlers of Pleasant township in 1836, were of foreign birth, mostly from Bavaria, Germany, and some from Baden, and later from France. From these parents the present population, American born, are descendants, and are in active business, although many of the parents are vet living. Since the early settlement many relatives and their acquaintances have immigrated here, and settled the vacant lands in this and adjoining townships. They show much en- ergy, and are law-abiding, industrious citizens of which any township or county may feel proud. They speak the English language equal with any other American citizen, but retain their own, which is handed down to their offspring. Their native tongue is taught in their churches and Sunday-schools, and they are also taught to read and write their own language, which is invariable in religious worship of all denominations.
CHAPTER XXVII.
HISTORY OF RICHFIELD TOWNSHIP.
T THIS was one of the five townships originally organized in the territory at present embraced in Henry county. We know that it was organized as early as 1837, but the misfortune of the fires makes it impossible to even ap- proximate its limits at that time, it certainly included, as late as 1854, the township of Bartlow, which in that year was detached and given an indepen- dent organization. The township, as now organized, embraces the thirty-six sections of land contained in the government survey of township four, north of range eight, east. The growth and improvement of these sections were very slow and limited, and became marked only in the last few years, and it re- mained among the last of the hunting grounds reluctantly surrendered by the professional hunter and the delighted sportsman. The onward march of pro- gress, however, compelled these men, step by step, like the poor Indian, to turn their footsteps westward, or yield and adopt the habits of civilization and the customs of social life.
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