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 66
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 66
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However, before he was ten years old, young Howard was taken from school and put at work far too important for a child of his years ; but necessity is a hard master. According to his father's idea, the life of an Indian fur trader seemed to be the best for his son ; therefore he was hired out to a mer- chant in the Indian trade with the limited knowledge of the business that he acquired in his father's little store of Indian goods. The boy soon became expert. He knew the value of all the articles of trade, and could accurately judge the quality and value of skins and furs brought into market by the In- dians and the few white hunters of the region. These accomplishments, for such were they then considered, together with his understanding of the Indian languages, made him an exceedingly valuable employee, so that, at the age of fifteen, he had a safe passport into any of the fur trading establishments of the country.
In the early summer of 1827 or 1828, young Howard accompanied Benja- min F. Hollister with a pack train of horses loaded with goods for the Indian trade, on a journey to the " treaty grounds," on the shores of Lake Michigan, near the mouth of the Chicago River (now the site of the great western metrop- olis), where were gathered the various tribes-the [Pottawatomies, the Sacs, the Foxes, and the Winnebagoes-who were met in council with agents of the government for the purpose of treating upon various subjects.
At the time this journey was made, young Howard remembers not of see- ing a single settler's cabin in all that long distance, but there was an occasional trading post. There was maintained, on the site of the treaty ground, or near it, Fort Dearborn, with its little garrison of soldiers, hield here, ostensibly, for the purpose of checking any depredations of the Indians, and the protection of the western frontier. The business of trading in furs and peltries was car- ried on during the fall and winter months ; therefore, during the heated term our subject had but little to occupy his time. His father sent him, during the summer of 1831, on an expedition down the Wabash River, thence through to the Mississippi, for the purpose of locating bounty lands, to which the father was entitled as a veteran of the war of 1812-15. For this purpose our young hero, for such he was, being but fourteen years old at that time, was fully equipped, and fully authorized to act. On this journey his route lay up the Maumee by boat with some French "freighters," thence down the Wabash, on
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the back of an Indian pony purchased at Fort Wayne, to the old trading post at Terre Haute; thence across the prairie to the Mississippi. His trip, he says, was a most enjoyable one ; he was accompanied by young Indians most of the time, and the rifle easily procured an abundance of venison, turkey, and other wild game. He camped wherever night found him. Upon the details of this journey and the successful accomplishment of the duty assigned him, we cannot dwell. The scenes of wild sport and adventure through the unset- tled country with companions as wild as the scenes around them, would fill a volume.
In the summer and fall of 1832 was commenced the removal of the Indians from this section, and in this work our subject bore an important part ; it was a work of many weeks and many hardships. It was done under the direction of Benjamin F. Hollister, assisted by Dresden Howard (our subject), Duncan Forsythe, and Samuel (Curt) Roby. The Indians were taken in small num- bers at each time, a few hundred, as they were very unwilling to leave their old homes and hunting grounds, and depart on a long journey to the Indian Territory, southwest of the Missouri River; but they must retire before the steady approach of the white man, and their country in all its wild beauty and grandeur soon yielded to the attacks of the ax of the woodman and the plow of the husbandman ; the powerful Shawnees from Wapokoneta, and the Ot- tawas from the Au Glaize, alike, must leave and make their homes in the far- off west.
It will be remembered, too, that this year witnessed the first visitation of cholera in this country, and on the journey several of the Indians were attacked and died of that terrible disease.
The last of the Indians were removed from the valley in 1838, and with their departure likewise went the occupation of our subject. He, however, prepared to follow them in 1840, taking a large stock of goods for the fur trade, and acting as agent for W. G. & G. W. Ewing. Mr. Howard ascended the Missouri as far as Fort Leavenworth, where, in consequence of the shallow- ness of the river, he disembarked, procured freight wagons (San Taffee), with eighty mules and Spanish drivers, and then followed the land trail up the Mis- souri. The white settlements at that time extended only to the little trading post at St. Joseph, which was laid out by and named for Joseph Rebidue, the old French fur trader for the American Fur Company. Mr. Howard's trade among the Sioux, Blackfeet, Crows, Grosventres and other tribes of Indians, proved quite lucrative. Of the numerous incidents of this visit we will men- tion but one, and that is of some historic interest. It occurred on the day of the presidential election of that year, 1840. There was gathered under a large cottonwood tree a party of ten or twelve traders, trappers, and hunters of the region, among them our subject, for the purpose of holding an election for president. General William Henry Harrison seems to have been the unani-
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mous choice of this small but patriotic assemblage. The oldest trapper was chosen chairman and the youngest trader secretary of the meeting ; this latter choice called into requisition the services of Mr. Howard, who kept the poll list on a piece of paper torn from a memorandum book. The votes were cast for the candidate direct, and not for electors ; and, after all had voted, the "poll book " was directed and sent to the "President of the Senate of the United States." This was the first vote of our subject for a presidential candi- date; and it may be remarked, parenthetically, that the meeting was held near the ruins of old Fort Calhoun, beyond the jurisdiction of State or territorial government ; nevertheless, the hero of Tippecanoe received the undivided sup- port of the whole party. Of these persons all, save Mr. Howard, were past the middle age of life, so it is safe to assume that he alone, of the entire num - ber, is now living. But to return to the scenes of life on the Maumee.
Edward Howard, the father of our subject, died in 1841, after which, as soon as it could be done, Dresden closed his business at the various trading posts, and became a permanent resident of the Maumee country. In the sub- sequent development of this region he has been an active participant, and his progressive nature and public-spiritedness have, in a measure, been rewarded by his being chosen to some of the most responsible public offices in the gift of his fellow people.
In 1842, soon after closing the affairs of his former business, Dresden W. H. Howard was married to Mary Blackwood Copeland. Of this marriage two children have been born : O. E. M. Howard, now a civil engineer and promi- nent citizen residing at San Diego, Cal., and Miss Mary Agnes Howard, now living with her parents.
The first public station to which our subject has been called, was in his appointment by the State Legislature, as commissioner with Elisha Hunting- ton, of Perrysburg, and Orlando Evans, of Defiance, as co-commissioners for the purpose of locating and constructing a turnpike from Fort Meigs to Fort Wayne, or to the Indiana State line. This was about the year 1843. In 1870 he was elected a member of the State Board of Equalization for the real estate of Ohio. Again, in 1871, he was elected to represent his district as senator in the Legislature of the State. In April, 1887, Mr. Howard was appointed by his Excellency, Governor Foraker, to the board of trustees of the Asylum for Insane persons at Toledo.
These are the leading positions to which our subject has been called ; but he has been identified as strongly with the growth and development of Fulton county and northwestern Ohio as any resident within its borders ; he is not a man that inclines naturally to political station or to special prominence in any relation, but would rather retire to the quiet of his own home. Mr. Howard loves to dwell upon the memories of the past, and to recall the days and com- panions of his youth ; his farm home at Winameg, at the Springs, and on the 74
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HISTORY OF HENRY AND FULTON COUNTIES.
site of the village of the old chief, Winameg, is exactly suited to his tastes, for on it are still discernible traces of old Indian mounds, though much disturbed by the plowshare; and on the trees are still visible bullet holes and Indian marks of various kinds. But, notwithstanding his inclinations and tastes, our subject has been identified with some very prominent measures, among which was that of originating and building the Toledo and Grand Rapids Railroad, in which enterprise his son was also extensively engaged. This road is now a part of the Toledo, St. Louis and Kansas City Railway (standard gauge), and extends to the city of St. Louis, Missouri.
H AAG, SAMUEL C. In the town of Bainbridge, Lancaster county, Pa., on the 7th day of August, 1841, Samuel Conroth Haag, the youngest, but one, of the seven children of Peter H. and Catharine Haag, was born. When Samuel was eleven years of age the family left the Commonwealth of Pennsyl- vania, crossed over the mountains and took up their residence at New Philadel- phia, Tuscarawas county, O. The boyhood days of our subject were not unlike those common to all youths, attending school and doing such work about home as he could perform ; but, when old enough, Samuel entered the office of the Ohio Democrat, at New Philadelphia, where he learned the printer's trade, and where he was employed until the fall of 1861.
On the 19th day of September, of that year, he enlisted in and was made corporal of Company G, Fifty- first Ohio Volunteer Infantry. In the per- formance of his duty at the battle of Stone River, on the Ist of January, 1862, Mr. Haag was severely wounded, being struck in the left arm by a minnie bullet. He was then sent to the hospital and remained there some six months. Upon recovering the use of his arm sufficiently to perform duty Mr. Haag returned to his command and was advanced to the rank of orderly on General Stanley's staff.
With this command our subject served with credit, sharing alike the suc- cesses and reverses incident to army life, performing well each and every duty assigned to him, until, on the 2d day of September, 1864, when, at the battle of Lovejoy, he was again wounded in the left arm, but this time with more serious results, for amputation became necessary. This operation was performed in the field hospital, but he was soon after removed to the regular hospital for the wounded. Mr. Haag was not discharged from the service until March 17, 1865, upon which he returned to his home at New Philadelphia.
In October following Mr. Haag became a resident of Henry county, taking up his abode at Texas, and here he continued to live until the year 1871. His chief occupation at this place was teaching school, at which he was remarkably successful; he was elected clerk of Washington township, and held the position of postmaster at Texas, his commission bearing date September 19, 1866. In 1871, Mr. Haag, came to reside in Napoleon township. He was appointed
LITTLE
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superintendent of the infirmary farm, assuming that position September Ist, and holding for a period of ten years. He then moved to Freedom township, hav- ing purchased a farm therein, but his residence here was of but two years duration, as, in October, 1884, he moved to the village of Napoleon that his children might have the benefits of the excellent schools of that place.
Mr. Haag had not been a resident of the county seat a single year before his appointment to the position of postmaster, to succeed Captain Leverett G. Randall, removed. This appointment dated from July 14, 1885. At the expi- ration of the term, May 27, 1886, he was re-appointed by the president for a full term of four years.
There have been no events in the life of Samuel C. Haag that require ex- tended comment in these pages. In his nature and disposition he is quiet and reserved ; a faithful friend and a kind and generous husband and father. He has not been an active partisan in the field of politics, as his nature leads in an opposite channel .. He is certainly deserving of credit for his success in life, and that despite the fact that he was wholly unable to work at his trade after the loss of an arm. His marriage event occurred while he was in the Union serv- ice, and at a time when he was at home on veteran furlough. On the 21st of February, 1864, in Tuscarawas county, at New Philadelphia, Samuel C. Haag was married to Christina Limestall, who then residing near New Philadelphia. Of this marriage three children have been born, the oldest of whom is dead, the others living with their parents at Napoleon.
H ANDY, WILLIAM HENRY, the fourth child of Hon. Michael and Mary A. Handy, was born in Pike township, Fulton county, on the 29th day of January, in the year 1847. At the age of sixteen William enlisted in Com- pany H, of the Eighty-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served with that regiment until February 10, 1864, when he was discharged. On the 15th of April following he re-enlisted in Company H, of the Sixty-seventh Ohio Vol- unteer Infantry and served through the remainder of the war, and was mus- tered out of service and discharged on the Ist of September, 1865.
On returning home he entered the office of his father as a student at law, where he remained some time, and afterward further prosecuted his studies in the office of Judge Lemmon, of Toledo. At this city, in the year 1868, he was admitted to the bar. He immediately commenced practice at Ottokee, then the county seat of Fulton county, being associated with his father. This rela- tion was maintained until January 1, 1875, when our subject retired from the firm to assume control, as editor and publisher, of the Democratic Expositor. This paper was the only exponent of Democratic principles in the county at the time, nor had there been one for eleven years prior thereto. To Mr. Han- dy's management is credited the paper's early success, and to his leaders in its editorial columns, was also due the credit of having brought about a more per- fect party organization in the county. After two and one-half years in the ed-
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itor's sanctum Mr. Handy sold the paper and resumed the practice of his pro- fession, which he continued up to the time of his advancement to the common pleas bench in February, 1885.
The position that Mr. Handy has occupied in the political history of the county is too well known to need any extended comment in this place ; yet, in some respects his position has been somewhat singular. While he is, and for a number of years past has been looked upon and acknowledged as one of the Democratic leaders of the county, and in the councils of the party therein he stands perhaps at the head, yet the turmoil of politics has no special charm for him. Thrice has he been the candidate of his party for the office of prosecut- ing attorney, but upon a single occasion only can it be said that he was an ac- tive, aggressive aspirant for this preferment. Being, as he has been for some years, the only Democratic member of the legal fraternity in his county, and being, moreover, a man of much professional and personal popularity, he could not well avoid entering the arena of politics in answer to the demands of his party, when it was hoped that his strength might turn the scale of doubtful contest ; but the county has generally proven too strongly Republican to ad- mit of such a possibility; yet Mr. Handy has the satisfaction of knowing that to his support has rallied the full strength of his own party, and that he has al- so drawn largely from the opposition.
At the meeting of the delegates to the Democratic judicial convention of the third sub-division of the third judicial district, on the 27th day of January, 1885, William H. Handy was made the nominee of that body for the office of conimon pleas judge. Two days later he was appointed by his excellency, Gov. Hoadley, to the office for which he had just been nominated, and entered upon the discharge of his duties on the 7th day of February. In October fol- lowing he was elected for the unexpired term, there being no candidate nomi- nated to oppose him.
As a layman of the legal profession Mr. Handy enjoys the reputation of be- ing a good counselor, and a good trial lawyer, and while he never laid claim to possessing especial brilliancy as an advocate, yet he had a way of present- ing a case to the jury that brought him at once into favor with that body, and, in close cases, gave him a fair advantage. As a judge Mr. Handy presides with becoming dignity ; he thoroughly understands the law and interprets and pre- sents it to the jury clearly and with conciseness ; and in reviewing the facts is wholly free from any bias or prejudice. While the public and professional life of our subject have been entirely pleasant, his private life and qualities among friends and within the sacred precincts of home, have been none the less agree- able. Mr. Handy was married on the 16th day of October, 1869, to Isabella J., daughter of John Van Arsdale, of Ottokee, but formerly a resident of Wy- andot county. Of this marriage three children have been born : Harry L., Clive C. and May B., all of whom are living.
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H OLLISTER, M. D., DE WITT. The residence of this well-known citizen in Wauseon, Fulton county, dates back to about the year 1851. He was born in the town of Fulton, Oswego county, N. Y., on the 8th day of Decem- ber, 1825. His father, Philarmon Hollister, was a carpenter and joiner by trade, but our subject, at the early age of eighteen years, determined to enter professional life. With this end in view he commenced a course of medical study with Dr. Stephen Pardee, a physician of Oswego county, and continued his reading for a period of about four years; during this time, however, young Hollister attended the Geneva Medical College, where he perfected himself in the higher branches of the profession, and in surgery, and from which institu- tion he was graduated after two terms' attendance.
Dr. Hollister first commenced the practice of his profession at Pierrepont Manor, Jefferson county, N. Y., and remained there about one and one-half years, after which he joined the tide of emigration to this then western country, and took up his abode at Wauseon, in the newly created county of Fulton. At that time Dr. Hollister was the only resident physician in the place, and soon acquired a large practice ; and, being a young man of good education and ad- dress, and possessing a thorough understanding of his profession, this practice became so extended as not to be confined to the limits of the county.
After a residence here of about two years Dr. De Witt Hollister was united in marriage with Permelia Lamb, daughter of Avery and Sarah Lamb, of York township. Of this marriage three children were born, all of whom are now living.
In connection with his professional life and duties in Fulton county Dr. Hollister has been a very busy man ; too much so, perhaps, to give much at- tention to public affairs other than as interests every well-disposed and enter- prising citizen ; he has never held nor sought public office, yet in the welfare of the county he is much interested, and gives his full share of generous sup- port to every measure for its advantage. Of late years he has given some attention to farming, not, however, as a means of livelihood, but rather as a diversion. When he had been a resident of the county for some years, in connection with his practice, the doctor established a drug store in Wauseon, which he conducted about ten years without a partner, but later he became associated with Dr. William Hyde, under the style of Hollister & Hyde; but, after about two years, he again became sole proprietor, and so remained for several years, when John A. Reed came into the firm, but he in turn was suc- ceeded by Jacob S. Newcomer, the present partner, under the firm name of Hollister & Newcomer
In his business and professional life Dr. Hollister has been rewarded with a good degree of success, and there stands no man to say that he has not de- served it. As a physician and surgeon he stands second to none in the county, and as a friend and adviser his acquaintance and counsel are frequently sought.
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Now having reached the sixty-second year of his life our subject is content to lay aside the more arduous duties of his profession and devote a part, at least, of his time to the care of his lands; but notwithstanding this, demands for his professional skill and advice are constant, and cannot well be refused.
H AMLER, JOHN. It is the purpose of this sketch to record some of the events that have caused John Hamler to be ranked among the prominent men of Henry county ; for it is a well known and well established fact that in the early settlement of the south portion of this county, and its subsequent development, no person has taken a more active part, or rendered more efficient service to that end than the subject of this sketch. Again, John Hamler has a favorable acquaintance throughout the entire county, and will be remembered from the fact of his having served faithfully for a term of six years as one of the county commissioners.
The father of our subject was Alexander Hamler, who was born in the old county of Northumberland, in the State of Pennsylvania, on the 11th of August, 1789. His wife was Mary Hamler, a native also of Pennsylvania, born in York county in February, 1792. Their children were Elizabeth, Mary, Sarah, Catharine, Eleanor, Alexander, John, Samuel and James. At the time of the birth of John Hamler the family resided at Marietta, in Lancaster county. John was born April 20, 1817. The father was a carpenter by trade, but, during the youth of our subject, he was occupied, a part of the time at least, as a pilot on the historic Susquehanna River, and to the occupations of the father John was brought up until he was old enough to make his own way in life. But in the year 1834, or thereabouts, the family left Pennsylvania and came to Franklin county, O., where they lived for about a year and a half, and then moved to Crawford county and occupied a leased farm.
John Hamler, at the age of twenty-three years, up to this time having resided at home, decided to started out in search of a fortune, so with but one dollar in his pocket and without a coat to his back, he started for Franklin county, where he found employment with an old friend. While at home his education had been neglected, never having spent a day in school, but after coming to Franklin county he devoted his evenings to study, and by the aid of an old friend, for whom he was working, he suceeded in obtaining for him- self a fair business education. In the spring of 1842 he fell sick, and was in so serious a condition that but little hope of his recovery was entertained. By the advice of his physician he went south, working at various places, and traveling over several States. His greatest success in the southern country was the full restoration of health and strength, after which he returned to Franklin county, settled up his affairs there, and then came to the home of his parents in Crawford county, where he engaged in farming and clearing land.
It was while so engaged, and on the 20th of December, 1843, that Mr.
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Hamler was united in marriage with Miss Mary Ann Hollingshead, the daugh- ter of Richard and Catharine Hollingshead, then residents of Crawford county, but formerly of Morgan county. They too, were native Pennsylvanians, born in Bedford county, Richard on August 21, 1788, and his wife, Catharine, on January 1, 1793. Mary Ann, the wife of our subject, was born in Morgan county, O., December 7, 1827.
In the year 1846, with his wife and one child, John Hamler came to the wilderness country of southern Henry county, locating upon land in the present Marion township. They arrived here on the night of September 16, and took up their abode in a cabin built the summer before, and which had neither windows or doors. Mr. Hamler's land comprised a quarter section situate one and three-fourths miles southwest of the present village of Hamler. At that time there were but three other residents of the region. From this time dates the residence of John Hamler in Henry county. He has been, to some extent, a farmer, but his chief occupation has been that of land tracer and agent for land owners. To this has the greater part of his time been devoted for upwards of forty years, and he is now the agent of the Deshler Land Company and for the Deshler heirs. This employment has been the source of a good revenue to Mr. Hamler, and added to it is the result of his own investments, and his own industry in clearing and improving the lands in this vicinity.
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