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 70
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 70
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The father of our subject, and the mother as well, were natives of the Key- stone State, Pennsylvania, but at the time of their marriage, were residents of Knox (now Morrow) county, O., and our subject was born in Knox county, a part of which afterward became Morrow county. In his father's family were eleven children, and of these La Fayette Gilbert Ely was the oldest, he be- ing born on the 3d day in April, 1834. Of these children but seven grew to manhood and womanhood, the others having died during childhood. George Ely was the youngest of those that reached man's estate. He is well and favor- ably remembered in the western part of Fulton county ; he was a member of Company C of the One Hundredth Ohio Infantry, and was killed at Atlanta, Ga., during Sherman's memorable campaign.
George Ely, the father of our subject, was the son of Asher Ely, and of the fifth generation from Joshua Ely, one of the Puritans of New Jersey, and who died at an advanced age in the year 1704. Asher Ely was born in New Jersey in 1788, and moved with his parents to Pennsylvania in 1795. He was a soldier and engaged in the War of 1812-15. In 1826 he moved to Knox county (now Morrow), where George Ely was married and where our subject was born.
In the year 1835, the father, George Ely, his wife, Elizabeth (Folck) Ely, and their child, La Fayette G., then about one year old, became residents of Will- iams county ; and among the pioneers of that locality, none was more promi- nent in every measure looking to the improvement and development of the county than George Ely. He assisted largely in the organization of the town- ship, and to him belongs much of the credit of its early improvement and hav- ing laid the foundation for its subsequent growth.
George Ely still lives in the enjoyment of good health for a man of his years, being now aged seventy-five, and' his wife, too, aged two and a half years less than her husband.
The life of La Fayette G. Ely, up to the age of about twenty-three, was spent on his father's farm, and in attending school, but on attaining his majority he rented the farm of his father, which he worked in season, and taught school during the winter. The early education of the children of George Ely was by no means neglected, and while their father could not provide each with a home
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when at man's estate, he, nevertheless, saw that the means of earning that home was furnished in teaching them industry, frugality and economy. How well this instruction was received is shown in the life of our subject.
On the 12th of November, 1857, La Fayette G. Ely was united in marriage with Sarah S. Masters, the daughter of Hon. Ezekiel Masters, of Franklin town- ship, and in this same year the young couple came to reside in that township. From that time Mr. Ely became a resident of Fulton county, and his associa- tion with its civil and political growth is so well known as to require but a brief mention in these pages; and in the township of his residence there lives no man but that enjoys his acquaintance. His beginning here was necessarily small, for his means were limited, but the visitor at his present home is at once struck not only with the attractiveness of its surroundings, the large and com- fortable dwelling and out-buildings, but with the evidence of thrift and pros- perity that everywhere prevail. His farm is known as one of the best and most productive, not alone of the township, but of the county, and in area it extends over some two hundred and ten acres. From here can be seen the residence of his parents in Williams county, to the west.
The devoted wife of Mr. Ely shared with her husband in the toil and econ- omy that made this comfortable home; she bore him four children, all of whom are yet living. For their son and daughter that have married an abundant provision was made upon the happening of that event. After a pleasant mar- ried life of nearly thirty years, Mrs. Sarah Ely answered the Master's call on the 16th day of May, 1885. She was a loving and devoted mother, a kind and affectionate wife, an excellent neighbor, a faithful worker in the Methodist Episcopal Church of which she had long been a member, and in the teachings. of which she had reared her children. For more than a year Mr. Ely lived a widower, and, on the 30th of December, 1886, was married to Mrs. Mary H. Wood, a most worthy woman, and a prominent teacher in the Fremont schools.
La Fayette G. Ely has been a successful farmer of Franklin township for upwards of thirty years, and while his time has, in the main, been devoted to the care of his farm, he has found time to participate in the events of the polit- ical world, although he has by no means been an office seeker or politician. There are but few of the offices of the township that the people thereof have not asked and elected him to fill. In 1859 he was elected justice of the peace and subsequently re-elected, holding in all twelve years. For six years he was auditor of the county, first taking the position in 1871, but was twice re-elected, having been renominated in convention by acclamation, and, upon his third candidacy his majority at the polls was greater than upon either prior occasion. This indicates that Mr. Ely's strength did not lie wholly within the Republican party, and that the administration of the affairs of the auditor's office, together with the popularity of its incumbent, were sufficient to call to his support his
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party's full vote, added to which was a large complimentary following from the opposition party. And it is proper to remark that Mr. Ely was re-elected at a time when, over the whole land there was a great outcry against all third term candidates.
During the six years in which Mr. Ely was the fiscal officer of the county he maintained, temporarily, a domicile at the county seat, but other than this, he has been a constant resident of Franklin township.
The farm and the political station which he has been chosen to fill, have not wholly engaged the time and attention of our subject, for, in his own, his family's, and his people's spiritual welfare, he has made an earnest, honest en- deavor. From boyhood he was instructed in the teachings of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and to that faith has ever since strongly inclined, although he is no strict sectarian, as his contributions to many worthy causes outside his own society will fully attest. All share of his bounty, and all enjoy the benefits of his liberality and generosity. No worthy charity has ever appealed to him in vain. Again, Mr. Ely has always taken a great interest in the agricultural advancement of his county, and has, for the last thirty years, and from its first organization, been an active member of the County Agricultural Society ; he has been on the board of directors for a number of years, and the president of the society for the past three years, which latter office he now holds. Among those who have labored to elevate the standard of agriculture, and sought to instill into the minds of the farmers and their families, a true and commendable pride in and love for their occupation and calling, Mr. Ely has always been in the front rank; and to his earnest and conscientious endeavor in this direction must be ascribed a no small share of the credit for the high standard to which agricultural education and develop- ment have attained in Fulton county.
He has, likewise, always been a friend of education, and shown a deep in- terest in the welfare of the young people around him; his library, one of the largest and most complete in the county, has always been open to the free ac- cess of his numerous warm friends among the young.
F NINNEY, DR. S. B. It may be seen a somewhat remarkable assertion to say, that any physician possesses the power of analyzing disease by intui- tion, yet such cases are not wholly unknown, although they may be infrequent. However this may be, it is a well-known fact that Dr. Finney possesses a rare gift in diagnosing and successfully treating physical disease, whether or not he has had an opportunity of a personal interview with the subject for treatment ; and the throngs that constantly visit his laboratory, and the still greater amount of communications by letter, that call for his professional skill, attest the won- derful success of his method of treatment. And it is not alone the rich people of this world that receive substantial cures at his hands, but the poor, as well ;
S. B. FINNEY, M.D.
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for it is a fact, that Dr. Finney dispenses and distributes among all classes, many thousands of dollars worth of his medicines, each year. At home and abroad, among all nations, are his wonderful healing remedies sent, carrying joy and comfort into tens of thousands of homes, and bringing to this kind bene- factor the gratitude of as many hearts. But it will be asked: Who is this man ; and whence comes he? S. B. Finney was born in Holmes county, O., in the year 1834, and passed the years of boyhood and youth on his father's farm, in that county, and in attending the common district schools of the neighborhood. From early youth he had a natural love for botanical studies, and applied himself diligently therein until he attained a thorough knowledge of this science, as well as a complete understanding of the healing and curative properties of the plant creation. But for a time he gave up this pleasant pur- suit in response to his country's call for help. Young Finney enlisted as a pri- vate in Company K, of the 152d Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with which com- mand he went to the front in August, 1862, and thenceforth shared the viscis- situdes, privations, hardships and successes of the army, until at the battle of Chariton Bridge, where he fell. He was honorably discharged from the service in September, 1864, and returned home to family and friends.
Early in the month of April, 1865, our subject came to Fulton county, and took up his abode in the then unsettled and uncultivated region of Dover township, that has ever been known to the people as the "Oak Openings." Here, assisted by his devoted wife, he built a log cabin, and at once com- menced the cultivation of the naturally fertile soil, and was compelled to live frugally, as he had but little means. Here he had an opportunity of again pursuing his favorite study of botanical specimens, with which the region was abundantly supplied, until, at last, having watched carefully their effects and results, and combined those elements that proved productive of the greatest good, this soldier physician announced to the world his healing remedies, that have, from that day, been of inestimable value to mankind; a panacea for the many ills that flesh is heir to, and he has used them with such skill and judg- ment that his crowded rooms are no longer wondered at by the good people of the vicinity. It is now more than twenty years since Dr. Finney became a resident of Fulton county, and during that time he has achieved unbounded success; and who is there to say that he has not deserved success ? His home, laboratory and offices are at Winameg, a small hamlet about three miles north from the old county seat, Ottokee, and about ten miles from Wauseon.
ORDON, AMOS H. But few comparatively, of the old settlers of this re- gion were of New England birth, but there is found occasionally a substan- tial progressive resident who, among people unacquainted with the New Eng- landers, are called " regular downeasters." However this may be, it is no less a fact that among the few families of "Yankees" of Fulton county, there is
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found as much enterprise, thrift and determination as exists in any class of her residents. The person whose name entitles this brief sketch is a fair represen- tative of the class just mentioned, although a majority of his years have been passed in this country of Northwestern Ohio and Southeastern Michigan.
Amos Hosmer Jordon was born near Bellows' Falls, Windsor county, Ver- mont, on the 9th day of September, in the year 1813, therefore at this time he is in the seventy-fifth year of his life. In the year 1830, when our subject was seventeen years of age, his father's family left the Green Mountain State and came to Michigan, locating at a point near the present city of Adrian, where Amos lived until he attained his majority. He then came over to the " disputed ter- ritory " and commenced the improvement of a quarter section of land, on sec- tion twenty-three near Phillips Corners. After much hard work in this wild and sparsely settled country, Mr. Jordon succeeded in making a fine farm, and about time, 1836, he married Rebecca Livesay, the daughter of Gershom Live- say, of Chesterfield township. This faithful and devoted wife shared the trials, hardships and subsequent success of her husband for sixteen years ; she bore him seven children, five of whom are now living. She died on the 4th day of December, 1852. For about two years Mr. Jordon remained a widower, when in 1854 he married Elizabeth Miller, daughter of Lewis and Rachel Miller, of Williams county. One child was the fruit of this union, but his wife, Elizabeth, died in a very few days after its birth. From that time Mr. Jordon has been a widower.
Amos H. Jordon is well known throughout the county as a man of sterling worth and integrity ; a man whose thrift and energy have made his life suc- cessful, and whose social relations have always been pleasant and agreeable. He is not, however, a man whose name has been frequently before the people asking for political preferment, as he has never been an aspirant for these hon- ors, save once, and upon that occasion he became a candidate, at his party's request, and not his own desire. The party to which he has pinned his faith for many years past, has not been the dominant power of the county, and its candidates have learned, generally, to expect defeat at the polls ; and, although this resulted when Mr. Jordon was the Democratic nominee for the office of sheriff he, nevertheless, held the full strength of his own party in the county, and received a good support from his friends in the opposition party. Prior to the defeat of General Scott as a presidential candidate, Mr. Jordon affiliated with the Whig party, but after that event occurred he found a home in the Democratic camp.
Mr. Jordon became well known and acquainted with the county's people in the year 1857, at which time he was the contracting builder of the first court house at Ottokee. This was during the infant days of Fulton county, and any person then in any manner connected with the events of the time, was an ex- ceedingly important personage. This work Mr. Jordon performed faithfully
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and well. At another time he held the position of district land appraiser for the townships of Pike, Dover and Franklin.
For a period of nearly forty years Mr. Jordon has been a member of the order of Free Masons, his membership thereof dating back to about the year 1850. Since that time he has been at least an honorary member of each lodge or chapter organized in the county. He is also a member of Toledo Com- mandery.
Amos H. Jordon, of whom this sketch is written, was the son of Samuel and Sivel (Hosmer) Jordon. In their family was seven children, six boys and one girl, and of these children Amos H. was the oldest but one.
M TILLER, JOSEPH H. Nearly a half century has passed since Mr. Miller located upon the land now covered by the village of Swanton, and dur- ing that time the most surprising changes have been made in the vicinity, and it may be said truthfully that no one man has been more instrumental in bring- ing about these changes, these improvements, and evidences of prosperity and growth than he whose name entitles this sketch.
Joseph Henry Miller was born at Cherry Valley, Otsego county, N. Y., on the 2Ist of November, 1812. He was the second of six children, sons and daughters of Lewis and Sally (Tennent) Miller, the latter of whom died at the age of thirty-two years. Of these children, but two-Joseph H. and Mary (Miller) Harriott-are now living. Lewis Miller was a shoemaker, and at the bench he labored hard for his family's support, but misfortune came upon him and took away his greatest helper-his wife-leaving to their father the addi- tional burden of the care of several small children. Joseph was one of the older of these, and, upon his mother's death, he was "bound out " to learn the shoemaker's trade; but it seems that the lad had no liking for such work, as he soon ran away, only to be captured, returned, and " bound out " for a second time ; but a second opportunity for escape (for to him it seemed like escape from captivity) was offered, which he at once accepted and took his departure from that region and went to Ohio, and subsequently to Illinois.
To attempt to follow the fortunes of Mr. Miller for the ten or more years that passed after he went to Illinois, would be absolutely impossible for the biographer, and would seriously tax the memory of the subject himself; suffice it to say then, that for a number of years he traveled over the country, west and south, working at various employments-now on the Mississippi River boats, again on the rail, then crossing and recrossing the mountains, earning and spending money, and gaining nothing of lasting value beyond experience and a knowledge of men and States. While in Illinois he suffered from an attack of small-pox, but recovering, a later time found him .in New Orleans, where he was " pressed" into service in a small-pox hospital in that city and remained there six months.
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HISTORY OF HENRY AND FULTON COUNTIES.
At last, becoming tired of the vicissitudes of a roaming life, and possess- ing an earnest desire to settle down to some established vocation or business, Mr. Miller returned to Ohio in the year 1840, where he found employment on the Miami and Erie Canal, which was then being constructed. He drove team, towing boats loaded with stone, up the Maumee for a time, but finally settled at the point whereon was afterward built the pretty and flourishing village of Swanton.
After having lived here three years, Mr. Miller married on April 4, 1843, Lydia Cass, a most estimable young woman, a native of Canada, but then residing in Ohio. She bore him four children, viz. : Julia Ann, born May 24, 1844, married James White and now lives in Swanton; Lydia Ann, born May 12, 1847, married Wood Hamlin, died August 22, 1868; Sylvia L., born March 25, 1851, married Cyrenus Sanderson, and now living at Swanton ; and Olive L., born July 10, 1854, died May 19, 1886. Lydia (Cass) Miller, the devoted wife and mother, shared the hardships and successes of her husband for upwards of forty years, and died on the 23d of July, 1884. Two years later, July 27, 1886, Mr. Miller was married to Ann Cass, a sister of his former wife.
To the building of the Air Line division of the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad Mr. Miller undoubtedly owes much of his success in busi- ness life, although, to his excellent judgment and foresight, is also due a no small portion of that success, for, by his effort and his donation of lands to the railroad company, they were induced to locate a station upon his land, at the point where it is now situated. When the building of the road in this locality was commenced, Mr. Miller was engaged on the work, receiving the modest compensation of seventy-five cents per day. A little later we find him deal- ing, in a small way, in butter and eggs, but although seemingly small, he saved $500 in a single year. With this he started a store in Swanton, and to his credit be it said that no matter how short of ready cash he may have been, he was never denied credit for any amount of goods he desired to purchase. These principles have characterized his every transaction in life-straightfor- ward honesty, and integrity.
Mr. Miller continued merchandising from 1856 to about 1872 or 1873. On the completion of the railroad he was made station agent, and, with the exception of about six months, held that position for sixteen years. In con- nection with his other business interests, he has bought and sold much land ; and whereon now stands the village of Swanton, nearly all of the tract has, at some time, been owned by him. He has given not only land but large cash contributions for various enterprises. The land given the railroad company cost him three hundred dollars. To the company that built the grist-mill he offered a tract of land or four hundred dollars in cash ; they took the land. He donated two hundred dollars worth of land for school purposes, and to the
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society of each of the churches - Methodist, Baptist, and Christian-he donated lands worth two hundred dollars each ; for the saw, planing, and lath-mill he leased land at three dollars per acre, annual rent, to run at the pleasure of the occupants. Added to these gifts may be mentioned the bountiful provision made by Mr. Miller for the various members of his family, retaining to himself only a small portion of his extensive estates, and the rental of a part of his buildings. Still retaining his full mental vigor and strength, although his physical structure has been somewhat impaired by the ravages of time, Mr. Miller continues to reside at his fine hotel in Swanton, and has now passed the seventy-fifth year of his life.
M URBACH, M. D., ANDREW J. At Gachlingen, Switzerland, on the 15th day of December, in the year 1838, the subject of this sketch was born, and in that country his life, up to age of sixteen, was passed. In the spring of 1855 his parents, Jacob and Catharine Murbach, with their children, came to this country and settled in Lucas county. The father was a farmer and came to Lucas county when its lands were in a comparatively undeveloped state. He and his wife still live there, highly respected people, and both well advanced in years.
At the age of eighteen years Andrew came to board in the family of Dr. Marcus H. Schnetzler, who was then a practicing physician at Burlington, in this county, and with whom he read medicine, his course of study covering a perid of some six years. During the later years of his study young Murbach became sufficiently well informed that his instructor permitted him to practice in the locality, and, with the means thus acquired he determined to take a med- ical course at some thorough institution. To this end he entered the Starling Medical College, at Columbus, where he attended lectures during the terms of 1862-3, and 1863-4, and was regularly graduated in the spring of the year last named.
In the year 1862, about the time of the completion of his medical studies with Dr. Schnetzler, Andrew J. Murbach was married to Ann Janette, the daughter of Jonathan Barnes, of German township. One child that died in in- fancy was the only fruit of this marriage.
Having been graduated from Starling, and received that highly cherished prize, a diploma, more commonly known as "sheepskin," Dr. Murbach located for practice at Archbold, in the fall of the year 1864. Here he has resided to the present day. During these years he has built up a practice second to none in the county; in fact, his ride comprehends a greater territory than is con- fined by the county's limits, and while his practice has been, and still is, very large, it has also brought to its possessor a handsome return, as his elegant home, his store building and its stock fully shows. No man is jealous of Dr. Mur- bach's success in practice ; he has earned it, and he has deserved it. More-
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over, there is not in Archblod, a citizen more public spirited or more liberal in all that tends to the welfare of the community, than he.
In 1871, in connection with his practice, Dr. Murbach established a drug- store at Archbold, which is now conducted under the firm name of Murbach & Schnetzler, the partner therein being the present capable treasurer of the coun- ty, and a brother of Dr. M. H. Schnetzler, the former instructor of our subject.
In his professional occupation, in September, 1885, in order to somewhat lessen its cares and responsibilities, a medical partnership was formed between Dr. Murbach and Dr. George W. Hartman, a graduate from the department of medicine of the University of Michigan.
In this sketch reference has been made to the marriage of Dr. Murbach to Ann Janette Barnes. She died in August, 1866, after a pleasant married life of about four years. On the Ist of December, 1869, Dr. Murbach was mar- ried to Lizzie Tanner, daughter of Martin Tanner, of Sandusky. Of this mar- riage three children have been born, all of whom are now living.
In the affairs of the municipality of Archbold, and of German township, Dr. Murbach has been a somewhat prominent figure, although he has never as- pired to the honors of any county office. Like a majority of the county's peo- ple he leans toward the Republican party. In the village he has held the of- fices of councilman and treasurer, and was also treasurer of the township. His interest in politics is well known as he is perfectly frank in the expression of his opinions, but his time is too much occupied by professional duties to devote any considerable attention to politics in general, or beyond the limits of his township.
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