USA > Ohio > Huron County > History of Huron County, Ohio, Its Progress and Development, Volume I > Part 45
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In March, 1884, Mr. Snook was married to Miss Margaret Taylor, a native of Carroll county, Ohio, and they now have two children, Jennie and Mabel, the former the wife of J. G. Rorick. Their only son, Taylor, died at the age of five years.
In his political views Mr. Snook is an active republican, doing all in his power to further the interests of the party and is now acting as township clerk of Nor- walk township. He holds membership relations with the Knights of Maccabees and the Knights of Pythias, and is a member of the Congregational church in the work of which he is much interested. He is now serving as a member of its executive committee and also as superintendent of its Sunday school, and his labors are effective and far reaching in furthering its interests and extending its influence. His aid is ever given on the side of justice, truth and progress and while he desires success he will never win it at the sacrifice of any principle or course which he believes to be right.
OTIS G. CARTER.
Otis G. Carter is a representative of our best type of American manhood and chivalry. It is one of the laws of life that man shall labor for what he possesses and while putting forth earnest, persistent effort to acquire success in mercantile lines, whereby he has become recognized as the leading jeweler of New London. Mr. Carter has also found time and opportunity to cooperate in movements for the general good and his genuine worth, broad mind and public spirit have made him a director of public thought and action. He was born in Norwalk, January 5, 1851. His father, Otis G. Carter, Sr., was twenty-one years of age when he ar- rived in Norwalk. He had previously learned the jewelry and watchmaking trade in Erie, Pennsylvania, and on his removal to this county established business on his own account in that line. He continued in active connection with that depart- ment of trade until 1855 when he went to Chicago, where he conducted a simi-
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lar enterprise. In 1860, however, he returned to Norwalk, where he remained in business until his death, working at the jeweler's bench until ninety years of age. He was a remarkable man, accurate, systematic and energetic and his re- markable constitution and vitality enabled him to continue a factor in the world's work until his last days. In politics he was an earnest republican, in- terested in the welfare of the town and contributing in substantial measure to its upbuilding and progress. He organized the first Baptist Sunday school of Nor- walk and on the occasion of its fiftieth anniversary delivered an interesting ad- dress. His life was an influential factor in the moral as well as the material de- velopment of the city and wherever he was known he was respected and honored. He married Miss Julia Berry, a native of Fredonia, New York, and both are now deceased.
Otis G. Carter of this review was the fourth in order of birth in a family of ten children. His education was acquired in the schools of Norwalk, where he passed through successive grades until he was graduated from the high school. He then entered his father's store and under his direction learned the jewelry busi- ness, spending five years in that way. Ambitious to engage in business on his own account, in 1874 he removed to New London, where he established a jewelry store, which he has since carried on, having now been identified with the mercantile in- terests of the city for thirty-five years. His first location was across the street from his present place of business and after some time he built the store which he now occupies. He carries a large and well selected line of goods, all attractive, tasteful and artistic patterns and in his trade relations is thoroughly reliable, building up an extensive and profitable business by reason of his earnest desire to please his customers, his reasonable prices and his straightforward business methods.
In 1882 Mr. Carter built the residence on First street which he occupies. Throughout the period of his residence here he has been more or less active in public affairs, withholding his aid and cooperation from no movement which he deems of benefit to the community at large. He has been township clerk since 1898 and a member of the board of public affairs for several years. In politics he is an active, earnest and zealous republican, yet he does not seek or care for office as a reward for party fealty. He has labored earnestly, however, to elect his friends and is a recognized factor in county republican circles, his opinions car- rying weight in the councils of the party.
In 1871 Mr. Carter was married to Miss Estella Moorehouse, a native of Nor- walk and a daughter of David Moorehouse, one of the old residents of Norwalk. where he has been prominently connected with the lumber trade for a number of years. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Carter has been blessed with two daugh- ters and a son : Elizabeth ; Richard Otis, who received his business training under his father's direction and is now engaged in the jewelry business in Cleveland ; and Florence M., the wife of D. F. White of Detroit. In his fraternal relations Mr. Carter is a Mason. holding membership with Floral Lodge, No. 260, A. F. & A. M .; and New London Chapter, No. 110, R. A. M., of New London. He be- longs to the Methodist church and is interested in the moral progress and intellec- tual development of the community as well as the promotion of its interests in ma- terial lines. His life has been one of continuous activity in which has been ac-
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corded due recognition of labor and today he is numbered among the substantial citizens of his county. As a business man he has been conspicuous among his as- sociates, not only for his success but for his probity, fairness and honorable methods.
C. B. LAWRENCE.
No matter in how much fantastic theorizing one may indulge as to the causa- tion of success, it will be found that in every instance business progress has its basis in close application and indefatigable labor. This truth is manifest in the life record of C. B. Lawrence, now a leading insurance man of Norwalk. He was born July 5, 1866, in Iowa, a son of Alonzo E. Lawrence, who was born in Bronson township, Huron county, Ohio, where his father, George Lawrence, had settled in 1823. The latter was a native of Cayuga county, New York, and re- moving westward in pioneer times, was busily employed here in cutting away the forest trees and developing a homestead in the midst of the green woods, sharing in all of the hardships and privations which fall to the lot of the frontier settler. His wife bore the maiden name of Rodena Smith and was a native of the state of New York.
Alonzo E. Lawrence was born on the old family homestead in this county in 1838, was reared to the occupation of farming and assisted his father in the work of the fields through the period of his minority. He was about twenty-six years of age, when, in 1864, he enlisted in response to the country's call for further aid, joining the One Hundred and Sixty-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with which he was connected until the close of the war. After the cessation of hostilities he removed to Butler county, Iowa, and it was during the residence of the family there that the subject of this review was born. They re- mained in Iowa, however, for only four years, after which they returned to Huron county and settled in Bronson township, upon the old Herrick homestead. There the father remained, busily employed in general agricultural pursuits until the time of his death, which occurred April 8, 1906. In early manhood he had wedded Electa Jane Herrick, also a representative of one of the oldest and most prominent pioneer families of this part of the state. Her grandfather, Ezra Herrick, settled in Bronson township in 1818, when Ephraim Herrick, her father, was a young man of eighteen years. Ephraim Herrick became quite prominent in local affairs of the county, serving for a long period as justice of the peace, during which time his decisions were strictly fair and impartial and won high commendation. The first frame house in Bronson township was built on his farm and the first township election was held in that house. At that time there was a log jail in Norwalk and the other public buildings were of almost an equally primitive character. Ephraim Herrick served as guard over two Indians confined in the jail for murder and who were afterward executed. He was closely asso- ciated with many of the early notable events and bore his share in promoting the work of modern civilization. His daughter, Electa Jane Herrick, was born on the old homestead in October, 1841. This farm is now in possession of the Lawrence family. She was one of a family of five children but only one is now
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living. On reaching womanhood she gave her hand in marriage to Alonzo E. Lawrence, who was one of a family of four children, all living with the excep- tion of himself. His brothers are: Miner, now living on the old Lawrence home- stead ; and G. A., who is living in Monrovia. California, while the sister, Alice E., the widow of William Lawrence, is now a resident of South Dakota.
C. B. Lawrence was educated in the public schools of Huron county, to which he was brought during his early childhood on his parents' return to Ohio. He afterward had the benefit of instruction in the Normal school at Milan, and later engaged in farming on the old homestead until 1896, when he came to Norwalk. Here he has since lived and for about eleven years he was upon the road as a traveling salesman, being thus engaged until 1907, when he bought out the old established insurance agency of Altaffer & Canfield and is now engaged in the general insurance business. He is meeting with good success in this undertak- ing and is well known as a representative and reliable citizen of Norwalk.
In 1889 Mr. Lawrence was united in marriage to Miss Amelia Schild, a native of Wood county, Ohio, and a daughter of George Schild. Mr. and Mrs. Law- rence have one daughter, Marie, who was born on the 13th of April, 1892. His mother also lives with him. With the exception of the four years spent in Iowa she always resided on the old Herrick homestead until her husband's death, when she came to Norwalk to live with her son. Mr. Lawrence is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and also of the Presbyterian church and these organizations indicate much of the nature of his interests and the rules which govern his conduct. His actions have ever been manly and sincere and while he has never sought to figure prominently in public life, in the locality where he lives he is highly respected.
MAJOR A. MCINTYRE.
Major A. Mcintyre, a retired farmer of Fitchville township, Huron county, was born in Hinkley township, Medina county, Ohio, September 1, 1836, a son of Thomas and Ruth (Collony) McIntyre. The former was born at White Plains, Massachusetts, and is of Scotch descent, while the latter was a native of Brad- dock, Connecticut, and of Irish parentage. They were married and had two chil- dren before coming to Ohio in 1829. They settled in Hinkley, Medina county, where Mr. McIntyre took up the life of a farmer and prosecuted his labors as a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church. He was a very devout man and a great worker in the church, and his farm was for a number of years the scene of Methodist camp meetings, to which ministers and laymen of the faith flocked, sometimes from great distances. In 1846 he moved his family to Sandusky county, where they remained a year, then brought them to Huron county. In 1848 he located in Fitchville township, which was his home until his death in July, 1849. He was a strong and noble man, whose principal concern was that his twelve children might be well equipped to fight the battles of life. His widow made her home in Fitchville until 1886, when she went to Claire, Michigan, to visit her son Arthur, and there was taken sick and died.
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MR. AND MRS. M. A. MCINTYRE
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Major A. McIntyre is the youngest of the family and the only one now living. He received a meager education in the common schools of Fitchville township and learned the trade of a carpenter. In 1856 he went to Kansas and during the two years he spent there participated in the border troubles. Many of his experiences were exciting and thrilling. On one occasion he was captured by the notorious John Brown, but when it became known that he was journeying for a physician to assist a sick person in the family with whom he was living, and that he was from Ohio, he was released. On another occasion, a few months later, when going by stage from Lawrence, Kansas, to Kansas City, Missouri, both mere hamlets at the time, he found that one of his companions was his distinguished captor. Many are the events of those years that he can narrate, and they doubtless prepared him in some measure for the struggle that enveloped the nation a few years later. In this, too, Mr. McIntyre took a part. He enlisted in Company D, Second Ohio Heavy Artillery, August 23, 1863, and participated in all the battles of the Army of the Cumberland, but though he was ever at his post in the faithful performance of his duty, he came from the conflict without a wound and without having been captured. On the 24th of August, 1865, he was mustered out of the service, and came directly to Norwalk, Ohio, where he found employment in the carshops of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railway. In the spring of 1866 he located in Fitchville but later in the year went to Kansas, not to stay, however, for he re- turned to Huron county and again secured a position with the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern. Five years later he engaged in contracting and building in Norwalk, in which he continued until 1884, when he returned to the farm in Fitch- ville, which has been his home ever since. He owns one hundred and three acres of land, of fine quality, on which he practiced a successful line of general farming to within the last five years, having since in large measure given up the active care and responsibility of it.
On the 10th of January, 1863, Mr. McIntyre was married to Miss Mary St. John, a daughter of William and Ann (Hale) St. John. The St. John is a prom- inent and influential family of Fitchville township, to which they came from Con- necticut in the early pioneer days. One son and three daughters are still living: Hubbard, of Greenwich township; Myra, now Mrs. Benjamin Fessenden, of Fair- field township ; Charissa, the wife of Dalton Burton, of Olena, and Mary, the wife of our subject. To Mr. and Mrs. McIntyre have been born six children: Wil- liam A., who is married and resides in Cleveland; Mary E., the wife of Levi C. Brothers, of Fitchville township; and Ella, Dessie, Burdette and Charles H., who have passed away.
In politics Mr. McIntyre is a republican, who cast his first vote for John C. Fremont in 1856, a few months before he was twenty-one. In 1872 he supported Horace Greeley, but has since then voted the republican ticket for the most part. He has ever taken an active interest in political matters and has frequently served as a delegate to conventions. In the public life of the township he has also par- ticipated, acting as trustee for a considerable period. In 1858 he was made a Mason and for long was active in the society's lodges, and was instrumental in establishing the commandery of the Knights Templar in Norwalk. The Nor- walk G. A. R. post also includes him on its roll of active members, and on more than one occasion he has been delegated to represent it in the state and national
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conventions. Mr. McIntyre considers that his most active years have passed, but his interest in the affairs of the township has not diminished. nor his influence in promoting its progress and advancement.
MARTIN GROSS.
Martin Gross, president and treasurer of the Gross Lumber Company, of Belle- vue, Ohio, was born in Germany. July 1, 1843, the son of William and Kathryn (Fritz) Gross. The parents, who died in their native land of Germany, reared a family of six children : John ; William ; Elizabeth, deceased : Kathryn; David, de- ceased ; and Martin. A seventh child did not live beyond the period of infancy.
Martin Gross came to this country at the age of seventeen years and settled first at Rochester, New York, where he worked for perhaps six months, at the cabinet-maker's trade, which he had learned in Germany. From there he came to Bellevue, Ohio, in February, 1861, but though two of his brothers had come to this section of the state before him, he could find no work and of necessity sought employment on a farm. For about a vear and a half he worked for William and Henry Heyman, in Huron county, and then toward the close of the season he left to join the army fighting for the Union. On the oth of August. 1862. he was mus- tered into Company H. One Hundred and Seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry, join- ing his regiment at Cleveland. At the battle of Chancellorsville he was wounded in the leg and head, necessitating his remaining in the hospital for six months. Upon being reported fit for service, he was transferred to Company D of the Ninth Regiment of the Veteran Reserve Corps, at Washington, with which he remained until he was discharged June 29, 1865.
Upon his return from the field of battle, Mr. Gross located in Bellevue, Ohio, where he worked at the cabinet-maker's trade until 1867, when he saw an oppor- tunity of entering the furniture business in partnership with John S. Wise. For fourteen years the venture prospered, but in 1881 Mr. Gross dissolved the firm in order that he might go into the lumber business with J. H. Weber, who sold his interest in 1889 to C. D. Stone. When Mr. Stone died three years later, Mrs. Stone sold his share to Mr. Weber, and so the original partners were together again, conducting the business in common until Mr. Weber died. in 1895, when Mr. Gross bought his share. Three years afterward he formed a stock company with a declared capital of forty thousand dollars. Martin Gross was the president and treasurer of this new concern; George Smith was the vice president ; and Martin F. Gross was the secretary. The board of directors included these men and Mrs. Martin Gross and James Spade. At present the board of directors con- sists of, besides the original officials, James Spade, Frank Smith, W. G. Gross and Charles A. Gross.
On the Ist of May, 1866, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Gross to Miss Philippina Schwenk, the daughter of George Schwenk, who did not leave his na- tive land of Germany. Nine children have been born to the couple. Louise, the eldest, married T. F. McLaughy, of Bellevue, and is the mother of three daugh- ters, Norma, Ruth and Agnes. Lizzie married William Cramer and lives in To-
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ledo, with her family of three, Carl, Helen and Florence. Martin died at the age of eight months. Minnie married August Josenhaus, of Toledo, and is the mother of one son, George. Katie married Joseph Briehl, of Bellevue, and they have three sons, Martin, Charles and Joseph. Emma died at the age of eighteen. William G. married Miss Estella Cooley, and like his two younger brothers, Martin F. and Charles A., lives at Bellevue, being in business with their father. Martin F. married Miss Etta Brickman and is the father of a son, Paul. Charles A. married Miss Mabel Long.
Though so much of his time is given to the lumber business which he inaugu- rated. Mr. Gross has many other interests both in the world of affairs and socially and fraternally. He is on the board of directors of the Zehner Brothers Packing Company, of the Bellevue Savings Bank, and is a stockholder in the First National Bank. He is a member of the local G. A. R. post, and also affiliates with. the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows, Masons and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. In the former, he has passed through all the chairs. In religious matters he gives his allegiance to the Lutheran church. Mr. Gross is a business man of prominence in his city ; his interests are wide and look to the development of Bellevue as well as to personal gain.
GEORGE P. SCHILD.
A valuable farm of one hundred and seventy-seven acres in Peru township is the property of George P. Schild and annually pays tribute to his care and labor in bounteous harvests. His birth occurred in Lyme township, Huron county, Ohio, on the 4th of December, 1858, his parents being George and Catherine (Hesselbauch) Schild, both of whom were natives of Germany. In early man- hood the father came to the United States alone and for a number of years worked on a lake boat running into Sandusky, Ohio. Subsequently he peddled merchan- dise throughout the vicinity and later gave his attention to general agricultural pursuits, first renting a tract of land in Erie county. Afterward he purchased a farm in Wood county, Ohio, and later traded that property for a farm belong- ing to Charles Moore in Sherman township, Huron county. As the years passed and his financial resources increased, as the result of his well directed and untir- ing labor, he added to his landed holdings by additional purchase and became widely recognized as a most successful and enterprising agriculturist. He passed away in 1893, at the age of sixty-five years, his demise occurring on his farm of two hundred and sixty-five acres in Greenfield township. He assisted in the erection of the Lutheran church at Pontiac, and always remained one of its most active and helpful members. He was married three times and by his first wife, who died in early womanhood, had two children : one who passed away in in- fancy ; and Lena, the wife of Sol Beck, of Peru township. The demise of his second wife occurred in Wood county, and she left a family of seven children to mourn her loss, namely: Carolina, who is the wife of George Linder, of Peru township; Libbie, who gave her hand in marriage to Ambrose Smith, of Peru township ; George P., of this review ; Charles, who is deceased; Mary, the wife
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of William Knoll, of Bellevue; Louise, the wife of Charles Luteman, of Nor- walk ; and Anna, who is the wife of Bert Brooks, of Chicago Junction, Ohio. For his third wife George Schild chose Miss Charlotta Hick and their union was blessed with four children, as follows: Amelia, who is now the wife of Bert Lawrence, of Norwalk; August, who has passed away; William, a resident of Lansing, Michigan ; and John, who makes his home in Cleveland, Ohio. The mother of these children still survives and is now living in Norwalk, Ohio.
George P. Schild obtained his education in the district schools of Wood and Huron counties and since putting aside his text-books has given his attention to the work of general farming. He has resided on his present farm of one hundred and seventy-seven acres in Peru township since 1879, and as the years have gone by has made a number of substantial improvements on the property, remodeling the house and barn, etc. He keeps his fields rich and arable through the rotation of crops and has studied, too, the best time and methods of planting and the best means of cultivating the soil. That his labors have been practical is indicated by the results which he has achieved, owning now one of the best farms of the com- munity.
On the 23d of July, 1885, Mr. Schild was united in marriage to Miss Eliz- abeth Herner, a native of Sherman township and a daughter of Phedius and Lena Herner, who were natives of Germany but became early settlers of Huron county, Ohio. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Schild have been born three children: Ger- trude, living in Peru township, who is the wife of John Scheid and has two chil- dren, Harold and Catherine; William H., whose birth occurred June 26, 1890; and Clayton, whose natal day was December 3, 1898. The last two are still under the parental roof.
At the polls Mr. Schild casts his ballot in support of the men and measures of the democracy and for four years served in the position of township trustee. At the present time he is doing effective service for the cause of education as a member of the school board. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Lutheran church at Pontiac, in which he has held various official positions. including those of trustee and deacon. Most of his life has been spent in Huron county, where he has a wide acquaintance and is favorably known.
B. D. ROWELL.
B. D. Rowell is now filling the office of county treasurer in a manner credit- able to himself and satisfactory to his constituents, for in the discharge of his du- ties he is manifesting business ability and systematic methods which have won him high commendation. He is numbered among Michigan's native sous, his birth hav- ing occurred in Jackson, that state, on the 19th of July. 1854. his parents being Daniel and Martha (Thompson ) Rowell, who were natives of the state of New York. Both the paternal and materna! grandfathers were loyal defenders of American interests in the Revolutionary war. When but five years of age the father was taken by his parents to Indiana, the family home being established in Stark county. Both he and his wife spent their last days in Indiana, although
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