USA > Ohio > Huron County > History of Huron County, Ohio, Its Progress and Development, Volume I > Part 48
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Fred Opperman spent the days of his boyhood and youth in his native coun- try, having attained his majority ere he bade adieu to his friends and European home and sailed for America in 1864. He lived with his father-in-law and mother- in-law, William and Mary Margaret Opperman, who were old settlers, and mar- ried their daughter, Minnie on the 29th of November, 1865. They became the parents of eight children. Mary M., the eldest, died at the age of one year and eight months. William is the second of the family. Albert and August are both deceased. The latter had a very sudden death when only fifteen years of age. He was a bright young man and had been to town with his father. On their re- turn, when the team came to the railroad crossing, the horses refused to cross on account of cars standing there and August Opperman got out of the buggy to lead them across the car tracks. While so doing, he was taken ill and died in a few moments. Gustave, the next member of the family, died at the age of two years. Pauline is the wife of E. Leibolt, a resident of Attica, Ohio, and they have four children : Walter, Viva, Wells and Bendina. Lydia, the next member of the
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family, lives at home. The youngest child died in infancy. William Opperman, who is the second member of the family, is also at home and operates the farm. The mother, Mrs. Opperman, came to this county at the age of thirteen years with her parents who settled at Hunt's Corners but afterward removed to the farm upon which Mr. and Mrs. Opperman now reside. Her father purchased here one hundred acres of land and for seven years lived in an old log house, but sub- sequently he erected a large commodious residence and improved the farm, mak- ing it a valuable property. He was born in 1802 and died in 1874. His wife, whose birth occurred in 1805, passed away in 1894, both spending their last days in what is now the Opperman residence. They were the parents of four children: Philip, Mary, Sophia and Elizabeth, all of whom are now living.
The Opperman family are all members of the Lutheran church of Lyme town- ship and are worthy and respected citizens, enjoying in large measure the con- fidence, good will and high regard of all with whom they have come in contact.
E. K. FISHER.
E. K. Fisher is now well known in Norwalk as a representative of real estate interests but for many years was identified with mercantile pursuits. He has lived in the county from the age of six years and has ever been greatly interested in its growth and progress, co-operating in many of its measures for the public good, while at the same time, he has carefully managed his business affairs. A native of Pennsylvania, Mr. Fisher was born in Northumberland county on the 22d of August, 1849. His father, Isaac D. Fisher, was a native of New Jersey and having arrived at years of maturity, he was married in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, to Miss Keturah Roadarmel, a native of the Keystone state. They continued to reside there for several years, but in 1855, removed westward to Huron county, Ohio, at which time their family consisted of four sons and one daughter. They lived for a year in Lyme township and then removed to Bronson township, settling on the Judge Sears farm. The father purchased one hundred and ninety-three acres of land, for which he paid forty-two dollars per acre. He was in comfortable financial circumstances at the time of his arrival and always pros- pered in his undertakings here. He died in 1861, at the age of forty-nine years; while his widow long survived him, passing away in 1895. The brothers and sis- ters of our subject were: Josiah R .; Amasa B .; Simon Peter, now deceased; Eu- gene K .; William B .; Rosanna, now Mrs. Nichols; Mrs. Keturah Snyder; and Mary E., now Mrs. Stiles. With the exception of Simon Peter, all are yet living. William B. is a minister of the Congregational church, located in Kansas.
E. K. Fisher was but six years of age at the time of the removal westward to Ohio and in the district schools, he acquired his early education, while later, he attended the Norwalk high school and the Normal School at Milan, Ohio. His own education completed, he engaged in teaching for eight years in the district schools, following that profession through the winter season, while in the summer months he worked at farm labor. Subsequently, he engaged in farming on his own account, purchasing a half interest in the old homestead where he remained
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for a year. He then sold cut and removed to Townsend township where he en- gaged in farming for six years, while later he established his home in Norwalk township and engaged in the cultivation of his farm there until 1897. In that year, he abandoned agricultural pursuits and established his home in the city. Here, in 1900, he turned his attention to the real estate business and is still iden- tified with the purchase and sale of property, both for himself and others. He has negotiated many important realty transfers and is thoroughly conversant with the valuation of property and knows what is upon the market.
In 1873 Mr. Fisher was united in marriage to Miss Mary Taylor, who died in 1900. In 1902 he wedded Miss Alice L. Young, a native of Huron county and a representative of one of the old families here. Her father, Gardner Young, was one of the early settlers in this part of the state. At the time of her marriage Mrs. Fisher was matron of the Children's Home in Norwalk. Mr. Fisher has four children : Arthur E., Alfred B., Clayton E. and Retta L., now Mrs. Ram- seyer.
Mr. Fisher is a member of the Royal Arcanum and of the Methodist church- associations which indicate much of the nature of his interests and the princi- ples which govern his conduct. He has lived a busy, active and useful life and whatever success he has achieved and enjoyed, has come as the direct and merited reward of his own labors.
HIRAM D. DRAKE.
Hiram D. Drake, who is successfully operating seventy acres of land in Ridge- field township, Huron county, is a native of this county, his birth having occurred on the farm upon which he now resides July 7, 1854. He is a son of Salmon and Cynthia ( Dickey ) Drake, the former a native of Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, born in 1827. In 1846, he came to Ohio, settling at Monroeville, where he en- gaged in carpentering for some time. In 1849 he removed to the farm which is now in the possession of the subject of this review, and continued to engage in agricultural pursuits until his demise, the only interruption in his business career occurring in 1864, when, as a member of a one hundred day company, he was called out to serve in the Civil war. In 1849 he married Miss Cynthia Dickey, whose entire life, from the age of two years, was passed on the farm upon which our subiect was born. Her father, Thomas Dickey, was one of the early settlers of this county, coming to Ohio in 1819, shortly after which he was married and removed to Readtown. In 1823 he returned to this county and located upon the present Drake homestead. He was a soldier of the war of 1812 and for a number of years served as justice of the peace of Ridgefield township. He held membership in the Methodist church, in the faith of which he passed away in 1882 at the ripe old age of eighty-eight years. Salmon Drake, who belonged to the Disciple church, was called to his final rest on the 3d of April, 1877, while his wife survived until 1900. In their family were eight children, namely: Eliza J., the wife of George Klopfenstein : Hiram D., of this review ; Charles W .: Emmagene, the wife of
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George J. Roe ; J. A .; Georgia, who wedded H. C. Roadarmel; Sterry A .; and Ira, deceased.
Hiram D. Drake, whose entire life, with the exception of a few years, has been spent on his present farm, was reared to farm life and acquired his early education in the district schools of the neighborhood. He later supplemented this training by a course at the normal school at Milan and after leaving school was engaged in teaching for two seasons. Putting aside professional life, however, he took up agricultural pursuits, in which he has since been continually engaged. He pur- chased the home farm from the other heirs and has since directed his efforts to- ward its further cultivation and improvement. It is an excellent property in the midst of which, in 1886, he erected a fine large home, while in 1885 he built a substantial barn and has equipped the place with other outbuildings and with all of the modern devices and accessories intended to facilitate the work of the farm. It is a model farm of the nineteenth century and Mr. Drake, who is giv- ing his time and attention to general agriculture, is meeting with most gratifying prosperity.
On the 23d of March, 1887, Mr. Drake was united in marriage to Miss Blanch Killey, a daughter of Robert and Mary Killey, of Ottawa county, Ohio, and this union has been blessed with two children: Louis Earl, born December 29, 1888; and Eric R .. born November 27, 1892, both of whom are still at home. Mr. Drake is a member of the Grangers and is widely recognized as a loyal and public-spirited citizen. In this community, where his entire life has been spent, he has gained a wide acquaintance and the fact that his list of friends is almost coextensive with his list of acquaintances is an indication that his salient characteristics are such as command the respect, confidence and good will of all with whom he is associated.
LISTON GREEN.
The farming interests of Peru township find a worthy representative in Lis- ton Green, who derives a substantial income from a farm of eighty-three acres on which he lives. He was born in a log house in Richland county, Ohio, Octo- ber 8, 1849, and is a son of Andrew and Maria (Taylor ) Green. His father was born in the state of New York and soon after his marriage removed to Richland county, where they lived for about six years. On the expiration of that period they came to Huron county and settled near New Haven, where Andrew Green pur- chased one hundred and seventy acres of land. He operated that farm for a time but afterward removed to Huron township and took up his abode near the farm upon which his son Liston now resides, farming a tract of one hundred and eighty acres of rich and productive land, which he transformed into a valuable and highly cultivated farm. Ile continued to reside upon that place until his death, which occurred in 1892, when he had reached the age of seventy-eight years. His wife survived him for about sixteen years and died April 11, 1908. They were the parents of five children, as follows: Caroline, the wife of David Sissinger, of Richland county, by whom she has two children, Mrs. William White and Alvin ; Frank, who died in the army at the age of twenty years : Emma, who married
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George Lawrence of Michigan, by whom she has three children, Clara, Martin and one who died in infancy ; Liston, of this review ; and Charles who resides in Fair- field township.
In taking up the personal history of Liston Green, we present to our readers the life record of one who is well and favorably known in Huron county where he has lived from the age of one year, his parents removing to this county during his infancy. At the usual age he began his education as a pupil of the district schools and as the years have gone by he has continued in active identification with agricultural interests. He was early trained to the work of the fields, learned the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops and in his farm work has met with substantial and well merited success. As a companion and helpmate for life's journey he chose Miss Maggie Baxter, a daughter of Thomas and Mary Baxter, the wedding being celebrated on the 15th of April, 1886. They became the parents of three children, but the eldest died in infancy, the others being Bertha and Clarence, who are yet under the parental roof.
Mr. Green has resided upon his present farm for about twenty-eight years, having purchased the property from John Trott. In the interim, he has made a number of improvements of a substantial character. He has torn down four old log houses on the place and built two new farm dwellings, and his other im- provements are of a modern kind. His first house was set fire by an enemy, soon after he took possession of the place, and was burned to the ground together with all of the household effects, while the family was absent. Not allowing this to discourage him he rebuilt and as the years have gone by has prospered in his undertakings. He now carries on general farming with good success and his place presents a most neat and attractive appearance. His political allegiance is given to the democracy and he has served as a school director for many years. but otherwise has never sought nor desired office, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his farming interests, which are capably managed and are now bringing him in good returns.
PHILO STONE.
He who forms the subject of this review is a worthy representative of a name which, from early pioneer times, has stood as a synonym for excellent citizenship and honorable, upright manhood in Huron county. He was born in Clarksfield township, Huron county, on the 12th of June, 1849, a son of Ezra W. and Maria (Hayes) Stone, who were both born in this county. The grandfathers, Daniel Stone and Surgess Hayes, however, were natives of Connecticut and came to Ohio among the early settlers and here cast in their lot with the pioneers. The land was still to a large extent covered by the primeval forest and the work of trans- formation had scarcely been begun. With characteristic energy, however, they joined in the work of improvement and became prominent and influential citizens in the community in which they resided. Ezra W. Stone, the father of our sub- ject, was also identified with agricultural pursuits and became one of the pro- gressive and substantial farmers of his time. He died very suddenly in 1861 from
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MR. AND MRS. PHILO STONE
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heart failure, while driving sheep along the highway, but his wife survived until February, 1907. In their family were four sons and one daughter, namely : Philo; Albert : Elsie, who wedded Elmer Henry ; John ; and Eugene. All are yet living.
Reared to farm life. Philo Stone spent the years of his boyhood and youth under the parental roof, assisting in the work of the fields and during the winter months pursuing his education in the public schools of Clarksfield. He remained at home until his marriage, and in the meantime he received excellent training under the direction of his father, learning lessons concerning the value of industry, energy and perseverance. That his carly training was thorough and comprehensive is indicated in the success which came to him later in life. After his marriage he took up agricultural pursuits on his own account, locating in the eastern part of Clarksfield township, and in this connection he was actively engaged for twenty- five years. During that period he directed his efforts to general farming, raising the cereals best adapted to soil and climate and bringing his fields under a high state of cultivation. In 1904 he left the farm and removed to the village of Clarksfield, where he has since resided. He still owns two hundred and sixty acres of fine farming property in Clarksfield township, however, and continues to engage in the stock business, which for many years he carried on in connec- tion with his agricultural pursuits. He is an extensive buyer and shipper of stock and also deals largely in wool. In all of the various phases of his business he has been eminently successful, ranking among the substantial and prosperous business men of the township. He has acquired a very handsome competence which enables him to live practically retired, with the exception of the supervision of his livestock interests, enjoying all of the comforts and many of the luxuries of life.
It was on the 31st of December, 1872, that Mr. Stone was united in marriage to Miss Ida J. Rowland, a daughter of Ezra and Catherine (Snook) Rowland. She represents a family which has been very prominent in the affairs of Clarks- field township since early pioneer days, its descendents being very numerous in this district. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Stone has been blessed with one son, William H., a prosperous and well known farmer of this township. He was mar- ried on the 10th of January, 1900, to Miss Anna O'Hara, a daughter of John and Celia O'Hara, of Clarksfield township, who came originally from Ireland, and unto this union has been born one son, Harry E. William H. Stone is a young man of excellent character, who stands high in the community in which he resides.
Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise Mr. Stone has given stal- wart allegiance to the democracy and has always been very actively interested in all matters of public note, keeping well informed upon the important questions and issues of the day. He has been a trustee of Clarksfield township for many years and has also served as a member of the district board of education. One of his salient characteristics is his public-spirited citizenship. for at all times he is strong in his advocacy of reform and improvement, lending his aid and influence to all measures tending to promote the general welfare and uplift humanity. Although he has achieved prosperity which ranks him ahead of many of his as- sociates in the business world, nevertheless the most envious could not grudge him his success, so honorably has it been won. Square and upright in all his dealings with his fellowmen, throughout his entire business career there has been not a
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single esoteric phase, and the consensus of public opinion accords him a foremost place among the valued citizens of Clarksfield township, while he is recognized as a worthy representative of one of the most highly respected families known in the annals of this township.
H. FULSTOW, D. V. S.
H. Fulstow, the most successful veterinary surgeon practicing in Norwalk, was born in Lincolnshire, England, March 11, 1861. His father, John Dickinson Fulstow, was a native of Lincolnshire and a representative of one of the old families there. Having arrived at years of maturity, he married Sarah Huteson, likewise a native of that county. They began their domestic life in Lincolnshire, where they remained until 1879, when they crossed the Atlantic to the new world, settling in Greenwich township, Huron county, where the father engaged in farming. He had previously devoted his energies to agricultural pursuits in his native country and for a long period he was identified with the tiling of the soil in the new world. He is now living retired in the village of Greenwich, while his wife passed away in 1907.
Dr. Fulstow is indebted to the country schools of England for the early edu- cation which he acquired, while later, he attended a boarding schicol at Gains- borough in Lincolnshire. He was a young man of eighteen years when he ac- companied his parents on the trip across the Atlantic to the new world. and on reaching this county he worked on a stock farm for seven years, engaged with various duties in the care of the stock. His taste has always been in that direction and he has never worked in any other line. He commenced the study of veteri- nary surgery in 1890, in the Ontario Veterinary College, from which he was graduated with the class of 1892. In 1904 he pursued a post-graduate course in the Chicago Veterinary College. Following his graduation be came to Nor- walk, where he began practice and has since been located, today having the lead- ing practice of the county. His business, too, extends to several adjacent coun- ties for his professional skill and ability have made him widely known.
In public affairs Dr. Fulstow is also quite prominent and active. He has served as a member of the city council for two years and has been a member of the board of health for sixteen years. His political allegiance is given to the re- publican party and he always keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day.
On the 11th of July, 1888, Dr. Fulstow was married to Miss Lina Frayer, a daughter of Ambrose Frayer and a native of Ripley, Huron county. Mr. Frayer is one of the old settlers and has been a prominent man of affairs. closely con- nected with banking and other business interests in Greenwich, the city profiting by his enterprise, which has been a factor in its general progress. Dr. and Mrs. Fulstow have become parents of two children: Phil. now studying veterinary sur- gery at the University of Pennsylvania ; and Margie. Dr. Fulstow is an exem- plary representative of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to Mount Vernon Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and to Huron Chapter, R. A. M. He is a member of the Ohio
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Society of Comparative Medicine, an association composed of medical doctors and veterinarians, and he was honored with the presidency of the Ohio State Vet- erinary Association in 1908, which indicates his high standing in that field of labor which he has chosen as a life work.
ISAAC HEYMAN.
Isaac Heyman, a representative farmer of Lyme township, Huron county, is the owner of one hundred and twenty acres of land on which he resides and which he has converted into rich and productive fields that annually yield large harvests. He was born in Sherman township, this county, on the 17th of April, 1870, and is a son of William A. and Jennett ( Moore) Heyman, both of whom were born in Germany, the former in 1832 and the latter in 1836. William A. Heyman, when a mere boy of seventeen years, left his home and friends in the fatherland to sail alone for America, seeking opportunities in the new world that did not exist in his own country. Journeying overland until he came to Ohio, he decided to make his home in Sherman township, where he was married and lived the life of a hardy pioneer, for the first two years working out as a farm hand for farmers of that locality. However, having been industrious and persevering, at the end of that time he was able to buy a farm of his own, consisting of two hundred and fifty-two acres, which he himself cleared, adding improvements from year to year. On this farm in Sherman township, he resided until his death which oc- curred in December, 1904, having survived his wife, the mother of our subject, for twenty-eight years. Respected and honored by his fellow citizens, during his life here he filled many prominent township offices, having been justice of the peace for twenty years, trustee for three years and assessor for two years. His religious faith was that of the Reformed church and he gave liberally of his means for the support of a church of that denomination at Hunt's Corners. He was married twice and his home was blessed with thirteen children, namely : Charles ; Mary, who married William Boehler ; Emma, who became the wife of Henry Bishop : David ; Benjamin ; Adam : William ; Henry ; Isaac ; Jacob : Clara ; and two, a brother and sister, who died in infancy.
Isaac Heyman continued to reside in Sherman township until twenty-seven years of age and in his youthful days attended the district schools, thus acquiring a good practical English education. He has always been a farmer and his early training along that line well qualified him to carry on farm work when he started out in life on his own account. He married Miss Rosa Leiber, a daughter of Philip and Philemina Leiber, both of whom were natives of Germany and became early settlers of Lyme township, Huron county, Ohio. It was on the 27th of February, 1895, at Bellevue, Ohio, that Isaac Heyman was married, after which he began his domestic life on the old homestead farm in Sherman township, where he remained for about two years. On the expiration of that period, he removed to the farm in Lyme township, on which he now resides. He first rented the land from his father, but in 1900, he purchased sixty acres and in 1904, purchased sixty acres more from J. J. Swaby. Upon the place he made a number of im-
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provements, erected a large barn and keeps all of his buildings in good repair, the neat and thrifty appearance of his place indicating his careful supervision.
Mrs. Heyman was born in Lyme township, May 17. 1874. Her parents also came from Germany, arriving about 1859 and settled in Huron county. They had a family of nine children: Charles, Elizabeth, Louis, Adolph, Henry, Minnie, Emma, Louise and Rosa. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Heyman has been blessed by five children : Robert, Elsie, Irene, Myrtle and Juanita, all born in the home in which they now reside with the exception of the eldest.
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