USA > Ohio > Huron County > History of Huron County, Ohio, Its Progress and Development, Volume II > Part 18
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ALBERT L. GINSTE.
Albert L. Ginste owns a well improved and valuable farm of eighty acres in Wakeman township which annually pays tribute to his care and labor in bounteous harvests. He is numbered among the worthy native sons of Huron county, his birth having occurred in Wakeman township on the 26th of July, 1879. He was a son of John and Wilhelmina (Burke) Ginste, who in early manhood and woman- hood sailed from Germany to the United States with their respective parents and settled near Henrietta, Lorain county, Ohio. At the time of the Civil war John Ginste, the father of our subject, enlisted in defense of the Union, becoming a member of Company H, Forty-third Regiment of Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with which he served for more than three years. After the close of the war he became an active member of Harrison Douglass Post, G. A. R., at Kipton, Lorain county, Ohio, acted as its commander for a number of years and always bore a helpful part in Grand Army matters, being deeply interested in the welfare of the "boys in blue."
At his death the following resolutions were adopted by this post :
"We pause, we falter at this portal of fate where the gates stand forever ajar. At this open grave of a comrade we tarry to review the grand record of a glorious life. The meteor has traversed the arc of trajection but the sheen of its glory il- lumines the sky with its splendor, and that sheen will fade only as the memory of man will fade. We are standing at the bier of John Ginste, a man who was of high moral worth and unfaltering integrity. He was the embodiment of all that was true and noble in man. In his death we recognize that a brilliant star has been erased from the earth's galaxy of noble manhood. When in the full rigor of man- hood, at the call of duty he enlisted in Company H, Forty-third Regiment of Ohio Infantry at Oberlin, October 15, 1861. On account of his superior qualities and proficiency he was early promoted through the various noncommissioned grades
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to that of first sergeant of his company. On October 28, 1863, he was commis- sioned by the governor as a second lieutenant. During 1861-62 and 63 he served in the army of the Mississippi and the army of the Tennessee, in the states of Ken- tucky, Tennessee and Mississippi. In 1864 he served in the Sixteenth Army Corps until that organization ceased to exist. The command to which he belonged was transferred to the Seventeenth Army Corps. He rendered honorable service on Sherman's bloody trail down through Georgia, where the crash of infantry firing and the thunder of artillery never ceased neither day or night from the morning of the 4th day of May to the night of the 5th day of September, 1864. He was with Sherman's retrograde march from Atlanta to Northern Alabama against the Con- federate army of General Hood. He was mustered out at Savannah, Georgia, De- cember 22, 1864, having served two months and eight days beyond a three year en- listment. During his services he traversed the entire Confederacy from the west to east. His military service is a grand record of patriotic manhood ; he has to his credit a grand array of brilliant stars which adorn the nation's baldrick of glory. He was engaged with his command at Cripple Creek ; Resaca; New Madrid; sec- ond battle of Corinth; Rome; Island No. 10; Oxford; Adairsville ; Tiptonville ; Decatur, Alabama ; Dallas ; Fort Pillow ; Snake Creek Gap; Big Shanty ; first bat- tle of Corinth; Nickajack; Kennesaw; Iuka; Decatur, Georgia; Atlanta; Ezra Church; Jonesboro; Lovejoy Station ; and Savannah.
After leaving the army John Ginste turned his attention to general agricul- tural pursuits, successfully carrying on farming in Wakeman township, Huron county, until 1882, when he took up his abode in Lorain county and there made his home until called to his final rest. His political allegiance was given to the re- publican party and he never failed to cast his ballot in support of its men and meas- ures on election day. For some years he served as a trustee of Camden township, Lorain county, capably discharging the duties devolving upon him in this connec- tion. Interested and active in matters of public moment, his aid and cooperation could always be counted upon to further any movement instituted to promote the general welfare. He kept well informed on the questions and issues of the day and was always able to support his position by intelligent argument. He was highly re- spected and honored throughout the community in which he made his home and his death, which occurred in Elyria, Lorain county, in the fall of 1906, was the occa- sion of deep and widespread regret. His wife had passed away in October, 1904.
They reared a family of seven children, namely: Ida, now the wife of Alfred Squires, of Eaton township, Lorain county ; John, a resident of Cleveland; Cath- erine, who is deceased ; Albert L., of this review ; Mary, who has also passed away ; Charles, of Wakeman ; and Minnie, the wife of Meade Buckley, of Camden town- ship. John Ginste had a full realization of the value of good mental training as a preparation for life's practical and responsible duties and provided his children with all the educational advantages which his means would permit.
Albert L. Ginste obtained his education in the public schools of Lorain county and grew to manhood on his father's farm, in the work of which he assisted when his time was not occupied with his text-books. Subsequent to his marriage he took up his abode on his present farm of eighty acres in Wakeman township and has since devoted his attention to general agricultural pursuits. His property is the visible evidence of his life of well directed thrift and industry, for he started
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out on his own account empty handed and has steadily worked his way upward until he is now the owner of a valuable and productive farm. The buildings on the place are all of a substantial and modern character. During the winter seasons Mr. Giuste engages in the feeding of sheep and in all of his undertakings is meet- ing with that measure of success which always rewards earnest, persistent and in- tiring labor.
On the 2d of December, 1897, Mr. Ginste was united in marriage to Miss Cor- delia Barnes, a daughter of Charles and Helen ( Hall) Barnes. The Halls were a prominent pioneer family of Wakeman township, contributing in substantial measure to its early development and upbuilding. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Ginste has been born a daughter, Helen.
Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise Mr. Ginste has given his political allegiance to the republican party and for three years has filled the office of assessor in Wakeman township. At the present time he is acting as a mem- ber of the township board of education, doing effective service for the cause of public instruction. All matters pertaining to the advancement of the community along material, intellectual and moral lines receive his hearty support and coop- eration and he is widely recognized as a most progressive and public-spirited citi- zen. For about twelve years he has been a member of Wakeman Tent, No. 92, K. O. T. M., of which he has served as commander and also as lieutenant com- mander. Both he and his wife are prominent and valued members of the Congre- gational church, taking a deep and helpful interest in both church and Sunday- school work. He is a member of the board of trustees and his wife was organist in the church for a number of years. The young couple hold a high place in public esteein and their own hospitable and attractive home is a favorite resort with their many friends.
CHARLES S. CLARK.
Charles S. Clark needs no introduction to the readers of this volume for he has gained a world-wide reputation as the most extensive producer and propaga- tor of seed corn not only in this country but in foreign countries as well. He was born March 22, 1860, in a house which stood upon the site of his present residence, his parents being David S. and Esther ( Boyd) Clark. The father, who followed farming throughout his active life, passed away on the 7th of February, 1885. In the family were three sons and two daughters: Ella, Walter and Rollie B., all now deceased ; . Charles S. ; and Hattie, the wife of Professor W. Andrews of Oberlin College. The father was a man of strong character, prominent in public affairs and given to good works, and he lived and died with the full confidence and respect of all who knew him. His widow still survives at the age of seventy-seven years and enjoys remarkable health.
Charles S. Clark spent his youth on the home farm and was educated in the public schools of Wakeman. At the age of eighteen years he began raising seed corn on one acre of ground, cultivating two varieties of select corn. Some- thing of the growth and extent of his business is indicated in the fact that on the
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CHARLES S. CLARK
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Ist of May, 1909, he shipped ninety-four varieties of seed corn to one man in: Rockford, Illinois. His success has been phenomenal in this line of business and for the past twenty years he has been the largest grower of seed corn in the world, shipping to every corn-growing country on the face of the globe. During the winter of 1908-9 three shipments were sent to Paris and beginning in the month of October, 1909, his shipments averaged one thousand bushels per day during the entire season up to the middle of May. Among other very large con- tracts made for next winter's delivery he has one for a carload to be sent to San Francisco, California, and a full carload to Knowlton, Quebec, Canada. His business has developed from the small beginning of one acre, which was taken up as an experimental work, the excellence of his product being his best adver- tisement. He has been the originator and introducer of a great many of the different varieties of field corn and sweet corn now in use, including the finest varieties which are in cultivation today. There is a large amount of seed corn and many varieties raised by the farmers of Huron, Erie and Sandusky counties, from seed furnished by Mr. Clark and under contract with him for the purchase of their crop. He applies the same business rules to other sections which are well adapted for the development of seed corn. In addition to the enormous trade which he has built up in this connection he is also extensively engaged in the production of seed oats, of which he ships large quantities. These are also produced in many varieties and go into every oat-growing district. Mr. Clark has a fine farm of his own on which he produces a great deal of seed corn and oats, especially in an experimental way in the development of new varieties. His home is a commodious and attractive residence and altogether is a model farm in the nature of its improvements and the care which is bestowed upon it.
On the 12th of June, 1888, Mr. Clark was united in marriage to Miss Sarah T. Smith, of Milford, Connecticut, a daughter of E. Stiles and Maria Theresa (Platte) Smith, who had one son and two daughters: Frank W., Sarah T. and Susan Isabelle. The last named is now Mrs. Elbert N. Clark. The son married Miss Carrie W. Beard, of New Haven, Connecticut. The Smith family, to which Mrs. Clark belongs, never became residents of Ohio but were prom- inent in their locality, the ancestry extending back to twelve generations since the first of the name came to America from England. Mr. and Mrs. Clark have three children : Hazel Theresa, Hattie Marie, and Charles Harold Stiles.
They are refined and highly intelligent people and their home bears every evidence of these characteristics. They expect to give to their children every ad- vantage in educational lines, intending to send all to college. Mrs. Clark is devoted to her home and gives to it her best efforts but also finds time for diver- sion and development in club work. The family are members of the Congrega- tional church and active in church and Sunday-school work. Mr. Clark has done much valuable public service aside from what he has accomplished in a busi- ness way. He was a member and president of the board of education for six years, has been vice-president of the Wakeman Banking Company for ten years and is now a member of the township board of trustees. He is independent in politics, giving his support to the men and measures that his judgment endorses. As a young man he was much interested in baseball and won considerable note as a
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member of the famous Wakeman Club. He still retains a keen interest in the national game but finds his special diversion in a summer outing with his family enjoyed at their handsome summer cottage at Ruggles Beach on the shores of Lake Erie.
FRED BROWN.
Among the native sons of Sherman township, Huron county, who are en- gaged in agricultural pursuits and are ranked among the progressive and repre- sentative farmers of the community, is Fred Brown, who owns and operates a farm of one hundred and thirty-seven acres in this township. He was born on the Ioth of November, 1855, and is a son of Fred and Margaret (Pirrung) Brown, both natives of Germany. They came to America about 1841 or 1842 and set- tled in Columbus, Ohio, where they remained for two years, after which they came to Sherman township, Huron county. While in Germany, the father was a wagonmaker by occupation and followed that trade during his residence in Col- umbus, but after his arrival in Sherman township, he devoted himself to farm- ing. He purchased one hundred acres of land but later sold a part of it, owning at the time of his death eighty-eight acres. He and his wife were both buried in Sherman township. In their family were the following children: Jacob; Eliza- beth, the wife of Charles Westrick, of Norwalk; Peter, who lives in Michigan; Margaret, the wife of Sebastian Purcell, residing in Peru township; John, who lives in Michigan ; Frank, also of that state; Fred, of this review; Anna, the de- ceased wife of Henry Schendorf ; and Anthony, who resides on and operates the old homestead in Sherman township. Of this family the three eldest were born in Germany.
Reared amid the scenes and environment of rural life, Fred Brown attended the district schools of his native township in the acquirement of an education. At the age of sixteen, he put aside his textbooks and engaged in farming for his father until twenty-seven years of age, when he started out for himself, rent- ing a farm for four years. At the expiration of that period, he removed to In- diana, where he purchased a farm of ninety-five acres in Pulaski county and continued to make that his residence for thirteen years. He then sold his farm in Indiana and returned to Sherman township in 1900, buying his present place from George Diehr. He is now engaged in general farming and through his in- dustry, well directed labors and careful management, is meeting with a creditable measure of success.
On the 14th of February, 1882, Mr. Brown was united in marriage to Ot- tilia Geiger, a daughter of Rudolph and Ernestina (Ott) Geiger, both natives of Germany. They were farming people and both passed away in Sandusky, to which place they had removed just prior to their demise. In their family were the following children : Louisa, the deceased wife of John Smith ; John ; Adolph ; Mrs. Fred Brown ; Mary, the wife of John Weidinger ; and Anna, who wedded Joseph Ringlein. Mr. and Mrs. Brown became the parents of five children, as follows: William A., born June 1, 1883; Albin P., born May 24, 1888; Frank M., born
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July 25, 1890 ; Fred R., born August 16, 1893 ; and Ernestina M., born December 6, 1896.
The family are members of the Catholic church at Bismarck, Sherman town- ship, and are held in high esteem throughout the community. Mr. Brown gives substantial support to the democratic party and is serving at present as township trustee. He has also been constable, road supervisor and school director, and is a loyal citizen, supporting every measure calculated to benefit the community in its rapid and substantial development.
ALFRED W. PEIRCE.
For half a century Alfred W. Peirce has lived in Huron county and needs no introduction to the readers of this volume for his creditable life record has made him widely and favorably known. In all business affairs, he has been thoroughly reliable as well as progressive and in his relations to public interests he has been found a man of progressive spirit whose desire for the public welfare has been manifest in active work for its behalf. He was born April 29, 1833, in Charlotte, Vermont. a son of Chauncey and Mahala (Conger) Peirce.
The father was a native of Rhode Island and removed to Vermont, but never became a resident of Ohio. The son spent his youth on his father's farm and was educated in the district schools, the schoolhouse of the neighborhood being upon land in possession of the family. After he had mastered the elementary branches of learning, he spent one term in an academy to which he walked a distance of five miles each morning, returning in the same way each evening. He would also assist with the chores about the farm and though every moment was busily oc- cupied and he had to walk so far to school, he never entered the schoolroom too late for the opening exercises. At seventeen years of age, he began teaching school, following that profession through the winter months while the summer seasons were devoted to the work of the fields, his father thus receiving the bene- fit of his services until after he had attained his majority. In 1856, when twenty- three years of age, he left Vermont and made his way to Chicago. In the mean- time, he had picked up a knowledge of the carpenter's trade during his leisure hours. His education, too, was largely obtained by studying when the work of the farm was over for the day, and in this manner he became a man of broad education with wide knowledge concerning literature, mathematics and the sciences. On going to Chicago, in 1856, he found employment in the shops of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railway Company. At that time there was not a foot of paving in Chicago, which was a city of comparatively small propor- tions. Mr. Peirce remained there from March until June, when he was called to his home in Vermont by the death of his father. He then continued in the Green Mountain state until the spring of 1857, when he made his way to Lake City, Minnesota. There he again worked at the carpenter's trade until the succeeding fall, when the country became involved in a financial panic render- ing it very difficult to secure employment for building operations were practically suspended.
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About that time Mr. Peirce came to Townsend, Huron county, Ohio, through the influence of some acquaintances he had made during his residence in Min- nesota. He and his brother-in-law, M. M. Perkins, who came with him, purchased a hotel in Townsend and in addition to conducting the hostelry Mr. Peirce also worked in the agricultural implement factory owned by the firm of Hyde & Allen, the partners being W. S. Hyde and Pruden Allen. Mr. Peirce was em- ployed in the shops until the spring of 1858, when the company suspended be- cause of the stringency of the times. He then turned his attention to contracting and building and became a large operator along this line, erecting many of the schoolhouses of the county and many of the best dwellings. He was thus con- nected with building operations in addition to conducting his small farm until 1869, when he became associated with a company of railroad bridge contractors and was in Des Moines, Iowa, for a period.
On his return to Huron county, Ohio, he located in Townsend and accepted the superintendency of a sash and door factory. Three years later, he became engaged in the black walnut business in Indiana. When he again returned to Townsend, he built a residence for himself and this was about the last of his building operations. In 1875, he engaged with the Collins Pump Company as bookkeeper and thus represented them for two years, after which he became in- terested in the business of manufacturing pumps and also in the operation of a sawmill, in company with John C. Shaw. In this, he continued until 1890, when the mill and factory were destroyed by a cyclone, terminating his business inter- ests of that character. He next purchased the Union Bending Works, at Col- lins, and has since operated this plant in connection with his son, Frank Peirce. He has ever been a man of resolute purpose, carrying forward to successful completion whatever he has undertaken unless his path was barred by some obsta- cle or difficulty that could not be overcome by persistent and honorable effort. In 1884, he established a mercantile enterprise in Collins which he has since con- ducted in connection with other business affairs. He has ever been watchful of opportunities and his utilization of the advantages which have come to him have brought him to a prominent position in the business circles of the community.
Mr. Peirce has been married three times. On the 22d of August, 1854, he wedded Miss Lutheria M. Brown, a daughter of Smyrna and Almeda (Morse) Brown. Mrs. Peirce was of the same township in Vermont in which her husband's birth occurred. There were two children of this union : Lynda and Charles The daughter is now the wife of the Rev. William Fisher, Congregational minis- ter of Kansas, while the son, Charles, is a successful farmer in Hartman town- ship. The wife and mother died November 24, 1864, and on the 9th of Decem- ber, 1869, Mr. Peirce wedded Miss Julia A. Dean, a daughter of Royal C. and Mary (Smith) Dean. The father was a traveling saleman for a Zanesville (Ohio) firm for many years and also the owner of a farm in Townsend township. By the second marriage there were born three children: Royal C., who was killed at Akron, Ohio, while in the line of duty with the Pennsylvania Railroad Company ; Carl W., who after graduating from Oberlin College in 1900, went to Pittsburg and is now identified with the steel interests of that city ; and Frank H., who was formerly an Oberlin student and is now associated in business with his father. The death of Mrs. Julia Peirce occurred March 9, 1894, and on the 24th of Octo-
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ber, 1895, Mr. Peirce was joined in wedlock to Miss Lena E. Fitch, a daughter of Edgar and Letta (Ward) Fitch, of Townsend township, who came to this state from Michigan in 1891. Mr. Fitch is a farmer by occupation and has re- turned to Michigan. By the third marriage there is but one child, a daughter, Pauline.
Politically, Mr. Peirce is a republican having been identified with the party for years as one of its well informed representatives and active workers thoroughly qualified to defend his position by intelligent argument. He has served as jus- tice of the peace for one term, was township trustee for several terms, and town- ship clerk for several years. He was a member of the school board for many years and has always been a friend of education, advocating advanced ideas in con- nection with the work of public instruction. To his children, he gave superior col- lege advantages and all made excellent records in their studies, especially in mathe- matical lines. Mr. Peirce is a member of the Masonic fraternity and for years was active in the affairs of the order. He has always been an advocate of temper- ance and of things which work for honorable manhood and progressive citizenship. His wife and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and are active in church and Sunday school work, while Mr. Peirce gives liberally to the support thereof. He is in every way a splendid type of citizen and his coopera- tion can be counted upon to further any movement for the general good.
FRANK W. ADELMAN.
Frank W. Adelman, owning and operating a fine farm of one hundred acres of land, situated in Norwalk township, Huron county, Ohio, was born upon this farm on the 27th of February, 1861, a son of John J. and Margaret (Klunding) Adelman, both natives of Germany. In 1830, the father accompanied his parents, J. P. and Tracy Adelman, to the United States, and they located in Buffalo, New York, remaining in that city for a short time, after which a removal was made to Ohio, the family home being established in Ridgefield township, Huron county. There the grandfather of our subject purchased one hundred acres of land and in that township, John P. Adelman spent almost his entire life. He bought the farm upon which our subject now resides and placed many improvements thereon, devoting his energies entirely to agricultural pursuits. He became well known in the community in which he resides and served for some time as road supervisor. He passed away in 1870 in the faith of the Catholic church. He had married Margaret Klunding, who was born in Germany in 1831 and left the fatherland when thirteen years of age, accompanying her parents to the United States, where they settled in Sherman township, Huron county, Ohio. Her death occurred on the 17th of November, 1898. In the family of this worthy couple, were seven children, namely : Francis, deceased; Charles, who has also passed away ; Rose, the wife of Anthony. Harr, residing in Norwalk, Ohio; Frank W .. of this review ; Clara M., also residing in Norwalk; Joseph, deceased; and Benjamin, of Nor- walk.
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