USA > Ohio > Huron County > History of Huron County, Ohio, Its Progress and Development, Volume II > Part 19
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Reared amid the scenes and environments of rural life, Frank W. Adelman acquired his education in the district and German schools, while the periods of vacation were devoted to the work of the farm. Upon attaining his majority, he decided to make the occupation to which he had been reared his life work and he has since directed his energies and time to general agricultural pursuits. He has always resided upon the farm where he was born and has continued in the work of improvement and development until he has brought his fields under a fine state of cultivation, the excellent condition of the entire place today attesting the care and labor expended upon it. He possesses good business ability and his energy and close application to work have been the means of bringing to him the pros- perity which he now enjoys.
On the 9th of October, 1888, Mr. Adelman was united in marriage to Miss Mary Shaeffer, a daughter of George and Angeline (Dehe) Shaeffer. She was born in Peru township, this county, February 26, 1867, and on the Ioth of October, 1907, was called to her final rest, leaving besides her husband, six children to mourn her loss, namely : George, Loretta, Emma, Elmie, Herbert and Clarence, all resid- ing at home.
Mr. Adelman holds membership with the Modern Woodman of Norwalk and is also a member of the Catholic church. His long residence in this locality has brought him a wide acquaintance, and he is held in high esteem by his many friends. The fact that he is best liked where best known is an indication of his personal worth. Successful in his agricultural pursuits, he is ranked among the representa- tive members of the German-American element of this county.
BLASIUS SIMON.
Blasius Simon who has made his home continuously in Peru township since 1834, covering a period of three-fourths of a century, is the owner of a well improved and productive farm of fifty-eight acres in that township, on which he resides. His birth occurred in Baden, Germany, on the 15th of March, 1833. his parents being Conrad and Mary Ann (Krieveler) Simon. The year 1834 witnessed their emigration to the new world, the family home being established in Peru township, Huron county, Ohio, where the father purchased a small tract of land and built a log cabin. After clearing the land he gave his attention to its cultivation and improvement and there carried on his agricultural interests throughout the remainder of his life, winning a goodly measure of prosperity in his undertakings. His wife also passed away on this farm, and thus the com- munity lost two of its most respected and worthy pioneer settlers. Their chil- dren were as follows: Seraphine, George and Mary, all of whom are deceased; Blasius, of their review ; Christian ; Anthony ; Andrew, who has also passed away ; and several who died in infancy.
Blasius Simon was but a year old when brought by his parents to the United States and, as before stated, has since continued to reside in Peru township. In early manhood he learned the carpenter's trade and for a number of years was actively and successfully identified with the building interests of the county,
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MR. AND MRS. BLASIUS SIMON
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erecting a large number of houses and barns. In 1862 he purchased his present farm of fifty-eight acres from George Sowers and turned his attention to agri- cultural pursuits, in which field of activity he has likewise met with success. As the years have gone by he has brought the property under a high state of culti- vation and has made many substantial improvements thereon, remodeling the residence, etc. In recent years, however, he has largely put aside the active work of the fields and his farm is now being operated by his son Edward.
On the 4th of June, 1861, Mr. Simon was united in marriage to Miss Kathryn Hills, a daughter of Joseph and Mary Ann (Biddle) Hills, both of whom are now deceased. Mrs. Simon was a little maiden of seven years when she came with her parents to Norwalk township, this county. She was one of ten chil- dren, the record of whom is as follows : Helen, Frances, Mary and Jennie, all of whom have passed away; Kathryn; Tracy, who is likewise deceased; Fred; Joseph; and two who died in infancy. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Simon have been born six children. Amelia, living in Ridgefield township, is the wife of Law- rence Smith and has three children: Edward, Anna and Otto. Albert, a resi- dent of Norwalk, wedded Miss Rose Meyer, by whom he has four children : Walter, Henry, Mildred and Fred. Rose is still under the parental roof. George, who makes his home at Monroeville, married Miss Rosella Frey and had five children : Alfred; Reuben ; Helen; Hilda, who is deceased; and Norman. Ed- ward, who wedded Miss Emma Frey, lives at home and manages his father's farm. Andrew was called to his final rest at the age of eighteen years.
The different members of the family are all faithful communicants of the Catholic church. Mr. Simon has now passed the seventy-sixth milestone on life's journey and that his career has been at all times above reproach and worthy of commendation is indicated by the high esteem and regard in which he is held by those among whom practically his entire life has been spent. His memory forms a connecting link between the primitive past and the progressive present and he has been an interested witness of the wonderful transformation that has been wrought as pioneer conditions have gradually given way before the onward march of civilization.
WILLIAM HENRY SNYDER.
William Henry Snyder, now living retired in North Fairfield, is numbered among the honored veterans of the Civil war and is also classed with those men who in positions of public service have demonstrated their loyalty to the general good by the prompt, efficient and faithful performance of duty. His record is altogether a most creditable one and because of his wide acquaintance in Huron county, cannot fail to prove of interest to many of the readers of this volume.
Mr. Snyder was born in Greene county, New York, on the IIth of January, 1835, his parents being John and Harriet (Watrous) Snyder. His paternal grandparents were Peter A. and Hannah (Wells) Snyder, whose family numbered seven children, namely : John, Henry. Maria, Abram, Peter, James and Jane. Of this number, John Snyder, the father of our subject, was reared, educated and
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married in the east and unto him and his wife were born five sons and three daughters as follows: William Henry, Hiram, Henry, Maria, Lucy, Vincent, Sylvester and Caroline.
William Henry Snyder spent his youthful days under the parental roof. It was in 1854, that the family came to Ohio, settling at Snyder's Corners at which time William H. Snyder was a young man of nineteen years. He was prepared for life's practical and responsible duties by the educational privileges offered by the public schools and by the thorough business training which he received, under the direction of his father. In early manhood, he took up general farm- ing as a life work and carefully tilled the soil for many years, but at length with- drew from: that field of labor and later was busily engaged with official service and also with the duties of the secretaryship of the Huron County Insurance Company, which position he filled for a number of years. He is still the owner of sixty acres of land in Ashland county and that farm returns to him a gratifying an- nual income.
It was on the 5th of December, 1856, that Mr. Snyder was united in marriage to Miss Hannah Hinkley, a daughter of Benjamin and Maria ( Paine) Hinkley, in whose family were the following named: Hannah, Joshua, Mary, Phoebe and William. Mr. and Mrs. Snyder have become the parents of four children: Ida, Lucia, Harry and Benjamin.
Mr. Snyder is entitled to wear the Grand Army button from the fact that he served as a soldier of the Civil war, enlisting in August, 1862, as a member of Company D, One Hundred and First Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He remained with that command until honorably discharged in 1863, when he returned to the north. He has always been as loyal to his duties of citizenship as when he followed the old flag on southern battlefields. His political allegience is given to the democ- racy and he has served as justice of the peace for a number of terms and as post- master at North Fairfield for four years. His official service has been character- ized by the prompt and capable discharge of his duties, his fidelity to any trust being recognized as one of his strong traits. He belongs to the Masonic fra- ternity and both he and his wife are connected with the Eastern Star, exempli- fying in their lives the beneficent spirit of the craft, which is based upon mutual help- fulness and the recognition of the brotherhood of mankind.
CHARLES A. EASTER.
One of the old farms of Greenfield township, Huron county, Ohio, is that on which Charles A. Easter lives. He was born on this place as was his father be- fore him, and the house which is his home was built by his grandfather in 1834. The latter, Archibald Easter, was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, in 1777, and was the son of John Easter, a well-to-do farmer and cloth manufacturer of Ber- ragh, near Londonderry, Ireland. Archibald Easter received a good education and as a young man, was sent to the United States to look after some real estate interests of his father. He could not return immediately upon the accomplish- ment of liis business on account of the War of 1812, and so sought employment
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in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, as a weaver, a trade he had learned in Ireland. After three years, he was made foreman, but in 1815, he returned to Ireland. In 1817, however, he came a second time to the United States, landing at New York. He came west by canal and lake to Sandusky, Ohio, and then to the center of the state, locating on a farm near Columbus, which has since been incorporated within the limits of that city. He lived on that place for a few years and then moved to Lower Sandusky, now Fremont, where he bought a farm, having pre- viously traversed on horseback nine states of the Union in search of a homestead. He was compelled to leave Fremont on account of the ague, and in 1819, came to this county, settling first on a farm in the center of Greenfield township, where Rob- ert Arthur now lives, and in 1830, located on the farm now occupied by his grand- son. On this land, he farmed until 1860, when he retired from active life. In 1824, he married Miss Rebecca Easter, who was born in 1801 in County Tryone, Ireland, and was the daughter of James Easter. They were united by Elder John Wheeler and became the parents of six children : two who died in infancy ; Elias ; Sarah, the wife of James McLane; Keziah, who married Samuel Arthur ; and John, who was drowned in his youth. Archibald Easter died May 1, 1867, and his wife passed away June 6, 1883, both being buried in the Steuben cemetery. He had helped to organize the whigs of his township and later became a republican. He was a successful farmer and with his wife was a member of the Congregational church.
Elias Easter, his son and the father of Charles A. Easter, was born Septem- ber 19, 1834, was reared on the farm and attended the public schools of Green- field township. Shortly before his father's death, he assumed charge of the home. place, on which he continued the successful farming. On the 7th of June, 1871, he was married to Miss Jennie E. McMorris, a daughter of John and Nancy Mc- Morris, of Greenfield township, who had come originally from Ireland. Mrs. Easter died November 5, 1876, after having borne two children: Nancy, who died in infancy ; and Charles A., the subject of this review. On June 14, 1888, Mr. Easter married a second time, his bride being Mrs. Marjory Aiken, the widow of James A. Aiken. She was born March 30, 1846, in Huntingdon county, Penn- sylvania, and was the daughter of Richard Chilcott. Mr. Easter remained on the farm now belonging to our subject until 1892, when he removed to Norwalk, where he died May 5, 1907. He was a stanch republican and held the offices of justice of the peace, trustee, and others in his township. He was a member of the Greenfield Congregational church, in which he held office of some kind nearly all his life.
Charles A. Easter lived on the farm on which he was born until 1892. He received his early training for life in the district schools of the county and upon leaving them spent three terms at Oberlin College, and then attended the busi- ness colleges at Sandusky and Norwalk. In the latter town, he worked for five years as clerk and stenographer and then obtained employment in Canton, Massi- lon and Cleveland. In the fall of 1907, he returned to Huron county to assume the charge of the farm in Greenfield township. It embraces one hundred and eighty-three acres of fine land, which Mr. Easter has brought to a high degree of productiveness. He follows a general line of agriculture and has been more suc- cessful than the average.
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On the 22d of September, 1901, Mr. Easter was married to Miss Florence E. Bowers, a daughter of Henry F. and Marana (Evans) Bowers, of Norwalk. Both parents were born in Ashtabula county, Ohio, and there were married, but have lived in Norwalk for thirty years. The father, a stone mason by trade, was a soldier of the Civil war and is a member of the local post of the G. A. R. His religious affiliations are with the Methodist church. In his family were nine chil- dren : Nellie, who married James A. Whitney, deceased ; Fred W., of St. Louis, Missouri ; Bertha E., the wife of George Snyder, of Toledo, Ohio; Raymond E., of that city ; Charles E., of Norwalk ; Grace L., the wife of C. H. Baker, of Toledo ; Josephine, deceased, who married Ralph Husted ; Florence E., now Mrs. Eas- ter ; and Eva I., the wife of Harry Thorley, of Norwalk, Ohio. Florence E. was born in Norwalk, and has borne her husband two children: Charles E., born March 5. 1904 ; and Elizabeth J., born May 8, 1907.
Though so recently a farmer on his own responsibility, Mr. Easter has made the two years tell in his bountiful harvests. The old farm, producing under one family for three generations, has attained a cultivation it never reached before and is a fine tract of land. Mr. Easter is a member of the Masonic Lodge at Nor- walk, No, 64, and of the Congregational church, and is a citizen respected in the community, among his fraternal brothers and in his church.
SAMUEL W. ROWLAND.
Samuel W. Rowland, a well known and respected resident of the village of Wakeman, was born in Clarksfield township, Huron county, Ohio, on the 12th of June, 1839, his parents being Ezra and Ann (Stiles) Rowland. He traces his ancestry back to Thomas and Daniel Rowland, who came to this country from Scotland in the latter part of the seventeenth century, settling in Connecticut. Several of their descendants participated in the Revolutionary war. Ezra Row- land, the father of our subject, was a son of Aaron and Deborah (Dean) Row- fand, who came from Putnam county, New York, to Huron county, this state, in 1818. They left the Empire state on the 10th of October of that year, making the journey in a wagon drawn by two yoke of oxen and one horse, and on the 18th of November, arrived in Clarksfield township, this county. This district was a dense forest, but they found shelter in the log cabin of Captain Husted, an earlier settler, in whose gristmill Mr. Rowland was employed for a time. The in- mates of the little structure numbered twenty persons and as soon as possible, Mr. Rowland erected a cabin home of his own in the vicinity, assisting in the con- duct of the gristmill and in the work of the farm. In 1822, he left the mill and took up his abode on a farm which he had previously purchased. In the family of Ezra and Ann (Stiles) Rowland were seven children, namely: Rebecca and Benjamin, who are deceased; Aaron G., an agriculturist of Clarksfield township ; Lucy and Jairus, who have also passed away ; Samuel W., of this review; and Joseph, who is likewise deceased.
Samuel W. Rowland was reared on his father's farm and continued under the parental roof until he had attained the age of twenty-one years. He obtained his
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preliminary education in the district schools of his native township and when twenty years of age, began teaching school. At the end of a year, however,'he entered Oberlin College and after leaving that institution once more became con- nected with educational interests as an instructor in the schools of Montgomery county, where he remained until the time of his enlistment for service in the Union army. It was in August, 1862, that he became a member of Company A, Ninety-third Regiment of Ohio Volunteer Infantry, enlisting for a term of three years or during the war. His regiment was attached to the Army of the Cumber- land and was with General Rosecrans at the battle of Stone River, where Mr. Rowland was wounded on the 29th of December, 1862, a shot passing through his right ankle and splintering the bone. The wound was so serious that he was compelled to remain in the hospital for sometime and was afterward sent home on a furlough, a year passing before he again joined his regiment. After returning to the army, he took part with General Sherman in all the hotly contested en- gagements of that campaign and on the 17th of December, 1864, was again wounded, at Nashville, in the battle between Generals Thomas and Hood, being shot in the upper right arm by a minie ball when within sixteen feet of the Con- federate breastworks. This also shattered the bones of the arm and after leav- ing the hospital, he was sent to a Louisville institution to convalesce, but while there was honorably discharged from the army, the war having come to an end. He had proven a most brave and loyal soldier, never faltering in the per- formance of any task assigned him and returned home with a splendid military record. On again taking up the pursuits of civil life, Mr. Rowland was engaged in farming in Clarksfield township and during the winter months taught in the district schools. He also taught vocal music classes for a number of years dur- ing the winter season, being a musician of considerable skill and ability. In 1867, he removed to North Lawrence, Kansas, where he remained for a year and then spent three years in Medina, Ohio, being engaged in teaching during two years of that period. Subsequently, he went to Peabody, Kansas, where he taught for five years in the graded schools, which he had organized. His success as an educator was marked, for he had the ability to impart clearly and concisely to others the knowledge that he had acquired and was moreover an excellent dis- ciplinarian. Returning to Huron county in 1875, he established the family home in Wakeman and has here since continued to reside. He purchased a farm of one hundred and seventy-five acres, one hundred acres of which was timber land, which he immediately began clearing, cutting seven hundred thousand feet of lumber in two years. The proceeds from the sale of the lumber were sufficient to pay for the entire property. Industrious and energetic, he resolutely set to work to develop a good farm and as the years went by gradually transformed the place into one of the finest and most productive farms in the county. In Nov- ember, 1895, he took up his abode in the village of Wakeman, where he has since lived retired in the enjoyment of the fruits of his former toil.
On the 4th of July, 1863, Mr. Rowland was united in marriage to Miss Betsy E. Waugh, a daughter of Lansing and Docia (Minor) Waugh. The father was a Baptist minister of Wakeman township, where the family resided for a great many years, both Mr. and Mrs. Waugh passing away and being buried there." Unto Mr. and Mrs. Rowland have been born seven children, as follows: Justin
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E., a practicing physician of South Euclid, Ohio; Bertha D., who is the wife of Charles Russell of Wakeman township ; Dennis D., a resident of Cleveland, Ohio; Guy O., who is practicing medicine at East Palestine, Ohio; Park O., likewise living in Cleveland; Lansing E., of Denver, Colorado; and Lewis U., who is a musician of note and makes his home at Grand Forks, North Dakota. All of the children are prosperous and prominent residents of their respective communities.
Mr. Rowland has always given his support to the men and measures of the republican party with the exception of one year, when he voted for St. John, the presidential candidate of the prohibition party. He is a strong advocate of the cause of temperance and an ardent worker in its behalf, believing that the intem- perate use of intoxicating liquors is the greatest curse with which our country has to contend. In the spring of 1896, he was elected justice of the peace and with the exception of one term has since served continuously in that office, being the in- cumbent at the present time. His decisions are strictly fair and impartial and he is widely recognized as a most able and just judge. He has been a member of the school board for two terms and all public improvements, such as the establishment of good schools, roads, etc., receive his hearty support and co-operation. He and his family are earnest and faithful members of the Congregational church, in which he has acted as a deacon for many years. For many years, he was also chorister in the church and, although he has now reached the Psalmist's allotted span of three score years and ten, still sings in the choir and acts as assistant chor- ister. He is interested and active in church and Sunday school work and in fact in all religious societies organized to promote moral advancement. He still main- tains pleasant relations with his old army comrades through his membership in Wilson Todd Post, No. 559, G. A. R., and has served as an officer of the post ever since becoming identified therewith, acting as chaplain at the present time. He has been a delegate to both state and national encampments and is a most en- thusiastic and valued member of the organization. In spite of his hazardous and severe experiences as a soldier, Mr. Rowland is still in excellent health, which he attributes in large measure to the fact that he has never used tobacco or stimu- lants in any form and it is only in recent years that he has indulged even in tea. Although now past the seventieth milestone on life's journey, in spirit and inter- ests, he seems yet in his prime, for he has always associated to a great extent with young people and thus has ever maintained the enthusiasm of his earlier years in all the varied activities and pleasures of life.
WILLIAM T. ASHTON.
William T. Ashton, who is now living retired on his fine farm of one hun- dred and ninety-two acres in Peru township, was born in this township on the Ioth of January, 1850. His parents, William and Sallie (Burch) Ashton, were natives of Lincolnshire, England, and New York state respectively, the father's birth having occurred on the 9th of March, 1819. The paternal grandparents of our subject were among the first settlers of Peru township, having made the journey to this part of the state by wagon in 1831. The grandfather erected a
MR. AND MRS. W. T. ASHTON
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log house and resolutely set himself to the task of clearing a tract of one hun- dred and thirty acres of land which he had purchased, but died within a year of his arrival in this county. His family numbered seven children, all of whom are now deceased, namely: James, Thomas, William, John, Edward, Mary, and one who passed away in infancy.
William Ashton, the father of William T. Ashton, was a lad of twelve years when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Peru township, Huron county, and there he continued to make his home until called to his final rest on the 17th of March, 1890. In 1866 he purchased the farm which is now in pos- session of his son, William T., erected a commodious residence and barns and also placed many other substantial improvements on the property. As the years passed by he won a goodly measure of prosperity in the conduct of his agri- cultural interests and became widely recognized as a substantial and representa- tive citizen of the community. His wife, who had accompanied her parents on their removal from the Empire state to Huron county, passed away in 1872 when forty-eight years of age. Unto this worthy couple were born five children, as follows : Mary, who is now deceased; Anna, who is the wife of C. A. Howe and resides at Monroeville, Ohio; William T., of this review ; and Lewis J. and Eva, who are likewise deceased.
At the usual age William T. Ashton began his education by becoming a student in the district schools of this county. His training at farm labor was not meager, for at an early age he began work in the fields and soon became familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops. He was successfully and energetically identified with general agricultural pursuits throughout his entire business career but has recently retired from the active work of the fields and now rents his farm. It is a well improved and valuable tract of land comprising one hundred and ninety-two acres and he still makes his home on the farm, having here a commodious and modern residence. His well directed and untiring industry in former years brought him the compe- tence that now enables him to live practically retired, and throughout the com- munity in which his entire life has been spent he is well known and highly es- teemed as a most worthy and prosperous citizen.
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