USA > Ohio > Huron County > History of Huron County, Ohio, Its Progress and Development, Volume II > Part 22
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HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY
from time to time in property, and paying more than double the taxes of any other citizen. For twelve years, he remained in active connection with the Edna Piano & Organ Company and then established business in Norwalk, opening a piano and organ store in the Williams block on West Main street, under the name of the Norwalk Piano Company. He brought to the development of this enterprise the same spirit of determination, industry and keen discernment that had promoted his success in former years, and was soon at the head of one of the most important undertakings of this character in his section of Ohio. His store was fitted up as a handsomely furnished parlor, containing easy chairs, divans and tables, large mirrors and many beautiful pictures. The rooms contained also a large stock of pianos of many makes, including the Chickering, Kimball, Ivers & Pond, Corl, Wisner, Boston, Nelson, Haddorff, Weaver, Krell, Winter, National, Lagonda, Foster, Royal and Ropelt. He also carries a line of the best known makes of piano players, together with all kinds of string and wind instruments, and a large line of music and musical sundries. The establishment is altogether attractive in its appointments and the kind of goods carried and the business has reached extensive and profitable proportions. His trade now amounts to about seventy-five thousand dollars annually and the business not only covers the state of Ohio, but extends into almost every state in the Union. It has been developed along modern lines of trade and commerce and is permeated at all times by a spirit of undaunted enter- prise and of unfaltering perseverance, which are essential factors to success.
Mr. Price has always figured quite largely in the public life of the community. Many times, he has been elected to offices of trust and sometimes the contest has been spirited, yet he has never been defeated. He is not only a favorite with the voters, but with all who know him, including his associates in business and his friends in social life. He is a good conversationalist with marked persuasive powers, to which his success as a salesman has been largely due. His business career shows him to be a man of undaunted energy, capable of despatching an astonishing amount of business and inspiring his employes with the same en- thusiasm which he manifests. While not all days have been equally bright, he pos- sesses the adaptability that has enabled him to use each situation to the utmost in his efforts to attain honorable success, and frequently, he has thus been enabled to turn threatened failures into victories. It is characteristic of him that he has al- ways been warmhearted, generous and liberal, often accommodating others at a sacrifice of his own interests, and it has been truthfully said of him that no man was ever refused a favor when it was within his power to grant it. These quali- ties have won for him the admiration of all and his life record also displays many acts of kindness and benevolence. His nature is by no means self centered for he looks at life from the standpoint of a broad-minded man, who recognizes and utilizes his opportunities, not only for promoting his own interests, but of doing good to others. It has been truthfully said of him that he never tried to crush a rival, but only to obtain legitimate leadership, and he has extended a helping hand on many occasions to those who were traveling the same road as himself. For many years, he was regarded as a central figure in business circles of Leesville, becoming equally prominent in Monroeville, and has now won for himself a place of similar honor and importance in Norwalk.
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Mr. Price is pleasantly situated in his home life. He was married November 14, 1901, to Miss Florence C. Canby, and unto them have been born three children : Meredith Canby, whose birth occurred February 20, 1903; and Charles Kenneth and Florence Emma, twins, born on the Ist of October, 1905. Mr. Price took deep interest in the Norwalk Centennial celebration, which was made a homecoming week, on which occasion, the men and women from all parts of the country re- turned to Huron county to again visit the scenes among which they had formerly lived. On the day which was set aside especially for Monroeville, the band from that town gathered in front of the store of the Norwalk Piano Company, playing several selections in honor of Mr. Price, who with his characteristic hos- pitality, then invited the entire number to a dinner at the Avalon. This was an expression of his warm heart and the open handed qualities which have endeared him to his fellowmen in strong ties of friendship.
JOSEPH HOHLER.
Joseph Hohler, well known in Huron county by reason of his former con- nection with mercantile interests and his present connection with agricultural affairs, lives in Peru township, where he owns ninety-nine acres of land. He was born in Pontiac, Peru township, on the 14th of March, 1856, his parents being Frederick G. and Catherine (Zipfel) Hohler, both of whom were natives of Germany. When fourteen years of age Frederick G. Hohler accompanied his parents on their emigration to the United States, the family home being established in Peru township, Huron county, Ohio. Here they purchased a tract of one hundred and twenty acres of timber land and for the first few years after their arrival in this county lived in a barn. This part of the state was still largely wild and undeveloped but they resolutely faced the hardships and privations of pioneer life and their labors proved an important element in the work of early development and upbuilding.
Frederick G. Hohler, the father of Joseph Hohler, passed away in 1866 at the age of forty-six years. His wife was also called to her final rest in the same year, having attained the age of forty-two. She had likewise made the voy- age to this country in company with her parents, who located at Monroeville, Huron county. Peter Hohler, a brother of Frederick G. Hohler, passed away in Peru township at the venerable age of ninety-five years. He was a stalwart adherent of the democracy and on that ticket was elected to the offices of as- sessor and township trustee, the duties of which he capably discharged for a number of years. Unto Frederick G. and Catherine (Zipfel) Hohler were born seven children, namely: August, a resident of Monroeville; Peter, who is deceased ; Agnes, the wife of Mathew Gable, of Berea, Ohio; Frances, who died at the Cleveland Sisters' Home, was a sister of charity, known as Sister Martin; Joseph, of this review; Leo, who lives in the old homestead in Peru township; and Fred, who is in Alaska.
In the acquirement of an education Joseph Hohler attended the district and German schools of Peru township, where he has resided from his birth to
JOSEPH HOHLER AND FAMILY
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the present time. During his early life the family lived in a log house and on many occasions he would wake up in the morning to find several inches of snow on his bed. In early manhood he was engaged in the meat and liquor business at Monroeville for a number of years but throughout the greater part of his business career has been actively and successfully identified with gen- eral agricultural pursuits. About 1876 he bought his present farm of ninety- nine acres from Mr. Fitz and has since been engaged in its cultivation and im- provement. At the time it came into his possession the only buildings on the place were an old house and barn, but as the years have gone by Mr. Hohler has made a number of substantial improvements which stand as monuments to his thrift and enterprise.
On the 15th of February, 1878, Mr. Hohler was united in marriage to Miss Frances Meyer, a native of Tiffin, Ohio, and a daughter of Samuel and Agetta (Hipp) Meyer, both of whom are now deceased. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hohler have been born eleven children, as follows: Lucy, living at Monroeville, who is the wife of John C. Wilhelm, by whom she has three children-Milton, Ver- non and Charles ; Mamie, who is at home; Henry, a resident of Hunts Cor- ners, who wedded Miss Mary Heater and has one child, Agnes; Lena, who is the wife of Rover Derringer, and lives in Ridgefield township: Edward, resid- ing in Michigan, who married Miss Carrie Cook, by whom he has one child, Opal; Tillie, Peter and Clarence, all of whom are still under the parental roof : Josiah, who passed away at the age of five years ; and Clemons and Celia, who are also at home.
In his political views Mr. Hohler is a stanch democrat and has served in the position of township school director, the cause of education ever finding in him a stalwart champion. He is a faithful communicant of the Catholic church and fraternally is identified with the Knights of Columbus at Monroeville. He is now in the prime of life and enjoys to the fullest measure the many advan- tages afforded by the present day and, being progressive, and a man whose life has always been in keeping with high standards, he justly deserves the confidence and respect which are uniformly accorded him.
IRVING J. BROOKS.
Irving J. Brooks, the editor and owner of The Greenwich Enterprise, was born April 15, 1857, in Bronson township, Huron county, Ohio, and is the son of Frank- lin and Ann Eliza (Kennedy) Brooks, both of whom were natives of this county. The mother's ancestors came from the north of Ireland, but the father traced his to England, and counted among them several men who had played an important part in the history of this country from the earliest days. William Brooks, the great- grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was a direct descendant of Lord Brooks of England, some of whose progeny came to America and held grants of land near the mouth of the Connecticut river, where the Say-Brooke fort of history, built to protect against the encroachments of the Dutch traders who claimed the territory,
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was situated. William Brooks was graduated from Yale College with honors and entered upon the profession of teaching, which he followed for thirty-three years. During the Revolutionary war he served as quartermaster and took part in the bat- tles of Bunker Hill and Stillwater and was a member of that sturdy band who brought about Burgoyne's surrender. After the establishment of the Union he was commissioned by the government to survey on the Western Reserve, and Hu- ron county, Ohio, lay within his field of operation. On completing his work here, he returned to Vermont to bring his family to the new country. They arrived in 1817 and settled in Greenfield township, Huron county, after having made a trying journey of many days with an ox-team. The entire land was at that time cov- ered with forests, in the midst of which the family settled, and which they imme- diately began to clear for the purpose of making a home. William Brooks was mar- ried, January 5, 1775, to Miss Keziah Haskell, who bore to him seven children.
Lemuel Sprague Brooks, the grandfather of Irving J. Brooks, was born in Windsor county, Vermont, October 29, 1806, and was ten years of age when his pa- rents came to Ohio. He was a man of exceptional muscular power and carried off the honors wherever athletic sports were in favor. He married, at the age of twen- ty-seven, Miss Almira Adams, of North Fairfield, Ohio, who bore him two children, Franklin and Esther. Five years after this union he passed away, in 1838.
Franklin Brooks was born in Greenfield Huron county, Ohio, January 13, 1834. He grew up to be a man of fine mind, a farmer, and one who wielded no in- considerable influence in his community. On the Ist of November, 1855, he was united in marriage to Miss Ann Eliza Kennedy, of Bronson, Huron county, by whom he had four children : Irving J., Gardiner A., Frank A. and Anna E. Frank- lin Brooks died December 11, 1897, but his wife still lives.
Irving J. Brooks was reared on the father's farm, was educated in the country schools, going thence to the Lebanon National Normal School, and to the normal school at Ada. For several years after completing his education he pursued the pro- fession of teaching during the winter months and was both progressive and popular in this vocation. In the office of the Norwalk Chronicle he learned the printer's trade, with which trade he ever since has been closely connected. He left the Chron- icle office to go to Cherokee, Iowa, as foreman of the Journal where he worked un- til 1885, when he went to Mankato, Minnesota, to fill the position of foreman on the Mankato Journal. Three years later he came to Greenwich, Huron county, Ohio, where he assumed the editorship and proprietorship of the Greenwich Enterprise holding it to the present. It is a weekly publication of influence in the homes and in affairs generally of the village and township. It professes an independent republican attitude in matters of political concern, but is an organ that makes for the good and progress of the community that supports it, and during the twenty years that Mr. Brooks has guided is destinies, has won for its owner and publisher the good will of his constituents. Not only does he own the paper and the printing plant and build- ing, but he also conducts an up-to-date printing business. Yet these things do not consume all his time, for he has been able to devote a good deal of it to the ser- vice of the public. For a space of fifteen years he served as clerk of the township and of the township board of education for an equal period. He has also been a member of the school board of the village and also clerk for a number of years. In politics he is a republican and has been the Greenwich member of the Huron coun-
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ty republican central committee and has frequently been sent to county conventions and been otherwise active in the party.
On April 15, 1886, Mr. Brooks was united in marriage, at Cherokee, Iowa, with Miss Lydia R. Ruggles, who was born in Waverly, Van Buren county, Michigan, August 21, 1865, a daughter of Charles P. and Henrietta C. (Hobart) Ruggles. Her father's people pride themselves on their blood, being an old family. Her mother was of Puritan descent, tracing a direct line of ancestry to John Alden and his wife Priscilla. Mr. and Mrs. Ruggles never became residents of Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Brooks are members of the Episcopal church, but as there is no place of worship of this denomination in Greenwich they attend the services of the Meth- odist Episcopal church, in whose work and interests they have taken large part, Mr. Brooks having been for a number of years a member of the board of trustees, at present filling the office of president of this body, and having been superintendent of the Sunday school for a number of years, and his wife taking equally efficient interest.
Mr. Brooks belongs to a large number of organizations, fraternal, social, and such as are connected with his profession as journalist and printer. He was a char- ter member of the Forest Lodge, No. 145, Knights of Pythias, of Norwalk ; is a member of Greenwich Lodge, No. 543, F. & A. M., in which he has filled many offices ; also of the New London Chapter, No. 110, R. A. M. : and of the National Union. He is on the roll of members of the Audubon Society of Cincinnati ; of the International Typographical Union of Toledo; of the Buckeye Press Association ; and of the Sons of Temperance, of Norwalk. He was formerly a member of Com- pany G, Sixteenth Ohio National Guard, from which he holds an honorable dis- charge from service. In his private life, in his public activities, and as the editor of a paper that is a factor in the village, Mr. Brooks wields an influence that is re- fining, elevating and educational, one too that is widely felt in the community. Mrs. Brooks is well known in the social gatherings of the village, and the home over which she presides is one of the most attractive and modern of those here. .
ARTHUR UNDERHILL.
Arthur Underhill, a resident of Norwalk, is a railway mail clerk in the employ of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad. He was born in Ridgefield township, Huron county, Ohio, on the 6th of March, 1867, a son of Isaac and Lydia (Gregory) Underhill. The father, a native of Herkimer county, New York, ac- companied his parents, David and Mary (Osborne) Underhill, on their removal to this county in the year 1817 David Underhill, the grandfather of our subject, be- came the owner of considerable land in this vicinity and operated the first sawmill in the county. He had first visited this section of the state in 1810 in order to locate land and subsequently made several more trips to Huron county, doing quite a lit- tle trading with the Indians. In the construction of his sawmill, which was built in 1815, he employed the services of nearly all the men in the county at that time. He also assisted in laying out the town of Norwalk and was a charter member of the Masonic lodge at that place, which held some of its first meetings in his home.
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One of his daughters, Harriett, who was the first white woman to be married in Ridgefield township, became the wife of Major Strong, in whose honor Strong's Ridge was named. When David Underhill was called to his final rest in 1844 the community mourned the loss of one of its most worthy and respected pioneer set- tlers, whose labors proved an important factor in the work of early development and upbuilding.
Subsequent to the demise of his father, Isaac Underhill continued to operate the sawmill until 1879 and remained a resident of Ridgefield township from the time of his arrival in this county until he passed away on the 15th of March, 1885, in the faith of the Baptist church. His wife, who was a devoted and faithful mem- ber of the Presbyterian church, was called to the home beyond on the Ist of Octo- ber, 1907. Unto this worthy couple were born five children, as follows: Isaac M., who is deceased; Isabelle F., likewise deceased, who was the wife of Arthur Sprague, by whom she had one child, Kathryn B. ; Edwin, who wedded Miss Myrtle Husted and has a son, Roy ; Arthur, of this review ; and a daughter who died in infancy.
Arthur Underhill obtained his education in the schools of Norwalk and after putting aside his text-books took up his abode on the home farm, where he con- tinued to reside until 1893. In that year he entered the railway mail service as a clerk on the Pittsburg. Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad but at the end of six months was transferred to the Big Four Railroad, his run being from Cleveland to Cincinnati. Subsequently he was transferred to the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad. in which position he has remained to the present time, his run being between Cleveland and Utica, New York. He is the owner of a well im- proved and productive farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Ridgefield township, also owns some property in Norwalk and is altogether a most prosperous, enter- prising and progressive citizen of his native county.
In December. 1884, Mr. Underhill was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary Mah- ler, a daughter of John and Elizabeth Mahler, of Ridgefield township. The three children born of this union are as follows: Clarence, who married Miss Gertrude La Reau, of Monroe, Michigan, lives on his father's farm. He has one son, James A. Clara, twin sister of Clarence, is a graduate of St. Luke's Hospital and is now a trained nurse of Cleveland, Ohio. Jennie is still under the parental roof. Mr. Un- derhill is well and favorably known throughout the county in which his entire life has been spent and in the development and progress of which both his father and grandfather bore an important part.
WILLIAM BOEHLER.
William Boehler, who is now living retired in an attractive and comfortable home in Monroeville, Ridgefield township, was for many years identified with agri- cultural interests of Huron county. He was born in Lyme township, this county, on the 29th of December, 1852, a son of John Philip and Margaret (Seible) Boeh- ler, both natives of Germany. The father, whose birth occurred on the 7th of No- vember, 1823, came to the United States when twenty-six years of age, coming di-
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rect to Ohio, where he located in Huron county. Upon his arrival here he was en- tirely without funds and was compelled to work by the month in various places throughout the county. His was a determined and energetic spirit, however, and by hard labor and careful saving he had accumulated, after three years, sufficient means to purchase a farm of eighty acres located in Lyme township. After a year he sold this property and purchased one hundred acres in Sherman township. Three years later he also sold this farm and removed to Peru township, where he bought land from George Turner, one of the oldest farmers in this county. He re- sided upon this farm for about forty-one years, actively engaged in agricultural pursuits, and then retired from business life, removing to Bellevue. He remained in the latter place, however, only about two months, and then took up his abode in Monroeville, where his remaining days were spent, his death occurring May 3, 1897. He had been most successful in his undertakings and became recognized as one of the extensive land owners of this county, his property holdings at the time of his demise amounting to eight hundred acres. He was also well known among local democratic ranks, serving as township trustee, school director and road su- pervisor of Peru township. He was also an active worker in church circles and as- sisted in erecting the Lutheran church at Pontiac and during his connection with that church was almost continuously in office. He wedded Margaret Seible, who was born in 1830 and came to Huron county with her parents when twenty-one years of age. Here she passed away on the 22d of June, 1883. In the family of this worthy couple were six children, namely: William, of this review; Henry ; Minnie, the wife of John P. Meyers, of Ridgefield township; Louise, the wife of Charles Heyman, residing in Peru township; Philip, a farmer of Peru township, residing on the old homestead ; and Otto, whose sketch, in connection with that of his brother Henry, will be found elsewhere in this volume.
William Boehler, whose name introduces this review, was reared on his father's farm and has continued to make his residence in this county. He acquired his edu- cation in the district and summer schools. He remained at home, assisting his fa- ther in the cultivation of the fields, until he attained manhood, when he started out in business on his own account, operating a farm which he had received from his father. He had early become familiar with the best methods of plowing, planting and harvesting and, energetic and persevering by nature, he at once bent his ener- gies toward the development of his property. He made a large number of im- provements on the place, which consisted of one hundred and thirty-two acres of land in Peru township, erected substantial outbuildings and installed all the modern equipment and accessories necessary to facilitate the work of the farm. It is now one of the finely improved farms of the township. He operated this place for about thirty-two years and his close application to business and his excellent management at last brought to him a substantial competence which enabled him to retire from ac- tive work, and, renting his farm to his son, he removed to Monroeville, where he purchased some property and where he now makes his home.
On the 4th of January, 1877, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Boehler and Miss Mary Heyman, a daughter of William A. and Janette (Mohr) Heyman, who were both old settlers of Huron county. The birth of Mrs. Boehler occurred June 25, 1854, in Lyme township. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Boehler has been blessed with eight children. The eldest, Louisa, is the wife of Charles Scheid and resides
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in Sherman township. By her marriage she has become the mother of four chil- dren, Mable, Ada, Marian and Olive. August L., who was born August 6, 1879, married Anna Meyer and lives on the old homestead farm, which he operates for his father. He is serving as school director of Peru township and is also a trustee of the Lutheran church. Anna, who wedded Alvin Groff, died on the 6th of Sep- tember, 1908, at the age of twenty-seven years, leaving besides her husband one son, Morris, who resides with our subject. Minnie, the fourth in order of birth, passed away on the 8th of May, 1904, at the age of twenty-one years. Amanda, who married Henry Meyer, resides in Ridgefield township. Edith and Carl are still at home, while Elmer, the youngest of the family, passed away at the age of four months.
Mr. Boehler is one of the prominent members of the Lutheran church at Pon- tiac, of which he is serving as elder and in the work of which he is deeply and help- fully interested. He is a stalwart democrat in political allegiance and on that ticket was elected township trustee, in which capacity he served for ten years. He was also school director for some time, the cause of education finding in him a stalwart champion, and he has also been elected to fill various other minor offices. Public- spirited in his citizenship, he readily lends his influence to all matters which have for their object the material, political, intellectual and moral advancement and up- building of the community. His life has been one of continuous activity in which has been accorded due recognition of honest labor, and he stands today as one of the substantial and prosperous representatives of his native county, while his gen- uine personal worth and sterling traits of character have gained for him a high place in the esteem and regard of his fellowmen.
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