USA > Ohio > Huron County > History of Huron County, Ohio, Its Progress and Development, Volume II > Part 28
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In his religious faith Mr. Palmer is a Congregationalist. His political belief ac- cords with the principles of the republican party and he is an active worker in its ranks but has continuously declined to become a candidate for office although often solicited to do so. His long residence in the county has made him widely known and his many substantial qualities have gained for him the high regard in which he is uniformly held.
LEONARD A. VAIL.
Leonard A. Vail, who is engaged in general farming in Bronson township, lives on the old Vail homestead, comprising one hundred and fifty-two acres of well improved and valuable land. He was born on this farm, January 25, 1850, his father, David Vail having located on this land in 1835, it being then wild and unimproved. He was born in Newfield, Tompkins county, New York, October 8, 1811, and in pioneer times, he made his way to the Buckeye state, locating first in Elyria. Later he came to Huron county and located on a farm, erecting the buildings thereon himself, as he had previously learned and followed the carpenter's trade. He was married December 7, 1845, in Fairfield, Huron county, to Miss Almira Adams, who was born at Symphronia, Cayuga county, New York, and by this union, there were born four sons and one daughter, namely: David W., Leonard A., John J., Alice and Charles W. The wife and mother departed this life January 5, 1887. and on the foth of April, 1888, Mr. Vail wedded Ellen Jean- ette Sweet, by whom he had one son, Adelbert S., who is mentioned elsewhere in this work. and in which connection a more complete record of the father is given. David Vail passed away at his home in Olena, in 1907, when more than ninety-five
MR. AND MRS. SEELEY PALMER
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years of age. He was a highly respected citizen and had made his home in Huron county throughout a long period.
Leonard A. Vail was reared to farm life, assisting in the operation of the home farm during the period of his boyhood and youth. He began his educa- tion in the district schools near his father's home and later spent one term in the schools at Milan. With the exception of four years spent in the mercantile busi- ness in Olena, Mr. Vail has always followed farming and is today the owner of the old Vail homestead, comprising one hundred and fifty-two acres. He is very methodical in carrying on his work and each year harvests good crops, for which he finds ready sale on the market. He has always taken an active interest in public improvement.
In 1873 Mr. Vail was united in marriage to Miss Adelia Robinson, by whom he had one son, William D., and after her death, which occurred May 6, 1878, he was again married, his second union being with Miss Elvira Taintor, who was born in Huron county, March 27, 1850. Her parents were Chauncey and Cordelia R. (Phillips) Taintor, the former born in Brighton, Monroe county, New York, June 21, 1817, while the birth of the latter occurred in Bristol, Ontario county, New York, May 29, 1819. Mr. and Mrs. Taintor were married June 24, 1841, and reared a family of four daughters, of whom Mrs. Vail is the youngest. Mr. Taintor came of Scotch ancestry, while his wife was of English descent. He fol- lowed farming in Huron county and died August 14, 1849, while Mrs. Taintor de- parted this life November 24, 1861.
Mr. Vail is independent in politics, supporting only the men whom he deems best fitted to fill official positions, regardless of party ties. He has ever taken a lively interest in all public affairs, lending his aid and influence in the cause of every good movement and heartily promoting the progress and advancement of his community.
DANIEL C. CLARY.
Daniel C. Clary, operating a farm of two hundred and eighty acres in Ridge- field township, where he has continued to reside from his birth to the present time, was born on the 9th of January, 1858, a son of Homer C. and Laura A. (Hum- phreys) Clary. Colonel Humphreys, the maternal great-grandfather of our sub- ject, served on the staff of General George Washington, and Daniel C. Clary now has in his possession a watch which was presented to the Colonel by Washington. Daniel Clary, the grandfather of the gentleman whose name initiates this review, made his way from the state of New York to Huron county, Ohio, about 1820, being the first man to clear land in this section. His death here occurred when he had attained the age of sixty-six years, the com- munity thus losing one of its most respected and honored pioneer settlers. He had two sons: Homer C., the father of Daniel C. Clary; and George W., who is deceased.
The birth of Homer C. Clary occurred on Christmas day of 1825, in an old log house on the farm where our subject now resides. He continued to make his home
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on this place throughout his entire life and followed agricultural pursuits as a means of livelihood. He was well known and highly esteemed as a worthy na- tive son of this county and his demise was the occasion of deep and widespread regret. It was in April, 1900, that he was called to his final rest. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Laura A. Humphreys and is a native of Guilford, Con- necticut, came to this state with her parents in early life, the journey being made by canal boat. They settled in Huron, Erie county, where the marriage of Miss Humphreys and Homer C. Clary was subsequently celebrated. Their union was blessed with six children, as follows: George, who has passed away : Ella, who is the wife of F. C. Atherton ; David : Daniel C., of this review ; and Edward and Frank, both of whom are graduates of the state university at Ann Arbor, Mich- igan. Edward is now a civil engineer of Iowa and Frank is practicing law in New York city. The mother of these children still survives at the age of eighty years and resides on her farm of two hundred and eighty acres in Ridgefield town- ship, which is being operated by her son, Daniel C.
In the acquirement of an education Daniel C. Clary attended the district schools and also the public schools at Monroeville. He took up the study of telegraphy in early life but throughout practically his entire business career has given his atten- tion to the work of general farming with excellent success. On the 25th of Janu- ary, 1884, he was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary F. Hill, a daughter of John R. and Mathilde (Stephley) Hill, of New York. By this union there is one son, Fred H., at home. Mr. Clary has a very wide and favorable acquaintance through- out the community in which his entire life has been spent and well deserves men- tion in this volume as a worthy representative of an honored pioneer family that has been identified with the agricultural interests of this county from the period of its earliest settlement to the present time.
AUGUST P. HORN.
August P. Horn, living on one of the finest farms in Lyme township, Huron county, was born in Peru township, this county, February 6, 1856, a son of Wil- liam and Margaret (Boehler) Horn, natives of Germany. They crossed the At- lantic in 1849, locating in Huron county, Ohio, where they became identified with the early settlers of this district. At first they rented land and then. in 1856, pur- chased one hundred and five acres in Peru township. When the land came into their possession it was still wild but with untiring energy and determination Mr. Horn set about to clear the land and erected a house for his family. Here the remaining days of Mr. and Mrs. William Horn were spent, his death occurring in 1883, when sixty-four years of age, while the latter survived until 1903, passing away at the age of eighty-three years. Their family consisted of nine children, namely : Louise and August, both of whom were born and died in Germany ; Wil- liam, who lives in Topeka, Kansas; Henry, who died in childhood: Emma, the widow of Carl Ohlamacher, now residing in Columbus : Louise, the widow of Charles Foust, residing in Monroeville ; August P., of this review ; Henry, who
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lives on the old homestead ; and Hermina. Both parents were consistent members of the Lutheran church and passed away in the faith of that denomination.
August P. Horn, who has always resided in this county, attended the district schools of his native township in the acquirement of an education, while the pe- riods of vacation were spent in the work of the fields, learning lessons concerning the value of industry and perseverance. He chose as a life work the occupation to which he had been reared and in 1881 he came to this township and located upon the farm which is now his home but was then the property of his father. He oper- ated this place as a renter for some time and subsequently purchased it, directing his energies toward the cultivation of the fields. In the meantime he has made most extensive improvements upon the land, erecting in 1887 a fine, large residence and commodious and substantial barns and outbuildings, the place being equipped with all the accessories of a model farm of the twentieth century. He has carried on his agricultural pursuits along strictly business lines, has ever been most pro- gressive and up-to-date in his methods, and his farm today is one of the finest to be found in the county.
On February 10, 1881, Mr. Horn was united in marriage to Miss Lydia Erf, a daughter of Phillip and Dorothy (Heyman) Erf and a native of Peru town- ship, Huron county, her birth having occurred November 15, 1858. Unto this union were born four children : Dorothy, now a practicing physician of Bellevue, who was graduated from the Homeopathic College of Cleveland and is also a post- graduate of the Philadelphia Hospital; Lewis, attending the Chicago Veterinary College ; Ella, who is studying at the Providence Hospital at Sandusky, Ohio, for the profession of a trained nurse ; and Mabel, who is at home. All are grad- uates of Monroeville high school. On May 3, 1906, the wife and mother was called to her final rest, and on the Ist of September, 1909, Mr. Horn was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Louisa C. Winslow, of Ridgefield township, Huron county.
Mr. Horn holds membership with the Knights of the Maccabees and his po- litical allegiance is given to the democratic party, although the honor‹ and emolu- ments of office have no attraction for him, preferring as he does to concentrate his energies and attention upon his private business interests. He is not remiss, how- ever, in the duties of citizenship, but takes a deep interest in all things which are matters of civic virtue and civic pride. He has spent his entire life in this county, where he has gained a wide acquaintance, and the fact that he is most respected where he is best known indicates that his salient characteristics are in accord with the principles of honorable and upright manhood.
THOMAS LEAK.
Thomas Leak is numbered among Huren county's retired farmers, his success in former years enabling' him now to enjoy a rest which he has truly earned and richly deserves. He is still the owner of a valuable farm property of one hun- dred and fourteen acres in Ripley township but he leaves the care and cultivation of this to others and makes his home in North Fairfield. He has passed the seven-
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ty-first milestone on life's journey, for his birth occurred in Lincolnshire, England, May 8, 1838. He is a son of John and Mary Ann ( Westerdale) Leak, in whose family were six sons, the others being John, William, Henry, Edward and George.
Thomas Leak spent the first twelve years of his life in the land of his nativity and then accompanied his parents on their emigration to the new world. They were attracted by the favorable reports which they heard concerning the business opportunities and advantages in the United States and after living for a time in the state of New York they removed to Ohio. Here in the year 1862 Thomas Leak was united in marriage to Miss Ann Atyeo, a daughter of Isaac and Ann ( Barring- ton) Atyeo. The parents had eight children, Ann, John, William, George, James, Charlotte, Isaac and Mary. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Leak has been blessed with two daughters and three sons, Mary Ann, Charles, Edward, William and Alice.
Following his marriage Thomas Leak took up the occupation of farming as a life work and through that avenue of business has provided a comfortable living for those depending upon him. He has manifested a spirit of unfaltering diligence and perseverance in the development and improvement of his land and year after year through the careful cultivation of his fields he won that success which fol- lows persistent, earnest effort. Prospering in his undertakings he became the owner of a farm of one hundred and fourteen acres in Ripley township, which he still owns and which returns him a gratifying annual income. He is well known as a man of financial responsibility, his name ever being an honored one on com- mercial paper.
In his political views Mr. Leak has always been a republican since age con- ferred upon him the right of franchise and although he has never been an office seeker he has always been loyal in his allegiance to the principles which he es- pouses. Both he and his wife are members of the Christian church, in which he is serving as deacon and their support of the church is generous and their cooperation in its various activities is a valuable element in its growth.
WILLIAM B. CLAUS.
William B. Claus is the owner of one hundred acres, constituting one of the best farms of Peru township. He is diligent and determined in the prosecution of his business affairs and his close application and energy are bringing to him success which he justly merits. He is a young man but already has made for him- seli a creditable name in agricultural circles. He was born in Sherman township, Huron county. November 15, 1880, and in both the paternal and maternal lines comes of German ancestry. His parents were Mathias and Josephine (Schank) Claus, both of whom were natives of Germany. The father, who was born Octo- ber 20, 1834, was a son of Mathias and Mary Claus, who in the year 1852, crossed the Atlantic to America and made their way to Huron county, Ohio, settling in Sherman township, where they purchased forty acres of land. On this place was an old log house, which the father occupied for about five years, when the property was sold and another farm was purchased. On the second place, also in Slier-
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man township, the grandparents spent their remaining days. The grandmother was only about forty years of age at the time of her demise, but the grandfather reached the venerable age of eighty-two years. Their family numbered a daughter and three sons : Mrs. Helen Fisher, who is now a widow and resides in Belle vue, Ohio; Martin, a resident farmer of Sherman township ; Mathias ; and George, who is also living in Sherman township.
Mathias Claus, the father of our subject, was a young lad in his teens when he accompanied his parents on their removal from Germany to the new world. He had attended school in his native land and for a brief period continued his studies in this country, but his time and attention were largely given to farm work after he reached the United States. He has always carried on general agricultural pursuits and his labors have been attended with gratifying success. He married Miss Josephine Schank, a daughter of Frank and Helen Schank, of Sherman township, the wedding being celebrated January 7, 1867. Mrs. Claus was born in Germany, February 14, 1846, and came to Huron country with her parents when eighteen years of age, the family home being established in Nor- walk township, where her father purchased land and developed a farm. He died there at the age of seventy-five years, but the mother passed away in Germany when forty-two years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Mathias Claus are still residents of Sherman township and have lived upon one farm for about forty years. He has always been loyal and progressive in his citizenship and in 1864, he espoused the cause of his adopted country, enlisting as a member of Company C, Sixty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He joined the regiment at Sandusky and then went to Camp Chase and afterward participated in a number of battles and skirmishes. He was in the engagement at Nashville, Franklin and other places and was mustered out at Nashville in 1865. After the close of the war, he returned home and has since carried on general farming. He has worked diligently and persis- tently to attain the success which he now enjoys and his honest and upright life have won for him a firm hold on the regard and affections of his fellow towns- men. He has been active in community affairs as a member of the school board and as road supervisor and was called to this office as a candidate of the republican party. His religious faith is that of the Catholic church. Unto him and his wife were born nine children : Frank, who is living at home; Carrie, the wife of Frank A. Heddle, a resident of Monroeville, Ohio, by whom she has four children : Clar- ice, Loretta, Irene and Walter ; Mary, who is the wife of John Rossman, of Mon- roeville and has two children: Olive and Lucile; Josephine, who is the wife of Ed S. Bick, of Peru township, and has one child, Beatrice ; William, of this review'; Louise, at home; Joe. who is in Pennsylvania; and Emma and Fred, both at home.
William B. Claus was reared on the old homestead farm in Sherman town- ship, where he remained until twenty-two years of age, since which time he has lived in Peru township. In his youthful days, he enjoyed such sports as engross the attention of the children of the neighborhood and improved the opportunities for acquiring an education in the public schools. He also received ample train- ing at farm work and determined to make the occupation to which he was reared his life work. As a companion and helpmate for life's journey, he chose Miss Flor- ence Holliday, who was born in Toledo, Ohio, and is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
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William Holliday, who are now residents of Norwalk, Ohio. In their family were six children, the eldest of whom is Mrs. Claus, the others being: William, Carl, Edward, Esther and Wanda. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Clause occurred April 15, 1902, and unto them have been born three children: Calla, Donald and Josephine.
It was in 1905 that Mr. Claus purchased his present farm, on which he has since made a number of substantial improvements. He has here one hundred acres of rich land which is divided into fields of convenient size by well kept fences. He studies the demands of the soil, knows what is most needed for the produc- tion of various cereals and by the rotation of crops keeps his land in good condi- tion. He has made a number of improvements upon his place, utilizes modern machinery to facilitate the work of the fields and is now successfully engaged in general farming. He belongs to the Catholic church of Peru township and is known as a man of business reliability as well as of enterprise.
CHARLES J. BRANT.
One of the prosperous farmers of Greenfield township, who has taken an active part in local affairs, is Charles J. Brant, who owns the one hundred and thirteen acres on which he lives. He was born in this township, May 16, 1848, and is the son of John K. and Catherine (Glasford) Brant. The former was of eastern birth but was only a young boy when his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jabe Brant, came to Ohio and settled near Readtown. John K. Brant lived in Greenfield township the greater part of his life and became one of its well known and highly respected citizens. He devoted himself to farming, acquired two hundred and eleven acres of land and served as township trustee and as a member of the school board for a number of years. He was a man who advo- cated progress and the road on which his son's farm lies was cut as the result of his efforts. His wife was born in New York state and was only a child when her parents, John and Cynthia Glasford, removed to Ohio, casting in their lot with the early settlers of Greenfield township. Four children were born to John K. and Catherine Brant : Cynthia, who married Edwin Wiles, both now de- ceased ; Charles J. ; Francis, who lives in Kansas; and George, of Norwalk. The life of the wife and mother was brought to a close in 1899, when she was in her seventy-sixth year, and her husband survived her until December 6, 1906, when he was called to his final rest.
Greenfield township has been the home of Charles J. Brant through all his life. At the old log school house of the district he received his training in the fundamentals of English education. It was meager enough equipment for life, even though it was supplemented with good home training in the way of farm- ing. For many years Mr. Brant operated on rented land, but in the fall of 1893 purchased of George Strimple the farm he now occupies. This he has since greatly improved. both as to buildings and as regards the condition of the land itself. He has studied his soil with the intention of obtaining from it the best results, has practiced a scientific rotation of crops, employs the most
MR. AND MRS. C. J. BRANT
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up-to-date machinery, and in other ways has kept abreast of the progress that has been made in the methods of agriculture as in other branches of business.
On the 2d of July, 1873, Mr. Brant was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Boice, a daughter of John and Eleanor (Barlow) Boice. The former was a native of Belmont county, Ohio, and was sixty-five years of age when he died in 1879. In his family were four children: Drusilla, deceased; Elisha, de- ceased ; Sarah and William, of this township. Mrs. Brant's mother died when she was but five years old and she went to live with her uncle, George Stet- son, of New London, returning in later life to live with her father. She has become the mother of six children: Mary, born May 8, 1874, died March 26, 1886; Ella is the wife of William Gamble, of Chicago, Ohio, and the mother of three children, Lawrence, Dale and Wilma, deceased; Fannie married George Lindsey, of Toledo, and they have four children, Florence, Gladys, Eulalie and Thelma ; Ethel is the wife of G. Gamble, of Norwalk, Ohio; Pearl is the wife of Frank Wolfe, of Richmond township; and Catherine married Ross Keesey, also of Richmond township.
A successful farmer and well known, Mr. Brant has on many occasions been the citizens' choice for the several offices at their disposal in the township. Among those he has filled may be mentioned that of road supervisor and of school director, and his administration was distinguished by thought for the public welfare and a commendable spirit of progress.
EDWARD L. CONGER.
Edward L. Conger, a prosperous farmer of Greenfield township, Huron coun- ty, and the owner of ninety acres of land on which he lives, was born in this town- ship and is the son of Lewis L. and Isabelle (Lowther) Conger. The father was born September 8, 1824, at Ludlowville, New York, and in 1833 came with his parents to Milan, Ohio, where his father started a mill, there working until 1850, when the family removed to Greenfield township, and twenty years later purchased the farm which was his home until his death and has since been the home of his widow. On his mother's side Mr. Conger is descended from a line of pioneers. His great-grandfather, Henry Lowther, was of Irish birth and came to this coun- try at the time of the rebellion in his home land. He settled in New York state, where he followed the vocation of farming and attained to a prosperity and posi- tion among his associates that was above the average. On one occasion, how- ever, he lost a large sum, which was the result of years of toil, when a friend, who had appealed to him for aid, jumped his bond. His son, Edward H. Lowther, was born in New York city in 1800 and was seventeen years of age when he came to Greenfield township, to make it his home. He attained considerable local promi- nence, was known as Captain Lowther from his being a captain of the militia, and held several offices in the township. His wife, who survived him but a year, was born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, but came to Ohio when the fields were covered with forests and Indians were seen almost daily. She died in 1887, after having brought into the world a family of seven children: Thomas, deceased ;
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Mariette, the widow of Ira Wattermian ; Isabelle, the mother of our subject : Sarah, the widow of William Graham; Helen, the deceased wife of Barnett Rowe ; and James. To Mr. and Mrs. Conger were born four children: Edward L. ; Halsy, who died at the age of five months ; Julia, the deceased wife of Charles Palmer and the mother of two children, Florence and Charles; and Lewis, who married Miss Ada Daly, of this township, and has one child, Frances J. Mr. Conger died November II, 1899, but his widow still lives and conducts the farm he had bought.
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