USA > Ohio > Huron County > History of Huron County, Ohio, Its Progress and Development, Volume II > Part 39
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JOSEPH H. GLEASON.
Joseph H. Gleason is one of the successful farmers of Ripley township, but he is also one of that valiant number of Ohio's sons who forscok their homes and their comforts for the sufferings of the battlefield when their country needed the support of their arms. He owns one hundred and sixteen acres of land in the vicinity of the village of Boughtonville, the farm on which he was born March 15, 1843. The Gleason family is of Scotch-Irish descent and the name Joseph has been borne by one of the sons for many generations, a great-great-grandfather of Joseph H. Gleason having been known by that cognomen and having transmit- ted it to his son Joseph, who in turn bestowed it upon his son who became the father of Caleb Gleason, the father of the subject of this sketch. On coming to this country the Gleason family settled in New York state, and there in Cayuga county was Caleb Gleason born. Shortly after his marriage, however, he removed to Ohio and settled on the farm which became the birthplace and has since been the home of his son Joseph H. Gleason. The woman who became his wife and the mother of his children was in her maidenhood Miss Melinda Hackett, a native of Maine, though her parents, Joseph and Sarah (Cross) Hackett, belonged to the state of New York. They were of Irish descent. Seven children were born to Caleb Gleason and his wife: Worthington, Loeta, Emily, Sarah, Charlotte, Martha and Joseph.
Joseph H. Gleason was reared at home on the farm and received what edu- cation he could from the district schools. He was not of age when the Civil war was inaugurated, but the fact of his minority did not deter him from enlisting among the first of those ready to incur the hazards of the deadly struggle. On the 9th of October, 1861, he was mustered into Company C, Sixty-fifth Ohio Vol- unteer Infantry, and after more than four years of service was honorably dis- charged December 28, 1865, at Columbus, Ohio. In recognition of his bravery he was made a non-commissioned officer, serving as corporal and sergeant, for in the many engagements in which he participated several acts distinguished him from the rank and file of those about him. He fought at Shiloh, Stone River, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, in the Atlanta campaign, at Franklin and at Nashville, and then, after the close of the war, was sent to Texas, where he re-' mained until brought to Columbus to be discharged. In one of the skirmishes at Buzzards Roost he was severely wounded and carries the bullet today. When his country no longer required his services Mr. Gleason returned to his Ohio home and took up the life of the farmer to which he had been reared. The years
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have smiled upon his efforts, his toil has leen richly remunerated, and his farm is one of the best cultivated as well as one of the most fertile of Ripley township.
On the conclusion of his career as a soldier, in 1865, Mr. Gleason was married to Miss Emeline Croxton, who was born March 23. 1843, and is a daughter of William and Susan (Gibson) Croxton, in whose family were eight children : Angeline, Emeline, Louisa, Antoinette, Samuel, Caroline, Florence and Milton. Of Mr. and Mrs. Gleason's union there have been born four children : Sherwood, Frank, Wilbur and Meda.
Politically Mr. Gleason's sympathies are with the republican party which supported the nation in her hours of trial. He is not active in its ranks, however, nor a seeker for public preferment, though he has served the township as trustee and as assessor for a number of terms. In the meetings of the Grand Army post of Ripley he revives the memories of those days when a canteen or blanket shared made men closer than brothers.
WALLACE W. KETCHUM.
Wallace W. Ketchum, who owns and operates a fine farm of three hundred acres, is recognized as one of the prominent and progressive agriculturists of New London township and in his efforts is meeting with most gratifying success. A native of New London township, Ohio, he was born October 6, 1849, and is a son of Ambrose S. and Katharine (Gates) Ketchum, both natives of Schenectady county, New York, the former's birth occurring on the 14th of March, 1817, while the latter was born on the 20th of September, 1820.
The father came to New London in 1839 and the first few years he spent in the employ of John Miller, receiving twelve dollars per month in return for his ser- vices. Upon his arrival in Ohio he had but twenty-five cents and a jack knife in his possession, but with characteristic energy and determination he set about earn- ing a livelihood, with the ultimate ambition of sometime owning a farm of his own. He continued in the employ of Mr. Miller for two years and during that time, by industry and careful economy, he had accumulated sufficient means with which to purchase fifty acres adjoining the corporation limits of the village of Rochester, in Lorain county. Within a year, however, he traded that property for fifty acres located in New London township on the Butler road, and there he continued to reside during the remainder of his life. His entire time was devoted to the work of the farm and he became signally successful along that line, during his life- time accumulating a property consisting of one thousand acres of rich Ohio land, almost all of which lay in one body. This property was divided among his four children at the time of his death, which occurred August 3, 1896. Together with general farming he had engaged in raising large quantities of stock and this branch of his business was a source of gratifying additional profit. He was a man of fine judgment and keen mind, and possessed certain qualities which, had he enjoyed proper educational advantages, would have made him an excellent jurist. His advice and counsel were frequently sought by his fellowmen and be-
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cause of the reputation which he had gained for his wisdom and veracity, his word was always taken as authority, its correctness never being doubted.
In 1842 he had wedded Miss Katharine Gates, with whom he happily traveled life's journey until his death. He was a stalwart supporter of the republican party and passed away in the faith of the Free Will church. The mother was a woman of excellent characteristics, of a motherly, domestic nature, whose every thought was for her family while she was untiring in her efforts to make the home attrac- tive for those she loved. She survived her husband for more than a decade, pass- ing away in December, 1908. In their family were four children, namely : Emma H., who was born in 1845; Wallace W., of this review ; Alonzo S., born on the 14th of March, 1852; and Earl M., born in the year 1863. Prior to the father's death the three sons all remained upon the homestead, assisting in the operation of the farm and conducting the work in unison, up to the time of the father's de- mise, when the property was divided.
Wallace W. Ketchum, whose name introduces this review, together with the other members of his family, enjoyed the advantages of good common school education, and as stated the early period of his life was passed under the parental roof. He was united in marriage on the 26th day of December, 1871, to Miss Helen M. Thomas, and they began their domestic life upon the farm which is now his place of residence. His farm consists of three hundred acres of fine farm- ing property, to the further development and cultivation of which he has since directed his time and attention. He has put about two thousand five hundred dollars worth of improvements upon the farm since it came into his possession, has equipped it with all of the modern conveniences and accessories, and it stands today a model farm in all of its appointments. He has devoted his time and at- tention to general farming, and in the conduct of his business affairs has used up- to-date and progressive methods, and he ranks among the substantial, enterpris- ing and successful agriculturists of New London township.
With the passing of the years the home of Mr. and Mrs. Ketchum has been blessed with three children. The eldest son, Clarence W. Ketchum, was born on the 6th of September, 1872, and on the 2d of June, 1903, he met his death in a collision on a street car line a few miles east of Norwalk, Huron county. Lee H. Ketchum, the second in order of birth, was born June 15, 1874, and is now re- siding upon the home farm with his parents. He was married, on Christmas day, 1895, to Miss May McAfee, and unto this union have been born four children, namely : Wilber W., born August 23, 1898; Lester H., October 25, 1899; Morris G., December 18, 1902; and Lawrence G., June 9, 1908. The youngest son, Verne V. Ketchum, who was born on the 17th of May, 1879, was married on the 25th of December, 1906, to Miss Ethel Weston. Well known and highly re- spected throughout the community, he is a young man of unusual ability along financial lines. He is now the cashier of the Farmers & Citizens Banking Com- pany at Monroeville, Ohio, which position he has held for the past four years. It was through his ability and enterprise that the Monroeville Organ Company was saved from ruin and placed upon a firm, paying basis, while other enterprises have been organized and carried to a successful point through his good judgment and industry. He is a worthy son of an honored father, and one of whom any par- ents might well be proud.
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In his political allegiance Mr. Ketchum is a stalwart republican, giving loyal support to the party at the polls, but the honors and emoluments of office have no attraction for him, desiring. as he does, to devote his entire time and energies to the conduct of his private business affairs. He holds membership with the Free Will Baptist church, and his life is at all times in harmony with its pro- fessions. Throughout his entire career he has been guided by the most honorable principles and his self-reliance and unfaltering industry, combined with his in- tegrity, constitute the salient features in his success.
WILLIAM H. LUTZ.
William H. Lutz, whose industry and enterprise are meeting with creditable success, owns and operates a farm of seventy acres located in Ripley township, where he is well known as a progressive and prosperous agriculturist. He was born January 29, 1854. in Ashland county, a son of Samuel and Susan ( Kimmel) Lutz. The former, who was born on the 10th of September, 1825, in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, was the eldest child born unto John and Sarah ( Beamer ) Lutz, the others being John, Manuel, Elias, Catherine and Sarah. The mother was born in Stark county, Ohio, April 25, 1828, a daughter of David and Susan (Welker ) Kimmel, and a sister of Joseph, Michael, Henry, Lydia and Nancy Kim- mel. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Lutz were born the following children : Aaron, Samuel, Frank, Charles, Sadie and William H.
Reared under the parental roof, William H. Lutz acquired his education in the district schools of his native county, where he gained a good knowledge of the various branches of English learning. After laying aside his text-books he taught school for six years, proving himself an efficient instructor, clearly and readily imparting to others the knowledge which he had himself acquired. Later, how- ever, thinking that the occupation to which he had been reared would prove more profitable, he took up agricultural pursuits and in that line of activity has since been actively engaged. He now owns a farm of seventy acres in Ripley township, upon which he has resided for seventeen years, and during that time he has brought his fields under a high state of cultivation. He practices rotation of crops, gives close study to the cereals best adapted to soil and climate and the proper care of same, and in the conduct of his business is progressive and up-to- date, his close application and good management of his affairs gaining him a high rank among the representative agriculturists of the township.
William H. Lutz was united in marriage on the 25th of September, 1879, to Miss Mary A. McQuate, whose birth occurred in Lebanon county, Pennsylvania, March 30, 1856. She was the daughter of Henry and Mary A. (Garman) Mc- Quate, whose family consisted of the following children, John, Henry, Amanda, Susanna, Emma, Caroline and Mary. As the years passed the home of Mr. and Mrs. Lutz was blessed with two children, namely, Ray and Melvin. The latter was married in 1904 to Miss Emma Watman, by whom he has one child, Vera. Mr. Lutz and his wife are members of the German Baptist church, otherwise known as the Church of the Brethren, the teachings thereof constituting the
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guiding influence of their lives. In politics Mr. Lutz is a republican, giving stal- wart support to that party at the polls, although the honors and emoluments of public office have held no attraction for him. He served as a member of the board of education for a number of years, and the cause of education found in him a warm champion. Throughout the long years of his residence in Ripley township he has gained an extensive circle of friends who hold him in high regard, and his salient characteristics are such as constitute him a desirable and valuable citizen in any community in which he resides.
THADDEUS W. HACKETT.
Thaddeus W. Hackett is well known in Huron county, where he still owns an excellent farm. However, he is now engaged in business in Mount Dora, Florida, where he is conducting an undertaking establishment, while in that state he also owns and controls an orange grove. One of Huron county's native sons, he was born in Ripley township on the 9th of December, 1843, and is a son of Wheeler and Lydia (Bowlby) Hackett. His paternal grandparents were Joseph and Sally (Frost) Hackett and they reared a family of eight children, namely: Wheeler, Alinda, Lovena, Charlotte, Elon, Curtis, Eron and Lewis. This number included the father of our subject who, having arrived at years of maturity, wedded Lydia Bowlby. a daughter of Samue! and Martha Bowlby. Their children were: Sarah, Matilda, Lydia, George, Nelson, William, Alfred, Eliza, Manuel, Edward, Eliza- beth and Samuel. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler Hackett was blessed with but three children .: Thaddeus, Samuel and Edward.
The first named spent his boyhood days in the usual manner of farm lads, his time being divided between the work of the fields, the duties of the schoolroom and the pleasures of the playground. When he had reached man's estate he was mar- ried, Miss Lora Malvina Thomas becoming his wife on the 3d of September. 1865. She was born on the 9th of June, 1847, and was a daughter of Levi and Laura (Hoag) Thomas, whose family numbered but three children, her sister and brother being Alice and Floyd Thomas. Mr. and Mrs. Hackett have no children of their own, but have reared an adopted daughter, Blanch L., who was born in 1881 and became a member of their household when twenty-two months old. She is now the wife of Frank Daniel and has four children : Harold, Ray, Edith and Frank.
Mr. Hackett was well known in the business circles of Huron county for a considerable period. For twelve years he conducted an undertaking establish- ment in North Fairfield and then removed south to Mount Dora, Florida, where for seven years he has continued in the same business. During the dark days of the Civil war he offered his services to the government, enlisting when only eighteen years of age, on the 9th of August, 1862, as a member of Company D, One Hundred and First Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was made bugler of his regiment and saw considerable active service, taking part in many of the most important battles of the war. He received honorable discharge on the 25th of March, 1864, in Tennessee, and now holds membership in the Grand Army of the
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Republic. Fraternally he is also connected with the Masonic lodge at Fairfield, with the Eastern Star, to which his wife also belongs, and is a member of the Odd Fellows lodge at Norwalk. Politically he is a republican, while his religious faith is indicated in his membership in the Universalist church. Throughout Huron county he has many friends who have known him from boyhood, and the high re- gard in which he is uniformly held shows that his has been a well spent and up- right life.
CHARLES L. MILLER.
Charles L. Miller, although one of the more recent additions to the bar of Greenwich, has already gained recognition as a member of the legal fraternity worthy of a liberal public clientage, his years seeming no bar to his advancement in his chosen field of labor. One of Ohio's native sons, he was born in Greenfield township, Huron county, on the 24th of August, 1883, his parents being Charles and Sophronia ( Noble) Miller, both of whom were natives of this county. The paternal grandfather, John Miller, came from England and settled in Huron county, Ohio, where he devoted his life to agricultural pursuits, the maternal grandfather also being engaged in that occupation. The father, Charles Miller, died in Michigan, where he was then residing, in July, 1883, a month before the birth of his son and only child.
After the death of the father the mother returned to Huron county, Ohio, and in the schools of Greenfield township Charles L. Miller acquired his early educa- tion. This training was later supplemented by study at the Fairfield high school, the Wharton high school and the Shiloh high school, the latter in Richland county, from which he was graduated with the class of 1903. The following two years were devoted to teaching, after which he took up the study of law under the direc- tion of S. L. Americus, an attorney of Greenwich. He continued thus for two. years, becoming thoroughly versed in the fundamental principles of the profes- sion, and then pursued a one year's course in the Detroit College of Law, after which he was matriculated in the law department of the Ohio Northern Univer- sity. He was awarded his Bachelor of Law degree by that institution in June, 1908, and a short time afterward opened up an office in Greenwich, becoming the successor of his former preceptor, S. L. Americus. Although it is well known that success at the bar is proverbially slow, nevertheless Mr. Miller has been most suc- cessful from the start and has already been accorded a gratifying and growing clientage. He is an intelligent young man, with the laudable ambition to succeed in his profession, and the fact that he has brought to the starting point of his legal career those qualities indispensable to the lawyer-a keen, rapid, logical mind, plus the business sense -- and more than all a ready capacity for hard work, combined with a thorough grasp of the law and the ability accurately to apply its principles, argues well for future prominence and success in his chosen calling.
In politics Mr. Miller is independent, preferring to give his support to the men and measures in his mind best adapted to subserve general welfare. He is not, however, remiss in matters of citizenship but on the contrary is public spirited to a marked degree, taking an active part in various affairs of public moment. He
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is a strong advocate of public improvements and drew up the first petition for paved streets in Greenwich. He persevered in the agitation of the matter until he succeeded in having at least one mile of paved streets laid in the city. Frater- nally he is a member of Greenwich Lodge, No. 543, F. & A. M., and attends the services of the Methodist Episcopal church, although not holding membership therein. A great student, he possesses a fine miscellaneous and law library. and he is well equipped by training and natural endowment to make a most successful practitioner at the bar.
DON J. YOUNG.
Don J. Young, who has the honor of being the youngest prosecuting attorney ever elected in the state of Ohio, was born in Norwalk, on the 8th of May, 1884. He is a son of S. M. and Isabelle ( Wagner) Young, the former an attorney of Norwalk, of whom extensive mention is made in another part of this volume.
Don J. Young received his early education in the common schools and later pursued a course in law at Western Reserve College, in Cleveland, Ohio. He en- gaged in the practice of law for a short time but is now serving his first year as prosecuting attorney of Norwalk county, having been elected to this office in 1908. Something of his personal popularity in the community is indicated in the fact that he was elected to his present office on the democratic ticket in a strong republican county, being the youngest prosecuting attorney ever elected in Ohio, as he was but twenty-four years of age at the time of his election. He has already given promise of a bright future, for along with those qualities indispensable to the lawyer-a keen, rapid, logical mind plus the business sense and a ready capac- ity for hard work-he has also brought to this, the starting point of his legal career, eloquence of language and a strong personality.
On the 29th of July, 1908, Mr. Young was united in marriage to Miss Elaine M. Dennis, who was born August 7, 1883, and is a daughter of Lloyde B. and Eliza Celestina (Yale) Dennis. Mrs. Young on the maternal side comes of Welsh lineage, her great-grandfather, Benjamin Yale, tracing his ancestry back to the little rock-ribbed country, while he is a direct descendant of David Yale. The Yale family early settled in America, representatives of the name having come from Wales to this country in 1637, settlement being made in New Haven. Moses Yale, the son of Benjamin Yale, was born October 5, 1808, in Rhinebeck, Dutch- ess county, New York. Early in life he came alone to Norwalk, Ohio, and here began work in the Reflector printing office as a typesetter, remaining in that po- sition until after he was married, when he became identified with the grocery bus- iness, in which connection he remained until he retired from active business life, after he had passed the sixtieth milestone on life's journey. During his residence here he purchased the old jail building and moved it across the corner where the Taber store now stands, after which he sold it, realizing what was considered in those days a handsome profit. On September 22, 1832, he had married Miss Ann Rowland, a native of Putnam county, New York, who was born on the Ist of August, 1812. The marriage occurred in Huron county, Ohio, and of the children
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born unto that union three are vet living, Mrs. H. S. Mitchell, Mrs. L. B. Dennis and Charles Yale. Mr. Yale passed away at the ripe old age of eighty-two years, after a long and severe illness.
Lloyde B. Dennis, who married Miss Eliza Celestina Yale, a daughter of Moses Yale, was born August 12, 1837, in Oswego county, New York, while the date of his wife's birth was February 22, 1843. He took his first step in the business world as a telegraph operator. but on the 19th of April, 1861, he laid aside all per- sonal matters and enlisted as a member of Company H, Fifteenth New York Volunteer Engineers, under Captain Ketchum, in Colonel Murphy's division. In December of that year he was transferred to the Telegraph Corps and was sent to Virginia and Kentucky, where he served for a long time with General Fremont as his private telegrapher. He was thus engaged until August 13, 1863. when he was discharged at Catlettsburg, Kentucky. Later he was attached to the commis- sary department and remained in the service until the close of the war. After his return home he directed his attention to the lumber business, handling the lumber from the time that, as a log, it was cut from the stump until it was made into fur- niture. He was identified with other interests also, at one time acting in the ca- pacity of engineer with the Standard Oil Company. He has now, however, retired from active business and is enjoying a well earned rest after many years of hard labor. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Dennis was blessed with four children, namely : Washington Yale, born January 10, 1868; Edith, who died in infancy ; Paul, born December 12, 1879, who passed away March 25. 1908: and Elaine M., the wife of Don J. Young, the subject of this review. The children were all edu- cated at Norwalk high school and the son is a very prominent real-estate dealer in Minneapolis.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Don J. Young has been blessed with one little daughter, Celestina Elaine, who is the light and life of the household. The young couple are very popular in the social circles of Norwalk, where they have a wide circle of warm friends, and Mr. Young, not only by reason of the gratifying posi- tion he has attained in professional circles of this city but also because of his up- right manhood and his many sterling traits of character, has won the respect. con- fidence and good will of his fellow citizens, the concensus of public opinion accord- ing him high rank among the prominent, representative and influential citizens of the community.
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