USA > Ohio > Huron County > History of Huron County, Ohio, Its Progress and Development, Volume II > Part 4
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HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY
where he settled on a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Perry township, which is still in the family.
Mr. Johnson's church affiliations are with the Presbyterians, and he has given stalwart support to the republican party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He has served as township trustee for seven years and is still the incumbent in that office. Mr. Johnson has not only been industrious, but has evidenced in his transactions those qualities which make friends, and, being upright in all of his dealings and interested in the moral as well as the financial welfare of the community, he enjoys the confidence and respect of all who know him.
LEANDER L. DOUD.
Leander L. Doud, secretary of the A. B. Chase Company and thus con- nected with the manufacturing interests of Norwalk, is well known by reason of his activities in behalf of the best interests of the community, his influence always being on the side of right, justice, progress and improvement.
He is a descendent of Henry Doud, who came from Surrey county, England, in 1639, with a colony under the Rev. Henry Whitfield and settled in Guilford, Connecticut. His ancestry also traces back to the Tallmans, prominently identi- fied with the history of Connecticut, Governor Tallman being one of the early governors of that state.
Mr. Doud was born in Huron county, Ohio, May 20, 1838, a son of Samuel and Philura (Niles) Doud, who were natives of New York and Vermont re- spectively. The paternal grandfather, Solomon Doud, was born in Connecticut and in 1823, after living some time in the Empire state, came to Huron county, settling in Greenwich township, where he made the first clearing and built him a house at the center of the township. The journey westward was made by way of the lakes to Sandusky, and thence with ox-teams through the woods to their destination. Samuel Doud was at that time a lad of ten years and through the period of his boyhood and youth he assisted as best he could in the arduous task of developing the new country, frequently clearing land on his own account. He boasted of the fact that he bought his farm of one hundred and six acres in the southeast corner of Greenwich township with his ax. Here, having cleared off a few acres of the timber and building a log cabin, he married Miss Philura Niles, a young school teacher from Vermont. A few years later he built one of the first colonial homes in that section of the county and here reared his family, Lean- der L. Doud, the subject of this sketch, being the eldest of six children. In 1868 the father removed to New London, Huron county, adjoining the corporation on the south. He was one of the influential and enterprising men of the commun- ity where he lived, took a prominent place in the business circles, acting for some time as director and vice-president of the New London National Bank, while in other connections his labors constituted an important element in the business activity of the district. He was a highly respected man, whose integrity was one of the salient points in his career. He was a leading and valued mem-
L. L. Dad
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HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY
ber ot, and local preacher in the Methodist church. The last year of his life was devoted to the building of the present brick Methodist Episcopal church in New London, which he lived to see completed and paid for, taking up the last note a few days before his death, which occurred December 20, 1880.
Leander L. Doud acquired his early education in the country schools of this state, taught five seasons, and received his later education in the Norwalk Semin- ary, Savannah Academy, Baldwin University at Berea, Ohio, and the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, Ohio. At the latter college it was his good fortune to come under the direct influence of the late Bishop McCabe as a fel- low student, and of Bishop Thompson, then president of the institution. In his early twenties, Mr. Doud was engaged with his father in extensive stock-raising and wool-growing business, selling their products in the eastern markets of Boston and New York.
On September 10, 1863, he was united in marriage to Miss Harriet Bloom Eberly, a teacher in the public schools of Wood county, Ohio, and established his home on a farm in Greenwich township. Of their four children, two-Philura Semeramis and Ida Winifred-died in early childhood. A daughter, Louie Naomi, and a son, Harry Lea, are living, the latter an attorney of Cincinnati, Ohio.
In 1866 Mr. Doud removed to New London, Ohio, where together with Al- bert White, he built the town hall block and engaged in merchandising for eight years, acting also as postmaster for several years. It was here that he formed the acquaintance of Captain A. B. Chase, who later became the founder and president of the company that bears his name. In 1875 he removed to Norwalk, Ohio, and joined with A. B. Chase and others in organizing the A. B. Chase Com- pany for the manufacture of musical instruments. Being a charter member, Mr. Doud became its first secretary and treasurer and has continued as secretary and general manager to the present time. He has seen the business grow and prosper until it is one of the most important in Huron county, second to none of its kind in the state, with the highest reputation for organs, pianos and player- pianos that is world wide. His keen discrimination, his capable management and his undaunted enterprise have been salient features in its success. He has been watchful of all the details pointing to the growth and perfection of the business and has ever maintained a high standard in the character of the output, in the personnel of the house and in the nature of the service rendered to the public. In 1880 Mr. Doud built the Doud block, now the Maccabee Temple, at Nor- walk, Ohio, and in 1882 erected his brick residence on West Main street.
Mr. Doud is an active Methodist and an enthusiastic Sunday-school worker. At the age of fifteen, soon after uniting with the church, he was elected secre- tary of the local Sunday school, and has held official relations with the church and Sunday school ever since. He was Sunday-school superintendent for over twenty- five years, frequently in the early days, superintending his home school in the morning and one in the country in the afternoon. He was for many years sec- retary or president of the Huron County Sunday School Association, president of the Huron county branch of the American Bible Society, and has for many years conducted a large adult Bible class in the Norwalk Methodist Sunday school.
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HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY
Mr. Doud has acted as trustee of Baldwin University, Berea, Ohio, and of the Lakeside Association. He is a steward and trustee of the Norwalk Methodist Episcopal church, and was secretary of the building committee when their new stone edifice was erected.
In 1904 he was a delegate to the World's Fourth International Sunday school convention, which met at Jerusalem, and while abroad visited many points of ancient and modern historic interest. Being a keen observer, he profited by the knowledge which he gained concerning the social and religious work of the old world. Mr. Doud was a delegate also to the International Sunday School con- vention at Toronto, Canada, in 1907. He has been an extensive traveler, his business relations having taken him into nearly every state in the Union, and his vacation trips including Canada, Cuba, Mexico and countries of Europe, Asia and Africa. He is a well read man, a good writer on the subjects which he dis- cusses and an original and strong thinker, and a man of high moral character Realizing that the purposes of life are manifold and that the interests of the in- dividual should touch many lines, he has not confined his attention to business affairs alone, but has been an interested and liberal supporter of education, of temperance, of church work, and in fact all movements for the general good.
GEORGE A. NICOLLS.
George A. Nicolls, residing on his well improved and valuable farm of one hundred and seventy acres in Bronson township, has been successfully identi- fied with general agricultural pursuits throughout his active business career. His birth occurred in Cayuga county, New York, on the 30th of October, 1829, his parents being John and Sarah ( Peck) Nicolls, the latter a native of Mas- sachussetts. The paternal grandfather of our subject was William Nicolls, who served all through the Revolutionary war of 1776, and the maternal grandfather, Abijah Peck, served in the war of 1812 with the rank of major. John Nicolls, the father of George A. Nicolls, likewise did duty as a soldier in the war of 1812, serving throughout the entire conflict. In the year 1837, he brought his wife and children to Huron county, Ohio, the family home being established in Bron- son township. This part of the state was still largely wild and undeveloped and he found it necessary to clear the land of the timber before it could be utilized for farming purposes. Unto hini and his wife were born eight children, namely : Seymour, who died in infancy; William; Ray ; Levina; Samantha ; John ; Abijah and George A.
George A. Nicolls, who was but a little lad of eight years when he accom- panied his parents on their removal to this county, early became familiar with the duties and labors which fall to the lot of the agriculturist through the assistance which he rendered his father in the opening up and development of the latter's farm. Throughout his entire business career, he has devoted his time, and ener -. gies to the work of general farming, in which he has won a substantial meas- ure of success, being most practical and progressive in his methods. He is the owner of an excellent farm of one hundred and seventy acres in Bronson town-
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HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY
ship, where he resides and is well entitled to be classed with the substantial and representative citizens of the community. He is one of the stockholders in the Sandusky, Norwalk and Mansfield Railroad.
On-the 10th of March, 1870, Mr. Nicolls was united in marriage to Miss Cla- rissa Burnap, a daughter of Job and Olive Burnap. Sarah and Mary, the two daughters born of this union, are now deceased.
Mr. Nicolls is a firm believer in the principles of the republican party and al- ways casts his ballot in support of its men and measures. He has now been a resident of this county for seventy-two years and is therefore thoroughly familiar with its annuals from a pioneer period down to the present time, having not only been an interested witness but also an active participant in the work of upbuilding and improvement. He has now reached the eightieth milestone on the journey of life and can look back over the past without regret and forward to the future with- out fear, for his life has been characterized by honor and integrity in all relations.
LANNES LAMAR ANTRIM.
A history of Greenwich township would hardly be complete without mention of Lannes Lamar Antrim, one of the most prominent and highly respected citizens of the community. He was born in West Middleburg, Logan county, Ohio, Jan- uary 10, 1841, a son of Joshua and Mary (Grubb) Antrim. His grandfather, Thomas Antrim, who came from Culpeper county, Virginia, was a Quaker and was the first minister of any denomination to arrive in Logan county, while his son, Daniel Antrim, was the first white child born in that county.
Joshua Antrim, the father of our subject, was identified with the tailoring busi- ness and was also a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church for some time, while later he became an adherent of the Swedenborgian faith. He was a man of great literary ability and a historian of broad information. He was also greatly in- terested at all times in the pioneer organizations of Logan and Champaign coun- ties and at the solicitation of the Logan County Pioneer Society, in 1874, he pre- pared and published a history of that county. His death occurred in November, 1874. He had wedded Miss Mary Grubb and unto them were born twelve chil- dren, namely: Avarilla, the wife of Eli Cowgill; Lannes Lamar, of this review ; Hester, the wife of William Stoop, of Ottumwa, Iowa; Elizabeth, the wife of Moses Euans ; Matilda, deceased ; Joseph, also deceased; Sarah, who wedded Wil- liam Glasgow, of Muncie, Indiana ; Ida and Anna, who have passed away ; Thomas, residing in Columbus ; Mary, deceased ; and one who died in infancy. Joseph An- trim was a prominent minister of the Episcopal church and preached the funeral ser- mon over the remains of General Gordon, the well known and eloquent lecturer. He passed away several years ago in New Orleans.
In a home of culture and refinement, Lannes Lamar Antrim passed the days of his boyhood and youth, acquiring his education in the public schools of West Middleburg, and at the age of sixteen years took up the blacksmith's trade, in which line of work he has continuously engaged to the present time. He remained in his native town until 1896, when he came to Greenwich and has since made
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HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY
his home in this city. Here he has devoted his time and energies to the conduct of his business affairs, in which he has met with most gratifying success.
On the 18th of January, 1862, Mr. Antrim was united in marriage to Miss Anna Prall, a daughter of Isaac and Catherine (Hutchins) Prall, natives of Philadel- phia, Pennsylvania, who came to Ohio about the year 1844. Her father was a prominent horse dealer and bought horses for the government during the period of the Mexican war, being considered an expert in this line of business. He passed away many years ago in Logan county. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Antrim was blessed with six children, as follows: Catherine, the wife of Scott Norvall, of Arizona ; Jessie, engaged in teaching in the public schools of Cleveland; Homer, deceased ; Louise, also teaching in the Cleveland public schools; Carl, of Green- wich; and Crystal, the wife of Fred Hines, the cashier of the Farmers Bank of Greenwich.
The family were for years members of the Methodist Protestant church, while Mr. Antrim acted as superintendent of the Sunday school most of the time for twenty-five years and was always active in the work of the church and Sunday school. Since coming to Greenwich, however, the family have attended the Metho- dist Episcopal church, there being no Methodist Protestant organization in this city. Mr. Antrim now gives his allegiance to the republican party, although for some years he was affiliated with the prohibition party, being deeply interested in and active in the support of the cause of temperance. He is a splendid type of the American citizen who at all times stands for that which is highest and best in the world, supporting many measures of reform and improvement that uplift human- ity and work for the common weal.
WASHINGTON IRVING ADAMS.
Washington Irving Adams is one of the active and progressive agriculturists of Huron county, making his home on his farm of one hundred acres in Fairfield township. He is a native of that township, his birth having there occurred on the 7th of November, 1842. His parents were Sherwood and Delecta ( Foote) Adams, the former a son of David and Betsy (Lyon) Adams and the latter a daughter of Ebenezer and Lydia (Gage) Foote. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Sherwood Adams were born two children, Linden and Washington Irving.
The last named has been engaged in general agricultural pursuits throughout his entire business career and has resided on his present farm of one hundred acres for the past twenty-five years. As the result of his unremitting industry and cap- able management he has gained a gratifying measure of prosperity in his under- takings and has long been numbered among the substantial and enterprising citi- zens of the community.
In 1864 Mr. Adams was united in marriage to Miss Lovisa Carbine, a daugh- ter of Horace and Clarissa Carbine, by whom he has one child, Lena, who was born in 1870. She was educated in a college at Hillsdale, Michigan, and afterward taught in a high school of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, but is now in Logansport, Indiana.
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HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY
In his political views Mr. Adams is a stanch republican, while his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Baptist church, with which his wife is also identified. Having spent his entire life in this locality, he is well known and the fact that many of his stanchest friends are those who have known him from his boyhood is an indication that his career is worthy of respect and confidence.
ANNA J. McPHERSON.
Mrs. Anna J. McPherson, who is of Scotch-Irish descent, owns one hundred and twenty-three acres of land in Greenfield township, where she has lived for more than sixty years, being born in this township, January 17, 1824. Her parents, John and Martha ( Easter ) Arthur, were of Irish birth but came to this county in the days of the pioneers. They settled in Greenfield township, cleared their own farm and became substantial citizens of the land of their adoption. A more ex- tended mention of them and of their descendants is given in the sketch of Robert Arthur, a farmer of Greenfield township.
Mrs. McPherson has spent all her life in this township. Her education was ac- quired in the public schools of Steuben and the practical experience that fitted her to be the wife of a farmer was obtained at home with her parents. In her young womanhood she was married August 12, 1841, to James McPherson, the son of William and Mary McPherson, natives of Ireland but numbered among the early settlers of Bronson township. James McPherson was also of Irish birth and was the first of his family to come to this country. He was a young man and came alone, but, after finding that the chances of making his way in the world were so much better here than in Ireland sent for his parents. He had learned the carpen- ter's trade, which he followed on coming to Ohio, and it is said that he helped to build some of the first houses in Norwalk. After obtaining employment in several other places, he went to Steuben, where he assisted in building the Congregational church. Shortly after that he abandoned his trade for the pursuit of farming, for in 1846, he had purchased a good-sized tract of land, that on which his widow lives today. It was at the time virgin soil, well covered with timber, and the work of clearing the forest was no small undertaking. The greater part of this he did himself as well as building his fine house. Many improvements have since been made, and were, in fact, instituted before Mr. McPherson's life was closed on the 22d of June, 1858, at the age of forty-four years and four months to the day. A hard-working man, his integrity of deed and purpose was recognized by his fel- lows, who as whigs elected him to fill the office of treasurer of the township. His religious affiliation was with the Congregational church.
Of the marriage that was solemnized in the Arthur home on the 12th of August, 1841, there were born three children : William Hamilton, living in Bronson town- ship, was twice married, the first time to Miss Lucy A. Wheeler, who left three children, Arthur, William H. and Scott, and the second time to Miss Margaret Much, and they have two sons, Clyde and Glenn. George A., the second son, is a resident of Greenfield township. He married Miss Emma Willoughby, by whom he has had two children : Robert, deceased; and Jennie, who is the wife of Fred
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HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY
Flyn and has a daughter Helen. They live in Ashland county, Ohio. John F., the youngest son, lives at home and manages his mother's farm. He attended the pub- lic school at Steuben, from which he went to the National Normal College at Le- banon, Ohio, where he took a teacher's course. For a few years after completing his education he devoted himself to instructing others in the rudiments of the Eng- lish language and other school subjects and then engaged in farming. He has been successful in agriculture and has won for himself a respected position among the citizens of Greenfield township, whom he has served to their satisfaction as jus- tice of the peace and as town clerk and in other capacities, having held the first mentioned office through a period of twenty-three years, and the second for twenty- one years. He is a demccrat in politics and a member of the Presbyterian church, in which he has held several offices. Fraternally he is connected with the Knights of the Maccabees and has held almost all the offices of the tent.
During the more than half-century that Mrs. McPherson has lived upon her farm she has witnessed and participated in the many changes that have trans- formed the country from a sparsely inhabited tract of undeveloped field and forest, into one of the best improved portions of the state. The progress is gratifying and especially is the knowledge that her farm has kept up with the march of time and is as improved and well cultivated a tract as is included in the township of Greenfield.
MRS. ANNIE M. STENTZ.
Analyzation of character is perhaps the most difficult task that ever confronts the historian, so complex are the interests that enter in and so diversified are the forces which have influence upon the individual. It would seem almost impos- sible to point out the salient factors in the life of Mrs. Annie M. Stentz, for hers is a well rounded life in which notable business ability, broad humanitarianism, kindly spirit and liberal culture are well balanced forces. She is probably with- out exception the most prominent and best known woman in Huron county and has had the notable distinction of being the only woman national bank president in the United States.
A native of Ashland county, Ohio, her birth occurred in Mifflin township, March 31. 1846, her parents being Benjamin and Annie (Albert) Newcomer, both of whom were natives of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. She has been a resident of Monroeville, Huron county, since 1863, and on the 4th of October, 1872. she gave her hand in marriage to Orren W. Head, a native of Paris, Oneida county, New York, born in May, 1808. His parents were Jonathan and Hepzibah (Liver- more) Head, natives of Rhode Island and New Hampshire, respectively. Orren W. Head was reared to farm life and was educated in the subscription schools of the neighborhood. In 1836 he wedded Julia Crane of Marshall, Oneida county, New York, and unto them were born three sons and two daughters, but the lat- ter are now deceased. In 1842 Mr. Head and his family became residents of Ridgefield township, Huron county, where he purchased four hundred and twenty acres of land, the greater part of which was formerly the Sours farm.
Annie M. Stank-
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HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY
As the years passed he kept his land well improved and cultivated, bringing the fields under a high state of development so that rich crops were annually har- vested. In 1857 he erected what is now known as the Davis block in Monroe- ville, where he conducted a banking business for a number of years, the enter- prise being first conducted as the Perkins & Head Exchange Bank. Following the death of the senior partner it became known as the O. W. Head Exchange Bank and was so maintained until 1863, when Mr. Head sold out to S. V. Hark- ness. He always conducted a private banking business and through his careful and wise management accumulated a goodly fortune, while the integrity of his business methods won him the high regard of all. One of the founders of the Monroeville National Bank, he served as its president from the time of its incep- tion until his death, which occurred October 2, 1882. Mr. Head was honored for his loyalty to his friends, for his public-spirited devotion to the general good and his support of all projects for the intellectual and moral uplift of the com- munity. He assisted more men in their hour of need to secure homes than any other one citizen in the county, and the spirit of friendless thus manifested won for him an almost limitless circle of friends.
It was upon the death of Mr. Head that his widow, now Mrs. Stentz, gave evidence of her superior business qualifications. Assuming the management of the estate she soon brought order out of chaos in a manner that at once stamped her as one of the most capable of modern business women. She received a goodly inheritance from her husband and, possessing a fondness for business manage- ment, controlled her affairs with rare skill and discrimination. One of her fav- orite investments was the stock of the First National Bank of Monroeville, and in the course of time she and Henry P. Stentz became the largest stockholders. Their marriage, which occurred April 15, 1901, brought about a transfusion of interests which gave them control of the corporation.
Henry P. Stentz, up to the time of his death the president of the First Na- tional Bank, was prominent in the array of leading financiers and capitalists of Monroeville and Ohio. He was always a builder and not a wrecker of for- tunes, his work being along constructive lines and of a character that con- tributed to general success as well as to individual prosperity. There was no name more honored or respected throughout Huron county than that of Henry P. Stentz, who was richly endowed with all those qualities which constituted good citizenship and honorable manhood. He was born in Middletown, Pennsylvania, February 26, 1838, and was descended from German ancestry, from whom he inherited his characteristic energy, good judgment and other business qualities that made him the successful financier he proved himself to be. His parents were Peter and Catherine (Keller) Stentz, natives of Pennsylvania, who removed to Huron county, Ohio, in 1840. After a brief period they established their home in Plymouth, Richmond county, but much of the residue of their days was passed at Galion, Crawford county, to which place they removed in 1853.
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