USA > Ohio > Huron County > History of Huron County, Ohio, Its Progress and Development, Volume II > Part 46
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55
468
HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY
Buff Orpingtons, Black Orpingtons, Black Javas, Blue Adalusians and English Red Caps and Bantams.
For the past twenty years Mr. McClave has been prominent as a poultry judge. He holds a judge's certificate issued by the American Poultry Association, certifying that he is an official judge for all varieties, and he is considered one of the best in the United States. In this capacity he travels from New York to San Francisco to make his engagements, covering about ten thousand miles an- nually. He has twenty-five hundred prize ribbons, representing the different prizes he has won with his poultry at various poultry shows as well as many medals which are only given for sweepstake prizes. He has one medal presented by the president of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in token of good will and service rendered at the occasion of the St. Louis Fair of 1904. He was a large exhibitor at that exposition, winning seventy-six ribbons and he also acted as judge of different classes of birds in which he was making no exhibits. He also has a very fine badge which was presented to him at the St. Louis Exposition. At the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago he was appointed superintend- ent of water fowls for ornamenting the lakes and waterways, embracing over six hundred rare specimens, both foreign and domestic. He spent over seven months at the World's Fair in full charge of this department. He was also an exhibitor at the poultry show there, winning over sixty prizes and also the cup for the best display from Ohio. He has made altogether over one hundred and seventy public exhibitions of poultry, winning in round numbers over eight thousand prizes, including such shows as are held in Boston, Syracuse, Buffalo, Pittsburg, Baltimore, Cleveland, St. Louis, Chicago and other places. Mr. McClave stands at the head of the poultry business as a breeder, exhibitor and judge. He makes daily shipments of fancy thoroughbred poultry to all parts of the United States and foreign countries, breeding about two thousand birds annually and also shipping large quantities of eggs for hatching purposes. He also handles a large and choice variety of water fowls. He has made poultry his study through life and has been one of the most successful in the business in the entire country.
The Linwood Poultry yards are situated on a choice farm of one hundred and sixty-four acres which adjoin the corporation limits of the village of New London. This farm is not only supplied with all conveniences for the conduct of his business, but is furnished with all modern improvements and is most at- tractive in its appearance. It was upon this farm that Mr. McClave was born and reared and he now owns and occupies the property. Here he began business in a small way but by careful study, close application and experience he has attained to prominence in his chosen field of labor. He also has a fine apiary of Italian bees and thoroughly understands the work of the apiarist, while in general farming he is also equally successful. He was formerly president of the American Poultry Association and holds a life membership therein, and is presi- dent of the Ohio branch of the American Poultry Association. This organiza- tion draws its members from the United States, Canada and the insular posses- sions of this country.
On the 15th of October, 1895, Mr. McClave was married to Miss Lucy Copland, who was born in Butler, Richland county, Ohio, August 28, 1869, a
469
HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY
daughter of Samuel and Mary Copland. They have two children, C. Howard, born January 12, 1901 ; and Eugene W., born September 9, 1904. In community affairs Mr. McClave is interested and has served as township trustee for nine years. He was also one of the organizers of the Savings & Loan Banking Com- pany, of New London, and was its first vice-president until 1909. In January, 1909, he was elected to the presidency and is also one of its directors. His name is an honored one in financial circles of the county. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and for the past five years he has given tangible evidence of his devotion to the cause of public education as an earnest and effective member of the school board. His life has at all times been honorable and upright and his fidelity to manly principles which never seek nor require disguise have made him one of Huron county's valued citizens.
PETER BREIT.
Peter Breit, whose well improved farm of eighty-two acres in Sherman town- ship gives evidence of the life of industry and enterprise led by the owner, has for many years been closely identified with the agricultural interests of Huron county. He is one of the worthy citizens that Germany has furnished to the United States, his birth having occurred in that country on the 16th of May, 1848. His parents, Joseph and Elizabeth (Clemans) Breit, spent their entire lives in the fatherland. Their children were six in number, namely: John. Joseph, Mary, Peter, Anna and Elizabeth.
Peter Breit obtained his education in the schools of his native land and was a young man of twenty-five years when in 1873 he set sail for the United States, having heard many favorable reports of the opportunities and advantages to be enjoyed in this country. After landing in New York he made his way at once to this state, taking up his abode in Sherman township, Huron county, where he has continued to reside to the present time. General agricultural pursuits have occupied his attention throughout his entire business career and he is now the owner of an excellent farm of eighty-two acres, which pays annual tribute to his care and labor in bounteous harvests. He is widely recognized as a pros- perous and enterprising citizen of the community and as one whose success is entirely the result of his own well directed labor and capable management.
Mr. Breit has been married twice. Two weeks after landing in the United States he wedded Miss Catherine Ranker, a native of Germany, who made the voyage to this country on the same boat with her future husband. She was called to her final rest in December, 1903, leaving a family of five children, as follows: Matilda, Nora, Peter, Ceno and Dulla. In 1907 Mr. Breit was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Minnie (Weinstein) Burghardt, the widow of Jacob Burghardt and a daughter of Valentine and Minnie Weinstein, both of whom were natives of Germany. Mrs. Breit has a daughter, Freda, by her first husband.
In his political views Mr. Breit is a democrat, to the men and measures of which party he gives stalwart support. In religious belief he is a Catholic, while
HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY
his wife is a member of the Lutheran church. The hope that led him to leave his native land and seek a home in America has been more than realized. He found the opportunities lie sought and in their wise utilization lias gained a measure of success that entitles him to recognition among the substantial and representative citizens of the community in which he has now made his home for more than a third of a century.
JACOB F. SMITH.
One of the prosperous farmers of Huron county, Ohio, is Jacob F. Smith, who not only owns the one hundred and forty-eight and a half acres in Richmond township on which he lives, but owns in addition sixty-five acres in Sullivan township, Asliland county, and two hundred and forty-three acres in Alberta, Canada. A native of Ohio, he was born in Stark county, near Alliance, Septem- ber 10, 1848, and is a son of John and Rebecca Smith. Of German stock, he had as grandparents on his father's side, Frederick and Elisabeth Smith, both of German birtlt, and on his mother's, Jacob and Margaret Fetterhoff, who were born in Pennsylvania, but were of German descent. His mother was born in Dauphine county, Pennsylvania, while his father was a native of Columbiana county, Ohio. In his early life, John Smith had learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed for some years, but with advancing age he devoted himself to the cultivation of the soil and became a very prosperous farmer. Ten children were born to him and his wife: Elisabeth, whose first husband was Michael Mer- kel, and her second, William Singer; Jacob F., the subject of this sketch ; James ; Hannah, who married Orange Chapman; Mary, the wife of John Eschenbach ; William; Loretta, who has passed away; Phoebe, who married Elzie Smith ; Lydia, the wife of Irvin Smith; and Emma, the wife of Warren Klinker.
Jacob F. Smith was reared at home and received the rudiments of an English education in the district schools of Ashland county. During the years that he pur- sued his lessons, he also worked for his father on the farm, especially during the summer months, but after he had completed his education he learned the carpenter's trade. This occupation he followed for a number of years, and then he returned to farming, to which he has devoted all his energies since and which has in fact been his calling through the greater part of his life. The land in Richmond township is a fine tract, well improved with a good frame house, a com- modious and well built barn and suitable cattle sheds. By hard work and care, he has brought the fields to a high degree of fertility and reaps from them yearly an abundant harvest as rich returns for his labor.
Mr. Smith was married to Miss Sophrona Fast on the 21st of January, 1871. Mrs. Smith is the daughter of Jacob and Margaret Fast, who were members of the farming community of Ashland county, Ohio, but are now deceased, the father being in his ninety-second year when in 1909 death called him, the mother being eighty-four when a year before her husband's death, her life's work was. finished. Mr. and Mrs. Fast were blessed with a large family, of whom Ephraint was the eldest ; Elmyra, married Louis J. McCraig; Sophrona, became the wife
471
HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY
of Jacob F. Smith, of this review ; Martha married John Thudium; Ruth, de- ceased, was the wife of George Curry ; Mary, wedded Mentor Johnston; Jacob H., Jessie and George are the next in order of birth; and Sarah Isabel, became the wife of Fred Thudium. To Mr. and Mrs. Smith six children have been born : Charles, who married Alta Willoughby and has one daughter, Thelma Mae; Will- iam A., who has remained single; Jesse F., who married Emma Carrick and is the father of two children, Arnold LeRoy and Wayland Edmond; and Clarence and Mary, who unmarried, live at home.
Mr. Smith is a democrat in politics and while he has always evinced a healthy interest in public matters and in the welfare of his community, he has not sought office, but rather has declined several positions that have been offered him. He has however, rendered efficient services as justice of the peace, an office he filled through six terms, as assessor, as road supervisor and as a member of the school board. He was urged to accept the nomination for township treasurer, and al- though he could not be persuaded to accept the office, the mere fact that he was the expressed choice of the democratic voters of his locality, attests the high respect and esteem in which he is held as a man and as a public servant.
W. F. REYNOLDS.
W. F. Reynolds, whose life of unremitting activity along agricultural lines has been crowned with a gratifying degree of prosperity, was born on the 14th of September, 1856, in Richland county, Ohio, a son of William and Elizabeth (Snyder) Reynolds, both natives of New York. He is the second in-order of birth in a family of three children born unto his parents, his sisters being Josephine and Emma Reynolds.
The period of the boyhood and youth of W. F. Reynolds was spent in the usual manner of the country lad, his education being acquired in the district schools, while during the summer seasons he assisted his father in the work of the farm, being early trained to habits of industry and economy which have formed the basis of the success which he now enjoys. He has made farming his life work and today he is the owner of one hundred and ten acres of land located in Ripley township, which he has brought under a high state of cultivation and which annually yield rich harvests. He has made a close study of agriculture and is methodical, systematic and progressive, so that he is numbered among the substantial and successful farmers in his section of the township.
In 1883 Mr. Reynolds was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Feighner, who was born in 1857 and was the eldest in a family of six children born unto Solomon and Sarah Matilda (Weisner) Feighner, the others being John, Emma, Cinderella, Harriett and Katie. Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds have become the parents of ten children, namely, Myrtle, George, Howard, Grace, Fred, Martha, Veribell, Willie, Elva and Carl. Mr. Reynolds and his wife hold membership in the Lutheran church, the teachings of which form the guiding influence of their lives, while Mr. Reynolds is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America and also the Sons of Veterans. In politics he gives his allegiance to the repub-
472
HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY
lican party, and although he has never cared to figure in public life, he is a strong advocate of every movement or measure calculated to advance the public good. Hle holds friendship inviolable and has a circle of friends almost coex- tensive with the circle of his acquaintances.
NAPOLEON ROBINSON.
Among the honored veterans of the Civil war who still survives is Napoleon Robinson, a prosperous and progressive farmer of Huron county, operating a tract of land of two hundred and twenty-three acres in Greenfield township. His birth occurred on the ist of January, 1844, in an old log house on this farm, his parents being Stephen and Emaline ( Hanes) Robinson. The father, a native of Onondaga county, New York, was born in 1795 and came to Ohio alone when a small boy and settled upon a farm, the land still being largely covered with dense timber. He cleared a space and erected a log house, and something of the wild- ness of the district is indicated by the fact that he could stand in the door of his cabin and shoot deer. He immediately began to remove the timber and improve the land, and it was not long before, by indefatigable industry and untiring per- severance, he had brought his fields under a high state of cultivation. He con- tinued to make this farm his place of residence throughout his remaining years, and in the year 1875, he passed away in the faith of the Baptist church. His wife, who was born near Rutland, Vermont, in 1801, came to Ohio with her parents, Nathaniel and Mary Hanes, when quite young, the family home being estab- lished in Greenfield township. She was called to her final est in 1888. In their family, were twelve children, namely: Maria, the deceased wife of Vernon West- cott, of California ; H. K., deceased ; Homer, who has also passed away ; Jerome, who was killed at the battle of Chancellorsville, being a member of Company I, Fifty-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry; Nancy Ann, who was killed by a bolt of lightning striking a tree, a piece of which flew through the window and struck her ; Caroline, the wife of Hiram R. Wright, of Kansas; Geneva, who married Charles Paul, of Kansas ; Hannah, deceased; Napoleon, of this review ; Fidelia, who became the wife of Charles Miller, of California; and Mary F. and Anna T. E., twins, the former deceased and the latter the wife of John Warner, of Illinois.
Reared upon the old homestead where he was born, Napoleon Robinson has continued to make this place his home throughout his entire life. He attended the district schools in the acquirement of an education and also assisted in the work of the farm, early becoming familiar with the tasks that fall to the lot of the coun- try lad. After laying aside his text-books he was actively engaged in agricult- ural pursuits until the year 1862, when, putting aside all personal considera- tions, he enlisted on the 15th of August as a soldier of Company C, One Hundred and Twenty-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He first went to the camp of in- struction at Monroeville, Ohio, and then went to Virginia, there participating in several battles and skirmishes, being in the battles of the Shenandoah valley, under Sheridan and also taking part in the capture of Richmond. He was taken
MR. AND MRS. NAPOLEON ROBINSON
475
HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY
prisoner at High Bridge, Virginia, but in a few days was paroled, and later, he was taken prisoner the second time when in the hospital at Petersburg with measles and was again paroled. During his term of enlistment, he saw much active service and was mustered out at Camp Chase on the 15th of June, 1865, with a very creditable record for bravery and loyalty.
When the country no longer needed his services, Mr. Robinson returned home and has since devoted his attention to the further improvement and culti- vation of his farm, which, under his careful supervision, has become one of the valuable and attractive farming properties in the township. He practices rota- tion of crops, makes a close study of the cereals best adapted to climate and soil and the proper cultivation of the same, and in his business is meeting with sub- stantial success.
It was on the 28th of May, 1867, that Mr. Robinson was united in marriage to Miss Anna White, a daughter of Oscar and Maria (Lotton) White, of Greenfield township, and unto this union have been born three children, as follows: Henry Grant, residing in Peru township, who married Bertha Smith and has ten chil- dren, Mildred, Eva, Isabel, Stephen, Francis, Gladys, Naomi, Sylvia, Dorothy and Homer N., and one who passed away in infancy ; and May E., who died at the age of seventeen months. Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise, Mr. Robinson has been a stalwart supporter of the republican party and has served in various minor offices. He has filled the office of school director and is deeply and helpfully interested in the cause of education. A man of intense public spirit, he has at all times remained as faithful to his country in times of peace as when he followed the old flag upon southern battlefields. He keeps up pleasant rela- tions with his old army comrades through his membership in the Grand Army of the Republic and is one of the valued and representative citizens of Huron county.
FRANK BURRAS.
Among the native sons of Huron county who are meeting with success along agricultural lines is Frank Burras, who was born in Fairfield township, on the 22d of April, 1845, and is a son of Reuben and Sallie (Standish) Burras. The father originally came from the east, settling in Ohio, where he continued to make his residence until his death. In his family were the following children: Frank, Oscar, Edgar, Reuben S., Charles Peleg, and Dorr.
Spending the period of his boyhood and youth amid the scenes and environ- ments of rural life, Frank Burras attended the district schools in the acquirement of his education, and remained upon his father's farm, assisting in the work of the fields, until he attained his majority. He had early become familiar with the duties that fall to the lot of the country lad, and his decision was therefore a wise one when, entering upon business life for himself, he chose as his life work the occupation to which he had been reared. He has since been continuously en- gaged in agricultural pursuits and now carries on general farming upon a farm of two hundred acres located in Fairfield township. He devotes much of his time to the raising of sheep, having on hand at the present time about two hundred
476
HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY
head, which he keeps mainly for the purpose of selling the wool. His farm, with the exception of eighty acres, which is now one of the well improved properties of the community, was bought and paid for almost entirely from the proceeds of his sheep raising. He is progressive and up-to-date in his business methods and his well directed energy and enterprise are meeting with most gratifying success. The life history of Mr. Burras is well known to the residents of Fairfield town- ship, where his entire life has been spent and where he has gained an extensive circle of acquaintances and many warm friends.
WILLIAM H. CHAPIN.
William H. Chapin, a substantial farmer of New London township, Ohio, was born July 13, 1848, on the farm where he now lives, and in a home but a few feet removed from the place now occupied by his present residence. He is the son of Daniel L. and Pamela (McIntire) Chapin. The father was born in Fair- field county, Connecticut, June 17, 1798, and shortly after his marriage came to Ohio. At Dover, where he settled, his wife died, and he married Miss Pamela McIntire, a native of St. Lawrence county, New York. In 1845, Mr. and Mrs. Chapin removed to New London township, locating on the farm their son now occupies. The homestead originally contained only fifty acres, but Mr. Chapin was soon able to add twenty to it, making it an excellent property. He was a man of good education and many attainments and before coming to Ohio, had taught school for a number of years in the east. He was the father of three sons. Samuel, the youngest, died at the age of nineteen, but Eliphalet and William H. are still living. Mr. Chapin died in September, 1885, and his widow on the 22d of February following. Both are buried in the cemetery at New London.
William H. Chapin spent his youth, and in fact his whole life, on his present farm. In the district schools of the township he received his education, In 1881, he brought his wife to the home place, continuing to make it his residence and engaged in general farming and stock raising. He has been a hard and thrifty worker and has added to the inherited land until it has now an extent of one hundred and twenty-nine and one half acres, under the best cultivation and pro- ducing richly. In his stock business also he has been very successful. When called upon to exercise his right of franchise, Mr. Chapin gives his support to the republi- can party, and though he is not averse to giving his services to the people, he has not taken an active part in political affairs. For a few years, he held the position of road supervisor and has also served on the school board, in both of which capacities he gave satisfaction to his constituents.
On the 16th of March, 1881, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Chapin and Miss Samantha Ward, a daughter of Jonathan and Elizabeth (Stone) Ward. About 1855. Mr. Ward, with his family, came from New York state to New Lon- don township, where he engaged in farming until his death a few years ago. His two sons, Jonathan and Hiram, served in the war of the Rebellion, the latter dying at Beverly. Virginia, from the effects of a wound received in the battle of Allegheny, Virginia. Jonathan Ward served in the Twelfth Ohio Battery to the
477
HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY
close of the war and is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Chapin became the parents of two children : Homer, who died in infancy ; and Clara M., a young girl of eighteen years, who graduated from the New London high school in 1908. She is an accomplished young woman and makes her home with her father. Mrs. Chapin passed away April 24, 1898.
Mr. Chapin professes allegiance to no religious denomination, but is a believer in churches and the good they render to the community. His own life, upright and Christian in the broader sense, he guides by the golden rule, putting this pre- cept into practice daily. A man of wide culture, he has traveled through sixteen of the states of the Union and has visited most of the large cities of this realm, save those on the Pacific slope. He is able to form an intelligent idea of public affairs and conditions and takes an acute interest in the things that concern the welfare of the township and county, is an advocate of progress and the judic- ous expenditure of the public funds, and is a man who makes his influence felt by those around him.
LEVANT W. GRIFFIN.
Levant W. Griffin, a farmer of New London township, Huron county, Ohio, was born in Greenwich township, this county, May 15, 1861, a son of Orin S and Lucinda (Redfield) Griffin. The grandparents, Robert and Mariah (St. John) Griffin, came with their respective parents from New York state and were married in Huron county, where Orin S. Griffin was born and reared. He fol- lowed farming for some time, but was a man of liberal education, who for a period of thirty years was a popular and successful teacher in the schools of this county. For many years he lived in Greenwich township, but in 1885, having been elected county treasurer, he moved to Norwalk, where he resided until his death. He served in that county office for two terms, or four years, and then engaged in various enterprises, until he decided to retire from the active pursuit of busi- ness and enjoy the comforts to which his long and active life had entitled him. In May, 1906, he passed away and was mourned by all classes of people as a man of fine character and sterling integrity. His wife, who had come to Huron county an orphan of fifteen years, from Jackson, Michigan, had died in January, 1902. Husband and wife were buried in Woodland cemetery, Norwalk.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.