USA > Ohio > Huron County > History of Huron County, Ohio, Its Progress and Development, Volume II > Part 49
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Andrew Snyder, the father of Joel E. Snyder, was the third from the youngest in the family of thirteen. He was a farmer and a county bridge con- structor, and several of the substantial bridges and viaducts of Northumberland county were built by him or under his supervision. In April, 1866, he came to Ohio, settling in New London township, Huron county, where he pursued his farming with great success. He had a family of nineteen children by his first wife and three by a second; only eight of the nineteen, however, are alive today. They are Louisa, now Mrs. John Tonkinson, of Waverly, Nebraska ; Emma, the wife of Samuel Kauffman, of Pratt, Kansas; Joel E .; Nathan and Adam, of New London township; Charles H., of Pratt, Kansas; Mary Jane, now Mrs. Edward Osborn, of Council Bluffs, Iowa; and Sarah Ann, the wife of Cleabert Lilly, of Pratt, Kansas. All the children have prospered in the business they have undertaken. Mr. Snyder's first wife died September, 1877, and when he himself died, January 17, 1908, he was buried by her side in the cemetery at East Ruggles. A good man and a strong man of high principles, the citizens of the county mourned his loss.
Joel E. Snyder grew up at home on his father's farm and received his educa- tion in the district schools of the county of his birth, and, after the family moved to Ohio, in the schools of New London township. In 1876 he entered upon his business career as a traveling salesman for harvesting machinery and other farm implements, his territory being the northern counties of Ohio. Three years later he engaged in farming, first, for a year upon his father's land. In the spring of 1881 he removed to New London, where he worked at the trade of
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cabinetmaker, which he had learned in his youth, and for twelve years made a reputation for himself as a clever carpenter and skilful mechanic. In 1893 he again engaged in farming in New London township, and two years later pur- chased the farm which has since been his home. Here he carries on diversified agriculture, though he makes a specialty of potatoes and has given considerable attention to stock raising. The buildings on the land, including his own resi- dence, are all modern and excellently constructed from his own designs and largely by his unassisted efforts. Mr. Snyder calls his place "Sand Creek," from the little creek that runs through his grounds and the quantities of sand of su- perior grade found there. He hauls hundreds of loads of this every year and from it derives a considerable revenue.
On the 2d of November, 1879, Mr. Snyder was united in marriage to Miss Carrie May Jewell, a daughter of James and Mary Jane (Ensign) Jewell. The parents are of English birth and are residents of Lorain county, Ohio. To Mr. and Mrs. Snyder have been born two sons: Alton Carroll and Kenneth R. The elder married Miss Tessa Tynder and they have two children, Lillian and El- dred Martin. They live in New London. Kenneth R. lives at home and man- ages the farm, a responsibility for which he gave up his profession of teaching.
Mr. Snyder has always taken an active interest in public matters and is well informed on all questions before the people. His political sympathies are with the republican party, on whose ticket in New London township he has been elected to the office of real estate appraiser for 1910, a testimony of the high regard in which he is held by the substantial men of this locality. He belongs to no socie- ties but his son Alton Carroll is a member of the New London Lodge, I. O. O. F., and Kenneth R. belongs to the Masonic lodge of the township. Both are fine young men. Mr. Snyder, with his wife, is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and has been for many years a class leader in the congregation and other- wise active in church and Sunday school work. He is, indeed, a fine citizen, public spirited, contributing to the progress and advancement of the community in which he lives.
AUGUSTUS L. COIT.
Augustus L. Coit, owning and operating an excellent farm of one hundred and twelve acres located in Fairfield township, Huron county, was born August 26, 1848, in New York city, a son of James L. and Elizabeth (Rodgers) Coit. The father was born in Connecticut on the 29th of July, 1815, while the mother, who was also born in the east, passed away when the subject of this sketch was very young. She was the mother of five children, namely : Eureka, William H., Augustus L., Eudora, and Mandora. The father was the second eldest in a fam- ily of four children born unto Elias L. and Phoebe (Brown) Coit, the others being Augustus T., Andrew Jackson and William E., two of whom were sailors.
Augustus L. Coit accompanied his parents to Ohio when very small and there- fore almost his entire life has been passed within the borders of this state. He acquired his education in the district schools and remained at home, giving his
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father the benefit of his assistance, until he reached manhood. When he entered business upon his own account he was first identified with the stone interests in Greenfield, operating a quarry at that place for nearly twenty years, and during this period he gained a creditable degree of success, his industry, enterprise and perseverance being salient elements in his prosperity. He later became connected with agricultural pursuits, purchasing the farm upon which he now resides, which has been in his possession for about six years. It consists of one hundred and twelve acres located in Fairfield township and is one of the desirable properties of the locality. He carries on general farming, practices rotation of crops, and makes a close study of the best methods of plowing, planting and harvesting, and his efforts are proving most successful, returning to him a gratifying annual in- come.
The year 1877 witnessed the marriage of Mr. Coit and Miss Anna T. Gra- ham, who is the daughter of George and Elizabeth (Meyers) Graham, and one of four children born unto that couplé, the other members of the family being Henry, George and Elizabeth. Four children have come to bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Coit, namely : Lena M., born in 1881 ; Morris E., born in 1883; Alma B., whose birth occurred in 1886; and Elizabeth R., born in 1893. all of whom are still under the parental roof.
In his political allegiance Mr. Coit is a stalwart republican, doing all in his power to further the influence of that party in the community, although he does not seek public preferment as a reward for party fealty. He is at present serv- ing as a member of the board of education, and does all in his power to promote and uphold a high standard of education throughout the township. Public-spir- ited to a large degree, Mr. Coit's influence is always upon the side of progress, reform, improvement and advancement, and these qualities constitute him a citi- zen of worth in the community in which he resides.
FRANK G. FENTON.
An excellent farming property of ninety-seven acres in Ripley township, Hu- ron county, pays tribute to the care and labor of Frank G. Fenton. A native of New York, he was born on the 13th of March, 1867, a son of George and Emma (Loomis) Fenton, both natives of the Empire state, who were also the parents of the following: Charles, Arthello and Aouda. The father was a son of Stephen and Philena (Cutler) Fenton, whose family consisted of Charles, Joel, Gilbert, George, Miles and Betsy.
Frank G. Fenton acquired his education in the district schools of his native state, where he was reared to manhood, and in 1892 he came to Ohio. He was thoroughly trained to the various duties of the home farm and has been identified with farming throughout the greater part of his active business career. For a few years, however, he was engaged in a creamery, but eventually resumed farming pursuits and now is the owner of ninety-seven acres of fine land upon which he has resided since his arrival in this state. He has brought his fields under a high state of cultivation, and the soil, which is naturally rich and productive, responds
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readily to the care and attention bestowed upon it, yielding annually rich golden harvests. Possessing excellent business ability, Mr. Fenton has so wisely and carefully conducted his farming interests that he has won substantial success and is ranked among the progressive and representative agriculturists of his section of the county.
Mr. Fenton was united in marriage on November 2, 1892, to Miss Bertha Thomas, a native of Ripley township, born on the 16th of February, 1861. She is a daughter of Sylvanus W. and Sarah Ann (Marcy) Thomas, the other mem- bers of whose family were Ida, George, Carrie and Charles Thomas. The father, who was born January 20, 1824, in New York, is a son of George and Adeline (Baker) Thomas, and a brother of Levi, George, Uriah, Fayette, Andrew, Al- vira, Isabender and Walter Thomas. He followed the occupation of farming and was considered one of the best sheep breeders in the state of Ohio. He was also very well known in local political affairs and served as township treasurer for sev- eral years. His wife, who was the daughter of Abram and Sarah ( Fisher ) Marcy, was born in Connecticut on the 9th of November, 1822, and by her marriage to Mr. Thomas became the mother of three daughters: Maria, Sarah and Esther. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Fenton has been born one child, Florence, whose birth oc- curred June 17, 1895.
They are members of the Congregational church, in which Mr. Fenton is serving as deacon and also as superintendent of the Sunday school. and are people of excellent traits of character, occupying a high place in the regard of their friends and neighbors. He is stalwart in his support of republican principles which, in his opinion, are most conducive to good government, but he has never desired nor sought office for himself. He has, however, served a number of times as a member of the township school board, the cause of education finding in him a warm champion. He is public-spirited in his citizenship, at all times lending his influence to those measures which have for their object the material, political, intellectual and moral welfare of the community. His salient characteristics have ever been in ac- cord with the principles of honorable and upright manhood, and he ranks foremost among the valued citizens of the community.
FRANK T. GUESS.
Among those who can justly claim the proud title of self-made man is Frank T. Guess, successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits in Fairfield township, Hu- ron county. A native of England, he was born in Boughton, Chelsea, County of Kent, on the 16th of May, 1865, a son of John and Mary Ann (Manser) Guess, both natives of England, the former born in 1826 and the latter in 1836. They were farming people in their native country, where they were married, and continued to engage in that occupation after their arrival in the United States. In their family were four sons and two daughters, as follows: George, John Henry, Frank Thomas, Frederick Alfred, Elizabeth Alice and Clara Isabel.
In 1884, when a young man of nineteen years, Frank T. Guess left England, and came with his parents to the United States. settlement being made in Ohio.
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He had acquired his education in the schools of his native country and after ar- riving in this state remained upon his father's farm, assisting in the work of the fields, until he had attained his majority, when he entered business on his own ac- count as a farmer and has been connected with agricultural pursuits continuously since. He now resides upon a farm of fifty acres, which he has now owned for six years, and to the improvement of which he directs his entire time and attention. He has brought his fields under a high state of cultivation, has carried on his farming along progressive and up-to-date methods, and through his industry, en- terprise and perseverance is meeting with gratifying success. Outside of his agri- cultural interests he is a stockholder in the Boughtonville Telephone Company, of which company he was one of the organizers.
In 1891 Mr. Guess returned to England, where he was united in marriage to Miss Keturah Clinch, who was born in South Green, Stockbury, in Kent. She is a daughter of John and Keturah Clinch, also natives of England. Both Mr. and Mrs. Guess are members of the Methodist church, while politically Mr. Guess gives his allegiance to the republican party. He has crossed the Atlantic six times and the North Sea twice while he has traveled considerably throughout the west, and he relates many interesting incidents in connection with his various trips. He is truly a self-made man, for although he started out in life without any spe- cial advantages at the outset, by earnest, persistent and unfaltering effort he has made progress in the business world and is now ranked among the progressive and enterprising farmers of Fairfield county.
HENRY LINDER.
Henry Linder, who has followed agricultural pursuits all his life, and is now operating a farm of eighty acres in. Sherman township, is a native son of Huron county, born November 20, 1852. He is a son of Lawrence and Catherine (Hurtz) Linder, both now deceased. The parents were born in Germany and came to America at an early date with their respective parents. The father fol- lowed the occupation of farming throughout his residence in this country. Of their family Henry Linder was the eldest, the remaining members being: Conrad ; John; Elizabeth, the wife of George Krause; Catherine, who married Philip Con- radi ; Barbara, deceased; George; Lawrence; and Lena, the wife of Charles P. Eichenlaub.
The district schools of Peru township afforded Henry Linder his educational advantages, and he remained a student therein until seventeen years of age, when he put aside his text-books and began earning his own livelihood as a farm hand, working by the month. He was thus engaged for six years and then he purchased the farm upon which he now resides. He directs his energies toward general husbandry and the attention which he has given to his farm has made it one of the neat and well improved properties of the township. He practices rotation of crops, has made a thorough study of the cereals best adapted to soil and climate and the best methods of cultivating each, and is a progressive and practical farmer who is winning a creditable degree of success.
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In 1884 he married Miss Minnie Linder, a daughter of George and Eliza- beth (Swan) Linder, who were prominent farmers and early settlers of Huron county, Ohio. Although the name is the same, the families are not related in any way. Mrs. Henry Linder is the youngest in a family of five children, the other members being George, Lena, Catherine and Lawrence. By her marriage she has become the mother of three children, namely: Elizabeth, born in August, 1885; Louis, whose birth occurred in October. 1888; and Karl, born in January, 1892. The two eldest attended the district schools, and are now at home, assisting their parents with the farm work, while the youngest, Karl, is a student at the Lutheran University of Columbus, Ohio.
Mr. and Mrs. Linder are members of the Lutheran church and are interested in the various phases of church work. Mr. Linder is a democrat in politics where national questions are at issue, but is independent where local matters are con- cerned, voting for the best men, regardless of their party affiliation. His life has been a busy and useful one and the qualities of honorable manhood and good citi- zenship have been his. He is held in high regard wherever known and has a circle of friends almost coextensive with the circle of his acquaintances.
ISAAC H. ROBINSON.
Isaac H. Robinson is a typical farmer of the up-to-date class who utilizes modern machinery and methods to cultivate his soil and conduct the business of his farm. He owns one hundred and thirty-five acres in Norwich township and is of the third generation to own the property which was purchased by his pater- nal grandfather for three dollars per acre. He sold it to his son Wesley Robin- son, and from him Isaac H. Robinson bought it. This farm is one of the best in the township, is well tiled and has on it a commodious brick house and good barns. The tiling was done during Wesley Robinson's life.
Isaac H. Robinson was born on the farm where he now resides, February 8, 1849, being a son of Wesley and Mary (Bennett) Robinson, and grandson of William and Letitia Robinson, who passed most of their lives in Ohio, and of Isaac H. and Sally Bennett, natives of New York state. His father followed farming throughout his life, operating the place he bought from his father. He was a man of consequence in his locality, serving as justice of the peace in Nor- wich township for many years, and was a democrat in political faith. Isaac H. Robinson was his second son, the other children being William, who lives in Grass Lake, Michigan; George, who lives in Huron county; and Daniel, who died in March, 1909.
On October 30, 1872, Isaac H. Robinson married Isadora Bramble, a daugh- ter of John and Laura (Hossford) Bramble. Her father was born near Cincin- nati, Ohio, and her mother in Huron county. They were the parents of the following children: Virginia, who is deceased; Izora, who married Nelson Wil- son ; and Isadora, who became Mrs. Robinson, and Rowland, who is deceased. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Robinson are: Laura, the wife of Chester Dooley, living in Peru township by whom she has one daughter Helen; and
MR. AND MRS. I. H. ROBINSON
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Mary, who married Edward Cushman and has one son, Chester. They live in Norwich township.
Isaac H. Robinson was educated in the district school of Norwich township and since reaching manhood, has served very acceptably as school director and road supervisor. He is one of the prominent democrats of his locality and fra- ternally he belongs to the Masonic order at Attica, Ohio, and to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Centerton, Ohio. The family belong to the Methodist church. Having lived in Norwich township all his life, Mr. Robinson has watched its development with great interest and has never failed to respond when there was need of his help in furthering public improvements that he believed would conserve the best interests of the people.
W. F. HUFFMAN.
The industry, energy and thrift of W. F. Huffman is at once manifest in the excellent appearance of his farm of one hundred and twenty acres which is lo- cated in Ripley township, Huron county, and constitutes one of the valuable farming properties of that section of the county. A native of Ripley township, he was born on the 12th of February, 1864, and he and his brother Marshall are the only children of Artemus and Agnes (Allen) Huffman, natives of New York, the former born on the IIth of March, 1837, and the latter in Ithaca on the 16th of January, 1842. The father was the son of Solomon and Sarah Huffman, both natives of the Empire state, whose family consisted of William, Artemus, Leonard, Henry, Sarah, Martha, Mary, Margaret and Christina. James and Jane (Crosby) Allen were the parents of Agnes Allen, who was a sister of James, Andrew, Leonard, William, Joseph, Henry, Thomas, Mary Ann, Jennie and Esther Allen.
No event of especial importance came to vary the routine of life for W. F. Huffman during the period of his boyhood and youth, which was passed upon the home farm, his time being divided between acquiring an education in the dis- trict schools and assisting his father in the work of the fields. Under the care- ful direction of the latter he early learned lessons concerning the value of in- dustry, energy and perseverance, and these elements continued to be salient qualities in his later business career. His farm of one hundred and twenty acres is under a high state of cultivation, and in its midst are found commodious barns and outbuildings, while Mr. Huffman has introduced all of the modern accessories and conveniences for facilitating labor, the place being equipped with everything that goes to make up a model farm of the nineteenth century.
Mr. Huffman was united in marriage on the 9th of December, 1885, to Miss Eva Barre, who was born on the 10th of April, 1864, and is a daughter of Well- ington and Deborah (Gifford) Barre. Her parents were both natives of Ripley township, the father having been born in 1837 while the mother's birth occurred on the 4th of July, 1842. In their family were the following children : Eva, Della, Henry, Lee, Wade and Vernon. In the family of her paternal grandparents were fifteen children, namely: Wellington, David, Lyman, Jonathan, Herman, Ira,
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Dwight, Corvis, James, Henry, Cornelia, Jane, Jessie, Marietta and Josephine. Her maternal grandparents were Edward and Almira (Salisbury) Gifford. resi- dents of New York, whose family consisted of Deborah, Frank, Horace and Bursha. Corvis Huffman, the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Huffman, was born on Christmas day of 1894.
Mr. Huffman and his wife hold membership in the Disciples church, their lives ever being in harmony with the teachings thereof. Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise Mr. Huffman has given stalwart support to the republican party and he is now acting as township trustee, having filled that office for seven years. Having resided in this county throughout his entire life he is well and favorably known here and his straightforward and honorable deal- ings have won for him the warm regard and esteem of all with whom he has been associated.
THAYER K. PERRY.
Investigation into the history of Ohio indicates that the Perrys came to the state during pioneer times and were active in clearing away the wilderness and utilizing the rich soil for farming purposes. The great-grandparents of him whose name introduces this review were Joseph and Sarah (Seward) Perry, the latter a relative of Secretary Seward of President Lincoln's cabinet. Among their children was Daniel Perry, who on arriving at years of maturity wedded Elizabeth Dow Tillson, a daughter of Thomas and Azubah (Noyes) Tillson. Unto Daniel and Elizabeth (Dow) Perry were born seven children: Edwin Louis, Charles Higgins, Dorcas Azubah, Seward Noyes, Anna Lucinda, Eliza- beth and Willie Daniel.
Edwin Louis Perry, the father of Thayer K. Perry, was born in Peru town- ship, Huron county, Ohio, November 13, 1841, and was reared in the usual man- ner of farm lads of the period, his education being acquired in the public schools. the Baldwin University at Berea, Ohio, and Western Reserve Normal School, of Milan, Ohio, while under the direction of his father he received his training in the work of the fields. In the year 1866 he was united in marriage to Miss Emily Tamar Ruggles, who was born July 20, 1843, in Ridgefield township, this county. The Ruggles family is also numbered among those that formulated the pioneer development of this part of the state. Her paternal grandparents were Eden and Artemisia (Jackson) Ruggles, of Connecticut, and the family is an old one of New England. Their son, Martin Luther Ruggles, the father of Mrs. Emily Perry, was born in Connecticut, November 13, 1803. He spent the days of his boyhood and youth in his native state and about 1824, when twenty-one years of age, sought a home in what was then the far west. In the primitive manner of the times he journeyed to Huron county, Ohio, and took up his abode in Ridgefield township, amid the wild scenes and environments of frontier life. Here he followed his vocation as a skilled mechanic. He was married to Miss Fidelia Webb, who was born in New York, September 25, 1808, and their chil-
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dren were Edward Harvey, Lester, Chester, Moses, Carrollton, Comfort Heber, Emily Tamar and Isabella.
Of this family Emily became the wife of Edwin L. Perry in 1866, and they have since traveled life's journey happily together. Mr. Perry is a man of liberal education, who supplemented his early advantages by study in Berea, Ohio, and in the Milan Normal School. He engaged in teaching for one term and with the exception of that period has devoted his entire life to general farming since at- taining man's estate. He has been a busy man, actively engaged in the tilling of his fields, and the excellent appearance of his place is indicative of his careful supervision and progressive methods. In politics he is independent, voting for principle rather than for party. His wife is a lady of broad culture, who supple- mented her public school privileges by further study in the Western Reserve Nor- mal School at Milan, Ohio. It was while they were students there that Mr. and Mrs. Perry became acquainted and their friendship ripened into love and was consummated in marriage. Mrs. Perry engaged in teaching school for five years and has always been a warm advocate of the cause of education. Both Mr. and Mrs. Perry are members of the Baptist church, in the work of which they take an active and helpful part, doing all in their power to promote the growth of the church and extend its influence. Mr. Perry has served as deacon in the church and as Sunday school superintendent and teacher of the Bible class.
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