USA > Ohio > Huron County > History of Huron County, Ohio, Its Progress and Development, Volume II > Part 50
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Unto Mr. and Mrs. Perry have been born ten children: Ralph, Edith, Irene, Floyd, Daisy, Beth, Gladys, Branch, Thayer and one who died in infancy. Of this family Thayer K. Perry, whose name introduces this review, was born May 20, 1889. He has become an active assistant in the work of the home farm and is numbered among the enterprising young agriculturists of the community. In his business affairs he displays keen discrimination and sound judgment and he is proving himself a worthy representative of one of the leading families of the county. He is now teaching school in his second year.
GEORGE W. HANVILLE.
The business interests of Boughtonville find a worthy representative in George W. Hanville, a well known and prominent lumber merchant who also engages in the operation of a sawmill and at the same time cultivates a farm of sixty-five acres of fine land in Ripley township. A native of Pennsylvania, his birth occurred on the 18th of October, 1852, his parents being C. W. and Mary Ann (Fowler) Hanville, natives of New York and Pennsylvania, respectively. The former, who was born in 1826, was for some time connected with the saw- mill and lumber business at Lodi, Ohio, and later was the proprietor of a saw- mill near North Fairfield, which is now operated by his son Adelbert Eugene. His wife was born in 1831 and by her marriage became the mother of the fol- lowing children : Adelbert Eugene, George W., Charles P., Delphene, Eva and Ella.
George W. Hanville attended the schools of his native state in the acquire- ment of an education, and when about fourteen years of age accompanied his
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parents on their removal to Ohio, where he has since continued to reside. He remained under the parental roof until he attained his majority, and during the meantime, under the direction of his father, he gained a thorough and intimate knowledge of the lumber business, so that later, when entering upon an inde- pendent business career, he was fully qualified to carry on an enterprise of that nature on his own account. For the past thirty-five years he has conducted an extensive lumber business, buying and shipping hard and soft lumber, while he also operates a sawmill, in which connection he planes and matches lumber and does considerable custom work. He is likewise the owner of sixty-five acres of excellent farm land situated in Ripley township, upon which he carries on general agricultural pursuits. He is preeminently a man of affairs and is conducting his various enterprises in a systematic, progressive and business-like manner that is winning for him a high place among the leading business men of the com- munity.
It was on the 25th of October, 1875, that Mr. Hanville was united in marriage to Miss Lucy Ann Maynard, who was born November 8, 1852, a daughter of D. Z. Maynard, of whom further mention is made in the sketch of A. D. Maynard, found on another page of this volume. Unto this union has been born four chil- dren namely : Arthur E., William D., George J. and Lena B. Mr. Hanville and his wife are members of the Disciples church, while Mr. Hanville gives his po- litical allegiance to the republican party. He is interested in all that pertains to the welfare and progress of the community and gives loyal support to many measures for the general good. His worth as a business man is widely ac- knowledged, for he has made good use of his opportunities and has forged his way to the front, proving that energy and diligence constitute a safe basis upon which to build success. Honorable and straightforward in his business dealings, he may be termed a sound, substantial citizen, who keeps his promises, meets his obligations and is loyal to every trust.
FREDERICK HEARSON.
Frederick Hearson, who carries on general farming on his tract of land of ninety acres in Fairfield township, was born in Erie county, Ohio, December 17, 1852, his parents being Thomas and Sarah Ann (Temple) Hearson, both of whom were natives of England, in which country they were married. The year 1850 witnessed their emigration to the United States. In their family were the follow- ing children : John, George, Richard, Frederick, Frank, Elizann and Sarah.
Frederick Hearson has followed general agricultural pursuits as a life work and by reason of his industry, energy and capable management has won a goodly measure of success in his undertakings. He now owns a well improved and pro- ductive farm of ninety acres in Fairfield township, which he purchased in 1908, having previously disposed of his farm of one hundred and seven acres in Hart- land township, Huron county. For a period of nineteen years he had been a resi- dent of Lyme township. For the past year, however, he has been numbered among the prosperous and enterprising agriculturists of Fairfield township. Through
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modern methods of farming he keeps his land in good condition and everything about the place indicates his careful supervision and practical methods.
In 1877 Mr. Hearson was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Parsons, a daughter of John and Emma (Stafford) Parsons. She was one of a family of six children, her brothers and sisters being as follows: George, Thomas, Susie, Mary and Izzie. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hearson have been born three children, namely : Charles Ed- ward, who wedded Miss Mary Walker and lives in Toledo, where he is employed as a motorman; Edith May, the wife of Joseph Brandal, of Bellevue, Ohio; and Olive.
In his political views Mr. Hearson is a republican and keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day, as every true American citizen should do. He belongs to the Methodist church and his life is in harmony with his professions. The circle of his friends is almost coextensive with the circle of his acquaintances and all who know him entertain for him the warmest esteem and regard.
NELSON VAN AKEN.
Nelson Van Aken, a general farmer and stock-raiser of Ripley township, ope- rating a fine farm of two hundred and eleven acres, was born in New York on the 22d of September, 1859, a son of Elijah and Sarah (Brooks) Van Aken. He was one of a family of seven children born unto that worthy couple, the others be- ing Lewis, Minerva, Marinda, Walter, Marshall and Millard.
In the state of his nativity Nelson Van Aken was reared to manhood, attend- ing the district schools in the acquirement of an education. In 1882, when a young man of twenty-three years, he came to Ohio, settling in Ripley township, where he purchased his present farm upon which he has continued to make his home throughout the twenty-seven years of his residence in this state. The period of his youth had been passed amid the scenes and environments of rural life, so that at an early age he had become familiar with the tasks that fall to the lot of the country lad, and under the direction of his father had learned lessons concerning the best methods of plowing, planting and harvesting. That his early training was thorough and comprehensive is indicated in the fact that since taking up agricul- tural pursuits on his own account he has been very prosperous. His home farm comprises two hundred and eleven acres of finely improved land, in the midst of which stand commodious and substantial buildings, while everything about the place indicates that he is in touch with the modern spirit of progress which is manifest in agricultural lines. Along with his general farming he engages in stock-raising, and in both branches of his business is meeting with gratifying success.
It was in the year 1883 that Mr. Van Aken was united in marriage with Miss Belle McClain, a daughter of J. K. and Angeline (Jonstein) McClain and a sister of John C., Albert, Carrie and Cora McClain. Unto this union was born one child, May. Mr. Van Aken holds membership with the Maccabees and also be- longs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, while in politics he gives his sup- port to the republican party. He neither desires nor seeks office, however, prefer-
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ring to devote his time and attention entirely to the conduct of his business affairs which, under his careful control, are proving a source of most gratifying pros- perity. During his residence in this community he has gained a circle of warm friends which is almost coextensive with the circle of his acquaintances.
GEORGE W. HOLTZ.
George W. Holtz, one of Richmond township's prosperous native farmers, owns fifty-two and a half acres of well improved land, on which he pursues a general line of agriculture. He was born March 6, 1851, and is a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Musser) Holtz. The father, who was a son of Jacob Holtz, was like the latter a native of Perry county, Pennsylvania. At the age of seven he came with his parents to Ohio, settled in Richland county, which remained his home for some years after his marriage, when he removed to Richmond town- ship, Huron county, where he had bought about fifty acres of land. At the time of the purchase the farm was virgin soil, and Mr. Holtz had to clear away the timber before he could plant his crops. They proved to be fertile fields, how- ever, and remained his home until his death, although by that time he had added one hundred and eight acres to his real-estate holdings. Mr. Holtz was married twice. His first wife, who was Miss Elizabeth Musser in her maidenhood, died in 1863, when her son George W. was about twelve years old. She had borne a family of five children : William, deceased ; George W. and John W., who were twins; Sarah, now deceased, who married George Elston and lived in Brecken- ridge, Colorado; and Jennie, deceased, who was the wife of Elijah Limes and lived in Van Wert county, Ohio. Miss Sarah Thompson was the bride of Mr. Holtz's second marriage. She lived, however, only three years after their union, having become the mother of one daughter, Laura, who has been married twice, John Trotter having been her first husband, and Casius Gump her second. Mr. Holtz, who died May 2, 1898, and the deceased members of his family are buried in Union Bethel cemetery in Richmond township.
George W. Holtz attended the district schools of Richmond township, thoughi the education he received was comparatively meager, for he was compelled to leave school when he was seventeen and during his earlier years could only spend two or three months at school each winter, for his assistance was needed on the farm as early and as late as the weather would permit. To agriculture he has devoted his time throughout life, for it was but in the course of the farm work that he became a skillful manager of a threshing machine and hay baler. Richmond township has always been his home, save for the three years he lived in Chicago, Ohio. However, he has made three trips west, for pleasure and to view the grandeurs of the western scenery. After his marriage the first land Mr. Holtz bought was a tract in Richmond township consisting of forty acres, which he purchased from Joseph Rush, but he later traded that for a farm of eighty-five acres, making up the difference in price with cash. He was soon able to add thirty acres to the tract, thus bringing his holdings to one hundred and fifteen acres, to which fifty-two and a half acres were added about the same
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time through an inheritance. Subsequently he bought the farm on which he now lives and has sold the rest of his land, though he still retains some property in Chicago, Ohio.
Mr. Holtz has been married twice. Miss Susan Pickens, his first wife, to whom he was united November 29, 1872, was a daughter of Chris Pickens. By her marriage she became the mother of five children: James W., who lives in Utah ; Irvin W., a resident of Attica, Ohio; Jacob, of Huron county ; Vernon C., who died in his twenty-first year; and Jennie B., who lives in Toledo, Ohio. After his first wife's death, Mr. Holtz married Miss Esther Mathilda Waltz, a daughter of John G. and Myra (Casey) Waltz. Her father was born in Ger- many, but her mother was a native of Virginia and is still living, in Chicago, Ohio, celebrating the eighty-third anniversary of her birth, October 4, 1909, and enjoying good health. Mrs. Holtz was the eldest of four children, the others being Margaret Elizabeth, the wife of T. W. Bussard; Jacob D., who lives in California ; and Amanda Catherine, the wife of W. A. Miller, of Wood county, Ohio. By Mr. Holtz's second marriage there was born one daughter, Anna Ma- rion, who died in her ninth year.
A democrat in his political views, Mr. Holtz takes a vital interest in matters that concern the welfare of his fellow citizens, though he could never be called either a politician or an office-seeker. He has, however, served the community in the capacity of road supervisor and has been a member of the school board, and his influence is ever given to what he believes to be right. His religious af- filiations are with the United Brethren. A hard working man, a generous com- petence has rewarded his labors, and he has been able to add improvements to his farm, has remodeled the house, built new sheds and put a new roof on the barn, all things bespeaking his industry and good management.
GEORGE A. HASSINGER.
One of the farmers of Ripley township, whose earnest efforts have been crowned with success is George A. Hassinger, who owns a farm of fifty-seven acres in the vicinity of the little village of Boughtonville. Though not one of Ohio's native sons, for more than a quarter of a century he has made this state his home and the scene of his toils. He was born March 29, 1866, in Blaine, Perry county, Penn- sylvania. His parents, Samuel and Margaret (Trostle) Hassinger, were also na- tives of the Keystone state and were respectively the son and daughter of William Hassinger, and Henry and Elizabeth Trostle. Mr. and Mrs. Hassinger became the parents of seven children : William H., George A., Sadie, Ida, David, Laura and Alfred.
George A. Hassinger, the second son in this family, was reared in his Penn- sylvania home until he was sixteen, receiving such education as a farmer's boy might acquire in the district schools when the time of year made it impossible for him to work in the fields. In 1882 he came to Ohio, finding employment on dif- ferent farms and following the painter's trade which he had learned. About five years ago he bought the place on which he now lives and has devoted himself more
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and more exclusively to the work of cultivating his fields. He still, now and then, however. does a day's or week's work at his trade and is accounted a skillful artisan.
George A. Hassinger was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Dick, December 14. 1888. She was born in Richland county, on a farm near Shelby; in the year 1862 and is a daughter of Jacob and Catherine ( Buskey) Dick, who were likewise of Ohio birth and were blessed with six children : Franklin, Alice. Minnie, Olivia, Jennie and Margaret. In Mr. and Mrs. Hassinger's family there are three chil- dren : Alverda, who was born January 25, 1892; Foster, who was born January 7. 1894 ; and Edna, born August 7, 1897.
The family are members of the Methodist church at Delphi and are not only punctilious in their attendance at its services but are also zealous in their practical application of its teachings. Politically Mr. Hassinger is a stanch democrat and is ever loyal in his support of the candidates of that party. He does not identify him- self inimately with the public life of the township, however, although he has filled the position of school director, acquitting himself of his duties honorably. He has been active in promoting measures advantageous to his fellows, one having been the organization of the Boughtonville Telephone Company, of which he is a mem- ber. A man who has been dependent upon his own exertions for what he would possess in this world, he cannot but be gratified by the success with which they have been attended.
REV. MICHAEL J. COAN.
The Rev. Michael J. Coan, pastor of St. Francis Xaviers Catholic church at Chicago, Ohio, has been in charge here for four years, during which time he has firmly established himself in the hearts of his people and gained the full confidence of the citizens of this place. He is a native of Ireland, where he was born August 12, 1875, and is a son of Michael and Bridget ( Muldoon) Coan, who were also natives of that country. They never left the Emerald Isle, but both died there. The grandfather on the paternal side, Patrick Coan, also died in Ireland. There were the following children in the family of Michael Coan and his wife: Myria, who married M. P. Hagarty and lives in Massachusetts ; Anna ; Catherine ; Mar- garet, who is known as Sister Mary Peter, and Elizabeth, who is known as Sis- ter Mary Clementine, both in a convent at Springfield, Massachusetts; Sarah, who lives in Massachusetts; Bridget, residing in Pittsfield, Massachusetts; John, who never left Ireland ; and Michael J.
Father Coan first attended the national schools of Ireland, but when only sev- enteen he came to the United States and for one year worked in a dry-goods store in Boston, Massachusetts. He then began studying for the priesthood at the Holy Cross College. Worcester, Massachusetts, and after finishing there, he entered St. Bernard College at Rochester, New York, where he was ordained in 1904 by Bishop McQuaid. He was then sent to Cleveland, Ohio, where he served as as- sistant priest for one year in St. Philomena's church. On July 19, 1905, he was given charge of the church at Chicago, Ohio, and since he has assumed control
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of affairs, the present church edifice was completed in 1906. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus, of Chicago, Ohio.
Father Coan is a scholarly man, learned in the lore of his church and possessed of a deeply sympathetic nature that enables him to touch the hearts of his people. He is also an excellent business man, and the affairs of his parish are in a very flourishing condition under his capable management.
EZRA S. JENNINGS.
During the period of pioneer development in Huron county Ezra S. Jennings became a resident of this part of the state and remained here until his demise, continuing throughout the entire period as one of the respected and highly esteemed agriculturists and citizens of this section of Ohio. He was born in Fairfield, Con- necticut, on the 21st of August, 1827, and was a son of Walter Jennings and a grandson of Daniel Jennings. The last named was born in Connecticut, October 14, 1770, and his life record covered the intervening years to the 14th of March, 1840, when he passed away at the age of sixty-nine. His wife, Phoebe Jennings, was born in Connecticut on the 14th of February, 1773. Their children were as follows: Walter, born in 1798; Rhoda ; Eunice; Gregory, born in 1805; Ezra, in 1806; Abigail, in 1809 : Daniel, in 1811 ; Gershem, in 1813; Sarah, in 1815; Esther, in 1817; and Alva, in 1819.
Of this family Walter Jennings became the father of Ezra S. Jennings. He was born near Bridgeport, Connecticut, on the 31st of May, 1798, and resided in that state until 1835. In the meantime he married, his wife, Mrs. Rhoda Jen- nings; having been born near Bridgeport on Christmas day of 1802. Their chil- dren were : Ezra S., Gregory, Nelson, Mary Ann, Sarah, and twins, who died in infancy.
Ezra S. Jennings spent the first eight years of his life in the state of his na- tivity and in 1835 accompanied his parents on their removal westward to Ohio. The journey was made by way of the Erie canal to Buffalo and thence by way of Lake Erie to Huron. From that point they traveled by wagon to Fairfield town- ship. Upon reaching their destination the father purchased nine acres of land on which was an old log cabin. There were only two frame houses within ten miles and there were still many evidences of pioneer life to be seen. Deer were often seen in the forests and turkeys and other kinds of wild game were very numerous. The native timber was uncut and only here and there had a clearing been made to show that civilization was begun. As the years passed, however, the Jennings family became active factors in the work of general progress and im- provement here.
Ezra S. Jennings was reared amid the wild scenes and environments of pio- neer life and shared with the family in all of the hardships and trials incident to establishing a home on the frontier. He assisted in the arduous task of develop- ing new land and throughout his entire life he followed the occupation of farming. He made preparations for having a home of his own by his marriage on the 28th of November, 1850, to Miss Harriet R. Godden, who was born in Utica, New
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York, on the 23d of October, 1829. In the year 1834 she was brought to Fair- field township, Huron county, by her parents, William H. and Lucina ( Butler) Godden. The father was a native of Albany, New York, born August, 6, 1804; and on the 8th of January, 1826, he married Lucina Butler, whose birth occurred at Lee, Oneida county. New York, June 19, 1809. Their children were : Elizabeth, John, Emory, Mary, Jennie, Sarah, Lucinda, Julia and Harriet. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Jennings was John Godden, a native of Westmoreland, New Jersey, whose family included: John, David, Elizabeth, Nancy, Charlotte, Sarah, and William H. The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Jennings was Jonathan But- ler, who was born in the state of New York, August 1, 1781. He married Lucina Wright, whose birth occurred in Connecticut, December 26, 1779. Their children were : Ezra, Adin, Harriet, Edward and Lucinda.
Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Ezra S. Jennings began their domestic life upon a farm in Huron county and as the years passed eight children were added to the household, namely : Desseline E., Byron E., Edwin K., Mary Louisa, Edson Grant, Herbert Floyd, Hattie May and Lena Rivers.
Mr. Jennings worked persistently and earnestly to develop his fields and bring his farm under a high state of cultivation. He lived to witness many changes in the methods of farm work. In his youthful days there was little of the modern machinery now used. He saw the introduction of the thresher, cultivator, riding plow and the self-binder, and at all times he kept abreast with the trend of advance- ment in agricultural lines. He continued to successfully carry on his farming operations until 1899, when, having reached the age of seventy-two years, he re- tired to private life and with a comfortable competency removed to North Fairfield, where he spent his remaining days in the enjoyment of well earned rest, his death occurring in 1907. Mrs. Jennings was always a faithful helpmate to her hus- band and her wise counsel as well as her labors was of much assistance to him as the years passed by. She has now reached the advanced age of eighty years and is held in the highest regard by young and old, rich and poor, throughout the part of Huron county in which she makes her home.
JOHN ROBERT COX.
John Robert Cox, a substantial farmer of Richmond township, Huron county, and the owner of the fifty-two acres on which he lives, was born in this township, February 12, 1857, and is a son of Abraham and Margaret (Pollinger) Cox. The parents were also natives of this state, the father having been born in Carlton, the mother in Huron county, and both were early habituated to the hardships of farm life, for their parents were among the early settlers who had to make ready the land before they could put in their crops. The mother and father died in 1859, leaving two children, the eldest, John Robert, of this review, being but two years old. William, the other child, is now a resident of Richmond township.
Upon the death of his parents John Robert Cox was taken by his maternal grandfather, Abraham Pollinger, with whom he lived until he died. He attended the district schools, from which his education was derived, until he became twen-
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ty-one, though all his vacations and the early spring and fall months were de- voted to the work that was carried on on his grandfather's farm. Upon the death of Mr. Pollinger, Mr. Cox bought the land from the other heirs. He has found it to be arable soil, that had been kept in good condition during his grand- father's lifetime. Indeed the latter had cleared it himself, with the help of Daniel Pollinger, in the early days of Richmond township. From his childhood trained in the practical cultivation of a farm, Mr. Cox has known how to obtain the very best returns possible from the land at his disposal. He has not shirked hard work and feels that he reaps an abundant harvest for his many hours of toil.
In November, 1884, Mr. Cox was united in marriage to Miss Elma Kirk- wood, a daughter of Lewis and Anna Kirkwood. The parents were numbered among those stalwart settlers who prepared the way for the conditions of the present. They are survived by six children : Thomas, the eldest of- the family ; Myria, who married John Couch and lives in Chicago, Ohio; Charles, unmarried ; Elma, who became Mrs. Cox; Amos, also unmarried; and Jessie, who became the wife of Willis Harmon and lives in Michigan. Mr. and Mrs. Cox have one daughter, Mabel Fern, who married James Dawson, a farmer of Seneca county, Ohio.
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