USA > Ohio > Huron County > History of Huron County, Ohio, Its Progress and Development, Volume II > Part 53
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Phillip Hawn received his preparation for life from the district schools of Richmond township, though it was supplemented in a practical way by work on
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the farm which occupied the summer months and the hours that were not devoted to his lessons. Upon leaving school he seriously took up the work of the farm, to which he has given all his time and energy since. Under his father's instruc- tion he learned the first principles of soil culture, but this knowledge has been vastly supplemented by his own practical experience and by the advancement that has been made in farming methods as in other lines of work in the last half century.
On the 13th of April, 1880, Mr. Hawn was united in marriage to Miss Jenni? Foster, a daughter of John and Sarah Foster. The father was a shoemaker by trade and came from Pennsylvania, though he was for a number of years a resi- dent of Attica. Mrs. Hawn was the youngest of four children, the others being Addie, Thomas and Charles. The last has passed away. To our subject and his wife were born five children: I. Estella, Alta Florence, Charles H., Frederick F. and Jessie T. The eldest is now the wife of Harry Jocelyn. Mrs. Hawn passed away August 19, 1908, and was buried in Bethel cemetery, Richmond township.
Mr. Hawn does not give his'political allegiance to any party but votes for men and measures as he thinks right, and he is not an office seeker, though he is always interested in the welfare of the citizens of the township and gives his in- fluence toward the betterment of the conditions that surround them. He is par- ticularly concerned for the educational advancement of the township and toward that end served as a school director and at present exercises his influence as a member of the school board. He has also acted as superintendent of road con- struction. He is a collector of rare coins and has in his possession some that were coined in the early days of this republic, a half-dozen that were made in Philadel- phia, and others that were struck off at Harrisburg in 1786.
GEORGE G. SEIBEL.
George G. Seibel, a well known and successful agriculturist of Ridgefield town- ship, is the owner of a rich and productive farm of seventy acres. It was on this place that his birth occurred, his natal day being June 20, 1857. His parents, Wil- liam and Kathryn (Sheth) Seibel, were both natives of Germany. The father crossed the ocean to America in 1848 and when a year had passed he returned to Germany for his parents, Casper and Margaret Seibel, whom he brought to Hu- ron county, Ohio, where they spent the remainder of their lives. William Seibel first secured employment as a farm hand and, carefully saving his earnings, was at length enabled to purchase the farm which is now the property of his son. George G. It was nearly all covered with timber but with characteristic en- ergy he set to work and gradually transformed the place into a good farming property. The first home of the family was an old log house and they experienced many of the hardships and privations incident to pioneer life. William Seibel was called to his final rest on the 20th of September, 1861, his demise being the occasion of deep regret to all who knew him. His wife was about twenty years of age when she came to this county with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Wil- liam Sheth. She long survived her husband, passing away on the 20th of May,
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1907. Their family numbered four children, as follows: Minnie, who is de- ceased; George G., of this review; Lettie, the deceased wife of Charles Leiber ; and William.
George G. Seibel obtained his education in the district schools and has always continued to reside on the farm where his birth occurred. Through the assistance which he rendered his father he early became familiar with the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist and this occupation has claimed his time and energies throughout his entire business career. As before stated, his place com- prises seventy acres of valuable and well improved land in Ridgefield township and the success which has attended his labors as an agriculturist is the outcome of clear judgment, close application and excellent business ability.
On the 11th of October, 1888, Mr. Seibel was united in marriage to Miss Ber- tha Loey, who was born in Germany, December 4, 1861, her parents being Philip and Mollie Loey, of Lyme township. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Seibel have been born five children, namely : Rosie; Elmer ; Walter; and Edna and Carl, who are de- ceased.
Mr. Seibel has served as a member of the school board for about twenty years, the cause of education ever finding in him a stalwart champion. His re- ligious faith is indicated by his membership in the Evangelical church, of which he is serving as a trustee. Well known in the county where he has always resided, he has a wide acquaintance here and has won uniform trust and good will by reason of a life which in all of its phases has been straightforward and honorable.
FRED JARRETT.
Fred Jarrett, successfully carrying on agricultural pursuits on his farm of one hundred and four acres in Bronson township, was born in Fitchville, Huron county, Ohio, on the 11th of April, 1876, his parents being George and Emma (Jenkins) Jarrett. The father, whose birth occurred in 1838, is a son of John Jarrett, who was of English descent. The maternal grandfather of our subject, Thomas Jenkins, who was likewise of English lineage, lived to attain the re- markable age of one hundred and one and a half years.
As above stated, Fred Jarrett is the owner of a well improved farm of one hun- dred and four acres in Bronson township, to the cultivation of which he devotes his time and energies, annually gathering rich harvests which find a ready sale on the market.
On the 25th of December, 1901, Mr. Jarrett was united in marriage to Miss Clara Isabella Park, whose birth occurred October 7, 1876, her parents being James and Mary Ann (McPherson) Park. Her paternal grandfather was Joseph Park. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Jarrett have been born two children: one whose birth occurred April 6, 1903, and who passed away in infancy ; and James McPherson, who first opened his eyes to the light of day on the 19th of March, 1905.
Mr. Jarrett gives political allegiance to the republican party and at one time was elected justice of the peace but declined the office, as he has always preferred to confine his attention to his private affairs. He has, however, done effective ser-
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vice as a member of the school board. A valued and helpful member of the Pres- byterian church, he has acted as president of the church society and also as super- intendent of the Sunday school. He has passed through all the chairs in the Junior Order of United American Mechanics and is recognized throughout the community as a most enterprising, progressive and prosperous citizen. In this county, where he has always resided, he is most widely and favorably known, the circle of his friends being almost coextensive with the circle of his acquaintances.
JOSEPH B. STOCKMASTER.
Some men seem able to succeed in the battle of life without the advantages given by a thorough educational training, for they make the most of every oppor- tunity and never neglect any duty that devolves upon them. That this is true is proven in the careers of Joseph B. Stockmaster, of Norwich township, Huron county, and his father, the late Frank Stockmaster, Jr., both of whom received but few educational advantages but were able to make a comfortable living not- withstanding. Joseph B. Stockmaster was born on the farm he now occupies, which lies in both Norwich and Sherman townships and was the homestead of his parents, Frank and Catherine (Hill) Stockmaster. His grandfather, Frank Stockmaster, Sr., was one of the very early settlers of Huron county. His son, Frank Stockmaster, Jr., was born in America, but his wife was a native of Ger- many, and Joseph B. Stockmaster without doubt inherits from her side of the family some of the excellent German characteristics which make sons of the fatherland such desirable citizens. Frank Stockmaster, Jr., was a farmer in Nor- wich township all his life. At the age of ten years he was forced to leave school for the couple of months during the winter, which constituted his opportunity for securing an education, and to take up the burden of a struggle for existence. In his family were three children: Elizabeth, the deceased wife of Peter DeMeyer ; Emma, who married Jacob Fritz ; and Joseph B.
When he was only sixteen years of age, Joseph B. Stockmaster left school in order to give all his time to his father's interests. A year later the father died and the young man assumed the management of the farm and continued to oper- ate it for his mother until her demise, when he bought the interests of his sisters and now owns one hundred and ten acres, fifty of which are in Norwich township and sixty in Sherman township. He has been improving this property until he now has one of the best farms in the locality.
On November 23, 1897, Mr. Stockmaster married Miss Amelia Bauman, a daughter of Anson and Rosa ( Meyers) Bauman, natives of Germany and Amer- ica, respectively. Although for years residents of Huron county, where they were engaged in farming, Mr. and Mrs. Bauman died in Havana. Their children were : Joseph ; Louis ; Odella, the deceased wife of Jacob Hay ; and Mrs. Stockmaster. The latter has borne her husband two children : Celia, born October 12, 1898; and Ralph, born May 5, 1904.
Mr. Stockmaster is now serving as road supervisor, having been elected to that office on the republican ticket. He belongs to the Chicago Lodge, K. O. T. M.,
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and in religious faith the family are Catholics. He is one of the best and most thoroughly modern farmers of his locality and his methods are followed by many who realize the worth of his example.
SETH H. TODD.
Seth H. Todd, respected and esteemed as one of the leading farmers and stock raisers of Huron county and as a representative of one of its pioneer families, was born in Wakeman township, November 22, 1833, his parents being Isaac and Fannie (Booth) Todd. The father came to Ohio from Connecticut with his brother, Woodward Todd, and made arrangements for the family to come later or about 1828. The grandfather of our subject was Moses Todd, who originally located in Wakeman township, since which time the Todds have been prominent here, their labors contributing in substantial measure to the growth and develop- ment of the community. Isaac Todd was a farmer and the tract of land which he owned was originally all covered with timber, not even a road being cut through. The cabin home was built of logs cut from the ground whereon the house was later built. As the years passed and he prospered in his undertakings, Mr. Todd acquired adjoining land until he had over two hundred acres and he was num- bered among the self-made men of the county, for he started out in life empty- handed and won his property through his own diligence and perseverance. In these early days ready cash was very hard to obtain and when Mr. Todd desired to be married he did not have a sum of money sufficient to enable him to purchase a license so according to the customs of the times the anticipated marriage was publicly announced from the pulpit on services held in the log house for two Sundays preceding the event-and thus the cost of a license was avoided. The wedding tock place in due time and happiness and prosperity followed, notwith- standing the fact that during the first eighteen months after his marriage, he only had fifty cents in money. The labor at that time brought only about twenty- five cents per day and wages were payable in such products as the employer hap- pened to have.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Todd were born three sons and two daughters: Sarah B., deceased; Seth H .; Mary A .; Charles M., who has also passed away ; and Millard I. Charles was a soldier of the Civil war and died in a hospital at Columbus, Tennessee. The father died at the advanced age of eighty-four years and was laid to rest in Wakeman cemetery. His wife was also interred by his side when she had reached the age of eighty-four years. She was a most hospitable lady, kind and charitable to all and is yet lovingly remembered by many who knew her. Mr. Todd was an ardent abolitionist in antebellum days and was in- strumental in assisting many a poor slave on his way to freedom in the north.
Seth H. Todd spent his boyhood upon the home farm and assisted in the usual work necessitated by the care of the stock and the cultivation of the fields. His early education was acquired in the public schools of Wakeman township and he spent three terms at Oberlin College. Subsequently he engaged in teach- ing school for five terms and was regarded as a very successful instructor. In
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1857, he went to Kansas and assisted in the suppression of the border ruffians, experiencing some exciting times when the contest between the advocates of freedom and slavery were at their height. He remained in Kansas for eighteen months and pre-empted a claim of one hundred and sixty acres, after which he returned to Ohio and has remained continuously in this state. His land in Kan- sas was located near Topeka and after a time he sold the property. Two years ago, he visited the state and land that comprised his former claim is now worth one hundred dollars per acre.
On the 20th of March, 1860, Mr. Todd was married to Miss Martha E. Strong, a daughter of Cyrus and Susan (Curtis) Strong, who came from Woodbury, Connecticut, to Ohio about the time of the arrival of the Todd family in this state. The father was a farmer by occupation and a man of influence in the community, highly regarded for his sterling qualities. Both he and his wife died a number of years ago. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Todd have been born seven children : Alva, now the wife of James Burhands ; Jennie, who became the wife of the Rev. George Laird and died in July, 1895; Charles A., of Wakeman; Albert S., also of Wakeman ; Sarah A., now the wife of Charles Bartholomew, of Chicago ; Mabel E. : and Sarah Grace, now Mrs. Bruce Spears, who is in the government employ in Alaska.
Mr. Todd has always been a farmer, conducting his labors along progressive and scientific lines. He has made a careful study of soils and the rotation of crops so that he annually gathers good harvests and he has also been a successful breeder of hogs, "Todd's Chester White hogs" becoming famous throughout the United States. Those which he exhibited at the World's Fair in Chicago in 1893, carried away champion prizes, amounting to twenty-three hundred and seventy dollars, received on twenty-three head of hogs. He became recognized through- out the entire country as a foremost breeder of Chester Whites. He was also- a breeder of Shropshire graded sheep and at the International Fat Stock Exhibit held in Chicago in 1907, he won the grand champion prize for the best car of fifty lambs, establishing his record as the champion sheep man of America. His idea has always been to have the best of anything he handles and his success proclaims the wisdom of this course. The total amount of his cash premiums taken at dif- ferent stock exhibits amounts to over twenty-six thousand dollars. For fifteen years Mr. Todd was active in farmers' institute work and was a popular lecturer. He has lectured in every county in Ohio at least twice and in some of them eight times and he has also done institute work in Indiana, Wisconsin and Michigan and spent one entire winter in that way in the state of Maryland. His services were in demand everywhere, and his lectures were only limited by his inability to be in two places at one time. It is said that at one time Mr. Todd was the most widely known man in the United States, this being due to his stock exhibits at all of the best state fairs in the country, to his institute work and his stock sales which were held in every state in the Union. He is a charter member of Wake- man Grange, No. 1399, Patrons of Industry, has been very active in this work and for a year was a lecturer for the organization. He has done everything in his power to promote agricultural and live stock interests and his efforts have given nim prominence among the live stock men of the entire country. Mr. Todd was
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HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY
also active in the organization of the Wakeman Banking Company, in 1897 became its first president and has served in that capacity continuously since. This is a reliable banking enterprise managed along safe and conservative lines and capitalized for twenty-five thousand dollars. It has proven of great benefit to the business community of Wakeman.
Mr. Todd and his family are members of the Congregational church, with which he united when fourteen years of age, since which time he has been active in church and Sunday school work and most generous in support thereof. He was superintendent of the Sunday school for thirty-two years and for forty- eight years, has been a trustee of the church. In his political views, he was an abolitionist in the early days and then joined the republican party on its organi- zation to prevent the further extension of slavery. For a few years he joined the prohibition ranks, being an intense temperance advocate but is now again giving his support to the republican party. He has been active in public matters and has frequently done some campaign speaking and usually represents his township in the different party conventions. He is also in favor of public improvements and gives his voice and his influence to the betterment of general conditions. In 1897, he and his wife left the farm and removed to the village of Wakeman, where they have since resided. At that time Mr. Todd was the owner of over four hundred acres of fine farming land, all well improved and under a high state of cultivation. Since then he has sold to his sons a part of the land, yet holds a goodly share himself. His acres are all well tiled and no farm of this section of the state is more productive, his crops being always the best and largest in the neighborhood. In all of his undertakings, he has been very successful and has acquired much more than a competency. His sons too, are prosperous and are well known for their sheep raising interests, feeding for the New York markets to which they send choice dressed lambs.
WILLIAM B. McCLAFLIN.
William B. McClaflin, a well-to-do farmer of New London township, Huron county, Ohio, and prominent in local affairs, was born on the 25th of March, 1847, in Royalton township, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, a son of Timothy P. and Miranda (Briggs) McClaflin. As children both father and mother came with their respec- tive parents from Vermont when Royalton township was a dense forest and as- sisted in clearing the land and making it one of the most fertile sections of the state of Ohio. Timothy McClaflin followed the life of a farmer in Royalton township for a time and then in Branch county, Michigan, to which he took his family in 1861. After several years of successful farming there he brought them back to Clarksfield township, Huron county, where he lived and worked for about ten years, later returning to Eaton county, Michigan, which was his home until his death, in March, 1890. His widow survived until December, 1907, when she died at the age of eighty-seven years.
William B. McClaflin was reared at home on the farm and received his edu- cation in the public schools of the district. He contemplated continuing his train-
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ing for life at higher institutions of learning, when the Civil war broke out and interfered with his plans. In April, 1863, he enlisted at Coldwater, Michigan, as a member of Company B, Forty-fourth Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, which regiment was to have been recruited for sharp-shooter service but at the time of equipment it was found to be impossible to fit them out for this field of work and they were mustered into the regular infantry. Attached to the Army of the Cumberland, the regiment took part in all the battles that fell to the share of that active army and during the Atlanta campaign was practically under fire for one hundred days. Mr. McClaflin said that at any hour of the day or night might he heard the crack of musketry or the boom of cannon, and yet he escaped all in- jury, was never taken prisoner, though he but narrowly escaped capture on several occasions and saw but little of the hospital. He served as a private and was mustered out at Camp Irwin, Texas, in December, 1865. Upon leaving the army, Mr. McClaflin returned to Brighton, Lorain county, Ohio, whither his fam- ily had moved during the war and there he engaged in farming with his father. In the fall of 1866 he entered Oberlin College and the following year went to Wisconsin to teach school. The schoolhouse which he occupied was one of the old log buildings of that state and its pupils were mostly large boys and girls of unruly disposition. Indeed they had acquired the reputation of being able to put every teacher who came to them out of the school. All unknowing of this state of affairs, Mr. McClaflin entered upon his work and experienced no difficulty, much to the surprise of the neighborhood and to the gratification of the school board, who tried to persuade him to remain another year. He declined the ap- pointment, however, and returned to Ohio to assist his father on the farm. After his marriage, in 1868, he removed to Brighton, where he engaged in agriculture and ten years later went to Clarksfield township, Huron county, which was his home until the fall of 1893, when he removed to Oberlin that he might educate his children at the college there. In 1902, he went to Spencer, Ohio, Mrs. McClaflin having died during their residence in Oberlin, and he farmed his own land for five years. In 1907 he sold his farm and went to California on a pleasure trip, travel- ing through the greater part of the country in the west and southwest. The winter of 1907-8 he spent in Florida and on his return to Ohio bought the land in New London on which he and his two sons, Hugh M. and Elmer P., now live. The farm embraces one hundred and thirteen acres, on which Mr. McClaflin con- ducts general farming. He has also engaged in stock raising and in dairying, sometimes milking as many as thirty cows. In all branches of his business he has been very successful.
On the 5th of July, 1868, Mr. McClaflin was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Mosher, a daughter of Hugh and Hester (Smith) Mosher, of Brighton, Lorain county. During the Civil war Mr. Mosher was a fifer in the Forty-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, was known as the "Yankee Fifer," and was a celebrated character, immortalized in war songs and traditions. He pursued farming and was a man of strong character, who exercised a wide influence. He died in August, 1891, his widow surviving him four years. Mr. and Mrs. McClaflin are the parents of nine children: Orin is married and lives in Medina county, Ohio; Benjamin W. is also married and lives in Clarksfield township; Ernest E. resides in Huntington. Ohio; Lillian is now Mrs. Charles Cook, of New London; Lottie
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HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY
married Winfield McConnell, of Wellington, Lorain county ; Hugh M. and Elmer P. cre at home with their father ; and two others, Walter and Maggie, died in in- fancy. Mrs. McClaflin died in Oberlin, May 29. 1894.
Mr. McClaflin affiliates with the republican party and has always been promi- nent in local politics, frequently being a delegate to various conventions. For a long period he served the people as trustee of the township and for fourteen years filled the position of road supervisor. On the township board of education lie took an active interest in promoting the welfare of the schools. He is a char- ter member of J. C. Ronk Post, No. 298, G. A. R., of which he was post com- mander for a number of years and has frequently been a delegate to state and national encampments. In religious matters he gives his support to the Methodist Episcopal church and has always played an important part in the work of this denomination, having been for a considerable period a class leader and the super- intendent of the Sunday school. In short he is a man possessed of a great deal of public spirit, who stands high in his community because of his principles and the integrity of his life. His sons, too, are fine young men who give fair promise of active and useful lives.
JOHN M. VAUGHN.
John M. Vaughn has well earned the proud American title of a self-made man. Necessity forced him to start out in life for himself at a very early age and he has since been dependent upon his own resources. For about forty years he has been connected with the building interests of Norwalk and in this connection has gained the reputation of being one of the best contractors in the locality, many of the im- portant buildings of this city and the surrounding towns standing as monuments to his ability.
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