History of Mercer County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 49

Author: Scranton, S. S
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 786

USA > Ohio > Mercer County > History of Mercer County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 49

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JAMES M. HOWICK

JAMES M. HOWICK, treasurer of Mercer County, is a progressive, intelli- gent young American, who has never shirked a citizen's duty nor permitted either business or pleasure to divert him from political responsibility. Mr. Howick was born at Neptune, Mercer County, Ohio, June 15, 1873, and is a son of Stephen and Mary J. (Bice) Howick.

The father of Mr. Howick was a prominent citizen and substantial farm- er of Mercer County for many years. He was township clerk of Center town- ship and later was postmaster at Neptune. For an extended period he was justice of the peace and was well and favorably known. His death occurred in 1902. He was the father of a family of 10 children.

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James M. Howick was reared and educated in Mercer County, where for some years he engaged in teaching school. From early youth he has been a student of politics and has taken a very active part in county and township affairs. Politically in sympathy with the Democratic party, he has frequently been elected to various offices in its gift and served as deputy county auditor and deputy county treasurer and in 1904 he was elected county treasurer. His administration of the office has distinguished him as a man especially qualified for the position and his popularity is universal.

Mr. Howick was united in marriage with Anna M. Kistler, a daughter of John Kistler. Mr. and Mrs. Howick have a pleasant home on East Fulton street, Celina. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Po- litically, socially and fraternally Mr. Howick is well known. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, the Eagles and other organizations.

FRANK J. SONDERMAN

FRANK J. SONDERMAN, a member of the firm of Frank J. Sonderman & Company, leading dealers in dry goods, clothing, shoes and carpets, at Fort Recovery, was born at Fort Recovery, January 7, 1870, and is a son of Anthony and Agnes ( Harter) Sonderman.

Anthony Sonderman was a wagon-maker by trade and was one of the early pioneers of Fort Recovery. He was past 70 years of age at the time of his death, which occurred in the spring of 1896. He was the father of five children : Mary Elizabeth, deceased at the age of three years; John A., who died in 1882 aged 20 years; Mary Louise, a member of the firm of Frank J. Sonderman & Company, who married S. N. Seifert, and has four children -William L., August Frank, George and John V .; Frank J., the subject of this sketch; and William, also a member of the firm of Frank J. Sonderman & Company.

Frank J. Sonderman was reared in Fort Recovery and at the age of 13 years left school and went to work in a hardware store, where he remained for three years. He then went to work as clerk for Krenning & Son in No- vember, 1885, which position he held until 1891. His next position was that of clerk in a large dry goods store in Toledo, Ohio, where he worked for one year and a half, when he was obliged to return to Fort Recovery on account of his father's ill health. In 1893 he established the firm of Frank J. Son- derman & Company, consisting of his sister, Mrs. S. N. Seifert, his brother William and himself. The store was opened in a small way in a building owned by Charles Schneider, and the same lines were carried which they now handle, viz., dry goods, men's clothing, shoes, carpets, etc. They were in the

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Schneider Building until 1903, when they moved to their present location in the Fetter Block, occupying the entire ground floor of two store-rooms, half of the second floor and the basement. The firm has increased the volume of its business each year, and now carries a very large stock of the lines dealt in, which have been mentioned above.

Mr. Sonderman was married November 12, 1895, to Mary A. Schunck, a daughter of Jacob Schunck, of Celina. They have had three children: Catherine Agnes, Madonna L. and Agnes Florence. Mr. Sonderman is a member of the Catholic Church and also of the Catholic Knights of Ohio.

ELI H. KELLY

ELI H. KELLY, residing in section 22, Washington township, owns 150 acres of valuable farm land and is one of the survivors of the Civil War. He was born March 12, 1839, in Stark County, Ohio, and is a son of David and Catherine (Biler) Kelly, who were the parents of eight children.

The parents of Eli Kelly moved to Knox County, Ohio, in his infancy, where they lived for five years, then lived in Allen County for two years, after which they resided for II months in Adams County, Indiana. They finally located in Liberty township, Mercer County, in 1851, and it was here that our subject was reared. His father bought a farm of 80 acres which Eli assisted in clearing and cultivating. By attending school during the winter he secured an education and after leaving school he taught for three years ; also one year after his marriage. In October, 1882, he enlisted in the 120th Regi- ment, Ohio Vol. Inf., and served for 13 months. He had enlisted for three years but was severely wounded in the battle of Thompson's Hill, May I, 1863, which prevented any further military service. He participated in the battles of Chickasaw Bluff and Arkansas Post, in the Army of the Mississippi under General Sherman. His regiment then went under the command of General Grant, going to Vicksburg, Mississippi, where it did hard labor building a canal, then ran the blockade at Vicksburg, on the Grand Gulf and marched all night to Thompson's Hill, going into battle the next morning without anything to eat. About II o'clock that morning Mr. Kelly was severely wounded in the left hand by a musket ball, which tore part of it away. He was then sent to the field hospital where he underwent an operation, being later removed to a hospital near Grand Gulf, where rations were cut off and Mr. Kelly had nothing to eat for four days. He was later moved to a camp near Vicksburg, where he took fever and was moved from camp to camp until June Ist, when he was sent to St. Louis where he lay in the hospital for three months. After leaving the hospital, he obtained quarters in St. Louis, and

ORIGINAL HOME OF JOSEPH S. SPRINGER

RESIDENCE AND FAMILY GROUP OF JOSEPH S. SPRINGER.

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after examination was assigned to the Invalid Corps, but was rejected. He then underwent a medical examination and was finally discharged after 13 months of most trying experiences.

Mr. Kelly then returned to his home in Washington township, whither his wife had moved in the meantime, and where she owned a farm of 40 acres, which is now the residence property of Mr. Kelly and his family. He was ill for a long time after returning from the war, but upon his recovery en- gaged in farming. He bought 40 acres of land in Liberty township in 1865, which he later sold and bought 80 acres in section 12, Washington township; he has also 20 acres in section 24. He has cleared the greater part of this land and has left about 30 acres of timber.

Mr. Kelly was married in 1861 to Cynthia Kannard, a daughter of George Kannard, and they have had seven children, namely: John, who was educated at the Western Ohio Normal School, at Middlepoint, later taught school three years and is now interested in a stone quarry at Middlepoint-he has a family of five children; George Albert, who is married and resides on his 40-acre farm in Recovery township; Rusha, who married Robert Mc- Queen and lives on her father's farm in section 12, Washington township; Viola, who married Michael Konrath and at her death left one child, which lived only a week; William; Etta, who married Jacob Clouse, lives in Kansas and has three children; and Estella, who lives at home. Mr. Kelly is a mem- ber of the Grand Army of the Republic and belongs to Washington Grange, P. of H.

JOSEPH S. SPRINGER

JOSEPH S. SPRINGER, owner and proprietor of tile works and a sawmill in Center township, is one of the most active and progressive business men of the county. Starting with nothing but a will to work, he has prospered in everything he has undertaken and to-day stands among the township's most substantial citizens.

Joseph S. Springer was born in Center township, September 1I, 1856, and is a son of Abraham and Mary Ann (Zartman) Springer. Abraham Springer was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, April 14, 1824, and died in December, 1900. He was a son of Jacob Springer, who came from Rocking- ham County, Virginia, with his father, George Springer. Abraham Springer lived in Fairfield County until after his marriage. He was 18 years old at the time of his marriage to Rebecca Mohler; they moved to Mercer County in the spring of 1852 and his wife died shortly after they located in Center township, leaving five children, as follows: Mrs. Cassie Bupp, deceased; David, who lives in Center township; Abraham, who lives at Van Wert, Ohio;

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Rebecca. deceased, who was the wife of L. D. Conner ; and Levi E., who lives at Montezuma. On April 1, 1855, Mr. Springer was married to Mary Ann Zartman, who was born and raised in Perry County, Ohio, and was a daugh- ter of Solomon Zartman. Her death occurred in March, 1885. The follow- ing were the children of the second marriage: Joseph S .; Mary Jane, who married A. J. Fast and resides at St. Marys; and Lucy Ann, who married E. E. Hayes and lives at Fort Wayne, Indiana. Our subject's father continued to live in Center township until about the year 1893, when he rented his farm and went to St. Marys to live.

Joseph S. Springer's boyhood was spent on the home farm assisting his father. In 1878, soon after his marriage, he rented the homestead. As the place was too small to keep him busy all the time, he farmed in summer and in the fall ran a threshing machine with some success. In the fall of 1882, while running a hay bailer for "Uncle" Wesley Copeland, the latter asked him why he didn't start a tile kiln, which the substantial farmers of the vicinity felt the need of. The reply of Mr. Springer was that he had no money, whereupon Mr. Copeland remarked that he and others had money and asked him to consider the project. After considerable urging, Mr. Springer agreed to establish the plant upon the condition that the men who advanced the money would accept his notes, secured only by such property as he himself possessed, the notes to be paid in tile. This being satisfactory, $1,500 was raised in one day in sums of $100 and less. He leased of G. W. Raudabaugh the 12 acres on which his plant and home is now located, and set about clear- ing a place of sufficient size on which to build. In the following spring ( 1883) he erected a log cabin, which was not entirely finished, although the family had moved in, at the time of the great snowstorm of May 20th and 21st of that year, when 16 inches of snow fell. It sifted through the cracks to a depth of six inches on the second floor. Mr. Springer took his brother-in- law, E. E. Hayes, into partnership with him and they started the tile-manu- facturing business together. At the end of two years, Mr. Hayes was suc- ceeded by a brother of our subject, Levi E. Springer ; since the fall of 1887, Joseph S. Springer has been sole owner and proprietor. As his business in- creased, he found it necessary to enlarge his plant, which he did not wish to do on rented land. In the fall of 1892 he contracted with G. W. Raudabaugh for the purchase of the 12-acre tract on which he was located, the deal being consummated the following spring. As soon as the contract was entered into, Mr. Springer began clearing more of the land, starting a sawmill in the fall of 1892 in order to work up his own timber. That was the beginning of the mill branch of his business, which he has continued ever since. In the spring he began building new sheds and had the work nearly completed, when almost the entire family contracted typhoid fever, Mr. and Mrs. Springer and seven

AN OLD VIEW OF THE PLANT

A RECENT VIEW OF THE PLANT

WORKING IN THE CLAY PIT THE TILE WORKS OF JOSEPH S. SPRINGER

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children being sick abed at one time. Later their three-weeks' old baby was taken down with the same disease. Although all were very sick and business and new improvements were at a standstill until the fall of 1893, Mr. Springer considers himself very fortunate in that all recovered. During the fall of 1893 the new sheds were completed, and work resumed in the sawmill. In the spring of 1894 he again started up with renewed energy, and has con- tinued ever since without interruption, running from 16 to 22 kilns per year since that time. In 1903 he found it necessary to again rebuild, enlarging kiln and sheds, also installing a new boiler. He has six men employed in the kiln in addition to himself.

He has a farm of 120 acres lying contiguous to his original 12-acre tract. It is mostly timberland, having but 30 acres under cultivation. The acquisition of this property was another stroke of good fortune, and gave evi- dence of the great confidence the men with whom he had had business deal- ings had in him. Mr. Raudabaugh, the owner of the tract, died in 1897, and the executors of his estate urged Mr. Springer to purchase the property, as he was in a good position to handle the timber. He saw the great opportunity presented, and explained his inability, through lack of funds. The executors urged him to make the effort, saying they would require a first payment of but $1,500, and $500 annually thereafter until $4,000 had been paid. It was the first payment which bothered him, and it was here that the credit he en- joyed in the business world was demonstrated. Having had dealings with the St. Marys Wheel & Spoke Company, which had had dealings with him for some years, offered to let him have $3,000 on the land if he wished. He wanted but $1,000, which they agreed to let him have, but at the last some slight differences came up between them and Mr. Springer refused the loan. An equal amount of money was then tendered him by Calvin E. Riley of the Commercial Bank Company, of Celina, and at the same time the executors agreed to waive the cash payment at first exacted. The deed was transferred in the fall of 1898. He then set to work with a will and managed to pay the hands without drawing on the St. Marys Wheel & Spoke Company, to whom he was shipping his product. He had an accounting with that company June 6, 1899, and with the $1,143 due him from them he paid the $1,000 mortgage and interest. Although the $500 payments were due on the first of May annually, he did not wait until May Ist, but paid as he could and in a little more than two years had his property free from all incumbrance. He received an offer of $30 per acre for second growth hickory, ash and oak timber stand- ing, and that he was right in refusing this offer is shown by the fact that he has made $2,500 from the timber of the 30 acres he has cleared.

In 1900 Mr. Springer began the erection of a fine 10-room house, built

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of vitrified blocks. It was completed in 1901 and makes a handsome and commodious home.

Joseph S. Springer was married December 21, 1877, to Phebe Ann Fast, who was born in Center township, Mercer County, Ohio, December 23, 1858, and is a daughter of Jacob and Barbara (Stuck) Fast. They have chil- dren, namely: Clarence W., who married Catherine Makley and has two children, Paul and Mary Magalene-he lives at St. Marys and is cashier and assistant manager of the St. Marys Wheel & Spoke Company; Nora Esther, who married A. A. Shupp and has two children, Dottie and Zelma; Dennis Sidney, bookkeeper of the St. Marys Wheel and Spoke Company; Ashley Plaine, at present a student at the International Business College, Fort Wayne, Indiana; Russell C., who is a student at the Lima Business College; Mary Ethel; Alice; Lawrence and Elsie H. Mr. Springer is a Republican in national politics, but is independent in local politics. He is a member of the United Brethren Church, and belongs to the Odd Fellows lodge at Celina.

Accompanying this sketch are views of Mr. Springer's old home, his present home and his tile works, also a family group picture.

PETER ALT

PETER ALT, one of Liberty township's most substantial citizens and ex- tensive farmers, resides in section 15, his home farm comprising 80 acres, while the whole extent of the land he owns sums up to 280 acres. Mr. Alt was born in Oberalben, Kusel, Rheinpfalz, Bavaria, Germany, January 2, 1854, and is a son of Adam and Elizabeth Alt, natives of Germany. The father is deceased, but the mother survives and lives with her son Peter.

Peter Alt began his military service in the German Army in 1874, at the age of 20 years, and so continued for two years. In 1877 he emigrated to America in company with other members of his family and they settled on the farm where he has lived ever since. This property he has brought to a fine state of cultivation and carries on general farming.

Mr. Alt married Hermina German, who was also born in Germany and they have had six children, the four survivors being: Mary, wife of Jacob Gehm, of Liberty township; Caroline, wife of Valentine Deitsch, of Liberty township; and Annie and William P., who live at home. Mr. Alt has given his children many advantages and has reared them to be industrious and re- spected members of the community.

In politics he is a Democrat. He has served as a school director of Dis- trict No. 5, one of the best regulated districts in the township. For almost all his life he has been a member of the German Evangelical Church, belong-

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ing to St. Paul's congregation. He is a man who commands the respect and confidence of his fellow-citizens.

BERNARD LEUGERS

BERNARD LEUGERS, one of the prominent agriculturists of Marion town- , ship, residing on his valuable farm of 243 acres in section 33, was born on this, the old home farm, July 15, 1845, and is a son of George and Catherine (Herkenhoff) Leugers.

The parents of Mr. Leugers were born in Germany and came to Amer- ica about 1835, locating at Cincinnati, where they lived some two years and then came to Mercer County. The father bought a farm of 80 acres from the government, for which he paid $1.25 per acre, and with German thrift continued to add to his possessions until he had 300 acres. His family con- sisted of five children, namely : Henry, deceased, who married Theresa Post; George, residing at Burkettsville, who married Mary Rumping; Mary, who married Henry Mesker-both now deceased; Sophia, who died in childhood; and Bernard.

Bernard Leugers attended the schools nearest to his father's farm in his boyhood, his path leading through the woods that then surrounded the home- stead. Deer were very plentiful in that neighborhood and he remembers seeing a herd of 27 one day on his way to school. Like other boys of his day he had a rifle, one his father bought in Cincinnati, and which he still owns, which did good service in supplying fresh meat for the family larder. It has provided many a wild turkey feast and in one fall Mr. Leugers killed 80 raccoons. The first house on the farm was a round-log cabin, but it was full of comfort as he recalls it. The father died on the old farm in 1880 and our subject, who had always remained at home assisting him, came into the possession of the farm and he still continues some of the industries his sensi- ble, far-seeing father started. One of these is bee-keeping. He has a large assortment of bees and derives a large income from the sale of honey.

Mr. Leugers resides in a house his father built, it being the third one erected on the place, each one better than the one before, but he, himself, built the barn and other farm buildings and has made many substantial improve- ments. He operates, with the help of his capable sons, 243 acres, carrying on general farming, but has owned, at times, as much as 400 acres, some of which he has given his sons.

On February 8,. 1872, Mr. Leugers was married (first) to Caroline Ord- ing, who died January 4, 1880, the mother of four children, namely: Cath- erine, deceased; George, residing in Darke County, who married Mary Sum- bring, and has four children-Anna, Carrie, Henry and August; Henry, re-

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siding in Mercer County, who married Philomena Sumbring and has one child, Rose; and Mary, who married Edward Hessalmann, lives in Mercer County and has had four children-Cecilia, Anna, Frances (deceased), and Bernardina.

In August, 1880, Mr. Leugers was married (second) to Catherine Laux, who died in 1895. She was a daughter of Adam Laux. They had these children : Catherine, who married Henry Geise, resides at New Weston, Darke County, and has three children-Laney, Freda and Frances; Barney, residing in Marion township, who married Elizabeth Heckman and has two children-Clement and Joseph; and John (born April 2, 1885), Gerhard (born August 22, 1887), and Herman (born August 24, 1889), who reside at home.

In February, 1898, Mr. Leugers was married (third) to Mrs. Elizabeth (Stearwal) Eyink, widow of Engelbert Eyink, and a daughter of Henry Stearwal. Elizabeth Stearwal was born in Germany and came to America alone, when 17 years of age. She was married (first) to Clemmens Heck- man and after his death she married Engelbert Eyink, and was again left a widow. To her first marriage were born: Elizabeth, Rose and Joseph, and to her second, Anthony.

Mr. and Mrs. Leugers are devoted members of St. Rose's Catholic Church. Politically our subject is a stanch Democrat. He has served two years as road supervisor and during that period proved himself a faithful and capable public official. Mr. Leugers is a very pleasant man to meet and his fund of stories of his boyhood and early days on the farm and in the woods is inexhaustible and full of interest.

WILLIAM LEWIS BOLTON

WILLIAM LEWIS BOLTON, who has been engaged for the past 27 years in teaching school throughout Mercer County, is also engaged in farming in Union township. He was born December 29, 1859, and is a son of Lewis and Mary ( Parker) Bolton.

Lewis Bolton died in 1860, shortly before the outbreak of the Civil War. He was the father of four children, namely: Matilda, deceased in childhood; Mary Loretta, wife of Ira T. Wollam, of Union township; Simon Peter, who married Martha Hinkle and resided at Mercer, where he died; and William Lewis. "After her husband's death, Mrs. Bolton was married to Noah Pile, and had one child by the second marriage, namely, Basil T. Pile, who resides in Van Wert County, 10 miles west of Van Wert. The mother of our subject was living with her daughter, Mrs. Ira T. Wollam, at the time of her death, which occurred about 1872. 1

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William L. Bolton first attended school at the Frisinger school in Dub- lin township and his first teacher was David Counterman, who is now a resi- dent of Mercer. His stepfather, Noah Pile, then sold the Bolton home farm in Union township, which consisted of 160 acres, and located on the Nathan Frisinger farm in Dublin township for a time; it was while living here that our subject began his school attendance. A little later Mr. Pile bought an 80-acre farm in Jefferson township. After a five years' residence in Dub- lin_and Jefferson townships, the family returned to the old home farm in Union township, as the purchaser had been unable to pay for the place. In 1872 the house, which is now occupied by Mrs. Ira T. Wollam, was erected, and Mr. Bolton resided here with his sister for several years after the death of his mother. Rev. Timothy Hankins, of Center township, who was a firm friend of his parents, was appointed his guardian and our subject resided with him for some time, after which he went to Celina and other places in order to learn some trade, but not being able to get an apprentice- ship he attended a select school conducted by John W. Loree, who is at present one of the leading members of the bar at Celina. The following spring he attended a select school at Mendon conducted by Prof. Rush Hooper, where he received a certificate and then taught until he attained his majority, when he received his legacy and purchased the 40 acres of land where his house now stands. He spent two or three terms at the Ohio Normal University at Ada and has since been engaged in teaching school during the winter terms and also during some of the spring terms. With the exception of three terms, he has always taught in Union township, north of the St. Marys River; he has taught one winter term in Jefferson town- ship, one in Dublin, and one term (winter of 1906) in York township, Van Wert County. Mr. Bolton has always been active in educational work and is regarded as one of the most successful instructors in the county. His farm, which consists of 80 acres, has all been cleared with the excep- tion of 20 acres, and has been tiled and drained since he purchased it. He moved on the farm in 1889 and erected a new barn and residence.

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History of Mercer County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 49

Author: Scranton, S. S Publication date: 1907 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Biographical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 786

Author: Scranton, S. S
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 786