History of Putnam County, Ohio : its peoples, industries, and institutions, Part 108

Author: Kinder, George D., 1836-
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Indianapolis, Ind. : B.F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1744

USA > Ohio > Putnam County > History of Putnam County, Ohio : its peoples, industries, and institutions > Part 108

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John F. Shafer was one of eight children, three of whom, besides him- self, are still living: Jacob, a farmer living in Paulding county, Ohio; Will- iam, of Dupont, Ohio, and Jefferson, also a resident of Paulding county.

John F. Shafer is a congenial man and feels proud of his success, as a result of his careful planning and frugal saving. He began life with abso- lutely nothing, and now has a fine farm, with comfortable, well-painted and adequate buildings, a fine herd of Shorthorn cattle and other live stock. He is a good judge of cattle and other stock and his advice is often sought by" people of his community. He has been a hard worker all his life, and his wife has been a faithful helpmate and aided him greatly in his success.

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ALBERT H. THRAILKILL.

Among the business men of Putnam county, Ohio, who have achieved no small measure of success in a personal way and whose relations with the public are founded upon cordial and honorable personal relations, is Albert H. Thrailkill, the general manager of the Leipsic Lumber & Coal Com- pany, of Leipsic, Ohio. He is a man, who, at the present time, is in the prime of life, and who has before him many active years. His past accom- plishments are to be accepted as a criterion of his future achievements. Few men will have accomplished more, when the time comes to give up the active cares of business, than the subject of this sketch. He has had a wide and varied experience in various enterprises, and these experiences have fur- nished a splendid equipment for the efficient management of the firm of which he is now the executive head. Mr. Thrailkill well deserves the confidence of the public and the patrons of his firm, since his conduct has ever been above reproach, thoroughly upright and honorable, judged by any standard.

Albert H. Thrailkill, son of Richard H. and Samantha ( Mitchell) Thrailkill, was born in Monroe township, Putnam county, Ohio, January I, 1874. The father was born at Westminster, Allen county, Ohio, and was the son of Elias Thrailkill and wife. Richard H. Thrailkill was a valiant soldier in the Civil War, having served in Company E., Fourteenth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and having enlisted before he reached his majority. He had grown to manhood and had been educated in Westminster, Allen county. Having enlisted as a private soldier at Defiance, Ohio, he served a year and a half, and during this period was wounded at Jonesboro, Georgia, and confined in a hospital for some time. When well enough, he was sent home on a furlough and, after being home three months, he joined his regi- ment and served until the close of the war, being attached to Sherman's army during its memorable march from Atlanta to the sea. Receiving his discharge in May, 1865, at Columbus, Ohio, he returned to Defiance, Ohio, to which the family had moved from Westminster, Allen county, when Rich- ard H. was fifteen years old. After spending some time at Defiance, he moved to a farm in Fayette county, and being there six years, he returned to Defiance, Ohio, and was married to Samantha Mitchell, daughter of John and Jane (Fifer) Mitchell, who bore him two children, Albert H. and Frederick H., the latter of whom is now located at Tulsa, Oklahoma, and is a bookkeeper and collector for the Continental Oil and Well Supply Company, of that place. After his marriage, the father of these children removed from Defiance to Monroe township, Putnam county, and rented eighty acres of

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land which Benjamin Fifer, his wife's grandfather, had purchased from the government. After farming here for some two years, he removed to Gilboa, and there worked at the painter's trade. From Gilboa he removed to Columbus Grove, where he worked at his trade for twelve years; after this he worked at his trade for seventeen years at Ottawa, and finally moved to Findlay, Ohio, where he passed away, October 22, 1914, at the age of sixty-six years. Mrs. Samantha (Mitchell) Thrailkill, who was born in Allen county, Ohio, in 1854, and who, during her life, was a companionable wife and loving mother and wise helpmate, passed away, October 9, 1913, at Findlay, Ohio, a year before her husband. Richard H. Thrailkill, al- though he was not an office-holder, was an active Republican throughout life, and was a member of the Church of God, at Findlay, Ohio, and a devout, earnest and God-fearing man. His wife was a member of the same church.

The paternal grandparents of Albert H. Thrailkill, having been born in Pennsylvania, migrated to Ohio, and settled in Allen county during pioneer times. When they arrived in Allen county, the city of Lima was not as large as Westminster at the present time. Both lived and died in Allen county. Their children were Mrs. Sarah Jane Bell, deceased; Richard H., deceased; Eliza, of Williams county, Ohio; Mrs. Isabelle Giltz, and one who died in infancy. By occupation, Mr. Thrailkill's grandfather was a farmer. His great uncle, a brother of his paternal grandfather and one for whom his father was named, operated the famous old mill at Westminster, and having been ordained as a minister in the Methodist Protestant church, was actively engaged in this profession until some twelve years before his death. The church at Gilboa was one of those on the circuit where he preached. He had come from Westminster, Allen county, to Gilboa, Putnam county. He was a man of charitable impulses and highly respected as well as widely and favorably known. About twelve years before his death, he had removed to Jersey City, in Wood county, and here he lived retired.

Albert H. Thrailkill's maternal ancestors came from Virginia. John Mitchell and Jane (Fifer) Mitchell, his maternal grandparents, were natives of Rockingham county. The great-grandfather, Benjamin Fifer, was a native of Rockingham county, Virginia. The maternal grandfather, Benja- min Fifer, moved from Virginia to Illinois, and from Illinois to Fayette county, Ohio, and from Fayette county to Putnam county, Ohio, finally settling in Monroe township, where he was a farmer and cattle buyer. In Monroe township, Putnam county, he owned eighty acres of land, and was engaged actively as a farmer until his death, about 1872. He improved, cleared and drained this land. They had a family of six children.

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Albert H. Thrailkill was only four years old when his parents left their farm in Monroe township, and removed to Columbus Grove. Receiving a' good common and high school education in the schools of Columbus Grove, and, growing to manhood in this city, he remained at home until his mar- riage, before which, however, he had learned the painter's trade, and had followed it in Ottawa, Ohio. Working as a clerk for some time in Ottawa, he was subsequently, employed as yard clerk for the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton railroad, and the Ft. Wayne & Western railroad, at Ottawa, and held this position during a period of four years. Taking charge of the Put- nam County Telephone Company, at Ottawa, as manager, one year after his marriage, and immediately after he quit railroad work, Mr. Thrailkill lived in Ottawa, from August 12, 1897, to 1900, resigning this position, he was transferred on August 12, 1900, to the managership of the Leipsic Telephone Company and remained until June 1, 19II, after he spent four months in railroad office work at Leipsic Junction, and then resigned to become man- ager of the elevator at Miller City, Ohio, owned by J. O. Cruikshank, after which he was transferred to the elevator at McComb, also owned by Mr. Cruikshank. From December, 1911, until September, 1912, he was in the elevator business at Miller City and McComb. He then resigned and moved back to Leipsic, where he became general manager of the Leipsic Lumber and Coal Company. This firm has a large trade in Putnam county in lumber, coal, lime and building materials of all kinds, and its growth and prosperity, during the last two or three years, are no doubt due, in considerable measure, to the efficient management of Mr. Thrailkill.

Albert H. Thrailkill was married, June 16, 1895, to Oread Sprague, who was born on December 6, 1873, in Columbus Grove, Ohio, and who is the daughter of Charles and Mary Jane (Slemmons) Sprague, the former of whom was a native of Putnam county, a druggist at Columbus Grove and who died there in 1876, when Mrs. Thrailkill was three years old. He had been a partner with J. M. Crawford and they had operated a drug store under the name of Crawford & Sprague. Mrs. Thrailkill's mother was born at Kalida. She is now deceased. Mrs. Thrailkill is the only child born to her parents. After having graduated from the high school, at Columbus Grove, she taught several terms of school in Pleasant township, also in the grade school at Leipsic. Albert H. and Oread (Sprague) Thrailkill have two chil- dren, Naola, born on June 16, 1904, and Margaret E., May 15, 1906. Naola passed away on April 23, 1905. Margaret attends Leipsic high school.

Although not a member of any lodge, Mr. Thrailkill is an active Re- publican, and has served six terms as councilman at Leipsic. Both Albert H.

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Thrailkill and wife are stanch and active members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Leipsic, and Mrs. Thrailkill is an active class and missionary worker in the church.

During his entire life, Albert H. Thrailkill's happy personal qualities have made him a popular citizen. His industry, enterprise and progressive spirit have been an influence for good in the various communities where he has lived. He is a worthy descendant of ancestors who were pioneers in this section of our great nation and who helped to lay the foundation of this thriving and prosperous citizenship.

JOHN H. WHITE.

Among the substantial farmers of Liberty township, this county, there are few who are better known or who have a higher reputation for public spirit than John W. White, who, for many years, has been counted among the leading men of his section of the county. He has done well his part in life and it is but proper that he should be given fitting mention in this volume of biography relating to the men and families of prominence in Putnam county.

John W. White was born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, on August II, 1854, the son of Robert and Nancy (Neely) White, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania. The Whites moved from Pennsylvania to Putnam county, Ohio, in 1855, and located in the town of Leipsic. Robert White bought a farm north of West Leipsic, but instead of living on this farm, rented for a time, continuing to make his home in Leipsic, but later moved onto his farm, where he made his home until the encroachments of age warned him to retire from the active life on the farm. He moved back to his home in Leipsic, in 1877, and there he spent the rest of his life, his death occurring in 1882. His widow is still living, at a ripe old age, in Leipsic.

John W. White received his early education in the schools of Leipsic, which he supplemented with a course of three terms spent at the normal school in Ottawa, and at the age of nineteen began teaching school. For four years he served as a teacher in the schools of Liberty township, after which he decided to take up farming as his life's vocation and, for a year before his marriage, in 1879, farmed on rented land in that township. In January, 1884, Mr. White bought a farm of eighty acres, one mile west of Prentiss, in section 10, of Liberty township, and moved there the second

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year afterward. Here he resided, until 1893, when he moved to the Denhard farm, three miles east of his home and two miles north of Leipsic, where he lived for three years. He moved back to his home place, west of Prentiss, in 1896, where he has lived ever since. He bought forty acres in the south- east quarter of section 14, of Liberty township, and later sold it and bought fifty-eight acres on the Ridge road, three miles northwest of Leipsic, which piece he sold in 1914. He also bought forty acres, known as the Egbert farm, across the road from his home and later bought thirty-five acres, known as the Leatherman farm, just east of the Egbert farm. Since then, he bought twenty-five acres of what was known as the old Auseon farm, just east of the Leatherman tract, making one hundred and seventy-nine acres in his present home tract. After selling the farm on the Ridge road, in Novem- ber, 1914, he bought the old Heck farm of ninety acres about a mile north- west of Leipsic. All of this land now is in an excellent state of cultivation and Mr. White is widely known as a good farmer and prudent manager.

John H. White was united in marriage, in 1879, to Emma Jane Len- hart, who was born in Liberty township, Putnam county, Ohio, the daughter of Henry and Adaline (Bracht) Lenhart. Henry, a brother of former county treasurer William S. Lenhart, of Ottawa, was a son of Jacob and Lydia (Sprinkle) Lenhart, both of whom were natives of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, Jacob Lenhart having been for many years a minister of the River Brethren church, to which service he devoted the best energies of his life. His house was used as a place of worship, and services were held there every alternate week for years, while he resided in Mahoning county, and later his place served the same purpose in the counties of Hancock and Putnam. Jacob Lenhart had a large family, consisting of sixteen children, two of whom died in infancy, the others growing to maturity and making useful citizens in their respective places of residence. Henry Lenhart had a twin brother, David C. Lenhart, the father of Harrison Lenhart. Mrs. White is a sister of Mrs. Edwards, widow of the lamented John Edwards, who for many years was one of the towering figures in the financial and industrial life of Putnam county, a biography of whom is presented else- where in this volume.

To John H. and Emma Jane (Lenhart) White were born eleven chil- dren, all of whom are living, as follow : Gertha May, married Mary Smith, a well-known farmer of Liberty township, and has three children, Marie, Dale and Forest ; Lulu, married Jesse Roberts, also of Liberty township, and has two children, Kenneth and Mabel; Bessie, married Clarence Kratzer, liv- ing on the Ridge road three miles west of Leipsic, and has one child, a

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daughter, Roberta ; Velma, married Ernest Kratzer, living two miles west of Leipsic, and has one child, Vivian, living and two dead; Amzi, attending school at Defiance, Ohio; Henry, teaching school in Liberty township, this county ; Flossie; Verda ; Mabel; Dee and Russell, at home.

John H. White and wife are members of the Lutheran church and are active participants in the various beneficences of that congregation in their neighborhood. They formerly were members of the 'United Presbyterian church, to which they remained attached as long as there was a church of that denomination within reach. Mr. White is a Republican and takes a proper degree of interest in the politics of the county, being particularly inter- ested in all matters relating to the government of his home township. He gives close attention to the educational interests of his home township and for ten years or more has been a member of the school board, in which capacity his service has been of large value to the schools of Liberty town- ship. He and his family are regarded as among the leaders in their com- munity and are deservedly popular throughout that section of the county.

JOHN B. SCHEY.

In the laborious struggle for an honorable competence and a substantial career on the part of the average farmer, there is little to attract the casual reader in search of a sensational chapter, but to a mind thoroughly awake to the reality and meaning of human existence, there are noble and imperish- able lessons in the career of an individual, who, with no other means than a clear head, strong arm and true heart, directed and controlled by correct principles and unerring judgment, conquers adversity and toiling, wins not only pecuniary independence, but what is far greater and higher, the merited respect and confidence of those with whom his active years have brought him in contact. Such a man is John B. Schey, of Liberty township, Putnam county, Ohio, a successful farmer and a well-known citizen of this section.

John B. Schey was born on November 20, 1865, in Franklin county, near Grove City, Ohio, the son of Philip and Catherine (Bouch) Schey, whose life histories are found on another page of this volume. Mr. Schey is also a brother of Peter Schey.

When the Schey family moved to Putnam county in 1868, John B. Schey was only three years old but, nevertheless, he has a vivid memory of their arrival at the log cabin where they were to live for a number of years.

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John B. Schey grew up on this farm and saw it cleared and drained and made a profitable and productive property. He recalls also the huge swarms of mosquitoes from the surrounding swamps and the vexations suffered by the people who lived in their vicinity before the swamps were drained.

John B. Schey bought the farm where he now lives in section 3, of Liberty township in 1896, which comprises one hundred and twenty acres. When Mr. Schey purchased the farm it was an old dilapidated-looking place that had been deserted for some time. Mr. Schey cleaned up the house and put in doors and windows and lived in it for about fourteen years. He built the present handsome dwelling in 1908 and has also put up various out- buildings in the meantime, as well as fenced and drained the land. He has one of the finest farms in Liberty township. His land was among the first settled in this part of the county, and up to that time the old house had been used by cattle and sheep for shelter. When he purchased the land, the fire- place in the old house had fallen in, and the soil was worn out and blue. Mr. Schey went to work to improve the place and for years toiled to this end.

John B. Schey was married, in 1892, to Mollie Ginther, who died two years and six months after their marriage. She was the mother of one daughter who died about two months before the death of Mrs. Schey. Dur- ing this period, Mr. Schey was farming the old home place, but about a year after his marriage, purchased forty acres in the southwest quarter of section 4, of Liberty township. This farm was mostly cleared and he lived here until he purchased his present farm, in 1896. Mr. Schey was married a sec- ond time, in 1895, to Emma K. Feight, who was born at New Bedford, Cosh- octon county, Ohio, along the line of Holmes county .. She is the daughter of William and Margaret (Laudenschlager) Feight, the former a native of Pennsylvania and a life-long farmer. Mrs. Schey's mother was a native of Coshocton county and is the daughter of Frederick and Catherine Lauden- schlager, who came from Germany in their youth, but who were married in America and early settlers in Coshocton county. Mrs. Schey was about five years old when her parents moved to Elm Center, Liberty township, Putnam county, where they lived until about 1903, when they moved to Townwood, in Van Buren township. They lived here until 1912, when they moved to Tecumseh, Michigan. Mrs. Schey was living at Elm Center when she was. married.

To John B. and Emma K. (Feight) Schey ten children have been born, one dying in infancy and two dying when a little more than a year old. The living children are Rollin, Arthur, Dorothy, Clyde, Carrie, Victor and Gladys. Another member of the family circle was Eva Crone, who was born west of

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Glandorf and who had lived with Mr. and Mrs. Schey since she was eight years old, and until her marriage, March 22, 1915, to Victor J. Feight. She- is considered as one of the family.

John B. Schey is a member of the Grange at Leipsic and he and his family belong to the Lutheran church. Mr. Schey and family are highly respected citizens of Liberty township, where he has gained an enviable repu- tation for honesty, progressive spirit and enterprise in his vocation. He is a man who, in every respect, merits the esteem of his neighbors and fellow citizens.

HENRY.W. LITTLE.

Indefatigable industry, sound judgment and wise management have been the elements that have contributed to the success achieved by Henry W. Lit- tle, for many years an enterprising and progressive farmer of Palmer town- ship, Putnam county, Ohio, and who is now the county commissioner-elect of Putnam county. His farming lands have always been well improved and highly productive, and he is numbered among the best farmers of Palmer township. Because of his high character and unquestioned integrity, he en- joys, to a marked degree, the highest respect of the community. Mr. Little has not only been a successful farmer, he has erected buildings upon his land, improved the soil by careful cultivation and drainage and now has a splendid farm, excellently situated.

Henry W. Little is the son of Robert and Anna (Noriot) Little, and was born on December 19, 1871, in Palmer township, Putnam county, Ohio. Robert Little was the son of Robert Little and wife, who was born in Craw- ford county, Ohio, and who moved to Putnam county, Ohio, about 1860. They were farmers and pioneers in Palmer township where they settled. They had the following children, Robert, the father of Henry W .; Marshall, Margaret, Isabella and Anna. They farmed for a time in Palmer township, and later, moved to North Creek, where they died.

Mrs. Anna (Noriot) Little was the daughter of Francis and Francois. (Raclot) Noriot, natives of Boncourt, France, and who were married in 1823, in Boncourt. They came to America on October 27, 1853, and landed at Findlay, Ohio, December 8, 1853. Francis Noriot and wife settled in Hancock county on a property, where they farmed for a time. Subsequently, they came to Putnam county, Ohio, where they lived, and later returned to Henry county, where he died on September 26, 1866. He was the mayor of

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Boncourt, France, at one time. His wife, Francois, was born in December, 1800, and died on February 28, 1898. They had the following children, Francis, deceased; Claude; Anna, the mother of Henry W. Little; Lawrence, deceased; Mary; Celestian; John, deceased; Velaria, and Magdelena, who died in France. Mrs. Anna Little was born in the village of Boncourt, France, and came to America with her parents at the age of twelve years. They settled in Hancock county, Ohio, where she grew up. Later, she came with her parents to Putnam county and also to New Bavaria, Henry county.

Robert Little, the father of Henry W., was educated in Crawford county, Ohio, and lived on his father's farm during his early years. Later, he came to Putnam county, Ohio, where he purchased eighty acres in Palmer township. Here he was married to Anna Noriot. After their marriage, they continued to reside on the farm in Palmer township. He later moved to North Creek, Palmer township, where he retired and died on September I, 1908. His wife died at North Creek, Palmer township, in 1909. Robert and Anna Little had seven children, Alexander, deceased; Mrs. Elizabeth Gump; Nicholas, deceased; Joseph, who lives in Palmer township; Mrs. Mary Lefever, deceased; Henry, the subject of this sketch; and Robert, who lives near Miller City, Ohio.

Henry W. Little was educated in Palmer township and lived there, dur- ing his early life, on his father's farm. He lived there, in fact, until he was twenty-one years of age, when he was married.

Henry W. Little was married on May 18, 1892, to Mary Burkhart, the daughter of John and Gertrude Burkhart, who were farmers of Palmer town- ship, Putnam county. Both died in Palmer township. They had a family of twelve children, of whom William, Henry, Christ, Katherine and Mary are now living.

After his marriage, Henry W. Little continued to live on his father's farm for six months and then moved to a small farm, which he purchased, in Palmer township. He lived here for about four months and then moved to his father-in-law's farm, where he spent ten years. He purchased forty acres in section 14, of Palmer township, and later sold it, buying his present farm which originally consisted of thirty acres and which was inherited by his wife. Subsequently, he has increased the same to one hundred and forty acres. It is located in sections 12 and I, of Palmer township. Mr. Little has built all of the present buildings. He has improved the farm and erected many rods of fences. The land, however, was cleared when he moved to it. He has a fine farm and excellent soil, which is one of the best in the township.

To Henry W. and Mary (Burkhart) Little, six children have been born,

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Grace, Gordon, Bertha, Jessie, Elwood and Pauline, all of whom are at home. Grace married Gilbert Hoffman, of Palmer township, and has one son, Harold. All of the children have been educated in the township schools and Bertha continued her education in the high school at Miller City.

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History of Putnam County, Ohio : its peoples, industries, and institutions, Part 108

Author: Kinder, George D., 1836- Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Indianapolis, Ind. : B.F. Bowen Number of Pages: 1744

Author: Kinder, George D., 1836-
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Indianapolis, Ind. : B.F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1744