History of Putnam County, Ohio : its peoples, industries, and institutions, Part 120

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

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Mr. McClish was married on November 29, 1882, to Flora Miller, who was born on August 13, 1863, in Marion county, Ohio. She is the daughter of Adolphus and Mary (Curren) Miller, both of whom were natives of Marion county, Ohio. To this union have been born six children, Grace and Zoe died of typhoid fever, the former on August 12, 1899, and the latter on November 17, 1889; Ralph, Edward, Guy and Helen, the four surviving children, live at home.

Adolphus Miller, the father of Mrs. McClish, was born in 1827, and died, December 27, 1899, at the age of seventy-one years and six months. His wife, who was Mary Curren before her marriage, was born in 1834, and died, August 15, 1899, at the age of sixty-five years and six months. Adolphus Miller came to Putnam county, Ohio, in 1881, and settled in Perry township on a farm. He farmed here until his death. He was not a member of any lodge. He was school director in Marion county, Ohio, some years, was a Republican and a member of the Baptist church. He was a strict church member and a regular attendant. His wife was a member of the United Brethren church at New Bethany, Perry township.

Gilbert McClish is now the trustee of Perry township, and is entering upon his second year at the present time. He is an active Republican, and prominent locally in the councils of his party. Mr. McClish is not a member of any church, but reared as an adherent of the Methodist church. His father was a stanch Methodist, and helped to erect the church at New Bethany, for a long time known as the McClish church, since John McClish gave the ground upon which this church was erected.

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Gilbert McClish is a congenial, pleasant man, and makes acquaintances readily. He is widely known in this section of Putnam county, and is well liked for his frankness, sincerity and honesty. He is a good farmer, a good provider, and a lover of his home, wife and family.

THEODORE HORSTMAN.

Any person who will investigate the facts, will be surprised to learn of the great number of people of Germanic nativity and descent now living in the United States. Unquestionably the greatest number of immigrants reaching the shores of the new world come from that nation, and statistics show that there is more Germanic blood in the United States than any other. This being the fact, it is easy to account for the prosperity and morality in this country. Not only that, but it will afford an explanation for the love of learning shown by the people of this vast nation. Germany is famous the world over for its remarkable universities, for its educated men, for its. poets, philosophers and for the industry, patience, intelligence, morality and sturdiness of its citizens. These qualities have been brought to this country by the immigrants and now are a part of our wonderful nation, its progress in domestic economy, its advancement in every branch of material develop- ment, its love of country and home. The subject of this sketch, Theodore Horstman, is a native of Germany.

Theodore Hortsman was born on January 6, 1869, in Westphalia, Ger- many. He is the son of Herman and Mary (Bruland) Horstman, the former of whom was a native of Westphalia, Germany, and died in 1890, at the age of seventy-one years. He was born in 1819, and never came to America. He was a farmer in Germany and at one time operated a stone quarry there, but was retired several years before his death. His wife was also a native of Westphalia, Germany, born in 1824, and died in 1885, at the age of sixty-one years. They had nine children, of whom five lived to maturity, Joseph, lives in Montana; Mrs. Christina Pott, deceased; Mrs. Anna Pott, of Perry township; Theodore, the subject of this sketch, and Herman, who lives in Jackson township, Putnam county.

Theodore Horstman came to America in 1893 and settled first in Jack- son township on a farm. He purchased sixty acres of land and added to it until he now has one hundred acres in Jackson township. He farmed there about fourteen years and then moved to Cloverdale, Ohio, where he now

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lives. He has something more than twenty-four acres in his home place, adjoining the town of Cloverdale, in Perry township, besides his Jackson township farm. When Mr. Horstman came to this country, the land which he bought was a wilderness and swamp. Since that time, however, by his untiring efforts he has greatly improved this land. He came to Jackson township when it was only partially settled, and has seen the vast improve- ments made in the farm property of this township. Mr. Horstman started in the stock business thirteen years ago and is still actively engaged in buying and selling all kinds of live stock, especially hogs, cattle and sheep.

Theodore Horstman was married in Germany, in 1890, on February 6, to Elizabeth Roieng, a native of Germany and the daughter of Joseph and Catherine Roieng, natives of Germany, who never came to America. To this happy union, four children have been born, Katherine, Amelia,. Joseph and Margaret. All of these children are living at home.

Mr. Horstman is not a member of any lodge. At present he is one of the councilman of Cloverdale and was formerly a supervisor. He is a Democrat, is a member of St. Barbara's Catholic church at Cloverdale, as is. also his family.

Theodore Horstman is a progressive farmer and takes a keen interest in civic affairs. He has a neat, well-kept home and is a jovial citizen of the community, a man widely known, frugal in his habits and honest in his business dealings. He has accumulated a snug fortune and is proud of the country of his adoption. He is a man of sincere purpose and his word is. gilt-edged.

ISAAC NELSON YOUNG.

Those of the readers of this historical work, who live in and about Sugar Creek township, need no introduction to the gentleman whose name is noted above, but in order that the list of progressive, successful and repre- sentative citizens of Putnam county, presented in this volume, may not be broken, the biographer takes pleasure in here presenting a brief sketch of Mr. Young's career as being a matter of interesting information to those in remoter sections of the county who may not have the pleasure of his acquaintance, as well as a bit of valuable data to the future historian of Putnam county, who may have occasion to refer to these pages as an index and reflector of the present time.

Isaac Nelson Young was born in Delaware county, Ohio, close to the

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town of Sunbury, on July 9, 1857, the son of Oliver and Caroline (Hiatt) Young, the former of whom was a native of the same county and state. Oliver Young was born in March, 1825, the son of Linderman Young, a native of New Hampshire, whose parents moved to New York during his early childhood and who, later, at the time he was about twelve years of age, moved to Ohio, locating in Delaware county, and, in 1862, went to Paulding county, where he remained till his death. For some time after his marriage, Oliver Young remained in Delaware county and was engaged in farming, a vocation to which he had been trained from boyhood, and it was in that county that Isaac Nelson Young was born. Later, the family moved to Paulding county, Ohio, where Oliver Young bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres at the point of the Auglaize river, where he lived the rest of his life, dying in the year 1882, at the great age of ninety-two years. Before moving to Paulding county, in the year 1862, Oliver Young had been quite successful in a number of real estate deals in Delaware county, and had bought and sold a number of farms there. He was a lifelong farmer and also gave considerable attention to the raising of live stock, horses and cattle in particular, and was a large feeder of Durham cattle. He was a good judge of live stock and was an extensive exhibitor at county fairs at a time when these expositions of the resources of the counties of Ohio were just coming in vogue, being a winner of many blue ribbons in such exhibits. Oliver Young was a very plain, slow-spoken man, whose judgments were regarded as excellent among his neighbors, and he wielded a large influence in the community in which he quickly became so decisive a factor. He was a member of the United Brethren church at Oakwood, in Paulding county, a stanch Republican and an active participant in all the good works of the com- munity, both he and his good wife being held in the highest regard through- out that whole section in which their influence was so manifest, and to the best interests of which they were so devoted.

To Oliver and Caroline (Hiatt) Young were born ten children: Eliza- beth, Amia, Isaac Nelson, Jacob, Eli and Evi (twins), Elias, Harrison, Daley and Nathan. Of these Elizabeth, Amia, Evi, Harrison and Daley are de- ceased. Jacob lives in Missouri; Eli is still a resident of Delaware county, Ohio; Elias resides in Paulding county, Ohio, and Nathan lives in Missouri.

Isaac Nelson Young was united in marriage on February 12, 1885, to Miss Mary Jane Anderson, who was born in Sugar Creek township, this county, on October 15, 1852, the daughter of Henry and Ann (Thomas) Anderson, the former of whom was a native of New York state and the latter of whom was born in South Wales.

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Henry Anderson, who, in his day, was one of the most prominent and influential residents of Sugar Creek township, was born in the year 1818, and at the age of seven came with his parents from New York state to the state of Ohio, settling first in Marion county, close to the Sandusky river. Later, the Andersons moved to Putnam county, settling in Sugar Creek township, Henry at that time being about nineteen years of age. Some years later, they moved to the present Anderson farm in Sugar Creek township, which Henry and his father together purchased and which they cleared, and on which they spent the remainder of their lives, Henry Ander- son dying in 1899, at the age of eighty-one.

On August 30, 1846, Henry Anderson was united in marriage to Ann Thomas, the daughter of Evan and Rachael (Thomas) Thomas, who was born in South Wales in May, 1818, and who came to America with her parents when she was thirteen years of age. Upon their arrival in this country, the Thomases, for a time, lived in Guernsey county, Ohio, later going to Allen county, locating at a point which is now the town of Gomar and after a some time residence there came to Putnam county, locating in Sugar Creek township, where they bought a farm near Vaughnsville, on which Mr. Thomas built a blacksmith shop and followed his trade of black- smith till a short time before his death, which occurred on August 18, 1899, his wife's death occurring June on 30, 1887, at the age of sixty-nine years.

Henry and Ann (Thomas) Anderson were the parents of seven children, of whom William Henry and Mrs. Young are the only survivors, the de- ceased members of the family being Evan Thomas, Leonard, Mary, Jane, Sarah Ann, Charles Godfrey and George Washington.

Isaac Nelson Young grew up in Paulding county, he having been but seven years of age when his parents moved to that county from Delaware county. He received a good schooling in the township schools and learned the carpenter trade, at which he worked for several years after attaining his growth. He then went to northern Michigan, where, for two years, he worked as a cook in a lumber camp, at the end of which time he returned to Paulding county and worked on the farm for his grandfather for about three years. He then married and moved to Putnam county, buying a farm of forty acres in Sugar Creek township, on which he has since made his home. This property not being as much land as he could properly care for, he rented an additional forty acres adjoining and has been quite successful. He has a well-kept and well-stocked farm, everything on which is up to modern standards. Mr. Young also has a feed and chop grinder, run by gasoline engine of six-horse power. This grinder has been a source of great help and has been in use for ten years.

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To. Isaac Nelson and Mary Jane ( Anderson) Young four children have been born; Anna, who married Henry H. Wilkins, of Columbus Grove, this county ; Oliver W., who was graduated from Ada College with the degree of electrical engineer and is now holding that position at the great Missis- sippi river power-house dam at Keokuk, Iowa, having overseen the install- ing of the machinery there; Mary, who married William W. Hartoon, and who is residing on the home farm; and Laura, who also is at home.

Mr. Young is a good farmer and essentially a home man, taking great pleasure in his well-kept home and is devoted to his family. Like his father, he is a slow-spoken man, but excellent in judgment, of keen intellect and very companionable. Isaac Nelson Young, his wife and their children- are very popular in the social circle in which they move, and are accounted as among the leading residents of that section of the county. Mr. Young is a Republican and takes a proper interest in politics, but is more or less independent in voting. He has served his township as assessor and is, one of the active promoters of the best interests of his neighborhood.

DAVID S. REYNOLDS.

The biographies of the representative men of a county bring to light many hidden treasures of mind, character and courage, well calculated to arouse the pride of their family and of the community. And it is a source of regret that the people are not more familiar with the personal history of such men, in the ranks of whom may be found tillers of the soil, mechanics and teachers, as well as lawyers, physicians, bankers and members of other vocations and professions. David S. Reynolds is one of the leading citizens of the township in which he lives, and as such has made his influence felt among his fellowmen, and earned a name for enterprise, integrity and honor that entitles him to worthy notice in a work of the nature of this volume.

David S. Reynolds is a native son of the old Buckeye state, having been born in Franklin county, on March 17, 1866. His parents were Roger and Elizabeth (Bowen) Reynolds. Roger Reynolds was born on January 14, 1801, in North Wales, and reared as a farmer, being employed as such by members of the nobility. He became known as an efficient and reliable farm superintendent, his duties being to oversee and direct the laborers on the estate where he was employed. He received his early education in the vil- lage parish and could speak Welsh fluently and English to a limited degree,

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though able to understand the latter language thoroughly. He was one of a large family of children, and remained at home in his native country until about forty years of age. Prior to this time his father had died. His mother continued to reside on the little farm with her children. In 1841, Roger Reynolds embarked on a sailing vessel for America, the voyage re- quiring six weeks, and the emigrants landed at New York city, from which port he came directly to Franklin county, Ohio, locating at Columbus, where Mr. Reynolds at once sought employment. Among the emigrants who ac- companied Mr. Reynolds to this country, was a young English girl by the name of Elizabeth Bowen. She had been reared in the Reformed church of England. Shortly after their arrival in Columbus, Roger Reynolds be- came engaged to her and eventually they were married. After this interest- ing event, they remained in Columbus for several years, during which time Mr. Reynolds was employed as a mason. But through the carelessness of his employer, who died, and who had never kept any books, after the set- tlement of the estate, Mr. Reynolds was compelled to present his private account as the only record of the time he worked with his employer. Since this man left no money, but had considerable real estate, Mr. Reynolds was compelled to take land in exchange for the money owing him as wages, which, this time, had increased until he received ninety acres of land, located in Franklin county, in exchange for it, and which, eventually, formed the basis of his homestead farm. This land, located three miles southwest of Hilliard, was heavily timbered and in its primeval condition, but undaunted by these conditions, Mr. Reynolds entered upon the task of clearing and improving it. He built a log cabin and a large barn, and eventually, by a persistent and untiring effort, succeeded in getting the land all cleared. He sold this land in 1867, and moved to Sugar Creek township, Putnam county, where he bought four hundred and fourteen acres of Jacob Gander, the land being located in the northwestern part of the township, and on the west bank of Hog creek. This land was also practically undeveloped, only a few acres being cleared, but it had on it a pretentious brick house of eight rooms and a double log barn, and a small frame barn, as well as a one-room log house. When Mr .. Reynolds bought this farm, he lacked three thousand dollars of having enough to pay for it, and as he was well along in years and had a family of thirteen children to provide for, the outlook promised to be one of unceasing toil and perseverance if he was to succeed in securing a clear title to all the land. By dint of persistent energy, he succeeded in get- ting about two hundred acres cleared, or nearly half of the children were taken down with typhoid fever, which entailed an enormous expense for

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doctors' services and extra help on the farm. The conditions prevented Mr. Reynolds from realizing his life's ambition of having his farm and home clear of debt, and in the midst of these struggles he died in June, 1881, at the ripe old age of eighty years.

Rogers Reynolds was a man of strong character and sturdy physique, else he would not have been able to carry on the enterprise to which he had applied himself. A great reader and close student and keen observer of events, he was well informed and was a most interesting conversationalist. He possessed strong convictions on moral and ethical questions, and was a faithful and consistent Christian in character. He was a stanch Republican, and a strong supporter of the Calvin Methodist church. His wife, Eliza- beth, was also a member of this church, and survived her husband several years, dying in September, 1900. She was born near Manchester, England, on June 22, 1826, and at the time of her death was seventy-four years of age.

After her husband's death, Mrs. Elizabeth Reynolds sold the chattels on the farm and applied it to reduce the indebtedness. Then seven of the children bought out the interest of the remaining heirs, and each assumed one-seventh of the remaining debt. Each one also agreed to pay their mother a stated amount each year, and for this consideration each received from his mother a quit-daim deed to his share of the property. All this was done without one cent being expended for legal fees and was a splendid testimonial to the regard each had for the other's rights in the matter, and for their desire to live peacefully and in harmony. The thirteen children in this family were: Roger, Richard, Evan, Elizabeth, George, David, Thomas, Charles M., Benjamin F., Emma, Margaret, Mary and James F. The last named died at the age of three years. All the others grew to ma- turity, and all are living with the exception of Charles, who met his death as the result of an accident in September, 1910.

David S. Reynolds was eleven years of age when, on April 10, 1867, he came to Putnam county, and here he spent the years of his youth, receiving his education in the old McLain district school. Until twenty-two years of age, he remained under the homestead roof, and then, after his marriage, he started to farm for himself on the old home place, renting twelve acres the first year. After that he leased as much land as he could clear up, getting the crop for eight years in payment for his labors on that account. He con- tinued to reside on part of the old home place until he bought twenty acres adjoining, to which he moved in about 1895. In the settlement of the paternal estate, he received and purchased from the heirs sixty-nine

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acres, which, in addition to the land he had already purchased, made a total of ninety-six acres. He also rented twenty acres, and is thus operating one hundred and sixteen acres of land. He has carried forward his work in an intelligent and progressive manner, raising all the crops common to this section of the country, and has became very successful.

On March 7, 1878, David S. Reynolds was married to Lucetta Hoffer, a native of Jennings township, Putnam county, where she was born on April 10, 1856, the daughter of John and Lydia ( Meyers) Hoffer. John Hoffer was a native of Switzerland, born in 1807, and in his youth came to America, locating at once in Fairfield county, Ohio, where he followed his trade, that of tailor. In that county he was married to Lydia Meyers, a daughter of Jacob and Annie Meyers, and remained there for several years after their marriage. He then moved to Allen county, where they remained until several years later, the family locating in Jennings township, Putnam county, where they spent the remainder of their days, the father dying in November, 1868, and the mother in October, 1891. John and Lydia Hoffer were the parents of eleven children, two of whom died in infancy; Isaac; Jacob; Andrew, deceased; Samuel, deceased; John; Jonas; Ann Elizabeth, who died at the age of one and one-half years; Sarah; Lucetta; Joseph and Lydia, the two last named dying in infancy. Four of the sons named above, Isaac, Jacob, Andrew and Jonas enlisted for service in the Civil War, and fought faithfully for their country, all surviving, except Andrew, who was brought home sick, dying shortly afterward. Mrs. Reynolds spent her girl- hood in the old home place, receiving her education in the common schools, and was married at the age of twenty-two years.

To David S. and Lucetta (Meyers) Reynolds have been born the follow- ing children : Cora, on November 24, 1878, became the wife of John Krouse, and to them were born six children, Carlyle, Arnold, Alice, John M., Zella. and Estella, the two latter being twins; Evans, January 26, 1881, married Maud Clevenger; Oral B., November 25, 1885, became the wife of Enoch Barnes, and the mother of two children, Kenneth and Reed; Sarah B., November 23, 1887, is the widow of William Musser; Francis, February 26, 1889, became the wife of Benjamin Evans, and they have one child,. Willard; D. Raymond, February 21, 1892; Benjamin B., December 25, 1895; Ester, March 3, 1898; and one child which died in infancy.

David Reynolds is a stanch Republican, and has served his township as trustee for six years, and also several years as a member of the school board. He is a member of the Pleasant Valley Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is a steward and class leader. He is one of the most sub-

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stantial and influential citizens of Sugar Creek township, and is widely and favorably know throughout his section of the county, being eminently de- serving of special mention in a work of this character.

AARON HUYSMAN.

The true measure of individual success is determined by what one has accomplished. An enumeration of those men who have succeeded in their special vocations in Putnam county, Ohio, and who at the same time are im- pressing their personalities upon the community, men who are conferring honor upon the locality in which they reside, would be incomplete were there failure to make specific mention of Aaron Huysman, since he is an important factor in the agricultural life of Monterey township. The splendid success which has come to him has been the result of prodigious industry. He is possessed of a mind capable of laying judicious plans and a will strong enough to carry them into execution. His energy, foresight and perseverance have carried him forward to a position where he now occupies a foremost rank among the successful men of his community. He has carried forward to suc- cessful completion whatever he has undertaken. His business methods have been in strict conformity with the standard ethics of commercial life and he has taken an intelligent interest in the civic life of the community where he lives.

Aaron Huysman was born on December 15, 1838, in Holland, the son of Henry and Petronella Huysman. The family came to the United States in 1848 and settled in Monterey township, where Mr. and Mrs. Huysman lived until their deaths. The country was a wilderness in those days and they found it necessary to endure the ordinary privations of frontier life. The father died on April 17, 1893, and the mother on April 11, 1892. Both were members of the German Reformed church at Delphos.

Mr. and Mrs. Huysman were the parents of nine children: Wilhel- mina. deceased; Mary, deceased; Aaron, the subject of this sketch; Walter, deceased; Henry died on board ship; Nellie; Henreche, deceased; Cornelius and Henry.

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History of Putnam County, Ohio : its peoples, industries, and institutions, Part 120

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