History of Putnam County, Ohio : its peoples, industries, and institutions, Part 122

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 122

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Charles P. Irwin was born in Pleasant township, Putnam county, Ohio, on December 9, 1876. He is a son of Benjamin F. and Lydia Jane (Hayden) Irwin. Benjamin F. Irwin was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, on November 30, 1821, and came to Putnam county in 1832. He was the son of Josiah Kennedy and Catherine (Barkman) Irwin. Benjamin F. Irwin's first wife, Sarah J. Leese, was born on April 26, 1836, and died June 28, 1861. By this marriage there were four children, Herman L., born on June 16, 1855; Mar- garet A., September 5, 1857; Eva, August 1, 1859, and Sarah J., June 28, 1861. After the death of his first wife, Sarah J. (Leese) Irwin, Benjamin F. Irwin was married again on March 28, 1864, to Lydia J. Hayden, who was born in Starke county, Ohio, on May 7, 1839, and was the daughter of Nathan- iel and Eliza (Brothers) Hayden. To this second marriage the following children were born: Martha Emma, on March 9. 1865; Clement L., July 26, 1866, died on September 19. 1866; George T., September 20, 1867; Benjamin F., Jr., August 25, 1869; Nathaniel K., January 20, 1871; James

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A., March 13, 1874; Charles P., the subject of this sketch, December 9, 1876; Kemmer L., May 16, 1879, and Guy, living in Pleasant township. Benjamin F. Irwin had an uncle in the War of 1812.

Benjamin F. Irwin was a successful farmer and he was especially suc- cessful in raising horses, and attributed his success to this department of the farm work. At one time he owned about six hundred acres of land in Pleasant and Sugar Creek townships.

Charles P. Irwin, the son of Benjamin F. and Lydia Jane (Hayden) Irwin, spent his youth and childhood on his father's old homestead and attended the old Turner district school. After finishing school he continued to help his father on the old home place until he was twenty-one years of age.

Charles P. Irwin was married on May 25, 1898, to Sarah Amanda Miller, who was born in Monroe township, Allen county, on May 3, 1873, and who was the daughter of Henry and Mary (Sauer) Miller. Henry Miller was born on April 29, 1841, in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, and died, March 7, 1912, on the old Miller homestead in Allen county. He came to America with his parents at the age of nine years and settled in Monroe township, Allen county. Here he lived the balance of his life. Henry was the son of Michael and Catherine (Kunkleman) Miller, and was one of four sons, the others being John, Christian and Adam. Mrs. Mary (Sauer) Miller was born in Prussia on January 21, 1847, and was the daughter of Frantz and Catherine (Harmon) Sauer. She came to America when seven years of age with her parents, who settled first in Pickaway county and a few years later moved to Monroe township, Allen county. Here Frantz Sauer lived the remainder of his life, dying June, 1904, at the age of seventy-four years. His wife, Catherine, still survives him and now resides with her daughter, Mrs. Minerva Holmes, at Loomis, Michigan. Frantz and Catherine Sauer had three children, Mary, Louisa and Minerva, all living. Henry and Mary Miller had fourteen children, all of whom are living and all of whom are married, except three. They are as follow: Margaret, John, Emma, Anna, Alice, Sarah, Caroline, Bertha, William, Harmon, Louis, Clara, Grace and Arthur.

After his marriage, Charles P Irwin took up his residence on the east half of the one hundred and twenty acres owned by his father in the north- east part of Sugar Creek township. He has resided here ever since. Prior to his marriage one year, and for six years thereafter, Mr. Irwin and his brother, James, farmed in partnership. After the marriage of James A. Irwin the one hundred and twenty acres were divided. In addition to the

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sixty acres which Mr. Irwin owned, he and his brother farmed forty acres adjoining on the southeast, making eighty acres which each has under culti- vation. Mr. Irwin devotes particular attention to hogs and corn, and has been very successful.

Charles P. and Sarah Amanda ( Miller) Irwin have had six children, as follow : Charles Clarence, deceased; Miller ; Harold Arthur; Edith Grace; Ruth Marie, and Howard Martin.

Mr. and Mrs. Charles P. Irwin attend the Christian church at Columbus Grove. Mr. Irwin is a Democrat. He has not, however, been especially active in political affairs, but has devoted himself almost exclusively to his life's vocation. Mr. Irwin is a man of sterling integrity, fair and square in his dealings with his fellow men and admired and respected by them.

ALBERT REESE.

Few residents of Putnam county are as well and favorablly known as the enterprising farmer and representative citizen, whose life story is briefly told in the following lines, and none stands higher than he in the esteem and confidence of the community in which he resides and for the material ad- vancement of which he has devoted much of his. time and influence.

Albert Reese was born in Butler county, Ohio, on November 17, 1866, the son of Evan and Margaret (Watkins) Reese. Evan Reese is a native of North Wales, having been born in the parish of Llangadfan on June I, 1833. The paternal grandfather of Albert Reese was Robert Reese, who was a schoolmaster and music teacher for about twenty-five years. His first wife died when Evan Reese was about four years of age, and about five or six years later he was again married. To the first union were born seven children, Robert, Jr., Mary, John, David, Jane, Evan and Thomas. By the second union there was one child, Edward. All of these children, excepting the last named, came to America, settling first in Butler county, Ohio. Robert and Mary came over first, being followed a few years later by John, David, Jane and Thomas, and eventually Ivan came, being eighteen years of age at the time of his immigration. After reaching this country, he was employed on the farm of his brother, Robert, for a few years but, in about 1860, he came to Gomer, Allen county, Ohio, where he remained until the outbreak of the Civil War, when, faithful to his adopted country, he enlisted as a private in Company F, One Hundred and Eighteenth Regiment, Ohio Volun-

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teer Infantry. He served throughout the war in the western army and, at the close of the conflict, received an honorable discharge, when he returned to Gomer, where he remained about one year and then, after his marriage, moved to Butler county, where, for about six years, he engaged in agricul- tural pursuits. Some years later they removed to Allen county and bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, near Gomer, the only improvement on the place being a log house, a frame barn and about one-half of the land cleared. To the clearing and the improvement of the remainder of this land, Mr. Reese devoted himself, and, eventually, found himself the owner of a finely improved and productive farm. About a year after locating on this place, he erected a small frame house of four rooms and about 1885 he bought eighty acres adjoining his farm on the west. On this rented place was a good set of buildings and the land was all cleared excepting about twenty-five or thirty acres. Here Mr. Reese remained until about 1890, when he moved to St. Marys, Ohio, where he has continued to reside, selling his former home in 1905.

Evan Reese was married three times. First to Margaret Watkins, who died in January, 1882. To this union were born seven children, Albert, Thomas R., David H., William E., Jennie Alice, Samuel and Jessie, the two latter children dying in infancy. About 1886, Evan Reese married Mrs. Mary (Watkins) Thomas, who died about three years later, leaving no children. In 1894, Mr. Reese married Addie Young, who is his present wife. To this union no children have been born.

Albert Reese spent his childhood and early youth on his father's farm near Vaughnsville, in Allen county, and received his education mainly in the district schools. When about twenty-three years of age, he took a course of music in the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware but, aside from this, has been mainly self-educated, being a close reader and keen observer of men and events. He remained with his father on the old homestead until about twenty-six years of age, when he rented a farm near Vaughnsville and re- mained for two years. In the spring of 1895, he moved to the Bennett farm, to the cultivation of which he devoted himself until 1911, when he moved to Vaughnsville, where he now resides. He has, during these years, devoted himself to a general line of farming, raising all of the crops peculiar to this section of the country and has been very successful in all of his operations, being numbered among the intelligent and progressive farmers of his com- munity. He has, for many years, occupied the front rank among the agricul- turists of his locality and was one of the organizers of the Vaughnsville Crop and Improvement Association, one of the most influential organiza-

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tions of its kind in this section of the state. He believes, most emphatically, in progress along his line and is interested in all things which have to do with. the advancement of his community.

On February 17, 1893, Albert Reese was married to Jennie Bennett, who was born in Sugar Creek township, Putnam county, on February 7, 1870, the daughter of John and Ann (Davis) Bennett, natives of North. Wales. John Bennett came to America about 1868, settling in Van Wert county, Ohio, for a short time and later coming to Sugar Creek township, Putnam county, where he met Mrs. Ann (Davis) Garner, to whom he was- married and to which union one child, Jennie, was born. To Albert and Jennie (Bennett) Reese have ben born three children, Mabel, Marguerite and Mary.

Mr. Reese is an ardent exponent of Republican principles and has taken an active part in local political affairs. He was elected trustee of his town- ship and also served as school director in his home district. In his party, he has long been prominent and served as a member of the county executive committee with efficiency and to the advantage of his party. Mr. and Mrs. Reese are faithful members of the Congregational church. Mr. Reese is a. member of the official board and is active in the various interests of the church. He is a man who, in every respect, has merited the high esteem in which he is universally held, for he is characterized by public spirit, honest motives and a clean life.

JOSIRUS R. REESE.

An enterprising farmer of Liberty township, Putnam county, Ohio, is- Josirus R. Reese, who has made this county his home since 1865. He has been a life-long farmer, and, although the farm which his father bought here in 1872, was then a timbered swamp, today it is largely under cultivation and producing excellent crops. Most of this county was originally of a swampy nature, but under the skillful management of such farmers as Mr. Reese, it has been drained and made to blossom as the rose.

Josirus R. Reese, the son of John Y. and Lucinda (Handshy) Reese, was born in 1858, in Hancock county, Ohio. His father was born in Trum- bull county, Ohio, in 1834, and was a son of Joseph and Mary (Young). Reese, who came from Washington county, Pennsylvania.

John Y. Reese was only about a year old when his parents moved from Trumbull county, Ohio, to Putnam county, and located along the county line-

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northeast of Bluffton. His parents bought government land and were among the first settlers in Riley township. John Y. Reese was reared to manhood in. Putnam county, and later moved to Hancock county and married Lucinda Handshy, in 1857, who was born in this county, and is a daughter of Sebas- tian and Sarah (Nickerson) Handshy.

Sebastian Handshy was born in Germany and came to America with his parents, Jacob Handshy and wife, at the age of ten. The Handshys made their home in Fairfield county, Ohio, and Sebastian grew up in that county and there married Sarah Nickerson. Later, he moved to a farm near Colum- bus Grove, while the county was just being settled, their nearest neighbor being three miles away. The Handshys moved to Hancock county in 1837, where they lived the remainder of their lives. Lucinda Handshy grew to. womanhood in Hancock county and was living there at the time of her marriage to John Y. Reese, who, with his family, moved to Putnam county in 1863, and located in Liberty township. Mr. Reese bought one hundred and twenty acres of land in 1872, north of the Ridge road, in section 15, of this township, and there made his permanent home. Two children were born to John Y. Reese and wife, Josirus R. and Martha Roselda. Martha R. mar- ried Perry Alleman, and had one son, Benjamin Harrison, who lives at Lima, Ohio. He married Etta Applegate, and has one son, Jesse Derrell.

Josirus R. Reese was about fourteen years of age when his his parents moved to the farm on which he is now living, and where he has since made his home. He helped his father to clear the land and to bring it under cul- tivation, which land was originally heavily timbered and so swampy as to be almost impassable. In fact, John Y. Reese said, a few years before he bought it, that he would not have it as a gift. The first house was a rude log cabin which previously stood on the Montouth farm on the southeast quarter of section 15, on the north side of the Ridge road, from whence it was moved to its present location, where it is still standing, being one of the oldest log cabins in the county. Josirus R. helped his father clear and drain the land and father and son worked together until the death of the father, on June 20, 1908, who was a man of strong character and was highly es- teemed by his neighbors.

Josirus R. Reese has never married and now lives with his mother on the old home farm. About eighty-five acres of the one hundred and twenty are under cultivation, while the rest is still timber land. The family are members of the United Brethren church. Mr. Reese is a quiet and unassum- ing man, a good neighbor and deserves the respect which is accorded him by his fellow citizens.

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DANIEL RICHARD RISSER.

The best history of a community or state is that which deals most with the lives and activities of the people, especially of those, who by their own endeavors and indomitable energy, have forged to the front and placed them- selves where they deserve the title of progressive men. In this brief review is to be found the record of one who has outstripped the less active brothers on the highway of life, and achieved a splendid career in business affairs, and a name which all men who know him delight to honor, owing to his upright life and habits of thrift and industry.

Daniel R. Risser, a successful business man and leading citizen of Vaughnsville, was born in Sugar Creek township, on August 27, 1865, and is a son of Daniel and Elizabeth M. (Smith) Risser. Daniel Risser, the father, was born in Durkheim, Bavaria, Germany, on January 1, 1836, the son of Abraham and Catherine (Sunzenich) Risser. In 1857, Daniel Risser came to America, first settling in Cleveland, Ohio, where he engaged in the operation of a transfer and bus line. On the outbreak of the Civil War, David and Christian Risser enlisted in the Union army, serving throughout that great struggle in the defense of their adopted country. Some time after locating in Cleveland, Daniel Risser went to Vera Cruz, Mexico, as an employe of a Cleveland concern who were engaged in the operation of a stage line from Vera Cruz across the isthmus to Tehuantepec. This venture, however, was not successful, and six months later Mr. Risser returned to Cleveland where he remained until 1859, when he and his brother Henry came to Putnam county, locating in Sugar Creek township, where they bought land. Daniel Risser bought eighty acres, located one and one-half miles southeast of Vaughnsville, which became the family homestead. At that time the only improvements on the place were a log cabin and stable, and but a small amount of the land had been cleared. Daniel Risser devoted himself to improving the farm, erecting substantial buildings, tiling and ditch- ing the land, so that eventually it became one of the best-improved and most- productive pieces of farming land in that section of the county. He was very industrious and intelligent in his affairs, and by good management and economical habits, he became well to do and finally became the owner of seven hundred acres of land. He carried on general farming operations, in connection with which he gave considerable attention to the breeding and raising of live stock.

Daniel Risser died at the home of his son, Daniel R., at Vaughnsville, on September 15, 1902, at the age of sixty-six years, and his widow died here

DANIEL R. RISSER.

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on November 2, 1911, at the ripe old age of seventy-five years. She had been a consistent and faithful member of the Christian church for many years. Mr. Risser was a Democrat in politics, and in his religious belief was affiliated with the German Lutheran church.

At the age of twenty-six years, and on August 14, 1862, Daniel Risser was united in marriage to Elizabeth M. Smith, whose birth occurred in Ash- land county, Ohio, on April 18, 1836. She was the daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Risser) Smith, who came to Putnam county, Ohio, in 1865, buy- ing the farm adjoining the one owned by Mr. Risser. There were five chil- dren in the Smith family, Mary, Elizabeth, Catherine, Charlotte and Jacob, all being now deceased, excepting the two last named. To Daniel and Eliza- beth Risser were born six children, namely: Julius C., on February 25, 1864; Daniel R., the immediate subject of this sketch; Otto, December 20, 1867; John J., July 21, 1870; Emma L., February 28, 1873; Elizabeth A., October 28, 1876. All of these children are living, except Emma, who died on March 5, 1893, shortly after her marriage.

Daniel Richard Risser spent his childhood and youth on the old home- stead farm in Sugar Creek township, assisting his father when old enough, in the cultivation and operation of the farm. His preliminary education was received in the old Michael district school, which was supplemented by later attendance at the Northwestern (Ohio) University at Ada, where he took a business course. Upon the completion of his studies, Mr. Risser returned to the home farm where he remained until the spring of 1892, when he engaged in the grain business at Vaughnsville, a business which demanded his time and attention continuously since that time. From the beginning Mr. Risser met with good success, and as he prospered he added other lines of business, including agricultural implements, tools, lumber and building supplies, in the handling of which he has met a long felt want in his community. In addi- tion to his establishment at Vaughnsville, Mr. Risser also operates a similar concern at Rimer and Rushmore, this county, and is also interested in con- cerns of a like nature at Columbus Grove and Jenera, Hancock county. That he is a man of good business qualifications, is evident in the fact that he gives careful attention to the multitudinous details of these various establishments, all of which have been successful under his guidance. Mr. Risser, in con- nection with his brother also operates a quarter section of land in Allen county, and one hundred and eighty-seven acres in Wayne county, which he has found a profitable source of income. He is a stockholder in the Peoples Banking Company of Vaughnsville, and in various ways is actively and

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materially interested in the business interests of his community. Broad- minded, sagacious and far-sighted, his counsel is considered valuable in all matters of business, and he stands high in the esteem of his contemporaries, being well and favorably known throughout this section of the state.

Mr. Risser is a Democrat, taking an active and intelligent interest in public affairs, and has served several terms efficiently as treasurer of Sugar Creek township. This township being, normally, strongly Republican in politics, it is a· marked testimony to Mr. Risser's standing among his fellow citizens, that he, a Democrat, should successively be elected to this most important township office. Fraternally, he is a charter member of Vaughns- ville Lodge No. 711, Knights of Pythias, and also belongs to Vaughnsville Lodge No. 312, Knights of the Maccabees. Mr. Risser has never married, and now resides with his sister, Mrs. Elizabeth A. Redding, in Vaughnsville.

JAMES G. THOMAS.

The farmer of today must needs be more than the farmer of a half century ago, or even a decade past. He must be broader and more intelli- gent, his sympathies must be more diversified and his ideals must be higher and his ambitions wider. The farmer of today needs good, intellectual training, he needs scientific training, in fact. He, however, needs the prac- tical science of education, somewhat different from that which the agricul- tural colleges are giving, and which are training young men to be agricul- tural scientists rather than practical farmers. The agricultural colleges, however, have done something to demonstrate that intellectual vision and. mental activity are quite as necessary to successful farming as physical energy. James G. Thomas, a prominent farmer of Sugar Creek township, Putnam county, Ohio, is a man who especially believes in scientific training for the farm. Mr. Thomas is one of the well-known farmers residing near Vaughnsville.

James G. Thomas was born in Jennings township, Putnam county, on September 4, 1881, and is the son of John and Sarah (Good) Thomas. John Thomas was born in Sugar Creek township, Putnam county, in 1845, where he died at Rimer in 1882. John Thomas was the son of James and - (Morgan) Thomas. James Thomas was born in Wales and came to America in the early days, settling near Gomer, in Sugar Creek township, Putnam county. John Thomas spent his childhood and youth on his-

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father's homestead farm. Here he received his early education and here he remained until his marriage. His occupation was thrashing, which he fol- lowed until the time of his death. He was married, at the age of about thirty, to Sarah Good, who was born in Sugar Creek township, Putnam county, Ohio, in 1858, and who was the daughter of Isaac and Mary ( Rhine- hart) Good, the former was a native of Fairfield county, as well as his wife. They settled in Putnam county in the early days and lived in Sugar Creek township, and Jennings township. It was in the latter township that he lived at the time of his marriage to James G. Thomas's mother. They had two children, James G. and Bertha M., the latter of whom is the wife of Ellis Hess, and resides in Darke county, Ohio.

A few years after his marriage John Thomas died, in 1882, and after this his wife Sarah remained single until 1898, when she was married to Isaac Krouse. No children have been born to this last union. They now reside in Darke county, Ohio.

James G. Thomas spent his childhood on the home farm of his grand- father Good, where he lived for nine years. After this, his mother moved to Kalida, where he also lived for the ensuing four years. After his mother's second marriage, he moved to the farm of Isaac Krouse, in Jennings town- ship, where they remained three or four years, when his mother and step- father moved to Darke county. This was his residence until he was twenty- one years of age.

At this time, on September 17, 1902, Mr. Thomas was married to Cora Leona Sherrick, who was born in Sugar Creek township, Putnam county, Ohio, on February 1, 1882, and who is the daughter of David and Aseneth (Parcher) Sherick. The former was born in Crawford county, Ohio, on October 29, 1837, and died in Sugar Creek township, Putnam county, on June I, 1912. He was the son of Joseph and Rebecca (Bibler) Sherrick, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania, and who settled in Crawford county. They came later to Putnam county about 1865, and settled first near Rimer, and then near Columbus Grove, where he died. His wife, Rebecca, spent her last years with her son, David, in Sugar Creek township. David Sherrick came to Putnam county about 1863, and settled first at Pleasant valley, Jennings township. Later, he moved two and one-half miles north of Rimer, and here he and his wife resided for the remainder of their lives. David Sherrick was a successful farmer and owned one hundred and seventy- six acres of well-improved land. He was a member of the Pleasant Valley Methodist Episcopal church. His wife, Aseneth, was a member of the Ottawa River Christian church. Aseneth (Parcher) Sherrick was born on April 3,

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184I, and died in Sugar Creek township, Putnam county, Ohio, March 31, 1906.

After his marriage, James G. Thomas took up his residence on the Sher- rick home place and has resided here ever since. He has always done general farming, and has been an advocate, especially, of diversified farming. His home farm of one hundred acres is one of the best-improved farms in Sugar Creek township. It has a beautiful seven-room residence and a large and commodious barn and other buildings in keeping with the surroundings.

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History of Putnam County, Ohio : its peoples, industries, and institutions, Part 122

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