USA > Ohio > Putnam County > History of Putnam County, Ohio : its peoples, industries, and institutions > Part 32
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George F. Smith, the son of William W. and Viola Ann (Baughman) Smith, was born at Leipsic, Ohio, June 14, 1888. His father was connected with the Free Press in Leipsic for many years, and was editor and owner up until the time of his death, February 16, 1912.
Mr. Smith spent his boyhood days in Leipsic, and after finishing two years in the high school in this place, entered Lima College, as a student, but did not complete his college course. When he was sixteen years of age, he became a member of the Leipsic Baseball Club, and while with this club had a state-wide reputation. When he was about eighteen years of age, he branched out as a professional baseball player with the Zanesville team, in Ohio. This team was in the Ohio-Pennsylvania League, and he remained with Zanesville for two years, and then spent one season in Gal- veston, Texas, playing with the team of that city, after which he went to Peoria, Illinois, and joined the Three I League. After spending half a season with this team, he went to Kewanna, Illinois, where he finished the season. The next two seasons were spent in the Ohio State League, and he was in this league when he injured a ligament, in 1910, and had to re- tire from professional baseball. Since that time he has given all of his at- tention to newspaper work, and upon the death of his father assumed control of the paper which that parent had so ably edited for many years. During all of the time he was playing baseball, he spent the rest of the year in his father's newspaper office and, when he took over the paper in 1912, he was thoroughly conversant with every detail of newspaper management. Consequently, he was abundantly able to take charge of the paper and he has already demonstrated marked ability in its management. He conducts a first-class paper, all of which is printed in his own plant. He is con- stantly on the alert for up-to-date methods, and has added a number of
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features which have increased the circulation as well as the usefulness of the paper.
Mr. Smith was married on April 5, 1910, on his father's sixtieth birth- day, to Mary Magdalene Orians, who was born near Kirby, Ohio, and reared at Upper Sandusky. She is the eldest of ten children born to Frank J. and Rachel (Cooper) Orians.
Mr. Smith and his wife are the parents of three children, George F., Jr., born on - January 29, 1911, who died five days later; Robert James, born on June 19, 1912, and Mary Janet, born on April 21, 1914.
Mr. Smith is an ardent supporter of the Democratic party and advo- cates its principles in his paper. He belongs to the Findlay Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Ottawa Council, Knights of Columbus, and the Wadras Caravan of the Alhambra, of Toledo. He also holds his mem- bership in the Leipsic Club. He and his family are loyal members of the Catholic church.
JACOB A. SUTER.
The career of Jacob A. Suter contains no exciting chapter of tragic events, but is replete with well-defined purpose, which, carried to successful issue, has won for him an influential place in business circles and high per- sonal standing among his fellow citizens. His life work has been one of unceasing industry and perseverance. The systematic and honorable methods, which he has ever followed, have resulted, not only in winning the confidence of those with whom he has had business dealings, but also in building up a large and profitable business. The Pandora Overall Company, in which Mr. Suter is superintendent, vice-president and a member of the board of directors, is one of Putnam county's leading industrial enterprises, and to Mr. Suter is due a large share of the credit for its successful career.
Jacob A. Suter was born on September 25, 1874, in Riley township .. Putnam county, Ohio. He is the son of Abraham and Elizabeth (Lugibihl) Suter, the former of whom was born in 1824, in Wayne county, Ohio. Abraham Suter was the son of John and Elizabeth Suter. John Suter was a native of Switzerland.
Jacob A. Suter spent his boyhood days on the old homestead farm where he attended the district schools and helped his father during the summer months.
At the age of twenty-three, on February 10, 1898, Mr. Suter was mar-
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ried to Barbara Amstutz, the daughter of Abraham M. and Catherine (Hilty) Amstutz. The family history of Abraham M. Amstutz will be found in the sketch of P. A. Amstutz, a brother of Mrs. Suter, and the his- tory of Mrs. Abraham M. Amstutz will be found in the sketch of Isaac Hilty, her brother. To Mr. and Mrs. Jacob A. Suter have been born three- children, Elda Loretta, who is a student in the high school; Orlo Edison, who is in school, and Royle Kenneth.
After his marriage, Mr. Suter took charge of the old home place. He- lived here for about one year and a half and then removed to Pandora, where he became interested in the Pandora Manufacturing Company. He was one of the organizers of the enterprise, the other members of the firm being the Gerber brothers, John Amstutz and Albert Burry. Mr. Suter took the position of secretary and treasurer of the new company and looked after the mechanical end of the business. About four years later, the mill burned,. and the company was reorganized under the name of the Pandora Overall Company. Since the organization of the new firm, which has an annual production of over two hundred thousand dollars, Mr. Suter has acted as. superintendent and has served in the capacity of vice-president and a member of the board of directors.
Reverting to Mr. Suter's family history, John Suter, his grandfather, came with his wife to America in the early days and settled in Wayne- county, Ohio, near Orrville. It was here that his family of twelve children, four sons and eight daughters, was educated and reared.
Abraham Suter, one of the elder children, was bound out at the age of eight years to learn the shoemaker's trade. He remained at home until he- was a young man. He then came to Putnam county, where, for a time, he worked for different farmers in Riley township. Subsequently, he entered a tract of eighty acres of land from the government, one mile east of Pan- dora. This land was covered with virgin timber and a great deal of water. Abraham Suter first built a log cabin and barn and then proceeded to clear his farm. A few acres were prepared each year until, finally, the whole farm had been put under cultivation. Before entering his land from the government, Abraham Suter had been married to Elizabeth Lugibihl, the daughter of John Lugibihl and wife. It was shortly after his marriage, that he started in to find a new home in the wilderness. Abraham Suter and wife passed through the usual pioneer experiences in clearing their land, draining it and getting it ready for the plow. It was on this homestead, the family of twelve children lived. This family consisted of John, Mary, Peter A., Barbara, Catherine, Fannie, Susan, Magdalene, Elizabeth, Jacob
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A., Sarah and one who died in infancy. Abraham Suter added to his original farm of eighty acres and greatly improved his additional farm holding. He died on the old home place, having been killed by a runaway team, in November, 1897. About one year later, in November, 1898, his wife passed away. She was a member of the Mennonite church and was a splendid Christian woman, a devoted wife and a loving mother. Abraham Suter was also a member of the Mennonite church. He was an ardent Democrat and an industrious, hard-working citizen, a man of high ideals and unquestioned integrity.
Jacob A. Suter, like his father, is a man of unquestioned integrity in the community where he lives and where his active business work is carried on. He is a Democrat, but has never been especially active in the councils of his party. He is a member of the Grace Mennonite church, as is also his wife. Jacob A. Suter is a clean-cut, progressive young business man and one of the original organizers of one of Putnam county's largest industries. He is recognized as a good citizen and a man of splendid attainments.
W. H. HICKEY, M. D., AND W. D. HICKEY, M. D.
Men who have obtained success in their professional work are always honored and respected by the community in which they have lived and la- bored. Dearly loved are those who always find time to work in the interest of the whole community, inspiring others to industry, public spirit and faithfulness. Such men never fail to raise the standard of life in their community and the biographer is always proud to record the incidents of their lives. A descendant of men who fought bravely for freedom in the Revolutionary War and who, himself, has been a loyal patriot in another way is William Henry Hickey, M. D., of Leipsic, Putnam county, Ohio.
William Henry Hickey, M. D., was born in 1847, in Licking county, Ohio, the son of Henry and Mary (Wilkins) Hickey. Henry Hickey was born on June 29, 1820, in Licking county, the son of William and Phoebe (Shambaugh) Hickey. William Hickey came from Winchester county, Virginia, not far from Baltimore, Maryland, coming to Ohio in 1813, and locating in Licking on a leased farm of forty acres, owned by Congressman Stansbury. William Hickey was the son of Edward Hickey. Edward Hickey was an Irish boy from County Clare, Ireland, who came over with nineteen others under a contract to work for their passage after they ar-
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rived in America. They were employed building docks, at Baltimore, and the entire twenty, with their employers, enlisted in the Revolutionary army under the command of Ewing, who was with Washington at the crossing of the Delaware. Ewing's force was kept on one side of the river, while Washington went across and won the victory.
William Hickey was a soldier in the War of 1812 and he and his father are buried side by side in Barnes' graveyard, near Wilkins Corner, in Lick- ing county.
Mary Wilkins was born on a farm adjoining the Hickey farm, in Licking county, a daughter of Henry and Magdalena (Smootz) Wilkins. They were from the Shenandoah valley, in Virginia, and from here they came to Ohio. Her parents were of Huguenot ancestry. Her father built the second grist-mill in Licking county, a mill that ran until the close of the Civil War.
Henry Hickey and wife moved to Putnam county, October 6, 1851, bringing with them their two sons, Dr. William H. and Reese F. Henry Hickey located on a farm one mile south of Gilboa and lived in that com- munity the rest of his life. His wife died on October 17, 1865. She was the mother of William H., Reese, Magdalena, Rolla and Lyman David, the latter dying when two years old. Rolla died at Hammond, Indiana, in 1912. Magdalena is the wife of Charles F. Stolzenbach, Jr., the well-known baker of Lima. Reese lives south of Gilboa, on a farm.
After the death of his first wife, Henry Hickey married Sarah Harris and to this union was born one son, Edward F., who has been in the em- ploy of the Standard Oil Company, at Woodstock, Canada, for many years. Henry Hickey died on April 21, 1871.
Dr. William H. Hickey grew up on the farm south of Gilboa and attended college at Haysville in Ashland county. He studied medicine with T. E. Paul, M. D., of Ottawa. He attended the Medical College, in Cin- cinnati, and also the medical department of Western Reserve University, at Cleveland, where he was graduated on April 1, 1870. He began the prac- tice of medicine, in Leipsic, April 15, 1870, and here he has practiced medi- cine since that time. Dr. Hickey also has a farm at the north edge of Leipsic.
Dr. William H. Hickey was married on February 10, 1870, to Rachel Creighton. She was born in Kalida, and was a daughter of John E. and Mary Elizabeth (Stout) Creighton. Her father was left an orphan and brought to Putnam county by an uncle, William McClure, from Pennsyl- vania, who was county treasurer of Putnam county, during the seventies, and who died while in office. John E. Creighton grew up and served as
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county auditor, of Putnam county. Mary E. Stout was a daughter of Elisha and Abigail Stout. Elisha Stout came from Coshocton county, Ohio, during the late twenties and entered land where the town of 'Gilboa is now lo- cated. In fact, he laid out the first plat of the town and also built the first grist-mills at Gilboa, one located two miles up the river, while another was built two miles down the river. His was the first water-power mill in the county and in order to run it he had to go to Columbus to get a permit from the legislature. Coming home, he started in the afternoon and reached Gilboa in the evening of the next day. He had a wonderful constitution. John E. Creighton entered land where Leipsic Junction is now located, and platted the first town lots at Leipsic. It was first called Craton- town. At Leipsic Station, lots were later plated.
William H. Hickey and wife are the parents of four children living and two dead, as follows: Brandon D., Jennie C., Wiley D., and Floyd. Brandon was born in 1871, and is now yardmaster on the Nickel Plate railroad at Continental. He graduated from the Tri-State Normal School, at Angola, and the Lima Business College. He was admitted to the practice of law, in Angola, and practiced there for three years. He mar- ried Maude M. Nease and has one son, Robert. Jennie C., who graduated from the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music and Oberlon Conservatory of Music, lives near Limon, Colorado. Wiley D. Hickey, M. D., was born in 1874. He attended the Hiram College, where he graduated in 1895. Upon graduation, at Hiram, he entered the medical department of the Uni- versity of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, in the fall of 1896, graduating in 1900. He immediately began practicing, at Leipsic, Ohio, and has practiced with his father since that time. Wiley D. Hickey, M. D., was married on June 12, 1905, to Eleanor A. Rowland, of Columbus Grove, the daughter of David Rowland and wife. Mrs. W. D. Hickey attended the Oberlin con- servatory of Music .. Dr. and Mrs. W. D. Hickey have one daughter, Dorothy Ellen. Floyd D. lives at Limon, Colorado, on a cattle ranch owned by him, his sister, Jennie, and their father. He was born in 1882, and grad- uated from the Ann Arbor high school, and at the Eastman Business College, at Poughkeepsie, New York.
Dr. William H. Hickey has served as township treasurer for two terms ; mayor of Leipsic two terms, and a member of the council and board of education. He was health officer of Van Buren township for twenty-five consecutive years and is the present health officer at Leipsic. Wiley D. Hickey, M. D., has been mayor two terms, health officer of Leipsic two terms, and is at present a member of the city council. Brandon was justice of the
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peace of Van Buren township for two terms. Brandon and Dr. W. D. were both in Company A., Sixth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in the Span- ish-American War. Dr. Wiley D. was for five years assistant surgeon of the Second Regiment, Ohio National Guard, with the rank of first lieutenant, and, at the time of his resignation, was ranking first lieutenant in the medical department. William H. Hickey, M. D., was a charter member of the Ma- sonic lodge at Leipsic, and his sons are also members of the same local lodge. Brandon is also a member of the Knights of Pythias. Dr. Wiley D. is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. Mrs. William H. Hickey was elected a member of the school board at the first election after the law was passed authorizing the election of women and was treasurer of the board all the time she was a member.
William H. Hickey, M. D., and Wiley D. Hickey, M. D., are both mem- bers of the Putnam County Medical Society, the Northwestern Ohio Medical Society and the Ohio State Medical Society. William H. Hickey, M. D., was pension examiner under Cleveland's administration. Wiley D. Hickey, M. D., is a member of the Egbert Spanish War Veterans' Association, at Toledo, Ohio.
There are only six or seven people in Leipsic who were here when W. H. Hickey, M. D., came. He is very well known in this part of the state, as an able physician and a public-spirited man. He has also given his children ex- ceptional educational advantages, far beyond the average, at a great per- sonal sacrifice to himself. He has lived and guided his children so that they feel a kind fellowship with him and honor him as dutiful and loving sons and daughters.
BENJAMIN F SEITZ, SR.
The future of this country lies in the hands of the present generation. Those who contribute most to the welfare of future generations are those who are at this minute keenly interested in progressive movements affecting all lines of human endeavor- those who are ever active in their business, their trade or profession. These are the men who acquire splendid fortunes, accumulate vast and fertile farms and a lucrative and enviable professional practice. These are the men who serve their fellow men faithfully, whatever may be their chosen profession. One of the well-known citizens of Putnam county, Ohio, and a man who has been foremost in the business affairs of this
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county is Benjamin F. Seitz, Sr., vice-president of the Exchange Bank, of Columbus Grove.
Benjamin F. Seitz, Sr., was born on September 16, 1853, in Union town- ship, Putnam county, Ohio, on a farm. He first saw the light of day in an old log cabin and has slept many a night under a slab board roof of a log cabin, through which the snow sifted in his face. His parents were pioneer settlers of Putnam county. He is the son of David and Lydia (Huf- ford) Seitz. David Seitz was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, in 1819. His parents were David and Catherine Seitz.
The father of Benjamin F. Seitz, Sr., grew up in Fairfield county, Ohio, and while living there married Lydia Hufford, who was born and reared in Perry county, Ohio, the daughter of Daniel Hufford. David Seitz and wife moved to Putnam county in 1847, settling in Union township. They pur- chased land for one dollar and seventy-five cents an acre, all of which was wild wood. Until Mr. Seitz could build a log cabin, the family lived at the the home of Abram Funk, nearby. Before the family was brought to the cabin, David Seitz had partly furnished it. The first night after the ar- rival of the family, he finished enough floor upon which to place a bed, and the wife cooked the first meal beside a sugar stump. It was in this cabin that Benjamin F. Seitz, Sr., was born and spent his boyhood days. He still remembers seeing a few wild deer and many turkeys during his youth. On this farm his parents lived and died. David Seitz had more than ordinary political influence in his community. He was a justice of the peace, land ap- praiser and township trustee. Benjamin F. Seitz lived on this farm until his marriage.
He was married in 1877 to Sarah J. Funk, the daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Clevenger) Funk, a grand-daughter of Abraham Funk, who sheltered them when his father's family first came to Putnam county. Mrs. Seitz was born in Sugar Creek township. Her father and mother both grew up in Putnam county. Abraham Funk came from Fairfield county before the arrival of the Seitz family. Elizabeth Clevenger was the daughter of Samuel Clevenger, who was reared in Putnam county and the son of pioneer parents, coming from Franklin county. They settled where Vaughnsville is now located. Samuel Clevenger's father owned considerable land along Sugar creek.
After Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin F. Seitz, Sr., were married they settled on a tract of wooden land in Sugar Creek township. The land was just as it had been left by the Indians, except for a small patch of deadened timber. Mr. Seitz still has the sheepskin deed that was signed by President James K.
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Polk. He and his wife went to housekeeping in a log cabin until Mr. Seitz. could build a house. He owned eighty acres of land then and he improved this farm and added an adjoining eighty. Later he added one hundred and fourteen acres across the road in the same township, a total of two hundred and seventy-four acres. He continued farming there until 1905, when he moved to Columbus Grove, and has lived here since that time. He still owns this farm, except fifty-seven acres, which he sold.
About twelve years ago Mr. Seitz purchased an interest in the Exchange Bank, and upon the death of Mr. Crawford, who was then president, in 19II, he became president of the bank and served in that capacity until it was reorganized as a state bank. He decided that the president should be at the bank regularly during business hours and that another should hold the place, so he gave up this office and the present incumbent has served as president, Mr. Seitz serving as vice-president.
To Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin F. Seitz, Sr., seven children have been born, one of whom, Bessie, died at the age of fourteen months. Those living are John D., Maude, Peter, Benjamin F., Jr., David and Marion. John D., who- lives on part of his father's farm, married Nellie Reynolds, and has four children, May, Helen, Lucile and Margery. Maud, who married J. D. Guffy, lives in Shawnee, Oklahoma, and has four children, Roy, Russell, Fay and Vestina. Peter, who lives in Sugar Creek township, on the old homestead, married Dula Dresky and has four children, Charles, Clarence (deceased), Blanche and Myrtle. Benjamin F., Jr., who lives in Columbus Grove, mar- ried Myrtle Reiger and has three children, Emerson, Christine and Mildred. David, who lives in Columbus Grove, married Vida Sakemiller and has one daughter, Donna. Marion F. is now fifteen years old.
Mr. Seitz recalls the early roads of Putnam county, when it required a whole day to go six miles from the farm to Columbus Grove, and back again. At the time Mr. Seitz was rearing his family it required a day to haul four or five hogs to Columbus Grove.
Mr. Seitz and wife belong to the Christian church and Mr. Seitz is a trustee in this denomination, also being chorister for some time in the church at Columbus Grove. Formerly he was clerk of the Ottawa River church, in Sugar Creek township. Mr. Seitz is a member of the Knights of Pythias. Few men in Putnam county are better known than Benjamin F. Seitz, Sr., and a few men are more entitled to the confidence and esteem of the community which he enjoys to the fullest measure, than he. He is one of those men of whom it may be truly said when his last work is finished, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."
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LEVI HUMMON.
One of the oldest pioneer settlers of Putnam county, Ohio, is Levi Hummon, whose whole career, of more than seventy-seven years, has been spent within this county. He and his young bride started in with an eighty- acre farm in 1859, where they lived until 1906. Mr. Hummon had one hundred and sixty acres of well-improved land when he moved to Leipsic, in the spring of 1906, which is the direct result of his own work, supplemented by that of his wife and children. He and his good wife have reared a large family of children to lives of usefulness and honor. A greater thing than this can no man do.
Levi Hummon, the son of John and Mary (Winninger) Hummon, was born in Putnam county, Ohio, December 31, 1837. His father, a son of Peter and Mary (Carn) Hummon, was born at Kittanning, Pennsylvania, in 1815. Peter Hummon was a native of Pennsylvania, a farmer in his early life and, later, a distiller of whiskey and applejack. Mary Carn was a native of Holland, who came to America alone, when a girl, and located in Kittanning, Pennsylvania, where she met and married Peter Hummon.
It is interesting to note how the Hummon family came to locate in Ohio. After Peter Hummon and his wife had been married several years, and she had reared six children, she came, alone on horseback, to Wyandot county, Ohio, where she entered one hundred and sixty acres of government land. After accomplishing this unique feat she returned to Pennsylvania and then, with her husband and six children, together with all of their household effects, came back to Ohio and made their home in the wilderness. They made the overland trip with an ox team and located in Wyandot county, where they lived the remainder of their lives. Peter Hummon and wife were the parents of ten children, eight daughters and two sons, one of whom was John Hummon, the father of Levi.
John Hummon was reared on the farm in Wyandot county, and there experienced all the hardships and thrills of pioneer life. When he was a small boy he was often frightened by the Indians, who, though harmless, enjoyed seeing the lad run. He remained on the homestead until he grew to manhood, and, about 1836, married Mary Winninger, a native of Ger- many, who came to Ohio with her parents and located in Wyandot county. Immediately after their marriage, John Hummon and his young bride moved from Wyandot county to Riley township, Putnam county, Ohio, in 1837, where they entered government land. This farm he cleared, developed and
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