History of Putnam County, Ohio : its peoples, industries, and institutions, Part 38

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 38

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William P. S. Young was born on July 7, 1858, at Jerry City, Wood county, Ohio. He is a son of William P. and Mary Josephine (Jackman) Young. Mr. Young left Jerry City at the age of one year with his parents, who came to Leipsic, Ohio, and located. He remained in the latter city with his parents until his marriage, in 1881, working with his father in a grist and stave-mill, as engineer, for about five years after his marriage. He then engaged in the grocery business at Ridgeland, Ohio, remaining here about six years, after which he removed to Lima, Ohio, and worked for his uncle, J. B. Jackman, driving a huckster wagon. He remained in Lima for about six years, after which he removed to Holgate, Ohio, where he became a barber. After one year he removed to Ottawa, Ohio, continuing in the same business in the latter city for a year, when he removed to Leip- sic, Ohio, where he conducted a barber shop in the Hotel Leffler. He operated this shop for several years, then purchased a brick building, and in it con- ducted a barber shop for about twelve years. After the death of his wife,

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he engaged in the auto livery business, but recently sold out on account of failing health.

Mr. Young was married on July 21, 1881, to Hattie Snyder, who was born at Carey, Wyandot county, Ohio, the daughter of Milligan and Cathe- rine (Fritter) Snyder, the former a native of this country, and the latter, likewise a native of the United States, but her parents were natives of Germany. Mrs. Young died on May 22, 1914. She was a beloved wife and a charming woman, and a most excellent helpmate to her husband. Her loss has been keenly felt by all with whom she was associated.

Mr. Young is a member of the Knights of Columbus No. 1787, at Ottawa, Ohio. He is a Republican, but has never aspired to office and has never been active in the councils of his party. He is a member of the St. Mary's Catholic church at Leipsic, a free and independent thinker, and congenial among his fellows. William P. S. Young is a man widely known throughout Putnam county and bears a splendid reputation.

William P. Young, the father of William P. S. Young, was born on March 25, 1825, in Wayne county, Ohio, and died on October 19, 1899, at the age of seventy-four years, six months and twenty-four days. At the age of twenty-two years, William P. Young was married to Jose- phine Jackman, in Seneca county, Ohio, on January 31, 1847, to which place he had migrated from Wayne county, his birthplace. Subsequently, he re- moved, to Wood county, Ohio, where he took up his residence, and where he engaged in the milling business. He built a grist-mill in Jerry City, and lived here for a time. He later moved to Leipsic, Ohio, where he erected the first dwelling house and the first grist-mill in that village, in 1859, and here he lived and engaged in this business for five years. He then moved to Ridge- land, Ohio, in Henry county, where he lived for some time. He also built a mill at Ridgeland, and was postmaster and township treasurer, discharging the duties of the former office for twelve years, and of the latter for eleven years.

William P Young was married first to Josephine Jackman, who died in 1886, and after her death he married Margaret Vaughn. Subse- quently, he removed to a farm in Pleasant Grove, Putnam county, and here the second Mrs. Young died, in 1894. Mr. Young married Sarah Winters in 1895. He was engaged in the milling business for more than thirty-five years, and experienced both success and disappointment.

William P. Young was the father of the following children, born to his first marriage : George Washington, living in Henry county, Ohio; Mrs. Mary Jane Enck, living at Custer, Ohio; John P., a resident of Henry county ;

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Mrs. Isabella Goodman, of Henry county ; Mrs. Sarah Archer, of Holgate, Ohio; William P. S., the immediate subject of this review; Abraham P., of Huber, Hancock county, Ohio; Dora P., of Holgate; Louis P., also a resi- dent of Holgate, and Simon P., of Leipsic.

The late William P. Young abounded in goodness and honesty. He was noted for his charitableness toward the poor, and was very buoyant and kindly disposed toward his fellows. Mr. Young's first wife was a mem- ber of the Roman Catholic church, and he permitted her to have her own way in rearing the children, but he, himself, was brought up in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in his earlier years was a member and maintained his sympathies and personal interest toward that church. He was buried at Ridgeland, Ohio, in Young's cemetery, the ground formerly owned and occupied by his saw and stave-mill.

William P. Young was one of a family of eleven children, five of whom are still living, three brothers and two sisters: Mrs. Rachel Haines, of Adrian, Ohio; Washington, of North Baltimore, Ohio; Solomon, of Leipsic; Anderson, also a resident of Leipsic, and Mrs. Mary Jane Nole, of Terre Haute, Indiana.

Thus, for several generations the Young family have been well known in this section of Ohio. They have been noted always for their honesty, their industry and earnest, sincere Christian lives. Such people are always re- spected in the community where they live and each generation of the Youngs has been highly respected in Putnam county.

JUDGE A. M. HEIDLEBAUGH.

The two most strongly marked characteristics of both the east and west are combined in the citizens of Ohio. The enthusiastic enterprise which overcomes all obstacles and makes possible any undertaking in the compara- tively new and vigorous western states, is here tempered by the stable and more careful policy that we have borrowed from our eastern neighbors. The combination is one of unusual force and power. It has been the means of placing this section of the state and country on a par with the older east, at the same time producing a reliability and certainty in business affairs which is frequently lacking in the west. This happy combination of characteristics is possessed to a notable degree by Judge A. M. Heidlebaugh, of Columbus

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Grove. He is too well known to the readers of this work to need any formal introduction here. He comes of well-known parentage, and he, himself, has filled and is filling a large place in the affairs of the community. He is a man of strong and alert mentality, deeply interested in everything pertain- ing to the welfare of the community and is regarded as one of the pro- gressive, enterprising citizens of Putnam county.

Judge A. M. Heidlebaugh was born on November 10, 1864, in Peoria, Illinois, the son of Noah and Rosanna (Mericle) Heidlebaugh. Noah Heidlebaugh was born in Hocking county, Ohio, and was the son of John Heidlebaugh, whose father came from the old country. Rosanna Mericle was the daughter of Solomon Mericle and she was born in Hocking county, Ohio, living there until her marriage. Her parents were natives of Penn- sylvania. Noah Heidlebaugh was born, reared and married in Hocking county, Ohio. At the beginning of the Civil War, he went to Peoria, Illi- nois, where he enlisted in the Union army. His wife returned to Hocking county in the meantime and while in camp, Noah Heidlebaugh took the measles. After many years, this caused blindness and for the last ten years of his life he was blind. After returning from the army, he came back to Hocking county, Ohio, and in 1872, moved to Putnam county, locating near what is now Rushmore, in Jennings township. He continued farming in that locality and there spent the remainder of his life, dying in 1893. Noah Heidlebaugh was a man of considerable influence in his community. He served as township clerk and was justice of the peace of Hocking county, Ohio. His widow is still living in Rushmore.

Judge A. M. Heidlebaugh grew up on the farm near Rushmore. At the age of twenty, he began teaching school and after teaching one year, he attended college at Lebanon. After leaving college, he resumed teaching and taught for twenty years in Putnam county. He taught in Jennings, Sugar Creek and Union townships. While teaching, Judge Heidlebaugh purchased a farm in Sugar Creek township and in 1893 he began farming but continued to teach during the winter. He was elected justice of the peace in 1896 and on September 1, 1897, was appointed a member of the county board of school examiners. He had served as justice of the peace six years and was school examiner until February, 1903, when he became pro- bate judge, which compelled his resignation as school examiner. As pro- bate judge, he had the novel experience of appointing his own successor to the board of school examiners. Judge Heidlebaugh served six years as pro- bate judge and retired, in February, 1909. At the close of his services as

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judge, he remained in Ottawa about a year and then came to Columbus Grove and purchased an interest in the Exchange Bank of Columbus Grove. This bank was organized as a private bank in 1873 and operated as such until 1914, when it was incorporated as a state bank. The present officers are, Judge A. M. Heidlebaugh, president; W. M. Crawford, cashier, and B. F. Seitz, vice-president. This bank does a large business in the southern part of Putnam county. Since he entered the banking business, Judge Hei- dlebaugh has devoted his entire time to banking though he still holds his farm in Sugar Creek township.

Judge Heidlebaugh was married to Lydia Deffenbaugh in 1889, who was born in Sugar Creek township, and who is the daughter of Jacob and Mary (Derbyshire) Deffenbaugh. Jacob Deffenbaugh is of Pennsylvania German ancestry and was a native of that state. About 1832 he came with his parents to Putnam county. John Deffenbaugh was county auditor of Putnam county and a well-known and influential man. Jacob Deffenbaugh was a life-long farmer and during the last six or seven years of his life, lived retired in Columbus Grove. He was a justice of the peace and a member of the school board in Sugar Creek township. He died in 1912. His wife was born in Sugar Creek township and was the daughter of Jesse and Lydia (Pierce) Derbyshire. They were early settlers on the farm adjoining the Deffenbaughs. The Derbyshires were of English ancestry and Mrs. Derby- shire was a distant relative of President Franklin Pierce.

Judge and Mrs. Heidlebaugh are the parents of four children, Grace L., who is teaching in the schools of Columbus Grove, and attended college at Defiance, Ohio; Mary M., who attended Oxford and taught two years, now being a student at Oxford; Harold H., who is also at Oxford College; and Nolan Eugene, who is seven years of age and in the second school grade. The three elder children graduated from the high school, Grace at Ottawa, and the other two at Columbus Grove.

Judge Heidlebaugh and wife belong to the Christian church of Sugar Creek township, as do also the three elder children. He is a thirty-second degree Mason, a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Knights of Pythias, also other orders. Judge Heidlebaugh took the degree work in the Patrons of Husbandry. He is a friendly and obliging man, who, despite his personal success, does not forget his larger duty and responsibility to the public. He is naturally a leader in his community and a man whose council is sought in many enterprises, public and private. Judge Heidlebaugh is entitled to rank as one of the best-known and most success- ful citizens of Putnam county, Ohio.

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WILSON MARTIN CRAWFORD.

The name of Crawford has long been connected with the development and progress of Putnam county, Ohio, and especially the southern half of the county. John M. Crawford, the father of Wilson Martin Crawford, was a man who reflected credit upon the community and county where he lived. The greatness of a community lies not in the machinery of government, nor even in its institutions, but rather in the sterling qualities of the individual citizen, in his capacity for high and unselfish effort, and his devotion to the public welfare. Wilson Martin Crawford, the scion of this well-known family of the same name, in Putnam county, is a clean-cut young business man who is following in the footsteps of a worthy father. Mr. Crawford is not only a master of his business, but he is a leader among men, distin- guished for their grasp of business details, organization and management.

Wilson Martin Crawford grew up in Columbus Grove, and was gradu- ated from the high school there. He was born on September 24, 1879, at Columbus Grove, and is a son of John M. and Sarah A. (Martin) Crawford.

After graduating from the Columbus Grove high school, Mr. Craw- ford attended Northwestern University, at Evanston, Illinois, and was gradu- ated from the academic department in 1902 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Mr. Crawford had a splendid record at the university and was popu- lar with the faculty and with the students. He was what might be called at that time a representative college student.

After his graduation from Northwestern University, he returned to Columbus Grove, Ohio, and until 1905 was employed in the Exchange Bank, at that city, of which his father, John M. Crawford, was president. Mr. Crawford went to Denver, Colorado, in 1905, with the W. E. Moses Land and Realty Company, and remained in that city until the spring of 1907. At that time he returned to Columbus Grove and became the assistant cashier of the Exchange Bank. His brother, W. L. Crawford, was cashier, whose death occurred in March, 1907, and from 1910, Wilson M. Craw- ford has been cashier of this bank.

Mr. Crawford was married on June 22, 1904, to Ethel Jean Begg, the daughter of Dr. William H. and Martha M. (Kohli) Begg. Mrs. Craw- ford was born and reared at Columbus Grove, and attended the Western College for Women, at Oxford, Ohio, from which institution' she was graduated in 1902, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Mr. and Mrs. .Crawford have one daughter, Jean, who was born on June 21, 1913.

Mr. Crawford is identified with the Democratic party, and is now a

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member of the Columbus Grove city council. He is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons and also of the Knights of Pythias. At college he was a member of the National Greek letter fraternity of Phi Delta Theta, one of the oldest of the Greek letter societies in existence. He was also a member of the Deru fraternity. Mr. and Mrs. Crawford are members of the Presbyterian church.

Mr. and Mrs. Crawford have a comfortable and beautiful home in Columbus Grove and are socially popular throughout the south half of Put- nam county, where they are both well known. Mr. Crawford is regarded in his community as a young man with the inclination, training and equip- ment in every way to take the place which his father occupied for so many years in the life of this community, a position of prominence and wise leadership.

PROF. S. F. DEFORD.

It is the dictate of our nature, no less than of enlightened social policy, to honor those whose lives have contributed, in any way, to the good of their community and their associates. To bedew with affectionate tears the silent urn of departed worth and virtue, and rehearse the noble deeds of the living, has been the commendable custom of all ages and all nations. Prof. S. F. DeFord, the subject of this sketch, is one of nature's true noblemen. In contemplating his estimable qualities, integrity and industry appear as promi- nent characteristics; an integrity that no personal consideration could swerve and an industry that has no rest while anything remains undone. When a given task was accomplished, he has been in the habit of throwing off all care, retiring to his home and devoting himself to the pursuit of domestic and social enjoyment, for which he has the keenest zest and relish. His temper is calm and equable and his manners are emphatically those of a gen- tleman, plain and simple, despising sham and pretense of all kinds. His de- votion to every duty is intense while his perception of truth and worth is. almost intuitive. Although his life has been a busy one, and the private af- fairs of his home make heavy demands upon his time, he has never allowed it to interfere with his Christian obligations or the faithful performance of his religious duties. Always calm and straightforward, never demonstrative, his life has been a steady effort for the worth of Christian doctrine, the grandeur of Christian principles and the beauty and elevation of Christian character. He has possessed great sympathy for his fellow men and has al-

PROF. S. F. DEFORD.

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ways been ready to aid and encourage those who were struggling to aid them- selves. Yet, in this, as in everything, he has been entirely unassuming. When he believed he was in the right, nothing could swerve him from it. At the advanced age of seventy-nine years, Professor DeFord demands the respect of all classes of people.

Prof. Samuel F. DeFord is now the vice-president of the First National Bank, of Ottawa, a position he has held since its organization, in 1903, is still active in business affairs. He was born in Carroll county, Ohio, May 2, 1836. He is the son of John and Matilda (Littell) DeFord. The DeFord family is of French-Huguenot origin. Professor DeFord's great-grandfa- ther was John DeFord, who fled under persecution of his sect and found refuge in the state of Maryland, where he lived, as a farmer. He had a son, John, who was born in Maryland, but who lived the greater part of his life in Pennsylvania. Coming to Ohio, in 1799, he entered one thousand acres of land, in Carroll county. At this time he was about forty years of age, but lived to be one hundred and three years old. His wife was Lydia Hopwood, a native of Pennsylvania. John DeFord, Jr., and his wife were the parents. of seven children, Harriet, the wife of John H. DeFord; Hannah, Elizabeth, the wife of John Stull, of Augusta, Ohio; John, the father of Prof. Samuel DeFord, who died at the age of eighty-seven; William, who was a prominent farmer and politician of Carroll county, Ohio; Daniel and Nathan B., the lat- ter of Kansas.

John DeFord, the father of Prof. Samuel DeFord, passed his life as a farmer, in Carroll county, Ohio, and served as a justice of the peace thirty- one years. He married Matilda Littell, a French woman, who died, in 1894, at the age of eighty-one. They were the parents of eleven children, Alonzo, a farmer, of Charlottesville, Virginia; William, deceased; Lydia, the wife of William Mosier, of Uniontown, Pennsylvania; Louisa, the wife of James. Daniel, of Carrollton, Ohio; Samuel F., the subject of this sketch; John W., of Celina, Ohio; Matilda C., the wife of a Mr. Sweet, of Baltimore county, Maryland; Harriet M., the wife of Rev. John W. Cummings, Doctor of Di- vinity, of the Presbyterian church at Nankin, Ashland county, Ohio; Mary L., the wife of John Moreland, a farmer of Newark, Indiana; Thomas B., of Carroll county, Ohio; and Hannah, the wife of John Jackman, of Missouri.

Prof. Samuel F. DeFord was reared on the farm. He attended the district schools and, at the age of seventeen years, entered Mount Union Col- lege, at Alliance, from which institution he was graduated, in 1858. One year later, he was graduated from the classical course and, two years after that, received the degree of Master of Arts. Professor DeFord taught, dur-

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ing the summer months, to assist in paying his way through college. He had charge of the Monongahela schools, for seven months, during 1856. While he was erecting the large school building at Lordstown, Trumbull county, Ohio, in 1858, he was superintendent of the public schools of Newton Falls, that county. Mrs. James A. Garfield, then Lucretia Rudolph, was one of his assistant teachers. Professor DeFord conducted an academy at Lordstown, until 1861, when he took charge of the public schools, at St. Mary's, Ohio. He remained at St. Mary's until 1863, when he was made superintendent of the Celina (Ohio) schools, a position which he held until 1869. He then became superintendent of the Maumee (Ohio) Seminary, for one year, and after that time came to Ottawa, and was superintendent of the public schools, for fifteen consecutive years, or until 1886.

On account of failing health, Professor DeFord became associated with Samuel Slawson, in 1886, in establishing the Exchange Bank, of Ottawa. Mr. DeFord withdrew, in the spring of 1888, and devoted his attention to farming, holding at this time over five hundred acres of land in different parts of Putnam county. He erected a splendid brick building at the corner of Main and Hickory streets, Ottawa, in 1890, and built many dwellings in Ot- tawa and many Putnam county towns for rental purposes. For many years he was engaged in the real estate and loan business, and was very successful.

Professor DeFord was married on November 5, 1859, to Mary V. Dun- can, who was born at Lordstown, Ohio, August 28, 1837, the daughter of Thomas and Susan (Leach) Duncan. Mrs. DeFord is a charter member of the second oldest club in Ohio, which was chartered in 1876. She had al- ways been active in the religious and club life of her county. To this union five children have been born, Clara, who died at the age of three years and eight months; Matilda E., born November 17, 1867, married W. F. Stevens, who is now librarian of the Carnegie library, at Homestead, Pennsylvania, and who was formerly librarian of the Railroad Young Men's Christian As- sociation Library, sustained by Cornelius Vanderbilt. Mrs. Stevens is an active member of the Daughters of the Revolution, and takes a lively inter- est in civic work, having been instrumental in organizing a number of clubs. The other children are Mary Ann, who married George W. Meffley, a dry goods merchant, of Ottawa, and who is interested in social and civic work, particularly in public libraries ; John T., born June 30, 1874, who is a promi- nent attorney of Minerva, Ohio, and who graduated from Mount Union Col- lege and the Cleveland Law School; and Susie F., born in 1881, who married John A. Hunter, now resides in Denver, Colorado. Mrs. Hunter is active

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in church work in her home city. She is the mother of one son, John DeFord, who is a student in the Denver public schools.

Samuel F. DeFord is a Democrat. He served three years as county examiner of Mercer county and seventeen years as examiner for Putnam county. He also served as coroner of Putnam county, for two terms, and was president of the school board of Ottawa for many years. He was also a justice of the peace and a member of the Ottawa city council. Professor DeFord is a member of Lodge No. 325, Free and Accepted Masons, and of Ottawa Chapter No. 115, and of Ottawa Council No. 69. He has also been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows since 1857, having joined the order at Newton Falls, Ohio. Professor DeFord is also a mem- ber of the Royal Arcanum. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and became a communicant of that church at the age of sixteen. In 1864 he was ordained a minister of the Methodist church.

Throughout his busy life, Professor DeFord has been prominent in the educational, religious and civic life of Ottawa and Putnam counties. He is one of the foremost citizens of Putnam county and his career was founded upon scrupulous honesty and conscientious relations with his fellow citi- zens. He is undoubtedly one of the representative citizens of Putnam county.

BARNEY HENRY MAAG.

The man whose name appears above is widely known as one of the honored citizens of Putnam county. He has resided here all his life, being a member of one of the leading families in the community and prominently identified with the farming interests throughout this region of country. His well-directed efforts in the practical management of his affairs and his sound judgment, have brought to him a fair measure of prosperity, and in all the relations of his life he has commanded the respect and confidence of those with whom he has been brought in contact.

Barney Henry Maag was born in Pleasant township, this county, March 28, 1881, and is the son of William and Bernardina (Kahli) Maag, whose life-record is given elsewhere in this work under the name of John C. Maag.

Barney Henry Maag spent his youth on his father's farm in this county, Pleasant township, and received his education in the township schools, but was not a regular attendant for the reason 'that he was obliged to work on

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the farm. After remaining with his parents until the age of maturity, he was married on November 27, 1907, to Helena Meyer, daughter of Theo- dore and Mary Ann (Drerup) Meyer, who was born in Ottawa township, this county. Her father was a native of Germany and came to this county with his parents when he was seven years of age. They first settled in Ot- tawa township, near the town of Glandorf, this county, where Theodore spent his early days and grew to manhood. Soon after his marriage he bought forty acres of farming land in this neighborhood, to which he added more land, from time to time, until the homestead place contained a total of ninety-five acres. He later bought an additional one hundred acres, which is now occupied by his son, Antoon Meyer, who bought it from his father. Theodore Meyer followed the business of farming throughout his life, and was successful. His death occurred on October 24, 1897, at which time he was in the sixty-fourth year of his age. Mr. Maag's wife's mother was a native of the town of Glandorf, Ohio, where she was born on July 17, 1838, and after living a most devoted, useful and successful life as a helpmate to her husband, during his pioneer and later life, she lived until Septem- ber 16, 1913, leaving behind her sweet memories of cheerfulness and love for the family that now mourn her loss. To their union were born thirteen children, as follow: Theodore, deceased; Anton, Frank, deceased; Barney, deceased; Joseph, who lives in the state of Michigan; Mrs. Joseph Deters, of Glandorf, Ohio; Mary, who lives in Glandorf, Ohio; August, who lives in Michigan; Mrs. Henry Hagerman, of Delphos, Ohio; Fronia, who lives with Anton; John, of Kalida, Ohio; Helena, subject's wife; and Edward, who lives on the homestead place, in Ottawa township, this county.

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History of Putnam County, Ohio : its peoples, industries, and institutions, Part 38

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