History of Putnam County, Ohio : its peoples, industries, and institutions, Part 95

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 95

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George and Hannah (Sneary) Best were the parents of ten children, James, David, Catherine, Elizabeth, George I., Sarah Jane, John, William, Jacob and Ella. Of these there are now surviving but three, Mrs. Elizabeth Stevens, who lives at Kalida, this county; George I., the immediate subject of this sketch, and Jacob, who also lives at Kalida.

George I. Best grew up on his father's farm in Union township, receiving

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his education in the district school in his neighborhood and a careful training in the rudiments of farming under his father's thoughtful direction. . On March 2, 1871, he was united in marriage to Rosetta Norton, a native of Put -. nam county, who was born on July 14, 1849, the daughter of John and Eliza- beth ( McDowell) Norton, well-known residents of this county. For further details of the Norton family, the reader is referred to the interesting biograph- ical sketch presented on another page of this volume, relating to B. Burgess, whose deceased wife was a sister of Mrs. Best.

To George I. and Rosetta (Norton) Best were born eight children, Harry is a successful farmer living in Monroe township, Allen county; Herbert, who also lives in Allen county ; Maude, who married Oliver Logan, lives in Bodkins, Ohio, and has one child, a daughter, Irene; Mina, who married Charles Reeder, a farmer of Pleasant township, this county, and has two children, Herbert and Leon; Eva, who died young; Orpha, who married Louis Zimmerman, of Lima, Ohio, and has one child, a daughter, Esther. Besides the foregoing there were two of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Best, who died in infancy.

George I. Best has attained his present comfortable station in life by gradual degrees, it being the exact truth to say of him that he is a self-made man in all that much-abused term implies. He remained on the home farm assisting his father until he was twenty years of age, when he started out "on his own hook," working on neighboring farms for about three years, at the end of which time he married and rented the Judge Skinner farm on which he remained for six years, tilling the same with such success that, at the end of that time, he was able to purchase a farm of forty acres in Union township, this county, on which he lived for four years, this venture also proving successful, and at the end of that time he sold the Union township farm and bought a farm of eighty acres in Allen county, on which he lived for about twenty-two years, at the end of which time, in the year 1903, he sold this farm and moved to Columbus Grove, this county, where he since has lived in comfortable retirement, enjoying the confidence and respect of a large circle of friends and acquaintances, his home being one of the pleasant- est and most hospitable in the town of Columbus Grove.

In addition to the vocation of general farming, which Mr. Best made the principal business of his life for so many years, he also gave much attention to the breeding of fine horses. He always has been a lover of horses and has a more than local reputation as a good judge of horse flesh, and his breeding stables in Allen county, for many years were popular among the farmers throughout that section. Since moving to Columbus Grove, Mr.

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Best has maintained an excellent breeding stable there, the quality of the service extended recommending them highly to the consideration of the farmers hereabout.

George I. Best is a Democrat and gives such attention to the political affairs of the county as is the duty of all good citizens, but has never been included in the office-seeking class, preferring to concentrate his attention upon his own personal affairs, though his judgments in political matters are regarded as sound and his counsels along these lines carry no small weight among the local party managers. Mr. Best and wife are members of the Christian church at Columbus Grove, Mr. Best having served the congrega- tion of that church in the capacity of a deacon, for some time past. He and Mrs. Best are active participants in the local beneficences of the church and are likewise interested in all movements looking to the general welfare of the community in which they are so well liked, the geniality and friendli- ness of their manners having made them popular with all with whom they come in contact.

JESSE N. HEISCHMAN, D. V. S.

Science has taken hold not only of business but of all professions 'as well and veterinary surgery is no exception. The practice of this profession is regulated by law in most states and elaborate courses of instruction must be followed, before the practice is permitted. Jesse N. Heischman, D. V. S., a veterinary surgeon of Columbus Grove, Putnam county, Ohio, entered his profession, well-equipped in every respect. Not only are his professional attainments superior, but he is personally popular throughout Putnam county and has always enjoyed a large and lucrative practice.

Jesse N. Heischman, D. V. S., is the son of a well-known physician and veterinarian, now deceased, and was born on April 27, 1872, in Franklin county, Ohio. His parents were Theodore and Melissa (Smith) Heischman. Theodore Heischman, M. D., D. V. S., was born in Franklin county, Ohio, in 1848, and was the son of John Heischman, who was born in Virginia and who came to Franklin county, Ohio, where, for some time, he was a farmer. Later, John Heischman came to Palmer township, Putnam county, Ohio, and settled on a farm close to North creek, where he farmed one hundred and sixty acres of land, until his death. Theodore Heischman grew up in Frank- lin county, Ohio, where he received his early education. He was trained for veterinary surgery at Ohio State University and for the practice of general

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medicine at the Chicago School of Medicine and practiced both in different parts of Franklin county. He practiced medicine at Bucyrus and Defiance, Ohio, and later, went west to Ft. Scott, Kansas, where he practiced veterinary surgery for some time. Returning to Putnam county, he farmed in Palmer township until a short time before his death, in 1892, at the age of forty- five. He died of lung trouble of which he had failed to gain relief on his trip to the West. His wife, who, before her marriage, was Melissa Smith, was born in Licking county, Ohio, November 25, 1844, and died in 1903. She was the daughter of Archibald and Mary (Beach) Smith.

Theodore and Melissa (Smith) Heischman were the parents of four children, Dr. Jesse N., twin sisters who died in infancy, and Homer, who lives at Findlay, Ohio. Theodore Heischman, M. D., D. V. S., was a mem- ber of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias at Bucyrus, and a Democrat in politics.

Jesse N. Heischman was reared in Franklin county, Ohio, where he lived until ten years of age, when he removed, with his parents, to Bucyrus, Ohio. His early education was received at Bucyrus and Defiance. He ac- companied his father on his trip to Ft. Scott, Kansas, and returned with him to Palmer township, Putnam county.

Doctor Heischman was married on May 1I, 1892, to Catherine Beck, the daughter of Jacob and Barbara ( Etchen) Beck, the former of whom was born on August 18, 1829, in Bavaria, and who died on August 9, 1899. His wife was born on December 1, 1836, and died on July 6, 1905. Jacob Beck and wife had thirteen children, Frank, born on July 11, 1854; John, January 6, 1856; Nicholas, died in infancy ; Jane, October 6, 1860; Mary, April 30, 1862, died in August, 1906; Clara, March 12, 1863; Nathaniel Joseph, November 8, 1865; William A., September 6, 1867; Catherine, the wife of Dr. Heischman; Elizabeth, October 16, 1871; Louise M., February 4, 1874; Henry L., March 20, 1878, and Albert J., June 9, 1882, died in September of the same year.

Mrs. Jesse N .. Heischman was born on November 13, 1869. She has been the mother of four children, Ruth Hazel, born on May 3, 1893, who married N. S. Robbins and lives in Van Buren, Ohio; Russell Newton, July 3, 1895; Barbara Jane, December 3, 1899, and John Theodore, September 21, 1904.

Jesse N. Heischman, D. V. S., attended the veterinary college, at Toronto, Canada, but did not graduate there. He finished his work at Grand Rapids Veterinary College, at Grand Rapids, Michigan, with the class of 1900. He also took a course in veterinary dental work at the Ontario Col-

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lege, at Toronto, and finished this course in 1893. Doctor Heischman is a registered doctor of veterinary surgery in both Ohio and Michigan. After finishing his course, in 1893, he came to Continental, Ohio, where he prac- ticed for five years. After graduation from the Grand Rapids school, he returned to Columbus Grove and began practice. He is the only veterinarian in this vicinity and has a lucrative practice. He is considered one of the most successful veterinarians in this section of Ohio.

Jesse N. Heischman, D. V. S., is a member of the Knights of Pythias at Continental. He served as mayor of Columbus Grove for two terms, from 1906 to 1910, and is the present health officer for the corporation as well as the humane officer. He is a Democrat and, throughout his life, has been active in behalf of his party. He is, however, a booster for all civic improvements, regardless of party. He is now the Putnam county repre- sentative for the Indiana and Ohio Live Stock Insurance Agency and patentee of the Heischman Colic Cure, a remedy which is famous for its results and which has a large sale. Doctor Heischman is no longer interested, finan- cially, in this remedy, having sold his interest to outside parties.

Doctor Heischman is a man of splendid approach, likeable and con- genial, well spoken of, of pleasing personality and bears an excellent reputa- tion in his community.

WARREN C. DRAPER.

Warren C. Draper was born on January 2, 1853, in Summit county, Ohio. He is a son of Warren Luke and Louisa (Savacole) Draper. War- ren Luke Draper was born on October 6, 1823, in Washington county, New York. He was a son of Moses and Sabrina Draper, who were natives of Washington county, New York. Moses Draper and wife came to Ohio about 1829, and settled at Hudson, Summit county, and here they reared a family of nine children, eight sons and one daughter. Warren Luke Draper was the second child. Moses Draper and wife spent the remainder of their lives in Summit county. Warren Luke grew up on the old homestead and was married, in Summit county, to Louisa Savacole, the daughter of Sam- uel and Sarah Savacole, who were pioneer settlers in Summit county, Ohio.

When about thirty years old, Warren Luke Draper removed to Han- cock county, Ohio, where he purchased a farm in Allen township, five miles northeast of Findlay. He was the owner of one hundred and eighty acres and was a prosperous farmer and stock dealer. He and his wife were the parents of three sons and three daughters: Sarah Ann, the wife of

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Eli W. Pepple; Warren C., the immediate subject of this review; Salina Elizabeth, the wife of Sanford Lemon; James Edward, who married Lela Lepper; Martha J., the wife of Armenius King, and Charles, who died at the age of one and one-half years.

Warren C. Draper grew to manhood in Hancock county, and remained on the home farm until he was twenty years of age. He was first married on December 23, 1876, at the age of twenty three, to Myra Jane Hosler, the daughter of John and Isabel Hosler, who were pioneers of Hancock .county, and who came from York county, Pennsylvania, in an early day.

After his marriage Mr. Draper lived for four years near Arcadia, in Hancock county, Ohio, and then removed, in the spring of 1881, to Blanch- ard township, Putnam county, three miles northeast of Gilboa, where he purchased eighty acres of land, only twenty acres of which were partially cleared. Since this time he has cleared the remainder of the farm and has surrounded himself with substantial improvements. He has always made a specialty of raising high grade live stock, and has been very successful as a farmer.

By his first marriage, Mr. Draper had four children, Charles, Belle, Harry and Bernice. Charles resides in Leipsic, Ohio. He married Edith Tafflinger, and they have three sons, James, John and Richard. Belle is the wife of Frank Miller and resides at Tiffin, Ohio. Harry H. married Edna Wight, and they reside at Lewiston, Montana. They were the parents of one child who died in infancy. Bernice is unmarried, and at present is at- tending the academy at Tiffin, Ohio. Mrs. Draper died on August 8, 1908, and on June 6, 1911, Mr. Draper married Mrs. Malissa Slosser, of Toledo, Ohio, a sister of his first wife. She lived only eight months after her mar- riage and died on February 6, 1912.

Warren C. Draper's father, Warren L. Draper, was married the second time, to Hannah King, the daughter of John King and wife, and to this union were born two daughters, Emma, who became the wife of a Mr. Russell, of Minerva, Ohio, and Belle, the wife of George Burrell, of Conti- nental, Ohio.

Mr. Draper is a Republican. He has been influential in the educational circles of his township for many years, and has served as a member of the school board. Throughout his life he has been an active member of the United Brethren church, and a trustee in this denomination.

Warren C. Draper is a man highly respected by the citizens of his com- munity, and is known as an enterprising farmer, a good neighbor and a kind and considerate father.

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BENJAMIN F. ECK.

Many farmers owe their success to a steady determination formed early in their careers. Where industry is required they are not afraid of toil; where economy is necessary they do not hesitate to practice frugality ; where careful management seems the keynote to affluence, they are painstaking in their attention to details. Benjamin F Eck, of Riley township, is a success- ful farmer, because he has strictly adhered to the principles which, if strictly followed, insure success. He is one of those men who are able to identify their ancestors with one of the earliest wars fought by this country when the country still wore its swaddling clothes. Frederick Eck was a soldier in the War of 1812 and during his service in this war, came to northwestern Ohio as an Indian scout.

Benjamin F. Eck was born on May 8, 1872, in Riley township, Putnam. county, Ohio. He is the son of Benjamin and Catherine Ellen (Sanderlin) Eck. Benjamin Eck was born in Richland county, Ohio, on January 23,. 1827, the son of Frederick and Nancy ( Newcomer) Eck. Frederick Eck was born in Pennsylvania, about 1788, and died at the age of eighty-eight, in 1876, in Riley township, Putnam county, Ohio.

It was Frederick Eck, who, as a young man, enlisted in the War of 1812 and, during his services as a soldier, came West as an Indian spy. On this trip, Frederick Eck had ample opportunity to observe the new country and it was then that he resolved to cast his lot with this frontier country. After the war, he returned to Pennsylvania and was married in Franklin county, of that state. Thereupon he moved to Richland county, Ohio, and there he settled. But he remained there only a few years, coming to Putnam county in 1835. It was in Richland county, however, that his children were born. There were seven of them, five sons and two daughters, one daughter dying- in infancy. Benjamin Eck, Sr., the father of Benjamin F., was next to the youngest child.

After coming to Putnam county, in 1835, Frederick Eck lived in a cabin on the farm of Samuel Hall, just east of Gilboa, until the following spring. Some time before bringing his family, he made a trip from Rich- land to Putnam county and entered forty acres of land in section I, of Riley township. Benjamin F. Eck, Jr., still has the deed made out at this time. for this land. The deed was dated on October 7, 1835, and is signed by Andrew Jackson, then president of the United States. The following spring, Frederick Eck moved his little family to their new home where he had built a cabin during the winter and it was on this old homestead that the children.

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grew to maturity. In addition to this forty acres, Frederick Eck purchased eighty acres adjoining the original homestead on the south, giving him one hundred and twenty acres in all. This eighty-acre tract was purchased on January II, 1849.

Frederick Eck was a Democrat and served as road supervisor for several years. His grandson, Benjamin F. Eck, has a collection of receipts, and other interesting papers, pertaining to his office. One is a receipt issued to John Smothers, October 1, 1841, for labor performed in Riley township, the value of which, as indicated on the receipt, was nine cents and six mills.

It was on this old homestead that Benjamin Eck, Sr., spent his child- hood. Here he has lived ever since. He passed through all of the pioneer experiences common to his day and generation and is now eighty-eight years old. He distinctly remembers when the Indians roamed this part of the country and when he cut rails in the water. The compensation for splitting rails in those days was forty cents a hundred. Benjamin Eck had to go. many miles, in those days, to mill.

Benjamin F. Eck, Sr., was married on August 28, 1856, in Wood county, Ohio, to Catherine Ellen Sanderlin, who was born on September 18, 1836, at Covington, Kentucky. She was the daughter of Thomas and Rebecca (Seaton) Sanderlin. After their marriage, they took up their residence on the old homestead, where they have since resided. Mrs. Eck died in Novem- ber, 1902. She was the mother of five children, Mary Isabelle, born on June 14, 1857; Eliza Amanda, March 18, 1859; Rebecca Ellen, March 14, 1870; Benjamin F., the subject of this sketch, and William Noah, March 30, 1874. All lived to maturity but all are now deceased with the exception of Ben- jamin F.

Benjamin F. Eck, like his father, grew up on the old homestead of his: grandfather. He attended two terms at the old Webster district school and then attended the old No. I district school. After finishing school, he worked out for two or three years, and then returned home to take charge of the home place. which he farmed for several years.

At the age of twenty-six, Benjamin F. Eck, Jr., was married on Novem- ber 25, 1897, to Effie May Spitter, who was born on March 26, 1874, in Han- cock county. She is the daughter of George F. and Kezia (Snyder ) Spitter, both natives of Fairfield county. George F. Spitter's father was a native of Pennsylvania and his wife's father was a native of Fairfield county.

After his marriage, Mr. Eck continued to farm the old home place, which has been his residence up to the present time. He and his wife have been the parents of nine children, George F., born on September 3, 1898;

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Kezia C., November 3, 1899; Elsie V., January 1, 1901 ; May M., August 28, 1902; Nellie F., February 18, 1904; Doris L., November 20, 1905; Jacob A., March 22, 1908; Wilbur H., January 20, 1910, and Clarence F., April 9, 1912.

Benjamin F. Eck is a Democrat. He is one of Riley township's sub- stantial citizens and, having come from an old pioneer family, is well and favorably known in Riley township and, in fact, throughout Putnam county. He is a man who well merits the esteem and confidence placed in him by his fellow citizens.

ORVILLE V. TODD.

Among the families of Putnam county, Ohio, whose members have worthily discharged their duties to their fellows and to their community, no family takes higher rank than the Todds, who are today prominently identified with the business and social life of Putnam county. For many years the members of this family have stood for all that is best in business, educational, moral and social life, and they have wielded an influence that is potential in the development and welfare of their community. The mem- bers of the Todd family are numbered among the enterprising and progres- sive citizens of the county because of the prominence which the family has enjoyed and the close relations they have sustained to the welfare and pros- perity of the locality which has been honored by their citizenship. They are, therefore, eminently entitled to representation in a work of this character.

Orville V. Todd, one of the younger representatives of the Todd fam- ily and the cashier of the Gilboa Banking Company, was born on December 23, 1869, in Blanchard township, Putnam county, Ohio, the son of Joel and Eveline (Vaughn) Todd. The family history of Eveline Vaughn may be found in the life story of John W. Hixon, contained elsewhere in this volume.

Joel Todd was born in Blanchard township, Putnam county, Ohio, on October 16, 1845, the son of Levi and Margaret (Bosler) Todd. Levi Todd was born in Fairfield county, the son of Samuel Todd and wife, both of whom came from Pennsylvania in pioneer times and settled in Fairfield county, Ohio.

In those pioneer times before the railroads were built, Samuel Todd drove a six-horse freight team from Harrisburg to Baltimore. He hauled grain to the seaboard and brought merchandise on return trips. It is re- lated that these teams were driven without lines, much as oxen were driven,

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the driver riding a saddle-horse on the near side of the wheel horses. After coming to Fairfield county, Ohio, where his son, Levi, was born, the latter took up the work which his father had followed in Pennsylvania, except that he drove from Harrisburg west to Pittsburgh, and on to western Ohio, coming as far as Findlay and Fostoria. Samuel Todd moved from Fair- field county to the northwestern part of Blanchard township, Putnam county, about two miles south of the present city of Leipsic. Here he spent the re- mainder of his days.

Levi Todd came from Findlay to Blanchard township and entered eighty acres of land three and one-half miles northeast of Ottawa. Here he remained until the eighties, when he sold out and moved to two and one- half miles south of Leipsic, which farm he finally sold and after its sale retired, spending his declining years with his children. It was at the home of one of his daughters, Mrs. Catherine Smith, of Syracuse, Kansas, that he died about 1897.

Joel Todd spent his boyhood in Blanchard township, Putnam county, and here he attended the common schools, also helping his father on the farm until twenty-three years of age. At this time he was married to Eve- line Vaughn in 1868. She was the daughter of John and Johanna (Shriner) Vaughn. After their marriage, Joel Todd began farming for himself four and one-half miles southeast of Leipsic, on a part of the Vaughn estate. He and his wife still live on the farm, to which they moved after their mar- riage, forty-five years ago. They have been the parents of four children : Orville V., the subject of this sketch; Angie, who died at the age of two years and six months ; Arlowa and Franville H. Arlowa is the wife of A. C. Bracy and lives three miles north of Gilboa. They have three children, Cloyd, Delia and Lena, all of whom are at home. Granville H., who died on November 26, 1910, married Constance Young, of Pocatello, Idaho, and lived only four months after his marriage.

Orville V. Todd spent his boyhood in Blanchard township and there attended the country schools until sixteen years of age. He then became a student of the high school, conducted in connection with Crawfis College, where he graduated with the class of 1884. Subsequently, he attended Otter- bein University, where he took a special normal course. For fourteen years he was engaged in teaching, first in the country, and finally in Leipsic. Still later he became superintendent of the schools at Bellmore.

After serving fourteen years as a teacher, Mr. Todd took a course in business at the Lima Business College and then took up commercial work for different concerns. On July 2, 1909, he was elected cashier of the Gil-

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boa Banking Company, which position he now holds. He was elected to the directorate of this bank in the summer of 1912.

Orville V. Todd was married, at the age of twenty-nine, to Alice El- well, of Columbus Grove, Ohio. She is the daughter of Hiram and Mary Jane (Ketchem) Elwell. One child, Leslie, has been born to this union.

Orville V. Todd is a Republican. He has been honored with different local offices in the community, all of which he has filled with credit to him- self and to the people who elected him. Mr. Todd is a member of Ottawa Lodge No. 325, Free and Accepted Masons, and Gilboa Lodge No. 459, In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. and Mrs. Todd are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which Mr. Todd is treasurer.

Not only is Orville V. Todd prominent in the business life of this sec- tion of Putnam county, but he and his wife are prominent socially in the community. He is an alert, up-to-date citizen, and is held in high esteem by his business associates and by the community of which he has become so important a factor.

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History of Putnam County, Ohio : its peoples, industries, and institutions, Part 95

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