USA > Ohio > Richland County > History of Richland County, Ohio, from 1808 to 1908, Vol. I > Part 51
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Louis S. Kuebler acquired his education through the medium of the public schools of Seneca county and then began learning the printer's trade, with which he has since been identified. Gradually he has worked his way upward, becoming familiar with every department of the business, and for thirty-two years he has now been editorially connected with newspaper publication in Richland county. He removed from Cleveland to Mansfield in 1876 and began the publication of the Mansfield Courier, which was estab- lished in 1872 and is the only German paper published in Richland county. It has an extensive circulation among the German speaking residents of this part of the state and handles with ability and clearness the subjects which are of general interest in the community as well as those of wider scope and importance as affecting state and national welfare. The Courier has a splendidly equipped plant and is democratic in political complexion. In addition to the publication of the paper Mr. Kuebler is conducting an exten- sive general job printing business, receiving a most liberal patronage in that connection. Mr. Kuebler is recognized as one of the prominent men in democratic ranks in Richland county and served as chairman of the democratic executive committee in 1899 and again in 1905. He was a candidate for and elected county treasurer in 1902, which office he filled for four years.
In 1884 Mr. Kuebler was married to Miss Lena Matthes, of Mansfield,
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a daughter of Adam Matthes, and they now have two children, Herman and Marie. In a review of his life work it will be seen that Mr. Kuebler possesses many of the strong and salient characteristics of a Teutonic ancestry, com- bined with the spirit of enterprise and progress so characteristic of the typical American. Too broad minded for local partisanship, he manifests the deepest interest in his state and the country at large while laboring effectively and earnestly for municipal interests.
A. W. CREVLING.
A. W. Crevling, who successfully carries on agricultural pursuits in Blooming Grove township, was born in Columbia county, Pennsylvania, Jan- uary 17, 1841. Both his paternal and maternal great-grandfathers participated in the Revolutionary war. His parents, Jacob and Martha (Melick) Crevling, were natives of New Jersey. In his boyhood days the father removed to Pennsylvania and from Columbia county, that state, made the overland journey by wagon to Richland county, arriving here on the 5th of May, 1848. Throughout his active business career he devoted his time and energies to farm- ing and on locating in this county resided in Cass township for seven years, on the expiration of which period he settled in Blooming Grove township. Here he made his home until called to his final rest in 1878. His wife, whom he had married in the Keystone state, passed away in this county in 1890. Their union was blessed with seven children, of whom our subject is the only sur- vivor. The first three died in infancy, while Franklin, Alexander and Priscilla are also now deceased.
A. W. Crevling mastered the branches of learning which constitute the curriculum of the public schools and remained under the parental roof until he had attained the age of twenty-eight years. For six years he was engaged in teaching, imparting clearly and readily to others the knowledge that he had acquired. Since starting out in life on his own account he has been connected with agricultural interests in Blooming Grove township, owning one hundred and fifty acres of well improved and productive land. His untiring industry and indefatigable energy have brought him a well merited and enviable degree of success in the cultivation of his fields and he has long been recognized as one of the substantial and progressive agriculturists of the community.
In 1868 Mr. Crevling was joined in wedlock to Miss Zerada Burns, whose birth occurred in Rome, Blooming Grove township, September 9, 1847, and who has spent her entire life here. They have three children, namely : Verda, the wife of Henry Gates; Dora, who is the wife of Sherman Pittenger, a farmer of Blooming Grove township; and Boyd, who operates the home farm.
Mr. Crevling cast his first ballot for Abraham Lincoln and has since been a stanch supporter of the republican party. He served his fellow townsmen as justice of the peace for three years, his decisions being ever strictly fair and
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impartial. Both he and his wife are devoted and faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal church and are held in high regard and esteem throughout the community in which they reside. His interests are thoroughly identified with those of Richland county, where he has now made his home for sixty years, and at all times he is ready to lend his aid and cooperation to any movement or measure instituted to promote the general welfare of town and county.
J. F. DILL.
J. F. Dill, who is successfully engaged in general agricultural pursuits on section 22, Washington township, is a native of Germany, his birth having occurred in the province of Nassau on the 7th of July, 1863. His parents, William and Ann C. (Rissler) Dill, were also natives of the fatherland, the former born July 2, 1823, and the latter on the 19th of December, 1823. In the year 1866 the father brought his family to the new world, their home being established in a log cabin on a small farm in Washington township, Richland county, Ohio. Here William Dill diligently and successfully car- ried on his farming interests until recent years, when he retired from active work and has since made his home with his son, J. F. He is one of the pioneers who aided in reclaiming this district for the uses of civilization by their untiring energy and perseverance in its cultivation and development. His wife passed away in this county in 1892. Their family numbered five children, as follows: Philip, of Jefferson township; Catherine, the wife of Charles J. Rummel, residing in West Cairo, Ohio; John P., who makes his home in Olathe, Kansas; J. F., of this review ; and one who is deceased.
J. F. Dill supplemented the preliminary education which he acquired in the common schools by two years' attendance in the high school at Bellville and one year at the seminary in Lexington. He afterward pursued a business course at the Normal University of Ada, Ohio, and when nineteen years of age began teaching school, which profession he followed for a period of nineteen years, imparting clearly and readily to others the knowledge that he had acquired. Turning his attention to agricultural interests, in 1900 he pur- chased sixty-two and a half acres of land on section 22, Washington township, and was engaged in its operation for two years, when he disposed of the property. In 1902 he purchased the tract of one hundred acres on which he now resides. The place was in an unimproved condition, but he has remodeled the buildings and carried on the work of cultivation and development until the farm now presents a neat and attractive appearance, and its owner is classed with the enterprising and progressive agriculturists of the community.
On the 9th of June, 1892, Mr. Dill was united in marriage to Miss Chloe S. Dill, whose birth occurred in Morrow county, Ohio, January 6, 1869, her parents being Phillip and Elizabeth (Freeland) Dill. Her father was a native of Germany, born in 1838, and came to America in 1848, taking up his abode in Richland county, Ohio, where he learned the wagonmaker's trade. He afterward removed to Johnsville, in Morrow county, where his death
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occurred in 1900. His wife, whose natal day was April 27, 1834, still survives and makes her home in Morrow county. The children born to this worthy couple were ten in number, namely: Albert W., of Galion, Ohio; Jerry H. and James M., who reside in Morrow county, Ohio; Charles F., who makes his home in Oregon; Mrs. AAnna M. Paul, living in Jefferson township; Mrs. Amelia C. Kerr, of Williamsport, Ohio; Mrs. Dill; Susan Doner, of Clark county, Ohio; Mrs. Phoebe Ziger, whose home is in Galion, Ohio; and Ida, deceased. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Dill have been born eight children, as follows: Ira W. and Ida M., twins; Bertha A .; John F .; Harold E .; Catherine; Martha; and Alice.
Mr. Dill is a democrat in his political views and is now serving for the fourth term as township clerk, his fellow townsmen recognizing his capability and fidelity in the discharge of official duties. He is also master of the Wash- ington Grange, and his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the German Evangelical church, with which his wife is also identified. They are both well known and highly respected residents of the community, their genuine personal worth and sterling traits of character winning for them the friendship and regard of all with whom they have come in contact.
CHARLES L. MCCLELLAN.
Charles L. McClellan, capably filling the position of clerk of the courts at Mansfield, was born in Butler, Richland county, Ohio, November 29, 1864, a son of John A. and Sarah A. (Miles) McClellan. His father was a native of Pennsylvania and came to this county at the age of two years. He was a carpenter by trade and in his later years gave his attention to farming. He lived a busy life, characterized by fidelity to duty in every relation, and thus gained the confidence and good will of all with whom he came in con- tact. He died August 15, 1897, while his wife, a native of this county, died when her son Charles was but five years of age.
The boy afterward made his home with his uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. William Rider, near Butler. He spent his youth on a farm and there acquired his early education in the district schools, while later he attended the Greentown Academy at Perrysville and also the Wooster (Ohio) University. He afterward engaged in teaching school for several terms and with a broad general knowledge to serve as the foundation upon which to rear the superstructure of professional learning, he took up the study of law as a student in the Cincinnati Law School, from which he was graduated in the class of 1894, the degree of Bachelor of Law being then conferred upon him. He returned at once to Mansfield and being admitted to the bar at Columbus in the fall of the same year, he opened an office in this city with Louis M. Weaver, under the firm style of Weaver & McClellan. This partner- ship was continued until 1900, when Mr. McClellan entered the office of clerk of the courts as deputy, under Allen S. Beach, and served in that capacity until 1902, when he was elected to his present office. In 1905 he was reelected
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so that he is now serving for the second term, and that he was again the choice of the people was evidence of the capability and promptness with which he discharged his duties during the first term. He has always taken a lively interest in local politics and has been active in the ranks of the democratic party.
On the 19th of September, 1894, Mr. McClellan was married near Lucas, Ohio, to Miss Ociea Mitchell, a daughter of John Mitchell, a farmer of Monroe township. They have three children: Ruth, Lucile and John R., seven, five and two years of age, respectively. The parents are members of the First Lutheran church at Mansfield, and Mr. McClellan belongs to the Knights of Pythias, the Elks, the Maccabees and the Modern Woodmen, while in more specifically professional lines he is connected with the Richland County Bar Association.
GEORGE HOLTZ.
George Holtz, who is numbered among the enterprising and progressive farmers of Richland county, owns a well improved farm of one hundred and twenty acres, situated on section 11, Jackson township. He is a native of Germantown, Perry county, Pennsylvania, born April 15, 1830, and when a little lad of three years came with his parents, Jacob and Katharine (Shambough) Holtz, who were likewise natives of Perry county, to Richland county, the journey being made by wagon. The father settled on a farm in Jackson township, near Bunker Hill schoolhouse, this being then a wild and uncultivated district. The father at once began to clear and further develop this tract, and with the assistance of his sons in due course of time placed it under a good state of cultivation. His family numbered six sons and six daughters, of whom two sons and two daughters still survive.
George Holtz, as above stated, was but three years of age at the time of the parents' removal to Richland county, so that he has practically spent his entire life in this section of the state. He shared with the other members of the family in the hardships and privations incident to life on the frontier and gave his father the benefit of his services on the home farm until he had reached years of maturity. He enjoyed no educational advantages, owing to the unsettled condition of the country during the period of his boyhood and youth. However, in later years, through experience and observation, he has greatly added to his fund of knowledge. Upon starting out in life on his own account he chose the occupation to which he had been reared and in 1865 located on his present farm, now comprising one hundred and twenty' acres, although his possessions formerly embraced two hundred acres, but he has since sold a tract of eighty acres. His place is improved with good build- ings, including a brick house, which was erected in 1835, a good barn forty feet by seventy-six with a wing sixty feet in length, this having been erected by Mr. Holtz in 1875. Mr. Holtz is engaged in general farming and stock
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raising, making a specialty of horses and Durham cattle, he having been very successful in the latter branch of business.
Mr. Holtz was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Ott, who was born in Germany and emigrated to America with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Conrad Ott, when a little maiden of three years. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Holtz was blessed with five children: Jeremiah, who died at the age of fifty years, leaving a family of six children, while his widow has also passed away; Sarah, the wife of George Roush, a resident of Jackson township, and the mother of two children; Conrad, who died, leaving two children; Mrs. Mary Anna Low, who also passed away, and Jacob Winston, also deceased.
Mrs. Holtz gives his political support to the men and measures of democracy and is a member of the Lutheran church. Mr. Holtz has a wide acquaintance not only in his home locality, but in many sections of Richland county, and all who know him have for him high regard, for he has never been known to take advantage of another in any trade transaction, his business affairs ever being conducted in a most straightforward and businesslike manner.
WILLIAM E. O'DONNELL.
William E. O'Donnell, who for sixteen years has been in the public service of Richland county and is filling the position of county recorder for the second term, was born in the Province of Connaught, in County Mayo, Ireland, October 13, 1860, his parents being Edward and Mary (McLaughlin) O'Donnell, the latter now deceased. Their family numbered four sons and three daughters, of whom the following are living: John, a section foreman at Marion, Ohio; Susan and Elizabeth, unmarried; Margaret, the wife of Patrick Masterson, of Columbus, Ohio.
Mr. O'Donnell came to America with his parents at the age of five years, the family home being established at Springfield, Ohio, in 1865. There he spent his boyhood and acquired his education through the medium of the public schools. At the age of nineteen years he came to Mansfield to enter an apprenticeship at the molder's trade with the Aultman-Taylor Machinery Company. He continued with that company for nine years as one of its most trusted and capable representatives and then resigned his position to become a member of the police force under R. B. McCrorry. After serving for three years in that capacity he was elected city marshal in 1881 and filled the office for four years. He then returned to the police force for two years under Joseph Patrick Henry. A change of administration occasioned his leaving that department and he returned to his trade with the old firm, where he remained until elected county recorder in 1901. Three years later he was reelected and is now nearing the completion of his second term. In discharging his public duties he has ever been found prompt and reliable, his course reflecting credit upon himself and proving eminently satisfactory to his constituents.
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Mr. O'Donnell was married in Mansfield to Miss Mary Casey, a daughter of Thomas Casey, of this city. They have four children: William, Nellie, Edward and Thomas, aged respectively twenty, nineteen, eighteen and ten years. The parents are members of St. Peter's Catholic church, and Mr. O'Donnell is an honorary member of the Iowa Molders' Union, with which he was formerly in active connection. His political allegiance is given to the democracy. He is a man of genial, jovial nature, cordial and kindly in spirit and easily wins friends.
SAMUEL S. GUTSHALL.
Samuel S. Gutshall, living on section 35, Plymouth township, is the owner of a good tract of land and has long been associated with the agri- cultural interests of the community. He was born at Blain, Perry county, Pennsylvania, March 20, 1856, a son of Henry and Sarah (Cook) Gutshall, who were born, reared and married in the Keystone state. They arrived in Richland county about 1877, coming after their son Samuel S. had located here. They made their home in Plymouth township and resided in this locality until the father was called to his final rest. He passed away at the age of seventy-eight years, while his widow now resides at Ashland, at the age of eighty-one years. They were the parents of seven children, and there was one older than Samuel S. Gutshall and his twin sister.
The subject of this review is truly a self-made man and one who deserves great credit for what he has accomplished in life, for at ten years of age he started out on his own account, being employed at farm labor and in driving teams. He was employed by others until twenty-six years of age, and in 1874 he came to Richland county, where he has since made his home.
Mr. Gutshall was twenty-six years of age when he married Miss Mary Jane Faulkner, a native of Plymouth township and a daughter of George Faulkner. The young couple began their domestic life upon the farm which is still their home, Mr. Gutshall purchasing one hundred and two acres of land from his father-in-law, while his wife owns eighty acres, so that their total holdings in this place comprise one hundred and eighty-two acres, and they also have fifty acres elsewhere which Mr. Gutshall purchased about two years ago. Upon their land there are three dwellings and an attractive, com- modious and modern farm, which was built by Mr. Gutshall at a cost of three thousand dollars. He follows farming and stock-raising. is practical in his methods and accomplishes whatever he undertakes.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Gutshall has been blessed with seven children: George F., who is now a merchant of Kansas; Anna; Ivan B .; Ethel; Ray; and Nina and Viva, twins. The parents are consistent and faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and Mr. Gutshall is a democrat, who has held various school and road offices. Ile is interested in all that pertains to
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the welfare of the community and its substantial progress, and gradually he is making advancement on the road to success, being now numbered among the substantial agriculturists of his community.
CHARLES N. GAUMER.
Charles N. Gaumer, who for many years was prominently known as one of the leading democratic editors of Ohio, is now retired from active con- nection with business affairs but is still financially interested in various corporations and business concerns. He was born in Adamsville, Muskingum county, Ohio, November 19, 1849. His father, Jonathan Gaumer, was a native of the same county, a carpenter and farmer. He married Mahala Barrett and died in the year 1895, his widow still surviving at the age of eighty-four years. The family were long pioneers of Muskingum county, coming to Ohio a century ago from Somerset county, Pennsylvania. Jacob Gaumer, the great-grandfather of our subject, was an officer in the Revolu- tionary war, and was present at the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown. He came to Ohio with his family in the year 1806 and located near Zanes- ville. His son, Daniel Gaumer, grandfather of Charles N., came to Ohio three years later and established his home in the then unbroken forest, a few miles north of Zanesville. He was a soldier in the war of 1812.
Charles N. Gaumer was the second in a family of nine children, of whom six are yet living. His boyhood days were spent near Adamsville on a farm, to which his father removed when he was but a young lad. His education was acquired in the country schools and at the age of eighteen years he began teaching, following the profession for five years. He then entered the field of journalism as city editor of the Zanesville Signal, and after a short time, when he had become familiar with newspaper publication in its various phases, he purchased the St. Clairsville Gazette, taking charge on the 1st of November, 1873. He conducted that paper successfully until February 1, 1883, when he came to Mansfield and purchased the Shield and Banner, one of the leading weekly newspapers of Ohio. He continued to issue this as a weekly paper until June, 1888, when he also established the Daily Shield, conducting the two until January 1, 1894, when the Shield Publish- ing Company was organized, Mr. Gaumer remaining as manager of the corporation until July, 1896, when he sold his interest and retired. During his ownership of those papers he acted alternately as business manager and editor, according to the needs of the situation, and sometimes served in both capacities. The Shield has practically been the only democratic organ of Richland county, although there were two other democratic papers in exist- ence when he entered the ranks of journalism in Richland county, but, like several others that have since been started, they were short lived. That as editor of the Shield he was an earnest and influential worker for the party is evidenced by the fact that democracy has never been so strong since as when he was publishing the Shield. Under his guidance and control the business was rapidly increased and he soon gained a large subscription list
En. Jaum
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for both the weekly and daily editions, the paper proving a success from a financial standpoint as well as from an influential one. He at all times embraced and utilized the most advanced ideas in connection with modern journalism and gave to the public a dignified, but vigorous and entertaining sheet, devoted not only to political interests, but to the dissemination of local and general news, in such a manner as to insure the continuance of a liberal patronage. While he has now retired from active connection with business management, Mr. Gaumer is still a director of the Bank of Mansfield and of the Zanesville Tile Company and is interested in many other commercial and financial concerns.
In community affairs he has wielded a wide and helpful influence and has always stood for progress and improvement in all lines relating to the general good. A stanch democrat since age conferred upon him the right of franchise, he has taken an active part in local and state politics and was chairman of the central and executive committees in Belmont county for six years prior to his removal to Mansfield. His work in that capacity was most gratifying to the followers of the party. He aided in carefully systematizing the working forces and securing results which enhanced the interests of democracy in that locality. He was also a member of the city council of St. Clairsville, and in 1889, after his removal to Mansfield, he was a candidate on the democratic ticket for the state legislature, the strongest contest then being for the nomination, in which his opponent was Judge Mansfield, then a popular young attorney. This contest, in which Mr. Gaumer was vic- torious, was one of the most bitter ever fought in Richland county, though the contestants remained good friends throughout the struggle. Mr. Gaumer was elected that fall and was reelected in 1891. serving two terms of two years each as one of the lawmakers of the state. He gave careful consider- ation to each question that came up for settlement and championed many progressive measures. In 1880 he was a candidate for presidential elector. on the ticket headed by General Hancock.
While Mr. Gaumer was a member of the state legislature, his brother. Daniel H., was representative from the Zanesville district in the state senate. He was also a newspaper man, as was their older brother, Thomas M. Gaumer. The former published the Zanesville Signal, while the latter was publisher of the Urbana Democrat. Both are now deceased. At the present writing Charles N. Gaumer is a member of the board of trustees of the Ohio State School for the Blind, at Columbus, being appointed by Governor Herrick in 1905 for a term of five years. Ile has also been a director of Wittenberg College at Springfield, Ohio, for the past sixteen years and is a director of the Young Men's Christian Association at Mansfield. His fraternal relations are with the Knights of Pythias and of St. Luke's Lutheran church, in which he is serving as elder.
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