USA > Ohio > Richland County > History of Richland County, Ohio, from 1808 to 1908, Vol. II > Part 19
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His son, James Harvey Craig, who is his successor in the practice of medicine, spent the first thirteen years of his life in his native village of Ontario and during that period mastered the elementary branches of English learning. The family then removed to Mansfield, where he continued in school for a time, and later he became a student in Geneva College at West Geneva, Ohio. When his literary education was completed he took up the study of medicine under the direction of his father and attended a course of lectures in the medical department of the Western Reserve College at Cleve- land, being graduated there in 1885. Since that time he has been actively and successfully engaged in the practice of his chosen profession.
Dr. Craig was married to Miss Minnie Rank, of Mansfield, and they have one son, J. Harry Craig, born October 28, 1899, and who is a student in West
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First Street school. He is prominent in the Masonic fraternity, being a member of Vienna Lodge, No. 152, A. F. & A. M., and of Mansfield Chapter, No. 28, R. A. M. In politics he is a stalwart democrat, belonging to the Central Com- mittee and doing all in his power to further the interests of his party. He belongs to the Presbyterian church and is a member of the North Central Ohio Medical Society, of the Ohio State Medical Society and the American Medical Association. He owns and occupies a beautiful and spacious home at No. 47 Mulberry street in Mansfield.
JOHN B. NIMAN.
Business success is never attributable to any fortunate combination of circumstances, but results from close application, capable management and correct judgment as to the conditions of trade. These qualities have been manifested in the business career of John B. Niman, proprietor of the Union Foundry & Machine Works. He was born in Richland county, September 25, 1838, his parents being John and Margaret (Bradley) Niman, both of whom were natives of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. The father came to Richland county in 1815 and settled on a farm near Mansfield, becoming one of the pioneer settlers of this portion of the state and contributing in substantial measure to its early development. He removed to the city in 1852 and died here September 30, 1864. His wife survived him for many years and died February 23, 1895. She walked the entire distance from Greensburg, a town about fifteen miles from Pittsburg, to Mansfield, arriving here on the 20th of March, 1820. Unto Mr. and Mrs. John Niman were born nine children, of whom two are living-John B., who is the sixth in the order of birth, and James A., who is now the oldest undertaker of Mansfield as regards the number of years connected with the business. Three of the sons-John, William and Jerry-all served as soldiers of the Civil war.
John B. Niman spent his boyhood to the age of twelve years on the home farm and then removed to Mansfield, acquiring his education in the country schools and in the public schools of the city. At the age of nineteen years he became a member of the band of the Fifteenth Ohio Regiment and was mustered in September 17, 1861, as a musician. When the regimental bands were mustered out by general order in 1862 Mr. Niman returned and reenlisted as sergeant in the One Hundred and Sixty-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with which he remained until the expiration of his term of service. He had previously worked at cabinetmaking, and in 1872 with others he started the Union Foundry & Machine Works. Gradually one after another dropped out of the business and about four years ago Mr. Niman became sole proprietor. He has been very successful in this line, for though he started out on borrowed capital he now owns the entire business, which is conducted under the name of the Union Foundry & Machine Works. His plant is well equipped and a liberal patronage is enjoyed. In addition to acquiring this business Mr. Niman has become the owner of a building containing six flats
JOHN B. NIMAN.
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called "The Niman," at the corner of Mulberry street and Park avenue, west. It is the finest modern apartment building in the city and in addition he owns one of the attractive homes in Mansfield, which he built in 1868 and which is situated at No. 245 West Fourth street.
The year following the erection of this place Mr. Niman was married at Mansfield, on the 11th of February, 1869, to Miss Hattie P. Ayres, a native of Rochester, New York. They have five daughters: Ella E., now the wife of Walter M. Bisbee, of Chicago; Flora A., the wife of James L. Birch, of St. Louis; Aleene, at home; Hattie P., the wife of Dr. Alvin Lee, of Mansfield; and Carrie B., the wife of S. N. Burson, of Chicago.
Mr. Niman maintains friendly relations with his old army comrades and was past commander of Mclaughlin Post, No. 131, G. A. R. He is also a member of the National Union, a fraternal organization, and of the Congre- gational church, in which he has served as a trustee for six years. In politics he is a republican and has always taken a general interest in questions of the day, upon which he is inclined to be conservative rather than radical. While he has reached the age of three score years and ten, he is still an active business man and in his spirits and interests seems yet in his prime. His life record has been one of well directed activity and as the years have passed he has attained a creditable position in the business world.
MRS. FANNY HUGHES.
Mrs. Fanny Hughes is living in Weller township, Richland county, where her entire life has been passed. She was born here January 25, 1831, and has therefore reached the seventy-seventh milestone on life's journey. She was a daughter of Charles and Ann (Ward) Palmer, who were of English descent and came to this county in 1819, settling in Weller township, where her father purchased land. There were but comparatively few residents in the county at that time and much of the land was still uncultivated, while the forests were largely uncut. Mr. Palmer, however, bore his full share in the work of general development and improvement, while at the same time he carried on the work of the home farm.
Mrs. Hughes was the ninth in order of birth in a family of thirteen chil- dren. She attended the district schools in her girlhood days and in carly womanhood she gave her hand in marriage to David Hughes, who was born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, February 5, 1825, and was one of a family of ten children, all of whom are now deceased. He arrived in Richland county in 1837, when a youth of twelve years, and here continued to make his home until called to his final rest. He was a lifelong farmer, working diligently and persistently in carrying on the task of developing the fields and as the vears passed he prospered in his undertakings, so that at the time of his death he was the owner of one hundred and seventy-five acres of valuable 'land, from which he derived a gratifying annual income.
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Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hughes were born the following children: C. M., who is living in this county; Olive A., who is at home with her mother; Adaline, the wife of Rev. Edward Hagerman, who is now located in Des Moines, Iowa; Josephine, at home; Melvin and Luella, both deceased; George H., who makes his home in Mansfield, Ohio; Frank, of this county; and one who died in infancy. The husband and father departed this life August 19, 1890, and his death was the occasion of deep and widespread regret, not only to his immediate family but also to many friends. In politics he was a republican, always loyal to the party and its interests and for four years he served as township treasurer. The home property at the time of his death comprised one hundred and seventy-five acres and Mrs. Hughes still owns one hundred and three acres of this and personally manages her busi- ness affairs. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and an earnest Christian woman, whose life has been in harmony with her profes- sion. She has always endeavored to do good to those with whom she has come in contact and never by word or deed to cast reflection upon the church with which she is connected. Her many good qualities have won her high regard and she has many friends among young and old, rich and poor.
ABE S. LANTZ.
Abe S. Lantz is a worthy representative of the agricultural interests of Richland county and the farm on which he today makes his home has been his place of residence from the age of three years. He is a native son of the Buckeye state, born in Ashland county, August 29, 1862, and is the eighth in order of birth in a family of nine children, four sons and five daughters, whose parents were Samuel and Leah (Brubaker) Lantz. The father was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, July 3, 1821, while the mother's birth occurred in Ashland county, Ohio, July 24, 1825. The father passed away May 5, 1903, when he had reached the advanced age of eighty-two years but the mother is still living and makes her home with our subject. The record of the family is as follows: Henry B., a resident of Perry town- ship; Catherine, who makes her home in Bellville; Harriet, who has passed away; Benjamin, also deceased; Mary M., the wife of W. O. Thuma, of Morrow county, this state; Albert W., a resident of Jefferson township; Fannie E., the wife of H. H. Shenefield, of Johnsville, Ohio; Abe S., whose name introduces this review; and Sarah J., the wife of J. N. Hosler, of Johnsville.
Mr. Lantz was reared to farm life, early becoming familiar with all the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. He was a little lad of three years at the time of the parents' removal from Ashland county to Richland county, at which time the family located on a farm in Perry town- ship, comprising one hundred and sixty acres of land. After reaching years of maturity he rented the homestead property which he has since operated. This is a well improved tract, supplied with all conveniences and accessories
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necessary to farm life and each year he harvests abundant crops as a reward for the care and labor which he bestows upon the fields.
It was on the 10th of September, 1896, that Mr. Lantz was united in marriage to Miss Ada C. Steel, who was born in Perry township, a daughter of John and Mary (Campbell) Steel, and one of a family of twelve children. By her marriage she has become the mother of three children but the eldest died in infancy, those living being Paul A. and Esther S.
Politically Mr. Lantz has allied himself with the democratic party and at the present time is serving as a member of the school board. His fraternal relations are with K. P. Lodge, No. 352, at Bellville, and Mrs. Lantz is a member of the Evangelical church. He is quiet and unassuming in manner, refusing political preferment and avoiding publicity, and no citizen of Rich- land county is held in higher esteem than is Mr. Lantz.
ABRAHAM J. BAUGHMAN.
Abraham J. Baughman, son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Cunningham) Baughman, was born in Monroe township, Richland county, Ohio, Septent- ber 5, 1838. Abraham Baughman, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born on the Atlantic ocean as his parents were coming from Wurtemberg, Germany, to America. Upon the arrival of the Baughman family in America they settled for a while in the Cumberland valley in Penn- sylvania. In time, Abraham Baughman, the child that was born on the Atlantic ocean, arrived at manhood and was married to Mary Katharine Deeds, and to this union eight children were born, five sons and three daugh- ters, namely: Adam, John, Abraham, Jacob and George. The daughters were Katharine, Lovace and Elizabeth. Adam Baughman married a Miss Huffman, of Pittsburg; John married Betsy Weyant, of this state; Abraham married Susan Weyant, a sister of his brother John's wife; Jacob married Elizabeth Cunningham, the eldest daughter of Captain James Cunningham, who was a Richland county pioneer; George Baughman never married. They are all now deceased. Of the daughters. Katharine married a Mr. Black, of Tuscarawas county; Lovace married a Mr. Gayman, of Pittsburg; and Eliza- beth married a Mr. Zimmerman, of Tennessee.
In about 1803 Abraham Baughman and family removed from Cumber- land to Washington county, in the same state, then to Ohio, where they be- came the first settlers in the valley of the Blackfork of the Mohican, near the old Indian village of Greentown. The exact date of their locating here is not known, but the early historians place it at not later than 1807, and possibly earlier.
Of grandfather Abraham Baughman's sons, after their marriage, Adam settled in Franklin county, near New Albany. John settled in Wayne county, east of Wooster, and the township where he located was named in his honor. Abraham came to Wayne county to visit his brother John, married Miss Weyant and later joined his father's family in Monroe township, Richland
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county. Jacob Baughman, after the death of his parents, married and re- sided the greater part of his life in Monroe township. He died in 1855 and was buried in the Perrysville cemetery. George Baughman died in 1850 and is also buried at Perrysville.
The three older children having married before the death of their father, Jacob Baughman, his widow and her two younger children-Abraham J. and Sade Elizabeth- lived together during the remainder of the mother's life, a period of nearly forty years. Soon after being left a widow, Mrs. Baughman removed to Bellville, and later to Mansfield, where the son and daughter still reside at the old home on South Adams street.
A. J. Baughman, the subject of this sketch, taught school and read law in his teens, and upon the breaking out of the Civil war, he volunteered at President Lincoln's first call for troops, and was mustered into the service April 22, 1861, as a member of Captain Miller Moody's Company I, Six- teenth Ohio Infantry, Army of the Tennessee, and after he was mustered out of the First-Call service he enlisted for three years in Company E, Thir- ty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, but was discharged for physical disability before the expiration of his term of enlistment. Mr. Baughman and his sister Sade are printers and have spent the greater part of their lives in the newspaper business. In 1885, Mr. Baughman was appointed to a clerkship in the United States senate, and his sister Sade to a clerkship in the treasury department at Washington, which positions they held for several years, Mr. Baughman during that time in addition to his clerical work was attached to the Washington bureau of the New York World and the Chicago Inter- Ocean. Upon his return to Ohio, Mr. Baughman devoted his time largely to historical work.
Upon the unveiling of the Johnny Appleseed monument in the Sherman- Heineman park, Mansfield, Mr. Baughman delivered the address of the occa- sion, which was copied in whole or in part by the leading magazines and newspapers of the country. He has edited and published the following news- papers: The Canal Fulton Herald, The Medina Democrat, The Mansfield Call, The Mansfield Democrat and the New Philadelphia Evening News, and the papers upon which he has been employed are the Marion Star, the Steu- benville Gazette, and the New Philadelphia Ohio Democrat, and while the editor of the latter, during the Bryan campaign of 1896, he did his best politi- cal editorial work, the democracy regaining control of the county and electing its entire county ticket, for which success Mr. Baughman was given the credit.
Mr. Baughman has written biographical and historical sketches of sev- eral counties and conceded to be the best informed man on local history in Richland county; he knows the townships of the county as a farmer knows his fields. Through the efforts and work of Mr. Baughman the Richland County Historical Society was organized in November, 1898, and he became its secretary, which position he continues to hold. He was also secretary of the Mansfield Centennial Commission through its two years of preparatory work, resulting in a celebration of the centennial founding of Mansfield, June 8, 1908-a celebration of which every citizen of Richland county could well be proud.
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Mr. Baughman did feature writing for the Mansfield Daily News for a number of years, to which paper he is still an occasional contributor. He was also employed on the Daily Shield for a number of years, with which paper he severed his connection in January, 1908, at which time the paper passed into the hands of a new management.
Mr. Baughman not content with confining his historical work to Rich- land county, became a life member of The Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society, January 1, 1903. He was one of the two delegates from Ohio to the annual meeting of the American Historical Association, held in Chicago, in December, 1904. Mr. Baughman, both by heredity, inclination and training, belongs to the historical class of literary workers. Ohio his- tory has especially been his field of labor, and he has contributed many articles to the state publication. He is now a trustee of the state society and a member of its executive board. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, is a trustee of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Memorial building at Mans- field, and is the secretary of its board of trustees.
Although German in name, Mr. Baughman, in sentiment and feeling is inclined to his mother's (Irish) people, but is thoroughly American in thought, purpose and patriotism and is a "Buckeye" to the manor born. He is a ยท communicant of the Protestant Episcopal church.
Mr. Baughman is five feet nine inches in height, with an average weight of about one hundred and sixty pounds. He has blue-grey eyes, and the dark hair of his youth silvered before he had reached the age of fifty years.
Part of the credit of the success of Mr. Baughman's literary career is due to his sister, Miss Sade E. Baughman, who has been his co-worker in all of his newspaper, literary and historical work.
ISAAC FERGUESON.
The farm of forty acres situated on section 34, Monroe township, whereon Isaac Fergueson now makes his home has been in the possession of the fam- ily for more than eight decades. He was born in a log cabin upon this farm, May 3, 1842, a son of John and Asenath (Morrel) Fergueson, both of whom were natives of the Keystone state. It was in the early '20s that they came to Richland county, Ohio, and purchased the farm now owned and occupied by our subject, buying the land from Edmon Rose, who had entered it from the government. Here they spent their remaining days, the mother passing to her final rest in 1876, while the father died in 1891.
Their family numbered nine children but five of the number are de- ceased, those living being: Lovina and Almira, who reside with our subject ; Isaac, of this review; and Irvin, a resident of Cleveland.
Isaac Fergueson was early trained to the duties of the farm, assisting his father from the time of early spring planting until the crops were har- vested in the late autumn, while during the winter months he pursued his studies in the common schools. He remained with his father until the latter's
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death, and he is now the owner of the old homestead property, comprising forty acres, situated on section 34, Monroe township. Here he is engaged in general farming, each year harvesting abundant crops as a reward for the care and labor he bestows upon the fields.
Mr. Fergueson has firm faith in the principles and platform of the democracy and for two years served as assessor, while for eight years he served as a member of the school board. Having spent his entire life in Richland county, he is widely and favorably known and no man is more familiar with its history than is Mr. Fergueson.
H. B. LANTZ.
A well developed and highly improved farm of ninety-five acres, situated in Perry township, is the property of H. B. Lantz, who has lived in this district for the past forty years. He was born on a farm in Weller town- ship, Richland county, July 7, 1844, a son of Samuel and Leah (Brubaker) Lantz, the former born in Richland county, July 3, 1821, while his death occurred May 5, 1903. The mother is still living and now makes her home on the old homestead farm with her son, Abe S. Lantz, who is mentioned on another page of this work. Their family numbered nine children, the rec- ord being as follows: H. B., whose name introduces this record; Catherine, the widow of Samuel Joslyn, of Bellville; Harriet, deceased; Frank, who died in 1889; Mary, the wife of W. O. Thuma, a farmer, residing near Johnsville, in Morrow county; A. W., a resident farmer of Jefferson township; Fanny. the wife of H. H. Schenefield, of Johnsville; Abe S., who lives on the home- stead farm in Perry township; and Sarah Jane, the wife of J. M. Hostler, of Johnsville.
H. B. Lantz, the eldest child in his father's family, began his education in the district schools near his father's home and later attended Vermillion Institute, at Haysville, this state. He was reared to the occupation of farm- ing and upon starting out in life on his own resources chose the vocation to which he had been reared. He has followed agricultural pursuits both in Ashland and Richland counties but for the past forty years has lived in Perry township, now owning and operating a well improved tract of ninety- five acres, which is supplied with a good country residence and good barns and outbuildings for the shelter of grain and stock. He follows general farm- ing and stock-raising and both branches of his business are proving profitable to him, for he follows only the most modern methods in carrying on his work.
Mr. Lantz established a home of his own by his marriage on the 19th of December, 1872, to Miss Mary E. Steel, a daughter of John Steel, of Perry township. By her marriage she has become the mother of two sons and a daughter, namely: Charles B., who died in infancy; Arthur M., who was born August 10, 1879, and is on the home farm; and Bertha Lea, who was born August 28, 1885, and is also under the parental roof.
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Mr. Lantz' study of the political questions and issues of the day has led him to give hearty support to the men and measures of democracy and for two years he served as clerk of Perry township. He is a charter member of the first Grange organized in Richland county, while he and his family are members of the Evangelical church. Mr. Lantz is a man who has been quick to discern opportunity for improvement and is rapidly forging his way to the front. He has overcome all obstacles in his path and through hon- orable and determined effort has acquired all that he today possesses, so that he is now numbered among the substantial citizens of Perry township.
JOSEPH W. PAGE.
Joseph W. Page, the well known and popular postmaster of Shiloh, Ohio, was born in New Bloomfield, Perry county, Pennsylvania, May 25, 1852, and is a son of Joseph and Mary A. (Wise) Page, who were also natives of the Keystone state, the former born in October, 1823, and the latter October 7, 1820. In early life the father learned the blacksmith's trade, which he fol- lowed for fourteen years, and later conducted a tannery for eight years, and for three years thereafter followed farming. He then left his native state and removed to Ohio, locating in Shiloh in April, 1866, and buying a half in- terest in a general store at this place. He carried on business here up to within three years of his death excepting one year when engaged in merchan- dising in Shelby, Ohio. He was called upon to fill several local offices, serving as treasurer of Shiloh for many years. Here he died in 1905 and is still survived by his wife, who continues to make her home in Shiloh. Unto them were born ten children, of whom two died in infancy, while four sons and four daughters reached mature years, namely: H. W., who died about four years ago; Clara, who died in 1908; Margaret, now a resident of Cleve- land, Ohio; Joseph W., of this review; William P., of Cleveland; Mrs. Eliza- beth Downand, of Shiloh; Charles W. and Mrs. Ida Boyle, both residents of Cleveland.
Joseph W. Page was about fourteen years of age when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Shiloh and here he has since made his home, receiving a good practical education in the public schools. For a few years he worked as a farm hand and then learned the painter's trade, to which he devoted his time and attention for thirty-eight years, becoming a skilled painter and decorator.
In 1873 Mr. Page was united in marriage to Miss Clara Schrefler, who is a native of Angola, Indiana, and came to Shiloh with her parents in early life. Six children blessed this union: George W., now a resident of Crest- line; Rebecca May, at home; Virginia, the wife of Cyrus Snyder, of North Fairfield; William R., of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania; Pearl, who is in the post- office with her father; and Joseph Dale, who died at the age of three years.
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