USA > Ohio > Richland County > History of Richland County, Ohio, from 1808 to 1908, Vol. II > Part 44
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In October, 1872, Mr. Grubb was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Moore, who was born in Licking county, Ohio, April 15, 1848, and is a daughter of Samuel and Maria (Willis) Moore. The father was born in Bed- ford county, Pennsylvania, in 1816 and died in 1886, having reached the age of seventy years. His wife, who was a native of Holmes county, Ohio, passed away in 1865, at the age of fifty years. The father was a miller by trade and took up his residence in Richland county in 1884, spending his remaining days here. All who knew him respected him for the sterling qualities which characterized his life. His family numbered six children: Urias, who is living in Butler; Henry, a resident of Fort Wayne, Indiana; Susan, deceased ; Mrs. Grubb; Sadie, who has also passed away; and Fanny, the wife of Joseph Stanton, of Butler. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Grubb has been blessed with two sons, Alvin J., who for sixteen years has been a telegraph operator for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad at Butler and lives with his parents; and William B., also at home and also an operator on the Baltimore & Ohio.
Interested in community affairs, Mr. Grubb has given loyal support to many measures that have been of direct and substantial benefit to Butler and the county. He and his brother-in-law, Isaac Hess, and his brother, David Grubb, were the leading spirits in the organization of the Butler Oil & Gas Company, which developed some of the finest grades of oil ever produced in the United States. He has served as assessor of Butler for two years, was also a member of the school board, and has been cemetery trustee. Fraternally
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he is connected with Sturgeon Lodge, No. 357, I. O. O. F., and filled the position of financial secretary for a number of years. Both he and his wife are connected with the Rebekah degree and they are also members of the Brethren church. Politically Mr. Grubb has always been a democrat but he does not allow partisanship to bias him in the choice of an incumbent for local offices at elections where no political issue is involved. He stands for progressive citizenship as well as business advancement and his effective and earnest efforts in behalf of the community have made him a citizen whose value is recognized.
THOMAS LUTZ.
Thomas Lutz, residing on section 10, Washington township, where he has a valuable farm of one hundred and twenty-six acres, was born in the province of Wurtemberg, Germany, May 28, 1831, his parents being John Thomas and Mary (Bomgarten) Lutz. The former died in the fatherland and the mother afterward came to America, arriving in this country on the 13th of June, 1847. Purchasing a tract of twenty acres one mile south of where her son Thomas now resides, she here made her home until her demise in 1883.
Thomas Lutz, who is the only surviving member in a family of three children, was sixteen years of age when he accompanied his mother on her emigration to the new world, the voyage being made on a sailing vessel, which was thirty-five days in crossing the Atlantic. For the first three years after his arrival here he worked as a farm hand for ten dollars per month. In 1850, attracted by the discovery of gold in California, he made the journey westward by way of the isthmus of Panama, remaining in the Golden state for a year. During that time he experienced a number of exciting and dangerous adventures and met with a fair measure of success in his search for the precious metal. He had been "grub staked" by William B. Hammett and on his return home, according to the agreement, offered half of his earnings to that gentleman, who, however, refused to take anything except the money which he had loaned our subject, together with ten per cent interest. After being employed by Mr. Hammett as a farm hand for two years, Thomas Lutz deter- mined to engage in agricultural pursuits on his own account and purchased eighty acres of land from his employer. On one occasion he broke his plow point and had to borrow the money with which to buy a new one, but in spite of the difficulties and obstacles which attended him on starting out in life for himself he worked diligently and persistently, clearing his farm and placing thereon many improvements as the years passed by. He now owns a val- uable and productive property of one hundred and twenty-six acres, equipped with all modern accessories and conveniences. For the past two years, how- ever, he has rented the place to his son-in-law and now in his later years is enjoying a well earned and justly merited rest. He is well known as a sub- stantial and enterprising citizen of the community and as a man whose life has been upright and honorable in all its relations.
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On the 10th of April, 1862, Mr. Lutz was united in marriage to Miss Amelia Fersch, whose birth occurred in Germany, January 11, 1838, her parents being William and Christina Fersch. The former passed away in the fatherland and the mother afterward came to the United States, her death occurring in Illinois. Mrs. Lutz was one of a family of ten children, seven of whom still survive. She emigrated to the new world in 1861, locating in Butler, Ohio, where she had a sister living. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Lutz have been born nine children, namely: Henry, who married Miss Arminta Fleming and resides in Washington township; William, who wedded Caroline Gritz and makes his home in Lexington, Ohio; Mary, the wife of John Banks, of Mansfield, Ohio; one who died in infancy; John and George, who are also deceased; Lewis, who married Miss Alverta Snyder and lives in Washington township; Thomas, who was joined in wedlock to Miss Nettie Straub and resides in Mansfield, Ohio; and Louise, who is the wife of Orvil Snyder and resides on the farm with her father.
In his political views Mr. Lutz is a democrat and is prominent in the local ranks of his party, having served as township trustee for two terms and as a school director for eleven years. He has also been clerk of the Grange for eleven years, and both he and his wife are devoted and faithful members of the German Lutheran church. They reside in a fine dwelling which they own on their farm in Washington township, and in the community where they have so long made their home are highly respected and esteemed because of their genuine personal worth and many sterling traits of character. Sixty- one years have passed since Mr. Lutz came to Richland county. This state was then a wild district, its lands unclaimed, its resources undeveloped. A few courageous frontiersmen had dared to locate within its borders but the work of progress and improvement remained to the future and there was little promise of early development. In the years which have since passed Mr. Lutz has not only witnessed a most wonderful transformation but has largely aided in the labors which have transformed the wild tract into a splendid commonwealth. Now in his declining years he is living retired, enjoying the well earned rest which is the merited reward of a long and honorable business career.
WILLIAM W. DISBRO.
William W. Disbro, superintendent of the Mansfield cemetery, was born in Bloomington, Illinois, April 25, 1854. The following year his parents, Abraham and Jane (Ferguson) Disbro, removed to Newville, Richland county, Ohio, which place became the family home. In their family were five sons and three daughters, but one son and one daughter are now deceased.
The life of William W. Disbro has been an exemplification of the lines in Pope's Essay on Man :
"Honor and fame from no condition rise,
Act well your part, there all the honor lies."
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His parents were not financially of the favored ones of earth and the conditions that confronted him in early life made it necessary that he provide for his own support, so that as a boy he obtained employment in a woolen mill. After working in that way for a time he secured a situation on a farm owned by the late Cyrus Herring, in whose employ he continued for eleven years. After he left the farm he turned his attention to the meat trade, with which he was connected for five years, and subsequently he served an apprenticeship to the barber's trade and engaged in that business at Newville. Later he conducted a barber shop at Nevada, Wyandot county.
While residing in the latter place Mr. Disbro became acquainted with Clara L. Johnson, whom he wedded on the 16th of June, 1886. Soon after his marriage he returned to Richland county and with his bride began house- keeping in Newville, his old home, where they lived until September, 1887, when they removed to Mansfield, where they have since resided. Soon after coming to the city Mr. Disbro obtained employment in the Mansfield ceme- tery under the superintendency of Abner Wright. In September, 1891, he was made foreman of the cemetery, which position he held for two years or until he was elected superintendent, in which capacity he has served con- tinuously since. Without intending disparagement to any of his predecessors, it can truthfully be said of Mr. Disbro that he is the most efficient and popular superintendent the association ever had. Upon being elected to the position, in order to more thoroughly qualify himself for the clerical duties of his office, Mr. Disbro pursued a night course in the Mansfield Business College, and at the close of the term was graduated in bookkeeping. When he accepted the position of superintendent of the cemetery he determined at all times to be affable and courteous to those with whom he was brought in contact, and his general popularity today attests the fact that he has faithfully carried out the resolution he formed when he went into office. He is today one of the substantial citizens of Mansfield, owning two lots of two acres each within the corporation limits of the city, besides a good farm of eighty acres in Crawford county, Ohio.
Mr. and Mrs. Disbro are members of the First Congregational church of Mansfield and are held in high esteem in the community in which they have lived for many years. Mr. Disbro is truly a self-made man and, as stated, his success attests the truth of Pope's lines that in true worth all the honor lies.
SILAS RUMMEL.
Silas Rummel, one of the largest landowners of Richland county, is now living retired on one of his farms just outside the village of Lucas. He comes of German ancestry and is a native son of Ohio, his birth having occurred in Seneca county, July 6, 1834. His grandfather, Lewis Frederick Rummel, emigrated to this country from Berlin, where he was a member of the royal family. He was there educated for the ministry but left home when still in his teens and never afterward heard from his parents.
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Our subject's father, Lewis Rummel, was a native of Maryland, born in 1804, and the mother, Elizabeth (Nicholas) Rummel, was also a native of that state. The father removed to Ohio in 1832, and being a miller by trade, followed that line of business for several years after coming to the Buckeye state. In 1850 he brought his family to Richland county but after a time made his way to Knox county, where for eleven years he conducted a mill. He once more returned to Richland county and purchased a farm, whereon he made his home until the time of his demise. When he first settled here there were still a great many Indians to be seen and he did considerable trading with the Wyandotte tribe. He was married twice and by the first union six children were born but four of the number are deceased, the brother of our subject being Alfred, a resident of Jackson county, Oregon. The wife and mother died in 1838, and two years later, in 1840, Mr. Rummel was married a second time and by this union were also born six children, as fol- lows: Mary, the wife of Eli Berry, of Monroe township, this county ; John C., a resident of Idaho; Emily, deceased ; David, of Polk county, Missouri; Katura, the wife of John Baker, of Shelby, Ohio; and Nancy J., the wife of Winfield Carnegie, of Butler, Richland county. The mother of this family passed away in the early '80s, while the father survived for a number of years, his death occurring in 1891. The father always took an active part in political life and his religious faith was indicated by his membership in the Disciples church.
Silas Rummel was reared under the parental roof and acquired his educa- tion in the common schools. In his early manhood he learned the mill- wright's trade, following the same for twenty years. In 1863 he purchased a mill on Rockyfork, known as the old Campbell mill, which he conducted for five years. He later disposed of that and purchased the old Field mill at Lucas, conducting the same until 1902, since which time he has lived retired on a farm near the city of Lucas. During his active business career he acquired a large amount of land, owning four hundred and twenty acres on section 9, Monroe township, and in addition he owns three hundred and eighty-six acres in Jackson county, Arkansas, a hotel and livery stable in Lucas, residence property in Lucas and other property in the west.
Mr. Rummel chose as a companion and helpmate on the journey of life Miss Susan Lahman, to whom he was wedded December 20, 1860. She was born in Knox county, Ohio, August 5, 1839, a daughter of Abner and Eliza- beth (Moots) Lahman, the former born in Rockingham county, Virginia, while the mother's birth occurred in Bedford county, Pennsylvania. They came to Richland county at an early date, their family numbering five chil- dren. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Rummel was blessed with seven children, namely: Delorta, who was born November 25, 1861, and is now the wife of O. E. Swigart, of Mansfield, Ohio; William A., deceased; Mary E., the wife of Lewis Dickes, of Arkansas; George L. and Otis A., also of Arkansas, where they are engaged in the timber business; Edwin G., a physician of Butler, Ohio; and Flora, the wife of Sidney Baughman, of Richland county.
Mr. Rummel gives his political support to the republican party but has never been active as an office seeker. His wife is a member of the Congrega-
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tional church. Mr. Rummel is everywhere known for his integrity and honorable methods. Throughout a long, useful and active business career he was never known to take advantage of another in any transaction, so that the competency he has acquired has been worthily won.
HENRY O. PITTENGER.
Henry O. Pittenger, a prominent and successful farmer of Weller town- ship, where he owns and operates four hundred acres of land, one hundred and four acres of which constitutes a portion of the farm which his father bought in 1851, was born in Franklin township, November 29, 1839, the son of Isaac and Harriet (Myers) Pittenger. The father was born in Har- rison county, Ohio, in 1808, and came to Richland county with his bride in 1830, where he bought a farm in Franklin township from the government. It was all timber land and wholly unimproved, but nothing daunted, he pro- ceeded to build a log cabin, to clear the land and to plant his seed. In 1851 he sold this place and bought the farm which is a part of the present hold- ings of our subject. He resided here until 1866, when he removed to another farm which he owned in Weller township, but a year later he removed to Madison township, where he spent the remainder of his days. He died in 1880, highly esteemed and revered by all. He wedded Harriet Myers, who was born in Miami county, Ohio, in 1815, and who survived her husband for a number of years, passing away in 1900 at the venerable age of eighty- six years. Of the five children born to this union our subject is the only one now living.
Henry O. Pittenger received a good common school education in the district schools of Richland county, which he attended as regularly as his farm duties would permit. He began his education in a log schoolhouse a mile from his home. He aided his father in his enterprises up to the time he was twenty-three years of age, when, at the outbreak of the Civil war, he enlisted in Company D, One Hundred and Second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of the war. While in the army he contracted typhoid fever, as a result of which he has not had good health since. On receiving an honorable discharge from the army, he returned to the pa- rental roof and resumed farming operations. In 1872 he bought the home place of one hundred and four acres, which he cultivated with such success that he has been able to add thereto from time to time until he now has four hundred acres in the home farm. His landed possessions now aggregate nine hundred acres, all in Richland county.
On March 23, 1871, Mr. Pittenger was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Mary Morgan, who was born in Miller township, September 23, 1837, the daughter of Simon and Mary (Charles) Morgan. Her father was born in Clinton county, Ohio, in 1778, and came to Richland county about 1812, where he engaged in surveying. He and his brother worked in this capacity all over this section of the country and in a part of Kentucky. He died on
MR. AND MRS. H. O. PITTENGER
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February 22, 1855, aged seventy-seven years. The mother was also a native of Clinton county, Ohio. She died in March, 1884, at the venerable age of eighty years. Six children were born to their union, of whom two are now living, namely: Sarah M., the wife of our subject; and Frances A., the wife of James McNall, of Coraopolis, Pennsylvania. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Pittenger have been born two children, namely: Isaac Morgan, who resides with his father on the farm. He wedded Miss Clo Russell and they have become the parents of one daughter, Fern. Tracy Ellsworth married Miss Emma Sunkle and lives in the house next to his father's.
Mr. Pittenger's residence was built by his father when he was eighteen years of age, but it has since been remodeled and converted into a beautiful home, all the more dear to its occupants because of the associations connected with it. In national politics Mr. Pittenger votes the republican ticket, but locally he votes for men and measures rather than for party. He has never sought office, but is now serving as justice of the peace, as is also his son, Isaac Morgan. Fraternally, he is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, belonging to Jacob Ward Post, of Pavonia.
MRS. MARY E. CLINE.
Mrs. Mary E. Cline owns a valuable tract of land, comprising one hundred and sixty acres, situated on section 36, Jackson township, and in the manage- ment of this displays excellent business ability. Mrs. Cline was born on the farm where she now resides, October 22, 1844, a daughter of Robert and Elizabeth (Gordon) Cairns. The former was born in Mansfield, Richland county, February 15, 1815, and was a son of Richard and Harriet Cairns. The grandfather was a native of Ireland and was a sea captain, while the grandmother was born in England and had been previously married. Her first husband bore the name of Wilson and by him she had three daughters. Following his demise she gave her hand in marriage to Richard Cairns. Upon their emigration to America they at once made their way to Richland county, Ohio, where they spent their remaining days. Their family numbered three children: Robert, Joseph and Mrs. Harriet Mclaughlin.
Robert Cairns was reared and educated in this county and in early life worked at the cabinetmaker's trade. He then engaged in farming in Jackson township and became a wealthy landowner, having four hundred acres, sit- uated on section 36, Jackson township. He was throughout a long period identified with the agricultural interests of the county but in later life retired, making his home in Mansfield until the time of his death, which occurred in 1895, when he had reached the advanced age of eighty years. His wife, who, as stated, bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Gordon, was born in Shippens- burg, Pennsylvania, in January, 1815, and when a little maiden of eleven years accompanied her parents on their removal from the Keystone state to Richland county, the journey being made in a covered wagon and the daughter walking the greater part of the distance. She also passed away in Mansfield when seventy-four years of age.
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Their family numbered nine children, as follows: Mrs. Amanda Myers, deceased; Joseph, who lives on a portion of the old homestead in Jackson township; John, who served in the Civil war as a member of Company E, Thirty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry; Robert, who also served with that company and has departed this life; Richard, who was a member of that company and now makes his home in Mansfield; Mrs. Harriet Barr, of that city ; Mary E., now Mrs. Cline and the subject of this review; Mrs. Emma Miller, also a resident of Mansfield; and Mrs. Charlotte Patterson, of that city.
Mary E. Cairns was reared on the home farm in Jackson township and acquired her education in the district schools near her father's home. She was early trained by her mother in the duties of the household, so that at the time of her marriage she was well qualified to take charge of a home of her own. It was in 1866, when she was a young lady of twenty-two years, that she gave her hand in marriage to Jackson Cline, a son of Michael and Matilda (Murphy) Cline. At the time of her father's death she inherited one hundred and sixty acres of the homestead property, situated on section 36, Jackson township, and here she now resides, giving her supervision to the operation of the place.
By her marriage Mrs. Cline has become the mother of eight children, as follows: Robert, who is superintendent of the Bell Telephone Company at Indianapolis, Indiana; John, a resident of Columbus, Ohio; Tillie, who died at the age of nineteen years; Elizabeth, the wife of Frank Gribling; Elzy, who is manager of the Home Telephone Company at Toledo, Ohio; Charles O., who also makes his home in that city; Albert, of Columbus; and Ada, the wife of Fred Hunt, a resident of Mansfield.
Mrs. Cline is a gentle, kindly woman, charitable in her estimate of every one. In the care and management of her farm she shows sound judgment and excellent business ability, while her social qualities are such as to render her popular among her many friends and acquaintances.
CHARLES GRIFFITH.
In the early part of the nineteenth century the grandfather of Charles Griffith settled on section 23, Plymouth township, on the farm which has since been divided and is now occupied by Milton W. Griffith and Charles Griffith, who are cousins. It was upon this farm that Charles Griffith was born April 11, 1855, his parents being Levi and Nancy (Kelley) Griffith. The father was born September 13, 1826, on the old homestead, and spent his entire life as a farmer. He had one hundred and twenty-seven acres of land, which he brought under a high state of cultivation and improvement. He died in March, 1899, while his wife, who was born in January, 1828, passed away in July, 1896. She was a daughter of Charles Kelley, who was a native of Ireland and came to the United States in his boyhood days, where he cast in his lot with the pioneer settlers of Crawford and Richland counties. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Levi Griffith were born four children: Benjamin F., who is
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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY
now living at Granville, Ohio; Charles; Ida Amanda, the wife of Professor H. B. Adams, of Lima, Ohio; and Wilbur, who is living in Crestline, Ohio.
Charles Griffith spent the days of his boyhood and youth on the home farm and acquired his education in the public schools. He continued to assist his father until 1889, when he rented a farm of eighty acres in Auburn township, Crawford county, and continued its cultivation for five years. He then removed to Tyro and worked in a gristmill for four and one-half years. He then returned to the farm, where he has remained since 1899. He has ninety acres here in section 23, Plymouth township, of which fifty acres was entered by his grandfather, Benjamin Griffith, who secured the northwestern quarter of the section as a claim from the government, and it has always since remained in possession of the family. Levi Griffith purchased the adjoining tract of forty acres, and Charles Griffith is now conducting the place as a grain and stock farm. He has the place well improved and everything about the farm is indicative of his faithful supervision and practical methods.
In 1883 Mr. Griffith was married to Miss Laura Caldwell, who was born in Athens county, Ohio, February 13, 1861, a daughter of Captain D. B. Caldwell, of Vickery, Sandusky county, Ohio. He served as a soldier in the Mexican war, running away from home and enlisting under another name. He was also a captain in the Civil war and, being taken prisoner, was incar- cerated for eighteen months in Libby prison. Mr. and Mrs. Griffith have one child, Cleo Caldwell, who was born in Tyro, Ohio, June 29, 1899. The parents are members of the Lutheran church in Tyro, in which Mr. Griffith is serving as deacon. His political allegiance is given to the democracy and he has served as school and road officer and also on the election board.
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