History of Sandusky County Ohio with Illustrations 1882, Part 84

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JESSE S. VAN NESS.

This popular citizen of Fremont was a descendant of the Van Ness family once so noted for wealth and influence in the State of New York. He was a son of Simon and Julia Van Ness, and was born to Orange county, State of New York, on the 25th day of October, 1818. There he learned with his father the trade of tanning and currying. He was married to Miss Jane A. Blakeslee, in Orange county, on the 29th day of August, 1850, and emigrated from there to Fremont, Ohio, in the month of April, 1852. After locating in Fremont Mr. Van Ness worked about two years in what was known as the old Van Doren tannery. He then bought a lot not far away and built a new tannery for himself, not far from the Van Doren tannery, on the side hill, on the east side of the river.

In the year 1862 or thereabouts, finding the business not remunerative, he sold out, and spent several years in putting up and supplying the city with ice. His ice house was on the premises of Isaac Sharp, next above the river bridge of the Lake Shore Rail-road.

While thus engaged he was elected Mayor of the city of Fremont, and although a Republican, the people liked him so well, and had so much confidence in his integrity, ability and good judgment

that although the city was really a Democratic city, Mr. Van Ness drew largely from the Democratic party, and was elected by a handsome majority at the spring election of 1878, and again elected in the spring of 1877, and again for a third term in the spring of 1881, and engaged in discharging the du-ties of the office in a very satisfactory manner, and to the great approval of the people of the city until a short time before his death, when his last sickness disabled him, and his death occurred on the 14th day of June, 1881. Mr. Van Ness was a warm and faithful friend of the public schools of Fremont, and was a valued member of the Board of Education for fifteen years, and held that office also at the time of his death. He was also for a number of years one of the township trustees of Sandusky county.

He was a member of long and good standing of the order of Free and Accepted Masons, having been a member of Brainard Lodge of Fremont, Ohio, many years.

He was also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, perhaps older in Odd Fellowship than any person in Fremont, he having joined Goshen Lodge in Orange county, New York, before he came to Fremont.

Though not a member of any church, his wife had

joined the Methodist Episcopal church when twelve years old, and has all her life been a consistent member and regular attendant on divine service according to the forms of that church, and Mr. Van Ness, out of regard for religion generally, and especially out of regard for his wife's deep and settled piety, did much for the cause of religion according to the forms of the church which she adopted and revered.

Although Mr. and Mrs. Van Ness were not blest with children of their own, they adopted and educated two daughters, whose education and culture became their chief desire. The first adopted child was Elsie Jane Karshner, a relative by blood, whom they reared with the most affectionate and tender regard, and who was ready to graduate in the Fremont high school in the class of 1866, when she died shortly before the commencement day, to which she and her parents by adoption looked forward with such pleasing anticipations, at the age of sixteen.

On the death of Elsie there was dark loneliness in the home of Mr. Van Ness, and they soon brought a light to supply the place of the beautiful and loved one which death had extinguished. This light for

their home Mr. and Mrs. Van Ness found in the Soldiers' and Sailors' Orphans' Home at Xenia, Ohio. Her name is May Bell. The parentage of this child her foster mother, Mrs. Van Ness, is not now ready to disclose, and the secret remains with her for disclosure when circumstances may require. She is a bright young woman now, engaged in teaching one of the primary schools of Fremont, and is at once the companion and comfort of Mrs. Van Ness in her widowhood.

At the funeral of Mr. Van Ness an impressive sermon was delivered by the Rev. T. H. Wilson, of the Methodist Episcopal church. The Odd Fellows then took charge of the remains, and the closing of business houses, the large attendance of citizens, the attendance in a body of all the remaining city officials, the long line of carriages which followed the remains to the cemetery, and the impressive burial services by the large attendance of Odd Fellows, all testified that Mr. Van Ness was held in high esteem as a citizen, an officer, and a man. He rests now in Oakwood cemetery among the honored ones who sleep there.

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whiskey, so easily and abundantly produced in Southern Ohio at that time, and from thence drew supplies by exchange, of sugars and all those goods which we now term groceries. Often, however, the flat-boatman would sell his cargo and boat at New Orleans for cash and work his way up the river to his home the best way he could. In this trade young Justice displayed first-class financial talents and accumulated considerable cash. He maintained regular correspondence with the merchants of New Orleans, and was at all times well Informed of the prices of goods there as well as the price of the products which were designed for sale or exchange in the South.

Before engaging in the New Orleans trade he had taken some interest in and understanding of the business of tanning at Chillicothe, but discontinued this to volunteer under General William H. Harrison in the War of 1812. He was with Harrison at Fort Seneca at the time of the battle of Fort Stephenson, August 2, 1813. After the war he resided at Chillicothe, and for a time gave attention to the tanning business. On the 12th of October, 1820, he married Miss Eliza Moore, daughter of David Moore and sister to John and James, deceased, two well-known citizens of Ballville, and both millers and manufacturers, and both wealthy and en- terprising men.

In the month of September, 1822, Mr. Justice removed from Ross to Sandusky county, and first located in Ballville township, and in what is now known as Ballville village. The manner of his moving from Ross county is quite in contrast with the mode of travel at the present day. He placed his wife and child on horseback, while he started with them on foot. For a time after his arrival at Ballville, Mr. Justice assisted his father-in-law, David Moore, in running his grist- and saw-mill

at that place. After spending probably two years in this manner, he removed to Lower Sandusky and erected a tannery on the north side of State street, at the foot of the-hill, on the west side of the river. With the tannery he connected the business of harness and shoemaking. Here, again, his financial talent was displayed, and he accumulated money in his business quite rapidly, and made large savings after supporting a family. In this business Mr. Justice simply managed the financial department, leaving the manual labor to expert workmen, whom he employed in the different shops. About 1847 he turned the business over to his son, Milton J. Justice, and gave his attention to investing and managing his capital. He made large gains by buying and selling lands, sometimes on his own account, and sometimes in partnership with Rodolphus Dickinson and Sardis Birchard. Mr. Justice was prominent in the part he took in constructing the Tiffin and Fostoria plank roads, which for a time contributed so much to the trade and prosperity of Fremont. When the Wyandot Reservation at Upper Sandusky was sold, and the Indians removed to the Far West, Mr. Justice was selected by the Government as appraiser of the land on account of his soundness of judgment in matters of value.

Shortly after coming to Lower Sandusky Mr. Justice was chosen by the Legislature of Ohio one of the associate judges of the court of common pleas of Sandusky county, which office he filled with singular promptness and fidelity for a number of years, under the first Constitution of the State.

For a period of perhaps ten years Judge Justice discharged gratuitously and efficiently the duties of a member of the board of education of the city of Fremont, acting most of the time as treasurer of the board, a position for which he was

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peculiarly and well qualified. He was also mayor of the village for a term.

When the First National Bank of Fremont was organized, Judge Justice placed some capital in the stock of that institution, and on account of his well-known financial ability and integrity, was one of the first board of directors, and he held this position by successive re-elections until the time of his death, which occurred on the 28th day of May, 1893, at the ripe age of seventy-eight years, leaving a large estate for the support of his wife and to descend to his four adult children.

In person Judge Justice was a man of impressive presence and strong magnetic power, of large size, weighing over two hundred pounds, light hair and complex-ion, blue eyes, and full round head and face. In business promptness and integrity no citizen surpassed him. His punctuality in the performance of all contracts and promises was a marked feature in his character, and his wonderful industry and activity in all business affairs continued until the disability caused by his last sickness compelled him to reluctantly cease his labors. Those who enter the First National Bank of Fremont may see an admirable portrait of Judge Justice on the south wall of the office, which was presented by his children. The picture is the work of his only living son, Milton J. Justice, who is a natural artist and has set forth his father's features with wonderful accuracy.

The wife of the subject of the foregoing sketch was not only one of the pioneers of this county but possessed virtues in a remarkable degree. She was born in Huntingdon county, State of Pennsylvania, on the 13th day of October, 1800, the daughter of David Moore and sister of Mrs. William Fields, now a widow residing in this county, and also sister of the late

worthy citizens James and John Moore, of Ballville township, so well remembered and esteemed by the people of the county as men of high merit awl success in business and in usefulness to the community.

At the age of fourteen years Miss Eliza Moore emigrated with her parents from Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, to Ross county, Ohio. Her father, David Moore, was of full Scotch blood, and her mother was born in Pennsylvania. In 1820 she was married to James Justice, near Chillicothe, and in 1822 emigrated thence to Sandusky county, with her husband and only child and settled in Ballville township. Her father had preceded her in coming into the county and was then engaged in the erection of a grist- and saw-mill on the Sandusky River, in what is now known as Ballville village. But Mr. Moore had not then brought his family into the county. The journey from Chillicothe to Ballville was made by Mrs. Justice on horseback. The child, Nancy, she brought with her, is now the wife of Dr. James W. Wilson, president of the First National Bank of Fremont. The way was through an almost unbroken wilderness.

The inhabitants of this northwestern portion of the State were very few and very poor in the goods of this world, but they were rich in that trust in God, irrepressible cheerfulness, and indomitable courage which distinguished the hardy pioneers of that period in this portion of the State. After arriving at Ballville, Mrs. Justice passed a short time in a fisherman's shanty, until a log cabin was finished, in the performance of her domestic duties,, with scanty means, and for nine months she never saw the face of a white woman. In this shanty the only fire- place was a heap of stones in one corner to prevent the fire from burning the wall. Above the fire-place was an opening in the roof for the

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escape of the smoke. If the rain put out the fire, Mrs. Justice would be compelled to go a mile and a quarter to the nearest neighbor's to obtain coals to rekindle her fire. Among her cooking utensils she had what was called a Dutch oven, an iron shallow kettle, with an iron lid or cover, in which all her baking was done, by setting the kettle over coals and piling coals on the cover. She often preserved fire in a stormy time by placing brands and coals in this oven, and placing it out of the reach of the rain in the back part of the shanty, and thus saved the time and trouble of going to the neighbor's for fire. Mrs. Justice survived her husband until the 17th day of October, 1876, when she died at the advanced age of seventy-six years and four days. Her remains now rest by the side of those of her husband, marked by it beautiful granite monument, in that beautiful resting place, Oakland cemetery.

This venerable and respected pair reared a family whose standing in society testify to the merits of their parents. The family consisted of three daughters and one son, all surviving them. Another son was born to them, named Granville Moore, who died at Lower Sandusky at the age of six-teen years. The names of the surviving children are: Mrs. Nancy. E. Wilson, wife of Dr. James W. Wilson (this daughter was born in Chillicothe, and was the child Mrs. Justice brought on horseback from that place); Minerva E., wife of Hon. Homer Everett; Mrs. S. Eliza Failing, wife of Dr. John W. Failing, all now residing in Fremont, and Milton J. Justice, now a resident of Lucas county, Ohio.

On the 12th of October, 1870, this then venerable husband and wife celebrated their golden wedding. The occasion was of peculiar interest to a large assemblage of friends there present to witness the ceremonies and festiv-

ities. Among the other pleasant events of that evening was one of peculiar interest and pleasure to all present, but especially to Mrs. Justice. This was the presentation from the children by Rev. R. L. Chittenden of a beautiful gold ring, on the inside of which neatly engraved was the sacred word, "Mother." This was surely a most fitting and significant expression of enduring love and filial affection of the children. Surely this pair of pioneers were honorable, and honored by society for their virtues while living, and honored in and by their posterity, who live to revere their memories and imitate their virtues.

It is worthy of note, that Mrs. Justice had received from her father as part of her outfit, a set of Windsor chairs, painted yellow, a bureau, a table, stand, and bedstead, all of solid black walnut and ornamented with brass knobs or handles, which she preserved to the close of her life and which are still kept by her daughter, in the family, at her old homestead, now occupied by Mrs. Homer Everett. The chairs were used by the aged couple at their golden wedding above spoken of, and illustrates that care and economy of Mrs. Justice which contributed so much to the accumulation of wealth and the comfort of her descendants.

JACOB BURGNER

was born in Thompson township, Seneca county, Ohio, November 5, 1833. His parents were of Swiss descent. His father, Peter Burgner, came from Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, in 1812, at the age of nine years, to Stark county, Ohio. Here he twice helped clear up a home and worked several years in the construction of the Ohio and Erie canal. In 1830 he married Miss Catharine Hollinger, and moved to Seneca county, where he en-

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tered a quarter-section of heavily timbered land two miles west of Flat Rock. This he cleared up and improved with unremitting toil, making it a comfortable home for himself and family for thirty-three years.

Jacob was the eldest of seven children, five sons and two daughters. His first teacher was John Grimes. Being assisted at home, and stimulated by rewards from teachers and parents, he made rapid progress in his studies, and committed to memory many pages of his textbooks, but his mind was often over-tasked and his health injured by close confinement in

the crowded, unventilated log school-house where he spent the first twelve years of his school life. He attended several Sunday-schools, read and re-read every library book and newspaper that came in his way, and recited from memory about one-half of the New Testament. When he was eleven years old his mother died, and this event led him to look too much on the dark side of life. At the age of sixteen he became a member of the United Brethren church, under the ministry of Rev. J. C. Bright, and he was soon after elected class leader and Sunday-school superintendent, offices which he held at intervals for many years afterwards. At the age of seventeen he taught a common school in his father's district, and during the next five winters he taught in the neighboring schools of Thompson town-ship. His wages meanwhile rose from ten to thirty-two dollars per month. He was a careful reader of the Ohio Journal of Education. The summer seasons were spent at hard work on his father's farm. From 1852 till 1856 he attended school at Otterbein University, and at the Seneca County Academy, Republic, Ohio.

In the fall of 1856 he returned to Otterbein University, where he remained three full years and completed his course of study.

On the 8th of September, 1859, he was married to Miss Rebecca M. Miller, and soon after came to Fremont and taught the East grammar school under Don A. Pease superintendent. The next year he taught the Maumee grammar school. In the fall of 1861 he returned to Fremont and taught the high school in a small brick building in the rear of the old Presbyterian church, Rev. E. Bushnell being superintendent. In the fall of 1862 he was elected superintendent of the Port Clinton schools, and in 1864 of the Green Spring union schools. Finding that his health was injured by confinement to the school-room, he began farming in the spring of 1863. Here he has followed farming during the summer season and teaching country schools during the winter for the past eighteen years. In the summer of 1864 Mr. Burgner served as clerk of company H, One Hundred and Sixty-ninth regiment, Ohio National Guards, about four months at Fort Ethan Allen, Virginia. In April, 1865, he was elected justice of the peace of Ballville township, which office he held six years. Of Mr. Burgner's brothers, one died in infancy, David and Joseph in early manhood, and Dr. Samuel H. Burgher, of Bellevue, at the age of twenty-eight, leaving an only daughter, Orie, an orphan. His sister Mary married Henry Biechler, and lives at York Center; his sister Lizzie married Joseph B. Maurer and lives near Monticello, Indiana. His father, Peter Burgner, was three times married, and died at the age of seventy-four.

Jacob Burgner's family consists of his wife and three children-Kittie, Linneus and Louis. His first daughter, Alice, died in infancy. He took in her place his brother's child, Orie, at the same early age, maintained and educated her, and she is now about completing a course of study at Oberlin college.

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In the fall of 1853 Jacob Burgner took his first lessons in phonography, of Charles S. Royce, at a teacher's institute, held at Republic, Ohio. The novelty, simplicity, and brevity of phonetic shorthand completely captivated him, and he at once became wedded to it for life. He bought The American Manual of Phonography, by Elias Longley, (Ben Pitman's system, Cincinnati, Ohio), and mastered its contents. He then wrote a shorthand letter to Mr. Royce, and received a similar one in return. While a student at Republic, Ohio, he taught several classes in phonography, and began the study of Ben Pitman's Reporter's Companion. This he mastered, column after column, until he could read at a glance, or write instantly, the briefest outline for more than four thousand of the most frequently recurring words and phrases in the English language. But it was not until after he had taught several classes in phonography at Otterbein University, and had made many repeated efforts and failures at reporting sermons and lectures, that, in 1857, he acquired the ability to write legibly with the rapidity of speech. Mr. Burgner's first verbatim report was one of Bishop Davis' sermons, and it was soon after honored with the dignity of print by the Rev. Alexander Campbell, who solicited and published it in the Millenial Harbinger, Volume I, No. 12.

On coming to Fremont; in 1859, Mr. Burgner gave a short course of lessons in phonography to the teachers of the Union Schools, and in the spring of 1861 furnished the Fremont papers with a verbatim report of the speeches, of Hon. Homer Everett, Colonel R. P. Buckland, and Rev. H. Lang, at a flag presentation to the Seventy-second Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. This was the first stenographic reporting done in Sandusky county.

At the May term, 1871, of the court of common pleas for Sandusky county, Mr. Burgner made the first stenographic report of a law suit, in the case of Mrs. Harriet Seager vs. J. S. Lutz, at request of the plaintiff.

In June, 1876, he reported verbatim for the Cincinnati Enquirer and the Fremont papers the first speech of General R. B. Hayes, after his nomination for the Presidency, and, in 1877, the speeches of many distinguished generals of the army, at the grand reunion of Hayes' regiment, the Twenty-third, at Fremont, Ohio.

At the March term, 1880, Jacob Burgner and L. E. Stetler were appointed official stenographers for Sandusky county court of common pleas, for three years, by Judge J. H. Doyle, of Toledo, and they then jointly reported the proceedings in the Pelter Welch murder trial.

STEPHEN BUCKLAND AND FAMILY.

This highly esteemed citizen of Fremont was born at Hudson, Portage county (since included in Summit county) on the 16th day of January, 1814. He is the son of Ralph Buckland and Ann (Kent) Buckland, of Connecticut, and of English ancestry. His father died before he was born, and was buried at Ravenna, Portage county, Ohio. Stephen left home at about six years of age and became a member of the family of Charles King, whose wife was sister to Mr. Buckland's mother. Mr. King moved to Brooklyn while Stephen was still quite young, and engaged in the manufacture of castor oil, and there manufactured the first castor oil made in the West. In this business young Buckland assisted as he could, and became quite an efficient help for Mr. King. At the age of about fifteen years young Buckland

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went home to live with his mother, who meantime, had married Dr. Luther Hanchet, at Middlebury, Portage county, Ohio. While at Mr. King's young Buckland often visited his mother at Middlebury, and in doing so passed over the site of the present flourishing city of Akron. The country where Akron now stands was then a wilderness without inhabitants or improvement, unless a hunter's cabin situated there can be called an improvement. This was about the year 1821 or 1822, and before the Ohio canal was located. Stephen was in the vicinity, and afterwards witnessed the construction of the canal and subsequent growth of the city. He determined, as all young men should, to learn a trade, and according to this determination he learned the cabinet and chair-making business in the establishment of Mr. Harry Purdy, in Middlebury. From there he went to Akron, and after working at his trade for a time rented the factory at lock number four, on the canal, which furnished water- power for the establishment. After remaining in this business a few years he went to Canfield and engaged as clerk in the mercantile house of Kent & Lockwood. While so engaged he made the acquaintance of Miss Lucy Whittlesey, daughter of the late Hon. Elisha Whittlesey, so well known and esteemed in the State of Ohio. He was married to this lady on the 11th day of October, A. D. 1838. Soon after the marriage the husband and wife removed to Edinburg, in Portage county, where Mr. Buckland engaged in merchandising, in which pursuit he continued until 1850.

Mrs. Lucy (Whittlesey) Buckland, the wife of Stephen Buckland, was born at Canfield on the 22d day of December, A. D. 1817. The children of this worthy husband and wife were all born while they were residing at Edinburg, In the year 1850 the family came to Fremont and set-

tied here. Soon after his arrival Mr. Buckland formed a partnership in the drug and book business with C. R. McCulloch, and for some time the firm did a prosperous business. In 1855 this partnership was amicably dissolved and Mr. Buckland opened a drug and book store on his own account, in which business he has continued to the present time, either alone or in company with his sons. To those who know Stephen Buckland no praise is necessary. His name with them is a synonym of all that is sincere, truthful, honest, and patriotic. Mr. Buckland now conducts the business he has so long been engaged in at Fremont, in company with his worthy son, Ralph Pomeroy Buckland, named after General R. P. Buckland.

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History of Sandusky County Ohio with Illustrations 1882, Part 84

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