USA > Ohio > Seneca County > History of Seneca County, Ohio; a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests, Vo. I > Part 34
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Twenty years after Samuel Waggoner describes the travels of
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a band of lawyers in this very district of Ohio. He says: "On Thursday morning, February 5, 1846, the day after the Whig State Convention which nominated William Bebb for governor, a stage coach of the Concord pattern, owned by Neil. Moore & Co., . left Columbus for Toledo with a full load of passengers, including Morrison R. Waite, Samuel M. Young. Henry Reed, Jr., and Abner I. Backus, of Maumee City; Ralph P. Buckland and Rutherford B. Hayes, of Lower Sandusky (now Fremont) ; and Alfred P. Edgerton, of Williams county. There were others not remem- bered.
"The route of the stage was by the old 'Mud Pike,' through Delaware, Marion, Upper Sandusky, Tiffin. Lower Sandusky and Maumee City. The January thaw had been followed by heavy rains, and the mud was very deep; consequently, the stage made slow progress from the start. The male passengers often found it desirable to get out and walk for miles at a time, and frequently a long distance in advance of their conveyance. Near Worthing- ton three or four of them went about half a mile to a sugar camp. and there enjoyed a 'taffy pull.' The company reached Delaware (twenty-four miles) at midnight. After a capital supper at the
'Old Griswold Tavern,' they passed on. The night was dark, and before they had gone a mile the stage upset. This caused a delay of two hours for repair of damages to the stage, and to procure a surgeon to sew up the scalp of a passenger. Marion was reached about midnight of the second day out. Proceeding® at about the same rate the stage arrived at Lower Sandusky Sunday morning, having made the distance (105 miles) in seventy-two hours. It reached Toledo (forty miles) on Monday morning. at the end of the fourth day. The more rapid movement of the last day is accounted for the fact that between Lower Sandusky and Perrysburg the road had been macadamized, leaving only the dis- tance from Maumee City to Toledo to be traversed in mud. Not less interesting than these details of the trip is the fact that each of the passengers named has been permitted to make the passage over substantially the same route by the Columbus & Toledo Rail- road in about as many hours as was then required in days."
On such trips one of the party would sing such quaint old songs as "Lord Lovell." and "Rosin the Bow," while all would join in the chorus.
Even as the first circuit court was preceded by Dickinson's settlement at Fort Ball, the coming of Abel Rawson, in June, 1825, was premonitory of the advent of the supreme court. July 28. 1826, Judges Charles R. Sherman and Jacob Burnett. accompanied by almost the whole bar of northwestern Ohio, appeared at Tiffin, a few of whom were present here May 5th of the same year, at the second term of the common pleas court.
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EARLY PHYSICIANS OF THE COUNTY.
Dr. Ely Dresbach was the first resident physician of Tiffin. He first settled in Fort Ball in 1822, when there were only a few hundred white settlers in the county. He then crossed the river to Tiffin, the seat of justice of the then newly organized county of Seneca. He was a prominent and popular physician. but died at the age of 52 years. Dr. Dresbach was fond of books, and was well · posted in current literature. He was an agreeable com- panion, having good conversational powers.
Dr. Henry Kuhn was one of the pioneer physicians of Tiffin, and took a very active part in the development of the town and county. The exact time when the doctor came to Tiffin is not known, but as near as can be ascertained it must have been about 1830. He helped to cut the first tree that was cut in the clearing of Market street, between Washington and Monroe. He came here into the woods, and at once became a favorite with the scat- tered families for miles around. He was often called to visit the Wyandotte Indians on the Sandusky plains, and became highly esteemed among them.
Seldon Graves was the first resident physician in Seneca coun- ty. He settled in Eden township in March, 1822. In 1831 he was elected associate judge.
Robert C. J. Carey settled in Fort Ball in 1823. and was a partner with Dr. Dresbach. He died in 1836, and was buried in the old cemetery at Tiffin.
James Fisher was one of the pioneer physicians of the county, and settled in Tiffin in 1832. He was appointed postmaster of Tiffin shortly after his settling here.
J. A. McFarland settled in Tiffin in 1837. He was the first president of the old Seneca county medical society.
J. N. Heckerman, after completing his medical course in Wash- ington, D. C., came to Tiffin in 1849.
Dr. Rufus Norton settled in Tiffin in 1835, coming from New York state. He was an eminent physician and had an extensive practice in Seneca county. He was the father of the Hon. J. A. Norton.
After James A. Norton returned from his four years' service as a Union soldier in the Civil war, he studied medicine, and after completing a thorough course. he entered the practice with his father. Dr. Norton early displayed ability as a politician, and gave up the practice of medicine for official positions, of which further menton is made in another chapter.
Miss Julia Rumsey, a female physician, was lost in the wreck of the Pewabic.
Ariel B. Hovey, born in Orleans county, Vermont, February
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9, 1829, entered Oberlin College in 1843, where he studied until 1849 and also read medicine in Dr. Johnson's office there. In 1850 he continued his medical studies under Prof. Ackley, of Cleve- land, graduated in March, 1852, and the same year settled in Tiffin. His death occurred October 2, 1884.
Maurice Leahy, born in county Kerry, Ireland, March 14, 1853, graduated from Wooster University, in February, 1878, and entered on the practice of his profession at Tiffin, in July, that year ; he studied under Dr. McCollum.
John D. O'Conner was born at Woodsfield, Ohio, September 24, 1822; studied medicine under Dr. Dillon; graduated from Miami Medical College in 1858; was elected senator in 1861, re- elected in 1863; settled at Tiffin in 1866, and died while attending an adjourned session of the constitutional convention, at Cincin- nati, February 21, 1874.
C. A. Henry, Born in Wood county, Ohio, January 5, 1844, located at Fostoria in 1871, as a partner of Dr. A. S. Williams.
Park L. Myers, born at Fostoria, May 28, 1860, graduated from the Ohio Medical College of Cincinnati in 1879, and began . the practice of medicine in Fostoria in 1880.
F. J. Schaufelberger graduated from the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia in 1884, and commenced practice in Fos- toria the same year. From 1873 to 1882 he was engaged in the drug trade here.
John H. Norris practiced medicine at Fostoria; previous to this time he was a physician of Wood county.
Amos S. Williams practiced at Fostoria.
John H. Williams a graduate of Wooster, commenced a prac- tice at Fostoria in 1877.
Dr. William C. Cole moved to Republic in 1841. thence to Tiffin. Dr. Pennington who died January 23, 1862, studied medi- cine at Tiffin under Dr. Kuhn. He practiced some years at Delphos, Allen county, Ohio.
Dr. Williams born January, 1812, in Genessee county, New York, settled at Reedtown in 1835, as a physician; dead.
Dr. Henry Wertz was a physician in Hopewell township in 1852.
Dr. Minard Obermiller, an old resident of Tiffin died at Toledo, September 28, 1884.
Dr. I. T. Gilbert. who died at Bryan, Ohio, was one of the early physicians of Reed township.
Dr. Robert R. MeMeens, born in Pennsylvania, 1820, settled at Tiffin in 1841. married Miss Ann C. Pettinger, in 1843; moved to Sandusky in 1846; died at Perryville, Kentucky, October 30, 1862.
Dr. W. H. Heckerman, who graduated from Heidelberg Col-
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lege in 1878, studied medicine and practiced in this county; he died January, 1885.
Dr. George W. Beigh, who was engaged in practice at Ply- mouth, Maryland, died April 14, 1882, and his remains were brought to Republic for interment.
Dr. A. S. Uberroth, of New Riegel, met his death at Stoner Wood, ou the Indianapolis, Bloomington & Western Railroad. now a branch of the "Big Four" system, February 16, 1883. On the even- ing of February 16th he sent a dispatch to his wife stating that he would be at Berwick on the night express, and requesting her to send his hired man to meet him. The hired man was at the depot and as Dr. Uberroth did not arrive he made inquiry of the con- ductor, who informed him that a man answering the description of the doctor was put off the train just south of Tiffin because he refused to pay his fare, and claimed that he had bought a ticket and lost it. The hired man returned to New Riegel, and Mrs. Uberroth immediately sent friends in search of her husband. They followed the railroad track from Berwick toward Tiffin, and found the body at the place above stated.
Dr. Usher Parsons joined General Harrison's army at Camp Seneca, and subsequently was with Perry on the lakes. In later years he made his home at Cincinnati.
Dr. A. II. Christy died September 19, 1884.
Dr. J. F. E. Fanning, a son of one of the pioneers of the county born in Tiffin in 1844, was later president of the Medical Association of Seneca county.
Dr. John Montgomery died at Adrian, January 29, 1885, aged sixty-three years. He was for many years a resident of that part of the county.
Dr. Joseph Boehler located at Tiffin prior to 1845.
Dr. G. W. Sampson was one of the witnesses to the treaty of Mccutcheonville, January 19, 1832, and was an old physician of the district.
Dr. John Kerr, a Thompsonian practitioner, resided at Rome in 1847.
Dr. E. B. Hubbard. born at Chester. Mass .. December 28, 1840, came to Tiffin in January. 1874, and. with Dr. Hershiser. established the Hubbard drug store. southwest corner of Market and Washington streets. He never practiced in this county.
Dr. Husdon, who practiced in specialties in his day, died in 1869.
Dr. Simmon Bricker, one of the pioneer physicians of the western part of Seneca county and an old resident of Fostoria. died in 1856. His was the first burial in the Fostoria City cemetery.
Dr. T. S. Lang located at Springville, in May, 1836.
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Dr. Isaac Young, a resident of this county for a number of years, was sent to the Seneca County Infirmary in August, 1885. He was at one time a prominent citizen. He was freight and ex- press agent of the Indianapolis. Bloomington & Western Railroad at Berwick in the sixties, and was also a very successful physician. He moved from Berwick to Melmore. and thence to Fostoria.
Dr. F. Jaeck died April 16, 1856, aged thirty-nine years.
Dr. A. Metz, of Fostoria, was a practicing physician and drug- gist there prior to 1849.
Dr. Asa Brayton, born in Wyandot county in 1831, studied under Dr. Metz of Fostoria, in 1849, and entered on practice at Mccutcheonville.
Dr. E. W. Dubios, son-in-law of Mrs. Ditto, died July 2, 1873.
Dr. A. A. Freyman, born August 16, 1833, died October 6, 1874.
Dr. F. W. Entriken, of Findlay, also practiced in Seneca coun- ty before the war.
Dr. J. Snyder was proprietor of the Tiffin Eye Infirmary in April, 1860.
Dr. J. R. Buckingham an old resident physician practiced at Attica for years prior to 1864, when he moved to Bloomville, re- turning in 1872.
Dr. H. G. Blaine, a member of the faculty of the Toledo Medical College; a member of the Northwestern Ohio Medical Association, and of the Board of Censors of the Indiana Medical College, was a member of the Northwestern Ohio Eclectic Medical College Association, and came to Attica in 1861.
William J. Culver, noticed among the pioneers of Scipio, was the first physician at Republic. Drs. H. K. Spooner, J. A. Maguire, J. Roop and Dr. Storer were for years identified with the profession in this division of the county.
Henry Kegg Hershiser, born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, in 1831, graduated from Columbus Medical College. Was in professional capacity during the war, and subsequently engaged in the drug business for nine years, then resumed practice of medicine.
Charles Sandmeister, born in Germany, in 1831, came to Thompson township in 1853, where he commenced the practice of his profession. He graduated from the Eclectic Medical Insti- tute, Cincinnati. in 1864.
Dr. S. D. Jones opened an office at Attica in 1847.
Dr. Stephen Fowler, the pioneer physician of the territory, also practiced throughout Seneca county. He came to the San- dusky Plains in 1827, died at Upper Sandusky, December 26, 1847.
Dr. M. H. Mills, a resident of Attica, has practiced in the county.
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Dr. Pagin was a visiting hydropathie doctor in 1860-61.
Dr. Gibson, of Bloom township, was commissioned surgeon of the Seneca County Militia in 1835.
Dr. Spicer was a pioneer physician as well as a pioneer preacher.
Dr. A. W. Knight settled in Attica in 1884.
Dr. Seymour came to Attiva station in July or August, 1885.
Dr. George Rubard, a native of Thompson township. born in 1847; graduated from Cincinnati Eclectic College in 1871 and commenced practice at Flat Rock.
Other physicians past and present. referred to in the history of the townships, are named as follows :
Drs. D. Peters and G. H. Scoles. Springville (in 1847) ; George Sprague and Hon. J. A. Norton. Tiffin ; S. T. Finch and Thomas Cochran, Green Spring; Alonzo Lockwood. Simon Bricker and George Patterson. Rome; A. Metz, R. C. Caples and Marcus Dana, Risdon ; Robert P. Frazer, Reed; Bellville and Peter J. Smyth. Bloom; F. M. Bell. Fort Seneca; Daniel M. Bate, Melmore; I. Briedinger. W. G. and G. P. Williard, Tiffin; Pierce, William L. Hamilton, F. S. Kendall. J. S. Sparks and John Ball, Republic; Joseph Myers and Henry L. Harris, Thompson; William Craw- ford, Tiffin; Charles Beilhartz. dentist (1842), J. R. Huss and Wells, Tiffin ; Barber and J. C. Myers, Venice, (the former gone to Iowa; the latter died January 18, 1884) ; F. H. Lang, Tiffin; A. M. Magers. Alvada; H. C. Wells and Leon McCollum, Tiffin ; J. W. Hoy, Bloomville; M. Nighswander and Chancellor Martin. Fort Seneca; F. M. White. New Riegel; H. Ladd, J. W. Holmes and Steele, Melmore ; A. M. Martin, Bloomville; Marshall Brothers, C. R. Walker, Skeggs; L. H. Sprague, I. W. Moliere, F. W. En- trikin, A. R. MeKellar, David P. Campbell. L. E. Robinson. J. L. Brown and Thomas Cochran. Green Spring; W. P. Buckingham, Bettsville; C. L. Jones, A. Force. C. A. Force, Attica ; D. E. Bow- man, Kansas; Watson, I. H. Norris, Myers, W. M. Cake. John Bricker and P. E. Ballou. Fostoria ; Charles T. Benner, Homer J. Bricker, S. W. Bricker, A. M. Campbell. Levi Corfman, Fred Scheil and Henry C. Wells. T. J. West and T. E. Wells, Tiffin; C. A. Henry, L. G. Williams, Fostoria; A. D. Orwig, Reed; M. H. Mills, D. J. Deck. Venice; R. M. Sproul, Adams; W. H. Focht, Big Spring; O. B. Whittecar and C. M. Comer, Hopewell.
The physicians of this county, who served as army surgeons or assistant surgeons during the war of the Rebellion, are named as follows: Drs. Leopold Zander, Robert W. Thrift, W. II. Park. H. B. Lung. S. A. Smith, S. H. Spencer. J. Kling. Joseph Hebble. Henry K. Spooner. J. L. Morris. James C. Myers, Thomas M. Cook. Geo. S. Yingling, Walter Caswell. Henry F. Lacey. H. H. Russel. O. Ferris, W. B. Hyatt, J. H. Williams, N. B. Brisbani, R. R. Mc-
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Meens, George Weeks and Gibson, of Bloom (latter surgeon of Seneca Militia, during Toledo war).
The practicing physicians on the southern borders of the county, residents of Wyandot county, previous to 1845 were : Joseph Mason and David Watson. of Crane; Noah Wilson, of Ridge; David Adams of Richland; William Cope, of Jackson ; Westbrook (1835). Hall, Chisney and Ferris, of Marseilles; Clark and Foster, of Crawford; Bingham. Free, Letson, Ranger, G. W. Sampson (1828) and Dunn, of Tymochtee; A. W. Munson, of Antrim; J. H. Drumm, of Pitt, and Stephen Fowler (1827) and J. B. McGill, of the same township; McConnell. of Upper San- dusky. Dr. Fowler was well known to the first settlers of Seneca, while Dr. Sampson settled in this county before taking his resi- dence south of the county line. Dr. E. J. Mccollum settled at Mc- Cutcheonville in 1849. and practiced there for two years.
The Fostoria Medical Society was organized April 18, 1876, . with J. W. Bricker, F. J. Bricker (removed). R. W. Hale, R. C. Caples, G. L. Hoege, W. M. Cake (in Michigan), A. S. Williams, C. A. Henry, L. Williams, A. J. Longfellow, G. M. Lewis (Michi- gan), A. G. Owen, E. D. Powers (druggist, removed), and A. E. Watson. Shortly after the organization of the County Medical Society, the senior members of the profession at Fostoria joined the new association.
On September 13, 1878. a number of physicians met at Dr. McFarland's office at Tiffin, and issued an invitation to the physi- cians of the county to meet on September 25th for the purpose of organizing a society. On the day named there were present : Drs. J. A. McFarland, A. B. Hovey, E. J. Mccollum, J. F. E. Fanning, G. P. Willard. B. F. Ilittle. Maurice Leahy, E. W. Sullivan, A. L. Waugaman, H. B. Martin, Simon Bricker. J. W. Heckerman, J. T. Livers, of Tiffin ; T. J. West, of Melmore; Barber, of Attica ; Nighswander. of Fort Seneca; A. S. Martin, of Bettsville; Whit- taker, of Bascom ; G. L. Hoege, of Fostoria ; W. H. Paul, of Adrian; A. S. Uberroth, of New Riegel, and II. B. Gibbon, of Kansas. A resolution to organize a medical society was carried. when A. B. Hovey was elected president. J. A. McFarland, vice president, A. L. Waugaman, secretary. and H. K. Spooner, treasurer. Drs. Martin, of Bettsville; Nighswander. of Fort Seneca,and Wauga- man, presented a form of constitution, which was adopted.
J. B. Bland of Benton ; Henderson, of Green Spring, and Patterson, of Mccutcheonville, were admitted to membership Octo- ber 23, 1878; Dr. Benner admitted prior to this date.
On February 26, 1879: F. W. Schwan, of Benton; Wert. of Mexico; Ray R. Mitchell. Bellevue; Hoy. of Bloomville: B. S. Stover, of Republic; W. R. Martin of Melmore; and Chancellor Martin, of Fort Seneca.
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On June 25, 1879; G. W. Sampson, of Mccutcheonville; L. G. Williams, R. W. Hale. A. S. Williams, R. C. Caples, A. J. Long- fellow, W. M. Cake, John Bricker and C. A. Henry, of the Fostoria Medical Association.
Dr. Martin, of Bloomville, was admitted January 28, 1880, and L. E. Robison, April 28th, that year. Drs. Wenner, Foucht, Keller, MeKeller, J. P. Kinnaman, J. S. Yingling and W. II. Her- shiser joined the society later.
CHAPTER XV
PROMINENT PEOPLE OF THE COUNTY
HON. WILLIAM H. GIBSON-C. W. BUTTERFIELD, THE HISTOR- IAN-DR. D. D. BIGGER, FAMOUS DIVINE-JUDGE WILLIAM LANG- HON. J. A. NORTON, VERSATILE AND SOLID-AN AMERICAN GOLD- SMITH-HALF-BROTHER OF NASBY-TOM CORWIN IN SENECA COUN- TY -- GENERAL SIDNEY SEA-GOOD ADVERTISER-NAME CHANGED FROM SMITH TO SEA-THE "OSCEOLAS," A FIREBRAND-EATING GINGERBREAD IN THE RANKS-TRIED TO OUST GENERAL BELL-WHY HE WENT TO JAIL-A LOSS TO GOOD SOCIETY-JOHN GOODIN --- DAVID EVAN OWEN-ANDREW LUGENBEEL-THE PITTENGER BROTHERS-LAST AND FIRST INDIAN AGENT-COLONEL BALL- JUDGE HUGH WELCH-GEORGE E. SENEY-MRS. SAMUEL B. SNEATH-MRS. SNEATH ON CONSERVATION-OTHER PROMINENT WOMEN-CORONER LEPPER AS AN ARTIST-ANDREW COFFINBERRY POET -- "FOREST RANGERS," BY JUDGE COFFINBERRY-PIONEER POET AND PREACHER.
An attempt is made in the following pages to present the personalities of some of the leading citizens of Seneca county who have specially honored themselves and in so doing, shed a luster on the history of this section of the Buckeye state. This chapter might be expanded into a volume and its comparative brevity, when measured by the richness of the subject, is explained by reference to the many personal sketches of leading men and women found in other pages of this work.
Among the prominent persons of Seneca county past and present, without disparagement to others, we place the Hon. Wil- liam H. Gibson at the head of the list. Mr. Gibson was an able lawyer and one of the greatest orators the country ever produced. He was also distinguished as a military man. served through the Civil war and became a brigadier general ere its close. After his death a magnificent monument was erected to his memory upon the court house square. Tiffin. a sketch of which is given in another chapter in this work.
General William Harvey Gibson was born May 16, 1821, in Jefferson county, Ohio, of Scotch-Irish parentage. In October
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of the same year his parents moved to the region about Honey creek, Seneca county, same state.
In 1826 he attended the first school opened in Eden township. Later he attended Craw's school and about 1838 the grammar school of Dominie Brinkerhoff. In 1841 he left home for Ashland to attend the academy. In 1842 he came to Tiffin, Ohio, and com- meneed the study of law in the offices of Rawson & Pennington. After passing the examinations he commenced the practice of his profession in Tiffin, and was especially successful as a trial lawyer. In 1847 he was married to Miss Martha Creeger. In 1856, as a delegate, he took an active part in the organization of the Repub- lican party and on January 17. 1856, was installed as treasurer of Ohio, which office he resigned June 13, 1857. because of heavy deficit left by his predecessor.
On July 25th, 1861. he issued posters calling for volunteers; was commissioned colonel of the Forty-ninth Ohio Volunteer In. fantry, July 31, 1861. The Forty-ninth left for the front Septem ber 10. At the battle of Shiloh. so skillfully did he handle his regiment as to win the special praises of General Sherman who, on the next day, complimented Colonel Gibson and Lieutenent Colonel Blackman for "Performing the most difficult but finest movement he ever witnessed on a field of battle."
During the summer of 1864 General Gibson commanded his brigade and division the greater part of the time and was repeat- edly recommended by his superiors for promotion, but one man at Washington kept from Gibson his major general's stars.
At the close of the Gibson returned to the practice of law, which he continued until 1872. In 1871 he laid out the town of Gibsonburg, Sandusky county. Ohio. He aided in the develop- ment of Bairdstown, Melotsville and Melrose. His time was now largely given up to public speaking. either for his party or the Grand Army of the Republic.
In 1879 Governor Foster appointed him adjutant general of Ohio, in which office he saved or secured to the state from the national government war loans and interest to the amount of $900,000. In 1887 Governor Foraker appointed him one of the Ohio Canal Commissioners, where he again distinguished himself. In 1891 he was appointed postmaster of the city of Tiffin, which office he held at the time of his death. This occurred November 22, 1894, at his home at Fort Ball, Tiffin.
Consul Wilshire Butterfield, the famous historian. was born near the village of Colosse. Oswego county, New York. July 28. 1824. In 1834 his father's family removed to Melmore. Seneca county, Ohio, of which he published a history in 1848. The year previous he had been elected superintendent of the Seneca county schools. After quitting the practice of law, he devoted his time
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· to literary pursuits; having previously written "An Historical Account of the Expedition Against Sandusky, under Colonel Wil- liam Crawford, in 1782." The work gave the story of one of the most thrilling expeditions of the Revolutionary war, the death of Colonel Crawford at the stake being perhaps the most tragic of all the narratives of border warfare during the struggle for American independence.
Mr. Butterfield was the author of numerous works, principally of an historical nature. In 1875 he removed to Wisconsin, and later to Nebraska, where he died at his home in South Omaha, September 25, 1899.
A sister of Consul W. Butterfield married Pere Hyacinthe, of Paris. Father Hyacinthe was a Catholic priest of great distinc- tion, and who, while he was a priest at Notre Dame preached and wrote against the celibacy of the priesthood, and proved the sin- cerity of his teachings by marrying Miss Butterfield. Miss Butter- field was then in Paris as the correspondent of the New York Herald, and was noted for her great beauty, gracefulness and in- telligence.
Another distinguished citizen of Seneca county was the Hon. Anson Burlingame, who after having served as a New England representative in congress, became the American ambassador to China.
The Hon. William Armstrong was for many years the editor of the Tiffin Advertiser. He creditably filled the office of secre- tary of state, was a Democratic politician of note and was one of the prominent country editors in Ohio. Ile later became the owner of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, which, under his management, be- came one of the leading newspapers in Ohio.
The Rev. David Dwight Bigger. D. D., is the most prominent minister in Seneca county. He was pastor of the First Presby- terian church of Tiffin for eighteen years. He is still engaged in the general ministry of that denomination. Dr. Bigger was very influential in raising funds to erect a monument to General Gib- son, as it stated elsewhere in this work. He is also quite promin- nent in the literary field. having written and published a number of valuable books. From Dr. Bigger the author received his first encouragement to write the history of Seneca county. The doctor was born in Pittsburg. Pennsylvania, May 18, 1849. His father, the Rev. Mathew Bigger, was also a doctor of divinity. In history, the Biggers are known as prominent Presbyterians. On the rostrum the Rev. D. D. Bigger is a deep reasoner, an eloquent speaker and a forcible debater.
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