USA > Ohio > Seneca County > History of Seneca County, Ohio; a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests, Vo. II > Part 12
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Dr. Storer is a member of Alpha Kappa Kappa fraternity and is also a member of the scholarship society. Alpha Omega Alpha. He is a member of the Episcopal church and his wife of the Metho- dist church, and the former is independent in politics, believing under present political conditions in the elevation of the best man to the office.
Dr. Storer's mother, Mrs. Sophia Storer. is an ardent Eastern Star member and is prominent and popular in this important order, having organized several lodges and ever working faithfully for its advancement. Her influence extends through this and adjoining counties and she has frequently attended grand lodge as delegate from Republic.
HON. JOSEPH C. ARNOLD .- As mayor of the city of Tiffin IIon. Joseph C. Arnold holds a position of prominence and influence in the annals of Seneca county, and is eminently worthy of repre- sentation in a work of this character. A man of incorruptible integrity, honest and upright, he is held in high respect through-
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out the community. £ He was born, September 30, 1863, in Tiffin, being a son of deputy sheriff Anthony H. and Mary R. (Fanning) Arnold. His father was born and bred in Pennsylvania, but his mother was a native of Seneca county.
Educated in Tiffin, Joseph C. Arnold attended first the public schools, afterwards attending Heidelberg College. Thinking when young to enter the legal profession, he read law with Hon. George E. Seney, but instead of engaging in its practice entered the rail- way mail service as a clerk, continuing thus employed for fifteen years. Always taking an intelligent interest in civie affairs, he was elected mayor of Tiffin in 1907, and filled the chair so accept- ably and ably that in 1909 he was re-elected to the same high office. As head of the city government Mr. Arnold performs his duties conscientiously, never swerving from the direct line of obligation to benefit a friend or to harm a foe.
Mr. Arnold married, July 1. 1897, Ada Engstrom, of Chicago. Illinois, and they are the parents of two children, namely: Elva. born April 12, 1898; and Ruth, born September 10, 1908. Politi- cally Mr. Arnold is an earnest supporter of the Democratic party. and fraternally he belongs to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and to the Knights of Columbus. Religiously he and his family are members of St. Mary's Roman Catholic church.
FATHER THOMAS F. CONLON .- Well educated, a deep thinker. earnest in his convictions, and sincerely devout, Rev. Father Thoma's F. Conlon, pastor of St. Mary's church, at Tiffin, Seneca county, is doing much toward the betterment of the moral status of the place, and as a man and a citizen is held in high esteem by the people. A native of Ohio, he was born, November 10, 1869, in Ashtabula. where he received his preliminary education, attending the public and the parochial schools.
Wishing to further advance his studies, he entered Assumption College, at Sandwich, Ontario, and there took a classical and scientifie course, graduating with the class of 1893. Going then to Baltimore, Maryland, he completed the course of study at St. Mary's Seminary, where. in December, 1898, he was ordained to the priesthood. Returning to Ohio, he was for six months assis- tant priest in St. Joseph's church, in Tiffin, and from that time until 1901 was the assistant priest at St. Mary's church. During the time he was away from Tiffin, Father Conlon was at Grafton and at Salem as pastor. He came back to Tiffin as pastor of St. Mary's church on the death, in 1904. of Rev. Father Haley, who had been in charge of the church as pastor for forty-seven conse- cutive years. Father Conlon succeeding to the position, has since been pastor of this large and important church, likewise having control of the parochial school of the parish.
St. Mary's church, which was built during the pastorate of Father Conlon, is one of the largest and finest edifices in the Toledo diocese, and has a large and constantly increasing membership. the pastor being especially influential and popular with his flock.
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GEORGE DOUGHERTY .- A man of pronounced business and executive ability. George Dougherty is actively identified with one of the principal industries of Tiffin, where he is superintendent of the United States Glass Works. Honest and upright in his deal- . ings, his influence as a man of honor and integrity is widely felt and he is held in high esteem throughout the community. He was
born, March 17, 1879, in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and was there bred and educated, completing his early studies in the high school.
Beginning his active career soon after leaving school, Mr. Dougherty entered the employ of the United States Glass Com- pany in Pittsburg as bill elerk, and proved himself so useful and faithful in that capacity that in 1900 the company sent him to Tiffin as shipping clerk. Promotion here awaited him, and ere very many seasons he was made assistant superintendent of the plant, and in October, 1909, succeeded Robert Reid as superin- tendent of the works.
On June 8, 1904, Mr. Dougherty married Elizabeth Reifsnider. who was born April 29. 1882. in Tiffin, a daughter of C. D. and Elizabeth (Schriver) Reifsnider. Mrs. Dougherty is a woman of culture and refinement, who, having finished the course of studies in the Tiffin schools, was graduated from the Gambier Seminary. Mr. and Mrs. Dougherty have two children, namely : George D .. born December 23, 1905; and Elizabeth, born March 3, 1909. Religiously Mr. and Mrs. Dougherty are members of the Episcopal church. Fraternally Mr. Dougherty belongs to Tiffin Lodge, No. 77, F. & A. M .; to Seneca Chapter, No. 42, R. A. M .; to Clinton Council No. 47. R. & S. M .; and to De Molay Commandery, No. 9. Κ. Τ.
BYRON A. PARMENTER .- One of the prosperous and progres- sive agriculturists of Adams township, of extremely interesting and distinguished ancestry, and one whose prominence in lodge circles gives him an even more extensive acquaintance than he might otherwise enjoy, is Byron A. Parmenter. He was born October 8, 1861. in Williams county, Ohio, on the state line between Ohio and Michigan and his residence in Seneca county dates from the fall of 1875. Mr. Parmenter is a self made man and what pros- perity he has achieved is due to his own efforts. for he assuredly was not born with the silver spoon in his mouth. His parents died when he was only six years of age and as soon as he could by any stretch of imagination be counted old enough to take his place in the work-a-day world he hired out by the month and continued thus employed for a number of years.
A glance at the forbears of Mr. Parmenter would be timely at this point. His parents were David and Lydia ( Huling) Par- menter, both of whose families were originally from England. The maternal grandfather, Nathan Huling, crossed the Atlantic to seek new fortunes in a land of larger and richer resources at a very early date and shortly after his arrival on these shores, located in Pennsylvania. The Huling and the Wyckoff families. from both of which Mr. Parmenter is descended on the maternal side. came originally from Holland, and the later spelling of the name is
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Wickoff. The Parmenter family was originally French, and the name in its original form was Paumentier. the change in the spell- ing having been made about the time of the crusades. The family is extremely good and was related to French royalty. Like the families on the maternal side. they too went to England on account of religious persecution, and came thence to America. Members of the family built the town of Maumee on the banks of Lake Erie about the year 1830. Mr. Parmenter's grandmother Perde was an Irishwoman.
When in 1893, at the age of thirty-two years, Mr. Parmenter found himself in a position to marry he choose for his wife Rosa Baker, daughter of Fred A. and Ann C. Holtz (Feoge) Baker. the mother being an aunt of Charles D. Holtz, whose biography appears on other pages of this work. Their marriage was solem- nized on the last day of January of the year mentioned. Mrs. Parmenter was born October 4, 1864. Her mother's parents were Jacob and Susan Feoge. the name having originally been spelt Fiege. It was changed to its present form by an ancestor who hoped to escape the detection of his country. he having deserted from the Hessian ranks and joined the Colonial army at the time of the American Revolution. The grandfather Holtz (on the maternal side), who was a native of Germany, came to Sonora county in 1832, when Tiffin consisted of only a few log cabins. II .. first located in town. but subsequently bought land about two and one half miles east of Tiffin and in 1834. two years after his ar- rival, he took up his residence upon this farm and here resided until his death, which occurred December 29. 1859, at the age of seventy-two years. he having been born July 17. 1786. His wife survived him until May. 1870, her birthdate having been October 13, 1788, and her age at the time of her demise in consequence he- ing some eighty-two years.
Mrs. Parmenter's father. Fred A. Baker. came to Tiffin. Ohio. in 1848 from Frederick county. Mo. and he worked two years for his brother Ezra, who was the proprietor of a grist mill. This mill, built in 1830, is still standing and was one of the first mills of its kind in Seneca county. £ Her mother was born in Frederick county, Maryland. May 24, 1823. and came here with her parents when a young girl in 1834. Three of her cousins. Fred A. Baker. Milton E. Baker and John T. Baker, the latter of whom is living. gave valliant service in the Union army at the time of the Civil war, as did also Clay Holtz. William Holtz and Jacob Holtz.
Mrs. Parmenter's father died in 1885 and her mother in 1891. and after the demise of the latter and the breaking up of the home she went to live with her brother. Silas W. Baker. and resided with him until her marriage. She had received a good education in the district schools. For three years after their union Mr. and Mrs. Parmenter resided on a fifty acre fram near Republic, but on March 24, 1896, they'removed to Adams township and purchased the valuable seventy-six acre tract upon which they now reside. This with its modern and attractive home, commodious out buildings and beautiful surroundings is a most desirable and frequently visited home. There are no children.
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Mr. Parmenter is a stanch advocate of the Republican party and he has held several of the township offices, giving faithful and efficient service as their incumbent. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, having held some of the chairs, and in the Woodmen of the World to which he likewise belongs, he has held nearly all of the offices. He is a member of the order of Pythian Sisters and has held membership in the Patrons of Industry for twenty-one years. He and his wife belong to the Grange. They are also members of the Presbyterian church.
LUCAS STUCKY .-- It is most pleasing to the publishers of this work to be able to incorporate within its pages the brief history of a man whose entire life thus far has been spent in this favored section of the fine old Buckeye. state, where his success as an agri- culturist has been on a parity with his own well directed efforts. Lucas Stucky, whose name initiates this review, was born in Bloom township. Seneca county. Ohio, on the 24th of May. 1835, and he is a son of John D. and Mary (Schaack) Stucky. the former of whom was a native of Germany, and the latter of whom was born in North Hampton county, Pennsylvania. June 25. 1780. John Stucky was a son of Henry J. Stucky, who was born and reared to maturity in Switzerland. whence he removed with his family to Germany. He
was the father of several children. .John D., father of our sub- jeet, was born in Bavaria on the 4th of January, 1797. and his early educational training was that afforded in the common schools of the locality and period. In 1827. after serving most faithfully for a period of six years in the Germany army. John D. Stucky severed the ties which bound him to home and fatherland and. after procuring a passport from the king. he emigrated to America. em- barking on the 27th of March of that year. After a long and weary trip of fifty days he reached Lancaster county. Pennsylvania, and being favorably impressed with this section of the United States he acted on a most generous impulse and immediately returned to his old home in Germany to induce his friends and kinsmen to like- wise seek their fortunes in the new world. Accordingly one of his brothers. together with a large number of acquaintances. accom- panied him on his second trip across the broad expanse of the Atlantic, and two other brothers came about 1837. All four of the brothers now lie in their final resting place in the Reformed church cemetery on Base line.
In course of time John D. Stucky removed to the eastern part of Ohio and in 1834 he took up his residence in Seneca county, where he entered one hundred and sixty acres of government land in section 31. Bloom township. This tract was then virgin wilder- ness and Mr. Stucky contracted with a carpenter to build him a house, to be in readiness for occupancy in early spring. He ad- vanced the man fifty dollars but when he returned to take posses- sion in the spring he found neither man. house nor fifty dollars. His natural resourcefulness came to his aid and he camped in the open until he was able to construct a more substantial home for himself. In due course of time he owned a fine set of farm build- ings and a valuable and well improved farm, on which he passed
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the residue of his eventful pioneer life, a man deeply loved and highly esteemed by his fellow citizens. He became a naturalized citizen of the United States in 1841 and no native son accorded a more loyal and stanch allegiance to the cause of his country. H was thrice married. He first wedded Miss Boughman, who died, and subsequently was solemnized his marriage to Miss Mary Schaack, whose death occurred on the 15th of January. 1838, and who was survived by three children. Henry, Lucas (the immediate subject of this review), and Adam. In 1840 John D. Stucky was united in marriage to Miss Mary Bippas and they became the parents of five children, only one of whom is now living. Jolm. Mr. Stucky was a most zealous member of the Reformed church and he was summoned to eternal rest in 1870. at the venerable age of seventy-four years.
Lucas Stucky, who was born in Bloom township, this county. on the 24th of May, 1835, as already noted, was reared to adult age on his father's fine old farmstead, in whose work he early began to assist. He received his preliminary educational discipline in the district schools and has since supplemented the same in life's school of experience. . It is interesting to note at this point that he still retains possession of the farm reclaimed by his father so many years ago. He also owns. in Lyken township. Crawford county. this state, three tracts of land of eighty, forty and twenty acres respectively. Through his native thrift and close identification with the great basic art of agriculture he has gained a competency and is now living virtually retired in Bloomville, where he is spend- ing the gracious evening of his life in the enjoyment of the pro- ceeds of his former years of earnest toil and endeavor.
In politics Lucas Stucky is a stanch advocate of the principles and policies of the Democratic party and though never an aspirant for public office he has ever accorded a loyal support to all measures and enterprises tending to conserve the general welfare of the community. He is broad minded and public spirited and his life stands exemplar of the best type of American citizenship. Both he and his wife are members of the Reformed church, in the various departments of whose work they have been most active. contributing liberally to all charitable and beneficent organizations connected with the same.
On the 16th of April. 1857. was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Stucky to Miss Mary Rupert, who was born in Stark county. Ohio, on the 1st of May. 1834, and who is a daughter of Benjamin and Eva (Snook) Rupert. representative citizens of Stark county, Ohio, where the father was engagel in farming. Mr. and Mrs. Stucky became the parents of twelve children. four of whom are de eased, namely, twins who died in infancy, born in 1867: Delore E., who was born in 1870, and who died in 1906; and Libby, who died at the age of twenty-two years. Those who are living are : Civilla, born 1858; Mary E., 1860: William H. P., 1862; Magde- lene, 1864; Elizabeth, 1866; Charles L .. 1868; Emna I., 1872; Benjamin C., 1875; and Earl W. M., 1877. It may be noted here that Civilla, Mary E .. and William H. P., are all born on the same day of the month.
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DAVID C. SHERCK .- Seneca county is one of those favored sec- tions where it is frequently the case that several generations of the same family succeed each other, its many advantages present- ing irrefutable argument against change of residence. David C. Sherck, one of the progressive farmers of Adams township. is one of the third generation of his name to play a prominent part in the life of the township. his grandfather, John Sherck, having been one of the pioneers who secured land from the government. walking to Bucyrus to get the deed, which was signed by President Andrew Jackson. He was a native of Pennsylvania, as was also his wife, whose maiden name was Magdaline Krider, and their farm of one hundred and sixty acres was located near Thompson Center. This they redeemed from primitive conditions and con- verted into a productive and valuable piece of property. He as- sisted in building the place of worship located where the Dunkard church now stands at Thompson Center and gave his hand to the cause of education and the building of public schools.
David C. Sherck was born October 15. 1866, his parents being Martin and Elizabeth (Good) Sherek. The mother was a daugh- ter of Emanuel and Catherine (Bunn) Good, people of the Key- stone state, who came to Thompson township in 1830 and located on a farm there. They were descendants of the Pilgrims, their forefathers having been of that brave little band who crossed the seas in the Mayflower. Mr. Sherek's father was born May 14. 1842, and died December 24. 1906. He experienced the usual fortunes of the son of a pioneer farmer, such as education in the district schools and practical training in boyhood in the various departments of farming. ITe remained at home until his mar- riage, which was solemnized in the year 1865. To them were born four children, the subject being the eldest. Charles. horn July 30. 1868. resides with his brother in this township; Professor John Sherck, born December 16. 1869, lives in Bloomville; and Estella, born April 3. 1871. is the wife of Claud Wilder. of Grand Rapids. Michigan. The elder Mr. and Mrs. Sherck were members of the Reformed church and were very active in its affairs.
Mr. Sherck remained at home until his marriage in 1892. when he began to farm independently. living for nine years upon a property owned by his wife's parents. They subsequently re- moved to their present location in Adams township and Mr. Sherek went into partnership with his brother Charles in the operation of a one hundred and sixty acre estate. Charles has property interests in West Lodi, consisting of a house and three lots. They engage in general farming and have made a success of their endeavors.
Mr. Sherek was married. November 10. 1892, his wife being Flora E. Hensinger. daughter of John and Catherine (Neikirk) Hensigner. Mrs. Sherck was born December 7. 1870. while the birthdate of her father was September 30. 1831. and that of her mother. August 30. 1834. The maternal grandparents. Henry and Catherine Neikirk. natives of Maryland. came here at an early day and located in Scipio township. Seneca county. More de- tailed information concerning this family is given in the sketch
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of E. E. Neikirk. appearing on other pages of this work. Mrs. Sherek is a member of a family of ten children, of whom the other members are : Timothy J., Henry W .. Ida A., wife of J. H. Bennehoff, of Tiffin: Katie M .. wife of Bloom Rover; Lester P., of Chicago Junction ; Jessie, wife of Frank Sherman, of Tiffin ; Effie J .. wife of Frank Gorman. of Indiana; Mary G., wife of Charles Sherek. (deceased) ; and Otto J. The above mentioned Charles Sherek, whose death occurred May 14, 1906, was the father of three children : Inez. Virgil and Thelma.
David C. Sherek and his wife are the parents of five children. named : Oscar C .. Bessie E .. Charles L .. Noble B .. and Rachel B. They have also a number of nieces and nephews on the Sherek side. Professor John Sherek of Bloomville having children. named Florence E., Donald, Edwin Matt and Charles Bernard, while the sister Estella has four, named Leta, Orin, Eula and Arlo. Mr. Sherek's brother and partner. Charles. is a member of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows and has filled all the chairs. IIe is likewise affiliated with the Rebekahs. John Sherek is a Mason. holding membership in this ancient and important order in Bloom- ville. The Shercks are active workers in the Christian church and its Sunday school. David Sherek is a Democrat in politics.
HARRY P. BLACK .- Entirely due to his own efforts has been the advancement of Harry Patrick Black to the status which he now occupies as one of the representative members of the bar of Seneca county. and he is engaged in the active practice of his pro- fession in the city of Tiffin, where he is junior member of the firm of Platt & Black. From his efforts as a skilled artisan he made provision for his earnest and effective work in the preparation for the profession of his choice. and he has been dependent upon his own resources since his early youth. so that the marked success which he has achieved is the more gratifying to contemplate. He has served in various offices of public trust in Seneca county. in- eluding that of prosecuting attorney. of which he is incumbent at the present time. and he holds a secure place in the confidence and esteem of the community in which he has elected to establish his home.
Harry Patrick Black was born in the town of Kirkcaldy. on the north shore of the Firth of Forth. in Fifeshire. Scotland. and the date of his nativity was April 4. 1870. He is a son of Michael and Elizabeth (Smith) Black. both of whom were born in the north of Ireland. The lineage on both the paternal and maternal sides is traced back to stanch Scottish origin, and the ancestors of Mr. Black were among those colonistis who emigrated from Scotland to the north of Ireland in 1604. under the reign of King James I of England. Michael Black was a potter by trade and voca- tion, and when the subject of this review was about three years of age the family emigrated to America and established a home in the city of Baltimore, Maryland. in which state the parents passed the residue of their lives, the father having passed away in 1884 and the mother in 1895. Both were devout communicants of the
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Catholic church, in whose faith were carefully reared their children. of whom three sons and one daughter are now living.
He whose name initiates this review gained his early educa- tional discipline in the parochial schools of the city of Baltimore and thereafter continued his higher academic studies for two years in Rockhill College. at Catonsville, that state, an institution con- ducted by the Christian Brothers of the Catholic church. Upon the death of his father it became incumbent upon Harry P. Black. who was then sixteen years of age. to secure employment by which he could provide for his own needs and also assist in the care of his widowed mother and the younger children of the family. It was but natural that under these conditions he should turn his at- tention to the potter's trade, which had been the vocation of his honored father, and he thus entered upon an apprenticeship in the Maryland Pottery Works. in the city of Baltimore. There his apprenticeship was prolonged over a period of five years, and after the completion thereof he continued to be employed in the estab- lishment as a journeyman for two years. having become a skilled workman in this line of industrial enterprise.
Though successful in the work of his trade Mr. Black had higher ambitions, and after consulting ways and means there was naught of vacillation in his course. He determined to enter the legal profession. and results have emphatically shown the wisdom of his choice of vocation. In the year 1892 Mr. Black came to Senera county and located in Tiffin, where he began the study of law under the able preceptorship of his present partner and valued friend. James HI. Platt. having instituted his technical reading on the 17th of March. 1893, a significant observance of St. Patrick's day. In the following month he was elected township clerk of Clinton town- ship and he effectively discharged the duties of this office while con- tinuing his earnest and indefatigable study of the science of jurisprudence. He was admitted to the bar on the 7th of June. 1895, and forthwith became associated with his preceptor in the active practice of his profession in Tiffin, where this mutually grateful and effective alliance has since continued, under the firm name of Platt & Black. Mr. Black has proved a most versatile and resourceful trial lawyer, and is a strong advocate before court or jury. In 1896 he was elected city solicitor of Tiffin. and of this office he continued incumbent for two terms of two years each. In November. 1908. there came further recognition of his professional ability and personal popularity. in that he was elected proseenting attorney of the county. He has made an admirable record in this office, in which he has appeared as public prosecutor in many im- portant cases, both civil and criminal, and his term of office ex- pired on January 1. 1910.
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