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 19
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wife and mother died the year following.
Mr. Rule's present
wife, before her marriage. was Miss Elizabeth Lull. She was educated in New Hampshire and came to Seneca county about the year 1900. Mrs. Rule's parents died when she was but three years old and she was adopted by a great-uncle, Robert B. Lull. who resided in Clermont. New Hampshire. She there attended the district schools until her marriage, which occurred January 4. 1905, at Detroit, Michigan. She came then to the farm in Seneca county. Isaac P. Rule's grandfather. Daniel Rule, established the present Rule homestead on land obtained during Andrew Jackson's administration.
Mr. Rule is a member of the Masonic Commandery at Fremont and also belongs to the Order of the Eastern Star and Mrs. Rule is worthy matron of the organization at Greenspring of the last named order. She is a member of the Universalist church. Mr. Rule has traveled quite extensively throughout the United States. He is a man of fine abilities and has varied the monotony of farming with ventures in the way of speculation. ITis influence in public affairs of his township and county is recognized and his public spirit, no less than his good judgment have brought him into the counsels of those who plan and promote innovations for the general good.
J. SCHUYLER HOSSLER .- A man of prominence and influence in public affairs in the thriving village of Bloomville. Seneca conn- ty, is J. Schuyler Hossler. a member of the firm of Hossler & Kim- mel, editors and proprietors of the Bloomrille Gazette. At this juncture it is interesting to note the evolution of the Gazette. The first paper edited in Bloomville appeared in 1875 and was called the Enterprise. It was owned by Rev. Robert Lockhart, J. N. Lee and D. W. Fisher. the latter of whom changed the name to the
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Bloomville Banner. Adam Brothers purchased the paper in 1877 and they were succeeded by William Kaga, who sold it to Mr. Fisher, one of the first founders. Mr. Fisher eventually disposed of it to Mr. Hamaker, and during his ownership it was discontinued for a period of eight months. O. M. Holcomb next took it in charge and he changed the title to that of the Independent d' Seneca County Record. For a time it was in the hands of MI. Richardson and in 1894 he disposed of it to I. C. Gray, who edited it success- fully until 1905. In 1900 Mr. Hossler established the Gazette and five years later the Independent was consolidated with the Gazette under the name of the latter. In 1909 I. C. Gray with- drew from the firm and was succeeded by E. D. Kimmel, who is now associated with J. Schuyler Hossler under the firm name of Hos- ler & Kimmel, as already noted. In 1910 this firm founded an- other paper, the Republic Reporter. Both papers are now well established on a sound, paying basis and they have a circulation of about fifteen hundred. In connection with the work on the papers is conducted a flourishing jobbing department.
J. Schuyler Hossler was born in Bloom township, Seneca, coun- ty, Ohio, on the 13th of May, 1873, and he is a son of Samuel B. and Sarah J. (Lomiller) Hossler, the former of whom was born in Bloom township on the 12th of April. 1842. and the latter of whom was born on February 16, 1847. Samuel B. Hossler was reared and educated in his native township and he supplemented his earlier educational training by an effective course of study in the Seneca County Academy. That he put his scholastic attainments to good use is shown by the fact that he was successfully engaged in teaching for seven terms. Subsequently he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits in conjunction with work of a clerical nature. Ile has served as executor of various estates and it is stated on good authority that he has settled more estates than any other man in the township. He was at one time nominated on the Republican ticket for county recorder and infirmary director. but owing to political exigencies he was defeated by a small majority. He has filled with efficiency the offices of land appraiser and town- ship trustee and was for many years a member of the school board. On the 2nd of May, 1864. he showed his patriotism and loyalty to the cause of the union by enlisting as a member of Company G. One Hundred and Sixty-fourth Ohio National Guard. his com- mand being assigned to the Army of the Cumberland. He served out his term and was mustered out of service in September. 1864. His brother. Henry F., was likewise a gallant soldier in the Union army. He served as a private in Company B. One Hundred and Ninety-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was a first lieutenant.
Ohio National Guard.
He was summoned to eternal rest on the
5th of November. 1872. Samuel B. Hossler has important inter- ests in several farms in and adjacent to Bloom township and for the past nineteen years he has maintained his home in Bloomville. where he has extensive real estate holdings. It is interesting to note here that Mr. Hossler has in his possession a twenty-five cent piece which was found in the pocket of President Mckinley at the time of his assassination in Buffalo, New York. This memento
£
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was given him by his cousin. H. W. Hossler, who was one of the fellow directors with President Mckinley in the Central Savings Bank of Canton. Ohio, and who was one of the appraisers of the McKinley estate.
Samuel Hossler is a son of Jacob and Anna (Funk) Hossler. the former of whom was born in Adams county. Pennsylvania, on the 31st of January. 1806. and the latter of whom was a native of Stark county, Ohio, where her birth occurred on the 19th of June. 1814. The old Hossler homestead in Pennsylvania is part of the site on which was fought the memorable battle of Gettysburg. Jacob came with his parents to Ohio in 1821 and the family located in Stark county. In 1834 he came to Seneca county and estab- lished his home in Bloom township, where he developed a produc- tive farm. His marriage to Miss Anna Funk was solemnized on the 23rd of September. 1830. and of their sixteen children eleven attained to years of maturity. In 1866 Mr. Hossler removed to Bloomville, where he continued to reside until his death and he was long one of the prominent and influential citizens of Seneca coun- ty. For nearly a quarter of a century he served as justice of the peace and he was the first incumbent of the office of mayor of Bloomville. He served four years as postmaster. under the ad- ministration of President Grant, and he was called upon to serve in other offices of public trust. He was summoned to the life eternal on the 5th of March. 1896. his cherished and devoted wife having passed away on the 16th of February. 1891. Both lived to a ripe old age. celebrating their golden wedding in 1880 and the sixtieth anniversary of their marriage in 1890. At the time of his demise Jacob Hossler was the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of valuable farm land and he contributed materially to the development of the agricultural industry of Seneca county. Both he and his wife were held in high regard by their fellow citi- zens and the circle of their friends was coincident with that of their acquaintances. Jacob Hossler was a son of Frederick Hos- sler, who was born in Pennsylvania on the 8th of September. 1783. and who was a son of John G. Hossler. a representative of one of the pioneer families of the old Keystone state. where he was born in 1758. John G. Hossler was a son of Michael J. Hossler. who was born in Alsace. France. now a German province, and who emigrated to America and established his home in Philadelphia county, Pennsylvania. in 1754. John G. Hossler married Eliza- beth Ramer, who was born in York county. Pennsylvania. on the 1st of December. 1762. Frederick Hossler. grandfather of him whose name initiates this article. was born in York county. Penn- sylvania, on the 8th of December, 1783. as already noted. and he married Magdelene Koltriter, who was born October 31. 1782. His death occurred on the 30th of December. 1843. and his wife. who long survived him. passed away on the 3rd of August, 1867.
J. Schuyler Hossler, the immediate subject of this review. re- ceived his early educational discipline in his native township and when nineteen years of age was matriculated in Heidelburg College. at Tiffin, in the literary department of which he was graduated as a member of the class of 1897, with the degree of Bachelor of
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Science. From 1897 to 1900 he was engaged as editor of the Toledo Herald and in the latter year he severed his connection with this paper and became editor and proprietor of the Bloomville Gazette. Concerning his identification with this enterprising paper a brief history has already been given. In politics Mr. Hossler accords an unwavering allegiance to the Republican party and the high place which he holds in popular confidence and es- teem is readily indicated by his election as mayor of Bloomville in 1910. He is giving a most admirable administration of the munic- ipal affairs of his home town and is doing much to further the development and progress of the same. In the time honored Masonic fraternity he holds membership in Eden Lodge, No. 310, Free and Accepted Masons, and he is also affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America. Both he and his wife are earnest members of the Methodist Episcopal church and they are promi- nent factors in the social activities of the community.
On the 29th of May, 1898, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Hossler to Miss Dollie Kimmel. who was born in Attica, Ohio, and who is a daughter of Henry H. and Martha A. (Swartz) Kimmel, representative citizens of Bloomville. Mr. and Mrs. Hossler have three children, namely : Alice L., Grace H. and Glenna E.
THE DETTERMAN FAMILY in Seneca county, Ohio, dates back to 1833, when John H. Detterman and his betrothed wife, Catha- rine Stigermire, natives of Copeland, Prussia, came to the United States, Mr. Detterman and his brother fleeing from service in the German army, as many another German has done before and since. Landing in New York. they started west via the Hudson river and the Erie canal. They came by boat on Lake Erie to Sandusky, Ohio, and from there to Scipio City they walked, arriving without means. So scarce was money in those days that labor commanded but a small price. Mr. Detterman found employment at twenty- five cents a day, his intended wife at twenty-five cents a week. Miss Stigermire was employed by a Mrs. Strow in Seneca county. Mr. Detterman went a little further west, but returned occasionally to see his sweetheart. He went to the Stows neighborhood in 1834, fully intending to return to his employer. as indeed he had promised to do, but the persuasions of Miss Stigermire and of Mr. and Mrs. Strow induced him to change his mind, and he, too, entered the employ of the Strows, for whom he and Miss Stiger- mire both worked till the spring, of 1835. when they married and
began housekeeping in a log cabin. Mr. Detterman worked at clearing land, earning five hundred dollars, enough then to enable him to buy eighty acres of land. He soon bought forty acres adjoining his original purchase and prospered so well that he came in time to own two hundred acres and to rank with the "well fixed" farmers in his neighborhood. After he was well established and had demonstrated the value of Ohio as a place for fortune building he sent to Germany a favorable report of his success, which induced many of his friends to follow him across the ocean. In that way he was instrumental in planting quite a colony of Prussians in the then backwoods of Ohio. In this movement he
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was the animating and controlling spirit, for he was above the average in intelligence and ability. He was a Democrat, but at the time of the Civil war he was as loyal to the government at Washington as any man that lived. No one more sincerely
mourned the lamented Lincoln than did he. He was foreign born but American hearted. In his gifts to the church and to charitable institution he was. for a man of his wealth, more than liberal. At one time he donated one thousand dollars to the Evangelical church and another thousand to the orphanage con- nected with it, and he was likewise generous, giving always in an eager Christian spirit. Catharine, his wife, died August 2. 1864. Later he married Annie Somers. His first wife bore him six children, three of whom, Harrison, Amos and Samuel E., lived to maturity. The father died April 22, 1900. By that time he had added to his holdings till he owned four hundred and twelve acres.
Samuel E. Detterman, son of John H. and Catharine (Stiger- mire) Detterman, was born on his father's farm in Adams town- ship, Seneca county, Ohio, January 16, 1849. He owes the com- mon school system for his education and was reared practically to farm labor in all its details. Adopting farming as his life work, he has been in the highest degree successful. On a borrowed capi- tal of forty dollars he married Miss Jane Showman, of Bloom town- ship, Seneca county, in 1870. Of that sum he paid a fee of five dollars to the preacher who made them one, the remaining thirty- five dollars was expended for household expenses while he was earn- ing more. He soon bought his father's farm at nine thousand dollars, his father crediting him with three thousand dollars and taking his word for six thousand. all of which were satisfied in good time. He later bought the remainder of the home farm. a hundred acres more, then added two hundred acres to his holdings, owning now four hundred acres of as good land as there is in Seneca county, with up-to-date buildings equal to any in his vicin- ity. He is a farmer of more than average experience and intelli- gence. In addition to his successful general farming he has shipped hay and dealt in agricultural implements. His wife has borne him children as follows: Emmet E., born in 1872, a farmer in Scipio township, married Sarah Dewalt and has had three children : Addison L., Merrill C. and Halceon B. Detterman; John U .. a farmer in Bloom township, was born on his father's farm in 1874: he married Miss Anna M. Richards, daughter of the Rev. J. N. and Maria Richards, in 1900, and they have children named Samuel N. and Jennie M. Richards. He operates a farm of one hundred acres. Samuel W .. born on his father's farm in 1881, handles a farm of one hundred and eighty acres. ships hay and sells farming implements. He married Miss Clara Miller, daughter of Henry Miller, in 1907. £ She was born in Bloomville in 1877. Mr. Detter- man is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. Jacob R., born in 1884. married Miss Viola Tegarben June 13, 1910. Harry H., youngest child of Samuel E. and Jane (Showman) Detterman, was born in Bloom township in 1888. He married on October 2, 1910, Lottie May Deppins, of Bloom township.
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B. F. TOMB is a farmer of ease and influence whose farm and home are situated in Bloom township, Seneca county, Ohio, where he has lived since 1897. Ile was born in Pleasant township, Seneca county, in 1845, and was there reared and educated. Be- fore he was sixteen years old he started with others to make the overland journey to California. That was in 1859, a year before
the beginning of the Civil war. To the youth that trip was an inspiration and a broadening of his education. It was full of strange events, hardships and experiences that he will never for- get. At one time, the stock of the party stampeded. At another they were, men and beasts, without water, a terrible deprivation of which one who has not endured it can have no adequate concep- tion. After their arrival the party found that their troubles were not ended. As this is not planned to be a hard luck story, the recital of them will be omitted. After his return to Ohio young Tomb made a strenuous effort to enter the Federal army to fight for the stars and stripes, but he was debarred from that glorious privilege by his extreme youth. In 1862, however, he made a second attempt and was accepted as a private in Company I, Eighty-sixth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, which was as- signed to the Western Army. After three months' service he was honorably discharged, with the ranks of corporal. In 1864 he enlisted as a member of Company A, One Hundred and Sixty- fourth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, which was employed till the end of the war in guard duty in and around Washington D. C. Receiving another honorable discharge he came back to Ohio.
While Mr. Tomb was reared as a farmer he developed business ability which has from time to time led him into other activities. Eventually he became identified with the lumber trade, in which he was concerned in different states a number of years, but returned in time to his early vocation. His farm consists of one hundred and thirty-five acres of valuable and productive land.
In 1865 Mr. Tomb married Miss Norah Benham. daughter of F. D. and C. P. (Platt) Benham, who has borne him five children, three of whom are living : Mrs. Mary Davidson; Leonard, who mar- ried Cora Miller; and Harry, who married Gertrude Demmick. His own parents were Benjamin and Mary A. (Leonard) Tomb, natives of Pennsylvania, who settled in Seneca county, Ohio, on a farm of four hundred and fifteen acres in Pleasant township, in 1844. Benjamin Tomb was a man of considerable means and sig- nal business ability. He associated himself in the banking busi- ness with Mr. Arnold, under the firm name of Arnold and Tomb, bankers. The style of the firm was changed to Tomb, Huss and Company, bankers. The bank operated by Messrs. Tomb, Huss and Arnold was a private bank of solidity and popularity which was eventually merged in the First National Bank of Tiffin.
Benjamin and Mary A. (Leonard) Tomb had ten children, whom they named as follows, in the order of their birth: Sarah J .; Jacob, deceased; Mary A .. deceased; Massa, deceased; Rebecca; Thomas B., deceased; B. F .; Emma, deceased; George, deceased ; Harry.
Miss Norah Benham, who became Mrs. B. F. Tomb, was born
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in Tiffin in 1845, to F. D. and C. P. Benham. natives of Connecti- cut, who came to Seneca county in 1837. Her father was for some years a local express agent, died February 10. 1882. His wife died January 25. 1877. They had children named thus in the order of their nativity : Edward F. F .. James A., George C., Daniel W., Amelia C., Lenora F., William W. and Robert B. Mrs. Norah (Leonora F.) Tombs is the only surviving member of her parents' family. The Tombs were members of the Baptist church, while Benhams were Presbyterians.
SAMUEL BAKER .- An enterprising, skilful and progressive agriculturist, Samuel Baker, late of Tiffin, Ohio, was for many years numbered among the substantial and worthy citizens of Seneca county. Laboring with an earnest purpose, far seeing and industrious, he accumulated a handsome property as a general farmer and spent his last years retired from active pursuits in Tiffin. He was born. May 19. 1837. in Eden township, Seneca county, Ohio, of pioneer ancestry, and his grandfather, whose name was also Samuel Baker, was a pioneer settler of the state of New York. Mr. Baker's father, Thomas J. Baker, was born and bred in New York state, coming alone to Seneca county in early life. Succeeding to the occupation of his ancestors, he purchased land in Eden township, and was there actively engaged in tilling the soil until his death. in 1862. He married Sarah Boyd. who after his death moved to Tiffin and here spent her last years, pass- ing away in 1888. Of their seven children but two are now living. namely : Julia, of Philadelphia. widow of Albert Ewer; and Caro- line, widow of John Lapham, now residing in Portland, Oregon.
The fifth child of the parental household. Samuel Baker grew to manhood on the home farm. living with his parents until ready to establish a home of his own. He received better educational advantages than many of the farmer's sons of his day, after leav- ing the district schools completing his studies at Oberlin College. Laving aside his agricultural implements during the progress of the Civil war, he enlisted in the One Hundred and Sixty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. and was commissioned second lieutenant of his company, which was known as the "Squirrel Shooters." With his regiment he was stationed at Fort Haggerty much of his term of service. Returning to Eden township at the close of the war Mr. Baker resumed the charge of his farm, and as a farmer and stock raiser met with unquestioned success, becoming one of the most extensive landholders of his community. He became owner of a number of farms in Eden township and of a large farming estate in Bloom township. Retiring from active labor in 1890, he employed men to look after his different farms and moved to Tiffin, where he lived retired until his death. July 19. 1907. He was a stanch Republican in politics and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he served as steward and trustee for many years. He took great interest in the Grand Army of the Republic, of which he was an active and valued member.
Mr. Baker married, December 22. 1859, Levina McCormick, who was born in Eden township, Seneca county. November 20,
٨ ٢٠٠ بيه؟
Anmel Baker
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1837, a daughter of Samuel McCormick, Jr., and granddaughter of Samuel McCormick, Sr., one of the early pioneers of Seneca coun- ty. Her father married Melvina Pence, a daughter of Henry Pence, also a pioneer of this county, and both he and his wife died in early life. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Baker. namely : Dugald Cameron, who superintends the farming property ; and Harry B., of Tiffin, an undertaker.
EDWARD W. CURRIGAN, for twenty-seven years United States Express employe at Tiffin, Ohio, and a man well known in G. A. R. ranks, is a native of the "Buckeye state" and has passed his whole life within its bounds, save the time he served his country as a soldier in the Union army in the war between the north and the south.
He was born in Bollville township, Sandusky county. Ohio, March 22, 1842. a son of James and Margaret (Quinn) Currigan ; and was just emerging from his "teens" when the Civil war was inaugurated. On August 5, 1862, he enlisted as a member of Com- pany H, One Hundred and First Ohio Volunteer Infantry, for a term of three years, and was assigned to the First Brigade, Second Division, Fourth Army Corps. He served with this command un- til May 6, 1863, when he was discharged on account of disability, he having been wounded in the right arm and shoulder at the battle of Stone River, Tennessee, December 31. 1862. On Feb- ruary 5, 1865, having recovered sufficiently to re-enter the service, he again enlisted, this time as third sergeant in Company B. One Hundred and Ninety-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Second Corps. Army of the Shenandoah Valley, the fortunes of which he shared until he was honorably discharged on December 18. 1865, in the mean time having been promoted to the rank of brevet lieutenant ; and by general order of the war department was mustered out at Columbus, Ohio. He has to his credit active participation in the following named battles: Perryville. Kentucky. October 8. 1862. Knob Gap, Tennessee, December 26. 1862. and numerous other skir- mishes. His company received the flag for being the best drilled.
When Leander Stem Post, No. 31. Department of Ohio. G. A. R., was organized Mr. Currigan was among the charter members and of this post he served three years as post adjutant and three years as post commander. Also he is identified with the One Hundred and First Ohio Volunteer Infantry, of which for a period of twenty-eight years he has been secretary and treasurer, and has been elected to this position for life.
On April 6, 1864. at Clyde. Ohio. Mr. Currigan married Miss Eliza J. Van Winkle, a native of Newark. Licking county, Ohio. born March 12, 1844, and the children given to them are Fanny, born March 4, 1865, died February 20. 1866; Ida M., born Novem- ber 22, 1868; and Luella, born April 13, 1871.
GEORGE C. KALBFLEISCH .- One of the prominent vet unassum- Ing business men of Seneca county is George C. Kalbfleisch, of Tiffin, secretary and stockholder of the Tiffin Art Metal Company and manager of the Great Western Pottery Company. He is
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identified with many of Tiffin's leading enterprises and has achieved success in his career by a sturdy and intelligent applicaton of his abilities to the duties of his position.
A representative citizen, enterprising and progressive, he has a bright future before him, and, his life and health being spared, his name will become known beyond the confines of his present home city, county and state. Mr. Kalbfleisch is married and his pleas- ant home on North Sandusky street is a center of social activity. His wife was before marriage Anna Snyder, and they have a daughter, Catherine.
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