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 2
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On the 19th day of April, 1899, Dr. Gilcher took as his wife Miss Nellie M. Harton, of Toledo, born April 22. 1882. to Frank and Marian Chittenden. Her mother died when Nellie was thir- teen months old and she was reared by an uncle, Edward S. Chittenden, who was located at Republic in the grocery and drug business. He later moved to Tiffin and thence to Toledo, where he became manager of the Milner department store. Dr. and Mrs. Gilcher have one living child, Edwin Lysle, born August 9, 1909.
The subject takes pleasure in his lodge relations, which extend
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to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is one of three
children. His brother, Frank C., born June 5, 1877, resides in Sandusky, where he is city manager of the Lake Shore Electric Railway. He received his education in Sandusky. A sister, Ethel M., is the wife of William Douglas, a machinist living in Cleveland, Ohio.
H. BERNARD BERLEKAMP was born in Prussia October 12, 1843, a son of Henry and Mary Berlekamp, natives of Teclenbourg, both of whom were born about 1788. Ile was reared on his father's farm until he reached the age of eleven years, and was then hired out by his parents, according to the custom of the time and place About eleven years later he was called back home on account of the illness of his father and mother. They died, he on April 7. and she on June 27, 1862. He was now thrown entirely on his own resources and found work for which he was promised an equivalent of fourteen dollars a year. He had to walk from three to five miles to work in the morning during the summer season. From two-thirty or three o'clock to about eight he cut grass. Then he walked back to the house to get his breakfast. Sometimes the dis- tance was as great as four or five miles. The inconveniences and hardships that he had to endure during the rest of the day. the working part of which was extended well into the night, were scarcely less serious. Reading of it in America, where labor con- ditions are now so different, one wonders that human flesh and blood could bear up under it all. When he was twenty-two he was sent to the German army to give the best three years of his life to the service of his country. It was a period of restraint and of hard service that he will never forget. When he returned home he was employed in a coal mine, where he labored from eight to twelve hours a day, walking eight or nine miles night and morn- ing. It was well for him that his marching experiences in the army had in a measure prepared him for this. One would not think he traveled any more easily for the heavy wooden shoes that he wore, but he does not mention these as adding particularly to the hardness of his lot at that time. When he had been thus the- ployed three months he broke his leg. This accident laid him up three months. Hardly had he returned to work when he broke the scarcely healed fracture asunder and went back to idleness and suffering for four months more. When he was out again he turned his back on the coal mine in favor of a stone quarry. It is not to be supposed that conditions there were much better. As soon as he could save up a little money he gathered his few valuables and prepared to seek his fortune in America. He came over on board the ship Danuegh and was eleven days in making the voyage. Hr landed at New York, whence he soon went to Cincinnati, Ohio. where he was given work at teaming by an old school mate who had come over before him and obtained a foothold in the new world.
After he had labored in Cincinnati about nine months he was ready to strike out for the country, where he had been informed opportunities for advancement were better and more plentiful than they were in the city. Coming to Pleasant township, Senza
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county, forty-one years ago, he worked for a time for B. Rule. After about twelve years, during which he was variously employed. he bought a farm on the Portland road. At length he sold out there and located on one hundred and eight and one-half acres which is a part of his present farm of two hundred and fifteen acres. He has deeded a large farm to his son. Together they own six hundred acres.
On February 1, 1870, Mr. Berlekamp married Caroline Cook. born February 1, 1851, a daughter of Fred A. and Elizabeth M. (Speaker) Cook, natives of Prussia. Mr. and Mrs. Cook located at Republic, Seneca county, in 1870 and engaged in farming. They bought eighty acres of fine land, gave their attention to mixed erops and raised and marketed considerable live stock. Mr. Cook was born December 14, 1819, and died March 31, 1889. Mrs. Cook was born November 23, 1818, and died February 18, 1884. Mr. Berlekamp was one of twelve children : Guard, Henry. Fred, Jacob, William, H. Bernard, Minnie, Sophie, Kate, Christine, Mary and Carl. Mrs. Berlekamp was one of five children : Minnie, Harmon, Henry, August and Caroline. She and her husband have had eight children: August B., was born October 5, 1875; Amelia. is the wife of Lawrence Scheclenhelm. She was born October 22, 1871; Louisa, born in August, 1873, married Dell Farber of San- dusky; Jennie, born November 10, 1877. is Mrs. William Ohler, of Adams township; Frank, born November 28, 1879; Oscar, born June 26, 1883; Charles H., born April 6, 1885, are all well known in Pleasant township. Robert, the youngest of the family. was born January 7, 1895. August B., died December 25, 1892.
Mr. Berlekamp is an elder in the Reformed church at Fre- mont. Mrs. Berlekamp is a member of the Ladies' Aid Society and of the Foreign Missions Society of that organization. In a general way they are helpful to all the interests of this church which they have adopted as their spiritual home. In his political convictions Mr. Berlekamp is a Republican. He has been school director and has ably filled other public offices. He takes much interest in the development and prosperity of the township and is ready in a public spirited way to do whatever he can to advance them.
CHARLES I. ANDERS, M. D .- One of Seneca county's useful and respected citizens and a man of excellent standing in his profession is Dr. Charles I. Anders, residing at Old Fort, where he enjoys a large practice and the friendship and confidence of the citizens of that town and the surrounding country, to whom he has so frequently ministered in the hour of need. He was born in Pleasant township. Seneca county, on June 20, 1869. the son of David B. and Phoebe A. (Clark) Anders, natives respectively of Pleasant township and Bloomville. Dr. Anders resided with his parents upon their farm in Pleasant township until he began to prepare for the profession for which he is particularly fitted by natural inclination. His preliminary education was received in the schools of Hedgetown and Greenspring, being graduated from the well known academy of the latter place in June, 1888.
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Dr. Anders' professional education has been of a most thorough character. After two years at Adelbert College, where he com- pleted his general training. he matriculated at the Western Reserve Medical College, both of these institutions being situated in the city of Cleveland. He was graduated from the medical depart- ment of the University of Wooster with the class of 1894, receiving his degree on March 21. He then had the invaluable benefit of fifteen months' experience as house physician at the Lakeside Hos- pital. He first established an office at Fort Seneca, where he re- mained for two years. then removing to Old Fort, where in the years ensuing he has built up a large practice and has secured widespread recognition for his ability.
Dr. Anders joined the ranks of the Benedicts on April 20. 1898, when he was united in marriage to Miss Lelia Decamp, born March 16, 1873. the daughter of Elias and Marion Decamp, natives of Allegan county, Michigan. Mrs. Anders is a woman of culture. her education having been received in the city of Cleveland and in Oberlin College. Their only son, Leavitt Decamp was born July 6, 1902. Dr. Anders and his wife are members of the United Brethren church and take an active part in its affairs, lending their support to all the good causes promulgated by it. The doctor is a Mason, being affiliated with the lodge at Greenspring, No. 427, and he is also a member of the Knights of The Maccabees, for which organization he is medical examiner. Ile endorses the policies and principles advanced by what its numerous admirers term "The Grand Old Party." and has given enlightened public service as township clerk for seven years and as clerk of the board of educa- tion for the decade elapsing since the year 1900.
Dr. Anders' father. David B., was born September 20, 1839. in Bloom township, his parents being William H. and Sarah ( King) Anders. the father a native of the Old Dominion. the mother of Maryland. William H. was a posthumous child, his father's demise having occurred about three weeks previous to his birth. and thus left deprived of his natural protector he was reared by an uncle. The family was founded in Ohio by the grandfather of the subject, who when he came to the Buckeye state located on a farm near Bloomville and became a successful farmer and a well known citizen. David B. resided under the home roof until the death of his mother. when he was a youth about sixteen years of age. He thereupon started out in the world for himself, working out in the summer season and attending school at winter. The marriage of Dr. Anders' parents took place August 20. 1862. the mother having been born March 15. 1841. in Pleasant township. of Pinckney and Edith C. (Hubbard) Clark. the latter a daughter of one Caleb Hubbard of Ithaca, New York. Mr. and Mrs. Clark east their fortunes with this township at an early date and took np land which they improved with all the courage and industry of their day and generation. The mother, who received her education at Republic and in Greenspring Academy. resided with her parents upon the old homestead until their death. Dr. Anders' father enlisted after the breaking out of the rebellion and gave three years of faithful service to his country under Captain Asa Schriver, of
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Company H. One Hundred and First Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He went to camp with his regiment at Monroeville, later going on to Covington, Kentucky. He participated in the battle of Stone's River and also in the Atlanta campaign. This veteran and re- spected citizen is a member of the United Brethren church and gives his suffrage to the Republican party. He served for a good many years as Sunday School superintendent and has filled most of the offices in the Hedgetown church. £ He is public spirited and the friend of good education, and he has won the gratitude of his town- ship as a member of the school board, his services being of the most efficient character.
HOWARD R. YOUNG, of Greenspring. associated with his brother Ervin J. Young in the manufacture of tile and brick, was born May 4, 1892, a son of Josiah HI. and Carrie (Schuster) Young. A biographical sketch of his father. giving his antecedents and family history, and a biographical sketch of his brother involving a descriptive account of his business. are referred to in this connec- tion. The reader will find them interesting as a part of the pioneer and business history of Adams township.
Mr. Young was a member of his parents' household till he was seventeen years old. then joined his brother in the enterprise mentioned, which had been established originally by their father. He has a half interest in the concern and is active in its manage- ment. In this business and in other ways he has demonstrated that he possesses those characteristics which make for success and good citizenship. He has shown. too, that he is actuated in his dealings with his fellow townsmen by an admirable public spirit that promises well for the advancement of the community so long as he is a member of it. There is no demand upon him to assist any movement looking to the enhancement of the public weal that he does not cordially respond to in a practical way that makes him helpful to the extent of his ability.
ROBERT H. WATSON is one of those good citizens whom Seneca county can especially claim by reason of birth within her borders. and here his life has thus far been spent with the exception of a period of six years in California. after which he returned from the golden west more than ever content with the fine qualities of the Buckeye state. The date of Mr. Watson's birth was December 11. 1847, and its scene was in Hopewell township. Seneca county. He is of that Scotch-Irish stock from which so many great and good Americans have sprung. His parents were Thomas W. and Sarah J. (Tomb) Watson, natives of Lycoming county, Pennsylvania. who came here with their parents in the year 1836. the families locating in this township at what is known as Watson Station. Thomas W. Watson was born August 11. 1819. and his parents were William and Jane (McMeen) Watson. The subject's grandfather, William Watson. was born June 12, 1772. and came here either in the latter part of the eighteenth or the earlier part of the nineteenth century from county Donegal. Ireland. He settled in Pennsylvania, married Jane MeMeen, a young woman of Scotch
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descent, born October 8. 1774. and reared a family of ten children, of whom Thomas, Mr. Watson's father, was one of the youngest. One of the children of this stanch pioneer. Oliver, became one of the most eminent of Pennsylvania's jurists.
Thomas Watson desired an education rather better than that of the ordinary youth and he secured it, and at the early age of eighteen was well equipped to teach. His pedagogical career was only a step towards more education, for with the salary thereof he was enabled to wander farther afield in the pleasant paths of learn- ing. In 1841 he completed his education, of a general character. being graduated from the Western Reserve school at Milan. He was engaged for a year in the mercantile business at Republic and then, ambitious to enter the ranks of the legal fraternity. he went to Tiffin, where he had the exceptional opportunity of reading law under the guidance of Attorneys Richard Williams, William Gib- son. W. P. Noble and R. G. Pennington being fellow students. In 1845 his health failed. and being strongly advised by physicians to seek an outdoor life, he took up the vocation of agriculture. His property was located in Pleasant township, and although he gave great promise in the profession of his first choice, he was philoso- phical over the disappointment and achieved success as an exponent of the great basic industry of agriculture. In 1847, (January 13) he married Sarah Jane Tomb, daughter of Benjamin and Anna (Blackwell) Tomh. Benjamin Tomb was born in Pennsylvania, and Anna Blackwell Tomb was born and educated in England. To this union were born five children, three of whom are living at the present day. Anne is the wife of Charles H. Baldwin and Bessie is the widow of William Skinner and resides in Tiffin.
Thomas Watson. the father. was nearly ninety years of age when he died. He was a man who was held in respect and venera- tion by the entire community. For over half a century he held membership in the Presbyterian church and was its ruling elder for more than two score years.
Robert H. Watson remained under the home roof until the attainment of his majority. attending the district schools and also Western Reserve at Milan two years and became well grounded in the many departments of farming under the excellent tutelage of his father. He was too young to join the service at the time of the Civil war, but a few years after the termination of that struggle he went to California. as previously stated. and remained there half a dozen years, engaging in mining and merchandising. amid new scenes satisfying his love of adventure. About two years after his return he established a household of his own by his mar- riage to Letty L. Titus, this union being celebrated in May. 1879. They have four children : Ralph Titus. Helen Sarah, Hortense and Robert Dwight. Ralph Titus Watson married in December, 1896, Miss Elizabeth Fleet, a daughter Mr. and Mrs. A. R. Fleet of Tiffin. She was born in Eden township. Seneca county. They have two children, Marshal Fleet Watson and Thomas Wood Watson.
For several years after his marriage Robert H. Watson en- gaged in farming in Pleasant township, making a specialty of stock raising, but in 1888 he made something of a change and em-
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barked in the grain business. He has applied his whole attention to this and has achieved no small amount of success building up a large trade which every year increases in scope. In this line he is ably assisted by his son Ralph. He and his family are members of the First Presbyterian church of Tiffin, and assist in every way in the furtherance of its excellent project. He is a director of the Commercial National Bank of Tiffin. He casts his vote with the Democratic party, except when on accasion he finds the men and 'measures advanced by other parties coincident with his own con- victions.
FRANK W. BERLEKAMP .- The possessor of two hundred and forty-three of the fertile acres of Pleasant township. Seneca county. upon which he resides. and one hundred and forty-seven acres located elsewhere. part of this inherited and part his by right of purchase. Frank W. Berlekamp is a well known farmer who en- gages extensively in agriculture and stock raising, and he is a valuable citizen. He is of the German stock. of which the county has a plentiful representation and which figures as one of its thriftiest and most prosperous elements. Although already one of the large land holders, he is of the younger generation. his birth having occurred November 28. 1879. in Pleasant township. His parents are H. B. and Caroline (Cook) Berlekamp. both of them natives of Prussia. the father having come to "the land of promise" in 1869 and the mother. in 1870. They were married about a year after the mother's arrival and soon came on to the Buckeye state and to that favored portion of it known as Seneca county. They located first in Adams township and later in Pleasant township. where the father, who had means, purchased a four hundred acre farm.
The subject of this review remained under the parental roof until his marriage. receiving his education in the district school. choosing agriculture as his life work. and receiving a thorough training for this honorable vocation in the school of practical experience. He is an extensive farmer and stock feeder and ships annually from one to three cars of cattle and about five hundred sheep. He is a member of the Reformed church and he and his wife are very active in its good works, supporting it in every way. Mr. Berlekamp has volunteered to support a missionary minister of the Reformed church in China for at least five years. Politi- cally he favors the Independent party.
The happy married life of Mr. and Mrs. Berlekamp dates from April 26. 1906. the latter's maiden name having been Nettie L. Sneath. She was born November 14, 1882. and is the daughter of Robert and Sarah (Snyder) Sneath. natives of Ohio. A complete record of the Sneath family. one of the most important hereabout. is given on other pages of this work. This union has been blessed by the birth of one daughter. Sarah Sneath. born June 8, 1909.
FREDERICK WILLIAM CONRADT. was one of the honored citizens and prominent business men of the city of Tiffin at the time of his death, which occurred here on the 14th of August, 1909. and his
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worthy life and services well entitle him to a tribute in this publica- tion. He was born at Peru, Indiana, on the 21st of December. 1859. and is a son of Gottlieb and Mary (Schmidt) Conradt.
Frederick William Conradt was afforded the advantages of the public schools of his native state and remained at the parental home until he had attained the age of eighteen years when he went to the city of St. Louis, Missouri, where he entered a college of pharmacy, in which he was graduated on the completion of the prescribed course. Thereafter he conducted a drug store in that city until 1891. when he sold the same and came to Peru, Indiana. Three years later he and his brother Albert became associated with their father in the sanitary pottery business at Kokomo. establish- ing The Great Western Pottery Company of that state. where he remained seven years. He then removed to Tiffin, Ohio, where he assumed charge of a pottery of which his company had become the purchaser. He continued to be actively concerned in the manage- ment of this important concern until he was summoned from the scene of life's activities. He gained a high place in the confidence and esteem of the community, where he was known as a loyal and public spirited citizen. He was a stanch Republican in his poli- tical proclivities, and was a zealous member of the German Luth- eran church.
In the city of Indianapolis. Indiana, on the 21st of December. 1892, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Conradt to Miss Margaret Haugh, who was born in that city, and who is a daughter of Charles and Margaret (Cameron) Haugh. Mrs. Conradt still maintains her home in Tiffin and her honored husband is also survived by one daughter, Mary Josephine, who was born on the 17th of May. 1905.
JOHN MCCAULEY .- Among the representative members of the bench and bar of Ohio is numbered Judge MeCauley, whose record both in the work of his profession and in judicial office has been marked by distinguished ability and by impregnable integrity and honor. Ile is a man of fine intellectuality, and one of the strong- est and most noteworthy elements in his character has been his inflexible devotion to principle. He has viewed all things in their correct proportions and thus his rulings on the bench have been significantly fair and equitable. few of his decisions having been reversed by higher tribunals. The Judge is a representative of one of the sterling pioneer families of the old Buckeye state and this has been his home from the time of his birth to the present. He is one of the best known and most honored citizens of Seneca county and maintains his home in the city of Tiffin.
Judge John McCauley was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, on the 9th of December. 1834. and is a son of Henry and Susan (Kelley) McCauley, both of whom were born and reared in the famous old city of Paisley, Scotland. a land with whose history the family name has been identified for many generations. The marriage of the parents was solemnized in their native land. in 1834 and their bridal tour was virtually that of their emigration to the United States. Soon after their arrival they made their way to Ohio and settled in Columbiana county. where the father Vol. II-2
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purchased a tract of land and turned his attention to the great basic industry of agriculture. Later he disposed of this property and purchased land in Wood county, which represented the family home for a period of about six years. Removal was then made to Hancock county and there Henry MeCauley continued to be identi- fied with agricultural pursuits during the remainder of his active career. He died in that county in 1881. at the age of seventy-seven vears. His widow survived him by twelve years and passed the gracious evening of her life in the home of her son, Judge MeCauley. in Tiffin, where she was summoned to eternal rest at the venerable age of eighty-seven years.
The early educational advantages of Judge McCauley were limited to the pioneer schools of Wood and Hancock counties and. like many another who has achieved prominence in professional and public life, his early experiences were those of the farm. He attended the common schools during the winter terms until he had attained the age of sixteen years and he then entered an academy in Republic, Seneca county. where he continued his studies for three years and prepared himself for college. At the age of nineteen years Judge MeCauley was matriculated in the Ohio Wesleyan Uni- versity, at Delaware, in which institution he was graduated as a member of the class of 1859. with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. In the meanwhile he taught several terms of school and by this means largely defraved the expenses of his academic and collegiate courses. On the 1st of September. 1859. he began reading law under the able preceptorship of the late Judge James Pillars, who was one of the most brilliant legists and jurists of northern Ohio. The assiduity and receptiveness of Judge MeCauley may be well understood when it is stated that at the end of the year 1860. he was enabled to pass the required examination and secure admission to the bar of his native state. In 1860 he opened an office in Tiffin and here his ability and careful and honorable methods soon gained to him a secure place as one of the leading members of the bar of Seneca county. In 1875 he formed a partnership with Robert G. Pennington and this alliance continued for a period of four years. Later he became associated with Henry J. Weller, under the firm name of McCauley & Weller. and this firm has long maintained a prominent position at the bar of the northern part of Ohio, having been concerned in much important litigation in both the state and federal courts. This partnership has continued to the present time, thus covering a period of twenty-five years.
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