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 26
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50
ISAAC NEWTON HOSSLER is numbered among the representative exponents of the great basic industry of agriculture in his native county and is the owner of a well improved farm in Bloom town- ship. He is a man of strong individuality and has ever com- manded the unqualified confidence and esteem of the people of the community in which he has maintained his home from the time of his nativity.
Isaac Newton Hossler was born in Bloom township, Seneca county, on the 12th of December, 1852, and is a son of Jacob and Anna (Funk) Hossler, who were numbered among the sterling pioneers of Seneca county. Jacob Hossler was born in Adams county, Pennsylvania, in 1806. and the old homestead farm of the family is within the battle ground of Gettysburg. The wife of Jacob Hossler was born in Stark county. Ohio, on the 19th of June. 1814, and her parents were numbered among the early citizens of that section of the state. where they took up their abode before Ohio was admitted to the union. Jacob Hossler came with his parents to Ohio in 1821 and the family located in Stark county. In 1834 he came to Seneca county and established his home in Bloom township, where he developed a productive farm. His
L
736
HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY
marriage to Miss Anna Funk was solemnized on the 23d of Septem- ber, 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 one of the prominent and influential citizens of Seneca county. He served for nearly a quarter of a century as a justice of the peace and he also held the office of mayor of Bloomville. Here he also served four years as postmaster, under the administration of President Grant, and he was called upon to serve in other local 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 in 1891. In 1890 they celebrated the sixtieth anniversary of their marriage. They were numbered among the honored pioneers of the county and were held in unqualified confidence and esteem by all who knew them. At the time of his death Jacob Hossler was the owner of a landed estate of three hundred and twenty aeres and he con- tributed in generous measure to the development of the agricultural industry of Seneca county. He was a son of Frederick Hossler, who was born in the state of Pennsylvania, in 1782, 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 he emigrated to America and established his home in Pennsylvania in 1754. He married Magdelene Koltriter, who was born in October, 1782, and who died in Stark county, Ohio, on the 3rd of August, 1857. John G. Hossler was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Ramer on the 25th of January. 1779, and they established their home in what is now Adams county, Pennsylvania, where Mrs. Hossler was born in the year 1761.
Isaae N. Hossler was reared to the sturdy discipline of the home farm and he has never wavered in his allegiance to the in- dustry of agriculture, in connection with which he has achieved distinctive sueeess. After availing himself of the advantages of the district schools he continued his studies in an academy at Republic, Seneca county. After his first marriage Mr. Hossler assumed charge of the farm of his father-in-law, in Bloom town- ship, and he continued to manage the same for eight years, at the expiration of which he returned to the old homestead of his parents. where he continued to be successfully identified with general farm- ing and stock raising for the ensuing eight years, at the expiration of which he secured his present place, known as the John Briner farm in 1890. This estate comprises seventy-eight acres and the improvements upon the same are of the best modern type, including a commodious and attractive residence.
In politics Mr. Hossler has ever given an unqualified allegiance to the Republican party and he has maintained a distinctively pro- gressive and public spirited attitude. Ile has been called upon to serve in various offices of local trust, including those of township trustee and township assessor, and in 1900 he served as eensus enumerator of his township. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and they enjoy unequivocal popu- larity in their home community.
739
HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY
Mr. Hossler has been twice married. On the 18th of March, 1875, was solemnized his union to Miss Susan Rivert, who was born in Stark county. Ohio, and who was a daughter of Michael and Magdelene Rivert. Mrs. Hossler was summoned to the life eternal on the 24th of March. 1894. and of her eight children, seven are now living : Alfonso, Gertrude, Jessie, Jay R., Arthur L., Robert E. and Ray M. Alfonso married Miss Delle Shutt; Jay R .. married Miss Bertha Klaiss; and Jessie E .. is the wife of Charles Valentine. On the 22nd of April. 1900. Mr. Hossler contracted a second mar. riage, being then united to Mrs. Amanda (Seigley) Davis, who was born and reared in Seneca county. Ohio, and who is a daughter of the late Benjamin Seigley. At the time of her second marriage she was the widow of John C. Davis, and the mother of his five children : Lola, now Mrs. H. V. Biddison; William. who married Lucretia Gulick, and lives at Cleveland; Jesse J., who married Bertha Ohls and is living in Bloom township; Fred B .. who mar- ried Cora Caris and lives in Bloomville ; and Lizzie, unmarried and at home. No children have been born of the second marriage of Mr. Hossler.
IRVING B. NEIKIRK .- Few men play as prominent and praise- worthy a part in the civic and banking affairs of Republic as Irving B. Neikirk, cashier of the Republic Banking Company and a native of the township which at present claims his residence. The Neikirk name is one of the best known in Seneca county, and he whose name initiates this paragraph is one of its worthiest repre- sentatives. He was born in Scipio township. August 30. 1873. and is the son of Jeremiah and Anna (Bookholt) Neikirk, his par- ents being natives of this county. The mother's parents were Germans and typical of that fine stock which has furnished to the United States one of its most valuable sources of immigration. John Henry Bookholt, her father, came to the land of the stars and stripes in 1817 and located in Scipio at the age of twenty-one. He worked for others for six years then bought a farm. cleared it and brought it to a high state of cultivation. At the age of twenty-five he married Mrs. Bering and they had five children. Catherine, Susan, Ann, David and Mary. Susan and Mary are deceased. Mr. Bookholt was a Democrat and a member of the Reformed church. He died at the age of fifty-three. The paternal grandparents, Jacob and Catherine (Sommers) Neikirk, were Maryland people who came westward to Ohio at a very early day. probably in the early '20s, and entered land which they cleared and made into one of the fertile and productive farms which have ever been the very bone and sinew of the Buckeye state. They also built a tavern, · which they called the Neikirk House. located two and one-half miles north of Republic, on the Kilburn Road, and which the grandfather conducted for a number of years. He died in the year 1872.
Jeremiah Neikirk, father of Irving B., was born June 26. 1838, and resided with his parents until his marriage in the year 1868. Hle engaged independently in farming after that date and in saw milling and he also owned and operated a threshing machine in this section for about a score of years. Ile is now retired and
740
HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY
resides in Republic, where in leisure he enjoys the fruits of his previous industry and thrift. The maternal grandparents, Henry and Barbara Bookholt, after crossing the Atlantic located in Seipio township on land which they secured and afterward cleared and im- proved, and it was here that the birth of the subject's mother or- curred on March 8, 1849.
Mr. Neikirk has had the advantages of a good education, re- ceiving his preliminary training in the public schools and subse- quently attending the university at Ada, Ohio, which has been the alma mater of a number of the Buckeye state's prominent men. He was graduated from that institution with the class of 1897, in the scientific department, and in 1900 finished a course in law. He hung out his shingle at Muncie, Indiana, and there for some time engaged in the practice of his profession. He subsequently engaged in railroad work in Indiana and came thence to Republic, where he engaged in the banking business, his duties as cashier of the Republic Banking Company having extended over a period of five years. His efficiency is proven and he enjoys the confidence of those with whom he is associated.
The bank was first opened as a private bank, under the manage- ment of A. J. Solomon, but after about twelve months it was in- corporated as a state bank with an authorized capital of twenty- five thousand dollars on December 8, 1906. Deposits have in- creased about forty per cent each year since the organization, and the bank now has a time lock safe and safety vault. It also carries daylight and night burglar insurance and conducts a regular bank- ing business. The president of the bank is J. H. Knapp, the cashier, I. B. Neikirk; the vice president, J. W. Cook, and the directors are J. HI. Knapp, J. W. Cook,. D. D. Helsinger, J. Neikirk, William Baker, A. J. Neikirk and A. Kistler.
Mr. Neikirk joined the ranks of the Benedicts on November 27, 1900, being united in the holy bonds of matrimony with Nettie C. Burnside. She is a native of this county, having been born near Tiffin, Clinton township, February 14. 1875, and her parents being John and Matilda (Litzenberger) Burnside, natives of Seneca county. Mr. Burnside was born July 14, 1839, and his wife was born in Lehigh county, Pennsylvania. May 24, 1843. They are the parents of seven children. five daughters and two sons, as follows: Eva, born July 23. 1870: Ida. December 22, 1871; Ada, August 13, 1873; Nettie, February 14, 1875; Minnie, February 3. 1877; Arlie J., May 22, 1881 ; and Ralph D., January 28, 1886.
Mr. Neikirk is a prominent Mason, belonging to the chapter and council in Tiffin, Ohio, and at the present date holding the master's chair. HIe and his wife are consistent members of the Lutheran church and his political sympathies are with the Demo- cratie party. He has served in public office from time to time. and has been a member of the township and village council and also the school board.
Mr. Neikirk comes of a family of two children, his brother Lester J. being a farmer and residing on the old homestead place three and one half miles northeast of Republic, Ohio.
741
HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY
OLA J. SPONSELLER .- Ensconced on the old homestead farm on which he was born and reared. Ola J. Sponseller is successfully en- gaged in diversified agriculture in Seneca county, and he is a descendant of one of the sterling pioneer families of the Buckeye state, his great-grandfather. John Sponseller. having emigrated to Stark county, Ohio, when the city of Canton contained but a few houses. He was born in the state of Pennsylvania, whence he removed to Ohio, and his marriage to Miss Catherine Harpster, a native of Pennsylvania, was solemnized in Canton. They became the parents of eight children. of which number John. Frederick and Catherine (Mrs. Isaac Zellers) resided in Seneca county. Mr. and Mrs. John Sponseller were residents of Columbiana county at the time of their death. He died in 1873, at the age of eighty- five years, and she passed away at the patriarchal age of ninety- three years. Frederick Sponseller. grandfather of him whose name introduces this article, was born in Stark county. Ohio, on the 11th of November. 1815. and on the 12th of February. 1840. he was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Prouse, whose birth also occurred in Stark county. the date of the same being September 13, 1818. She was the daughter of William and Hannah (Dock) Prouse, natives of Pennsylvania. who removed to Stark county, Ohio where the former died in 1872 and the latter. in 1879. aged eighty- three and seventy-eight years respectively. After their marriage Frederick and Elizabeth Sponseller established their home in Bloom county, where they cleared and improved a farm of two hundred and forty acres. They reared a family of eight children, namely : William. John. Phillip. Abraham, Elisha. David. Levi and Hannah C., all of whom were reared in the faith of their parents, that of the Lutheran church. Levi Sponseller next to the youngest of the above children. was born in Seneca county, in April. 1853. and he availed himself of the advantages of the public schools of his native county. Like his ancestors he engaged in agricultural pur- suits and at the time of his death he was the owner of a valuable farm of two hundred acres in Bloom township. He married Miss Elmira Lichtenwelter, of Crawford county. and they became the parents of the following named children: Myrtie M .. (deceased). Ola J., Ora F. A., Orby G., Floyd R. (deceased). Maud P. (de- ceased), Lottie E .. Ray L., Walter D .. Mabel F. and Doyle V. He was a stanch Democrat in his political proclivities and held mem- bership in the Methodist Protestant church, of which his widow is a devout member. His death occurred on the 26th of July, 1905. and his cherished and devoted wife, who survives him, still main- tains her home on the old homestead farm, which is under the general supervision of her oldest son. Ola J .. to whom this sketch is dedicated.
Ola J. Sponseller was born on the fine farm on which he now makes his home on the 5th of December, 1877. His early educa- tional discipline was that afforded in the common schools of Bloom township and he has been identified with the great basic industry of agriculture since his early youth. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Protestant church, and in the time honored Masonic fraternity he is affiliated with Attica Lodge, No.
742
HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY
367, Free and Accepted Masons. In politics he gives a stanch allegiance to the Democratic party. and though never a seeker of publie office he is a loyal and publie spirited citizen and is a liberal supporter of all measures projected for the advancement of the general welfare of the community.
In 1904 was solemnized his marriage to Miss Ludena Hartman. who was born in Van Wert county, Ohio, and who is a daughter of George J. and Emeline (Bowers) Hartman, former representative citizens of Van Wert county, Ohio. Mr. Hartman died March 26. 1891, and Mrs. Hartman now resides in Toledo. Ohio.
DAVID A. DELLINGER .- The men who succeed in any enterprise in life, the generals who win their spurs on the field of battle. the financiers who amass wealth, all are the men who have confidence in themselves and the courage of their convictions. There is a time in every man's education when he reaches the conclusion that envy is ignorance. that imitation is suicide and that though the world is alive with opportunity nothing comes to him without self reliance and toil of mind or body, or both. The man who trusts himself and who plays well his part on the stage of life is a success. strong and sterling character is like an acrostic, read it forward or backward or across. it still spells the same thing: "There is no success like the success that succeeds;" and David A. Dellinger. the subject of this brief review. has made of success not an accident but the diametrical result of his own well directed efforts. He is one of the prominent business men of Bloomville. Senera county. where for a number of years past he has been actively engaged in the shipping of live stock, hay and wool.
Mr. Dellinger was born in Crawford county. Ohio. on the 15th of April, 1859. and is a son of John and Maria (Leister) Dellinger The mother died September 9. 1902, but the father is vet living. a resident of Sycamore. Ohio, and although eighty-three years of age he is still actively engaged in business. The subject of this sketch was reared to the age of fifteen years in his native county, where he received his rudimentary educational training in the common schools, which was supplemented by a course at Heidelburg College. at Tiffin, this state. After some time spent at this well ordered institution in 1876 he put his scholastic attainments to good use by engaging in the pedagogic profession, which he followed with marked success and popularity for a number of years. In 1881. however, he entered into partnership with his father, who was an extensive shipper at Sycamore. Ohio. and later his brother James was admitted to the company. which did business under the firm name of Dellinger & Sons, with headquarters at Bloomville. This mutually agreeable alliance continued from 1881 to 1896. in which latter year the father withdrew from the concern and thereafter the enterprise was carried on under the old name until 1908. when James also withdrew. David A. Dellinger then admitted his son. Lloyd A., as a partner and the business has since been conducted under the title of Dellinger & Son. £ They have inspired and in- jected new life into and throughout the business, and their markets now embrace many commercial centers of the United States. Aside
.
743
HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY
from his business as a shipper Mr. Dellinger has other financial interests of important order. He is connected with some of the leading industries of the county. having large interests in the Sterling Emery Wheel Works and the Seneca Company. two pro- gressive manufacturing concerns located at Tiffin. He is also the owner of a well improved seventy acre farm. a part of which lies in the incorporated limits of Bloomville. All his business transac- tions have been notable for their unquestioned fairness and integrity.
In politics Mr. Dellinger usually accords allegiance to the cause of the Republican party but always puts principle and measure above men or party. At the present time he is one of the school directors of Bloomville. He is alert and enthusiastically in sympathy with all measures and enterprises projected for the ad- vancement of the general welfare of the community and his charity has known only the bounds of his opportunities. Ile is an appre- ciative member of the time honored Masonic fraternity. in which his affiliations are here noted: Eden Lodge. No. 310. Free and Ac- cepted Masons, of which he has served as worshipful master : Senera Chapter. No. 42. Royal Arch Masons. of Tiffin; De Molay Com- mandery, No. 9. Knights Templars; and Clinton Council. No. 47. Royal and Select Masters.
On the 21st of October. 1880. was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Dellinger to Miss Ellen Kagy, who was the daughter of Elijah and Susan (Rife) Kagy, of Bloom township. To this union were born two sons. Lloyd A. and Earl C., both of whom were graduated in the Bloomville High School, after which the former pursued a business course in Oberlin. Ohio. Earl C. was fitting himself for electrical engineering and was a student at the Ohio State U'niver- sity when he was summoned to eternal rest. in 1905. Lloyd 1 .. who is now associated with his father in the shipping business. as already noted. married Miss Margaret MeKinzie of Bloomville. April 10, 1905. The mother died in 1889. at Bloomville. In
. 1890 Mr. Dellinger was united in marriage to Miss Mary H. Seiple. a daughter of Jacob and Lydia (Seitz) Seiple. She was born in Wyandot county. Ohio, and prior to her marriage was a popular and successful teacher in the Bloom township and Bloomville schools. She is a woman of most gracious personality and is a prominent factor in connection with the best social activities of the community. She is a member of the "No Name Club." of Bloomville, which was organized in 1894 with a limited membership of twenty-five women. its object being intellectual and moral im- provement. Mrs. Dellinger is also affiliated with the Order of the Eastern Star, in which she served for two years as Worthy Matron. Mr. and Mrs. Dellinger are the parents of two sons, Harold A. and David D., both of whom are now attending school in Bloomville.
PERRY T. PERIN-Five generations of the family of this promi- nent citizen of Seneca county have living representatives at the time this work is in preparation. Perry T. Perin is a son of William T. and Eunice (Grover) Perin. ITis grandfather in the paternal line was Willard Perin who was born May 9, 1811. In order to
744
HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY
secure his eight acre farm near Greenspring. Seneca county. Wil- lard went on foot to Bucyrus, Ohio, about fifty miles away. and returned by the same hard mode of travel. his round trip embrac- ing a hundred miles through the woods. across streams. over the poorest excuses for roads and by blazed routes over no roads at all. When he got back. his entire cash capital was ten cents. not a large sum for a start in a new country among strangers, his nearest neigh- bor two miles distant. In that unpromising location. amid many almost unsurmountable difficulties. he cleared and improved a place which he developed into one of the finest truck farms in its vieinity. It consists of eighty acres and is now owned and operated by Wil- liam T. Perin, son of Willard Perin and father of Perry T. Perin.
William T. Perin was born May 7, 1837. on his father's farm. He was educated in distriet schools of the pioneer type. The first that he attended was taught by his Aunt Bloomy. who received fifty cents a week and boarded around among the families of her pupils. Later she received seventy-five cents a week and boarded with her mother. The price allowed by the district to her mother for board was certainly not liberal. The district in question is now known as district number eleven of Green Creek township, San- dusky county. Its arrangements with teachers now are less primi- tive and more liberal. Mr. Perin attended the district schools until he was eighteen. and then went to Greenspring where he attended school for two years. Leaving school. he farmed on his father's farm until he was twenty-three. when he married. Eunice Grover became his wife. their union being celebrated September 12, 1857. Six children were born to them. Perry T .. born May 11, 1858; Willard. August 4. 1861 : Lucy M., May 25. 1863; Fanny C., April 1, 1865; Frank W., February 19. 1867; Burt. June 17, 1869.
William T. Perin, after his marriage. removed to Van Buren county. Michigan. where he purchased forty acres upon which he built a log cabin and here he resided six years. At one time in the first part of his residence in Michigan he was forced to grate corn on an old tin lantern in order to seenre meal for the family. prefering to do this rather than contract debt. He lost two of his brothers, Henry and Fernando. Henry being killed by a violent accident with a thrashing machine and Fernando dying with cholera morbus. After these sad events he sold his interests and removed to Sandusky county, where he has continued to reside.
In the maternal line Perry T. Perin's grandparents were Trueman and Catherine Grover, the latter now residing with the subject's mother at the advanced age of ninety-two years. Mr. Perin's mother is seventy-five years of age. Catherine Grover was born at Schenectady. New York. October 5. 1818. a daughter of Conrad and Margaret (Swartz) MeEntosh. who came to Ohio in 1833 and located near Clyde. In October of that year Mr. Swartz bought eighty acres on the Clyde road, two miles southeast of Clyde, where he built two log cabins and reared a family of nine children. Catherine. Hannah. Sarah, Mary E .. Susan M .. Narcissa M., Isabella J., John and Margaret E. The Mc Entosh family came in 1826. Catherine and Trueman Grover were married March;
.
745
HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY
12, 1834. He was born March 13. 1809. and died in 1900. They had eight children : Eunice. mother of Perry T. Perin. born Decem- ber 10, 1835; Milo. August 20, 1837; Frank. June 12, 1839; Enos. October 21. 1841: Ransom. March 3, 1843; Margaret, March 5. 1848; Malvina, May 27. 1851 ; Ellen. February 17. 1856.
Mr. Perin was married September S. 1881. at Tiffin. The lady of his choice. Minerva E. Young. is the youngest child and only daughter of the ten children of Charles and Mary (Spangler) Young, natives of Germany. For interesting family history the family is invited to see sketches of Josiah and A. R. Young, else- where in this volume. Mrs. Perin has borne four children. Leo is a member of the firm of Schuster & Perin, shippers of fruits and farm products at Greenspring. He has shipped over two hundred cars of cabbage and several thousand bushels of potatoes. . He was born August 11. 1882. Roy. born February 3. 1888. is manager of his father's grocery and general store. He was married Sep-
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.