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 29
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their attractive home in Fostoria. On the site of their residence he erected his original dwelling nearly half a century ago. Sur- rounded by loyal friends and by the many influences that go to make life worth the living Mr. and Mrs. Alleut are passing the even- ing of their day under most pleasing conditions.
On the 1st of January. 1856, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Alleut to Miss Sarah Ann Young. who was born in Fairfield county. this state. and who is a daughter of Isaac and Mary (Mason) Young, who took up their residence in Seneca county in 1852. Mr. and Mrs. Alleut became the parents of two sons and five daughters. all of whom are living and all of whom are well established in homes of their own. The youngest child is in her fortieth year and is the mother of five children. besides which Mr. and Mrs. Alleut have eleven grandchildren and five great-grand- children. It is worthy of special note that in this splendid family there has been no death save that of one grandchild, who died in childhood.
JOHN WILLIAM GRIEST was born in Oxford township. Guernsey county. Ohio, May 22, 1881. a son of Thomas E. and Eliza .J. (Hall) Griest. His father was born in Ohio. September 23. 1846. Mil- ton Griest. Mr. Griest's grandfather on his father's side, married Mary Sykes, of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and they came to Ohio in 1825. locating on the site of Quaker City. Guernsey county. His mother was of the family of Hall so prominently mentioned in Howe's History of Ohio. Howe relates that John ITall was the first settler in Guernsey county. He came from North Carolina and lived in a hollow tree till he could build a log cabin. He was of the old stock of Quakers and was noted for his sobriety and his integrity. The reader is referred to the valuable old work men- tioned for further interesting material concerning the Halls, the Griests and their neighbors.
John William Griest lived with his parents until he was twen- ty-one years old. His father gave him every available educational advantage. sending him to the common school. then to the high school. After leaving school the young man was a teacher, and as such he earned money to pay his tuition for a philosophical course at Wooster University, Wooster, Ohio. He has taught in the rural school three years. and was superintendent of schools at Salesville three years and at Greenspring for the same length of time.
On August 11, 1904, Mr. Griest married Miss Fannie Estella Stiles, born April 22, 1883, daughter of George A. and Mary (Bartholo) Stiles. of Jefferson township. Guernsey county. edu- rated at the rural school and at Muskingum College. She has borne her husband three children : Mabel, born June 8. 1905; Mary Christina. August 27. 1907 ; and William Kermit. October 24. 1910. Mr. and Mrs. Griest are Methodists. Both are active workers in the church and Sunday school. Mr. Griest was the promoter of the Greenspring Chatauqua. assuming all the work and responsibil- ity of the first Assembly and later brought about the formation of the Chantauqua Company which erected the large auditorium in Vol. II-15
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which the annual assembly is now held. The chautauqua move- ment and the standard to which Mr. Griest raised the public schools speak for his progressiveness.
AUGUSTUS P. HOPPES .- A progressive agriculturist and stock raiser, a good citizen and faithful public servant. and one playing a prominent and praiseworthy part in the affairs of the county of which he is a native son. is Augustus Hoppes. The birthdate of Mr. Hoppes was February 2. 1865, and he is the son of Paul and Mary (Miller) Hoppes. two estimable people. natives of Pennsyl- vania and New York respectively, who located in Seneca county as early as 1832. when this section was by no means closely settled. They secured a farm of one hundred and sixty acres and the father was the possessor of one hundred more at the time of his demise, in April, 1905. Paul Hoppes engaged in general farming and stock raising.
Augustus P. Hoppes was educated in the district school. grew wise in the secrets of successful agriculture under the excellent tutelage of his father and remained upon the family homestead until his marriage. That happy event occurred on the 21st day of May. 1891. the lady to become his wife and the mistress of his household being Addie Norris. born March 7. 1869. a daughter of J. T. and Elizabeth (Hall) Norris, both of whom were natives of Ohio. J. T. Norris was a prominent man in his township of Scipio, was a stalwart Republican, and held various township offices. His family are valued members of the Methodist Episcopal church. and take an active part in its affairs, giving their support to all the good causes promulgated by it. Mr. Norris was led to a religions life when a young man. was shortly afterward elected Sunday school superintendent and has held that position during most of the subsequent years. He was known far and wide and was uni- versally beloved for his many good gifts of mind and heart and his unfailing kindliness. He was a particular favorite with the school
children. He received his education in the Republic Academy and chose for his life work farming and stock raising. His mar- riage was solemnized October 14. 1861. the Rev. J. H. Good of Tiffin, performing the ceremony. Mrs. Hoppes is one of eight children born to this good man and his excellent wife. namely : Allen L .. October 18. 1864; Laurie S .. August 28, 1866; Addie R .. March 7. 1869; Della C. and Ella E .. twins. born May 6. 1872; Clara E., July 11, 1876; Anna B .. February 20. 1879: Ralph .J., August 21, 1881. Two of the children are deceased. Ralph having died January 20, 1888; and Allen. August 19. 1907. The father passed on to his reward September 26. 1907.
Three children have been born to bless the union of Mr. and Mrs. Hoppes, these being: Carl D., born October 23, 1892; Delia. born December 21. 1893; and Norma M., born October 4, 1896. Carl was educated in the public schools of Tiffin and Greenspring and received the district diploma in June, 1906, when only fourteen years of age. Delia received her education in the district schools and passed the Boxwell examinations on June 11, 1910. Norma
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attends the district school and will graduate this year in Boxwell. All three of these promising young citizens are at home.
Mr. Hoppes and his family are members of St. Jacob's Re- formed church. Carl having been confirmed April 26. 1908. and Delia. July 11. 1909. All take an active part in the Sunday school. Mr. Hoppes being one of the Consistory and Mrs. Hoppes teaches the infant class.
Mr. Hoppes' property comprises one hundred and twenty arres in Adams township and forty acres in Scipio belonging to Mrs. Hoppes, and cattle breeding has been engaged in quite exten- sively. They have a modern and commodious home, built about five years ago. and excellent outbuildings.
ELBRIDGE B. WOLFE .- Although not a native son of Adams township Mr. Elbridge B. Wolfe has been identified with its affairs since the year 1890 and by his successful management of a fine sixty-acre farm has placed himself in the ranks of those progressive agriculturists who are ever alert to the latest discoveries in the great basic industry of agriculture. of which they are the exponents. Mr. Wolfe was born in Ballville township. Sandusky county, August 30. 1866. his parents being Daniel M. and Eunice (Black) Wolfe. natives of Richland county. Ohio. The date of the father's birth was January 22. 1832. and that of the mother, January 6. 1834, and after their early marriage they located in Ballville township. Sandusky county. in the year 1852 or 1853. Here they settled upon a farm of fifty acres, which was the nucleus of a property upon which they made their residence for many years. the mother still residing there in fact. and the father having lived there until his death. on April 6. 1909. Previous to her marriage the mother taught school for several terms. The names of their five children were: Charles M .. Irene S .. E. B .. Inez and Daniel M.
Daniel M. Wolfe. the father, was a man of power and promi- nence in his part of Ohio and promoted many worthy enterprises. both financially and otherwise, his talents by no means being re- stricted to the field of agriculture. He assisted in the building of churches and educational institutions and was interested in the building of the Nickel Plate Railway, which proved of incalculable value to the country through which it passed. Although for the main part independent in his political views. he was Republican in inclination. He gave efficient service as the incumbent of various township offices and in short played a prominent part in party affairs. He was a veteran of the Civil war. having joined the one hundred day service, and in Company K. One Hundred and Sixty-ninth Regiment. to which he belonged, having held the rank of second lieutenant. He was a member of the United Brethren church and took a leading part in its affairs.
Elbridge B. Wolfe was educated in the district schools and in the Greenspring Academy, which educational discipline was sup- plemented by a business course which was concluded with the class of 1887. He remained beneath the home roof until his marriage with Miss Ida JJ. MeIntyre, which happy event was solemnized November 21, 1889. Mrs. Wolfe was born March 22, 1868. the
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daughter of James and Catherine (Myers) MeIntyre. They were. prominent people and large landholders, having owned some five hundred arres in Adams township, which they divided among their children. They had a large family, the names of their sons and daughters being: John. Elizabeth, Roy. George. Henry. Ida Myrtle and Jennie. The MeIntyres were also United Brethren in their religious views and were much esteemed where best known. They resided in Adams township. Seneca county.
Mr. and Mrs. Wolfe came to Adams township very shortly after their marriage and took up land. having ever since been en- gaged in agriculture. Mr. Wolfe's interests are by no means confined to his own individual affairs. but he is a public spirited citizen who gives no small amount of attention to public matters. especially those relating to the advancement of the township. His service as trustee and member of the school board has been of general benefit. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and for the past five years has served the good cause in the capacity of Sunday school superintendent. He pays fealty to the Democratic party and he has accomplished much in the cause of securing better roads.
Mr. and Mrs. Wolfe are the parents of four children. Ida Lucile was born October 13. 1890: Gladys M. was born February 23, 1892: Eunice C. was born October 13, 1899; James H. was born April 6. 1904. All of these young citizens are at home. Ida Lucile and Gladys M. being graduates of the Greenspring high school and both are now engaged in teaching in the public schools. The children also belong to the Methodist church and are earnest and intelligent workers in the fold.
WILLIAM M. BAKER was born September 11. 1866. in Adams township. Harmon and Margaret (Schlessman) Baker, the fath- er a native of Pennsylvania. the mother a native of Adams township. located soon after their marriage on a farm of eighty acres which was owned by Michael Kestler. Harmon Baker came to the town- ship in 1858 from Snyder county, Pennsylvania, where he was born August 13. 1838. His marriage was celebrated in 1862. On May 21. 1863. he enlisted for service in the Civil war. in Company K, Twenty-ninth Regiment. Ohio Volunteer Infantry. in which he did gallant service until the close of hostilities, except for about a year when he was on the sick list. Hle was under Sherman. par- ticipating in the historic march from Atlanta-to the sea. and at the end of the war took part in the Grand Review at Washington. D. C. He died in 1893. his widow surviving.
William M. Baker was educated in public schools. assisted his father in the management and cultivation of his farm. and was an inmate of his parents' home until his marriage, which occurred November 2, 1890. His wife was Miss Sarah A. Evert, born November 7, 1868, a daughter of Edward and Louise (Schaberg) Evert, both of Pennsylvania ancestry but her mother of German descent. Her father was brought here at the age of two years by William Evert. his father, who settled on a farm of eighty acres in Adams township in 1831, and farmed there until the end of his
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2020 Baker Sarah. a. Baker. Inez M. Baker.
Florence L Baker.
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life. He was a Lutheran, a Democrat and a man of force of character who took a prominent part in affairs of the township in his day. Mr. and Mrs. Baker have three children: Inez M., born June 21, 1895; Florence L., born January 23, 1899; and Mildred A., born July 26, 1906. Mr. Baker has taught school seventeen . years, usually in his home township, but one term in Thompson township and four terms in other schools. Ile filled the office of committeeman five years, has held other local offices, and took the census of Adams township in 1900 and again in 1910. He is a stockholder and a director in the Bronson Telephone Company and in the Republic Bank. £ He is the owner of about forty-one acres
of good land. In his political conviction he is an Independent Republican. A member of the Lutheran church, he has filled the offices of deacon and Sunday school superintendent, and in all ways has performed his full share in supporting his local organi- zation and promoting its work.
Margaret Sehlessman, who married Harmon Baker and became the mother of the immediate subject of this sketch, was of German blood, a daughter of John M. and Mary (Frymuth) Schlessman. Her parents came to Ohio in 1835 and secured a farm of two hun- dred acres in Adams township, Seneca county, where he died aged fifty-six and she, aged ninety-one. He was a farmer, a basket maker and a wagon maker.
WILLIAM PANCOAST .- Few citizens of Seneca county are better or more honorably known than William Pancoast, who for many years was successfully engaged in the furniture and undertaking business in Republic and who built up one of the substantial enter- prises which contributed in no small measure to the prosperity of Scipio township. Now having retired from the more strenuous duties of the business, its details have fallen to the capable manage- ment of the son. Carl V. Pancoast, who has the distinction to be the youngest man in Ohio conducting a furniture and undertaking business. William Pancoast is one of the widely known men, and in lodge and other circles plays a prominent part. He belongs to an old American family, and one which has given many patriots to the country.
He was born March 22, 1839, in Wayne county, Ohio, and is the son of James and Mary (Yoder) Pancoast, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania and of Quaker descent. James was the son of Mortimer and Mary (Mayers) Pancoast, and Mortimer Pan- coast was the son of an Englishman who in 1680 crossed the blue Atlantic to gain greater freedom in America. He lived to a great old age, dying in 1776. James Pancoast was the first of the name
to come to Ohio. He arrived in the year 1840 and located in Wayne county. He had been a soldier in the Indian wars. He married in Pennsylvania and became the father of a large family of children, five, Carter. Mary, Sarah, Elizabeth and Rebecca, being born in Pennsylvania, and five, William, Edward, George, Thomas and the subject, claiming Ohio as their birthplace. All the sub- ject's brothers were soldiers in the Civil war, giving their valiant service to the cause of the Union.
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William Pancoast resided under the home roof until the be- ginning of the Civil war plunged the country into darkness and devastation, and he enlisted in Company G, Twenty-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, his immediate officer being Captain Way. For a little over three years he fought under the stars and stripes and in June, 1864, was mustered out as orderly sergeant and dis- charged. William Pancoast arrived in Ohio at an early enough day to find the Indian still lingering ere he was swept finally west- ward by the onward march of civilization. He was personally acquainted with the well-known Indian, Joel Gorrott, and his moth- er, and Mr. Pancoast had it from the latter's own lips that she had assisted in gathering the faggots used in the burning of Colonel William Crawford in Wyandot county. Her son Joel was inter- preter for the white men in the county mentioned.
After the war Mr. Pancoast was married to Mary Miller, born July 17, 1841. the daughter of Abraham and Jane Chamberlain Miller, natives of New York and New Jersey, respectively. £ Abra- ham was the first of the Miller family to come to Ohio. Mary being twenty months old at the time. He was a blacksmith and after locating at Republic he there pursued his trade. There were the following children in the Miller family: Mary, Daniel, Felicia. Annis, John. Henry and Edward. Henry, at the time of the Re- bellion, was in service in Company H of the One Hundred and First Ohio Volunteer Infantry.
In 1872 Mr. Pancoast took up the furniture and undertaking business, and by sound and assertive business methods, modern ideas and probity in his dealings, built up an excellent permanent trade. He has since sold his interest in the concern to his son Carl. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Pancoast have been born five children. Bertram, born in July, 1866, is now a resident of California, where in Los Angeles he is engaged in the real estate business. He chose as his wife Miss Nan Swordfeger, of Nebraska. Carl V. was born June 23, 1879; and his business associations have been previously mentioned. Edith is the wife of C. J. Cummings, of Prospect. Ohio, who answers the double calling of agriculturist and hardware merchant. Bessie is the wife of Dr. S. C. Wagner.
of Wakarusa, Indiana. Florence is the wife of Edward Frash, of Youngstown. Ohio. All received their education in the ex- cellent public schools of Republic and Carl enjoyed the additional advantages of instruction in Columbus and Cincinnati.
Mr. Pancoast is a loyal Republican, and one whose loyalty con- sists in deeds as well as in words. He has proved his faithfulness and efficiency in public office and has in fact held every township office. He was a member of the school board for nine years and a member of the village council for a long term. He is a Mason of prominence and popularity and has held all the chairs in the order, as well as some of those in the Grand Army of the Republic, of which he is a member. He is likewise affiliated with the Sons of Malta. Mr. Pancoast has been identified with Masonry since 1866 and has found no small amount of pleasure in his relations with this ancient and august order. £ He was nine years justice of the peace and is notary public at present.
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The subject has witnessed great change and development in this section of Ohio, while assisting in the same. Among the interesting people whose acquaintance he has possessed were the missionaries, Russell Bigelow, John Thompson, John C. Pointer, Rev. Mr. Ganit and an Indian, Between-the-Logs.
Carl V. Pancoast, son of William and previously mentioned, received his preliminary education in the schools of Republic and subsequently studied at Cincinnati. Possessing marked musical ability, he studied music under Professor Tinkey of Toledo and is well cultivated and remarkably gifted in vocal and violin music. He was the youngest man who ever received a license as an under- taker in the state of Ohio and his career as a mortuarian covers a period of thirteen years. He resided with his parents until his marriage with Roxey Rakestraw, which was celebrated June 23, 1903. Mrs. Pancoast was born July 3, 1879, and is the daughter of Herron and Catherine (Cramer) Rakestraw, natives of Youngs- town, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, respectively. They located in Reed township and the father was one of the most prominent officials in the county, besides being a substantial property owner, having several large farms in Reed township. Among the public duties entrusted to lim was the county commissionership, which he held for nine years.
Carl V. Pancoast, like his father, is prominently identified with the Masonie order, in which he has held all the chairs, holding the office of junior warden at the present time. Both he and his wife are affiliated with the Eastern Star. Both are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church and take an active part in its affairs. Hle is interested in public affairs and sub- scribes to the articles of faith of the Republican party.
JOSEPH HILSINGER .- Within the pages of this work will be found specific mention of many sterling citizens who are native sons of Seneca county and who have here passed their entire lives, becoming identified with the industrial activities of this section of the state and gaining success through their well directed efforts. Of this number is the subject of the sketch, who is one of the pro- gressive and highly esteemed farmers of Scipio township, and whose three hundred and forty well improved and highly cultivated acres are among the most desirable hereabout. Mr. Hilsinger was born January 20, 1841, in Scipio township, on the old family home- stead. His parents were Joseph and Mary M. (Rarrich) Hilsin- ger, the father a native of the Black Forest of Germany and the mother of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, she being likewise of the nationality which produced her husband. Joseph Hilsinger, the elder, crossed the blue Atlantic in 1825, and located for a time in the city of Philadelphia, and afterward removed to Allentown, Pennsylvania, where he resided for a time and pursued his vocation, which was that of a jeweler. Upon coming to this county he lo- cated north of Republic about two and one-half miles, this being in the year 1834. He became the possessor of an eighty acre farm and here lived until his death. To Mr. and Mrs. Hilsinger were born three children. Sarah became the wife of David Critz and
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is now deceased; Harrison, deceased, resided in Barry county. Michigan ; and Joseph lives on the old farm in Scipio township.
Mr. Hilsinger passed his early years upon his father's farm and received his education in the public schools and in the academy at Republic. In 1861 he laid the foundation of a happy married life by his union with Catherine Smith, daughter of David Smith and a native of Pennsylvania. Their union was fruitful of four children, David, the eldest, now in Republic, Ohio; Nora, who mar- ried Byron Wyant, of Bellevue; Calvin, who is engaged in the bank- ing business in Toronto, Ohio; and Clara, wife of E. C. Fox, of Tiffin.
After his marriage Mr. Hilsinger assumed the management of the old home place and he has added to the land until he is to be numbered among the considerable property owners. Besides the three hundred and forty acres in Scipio township he owns a good deal of property in Oklahoma City, and has just returned from looking after his interests. Politically he subscribes to the articles of faith of the Democratic party and has always been greatly inter- ested in church and school affairs in the township, and has held acceptably various public offices on the school board and elsewhere. He is an extensive traveler, particularly in the last few years, and know's well the southwest and eastern states. He is one of the valued members of the Reformed church, and his support is given to all good causes.
HENRY EVERT, son of Edward and Louise (Schaberg) Evert, was born February 8, 1866. His father was a native of Pennsyl- vania and his mother was a native of Germany. He came to Seneca county in 1833, making the journey from his old home by wagon, in company with his parents and other members of their family. He married April 17, 1856, and engaged in farming. His wife bore him nine children, the following items concerning whom will be found interesting in this connection : Mary married H. Butz, a farmer in Adams township. Williamn died at the age of nineteen years. Amanda became the wife of Preston Kintner. of Sandusky county. Lena married Hiram Billman and lives in Indiana. Henry lives on his great-grandfather's place in Adams
township. Sarah married William Backer. of Adams township. Verda is Mrs. Herbert Baker, of Sandusky. Alvinnie married Charles Matz and lives on one of her father's farms in Adams town- ship. In one line of descent Mr. Evert comes of the Kistler family so well represented in this vicinity. His mother, Louisa Schaberg, was a daughter of Herman Schaberg. Her mother was a Buch- holtz. One of his relatives, Catharine Schaberg, lived to the ad- vanced age of ninety-two years.
Henry Evert received his instruction in District No. 2, work- ing summers and attending school in winters. Leaving school at the age of twenty-one years he worked by the month for five years. After his marriage he lived on his father's farm for two years, then purchased a farm in Pleasant township and selling that, removed to their present home. He bought this farm in the year 1900. It consists of sixty aeres and is well equipped in every way for sue-
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