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 30
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cessful cultivation. He built a fine new barn in 1909. His house was erected by his great-grandfather, John Kistler, and old as it is it is well preserved. As a farmer he is successful, raising general erops and always having some good stock. He is a man of public spirit, ever ready to assist to the extent of his ability in the promo- tion of any measure which will in his opinion benefit his town or connty.
Mr. Evert married Miss Minda Ellora Miller October 27, 1897. She is a daughter of J. J. Miller of Adams township. mentioned at considerable length elsewhere in these pages. She attended dis- triet school in Adams Centre school building, leaving the same at seventeen and next entered the academy at Greenspring. under the management of Professor Harry Robinson. She has borne her husband one child, Mabel A .. born October 28, 1898. It should be added that Mr. and Mrs. Evert have reared a boy named Ralph W. Reed, who has been a member of their home circle thirteen years. Mr. Evert is identified with the Lutheran church, in the work of which he is active and generously helpful. In his political views he is a Democrat.
ROMANUS R. BOUR .- A public spirited and influential citizen of Tiffin, Romanus R. Bour has long been prominent in public life, for twenty-eight consecutive years having been connected with the county auditor's office, the last few years serving as auditor. A son of John Bour, he was born January 19, 1860, in Tiffin, on San- dusky street. and has never wandered very far away, the house in which his birth occurred being plainly seen from his present home. His paternal grandparents were natives of Alsace-Lorraine, now part of the German Empire, and on leaving the Fatherland they came to the United States, and for a while resided in New York City.
John Bour was born October 9. 1835. in New York City. Com- ing to Seneca county in early life. he was for many years prosper- ously engaged in business in Tiffin, but about a quarter of a century ago he retired to a farm in Eden township, where he has since lived in comfort and plenty. Ile married Elizabeth Swope, who was born August 11, 1831. in Canton, Ohio, and of the seven children born of their union six are living, as follows: Edward; Otto; Romanus R .; Zenobia, wife of John Fiegelist; Della, wife of Wil- liam Wagoner; and Elnora. wife of Lawrence Spohn.
Brought up in Tiffin. Romanus R. Bour attended St. Mary's Parochial school until fourteen years old, when he entered the Tiffin high school, where he continued his studies three years, after- ward attending Heidelberg College two years. He subsequently taught school for a year and a half, after which he assisted his father in business for a year. In 1882 Mr. Bour entered the office of the county anditor, becoming clerk for Francis E. Stoner. The following year he was made deputy auditor, and served under different auditors, namely Dr. J. A. Norton, William H. Slosser and Lee Nighswander. for upwards of a score of years. In the fall of 1903 Mr. Bour was elected county auditor of Seneca county, and having assumed the responsibility of the office in October, 1904,
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served until October, 1909, rendering efficient and praiseworthy service in that capacity. In the fall of 1910 he was elected repre- sentative for his county in the General Assembly of Ohio.
On May 14, 1884, Mr. Bour was united in marriage with Ida M. Strouse, a native of Allentown, Pennsylvania, and they are the parents of seven children, namely: Edwin J., born November 1, 1885; James Norton, born August 11, 1889; Bertha I., born Jan- uary 16, 1892; Charles R., born May 8, 1894; Elmer W., born November 3, 1896; Margaret, born March 10, 1900; and Paul, born June 3, 1902. Mrs. Bour is a member of Grace Reformed church, and Mr. Bour and the children are all members of St. Mary's Catholic church. Fraternally Mr. Bour belongs to the Knights of Columbus.
PAUL TITUS WATSON, of Old Fort, Pleasant township, Seneca county, Ohio, was born at Watson Station, that county, November 3, 1883, a son of the late Oliver S. and Flora T. (Titus) Watson, natives of Ohio, born respectively in 1844 and 1853. He began his education in the public school at Watson Station. Then after removing to Old Fort at the age of seven was graduated from the local third grade high school in 1900. From the Tiffin high school he was graduated with the class of 1903 and after that he studied two years at Heidelberg College, Tiffin. He then took up the study of medicine, entering the Ohio Medical University, at Colum- bus, where he remained for two years. Then he returned home because of his father's poor health.
Mr. Watson was a member of his parents' household, until January 6, 1909, when he was united in marriage with Miss Clemence Hubbard. Mrs. Watson was born March 13, 1886, and is a daughter of Elisha B. and Helen (Sawyer) Hubbard. Her parents, natives of Massachusetts and New Hampshire, respectively. came early to Seneca county and located at Bellevue, whence they soon removed to Tiffin. Mr. Watson began his business life with the Hopple Handle Factory, with which concern he remained two years. After his marriage he settled on a fine farm, the old Titus homestead, at Old Fort and devoted himself to mixed farming and stockraising and feeding. The farm consists of three hundred and sixty-eight acres. has a good residence and ample outbuildings and is well supplied with modern machinery and appliances.
In his political preferences Mr. Watson is a Democrat. In the matter of church faith he is a member of the Presbyterian church of Tiffin, his wife being an Episcopalian.
A short acount of the Titus family, maternal ancestors of Mr. Watson, is as follows: Curtis Titus and his wife Lucinda ( Wild- man) Titus and family were natives of Connecticut, who settled in this county in 1833 where Mr. Titus died two years later. Rasse- las R. Titus, youngest son of this old settler, was born in Litchfield. Connecticut. July 21, 1819, and came with his parents to Adams township, in Seneca county, in 1833, and in 1841 settled in Pleasant township. April 21, 1844, he was married to Miss Elvira Clark, a resident of Pleasant township and a native of Huron county, Ohio, where she was born May 31, 1820. She was a daughter of Town
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and Philothe (Case) Clark, natives of New York state, who were married in 1816 in Huron county, Ohio, whither their parents had emigrated in 1812. In 1835 they came to Pleasant township. Town Clark was nominated for the office of legislator and for that early day was considered a very wealthy person, owning something over three hundred acres of land.
The children of Mr. and Mrs. Titus are four daughters, who are living: Augusta L., wife of F. I. Fry; Calena M., wife of A. L. Abbot ; Flora A., wife of Oliver S. Watson; and Lettie L., wife of Robert Watson. Mr. Titus accumulated nearly one thousand acres of the best land the state affords. He was elected in 1859 upon the state equalization board, a member of the legislature fron 1861 to 1865, serving during the war, and always was an active Democrat. Old Fort or New Fort Seneca on the line of the Nickle Plate Railroad was platted in June, 1882, by county sur- veyor Nighswander, for R. R. Titus and a record of the plat was made in October, 1882. The location is upon the farm of R. R. Titus and upon the site of the old earthworks of that name.
HENRY EBORG .- One of the prominent farmers of Old Fort Pleasant township, Seneca county, Ohio, is Henry Eborg, whose contribution to the progress and development of this section of the state has been of the most insistent order. He was born in the kingdom of Westphalia. Germany, on the 29th of October, 1865, and is a son of Herman and Catherine (Linneman) Eborg. both of whom passed their entire lives in the old fatherland. Herman Eborg was identified with agricultural pursuits during the major portion of his active business career and at the age of twenty-two years he assumed the responsibilities of married life. Mr. and Mrs. Eborg became the parents of six children, concerning whom the following brief data are here incorporated : August is deceased ; Henry is the immediate subject of this review; August, named after the first child, is engaged in farming in Germany ; Fredericka mar- ried Herman Schreck and they reside in Reed township, Seneca county; Johanna became the wife of William Schaberg. a farmer in Germany; and Herman also maintains his home in Germany.
Henry Eborg attended the district schools in Germany until he had attained to the age of fourteen years, at which time he hired out as a farm hand, receiving in return for his labors the sum of thirty dollars a year. In 1882 he decided to seek his fortunes in the new world and after bidding farewell to home and friends he embarked for America. He landed in the port of New York city and proceeded immediately to Ohio, locating first near Republic. where he found employment on James Hilsinger's farm. After his marriage, on the 20th of March, 1889. he and his wife continued to work for about eighteen months. at the expiration of which they had accumulated enough money with which to rent a farm in Reed township, this farm being owned by Jerry Neikirk. There they continued to reside for a period of fourteen years, when, in 1907. they established their home in Old Fort Pleasant township. where Mr. Eborg purchased a farm of one hundred and twenty-three aores. This estate is finely improved and everything about the
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place indicates thrift and industry. Mr. Eborg devotes his atten- tion to diversified agriculture and the raising of high-bred cattle, his specialty being the Durham brand. In politics Mr. Eborg accords a staunch allegiance to the Democratic party and he and his wife are devout members of the German Reformed church, in whose faith they were reared. In 1905 Mr. Eborg paid a visit to his old home in Germany, spending about six weeks amidst the scenes of his youth and renewing old friendships.
On the 20th of March, 1889, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Eborg to Miss Minnie Barlekamp, who is likewise a native of Germany, whence she came to America, in company with her par- ents, when fourteen years of age. She was born on the 16th of December, 1863, and is a daughter of Frederick and Eliza (Cepker) Barlekamp, the latter of whom is deceased and the former of whom now resides near Fremont, he being seventy-eight years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Eborg have four children: William H., born June 9, 1890; Alvin H .. born April 19, 1892; Earnest F., born April 30, 1896; and Bernice C., born April 12, 1898. All of the children remain at the parental home.
GEORGE E. GOODING .- This prosperous citizen of Seneca county has lived on his fine farm of eighty acres in Adams township for more than five years. He was born August 13, 1868, in this town- ship, a son of Josiah and Mary A. (Petticord) Gooding. Much that is interesting concerning the family of Gooding will be found in a sketch in this work of the life of Herbert A. Gooding, and in this connection the reader is referred to that article.
George E. Gooding was educated in the common school near his boyhood home, learned farming as boy and man, assisting his father, and remained under the paternal rooftree until his mar- riage. He married Anna Newhouse December 3, 1894, and they have two children: Milo C., born May 12, 1896, and Albert R., born July 5, 1907. Mrs. Gooding was born March 8. 1874, in Adams township a daughter of Henry and Catharine (Tucehbert) Newhouse, natives of Germany, who came to the United States about 1866, locating at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, where they re- mained for a time. Eventually they made their way to Ohio and secured and improved a farm in Adams township, Seneca county, where they quickly took rank among the best people. Their chil- dren were named Fred. Sophie. Sadie, Henry, Harmon, Dena. August, Nora, Anna and Emma.
Mr. Gooding is a member of the Reformed church, devout in his participation in its services and generous in his support of all its various interests. Politically he is a Republican, in all national affairs solicitous for the success of its principles, its leaders and its measures; in local politics he favors the election of the best men to office regardless of political bias. He is especially interested in the public school system, and his influence has always been exerted toward its advancement and its substantial betterment. Indeed, so great is his public spirit that he can be counted on to help all good home interests so far as is possible.
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LAFAYETTE KISTLER. born June 6. 1857. is a son of David and Lydia (Kistler) Kistler, natives of Seneca county. David was a son of Michael Kistler. whose father. Michael Kistler, was a native of Pennsylvania. The latter came to Ohio late in the eighteenth century and secured eighty acres of land from the government. He married a German woman and had six children. His son Michael married a Lind and had eight children. Ilis son David was born September 11. 1834. and married Lydia Kistler August 14, 1856. She was born April 12, 1833, and she bore her husband children as follows: Lafayette. at the date above given : Amanda J., January 12. 1859; David. March 7. 1861 ; Sallie 1 .. December 3, 1863; Julia A .. June 16, 1865; Ehi. December 3. 1866: Lydia A .. September 4, 1869; Michael. October 10. 1871.
The immediate subject of this notice was educated in district schools and was a member of his parents' household until his mar- riage. He married Anna D. Setzler March 5, 1881. She · has borne him three children: Minnie. September 25. 1883; Loy D .. July 17. 1889 ; and Roscoe L., November 10, 1893. After his mar- riage Mr. Kistler began farming on his own account, and he has for the most part been so employed continuously to the present time. He has a fine farm of one hundred and thirty-three acres, well improved. well stocked and provided with modern essentials to successful cultivation. He gives his attention principally to mixed farming. He is a member and he and his family are attendants upon the services of the Lutheran church. toward the varied inter- ests of which he is so friendly that he is one of the most liberal contributors to their support. He is also a teacher in its Sunday
school. Politically he is an independent Democrat. He was for five years a member of the township school board and officially and otherwise did all in his power to advance the schools in efficiency and usefulness. His own children he has afforded as good educa- tional facilities as were at his command. His daughter Minnie, educated in the district school and at Bellevue, was graduated at the early age of fourten years. received a teacher's certificate at sixteen and is now in her ninth year as a successful teacher. Loy D. attended school number four. Roscoe L. was a student there also and passed the Boxwell examination with the class of 1909. which included twenty-three members. Mrs. Kistler was born March 10, 1859. in Thompson township. Seneca county. a daughter of John and Mary (Haas) Setzler, natives of Germany, who came to Ohio in 1834 and settled on a farm in Brew township. Huron county. It is a matter of family history that they were three months on board an old fashioned sailing vessel making the voyage from the Fatherland to the land of their adoption. It should be explained that Henry and Elizabeth Setzler. Mrs. Kistler's grand- parents in the paternal line, came. bringing their children. of whom John Setzler, her father, was one, and that Jacob and Dorothy (Barringer) Hass came, with their family. at the same time. the latter also locating in Brew township. Huron county. At that time John Setzler was about ten years old. George Kistler was the founder of the family of Kistler in America. Our subject's home was a station of the "underground railway," the regular
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route over which fugitive slaves from the southern states were helped to liberty in Canada. in the days before the Civil war.
In a suggestive way this brief family history is one of the most interesting in this big volume. It is a story of Germans who came to the United States and made it as truly their land as had been their beloved Fatherland. It is a story of self-made men who wrought success out of bare pioneer opportunities and helped to make a wilderness to bloom as the rose. It is a story of the general progress of our country in which all alike have profited according to their enterprise and their industry. Especially is it a story that should have the attention of young men just entering upon the battle of life.
ISAAC F. BETTS .- One of the most sightly homes and one of the most modern in its vicinity. if not in the whole county. is the residence of Isaac F. Betts. erected in Adams township at an ex- pense of about five thousand dollars. It is a fine structure of modern style. the conception of an artistic architect, its hardwood floors and other interior woodwork being finished in oil. It is pro- vided with a complete water system. involving bath. toilet. wash and laundry rooms. the laundry room being accessible from all parts of the house for the delivery of bundles by means of chutes communi- cating with all floors. With this elegant domicile Mr. Betts' pro- ductive farm is in keeping, being cultivated by Mr. Betts and an assistant in accordance with up to date methods and provided with the latest inventions in the way of implements and appliances for successful operation.
Isaac F. Betts was born in Liberty township. Seneca county. March 28, 1857. a son of Michael and Catherine (Bish) Betts. na- tives respectively of Fairfield county. Ohio, and of the state of New York. His father, who was a millwright, located on the bank of the stream known as Wolf creek, built a mill. opened a farm and began without delay to busy himself at lumber manufacturing and farming. The land he acquired was a tract of one hundred and forty acres that had been entered by a Mr. Gorn. The son was educated at district schools near his boyhood home and lived under his father's roof, assisting him in his varied labors, till he married and was ready to establish a home for himself. He married Miss Almyra King. Her parents were Phillip and Angevine (Sheets) King, natives respectively of Perry county. Ohio, and of Maryland. Mr. Betts dispenses a generous hospitality and is personally very interesting and entertaining. Public spirited in the extreme. he is always in the front ranks of those who would advance the interests of the township or of the county. His political views are broad and essentially patriotic. His father will go down in history as having given his name to the town of Bettsville in this state.
LEVI WEIKER .- A representative agriculturist of Scipio town- ship, Seneca county. Ohio, is Levi Weiker, who was born on the 18th of February. 1848. a son of Joseph and Nancy ( Hawkins) Weiker. the place of his birth being Adams township. Joseph Weiker was
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born in Pennsylvania. whence he accompanied his parents. Jacob and Mary Weiker. to Ohio in the year 1839. They located on a farm in Adams township. this county, and Joseph early became associated with his father in clearing and cultivating this estate. He resided at the parental home until his marriage to Miss Nancy Hawkins, who was born in Virginia but reared in Maryland. They became the parents of twelve children : John. Sarah. Jacob. David. Isaac, Valentine, Emanuel, Levi. Hannah, Anna. George and Jonah.
Levi Weiker availed himself of the advantages afforded in the district schools of Seneca county and after his marriage. in 1872, he resided for a time with his father on the old homestead in Adams township. In 1882 Mr. Weiker bought their present farm of seventy-four acres. When they first took up this farm it was covered with woods but they gradually cleared it and they now have one of the finest farms in the county, their spacious residence and barns being of the most modern construction. About 1885 Mr. Weiker had erected on the farm a mill in which he manufac- tures cider wine and jelly. he having ground up many thousands of bushels of apples. The father of Mr. Weiker used to saw lum- ber with the old pin wheel mill, which was built in 1828. At one time it was destroyed by fire but it was reconstructed in 1834 and is still in use.
On the 21st of November. 1872. was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Weiker to Miss Magdelene J. Shorger, a daughter of Valen- tine and Barbria (Fatic) Shorger both of whom were born in Germany. emigrating to America in an early day. Mr. and Mrs. Shorger were married in New York and after coming to Ohio they located in Adams township. the father being a shoemaker by trade. Some time after his arrival in Seneca county he purchased a farm of eighty acres and had a family of thirteen children: George. Mary. Magdelene, William, Philip. John. Elbert. Gust, George (the first George having died). Elizabeth, Hannah. Nora, and Wallace. eight of whom are now living. Mr. and Mrs. Weiker became the parents of eleven children, one of whom is deceased. The names and respective dates of birth of the above mentioned children are here incorporated : Benjamin F .. . January 6, 1874; Joseph V .. May 21. 1875 ; Lena E .. February 1. 1877 : John O., August 2. 1878 : Cora M., September 21, 1881; Perry E., January 26. 1883; Nettie J .. December 29. 1884: Lottie. A .. April 10, 1887 ; Minnie M .. Sep- tember 16. 1888 ; A. Levi. November 4. 1890; and Oscar J .. Novem- ber 14. 1893. All of the above children were afforded excellent educational advantages. having attended the district and high school at Republic. Lena and Joseph V. were graduated in Heidel- berg College. at Tiffin, and were engaged in teaching for a time. Joseph V. attended college at Ada and Oscar J. is now a student in the high school at Republic. Six of the children are married and concerning them the following brief data are here incorpor- ated : Benjamin F. married Abbie Alford on the 25th of November. 1898. and they have one child. Agnes, who was born on the 22d of December. 1899; Joseph V. wedded Jessie Miller; Lena is the wife of Russell Miller and they have two children, Vernon D .. born August 26, 1903, and Doris F., born February 4, 1905; Cora is the
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wife of Dan Cole and they have one boy. Carrol P., born February 28. 1909; Nettie married Orvis Kretsinger and they have one son. Francis M .. born February 9. 1908: and Perry E. married Blanch Hechart February 12. 1911. at Bloomville. Seneca county.
Levi Weiker is a Democrat in his political proclivities and he has contributed in no small measure to the progress and develop- ment of this section of Seneca county. He is a loyal and public spirited citizen and ever gives his aid in support of all movements advanced for the general welfare of the community. He is affili- ated with various fraternal and social organizations of representa- tive character and he is a member of the Reformed church. his wife holding membership in the Lutheran church.
Benjamin F. Weiker. eldest son of the subject of this review. married Abbie M. Alford. as previously noted. She was born on the 20th of June. 1880. a daughter of Isaac and Ruth (Vanetta) Alford. They were members of the Reformed church at Bloom- ville, taking an active interest in the same. Benjamin F. Weiker is a carpenter by trade and he continued to be occupied with that business until 1904. at which time he launched the Republic flour mill. This well conducted establishment has a volume of about seventy thousand bushels of wheat per year. from which the various brands of flour are manufactured, the Weiker Eldorado turning out about fifteen hundred barrels of flour annually. Benjamin F. received his educational training in the public schools of Seneca county, as did also his wife. They are devout members of the Reformed church of Adams township and he is a Democrat in his political adherency. He has given most efficient service as a member of the school board and as a member of the village council. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he has passed the various official chairs. He is an energetic and progressive business man and has a widespread reputation for fair and honorable methods and sterling integrity.
DANIEL L. MILLER, born May 1. 1858. is a son of J. J. and Sarah (Robenalt) Miller. natives respectively of the state of New York and of Ohio. He lived with his parents till his marriage. His wife was Miss Mary Butz. daughter of Edward and Jane (Kistler) Butz, natives of Pennsylvania. who came to Seneca county in the days of pioneering. Her grandfather when he came moved into the woods and tried to start a farm. but for some time was unable to make a living, so he and his wife separated temporarily. each seeking work. Mr. and Mrs. Miller were mar- ried December 30. 1880. and have five children : Earnest. horn March 15. 1882: Orrin. born December 24. 1883: Alton. horn December 20. 1885: Roscoe. born October 21. 1889: and Wade. born October 11. 1891. Rosro and Wade were educated at public schools near their home and the latter passed the Boxwell examina- tion. After his marriage Mr. Miller began farming for himself on his father's farm. and lived there eight years. In 1889 he bought fifty acres and later a hundred and sixty acres. He gives attention very profitably to general farming and to stock breeding. in which he has been markedly successful. £ Beginning as a poor
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