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 31
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man, he has made for himself a competency. He is a member of St. Jacob's Reformed church, one of the leading religious institutions in his vicinity. active and generous in support of all its varied in- terests. In his political affiliations he is a Democrat, reserving the right to independence. Interested in public education, he has cheerfully and very ably served his townsmen as a member of the school board.
J. J. Miller, father of the immediate subject of this notice, was born in the empire state February 21, 1829. and was brought to Ohio by his parents, Daniel W. and Anna (Bergstresser) Miller. in 1836. They located in Adams township. Seneca county, on two hundred and forty acres of land bought of Daniel Rule, and on that farm the parents lived out their days, the father dying at the advanced age of eighty-six years, without having been sick a day in all his life until his fatal illness, which began three days before his death. He was a member of the Lutheran church, generously helpful in its support and devout in his attendance upon its worship. A Democrat, he was loyal to his party and to his country, for the freedom of which his ancestor. Daniel Miller, had fought in the Revolutionary war so valiantly that he won the attention of General Washington and was chosen from among many others to be the patriot commander's cook. Daniel was a weaver by trade, and there are preserved by his descendants speci- mens of his handiwork, fine cloths in good preservation which he manufactured from warp and woof made by his wife from raw material by means of the old fashioned carder, spinning wheel and reel.
J. J. Miller passed his boyhood days on a farm in a new coun- try, learning a good deal about farming by hard experience. In the winter, when he could be spared. he went to a district school three miles away, walking sometimes through deep mud, often through snow from a foot to a foot and a half deep, finding the journey twice a day very tiresome but persevering. for what he hoped to gain by such hardship. His recollections of other pioneer experiences are vivid. Among the relics of those days that he has preserved is one of the first wagons built in this part of the country-one of the old "crotch skein" affairs, with linchpins to hold the wheels on. When he was sixteen he began to learn the cooper's trade. Much of his time till 1852 was spent on his father's place. however. In that year he went overland to Cali- fornia, in the hope that he would win success as a gold miner. He left Independence, Mo., with. a wagon train and was one hundred and one days in completing a journey memorable for its dangers and vicissitudes. About two thirds of the way out from Indepen- dence he was left in the desert to die of thirst and exhaustion. he being ill and unable to travel. He had a companion in misery not quite so far gone who scouted ahead and found some water that was being sold at two dollars and a half a gallon by some enter- prising wayfaring pirates who were temporarily absent from their stock-in-trade. Mr. Miller's comrade went back and brought Mr. Miller to the place, not without some difficulty, for by this time the latter was bleeding from the mouth. his throat parched and crack. Vol II-16
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ing. The man thus providentially and singularly saved tells that he drank of that confiscated water till he was nauseated. It re- vived him, however, and he was able to make his way to the site of Carson City. Nevada. where he built the first house. a primitive structure, for Kit Carson. the great scout and Indian fighter. for whom the place was subsequently named. After completing that work he went on to California, where he found employment with a contractor in digging for gold at five dollars a day. Later he took up mining on his own account and was satisfactorily success- ful. In 1854 he returned to Ohio, and October 17. 1858. bought forty acres of land in Adams township. on which he lived till he moved to Greenspring and which he still calls his "home." At Greenspring he has a fine village house. From time to time he has made other purchases of land until he owns two hundred and four acres. A part of his town property is a lot of about an acre. on which, at the age of eighty-two years. he is successfully garden- ing, raising vegetables as noteworthy for their size and excellence as for their variety. He married Miss Sarah Robenalt in 1855
September 1, the anniversary of her birth in 1837. She was a daughter of Sol and Catharine (Powell) Robenalt. She died in 1909, having borne her husband children as follows: Ida J., wife of A. R. Young. a prominent citizen of Greenspring, was born in the year 1856; Warren P .. was born March 15, 1857; Daniel L .. was born May 1. 1858; Delia A., was born April 1, 1861; Noble A., was born November 29, 1863; Almarinda. was born May 12, 1867: Mary B., was born August 3. 1870; Minda, wife of Henry Everett was born October 19. 1875; Jacob P., was born May 29. 1879. £ As a Democrat of independent leanings. Mr. Miller was elected township trustee and member of the school board. He is identified with the Lutheran church.
BRANTI,EY B. MCKIBBEN-A native son of Seneca county, Ohio, where he was born and reared to maturity and where he is now engaged in the great basic art of agriculture as manager of the home farm for his widowed mother. Brantley B. Mckibben is a son of John B. and Etta (Armatage) MeKibben. the former of whom was likewise a native of this county. where he was born on the 11th of October, 1854, and the latter of whom was born February 13. 1863. John B. Mckibben attended the district schools of Seneca county for about three months each year until he was eighteen years of age, at which time he entered the Normal school at Republic. Ohio. Thereafter he attended the Normal school at Valparaiso. Indiana, for a period of three years, at the expiration of which he removed to Marion county. Illinois, where
he engaged in farming. Three years later he returned to Seneca county and in 1883 was solemnized his marriage to Miss Etta Armatage concerning whose family further data will be given in a following paragraph. In 1885 Mr. M.Kibben removed with his family to Independence. Kansas, and after a three years' sojourn there he took up his residence in Tiffin, Ohio, where he entered the employment of the United States Glass Works. He was identi- fied with the interests of this concern for seven years and in
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THE LATE . OHN B. MCKIBBEN AND FAMILY OF SENECA COUNTY, ATTICA, OHIO
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1895 he again turned his attention to agricultural pursuits on his farm he purchased in Reed township and where he was summoned to eternal rest on the 20th of January, 1910. the cause of his death being cancer of the pancreas. He is survived by his cherished and devoted wife and eight children, namely: Eugene E., who was born on the 22nd of October. 1885, married Miss Bertha Spicer and they reside at Bryan, Ohio; Dessie B., born October 23. 1889; Nova, born November 20. 1892; Elizabeth C., born March 21. 1895; John J., born September 28, 1898; Alice E., born July 3, 1900; Orville O .. born August 19, 1905; all re- main at the parental home; and Brantley B., the immediate sub- ject of this review.
Elizabeth Armatage, the maternal grandmother of him whose name initiates this article. resides in Seneca county and she has attained to the ripe old age of seventy-seven years. The Armatage family was established in Seneca county in the early pioneer days and is one of prominence in this section of the state. John W. and Elizabeth Armatage became the parents of the following children : Wesley J. Armatage, who resides in Attica with his mother; George H. Armatage, who married Rebecca Friedley. resides in Crawford county; Alvin R. Armatage, married Celia Stigmeyer ; Charles H. Armatage married Alice Smith, and they maintain their home in Venice township; Lewis A. Armatage was united in marriage to Hannah Moore and lives in Venice township, resid- ing on the home place; Ervin W. Armatage, who married Minnie Daugherty. resides in Venice township; Loreta Armatage, who is the wife of Albert Lanbach, resides in Venice township; and Etta J., is the mother of the subject of this review. Mrs. MeKibben is nobly carrying on the work of rearing her children, and, as was her husband, is honored and respected wherever known.
Brantley B. Mckibben, whose birth occurred on the 5th of May, 1884, availed himself of the advantages of the public schools of Tiffin and he was graduated in the high school at Attica as a member of the class of 1906. Thereafter he entered the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company in the capacity of brake- man on the Toledo division. In 1908 he severed his connection with the railroad company in order to accept a position with the B. F. Goodrich Rubber Works at Akron, Ohio. After serving one year as traveling salesman for this concern he returned to the old homestead farm. to whose work and management he now devotes his entire time and attention. In politics he is aligned as a stanch supporter of the principles and policies for which the Republican party stands sponsor and he is essentially pro- gressive and public spirited in his civic attitude, giving his aid and influence in support of all measures and enterprises tending to advance the general welfare of the county. He is associated with various fraternal and social organizations of representative character and he holds a secure vantage ground in popular confi- dence and esteem. He holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal church at Tiffin, as do also his mother and his brothers and sisters.
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ARTHUR BILLIARD-One of the popular and well-known citi- zens of Flat Rock is Arthur Billiard, who owns and operates a barber shop here. He was born June 4. 1877. in Leeds. York county. England, and is the son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Otter) Billiard. The birthdates of the parents were September 5. 1847 and September 8. 1847. respectively. The father was bound out at the age of fourteen to work on a farm until he became twenty- one. At the termination of this period he came to Leeds. Eng- land, where for a time he engaged as a longshoreman. Ile later secured a position as a transferman on a railroad. in which capacity he continued for a dozen years. He then came to America with his family. the time of the migration being June. 1882. when the subject was a young lad. The voyage was un- usually stormy and they were nineteen days out owing to icebergs encountered. The newcomers first located at Baltimore, Mary- land. but in a short time found it expedient to come on to Seneca county. where they located at Attica in Reed township. Near this village they rented a farm and resided upon it for a number of years. the mother dying meantime and leaving a husband and three children. In 1892. by the exercise of thrift, the father found himself in a position to buy an eighty acre farm. for which he and his sons paid in a short time. Mr. Billiard's brother, John W., a resident of Omar. Reed township. married Mrs. Effie Kantz. and his sister. Lily. wife of Joseph Nogles. of Attica. is the mother of two children. named Ruby and George.
The subject resided with his father until his twenty-fourth · year, when he located at Clyde. and for one year was associated with Dr. E. W. Baker in the capacity of a driver. HIe then removed to Flat Rock and established a barber shop. which he has ever since conducted. building up a thriving and ever increasing patronage. On August 3. 1905. he laid the foundation of a happy home life by his marriage to Mabel Rubard. born November 23. 1885. the daughter of Dr. George and Anna (Burgner) Rubard. the father a native of Ohio and the mother of Indiana. The . . mother's parents. the Burgners. were natives of Switzerland. who left that country in 1794 and came down the River Rhine to Amsterdam. Holland, where they embarked for America. landing after the long voyages of those days. at the city of Philadelphia. There were three brothers. David. Christ and Peter. the latter being the great-grandfather of Mrs. Billiard. Her grandfather. Jacob Burgner. was the first of the name to come to Ohio. locating at Canton. Stark county. July 2. 1812. He made the journey by. wagon, bringing his family with him. and being threatened by all the perils which heset the pioneer. They brought with them the old family Bible, weighing fifteen pounds. this volume having been purchased at Frankfort-on-the-Maine at a cost of fifty dollars. This. containing the family record. is now one of the treasures of the Richard's library of Fremont. Sandusky county.
Mrs. Billiard's father was born December 2. 1847. on the old family homestead near Thompson Center, the son of Edward and Eve ( Harpster) Rubard, natives of New Jersey. Edward Rubard twice made the journey from New Jersey to Ohio, the
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second time on foot. It is a rather romantie circumstance that when he first met his wife, whose name was Eva Harpster she did not understand the English language nor he the German, and they taught each other their respective languages. The mother of the subject's wife was born at Bluffton, Indiana, February 9, 1861, the names of her parents being David and Elizabeth (Cowels) Burgner. The father died shortly after her birth, on December 14, 1863, the mother surviving until July 2, 1902.
Dr. Rubard, who is one of the well known practitioners here- abouts, had excellent educational advantages, pursuing his pre- liminary medical studies under the tutlelage of Dr. Sandmeister and graduating from the Cincinnati Medical College in February. 1871. He first located at Bellevue and he was married at Flat Rock, February 10, 1883. They have three children, Mrs. Billiard being the eldest. Her sister Gertrude is a stenographer and is located in Buffalo, New York. in the employ of the Erie Traction Company. William is in Indianapolis, where he is engaged as a chauffeur.
Mr. and Mrs. Billiard are the parents of two children : Harry Rubard, born March 23. 1906, and Gertrude, born June 16, 1909. Mr. Billiard is interested in public matters and his political faith is given to the Republican party. Mrs. Billiard is affiliated with the Evangelical church and is active in its good works. The subject's fraternal relations extend to the Woodmen of the World. He once taught penmanship, being skilled in this respect.
THOMAS F. BOLIG-Although Thomas F. Bolig is accounted one of Seneca county's successful agriculturists, he is comparative- ly new to this occupation, his career as a general farmer and stock raiser having covered a space of only about five years. Previous to that he worked at his trade. which was that of a carpenter, conducting a carpenter shop at Bellevue, and he spent several years in California engaged in carpentery. Mr. Bolig is a native of Pennsylvania, his birth having occurred July 31, 1871, in Middle Creek township. Snyder county, that state, his parents being Amos and Mary (Hummel) Bolig. also natives of the Key- stone state, the father having been born in the year 1840 and the mother on the day preceding Christmas, 1849. The family were Lutheran in their religious belief. the paternal grandfather, Jacob, being one of the prominent members of the church in his section. The subject's maternal grandfather and grandmother were Andrew and Barbara (Mayer) Hummel. Pennsylvanians. . Amos Bolig was a farmer, and his only child was he whose name initiates this article.
Mr. Bolig acquired his early education in the district schools of Snyder county, Pennsylvania, later attending the Pennsylvania Central College, from which he was graduated in 1891, and early in life he learned the trade of a carpenter. About the time that he attained his majority he came to Ohio, the date of his arrival within the boundaries of the Buckeye state being March 29, 1892. He located at Bellevue, and with an uncle, Theodore Dauberman, pursued the trade of carpentry. About a year thereafter he mar-
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ried and for the following eight years continued at his trade, after which he conducted a blacksmith shop for four years. Mr. Bolig made a radical change by removing to the state of California, where he located at Los Angeles, and remained in the west for some three years, making a livelihood as a carpenter. The charms of the Buckeye state remained vividly in his memory, and in 1903 he returned with his family and took up the cultivation of an eighty acre farm inherited from his wife's parents. This tract is located in Thompson township and is the scene of successful operations in general farming and stock raising.
Mr. Bolig joined the ranks of the Benediets on January 1. 1892, the lady to become his bride being Bertha E. Eberhard, born January 6, 1870. to George and Susan (Burgher) Eberhard, citi- zens of Ohio. George Eberhard was born October 26, 1834, in Snyder county, Pennsylvania, and is the son of George and Barbara Eberhard, who came to Ohio when the Indians were still numerous here. Their home was located across the road from an Indian hut, and the children of the family were delighted at having little redskins for playmates. When the father first came to the state there was only one house at Bellevue. The elder Eberhard secured large tracts of land from the government. one being located in Thompson township, Seneca county, and one near Bucyrus. George Eberhard resided upon the homestead until the demise of his parents, the father living to the ripe old age of ninety- three years. At the age of twenty-seven George married Susan Burgher. an Ohioan, born May 3, 1836, and they became the parents of three daughters. Tillie became the wife of William Bickel, of this township; Bertha married the subject; Catherine resides with her parents. Mr. Eberhard votes the Democratic ticket and he and his family are members of the Lutheran church. The issue of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Bolig are Murray E., born July 3, 1893; Myrtle M_ born February 2, 1895; and Fern L., born January 2. 1897. All are attending school and Fern re- ceived the township gold metal in a spelling contest.
Mr. Bolig gives political adherence to the Democratie party. although independent in his inclinations, believing that the best man and the best measure should be supported irrespective of · party. Hle and his family belong to the Lutheran church and are to be numbered among the active members.
Upon the subject's farm is an oil well which furnishes oil of a superior quality, forty per cent better than the oil of Wood county, according to a Columbus expert.
WARREN HI. HOPPLE is a son of Conrad Hopple. a pioneer in Seneca county, who came in 1833, when he was eleven years old, and contracted two hundred and twenty-five acres of land in Adams township at one dollar and a quarter an acre. The elder Hopple was born in Hesse-Darmstadt. Germany, a son of Conrad and Elizabeth (Fenner) Hopple, March 11. 1819. His son Warren has the old chest that he brought with him from Germany. Six years after his arrival here Conrad Hopple, the grandfather. died, and on the son Conrad (father of subject) devolved the responsi-
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bility of making and paying for a farm. He took up his father's work where the latter laid it down and carried it forward to ulti- mate success. Conrad Hopple, Jr., died February 4, 1888. The mother is now living, at an advanced age, on the old homestead. She is now seventy-one years, having been born June 8, 1839, in Germany, a daughter of Henry and Barbara Brookholt. She came with her parents to America and they located on a farm of ninety acres in Scipio township. The family were connected with the Reformed church and her father was active in the management of its affairs. Conrad Hopple was married September 28, 1857, and became the father of seven children. Anna E., born August 21, 1858, married Fred Cook, of Scipio township; John, born June 2, 1859, lives in Adams township; William S. and Henry S., twins, were born May 2, 1860; Mary, born July 22, 1861, died when she was thirteen years old; Catharine J., born December 4. 1862, died October 21, 1889; Warren II., born December 2. 1874, is a member of his father's household. At her death in 1889, Catharine J., who had married, left a child then a week old, which was reared by its grandmother. Mrs. Conrad Hopple.
Mr. Hopple is a Democrat and a member of the Salem Re- formed church. He is helpful in all local affairs which he deems of public moment. Among his relics of bygone days he cherishes a cane more than one hundred and fifty years old that one of his uncles carried in Germany.
JOSIAH H. YOUNG is one of the prominent and progressive citizens of Seneca county, being at the head of one of the large industries within its borders, the Young Tile and Brick Plant. This was the first concern of its kind in Adams township, having dated from the year 1881 and having successfully weathered three panics, it is now in a flourishing condition, turning out three hundred and sixty-four thousand tile and one hundred and fifty thousand bricks each year.
Josiah H. Young is a native son of this section. He was born December 5, 1852, in an old log cabin situated somewhere near the line between the townships of Adams and Pleasant. It was near here that he passed his boyhood and received his educa- tion in the school near Bunker Hill and at Greenspring. His parents were Charles and Mary C. (Spangler) Young. who were born in Germany. It seems almost incredible to the present-day traveler who makes the same voyage in less than a week that these good people were eighty days on the way, about fifteen of these being spent on a sand bar. They landed finally near Chesapeake Bay Like so many of Seneca county's emigrants, the elder Mr. and Mrs. Young first settled in Maryland, and it was some years after their marriage that they came to the Buckeye state, two children having been born in the former state, these being by name Henry F. and Charles M. They bought land here which the father i
proved and upon the homestead thus established they reared a fam- ily of ten children. The eight who can claim Ohio as a birthplace are Lewis W., John P., George, Albert R .. Josiah H., D. W., Edward A., and Minerva E., as it will be observed boys greatly
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predominating in this family. The only daughter became the wife of Perry T. Perin, one of Greenspring's prominent citizens. Mr. Young's mother was one of a family of three children. of whom George Spangler of Dayton is a member.
Of the 18th day of February, 1879, Mr. Young was married in Tiffin to Miss Caroline E. Schuster. The lady who became his wife was a native of Eden, Erie county, New York, her birthdate being July 3. 1856. She is the daughter of Christian and Eliza- beth (Hauck) Schuster, who were natives of the fatherland and who crossed the ocean to share in the opportunity of the new world. Mrs. Young who was educated in her home town and came to Ohio on a visit when she was about sixteen years of age and sometime afterward met her future husband, their wedding in 1879 being the sequel. Three children have been born to them, Ervin D., was born May 27, 1880, and is now in the brick and tile business at his father's old stand; Lura M., born May 11, 1888, receiving her education at Greenspring and for two years taught in the Adams township schools; and Howard R., born May 4, 1892, is in the brick and tile business with his brother in Adams township near Greenspring.
Ervin D. was married June 25, 1903, to Carrie E. Tannreu- ther, daughter of Fred and Gertrude (Ellinger) Tannreuther, she was born January 8, 1880. They are the parents of one child, Gertrude Carolyn, born October 20, 1905. Lura M., on June 19, 1909, became the wife of Lloyd E. Peddicord, a son of Marshall L. and Emma C. (Donelly) Peddicord, he was born October 2, 1884. They reside in Mansfield, where Mr. Peddicord is principal of the First Street school.
Mrs. Young is a member of the Evangelical church and is a member of the Women's Christian Temperance Union, in which organization for the promulgation of good she has held the office of vice president. In the matter of politics Mr. Young is an independent Democrat. He holds the confidence and esteem of his associates and has served eight years and nine months on the township board. He was elected to this trust by a strong majority and is the first Democrat to have been elected in this decidedly Republican township.
ADOLPH WILLIAM DEARSMAN-This prominent German-born citizen of Seneca county first saw the light of day in Westphalen. Prussia, February 18. 1840. His parents were Adolph William and Catharine (Elstroth) Dearsman. Prussians by birth and mem- bers of families long known there. He came to the United States in 1862. found his way to Seneca county, Ohio, and took up a farm of ninety acres in district number five, Adams township. In 1860 he married Catharine Stegemeyer, who was born in Prussia February 8, 1826. They had three children, Henry and William. and another who died in infancy. William married and lived until May 1. 1910, when he was killed by a horse. Henry had children named Fay. Ellis and Homer. William's children were named Preston, Lela, Vernon, Ethel and Ovid. Mr. Dearsman's present wife had by a former marriage the following children :
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