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 32
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Mary, born May 24, 1866; Martha, November 6, 1867; and Jesse, May 12, 1874. Jesse married Lillie Westerhouse and they have children named Lola and Donald. Martha is the wife of William Westerhouse of Adams township. Mr. Dearsman's sons Henry and William were born respectively September 1, 1863 and Sep- tember 21, 1866.
Mr. Dearsman is one of the model farmers of his vicinity, up- to-date in all that constitutes well advised tillage in this advanced age, when old methods are no longer practicable. In all impor- tant local affairs he takes great interest, and there is nothing tending to the benefit of any considerable number of his fellow citizens that does not find in him a ready advocate and a willing promoter. In politics he is a Democrat, at least so far as national or strictly political questions are concerned. In township affairs he favors good men for office, regardless of political affiliation. He has served as a member of the school board of Adams township. performing the duties of the office with admirable honesty and efficiency.
ORSON JOPP is one of Pleasant township's sterling inen and progressive citizens. It was here that he was born, the date of his advent to this mundane sphere being March 20, 1855, and his parents being Luther S. and Emeline (Madison) Jopp. The sub- ject's grandfather, Daniel II. Jopp. was a native of Winsted, Connecticut, born before the dawn of the nineteenth century, in 1791. When a lad about thirteen years of age he came to Ohio with his parents, settling in the vicinity of Cleveland, Ohio. He removed to Thompson. New York. and was married there in the month of December to Mary Demond. He was a furrier and for a number of years also engaged in blacksmithing. After coming here he built a saw and carding mill, which he operated for several years. He was a publie spirited man, interested in the develop- ment of the new country, and he assisted in the government survey of the Western Reserve. He died in 1849, and his widow survived until 1876. They reared a family of eleven sons and daughters and their names are revered by a large posterity.
Orson Jopp was one of two children, a sister. Lelia, residing at. Greensprings. He lives upon the old Jopp homestead, a valuable tract of one hundred and twenty acres, and occupies the old residence, which is a landmark in the neighborhood. On September 14, 1876. he married Miss Florence Myers, born March 18, 1857, a daughter of Jolin and Eunice (Walker) Myers, of Pleasant township. The wife's father was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in 1821. and his parents were Henry and Margaret (Bostwick) Myers, also natives of that place. They made several changes in their career, moving to New York, then to Erie county, and in 1836 to Sandusky county, where the father died in 1849. They were the parents of nine children. The brothers and sisters of Mrs. JJopp are: Almeda, of Old Fort; Lydia, deceased ; Almira, of Old Fort; Jane, of Ft. Seneca; Winfield. also deceased; Emma, of Ballville; and Florence, of Old Fort, while the living grand- children of Mr. and Mrs. John Myers number thirteen. The
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identification of Mr. Myers with Pleasant township has existed since 1859, and soon after coming to this favored portion of Ohio he bought land and improved it and engaged successfully in agri- culture for a great many years. He is an unswerving adherent of "The Grand Old Party" and has filled nearly all of the town- ship offices, being a man who has always enjoyed the confidence and esteem of his associates.
Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Jopp and of them two are living at the present day, Blanche and Robert. Blanche is the wife of J. H. Beck, of this township, and Robert is at home, at present receiving his education in the schools of Green- spring. Mabel, John and Earl are deceased.
Mr. Jopp is an up-to-date agriculturist. a good citizen, and one who can be depended upon to support all just causes. He is a stanch Republican and has from time to time been rather active in politics, having filled various of the township offices.
CLARENCE J. FRY-A son of Orvin J. and Melissa (Decker) Fry, this influential citizen of Seneca county was born on the old Fry homestead in Pleasant township September 26, 1875. IIis father was born in Seneca county, his mother, in Sandusky county, Ohio, the former April 11, 1839, the latter December 1, 1845. Orvin J. Fry was a son of Philip HI. and Elizabeth (King) Fry. His father was born in 1809. Melissa Decker was the daughter of B. F. and Catharine (Myers) Decker. Her father was born in 1818. her mother in 1822. Orvin J. Fry died February 27, 1904. His entire life was passed on the farm near Old Fort where he first saw the light of day.
The immediate subject of this sketch lived with his parents until he married and was ready to establish a home for himself and wife. He married Miss Mary E. Stiner in December, 1905. She was born July 8, 1885, a daughter of J. Q. and Laura ( Boland) Stiner. Mr. and Mrs. Stiner, natives of Sandusky county, live in Bollville township on a farm. They are prominently identified with the United Brethren church near their home, in which Mr. Stiner holds the office of trustee. Mrs. Fry bore her husband a daughter. Lois M., July 1, 1907. She is a lady of many accom- plishments, having been educated at the Old Fort high school. She was born July 8, 1885.
Mr. Fry is a Democrat and a member of the United Brethren church. He was educated in the common schools and at Heidel- berg College, Tiffin Ohio, and has taught school in Pleasant and adjoining townships for six years. He has long been prominent in connection with local educational affairs and is a member of the school board of his township. He also holds the office of township trustee ..
Orvin J. Fry was influential in a political way. During the last few years of his life he was a populist.
JOHN G. BONNELL-Firm in the esteem of his numerous friends in this community is John G. Bonnell, a Civil war veteran, who witnessed some of the most stirring scenes in that great con-
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fliet, and the owner of one hundred and sixty of the fair acreage of Seneca county, on which he has for many years maintained a hospitable and attractive home. Although he has lived in Ohio nearly all is life he is a native of Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, his birth having occurred in that part of the Keystone state on April 10, 1834. At the age of seven years, however, he came here with his parents who located on an eighty acre farm in Pleasant township, the country then being very new and Mr. Bonnell ex- perienced many of the peculiarly interesting and strenuous ex- periences of the pioneer. although the Bonnells were by no means of the first who came to claim the Buckeye state from the wilder- ness. The parents of the subject were William and Margaret A. (Buiter) Bonnell. The father was a son of John Bonnell, of Penn- sylvania, and the mother was a daughter of George Buiter, a native of Germany, who came to this country with his parents, Mr. Bonnell, thus being to a remote degree of Teutonic stock.
The early years of Mr. Bonnell were spent upon his father's farm in Pleasant township and it was there that he came to the decision to follow in the paternal footsteps in the matter of a vocation. On March 15, 1857, Mr. Bonnell laid the foundation of a happy and congenial married life by his union with Catharine E. Gettinger, a daughter of Daniel and Jane (Dutrow) Gettinger, natives of Maryland, who came to the state at an early date and located in Adams township on the Portland Road. Mrs. Bonnell was born February 6. 1836, and is bound by many ties to Seneca county, where she has lived all her life. She is one of the valued members of the Methodist church.
Mr. Bonnell for the first few years after his marriage resided upon and sultivated rented land. Upon the breaking out of the Civil war he came to his country's aid, joining Company I, One Hundred and First Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under Captain M. M. Barns. He went into camp at Monroeville, Ohio, being first transferred to Covington, Kentucky, and then to Louisville, that state. With the Fourth Corps he marched from Atlanta, Georgia, to Nashville, Tennessee, and then to North Carolina, being two years and ten months in service. After the declaration of peace he returned home and purchased a farm of eighty acres. clearing it and bringing it to a high state of fertility. It is here that his
present home is maintained. About fourteen years ago he erected a fine house on this farm and removed to it, his son George residing in the dwelling vacated. Mr. Bonnell is a Republican in his poli- tical convictions, but is liberal minded enough to vote for other policies if he believes them to be just. His record as a public servant is good, he having held the office of township trustee and member of the school board for a number of years. As a mem- ber of the Grand Army of the Republic he maintains the old rela- tions with the comrades of other days.
Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Bonnell. The eldest. Anna A., became the wife of John Strickland, of Clinton township, and is the mother of four children: Rollins, George. Myrtle and Hallie; Margaret married Ivan Goettschius, of Clinton township, and has two sons, named George and Ray; George R., married
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Ella Miller, daughter of A. J. Miller, of Pleasant township, and they reside on the home farm adjacent to that of the former's father; Frederick, the youngest child, died when only nine years of age.
JOHN HOLTZ .- The name of John Holtz is one which is gener- ally respected in the community where its owner is best known and to which he is bound by many ties made in the course of a useful and active life. He is a native son of Seneca county. his birth having occurred in Pleasant township on February 15, 1850. His citizenship has always been of the highest character, for he has always assisted in no uncertain manner in the furtherance of all those measures which he believed likely to prove beneficial to the whole community. The parentage and ancestry of Mr. Holtz is extremely interesting and on the maternal side is found one Phillip Feaga who so desired to become a citizen of the United States (about-to-be) that he deserted from the Hessian army and joined the ranks of the colonists, fighting for the cause of independence with the greatest of enthusiasm and self sacrifice. When he fully realized his probable fate should his deflection be discovered by his former government, he changed his name from Fiege to Feaga, to escape detection and his descendants have ever since been thus known. They have as well inherited that unusually bright admiration for the land of the stars and strips which burned in the breast of their forbear to the point of his risking his life to be able to pay fealty to it. It is possible that the bonny eyes of some fair Colonial maiden increased the natural courage of the adventurous young Hessian, at any rate he married in America and became the father of children whose descendants became ex- cellent American citizens.
The parents of Mr. Holtz were Jacob P. and Susan (Huss) Holtz, both of whom were natives of Maryland who came to Ohio in the earlier half of the nineteenth century. The date of the father's arrival in the new state was about 1834, but the mother preceded him by about two years, coming with her parents, David and Nancy (Umsted) Huss, and when she arrived in Ohio the present site of Tiffin was a tract covered with trees and swamps, upon which no effort of imagination could have called up the existing beautiful city.
The Holtz family were agricultural people and they became landowners and the early years of John Holtz were passed upon his father's farm in section 36, Pleasant township. He attended the district school and under the excellent tutelage of his father was initiated into the secrets of successful farming and the surest methods of coaxing Mother Nature to productiveness. He ob- tained his education in the district schools and this he has since amply supplemented on his own account. his general knowledge and information being extensive. He resided with his parents until his marriage, this happy event being celebrated September 26. 1883, the lady to become his wife and the mistress of his household being Miss Lucinda B. Corthell, whose birth was on September 11, 1858. Mrs. Holtz' parents were George and Susan ( Engler)
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Corthell. the father of Rockland. Maine, and the mother of Mary- land, who had come to Ohio at an early day and had given good measure of assistance in the development of the state. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Holtz has been blessed by the birth of one child, a daughter, named Fanny. born February 26. 1885. Mrs. Holtz died on May 18. 1889. her untimely demise being a matter of deep regret to the whole community. and Miss Fanny now presides over her father's household in the most efficient manner. She has enjoyed the educational advantages of the district schools and Heidelberg College at Tiffin.
Subsequent to his marriage Mr. Holtz built his home across the road from the family homestead in which he had spent his youth, and after residing some time in the new location, went back and still resides on the older Holtz place. In politics he is an independent Republican. having inclinations towards the Grand Old Party. but still believing that mere partisanship should not outweigh other considerations or prevent the inspection of a cur- rent issue from all sides. Hle has given fine service as township trustee for seven years. He is one of the prominent Masons of Ohio, having attained to the thirty-second degree and having held many of the chairs. He is a man who has made his own way and has always been hard working and thrifty, and he touches the life of the community from all points.
LEROY M. FRONTZ-The hope of Seneca county is founded up- on its young men and women. Among them are the influential citizens of the future; among them may be numbered some who will eventually enjoy far more than local reputation. A young man of undeniably excellent promise is Leroy M. Frontz. whose years are among the fewest of the native sons of Seneca county to find record in these volumes. He was born December 10. 1892. and is there- fore within several years of the attainment of his majority. His birthplace was a log house, which stands a reminder of early days upon the homestead of Samuel Metzger, the son of Alfred and Lavina (Metzger) Frontz.
Mr. Frontz has taken advantage of the excellent educational facilities offered by Seneca county. His preliminary education was secured in the district schools and in 1907. at the age of fifteen, he passed the Boxwell examination. Later he became enrolled in the Republic High School and is at present in atten- dence there. . He has always resided with his parents upon the farm and has also had an excellent training in the various depart- ments of agriculture. His church membership is with the Detter- man Trinity Evangelical church and he is identified with the many good causes advanced and fathered by that institution.
He enjoys the respect and confidence not only of the younger generation of which he is a part. but as truly of the older, for his character is of high moral standard and his habits exemplary. He has a well trained mind and an interesting personality.
Mr. Frontz is the youngest in a family of three children, his sisters being: Mrs. Daniel Weiker, of Adams township, Seneca county, and Mrs. E. T. Clark, of Sandusky county, Ohio. His
£
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paternal grandfather. Samuel Frontz, was born near Buffalo. New York. and was a veteran of the Civil war. he having served four years in the same and was mustered out in 1865. Grandfather Metzger was born in Union county. Pennsylvania. in 1813. He came to Ohio in 1815 with his parents. and they settled near Circle- ville, in Pickaway county. They removed to Seneca county later. where his father, Jacob. took from the government the tract of land known as the Metzger homestead. Later he removed to Sandusky county- where he died in 1893. The grandmother. Rebecea (Heltzel) Metzger, was born in Hardy county, Virginia. in 1812. She came to Ohio with her parents when a child and was married in 1836, in Pickaway county, Ohio. She was the mother of five children, three sons and two daughters. She died in Sandusky county on June 5. 1891. The subject's mother was the youngest of the family. she was born November 22. 1849. and was married to Alfred Frontz at Greenspring August 26. 1875.
FRANK C. SONNER. one of Seneca county's most prosperous agriculturists and valuable citizens. is a native Virginian, his birth having occurred in the Old Dominion on Angust 26. 1874. On the paternal side he is of Irish and English extraction. Ile is the son of R. W. and Sarah (Bowman) Sonner. both of whom were like- wise natives of that charming and historie state. The father served four years in the Confederate army under General Jackson. He was a musician and the family were slave owners prior to the war.
In 1894. when Mr. Sonner had not yet attained his majority. he came to Ohio and, attracted by Seneea county. located here, working for local agriculturists by the month. In 1900 he found him- self in a position to marry and chose as the lady to preside over his household Miss Cecile Myers, the ceremony which made them one being solemnized on August 22, 1900.
Mrs. Sonner, who is the daughter of Oscar Myers. a sketch of whom appears on other pages of this volume. was born November 11. 1880, in Adams township. The scene of her birth was the old Myers homestead which had been entered by her grandfather in the early half of the nineteenth century and the deed for which. signed by Andrew Jackson. is one of her father's most prized pos- sessions. Its parehment has well withstood the lapse of time. Mr. Myers is one of the most prominent and influential farmers in the township and is interested in numerous business interests. among them saw milling. automobiles. apiaries, etc. Mrs. Sonner was educated in the Greenspring Academy and finished a business course with the class of 1898.
Mr. Sonner received his education in the schools of his native state. He is a loyal Democrat and gives his enthusiastic support to that party. He has numerous lodge relations and finds no small amount of pleasure and profit in them. These affiliations extend to the Masons, the Knights of Pythias. the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Woodmen of the World. In the Knights of Pythias he holds the office of vice chancellor. Shortly after their marriage. about ten years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Sonner took up their residence upon a farm owned by the latter's father
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RESIDENCE OF FRANK C. SONNER
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and they have ever since successfully engaged in its cultivation. They have three hundred and sixty-four acres of land and an elegant home. They enjoy a large circle of acquaintances in Seneca county. £ The children of Mr. and Mrs. Sonner are: Enid Mar, born August 4, 1904, and Marjorie Jane. born March 10. 1910.
OSCAR MYERS is one of the representative citizens of Seneca county and his activities and interests touch the life of this favored portion of the great state of Ohio at many different points. He is a large landholder, a successful agriculturist. has a good sized apiary in connection with his farm, supplies Greenspring with ice and is one of the exponents of the great automobile industry. con- ducting a large garage in the town, while in addition he is well known in connection with public and political affairs. He is the son of the late John Myers, who for many years was one of Seneca county's leading citizens. Oscar Myers was born October 9. 1856. in Adams township, and is thus a native son of the locality in which he now plays such an important role. His father is a native of Virginia, born November 6. 1808, and his mother, whose name · previous to her marriage was Elizabeth Rine. was a Pennsylvanian, her birth occurring in 1814.
When John Myers was a young man he came to the Buckeye state and secured from the government one hundred and sixty acres of land, then a part of the virgin forest, which with mighty effort he cleared and brought to a high state of cultivation. He first cleared a place to raise his log cabin and here were born his two children, Oscar and his elder sister, Catherine. The deed giving him a right to the land and signed by Andrew Jackson, who was president of the United States at the time of the transaction, is preserved and one of the most highly prized heirlooms of his son. Oscar Myers. The father became a man of substance and in- fluence, adding to his original land until his holdings were three hundred and sixty-four acres, and in addition he owned a large amount of town property, consisting of some four blocks. He was a stalwart Democrat and played an important role in pioneer affairs and he was deeply regretted when he died, July 2. 1891.
Oscar Myers was reared upon his father's farm, and received his education in the common schools of the locality. Until some time after his father's death he resided upon the old homestead. conducting agricultural matters and also running a saw mill. His residence in Greenspring dates from about nine years ago and his success within its pleasant limits justifies him in making this his permanent home. Although living in town he finds it possible to direct his farming and apiary interests from long range. at the same time conducting his ice and automobile business in town.
Mr. Myers was married December 17. 1876, to Emma Gibbons, who was born March 28. 1857, to William and Jane (Stiwell) . Gibbons. To their union were born three children. Frank. Cecil and Ethel, all of whom have achieved useful citizenship. Frank who is a resident of Clyde and engaged in the show business, is married to Alta Hughes and has one child. Harold Oscar. Cecil
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became the wife of Frank C. Sonner and they and their daughters, Enid M. and Margery, reside upon the old Myers' homestead. Ethel is located at the same place, and has been teaching school for the past two years.
On December 29. 1904. Mr. Myers was a second time married. wedding Minnie Witte. Mrs. Myers, who was born June 18, 1867, is the daughter of John and Sophie (Brockmann) Witte. both natives of Germany. They sought a new home in the United States when Mrs. Witte was a child about three years of age and they subsequently came on to the Buckeye state, locating at Fremont.
Mr. Myers gives his heart and hand to the men and measures of the Democratic party and plays an active part in partisan matters, and he has likewise given public service of a distinguished character, always furthering those policies which he believes likely to result in the greatest good to the greatest number. He is the friend of good education and is at present and has for some time been a member of the Central Committee. As before mentioned. the Myers' honey and ice are important commodities in Green- spring and the large garage erected by him in 1909 is one of the important acquisitions of the town. He is a lodge man and takes great pleasure in his fraternal relations. which extend to the Knights of Pythias and the Woodmen, he having filled all the chairs and in the former having held the rank of past chancellor for the past fifteen years. Mr. Myers believes in being familiar with one's own country and is an extensive traveler, the scenes of his pilgrimages having been chiefly throughout the west and southwest.
HIRAM ZIMMERMAN was born January 24. 1855. a son of Jacob and Catharine (Rapp) Zimmerman. natives respectively of Maryland and of Ohio. His parents located in Pleasant township where his father had a farm and a sawmill. He was reared and educated in Pleasant township and was a member of his parents' household until his marriage. He married Emma J. Flory Sep- tember 3, 1882. She was born June 17. 1865, a daughter of Joseph and Rachel (McConnell) Flory. who had lived in Liberty township since 1862. when they were married. Her grandparents were Jacob and Mattie (Leicher) Flory. Pennsylvanians who came to Wayne county. Ohio, where her grandfather, who was a cooper, worked at his trade and farmed.
To Hiram and Emma J. (Flory) Zimmerman have been born six children. of whom the following brief mention is offered: Cath- arine E. died in infancy. Flora L .. born July 6. 1885. married Alva Kustler. of Trumbull county, and has a daughter, Martha E .. born January 10, 1908. Another daughter married Willis Hade. of Scipio township. and has a son. Russell E., born February 16. 1909. Margaret E .. born November 24. 1889, is living with her
parents. She qualified for teaching school and has taught with distinguished success. Joseph E., born June 12. 1891, assists his father in the management of his farm. His youngest son, Paul C., died in infancy.
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