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 33
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Mr. Zimmerman is a successful farmer because he is up to date in all things pertaining to his business. He is a friend of education and a man of great publie spirit. who is ready at any time to assist to the extent of his ability any movement which in his opinion promises good to any considerable number of his fellow citizens. Hle has pronounced political convictions. but has no desire to figure in public life. While adhering to the policies of his party in matters of national importance, he believes that local interests are best served by the election of honorable men of good judgment to office irrespective of party affiliation. Yet he never forgets that he is a Demoerat. He is a member of St. Jacob's Reformed church. He moved from Pleasant township to Adams township three years ago.
GEORGE FRANK STIGAMIRE .- The parents of this citizen were Stephen and Elizabeth (Schaberg) Stigamire. natives of Germany. who came to the United States in 1836 and arrived at Baltimore June 3 of that year, after a five weeks' voyage. In their overland journey the father walked all the way from Baltimore, the mother every alternate day till they reached Mansfield, Ohio, and from Mansfield on to Bloomville, Seneca county, every day. It may well be imagined they were glad beyond words to reach their desti- nation after such long and arduous hardship. They located on Honey Creek, west of Bloomville, on a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, and cleared thirty-two acres of timber and put it under cultivation. After residing on this farm for six years they moved to Adams township. Seneca county. where the husband bought a farm of eighty acres and they were able to eventually make for themselves a good farm and home. They were members of the Evangelical church zealous for its advancement and helpful to all its interests according to their means and opportunities. Mr. . Stigamire was one of the founders of the church of that denomina- tion at Detterman settlement in Adams township. He was a friend of public education also, but it was to the church and to evangelical work that he was most devoted.
George F. Stigamire was born April 7, 1862. was educated in district school and was instructed in farming by his father. He was a member of his parents' household till his marriage. He mar- ried Katie Shadley May 23. 1886. Miss Shadley was a daughter of Jacob and Agatha (Steibley) Shadley, natives respectively of France and of Switzerland. She was born December 10. 1862. Her parents came to the United States in 1847 and settled in Michi- gan. Soon after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Stigamire took up their home on a farm of seventy-three acres which he bought. HIe has given his attention mostly to general farming and has achieved a noteworthy success. He is a member of the Evangelical church. generously helpful to all it work. Since 1892 he has been a trustee of this organization. and he has been leader and assistant superintendent of its Sunday school. He is a Democrat in his
polities, strongly inclined to independence. He is a Junior and is
trustee of his local division of that order. He is a good judge of stock and has bred some of which any stockman might be proud. Vol. 11-17
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A reader and a thinker. he has the reputation of being one of the best informed men in the township on all subjects of general inter- est. Mr. and Mrs. Stigamire have a daughter, Ruth, born April 20, 1893. who is attending school at Greenspring and who success- fully passed the Boxwell examination at the early age of fifteen.
WILLIAM DUDROW. JR., is the worthy inheritor of a worthy name and is a veterinary surgeon, practicing successfully in Green- spring. A native son of Adams township, he was born November 18. 1884. and is the son of William and Adelle (Crockett) Dudrow. His paternal grandparents were David and Mary (Rule) Dudrow. the former of whom, a native of Maryland, having founded the family in Ohio was among the first settlers in the locality. The mother of the subject is a representative of another fine pioneer family, and is related to the Wallaces and Sherricks, whose names figure prominently in the history of the early days. Some of the Wallaces were killed by Indians and there were valiant Crocketts in the war of 1812 and the Revolutionary war. Mr. and Mrs. William Dudrow Sr. were married in 1881 and became the parents of the subject and of a daughter named Mary, who resides with her parents. The father is an agriculturist in Adams township and is a prominent and much esteemed man.
William Dudrow enjoyed the fullest advantages of the educa- tional opportunities offered by the county. attending the district schools, passing the Boxwell examinations at Tiffin and attending the Greenspring high school. Having assisted his father for a year in the stock shipping business he concluded to adopt the pro- fession of a veterinary surgeon and to this end went to Grand Rapids, where he matriculated in the veterinary department of the Medical College of Michigan, from which institution he was gradu- ated in the spring of 1910, with the well earned degree of D. V. M. He hung out his shingle at Greenspring and has met with general recognition in the brief period of his career.
William Dudrow JJr. became the head of a household of his own on October 1, 1905, the lady to become his wife being Eunice E. Perin, born January 16, 1885. her parents being W. T. and Bessie (Pool) Perin. The Perin family. originally from England. came to Ohio early in the nineteenth century and located in Sandusky county. John Perin. of England. founded the family in the United States. £ Ira Pool. Mrs. Dudrow's grandfather, was in the Civil war. having enlisted with Company K. and became first lieu- tenant of the Fifty-second Ohio Regiment. He was wounded and died on his way home from Nashville in 1862.
CHARLES DETTERMAN .- The parents of this well known citizen were Harmon and Rachel (Farmer) Detterman, natives of Ger- many, and he was born January 7, 1856. His grandparents were pioneers in Bloom township, at Melmore, on Honey Creek, his grandfather having walked to that point from Cleveland. His father fought for the stars and stripes in the Civil war in the Forty-fourth Regiment. Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in which he en- listed in 1862. He died of measles in the service and is buried in a
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government cemetery. Rachel Farmer was reared and educated in Kenton, Hardin county, Ohio. Her mother was Anna Beigh. daughter of Benjamin and Catharine (Dollman) Beigh, natives respectively of Germany and of Pennsylvania.
Mr. Detterman was married February 10, 1880, and has one child. Wade Hampton, born May 7, 1889, who was educated in local schools and has taken up the profession of teaching. He is a member of several secret societies which meet at Tiffin, the head- quarters of his several lodges. Mr. Detterman is a Democrat in his political affiliations. In local affairs he is active and helpful. He was for a time a member of the township school board. He is identified with St. Jacob's Reformed church, of which he was a trustee four years. He has lived on his farm in Adams township about sixteen years, and is regarded as one of the model farmers of his neighborhood. His farm consists of eighty acres and is well improved, with modern accessories of all kinds. His success in life has been won by honesty and industry and his course is often referred to as a worthy example to those of a later generation who are just taking on responsibilities which they should bear with good judgment and with determination to win surely but worthily.
HENRY H. DROWN .- One of Seneca county's representative citizens is Henry H. Drown, a man of versatile talents who has made a success of many lines of endeavor .- such as general agri- culture, produce, stock buying and selling, hardware and real estate. In the capacity of a public spirited benefactor he has served the interests of the community well and one of his most notable achievements was his assisting in securing the right of way for the Nickle Plate Railroad. Although from time to time Mr. Drown has made a change of residence and has engaged in business in other states, he has always paid Seneca county the compliment of returning.
Mr. Drown was born September 29. 1839, and is the son of Solomon- and Fannie (Dennis) Drown, natives respectively of Maine and New Hampshire. They were married in New England. but came to Ohio in 1836 and took up their residence on Butternut Ridge in Adams township. Seneca county, where they farmed until his death in 1858. Solomon Drown was a good business man as well as a judicious agriculturist and he finally became the possessor of a fine six hundred acre farm. "He was a man much respected in the community and his advise was greatly sought in public matters. He was active in politics and he was the champion of good education and the building of schools. Ile was a Whig and later. upon the organization of that party. became a Republican. He was mar- ried twice. first to Betsy Hatch and afterward to Fanny Dennis, who bore him the following nine children: Dennis. Charlotte. D. C., J. B., Rebecca, J. R .. Lucy .J., Henry II. and Elvira.
Mr. Drown was educated in the district schools. and upon his father's farm received his training in the most successful methods of the great industry of agriculture. He resided upon the old homestead until his father died and engaged in farming until he was about twenty-three years of age. His first venture far afield
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was when he went to the state of Illinois and his stay there was of six months' duration. He returned to Ohio and in Green Creek township bought eighty acres of land. upon which he began opera- tions in the produce business and proved sufficiently successful. He then took up the buying and selling of stock. IIe again decided to try his fortunes in another locality and removed his goods and chattels to Iowa. where. in Liscomb. Marshall county. he engaged in a hitherto untried line of endeavor. the hardware business. This was a new settlement and it was his distinction to build the first business house in the town. which property he subsequently ex- changed for a farm of one hundred and forty acres located near the town. and received in addition some six hundred dollars. He again returned to Seneca county, making the journey from Liscomb, Iowa, a distance of one thousand miles, driving a span of colts, and during the entire trip having slept in a house but two nights. He
proceeded to dispose of his Iowa property. getting in exchange the farm known as the Chapen farm and located in Green Creek town- ship, Sandusky county, the said tract consisting of about sixty-five acres. He was also the possessor of two hundred acres on the county line. Again he followed his inclination for change. and disposing of this property bought two hundred and forty-five acres in Pleasant township. Seneca county. He at once assumed a position of importance in the locality where he and his family were so well known. and it was about this time that he assisted in securing right of way for the Nickel Plate Railroad through the section, which has proved of immeasurable value and advantage to those effected. He was also in the employ of Smith & Company. buying stock, wool, etc., for them. and managed his own farm meantime.
In 1886 the love of change which has ever seemed to be innate in Mr. Drown again asserted itself and he removed to Wichita. Kansas, and in this thriving city he engaged in the hardware and real estate business. This again was a new departure. In his two years in the Jayhawker state he built three large business houses. and otherwise had dealings of an important character. Again his native Seneca county drew him as the magnet draws the steel and he came back to engage for a time in the wool business. in which he had previously achieved success. A few years later he retired from life of such an active character as that in which he had previously been engaged. having an ample competence and be- ing well justified in enjoying its comforts in greater leisure. He is a large landowner, possessing hundreds of acres in this and other states. One of his properties is a drug store in Logan. Kansas, which is operated by his grandson. Earl Drown. He is of a social nature and finds no small amount of pleasure and profit in his lodge relations, which extend to the Masonic fraternity and to the Knights of Pythias.
When eighteen years of age. in 1858. Mr. Drown married Susan Hihlman, of Seneca county. They had one child. Melville W., born in July. 1859 and died in April. 1900. He studied to be a Physician, being educated in the Medical College at St. Joe. Mis- souri, and also at St. Louis, and he practiced his profession at
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Lenora, Norton county, Kansas. He took as his wife Mabel Emery in 1882 and seven children were born to their union of whom only two are living. They are Earl M., who married Blanche Eckerman, and Dale, who resides with then.
On the 6th day of August, 1863, when he was twenty-three years of age, Mr. Drown married Miss Barbara H. Stephens, of Castalia, born November 27. 1838, in Dundee, Scotland. She is the daughter of Alexander and Jessie (Grant) Stephens, natives of Scotland, who left the land of the thistle to seek better fortunes in America in 1839. They resided in New York city for three years and went from that metropolis to Canada, where they stayed but a short time, then going to Detroit, from Detroit to Huron. Michigan, thence to Monroeville, and thence to Castalia, Erie coun- ty, Ohio, in which latter town he settled permanently and engaged in business. his death occurring some twenty-eight or thirty years thereafter. A family of children were born to the union of Mr. and Mrs. Drown. Mary, born February 15, 1865, became the wife of F. A. Burress, of California, and they have one child. Harold Drown Burress. Mrs. Burress was a teacher and the principal of the Wichita city schools for fifteen years before she married. Mr. Drown's second child is Jessie G., who was born August 16, 1866, and is now engaged in teaching in Cleveland. She received her education in the Greenspring Academy, graduating with the class of 1885, supplementing this with literary and scientific courses. She is a successful teacher, standing high in her chosen profession, and having had fourteen years' experience in Wichita, Kansas, and seven as one of the teaching staff in the Halle school located at Cleveland. The third child. Myrtle, was born September 20, 1867, her short life being terminated by death July 19, 1887. The fourth child, Elmer L., was born July 13. 1874. He has been twice mar- ried, his first wife, Catherine Schwan, dying August 6. 1900. They had three children : Howard H., born February 14, 1897; Willard G., born May 12, 1898; and Helen. born October 25, 1899. He married Ruth Woody, of Wichita, Kansas, in 1901. She was a teacher in the public schools there for a number of years. Elmer Drown is a business man of Greenspring and is very prominent in all of its affairs.
ELMER E. NEIKIRK, a general dry goods merchant, is one of · Greenspring's most progressive business men and his career in good citizenship has contributed in great measure to the growth and prosperity of the town. £ The founding of few American families can be traced to an earlier period than that of the Neikirks. one Guerb Cornilissen Von Menckercke Garret Cornelius Neikirk, hav- ing sailed across the seas with his wife, son and small babe in the good ship. Moesman and landed at New Amsterdam in the month of April, 1659. As his name very clearly indicates he was of that solid Dutch stock from which so many of the most prominent of Americans have descended. this including a certain illustrious ex- president of the United States.
Mr. Neikirk was born October 25, 1865, at Republic, Ohio, and is the son of Martin H. and Margareta Fry Neikirk. who were mar-
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ried on Christmas Day, 1862. at Republic. Ohio. The ancestry can be traced in an unbroken line from the above mentioned emigrant to these shores. The father, Martin H .. was the son of Henry H. and Catherine Neikirk. the former being descended from Ezra Neikirk and he being the son of Samuel, who was the son of Joseph. who was born in 1804. This great-great-grandfather. Joseph, was the son of Michael and Catherine Perce Neikirk, and the former was a son of one John Neikirk, who resided at Sharon. Pennsyl-
vania. John was the son of George N., who was the son of Tenis S., who was born at Princeton, New Jersey, he being the son of Abraham N., born in 1723 in that state. Abraham's father was Henry, born in 1690, and Henry was the son of Arien and Eliza- beth Huyberts Brink Neikirk, who was the son of the previously mentioned ancestor who came to these shores only about a genera- tion after the landing of the Pilgrims, his birth having occurred in Holland in the year 1630. The mother of Mr. Neikirk was the daughter of Enoch and Rhoda (Wolf) Fry, natives of Maryland. who resided in Seneca county, Ohio. near Republic.
Elmer E. Neikirk was educated in the district schools of Scipio township and later entered Heidelberg College at Tiffin, where he attended for two years. Being naturally inclined towards a com- mercial career, he took a business course at Fostoria and subse- quently engaged in the grocery business. He sold this after a time and went to Tiffin. where he was first identified with the dry goods trade, in which he was ultimately to experience such entire success. He remained in Tiffin for four years, gaining golden experience, and then returned to Greenspring, where he entered into dry goods fields in partnership with C. L. Smith and has been thus engaged for twenty years, the firm being known as Smith & Neikirk. A steady and wholesome growth has been experienced and the firm now conducts one of the important enterprises of this locality.
Mr. Neikirk is a stanch and loyal Democrat and has filled the offices of treasurer and councilman for several terms. his zeal for advancement and his advocacy of all those measures likely to result in the attainment of the greatest good to the greatest number making his services of particular value.
He is an enthusiastic lodge man and holds membership in the Masonic order and with the Knights of Pythias, and in both of these he has filled many of the chairs. These associations are fruitful of much pleasure and profit and have greatly added to his acquaintanceship. Mr. Nei- kirk's executive talents are such that he has energy for other enter- prises than his dry goods trade. For example he is one of the founders of the local telephone company, is one of the managers and at present holds the office of secretary.
Mr. Neikirk in no relation appears in a more admirable light than in his championship of good education and of everything designed to benefit the town in whiich his affections and interests are centered. He belongs to the Methodist church and here also he is a power for good. On April 24. 1894. he laid the foundation of a happy home life by his marriage to Miss Mary R. Turner, born January 18, 1876. at Greenspring. the daughter of James and Hannah Turner.
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CHARLES J. YOUNG is engaged with his father in the furniture and undertaking business, their thriving business being known under the firm name of A. R. Young & Son. The Youngs, father and son, are among the most progressive in their line in the state and they do a very large business. He whose name initiates this sketch was born March 5, 1876, and is a native son of the town of Greenspring. Likewise his parents, Albert and Ida J. (Miller) Young, were natives of Ohio, but his grandfather and his wife. Charles and Mary (Spangler) Young, came from Rhenish Bavaria. locating first in Baltimore and subsequently coming on to Ohio. Thus that excellent German element whose value is everywhere recognized enters into the composition of Charles J. Young. His father lived for a time in Dayton, where he pursued the vocation of a carpenter, but finally located in Greenspring, where he has built up a substantial and ever-growing business and where he has ob- tained recognition as one of the sound men of the town.
Mr. Young received his education in the schools of Green- spring. When still of tender years he began to assist his father in his business and his efficiency was of such high character that he soon made himself indispensible. Good taste, elegance and the most modern ideas are manifest in the conduct of mortuary affairs by the Youngs, and everything that science has discovered in this line they have made theirs.
Mr. Young early in life established a household of his own. Catherine Crockett, daughter of Edward and Eliza Brown Crockett, among the best known of Seneca county's citizens, became his wife, their union being celebrated November 20, 1895. Mrs. Young was born March 26; 1877, and was educated in public schools. A son and a daughter are growing up beneath their roof, Albert E .. named for his paternal grandfather, having been born July 17, 1897, and Alice C., who first saw the light of day on January 29, 1907. A complete account of the various families referred to in this sketch will be found on other pages of this work.
Mr. Young is loyal to the Democratic party, and he served two terms as city treasurer and one term as assessor.
ELIZA (BROWN) CROCKETT was born June 19, 1839. the daugh- ter of Elijah and Catherine (Sherrick) Brown, the former born in 1806, in Maryland, and the latter a Pennsylvanian. These worthy pioneers came to Ohio in a covered wagon. making the journey over the Cumberland Road to Adams township in the year 1841. when Eliza was still a baby. Elijah entered land with his brother Jonas in that year, this being entered for their mother, Catherine Sherrick, who was a shining example of the highest and noblest type of pioneer woman. She was born July 5. 1811. and her marriage to Elijah Brown was solemnized in 1833. She became the mother of children who were by name: Henry, William, Eliza (who be- came the wife of .J. Crockett), Ann. Miller. Mary A., Theodore and Samuel. When she passed on to her reward December 3. 1909, at the age of ninety-nine years. she had also twelve grandchildren; fifteen great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.
When, in 1841. Elijah brought his family by wagon from the
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old home in Frederick. Maryland, he left the mother and children with a neighbor-to-be while he built the house for them. The country was at that early period in the nineteenth century an unbroken wilderness and the Indians were very numerous. Am- icable relations existed between the settlers and the redskins. and these early days, in spite of hard work and many hardships. were happy and interesting. Elijah Brown and his good and faithful wife had been converted in their youth to the Methodist Episcopal faith and they were very consistent in living up to its prinicples. The minister was always welcome at their home, and indeed their hospitality was open to all who came that way, no one ever being turned away from its portals.
Catherine, the wife, was skilled in all the homely and useful arts of the early days. She carded and spun the wool and wove it into cloth in which to clothe her husband and little ones. She made linen, breaking the flax plant and developing it in the intri- cate process which is required to attain the finished product and finally made strong and beautiful thread to be woven into garments by herself and her neighbors. She knew how to weave fine baskets of willow and when upon rare occasions she sat down to rest she occupied her time and her capable hands with this basket weaving.
Eliza Brown, daughter of the above mentioned couple, mar- ried Edward Crockett. During his life time he was one of the prominent and much respected farmers of Adams township. He was a man of fine appearance and upright character and he was honored by all who knew him. His birth occurred in Pleasant township November 22. 1833, he being the son of James and Mary P. (Haskell) Crockett. He was married September 13, 1858. and he and his wife became the parents of ten children. These were Adelle, Harry, Catherine, Elijah, Charles, Metta, Mabel, Alice, Theodore and Frank. Frank. Theodore and Charles are deceased. The father died in the year 1908. regretted by all who knew him, and his widow still resides on the homestead, where she is one of the most honored and admired of women.
Frank Crockett. son of Edward and Eliza, died on Decem- ber 4, 1880. his years being few. It is safe to say that no young man in the county was more heartily esteemed or more dearly loved than he. He promised to become a successful man. and he had been educated at the Academy of Greenspring, passing with honors. The following is a record of the other sisters and brothers: Adelle is the wife of William Dudrow. of Greenspring. Metta married Frank Wolfe and resides in San Jose. California. Harry married Effie Heightshu and they make their home in Clyde. Catherine is the wife of Charles Young of Greenspring. Elijah married Maud Swagert and with his family makes his home in Ashtabula. Mabel resides in San Jose. California, with her sister. Alice remains with her mother at home.
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