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 36
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CYRUS OHL, whose success as an agriculturist in Seneca county has been of the most unequivocal order, resides in Venice town- ship. He owns and operates a valuable farm of seventy-eight acres and the buildings and improvements on the same are of the most modern type. He was born in Crawford county, Ohio. on the 30th of July, 1870, and is a son of George and Christina (Slow- an) Ohl, the former of whom was born in Pennsylvania in 1845. and the latter of whom claims the empire of Germany as her birth- place. Christina (Slowman) Ohl was six years of age at the time of her emigration to America and she first located in Crawford county, Ohio, where her marriage to George Ohl was solemnized. In 1851 George Ohl came to Crawford county. Ohio, where he pur- chased a farm of one hundred and twenty acres. They became the parents of six children, whose names are here entered in re- spective order of birth: William, Cyrus, George. Henry, Addison, and Cora. The daughter is the wife of Henry Briegel. of Craw- ford county. George Ohl was closely identified with the great basie industry of agriculture during the greater portion of his life. HIe was a staneh supporter of the cause of the Democratic party in polities and both he and his wife held membership in the Reformed church. His death occurred in 1906 and Mrs. Ohl is still living, residing in Crawford county with her son George.
Cyrus Ohl. the immediate subject of this review, was the sec- ond in order of birth of the six children of George Ohl and he was
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DR. HENRY K. SPOONER
MRS. HARRIET SPOONER
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reared to the sturdy discipline of the home farm and received his early educational training in the common schools of his native county. In 1901 he purchased his present fine farm and he holds secure vantage ground in the confidence and esteem of his fellow men, which fact was given concrete proof by his election to the office of township supervisor in 1903-4. In his political convic- tions he gives his allegiance to the Democratic party and he is ever on the alert and most enthusiastically in sympathy with all measures tending to advance the general welfare of the community. He is affiliated with various fraternal and social organizations of representative character and both he and his wife hold membership in the Reformed church of Bloomville, in which he is a deacon. He is a consistent Christian. a worthy neighbor and a loyal and public spirited citizen.
On the 6th of January, 1901, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Ohl to Miss Laura Stuckey, who was born in Crawford county, Ohio, on the 21st of January, 1874. and who is a daughter of Carl and Louise (Keller) Stuckey, both of whom are now deceased. She is next to the youngest in a family of ten children. whose names are here entered in order of birth: Henry, Mary, Magde- lene, Charles, Elizabeth, Harriet, George, William, Laura and Janette. Mr. and Mrs. Ohl have no children.
HARRIET SPOONER,-It is most pleasing to the publishers of this work to accord recognition at this point to Harriet Spooner, a native of the fine old Buckeye state and a scion of an old New England family, of which the original progenitor in America was one Sprague, who came over in the Mayflower. Harriet (Sprague) Spooner was born on the 8th of May, 1839. at Columbus, Ohio, the place of her birth being the state penitentiary, of which her father was warden for a number of years. She is a daughter of V. T. Sprague, a native of Rhode Island. where his birth occurred in 1800. His father was an engraver of considerable fame and was employed by the government at Washington, D. C. V. T. Sprague received excellent educational advantages in his youth and after completing his college course he was elected manager of a Textile Milling company in New England. In 1830, however, he severed his connections in the east and journeyed to Ohio. locating at Columbus. For a number of years he was high sheriff of that city. Prior to his advent in Ohio he had married Miss Mercey Place, of Providence, Rhode Island. She was a daughter of George Place, who was a farmer by occupation and who gave gallant ser- vice as a soldier in the war of the Revolution. About 1836 V. T. Sprague was appointed warden of the penitentiary at Columbus and after remaining incumbent of that position for a number of years he was appointed superintendent of the Cleveland Infirmary, which latter position he held for a period of nineteen years. Thereafter he opened a general merchandise store on what is now known as Cole Ridge, in Cuyahoga county, Ohio, and he continued to be identified with that line of enterprise until his death, which occurred in 1884. When Mr. Sprague took charge of the infirmi- ary at Cleveland that institution occupied a small farm house,
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which was replaced by a fine seven-story building during his regime. Mrs. Sprague survived her honored husband for three years, she being summoned to the life eternal in 1887. Mr. and Mrs. Sprague became the parents of eight children, namely: Wil- liam, Cinthia, Jane, Harriet, Mary, Josephine, Addison and Kate, all of whom are now deceased except Harriet, the immediate sub- ject of this review.
Mrs. Spooner was reared in a home of most gracious culture and refinement. Her early education was received in the public schools of Cleveland and she was also a student at Hiram College when J. A. Garfield was a professor in same. This splendid train- ing she has since effectively supplemented by reading and extensive travel. She is a woman of fine mental caliber and broad human sympathy and is deeply beloved by all who have come within the sphere of her gentle influence. In 1860 was solemnized her mar- riage to Dr. Henry K. Spooner, she being born in a penitentiary and married in a poor house, her future husband being house physician at the infirmary at Cleveland at the time of her marriage. Dr. Spooner was born in Seneca county in 1837, and he was a son of William and Caroline (Burke) Spooner. William Spooner was a native of Seneca county, New York, and Caroline Burke was a native of Kentucky. Dr. Spooner received his medical training at Western Reserve College and at the time of the Civil war he served as surgeon in the Fifty-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, being brevetted major. Mrs. Spooner was with her husband at Gettys- burg, Chancellorsville, Lookout Mountain and at the barracks at Washington, at which latter place she attended the reception given President Lincoln. Dr. Spooner was affiliated with the Masonic order, being a Knight Templar, and he was a member of Robinson Post, Grand Army of the Republic. His political faith coincided with the views of the Republican party and he gave most efficient service as representative in the state legislature. The name of Spooner is one of large influence and wealth in Seneca county and Dr. H. K. Spooner was held in high esteem by his fellow citizens. God-fearing, law-abiding, progressive, he ever did the right as he interpreted it and he was a pillar of strength in the community in which he resided. Mrs. Spooner came with her husband to Re- publie in 1860, and she recalls the old strap-iron railroad, known as the Mad River Road. She has witnessed the many changes that have taken place in this section of the state prior to and follow- ing the Civil war. She and her husband became the parents of three children, concerning whom the following brief data are here recorded : Sophia first married Dr. Storer and after his death she wedded B. S. Mills, of Republic; Kate is the wife of J. F. Barker. superintendent of a manual training school at Cleveland, Ohio ; and William R. is one of the leading physicians and surgeons in Re- public. Dr. William R. Spooner was graduated in the Toledo Medical College, at Toledo, Ohio. He married Miss Mary J. Whiteman, who was born at Republic, February 6, 1873. To this union have been born two children : Helen L., whose birth occurred on the 1st of August, 1894, and Henry K. Whiteman Spooner, born on the 21st of June, 1905. This family resides with Mrs. Spooner,
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at her fine home in Republic. Dr. H. K. Spooner was summoned to the life eternal in 1907 and his remains were laid to rest in Fair View cemetery, the funeral services being conducted under the auspices of the Knights Templars of Tiffin. Mrs. Spooner is a member of the Disciples of Christ church, in the various depart- ments of whose work she has been an active factor.
SAMUEL O. FELSTED .- Few names have more weight or are better known in Greenspring than that of Samuel O. Felsted, who has been engaged in the hardware and tinner's business throughout almost the entire course of his career in the world of affairs, one year, however, having been devoted to managing a hotel at this place. He is a native Ohioan, having been born September 7, 1854, at Toledo, the son of John and Sarah (Older) Felsted. In the ancestry of his children figure a number of doughty pioneers who met and conquered difficulties and who engaged in tasks in the new country which would have dislocated the arm of Hercules. His parents were born in England, but they came here with their parents at an early day and when they were children. Mr. Fel- sted's maternal grandparents, whose names were Samuel and Sarah Older, settled near Grand Rapids, Wood county, Ohio, and secured one hundred and sixty acres of land from the government. They cleared a space upon it and built a log house, where they reared their family of fourteen children, who often had Indians for playmates. The grandfather took a prominent part in the upbuilding and development of the new country, and was interested in politics, being first a Whig and later, upon the organization of that party, a Republican. He was a member of the United Breth- ren church and was a well-known figure in the meetings in school houses and in the cabins of the settlers, and none labored more valiantly than he for the promotion of good schools. He was very loyal to his adopted country and at the time of the Civil war sent every son he had to its service, all of them escaping shot and shell and the ravages of disease and receiving honorable discharge at the end of the conflict. The names of these sons were: Caleb. John, Thomas, George, Barnett and Silas. This good man passed on to his reward in the year 1856, being at that time sixty-two years of age.
When he was twenty-five years of age Samuel O. Felsted lo- cated at Custer, Ohio, where he learned the tinner's trade and three years later, at the age of twenty-eight years, he was married to Cynthia France, their union being celebrated May 8. 1883. Mrs. Felsted is the daughter of George and Sarah (Coyne) France. The father was born January 17. 1816, the son of John and Betsy E. (Myers) France, natives of Knoxville, Jefferson county, Ohio. While located at Custer the home was burned to the ground, the mother being alone in the doomed house, and in bed at the time with a small babe. As there were no near neighbors she was driven to her own resources to escape the flames. She first sent her son Edward, who was with her, to a neighbors three miles away. It was in the early spring and snow was upon the ground, and the lad was compelled to go that distance barefoot through the snow.
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So badly were his toes frozen that his nails dropped off, but the plucky little fellow went on unfalteringly to give the alarm. When assistance arrived from the neighbors they found the distracted mother, wrapped in a few pieces of bedding, lying at a safe dis- tance from the fire, but in her excitement and grief she had for- gotten to take the sleeping baby from its cradle. Just then the roof began to fall in and one of the boys ran in, snatched the baby from the flames and saved him to become a useful citizen and live out his days. When the father came home from some business which had called him away he found his home in ashes and his family in the care of a kind neighbor. They remained with this good pioneer friend until the father could ereet another house, . it being the pride of the pioneer to do a good turn whenever possible.
When he was about twenty-one years of age George France started out for himself, by hiring out to one Fred Mizer for eight dollars a month, a part of which he gave to his parents, they being in a destitute condition. At the age of twenty-five years he was married to Sarah Coyne, born February 25, 1841, and they became the parents of a family of nine children. an enumeration of whom is made below. The eldest is Mary A. Sherman. Edward mar- ried Nancy Brown. Elizabeth became the wife of C. Carr. Susan was twice married, first to John Morrison and second to Stephen Hunter. John married Rhoda Van Horn. Sarah J. is the wife of Benjamin Richardson. Peter took as his wife Emma Thielen. Cynthia married the subject of this biography. William C., the youngest, married JJennie Simmons.
Mrs. Felsted's father had a varied and eventful life. At about the time of the birth of his daughter, Cynthia, his house burned down and the family were driven out in their nightclothes. all of the household effects being lost. He came to Wood county from Tuscarawas county, a distance of two hundred miles, by ox team, he leading the way and blazing a path through which his good wife drove the team. Shortly after reaching the new home they had an exciting experience, a wild-cat coming into their house on the very night of the arrival and running around among the children who were sleeping on the floor. At this time coon skin was the medum of exchange. It was very hard to get corn or other provision, it sometimes taking two days to get to the mill and back with a little meal. Four years after taking up his residence in that part of Ohio Mr. France was hired to build seven miles of railroad through the swamp for the C. H. & D. Railroad. This was done with the aid of wheelbarrows, it not being possible to use teams on account of the soft condition of the ground. Mr. France was a man who was identified with the best causes and in- stitutions. He was the friend of schools and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in whose upbuilding he took an active part. It was he who built the first tile factory in Custer and he took the initiative in many other directions. This venerable gentleman after a life of usefulness died at Custer at the age of ninety-four years, secure in the respect and love of his associates,
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living over in his last years of leisure and peace the events of nearly a century.
After his marriage Mr. Felsted took up the hardware and tinner's business and he has continued in this line ever since, hav- ing established a good trade and made the confidence of the com- munity his own. As previously mentioned he was for one year "mine host" of a hotel at Greenspring. Before becoming estab- lished in his present business he worked for Hugh Watkins on a farm. He and his boy companions played around old Fort Meigs and the old "Indian tree" is dear in their memories.
The union of Mr. and Mrs. Felsted has been blessed by the birth of three children. Leo F. was born January 21. 1888. received his education at Weston, Ohio, and later attended at Greenspring. remaining in the high school until his Sophomore vear. He then went to Iler, Seneca county, to teach. and in the interims of his duties as pedagogue attended summer school at Heidelberg University. He taught school at Adrian, Ohio, and not being content to "let well enough alone" in the matter of educaton in the following summer he matriculated at Wooster. After another winter of teaching he attended school at Winona Lake, Indiana, taking a summer course. He finished his educa- tional discipline in 1909. He then went to Republic. Ohio, where he has charge of the grammar department. and it is his intention to make teaching and school interests his life work. He is ad- mirably well fitted for such a career and will. if his promise is fulfilled, come to take his place among the leading educators. The second son, Hugh, born April 3, 1890. has finished his education and resides at home. Lois, born October 3. 1892, is also at home with her parents
Mr. Samuel O. Felsted is an enthusiastic lodge man, having membership in the Knights of Pythias and the Woodmen of the World. He and his family. are consistent members of the Presby- terian church of Greenspring.
ABRAM BENNITT RAYMOND .- He whose name initiates this re- view has the honor of being the grandson of the first settler in Reed township. Seneca county, Ohio. where he was born on the 1st of February, 1857. a son of Jacob and Mary (Bennitt) Raymond. George Raymond. grandfather of Abram Bennitt Raymond. in company .with his brother-in-law. Seth Reed, came to Seneca county in 1824, at which time Reed township was a virgin wilderness. These two sterling pioneers were the first settlers in this now favored section of the fine old Buckeye state. having removed here from the state of New York, where both were born and reared to maturity. Seth Reed being the elder of the two the township was named in his honor. They each entered one hundred and sixty acres of government land and located on opposite sides of what subsequently came to be the public highway. In clearing their land each made encroachments on the other's estate through ignorance, but matters were settled amicably when the ground was later surveyed. About 1806 George Raymond was united in marriage to Miss Hannah Reed, who was a sister of Seth Reed. To this union were born
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twelve children. Abraham. Isaac and Jacob being triplets, and .whose birth occurred on the pioneer farm in 1826. The triplets all grew to maturity and were men of fine physique, each attain- ing a height of over six feet and of the number Isaac is still (1910) living. A remarkable circumstance worthy of note here is that each of the triplets had three children born to them.
Jacob Raymond was united in marriage to Miss Mary Bennitt. who was born in Steuben county. New York. in 1830. and they be- came the parents of Abram Bennitt, George and Lucey Adelphia. the latter being now Mrs. Covert. of Reed township. Abram B. is the immediate subject of this sketch and George is now living in Reed township. Jacob followed the vocation of his honored father and eventually became the owner of the one hundred and sixty acres entered by him. He was a man who secured a high place in the confidence and esteem of the community and held many important offices in the township. among them being that of justice of the peace, of which he was incumbent for a period of ten years. He was a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal church and for a number of years was leader of its choir. His wife held member- ship in the Baptist church, to whose charities he was likewise a liberal contributor. He was a man of philanthropic and generous impulses and gave his aid in support of all movements projected to further the welfare of the community. He lived to the venerable
age of eighty-two years and died in 1908. His wife was summoned to the life eternal in 1898. at the age of sixty-eight years. At the time of the inception of the Civil war he enlisted in the Union army and served as a most valiant soldier until 1865, when he received his honorable discharge.
Abram B. Raymond, to whom this brief sketch is dedicated. was reared to maturity on the old home farm. in whose work he early began to assist. His early educational discipline was that afforded in the common schools of the county and he has since supplemented the same by his association with men and affairs of prominence and during his residence in Reed township he served for two years as assessor. In 1902 he removed with his family to Bloom township. where he is now the owner of a splendid farm of one hundred and twenty acres, which he purchased in 1905. In politics he accords a stalwart allegiance to the cause of the Repub- lican party and he is affiliated with various fraternal and social organizations of representative character.
In 1881 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Abram Bennitt Raymond to Miss Emma Post, who was born in Huron county. Ohio, in the year 1861, and who is the daughter of Jerome and Caroline Post, representative citizens of Huron county. They have four children, namely : Ralph. Ernest. Carl and Luell. Ralph wedded Miss Mary Chaffee and they are the parents of two chil- dren, Mildred and Clifford. Ernest is unmarried and living with his parents. Carl married Ola Rife, a native of Seneca county. August 6. 1910. Luell is now the wife of Horace Pumphrey, of Harrison county, Ohio.
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AUGUSTUS TANNER .- A representative agriculturist of Seneca county and a Civil war veteran who nobly sacrificed an arm in the service of his country's cause at the time when the dark cloud of civil strife obscured the national horizon. Augustus Tanner is well deserving of recognition in this compilation devoted to the life histories of loval and publie spirited citizens of this now favored section of the Buckeye state. He was born at Utica, Herkimer county, New York, on the 7th of July, 1842, and is a son of Isaac and Hannah M. (Tanner) Tanner. both of whom were likewise natives of the old Empire state of the Union. whence they removed to Venice township, this county, about the year 1855. Here Isaac Tanner purchased a farm of two hundred and fifty acres, on which there were a few improvements, and here he and his wife continued to reside until their death. the latter being summoned to the life eternal on the 1st of July, 1901, and the former passing away February 6. 1903. They became the parents of five children. three of whom are now deceased, namely. John, who died in infancy. Emily and Maria. - Those now living are Eugene and Augustus.
Augustus Tanner was reared to the age of thirteen years in his native county, at which time, in 1855. he accompanied his parents to Seneca county, where he assisted in the work of the home farm and supplemented his earlier education by attendance at the district schools during the winter terms. On the inception of the Civil war, though still a minor. he showed that intrinsic patriotism which has ever distinguished his citizenship by enlisting as a private in Company I, Sixty-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. for a period of three years. Ilis command was assigned to the Army of the Potomac and for a year and a half he took an active part in the engagements of those forces. He participated in the following battles: Fort Republic. Chancellorsville. Gettysburg. all in Virginia. and numerous other minor engagements. He was then transferred. together with his regiment. to the Army of the Cumberland and saw active service at the battles of Lookout Moun- tain, Dalton, Peach Tree Creek. Ringold. Kenesaw Mountain and Resaca Mountain. (Tennessee). At Kenesaw Mountain he was severely wounded in his left arm. the injuries demanding amputa- tion. After a period of nine months spent in the hospital Mr. Tanner received hs honorable discharge. on the 7th of January. 1865. He was a loyal soldier in the Union army and his subse- quent career stands as an example of that old-time integrity so rare in the rush of modern American life and withal so worthy of emulation. He has long been one of the reliable and sterling farmers of Seneca county, where he owns a finely improved farm of two hundred and fifty acres, on which his attractive and spacious brick residence, designed by Architect Chamberlin, is recognized as a center of gracious and refined hospitality.
In politics Mr. Tanner has ever given a stanch allegiance to the principles and policies of the Republican party and both he and his wife are members of the Universalist church, in connection with which they have been earnest and consistent workers. He is affiliated with various fraternal and social organizations of promi- nent order and has ever been broad minded and liberal in his
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support of all movements advanced to conserve the welfare of his county and state. He is a modest, unassuming man, genial and inspiring, a man whose charity knows only the bounds of his opportunities.
On the 22d of April. 1866. was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Tanner to Miss Harriet Ringle, who was born in Venice township. this county. in 1847, and who is a daughter of George and Catherine Ringle. the former of whom was born in Ohio, in 1803. and the latter near Carlisle, Pennsylvania. on the 1st of January. 1809, the year that was made notable by the birth of Lincoln. Gladstone and others alike renowned. In 1832 Mr. Ringle entered one hundred and sixty-nine acres of government land, for which he paid one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre, and on this old homestead were born and reared his eleven children, namely: John, Drucilla. Simon A .. Mary J .. Henry, Nancy A., Martin. Ashael. Amanda. Harriet and Emma. The entire family grew to maturity and four are now living. Ashael. Amanda. Harriet and Emma. Mr. Ringle was summoned to the life eternal in 1879. at the venerable age of seventy-six years, secure in the confidence and esteem of the community and widely mourned by his family and large circle of friends. Mrs. Ringle passed away on the 13th of June, 1900. when ninety-one years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Tanner have two children. Avis A. and Harley M .. the former of whom is now the wife of Joseph N. Baker of Lorain, Ohio. to whom she was married on the 27th of January, 1898. Mrs. Joseph Baker has been twice mar- ried. Her first husband was Harvey J. Weider. of Allentown, Pennsylvania, to whom she was married May 4. 1887. They had one son, Glide A .. born on the 20th of March. 1888. and at present an operator in the Postal Telegraph services in New York city. Harley M. is engaged in farming in Venice township. He married Ida Zuber. of Sandusky, Ohio.
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