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 39
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The Pitcher Brothers are both affiliated with the Knights of Pythias and W. H. is also a member of the Improved Order of Moose. C. C. holds membership in the Universalist church as does also his wife.
AARON KISTLER .- One of Scipio township's wealthiest and most prominent men is Aaron Kistler. His entire life has been passed here and he has risen through his own efforts from the humblest beginnings to his present substantial position. For thirty years he devoted his energies to general agriculture. but in 1893 he took up stock and horse shipping and has achieved remark- able financial success in this line.
Aaron Kistler was born November 3. 1843. and is the son of Michael and Saloma (Fritz) Kistler. natives of Pennsylvania. These worthy people were preceded by two years by the subject's
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grandparents. Michael and Sallie (Hoppis) Kistler. They were the first of the name in the county. having arrived within Seneca's boundaries in the year 1831: They located in Adams township on a farm of one hundred and sixty aeres and were among the earliest pioneers. The Kistlers are a hardy race and men more dauntless than they might have faltered before the task of bringing to a habitable and tillable state the splendid untamed acres. A wild young virgin country will yield her strength only to men of strength and daring and youth. Mr. Kistler's father when he came was compelled to blaze the road from the trail to his property, and in every respect conditions were primitive indeed.
In Pennsylvania in his younger days the father combined dis- tilling and tanning with his farming, and Mr. Kistler still pos- sesses his old account book written in German. He had been one to make the most of his opportunities, for he had but thirteen days of schooling in the whole course of his youth. Mr. Kistler knew the healthy appetite which comes from strenuous labor, for he drove a horse power thrasher from July until late winter. his feet stocking- less and encased in cowhide boots. There were eleven children in the family and stockings were unthought of luxuries. The names of the brothers and sisters were : Mary A., Michael. David. Polly. Levi. Lovina. Sarah J., Joseph. Sallie and Julia A., Aaron Kistler being eighth in order of birth.
Aaron Kistler resided under the parental roof-tree until his marriage. The young woman to become his wife was Mary E. Detterman, and their union was celebrated December 31. 1863. One child, a daughter named Mary .J., was born January 3. 1865. and she married Warren F. Miller, of Scipio township. They became the parents of two sons : Ralph, who lived until he was past twenty-one. when he died. and Grover. who was named in honor of President Cleveland and who married Laura Corthell. of Clinton township, in 1907. On February 1. 1866. Mrs. Kistler was sum- moned to the other world. Mr. Kistler was again married. June 10, 1866, Miss Molly Rinehold being united to him in the holy bonds of matrimony. She was born March 12. 1844, and is the daughter of George and Sallie (Smith) Rinehold. Pennsylvanians who came here from the Keystone state about 1832 and located in Scipio township on the Cook farm.
Mr. Kistler farmed actively for about thirty years after estab- lishing a separate household. Later. as mentioned in preceding paragraphs he branched ont into the stock shipping business. Ile also buys horses in the west and ships them to this state. where they are sold after being fitted for the market. At an early age he took up the study of veterinary medicine and surgery, and for a time practiced with his father. His practice at the present time is large and he has three hundred accounts per year upon his books.
The subjeet has also played a prominent and praiseworthy role in political matters. He is a loyal Democrat. having sup- ported the policies of this party sinee he cast his first vote and he has given service in several offices. He held the office of justice of the peace for six terms, his present term to expire in the year 1912. He has been township trustee and a member of the school Vol. II-20
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board, and the fact that he is the champion of good education does not arise from the fact that in his own youth he enjoyed excep- tional opportunities, for in point of fact. he attended school but twenty-four days after he reached his fourteenth year. He has effectively remedied what deficiences may have existed. for he is a student and great reader. He has read the Bible through twice
. from beginning to end and is an authority on Biblical topics. He is nearly as much at home with the German language as he is with the English. having perfected his German by a comparison of German and English Bibles. He is a consistent member of the Reformed church and belongs to the Ohio Protective Association. He enjoys the confidence of all who know him ; has acted as executor of several estates and enjoys a reputation as a good appraiser of land; and he has several times served on the jury.
In 1899 Mr. Kistler removed from Adams township to Republic, where he now makes his home. although at the same time spending a good deal of time upon his country estate, which has excellent buildings. a large brick residence of nine rooms and a great barn. thirty-five by ninety-two feet in dimension. There are numerous outbuildings, the corn barn being twenty-four by twenty-four feet. The Kistler farm has nine miles of tile drainage. In addition to his many other interests Mr. Kistler is a director of the Republic Bank, of which institution he was one of the organizers.
CHARLES H. KERNAN. superintendent of the national home of the Junior Order United American Mechanics at Tiffin. Ohio, is a man especially fitted for the work in which he is engaged.
Professor Kernan was born and reared in New York state. After completing his studies in the graded schools he was sent to Amsterdam Academy. and later was a student in the Potsdam Normal School. St. Lawrence. New York, where he received special training for the profession of teaching. and he has ever since been engaged in educational work. For ten years he was principal of the Orient High School, Long Island. New York. and in September, 1900, was appointed to the position he now occupies. His accom- plished wife, who before marriage was Miss Louise Bowland an ! who is a native of Maryland. is chief matron of the institution. They have four children. Ruth. Allen, Esther and Dorotha, who attend school at the home.
The Junior Order United American Mechanics home, a national institution. was established in 1896. on a farm of one hundred and seventy-six acres in Clinton township. Seneca county. one mile and a quarter north of Tiffin. and is supported by the membership of the order in all the different states of the union. Its buildings, eight in number, are soon to be increased by a thirty thousand dollar school house, erected by the order in the state of Ohio. The school includes an industrial. department. Six teachers, especially fitted for their respective lines of work, are employed, and the students in attendance at this writing represent twenty-three different states. they being children of deceased mem- bers of the order in good standing at time of death. On Sundays
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devotional exercises are conducted by pastors of the different churches of Tiffin, including the Baptist church of which Mr. Ker- nan is a member. Mrs. Kernan is a member of Trinity Episcopal church.
In addition to the Junior Order United American Mechanics Mr. Kernan belongs to various other fraternal organizations. He has membership in Tiffin Lodge. No. 77, F. and A. M., and Seneca Chapter. Council and Commandery at Tiffin, and is a thirty-second degree Mason of Toledo Consistory ; is also a member of the Knights of Pythias No. 80. and the Royal Arcanum, and he is an associate member of the G. A. R.
VERN CARY .- The hope of Seneca county rests upon her younger generation, and one of her worthy young citizens is Vern Cary, who is a native of the county and a progressive and success- ful agriculturist. He was born in Seneca county March 1. 1886. the son of James McCord Cary and his wife. whose maiden name was Mary L. Brown. It was Seneca county that witnessed the birth of the father, although preceding generations of the family have been natives of the New England states, that cradle of so much of our national history. James Cary led the usual existence of the youth of the early days, working diligently upon the farm dur- ing the summer months and attending the district school in the winter. Until he became eighteen years of age he. thus alter- nated his seasons of duty behind a desk in the school room and behind the plow and the harvester. but when he reached the age mentioned above he started out to make his way in life alone. He secured work as a farm hand and by the exercise of industry and thrift ultimately came to be numbered among the prosperous land holders. He married, the lady to become his wife being a native of Huron county and in addition to him whose name initiates this review he and his wife were the parents of Irvin Cary. Harold Cary and Corris Cary. The father was a Republican in politics and he and his wife were consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church. The father was called to his eternal rest in 1907, but the mother survives and makes her residence on the old homestead in Reed township.
Vern Cary attended the district school. enjoying to the fullest degree the educational advantages of Seneca county. Under the excellent tutelage of his father he learned the manifold secrets of agriculture and when it came to choosing a life work he decided in favor of that occupation which had engrossed the attention of his immediate forbears. After the death of his father the manage- ment of the farm fell upon the shoulders of Mr. Cary and his brother Harold and their enlightened methods have been pro- ductive of the best results. Like his father he gives his heart and hand to the principles and policies of the Republican party. is publie spirited and his past record points to a useful and suc- cessful career.
FRED M. SMITHI .- A native son of Republic. Seneca county. Ohio, and a scion of fine old families of the Buckeye state. Fred
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M. Smith was born on the 5th of November, 1879, and is a son of Martin and Mary J. (Harvey) Smith. The father was born in Seneca county on the 4th of March, 1840, and he was summoned to the life eternal on the 5th of April, 1903. During his active business career he was identified principally with bridge work in this county, his trade being that of stone mason. On the 20th of December. 1862. he married Miss Mary J. Harvey, whose birth occurred in Madison county, Ohio, on the 4th of April. 1845. Martin Smith was aligned as a stalwart supporter of the cause of the Democratic party during his life time and he served several times on the jury. He and his wife became the parents of six children, of which number Fred M., of this sketch, was the fifth in order of birth.
Fred M. Smith was reared to maturity and educated in Republic, having attended the high school of this place. At the time of the inception of the Spanish-American war. in 1898. he enlisted as a member of Company E. Second regiment. Ohio Volun- teer Infantry, and served for a period of ten months. He entered the federal service as mail carrier in 1903. In politics Mr. Smith accords a stanch allegiance to the cause of the Republican party and he has done much to advance the general welfare of the com- munity. In a fraternal way he is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
On the 20th of December. 1899, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Smith to Miss Lucy R. George. a native of Richland county, Ohio, and a daughter of William and Sarah (Williams) George, both of whom were born and roared in Pennsylvania. whence they removed to Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Smith became the parents of three children. namely: Elizabeth. Catherine and Georgie. all of whom remain at the paternal home. Mrs. Smith was sum- moned to the life eternal on the 19th of April. 1908. She was a woman of most gracious refinement and was dearly beloved by all who came within the sphere of her gentle influence. The funeral services were conducted by Rev. Snyder, of Tiffin, under the auspices of the Rebekah lodge of Republic. Mrs. Smith was a prominent member of the Daughters of Rebekah.
JOHN W. SCOTT .- This prominent citizen of Seneca county was born in Pennsylvania March 4. 1868. a son of John B. and Patience (Blackwell) Scott. natives of England. Mr. Scott came to the United States in 1859 and Mrs. Scott in 1855. with her father. Thomas Blackwell, who located in AAkron. Ohio. Mr. Scott settled at Titusville. Venango county, Pennsylvania, and he was engaged in the oil business there from 1860 to 1882. He was born March 11. 1834.
John W. Scott lived with his parents till he married Miss Annie Altmire, who was born April 1. 1872. a daughter of Theodore and Matilda (Uhirey) Altmire. representatives of old Pennsylvania families. Mr. and Mrs. Scott have four children: Walter, born January 21, 1896; Nellie, born December 21, 1898; Ruth, born February 28. 1900; William, born July 23. 1909. £ Mrs. Scott was educated in the common schools of Butler county, Pennsyl-
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vania, and was married in Butler county December 18, 1894. Her parents are now conducting a store in Hilliard, Pennsylvania. The father was formerly a coal miner and has been in charge of the store for twenty-eight years. He is a member of the Catholic church, while his wife is a Lutheran. Mrs. Scott has brothers and sisters as follows: Cora, who married Roy Hutchinson and resides in Sharon, Pennsylvania ; Charles, resides in Greenville, Pennsylvania, and is an engineer on the railroad; Mildred and Nellie are at home and Florence resides in Butler, Pennsylvania. Mr. Scott's brothers and sisters are as follows: George B. was formerly an engineer at the Greenspring Pumping Station, and his death occurred Sep- tember 18, 1906; William is a conductor on the Bedford & Lake Erie Railroad; Olive married Camden McKeen and resides in But- ler, Pennsylvania ; and Nellie married Franeis P. Honaway and resides in Colliers, West Virginia.
Educated so far as he found it practicable to be in the com- mon schools of Pennsylvania, Mr. Scott began his career as an oil man when he was about six months in his sixteenth year. At first he was a water boy, but rapid promotion put him in the con- nection gang, made him a pumpman, a foreman, an engineer and chief in charge of a station at Greenspring, Ohio. He has as fine a plant as one would be likely to see in many days travel, and his management of it and his manner of doing business mark him as a first class oil man and as a business man of uncommon ability.
Mr. Scott is an independent Republican, a seventh degree Mason, a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and a member of the Knights of the Maccabees. In some of these societies he has been called to official positions.
In many ways Mr. Scott has demonstrated that he is a man of that quality of public spirit that makes him useful when work is to be done for the general good. In fact there is no movement at Greenspring having for its object the enhancement of the publie weal that does not have his cordial co-operation.
FRANK B. SHANK .- A man who stands high among his fellows and enjoys the confidence and esteem of all who know him is Frank B. Shank, a native of Huron county, where his birth occurred August 18, 1864. On both sides of the family he is German in descent and partakes in fullest measure of those stanch character- isties which make the Teutonic emigrant one of the most welcome to American shores. His father, Frank Shank was born in Ger- many, and when a boy about fourteen years of age came here in company with his parents. They first located in Sandusky, Ohio, where the subject's grandfather secured means of livelihood, but he and his family subsequently removed to Seneca county. It was there that Frank Shank supplemented such education as he had received in his native country. He took as his wife Marguerite Ball, also a German, and the children of these worthy people were as follows: Mary, who married Ben Long and resides in Huron county; Will, a citizen of Huron county ; Fred, also a resident of Huron county; Kate, wife of John Swartz, of Huron county; Aggie, wife of Lorenzo Faulter, of Venice township, Seneca coun-
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ty; and Henry, of Huron county. The subject's father was devoted to the policies and principles of the Democratic party and at one time held the office of school director. He died September 12, 1898, the mother surviving until 1910. The family are Catholic in faith.
Frank Benjamin Shank secured his education in the district schools of Huron county and upon his father's farm received a thorough training in the various departments of agriculture. When it became time for him to choose a life work he decided in favor of agriculture and has made a success of his endeavors in the great basic industry. He has resided in Seneca county for twenty years and each year has added to the security of his stand- ing in the community. One evidence out of a host of these is the fact that he rented a farm from Judge MeCauley for a continuous term of eleven years and there was never any form of writing between them.
In the matter of politics Mr. Shank resembles his father and subscribes to the articles of faith of the Democratic party. He has had some experience in public office, having served six years as school director and two terms as township trustee. In addition to his operations in general agriculture he is a breeder of Aberdeen Angus cattle and Poland China hogs.
On October 8, 1889, Mr. Shank established a household of his own by his union with Elizabeth Ball, a daughter of Joseph and Margaret (Schwartz) Ball. of German extraction. Her father was called to his eternal rest in the month of April. 1902, and her mother survives and makes her home in Tiffin. The birth of Mrs. Shank occurred in Seneca county May 20, 1874. She is of a family of ten living brothers and sisters. one of the members being deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Shank have the following children : Mark Harry, Lillie, Urban and Walter S.
ERNEST G. ALLGYRE .- Germany has contributed its fair quota to the development and upbuilding of this country of complex nationalities and among its representatives are found citizens who are ever ready to extend their aid in time of war and who in the "piping times of peace" foster and support our national institu- tions and set a fair example of thrift, sturdy integrity and in- domitable perseverence. Of this admirable type of American citizenship is Ernest G. Allgyre, who was born at Caroline, Venice township, Seneca county, Ohio, in 1870. of German parentage. He is a son of Jacob and Mary (Grewer) Allgyre, both of whom were born in the empire of Germany, whence they emigrated in 1851, to the United States and located in Sandusky, this state. Remaining here one year, they removed to Crawford county, where they spent one year in New Washington and in 1853 they estab- lished a permanent home in Caroline. Seneca county, where the father followed his trade, that of blacksmith. and where he is remembered as a loyal and publie spirited citizen.
Ernest G. Allgyre received his early educational training in his native place and initiated his independent career by engaging in his father's trade, following the same with marked success for
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a period of five years. At the present time he is proprietor of the Attica hotel, one of the oldest and most popular hostleries in north- ern Ohio. This well known hotel was built in 1840 and has stool as a landmark during the long intervening years. In 1908 Mr. Allgyre purchased the property and reconstructed and remodeled it till it is now one of modern convenience and comfort. The genial personality of the host as coupled with the gracious qualities of Mrs. Allgyre make this hotel most popular with the traveling publie. It is centrally located. well ventilated and is proverbial for its cleanliness and fine table. Mr. Allgyre is independent in his political convictions and he is ever ready to give his aid in support of all measures and enterprises projected for the advance- ment of the general welfare of the community which has long repre- sented his honie.
In 1896 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Allgyre to Miss Alice M. Ewart, who was born in Washington, Pennsylvania, and who is a daughter of Oliver Ewart, a representative citizen of that place. Mr. and Mrs. Allgyre are the parents of two children, Mamie C. and Frederick J., both of whom are attending the public school in Attica.
GEORGE ZIEGLER .- On his finely improved farm of two hundred acres, eligibly located nine miles southeast of Tiffin, Seneca county, and one mile east of Melmore, Ohio, Mr. George Ziegler is engaged in agricultural pursuits and in the raising of high grade cattle, hogs and sheep. It has been his to achieve most noteworthy suc- cess in his chosen field of endeavor and he has also been prominent in connection with political affairs of a local nature in his home county.
Mr. Ziegler was born on the old homestead farm in Eden township, Seneca county, on the 10th of November, 1865, and is a son of Henry and Louisa (Keller) Ziegler, both of whom were born in Germany. George Ziegler is indebted to the common schools of his native county for his early educational advantages, having been a student during the winter terms until he was eigh- teen years of age. He then initiated his independent career as a farmer and soon thereafter he was married. He now owns and operates a valuable estate of two hundred acres nine miles south- east of Tiffin and besides his devotion to diversified agriculture he is engaged extensively in stock raising, preferring Durham cattle and Poland China and Chester hogs. He markets a car and a half each year of hogs. He also has two hundred head of Delaine sheep, from which he clips annually eighteen hundred pounds of wool.
In polities Mr. Ziegler is aligned as a stalwart in the ranks of the Democratic party on all national questions but in local affairs he maintains an independent attitude, preferring to give his support to men and measures meeting with the approval of his judgment. In 1909 he was given proof of popular confidence and esteem in that he was then elected township trustee. He has served as a member of the school board for three years and is now a member of the election board. He is a loyal and public spirited
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citizen and gives most freely of his aid and influence in support of all movements projected for the general welfare of the com- munity. He and his wife are devout members of the Reformed church and they are most popular factors in the best social circles of their home county.
In the year 1895 Mr. Ziegler was united in marriage to Miss Lizzie Hunsicker, who was born at Crawford county and who · is a daughter of William and Catherine (Lust) Hunsicker, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania, whence they came to Ohio, where the father engaged in farming. Mr. and Mrs. Ziegler became the parents of five children, namely : Jessie, Calvin, Frona M., Forest E. and Harold M., all of whom are attending school.
JOSEPH L. ANWAY .- A native son of Seneca county. Joseph L. Anway has passed his entire life thus far in this section of the state and though now an octogenarian he still retains in much of their strength and pristine vigor the excellent mental and physi- cal powers of his youth. He was born on the old homestead farm in Scipio township, Seneca county, on the 13th of October, 1829. and is a son of William and Eliza (Lapham) Anway, the former of whom was born on the 13th of January, 1803, and the latter on the 27th of January, 1809. both being natives of New York. William Anway was a son of William and Hannah (Hall) Anway, both of whom were born in New York, whence they came to Ohio about 1823, at which time the son William was about twenty-one years of age. They named Scipio township after their old home township in Seneca county, New York, and they took up their abode in an old hut on the grounds where the depot now stands, they being the first white people to settle in this township. On the 13th of January, 1824, they entered a tract of three hundred and twenty acres of government land one mile south of Republic. They had children as follows: John. Susan. George. David A., Fanny, Phoebe. Harrison. Harvey, William and Rastus. William next to the youngest in order of birth of the above children, resided with his parents on the old home farm until his marriage. on the 8th of March, 1827. He received an eighty-acre tract of his father's land and became a successful agriculturist in this county. was originally an old line Whig in politics and when the Republican party was organized in 1858, he became aligned as a supporter of is principles and policies. He was one of the first officials in the township and he was summoned to the life eternal on the 9th of June, 1863, at the age of sixty-one years. His wife passed away
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