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 42
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50
and Mrs. Wiker became the parents of ten children: William, Lizzie. Ellen. Sallie. Delia. Allie, George. Nora. Mattie and Liza Jane. Of this number Delia, Nora and Liza Jane are still living. Mrs. Wiker and three of the children passed away within two weeks of one another. when Mrs. Somers was a child of twelve years of age. Mr. Wiker served as a gallant soldier in the Union army during the Civil war and he is now living in Reed township. having attained to the venerable age of sixty-nine years. Mr. and Mrs. Somers have four children: Ethel, who was born on the 25th of August, 1892. is now in her last year in the preparatory course of the normal school at Republic: Earl, who was born on the
889
HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY
9th of November, 1894; Gretta, born July 20, 1897; and Franklin. born December 6, 1904, all of whom are attending the publie schools in Republic.
GEORGE R. CRAMER .- A representative citizen of Scipio town- ship, Seneca county, and one who has achieved eminent success as an agriculturist is George R. Cramer, who was born in Seneca county, Ohio, on the 28th of May, 1865, and who is a son of Edwin R. and Christina (Neikirk) Cramer. the former a native of Mary- land and the latter a native of Ohio. Edwin R. Cramer was born on the 7th of October. 1835, and he was but five years of age at the time of his parents' removal from Maryland to Ohio. He is a son of Christian and Catherine (Creighes) Cramer, who located in Clinton township. this county, on a farm, in 1840. Edwin R. Cramer resided with his parents until his marriage to Miss Chris- tina Neikirk. a daughter of Daniel and Christina (Somers) Neikirk. Mr. Neikirk was born in Maryland and his wife claimed Baden Baden, Germany, as the place of her birth. Edwin and Christina Cramer became the parents of five children : George, the immediate subject of this review: Rosa Bell and Clara Dell. twins, born January 13. 1869, the former became the wife of Scott Growel, of Adams township; and the latter married James H. Breyman. of Tiffin ; Chloie. born January 9. 1877. became the wife of William Myers, of Utah ; and Ezra S .. born June 11. 1880, was summoned to the life eternal on the 20th of May. 1888. Edwin R. Cramer was a most successful farmer during his lifetime and his death occurred on the 30th of May. 1908. His cherished and devoted wife now resides on the old homestead to which she came as a bride and she has attained to the venerable age of sixty-seven years. When the Cramer family first came to Ohio they were in rather straightened circumstances but through thrift and industry they gained note- worthy success and became highly respected citizens in Scipio township.
George R. Cramer was reared to the sturdy discipline of the home farm and he early began to assist his father in the work and management thereof. His education was such as was afforded in the public schools of the county and when sixteen years of age he hired out as a farm hand. Four years later he journeyed to the west, locating in Nebraska, where he learned the blacksmith's trade. For twenty-three years he lived the strenuous life of the mining camps and in 1906 he returned to his native state of Ohio, where he purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty aeres. the old homestead of Michael Neikirk, an uncle of his mother. He now has an estate of three hundred and twenty acres of most arable land and his splendidly improved farm is one of the finest in the county. He devotes his attention to diversified agriculture and his spacious residence and barns are of the most modern type. In politics Mr. Cramer is aligned as a stalwart supporter of the cause of the Democratic party and though he has never manifested aught of desire for public office of any description he gives freely of his aid and influence in support of all measures advanced for the general welfare of the community. In a fraternal way he is
.
890
HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY
affiliated with the Knights of the Tented Maccabees and he is also a member of the Western Federated Miners Union. £ He and his wife are devout members of the Catholic church, to whose charities he has contributed in generous measure. Mr. Cramer has in his possession some fine specimens of his work in steel, also in gold. silver, copper and lead ore, which he brought back with him from the west.
In Utah, in July, 1893, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. 'Cramer to Miss Elizabeth E. Wheetly, a daughter of Richard and Elizabeth (Karug) Wheetly, both of whom were born in Scotland, the former in county Waxford and the latter at Glasgow. After living for a time in England Mr. and Mrs. Wheetly emigrated to America, about 1879, at which time Mrs. Cramer was four years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Wheetly had seven children, namely : James, Mary C., Margaret M., Elizabeth, Bridget, Richard and William, all of whom are deceased except Mrs. Cramer and Bridget, who now maintains her home in California. Mr. and Mrs. Cramer became the parents of eight children. two of whom died when infants. Those living are, Bertha, born March 8, 1895; Edwin R., born October 7, 1897; Ezra R., born January 18, 1899; Junita, born October 25, 1902; George E., born October 1, 1906; and Irene M., born March 18, 1908.
ROLLIE J. HENSINGER .- A native son of Seneca county and a scion of an old pioneer family in this section, Rollie J. Hensinger was born in Adams township, Seneca county, Ohio, on the 27th of June, 1875. He is a son of Benjamin F. and Brigada (Fender) Hensinger, both of whom were likewise born in Seneca county. Benjamin F. Hensinger was a son of John and Catherine (Gar- man) Hensinger, the date of his nativity being September 5, 1846. John and Catherine Hensinger were natives of Lehi county, Penn- sylvania, whence they emigrated to Ohio about 1840. The house- hold goods was transported by ox teams and wagons and the older members of the family made the trip on foot. John entered one hundred and sixty acres of government land in Adams township and set about reclaiming a farm from the virgin wilderness. He erected a log cabin and reared a family of ten children, whose names are here recorded : Harris, Mary, Flora, Owen, John, Con- rad, Risaldo, Moses, Benjamin F. and Catherine. Benjamin F. resided with his parents until his marriage, March 9, 1869, to Miss Brigada Fender. They became the parents of six children, Arvilla, Emma, Frank, Rollie J., Herbert and Lucy M. After the death of his first wife, in 1885, he married Maria Kane, who bore him one son, Emery Earl. She was summoned to the life eternal on the 23rd of July. 1910. HIe was engaged in farming during the major portion of his active business career and was an essentially loyal and public spirited citizen who contrbuted in generous measure to all movements projected for the general well- fare of the community.
Rollie J. Hensinger received his early educational discipline in the district schools of his native township and when twenty-two years of age he went to Ada, Ohio, where he spent two terms in a
891
HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY
business course. After his marriage he turned his attenton to diversified agriculture. In politics he is a stalwart Republican and he has held various offices of public trust. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Junior Order of United American Mechanics. He is a man of broad general information and is ever on the alert and enthusiastically in sympathy with all measures and enterprises tending to advance the welfare of the community.
On the 30th of October, 1900, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Hensinger to Miss Nettie Carson, who was born and reared in Seneca county and who is a daughter of William and Ann (Law- rence) Carson, natives of Pennsylvania. William Carson was one of seven children, the others being: Jane, Nancy, John, Jake, Hugh and Mary. For a time Mrs. Carson's parents resided in New Jersey and in 1845 they removed to Ohio and located at Melmore, this county. The family was represented in the Civil war and all the boys were mechanics by vocation. Mrs. Hensinger was the fifth in order of birth in a family of nine children, the names of the others being: Orville, Carrie. Walter, Floyd, Nettie, Mary, Roy, Pearl and Ollie. Mr. and Mrs. Hensinger have one son, Merlin E., who was born on the 12th of August, 1904. A son Vernon Gerald, was born to them on the 20th of May, 1902, but he passed from this life on October 12 of the same year.
WILLIAM HARMON HOMAN .- A man of honest worth. endowed with the habits of thrift and industry characteristic of his German ancestors, William Harmon Homan holds an assured position among the respected and valued residents of Tiffin. A son of the late George Homan, he was born, February 3, 1871, in Fi Hancock county, Ohio, but has spent the greater part of his life .n Tiffin.
George Homan was born, reared and married in Germany. Learning the trade of a printer, he followed it in the Fatherland until 1860, when he came with his wife and children to the United States, locating first in Buffalo, New York. After working in a printing office in that city for eight years, he moved to Findlay, Ohio, where he had charge of a boarding house for four years. Going to Fremont, Ohio. in 1872, he conducted the Fremont Courier five years, when he sold out. Coming from there to Tiffin. he established the first. and only German newspaper of Seneca county, which he managed from 1881 until 1893. He was quite active in public affairs, and in 1888 was elected sheriff of Seneca county, and served until his death about six months before the expiration of his term of service. His wife, whose maiden name was Catherine Florian, was born in Berlin, Germany, his native city, and is now living with her son. William H., who is the eighth child in order of birth of her family of nine children, a part of · whom were born in Germany.
Brought up and educated in Tiffin, William H. Homan began learning the jewelry business when but fourteen years of age, and has made that his life occupation, being a skilful and artistic workman. During his younger days, however, Mr. Homan worked with his father to some extent as a newspaper man. and also served
892
HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY
as deputy sheriff under his father. He is a Democrat in polities, and a member of the German Catholic church. Mr. Homan mar- ried, April 9, 1907, Gertrude M. Smith.
CHARLES ASH .- For nearly four score years has the Ash family been identified, with the history of Seneca county and few if any names have been more closely and prominently concerned with the industrial and civic development and advancement of this favored section of the state. He whose name initiates this review is the largest land holder in the county and from his youth to the present time he has been actively concerned with the great basic industries of agriculture and stock growing, through the medium of which he has achieved large and worthy success, thus adding to the prestige gained along the same lines by his honored father, William Ash, who, at a venerable age. still maintains his residence in this county and who is one of its most honored pioneer citizens. Mr. Ash has ever commanded the unqualified confidence and esteem of the community, which has represented his home from the time of his nativity. has been called upon to serve in various offices of distinctive public trust, including that of representative in the state legislature and, though invarably unostentatious and unas- suming. he is recognized as one of the substantial capitalists and essentially representative citizens of his native county.
Charles Ash was born upon the old homestead farm in Jackson township, this county, on the 18th of December, 1857, and is a son of William and Rebeccah (Trumbo) Ash. The father was born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania. on the 14th of April, 1830, and is a son of George and Letitia (Reed) Ash, the former of whom was likewise a native of Bedford county, where he was born in the year 1779. In 1833 he came to Seneca county, Ohio, and secured one hundred and sixty acres of heavily timbered land in Liberty town- ship. There he reclaimed a farm upon which he continued to reside until his death, at the patriarchal age of ninety years, his wife having passed away at the age of sixty-eight years.
William Ash was reared under the scenes and conditions of the pioneer epoch in this section of the state and through his mature judgment and well directed efforts he has become one of the large landholders and influential citizens of the county, where he now owns more than twelve hundred acres of land. For many years he was also a prominent factor in the buying and shipping of live stock, as well as of grain. He has served in various public office3, including that of justice of the peace, which he retained for more than a quarter of a century. He has long served as vice president of the First National Bank of Fostoria. His wife was born and reared in Seneca county and is a daughter of Enoch Trumbo, one of the prominent pioneers of this section of the state. Of the three children two are living: Ellen, who is the wife of. Alfred Nowrey, of Jackson township, and Charles, who is the sub- ject of this review. Concerning the career of the honorable Charles Ash. the following data are well worthy of reproduction in this volume :
893
HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY
"Our subject was reared and received his early educational training in the public schools of the locality. At the age of eigh- teen years he became actively associated with his father in the buying and shipping of live stock, soon giving evidence of the dis- crimination and that executive capacity which have been the con- servators of his success. In February, 1885. Mr. Ash effected the purchase of eighty acres of his present fine homestead, and forth- with located on the same, where, in connection with general agri- culture, he continued to devote his attention to the buying and sell- ing of live stock for a number of years, his operations in the line being marked benefit in furthering the advancement of the stock industry in this locality. He has added to his landed estate until he now owns more than twelve hundred acres of as valuable land as can be found in the county. the same having been equipped with the best of permanent improvements. His farming is con- ducted by tenants. though in past years he did an extensive busi- ness, cultivating several hundred acres, with several men in his employ. He also owns three hundred and twenty acres in Logan county. Kansas. Nearly a decade ago Mr. Ash enlarged the scope of his operations by beginning to buy and ship grain, initiating this enterprise in a somewhat modest way. It has, however, been cumulative in character, and in the summer of 1901 he erected a well equipped grain elevator in the village of Amsden, where he handled a large business in this line, making extensive shipments and thus aiding materially in advancing the agricultural interests of the locality. He is essentially alert and public spirited in his attitude, and his interest in all that conserves the general welfare is unabating."
Besides his extensive farming interests Mr. Ash is identified with many important industrial enterprises which have conserved the advancement and prosperity of his home county. He is presi- dent of the Commercial Savings Bank of Fostoria, in which he is one of the largest stockholders. as is he also in the Standard Light & Power Company of that city. He is also secretary and treasurer of the Fostoria Union Stock Yards & Commission Company. be- sides which he holds stock in other industrial concerns.
In politics Mr. Ash has ever accorded unswerving allegiance to the cause of the Republican party and he has served two terms as treasurer of his native county. His election to this most im- portant office showed most conclusively the estimate placed upon him in his home county, for the same normally gives a Democratic majority of fifteen hundred votes, while as a Republican he re- ceived a majority of twelve hundred votes at the time of his first election. He was a township clerk for two years and for years held the office of justice of the peace. His first election to the office of county treasurer occurred in 1901 and he was re-elected. He gave a most able and discriminating administration of the fiscal affairs of the county and thus marked himself for higher political honors. He is the only Republican ever elected treasurer of Seneca county. In November. 1908. Mr. Ash was elected to repre- sent the county in the lower house of the state legislature, in which he served one term and made an admirable record for faithful
894
HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY
work in behalf of good government and wise legislation. He is identified with Fostoria Lodge. No. 305. Independent Order of Odd Fellows; Kansas Lodge. No. 183, Knights of Pythias; and Kansas Tent, No. 288, Knights of the Maccabees, the two last named lodges being located in the village of Kansas, this county. Both he and his wife hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church at Amsden and he is chairman of its board of trustees.
On the 25th of March. 1883, Mr. Ash was united in marriage to Miss Belle F. Foster, who was born in Jackson township. this county. and who was the daughter of Sampson and Margaret (Stahl) Foster. Her father was an influential farmer of this county. Mr. and Mrs. Ash became the parents of five children. two of whom. William and Rebeccah, died in infancy; Earl F .. who was born on the 19th of April, 1886. is now associated with his father in the farming and grain business ; Herbert F., who was born in October. 1888, was graduated in the Tiffin high school and in 1910 was graduated at Heidelberg College. in the same village ; Carmen, is a student in the Bristol school. at Washington. District of Columbia, and is a young woman of most gracious personality. Mrs. Ash was summoned to the life eternal in 1907. Mr. Ash contracted a second marriage, being then united to Mrs. Jeanette C. Chamberlain, who was born in Crawford county, and whose father moved to Seneca county when she was a child.
ARTHUR M. HENNEY .- Residing with his parents on the old homestead farm in Thompson township which was the place of his birth, Mr. Henney is numbered among the popular young men of Seneca county. and in addition to being identified with the opera- tion of the farm he is also engaged in the manufacturing of the Morning Star acetelyn gas machines, of which he is the inventor and patentee.
Mr. Henney was born on the farm which is still his home and the date of his nativity was November 2. 1875. He is a son of Aaron and Anna (Gilbert) Henney. the former of whom was born in Center county, Pennsylvania. on the 15th of May, 1841. and the latter of whom was born in Seneca county. Ohio, on the 31st of July. 1851. a daughter of Perry and Barbara (Mowery) Gilbert. the latter of whom died when Mrs. Henney was a child of three years. Aaron Henney was about twelve years of age at the time of his parents removal from the old Keystone state to Ohio, and for the first three years the family home was in Huron county. In 1856 removal was made to Thompson township. Seneca county. where the paternal grandfather of the subject of this review pur- chased one hundred and forty-four acres of land. which he de- veloped into a productive farm. Aaron Henney continued to reside with his parents until the time of his marriage. when he removed to Sherman township. Huron county, where he was en- gaged in agricultural pursuits until 1860, when he returned to Seneca county and purchased his present fine farm of eighty-eight acres in Thompson township. He has made the best of improve- ments on this homestead, which has been his place of abode for a half century, and here he and his devoted wife are enjoying the
895
HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY
gracious prosperity which is the due reward of. former years of earnest toil and endeavor. With them reside their son Arthur M. and his wife, and the father is now living virtually retired from . active labor, though he still maintains a general supervision of his farm. He is a man who has ever commanded the unqualified con- fidence and esteem of the community in which he has so long main- tained his home. and he holds prestige as one of the representative agriculturists of the county. His political allegiance is given to the Democratic party and both he and his wife hold membership in the United Evangelical church at Flat Rock. The only other surviving child of Aaron and Anna Henney is Myrtle, who is now the wife of Charles Mook. a prosperous farmer of Sandusky county. they have one child, Deloris.
Arthur M. Henney was reared to adult age on the home farm and early began to contribute his quota to its work, the while he duly availed himself of the advantages afforded in the public schools. He has continued to be associated in the management of the farm during the intervening years, and remains with his wife in the old homestead which was the place of his birth. He has taken a loyal interest in all that has touched the welfare of his native county and while he has never been ambitious for public office he accords a stanch support to the principles and policies for which the Democratic party stands sponsor.
On the 2nd of December. 1903, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Henney to Miss Jennie Bennehoff, who was born in Thomp- son township, this county. on the 26th of February, 1882, and who is a daughter of William F. and Barbara (Royer) Bennehoff, the former of whom was born in Lehigh county. Pennsylvania. and the latter at Fireside. Seneca county. Ohio. Mrs. Bennehoff was a daughter of Samuel and Mary (Bunn) Rover and a sister of Judge John C. Rover, of Tiffin, who is one of the representative legists and jurists of Seneca county and who has served as a mem- ber of the state senate. The original progenitors of the Rover family in America came to the new world on the historic ship "Mayflower," on the occasion of its first voyage to America. Samuel Royer was a son of John and Mary M. (Romig) Rover. both of whom were born in Snyder county. Pennsylvania. whence they came to Ohio and took up their residence in Wayne county about the year 1820. In 1829 they came to Seneca county and Mr. Rover here purchased a tract of heavily timbered land in Thomp- son township, where he eventually reclaimed a good farm. upon which both he and his wife passed the residue of their lives. The family was one of the first three to make permanent location in Thompson township. and the name has been closely identified with the social and material development and progress of Seneca county. where many of its representatives still remain. John Rover was eighty-seven years of age at the time of his death. and his wife pre- ceded him to eternal rest by a number of years. The Romig family likewise was numbered among the very early settlers of Thompson township.
Samuel Rover was four years of age at the time of the family removal to Seneca county, where he received such educational
896
HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY
advantages as were afforded in the pioneer schools and where he did his part in the arduous work of reclaiming the home farm. He continued to be identified with the great basic art of agricul- ture until his death. at the age of fifty-nine years. He and his . wife were devoted members of the Reformed church and Mrs. Rover, long surviving her husband. is passing the closing years of her life in the home of her son, Hon. John C. Rover. of Tiffin. Samuel and Mary Ann (Bunn) Rover became the parents of fifteen children, and it is worthy of note in this connection that Mrs. Rover and her two sisters had a total of forty-three children.
William F. Bennehoff was born August 20, 1842, and died April 8. 1867 : his wife was born January 18. 1856, and her death occurred January 12. 1898. William F. Bennehoff was a son of Solomon and Anna (Raicler) Bennehoff who were natives of Penn- sylvania, whence they came to Ohio and established their home in Seneca county in 1843. Mr. and Mrs. Henney have two children. Thelma M., who was born April 29. 1906, and Naoma E., who was born August 16, 1908.
Mr. Henney is a man of much inventive genius and among the practical devices originated and patented by him is a machine for the generation of acetelyn gas. This is a recognized improve- ment over all other machines devised for this purpose. and which constitute the nucleus of admirable lighting plants for residences, business establishments, etc. He is broad minded and progressive in his civic attitude and while never a seeker of public office he is found arraved as a stalwart supporter of the principles and policies for which the Democratic party stands sponsor.
MAHLON A. THOMAS .- The spirit of enterprise and progres- siveness that has been so potent in the development and upbuilding of Senera county finds strong exemplification in the career of this business man of Fostoria. and his standing in the community is such as to well entitle him to consideration in this publication. He is prominently identified with the various lines of industrial and business enterprise and as an owner and dealer in real estate he has done much to further the material upbuilding of his home city.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.