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 48
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hood. About this time his parents, who had earned the respect and consideration of the community, passed on to their reward. Left upon his own resources Mr. Rosen was a little perplexed as to a choice of life work and he finally concluded to try the car- penter's trade. While engaged in learning its preliminary de- tails he decided that he was not fitted for this vocation and not being one of those timid souls fearful of making a change and try- ing a hazard of new fortunes, he pulled up stakes and started west. The next twelve years were full of change and adventure and Mr. Rosen can assuredly not be counted one of those poor Americans who, although situated so that they can travel, yet have never seen their own country. In the dozen years of this period of change and travel he traversed twenty-five states and territories, which was in itself a liberal education. If there be truth in the Shakes- pearean adage "Home keeping youth have ever homely wits," Mr. Rosen need never have been in any fear of its application.
In 1882 Mr. Rosen concluded that he had had enough of wandering for a time and came to Fostoria. It was here that he met and married Miss Syvilla E. Rinebold, daughter of Abraham and Barabra (Peters) Rinebold, of Loudon township. Mr. Rosen considers this to have been one of the most judicious and satisfac- tory steps in his career. Their union has been blessed by the birth of the following children : Barbara, Emma, Lena. Anna P., Nellie, Abraham and Lola. Barbara married Oliver Hunker, a farmer of Liberty township; Anna P. married Ora Raney, a farmer of London township; Nellie married Huber Welsh, of Hancock county, an employe of Uncle Sam; Emma and Lena died when children ; Abraham and Lola still reside with their parents.
With his faithful helpmeet Mr. Rosen removed to the banks of Wolf Creek, on land entered at Upper Sandusky in 1835, and the parchment grant bears the name of Andrew Jackson, then president of the United States. The desirable tract owned by Mr. Rosen consists of eighty acres in section 3, of high and constantly increasing value. He engages in general agriculture with the most excellent results and is well known throughout the neighborhood.
Mr. Rosen is a man who has always stood for the betterment of affairs in his community and among his good deeds may be numbered the fact that he is one of the first promoters of good roads, and was prominent among the petitioners for the first rural mail delivery. He is a wide reader, not only of those journals having a bearing upon the great basic industry of agriculture, but those of a general nature, and he is a subscriber to seven different publications. Added to this is the fact that he is a writer of no small ability and is a frequent contributor to local as well as agricultural papers. He is a member of the Zion. Lutheran church of Jackson township and is strictly temperate in his convictions. Mr. Rosen, in short, is a man who is widely and favorably known and enjoys that consideration which invariably comes to a man who is ever honorable, charitable and just, being best liked where best known.
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EPHRAIM RINEBOLD, one of the prominent men of Seneca coun- ty, was born in Loudon township, on the farm now owned by him, January 15, 1869. His father, Abraham Rinebold, and his grand- father, John Rinebold, were pioneers in Loudon township, the latter a native Pennsylvanian. The family is German, and the descendants possess those excellent traits which make the Germans the most desired of emigrants to American shores. John Rine- bold upon coming to Ohio located for a time in Perry county, and it was there that the subject's father first saw the light of day. The land entered by the grandfather, about the year 1830, has ever since been in the family, Mr. Rinebold's highly developed two hundred acres, in sections 2 and 3. and lying three and one-half miles east of Fostoria, being part of the original tract.
Barbara Peter, mother of Mr. Rinebold, was born in Germany ' and came to the United States with her parents in about the year 1840. They located in Loudon township and there spent the residue of their lives. The father, Abraham Peter, was a soldier in the Napoleonic wars. The father of the subject was twice married, his first wife having been Elizabeth Fruth and the union being blessed by the birth of two children, Rebecca and John, the latter a resident of Loudon township, where he is engaged in farm- ing. To the second marriage with Barbara Peter the following children were born: Catherine. Levi. Henry (deceased), Syvillia E .. Abraham P., Mary L. (deceased), Anna E. (deceased) and Ephraim. The father, Abraham Rinebold, passed from this life on the 22nd of August, 1909, and the mother is still living, at the ripe old age of eighty-two years.
Mr. Rinebold obtained his education in the district schools and remained under the parental roof-tree until he reached the age of twenty-one years, when he married and established a house- hold of his own. He is now the owner of two hundred acres, which in this favored section means much and he engages success- fully in general farming and stock raising. He takes a wholesome amount of interest in politics and gives enthusiastic allegiance to the Democratic party. IIe has been twice elected assessor, in the years 1896 and 1897. and he has been twice elected trustee, at the present time serving in that capacity.
Mr. Rinebold's marriage took place on the 23rd day of Jan- uary, 1890, the lady to become his wife being Miss Bertha Kisabeth, daughter of Henry and Isabel (Henry) Kisabeth. They have one daughter. Jessie P .. born April 28, 1894, who attends the public schools. The Rinebold family are affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran church, to which they give ample sympathy and support.
MRS. MARGARET REISS, widow of Henry Reiss, who owns and operates a valuable eighty acre farm. three miles southeast of Fostoria, is one of the widely known and influential women of Seneca county. She is the daughter of Thomas and Margaret O'Brien, and although Irish in extraction, the family having been founded in America in 1835, by the father of our subject, she is a native of Chester county, Pennsylvania, her birth having oc- curred there April 25, 1847. When only three years of age she
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came with her parents to Seneca county, the journey being made by stage. Her parents secured land in Loudon township, became prominent in the life of the community and here passed their days until their demise. Mrs. Reiss is one of seven children, the mem- bers of the family being: James. Thomas, Terence, all deceased ; Ellen, Mary, Margaret and Catherine.
Mrs. Reiss was reared upon the farm and received her educa- tion in the district schools. She was married in October. 1868. to Perry J. Ramsewr. by occupation a blacksmith, living in Fostoria. The death of this well known citizen of Seneca county, who was a veteran of the Civil war, occurred in 1884. There was no issue to this union. Mrs. Reiss' second marriage was contracted with the Rev. Thomas Parker, a clergyman of the Congregational church and an Englishman by nationality. Mr. Parker died two and one half years later. Her union with Henry Reiss, a prominent agri- culturist of Seneca county, took place in Tiffin, Ohio. May 3, 1900, and they lived throughout their married life on Mr. Reiss' estate in section 20, Loudon township. He had been married previously to Miss Anna Hammer, and had three children : Henry D., born September 30. 1893; Emma C., born January 30, 1895; and Carl J., born June 7. 1896. Mrs. Reiss has reared these children, and now since the death of the father, October 30, 1905, with the assistance of the sons manages the farm. Mrs. Reiss is a woman of strong character and much executive ability and is favorably known throughout this section. She is a member and liberal supporter of St. John's Evangelical church of Loudon town- ship, known as the Cramer church. Mr. Reiss having also been a member and liberal supporter of the same.
CHARLES W. CRAMER was born. reared and lived until recently on the same homestead. but during the first of the present year he and his wife moved to a new home in Fostoria. where they are liv- ing a retired life. His parents were Henry and Mary (Richards) Cramer. Henry Cramer was born in York county, Pennsylvania, in 1808, and came to Loudon township in 1826. when he was about eighteen years old. There he lived for sixty-three years. until 1889. when he removed to Fostoria, where he died March 4, 1907. Mary Richards was born in Clinton township, Seneca county, in 1818, and died in 1904. This worthy couple were farmers in the pioneer days, through the years of development, and in later days, when farming in Seneca county had become quite another thing than the farming they had known in their youth. They were the parents of eight children, five of whom are living in 1910. One of these, Charles W. Cramer was born at the old family homestead on the MeCutcheonville road in Loudon township, three miles and a half from Fostoria. September 3, 1854. He was brought up to a complete knowledge of farming in all its details and gained a fair common school education, to which he has added by studious read- ing and observation throughout his career to the present time. He married Miss Alice Shaffner in 1882. She is a native of Bloomville. Seneca county, and was born April 27, 1856. After their marriage they took up their residence on rented land, which
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Mr. Cramer farmed quite successfully. In 1889 he bought a farm of seventy-five acres in section 21, Loudon township, which he has improved until it is one of the best and most productive in that neighborhood.
To Charles W. and Alice (Shaffner) Cramer have been born four children, named as follows in the order of their nativity : Ray, born October 26, 1883; Leroy, December 19, 1885; Maud, October 8, 1888; Nellie, December 16, 1890. Ray and Leroy are married. Mr. Cramer and his family are communicants and he is a member of the official board of the Methodist Episcopal church of Fostoria. He is also included in the Brotherhood Sunday school class of that city. Though he is a stanch Republi- can of no little influence he has never taken an active interest in politics. His sturdy traits of character are recognized and respected by his fellow citizens of all classes.
ALVIN D. LENNER .- One of the most prominent and pros- perous of the citizens of Big Spring township, as indeed of Seneca county, is Alvin D. Lenner, who owns a splendid tract of three hundred and twenty acres, all lying compaetly situated in Big Spring township. He constitutes in himself a shining example of the self made man, for he started with nothing and has achieved his present substantial position by the exercise of good manage- ment, thrift and industry, coupled with good principles and the ability to inspire confidence. Going back two generations to his grandfather we find Mr. Lenner to be of German origin and lie partakes in high degree of those traits which make the German one of the most welcome of emigrants to the "Land of the free and the home of the brave."
Alvin D. Lenner is a native of Big Spring township, born here July 7, 1860, his parents being Daniel and Frances (Ribbley) Lenner. The father was born in Ashland county, Ohio, and his father, Christian Lenner, as before mentioned. was a German, his birth having occurred in the town of Swybrick in about the year 1800. He and his good wife, Mary (Sprow) Lenner, a native of. the same place as her husband, severed previous associations and sailed across the Atlantic for America sometime about the year 1837. First locating in Ashland county, they remained there only about a year, the father of the subject being born within that period. In 1838 they located in section 27, Big Spring township. upon the farm upon which Jay Lenner now makes his residence. Here the grandfather spent the remainder of his life, his demise taking place after he had attained to the venerable age of ninety- one years. He was the father of five children, the members of the family other than Daniel Lenner, the father of the subject being : Catherine, Elizabeth, Jacob and Christian, all deceased but Daniel and Catherine.
An infant when he came to . Big Spring township, Daniel Lenner here grew to manhood. adopted the vocation of farming, married, and reared a family of eight children, seven of whom are living at the present time (1910). The names of his children are : Alvin D., Mary, Rollin W., Jay, Susan, Cora and Alma. Mr.
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RESIDENCE OF A. D. LENNER
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and Mrs. Daniel Lenner are respected citizens of Big Spring town- ship. £ The latter, whose maiden name was Francis Ribbley, was the daughter of John and Mary Ribbley. £ The parents were born in 1803. in Alsace Lorraine, and were married before coming from the old country. First locating in Sandusky county, Ohio. they subsequently came on to Wyandot county, and then to the adjoin- ing county of Seneca. residing in Big Spring township the residue ·f their lives. the father dying in 1894.
Alvin D. Lenner was reared upon the old family homestead of the Lenners and attended the district schools until somewhere near his eighteenth birthday. He then entered upon an active career as an agriculturist, and remained beneath the home roof until he was about thirty, when he married and removed to his own property. This large finely situated tract. is in a high state of improvement and is adorned with some excellent buildings, the residence being thoroughly modern in its appointments, the only one of this nature in the township, in fact. In addition to general farming stock raising is carried on.
The marriage of Mr. Lenner occurred in Big Spring township. on the 15th day of April, 1891. the lady to become his wife being Miss Elizabeth Herbert. of Big Spring township. She was born in Loudon township in 1860. the daughter of Jacob and Adeline (Slemmer) Herbert. and received her education in the common schools. Five children have been born to them. the following four of whom are living: Francis, born in 1892: Helen. born in 1894; Gladys, born in 1895; and Herbert, born April 4. 1898.
In the question of politics Mr. Lenner pays fealty to the Republican party, and although interested in current events, is not an officer seeker. He is a quiet, unassuming, modest man and stands well among his associates.
JOHN H. ZELLER is a son of Isaac and Catharine (Sponseller ) Zeller and was born in Stark county, Ohio. April 24. 1856. His father was a native of Lebanon. Ohio, and his mother first saw the light of day in Stark county. When John II. was about a year old his parents moved to Loudon township. Seneca county. where they spent the remainder of their lives. There the son was reared to farm work in all its details as it was handled throughout the country at that time. In good district schools nearby his home. which he attended until he was about eighteen years old, he was well grounded in practical education. Not long after he left school he went into business for himself as a thresher and later he operated a sawmill. In both of these enterprises he was satis- factorily successful. It may be said that in a way threshing has been his leading interest through life. Though he now owns two fine farms aggregating one hundred and sixty acres, he does not devote himself primarily to farming but gives his attention parti- cularly to threshing. It may be a surprise to many who know him to learn here that this veteran thresherman has "run with a threshing machine" about thirty-five years.
In 1879 Mr. Zeller married Miss Alice Hartsock, who died January 10, 1908, and is deeply mourned by her husband and three
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sons. as an exemplary wife and mother whose place in the house- hold and in the community it would be well nigh impossible to fill. Mr. Zeller is a live. up-to-date man. as is evidenced by the fact that he was one of the first in his neighborhood to purchase an automobile. As a Democrat he has taken considerable interest in general and local politics. Hle served his township faithfully as one of its trustees and has filled other official positions. He is a member of the Reformed church, is a past noble grand of Fostoria Lodge. No. 305, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is identi- fied with the A. I. U .. a fraternal insurance order.
FRANK Y. KNOWLTON .- Among the representative citizens of Seneca county must assuredly be numbered Frank Y. Knowlton. who was born in Big Spring township May 7. 1860. and has spent nearly all of his life here. at present owning and operating some one hundred and two desirable acres in his native township. H is the son of Austin and Sarah (Henderson) Knowlton. The father was a native of the state of Massachusetts, but about the year 1822 came on to the Buckeye state and located at the town of Tymochtee, Wyandot county. subsequently coming across the coun- ty line to Big Spring township. when he was about twenty-one years of age. He entered eighty acres of land and there estab- lished a home. taking for his wife Louisa McKinsey and becoming the father of four children. all sons. After the death of his first wife he married again, the second wife being Mrs. Josiah Swigart. danghter of Mr. and Mrs. Henderson, and the subject is a child of this union. A brother Richard resides in Michigan and Lucy and Mary, both unmarried. reside in Big Spring township on the old homestead. The father died in 1902. at the venerable age of ninety three years, and his wife died in 1886.
Frank Y. Knowlton was reared upon the farm of his father and under the excellent guidance of that gentleman gained a good - insight into many of the secrets of successful agriculture. He secured his early educational discipline in the district schools and remained beneath the home roof until his marriage. By the exercise of previous industry and thrift he found himself in a posi- tion to become the possessor of a farm of his own, this being located in section 35. Big Spring township. one mile north and three miles west of the Range. TTe is of that progressive type of agriculturist who has no disinclination to adopt the newest ideas. and prosperity has attended his endeavors.
On the 31st day of March. 1887. Mr. Knowlton laid the founda- 'tion of a happy home and congenial life companionship by his mar- riage with Jane Johnson, a native of Adrian. Big Spring township. and educated in the district schools. Her parents are William and Nancy (Cline) Johnson, natives of Ohio. the family coming from Pennsylvania originally. The fruit of this union is an only son, William A., born September 1. 1888, and educated in the dis- triet schools. He has chosen farming for his life work.
Mr. Knowlton takes no small amount of pleasure and recrea- tion in his affiliation with Adrian Lodge .. No. 494, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which organization he is a past noble
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grand. He is a stanch Republican. endorsing with his sympathy and suffrage the men and measures advanced by that party. and he is a member of the board of the Adrian Special District School.
PROFESSOR LEWIS M. RIDENOUR .- It is given to few citizens to play as useful and varied a part in the life of any community as does Professor Lewis M. Ridenour in that of the town of New Reigel and Big Spring township, Seneca county. Since 1903 he has filled with signal efficiency the position of principal of the New Reigel schools and since 1904 he has been township assessor. while in addition to this he has served the community as justice of the peace and notary public. Professor Ridenour is bound to this locality by peculiarly strong ties. for it was here that he was born. March 31, 1873, and here that he has spent the greater part of his life. His parents were John and Lydia ( Hickey) Ridenour. the father a native of Seneca county. Ohio, and the mother of Chester county. Pennsylvania. the former born in the year 1833. and the latter. in 1839. The subject was the sixth of order of birth in a family of eight children. the members of the family being: Elleu, William, Idlla. Frank, Clara. Lewis, Lillian and Charles.
When Professor Ridenour was a lad about seven years of age
he removed with his parents to Loudon township. He secured the educational advantages of the district and parochial schools and exhibited marked efficiency as a student. At the early age of twenty-one years he had the distinction to be elected assessor of Loudon township and served two terms. Shortly thereafter he took up the vocation of teaching. beginning upon this career in 1895 and since 1903 he has been at the head of the school in the capacity of principal. his services having been of a thorough.and satisfactory character. He again holds the position of assessor. this time of Big Spring township. his tenure of office dating from 1904 and his incumbency of the office of justice of the peace is of seven years duration. Politically Professor Ridenour is a Demo- crat, giving unfaltering support to the men and measures advanced by that party.
On the 3rd day of October, 1901. Professor Ridenour laid the . foundation of a happy married life by his union with Miss Catha- rine Dell. of Big Spring township. She is the daughter of Nicholas and Elizabeth (Woolenschnider) Dell and the third in order of birth in a family of seven children. the members of the family being: Frank. Susan. Catharine. John. Mary. Peter and Joseph. To them have been born six children, whose names are: Marie. Ernestine. Donald, Holland. John and Ruth. The family are members of St. Boniface Catholic church and give their sympathy and support to its various good causes. Professor Ridenour owns the attractive property upon which he resides.
ARTHUR A. CUNNINGHAM .- Honored and respected in every class of society, Arthur A. Cunningham has for some time been a leader in thought and action in the business world of Seneca county and his name is inscribed high on the roll of its foremost citizens, his honorable career adding luster to the history of the
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state. Faithfulness to duty and strict adherence to a fixed put pose in life will do more to advance a man's interests than wealth or adventitions circumstances. The successful men of the day art they who have planned their own advancement and have accon plished it in spite of many obstacles and with a certainty that could have been attained only through their own efforts. This class of men have a worthy representative in Arthur A. Cunning- ham, who has long resided at Tiffin. where his business interests are of gigantie proportions.
A native son and scion of one of the pioneer families of Seneca county, Mr. Cunningham was born at Tiffin. the date of his nativity being the 26th of January, 1857. His father, George W. Cunning- ham, was born near Bunker Hill, Virginia, in the valley made famous by Sheridan's immortal ride, on the 23rd of June. 1823. As a youth George W. Cunningham learned the miller's trade and like many other ambitious young men he looked to the west as the best place in which to make his fortune. Accordingly, in 1843. he came to Ohio. locating at Tiffin. where. after a few changes in his business connections, he built the Clifton Mill. which he con- tinned to operate from 1859 until just a few years prior to his death, which occurred on the 18th of May. 1893. He was probably the best known man in Seneca county. both as a business man and as a citizen. although he did not participate actively in public affairs. He was decidedly public spirited and contributed in generous measure to all projects advanced for the good of the general welfare. In 1855 was solemnized his marriage to Miss Mary Keller, who was born and reared in Seneca county. and they became the parents of four children, concerning whom the follow- ing brief data are here incorporated : Arthur A., is the immediate subject of this review: Ella is the widow of E. B. Myers, who was summoned to the life eternal in 1910; Frank, whose birth occurred in 1862 is now in business in the city of Chicago, Illinois; and Courtney. born in March. 1864. who is associated with the subject of this sketch in business. The dearly beloved mother passed into the Great Beyond on the 8th of May, 1911, at the venerable age of eighty-two years.
Arthur A. Cunningham was reared to adult age at Tiffin. to the public schools of which place he is indebted for his preliminary educational training, having been graduated in the local high school as a member of the class of 1873. After leaving school he entered the flouring mill of his father, where he continued to be employed for a period of four years, at the expiration of which. in 1878. he formed a partnership with Colonel S. H. Hunt. of Upper Sandusky. to engage in the grain business at Tiffin. The above alliance continued for four years and in 1882 Mr. Cunning- ham purchased his partner's interest and continued to conduet the business individually until 1890. in which year he admitted to partnership Ralph D. Sneath, of Tiffin, the firm becoming that of Sneath & Company and so continuing until 1905. In the latter year the business was incorporated under the laws of the state of Ohio, and under the name of the Sneath-Cunningham Company. Of this concern Mr. Cunningham is president ; Ralph D. Sneath,
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