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 6
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has been aligned since the time of attaining to his legal majority. He has had no predilection for public office and has served in none except that of member of the city council, of which he was presi- dent during one year of his two year term. He has been unflagg- ing to the work of his profession and has been retained in con- nection with a large amount of important litigation in both state and federal courts. The firm of which he is a member has served as legal attorneys for the Cleveland, Cincinnati Chicago & St. Louis Railroad since 1890 and for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad since 1895. Mr. Weller is a stockholder and director of the National Machinery Company. of Tiffin, and is counsel for the same. He is the owner of considerable amount of valuable real estate in his home city, is a stockholder in the local telephone com- pany and is also the owner of National Bank stock. He is afti- liated with Tiffin Lodge, No. 77. Free and Accepted Masons, of which he has been a member since 1878, and in 1877 he became a member of Tiffin Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. of which he is past noble grand but from which he secured a with- drawal card in 1895.
On the 30th of December. 1884. was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Weller to Miss Julia M. Paynter, a daughter of Martin S. and Sarah L. Paynter, the father a native of Maryland and the mother of Pennsylvania. They came to Ohio in the pioneer days. here passing the remainder of their lives. Mr. and Mrs. Weller have no children. They have maintained their home at 216 South Washington street since the time of their marriage and Mrs. Weller has been a popular figure in connection with the best social activities of the community.
DR. HOWARD K. SHUMAKER is one of the well known and greatly respected citizens of Seneca county. A former medical missionary whose ministrations to submerged humanity took him to the Orient, he has been restored to his native county for the reason that his health could not withstand the rigors of the foreign climate, and his gifts are now being devoted to the upbuilding of the Orphans' Home of Flat Rock. Always inclined to philan- thropy, he finds his present field most congenial and his services to the above mentioned institution are of the highest possible character.
Dr. Shumaker was born August 26, 1871. the son of Reverend Joseph B. and Susan (Keller) Shumaker. the father a native of this state and. the mother of Pennsylvania. The education of both of these worthy people was finished in Heidelberg College in Tiffin. After entering the ministry of the German Reformed church, the father began his labors as a clergyman in Ohio. and later moved to Laneaster. Pennsylvania, where for fourteen years he filled the pastorate of St. Paul's Reformed church. The parents of the subject were married in 1869. and three children were born to them, the other members of the family being Claude H. Shumaker, Paynesville, Ohio, and Miss Anna M. Shumaker, Bellevue, Ohio.
Dr. Shumaker resided with his parents until 1894, in which
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year he inaugurated his career as a practicing physician. Having graduated from Heidelberg College in 1891, with the degree of A. B., he entered Starling Medical College in Columbus, Ohio, and completed his course in this well known institution of the capital city in 1894, after which he took post graduate work in the Chicago Post Graduate Medical College of Chicago. IIe hung up his shingle in that year at Old Fort, Ohio. and after three years of practice he went to Canton, China, as a medical missionary for the United Brethren church. Ile gave his best abilities in faith- ful service to the cause for the space of six years and a half. At the end of that time the climate and nervous strain incident to the Boxer uprising and Kumg Si famine had undermined his constitu- tion and necessitated his return. Upon his return to Ohio he took up his residence at Flat Rock as a physician, and some what later the affairs of the Orphans' Home engaged his attention and proved work to which he could give all his energy and enthusiasm. This engages his attention almost to the exclusion of general practice, particularly as he also engages in the instruction of the minds of the young citizens who have been bereft of natural protectors, as well as attending to their bodily ailments.
'On the 25th day of January, 1902, Dr. Shumaker was united in marriage to Miss Austia Patterson, an instructor in the Ho Nam School for Girls at Canton, China, these two young people hav- ing been brought together through their missionary work.
Dr. Shumaker's maternal ancestors. the Kellers, are extremely well known and prominent in their part of Ohio. His grand- father, Judge John H. Keller, of Bucyrus, was born in the year 1786, in Northampton county, Pennsylvania, and served as judge of the common pleas court and for years was brigade inspector of state militia. Six uncles of the subject served during the war of the rebellion, one of them, Aaron Keller, being captain of Com- pany C, Forty-ninth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and it is for this valiant soldier that Keller Post of Bucyrus, Ohio, is named. Amos Keller was First Lieutenant in the same Company, and both gave up their lives at the battle of Stone River. Thus on both sides of his family does Dr. Shumaker have reason to be proud of those who have preceded him.
DENNIS F. DERR, a well known citizen of Tiffin, Ohio, belongs to one of the early pioneer families of Seneca county, with which they became identified early in the last century. Ezra Derr, the father of Dennis F., was born in Frederick county, Maryland, in 1806, and in young manhood came to Ohio. . He came on horse- back and remained during that winter. On his return he informed his father that he was going to come here to live, and the entire family then also came to Ohio, their settlement being in Seneca county, where he was reared and married. His wife, Rosanna (Cramer) Derr, like himself was a native of Frederick county, Maryland, and was brought by her parents when a child to Seneca county. After their marriage they settled in Clinton township, where he cleared and improved a farm, and where they passed the rest of their lives and died. At the time of his death he was the
MR. AND MRS. WADE H. RULE
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owner of three hundred and twenty acres of land northeast of Tiffin. In their family were four sons and three daughters, of whom at this writing. 1910. three are living: John, William and Dennis F., all residents of Seneca county.
Dennis F. Derr was born on his father's farm, above referred to, May 17. 1836, and was reared and educated in his native town- ship. receiving his education in the common schools near his home. He remained a member of the home circle until he was twenty- seven, when he married. Farming has been his life occupation. He owns two farms, comprising one hundred and fifty-two acres, both in Seneca county, and personally still superintends their operation but makes his home in Tiffin, at 61 Clay street.
In 1863 Mr. Derr married Miss Mary Dudrow, who had come to Tiffin. Ohio, with her parents in 1846 and settled on a farm near the town. The Dudrows were also natives of Frederick county, Maryland, where Mrs. Derr was born December 23. 1839. Three children are the fruits of this union : Charles E .. attorney at law, Tiffin. Anna, wife of Samuel Horn, and Mary, wife of Charles Weller.
When Civil war was inaugurated Mr. Derr was among the first to show his patriotic loyalty to the Union by enlisting his service to help put down the rebellion. and went out as a member of Company A. Eighth Ohio Regiment. with which he remained one hundred days. At the end of that time he was sent home on account of sickness. As soon as he had sufficiently recovered. however. he again joined the ranks. and in 1862 went to the front with the Eighty-sixth Ohio. But after four months more of army life he was again overtaken by illness and was discharged on ac- count of disability.
While Mr. Derr has never been a public man or aspired to public office he has maintained a firm faith in the Republican party and has always given it his vote and his best support. He is a member of Sandusky Lodge, No. 77. F. and A. M., and he and his family are identified with the First Reformed church of Tiffin.
WADE H. RULE .-- The name of Rule is one which is widely and favorably known in this section of Ohio, and one of the most prominent and promising of those who bear it at the present day is Wade H. Rule, who is engaged in the flour. feed and coal busi- ness in Greenspring and whose unusual executive gifts have made this one of the most important business interests in this section of the county. Mr. Rule enjoying an exceptionally large trade. He has made rapid progress for his years and has succeeded in estab- lishing himself substantially when under twenty-five, for his birth occurred May 2. 1886. in the present scene of his activities. His parents were Sidney and Anna (Me Henry) Rule. The father was born March 22. 1861. the son of Jefferson and Eliza (Patter- son) Rule, their ancestors being natives respectively of the empire state and of Ohio. The grandparents on the Rule side were both born in the year 1820. In the year 1844 they located upon land in Adams township. Seneca county. and here their children were born and reared and the elders remained throughout the residue
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of their lives, the mother passing on to her reward in 1879 and the father in 1902. Although not one of the first to set about reclaim- ing Ohio from the wilderness. the founder of the family in the state cleared his farm from timber and improved it in an excep- tionally fine manner, among other things building a commodious brick house.
They reared a family of typical pioneer size, for there were twelve children, and seven of them are living at the present day. Jennie, the eldest, married Anthony Von Scoter, of St. John's Michigan ; Lucy A. became the wife of Edward Sherman of the same place; Adda E became the wife of Charles E. Coffman. of Tiffin ; Albert J., born June 30, 1859. married Della D. Hoeltzel ; Sidney P., resides upon the old family homestead of the Rules ; Della V .. is the wife of J. J. Henneger and resides on a farm not far distant from Morris. The head of the family was public spirited and a man who studied the issues of the day. He voted the Democratic ticket and gave his support to all those causes likely to result in the attainment of the greatest amount of good to the greatest number.
Sidney Rule, father of him whose name initiates this review. was educated in the district schools adjacent to his home. became well grounded in the agricultural science, and resided at home until his marriage. The lady to become his wife was Anna D. MeHenry, who was born March 19. 1864. her parents being John and Anna D. MeHenry, native Ohioans. who located in Adams township. After the death of the father his widow lived at Tiffin, Ohio, and she remained with Mrs. Rule until her marriage.
October 10. 1883. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Rule have been born five children, four sons and a daughter, as follows: Wade H., born May 2, 1886; Cletus B., born February 22. 1889. married Meda Parker. JJune 16. 1910. and is the owner and culti- vator of his own farm ; Floyd W., born May 8. 1895. now attending school at Greenspring. after having victoriously passed the Box- well examinations at the age of thirteen years: John M., born March 18, 1898. and living at home : and Helen L .. born November 18. 1905. In the matter of politics Sidney Rule is favorably in- clined toward the policies and principles promulgated by the Democratic party. but he is not one of those who fear to sacrifice their partisanship to a good cause. He purchased his present farm of two hundred and fifty-five acres of the fertile surface of Seneca county with his own earnings and he is one of the pro- gressive agriculturists.
Wade H. Rule spent his boyhood and youth upon his father's farm, and like his brothers assisted in its cultivation, so that although he is enrolled in the ranks of commerce. still he is not unlearned in the calling of which so many of his relatives have been exponents. He received his preliminary education in the schools of Adams township and afterward matriculated in Heidel- berg College at Tiffin. for the space of several terms taking ad- vantage of the excellent educational opportunities afforded by that institution. In the year 1909 Mr. Rule established himself inde- pendently in the world of affairs in Greenspring, purchasing
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the business conducted by J. L. Stoner (deceased) for twenty-three years previously. His line is flour. feed and coal and he furnishes these necessary commodities to a great number of people. He is one of those whose social side is not undeveloped and he finds pleasure and profit in his lodge relations, which extend to the great Masonic Order. the Knights of Pythias and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in the latter of which he is at present vice grand. He holds the office of secretary in the business association for the encouragement of commerce in Greenspring and the sur- rounding country. and is also a member of the corporation council. Mr. Rule is a stanch Republican
On the 10th day of June. 1906. the subject was united in marriage to Miss Dorothy King. of Greenspring, Ohio. she being a daughter of George and Flora (Kunan) King. natives of Ohio. Mrs. Rule was born in the year 1884 and was educated in the public schools. Their union has been blessed by the birth of one child, a daughter named Florence, born May 22. 1909.
HERBERT S. FRY .- One of Pleasant township's enterprising and successful young citizens is Herbert S. Fry, a man of versatile ability, formerly engaged in the hardware business, then an agri- culturist and now a prosperous manufacturer of that labor-saving device, the corn husking peg. This is winning wide distinction and is greatly esteemed by the agriculturists. Mr. Fry is a native son, his birth having occurred April 1. 1877. his parents being Orvin J. and Melissa (Decker) Fry. the father a native of this township and the mother of Bellville. Sandusky county. Ohio. In the veins of the subject there flows the blood of the plucky Hollander, which has proved its virtues to be among the most excellent of all the nations. His grandfather Phillip Fry, was a native of the land of dykes. who at an early age bade farewell to old friends and familiar associations and came to America to claim his share of the wealth and opportunity so brightly painted by tradition. He arrived in troublous times. however, for it is said by his descendants that he came some time near the year 1812. The mother was a native Pennsylvanian. This worthy pioneer couple located on a farm consisting of three hundred and forty- five acres, and there they maintained their home, being people of influence and earnest members of the German Reformed church.
Nearly all of the people of Mr. Fry's mother were Pennsyl- vanians, who cast their fortunes with the newer state of Ohio at about the same time as the Frys. The elder Decker settled in this township and cultivated a farm consisting of about three hundred and twenty acres. The names are both well and favor- ably known in this section.
Mr. Fry remained beneath the home roof until the attain- ment of his twenty-second birthday. when he pulled up stakes and went to North Dakota to satisfy a desire to see new lands and try his fling at independence. He took a claim in that state and after he had proved up on the same. like most good Ohioans, he returned to the state of his birth, this being in 1904. Two years later he forsook the ranks of the young bachelors and became a benedict by
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his marriage to Miss Zula Share. who was born September 12. 1881, her parents being William and Dora (Brickman) Share. Both of them were natives of Pleasant township. being located near Fort Seneca. They have one child. a little son, named Ned Monroe, born December 10, 1909.
Mr. Fry gives stalwart support to the Democratic party and he has already seen public service. having been elected township clerk. He takes an intelligent view of the issues of the day and no doubt has a political as well as a business career before him. He and his wife are members of the Reformed church and his fraternal affiliations extend to the Knighted Order of Tented Maccabees. He received his higher education at Heidelberg, but left that institution of learning previous to completing his course.
As before suggested he has had a varied career for a man of his years. having been first engaged in the hardware business in Old Fort. He owns a farm in Bridgefield township, Huron coun- ty. Ohio. and also conducts the plant for the manufacture of the Standard Corn Husking Pegs at Old Fort.
FRED FETZER, proprietor of the Home Restaurant, No. 47 South Washington street. Tiffin, Ohio. is a native of the "Buckeye state.". He was born at Findlay. Hancock county, Ohio. March 23. 1879, and was reared and received his business training there At the age of twenty he began to learn the first principles of the restaurant business by starting out as a cook. He served several years in that capacity before engaging in business for himself. which he did in Findlay. and remained there until 1906. That year he came to Tiffin and opened a restaurant at 47 South Wash- ington street. which he named the Home Restaurant. So success- ful was he that the following year he was able to purchase a half interest in the building he occupied. and later he purchased the other half. He has made extensive improvements in the premises and has personally supervised every detail of the business. the result being that today he is the owner of " the best place to eat" in Tiffin.
Mr. Fetzer is a member of the K. of C .. and both he and his wife are identified with St. Joseph Catholic church. Mrs. Fetzer. formerly Miss Florence Gibson, is also a native of Findlay. Ohio.
GEORGE B. WORTMAN, D. D. S .- Possessing acknowledged skill and giving close attention to his professional duties. George B. Wortman. D. D. S .. is fast building up a large and lucrative practice in Tiffin. and although he has been here a comparatively brief time is already one of the leading representatives of the dental profession in this city. A native of Ohio. born at Cadiz. Harrison county, he is a son of J. D. Wortman, M. D., of Wheeling. West Virginia.
After his graduation from the Cadiz High School George B. Wortman completed the banking and bookkeeping course of study in Scio College. at Scio. Ohio, after which he attended Franklin College at New Athens. Ohio. Then. in order to fit himself for a position in his father's drug store. he continued his studies at
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the Pittsburg College of Pharmacy. Having. however. from youth up a predilection for a professional career. he subsequently entered the Ohio College of Dental Surgery in Cincinnati. and was there graduated in 1884, with the degree of D. D. S. Dr. Wort- man began the practice of his profession in Cadiz. his home town, remaining there nine or ten years. Keeping pace with the dis- eoveries and improvements made in dentistry from year to year. the doctor has taken post graduate courses both at Cincinnati and at Chicago, Illinois. From Cadiz he removed to Massillon. Ohio. where he built up a substantial business. Selling out on account of ill health. he spent a year recuperating. and having recovered his former physical vigor he came. August 1. 1909. to Tiffin. lovat- ing at No. 142 1-2 South Washington street. over Hayden's drug store, his present office, and has since been busily employed.
Dr. Wortman married Nancy Holliday, and they are the parents of three children. two sons and a daughter. The Doctor and Mrs. Wortman are members of the Presbyterian church. Poli- tically the Doctor is a sound Republican. He has gained high standing in the community as a citizen, and has also gained the esteem of a wide circle of friends and the respect of men of all classes with whom he has come in contact.
J. EDWARD NEWHOUSE .- It is most pleasing to the publishers of this compilation to incorporate within its pages a history of the career of J. Edward Newhouse, who is a native son of Seneca coun- ty, which has represented his home during practically his entire life thus far and who is a scion of a fine old German family. his paternal grandparents having emigrated to America about the year 1869.
Mr. Newhouse was born in Sciopo township. this county. on the 26th of January, 1879. and is a son of Fred and Mary A. (Miller) Newhouse. the former of whom was born in Germany in 1854. and the latter of whom is a native of Seneca county. Ohio. Fred Newhouse received his preliminary educational training in the excellent schools of his fatherland and he was a lad of fifteen years of age at the time of his parents emigration to America. The family first located in the city of Pittsburg. Pennsylvania. and here the father of the subject of this review obtained employment in a glass factory. Later he resolved to seek his fortunes further west and he journeyed to Ohio, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits in Seneca county. Here was solemnized his marriage to Miss Mary A. Miller, whose maternal grandfather was a gallant soldier in the Union ranks in the Civil war. Both Mr. and Mrs. Miller are living.
J. Edward Newhouse was reared to the sturdy discipline of the home farm, in whose work he early began to assist his father, and he has continued on as an agriculturist. He availed himself of the advantages afforded in the district schools and remained at the parental home until he had attained to his legal majority, at which time he hired out as a farm hand for a period of three years.
In politics Mr. Newhouse is aligned as a stalwart supporter of the principles and policies for which the Republican party stands Vol. II-4
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sponsor in matters of national import, but in local affairs he main- tains an independent attitude. giving his support to men and meas- ures meeting with the approval of his judgment. He is affiliated with various fraternal and social organizations of representative character and both he and his wife hold membership in the United Brethren church.
On the 29th of September. 1903, at Attica. Ohio, was soleni- nized the marriage of Mr. Newhouse to Miss Addie Rader. who is a native of Van Wert county. Ohio, and who is a daughter of J. F. and Kate Rader. representative citizens of that county, where the father is a retired farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Newhouse have two children, Gladys, who was born on the 16th of March, 1905; and Joel F., who was born September 24, 1908. Mr. and Mrs. New- house are prominent and popular figures in connection with the best social activities of the community and their attractive home is recognized as a center of gracious and generous hospitality:
R. T. SCHAAF .- Few citizens of years as few as those of R. T. Schaaf have been engaged in as many pursuits or have achieved as signal success in their permanent life work. One of the pro- gressive and honored young exponents of the great basic industry of agriculture, he has splendid prospects and is the owner of two hundred and ten acres of fine land situated near Attica, and is also engaged in the raising of fine cattle.
R. T. Schaaf was born in Attica. Ohio. on the first day of April, 1884. His father. Heury Schaaf, was born in Seneca coun- ty and, as the name indicates. the family is of German origin. The paternal grandparents. in fact. were natives of the German Empire and followed the example set by so many of their friends and neighbors, breaking old ties and crossing the seas to claim their share of American freedom and prosperity. Henry Schaaf mar- ried Caroline Lebold, who was born in Attica. Ohio. Both parents reside in Attica, where they are recognized as estimable people. and where their church membership is with the Evangelical Lutheran church. Besides him whose name initiates this article they have another son. Charles, who makes his home in Bryan. Ohio.
Mr. Schaaf received his education in the public schools of Attica, graduating from the high school in that place in 1900. His first adventure as a factor in the world of affairs was as a clerk in a drug store, which position he continued to hold for five years, his services being of marked ability. Upon leaving the drug store Mr. Schaaf made a radical change in business. purchas- ing a transfer line in Attica, which he operated for four years and a half. £ He sold out subsequently and engaged in farming. the most entire success having attended his efforts. In addition to general agriculture he deals extensively in stock. developing cattle of the Durham breed. ITis very desirable farming property is adorned by one of the prettiest homes in Reed township.
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