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 8
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ELMER E. PARKER .- The Parker family has been identified with the history of Pleasant township ever since the year 1826, when Ephriam and Sarah (More) Parker, parents of him whose name initiates this paragraph, came here with their parents, who were people of New Jersey on the paternal side and of Pennsyl- vania on the maternal. Elmer E. Parker is a native son not only of Seneca county but of Pleasant township, his birth having oo- curred here on March 17, 1685. on the farm on which he now resides on the Sandusky river. known as the Saddle Back farm, on which his grandparents had located a good many years before. When
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his grandparents, Henry and Charlotte Parker, of New Jersey, who were Quakers in religious conviction, settled in Ohio there were many Indians in the locality and they cleared their farm, made a home and reared a family in surroundings which were by no means the safest in the world. In fact his brother, Banagia Parker. who conducted a tavern at Fort Seneca was killed by an Indian named Peter Poark. Henry Parker was a progressive as well as a God fearing man, and he played a prominent and praiseworthy part in the upbuilding of the new county. He was of a Quaker family and his wife was connected with the Baptist church.
Mr. Parker's mother's family, the Mores, came here in 1836. about ten years later than the Parkers. They located on a farmi near Hedgetown, where the head of the house ran a grist and saw mill. He ultimately became a large land holder, owning some three hundred and twenty acres. John and Elizabeth (Cupp) More were natives of Pennsylvania and they came to be among the foremost people in the township. being identified with all public works for the advancement of the community in which they made their home. John More was born in 1803 and lived within a few years of the dawn of the twentieth century, being ninety-two years of age at the time of his death.
Elmer E. Parker was educated in the public schools and re- mained under the parental roof until his marriage. With his father as his guide and model he received a practical training in the various phases of the calling to which the family for numerous generations had devoted their energies. When he desired to as- sume a more independent station in life he removed with his wife to seventy-eight acres located in Pleasant township, where he has ever since resided. Like all good citizens he keeps informed upon the issues of the hour and his political loyalty is given to the Republican party. An evidence of the trust in which he is held by his fellows is the fact that he has served for five years as town- ship trustee and also as a member of the school board. He and his family are members of the Evangelical church and take an active part in supporting and furthering all the good causes ad- vanced and fathered by it. Mr. Parker has been steward of the church for some years and has served ten years as superintendent of the Sunday school.
On May 13, 1886. was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Parker to Miss Clara E. Myers. She was born October 21, 1867, and is the daughter of Constantine and Barbara (Shriner) Myers, natives of Germany, who severed home associations and came to seek new fortunes in the land of the stars and stripes in the year 1858. Their union was fruitful of children, of whom Mrs. Parker is the fourth in order of birth. Mr. and Mrs. Parker became the parents of three children : Meda. became the wife of Cletus Rule of Adams township, and Allen E., born March 9, 1891. is at home with his parents. He was educated in the schools of Old Fort and Green- spring and the past terms has been teaching school in Pleasant
. township. He is a member of the Evangelical church. The youngest child. Paul, was born November 27, 1896.
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HENRY KUHN SPOONER, M. D .- Among the names of the de- parted revered by Republic that of the late Dr. Henry Kuhn Spooner is eminent, he having been a man whose citizenship was of the highest character and whose memory in the community which knew him best is an enviable legacy. He was born March 21, 1837, the son of William and Caroline F. Spooner, the place of his birth being Wolf creek, and on the 19th day of December. 1907,
"He gave his honors to the world again,
His blessed part to Heaven, and slept in peace."
The Spooner family is one which has long been known in America, it having been founded in the United States by one Wil- liam Spooner who was gathered to his fathers in the month of March, 1684. Ile served an apprenticeship under John Holmes and on April 28, 1648, he was united in marriage to Elizabeth Partridge, who bore him the following eight children: Sarah, Samuel, Martha, William, Isaac, Hannah, Ebenezer and Mercy. The next in line died in the year 1734. He lived in New England and served as a juror in the court which superintended the laying out of a road from Middleboro, Plymouth county, Massachusetts,
to the city of Boston. His sound judgment and resourcefulness in this matter gained the esteem and attention of the whole court, and was largely instrumental in the success of the enterprise. The name of his wife is not recorded, but he was the father of ten children. of whom Samuel was the direct ancestor of Dr. Spooner. He was prominent in his community, frequently holding public office. He married Experience Wing, born August 14. 1668, and was the father of eight children. His son William was next in line and was a lieutenant of militia. He took as his wife Alice Blackwell, and of their eight children, Daniel, forefather of Dr. Spooner, was born February 28, 1699. He married, October 10, 1728, Elizabeth Ruggles and ten children were the issue of their union. His son Wing B., was a carpenter. He married Deborah Church, and became the father of seven children. His son Benjamin married Johanna Toby and had eleven children. Jed, a farmer, being the forbear of the subject. Jed married Sarah Wait and of their two children William was next in line. he serving as a soldier in the Revolution. He married in the year 1797 and his son Henry Kuhn is the subject of this brief biographical review.
Dr. Spooner was reared in his native state of Ohio, and se- cured his education in Seneca County Academy under Professor Aaron Schuyler, and prepared for his profession at Cleveland, Ohio. The serenity of his youth was marred by the breaking out of the Civil war. He had moved with his parents to the Buckeye state, and he enlisted in the Federal service as assistant surgeon of the Fifty-fifth Regiment of Ohio Volunteer Infantry. in August, 1861, and served until December. 1863. He was promoted surgeon of the Sixty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry and served as surgeon of the Twelfth Division in hospital service until April 1, 1865, when by reason of the consolidation of the Sixty-first and Eighty-
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second Regiments, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, he was made a member of that division, and was mustered out of service. He was ap- pointed pension commissioner upon his own merits and without the aid of friends. He was also appointed a member of the board of surgeons.
Upon the restoration of peace between the north and south Dr. Spooner returned and took up his practice. On October 12, 1875. he was married. the lady to become his wife being Lonisa P. Jeneks. a native of Rhode Island and the daughter of Alfred and Phoebe (Wilcox) Jeneks. Mrs. Spooner being the youngest of their six children. Alfred Jencks was born near Syracuse, New York, and upon coming to Ohio was associated with a railroad promotion company.
Dr. Spooner was a man deeply interested in the progress of the times, and when his attainments are taken into consideration it is by no means a matter of surprise that he found himself in time prominent in politics. IIe filled numerous offices with distinction, being publie spirited and ever holding in view the interests of the whole community. In 1894 he represented his county in the state legislature. and guarded zealously the interests of his constituents.
Both Dr. and Mrs. Spooner were prominent and popular in Masonic circles. the former holding the title of Sir Knight and being a charter member of the local lodge. while the latter was a charter member of the Eastern Star. Mrs. Spooner is likewise one of the valued members of the Women's Relief Corps. She enjoys much esteem in the community. representing the best in American womanhood. She has had exceptional educational advantages, and being a great reader. has kept herself in touch with the pro- gress of events and has at her command a wide fund of informa- tion. Wherever she resides is the center of culture and refine- ment and her influence is ever directed to good ends. Aecom- panied by her nieces she spends the winter months in Washington D. C., and in travel through the southern states, Republic enjoying her presence during the other seasons.
GEORGE N. YOUNG .- The native horn citizens of Seneca county have no finer representative than George N. Young. of Tiffin. who is actively identified with public affairs and is now serving with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of all concerned as county clerk of Seneca county. He was born on a farm in Seneca town- ship. October 11. 1878. a son of Robert and Minerva (Epley) Young, who are now living in Wyandot county.
Brought up on the home farm. George N. Young early became familiar with many of its branches of labor, assisting in its care during the summer seasons and attending the winter terms of the district school until sixteen years old. He subsequently attended the Ohio Normal University at Ada for two years, after which he taught school in Crawfordsville. Ohio. three years, and in Seneca county, near Adrian. for two years. Abandoning teaching as an occupation. Mr. Young in the fall of 1900 embarked in the dry goods business at Bloomville. there continuing in mercantile pur- suits for about eight years. Public spirited and progressive, he
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became a leading member of the Democratic party and served for some time as corporation treasurer of Bloomville. In 1908 he was elected to his present position as county clerk of Seneca county. and is filling the office with characteristic ability and fidelity.
Fraternally Mr. Young is identified with various prominent orders. being a member of Seneca Lodge. No. 80. I. O. O. F .. a member and past chancellor of Pickwick Lodge. No. 175, K. of P .. a member of Young America Council. No. 136. Junior Order United American Mechanics; and of Honey Creek Camp. No. 7396. M. W. A., of Bloomville. Religiously he is a member and a steward of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Mr. Young married, February 23. 1897, Rosa A. Reiff, who was born and brought up in Seneca county. near Berwick, and into their home three daughters have made their advent. namely : Goldie R .. born in September. 1898; Naomi, born in November. 1901; and Fay. born in May, 1906.
Mr. Young is an excellent man of business. enterprising and careful. and he devotes his time and attention to his official duties. He is highly esteemed and very popular in social eireles. being what is complimentarily termed a "good mixer."
JOSEPH WILLIAM KUNTZ, who was long a representative farmer in Seneca county, is now living virtually retired in the village of Republic, and here he is recognized as a loyal and publie spirited citizen who has contributed in generous measure to all projects advanced for the general welfare of the community. He was born in Hopewell township. Seneca county. Ohio, on the 10th of December, 1848. and is a son of Michael and Catherine (Unser) Kuntz. both of whom were born in the great Empire of Germany. whence they emigrated to America when young. The parents of Michael Kuntz came to the United States in 1833. at which time Michael was but thirteen years of age. The family proceeded to Ohio, where they located in Big Spring township. this county. and the eighty acre tract of government land then entered is still in the hands of their descendents. In the heart of the forest they rected a little shack and as time passed and other buildings were needed they considered it a wise thing to construct them in a circle around a certain stump. which was used as a mortar for the grinding of corn meal. This meal constituted the main article of food for the family of six throughout the first winter. Michael was the first born in a family of four children, the others being: Nicholas, Catherine, who became the wife of Samuel Bowser; and Margaret, who married Frank Ulric. All are now deceased. Mr. Kuntz in company with his sons managed to reclaim a fine farm to cultivation and he was an influential factor in public affairs in the community in the early pioneer days. He helped to build the St. Boniface church at New Royal and he was summoned to the life eternal about the year 1904. his cherished and devoted wife. who bore the maiden name of Catherine Reckennatt. having passed away in 1906. Michael Kuntz continued to be associated with his father in the work and management of the home farm until he had attained to the age of twenty-four years. when he was united in
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marriage to Catherine Unser. Her father came to this country with his family on the same boat as did the Kuntz family. They settled in the same neighborhood and as pioneers contributed their quota to the development and progress of this section. Catherine was the fourth in order of birth in a family of seven children. her brothers and sisters being. John. Joseph. Mary. Nancy. Eliza and Elizabeth. Michael and Catherine (Unser) Kuntz became the parents of fourteen children. six of whom are now living. namely : Margaret, who married Lewis Zurk, and resides in Indiana : Joseph William. to whom this sketch is dedicated ; Michael. of Kirby. Ohio; Julius, who is engaged in agriculture in Hopewell township ; Henry, who resides on the old homestead of his mother; and Frank, who maintains his home on the old Kuntz farm. Michael Kuntz had received his early education in the old country and there he had entered upon an apprenticeship at the shoemaker's trade. In 1836 he entered the employ of the Cincinnati & Toledo Canal Com- pany and after working on the canal one year as a day laborer operating a wheel barrow, he was promoted to the position of over- seer. Hle acquired a thorough knowledge of locks and gates and continued in the employ of the company for a veriod of three years. After his marriage he settled upon a farm in Hopewell township and late in life he removed to Tiffin, where he passed . the residue of a long and active career and where his death oc- curred in 1902. Mrs. Kuntz was summoned to eternal rest in
1906. In his political convictions Mr. Kuntz was originally a Democrat but he later transfered his allegiance to the Republican party. ` He was ardently devoted to the good of the county and gave efficient service as a member of the school board. served on the county election board and was prominent in various public affairs of a local order. : Both he and his wife held membership in the St. Joseph Catholic church.
Joseph W. Kuntz was reared to maturity on the home farm and to the public schools of his native county he is indebted for his preliminary educational training. He remained in the parental home until he had attained to the age of twenty-five years when. in 1873. he was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth E. Eschen- brenner, who was born in Huron county. Ohio. on the 29th of September. 1852. a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Schereck) Eschenbrenner. the former of whom was a native of Germany and the latter of France. Mr. Eschenbrenner was about eighteen years of age when he came to America and his wife was but fourteen years old. After his marriage the Eschenbrenner family and Mr. Kuntz located on a farm near Fostoria. Hancock county, Ohio. and later they removed to Hopewell township. where they continued to operate a finely improved farm until 1907. In that year he established his home in the village of Republic and there he and his wife are now living in the enjoyment of former years of earnest toil and endeavor. In politics he is aligned as a stanch supporter of the principles and policies for which the Republican party stands sponsor and he has ever given freely of his aid and influence in support of all measures tending to advance the good of the com- munity. Both he and his wife are communicants of the Catholic
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church in Republic, to whose charities and benevolences he has been a liberal contributor. For five years he served as a member of the school board and he is affiliated with various fraternal and social organizations of representative character.
Mr. and Mrs. Kuntz became the parents of five children. and concerning the three who are now living the following data is here incorporated : Evelyn. who is the wife of Earl Kimmel, of Bloomville. was born on the 25th of November. 1877; Verona, mar- ried Lloyd Grosscup, of Republic, and the date of her birth is December 18. 1880: and Wendall. who was born on the 12th of May, 1882. is now residing on his father's farm of two hundred and eighty acres in Scipio township. The two children deceased are, Edward, born. June 11, 1874, died November 7, 1896; and one who died in infancy.
HARRY TAGGART .- Noteworthy among the leading citizens of Tiffin is Harry Taggart, who is actively engaged in the abstract business. A former county recorder. he has the unique distinction of being the only Republican ever elected to that office in Seneca county, which is a Democratic stronghold. He was born in Tiffin and received his education in the public schools of this place.
Left fatherless at an early age. Mr. Taggart assumed to a certain extent the support of his widowed mother and three sisters, and in the years that followed proved true to the trust imposed up- on him. Beginning his active career as clerk in the shipping de- partment of the old Agricultural Works of Tiffin, he served in that capacity some time and was afterward in the employ of T. J. Kintz for some time. for two years serving under him in the county recorder's office and afterward in his abstract office. Mr. Taggart afterward became proprietor of the abstract business of his former employer, conducting it successfully until 1903.
Prominent in the ranks of the Republican party and popular in all political organizations. Mr. Taggart was the Republican nominee. in 1903, for the office of county recorder. and in November of that vear was elected by a majority of four hundred and eighty- five votes. He served so efficiently and ably that at the end of his term, in 1906, he was re-elected to the same position. receiving a majority of eight hundred votes at the polls. Retiring from the office in September, 1909. Mr. Taggart has since been busily employed as an abstracter. having an extensive and remunerative patronage. He never married. but is still caring for his sisters.
Religiously Mr. Taggart is an active and worthy member of the Presbyterian church. of which he is an elder and for seventeen years was clerk of the session.
XENOPHEN F. CHARLES, who since 1899 has been proprietor of a drug. grocery and' crockery business, is one of Republic's alert and progressive men. The concern was formerly known as that of Stickney & Dentler. and previous to the above mentioned date for twenty-five years Mr. Charles was associated with them in busi- ness. He has filled many public offices efficiently and is well known in this part of the county.
L
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Mr. Charles was born June 12, 1854, and is the son of Jasper E. and Susanna (Grossman) Charles, natives of Pennsylvania, who came to Ohio in the April prior to the subject's birth. Jasper Charles, who was a shoemaker by trade, was born March 8, 1825. and in his youth served an apprenticeship at his trade, being bound out for three years. His father. Abraham Charles, died when he was but thirteen years of age. and he made his home with his mother until his twenty-sixth year, when her demise occurred. He married Susanna Grossman at the age of twenty-eight and be- came the father of six children. of whom the following is an enumeration : Xenophon F. Jasper E., Emma V., Ida May (de- ceased), John J., and David M. The father of the subject was Democratie in politics, was a natural leader, and held township
years.
office frequently. 3 When he first came to the state. in 1849, he drove through with his mother and youngest sister. and located in Clark county. near Springfield, where he remained for about two His sister died and he and his mother went back to Penn- sylvania. where he married. and in 1854 he came back to the Buckeye state, of which he had received a favorable impression, and located here. However, in 1873 he removed to Indiana. se- cured a small farm and upon this property remained until sum- moned to the life eternal.
Xenophon F. Charles remained beneath the home roof until his twenty-first year. In 1874 he concluded to begin life inde- pendently and came to Republic, where he secured employment with the firm of Stickney & Dentler. He had received his higher educa- tion in the normal school under Professor J. Fraise Richards and he preceded his business career with several years experience as a teacher in district schools in Indiana. His connection with Stick-
ney & Dentler proved most satisfactory. for he was efficient and trustworthy. He was its pillar in times of storm and stress and saved it from bankruptcy when in embarassed circumstances. In December. 1899. Mr. Charles found himself in a position to buy the business. and its destinies have been in his control ever since that date. Its success has been most gratifying and twenty thousand dollars worth of business is transacted every year.
Mr. Charles was married on Christmas Day, in the year 1877, the lady to become his wife being Flora A. Porter, born October 1. 1850, to John D. and Jane (Roberts) Porter. Her father died when she was a child four years of age and later her mother mar- ried Sam S. Dentler, of the firm of Stickney & Dentler. Both of Mrs. Charles' parents were natives of the state of New York and John D. came to Ohio with his parents in pioneer days. They located in this township. on a farm which they cleared and im- proved. The father subsequently gave up farming and went to Huron county and engaged in the occupation of a plasterer. Later. however. they returned to this township and the father worked at his trade until his untimely death. £ He and his wife were the parents of three children. Flora being the eldest and the names of her brothers being Vernon and Richard T.
Mr. Charles and his wife have three children: Myra A .. born July 5. 1879. is the wife of C. R. Hassenplug and lives at Bellevue ; Vol. II-5
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Mabel T., born November 30, 1883. is situated with the Michigan Trust Company of Grand Rapids, Michigan: Thurman P .. born November 1. 1886, is in Atlanta. Indiana, where he holds the responsible position of superintendent of schools. Mr. Charles is one who realizes the vast importance of good education and all of his children received excellent educational discipline, being graduated from the schools of Republic and from the Tri-State College at Angola, Indiana.
Mrs. Charles is a faithful member of the Disciple church and Mr. Charles has always given financial assistance to the churches of the town. He is a loyal Democrat and his interest in public affairs has already been suggested. He served thirteen years on the school board and at the age of twenty-two held the office of township clerk. He has, indeed, the distinction of having been
the first Democratic elerk in the township. For ten years he held the important office of township treasurer and served on the village council several times. at the present time being represented upon that body. Several times he has been a member of the county central committee. He finds great pleasure in his lodge relations with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, having filled all the chairs and served as D. G. M. on more than one occasion. He likewise belongs to the Junior Order of United American Mechanics. having been the first councilor of the local organization and several times sent as representative to the state council.
HENRY B. PUFFENBERGER .- A man of talent, possessing natural and acquired mechanical skill and ability. Henry B. Puffenberger. of Tiffin, is rendering excellent service as county surveyor of Seneca county. a position for which he is eminently qualified. À son of John Puffenberger. he was born. August 2. 1855, in Hopewell township. Seneca county. coming from Virginian ancestry.
He is descended from an early pioneer of this part of Ohio, his grandfather. George Puffenberger, having followed the emi- grant's trail to Seneca county in 1825. One of the original set- tlers of Liberty township. he took up wild land in section twenty- eight. erected a log cabin in the midst of the forest. and having by dint of persevering labor cleared and improved a homestead. was there engaged in tilling the soil until his death. in 1850. A whole souled. generous man. he was ever ready to aid new pioneers in their efforts to establish homes for themselves and families. and was especially helpful in the building of the township. IIe mar- ried Catherine Null. who was born in Virginia. a daughter of Jacob and Lucy (Ohler) Null. She survived him. passing away in 1877. Nine children were born of their union.
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