History of Seneca County, Ohio, containing a history of the county, its townships, towns, villages, school, churches, industries, etc., portraits of early settlers and prominent men; biographies; history of the Northwest territory; history of Ohio; statistical and miscellaneous matter, etc., etc, Part 102

Author: Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.)
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Chicago : Warner, Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1088

USA > Ohio > Seneca County > History of Seneca County, Ohio, containing a history of the county, its townships, towns, villages, school, churches, industries, etc., portraits of early settlers and prominent men; biographies; history of the Northwest territory; history of Ohio; statistical and miscellaneous matter, etc., etc > Part 102

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).

FRANCIS EDWIN STONER, late auditor of Seneca County, was born in this county, April 15, 1842; son of Dennis Caspar and Charlotte (Smith) Stoner, who settled here from Frederick County, Md., in 1833. The Stoners were descended from German pioneers of Maryland, the name being originally "Steiner." The Smiths, originally from Holland, were also pioneers of Mary- land. Of the family of nineteen children (born to the two families) nine now survive-four sons and five daughters. Francis Edwin Stoner was reared upon the farm in Clinton Township, this county, and was educated in the schools of the county. In 1872 he embarked in the grocery business, which he retired from in 1881, upon accepting his late incumbency, which he creditably filled to the time of his death. He married, in April, 1872, Juliet, daughter of the late Hon. J. D. O'Connor, M. D., and to this union were born two sons: Clark and Francis Edwin, Jr. Mr. Stoner died, after a short illness, at Ridge Farm, near Paris, Ill., August 9, 1885, and was buried in Green Lawn Cemetery, Tiffin. He was an obedient, affectionate son, a devoted, loving husband, and a kind, indulgent father. Mr. Stoner was a member of the Presbyterian Church, a worthy member of the I. O. O. F. He was always a generous supporter of all public measures, and contributed liberally toward the development of the social and industrial interests of his city and county. He was a most sociable gentleman, drawing around him a very liberal support, from all parties, to his official position. His widow is a member of the Presbyterian Church.

838

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHIES:

CHARLES J. M. SULLIVAN, Tiffin, was born in Cleveland, Ohio, September 6, 1849. His father, the late William Sullivan of Tiffin, was a native of Cork, Ireland, and son of Michael Sullivan, who died there in 1852. William Sullivan was reared to mercantile pursuits in his native land, and came to America in 1846, eventually locating, in hardware merchandising, in Cleve- land, Ohio, where he married Miss Hanora Leonard, a native of County Leit- rim, Ireland, who bore him a family of nine children, of whom three sons sur- vive: Charles J. M., Dr. Emmett W., of Cleveland, and Jerald E., business manager of the Iowa State Leader, at Des Moines, Iowa. In 1855 William Sullivan removed his family and business interests to Tiffin, this county, and was favorably known as an upright and successful business man, and an excel- lent citizen till his death, which occurred in April, 1873. The subject of this sketch received a good literary training in the college at Notre Dame, Ind., and in June, 1867, graduated from that institution in a commercial course of study. He continued in the hardware business of his father, retiring from it in 1875. In 1883 he opened his present business, insurance agency, and has operated it successfully since. He married here, in 1879, Miss Aldee M. Coonrod, a grad- nate of the Ursuline Academy, and daughter of the late Uriah P. Coonrod, of Hopewell Township, this county. They have two daughters, Mary and Eliza- beth. He and his wife are regular communicants of the Roman Catholic Church, He is a member of St. Patrick's Total Abstinence Society and Catholic Knights of America. Is a liberal supporter of all measures tending to the development of the interests of his locality. He was clerk of Tiffin from 1879 to 1885.

IRA H. TOMPKINS, dealer in agricultural implements, Tiffin, was born in Thomson Township, this county, August 20, 1843, and comes of Welsh ancestry on his father's side. His father, Isaac, was a son of William, whose father. William Tompkins, Sr., settled in this country from Wales before the Revolution, and was a soldier in that war to its close. His mother, Christina (Scothorn) Tompkins, was a daughter of Samuel Scothorn, of pioneer Vir- ginia stock, and settled in Reed Township, Seneca County, in 1823, from Fair- field County, Ohio. She and her one-year old sister, Ann, were the first white children in Reed Township. Ira H. is the fourth child and eldest son in their family of five sons and five daughters, and was reared to farming pursuits. At the age of twenty-three he embarked in the grocery business at West Lodi, this county, but after three years' successful work his store was destroyed by fire, and he subsequently engaged in dry goods and general merchandising there for about five years. In the meantime he dealt in agricultural imple- ments, and upon retiring from his other interests there he came in 1875 to Tiffin, where he has since been identified with the implement business, meanwhile doing considerable in inventions in that industry. Mr. Tompkins was married in Adams Township, this county, May 8, 1870, to Louisa Jane, daughter of Henry and Catharine (Beard) Neikirk, of Adams Township. They have one son and one daughter: Cosie Dale and Vance Vick. Mr. and Mrs. Tompkins attend St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a worthy Mason, and has attained to the degree of K. T. of De Molay Commandery. Mr. Tompkins is a practical business man and an excellent citizen, and has contributed liberally toward the futherance of many social and industrial inter- ests of Tiffin.

DAVID C. TUNISON, of the firm of Tunison & Son, photographers, Tif- fin, is a native of New Jersey, of Scotch ancestry. He learned his profession in New York City, where he completed a first-class education in the art. In 1854 he came to Tiffin, Ohio, where he has since been favorably known to the

839

CLINTON TOWNSHIP.

profession and to the public. He was united in marriage with Abigail Fraser Dolbier, of New Jersey, of Scotch pioneer ancestry of that State. This union has been blessed with one son and three daughters: Emma, wife of Samuel S. Hunter, of Tiffin; Gusta, unmarried; Oscar Barnett, and Addie, wife of John De Witt, a manufacturer and machinist of Richmond, Ind. Mr. Tunison is a worthy member of the Odd Fellows' Society and of the National Photograph- ers' Association.

OSCAR BARNETT TUNISON was born in New Jersey, November 11, 1842, but was reared and educated in Tiffin, where he learned the profession of his worthy sire, and joined him in the business. He was married, in Tiffin, to Mary E., daughter of John J. and Frances Hanna (Boyer) Steiner, worthy pioneers of Clinton Township, and this union was blessed with two bright sons: Hal and Berton. Mr. Tunison is a member of the National Photo- graphers' Association. Mrs. Tunison is a member of the Methodist Episco- pal Church.

DR. JOHN FRANKLIN WAGNER, dentist, Tiffin, was born in Liberty Township, this county. August 1, 1857. His father, Edmund Carpenter Wag- ner, was a native of Franklin County, Penn., and settled in Liberty Township in 1843. His mother, Catherine Berkey, was born in this county. They were married April 18, 1850. and resided in Liberty Township. where they reared a family of eight sons and one daughter: Levi J., Byron A., Edmund Berkey (deceased), John F .. George W., W. Scott, Rose B., William B. and Elmer E., all except John F. and W. Scott residing in Arkansas City, Kas. W. Scott resides in this county. The subject of our sketch completed a good common school education, and at twenty-one entered the Cincinnati Dental College, and after two years passed a very creditable examination before the Ohio State Board of Dentistry. He then located here, and has been very favorably con- nected with his professional work here since. He is a member of the K. of P., and P. O. of A. Societies.

AURELIUS C. WARNER, druggist, Tiffin, was born at Congress, Wayne Co., Ohio, February 28, 1860. and comes of honorable pioneer stock there. His father, Dr. C. J. Warner, stands among the most prominent men of the medical profession of that locality as well as of the State, being present mem- ber of the board of censors of the medical department of the University of Wooster, at Cleveland, Ohio; his mother was Mary Ellen (Pancoast) Warner, and both were of Pennsylvanian ancestry. Aurelius C. Warner, the eldest in a family of two sons, was reared to medical studies, and completed a regular pharmaceutical study at the College of Pharmacy in Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1883 he came to Tiffin, and, in company with Mr. Winkler, purchased his present extensive drug business, which he has successfully conducted since. He is an active and progressive business man and citizen, a clever gentleman, and altogether eminently fitted to fill no small position in the growth of the lively, commercial interests of Tiffin. He is a member of the K. of P.

HENRY J. WELLER, attorney at law, Tiffin, was born in Thompson Township, this county, January 21, 1856. His parents, John and Christina (Orner) Weller, were natives of Pennsylvania, the former of whom settled here in 1843. from Snyder County, Penn .; the latter is a daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Orner, pioneers in this county. The subject of our sketch (the eld- est of a family of five sons and three daughters) obtained a good common school education in his native township, and developed such ability that at the age of fourteen he received a teacher's certificate. He, however, completed a normal education at Republic, this county, and at seventeen engaged in teach- ing, continuing in very reputable connection with the profession for five suc-

840

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

cessive terms. In April. 1878, he commenced to read law in the office of Messrs. Noble & Adams, and June 2, 1880, was admitted to the bar of the State, at Columbus, being the first from the county to receive his license from the Supreme Court of Ohio under the new law. He continued in the office of his worthy preceptors, till in March of the following year, he opened an office for himself, and may be found in professional dignity over the Commercial Bank. Mr. Weller has always been an ardent aspirant for the highest honors in his different professions, and while attaining them in teaching he is (since leaving that profession) rapidly gaining the golden promises of his present calling. June 10, 1885. Mr. Weller associated himself with Hon. John McCauley, ex-judge of the Ohio Supreme Court, and now composes the law firm of McCauley & Weller, with office over Commercial Bank, Tiffin, Ohio. Our subject married, in Tiffin, December 30, 1884, Miss Julia M. Paynter, a lady of estimable attainments, daughter of Martin S. and Sarah L. (Koller) Paynter, natives of Maryland and Pennsylvania respectively. Mr. Weller has taken an active part in the development of the social and industrial life of his native county. He has been a member of the Seneca County Agricultural Society for several years: has been its secretary for the past five years, and is its present treasurer; is now a member of the city council of Tiffin, having been elected from the Fourth Ward of said city (a Republican ward) by the Democrats, by a majority of thirty-eight votes. He is a F. & A. M., and is Past Grand of the I. O. O. F. He speaks German fluently, and is a popular man with the German element in this county. A peculiar characteristic of Mr. Weller is that while busy in his different professional pursuits he has never missed an entry in his diary, which he has continued since his eighteenth year, and which contains not only the events of his locality but his personal monetary receipts and disbursements.

H. C. AND T. E. WELLS, physicians and surgeons of the New School of Medicine, Tiffin, come of pioneer Ohioans and are the only surviving sons of Job and Deborah (Butler) Wells, of English and Welsh descent, respectively. They reckon amongst their ancestry, on the father's side, some physicians of re- pute. Richard Wells, father of Job Wells, was of Quaker lineage from English stock in Virginia; he was a veterinary surgeon by profession, and came to Ohio from Virginia in early days and settled in Morrow County. His people were planters and owned slaves, and some of them figured in the Confederate service during the late civil war, a brother's son serving with prominence as surgeon in that army. The family of Richard, however, with the exception of Job, settled in the West, principally in Iowa and Missouri, and he returned from Iowa to be buried near the old home in Morrow County. Deborah (Butler) Wells, was a daughter of Barrick Butler, a native of Pennsylvania and of Welsh descent in that State. They were a literary people and developed some prominent teachers. The immediate family of Job and Deborah (Butler) Wells was three sons and three daughters; of the latter two are married and have families in Morrow County. Richard, the third son, died at Tiffin October 10, 1882, a student at Heidelberg College. Henry Clay Wells, senior member of the firm of Wells Bros., at seventeen entered the Union Army August 8, 1862, as a member of Company C. Ninety-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and continued in field service till after the fall of Vicksburg and Jackson, Miss., when he received an injury to his back, was taken sick and sent to hospital at New Orleans, where, after recuperating, being unfit for field duty, he was appointed ward master in the United States Marine and later to St. Louis hospitals. Receiving an honorable discharge at the end of the war he returned home and completed a course of study at Cardington Academy.

841

CLINTON TOWNSHIP.

from which he and his brother graduated. He then taught school and studied medicine, graduating from the Homeopathic Hospital College of Cleveland in 1872. He then located in Tiffin and has been very successful in his profes- sional practice since. He married, in Bellevue, Ohio, Amanda J., eldest daughter of John and Angeline (Close) Hilbish, pioneers there from Pennsyl- vania. This union has been blessed with one son and one daughter: John Hilbish and Mabel Grace. Thomas Elwood Wells (junior partner of the firm of Wells Bros. ) after graduating from Cardington, taught school and subse- quently embarked in the drug business with Dr. L. L. Benson, an eclectic school physician. with whom he read medicine for nearly two years. He. however, became convinced of the greater advantages of the practice of the homeopathic, and sold his interest in the drug business, and after a thorough course of study (of three years) graduated from Pulti College of Medicine and Surgery at Cincinnati in January. 1877. He located in the practice at Mount Vernon, Ohio. where he remained until 1884. when he joined his brother at Tiffin, this county. Dr. T. E. Wells is a prominent member of the I. O. (). F., a very genial gentleman and of prepossessing appearance.

BERNARD WELTER, cigar manufacturer. Tiffin, born in Echternach, in the Grand Duchy of Luxemburg. March 10, 1828. is a son of Henry and Eliza- beth Schomer Welter. In 1851 he came to America and located where his brother Valentine had preceded him in 1849. Here he carried on the cigar manufacturing and tobacconist business. He married, in 1861, Agnes Riley, who bore him two daughters: Annie (deceased), and Elizabeth. Mrs. Welter died in September. 1864, and in 1868 Mr. Welter married Mary Kerch, daugh- ter of Nicholas Kerch, a native of Greivelding. Luxemburg, and to this union were born nine children: Mary. Henry. Lucinda. Bernard, Florence, Blanche. Elsie and Pearl living: and Henry the eldest son (deceased). Mr. Welter and family are communicants of St. Joseph's congregation of the Roman Catholic Church. He is a member of the Bruderbund.

FRED L. WENNER was born in Tiffin, Ohio, January 8, 1864. second son of Henry S. and Sarah A. Wenner. both of whom were natives of eastern Penn- sylvania, and of German descent. At the age of seven he entered the public schools of the city, and. with the exception of three intervals, he remained in them for twelve years. graduating from the high school on the 17th of June, 1883. Early in life he evinced an aptness for rapid composition, and during his first year in the High School he edited a small amateur paper called the High School Reporter, and the rest of the four years acted as correspondent for several papers. June 21, four days after graduating, he accepted a place as reporter on the Tiffin Daily Herald, and in the following October became local editor of the same. In November he resigned his position, owing to failing eyesight. and began teaching school in sub-district No. 1. Seneca Township, teaching a successful term of five months, and boarding at Eden Lease's. At the age of thirteen he had met with an accident, which destroyed the sight of his left eye, and caused him considerable trouble. He now entered the homeo- pathic hospital at Ann Arbor, Mich., where several operations were performed, which partially restored the sight and greatly relieved him. April 28, 1884, he again became local editor of the Daily Herald, and remained in that posi- tion until October 25. of the same year, when he resigned to accept a similar one on the Tiffin Tribune, which he holds at the present time. He was united in marriage, January 18, 1885. with Ammy D. Myers, a teacher in the Bloomville public schools, and the eldest daughter of Rev. S. P. and Ursilla Myers, of that place, her father being a minister of the Reformed Church.

842

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

THOMAS JEFFERSON WEST, M. D., Tiffin, comes of hardy pioneer descent in this county and State. His parents, Thomas and Margaret (Donnell) West (the former of English pioneer ancestry in New York State, and the latter of Scotch Irish ancestry, of Pennsylvania), were married here, and reared five sons and one daughter. Thomas West came to this county in 1820, and located land in Eden Township in 1822. The subject of our sketch received a liberal literary training in the Academy at Republic, and taught school. On the breaking out of the late war of the Rebellion, he enlisted in Company C. Eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry and did active and honorable service for over three years, and upon the expiration of term of service of his regiment, he was hon- orably discharged. He was wounded in the battles of Antietam and Gettys- burg. After the war, Mr. West taught school and engaged in the study of medicine. In 1866-67 he attended Charity Hospital Medical College of Cleve- land, from which he graduated. He located in the practice of his profession at Melmore, this county, where he remained in creditable professional work till the spring of 1884, when he came to Tiffin. The Doctor is a member of the State. Northwestern and County Medical Societies, and has contributed in no small degree to the advancement of his profession in this locality. He was married in 1871, to Mary Horner, a native of Darlington, England, who bore him two sons and one daughter: Nettie May, and Freddie and Eddie (twins). Mrs. West passed from life in 1881, in full communion with the Presbyterian Church, and is buried in Rock Creek Cemetery. Our subject was married on second occasion to Mrs. E. Steele, daughter of R. C. Steele, of Eden Township, this county, and by her he has one son-Robert Karl. Mrs. West is a worthy member of the Presbyte- rian Church, to which the Doctor is a liberal contributor and respectful attend- ant of. He is a worthy member of the Masonic order, in which he has attained the degree of K. T. in De Molay Commandery. He is also a member of the I. O. O. F. and of Isaac Rule Post, G. A. R., and of the Pioneers' Society of Eden Township.

R. H. WHITLOCK (See Manufacturing Interests in History of Tiffin, page 530).

GEORGE W. WILLIARD, D. D., president of Heidelberg College, Tiffin, Olfio, was born in Burkettsville, Frederick Co .. Md .. June 10, 1818, and is the fourth son and fifth child in the family of five sons and two daughters of John and Mary (Shaffer) Williard, natives of Frederick County, Md. Elias Williard, father of John Williard and a native of Germany. reared a large family in Maryland. John Shaffer, father of the mother of our subject, also a native of Germany, reared his family in Maryland. The subject of our sketch received a good rudimentary education in the common schools, and at sixteen went to the high school at York, Penn., and after its removal to Mercersburg (where it was merged in Marshall College) he pursued and completed a thorough liter- ary and classical training in that institution, graduating at the age of twenty- one. He then pursued a theological course of study with his alma mater, and after about a year entered the ministry of the Reformed Church, and was ordained at Jefferson (in his native county) at twenty-two years of age. He continued in charge there for over four years. when he removed to Huntingdon, Penn .. where he had charge of an academy in connection with his pastoral work. He afterward removed to Winchester, Va., and after laboring there three years he came to Columbus, Ohio, in the spring of 1850, where he carried on church work for about five years, during which time he took charge of the Western Missionary (1853), which paper he conducted for thirteen years thereafter. During his stay in Columbus, he translated from the original Latin and pub- lished the Commentary of Dr. Zacharias Ursinus on the Heidelberg Catechism

843

CLINTON TOWNSHIP.

(the confessional book of the Reformed Church) into the English language. In 1855 he removed to Dayton, Ohio, where he edited and published the West- ern Missionary, in connection with his pastoral work, till his call to the presi- dency of Heidelberg College, Tiffin, Ohio, in 1866. During the first four years of his residence in Dayton he had charge of the First Reformed Church there, and subsequently served congregations in the vicinity of Dayton. In 1866 he accepted his present incumbency from the Board of Trustees of Heidel- berg College, and has also performed ministerial work in a variety of forms. Dr. Williard married, in Mercersburg, Penn., in 1842, Louisa Catharine Lit- tle, fourth daughter in the family of two sons and five daughters of Dr. P. W. Little, a prominent physician of that place, a native of Maryland and of Ger- man ancestry. To this union four sons and one daughter were born, of whom three sons survive: John Newton and Dr. George P., of Tiffin, and the Rev. E. R. Williard, of Germantown, Ohio. In September, 1863, Mrs. Williard departed this life, and is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, at Dayton, beside her son and daughter, Cephas L., who died at the age of twenty-six, and Mary Louisa, who died at the age of six months. In 1866 our subject was married again; on this occasion in Xenia, Ohio, to Emma Jane Hivling, a lady of esti- mable attainments, and a daughter of Col. John Hivling, banker, of Xenia, and a prominent pioneer of Greene County. Dr. Williard while busy with his professional work has always taken a prominent part in the various benevolent enterprises of the day, and has contributed liberally thereto. He is the author of several books and a regular contributor to the periodicals of the Reformed Church. He is apparently as active as ever in his professional work and has the gratification of seeing many of his students occupying important positions in the various professions of life.

GEORGE PARKER WILLIARD, M. D .. was born in Huntington, Penn .. July 1, 1845, son of Rev. G. W. Williard, D.D. (president of Heidelberg College) and Louisa C. Williard, daughter of Dr. P. W. Little, of Mercers- burg, Franklin Co., Penn. The subject of this sketch received a liberal liter- ary training in the schools of Dayton, Ohio, and at the age of eighteen years began the study of medicine in the office of Dr. John Davis, of Dayton. He attended his first and second collegiate courses, at the Ohio Medical College in Cincinnati, and completed his professional studies at the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, Penn., graduating from this honored institution March 9, 1867. In the following June he came to Seneca County, Ohio. locating at Fort Seneca, and carried on an active practice till 1874, when he went to California and located at San Buena Ventura, Ventura County, enter- ing into partnership with Dr. Cephas L. Bard, a prominent physician of that place. He returned to Tiffin, this county, in 1876, and soon afterward entered into part- nership with the late Dr. A. B. Hovey, with whom he remained two years. Retiring from that partnership, he established himself independently, and has carried on an active practice ever since. He has been prominently nominated, and has served as examining surgeon for many life insurance corporations; is a member of the Ohio State Medical Society, and of the Seneca County Medical Society. He has always given a cordial support to all measures calculated to elevate the character and standing of his chosen profession, and is ever ready and willing to lend his assistance in matters pertaining to the social and indus- trial development of Tiffin. During the war, and upon the organization of the One Hundred and Thirty-first Ohio National Guards, he enlisted as a private in Company A, of that regiment, and was shortly afterward promoted to the position of hospital steward. During its term of service, and while the regi- ment was stationed at Baltimore, Md., garrisoning Forts Marshall and Federal

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.

Author: Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.) Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Chicago : Warner, Beers & Co. Number of Pages: 1088

Author: Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.)
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Chicago : Warner, Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1088