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 113

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 113

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SAMUEL KISER. farmer. P. O. Fostoria, was born in Stark County, Ohio, June 29, 1828: son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Grove) Kiser. natives of Pennsylvania, parents of eleven children. and who came to this county in 1834, settling in Loudon Township on the farm now occupied by our subject. which they cleared and improved, and on which they resided until their death. Samuel Kiser, the subject of this sketch, has resided on the old home- stead since six years of age. June 26, 1850, he married Julia A., daugh- ter of Isaac and Eleanor De Witt, pioneers of Big Spring Township, and by this union there were four children: Emily (deceased), Alvin, Lou E. and Charles. Mr. Kiser has made many improvements on the old homestead since it came into his possession; has cleared forty acres of the 178 acres which comprises his farm (140 of which are under a high state of cultivation): in 1879 he built a fine brick residence on the property, and has also erected commo- dious outbuildings. He has held the office of township trustee for several terms, besides other minor offices. Politically he is a Republican.

HENRY W. KONKLE, contractor, Fostoria, was born in Lehigh County, Penn. December 7, 1834, son of Henry and Hannah (Swander) Konkle. In 1838 his parents settled in Fairfield County, Ohio, where they remained up to 1871, when they located in Lucas County, Ohio. Our subject came to Seneca County in 1845, and lived with his grandfather. John Swander, near Tiffin. Ohio, until twenty-three years of age. March 14, 1867, he married Emily. daughter of Baker and Ann Hale, of Hancock County, Ohio, and the issue of this union was one child-Nettie. Mr. Konkle learned the trade of bricklayer when a young man. which he has followed up to the present time. He located in Fostoria in 1859, and since 1860 has been actively engaged as a building

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contractor. many of the prominent buildings of Fostoria having been erected by him, the plans for the same being also his work. From 1876 to 1880 Mr. Konkle was interested in the furniture business. He is an active member of the Reformed Church. He is a member of Fostoria Lodge No. 305. I. O. O. F. Mr. Konkle has served as member of the city council two years. He was in the late war of the Rebellion, having enlisted in April. 1861, in Company H. Twenty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was honorably discharged.

FRED KOSS. manufacturer. Fostoria. was born in Grubenhagen. Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg, Germany, November 4. 1846, son of John and Mary (Hennig) Koss. Our subject was reared and educated in his native land, where he served an apprenticeship of three years at the carpenter's trade. In 1869 he immigrated to America, settling in Fostoria, Ohio, where he worked at his trade up to 1880. when he became associated with Jacob Mergenthaler in the planing mill, and manufacturing of sash, doors, blinds, etc., in which he is engaged at the present time., Mr. Koss was united in marriage, October 18, 1871, with Mary, danghter of Louis and Mary (Goodyear) Karg, of Findlay, Ohio, and by her he has three children: Charles, John and Augusta. Mr. and Mrs. Koss are members of the German Lutheran Church. He is a member of the Royal Arcanum: politically a Democrat.

CHARLES W. LYTLE. farmer. P. O. Fostoria, was born in Chili, Mon- roe Co., N. Y .. November 8. 1827. son of Daniel and Betsey (Foster) Lytle, the former a native of Rhode Island, and the latter of Massachusetts. He was reared and educated in his native county, and in 1854 located in Fostoria, Ohio, and entered the store of C. Foster & Co., where he served in the capac- ity of clerk up to 1868, since which time he has been engaged in farming and various other business enterprises. He was united in marriage in April, 1857, with Frances M., daughter of Frederick and Christine (Kempher) Febles, of Jackson Township. this county. by whom he has three children: Jennie M., Frederick D. and Emma A. Mr. Lytle. one of the substantial farmers and citizens of London Township. is a member of the I. O. O. F. Politically he is a Republican.

EDWARD MARKS. ice dealer and proprietor of bottling works, Fostoria, was born in Big Spring Township, this county. in February, 1851: son of Nicholas and Theresa (Kehl) Marks, natives of Germany. who settled in Big Spring Township in 1849. where Nicholas Marks, a farmer by occupation. cleared and improved the farm on which he still resides. Their children were seven in number: Nicholas. Edward. Elizabeth (Mrs. John Walker). Anna (Mrs. Joseph Hackenrader). Thomas, Michael and Aggie. Our subject was reared on the old homestead, educated in the common schools, and remained with his parents until twenty-one years of age. He learned the plasterer's trade in Tiffin. Ohio, which he followed three years and a half. In 1872 he came to Fostoria and entered the store of Nye & Cooper as clerk. The same year he bought Mr. Cooper's interest in the business, which was then conducted under the firm name of Nye & Marks for several years, after which he engaged in the liquor business. In 1881 Mr. Marks became interested in a large bottling establishment of this city. of which he is now sole proprietor. and he has also for several years been engaged in the ice trade, having put up over 4,000 tons this season. Mr. Marks was married, in 1874. to Josephine, daugh- ter of Peter Dumond, of Adrian, Ohio, and by her he has one child-Rossie. Mr. Marks is one of the enterprising and public spirited citizens of Fostoria. He is a Democrat in politics. He and his wife are members of the Catholic Church.

JACOB MERGENTHALER, manufacturer. Fostoria, was born in London Township, this county, November 30. 1838: son of Gottfried Mergenthaler, a

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native of Germany, a farmer by occupation, and who was a pioneer of Loudon Township. this county. where he cleared and improved a farm, on which he lived and died. Our subject, who was reared in his native township, when nineteen years of age. left home and served an apprenticeship of four years at the carpenter's trade, which occupation he followed up to 1881, when, with J. S. Bowers. he engaged in the planing, door, sash and blind manufacturing business. In 1882 Fred Koss bought the interest of Mr. Bowers, and since that time the business has been conducted under firm name of Mergenthaler & Koss, who by strict attention to business have built up a large and extensive trade. Mr. Mergenthaler was married, in the fall of 1861, to Mary Karl, of Fostoria, by whom he has four children: Ada, William, Rollin and Ola. Mr. and Mrs. Mergenthaler are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is one of the representative business men of Fostoria. In politics he is a Democrat.

MELCHER MERGENTHALER, carriage manufacturer, Fostoria, was born in Loudon Township, this county, July 19, 1841. His father, Gottfried Mergenthaler, a native of Germany, settled in Loudon Township, this county, in 1834, and here Melcher was reared and educated. Our subject, at the age of eighteen. came to Fostoria, where he served an apprenticeship at wagon- making for three years with George Gehr. Esq. He then worked as journeyman till 1865. when he embarked in business for himself, in which he has success- fully engaged to the present time. Our subject was united in marriage, July 19. 1863, with Catherine, daughter of Henry Bucher, of Loudon Township. this county, and by her he has three children: Andrew, assistant cashier in the First National Bank; Charles and Rella. Mr. and Mrs. Mergenthaler are members of the Presbyterian Church. Politically he is a Democrat.

JAMES L. MICKEY. farmer and stock-dealer, Fostoria, was born in what is now Ashland County, Ohio, November 10, 1831; son of Jeremiah and Sarah (Loman) Mickey, the former a native of Pennsylvania, the latter of Maryland. His paternal grandfather. Daniel Mickey, was a native of Pennsylvania and a pioneer of Ashland County. Ohio, and his maternal grandfather. Richard Lo- man, formerly of Maryland. was a pioneer of Perry Township, Wood Co., Ohio, where he lived and died. The parents of our subject settled in what is now

Fostoria. Ohio. in 1832. His father who engaged in mercantile business, dur- ing the cholera excitement of 1834, went with his family to Richland County, but soon returned, and in 1835 embarked in the hotel business, his hotel being the first in what was then known as Risdon. He conducted the hotel until 1841, when he was killed in a ditch by a bank caving on him. His family con- sisted of six children: Elizabeth (Mrs. Thomas Hays), James L., Sarah (de- ceased), Isaac N., William (deceased) and Richard (deceased). Our subject was reared and received a common school education in Fostoria. He succeeded to the hotel business of his father, which he conducted up to 1856, when he engaged in the lightning rod industry, following it four years. In April, 1861. he was appointed postmaster of Fostoria, which position he held up to October, 1870. He then purchased a farm in Loudon Township, this county, and en-

gaged in stock business. In 1873 he erected one-third of the brick building known as the Mickey Block, his division comprising two stores, three stories high, each 22x75 feet. Mr. Mickey was married, in 1862. to Mary, daughter of David H. Edgar, of Dunkirk. Ohio. The issue of this union was five chil- dren: Harry, Claude, Newton, Charles and Don. Mr. Mickey is now holding the office of township treasurer, which he has filled for several terms. He is a F. & A. M. Politically he is a Republican.

JAMES C. MILLHIME, retired, Fostoria, was born in York County. Penn., June 30, 1823; son of John J. and Mary (Steyer) Millhime. He wa>

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reared and educated in his native county, and served an apprenticeship of two years at the miller's trade in Adams County, Penn. ; in the winter of 1847-48 he located in Fostoria, Ohio, and in 1848 purchased a farm of eighty acres in Jackson Township, this county. He was a miller in Carbaugh's mill, at Fos- toria, in 1848. and later in the mill of Roswell Crocker: was afterward em- ployed for several years as collector for Foster & Son. He then embarked in mercantile business on his own account, in which he continued up to 1863. In 1869 he was elected to the office of clerk of Seneca County, a position he held for two consecutive terms. In 1876 he erected the Keystone Block, the build- ing being 22x90 feet, and two stories high. In 1842 Mr. Millhime was married to Mary, daughter of Jacob and Mary (Bair) Throne, of Hanover, Penn., by whom he had five children: Edwin (died of fever at Camp Nevins during the late war of the Rebellion): Lucinda (deceased); Emma. wife of Christian Kistner; Mary, wife of Samuel Drenning, and James B. Mr. Millhime has been assessor of Fostoria for several terms. He is one of the public spirited citizens of the place, always alive to its interests. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and of the K. of H. Politically he is a Democrat.

JOHN P. MUENCH, grocer, Fostoria, born in Baden, Germany, Novem- ber 6, 1853, son of Jacob and Rosa (Muench) Mnench, was reared and educated in his native land. His father died in 1867, and in the summer of the same year our subject, with his mother, three sisters and a brother, immi- grated to America and located in Fremont. Ohio, where he served an ap- prenticeship of three years at the painter's trade. He then moved to Toledo, where he worked at his trade one year, after which he went to Coldwater, Mich., and there worked at his trade three months. In the fall of 1874 he located in Fostoria, this county, and followed his trade ten years. April 1. 1884, Mr. Muench embarked in the grocery business in which he has been successfully engaged to the present time. He has been twice married. His first wife, to whom he was married August 29, 1876. was Catherine. daughter of Nicholas and Margaret Walters, of Fostoria, and who bore him one child-William. Our sub- ject was married on second occasion, November 25, 1880, to Rosa, daughter of John and Theresa (Mainzer) Gnieser, of Sandusky County, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Muench are members of the German Lutheran Church. Politically he is a Democrat.

DANIEL W. MUSSER, liveryman, Fostoria, was born in Ravenna, Port- agre Co., Ohio. April 13. 1831. son of Jacob and Syndonia (Garrison) Musser. Jacob Musser. a pioneer blacksmith of Ravenna. settled in West Millgrove, Wood Co., Ohio. in 1855. and died there in 1870. Our subject settled in Fos- toria in 1858. and embarked in the livery business in which he has continued up to the present time and is the oldest established liveryman in the place. In 1861 he was united in marriage with Savannah, daughter of George and Mary Buchtel. of Fostoria. this county, and by her he has three children: Ida M., James W. and Hattie D. Mr. Musser is one of the prominent citizens of Fos- toria and is widely known. He pays strict attention to his business interests, and is courteous and obliging to all who may favor him with their patronage. Politically he is a Republican.

PARK L. MYERS, physician, Fostoria, was born in Fostoria, this county, May 28, 1860. son of Jacob J. and Rachel A. (Harsh) Myers, the former a native of Allegheny County, Penn., and the latter of Carroll County, Ohio. His paternal grandfather. John Myers, was a native of Germany and a pio- neer farmer of Allegheny County, Penn. His maternal grandfather, John Harsh, was a pioneer of Carroll County. Ohio, and later of Seneca County, Ohio. The father of our subject, who was a wagon-maker by trade, settled in

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Fostoria about 1848, where he worked as a journeyman for several years; then embarked in business for himself. continuing in the same till his death in 1875. His family consisted of five children: Eva (Mrs. Dr. F. J. Schaufelberger), Bruce M., Ralph (deceased), Park L. and Lulu. Our subject was reared in Fostoria, this county, where he received his early education. He began the study of medicine in the office of Williams & Henry, in Fostoria, in 1875. and in 1876 entered the medical department of the Wooster University, of Cleveland, Ohio, where he took one course of lectures. In 1878 he entered the Ohio Medical College of Cincinnati, graduating therefrom in 1879. He afterward took a course in 1879-80, and in July, 1880, began the practice of medicine in Fostoria. In 1881 he formed a partnership with Dr. C. A. Henry. with whom he is associated at present. Dr. Myers is a member of the K. of P. In politics he is a Republican.

CHRISTOPHER C. NESTLERODE. teacher and farmer. Fostoria, was born in Bald Eagle Valley, Centre Co .. Penn .. March 17. 1824, son of Israel and Susannah (Forrey) Nestlerode, who were natives of Lancaster County, Penn. The Nestlerode family originally came from Poland, and were Polish-Russian aristocrats, but in the famous Polish insurrection a part of the family joined the insurgents under Kosciusko, a few of whom afterward fled to America to escape a rebel's death. Those who remained loyal to the Russian government were re- warded with official positions. Count Nestlerode. a cousin of the grandfather of our subject, represented Russia at Washington during Jackson's administration, and was prime minister of that country until he was nearly ninety years old. John and Christian, great-grandfather and grandfather of our subject. were in the Federal service during the Revolutionary war, and served with distinction. Israel Nestlerode, father of our subject, was the tenth of twenty-six children. and was born December 2, 1795. His youth was spent in lumbering, rafting, fishing and farming. May 22. 1823. he married Susannah Forrey, born Febru- ary 15, 1801, daughter of Jacob and Susan (Lightner) Forrey, and granddaugh- ter of John Forrey. a native of France. Israel Nestlerode and wife came to Perry Township. Wood Co .. Ohio, in 1832, purchased eighty acres of land there, and entered 170 acres in Jackson Township, Seneca County. comprising a farm of 250 acres, which, with about 390 acres more, was surrounded by a swale run. This tract of land the Indians named "the Island, " and which after Mr. Nestlerode settled on it, they called " Nestlerode's Island, " which name it bears to this day. Mr. Nestlerode, the first actual settler of Perry Township, lived there until 1856, when he removed to Fostoria, where he died September 5. 1879. in his eighty- fourth year; his widow died December 10, 1883, in her eighty-third year. Their children were Christopher C .. Margaret (deceased), Sarah (wife of Dan- iel Rhoad), Israel W .. Jeremiah and Lafayette Marion (deceased). Our sub- ject was reared in Perry Township from seven years of age, and was educated for the most part in the backwoods. He attended Norwalk Seminary one term and Republic Academy seven terms. When seventeen years of age he began teaching in the common schools of Ohio. He taught five winters, working for his father each year during the farming season. He taught three years in the Tiffin Union Schools, and two years in the State of Arkansas. He organized the first union school west of the Mississippi, at Tipton, Iowa. He superin- tended the Tipton Union School five years; held the first teacher's institute ever held in Iowa. He held teachers' institutes in all the leading cities and towns of eastern and southern Iowa. He was chosen by the Iowa State Teachers' Association to represent that body at the State Board of Education, which held it first session in Des Moines, Iowa, during the winter of 1858-59. At that session the present world-renowned free school laws of Iowa were passed.

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Mr. Nestlerode was invited to a seat in that body, and was made an honorary member. He rendered much valuable service to the board, and no act was passed that was not first closely examined and carefully revised by him. He for three years edited the Iowa Instructor, the first free school journal pub- lished in the State. He sent a copy to each school board and prominent edu- cator in the State. He waged a merciless warfare against the " school-kill- ers," both in the Instructor and in the school rooms, and other places where he had the time and opportunity to address the hardy and intelligent pioneers of Iowa. He spared neither effort nor money in enforcing the school laws he had so anxiously assisted in making, and which provides the means for every child, rich or poor, colored or white, to receive an education free as the air he breathes. In 1862 Mr. Nestlerode was called from his labors in Iowa (the greatest sacrifice of his life) to the home of his boyhood to minister unto his parents in their afflictions and fast-failing health, and to bear the burdens that had become too heavy for them, which resulted in prolonging their lives nearly twenty years. The school board of Fostoria. Ohio, in the same year of his return, elected Mr. Nestlerode to take charge of their school. He undertook the work in connection with his home duties. He found the school merely a district school, and while in that shape incapable of successful development, but nothing daunted he set about educating the people of Fostoria for a change in their school system, and never ceased his effort until the Union School Law of Ohio for cities and towns was adopted. under which he organized a union school that has grown to be one of the foremost in the State. He was married, January 5, 1871, to Mary A., daughter of Hon. Morris P. and Mary (Gor- such) Skinner, of Fostoria, by whom he has one child-Mary Elizabeth. Mr. Nestlerode has held the office of mayor of Fostoria, secretary of the board of education, and numerous other offices. In politics he is a stanch advocate of prohibition.

JEREMIAH NESTLERODE, druggist and dealer in real estate, Fosto- ria, was born in Perry Township, Wood Co., Ohio, June 26, 1834, son of Israel and Susannah (Forrey) Nestlerode, who settled there in 1832. Our sub- ject was reared in his native township. and there received a common school education. He remained at home until his twenty-first year, when he engaged in farming for himself in Wood County, Ohio, which he continued up to twenty-eight years of age. In 1862 he located in Fostoria, this county, and entered general mercantile business, in which he remained fourteen years. In 1866 he opened a branch store, which he conducted for eight years in Jerry City (which was named in his honor), Wood County, Ohio. In 1874 he embarked for second time in the dry goods business in Fostoria, this county, which he followed for one year, and in 1875 was a contractor for county and railroad work. In 1877-78 Mr. Nestlerode was connected with the sash and blind manufacturing business under the firm name first of Bower & Co., then Hathaway, Campbell & Co. In 1879 he engaged in the clothing business, and the same year bought a stock of dry goods and carried on that business for two years. He was engaged in the livery business from 1880 to 1884. In 1881 Mr. Nestlerode embarked in the drug business, in which he is still interested, and has for many years also been engaged in the real estate business, being the first in Fostoria to make that line a specialty. He was married, January 23, 1857, to Ann E., daughter of Grafton and Rebecca Bernard, of Tiffin, Ohio. In politics Mr. Nestlerode has been a stanch Republican since the organization of the party.

LEVI NIEBEL. retired farmer. P. O. Fostoria, was born in Union County. Penn., October 8. 1816, son of Henry and Mary (Irely) Niebel, who

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setted in what is now Wyandot County in 1834. Our subject remained with his parents until twenty-one years of age. January 1, 1838, he was united in marriage with Elizabeth, daughter of John Ritter, of Pickaway County, Ohio, and by her he had two children, Elijah and John, the latter deceased. Janu- ary 1, 1842, Mr. Niebel married his second wife, Hannah, daughter of Henry Bish, of Fairfield County, Ohio, and by her had one child, Henry B. Our subject located in Bloom Township, this county, in an early day, and cleared a farm of 100 acres, on which he resided up to 1854, when he settled in Lou- don Township, and cleared a part of the farm now occupied by his son Elijah; he also cleared another farm in the northern part of this township. He and his wife are members of the Evangelical Association. He has served as trus- tee of Loudon Township one term. Politically he is a Republican.

ELIJAH NIEBEL, farmer, P. O. Fostoria, was born in Berwick, this county, January 10, 1839, son of Levi and Elizabeth (Ritter) Niebel, pioneers of Seneca County. Our subject was reared in Bloom and Loudon Townships and received a limited education in the common schools. He removed from Bloom to Loudon Township with his father in 1855, where, with the exception of six years, during which he resided in Fostoria. he has lived on the farm he now owns and occupies. He was in the late war of the Rebellion, enlisting Octo- ber 29, 1861. in Company D, Seventy-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry ; was in the battle of Shiloh, siege of Vicksburg, two engagements at Jackson, Miss., and was taken prisoner near Ripley, Miss., January 11, 1864, and sent to Anderson- ville, where he remained until the middle of September of that year, when he was transferred to Florence, S. C. : was paroled at Goldsboro, N. C., in March, 1865, and honorably discharged June 19, 1865, after nearly four years' ser- vice. October 3, 1865, Mr. Niebel was married to Emily. daughter of David and Hannah (Kiser) Young, pioneers of Loudon Township, this county. They had six children, four of whom survive: Minnie, Clara, Della and Arthur C. Mr. Niebel, wife and daughter are members of the United Brethren Church. He is a member of the G. A. R. He takes great interest in education. Polit- ically he is a Republican. He is a prominent farmer and enterprising citizen; owner of a fine farm of 155 acres, 115 of which are under cultivation and thoroughly drained.

JOHN NOBLE, stave manufacturer, Fostoria, was born in Nottingham- shire, England, May 28, 1833, son of Francis and Pethia Noble. He was reared on a farm in Canada, whither his people had emigrated in 1836, settling in Brant County. When eighteen years of age, John Noble went to Paris, Canada, to learn the cooper's trade, and in 1857 come to Sandusky County, Ohio, locating in Clyde, where he remained until 1858, when he came to Fos- toria. In 1864 he formed a partnership with John W. Griffith in the cooper business, which existed eight years. In 1871, together with his former partner, E. J. Cunningham, and Charles Foster, a company was established, known as the Fostoria Stave and Barrel Company (of which he is the pres- ent manager), which has conducted a successful business. Mr. Noble has been twice married, on the first occasion, in November, 1858, to Miss Ann Leech, who died April 3, 1861. His second marriage, July 13. 1863, was with Mrs. Mary E. Warner, widow of George W. Warner, and daughter of William and Mary Simons, early settlers of Seneca County, Ohio. The issue of this union was five children: Nellie M., Ada M .. Sarah A., John W. and Lelia B. (the latter two deceased). Mr. Noble served in the late war of the Rebellion, en- listing in May, 1862, in the Eighty-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served three months in West Virginia. In 1862 he joined the independent company of the Ohio National Guards. of which he was subsequently elected lieutenant,

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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