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 115

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 115

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).

CORIDON R. SACKETT, farmer, Fostoria, was born in Massachusetts August 19, 1824, son of Ezra and Laura Sackett, former of Scotch origin. The subject of our sketch was reared on a farm and received a limited education in the schools of his day. He was married, April 21. 1859, to Camelia M., daugh- ter of John W. and Maria Vrooman, of Oswego, N. Y., by whom he had three children, two of them now living: Emerson R. and Bertha E. In 1866 they lo- cated in Jackson Township. this county, and there remained until the fall of 1875. when they removed to Fostoria, where they now reside. Mr. and Mrs. Sackett are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Sackett is owner of a fine farm of 110 acres in Jackson Township, and is a worthy citizen. Mrs. Sackett's grandfather was a soldier in the Revolutionary war; her father, John W. Vroo- mau, was born in New York State, in 1799, came to Seneca County, Ohio, in 1832. and located in Liberty Township. where he settled on 160 acres of land. He was the first merchant at Bettsville. where he was in business for several years. He afterward moved to Fostoria, where he kept a general store. He died Jan-

nary 28, 1873.

FREDERICK J. SCHAUFELBERGER, physician, Fostoria, was born in Freedom. Beaver Co., Penn., April 28. 1850; son of Jacob and Margaretha (Fritcher) Schaufelberger, natives of Weingarten, Grand Duchy of Baden. Germany, and who settled in Hancock County, Ohio, in 1852. where the for- mer engaged at his trade (wagon-making) and farming in Washington Town- ship. up to 1882, when he retired from business and located in Fostoria, where

925

LOUDON TOWNSHIP.

he now resides. Jacob Schaufelberger's children were as follows: Louisa, Mary, Catherine (deceased), Frederick J .. John W. (an attorney in Tiffin), Amelia, Charles, Henry. Curtis and Frank. Our subject was reared in Han- cock County, Ohio, and was educated in the common schools and Heidelberg College. In 1881 he began the study of medicine in the office of Henry & Myers, of Fostoria, and graduated from the Jefferson Medical College of Phil- adelphia in 1884. He immediately commenced practice in Fostoria, where he has been engaged in the pursuit of his profession up to the present time. Prior to his commencing the study of medicine he was a prominent druggist in Fostoria, having been associated in business with James Fritcher from 1873 to 1882. He was married, October 9, 1877, to Eva J., daughter of Jacob J. and Rachel A. (Harsh) Myers, of Fostoria. They have one child, Frederick J. Dr. Schaufelberger is a member of the lodge of F. & A. M. at Fostoria, of which he was Master in 1879 and 1880. He was elected a member of the board of education of Fostoria. Ohio. April 6, 1885, of which body he is clerk. Politically he is a Republican.

GEORGE SCHRECK, liquor dealer. Fostoria, was born in Bavaria, Ger- many, February 20, 1830; only child of Henry and Margaret (Smith) Schreck. During his infancy his father died, and his mother subsequently married Will- iam Heilman, and with our subject came to Seneca County, Ohio, in 1848. and settled in Loudon Township, clearing a farm on which they lived till the death of Mr. and Mrs. Heilman. They had three children: Jacob, Philebene (Mrs. Matthias Fruith), and John. Our subject lived in Loudon Township from 1848 to 1854, when he went to California and there engaged in mining until 1858, when he returned to London Township, locating on sixty acres of land which he cleared and improved, and where he resided up to 1875, when he located in Fostoria, and has carried on his present business since that time. He was twice married, first, September 21, 1852. to Catherine, daughter of John Herrick, of Defiance County, Ohio, and by her he has six children, all now living: John, Andrew. Curtis. Mary, Charles and Henry, He was mar- ried, on second occasion. February 4, 1875, to Mary, daughter of Nicholas Leekner, of Tiffin, Ohio, and by her he has four children: Lula, George, Ross and Michael. Mr. Schreck is a member of the United Lutheran Church, Mrs. Schreck of the Catholic Church. Politically he is a Democrat.

AMOS SHELLER, farmer, P. O. Fostoria, was born in Washington Township, Hancock Co., Ohio, December 29, 1850; son of Samuel and Eliza- beth (Hartman) Sheller. His paternal grandfather, Henry Sheller, a native of Pennsylvania, settled in Loudon Township, this county, in 1832, on the farm now owned by H. Stuckey, which he cleared and improved, and where he resided until his death. He (Henry Sheller) had seven children: John (deceased), Eliza, Samuel, Sarah, Angeline, Fanny and Henry. Of these Samuel, father of our subject, after maturity, settled on an eighty acre tract of land in Washington Township (where his father had entered land from the Government) and lived there until 1868, when he removed to Loudon Township, this county; in 1876 he settled in Gratiot County, Mich., where he now resides. His children were eleven in number, and of them eight survive: William H., Amos, Mary, Jacob, Fanny, Noble, Chauncey and Imo. Our subject was married. April 2, 1877, to Emma J., daughter of Nathan and Lovina (Carbaugh) Wade, of Loudon Township, and by her he has one child. Harry E. Mr. Sheller settled in Gratiot County, Mich., in 1877, and there remained four years. In 1881 he returned to this township, and has since been actively engaged in farming. Politically he is a Republican.

926

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

CHRISTIAN SIEGCHRIST, farmer. P. O. Fostoria, was born in Wur temberg, Germany, February 21. 1816; son of Ludwig and Christiana (Ger- lach) Siegchrist. His father died in Germany, and his mother afterward mar- ried Christian Seheong and immigrated to America in 1847, locating in Tiffin. Ohio, but afterward moved to Loudon Township, where she died in 1851, at the age of fifty-eight years. Our subject came to America and located at Marion, Ohio. where he remained for a year and a half. In the autumn of 1841 he moved to Tiffin, where he worked at the carpenter's trade up to 1846: then he embarked in the brewery business. in which he continued up to 1860. when he was burned out. He then engaged in farming in Loudon Township, this county, on the farm where he has since resided. and on which he has made many improvements, erecting his present elegant brick residence in 1875. Mr. Siegchrist was twice married, on first occasion. March 19. 1842. to Chris- tiana Souder. who bore him four children: Christiana E .. wife of Louis Sou- der; Henry C .: Daniel; Maria A., wife of Fred Raber. Our subject was married, on second occasion. November 11. 1855, to Agnes Boller, also a native of Wurtemberg, Germany, and by this union there are two children: Christian M. and Louis. Mr. and Mrs. Siegchrist are members of the Lutheran Church. In politics he is a Democrat.

JOHN SIGNS. farmer. P. O. Bascom, was born in Wayne County, Ohio. September 10. 1818. son of George and Catherine (Worst) Signs, natives of Pennsylvania and pioneers of Wayne County. Our subject was reared and educated in his native county. He was united in marriage. November 18, 1842, with Elizabeth. daughter of Abraham and Elizabeth (Barnhart) Ecker, of Wayne County, Ohio. and by her he had two children: Abraham and Almira. (Almira married Eli Good, and at her death left twin sons: John E. and Eli E .. the former of whom. reared by our subject, now resides with him. ) Mr. Signs came to this county in the spring of 1843 and settled in Loudon Township, on the farm he now occupies. comprising 120 acres of land. ninety of which he has cleared. and on which he has made all improvements. Mrs. Signs died June 19. 1884. at the age of sixty-six years. four months and nineteen days. Her death was a sad blow to Mr. Signs, who feels her loss keenly, as they had lived together for almost forty-two years. Mr. Signs is a prominent citizen and farmer: in politics he is a Republican.

PETER SIMONIS. proprietor of "Cherry Hotel." Fostoria. was born in Big Spring Township, this county. in 1846: son of Adam and Kathrina (Effert) Simonis, natives of Germany, and who were among the pioneers of Big Spring Township. Our subject was reared on a farm. November 29, 1864. when in his eighteenth year, he enlisted in the late war of the Rebellion, in Company B. Forty-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry. and received an honorable discharge July 13, 1865. He then returned to Seneca County and embarked in the brewery business at New Riegel. in which he was interested a year and a half. He after- ward engaged in farming and in various other enterprises at New Riegel. In 1872 Mr. Simonis removed to Tiffin, Ohio. and embarked in the liquor busi- ness, which he followed there up to 1878, when he located in Fostoria and became proprietor of the "American House " for two and a half years. He then retired from business for six months. after which he became proprietor of the " Lake Erie Depot Restaurant," which he conducted five months, then took charge of the "Fostoria House," which he kept for a year and a half. In November. 1884, he removed to the corner of Main and Centre Streets, where he has since conducted the "Cherry Hotel." He was married, July 26. 1866, to Elizabeth, daughter of Henry Marche, of New Riegel, by whom he has had eight children. seven now living: Emma, Mollie, Joseph, Ida. Jennie.

927

LOUDON TOWNSHIP.

Bella and Tillie. Mr. and Mrs. Simonis are members of the Catholic Church. Politically he is a Democrat.

MORRIS P. SKINNER (deceased) was born in Franklin County. Penn .. July 11. 1811: son of Enoch and Elizabeth ( Wilson) Skinner. When he was but five years of age his father died. and when he was eleven years old he was thrown on his own resources. He learned the tanner's trade at Londonville. Penn .. and came to Seneca County, Ohio, in 1832, settling in what is now the limits of Fostoria, and embarked in the tanner's business, which he conducted for several years. He then engaged in farming and teaming. and cleared and improved a tract of forty acres (the homestead, which is a part of the lot, is now occupied by his widow). Mr. Skinner was twice married: by his first wife, Mary, daughter of John and Margaret Gorsuch. he had three children: Wil- son, Elizabeth (Mrs. Charles Olmsted) and Mary A. (Mrs. C. C. Nestlerode). His second marriage was with Jane M. Searles, who was born March 26, 1521, and is said to have been the first white child born in Eden Township, this county ; her parents. John and Jane (Duncan) Searles. settling there in 1820. To this union were born five children: Clara J. (Mrs. A. E. Ebersole), Louesa M. (Mrs. A. C. McClean), William M .. Frank J. (deceased) and Orlo D. (de- ceased). Mr. Skinner was a self-made man, and by industry and frugality amassed a fine property. He was representative of this county to the Legis- lature in 1859; held the office of county commissioner two terms. and was justice of the peace for several years. In politics he was always a stanch Democrat. He died April 17, 1876. in his sixty-fifth year. Mrs. Skinner has been a worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for forty-seven years.

A. JUDSON STACKHOUSE. attorney in Fostoria, was born in Colum- bia County, Penn .. September 23. 1850; son of Silas J. and Sarah B. (Lockhart) Stackhouse. natives of Pennsylvania. His father, a farmer by oc- cupation, located in Pleasant Township, Seneca Co., Ohio, in 1851. and re- moved to Liberty Township in 1857. where he now resides in his seventy-ninth year. He had six children who grew to maturity, viz .: William L., who served in the Third Ohio Volunteer Cavalry from the fall of 1861 to the close of the war, and now resides in Jackson County, Kans .; Benjamin. on the homestead; Ann B., wife of William C. Boor, of Wood County, Ohio; Joseph G. M., who served three months at the commencement of the late war in the Fourteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and again in the Third Ohio Volunteer Cavalry from the fall of 1861 until his death, near Corinth. Miss .. June 20, 1862; Lockhart, of Sandusky County, Ohio, and A. Judson. The paternal grandparents of our subject were Benjamin and Sarah (Jackson) Stackhouse. The former was a lineal descendant of Stackhouse, who settled on or near the present site of Philadelphia about 1682. The latter was a descendant of Robert Jackson. who settled on Long Island in 1643. His maternal grand- parents, Robert and Flora (Leigh) Lockhart, were natives of the county Armagh. Ireland, and of Scotch parentage. They immigrated to America in 1801. and settled in Northumberland County, Penn. Our subject was reared in Seneca County, Ohio, receiving his early education in the common schools. He remained at home on the farm until twenty-one years of age, then entered Heidelberg College, at Tiffin. attending four terms; in the intervals between terms he taught school, teaching during the winters of 1872-78 to 1876-77, inclusive. In 1875 he took a short course at the normal school. then located at Fostoria, and in February, 1877, entered the University of Wooster, Ohio, where he graduated in 1881. In August of that year he commenced reading law in the office of N. L. Brewer. of Tiffin, taught school in Melmore the fo)-

928

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

lowing winter of 1881-82, and was admitted to the bar November 6, 1883; and in January. 1884. located in Fostoria, where he has since been engaged in the practice of his profession. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church. In politics he is a Republican.

SAMUEL STEWARD, retired farmer, Fostoria, was born April 10, 1815. in Northampton County, Penn. : son of William and Catherine Steward, former of Scotch lineage. Our subject was reared on a farm in his native State, and educated in the common schools. He was married, in April. 1839, to Mary ME . daughter of Henry and Rachel Renner, of Crawford County, Penn., and the issue of this union was eight children: Catherine A., Mary E., William H., Sarah. Amanda, Luther M., Samuel O. and Charles O. (latter deceased). Mr. Steward settled in Crawford County, Penn .. in 1837, remaining there un- til 1848, when he moved to Perry Township. Wood Co., Ohio, and there re- sided until the fall of 1878, when he came to Fostoria, Ohio, where he now lives. He is an active member of the Reformed Church. Mr. Steward is owner of 240 acres of land in Wood County, Ohio, all of which he has acquired himself, and he is among the representative citizens of Fostoria.

FRANCIS R. STEWART. hardware merchant. Fostoria, was born in Lycoming County. Penn .. December 19, 1835: son of Thomas D. and Fanny (Riddell) Stewart. who settled in Clinton Township. this county, in 1838. His father entered eighty acres of land, and purchased eighty acres additional at $4 per acre, which he cleared and improved. and where he resided till the spring of 1854. when he removed to Perry Township, Wood Co., Ohio, and there remained until his death, which occurred in March, 1875, in his seventy- first year. He had nine children who grew to maturity: Mary, wife of Abra- ham Hyter, residing at Bradner; Rose, wife of G. W. Caldwell. of Perrysburg; Francis R. : Andrew D., a resident of Toledo: James M .. a physician at Oak Harbor; John T .. of Jackson. Mich. : Charles H. : William D., a physician of Pemberville, and Claren E. Our subject was reared in Clinton Township, this county, until eighteen years of age, and was educated at Republic Academy and Heidelberg College. In 1858 he located in Fostoria, where he taught school until the breaking out of the late war of the Rebellion. He enlisted in Company H. Forty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. August 15, 1861, and Sep- tember 1. same year. he was promoted to sergeant. and in May, 1863, to first sergeant; February 28, 1864. he veteranized in same company and regiment, and March 10. 1864, was promoted to second lieutenant; August 17. 1864, he was promoted to first lieutenant for meritorious service at the battle of Picket's Mill; at the battle of Nashville he had charge of Companies K and E: in De- cember. 1864, he was promoted to captain. He participated in all the engage- ments in which his regiment took part, was wounded at the battle of Stone River, and twice during the Atlanta campaign. He was honorably discharged from the service, December 31. 1865, at Columbus, Ohio. In 1866 he em- barked in the hardware business, in Fostoria, with John A. Bradner, with whom he was connected about a year. He then became associated with his brother John T. for five years, after which he conducted the business alone up to the fall of 1883. when C. L. Powell became associated in business with him under the firm name of Powell & Stewart. Mr. Stewart was married. October 3. 1866, to Roxana. daughter of John C. and Artemesia (Mason) DeWitt, who were among the pioneers of this county, where they settled in 1835. The issue of this union was five children: Frank D .. Lee R .. Homer V., Jesse C. and Victor W. Mr. and Mrs. Stewart and their eldest son are members of the Presbyterian Church, in which he has been an elder for many years. He is a F. & A. M., and a member of the G. A. R. Post at Fostoria, serving as com-

929

LOUDON TOWNSHIP.

mander of the latter at the present time. Mr. Stewart has been mayor of Fostoria one term, and trustee and member of the executive committee of Fos- toria Academy since its organization. Politically he is a Republican.

ISAAC STULTZ, farmer, P. O. Fostoria, was born in Frederick County, Md., August 29, 1806; son of James and Polly (Wilson) Stultz. He was reared and educated in his native county, and there served a four years' ap- prenticeship to the tanner's trade. In 1834 he came to Ohio and located in Tiffin, where he followed his trade and farming up to 1845, when he moved to Loudon Township, and in 1868 to the farm he now owns and occupies. He was married, April 12, 1837, to Martha, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Miller) Daly, of Tiffin, formerly of Pennsylvania, and who came to Tiffin. this county, in 1822. By this union there were nine children, six of whom are now living: Mary, Sylvia (Mrs. Fred Werner). Ella (Mrs. John Dillon). James. Emma (Mrs. Calvin Frederick) and Isaac. Mr. Stultz has held the office of township trustee eight terms. In politics he has always been a Re- publican till last presidential election.

GEORGE H. THOMPSON, of the firm of Wade & Thompson, proprietors of the "Hays House," Fostoria, was born in Laona, Chautauqua Co., N. Y., April 14. 1856: son of William and Mary A. (Lawton) Thompson. He was reared and educated in his native county, and is a graduate of Bryant & Strat- ton's Commercial College, of Buffalo, N. Y. December 30, 1878, he located in Toledo, Ohio, where he served in the capacity of clerk and book-keeper of the "Island House" for five years. February 25, 1584, he located at Fostoria. this county, where he served as clerk of the "Hays House" for Wade & Reeves until September 12 of the same year, when he purchased Mr. Reeves' interest in the hotel, which has since been conducted in the name of Wade & Thompson. Mr. Thompson was married, September 24. 1884. to Emma S. Malkson, of Topsfield, Maine, while visiting her sister, Mrs. B. O. Hall, of Toledo, Ohio. The "Hays House" is the only first-class hotel in Fostoria, and is one of the most popular in northwestern Ohio. Mr. Thompson, who is the resident partner, thoroughly understands his business, is widely known among the traveling fraternity, and spares no expense to make his guests feel at home.

JOHN P. WARNER, proprietor of the Livingston Roller-mills, Fostoria, was born in Wayne County, Ohio, June 19, 1854; son of Ezra B. and Cath- erine (Ewing) Warner. He was reared and educated in Arcadia, Hancock Co., Ohio, where he learned the miller's trade in his father's mill. At the age of eighteen years he came to Fostoria, this county, where he engaged as head miller with E. J. Cunningham & Co., with whom he remained seven years. He then leased the mill for three years, and in 1881 bought the mill with E. J. Padgham, which partnership lasted twenty months, when he bought Padgham's interest, since which time (1882) he has been sole proprie- tor. This mill was built in 1862, and in July. 1863. Mr. Warner put in all the latest improvements in machinery, eleven set of rollers, Livingston process, etc. The mill is run by eighty-horse power engines, and has a capacity of 100 barrels per day. Our subject was married. May 18, 1876, to Ella A. Johnson, of Fostoria, by whom he has one child-Lida E. Mr. Warner is one of the enterprising business men of Fostoria. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in the Sabbath-school of which he has always taken an active interest, and has been teacher of the Bible class for several years. He is a member of the K. of H. Politically he is a Republican.

ALPHEUS WEAVER, dry goods merchant, Fostoria, was born in London Township. this county. July 22. 1843, son of Eli and Mary (Dillon) Weaver,

030

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

who settled in Loudon Township in 1838, where Eli Weaver bought a farm of 120 acres, a part of which he cleared and improved. and on which he resided until his death (his widow afterward married C. L. Reynolds. of Fostoria, and is now residing in Eaton County, Mich.). They had five children, of whom three survive: George, Rachel, wife of Allen Stevens, and Alpheus. Our sub- ject was reared in Loudon Township, where he received a common school edu- cation. At the age of eighteen years, in August. 1861, he enlisted in Con- pany H. Forty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry; veteranized in 1863, in same company and regiment; was in the battles of Shiloh, Liberty Gap, Chicka- mauga, Rocky Face, Resaca and Dallas. At the latter place he was wounded in the right hand, which disabled him from service, and he was transferred to hospital duty, in which capacity he served one year. He was honorably dis- charged in November. 1865. In 1866 he embarked in mercantile business at McComb. Hancock Co., Ohio, in which he continued about seven months. He then clerked in a dry goods store, in Fostoria. for seven years, and in the spring of 1875, with T. D. Adams. Esy .. embarked in the dry goods business at Fostoria. which partnership existed up to March. 1885, when Mr. Adams sold his interest to our subject, who is now sole proprietor and doing a success- ful business. Mr. Weaver was married. in November, 1867, to Rachel D., daughter of Robert and Rhoda (Hendrickson) Patterson, of Tiffin. Ohio. and by her he has four children: Durant D .. Wylie W .. Alpheus J. and Ollin T. Mr. and Mrs. Weaver are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a member of the K. of H. Politically he is a Democrat.

BENJAMIN WELLS, retired. Fostoria, was born in Carroll County, Ohio. November 28, 1825. son of David and Sarah ( White) Wells, who settled in Perry Township, Wood Co .. Ohio, in 1836. where they lived and died. In 1842 our subject located in Fostoria, this county, and served an apprentice- ship of three and a half years at the blacksmith's trade with Joel Hale, Jr. He then opened a shop for himself. which he carried on for eighteen years, when he embarked in the livery business, which he followed for twenty years, when he retired. Mr. Wells was united in marriage, in July, 1850, with Eliza A., daughter of Samuel E. and Mary (Fry) Van Dyke, of Hancock County, Ohio, and by this union had two children: Albert and Samuel E. Mr. Wells is one of the prominent citizens of Fostoria. Politically he is a Republican.

FREDERICK WERNER. tailor, Fostoria, was born in Koenigslutter, Dukedom of Brunswick, Germany, June 23. 1836, son of Henry and Caroline (Miller) Werner. He was reared and educated in his native country, and there served a four years' apprenticeship at his trade. When fourteen years of age. his father died, and at the age of eighteen he, with his mother, immigrated to America and located at Norwalk. Ohio, where he remained two years; he then removed to Washington, Mo. (During this time he worked two years at his trade as a journeyman. and the balance of the time was in business for him- self). In 1860 he located in Fostoria. this county, where he worked at his trade up to April 19. 1861, when he enlisted in Company H, Twenty-first Ohio Volun- teer Infantry, being the first man enrolled from this place. After serving three months, he was honorably discharged. August 12, then re-enlisted, August 15, same year, in Company H. Forty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, for three years; was in the battles of Green River, Shiloh. Corinth, Perryville and Stone River, was wounded in right thigh and kne at Stone River. and was honorably discharged on account of disability, August 12, 1863. He then re- turned to Fostoria. where he worked at tailoring as a journeyman till the spring of 1879, when he embarked in business on his own account. in which he has continued to the present time. Mr. Werner married. September 4.

931

LOUDON TOWNSHIP.

1866, Sylvia, daughter of Isaac and Martha (Daley) Stultz, of Loudon Town- ship, this county, and by her has five children: William W., Frederick, Elsie, Charles and Maud. Mr. Werner is a F. & A. M., and a member of the G. A. R. Politically he is a Republican.

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