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 89

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 89

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CLINTON TOWNSHIP AND TIFFIN CITY.

PERRY M. ADAMS, attorney at law, Tiffin, and prosecuting attorney for Seneca County, was born in Wood County, Ohio, December 2, 1850, and is the eldest son and second child (of a family of three sons and five daughters). of Harvey and Susannah A. (Phelps) Adams, and is of lineal descent, on his father's side, from an old New England family. His great-great-grandfather, Alexander Adams, was of Revolutionary times and a native of New Jersey. His great-grandfather, David Adams, settled in Beaver (now Lawrence) County, Penn., from New Jersey, where his son David, father of Harvey, was raised and married Sarah Mckibben, and subsequently, in 1835, moved to Wood County, Ohio. with his family. when Harvey was twelve years of age, and raised a family of seven sons and seven daughters, who (with the exception of three members) reared large families in Wood County. Mrs. Susannah A. (Phelps) Adams, a native of Pennsylvania, was a daughter of Ralph D. Phelps, a farmer of Wood County, Ohio, and a native of Connecticut, and Nancy (Parson) Phelps, a native of Kentucky. The subject of our sketch received a good edu- cation in the public schools of his native county and engaged in teaching, in which professson he excelled. He, however, applied himself to further his literary accomplishments, and, being self-dependent, taught while he read law. He attended literary and scientific courses at Fostoria, Ohio, and after- ward at Republic, same State. Feeling an "itching palm" for the knowledge

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of law, he eventually came to Tiffin, this county, and entered the office of the Hon. W. P. Noble (his present partner), March 18, 1874, and on April 13, 1876, was admitted to the bar of Ohio. He immediately accepted a partner- ship with his worthy preceptor, which has continued without interruption since. In April, 1879, he was chosen solicitor for the city, and re-elected in 1881, resigning, however, in March, 1882, to accept his present incumbency to which he had been elected the preceding October, and to which he was honorably re- elected in October, 1884. Mr. Adams married, in Washington, D. C., April 26, 1881, Miss Annie E. Kiskadden. of that city, a lady of excellent literary and musical attainments, and a graduate of Mrs. Willard's College, New York. She is the only daughter of William and Mary E. (Campbell) Kiskadden, the former a native of Ohio, and prominent contractor. now of Denver, Col .; the latter a daughter of Alexander Campbell, a pioneer of Seneca County. Mr. and Mrs. Adams have two children: Eugenia K. and Harvey M. Mr. Adams has taken a prominent place in his profession here for so young a man, and bids fair to be heard from in the councils of the nation in the near future. He is of fine physique, of tall and commanding presence, and eminently fitted, as becomes his character, to dictate rather than accept. He is a worthy member of the Masonic fraternity.

MART. L. ALBRECHT. dealer in groceries and provisions, Tiffin, was born in Tiffin. this county, August 2, 1850. His parents, Philip and Minnie (Kreeger) Albrecht, were natives of Baden, the former born in Eppingen, and the latter in Sultzfeldt; they were married here in 1849. Philip Albrecht came to this country in 1832, and learned the trade of mason and builder from his father, Andrew Albrecht, who had three sons and one daughter, all of whom reared families here. Philip Albrecht reared two sons and two daughters. Mart. L. Albrecht learned the trade of his father, and was actively connected with it here for several years. In 1879 he embarked in his present business and is one of the successful young men of the city. He is an active member of the Turner's Society, K. of P. and Bruderbund. He has given considerable attention to his musical training, and has been a member of Boos' Band and Orchestra since 1875. He is an excellent gentle- man, of fine physique and noble bearing. He has lived in this city all his life, and his reputation is second to none.

LOUIS ANGENE, harness manufacturer and proprietor of livery stable. Tiffin, was born in Bavaria, Germany, in 1847. His parents, Adam and Bar- bara (Shearer) Angene, also natives of Bavaria, came to America in 1847 and settled in Crawford County, Ohio, where the former carried on farming (his original business was flour-milling), and where they reared four sons and seven daughters. The subject of our sketch carried on farming in Crawford Coun- ty, and did considerable in the way of auctioneering. In 1875 he came to Tiffin, and has been an important factor in the development of many industrial enterprises; first in buggy and carriage trade; next in harness manufacturing, and, latterly, in the livery and feed business, all of which he still carries on. He has in the meantime also done an important part in crying sales in the county, and his ability in this direction has gained for him the sobri- quet of "the affable auctioneer of Tiffin." Mr. Angene was married in Craw- ford County. Ohio, in 1874, to Barbara E., daughter of John Feighner, Esq .. a pioneer there from Pennsylvania, and by this union there is one daughter, Anna Laura. In November, 1877, Mrs. Angene passed away from this life in full communion with the First Presbyterian Church, and is laid to rest in Maple Grove Cemetery. Mr. Angene is an able business man and a worthy citizen, and, although holding aloof from public office, has served efficiently in his party (Democratic) as an active worker.

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WILLIAM S. BACON. proprietor of the Clifton Mills, Tiffin, was born in Crawford County, Ohio, December 1, 1829, and comes of a line of pioneers of Massachusetts and Pennsylvania, antedating the "Revolution." His father, Ralph Bacon, a native of Massachusetts, and descended of pioneers in that State from the Isle of Man. settled in what is now known as Lake County, Ohio. about 1798, and married Polly Jordan, a native of Pennsylvania, whose grandfather settled in that State from Ireland. Ralph Bacon raised a family of five sons and eight daughters (all of whom except one daughter reared families). The subject of this sketch was reared in Crawford County (whither his parents had removed in 1820), and, at fifteen, went West, returning at the age of nineteen to his native place, where he carried on carpentering (also in Wyandot County), for several years. He subsequently took up saw-milling, at which he was engaged till the breaking out of the war. when he retired from that business and carried on a tannery, which, in 1864. he abandoned, coming to this county aud purchasing a half interest in the Bloomville Flouring Mills. This he subsequently sold out and returned to saw-milling and building in Crawford County, till 1868. when he, in partnership with Dr. I. B. Squier, bought the " Liberty Mills " (Houring-mills), in Crawford County, and carried on that industry there till 1875, when he returned to Bloomville and purchased his former property and operated the Bloomville Mills till 1879, when he pur- chased his present mills, which he has brought up to a leading prominence in the milling interests of this county. He is a public spirited and progressive citizen. and has contributed in no small degree to the development of the many excellent social and industrial institutions of Tiffin. He was married in Bucyrus. December 1. 1859, to Miss Savena Hawk, daughter of the late David Hawk, an early pioneer from Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Bacon have three sons and two daughters, Frank (a practical miller associated with his father), Clara, Willis, Herbert and Helen. Mrs. Bacon, a lady of estimable attain- inents, is a member of the Lutheran Church.

SILAS W. BAKER, P. O. Tiffin, is one of the young and enterprising farmers of Clinton Township, where he was born February 2, 1856. His parents, Frederick A. and Ann C. Baker, natives of Maryland, were married in Tiffin. Ohio, and settled on the farm where our subject now resides, and where they have remained ever since. They are the parents of three children: Silas W., Jennie and Rosa. Silas W., our subject, was united in marriage, November 29, 1881, with Hattie Miller, born in Pleasant Township, this county, December 9. 1861. daughter of Andrew J. and Ann M. Miller, the former a native of New York State, and the latter of Seneca County, Ohio. Both are residing in Pleasant Township. To our subject and wife have been born two children: Maud, born February 23, 1883. and Ollie, born July 18, 1884. Our subject manages his father's farm, consisting of 190 acres, all improved land. He is a member of the Grange.

CHARLES H. BALDWIN, secretary of the Tiffin Union Churn Com- pany, of Tiffin, was born in Tiffin, this county. May 23, 1845, and is a son of A. C. and Mary Jane Baldwin, of this city. The subject of our sketch com- pleted a liberal literary education here, and, at fifteen, entered the office of the Seneca Advertiser, where he completed an apprenticeship at type-setting. The late civil war breaking out, be enlisted his services in Company H. Eighty-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in 1862, and continued in service till the dismemberment of the regiment. Upon leaving the army he "went West," where he was con- nected with freighting "over the plains " from St. Joe, Mo., to Denver, Col .. for some time. Returning here he assumed his present position. He was married. in 1874. to Anna, daughter of Thomas W. and Sarah Jane Watson,

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of Pleasant Township, this county, and this union has been blessed with two sons and one daughter: Anna Watson, Thomas Chenoweth and Absalom Charles. He and his worthy wife are members of the Presbyterian Church. He has been a Mason since he was twenty-four years of age and has attained to the degree of Knight Templar of De Molay Commandery No. 9; also Scottish Rite degrees of Masonry including 32".

FRANCIS BALL. proprietor of restaurant and saloon, Tiffin, was born in Bühl, Canton of Seltz, Alsace, October 1, 1835, and came to this county in 1852, son of Joseph and Catharine (Schaub) Ball, who settled in Thompson Township, this county, about 1853. Francis Ball had preceded his parents to this country, and upon their arrival came with them here, where he farmed, and subsequently engaged in merchandising, in what is known as Frank's Cor- ners (named after him), where he carried on an active business for over fifteen years, and was the first postmaster of that place, a useful public man and citi- zen. He afterward located at Tiffin, in his present business. He was married, in 1859, to Johanna, daughter of Paul Herman, Esq., of Thompson Township, this county, and by her has a family of seven sons and four daughters: Francis X. (a merchant), Mary Anna, Jacob J., John H. (a printer), Edward L., Ce- cilia J., Albert G., William A., Lucy M., Ida A. and Otto P. Mr. Ball and family are members of the Roman Catholic Church, St. Joseph's congregation. He has been an active member of the Bruderbund, and is its present honored secretary. Mr. Ball has always been fully alive to the progressive spirit of the times, and has contributed liberally toward the support of all measures tending to the public good. He is an ardent Democrat, and a worthy member of the party in this county.

B. F. BAUM, agent of the Northwestern Ohio Railway Company, Tiffin, was born in York County, Penn .. December 9, 1845, and is a son of Peter S. and Elizabeth (Stambaugh) Baum. The Baums were German pioneers in the State, Peter Baum, grandfather of our subject, being a native of Germany, one who did recognized service in the Revolutionary war. The Stambaugh's bore a similar record, Jonathan Stambaugh, subject's maternal grandfather, having also served in the Revolutionary war. The subject of this sketch began telegraphing in Parkton, Md., and held the office there for two years. He con- tinued with the Northern Central Railway of Maryland for seven years, after which he engaged in commission warehousing in Glen Rock, York Co., Penn. In 1872 he came to Wooster. Ohio, and after a year's professional work with the Pennsylvania Company's lines he came to Tiffin, where he has been promi- nently identified with the Northwestern Ohio Railway since, his present incum- bency having been received by him in 1881. Mr. Baum was married at Glen Rock, Penn., in 1868, to Mary Elizabeth, daughter of Emanuel Sheffer, and by this union there were two sons and three daughters: Arthur, Philip, Clara and Gracie living, Lottie (the eldest) is deceased. Mr. Baum has been a F. & A. M. since 1869; is also a member of the K. of H. and K. of P.

CHARLES F. BEARD. stock dealer, Tiffin, represents one of the impor- tant industries in this locality. He was born in Bristol County, Mass., Octo- ber 25, 1829, and is descended of pioneer Scotch and English ancestry in the East. His parents. Matthew and Hanna (Lapham) Beard, settled in Scipio Township, this county, in 1833, and are there buried along with a son and daughter. The subject of our sketch has followed his father's business (farm- ing and stock-raising) with excellent success. He was united in marriage, in 1853, with Mrs. Lucinda Tabor, daughter of Erastus Jones, of Scipio Town- ship, this county, and by her he has two daughters: Ida, now the wife of J. Smith. of Scipio, and Janie, wife of Mr. Skransewfky, of Ohio. Mr. Beard

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has avoided publicity in political matters, acting upon the motto that "what is worth doing is worth doing well." He has accumulated a handsome com- petency from his business, and has lived to see his children well educated and taking upon themselves the importance in life this position requires.

LEWIS F. BENDER, farmer, P. O. Tiffin, was born near Red River, Canada. June 9, 1823, and is a son of Jacob and Rosanna Bender, natives of the old country, and who came to Canada where they were married and first settled about 1822; in the latter part of 1823, being routed by the Indians, they went down the Missouri River as far as St. Louis, and there Mrs. Bender departed this life. The rest of the family remained in St. Louis about four years, during which time Jacob Bender again married, this time to Rosanna Clink, a native of Wurtemberg. From St. Louis the family moved to Alton, Ill., and there remained some years, then moved to Cincinnati, where they staid a short time, and from there went to Richland County, Ohio, and, in 1833, came to this county, remaining until 1847, then moved to Williams County, where Jacob Bender died; his widow now resides in Missouri. Lewis F. Bender, our subject, was united in marriage in this county, September 15, 1850, with Massey Figgens, whose maiden name was Leonard, a daughter of Ezekiel and Anna (Leonard) Leonard, and who was born in Westchester County, Penn., July 21, 1819; her parents are both deceased. Our subject and wife are the parents of four children: Ada V., wife of Isaiah Staley; Rebecca E. ; Charlie F .; and Mabel, all living. Mr. Bender is a tanner and currier by trade, but has been engaged in farming most of his life, and owns a fine farm where he and his family reside. Our subject, like his father, has been somewhat of a rover in his time. In 1861 he went prospecting in Cali- fornia and returned at close of same year. Mrs. Bender and her son, Charles, are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Bender was christened in the German Lutheran, when an infant, and also in the Catholic faith, at five years of age, it being the grandparents' wish on the mother's side, but being "universally " inclined he has joined no other church.

JOHN H. BENNEHOFF, county recorder, Tiffin, was born in Adams Township, Seneca Co., Ohio. His parents, Solomon and Ann (Rader) Ben- nehoff, settled in that locality in 1840, coming from Lehigh County, Penn., the former descended from pioneer German ancestry of Pennsylvania, and the latter from English pioneers of same State. John H. Bennehoff is the seventh child and fifth son of a family of six sons and two daughters (two sons and a daughter now deceased). His early education was obtained in the schools of Scipio Township, this county, where he excelled as a student, insomuch that at the age of eighteen he received a certificate as teacher, in which profession he was well known here for twelve years; during this time he also attended school at Heidelberg College, and completed a commercial training at Bryant & Stratton's College at Cincinnati. He is what is generally known as a self made man, having to rely upon himself for an education and his advancement in social life. In 1881 he retired from teaching to fill his present incumbency (a position to which he was chosen out of a list of thirteen competitors), in which capacity he has been reputably connected ever since, receiving at his re-election a largely increased majority of the popular vote of the county. Mr. Bennehoff has served as secretary of the State Recorders' Association and is now vice-president of said association. He was married, November 9, 1882, at Monroe, Mich .. to Miss Ida A. Hensinger, a lady of excellent attainments, daughter of John and Catharine (Neikirk) Hensinger, of Adams Township, this county. They have two sons-Otto John and Orlando G. Our subject is a member of the I. O. O. F. and of the encampment. He is a stockholder of

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the Tiffin Edison Electric Illuminating Company, and a cordial supporter of all measures tending to the development of the industrial life of this locality.

CAPT. RUSSEL HANBY BEVER, contractor and builder, Tiffin, was born in Crawford County, Ohio, April 19, 1837, son of the Rev. Joseph and Sarah (Trimble) Bever, the former of whom, a native of Virginia and of pioneer German ancestry of that State, was educated to the ministry of the United Brethren Church, and after doing considerable pioneer work in other parts of the State settled in Eden Township in the spring of 1823. Rev. Joseph Bever reared six sons, all of whom are active and useful citizens: Rus- sel H. ; A. M., a builder of Marion, Ohio; D. M., a builder; L. O., a farmer in Eden Township, this county; J. T., a builder of Fostoria, Ohio; J. M., a lawyer and present mayor of Fostoria. Capt. Bever learned the blacksmith's trade at Melmore and followed it there till the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion, when he enlisted, September 25, 1861, in Company H, Fifty-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and steadily advanced in promotion to the commis- sion of second lieutenant, May 2, 1863. April 1, 1864, he was commissioned first lieutenant, and November 3, same year, to the captaincy of his company, which he honorably held till the end of the war. He was honorably dis- charged at Cleveland, Ohio, July 21, 1865, as veteran of Company H. Fifty- sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. After the war he engaged in contracting and building in Tiffin, and has been prominently identified with that industry here since. Capt. Bever was married in Melmore, this county, in 1858, to A. E. Bretz, daughter of Jacob and Phila (Wolf) Bretz, pioneers of Eden Town- ship. This union has been blessed with three sons and two daughters: Robert C., Viola B., Minnie J., Ralph V. and Earl J. Mrs. Bever and daughters are worthy members of the Methodist Protestant Church, to which the Cap- tain is a liberal contributor. He is a member of Isaac P. Rule Post G. A. R.

DELANZA MONROE BEVER, contractor and builder, Tiffin, is the fourth son of the Rev. Joseph Bever, and was born in Eden Township, this county, March 7, 1844. He learned the carpentering trade in this county and embarked in the building business, with which he has been prominently con- nected since. Mr. Bever was united in marriage, February 22, 1883, at Tiffin, with Jessie, daughter of Squire Gabriel J. and Regetta Keen, the former a native of Baltimore, Md., the latter of Pennsylvania. Mr. Bever's building interest here has been confined to private residences, among which may be noticed those belonging to C. J. Yingling, Benjamin G. Atkins, and others.

CATHARINE BIEHLER, P. O. Tiffin, widow of Andrew Biehler, who died in 1876, was born in Alsace, France (now Germany). Landing in Maryland, she remained there four years, then moved to Pennsylvania, where she resided four years, and in 1854 came to this county. Her six children are all married: Catharine (Mrs. Schroth, mother of four children); Nicholas, married to Christena Willie; Henry, married to Sarah Breidinger (have two children); Louisa, married to J. Schroth (have one child); David, married to A. M. Hoke (have four children); Callie B., married to W. S. Wagner (have one child). Mrs. Biehler, who is a fine old French lady, resides on the old homestead.

REV. D. D. BIGGER, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, of Tiffin, was born in Pittsburgh, Penn., May 18, 1849, and descends from a people prominent in connection with Presbyterian church work in this country on both sides of his parentage. His father, the late Rev. Matthew Bigger, D.D., of Bushnell, Ill., was a son of David Bigger, of New Concord, Ohio, who was prominent there as a pioneer farmer, tanner, and an active United Presbyterian churchman, was of Scotch-Irish ancestry, and of direct lineal descent from

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the Biggars, of Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland. His family consisted of four sons and four daughters, of whom Matthew, the eldest, took prominence in connection with educational institutions, notably in West Virginia and in Illinois, and another son was the Hon. David Proudfit Bigger, M. D., of Mis- souri, and, more professionally, consulting surgeon of the Union Pacific Railway. The mother of our subject was Mary Jane Cunningham, daughter of John Cunningham. a native of Cannonsburg, Pennsylvania, of Scotch-Irish extrac- tion, and who reared a family of four sons and four daughters, of whom are Thomas Mitchell Cunningham, D. D., prominently known in this country in connection with the Presbyterian Church, and James Cunningham, M. D., of Monmouth, Ill., a physician of repute, and an ardent churchman. It may be said in this connection that both the Bigger and Cunningham families' love for the faith was no less marked than their love of their early nationality, of which. in some of the earlier mention of these families' annals and reminiscences, their native heather, where they could worship openly, became talismanic. The subject of our sketch spent his early life in Monmouth (whither his father had removed in connection with the Presbyterian Theological Seminary there) and was educated there and at Chicago. He completed his academical educa- tion at Monmouth, and graduated in a collegiate course there in 1875. He then entered the Seminary of the Northwest at Chicago in a theological course, and graduated from that institution, under the presidency of F. L. Patton, D. D., LL. D., in 1878. He had received a license to preach in the preced- ing year, and had during his stay in Chicago been very active in connection with mission work, with the Presbyterian Church there, so that upon gradu- ating he felt better able to combat his work, and accepted his present call, in May, following his graduation, and circumstances have proved his better judg- ment (see church history). He married in La Porte, Ind., May 23, 1878, Miss Sarah Louisa Breese, daughter of John H. and Harriet (Bowers) Breese, natives, respectively, of New York and Vermont. They have two sons and one daughter: Paul Breese, Matthew Leon and Genevieve Marie. Mr. Bigger, while being an ardent minister, is an excellent citizen; of a suave and affable disposition, he gathers around him many friends not controlled by his eccle- siastical teachings, and in this connection may be probably traced an import- ant incentive to the marked growth of the Presbyterian Church here since his advent. In stature he is of medium height, of good physique, and, on the rostrum, he is a deep reasoner, a forcible debater and an eloquent speaker.

COL. JACOB BOWSER, retired farmer, P. O., Tiffin, is one of the pio- neers of Seneca County, born in Washington County, Md., January 7, 1806, His parents, John and Magdalena Bowser, were natives of Maryland, where they married and remained until 1829, at which time they moved to Ohio and settled in Clinton Township, and there resided until their death. They were the parents of nine children, only two of whom are now living: our sub- ject and Mrs. Allen. Col. Bowser came to this county in 1827, remaining only a few weeks, and then returned to Maryland. In 1829 he again visited Ohio and bought the farm where he now lives, and in 1830 he returned to Maryland for his wife. They were married March 25, and came direct to the farm he had purchased in Clinton Township. Mrs. Bowser's maiden name was Anna Startzman; she was born in Maryland in 1809, and was a daughter of David and Margaret Startzman, who remained in Maryland until their deaths. Col. and Mrs. Bowser were the parents of nine children, five now living: Martin L., Thomas B., Ezra J., James M. and Isabella, wife of Frank Chase. The de- ceased are David H .. Margaret, John H. and an infant. Col. Bowser. who has been engaged in farming nearly all his life, owns 320 acres of land where

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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