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 95

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 95

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at home. a student in Heidelberg College. and they have laid to her rest in Maple Grove Cemetery, their only daughter, Elizabeth R., a young lady of nineteen years, full of future promise.

LEWIS KELLER. farmer. P. O. Tiffin. was born in Fairfield County, Ohio. October 29. 1SOS, son of John and Elizabeth Keller, natives of York County, Penn .. where they were married. From there they moved to Fairfield County, Ohio, in 1805. where they remained until 1828, then moved to Clinton Township. this county, and here spent the remainder of their days, Mrs. Kel- ler dying in 1857 and Mr. Keller in 1859. Our subject was united in mar- riage March 25. 1845, with Mary A. Shriver, who was born in Adams County, Penn .. March 14, 1814. Her parents were Frederick W. and Catharine Shriver, natives of Adams County. Penn .. and who in 1824 moved to Columbiana County. Ohio, remaining until 1833, in which year they settled in this county, where they died. Mr. Shriver in 1840 and his widow in 1884. To Mr. and Mrs. Keller have been born seven children. three now living: Catharine E. (wife of W. H. Baker), John W. and Sarah J. Our subject is a blacksmith, a trade he followed for years. He owns a nice farm where he and family reside. They are members of Grace Reformed Church.

JOEL KELLER (deceased) was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, February 28. 1821; son of John and Elizabeth Keller. natives of York County, Penn., and who moved to Fairfield County. Ohio, in 1805, there remaining until 1828 when they came to Clinton Township. this county, where they remained until their death, Mrs. Keller dying in 1857 and Mr. Keller in 1859. Our subject was united in marriage January 1. 1860, with Mary A. Cupp, born in Fair- field County. Ohio, February 5. 1534. daughter of William and Catharine Cupp, natives of Virginia, who were married in Fairfield County, Ohio, and in 1865 moved to Tiffin, this county. where they now reside. Mr. and Mrs. Kel- ler were the parents of two children: George W. and Carrie E. Mr. Keller was reared on a farm, and was engaged in farming and milling most of his life. At the time of his death he owned two mills and over 400 acres of fine land. He was a faithful member of the Methodist Protestant Church. He de- parted this life September 15, 1SS1. leaving a widow and two children, besides a host of friends, to mourn his loss. Mrs. Mary A. C. Keller is a devoted ad- herent of the Methodist Protestant Church.

JOHN E. KING, contractor and builder in stone and brick, Tiffin, was born in Tiffin, this county, December 6, 1849. His parents, Lawrence and Bridget (Conners) King, were natives of County Kerry, Ireland, the former of the parish of Duagh. In 1841 Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence King came to this coun- try with their infant son, Timothy, now in the express business at San Francisco. Cal., and settled here, where six sons and five daughters were born (two sons and two daughters of whom they have buried): Mary (wife of Lewis Stone, of Fostoria): William (died in hospital. Georgia. from Company C, Forty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry); Jeremiah. in quarry business in Tiffin; Bridget. (wife of Henry C. Cook, of Omaha); John E .: Margaret (unmarried); Eliz- abeth, Philip and Ellen all died from diphtheria: and Lawrence and David, in general merchandise business in Republic, Mo. Our subject learned the trade of mason. and at the age of twenty-five embarked in contracting and building in that connection, with which he has been successfully identified since. He em- ploys from thirty to sixty men and has already left records of his workmanship in many of the fine residences, manufactories, churches, business blocks, etc., etc., in Tiffin and surrounding cities. He has also done considerable bridge building in railway work, and in county buildings. He is at present on the con- tract for building the Heidelberg College here: he built the Obrien Manufactur-

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ing Company's Works, the Tiffin Nut and Bolt Works, Grace Reformed Church, etc. Mr. King was married in Fremont, Ohio, in 1876, to Mary, daughter of Thomas and Mary (Cotler) Keefe, of Duagh, County Kerry. Ireland. This union was blessed with two sons and two daughters; William Cornelius. Lulu May, David Erwin and Euna M. Our subject and his family are regular com- municants of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church. He is a member of St. Patrick's T. A. Society. Catholic Knights of America and the Catholic Beney- olent Legion. Mr. King is a clever and successful business man.

LEWIS KINTZ. retired farmer, P. O. Tiffin, was born in Adams County, Penn., November 30, 1818, son of Joseph and Margaret Kintz, natives of Penn- sylvania, where they were married. They moved to Stark County, Ohio, and from there to this county, and here died. Lewis Kintz, the subject of this mnemoir, was married in Pennsylvania June 22, 1840, to Elizabeth Kuhn, born in Pennsylvania in 1817, a daughter of George and Mary Kuhn, who remained in Pennsylvania until their deaths. Mr. and Mrs. Kintz came to Ohio in 1854, and have resided in this county ever since. They are the parents of ten chil- dren, eight now living: Sylvester J., Louisa M., wife of Simon Hains; Anna M., wife of Paul Gase: Henry: Agnes, wife of George Gase; Edward, George and Johanna. The deceased are Andrew and Lewis. Mr. Kintz owns fifty acres of fine land where he resides. He and his family are members of the Catholic Church.

M. L. KINTZ, P. O. Tiffin, was born in Adams County, Penn .. in Octo- ber, 1822. son of Joseph and Margaret Kintz, who were married in Pennsyl- vania and moved to Stark County, Ohio, where they remained for some years, then moved to this county where they remained until their death. The subject of this sketch was united in marriage October 10, 1843. with Margaret Harkins. born in New Jersey March 19. 1816, daughter of John and Bridget Harkins. natives of Ireland, who were married in Westmoreland County, Penn .. thence moved to New Jersey, where they lived for a time, and then to Philadelphia. returning from there to Westmoreland County, where they resided until their deaths. Mr. and Mrs. Kintz came to Stark County, Ohio, in 1846. and to this county in 1854. where they have resided ever since. They are the parents of five children: Mary A., John H., Charles E., William J. and Peter R. Mr. Kintz is a potter and miller by trade, but for the past eleven years has been engaged in farming. He owns thirty-six acres of land, where he and his family reside. He and his family are members of the Cath- olie Church.

THOMAS J. KINTZ (ex-county recorder of Seneca County) abstracts, Tiffin, was born in Canton, Stark Co., Ohio, February 14. 1844. His parents. George and Lucinda (Conaghan) Kintz, were natives of Ohio. His mother dying when our subject was an infant, he was placed under the guard- ianship of her brother, Joseph Conaghan, of Seneca Township, this county, and there he grew to manhood. His early life was unpropitious, being an in valid, and at fifteen he had little or no education. He, however, had a deter- mination to excel. and we find him at twenty-one enrolled upon- the list of teachers of Seneca County. April 17. 1867. he accepted a clerkship in the recorder's office. and he continued in this capacity for eight years, although it must be admitted for a fair portion of that time he was the de facto official. In 1874 he was appointed de facto recorder to succeed Mr. De Witt, and in the following convention received the nomination and was elected to fill the office for each consecutive term till 1882, at which time he had nearly com- pleted a set of abstract books of the county, showing the title to every piece of land or town lot. Said books were his individual property, and thus opened

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his new work, which has already become the place to look at and examine titles. His accuracy and efficiency justly deserves the confidence of the whole people of Seneca County. Mr. Kintz was married in Tiffin. February 15. 1872, to Miss Addie V. Weller. a lady of estimable attainments, daughter of the late Nelson Weller, formerly a prominent merchant and business man of Prince Edward County. Ontario. He and his wife are members of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church. Mr. Kintz is an active business man and an enter- prising citizen, and has a strong hold upon the good wishes of many of Seneca County's citizens. He is a member of the corporation of the Ohio Stove Works, of which he has held stock for several years. He has served his ward (Second) in the councils of the city.

MICHAEL KIRCHNER. merchant tailor. of Tiffin, was born in Ober- bach, in the kingdom of Bavaria, Unter Franken. July 22, 1820; son of John and Mary (Achumm) Kirchner, who came to America in 1844, and settled in this county. (The father had engaged in farming and flour-milling in his na- tive land. ) Their two sons, Michael and John, had preceded the parents to this country (in 1840), and located at Pittsburgh, Penn., where John remained. Michael coming to Tiffin the same year, where, after working for a few years at his trade. he embarked on his own account in business, in which he has since continued in successful connection. Our subject married, February 21, 1843. Christina Sillman, a native of Baden. Germany, daughter of George Sillman. who settled in Venice Township, this county, about 1833. Mr. and Mrs. Kirch- ner have no children of their own, but have adopted a nephew, Michael Bauer Kirchner (son of Nicholas and Mary Kirchner Bauer), who married Elizabeth Delzeit, who, dying, left three daughters: Emma. Flora and Lydia, who are also the adopted children of their foster grandparents and bear the name. Mr. Kirchner is a regular communicant in St. Joseph's congregation of the Roman Catholic Church, and a member of St. Joseph's Benevolent Society. He is an excellent gentleman. a public spirited citizen and has contributed liberally to the support of many of Tiffin's social and industrial interests.

MICHAEL JOSEPH KIRCHNER. dealer in groceries, Tiffin, was born in the village of Windshausen. near Neustadt an der Saal, in the kingdom of Bavaria, December 27, 1826. His parents were Kaspar and Margaret (Sturm) Kirchner, who came to this country in 1839. and settled in Cleveland the fol- lowing year, where they passed the remainder of their lives. The father, who was also born in Windshausen, where he lived till he came to America, died here in 1860. and the mother in 1854, leaving a family of four sons and one daughter: John, buried in the Roman Catholic cemetery in Cleveland, Ohio. along with his parents; Ferdinand, supposed to have perished in the forest fires of Michigan: Kaspar. a baker, in Tiffin: Susanna, wife of Mr. Jacobs of Cleveland, and Michael Joseph. The subject of our sketch learned the trade of shoe-making when a youth, but was compelled to abandon it eventually in consequence of ill health. In 1855 he came to Tiffin, and in 1860 embarked in business for himself, then in 1863 located at his present stand where he has since been very successful. Mr. Kirchner married in Thompson Township. this county. in 1862. Magdalena Martin, daughter of John and Barbara (Hammerschmidt) Martin, natives of Germany, and by this union has had six sons and three daughters: Mary B .. John Louis, Joseph Cas- par. John Michael Joseph, Francis Dominick, Annie Kathrina. Otto Peter. Margerete Rosa Philomina, and Charles Aloisius. Mr. and Mrs. Kirchner are regular communicants of the Roman Catholic Church, in which he has served as an active official since coming here. He is a very worthy representa- tive of the German people in Tiffin, and has by many noble characteristics en-

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deared himself to his fellow citizens, among whom he has many close friends and no enemies. He is a worthy husband, and a kind father to his children, on whose educatiou he has spared no pains.

FREDERICK DE LAUGHTER KISHLER, undertaker and cabinet- maker, Tiffin, was born in Tiffin, Seneca Co., Ohio. February 10. 1831. His parents, Frederick and Elizabeth (Miller) Kishler came here in 1828, from Perry County, Ohio (they were formerly of Chambersburg, Penn .. and came of pioneer stock in that State). They reared four sons and three daughters. all of whom have families in the State. The subject of our sketch learned cabinet-making, in Tiffin, with John A. Myers, and has continued creditably connected with that industry, in connection with undertaking since. He was united in marriage, in 1854, with Catharine, daughter of Jacob and Rebecca (De Laughter) Wilcox, who settled here in 1839, from Maryland. To this union have been born one son and one daughter: Otto Jefferson. a traveling salesman for machinery, and Flora Kishler, portrait and landscape painter. Mr. and Mrs. Kishler are worthy members of the Methodist Protestant Church. He is a member of the K. of P., and of the K. of L. During the war of the Rebellion Mr. Kishler did honorable service in the National Guards from which he received an honorable discharge, He has been an active member of the Tiffin fire department thirty-one years. and served as its chief for six years. He is a member of the city council. with which he has been con- nected for four years.

PROF. JAMES WILSON KNOTT. superintendent of the city and high schools of Tiffin, was born in West Bedford. Ohio. August 14. 1850: son of the late Rev. J. W. Knott. a pioneer minister of the Presbyterian Church in this State. a native of Westmoreland County. Penn .. and whose father. Maj. Wilson Knott, figured conspicuously as an officer in the war of 1812. They (the Knotts) were of Scotch Presbyterian ancestry. Prof. Knott's mother was Julia Kerr. daughter of James and Mary (Jewel) Kerr. Pennsylvanians. The father of James Kerr settled in Pennsylvania from Ireland. On the Jewel side the genealogy runs a long way back, and connects with the branch of the Jewel family to which ex-Postmaster-General Jewel belongs. The issue of the marriage of Rev. J. W. and Julia (Kerr) Knott was two sons and two daugh- ters. Of the former, Walter M. L. died in his youth: of the latter. Mary Jewel is the wife of Col. E. Finger, of Ashland. Ohio. and Wallie R. is the wife of Armer Gregg, of Savannah. Ohio. The subject of our sketch. the youngest son of the family, received a good common school training near Shelby, Ohio, and took his preparatory course of study in the academy at Savannah, Ohio. He graduated in a full classical and scientific course at the University of Wooster, at Wooster, Ohio, in 1879. He had meanwhile taught school as a means of supporting himself in his studies, and upon graduating accepted his present incumbency, with which he has been reputably connected since. Since coming to Tiffin he has taken an important part in the develop- ment of the social and literary interests of the city; has served upon the board of trustees of the Presbyterian Church and of the Library Association. and is a member of the Beta Theta Phi of his alma mater. September 3, 1864. his father passed away, ending his useful life as a minister of the Pres- byterian Church and teacher in its institutions in the State, and is buried at Shelby, Ohio, the place of his marriage. Mrs. Knott survives and resides with her son here, esteemed by all, a worthy woman and kind mother. Among the many graduates under Prof. Knott's instruction may be mentioned some who are (as young men) taking rapid strides forward in professional careers: Frank Wenner, assistant principal of the high school at Bellaire. Ohio: Will-

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iam H. Dore, a worthy member of the Tiffin bar; Albert Norton, cadet in the naval school at Annapolis; Theodore Brohl, Elmer Hershberger, Fred L. Wen- ner, William Miller, Edward Boos, Dr. Willis White, and many others, who, while busy with the furtherance of their other studies, do not forget their old master. In personal appearance Prof. Knott is tall and commanding, of studious mien and pleasant, open countenance, bespeaking his Scotch-Irish lineage. Socially he is very clever, and although possessed of all the requisites in the make-up of a worthy husband and sire he is still treading the thorny paths of celibacy.

AARON KREADER. of the firm of Kreader & Zint, plumbers and gas fitters, Tiffin, was born in Northampton County, Penn., May 16, 1837; son of Samuel and Magdalena (Bauder) Kreader, the former of Scotch ancestry in Pennsylvania. Mr. Kreader learned mechanics and worked as machinist in the woolen-mills in the East. April 1. 1858, he came to Tiffin, Ohio, and en- gaged in the woolen-mills here, as master mechanic, from 1861 till May, 1881, when. upon the dissolution of the firm. he left that business and engaged with Mr. Zint in his present business. Mr. Kreader was married, in Tiffin, to Elizabeth Schiffert, by whom he has two sons and two daughters: William Marcus, a mechanic; Lillie May, a lady of excellent, literary attainments, a teacher in the city high schools: Jennie Burt and Charles Washington. The family worship in the Methodist Protestant Church, of which the mother and eldest daughter are worthy members. Mr. Kreader is a member of the I. O. O. F. and of the encampment.

J. H. KUEBLER, wholesale and retail dealer in leather and findings. boots and shoes, Tiffin, was born in Tiffin, this county, May 24. 1852, son of Anthony and Frances (Schabacher) Kuebler. early settlers here. Anthony Kuebler, a native of the Duchy of Baden, came to this country, settling in Tiffin about 1835, and was prominently identified with the boot and shoe indus- try here for many years. The mother was a native of Rhine Pfaltz. Bierne (Bavaria), and came to this country when a young girl with her people, who settled here. J. H. Kuebler was the third child and second son in a family of thirteen children. He received a good common school education and was ap- prenticed to his present business in his father's store. At the age of twenty- five he embarked in trade on his own account in Tiffin and has maintained a creditable prominence in connection with the leather industry here since. He was married. in Tiffin. in 1877, to Catharine Mneller. a lady of estimable attainments, eldest child of Christian and Margaret (Gross) Mueller, of Tiffin. and by this union there are three sons and one daughter: Frank, Albert, Carl and Corinne, of whom they have laid to rest in the Roman Catholic Cemetery. little Carl and Corinne. Mr. and Mrs. Kuebler are regular communicants of the Roman Catholic faith. He is an active member and official of the St. John's Benevolent Society. Mr. Kuebler has avoided the political field and has never ventured into caucus meetings, although a pronounced party man. Socially he is an excellent citizen and an affable and pleasant gentleman.

JOHN LAUER, grocery merchant, Tiffin, was born in Roschberg, Rhine Prussia, June 6. 1826. son of Francis and Lena (Schaadt) Laner, the former a native of Roschberg. the latter of Oldenburg. They reared two sons and two daughters of whom the sons, only, came to this country. Wendel (brother of our sudject) died in Wilkesbarre. Penn., leaving a son and two daughters. John Lauer was reared to farming and served twenty-two months in the vol- unteer militia of his country. In December, 1847. he sailed for America and came to Buffalo, N. Y., and in the following year visited Tiffin. Being a young man he felt a desire to travel, and we subsequently find him in Califor-

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nia, where he spent six years in successful work. Returning East in 1856 he located at Tiffin, where he shortly after engaged in his present business, with which he has been creditably connected since. 'He was married, at Buffalo, N. Y., in 1858, to Barbara Demuth, a native of Urweiler, Prussia, by whom he has three sons and two daughters, and one step-daughter, by Mrs. Lauer's previous marriage; their names are as follows: Catharine Schlacter, now the wife of O. M. Loesser; Mary, Peter, Frank, Charles and Amelia. Of the sons, Peter and Charles are merchants and Frank is a carriage trimmer. The family are mem- bers of St. Joseph's congregation of the Roman Catholic Church. Mr. Lauer is a genial gentleman and has won the respect of his fellow citizens by his up- right character and broadness of principles. He is ever ready to support all measures that tend to the city's development, and contributes to all worthy enterprises.

THOMAS LEAHY, farmer and stock-raiser, of Eden Township, P. O. Tiffin, is a native of County Kerry, Ireland, where he was born in the parish of Abbeyfeale, son of John and Mary (Kane) Leahy, of that parish, descended from honorable ancestry, counting among them many of the better class of yeomanry, as well as literary and professional people (lawyers, physicians, etc. ). Our subject was reared to farming. He was united in marriage with Ellen, daughter of Maurice Hartnett, of Abbeyfeale, Ireland, which family reckon among themselves very clever professional people in Counties Cork and Limer- ick, Ireland. Upon the encouragement of his father-in-law, Maurice Hartnett, Thomas Leahy concluded to come to America, and in the fall of 1863 arrived here. His finances were limited, but being of the "right stuff" for a success- ful farmer in Ohio, he set about and rented land, and finally bought property, eventually locating on his present farm, one of the finest in the county, and has succeeded in accumulating a handsome competency. His business life is a worthy example of what can be accomplished by a man of strong resolution coupled with steady persistent industry. Besides his success as a farmer and stock-raiser he has reared and educated his family well, and has the satisfaction of seeing his children occupying prominent positions in the social and indus- trial life of his adopted country. John W., his eldest, and James F., his third son. are honored members of the Tiffin bar: Dr. Maurice Leahy, the second son, is a prominent physician of Tiffin (he is the father of two boys by his marriage with Enna, daughter of the late Dr. John Alexander McFarland, of Tiffin): Mary A. and Maggie, the only daughters, are ladies of excellent literary and social attainments, and assist to cheer the fireside. Thomas J. is a farmer, Richard P. and Michael are students at Heidelberg College and Jere- iniah, the youngest son, a lad, is at home. The family are regular communi- cants of St. Mary's Church.

LLOYD NORRIS LEASE. ex-sheriff of Seneca County and proprietor of hotel and livery, Tiffin, was born in Eden Township, this county, April 2, 1838, and comes of worthy pioneer ancestry. His parents, Otho and Belinda (Street) Lease, were natives of Maryland; the former, a son of Harry Lease, descended from English pioneers in that State, and the latter from Scotch pio- neers. In 1832 Mr. Lease's parents located in Eden Township, this county, where they remained till 1846, when they removed to Sandusky County, Ohio. and there reared a family of six sons and three daughters, all of whom married and reared families. L. N. Lease, the fifth child and fourth son, 'upon arriv- ing at manhood returned to this county, subsequently locating in Tiffin, where he has since remained, prominently identified with many business interests. He was married in Tiffin, in 1859, to Miss Maria L., daughter of Samuel and Rebecca (Thompson) Kridler, natives of Pennsylvania, who settled here in

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1832. To this union was born one son, Eden L., a young man of bright intel- ligence, an academic student. Mr. Lease has always borne a leading part in local politics, and has been an almost time-honored delegate to the many con- ventions of his (the Democratic) party. In 1878 he accepted the nomination to the sheriffalty of Seneca County, and polled the then large majority vote of 1,275. Accepting a renomination at the end of his official incumbency he car- ried 1,385 majority, the largest known in the county. He is a very public spirited man and has always contributed liberally to the support of the many social and industrial interests of his locality. He is of fine physique (standing over six feet and weighing 225 pounds), genial nature, and is socially a very pleasant gentleman. He is a member of the I. O. O. F.

LEWIS LEFFLER, farmer, P. O. Tiffin. was born in Clinton Township, this county, July 14, 1847, son of Lewis H. and Sarah Leffler, natives of Wurtemberg, where they married and remained until 1846, at which time they immigrated to America and settled in Clinton Township, and there remained until their death; the former departed this life December 12, 1879, and the latter February 14, 1885. Our subject was united in marriage May, 24. 1871, with Barbara Breckel; she was born in Wurtemberg, April 18, 1846. Her par- ents were Gotleib and Anna Breckel, now residents of Tiffin, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Leffler have six children: Sarah A .. Tillie. Thomas, Rosa, Robert and Clara. Our subject owns eighty-five acres of good land where he and his family reside. Mr. and Mrs. Leffler are members of the German Lutheran Church.

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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