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 97

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 97

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Claude Eugene. The family all belong to the Reformed Church, in which -

for many years they have been consistent members and efficient workers. The genial, generous disposition of Mr. Myers has made him many friends. Per- sonally he is of fine physique, tall and compactly built, and of commanding presence. After an active and successful service in his profession, he has the enviable reputation of being a man of honor and of the strictest integrity. He is still in the prime of life, and after being nominated by the Democratic party as their candidate for the office of treasurer of Seneca County, he was elected, in October, 1885, to that office by a large majority, even running over 300 votes ahead of his ticket.

B. FRANK MYERS, dealer in hardware, stoves and tinware, Tiffin, was born in Mansfield, Ohio, March 20, 1848. His parents, John A. and Sarah (Blymer) Myers, natives of Franklin County, Penn., located in Mansfield in 1842, and thence came to Tiffin in 1848, where John A. Myers carried on hard- ware business, etc., till his death, which occurred in 1877. Since the death of his father, our subject, who was in a manner reared to it, has carried on the business with excellent success. He was married, in Tiffin, in 1873, to Alver- da L., daughter of the late William Cromwell, Esq., a native of Frederick County, Md., and by this union there are one son and one daughter: Alfred R. and Aleeta. Mr. and Mrs. Myers are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and K. of P., and is president of the Tiffin Building Association.

JOHN MYERS, farmer, P. O. Tiffin, one of the old settlers of this county, was born in Germany. June 24, 1816, son of Blasius and Elizabeth Myers, natives of Germany, who immigrated, in 1834, to Huron County, Ohio, and remained there until their deaths. John Myers, the subject of this sketch, came to this county in 1844, and was united in marriage the same year with Catharine Ardner, who was born in Bavaria in 1821. Mr. and Mrs. Myers raised quite a large family. He is a carpenter by trade, but of late years has been engaged in farming, owning fifty-five acres of good land. He has filled several municipal offices with credit. Mrs. Myers departed this life in Novem- ber, 1873, leaving a family to mourn her loss.

JOSEPH P. MYERS, contractor, builder and street commissioner of Tiffin, was born in Tiffin, this county, August 16, 1845, the eldest son of John and Catharine (Ardner) Myers, and was reared to the building business with which he has remained prominently connected since (his father retiring from it to the farm in 1863, where he now lives). Many of the prominent buildings and shops have been constructed under his supervision. In the year 1884, while acting in the capacity of city civil engineer, which profession he adopted, by diligent study and hard work he made a complete system of maps of the city, which have been adopted by the city. On the breaking out of the late war of the Rebellion Mr. Myers offered his services and was admitted into Company I, One Hundred and First Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in which he did active service for three years. July 4, 1864, he was shot through the left lung at the battle of Pilot Knob, Marietta, Ga., and, after lying in the hospital for many months, regained his health and was discharged at Columbus, Ohio. He participated in the battles of Chickamauga and in many others. Return- ing from the war he continued his professional work and in the following year (1865) was united in marriage with Mahala Myers, who blessed him with five children: Jennie, Bruce, Frank, Rush and Harry. In 1875 Mrs. Myers passed away from this life and is laid to rest in Maple Grove Cemetery. Mr. Myers was married on the second occasion, in 1883, to Belle Byrns, and by this union has two bright little boys: Clarence and Earl. Mr. Myers has al-

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ways taken an active part in public life, and is a stanch Democrat in politics. He has always given a cordial support to the social and industrial development of this city. He is director of the Tiffin Building Association; stockholder and active operator of the Tiffin Edison Electric Illuminating Company; member of Leander Stem Post G. A. R., K. of P., P. O. of A. and Bruderbund socie- ties, and served with credit as chief of the Tiffin Fire Department for several years. He belongs to many musical societies. His brothers as well as himself are all excellent musicians.

JOHN BLASIUS MYERS, dealer in groceries and provisions, Tiffin, was born in Tiffin, August 7, 1849: son of John and Catharine (Ardner) Myers, the former a native of Neuberg, Baden, and the latter of Betzchbach, Bavaria; they were married in Tiffin in 1844, and reared four sons and four daughters: Joseph P. ; Mary, wife of Martin Hufferd, a farmer in Mercer County, Ohio; Johanna, wife of Peter Weber, of Tiffin; John B .; Catharine, wife of Andrew Weigle, a mechanic of Tiffin; Christiana (deceased wife of Charles Sheter, and who left four children); William H. and Charles L. (latter deceased). The subject of our sketch learned his father's trade (carpentering and building), and was connected with it for several years, during which time he did some import- ant contracting and building on public and private buildings and on public highways. January 1, 1875, he retired from that trade and embarked in gro- cery. provisions and queensware business. April 21, 1874, he married Theresa R. Myers, a native of Tiffin, Ohio, daughter of Joseph and Catharine (Sinz) Steur, natives of Tyrol, the former of Herbranz and the latter of Kennelbach. and who settled here in early times; they were married in May, 1853. To Mr. and Mrs. Myers were born three daughters and two sons: Paulina K., Al- fred J., Oswald J., Victoria Annie and Bertha E. Mr. Myers is a regular communicant of St. Joseph's Church (Roman Catholic). He is an active mem- ber of the Bruderbund, and its honored treasurer; is also a member of the Turnverein, and has been an active member of the Fire Department of Tiffin, and was engineer of the steam fire engine from 1876 to 1880. In 1880 Mr. Myers purchased the property where he was born, which he now occupies, and on which he has a handsome residence, and when he retires from the cares of the day, he lays his head to rest but a short distance from where he was first pillowed. He is a worthy citizen, a kind husband and father, and a very sociable gentleman.

JOHN M. MYERS was born in Clearspring, Washington Co., Md., September 13. 1838, son of Michael and Anna E. (Wagner) Myers, descend- ants of pioneer Germans, of Franklin County, Penn., who reared a family of four sons and two daughters, all of whom removed to this county, in 1856, with their parents. John M. had served an apprenticeship in type-setting in his native county and had also been reared to the building business, by his father, and upon coming here he continued in that vocation until February 20. 1860, when he entered the office of the Seneca Advertiser, as a printer. In January. 1863, he became its editor and publisher, and in 1867 he pur- chased a half interest in the paper, associating with himself, as partner, his brother, E. Shelby Myers; the business was conducted successfully and satis- factorally till April, 1884, when E. Shelby, and E. Bruce (who had become a partner in 1878) sold their interests to L. A. Brunner and J. W. Geiger, who now carry it on. The firm of Myers Brothers, under which the paper was conducted for eighteen years, succeeded in building up a prosperous business, and enlarging the sphere and usefulness of the Advertiser, and at the time of the dissolution of the firm, it was considered one of the best establishments in Ohio. It would be proper to say here that in the many enterprises in which

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our subject has been associated, his brothers have always shared financially with him, and although known as the head of the business, in all matters their united counsels have always marked his line of conduct, and the actions of Mr. Myers have been better known as that of the Myers Brothers, who have con- tributed their share in the development of the material industries of Tiffin. In the spring of 1879, J. M., in connection with four other gentlemen of Tiffin. purchased the Ohio Stove Works, which was conducted as a parnership until January, 1882. at which time the business was organized as a stock com- pany, with John M. as its president, in which position he has continued until the present time. Our subject was married here in 1871, to Miss Lurena A. Frees. a lady of excellent attainments, daughter of Wesley B. Frees, of Tiffin. Mr. Myers has always condemned the scramble for public office. and has never held an office nor asked for one. He has, however, been active in the further- ance of the principles of his party and has had the pleasure of seeing the majority gradually growing in his county, from twenty when he t ok charge of the paper in 1863, to over 1.200 when he retired from its control in 1854. Latterly he has become interested with his brothers in the cattle business in New Mexico, to which industry he is paying much attention. E. Shelby Myers was born in 1840, and married. in 1870, to Miss Sarah E. Haas, daughter of John R. Haas. one of the founders of the Tiffin Agricultural Works. E. Bruce Myers was born in Clearspring, Md .. February 1, 1851. and married here in 1879. Miss Ella M. Cunningham, daughter of George W. Cunningham, a prominent miller and grain dealer. To this union has been born a daughter, Bessie. Leon B. Myers the youngest brother. was born in 1855, and married. in 1880. to Rebecca McDonald, daughter of Maj. McDonald, of Bucyrus, and has two daughters by the union.

JOHN M. NAYLOR. This well known citizen and business man of Tiffin, was born at Wooster, Ohio. December 9, 1822. His parents, James and Eleanor Dill (Musgrave) Naylor, were natives of Beaver and Dauphin Counties. Penn .. respectively. James Naylor was a carpenter and house builder, and carried on that business at Wooster, Wayne Co., Ohio, for many years. John M. Naylor, during his earlier years, attended the public schools, where was laid the foundation for a practical English education. Before he was out of his "teens." however, he taught school for several terms, and thus acquired means to pay his way at Granville College, where he was a student for some time. Up to this date his aim had been to obtain a thorough education and to devote himself to the study and practice of law, but at the age of twenty years he was induced to accept a clerkship in the hardware store of Jacobs & Kouke, at Wooster, Ohio, and thus the channel of his life was diverted and directed into mercantile pursuits. He remained with the above named firm for four years, at the expiration of which time, in 1847. he formed a partner- ship with Harvey Howard and came to Tiffin, where they opened a hardware store under the firm name of Howard & Naylor. Four years afterward Mr. Howard sold his interest, and Mr. Naylor assumed the sole proprietorship of the house, continuing the same up to the present time. Under his manage- ment the business has steadily prospered and grown, until now it is the most extensive establishment of its kind in Tiffin, and, indeed, is excelled by few. if any, in northern Ohio. Notwithstanding the assiduous attention Mr. Naylor has given to his business, he has always been a student of men and affairs and devoted much time to the study of standard works, thus acquiring a valuable fund of information that is generally only attained by a thorough collegiate course. He has now been prominently identified with the commercial, social and other interests of Tiffin for a period of thirty-eight years, during which

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time he has been proved to be a man of excellent executive and financial abili- ties, with perceptive and reasoning faculties of no ordinary mold. His judg- ment and prompt decision in business affairs are seldom at fault. These qual- ities, together with great firmness and a conscientious desire to be just toward all men, are characteristics of the man. Though never a politician in the general acceptance of the term. he has always been a Republican, zealously interested in the welfare of that party, believing it to be the party of progress, as it was of the Union during the dark days of the civil war; in those days by means and influence Mr. Naylor was earnest in his aid and support of the Union cause. He has been a member of the Methodist Church for many years, and has been a liberal donator and one of its chief supports in Tiffin. When the new brick church was built he contributed largely toward its erection and com- pletion, and in various ways the city of Tiffin has always found him to the front in support of any public enterprise calculated to benefit the whole people. He was one of the founders of the National Exchange, now the Tiffin National Bank, of which he has always been a director and large stockholder. Mr. Naylor commenced his business career with little or no means, and is a striking example of what may be accomplished in the space of a few years when energy is aided by well directed industry, accompanied by strict integrity. Mr. Nay- lor was married, December 11, 1849, to Cornelia T., daughter of Judge Ben- jamin Pittenger, and although two children were born to this union none now survive: Cora, born in 1851, died, after a short illness, in 1873, and Frank, born in 1854, died while on an excursion in Florida in 1883.

WILLIAM NEGELE, of the firm of Martin & Negele, grocers, etc .. Tiffin, was born in Plochingen, Wurtemberg, Germany, February 6, 1835, son of William and Rosina (Handel) Negele, who came to America in 1853, locating at Tiffin the following year. The subject of our sketch learned his father's business (soap and candle-making) in his native land, but on coming here learned marble-cutting, which he followed till the breaking out of the late civil war. He enlisted at Tiffin September 22, 1861, in Company H, Fifty- fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry; was wounded at the second battle of Bull Run and received his discharge at Columbus, February 27, 1863. After the war Mr. Negele returned to Tiffin and engaged as clerk in the grocery business, and in 1868 embarked in business along with Mr. Martin, the firm being favorably known to the people of this locality since. He married, in Sandusky, Ohio, in 1864, Christina, daughter of the late Christian Kreitzinger, of San- dusky, the union being blessed with one son and four daughters: Clara, Mattie, Minnie, Cora and Charles. Mr. Negele and family are members of the Evan- gelical Church, of the Sabbath-school of which he has been the superintendent for many years. He is a member of the R. A., K. of H., L. of H. and of Leander Stem Post, G. A. R. William Negele's only brother, Charles, is a minister in the Evangelical Association of Sandusky, Ohio. Of his sisters, Paulina is the deceased wife of Valentine Stetzer, of Toledo; Louisa is the wife of George Mautz, a farmer, of Zanesville, Ohio, and Christiana is the wife of Louis Smith, a manufacturer, of Zanesville, Ohio.

HARRY L. NIGHSWANDER, agent of the Baltimore & Ohio Telegraph Company, Tiffin, is among the younger elements of Tiffin's successful citizens. His father, John H. Nighswander, was a native of Franklin County, Penn., born October 5, 1826, and comes of pioneer stock of Maryland and Pennsyl- vania. Upon attaining his majority the father of our subject engaged in mer- chandising and in 1848 came to Tiffin and embarked in business on his own ac- count. Here he married. in 1852, Margaret C., daughter of Eli Umsted, of Clinton Township, this county, who bore him three sons and two daughters:

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Clara (wife of Jonas Romig), Charles Fremont (operator with the Western Union Telegraph Company, Toledo), Harry Lincoln (the subject of our sketch), Jennie and John. John H. Nighswander was a member of the constabulary of the city and county for several years; was one of the first members of the fire department; is Past Grand of the I. O. O. F., of which he has been a member since 1855.

SAMUEL NIGHSWANDER, county surveyor and engineer of Seneca County, Ohio, P. O. Fort Seneca, was born in Franklin County, Penn., May 6. 1834, son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Bare) Nighswander, who settled in this county April 24, 1847, and who had fifteen children, twelve of whom are yet liv- ing. The subject of this sketch was educated in this county, taught school for a while, and afterward studied surveying and civil engineering, with which he has been identified ever since. He has served in his present office for eight years. Mr. Nighswander married Margaret Beck, by whom he has one son and tive daughters: Elizabeth (now Mrs. Charles Bastian), and Savilla (wife of Dallas Hade), all residing in Fort Seneca, Ohio; William; Avarintha; Catharine and Louisa. Mr. Nighswander is a member of the K. of H.

HON. WARREN P. NOBLE, a prominent lawyer of Tiffin, and a highly respected citizen of Seneca County. stands high in this locality as one of the early and most active business men, and as a promoter of many of its most important industries. He was born in Luzerne County, Penn., June 14, 1820. His father, William Noble, was a native of Connecticut, and comes of English ances- try, in that State; and his mother, Rebecca (Lytle) Noble, comes of Irish pioneer ancestry, of Pennsylvania. They settled in Jackson Township, this county, in 1836, where they reared a large family. The subject of our sketch completed a good common school education, and taught school for several years in Fos- toria and vicinity. The facilities for obtaining an education in this part of Ohio, at that time, were very few, and in order to obtain better opportunities, Mr. Noble was compelled to make the trip on foot, several times, to and from an academy in Medina County, then under control and management of John McGregger. He subsequently read law in the office of Rawson & Pennington, of Tiffin, and was admitted to the bar in 1844, since which time he has steadily advanced to and now occupies the front rank of the profession. He has a strong, vigorous constitution, and probably may be reckoned amongst the most indefatigable workers in his profession anywhere. In 1846 he was elect- ed to the Legislature, and was honorably re-elected for a second term. Retir- ing from this, he was elected prosecuting attorney for Seneca County, to which last named office he was re-elected, but resigned before the expiration of the second term, to give his entire attention to his other large law practice. In 1860 he was elected to the Thirty-seventh National Congress, and afterward again to the Thirty-eighth, in both of which he served as representative of the war wing of the Democratic party, retiring on the 4th of March, 1865. Upon the dissolution of the First National Bank, of Tiffin, he was appointed its re- ceiver, and creditably and promptly closed up and settled the business of that

concern. Upon the organization of the Commercial Bank, in 1876, he was elected its president, which incumbency he still holds. He served without portfolio, for ten years, as member of the board of trustees of the Ohio State University, a part of the time as president of the board, and was among the first here to introduce and make permanent our railroad facilities. He mar- ried, in 1847, Mary E., eldest daughter of F. Singer. Mrs. Noble died March 9, 1853, leaving two daughters and one'son: Belle, now Mrs. William L. Bates, of Dayton, Ohio; Mary Ellen, widow of the late Silas W. Groff, Esq., of Tiffin, and Warren F., a graduate of the Ohio State University, class of 1879, and

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now a worthy member of the bar of this State, at Tiffin. After years of cel- ibacy, Mr. Noble married, for his second wife. September 27, 1870, Alice M .. daughter of the late Alexander Campbell, of Tiffin, and this union has been blessed with two daughters: Hattie, born September 25, 1873, and Alice, born January 12. 1875. Mr. Noble has always given a cordial support to all meas- ures to promote the growth and development of the social and industrial life of this locality. Non-sectarian in religous matters. he contributes freely to all church institutions of this place. He is a worthy Knight Templar and a mem- ber of De Molay Commandery of Tiffin.

HARRISON NOBLE, lawyer, Tiffin, and judge of the probate court of Seneca County, comes of pioneer Ohioans of Connecticut and Pennsylvania stock - his father, William Noble, being of Connecticut, and his mother, Rebecca (Lytle) Noble, of Pennsylvania. They reared ten children. Harrison Noble was born in Salt Creek Township, Wayne Co., Ohio, and moved here, in 1838, with his people who settled in Jackson Township, where he obtained a good schooling for the times. He attended Oberlin College and afterward Seneca County Academy at Republic. He then taught school and attended law study in the office of his brother the Hon. W. P. Noble. He was admitted to the practice of law in 1849 and formed a partnership with his brother and preceptor. In 1874 he retired from this alliance and formed a partnership with N. B. Lutes. which he retired from in 1880, and subsequently formed one with James H. Latt, the present city solicitor, which firm Mr. Noble retired from to enter upon his present incumbency. He has served his city as solicitor two terms: member of the council twelve years; mayor of Tiffin two terms; director of the County infirmary six years: and has filled other important local official positions. During the late war of the Rebellion he worked actively in the interests of or- ganization of the different regiments raised in the county and was commis- sioned colonel of the second regiment raised here. Mr. Noble was married at Tiffin, in 1858. to Minerva, sixth daughter of the late Josiah Hayes, and by this union has two sons: Harry H., now engaged in medical studies. and Bir- die M .. at home. Mr. Noble while attending a good professional practice has also been preceptor of some of our leading young attorneys. In the social and industrial life of Seneca County he has contributed in no small degree to the advancement of its growth and development.

T. H. NOONAN. division freight agent of the Baltimore & Ohio Rail- road. Tiffin, is a representative of one of the important commercial interests of this locality, and is a worthy example of a self-made man in his vocation. He was born in Lockport. N. Y., June 26. 1845: son of John T. and Mary (Arm- strong) Noonan, natives of Ireland, the former a descendant of merchantmen of County Clare, and the latter of the Armstrongs, of Sligo. many of whom rank well in the literary professions: they married in Sligo and came to America, locating in this county a few years previous to the cholera epidemic, and here reared three sons and three daughters. The subject of our sketch became an apprenticed clerk at twelve years of age, and upon completing his apprentice- ship learned book-keeping and telegraphy, and became clerk and operator in the Cincinnati. Sandusky & Cleveland Railroad, now the Indiana. Bloomington & Western Railroad. After a few years creditable connection with this corpor- ation. he accepted a position on the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad at Vincennes. Ind., where he remained in charge of that office for about six years. He next spent two years as " mine host" of the Shawhan House, at Tiffin, and was also interested in the Hays House, of Fostoria, at the same time. Retiring from this business, he accepted a position with the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad as traveling freight agent in June. 1876. and in 1880 was appointed to his pres-

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ent incumbency, which he ably fills. Mr. Noonan was married in Tiffin. Octo ber. 1870, to Clara Arnold, eldest daughter of Henry A. Buskirk, and to this union were born two sons: Harry and Dorsey Ray. Mr. Noonan has always held aloof from strong political and religious connections, but has liberally con- tributed to all worthy enterprises.

LLOYD NORRIS, farmer and stock dealer, P. O. Tiffin. was born in this county October 5, 1830, son of Nathaniel and Sarah Norris, natives of Mary- land, where they were married and where they first settled: from there they came to this county, about 1828, and here remained until their death: Nathan- iel Norris departed this life December 3, 1864, and his widow February 5. 1865. Our subject was united in marriage, March 30, 1854, with Barbara A. Miller, born in the State of New York, October 16, 1836, daughter of Daniel and Anna Miller, who were married in New York State, and who moved to Ohio in 1837, settling in this county, where they remained until the death of Mrs. Miller, which occurred March 24, 1849. After the death of his first wife Mr. Miller married Sarah Raber, and they now reside in Clinton Township. this county. To our subject and wife have been born two children: Sidney C .. born December 10. 1857, and Arthur L., born August 12, 1872. Mr. Norris owns 160 acres of fine land, with good buildings. Mrs. Norris is a member of the 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