USA > Ohio > Seneca County > History of Seneca County, from the close of the revolutionary war to July, 1880 > Part 31
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When the congregation was organized. in 1845, a plain, brick church, 40x90 feet, was at once built for their use, on the lot where the present church now stands; but the continual increase of families, from forty to nearly three hundred, made the building of a new and larger church absolutely necessary. The old church was torn down in 1861, and the new one built on the same spot. A temporary building was erected to be used for divine service until the completion of the new church.
The records do not mention the existence of any parochial school before the appointment of Rev. J. B. Uhlmann, in 1852. A school was established by him in the spring of 1853, and was maintained and enlarged by his successor. A new school house was built by Rev. J. 1 .. Bihn in 1858, which contained two large rooms. In 1862, after the completion of the new church, the temporary building used for divine service was divided for school purposes; it received a second story, and four large rooms were again furnished for the increasing youth of the congregation. In 1875 another room became necessary, and a build- ing was erected in the rear of the old school house. The congregation has now seven classses of children, taught by one male teacher and six ยท U'rsaline sisters.
In connection with the history of St. Joseph's congregation must be mentioned the establishment of two religious communities in 'Tiffin.
In 1865 the Ursaline sisters came from Cleveland to Tiffin. They formed a new convent, established an academy for young ladies, and took charge of the parochial schools of both congregations in the city. In order to secure their services, St. Mary's congregation paid $1,000, and St. Joseph's paid $2.000, for the purchase of the lots upon which the Ursaline convent and the academy were afterwards built.
In 1868, Rev. J. L. Bihn established another community near the limits of the city, under the name of "Citizens' Hospital and Orphan Asylum." It is under the care of the Franciscan Sisters of the Third Order, and has increased admirably since its creation. A new and large chapel was erected in 1878. The institution contains at present
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thirty-four sisters and novices, eighteen aged persons, and seventy-five orphans. Rev. J. I .. Bihn. founder and superior of. this community, resides there, and manages all the affairs of the Home with prudence and success.
CHURCH DIRECTORY OF TIFFIN FOR ISSO.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL .- Madison street, west of Washington. Services morning and evening. Rev. J. W. Mendenhall, minister.
FIRST METHODIST .- Market street, east of Washington street. Services morning and evening. Rev. Chandler. minister.
PRESBYTERIAN .- Corner of Market and Monroe streets. Services morning and evening. D. D. Bigger. pastor.
BAPTIST .- Perry street, east of Washington. Services morning and even- ing. Rev. Rupe, minister.
CATHOLIC (German)-Head of Washington street. Mass at 8 and 10 A. M. Vespers, 3 P. M. Rev. Father Evrard, pastor; Rev. Father Heiland. assistant.
CATHOLIC (English )-Corner of Miami and Franklin streets. Mass at S and 10 A. M. Vespers. 3 P. M. Rev. Father Healey, pastor.
LUTHERAN ( English )-Corner of Jefferson and Madison streets. Services morning and evening. Rev. Crouse, minister.
LUTHERAN (German) .- Jefferson street. opposite Main. Services morning and evening. Rev, Zimmerman, minister.
REFORMED (German) .- Jefferson street, south of Madison. Services morn- ing and evening. Rev. Rust. minister.
FIRST REFORMED .- Corner Monroe and Madison streets. Services morning and evening. Rev. Kefauver, minister.
EVANGELICAL (English) .- North Washington street. Services morning and evening. Rev. J. A. Hensel, minister.
EVANGELICAL (German) .- Sandusky street. north of Perry street. Services morning and evening. Rev. Schupp, minister.
EpiscoPAL .- Corner Market and Jefferson streets. Services morning and evening. Rev. Williams, minister.
In the above the services are all understood for Sunday.
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CHAPTER XIX.
JOHN GOODIN-MRS. ANN SENEY-REZIN W. SHAWHAN-CHRISTOPHER SNYDER-GEORGE RUMMELL -DAVID E. OWEN-WYANDOT CHIEFS AND FAMILIES-MARK, CHAPTER VI., II VERSE IN MOHAWK-ANDREW LUGEN- BEEL-JUDGE PITTENGER-JOHN AND LOUISE FIEGE-CHRISTIAN MUEL- LER-THE GREAT FIRE OF APRIL, 1872.
JOHN GOODIN.
A MONG the many distinguished pioneers of Seneca county was John Goodin, beloved and esteemed alike for his honorable course in life, and for his intelligence and friendly nature. He was born in November, 1800, in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, and when about six years old moved with his father and the family to l'erry county, Ohio, near Somerset, where he was raised to manhood. When about twenty-two years of age he married Elizabeth Kishler, and six years thereafter, in 1828, they moved to Tiffin. There were six children born to them, four daughters and two sons, who are all married and living in the western country. Joel K. Goodin is the oldest son, and a lawyer of eminence in Kansas, and John R. Goodin was judge of the court in Kansas, a member of the legislature in Kansas, and a member of congress from that state, and lately also the Democratic candidate for governor. Joel was also a member of the legislature of Kansas.
In Tiffin John Goodin took a very active part in the development of the town and county. He built the brick hotel on Washington street, already mentioned, and kept it for awhile, when he rented it to T. J. McCleary, and moved to the lot now covered by the Rust block. There he lived until he sold the lot, with the frame house thereon, to the Seewalds, shortly before he moved to Kenton.
In 1840 he was elected to the senate of Ohio from the district com- posed of the counties of Seneca, Wood, Ottawa, Sandusky and Hancock, for two years. He was treasurer of Seneca county from 1835 to 1839 inclusive. In 1843 he moved to Kenton, Hardin county, Ohio, where he entered into the mercantile business with his brother, and engaged extensively in buying and selling real estate. His wife died in 1857.
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On the 13th of January, 1859, he married again. By this union he had three children. In 1850, and shortly before the adoption of the new constitution of Ohio, he was appointed one of the associate judges of the county of Hardin. He then retired from public life and lived quietly and happily on his farm, close by Kenton. Three years Before his death he had an attack of paralysis. He died on the 20th of February, 1876, seventy-five years of age. Mr. Goodin was a tall, slender man, of a well proportioned physique; very active and'sociable. He had a kind word for every one, and was personally very popular. He was a very active and shrewd politician; a man of strict morality and honesty, faithful to his word and duty. He was highly esteemed wherever he was known.
MRS. ANN SENEY.
William Wood came from Holland to Philadelphia with a stock of goods, and took into his employ a young man from Maryland, by the name of George Ebert, who some time after married Mr. Wood's daughter. The young people moved to Uniontown, Pennsylvania, where Mr. Ebert became a prominent citizen and was greatly respected. He was there engaged in mercantile life for forty years. They had a numerous family, and their youngest daughter, Ann, was a beautiful girl, and received a very liberal education at the Brownsville female seminary.
Albert Gallatin, the illustrious secretary of the treasury of the United States, under Jefferson, and some other distinguished gentlemen from Washington, paid a visit to Uniontown. Mr. Joshua Seney was then the private secretary to Mr. Gallatin. The people of U'niontown pre- pared and had a very brilliant ball in honor of their distinguished guests. At this ball Mr. Seney and Miss Ebert met for the first time. This short acquaintance ripened into a love affair between these young people, which culminated in their marriage. They lived in Uniontown ten years after that time, and then moved to Tiffin, in company with Judge Ebert, in the summer of 1831. They had three children when they came to Tiffin, and there were five more born to them here. mak- ing eight in all, five daughters and three sons, who are all still living, but two.
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Mrs. Seney became a member of the M. E. Church when eighteen years of age, and up to her death continued to be a faithful, devoted and highly esteemed member thereof. She was one of the mothers in Israel, and will be remembered for her christian virtues and her gentle nature as long as one person may live that ever knew her.
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REZIN W SHAWHAN.
During the sickly seasons, and whenever Mrs. Seney could leave her own family, she would go from house to house among the sick. assist in caring for them, fetch them some palatable nourishment. cheer up the distressed with her always pleasant smile and christian consolation.
She fas born on the 13th of September. 1803. and died on the 5th of May, 1879. She was beloved by all who knew her. The entire com- munity mourned her loss when she died.
MERCANTILE LIFE.
Among the many thousands of men who engage in mercantile pur- suits there is but a very small per cent. that make a success of it. The vast majority of them die poor. According to the commercial reports for many years, only about five per cent, have made money and become rich, and of this small number those that are still in business, and are considered rich, take their chances in the ups and downs of life. There is a certain fascination in mercantile life that induces men to invest their all, and young men without means are anxious to become clerks in stores, where they often remain, working for their employers until they grow gray with age.
The substantial mechanics and, above all, the farmers are far more happy. Of all human pursuits there is no situation in life so well cal- culated to fill the measure of our joy and contentment as that of a farmer. The American farmer out of debt occupies the top round in the ladder of human happiness. Those farmers who. by long, hard work and economy, accumulated a little fortune, then sold out, took the money and put it into a store, made clerks of their sons, who ought to have been left on the farms, and after trying the experiment for a year or two, failed, are generally the most pitiable subjects in the com- mercial world. These will appreciate what has been said above.
REZIN W. SHAWHAN.
The father of the subject of this sketch was Frederick Shawhan, a native of Kent county, Maryland, but had settled in Virginia after the revolutionary war. in which he was an active participant, having en- listed when but seventeen years of age. He served under Generals Wayne, Green, Lafayette and Washington. He was at the capture of Stoney Point by Wayne, at the battle of Monmouth, at the crossing of the Delaware, and at the subsequent capture of the Hessians, at Trenton. In 1812 he moved to Ohio, and first located in Fairfield county. In 1820 he removed to Wayne county, and afterwards settled in Seneca county, and died near Tiffin, August 26, 1840, in the eightieth year of his age.
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Rezin W. was born October 19th, 1811, in Berkely county, Virginia. He worked on a farm until he was about fifteen years old. His chances for education were very limited, comprising only a common district school education of eight months. In the year 1826, he entered the store of William McComb, in Wooster, Ohio, as clerk. When eighteen years of age he was employed as clerk in the store of Zopher T. Moore, with whom he remained about three years. ' In 1833 he visited Seneca county. where his father had settled, and in the fall of the same year accompanied his employer, Mr. Moore, to New York, where Mr. Shaw. han purchased a stock of goods, getting credit on Mr. Moore's recom- mendation. With this stock he opened a store in Tiffin, which was then a very new town, with a population of about five hundred. His capital, to begin with, was small, but in spite of his limited school privileges, it seemed he had a wonderful facility in working addition and multiplication, which, together with his industry, close application to business, his unflinching fidelity to every promise, his sagacity, frugality and good management, tended to make his business increase very rapidly, and in the race for success he distanced every rival. He continued in the mercantile business for eighteen years, buying and selling goods, grain and provisions of all kinds. Up to 1840 the only way to obtain goods or ship produce was by wagon to and from San- dusky City. In 1840, Tiffin became the terminus of the Mad River and Lake Erie railroad, and so remained for several years. This in- proved trade in Tiffin very much.
In 1851, feeling the need of relaxation, he closed up his business in Tiffin and transferred the stock to a branch house he had at Carey. He devoted the three years then next following to the study of geography. history and the natural sciences. His love for books soon procured for him an excellent library, and he pursued his studies with the same zeal, close application and perseverance that characterized him as a merchant. He now added the benefit of travel to his scientific attain- ments. He visited the western states, where he purchased large tracts of land. In December, in company with his wife, he visited Cuba, where he passed the winter following, returning by way of New Orleans. In 1858 he attended the sales of the public lands in Omaha, Nebraska. and leavenworth, Kansas, where he purchased some thirty thousand acres. In the same year, in company with A. G. Sneath, he started a bank in Tiffin, which, after the war, was merged into the National Ex. change Bank of Tiffin, and in which he has ever since been a large stockholder. In 1866 he built the Empire block in Tiffin, and, in company with others, was again largely engaged in the mercantile
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CHRISTOPHER SNYDER.
business In 1871 Mr. Shawhan took a trip to London. and passed two months in England. He is still in the full vigor of his health and manages his immense estate with the same tact and attention as in times of yore he controlled a small stock of goods on Market street.
In 1839, on the first day of April, he was married to Elvira Tuller, of Washington, Ohio, who is also still living .* Mr. Shawhan still enjoys excellent health, and, were it not for his white hair and beard, would promise fair to outlive many a young man not half his age. While the great number of buildings Mr. Shawhan has erected in Tiffin have undoubtedly added largely to his wealth, they have also, at the same time, added greatly to the wealth and improvement of the city and county, and with his various other operations in this county, for nearly fifty years, he has in a large measure contributed to the development of the resources of the county. Of the fourteen children which his father had, he and his brother Josiah, at Cary, and Mrs. Anderson, at Fostoria, are the only survivors.
CHRISTOPHER SNYDER.
A duty I owe to the memory of a dear old friend prompts the writer to record a short personal sketch of one of Tiffin's early merchants, whose name, for more than twenty years, was associated with mer- cantile life in Tiffin, and whose " German store " was a regular bee-hive of a place.
Christopher Snyder was born in the city of Eppingen, Grand Duchy of Baden, Germany, March 22d, 1810. He learned the trade of a shoe- maker in his native town when a boy, and in the spring of 1832, he, together with his brother John, several years his senior, left their home for the United States. They came directly to Tiffin, with the family of Andrew Albright, already mentioned, when Christopher soon found employment in the family of Henry Cronise, whose hospitality and kindness to strangers were equal to the popularity of his name.
Richard Sneath kept the principal hotel in Tiffin, being located op- posite the court house, on. Washington street. Here Snyder found employment as clerk and steward, and soon had charge of the whole establishment. Mr. Sneath was an enterprising man, and in 1835 he built a store (one story frame, immediately south of Cronise's) with a little porch in front, painted green. Mr. Sneath bought a very good stock of goods, and a short time after he had opened up he took Mr. Snyder as a partner. This was in 1836. All the capital the young 1
*Since the foregoing was written, Mrs. Shawhan and Joslah Shawhan have both died : the former on the 20th of May, 1880, and Jostah at Upper Sandusky the day following.
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German had was his honesty and his business qualifications. The Ger- man store soon became popular under the management of Christopher, who soon made hosts of friends by his straightforward, honest dealing, and his polished. polite behavior towards everybody. Meantime, Mr. George Rummell (hereafter mentioned) married Jane, the beautiful daughter of Mr. Sneath, and soon after Mr. Sneath sold his interest in the store to this new son-in-law, and to his old clerk, Christopher. The new firm started April Ist, 1837, and conducted the business at the same place, under the name of the "German store," for seventeen years, when, on account of ill-health, Mr. Rummell withdrew from the firm. From this time forward Mr. Snyder conducted the business alone, as he did up to the time of his death. In April, 184;, Mr. Sny- der was married to Philipena, daughter of Philip J. Augspurger, of the village of Albig in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, who arrived with her sister, Miss Eva, in Tiffin, in the year 1844. Miss Eva is a twin sister of Mrs. Snyder, and was clerk in Mr. Snyder's store during the last few years of his life, where she acquired a general knowledge of mercantile business. Naturally talented, gifted with a lively, pleasant nature and good health, she has herself been in the mercantile business for more than twenty years, and built up a nice trade in the line of woolen yarns, zephyrs, general needle-work and fancy articles. At present she is in company with her widowed sister, Mrs. Snyder, in their store on Market street.
On the 22d of March, 1857, Mr. Snyder died, after a short illness, leaving his widow and three small children in good circumstances. Mrs. Snyder raised her children well, and gave them a good education. There were two daughters and one son: O. P. Snyder, well and favor- ably known among the business men of Tiffin; Augusta, who was married to Mr. Alf. D. Flen, and who died in Davenport. Iowa, about . one year ago, and l'hilipena, the wife of Mr. Russel Knapp, of the Tiffin Tribune.
Christopher Snyder's short life was a most excellent specimen of " manhood turned to utility "; ever ready for business, open hearted, and strictly honest, friendly, yet dignified, he was one of the most pop- ular merchants of Tiffin.
The family occupies a respectable position amongst the best families of the city.
Christopher and the writer became friends when first we met in Tiffin, in August, 1833. Our friendship grew stronger as years rolled on. Many a Sunday afternoon we spent in pleasant conversation under the old sycamore tree on the bank of the Sandusky river, talking about
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our native hills and our future prospects in this ' Yankee Land." In the year 1850 it became the duty of the writer to prepare a bill for the incorporation of the town of Tiffin with Fort Ball, into a city of the second class, and in drawing the boundary of the young city, I did not neglect the old sycamore tree, which now forms a point in the act of the legislature incorporating the city. Snyder and the old tree have passed away, and the writer is left in the evening of his life to record their memory. (See act incorporating the city of Tiffin.)
GEORGE RUMMELL.
The subject of this sketch was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, on the 12th day of March, A. D., 1804. His parents were from Pennsyl- vania. The ancestors came from Germany. George was born and raised on a farm, and received only a common school education, and before he arrived at manhood he learned the trade of a bricklayer. He came to Tiffin in the fall of 1834, and worked at his trade for about two years, and boarded at Sneath's hotel. Here he made the acquaintance of Jane. the beautiful daughter of Mr. Sneath, and married her on the 8th of November, 1835. Mrs. Rummell died March 27th, 1839. On the first day of April, 1837, Mr. Rummell and Mr. Snyder formed a copartnership in the mercantile business in Tiffin, and opened, and for seventeen years, conducted the well-known store on Washington street known as the " German store."
On the Ist of December, 1840, Mr. Rummell married Mrs. Mary Ann Lookingland, eldest daughter of Jacob Copenhaver. Of this union two sons and two daughters are still living. Towards the year 1850 the health of Mr. Rummell failed, and he was scarcely ever about the store. The whole responsibility rested upon Snyder, who was equal to the demand of the labor and responsibility the situation required. In the spring of 1854, Mr. Rummell sold his interest in the store to Mr. Sny- der, and moved with his family onto a little twenty-acre lot just east of Tiffin, where his health improved very materially. He bought more land and became quite a farmer; began to look robust, attended mar- ket in Tiffin, and for many years looked like a new man. When the firm of Rummell and Snyder started their store in Tiffin, they had not five hundred dollars between them. In taking the store they also took Sneath's debts belonging to the store. One time the sheriff came with an execution, and gave the new firm notice that if the amount of the execution was not raised by ten o'clock next morning, the store would have to be closed. This was agreed to, and things looked blue for the young merchants. Next morning they met at the store and determined
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to deliver over to the sheriff not only the goods, but also the accounts. notes and cash on hand. Each partner was to take only stuff for one pair of pantaloons, and let the sheriff see it when he came for the key.
About nine o'clock, just one hour before the time fixed for the sheriff to come, Judge Lugenbeel came into the store, white all over with flour and mill dust. He had just come from his mill and had in his hand a shot-bag full of gold and silver. The judge was a great friend of the young merchants, and walking up to them, said: "Boys, I have some $1,700 in specie here, and have no use for it. If you will take it you can use it as long as you please." They then told the judge the strait they were in. Judge Lugenbeel hunted up Levi Keller, the sheriff, paid him the amount of the execution, and all went merry as a marriage bell. Their paper never went to protest. No one ever obtained a judgment against them. Their credit was as good in New York as anybody's. They made no large fortunes, but when they separated were worth about $10,000 each and out of debt. Mr. Rummell retired to his farm, and Mr. Snyder continued in business; both self-made men who left behind them a clear record; and having been amongst the early mer chants in Tiffin, and amongst the few that made no failure of the business, their record is certainly not out of place here.
About the year 1871 Mr. Rummell's old troubles returned, and his health failed very rapidly. He died at one o'clock on the night fol- lowing Thursday, December 12th, 1872, esteemed and beloved by all who knew him. The Rev. Mr. Collier, in preaching his funeral sermon, commended his many manly traits of character. For thirty-eight long years the writer enjoyed the friendship of Mr. Rummell, which was never disturbed, for a single moment, through all the chequered scenes of busy turmoil.
There are many merchants in Tiffin now doing flourishing business, controlling a great deal of property, and the writer hopes they may each and all form exceptions to the general rule-grow rich and die happy. .
DAVID EVAN OWEN
Was not only an early settler and pioneer, but also a man of considera- ble notoriety and moral and public worth. He was the oldest son of Evan Owen, who came to Philadelphia from Wales. They were Quakers and very wealthy. The old gentleman owned a great deal of land near the town, which is now covered by the city of Philadelphia. The writer has in his possession the commission issued by Governor Thomas Mifflin to Evan Owen, appointing him justice of the peace for
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DAVID EVAN OWEN.
Fishing Creek township, Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, dated September ist, A. D., 1791, to hold the same from that date until (it goes on to say) " so long as you shall behave yourself well."
David Evan Owen, the subject of this sketch, was born on the 8th day of May, A. D., 1775, and was raised in the lap of wealth and luxury. He was sent to the college in Philadelphia, and received a very liberal education. He had grown to man's estate before his father failed, when young Owen was compelled to seek some livelihood for himself. He learned the trade of a house carpenter, and worked at this occupation several years.
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