History of Stark County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 108

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892? ed
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey
Number of Pages: 1060

USA > Ohio > Stark County > History of Stark County, with an outline sketch of Ohio > Part 108

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REV. PETER HERBRUCK, Pastor of Jeru- salem Reformed Church, Canton ; was born in Bavaria, Germany, Feb. 8, 1813, and is the sec- ond in a family of nine children born to Phillip and Barbara (Schlimmer) Herbruck, who were also natives of Bavaria. Our subject was raised on the farm, his father being both a far- mer and a shoemaker, until 14 years of age, when he attended school at Nuenschweiler, with the intention of becoming a teacher, that being a preparatory institution for that purpose. HIe remained there at school four years, when, not desiring to become a soldier, he came to America, and located in Berks Co .. Penn .. where he taught school one winter. In the spring of 1832, he came to Ohio, and located in the vicinity of Canton, where he taught school. He here became acquainted with Rev. Benjamin Faust, who persuaded him to study for the min- istry ; he commenced reading under his direc- tion, and in about a month wrote a sermon, after which he began regularly to preach, and

for almost fifty years has been faithfully pro- claiming salvation to sinners. Some statistics of the work of this old soldier of the Cross will not be inappropriate in his biography : Since he entered the ministry he has baptized 4,976 persons ; preached 2,066 funeral sermons ; confirmed 2,446, and married 1.961 couples, up to April 28, 1881. For the first two years he had no horse, and had to walk to Carrollton to preach, a distance of twenty-four miles ; in all he preached to twenty-one congregations out- side of Canton, and at one time had in charge thirteen congregations in Stark, Carroll, Colum- biana and Portage Counties. He was married. Nov. 21, 1833. to Miss Sarah Holwich, a native of Stark Co .. and a daughter of Jonathan Holwich, who came to Stark Co. at an early day. from L'enn- sylvania, and was a prosperous farmer; by this marriage there were thirteen children. seven boys and six girls, ten of whom are living, viz .: Caroline, now Mrs. Deuble, of Canton ; August, a merchant in Canton; Alfred, a jeweler in Can- ton ; Ferdinand, a dry goods merchant in Can- ton ; Amelia, now Mrs. Glaser, of Cleveland ; Edward, formerly Pastor of the English Re- formed Church, Canton, now editor of the Christian World. Dayton, Ohio ; Charles W., Canton ; Calvin, a clerk in Canton ; Emil P., 1 Pastor of the Reformed Church of Akron ; and Josephine B., at home. About the year 1876, the Heidelberg College, at Titlin, Ohio, con- ferred the title of D. D. on Rev. Mr. Her- bruck.

GEORGE C. HARVEY, Keystone Mills, Canton ; is a native of Mckean Co., Penn ; was born Sept. 3, 1832. During his infancy the family moved to Center Co .. Penn. His parents were Isaac and Clarissa (Claflin) Harvey, the former born in Berks Co., Penn., and the latter in Connecticut; he (father of subject) was a miller. as was his father, Isaac. Sr., before him. Our subject lived with his parents until he was 25 years of age, and learned the milling busi- ness with his father. In the fall of 1856, he married Martha J. Logan, a native of llunting- don Co .. Penn., and by this marriage there are seven children, viz .: Isaac L., Edgar A., Kate E., Clara N., Alney C., Mary L. and Fannie C. After his marriage he took charge of a mill near by, and continued in the business in Penn- sylvania until the spring of 1877. and in the fall of that year came to Canton, Ohio, and bought his present mill, and about one year

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later he opened a flour and feed store in Canton, in connection with the mill ; the mill has four run of stone, and a capacity of fifty barrels daily.

ALEXANDER HURFORD. retired. Canton; is a native of Canton, Ohio ; he was born Nov. 25. 1817, and is the fifth child of eight children born to Thomas and Mary (Wilcoxen) Hurford. He was born on the eastern shore of Maryland, and she in Brooke Co .. Va. Thomas Hurford moved to Fayette Co .. Penn., after the death of his father, which occurred when he was about 7 years of age. In Fayette Co. he lived with a brother. and was early apprenticed to the milling business. About the year 1804 or 1805. he came to Ohio, and entered some land located about two miles south of Canton, where he built a grist-mill and still-house. in the year 1810. He conducted the mill a number of years, and in 1822 came to Canton, and entered the mercantile business. In 1825. he moved to Bethlehem, where he kept a store until 1828, when he took his mill again, and remained there until his death. in 1832. He served as Judge of the Common Pleas, and was well known and esteemed by all, having been one of the pioneers in this section. Mrs. Hurford died on the old homestead in 1822. In 1825, the Judge married Miss Mary Crueson, by whom he had four children ; she continued her residence on the old homestead until about the year 1852; she then came to Canton, and a few years later the family moved to Omaha, Neb., where she died about the year 1870. Our subject lived at home until the death of his father: then, after working on a farm a few months, he went to Massillon, and worked in a storage and commission house for three years. Ile then. with his brother, farmed the home- stead farm two years, when he went to Wells- ville, Ohio, and conducted a steam flour-mill ; his health failing, he made a trip down the river, he and three others buying a flat-boat. which they loaded with flour. stoneware, etc .; they went to Vicksburg, thence up the Yazoo and Yellow Bushey to Williams' landing. Sell- ing out, they returned to Wellsville. He and his brother bought a farm in connection with the mill. and Mr. H. got out 52 acres of wheat and 10 acres of rye, with one team, and in the winter took charge of the mill, they having sold the farm and bought the mill, and con- ducted the same until 1842. January of that

year, he married Miss Elizabeth Swearingen, and bought part of the old home farm, incluid- ing the mill, which he conducted until 1849. He then came to Canton, and assisted in solicit- ing stock, settling right of way and grading on the O. & P. R. R., after which he farmed and dealt in stock, and, later, became General Agent for the above R. R. Co. in contracting wood, ties, etc., and continued for twelve or fourteen years. About 1864, he and Mr. P. P. Trump bought and improved the St. Cloud Hotel, which they now own. He has a large farming and coal interest, and is identified with some of the leading manufacturing interests of the city. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church since 1839, and has taken an active interest in its affairs, By the marriage there have been nine children, six of whom are living. An Old-Line Whig, now a Republican; he was a strong anti-slavery man, and liberally sup- ported all war measures, His grandfather, on his mother's side, left seventeen slaves : these Mr. H. tried to free, but they were sokl. and the money belonging to Mr. Hurford's mother yet lays at Wellsville, he not being willing to use money obtained from such a source ; his mother, while living, freed her slaves, and he thought she would also have freed those of the estate, and when he represented her in Brooke Co., Va., out of nine heirs, seven were opposed to freedom : the slaves were soldl ; but the next day all but a woman and child had escaped, and were never found. Mr. Il.'s brother. Alfred. also declines to receive the money.

GEORGE HOLM, Canton. Ohio ; is a native of Pike Tp., Stark Co., Ohio. He was born Oct. 25, 1820, and is the second of a family of three children born to John and Elizabeth (Shutt) Holm. They were natives of Washington Co., Md. He came here a young man in 1812, and located a piece of land in Pike Tp., after which he brought his parents, occupied the place and cleared a farm, and farmed in that township. where our subject's grandfather, Michael, and his second wife, and John and Elizabeth (Shutt) Hohn, died. Elizabeth Shutt and her parents came to Pike Tp. about the year 1812. Her mother died in Maryland, and he in 1862. in Pike Tp .. aged 97. John and Elizabeth were among the first marriages in Pike Tp. George lived at home twenty-five years, received a dis- triet school course of study. and also taught a number of terms; in 1815. he married Miss

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Catharine Buchtel, a native of Stark Co. Her Charles is attending Ann Arbor, and the others father, John Buchtel, came here a young man of the family are at home.

with his parents prior to 1812. Iler grand- father on her mother's side, John Sherman, is also a pioneer, affer whom is named Sherman's Church. After marriage, George occupied his grandfather's farm, which he hired, his grand- father giving up the farm and living with him until his death. George farmed until 1866, when he came to Canton. renting his farm. llc has since 1868, acted as the County Agent for C. Aultman & Co. He is Republican in politics, and Methodist in his religious faith. Of eight children born to the marriage, there are six living.

DR. R. P. JOHNSON, physician, Canton ; is a native of Stark Co .. Ohio, and was born in Washington Township, Aug. 12, 1839. He was brought up on his father's farm, and in addition to the common schools, received a course at Mt. Union Academy, now Mt. Union College; Ile began reading medicine in the spring of 1858, with Dr. L. L. Lamborn. of Alliance ; graduated in 186] from the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery, and began practice at Mt. Union, where he continued until Septem- ber, 1862, then entered the army as Assistant Surgeon of the 104th O. V. I., and the following spring was taken ill and resigned. Most of bis service was in Hospital No. 2, at Lexington, Ky. Ile practiced at Deerfield, Ohio, some eighteen months, and in the fall of 1864, again entered the army, and was sent by the Medical Director to Springfield, Ill., where he had charge of Camp Yates, and one year later he went to Camp Douglas, at Chicago, where he remained until the camp was abandoned by the Government. He then returned to Alliance, Ohio, where he practiced for ten years, when he came to Canton, and has been here since. He is a member of the American Medical As- sociation, the Union Medical Association of Northeastern Ohio, and the Stark County Medi- cal Society; of the latter he has served as Secre- tary and Vice President. While at Alliance he was surgeon for the Cleveland & Pittsburgh

JOSIAH HARTZELL, Manager of Adver- tising and Printing Department of C. Aultman & Co, Canton, Ohio ; is a native of Portage Co., Ohio. He was born in the year 1833, and lived on the farm sixteen years. He received a common-school course of study, and then at- tended Amherst College, Massachusetts, where he graduated in 1854. He then read law in Toledo. Ohio, and about one year later he went to Davenport, lowa. where he continued his reading, and was admitted to the bar in 1856, and practiced until 1858, when he came to Canton and bought the Stark County Repub- lican, which he conducted until 1868, when he consolidated with the Repository, he editing the new paper, known as the Canton Repository and Republican. In 1874, he sold his interest, owing to his health, and engaged in farming. In 1878, he represented C. Aultman & Co. at | R. R. for seven years ; for the past twelve the Paris Exposition, his flueney in French and years for the Pittsburgh, Ft. Wayne & Chicago R. R., and for the past year for the Connotton Valley R. R. Hle was married Dec. 3, 1857, to Miss Mariana ITunt, a native of Chester Co., Penn., who came when a child with her parents to Mahoning Co., Ohio. Of four children born to them, two are living, viz .: Reason P. and Florence E. German proving most valuable to him on this occasion. which continued seven months. Upon his return to Canton, he became perma- nently connected with the firm, taking his pres- ent charge. From 1865 to 1869, he served as Postmaster of Canton. One of his first acts was to drape the office for the death of our martyred President, under whose administra- tion he received the appointment. Ile married

L. M. KUIINS, D. D., minister, Canton ; Pastor of the Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Miss Mary K., daughter of Simon Johnson, of , Church, Canton, Ohio, was born March 30, Washington Tp., Stark Co., Ohio, in 1856. Of eight children, seven are living-Wilbur J .. Frederick, Charles, Josiah, Jr., Ralph, Dora and Graec. Wilbur, though early studying medicine, attending the University of Austria. is now Cashier of the Bank of South Arkansas, located in Colorado. Frederick is Cashier of the Custer County Bank, at Silver Cliff, Colo., 1826, in Armstrong Co., Penn. Ilis parent were both born in Greensburg, Penn., his mother, Esther Steek, being the daughter of Rev. John M. Steek, a celebrated pioneer clergyman of the Lutheran Church of Western Pennsylvania. After receiving the rudiments of a common school education at the old-fashioned log sehool- house of his native place, Mr. Kuhns, at 19

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years of age, began an academic course at Zelienople, Penn., he having already formed the intention of preparing himself for the min- istry. After two years of study at the academy of Zelienople, he entered Wittenburg College, Springfield, Ohio, where for five years he prose- cuted his classical and theological studies. In March, 1852, he received an ad interim license, and in the following June he was regularly licensed to preach the Gospel by the Pittsburgh Synod. Having received and accepted a call from the congregation at Freeport, Penn., in conjunction with two other small congregations. He was ordained at that place in 1851. and re- mained there performing pastoral duties four years. His next charge was at Leechburg, Penn .. where he labored ten years. enjoying many gratifying evidence of success. Thus four- teen years of successful pastoral work were passed within four miles of his native place. the two villages of Freeport and Leechburg be- ing only seven miles apart. and his birthplace being about midway between them. He was next called to Bellefontaine, Ohio, where he served over three years with satisfaction to the community and to his people. In July, 1869, he came to C'anton where he now resides. . 11- though an occasional contributor to the church journals. Dr. Kuhus has given his attention rather to personal ministrations among his people, both publicly and privately. Six years he served as Secretary and three years as President of the Pittsburgh Synod: as President of the East Ohio Synod two years, and as a member of the Board of Directors of Wittenburg College for ten years. The latter institution having, with- out any solicitation on his part, directly or in- directly, conferred on him the degrees of .1. M. and D. D. In private conversation and by pub- lic addresses he has become prominently identi- tied with Sabbath schools. temperance work and other reforms. On the 8th of June. 1852, he married Miss Maria Luyties, of Greensburg. Penn. Herman L., their eldest son, is one of the proprietors of the Canton Spring Works. The senior member of the firm being Mr. Daniel Cobaugh. Two daughters. Mary and Nettie, are graduates of Lutherville Seminary, near Baltimore, Md. Willie, a younger son, is still at home, though his parents and older brother are looking forward to giving him an education befitting a member of their family.

LEWIS KOONS, retired, Canton ; is a native

of Alsace, France, and was one of a family of nine children : he was born in 1817. and attend- ed school from 6 years of age until he was 11. In 1832, he came to the United States, and spent the first year following in Pittsburgh, try. ing to learn the trade of a shoemaker. Having no fancy for the business he went to Buffalo, and from there engaged in the selling of clocks, in company with an older brother. from Buf- falo he went to frawford Co., Ohio, and resided there about five years, most of which time he was engaged in the clock trade; he then re- moved to Stark (o., and became a resident of Paris, and there engaged in the grovery busi- ness, though he still kept up a clock trade dur- ing the earlier years of his residence in that place. Being naturally economical and indus- trious, he soon owned a good property in Paris, and continued to do business there until 1866. when he sold out, and became a resident of Canton, where he now lives a retired life, and enjoys the fruits of his carly industry and tru- gality. About one year after he began business in Paris, he was married to Miss Sarah Rhonas, a native of Lancaster, Penn .: five children have been born to them, four of whom are living three boys and one girl.

E. D. KEPLINGER. merchant. Canton : was born in Stark t'o., where his time was spent, principally, until he became of an age to engage in business on his own account. He began first as clerk for the firm of Deitrich & Kimball. in 1859, and remained with them until the spring of 1861, and then began clerking for Schilling & Hlerbruck, with whom he remained until the July following. In August of 1862. he enlisted in Co. B. 115th O. V. 1 .. but served on detail duty in the Adjutant General's office, in Cincin- nati, until 1863 : in 1864, he was commissioned Captain of Co. B. 109th U. S. C. T., and held this commission until 1866 ; his command was under Gen. Grant at the surrender of Gen. Lee at Appomattox : on the 25th of January, 1865. he received a gun-shot wound, while in the bat tle of Fort Hatcher, but fortunately not so severe as to disable him from service for but a short time ; after the surrender of Gen. Lee. the command of Capt. Keplinger was sent to Texas ; while there he served as Brigade Quar- termaster at Indianola for a time ; being relieved of this duty, he was sent to Port Lav- aca, Tex., and then detailed as Provost Marshal, in which capacity he served until the regiment

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received orders to go to Louisville, Ky., to be mustered out of service. After leaving the army he went to Bucyrus, Ohio, where he spent a short time in the capacity of clerk. In 1868, he came to C'anton, and engaged in business with a Mr. Shane. under the firm name of Kep- inger & Shane; in the summer of 1873 he bought Mr. Shane's interest. and has since been conducting the business alone. Ile is a mem- ber of Eagle Lodge, No. 431, A., F. & A. M .; he is a member of the orders of K. of H. and R. A., and is also a member of the Presbyte- rian Church. In 1866, he was married to Mrs. Frankie Miller, daughter of William and Sarah Kelly, who were among the old settlers of Stark Co., as were also the parents of Mr. Keplinger. The present finds him one among the success- ful, enterprising business men of Canton, and financial circles. is due only to his own energy, economy and good financiering.

to whatever height he may have climbed in . died October 8, 1854; William A., born Nov.

J. G. KEITH, retired, Canton ; was born in Loudoun Co., Va., May 28, 1812. and is the son | ber of the M. E. Church since 1836. His wife

of Price and Mary (Carruthers) Keith, both na- has also been a member for many years. He is also a member of I. O. O. F., though his greatest interest has been in the support and prosperity of the church, to which he has con- tributed liberally. tives of Virginia. As early as 1810, his father came to Ohio, and located three-quarter section of land in Columbiana Co., but did not become a resident of that county with his family until 1814. He settled near Hanover and engaged in J. C. LANTZ. manufacturer, Canton. Among the list of those men who have been established and added to the manufacturing industries of Canton, Mr. Lantz is justly entitled to a fair recognition. He was born June 10. 1839, in Hagerstown, Md., where he was educated, and where he learned the trade of a machinist, at which he served an apprenticeship of thee years for $100. He became a resident of Canton about 1863, and began work at his trade in the shops of E. Ball, with whom he remained abont two years, and then engaged in the work of carpentering. In 1870, he began the manu- facture of packing boxes for Joseph Biechele, in which line he has subsequently supplied the entire home demand. In time, he added the manufacture of eigar boxes to his business, but this branch of his business was finally given up, and the manufacture of the well-known Quinby bee-live begun. To this hive he has added many practical points of improvement, and is now turning out of them from 800 to 1,000 per season. These two lines of manu- facture occupied the time to advantage during farming, a business that he continued engaged in during his active business life. Ilis death occurred when he was aged 91 years and 3 days. The early life of J. G. was spent on his father's farm, and though he has later in life proved himself a good business man, and a shrewd financier, he certainly in those early days of his history had but meager opportunities of get- ting even the rudiments of an edneation. Their common schools were of the old sub- scription system and sometimes a walk of three miles was necessary for him. to attend even these. Under such disadvantages in early life, he is certainly entitled to much credit for his success in later life. Becoming of a proper age to learn a trade he was apprenticed to a tailor, which trade he completed and followed for some time. He subsequently purchased a farm in Columbiana Co., and spent twenty-six years of his life in that business. In 1866, he removed to Alliance, Ohio, but only remained there about one and a half' years, and then be- came a resident of Canton. His good judg- ment soon led him to purchase 25 acres of the spring and fall and for a couple of the

land adjoining the city, and to-day there are two additions to the city divisions to perpet- uate his name. The purchase, subdivision and sale of this property proved a successful speculation, and now for some years he has been enjoying the fruits of his early industry and economy. His home is now on West Tuscar- awas street. He was married on March 24, 1836, to Miss Nancy Frost, daughter of Amos and Mary (Lawrence) Frost, who were early settlers of Columbiana Co. Nine children have been born to them, two only of whom are living --- Mary Ann, born Feb. 15, 1837, died March 4, 1837; Mary E., born August 15. 1839 ; Amos P., born July, 19, 1841, died Nov. 5, 1878 ; Mahala M., boru August 17, 1843, died Oct. 28; 1854; Thomas O., born July 15, 1845, died Oct. 9, 1836; George F .. born March 25, 1847,

6, 1849, died July 31, 1850; Emma L., born June 22, 1851 ; Nancy J., born Dec. 26, 1853, , died Oct. 1, 1857. Mr. Keith has been a mem-

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summer months. It finally became a question of importance to manufacture some marketable artiele during the winter. In view of this, after much study, Mr. Lantz began the manu- facture of an improved faucet, known as the Standard Faucet, the principle features of which is the coating or cauterizing those por- tions of the faucet exposed to friction and wear or to destruction by the action of strong acids, with a solution of glass. applied by a peculiar process of friction. He is, in addition to the Standard, introducing to the trade an improved ale faucet, that is rapidly becoming an article

of good demand. Now. he is entitled to having added to the industries of Canton the manu- facture of three separate and distinct articles, in the manufacture of which he employs. on an average, about twelve men, to whom he pays yearly an aggregate of over $4,000. Mr. Lantz has also become identified with many of the local interests and social affairs of Canton. From the First Ward he has been a member of the City Council one term. and he is now serv- ing his second term as a member of the Board of Education of the city. He is a member of the Lutheran Church, and also of the Eagle Lodge, No. 341, A., F. & A. M. In 1861, he married Miss Gemima Price, a native of Waynesboro, Franklin Co., Penn. Six children have been born to them, two sons and four daughters ; both the former are now deceased.

PROF. JOHN II. LEHMAN, Superintendent of Canton Schools. Canton ; was born in Lan- caster, Penn .. May 17. 1846. and is a son of Abraham E. and Mary (Hackman) Lehman, natives of Pennsylvania. Our subject's father was a miller. to which trade he was apprenticed when quite young. and followed for many years. llis first wife was a Miss Sheets, who died in Pennsylvania, and some years later he married Miss Mary Hackman ; in 1859. they came West, stopping in Wayne Co .. Ohio, where they remained six months, then moved into the vicinity of Canton. He conducted the milling business till 1869, and then moved into Can- ton, and has lived retired ever since. John II. lived at home until 20 years of age, working in the mill at odd times, and becoming proficient in the trade. Ho received a common school education. and also attended the high school in Canton. Being naturally fond of mathematics he made considerable progress in studies beyond the regular school courses. At the age of 16

he began teaching, and taught two years, then followed milling for two years. Ile then re- turned to the profession of teaching, which he has since followed. lle taught in the district schools of Canton and Plain Tps. until 1869, when he came to Canton and took charge, as Principal of the North School, which had a regular attendance of about 300 pupils. He continued as Principal until 1876, when he be- came Superintendent of the City Schools, which position he still holds. He has been a member of the State Teachers' Association some ten years ; has served as Vice President, and is at present a member of its executive committee : he is also a member of the North- eastern Ohio Teachers' Association, of which body he has been President. lle is a member of the County Association ; has served as Chairman and Secretary of the Executive Com- mittee, and as President three years. For five years he has been a member of the Exam- ining Board for City Teachers, of which he has also been Clerk. In 1865, he married Miss Emma J. Oberlin, a native of Stark Co. They have three children, viz .: Ella O .. Eva E. and Fred 11.

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History of Stark County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 108

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892? ed Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey Number of Pages: 1060

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892? ed
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey
Number of Pages: 1060