USA > Ohio > Union County > History of Union County, Ohio; its people, industries and institutions > Part 54
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Leonidas Piper, one of the oldest lawyers of Union county, Ohio, was born on Buck Run. in Union township, Union county, Ohio, November 22, 1836. His parents, William Cochran and Hannah ( Flanagan) Piper, natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio, respectively, reared a family of seven children in this county : Leonidas, of Marysville; Isabel, the wife of A. R. Showalter, of Columbus, Ohio; William Lawrence, deceased: Mrs. Margaret Robinson, deceased : Rose Alva ; Eli Gabriel, deceased, and one who died in infancy.
William Piper came to Ohio with his parents when he was six years of age and arrived in this county at the opening of the War of 1812. He was a carpenter by trade and later engaged in farming, having a farm of fifty acres in Union township. William Piper died in 1876 at the age of seventy, his wife surviving him a few years, passing away at the age of seventy-seven. Both were members of the Presbyterian church at Milford. near which village the wife of William Piper was born. For nearly thirty- five years he was trustee of Union township, a fact which speaks well for his standing among his neighbors and fellow citizens.
The paternal grandparents of Leonidas Piper were John Piper and wife. John Piper came with a brother from Ireland and stopped first in Washington county, Pennsylvania. His brother went to Cape Girardeau, Missouri, and John Piper died on the road between Chillicothe and Circle- ville, Ohio, while on the road to Union county. Some time later the widow of John Piper married John Porter, and by her second marriage she had two
LEONIDAS PIPER
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children, Maria and Susan, both of whom died without leaving children. By her first marriage to John Piper there were born five children, William C., Eleanor, Mary, Jane and Rose Anna. The maternal grandparents of Leoni- das Piper were Richard Gabriel and wife, and to this union four children were born. John, Josiah. Hannah and Ruth. By his second marriage Rich- ard Gabriel had three children, James, Mary Ann and Dr. Eli Gabriel. The first member of the Gabriel family came to Ohio about 1812.
Leonidas Piper was reared on his father's farm in .Union township and here he has always made his home. The county was practically an unbroken wilderness when he was born and during his boyhood days he often heard the howl of the wolf at the door during the winter time. He attended the old-fashioned subscription schools in his earlier boyhood days and later was a student in the old academy at Marysville. After completing the best schools of his county he went to Otterbein University for two and one-half years and then entered Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, and graduated from there in the full classical course with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1865. Later he received the degree of Master of Arts from the latter uni- versity. He worked all of his way through college, earning most of his money for expenses by teaching school. Among other places he taught at Mt. Washington for one year and at Ostrander for the same length of time. Desiring to engage in the practice of law Mr. Piper entered the law office of Colonel Maecoena Cicero Lawrence, in Marysville, and read law with this excellent jurist. lle was admitted to the bar at a session of the district court held at Delaware, Ohio, June 14, 1867. and has been practicing his pro- fession in Marysville continuously since that year. He served as prosecuting attorney of the county for two terms and held the office of probate judge for the same length of time. He was also school examiner of Union county for about fifteen years and during his term of office was largely instrumental in putting the schools of Union county upon a sound basis.
Mr. Piper was married April 29, 1869. to Martha Coe, the daughter of Moses and Mary ( Gladden ) Coe, and to this union four children were born. Kate. William Coe, Ralph M. and Ruth. Kate is a graduate of the Marys- ville high school and is now a teacher of drawing in the same school. William C. graduated from the high school at Marysville and later spent some time in Florida. He then went to Massachusetts, where he worked in a shoe store for three years. While in that state he enlisted in the Spanish- American War and died while in the service. He was in the battle of Santi- ago, but shortly after that battle was stricken with illness which eventually
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proved fatal at Santiago. Ralph M. is a traveling salesman for the Standard Stamping Company, of Marysville. He is also a graduate of the Marysville high school. The youngest daughter, Ruth, died at the age of ten. The mother of these children died in 1882. She was born in this county on Big Darby creek, her parents being natives of Pennsylvania and early settlers in Union county. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Coe. Philip, Moses, Joseph. Hannah, Mary, and one who died in childhood.
Mr. Piper was married a second time on June 24. 1886, to Rachel Con- ard. of Hillsboro, Highland county, Ohio, and to this union one son. Earl C., has been born. He is an electrician. The second wife of Mr. Piper is a daughter of Enos Conard and wife.
Judge Piper and his wife are loyal members of the Presbyterian church and Mr. Piper has been an elder in his denomination for the past forty years. He is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons at Marysville and is one of the oldest members of the lodge. He served as a musician in the Fortieth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, during the Civil War, but the band of the regiment was in the service only a short time, and consequently his service was very limited.
REV. DETLEF PHILIP EBERT.
The subject of this sketch is a native of Germany. having first seen the light of day in Dannenberg. Hannover, Germany. His ancestors were also of German nativity. He is the son of Arnold and Augusta Mejer Ebert, natives of Hannover. Germany, who lived and died in that country. They had ten children, eight of whom lived to the age of maturity, namely: Ar- nold, of New York city; Matilda, widow of Rev. Henry Gruetter, now of New York city ; Theodore, deceased: Marie, a teacher in New York : Adolf. of Pittsburg: Ferdinand, of Manistee, Michigan: Magdalene, deceased : Detlef Philip. the subject of this sketch; and two children who died in in- fancy.
The father of our subject was educated in the schools of his native land and in early manhood took up the study of medicine. He was suffi- ciently educated in this profession to engage in the practice but, in deference to the wishes of his mother. he began to study for the ministry and aban- doned his purpose to make the practice of medicine his life vocation. He entered the Tuebingen University, at Tuebingen, and graduated from that
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institution, completing his theological course. He was licensed to preach and devoted his life work to that calling. He died at Handorf. Germany, in 1874. aged fifty-four years; his wife survived him ten years, dying at the age of fifty-eight, in 1884.
The paternal grandfather of our subject was Arnold Ebert, who was life-elect mayor of Northeim, Hannover, Germany. He and his wife lived to a good old age. They had a large family, which grew to years of ma- turity and usefulness, most of them retaining their citizenship in their native land. The maternal grandfather was Judge Mejer, holding court at Zeller- feld, Harz, from early years until his death. He and his wife spent their life in the vieinity of the place where they were born, and were among the most respected citizens of the community. They both lived to an advanced age. Their family consisted of Otto, Augusta, Eugenie, Amelia, Natalie. Olinde and Sophia.
Rev. Ebert was born March 23, 1865, and received most of his educa- tion in the schools of his native land. At the age of sixteen he left the old home in the Fatherland and came to America, where he purposed to complete his education and prepare for his life work. He located in Columbus, Ohio. where he found such advantages as he desired for carrying out his purpose. After some preliminary study he entered the Capital University at Columbus and completed the course, graduating from that institution in 1883. He then entered the theological seminary, in which he took a complete course of study. graduating in 1886. He was licensed to preach at once and his first appointment was at St. John's Lutheran church, Indiana, Pennsylvania, where he labored faithfully for three years. In addition to his work in this charge, he devoted part of his time in serving the church at Tyrone, Penn- sylvania. At the expiration of his third year with the Indiana church. he joined the St. John's church at Houtzdale, with the Tyrone church, which constituted one parish. In 1890 he was called to a larger field at New Wash- ington, Ohio, where there was a large and influential congregation and a greater opportunity for the employment of his talents. He accepted this call and was pastor of the New Washington church for a period of sixteen years. In August, 1906, he accepted a call to become pastor of the Trinity Lutheran church, at Marysville, Ohio, and here he has labored since that time, this being his third charge in the ministry of nearly thirty years.
On May 9, 1889. he was married to Catherine Seeger. a daughter of Christian and Margaret Theurer Seeger. To this union three children were born. Paul, Walter and Emma. Paul married Irene Jost and lives in Vic-
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toria, Texas. Walter is a student of theology in Capital University, Colum- bus, Ohio, and will complete his course in 1915. Emma is a graduate of Marysville high school and is at home with her parents.
JOHN K. BOERGER.
A retired farmer of Union county, who is now making his home in Marysville after a long and successful career on the farm, is John K. Boerger, a native of Germany and a resident of this county since 1858. It is needless to say that he has been a successful farmer, for every German who has settled in Union county has been successful. Mr. Boerger richly deserves the rest which he is now enjoying, since he has been one of the active farmers of his township for many years.
John K. Boerger, the son of William and Elizabeth B. Boerger, was born in Bavaria, Germany, May 3, 1841. In 1843 his parents came to America and located in Columbus, Ohio, and five years later they moved to Darby township, in Union county, Ohio, where they lived until 1861. In that year they moved to Union township, where Elizabeth Boerger died. September 11, 1870.
John K. Boerger is the youngest of five children born to his parents, and when fifteen years of age began to learn the trade of a bricklayer with George A. Fox, of Marysville. He followed this trade for three years and then began farming and has made this his life work. He has a fine farm in Paris township, upon which he lived until May. 1912, when he moved to Marysville, where he has a beautiful home.
John K. Boerger was married October 18, 1866, to Maggie Maegerlein, a native of Germany, who came to this country with her parents, Leonard and Eve Maegerlein, when a child. To this union were born seven children, six of whom are still living: John F., a German Lutheran minister, of Ra- cine, Wisconsin; John Leonard, of Madison county, Ohio; William J., a farmer of Madison county; Mary, the wife of George Rausch, of Darby township: Lena, the wife of George Rausch, of Mill Creek township: George Emanuel, a farmer of Union township: and Charles C., who died in infancy.
The mother of these children died August 20, 1882, and on November 8, 1883, Mr. Boerger married Matilda Pfeiffer, a daughter of John and Christiana ( Jenner) Pfeiffer, natives of Germany, who came to the United States about 1838 and settled in Columbus, Ohio. Mrs. Boerger was born
MR. AND MRS. JOHN K, BOERGER
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and reared in Columbus. The father of the second wife of Mr. Boerger died December 12, 1891, and his widow died January 18, 1911. To the second marriage of John Boerger have been born five children, all of whom are living: Alfred K., a Lutheran minister at Jelloway, Ohio; Ernest J., a Lutheran minister at Scofield, Wisconsin: Paul Gerhardt, a farmer in Union township: Carl A., a farmer in Union township; and Walter P., a bookkeeper at Columbus, Ohio.
Mr. Boerger and all of his family are loyal members of the Lutheran church and three of his sons are ministers of this denomination. Mr. Boerger is a Democrat in politics, but has never cared to take part in po- litical matters, although he served on the school board several years. He is an honest, industrious citizen and has always stood for every movement which he thought would be of benefit to his community. He is a director in the Farmers & Merchants' Bank of Milford Center. He has reared a large family of children to lives of usefulness and honor and has seen them take their places as useful members of society. In doing this he and his wife have done their full duty and it is eminently fitting that the history of this interesting family be incorporated in the annals of Union county.
JOSEPH W. PERKINS.
The career of Joseph W. Perkins is that of a man who has depended largely upon his own personal efforts to attain success. Mr. Perkins is en- titled to a place among the successful, self-made men of the community, and this success has been attained not because of fortunate environments or lucky chance, but because of an indomitable will and tireless energy. Practical in- dustry, wisely and vigorously applied, never fails in some measure of suc- cess, even though the environments and conditions of early life may seem to be unpropitious.
Joseph W. Perkins was born in Union county, York township, near West Mansfield, January 28, 1853. He is a son of George W. and Marjorie ( Wiley) Perkins, who were natives of Ohio and early settlers in Union county. The family consisted of eight children, namely: Sarah A., de- ceased, who was the wife of Rollin Daniels; William, of Allen county, In- diana ; Joseph W., the subject of this sketch : Whitley, of Michigan ; Amanda, wife of William Garroll, of Allen county, Indiana : Rachel J., Matilda and . Garilda. the latter three being deceased. The father was always a farmer
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and was among those who contributed a share of the hard labor required in the early development of lands in Union county. He continued to live and labor here until about 1862, when he removed to Allen county, Indiana, where he died in 1898. about seventy-one years of age. His widow survived him for a few years and passed away at the age of seventy years. They were members of the Christian church.
The paternal grandfather of our subject was John Perkins and his wife was Phoebe ( Cook) Perkins, natives of Pennsylvania and early settlers of York township. Union county, Ohio. After living several years on a farm in this township they removed to Allen county, Indiana, about 1862. Both died there well along in years. Their children were William, Margaret Ann. Elizabeth, Michael. George and Melissa. The maternal grandfather was David Wiley and his wife was Elizabeth (Stanley) Wiley, early settlers of Richland county, Ohio. They lived in this county to a good old age, follow- ing the occupation of farmers. The children of this family were Joseph. Richard. Marjorie, Mary Elizabeth. Drusilla and Cynthia.
Joseph W. Perkins began his career on a farm in Union county and was nine years old when he went with his parents to their new home in In- diana. When he was thirteen years old he began making his own way in the world and has directed his personal energies to that end ever since. On account of this his opportunity for obtaining an education was limited. cir- cumstances making it necessary to employ much of his time in such work as he could find to do. However, by attendance at the district schools when- ever possible and by reading and applying his mind to practical affairs out- side of elementary text books, he acquired an education sufficient for the re- quirements of the business in which he afterwards engaged. The first sen- sible business in which he embarked. after he came to the years of manhood, was to get married, rent a farm and establish a home. Later he bought a general store at Raymond, Ohio, and engaged in the mercantile business for two years. His inclination and taste. however, were more in the line of agricultural pursuits and he disposed of his mercantile business and went back to the farm after this two years' experience. He continued farming until 1909 and made a fair success of the business. In the meantime his wife inherited fifty acres of land and he purchased an additional seventy-six acres. They now have one hundred and twenty-six acres of fine land in Union township. In 1909 he left the farm and moved to Marysville and opened up a furniture and undertaking establishment. Three years later he disposed of the furniture line and devoted his attention entirely to the un- dertaking business, in which he is still engaged.
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On February 3, 1875. Mr. Perkins was united in marriage with Lorenda F. Burnham, daughter of Daniel and Catherine ( Hamilton) Burnham. The family record of this union is as follows: Catherine Florence married Harry Perfect and lives on a farmi near Peoria, Ohio: Mabel Jeannette married Edward C. L. Barlow and lives in Marion; Walter B. married Caroline Dou- lan and is engaged in farming on his father's farm in Union county. He is a Republican and was at one time township treasurer in Logan county, where he had a general store and conducted a hotel in Middleburg.
Mrs. Perkins was born in Champaign county, Ohio, February 3, 1853. Her parents were natives of Ohio and lived mostly in Champaign county. Her father died in 1888, aged sixty-two years ; her mother died February 12. 1901, aged eighty-seven years. Their children were Lorenda E., Maria D., Elba V., Elnathan H. and LeRoy Elmer. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Perkins was Elba Burnham and his wife was Lorenda ( Burnham ) Burn- ham. In this family were the following named children, Laura, Daniel, Charles, Martha and David, who lived to be grown. The maternal grand- father of Mrs. Perkins was James Hamilton, who married Maria Blue, both natives of Ohio. Their children were Elizabeth, James, Alexander. Silas and Samuel.
JOHN RICHARD HERRIOTT.
A young business man of Arnold, Jerome township, Union county. Ohio, is John Richard Herriott, who was born in this same township on January 27, 1890. After marrying, he at once began business for himself as a timber buyer and lumber manufacturer, and the year following became interested in the coal, grain, hay and general warehouse business at Arnold, where he has built up a good trade in these commodities during the past six years. He is a young man and at the threshhold of life and the success which has already come to him is a tribute to his ability, energy and industry.
John R. Herriott is the son of John and Lena (Nick) Herriott. His parents, both of whom were born in Union county, have reared a family of three children, two of whom are living: Maud K., who died in the year 1905. the wife of Prentice Daniel Sharp; Joe Moss, of Richwood, Ohio, and John Richard, of Arnold. John Herriott is a farmer and lumberman and now operates a saw mill at Arnold, as well as several saw mills in the south- ern part of Ohio.
John R. Herriott was educated in the New California school. Since
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starting in business for himself he has built up a large trade in this section of the county and is recognized as one of the enterprising young business men of the county. Mr. Herriott was married on Christmas eve, 1907, to Alice Brooks, a daughter of Wilson and Esther (Linscott) Brooks, natives of Athens county. Ohio. Mrs. Herriott's parents moved to Franklin county, Ohio, and located near Dublin, Ohio, about 1880. Mr. Herriott and his wife have one son, Gerald Prentice, who was born November 5. 1908. Politically, Mr. Herriott is a Republican, but so far has never taken an active part in political matters.
MICHAEL THOMAS CODY.
A distinctly representative citizen of Union county, Ohio, is Michael Thomas Cody, who is now district assessor of his county. Born in this county. he has spent his entire life here and so conducted himself and his affairs as to win the unqualified approval of his fellow citizens. The fact that he stands high in the estimation of the people of Union county is shown by the fact that he was elected as a delegate to the constitutional convention of Ohio in 1912 and took an active part in the deliberations of that body. He is essentially a self-made man, and his farm of one hundred and thirty acres in Dover and Paris townships speaks well for his thrift and industry.
Michael T. Cody, the son of Michael and Anastasia ( Powers) Cody, was born in Dover township. Union county, Ohio, October 29, 1868. His parents were natives of Ireland, of county Tipperary and county Water- ford, respectively. Michael Cody, Sr., came to America when he was eigh- teen years of age and his wife when she was eight years of age. They met and married in Union county and reared a family of twelve children : John, deceased: Edward, of New Dover; Margaret, of Marysville; Michael T .. of Marysville: William R., of Franklin county, Kansas; James F., of Dover township: Richard, of Marysville: Mary, the wife of R. T. Laird. of Leesburg township: Catherine, the wife of Frank Mackan, of Marys- ville: Anastasia, of Marysville: Emmett, of Terre Haute, Indiana, and Bernard, of Dover township.
Michael Cody, Sr., lived in Ireland until he was eighteen and conse- quently received all of his education in his native land. He came to America and first located in New York. near Albany, and later moved to Brandon, Vermont, coming to Ohio about 1853 and locating in Union county. He bought a farm of thirty acres in Dover township, to which he later added
MICHAEL T. CODY
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three hundred and seventy acres in Dover and Paris townships. He farmed his four hundred acres until 1908, when he retired from active farm life and moved into Marysville, where he is now living at the good old age of eighty-two. His wife, who is also living, is now past seventy-two years of age. Both are loyal members of the Catholic church. Mr. Cody held various. township offices during his younger years.
The paternal grandparents of Michael T. Cody were John and Margaret (Crook) Cody. They were natives of Ireland and came to America about 1850 and located in Union county, Ohio, where they lived to an advanced age. A large family of children were born to John Cody and wife : Michael, Edward, Thomas, Anna, William, John, Clara and Richard. The maternal grandparents of Michael T. Cody were John Powers and wife, natives of Ireland and early settlers in Union county, where they located about sixty- five years ago. They died here at an advanced age after rearing a large family of children : Anastasia, James, Michael, Mary, Thomas, Josie and John.
Michael T. Cody was reared on his father's farm in Dover township. He received a good education in the district schools of his neighborhood and remained at home helping his father on the farm until he was grown. He then began working out by the month and after his marriage began living on a rented farm. He and his good wife were frugal in their habits and were soon able to buy sixty-seven and one-half acres of land in Dover and Paris townships. Later they added an equal amount and lived on this farm for several years. Subsequently they sold this farm and bought another of one hundred and forty-five acres in Dover and Paris townships, where they lived until 1911. Mr. Cody then sold fifteen acres from his farm and now owns one hundred and thirty acres of well improved land. In December, 1911, Mr. Cody moved to Marysville and bought a good home at No. 731 East Fifth street, where he is now residing.
Mr. Cody was married November 14, 1893, to Anna Cuddihy, and to this union three children have been born, Martha, Florence and Chester. Mrs. Cody was born in Marysville, Ohio.
Mr. Cody is a stanch Democrat and has been one of the leaders of his party for many years. Ile was elected a delegate to the fourth constitu- tional convention of Ohio which framed a new constitution for the state in 1912. In 1913 he was appointed district assessor and is now filling this office with success and to the entire satisfaction of the people of the county.
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He was township clerk and a member of the school board of Dover township for several years. He and his wife are loyal members of the Catholic church and deeply interested in its welfare. Fraternally, Mr. Cody is a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
ASA G. BATES.
It is the dictate of our nature, no less than of enlightened society, to honor those whose lives have contributed in any way to the good of their community and to their fellow citizens. In this brief biography of Asa G. Bates, who has passed to his reward, may be seen the life of a man who played an important part in the life of Union county during his career. In contemplating the many estimable qualities of the late Mr. Bates, integrity and industry appear as common characteristics, an integrity which no per- sonal or other consideration could swerve and an industry that knew no rest while anything remained undone. He had the greatest sympathy for his fellowmen and was always ready to aid and encourage those who were trying to aid themselves. When he believed he was on the right path, nothing could turn him from his duty. He commanded the respect of all classes by his exemplary life and his memory will long be endeared by his friends and ac- quaintances.
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