History of Van Wert County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 42

Author: Thaddeus S. Gilliland
Publication date: 1906
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 870

USA > Ohio > Van Wert County > History of Van Wert County, Ohio and Representative Citizens > Part 42

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Theodore J. Stallkamp married Isabel Stevenson and they have an interesting family of four children, viz. : Elizabeth, Alexander, Raymond and Florence. Mr. Stallkamp, like his venerable father, is a valued member of St. John's Catholic Church.

JAMES WEBSTER. Among the differ- ent lines of business successfully car- ried on at Van Wert, that of general insurance is looked after by capable and experienced men. Among these is James Webster of the insurance firm of James Web- ster & Son. He is a son of Nathaniel and Bet- sey ( Abbott) Webster, and was born in Ash- tabula County, Ohio, January 1, 1832. The father and mother of Mr. Webster were na- tives of New Hampshire and Montreal. Can- ada, but their last years were spent in the State of Ohio. They reared seven children.

After completing his education in the com-

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HON. AUGUSTUS L. SWEET

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mon schools, James Webster came to Van Wert County in 1851, then a young man of 19 years, and embarked in a mercantile busi- ness in which he remained until 1853. He was then appointed deputy county auditor, to fill out the unexpired term of John Shaw and he served two years more under County Auditor Robinson. He was then elected auditor of Van Wert County and served in this respon- sible position for two terms, his administra- tion of the affairs of this office reflecting credit upon his capacity and integrity.

Mr. Webster then embarked in the timber business, in partnership with L. H. Wise and for 15 years, or as long as the business con- tinued to be profitable, the firm of Webster & Wise remained in the field. After disposing of his lumber interests, Mr. Webster then en- tered into general insurance and is now asso- ciated with his son, Robert. The firm of James Webster & Son represents some 22 companies, all of them being old-line substantial organiza- tions.

On December 5, 1861, Mr. Webster mar- ried Mary H. Sweet, who after a happy wed- ded life of over 38 years died February 10, 1901, and lies buried in Woodland Cemetery. To them were born five children, as follows : Robert, Jennie, Lemuel K., deceased October 8. 1901 : John M .; and James Ferdinand. All of the children reside in the beautiful family home at No. 809 South Washington street, ex- cept Jennie, the wife of Eugene R. Conn. of Van Wert, who lives in a home adjoining that of Mr. Webster. John M. and James Ferdi- nand Webster are the leading druggists of Van Wert: the former served two terms as deputy sheriff and was later elected sheriff. in which office he continued to serve for two more terms. Mr. Conn also has served as sheriff of Van Wert County : he is now in the insurance

business. He and Mrs. Conn have two sons- Donald W. and Robert E.

Politically the subject of the sketch is iden- tified with the Republican party. Fraternally he is a Mason, being a charter member of Van Wert Chapter, No. 71, R. A. M. He is the only surviving charter member of this chapter which held its 50th anniversary on February 26, 1906, and has a present membership of 131.

ON. AUGUSTUS L. SWEET, judge of the Probate Court of Van Wert County, whose portrait accompanies this sketch, is one of the leading citizens of this county and one of the hon- ored survivors of the Civil War. He was born in Ohio, October 17, 1842, and is a son of John and Lucy (White) Sweet. The father of Augustus L. Sweet was a carpenter by trade. He came to Van Wert County in 1852 and here reared his family of three children.

During his boyhood Augustus L. Sweet at- tended school and assisted his father on the home farm, but before he had reached his majority he was wearing the Union blue as a private in Company H, Fourth Reg., Ohio Vol. Cav., enlisting September 14, 1861. He was subsequently promoted and became quar- termaster-sergeant. He served until his hon- orable discharge in July 15, 1865; during three months of this service he endured the horrors of the military prison at Salisbury, North Caro- lina.

Upon his return to Ohio, after peace was declared, the young soldier turned his atten- tion to the study of the law and was admitted to the bar in 1880. He practiced his profession at Van Wert for the succeeding seven years, and was then elected by the Republican party

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prosecuting attorney of Van Wert County, later city attorney of Van Wert, and on Feb)- ruary 9, 1900, was elevated to his present posi- tion on the bench. Judge Sweet was re-elected in November, 1905, for a second term ( f six years on the probate bench. leading his ticket and having a plurality of over 500 votes. In

his judicial administration he has as much hon- ored the office as it has honored him, and his record is one to which he can refer with justi- fiable pride. His reputation is that of an in- corruptible public official and a high-minded, public-spirited citizen. Further he is as much a patriot in times of peace as he was years ago, when he served at the front, and his duty to his fellow-citizens is as carefully performed as a member of the judiciary, as it was when soldiering in 1861.

Judge Sweet was united in marriage with Margaret V. Fugit, who is a daughter of I. Fugit, and they are the parents of the three fol- lowing children, viz. : Forest H .; Edna H., who is the wife of A. R. Springer; and Goldie St. Clair, who is the wife of John Webber. The family belong to the Presbyterian Church. Judge Sweet is a very popular as well as able citizen of Van Wert, and he has numerous fra- ternal connections, belonging to these orders : Ancient Order of United Workmen, Knights of Pythias, Fraternal Order of Eagles, Home Guards of America and W. C. Scott Post, G. A. R., at Van Wert.

R UDOLPH REUL, M. D., deceased, was for 30 years a well-known med- ical practitioner at Delphos. He came from Germany in 1848 and settled in Delphos, where he engaged in the practice of medicine. When Company F. 118th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., was organized, he was made

captain, and as such served throughout the Civil war. He passed away August 19, 1879, universally esteemed and loved.

Of his three sons, only the youngest, Wal- ter W. Reul, of the Delphos Hardware Com- pany, is living. The two elder sons, Carl and Rudolph, were sent to Germany, after pass- ing through the common schools of Van Wert County, and there studied medicine in the Uni- versity of Heidelberg. Returning to Delphos, they followed their profession in this vicinity, and were accounted among the city's most skill- ful and successful practitioners. Dr. Carl Reul was actively engaged in his work up to his death in June, 1895. but Dr. Rudolph Reul, Jr., who died in July, 1904, at the age of 48 years, was obliged to retire from practice some years before his death on account of ill health.

ASON L. MOSER, president of the Bank of Wren, at Wren, this county, is one of the most prominent business men of the southwestern section of Van Wert County and is prominently iden- tified with nearly all of the most important industries and business combinations in the village. He also owns 103 acres of the old family homestead, which is situated in section 17, Willshire township. Mr. Moser was born in the township named on April 28, 1853, and is a son of David and Aseneth (Wolf) Moser.

The Moser family is of German extraction and is an old established one in Pennsylvania, where both our subject's father and grand- father were born. The latter, Joseph Moser, was a pioneer in Richland County, Ohio, and came thence to Van Wert County, in 1847, dying at the home of his son in 1876, aged 82 years.

David Moser, the father of Jason L., was

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born in 1826 in Washington County, Pennsyl- vania, and died in Van Wert County in 1884, aged 58 years. He accompanied his parents to this section and assisted in establishing the pioneer home in the woods, and here he sub- sequently became a man of prominence and substance owning at one time 200 acres of land. He was the youngest in the family of three sons and two daughters, who all came to Van Wert County, with the exception of a son and daughter who remained in Richland Coun- ty. Mr. Moser was a strong Republican, one of the leading abolitionists of his locality and a member of the United Brethren Church.

The mother of our subject, Aseneth Wolf, belonged to one of the old families of Rich- land County, which also migrated to Van Wert County. In 1861 she died of consump- tion, when but 33 years of age. She was the mother of five children, viz. : Jason L .; Joseph, of Pleasant Mills; Rachel (Teeple), of Geneva, Indiana; and Jonathan Lewis and John New- ton (twins), the former of whom died aged three years, and the latter, aged 14 years. Mr. Moser married a second time and had five more children, all of whom survive.

Jason L. Moser remained with his parents on the farm until he was 27 years of age. His education had been pursued along liberal lines, including an attendance at the Ohio Normal University at Ada, after which he taught school for some 10 years in Van Wert County and in the State of Indiana. In 1883 Mr. Moser came to Wren and has the distinction of erecting the first building in the village-one which was utilized as a dwelling and store combined. Here he engaged in a general mer- cantile business for about eight years, under the firm name of J. L. Moser & Company. In 1890 he entered into partnership with W. B. Frysinger & Company, in the produce line, and for five years the partners conducted both a

mercantile and produce business. The latter is still continued under the old firm name, while Mr. Frysinger conducts their branch pro- duce business at Rockford, Ohio.

As indicated above, Mr. Moser has numer- ous business interests. He is interested in the elevator business of Dudley & Company, at Wren, and in two elevators at Glenmore, with the firm of Garris, Dudley & Company. He also has an interest in the Decatur Produce Company, of Decatur, Indiana, of which his son is manager. Mr. Moser was one of the main organizers of the Bank of Wren, of which he is president, the institution beginning busi- ness in 1904, in a fine bank building erected for the purpose. He is also a stockholder in the local telephone company, of which he was one of the organizers. Further, he is a large property owner both in the country and in the village. Mr. Moser's handsome residence, built in 1887, was remodeled in 1902, and in 1905 he erected his present business building, which is con- structed of cement block. He is a man of pub- lic spirit and liberal views, of excellent busi- ness perceptions and appreciative of all that goes to make a well-rounded life, being also fully alive to the benefits to be enjoyed in a well-organized community like the village of Wren, of which he is, in a way, the father. Politically Mr. Moser was reared in Republi- canism. Although personally his many busi- ness interests have taken the place of political aspirations, he is ever ready to work in favor of friends and for good government. His fra- ternal connections include membership with the Odd Fellows and the Maccabees.

In 1882 Mr. Moser was married to Annis Teeple, who was born in Adams County, Indi- ana, and is a daughter of John Teeple. They have three children, viz .: John W., who is in the produce business at Decatur, Indiana ; Maude M., who is the wife of C. C. Finkhouser,

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cashier of the Bank of Wren; and Esty May, who is attending school. Mr. Moser and fan- ily belong to the United Brethren Church, in which for many years he was superintendent of the Sunday-school.

OHN J. HUMPHREYS, one of Van Wert's representative business men, for many years a member of the whole- sale grocery firm of Humphreys & Hughes and now the head of its successor- The Humphreys Grocery Company-was born November 25, 1847, in Allen County, Ohio, and is a son of Richard and Jane (Jones) Humphreys.

Richard Humphreys and his wife were both natives of Wales and came to America in 1845 a few years after their marriage. After liv- ing a few months at Pittsburg they settled per- manently in Allen County, Ohio. Mr. Hum- phreys died in 1884, having lived the last five years of his life with his daughter Jane, Mrs. J. D. Evans, his wife having died in 1879. Five children were born to them, all of whom still survive except Margaret. The family record is as follows: Jane, wife of J. D. Evans, of Allen County, Ohio; Margaret, deceased; John J .; Catherine, widow of W. E. Watkins, resid- ing at Columbus, Ohio; and Thomas A., who is a Congregational minister located at Scran- ton, Pennsylvania.

John J. Humphreys was given common- school advantages, which were supplemented by commercial and normal school courses. Prior to taking up a mercantile life he engaged in teaching for several years. In 1874, in par- nership with Mr. Dunathan, he engaged in the grocery business at Van Wert. Mr. Hum- · phreys has ever since continued in the grocery

business having been associated with various partners, the firm name changing from Duna- than & Humphreys to Dunathan, Humphreys & Holbrook, to Dunathan & Humphreys again, then to Humphreys & Hughes, and finally to The Humphreys Grocery Company, which was incorporated in 1901 and of which Mr. Hum- phreys is the president and principal owner. In 1886 the firm commenced to give its entire attention to the wholesale trade, having pre- viously carried on a business both wholesale and retail. The business has shown a steady increase from its inception and has now become one of the largest institutions of its kind in Ohio. The handsome business block on the corner of East Main and South Market streets, Van Wert, built to accommodate the firm's re- quirements, was long the finest business struc- ture in the city.

On February 11, 1899, the firm of Hum- phreys & Hughes met with a severe loss in the destruction of their entire immense estab- lishment by fire. They immediately rebuilt and in September of the same year the business was established in their new building.

Mr. Humphreys was married in Van Wert County, Ohio, November 29, 1874, to Florence E. McCoy, who was born November 30, 1854. in Van Wert County, a daughter of Moses H. McCoy, a leading citizen and one of the old- est settlers of the county. Seven children have been born to them, viz .: Eugene C .; Wilber R .; Agnes L., who died in 1902. aged 21 years : Edna and Ethel (twins) ; and Helen L. and Harold L. (twins). Eugene C .. who is a grad- uate of the Van Wert High School and also of the Spencerian Commercial College of Cleve- land. Ohio, is head bookkeeper for The Hum- phreys Grocery Company. He has established quite a reputation as a local singer and has been called to neighboring cities to assist in con-

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JAMES B. SMITH

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ducting musical entertainments. Wilber R., also a graduate of the Van Wert High School, attended the University of Wooster and later graduated from Harvard University. He is now associate professor in the University of Oklahoma. Edna and Ethel, both graduates of the Van Wert High School, are attending college at the National Park Seminary, located in the suburbs of Washington, D. C. Helen L. and Harold L. are attending the Van Wert public schools.

AMES B. SMITH, one of Van Wert's leading citizens, formerly mayor and for years identified with its business, social and political affairs, was born at St. Catherines, Ontario, Canada, July 15, 1838, and is a son of John and Ellen (McDermott) Smith. His parents, who were natives of Ireland, both came to America in 1832 and were married the following year at Buffalo, New York. Of their five children, the two survivors are James B., of Van Wert, Ohio, and George C., of Kalamazoo, Michigan. As a cooper, the father worked at different points prior to 1850, when he located at Jack- son, Michigan, where he died 10 years later ; the mother died at Kalamazoo, Michigan, in 1892.

James B. Smith, whose portrait accom- panies this sketch, attended school wherever his father's business interests led the family, acquiring so thorough an education that for a time he followed teaching as a profession. Finally, however, he learned his father's busi- ness, and after his marriage, in 1861, settled near Eaton Rapids, Michigan, moving in the succeeding year to Kalamazoo, where he work- ed as a cooper until 1865. He continued to be

thus employed in Plainwell, Michigan, until 1868, and then removed to Wayland, that state. For a couple of years he engaged in the hotel business there; in 1871 became superin- tendent of the cooperage plant of Jaynes & Company, at St. Louis, Missouri; and located at Van Wert in 1883. Until the fall of 1887 he was connected with the extensive business of George H. Marsh, of this city, but in that year organized the Leeson Cooperage Company, of which he has been secretary and manager.

Mr. Smith is now practically retired from business activity, but is still an important fac- tor in the public life of Van Wert. He has always been affiliated with the Democratic party, and for years has been in close touch with its leaders in this section. In 1899 he was elected mayor of Van Wert and served one term to the complete satisfaction of his fellow- citizens.

On September 21, 1861, Mr. Smith was united in marriage with Eunice Whitcomb, who was born in Eaton County, Michigan, and is a daughter of Luther and Louisa ( Pierson) Whitcomb, natives of New England. They have two sons, viz. : Byron J., who is engaged in the electrical business at Van Wert, and Burton L., who is connected with the Times- Democrat, the leading newspaper of Van Wert County. Mr. Smith and family occupy one of the pleasantest homes in this prosperous little city, situated at No. 503 North Market street.

Mr. Smith was one of the organizers, with Dr. G. J. Eblen and J. W. Evans, of the fra- ternal society known as the Home Guards of America, and he holds the office of supreme treasurer in this organization, which, in its few years of existence has gained thousands of members. His frateral relations with the Ma- sons and the Elks are also active.

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A BRAM BROWN GLEASON, presi- dent of the First National Bank of Van Wert, was born in this county, April 10, 1840, and is a son of Joseph Gleason, one of the best known early resi- dents of Van Wert County. Mr. Gleason's educational opportunities were those afforded by the schools of Pleasant township. When but 15 years of age he was employed in a saw- mill and grist-mill, and by the time he was 21 years of age was promoted to the position of head sawyer and general manager, continuing with the same company until 1866. In that year he entered the milling business himself, in partnership with his brother, Frank J., tak- ing advantage of the opportunity to purchase the milling property and water rights of the plant where he had been so long engaged. In 1893 Mr. Gleason admitted into partnership, his son Earl and F. H. Carper, and with this addition of capital and energy the firm of the Gleason Lumber Company was formed, which eventually conducted one of the largest indus- tries of its kind in the county.

As early as 1868 Mr. Gleason also dis- played foresight and business ability in the purchase of large tracts of farming lands in this county, and now owns some 500 acres of well-improved realty. As a growing capitalist, he became a stockholder in the Van Wert County Bank, in 1869, and since March, 1883, has been president of the First National Bank of Van Wert. Other important and successful enterprises in which he is more or less inter- ested have been : The Ohio Land & Livestock Company ; the Van Wert Natural Gas Com- pany ; the Eagle Stave Company; Van Wert's first building and loan association, and others -each organization finding in him a man of sound business judgment and commercial prob- ity. In the matter of public improvements and civic expansion, his fellow-citizens have found

him more than ready to meet them half way.

Politically Mr. Gleason is a Democrat, but his private interests are so large that he finds little time to devote to the duties of official life. In 1869 and 1871 he served as sheriff of Van Wert County, performing his duties with the same completeness, which marks the man- agement of his private affairs.

Abraham B. Gleason was married at Van Wert, on February 6, 1862, to Lucretia J. Fox, who died April 1, 1867. She is survived by two children, viz .: Lofnis Earl, who is asso- ciated with his father in the Gleason Lumber Company, and Mittie E., the wife of Dr. W. T. Chambers, of Denver, Colorado.

OHN HOFFMANN, a well-to-do farm- er and large land owner of Liberty township, resides on a fine farm situ- ated in section 18. He was born in Marion County, Ohio, December 4, 1846, and is a son of Peter and Christina (Gear- heiser ) Hoffmann. Peter Hoffmann was born and raised in Germany and came to America in 1833, settling on an 83-acre tract of land in Marion County, Ohio, where he died May 3, 1895.

John Hoffmann was reared and educated in Marion County and remained there until he became of age. In 1870 he moved to Lib- erty township, Van Wert County, Ohio. and bought a farm of 66 acres which he farmed for three years before his marriage.

In 1873 he married Mary Riedel. a daugh- ter of Andrus and Magdalena Riedel. who came from Germany and first settled in Marion County, Ohio, later removing to Van Wert County. Mr. Riedel died in the fall of 1872; his wife died in 1892. Mr. and Mrs. Hoff-

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mann have reared seven children, all of whom are living, namely: Elizabeth Magdalena, who married Peter Schaadt and has three children -they live on the old homestead first settled by Mrs. Schaadt's father; Peter, who married Ona Robertson and has three children-they live in Liberty township; John A., who mar- ried Mary Haverman, lives in Liberty town- ship and has one child; Philip; Minnie, who married Christ Voltz, of Lima, Ohio; Henry ; and Annie, who married Chester Chilcoat, of Liberty township.

Mr. Hoffmann is the owner of 2941/2 acres of fine productive farm land in Liberty town- ship and 831/2 acres in Marion County, Ohio. He is a man of energy and enterprise and takes a very decided interest in public matters. He takes the part of a good citizen in promoting the welfare of the community. He served one year as trustee of Liberty township.

F ERDINAND BREDEICK, the founder of the city of Delphos, was born at Verl, Prussia, Germany, in 1808. Af- ter a useful life, he passed away, Feb- ruary 17, 1846, far from his native land, in a community which he had founded and a sec- tion which his energy had assisted in devel- oping.

It was through the religious zeal of his oldest brother, the late Rev. John Otto Bre- deick, whose name is held in loving memory at Delphos, that Ferdinand Bredeick crossed the Atlantic and subsequently settled in Ohio. Pos- sessed of learning and large means, the older brother was also a devoted priest of the Cath- olic Church and it was his desire to use his fortune in the teaching of the poor the tenets `of his religious faith and in offering the com- forts of the holy church. Having decided that

America offered a wider field of usefulness, he proposed to his younger brother that he should be the pioneer, go to America and search out a location where the desire of his heart could be carried out.

Hence it was that in 1841 a party consist- ing of Ferdinand Bredeick, his wife and their two children, with Theodore Wrocklage. his brother-in-law, located on the Auglaize River, in Putnam County, Ohio, awaiting the decision of the engineers as to which of three routes should be selected for the building of a pro- posed canal. It is probable that Ferdinand came to Ohio about 1833 and that eight years had elapsed before he was able to select a site approved by his brother. He visited many sec- tions, riding on horseback all over Missouri and other States, finding at last a situation where cheap land could be procured and where proposed public improvements would enhance its value and would also bring an influx of peo- ple whose spiritual wants could be ministered to. While the final decisions were made which resulted in the selection of the present route of the Miami and Erie Canal, which bisects the city of Delphos, one-half being in Van Wert County and one-half in Allen, Mr. Bredeick and family lived in Putnam County, Ohio- eight years at Glandorf and one year at Fort Jennings. They came to the present site of Delphos in 1842, before the canal was built.

Ferdinand Bredeick first bought 80 acres on what is now the Van Wert County side of the canal, a part of this original purchase be- ing now owned by his daughter, Mrs. Henry J. Moennig. He also purchased 80 acres on the Allen County side of the canal, and an addi- tional 80 acres for his brother, Father John Otto Bredeick. This land is the site of Del- phos, busy Main street passing through it and the Catholic church, cemetery and school of St. John the Evangelist standing upon it. In

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History of Van Wert County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 42

Author: Thaddeus S. Gilliland Publication date: 1906 Publisher: Number of Pages: 870

Author: Thaddeus S. Gilliland
Publication date: 1906
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 870