History of Van Wert County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 61

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 61

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OSHUA WAGERS, who is now serv- ing his eighth term as a justice of the peace, in Willshire township, resides on his well improved farm of 160 acres in sections 8 and 9. He belongs to one of the old, honorable and numerous pioneer families of this section of Ohio, and was born in sec- tion 9, Willshire township, October 5, 1837. his parents being John and Anna (Johnson) Wagers. The father was born in 1806, in Bal- timore County, Maryland, and was 14 years of age when he accompanied his parents to Harrison County, Ohio, where he married Anna Johnson. The children of Mr. and Mrs. John Wagers were: Rachel, (Mrs. Tindall) and Joseph J., both deceased; Mary ( Mrs. Nei- ford) of Willshire township; Joshua, of this sketch; David, a member during the Civil war

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JOHN J. HOFMANN

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of the Fourth Regiment, Ohio Vol. Cav., who died in the service at Chattanooga, Tennessee; Catherine (Mrs. Wolf) ; and John K., both of Wren, and Eliza, who died young. Three of the children were born in Harrison County and five in Van Wert County.

In April, 1837, John Wagers and family settled on section 9, Willishire township, where he entered 320 acres of land and later bought 40 acres, having 360 acres in one body, 80 of which was in section 8 and the balance in sec- tion 9. He cleared 150 acres of the land and placed it under cultivation, devoting his ac- tive life to farming and the improvment of his property. During nearly all his life pioneer conditions prevailed, and it was a long dis- tance from his log cabin to the nearest mill point-Fort Wayne or St. Marys. In the early years the family subsisted largely on game, which was then plentiful on the land, which now embraces his fertile fields. John Wagers lived to the age of 85 and his worthy wife until nearly 91 years.

Joshua Wagers has always resided in Will- shire township and, like his father, has devot- ed himself to agricultural pursuits, which in- clude a general line of farming, stock raising and the buying and selling of cattle. . His farm is a part of the old homestead entered by his father 70 years ago, and the land is well lo- cated, productive and valuable.

In 1858, Mr. Wagers was married (first) to Elmira Medaugh, who was born September 22, 1837, and died September 20, 1894. She was a daughter of those pioneers, Ephraim and Jane (Slater) Medaugh. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Joshua Wagers were: Wills B .. of this township; Anna J. (Mrs. Close), deceased ; Mary S. (Mrs. Agler), of Michigan, Ephraim J., of Geneva, Indiana; Charity A. (Mrs. Kreisher), of this township; and Minnie R. (Mrs. Hard), of North Dakota. Mr. Wag-

ers was married (second) to Mrs. Elizabeth Roland, widow of Levi Roland and daughter of Charles and Sarah Fleck.

Since casting his first vote for Abraham Lincoln, in his first presidential candidacy, Mr. Wagers has been identified with the Republi- can party. He has always taken a deep in- terest in public matters and has long been one of the prominent men of his township. Dur- ing his long term of service as justice of the peace, Mr. Wagers has satisfactorily adjusted many difficulties and has rendered hundreds of decisions which have met with the public ap- proval. For 13 years consecutively he has served as school director and for one term was township trustee. As to his religious con- nections, he is one of the leading members and most liberal supporters of the United Brethren Church at Wren.

OHN J. HOFMANN, of the firm of J. J. Hofmann & Company, hardwood lumber dealers in Pleasant township, is also an agriculturist of pronounced . success and resides on a farm of 71 acres in section 30, Pleasant township, which has been his home for over 20 years. Mr. Hofman was born in Van Wert County, Ohio, November 25, 1860, and is a son of John C. and Magda- lena (Germann) Hofman, the former a na- tive of Germany, and the latter, of Van Wert County.

John C. Hofmann, the father, located in Pleasant township and was among the first to engage in running a sawmill in Van Wert County, doing quite an extensive business. He was married here to Magadelena Germann, daughter of Adam Peter Germann, who was an early resident of Harrison township. Six children were born to our subject's parents,

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namely ; John J .; Annie K., deceased; Martin H., of Pleasant township; August C., of Den- ver, Colorado; Rosa M., wife of Frederick Busch, of Pleasant township; and Lucy M., wife of Frederick Da iler, of Union township. The father of the family died in 1870.

When John J. Hofmann had attained his 16th year, he entered a sawmill, where he learned the business and continued as an em- ployee for seven years. He then engaged in that line as a proprietor, adding the sale of lum- ber to its manufacture; and has succeeded be- yond his expectations. He now handles large quantities of hardwood lumber and his yards and sawmill have such an extended patronage at to place them among the important indus- tries of Van Wert County. In addition to be- ing the proprietor of this enterprise, Mr. Hof- mann is a farmer of no mean ability and is the owner of three tracts in this county, viz. : The farm upon which he resides in section 30, Pleas- ant township, which contains 71 acres of well- kept land; a farm of 46 acres in section 31, Pleasant township; and a half interest in 60 acres lying in Harrison township. His partner in this ownership, as well as the sawmill and lumber business, is F. C. Wambsgamss, of Harrison township. On a preceding page of this work are shown views of Mr. Hofmann's home and barn.

Mr. Hofmann was married November 25, 1883, to Anna C. Siegel, a native of Holmes County, Ohio, and their six children are : Theo- dore C., John R., Henry J., Ora A., Olga A. and Arthur C. Mr. Hofman is a member of St. Peter's German Lutheran Church, of Har- rison township, and is one of the elders. He is a member of the School Board of Pleasant township and has endeavored maintain the schools at the highest grade. In politics he is a Democrat. His portrait accompanies this sketch.

ON. AMOS T. DAILEY, deceased. The late Judge Amos T. Dailey be- longed to one of the pioneer families of Ohio, one which has proved itself, down to the present generation, worthy of the esteem and consideration of the communities in which its members dwell. He was born in Athens County, Ohio, March 16, 1832, and was a son of Esaias and Mary Ann (Thomp- son) Dailey.

Thomas Dailey, the grandfather was born of Irish parentage, in Delaware, in the year 1775. He was reared in Virginia, to which State his parents removed; was married to Mary Majors, in 1798; reared 10 children, and lived in Virginia until 1820. In that year he migrated to Ohio and settled in Meigs County, where he died in 1860, being sur- vived four years by his wife.

Esaias Dailey, the father, was born in Harrison County, Virginia, December 6, 1805, but entered into manhood in Meigs County, Ohio, where he engaged in farming. It can- not be stated in what year he first located in Athens County, but in May, 1831, he was mar- ried there to Mary Ann Thompson and lived in that county until 1832. His wife was a daughter of Amos and Jane (McBain) Thomp- son-Irish and Scotch, respectively-she her- self being a native of Virginia, born in Octo- ber, 1810. The children of Esaias Dailey and wife were: Amos T., the immediate subject of this memoir; Jane, Mrs. John Smith; Nim rod, deceased; Esaias, of Kankakee, Illinois; Albert William, of Walkerton, Indiana; Vic- toria, Mrs. Joseph Foster, of Adams County, that State; Clayton, of Decatur, Indiana : and Mary Ann, wife of Dallas Foor. In 1833 Esaias Dailey moved to Auglaize County, Ohio, and resided for one year at St. Mary's, and in 1834 located in Van Wert County, en- tering land two miles west of Willshire, just

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across the Indiana line. From 1837 until 1850 he followed farming here, and also conducted an old-fashioned inn situated on the stage route. He died October 14, 1869, his wife, the mother of Judge Dailey, having preceeded him long before, dying of cholera on July 22, 1854.

The late Judge Dailey was mainly educated in private schools, and at the Ohio Weslyan University, Delaware, Ohio, having come upon the stage of life before the present excellent public school system was perfected. Like many other of the young men of his time and manner of rearing, at the age of 24 years he was a practical farmer and an excellent judge of stock, engaging for several years in buy- ing and driving stock, and on one occasion (in 1853) taking several droves of horses and cat- tle as far as Chicago. After his marriage, in 1856, he located in Athens County, Indiana, farmed until 1864 and then became a general merchant at Pleasant Mills, Indiana. He con- tinued there in the mercantile business until 1870, when he settled in Willshire township, Van Wert County, Ohio, where he resumed farming.

In 1882 Mr. Dailey was selected for one of the most responsible and honorable positions in the county, that of probate judge, and this office he filled to the entire satisfaction of his fellow citizens until 1888. During a part of 1889 he resumed the buying and shipping of stock, but in that year he was appointed post- master at Van Wert. After four years of faithful, honorable service in this office, he re- tired to private life, his death occurring on May 20, 1902.

On July 14, 1856, at Van Wert, Judge Dailey was married to Eliza Jane Ainsworth, a daughter of William and Susan Ainsworth, who was born January 1, 1837, at Madison, Ohio. The six children born to this union

were : Orsini and Susan, both deceased ; Laura B .; Sarah G .; William H .; and Esaias. Of the above family William H. Dailey is one of the leading attorneys at Van Wert, and is the senior member of the law firm of Dailey & Allen. Mrs. Dailey died on January 21, 1906.

Judge Dailey was a life-long Republican and for a number of years was one of the party leaders in this section. He was a man of high principles, both in public and private life, and enjoyed the confidence, esteem and deep re- spect of his fellow citizens. In his fraternal relations he was a Royal Arch Mason.

ACOB BURGNER, a prominent farm- er residing in section 7, Pleasant town- ship, on a highly cultivated farm of 160 acres, has lived in Van Wert County 42 years and all but one year of this period in Pleasant township. He was born July 4, 1839, in Fairfield County, Ohio, and is a son of Joseph and Julia A. (Bailor) Burg- ner. The great-great-grandfather was born in Switzerland, whence he came to America, in 1734, and settled in Pennsylvania, from him having descended the numerous family of that name in the United States.

Joseph Burgner, the father of Jacob, was born in the State of Pennsylvania in 1811, and was 17 years of age when his parents came to Ohio and located in Fairfield County, where he died April 29, 1900, at a ripe old age. He was the father of ten children, four of whom are living, namely: Jacob; Aaron; Martin L., and Ardilla, widow of Joel McDonald. Eliza, the second child, died January 31, 1906. All were residents of Fairfield County, except Ja- cob Burgner, who was reared and educated there, but came to Van Wert County in De-

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cember, 1863. For a short time he farmed in Ridge township and ex-county commissioner part of Pleasant township and there carried on agricultural operations until the spring of 1894, when he purchased his present farm in section 7. When Mr. Burgner first came to this section the scattering cabins, primitive frame houses and struggling hamlets gave lit- tle promise of the prosperity which now pre- sents to view cosy homes, handsome residences, highly cultivated fields and thriving villages and cities-all bound together by telephone, electric and steam lines and the rural mail de- livery.

Mr. Burgner was married December 22, 1864, to Caroline Knittle, born in Allen County Ohio, November 26, 1846, and a daughter of the late George Knittle of Ridge township, this county. Peter Knittle, a prominent farmer of Ridge township and ex-county commissioner of Van Wert, is a brother. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Burg- ner, viz .: Mary M .; Julia A., wife of Jacob Debolt, a farmer of Pleasant township; and Ora E., residing at home. In politics Mr. Burgner is a Democrat. He was for many years a director in sub-district No. 4, and took a lively interest in the successful management of the schools.

S AMUEL G. BAER, one of the repre- sentative farmers of Washington township, who now resides on his well-developed and finely improved farm of So acres in section 10, was born in Richland County, Ohio, July 21. 1856, and is the son of Daniel and Margaret Elizabeth (Peters) Baer. old settlers in Hoaglin town- ship. In 1859 Daniel Baer moved his family from Richland County to Hoaglin township. subsequently selling his farm of 80 acres and

locating at Scott, Van Wert County, Ohio, where he lived until the time of his death, October 1, 1894. To Mr. and Mrs. Baer were born the following children : John D. ; William H., now living in Middlepoint; Hannah, who died at the age of 18 months; Samuel G., the subject of this sketch; Mary A., who died at the age of 20; Daniel A. L., of Hoaglin town- ship; Leonard F., who died when 19 years of age; and Anna, who died when an infant of two years. Mrs. Baer resides with her son, John D., who lives near Scott. Union town- ship, Van Wert County.

Samuel G. Baer was reared and received his education in the schools of Hoaglin township. later attending the Ohio Normal University. at Ada, and after graduation taught for one year in Hoaglin township, but subsequently engaged in agriculture. On March 29, 1883. Mr. Baer was united in marriage with Rebecca Jane Friesner, a daughter of Ephraim and Dianah Freisner. Her father was one of the old settlers of Washington township, origin- ally coming from Fairfield County, Ohio. He is still living and makes his home with Mr. Baer, the farm being jointly owned by them. The land is all cleared and drained and in a high state of cultivation. In 1902 they built the present large barn upon the place and have . made many other improvements which add to its attractiveness and value.

Mr. and Mrs. Samuel G. Baer have be- come the parents of four children, three of whom are living and one is deceased, namely: Effie Ethel, a high school student; Zenas Marion, who is taking a course in the Delphos High School: Lester Floyd: and Dane Law- rence, who died in infancy. Mr. Baer and fam- ily are members of the United Brethren Church of Middlepoint circuit. He has acted in the capacity of teacher and superintendent of the Sunday-school and secretary of the church, and

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is at present the president of the township Sunday-school organization. Politically, Mr. Baer has always been a Republican, and for one year was census enumerator. He has also been a candidate for the School Board, but it was impossible to overcome the Democratic majority in Washington township.

ANDY JEFFERSON CLIFTON, one of the prominent general farmers and stock-raisers of Willshire township, where he owns a finely-improved farm of 160 acres in sections 7 and 8, was born in Liberty township, Van Wert County, October 18, 1854, being a son of Daniel and Sarah (Burk) Clifton.

Daniel Clifton was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, in 1826, and was a son of Job Clifton, who passed his life in Pickaway County, where he died aged 40 years. While still young he was thrown upon his own re- sources, and when but 18 years of age was married to Sara Burk, also a native of Picka- way County, who died in March 1863. aged 38 years. Their children were: Catherine (Mrs Bowen) of Willshire township; Mar- garet (Mrs. Dunathan), deceased; John, of this sketch; Charles M., deceased; and Abra- ham, of who nothing has been heard for the past 30 years. After his marriage Daniel Clif- ton moved to Springfield, Illinois, but subse- quently returned to Pleasant township, where he lived from 1850 until 1864, when he en- listed in Company H, 15th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., and died in the army about one years later, on January 1, 1865, aged 38 years.

At the age of 11 years Landy J. Clifton was thus left an orphan, being reared in the home of a brother-in-law until he was 18 years old, when he began life for himself as a day

laborer. He was industrious and willing, and during the years preceding his majority, while laboring at various occupations he made friends everywhere and providently saved his money, so that when he reached manhood he found himself able to first rent land and, later, to buy 80 acres in Adams County, Indiana. This tract he worked prior to his marriage, but never resided on it, subsequently selling it and purchasing his present home in the village of Wren. To this first purchase he continually added, until he possessed 200 acres as the direcet result of his industry and excellent busi- ness perceptions. After selling 40 acres he still owns 160 which he has continued to im- prove until the present time. He has probably one of the most attractive homes in the towni- ship, having given great care to the arrange- ment of the evergreens and other shrubbery which ornament the lawn around the comforta- ble residence. All his buildings are neat and substantial and the entire appearance of the homestead testifies to the thrift and good man- agement which prevail.

Mr. Clifton has not always been a farmer. having been engaged for 17 years in manufac- ture and sale of tile, during which time he gave employment to six men. For many years he has also acted in the capacity of auctioneer, and is very popular throughout the township. Po- litically he has long been prominently identi- fied with the Republican party and for the past four years has served as a member of the County Central Committee from Willshire township. He has also been a member of the Town Council of Wren and president of the Board of Education.

On October 18, 1883, Mr. Clifton was mar- ried to Laura Belle Sheets, who was born in this township and a is a daughter of Frederick and Nancy Ann (Merica) Sheets. They have had these children: Davis Leroy; Lambert

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Dennis, who died when an infant of five months; Benjamin Harrison; Sherman Cor- val; Olive Viola and William Mckinley.

Mr. Clifton is one of the leading members of the Radical United Brethren Church at Wren, is one of the trustees and has been a church steward ever since their edifice was erected. He is a good example of the self- made man-one who has overcome many obstacles through individual energy and one who enjoys in large measure the respect and esteem of his fellow citizens.

E DWARD E. CHAMBERS, county commissioner of Van Wert County, and one of the prominent farmers of Ridge township, where he has a well improved farm of 120 acres, was born in Knox County, Ohio, September 18, 1849, and is a son of John W. and Ellen (Cook) Chambers. The father removed from Knox County to Van Wert when his son, Edward E., was 10 years of age. For many years he was very prominently identified with the stock interests of this section, and was known throughout the county for his large operations in that line. He died in 1883, survived by a number of his fam- ily of 10 children.

Edward E. Chambers has been a resident of Van Wert County since 1860, being mainly educated in this county and having devoted the greater part of his life to agriculture. His well improved farm in Ridge township is one of the very valuable properties in his section of the county.

Mr. Chambers was united in marriage with Ada E. Roberts, who is a daughter of John Roberts, one of the substantial farmers of Van Wert County. She is also a native of Knox County, and accompanied her parents to Van ) and the latter, of Maryland. His wife is a

Wert County when a child of five years. Mr. and Mrs. Chambers have seven children, as follows: Walter Curtis, married, who is a farmer of Pleasant township; Daisy, the wife of Frank Huffine, who resides in Van Wert; Olive, at home; Louis, married, who resides on the home place; John R., single, who also resides on the old homestead; Hal and William.

Mr. Chambers is affiliated with the Repub- lican party and has always taken a good citi- zen's interest in township and county affairs. The county commissioners are selected from a body of substantial, reliable and representative citizens, and Mr. Chambers has been a member of this board since 1904. Fraternally he is a Mason.

EORGE W. GRIMM, one of the old- est and best known citizens of Van Wert County, settled on a tract of 80 acres in section 18, Ridge township, about 35 years ago, and has since been identi- fied with the farming interests of that com- munity. He is a son of Andrew and Annie (Reisley) Grimm, both natives of Stark County, Ohio, where George W. was born March 22, 1842. At the age of 19 years he located in Jefferson County, Ohio, which was his home until he came to Van Wert County, in 1871. Upon first locating here, Mr. Grimm operated a sawmill and later devoted himself to farming, his success in that line making him one of the leading agriculturists in the town- ship.

On October 11, 1866, occurred the mar- riage of George W. Grimm and Sarah J. Wal- lace of Jefferson County. Mrs. Grimm is a daughter of Hugh and Martha (Stone) Wal- lace, the former a native of Jefferson County,

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MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM SCHUMM AND FAMILY

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consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of Van Wert, and a lady of high Christian character; Mr. Grimm himself be- ing identified with the Evangelical Associa- tion of this city, in which he has held a num- ber of offices. To this worthy couple five chat- dren have been born, as follows: Cora J., wife of R. A. Arnold of Defiance County, Ohio; Anna L., deceased; Bertha L., who is living at home; John C., a resident of Wash- ington township; and Chalmer, also residing at home. Mr. Grimm is an active worker in the Grange, having held numerous offices in that body-any movement which has as its object the good of the agricultural element be- ing sure of his sympathy and support.

ILLIAM SCHUMM, a worthy member of one of the old and sub- stantial families of Willshire town- ship, resides on his well-improved homestead of 100 acres, in section 26, and is a son of Frederick and Magdalena (Meyer) Schumm, being born on an adjacent farm Sep- tember 16, 1840. The father was a native of Rupercoven, Wurtemberg, Germany, born April 24, 1814, and in 1833 accompanied his father, John Schumm, to America, settling in Holmes County Ohio. He purchased a farm there and conducted it for five years, after which he came to Van Wert County with his father, who entered 800 acres of land, and gave each of his five children a quarter sec- tion. Frederick Schumm was a hard-working man and made considerable progress in clear- ing up his property. which he later traded to his brother-in-law. buying the property situ- ated in section 26. adjoining on the north the tract now occupied by his son. William. On that he resided until his death on August 6,

1902. Being naturally an accumulative man and assisted in his thrift by a very capable wife, he one time owned 500 acres of land, and pos- sessed ample means to have increased his acre- age to 1,000 had he so desired. He gave but slight attention to matters outside of his farm- ing, with the exception of religious affairs, be- ing for years one of the pillars of the Evan- gelical Lutheran Church.

Frederick Schumm's wife, formerly Mag- dalena Meyer, was born in Germany and came to the United States when she was eight years old, her parents settling in Philadelphia. As her parents were poor, she entered the employ of a French baker, and when he removed his business to Holmes County, Ohio, she accom- panied the family. There she met Frederick Schumm, who was also in the employ of the Frenchman, and later they were married. The wife lived until the spring of 1897, dying at the age of 78 years, the mother of 12 children, namely : A child who died in infancy; Will- iam, of this sketch; John, who died soon after his removal to Memphis, Tennessee; Frederick, of Black Creek, Mercer County, Ohio; Kath- erine (Stamm), of Pittsburg, Kansas; Jacob, who died aged 14 years; Hannah (Zimmer- man), of Chicago; Mary (Zimmerman), of Fort Wayne, Indiana; Louis, of Van Wert; George F., of Grand Rapids, Michigan; Bar- bara, single, who remained with her parents until they died, and now lives at Fort Wayne, Indiana; Henry M., of Colorado; and Ferdi- nand G. C., minister of a Lutheran Church in New York City.

When he was 18 years old, William Schumm began to learn the carpenter's trade and also assisted on the home farm until he was 23 years of age. when he started out as an independent workman and was employed at his trade until 1900. As soon as his sons he- came old enough, he placed the operation of the

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History of Van Wert County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 61

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

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