USA > Ohio > Van Wert County > History of Van Wert County, Ohio and Representative Citizens > Part 74
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After his marriage Mr. Dull moved into an old log house, on his present farm, which the family occupied until 1882, when he built a frame house-remodeled in 1895, but on Feb- ruary 4, 1898, entirely destroyed by fire. In the same year Mr. Dull erected the commodious frame residence which he now occupies.
JEORGE W. ROLLER, one of the pros- perous farmers of Van Wert County, residing on a well-developed farm of 60 acres, situated in section 35, York township, was born in 1862, in Columbiana County, Ohio, and is a son of John and Sus- annah (Fox) Roller.
The father of Mr. Roller was born in Ma- honing County, and the mother in Columbiana County, Ohio, the parents moving to Van Wert County in 1865, and settling in York town- ship. in what was then a perfect wilderness. At that time no clearing had been made for a
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mile from their home in any direction, and game was very abundant. Our subject can still re- call the fact that a number of years after, when he was old enough to handle a gun, wild turkeys were still plentiful. The father of George W. died September 5, 1865, leaving the widow with a family of children. She still survives, bear- ing well her weight of 85 years, and makes her home with a daughter in Jennings township. The children of John Roller and wife were: Martha (Mrs. Silas Rice), deceased; Albert J. and Allan F. (twins), the latter of whom died aged 24 years, the former being a farmer in Jennings township, his farm being located in section 31; Joseph M., a resident of Liberty township; Mary Jane (Mrs. Samuel Wentz), of Jennings township; John, of Michigan; George W., of York township; and Harriet, who died in infancy.
During her active years the mother of George W. Roller was a woman of much busi- ness capacity. Although she has endured much hardship, she retains her mental strength and much bodily activity, and still attends small social gatherings and church services at Elgin. The venerable lady is a charter member of the United Brethren Church of that town. When her husband died, she possessed 60 acres of un- cleared land and a small log cabin, which it took a month to build after the family arrived-and she had little else, except her own ability and courage and a family of excellent children. She remained on the farm and was assisted in the farm work by her sons; she still retains this property in her husband's name and our subject rents and operates it. In 1883 the present comfortable home was erected, and in 1890 a substantial barn was added to the im- provement of the place. Mr. Roller has al- ways resided on this farm and is counted one of the excellent agriculturists of the township. Under his methods of cultivation the land
yields abundantly, his corn usually averaging 60 bushels to the acre.
On January 14, 1886, George W. Roller was married to Anna Black, who is a daughter of William and Margaret (Like) Black, of Jennings township. William Black was born in Perry County, Ohio, in 1835, a son of Henry and Susannah (Cary) Black. In 1861 Mr. Black enlisted in Company C, 62nd Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., and served for two years in the 24th Army Corps. Subsequently he reenlisted and his second term of service was concluded when he was honorably discharged on August 23, 1865. Mr. Black continued to farm in Perry County until his removal to Van Wert County, in 1876, and in December, 1889, settled on his present farm in section 7, Jennings township, now owning 50 acres there and 10 acres in sec- tion 6. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. On November 8, 1857, in Perry County, Ohio, Mr. Black was married to Margaret Like, who was born there No- vember 13, 1839. They had 1I children, the survivors being: Flora, wife of J. M. Roller; Anna, wife of our subject; Carrie, wife of Henry Barber, of Van Wert County; Ells- worth, of Portland, Oregon; Eugene, Avho married Bessie Spohn, of Monticello; and Law- rence, living at home.
Mr. and Mrs. George W. Roller have had five children, namely : Merle, who is a student at Mendon, Ohio; Floyd, deceased; Gladys; Wayne; and Ilo. Mr. and Mrs. Roller are worthy members and liberal supporters of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Elgin.
ALBERT J. ROLLER, the eldest brother of our subject, who resides on his farm in section 31, Jennings township, was born in Mahoning County, Ohio, June 3, 1847, being 16 years of age when his father died and left much of the family responsibility upon his shoulders. Al- though, on this account, he had fewer educa-
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MR. AND MRS. HENRY SAUM
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tional advantages than many others, he de- veloped into a man of sterling character and most excellent judgment. In 1886 he was elected county commissioner and served as such for six years, during this period many most desirable public improvements being made in the county. Among others may be mentioned the building of the jail and the armory, and the digging of 300 ditches. On the Democratic ticket he was also elected trus- tee, and at the time he was chosen commis- sioner was serving as justice of the peace.
In 1868 Albert J. Roller was married (first) to Mary Jane Guthrie, who died October 2, 1894, being a daughter of George and Mary J. (Moore) Guthrie. Nine children were born to this union, as follows: Walter, a practicing physician of Willshire; Emory, who is a mer- chant and business man at Spokane, Washing- ton; Ira, of Willshire, who married Rilda Whittredge, of West Virginia; Ada, wife of Byron Whittredge; Myrtle, wife of Ada Clark; Leota, who married John Hoage, of Pendleton, Indiana; and Marion, Ernest and Dwight, all residing at home. In 1897 Mr. Roller was married (second) to Nora Longsworth, and to this union have been born these children : Ralph. Alice, Ruth, and Roy and Ray, the two latter being twins.
Prior to settling in Jennings township, until 1875, Mr. Roller resided in York town- ship. and he now is the owner of a well-im- proved, very valuable farm of 120 acres, which . he has continued to operate to the present time. In many ways he has been one of the most use- ful men of his township. It was mainly through his efforts that the fine turnpike road was built through the township, which was ac- complished without any heavy tax falling upon the citizens. He has also taken a great inter- est in the building of the public school system
and at various times has served on the School Board, frequently being the president of that body. He is also a member of the Van Wert County Fair Association.
The Roller family is numbered with the hardy pioneers of Van Wert County; for they came to its wild, uncultivated regions when most primitive conditions prevailed. George W. Roller, the youngest of the sons, can re- member when all the land in the vicinity of the home was covered by wide-spreading forest trees, and when a common amusement was the hunting of porcupines, turkeys and raccoons, which ranged over the present sites of the most fertile and valuable farms of York and Jen- nings townships. These records are worthy of preservation.
ENRY SAUM, an extensive land owner of Van Wert County, has for many years been engaged in agricul- tural pursuits on a farm of 96 acres- 48 acres of which are located in section 6, Washington township, and 48 acres in section I, Ridge township. He also owns 114 acres in Jackson township. He was born July 14, 1828, and is a son of Adam and Margaret (Miller) Saum.
Adam Saum was born in 1795 in Shenan- doah County, Virginia, and was a son of Nich- olas Saum, who was born in Germany and came to the United States when 18 years of age. Nicholas Saum first settled near Rich- mond, Virginia, and later moved to Shenan- doah County, that State, where he was first married. Altogether he was married four times and became the father of 22 children, the father of our subject. Adam Saum, being the youngest. Margaret (Miller) Saum, the
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mother, was a daughter of George Miller, who served during the entire Revolutionary War. During three years of this period he was a cap- tive of the Indians; when he finally escaped he rejoined the patriot army; he was at Valley Forge, during the winter of 1777-78 and at the siege of Yorktown. For his captain, Mr. Mil- ler had that noted Indian fighter and frontiers- man, Daniel Boone. In consideration of his loyal services, the government gave him land where Little York, Pennsylvania, now stands. Adam Saum was reared and educated in Vir- ginia and there was married. In 1826 he came to Ohio, at that time being the father of six children. Later seven more children were born to him. Adam Saum died in 1855 and his wife two years afterward.
Henry Saum, who was the eighth child in his father's family, was practically raised in Knox County, whither his father moved from Licking County when Henry was but three years of age. The father owned a farm of 160 acres in Knox County which he sold in 1845, two years later removing to Van Wert County, where he first bought 80 acres of land. The family occupied a log cabin and the land was principally covered with timber, which neces- sitated clearing.
In 1853 Henry Saum was married to Re- becca Clendenning, a daughter of John Clen- denning, of Van Wert, and by this marriage he had seven children: Antoinette, who mar- ried Wesley Johnson, of Ridge township, and has six children; Frank, who lives in Paulding County, where he is the owner of 240 acres of land; Ella, who married David Weaver and died in 1895, leaving four children-two of whom (Amanda and Rill) are living with Henry Saum, the other two being Homer and Nellie; Vasta, who married Ed. Kershaw and died leaving six children; Jennie (Mrs. Wil-
liam Clapper), of Washington township; John, who lives in Paulding County and owns 75 acres of land; and Belle, who died at the age of 10 years. Mrs. Rebecca Saum died in 1875. Mr. Saum's present wife was Mrs. Jennie Potts, widow of Henry Potts and daughter of Thomas and Margaret Redding, who lived in Indiana and died when their daughter was quite young. She had five children by her first husband, namely : Henry Albert, who died aged four years; James Franklin, who died at the age of 20; Perry Ladoyt, who entered the army at the time of the Spanish-American War, and died in the Sternberg Hospital at Macon, Georgia, when 22 years of age, the body being brought home and buried in Wood- lawn Cemetery, Van Wert; Jesse Lawrence, who lives in Ridge township and is the owner of 40 acres of land; and one child, who died in infancy. By Mr. Saum's second marriage, he had two children-Reuben and Garfield.
After his first marriage, Henry Saum moved from his father's farm to his present location, where he built a log house, having originally 129 acres of land. He formed a partnership with Messrs. Clendenning and Neff, embarked in the sawmill business and finally lost everything he owned. But, being young and persistent, he started anew and by hard and intelligent work recovered a part of his farm, being now the owner of 202 acres of land. In 1866 he built his present house, which is a large, substantial, brick building. During his younger days he was a cooper by trade and was engaged in this business for about 35 years. Henry Saum is a Mason, being the oldest liv- ing member of the Delphos lodge, having been connected with it for over 40 years. He is a member of the Methodist Church, whose house of worship stands on his farm. Portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Saum accompany this sketch.
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J OHN KOOGLE, a successful agricul- turist of Liberty township, who re- sides on his well-developed farm in section 21, was born in Richland County, Ohio, April 17, 1843, and is the oldest child of Jacob and Ellen (Moss) Koogle.
Jacob Koogle was born in Frederick Coun- ty, Maryland, and was a son of Jacob Koogle, Sr., who was of German descent and it is thought was a native of Germany, but it is known that he was one of the old settlers of Frederick County, Maryland. Jacob Koogle, the father of John, was born in 1816, and in 1821 was taken by his parents to Richland County, Ohio, where the family settled on a farm of 160 acres. The place is still occupied by his youngest brother, George W. Koogle, who is a bachelor in his 81st year, and his son, Martin L., a brother of John Koogle. Jacob Koogle passed the remainder of his life as a farmer of Richland County and died September 20, 1901, aged 84 years, his wife having pre- ceded him in 1880.
John Koogle was reared on his father's farm in Richland County and has always de- voted his time and talents to agriculture. In 1874 he was married in Ashland County, Ohio, to Mary Amanda Scott, a daughter of John and Julia Scott, prominent old residents of the county named. His marriage took place in May, 1874, he and his bride going to Liberty township, Van Wert County, on their wedding trip, and while there buying his present farm, of which he took possession in the following November. In 1870 he had bought 80 acres of timber land in Liberty township, lying just south of his present location, this making a farm of 160 acres, which he retained until 1890, when he sold 40 acres of his first purchase. The "Clover Leaf" Railroad runs through his farm, cutting off about three acres. Mr. Koogle has cleared about 50 acres of the tim-
berland and now has the land in a high state of cultivation. The family first occupied an old, round-log house, which served as a home for 14 years, but was replaced in 1888, by his present large frame house. Mr. Koogle now has four producing oil-wells on the farm, and there still remains about 30 acres of timber- land.
Mr. and Mrs. Koogle had two children, both girls. The oldest, Viola L., was born September 14, 1876, and still lives at home; Chloe Alice, born April 22, 1882, was married March 12, 1903, to Ralph Hileman, of Will- shire township, and they have one child, Ethyl. Mrs. John Koogle died September 18, 1901.
Mr. Koogle is a stanch Democrat and was elected township clerk by that party, to serve a term of two years. Fraternally, he is a mem- ber of the I. O. O. F., and of Pleasant Grange. His religious connections are with the Evangel- ical Lutheran Church, in which he is a deacon.
J OHN HARPSTER, whose death oc- curred on March 29, 1891, had long been a prominent and substantial farmer and citizen of Monterey town- ship. Putnam County, Ohio. He was born June 14, 1828, in Fairfield County, Ohio, and was a son of Anthony and Sophia Harpster.
Mr. Harpster was eight years old when his parents moved from Fairfield County to Allen County, where they lived until their death. He was educated in the schools of Allen County and was reared a farmer. There he was mar- ried and resided until February, 1852, when he removed to Putnam County. He bought, at first, 100 acres of land in Monterey township, and subsequently added to this property until he owned 500 acres in Putnam County. At the time of his death he left 190 acres to his
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widow and bequeathed farms to several of his children. He was a man of unblemished char- acter. with fine business capacity, and was re- garded with respect and esteem by all with whom he was associated. He served as trus- tee of Monterey township. His burial was in Antioch Cemetery, in that township.
On November 22, 1849, Mr. Harpster was united in marriage with Elizabeth McMillen, who was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, August 6, 1827, and is a daughter of Samuel and Susan (Ridenour) McMillen. The Mc- Millens were settlers in Allen County in 1834. Mr. and Mrs. Harpster had a family of 14 children, namely: Mary Elizabeth, born August 27. 1850, who married Amos Tongs, and died in Monterey township, December 14. 1893; George Washington, born January 17, 1852, who was married (first) to Rosina Stern, and (second) to Arreta Martin, and resides in Putnam County ; Susan, born August 21, 1853, who married Martin Wise, and died October 4, 1874; Samuel, born February 23, 1855, who married Elizabeth Lochhead, and resides in Putnam County; Sophia, born February 8. 1857, who married C. A. Bray and lives in Paulding, Ohio; Sarah Luzina, born February 14, 1858, who married C. A. Bray; Eliza Jane born February 5, 1860, who married Daniel D. Bailey and lives in Van Wert County; Ida, born April 18, 1862, who married Henry Gud- akunst, and died in 1878; Anthony, born No- vember 20, 1864, who died April 4, 1865; John Wesley, born in 1865, who died August 21, 1865, aged 5 months and 12 days; Eva, born March 30, 1867, who married John Gesner and lives in Putnam County; Carrie Jenettie, born June 15, 1875, who married Robert Mar- tin, and lives in Putnam County ; and Minerva Idella, born May 25, 1872, who resides with her mother.
After the death of Mr. Harpster, his widow
and daughter moved from the farm to Grove Hill, Paulding County, where they resided for eight years, after which they sold that property. and in August, 1903, settled at Delphos. Al- though Mrs. Harpster is 78 years of age, the mother of 14 children, 53 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren, she still retains a great deal of her physical strength and all of her mental faculties. In 1904 she sold 160 acres of her land in Putnam County, retaining a 30- acre tract, which is very valuable. She is a lady well known and much esteemed in Del- phos. Both she and her daughter are valued members of the Christian Church.
6 EORGE WILLIAM ZANER, a well- known carpenter and contractor of Van Wert, Ohio, was born in this county, April 5, 1872, and is a son of John A. and Katherine (Shoemaker) Zaner. The father was a native of Crawford County. Ohio, and the mother, of Pennsylvania, being formerly engaged in agricultural pursuits but now residing in Van Wert. Their three chil- dren were: George William, of this sketch: Harry Albert, deceased; and Rosa Ann, wife of R. J. Whitecraft, of Van Wert.
George William Zaner was reared on his father's farm and educated in the district schools; began to learn the carpenter's trade at the age of 15 years, and was 23 years old when he accompanied his parents to Van Wert. Here he has since been continuously engaged in building and contracting. his work including many residences and the constructing of 17 elevators in this vicinity. As a good, re- liable, skillful carpenter and builder, Mr. Zaner commands much custom.
On August 7. 1892. Mr. Zaner was united in marriage with Ora Pearl Welker, who was
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born January 25, 1883. and was reared at Del- phos, being a daughter of Elijah and Mary ( Rhodes) Welker. For several years past -both before and since her marriage-she has resided with Mrs. Wells Wickiser. Mr. and Mrs. Zaner have one son, Raymond. Politi- cally Mr. Zaner is a Republican, and fraternally is connected with the Home Guards of America.
D AVID REED, proprietor of the farm known as "The Hickory Nuts," a well-cultivated tract of 80 acres of valuable land located in section I, Jackson township, was born in Fairfield Coun- ty. Ohio, May 1, 1855, and is a son of Lemuel and Catharine ( Baker) Reed.
Being left fatherless when he was but three years of age, David Reed was carefully reared by a good mother, and taught to be honest and industrious. He attended school during his boyhood, until able to make his own way in the world, and earnestly turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. For a short period after his marriage he continued to live in Fairfield County ; then for a time resided in Pickway County, and thence removed to Fayette County where he lived for 14 years. Afterward he re- turned to Pickway County, but in the fall of 1894 settled in Jackson township, Van Wert County, where he has since resided, occupying his present fine farm in 1900. Here he carries on extensive agricultural enterprises and raises a large amount of excellent stock.
In 1881 Mr. Reed was married to Amanda Adams, who was born in Pennsylvania and is a daughter of David Adams, formerly of Fair- field County. Three children have been born to their union-Florence E .; Mary M. (Mrs. Richard Wyatt). of Paulding County; and Robert L.
Mr. Reed formerly served as school director in Hoaglin township, and has taken a deep and abiding interest in the public schools. He be- longs to the lodge of the Knights of Pythias at Grover Hill. Politically Mr. Reed is a Demo- crat, and in the fall of 1905 was elected a trus- tee of Jackson township for term of three years. In his religious faith he is identified with the Elm Grove Methodist Episcopal Church.
OHN A. TOMLINSON, one of the best known farmers of Ridge town- ship, owns a farm of 140 acres in sec- tion 21, upon which he resides. He was born in Mercer County, Ohio, October 11, 1848, and is a son of Joseph F. and Mary (Arnold) Tomlinson. The father was born in Madison County and the mother in Fayette County, Ohio. The paternal grandfather, John Tomlinson, was one of the early settlers of Mercer County, and the maternal grandfather, John Arnold, came to Van Wert County and settled in York township.
John A. Tomlinson received a good com- mon-school education in Mercer County, and it was not until he had reached his maturity that he located in Van Wert County. Here he was married to Martha E. Gilliland on No- vember 4, 1873. She is a native of Van Wert County and is one of 11 children born to Adam and Sarah (Shaffner) Gilliland, viz: John, a farmer of Ridge township; Julia A., wife of Christian Palmer, of Ridge township; Shaff- ner M., of Ridge township; Mary F., wife of Hon. Jonas S. Stuckey, of Ridge township; Elizabeth S., wife of Christian Honsted, of Kansas ; Samuel B., of Ridge township; Robert of Ridge township; Martha E .; and three who are deceased. Adam Gilliland was a native of Maryland, and his wife, of Pennsylvania. Both
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have passed to the higher life, but they have let enduring memories enshrined in the hearts of those who knew them. Coming to Ridge township at an early day, they took a leading part in the work of building up and advancing the general welfare of the public, and were honored and esteemed by all. Mr. Gilliland, who was a "War" Democrat, was trustee of Ridge township for many years and also served as assessor.
Mr. and Mrs. Tomlinson are the parents of eight children, namely : Mabel F., wife of Will- iam E. Poe, of Ridge township; Edward L., of Ridge township; Lulu, wife of Samuel Sherrick, of Allen County; Bertha S., wife of Arthur Pollock, of Columbus, Ohio; Wilma M., who lives with her parents; Clarence A., who is also living at home; and two that died in childhood. Both Mr. and Mrs. Tomlinson are earnest members of the Methodist Episco- pal Church. Mr. Tomlinson is a Republican and has served as clerk of the township three terms. He is at present an efficient member of the township School Board.
EWIS SWITZER, a progressive agri- culturist of Liberty township, resides in section 21, on a farm of 80 acres, which he keeps in a state of high culti- vation and which has been made valuable be- cause of the discovery on it of oil and gas. He was born in Richland County, Ohio, December 13. 1846, and is a son of Frederick and Cath- arine (Moser) Switzer. His father was also born in Richland County, a son of Frederick Switzer, Sr., who was a native of Switzerland, where he was reared, educated and married. He emigrated to America and located in Rich- land county, being one of its pioneers and one of its most prominent farmers. It is an inter-
esting fact that he built the first blockhouse in Richland County, to be used in fighting the Indians.
Frederick Switzer, the father of Lewis, ob- tained his education in the district schools, and remained on the home farm assisting his father until he reached his majority. In 1858, after his marriage, he moved to Van Wert County and settled on a farm of 40 acres. During the Civil war he served in Company F, 64th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., under Captain Finfrock. His regiment was engaged in many battles of the first year's conflict; after the battle of Pitts- burg Landing, he became ill, dying in the Gen- eral Hospital in Mississippi, in June, 1862. His wife passed away in 1866.
Lewis Switzer spent his early boyhood days in Richland County, and when II years of age his parents moved to Liberty township, where he obtained the greater part of his edu- cation and has always been engaged in farming. In July, 1872, he was married to Catharine Hitesman, a daughter of David and Catharine Hitesman, the former a native of Jersey, and the latter of Clermont County, Ohio. In 1864 Mr. Switzer enlisted in Company I, 139th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., and served until the close of the war, the injuries received in the service bringing him a pension of $17 per month.
Mr. and Mrs. Switzer have reared to ma- turity seven children, namely: David, who married Catharine South, lives on part of the home farm, and is the father of two children- Leona Jane and Floyd; Jennie; Orlida C., wife of Jacob Rader, of Liberty township, and the mother of one child ( Asa Mckinley Spray) by her first marriage with the late Arthur Spray; Mary, who lives at home; Eva, who married Naaman King and lives in Rockford, Mercer County ; and John and Charles, who reside at home.
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