USA > Ohio > Van Wert County > History of Van Wert County, Ohio and Representative Citizens > Part 75
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For many years Mr. Switzer lived on a
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farm of 13 acres, about four miles northwest of his present home, where he built a store which he conducted successfully for many years. In 1890 he sold the store and bought a farm of 80 acres in sections 17 and 20, which has since been his homestead. He is also the owner of three lots in Ohio City, and has three producing oil-wells and one gas-well in opera- tion on his farm. Mr. Switzer has served his township in a number of offices, having been for many years supervisor and school director of Liberty township. His religious member- ship is with the Lutheran Church, and politi- cally he is a Republican.
AMES SEITZ, who resides on a highly cultivated and well-improved farm of 160 acres in section 5, Washington township, was born in Fairfield Coun- ty, Ohio, September 4, 1858, and is a son of Andrew Jackson Seitz, who still resides in the above named township.
James Seitz has lived the greater part of his life in Washington township, and in April, 1901, was married to Mrs. Eva (Reeder) Armstrong, widow of Adam Armstrong. Mrs. Seitz was born in Tippecanoe City, Ohio, the only child of George and Rebecca (Man- nen) Reeder. Mr. Reeder was a farmer, who in 1862 moved to a place near Delphos, where for a time he farmed, and then .entered the service of the Union Army, in which he died. His widow was subsequently married to John Hepfer. by whom she became the mother of these three children: Lida, now deceased, who married William Jewell: John, who died aged four years: and Melvin, who died at the age of nine months. The father died in De- cemler. 1905. but his widow is still living at Delphos.
Mrs. Seitz was married to Adam Arm- strong April 19, 1882, and by him had eight children : Etta, who was married to William Gattshall in October, 1905, and lives in Wash- ington township; Chester; Rosa, who died at the age of eight years; Bessie; Otis, who died aged five years; Frances; Hazel, who died at the age of three; and Nelson. Mr. Armstrong died April 20, 1897.
Mrs. Seitz owns the fine farm of 160 acres on which the family now reside, and she and her children are all members of the Lutheran Church at Middlepoint.
OHN W. SHUMAKER, superin- tendent of the Van Wert County In- firmary, was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, October 8, 1850, and is one of a family of nine children born to his parents, John and Rebecca (Beery) Shumaker-farm- ing people and natives respectively of Penn- sylvania and Ohio.
Mr. Shumaker was reared on his father's farm, and in his boyhood attended the schools of Fairfield County. In 1888 he came to Van Wert County, Ohio, where he has carried on farming ever since. In 1900 he was made superintendent of the County Infirmary, which comprises a tract of 320 acres of land. Mr. Shumaker manages this large acreage to the entire satisfaction of the residents of the coun- ty, having five men in his employ. At present there are 36 inmates cared for on the farm, and their comfort and well-being is carefully at- tended to by Mr. Shumaker.
On August 12, 1869, John W. Shumaker married Laura A. Baker, who is a daughter of Amos Baker, of Lancaster, Ohio. and they have a family of four sons and one daughter. James W. Shumaker, the oldest, married Nancy Hickman, of this county, resides in
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. North Baltimore, Ohio, where he has charge of a large stone-quarry, and is the father of one child, Wilma Helen; John A. married Anna Clapper, of Van Wert County, resides on a farm near Middlepoint and has three children -Floyd, Esther and Willie; Eli married Metha Bell, of Van Wert, lives in Middlepoint and has two children-Arthur and Lucile; Frank married Lillie Quackenbush, of Van Wert County, and resides in Washington town- ship on a farm, their two children being Carl and Marjorie; Maude, wife of W. S. Johnson, of Van Wert County, resides on a farm in Ridge township, and is the mother of three children-Valera, Harold and John Franklin (an infant son). The family of Mr. and Mrs. John W. Shumaker belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church. Politically Mr. Shumaker is identified with the Republican party.
EORGE EMERSON LICHTY, a well known citizen and prosperous farmer of Liberty township, residing on his farm of 80 acres in section 26, was born in Hoaglin township, Van Wert County, April 17, 1853, and is a son of Jacob and Sarah (Fikner) Lichty.
Jacob Lichty and his wife were both born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. His fath- er, who was a native of Switzerland, upon coming to this country located first in Penn- sylvania; later he moved to Stark County, Ohio, when his son, Jacob, was still a small child. Jacob Lichty was therefore practically reared and educated in Stark County. Here he was married to Sarah Fikner. Later they moved to Seneca County, Ohio, where they remained for several years. To this union were born seven children, only three of whom are living. The record is as follows: John, who
died in the Civil war, who was member of Company A, 99th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., under Capt. W. C. Scott, and later under Capt. W. T. Exline; Mary (Mrs. Tobias Koogle) de- ceased; Jacob, who lived in Rockford, Mercer County, where he died in 1902; Sarah, who died at the age of 12 years; Benjamin, who lives in Mercer County ; George Emerson; and Alice, who married James Shingeldecker and lives in Rockford. The two youngest children were born in Van Wert County; the others in Seneca County. Jacob Lichty is still living and resides in Rockford, Mercer County, and although past 88 years of age retains the strength and mental vigor of a man many years his junior.
George E. Lichty was reared and educated in his native county. Here he has always lived, devoting his time to the development of his well-improved farm, which he bought, and on which he located shortly after his marriage, on October 3, 1877, to Celia Overholt, a daugh- ter of Sanson and Elma Overholt. Mrs. Lichty died February 18, 1906. They had 10 chil- dren, of whom the eldest died in infancy, un- named. The remaining nine, seven of whom are now living, are as follows: Olney, who died August 30, 1897, aged 17 years ; Bessie, who married George Umbaugh, of Ohio City, and has two children-Carol and Della May; Ida, who married Wesley Skinner and lives in Ohio City; Cora, who married Charles Krugh, of Ohio City, and has one child-Fredda; Goldie; Ora; Roy; and Don and Von (twins) the latter deceased at the age of six weeks. For many years the family lived in a house built of hewn logs. In 1906 the fine large frame house, which the family now occupy. was erected. Mr. Lichty and family are all mem- bers of the Church of God, of Liberty town- ship, of which he is also one of the trustees.
When Mr. Litchy was about 45 years old,
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he had a cancer develop on his lower lip. He treated with many doctors, and at last was given a remedy by one of the many he had con- sulted, which completely cured him. He has since made this disease a study, and now guar- antees to cure any case of cancer, and makes this business a specialty. It is his intention to establish at his country home, in the near fu- ture, a hospital for the cure of cancer. He has an ideal location for such a hospital, with his large, modern house, and fresh country air such as could not be found in the environs of a city.
EREMIAH EAST, a progressive farmer of Washington township, who resides on a fine farm of 124 acres which is situated in sections 16 and 21, was born in German township, Allen County, Ohio, on April 12, 1852, and is the oldest son of Abraham and Jane (McMillen) East.
Abraham East. the father, was born in Pennsylvania, his grandfather, John East, be- ing a Hessian soldier who was brought to America from Germany, during the Revolu- tionary War, and who later settled in Penn- sylvania. When quite small Abraham came from Pennsylvania with his parents and located in Allen County. There he was reared and married to Jane McMillen, daughter of James WV. McMillen. The father of Mrs. Abraham East was of Irish descent. He was engaged in farming in Pennsylvania, later moved to Knox County, Ohio, and finally located in Allen County, where he lived until the time of his death.
In the spring of 1863 Abraham East moved from Allen County to Washington township. Van Wert County, and bought 120 acres of land. He increased the original tract until at
the time of his death, in 1870, he owned 242 acres. The deceased had nine children, ot whom Jeremiah was the oldest son, the family in the order of birth being as follows: Mary Elmira (Grant), now deceased; Martha Ma- tilda (Morris), of Jackson township: Rhu- hama Jane (Freeman), who lives in Leipsic, Ohio; Jeremiah, subject of this sketch; Isaiah, who resides in Allen County; Florence M., who died at the age of 27 years ; John William, a sketch of whom will be found in this work ; Ada May (Rice), of Washington township; and Catherine, who died aged 13 years.
Jeremiah East came to Van Wert County with his father when he was 10 years old, and as the land was mostly covered with timber, he assisted in clearing it : consequently his educa- tion was such as could be obtained during the winter months. In 1880 he was married to Elizabeth Snodgrass, daughter of Samuel Snodgrass, of Ridge township. and they are the parents of one child-Blanchard Wilbert, who was born January 31, 1882, and lives at home. Mrs. East died March 26, 1886. Mr. East is a member and trustee of the United Brethren Church, of Bethel, Washington town- ship.
SAIAH MERICLE, a representative farmer and well-known and respected citizen of Jackson township, resides on a well-cultivated farm of 80 acres which he owns in section I, and which he has occupied for the past nine years. He was born in Hocking County, Ohio, December 13. 1858, and is a son of George and Barbara (Beery) Mericle.
The parents of Mr. Mericle were born in Ohio, the grandparents on both sides of the family having been early settlers in Hocking County. Mr. Mericle has one sister, Sarah,
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who is the wife of John E. Gillespie, a resi- dent of Jackson township; a brother, Noah, re- sides at Grover Hill, and another sister, Mar- garet, wife of Jacob Slane, lives in Paulding County. In 1860 George Mericle, the father, removed with his family to Jackson township, where he lived until a few years before his death, which occurred at the village of Grover Hill, in May, 1901. His widow still resides there, she and her husband having retired from the farm shortly before his death. The de- ceased was deeply mourned by the entire com- munity.
As an infant Isaiah Mericle came with his parents to Jackson township, and here he was reared and educated. All his business life has been concerned with agricultural pursuits, and he is considered one of the township's most ex- cellent farmers, his land being carefully culti- vated, well managed and productive of hand- some returns.
On October 17, 1881, Mr. Mericle was married to Mary C. Gusler, who was born in Paulding County, Ohio, and is a daughter or George Gusler, an early settler of that county. The seven children born to this marriage are: Stella, George F., Warren B., Cleo, John H., Lewis and Carrie. In politics Mr. Mericle is a Republican, as was his father. The latter was a member of Mount Tabor United Brethren Church in Jackson township. Our subject belongs to the Church of Christ at Grover Hill, and fraternally is a member of the lodge of Odd Fellows at the same place.
e LARK ROEBUCK. whose death took place in November, 1903, was one of the most progressive farmers of Liberty township, and lived on a farm of 80 acres situated in section 27. He was born in Mercer County, Ohio. December
24, 1871, a son of Ruel and Catherine ( Harb ) Roebuck, his father being one of the oldest residents and most prominent farmers of the county named.
Clark Roebuck was the third of a family of seven children, was reared and educated in Mercer County, and always gave his attention to agricultural pursuits. On November 25, 1893, he was married to Irene Custer, a daugh- ter of Milton and Sarah (Hoghe) Custer. Mrs. Roebuck's father was born in Van Wert County, Ohio, and was a son of Peter Cus- ter, one of its pioneer farmers. Milton Cus- ter died in 1888; his wife still resides in Lib- erty township.
After his marriage. Clark Roebuck rented a farm in Mercer County, where he lived until 1900, when he bought the tract of 80 acres now operated by his widow. Moving the old house from the farm, in the summer of 1903 he built the large frame residence which the family now occupy. Mr. and Mrs. Roebuck had three children, namely : Forrest, born August 13, 1894; Violet, born July 6, 1898; and Leona, born October 18, 1901, who died July 8, 1903.
Mr. Roebuck's death was the result of a most peculiar accident. While engaged in stretching a fence, one of the posts gave way, throwing him in such a manner as to break his neck. At the time of his decease. he was one of the leading members of the Mount Olive Christian Union Church; was also superin- tendent of its Sunday-school, and at one time ruling elder and financial elder of the church.
Mrs. Roebuck is still living on the farm which she is operating in a most successful manner. She has nine producing oil-wells on the land. Mrs. Roebuck is also an honored member of the Mount Olive Christian Union Church.
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OLIVER KOOGLE
MRS. SARAH L. KOOGLE
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LIVER KOOGLE, one of the most rep- resentative farmers and dairymen of Liberty township, who owns 120 acres of fine land in section 14, was born in Ashland County, Ohio, November 27, 1846, and is a son of Daniel and Susan (Swoveland) Koogle.
Daniel Koogle was born in Frederick County, Maryland, and was a son of Jacob Koogle. The latter was a slave-owner in Maryland and truly an unusual one; for he never sold a slave, and when he decided to move into a free state he gave liberty to all his human chattles. This removal was made in 1819 and the family settled in Richland County, now the western part of Ashland County, Ohio, Daniel being at that time a lad of five years. He located with his father in the cabin formerly occupied by the Seymour family who had been massacred by the Indians -the first people brave enough to take up their resident in a place which had been the scene of so terrible a casualty. They lived there for one year and then purchased a farm of 160 acres located about one mile west of the Ash- land County line, in Richland County. This farm is still held in the Koogle name and is owned and occupied by an uncle of our sub- ject.
Daniel Koogle lived in Ashland and Rich- land counties from the time he was five years old until the year 1854. During the last eight years of his residence in Richland. County he followed threshing, and owned the first grain separator ever used in the county named. He was married in Richland County and in 1854 came to Van Wert County and took up his home on a 160-acre tract of timberland which is still owned by his heirs. having paid $800 for this property in 1852. Prior to settling here, he had made three trips to the county-twice on horseback and once on foot-and his first en-
tering of land had been 80 acres, which he sold when he bought the property in Liberty town- ship.
Daniel Koogle's wife was formerly Susan Swoveland; they had three children, namely : Tobias, who lives at Findlay, Ohio; George who died aged five years; and Oliver, the sub- ject of this sketch. Daniel Koogle died in Van Wert County, in June, 1894, but his venerable widow is still living, having passed her 89th birthday on February 3, 1906.
Oliver Koogle was eight years of age when his parents moved to Van Wert County and thus, for all practical purposes, may well claim to be a native of this section of the State. Af- ter completing his schooling. he assisted on the home farm until he took charge of his own property in Liberty township. He carries on general farming, making specialties of wheat and potato crops, and is largely concerned in the dairying business, breeding his own thorough-bred Guernsey cows and having a large bottled milk trade. Mr. Koogle is also the local agent for the Farmers' Mutual Aid Association, of Van Wert. Like his father, he is a member of the Odd Fellows, the former, prior to his death, having been associated with the fraternity for over 40 years.
Oliver Koogle was married (first) on No- vember 30, 1871, to Sarah Ann Wise. of Van Wert County, who died September 26, 1873. He was married (second) to Sarah Elizabeth Le Blond, who was born November 6, 1856, at Celina, Mercer County. Ohio, and is a daughter of Christopher and Charlotte (Cooper) Le Blond. The mother of Mrs. Koogle died when she was quite small. and she was reared by her grandmother. Mrs. Sarah Cooper. Her father, a carpenter by trade, made his home with his son-in-law. Oliver Koogle. and died in 1885. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Koogle were: Myrtie Ann,
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born January 14, 1878, who married C. L. Shaffer, superintendent of the schools of Ohio City, and who died in May, 1904; Clyde Perry, born March 7, 1879, who married Ilda More- house and resides in Defiance County, Ohio, the father of one son-Franklin Le Blond; Ottis O., born September 4, 1880, who married Maud Small, is the father of one child (Cecil Elizabeth) and resides in Chicago, where he is the advertising manager for a large mail- order house; Charles Le Blond, born October 1. 1884. who married Eva Hirt; and Kathryn Miranda, born September 20, 1894. Portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Koogle accompany this sketch.
AMES C. REED, a representative cit- izen of Van Wert County, located on his farm of 160 acres in section 36, Hoaglin township, early in 1863. His parents, Robert and Rebecca (Conner) Reed, were natives of Virginia, as was our subject who was born in Augusta County, August 4, 1824. In 1849 the family moved from Vir- ginia to Delaware County, Ohio, where both parents died.
Mr. Reed was educated in the subscription schools of his native county, as a young man accompanying his parents to Delaware County, where he remained until his removal to Van Wert County in 1863. Here he secured a tract of 160 acres which by hard and persistent labor he cleared and placed under excellent cul- tivation. For many years the family occupied a hewed-log cabin, which gave place some years ago to the present frame dwelling. Mr. Reed is a capable and hard working farmer, and merits the success which has attended his ef- forts.
James C. Reed was married November 25, 1859, to Margaret C. Waldron, a daughter of
George Waldron and a native of Delaware County. Seven children blessed this union, viz .: Martha, wife of Alonzo Ireland, ot Ridge township; Allie, widow of William Frye and a resident of Jackson township; George R., of Ridge township; James A., also of Jackson township; Lillie, wife of J. C. Bell, who lives in the State of Washington; Melburn A., of Hoaglin township; and Eva Ann, who died at the age of two years. Mrs. Reed was called to the home beyond on March 30, 1904, and her death was deeply deplored, not only in the home and circle of friends, but in the church of which she was so active a supporter. Both she and Mr. Reed were members of Grace Methodist Episcopal Church, of Jackson town- ship, Mr. Reed being a trustee in that organi- zation for many years. He is a Republican in politics, and one of the oldest and most highly esteemed citizens of the northeastern section of the county.
A LLEN LEIST, who has been engaged in farming in Ridge township for more than 25 years, in 1893 moved to his present farm of 65 acres in sec- tion 10. He was born in Allen County. Ohio, December 7, 1842, and is a son of Elias and Maria (Baxter) Leist, who died there several years ago. The father was a native of Fair- field County, and the mother of Allen County, Ohio.
Allen Leist received such educational ad- vantages as were accorded the boys of his dis- trict and times, attending the old log school- house, which afforded little luxury and where knowledge was gained only by hard study. He then commenced farm work and followed that occupation in Allen County until 1880, when he came to Van Wert County and for many years lived in the northeast corner of
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Ridge township, where he was a very suc- cessful agriculturist. About 13 years later he purchased his present farm, which he has raised to a high state of fertility.
Mr. Leitz was married April 3, 1863, to Almira Ditto, a native of Ohio and a daughter of Richard W. Ditto, of West Virginia. Ten children blessed this union, namely: William A .; John F .; Marion A .; James W .; Hattie T. ( Mrs. J. E. Long) ; Izilla (Mrs. Ernest Powell) ; Nelson ; Ruth ( Mrs. Frank Herming- huysen ) ; Ethel (Mrs. Charles Berget) ; and Gideon M., deceased. Except Nelson, who lives in Florida, Henry County, the children are all residents of Van Wert County. In October, 1899, the family suffered an irrepar- able loss in the death of the wife and mother, wiose life of unselfish devotion is a blessed and undying memory-not only to the family, but to her innumerable friends. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and her life guide was the gentle Nazarene. Mr. Leist is also a member of that church and is an active worker, being steward, trustee and class leader. In politics he is a Democrat.
6 EORGE LEWIS, a representative agriculturist whose farm is located in section 30, Pleasant township, Van Wert County, was born in Butler County, Ohio, November 29, 1842, and is a son of James E. and Nancy (Bone) Lewis. The father, who was a native of the State of New York, when about 8 years of age moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, which was his home for sev- eral years. He then settled in Butler County, married Nancy Bone. a native of the county named, and later moved to Clinton County, Ohio. There he lived until 1870, when he came to Van Wert County and located in York town-
ship, where he died in 1890, in the 78th year of his age. Four children survive him, viz. : George; Walter, of York township; Ford, of Celina, Ohio; and Anna, wife of William A. Ayers, of Mount Vernon, Indiana.
George Lewis was reared in Butler County where, on August 20, 1861, he enlisted in Company B, 35th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., and was in the 14th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland, under General Thomas. Mr. Lewis was made a corporal and took part in many of the fierce encounters and minor skirm- ishes of the war, among them being the battles at Millspring, Shiloh, Perryville, Mission Ridge, and Chickamauga, at the last named place receiving a wound in the left hand which for a time incapacitated him for service. Re- covering, he was placed in the Second Bat- talion, Veteran Reserve Corps, and received an honorable discharge in 1864.
In the meantime Mr. Lewis' parents had taken up their residence in Clinton County, where he himself now located, engaging in farming there until 1870, when he came to Van Wert County and became similarly em- ployed. That he is successful is no doubt due to the fact that he has not only been industrious and persevering, but also progressive in his methods, and does not deem it necessary to follow in the old ruts when his common sense tells him a new way might prove the better.
Mr. Lewis has been twice married, first, in Clinton County, in 1868, to Beulah Smith, by whom he has one daughter-Mrs. Joseph M. Warren, of Pleasant township. His second marriage was to Maria Devoe, who has borne him two children-Susan and Edwin M., both of whom live at home. Mr. Lewis is a mem- ber of W. C. Scott Post, No. 100, G. A. R., at Van Wert. In his public capacity he has served as justice of the peace for six years, a member of the School Board for several
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years, and was at one time the Republican can- didate for State Senator. His prominent identification with the agricultural element is evidenced by the fact that he is a member of Van Wert Grange, No. 81, Patrons of Hus- bandry; was formerly master of Pleasant Grange, No. 399; is a director of the Farmers' Mutual Aid Association of Van Wert County ; was president of the Van Wert County Agri- cultural Society for eight years; was overseer of the Ohio State Grange two years; and was a member of the State Board of Agriculture for four years.
n ATHANIEL PERHAMUS settled on his farm in section 34, Hoaglin town- ship, in the spring of 1876 and is one of the best known agriculturists of Van Wert County. He was born in the neigh- boring county of Allen on February 28, 1845, and is a son of Daniel and Margaret (Bope) Perhamus, the former a native of New York and the latter of Pennsylvania.
. When a lad of 12 years, Daniel Perhamus struck out for himself, coming to Defiance County, Ohio, where he worked for a number of years. Later he went to Indiana, but after a time returned to Ohio and settled in Allen County. where he was married and where his wife died. In the early '60's he moved to Van Wert County and located in Ridge township, where he died in 1872. He was twice married.
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