USA > Ohio > Van Wert County > History of Van Wert County, Ohio and Representative Citizens > Part 77
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94
Mr. Williams was for several years school director of Liberty township, and in the fall of 1905 was elected infirmary director by the Republican party to serve a term of three years. He is a member of the Methodist Church.
OHN WOLFE, M. D., a well-known physician and surgeon who since the spring of 1900 has been settled at Wetsel, was born in Jennings town- ship, Van Wert County, Ohio, September 17, 1866, being a son of George and Mary J. (Williams) Wolfe. The father of Dr. Wolfe
Digitized by Google
-
-.
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
717
was born in Licking County, Ohio, and the mother in Van Wert County, both being early settlers and valued residents of Jennings town- ship, where the father died in 1896. The man, ternal grandfather settled in Jennings town- ship in 1840.
John Wolf was reared in Jennings town- ship and during boyhood and early youth at- tended its common schools. After his own school days were over, he engaged in teaching, and continued in the profession for seven years, mainly in his native township. In the mean- time he had been preparing himself for a pro- fessional life, and in 1896 was graduated from the Ohio Medical University, at Columbus.
For several years Dr. Wolfe was engaged in practice at Burkettsville, Darke County, Ohio, but in 1900 he settled at Wetsel. Here he has built up a large and satisfactory prac- tice, having become endeared to the community because of his skill and highly respected for his good citizenship. He is president of the Board of Education of Jackson township and is also a member of the Board of Health for Jackson and the east half of Hoaglin township. Dr. Wolfe keeps closely in touch with all the im- portant movements within the profession and is a valued member of the Van Wert County Medical Society. Politically he is a Demo- crat, and, even outside his profession is one of the town's most intelligent, progressive and enterprising residents.
On June 30, 1892, Dr. Wolfe was married to Mary Jane Clark, a native of York town- ship, this county, and a daughter of Henry and Frances (Slentz) Clark, residents of York township, where the father is a respected farmer. Dr. and Mrs. Wolfe have three chil- dren. as follows: Harold Grover, born June 12, 1893: Zoa Ruth, born October 10. 1895: and Clayton Clark, born October 2, 1905.
P ETER HERTZ, who is a member of one of Van Wert County's earliest families, is a progressive citizen of Harrison township, where he has a fine farm of 160 acres situated in sections 3 and 10. He was born on the farm where he now resides, October 12, 1844, and is a son of Peter and Mary (Germann) Hertz, and a grandson of Peter and Anna (Klein) Hertz.
Peter Hertz, the grandfather, came to the United States from Germany in 1837, being accompanied by his wife and two children, Peter and Mary. The family located in Holmes County, Ohio, October 13, 1837, and a month or so later came to Van Wert County. Here our subject's grandfather en- tered 160 acres of land in Harrison township on August 28, 1838. He erected a log cabin and began clearing his new property, which he lived to enjoy for only one short year, his death occurring in August, 1839, aged 69 years. His widow died aged 71 years.
Peter Hertz, father of our subject, was born in Becher, Coburg, Germany, January 31, 1820, and was about 17 years old when he accompanied his parents to the United States. Owing to the early death of his father, the task of clearing the home farm in Harrison town- ship devolved largely upon him. He was an energetic and progressive man, and assisted materially in effecting the transformation of this forest country into a rich farming com- munity, with roads bounding every section, to take the place of paths through the timber. He cleared up the original quarter-section, and added to it until he had 390 acres. He assisted in the establishment of public schools. At the time of his death. January 8, 1897. he was the oldest resident of Harrison township, and had a fund of interesting reminiscences of pioneer life, when the nearest neighbor was six miles
.
Digitized by Google
718
HISTORY OF VAN WERT COUNTY
distant and Lima was the market. On Janu- ary 17, 1840, he married Mary M. Germann, a daughter of Henry and Anna ( Reidenbach) Germann, natives of Hesse-Homburg, Ger- many, who came to America three years prior to the coming of the Hertz family. Mr. Ger- mann finally made a good farm of 160 acres in Harrison township, and died at the age of 70 years. He was steward of the local Lutheran Church. Five children were born to Peter Hertz and wife: Annie E. wife of Philip Germann, of Wilshire township; Mary wife of Henry Germann, Jr., of Harrison town- ship; Margaret, widow of John Reidenbach, of Harrison township; Jacob, who died at the age of 16 years; and Peter, the subject of this sketch. Peter Hertz was a member of the Evangelical Church and Mrs. Hertz was a member of the Lutheran Church.
Peter Hertz, the subject of this sketch, at- tended school in the home district and has al- ways lived on the home place, excepting a two years' residence at Van Wert. On May I, 1873, he married Mary E. Scaer, who was born in Germany, and was a year old when brought to this country by her parents, Philip and Christina (Reidenbach) Scaer. To Mr. and Mrs. Hertz have been born seven children: Jacob, who attended St. John's Lutheran Col- lege at Winfield, Kansas, and then entered the employ of the International Harvester Com- pany, which he represented in South Amer- ica for a time and which he is now rep- resenting in Germany, having his head- quarters in Berlin; Otto, employed in Baxter's hardware store in Convoy, who married Elnora Ehrman; Anna, who mar- ried Albert E. Etzler, and lives with our sub- ject; Karl, who lives at home; Theodore, who is attending college at Fort Wayne; and John P. and Arthur W., who live at home.
Politically, Mr. Hertz is a Democrat. He
is a member of the Lutheran Church and was for a time a deacon. He served as treasurer of Van Wert County in 1893-94, was town- ship treasurer for seven years and clerk for four years.
OHN SMALLEY, a well-known resi- dent of Liberty township, who carries on general agricultural operations on his farm of 100 acres situated in sec- tion 3, was born in Ashland County, Ohio. June 12, 1845, and is the son of Abraham and Elizabeth (Dwyer) Smalley. His father was born in Jefferson County, Ohio, being a son of Richard Smalley, who was a native of New England, of English descent. His mother was of Irish ancestry, the maternal grandfather be- ing a native of Ireland.
In 1848, when three years of age, John Smalley moved with his parents to Wyandot County, Ohio, where his father bought a farm of 160 acres and where the boy was reared and educated.
On September 20, 1866, our subject was married in Hancock County to Lucetta Kiehl, a daughter of Eli Kiehl, a well-known farmer of that county. Mr. and Mrs. Smalley became the parents of three children: Ida, William and Elmer J. Ida Smalley married William Willimen and lived in Indiana, where her hus- band died in 1895. She herself passed away eight years later, leaving three children : Bes- sie, who married C. I. Davis, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, and is the mother of one daughter- Maxine Mildred; Earl and Clarence. William Smalley married Ida Krugh, lives in Liberty township and has five children-Myrtle, Inez, Camilla, Ruth and John Joseph. Elmer J. Smalley married Effie Stump and was living on a 160-acre farm in Oklahoma, when his wife died, in April, 1904, leaving two children,
Digitized by Google
719
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
-Edna and Carl,-one child, Lewis, having died in infancy. While still owning his farm in Oklahoma, Elmer J. Smalley with his chil- dren lives with his parents on the home place.
John Smalley continued to live in Wyandot County for 15 years after his marriage, in 1881 removing to Van Wert County, where he bought his present farm of 100 acres. He has made many substantial improvements on the place, and in 1898 built a large frame house. It is his intention to build or remodel his barn in the summer of 1906. He was for many years a member of the School Board and served two terms as township trustee of the township. He is also a member and trustee of the Evangelical Church.
P ERRY KOHN, president of the board of trustees of Jackson township and a highly honored citizen of Van Wert County, was born in Pleasant township, September 20, 1873, his parents be- ing Harvey and Sarah M. (Smith) Kohn. Harvey Kohn was a native of Franklin County, Ohio, and it was there his father died when the son was quite young. Soon afterward his mother, with her children, moved to Paulding County, and located in Latty township. There Harvey Kohn reached adult years and then came to Van Wert County and married Sarah M. Smith, who survives him as an esteemed resident of Grover Hill, Paulding County. Mrs. Harvey Kohn was born in the State of Indiana a little more than 60 years ago. After their marriage the husband operated a rented farm in Pleasant township until the fall of 1873, when he purchased the tract now occu- pied by our subject in section 4. Jackson town- ship, taking possession of the property in October of that year. Here he resided until
his death on October 21, 1902. The deceased was a Democrat, and a man whose opinions on all subjects were based upon his honest con- victions. A member of the Elm Grove Meth- odist Episcopal Church, he was consistent in all things, upright in his dealings, and a valued member of the community in which he lived. so industriously and honorably. Besides his widow, he is survived by two children-Etta M., wife of E. W. McGinnis; and Perry.
After an attendance at the schools of sub- district No. 1, Perry Kohn became a student of what at that time was the Middlepoint Nor- mal School. Later, for a short time, he became a partner of W. M. McGinnis in the grain business at Middlepoint, but eventually turned his attention to agriculture, to which he has (levoted the greater part of his life. Mr. Kohn was married April 22, 1897, to Rhoda Long- worth, a daughter of B. W. Longworth, who is a prominent citizen of Paulding County. Two children-Harry B. and Florence M .-- have added the sunshine of their presence to the happy family circle. In politics Mr. Kohn is a Democrat, and is at present serving as trus- tee of Jackson township, being president of the board. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. lodge at Grover Hill. The confidence and re- spect he enjoys are but just tributes to his life of useful service.
R ICHARD H. AINSWORTH, whose valuable farm of 40 acres is situated in section 32, Willshire township, was born in this township, January 30, 1856, and is a son of Joseph and Mary (Beadle) Ainsworth.
The parents of Mr. Ainsworth are both deceased, the father having been a native of Pennsylvania, and the mother, of Ohio. Their
Digitized by Google
720
HISTORY OF VAN WERT COUNTY
children were: George, who served through- out the Civil war and was imprisoned nine months and 17 days at Andersonville, dying from the effects of his army hardships; Thomas, who enlisted at the age of 17 years, in the last year of the Civil war; James L., of Fort Wayne; Richard H., of this sketch; William, of Fort Wayne; John, of Van Wert County; and Amos, deceased.
Richard H. Ainsworth has always resided in his native township, where he was educated in the public schools. He remained with his parents until their decease, the mother passing away in 1875, and the father, in 1877. For the succeeding 12 years he worked by the month and during all that period had but three employers. After his marriage in 1880 he settled on his present place, which he has vastly improved, and, in addition to operating it, farms an adjoining 40 acres for his sister-in- law. Mr. Ainsworth also takes much interest in his fine orchard, which is in a very flourish- ing condition.
On December 23, 1880, Richard H. Ains- worth married Mary Elizabeth Dudgeon, who was born in Delaware County, Ohio, May 15, 1858, and who came here with her parents in 1865. She is a daughter of Isaac and Caro- line (Ulery) Dudgeon, who were born and married in Knox County, Ohio. Both of her parents died on the farm, that is now the home of Mr. and Mrs. Ainsworth, the father at the age of 60 years, and the mother, aged 70 years. Mr. Dudgeon owned 80 acres here and also 120 acres in Mercer County. Had his health been that of ordinary men he would have left a much larger fortune than he did, but from the age of 30 years he was delicate; notwith- standing this, he was one of the township's substantial men. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Dudgeon were: Idora, widow of Jacob Tickle, of Mercer County; Douglass, of
Indiana; Mary E. (Mrs. Ainsworth) ; Laura (Springer), who resides on the 40-acre farm which Mr. Ainsworth operates with his own land; and Frank, of Mercer County.
Mr. and Mrs. Ainsworth have twin daugh- ters-Hettie May and Herma June, bright lit- tle maidens who were born July 30, 1893. In his political views Mr. Ainsworth is a Repub- lican.
D AVID S. CARPENTER, a retired farmer and well-known citizen of Delphos, was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, and is a son of James and Susan (Ream) Carpenter.
James Carpenter, the father, was a native of Virginia, and came to Fairfield County after the death of his parents, which occurred when he was three years old. He was married in Fairfield County, where his wife was born and raised, and became the father of 13 children- three boys and 10 girls-all of the children are living except two, one daughter dying at the age of six, and the oldest child, Mrs. Sarah Klinger, passing away December 24, 1905. In 1853 Mr. Carpenter and his family moved from Fairfield County to Van Wert County. where he purchased a farm of 40 acres in section 10 and 1I, Washington township. He gradually added to this tract until at the time of his death, in 1903, he owned 120 acres. At one time he was the proprietor of 160 acres, but sold 40 acres to his son David. Mrs. Car- penter died in 1890, her husband surviving her until the 14th of August, 1902.
David S. Carpenter was reared and re- ceived his education in Washington township, and followed the life of an agriculturist until 1902, when he sold his farm to Korto Crax. afterward retiring from active life and fixing his residence in the town of Delphos. He was
Digitized by Google
Digitized by
MR. AND MRS. BENJAMIN JOHNSON
·
Digitized by Google
723
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
married in May, 1873, to Serepta Alspach, of Washington township, and to them were born four children, namely : Charles, who married Dessie Styverson, his wife dying in 1903 and leaving four children; Eva, who married Korto Crax, lives on the old homestead and has five children; Perry, who is married and lives in Fort Wayne, Indiana; and Dollie, who mar- ried Walter Huysman, and has one child. Mr. Carpenter is a member and trustee of the United Brethren Church, at Delphos.
B ENJAMIN JOHNSON, who for the past 40 years has resided on his pres- ent farm of 160 acres, in section II, Willshire township, this county, owns one of the most thoroughly improved and finely clutivated estates of the locality. He was born in Pennsylvania, near the border of West Vir- ginia, on June 1, 1839, and is a son of Elias and Jemima (Emmett) Johnson.
Elias Johnson, the father, was born in West Virginia in 1810, and died June 11, 1861, his entire life having been devoted to agricultural pursuits. In 1848 he came to Willshire town- ship. Van Wert County, Ohio, and entered 640 acres of land in sections 11 and 12, paying therefor $1.25 per acre. At his death his estate was still intact, with the exception of 100 acres which he had given his son Benjamin. In his earlier days Mr. Johnson was a Democrat, but later in life became a Republican. He was a man of quiet, domestic tastes, and was most highly respected by those who knew him best. Elias Johnson's wife was Jemima Emmett. who was born in West Virginia and died in 1859. aged 40 years, the mother of the follow- ing children : Benjamin, of this sketch: Wil- son and Jacob, both deceased: Armitta : Mary Ann; Elizabeth, deceased; Smith. of Paulding
County ; George, of Liberty township, and three children who died in infancy. Wilson Johnson, the second born of the family, en- listed for service in the Civil War-first, for three months, and one year later, reenlisting under Capt. T. S. Gilliland and serving for three years. After the war he returned home and finally died in Willshire.
Benjamin Johnson was reared to the age of nine years in Brooke County, West Virginia. His parents then started for Willshire town- ship, Van Wert County, the trip to Cincinnati being made by boat and that to St. Mary by canal. The mother and other children, with the household goods, were stowed away in the great canvas-covered conveyance coming from St. Marys; Benjamin still remembers how proud he was to make the journey on horse- back with his father. The family settled near the present farm, and Benjamin Johnson has spent all his subsequent years in this town- ship, his homestead of 160 acres being all that remains in the family of his father's former large body of entered land. When he took up his residence here, a small clearing had been made and a cabin built : now a handsome fam- ily residence stands in place of the latter, and 100 acres of the farm are under a fine state of cultivation.
On June 24, 1860, Benjamin Johnson was united in marriage with Delila Morehead, who was born in Liberty township and died Septem- ber 24, 1904, aged 63 years and 24 days. The cleceased lady was the estimable daughter of Vinton and Phoebe (Heller) Morehead, pio- neers who had preceded the Johnson family in Willshire township. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson had seven children born to them :- Wilson Wallace: Rose Alphia May. deceased: Annie, wife of Fred Handwerk. of Willshire town- ship: Melvin A., who lives at home: Clalinda Alice, wife of David T. Johnson. of Fort
Digitized by Google
724
HISTORY OF VAN WERT COUNTY
Wayne, Indiana; Benjamin F., deceased; and a child who died when an infant.
Mr. Johnson is a pronounced Republican, and is one of the leading members of the United Brethren Church of Liberty township, being one of its trustees and long serving as a class leader and steward. As one of the upright and useful members of his community, Mr. John- son is worthily grouped as among the substan- tial representatives of the honorable pioneer families of Van Wert County. Portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Johnson accompany this sketch.
J OHN W. BOWERSOCK. Among the many splendid farms in Van Wert County, the 200-acre tract located in section 17. Jackson township, owned and occupied by John W. Bowersock, is es- pecially to be noted. Mr. Bowersock is a prac- tical agriculturist, and during the two decades in which he has been engaged in the tillage of this land has brought it to a splendid state of productiveness. He was born in Auglaize County, Ohio. May 29, 1857, and is a son of James and Isabel (Sunderland) Bowersock, both of whom were natives of Ohio. The father lost his life in the Civil war, and soon afterward the mother and children removed to Allen County.
Being thrown upon his own resources at an early age, John W. Bowersock became self-relient and was not slow to grasp every opportunity for advancement. When 13 years old he began independent life as a farm hand, receiving for his services during the sum- mer months his board and $8 per month in money. As his strength and usefulness increased, so did the wages he received until his monthly pay was $21 with board. Later he engaged in farming for himself, con-
tinuing in Allen County until 1885, when he brought his family to Van Wert County and took possession of the farm upon which he still lives.
John W. Bowersock was married June 20, 1879, to Jennie Adams who was born in Aug- laize County, Ohio, on January 12, 1860. Her parents were Emanuel and Lydia ( Hoffman) Adams, the former a native of England, and the latter, of Pennsylvania. To Mr. and Mrs. Bowersock the following children have been born, namely: Fara, wife of Samuel Ander- son ; James L .; Emanuel; Goldie H., deceased; Isabel; John; Clifton; Leta and Columbus. Mr. Bowersock and his estimable wife are members of the Christian Union Church, of which he was formerly trustee. He is now serving as superintendent of the Sunday- school and has met with great success in his efforts to increase its membership and influ- ence.
Mr. Bowersock is a Republican and takes an intelligent interest in political questions. He has served as school director of sub-dis- trict No. 4, Jackson township, and has always supported progressive measures designed for the general welfare. Realizing the great ad- vantage of good thoroughfares to the farmer, Mr. Bowersock was among the first to advocate pike roads and opened a stonequarry to pro- vide material for their construction.
€ DWARD EDWARDS, M. D., a popu- lar and successful practitioner of Del- phos, was born at TynybwIch Llan- fyllin, Montgomeryshire, North Wales, March 5, 1859. As far back as can be traced, the Edwards have been engaged in agriculture in Wales and the present home- stead there was taken possession of over 80
Digitized by Google
..
725
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
years ago by the parents of our subject, Lewis and Margaret ( Morris) Edwards. Both par- ents died in that country, the father in Novem- ber. 1889. and the mother in August, 1897. They reared their entire family of nine chil- dren, all but three of whom reside in Mont- gomeryshire. The record follows: Lewis, who resides near the homestead in Montgom- eryshire: John, who is also a farmer in Mont- gomeryshire : Ann, who married Allen Price and resides on a farm south of Van Wert, in York township: Thomas, who occupies the old home in Montgomeryshire; Mary, widow of Thomas Ellis, who reside in Montgomery- shire : Catherine, who makes her home with her sisters: Humphrey, who resides at Gomer, Al- len County, and is now on a visit to Wales: Margaret. who married Thomas Ellis and re- sides in Montgomeryshire; and Edward, who is the third child in the family.
Edward Edwards landed in New York on March 21. 1878, and at once came to Ohio, reaching Lima seven days later. Going to Gomer, he secured work on a farm and con- tinued this work until he had sufficient means to take him through the veterinary college at Ontario, Canada.
Entering this college in the fall of 1886, he was graduated from it in March, 1888, and practiced until 1892. Having decided to enter the regular medical profession, he entered Jef- ferson Medical College at Philadelphia in 1892 and graduated two years later. He then went to Germany and took a course in the University of Berlin, following this with four months practice in Guy's Hospital, London, England, where he had the advantage of work- ing with the most skilled physicians of the world. Being now well prepared for his chosen work, Dr. Edwards returned to Amer- ica, and opened an office in Venedocia, Van Wert County, where he remained some 18
months. In August, 1897, he located in Del- phos, where he has since been in active practice.
On November 10, 1898, Dr. Edwards was married to Emma J. Gilliland, daughter of John Gilliland, a well-known and highly re- spected resident of the county, living two and one-half miles south. of Van Wert. During the past summer, the Doctor and his wife spent four months in Europe, making a pleasant visit at the old home in Wales. Dr. Edwards took advantage of this opportunity to take six weeks' work in the leading hospitals of London.
ELLINGTON NAPOLEON ROB- INSON, one of the most progres- sive young farmers of Liberty township, owner of 200 acres of rich farm land situated in section 9, was born in the township named and is a son of Edward W. and Celesta (Dull) Robinson.
Edward W. Robinson, the father, was a son of William Robinson, was born January 22. 1837 in Muskingum County, Ohio, and when four years old the family moved to Knox County, Ohio. In 1856 he migrated from Knox County and settled on a farm of 80 acres in Van Wert County, to which he added at various times until at the date of his death, on May 5. 1882, he owned 200 acres of land. He was married December 25, 1860, to Celesta Dull, a daughter of Lenhart Dull-a full ac- count of whom will be found in the sketch of James Monroe Dull in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Edward W. Robinson had six children, namely : Wellington Napoleon, the subject of this sketch : Alice S., born December 6, 1863, who died January 17, 1881; Ida May. born November 5, 1865, and died September 7. 1902, who married (first) John Adams, by whom she had one child-Florence. now the
Digitized by Google
726
HISTORY OF VAN WERT COUNTY
wife of C. C. Gephart-and (second) Lewis Malin, on December 26, 1893, by whom she had four children-Rex, Ethel, Mildred and Ralph (who died September 3, 1902; Oscar L., born November 10, 1867, who married Jennie Flager, December 9, 1895, and died May 30, 1901; Patrick, born April 28, 1873, who lives at home; and Claude D., who was born September 11, 1878, and died April 15, 1879. Mrs. Celesta Dull Robinson was born December 2, 1843, in Willshire township and is still living on 40 acres of the old homestead, which she has retained in her own name.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.