History of Van Wert County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 79

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

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William Hooks was born in Pennsylvania in 1810, and removed to Mercer County in 1833. locating near Shanes Crossing (now known as Rockford) where he lived until his removal to Liberty township, Van Wert Coun- ty, in 1841. Here he was engaged by Levi Roland to split 10.000 rails, for which he re- ceived 40 acres of timberland. At that time there were only seven voters in the township. Later he purchased 80 acres adjoining that land for which he paid $1 per acre. He then sold a tract of 40 acres of land near Fort Wayne, In- diana. which he had previously acquired, and added 40 acres to his 120 acres, making a total of 160 acres. In 1839 he was married to Lydia Harp, a daughter of Peter Harp, who in 1831 migrated from Montgomery County, Ohio. to Mercer County. William Hooks

died in 1840, his wife having passed away in 1826.

William Hooks was the father of six chil- dren, namely : Malinda (Hankins), of Van Wert; Ruben; Inman, of Lima; Mary Ann ( Miller), of Dublin township, Mercer County ; Abraham. who lives in Lima; and Frank, who died at the age of 38 years. William Hooks died in 1888, and his wife in 1896.

Ruben Hooks was reared and educated in Liberty township. He was married on Jan- uary 30, 1866, to Manerva Miller, a daughter of Rev. Abram and Martha (Garrison) Miller. Mrs. Hooks' father was born in Perry County, Ohio. March 22, 1808, and was a son of Peter and Mary Miller. Rev. Abram Miller was raised in the county named and later moved to Fairfield County and thence, in 1832 or 1833, to Mercer County. He was a minister of the United Brethren Church. He died March 9. 1874. near Mendon, Mercer County.

Mr. and Mrs. Ruben Hooks have one chil:1. William Sherman, who was born December 5, 1867. He married Alma Waters and lives in Payne, Paulding County, Ohio, where he is the proprietor of an undertaking establishment.

Mr. Hooks is a Civil war veteran. In 1864 he enlisted in Company A. 4Ist Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., and served until the end of the war. He moved to his present location Febru- ary 14, 1866, and has lived here continuously since. A week after his marriage he com- menced to occupy a house of hewn logs which he had himself built, and made this the family home until 1905, when the household moved into their new frame residence, which had been erected in the preceding summer. Mr. Hooks has served one term as trustee of Liberty town- ship, and is highly honored both for his upright and substantial character and his good citizen- ship.

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j OHN ACKLEY, one of the substantial representative citizens, successful farm- ers and well-known men of Union township, who is also a veteran sur- vivor of the Civil war, was born October 30, 1835, near Olive Green, Noble County, Ohio, en.l is a son of Erastus and Ara (Adney) Ackley.

The father of our subject was born in New York, but died in Ohio, in 1862, at the age of 58 years. The mother was born in Pennsyl- vania, and also died in Ohio, at the age of 97 years. They had II children, as follows: Jane (Mrs. Benjamin Mothena), of Vinton County, Ohio; Fannie (Smallwood), of Monte- zuma, Indiana; John, of this sketch; Asenath, of Cass County, Missouri; Arthusa ( Hescott) of Jackson County; Obed, who died while cap- turing a prisoner, being shot in the battle of Mission Ridge; Phebe, deceased, who was the wife of Thomas Smith, who died after his re- turn from the army; Israel, deceased; Julia (Johnson), of Chillicothe; Jacob, a member of the 12th Regiment Ohio Vol. Cav., during the Civil war, who died at Plain City; and Nancy (Byers), of Ross County. It was a happy, domestic circle when the children were all at home together. All survived to maturity and all married.

Our subject remained on the home farm until he was 18 years of age, when his father sold the homestead and moved to Vinton County and settled on a farm near Vigo. The son remained, assisting on the new farm until his marriage, when he removed to Jackson County and located on a rented farm. It was from Jackson County that he enlisted, October 1, 1861, in Company D, 53rd Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., under Captain Crumits. The first bat- tle in which the regiment took part was at Shiloh, and it ·participated in all the engage- ments until it was ordered to assist in construct-

ing fortifications at Memphis, and then went on to Vicksburg and to Jackson, and then ac- companied General Sherman in the Mississippi and Atlanta campaign to the sea. The 53rd then marched through the Carolinas to Raleigh and on to Washington for the Grand Review. After this the regiment was sent to Little Rock, Arkansas. After the expiration of his first enlistment, Mr. Ackley veteranized January I, 1864, and served as a veteran for some months. He was finally honorably discharged at Camp Dennison, August 11, 1865. Although dur- ing this long period Mr. Ackley had been ex- posed to every vicissitude attending the life of a brave soldier, and had participated in num- berless terrific battles, including Lookout Mountain, the only injury he sustained was a slight one in his face, just under his right eye.

After his army service was over, he return- ed to Jackson County. In the summer of 1871 he went to Sumner County, Kansas, where he remained two years, during which period he cast his vote in favor of making Wellington the county-seat. He bought out a claim of 160 acres in Sumner County, but in 1873 he returned to Ohio and purchased a farm of 140 acres in Vinton County. In 1895 he came to Van Wert County, trading his Vinton County farm in 1898, for his present one of 80 acres, situated in section 9, Union township. Here he has successfully carried on general farming, has erected good buildings and enjoys continued prosperity.

In 1860, Mr. Ackley was married to Al- mira Utz, who was born in Pennsylvania, Oc- tober 30, 1843, and died here October 24. 1904. She was a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Propes) Utz, natives of Pennsylvania and Germany, respectively. The 11 children of this union were: Alzina, wife of James Osen- baugh, of Williamstown, West Virginia; Sher- man of Union township; Belle, wife of Albert

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Wilson, of Auglaize County; Zoa, residing at home; Logan, of Union township; John, re- siding at home; Joseph, who died aged 22 years; Daisy, who died aged 20 years; Maude, living at home; Minnie, who died aged three years, and a child who died in infancy.

Politically Mr. Ackley is a Republicani. He is a member of Lieut. Fellers' Post, Grand Army of the Republic, at Raysville, Jackson County, Ohio.

ACOB CLOUSE, who is distinguished as the first white child born in Lib- erty township, is also an honored sur- vivor of the Civil war and an esteemed resident of Ohio City. He was born Novem- ber 19, 1838, and is a son of George and Eliza- beth (Kessler) Clouse.

George Clouse, the father, was the second householder to locate in Liberty township, Van Wert County, coming here when the entire country was covered with its native growth of timber, and when the Indians still claimed much of the land and, by their unfriendly attitude, caused much uneasiness among the scattered settlers. George Clouse was born in Congress township, Wayne County, Ohio, and was a son of Michael Clouse, a native of Germany. Michael Clouse entered 160 acres of land in Liberty township, which he divided between his two sons, George and Michael. The lat- ter, however, never settled here, but sold his 80 acres to his brother George, who, with his wife, came hither on September 2, 1838.

The "History of Ohio," by Harris, states that our subject, Jacob Clouse, was born on this land in a tent : this statement, however, is a mistake which the present biographer is glad to correct. In the fall, as above stated, the family located in the woods, and George Clouse immediately set to work to fashion some kind

of a shelter for his young wife. He succeeded in putting together a room of logs-as com- plete a structure as one man could erect without assistance-which could not be denominated a cabin in the accepted definition of the word, but was far removed from a tent. In this hum- ble little home, in the great wilderness, with the wild animals peering through the unillum- inated darkness of the forest, our subject was born, the first of nine children. The other members of the family were: Solomon, who died in infancy; Michael; William; George Washington; Mrs. Mary Jane Duncan; Esly; Elizabeth, who died in infancy; and Hugh, who died aged two years. George Clouse clung to the task of clearing his land until the time of his death. which occurred June 26, 1859, his wife surviving him until 1889. She was a woman of remarkable force of character, and had passed through the pioneer hardships with courage and cheerfulness.

Jacob Clouse was reared in Liberty town- ship and attended the local schools as oppor- tunity offered. On September 30, 1860, Mr. Clouse was married (first) to Elizabeth Roush, a daughter of Samuel Roush, who was a native of Germany and a resident of Medina County, Ohio. There were four children born to this marriage, namely: Mary Elizabeth, who died when almost 12 years of age; Elnora, who mar- ried (first) John Temple, and (second) Jesse Roberts; Sarah Alberta, wife of Thomas Mil- ler : and Eva Jane, who is the wife of William Flager. Mrs. Clouse died in 1867, and Mr. Clouse married (second) Emeline Boyer, who died in 1869, leaving two children-Charles and John O. Mr. Clouse was later united to the present Mrs. Clouse, formerly Sarah Jane Emerine. They both belong to the Lutheran Church. Since selling his farm of 80 acres, Mr. Clouse has resided in a comfortable home in Ohio City.

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Mr. Clouse is an old soldier of the Civil war, having served from the beginning of hostilities until his honorable discharge June 27. 1865. He was a member of Company , 99th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., first under Capt. W. C. Scott and later under Capt. W. T. Ex- line. He saw considerable hard service, re- ceived a number of slight wounds, and has a record of which he may feel proud as a faithful, loyal soldier.

D AVID B. STEMEN is an influential, progressive and well-to-do farmer, who has devoted the greater part of his life to cultivating and improving his fine farm of 94.7 acres, situated in section 6. Washington township. He was born Octo- ber 1. 1856. on the farm which he now occupies and is the oldest child of John and Lydia E. (Myers) Stemen.

The Stemen family originated in Switzer- land. Christian Stemen, the great-great-great- grandfather of our subject, was born in Penn- sylvania, it is thought, on May 28, 1747. He was the father of Peter Stemen, who was also a native of Pennsylvania and was born January 2, 1771. Christian Stemen, son of Peter, was born April 23, 1799, in Rockingham County, Pennsylvania, and was the father of John Stemen.

John Stemen, the father of our subject, was born in 1825, in Fairfield County, Ohio, and at the age of nine years accompanied his par- ents to Allen County, Ohio, where they settled on a tract of land in the woods, north of Elida. He helped to clear the land and improve the farm. In 1850 he bought 94.7 acres of land in section 6, Washington township, Van Wert County-the property that the subject of this sketch now occupies. This tract of land was in the woods, without house, barn or fences, and

without any road leading to it. In 1855 John Stemen was married in Allen County. Ohio, to Lydia E. Myers, and in 1856 built a log cabin on his land in Washington township and with his wife moved to his home in the woods. He at once proceeded to clear the land. John Stemen died October 9, 1875. aged 50 years. His widow still lives on the old farm, with her oldest child, David B. Stemen. The farm is now all cleared and well drained with tile, with good buildings and the necessary arrangements for the stabling of all the live-stock on the place. John Stemen was the father of eight children, of whom but three are living. The record follows: David B., our subject : Mary A. ( Wallace ) : Martha, deceased at the age of 20 years: Edward, deceased at the age of four months: William, who lives in Ridge township on his farm of 55 acres, which is in a fine state of cultivation, with excellent build- ings ; Louis H., deceased at the age of 25 years : Benjamin, deceased at the age of 19 years : and John, deceased at the age of two years. John Stemen was a warm personal friend of Thad- deus S. Gilliland, the historian of this work.

David B. Stemen was reared and educated in his native township. He was married on February 20, 1879, to Mary E. Bressler, a daughter of George and Mary (Jamison) Bressler. Mrs. Stemen's father is a resident of Van Wert; her mother died in 1873. To Mr. and Mrs. Stemen were born nine children : Clarence, born March 25, 1880, who married Maud Anderson and has two children-Marly and Lloyd; Orpha M., born September 9, 1881, who married Noah Ashbaugh on October 7. 1903, and died April 2. 1905, leaving one child-David Lawrence; William, born March 14, 1884, who married Bessie Ross : Irvin, born April 10, 1886: Jesse Allen, born March 16, 1889; Alnorah, born August 29, 1891 : Delmar Raymond, born October 2, 1828; Grace. born

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December 2. 1901 : and David L., born Feb- ruary 13, 1904. David B. Stemen is a mem- ber of the Methodist Church, of which he is also treasurer and one of the trustees.

ERMAN C. AUSTIN. The poultry business has come to be recognized as one of the important industries of the United States. The demand for eggs and poultry is always in excess of the supply and this has been the cause of number- less houses opening up all over the country as a market for this particular firm product. Van Wert is now well supplied with facilities fer caring for eggs and poultry. The move- ment in this section may be said to have been in :ugurated by Sanford B. Austin, who started in as a poultry dealer in 1872. Since that time it has been carrie I on by members of the Aus- tin family, and Herman C. Austin is now the proprietor of one of the largest and most flourishing plants in the city. Mr. Austin was born April 5, 1865. about 20 miles south of the the city of Boston, and is a son of Sanford B. and L. Olivet (Field) Austin.

The Austin family is of English origin, long established in Massachusetts. Sanford B. Austin was the eldest of three brothers, all of whom served through the Civil war in the Seventh Massachusetts Regiment. Albert A. Austin enlisted when but 15 years of age. He delt extensively in horses after the war, but is now deceased. " The third brother resides in Louisiana and is a well-known horseman. There were four sisters, all of whom were school teachers and had received college educa- tions. Two of them are deceased. Sanford B. Austin came to Van Wert in 1872, and en- gaged in buying, packing and shipping poul- try. being the first to engage in that line of

business here, and has always kept at the head of the enterprise. He was also well known to horsemen throughout the country on account of the many fancy horses he placed on the market, his draft and other high-bred stock always commanding the highest prices. He enjoys an extended acquaintance throughout the State. In 1890 he moved to New England, where he lived three years, after which he lived in Toledo for a couple of years. He is at present in Virginia for the winter, and is en- gaged in raising some fancy stock for his own pastime.

Mr. Austin was married to L. Olivet Field, whose birthplace was near Boston in the same house in which her father was born. on the banks of Lake Winneconnette. Six children were born to them : Herman C .; Katie. wife of I. M. Risk, of Toledo-Mrs. Risk is cashier for the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company's Toledo house, of which her husband is mana- ger : Nellie, wife of Fred L. Jones, a banker of Columbus : Ruby, wife of Arthur S. Salm, of Toledo; Lillian and Lendall (twins). the form- er in Virginia and the latter in Toledo, where he is day clerk in Hotel De Veaux. Mr. Aus- tin is a member of the Lutheran Church. He was a Republican in former years, but more recently supports the Prohibition policy. He was elected mayor of Van Wert at one time, but resigned after a few months. as public life holds no charm for him.

Herman C. Austin was eight years of age when his parents first came to Van Wert, where he has spent the greater part of his life. He began to assist his father in the business at an early age, and in 1890 returned to Massachu- setts, where he represented his father for two years in the produce business, at the same time dealing extensively in horses. Returning to Van Wert in 1893, Mr. Austin opened a poul- try. egg and produce market for himself. which

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he has spent the greater part of his life. He basis. He pays the highest market price for eggs, poultry, etc., buying only the best, his purchases amounting at times to about $5,000 per week, while it requires during the busiest times a force of 25 pickers and packers to pre- pare the goods for the Eastern markets.

Mr. Austin was married in 1886 to Katie Ostheimer, a native of Greenville. Pennsyl- vania, and a daughter of Solomon Ostheimer, who later moved to Van Wert County. Mr. and Mrs. Austin have two children, Hazel C. and Kathleen Mavourneen, the former a young lady of 17 years and the latter of 10. Mr. Austin has been singularly fortunate in that there has never been a death in either his own or his father's family. He is secretary of the Sons of Veterans at Van Wert and is also a prominent Knight of Pythias.

AMES A. SWOVELAND. one of the prominent citizens of Ohio City, the owner of the leading drug business, secretary and manager of the Ohio City Telephone Company, and a director of the Farmers' Bank, was born in 1871 in Liberty township. Van Wert County, Ohio, and is a son of Peter and Mary Catherine (Weagly) Swoveland.

Peter Swoveland was born in Richland County, Ohio, August 20, 1839, and was a son of Jacob and Sarah Swoveland. In 1842 he was taken by his parents to Van Wert County, where his father located on a tract of forest land in Liberty township, about one mile south of the present site of Ohio City. Peter was the second born in a family of 10 children, two of whom still survive, viz. : John A .. of Tipton, Indiana, and Aaron F., of Sims, Indiana. In 1861 Peter Swoveland enlisted for service in

the Civil war, entering Company H, Fourth Regiment, Ohio Vol. Cal .. and re-enlisted in 1864, at the expiration of his first term, in the same company and regiment, at Pulaski, Ten- nessee. He received his honorable discharge on July 22, 1865, having faithfully and loyally served through the entire war without mis- hap, except a short period of imprisonment by the enemy. In all that long time he was ab- sent but once in the face of danger, from his regiment, that being when he was forcibly de- tained by the Confederates. Soon after his re- turn from the army. Peter Swoveland married Mary Catherine Weagly. who still survives. with their nine children. When Mr. Swove- land died January 31. 1905, there passed away a man of sterling character. His children are : John A., George F .. James A., Jacob R .. William E., Hiram O., Ottis F., Lewis P. and Odel M.

James A. Swoveland attended first the schools of Willshire township and later the Tri-State Normal College, at Angola, Indiana : then took up the study of pharmacy. and in 1892 was graduated at the Ohio Normal Uni- versity at Ada, in this branch. He entered into business as a druggist almost immediately. at Ohio City, where he has remained ever since. He has been interested in many of the leading enterprises of the city. He was one of the organizers of the Ohio City Home Tele- phone Company, of which he is secretary and manager, and has been a leading factor in other successful organizations.

In June, 1895. Mr. Swoveland was mar- ried to Mabel B. Cassel. who was a daughter of the late Rev. Jacob Cassel. a minister of the Church of God, who, at the time of his death was traveling in the interest of Findlay College. Mr .and Mrs. Swoveland have two children. namely : Von C. and Beatrice A.

Mr. Swoveland has always taken an active

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MR. AND MRS. WESLEY FRAGER

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interest in educational matters here, and taught serveral terms of school in his earlier years, in Van Wert County. He has served five years as treasurer of Liberty township, but takes no part in politics beyond the efforts of a public- spirited citizen. He is a member of the Church of God of Ohio City, of which he is a deacon, and he is serving his third year as the superin- tendent of the Sunday-school. Fraternally he belongs to the Knights of Pythias.

ESLEY FRAGER, a retired farmer living at Middlepoint, and the own- er of 140 acres of as fine farm land as can be found, in section 26, Ridge township, is a native of the Buckeye State, having made his advent into the home of Lewis and Sidney ( Harper) Frager in Stark County, Ohio, on April 27, 1842. His grand- father, Jacob Frager, was born near Baltimore, Maryland, and was at one time engaged in run- ning a ferryboat across the Ohio river at Har- per's Ferry. Lewis Frager removed from Co- lumbiana County, Ohio, to Stark County, and was there married to Sidney Harper, who had been a resident there since her 12th year when she came to that county from Chambersburg. Pennsylvania. In 1852 they moved to Ridge township. Van Wert County, where they en- ged in farming and resided until their death, the father passing away in January, 1903. and the mother in August of the same year. The deceased had been esteemed pio- neers in the two counties-Stark and Van Wert. They are survived by our subject and two daughters-Mrs. Melinda Ross, of Ridge township. and Mrs. Louisa Judd, a resident of Middlepoint.

After leaving the district school. in which he acquired his education. Wesley Frager" be-

gan work on his father's farm and continued in this employment until 1882, when he embarked in the grain business at Middlepoint. He was associated in this enterprise with Harrison Leathers for about eight years, when he sold out to Ireton Brothers and is now living in re- tirement in his pleasant Middlepoint home, which is owned by him, as well as the farm, which is rented. Mr. Frager entered the Union Army as a member of Company G, 15th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., having enlisted in Sep- tember, 1864, and served in Tennessee until February, 1865, when he was honorably dis- charged at Columbus, Ohio.

On June 10, 1897. Wesley Frager was united in marriage to Catherine Wiker. a na- tive of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and a daughter of Phillip and Catherine (Lawson) Wiker, natives of Lancaster and York counties. Pennsylvania, respectively.

Mr. Frager is a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church, of which he is trustee; holds a prominent place in the membership of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is also a member of Zellar Hamilton Post. G. A. R., at Middlepoint. Honorable and up- right in his everyday life, he is a man among men and well deserves the high regard in which he is held. Portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Frager accompany this sketch.

ARRISON W. FOLTZ, who owns and operates a well-improved farm of 80 acres in section 28. Hoaglin township. has been a resident of this vicinity but a few years; yet he is already widely and favorably known by reason of his energy and enterprise as one of the most influential and prominent citizens of Van Wert County. Mr. Foltz was born in Hancock County, Ohio,

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August 8, 1858, and is a son of Noah and Mary A. ( Hizzey) Foltz. His parents were natives of Virginia, his father being of Ger- man and his mother ( supposedly) of English descent.

Harrison W. Foltz was reared in Hancock County, remaining there until he was about 32 years of age, when he went to Jay County, In- diana, and resided there until 1898. He then came to Van Wert County, and soon after moved to the farm now owned by him. Mr. Foltz is not only a good farmer. but a good cit- izen, and is always ready to do his share in promoting the welfare of the public. It was largely through his efforts that the pike roads in Hoaglin township were built. as it was the result of a petition started by Mr. Foltz that the first pike road in the township. known as "Johns' Pike." was constructed.

Mr. Foltz was married June 12, 1898. to Mary A. Ketzenbarger, who was born in Han- cock County. Ohio, June 26, 1862. Her per- ents. Sebastian and Rachel (Cramer) Ket- zenbarger. were natives of Germany and Fair- field County, Ohio, respectively, and were among the first settlers of Hancock County. Mr. and Mrs. Foltz have two children: H. Holland, who was born February 6, 1899, and Robert K .. born June 2, 1905. Mr. Foltz is a Democrat. Fraternally he is a member of the Masonic fraternity.

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History of Van Wert County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 79

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

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