USA > Ohio > Van Wert County > History of Van Wert County, Ohio and Representative Citizens > Part 80
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J ONATHAN BARNS, one of the sub- stantial farmers and respected citi- zens of Jackson township, who resides on his home farm of 2261/2 acres, situated in section 5, was born July 16, 1852. in Pickaway County, Ohio, and is a son of
William and Christina ( Wood) Barns. The parents of Mr. Barns were natives of England, coming to America about 1845, and locating first at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, but later settling in Pickaway County, Ohio.
Jonathan Barns was reared in Pickaway and Fayette counties, Ohio, was educated in the public schools, and has devoted his mature life to agricultural pursuits. When Mr. Barns settled on his farm in Jackson township, he was a pioneer in this locality, and for some years was obliged to endure the hardships at- tendant upon distance from good markets and poor public highways. He was, therefore, one of the active promoters of the excellent turn- pike road which runs north and south through the center of Jackson township, which has done so much to aid in the development of this locality. But his main business was the clearing and improving of his Jackson town- ship farm, and he is now also the owner of an 80-acre farm in Union township.
Mr. Barns was married July 27, 1872. to Melissa Dunbar, who was born in Carroll County. Ohio, August 4, 1850. Mrs. Barns' father died when she was a child in Jackson County, whither the family had removed when she was six weeks old. Her mother subse- quently married John Thompson and they re- moved to Madison County, where Mrs. Barns resided at the time of her marriage. The chil- dren of Mr. and Mrs. Barns are: Albert. of Union township. Van Wert County : Josephine. wife of George Miller, of Jackson township: George H. and Thomas, living at home: and Hugh. Annie and Sarah Elizabeth, who all died at the age of eighteen months and one child, at birth. Mr. Barns stands deservedly high in the esteem of his fellow-citizens, hav- ing proven himself an honorable min. a good neighbor and a public spirited citizen.
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E MERY LATTANNER, editor of the V'an Wert Morning Daily Times and Times-Democrat, semi-weekly, was born on a farm in Williams County, Ohio, December 4. 1866. He is the product of a close-of-the-war marriage, his father hav- ing served over three years under General Thomas. The young man received a good common-school education and then attended the Montpelier ( Ohio) High School, where he graduated in May. 1885. The following week he 1:ecante the deputy county treasurer, remain- ing there until January 1. 1888, when he he- come bookkeeper in The Farmers' National Bank at Bryan. In January, 1880. he was mide assistent cashier and in November of the same year was electe I cashier to fill a vacancy. serving until February, 1897. when he resigne:1 and became a bookkeeper in a Cleveland bank for a time. He was for years the youngest bank cashier in Ohio.
In 1808 he entered the newspaper business on the Findlay Courier in the advertising and business department. In October, 1900, with others, he purchased the Van Wert Times and the Van Wert Democrat-two weeklies-and consolidated the two into a semi-weekly. In June, 1904. the paper was sold, but in July. a month later. a stock company bought it back and established in connection the Morning Daily Times. Mr. Lattanner has been the edi- tor from the beginning. An up-to-date lino- type machine was put in and the paper made up-to-date to meet the requirements of the growing city and county.
Mr. Lattanner has ever taken an active part in the political affairs and has been signally honored on numerous occasions by being placed in charge of the campaigns of the Dem- ocratic party. He was chosen chairman of the campaign committee in Williams County when 20 years of age. was chairman of the commit-
tee in Hancock County and in Van Wert County and has served as a member on com- mittees in nearly every campaign. He served as a member of the State Central Committee and was made a member of the State Executive Committee in 1903. He was an alternate to the National Democratic Convention at Chicago in 1892 and in the absence of the delegate voted for Grover Cleveland.
He never sought an office. but was elected a member-at-large of the Board of Education of Bryan, without opposition and was chosen president of the board. He served on the City Council twice, once by appointment and once ly election and as chairman of the electric light committee was active in installing a mu- nicipal light plant at Bryan in connection with the water plant.
He has been active in Pythian affairs. has passed through all the chairs and was represen- tative to the Grand Lodge three terms and served on Grand Lodge committees.
Mr. Lattanner is married and is the father of one daughter.
J H. JOHNS, proprietorof one of the most successful poultry houses in Van WVert. was born July 20, 1842. about two miles from this city, on a farm owned by his parents, William and Lucy Jane (Broom) Johns. His grandfather was Sam- uel Johns, who came from Wales in very early times and settled in Pennsylvania. William Johns was born in Pennslyvania in 1812. and in early manhood went to Richlan! County. Ohio, where he was married to Lucy Jane Broom. In October, 1837. they located in Van Wert County. Here William Johns entered 80 acres of land and bought an additional 80 in Pleasant township. He was one of the larg-
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est fur dealers in the country at that time, and also dealt quite extensively in live-stock, but paid little attention to regular farm work. After the death of his wife in 1865, he moved to Van Wert, where he died in 1871. Mrs. Johns was born August 2, 1816, near Marietta, Ohio, and became the mother of six children, viz. : David A., deceased, for many years a pros- perous merchant of Van Wert; Mary, who died at the age of four years; William, who died at the age of two; J. H., our subject ; Alvina (Springer), deceased; and a child who died in infancy.
J. H. Johns left the paternal roof to do for himself at the age of 16, and that winter taught his first term of school. He continued teach- ing until he entered the general store of Bone- witz & Johns as a clerk, his brother being one of the partners. Two years later he went to Chicago, where he took a complete business course in one of the best commercial colleges of that city. He then returned to Van Wert and resumed his old position as clerk, with the additional work of keeping the books of the company. In 1866 he went to Columbia City, Indiana, where he engaged in the dry goods business. the firm being Johns, Meely & Com- pany. Once more returning to Van Wert, he engaged in the live-stock industry with Samp- son Kohn, the business being conducted under the name of Sampson Kohn & Company. Fol- lowing this he entered the employ of Capt. T S. Gilliland, and was with him as buyer and bookkeeper from 1889 until 1892. It was about this time that he embarked in his pres- ent business, which is a very profitable one and to which he devotes his entire time.
Mr. Johns was married in 1863 to Mary E. Riddle, daughter of Thomas J. and Ann (Cooper) Riddle; she was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, and came to Van Wert County with her widowed mother. Two of their chil-
dren are living and two have passed to the higher life, namely : Charles S., who was un- married and died in September, 1904. at the age of 36 years; Lucy A., wife of Von S. Goetz, of Indianapolis; Gay C., who is a stu- ent in a convent at Cleveland: and Gertrude, who died in infancy. The comfortable home on Washington and Sycamore streets was erected by Mr. Johns in 1898. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church and of the National Union. He was in the county auditor's office three or four years under L. A. Harvey, and also represented the First Ward in the Van Wert City Council.
6 EORGE H. BALTZELL, the owner of a finely improved farm of 75 acres of farm land in section 35. Liberty town- ship, was born in Dublin township, Mercer County, Ohio, on December 20, 1861, and is a son of Harrison and Nancy ( Barton) Baltzell, the latter of whom died in 1898.
Harrison Baltzell is also a native of Mer- cer County and still resides on the farm of 120 acres on which he was born. Joseph Baltzell, the paternal grandfather, was one of the pio- neers of the county in which both his son and grandson were born.
George Baltzell was reared and educated in Mercer County and has always been engaged in farming. The first of his two marriages was with Cora Z. Buck, of Dublin township, and they had three children-Dona. Dema and Howard (who died aged eight years). Mrs. Baltzell died in Dublin township. Mercer County, in the year 1892. After the death of his wife, Mr. Baltzell sold his farm of 40 acres in Dublin township and in 1896 bought his present farm of 75 acres, which was then with- out buildings of any kind. He has since erected
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a house, barn and all the other necessary build- ings. His second marriage, on the 21st of .August, 1805, was with Angela Miller, a daughter of Rev. Peter A. Miller, and of this union there were four children-Kenneth; Dwight; Genevieve and Mary Frances. Mr. and Mrs. Baltzell are both members of the Christian Union Church, he being superintend- ent of the Sunday-school.
P ETER KESLER, a retired citizen of the city of Van Wert, and a gentle- man of the most exemplary character, has devoted his life to the pursuits of agriculture. He has accumulated a neat com- petency, which enables him to spend the even- ing of his life in well-earned ease and comfort. Mr. Kesler was born June 21, 1837. in Fair- field County, Ohio, near the village of Amanda, and is one of 13 children born to Samuel and Louisa (Frazier) Kesler. Samuel Kesler was born July 12, 1812, in Fairfield County, and in September, 1840, came to Van Wert County and entered 160 acres of land in Ridge town- ship, about six miles east of Van Wert. With his wife and four young children he took pos- session of a little log cabin on this property, and it was not until a number of years had passed that this structure gave way to a more comfortable, modern residence. He continued to reside on this property for 55 years. until his death October 20, 1895, at a good old age. His first wife, Louisa Frazier, and the mother of his 13 children, was a daughter of Jacob Frazier and was born in Fairfield County. She died in 1881 at the age of 68 years. Her children were: Jacob, deceased, a veteran of the Civil war; Peter; Barbara (Workman). (leceased: Laura (Griswold), of Fort Wayne ; Mary Jane (Malchi), deceased; Reuben, of
Ridge township; Mattie ( Baker), of Elwood, Indiana; Charles, of Ridge township; Ellen (Iiigh), deceased; Sarah ( Hire), of Union township; and thirce who died in infancy. In 1885 Samuel Kesler was united to Mrs. Mar- garet l'isher, who resides in Middlepoint, Ohio. He was an earnest Christian and a de- voted member of the Lutheran Church.
Peter Kesler has always been a farmer, and from the age of three until his 25th year he resided on the farm near Van Wert. August 26, 1862, he enlisted in Company A, 99th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., under Capt. W. C. Scott, and was sent to the front. A year later, on account of disability, he was transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps and set as a guard over prison- ers. Later, he was sent from Columbus to Chicago, where he was discharged at the close of the war. Having been married while home on a furlough, he now rented a farm of his father's near Convoy, and cultivated it four years. He then purchased 80 acres which ad- joined his father's farm in Union township. He had lived there about 10 years when he sold out and moved to Shelby County, Illinois, and purchased 160 acres upon which he lived 14 years, until the death of his father made it necessary for him to return to Ohio. He bought 85 acres of the old homestead and made that his home for almost 10 years, after which he rented the farm, and on the first of March, 1905, moved to Van Wert, where he owns one of the finest residences in the city.
Mr. Kesler was married September 1. 1865. to Martha Ann Johnson, daughter of William and Ellen (Burcaw) Johnson. She was born December 3, 1844, in Butler County, Ohio, and was a child of six years when her parents re- moved to Ridge township, Van Wert County. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Kesler, namely : William Samuel, who died at the age of one year and nine months: Ida
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May, born May 11, 1870, who died October 20, 1872 ; and Chloe Delila ( Mrs. Walter Lock- hart), who lives with her parents. Mr. Kes- ler is a member of the First Methodist Epis- copal Church of Van Wert. He has been a life-long Republican, and is a member of \\'. C. Scott Post, No. 100, G. A. R.
J OSHUA HUNSAKER, a representa- tive pioneer citizen and one of the lead- ing farmers of Jackson township, re- siding on his well-improved farm of 45 acres, situated in section 12, was born June 19, 1848, in Hocking County, Ohio, and is a son of John and Catherine ( Huffort) Hun- saker. The parents of Mr. Hunsaker were both natives of Fairfield County, Ohio. The family came from Lancaster County, Pennsyl- vania, where John Hunsaker, the great-grand- father, his wife and youngest child, were killed by the Indians at a very early day.
Joshua Hunsaker was reared in Hocking County and attended the district schools. In 1871 he came to Jackson township, Van Wert County, and here has spent the main portion of his life since that year. In 1895 he settled on his present farm which he has placed in a fine state of cultivation.
On January 3, 1872, Mr. Hunsaker was married to Catherine Tigner, who was born in Hocking County, Ohio, and is a daughter of John Tigner, a prominent old citizen of Hock- ing County. They have had five children, the three survivors being: Joshua D. and James, both of Delphos; and Louis, of Jackson town- ship. The family belong to the old German Baptist Church, one of the early religious or- ganizations of this township.
In politics, Mr. Hunsaker has always been a Democrat. Although he has taken an abid-
ing interest in township affairs, he has con- sented to hold office on but one occasion, serv- ing for a short period as constable. He is a very highly respected citizen and has many friends throughout the township.
AMUEL B. PRICE, one of the repre- sentative citizens and progressive farmers of Union township, the owner . of a well-improved farm of 160 acres, situated in section 31, was born in Mills town- ship, Coshocton County. Ohio. December II, 1841, and is a son of John G. and Elizabeth ( Barnes) Price.
The Price family can be traced far back in our country's annals. Its founder in America came from England, and a member of this branch of the family served during the Revolu- tionary War as an aid-de-camp to General Washington. While agriculture has been the family vocation for some generations. the mil- itary spirit has also appeared. our subject and a brother both serving in the Civil war. George WV. Price, the paternal grandfather. reared his family in the State of New York and later accompanied some of them to Ohio. John G. Price, father of Samuel B., was born in Orange County, New York, and died in Ohio in 1865. aged 57 years. He married Elizabeth Barnes, who was born in Orange County, New York, and died in Tuscarawas County. Ohio, at the age of 48 years. Not much is obtainable con- cerning her family, as her parents died when she was small; but the tradition is that the family is of French extraction. The children of John G. and Elizabeth Price who reached maturity were: Mary, who married E. G. Tag- gart, of Delaware County, Ohio; Phoebe. de- ceased, who was the wife of Isaac Evans, of Peoria, Illinois; Samuel B., of this sketch; John E .; and Hattie, who married William
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MR. AND MRS. JOHN B. BIENTZ
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Gray, of Hancock County. The life history of our subject's young brother, John E. Price, is a very sad one. When but a lad he enlisted for service in the Civil war and was discharged at Winchester, with typhoid fever. Naturally he hastened home, where he soon died, in spite of the family care given him. To add to the bereavement, the father, worn out with watch- ing and anxiety, also succumbed to the same disease and died shortly after.
After his marriage and the birth of one child, in Orange County, New York, John G. Price and wife had moved to Coshocton Coun- ty. Ohio, some time in the early '30's. He understood the blacksmithing business, but he devoted his attention to farming. In 1864, af- ter the death of his wife, he removed to Van Wert County. He was a very earnest mem- ber of the Baptist Church, and a man who was held in esteem by all who knew him.
Samuel B. Price grew up on his father's farm. and attended school in Coshocton Coun- ty. In September, 1861, in Tuscarawas County, he enlisted for service in the Civil war. entering Company E. 5Ist Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., under Captain Chalfin and Col. Stan- ley Mathews. At Nashville, Tennessee, Mr. Price was detailed as a provost guard. After a term of service lasting for eight months, he was discharged on account of disability, and he returned to Tuscarawas County. As soon as he had recovered he reenlisted, entering Company E, 16Ist Reg .. Ohio Vol. Inf., and served under Captain Cabel at Harper's Ferry. Manassas Junction and other places of danger. This enlistment was for three months and after it was over, he joined his father in Van Wert County.
The death of his brother John, which was so closely followed by that of his father, threw many responsibilities upon our subject, and en- tirely broke up the family home. He purchased
50 acres of woodland, and had partially cleared it when he had an opportunity to sell. He then bought his present farm, which contained but 80 acres at that time, with 30 or 40 acres cleared. Until prepared to do so, he did not erect a new residence, using the log cabin on the place; but in the course of time, he not only erected a commodious and comfortable home, but all the present substantial buildings, which make the place look thrifty and attrac- tive. Mr. Price has almost all of his 160 acres under careful cultivation.
In 1873 Mr. Price was married to Almira Richie, who was born in Van Wert County, and is a daughter of Marlborough and Sarah (Eaton) Richie, natives of Crawford County, Ohio, who came here in 1840. Mr. and Mrs. Richie had these children : John. Horace. Wal- ter. Olivia, Kate, Ruth and Almira.
The children of Mr. and Mrs. Price were : Evan J., of Harrison township : Corwin R., of Geneva, Indiana : Ward W., the home farmer ; Helen, wife of Clyde Richie, of Pleasant town- ship: Mary, wife of Frank Richie, of Pleasant township; and Donald J., who was accidentally killed by being run over by a wagon, when II years of age. The surviving children are all married and doing well.
Politically Mr. Price is a Republican, and he has frequently held local offices. He has been school director for some 20 years, and he also served for a term as township trustee. He belongs to the Presbyterian Church at Con- voy.
OHN B. BIENTZ, whose death took place March 29, 1904. was for many years a prominent and well-known citi- D zen of Liberty township. where he re- sided on a farm situated in section 33. At an early age he was left an orphan, and went to
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live with his uncle, John Bientz, by whom he was practically reared and educated, and with whom he remained until he reached manhood. He then went to live with John Putman for the next six years, but remained in Van Wert County, where he passed his entire life, devot- ing his time and talents to agricultural pur- suits.
On February 27, 1872, Mr. Bientz was married to Elixia Krick, a daughter of William and Sophia (Brouse) Krick, who were farm- ers and residents of Liberty township. Mrs. Bientz resides on a farm of 86 acres, upon which there are two houses-one of them be- ing occupied by Mr. Putman, who is engaged in operating the farm for Mrs. Bientz. Mr. Bientz at one time owned 80 acres of land in Mercer County, which he sold, and later bought another tract of 40 acres in the same county, which Mrs. Bientz still retains and on which oil has been developed, there now being one well in operation. There is also one pro- ducing oil well on the farm where Mrs. Bientz lives. She has in all 126 acres of very fine productive farm land. She is a member of the Church of God, whose church building is situated on one acre of land, formerly part of the Bientz farm, which was sold to that de- nomination previous to the death of her hus- band. Portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Bientz ac- company this sketch.
6 EORGE F. STRAW, one of the ener- getic and progressive farmers of Lib- erty township, owner and operator of a valuable farm of 160 acres situated in section 35, was born in Wyandot County, Ohio, on October 28, 1873, and is a son of A. G. and Hulda (Clark) Straw, who are now residents of Van Wert.
A. G. Straw was for many years a promi- nent farmer of Liberty township, where he owned a fine tract of 217 acres and was en- gaged in agricultural pursuits. He has sold this land and is now living in retirement in Van Wert, enjoying a well-earned rest after many years of activity. He had four children, namely : Ella (Ball) ; George F., subject of this sketch; Clara (Smith), of Marion, Indi- ana; and Russell, who married Nancy Brown.
George F. Straw came to Van Wert Coun- ty with his parents when a boy of 12 years and has since continued to make this locality his home, being reared on his father's farm in Lib- erty township, and passing his early years in such labors as he could perform and in ob- taining an education in the district schools. In 1895 he was married to Emma Bowers, a daughter of B. F. Bowers, of Pleasant towns- ship, and they have had two children-Clar- ence, who died aged five years, and Alvin, born in 1898.
Mr. Straw's farm is a very valuable one. When he purchased the land on March 12, 1901, there were no fences, buildings or any improvements whatever; but in 1904 he erected a frame house and barn upon it, and in the five years he has lived on the place has cleared 80 acres of timberland, so that now he has a farm agriculturally equal to any in the town- ship, and upon which are also located two pro- ducing oil-wells. 1
OHN W. PLUMLEY, mayor of the town of Convoy, has been a resident of Tully township since 1867, and of the town for a period of 14 years. He is a man of enterprise and public spirit, who has always been among the foremost in the devel- opment of the community. Mr. Plumley was
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born in Muskingum County, Ohio, October 2, 1844, and is a son of Mahlon and Elizabeth ( Hedges) Plumley.
Mahlon Plumley, who was a native of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, moved from there to Muskingum County, Ohio, where he died when our subject was young. His union with Elizabeth Hedges resulted in the birth of the following children: Nancy, widow of John Downey, living in Muskingum County, Ohio; Samuel, deceased; Elizabeth, deceased; Joseph Rice, deceased; John W .; Jesse, who resides in Fort Wayne, Indiana; Mary, wife of James Borden, living at McConnellsville, Ohio; Charles, who is farming in Morrow County, Ohio; and Laura, deceased wife of John Swank. Mrs. Plumley still resides on the old home place in Muskingum County, and al- though past 87 years of age retains the strength and mental vigor of a woman many years her junior.
John W. Plumley resided on the home place until 1864, when he enlisted in Company B, 122nd Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., and served until the close of the Civil war. He was taken pris- oner at the battle of Monocacy by General Early's forces, at the time of their raid toward Washington. He was imprisoned at Lynch- burg. then at Danville, and finally at Libby Prison-in all about nine months. A letter written by him while in Libby Prison to his mother is now a treasured possession of his, and although written with pencil can still be de- ciphered. He entered the army in the strength of young manhood and came out in very poor health, having suffered hardships and priva- tions, from which he never fully recovered. Returning to Muskingum County, he remained there until 1867, when he came to Van Wert County, locating on a farm on the Ridge road in Tully township, which he still owns. He engaged in farming there until November 3.
1892, when he moved to the town of Convoy and engaged in the hardware business. He sold the business after a short time, and has since been engaged as a broker. His success as a business man has been won through the em- ployment of honest and conservative methods. His business has frequently brought him in touch with people in dire financial straits, to whom he has loaned and given without expec- tation of earthly reward. Since January 1, 1906, when the First National Bank of Con- voy was established, he has been a stockholder and director of the institution. When the bank issued its first bank notes, recently, Mr. Plumley received No. 1, a $10 bill, which he keeps as a souvenir.
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