History of Van Wert County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 83

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

USA > Ohio > Van Wert County > History of Van Wert County, Ohio and Representative Citizens > Part 83

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).

In 1892 Mr. Koch was married to Luella Bevington, who was born in York township, Van Wert County, and was a daughter of John Bevington. She died in 1901, leaving three children, Gwyn, Bynon and Lile. In 1902 Mr. Koch was married (second) to Carrie Robin- son, who is a daughter of Robert Robinson, formerly of Van Wert County, now of Mich- igan.

Mr. Koch has always been a prominent and

reliable citizen. In Liberty township he served five years as treasurer, and since coming to Ohio City has served on the council, and at present is a member of the Board of Educa- tion. He is a member of St. John's Lutheran Church, has been a member of its board of trus- tees for some years, and for six years was superintendent of the Sunday-school. Fra- ternally he belongs to the Odd Fellows and the Maccabees at Ohio City.

ENRY FLAGER, township trustee. and owner of 120 acres of valuable farm land in Liberty township. 80 acres being situated in section 16 and 40 acres in section 14, was born in this town- ship, on February 29, 1848. His parents were Adam and Margaret Flager.

Adam Flager and wis wife were both na- tives of Germany. He came to this country at the age of 21 and first settled in New York State, where he was married. Later he moved to Pennsylvania, and thence to Allen County, Ohio, where he bought a small lot of land, the first piece of property he ever owned. After living there a short time, he moved to Van Wert County, where he entered 80 acres of land in 1832. He was one of the oldest pio- neers of this county, when the land was all a wilderness. He built in one day a little shanty in which the family lived for many years, later erecting a house of hewn logs. Our sub- ject, Henry Flager, was born in the first lit- tle shanty, and when he was about 16 years of age his father built a frame house, which was the only one for miles around. Mr. and Mrs. Adam Flager reared a family of six children. She still survives her husband, who died in July, 1882.

Henry Flager was reared in Liberty town-

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ship, and received such schooling as could be obtained in his youth. On January 23, 1873, he was married to Rosanna Harp, a daughter of Jonas and Mary Harp. Jonas Harp was born in Pennsylvania, and later moved to Lib- erty township, where he was engaged in farm- ing. At the time of his death in 1861 he owned 160 acres of land, 80 acres being in Liberty township and 80 acres in York. Mrs. Harp died in March, 1902.

Mr. and Mrs. Flager became the parents of three children : Margaret Alice, who mar- ried C. E. North, lives on the home farm in an adjoining house and has two children- Russel C. and Flo J .; Jennie, who married (first ) Oscar Robinson, who died in 1901, and (second) Archer Russell in 1904; and Basil Henry, who lives at home.

Henry Flager bought from his father the 80 acres of land on which he now lives. He has made a great many improvements on this place. In 1884 he built a fine large barn and made additions on the house and other needed improvements.

Mr. Flager is a Democrat, and was elected township trustee by that party, and served a term of two years. He is steward and a mem- ber of the Methodist Church.

e HARLES W. FELDNER, of the firm of Feldner, Olney & Richards, a well-known clothing firm of Van Wert, was born in this county, De- cember 11, 1873, and is a son of Jacob and Antoinette (Wendell) Feldner. The parents of Mr. Feldner reared a family of six children. and now reside at Van Wert in merited retire- ment.

Charles, W. Feldner obtained an excellent common-school education before he began his

business career, which has been almost en- tirely in the line of clothing. He began as a clerk and thus learned every detail before he became a member of the firm of Feldner, Ol- ney & Richards, proprietors of an establish- ment which stands very high in the commun- ity, with a constantly increasing trade which already covers a wide territory. Personally Mr. Feldner enjoys the absolute confidence and respect of his business associates and fel- low-citizens.

Charles W. Feldner was united in mar- riage with Emma Weber, who is a daughter of John Weber, a well-known citizen of Van Wert, and they have one child-Marguerite Louise. Their attractive home is located at No. 821 East Central avenue and they are especially prominent in German social circles. Both Mr. Feldner and his wife are members of St. Peter's Church, and he himself is active in the local work of the Knights of Pythias.

EORGE WASHINGTON WEBB, one of the substantial and representa- tive farmers of Union township, who resides upon his well-improved farm of 55 acres in section 20, was born in Rock- ingham County, Virginia, April 15, 1834 and is a son of Elias and Anna Elizabeth ( Holmes) Webb.

The father of Mr. Webb, as well as his mother, were natives of Virgina. In 1854 they moved to Fayette County, Ohio, and in 1874 to Van Wert County. They became the parents of these children : Phoebe Ann, who died in Illinois; Andrew Jackson, who was a member of a Fayette County cavalry company during the Civil war; Joseph, who died aged four years; George W., of this sketch: John Wesley, who died in young manhood in Fay- ette County ; Alexander, who also served in the

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Civil war, enlisting from Fayette County; William Morgan, now of Michigan, who was also a soldier of the Union Army; and Mary Agnes (Clemmons), who resides in Kansas.

George W. Webb, who was 20 years old when his parents moved to Ohio, remained at home until he was 21 years of age, employed in the fields and the timber. The young man proved himself an adept in the use of the drawing knife and worked at rail and shingle making both in Virginia and in Fayette Coun- ty. Ohio. In 1875 he purchased his present farm, all timber-covered at that time, its only improvement being a log hut which had been used by former settlers. Mr. Webb now has a comfortable home, including a good dwelling and all necessary buildings, and has his land under fine cultivation, reserving some three acres in timber. He has always been noted for his industry and is largely a self-made man.

On July 2, 1855, Mr. Webb was married to Charlotte Shaver, who was born in Augusta County, Virginia (now West Virginia), Sep- tember 29, 1837, and is a daughter of Peter and Catherine (Good) Shaver, both natives of that State. To Mr. and Mrs. Peter Shaver were born the following: Elizabeth (Kelly). deceased; David, of Missouri; Joseph, de- ceased, who was a veteran of the Civil war: Rachel (Pierce), deceased : Jacob, of Missouri; Charlotte, wife of our subject : Mary (Hud- son). of McHenry County, Illinois ; Benjamin, of Missouri; and Martha (Burner), of Kansas.

The children of Mr. and Mrs. George W. Webb are the following: Henry M., of Van Wert : William Wesley, of Convoy : Peter E., cf Union township; Anna. wife of George W. Bowers; Emily J., wife of Louis Tracy. of York township; Adah Pearl. wife of Wilbert Poling, who resides at home: and Vernon J., who lives on a neighboring farm.

Politically Mr. Webb is a Democrat, but he no longer takes an active part in political matters. Formerly, as road commissioner. he 1 ad much to do with establishing good perma- nent roads through the township. Religiously he is a valued member of the Olive Branch Christian Church. He has always been a stanch citizen, and, at the time of the Morgan raids through Ohio joined his loyal neighbors, and for a week was connected with the military . organization then formed to protect the Buck- eye State.

S AMUEL FARLING. who owns and operates a farm of 80 acres in section 26, Liberty township. was born in Richland County. Ohio. December 14. 1857, and is a son of Abraham and Lavina (Zimmermann) Farling.

Abraham Farling and his wife were both Pennsylvanians by birth. They were married in that State, and moved from there to Rich- land County, Ohio, where they owned a farm of 60 acres. In 1865 they moved to Van Wert County and located on a farm of 80 acres in Ridge township. In 1870 Mr. Farling was in- jured by a falling tree. which accident re- sulted in his death. His wife is still living on the old homestead in Ridge township. They reared a family of nine children-five sons and four daughters.

Samuel Farling spent his early boyhood days in Richland County. and when eight years old moved with his parents to Van Wert County. Here he has lived ever since as a tiller of the soil. He was married August 10. 1882 to Minnie Elva Wade, a daughter of Robert and Ursula (Fultz) Wade. Robert Wade who was a native of West Virginia. came with his parents to Ohio when about five years old. In 1867 he moved from Clinton

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County to Van Wert County and settled on a farm of 120 acres in Pleasant township. Mr. and Mrs. Wade are still living, and reside on a farm of 80 acres in Mercer County.

Mr. and Mrs. Farling have reared five children : Robert, born April 23, 1884, who married Myrtle Lichty, and lives in Mercer County ; Olive Sophronia, born October 12, 1886; Edward Quigley, born September 29, 1888; Bertha May, born June 1, 1890; and Hazel lona, born June 1, 1894. Mr. Farling lived on the John Smith farm in York town- ship for three years subsequent to his mar- riage. and then moved to Hoaglin township, where he bought a farm of 20 acres and lived there for six years. He then sold that place and moved to the old home farm, where he re- mained for the next five years. In 1896 he bought 40 acres in York township, and lived there until 1901, when he sold this farm, and bought his present farm of 80 acres.

Mr. Farling was elected township trustee by the Republican party in 1903 and will serve until the fall of 1906. He was at one time school director and township supervisor. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

1 SAIAH K. ACKERMAN was born on the old Dix farm in Pleasant township December 7. 1856. and has always lived in Van Wert County, devoting his time and energies to farming. He is a son of William B. and Rebecca (Wiler) Ackerman, his father, a native of Stark Coun- ty. Ohio, coming to Van Wert County in 1854, where he engaged in farming until his death. Besides Isaiah K., the following five children were born to our subject's parents : Martha (Merris), now deceased: Nancy Cath- erine (Beatty), of Van Wert : R. F., who lives

on the home place; W. G., who resides in the northeastern part of Tully township; and Re- becca J. (Omen), of Tully township. Will- iam B. Ackerman served in an Illinois regiment during the Civil war for about 11 months, largely in the capacity of a scout. His death occurred in 1877. Politically he was a Re- publican, and he and his wife were both mem- bers of the United Brethren Church.

Isaiah K. Ackerman lived on the Dix place until he was one year old, when his parents moved to Harrison township, where they re- mained 1I years; then locating on a farm one mile north of Convoy. Tully township. In 1872 he was married to Anna Waller, who was a native of Indiana and a daughter of Edward and Mary J. (Henney) Waller. After his marriage, Mr. Ackerman left the family home- stead and lived on two different farms until 1901. when he settled on his present place. Mr. and Mrs. Ackerman have had the following nine children: of whom but three are living : Lottie May, who died when 10 days old; two unnamed infants, who died shortly after birth ; J. Orville, deceased at 16 days; Iva B .. who died at the age of four years and six months : Abner B., who died April 16, 1905. aged 10 years : Pearl C., born August 23, 1897; Oval Modean. born August 4. 1904: and Harold Isaiah. born October 5. 1905. Mr. Ackerman has always been a Republican. Mrs. Acker- man is a member of the Church of God.

JGH V. OLNEY, one of the highly esteemed retired residents of Van Wert County. formerly very active in several important lines of business. but now solely interested in superintending his large landed interests, was born in Marion County. Ohio. February 25, 1848, and is a son

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of Benjamin and Eliza J. (Smith) Olney. His grandfather, Gilbert Olney, who was a native vi Nova Scotia, was an early settler of Mus- kingum County, Ohio, and died in Wyandot County, this State.

Benjamin Olney, father of Hugh V., was born and reared at Marietta, Ohio, but in 1838 located in Wyandot County, where he engaged in farming and school teaching until 1885. Later he became associated with the Marion Manufacturing Company, of Marion, Ohio, and for 16 consecutive years served as a jus- tice of the peace. In 1856 he married Eliza J. Smith, who was born in Union County, Ohio, in the year 1826, and they became the parents of five children, viz. : a child who died in in- fancy, Hugh V., Alice, Sarah and Elizabeth.

Hugh V. Olney was educated in the dis- trict schools and remained on the home farm until ready to enter into business, going then to Ottawa, Putnam County, where he was as- sociated with an uncle for three years. He then accompanied his father to Marion, Ohio, where he worked as a carpenter until 1877, when he came to Van Wert and embarked in the clothing business. He sold the establish- ment in 1888, but conducted a boot and shoe business until 1891, since which year his large property interests, in Pleasant, Wash- ington, Hoaglin and Union townships, have claimed his entire attention. He also owns city property and is one of the county's cap- italists. He is on the directing board of some of the city's successful enterprises and as a business man probably has few superiors.

On September 26, 1871, Hugh V. Olney was united in marriage in Marion County, Ohio, to Sarah O. Harvey, and they have had four children, viz. : Clara ; Edith, wife of Ed- ward Doe; Myrtle; and David K. (deceased), extended mention of whom will be found in this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Olney are mem-

bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is a trustee.

lu city affairs Mr. Olney has been very prominent, serving as a member of the council, where his business perceptions have been of the greatest value to the municipality. Fra- ternally he is a Knight Templar Mason, and is also connected with the Royal Arcanum and the National Union.

E. SCHMIDT, one of the enterprising business men and valued citizens of Ohio City, who is engaged in a mer- cantile business at this point, was born in Willshire township, in 1860, and is a son of Peter Schmidt, who accompanied his father, Charles Schmidt, when a child of five years, to Van Wert County about the year 1835.

J. E. Schmidt was reared on his father's farm, and was educated in the local schools. He was trained to be a practical farmer and would probably have continued to follow agri- cultural pursuits all his life, had not an acci- dental injury rendered him unable to follow farming. He was then about 30 years of age. Removing to Ohio City, in 1890 he went out on the road for J. W. Lambert & Company, selling farm implements and remained their representative for four years. He then be- came connected with the Plano Harves- ter Company, his territory including from four to seven counties, and continued with them for nine consecutive years. In 1902 Mr. Schmidt embarked in a grocery business, which he continued until 1904, when, on account of his wife's failing health, he sold out and took her to Jacksonville, Florida. A six months' residence in that balmy climate restored her to health. Upon his return to Ohio City, Mr. Schmidt bought a

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fine brick building, 22 by 70 feet, in the Union Block, and here he has put in a stock of staple and fancy groceries second to none in the city.

Politically Mr. Schmidt is a Republican, and he has served four years on the City Coun- cil, being the only Republican member. He has also served as city assessor.

On October 8, 1882, Mr. Schmidt was mar- ried to Tillie E. Fowler, who is a daughter of Reuben W. Fowler, one of the old settlers of Willshire township. Mr. and Mrs. Schmidt have one daughter, Lucy, who is the wife of Frank Kimball, a well-known oil driller of Ohio City.

ILLIAM HI. REID. owner of a val- uable farm of 100 acres in section 30, Liberty township, upon which oil has been developed, was born in Defiance County, Ohio, on April 10. 1856, and is a son of William and Hannah (De- Haven ) Reid.

William Reid was born in Richland Coun- ty. Ohio, where he was reared to manhood. Afterward locating in Van Wert County, he married Hannah DeHaven, born October 31, 1832, a daughter of William DeHaven, who died when she was quite small, the widow marrying Henry F. Tindall. a resident of Will- shire township. and an early settler of the county. After Mr. Reid's marriage he moved to Defiance County, where our subject was born, as well as another son. John, who now resides in Seattle. Washington. William Reid died November 26. 1856. after which his widow settled at Spencerville. Indiana, and married Lewis Griest of that place.

Until his ninth year William H. Reid was reared in Spercerville. Indiana. and then his mother and step-father moved to Illinois, where he lived for nine years. The youth then

accompanied them to Iowa, where his mother and step-father both died, his mother's death occurring on August 12, 1900. After his marriage to Catherine Rittenhouse, ot Union township, this county, Mr. Reid re- turned to Iowa where he lived only 18 months, after which for three years. he resided on his father-in-law's farm in Union township. He then bought 40 acres of land in the same town- ship in section 28, which he farmed for five years. After selling this property in June, 1901, he purchased his present homestead, on which he located in the fall of that year, where he has continued to live since. Mr. Reid has three producing oil-wells on his farm, which, with its agricultural productiveness, makes it a very valuable property.

William H. Reid is the father of seven children : Alameda, who married Ira Sho- walter. of Union township, and has two chil- dren-Byron and Ansel; Hallie Blanch, de- ceased September 10. 1903. aged 20 years, who was the wife of H. H. Mace, and left one child-Eva; Elva; Nina, who married H. H. Mace, widower of her sister; Charles; Lon; and Gaylord. Mrs. Catherine Reid died on July 28, 1896, and on October 17. 1898, Mr. Reid married Mrs. Annie M. Sloan, a daugh- ter of Oren Chapple.

e ALEB HUNSAKER. whose excel- lent farm of 80 acres is situated in section 12. Jackson township, is one of the well-known early set- tlers of this locality. He was born in Hocking County, Ohio. June 19. 1848, and is a son of John and Catherine (Huffort) Hunsaker. both of whom were natives of Fairfield County, Ohio, the father being for more than 40 years a member of the old German Baptist Church.

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The family is of German extraction and were early settlers in Pennsylvania. The great-grandparents of our subject were cap- tured, with their youngest child, and all were killed by the Indians. Jacob Hunsaker and his brother Isaac were carried from Pennsyl- vania to Quebec, Canada, where they were kept by the savages for nine years, but finally escaped. The elder of the two sons was the grandfather of Caleb Hunsaker, and subse- quently settled in Fairfield County, Ohio, as one of its early pioneers.

Caleb Hunsaker was reared in Hocking County, there attended school and was trained in the practical ways which made certain his future success. On January 31, 1869, he was united in marriage with Catherine Mowery, who was born in Hocking County, Ohio, May 29. 1849, and is a daughter of John and Lucy (Red) Mowery. Her father was born in Hocking County, and her mother in Licking County. Ohio. The former was a veteran of the Civil war, one who, in the danger of battle and the toil of the march, bravely did his duty. He was honorably discharged and was hasten- ing home to greet his loved ones, when he was killed by the explosion of the steamboat which was conveying the soldiers up the Mississippi River.

To Mr. and Mrs. Caleb Hunsaker were born 12 children and 11 of them still survive, namely: Noah, who lives in South Dakota ; Ida (Mrs. Norval Dearing), of Hoaglin town- ship; Charles, of Jackson township; Cora (Mrs. William Reed), of Putnam County; Ellen (Mrs. William B. Foster), of Union township; Bertha (Mrs. Isaac L. Denlinger), of Montgomery County, Ohio; and Mary A., Daniel, Thomas, Amos and Jennie, all of whom live at home. Nancy is deceased. Both Mr. Hunsaker and his wife are members of the

old German Baptist Church, and for years he has been a local minister in the same.

About 1874 Mr. Hunsaker moved to Allen County, where he resided until 1879, and then came to Jackson township, Van Wert County, locating on his present farm, which was then all woodland. The clearing and improving of this land has been Mr. Hunsaker's business for a number of years, and he now has it un- der a fine state of cultivation; and he is not only one of his township's reliable, substantial men, but takes a creditable interest in public matters and assist in all good works. At pres- ent he is a school director of District No. 2. Jackson township.

OHN F. SHAFFNER, M. D., physi- cian and surgeon, residing at Will- shire, and probably the oldest practi- tioner, in years of service, in Van Wert County, was born in Dauphin County. Pennsylvania, May 23, 1829, and is a son of Martin and Anna Eve (Wert) Shaffner.

The Shaffner family originated in Switzer- land and was established in Pennsylvania in the person of the grandfather of Dr. Shaffner. whose parents were both natives of the Key- stone State. The father was born in 1787. and died September 13, 1872 at Van Wert. while on a visit from Bucyrus, Ohio. From farming pursuits and judicious investments in land, he amassed what would be considered a fortune in those days, a part of Bucyrus now standing on what was formerly one of his farms. Like all of the older Shaffners, some of whom have lived to the age of 90 years, he reached an ad- vanced age and left behind many descendants.

Martin Shaffner married four times and had three families of children, all of whom

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were reared comfortably and lived in harmony. Nine children were born to his first marriage, three to the second-one of whom is our es- teemed subject-and nine to the third. Of his 21 children, 19 lived to marry. The first wife and her children rest togther in a quiet church- yard in Pennsylvania. Dr. Shaffner is the only survivor of the second union and is the only one of all the children to take up a pro- fession. Seven members of the third family still survive; at one time four of the brothers were soldiers in the Civil war.

In the fall following the birth of our sub- ject, his parents moved from Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, to a location one mile east of Bucyrus, Ohio, where they lived from 1829 until 1843. Then the father sold the property and removed to Seneca County, John F. as- sisting on the farm and attending the common schools until 1846. In that year he entered Delaware College. now the Ohio Wesleyan University, where he remained for two years, and then commenced the study of medicine with Dr. Eli Dresbach, a well-known practi- tioner of Tiffin. Ohio. During his three years of study he had many opportunities to do a little practicing. after which valuable exper- ience (in the winter of 1861) he attended a course of lectures at Cleveland, and during 1874-75, lectures at the Ohio Medical College, Cincinnati, where he completed his course.

Dr. Shaffner first engaged in professional work at New Washington. Crawford County, Ohio, practicing there, at Waynesburg, Stark County, and in Seneca County, until 1864. when he entered the army as assistant surgeon of the 164th Regiment, Ohio Vol. Inf. He was mustered out in the following September. his service having been in Virginia. Dr. Shaff- ner then returned to Republic, Seneca County. Ohio, and remained there until the winter of 1867. In January. 1868. he located in Will-

shire and this town has been his home ever since. Once he was known to almost every man, woman and child in the place, and still he is known by reputation, if not personally, to all his fellow-citizens, He has devoted a long and useful life to alleviating the suffer- ings of all who have solicited his aid, irrespec- tive of condition or station, and no one can truthfully declare that a matter of remunera- tion has every stood between him and a pa- tient, his services in the cause of charity being given freely and unheralded.

Dr. Shaffner has been twice married-first on March 29, 1849, to Barbara Mader, who was born in Stark County, Ohio, and a daugh- ter of David Mader. She fell a victim to con- sumption. Several of her children have also succumbed to the "Great White Plague." The fruits of this marriage were: Agnes, born in 1851. who died in 1878; David, who died at the age of 35 years: Kate, who is the wife of Sylvester Brock, of Payne County, Oklahoma ; Webster, a resident of Elwood, Indiana ; Win- field and Malvina, who died in infancy; and Addie, who died aged five years.

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History of Van Wert County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 83

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

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