USA > Ohio > Mercer County > History of Van Wert and Mercer counties, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 96
USA > Ohio > Van Wert County > History of Van Wert and Mercer counties, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 96
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 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124
Christopher Le Blond born Nov. 9, 1815, who is married and lives in Van Wert County, Ohio.
Gideon Le Blond born June 29, ISIS, who is married and resides in Celina, Ohio.
Alfred Le Blond born September 6, 1823, and now deceased
360
HISTORY OF VAN WERT AND MERCER COUNTIES, OHIO.
John B. Le Blond horn February 27, 1825, married, and now lives in Brown-ville, Minnesota.
Miranda Le Blond born March 24, 1828, and is married to Dr. Joseph N. Hetzler, and resides in Celina, Ohio.
La Fayette Le Blond born January 21, 1831, was married, his wife deceased.
Philo Le Blond born May 19, 1837, married, and lives in Celina. Everah C. Le Blond (the father) died at Belleville, Ohio, January 16, 1857, and Elizabeth II. Le Blond ( the mother) died at Celina April 28, 1861.
Francis Le Blond born February 14, 1821, and was married to Louisa E. MeGurley, at St. Marys, Ohio, September 6, 1853. Three children, viz., Charles M., Emma L., and Frank C. Le Blond, are the result of this marriage.
Charles M. Le Blond after receiving a classical eduention studied Jaw, and is engaged in practice with his father. He was married to Misg Annie Brennan February 4, Isso, and has a son called Luke F. Le Blond.
HON. JAMES H. DAY.
Judge Day, son of Ezekiel P. Day, was born near Findlay, Ohio. Feb- ruary 10, 1510. The Days are of English descent, but the American branch came from the mother country, at a very early date, and settled in the colony of New Jersey. Here Ezekiel P. Day was born, in Morris County, April 10, 1798. His wife. Miss Margaret Barr, was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania, July 24, 1798, and was of Scotch-Irish extraction, that bardy race which has in America become proverbial for combination of brawn and brain. They were married at Lancaster, Ohio, in 1830, and resided at the place of marriage until about the year 1834, when they moved to Hancock County, Ohio, and settled near Findlay. Here they reared a family of eight sons and two daughters, five of the sons and both daughters being still alive. Mr. Day died October 11, 1849, while his widow survived him twenty-eight years. Of their large family James H. was the youngest member, and to a great encent he found himself dependent upon Ins own resources at a youthful age. Still a kind mother provided for a fair English education, and he enjoyed the advantages of the public schools. In 1856 he went to Van Wert, where he remained until 1861. In 1858 he had entered upon the study of law in the office of Edson & De Puy, but twenty-one months later abandoned his studies for a time and engaged in other pursuits. In 1-61 he at- tained his majority, and located in Celina, where he entered the merean- tile business, but the civil war was soon inaugurated. and be found his immediate purposes changed in a moment. In July. 1862, he was ap- pointed major of the 99th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, by Governor Tod, and so entered the service, remaining until late in December following, when he resigned on account of ill health. He then resumed business in Celina, but his business not realizing satisfactorily. he in 1868 re- turned to the study of law, and was admitted to practice August 20, 1869. Ile then practised in his profession until August 19, 1:79, when he was elected to the Common Pleas bench, in the first subdivision of the third judicial district, comprising the counties of Allen, Auglaize, Mercer, Shelby, and Van Wert. Being the Democratic nominee in an overwhelmingly Democratie district he was elected without opposition, and entered upon the active duties of Common Pleas judge on February 9, 1880, or the day preceding his fortieth birthday. Since his election he has presided at the various courts of the several counties of his dis- triet, and in all cases has won the respect of the fraternity and people generally.
:
-
On the 10th of June, 1863 he married Frances A., only daughter of Richard W. and Elizabeth Small, of Celina. By this marriage they have reared four children, named Margaret R., Annie L., Elizabeth S., and Frances Edna. Of these the two oblest are interesting young ladies, and graduated from the Celina High School at the last commencement, June, 1882.
JUDGE D. J. Roop.
David Junod Roop, son of Thomas and Elizabeth L. (ne. Junod) Roop, was born in Meadville, Penn., Aug. 14. 1834. His paternal grandparents were Swix-Germans, while his maternal ancestry traced directly to the French. His father's family consisted of David, J., Margaret F., C. Amelia, Zinnay L., Mary, John B , Sarah Elizabeth, Benjamin Warren, Hattie E., Telhan Howard, and Maude, all of whom are hving except Zimmy and Mande. David J. and Margaret F. were born at Jersey Shore, Penn .; the other children all in Mercer County, Ohio. The father was a shoemaker by trade, and coming to this country in 1NOT, lived in Recovery Township, where he worked at his trade. He served as county commissioner one term. His son, David J., received a com- mon-school education, and devoted bis youth to working on the farm, but later along learned the catpeuter trade, at which he afterwards worked to a great extent. He married Miss Sarah E. Johnson, and has reared a Runily of four daughters, named Ella A., DOpheuna, Maggie F., and Alice C,, of whom all are living except Alice.
In April, 1s61, Mr. Roop became a member of Company K, which
was organized at Fort Recovery, and was made up of volunteers from Recovery and Gibson townships. The company officers were : Captain, William Stone; Ist Lieutenant, L. P. Galloway; 2d Lieutenant, D. J. Roop, the company being incorporated in the Seventeenth Ohio Regi- ment under command of Col. John M. Connell. After nearly four months' service the regiment was discharged in August, IstI. The next October another company was organized for the three-years' service, of which Alexander A. Knapp became Captain ; D. J. Roop, Ist Lienten- ant; and B. B. Allen, 2d Lieutenant. The company reported at Camp Chase, Ohio, and was assigned to the Fortieth Ohio Regiment under com- mand of Col. Jonathan Cranor. At the battle of Franklin, Tenn., Lieut. Roop had the honor of commanding the regiment. The history of this regiment is associated with the whole history of the war, and is more generally treated under " military history." In February, 1864, Lieut. Roop resigned on account of impaired health, and returned to his home in Recovery. During his military career he persistently declined all offers of promotion, having agreed at the outset not to leave his own company. True to this pledge. he declined several honors which were fairly and gallantly merited. He still takes active interest in the home company of Ohio National Guards and the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic, being captain of the one and commander of the other. In 1866 he engaged in the drygoods business at Recovery, in which trade he continued until May, 1875. In February, 1876, he was honored with a commission as probate judge by Gov. Hayes, vice Judge William Clay, deceased. In October, 1876, he was elected by popular suffrage to the stune office, and secured a re-election in October, 1879. It is scarcely necessary to suggest that his services in office were highly appreciated by the people of the county, when it is remembered the county is overwhelmingly Democratic, while Judge Roop has ever been an unswerving and uncompromising Republican. Merit and popularity innat combine in that man who thu, defeats the regular nomince of the majority party. In the spring of the present year ( 1882), Judge Roop retired from office, carrying with him the esteem and approbation of a large and respectable constituency. He is now largely interested in mining operations, being a member of a mining association, operating with promise of great success, near Rosita, Colorado.
JOSEPH N. HIETZLER, M.D.
The subject of this sketch was born in Montgomery County, Ohio. in 1830. Hle is of Pennsylvania stock, both of his parents being natives of that State. His father, Rev. Adam Hetzler, was born in Lameaster County, Pa., and removed to Ohio in I>04. His mother, Christina Naftygas, removed from Pennsylvania to Ohio in early childhood.
Rev. Adam Hetzler was for over fifty years an honored minister in the United Brethren Church. He was a man of great force and dignity of character. He died in January, Isto, near El Dorado, Parke County, Ohio.
Dr. Hetzler read medicine in the office of Dr. C. G. Espeigh. of Ger- mantown; and after studying the prescribed time, entered the Reserve Medical College, in Cleveland, Ohio, graduating in 1850, and was after- wards married to Miss Miranda Le Blond.
During the Rebellion he entered the service in 1961, as captain of Company G, Ninth Regiment of Cavalry, under Col. Hamilton. com- manding, but was soon after detached from his company, and served as quartermaster on the staff of Gen. Cooper. He was taken prisoner at Florence, Ala., aud remained a prisoner nine months, and was exchanged at Columbus, S. C. Returning home after his exchange, he resumed the practice of medicine.
Dr. Hetzler is one of the oldest, as well as able and skilled, practi- tioners in the county, and with the experience and acquaintance of twenty-nine years has acquired an enviable reputation in his profession.
In 1875 he attended the lectures of the Ohio Medical College, of C'in- cinnati, where he received the degree of M.D. Residing in Celina for such a period of years as to constitute him one of its oldest citizens. his name is honorably associated with every enterprise connected with the history and progress of the town.
As a member of the School Board, during whose administration the present splendid school building was created, he was one of the most energetic and efficient members. In all charitable and benevolent cuter- prises he is foremost, and his ready sympathy and cordial assistance are proverbial. No citizen of the town or county is more generally known. and among the representative men of Mercer County none would be more rightly recognized as such than Dr. J. N. Hetzler.
ANDREW CROCKETT
was born in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, and died September 29, 1-34. At the age of thirty-one he came to Hocking and Fairfield coun- tips, where he lived twenty - five years. He also represented them in the General Asseintily. In 18Et be removed to Mercer County, and been pied the land he had entered, until his death. He was also treasurer of Mercer County.
361-362
ـتَعَنْ
DR. HETZLER'S RESIDENCE COR. WALNUT & WARREN ST'S .- OFFICE. MAIN ST. OPPOSITE COURT HOUSE, CELINA. O.
٢
٦٠
٠
363
HISTORY OF VAN WERT AND MERCER COUNTIES, OHIO.
OLIVER ELLIS.
John and Catharine Kinsheimer Ellis were married and lived in Orange County, New York, near Poughkeepsie. He was a cooper and tanner. They had ten children-Catharine. Maria, Nancy, Julie, Ensie and John (twins), Su-an and Ann (twins). Oliver, Mchaleel His father died in New Jersey in 1935, and his mother in Colina in 1-51.
Oliver was born in 180%, and began the active duties of life at eight years of age. He was engaged in a distillery for two years in Ontario County, New York; then went to Genessee County, to which his mother had removed. There he resided with Mr. Beardslee, and married his daughter Eusee. Mr. Beardslee died in Illinois.
Maria married Mr. Calvin Dennison about 1803, and in 1815 removed to Mercer County, and settled on the land now owned by Jacob Keath. Susan was married to James Watson Riley id Mercer County in 1>20, and their children were named William, Willshire, Calvin, James, Amelic, Susan (married to Mr. Ashley. of Denver City), Mahaleet (married to A. J. Holder at Cincinnati, Ohio ;, and James Riley, of Colina.
In the year 1826, when eighteen years of age, a stage company was established for the accommodation of traveller -. It was a pioneer line, and established by Presbyterians, and called the Pioneer line, to run from Buffalo to Albany, with a branch to Rochester, to run every day of the week except the Sabbath. It kept up its organization for two years, and he was one of the stage-drivers. Afterwards it was soll, and the United States Line was established, to run the same distance in thirty-six hours. It was called the Telegraph Line, and Mr. Ellis drove two years with it. He then went to Genessee County, and engaged with a company in a saloon, and after serving three years he relinquished the business, seeing its bad effects. Then he went to Jamestown, and en- gaged in the lumber business. From that point to Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1831.
Mr. Ellis removed to St. Marys, and Mr. Riley and himself went to the northeast corner of Indiana in April, and assisted him in surveying, but returned to New York about the last of July, 1931 ; then from Western New York to Philadelphia with cattle, which occupied seven days.
In 1432 he left Jamestown with lumber for Cincinnati, Ohio : from Cincinnati to Detroit, where he remained until August. This year the Black Hawk War occurred, and ninety cases of Asiatic cholera pre- vailed.
In 1833 he was married to Eleanor Stannard at Alexandria, Genessce County, New York. Their children are named Lyman. Rose Elsie, Susan, Amelia, Kate, Mahaleel, Preston Adelbert, John Preston, and John Oliver. Of these, Lyman, Rose Elsie, John Preston, and John Oliver are all dead.
Mr. Ellis moved to St. Marys in 1837, and commenced farming. He remained there two years, and afterwards moved to a farm on Shand's Prairie, between Mercer and Shanesville, where he remained for three years.
In 1843 he bought a half section of the Godfrey Reservation at three dollars per arre, being 320 acres, and moved on it, and cleared twenty- five acres, now owned by P. Frysinger.
In 1847 he moved to the town of Mercer, and was appointed Post- master in 1$49, and served two years under Taylor ami Fillmore, and lived there six years. He moved to Celina in 1853, and had the mail contracts for twelve years through this region of country. Ile then commenced hotel keeping in a brick house on the corner of Market and Main streets, which was torn down. His hotel was this side of Miller's, owned by Mr. Brownwell, thus keeping hotel for thirteen consecutive years, or until 1866. .
During these years he ran a hack to St. Marys, Van Wert. Greenville, and Sidney, and went to farming six miles north and toward Mercer. He farmed until 1869, when he purchased the hotel on Main Street, now occupied by his son, Preston Adelbert Ellis, although he kept it one year, and afterwards .rented it to his son and son-in-law, Mr. Kelsey, who was married to Rose Elsie Ellis, now dead.
In Isit he gravelled Main street ; but incessant labor brought on cat- aract of the eyes, and in 1512 he became blind ; was required to go to Cincinnati, and was operated upon, and saved one eye. Since then he has deeded his property among his children, and erected a pleasant residence for himself and wife.
His first vote way for Gen. Jackson, and when he vetoed the Bank Bill he left the Jackson party, and has been a devoted Republican ever since the organization of the party. It may be said of Mr. Ellis that, during his eventful life, having passed his therescore years and ten, he was never intoxicated or under the indnence of liquor.
JOHN W. DE FORD.
The great-grandfather of John W. De Ford, with his wife Mary, left Paris during the French Revolution, unable to bear the scenes of horror, blond-led, and war which swept over France. Reading of the induce- ments which America held out for freedom of opinion i all things for consciente sake, he determined to leave the home of his ancestors and settle in the New World.
-----
Shortly after his arrival in America he sickened and died, and his son John, the grandfather of our subject, was left a mere boy, homeless in a strange land. But he went to work with a will to build up for hanself a character and a home, and at the age of twenty-one was married and settled near Uniontown, Fayette County, Pa, and resided there for over forty years. After life's cares and life's Juties had been acceptably performed for the space of one hundred and three years, he passed away as silently as if he were simply starting on a new and delightful journey. Throughout a long and eventful life he adhered to the doctrines of the Bilde, thereby leaving to his descendants the most valuable legacy. His family consisted of four sons-John, William, Dankd, and Nathan; and two daughters-Harriet and Elizabeth.
His son John was born on the farm his father had settled upon. He received a liberal and classical education at Madison College, Fayette County, Pas, with the view of entering the ministry, but on account of ill health he was compelled to relinquish the profession and become a farmer. At the age of twenty-three he married Miss Matilda Littell, and removed to Carroll County, Ohio, and was blessed with eleven children, of whom was John W. De Ford, the subject of this sketch.
John W. De Ford was born Sept. 13. 1541, and resided with his parents in Carroll County, Ohio, until he was seven years of age: after which they removed and lived in Columbiana County until 1858. During these years of his minority he received a good common-school education ; but not content with this, he entered as a student at Mount Union Cot- logo, and spent three terms in order to qualify himself for the active daties of life. Since I>>> he has resided in Mercer County, Ohio. He taught school two terms in' Hopewell Township and one term in Centre Township, in this county ; after which the Board of School Directors of Fort Recovery, Mercer County, elected him superintendent of their schools, which position he filled acceptably for five years. During this time he was appointed county school examiner, which office he filled with credit to himself and to the educational interests of the county.
In IsGG he was elected clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of Mercer County, and served acceptably for six years, and until the winter of 1873, and while thus engaged studied law with the Hon. Thomas J. Godfrey, and was admitted to the bar at the Supreme Court in Columbus, Ohio. in 1872.
After Mr. De Ford had retired from the office of clerk of the court. he organized the "Citizens' Bank" of Celina in the spring of 1-73, and has held the office of enshier since its organization, and is regarded as very accurate in all his calculations, seareely ever making an error. In every sense of the term be is regarded as a trusty and reliable self-made busi- ness man.
ALEXANDER WYCKOFF.
John, son of William Wyckoff, was married to Sarah White in Hock- ing Ounty, Ohio. Their children were Dorothy. Sophie, Alexander. and Elizabeth. Alexander was born in 1923, and his father died in !>36. leaving the mother to raise and educate the children. In process of time, however, Dorothy married Jacob Kemble, Sophie married With a Springer, Elizabeth married William Havs, and Alexander married Pris- cilla Grove October, 1854. Alexander Wyckoff has ten chil-tren -- Po- cahontas (a daughter), Frank Wallace. Tennessee (a daughter), I en W., Charles Anderson, Rufus Judson, Harry, Rochester. Alexm br, and Elizabeth Grace. Of these Frank, Harry, Alexander, and Elize _th are dead.
Alexander was raised on a farm unti he was sixteen years of age. then left for Lancaster City, Ohio, and apprenticed himself to Westley Moody. carriage manufacturer, for three years, and at the expiration of his ap- prenticeship worked one year in the city. He went to Mount Vernon, Knox County, and worked one year, then to Centreville, Piqua County, Ohio, and worked during the spring of 1555, bat finally settled in Celina June. 1855.
When Mr. Wyckoff had determined to make this his final resting- place he determined that his life should be a success, and that in this growing country with hun there should be no such word as Fint ; and without means he worked at his trade by repairing wagons, steds and everything in the line of his business, until new life was infused into the people and a demand was made for new work, such as substantial wagons and family carriages. Then he erveted his shop, since changed into an extensive manufacturing est ab - point.
The factory is located on West Fayette Street, the main building being 36 by 50 feet, and two and a half stories high. A south-shop in the rear. 40 by 2. feet, with commodious sheds for drying lumber. The carriage repository embraces three large rooms on the corner of Walnut and Fayette Streets, size 40 by 35 feet, two stories high. The maher of hands employed are from twelve to fifteen. Seventy five new car- riages of langages are sold annually, besides an immense amount of re paring. realitet, etcarte.
Mr. Workoff's dwelling house is a Gothic cottage, and the whole covers two lots. The value of all the real estate, with the shops and tools and personal property, is estimated at ten thousand dollars, being the fruit of industry, hugality, and persistence.
34
364
HISTORY OF VAN WERT AND MERCER COUNTIES, OHIO.
ROBERT G. BLAKE
removed from Virginia to Gallia County, Ohio, in 1x18, and resided there until 1838, thener to Parke County, and afterwards to Mercer County. He married Naney Guy in 1-20 Their children are Robert G., Samuel, John G., David F., Rebecca, Mary Jane, Perry W., and Margaret Ann. Of these Samuel and Rebecca are dead, the former dying in 1518 and the latter in 1835
Robert G. was born April 22, 1x22, and settled in what is now Gibson Township. He was educated in the common school, which was sup- ported by subscription, the teacher boarding among the parents of the pupils. Of course in this day it would be called a limited education. Robert remained on the farm until twenty years of age, then went to Fort Wayne, Indiana, and learned the cabinet-making business, by serving three years so as to become master of his profession. He worked journey work for some time, and then went to milling. In I>47 be married Sarah Broderick, and had one daughter, Adarme, who was married to Edward Landfair. She taught in the primary department in the public schools for many years.
Jn 1853 he married Miss Jane Anderson, whose father built the first mill in the County in the year 1532.
Mr. Blake first made the discovery with regard to the bones of the soldiers and officers who were buried near Fort Recovery ant outside of it in the year'1838, and was assisted by Dr. J. S. Fair. D. Freeman, D. Beardslee, Henry Lipps, and others, who disinterred them and re- buried them in the cemetery. Ten or twelve officers were buried in one grave.
The next bones found. in 1851, were buried on September 10, 1851. Mr. Blake and J. S. Rhodes made thirteen large coffins to hold the bones, and a large box which held ten bushels was also filled. We bave given a full history of the proceedings on that occasion in the history of Fort Recovery. Mr. R. G. Blake was elected auditor in 1859 and Iset, pro- bate judge in 1966 and 1869, and has served as school director in Celina and Recovery for twelve years. He moved to Celina in Isto.
He has taken an active part in the promotion of education, railroads, and all publie improvements. The highest honor conferred upon him on account of his devotion to the public interests was at the time he drove the first spike in the Lake Erie and Western Railroad, on the east sule of Mercer County, immediately across the line. He is engaged in private banking, its corporate name being the " Citizens' Bank." Names of the officers, Charles Schunck, president; F. C. Le Blonde, Vice-President; J. W. De Ford, cashier; R. G. Blake, assistant cashier. Mr. Blake was the first president of the bank, which was established in 1873; capital stock and deposits 8-0,000. In religions affairs he is liberal but uncompromising. In politics he is a Democrat, but liberal, while in social and business affairs he is recognized as a man of heart, and honor.
REY. T. WITTMER
was born in 1848 in Switzerland, and came to America in 1961 with his parents. They settled at Egypt, near Minster, in Auglaize County, Ohio, and remained there until the spring of 1865."
. In the fall of this year he entered the Catholic Seminary at Cartha- gena, and after devoting his time to a classical and theological education was ordained as a priest in January. 1-72. In the fall of 1873 he had charge of Celiua church, but afterwards moved to Winnepo-ke. Pulaski County, Indiana, where he remained three years, he having had charge of two churches and two stations, and had the honor of superintending the erection of an academy for young ladies of the C. P. P. S.
.
In 1876 Rev. Wittmer returned to Celina, and through his zeal. energy, and perseverance, has erected a school house for the education of the children of the church 36 by 40 feet, of which he is the superintendent, with two assistants of the order of C. P. P. S. To the church also he added an addition of 35 feet, and painted and repaired the whole church.
As a Christian gentleman and a man of culture he stands high, adorns his profession, and.is beloved by his church and esteemed by his fellow- citizens.
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.