USA > Ohio > Wayne County > History of Wayne County, Ohio, Volume I > Part 68
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cian, know thyself," standing four square to the winds, and sound as the pillars of the Sistine Chapel of Rome. He sprung from the 'commonality. He has fashioned his nature on moral and intellectual worth, personal qualities and not personal possessions. He fixes a high value on his professional honor, upon his self-respect, his intrinsic value, not so much of it only as can be seen by others, but as he sees it by his introspection. He discovered himself and can- not run away with himself. The world at best is but a sort of a big university and he is still a learner and student in it, in which he is constantly gathering thoughts, sending them abroad with his eyes, his brains traveling with his feet. He is a man inhabited by kindly dispositions and a gentleman in and out of his profession. Courtesy and affability can be no more severed from him than life from his soul, not out of a base and servile popularity and desire of ambitious insinuation, but of a native gentleness of disposition and true value of himself. His individuality is strongly marked, with the healthy geniality of a large-shouldered man combined with it. He is possessed of an acute sense of humor, quick in repartee and, seing the point, has a story to tell -the latest one, that he renders in idiomatic English, that he heard or saw in some newspaper or magazine. He is a fluent talker, a good conversationalist. fond of open debate and wields a sledge hammer in public discussions. He has an innate passion for the woods, hills, the gorges and streams and all the beautiful wild offerings of nature. The country affords to him its free sports and amusements ; its wider range of rambles or, better still, for both physical and mental training, it gives him opportunity to employ spare hours of labor and attention to his farm, as the chances are, if he had not been a doctor he would have been a farmer. It was the original and divinely appointed calling of man God planted in Eden, and made it man's first duty to "dress and keep it." When driven from Eden it was still his mission "to till the ground from which he was taken," and to "eat bread in the sweat of his face." As said. he is now at the zenith of his power, alert, energetic, practical, scientific and remarkably successful in the extension and expanding practice of his profes- sion. Stout, active and muscular, an actor and athlete, a devotee at the shrine of baseball. a firm believer in physical recreation and the stimulating, health- giving and invigorating results of the college gymnasium. He is public spirited and projective, wants good school houses, more schools, academies. universities, etc., and the standard of education raised from high to higher. "in the parliament of man, the federation of the world." If in the skirmish with disease or the clenched battle with death he is repulsed or vanquished. he moves on with a steady step, his sanguine temperament impels him to a more vigilant quest for the better and best protection and defense against the Mer-
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curys that stand and point at the door of death. Victory doesn't always perch on the banners of the great physician, but he enjoys a noble recompense, the loyal hosannas of the myriads he has rescued from the fateful jaws of dis- ease. He looks down the vistas with a justifying hope, for on the ruins of today are built the temples of tomorrow. According to the legend of Virgil when Troy fell, its banished citizens reared a mightier city on the Tiber.
-BY BEN DOUGLAS.
JOHN SNODGRASS CASKEY.
Among the well-remembered, successful and highly honored citizens of Wayne county of the past generation, few left the impress of their personality any deeper upon the minds of those with whom they came in contact than the late John Snodgrass Caskey, a man whom everybody respected for his public spirit, his high sense of honor and his genial disposition, a man who possessed talents of such unusual magnitude that he succeeded in various lines of endeavor, a learned, accomplished and right-thinking man whose in- fluence, which was always salutary, continued to pervade the lives of his many friends long after he had closed his eyes on earthly scenes, and which influ- ence will continue to brighten the pathways of many for all time to come.
Mr. Caskey was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, in the year 1838, the son of Robert and Nancy Caskey, prosperous farmers of that county, owning a large tract of land, and who were highly respected people, plain and industrious. Mr. Caskey received a good education in the common schools of his native county. He was an ambitious lad and studied hard, in fact, he was a student all his life. He took up the study of homeopathy, received his diploma and for a time practiced very successfully in Ashland county. But, tiring of this line of endeavor, he came to Wayne county, Ohio, and began farming. Discontinuing this in a short time, he engaged in the ice business, then purchased of a Mr. Harris his share in a grocery store, the firm being known as McClarran & Harris. He proved himself to be a business man of unusual ability. But he had always been interested in politics and now gave considerable attention to the same. In the year 1880 he was elected treasurer of Wayne county by the Democrats, served two terms of two years each, and for a period of four years he discharged the duties of the same in a very satisfactory manner to all concerned. In the meantime he had maintained his grocery business, which he continued to conduct four years after retiring from the treasurer's office. Then he dis-
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by -
JOSEPHINE CASKEY
JOHN S. CASKEY
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solved partnership with McClarran, having become well fixed financially. He moved into his own building and opened an extensive grocery store, which he continued to conduct with his usual success until 1902: when he sold out to Berry & Fletcher.
Mr. Caskey was married on October 1, 1860, to Josephine Newman, a lady of refinement and esthetic tastes, the daughter of William and Maria (Ewing) Newman, of Ashland county, Ohio, where the family has long been well established and highly respected, her father having been a well- known physician at Mt. Vernon, Ohio. He was born in Ashland county, this state. No children were born of this union.
Mr. Caskey was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. the Knights of Pythias and the Masons. He was called to his reward on June 5. 1903, at the age of sixty-five years. He is remembered as a genial, honest and progressive citizen.
JOHN F. HARRISON.
Another of the native sons of the Buckeye state who has here passed his entire life and by his energy, integrity and progressive business methods attained a high degree of success, is John F. Harrison, farmer, lumberman and public official. He is a representative of one of the pioneer families of the state, since his paternal grandfather located in Ohio over ninety years ago, and that he has attained his prosperity by worthy means is evident from the unqualified esteem in which he is held in the community where his life has been passed.
The Harrison family is one of the oldest in Franklin township, Wayne county, and is of English antecedents. The first of the name left England about two years after the death of Oliver Cromwell, the Great Protector. They were Protestants in religious faith and because of the constant fight be- tween the factions they decided to go to a land where they might worship un- disturbed according to the dictates of their conscience. They settled near Frederickstown, Maryland. The subject's grandfather. John Harrison, who was a Quaker, was born August 1. 1796, near Uniontown, Fayette county. Pennsylvania. He was a very generous and benevolent man and is said to have never turned a tramp away from his door hungry, and, what is more re- markable, he reserved a room in his house for the accommodation of tramps
(40)
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who happen his way at nightfall. John Harrison removed to Cadiz, Harrison county, Ohio, in 1816, subsequently coming to Wayne county. He was a successful farmer, and was also a lime-burner, which in those days was an appreciated industry. He was the father of twelve children. He was twice married, having eleven children by his first wife and one by the last. He died in October, 1889, in the ninety-fourth year of his age.
The subject's father was Stephen Harrison, who was born in Franklin township, Wayne county, and who during his life followed the pursuit of agri- culture. His death occurred June 21, 1888. His wife bore the maiden name of Celestia J. Firestone. She was born at Fredericksburg, this county, her family having come to this state from Maryland in about 1832. Grandfather Firestone, who died in 1887, was in early life a wagonmaker, and in later life a farmer. To Stephen and Celestia Harrison were born three children, namely : Zella M., who is the wife of James Leeper and lives in the state of Idaho ; John F. is the immediate subject of this sketch ; Annetta B. is the wife of Joseph J. Taylor, of Franklin township, Wayne county.
John F. Harrison was born on the 14th day of September, 1865, on the paternal homestead in Franklin township, this county, and has lived there all his life up to about five years ago, when he removed to Wooster to be in closer touch with business and official interests. He received a fair education in the schools of his township and was reared to the life of a farmer. In 1890 he began farming on his own account, and also went into the sawmill and lumber business, in which he has been successful. He has sawed much lumber for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company, besides doing a large gen- eral business. The Harrison lumber yard, located at an eligible site near the B. & O. depot, Wooster, has for a number of years enjoyed its full share of the public patronage and is considered one of the leading business enter- prises of the city. Mr. Harrison owns the old family homestead in Franklin township, and expects to move back to it at the close of his official term. He also has other business interests.
In November, 1901, Mr. Harrison was elected to the office of county com- missioner, on the Republican ticket, and in 1904 he was re-elected to the same office. In view of the fact that Wayne county is normally Democratic, and that this was the first instance in which a Republican had ever been re-elected to the office of county commissioner, it was a high testimonial to the enviable standing of Mr. Harrison in the opinion of the voters of the county. As commissioner, Mr. Harrison was largely instrumental in breaking up what was known as the "bridge graft," which had become so notorious in many Ohio counties. Mr. Harrison inaugurated the inquiry which exposed the whole
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scheme and after his success in ousting the graft gang other counties in the state took the matter up and were also successful in accomplishing the same re- sult. The result was a vast saving to the public treasury and better results in the way of construction work. For his accomplishment in this line alone, Mr. Harrison won the thanks and appreciation of the tax-payers of the county. Mr. Harrison has always taken a deep and commendable interest in public matters and had previously served in Franklin township as school director and supervisor, giving efficient and appreciated service.
On January 18, 1893, Mr. Harrison was united in marriage to Ella Force, the daughter of Palmer Force, of Franklin township, and this union has been blessed in the birth of three children, namely : Russell L., born September 2, 1894; Hazel L., born April 4, 1898, and Irene Adell, born August 23, 1905. In his fraternal relations Mr. Harrison is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In religion he is, with his wife, a Presbyterian and both are members of the church of that denomina- tion at Fredericksburg. They give a generous support to the various activities of the church and in every walk of life are to be found on the right side of movements for the betterment of the community. Possessing many fine traits of character and being of a genial disposition, Mr. Harrison makes friends of all whom he meets and he is eminently deserving of representation in a work of this character.
JOHN BUNYAN NOLIN.
Among the most highly regarded citizens of Wayne county, Ohio, is John B. Nolin, who has resided here since about 1874, having been previously en- gaged mainly in agricultural pursuits. He is now conducting one of the lead- ing livery stables in this city, in connection with which he runs an automobile garage, complete in every detail and an enterprise highly appreciated here by the owners of machines.
Mr. Nolin is a native son of the Keystone state, having been born at Allegheny, on November 16, 1849. His father was John Nolin, who was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. His mother died when he was an infant and soon afterwards the family became separated and drifted apart. losing track of each other. John Nolin became a farmer on reaching mature years and in 1874 left Pennsylvania and located about seven miles northwest of Wooster, Wayne county, where he lived until his death, which occurred on September 27, 1885, aged seventy years. He was married to Sarah Ann Long.
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who was also born in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, and who died on De- cember 27, 1890, at the age of seventy-four years. Their union was blessed in the birth of five children, as follows: David, deceased; Arthur Morrow, who resides near Pittsburg, Pennsylvania ; Catherine, deceased ; Theodore Ad- dison of Greeley, Colorado; and John B., the subject.
John B. Nolin spent his early years under the parental roof and was reared to the life of a farmer. He attended the common schools and secured a fair education. Upon attaining maturity he continued his farming operations, with which he combined threshing in season and general teaming. He was fairly successful in his affairs, but in about 1894 he removed to Wooster and went on the road as a salesman for agricultural and coal-mining machinery. He was a good salesman and continued in this line for four years. Tiring then of the road, which compelled him to remain away from home the greater part of the time, he relinquished that work and, in 1901, went into the general livery business in Wooster, in which line he has been successful to a very gratifying degree. His stable is large and well arranged for the accommoda- tion of his own and transient stock and his vehicles are not only varied in char- acter, but in style are the equal of anything in the county. Mr. Nolin is ac- commodating and obliging in serving the public and he has been favored with a liberal share of the public patronage. In addition to his livery business, Mr. Nolin has also established an automobile garage department, which met a long-felt want here, and this too has been given satisfactory encouragement by the owners of machines who prefer to have their property taken care of by some one who will look after the machines properly.
In 1874 Mr. Nolin took unto himself a wife in the person of Susan Mc- Roberts, also a native of Pennsylvania, born near Pittsburgh. This union has been a happy one and has been sealed by the birth of three children, all sons, as follows: Clarence, who is interested in the livery business with his father ; Edward J., who is engaged in the drug business at Mansfield, Ohio, and Wiley M., who is a barber at Zanesville, this state. Fraternally, Mr. Nolin is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the principles of which order meet with a daily exemplification in the subject's life. In poli- tics he is stanch Republican, giving the party a warm and enthusiastic support. Religiously Mr. and Mrs. Nolin are active members of the First Presbyterian church of Wooster and give a generous support to the varied interests of the society. Viewed in a personal light, Mr. Nolin is a strong man. His business interests have claimed much of his attention, yet he has ever found time to faithfully discharge the duties of citizenship and promote public progress through active co-operation in all measures for the general good.
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HENRY MILTON KNEPP.
Back to stanch old German stock does Mr. Knepp trace his lineage, and that in his character abide those sterling qualities which have ever marked the true type of the German nation, is manifest when we come to consider the more salient points in his life history, which has been marked by consecutive industry and invincible spirit, eventuating most naturally in securing for him a high position in the respect and confidence of his fellowmen. He has passed practically his entire life in Wayne county, where his father was one of the early pioneer settlers, contributing his quota to its development and prosperity. even as his son has endorsed and supported every movement looking to the bet- terment and advancement of the community's best interests.
Henry M. Knepp was born in East Union township, Wayne county, Ohio, on the 13th of October, 1859, and is a son of William and Leah ( Myers) Knepp. The father was a native of Snyder county, Pennsylvania, and came to Ohio in young manhood, settling at Orrville, Wayne county. At that time there was but one house at Orrville. Mr. Knepp has always been a farmer by vocation and is now living in retirement at Jackson, this county. The sub- ject's mother was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and in 1837 came to Ohio, the trip overland being made in a "prairie schooner," a common mode of travel in that early day. Her death occurred at Jackson, this county, on August 19, 1879. She bore her husband four children, briefly mentioned as follows : Henry M., the first born, is the immediate subject of this sketch ; Margaret is the wife of J. S. Jamison, of Creston, this county ; Samuel A. and Frank also live at Creston, both being married.
Henry M. Knepp remained under the parental roof until he was twenty- two years old and received a good education in the common schools of Canaan township. He supplemented this education by attendance at the Smithville Academy, after which he engaged in teaching school, being employed for twelve consecutive terms in this county. He then accepted a position as in- structor in the Spirit Lake Normal Academy, at Spirit Lake, Iowa, and was so engaged when his wife died. He then relinquished the pedagogic profes- sion and returned home. He took up surveying and civil engineering and in June, 1885, he graduated in the course of civil engineering at the Ada (Ohio) Normal University. He engaged in the active practice of his profession, in which he met with distinctive success, and in 1901 he was placed on the Demo- cratic ticket for county surveyor, having no opposition for the place. He was elected and took office the following year. In 1904 he was re-elected and so impressed were the people as to his fitness for the office that no one was placed
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in nomination to oppose him and he was re-elected. He was again elected to the office in 1908, and in thus serving his third term, certainly a marked testi- monial to his technical ability and his popularity as a man. He had previous- ly served four years as assessor of Canaan township. He is the owner of property at Wooster and Creston. In every sphere of activity to which he has lent his energy, Mr. Knepp has achieved a distinctive success and has won an enviable place in the esteem of the people, most of whom have known him all his life.
In 1887 Mr. Knepp was united in marriage to Emma Johnson, of Canaan township, but their wedded life was of short duration, her death occurring the following year. In 1891 he married Della Fetzer, a daughter of Peter Fetzer, of Canaan township, and to them have been born two children, daughters, namely, Beulah, who is seventeen years old, and Ruth, who is fifteen.
ALBERT S. SAURER.
Notwithstanding the fact that the republic of Switzerland is one of the smallest countries of the world, it has sent a large number of emigrants to the United States during the years that have elapsed since our independence was secured. The people of that country, appreciating the blessings of liberty, of which they had a strong example in their own land, were not slow to recog- nize the possibilities that opened out in splendid perspective before all who lo- cated in this country. Accordingly, ever since the close of the Revolutionary war, large numbers of the hardy Swiss have crossed the Atlantic and sought homes in the United States. And here their descendants have become among the most intelligent, patriotic, industrious and upright of our great and won- derful cosmopolitan population. The subject of this sketch is descended from Swiss ancestors, his grandfather, John Saurer, having been a native of that country. He came to America when a young man and in about 1824 settled in Wayne county. His son, the subject's father, was Simon S. Saurer, who was born in this county and lived here all his life, his death occurring in 1902, at the age of sixty-six years. He was a blacksmith by trade and also followed farming, being successful in both callings. He was a man who enjoyed the respect of all who knew him, being possessed of those sterling qualities of character which commend a man to the consideration of his fellows. He mar- ried Mary Ann Tschantz, who was born and reared in Paint township, Wayne
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county. She is now living near Maysville, Salt Creek township. To this union were born the following children : Elizabeth, the wife of Adam Hoff- man, of Sugarcreek township: Philip S., a hardware merchant at Barberton, Ohio; Emanuel, a manufacturer and one of the proprietors of the Maysville Tile Works, at Maysville, this county ; Fannie is the wife of Constant Hoff- man, of Sugarcreek township; Benjamin, of Saltcreek township; Peter, of Sugarcreek township; Edward, of Holmes county, this state: Albert S., the immediate subject of this review, and Alfred, of Saltcreek township.
Albert S. Saurer was born in Sugarcreek township, Wayne county, Ohio, on May 16, 1871, and was reared on the home farm until he was fourteen years old, in the meanwhile receiving such education as was afforded in the public schools of the township. This education he afterwards supplemented by attendance at the Bixler Business College, at Wooster, where he was gradu- ated. At the age of fourteen years, Mr. Saurer went to Rittman and entered the employ of his brother in the hardware business, with whom he remained four years. His brother was postmaster and during this period the subject served as assistant postmaster, this being during President Cleveland's first ad- ministration. He then worked about a year for Landes Brothers at Rittman. and then returned to the home farm, where he remained for awhile. In 1891 Mr. Saurer came to Wooster and accepted employment with Harding & Com- pany, hardware dealers, with whom he remained for thirteen years. He was then for a short time with the Canton Hardware Company, at Canton, Ohio, after which he returned to Wooster and for about two and a half years was associated with the Wooster Hardware Company. In 1905 Mr. Saurer was placed on the Democratic ticket for the office of county recorder and was sub- sequently elected, assuming the duties of his office in September, 1906. So satisfactory were his services to the county in that capacity that in 1908 he was re-elected and is now serving his second term. He is a careful and painstaking official and in the discharge of his public duties he exercises the same care that he would in his own private business affairs. Since entering the office Mr. Saurer has purchased the interest of A. F. Cooley in the Wooster Hardware Company, and is thus interested at this time.
On the 4th of April, 1894, Mr. Saurer was united in marriage to Sue M. Dull, a daughter of Daniel Dull, of Wooster, and born in Wayne township in 1871. They are the parents of three children, whose nanies and date of birth are as follows: Amy E., February 26, 1896; Robert D .. April 20. 1899: Ruth L., August 2, 1901.
In politics Mr. Saurer has ever maintained a stanch allegiance to the Democratic party and has been active in its support. Fraternally he belongs
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to Lodge No. 42, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Wooster, and is also a member of the Royal Arcanum and the Junior Order of United American Mechanics. He is also a member of the Wooster Board of Trade. Mr. Saurer has had a deep interest in fancy poultry, of which he has a number of fine specimens, and has evinced an interest by his membership in Wooster Poultry Association, of which he is the present secretary and treasurer. This association is a live organization and is doing much to advance the standard of poultry in this section. In religion Mr. and Mrs. Saurer are faithful mem- bers of the English Reformed church at Wooster, to which they give a gener- ous support. Mr. Saurer is a man of many splendid qualifications and he has won and retains a host of warm personal friends throughout the county.
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