USA > Ohio > Wayne County > History of Wayne County, Ohio, Volume I > Part 80
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The service record of the Forty-first Ohio Regiment was a glorious and honorable one, few regiments having a record of more active service or of greater valor in the face of the enemy. They took part in a number of the severest struggles of that great conflict and amid all these experiences Captain Wiley was always found at the head of his men, cheering them by his words and setting them an example for personal bravery. He participated in all the battles in which the Forty-first took part and at the terrible engagement at Pittsburg Landing, while carrying the regimental colors and leading the regi- ment in a furious bayonet charge, he fell terribly injured. In this charge General Wiley was conspicuous because of his bravery and the enthusiasm with which he inspired his men on to the assault, during which five men were killed with the colors. He recovered from this injury, but later at the battle of Missionary Ridge his horse was shot from under him and his left knee shattered by a shell, making amputation necessary. General Wiley returned to his home in January, 1864, and after he had regained his health practiced law at Wooster, in which he met with fair success. He has always com- manded the absolute confidence of his fellow citizens and has been numbered among the honored residents of the city of Wooster, where so many years of his life have been spent.
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Politically, General Wiley is affiliated with the Democratic party and was elected and served one term as probate judge of Wayne county. His adminis- tration of the office was so eminently satisfactory that he was nominated for a re-election. The same year, 1878, he received the Democratic nomination for Congress, his opponent being the late William Mckinley. The General resides in a comfortable and attractive home at No. 195 North Market street, Wooster, where the spirit of the old-time hospitality is ever in evidence. Re- ligiously, his wife is a member of the Baptist church, to which the General gives an earnest and liberal support. Fraternally, he holds membership in the Ohio Commandery of the Loyal Legion, where he maintains pleasant associa- tions with his old comrades-in-arms.
On May 19, 1870, General Wiley was united in marriage to Emma Power, the daughter of Neal and Sarah ( McMillen) Power, of Wooster, and to them were born two children, Walter A., born in 1872, and Ada M., born in 1875. The former is now a first lieutenant in the United States reve- nue cutter service, and the latter is the wife of Henry Greenwell.
Of marked social qualities, General Wiley is well liked by all who know him. His sterling manhood, his absolute integrity of character, his honorable war record, his public spirited attitude towards all movements for the public good and his consistent private life have earned for him an enviable standing in the community and he is justly numbered among its representative citizens.
SYLVANUS G. COOK.
A man who enjoys a wide acquaintance throughout Wayne county, espe- cially East Union township, of which he is a native, and who has won a reputation for judicious dealing in all things, who is now enjoying the peace- ful retirement of his twilight of life, is Sylvanus G. Cook, whose birth oc- curred April 22, 1842. and who has lived in this county all his life, making his home on the old farm in East Union township until 1907, when he moved to Orrville. His father was Robert Cook, who was born in Butler county, Pennsylvania, December 3. 1803, who came to Ohio in the pioneer days, locat- ing in Sugar Creek township, Wayne county, in 1816, when that section was still a comparative wilderness. He secured land and developed it, becoming an extensive farmer. He married Jennie D. Cummings, of Crawford county, Ohio, in 1831. She was born in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, and her death occurred in February, 1899. To Robert Cook and wife seven children
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were born, among whom the following are living: Rebecca Mccullough, of Orrville ; Liza Jane Sharp, living near Apple Creek, East Union township; Nancy Bonewitz, of Wooster; Samuel, of Shelby, Ohio, and Sylvanus G., of this review. The Cook family is of good Irish stock. The maternal grand- mother of Sylvanus G. was Mary (McWilliam) Cook, who came from county Tyrone, Ireland, reaching America when nine years of age, and settled in Butler county, Pennsylvania, with her sister. Grandfather Samuel Cook was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, January 4, 1781, and he migrated to Wayne county, Ohio, in 1816; the following year he moved to a farm in Sugar Creek township. In the summer of 1816 he taught the first school ever taught in Sugar Creek township. Prior to his coming here he was married to Elizabeth McWilliams, of Westmoreland county, Pennsyl- vania, and they became the parents of the following children: Sylvanus, born February 28, 1802; Robert, father of the subject of this sketch, was born December 3, 1803; Asa, born December 23, 1805: James, born March 9, 1808; Christena, born June 16, 1810; Mary, born October 26, 1812; Amiel. born August 29, 1815; Jemima, born April 3, 1818; John, born April 30, 1820; Jesse, born May 26, 1822 ; Josiah, born July 20, 1824.
Samuel Cook was in many respects a remarkable man, one of marked influence and usefulness. He was a member of the Presbyterian church of Dalton, Sugar Creek township, and he was one of the earliest of the public educators and religious workers in the county. He reared a large and intel- ligent family, giving them all a good start in life and an education such as he could in those early days, and his grandchildren, of whom there are many, seem to be worthy of their pioneer ancestors, taking a delight in maintaining the honorable name that the family has always borne.
Sylvanus G. Cook, as already intimated, has spent the major part of his 'life engaged in agricultural pursuits, having learned the "ins and outs" of husbandry in his youth during the summer months, and in the winter time he attended the district schools, receiving a fairly good education. The old home farm is located four miles south of Orrville in one of the most highly favored sections of the Buckeye state. He has always been regarded as a very progressive and skillful farmer, so managing his affairs as to gain the greatest results, keeping the place in a high state of cultivation and efficiency, having reaped bounteous harvests during a long stretch of years and laid by a competency so that now in his old age he finds himself surrounded by plenty and has a modern and comfortable home.
Mr. Cook was married in 1873 to Lovis Tasker, who was born in Paint
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township, this county, the daughter of James and Rebecca ( Bales) Tasker, a well-known family of that locality. To Mr. and Mrs. Cook the following children have been born: Jennie, wife of D. E. Eymon, of Orrville; Mary, the wife of Fred Bower, who is living on Mr. Cook's farm; Frank, who is fifteen years of age, is living at home; two children are deceased, Jimmie having died twenty-two years ago, and Glen, who died in infancy.
Mr. and Mrs. Cook belong to the Presbyterian church at Orrville, and they take a delight in the work of the same. The former has served as school director in East Union township. He is a Bryan Democrat, and personally he is a man whom it is a delight to meet, being a good conversationalist, jolly, good natured and a man of high principles.
JOSEPH WARREN HOSTETTER.
A man whose memory is revered by a wide circle of acquaintances and friends, and who lived a life that was exemplary in every respect. which re- sulted in good to himself and family and the community in general was Joseph Warren Hostetter. He became a prosperous and representative citizen of Orrville, Wayne county, having been a man of great force of character and determination of purpose, and although he has been called from his earthly labors, the good he did still lives. Mr. Hostetter was born near Minerva, Stark county, Ohio, October 3, 1840, the son of Joseph and Elizabeth Hos- tetter. They were the parents of thirteen children, of whom all but one, Lydia, who died some thirty-seven years ago, grew to maturity, Joseph W. having been the second one to pass away, his death occurring January 15, 1902, after an illness of two weeks, through which he bore his sufferings patiently and heroically. Besides him were eight sisters and three brothers, namely : Mrs. Adeline Minerva Frederick, deceased, late of Canton, Ohio; Mrs. Eliza Ann Martin, also of Canton; Mrs. Mary A. Sweringen, deceased, late of Plattsmouth, Nebraska ; Mrs. Kate Lake, of Blue Springs, Nebraska ; Mrs. Harriet Robinson, of Sharon, Pennsylvania; Mrs. Sadie Hutchinson, of Seneca, Kansas; Mrs. Elizabeth Blanchard, of Canton, Ohio; Mrs. Verdie Keeler, of Sabetha, Kansas; Frank Hostetter, living in Oklahoma ; Lewis, of Canton, Ohio, and Austen, deceased, late of Kansas.
The boyhood days of Joseph W. Hostetter were spent at the parental home. He received a common school education, and began his business career by clerking for Haynes & Foster, of Shreve. Early in life he turned his
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attention to photography and opened a studio in Uhrichsville, but in 1860 he entered the employ of his brother-in-law, Impertus Martin, but his patriotism being aroused when the rebellion threatened to disrupt the Union, he left the position and enlisted in the army at Canton and went to the front early in the struggle as a member of the noted Fourth Ohio Regiment. This was in response to Lincoln's first call for troops. The first colonel of this regi- ment was the gallant Lorin Andrews, president of Kenyon College, who was one of the first to give his life for his country. This regiment enlisted for one-hundred-day service, but later re-enlisted for three years, and it was engaged in many of the severest battles of the war, bringing glory to the Federal troops repeatedly. It was engaged in the battles of the Shenandoah Valley ; it fought at the great battles of Gettysburg, Fredericksburg, Chancel- lorsville. Later the regiment was sent to New York to quell the riots, and then returned to Alexandria, Virginia. Mr. Hostetter was an active partici- pant in all the work of this regiment. Many years after the war he revisited the fields of many of the famous battles in which he had bravely fought.
After the close of the war Mr. Hostetter returned to Canton and worked for C. Aultman & Company, as machinist. Later he was employed in a dry goods store at Wellsville. In 1867 he came to Orrville and entered the employ of Bartholomew Brothers in the dry goods trade. In 1868 he pur- chased the grocery business of Amos Eshleman and continued it for two years.
In 1869 Mr. Hostetter was united in marriage with Eunice Boydston, a native of East Union township, this county, the daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Boydston, a highly respected family of that community. She proved a most worthy helpmeet and is now deceased, having been injured in a street car accident in Akron, from the effects of which she died on Sep- tember 23, 1909, and was buried by the side of her husband at Orrville. Soon after their marriage they moved to Kansas, but they returned to Orrville in 1874 and Mr. Hostetter embarked in the real estate business and continued in that line until his death, with the exception of two years, during which time he lived in Toledo, where he was connected with the Toledo Legal News.
During President Arthur's administration Mr. Hostetter was appointed postmaster at Orrville to fill the unexpired term of Henry Schriber, who died while in office. Mr. Hostetter served in this capacity for nine consecu- tive years in a very able and satisfactory manner. In later years he was a very active member of the school board and at the time of his death was its president. The cause of education was greatly strengthened during his con-
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nection with the board. He was a conscientious Christian, having joined the Methodist church in 1867 under Rev. George W. Ball's pastorate. For many years Mr. Hostetter assisted Impertus Martin in conducting campmeet- ings at Orrville and other places in the state. He was an open exponent of the temperance cause and had the courage of his convictions, and in many instances he proved his loyalty to this cause by giving financial and other aid. In all matters that in any way aimed to advance the interests of Orrville and vicinity he was deeply concerned and always did what he could.
To Mr. and Mrs. Joseph W. Hostetter one child was born, who died in infancy.
Mr. Hostetter was a member of the Royal Arcanum. He was also an active member of the Odd Fellows and the Grand Army of the Republic. His life was an active one, and he was always encouraging and helping some one, for he believed in helping others,-in fact, few men have done as much for the progress of this community, and his place will always be greatly missed for he was as the just man spoken of in Holy Writ, "whose light shines more and more unto the perfect day." -
ALEXANDER THOMPSON CAMPBELL.
This sterling representative of one of the pioneer families of Ohio is a native son of Wayne county, where he was reared to maturity on a farm, early beginning to assume the practical responsibilities of life and lending his aid in connection with the reclamation and improvement of the home- stead. That he has lived and labored to goodly end is clearly indicated in the position which he holds in the confidence and regard of his fellow men and in the success which has crowned his efforts as an agriculturist, which has been his vocation throughout his business career. His fine farm is located in Congress township, and no resident of the community commands a fuller measure of respect and esteem. This epitome of his life history will be read with interest by his many friends and will serve as a permanent memorial to his sterling character and worthy life.
Alexander T. Campbell is, as his name indicates, of Scottish descent, his paternal great-grandfather, John Campbell, having emigrated from Scotland to the United States in 1784, locating in Pennsylvania, where he spent the remainder of his days. The subject's grandparents, Isaac and Mary Camp- bell, were lifelong residents of Pennsylvania, where they were worthy and
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esteemed farming folk. The subject's maternal grandparents, John and Mary (McLevy) Crum, were also natives of Pennsylvania, where they spent their entire lives. An ancestor on the maternal side was General McLevy, who served with distinction in the war of the Revolution. The subject's parents were James and Anna (Crum) Campbell, both of whom were born in Hunt- ingdon county, Pennsylvania, where they were reared and married. In 1851 they came to Wayne county, Ohio, and settled in Chester township, where the father successfully followed agricultural pursuits until his death, which oc- curred on July 29, 1875. His wife died September 18. 1898. They were the parents of six children, four of whom are living. In politics James Campbell was originally a Whig, but on the formation of the Republican party he joined its ranks and thereafter gave it his support. He was a member of the Presbyterian church during his later life and served as an elder. He was a man of sterling qualities of character and enjoyed the unbounded confi- dence and regard of all who knew him.
Alexander Thompson Campbell was born on the paternal homestead in Chester township, Wayne county, on the 13th day of September, 1857. He secured a good elementary education in the common schools of the township, and later he attended Smithville Academy two years, taking mathematics, English and kindred studies. On the completion of his education he took up active farming operations on his father's farm, which he continued until the death of his mother, in 1898. He now owns a farm in connection with his sister, Anna C. Campbell, on which he now resides, and has since devoted his entire time and attention to its management. The place comprises one hundred and sixty-seven acres and is most eligibly and pleasantly located. Mr. Campbell has made a number of valuable improvements, including the erection of a new barn, the remodeling of the residence and other improve- ments which brought the place up to the highest standard of excellence. The land is fertile and highly productive and Mr. Campbell, being progressive and enterprising in his methods, realizes handsome returns annually for the labor bestowed. Besides the cultivation of the soil, he also gives consider- able attention to the breeding and raising of livestock, giving special attention to Delaine sheep, Durham and Jersey cattle and Morgan and Norman horses. He has been careful and discriminating in the breeding of his stock and there may at all times be found some magnificent specimens of these animals on his farm.
In politics Mr. Campbell has assumed an independent attitude, being bound by no party ties, but on the contrary taking the stand that the can-
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didate's personal qualities and fitness for office is of the most importance, especially in filling local offices. In religion, his belief is in harmony with that of the Presbyterian church, to which he and his wife belong, and to which they give an earnest and generous support. Every movement calculated to benefit the community morally, educationally, religiously or materially receives their unqualified endorsement and support.
On the 8th of March, 1894, Alexander T. Campbell was united in the holy bonds of matrimony with Ella Reid, a native of Wayne county, Ohio, and a daughter of William and Sarah Reid, the latter of whom is deceased. These parents were both natives also of Wayne county, their respective an- cestors having come here from the eastern states. To Mr. and Mrs. Camp- bell have been born two children, Mary Lucile and Florence Jane. Through- out his business career Mr. Campbell has been emphatically a man of enter- prise, positive character, indomitable energy and liberal views, and is thor- oughly identified in feeling with the growth and prosperity of the county which has been his home.
J. H. SEIBERLING.
Among the citizens well known throughout Wayne county, whose lives have been led along such worthy lines of endeavor that they have endeared themselves to their neighbors and a large circle of acquaintances is J. H. Seiberling, who was born in Summit county, Ohio, in 1835, the son of Nathan- iel and Katherine (Peters) Seiberling, both natives of Lehigh county, Penn- sylvania. They came to Summit county, this state, in 1831 and purchased ninety-six acres of timber land, which was transformed into a good farm in course of time, Nathaniel Seiberling also managing successfully a saw-mill in the early days. He prospered and bought a number of tracts of land which he cleared, owning at the time of his death about one thousand acres of land in Summit county. He was a strong Whig and later became a Republican. He always took an active part in the affairs of his party. He was for many years justice of the peace and has held various other local offices. He and his wife were the parents of a large family, four daughters and nine sons, one daughter and six sons now living.
Charles Seiberling. brother of J. H., of this review, served very gallantly as a soldier for three years in the Union army.
J. H. Seiberling was educated in the common schools of Summit county,
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Ohio. He assisted his father in the milling and farming operations he car- ried on until the former was twenty-five years of age. He then bought one hundred acres of land in Summit county, this state, and farmed it for two years. Then he began manufacturing farming implements at Doylestown with his brother, J. F. Seiberling, who had established the business in 1860, the firm name being Cline. Seiberling & Hower. Later it became Seiberling & Miller, the members of the firm being J. H. Seiberling and Samuel H. Miller. mentioned on another page of this work. Since then the firm name has re- mained the same.
In 1890 Mr. Seiberling went to Jonesboro, Indiana, and there established the Indiana Rubber & Insulated Wire Company, becoming president of the same, which office he still holds, and the large success of this enterprise as well as that mentioned above is due in no small measure to the wise management and judicious counsel of Mr. Seiberling. Until 1903 he spent about one-half of his time in Jonesboro and the rest of the time in Doylestown. Since then he has made Jonesboro his permanent abiding place, giving his entire attention to the business which he established there and which has grown to gigantic proportions, the products of which now invade a vast territory. However, he still retains his interest in the Doylestown company. He seems to have a wonderful executive ability and knows how to handle his employes so that they will be of the greatest benefit to the business. He always handles a good grade of material and is honest in his dealings with his fellow men.
Mr. Seiberling was married in 1860 to Elizabeth Baughman, daughter of David Baughman, a pioneer of Summit county, Ohio, who came from Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, and became a well known and influential man in his community.
To Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Seiberling three children have been born, namely : Martha, who married William Richards ; A. Frank, who married Angie Cline. and they are the parents of two children, Paul and Catherine; Robert W. married Genevieve Lynn and they are the parents of one child. Robert James. The Seiberling home is a modern and attractive one, beautifully located and is known as a place of hospitality for the many friends of the family.
While a resident of Doylestown, Mr. Seiberling was a member of the village council and of the school board. He is still a member of the Lutheran church at that place. Fraternally he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and politically votes with the Republicans. His life has been led along worthy lines and has resulted in good not only to himself and family but also to the community at large, for he is always interested in the success of others.
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JAMES B. GINDLESPERGER.
The unostentatious routine of private life, although of vast importance to the welfare of the community, has not figured to any great extent in his- tory. But the names of men who have distinguished themselves by the pos- session of those qualities which mainly contribute to the success of private life and to the public stability, and who have enjoyed the respect and confi- dence of those around them, should not be permitted to perish. Their exam- ples are most valuable and their lives well worthy of consideration. Such are the thoughts that involuntarily come to mind when we take under review the career of such an honored pioneer as the gentleman whose name initiates this paragraph. He is a representative of one of the old families of Wayne county, and his mind links the early formative period with that of latter-day progress and magnificent achievement. Such are the men particularly worthy of mention in a work of this nature.
James B. Gindlesperger was born on the 24th of January, 1856, on the old family homestead in Congress township, Wayne county, Ohio, and is a son of Daniel and Susan (Shidler) Gindlesperger, both of whom were na- tives of Pennsylvania, the former born in Somerset and the latter in the county of Washington. These parents were reared in their native state and came to Ohio some time prior to their marriage. He was a carpenter by trade, but during his later years he gave his attention to farming, in which he was fairly successful. They are both now deceased. They were the par- ents of ten children, of whom six are now living. In politics Daniel Gindles- perger was a pronounced Democrat and took an active part in local political affairs. He stood high in the community and for twenty years he gave effi- cient service to his community in the capacity of justice of the peace. The subject's paternal grandfather, Christian Gindlesperger, was reared, lived and died in Pennsylvania, as did also his wife. The maternal grandparents. Daniel and Katherine Shidler, were natives of Pennsylvania, but came to Ohio, taking up a farm in Wayne county, where they spent their remaining days. They were persons of genuine worth and enjoyed the unbounded respect of all who knew them.
The subject of this sketch was reared on his father's farm and secured his education in the public school at Lodi and the high school at Burbank. He was a good student and has supplemented his school training by lifelong habits of close observation of men and things, so that today he is considered a well-informed man. On the completion of his education he returned to
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active work on his father's farm, which he continued faithfully until 1888. in which year he purchased a farm of eighty-three acres in Congress town- ship, lying about one mile south of the old homestead. To the cultivation of this tract he has since devoted his unremitting attention and that he has suc- ceeded is evidenced by the general air of prosperity which pervades the place. A new residence was erected and in many other ways Mr. Gindlesperger made decided improvements on the property,, so that today it is the equal of any in the township. The buildings are first-class and up-to-date, the fences kept in good condition, and all the farm machinery necessary for the proper con- duct of a twentieth-century farm are to be found here. Besides the carrying on of general agriculture, Mr. Gindlesperger devotes considerable attention to the breeding and raising of livestock, in which line of effort he has been equally successful. He is thorough and progressive in everything he does and keeps closely in touch with the most advanced ideas in relation to the science of agriculture.
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