USA > Ohio > Wayne County > History of Wayne County, Ohio, Volume I > Part 87
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county and is honored as one of the upright, genial and whole-souled citizens of his native county, having a fine farm home in East Union township, the same being the center of a most cordial hospitality.
David D. Armstrong was born in the township in which he now resides, on May 5, 1842, and is a son of Robert and Mary (Hunter) Armstrong. Both of these parents were natives of Beaver county, Pennsylvania, where they were reared. Their marriage occurred after they had removed to this county. Here the father bought a farm of one hundred and thirty acres, for which he paid the sum of eight hundred dollars, and in this connection it is interesting to note that the same land is today worth at least one hun- dred dollars an acre. At the time of purchase the land was densely covered with the primeval forest growth, and the first thing done by the pioneer was to clear a small place in the forest and erect a little log cabin, which, though rough in appearance and probably inadequately furnished, proved a sufficient shelter for the happy family which came to brighten the pioneer home. The land was all eventually cleared and was developed into a splendid and fertile farm, which approved the wisdom of the father in seeking the loca- tion. In this little home there were born ten children, of whom the three sons were David D., of this review, Samuel, who now lives in the state of Washington, and Joseph, of Wooster township, this county.
David D. Armstrong was reared in the parental home and in the winter months secured a fair education in the district school, which at that early day was somewhat primitive in methods and equipment. When he was but eight years old his father died and there devolved on him much of the labor and responsibility of the farm. It was hard work and at times it seemed as if it would be necessary for the children to separate, but by persistent energy and wise management the mother and the subject were enabled to weather the storm and eventually prosperity rewarded their efforts. David remained at home until he was thirty-four years old, at which time he was married. He was at that time the possessor of six hundred dollars, and during the first year after his marriage he rented a farm. Afterwards he came in possession, through his wife, of one hundred and thirty acres of what was known as the old Brown farm, which she inherited from her father, the tract being devoid of any improvements. He at once went to work and in due time developed the place into one of the choice farms of the township. He erected a full set of commodious and well-arranged farm buildings, including an attractive residence situated about a half mile back from the highway and most beautifully situated. He has here carried on general farming operations and has been highly successful. He raises all the crops
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common to this section of the country and also devotes considerable atten- tion to the raising of livestock, in which also he has been prospered. He is up-to-date and progressive in his ideas and keeps in close touch with the latest ideas relating to agriculture, not hesitating to adopt that which has been demonstrated to be superior to old ideas and methods.
In 1876 Mr. Armstrong was united in marriage to Emma J. Brown, the daughter of Amos Brown, of East Union township, and to them have been born three children, namely : Willis married Della Schultz and lives at Kent, Ohio; Nellie L. is unmarried and lives with her father; Mabel died at the age of three years. Mrs. Armstrong died in June, 1899, since which time the daughter Nellie has devoted herself to her father's care and comfort.
In religion Mr. Armstrong is a faithful and consistent member of the Presbyterian church, of which he has served as an elder for more than thirty years. He is a man of honest convictions and in harmony with his views on the temperance question he gives an ardent support to the Prohibition party, believing that the temperance question is the greatest and most important issue now before the American people. He is held in the highest esteem in his native county and is known as an able business man and as one whose probity is above question.
LEVI F. HOSTETLER.
The subject of this review is one who is to be individually considered as one of the representative citizens and successful farmers and stock growers of Wayne county, and, in a more abstract sense, as a member of a family whose history has been honorably linked with this section of the Buckeye state for many decades. The fine farm property of our subject is located in Greene township and with its admirable improvements and general air of thrift well deserves mention as one of the model homesteads of the county.
Levi F. Hostetler was born in Greene township, Wayne county, on No- vember 14, 1872, and is the fourth in the order of birth of the eight children born to David and Barbara (Yoder) Hostetler. David Hostetler was born in Wayne township, Wayne county, Ohio, March 10, 1839, and is a son of Chris- tian and Elizabeth (Yoder) Hostetler. Christian Hostetler was born in Penn- sylvania in 1800, as was his father, John, before him. David was reared un- der the parental roof and educated in the common schools. He followed farming operations throughout his life until 1906, when he gave up active farm work and moved to Weilersville, where he now resides.
In 1864 David Hostetler married Barbara Yoder, who was born in
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Wayne county January 2, 1841, and to them the following children were born : Malinda, the wife of M. W. Hurst, of Baughman township; Samuel, who died at the age of four years; Elizabeth, who died at the age of two years ; Levi F. married Amanda Steele and lives in Greene township, and is the immediate subject of this sketch; John married Anna Longenecker and lives in Greene township (see sketch elsewhere in this work) : Amanda died at the age of twenty-two years; David died at the age of ten years; Minnie is unmarried and lives with her parents. Religiously the family are mem- bers of the Mennonite church, and of this society David Hostetler is an active member, having been ordained to this sacred office in 1872.
Levi F. Hostetler remained with his parents until he was twenty-one years old and in the meantime he secured a good common-school education. After attaining his majority he took up the carpenter's trade, at which he worked for some time, and he was also in great demand during the autumn as a thresher, having a complete outfit for this purpose. After his marriage, which occurred in 1896, he operated rented land for two years, and then bought a small tract of land, which he cultivated a short time, afterward going into the grain business at Smithville, Ohio. In 1908 he purchased the John Funk farm in Greene township and is now giving his undivided attention to its cultivation. The place comprises one hundred and thirty acres and is considered one of the best pieces of land in the township. Mr. Hostetler has, since buying the place, erected a set of fine new buildings, commodious and well arranged, and now the property will compare favorably with any other in the vicinity. Besides the cultivation of the soil Mr. Hostetler also gives considerable attention to the feeding and selling of livestock, giving special attention to heavy draft horses and sheep, in which line he has been very suc- cessful.
In November, 1896, Mr. Hostetler married Amanda Steele, the daugh- ter of Isaac Steele, and to this union have been born four children, namely: An infant that died unnamed; Harry, born February 1, 1898: Edith, born August 12, 1900; Glenn, born January 31, 1904.
In matters political, Mr. Hostetler renders allegiance to the Republican party, and he takes a commendable interest in the public affairs of his com- munity, though he is not in any sense a seeker for public office. In religion the family are members of the Mennonite church. He is justly accorded a place among the prominent and progressive representative citizens of Wayne county, for he belongs to that class of men whose enterprising spirit is used not alone for their own benefit. He is a man of cordial disposition and makes friends of all with whom he comes in contact.
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EDWARD M. QUINBY.
Edward M. Quinby was of distinguished parentage. His grandfather, Ephraim Quinby, was an early settler of Trumbull county, Ohio. He laid out the town of Warren, the county seat, was judge of the court in that county and one of its prominent citizens. His grandfather, on his mother's side, David McConahay, represented Wayne county in the Legislature of Ohio in 1825, and was associate judge. He lived in the family residence in Wooster on South Market street, built by him, until his death. Ephraim Quinby, Jr., came to Wooster from Trumbull county and was married to Catharine Mc- Conahay, of which marriage Edward M. Quinby was the only child, and was born February 21, 1851, in the Mcconahay homestead.
Ephraim Quinby, Jr., the father of the subject of this sketch, had all the strength of character of the Quinbys and, combined with the high standing and intelligence of the McConahays, invested their only son with as splendid an intellect as Wayne county has given birth to. This ancestry has a physical dignity, stature and beauty, that so greatly distinguished their son. The father, Ephraim Quinby, Jr., was a wise and prudent man, acquired a large fortune, mostly in real estate, located in many of the western cities, but largely in Wooster, which was improved by him and constituted very largely the first steps of progress of this beautiful city. The University of Wooster received its first impulse in 1868, when he gave twenty-one acres of land upon which the college is located ; he contributed additionally to the endowment of the university ; he established the Wayne County National Bank, which yet ex- ists as one of the most prominent banks of the city. The subject of this sketch inherited the example, benevolent spirit and business talent of his father, as well as his fortune, and the estate grew into its present mammoth proportions under the management of the great son of his father. As soon as his age would permit, his education commenced at the private school of Mrs. Pope, was continued at Dennison College, Granville, Ohio, and then at Kenyon College, Gambier, Ohio. He soon commenced a business career, in which he was engaged when, on October 17, 1878, he was married to Amelia C. Schmertz, of Pittsburg. Pennsylvania, who was the eldest daughter of William E. Schmertz, of that city, who was then a member of the Board of Commerce, president of the Second National Bank, and one of the largest boot and shoe manufacturers in the country. She was also the granddaughter of Rev. David Kimerer, one of the pioneer ministers of Wooster, a noted orator, highly respected, and he was such a grand old man that the people
Elvanden Quinto
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WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
involuntarily raised their hats in his presence. He was a minister of the German Reformed church. The Quinbys were of the Presbyterian faith. The subject of this sketch was engaged in the dry goods business a number of years, discontinuing in 1879, and engaged in the manufacture of window glass at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, with E. C. Schmertz as a partner, which was con- tinued from 1879 until 1884. His father having died on January 30, 1880, the large estate left the subject of the sketch called him to Wooster. He owned the Wayne County National Bank for a short time after his father's death and sold it to Jacob Frick. Commencing in 1884-5, he carried out a comprehensive plan of improvement of his real property. In the spring of 1885 he erected the Quinby block in Cleveland on the corner of Euclid and Wilson avenues, at a cost of seventy thousand dollars, which is occupied in part by one of the largest branches of the Cleveland Trust Company. In 1887 he erected a large four-story building on the southwest side of the public square in Wooster, Ohio, this building being occupied principally by the William Annat dry goods store. In 1889 he erected a building, seventy by fifty-five feet, in the rear of McClure's store fronting on Diamond alley. In 1890 he built a three-story building on the northeast corner of the public square and East Liberty street, with a modern basement running the entire length of the building ; this building is occupied by the Alvin Rich hardware store. In 1894 he built the three-story building on the southwest corner of the public square occupied by the McClure stove and house furnishing store.
The truth is worthy of observation that the foregoing constitute but an imperfect schedule of the improvements that so greatly embellish his native town, and not only illustrate the wisdom of his management but the benevo- lence of his character. Of the many private acts of charity and benevolence necessarily connected with a large estate, the rehearsal would not be in har- mony with the habits or wishes of Edward M. Quinby.
The peculiar mental habits and reticence of Mr. Quinby adorn his life : his splendid manhood was private; there was not the slightest ostentation in any situation in which he was placed; he inherited the calm, composed, re- flective demeanor of the Quinbys and McConahays ; he was as perfect a gen- tleman as Wooster ever produced. Mrs. Quinby gives him the character of a prince, so gentle, so noble, was he in all the relations of life. Intellectually. he was the equal of the highest type of inan. He was comprehensive. dis- criminating. strong, not to be deceived, without passion, without anger, gen- erally meeting an inadmissible proposition with a smile and a reason. He had
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pleasant associates, was companionable with them, belonged to clubs, lived mostly in sunshine ; was a modest man, but it was not affectation, it was a con- trolling sense of propriety : he had a wide, modern information, and surprised one with scientific analysis, with occult suggestions. His success in his great business affairs was phenomenal. His estate was largely increased in value; he contributed immensely to taxation in Wooster and in the state; he was a public benefactor ; he deserved the encomiums of every inhabitant of Wooster.
To Edward M. Quinby and wife nine children were born, as follows : Herbert, deceased ; Catherine Louise married E. P. Sturges, now deceased, of Zanesville, Ohio: Edward M., Jr .; Eleanor married Roger W. Whinfield ; Margaret ; William E .; Kenneth; and Anita. To the accomplishments of Edward M. Quinby as a native of Wooster are to be added the refinements of travel and the broad elegance of the manners of the international life. With his family he found a pleasant retreat in Germany, and his children. en- tering upon a system of education there, detained him longer, perhaps, than contemplated. To the writer he expressed the intention of returning to Woos- ter in a couple of years. Without having time to do so, he died on the 2nd of July, 1909. He was constantly engaged in traveling from Europe to Wooster to see his large estates ; he improved the old ancestral home on South Market street, and in the spring of 1909, at the hotel in Wooster, he seemed buoyant, full of life and hope and pleased with the familiar scenes of his early life.
EDWARD M. GRANT.
In East Union township, Wayne county, Ohio, is located the fine home- stead farm of the subject of this review, who was one of the native sons of Ohio, having been born in Stark county, of which his father was an early settler. Mr. Grant was prominently interested in agriculture and the raising of livestock and his progressive methods and discriminating judgment placed him among the successful farmers and business men of his native county, while he so ordered his life as to gain and retain the confidence and high regard of those with whom he was thrown in contact. It is clearly incumbent that a sketch of his life be incorporated in a work having to do with the repre- sentative citizens of the county.
Edward M. Grant's life began on the 3Ist of May, 1834, and he is the son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Crawford) Grant. The paternal grandfather was George Grant, a native of New Jersey, who moved in a very early day
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to Washington county, Pennsylvania, Joseph being then but two years old. George Grant was a practical and energetic farmer and acquired considerable property, being considered quite well-to-do for his day. . Joseph Grant was reared in his Pennsylvania home and received a fair education in the schools of that state. He married in that state and in 1834 he and his wife emigrated to Stark county, Ohio, locating on a tract of land four miles east of Mount Eaton. There he developed a fine farm and spent the remainder of his days. he and his wife being buried at Mount Eaton. They were the parents of fifteen children, of whom eleven reached years of maturity, their names being William C., Rebecca, Keziah, Joseph, Cassie J., Edward M., John A .. Jesse, Alonzo and Melissa, twins. Joseph Grant was an enterprising and progressive man and was public spirited in his attitude towards movements for the public good. He possessed personal qualities of a high order and enjoyed the unbounded confidence of all who knew him.
The subject of this sketch was reared by his parents and he secured his education in the common schools. He engaged in teaching school for a brief period, but returned to the farm and during practically his entire life devoted himself to the tilling of the soil, in which he was eminently success- ful. At the time of his marriage, in 1857, Mr. Grant moved onto an eighty- acre tract of land belonging to his father, but subsequently he moved to Wood county, this state, where he remained a year. In 1863 he moved onto the farm in section 21, East Union township, and which comprises one hun- dred and twenty-three acres. He went into debt for his original purchase. but through persistent industry, good management and wise economy he was enabled to get out of debt. The property is splendidly improved with a large, commodious and well-arranged residence, fine barns and other neces- sary outbuildings, while the place is characterized by well-kept fences and highly cultivated fields, the general appearance of the place indicating the splendid characteristics of the late owner. Here Mr. Grant carried on a general line of farming, in connection with which he gave some attention to the raising of livestock, so important an adjunct to successful farming. He was very successful as a raiser of potatoes, which acquired a good repu- tation because of the superiority of the quality and he had no trouble finding ·a ready market for his entire product.
The death of Mr. Grant occurred on April 21, 1910, at the age of seventy-six years, and the funeral services, which were held in the Presby- terian church, were the most largely attended of any held in the community in many years. The floral tributes, which were numerous, were beautiful
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in character and the general sentiment was that the community had suffered an irreparable loss in the death of Mr. Grant. At that time the church of which he was a member caused the following words to be published : "We again arise for duty from the deep gloom that death has occasioned in our midst by taking from us our fellow laborer, Edward M. Grant, who united with the church June 30, 1863, was elected to the eldership of the church in 1884, which position he continued to fill with faithfulness until death. 'Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord.' He leaves to mourn his loss an aged wife, now in her eighty-first year, who has been all her life a faith- ful member, most liberal supporter and co-worker of this same church. They are people who will be greatly missed when gone and a vacancy will be felt in both church and community which will be hard to fill."
On the 25th of November, 1857, Mr. Grant was united in marriage with Permelia Harrold, who was born in 1830. No children have been born to this union, but Mr. and Mrs. Grant, out of the kindness of their hearts, reared two children, Andrew Zeigler and Jennie Hayes, and to these children they gave the same care and attention they would have given to children of their own blood. These children are now both grown and are heads of families of their own.
In religion Mr. Grant was a Presbyterian, holding membership in the church of that denomination at Apple Creek, to which Mrs. Grant belongs. Mrs. Grant donated the ground on which the church now stands. Mr. Grant served for twenty-five years as an elder in the church and in many ways this worthy couple showed their sincere interest in the society. In politics Mr. Grant gave an enthusiastic support to the Republican party, in the success of which he was deeply interested. He was a man of recognized influence in the community and his support was always found on the side of every move- ment calculated to benefit the community, morally, educationally, religiously, socially or materially. His genial disposition, rugged honesty and blameless life won for him the unbounded confidence of all who knew him.
JOHN B. HOSTETLER.
The agricultural interests of Wayne county have no better representa- tives than its native born citizens, many of whom are classed among its most practical, enterprising and successful farmers. One of this number is
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Mr. Hostetler, who is one of the prominent citizens of Greene township. Dependent largely on his own resources from his boyhood, he has so applied his energies and ability as to attain a success worthy the name, while his high standing in the community indicates the objective appreciation of his sterling character.
John B. Hostetler was born in Greene township, Wayne county, Ohio, on the 30th of April, 1874, and is a son of David and Barbara ( Yoder) Hostetler. David Hostetler was born in Wayne township, Wayne county, Ohio, March 10, 1839, Barbara Yoder was born in Wayne county January 2, 1841. They became the parents of the following children: Malinda, the wife of M. W. Hurst, of Baughman township, this county; Samuel, who died at the age of four years ; Elizabeth died at the age of two years; Levi F. married Amanda Steele and lives in Greene township, this county ; John, the immediate subject of this sketch; Amanda, who died at the age of twenty- two years; David, who died at ten years of age; Minnie, who remains single and is living at home.
John B. Hostetler was reared at home and grew in close acquaintance with the routine life of a farm. As soon as old enough he took upon him- self his share of the labor during the summer seasons, while during the winters he attended the common schools. He had a marked talent for music, which he studied much at home and also took one term of musical instruc- tion at Wooster University. During the greater part of five years he was engaged in teaching singing classes, and along this line was quite successful. After he had attained his majority he started out in life on his own account and has followed the pursuit of agriculture continuously since. He is now the owner of the old Longenecker farm, comprising one hundred and forty- four acres of fine land situated in section 31, township 17 north, range 12 west. Here he carried on expensive operations in farming and stock raising, being thoroughly equipped for both lines of activity in the way of modern machinery and permanent and substantial improvements. His fields are under an excellent state of cultivation, good and substantial buildings adorn the place and its neat and thrifty appearance indicates to the passer-by the supervision of a progressive owner.
In matters of political importance Mr. Hostetler gives his support to the Republican party, and his religious preference is indicated by his membership in the Mennonite church.
On November 28, 1897, Mr. Hostetler married Anna Longenecker, who was born in 1877 in Greene township, on the farm on which she now resides.
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She is the daughter of S. B. Longenecker. Mr. Hostetler has ever taken an active interest in the enterprises and undertakings which have been projected for the general good of the community and his attitude has been that of a public-spirited and progressive citizen.
DAVID HOSTETLER.
Among the honored and venerable citizens of Wayne county is the sub- ject of this review, who has here maintained his home for a period of nearly three-quarters of a century, winning a definite success by means of the agri- cultural industry, to which he devoted his attention during the long years of an active business life. He is now retired and is enjoying that repose and rest which are due to him now that the shadows of his life begin to lengthen in the golden west. His career has been without shadow of wrong or sus- picion of evil, and thus he has ever commanded the confidence and esteem of his fellow men, his three score and ten years resting lightly upon him and being crowned with honor.
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