USA > Ohio > Wayne County > History of Wayne County, Ohio, Volume I > Part 88
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David Hostetler was born in Wayne township, Wayne county, Ohio, March 10, 1839, and he is a son of Christian and Elizabeth (Yoder) Hos- tetler. Christian Hostetler was born in Pennsylvania in 1800, and he was a son of John Hostetler, also a native of the Keystone state. Christian Hos- tetler came with his family by wagon from Pennsylvania to Wayne county, Ohio, about 1829, and settled in Wayne township, about four miles east of Wooster. Here he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land, nearly all of which was densely covered with the primeval forest. This he cleared and brought to an excellent state of cultivation, so that in the course of time it became one of the best farms in the locality. He also acquired the ownership of other farms and at the time of his death was considered a man of means. He was a member of the Amish Mennonite church. He was the father of the following children: An infant that died unnamed; Samuel, Lydia, John, Jeptha, Barbara, Christian, Nancy, David and Jonathan.
Of these, David was reared under the parental roof and secured his edu- cation in the district schools of his home township. He remained on the home farm until he had attained his majority, and then he started out for himself, working on farms by the day and also as a member of a threshing machine crew. He was energetic and economical and when he was married, in 1864, he was the owner of a fine farm, which he continued to operate until
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the spring of 1906, when he gave up active farm work and moved to Weilers- ville, where he now resides. He is a quiet, unassuming man, and his life has been so ordered as to win for him the sincere respect and esteem of all who know him.
In 1864 Mr. Hostetler married Barbara Yoder, who was born in Wayne county January 2, 1841, and to them the following children were born : Ma- linda, 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 (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 members of the Mennonite church, and of this society the subject is an active minister, having been ordained to this sacred calling in 1872. He is a man of many splendid qualifications and has richly earned the high standing which he now enjoys in the community.
JOHN C. CONRAD.
Through a long period the name of Conrad has been prominently con- nected with the history of Wayne county. It is an untarnished name and one that is familiar to the people of this county by reason of the honorable and useful lives of those who have borne it. John C. Conrad, of this review, is a gentleman whose history forms a connecting link between the pioneer past and the modern present. He saw the country in the days when it seemed in some respects almost on the borders of civilization, its present wonderful development being then but in the bud. In the work of progress and devel- opment that has since wrought such marvelous changes he has borne his part, and today he ranks among those substantial and valued citizens of the com- munity who laid broad and deep the foundation of the present prosperity of the county.
Mr. Conrad was born in Baughman township, Wayne county, Ohio, on the 3d of December, 1843. He is the son of Martin and Anna (Conrad) Conrad, who were own cousins. The subject's paternal grandfather. Jacob Conrad, was a native of France and the father of five children, Jacob, Cath- arine, Peter, Martin and Christ. Martin Conrad came to this country with his parents at the age of six years. He met with the misfortune of the loss of one leg at the age of eighteen years. He settled on section 7. Banghman
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township, this county, where they successfully followed farming pursuits, and there they reared their three children, who were Fannie, the wife of C. C. Graber, John and Lydia. Martin Conrad, who became quite wealthy, died at the age of seventy-seven years.
John C. Conrad was reared under the parental roof and secured a prac- tical education in the common schools of the locality. On reaching the proper age he took up the duties of the farm and has applied himself to agricultural pursuits continuously since. For a number of years he gave his attention to the cultivation of the home farm, meeting with fair success, but in 1882 he moved to his present farm, which is located in the northwest quarter of sec- tion 2. Greene township. On this place he has a number of good and substan- tial improvements and has maintained the place at a high standard of excel- lence. The soil is good and Mr. Conrad reaps abundant crops as the fruitage of his labors. He confines his efforts to no special line, but carries on a diversified system of agriculture, combined with which he also raises large numbers of livestock, finding this combination a profitable one. The appear- ance of the premises indicates the owner to be a man of good judgment and progressive ideas.
On December 8, 1870, Mr. Conrad married Catharine Ramseyer, and the fruits of this union have been seven children, of whom five are living, namely : Peter R .; Amos; Martin ; Elizabeth, the wife of J. P. Leichly; Amanda, the wife of E. D. Miller. The three sons were located on farms by their father's assistance and have proved to be successful farmers. The family, except one, are all members of the Amish Mennonite church and give every moral move- ment their unstinted support. In politics Mr. Conrad is a Democrat and takes a commendable interest in public affairs, though he is not in any sense a seeker after the honors or emoluments of public office. He is public-spirited and gives support to enterprises for the public good, being a stockholder in the Millersburg Telephone Company and the Orrville National Bank. A man of highest integrity and of unvarying courtesy and kindliness, he is honored by all who know him and is regarded as one of the representative citizens of Greene township.
LINCOLN A. YOCUM, M. D.
Health and disease are physical conditions upon which pleasure and pain, success and failure depend. By the law of economics, the conservative and preservative code, every individual gain increases the public gain. Upon the
Layocum
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health of the people as a mass is fulcrummed the prosperity of the nations; by it every value is enhanced, every joy, every condition becomes intensive.
Life is incomplete without the possession and use of healthy organs and faculties, for these are productive of, or give rise to, the delightful and thril- ling sensations of existence. Health-and we might assert it as a maxim- is essential to the accomplishment of every purpose and aim of human life. Sickness is the stern blockade to the best intentions and most worthy and exacted aspirations. The facts are, we are perpetually deciding upon those conditions which either induce emotions and sensations or occasion the rever- sionary exhibits of pleasure and pain. Prudence and our better common judgment require us to meet the foes and obviate the dangers which threaten us, by turning all of our philosophy, science and art into practical common sense.
The profession of medicine is no sinecure, "no benefice without a cure of souls"; its labors are constant, its toils unremitting, its sacrifices legion, and its cares increasing. The physician is expected by many to confront the grim monster, "break the jaws of death, and pluck the spoil out of his teeth." His ear is ever attentive to entreaty, and within his faithful breast are con- cealed the disclosures and confidences of human suffering. Success should stimulate to a better service, as conquest flushes and strengthens the victor. We lavish and pile up honors on the military chieftain who has slain his thou- sands; disease slays its tens of thousands; and is not the defeat of this ad- versary a more glorious and brilliant achievement ?
With the three liberal professions presented to them, the young men, fresh from the college, the academy or the high schools have, if they desire to enter, the choice of the one upon which they prefer to enter : the legal, with its dry technicalities and classic literature; the medical, with its dignities and elegancies of commanding authorship; the clerical, proclaiming the warnings of phophecy, its promises of pardon and happiness.
The subject of this biographical review saw proper at the termination of his rudimentary course of education, to make the choice, and determination to devote his life to the study and practice of the healing art.
Lincoln A. Yocum was born in Warrenton, in the county of Warren, state of Missouri, May 8. 1867, and is a son of James E. Yocum, a former resi- dent and citizen of Wayne county. His earlier labors and experiences were upon the farm with his father, where he remained till he was twenty years of age, having availed himself. during the preceding years, of the opportunities and advantages of an excellent public school system, such as is furnished by
(52)
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the great commonwealth of Missouri. He then came to Wayne county, Ohio, making his home with, or rather becoming a member of the family of his uncle, Dr. Joseph H. Todd, of this city. He soon thereafter registered as a pupil of the high school, from which, after three years of close application, industrious effort and hard, faithful study, he graduated in 1891.
After this diligent and efficient course at the high school, characterized by the most systematic disciplinary methods with James C., only son and child of Doctor Todd, now an eminent practicing physician and author of a- recent volume, now of Denver, Colorado, as his companion in study, vacation and in the fields, he spent two summer terms at the Wooster University, devoting the time not absorbed in his college work to the study of the profession upon whose ancient and historical waters, sometimes serene, sometimes billowy, he had resolved to unfurl a sail. He had meantime completed a full course at Bixler's Business College, graduating therefrom with diploma.
Having equipped himself by energetic study in the office of Doctor Todd, aided by the counsel, tutelage and experience of this eminent gentleman and scholar, not only in his profession, but along the lines of science, among the surface lights and central glooms of the old earth, crowding and crowning his shelves with the spoils of nature and art, he matriculated at the Marion-Sims Medical College, St. Louis, Missouri, where, after the consummation of the outlined line of work, study, experimentation, drill, etc., he graduated with the class of 1895. He then returned to Wooster, re-entered the office of Doctor Todd as partner, remaining with him for three years, when he assumed for himself the responsibility of professional work, opening an office on West Lib- erty street, nearly opposite his present office and residence, to engage in "life's long battle with disease," dispense the healing balms and "lift unmoved the glittering knife." Not much leisure or suspensive waiting was accorded him, as he was prepared for the exigencies of the hour and the service that came to him. He was not like a stray joint in the boy's puzzle that fits into no place, but his adjustments fitted him to many and to any.
Doctor Yocum was married October 5, 1878, to Leodema A. Phillips. of this city, a refined and educated young lady, there having been born to this union three children, Emerson P., Miriam Louise, who died in infancy, and Katherine R., the former nine years old and the latter two years. And it must be noted with a feeling of pleasure, the kindliness, the loving and af- fectionate memory of Doctor Yocum, in christening his son by the name of Emerson-a tribute, indeed of a loyal heart, to an older brother of fine mental qualities, professional attainments and conceded force of character, who had studied with Doctor Todd, graduating from the same medical college as did
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his brother, on his return going into practice with his preceptor for three years. His health becoming somewhat impaired, he went to Thomasville, Georgia, with the hope of its restoration, but his anticipations were crushed, death ensuing, as a result of pneumonia, following an attack of typhoid fever.
We can congratulate the Doctor in his years, that not one star has grown dim in the cluster of his first manhood, that not one shows portents of setting in the coming tomorrows. Fresh, ambitious, with an earnest heart, a clear brain, moulded to his duties, without unnecessary suspicion or doubt of him- self, his right is indisputable to have faith in himself and make pledges to fate or fortune.
The Doctor is a quasi-Wayne county product, though born in "the State of the Compromise" and Tom Benton, having lived here since he was twenty years old, his father being born and raised near Millbrook in old Wayne, for which today he entertains a most pleasant recollection, especially of Wooster, where at one time he was clerk for the old-time popular clothing store of John Crall & Henry. He was one of the Argonauts, the California "Forty- niners," veined into the prose of Claggett and Bret Harte. He was married to Adelaide Mendenhall, of Clinton township, a Methodist, and had a family of children.
Doctor Yocum is progressive and alert in his profession, seeking at all times to promote its interests, advance its claims to higher standards and ideals and widen comprehensibly its spheres of usefulness. He is a member of the Wayne County Medical Society and its president, actively participating in its sessions and deliberations with the other medical and literary gentlemen con- stituting its members, with the zeal of an enthusiast in medical science. He is also a member of the Ohio State and American Medical Associations. He was one of the five practicing physicians of Wooster who purchased the build- ings and beautiful areas upon which are located the Wooster Hospital, on North Market street.
Doctor Yocum is advancing toward the full vigor and strength of middle life, earnest, energetic, buoyant, with blood and nerve thrilling for the ac- complishment of what is best along the alignments of medical science and stimulate the dignity and ambition of his profession to the proud plane of constant and continual elevations. He is a gentleman eminently fitted for the complexity of his work, composite in his qualifications as his clientele is composite, a man of conscious sympathy, a liberal man with moral qualities such as naturally spring from an elevated and cultivated mind, and a heart penetrated with the love of whatsoever things are right and of good report. He realizes that there are committed to his profession important health trusts
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which it holds not simply in its own behalf but for the benefit of others, and he is possessed of the noble aim to prove worthy of this generous and exacted commission that he may enjoy present as well as retrospective satisfaction, the noblest fruitage of professional service-the good words: "Well done, good and faithful servant."
-BY BEN DOUGLAS.
EPHRAIM J. STEEL.
As a representative of one of the pioneer families of Wayne county and as one who has here passed his entire life, it is certainly consistent that there be entered in this work a review of the career of Ephraim J. Steel, who has long been identified with the agricultural and stock-growing interests of the county, having a fine estate in Greene township and being honored as one of its representative men. He is a native of the township in which he now maintains his home, having been born on the old pioneer homestead on the 23d of November, 1869. He is descended from a line of pioneers, his great- grandfather, John Steel, having come to this county from Pennsylvania in 1814 and being one of the first settlers of Wayne county, in the early develop- ment of which he played an important part. He married Fannie Lantz and they became the parents of three children, Jacob and two daughters. Jacob married Sarah A. Weaver and to them were born sixteen children, named as follows: Mary became the wife of Solomon Smith; Martha was the wife of John Hoover; Isaac married Elizabeth Hoover: Jacob married Mary A. Martin ; Joseph, who also married; Amos married Mella Swinehart; William married a Miss Haines; Fannie became the wife of Jacob Fike ; five children died in infancy. Isaac Steel also was the father of eleven children, all of whom are living. He was twice married, his first wife, Elizabeth Hoover, bearing him seven children, namely: E. J., who married Mary M. Brenne- man ; Sarah A., unmarried ; Isaac married Nola Frank ; Amanda, who became the wife of L. F. Hostetler; Cyrus married Alva Kauffman; Noah married Olive Forrer ; Clara, the wife of John H. Miller. Elizabeth Steel died March 15, 1881, and subsequently Mr. Steel married Mary Wiean, and to them were born the following children : Melvin married Blanch Hall ; Mable, Grace and Mary, who remain unmarried. Mr. Steel died on the 18th of March, 1892.
Ephraim J. Steel was reared on the old homestead in Greene township and secured his education in the common schools. He worked on the home farm until he was twenty-one years of age, when he removed to the Levi Troyer farm, where he remained a year, and during this time was employed
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by the day at farm labor. He then moved to East Union township, where he rented a farm and operated it four years. In 1903 he moved onto the Tschantz farm in Greene township, where he now lives. He is a wide-awake and hus- tling farmer, and in the operation of his farm he exercises a soundness of judgment and a careful discrimination which insures him abundant returns for the labor bestowed. He carries on a general line of farming, raising all the crops common to this latitude, and has achieved a distinctive success in his vocation.
On March 7, 1897, Mr. Steel was united in the bonds of matrimony with Mary M. Brenneman, who was born in East Union township, Wayne county, on the 3d of December, 1873. the daughter of John R. and Eliza (Walter) Brenneman. John R. Brenneman was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, October 26, 1825, and his wife. Eliza Walter, was born in Greene township, Wayne county, Ohio, in 1831. John R. Brenneman was the son of Henry H. Brenneman, who was born in 1814 in Pennsylvania, and he the son of Henry Brenneman, who was born in 1793. To Mr. and Mrs. Steel have been born two children, namely: Carl W., born February 20, 1898, and Paul, born March 25, 1909.
In political matters Mr. Steel gives his support to the Democratic party, and has served one year as assessor of Greene township. He is a man of splendid qualities and is liked by all. His attention is given to general farm- ing, and in all that he undertakes he meets with creditable success. All the splendid improvements on his place are monuments to his enterprise, indus- try and economy and he stands high as an enterprising and successful agri- culturist.
JACOB S. SHIBLER.
Among the citizens of Greene township, Wayne county, Ohio, who have built up a highly creditable reputation and have distinguished themselves by right and honorable living, is the subject of this brief sketch. His prominence in the affairs of the community is conceded and his deeds speak for them- selves. He is one of the strongest factors in this community, where there are many men of sound sense and ripe judgment. He has shown his eminent fitness for official honors after many years spent in the public service, and he is willing that his record should speak for him.
Jacob S. Shibler was born in Smithville, Ohio, on the 27th of Novem- ber, 1849, and is a son of Joseph and Rosanna ( Peters) Shibler, the latter born in Pennsylvania March 26, 1828. Joseph Shibler was born in Pennsyl-
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vania on the 24th of February, 1823, and in the same year he was brought by his parents to Wayne county, Ohio, locating at Smithville. There he grew to manhood, receiving a fair education in the schools of the day, which were somewhat primitive in methods and equipment. On attaining mature years he learned the trade of a blacksmith, which he followed during all of . his active years. To his union with Rosanna Peters there were born twelve children, eight boys and four girls, named as follows: Jacob S., Henry G., F. P., Israel L., Charlotte C., J. B., Sarah W. A., Hattie Isabell, William W., Seneca B., Rosa V. and Samuel G.
Jacob S. Shibler was reared at Smithville and attended the common schools, this training being supplemented by attendance at Professor Eberly's school at Smithville. Under his father's direction he learned the blacksmith's trade, at which he became a proficient workman. He commanded his full share of the public patronage along this line, and was successful financially, so that in recent years he has been enabled to lay aside the hammer and tongs and retire to his comfortable home in Smithville, where he now resides. His home place comprises three acres of land and is a very comfortable and pleas- ant home. Mr. Shibler's career has been an honorable one and he has won and retains a host of warm personal friends.
He has ever had a keen interest in the public affairs of the community and has rendered faithful and efficient service in the official capacity of town- ship clerk. He was first elected to this responsible position in 1880 and served in all about fourteen years, being the present incumbent of the office; also clerk of Smithville since it was incorporated in 1888, with the exception of about two and one-half years, and clerk of the school board about sixteen years. He has given to these offices the same careful and painstaking atten- tion that he would give to his own private affairs, and his frequent re-election to the offices is a marked evidence of the appreciation in which he is held by his fellow citizens. His political affiliation is with the Republican party, of which he is a stanch supporter. Fraternally he is a charter member of Smithville Lodge No. 483, Knights of Pythias, in which he has passed all the chairs. He was the first keeper of records and seal, having served several years in this capacity. Mrs. Shibler is a member of the Lutheran church at Smithville and is active in its work and generous in its support.
In 1898 Mr. Shibler was united in marriage to Sadie E. Currie, who was born August 13, 1870, and this union has been blessed in the birth of one child, Ruie V., born November 5, 1900. Mr. Shibler is a man with broad views and of public spirit, and one who takes pride in the progress of his township and the enhancement of the public weal. He is widely known and is highly respected by all.
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JOHN W. SHISLER.
Wayne county, Ohio, has been the home of John W. Shisler since his boyhood, and he is a representative of one of the honored families of this section of the state. He has wrought out his own success through the per- sistent application of his energies and abilities in connection with the great basic art of agriculture, and is known as a representative farmer of Greene township, where he has long occupied a leading position among his fellows. He always stands for the best interests of the entire community and any movement that promises to be for the benefit of his fellow citizens receives his endorsement and support.
John W. Shisler is a native son of the old Buckeye state, having been born in Stark county on the 8th of December, 1854. His parents were E. C. and Catharine (Harnley) Shisler, the former of whom was a native of Lan- caster county, Pennsylvania, whence he came to Ohio in an early day, locating first in Stark county, near Greenville. In 1865 he came to Wayne county and here spent the remainder of his days. He was a sturdy citizen and en- joyed the unlimited confidence of all who knew him. He was the father of ten children.
The subject of this sketch was eleven years old when his family came to Wayne county, and in the schools of Wayne township he secured a prac- tical education. He has always been a close reader and a keen observer of men and things and is considered a very well-informed man on matters in general. He was reared to the life of a farmer and has followed this hon- orable occupation all the years of his active life. He is the owner of a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Greene township and also owns forty acres in Wayne township, this county. He has acquired most of this land as the result of his own efforts, and has brought it all up to a high state of cultivation. His buildings are modern in style and kept in perfect repair, and his farms are well supplied with modern machinery and all the accessories of a modern and up-to-date farm. He grows all the crops common to this section of the country and has met with a success commensurate with his efforts. In addition to the cultivation of the soil, Mr. Shisler gives consid- erable attention to the raising of livestock, in which also he has been suc- cessful, giving special direction to Durham cattle and general purpose horses.
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