USA > Ohio > Wayne County > History of Wayne County, Ohio, Volume I > Part 92
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In 1882 Mr. Cramer was united in marriage to Emmeline Fisher, who
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was born February 12, 1862, near Mount Eaton, Paint township, this county, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hiram Fisher. Her paternal grandfather, Solomon Fisher, was a native of the Old Dominion and was one of the earliest settlers in this part of Ohio. Hiram Fisher was well known and for a number of years he served as court constable at Wooster. To Mr. and Mrs. Cramer have been born six children, namely: Bryant, of Alliance, Ohio, where he is employed by a railroad; Mary, at home; George, who is a stu- dent at Wooster University, where he is fitting himself for the profession of civil engineering ; Leroy, who is at home; the fourth and fifth in order of birth died in infancy.
Mr. Cramer has not been an office-seeker in the popular acceptation of the term, but he has served his fellow citizens as a member of the township school board, having always taken a deep and commendable interest in edu- cational matters. Mrs. Cramer is an earnest member of the Presbyterian church at Mount Eaton. Mr. Cramer is not a member of the church, but gives to it a liberal financial support. His political affiliation is with the Repub- lican party.
The subject is one of the strong and sturdy men of his community and has justly merited the high position which he now occupies in the estima- tion of his fellow citizens. He is ever found on the right side of every moral issue, and his support is freely given to every movement looking to the advancement of the community in any way. Because of his sterling quali- ties of character he is eminently deserving of representation in a work of this character.
DANIEL BEALS.
Few men of Wayne county are as widely and favorably known as Daniel Beals, of Paint township, where he was born on the 7th of February, 1833. He is one of the strong and influential citizens whose lives have become an essential part of the history of this section of the state and for years his name has been synonymous for all that constitutes honorable and upright manhood. Tireless energy, keen perception and honesty of purpose, com- bined with every-day common sense, were among his chief characteristics, and while advancing individual success he also largely promoted the moral and material welfare of his community.
The subject's parents were Jacob and Besanba ( Bowers) Beals, and the former was the son of Abraham Beals, who came to Olio in 1812 and en-
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tered large tracts of land in this part of Wayne county, of which he gave each of his children a quarter section. He was a native of Lebanon county, Pennsylvania, and he rode all the way to his new western home on horse- back. He was one of the very first settlers here. At that time there was an Indian reservation at Canal Dover, from which point there was a foot trail to New Sandusky, to which place the early settlers had to go to secure salt. Abraham Beals and his wife both lived to the age of eighty-six years.
Jacob Beals was born in Pennsylvania and was married in that state, though all his children were born after his removal to Ohio. These chil- dren were Philip, Sarah, Rebecca, Solomon, Sabie, Elizabeth, Rachael and Daniel, all of whom are now dead excepting the subject. The mother of these children died at the age of seventy-six years. She was born in Penn- sylvania and two brothers and a sister also came to Ohio. When she and her husband came to Ohio and took up land, not a stick of it had been dis- turbed by white hands, and to create a farm out of this dense wilderness was a task of herculean proportions. But the sturdy pioneer had reckoned the cost and courageously went to work cutting and burning the timber, building a log house and cultivating the land. In due time what had formerly been the primeval forest began to present a changed appearance, and soon fields of ripening grain characterized what had been almost impenetrable forests. First operations were primitive in the extreme and, as the nearest grist mill was at Massillon, the pioneers grated the corn from which they made their first bread or pone. Jacob Beals was considered a very successful man for his day and was active in many lines of endeavor. In the work of the Methodist church he took a very leading and prominent part, in this respect following in the wake of his father, who had been instrumental in building the first church in this part of the state, it being located in Stark county. Jacob Beals was a justice of the peace in his community for eighteen years and also at different times held all the other township offices, being also a notary public. He was a man of unusual strength of character and possessed in a large de- gree that quality commonly called "horse sense," his counsel and advice being often sought by those in need of counsel. In politics he was originally a Whig, but on the formation of the Republican party he allied himself with it and remained an ardent supporter of that party ever after. No man was more prominent or better known throughout this section of the state than was Jacob Beals, and his memory remains sacred to those who knew him.
The subject of this sketch secured his early education in the primitive log school house of the early days, the school being in the beginning supported by subscription. Later the free schools were inaugurated and the subject
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aided in the building of the first free school house in this section and was himself made a member of the first school board, though then but a youth. He remained at home with his parents until he was twenty-eight years of age, and then, acquiring the ownership of the farm, his parents remained with him, he taking the most painstaking and careful regard for their com- fort. About twenty-eight years ago Mr. Beals relinquished active farm work and moved to Orrville, for the purpose of giving his children better oppor- tunities for education, and remained there eighteen years. While residing in that city he engaged in the buggy business, in which he was eminently suc- cessful, having made the record of selling two hundred and eighty-three bug- gies in twelve months. He also engaged in handling livestock, buying and shipping large numbers annually to the eastern markets. About 1899 Mr. Beals and his family returned to the old home in Paint township, where he is now living practically a retired life, in the enjoyment of a rest which he has richly earned. He has been a very successful man and, despite much trouble and many material losses, he is considered today one of the most enterpris- ing and successful men in his part of the county. He has ever evinced a spirit of progress and has always given an enthusiastic support to every object or movement having for its ultimate end the advancement of the best inter- ests of the community. A man of sterling qualities of character, he has ever enjoyed the friendship of the best people in the community, and he now enjoys the unbounded confidence and respect of all.
Mr. Beals has been twice married, the first time to Mary Scott, a daugh- ter of Robert Scott, and to them were born four children, namely: Ottie became the wife of Isaac Blackstone, of Orrville, and they have four chil- dren ; John married Adele Taggart and resides near Orrville; Emma is the wife of Solon Byall, of Orrville, and they have two children; William, of Orrville, married a Miss Gardner and they have one child. Mrs. Mary ( Scott) Beals died October 20, 1885, and was buried in Crow Hill cemetery in Orr- ville. She was a good woman and her friends mourned her loss. On October 20, 1899, Mr. Beals married Elizabeth Bookwalter, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Martin Bookwalter. She died October 7, 1909, and was buried at Mount Eaton. She was a lady of splendid personal qualities and was well liked by all who knew her. Her parents were natives of Lancaster county, Pennsyl- vania, and came to Ohio in about 1831.
In politics Mr. Beals has always been actively interested in the success of the Democratic party, but has never been a seeker after office. Regardless of this fact, he has been selected by his fellow citizens to serve in a number of township offices and is now the incumbent of the office of township trustee. in
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which he is rendering the most satisfactory service. Religiously, he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, belonging to the church of that denomination at Orrville. Mrs. Beals is a member of the Universalist church at Akron, Ohio.
WILLIAM ADDLEMAN.
There is no positive rule for achieving success and yet in the life of the successful man there are always lessons which might well be followed. The man who gains prosperity is he who can see and utilize the opportunity that came in his path. The essential conditions of human life are ever the same, the surroundings of individuals differ but slightly ; and when one man passes another on the highway of life to reach the goal of prosperity before others who perhaps started out before him, it is because he has the power to use advantages which probably encompass the whole human race. Today among the prominent citizens and successful business men of Burbank, Wayne county, Ohio, stands William Addleman. The qualities of keen discrimina- tion, sound judgment and executive ability enter very largely into his make-up and have been contributing elements to the material success which has come to him.
William Addleman was born February 9, 1838, in Berlin township, Holmes county, Ohio, and is a son of Adam and Susan (Shidler) Addleman. The subject's paternal grandfather, John Addleman, was a native of Penn- sylvania and came to Ohio in a very early day, settling in Holmes county, where he spent his remaining years, and died. The maternal grandparents, John and Katherine Shidler, were also natives of Pennsylvania and likewise early settlers of Holmes county. The subject's parents were both born in Pennsylvania, the father in Greene county and the mother in Washington county. They were married in their native state and in the early thirties came to Ohio. There the father died in 1840 and in 1846 the mother re- married and came to Wayne county, where she lived until her death, which occurred on June 3, 1891. Adam Addleman was a farmer by vocation and was of a quiet and retiring disposition. He was, nevertheless, a man of ster- ling qualities of character and enjoyed the respect of all who knew him.
William Addleman was born and reared in a typical log cabin of the pioneer period and was reared to the life of a farmer, being at an early age inured to the strenuous labor incident to farm life of that early day. He secured a fair education in the common schools, and until he attained his
WILLIAM ADDLEMAN
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majority he was occupied in assisting his father in the tilling of the soil. In 1860 he went to Iowa and in October of the following year, responding to his country's call for aid in the suppression of the southern insurrection. he enlisted as a private in Company D, Fifteenth Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He rendered faithful service for one year, at the end of which time he was discharged because of sickness. He took part in a number of sanguinary conflicts, including the battles of Shiloh, Corinth and Iuka, be- sides a number of minor engagements and skirmishes. He was employed on guard duty a large part of the time. Enlisting as a private, he was suc- cessively promoted, being a second lieutenant at the time of his discharge. After leaving the army, Mr. Addleman remained in Iowa until the spring of 1863, when he returned to Wayne county, Ohio, and began working by the month on farms. In 1864 he married and located on an eighty-acre farm in Congress township, on which he remained during the following twenty years. In 1884 he moved to Burbank and, forming a business partnership with A. H. Overs, went into the hardware business, which he continued until 1887, when he turned his interest over to his son and has since that time lived a retired life. During President Cleveland's first administration he served one year as postmaster of Burbank, giving a satisfactory administra- tion. A man of strong mentality and naturally a keen business sense, Mr. Addleman made a success of whatever he undertook and is now able to enjoy that rest which he so richly earned during his active years.
In politics a Democrat, Mr. Addleman has taken a deep interest in local public affairs, and in 1890 served as land appraiser. During the period that he resided on his farm he served two terms as township trustee, school director nine consecutive years and other minor local offices, the duties of which he discharged with an eye single to the benefit of the community alone. Socially he is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, while his re- ligious affiliation is with the Evangelical Association, to which he gives an earnest support.
On the 25th of March, 1864, Mr. Addleman was united in marriage to Susan Byers, a native of Congress township, this county, and a daughter of David and Hettie Byers, natives of Pennsylvania and early settlers of Wayne county. To Mr. and Mrs. Addleman have been born two children, namely : John E., who, after completing his common school education, attended Ash- land College and the Ohio Wesleyan University, entered the drug business at Burbank, and served as postmaster during Cleveland's second administra- tion ; Bertha R. is at home with her parents.
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In the foregoing lines have been briefly set forth the salient facts and some of the leading characteristics in the life of one of Wayne county's most highly respected citizens. Commencing with a limited capital, but with an inborn determination to succeed, and paving the way to prosperity only with the solid rocks of honest industry, true stability of character and cor- rect conduct, he has achieved success in the face of every obstacle and won a name which when transmitted to posterity will ever shine with a radiance emanating from a life of honor and integrity.
JOHN MESSNER.
In nearly every community are individuals who by innate ability and sheer force of character rise above their fellows and win for themselves con- spicuous places in public esteem. Such a one is the well-known gentleman whose name appears above, a man who has been identified with the history of Wayne county for over sixty-seven years, during which period his life has been closely interwoven with the material growth and development of his county, while his career as a progressive man of affairs has been synonymous with all that is upright and honorable in citizenship.
John Messner was born on the farm which is now his home, his natal day having been January 5. 1842. He is the son of John M., Sr., and Hannah (Schweigert) Messner, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania and of sturdy German antecedents. They were married in their native state and came to Ohio with their two children, locating about two miles from Mas- sillon. There they remained about two years and then came to Wayne county and bought the land which is now owned by the subject and which at that time was in its original wild state, densely covered with the primeval forest growth and inhabited by many varieties of wild animals. To the arduous task of clearing this land and putting it in cultivation the father applied himself, and in due time saw the reward for his toil. John Messner, Sr., was a good farmer and did well everything he undertook. In connection with farming he also raised large numbers of stock, and was considered a very successful man for his day. He was a Democrat in political proclivities and took a prominent part in local public affairs. He was widely and favorably known throughout this section of the county. His religious belief was that of the German Reformed church and he belonged to the church at Mount Eaton. He was ninety years old at the time of his death, and his wife was
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eighty-five. They were the parents of eight children, namely: Amos, de- ceased; Sarah is the wife of a Mr. Jarvis and lives in the West; Josiah is deceased; William lives in Oklahoma; Savilla is deceased; Fyan married Mr. Adams, an inspector of cattle for the government; the subject of this sketch is the next in order of birth; Rebecca; Matilda, who is the wife of a Mr. Ruch and lives at Mount Eaton.
John Messner received his education in the district school of his home neighborhood, the schools of that early day being somewhat primitive in methods and equipment. The pupils were required to chop wood for the big fireplace and the building was furnished with rough puncheon seats and floors, oftentimes greased paper serving as a substitute for glass in the win- dows. The subject remained on the homestead during his young manhood with the exception of six years spent on another farm in the county, and he has always followed the vocation of farming, in which he has been uniformly successful. He is now managing the home farm and is accounted one of the most progressive and enterprising farmers in this section of the county. He keeps in close touch with the most advanced ideas relating to the science of agriculture and is not slow to adopt new methods when their practica- bility has been demonstrated. The place is adorned with a full set of commo- dious and well-arranged farm buildings and the general appearance of the place indicates the owner to be a man of sound judgment and excellent taste. He carries on general farming, raising all the crops common to this section of the state, and in connection with his tilling of the soil he also gives some attention to the raising of livestock, in which also he is successful.
On the 14th of June, 1864, Mr. Messner was united in marriage to Mary Graber, who was born in Wayne county August 8, 1843. the daughter of Samuel and Susan (Stauffer) Graber. Her parents were both born in Germany, her father being ten years old and her mother seven years old when they accompanied their respective families to the United States. They came over in the old-time sailing vessels and were among the earliest for- eign-born families to settle in Wayne county. To Mr. and Mrs. Messner have been born seven children, namely: Lee, who married Ida Beal, was for- merly a school teacher, but now owns a farm west of Apple Creek, where he resides; Emma is the wife of Frank Senff, a miller at Canton, Ohio, and they have two children; Minnie is the wife of Dr. Edward P. Schaffter, for- merly a veterinarian of Mount Eaton, and then became nieat inspector for the government, first at Kansas City and then at Cleveland and from there was sent by the government to Liverpool, England, as inspector of cattle, where he now resides with his wife and three children; Edwin, who married Laura
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Blosser, owns a farm east of Mount Eaton; Ella is the wife of Prof. Alton Etling, superintendent of the Orrville public schools, and they have two children; Wilson, who is a school teacher, living at Mount Eaton, married Esta Schaffter, and they have one child; Nora is the wife of Harvey Blosser, a school teacher, living at Mount Eaton, and they have two children, twins. Of these children, all have been engaged in teaching school at some period of their lives excepting Emma, Minnie and Edwin.
A stanch Democrat in politics, Mr. Messner has been actively interested in the success of his party and has himself held a number of local offices. Religiously, he and his wife are consistent members of the Reformed church at Mount Eaton and are interested in all the activities of the society. Their comfortable and attractive home is known far and wide because of the hos- pitality ever in evidence there, and the members of this family are numbered among the most popular residents of this section of the county. Mr. Messner is a man of fine personal qualities and makes a friend of every one he meets.
WOOSTER NURSERY COMPANY.
No history of Wayne county would be complete without giving an ac- count of the famous Wooster Nursery Company, an institution of which any community might be justly proud. This flourishing company was incor- porated four years ago under the laws of Ohio, which means that the stock- holder is secure in every way. Starting from a small beginning, it has rap- idly grown through the judicious and honest management of its officials until its products are eagerly sought after throughout northern Ohio and other sections of the Middle West. This is the result of the ambition and splendid management of Thomas E. Ewing, the founder, who came to Wayne county from Ashland, Ohio, in 1902, in which year, by his personal efforts, the company, then in its infancy, received a great impetus, which it so much needed. In 1903 he planted fruit and ornamental trees. There was a large increase in the business in 1904 and at that time an increased acreage was planted. They began growing garden and farm seeds in addition to their trees in 1905. After the incorporation the company purchased twenty-six and one-half acres adjoining the Experiment Station and this has proved to be another one of the wise moves engineered by Mr. Ewing, as it could not be excelled anywhere in Ohio for the nursery business. Their trees have given the utmost satisfaction in every respect, one of their best points being a great
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fibrous root system and the trees can be dug without injury. Trees grown on sand or low muck land are not so hardy or vigorous. In 1907 the busi- ness increased to such proportions that more than twice the usual assistance was required to properly handle the output. It also declared at that time a ten per cent. dividend. This has been kept up ever since and it is possible that the present year will see a much larger dividend declared, since large in- creases in sales and orders have already been reported. The capital stock of the company has been increased and is being offered in a limited way to the public. According to those in position to judge such matters, the company's offer is certainly a safe and sane investment and will, no doubt, be subscribed faster than the officials anticipate.
The local trade increased so rapidly that in 1908 it became necessary to establish a down-town office, which was located on South Walnut street. The well-known firm of seed men, E. C. Green & Son, of Medina, Ohio, was consolidated with that of the local company and the combination is proving to be a very strong one and a very satisfactory business is the result. Mr. Green was brought up in the nursery business, his father being one of the foremost nurserymen in Ohio, and for a number of years Mr. Green was con- nected with the Experiment Station. The location of these combined inter- ests seems to have been a most fortunate one in every way.
The local trade grew to such proportions in 1909 that the company was compelled to seek larger quarters and No. 40 South Market street was se- lected. This soon proved too small and in the fall of the same year the of- fices were moved across the street to the Foss building. No. 35 South Mar- ket street, where they now occupy the entire first floor and basement with their stocks and seeds for farm and garden, nursery stock in season, poultry and bee supplies. They carry the Canton fertilizer exclusively and their trade on this one article alone is over ten car loads per year. They also handle spray materials and spray pumps. All the latest and best devices for the care of orchards and gardens are to be found here in their neat and well- arranged quarters where they have a floor space of nineteen by one hundred and eighty feet and nineteen by one hundred and forty feet. Last year the grounds of the nursery were planted heavier than ever, the trees, shrubs, etc., then on the place being valued at over ten thousand dollars.
This company has a number of interesting phases that commend them- selves : It is a home concern and can be seen any time : the stockholders pay no taxes on their holdings; the management is thoroughly experienced and capable ; they have been in business for a number of years and have proven
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to be entirely safe, sane and conservative, good organizers and promoters along legitimate lines. There is no reason why, in the language of Mr. Ewing, they should not grow-they have the land, the men and the business.
The present officers of the company are such men of unquestioned integ- rity as T. E. Ewing, president and manager ; E. C. Green, vice-president ; H. L. Sanborn, secretary; W. J. Giffin, treasurer; T. E. Ewing, R. F. Wal- lace, W. J. Giffin, Calvin and S. N. Green compose the board of directors.
Some insight into the life history of Thomas Edwin Ewing, the prime mover in this noted enterprise and one of Wayne county's most progressive and highly-esteemed citizens, would doubtless be appreciated by the readers of this work, and in closing this sketch of the Wooster Nursery Company we are glad to give the following facts in his life record. He was born near Hayesville, Ashland county, Ohio, June 21, 1866, the oldest child of Sam- uel J. and Elizabeth D. (Dobbs) Ewing, a highly respected and influential family of that place. His early education was gained in the common schools, and he took a preparatory course in the academy at Hayesville, later attend- ing Muskingum College at New Concord. He made a splendid record and began teaching soon after finishing his school work, being well equipped for this line of work, which he followed with marked success for a period of three years, from 1884 to 1886 inclusive. But not taking kindly to the school room and believing that his true forte lay in the business world, he went to Mansfield, Ohio, in November, 1887, when twenty-one years of age, and entered the implement business, in which he was very successful and in which he remained until 1908. After engaging in business for himself for a period of four years, he came to Wooster in 1902, as before stated, and organized the Wooster Nursery Company.
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