USA > Ohio > Wayne County > History of Wayne County, Ohio, Volume II > Part 13
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On Christmas day, 1888, Mr. Bidle married Lulu Craven, who was born October 17, 1868, the daughter of John and Elizabeth (McIntire) Craven. Both of her parents are natives of Wayne county and are now living in Wooster township. Mrs. Bidle was reared on a farm and received a good practical common school education. To the subject and wife have been born four children, namely: John W., born April 10, 1890; Charles W., born August 30, 1891; George W., born March 17, 1905; Elizabeth N., born April 28, 1906.
Religiously Mr. and Mrs. Bidle are faithful and consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Apple Creek, of which Mr. Bidle is a member of the board of trustees and his wife is an active member of the Ladies' Aid Society. In politics Mr. Bidle is a Democrat and has served as trustee of East Union township and as a member of the school board. By a life of consistent endeavor and right living, Mr. Bidle has earned and re- tains the unbounded confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens throughout the township in which he lives.
IRVIN O. STAIR.
A name deserving of mention in a work of the character of this history, which has to do with the progressive and honorable citizens of Wayne county, is that of I. O. Stair, who, by a life of consecutive endeavor along praise-
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worthy lines, has succeeded in establishing a good home and maintaining the excellent reputation of his forbears. He was born December 20, 1865, in Plain township, Wayne county, the son of Fred Stair, a highly honored citi- zen of this county. The subject was educated in the district schools of his native township, and early in life he turned his attention to farming, which he has always followed in a very successful manner. He is now the owner of ninety-three acres of highly improved land on which he conducts a general farming business. He keeps some good stock and has a nice home and all the farming implements that he can use in the successful operations on his farm.
Mr. Stair was married on December 22, 1887, to Eva Rebecca Bechtel, daughter of T. O. Bechtel, who is mentioned at length in another part of this work. She was born, reared and educated in Plain township, and she has borne her husband the following children: Glen O. and Ethel May, the lat- ter dying March 30, 1908. The mother of these children passed to her rest on April 25, 1909. Glen O. Stair was married on June 20, 1909, to Edna May Swartz, and they have a son, Earl Allen, born March 21, 1910.
Mr. Stair and family are members of the Reformed church at Reeds- burg. Politically he is a Democrat, but he prefers to devote his time to his individual affairs rather than mingle in politics.
WILLIAM MUSSER.
The life of the subject of this review has been such as to bear aloft the high standard which had been maintained by his father, who was one of the pioneers of Wayne county and whose life was signally noble, upright and useful,-one over which falls no shadow of wrong, in thought, word or deed. Such was the type of man who laid the foundations and aided in the develop- ment of this favored section of the Buckeye state, and to their memories will ever be paid a tribute of reverence and gratitude by those who have profited by their well-directed endeavors and appreciated the lessons of their lives.
William Musser was born in Saltcreek township, Wayne county, Ohio, on the 9th of June, 1835, and is a son of Jacob and Sarah S. (McDonald) Musser. Jacob Musser was born in canton Bern, Switzerland, in 1800, and Sarah McDonald was born in Fauquier county, Virginia, February 16, 1808, the daughter of a Revolutionary veteran, her father having served with Wash- ington. Jacob Musser came to the United States in 1816 with a family
yours Truly William Musser
MRS. CAROLINE MUSSER
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named Summers, and came at once to Wayne county, Ohio, where he re- mained about six years. He was a carpenter by trade and here he was steadily employed at his trade. He was economical and at the end of the period indi- cated he returned to his native land for a year's visit with his parents. Re- turning then to the United States, he went first to Shenandoah county, Vir- ginia, where he was married and soon afterward came to Wayne county. The trip was made by horseback, and on their arrival here they located in Salt- creek township, where Mr. Musser worked at the carpentering trade, build- ing many of the best houses in the community. He was a good workman and enjoyed a good repute among those who knew of him and his work. In later life he took up the vocation of farming, having acquired his land through earnest and persistent labor at the carpenter's bench. His first real estate purchase was in Saltcreek township, the land being now owned by Howard Crosby. This land was partly cleared when he acquired possession of it and he erected a comfortable house and made other permanent and sub- stantial improvements. After selling this property some years later he moved to East Union township, where he made his home until his death, on Decem- ber 23, 1881. His wife died September 18, 1900. They were the parents of four children, namely: William, the immediate subject of this sketch; Cath- erine, who became the wife of L. C. Reichenbaugh and lives in East Union township; Lucy is the wife of a Mr. Smith and lives in Paint township, this county ; Emily, the wife of a Mr. Brown, of Saltcreek township. Jacob Mus- ser was domestic in his tastes, preferring the companionship of his wife and family to any other, and he had no inclination to mix in politics. He was formerly a Democrat, but on the outbreak of the Civil war he allied himself with the Republican party, with which he remained identified afterwards. He belonged to no church or lodge, but enjoyed a widespread reputation for his absolute honesty and fair dealing in business affairs.
William Musser was reared under the parental roof and attended the dis- trict schools. Though these early schools were crude in equipment and somewhat primitive in educational methods, Mr. Musser was a good student and succeeded in securing a fair education. He has always been a close reader and is considered a well-informed man on topics generally. He was early inured to the labors of a farm and has continued to follow that pursuit all his life. He remained at home until his marriage, when he moved onto land in section 3, Saltcreek township, and here he has lived continuously since. He owns about two hundred and thirty acres of fine land, all of which is un- der cultivation excepting about thirty acres of good timber land. Here he has carried on a general system of farming and has achieved a distinctive success
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along this line. The place was partly cleared when he secured possession, but the present buildings have been erected by the subject, who has made other substantial improvements. The condition of the soil has been carefully looked after, the fences are kept in good condition, and in all ways Mr. Musser has given evidence of his capability and enterprise in this honorable calling.
Mr. Musser married Caroline Emick, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Emick, natives of Baden, Germany. These parents were married in the Fatherland and had several children when they settled in Wayne county, where Mrs. Musser was born on the 2d of June, 1840. Mr. and Mrs. Musser are the parents of four children, namely : Emma, who is the wife of Arthur Senff, of Apple Creek, this county ; Sydna Ann, at home; Harvey, deceased ; Charles, of Saltcreek township, married Lulu Bale and they have two children, Mildred and Howard.
In matters political Mr. Musser is inclined to support the Republican ticket on national issues, but in local affairs he is independent. He has never made any effort to secure public preferment, though he served on the school board for twenty years, giving efficient and appreciated service in that capac- ity, and at one time he was the nominee of his party for county commis- sioner, but he made no effort to be elected. In religion, the family are mem- bers of the Reformed church at Apple Creek. At one time Mr. Musser was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, but is now non-affiliated. Mr. Musser is recognized as one of the influential and progressive farmers of his native county, using marked discrimination in the conducting of his agricultural enterprises and thus winning the merited reward of definite suc- cess. He has lived in this community from his childhood and his life has been such as to gain and retain to him unqualified confidence and esteem.
C. WILLIS HORN.
It should be a matter of general congratulation when the younger members of a community, especially those who seem to be destined for lead- ers, take an active interest in the development of morals. In this age of fast living and faster dissipation of wealth in frivolous amusements, the appear- ance of a steady head and a firm hand to control conduct must be considered a real blessing in any neighborhood. Such a citizen is C. Willis Horn, who, while yet a young man, has won recognition as an attorney of no small calibre
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and a man in whom his community may expect the future to give up many a triumph. He is a native of Dalton, Sugar Creek township, Wayne county, where the major part of his life has been spent, having first seen the light of day September 20, 1878, the son of Edward and Alice (Davidson) Horn, people of unusual traits of character. At an early age he entered the common schools of Dalton, where he made a splendid record, graduating from the high school in 1898. While attending school he worked in the shoe store of L. C. Davidson; but not finding the mercantile business to his liking and having long had an inclination to the legal profession he entered the law office of C. M. Yocum, of Wooster, where he read law for a period of six months, then entered the Ohio Northern University at Ada, this state, graduating from the law department of that institution in 1901, having made a very com- mendable record, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Laws. He opened an office in his native town of Dalton in 1902 and has been practicing here ever since. He met gratifying encouragement from the first and has succeeded in building up a large clientele, having established a wide reputation as a very capable and painstaking attorney, who ever looks to the interest of his clients in a manner that has won the confidence of all who know him. He is not only well versed in both criminal and civil jurisprudence, but he is a forceful and earnest speaker, his arguments convincing and logical.
Mr. Horn has never assumed the responsibilities of the married state. Politically he is a Democrat and an active worker in the party. He is at present town clerk and city solicitor of Dalton. In church affairs he belongs to the Methodist Episcopal denomination. He takes an interest in church and educational matters and all affairs that tend to the betterment of his community, and he has won the highest respect of all classes.
JACOB A. MOSER.
One of the most thoroughgoing and respected agriculturists of Sugar Creek township, Wayne county, is Jacob A. Moser, the descendant of an ex- cellent old family. He was born in this township March 4, 1872, the son of A. P. and Mariah ( Welty ) Moser, the former born in this township July 23, 1836, the son of Peter Moser, who was born in the canton of Berne, Switzer- land, in 1809. He came to the United States as a single man, here met and married Anna Baer, a native of the same country, and they were among the
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earliest settlers of Wayne county and here they spent the balance of their lives on the farm which they hewed from the wilderness. They were the parents of six sons and three daughters. A. P. Moser was reared in Sugar Creek township and lived here all his life, becoming a prosperous farmer and an influential man in his community. Starting in life with but little, he be- came the owner of one hundred and sixteen acres of good land on which he made a comfortable living. He was a public-spirited man and an earnest Christian. He and his wife were the parents of eight children, seven living in 1910.
Jacob A. Moser was reared on the home farm which he assisted in de- veloping, receiving a common school education. He remained at home until he was married in 1893 to Anna Hofstetter, who was born in Sugar Creek township October 23, 1872. Her people were long well known here, having been among the representative farmers of their community. Mrs. Moser re- ceived a fairly good common school education in her native community. Mr. and Mrs. Moser are the parents of two children, Ellen May, born July 2, 1894, and Victor Hugo, born December 13, 1897.
When Mr. Moser started out in life for himself he purchased the farm of eighty-two acres in section 11, Sugar Creek township, going in debt for most of it, but, being a man of thrift and a good manager, he soon had the place all paid for and excellent improvements made. He has one of the finest and most comfortable homes in the township and also a good barn and out- buildings in general. He keeps some good stock and carries on general farming in a manner that yields him a good income. In fact, the larger part of his success has been in raising and dealing in stock.
In politics Mr. Moser is a Democrat. He was assessor of his precinct two years. He takes much interest in whatever makes for the improvement of the community in which he has been reared and made a success of his life work.
JAMES HOWARD FISHER.
It is the pride of citizens of this country that there is no limit to which natural ability, industry and honesty may not aspire. A boy born in poverty and reared under the most adverse surroundings may nevertheless break from his fetters and rise to the highest station in the land. And the quali- ties do not have to be of transcendant character to enable him to accomplish this result. It is more the way he does it and his skill in grasping the oppor-
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HoFisher
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tunities presented, than to any remarkable qualities possessed by him. Ac- cordingly, it is found that very often in this country the president, governor and other high public officials possess no higher ability than thousands of other citizens. They have simply taken better advantage of their circum- stances than their fellows. And this truth runs through every occupation. The farmer who rises above his fellow farmers does so because he has found out how to rise above the surroundings which hold others down. Such a farmer is James H. Fisher, who owns a comfortable landed estate of one hundred acres in section 12. Saltcreek township, Wayne county, Ohio, and he is eminently entitled to representation in a volume of this character.
James Howard Fisher was born in Saltcreek township, this county, on the 6th of January, 1852, and is a son of Wilson and Sarah (Chapman) Fisher. Wilson Fisher was also a native of this township, and is descended from early pioneers of this county, they having come here from Pennsylvania at a time when there had been but little done in the development of the state. They were farming folk and located on land near Fredericksburg. Wilson Fisher was a good farmer and hard worker and he carried on general farm- ing operations with success there. Subsequently he moved to near Fremont, Williams county, and lived there until the precarious condition of his health compelled him to move back to Wayne county. He made no improvement and his death occurred in the fall of 1858. He was but twenty-eight years of age, and was a young man of bright promise for the future. He had mar- ried Sarah Chapman, who was born in Pennsylvania and came here in an early day with her parents, who located at Mount Eaton, this county. To Mr. and Mrs. Fisher were born three children, James H., Frank, and Mary, who lives in Pennsylvania. Some time after the death of her husband, Mrs. Fisher married George W. Boyer, who was born in Washington, Pennsyl- vania, and to them was born one child, Louisa, who is now married and liv- ing in Pennsylvania. Mr. Boyer enlisted for service during the Civil war and became the captain of an ambulance train, in which capacity he was serving when he was shot and killed during the progress of a battle. After- wards his widow became the wife of Mordecai Amos, and to that union there was born a son, Edward.
James H. Fisher is indebted to the schools of Williams county for his early education, his attendance not going further than the common school. After the death of his father, at which time he was but seven years old, he was put out to work on farms in Holmes county. He was among total strangers and thereafter was not given much opportunity to attend school and was de- nied many other things dear to a boy. When he was nineteen years old he
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started out in life for himself and engaged in farming by the day and month and when he was twenty-two years old he was in the employ of John D. Armstrong. The following year he commenced farming for himself and has been prospered, so that today he is considered one of the successful agricul- turists of the township. His career has been characterized by energetic efforts, sound judgment and wise economy, in which he has been ably as- sisted by his good wife, and, despite numerous obstacles and discouragements, he has forged ahead and achieved the success which ever lured him on. In addition to the cultivation of the soil, Mr. Fisher has given much attention to the raising of livestock and during the past fifteen years he has bought and shipped large numbers of animals, having been notably successful in this line of effort.
Mr. Fisher has been a Republican all his life, and in 1886 was elected trustee of the township by a majority of three votes, the township being nor- mally Democratic by ninety. In 1889 he was again the nominee of his party for the same office and this time he was elected by a majority of twenty votes, thus testifying to his popularity as a man and to the satisfactory manner in which he had discharged the duties of the office. He has been several times offered the nomination for various county offices, but has invariably declined to allow his name to go before the voters. He is one of the prominent and well-known men of the county and undoubtedly would come as near being elected as any Republican in the county. Mr. Fisher belongs to no church, but his wife and daughter are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Maysville, to which he gives a liberal support.
On June 15, 1876, Mr. Fisher was united in marriage to Elizabeth Spen- cer, a daughter of R. W., better known as "Dick" Spencer, a native of Penn- sylvania, as was also his wife. Mrs. Fisher was born in Holmes county, Ohio, on New Year's day, 1855. To this union have been born nine children, who are briefly mentioned as follows: Osborn H. married Alta Latchat and they have one child; Mary is the wife of J. J. Stoufer and they are the parents of two children; William is at home; Sadie is the wife of Harry Grow; Giles ; R. Walton; Hattie is the wife of Charles Lillich; Nettie is the wife of Bert Smedley; John married Pearl Gordon and they are the parents of one child.
Quiet and unassuming in his demeanor, he has made many friends in this township, and all are united in their high regard for one who has lived an honest, industrious and upright life in their midst for so many years. A good citizen, a careful farmer and a man devoted to his friends and family, Mr. Fisher occupies an enviable place in public regard.
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DANIEL LEINER.
What a great consolation it is to be able to say that our ancestors were people of such sterling worth that nothing derogatory was ever said about them. Daniel Leiner, one of the substantial farmers and stockraisers of East Union township, can see nothing but good results flowing from the life work of his parents and grandparents, their influence being for right living and steady industry while they lived, and many of their worthy traits have mani- fested themselves in the subject, whose reputation in his community is of the best. He was born in Wooster township, Wayne county, March 9, 1861, the son of George and Sofia (Parson) Leiner, the father having come to this county from Germany, where he was born; the mother also first saw the light of day in the Fatherland, where they both grew to maturity, coming to the United States in 1849. George Leiner had little of this world's goods when he landed on our shores, but, being a man of thrift, he soon had a start, first renting land, later purchased sixty-four acres in East Union township where he lived comfortably until his death, June 1, 1909, his wife having preceded him to the unseen land in 1897. Mr. Leiner had reached the ad- vanced age of eighty-seven years. To Mr. and Mrs. George Leiner eight children were born, six of whom are living at this writing, namely: George W., August, Daniel; Sofia, wife of Harry Frey; Kate, wife of G. V. F. Bechtel; Emma, wife of W. H. Long, of Orrville.
Daniel Leiner was born south of Wooster and he has spent his life in Wooster and East Union townships. He was educated in the district schools, working on the home farm in the meantime. At the age of twenty-one he started in life for himself and has been engaged principally in the threshing machine business, becoming widely known as one of the leading threshing men in Wayne county, and, owing to his good management and activity, he has prospered at this. He is the owner of eighty-three acres of excellent land in East Union township where he carries on general farming very suc- cessfully. He is a breeder and raiser of heavy draft and road horses, having engaged in the same for a period of twenty years, and his stock has been the admiration of thousands throughout this locality. He is regarded as an exceptionally good judge of a horse and some high-grade ones are always to be found at his place, and he has little trouble in disposing of them at fancy prices. He has a substantial 'and beautifully located home and good out- buildings. Mr. Leiner has never assumed the responsibilities of the married state. In politics he has long been more or less interested and has done
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much for the success of the Democratic ticket in his locality. He very capably served as one of the county commissioners from September 17, 1900, to Sep- tember 17, 1906. He has the welfare of his county at heart and any move- ment looking to the betterment of the same has his loyal support. He is said to be honest and straightforward in all his business transactions, consequently has long ago won the confidence and good will of all who know him.
LEHMAN J. SMEDLEY.
This name is one known throughout Wayne county, for here Mr. Smedley has passed his entire life and here his parents resided for many decades. He has long been recognized as one of the leading agriculturists and business men of his locality, and for many years has held a foremost place among his fellow citizens. He has been faithful to his conceptions of the duties of citizenship, ever striving to advance the interests of his fellow men1.
L. J. Smedley was born in East Union township, Wayne county, Ohio, on the anniversary of our national independence, July 4, 1854, and is a son of Samuel and Catherine (Halfhill) Smedley. The paternal grandfather was Jacob Smedley, who, in 1826, came to East Union township, Wayne county, settling in the southeast corner of the township, he having entered the south- east quarter of section 36. He first built a rude log cabin, in which the family lived for awhile, but in due time this was superseded by a two-story hewed log house, in which he spent his remaining days. The subject's father after- wards possessed this old house, and after him it became the property of the subject of this sketch, but is now in other hands. Samuel and Catherine Smedley were both native of Pennsylvania and accompanied their parents to Ohio in 1826, the father being at that time ten years of age. Samuel was reared under the parental roof and at his father's death he acquired the family estate, to which he added as he was able until eventually he was the owner of two hundred and fifty-one acres of as good land as could be found in the township. He was a hard-working and industrious man and stood high among his fellows. To him and his wife were born seven children, of whom one died in infancy and six are now living, namely: Cyrus S., of Paint township, this county; Aaron H., of Paint township; Mary, the wife of George Casteel; Susan, wife of Levi Arnold; Idell, wife of Albert Freed, of Oklahoma.
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L. J. Smedley spent his youthful days on the home farm and during the winter months he was given the advantage of attendance at the common schools of the neighborhood. He remained as his father's assistant until he had attained his majority, when he started out on his own account, renting seventy acres of his father's land. He was successful in his farming opera- tions and eventually acquired the ownership of the land. He is progressive in his methods and has realized a handsome return from his operations, be- ing now in fairly comfortable circumstances. In February, 1901, he left the farm and located in the town of Apple Creek, where he has since resided. He has engaged extensively in the buying and shipping of hay, which he has found a lucrative business. He is also a stockholder and a member of the board of directors of the Apple Creek Banking Company. In all his business affairs he has shown a shrewdness and soundness of judgment that has given him a high standing among his business associates.
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