USA > Ohio > Wayne County > History of Wayne County, Ohio, Volume II > Part 21
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In addition to the above, Mr. Wertz took an active part in other im- portant legislation, participated in the general deliberations on the floor where he demonstrated marked ability as a debater and leader. He was the author of the prison bill to abolish contract convict labor and to provide for the employment of prisoners in the manufacture of road materials, machines and supplies for state institutions. This law provides a great variety of em- ployment as a substitute for the old contract system, which for years was subject to many serious objections. Another bill which he introduced, known as House Bill No. 78, empowers the railroad commissioner of Ohio to fix rail- road rates, regulate damage charges, supplies of cars and all other matters pertaining to the railway business so far as it concerns the people of the state. This bill, which became a law, has the endorsement of the Ohio Ship- pers' Association, the Ohio Grain Dealers' Association and the approval of the public generally.
He wrote the resolution and led in forcing its adoption by the General Assembly, restoring peace between the universities supported by the state of Ohio and which defines the policy of the state towards her universities. It declared for the building of one great state university at Columbus com- mensurate with the dignity of the state. He also introduced a bill, later be- coming a law, for the better inspection of the Ohio mines, improved methods of ventilation, etc., so as to better protect the lives of miners from dangers of gas explosions.
Mr. Wertz was a member of the Seventy-six and Seventy-seventh Gen- eral Assemblies and rendered distinguished service to his constituents and to the state and retired from the body with a record as an able and faithful public servant which not only his political friends but those opposed to him on party questions unqualifiedly endorsed. He was for some years secretary of the Ohio Good Roads Association and as such labored earnestly to bring about much needed improvements in the system of highways throughout the state. In 1906 he was induced by his many friends to enter the race for Congress in the seventeenth district ; accordingly his name was presented to the convention which assembled in June of that year and where, after a
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four-days session and one hundred and seventy-seven ballots, he was defeated by a small majority of only six votes, the victor being Mr. Ashbrook, the present incumbent. Mr. Wertz is still a young man, and the distinction which he has already achieved demonstrates his ability to fill still greater positions of honor and trust, in view of which his friends are justified in predicting for him a future of great usefulness and brilliancy in the service of the public. He is an influential member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the United Commercial Travelers, the Order of Eagles, and stands high as a Mason, in which ancient and honorable fraternity he has attained to the thirty- second degree. He also belongs to Buckeye Camp, Spanish-American Vet- eran Association, and his standing with organized labor is such that he has the written pledge of the Ohio Federation of Labor and other organizations of the state. Personally he is a prince of good fellowship, and those who know him best are the most profuse in their praise of his many estimable ยท qualities. He stands for what is best in manhood and citizenship, has always upheld the right as he understands the right, and every laudable enterprise or measure for the material progress of the community and the general good of the public finds in him an earnest advocate and influential patron.
Mr. Wertz is a married man and the father of one daughter, who, with her parents, constitute a happy and contented domestic circle. Mrs. Wertz, formerly Elizabeth Johnson, is a daughter of Judge Isaac Johnson, of Woos- ter, and the ceremony by which her name was changed to the one she now so worthily bears was solemnized on the IIth of August, 1906.
FREDERICK STAIR.
An elderly and highly respected citizen of Plain township, Wayne county, is Frederick Stair, father of I. O. Stair, whose biography appears on another page of this work. The father was born March 25, 1837, the son of John and Elizabeth (Cugla) Stair, who came from Germany to the United States in 1833, settling soon after their arrival in Plain township, Wayne county, Ohio, securing a sixty-acre farm, on which they spent the remainder of their lives, having cleared some of the land and established a good home in the woods. Before leaving the Fatherland John Stair served eight years in the German army. He voted in the first election held after his arrival in America and was always loyal to our institutions. His family consisted of thirteen children.
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Frederick Stair was reared on the home place and there grew up, assist- ing with the work on the same from early childhood until he was twenty-six years of age, when he was married to Sarah Ann Strauss, daughter of Peter and Julia (Renner) Strauss, natives of Pennsylvania who came from Craw- ford county, that state, in 1850. In 1868 he bought seventy-two acres of land where he now lives in Plain township. Since then he added eight acres of timber and now has an excellent farm, having always followed general farming. He is a strong Prohibitionist, among the very first in this town- ship, and possibly the first one to advocate its principles here. He is a mem- ber of the Reformed church.
To Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Stair these children have been born: Will- iam Henry, of Orrville, Ohio; Irvin O., Laura Ada, Ossie May and Alice.
JOHN H. TSCHANTZ.
It would be, indeed, a difficult task to find in our cosmopolitan republic a class of people that are more energetic, self-reliant, persistent and altogether praiseworthy than the Swiss and their descendants, who have been coming to our shores for some two centuries, and wherever they have dispersed they have become leaders in their respective communities. John H. Tschantz, one of Wayne county's substantial citizens, is of this class, being of the second generation of Swiss in this country, for he was born in Paint township, this county, December 4, 1854, the son of A. C. and Anna ( Baumgartner) Tschantz. The former was born in Switzerland, June 6, 1817, and came to the United States in 1834, locating in Wayne county, Ohio. He was practi- cally without capital when he landed here, but had the necessary grit to succeed and he soon began work as a farm hand. Later he took up carpen- tering and he soon had saved enough money to buy a farm of eighty-six acres, which he cleared and improved. Prospering, he added to his first purchase until he owned over two hundred acres. He first married a Miss Lehman and to this union one child was born, which is now deceased. He was married a second time, September II, 1845, his last wife being Anna Baumgartner, who was born in Wayne county, Ohio, September 16, 1825, the daughter of David Baumgartner. The latter was a native of Switzer- land, having come to the United States in 1824, when twenty-six years of age, having been born February 7, 1798. He became a prosperous farmer, owning a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres. After his marriage
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& H. Tschanz
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he settled in Paint township and at once secured a foothold there. He took a great deal of interest in the Mennonite church, and he was called upon to settle many estates, being prominent in his community,-in fact, a leader. His death occurred January 7, 1897, his widow surviving him until June 4, 1901. They were the parents of the following children: Christian C., who married Mary Feichter, of Sugar Creek township; Daniel H., who mar- ried Catherine Gerber, of Sugar Creek township; Barbara, the wife of John L. Amstutz, of Sugar Creek township; Elizabeth, wife of Abraham Amstutz, also of Sugar Creek township; John H., of this review; Caroline, wife of David C. Spunger, of Bern, Indiana; Sarah, wife of John Badertscher, of Sugar Creek township; William P., living on the home farm in Paint township.
John H. Tschantz was reared on the home farm and attended the home schools during the winter months. When eighteen years of age he entered the Wadsworth Academy, at Wadsworth, Ohio, an institution under the auspices of the Mennonite church, where he remained for one year, after which he entered the Smithville Academy and was there one term. He studied hard and received a good education, which enabled him to begin teaching, which profession he followed for six years in the winter and during the summer he worked on the farm, with the exception of one which was spent in Wooster University.
Mr. Tschantz married Lydia Steiner, daughter of Rev. C. D. Steiner, October 1, 1878, she having been born in Putnam county, Ohio, November 30, 1857. Her father was a prominent farmer and lived in Greene town- ship, Wayne county. He was born in Milton township, November 8, 1829, and died May 26, 1908. To Mr. and Mrs. Tschantz five children have been born, namely : W. I., born July 17, 1879; Olive May, born November 25. 1882; Dora C., born April 1, 1885; Amos and Lizzie, twins, born December 31, 1887, the latter dying January 13, 1891. Mr. Tschantz's first wife died on January 9. 1888, and on February 16, 1892, he was married to Elizabeth Geiger, who was born in Putnam county, Ohio, January 17, 1866. Two chil- dren have been born to this union, namely : Sylvia, born January 23, 1893, and Clyde Mckinley, born July 24, 1898.
When Mr. Tschantz was married the first time he was given a little start by his own family. He has judiciously managed his affairs until he is today a prosperous and influential citizen, owning three hundred and ninety acres, which is worth at least one hundred dollars per acre, being well im- proved and under a high state of cultivation. In connection with his agri- cultural pursuits he has been very successful in the position of president of
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the Sonneberg Fire and Lightning Insurance Association, having been ad- juster of the same for twenty years. It operates in Wayne, Stark, Tusca- rawas, Holmes and Medina counties.
This family belongs to the Mennonite church, Mr. Tschantz having been superintendent of the Sunday school at Salem church for the past twenty years. In politics he is a Republican. He is a stockholder in the First Na- tional Bank of Dalton, and a director in the same, but much of his time is devoted to the insurance company mentioned above, which is a mutual com- pany, insuring farmers' property against fire, lightning and wind storms. It was organized in 1859, and has been operated very successfully by the Mennonite people for the past thirty years. The subject is a very successful business man and is well and favorably known throughout this part of Wayne county.
CHARLES ELMER BEEKLEY.
Among those men of Wayne county, Ohio, who, by the mere force of their personality, have forged their way to the front ranks of that class who may justly be termed "progressive and enterprising" is the gentleman whose name heads this sketch, and he is justly entitled to representation in a vol- ume of this character. Charles Elmer Beekley was born June 6, 1873, in Congress township, Wayne county, Ohio, and is a son of Emanuel, Jr., and Rebecca (Naftsger) Beekley. The subject's paternal grandfather was Dr. Emanuel Beekley, Sr., of Somerset county, Pennsylvania, who was a prom- inent and successful physician in that locality. In the early forties he emi- grated to Ohio, locating in Wayne county, the trip being made in one of the old-fashioned high-wheeled wagons so common in those days. He bought two hundred acres of land near Burbank and from that time devoted the greater part of his time to agricultural pursuits, though at times he served as a physician, notably at one time when a small-pox epidemic visited his section. At that time, regardless of personal danger, he administered to the suffering day and night and devoted himself unremittingly to the work of eradicating the dread disease. At his death his property passed into the possession of his son, Emanuel, Jr., who was born in Somerset county, Penn- sylvania, in 1843, and who had accompanied his father on the trip to Ohio. Emanuel Beekley, Jr., devoted himself for some time to the cultivation of the old farm, but eventually sold and moved to Ashland, where he invested the proceeds in town property. He there lived a retired life for a time, but
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of late he has been acting as foreman of the shipping department for a big manufacturing concern of that city. He is a stanch Republican in politics and takes much interest in political affairs. His religious membership is in the Progressive Brethren church. He married Rebecca Naftsger, who was born in Congress township, this county, and to them were born the follow- ing children : Two sons died in infancy unnamed; Mrs. Susie Bens, of Bur- bank; Mrs. Eliza Kellar, of Ashland; Mrs. Pearl Oberholtzer, the wife of Rev. Oberholtzer; Mrs. Blanche Brubaker, whose husband is the owner of a large poultry farm at Ashland, Ohio; Charles Elmer, the subject of this sketch.
Charles E. Beekley received a good education, having attended the com- mon schools at Congress and West Salem, after which he attended six years at Ashland College. The last three years of study were directed with the idea of preparation for the ministry, but failing health at length compelled Mr. Beekley to relinquish that idea. During his student days he was mar- ried and moved onto the old Elgin farm, and after the completion of his college work, and his decision not to enter the ministry, he returned to that farm and started a nursery and fruit farm. He was careful and painstaking in the inception of this project and made such progress that in 1904 he formally opened the West Salem Nursery and Fruit Farm He has been em- inently successful in this enterprise and is now enjoying a large and con- stantly growing business. He has a number of agents on the road and his sales are increasing rapidly from year to year. He gives his personal atten- tion to all details of the business and anything bought of the West Salem Nursery is all right, or will be made right if it does not prove to be as good as represented. Mr. Beekley specializes on all kinds of berries in his fruit raising, and also gives considerable attention to the breeding and raising of pure-bred white Leghorn chickens, in which he also has been successful.
In politics Mr. Beekley gives his support to the Republican ticket on na- tional issues, but in local elections he believes the personal fitness of the can- didate for the office sought should be considered first. He is a strong tem- perance man and votes that way whenever the opportunity is afforded. His religious membership is with the Progressive Brethren church.
On the 19th of February, 1896, Mr. Beekley married Orpha Edmunda Elgin, who was born in Congress township, Wayne county, Ohio, on April 6, 1875. She is the daughter of Edmund Elgin, who was born in 1827, and died in 1874, and Ruth Patterson Elgin, who was born in 1830, and died in 1900. Edmund Elgin was an early settler in Congress township, this county, where he owned three hundred acres of land. He was a veteran of the
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Civil war, in which he attained the rank of lieutenant, and in religion he was an earnest Methodist. His life was an example in morals and it was said of him that he did not have an enemy in the world. To Mr. and Mrs. Beek- ley have been born the following children : Paul Elgin, born March 28, 1898, and Ruth Rebecca, born June 23, 1903.
From the foregoing brief outline of a busy career it is not difficult to arrive at a just estimate of Mr. Beekley's character or to fix his proper standing in the community. Interested in all that tends to benefit his fel- lows, materially. educationally and morally, his influence has always been exerted in the right direction and from what he has accomplished along the lines to which his talents have been directed it is demonstrated that the com- munity has gained by his presence.
THOMAS JOHNSON KAUFMAN.
It is not only a pleasure but profitable as well to study the life his- tory of such a worthy gentleman as he whose name forms the heading of this review, for in it we find evidence of traits of character that never fail to make for success in the life of any one who directs his efforts, as did Thomas J. Kaufman, along proper paths with persistency and untiring zeal, toward a worthy goal, and having as his concomitant worthy principles, which, as we shall see, resulted in ultimate triumph, for when called to close his earthly accounts he left behind him a competency and, what was better, a good name.
Mr. Kaufman was born at Mifflin, Juniata county, Pennsylvania, Febru- ary 8, 1834, the son of George and Susanah (Johnson) Kaufman, the former a native of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, born on April 23, 1798, while the mother's birth occurred at Mifflin, that state, on June 24, 1808.
David Kaufman and wife, nee Renner, settled in Lancaster county, Penn- sylvania, about the close of the Revolutionary war. George Kaufman, fa- ther of Thomas and son of David Kaufman, moved from Lancaster county to Juniata county, Pennsylvania, then removed to Wayne county, Ohio, in 1840, coming overland in a large, covered, four-horse Pennsylvania wagon. He bought a large tract of land in Plain township, over one thousand acres, part of this land being what was known in that early day by the Indians and early settlers as the "Long Meadows." George Kaufman dealt in raising and fattening stock, which he marketed in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Thomas Raufman
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Thomas J. Kaufman received a good common school education, and early in life decided to follow in the footsteps of his father in the stock business, entering upon his career with the elder Kaufman, who taught him many of the "ins and outs" of this line of endeavor. After his father's death, in 1864, he followed with gratifying results, driving large droves to markets annually, having received the sum of eleven thousand dollars for one drove. He became one of the most extensive stock dealers in this part of the state and was widely known as such, his judgment and foresight being unerring. Owing to the great comipetition that gradually arose with the western range cattle he quit doing business on such an extensive scale, finally abandoning the cattle business altogether, and turned his attention to general farming, in which he was very successful. He laid by an ample competency, being a good business man in whatever line he sought to exercise his talents. He was ever on the alert and seldom failed to bring to successful issue any measure which he sought to promote.
Mr. Kaufman was married on April 19, 1870, to Susan Urban, daughter of Jonas and Margaret (Johnson) Urban, of Lancaster county, Pennsyl- vania, where the family was well established. To Mr. and Mrs. Kaufman the following children were born : Alice B., wife of L. Humbert ; Mary M., wife of S. Garman ; Oscar D., George B., Amos L., Jacob U., Jonas, Elzy, Thomas R., Grace B., and Anna S. Mr. Kaufman's domestic life was ideal, and he gave every possible attention to his large family, was a kind and considerate husband, a gentle and indulgent father,-in short, an ideal home man, neighbor and friend.
Politically, Mr. Kaufman was a Republican and, while ever active in the support of liis party and eager for its success, he never held or sought a public office. Religiously, he was a member and liberal supporter of the Lake Fork Methodist Episcopal church. In business life his word was as good as a bond, and in his dealings with the public he ever held their con- fidence and esteem.
The death of this prominent citizen and splendid man occurred on March 26. 1907, and in beautiful Fairview cemetery he is sleeping the sleep of the just, being remembered by hosts of friends for his exemplary life.
ALONZO LAWRENCE HOFACRE.
Among the earnest young men whose depth of character and strict ad- herence to principle have gained for him the admiration of his contempo- raries, Mr. Hofacre is numbered, and in his independent business career he
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has shown a tenacity of purpose, an indomitable energy and that self-reliant courage whose natural concomitant is definite success. He has been the artif- icer of his own fortunes, and though he has met with some reverses and en- countered numerous obstacles, his courage has never flagged and he has shown himself to be one thoroughly appreciative of the dignity of honest toil and en- deavor. He has done much to improve the agricultural prosperity of the township in which he lives and is now the owner of a finely improved farm, to which he gives his earnest attention.
Alonzo Lawrence Hofacre is a native of the Buckeye state, having been born in Stark county, on the 14th of February, 1869, and is a son of John and Sarah (Wearstler) Hofacre, who are mentioned in later paragraphs of this sketch. The subject is indebted to the common schools for his education. He was but three years old when the family removed from Stark county to Wayne, consequently all his schooling was received in this county. He was reared under the parental roof and remained with his parents until he had at- tained his majority, when he started out in life for himself. He was reared to the life of a farmer and has always lent his efforts in that direction, being now the owner of a fine and fertile farm, located in section 10, Saltcreek town- ship. The farm is adorned with a full set of buildings, large, commodious and well arranged, and Mr. Hofacre keeps everything about the place in the best possible shape, so that it at all times makes a pleasing impression on the passerby. Here he carries on general farming and stock-raising and has achieved a distinctive success along both lines.
In politics Mr. Hofacre gives his support to the Democratic party and takes an active part in local public affairs, though he is not a seeker after office or public preferment. His religious preference is indicated by his member- ship in the Reformed church at Apple Creek, to which he gives an earnest and consistent support.
In 1890 the subject was united in the holy bonds of matrimony, the lady of his choice being Daisy Ann Eyman, who was born in East Union township, this county, in 1875, the daughter of Simon Eyman, of Apple Creek. This union has been blessed in the birth of two children, Ethel May, seven years old, and Goldie Susan Belle, aged six years. Mr. Hofacre is a man of marked business ability, richly deserving of high credit for the results which he has secured, and no man more thoroughly merits or commands the respect and confidence of the people of the community.
John Hofacre, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Sugar- creek township, Stark county, Ohio, August 10, 1839. He is the son of George Hofacre, who was a native of Maryland, and who was eighty-four
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years old at the time of his death. The Hofacre family originally hailed from the little republic of Switzerland. George Hofacre was one of the earliest settlers in Stark county, Ohio, having entered government land in Sugarcreek township. On this land he made a comfortable home and there he spent the remainder of his life. He was not a seeker after public office, though he was the first road supervisor in the county. He was a Democrat in politics and was widely and favorably known throughout this section of the country. He followed general farming and was a very successful man for his day. Most of the produce of his farm was hauled to Sandyville, that hav- ing been at a date prior to the creation of Massillon, which later became the trading center of this section of the country. The settlers' cabins were widely separated and the country was wild and densely covered with the primeval forest with the exception of the few scattered clearings. Indians were numer- ous and Mr. Hofacre's cabin stood along one of the important Indian trails. Mr. Hofacre was a member of the Reformed church and was active in ad- vancing the interests of the society. He was consistent in his life and lived up to his highest ideals of a Christian life. He married Elizabeth Kendall, who was born near Myers Lake, near Canton, Stark county, he having been thirty-four years old and she but sixteen when they were married. Her fam- ily were from Switzerland and were early settlers in Stark county. She was a woman of fine qualities and rare accomplishment and was beloved by all who knew her. Her death occurred when she was about seventy-two years old. George and Elizabeth Hofacre were the parents of eight children, whose names were as follows: Michael, who lives in Iowa, is eighty-two years old ; Elizabeth lives in Michigan; George, deceased; Katherine lives in Defiance county, Ohio; Samuel is deceased; John is the next in the order of birth; Henrietta lives in Canton; Andrew, of Lebanon, Wayne county.
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