USA > Ohio > Wayne County > History of Wayne County, Ohio, Volume II > Part 28
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LEVI BUCHER
1157
WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
He was a brave and fearless soldier and enjoyed the confidence and regard of his commanding officers.
After returning from the army, Mr. Bucher took up the vocation of farmer, in which line he had been reared, and he carried this on with con- siderable success until failing health compelled him to desist from active labor, and for some time before his death he was unable to do anything except the lightest work. The farm, which is eligibly located in section 16, Saltcreek township, is a fine and fertile tract of land and has always been main- tained at the highest standard of excellence. The house and other farm build- ings are well built and convenient in arrangement and attractive in appear- ance, and reflect the good taste and sound judgment of him who built them.
Mr. Bucher was an earnest member of the Presbyterian church, to which Mrs. Bucher also belongs, their membership being with the church at Fred- ericksburg, to which Mrs. Bucher has belonged for thirty-seven years. So- cially, Mr. Bucher was a member of the Fredericksburg Post, Grand Army of the Republic.
On August 1, 1873, in Holmesville, Holmes county, Ohio, Mr. Bucher wedded Samantha Horner, who was born June II, 1852, in Saltcreek town- ship, Holmes county, Ohio, the daughter of Charles C. and Margaret (Tuttle) Horner. Charles Horner was also born in Saltcreek township, Holmes coun- ty, and his wife was born in Newville, Ohio. They were numbered among the early settlers of this part of the state and were well-known and prominent people, owning large farming interests. To Levi and Samantha Bucher were born the following children, eight in number: Mary and Nanny, twins, born April 3, 1874, both died in infancy; John, born March 28, 1875. married Flora B. Phillips, who was born in Saltcreek township, Wayne coun- ty, a daughter of Jonathan Phillips, an early and prominent settler; they had one child which died in infancy; John is a farmer by vocation and now op- erates the home farm for his mother, with whom he and his wife now live; one died in infancy September 27, 1879; Harry, born July 3, 1882, is un- married and makes his home with his mother; Lee, born May 13, 1885, sin- gle and at home; Robert, born October 3, 1887, died at the age of fifteen months; Sarah, born September 14, 1891, died in infancy.
Mr. Bucher gave his support to the Republican party, though he was never an aspirant for public office of any nature. His sons, likewise, with the exception of Lee, give their support to the same party. In every relation of life he was true to his trusts and his memory is held sacred by those who knew him.
1158
WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
Mrs. Bucher, who still maintains her home on the farm, is a woman of rare personal qualities and was to her late husband a helpmeet in the truest sense of the word. She is widely known in this section and enjoys the warm regard and esteem of all who know her.
JOHN WILLIAM TAGGERT.
One of the most valuable and most highly improved farms in Wayne county is that owned by the gentleman whose name initiates this article and who is recognized as one of the representative citizens of the county, where he has passed practically his entire life, the family having been one of prom- inence in the community from the early pioneer epoch to the present time. He has been a man of public spirit and progressiveness and has always been found on the right side of every moral issue, his influence being felt as a definite factor in the community when movements for the public good are involved.
John W. Taggert, who owned and operated a fine farm in Franklin township, until 1910, when he sold, had lived on this place from the time 'he first saw the light of day, June 23, 1841. He is a son of William and Lydia (McAllister) Taggert, the former of whom was born in Ireland. He was reared and educated in his native land and at the age of twenty-one years came to the United States, and was thereafter employed for a number of years in the United States mint at Philadelphia. He was a member of a noted military organization known as the Independent Blues at the time the Marquis de Lafayette paid his celebrated visit to this country. He and his brother Robert came to Ohio and here they started the first brewery, but were not long engaged in that business. He then moved onto the farm which he had purchased prior to his business venture. He was also interested in a dry goods store with his brother, but his efforts were mainly confined to his agricultural operations, in which he was successful. He married Lydia Mc- Allister, who was a native of Pennsylvania and a daughter of Hugh McAl- lister, whose death occurred in that, his native state. William and Lydia Taggert were the parents of three children, John W., the subject of this sketch, Mary, the wife of James T. Stitt, and Martha, who makes her home with her sister. William and Lydia Taggert died and were buried at Woos- ter. They were a worthy and highly respected couple and stood high in the community, being favorably remembered at this time by many who knew them.
1159
WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
The subject of this sketch was reared under the parental roof and re- mained with his parents until his father's death, at which time he was twelve years old. He bought a portion of the home place and was engaged in the operation of the same until he sold in 1910, when he moved to Wooster. He has made improvements on the place and constantly maintained it at the high- est standard of excellence. It is a fertile and productive farm and under the intelligent direction of the subject it has been made to yield gratifying re- turns for the labor bestowed. Mr. Taggert is an up-to-date and progressive agriculturist, keeping closely in touch with advanced ideas and methods and he enjoys a splendid reputation among his fellow tillers of the soil.
In 1864 Mr. Taggert was united in marriage to Nancy A. Hughes, whose death occurred in 1907. This union resulted in the birth of three chil- dren, namely : Cary, of near Greeley, Colorado; Bert, who is employed in the refining department of the United States mint at Denver, Colorado, and . Harry, an undertaker at Grand Junction, Colorado.
On February 28, 1910, Mr. Taggert married Mary Boyd. The family reside in a pleasant home at No. 3 East Henry street, Wooster.
During the Civil war Mr. Taggart gave unmistakable evidence of his love of country by enlisting in the one-hundred-day service, joining Company C, One Hundred and Sixty-ninth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Be- cause of this service he became a member of Given Post, Grand Army of the Republic, but he has received a discharge from that order and is no longer affiliated. In politics he has ever been a stanch Republican, in the success of which he has taken a live interest, but he has never held office of any nature. The subject has earned for himself an enviable reputation as a careful and progressive agriculturist, always known for his prompt and hon- orable methods of dealing, and thus he has the unbounded confidence of his fellow men.
WILLIAM HENRY WILER.
W. H. Wiler, a well known citizen of Plain township, Wayne county. was born in Wooster township, Wayne county, in 1855, the son of Philip and Elizabeth (Weirick) Wiler, both natives of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. The subject's paternal grandparents spent their lives in Pennsylvania, and his maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Weirick, were also natives of the Keystone state, who came to Wayne county in an early day. In the early forties Philip Weiler came to Wayne county, Ohio, and settled in Wooster
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WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
township. He became prosperous here, at one time owning three hundred acres of good land, which he cleared and improved; however, he retired sev- eral years prior to his death and lived in Wooster where he had the esteem of all who knew him. He was a strict Lutheran.
John Wiler, brother of W. H. Wiler, was a soldier in the Civil war, a member of Company C, Sixteenth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry.
W. H. Wiler was educated in the common schools and the high school at Wooster, receiving a good text-book training. He decided when a boy to become a merchant and accordingly launched in the shoe business before he was twenty-one years of age and has since been engaged in that line at Woos- ter. He has an excellent trade with the surrounding community, always keep- ing an up-to-date and carefully selected stock, and many of his customers are of long standing.
Mr. Wiler was married in 1876 to Mary A. Lucas, daughter of an old and highly respected family, and this union has resulted in the birth of the following children : Roy died when six months old; Zella married Lemuel Harrold; Wiler and Paul; Charles Wiler married Polly Herman.
Mr. Wiler is a stanch Lutheran, having been a member of this denom- ination since he was eighteen years of age. In politics he is a Republican and fraternally he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, also the Royal Arcanum. While he devotes his attention exclusively to his individual business affairs, he is interested in whatever tends to promote the welfare of his county.
MICHAEL TATE.
For many years Michael Tate has occupied a very conspicuous place among the agriculturists of Wayne county. His career has been that of an honorable, enterprising and progressive business man, whose well-rounded character has also enabled him to take an active interest in education and so- cial and moral affairs, and to keep well informed concerning the momentous questions affecting the nation. In all life's relations he has commanded the respect and confidence of those with whom he has come in contact, and his upright life is an inspiration to the many friends who know him well and are familiar with his virtues.
Michael Tate, an honored resident of Franklin township, Wayne county, Ohio, and a veteran of the Civil war, was born in Franklin township Decem- ber 26, 1837, and is a son of William and Mary (May) Tate. William Tate
michael Tate OXI
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WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
was born February 25, 1817, near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and his death occurred May 10, 1889. In 1828 he accompanied his parents on their overland trip to Ohio and thereafter made his home in Franklin township, Wayne county, until his death. He followed the vocation of farming, in which he was fairly successful, and occupied a high position among his fellow citizens. He cleared much land of the timber which originally covered it and was active and progressive in his work and ideas. He was an active member of the Church of God, in which he held the office of exhorter. During his first years in this county he followed undertaking to some extent and directed the funerals of many of the early pioneers. In his younger days he was a sup- porter of the Democratic party, but later he became a Republican and was ever after loyal to that party. William Tate was twice married, first, in April, 1836, to Mary May, the daughter of Jacob and Christina May, and to them were born the following children: Michael, the immediate subject of this sketch; Jacob, Isaac, Mary, Carrie Elizabeth and Cyrus Franks. Mrs. Tate died May 6, 1852, and on the 6th of March, 1853, Mr. Tate married Rebecca Margaret Lemmon, who was born July 9, 1831, and died November 9, 1889, leaving one child. Jacob and Christina May were natives of Penn- sylvania and came to Wayne county in 1828, being prominent among the early settlers.
The subject's paternal grandparents were Isaac and Catherine Gray Tate, the former of whom was born January 24, 1794, and died January 16, 1863, and the latter born in August, 1788, and died January 2, 1855. They were married March 28, 1815, and became the parents of the following children : William, referred to in the preceding paragraph; Mary, born April 30, 1819, became the wife of Michael Miller March 15, 1838, and her death occurred on August 18, 1879; Susannah, born December 5, 1823, died December 23, 1824; Isaac, born December 12, 1825, is referred to elsewhere in this work; Phoebe, born December 21, 1827, died July 17, 1831 ; Solomon, born June 9, 1830, married Elizabeth Gabriel, February 24, 1853, and his death occurred September 15, 1899. Isaac Tate, the father of these children, was a native of Pennsylvania, from whence he came overland to Franklin township, Wayne county, Ohio, in 1828. Here he cleared up a small tract of land and spent the balance of his life here. He was a man of good habits and sterling integrity and commanded at all times the unbounded confidence of all who knew him.
Michael Tate, the immediate subject of this sketch, has lived in Franklin township all his life with the exception of twelve years spent in Paulding county, this state, and four years in Nebraska. He was reared to the life of a farmer and received a fair education in the district schools of the day, which
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WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
were somewhat lacking in the facilities which characterize the twentieth-cen- tury schoolroom. He gave unmistakable evidence of his patriotism during the dark days of the early sixties, enlisting in 1863 in Company C, Sixty-eighth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, as a private. A short time after his en- listment he was taken sick and sent to the hospital, and after his recovery he was retained there in the capacity of nurse. He received an honorable dis- charge from the service at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in 1865. Because of his service, he is now a member of Given Post, Grand Army of the Republic, at Wooster, in which he finds appreciated association with his old comrades in arms. In politics he is a Republican and gives his efforts to the success of the party during the campaigns. He is not, however, a seeker after public office of any nature, being now too far advanced in years to permit of aspira- tions along that line.
Mr. Tate still owns his fine farm in Franklin township, with which he has been identified for so many years, and he has always given his personal atten- tion to the cultivation of the farm, in which he has been rewarded with hand- some returns. He is a man of splendid personal qualities, which have com- mended him to the favorable opinion of all who know him and he is generally regarded as one of the strong, stalwart men of the community.
GEORGE CRATER.
There is no one nation that has contributed to the complex composition of our American social fabric an element of more sterling worth or of greater value in fostering and supporting our national institutions than has Ger- many. The Fatherland has given us men of sturdy integrity, indomitable perseverance, high intelligence and much business sagacity,-the result being the incorporation of a firm and strength-giving fibre, ramifying through warp and woof. A man who may well look with pride upon his German-American ancestry is the subject of this review, who is a native of Wayne county, where he has passed practically his entire life, devoting his attention to agri- cultural pursuits, possessing the dominating characteristics mentioned above and attaining a success worthy the name, with the accompanying and result- ing confidence and regard of his fellow men.
George Crater was born in Chippewa township, Wayne county, Ohio, on the 12th of October, 1858, and is a son of Peter and Sarah (Weaver) Crater. The father was born near Hamburg, Germany, in 1819, and the
MR. AND MRS. GEORGE D. CRATER
1163
WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
mother is a native of Stark county, Ohio. She was, however, of Ger- man parentage, her father, George Weaver, having been a native of Ger- many, whence he came to the United States in 1829, settling in Stark county, Ohio. He died near Paris, this state. The subject's paternal grand- father Crater was born in Germany and attained distinction in the military service of his country, rising to the rank of general in one of her wars with France. In 1829 he emigrated to America. He was a neighbor and friend of the subject's maternal grandfather, George Weaver, and they came over the ocean on the same boat, a slow-going sailing craft, which required forty days to make the passage. One of his children, Peter Crater, father of the subject of this sketch, who came to America with his father, was ten years old when the family settled in Stark county, and there he was reared and received a good education in the schools of that day. After the death of his father, he assumed the control and management of the home place, which he continued until 1865, when he moved with his growing family to Golden Corners, Wayne county, where he lived until his death, which occurred on January 20, 1881. He was a stanch Democrat in political faith and was a hardy and enterprising pioneer. His wife, Sarah, who was a most estima- ble woman, was reared in the German Lutheran church and, because of her many estimable qualities, she was beloved by all who knew her. Her death occurred in 1908. To Peter and Sarah Crater the following children were born: John, of Denver, Colorado; William; Charles; Mary is the wife of Amos Brinkerhoff, a farmer in Canaan township; Lavine, the wife of John Matthews; Sarah, the wife of Williard Keefer; Eliza, the wife of John Shep- pard, a farmer in Congress township; Emelia; Dora, the wife of Frank Criss ; Della, the wife of Burt Bebbington, of Wooster, Ohio, and George, the sub- ject of this sketch.
George Crater attended the district school at Golden Corners, Wayne county, Ohio, and received a fair education. He remained at home assist- ing his father in the operation of the farm until the latter's death, at which time the farm was sold and the subject moved to near Canton, Ohio, where he remained four years. He then returned to Wayne county and bought a farm of one hundred acres, which he operated four years, after which he cultivated rented land for ten years, during the last seven years of which time he lived on the George Clark place. In March, 1909, Mr. Crater bought the Eli Palmer farm of one hundred and fifty acres in Canaan township, and he is now engaged in farming here. It is a splendid piece of farming land and is highly productive, all the crops common to this section of the country being raised thereon. Mr. Crater gives special attention to the raising of hay, in
II64
WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
which he has been very successful. He is progressive in his methods and energetic in his labor, showing himself to be a man of sound judgment and wise discrimination in all his efforts.
On the 21st of January, 1892, Mr. Crater was united in the holy bonds of matrimony with Hattie Overs, who was born in Medina county, Ohio, September 11, 1863, the daughter of John and Catherine (Swaisgood) Overs. John Overs was a native of Pennsylvania, but was brought to Ohio when he was eight years of age. His wife was born near Red Haw, Ohio. To John and Catherine Overs the following children were born: Hattie, wife of the subject ; Andrew, a merchant at Burbank, this county; William, in Cleveland ; Sarah, who lives in Canton, Ohio, is the wife of John Oldfield; Philene is the wife of Chancey H. Frary, of Burbank; Delency is the wife of Charles Wheeler, who is conductor on the Northern Pacific railroad in North Da- kota. The subject and his wife are the parents of the following children : Helen, born July 2, 1894; Howard, born July 10, 1895; Mabel, born January 26, 1897 ; Stella, born September 19, 1902 ; John, born December 13, 1904.
In politics Mr. Crater is a Democrat and takes a keen interest in the success of his party. He is public spirited in his attitude toward all move- ments looking to the advancement of the best interests of the community and because of his splendid qualities of character he enjoys the unbounded confi- dence and regard of the entire community.
JOHN MARTIN.
Among the leading citizens and representative farmers of Wooster town- ship, Wayne county, Ohio, is he whose name forms the caption to this brief article, and this work would be incomplete were there failure to make specific notice of him. The people of the United States give special reverence to those brave men who, laying aside all personal interests and love for home and family, went forth to battle for the perpetuation of the national integrity, knowing full well that the cost of their sacrifice might be life itself. The subject gave a valiant and faithful support to "Old Glory" on many southern battlefields and carries scars received from southern bullets, a badge of honor to be held in higher esteem than the royal badges bestowed by old world monarchs.
John Martin is a native son of the old Buckeye state, having been born in Franklin township, Tuscarawas county, Ohio, on May 2, 1844, and is the son of Andrew and Catherine (Wickey) Martin, both of whom are now de-
1165
WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
ceased. The subject remained at home with his parents during his youth and secured a fair education in the common schools of the neighborhood. In 1860 he came to Wooster township, Wayne county, and entered the employ of John Walters, with whom he remained until October 9, 1861, when he responded to his country's call and enlisted as a private in Company I, Sixty- fourth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was subsequently promoted to the rank of corporal and gave faithful service until being mustered out on December 10, 1864, at Marshall, Tennessee. During his service he was in the commands of Generals Buell, Rosecrans and Sherman, and took part in all the battles incident to the campaign leading up to the capture of Atlanta, Georgia. At Chickamauga, Mr. Martin had one finger of his left hand shot off, the bullet being deflected from his body by striking the barrel of his gun.
Upon the conclusion of his army service Mr. Martin returned to Woos- ter, where he worked for two years. In 1866 he was married and moved onto his father-in-law's farm, which he managed until the latter's death, when he purchased the farm and has since continued to operate the place. It is now a well-improved farm in every respect and under Mr. Martin's able manage- ment it has been maintained as one of the most fertile and productive farms in Wooster township. The subject is a man of indefatigable energy and enterprise and is progressive in his methods. He carries on a general system of agriculture and also devotes considerable attention to the raising of live- stock and in both lines he is meeting with a gratifying degree of success.
On the 20th of September, 1866, Mr. Martin was united in marriage to Balinda A. Eckert, a native of Wooster, Ohio, and a daughter of George and Mary ( Burnett) Eckert, both of whom are now deceased. To the subject and wife the following children have been born : Peter W., who resides three miles northwest of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio; Lillie Allie is the wife of Isaac N. Hough, auditor of Wayne county, and they reside at Wooster; Emma Bell is the wife of Dellsworth Wrenn, of Mason, Ohio; John Q., who resides at Cleveland, Ohio, married Grace Beebe; Walter E., who is a farmer near West Salem, Ohio, married Flora Shank; Samuel C., a street car conductor at Mansfield, Ohio, married Emma Atkins; James Roy, of near Wooster, Ohio, married Altie Kimber; Charles H., of near Canal Fulton, Ohio, married Isa Franks; Mary Maude is deceased; Ethel is a student at the Agricultural Experiment Station.
Politically, Mr. Martin is a Democrat and has taken an active part in the councils of his party, having served as a member of the county central com- mittee and the state committee. He has been a number of times honored
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WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
by official positions, having served as a member of the township board for twenty-six years; township assessor, six years; infirmary director for six years, and in 1907 he was elected trustee of Wooster township, in which posi- tion he is still serving. His religious membership is with the Lutheran church at Wooster, to which he gives a generous support. Fraternally, he is a mem- ber of Given Post, No. 133, Grand Army of the Republic, at Wooster, of which he has served as junior vice-commander. He is also a member of the Improved Order of Red Men.
Mr. Martin has been a very busy man and successful withal. He has at all times evinced a commendable interest in public affairs and has always stood for the highest and best interests of the community. His genial dis- position and kindly attitude towards all having dealings with him have won for him a host of warm personal friends and he is eminently deserving of being numbered among the representative men of his county.
JESSE R. SHILLING.
This is an age in which the farmer stands pre-eminently above any other class as a producer of wealth. He simply takes advantage of the winds, the warm air, the bright sunshine and the refreshing rains, and applying his own hands and skill to nature's gifts he creates grain, hay, livestock, etc., all of which are absolute necessaries to the inhabitants of the world. The com- mercial world has come to recognize his importance and has surrounded him with many conveniences not thought of one hundred years ago. The in- ventor has given him the self-binder, the riding plow, the steam thresher, and many other labor-saving devices. And the farmer has not been slow to take advantage of the improvements thus invented and offered. Among the up-to-date farmers of this county is the subject of this brief sketch, who was born in Canaan township, Wayne county, Ohio, on June 25, 1876. He is de- scended from sturdy Pennsylvania stock, his paternal grandfather, John Shilling. having migrated from that state to Ohio at an early date and taken up a tract of government land. He was a prominent member of the United Brethren church and died at the age of eighty-five years. His son, Adam Shilling, the subject's father, was born October 25, 1839, in Canaan town- ship, and was reared on the home farm, where he spent practically his entire life. He himself acquired the ownership of one hundred and eighty-four acres of land in this county and was accounted one of the county's representa-
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