USA > Ohio > Wayne County > History of Wayne County, Ohio, Volume II > Part 35
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MRS. MARTIN LAWRENCE
MARTIN LAWRENCE
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are living in 1910. George Lawrence took a prominent part in church affairs, first in the Lutheran, later the Reformed church.
Martin Lawrence was educated in the common schools of Chester town- ship, working on the home farm during the summer months. When he reached maturity he left the school room and devoted his attention exclusive- ly to farming on the old homestead, finally buying out the heirs to the one hundred and thirty-three acres. Prospering by reason of close application to his work and good management, he was enabled to add eighty acres more to the place in 1909, which now makes him the possessor of one of the choice farms of the comunity. He carries on general farming and stock raising very successfully and keeps his place in excellent condition in every respect.
Mr. Lawrence was married on July 29, 1886, to Sarah Ellen Eyman, a native of Wayne county and the daughter of Henry B. and Nancy Eyman, old settlers in Wayne county and highly respected citizens. To the subject and wife two sons have been born, namely: Emmet A. and James S., both assisting their father in carrying on the farm work.
In politics Mr. Lawrence is a Democrat and he served very acceptably for three years as trustee of Chester township, also serving as a member of the board of education.
REV. A. K. FELTON.
An able and popular minister of the gospel is the Rev. A. K. Felton, who, for many years, has performed a grand service among the people whom he has elected to serve, burying the friends who pass over the mystic river, mar- rying the young, beginning life's more serious walks, and in many ways assisting in ameliorating the condition of the public at large, and his character has been from his youth unblemished by shadow of wrong, nothing esoteric in its entire course, so that the community regards him as one of its most valuable citizens. He is a native of Bedford county, Pennsylvania, having first seen the light of day there on January 17, 1848. the son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Karns) Felton, people of sterling worth and representatives of excellent old pioneer families of the Keystone state. The Rev. Felton was reared on a farm in his native community, receiving a somewhat limited education in the neighboring schools, which he attended during the winter months, devoting his time to the crops the balance of the year. However, he was an ambitious lad and he prepared himself for the great mission he
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has elected to perform, by extensive private study. He entered the fresh- man year in Gettysburg College, having been enabled to pass the prepara- tory grades by reason of his private study. He made a splendid record in this institution, graduating from the same in 1871 with the degree of Bache- lor of Arts. Having felt for some time that he was one of the chosen to spread the Gospel of the Nazarene, he entered the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and there he became well grounded in theology, and in 1874 was ordained to preach in New York City. His first charge was at Glen Gardiner, New Jersey. He later took work in western Kansas, and did a great amount of good in establishing the Gospel in that far western country : but in time he returned to central Pennsylvania where he spent the major part of his time in the ministry in various charges. It was in 1894 that he came to Ohio. He located in Smithville, Wayne county; in 1903, and as in his former charges, he built up the church wonder- fully, adding many new members and winning his way into the affections of his congregation and the general public as well, for he is not only a forceful pulpit orator and exceptionally well advised in Scriptural teachings, but his daily walk among his fellow men is such as to inspire admiration and con- fidence.
Reverend Felton was married at Orangeville, Illinois, in 1877, to Amanda Derr, the wedding occurring on July I. She was a woman of talent, refinement and a zealous Christian worker. Her family belongs to one of the old and highly honored ones of Union county, Pennsylvania, though her home was at Orangeville at the time of her marriage. She has become the mother of four interesting children, named as follows: Susie E., born April 3, 1878, a graduate of Wooster University with the class of 1909, with the degree of Bachelor of Philosophy, and she is at this writing principal of the schools at Plymouth, Ohio She also received a careful primary education, graduat- ing from the local high school. Elizabeth M. is the wife of Prof. A. H. Schroy. Edna L., born in 1882, is single and living at home. Lloyd D., is a student in Wooster University.
These children have all been given every possible chance to become educated and useful, and the wholesome home environment in which they were reared is clearly reflected in their daily lives.
In his political relations, the Reverend Felton is a loyal Prohibitionist and he loses no opportunity to strike a blow at that gangrenous blight on our body politic-the rum traffic. This excellent family stands deservedly high among the representative citizens of Wayne county.
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E. E. GILBERT.
In studying the life history of E. E. Gilbert, one of the successful and progressive business men of Wayne county, the biographer finds that he has attained his present position through his own indomitable ability, having received no help from wealthy relatives. Consequently he is deserving of the honorable standing which is his today in this locality. He was born in Wayne county, December 11, 1863, the son of E. H. and Mary ( Miller) Gilbert, the former a native of Portage county, Ohio, having been born in 1827. He spent his youth in that state and received a meager education in the primi- tive schools of those days. In 1847, when twenty years of age, he was married to Mary Miller, a native of Pennsylvania, their wedding occurring after they had come to Ohio, she having accompanied her parents here when a child. E. H. Gilbert ivas a tailor by trade, and located in Smithville, this county, where he established a tailor shop that was well patronized. For many years he was postmaster of Smithville during the Civil war and during Grant's administration. Later in life he engaged in the carriage manufac- turing business with his sons; this grew to large proportions, but a disas- trous fire somewhat crippled the business. However, Mr. Gilbert was con- sidered one of the prosperous men of his day in this locality, and was influ- ential and highly respected for his integrity.
To Mr. and Mrs. E. H. Gilbert the following children were born : U. E., M. H., A. H., E. E., Emma, wife of Hershel Bowman; Huldah, wife of George A. Clapper, of Wooster, Ohio.
E. E. Gilbert was reared in Smithville, this county, where he received a good common school education. His father having been engaged in the lumber business at one time, the son decided to make this line of business his life work, consequently he received careful instruction in all the "ins and outs" of the same from a very competent instructor, for his father was an extraordinary man of affairs and mastered whatever line of business he turned his attention to. Having liked the lumber business and made a success of the same from the first, E. E. Gilbert has devoted his subsequent life to this special line, being at present one of the best known lumber dealers in the county and enjoying a very extensive patronage. Besides extensive and well-filled yards with all grades of lumber, he has a modern and well- managed saw-mill, and this is always a very busy place at all times, the quality of lumber handled by Mr. Gilbert being always reliable, and the honest dealing he has done here since the very first of his career has won the confidence of everyone. He owns two and one-half acres of valuable
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land where his mill is located. He is an extensive buyer of timber, which he saws, and then ships the lumber, always finding a ready market for his products. In connection, he operates a planing-mill, and carries a full line of pine lumber and kindred lines. He owns a beautiful, modern and at- tractive home in Smithville, the presiding spirit of which is a woman of cul- ture and refinement, to whom Mr. Gilbert was united in marriage in 1889. She was known in her maidenhood as Maude Taylor, a native of Medina county, this state. She received a good education, having studied at West- field, passing through the high school there. This union has resulted in the birth of four children, namely: Don E., who completed the course in the Smithville public schools and is now a student in Wooster University; Julia, Gale and Taylor. These children are receiving every care and advan- tage possible, and they give promise of happy and successful futures.
In politics Mr. Gilbert is a Democrat, but he is not an aspirant for posi- . tions of public trust, preferring to devote his time to his large business inter- ests ; however, any movement looking toward the betterment of his locality in any way finds in him a ready advocate.
REV. CHRISTIAN Z. YODER.
A man who has accomplished much for the amelioration of his fellows in Wayne county is the Rev. Christian Z. Yoder, who has labored long and ardently, often with disregard for his own welfare, if he could thereby make some one better, happier ; his influence, like that of his honored father before him, has always been uplifting and hundreds of people have been made better for having known him. He is also a tiller of the soil, owning one of the nicest fruit farms in Greene township. His father, the Rev. John K. Yoder, long a noted Amish Mennonite minister, represented a family who lived in the United States prior to the war of the Revolution. His grandfather was brought to America by his parents when quite young, he being the oldest of the family, and to aid his parents by paying for his passage to the New World he was bound out to a farmer in Berks county, Pennsylvania, in which community he remained until he was twenty-one years of age. He married Magdalena Yoder (no relation) and they later moved to Mifflin county, that state, where Mr. Yoder lived until his death. His wife survived him many years, and when she died she had numerous descendants. She and her husband were the parents of eight children, five daughters and three sons. John K. Yoder was the son of John Yoder, who
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was born in Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, in 1786 and died in 1855. Ee married Mary King, who was a native of Berks county, Pennsylvania, but she was reared in Mifflin county, that state. She was born in 1790 and died in 1886, having lived nearly a century. John Yoder, the father of John K. Yoder, was a member of the Amish Mennonite church, and was regarded by all who knew him as a very honest, upright man. His children were Jacob, Magdalena, Christian, John K. The last named was born January 21, 1824. He was reared on a farm and he naturally selected farming for his life work. He married upon reaching manhood and lived on a farm until 1855, when he moved from his native state to Ohio.
On May 5, 1850, while still in Pennsylvania, Mr. Yoder was selected as a minister in the Mennonite church, which he served faithfully for many years. So great was his fidelity to his church that in October. 1859, he was selected by ballot as bishop in this church, which high honor was most worthily bestowed according to those who knew the man, for he was both able and very conscientious in his duties to his congregation. He was mar- ried to Lydia Zook in Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, on January 9, 1845. She was born March 18, 1827, and her death occurred September 20, 1887. She was a faithful wife, a devoted mother and a good Christian. To the Rev. John K. Yoder and wife three children were born, namely : Christian Z., Mary Z. and David Z.
Rev. Christian Z. Yoder was born November 28, 1845. He received his early mental training in the home schools, and when he reached maturity he married Lydia Smiley, a native of Elkhart county, Indiana, the date of her birth having been December 5, 1846, and she came to Wayne county, Ohio, with her parents in 1867. She was educated in the common schools and reared on a farm. To this union nine children have been born, eight living beyond infancy.
In April, 1869, Mr. and Mrs. Yoder moved on the farm where they now reside, having made their home here continuously since their marriage. The place consists of one hundred and fifteen acres, all under fine improvements. and it is managed in such a manner as to gain the best results. No finer land can be found in Wayne county than that owned by Mr. Yoder, and no more commodious, beautifully designed or more nicely furnished residence is to be found in the rural districts of this county than that of Mr. Yoder. Everything about his place shows that a gentleman of excellent tastes and sound judgment has its management in hand. He raises a large quantity of fruit, for which he always finds a ready market. He also has a splendid
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greenhouse, which he has seen develop from a small business to one of large magnitude, one of the most extensive, in fact, in Wayne county.
In 1870 the first Sunday school of the Amish Mennonite church was or- ganized in Wayne county, and Mr. Yoder had the distinction to be chosen as its superintendent, and he succeeded in building up a large Sunday school, serving continuously in the capacity of superintendent until 1904. On Octo- ber 14. 1890, he was ordained a deacon of the church, and on October 22, 1904, he was ordained as minister in the -Amish Mennonite church, into which he was baptized and received in 1865. He is a worthy son of a worthy sire, the mantle of his noble father, who died August 1, 1906, having fallen upon his shoulders and which he is wearing most becomingly, doing an amount of good in his community,-a leader, in fact, in church work and all move- ments for the general good. He is an earnest speaker, always holding his audiences in rapt attention, being a noted evangelist. He is vice-president of the Mennonite board of missions and charities, being the moving spirit of the same.
To the Rev. Christian Z. Yoder and wife the following children have been born: John S., February 5, 1870, married Sarah Hartzler; David A., April 3, 1872, married Josephine Lutz, of Medina county, Ohio; Rufus M., September 7, 1874, married Bertha Albrecht; Menno S., January 5, 1878, married Fetzer, of Smithville, Ohio; Ora C., March 21, 1880, is a graduate of the Rush Medical College of Chicago, having completed the course there very creditably in 1909; Mary E., October 26, 1882, is a teacher in the common schools, and was a student at Goshen, Indiana: Joseph D .. January 14. 1886, is also a teacher, having graduated from the college at Goshen, Indiana ; Ira D., August 9, 1888, has also taught school. They are all well educated and show in their daily lives the wholesome home environ- ment in which they were reared.
JACOB F. REHM.
In such men as Jacob F. Rehm there is peculiar satisfaction in offering their life histories as justification for the compilation of works of this char- acter-not that their lives have been such as to gain them particularly wide notoriety or the admiring plaudits of men, but that they have been true to the trusts reposed in them, have shown such attributes of character as entitle them to the regard of all. Mr. Rehm was born in Baughman town- ship. Wayne county, Ohio, May 19, 1872, the son of George and Mary (Sickman) Rehm. George Rehm was born in Franklin county, Pennsyl-
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vania, in October, 1839, and there he remained until 1845, when his parents moved to Baughman township, Wayne county, Ohio, where they settled on a farm, and there they remained the balance of their lives, becoming known as among the best farmers of that community. The long journey from Pennsylvania was made in an old-fashioned covered wagon and the party comprised seven persons. George Rehm grew to manhood here and became one of the leading farmers in the eastern part of Wayne county and he was a man whom everybody liked. He and his wife were the parents of eleven children, three of whom died in infancy; eight are living, namely : John W. : Lavina, wife of Fred Anthony; Sarah, wife of Henry Fisher ; George W., of Baughman township, is living on the old home farm; Alice is the wife of Henry Mackey ; Jacob F., of this review ; Kate is the wife of Charles Shenk ; A. J. lives in Burton City, this county.
Jacob F. Rehm was reared in Baughman township where he worked on his father's farm during his boyhood days, attending the district schools during the winter months. He remained at home until he was twenty-four years of age, managing the place and taking care of his mother, his father being dead. He was always a hard worker and a good manager and he made a success of the farming operations which he carried on.
In 1896 Mr. Rehm was married to Erma Bear, who was born in Baugh- man township February 14, 1874. They lived on the old Rehm homestead for a period of seven years, then moved on the old Sickman farm, which Mr. Rehm now owns. It contains ninety-three acres of good land. the crops having been so rotated that the original fertility of the soil has been retained. It is well improved and general farming and stock raising are successfully carried on. Mr. Rehm is one of the leading stock buyers of the eastern end of the county, being on the road a great deal of the time, but he oversees his farm in the meantime, having a nice annual income from both sources by reason of his able management.
To Mr. and Mrs. Rehm three children have been born, namely: Lester, October 27, 1897; Lillian, April 20, 1900; Robert. September 6, 1907.
Mr. Rehm is a member of the German Lutheran church, and fraternally he is a member of Cedar Lodge, No. 430, Free and Accepted Masons. He takes considerable interest in Democratic politics. He has been rewarded for his interest in the progress of local affairs by being placed in the office of justice of the peace of Baughman township, now serving his third year in a manner that has won favorable comment from all concerned, irre- spective of party alliance. He performs all duties pertaining to the office. legal proceedings, marriages, and whatever else comes to his office. He is genial and obliging.
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ANDREW A. FAIR.
The Fair family is of German origin and ever since the first representa- tive of the same came to the United States each member has made a record for thrift and integrity, establishing a good home and performing whatever service he could to his fellow man, thereby becoming a valued citizen of our great body politic. One of the best known members of this large family is A. A. Fair, of Chester township, Wayne county, Ohio, whose birth occurred in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, on December 8, 1830, the son of John and Mary ( Hagey) Fair. His paternal grandparents were Jacob and Eliza- beth Fair, natives of Germany who came to America in a very early day and located in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, where they remained for awhile, then came on west to Wayne county, Ohio, where they spent their last days on a farm in Chester township. Jacob Fair proved his loyalty to his adopted country by fighting in one of our early wars. His son, John Fair, was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, in 1801, in which county his wife, Mary Hagey, also first saw the light of day. They married in their native community and in about 1832 came to Wayne county, Ohio, and be- came identified with the early civilization here. John Fair was a cooper by trade, which he followed successfully until his death. He made a trip to Huron county, Ohio, but not finding conditions there equal to those in Wayne county, he returned here, and, in connection with his trade, managed a farm. He took a active part in the affairs of the Albright church, and he and his wife were the parents of seven children, of which number A. A., of this sketch. and William, of Wooster, this county, are the only survivors. The death of John Fair occurred in 1885, he having been preceded to the grave by his wife in 1880.
A. A. Fair was educated in the Jefferson common schools, and very early in life learned the cooper's trade, which he followed for about fifteen years. He also learned the wagonmaker's trade, becoming skilled in both and always finding remunerative employment. He took up farming and in the spring of 1863 bought a farm of eighty-six acres in Chester township, some of which he cleared and improved, erecting new buildings, including a fine residence, and otherwise making his place one of the most attractive in the community. He has carried on general farming and stockraising very successfully ; however, for the past seven years he has lived practically re- tired.
Mr. Fair was married to Mary Painter, a native of Wayne county, Ohio. and the daughter of John Painter, an early settler, having come here from
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ANDREW A. FAIR
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Pittsburg, Pennsylvania ; this was his first marriage, which was solemnized in 1854. To this union six children were born, namely : Alice, wife of Jack Jones; Mary, wife of Willis Long; William; Ida, wife of Frank Wilson, living in Missouri; Effie, wife of Willis Fast; Harvey is deceased. A. A. Fair's second marriage was to Eliza Summers, a native of Michigan and the daughter of Adam Summers, whose home was in Michigan. No children were born to this union. Both wives are deceased.
Politically Mr. Fair is a Republican but he has never aspired to any public office. The Methodist Episcopal church holds his membership.
JOHN C. SCHULTZ.
Holding distinctive prestige among the leading business men of northern Ohio and standing out clear and distinct as one of the public-spirited citizens of Wayne county, John C. Schultz has achieved an honorable record as an enterprising, self-made man, who from a modest beginning and by his own undivided efforts has worked his way to a position of affluence and influ- ence in the commercial world. His life has been one of unceasing industry and perseverance and the systematic and honorable methods which he has ever pur- sued have gained for him the unbounded confidence and esteem of his fellow men and a permanent place among those to whose energy, sound judgment and superior foresight the city of Wooster is so largely indebted for its ad- vancement and importance as a prosperous business center.
Mr. Schultz is a native of Ohio and a representative of one of the old and highly respected families of Wayne county. As the name implies, he is of German blood, and he traces his ancestry through many generations in the Fatherland where his antecedents from time immemorial appear to liave lived. Nicholas Schultz, his father, was born in Germany, but at the age of eighteen came to the United States, and, making his way direct to Wayne county, Ohio, settled in East Union township, where he worked for a number of years at blacksmithing, later purchasing a farm, which he cultivated in connection with his trade until about 1884. He served as trustee of his township, besides filling various other local offices, took a leading part in public matters and by industry and frugality succeeded in acquiring a competency which he is now enjoying in a life of honorable retirement, after reaching the advanced age of eighty years, sixty-two of which have been spent in the township of East Union. On discontinuing
(78)
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active labor he took up his residence in the village of Apple Creek, where he lived until the death of his wife, since which time he has made his home with his daughter in the town of Kenmore, where he is now spending the evening of his life, being one of the few remaining links connecting the present with the pioneer period.
Prior to her marriage, Mrs. Nicholas Schultz bore the maiden name of Katherine Schaefer. She, too, was a native of Germany and came to America when young, making the voyage alone and locating in Wayne county about the time of Mr. Schultz's arrival. She met her future husband in East Union township, where in due season their marriage was solemnized, and there she spent the remainder of her days, dying on June 11, 1908, at the age of seventy-seven years.
Nicholas and Katherine Schultz reared a family of six children, namely : Sarah, who married George W. Liner, of East Union township, and died when thirty-eight years old: George, a dry goods merchant of Massillon, Ohio; Adam, a blacksmith and dealer in buggies, carriages, etc., at Apple Creek; John C., of this review: Anna, who died at the age of thirty, and Ola, wife of Harvey Lautenschlager, of Kenmore, Ohio. The mother of these children was a pious woman, a member of the German Reformed church and a woman of many excellent qualities of head and heart. Mr. Schultz is also connected with that religious body, and has ever tried to live a life void of offense toward God and man. He platted the Apple Creek cemetery while trustee of East Union township, and always manifested an abiding interest in the advancement of the township of which he was a pioneer settler and which he has seen grow from its primitive condition to one of the best-improved and most prosperous parts of Wayne county.
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