USA > Ohio > Wayne County > History of Wayne County, Ohio, Volume II > Part 4
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Conrad Metsker, who enjoyed the distinction of serving as a soldier in the Revolutionary war for five years, came to Greene township, Wayne county, Ohio, in a very early day, when this locality was a wilderness, and entered one hundred and sixty acres of land. He had a son, James, who was twice married, Enoch being a son of his second marriage. The latter be- came a successful farmer in Canaan township. Eli was the father of Vernon Metsker, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work. James Metsker died in 1895, and Enoch is also deceased.
Eli Metsker grew to maturity on the home farm, which he assisted in developing when he reached the proper age. He attended the neighboring schools and received a fairly good education. In starting life for himself he first began farming on the homestead with his father. Later he and his brothers· operated very successfully a threshing machine for ten or fifteen years, becoming known throughout this locality as leading threshers, and they always had all the work they could do during a season. Later in life Eli Metsker, taking the capital he had earned with his thresher, purchased a fine farm of one hundred and sixty-five acres in the southeast part of Canaan
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township, where his family now resides. He improved the place and had an excellent income from it from year to year owing to his excellent man- agement. He followed general farming and stock raising until his death, June 20, 1908, leaving his family well provided for.
Eli Metsker was married in 1887 to Louise Graber, who was born in Germany. She was the daughter of Christian and Anna ( Roraback) Graber, both born in Germany; they lived on a farm and were always regarded as honest, industrious people. Christian Graber, the paternal grandfather of Mrs. Metsker, was a soldier in one of the great nineteenth century wars of Germany. To Mr. and Mrs. Eli Metsker the following children were born : Vernon R., Carl F., J. R., Florence May and Floyd William Mckinley.
Eli Metsker was a member of the United Brethren church, which also holds the membership of his family. In politics he was a Republican. He was regarded by all who knew him as an honorable and industrious man, al- ways striving to be fair in his dealings, and he took an interest in the welfare of his neighbors, so that he was well liked by all classes.
JACOB GEARHART.
It is but in justice due that in this volume should be accorded a tribute to the memory of one who was identified with the civic and industrial life of Wayne county in so prominent a way as was Mr. Gearhart, whose abilities and unswerving integrity in all the relations of life gained for him unlimited esteem from all with whom he came in contact. Superadded to this, the memoir is the more consistent from the fact that he was a native son of the county and here passed his entire life, attaining marked success and becoming one of the representative and influential men of this section of the state.
Jacob Gearhart was born one mile west of the Wayne church, in Wayne county, Ohio, on the 30th of May, 1832, and is a son of William and Mary (Dirck) Gearhart. The father was a native of Pennsylvania, having been born near Harrisburg. Mrs. Gearhart was born in a different section of the Keystone state, and they did not meet until after they had become residents of Ohio, to which state they had accompanied their respective parents. After his marriage William Gearhart took up the pursuit of farming, in which he was fairly successful. He was a leading and influential member of the Pres- byterian church, in the work of which he took an active part. In politics he was a Democrat and active in support of the party, but was not an office
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seeker. To him and his wife were born six children, of whom three grew to maturity, the subject of this sketch having been the last survivor.
The subject of this sketch received a good education in the common schools and early formed habits of reading, which clung to him throughout his life. He was a careful and discriminating reader of the best literature and also kept closely in touch with the leading events of the day, being con- sidered a remarkably well-informed man. Upon attaining mature years he took up the vocation of farming, making his first home just east of Bur- bank, where he remained about four years. He then bought one hundred and sixty acres of land one-half mile south of Burbank, and to this land he gave his undivided attention, bringing it up to a high state of cultivation. Mr. Gearhart made many permanent and substantial improvements, includ- ing the erection of new buildings, which are commodious and well arranged .. Subsequently Mr. Gearhart added to his original farm, becoming the owner of two hundred and ninety-two acres of splendid land in Canaan township, besides a farm of one hundred acres in Congress township. The soil is of great fertility and Mr. Gearhart was enabled to realize abundant returns from his land. In addition to the tilling of the soil, he also gave considerable attention to the breeding and raising of livestock, giving his especial attention to Durham stock. He was successful in all his undertakings, possessing a genius for doing the right thing at the right time, and was considered by his fellow citizens as an enterprising and progressive farmer.
In politics he held to the Republican faith and took a live interest in the success of his party, though he never accepted any public office. He was, however, frequently called upon to perform jury service. He was a consistent and faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church, to which Mrs. Gear- hart now belongs.
On March 1, 1859, Mr. Gearhart married Mary E. Elcock, the marriage being celebrated in York county, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Gearhart was a native of York and is a daughter of David and Rebecca ( Fraizer) Elcock. Her family and prior generations had been native to Pennsylvania as far back as there is any record. Her father was in early life a school teacher, but sub- sequently became a successful farmer, his father having taken up one thou- sand acres of government land at a very early date. He was a Republican. To this worthy couple two children were born, Richard Franklin and Mrs. Gearhart. Mrs. Mary Gearhart received a good education in the common schools of her native state, and supplemented this by attendance at the York Ladies' Seminary, in which, however, she remained only two years, her at-
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tendance being cut short because of her mother's illness. To Mr. and Mrs. Gearhart were born three children, William Franklin, of Wayne township, this county ; David Ellsworth, at home, and Eleanor Myrtle, the wife of Wil- liam J. Schulenberger, of Lodi. Mr. Gearhart's death occurred on the 10th day of April, 1909, and in his passing away the community realized that it had sustained a distinct loss. He was a man of exceptional ability and fine personal qualities and was well liked by all who knew him. He always took a public-spirited interest in every movement calculated to benefit the com- munity and was a recognized factor in the upbuilding and development of the community. Mrs. Gearhart is a lady of refinement and culture and lives in the comfortable and attractive home on the estate. She possesses an abundance of those womanly graces which make friends of all who come in contact with her, and she and her husband are well entitled to specific mention in a work of this character.
GEORGE W. PLASTERER.
A prominent citizen of Plain township. Wayne county, is George W. Plasterer, who was born April 3, 1865, on the place where he now lives and which he owns. He is the son of Conrad F. and Anna (Wisler) Plas- terer, both born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. The former was a single man when he came here in 1852. He finally settled on a place of one hun- dred and fifty-one acres, the farm now consisting of one hundred and forty- five acres, which George W. has managed in a most successful manner. Conrad Plasterer lived here until his death. May 18, 1906, his wife having preceded him to the silent land on August 8, 1877. They were the parents of ten children, four sons having died young, six children living to maturity, namely : Henry H., Mrs. Susan Troxel (deceased), George W. of this re- view, Mrs. Elizabeth Rouch, Matilda, Mrs. G. R. Felger and John J. The parental grandparents of the subject were George and Mary Plasterer, who were born, lived and died in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, the former a shoemaker by trade, and whose father was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. The latter's father was a native of Germany, while his mother was born in France. The maternal grandparents of the subject were Michael and Elizabeth Wisler, both natives of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, where they spent their lives on a farm.
George W. Plasterer spent his early youth on the home farm, which he
MRS. GEO. W. PLASTERER
G. H. Plasterer
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helped to improve when he became of proper age, and he received his educa- tion in the Reedsburg public schools, which he attended until he was twenty years of age, receiving a very good education. Upon the death of his father he purchased the home place in 1906 and he moved thereto the following spring, since which time he has been carrying on general farming and stock raising in a very successful manner.
Mr. Plasterer was married on October 20, 1887, to Mettie M. Houck, daughter of a very highly respected family of this county. This union has resulted in the birth of the following children : Zella T., now Mrs. Russell Soliday ( they are the parents of one child, Mildred) ; Grace T., Ruby V. and Wayne H., all living at home.
Mr. Plasterer and his two oldest daughters are members of the Lutheran church, while Mrs. Plasterer belongs to the Reformed church. Mr. Plasterer is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Wooster, and in politics he is a Democrat, having long taken considerable interest in local affairs. In 1894, he was elected justice of the peace of Plain township and so faithfully did he discharge the duties of the same that he was re-elected in 1897. He was twice on the board of education, first in 1893 and again in 1895. He was elected county commissioner in the fall of 1908, having served five months by appointment before the time of election. The father of the subject also took some interest in political matters, and he served six years as infirmary director, and also served three years as a member of the county board of elections.
CLEMENT L. AULT.
When Henry Ault, his son Valentine and the latter's wife came to Wayne county, Ohio, in about 1830, from their ancestral home in Pennsylvania, and located in Baughman township, they found practically a wilderness, through which roamed deer, wolves, wild turkey and many kinds of wild animals, and here and there a red man was encountered who had been reluctant to leave the haunts of his forefathers. The Aults, being hardy pioneers, adventurous and hard workers, instead of being appalled at the enormity of their task in establishing a home in the midst of the wilderness, were delighted with such environments and took up three hundred acres of land, which, to a great extent, they cleared and improved the land, dividing it into farms which soon yieldled abundant harvests. There Henry Ault lived until his death,
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rearing a family of seven or eight children. Valentine Ault, grandfather of C. L. Ault, of this review, spent many years in Milton township, where he followed general farming. In his family were eight children, all of whom, after receiving what education they could in the primitive schools, taught in the old-fashioned log houses of those days, located in Wayne county. Valen- tine Ault and his wife, Katherine Ault, were both natives of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. Henry Ault, father of Katherine Ault and grandfather of the subject, was also a native of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. The ma- ternal grandparents of C. L. Ault were Jacob and Hannah Fry, both natives of Germany. They came to America about 1854 and settled in Orrville, Wayne county, Ohio, where Jacob Fry followed cabinetmaking until his death.
William H. Ault, son of Valentine Ault and father of C. L. Ault, was born in the old family homestead in Milton township, this county, received his education in the early schools and devoted his entire life to farming on the home place; he was very successful as a farmer. He married Caroline Fry and they became the parents of two children, C. L., of this review, and Jessie. who died when seventeen years of age.
C. L. Ault was born on the home farm in Milton township, March 25, 1873, and he received his early education at Sterling, this county. He de- voted his attention to farming on the home place when he became old enough to start in life for himself. continuing successfully in his general farming operations until 1903, in which year he bought the place, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres, where he now lives, a short distance south of Creston. He has a highly productive and well-improved farm on which he carries on dairying and general farming in a manner that brings him an annual income that is substantial and gratifying. He has a modern dairy and all necessary equipment, and he finds a ready market for his products, which are always first class. He has a very comfortable residence and good outbuildings.
Mr. Ault was married in 1896 to Harriett Stucky, daughter of John and Sarah (Steele) Stucky, of Greene township, well known people of this local- ity. To Mr. and Mrs. Ault one child, Katherine, has been born.
The early members of the Ault family were Lutherans, but C. L. and his family are members of the Presbyterian church. In his political rela- tions Mr. Ault is a Democrat, but he has never sought office or taken a very great interest in political affairs ; however, some of his ancestors were promi- nent in politics. John Ault, whose father was a brother of C. L. Ault's grandfather, was a state senator.
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M. M. MILLER.
An analyzation of the life work of M. M. Miller shows that he has been dependent upon no inheritance or influential friends for what he has acquired, but has through his own continued effort and capable management, gained a desirable property whereby he is classed among the self-made and influen- tial men of Canaan township, Wayne county. His birth occurred in Wayne township, near Guyer Chapel, April 6, 1842, the son of Michael and Margaret (Miller) Miller, both natives of Gerhartbruna, Rhinish Germany. They came to America about 1815 and located in Pennsylvania, where they re- mained for a short time. Later they came to Columbus, Ohio, then in a short time settled in Wayne county, this state. At that time there were but three houses in Wooster (about 1820). They first bought one hundred and sixty acres of land north of where Smithville now stands. After clearing five acres of the same, they sold it and bought ninety acres near Guyer's Chapel. In those days the early settlers went to mill on horseback, the residents of this locality being compelled to go as far as where Alliance now stands. Game was plentiful, and it is related that twelve deer were seen on going from Michael Miller's place to Smithville. Adolph Miller, the maternal grand- father of M. M. Miller, came to this county with Michael Miller and pur- chased one hundred and sixty acres of land near Smithville and he remained there until his death, that farm having been retained in the family until 1907. Part of it is now owned by a Mr. Yoder. Michael cleared the farm he pur- chased near Guyer's Chapel and lived there the balance of his days.
M. M. Miller, of this review, remained on the home farm until he was sixteen years of age, when he began learning the trade of stone-mason with Adam Kieffer and Peter Presler, and he followed that vocation until 1865. He saved his money and at the close of the Civil war he began to make investments in land.
Mr. Miller was married February 18, 1865, to Catherine, daughter of Samuel Sommers. Her father was born in Washington county, Pennsyl- vania, the son of Abraham and Mary Magdalene Sommers, who came from that locality in the early thirties and settled in Wayne township, Wayne county, Ohio, taking up a quarter section of land which they cleared, living there until 1865, when Mr. Sommers moved to Fayette county, Illinois, where his death occurred.
Augustus B. Miller, brother of M. M. Miller, enlisted in the Union army at Wooster when the last call for troops was made.
M. M. Miller is a self-made man, as already intimated, having made
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every dollar he has owned by hard work, quarrying stone, building culverts, erecting arches, constructing bridges, felling trees and plowing "new ground." He has been successful and today is very comfortably situated, having a nice home and a competency.
At the June primaries in 1893 he became the choice of the Democratic party for a member of the board of county commissioners, and he was elected by a triumphant majority. He made a very faithful official, and was re- elected to the same office in 1896, having then been made president of the board, very ably fulfilling the duties of this important place. The fact that his majority in 1896 was eight hundred would indicate that his standing among his constituents was of the best, and that he was popular with his party and voters from other parties as well.
Mr. Miller accumulated in all one hundred acres of land, purchasing sixty acres in 1865, and an adjoining forty in 1881. He lived on his fine farm, bringing it up to a high state of improvement and prospering by his general crops and stock raising, until 1897, when he retired from active life, moving to Creston, where he has a beautiful and modern residence and a small lot. He retired from his office in September, 1900. He has served as a member of the city council in Creston. He and his estimable wife are mem- bers of the Presbyterian church. Their children are: Emmit U., Zeno S .; Franklin died when one year old; Ella Irene. This family stands in the front rank of Wayne county's best citizenship. Mr. Miller is a member of the Knights of Pythias, Seville Lodge No. 268.
HARVEY B. DOHNER.
One of the successful and public-spirited farmers of Chippewa township, Wayne county, and a man deserving the esteem in which he is held by his neighbors owing to his life of industry and honesty is Harvey B. Dohner. He was born on the farm which he now owns, located southwest of Doyles- town, his birth occurring June 21, 1858. He is the son of Jacob and Rebecca ( Lee) Dohner, the former a native of Pennsylvania, having been born there in 1828, and the latter first saw the light of day in Wayne county, Ohio, on July 5. 1832. Harvey B.'s paternal grandparents were Jacob and Elizabeth (Zigler) Dohner, both natives of Pennsylvania, who, in 1834, came to Wayne county. Ohio, with their children and settled on a two hundred-acre farm where the subject of this sketch now lives. There Jacob Dohner. Sr., with his
MR. AND MRS. HARVEY B. DOHNER
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sons, erected a saw-mill, cleared the place and followed milling and farming. becoming quite well-to-do for those early days and he lived here until his death.
The maternal grandparents of Harvey B. Dohner were John and (Lance) Lee, who were natives of eastern Ohio and were pioneers in Chip- pewa township, Wayne county, where they followed farming and were influ- ential in their community. This Lee family is related to the famous Southern general, Robert E. Lee.
Jacob Dohner, Jr., father of Harvey. B., was educated in the home schools and he assisted his father on the farm in the mill, remaining on the homestead his entire life, making a success of general farming. He reached a good old age, dying in 1909. He and his wife were the parents of nine children, namely : William Henry, Sarah Alverna, Ellen Jane, Harvey Byron, Charles Jacob, Amanda Cornelia (died when two years of age), Ada Alice, Mary Elizabeth and Clara Emma.
Harvey B. Dohner was educated in the home schools and he has always resided on the old homestead, whereon he began working when but a mere boy. He now farms the entire place of two hundred acres. He has so skillfully managed the place that the soil has retained its original fertility and yields abundant harvests under his direction. His place is highly improved and on it stand an excellent dwelling and all the outbuildings that his needs require. He keeps some good stock of various kinds, being a good judge of most kinds of livestock, especially horses and cattle.
Politically Mr. Dohner is a Democrat, but he does not find time to take a great deal of interest in political matters. His father was also a Democrat. and he and his wife were members of the Christian church, of which Harvey B. and wife and their children, with the exception of one, are members. The Dohners have been very favorably spoken of in every respect since the coming of the first members of the family here in the early days and the present gener- ation is faithfully maintaining the high standard of integrity set by the first bearers of this name here.
AUGUSTUS S. TUTTLE.
The family of this name is descended from early Ohio pioneers and its representatives have long been settled in various parts of the state. We first hear of Joel Tuttle, who came in from New York when the first tide of immigration was heaviest and took up his abode in the county of Holmes. He studied medicine and gained local note as a pioneer physician, his whole
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life being spent and ended in the county of his adoption. In young man- hood he married Cynthia, daughter of Michael and Rebecca Crow, who came from their native state of Maryland when Ohio was still in the embrace of its primeval wilderness. The former was a minister of the gospel for many years and figured extensively in the rough work of the pioneer church, when meeting houses were far apart and campmeetings the main agencies for gath- ering the people together to hear the gospel. Joel and Cynthia (Crow) Tuttle had four sons, of whom the only near surviving descendant is Dr. D. G. Tuttle. The latter was born at Berlin, Holmes county, Ohio, May II, 1838, his parents being Harvey and Mary (Crow) Tuttle. He grew up in Holmes county and was educated in the schools of Nashville, later at- tending medical lectures in Philadelphia and Cleveland, with a view to quali- fying himself as a physician. He entered into practice at Glenmont, Holmes county, but after two years at that point removed to Tuscarawas county, which was the scene of his work for the next five years. In 1876 Doctor Tut- tle located at Jackson, Wayne county, where he remained until his retirement in 1900, after thirty-two years of continuous professional labors.
In 1861 Doctor Tuttle married Sarah J., daughter of Llewellyn and Eliza Allison, old settlers of Holmes county. The wife died in 1870, after becoming the mother of four children, and in 1871 Doctor Tuttle was mar- ried at Changeville to Amanda, daughter of Ephraim and Mary Hattery, old settlers of Tuscarawas county, by which union there were six children, Augustus S. Tuttle, son by the first marriage above mentioned, was born at Nashville, Holmes county, Ohio, December 12, 1866. He completed his education in the Creston high school, and when nineteen years old began learning the hardware and tinning trade. After devoting some time to his apprenticeship, he clerked for a local firm until 1901, when he entered the hardware, tinning and slating business in partnership with the Miller Broth- ers, which connection lasted until 1908, when Mr. Sellers took the interests of the Millers ; even at that time, however, Mr. Tuttle had complete charge of the business. The firm has for years done an extensive line of work in hard- ware and roofing, and has a high reputation for skill in carrying out their contracts and enjoys high standing in financial circles. Mr. Tuttle's popu- larity is shown by the fact that, though a Democrat, he has served seven terms as clerk of the Republican township of Canaan. He is a member of Creston Lodge, No. 893, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and of Wooster En- campment, and has passed all the chairs. In 1890 Mr. Tuttle was married to Anna, daughter of William and Mary Sellers, old settlers of Dalton, Ohio. They have four children, Hazel, a graduate of the Creston high school, Daisy, Merle and Kathryn.
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DAVID I. SLEMMONS.
Thomas Slemmons, founder of the family of this name in Wayne county, was a native of Scotland who emigrated to America before the Revolutionary war, in which he took a part. He settled in Pennsylvania, lived all his life in that state and finally ended his days there. His son Samuel was born in 1790, and in early manhood married Ann McKee, who was born in 1793. Both were natives of Pennsylvania, and grew to maturity in that state. After marriage they removed to Wayne county, Ohio, where, in 1819, they entered one hundred and sixty acres of land in Milton township. The rest of their adult lives were spent in clearing and improving this tract, their experiences in no respect differing from those of other pioneers around them, who were engaged in reclaiming the western wilderness. Samuel died in 1877. after completing the eighty-seventh year of his age. Shortly after he reached Wayne county one of his brothers, named William, came to Wooster and followed the wheelwright's trade, being one of the early settlers of that town. Still later another brother, named John, came to Wayne county and located at Jackson; a few years later he removed onto a farm, where he made his home until his death. Samuel was an elder in the Presbyterian church and during all of his life was interested in the active work of the denomination. He reared a family of ten children, equally divided between sons and daugh- ters, of whom four survive. These are Samuel, John, David, and Martha, wife of Michael Gish. Elizabeth Whiteside, deceased sister, was prominently connected with the Presbyterian church and shortly before her death fur- nished the church with an entire new outfit of seats. She provided in her will an endowment of two thousand dollars for the use of the church, and altogether was much beloved by the congregation, who regarded her as a benefactress and woman of great worth of character. It is interesting to note in connection with this old and influential family of Wayne county that only one transfer was ever made of the original homestead, that being from Samuel to John Slemmons.
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