USA > Ohio > Wayne County > History of Wayne County, Ohio, Volume II > Part 45
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Benjamin F. Swinehart was reared in the neighborhood in which he now resides. He received a good education in the district schools and in his youth taught one term, but not taking kindly to school teaching, he cast about for other lines of endeavor; however, if he had continued teaching he would doubtless have been very successful, for he received on first trial a six-months license. As a young man he followed selling machinery and threshing. Giving this up, he later followed farming for six years in Stark county, but the remainder of his life has been spent in Wayne county ; how- ever, he got a good start farming in the former county. He resided in
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Wooster for a period of six years. In 1881 he purchased the farm where he now lives in Chester township, consisting of one hundred and ninety acres. He also owns twenty-nine acres adjoining Lattasburg. He cleared thirty acres of the first-named tract. He has greatly improved his land, putting up good buildings and fences and in many other ways rendering his farm equal to any in the township. He has made a specialty of colt raising and his colts are always ready sellers, owing to their excellent quality. Al- though Mr. Swinehart practically retired from active farming in 1896, he has since resided on the home place and merely oversees his farming opera- tions, leaving the work for the most part to his two sons.
Mr. Swinehart was married in the fall of 1865 to Nancy Worst, a native of Ashland county, Ohio, and to this union the following children have been born : Mary, who married David Joliff; Ephraim A. married Nora Zurker ; Frances C. married C. C. Stair; Clara E. married Jessie Ebert; Samuel W. died when thirteen years of age; Verna married Guy Pittenger; Ralph and Ray are twins; they are farming on the home place; Ralph married Sylvia Hiner, and Ray married Zella Peters. Mrs. Benjamin F. Swinehart was called from her earthly labors on August 17, 1907.
Mr. Swinehart is a Democrat and he has long taken considerable interest in the affairs of his community, having served very acceptably as township assessor and also trustee. He is well known throughout this part of Wayne county and everybody respects him for his honesty in dealing with his fellow men and his life of usefulness and industry. Religiously, he belongs to the United Brethren church.
CHARLES E. TAYLOR.
The Taylor family has been an honored and influential one in Wayne county since the early days, and they have been faithful in the performance of their duty in all the relations of life. One of the best known of the pres- ent generation of Taylors is Charles E., who was born in Franklin town- ship, this county, in 1867, the son of Thomas and Elvina (Batdorff) Taylor. the former a native of Bristol, England, and the latter born in Pennsylvania. The paternal grandparents of Charles E. Taylor were James and Mary Tay- lor, who, in an early day, came to Wooster township and settled near Mun- son school house. He was a mason by trade and he built many lime kilns and spent the remainder of his life in that vicinity. The maternal grandparents
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of the subject came from Pennsylvania about 1826 and settled in Franklin township, Wayne county ; there they followed farming, owning one hundred and sixty acres of land, which they cleared and developed, spending the re- mainder of their lives there.
Thomas Taylor, father of Charles E., was partly educated in England, but being only a young man when he arrived in Wayne county, Ohio, he finished his schooling here. He learned the stonemason's trade before leav- ing England, and this trade he followed for some time after coming to America, building much stone fence before leaving his native land; however, he devoted his attention principally to farming after coming to Ohio. He proved his loyalty to his adopted country by enlisting as a soldier in the Mexican war. He was also one of the brave men who made the perilous trip to the gold fields of California in 1849. Upon his return to Ohio he built the first bridge north of Holmesville, but from that time on gave his attention exclusively to farming in Franklin township, Wayne county. He prospered, owning eventually two hundred acres, eighty acres in Clinton and Franklin townships and eighty acres in Holmes county. He was an ex- tensive hog raiser, having been considered the banner hog man of Franklin township up to 1880. He lived a quiet life, though he accepted some of the minor township offices. His family consisted of eight children, namely : Ellen, Catherine, James, Elizabeth, Louis, Charles E., Emma and Thomas.
Charles E. Taylor, of this review, was educated in the home schools and the Shreve high school, graduating with the class of 1889, and he then entered the University of Wooster, where he made a splendid record, taking the classical course up to the junior year. He then taught school eight terms, two terms in Clinton township, three terms in Franklin township, and three terms in the grammar department of the Shreve high school. He was making rapid headway as one of the leading educators in the common schools of the county, and his services were in great demand, but not finding the school room altogether to his liking, he launched in the warehouse business at Funk, where he has been engaged ever since, having built up an extensive business. He is also interested in agricultural pursuits, and is regarded as one of the leading business men of this community.
Mr. Taylor was married in 1896 to Effie M. Orr, the refined daughter of a well-known family here, and this union has resulted in the birth of the following children : Jessie, Edna and Charles.
Mr. Taylor is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and he is a Democrat in national politics.
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RUDOLPH STUDER.
While yet a young man, Rudolph Studer has stamped his personality upon the citizens of the community where he resides, for his life has been one of consistent endeavor and led along paths of rectitude. He is a native of Auburn township, Tuscarawas county, Ohio, his birth occurring there on June 21, 1871, the son of Frederick and Louise (Brunner) Studer, both na- tives of Switzerland, the father born on March 10, 1838, and the mother on June 17, 1841. The death of Frederick Studer occurred on January 28, 1909, after a successful and useful life as an agriculturist. It was in 1870 that these parents came to the United States and located soon after their arrival in Tuscarawas county, this state, where they remained for a period of ten years, when they moved to Holmes county, Ohio, locating on a farm where they remained until the death of the father. Frederick Studer was a weaver by trade, which he learned in his native country, and he did a great deal of carpet weaving. He was a member of the Reformed church. He and his wife became the parents of the following children: Fred, Gottlieb, Ru- dolph, Lizzie, John, Dr. Benjamin, a veterinary surgeon of Orrville, Ohio, and Amelia.
Rudolph Studer, of this sketch, was nine years of age when he came with his parents to Holmes county, where as a boy he attended the common schools, receiving a good primary education, working on the home farm in the mean- time. At the age of seventeen years he learned to make cheese, at which trade he worked very successfully for a period of eight years, after which he turned his attention to farming.
Mr. Studer was married on December 15, 1897, to Leah Amstutz, who was born on the farm where she now lives on June 1, 1870, the daughter of Jacob Amstutz, who was born in Sugar Creek township, Wayne county, in 1833. He was the son of John Amstutz, a native of Switzerland, and was among the earlier settlers of Wayne county, Ohio. Jacob Amstutz was the father of eight children, six of whom are now living.
After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Rudolph Studer moved on the Amstutz farm of one hundred and thirteen acres in section 31, Sugar Creek township, which Mr. Studer has greatly improved and which he works in such a manner as to realize abundant returns for his labor. He is a breeder of registered sheep, cattle and horses,-in fact, an up-to-date, wide-awake stock raiser and farmer, his fine stock being admired by all who see them.
Mr. Studer is a stockholder in the East Union Telephone Company, also a stockholder in the Apple Creek Banking Company. He makes a success
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RUDOLPH STUDOR
MRS. RUDOLPH STUDOR
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of whatever he turns his attention to, for he is the possessor of rare business qualities.
To Mr. and Mrs. Rudolph Studer four children have been born, namely : Clair W., born October 15, 1898; Walter, born December 29, 1900; Irwin, born June 18, 1903; Mabel, born April 28, 1907. The great-grandfather of the mother of these children was born in France in 1746 and died in 18II ; his son, Peter Steiner, was born in 1792 and died in 1856 and he came to the United States in an early day. His daughter was Catherine Steiner, who married Jacob Amstutz, and they are the parents of Mrs. Rudolph Studer, of this review.
In politics Mr. Studer is a Democrat, and he is at this writing very ca -. pably serving as one of the trustees of Sugar Creek township. He is a mem- ber of the Mennonite church, in which congregation he is influential, as he is in the business and political circles of the township.
ANDREW J. WELTY.
The popularity of Andrew J. Welty extends beyond the prescribed limits of East Union township, Wayne county, for in every relation of life his conduct has been that of a man whose aims have been correct and whose integrity has never been questioned. He was born in Richland township, Allen county, Ohio, January 9, 1862, the son of Frederick and Catherine (Steiner) Welty. Frederick Welty was born in Switzerland in 1832 and he came to the United States in 1854, locating in Allen county, Ohio, where he secured some valuable property and had a comfortable home. His wife, Catherine Steiner, was born in Switzerland in 1834, and in 1836, when two years of age, she was brought by her parents to the United States, the family locating in Putnam county, Ohio, and there the parents of Mr. Welty are still living at this writing ( 1909).
Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Welty became the parents of fifteen children, namely : Christena, deceased; William; Adam; Caroline married P. R. Steiner : she and Andrew J., of this review, are twins; Marion, Barbara, Roselta, Lavina, Benjamin, Noah, Emil, Jacob, Albert and Sarah.
Frederick Welty was a prosperous farmer in his day and became fairly well-to-do and was an influential citizen in his community. He and his wife were members of the Mennonite church.
Andrew J. Welty was reared on the home farm, which he worked when
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a boy, alternating farm work with attending the district schools; also went to the Angola Normal School at Angola, Indiana. After leaving school he took up farming and threshing, operating a threshing machine very success- fully for some time. In 1887 he located on the farm where he now resides, which consists of one hundred and forty-five acres of excellent and highly improved land, located in the northwest quarter of section 27, East Union township, on which he built a fine and beautifully located residence, also a substantial barn and other outbuildings, rendering his place one of the model farms in the township, everything about it indicating that a gentleman of excellent taste has its management in hand. Mr. Welty has not only been successful as a general farmer, but also as a stock raiser, always keeping a variety of good livestock.
Mr. Welty was married on January 6, 1887, to Mary Amstutz, daughter of Jacob Amstutz, and who was born in Sugar Creek township, August 3, 1864. This union resulted in the birth of eight sons, seven of whom are living in 1910, namely : Alvin, Wilbur, Evan, Clayton, Leo, Stanley and Harold.
Mr. and Mrs. Welty are members of the Mennonite church, the former being an elder in the same and an active worker in the local congregation. Politically, he is a Democrat, and he has served as a member of the school board.
In the spring of 1909 Mr. and Mrs. Welty made a trip to the Pacific coast, visiting the states of Washington, Oregon and California, spending two months in a delightful and beneficial sojourn of the West.
Mr. and Mrs. Welty have endeavored to give their children good educa- tions. The two eldest, Alvin and Wilbur, graduated in the preparatory de- partment at Wooster University, and are now holding responsible positions with the Goodrich Rubber Works at Akron, Ohio.
GABRIEL C. DAGUE.
The life of Gabriel C. Dague has always been one of unceasing industry and perseverance and the systematic and honorable methods he has followed have won him the unbounded confidence of his fellow men. He was born in Chippewa township, Wayne county, Ohio, January 14, 1841, the son of M. D. and Elizabeth K. (McElhaine) Dague. Both were born near Beverly. Pennsylvania, and each came to Chippewa township about 1820 with their
GABRIEL C. DAGUE
MRS. G C. DAGUE
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parents, and here amid the primitive conditions of those early days they grew to maturity. M. D. Dague was educated in the early schools of Chip- pewa township, working on the home farm in the meantime. He naturally turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, which he followed until 1868, in which year he entered the general mercantile business in Western Star, Ohio, which lies partly in Medina and partly in Summit county. He con- tinued in that line for five years and then sold out to his two sons, William Carman and Gabriel C., the latter the subject of this sketch. These two sons and their father, also Samuel Duley, the father-in-law of William Car- man Dague, then started a store in Doylestown, Ohio, in which they suc- cessfully handled dry goods, groceries and notions. During this time M. D. Dague again became part owner of his sons' stores at Western Star and Doylestown. Ten years after he entered business in Doylestown he retired and lived a quiet life until his death, at eighty-five years of age, living in Doylestown, merely looking after his agricultural interests in a general way. He was a very successful business man and was popular with all classes owing to his honesty and friendliness.
For further facts regarding the ancestry of the subject, the reader is directed to the sketch of T. J. Dague, on another page of this work.
Gabriel C. Dague received his educational training in the common schools at the various places he lived when a boy and at the Western Star Academy. In September, 1862, soon after completing his education, he enlisted in the Union army, but he was not admitted to the service until October 9th of that year. He was a member of Company G. One Hundred and Twentieth Regi- ment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served with that company until May 3, 1864, in a manner that stamped him as a gallant soldier. He was taken prisoner at Shagy Point, Louisiana, on the Red river, and he was sent to Camp Ford. Tyler, Texas, where he was held until May 27, 1865. He fought at Chickasaw Bluffs, at the siege of Vicksburg, Arkansas Post. after which he returned to Vicksburg and remained there from July 4, 1863, until the city surrendered a month later. He then went with his company to New Orleans and spent the winter at Plaquemine, Louisiana. After his release he weighed but eighty pounds. He returned to his father's farm and assisted with the work on the home place for eight years, then farmed for himself for four years, at the end of which time he purchased a half interest in his father's store at Western Star, as already indicated. Then for a period of thirty- two years he followed in a most successful manner merchandising at Western Star, Doylestown and Akron, Ohio, twenty years being spent at Western
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Star and twelve years at the last mentioned places ; however, he was interested in all three most of the time. He seemed to take naturally to merchandising and his stores enjoyed a very liberal patronage. In 1904 he sold out his last interest and has since lived a retired life at his beautiful home in Doyles- town, surrounded by plenty as the fruits of his earlier years of labor.
Mr. Dague was married in November, 1865, to Jennie H. Harkins, of Wooster, who passed away in 1868, and on December 30, 1869, Mr. Dague again married, his last wife being Mary A. Brown, a native of Stark county, Ohio, and to this union four children were born, namely: Bertha, who mar- ried Harry Baughman, is the mother of two children, Bessie and Ralph; Harmon H. married Minnie Seiberling, and they are the parents of three children, Ethel, Florence and Roy. Carman W. and Raymond Dague are both deceased.
Politically, Mr. Dague adheres to the tenets of the Democratic party. He has been school director in Doylestown, Western Star, also treasurer of the school board at Western Star. He was also postmaster at that place for fifteen years. He has always been interested in the progress of his county, politically, morally, educationally or materially, and he has an extensive acquaintance throughout this locality, bearing a reputation of honesty and industry alike.
HARMON SMYSER.
The readers of this history do not need to be apprised of the fact that the Smyser family has, for generations, ranked among the most progressive and influential of Wayne county, and one of the best known and most re- presentative members of this honored family is Harmon Smyser, who is a native of this county and a man who has played well his part in the develop- ment of the same, being an interested spectator of its phenomenal growth. He was born on September 11, 1841, and he is the son of Emanuel and Cath- erine (Abert) Smyser, an excellent couple from the Keystone state, from which they came to Wayne county, Ohio, as early as 1832, settling on a farm which they developed from a primitive forest and soon became very comfort- ably established here. They were the parents of eight children, namely : Albert, Harmon, of this review; Mary A., Anna, George J., Elenora, and M. L., whose sketch and portrait appear on another page of this work.
Harmon Smyser received his education in the common schools of Wayne county and worked on his father's farm until he was twenty-six years of age.
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The Civil war coming on he could not suppress his ardor and he enlisted in April, 1861, among the first to respond to Lincoln's call for troops, becoming a private in Company E, Fourth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in which he served until August, when he was discharged, having been in the three- months service. Soon afterwards he re-enlisted in the Sixteenth Ohio Infan- try for three years. The history of this splendid regiment is to be found in the sketch of John Boor, in this work. Suffice it to say that Mr. Smyser proved to be a very faithful soldier and shared the vicissitudes of march and battle with his gallant comrades. Upon his discharge he returned home and began farming in Chester township. He moved to Wayne township in 1866, became very well established and was always regarded as one of the county's progressive farmers.
In 1867 Mr. Smyser was married to Melissa J. McDonald, daughter of Newton and Mary McDonald, both natives of Ohio. They were the parents of four children: Margaret, Melissa J., wife of Harmon Smyser, of this sketch; Josephine and George. Mr. McDonald was a farmer and he and his wife spent their lives in Wayne county where they were highly respected by all who knew them. To Mr. and Mrs. Smyser two children have been born, Emmett E. and Haydee. The former married into the Palmer family and he is making his home with his father ; they have one son, Harmon P. Smyser. The daughter is still a member of the family circle.
Mr. Smyser has a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres. He raises a diversity of crops and makes a specialty of raising big horses for the mar- ket. He has a beautiful and modern home and convenient outbuildings, everything about his place indicating thrift and prosperity and that a gentle- man of splendid tastes has its management in hand. Personally, Mr. Smyser is a man of genial disposition, uniformly honest and thoroughly trustworthy, and of highest business integrity, according to all who know him.
CHARLES A. GRABER.
The little republic of Switzerland has not furnished so large a number of inhabitants to northern Ohio as Germany and other European countries, but it is certain that none of her sister countries have furnished us with a more intelligent and industrious class than she, for wherever the Swiss are found they become owners of property and are loyal to our institutions, making admirable citizens. Of this class Charles A. Graber is a descendant,
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he being of the second generation of that sturdy race in this country. His birth occurred in Paint township, Wayne county, Ohio, June 24, 1857, the son of Frederick A. and Julia (Falet) Graber. Frederick' A. Graber was born in Switzerland, and was educated and married there. Soon after his marriage he came to the United States, believing that here existed greater opportunities for him ; this was in 1839. He came to the interior and settled in Paint township, Wayne county, Ohio. He was a hard worker and lived very comfortably, owning about sixty acres of land at the time of his death. His family consisted of six sons and four daughters, namely: Lewis, Jules A., Alfred A., Julia E., Adale H., Ida T., Lucy E., Charles A., Oscar E. and Paul.
Charles A. Graber was reared on the home farm in Paint township, which he worked during his boyhood days, and attended the district schools. He studied hard and got a good education. He remained on the home farm until he was twenty-one years of age. In December, 1881, he married Nettie Tasker, a native of Paint township, where she was reared on a farm and edu- cated. She was a member of an excellent family.
In 1887 Mr. Graber moved on his farm of thirty-seven acres in section 34, East Union township, where he still resides. He has a neat little place which is very productive and which yields him a good living. He has a very comfortable home and keeps some stock and poultry. By good management he makes his place produce well and his family is well provided for.
To Mr. and Mrs. Graber six children have been born, namely: Oren. who married Etta Krause; Ortense is deceased; Millard, Ruth, Charlie, Ver- nice and Louise.
Mr. Graber is a member of the Reform church at Apple Creek where he and his family are faithful attendants. Fraternally he belongs to Apple Creek Lodge, No. 324, Knights of Pythias, of which he is past chancellor. Politically he is a Democrat, and is very ably serving his township as one of its trustees, and he was a member of the school board for five years, during which time the cause of education in this vicinity was carefully looked after.
JOHN V. HARTEL.
The record of John V. Hartel is that of a man who by his own unaided efforts has worked his way from a modest beginning to a position of influ- ence and financial ease in his community of which he is native, having been born in Milton township, Wayne county, Ohio, November 4, 1859. the son
JOHN V. HARTEL
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of Jacob and Susanna ( Will) Hartel, both natives of Germany. The paternal grandparents of John V. Hartel were Jacob and Susanna Hartel, who came from Germany in an early day and settled in Milton township, this county, there bought land, cleared it and remained there until their deaths. The sub- ject's mother came to America alone in 1828. Her parents were Mr. and Mrs. Will. Jacob Hartel, father of John V., was educated mostly in Germany, and in young manhood he accompanied his parents to America. He was a shoe- maker by trade, and is said to have been a very skilled workman. In 1862 he moved from Milton township to Chippewa township, near Easton, and there he bought a farm of eighty-four acres, on which he carried on general farming until his death, making a good living for his wife and five sons and one daughter, who were named as follows: Peter, Jacob, John V. (of this review ), Adam, George and Susan.
John V. Hartel was educated in Chippewa township in the common schools, and he remained on the home farm until he was eighteen years of age, when he went to Smithville, Greene township, and began learning the carriage trade, then learned the blacksmith trade at Clinton, at which he soon became quite adept. Later he went to Easton and purchased a carriage shop and remained there for five years, building up a very good business and becoming known as one of the best workmen in this line in the county. He followed carriage and wagon making and general blacksmithing. He then bought his brother's shoe store at Easton, which he managed successfully, and while there he was postmaster and justice of the peace during Cleve- land's first administration. He next bought out the William Peirce shoe store at Doylestown, Chippewa township, which he conducted until 1896. In the meantime he became postmaster, continuing in that position for sev- eral terms. He was elected justice of the peace in Doylestown in 1902, and has since retained that office to the satisfaction of all concerned.
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