USA > Ohio > Wayne County > History of Wayne County, Ohio, Volume II > Part 52
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60
The family has largely intermarried with the Steiners, from which there has sprung a line of descendants who combine the best of each of the parental stems. The home, that bulwark of the nation, has found strong exemplifica- tions among the ranks of the various family memberships. In politics the family has not been prominent, the old and new parties having adherents among them.
There is, indeed, a great stride from the ox-cart transportation of the early arrivals in this country to the modern steam-turbine leviathans of the deep. The telephones, automobiles, wireless telegraphy and aeroplanes all accentuate the marvelous differences between the former days and those of the present.
The oldest living member of the family still resides in the county, Peter Amstutz, of Smithville, Ohio, who was born November 15, 1832.
It has been thought best to not attempt to list the family names in the third and fourth generations, except the oldest of each family in the third gen- eration, because there are so many that there would not be space available within the bounds of this history. N. S. A.
1392
WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
CHRISTIAN A. WYER.
One of the most successful and widely known auctioneers in the United States is Christian A. Wyer. Such a statement of one of Wooster's young men may seem broad, but an investigation would prove it to be true, neverthe- less. Wayne county has no more popular citizen. for he is a good mixer, always genial and pleasant to meet. He is a man who would succeed at any- thing to which he might direct his attention, possessing rare force of character and a strong discriminating intellect, yet withal he is entirely unassuming.
Mr. Wyer was born May 25, 1870, in Sterling, this county, and he is the scion of one of the excellent old families of this section of the Buckeye state, being the son of David and Catherine ( Eicher) Wyer, both natives of Ohio. Grandfather Eicher, who came from France, was a farmer by occupation. His wife also was a native of France. David Wyer is now a resident of Orrville. His wife passed to her rest in 1904 and is buried at the cemetery at Orrville. They were the parents of three sons and three daughters, one son dying in infancy. They are, Samuel S., who lives in Columbus, Ohio, and is a mechanical engineer : Mrs. A. H. Stanfer lives in Barberton, Ohio; Mrs. William Schuetler lives on a farm in Wayne county, Ohio.
Christian A. Wyer received a good education in the public schools of Sterling, Ohio, and after leaving the school room he went to teaming, then engaged in the grocery business for about two years ; he was then employed by the Rapid Transit Company of Akron, Ohio, for two years. He then con- ducted a meat market for three years at Barberton, Ohio, and in the mean- time he began selling horses for the Winkler Horse Company at Orrville. Ohio, and he worked for this concern for a period of nine years. In connec- tion with this firm he now works for the Crandel Horse Company, of Buffalo. New York, also for the Newgass horse commission firm of Chicago. He has been unusually successful in this line of work and has given his employers eminent satisfaction in every respect and has done much to increase the pres- tige of these firms.
On December 25. 1897, Mr. Wyer married Mayme Gingrey, of Creston, Ohio, where her people have long been prominent and well established. She is the daughter of John and Sarah Gingrey, both still living. A full sketch of these estimable people is to be found on another page of this work. Mrs. Wyer is a lady of many praiseworthy attributes and is a favorite with a wide circle of friends, a lady of culture and refinement, affable in manners and genial in disposition, and she presides over her neat and cozy home with rare grace and dignity, making all who visit them feel welcome. They have a
CHRISTIAN A. WYER
MRS. C. A. WYER
I393
WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
beautiful and modern home in Orrville. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Wyer has been blessed by the birth of two interesting children, a son and a daughter, Beulah, a bright little miss now attending school, who was born September 8, 1900, and Paul H., who was born June 17, 1908.
Politically Mr. Wyer is a Democrat and in religious matters he and his wife are Methodists. Fraternally he belongs to the Free and Accepted Ma- sons, Cedar Lodge, No. 430, of Orrville, Ohio; he also belongs to the council of Royal and Select Masters, the Royal Arch chapter, and the commandery No. 48, Knights Templar, all at Wooster. He is a Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret at Canton, Ohio, and has attained the thirty-second degree in the Scottish rite. He is also a member of Alkoran Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, at Cleveland, Ohio. He is active and popular in all these orders and, judging from his daily life among his fellow men, he endeavors to carry into practice the sublime precepts which they seek to inculcate.
HENRY A. PEAKE.
Among those men of sterling attributes of character who have impressed their personality upon the community of their residence and have borne their full share in the upbuilding and development of this part of Wayne county, mention must not be omitted of Henry A. Peake, who was born in Canaan township, Wayne county, on the 19th of April, 1846. His parents were George and Fanny (Vangelder) Peake, the former of whom was born in Schoharie county, New York, December 22, 1818, and the latter in New York state on March 12, 1820. The subject's paternal grandparents, David and Elenore (Wells) Peake, were born in Schoharie county, New York, about the year 1830, and came to Wayne county after their marriage, driving with their family of children from their eastern home to Canaan township, where the father bought two hundred acres of land, most of it being uncleared. This land he cleared and improved and lived there until his death. The subject's maternal grandfather, Jacob Vangelder, was an early settler near Montville, Medina county, where he engaged in the mercantile business and also engaged in the manufacture of potash. Late in life he moved to Wisconsin, with some of his children, and there his death occurred. George Peake, the subject's father, was reared to the life of a farmer, but at an early age he took up the occupation of stage-driver, driving for a long time between Columbus and Cleveland. He was a man of slight build, but was noted for his ability to
(88)
I394
WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
handle fractious and runaway horses which other men were afraid of. Soon after his marriage he purchased the south part of his father's farm in Canaan township. Originally a Whig in politics, he later became a Republican and took a deep interest in local affairs. He and his wife were active members of the Methodist Episcopal church. They were married in 1842 and were the parents of three children, namely : Mary Elizabeth, born December 12, 1842, died July 14, 1890; Henry A., subject of this sketch; Rhody, who died in infancy. George Peake died in the spring of 1864, and was survived a num- ber of years by his widow, who died on May 20, 1877.
Henry A. Peake secured his education in the district school near his home and in the public school at Creston. He was reared to the life of a farmer and when he was seventeen years old he was compelled, because of the death of his father, to take active charge of the farm for his mother. He has lived on the home farm ever since, his mother making her home with him until her death. The farm, which comprises sixty-seven and a half acres, is eligibly located in Canaan township, and is one of the model farms of the township. The place is characterized by good buildings, well-kept fences and highly cultivated fields that indicate the owner to be a man of energy, thrift and progressive ideas. The family are highly esteemed by their neighbors and friends and possess the unlimited confidence of all who have the pleasure of their acquaintance.
On December 22, 1868, Mr. Peake wedded Sarah Elizabeth Mills, who was born April 10, 1854, in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, the daughter of William and Rebecca J. (McNiel) Mills, also of Lancaster county. William Mills was a shoemaker by trade and in 1856 be brought his family to Jackson, Canaan township, Wayne county, Ohio, where he continued to work at his trade. Rebecca Mills died in 1861, while the father still makes his home with the subject, being far advanced in years. To the subject and his wife the following children have been born: Elmer, born May 16, 1870, died April 16, 1871 : Alberta Foster, born September, 24, 1872, married Emma Bricker, September 6, 1894; George Irvin, born March 23, 1875, died June 27, 1893 ; Fannie Iola, born July 23, 1877, died August 22, 1878; Ina Pearl, born July 28, 1879, married Hal S. Guthrie October 16, 1901; William Ernest, born May 20, 1884, married Maude Clyne August 27, 1905. In politics Mr. Peake gives an earnest support to the Republican party, but is not a seeker after office.
As showing his public spirit it may be stated that in 1873 Mr. Peake pe- titioned for a forty-foot road, commencing a half mile west of Jackson, and running north one mile. The petition was granted, and Mr. Peake was as-
I395
WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
sessed fifty dollars an acre and cost of fencing, which he paid. One man, who was only required to cut the timber off the proposed roadway and move his fences, opposed the new road, saying it was a rank injustice. But this mile of roadway is now one of the most heavily traveled highways in the township.
PROF. LYMAN C. KNIGHT.
The present age is essentially utilitarian and the life of every successful man carries a lesson which, told in contemporary narrative, is productive of much good in shaping the destiny of others. In giving a brief resume of the scholarly gentleman whose name appears above, it is with a hope that it may prove not only interesting but also serve as an incentive to those who con- template entering one of the professions. Professor Lyman C. Knight was born in Congress township, Wayne county, October 5, 1871, the son of Lyman S. Knight, a native of Williamsburg, Holmes county, this state, and who is now a resident of Congress township, this county, having come to this county in 1877. Lyman S. Knight is known as one of the leading educators of this locality, having been engaged in teaching up to 1908, when he retired. His services were always in great demand and he won the good will of both pupil and patron. Grandfather George Knight migrated to Holmes county where he lived a number of years, later removing to Newcastle, Coshocton county, Ohio. He was a tanner by trade. He married a Miss Boggs. L. S Knight married Tamar L. Stanley, a representative of an old and influential family of Congress township, where she was born, the daughter of Nathanie! Stanley, a native of Wayne county, a member of a very early family who set- tled here when the wilderness had not yet been conquered and wild beasts were frequently met with. This family came from Pennsylvania and settled in Congress township, Wayne county ; some of the family also located in Ches- ter township. Nathaniel Stanley was an uncle of the famous General Stanley of the United States army. Mrs. Tamar ( Stanley) Knight was a woman of fine attributes, who passed to her rest in 1904. She was the mother of five children; three are deceased, Mrs. Hattie Newmeyer, of Seville, Ohio, and Lyman C. being the only survivors.
Professor Knight was born on the old homestead in Congress township. At that time his father was teaching at Ft. Madison, Iowa. He received his primary education in the public schools, and then entered the Cleveland Busi- ness College, from which he was graduated in 1893. Actuated by a laudable
I 396
WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
ambition to master the higher branches of learning, he entered the University of Wooster, from which he was graduated in 1904. He made an excellent record in all these institutions and began teaching at an early age,-in fact he had taught at the Savannah Academy before he had finished his education. He had also taught in many county schools. Gaining such a wide reputation as an instructor, he was wanted by large institutions, among which was the University of Wooster, where he was given the department of mathematics and science, which position he is still holding with credit to himself and the university, having won a high standing among the able educators of a state long noted for the high order of its professional talent. He is widely read and keeps abreast of the times on all matters pertaining to his line of work and in fact, all questions of weight and interest to thinking minds everywhere. He is a lover of the world's best literature and his carefully selected library contains the best works of the master minds of all ages. He is by nature an instructor, possessing those rare innate qualities that enable him to please both pupil and patron.
Professor Knight was married on September 4, 1897, to Jennie M. Clouse, the accomplished and refined daughter of James M. Clouse, a promi- nent citizen of Congress township, Wayne county, where Mrs. Knight was born and reared. One bright and interesting child has been born to this union, named Lester, whose birth occurred January 27, 1899. Mrs. Knight died November 10, 1909.
Professor Knight is a member of the Westminster Presbyterian church. His work in every department of education is characteristically practical, as was also that of his honored father, and he possesses to a remarkable degree the sense of proportion and fitness. Continuous application has given him a clear and comprehensive insight into the philosophy of education and the largest wisdom as to method and means of attainment of ends, while his steady growth in public favor wherever he has labored and his popularity with teach- ers and pupils have won for him a standing in educational circles second to none in northern Ohio, possessing, as he does, the personal charm and tact which makes him popular with the young and old alike, and, judging by the past, it is safe to predict for him a future of still greater usefulness and honor.
CLYDE E. RUDY.
A well known member of a prominent Wayne county family is Clyde E. Rudy, who is deserving of a place in a work of this nature along with other progressive citizens because he has earned the rewards which have attended
I397
WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
his efforts, for, although beginning in a somewhat humble way at the foot of the ladder, he has steadily advanced, overcoming by perseverance every ob- stacle in the pathway of progress until he now occupies a conspicuous place in the life of his community.
Clyde E. Rudy is the son of Levi S. Rudy and the grandson of David Rudy, and the great grandson of Christian Rudy, who was a native of Penn- sylvania and came to Wayne county, Ohio, in the fall of 1832, locating near Dalton, in what is now Sugar Creek township. In the spring of 1833 this old pioneer settled on a farm which he reclaimed from the primeval forest and on which Daniel L. Rudy now lives. Christian Rudy lived there until his death, and from this sterling ancestor a long line of worthy descendants have figured in the social and business life of Wayne county, one of the best known of the present generation being Clyde E. Rudy, whose birth occurred Febru- ary 4, 1874, in section 2, Sugar Creek township. There he worked on the old home farm when very young in years and attended the district schools during the winter months. Not being satisfied with a common school educa- tion, he later entered the University of Wooster, where he made a very com- mendable record and prepared for a career as teacher, which profession he followed for a period of three years. Not taking very kindly to the life of a teacher, although he was making rapid headway in the same, he gave up that profession and returned to the farm, since which time he has given his attention exclusively to agricultural pursuits, with gratifying results. He moved on the farm where he now lives in section 5, Sugar Creek township, which place consists of one hundred and six acres of excellent land on which he carries on general farming and stock raising in a manner that nets him a very comfortable yearly income. He has been a successful dealer in heavy draft horses, which he buys, feeds and markets, these animals, owing to their fine quality, always finding ready sales. He has an attractive and pleasant home, surrounded by a good orchard and, in fact, everything that makes country life attractive.
Mr. Rudy was married on December 29, 1897, to Cora Wecht, of Dalton, this township, in which town she was born on November 21, 1875. She is the daughter of Michael and Barbara (Delheimer) Wecht, both natives of Germany, who came to America in an early day and were among the first settlers in this county. They were each accompanied here by their parents. To Mr. and Mrs. Rudy three children have been born, namely : Margaret E., born June 13, 1901 ; Lois J., born March 29, 1903, and Paul L., born Feb- ruary 13, 1905.
1398
WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
Mr. and Mrs. Rudy are members of the Presbyterian church at Dalton, this township, and politically the former is a Republican, but he has never aspired to office holding, his extensive private business taking all of his time.
W. J. CAMRON.
A man of unquestioned enterprise and integrity, whose entire life has been spent in his native locality, where he has succeeded in becoming one of the representative citizens, is W. J. Camron, who was born in Chippewa town- ship, Wayne county, February 12, 1860, the son of John and Sevilla (Stich- ler) Camron. His paternal grandparents were Jeremiah and Elizabeth Cam- ron, natives of Pennsylvania and Massillon, Ohio, and they were old settlers in Wayne county, Ohio. Jeremiah Camron was a captain of militia. His parents came from Scotland in an early day, settled in Pennsylvania and died there. W. J. Camron's maternal grandparents were George and Magdalena Stichler, natives of Pennsylvania ; they came to Ohio very early and entered land in Chippewa township, Wayne county. John Camron is one of the best known men in this locality, having been constable for the past thirty-five years, with the exception of two years. He was born in Canal Fulton, Ohio, June 25, 1833, and he has devoted his life to farming and coal mining, owning a farm of sixty-six acres in Chippewa township. In politics he is a Democrat. He and his wife are the parents of fourteen children, eleven of whom are living at this writing, nine sons and two daughters. Sevilla Stichler, wife of Jere- miah Camron, was born about 1837, and she belonged to the Albright church. Jeremiah Camron has always been liberal in his religious views and has given freely to the churches.
W. J. Camron was educated in the Doylestown high school. Early in life he took up farming, and he was engaged successfully in the livery business for a period of twenty years, until 1905, since which date, or for the past twelve years, he has managed a hotel, which has become widely known to the traveling public as a place where excellent service is rendered and courteous treatment always accorded. In connection with his other business interests, he has all these years managed a farm of fifty acres, which he owns and which lies within the corporate limits of Doylestown and which is very valuable and highly productive. General farming is carried on with excellent results. Mr. Camron has been a very successful business man all his life and has man-
1 399
WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
aged his affairs in a manner that has won the confidence and approval of all with whom he has had dealings.
Mr. Camron. was married in 1885 to Ellen Cleckner, a native of Wayne county, and two children were born to them, both deceased. Mr. Camron married a second time, his last wedding occurring on November 17, 1893, and was solemnized with Mary McCoy, a native of Wayne county, Ohio, and the daughter of James and Elizabeth (Alexander) McCoy. To this union four children were born, namely : Helen, Harold, Stuart and Mary Elizabeth. Mrs. Camron's maternal grandfather was a native of Ireland and came to America in an early day, locating at Athens, Harrison county, Ohio, where the prents of Mrs. Camron graduated from college. James McCoy was born in 1836 and his wife in 1837: the former was a highly educated man and a professor in the Athens College for a period of twenty years. He also en- gaged in the insurance business. Both he and his wife, who were prominent people at Athens, are now deceased.
Politically Mr. Camron is a Democrat, and he has long taken an active interest in the local affairs of the party.
THE WAYNE COUNTY DEMOCRAT COMPANY.
Although the readers of this biographical and historical compendium do not need to be reminded that the Wayne County Democrat Company is one of the strongest of its kind in this section of the Buckeye state, a brief statement of its history is not anything amiss here. However, the members of the com- pany are too well known locally to need any formal introduction through the pages of this work, all being practical men of affairs, long deeply interested in the progress of this locality and willing to do all in their power for its good in any way, and as a result of their persistent, painstaking and unselfish efforts they have succeeded in building up two of the strongest party organs of their type in the state, the Wayne County Democrat and the Wooster Daily News, both Democratic in politics and powerful champions of the party's principles. The former is the oldest paper in Wayne county, having now reached its eighty- third volume, the history of which dates back to the early days ( 1826) and it has long been the best patronized and with its sister sheet the most successful paper in the county and one of the most influential in northern Ohio outside of the large cities, being, as already intimated, the official organ of the local
I400
WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
Democracy and a power in the political affairs of this part of the state, ably seconded in this respect by the News. Under the present management they have steadily grown in public favor, and now have large and continually in- creasing subscription lists, a liberal advertising patronage, and with a job office well equipped with the latest machinery and devices used in the art preservative. Their columns teem with the news of the day, as well as able discussions of the leading questions and issues upon which men and parties are divided, and they promise to continue in the future as they have been in the past, a strong influ- ence in political affairs and a power in moulding and directing opinion in mat- ters of general interest to the public.
The Wayne County Democrat Company was incorporated in 1905 for the sum of fifteen thousand and five hundred dollars, John C. Hoffman being presi- dent and manager and Fred H. Zimmerman, secretary and treasurer.
ANDREW J. LANCE.
Andrew Jackson Lance was the seventh son of James and Mary Lance, and was born in Milton township, Wayne county, Ohio, October 29, 1846. His boyhood days were spent on his father's farm. The most of his educa- tion was acquired in the old log school house on his father's farm. The means of acquiring an education in those days were meager, as all boys were in attendance at school but a very few months in the year, owing to the fact that they were required to help on the farm clearing the forests and tramp- ing out grain with horses in winter when there was no school. He remained on the old farm until 1875, when he bought a farm in the northwest corner of Milton township, one mile east of Creston, and with his mother moved on the farm the first of April, 1875. His mother died May 17, 1875.
Mr. Lance was united in marriage to Katie R. Kostenbader, daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth Kostenbader. She was born in Pennsylvania, May 18, 1847, and came to Ohio with her parents when she was six years old. There were born to this union two children, Burr, born April 18, 1876, and Bonnie. born April II, 1880. They are both at home at present. Burr being single and Bonnie married.
Mr. Lance sold his farm in Milton in 1887 and removed to Creston in the spring of 1888. He bought a farm the same year and put up all new buildings in 1889 in South Creston, where he now resides with his son and daughter, his wife having preceded him to the great beyond, February 10, 1905.
A. J. LANCE
MRS. A. J. LANCE
140I
WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
Mr. Lance is a man who is generous to a fault. To know him is to like him. "A. J.," as he is favorably known to a host of friends, is a man of ster- ling qualities, whose word is his bond. In politics he is a Democrat, hav- ing served his party two terms as trustee of Milton township, and could have had justice of the peace and trustee of Canaan township but refused. He never was an office-seeker. He was elected a member of the first council of the village of Creston in June, 1899, and is a member of the present council of 1910. He is trustee of the Cemetery Association, is a member of the Royal Arcanum and Knights of Pythias Lodge, No. 268, of Seville, Medina county, Ohio.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.