USA > Ohio > Wayne County > History of Wayne County, Ohio, Volume II > Part 57
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1.440
WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
Abram Etling was educated in the common schools of Chippewa township and was reared on the farm, which he worked during the crop season. When the Civil war began Abram's older brother enlisted in the Union army and the subject was compelled to remain at home to work. Quite naturally he took up farming and has followed this line of work ever since, with the excep- tion of three years, when he moved to Barberton and engaged in teaming from 1904. Finally returning to the farm, he still manages the same with suc- cess, his place consisting of eighty acres, on which he raises a diversity of ex- cellent crops and keeps some stock, the two lines of endeavor making him a very comfortable living.
Mr. Etling was married March 2, 1875, to Ada McIntyre, a native of Wayne county, Ohio, and the daughter of Phillip and Agnes McIntyre, old settlers of this county, who now live in Kansas. To Mr. and Mrs. Etling were born nine children, namely: William E., Bertus Oliver, Arthur M. (de- ceased ), Bertha Alice, Etta Blanch, Laura K. (deceased). Forest Richard, Florence Arville and Abram Harold.
Mr. Etling is a Democrat and he and his wife are members of the Re- formed church in Marshallville.
ROSS W. FUNCK.
An active and energetic member of the Wayne county bar is Ross W. Funck, who has long occupied a position in the front rank of the legal pro- fession in a community noted for the high order of its talent, and he has so ordered his life as to gain and retain the implicit confidence of his fellow citi- zens. He was born in Wooster, Ohio, on January 11, 1861, and is the son of Daniel Funck, who is also a native of Wayne county, the latter being the . son of John Funck, who was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, January 30, 1788, of German extraction. He married Maria, daughter of Christian Fox, January 3, 1811. She was a native of the Keystone state, born November 3, 1787. The result of this union were thirteen children. In 1826 John Funck and family settled in Chester township, Wayne county. Ohio, where he was a successful farmer for a quarter of a century. Being a man of deep religious convictions and possessed of a good education, he became a teacher and minister in conjunction with his labors on the farm, and for a period of fifty years consecrated himself to the ministry, doing a very com-
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mendable work along this line. In 1849, having attained three score years, he moved to Wooster, where his death occurred April 2, 1862, his widow surviving him until February 22, 1879.
Their son, Daniel Funck, father of the subject, was born July 27, 1829, in a log cabin on his father's farm in Chester township. He helped develop the home place and when a boy attended the old log school house of primitive construction, with puncheon floor and greased paper for window panes, but here he gained the early rudiments of an education. When twenty years of age he determined to set out and meet the "current of the world" for himself, so. in 1849, he went to Ashland, Ohio, and became an apprentice in a carriage manufactory ; later he traveled as a journeyman carriagemaker, and in 1853 he made the long, arduous trip to California during the height of the "gold fever." He returned to Wayne county in 1859 and soon afterward pur- chased a carriage manufactory at Wooster and conducted the same until 1866, when it was destroyed by fire. During the Civil war he was a Union supporter, a private in Company D, Fifty-second Regiment, Ohio National Guard, in which he served until May 1, 1866. In 1868 he established his present insurance business, which he has conducted with remarkable success.
Daniel Funck was married in 1859 to Matilda Imhoff, daughter of William and Susan Imhoff, of Ashland county, Ohio, this family having migrated to this state from Pennsylvania in pioneer days. This union re- sulted in the birth of six children, namely: Ross W., of this review, being the oldest : Earl B. and Frank are deceased, leaving Alice M., Harriet Lu- cretia and Chloe Devona, all graduates of the University of Wooster.
Ross W. Funck graduated from the Wooster high school in 1879, and from the University of Wooster in 1883, having made very commendable records in both. Deciding to devote his attention to the legal profession, he began the study of law soon afterward in the office of the late Hon. John McSweeney, and graduated from the Cincinnati Law College in May. 1885. He then opened a law office in the insurance office of his father, Daniel Funck, and he is still engaged in the practice here, having a wide clientele, and his name is constantly before the public in connection with important cases in the local courts. His entire career has been emphasized by persistent in- dustry, close application to business, prudence and promptitude, and has proven himself entirely capable of handling the important affairs intrusted to him. He has been the attorney of the Wayne Building and Loan Company ever since its organization.
(91)
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In his political affiliations he is a loyal Republican, having served many years on the county executive committee, and for five years as secretary or chairman, and his efforts in the same led to many local victories for the Re- publicans, for Mr. Funck is an able organizer and knows how to conduct a successful campaign. In 1887 Mr. Funck was elected city solicitor of Wooster by a good plurality, although the city is Democratic, performing the duties of the office in a faithful and acceptable manner. In 1894 he was elected prosecuting attorney of Wayne county and, although a Democratic county, he received more votes than any other candidate on the ticket that year, which is proof enough of his high standing among his fellow citizens. At the Republican primaries of the summer of 1899 he obtained the nomina- tion for probate judge of Wayne county, reduced the majorities of the Demo- cratic ticket one thousand and forty, but failed in the election by only thirty- eight votes.
Mr. Funck was the first president of the Wooster High School Alumni Association, being active in its organization. He has also been president and vice-president of the University of Wooster Alumni Association and served for many years as an active member of its executive committee.
Mr. Funck has been a Mason since 1883 and has been quite active in all the Masonic bodies in Wooster, being a past master of the Masonic lodge, a past high priest of the Chapter Masons and a past eminent commander of Wooster Commandery of Knights Templar. He was also active in other lodges, being a past chancellor commander of the Knights of Pythias lodge of Wooster, a past regent in the Royal Arcanum and a past officer in the Red Men. He is a member of the First Presbyterian church at Wooster and a liberal supporter of the same, having served for many years as one of its trustees.
Mr. Funck was married in 1893 to Cordelia Coyle, daughter of the late Dr. Charles L. Coyle, of Galion, Ohio. To this union were born four inter- esting children : Daniel Coyle, Julia Matilda, Estella Alberta and Marjorie Eleanor, all of whom are now pupils in the public schools of Wooster, as Mr. Funck is a great admirer of the public schools of this city.
By his observances of fundamental rules of business, based upon honesty. rectitude and fidelity to trusts and confidences reposed in him, he has won the public esteem, achieved professional success and doubtless greater political honors await him in the years to come. As an attorney, he is courteous and cordial, painstaking and always considerate of the welfare of his clients. He aims to do things at the right time, observing punctuality as a business maxim.
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WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
JAMES LANCE.
Among those who braved the wilds of this section of Ohio when the Indians were still here and the wild animals were everyday sights in the dense woods was James Lance, long since passed to his reward, but whose name will continue to adorn the annals of his community for all time, owing to the fact that he performed well his part in the drama of civilization and led a life that was exemplary in every respect, setting an excellent example to the younger generations, for he was a leader in his locality in all matters that pertained to its upbuilding, and in a conservative manner doing what good he could in all lines as he labored for his own advancement and that of his family. His memory is well worthy to be cherished by his descendants and friends.
James Lance, son of Christopher Lance and wife, was born in the state of New Jersey, January 28, 1794, and his father, who was a native of Ger- many, brought him to Jefferson county, Ohio, in 1795, the family locating near Steubenville. He and his brother Henry came to Milton township, Wayne county, Ohio, and he entered three quarter sections of land, giving his brothers, Henry and William, their choice, the former locating on the north and west and William on the east, leaving James the best farm, and he had more property when he died than both his brothers, he having been a very successful farmer. His farm was well located, the public road run- ning north and south and east and west through his place. It was good land and he developed it into one of the best farms of the community. He built a substantial residence that is in use at the present time, on the east and west road, about eighty rods east of the cross roads, near a stream of never-failing water, there being several good springs on the farm. There was a school house at the cross-roads, called the Lancetown school, deriving its name from the village, Lancetown, which was quite a town for that early day in the wilderness, there being two grocery stores, a wagon shop, two blacksmith shops, tailor shop, and a log church; now everything is gone but the two dwellings, the blacksmith shop having been converted into a cheese factory. James Lance had five brothers and five sisters.
James Lance was married to Fannie Holmes, September 5, 1815, a lady of Scotch descent, her birth having occurred on July 3. 1798. Four children were born to this union, two boys and two girls, namely: Christo- pher, born 1817, died in 1880; John H., born in Milton township, Wayne county, Ohio, in 1820, died in Homer in 1883: Sarah, born in Milton town- ship in 1822, died in 1886; Elizabeth, born in Milton township May 19.
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1824, died January 31, 1896. The mother of these children died August 5, 1827. James Lance was married a second time, his last wife being Mary Johnson, of Jefferson county, Ohio, her birth having occurred October 10, 1810, and this union resulted in the birth of thirteen children, ten boys and three girls, as follows: Sophronia, born February 15, 1829, died October 2, 1903, in Akron, Ohio; Abraham, born August 12, 1830, died November 17, 1887; William E., born May 12, 1832, died February 24, 1909, in Lima, Ohio; Rosilla, born October 2, 1834, died January 14, 1906; Mary, born December 13, 1836, died December 21, 1904, in South Haven, Michigan ; James S., born September 30, 1838, lives in Ithaca, Michigan; Henry, born November 8, 1840, lives in Bloxburg, California, whither he went in 1863 and he has never been back home; Washington, born September 9, 1842, died December 23, 1844; Madison, born October 9, 1844, lives at Rittman, Wayne county ; Andrew Jackson, born October 29, 1846, lives in Creston, Wayne county ; Oliver Perry, born September 18, 1848, died in Creston, Wayne county, July 9, 1898; Peter J., born November 25, 1850, lives in Ashland, Ohio; Riley J., born January 19, 1853, died April 9, 1869, on the old farm.
The death of James Lance occurred May 19, 1866, and his wife died on May 17, 1875. He was a man loved and respected by all who knew him for his life was exemplary in every respect.
IRA F. MEESE.
Although yet a young man, Ira F. Meese, of Chippewa township, has been unusually successful in agricultural affairs, owing to his close appli- cation to his business and his everyday common sense rightly exercised. He enjoys the privilege of living on the place where he was born on July 12, 1875. He is the son of Christopher and Mary (Lichtenwalter) Meese, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter born in Summit county. Ohio, November 13, 1853. The paternal grandparents of Ira F. Meese were also natives of Pennsylvania and they came to Stark county, Ohio, in a very early day and there lived and died. The subject's maternal grand- parents, William and Elizabeth Lichtenwalter, were also natives of Penn- sylvania and early settlers of Chippewa township, Wayne county, Ohio; they later moved to Smithville, this county, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Both Christopher Meese and Mary Lichtenwalter came to
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Wayne county with their parents, and here they grew to maturity, met and married. Mr. Meese devoted his life to farming and operating a threshing machine, also a saw-mill, making a success of all, but in 1872 or 1873 he bought a farm of one hundred and forty-five acres in Chippewa township, which he improved by erecting good buildings on it and otherwise bringing it up to the standard of modern farms. His death occurred in 1883; his widow is still living, making her home at Akron, Ohio. To them four children were born, namely: Lizzie, deceased; Ira, Emma, Frank.
Christopher Meese devoted his attention to farming for the most part, though while farming, he still operated his thresher. In about 1881 he drilled on his place and discovered a vein of coal which was worked for about twelve years successfully.
Ira F. Meese was educated in the high school at Akron. Ohio, graduat- ing in the class of 1895; later he attended business college there. After finishing school, before settling down to farming, which he had decided to make his life work, he took a nine months' trip through the West to the coast, but not being able to see the opportunities there that existed at home he returned to Ohio and bought out the heirs in the home place, now owning the farm of one hundred and forty-five acres. In 1904 he erected a fine new home, that is attractive and cozy as well, equipped with bath and all modern conveniences, being, in fact, one of the finest homes in this part of the county and a place where the many friends of the family delight to gather. Besides carrying on general farming in a way that insures a good annual income, Mr. Meese is widely known as a breeder of Percheron horses and Jersey cattle, also Berkshire hogs, finding a ready market for all he desires to dispose of, owing to the exceptional high quality of all he raises. He is regarded as one of the best judges of livestock in the county, especially horses.
Mr. Meese was married on March 5, 1902, to Grace Yost, a native of Wayne county, Ohio, the daughter of Ezra and Alice ( Mottinger) Yost; the former was born near Wooster, and the latter at Greensburg, this state. Her father is still living in Summit county. Mrs. Meese's maternal grand- parents were Joseph and Sarah ( Humbert) Mottinger. Her grandparents, William and Margaret ( Brenizer) Yost, were old settlers in their community. William Yost was a soldier in Company G. One Hundred and Twentieth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, serving until the fall of Vicksburg. Mrs. Meese was graduated from the Canal Fulton high school in the class of 1905.
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Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Ira F. Meese, Margaret, born April 8, 1904, and Pauline, born March 9, 1906.
Politically Mr. Meese is a Republican, but not a politician, taking little part in the affairs of his party, preferring to devote his attention to his farm and stock raising. Both he and his wife are members of the Christian church. Fraternally he is a member of Akron Lodge No. 83. Free and Accepted Masons. He is a member of the Chippewa Farmers' Club, which has a membership of eighty, its object being to improve farming conditions and keep abreast of the modern methods of agriculture. It has been organ- ized about four years, Mr. Meese being the financial secretary of the same. During the winter months they hold regular sessions and during the summer often have speakings and picnics. The organization is both a pleasant and profitable one and much good has resulted from it. The members often buy and sell together. Mr. Meese is a moving spirit in the organization,-in fact, one of the influential men in all circles in his township.
WILLIAM F. HOEGNER.
Conspicuously identified with the agricultural interests of Congress township, Wayne county, Ohio, is the subject of this sketch, and he has won for himself an honorable position in the community and is a distinctive type of the successful self-made man. Not a pretentious or exalted life has been his, but one that has been true to itself and to which the biographer may revert with feelings of respect and satisfaction. Formerly an educator of ability, later identified in a prominent way with agriculture, and having attained prestige by successive steps from a modest beginning, it is eminently fitting that a sketch of his life, together with an enumeration of his leading characteristics, be given in this connection, as he is recognized as a man of strong and alert mentality, deeply interested in everything pertaining to the advancement of the community, and today he is recognized as one of the progressive and representative men of the county.
William F. Hoegner first saw the light of day on the farm in Congress township on which he now lives, the date of his birth having been the 28th of October, 1849. He is descended from German antecedents, his paternal grandfather, John Hoegner, having been a native of the Fatherland. There he married Catharine Keller and in 1816 they came to the United States and located in Berks county, Pennsylvania. They remained there until 1838,
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when they came to Wayne county, Ohio, and bought the farm now owned by the subject of this sketch, where he died. The maternal grandparents, George and (Siler) Emerich, were natives of Pennsylvania. In 1832 they came to Ohio, buying a farm in Congress township, Wayne county, where they spent the remainder of their days. Of these two families, a son of the former, Frederick Hoegner, and a daughter of the latter, Sarah Emerich, married, and of their children the subject of this sketch was one, there having been four children, altogether. These parents were active mem- bers of the Lutheran church and took an active part in all moral, religious or educational movements. In politics Frederick Hoegner was an ardent Republican and was active in behalf of his party. His death occurred March IO, 1892, while his wife survived him fifteen years, her death occurring March 5, 1907.
William F. Hoegner was reared at home and secured his education in the common schools and at Lodi Academy. During the following seven years he was engaged in teaching school, and immediately after the presi- dential election of 1872 he went to Washington, Iowa, and accepted a posi- tion as teacher in McKee's Academy. In the following spring he returned to Lodi to complete his education and taught school a couple of terms in Wayne and Medina counties. In 1874 Mr. Hoegner relinquished the peda- gogical profession and returned to the home farm, where he has since re- mained and devoted his attention to the cultivation of the soil, excepting eleven years that he lived in Butler county, Ohio, near Hamilton, returning to the home farm in March, 1892, where he has since resided. While at Lodi, Mr. Hoegner learned civil engineering and he is frequently employed to do surveying in the neighborhood, being thoroughly capable and reliable in this line. His attention is mainly devoted, however, to the cultivation of his farm, which, under his wise management and energetic efforts, has been made to bring the owner gratifying returns. In connection with his agri- cultural operations, Mr. Hoegner gives considerable attention to the breeding and raising of pure-bred Jersey cattle, in which also he has been successful.
On the 21st of October, 1875, Mr. Hoegner married Mary L. Corwin, who was born at Wadsworth, Medina county, Ohio, November 28, 1851. a daughter of John L. and Lucydia (Tanner) Corwin. John Corwin was an edge-tool manufacturer and was killed in his factory by the bursting of a grindstone. His wife also is dead. To the subject and his wife two children have been born, namely : May Eugenia. a graduate of the Burbank high school and the music department of Wooster University: Pearl Isaphine is a teacher of music.
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Mr. Hoegner has taken an intelligent interest in public affairs and in matters political he has given his support to the Republican party. He and his wife are active and consistent members of the Lutheran church. Mr. Hoegner is a plain and unassuming man, well endowed with good sense, and his genial manner as well as his sterling qualities of character have won for himself a warm place in the hearts of his fellow citizens.
HUGH MCCONAHAY.
One of the highly respected and successful farmers of Wayne county, Ohio, is Hugh Mcconahay, who is now enjoying an old age in a manner befitting a man who has been industrious and honorable for so long a time. He has been a hard worker and a good manager and has been amply re- warded not only by material success, but by winning the esteem of a wide circle of friends.
In tracing the history of the Mcconahay family we find that John Mcconahay left his home in Belfast, Ireland, and came to America in 1811. After a year or two here he went back to his native land on a visit, but in 1814 returned to this country and located in Wayne county, Ohio. He pur- chased heavily timbered, unimproved government land, and in developing the same he experienced all the hardships and privations incident to pioneer life, he being one of the first settlers in Chester township. He was successful in all his operations and was one of the influential men of that township for many years. He was a member of the United Presbyterian church in Ireland, later joined the Presbyterians and was a faithful member until his death, in 1871. at the advanced age of eighty-seven years.
John McConahay was married to Maria George, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth ( Armstrong) George, of Clarkson, Virginia. Thomas George lost his life while returning from service at the front in the war of 1812. His wife then returned to her old home in Columbiana county, Ohio, and later moved to Canaan township, Wayne county, this state. Mrs. John Mcconahay died in 1875, four years after the death of her husband. To their union were born ten children ; a granddaughter was also reared in their home. They were, Elizabeth, deceased wife of James Reed; Nancy, de- ceased wife of William Lehr; Hannah Maria, deceased wife of Philip Miller ; Samuel went to California in 1852 when the "gold fever" was rife, and returned in 1869, dying at home in 1871; Thomas went to Nebraska in
WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO. 1449
1856, died there in 1858; John enlisted as a soldier in the Union army, in February, 1864, in Company D, One Hundred and Twentieth Ohio Volun- teer Infantry, which was later consolidated with the One Hundred and Fourteenth Regiment, also with the Forty-Eighth Regiment, serving until the close of the war, and he afterwards, in 1868, located in Dakota county, Nebraska, dying there in 1908; James, who occupied the old homestead, died in June, 1909; Sarah, wife of Philip Miller, and Mary Ellen, wife of Harrison Armstrong, both reside in Wayne county, Ohio.
Hugh Mcconahay, the immediate subject of this sketch, was born in Wayne county, Ohio, in 1836, the sixth child of John and Maria Mcconahay. He grew to maturity on the home farm and assisted with the general work about the place when only a boy ; he attended the neighboring schools during the winter months, and then turned his attention to farming as a life work which he has continued to follow with gratifying results.
During the Civil war Mr. Mcconahay proved his patriotism by enlisting in Company A, One Hundred and Sixty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and proved to be a faithful soldier. He is a member of Given Post, Grand Army of the Republic.
Mr. Mcconahay was married on January 1, 1862, to Samantha Ger- hart, daughter of William and Mary Gerhart, of Wayne county, Ohio. Her death occurred in 1889. Later Mr. Mcconahay married Mary Jane McFer- son, of Columbiana county, Ohio.
The McConahay family is one of the substantial and highly respected families of Wayne county and deserve a high rank in the history of its citizenship.
HENRY P. SIGLER.
Action is the keynote of the character of Henry P. Sigler, one of Rittman's progressive citizens, for he has shown what a determined struggle for a definite purpose can accomplish, his life having been replete with suc- cess in whatever he has undertaken because he has been a hard worker and a good planner. He was born on the old Sigler homestead, near Rittman, Wayne county, March 26, 1866, the son of Henry and Clara Jane Sigler, the former also born on the old Sigler homestead and the latter on Chestnut Ridge hill, in the northeastern part of Milton township. Henry P. Sigler's paternal grandfather was Henry Sigler, who came to this county from Pennsylvania in a very early day, locating near Rittman on a farm in the
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