USA > Ohio > Wayne County > History of Wayne County, Ohio, Volume II > Part 6
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Jacob Gish was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, in 1804, and his wife was born there in 1807. They were married in 1830 and immedi- ately thereafter moved to Wayne county, Ohio, where they established a home in the wilderness. Some of the household furniture which they first used there is now in the possession of the subject and is very highly prized as heirlooms. Jacob Gish brought a farm in the northeast corner of Milton township, and at once applied himself to the herculean task of clearing it and rendering it fit for cultivation. The place was developed into a splendid farm and here Mr. Gish lived the remainder of his days. He was a quiet and unostentatious man, applying his energies to the cultivation of his farm and the rearing of his family and as a citizen, farmer and family man he occu- pied an enviable position in the community. He became the father of eight children, five sons and three daughters, of whom four sons are now living. The father died in June, 1864, and the mother in 1895. at the age of eighty- seven years. They were a worthy old couple and were beloved by all who knew them.
Michael S. Gish received a good education, completing his elementary studies in the district schools, after which he attended three terms in the Hays- ville Academy, one term at the Canaan Academy and one term at the State Normal School at Medina. He was thus well prepared for the profession
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which he hoped to make his life work,-that of teaching,-and he engaged in it with great promise of success. His hopes were well founded, for dur- ing the following twelve years in which he was engaged as a pedagogue he was considered one of the best teachers in this county and he undoubtedly would have risen to the front rank in his profession had not his work been interrupted by failing health. Because of this fact he found it necessary to take up work which would permit of his remaining more in the open air, and thus he became a farmer. He purchased a farm of eighty acres situated south of Sterling, Milton township, and to the operation of this farm he has since applied his energies, with gratifying success. He was progressive and enter- prising in his methods and hesitated not to adopt new ideas when their prac- ticability and wisdom had been demonstrated, the result being that he realized gratifying returns for the labor bestowed. In addition to the cultivation of the soil, Mr. Gish also gave considerable attention to the raising of livestock, giving special attention to Shorthorn and Durham cattle, of which he bred and raised some magnificent specimens.
In 1901 Mr. Gish received from President Mckinley the appointment as postmaster at Sterling. a position which he has held continuously since. renting his farm, while he resides in town. He is an accommodating and painstaking official and has performed his duties to the entire satisfaction of his superiors and the patrons of the office. Mr. Gish has taken a commendable interest in public affairs and has served two terms as trustee of the township, one term as justice of the peace and as a member of the school board, in all of which he has given faithful performance to the duties of the positions.
On January 10, 1878, Mr. Gish was married to Martha Slemmons, a daughter of Samuel Slemmons, who is mentioned elsewhere in this work. In politics Mr. Gish has been an ardent Republican, and has taken an active interest in the success of his party. . His religious belief is that of the Pres- byterian church, to which body he and his wife belong and to which they give a cordial and liberal support. At the outbreak of the Civil war, Mr. Gish was desirous of enlisting in the army, but, because of a lameness which he had received in 1852, he was not eligible for enlistment, much to his regret.
Mr. Gish is widely known and universally esteemed. His long residence here has identified him with the changes which have taken place in this county, and he has ever been an important factor in promoting enterprises looking to the upbuilding of the best interests of the county. His many admirable qualities of head and heart have won for him the honest esteem and regard of all who know him, his friends being in number as his acquain- tances.
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WILLIAM F. WHITE.
The subject of this review is a gentleman of high standing to whom has not been denied a due measure of success. He is distinctively one of the representative citizens of Canaan township and is a recognized factor of im- portance in connection with the agricultural interests of the county of Wayne. Mr. White has been closely identified with the material growth and pros- perity of this section of the state and he is recognized as a man of excellent parts, one who is eminently entitled to recognition in a work of this char- acter.
William F. White is a native of the state of Maryland, where he was born in 1874, and he is the son of Jacob and Lucetta (Fassmacht) White, both of whom were born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. Jacob White was a mill-stone cutter by trade and was considered an expert workman in his day. His death occurred in Maryland in 1876. He was the owner of a small farm, which was operated by his sons. Jacob and Lucetta White were the parents of nine children, five sons and four daughters, of whom one son is deceased. In 1878, soon after the death of her husband, Mrs. Lucetta White brought her family to Greene township, Wayne county, Ohio, and here the boys obtained employment among the neighboring farmers.
William White received his education in the common schools and, hav- ing all his life been a close reader and a keen observer of men and things, he is today considered a well-informed man. He was reared to the life of a farmer and has followed that calling all his life. For a number of years he was employed in agricultural pursuits in Medina and Wayne counties, and by dint of good management, persistent energy and wise economy, he was, in the spring of 1909, enabled to buy a fine farm of one hundred and twenty- five and a half acres in Canaan township, onto which he moved and to which he is now giving his sole attention. The place is well improved with a full set of farm buildings, the fences are in good repair, while the place is well supplied with all the machinery necessary to the conduct of an up-to- date farm. Everything about the farm is kept in the best of condition and its general appearance indicates the owner to be a man of sound judgment and excellent taste. He is progressive in his methods and keeps in close touch with the most advanced ideas relating to successful agriculture. He carries on a diversified system of farming, and in addition to the tilling of the soil he also gives due attention to the raising of livestock, in which he has been successful to a gratifying degree.
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In 1898 Mr. White was united in marriage to Eliza Sprangle, the daugh- ter of Hugh and Mary (Bowman) Sprangle, who were natives of Pennsyl- vania. To Mr. and Mrs. White have been born five children, Ford, Ruby. Luella, Blanche and Wayne Howard.
In politics Mr. White is a strong and enthusiastic Republican and takes a commendable interest in local public affairs. In religion he was reared a Mennonite, while his wife and her parents are members of the Lutheran church. Mr. White is a man of splendid qualities, and easily makes friends, his genial disposition and courteous manners commending him to the kindly feeling of all with whom he comes in contact.
DANIEL V. HUFFMAN.
A descendant of sturdy Swiss ancestors and a highly respected citizen of Chippewa township, Wayne county, is Daniel V. Huffman, a native of this township, having been born here April 15, 1830, the son of Daniel and Abigail (Franks) Huffman, the former a native of Switzerland, having been born near Geneva in 1798, and the latter born in Pennsylvania about 1800. In 1803 the father came to America with his parents, who located in Wash- ington county, Pennsylvania, and there remained until 1816, when they moved to Ohio and settled in Chippewa township, Wayne county. Daniel, father of the subject, was five years old when he landed in America. The paternal grandparents of the subject, Daniel and Anna Huffman, entered one hundred and sixty acres of land, which they cleared and improved and there reared their family. They first located at Easton, Chippewa township, in which vicinity they spent their lives. The subject's maternal grandfather, Henry Franks, was a native of Pennsylvania and in an early day came to Wayne county, Ohio, and here he and his wife lived and died. The subject's father and mother married in Wayne county. Buying land two miles south of Doylestown, they developed a comfortable home, owning eventually one hundred and ninety-two acres. They were loyal supporters of the Methodist Episcopal church, and they lived quiet, retired lives. They were the parents of seven children. Daniel Huffman, father of the subject, married twice and became the father of seven children by his second wife also, the subject being the only member of the first set of children now living: five survive of the second marriage. The subject's father died in 1868 and his mother in 1840.
MR. AND MRS. DANIEL V. HUFFMAN
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Daniel V. Huffman received a common school education in the schools of Chippewa township, working on the home farm in the meantime. He re- ceived a good education for those days and taught school very acceptably for a period of seven years, then began farming, which he followed for two years, then became superintendent of a mine at Doylestown, remaining in that position for a period of twenty-one years. Then after working at some- thing else for a time, he returned to the mine and was superintendent of the same for three more years. During that time he did all the civil engineering of the mine, having learned this profession in the district school under C. Bell, who was afterwards county surveyor for many years. In 1887 Mr. Huffman bought coal on option in Tuscarawas county for the Beaver Dam Coal Company, of Cleveland, Ohio. Then he bought the coal and drilled it for this company. In 1903 he retired from active life and has been living quietly at his beautiful home in Doylestown. He has prospered by reason of his close application to his work and now in his old age he is surrounded by plenty as the evidence of his former years of industry. He is the owner of a very valuable farm in Chippewa township.
Mr. Huffman was married. December 29, 1853, to Susan Miller, a na- tive of Stark county, Ohio, the daughter of Louis and Mary Miller, old settlers in Stark county, where they lived and died, having been influential and highly respected in their vicinity.
To Mr. and Mrs. Daniel V: Huffman two children have been born, namely : Isaac Wellington, a farmer living in Stark county, on his grand- father's old farm; Louis Daniel is deceased. Mr. Huffman's first wife died in Stark county, at Canal Fulton, in June, 1860. Mr. Huffman was again married April 8, 1862, to Catherine Wilhelm, a native of Medina county and the daughter of Christian and Mary C. Wilhelm. They were natives of Nazareth, Pennsylvania, and came to Ohio about 1837. locating in Medina county. Mr. Wilhelm was a shoemaker by trade, which he followed for thirty-six years; then he bought a farm and retired.
Henry Franks was captured by Indians when sixteen years of age and held a prisoner for three years, when he escaped. Being a great hunter, he was given many liberties by the Indians and in this way made his escape. The maternal grandparents of Mr. Huffman's second wife, Mathew and Margaret Wagner, were also natives of Pennsylvania, as were her paternal grandparents. Her parents were regarded as leading citizens of their local- ity. To Mr. Huffman and his second wife four children were born, namely : Crelia, who died in infancy ; Sherman J., who is engaged in the shoe busi- ness in Akron; Eliza May ; Cora Ellen, the wife of Nathan Boger.
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Politically Mr. Huffman is a Republican, and both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Although Mr. Huffman's early life was one of hard toil, he has been well rewarded. He has accomplished much good for his fellow men at the same time that he has been laying by a competency for himself and family, and he has won the respect and honor of all with whom he has been associ- ated.
JOHN McGUFF.
Highly respected as a citizen and honored as a patriotic defender of the stars and stripes in a war which tested the solidity and perpetuity of America's free institutions, the subject of this brief review is distinctively one of the leading men of the township where he maintains his residence and is in every way worthy of mention with the progressive and representa- tive citizens of Wayne county.
John McGuff is a native of the dominion of Canada, having been born in Quebec on the 14th of April, 1846. His parents, Michael and Mary McGuff, were both natives of Castle Bar, Ireland, and came to America in 1843, locating first in Quebec, where the father was employed as a laborer. In about 1848 they moved to Cleveland, Ohio, and eventually set- tled at Macedonia, Ohio, where their deaths occurred, the father dying in 1863. They were the parents of four sons, two having been born in Ireland and two in Canada.
The subject of this sketch was handicapped in his early youth by the poverty of his parents. They reared him as best they could until he was ten years of age, when he came to Oak Grove, Milton township, Wayne county, and in the schools there he secured a fair education. Subsequently he went to Michigan and there learned the trade of carpenter, which vocation he followed continuously until 1897. He was an expert and proficient work- man and did much building in this part of the state. On August 5, 1897, Mr. McGuff was appointed postmaster at Creston, receiving the appointment and the hands of President Mckinley, and he has continued to discharge the duties of the office since that time. He is an accommodating and pains- taking official, prompt in the discharge of his duties and courteous to the customers of the office, and is held in the highest regard by all who come in contact with him.
During the early part of the Civil war Mr. McGuff gave unmistakable evidence of his patriotism by enlisting as a private in Company G, Eighty- .
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sixth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with which he served about ten months. After remaining at home a year, he again enlisted, this time in Company G, of the One Hundred and Ninety-seventh Ohio Regiment, and served one year. Both enlistments were made at Wooster. Mr. McGuff gave his best possible service in the defense of his country and assisted in the capture of the rebel General Morgan, being at that time under the com- mand of Colonel DeCoursey, who was in command of the brigade. The regiment did valiant service at Cumberland Gap and was in a number of other engagements. The subject was employed much of his time in guard duty. His old military associations are kept alive through his membership in the Grand Army of the Republic, of which he is a past post commander.
Politically Mr. McGuff is a stanch Republican and has taken a promi- nent part in local public affairs, having served his fellow citizens in the capac- ity of assessor, five terms, constable, and road supervisor, giving the best of satisfaction in every position to which he has been called. Fraternally he belongs to the time-honored order of Free and Accepted Masons and also is a member of the Knights of the Maccabees. His religious belief is that of the Methodist Episcopal church, to which his wife also belongs, and to that society they render an earnest and consistent support.
On November 12, 1878, Mr. McGuff was united in the holy bonds of wedlock with Hattie Benjamin, who was born in Medina county, Ohio, April 14, 1859, the daughter of Samuel and Helen Benjamin, early settlers here. Mrs. McGuff's paternal grandfather was one of the earliest settlers in this part of the state and had a prominent part in inducing the Erie rail- road to survey its line through this county. To Mr. and Mrs. McGuff the following children have been born: Carl, a conductor residing at Cleve- land, Ohio; Claud, a traveling salesman for Parsons & Parsons, of Cleve- land, and Ethel, who remains at home. Mrs. McGuff died on January 6, 1900, and was buried at Creston cemetery. Mr. McGuff is a public-spirited citizen and a whole-souled man, ever ready to help forward any work designed for the public good. He has done much toward bringing Canaan to the front among the sisterhood of townships of Wayne county, and is recognized by all as one of its most useful citizens and is consequently greatly honored and respected.
NOAH S. BURKHOLDER
was born in Greene township, Wayne county, Ohio, on the 19th day of Feb- ruary, 1860, and is a son of Jonathan and Elizabeth (Smoker ) Burkholder. The grandparents were John and Barbara ( Schrock) Burkholder, the former
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of whom was born in Switzerland in 1801. He came to the United States with an uncle in 1817 and located in Pennsylvania, and in 1823 he came to Wayne county, Ohio, and located on what is known as the old Burkholder farm. He was first employed by his uncle, Benjamin Schrock, whose daugh- ter. Barbara, he married. They became the parents of four children, Jona- than. Jonas, Nancy and Sarah. Jonathan Burkholder was reared to man- hood on the paternal homestead and on attaining mature years he married Elizabeth Smoker, to which union were born nine children: Sarah, Anna, Caroline, Meenow, Noah S., Simon S., Amos, Joseph and an infant that died unnamed. Noah S. Burkholder was reared on the farm which was owned by his grandfather, John Burkholder, and there he helped in the manifold duties pertaining to farm life. On the 20th of December, 1884, Mr. Burk- holder was united in marriage to Lizzie A. Hostetler, who was born in Wayne township, Wayne county, Ohio, March 6, 1858, and is a sister of Jonathan K. Hostetler. No children have been born to this union, but Mr. and Mrs. Burkholder have, out of their kindness, reared four children and have adopted two: Meriam, born June 4. 1896, and Alice, born October 30. 1898. These children are being cared for and educated as carefully as though they were the subject's own children.
DR. WILLIAM N. LAVIERS.
To win success in any profession or avocation and become something more than mediocre requires a definiteness of purpose, an unswerving cour- age and a force of personal character that impel admiration. These quali- ties Dr. William N. LaViers seems to possess, for, in the face of obstacles, he has forged his way to the front as a veterinary surgeon, standing at the head of this profession in Wayne county, throughout which his name has become a household world, for he has been very successful in the practice of his profession. As his name would indicate, he comes from a French fam- ily, an old and honored one, and he possesses many of the qualities that made his ancestors noted in their communities. His birth occurred in North Law- rence, Stark county, Ohio, November 27, 1882. He was educated in the public schools and reared on the farm which he assisted in developing dur- ing his boyhood, while he was not in school. He was a good student and graduated from the high school at Canal Fulton, June 12, 1902, after which he taught school one winter. But, not liking school teaching, he entered the lumber business, at which he worked for a time. Having long desired to
Wy G. La chers U.S
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become a veterinary surgeon, he entered the Ontario Veterinary College at Toronto, Canada, where he made a very commendable record and from which institution he was graduated in 1907 with the degree of Veterinary Surgeon.
Returning to Ohio after his graduation, Doctor La Viers established an office at Dalton, April 1, 1907, and soon had a good practice. This com- munity had long felt the want of just such a live and well equipped young veterinary as he, and those owning livestock were quick to secure his services when such were required, with the result that he has shown himself to be not only well versed in his profession but by nature an excellent judge of a horse and possessing all the qualifications necessary in the successful prosecu- tion of this line of work.
Doctor LaViers was married on December 25, 1906, to Bessie L. Dreurey, a very estimable young lady and the representative of an excellent family. This union has resulted in the birth of one child, Nellie Vester, born January 7, 1908.
Doctor LaViers is a Republican in politics, although he does not find time to take a very active interest in the affairs of his party. Fraternally he is a member of Arling Lodge. No. 775, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Personally he is an obliging, courteous and genial young man whom every- body likes. Religiously he and his wife both belong to the Methodist Epis- copal church.
JOEL B. AMSTUTZ.
Among the substantial men of influence living in Milton township the name of Joel B. Amstutz should be included, partly because he is a native of the same and his efforts have always been for the promotion of Wayne county affairs. His birth occurred on June 9, 1851, the son of Ulrich and Marie (Logabill) Amstutz. The former was born in Switzerland on April 26, 1801, and died March 19, 1881 ; his wife was also a native of Switzerland, where she was born May 14, 1809, and died September 6, 1876, When nine- teen years of age Ulrich Amstutz came to America and located in Milton township, section 24. Here he married and took up government land, in time accumulating in all four hundred acres, which he cleared and improved, and there reared a family of seven sons and four daughters, all of whom grew to maturity, of whom five sons and two daughters are now living. The father was an elder in the Mennonite church and was known among his neigh- bors as a peacemaker ; while he took an interest in politics, he was no office- seeker. He was respected as a man of integrity and generosity and eminent
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fairness. Two brothers and two sisters of Ulrich were: John, who located in Greene township; Peter, in Putnam county; Mrs. Rev. Christian Steiner, of Wayne county, and Mrs. Basinger, of Putnam county.
Joel B. Amstutz was educated in Smithville Academy and taught school for one year, during the winter of 1872 and 1873. He was reared on a farm and learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed for three years, then married and lived a year on the farm. In 1878. he moved to Sterling and entered the grist-mill business, which he followed very successfully until 1892. In 1878 and 1879 he built the first two residences on the west side of the railroad track. In 1900 he entered the employ of the Knights of the Maccabees and has been employed by this organization ever since, trav- eling entirely in Ohio. In 1899 he was acting as bookkeeper of the Starling Boiler Company at Barberton; previous to that for a period of four years he was bookkeeper for the Toledo Stove Company, giving these firms entire satisfaction. Previous to that he was engaged in the tobacco business, also insurance and notary public. Just before going to Toledo he was employed for some time with the Royal Arcanum fraternity and worked in that ca- pacity in Ohio and West Virginia. He has been very successful at what- ever he has been engaged in. He has a fine home which he built on South Main street. Previous to 1892 he had accumulated considerable wealth, but failed during the bad panic of 1893, and was compelled to begin over again. However, he had the courage to push forward and was soon on his feet again, and today he is one of the substantial men of the township.
In politics he was formerly a Democrat, but is now independent. He has held nearly every township and village office within the gift of the peo- ple in his vicinity. He was for many years a member of the Democratic committee, and has been trustee, school director, assessor, treasurer and clerk of Milton township, besides several other offices. Fraternally he is a member of Seville Lodge, No. 74, Master Masons, also belonging to the chapter, Medina. No. 30; Wooster Council, No. 13, and Wooster Commandery, No. 48. He was made a Mason November 1, 1881, passed the degree of Fellowcraft on November 15, 1881, and that of Master, November 29, 1881. In July, 1908, he was made a chapter Mason, and on April 15, 1909, a Royal and Select Master ; he was elected to the commandery June 8, 1909, the degree being conferred on September 14, 1909. He joined the Knights of Pythias in 1882, Lodge No. 173, at Sterling. He also belongs to the Knights of the Maccabees, and he joined the Royal Arcanum in 1879. He has long taken an abiding interest in lodge work and he holds high rank in lodge circles throughout the state. Both he and his wife are members of the United Brethren church.
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