USA > Ohio > Wayne County > History of Wayne County, Ohio, Volume II > Part 7
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955
WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
Mr. Amstutz was married on December 5, 1875, to Susan Hoover, a native of Wayne county, the daughter of Martin and Elizabeth Hoover, old settlers of this county and highly respected people. Two children have been born to this union, Meno S., who graduated at Ada College, then went to Atlanta for four years and was employed in the Georgia city by the Lidger- wood-Gordon Manufacturing Company. He was promoted to the home office in New York City, where he remained eleven months, when he died Febru- ary 24, 1904. He was a member of the Atlanta Lodge of Masons and is buried in the Seville cemetery. The second child, Jeanette, who graduated from the Sterling high school, is living at home. For many years she has been clerking for D. C. Steiner.
For thirty years Mr. Amstutz has been a "teetotaler," believing in abso- lute temperance. He is well liked by all who know him as a result of his many commendable personal traits.
THOMAS E. CARNAHAN.
The founder of the local branch of the family of this name in America was James Carnahan, a native of Ireland, who became an emigrant to this country in 1800, or thereabouts. His movements at that time are not definitely recorded, but it seems that shortly after arriving he located in Penn- sylvania. While a resident of that state he married Katherine Lanch and removed to Ohio about 1808, locating in Milton township, Wayne county, where he ended his days. The maternal grandparents were John and Mary Hutchinson, the former born in 1778, the latter in 1789. He was a native of Virginia, of Irish parents, while his wife was born in Wales. After marrying in Virginia they removed to Pennsylvania, but later came to Ohio, where all their children were born. William Carnahan, son of James, married So- phronia Hutchinson, a daughter of John and Mary. William was born in Milton township in 1827 and his wife in Chippewa township in the same year. James Carnahan, the emigrant ancestor, was a soldier in the war of 1812, and his grandson still owns a blanket used by him during his field ser- vice. After his marriage, William Carnahan became a farm worker and wood-chopper, saved up money enough to buy a farm, increased his holdings from year to year and at one time owned about two hundred and forty acres of land. His death occurred in 1887 and that of his wife in September. 1902. All of their three children are still living, and are proud of the good name left them by their pioneer parents.
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WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
Thomas E. Carnahan, one of the three children above mentioned, was born in Milton township, Wayne county, Ohio, on the farm he now owns, June 3, 1867. He obtained his education in the usual way of country boys, by attending the township schools during the winters, while the spring and summer and early fall were devoted to farm work. As soon as he grew to manhood he began farming for himself and now occupies the old homestead, consisting of eighty acres, northwest of Sterling. He does not undertake much fancy farming, but confines his efforts to producing the ordinary cereal crops of this latitude and to raising the amount of stock adapted to his acreage. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and enthusiastic in sup- port of the Democratic party. He enjoys excellent standing in his com- munity, both socially and financially, and is regarded as one of the safe and conservative farmers of the younger generation. In 1889 Mr. Carnahan was married to Ida B., daughter of Samuel Frase, an old settler of Wayne county. Mr. and Mrs. Carnahan have five children, Zoe, Hazel, Kent, Ethel and Stan- ley. Mrs. Carnahan is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
JACOB SCHORLE.
There is no nation that has contributed to the complex makeup of our American social fabric an element of more sterling worth and of greater value in fostering and supporting our national institutions than has Switzer- land. From this source our republic has had much to gain and nothing to lose. Switzerland has given us men of sturdy integrity, indomitable per- severance, high intelligence and much business sagacity,-the result being the incorporation of a strong and strength-giving fibre, ramifying through warp and woof. A man who may well look with pride on his Swiss origin is the subject of this review, who is one of the enterprising and progressive agri- culturists of Milton township, Wayne county, where he is personally recog- nized as a representative citizen, having attained a high degree of success through his operations.
Jacob Schorle was born in Basel, Switzerland, on the 22d of October, 1867, and is the son of Otto and Mary (Gysin) Schorle, both of whom also were natives of that little republic, where they spent their lives and died. They were the parents of four children, two of whom came to America, the subject being the only survivor here. The two who remained at home are still living. The subject received a good education in the public schools at
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Basel and in his youth learned bookkeeping. At the age of eighteen years, fired with an ambition to secure larger opportunities for future advancement, he came to the United States, and at once located in Milton township, Wayne county, where for the ensuing three years he was in the employ of Peter Mongey, later working for five years for John Slemmons. He was industrious and economical and at the end of the period noted he found him- self in position to start out on his own account. He therefore bought one hundred and sixty acres of fine land located northeast of Sterling, in Milton township, and here he has since conducted farming operations with a very gratifying degree of success. His property is adorned with a full set of neat and attractive farm buildings, everything about the place indicating the owner to be a man of good judgment and wise discrimination. In connection with the tilling of the soil, Mr. Schorle also devotes considerable attention to stock raising, Holstein cattle being his specialty. He is progressive in his methods and keeps in close touch with the latest ideas in relation to successful agriculture.
On March 22, 1889. Mr. Schorle was united in marriage to Mary Leichty, a daughter of John and Veronica ( Mongey) Leichty. This union has been a most happy and congenial one and has been blessed in the birth of ten children, namely: Walter, Otto, Martha, Fannie, Howard, Dorothy, Wallace, Laura, Edith and Harold. In religion the subject is a member of the Reformed church, as is his wife, and they take a deep interest in the various activities of that society. His political affiliation is with the Demo- cratic party, and he takes a commendable interest in the trend of current events, though not in any sense a seeker after public office or official pre- ferment of any nature.
Mr. Schorle is one of the intelligent, substantial and responsible men of the township in which he lives. He has been a successful agriculturist and has done much to develop the resources of his fine estate, making another of the fine farms which are the pride of Wayne county. He enjoys the respect and esteem of the public as a man of integrity, while he is much beloved in the narrower circles of private life.
GIDEON HARTZLER.
This venerable pioneer of Wayne county is a native son of the Buckeye state and a representative of one of the families who came to this common- veith in an early epoch, dignifying the same by their services and worthy-
958
WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
lives, even as he has done during the more than three score and ten years which have elapsed since he was here ushered into the world. Honored by all, there is no citizen of the county more worthy of consideration in this volume, and we find satisfaction in noting here the more salient features in his career. Mr. Hartzler, after years of active and earnest endeavor, is now living retired in the attractive little city of Smithville, honored as one of the patriarchs of this locality.
Gideon Hartzler was born in Greene township, Wayne county, Ohio, on the 17th of October, 1837, and is a son of Joseph and Fannie ( Kaufman) Hartzler. The subject's father was born in Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, where he was reared and received a good education in the public schools. There he married Fannie Kaufman and in about 1820 they came to Ohio, locating in Greene township, Wayne county. Here Mr. Hartzler followed farming and as the years went by he saw his efforts rewarded in the acquisi- tion of a fine farm, which at one time comprised three hundred acres. His success was due entirely to his own efforts, as he came to this country in poor financial circumstances and his life during the following years was one of unremitting toil and earnest endeavor. He was a man of sterling quali- ties and enjoyed the respect of all who knew him. In religion he was an Amish Mennonite. To him and his wife were born eleven children, namely : One that died in infancy unnamed, Levi, Sarah, Enos, John, Elizabeth, Solo- mon, Seth, Benjamin, Gideon and Nancy. Of these, all are now dead but Gideon.
Gideon Hartzler was reared on the Greene township farm and secured his education in the common schools of the locality. When of proper age, he took up the duties of the farm and was so employed until he started out in the world for himself. For awhile he was employed by the day at farm work, but at length acquired a farm of his own in Greene township, and to this he devoted his attention until 1897, when he sold the farm and bought six acres eligibly located in Smithville, where he is now living retired from active labor, enjoying that rest which he so richly earned during his long and active life. He is now in comfortable financial circumstances, and is counted among the solid citizens of the township.
Mr. Hartzler has twice been married. On March 3, 1864, he married Lydia Plank, by whom he had ten children, whose names and the dates of their births are as follows: Samuel, March 2, 1865; Adam J., September 22, 1866; Fannie S., April 12, 1868; Harvey J., September 1I, 1869; Solo- mon, October 26, 1871; Mary A., September 9, 1873; Elizabeth, January
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WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
16, 1876; Emma, August 1, 1878; Clara and Sarah, twins, June 5, 1881. Mrs. Lydia Hartzler died on August 1, 1881, and in October, 1884, Mr. Hartzler wedded Arie Yoder, who was born December 31, 1837, the daugh- ter of Reuben Yoder. Mr. and Mrs. Hartzler are faithful members of the Amish Mennonite church, to which they give a hearty and liberal support. In politics Mr. Hartzler is an uncompromising Republican, and takes a com- mendable interest in local public affairs, though he is not a seeker after public office. His influence has ever been given in support of all worthy enterprises and projects for the general good, so that he stands as a model citizen and as one who has made a large contribution to the development and progress of this section of the state.
JESSE H. WEIDMAN.
From the study of the life history of Jesse H. Weidman one may learn valuable lessons. The spirit of self-help is the source of all genuine worth in the individual and is the means of bringing to man success when he has no advantages of wealth or influence to aid him. It illustrates in no uncertain manner what it is possible to accomplish when perseverance and determination form the keynote to a man's life. Depending upon his own resources, look- ing for no outside aid or support, Mr. Weidman has risen to his present high position in the agricultural circles of Wayne county. Industry, energy and progressive spirit have ever been dominating characteristics in his makeup and through these forces he has attained a distinctive degree of prosperity, while at the same time he has earned the sincere respect of his fellow citi- zens.
Jesse H. Weidman was born near Belville, Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, on the 25th of June, 1865, and is a son of Adam and Catharine (Cole) We'd- man. These parents are still living at Belville. In 1883 Mr. Weidman, feeling that larger opportunities for a young man of energy and ambition lay farther west, came to Wayne county, Ohio, and accepted employment on the farm as hired hand for three years, then rented a farm for seven years, and then accepted employment on the Pennsylvania railroad for four years. At that time his wife inherited a farm of ninety-five acres and to the operation of this place he has since devoted his undivided attention. The property is eligibly located in Greene township and, under the wise management of Mr. Weidman, has been made to return good profits for the labor bestowed. He
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WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
is energetic and progressive and maintains the place at the highest standard of excellence. In addition to the tilling of the soil, Mr. Weidman also gives some attention to the raising of livestock, in which he has met with gratify- ing success. He also runs a cider mill and chop mill. The farm is well im- proved and is a valuable property.
On December 24, 1886, Mr. Weidman was united in marriage to Dru- cilla Kurtz, who was born in Lawrence county, Pennsylvania, May 21, 1863. Her mother died when she was but six weeks old, and she was thereafter reared by C. H. Yoder, a cousin of her mother. Mr. and Mrs. Yoder brought her to Wayne county, Ohio, when she was but eleven months old and they gave her the same careful attention and as good an education as they would have given one of their own children. Mr. Yoder also was a native of Mifflin county, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Weidman is of German ancestry, her paternal great-grandfather having been a native of the Fatherland, who, em- igrating to the United States, settled in Mifflin county, Pennsylvania. It was from Mr. Yoder that Mrs. Weidman inherited the farm on which she now lives. Mr. and Mrs. Weidman have become the parents of the following children : Laura, born December 28, 1887; Allen, born February 19, 1889; Effie, born February 2, 1892; Frank, born January 4, 1898. The children are all living at home and all have been given the advantage of a good com- mon school education.
In religion Mr. Weidman holds to the faith of his ancestors, being a faithful and consistent member of the Amish Mennonite church. In poli- tics he is a Republican and takes a commendable interest in local public affairs. His life has been one of untiring activity and has been crowned with a gratifying degree of success. He is of a high type of business man and is eminently deserving of recognition in a work of this character.
JOSEPH ARMSTRONG.
The record of an honorable, upright life is always read with interest and it better perpetuates the name and fame of the subject than does a monu- ment, seen by few and soon crumbling into dust beneath the relentless hand of time. Those who have valiantly fought and suffered for their country are especially deserving of an honored place in its annals, and their posterity will turn with a just pride to these records of the founders and preservers of a
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JOSEPH ARMSTRONG
961
WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
prosperous, united nation. Among the leading and influential citizens of Wayne county, Ohio, is Joseph Armstrong, who owns and operates a fine and fertile farm in section 14, Franklin township. Mr. Armstrong was born in Saltcreek township, Holmes county, Ohio, on the 6th day of December. 1837. He is descended from sturdy Irish ancestry, his great-grandfather. Joseph Armstrong, Sr., having been born in county Cavan, province of Ulster, Ireland. In the year 1800 he brought his family to the United States, one child dying on the trip across the Atlantic. They settled in West- moreland county, Pennsylvania, where Joseph spent the remainder of his days. His son Joseph, who also was born in Ireland, married and was the father of the following children: Thomas, deceased: Joseph, who died July 12, 1833; John S., father of the subject of this sketch; Nancy, who became the wife of Robert Lisle; Susan, who died April 26, 1829. The father of these children brought his family to Holmes county, Ohio, in 1816, and set- tled on a farm which joined the Wayne county line. The land was at that time densely covered with the primeval forest and Mr. Armstrong at once entered upon the herculean task of clearing it and rendering it fit for culti- vation. He married Susan Crowe, whose death occurred October 12, 1852. Their remains now lie buried in the cemetery at Fredericksburg. John S. Armstrong, father of the subject, was born in Pennsylvania in 1802 and in young manhood he accompanied his parents on their removal to Holmes county, Ohio. His education was necessarily somewhat limited, but he made up for his limitations in this respect by a large fund of what is sometimes called "horse sense," being a man of sound judgment and practical ideas. He was reared to the life of a farmer and to the pursuit of this vocation he gave the active years of his life. He was enterprising and progressive and was numbered among the successful men of his community. He took a marked interest in the local affairs of the community and in the early days he organ- ized and trained a company of militia. The splendid farm of one hundred and sixty acres which he owned was bought of James Moffitt, who lived in Pennsylvania, and Mr. Armstrong had to make the trip back to that state with the money in his saddlebags in order to complete the purchase of the place. He was a sturdy old pioneer and is still favorably remembered by the older residents of that community. John S. Armstrong married Ann Johnson Searight, who was born October 5, 1807, and to them were born the following children: Eliza Jane, born March 29. 1839, married Luther M. Roby, and her death occurred August 15, 1897: Joseph, the subject of this sktech : William Searight, born August 7, 1839, is a resident of Holmes
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WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
county, this state ; Thomas James, born January 20, 1841, now lives on the old Armstrong farm which was originally entered from the government ; Lucinda Ellen, born September 29, 1844, died August 3, 1866; Gilbert, born August I, 1846, lives in Fredericksburg. this county. Mrs. Armstrong was a faith- ful and active member of the Presbyterian church. In politics Mr. Armstrong was a Republican and took an active interest in local public affairs. He died April 1, 1880, and his wife died on August 23, 1885, both being buried in the cemetery at Fredericksburg.
Joseph Armstrong, the immediate subject of this review, attended the old log school houses of the locality where he was raised and his education was necessarily somewhat limited. He was reared to the life of a farmer and re- mained at home as his father's assistant until 1862, when, on August 13th, he responded to his country's call for defenders, and enlisted at Cleveland in the Nineteenth Ohio Independent Light Artillery as a private. During the winter of 1863-4 he was stationed at Knoxville, Tennessee, where the army was besieged by General Longstreet's rebel forces. During this trying period the commissary supplies of the Union were sadly depleted and at one time the men were reduced to a ration of a half pint of corn meal daily. After they were extricated from this trying position, they engaged in the celebrated southern campaign under General Sherman and remained with his army until the fall of Atlanta. The company of which the subject was a member was then ordered back to Nashville, Tennessee, in order to get an equipment of new guns, their old ones having become practically worn out. During all his service thus far Mr. Armstrong had sponged and rammed one gun. After receiving their new equipment, the Nineteenth Artillery did effective service in the engagements which ended with the defeat of General Hood's forces. From Nashville, the Nineteenth went by way of the Tennessee river to the Ohio, up which they proceeded until stopped by heavy floating ice, when they were transferred to the railroad and taken to Washington, D. C. From there they went by water down the Potomac to the ocean and thence up the Cape Fear river to Wilmington, North Carolina, and then to Raleigh, where they again became a part of the army under General Sherman, with whom they remained until the close of the war. Mr. Armstrong received an honorable discharge at Cleveland, Ohio, June 28, 1865, after nearly three years of hard and faithful service for his country. During this period he passed through some thrilling experiences and had some close calls from death or injury, but escaped without injury.
After the conclusion of his military service, Mr. Armstrong returned
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WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
to his father's farm and worked there until his marriage, in 1869, when he located on the farm which he now owns and which is eligibly located in sec- tion 14, Franklin township. At that time only about sixty acres of the place had been cleared and the only building there was a rude log cabin. In this they resided until they could have a house erected, and from that on they labored energetically and unremittingly to develop the farm into their ideal of a homestead. In this laudable effort they were successful to an eminent de- gree and in due time the place came to be known as one of the best farms in the township, a reputation which it has always sustained. The improvements made by Mr. Armstrong are of a permanent and substantial nature, embrac- ing a convenient and attractive residence, large and commodious barn and other necessary outbuildings. A full line of modern and up-to-date machinery is employed in the operation of the place and proper attention is given to the rotation of crops and other features which contribute to the successful opera- tion of a farm. All the crops common to this section of the country are here raised and in connection Mr. Armstrong also gives considerable attention to the breeding and raising of livestock, in which also he has been successful to a marked degree.
On the 15th of April, 1869, Mr. Armstrong was united in marriage with Martha Ann Stucker, who was born in Holmes county, Ohio, December 12, 1842, the daughter of Elias and Sarah (Keller) Stucker, both of whom are now deceased. These parents were natives of Pennsylvania, and came to Holmes county in 1840. They here applied themselves to the operation of a farm and spent the remainder of their lives here. To Mr. and Mrs. Arm- strong have been born the following children : Lyda Jane, born January 21, 1870; Elias Charles, born October 21, 1871 ; Anna Lucinda, born May 4, 1874, died on the 23d of January, 1897; Sarah Elizabeth, born July 10, 1875, married Burdett S. Bontrager, of Fredericksburg, November 21, 1906, and they have one child, Blanche Ola, born September 19, 1907; Blanche, born October 15, 1878, married Albert G. McCance September 20, 1904, and lives in Cleveland, Ohio.
Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong are members of the Congregational churchi at Fredericksburg, of which he is a member of the official board in the capacity of trustee. His old army associations are kept alive through his membership in the A. M. Mass Post, Grand Army of the Republic, at Fredericksburg. During all the years of his residence in Wayne county, Mr. Armstrong has enjoyed the unbounded confidence of all who know him and today he is nun1- bered among thie representative citizens of the township in which he lives.
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WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
FREDERICK KARCH.
There is no element which has entered our composite national fabric that has been of more practical strength, value and utility than that furnished by the sturdy, persevering and honorable sons of Germany, and in the progress . of our Union this element has played an important part. Intensely practical, and ever having a clear comprehension of the ethics of life, the German con- tingent has wielded a powerful influence, and this service cannot be held in light estimation by those who appreciate true civilization and true advance- ment. Among the sons of the Fatherland who have become assimilated with and an important part of our great national unity. the subject of this sketch is an honorable representative, and because of his consistent life and sterling qualities of character he well merits representation in this work.
Frederick Karch was born June 16, 1847, in Germany, and is a son of George and Margaret (Hill) Karch, who brought their family to the United States in 1851. They located in Saltcreek township, Holmes county, where the father successfully prosecuted farming operations and stock raising. He was successful and prospered, owning over two hundred acres of fine farm- ing land, besides some valuable city property. He was a hard-working man and enjoyed the high regard of all who knew him. He was in politics a Democrat and in religion he was affiliated with the Lutheran church, of which he was an earnest supporter. To George and Margaret Karch were born six children, Margaret, Melissa, Minnie, Cora, Jacob and Frederick.
Frederick Karch was but two years old when the family crossed the At- lantic and settled in the New World. His boyhood days were spent with his parents and in the district schools of the home neighborhood he received a good practical English education. He remained with his parents until he had attained his legal majority, when he started out in life for himself For awhile he operated rented land as a farmer, to which vocation he had been reared, and by dint of ceaseless toil and careful economy he was pros- pered so that in a short time he purchased one hundred acres of land in Paint township. Holmes county, for which he went into debt. His persistent indus- try, however, enabled him to pay off the incumbrances in due time and he bought other land as he was able. On March 28, 1905. he purchased the M. L. Rich farm in Greene township, Wayne county, consisting of two hun- dred and six acres, which he is now engaged in operating. This place com- prises two hundred and six acres and is considered one of the best farms in the township. The first settlement on it was made in 1811, and a monument
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