USA > Ohio > Lucas County > Toledo > Memoirs of Lucas County and the City of Toledo > Part 14
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GumBills
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BIOGRAPHICAL
GEORGE W. BILLS
George W. Bills, deceased, was one of Toledo's sturdy land- marks, who watched the city grow from a small village to quite pretentious proportions. He was born at Monroeville, Ohio, April 7, 1830. Deprived of both parents in early youth, he decided to be- come a sailor, and he followed that occupation continuously until the breaking out of the Civil war, when he enlisted in Battery G of the First Ohio light artillery, with which he served three years and six months. Battery G was mustered into service, Dec. 17, 1861, and soon thereafter became a part of the forces in Tennessee. It was the only volunteer battery of Buell's army engaged in the battle of Shiloh, and the official records of commanding officers show that it did good service. It served with General Crittenden's division through the siege of Corinth, at which time it was ordered into the artillery reserve and moved for Athens, Ala. In Sep- tember, it reported to General Negley, commanding the Eighth division of the Army of the Cumberland, and moved into camp on the Franklin pike, two miles from the city, taking part during the blockade. It took part in the engagement at Stone's River; was active in skirmishing while lying at Murfreesboro and on the march to Tullahoma ; took part in the engagement at Dug Gap, where it covered the rear in retiring. It was also engaged at Chickamauga, whence it fell back with the army to Chattanooga, taking position on the Rossville road, where it was continually under fire until after the battle of Missionary Ridge. In October, 1864, it received orders to report to the chief of artillery of the Fourth corps, at Pulaski, Tenn., where for some two weeks it was employed in build- ing fortifications. It checked Hood's advance into Franklin, cov- ered the retreat of the Federal column moving out, and reached Nashville on the night of Dec. 1, the loss of the battery, in killed and wounded, at the battle of Franklin, being twenty-three. It also took part in the battle of Nashville. By his bravery and effi-
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ciency, Mr. Bills rose to the command of the battery. He was pro- moted from sergeant to second lieutenant, Nov. 2, 1862, and to first lieutenant, May 21, 1863, for brave and meritorious service. He was seriously wounded at Murfreesboro, Tenn., in the right side of the neck, and although the wound was a painful one, he refused to go to the hospital. He was constantly with his command, par- ticipated in all of its service as already outlined, and achieved an enviable record for bravery in action and soldierly bearing at all times, whether in camp, on the march, or on the field of battle. He re-enlisted with his battery, as a veteran, Jan. 4, 1864, and was mustered into the service as senior first lieutenant. At the battle of Franklin he was in command of the battery, and he fought his guns with a courage and persistent tenacity never excelled in battle. With shot and shell, at close range, dragging his guns back with prolongs (ropes), he battered and held back the lines of the enemy until Major-General Schofield, the Union commander, could place his men in position to meet and repulse the Confederate charge. Several years after the battle, General Schofield, in a public address descriptive of the battle, declared that he owed, in large measure, his success in meeting and repulsing Hood's veterans at Franklin to the gallantry and heroic courage of George W. Bills and his men. At the close of the war, Captain Bills came to Toledo and engaged in the mercantile business, in which he remained for some years. Later, he inaugurated a bill-posting agency, which grew to be a very sucessful enterprise, and he also became connected with the Wheeler Opera House, finally becoming the manager of Toledo's first playhouse of importance. He was intimately acquainted with Edwin Booth, Edwin Forrest, Mrs. Bowers, Joseph Jefferson, and other actors and actresses of note, and he remained connected with the theatre business for a period of thirty years. Captain Bills was entirely dependent upon his own resources for the definite success he achieved in life, having had no assistance except that of his helpful wife. He ever commanded the respect of all who knew him and lived up to the full powers of his accomplishment, making his life count for good in all its relations. He took the interest of a good citizen in questions of a public nature and served for a time as a member of the board of aldermen of Toledo. He was an
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appreciative and valued member of the Grand Army of the Republic, having been one of the charter members of Forsyth Post No. 15, and he also had membership in the Knights of Honor. His early experience as a sailor inculcated in him a love for the water, and he took great interest in the yachting sport, and he was the founder of the Ohio Yacht Club. On Jan. 31, 1852, at Newburg, Ohio, Mr. Bills was married to Miss Mary Ann Wilson, and this happy union extended over a period of fifty-three years. In 1902 was celebrated the golden anniversary of this wedding, upon which occa- sion the honored couple were signally honored by the attend- ance of a large number of their friends and well-wishers. Three daughters were born of this union, two-Amabell and Ella Isadore -being deceased, and the surviving daughter is Mrs. Adelaide Brooks, of Portsmouth, Ohio. Captain Bills died Dec. 12, 1905.
A Hacker
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BIOGRAPHICAL
FRANK HUBER
Frank Huber, late of Toledo, where for thirty-four years he was actively engaged in the introduction and sale of native wines, was a product of Germany and her institutions, his birth having occurred in Warburg, Prussia, Jan. 14, 1844. The parents, Adolph and Regina (Gerling) Huber, were also natives of Prussia, and the father was for many years actively identified with the brewing busi- ness, in which he was engaged at the time of his death. His good wife departed this life in 1888. They were the parents of five chil- dren : Elizabeth, who became the wife of Casper Burman, of Cas- sel, Germany, and is now deceased; William, who distinguished himself in the Franco-Prussian war, and was honored with the cross of the Legion of Honor for his bravery throughout that war, was formerly a resident of Zeitz, Prussia, and is also deceased; Helena, who is the wife of a Mr. Batsche, of Paderborn, Prussia ; Marie, deceased, formerly the wife of Peter Steines, of Hamburg, Germany; and Frank, to whom this memoir is dedicated. The last named acquired his educational training in the excellent public school system of his native land, and when twenty years of age immigrated to the United States, locating first in St. Louis, Mo., where he remained but a few months, and then removed to Toledo, where he maintained his residence the remainder of his life. He began his long and highly successful business career in Toledo by embarking in the wine business with Carl Lenk, with whom he was associated for twenty years, after which he became associated with A. Wehrle & Sons, who were engaged in the same line of busi- ness at Middle Bass Island, Ohio. This relationship was continued until the death of Mr. Huber, which occurred the day after Christ- mas, 1898, at the zenith of his success, and at a time when the pros- pects for still greater success and prestige were most promising He is at rest in beautiful Woodlawn Cemetery. In commercial circles his great value as a citizen and business man were known and appreciated, his abilities were recognized and his gentle- manly instincts admired by all with whom he came into con-
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tact. He was hospitable to an extreme degree, and thoroughly enjoyed the companionship of friends; and though death claimed him in the prime of life, it is a matter of some satisfaction to reflect that he left to posterity a record of good accomplished in which others were benefited even more than he himself. He was very fond of his home life, and cared little for lodges and clubs and other attractions outside of his family. In the matter of politics he was actuated by a desire to promote the public weal, and, though an adherent of the Republican party when national issues were at stake, in local elections he cast his ballot for the candidate whom his best judgment led him to believe was the best qualified for the office he sought. Consequently, in municipal and other local affairs he was not wedded to party idols and controlled by party affiliations, but exercised his elective franchise as a free man should -candidly, fearlessly and independently. He was for many years an honored member of Rubicon Lodge, Free & Accepted Masons. On Dec. 23, 1866, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Huber to Miss Mary Huber, daughter of Carl and Mary (Lückenhoff) Huber, of Jefferson City, Mo., and of this union were born five children : Jennie R., who lives with her mother at the old home; Mary, the wife of Arthur W. Kortheuer, of Toledo; Frank C., now a resident of Milwaukee, Wis .; and Elsa and Irma, deceased. Mrs. Huber's parents were both natives of Prussia, and her father came to America in 1834, locating in Jefferson City, Mo., where he was actively engaged in the mercantile business up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1854, in the prime of life, his good wife passing to the Great Beyond two years later. The union of the parents was blessed by the birth of five children : Joseph, born Aug. 16, 1841, died in the Civil war in 1864; William, born May 8, 1844, is a large ranch owner and a resident in the vicinity of Jeffer- son City ; Mrs. Huber, born Oct. 27, 1847, is the third in order of birth; Adolph, born Aug. 6, 1848, passed away in October, 1867; Regina, born March 27, 1850, is now the wife of G. A. Mueller, of Springfield, Ill., a wholesale dealer in wines and liquors. Shortly after the death of her husband, Mrs. Huber erected the Irma Huber apartments on Jefferson avenue, which were named in honor of her youngest daughter, and in which she now resides.
Enga by H&C. Koevoets.N.Y.
AN. Bizalmi
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BIOGRAPHICAL
HENRY WAITE BIGELOW
Henry Waite Bigelow was born at Colchester, Conn., Feb. 1, 1838, and passed away at his home in Toledo March 12, 1895, at the age of fifty-seven years. His ancestors were among the earliest settlers of New England, the first American progenitor coming from England early in the Seventeenth century. The family has given to Connecticut some of its most distinguished citizens. The paternal grandfather of Henry W. Bigelow served during the Revo- lutionary war as a clerk to the commissary-general, and Col. Guy Bigelow, born in 1785, and who was the father of Henry W., was a prominent officer of the state militia of Connecticut. He was a farmer by occupation and continued to reside at Colchester until his death. He was also an active member of the Masonic order. His wife, the mother of Henry W. Bigelow, and whose maiden name was Sarah A. Waite, was of a family especially distinguished in judicial affairs. Chief Justice Henry M. Waite, of the Connecti- cut Supreme Court, and who was the father of Chief Justice Mor- rison R. Waite, of the United States Supreme Court, was her brother. The boyhood of Henry W. Bigelow was not essentially different from that of the average New England farmer's son. He was educated at Bacon Academy, Colchester. At the age of six- teen he entered the store of Col. D. R. Noyes, at Lyme, Conn., as clerk, and remained there two years. In 1856 he came to Toledo and engaged in a like capacity in the wholesale grocery establish- ment of Secor, Berdan & Co. He remained with that firm until the first year of the Civil war, when, on Aug. 15, 1861, he enlisted for three years in the Fourteenth Ohio infantry and was with that regiment throughout its notable career-at Wild Cat, Chickamauga, the Atlanta campaign and the "march to the sea." In March, 1862, he was promoted from first sergeant in Company C to second lieu- tenant in Company I; in October, 1863, he was advanced to first lieutenant, and in December, 1864, to a captaincy. At the battle of Chickamauga he was seriously wounded in the thigh and, being in-
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capacitated for service, was granted a furlough, but rejoined his command at Chattanooga, Dec. 30, 1863. From that time until May, 1864, he served on court martial duty. Preceding the battle of Jonesboro he stood fourteenth in rank in his regiment. Two days thereafter, as a result of the loss of officers in that engagement and the muster of non-veteran organizations, he became second in rank, and thenceforward he acted as major, serving in that capacity on the "march to the sea" and in the Carolina campaign, and also in the grand review in Washington, in May, 1865. He was in com- mand of the regiment during its muster out at Louisville. While in the service Captain Bigelow several times declined staff appoint- ments, and throughout his connection with the army he bore the just character of a brave, faithful and useful officer, commanding the confidence and respect alike of superior officers and enlisted men. For six months after being mustered out he was detained in Connecticut by illness contracted in the service. In February, 1866, he returned to Toledo and, in May following, with George Worts, Albert Kirk and Henry S. Waite, organized the firm of Worts & Co., for the manufacture of crackers, at 311 (old number) St. Clair street. From that date until the death of Mr. Waite, in 1873, Captain Bigelow traveled for the house, and then he took charge of its financial affairs. The firm name was soon changed to Worts, Kirk & Bigelow, and to the exceptional success of the establish- ment Captain Bigelow largely contributed by his close attention and sound judgment. Captain Bigelow was for many years a mem- ber of Forsyth Post, Grand Army of the Republic. He was also a member of Ohio Commandery, Loyal Legion; of the Society of the Army of the Cumberland and of the Fourteenth regiment; and he was an honored member of the Sons of the American Revolution. In the Masonic order for many years he held high positions, join- ing Rubicon Lodge, No. 237, in February, 1859, and he afterward received all of the degrees of recognized Masonry, including the Thirty-third (the last) degree. In the days of Minot I. Wilcox's fame as captain of Relief Hook and Ladder Company No. 1, Cap- tain Bigelow was one of the most valuable members. It was a crack company and it was a difficult matter to gain membership therein. At the time of his death, Captain Bigelow was a director in the
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Merchants & Clerks' bank. Politically, he was a Republican in principle, but directed his actions by considerations of public policy, as these would be suggested to his judgment. Of a retiring disposition, he sought a life of quiet in the same conscientious dis- charge of duty as the same was made known to him. He was a genial, kind-hearted gentleman, and in his death the business com- munity lost one of its ablest citizens.
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