USA > Ohio > Wyandot County > Past and present of Wyandot County, Ohio; a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 20
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chairman respectively of the democratic county executive com- mittee. In 1912 he was honored by election as state represen- tative from Wyandot county and has already justified the con- fidence of his constituents by valuable work in the legislature. He is an elder and trustee in the First Presbyterian church and fraternally is identified with the Masons, being a past master of Warpole Lodge, No. 176, F. & A. M., and a member of Marion Commandery, K. T. He also belongs to the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows and the Improved Order of Red Men and is a member of Phi Kappa Psi, a Greek letter fraternity.
On the 14th of July, 1904, Mr. Black was united in mar- riage to Miss Lucretia G. Snyder, of Scranton, Pennsylvania, by whom he has one child, Margaret Rainey, born September 27, 1909.
GEORGE F. BRIIHL.
George F. Briihl is conducting a photographic studio in Sycamore. His ability ranks him with the leading members of the profession in this part of Ohio and his patronage is most extensive. He is a native son of this state, born in Can- ton, December 9, 1872, a son of George and Emma M. (Pes- chel) Briihl, natives of Germany. The father was born in 1842 and spent his childhood and early manhood in his native country, coming to America in 1864. After his arrival he came immediately to Ohio and established himself as a mechanic in Canton, being profitably engaged along this line until his death, which occurred in 1885. The mother of our subject was born in Germany in 1850 and came to Canton, Ohio, in 1865. After the death of her first husband she mar- ried John Wagner, an awning worker, who passed away in 1912. By her first marriage she is the mother of five chil- dren: George F., of this review; Charles C .; Lena; Selma; and Elsie. By her second marriage she has two sons, Harry and Frank.
George F. Briihl acquired his education in the public schools of Canton, attending until he was fourteen years of age, when he laid aside his books, securing employment as a machinist's helper. He retained his first position for one
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year, after which he learned the barber's trade, following it thereafter in the employ of others until he was eighteen years of age. He was ambitious and economical and saved his money, being eventually able to open a shop of his own, which he conducted from 1890 until 1900. In the latter year he established himself in the photographic business in Coshoc- ton, but in 1910 moved his studio to Sycamore, where he has since remained. His patronage is very extensive, owing to the excellent quality of the work which he does. He has a fine appreciation of pose, light and shade and has the faculty. of producing natural effects in the finished likeness.
At Canton, on the 30th of August, 1894, Mr. Briihl mar- ried Miss Mollie I. Gentry, a daughter of William A. and Jen- nie (Campbell) Gentry, and they became the parents of three children, the eldest of whom died in infancy. The second, Dorothea, passed away when she was six years and four months old. The youngest is named George Gentry.
Mr. Briihl gives his allegiance to the republican party . and fraternally is connected with the Knights of Pythias. He belongs to the Reformed church. Although a resident of Sycamore for only a brief period, he has won many friends here and is esteemed for his social qualities as well as for his artistic attainments along photographic lines.
JOHN BINAU, JR.
John Binau, Jr., is one of the progressive, enterprising and successful business men of Upper Sandusky, where since 1907 he has controlled a large and representative trade in bicycles and motorcycles. He was born in Salem township, this county, January 6, 1859, and is a son of George and Eliza- beth (Frank) Binau, natives of Germany, the former born February 2, 1819, and the latter in 1822. The father came to Salem township in 1846 and took up a government home- stead claim, upon which he built a small log cabin, in which he and his family resided for many years, during which time he cleared the property and improved and developed it into a model farm. He died in 1904, having survived his wife since 1895. In their family were nine children, Peter, Phil-
JOHN BINAU, JR.
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lip, Catherine, George, John, Henry, Louis, Albert and Elizabeth.
The district schools of Salem township afforded John Binau, Jr., his educational opportunities, but he laid aside his books at the age of thirteen and since that time has been dependent upon his own resources. He began his indepen- dent career as a farm laborer and continued as such until he was able to rent land, after which he engaged in farming for himself for ten years. He afterward spent some time at various occupations but in 1907, in association with his son, Paul, opened up a bicycle and motorcycle store in Upper San- dusky, and this enterprise he has since conducted. His earn- est, straightforward and well directed work has been re- warded by success and he is now at the head of a large and representative mercantile concern.
On the 24th of February, 1881, Mr. Binau married, in Up- per Sandusky, Miss Caroline Bachman, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Bachman, the former a prosperous farmer of Salem township. Mr. and Mrs. Binau have seven children, Paul, Emma, Ella, Lottie, Martha, Nora and Genevia.
Mr. Binau is a member of the Lutheran church and politi- cally is affiliated with the democratic party, having served as constable for one year. He possesses untiring energy and de- termination and his close application to business and his ex- cellent management have brought him the success which is his today and gained him a place among the representative merchants of the city where he makes his home.
STEPHEN A. RANCK.
Stephen A. Ranck, county commissioner of Wyandot county, and for many years influentially connected with agri- cultural interests of Sycamore township, his native section, was born August 22, 1861. He is a son of Benjamin R. and Frances B. (Compton) Ranck, the former born in Pennsyl- vania in 1838 and the latter in Richland county, Ohio, in 1842. The father came to Ohio when he was twelve years of age and settled in Sycamore township, where he grew to man- hood. He spent his active life engaged in agricultural pur- suits in this vicinity, retiring in 1900 and making his home
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in Sycamore township, where he now resides. His wife passed away in 1895. They had eight children: Stephen A., of this review; Sarah J .; Mary E .; Barbara E .; Emma J .; Eli, who died at the age of six months; Laura A .; and Grover C.
Up to the age of twenty Stephen A. Ranck attended dis- trict school, following the usual course of studies, and after he had laid aside his books spent three years upon the home- stead, assisting in the work of operation. When he was twenty-three he married and moved on to eighty acres of land owned by his wife. Upon this property he resided for five years, trading it at the end of that time for one hundred acres in the same township. With characteristic energy he carried forward the work of improvement and development upon the farm, building a fine house, barns and outbuildings and every year harvesting valuable crops as a reward for the care and labor he bestowed upon the fields. In twenty years he became numbered among the substantial and representative agri- culturists of this vicinity. When his residence was destroyed by fire he was obliged to move into the town of Sycamore, where he now resides. He owns one hundred and eighty acres of valuable and productive land, which he has rented out since his retirement from farm life, and in addi- tion a half interest in a business block in Sycamore and four fine residences in the village. He is numbered among Wyan- dot county's most successful native sons and in the fifty- second year of his age can look back upon a worthy and upright life, crowned with prosperity and honor.
On the 23d of December, 1884, Mr. Ranck married, at Sycamore, Edith V. Wilson, a daughter of Levi L. and Eliza- beth Wilson, the former a prosperous farmer of Tymochtee township. Mrs. Ranck was born on December 10, 1865. Mr. and Mrs. Ranck became the parents of three children: Ward W., who died March 25, 1910; Paul J., who is a druggist in Columbus, Ohio; and Elma. Mr. Ranck is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, and his religious views are in accord with the doctrines of the Reformed church. He has taken considerable interest in business life of Sycamore township and he was a director of the Wyandot Mutual Insurance Company. He has held that position for six years but has been connected with the company as solicitor in Sycamore township for fifteen years. He gives a firm allegiance to
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the democratic party and has always been active in the political life of his native township and county. He served for three terms as township trustee and for one term as super- visor and in 1910 was elected county commissioner. His able, conscientious and straightforward work won him reelection in 1912 and he is still serving, showing in the discharge of his official duties that conscientious care for the interests of the people which is true public spirit.
JARVIS W. BOWER.
One of the most respected and esteemed of Marseilles township's native sons is Jarvis W. Bower, who was born upon his father's farm March 9, 1840, his parents being Michael and Ann E. (Studebaker) Bower. The father was born in New York state on the 19th of January, 1818, and was one of the pioneers in Ohio, coming to Marseilles town- ship in 1835 and settling with his parents upon three hun- dred and seventy-six acres of land. He grew to manhood in this section and became well known and prosperous. His first wife passed away on the 9th of August, 1847, and after- ward Michael Bower married her sister, Miss Martha J. Studebaker. By his first marriage he was the father of Jar- vis W., Orison, Mary A., Martha and Wilhelmina. To his second union were born four children, Ann E., Leander S., Georgiana and John M.
In the acquirement of an education Jarvis W. Bower attended district school in Marseilles township, completing his studies when he was twenty-one years of age. During his childhood, however, he had spent a great deal of his time assisting with the work of the homestead and when he laid aside his books was a practical and skilful farmer. He turned his attention naturally to the occupation to which he had been reared but after following farming for a short time became a cattle buyer and after two years a traveling sales- man. He worked in this latter capacity for a period of four- teen years and in this way gained a great deal of practical experience in modern methods of merchandising, which he utilized when he came to the village of Marseilles and opened ยท a general store. This he conducted successfully for five years,
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but at the end of that time his building and stock were entirely destroyed by fire, Mr. Bower at that time suffering a large financial loss. He erected afterward a smaller store but this also he eventually disposed of and he has since been engaged in various occupations, meeting with the success which always follows earnest and persistent labor.
On the 10th of September, 1883, at Bellefontaine, Ohio, Mr. Bower was united in marriage to Miss Sarah A. Parrish, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Parrish, of Logan county, Ohio, the former a successful farmer and stock buyer. Mr. and Mrs. Bower became the parents of four children. Orison M. lives at home. Marie T. became the wife of Christopher Ankney, proprietor of a lumber mill at Shelby, in Richland county, Ohio, and they have one daughter, Sarah E. The other children in this family are Sarah Belle and Mary F. Mr. Bower is a member of the Methodist church and politi- cally gives his allegiance to the republican party, having served as councilman of the village of Marseilles for one year. He is honored as a veteran of the Civil war, having enlisted in Company A, One Hundred and Twenty-third Ohio Vol- unteer Infantry, and after two years and ten months' able service received his honorable discharge at Camp Chase. A resident of Marseilles township since his birth, he is widely known within its borders and the substantial qualities which he has displayed in his citizenship and his business relations have gained him a high place in the regard and good-will of his fellow townsmen.
WILLIAM BAUGHMAN.
William Baughman, connected with important business interests in Upper Sandusky as a successful dealer in hay and feed, was born in Salem township, June 5, 1845, one of a family of five children, namely: Anna, who died at the age of fifty-eight; William, of this review; Alfred; Alice, who passed away at the age of thirty; and David, who died when he was five years of age.
William Baughman remained in Salem township until he was thirteen years of age, acquiring his education in the dis- trict schools. After he had laid aside his books he worked
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as a farm hand until 1892 and then came to Upper Sandusky, turning his attention to business interests. He established himself as a dealer in hay and feed in his present location on North Sandusky avenue and in spite of difficulties and ob- stacles has had a successful business career, standing today among the prominent and deservedly prosperous men of the community.
Mr. Baughman married, on the 8th of April, 1872, in Ty- mochtee township, Miss Maggie McNutt, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas McNutt, the former a prosperous farmer of that locality. Mr. and Mrs. Baughman became the parents of two children. Henry, the eldest, is a laborer in Tiffin, Ohio. He married Lillie Clay and has three children. Harry F. married Katherine Bartholomew, a daughter of John and Louisa Bartholomew, of Crane township. They became the parents of three children: Royal H., Clarence J., and Perle, who died in infancy.
Mr. Baughman is one of the well known men in local democratic politics, having served from 1878 to 1880 as super- visor of Tymochtee township and for two years as policeman of Upper Sandusky. Fraternally he is connected with the Knights of the Maccabees. He is well known in Wyandot county and in Upper Sandusky, where he has resided since 1892 and where his genuine worth, his active life and his high principles have commended him to the good will, trust and respect of all with whom he has been associated.
NOAH A. CHADWICK.
Noah A. Chadwick, who for several years has been asso- ciated with teaching and farming in Mifflin township, this county, and who is also a prominent factor in local public life, was born in the section where he now resides, August 26, 1874. He is a son of Joseph and Anna B. (Binau) Chadwick, the former a native of Ashley, Delaware county, born April 10, 1842, and the latter of Germany, born September 24, 1838. She came to Salem township at the age of nine years and there grew to womanhood, marrying the father of the subject of this review in Ohio. She passed away January 8, 1910.
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In this family were five children, Noah A., Joseph W., Lucinda M., Harry M. and one child who died in infancy.
Noah A. Chadwick acquired his education in the district schools of his native township and supplemented this by two terms in a select school in Mifflin township and by one year in the Northern Ohio University at Ada. He was reared to the occupation of farming and at an early age was thoroughly familiar with the best methods of carrying on the work of the fields and caring for the stock. He did not, however, immediately engage in this line of work, turning his attention first to school-teaching, an occupation which he followed for twenty years. During most of this time, however, he also engaged in farming and is now known as one of the successful and able agriculturists of this community. He has lived upon his present farm for twelve years and now owns one hundred and eight acres of land on sections 9, 15 and 16 and gives a great deal of his time to its development and improvement. In addition to growing fine crops of hay, corn, oats and clover seed, he is interested also in stock-raising.
On the 4th of April, 1900, Mr. Chadwick married, in Fulton county, Miss Corintha D. Stoddard, a daughter of Dwight V. and Susan Stoddard, the latter of whom passed away in 1908. The father is a farmer in Fulton county. Mr. and Mrs. Chadwick have one daughter, Elsie S.
Fraternally Mr. Chadwick is identified with the Masonic order and his religious views are in accord with the doctrines of the Methodist church. He gives a general allegiance to the republican party, voting, however, often independently upon important questions. He has always taken an active part in local public affairs and has served in various town- ship offices, including those of assessor, to which he was elected in 1903, and of justice of the peace, an office which he won on the independent ticket in 1909. He resigned it in 1912 to accept the position of township treasurer, to which he was elected in November of the preceding year. In 1912 he was a candidate on the republican ticket for state representa- tive and, although defeated, the vote which he polled showed his increasing political strength. His life has been such as to give him high standing in the eyes of the community and he is generally recognized as a man whose years of earnest labor in this township have not only contributed to his own prosperity but have also been of value to the community at
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large. He comes of a family noted for patriotism and devo- tion to their country when she has needed her young men to fight her battles. The Chadwicks have a splendid record of service in the wars of their native land. His father, Joseph Chadwick, served as a private throughout the Civil war, participating in many of the important battles of that great struggle, including Bull Run, Chancellorsville, Gettys- burg, Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge. In the battle of Gettysburg he was captured but managed to escape. He was likewise with Sherman on his march to the sea. The grandfather of Noah A. Chadwick served under the Duke of Wellington in the battle of Waterloo. Mr. Chadwick is also well informed on historical subjects, possessing a library of over three hundred volumes. His knowledge of events that have swayed nations in the past, as well as the important issues affecting our country today, is quite clear. He enjoys an enviable reputation in his county as an able and eloquent debater on public questions, he and Sheridan Bowen of Mifflin township now having a series of debates with other parties at Lovell, Wharton, Salem Center and Little San- dusky. Mr. Chadwick is an honest, conscientious citizen, striving to learn what is best for his community and heroically fighting for the same whether it be in accord with his party or church or not. He is a thorough American and a great admirer of country life and scenes.
JAMES L. BARE.
James L. Bare, a successful and enterprising merchant of Mccutchenville, was born in Seneca county, Ohio, July 24, 1869, and is a son of James M. and Eliza J. (Penington) Bare. The father was a native of Eden township, Wyandot county, born in 1832, and was for many years closely identified with agricultural interests of that section. He retired from active life in 1897 and died in April, 1913. His wife passed away in 1876, at the age of thirty-six. To their union were born six children, Seymour O., Ada C., John E., Elva M., Alma A. and James L.
The last named was reared upon his father's farm and attended the district schools of Seneca county. When he
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was twenty years of age he laid aside his books and for one year thereafter worked with his father in the operation of the farm. At the end of that time he rented the homestead and developed and improved it until 1901, becoming rapidly suc- cessful and gaining a high place among progressive agricul- turists of that community. In the latter year he became identified with mercantile interests of this county, opening a general store in Mccutchenville, which he has since success- fully conducted. He carries about eight thousand dollars worth of general merchandise, and because of his well selected line of goods, reasonable prices and straightforward methods he receives an extensive and profitable patronage and is well known as one of the prosperous and enterprising residents of this community. In addition to his store he owns sixty acres of farm land in the vicinity, which he rents out, and a fine house and residence lot in Mccutchenville.
Mr. Bare has been twice married. His first union occurred at Melmore, Ohio, December 28, 1891, when he wedded Miss Anna Miller, who passed away in 1899, leaving three children, Zellah M., and Earl and Mearl, twins. On December 12, 1906, Mr. Bare married Miss Emma Carter, a daughter of Marion and Laura Carter, of Seneca county.
Mr. Bare is well known in local republican circles and has served as a member of the school board of Tymochtee town- ship for one year. He has been postmaster of his town for seven years, discharging his duties in a most satisfactory manner. Both he and his wife attend the Methodist church and are well known and highly esteemed throughout the com- munity as people of genuine personal worth and of many sterling traits of character.
HENRY F. GRAVES.
Henry F. Graves, whose business enterprise and spirit of initiative are shown in the excellent results which he has achieved, is one of the substantial and representative men in business life in Carey, where he is identified with practi- cally every important enterprise or movement formulated in the city. He is president of one of the principal banks, president of the telephone company, and in fact is a dominat-
HENRY F. GRAVES
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ing factor in the general business life. He is a native of Ohio, born in Xenia, May 21, 1852, and is a son of Noah F. and Mar- tha M. (Rhinehart) Graves. The father was a native of Vir- ginia and came to Ohio with his parents in his early life. He was prominent as a stock dealer and his death occurred in June, 1859, when he was thirty-eight years of age. His widow makes her home in Findlay.
When Henry F. Graves was still a child his parents moved from Xenia to Findlay, where he attended the public schools. He began to earn his own livelihood at the age of fourteen, when he laid aside his books and secured employment as a farm laborer. He worked thus for four or five years and then obtained a position in Findlay, where he drove an express wagon for one year and then began clerking in a hardware store. He received in compensation for his services sixteen dollars per month for his first six months, then twenty, and after a half a year gradually rising to twenty-five. He lived upon this amount for five years. At the end of that time he moved to Carey and obtained a position in a hardware store. He was thus employed for seven years and then accepted a clerkship in the private banking house conducted by D. Straw & Son. Through successive stages of progress and advancement he worked his way upward in financial circles, gaining promotion after promotion and in 1890, when the elder Mr. Straw died, Mr. Graves and Harry Straw took charge of the bank. In 1895 Mr. Straw passed away and Mr. Graves took over the full management of the enterprise, con- ducting it as a private bank until 1902, when it was organized as a state institution with Mr. Graves as president, a posi- tion which he still holds. He has made this one of the sound, safe and conservative institutions of its kind in the city and in its management has evidenced the resourceful energy and far-sighted judgment of an able financier. Naturally a man of Mr. Graves' ability and conscientiousness has been carried forward into important relations with the general business life, for he always seeks to promote those enterprises which are of public benefit. Since the organization of the local tele- phone company he has been its president and he was the main instigator of the movement which resulted in the building by the city of a municipal water plant, much credit being due to him for the successful outcome of the project. He is one of the largest stockholders in the Carey Porcelain Works,
Vol. II-15
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an institution which he was largely instrumental in organ- izing, and anything which tends to promote the business progress and advancement of Carey receives his unqualified indorsement and loyal support.
In August, 1882, Mr. Graves was united in marriage to Miss Nora A. DeWitt, a daughter of Joseph DeWitt, and to them were born two children, both of whom passed away in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Graves reside in a beautiful home on Main street in Carey and are well known in social circles of the city. Mr. Graves is a splendid example of the best type of self-made man and he possesses in his character all the energy, initiative and assurance of his class. His position in business circles today is entirely due to his own labors and he deserves great credit for what he has accomplished, for he started out as a boy empty-handed. He has closely studied the business conditions with which he has been connected, has improved his opportunities and upon the sure foundation of industry and close application has builded his advance- ment.
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