USA > Ohio > Wyandot County > Past and present of Wyandot County, Ohio; a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 21
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27
SAMUEL WIEST.
Agricultural interests of Wyandot county are well repre- sented by Samuel Wiest, who owns and operates a well improved and valuable tract of four hundred and ninety-three acres in Pitt township. He was born in Marion county, August 20, 1857, and is a son of Christopher and Mary (Wilt) Wiest, the former a native of Germany and the latter of France. The father was born in the town of Basel in 1824 and was nine years of age when he came to America. His family settled in Ohio and there he grew to manhood, follow- ing farming during his active career. He passed away in 1900, having survived his wife since December 18, 1889. In their family were twelve children: Samuel, of this review; Lena; Caroline, who died in infancy; Louisa, Barbara, John, Caroline, the second of the name; Christina; Christopher, who passed away at the age of twenty-four; Maggie, Charles, and one child, who died in infancy.
Samuel Wiest attended the public schools of Little San- dusky until he was eighteen years of age and after laying aside
285
PAST AND PRESENT OF WYANDOT COUNTY
his books spent three years upon his father's farm. At the end of that time he purchased land of his own, buying one hundred and twenty acres in Hardin county, upon which he resided for nine years, trading it finally for eighty acres in Antrim township, Wyandot county, a portion of the farm upon which he still resides. Since that time he has added to his holdings until they now comprise four hundred and nine- ty-three acres, lying in Pitt township. Upon this property he has made substantial improvements in buildings and equip- ment and each year fine harvests of hay, corn, wheat and oats reward the care and labor he bestows upon the fields. Mr. Wiest gives much of his attention to stock-raising, keeping fourteen horses, one hundred and fifty hogs and five hundred sheep and making a specialty of breeding and raising high- grade Shorthorn cattle.
On the 24th of July, 1881, Mr. Wiest married, at Larue, Ohio, Miss Martha Alice Verden, a daughter of Henry H. and Mary (Ettecker) Verden. Mrs. Wiest passed away August 16, 1911, leaving one son, Floyd, who married Nellie Beers, of Marion county, by whom he has one child, Thelma M.
Mr. Wiest gives his allegiance to the democratic party and has served with ability and conscientiousness in various offi- cial positions, having been for twelve years township trustee, for seven years treasurer of the school board and for twelve years a school director. He belongs to the Knights of the Maccabees and is affiliated also with the Farmers Mutual Protective Association of Wyandot county. His strong and salient characteristics are such as endear him to all who come within the close circle of his friendship and wherever he is known he is respected and honored.
RALPH L. DUNLAP.
Ralph L. Dunlap, devoting his life to general agricultural pursuits, is now engaged in the cultivation of an excellent tract of land of one hundred and thirty-eight acres situated in Syca- more township. The neat and thrifty appearance of the place indicates his practical methods and careful supervision and his labors are being attended with substantial success. He was born in Texas township, Crawford county, Ohio, August
286
PAST AND PRESENT OF WYANDOT COUNTY
13, 1872, and is one of a large family of children whose par- ents were James and Mary (Liversberger) Dunlap. The father was born in Pennsylvania in 1832 but was only three years of age when brought to Ohio, so that he was practically reared in this state. After he had attained his majority he purchased a tract of land in Eden township, Wyandot county, and became a successful farmer, carefully and systematically cultivating his fields until his labors were rewarded with gen- erous harvests. He now lives in Texas township, Crawford county, but his wife, who was born in Richland county, Ohio, in 1830, died in 1895. Their children were as follows: Mrs. Florence Barrack, a widow residing in Tiffin, Ohio, has three children: James, Cora and Inez. Laura became the wife of Scott Hazlitt, a farmer, and they lost one child. Jennie is the deceased wife of William Tuttle. Elmer, a retired farmer, married Jennie Miller and has two children, Harry and Lloyd. Sidney, proprietor of a livery stable, married Lizzie Myers. Minnie died in 1889. Elva is the wife of Horace Miller, a real-estate dealer, and they have three children: Earl, Beulah and Gorman.
The other member of the family is Ralph L. Dunlap, whose name introduces this record. He was reared in Crawford county and pursued his education in the district schools there until nineteen years of age. He began providing for his own support by working as a farm hand and later he was employed in a mill in Shelby until 1900. He then turned his attention to general agricultural pursuits, renting one hundred and thirty-eight acres of land from his father-in-law. He has been very successful in his farming operations, annually gathering good crops of hay, corn and wheat, which he sells on the local market. He also has from thirty to fifty head of hogs upon his place and other stock usually found upon a model farm.
On the 14th of February, 1894, near Sycamore, Mr. Dunlap was united in marriage to Miss Maud Badger, a daughter of Thomas and Eliza (Saffell) Badger, who were farming peo- ple of Sycamore township. The children of this marriage are two daughters, Mildred and Mabel. The parents hold mem- bership in the Reformed church and their lives are passed in consistent harmony with their principles. Mr. Dunlap is also a member of the Masonic fraternity and he votes with the democratic party but he never seeks nor desires office, pre- ferring to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs.
287
PAST AND PRESENT OF WYANDOT COUNTY
He has an attractive modern home and his farm is equipped with the latest improved machinery and all up-to-date acces- sories, enabling him to conduct the farm work in the best possible manner. He is energetic and industrious, and his carefully directed labors are bringing to him well earned suc- cess.
HENRY LINCOLN KUENZLI.
Henry Lincoln Kuenzli, of the firm of Kuenzli Brothers, manufacturers of drain tile and retail hardware dealers, at Nevada, Wyandot county, Ohio, was born at Upper Sandusky, Ohio, April 21, 1865. He is the third son of Frederick and Josephine (Hochstetler) Kuenzli. The father, a son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Ramsier) Kuenzli, the former born in 1790 in Canton Bern, Switzerland, was a native of that country, born in Canton Bern, May 23, 1834, and emigrated to America with his parents in his infancy. The family settled in Holmes county, Ohio, where he grew to manhood, removing to Upper Sandusky, Wyandot county, Ohio, shortly after his marriage, which occurred March 18, 1859, at Navarre, Ohio. His death occurred December 23, 1891. The ancestry of the Kuenzli family has honorable mention in the history and military records of Switzerland, among them being Col- onel Joseph Kuenzli, who served his country gallantly in sup- pression of an insurrection, and was rewarded with promotion to high official position in the national government.
The mother was a member of the Hochstetler family, whose genealogy is traced back for six generations, the number of her father's family (Elias Hochstetler) being 2,207. His ancestor was Jacob Hochstetler, who was born in the high- lands of Germany, along the Rhine, and who emigrated to America, and arrived at Philadelphia, September 1, 1736, as recorded in the history of the Hochstetler family, which volume includes one thousand one hundred and ninety-one pages, and contains a biography of over ten thousand indivi- duals, together with much interesting religious and historical matter. The mother was born April 18, 1839, near Walnut Creek, Holmes county, Ohio, and died December 11, 1905, at Nevada, Ohio. The father was a farmer by occupation and
288
PAST AND PRESENT OF WYANDOT COUNTY
also a tanner by trade. In their family were ten children: Frederick, deceased; Sophia, now Mrs. E. G. Blaser, of Upper Sandusky, Ohio; Edward S., who is the partner of our subject in the business enterprises above noted; Henry L., of this review; Clara, deceased; Charles A., now a student for the ministry at Wittenberg College, Springfield, Ohio; John W. deceased; William T., a farmer residing in Eden township; Grace V., now Mrs. W. G. Milligan, also of Eden township; and Elmer D., employed as clerk with the firm as above given.
H. L. Kuenzli, in the acquirement of his education, at- tended the public schools at Upper Sandusky, and the country schools, continuing with his parents and assisting with the work upon the farm until his twenty-third year, when, with his brother-in-law, E. G. Blaser, and his brother, Edward S., was formed the firm of Blaser & Kuenzli Brothers. The then new firm from which Mr. Blaser retired in 1902, assumed ownership and management of the drain tile manufacturing industry at Nevada, Ohio, on the first day of April, 1888, to which the hardware business was added in 1894, and both of which enterprises, since the retirement of Mr. Blaser, have been successfully continued by the two brothers under the well known firm name of Kuenzli Brothers.
Mr. Kuenzli was married November 26, 1890, by Rev. D. H. Wonder, in Eden township, to Viola B., daughter of S. M. and Hester A. (Bowlby) Sigler. Mrs. Kuenzli, who was born in Antrim township, Wyandot county, Ohio, January 12, 1870, was educated in the district schools, and for several years prior to her marriage was engaged in teaching. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Kuenzli are: Ruth B., born Sep- tember 11, 1891, a graduate of both the Nevada and Upper Sandusky high schools, and now a student in Oberlin College in the third year of a classical course ; and Thaddeus G., born June 21, 1908, a bright and active child of five years.
Mr. Kuenzli gives his allegiance to the republican party and has actively participated in public life in his community, doing much to promote its interests. Fraternally, he has been a Knight of Pythias for twenty-four years, while in the Masonic order he holds membership with Nevada Lodge, No. 343, F. & A. M. and Nevada Chapter, No. 186, R. A. M., and has attained the rank of a Knight Templar, belonging to the Marion Commandery, No. 36. His religion is that of the Evangelical church, and for thirty years he has been a member
289
PAST AND PRESENT OF WYANDOT COUNTY
of Salem parish in Eden township. Above all other associa- tions, and above all other institutions, Mr. Kuenzli holds high and is distinctively devoted to his home. Therein his beliefs are centered on the highest interests of life, and to the com- panion of his life and home he freely ascribes full credit for any success to which he may have attained.
EUGENE STRAW.
Eugene Straw owns and operates a fine farm of three hun- dred and seventy-five acres on section 31, Pitt township, con- stituting the homestead upon which he was born. By constant supervision and practical methods of operation he has made this a valuable and productive property and in its cultivation, as in all business affairs, has met with that success which fol- lows earnest, straightforward and persistent labor. His birth occurred on the 11th of June, 1854, and he is a son of Louis and Rebecca (Miller) Straw, the former a native of Vermont and the latter of Kentucky. The father came to Ohio when he was still a young man and settled in Pitt township, where he turned his attention to general farming, an occupation which he followed until his death in 1889. The mother has also passed away, her death having occurred in 1879. Louis Straw had been twice married. His first union was with Miss Moody, who died one year after their marriage, leaving one child, Dudley. By his union with the mother of the subject of this review he had eight children, Caroline, Eugene, Leander, Edith, Cannie, Lenora and Lemora, twins, and Catherine.
Eugene Straw acquired his education in the district schools of Pitt township and spent his summers assisting his father with the work of the farm. When he was eighteen he laid aside his books and for some time thereafter continued upon the homestead, but in 1881 moved to his father-in-law's prop- erty, where he remained for ten years. At the expiration of that time he purchased the old homestead and upon this he has now resided since 1892. It comprises three hundred and seventy-five acres lying in Marseilles and Pitt townships, most of the property being located on section 31, Pitt town- ship, and it is a well improved, valuable and productive prop- erty, its neat and attractive appearance evidencing the care-
290
PAST AND PRESENT OF WYANDOT COUNTY
ful supervision and practical labor he has bestowed upon it. In addition to tilling the fields and raising hay, corn and oats, which form his principal crops, Mr. Straw is also exten- sively interested in stock-raising, specializing in the breeding of sheep and hogs, of which he has about three hundred each. These he sells in the local markets, where they command a high price and a ready sale. He owns besides the farm upon which he resides another on section 6, Pitt township, and on sections 1 and 3, Marseilles township, and is one of the extensive land- owners in this vicinity.
On the 1st of February, 1877, Mr. Straw married, in Upper Sandusky, Ohio, Miss Ada Bowen, a daughter of Gideon and Deborah (Wooley) Bowen, of that city, the for- mer one of the oldest settlers of Wyandot county. He settled here the year after the Indians had left this section of the state and plowed and planted oats upon the property where the Wyandot county courthouse now stands. Mr. and Mrs. Straw, having no children of their own, have adopted a son, Curtis. Mr. Straw is politically identified with the repub- lican party, having served as township trustee and as a mem- ber of the school board. He is one of the best known and most widely popular men in the southern part of Wyandot county and his place in the favorable regard of the commu- nity has come to him by reason of his honorable, straight- forward and upright life and his high standards of business and personal integrity. Many of his stanchest friends have known him from childhood and to them his name is a synonym for honor in business, loyalty in citizenship and fidelity to all the duties and obligations of life.
PHILIP UNCAPHER.
Philip Uncapher has, since 1886, been connected with important mercantile interests in Marseilles, where as head of the firm of Philip Uncapher & Son he is now in control of a large and well managed business enterprise. He was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, on the 27th of December, 1846, and is a son of Andrew and Mary A. (Horrel) Uncapher, both of Scotch-Irish ancestry. The father was born in Westmoreland county in 1811 and acquired an excel- lent education in the schools of that vicinity. After laying
PHILIP UNCAPHER
293
PAST AND PRESENT OF WYANDOT COUNTY
aside his books he was for a few years employed as a book- keeper and he then turned his attention to the tanner's trade, which he followed until 1860, when he came west, settling in Marseilles township, Wyandot county, Ohio. Here he pur- chased four hundred acres of land and gave his entire atten- tion to its improvement and development for many years, becoming one of the prosperous and substantial agriculturists of the community. He died in the fall of 1861 and was sur- vived by his wife for some time. In their family were the fol- lowing children: Theodore, Philip, Joseph, Jackson, Mary, George, John, John T. and Sarah E.
Philip Uncapher spent his childhood upon his father's farm in Marseilles township, dividing his time between work upon the homestead and attendance at the district school. After he laid aside his books he remained with his father until after the latter's death in 1861, when he inherited eighty acres of land, to which he subsequently added eighty more. He developed and improved this fine property until 1886, but in that year turned his attention to business pursuits, forming a partnership with his brother, Theodore. Together they opened a general store in Marseilles and they built up in the course of years a well managed and profitable enter- prise, both continuing active in its conduct until 1911, when Theodore passed away. His interest was purchased by Philip Uncapher's son, Ernest, and the business was reorganized under the firm name of Philip Uncapher & Son. The firm carries a well selected stock of goods, valued at ten thousand dollars, and controls a large and continually growing trade, which is accorded to them in recognition of the fine quality of the goods which they handle, their reasonable prices and their earnest desire to please their patrons.
On the 21st of August, 1873, Mr. Uncapher was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Modd, a daughter of Thomas and Sarah (Wing) Modd, natives of England, who in 1851 came to America, settling in Logan county, Ohio, where the father followed farming for some time. Afterward they removed to Hardin county where he still lives retired. Mr. and Mrs. Uncapher became the parents of three children. The eldest, Ernest M., is a partner with his father in the mercantile busi- ness in Marseilles. He married Miss Sarah A. Young. Philip, Jr., resides upon his father's farm in Marseilles township. He married Miss Blanche E. Starner, and they have two chil-
294
PAST AND PRESENT OF WYANDOT COUNTY
dren, Mary E. and Theodore. Chastina married Oris Jones, a teacher in the country school. The family of Mr. Uncapher are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and fra- ternally he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He has for a long time been well known in local poli- tics and has held some important official positions, including those of justice of the peace, township trustee and a member of the school board. Having resided in Marseilles or the vicinity for many years, he is widely and favorably known here as a man who in business, in citizenship and in all the relations of life has steadfastly adhered to high standards of thought and action, winning in the course of years a success which places him today among the substantial merchants and representative citizens.
MICHAEL G. SCHOENBERGER.
Michael G. Schoenberger, a retired agriculturist residing on section 20, Salem township, has been a resident of Wyandot county throughout practically his entire life and has witnessed the growth and development of the region during the past two-thirds of a century. Throughout his active business career he followed farming and stock-raising on an extensive scale and is still the owner of four hundred and thirty acres of valuable land in Salem township as well as two fine resi- dences in Upper Sandusky. His birth occurred in Wooster, Wayne county, Ohio, on the 2d of May, 1845, his parents being George and Caroline (Long) Schoenberger, the former a native of Germany and the latter of Harrisburg, Pennsyl- vania. George Schoenberger, whose natal year was 1818, crossed the Atlantic when a young man of eighteen and took up his abode in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, where he remained for five years, on the expiration of which period he removed to Wayne county, Ohio. He was engaged in business as a distiller until twenty-six years of age. In 1847 he came to Wyandot county and here devoted his attention to general agricultural pursuits throughout the remainder of his life, passing away on the 23d of June, 1897. The period of his residence in this county covered a half century and in his passing the community lost a pioneer whose labors had been
295
PAST AND PRESENT OF WYANDOT COUNTY
a factor in the work of progress and upbuilding here. For more than a third of a century he had survived his wife, who was called to her final rest on the 12th of November, 1862, at the age of thirty-nine. Their children were as follows: Michael G., of this review; Joseph, deceased; Samuel; John and George, twins, of whom the latter has passed away; Caroline and Emaline, twins; Susan; Amos; George; David; and one who died in infancy.
Michael G. Schoenberger began his education in the dis- trict schools of Salem township as a lad of ten years but spent only from three to six weeks each year at his studies, which were continued in this desultory manner until he had attained the age of eighteen. Though his educational advantages were limited, he has constantly augmented his knowledge by read- ing, experience and observation and is a well informed man. He assisted his father in the work of the home farm until twenty-one years of age and during the following three years was employed as a farm hand, receiving a wage of one dollar per day. At the age of twenty-four years he was married, his wife owning a half interest in a tract of ninety-six acres in Tymochtee township, to the cultivation of which he devoted his attention for nine years. On the expiration of that period he disposed of the property and purchased one hundred and forty-seven acres of land in Salem township. As time passed and his financial resources increased, owing to his untiring industry and capable management, he augmented his hold- ings by additional purchase and now owns four valuable farms on sections 19, 20, 29 and 30, Salem township, comprising four hundred and thirty acres of land. In connection with the cultivation of cereals he raised and fed stock on an exten- sive scale, making a specialty of cattle, sheep and hogs. At the present time he is enjoying the fruits of his former toil in well earned ease. He owns two handsome residences in Upper Sandusky and well deserves a place among the substantial and representative citizens of this county.
On the 8th of April, 1869, in Salem township, Mr. Schoen- berger was joined in wedlock to Miss Margaret Altveter, her parents being Theobald and Mary Altveter, farming people of that township. Mr. and Mrs. Schoenberger are the parents of seven children, as follows: Louis, a merchant of Marion, Ohio, who wedded Miss Ella Kimmel, who passed away in 1911, leaving two children, Esther and Russell; Edward, a
296
PAST AND PRESENT OF WYANDOT COUNTY
farmer of Salem township, who married Miss Leefe Weber and has one child, Wave; Ira, an agriculturist of Salem town- ship, who married Miss Olga Weis and has one child, Foster; Albert, an agriculturist of Salem township, who wedded Miss Carrie Schlup and has two children, Gale and Cleve; Charles, a farmer of Salem township, who wedded Miss Mary Pfeiffer and has one child, Frieda ; Michael, an agriculturist of Salem township, who married Miss Tillie Binau and has two chil- dren, Mary M. and Paul; and Arthur, who is a school teacher and bookkeeper of Lima, Ohio.
In his political views Mr. Schoenberger is a democrat, exercising his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of that party. He served on the school board in Salem township for nine years and for a period of five years acted as trustee of that township. Though not a member of any religious organization, he attends the services of the Reformed church. His memory forms a connecting link between the pioneer past and the progressive present. Dur- ing his early life here the district was still largely covered with timber and he vividly remembers assisting his father in clear- ing the land, hauling the logs by ox team out of the clearing and then piling them up to burn. His mother also assisted in the task of clearing and spliting fence rails, bravely doing her part to establish a home in the wilderness. Michael G. Schoenberger has lived to witness the result and enjoy the reward of their combined labors and is honored as a pioneer whose efforts were an important factor in the growth and upbuilding of the community. He is still hale and hearty, enjoying excellent health for one of his years, and in the even- ing of a well spent life is surrounded by material comforts and many friends.
MYRON R. EMPTAGE.
Myron R. Emptage, prominently connected with farming interests as part owner of one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 17, Marseilles township, and with business interests as the founder and proprietor of a large farm implement depot in Marseilles, is a native of this part of Wyandot county, born May 17, 1878. He is a son of Thomas and Mary
297
PAST AND PRESENT OF WYANDOT COUNTY
J. (Atkinson) Emptage, natives of Ohio, the former born in Richland county, on the 24th of October, 1836, and the latter in Tuscarawas county, on the 23d of December, 1840. The father, who was for many years a prominent and substantial farmer of Wyandot county, is now living retired, and makes his home in Marseilles. He and his wife became the parents of four children. Ina J. married J. C. Rubins, a ranch owner in California. He died in 1901, leaving four children, Lula E., Paul F., Charlotte and Homer J. Mrs. Rubins makes her home in Marseilles. James A. is engaged in farming in Marseilles township. He married Anna Rubins, and they have seven children, Carrie, Blanche, Dwight, Harold, Ed- ward, Donald and Mildred. Mary passed away in 1897. Myron R. is the subject of this review.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.