USA > Ohio > Wyandot County > Past and present of Wyandot County, Ohio; a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 9
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On the 1st of September, 1904, Mr. Richmond married, at Upper Sandusky, Miss Ida Shorb, a daughter of John and Hattie Shorb, the former a well known farmer of Pitt town- ship. Mr. and Mrs. Richmond have one daughter, Florence Maxine. Mr. Richmond is a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal church and fraternally he is connected with the
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Masons and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His political allegiance is given to the democratic party and he has served his fellow citizens as a member and treasurer of the school board and has also held the important position of a member of the executive committee of Wyandot county for many years. He occupies a prominent position in business circles of Harpster, standing among the progressive and suc- cessful men of the city. His well developed powers and broad experience, combined with his determination and enterprise, have led him to put forth persistent effort in making his way steadily upward, and in this manner he has gained success.
ELMER DUBBS KUENZLI.
Elmer Dubbs Kuenzli, one of the progressive and enter- prising young men of Nevada, is engaged in the hardware business, as head clerk of the concern known as Kuenzli Brothers. He was born in Eden township, March 15, 1880, and is a son of Frederick and Josephine (Hochstetter) Kuenzli, natives of Holmes county, the father born in 1845. He engaged in farming during his active life, passing away in 1898. He was survived by his wife, who died in 1906. In their family were ten children. The two eldest, Clara and Fred, died in infancy. Sophia married E. G. Blaser, a tile manufacturer of Upper Sandusky, and they became the par- ents of two children, Esther and Fred. Edward S. is engaged in the hardware business and is also active as a tile manu- facturer in Nevada. He married Victoria Neat and has four children, Alice, Edith, Lester and Irvin. Henry L. is a tile manufacturer and hardware merchant. His wife was in her maidenhood Viola Sigler, and they have two children, Ruth and Thaddeus. Charles C. has been twice married. He wedded first Miss May Kaufman, who has passed away, leav- ing two children, Terrence and Robert. After the death of his first wife he married Esther Songer by whom he has two children. He is now connected with the Springfield (Ohio) Theological Institute and engaged in educational work. John W. passed away at the age of forty years. Grace became the wife of W. G. Milligan, a farmer in Eden township, and they have four children. William is engaged in farming. He
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married Miss Myrtle Cross and has six children. Elmer D. is the youngest child in the family and the subject of this review.
The last named was reared in Eden township and acquired his education in the district schools, which he attended until he was eighteen years of age. After laying aside his books he worked for two years in a tile factory, but at the end of that time became head clerk of his uncle's hardware business in Nevada, a connection in which he is proving his energy, progressiveness and business acumen. He has secured an extensive and representative patronage, which is accorded in recognition of his honorable and straightforward business methods and his reasonable prices. He owns his own resi- dence and two valuable vacant lots.
In Nevada, on the 6th of March, 1903, Mr. Kuenzli married Miss Grace Boulby, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Nelson Boul- by, the former a farmer in Crane township. Mr. and Mrs. Kuenzli have five children, Homer A., Earl F., Curtis B., Eva L. and Hubert D. Mr. Kuenzli is a member of the English Lutheran church and fraternally is connected with the Knights of Pythias. He gives his political allegiance to the republican party, having served as treasurer of Nevada for six years, as treasurer of Antrim township for four years and as a member of the town council, displaying in the discharge of his official duties the same energy, determination and pro- gressive spirit which have marked the activities of his busi- ness career.
EDGAR D. HOLL.
Edgar D. Holl, proprietor of a large up-to-date creamery in Upper Sandusky, is one of the most deservedly successful and progressive business men of the city, basing his pros- perity upon a thorough knowledge of everything relating to sanitary operation and to modern methods of butter making. He was born in New Berlin, Ohio, March 1, 1879, and is a son of Clayton and Samantha (Hess) Holl, the former a native of New Berlin, born in 1848, and the latter of Greentown, Ohio, born in 1853. The father is today one of the most prominent and representative agriculturists of his native section. He
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and his wife became the parents of eight children: Jennie, who married Albert Miller, a laborer in Akron, Ohio; Laura, who became the wife of Joel Shutt, a farmer in Michi- gan, by whom she has six children; Edgar D., of this review ; Minetta, who married Cleon Weaver, a bookkeeper in Canton, Ohio, by whom she has one child; Luella, who died at the age of twenty-five ; Homer, who is a farmer in Middlebranch, Ohio, and who married Margaret Lind; and Albert and Zelmar, who live at home.
Edgar D. Holl acquired his early education in the district and high schools of New Berlin, graduating from the latter institution in 1899. Afterward he taught school for two years in Stark county and then entered the Ohio State University at Columbus, graduating from the agricultural department in 1906. He spent nine months thereafter as foreman of the pure-milk department in Bellefontaine, Ohio, and six months in the same position with the Polk Sanitary Milk Company of Indianapolis. With this experience and special training as a foundation for success he came to Upper Sandusky and in 1908 established the creamery which he conducts today. He also deals in eggs and has made both branches of his business extremely lucrative. He owns a large creamery, up-to-date and sanitary in every particular and equipped with the most modern machinery, and he has secured a most liberal and representative patronage, which is accorded him in recogni- tion of the high quality of his goods and his straightforward business methods. In addition he owns some valuable prop- erty in Upper Sandusky, including his fine residence and several town lots.
On the 22d of October, 1908, Mr. Holl was united in mar- riage, at Poplar, Ohio, to Miss Florence Mclaughlin, a daugh- ter of Frank and Minnie (Stetzer) Mclaughlin, the former for twenty years in the railroad service and later foreman of the Sycamore Milling Company at Sycamore. Mr. and Mrs. Holl became the parents of two children, Gayle M. and Maurice F.
Mr. Holl gives his allegiance to the democratic party and his religious views are in accord with the doctrines of the Methodist church. He is a member of Champion Grange of Wyandot county. He well deserves his present prosperity but gives great credit for what he has achieved to the able and efficient help and the wise counsel of his wife, who is a lady of rare qualities, highly accomplished, yet acute and intui-
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tively correct in judging business situations,-who has ever industriously sustained him in all his important transactions and labors. The methods he has employed are such as will bear the closest investigation, and his success has come to him through his energy and well directed labor. He is a man of practical ideas and is not only interested in the welfare of his community but takes an active part in the support of all measures and projects which tend to promote it.
IRA R. PONTIUS.
The lines of activity which constitute the life record of Ira R. Pontius are many and his efforts for progress are far- reaching and resultant. He occupies a leading position in financial circles in Upper Sandusky and is equally well known in political and fraternal connections. In fact he stands for improvement in all those fields which are of vital force in the world's work. He was born July 20, 1874, on a farm five miles southeast of Upper Sandusky, in Pitt township, Wyandot county, Ohio, his parents being Adam and Elizabeth Van Buren (Winstead) Pontius. His great-grandfather in the paternal line was George Pontius, a native of Germany, who after living for a time in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, removed to Ohio. He served as a soldier in the Revolutionary war as did Griffin Winstead, the great-grandfather in the maternal line. The latter was a native of England, who on coming to the United States settled in Northumberland county, Virginia, and thence removed to Ohio. Samuel Pon- tius and William Winstead, the grandfathers of Ira R. Pon- tius, were residents of Pickaway county, Ohio, and both served in the War of 1812 under General William Henry Harrison, being encamped at one time during the struggle on the present site of Upper Sandusky. Samuel Pontius was a fife major. His son, Adam Pontius, spent his youthful days in Pickaway county, and in 1860 removed to Pitt township, Wyandot county, taking up his abode upon a farm, where the birth of his son Ira occurred. He continuously carried on general agri- cultural pursuits there until 1882, when he removed to Upper Sandusky and established a hardware store, which he con- ducted in connection with General I. M. Kirby. That partner-
IRA R. PONTIUS
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ship was maintained for six years, at the end of which time General Kirby retired, selling his interest to C. D. Juvenal, who was a partner of Mr. Pontius for four years. The busi- ness was thereafter conducted under the name of Adam Pon- tius & Son until 1907, although in the meantime the father had passed away, his death having occurred on the 4th of Jan- uary, 1903. He was at one time sheriff of Wyandot county from January 1, 1896, until January 1, 1900, and made a most creditable record by reason of his loyalty, promptness and fidelity. His widow survived him for more than five years, dying on the 21st of October, 1908. Their children were nine in number, the brothers and sisters of Ira R. Pontius being: William H., a distinguished musician of Minneapolis,Minne- sota, who was educated at Florence, Italy, and other Euro- pean cities; Samuel F. of Upper Sandusky; Dr. George A. Pontius, who practiced osteopathy at Lockport, New York, but is now deceased; David W., traffic manager of the Pacific Electric Railway, at Los Angeles, California; Mary C., the wife of R. F. Alspach, of Columbus, Ohio; Ella P., the wife of Dr. A. J. Kesler, of Fort Wayne, Indiana ; Evalyn P., the wife of Edwin Billhardt, of Upper Sandusky ; and Ida P., the wife of Henry Katzenmeyer, of Hillsdale, Michigan.
Ira R. Pontius was a lad of seven years when the family left the farm and took up their abode in Upper Sandusky, where he pursued his early education as a public-school stu- dent, while later he attended college in Mansfield, Ohio. He was twenty-one years of age, when in 1896, he entered the sheriff's office, serving as a deputy for six years. On the ex- piration of that period, in 1902, he joined his father in the hardware business, under the firm style of Adam Pontius & Son, and was in active connection with the trade until 1907, when he turned from commercial pursuits to banking, becom- ing one of the promoters and incorporators of the Citizens Savings Bank of Upper Sandusky, of which he has continu- ously served as cashier. The bank was capitalized for fifty thousand dollars and now has a surplus of ten thousand with deposits of more than three hundred thousand. The bank has enjoyed a rapid and healthy growth and is doing a fine busi- ness. It is one of the strong and substantial financial institu- tions of the county, having always followed a safe, conserva- tive policy that has, however, never blocked progress nor im- peded the continuous expansion of the bank.
Vol. II-7
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Mr. Pontius has been married twice. On the 6th of August, 1902, he wedded Miss Claudia M. Hitchcock, of Troy, Ohio, who passed away March 24, 1905. On the 9th of June, 1908, he married Miss Margaret J. Mundy, a daughter of John E. and Katherine A. Mundy, of New York city. Before her mar- riage she was connected with the Mileage Bureau of New York city and later with the jewelry house of N. J. Felix, of Maiden Lane, New York. Mr. and Mrs. Pontius have one child, Mar- garet Elizabeth, born December 20, 1910.
Mr. Pontius holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal church and with several fraternal organizations. He belongs to the lodge, chapter and council in Masonry, is a member of Elks Lodge, No. 83, at Upper Sandusky, of the Knights of Pythias lodge and the Modern Woodmen camp. In politics he has always been a democrat, active and prominent in the work of the party and has served on the county central and execu- tive committees. He has always labored earnestly for the success of his party and for the betterment of society in gen- eral. He represented the thirteenth congressional district of Ohio as a delegate in the democratic national convention at Baltimore, Maryland, in June, 1912, and was an ardent sup- porter of Governor Judson Harmon for the presidency until, feeling that it was not possible to secure the nomination of his candidate, he voted for Wilson on the last three ballots. He was one of the organizers and promoters of the Chamber of Commerce and is still serving as one of its directors. Public- spirited, he cooperates in all of its movements for the general good and has ever taken a deep and helpful interest in the welfare and growth of the city. His labors, of a public nature, have been of a most beneficial character and his entire life work indicates the fit utilization of the innate powers and talents which are his, combined with the wise use of time and opportunities.
SIDNEY C. DUNLAP.
Sidney C. Dunlap, closely connected with business inter- ests of Carey as the proprietor of a large livery and sales stable, was born in Texas township, Crawford county, April 10, 1863. He is a son of James and Mary (Linensberger)
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Dunlap, the former born in Pennsylvania in 1832 and the latter in Richland county, Ohio, in 1833. The father came to this state with his parents when he was six years of age and grew to manhood here, afterward engaging in farming, in which occupation he still continues. He makes his home in Texas township, Crawford county, having survived his wife since 1895. In their family were eight children. Reddy married William Barrack, a farmer of Crawford county. They have three children, Cora, Inez and James. Laura became the wife of Scott Haslett, a farmer of Crawford county, and they have a daughter, Hazel. Jennie married William Tuttle, who also engages in farming. She died in 1881. Elmer is a farmer in Crawford county. He married Jennie Miller and has two sons, Harry and Floyd. Sidney C. is the subject of this review. Minnie has passed away. Elva married Horace Miller, a farmer in Crawford county. They have three children, Earl, Beulah and Gorman. Ralph is engaged in farming in Sycamore township. He married Maude Badger and has two children.
In the district schools of his native county Sidney C. Dunlap acquired his education, laying aside his books at the age of eighteen. He afterward aided his father in the opera- tion of the farm until he was thirty-two years of age and then spent two years working out by the day. At the end of that time he went to Shelby and secured a position in the tube works, where he remained for four years, returning then to the home farm and spending a similar period of time in Craw- ford county. When he again left home he came to Carey and established himself in the livery business, in which he became immediately successful. He conducts also a sales stable, has an average of nine horses on hand and controls an important and growing patronage.
In Texas township, Crawford county, on the 20th of Febru- ary, 1898, Mr. Dunlap was united in marriage to Miss Lizzie Myers, a daughter of Solomon and Hannah (Schnarren- berger) Myers, the former a well known farmer of Texas town- ship. Mr. and Mrs. Dunlap have adopted two children, Orville and Maggie. Mr. Dunlap attends the Evangelical church and is connected fraternally with the Knights of Pythias. Always a stanch and loyal democrat, he has taken an active and intelligent interest in public affairs and has himself held important public offices. He served for nine
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years as constable of Texas township and was for two years councilman of Carey, displaying great energy, efficiency and public spirit in the discharge of his official duties. His busi- ness interests have been carefully conducted, his duties of citizenship capably performed and at all times he has been true to the obligations and responsibilities that have devolved upon him in every relation of life, making him one of the valued and respected residents of the community.
EDWARD G. NEUMEISTER.
Business interests of Upper Sandusky are well represented by Edward G. Neumeister, who conducts a large bakery and confectionery store in the city. He is regarded as one of the most progressive merchants here, employing modern methods in the development of his trade and carrying a line of goods that makes his establishment one of the most attractive stores in the community. He was born in Upper Sandusky, Febru- ary 2, 1878, and is a son of David and Katherine (Myers) Neumeister, natives of Germany, the former born on the 4th of May, 1838, and the latter on February 28, 1845. The father was twenty-seven years of age when he crossed the Atlantic to America, landing in New York, where he remained for one year. At the end of that time he came west to Ohio and spent six years in Bucyrus, at the end of which time he established his home in Upper Sandusky, where he still resides. He became identified with mercantile interests when he founded a bakery and confectionery store which he developed ably and along progressive lines, building up a large and representative patronage. He retired from active life in 1900. He and his wife became the parents of eleven children. John died at the age of two. David, Jr., passed away when he was in his eighteenth year. Adam, a baker at Mount Healthy, Ohio, mar- ried Miss Celia Renner, of Findlay, and they have three chil- dren. Henry, a merchant, is married and has one child. Carrie married Paul Redlin, a baker and confectioner at Ham- ilton, Ohio, and they have four children. William, a baker and confectioner at Sandusky, married Miss Elsie Till and they have one child. Edward G., the seventh in order of birth, is the subject of this review. Ernest is still unmarried.
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Gustave died at the age of four years. Samuel died at the age of seven. Paul, who completes the family, makes his home in Upper Sandusky.
Edward G. Neumeister attended the public schools of Upper Sandusky until he was sixteen years of age and then laid aside his books to assist his father in the conduct of a bakery and confectionery business. In 1900, when his father retired, Mr. Neumeister of this review assumed full control of the establishment, which he still conducts. He has ably carried forward the work which his father began in 1877, and has developed the store into an extensive enterprise, attractive by reason of its well selected line of goods, its tasteful arrangement and reasonable prices. Mr. Neumeister has neglected no detail of his business and has followed always the most modern methods, installing labor-saving machinery and possessing at the present time stock and equipment valued at about fifteen hundred dollars. He owns in addition a mod- ern residence in the city, a large business building and an interest in a business building in Hamilton.
On December 10, 1905, at Upper Sandusky, Mr. Neumeis- ter was united in marriage to Miss Mary Paessler, a daughter of Robert and Lydia Paessler of that city. The father passed away in 1883, but the mother still makes her home in Upper Sandusky. Mr. and Mrs. Neumeister have five children, Evelyn, Karl, Ruth, Jane and James. Mr. Neumeister is independent of political parties and is not active publicly, preferring to concentrate his attention upon his business affairs, which are bringing him richly merited success. His worth is widely acknowledged, his business enterprise having gained hm distinction in commercial circles and his business probity standing as an unquestioned fact in his career.
WILLIAM J. EHMANN.
William J. Ehmann, who is numbered among the success- ful and progressive business men of Nevada, is a member of the firm of Walter & Ehmann, plumbers and steam fitters. He was born in Eden township, March 11, 1884, and is a son of William F. and Elizabeth C. (Sigler) Ehmann, the former of whom was born in Germany, January 24, 1849, and the
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latter in Pennsylvania, September 20, 1847. The father came to Iowa in 1853 and for many years followed farming in this state, retiring from active life in 1909 and moving to Nevada, where he and his wife now reside. In their family were five children, Mary L., Vernilla, William J., Edna A. and John W.
William J. Ehmann acquired his education in the district schools of his native township and at the age of eighteen laid aside his books. He afterward worked upon his father's farm until 1911, when he came to Nevada and became con- nected with the plumbing and steam-fitting business as a partner in the firm of Walter & Ehmann. They carry a stock valued at fifteen hundred dollars and have a well arranged and modernly equipped shop and conduct an extensive and growing trade. Mr. Ehmann has proved himself an able, resourceful and far-sighted business man and has already gained an enviable place in business circles.
Mr. Ehmann belongs to the Knights of Pythias and attends the Methodist church. He affiliates with the democratic party but is not active in politics, preferring to concentrate his attention upon his business affairs, which are ably and progressively conducted, making him one of the most pros- perous young men of this community.
CAPTAIN JOHN GREER.
Captain John Greer, one of the honored veterans of the Civil war, whose military service was matched by his loyalty to duty in times of peace, died upon his farm in Crawford township in 1902, his death marking the passing of one of the most honored and highly respected citizens of this community. He was a native son of the state, his birth having occurred in Columbiana county, July 10, 1828. His parents were Thomas and Catherine (Rhodes) Greer, the former a native of Penn- sylvania and the latter of Virginia. The Greer family orig- inally came from Ireland but has been in America for several generations.
John Greer was one of a family of nine children. He spent his childhood upon his father's farm, acquiring his education in the public schools, and he remained at home until he was twenty-two years of age, at which time he joined the rush of
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California gold seekers and spent three years in the mines of that state. He was fairly successful in his prospecting and returned to Ohio with a considerable competence. He pur- chased two hundred and forty acres of timber land in Wyan- dot county but did not develop this property, leaving the trees standing for many years. He purchased in addition a smaller tract in Crawford township, upon which he made his home and carried on general farming and stock-raising. At the out- break of the Civil war he offered his services to the Federal government, enlisting August 14, 1861, in Company D, Forty- ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and serving with loyalty until he received his honorable discharge on the 22d of November, 1864. He took part in all of the important battles of the war and was at the front at Pittsburg Landing, Shiloh, Corinth, Lawrenceburg, Stone River, Liberty Gap and Chickamauga. He also participated in the engagements at Missionary Ridge, Dalton, Resaca, Picketts Mills, Kenesaw Mountain and many others. Upon the organization of Company D, of the Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Mr. Greer was made second lieutenant and in recognition of his distinguished bravery at Shiloh was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant. In January, 1863, he became captain of Company C, Forty-ninth Ohio Volun- teers, and served in that capacity until the battle of Kenesaw Mountain, in which engagement he received a severe wound in the left leg, from which he never fully recovered. After spending several months in the hospital at Chattanooga he was discharged for disability and sent home. The younger generation cannot understand what were the hardships expe- rienced by the veterans of the Civil war-such men as Captain Greer, who sacrificed the best strength and energies of their lives for their country's cause. Their sufferings extended not only through the time of their service on the southern battle- fields but through the years that have followed, and the coun- try owes to them a debt of gratitude that can never be fully repaid.
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