USA > Ohio > Auglaize County > Portrait and biographical record of Auglaize, Logan and Shelby Counties, Ohio : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all the Presidents of the United States > Part 18
USA > Ohio > Logan County > Portrait and biographical record of Auglaize, Logan and Shelby Counties, Ohio : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all the Presidents of the United States > Part 18
USA > Ohio > Shelby County > Portrait and biographical record of Auglaize, Logan and Shelby Counties, Ohio : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all the Presidents of the United States > Part 18
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interests. Ile was very successful in all his under- takings, and departed this life in Baltimore County. He was a very prominent Whig in his day, and was always ready to support any measure which had for its objeet the upbuilding of his commu- nitv.
Of the parental family of four sons and one daughter, three sons are now living, those besides our subject being Thomas and John T., who live in this county, and Baltimore, respectively, where they follow the business of saddlers and har- ness-makers. James M., of this sketch, was reared in his native county, and educated in the priv- ate and subscription schools. When reaching his eighteenth year, he went to the city of Balti- more and served an apprenticeship of four years at the carpenter's trade. After mastering that oc- cupation, he went, in 1831, to Kentucky, and, in partnership with his uncle, John Sparks, built the court house at Stanford. Mr. Kaufman remained in that place for about two years, and while there voted for William Henry Harrison. He next went to Ilustonville, that State, and opened a grocery store, which he conducted for two years, and at the expiration of that time he came to Xenia, this State, where he met and married, that same year, Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Silas Roberts, of that city. His father-in-law having purchased two farms in Logan County, this State, the winter previous, our subject thought it advisable to try farming, and in the fall of 1838, moved on a farm in Harrison Township, where he made his home until 1868.
In the above-named year, Mr. Kaufman came to Bellefontaine, where he has since resided. Ile has a beautiful home in this city, where he is enjoying the pleasures of a charming domestic life. He still owns his farm in Harrison Township, which consists of four hundred and eight acres, and is under thorough tillage. The estate bears a full line of adequate improvements, and produces a good store of the various erops, to the raising of which it is devoted. Mr. Kaufman. while residing upon his farm. devoted considerable attention to breeding stock, in which branch of agriculture he was very successful.
The original of this sketeh was Clerk of Harri-
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son Township for ten or fifteen years. Ile also served as School Director for a long time, was As- sessor, Real-estate Appraiser, and Director of the County Infirmary for eighteen years. It will be thus seen that he is one of the most prominent residents of the county, and has hosts of friends throughout this seetion. He joined the Masonie fraternity in 1836. and is to-day the oldest Mason in Logan County, and the only charter member living.
Mr. and Mrs. Kaufman have a family of three sons and four daughters: Silas. Francis, William, C'asander E., Emezetta, Alice and Katie. William is a very prominent architect in Pittsburgh, Pa., and drew the plans for the handsome Methodist Episcopal Church in this city. The family are all members of that denomination. where they are re- garded as among its most efficient members.
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L. HOFFMANN. From the very earliest ages the art of preparing the compounds that arrest and remove pain and heal the sick has been regarded as among the highest of human functions, and thus it is that so much in- terest and importance attach to the calling of the druggist in our own day. Among the leading and most reliable members of the pharmaceutical pro- fession in the county may be named Mr. J. L. Hoffmann. This gentleman was born in Piqua. Ohio. on the 26th of April, 1849, and he inherits the sturdy, honest blood of German ancestors.
ITIs father, John P. Iloffmann, was born in Sax- ony, Germany, and there followed the occupation of a brewer. In 1817, about three years after his marriage, he took passage at Hamburg for America, and after being nine weeks on the ocean. landed in the harbor of New York City. He came direct to Findlay, Ohio, and from there by wagon to Piqua. passing through a very new and wild country on the trip. He worked at his trade as
brewer for some time, but later bought a small farm and branched out as an agriculturist. 11is death occurred in 1880, when fifty-eight years of age. Ile was a Lutheran in religion. His wife, whose name was formerly Anna M. Sehneyer, was a native of Saxony. Germany, and she is now a resident of Piqua, Ohio. She also holds member- ship in the Lutheran Church.
J. L. Hoffmann is the eller of two children. His sister, Mary E., married Charles Wood. and resides in Piqua. Our subject attended the public schools of his native town during his boyhood days, and when sixteen years of age began clerk- ing in a dry-goods store in Piqua. Later, he elerked in a grocery store, and in 1869 he entered a drug store as clerk, remaining there three years. In 1872, he went to Cineinnati, clerked in a drug store there for a short time. and in the fall of that year he came to New Bremen, where he purchased a drug stock and started out in business for him- self. Five years later, he moved into the building he now occupies, a two-story brick, fronting Wash- ington Street, where he carries a stoek of fresh, pure drugs and chemicals, toilet articles, perfum- ery, druggist's sundries. etc.
In the fall of 1872, he was united in marriage to Miss Anna M. Koester, a native of Piqua, Ohio, and the daughter of John Koester. who was born in Ilanover, Germany, and who came to America and located at Piqua, where he became a prominent citizen. He is now in the grocery business there, and has met with much success. The mother is also living. To Mr. and Mrs. Hoffmann have been born four interesting children: John A., Lillie. John L. and George Walter. Mr. Hoffmann casts his vote with the Republican party, in whose principles and practices he has unbounded faith, and he takes a leading and influential part in all political affairs. Ile has been a delegate to county conventions. and is a hard worker for his party. Socially, he is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. being Treasurer of the last-named organization.
In 1886, he and Mr. Negust erected a grain ele- vator and dealt in grain until the fall of 1887, when our subject sold his interest to Jay & Co. He owns stock in the New Bremen Tri-County
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Har Association, and is a member of the Ohio State Pharmaceutical Association, being corres- penilent for Auglaize County. This association he joine l i 1982.
RCHIBALD FINLAY has given full proof of the value of his citizenship, not only by His patriotic conduct as a brave and com- petent soldier during the trying times of the rebellion, but also by his course since the war (lesed as a practical farmer who has helped to in- crease the agricultural interestsof Auglaize County, this adding toits wealth and importance, by his Hard but well-directed labors in the improvement of his farm, which lies on section 27. Salem Town- ship.
Mr. Finlay was born in Medina County, Sept- « :. : 22. 1839, and is a representative of one of By pioneer families of the State. His father, Will- lam Finlay, was a native of Ireland, born in that country in Is1l. He was a son of Adam Finlay. who brought his family to America in 1823, and be- eine a pioneer family of Wayne County, this State. He had followed the trade of a weaver in Ireland. He lived to be nearly ninety-nine years old.
Willam Finlay was one of seven children, and he was twelve years old when the family emigrated So America. He grew up amid pioneer scenes, and in die time began life for himself as a farmer, he- coming to , proprietor of a good farm on the line Frevven Medina and Wayne Counties, which he desringed inte one of the best farm- in the neigh- Forhood. working hard to accomplish his purpose. B: bi- untimely death in 1872. caused by a tree filter on him while he was in the woods, his com- nin ty was deprived of a citizen who was greatly . Jeed. He was a Presbyterian. and stanch in the ff b- father -. His wife was Sarah Ferguson, avi both the and her parents were natives of l'un-pisania. She departed this life in 1865.
The - agent of this notice is the second of a family of ten children of whom three are deceased.
He received a very good education in the district schools, which he attended until he was twenty years old, he being an apt scholar and fond of his studies. Ile remained an inmate of the parental home until he arrived at that age, helping his father in his farm work when he was not at school. In March, 1860, he began his independent career, leaving his native place and coming to Auglaize County to seek a situation as a farm hand, at which employment he was engaged two and a half years. In August, 1862. he enlisted in Company E. One Hundred and Eighteenth Ohio Infantry, and not long after was fighting side by side with other of the noble sons of this State that she sent to the front to do their duty in defending the Stars and Stripes. He went out with his regiment, and came home with it at the close of the war, having in the meantime experienced in a full measure many of the hardships and trials of a soldier's life in its various phases. The One Hundred and Eighteenth Ohio spent the first six months of active service in Kentucky, where our subject did scout duty with others of his comrades. The next move was to Eastern Tennessee, where they were with Gen. Burnside, and did gallant service at the siege of Knoxville. The regiment won a fine reputation for its fighting qualities, making itself very useful all through the Atlanta campaign that followed. and made its mark in the battle of Franklin and in numerous other engagements with the enemy. The war was at length brought to a close and our subject and his fellow-soldiers gladly laid down their arms at Salisbury, N. C., where they were mustered out, receiving their final discharge at Cleveland July 9, 1865.
When he left the army, Mr. Finlay returned to Anglaise County, and purchasing his present farm in Salem Township, has been prosperously engaged in farming and in raising stock ever since. lle has one hundred and forty acres of choice farming land. and nearly all of it has been cleared and placed in a high state of cultivation by his unre- mitting toil, and he can now take life more easily, with a good income to place its comforts and en- joyments within his reach. He has erected neat and commodious buildings on his farm, and has everything in a fine condition. He finds a good
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source of profit in the stock of various kinds that he raises, having well-selected breeds, which always command a ready sale. Mrs. Finlay is also a prop- erty owner, having sixty aeres of fine land on sec- tion 26.
Mr. Finlay was first married in 1867 to Miss Samantha MeMilne, a native of Pennsylvania. Their wedded life though happy was brief. as Mrs. Finlay died in 1870, leaving one child, Ida, now the wife of Gus Sears, of Spencerville. Our sub- jeet was again married in 1871, taking as his wife Mrs. Eliza J. Longworth, nve Mork, a native of Fayette County. Three children have been born to them: Frances. deceased; Martha R. and Mary E.
Mr. Finlay's military record is commemorated by his membership with the Grand Army of the Republie, and he has further social relations with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and with the Farmers' Mutual Benefit Association. In poli- tics, he is a faithful Republican. llis religions views find expression in the creed of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which both he and his wife are highly esteemed members, and he has been Steward thereof for several years. always taking a deep interest in church matters and in all things that will in any way benefit the community.
OHN B. COWGILL. One of the most prom- inent and well-to-do agriculturists of Zane Township. Logan County, Ohio, who is as conspicuons for his progress and enterprise as for his intelligence and ability, is he whose name is at the head of this sketch. He has one of the neatest and coziest rural homes and one of the finest farms in the county, the house standing back from the pike about a quarter of a mile, and three miles south and east of West Middleburgh.
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ing the land and making possible the pleasant homes of to-day. On this farm, he passed the re- mainder of his days. ITis son, Elisha Cowgill, fa- ther of our subject. was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, and was brought to Logan County by his parents when about a year old. Here he was married to Miss Mary Bishop, a native of Lo- gan County, and a daughter of John Bishop, who was a Virginian and one of the early pioneers of Logan County. After marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Cowgill settled in Union County, but the father died in Logan County when seventy-eight years of age. The mother is still living and resides on a good farm west of that of her son. John B. Cowgill Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Cowgill, six daughters and four sons; nine grew to years of discretion, and five are living at the pres- ent time.
Our subject was born in Union County. Allen Township. Ohio. September 15, 1835. being the fourth child and eldest son of the above-men- tioned children. Ile remained under the parental roof until 1864, when he hastened to the defense of an imperiled county, and enlisted in Company K. One Hundred and Thirty-second Ohio Infan- try. He was in service about four months and was discharged on the 10th of September, 1864. after- ward returning to Union County, where he re- mained with his parents until marriage. On the 11th of April, 1867. he married Miss Anna Sharp. daughter of John and Aley (Bowker) Sharp, and afterward located in Logan County. the same township. where he remained two years. From there, he removed to I'nion County, made his home there eight years and then located on the farm where he now lives. lle has met with unusual success in all his enterprises and is well known as a substantial man and a representative citizen.
Ile has a farm of two hundred and five acres in Zane Township. this county. eighty aeres in Union County just across the line. and is actively engaged in farming and stock-raising. Ilis son has the place rented and does most of the farming. Mr. Cowgill built his present residence in 1881 at a cost of 82,000, and everything about the place in-
The grandfather of Mr. Cowgill. John Cowgill. was a native of that grand old State, Virginia, and left that State for Ohio at a very early date. lle was one of the very first settlers of Zane Township, ' dicates a thrifty and progressive owner. He has and he followed agricultural pursuits there, clear- , a fine barn, 30x40 feet, erected in ISSO. Mr. Con-
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gill : a Republican in politics and his first Presi- dential vote was cast for A. Lincoln. He is a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church. is Steward in the same and was Superintendent of the Sun- day-school for some time. He is active in all re- Lives matters and is a hberal contributor to this church. Two children were born of his marriage, Flisla John and Mary A., both prominent young prof le of their neighborhood.
D ENNIS DENNY. The agricultural part of the community is its bone and sinew, from which come the strength and vigor neces- sary to carry on the affairs of manufacture. com- merce and State. When the farming people are composed of men and women of courage, enter- prise. intelligence and integrity, prosperity will at- tend all departments of activity, and this is pre- eminently the case in Logan County.
Mr. Denny is one of the most prominent farmers in MeArthur Township. Logan County, Ohio, and is a man highly esteemed and respected in the community. He was originally from south Charleston. Clarke County, Ohio, born on the 7th of February, 1835, and the son of John and Lu- cinda (James) Denny, natives of Alleghany County. Pa .. and Ohio respectively. The grand- father. Denni- Denny, was a native of County Donegal. Ireland, and came to America shortly after the Revolutionary War. He located on Coal HIfi. where Alleghany City now stands, and there .Med the soil for some time. In the year 1816, he moved to Warren County, Ohio, then two ;vars later to Clarke County, and settled near wjuth Charleston. He bought Government land. settled in the woods, and became prominently iden- JAed with the farming interests of the county. Toute his death occurred. He was a member of !!... Catholic Church. He married Miss Eunice M Laughlin. a native of Ireland, who had come 1. mener when a young girl, and to this union
were born two daughters and one son: John, Mary A. and Sarah. Mrs. Denny was a member of the Catholic Church for many years, but in the latter part of her life she became a Meth- odist.
The father of our subject followed the oceu- pation to which he had been reared, farming, and was fourteen years of age when he came to Ohio. The family made the trip in a wagon and first set- tled in Warren County. Later, they removed to Clarke County, and there found plenty of Indians, also many wild animals, but Mr. Denny cared little for hunting. After growing to mature years, he bought out the heirs to his father's farm and made his home there until 1837, when he settled on the farm in this county on the 30th of March, of that year. The country was wild and unset- tled, neighbors were few and scattering, and there was but one farm between his place and the county farm. But fifteen acres were cleared then, and only a few log buildings had been erected when he bought the farm. Ile was a hard worker. an excellent farmer and stock-dealer, and a man whose estimable qualities of mind and heart won many friends. At the time of his death, which occurred on the 25th of September, 1889, he was the owner of two hundred and forty aeres of land and a most comfortable and pleasant home. There was no better judge of stock in the county than Mr. Denny, and he was an extensive stock-dealer. He was a very strict Methodist and always took an active interest in church matters. He was a liberal contributor to the support of the church and was Steward for fifty years. In politics, he was a Whig, later a Republican, and. previous to the war, was a strong Abolitionist. His marriage resulted in the birth of six children, but only two grew to mature years: James, deceased; Dennis, Sarah; Richard. John and Levi, deceased. The mother of these children died in 1845. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. After her death, the father married Miss Rebecca Robertson, a native of Ohio, who died two years later. Our subject's maternal grandfather, Rich- ard James, was a native of Virginia, but came to Ohio in [800, and settled in Warren County. The journey was made by team and through an almost
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unbroken wilderness. A number of years later, he removed to Clarke County, Ohio. He was in the War of 1812, and assisted in building a block house in Richland Township, this county, on what is now the farm of A. C. MeClure. He was a farmer and developed a fine tract of land in Clarke County, but later sold out and went to Crawford County, Ill., where he resided with his son until his death, when eighty-three years of age. Ilis wife lived to be ninety-eight years of age. The James family was of Welsh descent.
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Dennis Denny, the subject of this sketch, re- ceived his scholastie training in the primitive log schoolhouse of pioneer days, and the first one he entered had the open fire-place, slab seats with pin legs, and for a writing-desk a board placed on pegs driven into the wall served the purpose. Hle assisted his father on the farm, and in 1852 he entered the Ohio Wesleyan University, at Dela- ware, where he took select studies for two years. After finishing, be returned home and assisted in agricultural pursuits until the breaking out of the Civil War. On the 24th of August. 1861, he en- listed in Company G, First Ohio Infantry, was mustered in near Dayton. Ohio, and placed in the Army of the Cumberland. He served three years. Hle first went to Louisville, Ky., and his first en- gagement was at Pittsburgh Landing. Afterward he was at Stone River, Perrysville Chattanooga, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, siege of Knox- ville, Resaca. Buzzard's Roost, and all the en- gagements on that campaign. He was mustered out on the 7th of September, 1864, at Columbus, Ohio. Our subject went out as a private and was made Sergeant at Camp Corwin. Later. he was promoted to the Second Lieutenancy at Pittsburgh Landing and First Lieutenant at Nashville, Tenn. He carried himself through that bloody epoch of history in a manner to win the admiration of his comrades and superior officers.
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Returning home. our subject was married. on the 30th of March, 1865. to Miss Sarah A. Nichols, a native of Shelby County, Ohio, born April 5. 1842. The fruits of this union have been four children, three of whom are living: John W., Lu- cinda D. and Nellie B. The first and last are students in the Ohio Wesleyan University, and
Lucinda was graduated from the Art Department in 1891. Our subject owns the home farm of two hundred and forty acres and has four hun- dred aeres of land in Stokes Township, all im- proved. He uses it principally for pasture and makes a specialty of raising fat stock. Ile has bought and sold a great many cattle and hogs, and has shipped some to Buffalo, N. Y. Ile thinks now of dealing more extensively in sheep. Ile has made most of his money out of stock. Ile farmed in partnership with his father until the latter's death, and it was during the time of their partnership that they built our subject's fine brick residence.
Mr. Denny has one of the best farms in the township, plenty of running water on it, and everything about the place indicates the owner to be a man of enterprise and progress. Ile is highly esteemed in the community, has helped to settle a number of estates, and was guardian for one child. lle and his family are members of the Pleasant Grove Methodist Episcopal Church, and he takes an active interest in it. He has assisted in building two churches and is prominent in all religious matters, and has been Superintendent of the Sunday-school for many years. He is an ar- dent advocate of the principles of the Republican party, has been Township Trustee, and has held other local offices. Ile is a member of Boggs' Post No. 518. G. A. R .. at Huntsville.
G FORGE VAN OSS. Our history as a people is full of examples of what can be accom- plished by ambitious and intelligent young men, whose only fortune at first consists of good health, energy, integrity and firmness of purpose. In fact, a large proportion of our best citizens have been the seions of poverty. not wealthi. They have had to work while studying, and have had to learn to deny themselves in youth that they might have fame and world's plenty in the closing days of life. Among those self-made men whose
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reputation as substantial and progressive men places them among the best in the county, is Mr. George Van Oss, who served nearly eight years as County (mm, siffer and is now prominently mentioned as a candidate for Probate Judge in 1993.
Born in Holland on the 1st of January. ISH. M: Van Oss is the son of Theodore Van Oss. also a native of Holland, who followed the brick mason's tra le in his native country until 1856. when he Fan with his family to America. They were Thirty-five days in crossing. and after landing m New York City. they came direct to Minster. Au- Bakke County, Ohio, where the father is residing at the present time. He is a member of the Catholic Cripch, and his wife also holds membership in the sank. lle has been a member of the council in this town and is a man universally respected for his estimable qualities. Ile is the father of six children. all of whom are living.
The original of this notice. the oldest of the a'u ve-mentioned family. attended the common schools of Holland and after coming to Min- ster received a good practical education in that town. attending evening school for three years to get his English education. When fifteen years of age. he began working with his father. learned the imade of bricklaying. and when twenty-one years of age eigered into partnership with his father. After this. the firm commenced contracting and building and continued in partnership until 1882, erecting a great many churches, etc., when at that date cur subject was elected County Commissioner of Angaize County. He devoted all his time to con: position and filled it in such an able and effi- Cont manner that he was elected for the second term and also filled two unexpired terms. making .ten years and almut seven months in all. Be- -De- beating a great many roads and ditches. more than half the fine turnpike- in the county sepr oftstructed during his administration. Many .zes were also constructed, including two fine .1,2 , anding the St. Mary's River at St. Mary's. the week from the expiration of his term as Coges Commissioner. on the first Monday m .. .. ho la conte a partner in the Citizens Bank at Minister, Ohio. He has since occupied the respon- .. .... Ja of Cashier of the bank and is well
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