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 44
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 44
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 44
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In 1889, Mr. Loffer bought another farm of one hundred and three acres in Miami Township, one
RESIDENCE OF S. E. LOFFER, DE GRAFF, LOGAN CO.,O.
RES. OF AMOS J. GIERHART, (BREEDER OF TROTTING HORSES, & SHORT HORN CATTLE), SEC.G., SALEM TP., AUGLAIZE CO.,0.
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and one-half miles from town, upon which he farms and grazes cattle. In April, 1892, he bought the present farm of sixty-three acres, which has a fine brick residence and other embellishments. 1le still buys and ships stock and is one of the shrewd, far- seeing business men of the place. He advocates the platform of the Republican party, notwith- standing the fact that his father was a Democrat. lle has been Clerk of Bloomfield Township, a mem- ber of the School Board, and is President of the same at the present time. Socially, he is a member of the Free Masons. Ile is a Stockholder and is President of the Citizens' Oil and Gas Com- pany, and is a Director of the Building and Loan Association here. Ile has been wonderfully suc- cessful and attributes his present prosperous con- dition to his energy and good management.
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Elsewhere in this volume our reader will notice a view of Mr. Loffer's pleasant home.
MOS J. GIERIIART. Although scarcely past the opening years of manhood, Amos J. Gierhart, of Salem Township. has al- ready won a substantial reputation as a progressive farmer and stockman of unusual en- terprise and conspicuous ability. He has placed himself well at the front among the thoughtful, energetic and well-equipped men who are carrying on the great agricultural and stock interests of Au- glaize County.
A native-born son of Ohio, Mr. Gierhart's birth occurred in Fairfield County, March 19, 1864. Henry M. Gierhart, his father, was born in Mary- land, but when he was a boy came to Ohio with an uncle. Ilis father, who was also a native of Maryland. had died when he was quite young. When he was only eighteen years old. Henry Gier- hart began to teach school, having previously ob- tained a very good education. He taught until his eyesight was affected by his close attention to books, and then turned his attention to learning the saddler's trade at Havensport. Fairfield County.
In 1866, he came to Auglaize County, and con- tinued to work at that trade for a few years in Salem. He finally bought land in this township, and made this his home until his death, January 21, 1888, at the age of sixty-nine years. four months and twenty-one days. He was a man of deep re- ligious sentiment, whose life was guided by high Christian principles. In early life, he was a mem- ber of the United Brethren Church, but after he came here, was identified with the Presbyterians. The mother of our subject, who is a most excellent woman. and a greatly esteemed member of the Presbyterian Church, is pleasantly passing her de- elining years in his home. Her people, who were originally from Maryland, were among the early settlers in Fairfield County, where they located in the woods, and there she was born June 7, 1828. The family came to Anglaize County quite early in the history of its settlement, and here the father died August 18, 1870, and the mother, February 5, 1872, both being well along in years. Three of their nine children are still living.
Mr. Gierhart is the elder and only survivor of two children. He was given fine educational ad- vantages, which he improved, as he was a bright, quick scholar. After leaving the district school, he entered the Ada Normal School in 1885, and was a student in that institution of learning a short time. Ilis father's old homestead has been his home ever since he was small, and since his father's death he has taken entire charge of the farm, which is a model in every respect, supplied with modern buildings, including a large new barn, and provided with every convenience for conducting every branch of agriculture in a proper manner, and it is well tiled and otherwise im- proved. Besides owning one hundred and twenty acres of land on sections 5 and 6, he has an inter- est in one hundred and thirty-three acres on another section of Salem Township.
Mr. Gierhart is conspicuous among the men of this locality, who are doing a valuable work in improving the grade of the stock raised in this vicinity. He has been interested in breeding Short-horn cattle for the past seven years, and has a fine-looking herd of this choice breed. from which he often sells animals for breeding purposes.
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Ile likewise gives attention to standard-bred horses. Ile is the proprietor of the well-known stallion, " Local," which is the pride of the neighborhood, and is considered the best stock horse in this part of the country. Ile is a handsome dark bay, six years old, sound in wind and limb, of beautiful proportions, and some of the most famous trotting blood in the world courses in his veins, coming, as he does, in direct deseent from the renowned "Lexington." Mr. Gierhart has had some splendid exhibits of stoek at fairs, both at home and abroad, and has often received the first premium on his fine horse, as well as on other stock.
Mr. Gierhart was happily married in 1887, to Miss Etta Lesh, a native of Wells County, Ind., and a daughter of Isaac and Semantha (Cover) Lesh. natives of Pennsylvania, and residents of Wells County, where Mr. Lesh is prosperously en- gaged in farming. They are both members of the Presbyterian Church, and their names are associated with its every good work. Two children round out the pleasant home cirele of our subject and his wife. In his social relations, he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, also with Bethel Grange, of which he is Secretary, and has held other important offices. Politically, he is a loyal Democrat. His fellow-citizens have watched his career with approval, and, knowing him to be a young man of exemplary habits, who would never betray a trust, and who is keen-witted and prompt in business matters. they have elected him to be one of the Township Trustees, feeling that local interests will be promoted in his hands.
6 HOMAS EMERSON, M. D., who stands in : the front rank among the medical fraternity in Anglaize County, is also recognized as one of the leading and influential business men of St. John's. where, in addition to following his pro- fession, he is engaged in the manufacture of . tile. lle is the son of Adam and Naney J. (Corder)
Emerson, the former of whom was a native of Vir- ginia. The grandfather of our subject bore the name of Thomas Emerson and also hailed from Virginia, while his wife, Mrs. Jane (Shaw) Emer- son, was a native of Muskingum County, this State.
The maternal great-grandfather of our subjeet was killed by the Indians when Mrs. Jane Emerson was very young. The grandfather had come to this State when a young man and located in Lick- ing County at an early day, where he improved a good farm. Cholera raging through that portion of the State carried off most of his family. He then moved to Marysville, thence to Clarke County, where he rented a farm for about six years, and then came to Shelby County and located upon the farm where the father of our subject now lives. Ile departed this life in 1860, and was followed to the better land by his wife, who died six years later.
Adam Emerson was born February 15, 1828, in Licking County, Ohio, and received very limited advantages for obtaining an education. Ile was reared to farming pursuits and on the death of his father took charge of the home place. He was married, to Miss Naney, daughter of John Cor- der, one of the early settlers of this section. In- dians were very numerous in that early day and Blackhawk, one of the chiefs, had his cabin located upon his farm. Mrs. Emerson departed this life in 1851, leaving one son, who hore the name of Thomas. Three years later, the father was married to Jane, daughter of Amos Arthur, an early settler of this locality and a famous Indian hunter. By that union, he became the father of five children, all of whom are living, namely: Levi, Martha, Mary, William and John.
The father of our subject is living a retired life in St. John's, and is the owner of one hundred and sixty-five acres of land in Union Township, which is adorned with a splendid brick residence erected in 1870 at a cost of 83,000. His place is well stocked with good draft horses and all the needful machinery which makes farming a pleasurable as well as profitable business. Mr. Emerson is a member of the Christian Church, while his good wife is identified with the Methodist Episcopal
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denomination. lle has always taken an active part in politics, and has been elected to the office of School Director on the Republican ticket.
The original of this sketeli was born July 21, 1849, at St. John's, and became orphaned by the death of his mother when very young. Ile was reared to manhood on his father's farm, given a good education and when twenty years of age be- gan life on his own account by engaging in the mercantile business in St. John's. Six years later, he launched out into the sewing-machine business, which line of work he followed for four years, and then, going to Cincinnati, attended the Physicians' Medical College during the winter of 1875-76. Hle then returned home and for five years engaged in the drug business and at the expiration of that time he began the manufacture of fork handles, to which three years later he added the manufacture of tile. Remaining thus employed for two years, Dr. Emerson again entered the drug business; he sold out, however, in six months and oper- ated a flouring-mill. llis place of business was destroyed by tire three months after it came into his possession and as he had no insurance he was compelled to begin life again at the bottom of the ladder. Finding the manufacture of tile the most profitable line of work, he again took up its manufacture, which he carries on in connection with his professional duties. Ile was graduated from the Cincinnati college in 1889 and the liberal patronage accorded to him at St. John's attests his skill and ability.
Dr. Emerson and Miss Mary F., daughter of E. H. Rogers, were united in marriage in October, 1869. For a full history of Mrs. Emerson's par- ents, the reader is referred to the sketch of her fa- ther found on another page in this volume. To the Doctor and his wife has been born a family of five children, only three of whom are hving: Tipton G., Emma and Mand. Emma is the wife of Frank Bush and makes her home in Clay Town- ship, Auglaize County.
In social affairs, the Doctor occupies a high posi- tion in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in this place, in which lodge he is a charter member. Ile has occupied all the chairs in the order and has been District Deputy. He has also been a mem-
ber of the State Medical Association, and in politics casts a straight Republican ballot. 1le has always been interested in educational affairs and has served as a member of the School Board for the past twenty years, occupying the position of Clerk, most of the time. He is the proprietor of seventy acres of good farming land which is operated by a tenant. Mrs. Emerson is a consistent member of the Christian Church and with ber worthy hus- band has a wide einele of acquaintance throughout this county.
AMES M. WEADOCK, who nobly battled for his adopted country while yet a youth, and sacrificed the opening years of his man- hood in its defense, winning a bright mili- tary record of which be and his may well be proud, is a practical, wide-awake farmer and stock- man. standing among the first of his class in Au- glaize County, and he owns a valuable, well-ap- pointed farm on sections 16 and 17, St. Mary's Township, which he leases for oil purposes, deriv- ing a goodly share of his income from that source.
The subject of this review is the eldest son of a prominent family, and is a native of County Wex- ford, Ireland, born March 12, 1843. His father, Lewis Weadock, was also of Irish birth, and was reared on a farm in his native island. He became a stone mason, and in early manhood did stone work in railway tunnels in Scotland. In the season of 1847-48, he came to this country, and in 1850 was joined by his family at St. Mary's. He had a posi- tion here as Canal Manager, having charge of sev- eral miles of the canal for some years. In 1856, he located on a farm in Noble Township, which he had previously bought in a wild condition. He built a cabin and devoted himself to the improve- ment of his property, clearing away the brush and preparing the land for cultivation. He was doing well, and had his farm in a good condition, when his life of usefulness was brought to a close in De- cember, 1863. at the age of forty-six. when scarcely
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past his prime. Hle and his family had suffered greatly from malarial fever, so common here in an early day when the country was wild and un- drained. The mother of our subject was Mary Cullum, and she too was a native of Ireland. Her age when she died was sixty-three years. Both she and her husband were members of the Roman Catholic Church, and were highly respected by the people among whom they had come to build up a new home. They had seven children. Their son, the Hon. Thomas A. E. Weadock, is a prominent lawyer at Bay City, Mich., and is the present Rep- resentative of the Tenth District of that State in Congress. Ile taught school here in his younger days, and afterwards obtained his legal education at Ann Arbor prior to locating at Bay City. George W. Weadoek, ex-Mayor of Saginaw, Mich., taught school in this township in his youth, and also in Lima. He studied law at Ann Arbor, and has since attained prominence in his profession and in the publie life of Saginaw. Ile has served two terms as Mayor of that eity, and so popular is he, that the Republicans made no nomination against him the second time that he ran for the office. Lewis W. Weadock is a well-known farmer of this county, and owns the old homestead in Noble Township. John C. Weadoek, one of the leading lawyers of Bay City, in partnership with his brother, began life as a teacher in Michigan.
In his boyhood, James M. Weadock, of whom we write, was a student in the local schools and seenred such an education as was obtainable in the old log schoolhouses of pioneer times, which had not then given way to the modern schoolhouse. Ile was so young when he was brought to this country, that he can scarce have any recollections of any other home. and his course during the war proved him to be as loyal and patriotic to this Government, under whose institutions he had been reared, as if he had been " native and to the man- or born." He was only nineteen years old when he enlisted, August 10, 1862, in Company G, Fif- tieth Ohio Infantry, commanded by Col. S. A. Strickland, and for nearly three years he was at the front, until the terrible war was over and his services were no longer needed on the battlefield. He fought in many of the most important engage-
ments of the various campaigns in which bis regi- ment took part. He faced the enemy at Perrys- ville, Ky., in October, 1862, and again at Knox- ville, Tenn., in December, 1863. He and his com- rades bore a conspienous part all through the At- lanta campaign from the commencement at Tun- nel Ilill, doing some hard fighting at Kingston, Dallas, Lost Mountain, Pine Mountain, in the siege and capture of Atlanta, and in the battles of Columbia, Franklin, Nashville and Spring Hill, Tenn. They were in camp at Raleigh, N. C., when Johnston surrendered to Sherman. Mr. Weadoek and others were left to garrison Salisbury, N. C., and, while there, he assisted in putting more earth on the graves of those comrades who had fallen in battle and had not been half buried. He endured with great fortitude the terrible hardships of mili- tary life, and, though he was siek several times, he pluckily refused to go to the hospital, prefer- ring to remain on duty as long as he could hold his rifle. Ile was honorably discharged at Salis- bury, N. C., June 26, 1865, but did not arrive home until August.
After his return from the South, our subject took charge of the old homestead in Noble Town- ship, and generously gave his younger brothers a chanec to secure an education, while he looked carefully after their interests. In 1868, he mar- ried and located on a farm in St. Mary's Town- ship. In 1873, he purchased his present farm in the same township. It was in a wild, uncultivated condition, and he had to cut away the brush to clear a spot on which to ereet a log house for a dwelling. He labored with a right good will, and in the period of nearly twenty years that has elapsed since he took possession of the placc, he has wrought a great change, and his one hundred and twenty aeres of land are in a fine condition. He raises a good grade of stock, and does a good business in that line.
Our subject's domestic life is very pleasant. He has a cozy home, replete with comfort, and ably presided over by his wife, who looks carefully after her household matters. Mrs. Weadock's maiden name was Mary McFarland, and she is a native of Moulton Township. She is a daughter of James E. and Rose ( Walker) MeFarland, who
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were among the early settlers of Anglaize County, her father locating in Moulton Township in 1835. lle died July 21, 1875, at a ripe old age. Mr. and Mrs. Weadock have eight children: Lewis J., Bernard A., George W., John F., Edward, Leo, Clara and Edith.
Mr. Weadock is a man of good mental ability, is well informed in regard to all matters of inter- est, is prompt and enterprising in the management of his affairs, his neighbors find him a sound and safe counselor, and the value of his citizenship is beyond question. Ile is independent in home poli- tics, but is found with the Democrats when na- tional issues are presented. He has been a mem- ber of the School Board fourteen years, holding a school office for twelve years successively. Ile be- longs to the Grand Army of the Republic, and both he and his wife are members in high stand- ing of the Catholic Church.
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LLEN HUBER. Every community has among its citizens a few men of reeog- nized influence and ability, who, by their systematic and careful, thorough manner of work, attam to a success which is justly de- served. Prominent among this elass is Mr. Allen Huber, who from boyhood has given the occupa- tion of agriculture the principal part of his time and attention. In him the community has a faith- ful and unswerving friend, ever ready to serve its best interests, and generous in his contributions toward every movement tending to the general advancement.
Ilis father, Manasses lluber, was a native of Rockingham County. Va .. horn in 1806, and his grandfather, John Huber, was born in Pennsylva- nia. The great-grandfather came from Germany to America at an early date. settled in Pennsylva- nia, and there followed the trade of a miller. He died there when about fifty years of age, and had two sons in the War of 1812. The father of our subject learned the miller's trade. but never fol-
lowed it. He also learned blacksmithing in Vir- ginia, and as this snited his taste better, he followed it, in connection with farming, for thirty years. Ile came on horseback from the Old Dominion to Ohio in 1833, journeying through Tennessee, where he had a brother living, and from there to this State. Ile made his home with a brother near DeGraff, and worked at his trade, but subsequently entered one hundred and sixty aeres of land from the Government (1835). This was in the woods, and he was obliged to cut away the brush and trees to build a log cabin. This country was then the hunter's paradise, for wild game abounded, and Mr. Huber often trapped wolves. otter, bea- ver, etc. lle followed blacksmithing for a large scope of country, and also cleared up the farm, on which he soon made many improvements. He started out for himself with only a horse, and worked for his brother at the blacksmith trade for $100 per year. He was industrious and frugal, and at the time of his death, which occurred in 1872, he was the owner of seven hundred and fifteen aeres of land.
Mr. Huber was a member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, was one of the charter members of the same, and preaching was held in his house for eight or ten years before churches were built in that section. He was Class-leader and Steward nearly all the time, and was prominent in all af- fairs of importance. He was Captain of the Light Horse Infantry in the Ohio militia, and was a Democrat in polities, holding most of the township offices. He married Miss Naney Makenson. a na- tive of Logan County. Ohio, and the following ten children were born to them: Allen, Margaret, Isaiah, Sarah, Tyra A., Elsie L., Elizabeth (who died when nineteen years of age), Marion (de- ceased), Thomas (deceased), and John (dleceased). The mother is still living. Iler parents. John and Elizabeth ( Wallace) Makenson. were natives of Kentucky, and came to Logan County, Ohio, in the year 1818. settling in Pleasant Town- ship, where they developed a good farm. and there passed away. Grandmother Makenson's father was Col. Wallace. of Revolutionary fame. and of Irish descent.
On the farm in Logan County, our subject grew
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to manhood, and in the log schoolhouses of that county he was taught the "three R's." In the first schoolhouse he attended was the open fireplace with mud and stick chimney, slab benches with pin legs. etc., Subscription schools were in vogue then, and the teacher boarded around. Our subject remained on the home place until the death of the father, and was married on the 14th of June. 1876, to Miss Anna M. Hall, a native of Stokes Township, this county, born on the 18th of March, 1846. (For ancestry see sketch of David Ilall in this volume.) Seven children have blessed this union, and are named as follows: Delmer A., Sarah L., William T., Minnie M., Charles S., Anna P. and Forest M.
Of the three hundred and twenty acres of land owned by our subject, nearly all is improved and under cultivation. Mr. Huber has made nearly all the improvements, and cleared one hundred acres of the land himself. Ile raises, buys, feeds and ships cattle, hogs and sheep, and is one of the wide-awake and thorough-going men of the coun- ty. He built his present residence, a pleasant and commodious frame house, in 1882, and his barns and outbuildings are substantial and ornamental. He and Mrs. Huber are members of the Reformed Church at Bloom Centre, and he affiliates with the Democratic party in his political views. Ile served as Trustee and Real-estate Assessor of the town- ship, and has held other local positions. He has been unusually successful, and is a man of means and prominence in his section.
G EORGE LITTLEJOIIN, the owner and oc- eupant of a finely-improved farm in Jack- son Township. Shelby County, and a vet- eran of the late war, is a well-known representative of a patriotic and pioneer family, whose members have contributed to the growth and development of the resources of the Buckeye State. His pater- nal grandfather, Edward Littlejohn, was a native
of Virginia, of Scotch-Irish descent, and served as a soldier during the War of 1812, receiving his discharge on account of a wound resulting from a tree falling upon him.
The maternal grandfather of our subject was Amos Sutton, a native of New Jersey, who re- moved to Ohio about the year 1800, settling in Greene County and later removing to Clarke Coun- ty, where he spent his remaining days. The parents of our subject, Morris W. and Sarah (Sutton) Lit- tlejohn, were natives respectively of Berkeley County, Va., and Greene County, Ohio, the father horn April 30, 1813, and the mother, January 4 of the same year. They were married in Clarke County, Ohio, November 10, 1839, and resided for ten years thereafter at North Hampton, that county, removing thence in April, 1849, to Port Jefferson, Shelby County, where he worked at his trade. In 1855, they returned to Clarke County on account of the prevalence of fever and ague in the vicinity of Port Jefferson, but three years later again came to Shelby County.
In 1856, the father of our subject settled on sec- tion 16, Jackson Township, on forty acres of wild land, on which he built a log house and cleared a farm. Some years later, he sold the place to Da- rius Glick, and, removing to section 22. commenced the cultivation of forty acres of partly-improved land. There he resided until his death, August 14, 1874. Ilis wife survived until July 29, 1890. They were devoted Christians and he was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for thirty-five years, while his wife was first identified with the Seventh-day Baptist Church, but joined the Meth- odist Church in 1851. Devoted to the welfare of his church, he served it in various capacities and was Class-leader during almost his entire active life. Politically, he was a Democrat.
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