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 59
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 59
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 59
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The original of this notice was eighteen years of age when he came to America with his parents. Ile enjoyed excellent edueational advantages in his youth and was early trained to the duties of the farm. having passed bis entire life while in Germany on a farm. Ile took passage for the United States from Hamburg, and at the end of eleven weeks landed in New Orleans. Soon after- ward he came up the river to Cincinnati and thence by eanal to Mercer County. He assisted his father in clearing the home place but found time to try his skill as a marksman on the deer and turkeys then so plentiful.
In 1852, he came to New Bremen and worked out by the day for four years, thus learning that in a large measure he must depend upon himself. In 1856, he branehed out in the hardware and grocery business in partnership with his brother Henry, and they continued together for three years. After this, our subjeet purchased a farm in this township, and resided on it for abont two years, but in 1860 he abandoned agricultural pur- suits and bought the entire hardware business of his brother, continuing the business by himself up to the present time. In 1880. he purchased a large planing-mill and lumber yard. and is engaged in manufacturing doors, stshes, etc. Hle deals in all kinds of lumber. and as his facilities for transacting business are of an unusually complete character,
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he is enabled to offer special advantages to eus- tomers and to fill all orders in the promptest and most satisfactory manner. He owns a large busi- ness block of two stories, 26x80 feet, on Washington Street, and is one of the most prominent business men of New Bremen.
In 1855, Miss Louisa Greive, a native of this county, became his wife. Her parents came to America from Germany in 1837. Three children were born to this union: Minnie, August and Matilda. Mrs. Rabe died in 1869, and in 1870 Mr. Rabe married Miss Mary Shawe. a native of Auglaize County, Ohio, who was born in 1852, and to them have been born four children: Olivia, Ida, Fred and Lillie. Mr. Rabe is, and always has been, a Democrat. Ile has been a member of the City Council several terms, also City Treasurer, and has held other positions. Ile and Mrs. Rabe are members of the Lutheran Church, and he has been Trustee of the same for some time. Hle owns a large briek residence near his business block, and has a very comfortable and pleasant home.
AMES S. HOOVER. There are few more suc- cessful farmers in Logan County than the gentleman whose name is found above. 1Ie is fortunate in many respects, having a fine wife. a charming family and a beautiful home. lle was born in Franklin County, November 11, 1845, and is a son of Samuel Hoover, a native of Penn- sylvania. Our subject's paternal grandsire, John Hoover, was also a native of Pennsylvania, but of German parentage. Hle removed to Ohio when our subjeet's father was only a boy, and settled in Franklin County, where he was numbered among the pioneers.
Residing in the locality above-mentioned for some years. where he was engaged in farming, John Iloover removed to Wisconsin, and there died past middle age. His son was variously engaged in Franklin County. He was engaged in brick-mak- ing for several years, later ran an hotel at Albany,
and finally purchased a farm. He removed to Lo- gan County in 1852, and purchased three hundred and twenty acres of land, which was at that time al- most unbroken woods. lle worked hard develop- ing his farm, and being a good manager. amassed a competeney, owning at one time four hundred acres of fine land. Ile died February 8, 1891, when in his eighty-first year. Ile was a Methodist in his religious belief, and a Democrat in politics.
Our subject's father married Ruth A. Steadman, who was born in Franklin County, a daughter of James and Mary ( Bear) Steadman, both of whom were of Scotch descent, and early settlers in that locality. The original of this sketch is one of four children that his mother reared. They are: George W., Clara L., James and Samuel L. The mother still survives, and resides in Bloomfield Township. Only eight years old when his family removed to this county, James received his ednea- tion in the log schoolhouse, with puncheon benches and pin legs.
Game both large and small was plentiful, and the tender-eyed deer could be encountered on the way to and from school. When twenty-one, the young man started out for himself. His father gave him a fifty-acre tract of land, and this he did his best to thoroughly improve. On it he married October 24, 1869, his bride being Miss Marinda S. Smith, who was born in Fairfield County, December 21, 1848. Her parents were Moses and Margaret (Smith) Smith, both natives of Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Hoover have been blessed by the advent of three children who are living, and another little one who was taken away in babyhood. Their names are respee- tively: Nora, Eliza O. and Orlando L., the deceased child being James W.
Our subject owns two hundred and eighty acres of fine land, nearly all of which is well improved. It is thoroughly drained, having many hundred feet of tile. The owner of the place gives atten- tion to mixed farming, raising stock and grain. He has been partienlarly successful in raising hogs for foreign markets. The family occupy a line frame dwelling which was erected in 1888. It is comfortable and tasteful, well adapted to the use of the family. In politics, Mr. Hoover is a Demo- erat. For three years he served as Township Trus-
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tee, and for a good many years as Supervisor of Roads. Ile attributes his success wholly to the faet that he has been constant in attention to his business, saving himself in no instance.
H
E HUD TURNER. Agricultural pursuits have formed the chief occupation of this gentle- man, and the wide-awake and thorough manner in which he has taken advantage of every method and idea tending towards enhancing the value of his property has had considerable to do with his success in life. In tracing the genealogy of the Turner family, we find that they came orig- inally from that fine old State, Virginia, and that our subjeet comes of Revolutionary stock.
llis parents, Lott and Mary (Davison) Turner, were natives respectively of Virginia and Cham- paign County, Ohio. Her father was Daniel Davison. Lott Turner remained in his native State until grown, and then emigrated to the Buck- eye State, settled in Champaign County, and there met and married Miss Davison. After a short res- idence in that county, they moved to Allen County, that State, and there reared a family of five children, three of whom are now living, as follows: Joseph, Lee, and Ehud. The parents set- tled on an unimproved farm and spent the re- mainder of their days in enltivating and improv- ing this. They educated their children in the com- mon sehools, and early trained them to be self-re- liant and industrious, traits of character that will seldom fail of success. Mr. Turner and wife em- braced the Christian religion, and were worthy and exemplary church members. Mr. Turner was at one time a Whig in polities, but he later became a firm adherent of the principles of, the Republican party. He and his wife have both passed away.
Ehud Turner was born in Allen County, Ohio. June 20, 1851, and remained at home, assisting his father in cultivating the farm until twenty-one years of age. Ile attended the common schools of
the district during the winter months, and in this way obtained a good education. One year before he was of age, he began farming for himself, and in 1864 he led to the altar Miss Sarah Monfort, a native of Allen County, Ohio, and the daughter of Henry Monfort, also of Ohio. After marriage, our subject settled on Niekells Pike, Wayne Town- ship, Auglaize County, Ohio, and cultivated a farm there for fifteen years. From there he moved to his present farm of one hundred and one acres on section 11, Wayne Township. This farm was par- tially improved, and he immediately began to de- velop and clear the remainder. They soon gath- ered around them many comforts and convenien- ces, and now have a desirable and attractive place. Both are members of the Baptist Church, and ear- nest workers in the same. Like his father, Mr. Tur- ner is a staneli Republican, and has held the office of Township Assessor for one term. Five children resulted from this union, and four are now living: A. R., William G., Ida, and Edgar N. These chil- dren have all received good educational advan- tages.
The eldest son, A. R., is now Justice of the Peace of Wayne Township, and was elected to that office in the spring of 1890. The duties of this position he discharges in a very satisfactory and efficient manner, and as he is only twenty-five years of age, he is undoubtedly one of the young- est, if not the youngest, Justice the county has ever had. During his time of office he has united nine couples in marriage, and is one of the bright- est, most capable young men of the county.
R EV. PHILIP J. MILLHOFF. The biograph- ical writer is always pleased to note the worldly prosperity and good reputation of a man with whose history he has to do, and takes great delight in recording the quiet pur- suanee of duty and the honorable conduct of bus- iness affairs. If there is one thing more than an- other in a man's life that fills the heart with ad-
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miration, it is to know that he has been a valiant soldier-not because he enjoyed carnage, but be- cause of his devotion to the principles at stake. In making a brief mention of the important faets in the life of Mr. Millhoff, the biographieal writer has a pleasant task, as our subject has made an honorable record as a Union soldier, an agricultor- ist and a prosperous citizen. His name will be recognized by many of our readers, as he has been engaged in preaching the Gospel for forty years, and has earnestly endeavored not only to speak the truth, but to present an example which shall be as a light to those around him.
The original of this sketch, who was born in Franklin County, Pa., September 5, 1833, is the son of Philip Millhoff, who was born in 1796, in Lan- caster County, the same State. The latter was en- gaged as a farmer, and in 1840 came to Ohio, where he was ranked among the early settlers of Montgomery County. After a residence there of twelve years, in 1852 he came to this county and, purchasing a farm in Cynthiana Township, there resided until his decease, which occurred in 1865. He was an Elder in the Evangelieal Church for about forty years, and always took an active inter- est in religious affairs.
Philip J. Millhoff, the grandfather of our sub- jeet, was a native of France and emigrated to this country with his parents in Colonial times. He fought as a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and for his brave and efficient service was pro- moted to the rank of Lieutenant. Ile followed the occupation of a farmer, and took up a home- stead claim of a quarter-section of land in Penn- sylvania, on which he resided until his decease. The maiden name of our subject's mother was Mary M. Minnick, and she was born in Franklin County, Pa., in 1801. She was of German extrac- tion, and departed this life in 1871, firm in the faith of the Evangelical Church.
Ile of whom we write was the fourth in order of birth of the parental family of seven children, only one of whom is deceased. He received a fair education in the common schools, and was a lad of eight years when his parents came to Montgomery County. this State. When reaching his twentieth year, he took a course in the Wittenberg College
at Springfield, and after leaving that institution, he began the study of the ministry, which profession he had decided to follow when nine years of age. lle took a thorough scientific and theologieal course and began preaching the Gospel in the United Brethren Church, his license being granted by Bishop Henry Cumler in 1850.
Mr. Millhoff was actively engaged in church work until the outbreak of the Civil War, when he enlisted as a member of Company G, Fourth Ohio Cavalry, being mustered in as Sergeant and serv- ing on detachment duty. He was given his honorable discharge in 1862, and returning home, remained for a short time, and in August of that year re-enlisted as a member of Company C, One Hundred and Eighteenth Ohio Infantry, under Capt. Stone. In April, 1863, while at Cynthiana, Ky., he was stricken down with paralysis and was confined for three months in the hospital. At the expiration of that time, he again reported for duty, and the following year returned home on a furlough, at which time he was married to Miss Catherine Snow, a native of this State. In his second enlistment he participated in the battles of Sweet Water, Tenn., Cumberland Gap, Bull's Gap, the first and second fight at Mossy Creek. Again joining the army, our subject, while at Knoxville, Tenn., was ordered to the front and with his regi- ment went to Wilmington, N. C. At Goldsboro. they joined Gen. Sherman's army, and going back to Kingston, our subject was taken siek with the fever and sent to New York City. From there he was taken to David Island Hospital and discharged June 26, 1865.
On again entering upon the duties of eivil life, the Rev. Mr. Millhoff engaged in farming in Cyn- thiana Township, and soon after united with the Christian Church. In 1868, he removed to Mont- gomery County and located in Harrison Township, where he made his home for fourteen years. At the expiration of that time. he returned to this county and township, which has since been his place of residence and where he ranks among its prominent and influential citizens.
The five children born to Mr. and Mrs. Millhoff bear the respective names of George, Annie, Charles, Katie and Berthia. Annie is the wife of
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John Kelch and makes her home in Sidney, where they have two children, Roy and Elva. Our sub- ject has always given his allegiance to the Repub- lican party, and during the Presidential campaign of 1888 made speeches throughout this section. A visitor to his beautiful estate of eighty acres could not fail to be struck with admiration for the enterprise and industry by which it was acquired and brought to its present condition, and if any- thing beyond the appearance of the place were needed to heighten the respect for its owner, it would be the fact that he was a poor boy when he started out in life, and is now ranked among the progressive agriculturists of Shelby County. In addition to raising the cereals, Mr. Millhoff breeds a good grade of stock, and, as agent for the Chan- pion Reapers and Binders, derives a handsome in- come from that branch of business. Our subject is a member of Neal Post No. 62, G. A. R., and ex- pects to take an active interest in the present cam- paign on the stump in behalf of huis party.
OSIAH D. EMERSON. The following is a brief sketch of the career of Mr. Emerson, whose present substantial position among the citizens of Bellefontaine has been reached entirely through his own perseverance, and whose life shows what can be accomplished by a person with courage and enlightened views. He is a railroad contractor in this city, and was born in West Mansfield, Logan County, May 9, 1840, being the eldest son of Moses Emerson, who located in Bokes Creek Township, of the above county, about 1835.
The father of our subjeet was a native of Ver- mont, and became a resident of the Buckeye State in his youth. Ilis wife prior to her marriage was Miss Caroline Webster. a native of Connecticut. The young couple located in what is now West Mansfield, this county, in the pioneer days, when the country round about was little more than a wilderness. with a heavy growth of timber and
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thick shrubs. Moses Emerson was finely educated, having been given a partial collegiate course of training, but was compelled to leave college on account of failing health, when he began to open up a farm in the wilds of this county as above stated. He was very prominent in local affairs, and in 1844 made the race for Congress on the Abolition ticket. He is still living at Lewisburgh, Champaign County, Ohio, having attained the advanced age of eighty years.
Hle of whom we write was reared on the home farm until seventeen years of age, in the mean- time attending the district sebool. In 1857, he entered the Hillsdale (Michigan) College, and on the outbreak of the Civil War abandoned his books and enlisted in Company E, Fourth Michi- gan Infantry in the three-months service. When the call was made for more men, his company was enlisted for three years and went to Washington, D. C., to report for duty. Mr. Emerson partici- pated in the battle of Yorktown, and later in the battle of Cold Harbor, where he was shot in the left shoulder and taken to the West Philadelphia Hospital, where he lay for four months. After convalescing, he rejoined his regiment and was commissioned as Second Lieutenant, and later pro- moted to be Captain of his company. Mr. Emer- son was again wounded at Spottsylvania, May 8, 1864, this time in the right hip, the ball passing through his thigh. He was taken to the hospital at Georgetown, D. C., and the injury was found to be so serious that he was not able to rejoin his regiment. During his entire period of service, he participated in twenty-five or thirty battles. Mr. Emerson was a member of the Second Brigade, First Division and Fifth Army Corps.
On being mustered out of the service, our sub- ject returned home, and in the winter of 1865-66 attended the Law School in Cincinnati. In the spring of the latter year, he went to Michigan, where he was elected Sheriff of Hillsdale County, and held that office for two years. At the expira- tion of that time, he went to Independence, Kan., where he helped to lay out the town and was the first Probate Judge of the county, and was one of the managers of the town. Remaining there for five years, Mr. Emerson in 1875 engaged in the
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mail service in Louisiana and Texas. This neces- sitated his moving his family South, where he made his residence until 1882.
In January, 1882, our subject removed to this city with his family, where he has since made his home. He is still in the mail service, and is now engaged in railroad contracting.
In December, 1864, Miss Mary Allen became the wife of our subject, and to them have been born two children, Charles A. and Dixie. Mr. Emerson has been a conspicuous Grand Army man and is Com- mander of Eugene Reynolds Post No. 441. 1Ie also holds membership in the Masonic fraternity.
ON. CHARLES M. WANZER, M. D. Among the prominent and influential citizens of Logan County, we take pleasure in in- trodneing to our readers the IIon. Charles M. Wanzer, the distinguished and popular Rep- resentative of the Sixty-ninth General Assembly from this county, who now resides in Zanesfield. Ile was elected to this office in 1889, and his measures and tacties adopted in a public capacity have been so satisfactory, not only to his constitu- ents, but to the people at large, whom he repre- sents, that he was again a successful candidate for the office in 1891. Mr. Wanzer was born in Jeffer- son Township, Logan County, Ohio, his birth occur- ring on the 7th of September, 1857, and there he grew to manhood. He has been known by the people of this community from infaney, and the people have had every opportunity to judge of his character and qualification, and this confidence in him is intelligently placed.
Mr. Wanzer is the son of Abram and Hannah (Piekrell) Wanzer, natives respectively of New York and Ohio. The former was born in Dutchess County on the 27th of October, 1834, and the lat- ter in Monroe Township, Logan County, in the village of Pickrelltown (named in honor of the Pickrell family), August 22, 1836. Our subject's paternal grandfather. Michael Wanzer, was a na-
tive of New Fairfield, Fairfield County, Conn., born on the 10th of July, 1801, and went from there to New York when a young man. Late in life, he moved to Stark County, Ohio, and there passed away on the 13th of February, 1890. He had followed the pursuit of farming, but in con- nection was also engaged in school teaching the principal part of his life. Ilis father, Zebulon Far- ris Wanzer, was also a native of the Nutmeg State, and was a Quaker in his religions views, as were all our subjeet's ancestors on the paternal side. The great-great grandfather, it is supposed, was born in Germany, but none of the ancestors, so far as known, spoke the German language.
The maternal grandfather of Hon. Charles M. Wanzer, Mahlon Pickrell, was born in Virginia in October, 1810, and his father was also a native of that grand old State, and came to Ohio in 1811, locating at what is now Pickrelltown, Monroe Township, this county, where he passed the re- mainder of his days. He was also a Quaker, and came of a Quaker family. Mahlon Pickrell is still living and resides in Monroe Township, Logan County, Ohio, where he has made his home since the age of one year, having been brought here by his parents in 1811.
Abram Wanzer came with his parents to Ohio in 1850, when a stripling of sixteen, and grew to manhood in Logan County. Ilere he was married on the 23d of October, 1856, to Miss Pickrell, who had also been reared in Logan County, and they afterward located in Zanesfield, Jefferson Town- ship, where Mr. Wanzer engaged in general mer- chandising and in connection also taught school. Hle died June 19, 1867. The mother afterward married Mr. Miles V. Blackborn, and now resides in Zanesfield, Jefferson Township, this county.
The original of this notice was the elder of two children, both sons, born to his parents. The other child, Edwin P., was born May 31, 1863, and is now a prominent lawyer of Armour, S. Dak. Charles M. Wanzer received his first schooling in the vil- lage of Zanesfield, his native place. but in 1872 he entered the seminary at Raisin Valley, Mich., and remained there two years. In 1874, he went to Mt. Union College, remained there two years, and then entered the Medical College of Ohio, at
Louis funke
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Cineinnati, graduating from that well-known in- stitution in March, 1883. Later, he located in Zanesfield, and has been in active practice ever since. He is well posted on all medical subjects and has built up a large and Inerative praetice. In politics, he affiliates with the Republican party, and was elected Township Clerk in 1884, holding that office until 1890. Ile was also a member of the School Board and took a deep interest in all educational matters. In 1890, Mr. Wanzer was sent to represent Logan County in the Sixty-ninth General Assembly, and holds that position at the present time.
On the 17th of September, 1879, he was married in Delaware County, Ohio, to Miss Amanda R. Cratty, the eldest daughter of D. G. and Martha J. (Crain) Cratty, both natives of Delaware County, Ohio. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Cratty: O. L., Nellie, the wife of C. L. Bell, and Mrs. Wanzer. Our subject and wife have two in- teresting children: Hannah Martha, born June 18, 1881 (named after her two grandmothers), and Mary Emily, born May 16, 1886. Dr. Wanzer was at one time Secretary of the Logan County Medi- cal Society, and is a member of Lodge No. 424, I. O. O. F., at Zanesfield, being Past Grand of the same. He is also a member of Wilford Lodge No. 67, K. P., of Bellefontaine.
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Le OUIS IIUENKE, an enterprising young farmer, extensively engaged in the cream- ery business and the raising of poultry, was born in St. Mary's Township, Auglaize County, on the 3d of December, 1854. Ilis father, Henry Iluenke, was a native of Hanover. Germany, born in the year 1812, and inherited all the thrift and energy of the Teutonic race. He emigrated to America when a young man, located at New Bre- men, wherehe was one of the first settlers, and be- gan keeping hotel. Shortly afterward, he purchased land in German Township, on which he settled,
and at onee commenced improving it. Later, he Io- cated in St. Mary's Township, and there made his home for nearly forty years, and until his death, which occurred on the 31st of January, 1892, at the age of eighty years.
A prominent man and one in whom the commu- nity had a faithful and unswerving friend, Henry Hluenke was ever alert to serve its best inter- ests, and generous in his contributions toward every movement tending to the general advancement. Ile began for himself without means, but through industry became the owner at one time of three hundred and forty acres, and left each of his nine children, a comfortable home. He was a member of the Lutheran Church, as was also his estimable wife, a native of Germany, whose maiden name was Louisa Strafer. She came with her parents to America, and although now sixty-eight years of age, is still in the enjoyment of comparatively good health.
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