USA > Ohio > Guernsey County > Portrait and biographical record of Guernsey County, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States > Part 60
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Theodore A. Render was born July 27, 1852, and in his boyhood received a district-school edu- cation. At the age of nineteen years he began farming on his own account, and for the next seven years rented his father's farm, which he car- ried on. In 1878 he bought one hundred and
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eighteen acres, and has cleared' ahout forty acres of this of timber. As an agriculturist he met with good success, and is honored and respected by all Ins neighbors and acquaintances. In former years he was a supporter of the Democratic party, but is now a Republican.
Theodore Render married Joanna Strawn, an adopted daughter of Solon Strawn, of Warren Township. Mr. and Mrs. Render have four living children, three daughters and a son, as follows: Anna, who is the wife of Charles Sparks; Vinnie R., Barbara G. and Emil A.
S QUIRE LOUIS L. WINSCH, a prominent and worthy citizen of Clay Township, is a man of great public spirit, and in many ways this community is indebted to him for the improvement and prosperity which it enjoys in a large measure. For the past few years he has been. engaged in carpet manufacturing, and aiso handles wind-mills, pumps, etc. fle has held a number of local offices, discharging the duties pertaining thereto with fidelity and honor. In 1878 he was elected Justice of the Peace and with the exception of two years has since occupied the position. For one year he served as Township Trustee, and for some time he was a member of the School Board.
The parents of our subject were Jonathan and Caroline (Peter) Winsch. The former was born near Graceham, Md., December 30, 1804, being a son of Jacob and Marianna ( Barbre) Winsch, na- tives of Pennsylvania and Maryland, respectively. Jacob Winsch emigrated to this township about 1805, and engaged in his trade as a carpenter until shortly before his death. Among the other monu- ments to his skill and handiwork yet in existence, are the doors and pulpits of the old Beersheba Church. Our subject's mother was born in this township September 28, 1811, and died August 21, 1888. Her parents, David and Susannah (Lime-
beck) Peter, were natives of Pennsylvania and among the pioneers of this neighborhood. David Peter came here in 1801, with Mr. Hechewelder, and they were the first to locate here permanently.
Jonathan Winsch and Caroline Peter were mar- ried in Clay Township, May 13, 1832, and their union was graced with the following children: Eliza M., born February 24, 1833, and who is de- ceased; Louise S., born September 6, 1835; Sarah A., December 20, 1836, and now the wife of Henry Micks, a retired stone mason, residing at Gnaden- hutten; and Marianna, born September 6, 1838.
The early years of Louis L. Winsch were passed in this township, where he received a fair educa- tion. In 1859 he married Miss Annie Blickens- derfer, who was born in Warwick Township, June 13, 1839. She is a daughter of Isaac and Elivina (Meyer) Blickensderfer, who were of Pennsylvania origin, and early settlers of this county. The fa- ther died December 24, 1890, but his wife is still living. To our subject and wife were born two sons: Charles C., June 29. 1860; and Frank C., born June 17, 1869. They are both enterprising young farmers of this township. Their mother was called to the silent land in 1875. In 1876 Mr. Winsch wedded Sarah A. Rhoades, who was born on the 18th of June, 1851. Iler parents, Josiah and Laura (Wheland) Rhoades, are still living, and the for- mer is engaged in the grocery business.
Until he was twenty-five years of age, Louis L. Winsch continued to live with his parents, and then learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed during the summer, teaching school in the win- ter, until the breaking out of the war, when he en- listed as a member of the brass band of the Fifty- first Ohio Infantry, and for a year was stationed principally at Nashville, Tenn. From there he went to the eastern part of the state and on the expiration of his term of service was honorably discharged. Returning home, he remained there for a short time, when he was commissioned as First Lieutenant of Company A, One Hundred and Sixty-first Ohio National Guards. He was sent to the front and did service in Maryland and along the Shenandoah Valley. In 1864 he was discharged and once more returned North. In the following September he was commissioned First Lieutenant
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of Company C, One Hundred and Eighty-ninth Ohio Infantry, and in February started with his company for Huntsville, Ala., where they remained until September 28, and then received their final discharge.
Resuming his business affairs, Mr. Winsch en- gaged in general merchandising from the close of the war until 1877. IIe then turned his attention to farming, and operated his homestead until the spring of 1889, since which time he has been inter- ested in the manufacture of carpets in company with O. L. Culberson. He displays good judgment and sagacity in the management of his financial affairs, and has accumulated a goodly portion of this world's goods. In his political faith he is a Republican, and religiously he is a member of the Moravian denomination.
F REDERICK SCHWEITZER is one of the pioneers of York Township, within the boundaries of which he was born and still has his place of residence. For over forty years he has owned the old homestead, formerly the prop- erty of his father. The place is considered one of the finest for general farm purposes in the coun- ty, as the land is very rich and well improved. In all movements having for their object the better- ment of the public and this vicinity he has liber- ally contributed his share of both means and in- fluence.
Our subject, the son of Morris and Annie (Ilan- nekrat) Schweitzer, was born August 17, 1834. The parents were natives of Switzerland, where they were married in 1816. In the spring of 1833 they emigrated to York Township, Tuscarawas County, and purchased the homestead which is now operated by their son Frederick. They were the parents of four sous and three daughters, of whom our subject is the only survivor. The others were as follows: Gottleib, Barbara, Morris, Maria, John and Rosa. The father of this family fol-
lowed the carpenter's trade for many years, and constructed a barn in the Swiss fashion. This was the only one of the kind in the township, and was a great curiosity to people in this locality, as they frequently came a distance of many miles in order to view it. It was in a good state of preservation for years after the builder had passed from this life, but it was finally torn down in 1882. Morris Schweitzer died in 1853, at the age of sixty years, and his wife survived him until 1871, dying when in her seventy-fourth year. They were devoted parents, and did everything in their power to give their children good educational ad- vantages and a fair start in life. For each of his children Morris Schweitzer purchased a farm com- prising one hundred acres.
Frederick Schweitzer continued to live with his parents until they were called from home by death. Ile gradually assumed the management and duties of the farm during the last years of his father's life, and subsequently purchased one hundred and sixteen acres of the two hundred acres comprised in the old homestead. Thus his entire life bas been spent on this farm, which his own industry has improved and increased in value from year to year. Ilis education was obtained in the primi- tive schools of his day, and in private study and reading. In his religious views he is liberal, as he is a believer in the brotherhood of man and a uni- versal church. In politics he is a Republican, but has never held office. At one time, however, he was a candidate for County Commissioner, but withdrew his name in favor of a friend. For sev- enteen years he proved his interest in educational affairs by serving as a School Director.
In 1854 Frederick Schweitzer was united in mar- riage with Ellen Anderson, who was born in Ire- land in April, 1834. She is one of the seven chil- dren of Robert and Mary (Emerson ) Anderson, who were also born in the Emerald Isle, and came to the United States when their daughter Ellen was only a child. The Anderson family settled on a farm in this county, and there continued to make their home for many years.
A family of five children, three sons and two daughters, came to bless the union of Mr. and Mrs. Schweitzer, as follows: Luther M. and Andrew,
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deceased; Anna, wife of William Soffet, a black- smith at New Philadelphia: John, who has a good position in New Philadelphia; and Mary, the wife of Sherman Wright, a farmer of Fairfield Township.
MMET S. BENNETT. The fine home- stead owned and occupied by the subject of this sketch is one of the most desirable and attractive within the limits of Jefferson Town- ship, Guernsey County. It is pleasantly located on section 16, and embellished with a substantial residence and farm buildings of ample proportions.
Our subject was born in Trenton. Jefferson County, September 21, 1827, and is the son of Peter and Jane (Stewart) Bennett. The former was born in Ireland, in the year 1790, while his wife was a native of Tyler County, Va., and was born on Christmas Day. 1800. Peter was a lad of ten years when he accompanied his parents, Pat- rick and Catherine (Riley) Bennett, to this country, and with them located on a new tarm in Rush Township, Tuscarawas County, which they improved and lived upon the balance of their lives. The father of our subject's mother, John Stewart, was also a native of the Emerald Isle, but on making his home in America lived in Tyler County, Vo., where he met and married Mary Lakin, a native of Wales.
Peter Bennett and Jane Stewart were united in marriage July 11, 1822, and to them was born a family of seven sons and daughters, of whom we will make mention later on. The father of our subject had four brothers and two sisters, namely: Bernard, Michael, Edward, John, Rosanna and Mary. The eldest brother was for many years en- gaged in teaching school, and on abandoning this occupation learned the trade of a coach-builder. which he followed in Indiana until his decease. Michael married Caroline Benespe, of New Phila- delphia, and lived and died in Rush Township, Tusearawas County. Edward married Amelia,
daughter of Dr. Benespe, a resident of New Phiia- delphia, and the young couple soon after removed to Coshocton County, where the husband taught school until his decease. John made his home on the old place in Rush Township until attaining bis fifty-lifth year, when he moved to Knoxville, Ma- rion County, Iowa, in company with the widow of his brother Edward and her three children.
Martin Van Buren, the eldest of these children, entered the law office of Senator Neeley, in Knox- ville, Iowa, and after completing his studies was elected to represent Marion County in the Legislature, serving his constituents satisfactorily for two terms. The Civil War being then in prog- ress, ke returned to his home in Iowa, and by giving one day's notice recruited a company of one hundred men. These volunteers were inus- tered into service, and many of them remained on the field of battle until the establishment of peace. Among this number was M. V. B. Bennett, who, on being mustered out, went to Columbus, Cherokee County, Kan., where he gave his undivided atten- tion to the practice of his profession. For the last six years, however, he has been lecturing on the temperance question, and is known throughout the States as the " Kansas Cyclone Lecturer." Ros- anna Bennett, the elder sister of Peter Bennett. married Robert McDonald, and is living in Indi- ana; Mary, the younger sister, died on the old homestead in Rush Township.
Our subject was the third in order of birth of the parental household, his brothers and sisters be- ing Byron B., William Hamilton, Charles Carroll, Emily Catherine, Mary Jane and Rosanna E. Em- met S., when a lad of sixteen years, began in life for himself, working for twenty-five cents per day. Even on these wages he saved money, which he invested in a colt. Later he raised two calves, which he traded for another colt, thus making a team, which he broke. It was out of the question for him to think of buying harness for these ani- mals, but, trading some of his possessions for a piece of leather, he, with the aid he received from an uncle, made the necessary collars, etc., and re- ceived great benefit from the use of these animals.
Our subject, after the decease of his father, worked the home farm for his widowed mother,
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and on this account was only given an opportu- nity to attend school a short time each winter. Ilis mother died June 6, 1851, and he then purchased the interest of the other heirs in the homestead, and two years later brought home a wife. This lady bore the maiden name of Mary A. Rogers, and the ceremony which made them one was cele- brated January 9, 1853. The young couple con- tinued to make their residence on the old place until 1862, when Mr. Bennett purchased his pres- ent fine estate, consisting of two hundred and twenty acres.
Of the seven children born to Emmet S. and Mary A. Bennett, Thomas T., the eldest, born Oc- tober 22, 1850, married, in 1876, Miss Martha Warne, daughter of Jonathan and Ann (Smithi) Warne, of Centre Townslup, and their family com- prises six sons: Charles D., Frank J., Robert C., James O., Otto L. and Emmet I. Emma J., the next child, was born October 7, 1853, and in 1875 married William A. Allender, by whom she has two children, Hattie L. and Einmet W. Virginia E., who was born April 22, 1855, was married to John C. Hines in 1878, and has six children, Will- iam W., Anna M., James T., Nancy E., Emmet O. and Corwin H. Emmet C. was born September 24, 1857, and married Miss Pirebe Johnson, March 9, 1893. Mary E., whose birth occurred March 22, 1860, in November, 1882, married James M. Armstrong, whose sketch will be found elsewhere in this volume. She has three children, Clarence M., Bertha M. and Fred A. William P., born March 31, 1862, married Miss Mary B., daughter of Henry and Catherine (Hill) Booth, and has three children, Mary C., Dorothy A. and Edwin E. Hattie, the youngest child of our subject, was born February 12, 1864, and died August 24, 1872.
Mrs. Mary A. Bennett departed this life Janu- uary 22, 1867, and the lady whom our subject chose for his second companion was Nancy, young- est daughter of Jonathan and Martha ( Lieuzader) Warne. This lady was born on the homestead of her parents, April 11, 1828, and was married to Mr. Bennett March 12, 1868. In April, 1883, they took into their hearts and home Ann M., the daughter of Enoch and Margaret (Frame) Jones,
then ten years of age. They have given her good educational advantages, she attending the high school at Washington for one term. She is a very talented young lady, and is now devoting her at- tention to the study of music. She has been a member of the United Presbyterian Church for the past eight years, and is one of the valued workers of that denomination.
In September, 1864, Emmet Bennett answered the call for more volunteers, enlisting as a mem- ber of Company I, One Hundred and Seventy- sixth Ohio Infantry, and was mustered into serv- iec under General Sherman. That winter his regiment was stationed at Nashville, in order to prevent the rebel, General Hood, from passing northward, and later participated in the battle of Franklin. The war being at an end the following year, he was mustered out in June of that year and returned home, again taking up the peaceful pursuits of farm life, which he has since followed with great success.
Mrs. Bennett's grandfather. Thomas Warne, and his wife, Nancy (Pursley) Warne, were born and reared to mature years in New Jersey. They be- came residents of this state in 1803, and were among the leading Friends of this section. On her moth- er's side Mrs. Bennett is descended from a family originating in Pennsylvania, and who were also Quakers in religious belief.
Although our subject had no advantages for procuring an education, yet he is one of the finest readers and elocutionists in the county, and his services are often enlisted in entertainments given in the vicinity of his home. He is very prominent in his township, and has filled many offices of trust and honor, among them being that of Town- ship Clerk. Ile is a stanch supporter of Republi- can principles, and is an influential worker in its ranks. llc is very liberal in giving of his means toward supporting all worthy movements and en- terprises, and aided very materially in the crection of the United Presbyterian Church, with which he has been connected by membership for many years, as has also his devoted wife.
Mr. Bennett has in his possession a large num- ber of relics handed down to him by his father. Among them is a tub which the latter made in
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1825, and which is still in a good state of preser- vation. llis father was a weil educated man, a beautiful penman, and an old copy-book which he used in 1810 is included among the keepsakes.
ROF. WATSON HAMLIN GREGG, the ef- ficient and intelligent Superintendent of the schools of Quaker City, is the gentle- man to whom we call the kind attention of the reader. Ile is finely educated, and has been inter- ested in educational matters ever since he attained manhood, his efforts in this direction having been of great benefit to the schools of this city, for whose improvement he has used his knowledge and no inconsiderable influence.
Our subject, who was a native of Noble County, this state, and was born June 18, 1865. is of mixed Scotch-Irish and English descent. His parents are Abraham and Elizabeth ( Morris) Gregg, both of whom are natives of what is now Noble, but at the time of their birth was Guernsey, County. The father was born September 2, 1828, and his wife March 6, 1831. They received such educational advantages as the day and community afforded, and were married in the year 1850. Their entire lives have been spent in agricultural pursuits. in which vocation they were more than ordinarily successful, until an unfortunate land speculation swept away a good property winch they owned in this county. They now reside on a small farm of which their son Watson H. is the owner.
Grandfather Jacob HI. Gregg, a native of eastern Pennsylvania, was a son of Abraham and Mary Gregg, the former of whom was born in 1745, and died in 1802. The latter was born in 1747, and died in 1825. Their son Jacob II. was one of the early settlers of Guernsey, where he followed agri- cultural pursuits, and at the same time carried on his trade as a millwright. His career throughout life remained untarnished, and he rejoiced in the respect of a large circle of friends. He was born
in 1781, and died in 1853, while his wife, Ann (Heald) Gregg, born in 1791, survived until 1858. The maternal grandfather of our subject, Ilenry Morris, a son of Jonathan Morris, was born in 1800, and died in 1875. Ile was a lineal descend- ant of Robert Morris, the Revolutionary financier. His wife, prior to her marriage Tacy Watson, was born in 1803, and died in 1876.
To Abraham and Elizabeth ( Morris) Gregg there were born six children, of whom Jonathan and James are deceased. The former was born in 1851, and died in 1855; the latter, who was born in 1854, also died in 1855. Nancy Jane, who was born in 1856, is the wife of Ilerman A. Williams, a well- to-do farmer of Seneca Township, Noble County, this state, who traces his ancestry back to Roger Williams. Henry Morris, the next, who was born in 1861. was married to Clementine Larrick, and was engaged in teaching school. He resides in Buffalo Township, Noble County. Wilson, who was born June 18, 1865, and is a twin of Watson Hamlin, is a farmer of Buffalo Township.
The original of this sketch, who has made inis way since fourteen years old, was reared to man- hood on his father's farm in his native county, and received the rudiments of his education in the district school. Being desirous and ambitious'to gain a good education, and his father being unable to pay his college expenses. Mr. Gregg taught school in the country districts for a time, thus earn- ing the wherewithal to pay his tuition. He com- pleted the classical course in the Ohio Normal University in 1893. Ile would teach and go to school alternately, taking German, French, Latin and Greek. In 1888 he began teaching at Cald- well. He remained there for three years, and in the fall of 1891 was engaged by the School Board of this city to take charge of the schools, which position he is now filling in a very acceptable and praiseworthy manner. He is the possessor of a life certificate from the State Board of School Ex- aminers.
Professor Gregg was married, September 14,1893, to Miss llattie, daughter of Thomas M. Johnson, whose sketch will be found elsewhere in this vol- ume. Their union has resulted in the birth of a daughter, Helen, born June 27, 1894. The Pro-
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fessor is a member in good standing of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, while his wife worships with the Disciples. In social affairs he is a Knight of Pythias, belonging to Quaker City Lodge No. 310, of which he is Past Chancellor, and is also connected with Lodge No. 459, F. & A. M., of Cald- well. Although never an aspirant for public of- fice of any kind, he never fails to use his influence for the good of the community, and in national affairs is a Republican. He was School Examiner for Nobie County during his residence there for two years, beginning in 1888.
ACOB J. KLEIN, a native of Germany, has been for the past eleven years Superintend- ent of the Ridgway Burton Company, of Mineral Point. He is one of the incorpora- tors and Directors in the bank of this place; helped to organize, and is now Vice-President of, the Min- eral City Supply Company, and has been connect- ed with various other important local concerns. He has served as a member of the School Board, and has been a Councilinan for two terms. He is a leader in the ranks. of the Republican party, though he has never held office to any extent.
The grandfather of J. J. Klein bore the Chris- tian name of Conrad. He was born in the king- dom of Zarbruch, Germany, and for seven years was a soldier under Napoleon. Ile wasa miner by occupation, and died in his native village about 1848, aged seventy-three years. To himself and wife, Louisa, were born eight children: Louis, who died in Illinois; Peter, also deceased; Conrad, whose demise occurred in Germany, as did also that of Nicholas; John, who died in Stark County, this state; Christian; and Jacob.
Christian Klein, the father of our subject, was born March 8, 1812, in the village of Burchach, Zarbruch, Germany, and served for three years in the army. He was a mine engineer and draftsman while in his native land, but determined to come
to America, which he did, the voyage to this eoun- try taking thirty-two days. Proceeding westward from New York City, he located at Clinton, Sum- mit County, Ohio, and for eight years engaged in mining, at the end of which time he bought forty- one acres of land three miles north of Massillon, this state. He died March 14, 1881, in the faith of the Lutheran Church, to which he had adhered from boyhood. Until 1861 he was a Democrat, but then changed his allegiance to the Republican party. Of his thirteen children, two died in child- hood, and the others are: Lewis J., J. J., George R. (of Massillon), Christian C., Conrad R., Fred- erick C., Henry F., Dorothea Ries, Sophia D., Cath- erine M. Rohr and Louisa J. Beaty. The mother of these children hore the maiden name of Cather- ine Wagner. She was born in 1818, and died in September, 1875. She was one of the seven chil- dren of Rudolph Wagner, a farmer. The others of the family were: Henry, Nicholas, Lewis, Ru- dolph, Mary, Huber and Dorothea Klein.
The birthplace of Jacob J. Klein was in the same village in Germany as that of his father and grand- father before him. The date of the event was Oc- tober 24, 1842. When old enough, he was set to work in the mines, but also attended the German schools for three years. After reaching the United States he pursued his studies in the district school for about forty days, and this is the extent of his educational advantages. When twenty-two years of age he began to "paddle his own eanoe," ob- taining work near Massillon, Ohio. In July, 1880, he was made First Assistant Mining Inspector of Ohio, being appointed by Governor Foster, and occupied the position for two years. In August, 1883, he was offered his present place, and has con- tinned to give full satisfaction to his superiors.
Mr. Klein has been twice married, his first union heing with Mary J. Maloney, October 31, 1864. Mrs. Klein was a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Parker) Maloney, natives of Northumberland County, England. In 1837 they came to the United States and settled on a farm in Stark Coun- ty, where they passed their remaining years. In carly life they were members of the Church of England, but later became identified with the Christian Church. Of the six children whom they
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