USA > Ohio > Hardin County > Portrait and biographical record of Marion and Hardin counties, Ohio > Part 21
USA > Ohio > Marion County > Portrait and biographical record of Marion and Hardin counties, Ohio > Part 21
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62
.
217
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
few equals. Aside from his extensive hardware and machinery business in Kenton, he is largely interested in other enterprises in this city, and is one of its most influential citizens.
Before presenting in detail the events in the life of Mr. Cantwell, some mention of his ances- tors may be appropriate. His father, Col. James Cantwell, was born in Jefferson County, Ohio, in 1811, and when in his teens moved with his par- ents to Mansfield, Richland County, this state. In 1836 he married Miss Sarah S. Ferguson, and they continued to reside in Richland County until 1861, when they came to Kenton. Their family consisted of eight children, two of whom died in infancy. The others, according to age, are as follows: Jennie E., who was married in 1864 to John Stillings, a prominent lawyer of Kenton; Nannie, Alonzo, Hattie, Josephine and Thomas J. Mrs. Jennie E. Stillings died in 1872, leaving two sons, Ray and Mark, the former a lawyer and editor of the Kenton Republican, and the lat- ter of whom died in 1893.
Nannie, the second daughter, was married in 1862 to Rev. Henry Wallace, at that time pastor of the United Presbyterian Churches of Daven- port, Iowa, and Rock Island, Il1. Of their seven children, two died in childhood and five are still living. Henry C., the eldest son, who is a Pro- fessor in the Iowa Agricultural College at Ames, Iowa, married, in 1887, Miss May Brodhead, of Muscatine, Iowa, and they have three children. The other children are Josephine, who is now in Dublin, Ireland, studying music; Harriet Estelle, who married in 1888 Newton B. Ashby, of Nor- wood, Iowa, now American Consul at Dublin, by whom she has three children; John P., who was for two years clerk and stenographer for the Secretary of State of Iowa, and is now bus- iness manager of one of the leading dairy papers of the state; and Daniel, the youngest, who is a student in the high school. Owing to failing health, Rev. Henry Wallace was obliged to give . up his pastoral work, and is now editor-in-chief of the Iowa Homestead, at Des Moines, Iowa. His wife takes great interest in art and literature, and has always been an enthusiastic worker for the soldiers of the late war.
Dr. Alonzo W. Cantwell, the next member of the family circle, was graduated from the Uni- versity of Michigan in 1869, and has since prac- ticed his profession in Davenport, Iowa, where he has a large and remunerative practice. From the members of the profession he has received many honors, having been elected President of the Scott County Medical Society and Treasurer of the Iowa and Illinois Central Medical Associa- tion. He was the first President of the Iowa Public Health Association, and is now President of the Pension Board of Examining Surgeons of Davenport. He is also consulting physician of St. Luke's Hospital, and President of the Medical Board of Mercy Hospital, of which he has been a member for twenty-five years. For twenty-two years he has been physician of the Board of Health of Davenport. In 1872 he married Miss Mattie Dalzell, of Davenport, and they have two sons: James Y ., who is now studying pharmacy at the New York College of Pharmacy in New City; and Joli D., a student at Kemper Hall.
Hattie, the next younger of the family, was married, in 1862, to Alden W. James, of New York City, at that time a prosperous hardware merchant of Kenton, but who died in Bozeman, Mont., in 1888. They had four sons, all of whom are living. The eldest was married in 1890 and is now a resident of Spokane, Wash. Mrs. Hattie James was a second time married, in 1893 becoming the wife of Edwin Williams, of Cleve- land, Ohio, and they now make their home in Spokane, Wash. Josephine, the youngest sister of our subject, was married in 1869 to Samuel Rutan, a merchant of Carlton, Ohio, and they had two children. They and their elder child are now deceased.
Colonel Cantwell served as Captain in the Mexican War in 1846, no braver man answering the call for help. When the flag of our country was assailed in 1861, although he was then in his fiftieth year, he was among the first to respond to the call. In the organization of the Fourth Ohio Infantry he was elected Lieutenant-Colonel. Six months later he recruited the Eighty-second Ohio Infantry, of which he was Colonel and which he led through many battles during the first two
·
218
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
years of the war. His commission as Brigadier- General came the day he was killed, August 29, 1862, while gallantly leading the advance of the brigade at the second battle of Bull Run. The loss to his family words cannot tell. His name has been revered by all who knew him. A mon- ument to his memory, erected by his family and soldiers, marks his resting-place, and the same stone also shows the death of the noble and de- voted wife in 1888; she was beloved by old and young, and her memory is dear to the hearts of her descendants. Jennie, their first-born, rests beside then, also Josephine and two children who died in infancy.
Born in Richland County, Ohio, October 4, 1850, the subject of this sketch came to Kenton with his parents at the age of nine years, and re- ceived his primary education in the schools liere, later conducting his studies at Griswold College, in Davenport, Iowa. He began his business ca- reer by accepting a clerkship in the hardware store of Harford & Nutting, in Davenport, re- maining with them until 1873, when he returned to Kenton, and in a small way embarked in the hardware business, under the name of Cantwell & Co., his brothers-in-law, John Stillings and A. W. James, being his partners. Not long after- ward the others bought out Mr. Stillings' inter- est, and the business was continued by them un- der the same name. In 1886 the partnership was dissolved, and Mr. Cantwell associated with himself his present partner, George Binckley, who had for years been his confidential clerk and bookkeeper. About 1884 he added carriage man- ufacturing to his rapidly increasing business, and has since continued this department with marked success.
In the First National Bank of Kenton and the Kenton National Bank, Mr. Cantwell lias been a stockholder and Director. He was identified with the organization of the Smith Silk Works, and also aided in organizing the Kenton Natural Gas Company. While a Democrat in politics, he has refrained from taking any active part in political matters, his entire energy being directed to the management of his business affairs. He is a Thirty-second Degree Mason and a high degree
Odd Fellow, and was District Deputy of the last- named order. He is also connected with the Elks.
February 3, 1879, Mr. Cantwell married Miss Kate, the accomplished daughter of Dr: A. J. Rogers, a prominent druggist of Kenton. They have two children, Bessie aind Mamie, aged re- spectively fourteen and cleven years. With his family Mr. Cantwell occupies one of the finest res- idences in the city. It is located on North Main Street, and, with the well kept grounds that sur- round it, occupies a full half-block.
-------
:
OHN U. HEILMAN. Industry and per- severance are essential factors to success in any line of business, and it is these qualities that have brought prosperity to Mr. Heilman. With the thrift and stability of his Teutonic an- cestors, he combines the American characteristics of pluck and push. It is not strange, therefore, that more thon ordinary success has rewarded his efforts. For more than thirty years a resident of Hardin County, he now makes his home on section 33 of Goshen Township, where he owns and cultivates two hundred and twenty-four acres of valuable land.
A native of Ohio, Mr. Heilman was born in Col- umbiana County, April 7, 1842, being the fifth among the eight children that comprised the famn- ily of John and Elizabeth (Dreitz) Heilman. His father was born, reared and married.in Ehn, Ger- many, where he followed the trade of a shoema- ker. In 1840 he took passage on a ship bound for America, and after a stormy voyage of six months he landed in this country. Proceeding at once to Ohio, he settled near Lima, where he cultivated a rented farm for one year, and for six years carried on a distillery. In 1848 he removed to Ashland County, this state, where he pur- chased a farm and continued to make his home until 1861. He then came to Hardin County, and, buying a farm, engaged in its cultivation un-
1
+ =
RESIDENCE AND STOCK FARM OF JOHN U. HEILMAN, SECTION 33, GOSHEN TOWNSHIP, HARDIN COUNTY, OHIO.
9
g
EN471
5
221
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
til his deatlı, at the age of seventy-five years. At the time of emigrating to America, he was a poor man, with little to call his own but an energetic disposition and an upright character. Through economy and judicious management, he became well-to-do, and at the time of his death his landed possessions aggregated two hundred and twenty- five acres. His remains were interred in the Grove Cemetery at Kenton. Politically he was a Democrat, and in religious faith a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.
The mother of our subject, also a native of Germany, spent her last years in Hardin County, where she died at the age of seventy-four. She is buried by the side of her husband in the Grove Cemetery. She was a strict church member, and trained her children in the Lutheran faith. Our subject remained with his parents until twenty- three years of age, meantime assisting in clearing and cultivating the home farm, and for brief intervals attending the common schools of the neighborhood. When the time came for him to select a life occupation, he chose that to which he had been reared, and has since devoted his at- tention to agricultural pursuits. At first, in con- nection with cultivating a rented farm, he oper- ated a sawmill, but of late years he has followed · farm work exclusively.
The lady who, on the 15th of February, 1866, became the wife of Mr. Heilman was Miss Mar- garet A. Pfeiffer, whose birth occurred in Cham- paign County, Olio, December 22, 1844. She is the daughter of John George Pfeiffer, concern- ing whom mention is made upon another page of this volume. In his political faith, Mr. Heilman is a Democrat. For twenty years or more he has filled the position of Township Trustee, to which he has been elected by his fellow citizens irre- spective of their political opinions. At different times he has been offered the candidacy for Sher- iff and other county offices, but, his time being devoted to his private business affairs, he has never felt it wise to accept. With his wife he holds membership in the Evangelical Lutheran Church.
Although Mr. and Mrs. Heilman have no children of their own, they have taken five chil-
dren into their home, as follows: Effie Bunce, now deceased; Daniel H. Bunce; William D. Heilman, a nephew; Louisa Adle, who is still at home; and Maggie Wolf. To these children they gave a good home and the benefits of the schools in the neighborhood.
An honest, upright man, reliable in his deal- ings with others, energetic in his farm work, and accommodating in his intercourse with his neigli- bors, Mr. Heilman may justly be terined one of the most influential and prominent of Goshen Township's citizens.
AMES LAWRENCE, who departed this life June 29, 1883, was one of the wealthy and progressive farmers of Claridon Township, Marion County, and left at the time of his demise a valuable estate of nearly five hundred acres. He was mainly self-educated, as he was early obliged to abandon school in order to acquire his livelihood. He was truly the architect of his own fortune, for he made most of his possessions through his own industry and good business qual- ifications.
The birth of James Lawrence occurred in Lin- colnshire, England, in 1810, his parents being Ed- ward and Marthia Lawrence. His boyhood was passed in a small village, and while still a mere lad he became strongly imbued with the idea of emigrating to America, where he believed that a young man of ambition and enterprise had a much better chance to succeed. Accordingly, he sailed with his brother William for the United States in 1832, and at the end of seven weeks landed in New York City. He continued liis westward journey to Ohio by way of the canal and lakes, and after prospecting for a short time decided to permanently locate in this county. For a few years he worked on farms by the month, in this way acquiring a sum of money which proved
·
222
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
the nucleus of his future fortune, and invested in a tract of wild and unimproved timber land in Claridon Township. At his death he was the owner of four hundred and sixty acres, much of which had been improved and brought to its valuable condition through his industry.
In the year 1854 Mr. Lawrence married Susan- nah, daughter of George and Aim Welborn. She was born in this township in 1832, her father having settled here about a year previously. He emigrated from England and took up Govern- ment land near Caledonia to the extent of one hundred acres, for which he paid $1.25 per acre. Mrs. Lawrence received a district-school educa- tion in the old-time subscription schools. She is still living on the old homestead, and by her mar- riage became the mother of the following chil- dren: Benjamin F., a progressive young farmer living on the old homestead; Martha, who mar- ried Adam Austin, a farmer of this township; Sarah A., who lives at home; Mary E., who mar- ried John Bainer, an Indiana farmer; Emnia C., who wedded Elias Bainer and lives in this town- ship; Abbott, who remains on the old home farm; and William, who is deceased.
In politics the sons are, like their father before them, all Republicans, and are practical and pro- gressive in their ideas of managing a farm.
2 H. COLWELL, the General Manager and Treasurer of the Kenton Hardware Manu- facturing Company, or, as it is better known, the Kenton Lock Manufacturing Company, has achieved prominence among the enterprising bus- ness men of this city. He possesses personal and business qualities of the highest order, and his career has been both honorable and upright.
Mr. Colwell was born in Lima, this state, De- cember 29, 1857. His father, Nicholas Colwell, or, as the name was originally spelled, Caldwell, was a tanner by trade, and early in the '50s owned and operated a tannery in Kenton. This
he later abandoned and engaged in other branch- es of business at Lima, where he was residing at the outbreak of the Civil War. On Lincoln's first call for volunteers he responded, going out as a private, but was afterward made Drum-Maj- or of his regiment. Owing to the hardships of camp life, he died in a hospital, after two years of service. During the time the father was fighting for his country, the mother of our subject died, leaving a family of four small children, of whom N. H. was the youngest. They were too young to care for themselves, even had they possessed the means of support, and were therefore put un- der the care of strangers, our subject being taken into the home of Harrison Maltbie, in Allen County.
Mr. Colwell remained an inmate of the Maltbie household until reaching his sixteenth year, dur- ing which time he was compelled to work hard, and was given but few advantages for obtaining an education. He employed every spare nio- ment in study, however, and at the age above mentioned set out to provide for himself. He went to Fremont, where he obtained work and attended school. Later he entered Heidelberg College at Tiffin. After leaving that institution he taught school about four years, and with the money he had saved attended the Ohio Normal University at Ada, from which he was graduated in 1879. He taught civil engineering and other branches in the university at Ada, and for one year he was employed in Mexico as civil en- gineer on the Mexican National Railroad. On his return to Ohio he was made Civil Engineer of Hardin County, and during his incumbency of this office, a period of six years, he was also City Engineer of Kenton. The next three years were spent as Civil Engineer for the Chicago & Erie Railroad Company, and when the Kenton Lock Manufacturing Company was organized he be- came one of the stockholders in that enterprise. In 1893 he was elected General Manager and Treasurer of the company, their plant being the largest west of the Alleghanies and giving em- ployment to one hundred and sixty persons. December 1, 1894, the name was changed to the Kenton Hardware Manufacturing Company. In
223
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
addition to. his interest in these works, Mr. Col- well is a stockholder and Director in the Kenton Savings Bank, which is one of the reliable institu- tions in this section and is well patronized by the business men and farmers of Kenton and vicinity.
There are very few men who were thrown on their own resources at as early an age as was our subject, and not many of these have worked their way up to a more honorable position than he. His natural aptness and energy seemed to be de- veloped by contact with the world, and resulted in making his life more than ordinarily successful. He overcame every discouragement and difficulty which beset his path with that determination and strength of character which have placed him in the front rank among the business men of Hard- in County. He is prominently connected with the Second Regiment of Ohio National Guards, being Captain, Inspector of Rifle Practice and Signal Officer. He is a prominent Mason, a Knight Templar and Knight of Pythias, and also belongs to the Order of Elks, in one and all of which orders he takes an active part.
Mr. Colwell and Miss Della M., daughter of the late Dr. William M. Chesney, were married January 17, 1884. To them has been born a son, Edwin C., now a lad of nine years. Mr. and Mrs. Colwell are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Politically he is a stanch Republican.
+
ZEKIEL HUNTER, senior member of the firm of Hunter & Hipsher, of Caledonia, has been longer engaged in active business in this place than any other man, and is one of her most prominent citizens. Politically he is a stanch Democrat and has served as Township Treasurer for seven years, making a good record for himself and his constituents. He has been quite successful in a business way, and has a great many friends in all ranks of life.
Our subject is the third of seven children born
to James and Catherine (Hipsher) Hunter. The father was a native of Lancaster County, Pa., where his youth was passed on a farm. In early manhood lie removed to Ohio, and was subse- quently married in Fairfield County. For a few years he engaged in school teaching, but later turned his attention to farm work. Settling in Richland County, he purchased the farm on whichi he passed the remainder of his life, his death oc- curring when in his sixty-eighth year. He en- listed as a private in the War of 1812, but was promoted until he held the rank of Sergeant. Politically he was a Democrat. His parents were born in the United States, though they were of Irish extraction, and his father served through- out the Revolutionary War. Mrs. Catherine Hunter was born in Pennsylvania, as were also her parents, who were of German descent. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church and was a worthy Christian woman. She was called to her final rest while in the prime of life, aged about forty-six years.
Ezekiel Hunter was born March 11, 1831, iu Fairfield County, Ohio, and in his boyhood ob- tained a good knowledge of farming from practi- cal experience. He received a much better edu- cation than was the common lot of his school- mates, for after completing his elementary studies . he took a course in the high school. When he was in his twenty-third year he obtained a certifi- cate and taught school in Marion County for about five years, working on farms between his terms of school.
In the spring of 1859 Mr. Hunter began mer- chandising in Caledonia, under the style of Under- wood & Hunter. At the end of three years he sold his interest to Mt. Underwood, who for a time conducted the business alone. In 1863 Mr. Hun- ter and J. L. Bell bought out the business of C. F. Rheurmond, and carried on the same line of busi- ness, under the firm name of Bell, Hunter & Co., for about thirteen years. In 1875 H. A. Hipshier, who represented the company in the old firm, and Mr. Hunter purchased the interest of the other partner, since which time the business has con- tinued under the title of Hunter & Hipsher, who are the sole proprietors. In all his dealings with
224
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
his fellow-citizens Mr. Hunter follows the teach- ings of the Golden Rule, with the result that he is respected and esteemed by all and has been prosperous in his various ventures.
September 9, 1858, occurred the marriage of Ezekiel Hunter and Miss Cynthia Hipsher, of this county.
AMES MORROW, an honored old settler of Marion County, has lived for over forty-five years on a farm in Claridon Township. This homestead he rented for three years, but bought it about 1856. It is situated on section 20, and consists of two hundred and forty acres, well im- proved with good buildings and fences. The owner commenced in life without capital or influ- ential friends, and worked his own way upward to success, overcoming obstacles which might well have daunted a man of less courage. He has been a member of the Presbyterian Church since boyhood, and takes an earnest and zealous interest in the work of the church of that denom- ination in Marion.
Born October 16, 1817, our subject is a son of Hugh and Martha (Neily) Morrow, the former a native of Ireland. They had five children, three sons and two daughters, namely: William, John, Dorcas, Martha and James, the latter of whom is the only survivor. He was born and reared on a farm in Washington County, Pa., and attended the early subscription schools, conducted in a log cabin, until he was about seventeen years of age.
It was in the year 1835 that James Morrow set forth for Ohio, making the journey by team. He settled in Guernsey County, where he lived un- til 1850, and then came to Marion County. He at once took up his residence on the farm where he still makes his home, and diligently set to . work to improve it and increase its value. He is a practical fariner, understanding every branch of the business, and is usually successful in his ventures.
January 15, 1840, occurred the marriage of James Morrow and Elizabeth Cunningham. She
was born in a log cabin in Guernsey County, Jan- uary 23, ISIS, and is a daughter of James and Eleanora Cunningham. In the pursuit of knowl- edge she frequently walked two miles and a-half to school through the heavy snows of winter, and on the long, hot summer days. By her mar- riage she became the mother of six 'children, as follows: Hugh J .; John F., who died in 1889; Si- mon A., who passed from this life July 3, 1870; Martha, who is the wife of George Codding, of this county; Eleanora, who married Chester Or- cutt, and died in 1885; and William E., who lives on the old homestead. In politics Mr. Morrow is a Prohibitionist. His life has been one of strict integrity and fairness in all his business dealings, and he therefore possesses the high esteem of all who have the pleasure of his acquaintance.
OWARD E. WASHBURN. An honorable position among the young farmers of Marion - County is held by this gentleman, who is the fortunate possessor of a good estate on section 22, Salt Rock Township. The well tilled farm is devoted to the raising of mixed crops and the or- dinary amount of stock, both grain and animals being of a good quality. A home-like dwelling and various outbuildings indicate to the passer-by that the land is occupied by a man of enterprise and good judgment.
Our subject was born in this township February 2, 1859, and was the fourth child of five born to Elias and Elizabeth (Morral) Washburn. The father, who was one of the prominent residents of this section, is represented on another page in this volume, where the reader will find a full ac- count of his history.
Howard E. was only about two years of age when his father was killed, and he was therefore reared by his mother, with whom he remained until attaining mature years. In the inean time he attended school and acquired a thorough knowledge of the common branches taught in the district. January 21, 1892, he took unto himself a wife in the person of Miss Dora F. Brady, a
·
1
FREDERICK HABERMAN. 1.
227
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
native of this county, born on the 13th of Sep- tember, 1865, and the daughter of Thomas and Ellen (Cook) Brady. The former was born in Marion County, September, 16, 1838, and is still living, making his home within its boundar- ies. His father was likewise a resident of this section of country during his entire life. The great-grandfather of Mrs. Washburn was a native of New York, and on his advent into Ohio was one of the first to locate in this then territory. Mr. Brady's mother was born in Delaware Coun- ty, this state, and her parents were natives of New England, and an old and honored family in that portion of the United States.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.