USA > Ohio > Tuscarawas County > Portrait and biographical record of Tuscarawas County, Ohio > Part 58
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Kirkwood Arnold was born January 14, 1852, and his boyhood passed uneventfully under the parental roof. Ile continued to live on the old
homestead until twenty-six years of age, when he moved to the Valentine Wills Farm of two hun- dred and eighty-five acres, which place he rented for five years. At the end of that time it seemed best that he should return to the old homestead and assist in its management. He then assumed the control and care of the place during the re- mainder of his father's lifetime. His present farm comprises two hundred and thirteen acres, and in addition to this his wife has a half-interest in a tract of one hundred and thirty-five acres, situated near Canal Dover, in this township. Both of these farms are highly cultivated, and if placed on the market would readily command advanced prices.
In 1876 Mr. Arnold married Miss Mary C. Wills, who was born in Tuscarawas County, June 28, 1850, being one of the seven children of Valentine and Jerusha (Everett) Wills. Two sons and three daughters have blessed their union, as follows: Daisy F .; Carrie, who died in infancy; Valentine A., George E. and Nellie May. It has been the am- bition of our subject to give his children superior educational advantages, and as they were all nat- urally very intelligent and apt students, they have all won honors in that direction. The father has been School Director for the past eight years.
Mr. Arnold has always preferred to devote him- self strictly to his own business affairs, and has, therefore, never been desirous of accepting any public office. He is, however, prompt in the dis- charge of the duties devolving upon him as a citi- zen, and in his political faith is a Democrat.
ACOB UIIRICH, formerly a prominent citi- zen of Rush Township, Tusearawas Coun- ty, was a native of Uhrichsville, and was born October 8, 1820, and died in Rush Township in March, 1895. He was the son of Jacob and Anna Maria (DeMuth) Uhrich, also uatives of the Buckeye State. The father made his advent into this county in the year 1801, and, with his father
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and brothers, entered about fifteen thousand acres of Government land, a portion of which is now occupied by the beautiful little village of Uhrichs- ville.
Grandfather Michael Uhrich emigrated to Amer- iea in 1802, making his way immediately to Tus- carawas County. The state of Ohio was at that time a wild, unbroken territory, and this early pio- neer went to work with a will, soon elearing a number of acres and erecting a good substantial log cabin, in which he spent many happy years with his good wife. It was here that Michael Uh- rich and his sturdy sons cleared the forests, tilled the primeval soil, and earned an honest living by the sweat of their brow. Later, when the coun- try became more thickly settled, he, with his son Jacob, erected the first gristmill in this part of the state. He continued to operate the mill in eon- nection with his farm until his decease.
To the parents of our subject were born nine children, viz .: George, who died in his youth; Rosanna, also deceased; Benjamin, now a resident of Maryville, Mo .; Mary, deceased; Jacob, of this sketch; Susan, deceased; Nancy, the wife of Joseph Waller, a farmer of Mill Township; and Joseph and Caroline, both deceased. The educational ad- vantages afforded the sons of pioneers were very meager, but the children of this family were per- mitted to attend the subscription school taught in their district, where they became thoroughly famil- iar with reading, writing, spelling and the "rule of three" in arithmetic. Jacob Uhrich, Sr., was widely known and highly respected in Tuscara- was County, and his death, which occurred in 1847, when in his sixty-seventh year, was a loss felt not alone by his family, but by the entire community.
Our subject was reared on a farm, and assisted his father in the various duties of that vocation, and at the same time learned the miller's trade. He was what may be termed a self-educated man. Of course he attended the district school in his boyhood, but after performing his duties as farmer and miller found very little time left to devote to his studies. Being apt and desirous of being well informed, however, be made good use of the books in his possession, and was as well posted as the ma-
jority of men in his locality. After the death of his father he came into possession of the Mill Township farm, which he operated until 1851, when he took charge of the mill, managing it suc- cessfully for three years. At the end of that time he moved to his late place of residence, which is one of the most comfortable in this section of the county.
On the 19th of March, 1845, Mr. Uhrich and Miss Rosanna Knouse were united in marriage. She was born February 12, 1826. Four children were born to them. Joseph, who married Mareella Berkshire, resides with our subjeet; Mary L., now the wife of John E. Diekerson, makes her home in Urbana, Kan .; Emma is deceased; and Alice is engaged in teaching in the public schools.
Mr. Uhrich was a Republican in politics, and cast his first Presidential vote, many years prior to the formation of that body, for William Henry Ilarrison. In his religious connections he was an ardent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
H IRAM WILLIAMS one of the leading ogrieulturists and stockmen of Fairfield Township, is a native of Tuscarawas County and well known as the son of an old pio- neer. The prosperity of a place depends in such a great measure upon the business men who reside there, that a sketch of a prominent man is at all times an agreeable thing to read, especially when he has won success in his chosen line of work.
Our subject was born on the farm where he is at present residing, July 15, 1827. His parents were Thomas and Drusilla (Jennings) Williams, early settlers and highly esteemed residents of this see- tion during their life. Grandfather Abel Williams came to this county from Greene County, Pa., and located in Warren Township, where he entered a quarter-section, which he improved and made his home until his decease, in 1844. He was a Whig in politics and greatly interested in public affairs
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of his section. Ile was a thorough Christian, and a devoted member of the Close Communion Baptist Church. His wife, Sarah Williams, sur- vived him many years. They reared a family of six sons and two daughters, namely: Thomas; Ben- jamin and Levi, who were twins; Silas, John, Moses, Betsey and Sarah. The daughters are both de- ceased. Benjamin was accidentally killed by a horse in Allen County, this state. The three eld- est sons served in the War of 1812. They all be- came heads of families and are deeeased. with the exception of Moses, who is now ninety-two years of age.
The father of our subject was born in Greene County, Pa., and at the time of his parents' removal to this state accompanied them hither. He, too, was a farmer, and his first purchase was one hun- dred and sixty acres, which are now owned and oc- cupied by Hiram. He later entered eighty aeres more, which he partially cleared. He was exceed- ingly prosperous in all his ventures in the Buckeye State, and at one time he was the possessor of over six hundred acres of excellent land, the greater part of which he afterwards sold. Prior to the organization of the Republican party he voted the Whig ticket. He was prominent in all pub- .lic affairs, and for some time was one of the Di- rectors of the Poor Ilouse. An incident which happened during this time is rather eurious. He was appointed to go to Zoar to buy some apple trees to be set out on the Poor House farm. While there he also bought a small lot for himself. On looking them over, he found one tree in the lot intended for the Poor House farm which had been injured by mice. Fearful that it would not grow, he exchanged it and substituted one from the lot he intended for himself. Our subject helped him plant it, and, to give it a little extra start, put a quart of oats around its roots. It grew and thrived and is standing to-day, fifty years since it was set out. Ile was one of the organizers of the Method- ist Episcopal Church, with which denomination he was connected for many years. He departed this life in 1864, at the age of eighty-three years. Ilis wife survived him until January, 1881, when she passed away, being in her eighty-sixth year. She was born in Fairfield Township, near Zoar Sta-
tion, and became the mother of nine children, of whom four sons and two daughters lived to mature years. Abel died in Clay County, Ill .; Sarah is the wife of James McCrery; Graee is single; IIi- ram, of this sketch, was the next-born; Wesley is in California; and Lemuel resides near Somerdale, Ohio. When the parents eame to this farm all their household effects were conveyed on a sled, and the suffering and privations which they en- dured in those days are hard to deseribe.
Mrs. Drusilla Williams was the daughter of Gid- con Jennings, who made his advent into Tuscara- was County about 1790 or 1795. He entered land from the Government and improved about three hundred acres, which he later adorned with a sub- stantial residenee and all necessary outbuildings. His family comprised the following-named chil- dren: James, Aaron, John, William, David, Gid- eon, Drusilla and Mary. Mr. Jennings was a very powerful and resolute man, and had great influence over the Indians, who infested the country in that day. The redmen would often visit his home in the winter time, and walking in take possession of the fireplace until they had warmed themselves and were ready to go. He and his wife were ehar- ter members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. in the work of which they were very active and prominent. In polities he was a Whig.
Hiram, of this sketeh, although an intelligent and well informed man, has gained the greater part of his knowledge by reading and observation, as he never was permitted to attend school but three months in a year, going about one-third of the time. The log cabin in which his studies were conducted was a very rude structure; the furnish- ings were of a most primitive character, and very unlike the temple of learning in which the youth of the present day are educated.
On attaining his majority our subject began to make his own way in the world, and three years later married and established a home of his own. Ile at once located on one hundred and sixty acres of land which he had purchased from his father. paying for the traet $2,500. This he lived upon and improved until the death of his father, when he bought the old homestead and moved upon it. Mr. Williams is very progressive and is awake to
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all the latest methods of cultivating his land, and has developed the estate until it is one of the most productive in the county. Since the place has come into his possession he has erected a large, fine residence, modern in architectural design and taste- fully furnished. For the past five years he has devoted alnost his entire attention to the breed- ing of Holstein cattle. His animals are very fine, and the last three years he has taken the premium at the county faits where they have been exhibited. Mr. Williams has given his eldest son the original homestead, and sold ten acres to a coal company. The latter is now the site of Somerdale.
December 31, 1850, the subject of this sketch was married to Miss Cynthia M. Dixon, who was born in Sandyville, Ohio, on the 13th of January 1832. She is the daughter of Daniel and Jane (Boon) Dixon, and on the paternal side of the house is of Scotch descent. Her father was an early settler in this county, carrying on the com- bined occupations of merchant, farmer and black- smith. The mother of Mrs. Williams came to this state from Washington County, Pa., with her par- ents in 1822. She was a Presbyterian in religion, while her husband belonged to the Methodist Epis- copal denominatien. The latter was born in Octo- tober, 1804, and his good wife's birth occurred in October, 1812. They became the parents of cleven children, nine of whom lived to attain their ma- jority. Cynthia is the eldest; then came Robert, living in Denver, Colo .; William, a minister of the Methodist Church, served as Captain of Company E, One Hundred and Twenty-sixth Ohio Infantry; Lizzie J. is deceased; John H. was a soldier of the Sixtieth Indiana Regiment; James M. is living in Somerdale; Abner was a veteran of the Civil War, as was also Daniel, now deceased; and Mary L. is the wife of Rev. Jefferson Williams.
Mr. and Mrs. Williams have had born to them five children, but two sons died in infancy. Alden I. B. received a good education, and was married to Catherine Rippel; Jane A. is the wife of Rev. Ephraim E. Sparks; Iram P. married Alice M. Iraise, and is now attending Mt. Union College, preparing for the ministry. Mrs. Williams has been a member of the Methodist Church since childhood, and our subject joined that denomina-
tion over thirty years ago. He is active in church work, and has been Steward for some time. They have many warm personal friends in the commu- nity, and command the respect and confidence of all who have the honor of their acquaintance.
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D ANIEL HAAS. Tuscarawas County fur- nished its quota of noble men to the rank and file of the Union army, among whom our subject occupied an honorable place. Ile is now residing in Shanesville, in which town he is held in the highest possible esteem, and has the confidence of all who know him.
Mr. Haas is a native of this county, having been born in Franklin Township, December 11, 1841. Ilis father, I. A. Haas, was born across the waters, in Rhonsweiler, Bavaria, January 1, 1800. IIe spent the first thirty-two years of his life in his native land, where he was given a good education in the model schools of that country. Determin- ing to see what fortune awaited him in the New World, he embarked on a sailing-vessel in June, 1832, and after a very tedious voyage was landed in New York Harbor.
I. A. Ilaas spent a short time in the metropolis, and then came to this state, locating in Franklin Township, where he first purchased ten acres of land. On this he erected a dwelling for his fam- ily, and commenced working at his trade, that of a shoemaker. Four years prior to leaving his na- tive land, he was married to Miss Catherine Smith, also born in Bavaria. As time passed on and he became more prosperous, the elder Mr. Haas took up his abode in Wayne Township, and became the proprictor of one hundred and seventy-one acres of fine farming land. This he cultivated in a very intelligent manner, and at the time of his decease had a good competence.
The original of this sketch was the recipient of a good education, received in the district school, and when attaining his majority, m 1862, left
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home and offered his services in defense of his country's flag. Ile was mustered into Company E, One Hundred and Twenty-sixth Ohio Infantry, commanded by Capt. William L. Dixon. The regiment, which was organized at Steubenville, was ordered, in September of that year, to Parkers- burg, W. Va., where they rendezvoused for sev- eral weeks, and were thoroughly drilled. They next went to Cumberland, Md., from there to North Mountain, and later to Martinsburg, where they were placed on guard duty, serving from December to June of the following year. That month they were driven by Lee's army to Harper's Ferry, the regiment sustaining a severe loss at that place. They were compelled to wade the Po- tomac River, and sleeping without shelter of any kind caused much sickness among the boys in blue. During this encounter Company I. of the Twenty-sixth Regiment, were all taken prisoners by the rebels.
Mr. Haas participated in many of the important battles of the war, among them being Fisher's Gap, fought in September, 1863; Culpeper Court House, September of that year; Kelley's Ford, in November; and Mine Run, in December; after which they marched to Brandy Station, and were organ- . ized and assigned to the Sixth South Carolina. They afterward took part in all the engagements of Grant's army, including the Wilderness, Mon- ocacy and Cold Harbor, where Mr. Haas was ttrice wounded. September 19, 1864, he was shot through the arm by a sharpshooter, who had taken up his position in the top of a large pine tree, and had succeeded in killing several officers before his hid- ing-place was discovered by an Indian belonging to the Union regiment.
After the battle of Fisher's Hill, the Union forces drove the enemy back to Port Republic, with much liard fighting and great suffering on the part of the soldiers. At Cedar Creek the Cor- poral of Company I was surprised by the rebel. General Early, who drove them back about two miles, when General Sheridan came to their relief. They then turned and put to flight the other forces, capturing three thousand prisoners, and the ambulance and wagon trains. April 6, 1865, Mr. Haas was present and participated in the bat-
tle of Richmond, Va., and at Petersburg followed the retreating army to Taylor's Creek, where they succeeded in capturing eight hundred Confeder- ates. Thinking that the war was nearing its close, the Twenty-sixth Regiment marched to Danville, where they received the news of Jolinston's sur- render to Sherman. Then they returned to Rich- mond, from which place they were ordered to Washington to participate in the last Grand Re- view, and were then honorably discharged and mustered out.
Our subject, on returning home after the estab- lishment of peace, has ever since made his resi- dence in Shanesville. He is now engaged in carry- ing on a good trade as a groceryman, and at the same time runs a restaurant with good success. Ile is very progressive and wide-awake, and his fel- low-men hold him in good repute.
Mr. Ilaas was married, October 15, 1879, to Lydia Ruse, who was born in Wayne Township, this county, June 12, 1845. To our subject and his estimable wife there have been born two children. Samuel C., born August 10, 1871, died September 1, 1873; and Upton A., born August 23, 1873, is engaged with his father in business in this place.
S AMUEL D. WALTZ, a leading agricultur- ist of Fairfield Township, is the owner of a very valuable farm, which he purchased in May, 1893. Rich veins of coal have been dis- covered on his place, and the land in which it is situated has been leased by an organized mining company, who have made satisfactory terms with the owner. Though he has never been an aspirant for political honors, Mr. Waltz has proved his abil- ity and trustworthiness as Township Clerk and Township Trustee, and in addition to those offices has served as School Director, and has been in- fluential in the building of five schoolhouses in his township.
The birth of our subject occurred in the town- ship where he still resides, February 18, 1840. Ile
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is of German descent, though his parents, Bazalell and Catherine (Dibert) Waltz, were natives of Maryland. The father came to this county as early as 1812, took up some land, and also fol- lowed his trade as a cooper. To himself and wife were born the following children: Ebenezer, who died in infancy; Lavina, wife of Jeremiah Weaver, of Allen County, this state; Samuel D .; Elizabeth, deceased; Alvin, who is a minister, and also a farmer of New Cumberland; Sarah, Mrs. Pop- ham, also of New Cumberland; and Catherine J., Mrs. George Gooderding, of Allen County, Ohio.
The boyhood days of Samuel D. Waltz were quietly passed on his father's farm, and his pri- mary education was obtained in the distriet schools of the neighborhood. His higher studies were pursued by himself mainly, though it was his priv- ilege to take a term at Point Washington Acad- emy. Subsequently he taught school for six terms in the counties of Allen, Van Wert and Tus- carawas. In 1867 he embarked on his career as a farmer, and for twenty-six years was a resident of Fairfield Township, where he improved and cul- tivated a good homestead. For the past year and a-half he has lived on his farm in Fairfield Town- ship, which, as previously stated, bids fair to yield .a good income to the owner on account of its mineral wealth alone.
Mr. Waltz is one who believes a man should have more than one trade, so that if disabled for one he will have another to fall back on, and has learned the cooper's, carpenter's, harness-maker's, shoe- maker's and blacksmith's trades. Ile is an old- timer with the rifle, and in 1893 drove a nail five times out of seven off hand, at a distance of sixty feet. .
March 8, 1862, Mr. Waltz married Miss Harriet, daughter of Jacob Way, of Carroll County, Ohio. Five children have graced their union, the eldest of whom, Grant, is a resident of Midvale. Catlı- erine is the wife of John Ryan, of this county; Nora is the wife of William Beans, also of Mid- vale; John S., the next in order of birth, was born on the 29th of August, 1869, and Lillie M. is also still under the parental roof. Jolm S. is a graduate in all the common branches, but as he desired to ascend higher in the intellectual
field, took a course at the Oak Grove Academy at Canal Dover. Ile is now fitted to fill any position or office in the county where a good and thorough education is required. He has been a successful canvasser for various articles in the counties of Tuscarawas, Holmes and Coshocton, but at present his whole time is devoted to agriculture and horti- culture on his farm, for which it is well adapted, being situated in the beautiful valley of the Tus- carawas River, one mile from Zoar Station.
Mr. and Mrs. Waltz are faithful members of the Lutheran Church, and the former is Superintendent of the Sunday-school. He uses his right of fran- chise in favor of Republican nominees, and has always been faithful to the party since casting his first Presidential vote for the martyr and patriot, Abraham Lincoln.
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REDERICK WARNER, one of the propri- etors of the Warner Bros. Flouring-mill, stands among the foremost of the promi- nent business men who have contributed so largely to the financial prosperity of this part of the eounl- try. With true public spirit and characteristic liberality, he has aided in every enterprise that would in any way advance the welfare of Gnad- enhutten, where he resides.
Our subject comes of good old pioneer stock, and numbers among his ancestry some of the ear- liest settlers of the state. Ile is a native of Ohio, born at Lockport, in this county, September 24. 1851. Ilis parents were Frederick and Wilhelmina Warner, both of whom were born in the Father- land. Coming to America and being in sympathy with the Unionists during the late war, the father volunteered in defense of the Stars and Stripes. He was accepted and mustered into Company B. Fifty-first Ohio Infantry, with which he remained eighteen months, suffering all the hardships and privations of a soldier's life, and participating in many of the well known battles in which his regi-
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ment was engaged. Ile departed this life in 1872, at the age of forty-three years. His good wife is still living, making her home in New Philadelphia, where she has hosts of warm friends.
Frederick and Wilhelmina Warner were married in their native land, and reared a family of three sons and four daughters, of whom our subject is the eldest. Pauline is the wife of C. Henninger, and makes hier home in New Philadelphia; Samuel is a partner in the flouring-mills at Gnadenhutten ; Mary married Elmer Wilson, and is also a resident of New Philadelphia; Emmie is now Mrs. Benja- min Niederhiser, and is located in the above city; Katie is the wife of John Mueller, foreman of the pipe works in New Philadelphia, where Louise also makes her home.
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The parents of our subject took up their abode in Lockport, this state, in the year 1851. The fa- ther at once commenced boating on the canal, and by honest and upright methods of transacting bus- iness became well-to-do, and at the time of his death left his family a valuable property. He was a peaceable, law-abiding citizen, just to his neigli- bors and of a friendly spirit, and was well respect- ed by those who knew him and pointed out as a fine example of the self-made man.
The subject of this sketch remained under the parental roof until attaining his eighteenth year, when he left home to make his own way in the world. His first work was in the Byers Flourmills, where he obtained a thorough knowledge of the business, and remained for a period of seventeen years. At the end of that time we find him located in Gnadenhutten, in the employ of R. S. Hogue, a miller of this place. At the expiration of two years the mill was traded by its original owner, and a short time thereafter Mr. Warner, in com- pany with Fred Spring, purchased the plant, which they operated together for a twelvemonth. The junior member of the firm then retiring, Samuel Warner, a brother of our subject, purchased his in- terest in the business, and the firm of Warner Bros. was thus formed. Their mill is well supplied with the most improved machinery, and has a large ca- pacity for making flour of a fine quality.
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