USA > Ohio > Lucas County > Toledo > Portrait and biographical record of city of Toledo and Lucas and Wood Counties, Ohio : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the locality, together with biographies and portraits of all the Presidents of the United States > Part 10
USA > Ohio > Wood County > Portrait and biographical record of city of Toledo and Lucas and Wood Counties, Ohio : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the locality, together with biographies and portraits of all the Presidents of the United States > Part 10
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At the time the Civil War broke out, Mr. Ents- minger was living on a farm in Sandusky County. Being a man of the deepest patriotic spirit, his sympathies were at once enlisted in behalf of the Union. In February, 1864, he went to the front as a member of the Third Ohio Cavalry, which had charge of the National Road. During a raid on the noted raider, Boody, he was thrown from his horse and received injuries from which he has since suf- fered in a constantly increasing degree, so that at this time he is almost totally disabled. He was left on the battlefield for dead, but being found later, was taken to a hospital, and finally regained a suf- ficient amount of strength to permit him to return to the service. Heremained in the army until the close of the war, though his injuries rendered him unfit for active service.
After having been mustered out at Nashville, Tenn., August 4, 1865, Mr. Entsminger returned to Sandusky County and began farming opera- tions, but as he was unable to do manual labor, he was soon obliged to seek employment elsewhere. He began traveling throughout the state selling farm machinery, which occupation he followed several years. About the year 1877 he settled in Bradner, where he expects to spend his remaining years. Financially he is well provided for, being the owner of considerable valuable property, in addition to which the Government has granted him a pension of $50 per month.
In 1851 Mr. Entsminger married Miss Ellen Lit- tle, a native of Columbiana County, Ohio, of which her father, Abram, was a pioneer. She had three brothers, William, Jesse and David, all of
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whom were soldiers in the late war, and Jesse was killed during his service. Mr. and Mrs. Entsmin- ger became the parents of nine children, namely: David, a resident of the village of Rising Sun; William, a farmer at Areadia, Ohio; Luke, who is working in the oil fields near Bradner; Francis, who is similarly engaged; Arthur, who is with his parents; Sarah, wife of William Immel, a farmer; Anna, who married Joseph Milligan, an agricultur- ist near Rising Sun; John and Frank, deceased. As would naturally be expected, Mr. Entsminger is actively interested in Grand Army affairs, being a member of the post at Bradner. Politically he is a pronounced Republican.
M ARQUIS BALDWIN. There is probably no citizen of Toledo so well and favor- ably known among the old residents of this place as the venerable gentleman whose life carcer is here sketched, and who enjoys the dis- tinction of being the pioneer merchant of the city. For many years he was one of the prominent bus- iness men of Toledo, in the growth and upbuild- ing of which he was a prominent factor. Through the exercise of excellent judgment and indefati- gable energy, he secured financial success, and after a long and honorable business career he retired from the active duties of life, and now in the twi- light of his years rests from his labors and enjoys the fruits of his toil.
Born in Portage County, Ohio, January 22, 1809, the subject of this notice is a son of Jolm T. and Catherine (McCarther) Baldwin. His father was a native of Connecticut, but came to Ohio and settled in Palmyra Township, Portage County, in 1805. His occupation was that of a farmer, and he was thus engaged until 1823, when he came to Toledo and continued afterward to make this place his home until his death, in 1838. At the time of his arrival in Toledo, there were only three families in the place, and the entire
county was in the primeval state of nature. IIow- ever, the pioneer fathers and mothers were of a sturdy race, possessing the courage and energy characteristic of the people of that day. They set to work with a will to overcome every obstacle and prepare the way for the great transformation scene that has taken place since that time. Tibbals Baldwin, the grandfather of our subject, was a na- tive of Connecticut, and his entire life was spent there. The mother of Marquis was born in Scot- land, but when quite young aecompanied her par- ents to America and settled in Connecticut, where she met and married Jolin T. Baldwin.
The first fourteen years of the life of our sub- ject were spent in Portage County, after which he came with his parents to Lucas County. His schooling was meager, as educational advantages were very limited, there being no public-school system then in vogue, and the few subscription schools were of inferior character. His first occu- pation was that of a hunter and fisherman on the Miami River. The fish were caught in nets and were salted in barrels, then taken by boat to Ports- mouth on the Ohio Canal, where they were ex- changed for iron, flour, whisky and other prod- ucts. After the trade had been completed, the flour was brought to Miami and sold to the people of that place. In 1845 he bought a tract of land and cleared a farm about seven miles from the city, making that his home for about sixteen years.
As early as 1825 Mr. Baldwin made his first ven- ture in the mercantile business. During that year hie formed a partnership with his brother, under the firm name of J. Baldwin & Co., and embarked in general merchandising at Toledo. They han- dled the first merchandise ever sold here, and for some time they were the only merchants in the town. By their courteous manners and fair deal- ings, they soon built up an extensive trade, and not only prospered financially, but also became popular and influential citizens of the place. For almost thirty years they continued to engage in the general mercantile business, after which they disposed of the stock. About 1861 they embarked in a new enterprise, and continued to carry on a large and profitable business until after the close of the Civil War. Since disposing of his busi-
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ness interests Mr. Baldwin has lived retired from active cares, although he still maintains a general supervision of his business affairs. In the growth and improvement of the city he has always taken an active interest, and was in the early days an important factor in its prosperity.
The marriage of Mr. Baldwin occurred in June, 1829, at which time he was united with Mrs. Eliza R. Baldwin, nee Roe. Mrs. Baldwin, who was the widow of John Baldwin, was a cousin of the cele- brated author, E. P. Roe. She was born in New York, and died in Toledo in 1889. Always a temperate man in his habits, Mr. Baldwin is a strong advocate of the temperance eause, and sup- ports all those measures which he believes will en- hance the moral condition of the people. Polit- ically he is a stanch Republican and an ardent supporter of the principles of that party. At the advanced age of nearly eighty-seven years, he is hale and hearty, and makes his home at No. 521 West Bancroft Street.
D AVID B. BROWN, M. D. The profession- al men of Pemberville are an element in the development of this progressive little city, to the reputation of which they are constantly adding by their talents and skill. To this class belongs Dr. Brown, who has conducted a general practice as a physician and surgeon here since 1881. As a physician he is patient, constant, sympathetic, yet in the hour of extremity cool, calm and courage- ous, thus inspiring his patients with the greatest confidence in his skill. Although his practice re- quires almost his entire time, yet he still continues the study of his profession, keeping himself abreast with the practical details in the improvements of medicine.
For several generations the family to which the Doctor belongs has resided in Ohio. His father, Thomas, was born in Knox County, this state, near the city of Mt. Vernon. He was reared upon a
farm, and upon arriving at man's estate selected agriculture for his life occupation. Settling in Morrow County about 1850, lie engaged in cul- tivating a farm there for nine years. In 1859 lie came to Wood County, and afterward made his home upon a farm seven miles south of Pember- ville, where his death occurred in 1889. His wid- ow, who is still living on the old homestead in this county, was a native of Hayden, Md., and bore the maiden name of Rachel Mills. Orphaned by the death of her parents when she was a mere child, she came to Ohio with a family of the name of Meyers, with whom she remained until her mar- riage.
During the residence of the family in Morrow County, Ohio, the subject of this sketchi was born April 17, 1852. The family of which he is a mem- ber consists of three brothers and three sisters, all of whom are living. Henry B. has for twenty- four years been Principal of a college at Valpa- raiso, Ind .; William T. resides on a farm near Brad- ner, Ohio; Sarah is the wife of James Shoewalter; Ellen married Milton Ashley; and Mary is the wife of Joseph Jennings.
The first seven years of the life of our subject were passed on the home farm near Mt. Gilead. In 1859 he came with his parents to Wood County, where he attended the district schools of the neigh- borhood and the public schools of Bradner. On completing his studies he began to teach, and fol- lowed that profession for five years. It was not, however, his intention to make this his life work, and having resolved to become a physician, in 1872 he commenced the study of medicine at Free- port, Ohio, under the guidance of Dr. N. W. Good- rick, with whom he remained for two years. In 1874-75 he attended lectures in the Cincinnati Medical College, from which institution he was graduated February 23, 1876.
At once after completing liis medical studies, Dr. Brown opened an office for practice at Sher- wood, Defiance County, Ohio, where he remained for a number of years. In 1881 he came to Pem- berville, where he has given his attention to profes- sional duties ever since, and has built up a large and remunerative practice. Through devotion to his profession he has gained a place among the suc-
DAVID R. LOCKE. (PETROLEUM V. NASBY.)
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cessful physicians of the county, and has also be- come the possessor of some valuable property, in- cluding a comfortable residence. Here he and his wife, with their three children, Truman Glen, Dale Beuton and Neva B., have established a pleasant home. Mrs. Brown was Miss Minnie Truman prior to her marriage in 1881, and is the daughter of a farmer living near Woodville.
In his fraternal relations Dr. Brown is a Royal Arch Mason, and for five years filled the position of Master of the blue lodge. In the Odd Fellows' lodge he is serving as Noble Grand. He is also connected with the Order of the Maccabees. His religious views ineline him to the faith of the Baptist Church, with which his father was con- nected, having aided in the erection of the Ladd Hill Baptist Church, of which he was a member until death. Mrs. Brown is an active member of the Presbyterian Church and is always ready to aid in charitable enterprises for the aid of those in distress. While the Doetor has never been an as- pirant for official honors, he never fails to cast his ballot for the men nominated by the Democratie party, and his views coincide with the principles promulgated by that organization.
D AVID ROSS LOCKE (Petroleum V. Nas- by) was born in Vestal, Broome County, N. Y., September 20, 1833, and died at his home in Toledo, February 15, 1888. Thrown upon his own resources at the early age of eleven years, he entered the office of the Cortland (N. Y.) Dem- ocrat, serving an apprenticeship that lasted seven years. Here he learned the trade of a printer, and learned it as he did everything else, witli complete thoroughness. To those who knew him only in later years, his extensive familiarity with books, and the readiness with which he used his pen upon all subjects, seemed wonderful, in view of the faet
that all of the regular sehooling which he ever had was obtained during the first tender years of boyhood. In this case the precocious ehild became the man of intellectual power.
Leaving Cortland, Mr. Loeke visited the West- ern and Southern States, finally settling in Plym- outh, Ohio, where he started the Advertiser. In 1856 he started the Journal at Bucyrus, Ohio, and in the first year of the war he became the proprietor and editor of the Findlay (Ohio) Jeffersonian, in which the famous Nasby Letters first appeared. These letters were copied into the newspapers all over the country, quoted in political speeches and circulated in pamphlets throughout the length and breadth of the land. George S. Boutwell, Secre- tary of the Treasury under Lincoln, in a speech at Cooper Union, New York, at the elose of the war, said that "the crushing of the rebellion could be credited to three forces, the army, the navy and the Nasby Letters." Charles Sumner in referring to the historic qualities of the Nasby Letters, said: "Appearing with a certain regularity and enjoy- ing an extensive circulation, they became a con- stant and welcome ally. Unquestionably they were among the influences and agencies by which disloyalty in all its forms was exposed, and pub- lie opinion assured upon the right side. It is impossible to measure their value. Against the devices of slavery and its supporters, each let- ter was like a speech, or one of those songs which stir the people. Therefore they belong to the po- litical history of this critical period."
In 1865 Mr. Locke removed to Toledo and took editorial charge of the Blade, afterward becoming the sole proprietor. He then built up the Weekly Blade to a national eirculation, which has been steadily maintained to this day. It is not often that one person possesses such a commanding gen- ius in one direction and is yet so gifted in others as was Mr. Locke. Uusurpassed and, perhaps, un- equaled as a satirist of publie men and of political affairs, he yet won no mean place in the world of letters as a writer of poetry, novels and essays, a narrator of travels and a dramatie author; and if he had given more attention to these things, liter- ature would have been far richer to-day. He was, however, above all a thorough newspaper man, and
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it was only in brief intervals of leisure that he did any literary work aside from editorial writing.
There were two sides to his personality. His vein of quaint humor and of satire, sometimes biting, sometimes kindly, which is exemplified in the Nasby Letters, was given full play in ordinary conversation wlien amid congenial society. Had there been a Boswell to chroniele his fugitive say- ings, humorous remarks and satirie comments on passing ineidents and events, these unpremeditated sallies would form a collection of table-talk that would eelipse in depth of genuine humor the most pretentious productions of any other American writer in that line. But while he deservedly gained a world-wide reputation as a humorist and satirist, he had another side to his character, the legitimate heritage of a long line of Puritan an- eestry. It is to be regretted that the foree of events cansed that portion of his literary work most widely read (and therefore the greater part of it) to be in the former vein; but of the latter, that poetie gem of the first water, "Hannah Jane," and several hymns breathing so devout a Christian spirit that they have taken a high place in our modern hymnology, are striking examples. To this deeper part of his nature may be aseribed his intense hatred of shams, political or social, and the fact that the whole influence of his potent pen was thrown invariably for the eternal Right, in whatever field the battle was east.
D ANIEL FISH, who is a well-to-do and re- speeted farmer of Freedom Township, Wood County, owns a farm of one hun- dred and forty-six acres on seetion 28, which he literally hewed out of the virgin forest with his axe. For a quarter of a century or more he has lived on this homestead, and has been industri- ously engaged in its development. . December 30, 1886, lie leased his land to the Buffalo Gas and Oil Company for five years, and in December,
1892, again leased his farm, sinee which time sev- eral oil wells have been located on the place. He is largely self edueated, as his opportunities in youth were very limited and his serviees were re- quired on his father's farm. Politically he is a good Republiean, and has served eapably in a num- ber of township offices.
Daniel Fish was born September 3, 1830, in Col- umbiana County, Ohio. He is a son of John and Saralı (Conser) Fish, and is the brother of Jolin and William Fish, whose histories appear elsewhere in this volume. Our subjeet remained at home until 1856, when he started out to make his own living. It was in 1833 that, with his parents, he came to Wood County, and for three years he helped to make them a home and also worked at whatever he could find to do. March 18, 1864, he enlisted at Toledo in Company G, First Obio Volunteers, as a Corporal under Capt. Alexander Marshall. Sent to Nasliville, he was there placed in the First Brigade, Second Division, Fourth Army Corps, and took part in eleven more or less important battles or engagements. He was honorably dis- charged September 1, 1865, and returned home. On the day after his arrival there lie shouldered his axe and started in earnest to elear his land. He had previously bought one hundred and twenty- nine aeres of farm land, heavily covered with for- est, and this traet he retains up to the present time, having made his abode thereon ever since.
The lady whom Daniel Fish eliose for his help- mate in early manhood was Jane Youse, who was born in 1833. They were married October 9, 1851, and but eight years had passed ere the wife was summoned to her final rest. Sheleft two children: James E., born July 30, 1852; and John B., born August 30, 1854. The former married Sarah Neu- renberger, and has one child; and the latter, who lives in Pennsylvania, married Miss Artensia Bow- ers, by whom he has three children. December 15, 1860, Mr. Fish married Harriet A. Pember, who was one of eight children, the others being Ellen, Emeline, Byron, Sarah, James, Seott and Caroline. Of the children born of Mr. Fish's second marriage, Cora, who married James T. Anderson and has four children, was born September 12, 1862; Min- nie, wife of Samuel Hooper, of Putnam County,
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Ohio, was born November 2, 1864; George A., an engineer of Michigan, was born October 17, 1866; Frank L., born October 21, 1871, lives in Fostoria, Ohio; Louis C. was born February 18, 1873; Jessie E., who married Clark Canfield and has one child, was born May 4, 1875; and Raymond was born February 26, 1878. The mother of these children died May 21, 1883. The present wife of our sub- ject is Hannah Jane, a daughter of Ezekiel and Jane (Rose) Wilson, the former born July 21, 1807, and the latter April 22, 1823. Mrs. Fish is one of eight children, and was born March 7, 1844. They were married May 11, 1884, and have one daugh- ter, Maggie, born February 21, 1887.
D ANIEL HOUSHOLDER, an old and bon- ored citizen of Webster Township, Wood County, has been a witness of its entire development, and has assisted not a little to bring about its present condition of prosperity. Since 1859 he has made his home on a farm of sixty-one acres situated on section 18. When he first came to this region he traded at Fremont and Perrys- burg, taking two days to make the trip, and in his boyhood Indians frequently stayed over night under his father's hospitable roof.
The parents of our subject were Adam and Phobe (Corbett) Housholder. The former was born in Maryland, but at a very early day moved to Jefferson County, Ohio, and in 1833 came to this county, making the trip by team. He settled in what is now Webster Township, taking up two hundred acres of Government land on section 10, for which he paid $1.25 per acre. The land was covered with heavy timber, and after elearing a small place Mr. Housholder erected a log cabin of one room, with on immense fireplace on one side. His death oeeurred in 1854 and he was placed to rest in the Loomis Cemetery. He helped to or- ganize and build the first schoolhouse in this township, situated at Housholder's Corners, now
called Scotch Ridge. In politics he was identified with the Whig party. At the time of his death he was in his eighty-fifth year, and his good wife lived to be ninety years of age.
Daniel Housholder is one of eleven children, and is the third in order of birth. The others were named as follows: Isabel, John, Eliza, Eva, Betsy, Sallie, Lewis, William, Alfred and Naney. They are all deceased with the exception of Alfred, Eliza and Sallie. Our subject was born April 11, 1812, in Knox Township, Jefferson County, Ohio, and was reared on his father's farm. In 1833 he eame to Wood County with his parents, but when twenty-two years of age he returned to his native county on foot, though the distance was about two hundred miles. After a timc he came back to Wood County and engaged in farming for two years, and subsequently made two trips to Jeffer- son County on foot, the last time about 1838. Until he was twenty-seven he worked for farmers at stated wages, and then, having accumulated a small sum, embarked in farming on his own ac- count. He erected a log cabin containing onc room on the old homestead, which he assisted in clearing and improving.
In October, 1844, Mr. Housholder married Irene Colvin, who was born in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, and to them were born three children: Isabel, Eu- genia, and Monroe, who died in infancy. The wife and mother died in 1846, and the following year Mr. Housholder married Mrs. Rebecca A. Holly, who was born May 16, 1826, and who has become the mother of four sons: Elmer; Everett E., a resident of Jackson Township; John, whose home is in Baltimore; and Hiram. Byron, a son of Mrs. Rebecca A. Housholder by her first mar- riage, was in the war for four years, participating in a number of battles, but is now deceased.
In his boyhood our subject attended the sub- scription schools of the day, which were fur- nished with seats and benches made of slabs. He frequently during the long cold winters walked three miles to school, and in other ways obtained his knowledge by the hardest method. One night, when a young man, he went to see his "girl," and on returning home got lost in the thick woods, an easy matter in the almost trackless state of the
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country at that time. The Indians had not all left the country, and on one of his trips to Perrys- burg he met a party of them returning from a hunting expedition. They, however, offered him no molestation. In politics Mr. Housholder is a Republican, and prior to the formation of that party was a Whig.
D EWEE H. RUNNEALS, owner and pro- prietor of the Bradner Advocate, and one of the successful newspaper men of north- western Ohio, was born in Adrian, Seneca County, Ohio, September 1, 1867. The first representative of the family in Ohio was his grandfather, Zacha- riah Runneals, a pioneer of Seneca County, who commenced the task of clearing a farm there, but his labors were cut short by his untimely death at the age of twenty-eight. His farm was situated near Rehobeth, and is now known as the Warren P. Noble Place. Retaining possession of the liome- stead, our subject's grandmother made it her home until her deatlı, in April, 1879, at the age of sixty- seven.
The maternal grandparents of Mr. Runneals, Francis J. and Luey Weber, are living at Carey, Wyandot County, Ohio, and are seventy-six and seventy-two years old, respectively. They are the parents of six sons and six daughters, all of whom are living, and all are married but the youngest daughter. There are now four generations of that family living. During the late war Grandfather Weber served in the Forty-ninth Ohio Infantry, and two of his sons were also members of that regiment. They rendered valiant service in their country's behalf, and were fortunate in escaping uninjured.
James C. Runneals, father of our subject, was born in Rehobeth, Seneca County, Ohio, June 2, 1837, and followed the profession of a school- teacher, together with the occupation of a book- keeper, until his deatlı, which occurred at Fostoria,
Seneca County, May 2, 1884, at forty-seven years of age. Politically he was a Republican, but never took an active part in public affairs. June 22, 1865, he married Miss Cora Weber, who was born in Paris, Stark County, Ohio, August 9, 1845. Two children blessed their union, Frank C. and Dewee H., both of whom survive.
When a child of less than five years, our subject was taken by his parents to Fostoria, where he re- ceived a common-school education. The death of his father, in 1884, forced him to enter upon an active business career earlier than he otherwise would have done. In August of that year he be- gan to learn the printing trade in the office of the Fostoria Democrat, where lie was employed for two years. In 1886 he went to Kansas, where for four- teen months he was assistant foreman on the Abi- lene Daily Gazette. Proceeding still further West, he joined the printer's union in Denver, Colo. After traveling around that part of the country, he finally stopped at Garden City, where he se- cured a position as foreman on the Daily Sentinel. About a year later the publication of the daily was suspended, and he left town, returning East.
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