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 12
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 12
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The mother of our subject, Laura, was born in Buffalo, N. Y., and was of German parentage. Her father, Martin Eckart, was a shoemaker by trade, which lie followed both in the Old Country and in America. The family of which our subject is a member consisted of six children, those besides himself being Ella, wife of F. E. Kline, who is en- gaged in agricultural pursuits in Sandusky County; Flora W., who is married and lives in Rising Sun; Leroy, Pearl and Louis, who are with their par- ents.
Upon the home farm in Scott Township, San- dusky County, Ohio, the subject of this sketch was born May 3, 1870. His primary education was gained in the neighboring common schools, after which he entered the Normal Collegiate Institute at Wauscon, Ohio, continuing in that institution until his graduation in 1893. At the age of eighteen he commenced to teach, and when not in school he has taught much of the time since. His
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father was a man of means, and he was not obliged to become self-supporting at so early an age, but he was ambitious, energetic and independent, and preferred to earn the money with which to pay his way through school. After graduating he came to Bradner as Superintendent of the schools at this place.
In May, 1894, Professor Bowers was united in marriage with Miss Hattie Metzler, the daughter of David Metzler, a farmer of Williams County, Ohio, and a niece of Professor Metzler, of Wauseon Col- lege. She is a cultured and accomplished young lady, and was graduated from college in the same class with our subject. They have established a comfortable home in Bradner, and are popular in the best social circles of the village. He is regard- ed as a rising young educator, and as one who is destined to attain prominence in the profession which he has chosen for his life work.
J OIIN H. MOENTER, President of the Pem- berville Creamery Company, and one of the most influential citizens of Wood County, is a native of Germany, but his life from the age of nine years has been passed in the vicinity of his present home. He was born in Hanover, January 6, 1837, and is the son of Ernest Moen- ter, a farmer of Germany, who, emigrating to Amer- ica in 1846, settled in Troy Township, Wood County, and there spent his remaining years. The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Anna Habler, and was born in Hanover; she at- tained the age of almost fourscore years, passing away at the family home in Wood County.
In the family of Ernest Moenter there were one daughter and five sons. The former, Mrs. Clara L. Bushman, died many years ago; Frederick, a farmer of Wood County, and the owner of a val . uable estate ncar Pemberville, has been Assessor of his township and is the present Trustee; H. H. lives in Troy Township; William resides on the
old homestead. John H., the subject of this no- tice, grew to manhood on his father's farm, and, the family being poor, he was not permitted to gain a good education. At the age of fourteen he began to learn the trade of a cabinet-maker, but later transferred his attention to the carpenter's trade, which he followed about twenty years, meet- ing with fair success in that occupation.
Retiring from his trade, Mr. Moenter embarked in the sawmill business, building a mill at Pem- berville about the time of the close of the Civil War. On selling the mill, about 1888, he engaged in the furniture and undertaking business, and after disposing of that established his home upon a farm situated two and one-half miles from Pen- berville, upon the Toledo & Ohio Central Railroad. His first marriage was to Miss Anna C. Seher- armeyer, who at her death left two children: Anna, who lives at home; and Catherine, wife of August Shurman, a farmer of Freedom Township. The second wife of Mr. Moenter was Mary C., a sister of his first wife, and their union was blessed by the birth of three sons and four daughters: Henry W., who aids in the cultivation of the home farm; Caroline, Mary, Frederick, Julia, Dora and Ernest.
In the development of the oil fields of Wood County, Mr. Moenter has taken an active part, and has eleven wells on his farm. He also owns the planing-mill at Pemberville, as well as several houses and other valuable property. His political views have brought him into active co-operation with the Democratic party, of which he is a local leader. For more than a quarter of a century he has been continually in office, and has held a num- ber of responsible positions. His first office was that of Township Trustee, after which he was As- sessor for eight years and Treasurer for four years. For many years he has served as Justice of the Peace, and he has also been Treasurer of the School Board for some time.
In the settlement of estates Mr. Moenter has done a large amount of work, having doubtless set- tled more than any other resident of Wood Coun- ty. He was appointed a Commissioner to close up the affairs of the Pemberville Bank at the time of its failure. With a number of the most important
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enterprises of Pemberville he has been intimately associated, and is justly regarded as one of the most liberal-spirited and energetic citizens of the place. He aided in the organization of the Pem- berville Creamery Company, of which he is serv- ing as President. His membership is in the Luth- eran Church, and he has filled the position of Treas- urer of the congregation.
ASPER BEEKER, one of Wood County's wealthiest citizens, and a resident of Pem- berville, was born in Hanover, Germany, January 21, 1829. His father, Christian, was a na- tive of the same place, born about 1796, and came to the United States in 1843, settling near Gibson- burg, Sandusky County, where he purchased a small farm of forty acres. To the cultivation of this place lie gave his attention until his death, about 1862. He was a man of great industry and perseverance, but never accumulated wealth, and therefore was unable te give his children many ad- vantages or much material assistance when they started out for themselves.
At the time of coming to the United States, the subject of this notice was a lad of fourteen years. He received but limited educational advantages, as he was obliged to start out for himself at a very early age. His first position was that of a farm laborer, for which he received $8 per month. This work he continued for several years during the summer seasons, while in the winter months he en- gaged in chopping wood at two shillings per cord. Working from daylight till dark industriously, he gained a reputation for industry and energy, and his services were in demand in the neighborhood. In this way he not only supported himself, but was also enabled to assist his parents.
When he was twenty, our subject bought a colt for $27, and this he traded, with other considera- tions, for a piece of land comprising eighty acres. At the age of twenty-four, he bought eighty acres
near Gibsonburg, for which he paid $660 in cash, leaving an indebtedness upon it and the other property of $200. His next task was that of clear- ing a small place and building a log house, to which, at marriage, he brought his wife, formerly Miss Clara Brauksieker, who had come to this country from Germany at the same time he crossed the occan.
In order to assist in clearing the land, Mr. Beek- er bought a pair of oxen, for which he went in debt. From that time he prospered. He was enabled soon to pay all indebtedness, thus giving him an opportunity to save money. In the buying and selling of land, which he conducted upon an cx- tensive scale, he accumulated considerable money, prosperity rewarding all his enterprises. In 1858 le came to Wood County and bought a farın, sit- uated about one-half mile from the present town of Pemberville, which at that time consisted of a store, a mill and one or two houses. On remov- ing from Sandusky County, he sold his property near Gibsonburg for $3,400. He gave his atten- tion to the improvement of his farm near Pember- ville and there made his home for seven years, aft- er which he sold the place for $6,000. During the war he made a fortune buying horses and other stock for the Government.
Upon selling his farın near Pemberville, Mr. Beeker bouglit four hundred and forty acres sit- uated three miles from this place, and there he re- sided for some twenty years. For the past nine ycars, however, he has made his home in Pember- ville, where during a portion of the time he has operated a store. On his farm there are eleven oil- wells, representing a small fortune in themselves. Aside from his elegant home, he owns considerable property in the village.
Of the family of Mr. and Mrs. Beeker, six chil- dren survive, five being deceased. Henry was born July 28, 1853, and died August 3, 1856; Mary was born May 22, 1855, and died August 13, 1856; Frank, whose birth occurred June 11, 1857, is married and resides on his father's farm; Mary (2d), who was born November 28, 1859, is the wife of Harmon Smeasal, and lives on a farm ad- joining the old homestead; Casper was born Jan- uary 29, 1862, and died June 22 of the following
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year; Eliza, who was born April 5, 1865, married Willian Hecknian, a farmer near Pemberville; Catherine was born September 23, 1867, and passed away September 27 of the same year; Anna was born December 21, 1869, and is the wife of Fred- erick Rohr, who is engaged in farm pursuits near Pemberville; Caroline, born May 9, 1872, is the wife of John Dieger, a fariner; John F., who was born April 10, 1874, assists his brother in the cul- tivation of the farm; Jacob was born February 23, 1878, and died on the 5th of March following. The family is connected with the Lutheran Church, to the support of which, as well as to all benevo- lent enterprises, Mr. Beeker is a generous contrib- utor.
P ROF. RICHARD F. BEAUSAY, Superin- tendent of the Pemberville Schools, was born in Darke County, Ohio, near the city of Greenville, February 15, 1859. The fam- ily of which he is a member originated in Germany, and for many generations, as far back as the gene- alogy can be traced, has resided in Prussia. His father, Francis, who was born near Leipsic, was the only son of his parents, with whom he and his three sisters came to the United States, settling in Richland Township, Marion County, Ohio. Later he removed to Darke County, where for a time he engaged in farming, although by trade he was a watchmaker.
While a resident of Marion County, Francis Beausay married Louisa Ebenstein, a native of Germany, whence she accompanied her parents to America. Mr. Beausay followed his trade of a watchmaker both in Marion and Greenville, but for many years prior to his demise was in poor health. His death occurred January 14, 1879. In religious faith he was a Lutheran. His wife died November 6, 1864, when Richard F. was but five years of age. There were five children in the fam- ily, of whom the eldest, Frederick, died in child- hood. Adam and Marie died in infancy, leaving
our subject and his younger brother, Charles H., the sole survivors of the family. The latter, who engaged in teaching for eight years, is now the Postmaster at Harpster, Wyandot County.
The early life of Professor Beausay was one continued struggle against poverty. His mother having died when he was a child, and his father being in poor health, he went to live for a time with a sister of his mother in Darke County, near the village of Ansonia. He made his home at dif- ferent times with a number of families in Darke and Marion Counties, not always receiving the best of treatment. At the age of ten years he be- gan to assist his father at his trade. He had but limited advantages for acquiring an education, and it is a proof of his persistence and indefati- gable energy, that through self culture he has be- come the possessor of a wide fund of information, covering the sciences, classics and literature. While working on a farm in Wyandot County, and while yet a boy, he passed a thorough examination and received a certificate to teach. His first school was in Mifflin Township, Wyandot County, after which, for eight years, he continued to teach in different country schools in Wyandot and Seneca Counties, his leisure hours being devoted assidu- ously to his studies.
In July, 1892, Professor Beausay was selected to fill the responsible position of Superintendent of the Pemberville schools, in which capacity he has since served with such marked efficiency as to win the commendation of all the residents of the place. As an educator and instructor he is patient, thor- ough, interested in the advancement of his pupils, and devoted to their welfare. His success is note- worthy, inasmuch as he had no advantages in boy- hood, but was forced to gain his education without aid from teachers or the excellent text-books now in use. After school hours he was usually found in the library of a prominent attorney, where he prosecuted his studies for the legal profes- sion, and was admitted to the Bar at Columbus, Ohio, March 7, 1895.
The marriage of Professor Beausay, May 1, 1884, united him with Miss Carrie L. Keller, and they have four children, namely: Hoy Llewellyn; Rex Audemar, who died January 30, 1894, at the age
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of seven years; Joyce Constance; and Wayne Cleveland. Socially the Professor is a member of the Knights of Pythias, of which he is Past Chan- cellor, and is a charter member of the lodge at Carey, Ohio. In his religious belief he is conuect- ed with the Methodist Episcopal Church. While his educational duties and his legal studies con- sume the larger portion of his time, he also gives some attention to literary work, and writes for the various papers in the surrounding counties. He is a gentleman of superior talents, and is destined to attain a prominent rank among the professional men of north western Ohio, and that, too, perhaps at no distant day.
Fo LIAS FASSETT. The family represented by this influential business man of Toledo originated in Scotland, but has been inti- mately associated with the history of the United States for nearly two centuries. The first of the name who came to America settled in Massachu- setts in 1715, and for many years thereafter the family was prominent in the annals of New Eng- land. The great-grandfather of our subjeet, who resided in Bennington, Vt., served in the French and Indian Wars, and the grandfather was Cap- tain in the Revolution under General Montgom- ery. For his meritorious and gallant service dur- ing the war with England he was granted by Con- gress the entire township of Cambridge, in Ver- mont. He became one of the most eminent men of Vermont, and for some time filled the position of Associate Judge of the Supreme Court.
Jobn Fassett, father of our subject, was born in Bennington, Vt., December 17, 1769, but after the Revolution accompanied his parents to Cambridge, where he studied and later practiccd medicine. In June of 1832 he removed to Port Lawrence, and bought eighty acres of land now known as a part of the Sixth Ward of Toledo, and usually
called "Fassett's First and Second Additions." In the fall of 1832 he brought his wife, Martha Thomas, and their children to Port Lawrence, where for the ensuing five years he engaged in general practice as a physician, in addition to the labor of clearing his farm. At the expiration of that time lie settled upon the farm, where he con- tinued to reside until his death, May 26, 1853.
Iu Cambridge, Vt., the subject of this sketch was born January 17, 1827, being the youngest of the parental family of four sons and three daugh- ters. He was five years of age when the family removed to Port Lawrence, and there he remained, assisting in the work of developing the farm, until his seventeenthi year. Educational advantages in those days were exceedingly limited, and in his case consisted of only three months' attendance during the year in the neighboring log school- house, aud one year spent in a select school on La- grange Street, Toledo, in 1836. His father and an elder brother were the proprietors of the first tav- ern in Toledo. This building was erected in the fall of 1832, on the west side of Summit (near Lo- cust) Street, a portion of the city then known as Vistula. Upon the same site was afterward erected a hotel known as the Mansion House, and later as the Franklin House.
James Irvine Browne, the publisher of the first newspaper in Toledo, boarded with Mr. Fassett's father in 1834. The first edition of his paper, pub- lished during that year, was delivered by our sub- ject, who has a clear recollection of its appearance and the primitive manner in which it was printed. This Mr. Browne was the one who selected and suggested the name for the present city of Toledo.
Upon starting out for himself, our subject se- cured a clerkship in the dry-goods and general store of Raymond & Fassett, in which concern an elder brother held an interest. Three years were thus spent, after which he returned to the old homestead, and there remained until his father's death. Afterward he held for one year the posi- tion of check clerk in the Toledo office of the Cleveland & Toledo Railroad, now a part of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern. For two years following he filled a similar position in the office of the Wabash Railroad, and for three years was
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freight foreman for the same road. He then sev- ered his connection with the railroad business and returned to the old homestead, where he has since resided, giving his attention to farming and dealing in real estate. The rapid growth of the city has materially increased the value of his prop- erty, a large portion of which has been converted into city building lots. At the time of its pur- chase it was an uncultivated tract, covered with woods, upon which for many years stood a log house, the home of the family during the early years of their residence here.
May 7, 1857, Mr. Fassett was united in marriage with Miss Mary Elizabeth, daughter of Philander Wales, an early settler in this locality. They are the parents of three children, namely: Mary Alma, who was born March 22, 1858; Mabel, October 29, 1868; and John Elias, who was born November 4, 1862, and died in infancy.
Though not active in politics, Mr. Fassett never- theless adheres with fidelity to the principles of the Democratic party. For six years he was a member of the Board of Equalization, the duties of which he performed to the satisfaction of all concerned. A man of broad and liberal views, he has been a promoter of enterprise, ever ready to do his full share in matters pertaining to the pub- lic welfare. His success is well deserved, and he occupies a high place in the regard of his fellow- citizens.
BEDIAH A. BIGLEY is engaged in a hard- ware and general mercantile business at Rising Sun, Montgomery Township, Wood County. In 1883 he bought the store and stoek, and a few years later erected a good and substan- tial building, in which he has conducted a success- ful business, and won a reputation as an honorable and capable business man.
The father of our subject, Obediah, Sr., was born in Orange County, N. Y., October 1, 1804, and was married in Seneca County, Ohio, in 1830, to Eliza-
betli Bowerman, a native of Pennsylvania, born March 23, 1817. In 1822 he came to Ohio and worked as a farm hand for his grandfather. In 1824 he came to this county, where he remained for two years, and then returned to Seneca Coun- ty, continuing to make his home there for many years. In 1835 he purchased one hundred and twenty acres of timber-land in Montgomery Town- ship, this county, and after clearing five acres built a log house. He later sold forty acres of his land, but continued to cultivate the remaining eighty acres until his death, which occurred August 20, 1888, at the age of cighty-four years and ten months. His wife departed this life March 7, 1894, when in her seventy-eighth year. Mr. Big- ley is administrator of his parents' estate. Their eldest child, Charlotte, married Henry Swartz, who died in the war, and after that event she married Thomas Hunt, but both are now deceased. Julia first beeame the wife of Samuel Essex, and after his demise she married Martin Mound, of this township. John lives in Charlotte, Mich. Mary is the wife of Edward J. Teeples, of Bradner. Obedialı A. is the next in order of birth. Harriet was the wife of Benjamin Eshelman. Louis and Lucy, twins, were the next in the family. The former is a resident of East Toledo, but his sister is now deceased. Jane, the youngest of the fam- ily, married Daniel Conant, and lives in Amsden, Seneca County, this state.
Obediah A. Bigley, whose name heads this arti- cle, was born March 13, 1845, and was only ten years old when he came to Wood County. He at- tended school more or less until 1864, when, on the 22d of February, he enlisted in Company E, Twenty-fifth Ohio Infantry, at Sandusky City, under Colonel Houghton. After a short period spent at Camp Chase, he was sent to New York City, and thence to South Carolina. He took an active part in the battle of Du Bois Neck, in which the Union forces were defeated, and later, in the engagement at Honey Hill, he was in the hardest fight of the campaign, about two hundred and fifty soldiers of his regiment being killed or wounded in the encounter. While on the raid to Georgetown he was wounded in the left knee. Much of his army service consisted of pieket and
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guard duty. After the war had elosed he con- tinued to work for the Government until June 18, 1866.
On his return to Wood County Mr. Bigley was variously employed for a couple of years, and then began working at the carpenter's trade. He followed this calling until 1881, when he took charge of his father's farm for six months. From that time until the present, as stated above, he has been interested in merchandising in Rising Sun. Under Harrison's administration he was Post- master, and served for six months over the four- years term. In local Republican circles he was quite active, as he has also been in the Grand Army of the Republie, in which he is Commander of Whitman Post. He holds membership with the Patriotic Order Sons of America, and is Presi- dent of Camp No. 10, in addition to which he is a member of the Odd Fellows' society, in which he is Chaplain.
April 26, 1868, Mr. Bigley married Anna Bates, daughter of John and Samantha (Knight) Bates. The former was a native of Stark County, Ohio, and when eleven years old moved to Sandusky County. After his marriage he settled in Seneca County, and after a short residence in Rising Sun moved to Missouri. He later returned to Ohio, where he died, in Fostoria, May 16, 1881, in his sixty-first year. His wife departed this life July 12, 1894, aged seventy-three years. To Mr. and Mrs. Bates were born five children: Lucy, who is the wife of Jacob Baker, a laborer; Mrs. Bigley; Sylvester, who lives in this county; John, deceased; and Willis, whose home is in Kansas City. Mr. and Mrs. Bigley are faithful members of the United Brethren Church, of which he has been Class-leader for the past two years.
The union of Mr. and Mrs. Bigley has been blessed with seven children. C. P., the eldest, born February 15, 1870, is a graduate of the State Nor- mal School at Fostoria, Ohio, and was taken into partnership by his father October 1, 1894. They commenced operating in the oil business in 1893, in which line they are still engaged. Sarah A., who was born in August, 1872, married F.W. Bow- ers, and lives in Rising Sun. Myron O., born June 4, 1878, is attending the local schools. Wil-
bert and Wilber, twins, were born March 21, 1881, and the latter died July 5, 1881. Claude and Clyde were born May 1, 1883, and the former died September 8 following.
Since coming to the village of Rising Sun Mr. Bigley has met with brilliant success, having made $6,500, and the son $2,500. The former met with a severe accident October 8, 1893, being kicked in the neck by a horse, and he is still suffering from the effects of the accident.
ILLIAM GARNER, M. D., has been engaged in practice in the village of Lemoyne, Wood County, for about ten years and is meeting with success in his chosen work. The owner of a very pleasant home in this place, he takes great pleasure in extending its hos- pitality to his many friends and well-wishers. He is a graduate of the Cincinnati Eclectic Medical Institute, having been a member of the Class of '82, and after his graduation settled first for prac- tice at Lindsey, Ohio, but remained there scarcely two years, when he determined to cast in his in- terests with the lot of this community. He is a Democrat in his political affiliations, and officiated as Clerk of Troy Township for one term.
Dr. Garner is a native of the Buckeye State, having been born in Sandusky County, February 26, 1854. His parents, J. P. and Elizabeth (Shaf- fer) Garner, were natives of Germany, and emi- grated to the United States in 1853, settling first in Sandusky County, where they became the own- ers of a good farm. The father died in June, 1890, aged eighty-two years. His wife, who departed this life in 1887, was then in her sixty-fifth year. They were members of the Lutheran denomina- tion, and Mr. Garner was a Democrat. Of their eight children five are deceased. Philip and Henry P., the surviving brothers, are both pros- perous farmers of Sandusky County, Ohio.
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