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 20
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 20
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died October 2, 1894; Walter, born June 10, 1821, and who passed away in 1891; Ann, born October 24, 1824; Andrew, September 27, 1826; and Mar- garet, October 25, 1833.
The Davidson family came to the United States in 1834, and after a six-weeks voyage landed in New York City, from whence they proceeded by way of the canal, lakes and team to Perrysburg, this county. In a short time the father went to Pennsylvania and bought four hundred acres of land near Waterford, Erie County, and then started to join his family, but died on the way four miles west of Fremont, in July, 1834. His remains were placed at rest in the cemetery at Perrysburg.
On coming to Webster Township, Robert David- son bought forty aeres of second-hand land on section 12, and paid for the same $120. He erected a log cabin, and here his mother continued to dwell until her death, which occurred in 1869. On the 3d of February, 1837, our subject married Jeanette Forrester, who was born March 16, 1816, in Scot- land. They became the parents of eight children, as follows: Robert, born December 31, 1838, and now a resident of Center Township; Ellen, who died in infancy; Thomas, born February 11, 1843; Margaret, born June 7, 1845, now the wife of By- ron Lockwood; William, born October 9, 1849; James, March 7, 1850, and whose death occurred December 13, 1886; Frances, born September 14, 1852, and now deceased; and Walter, born January 12, 1856, and still living on the old homestead. Thomas enlisted as a private in Company D, Twenty-first Ohio Regiment, in the Civil War, and died in Andersonville Prison, September 6, 1864.
Soon after liis marriage Mr. Davidson enlarged his log cabin, which he built in 1824, and year by year made valuable improvements on his farm, which was originally covered with heavy timber. By hard work he managed to clear about five acres a year, using ox-teams altogether in the work. He had learned the mason's trade, and he followed this business to some extent in connection with farming. When he retired from active cares his home farm comprised one hundred and thirty- eight acres. In early ycars bis trading-point was Perrysburg, and two days were required to make the round trip by ox-teams. Game was very plenti-
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ful, and the Indians had not all departed for the West. For over forty years Mr. Davidson beld local offices of more or less importance. Since the formation of the party he has been a Republican. Formerly he was a Whig, and cast liis first Presiden- tial ballot for Martin Van Buren. For many years Mr. Davidson was a member of the Presbyterian Church. His faithful companion and helpmate along life's journey was called to the better land June 17, 1881.
YRUS M. KELLY, one of the sterling old pioneers of Wood County, is engaged in general farming on section 20, Freedom Township. In his early years lie experienced all the vicissitudes of pioneer life, and distinctly re- members when Indians and wild game were nu- merous. On one occasion his father stood in the cabin door and sliot two deer which had ventured near. He never attended school a day until he was fourteen years of age, there being no schools previous to that time in thie township where he lived. A subscription school was later started, and the pupils received advantages of the most meager description, but which were certainly bet- ter than none.
Tlic parents of our subject were Isaac and Eliza J. (Ennas) Kelly, natives of Pennsylvania and Delaware, respectively, and the former of Irishi de- scent. They had seven children: Alfred, Nancy L., Newton I., Cyrus M., Eliza, Caroline and Mar- tha. In 1825 they emigrated by teani from Wayne County, Ohio, to this county, and the trip from Fremont to Perry consumed four days, as they were obliged to cut their way through the woods. Mr. Kelly took up one hundred and sixty acres on seetion 19, Perry Township, in the midst of a dense forest. This land he liad entered the pre- vious fall, and on it had put a log cabin 18x20 feet in dimensions. He cleared about eiglity acres of the land and sold out his interest in the placc
in 1851, having taken the western fever; and, be- lieving that he could do better in some otlier scc- tion, with his family and household effects le started with three teams and proceeded on his travels through Indiana, Iowa, Illinois and Wis- consin. He was disappointed in those states, and in 1852 returned to this county and bouglit one hundred and sixty acres on seetion 20, Freedom Township. On this homestead be died in 1877, at the age of eighty-four years, and his remains were buried in Milgrove Cemetery. He was one of the very first settlers in Perry Township, and helped to organize the first seliool in it; he also as- sisted in laying out the first road in the township, prior to which time there were nothing but Indian trails. He was obliged to go by ox-teams to Fre- mont when he wished to have grain ground, and the journey required from three to four days. He was a faithful member of tlie Presbyterian Church, and was loved by all who knew him.
Cyrus M. Kelly was born in Wayne County, Ohio, November 4, 1822, and grew to manhood in Perry Township, this county, whither his parents liad removed when lie was only three years of age. Prior to his father's death he purchased thie eighty aeres which are still in his possession, and on whieli he yet makes his abode. Most of the improve- ments on the place stand as a result of his indus- try and good management.
In 1847 Mr. Kelly married Eleanor Adams, by whom he had four children, namely: Viola V., who died in infancy; Eliza J., who died in 1878; Assher C., of Dunbridge; and Jolin C., of Mieliigan. Mrs. Kelly died in 1865, and in 1868 our subject mar- ried his present wife, whose maiden name was Lu- ceba A. Sanders. She was born in Freedom Town- ship, September 23, 1845, and by her marriage has become the mother of one child, Annette E., wlio married Freeman E. Long and has three children, Ada L., Veo and Orrin H.
July 11, 1861, Cyrus M. Kelly enlisted as a Cor- poral in Company I, Second Heavy Artillery of Ohio, but served throughout the war as a private, being discharged in November, 1865. His first en- gagement was near Strawberry Plains, after which he took part in the battle of Bull's Gap, Ala., and other minor engagements. His service extended
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into Kentucky, Tennessee and Alabama, and lie was fortunate in never being wounded or taken prisoner. Of late years he has been a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. Religiously he adheres to the faith of his fathers, and is an active member of the Presbyterian Church.
J ONATHAN D. WHITTAKER, M. D., came to Wood County in 1843, and after practic- ing for a year at Rochester, settled on a tract of land comprising four acres in Webster Township. This tract, just enough for a home, he has made many improvements upon, and here has his pleasant and commodious residence. He has been very successful in the practice of his profes- sion, and is the pioneer physician of the county. In former years his visits were all made on horse- back, and he well remembers when there were only a few houses in Bowling Green, and when Indians were numerous in this locality.
The Doctor was born in Butler County, Ohio, near Hamilton, October 20, 1823, and is one of seven sons, whose parents were James and Mary (Corwin) Whittaker, bothi natives of the Buckeye State, the former born in Hamilton County. Jolin, their eldest son, is a resident of Hamilton, Ohio; Stephen makes his home in Clermont County, that state; Joseph is an Indiana farmer; Albert, a physi- cian, is now in Colorado; Ichabod died in the army in 1862; and James, a veteran of the late war, died in 1892.
Dr. Whittaker grew to manbood in Huntsville, Butler County, this state, and remained under the parental roof until he was seventeen years of age, attending the subscription school, where he ac- quired his elementary education. When in his nineteenth year he entered Oxford College, where he remained until 1838. He then took up the study of medicine in Mt. Pleasant, Tenn., with Dr. Charles W. Rooker, with whom hic remained for three years, after which he entered Nashville
Medical College, and after pursuing a three-years course was duly graduated, in 1842. His first practice was in company with his former preceptor, Dr. Rooker. Since 1843, as previously stated, he has been numbered among the medical fraternity of Wood County.
In 1845 Dr. Whittaker married Charlotte B. Harper, who was born in Hamilton, Ohio. Their union has been blessed with the following children: Austin, who is now deceased; Mary, wife of Will- iam E. Stine; Emma, who married David I. Whit- more, a farmer of this township; and Jobn and James, who are deceased.
In political matters Dr. Whittaker is a Prohibi- tionist, and fraternally he is identified with the Masonic order. He enjoys the friendship and con- fidence of all who have the pleasure of his ac- quaintance, and his reputation as a physician of ability is wide-spread.
EORGE F. SUKER, M. D., is one of the ( youngest members of the medical frater- nity of Toledo, where he opened an office in 1894. He has had special training in, and has made a great study of, the diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat, and intends to devote himself principally to these branches.
The Doctor is a native of Michigan, having been born in the city of Detroit, October 12, 1868. He is a son of Herman and Amelia Suker, who were natives of Prussia, and are now residents of De- troit. The carly years of the Doctor were passed in his native city, where he attended the public schools and became familiar with both the German and English languages.
In 1887 the young man took up the study of medicine with Dr. Peters Hausen, and when he had made sufficient progress in his elementary work he entered the medical department of the Michi- gan State University of Ann Arbor, being duly graduated from that celebrated institution in 1892.
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For the following year he was assistant Professor in the departments of ophthalmology and otology. Subsequently he was for two years Demonstrator before the classes pursuing special studies of the eye, ear, nose and throat. While yet a student, he was an assistant in the department of bacteriology, and devoted considerable attention to that now well recognized science.
In July, 1894, Dr. Suker married Miss Bertram C., daughter of the late Dr. Dunster. This well known physician was formerly Professor of Ob- stetrics and Gynecology at the Michigan State University. The residence of the young couple is a pleasant and comfortable one, situated at No. 322 Eighteenth Street.
Politically Dr. Suker is an ally of the Republi- can party. He is a young man who has a more than ordinarily bright future in store, and who will undoubtedly soon be numbered among the foremost physicians of this city and county. He brings to bear upon his chosen work much research and private study, in addition to the excellent training he has had under the best of teachers.
LIJAH B. HALL, of Toledo, has been a manufacturer of brick . for upwards of a quarter of a century, and in addition to having a large local trade, ships the surplus to southern Michigan. His plant is located at No. 769 Hamilton Street, on Swan Creek, near the Lake Shore Railroad, which furnishes good shipping fa- cilities. The annual output of the factory is eight million bricks, which are made by a force of men and boys averaging about seventy-five hands.
Samuel Hall, father of the gentleman whose name heads this article, was of English descent, and was a native of Massachusetts, as were his an- cestors for several generations. He was an agri- culturist and a successful, thrifty and enterprising man. He married Martha Stone, a native of Mas- sachusetts, whose father, Nehemiah Stone, was a
valiant soldier in the Colonial War for independ- ence, and drew a pension for services therein ren- dered.
In Charlton, Worcester County, Mass., the sub- ject of this sketch was born July 6, 1820, and upon the home farm in that place he remained until six- teen years of age. On completing the studies of the common schools, he entered Lester Academy, where he remained for two terms. Later he taught for one winter. He then learned the carpenter's trade, and upon becoming thoroughly competent in this occupation he entered the employ of a firm engaged in taking contracts for building railroad bridges. For seven years he remained with that firm, and then decided to start in business for him- self.
Forming a partnership with Dwight Briggs, under the firm name of Briggs & Hall, our subject embarked in business, making his headquarters in Rochester, N. Y., until 1853, when he came to Toledo and took the contract for building bridges on the Wabash Railroad from this city to the Illi- nois state line. During the twenty years that he was engaged in this branch of business he con- strueted bridges in all parts of the country. About the year 1858 he began building busi- ness blocks, dwellings and churches, and among the fine structures erected under his personal super- vision is the stone cdifice in which the Episcopalian congregation worships. In 1868 he embarked in the manufacture of brick, to which he has sinee given his attention. He uses modern machinery and steam power, and his pay-roll amounts to $200 or more per day. In addition to this business, lie is Vice-President of the Toledo Supply Company, one of the solid business concerns of the city, con- ducting a large business in the sale of plumbers' articles, gas and steam fitting supplies.
Mr. Hall has been twice married, his present wife, with whom he was united in October, 1894, having been Miss A. C. Kellogg, a lady of fine education and many accomplishments, and a dangh- ter of Dr. M. C. Kellogg, of New York. They re- side at No. 2236 Franklin Avenue, where they own a commodious brick house, tastefully furnished.
Mr. Hall served as Councilman in 1868 and 1869, also as Street Commissioner in 1872 and
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1873, and as City and County Treasurer in 1878 and 1879. In 1862 the Ohio Legislature passed an act organizing the National Guard. Mr. Hall, being an earnest supporter of Lincoln's adminis- tration, raised Company B, and when it was organ- ized as a regiment he was commissioned Major. In the spring of 1864, when Lincoln called on Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin for one hundred thousand men for one hundred days, the regiment enlisted and was mustered in as the One Hundred and Thirtieth Ohio Infantry, and sent to the James River, where it served the one hundred days and more.
AMES V. HUFFMAN, one of the foremost operators of the Wood County oil-field, was born in Scott Township, Sandusky County, Ohio, October 23, 1858. The family of which he is an honored representative originated in Ger- many, but the date of their emigration to America is not known. The first of the name to come to Ohio was our subject's grandfather, James, a na- tive of Pennsylvania, who removed to the Buck- eye State about 1830, and twenty years later set- tled in Sandusky County, where his death occurred in 1858.
The father of our subject, Oliver P. Huffman, was born in Medina County, Ohio, Juue 22, 1837, and grew to manhood in the place of his birth. His mother was Catherine Wilson, a native of Wheeling, W. Va., whose father, William, was born in Ireland, emigrated to America in early life, and served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War. Her brothers, David and John, were both Captains in the War of 1812, and the family has always been distinguished for patriotic spirit and bravery. On the paternal side, our subject had one uncle and two aunts, namely: Victor J., who enlisted in the Union army at the age of only seventeen and served with valor, and who is a wealthy resident
of Holton, Kan .; Emily, wife of Henry Angus, who was a soldier in the Civil War and is now a resident of Brookfield, Mo .; and Lucy, who died unmarried a number of years ago.
During the Civil War our subject's father en- listed in the service of the Union, becoming a member of Company G, One Hundred and Sixty- ninth Ohio Infantry, in which he remained until the close of the war. Afterward he went to Omaha, then proceeded to Brookfield, Mo., where he and his family almost lost their lives in a cyclone. Their house was blown down on top of them, in- flicting injuries from which they suffered for some time, and one child died from the effects thereof. Alarmed by that catastrophe, and not caring to make his home permanently in a region subject to such disasters, he came back to Ohio, bringing with him his family and such household goods as were left. For many years he was engaged in the hotel business at Bradner, and has also devoted consid- erable attention to the oil industry.
By his union with Martha Angus, a native of Ohio, Mr. Huffman had four sons and three daugh- ters. Lucy, the eldest, is the wife of Dr. J. E. Furst, of Bradner; Rena married J. P. Evans, who is engaged in the drug business at Bradner; Ella, the wife of Charles H. Whelan, an oil operator, Is also a resident of Bradner; Eager and Frederick are engaged in the oil business; William lost his life in the cyclone in Missouri.
Accompanying his parents in their removal to Nebraska, and later to Missouri, our subject had few opportunities for acquiring an education, as he was obliged, even at a very early age, to assist his father in the maintenance of the family. Upou starting out for himself he was first employed as a teamster, and later engaged in the charcoal busi- ness. For some years he had a livery stable at Bradner, which line of work proved remunerative. When oil was discovered in Wood County, he be- came an important factor in the development of the field, and was engaged in making leases of oil land for P. A. Templeton, of Jamestown, N. Y., and D. C. Browley, of Butler County, Pa. Soon becoming familiar with the business, he began to make leases for himself, and it is doubtful if any man in the Ohio oil-fields lias leased as much land as
CHARLES F. CURTIS.
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has he; and few, if any, have put down as many wells.
In the development of the oil industry, Mr. Huffman has found a large field for speculation. Starting with limited capital, he would stake his last dollar, and perhaps strike a "dry holc" and sink it all. However, undismayed by misfortune, he persevered, and soon made another stake, in which he would perhaps strike a "gusher." In this way he had alternate adversity and prosperity, poverty and riches. Doubtless, no one is more familiar than is he with the history of the oil in- dustry in this section, and certainly no one has done more toward developing the same. His ex- periences as an oil operator, were they fully told, would make a volume from which much of interest and value might be gleaned. He has now in oper- ation twenty-three wells, and has made a fortune out of this industry.
In 1885 Mr. Huffman married Miss Altie, daughi- ter of the late Amos Fowler, and sister of M. M. Fowler, also an extensive oil operator. They have one child, a son, Fowler, and have lost a son and daughter in infancy, Muriel and James V. Socially Mr. Huffman is identified with the Odd Fellows, Masons, Knights of Pythias and Sons of Veter- ans. In religious belief he is a Methodist, and holds membership with that denomination in Bradner.
0 RANK I. KING is the surviving member of the firm of C. A. King & Co., who have obtained a world-wide reputation for their crop and market reports, and who are large dealers in grain and secds. Mr. King was elected Presi- dent of the Produce Exchange in 1892, and in 1894 helped to organize the Chamber of Commerce, of which he is now President.
A son of Frederic and Catherine (Pierce) King, our subject was born in Paterson, N. J., in May, 1860. He graduated from the high school of this city in 1877. In 1884, he was elected to the City
Council, and re-elected in 1886, without any op- position, and served four successive years as Presi- dent of that body. In 1884 he became a member of the firm which is now known as C. A. King & Co.
In October, 1882, Mr. King married Miss Jennie Collins, and they have a family of four children, Miriam, Adelaide, Frederic and Kate Locke King. On questions of politieal bearings, Mr. King is to be found on the side of the Republican party.
HARLES F. CURTIS, President of the To- ledo Savings Bank and Trust Company, and a Director of several other banks and institutions, was born in Madison County, N. Y., February 19, 1822. Hc is the son of Samuel and Elizabeth Curtis, the former a native of New York State, and the latter born in Connecticut. The Curtis family is of English descent, but has been represented in America for a number of genera- tions. Charles F. is the eldest of a family of five children, there being two sons and three dangh- ters. He passed the years of boyhood upon his father's farm, and received such advantages as the district schools afforded, afterward attending an academy for two years.
On leaving school, Mr. Curtis became a contract- or on the New York & Erie Railroad, and was thus engaged from 1849 to 1851. He then camc to Toledo, and was a contractor on the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad for the three ensu- ing years. Afterward he had charge of the con- struction of the road extending from Toledo to Butler, Ind., some sixty miles in length, being in partnership in this enterprise first with Folsom & Co., and later with other parties. His connection with railroad interests covered a period of about fifteen years, most of the time as contractor, after which he retired from that business and embarked extensively in the lumber business in Toledo, un- der the firm name of Curtis & Thomas, After the
6
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deatlı of Mr. Thomas. Mr. Curtis formed a partner- ship with Webster S. Brainard in the lumber busi- ness, and later in the real-estate and vessel prop- erty business, whichi latter still continues. They have done a large business, and are recognized as one of the substantial firms of Toledo.
In 1894 Mr. Curtis married his present wife, who was Miss Mary A. Berkhead, of Toledo. In politics he has always been a Democrat. The fam- ily residence is situated on Cherry Street, and is a beautiful abode, surrounded by large and well kept lawns, and furnished in a manner indieative of the refined tastes of the inmates.
H ERMAN EPKER, a retired business man and well known citizen of Toledo, is a native of the province of Overyssel, Aus- ched, Holland, and was born October 27, 1824. He is a son of Albert and Catherine (Sambaeh) Epker, who were both born in Prussia, and after their marriage removed to Holland, where they passed the remainder of their lives, the father dy- ing at the age of forty-six, and the mother passing away when fifty-seven years of age. They were honest, hard-working, respectable citizens, and the parents of seven children, of whom our subject is the only one now living.
In June, 1847, Mr. Epker bade farewell to his home and native land, and started to seek his fortune in the country where so many of his friends had previously gone. He sailed from Rot- terdain, and after a long and tedious voyage of thirty-five days arrived safely in New York City. He only remained a few days in that great metrop- olis, however, and then continued his journey to the farther West, locating in Toledo, Ohio. Hav- ing learned the earpenter's trade in his native land, he soon found employment at that oecupa- tion after his arrival in this state.
The subject of this sketch was married to Miss Mary, a daughter of Sylvester and Catherine Lo-
rentz, on the 16th of April, 1849. Mrs. Epker was born in Prussia, Mareli 8, 1826, and came to America in 1838 with her parents. They sailed from Havre, France, and were six weeks crossing the broad Atlantie. They landed in New York City, and from there went to Bloomfield, N. Y., where the father found employment in the water works. This was their home for the first two years after their arrival in this country, but in 1840 they removed to Toledo, where the father began working on the canal, which was in course of construction at that time. Mr. and Mrs. Lo- rentz were the parents of nine children, two of whom survive. They made their home in Toledo until the time of their death, the father, departing this life at the age of fifty years, and the mother passing away when in her sixtieth year.
Eight children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Epker, as follows: Edward, Catherine, Elizabeth, Agnes, Charles, Mary, Susanna, and one who has passed over the river to the better land. Those living are all married and settled in homes of their own, and, having all received good com- mon-school educations, are abundantly able to take care of themselves.
After his marriage Mr. Epker continued to work at his trade for some time, but later became engaged in the cabinet-maker's and furniture bus- iness. He followed this occupation for twelve years, and then sold out his interest in the busi- ness and bought a farm. With his family he took possession of it and became engaged in the oldest calling in which we have any account of man en- gaging-that of tilling and cultivating the soil. He continued that work for ten or twelve years, becoming well versed in all the details of agricult- ure, and widely known throughout the county as an honest, energetie, prosperous farmer. At the expiration of the time mentioned he sold his farm and returned to East Toledo, going into a saloon business, at which occupation he continued for five years, when he removed to Ten Mile Creek. There he remained five or six years, after which he again returned to Toledo and purchased his present res- idenee, retiring from aetive business life.
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