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 28
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 28
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It was not until he was twenty-six years of age that Mr. Blair entered the railway service. In September, 1870, he became bill clerk for the 'To- ledo, Wabash & Western Railroad, but served in that capacity for a short time only. In March of the following year he became chief clerk of the east-bouud department of the same road, which position he filled until September, 1874, rendering service that was eminently satisfactory to his su- perior officials. At the time last named he accepted a position as agent for the Diamond Fast Freight Line, with headquarters at Toledo.
In 1875 Mr. Blair became connected with the Canada Southern Railroad, which he represented as its agent in Toledo for a number of years. Such was the ability displayed in the management of its interests, that in January, 1880, the company promoted him to the position of General Agent. He remained with them until October, 1882, when he entered the employ of the Wheeling & Lake Erie Railroad Company, and has since maintained his connection therewith. For a time he officiated as General Freight Agent, but on the 1st of July, 1889, he was promoted to the position of Traffic Manager, and February 1, 1892, became General
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Manager of the road. His successive promotions from the time he entered the railroad business prove the possession on his part of a superior order of ability, the existence of which has been still further verified by the able manner in which he discharges the duties incident to his present posi- tion of trust and honor.
OHN A. PRINTUP is engaged in agricultural pursuits on section 8, Sylvania Township, Lucas County. His father was one of tlie pioneers of this section, having preceded his family hither in 1834. He bought eighty acres of the farm now owned by our subject, and then re- turned for his wife and children, who reached their new home in the wilderness in 1835. The father bore the Christian name of Andrew, and by birth was an Empire State man. His wife, who was a Miss Angelina Emmons before lier marriage, was likewise a native of New York. For a num- ber of years Andrew Printup was a merchant and Justice of the Peace in this vicinity. In politics he was a Democrat, and was appointed Postmaster of Sylvania under Buchanan's administration. He was a member of the Masonic order, and was a faithful worker in the Methodist Episcopal Church. In April, 1870, he was called to his final rest, at the close of a uscful and well spent lifc.
Andrew Printup lost his first wife in 1846, and subsequently he married Sarah Guinn, who died in 1846. Three years later Mr. Printup wedded Eme- line Page. By his first marriage he had nine chil- dren. Nancy M., the eldest of these, born May 17, 1826, married Darius Mills, and died May 18, 1882; Alida, Mrs. Freeman, born April 9, 1828, died April 7, 1889, in Toledo; Cornelia, born July 27, 1830, died January 30, 1849; Joseph A., born November 30, 1832, is a retired farmer of Adrian,
Mich .; our subject is the next in order of birth; Catherine A., born June 25, 1837, is the wife of Joseph Skeldon, of Toledo; Joshua E., born April 30, 1840, dicd October 15, 1858; Lavina, born April 9, 1843, died August 23, 1853; and Pene- lope A., born May 27, 1846, died in infancy. Of tlic two children born to the second marriage, Everett, born September 12, 1847, died January 5, 1849; and Thomas A., born August 6, 1849, died in September following. Of the third marriage, Caroline, born July 22, 1850, died August 5 of the same year; and Alice, born September 21, 1851, also died in infaney.
At the time of his demisc, Andrew Printup owned two hundred and forty-six acres, eighty- six acres of which are now owned by John A. Printup, our subject. April 12, 1858, the latter ehose as a future companion in life Miss Caroline Cassady, daughter of Asa and Sarah (Bliss) Cas- sady, natives of New York and Massachusetts, rc- spcctively. At an early day they moved to Micli- igan, where they reared a family of six children, and resided until summoned to their final rest. Their eldest son, Corydon, who died in August, 1893, served for three years in the late war. He was six months a prisoner in Macon, Ga., and re- ceived a bullet-wound, from the effects of which he suffered until his death. Hiram, the second son, is a farmer in Michigan; and Harvey, who participated in the last engagements of the war, is now living in Kansas. Eveline married Henry Moore, a Union soldier, who lost his life while in a sailboat on Calumet Lake, near Chicago, Ill., lie being at the time in the employ of the Pullman Palace Car Company.
To Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Printup were born seven children. John A., Jr., born April 16, 1859, was a man of superior education, and at the time of his death, which occurred December 7, 1893, he was Principal of the Hartonville ( Wis.) schools. A wife and three children survive him. Lillian M., born December 8, 1860, is the wife of Dr. A. Lathrop, of Swanton, Ohio; Eva A., born Scptem- ber 21, 1862, married Alva A. Lathrop, a farmer of Berkey, this county; Emmons, born June 10, 1864, is engaged with the Appleton Publishing Company, of Chicago, as salesman; Carrie La
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Vernc, born April 14, 1866, is the wife of Howard Clark, a farmer of Richfield Township, this coun- ty; Daisy Imogene, born July 27, 1871, died March 28, 1889; and Hayes, born June 11, 1876, died August 26, 1877.
For several years Mr. Printup has been Town- ship Trustee and Assessor, and was also School Director for some time. In politics he is a Repub- lican, and in religious belief is a Congregational- ist. From the effects of rheumatism, which he suf- fered from in boyhood, he has always been a crip- ple, but in spite of this misfortune has been very active, and has accomplished a great deal.
H ENRY W. PARKER is one of the old and honored pioneers of Lucas County, and has lived for many years on his home- stead, which is situated on section 14, Sylvania Township. He is well liked by his large circle of friends and neiglibors, and is known to be a man in whom it is perfectly safe to confide the interests of the public.
A native of Massachusetts, Mr. Parker was born on his father's homestead, May 7, 1819, and there spent his early childhood. His father and family tlien removed to New York State, where they remained four years, and when our subjeet was eleven years of age he removed with his par- ents, Levi Simeon and Lucy C. (Gleason) Parker, to Ohio, first settling on land which now constitutes part of the city of Toledo, but which at that time was occupied principally as an Indian reservation. In an educational way his advantages were ex- treinely limited, and he is largely self-taught. The first money which he ever earned was made by driving eattle, after which he worked for two years on the Erie Canal.
Mr. Parker early obtained a good knowledge of agricultural pursuits, but when about thirty years
old he began learning the carpenter's trade also. In 1840 he became interested in a hotel, which, in company with his brother Ellis, he carried on un- til 1848.
The first marriage of our subject took place in 1844, when Martha M. Huling became his bride. Two children came to grace their union, Harris E. and Ellis. The first-mentioned, born January 11, 1846, died in August, 1860, and the younger one, born October 21, 1849, died March 7, 1851. The mother departed this life October 31, 1849, at which time the family were living in Sylvania.
January 1, 1854, Mr. Parker married Elizabeth Gilpin, who bore liim thirec children. Two of them died in infancy, and the other, born Angust 5, 1867, was called to the better land October 3, 1877. Mrs. Parker's birth occurred July 19, 1836, and hier girlhood was spent in Crawford County, Pa.
The thrifty and well kept farm owned by our subject was formerly the property of his father, and was retained by his widow until her death, when it was deeded to the two leirs. Mr. Parker bought out the others interested and became the sole pro- prietor of the place soon afterward. He has made many improvements, which have materially in- creased its value, among these being substantial buildings.
For several years Mr. Parker has served his neigh- bors as Township Trustee with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of all. He is a loyal citi- zen, and a supporter of the Republican party. At one time he was affiliated with the Odd Fellows' society.
H ENRY C. ELLIS is General Manager of the Toledo & Maumee Valley Railway Company, and is also President and Treas- urer of the Fox Brick Company of Toledo, an ex- tensive and paying concern. He is a business inan of exceptional ability, wise forethought and good judgment, and the enterprises mentioned above have profited very much by his connection
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with them. An active Republican, lic was for ten years a member of the County Central Committee, aud from 1890 up to the present time he has been a member of the County Board of Elections. Hc is also Vice-President of the Toledo Republican Club.
The parents of Henry C. werc John D. and Eliza- beth M. (Ellis) Ellis. The father, who was a na- tive of Ohio, was the son of Isaac Ellis, who was born in 1794, and was of Welsh descent. Jolin D. Ellis was a farmer by vocation, and for some years was a very successful tobacco-raiser. He died in 1852, in Griggsville, Pike County, Ill. His wife, who was a daughter of James Ellis, of Ohio, was a native of this state, and died in 1893, when in her eighty-second year.
Henry C. Ellis was born at Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio, February 27, 1850, being the young- est of seven children. His father died when he was only two years of age, and he was consequently obliged to start out in the world for himself at an carly age. He attended the public schools near liis home, and afterward weut to Dayton, Ohio, where he took a commercial course in order to fit himself for the business world. After that, ob- taining a position with the firm of Payne, Holden & Co., of Dayton, he continued to act as their bookkeeper for two years. He was next employed in the same capacity by John H. Thomas & Co., dealers in books and stationery.
It was in the year 1872 that Mr. Ellis came to Toledo, and for the next six years he was manager for the Grover & Baker Sewing-machine Company at Toledo. During the years 1879-80 he was Dep- uty County Treasurer. In 1881 he was made Sec- retary and Treasurer of the Toledo Brick Com- pany, and in 1882 became persoually interested in the manufacture of brick. The same year lie be- came interested with John B. Fox & Co. in the same branch of business, and ultimately became Pres- ident and Treasurer of the Fox Brick Company. Both of these plants commenced trade in a small way, but have built up large and lucrative busi- nesses, it being necessary for them to constantly enlarge their facilities.
In February, 1876, Mr. Ellis married Miss Ella G. Hall, of this city. To Mr. and Mrs. Ellis were
born four children, namely: Emma, Ruth, Herbert and Florence. The faithful wife and devoted inother was called from the family circle by deatlı in 1888, leaving a host of friends who liave sin- cerely missed her from her place.
In his social relations Mr. Ellis is identified with Sanford L. Collins Lodge No. 396, F. & A. M. He owns a pleasant and commodious residence at No. 1037 West Woodruff Avenue.
D AVID O. DENNIS became the owner of the farm on which he lately resided in the spring of 1875. This place is located on section 32, Spencer Township, Lucas County, and comprises eighty acres. For three years he served as Township Trustee, and for ten years he was a School Director. Formerly a Republican, he is now au ally of the Prohibition party.
The paternal great-grandfather of our subject was a native of Scotland, and emigrated to thic United States at an early day, settling in New Jersey, whence he subsequently removed to Marietta, Ohio, where he made his home until his deatlı. The grandfather, Isaac Dennis by name, was born in New Jersey, and later moved to Seneca County, N. Y., and subsequently to Steuben County, in the same state, where he died in the spring of 1834. He was a soldier during the War of 1812. His son Joseph, our subject's father, born in 1802, in Sen- eca County, was educated in the common schools. About 1823 he married Mary, daughter of Philip King, of Steuben County, who had also formerly been a resident of New Jersey. In 1834 Joseph Dennis, with his family, came to Ohio and took up forty acres on section 1, Fulton Township, Ful- tou County, then a part of Michigan. Four chil- dren were born on this farm, which Mr. Dennis sold in 1848, investing the proceeds in eighty acres on section 31 in the same township. A part of
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this he sold to our subject, and then bought forty acres on section 6, which he afterwards disposed of to his son Carl. Later he bought twenty acres in Amboy Township, and in 1871 sold that tract and bought forty acres in the northern part of Swanton Township. This property he sold in 1877, and passed the remainder of his days among his children, dying at the home of our subject April 20, 1885, aged eighty-four years all but four days. His wife died in 1875, aged about seventy- one years.
The children of Joseph and Mary (King) Dennis were as follows: Isaac, who died while in the army near Ft. Powhatan, Va .; Philip, who was killed by a falling ladder on his father's old homestead; David O., the next in order of birth; Sarah, who died in 1848, unmarried; Ephraim, who died in the service at Mound City Hospital; Jeremiah O., an Omaha merchant, who died April 20, 1885; Charity, the wife of Edwin Viers, a farmer of Ful- ton County; Charles I., engaged in farming in Richfield Township, this county; and Hannah Jane, the wife of Russell Bartlette, a retired farm- er living in the village of Swanton.
The subject of this sketch was born June 30, 1827, in Steuben County, N. Y., and with his par- ents came to Ohio. He attended the common schools and later learned the carpenter's trade, which he afterwards followed in Palmyra and other towns in Michigan and Ohio. On New Year's Day 1852, he married Nancy, daughter of Jotham Reed, a farmer of Fulton Township, this county. The latter's wife, Nancy, was a daughter of Peter Barkus, who emigrated from near Syra- cuse, N. Y., to Medina County, Ohio. Mrs. Dennis had three sisters: Julia, who married Thomas Gray and lives in Michigan; Sarah, who wedded Evan Jones, also of Michigan; and Lavinia, wife of Dan- iel Russ, who is managing the old Reed homestead in Michigan.
Mr. and Mrs. D. O. Dennis have had born to them eight children, namely: Philonzo C., who died in infancy; Mary Frances, widow of Horace Coon, and mother of eight children; Norris E., who mar- ried Annie Miller, of Dayton, Ohio; Louisa, wife of Charles Barnes, a farmer of Spencer Township; Charles F., whose wife was formerly Carrie Smith,
and who lives on a farm near his father's; Russell G., who married Rosa Barnes, and is teaching school near home; Bert C., who lives with his par- ents; and Harriet Ann, who died in infancy. Nor- ris E., formerly a school teacher, took a theological course in the United Brethren College at Dayton, and is now pastor of Ida Misson, near Dundee, Mich. When he was twelve years old our subject joined the United Brethren denomination, but is now a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Swanton.
R OBINSON LOCKE is President of the To- ledo Blade Company, to which position he was elected by the Directors in the spring of 1888, on the death of his father. He is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and a Direc- tor in the Northern National Bank. The Toledo Blade, which has a national reputation and is one of the representative newspapers of the United States, is too well known to require extended no- tice. The Daily Blade is an eight and sixteen page paper, ably edited and gotten out in good shape. It is the official Republican organ of the northern part of Ohio, and has a very extensive circulation. The Weekly Blade is of like dimensions, and en- joys the largest circulation of any similar publica- tion, in the United States.
The birth of Mr. Locke occurred in Plymouth, Richland County, Ohio, March 15, 1856. He is the eldest son of David R. Locke, whose biography appears in another portion of this work, and who was called to his final rest February 15, 1888, in this city. His widow, who was in her maiden- hood Martha H. Bodine, is still living in the fam- ily mansion at No. 1305 Jefferson Street. The boyhood of Robinson Locke was spent in this city, his education being acquired in the public schools. After graduating from the high school, he went to Europe and studied in Zurich, Switzerland, and subsequently in Paris. Returning home, be was
9
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given a position as reporter on the Blade, and after a time made a second extended journey to Europe. On his return to Toledo, he was imme- diately appointed United States Consul to New- castle-on-Tyne, in England, by President Arthur, and remained abroad for two years, at the end of that period resigning liis position to return to his work on the Blade. In 1888 he became editor-in- chief and President of the Blade Company. Un- der his management the journal has steadily gained in the favor of the public, and its circulation largely increased.
During his numerous trips to Europe and Japan Mr. Locke did a great deal of literary work for his paper, much of which appeared afterward in book form. His letters from Beyrouth on the oceasion of the first production of Richard Wagner's now famous "Parsifal" attracted a great deal of atten- tion here and abroad, being translated in several German publications. His letters from Norway in the fall of 1885 were very favorably received, and during the summer of 1893 he published the re- sults of the preceding winter's sojourn in Japan in a series of illustrated letters that were widely read and quoted.
Fraternally Mr. Locke is a member of a number of leading societies and clubs. He is a Thirty- second Degree Mason and a member of the well known Union League Club of Chicago, the Lotus Club of New York City, and of the Toledo Club. He enjoys the friendship of a large circle of ac- quaintances, who at all times find him a genial, courteous and pleasant companion.
ILLIAM M. WOLLAM has been a life- long resident of Montgomery Town- ship, Wood County, for he was an in- fant of only a few weeks old when brought to this vicinity by his parents. Ever since attaining man's estate he has been engaged in cultivating his father's old homestead on section 36, and is
now the owner of the place. A man who is well and favorably known in the community where he dwells, he lias frequently been called upon to serve in a public capacity, and has been Road Supervisor, School Director, Town Councilor, juror, etc.
The paternal great-great-grandfather of our sub- jeet, Jacob Wollam, a native of Virginia, who was born in the early part of the eighteenth century, about 1715, leased a t:act of land in Berkeley County, Va., for a term of ninety-nine years. The family history prior to the time of his birth is quite vague, what is known of it having been handed down from father to son. The family originally came from near the Rhine, in Germany, but owing to religious persecutions sought a re- fuge in America, where the men distinguished themselves as Indian fighters and adventurers. Jacob's son, Baltzer, born in 1745, the next in the line of descent, and his wife, Mary M., who before lier marriage was a Miss Weaver, were both born in the Old Dominion. They removed to Colum- biana County, Ohio, in 1803, and there reared to maturity their six sons and five daughters, all of whom married, had families, and, with the excep- tion of one who died in his seventeenth year, reached a ripe old age. Great-grandfather Baltzer Wollam served in the War of the Revolution, and his son Henry, grandfather of our subject, was a soldier in the War of 1812. On the maternal side our subject's great-great-grandparents were na- tives of Berkeley County, Va., and there his great- grandfather lived and died.
Henry, one of the sons of Baltzer and Mary M. (Weaver) Wollam, was born in 1777, aud died in 1844. Both he and his wife, whose maiden name was Bough, were natives of Berkeley County, Va. They were the parents of thirteen children, seven sons and six daugliters, who all married and had families. Their son Benjamin, father of our sub- ject, was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, March 11, 1807, and continued to reside in that locality until his marriage, which occurred December 25, 1832. His wife was Miss Susannalı Smith, of Co- lumbiana County, a daughter of Lewis Smith, a na- tive of Lancaster County, Pa. They came to Wood County in the spring of 1834, but returned to Columbiana County the same fall, remaining there
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until the spring of 1838, when they came to this county, where the father took up one hundred and sixty acres of Government land on section 36, huilt a log cabin, and in a few years had cleared away the timber and made many improvements. Of the four children born to him and his wife, thrce grew to mature years, Mary having died when in her eighth ycar. Lealı, born January 5, 1835, married August Crowell. William is the next in order of birth; and Henry, born Novem- ber 14, 1844, died on the 19th of August, in the year 1874, and was buried in the township come- tery. He left a wife, Leah, formerly a Miss Stov- er, but no children. Henry Wollam served in the late war in the Twenty-first Ohio Infantry until discharged. He also served in Wheeler's Battery, from which he was transferred to the Fif- ty-seventh Ohio Infantry, where he remained un- til discharged on account of wounds received at the battle of Resaca. Henry B. Wollam, an unele of William M., also served in the late Civil War, as a Captain, and died in 1862, from disease con- tracted in the army.
William Wollam was born April 18, 1838, in Columbiana County, Ohio, and with his parents made the journey to Wood County by ox-team, the trip consuming two weeks. He received the best schooling the times afforded, during the win- ter, and worked on a farm during the summer. At the age of cigliteen years he left school, and for two years gave his time exclusively to farming. The winter he was twenty, and also the following winter, he attended school again. In 1869 he went to Kansas with the intention of remaining there, and took np one hundred and sixty acres. At the end of two years, however, he returned to Ohio, as the drought which prevailed so exten- sively in Kansas discouraged him from making any further attempt at farming there. He settled on eighty acres of his father's old farm, and after the latter's deatlı, which occurred April 8, 1887, at the age of eighty years, he became the owner of and has since managed the estate. In 1886 be leased a tract of land to the Rising Sun Oil Com- pany, who sunk six wells on the samc. His mother died May 14, 1883.
March 22, 1863, William Wollam and Julia Bier-
ly were united in marriage, and three children llave come to bless their union, namely: Dora H., born June 30, 1864, and still living at home; Lo- rain M., born May 27, 1865; and Laura, July 22, 1867. The second daughter married Albert Yam- bert, and has two children, Fern and Dale. Laura became the wife of Frank Fry, and she and her husband are living with her parents. Mrs. Wollam is a member of the United Brethren Church. In politics Mr. Wollam is a Republican, and a mem- ber of the Disciples Church.
ILLIAM E. BRIGHAM, one of the most enterprising young business men of Toledo, is the junior member of the firm of W. T. Carrington & Co., with which concern he has been thus connected for the past three years. This firm is one of the solid eompa- nics of the city, and has a large trade in grain, the dealings being carried on on the commission plan. The senior member of the firm is a resident of Chicago, and thus much of the responsibility of the business devolves on Mr. Brigham.
The father of the gentleman just mentioned, Reed M. Brigham, was a prominent agriculturist in Monroe County, Mich. He was a native of Massachusetts, born in 1818. The birth of Will- iam E., his son, occurred in Erie, Mich., in Oe- toher, 1859. He passed his youth on his father's old homestead, and was early drilled in various kinds of useful work. He attended the district school in the neighborhood of his home, and subse- quently pursued more advanced studies in the To- ledo High School.
At the age of seventeen years Mr. Brigham en- tercd the employ of Carrington & Casey, dealers in grain. With thein he remained for some four- teen years, a part of which time he was salesman, and the remainder of that period was their book-
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keeper. When Mr. Casey withdrew from the firm, our subject was admitted in his place. He is a member of the Toledo Produce Exchange and pos- scsses good financial and executive ability in con- ducting his business affairs.
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