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 31
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 31
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ILLIAM DUNIPACE, one of the lion- ored old pioneers of Wooster Town- ship, Wood County, has dwelt on his present homestead for the past fifty-eight years. In his early manhood he took up a traet of Govern- ment land, paying therefor $1.25 per acre, and from that time forward devoted his energies to its improvement and development. The place was heavily timbered, and barely five acres a year could be cleared by the most industrious efforts. Mr. Dunipace helped to lay out the roads, to erect schoolhouses, and in other ways to advance the interests of the community.
The birth of our subject occurred in the parish of Liberton, Edinburghshire, Scotland, January 19, 1816, his parents, William and Margaret (Gill)
EDWIN REED.
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Dunipacc, being likewise natives of that country. Their children were as follows: Robert, Margaret, Jeanette, Isabella, Mary (Mrs. James Muir), James, Annie and Charles. Margaret was born January 4, 1813, and January 10, 1836, married William Weddell, a mechanic, who died in 1843, aged thir- ty-two years. His son George is deceased, but another son, William, is a farmer of this township. His only daughter was named Margaret, in honor of her mother. Jeanette, the second sister of our subject, dicd in infancy; and the next sister, Isa- bella, was born July 24, 1814. Robert and James are deceased.
March 28, 1834, William Dunipacc, Sr., and his family started for the United States on a sailing- vessel, and for eight weeks were tossed to and fro on the Atlantic. Finally landing in New York City, they proceeded by way of the canal and the Great Lakes to Perrysburg, Ohio, arriving there July 3. In that place the father died about one month later, in his fifty-fourth year. His wife, after surviving him many years, died in 1878, at the ripe old age of ninety-three years.
William Dunipace, of this sketch, came to Amer- ica at the same time as his parents and brothers and sisters, and by the death of his father was early obliged to make his own livelihood. He obtained a position as a farm hand near Perrysburg, and worked for $13 a month. In 1837 he removed to the homestead, which he has since cultivated, and which was situated in what was formerly known as Freedom Township. As the years passed he added to his possessions until he now has over five hundred acres of valuable and improved land. He experienced all the hardships which fall to the lot of a pioneer, and for years his humble abode was in a log cabin 18x24 feet in dimensions. Though those years were full of toil and difficulties, yet they were not unhappy, as he was full of hope and ambition, and could not but feel pride in the suc- cess which he was achieving.
Mr. Dunipace received but a limited education, as he was able to attend school only until he was thirteen years of age, and he has had to rely upon his own private study and observation for the practical knowledge which he possesscs. In poli- tics he is a Republican, and religiously is identi-
fied with the Presbyterian Church. He can look back upon life well spent in doing good to his fel- lows, and is now passing his declining years sur- rounded with comforts which his toil has provided, and in the secure enjoyment of the confidence and respect of his many friends and neighbors.
DWIN-REED. As a notable example of what may be accomplished by energy, de- termination and force of character, we may point to the career of Mr. Reed, one of To- ledo's well known citizens. His banking and real- estate interests are extensive and important, and he is recognized as one of the most shrewd and successful financiers of the city. When he began his carcer he had about $4,000, which he inherited from his father, and by energy and perseverance, united with economy and business qualifications, he has added to his original fortune, and is now living in the enjoyment of the luxuries wealth affords.
Mr. Rced is a native of Ohio, and was born in Huron County, March 5, 1818, being the son of Samuel and Hannah (Brown) Reed. His father, who was born in Tolland, Conn., was a son of Samuel Reed, Sr., a native of Rhode Island, and a descendant of Scotch ancestors. Edwin was the second among six children, there being three sons and three daughters. Of that number, all the sons and one of the daughters are still living. His boyhood days were spent in Huron County, and he was carly trained to habits of industry and per- severance, which qualities were the secret of the success he afterward gained. His education was meager, as the schools of the early half of this cen- tury were inferior in the quality of instruction af- forded. However, he availed himself to the ut- most of such advantages as he could obtain, and through diligent effort and thoughtful reading he has acquired a reasonable fund of historical and general information.
Arriving at man's estate, Mr. Reed chose the oc- cupation of an agriculturist, to which he devoted
10
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twenty-seven years, meeting with excellent success in his various undertakings. In 1869 lie removed to Bowling Green, Wood County, Ohio, where he opened an Exchange Bank, and for the four ensu- ing ycars he remained at the licad of that financial concern. In 1873 he came to Toledo, where he has since made his home, but still retains his inter- est in the banking business, as tlic senior member of the firm of Reed, Merry & Co.
A half-century has passed since Mr. Reed estab- lished domestic ties and united : is destiny with that of Miss Rosamond Hubbell, an estimable and amiable lady, who was born in Lanesboro, Mass. She removed to Huron County, Ohio, with her parents when a child, and continued to reside there until her marriage in 1844. During the years that have since followed, she has been the faithful helpmate and devoted counselor of her husband, aiding him as far as possible in all his undertakings. Mr. and Mrs. Reedl became the parents of seven children, namely: Hattie, who be- came the wife of Frank Beverstock, and died at Bowling Green, Ohio, in 1874, leaving no children; Dell, who died in Toledo in 1878; Laura, who died in this city in 1880; Mattie, who is unmarried and resides with her parents; John, who was engaged in farming, and married Ada Rodgers, but died in March, 1894, leaving no children; Jennie, who married George II. Ketcham, and resides in Toledo with her husband and one daughter; and Mary, who became the wife of James G. Hickox, and died March 3, 1893.
In politics Mr. Reed is, and always has been, a stanch Democrat.
J AMES FACER, a retired farmer now living at Millbury, is a hero of the late civil con- flict, and was one of the unfortunate prison- ers at Andersonville, where he was confined for fourteen months and seven days. From the effects of the hardships and exposure whieli he en- dured there be has since been a cripple; for five
or six months while in captivity he could not stand erect, but had to crawl on his hands and knees.
Born in West Haden, Northamptonshire, Eng- land, July 2, 1830, James Facer is a son of George and Mary (Hall) Facer. The former, who was born. in the same part of England in 1810, died January 31, 1885, in his native land. He was a son of George Facer, who died in England in the '30s, when nearly one hundred years of age. Mary (Hall) Facer was a daughter of Joseph and Mary (Gilbert) Hall, who both died in England at au advanced age. George Facer and his wife, Mary, were the parents of six children, of whom James is the eldest. Mary married William Foster, a shoe dealer in Dunchurch, Warwickshire; Betscy became the wife of William Shaw, a dyer in a woolen factory at Dunchurch; Sarah's husband, Joseph Gurney, is a farm overseer for a nobleman at Buckley Lodge; William, who came to tlie United States about 1859, is the next; and Einma married William Harris, of England. William, the youngest son, resided with our subject until the war broke out, when he entered the service and, being captured, was taken to Andersonville, where he died April 20, 1864, from exposure and starva- tion.
It was in the spring of 1847 that James Facer loft Liverpool in the sailing-vessel "Weston," and after a voyage of thirty-nine days landed in New York City. He at once went to Ridgeville, Lo- rain County, and that summer worked for Samuel Burk, with whom he remained for many years during the winter seasons, the remainder of his time being spent as an engineer on lake steamers. August 16, 1862, he enlisted in Company K, One Hundred and Eleventh Ohio Infantry, and among others took part in the battles of Campbell Station, Crab Orchard, Strawberry Plains and Hough's Ferry. At the siege af Knoxville he was under Burnside, who was pinned in by Longstrect. Provisions grew very scarce, and the garrison had a hard time to hold out, but Sherman finally came to their relief. At Strawberry Plains James Facer, his brother and the two Meeks brothers were cap- tured, and spent one night at Castle Thunder, Richmond. Thence they were transferred to
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Belle Isle, where they remained for two weeks, finally arriving at Andersonville, where our sub- ject remained until the close of the war. He was paroled at Vicksburg, then went to Camp Den- nison, where he remained for a few weeks, and was discharged June 27, 1865, having been in the serv- ice three years all but two months. He had been reported dead, and had to identify himself before receiving his pay.
In August, 1865, Mr. Faeer bought a wooded tract in this county. This he cleared and brought under good cultivation, but has since sold the farm to his son. December 25, 1851, he married Lydia M. Davenport, who was born in Cattaraugus County, N. Y., December 15, 1830. Her father, Thompson Tabor Davenport, was born in New York, May 9, 1803, and died March 12, 1837. His wife, Hannalı, formerly a Miss Peters, born Sep- tember 26, 1807, died March 9, 1850. Mrs. Faccr was the fourth in a family of eight children, and was brought to Ohio when two years of age. By her marriage she has become the mother of seven children, as follows: George, who is engaged in milling near Latchie; Dora, who died at the age of six years; Eva, who died when in her fourth year; Walter, who owns his father's old homestead; Wallace, who is represented elsewhere in this volume; Cora, who became the wife of Charles Facer, a distant cousin and a resident of Millbury; and Effie, who lives with her parents. Mrs. Facer and her youngest daughter are members of the Mill- bury Evangelical Church. The former's brother, Thompson Davenport, was killed on the third day's battle of the Wilderness, and her brother Francis M. was wounded at Franklin, Tenn.
Fraternally Mr. Facer is a member of George Douglas Post No. 183, G. A. R., of Millbury, and his wife belongs to the Woman's Relief Corp No. 309. He has held nearly all of the official posi- tions in the local post, and has liad the honor of hav- ing a Grand Army post at Lansing, Mich., where he enlisted, named for him. In politics he is a stanchi Republiean, has been Couneilman for two terms, and has served as School Director. He comes from a military family, one of his uncles having been an officer on the field of Waterloo. His life has frequently been endangered, and, in
addition to his Andersonville experience, he has had several thrilling escapes from death. He was once on a vessel that was wrecked; at another time was on a ship that burned to the water's edge; and on still another occasion fell overboard in the night into an icy sea, but managed to keep afloat until a small boat was sent to his reseue. In the summer of 1884 he and liis good wife visited the land of their birthi, and passed three montlis very pleasantly with old friends and relatives, Mr. Faeer seeing his father, who was then in his eighty-fifthi ycar, for the last time.
OHN H. SCHRODER. The success which has attended the efforts of Mr. Schroder entitles him to mention in this volume. As a busi- ness man he is progressive, and as a citizen he has long ranked among the most public-spirited of Pemberville's residents. In addition to the management of his boot and shoe business, he has at various times been selected to represent his fel- low-citizens in official capacities, and has invari- ably rendered efficient and able service.
Born in Prussia, Germany, near the village of Buende, November 10, 1838, the subject of this notice is the son of John II. Schroder, Sr., a man of some means, and a carpenter and wagon-maker by occupation. The family being well-to-do, the son was given excellent opportunities for obtain- ing an education, and during boyhood spent his time principally in school. At the age of fifteen he commenced to learn his father's trade, which he followed until he came to America, in 1851. After crossing the Atlantic he came direct to Cleveland, where he served an apprenticeship to the trade of a cabinet-maker, meantime attending night school whenever it was possible. For six years lic followed that trade, two years being spent in Cleveland and four in Toledo.
A year and a-half after our subject came to the United States, his parents, with his three brothers
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and one sister, came to this country and settled in Pemberville, where his father, mother and sister all died of eliolera in 1854. He, being the eldest of the family, was therefore obliged to look after his brothers. Of these we note the following: C. H. is an extensive dealer in saslı, doors and blinds in Toledo. J. F., who enlisted in the Union army during the Civil War, was a member of the Fifth United States Regulars, and was taken prisoner at Chickamauga, whence he was sent to the prison at Andersonville, and there he died. William H. was in the undertaking business in Toledo, and being a shrewd financier, he accumulated consid- erable property, and was in comfortable circum- stances at the time of his death, when thirty-four years of age.
Believing that farm work would aid in restor- ing his health, which had become somewhat im- paired, our subject in 1857 purchased a farm near Pemberville, whicre for a time he engaged in agri- cultural operations. Later he disposed of the traet and purchased a farm in Webster Township. Agriculture, however, was not a congenial occu- pation, and he soon retired from it and went to Toledo, where he worked at his trade until a year later, when failing healtlı again obliged him to abandon it. Purchasing a farm near Pemberville, he resumed the tilling of the soil, and for the fol- lowing seven years was thus engaged. He then embarked in the mercantile business at Pember- ville, but after some years with different partners, the business proved a failure, and he was compelled to make an assignment. Under the first adminis- tration of President Cleveland, he received the appointment of Postmaster, which he filled for several years. On retiring from that office, he em- barked in the boot and shoe business, in which he has since engaged.
Mr. Schroder married Eliza, daughter of Casper Koliring, a native of Germany and one of the pioneer farmers of Wood County. Eight of their eleven children are living. Henry W. is the man- ager of the Pemberville Creamery Company; Louis F. is an operator on the Columbus, Hocking Valley & Toledo Railroad; Fred H. is the station agent for the same road at Pemberville; Edward is in school; George is a student in the law department
of the Ohio Normal University, at Ada; Anna is the wife of E. H. Smith, a merchant of Pember- ville; Lizzie is the wife of Edward Hebler, a farmer by occupation; Minnic was for several years a teacher in the Pemberville High School, but now devotes her attention exclusively to the teaching of music.
The first office held by Mr. Schroder was that of Township Trustee, and afterward he was Town- slup Treasurer for several years. He has been Justice of the Peace for the past twenty-six years with the exception of one term. While thic new schoolhouse was being built, lic served as a meni- ber of the Board of Education. For three years he was Mayor of Pemberville. During his services in the City Council the new city hall was erected. At one time lie was elected Probate Judge of Wood County by four hundred majority, but was eount- ed out. Two years later he was a candidate for the office of County Treasurer, and while the Re- publican majority in the county was nine hundred, he came within one hundred and fifty votes of being elected. In religious views he is a Lutheran and for many years he was an officer in the church.
A L. BORDNER, one of the leading business men of Bradner, was born on a farm near Prairie Depot, Wood County, Ohio, Jan- uary 28, 1851. He is a son of Michael Bordner, who was born in Licking Township, Dauphin County, Pa., February 28, 1812. His grandpar- ents on the paternal side, Peter and Catherine (Godman) Bordner, were natives of Pennsylvania, the former having been born in Lebanon County. Botlı were descendants of German ancestry.
Thrown upon his own resources at the age of eleven years, our subject's father began to work upon a farm, receiving his board and clothes in compensation for his labor. When fifteen years old he commenced to learn the shoemaker's trade, and the following year he came to Ohio with the
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hope of improving his chances for making his way in life. He worked at his trade in Stark County, receiving $27.50 and a pair of fine boots for a year's labor. After four years in Stark, he came to Wood County, and purchased a tract of land on the west side of the middle branch of the Portage River, near the present site of the village of Port- age. Returning a short time afterward to Stark County, he married Miss Leah Buchtel, and, ac- companied by his young wife, started for his pros- pective home in Wood County.
The place was then a wilderness, and on account of high water it was impossible to reach the land upon which Mr. Bordner had intended to settle. However, he soon succeeded in disposing of the property, and purchased eighty acres near Free- port, in Wood County, upon which he constructed a small house of round poles, covered with clap- boards, and with a floor and door of puncheon. The nearest mill at that time was at Fremont or Perrysburg, and to reach either of these points it was necessary to make a long and tedious trip. The journey hither was made with an ox-team, and as the roads were very muddy, considerable trouble was had in preventing the oxen from get- ting stuck in the mud. The family subsisted mainly upon the game brought down by Mr. Bordner's unerring rifle. Animals were numerous, and at one time, when going home after dark, he was followed by a pack of wolves to his very door, and in order to keep them from entering the house by way of the chimney (the top of which was but a few feet from the ground) he was compelled to build a fire in the fireplace. In those frontier times, surrounded by all the hardships of pioneer life, many were the hardships endured by this brave man, but in spite of all the drawbacks he now looks back upon those days as the happiest of his life. In 1854 he lost his first wife, and three years later he married Polly Yoey, of De Kalb County, Ind.
For twenty years Michael Bordner lived on the farm, after which he spent two years in Freeport, and then came to Bradner, where he bought a small tract of land. Here his second wife' died, since which time some of his children have resided with him in order to make his remaining days as happy
and comfortable as possible. In many respects he has been a remarkable man. Starting in life a poor boy, settling in the swamps of Wood County with- out means, he nevertheless made a fortune. His generosity has been unlimited, and while he still has an ample fortune left, much has gone to benefit others. In all his dealings with his fellow-men his character has never been stained by deceit or shadowed by dishonesty. In fact, he has been known for the uprightness of his life and the kindness of his heart. No appeal to him from a worthy person has ever been made in vain. He is known and honored as one of the most enter- prising, generous and kind-hearted citizens of the county.
In the family of Michael Bordner there were eight children. Henry, who enlisted in the Union army during the Civil War, was a member of the Twenty-first Ohio Infantry, belonging to Com- pany D; he died during his service. Calvin, also a member of the Seventy-second Regiment, lost his life in service, Mary is the wife of George Bower. Lucy is married to Levi Brook. Rachel is the wife of Michael Bowe, of Rising Sun. Ellen, Mrs. Jasper Weller, lives in Michigan. Sarah, wife of M. Fairbanks, resides in Deshler, Wood County, Ohio.
The only surviving son of the family is the subject of this biographical sketch. He spent his early life upon the home farm and was educated in the country schools. After a short time de- voted to farm work he came to Bradner, in 1889, and opened a mercantile establishment, which he has since conducted. He is an extensive dealer in stock and poultry, and also has a large grocery trade, having met with gratifying success in these various lines of work. He owns a farm upon which there are five oil wells, and also has consid- erable valuable property in Bradner. His ability as a financier is recognized by all who know him, and he is considered one of the shrewdest business men of the county.
In 1871 Mr. Bordner was married to Miss Mary Shinew, the daugliter of a farmer living near Port- age, Wood County. They have three children living, and lost one in infancy. The surviving sons are Edwin L., Harvey N. and Floyd W., in-
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telligent young men, whose prospects for success- ful careers are the brightest. Socially Mr. Bord- ner is an Odd Fellow. In his religious views he is connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is Trustee, and for two years he has filled the position of Superintendent of the Sun- day-school.
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D ANIEL DENNIS DOWNING, a prosper- ous farmer of Wood County, farms a ninety-acre tract of land on the outskirts of Millbury. He is one of England's native sons, his birth having occurred in Cornwall, near the village of Stratton, August 29, 1855, but since his youth liis fortuues have been interwoven with those of the United States.
John Bailey and Jane (Bicklye) Downing, the parents of the gentleman of whom we write, were both natives of Cornwall, and born in 1823, their marriage occurring twenty years later. John B. Downing was a farmer in the mother couutry un- til 1869, when lie embarked at Liverpool on the steamship "Siberia," and after a voyage of eleven days reached Boston, Mass., October 26. On the passage a dreadful storm was encountered, the main shaft broke, and for eight hours the vessel was driven before the fury of the gale. The Cap- tain gave the ship up for lost and had an account of the disaster written and placed in a bottle, whichi he was about to throw overboard, when the shaft was patched up in some way, and they managed to continue tlic journey slowly. From Boston Mr. Downiug and his family came direct to Mill- bury, where a nephew was a resident. For some six years Mr. Downing engaged in farming near this place, after which he was station agent at Latchie for seven years. Iu 1882 he returned to England, and for ten years engaged in market gardening and fruit raising. Since 1892 he has made his home with his daughter in Gibsonburg, Sandusky County. His father, John Downing, was
boru about 1785, and lived to he ninety-eiglit years of age. . He was well educated, and was un- usually successful in his chosen vocation, that of farming. His last years were spent in Boynton, Cornwall, where he owned a number of houses, which he rented.
Jolin Bailey Downing and his wife, Janc, had the following childrcu: John, who was killed on the railroad at Millbury about 1882; William, a mer- chant of Tromley, Wood County; Arabella, who married Alfred Deacon, a mason of Elmore, Ottawa County, Ohio; Danicl D., our subject; Richard Rogers, who is unmarried and lives with the former; Emily Anu, wife of Abraham Kimmerlin, a dry- goods merchant of Gibsonburg, Ohio; and Louisa, who died at the age of twenty years. The mother of these children departed this life in June, 1871. She was the fourth of six children born to William Bickle.
Danicl D. Downing was born on the Lezant Farm, near Stratton, and when two years old his pareuts removed to the Smorm Farm, in St. Gen- ny's Parish, where the boy attended school up to the time of the family's emigration, his last teacher being Walter Gros, an old soldier. Until he was nineteen years old he worked for his father, and then obtained a position in A. J. Miller's sawinill at Millbury. He then became his assistant in the postoffice. The following winter he worked in the woods, and hauled logs for a year at Webb's Sta- tion. For the suceeeding four years he was em- ployed on a farm six miles south of Toledo, after which he came to this vicinity and entered the employ of Mr. Chapman on the farm where he now resides. His next move was to become an cn- gineer iu a stave factory, but since 1888, when he rented this farin, he has engaged in its cultivation. He is a loyal Republican on all questions of na- tional importance, but in local elections supports the best man.
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