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 32
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 32
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On the 2d of July, 1882, Mr. Downing married Miss Ella Monroe, who was born in New Rochester. this county, September 17, 1862. Her parents, James and Etta (Knoll) Monroe, were married in New Rochester about 1858. The former was born in 1832, to James and Lydia (Campbell) Monroe, who were Virginians, but settled in Shelby County,
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Ohio, as early as 1835. There the mother died in the year 1840, and nine years later the father was stricken with cholera, from the effects of which his death resulted. Mrs. Etta Monroe died in Mau- mec County in the fall of 1867, at the age of about thirty-one years. Her eldest daughter, Carrie, who was born in 1859, married William Leuce, now of Tennessee. Mrs. Downing was about five years old when her mother died, and she went to make her home with a Mrs. Dale, of Maumee City. When she was in her fourteenth year she came to Millbury and lived with the family of Charles F. Chapinan, where she was living at the time of her marriage. Three children have been born to our subjeet and his estimable wife: Ralph, October 4, 1883; Roy, December 2, 1886; and Zella, June 10, 1889. Mrs. Downing has been a faithful member of the Evan- gelical Church for seventeen years, and both she and her husband enjoy the confidenee of a large circle of acquaintances.
ALTER W. BRIM, who purchased his residence in Millbury in 1884 and rents a farm near the village, is one of the native sons of Wood County, having been born in Troy Township, December 9, 1843. During the late war he fought in defense of the Union, and has a record of which he may well be proud.
The parents of our subject were George and Betsy M. (Loop) Brim, the former of whom was born September 20, 1807, in Devonshire, England, and came to the United States in the spring of 1835, settling near Stony Ridge, Wood County. At first he worked in a brickyard, then was em- ployed in lumbering on the Maumee River, and from 1837 to 1840 assisted in building the Western Reserve and the Maumee Turnpikes. He then rented land, and in 1848 bought forty acres in Sandusky County, where he lived until his death, which. occurred December 7, 1873, at which time he was the owner of about two hundred acres of
land. He was bound out when only nine years of age, and served until reaching bis majority, and from that time until his emigration worked on farms. He came all the way from England to 'To- ledo by water, and was accompanied by his brother, John W., who shortly afterward moved to Illinois, and all trace of him has been lost. George Brim was a son of George Brim, Sr., who died in Dev- onshire, England, prior to 1835, leaving a large family.
The marriage of George Brim, Jr., to Miss Betsy M. Loop was eelcbrated October 1, 1840. The lady was born in New York State, March 13, 1813, being a daughter of Peter and Rebecca (Gilbert) Loop. The former died June 9, 1855, and the latter April 9, 1841, aged, respectively, eighty- cight and sixty-eight years. George and Betsy Brim became the parents of nine children, as fol- lows: James J., who is operating the old home- stead in Sandusky County; Walter W., our sub- ject; Emeline and Emily, twins, the former of whom is the wife of William Duke, a farmer near Lamont, Pettis County, Mo., and the latter of whom died in infancy; George, who was a farmer in Johnson County, Mo., and is now deceased; Laney M., who is the wife of J. Christian Recker, a farmer of Troy Township; Gilbert B., who owns a farm in Lake Township; Betsy M., wife of George Ash, a furniture dealer of Logansport, Ind .; and Clara E., wife of W. E. Gardner, of Lake Town- ship. The mother of these children died March 12, 1895, aged eighty-two years.
The early years of Walter W. Brim were quietly passed in Sandusky County. When only four years of age he commenced going to school, this being before his parents removed from Wood County. Later he attended the seminary at Maumee, a Methodist Episcopal denominational school, leav- ing there in the spring of 1863, after having pur- sued thrce terms of study. September 24, 1863, he enlisted in Company L, Third Ohio Cavalry, under Col. Charles Seidell and Colonel Howland. He served in Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Geor- gia, Mississippi and North Carolina, taking part in the battle of Mission Ridge and the siege of Knoxville (in which he was among the advance forees), and was among the first to break through
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the lines and communicate with Burnside. After following Longstreet into North Carolina, he went with his regiment into winter. quarters on the. Hiawassee River, and in the spring of 1864 fol- lowed Bragg into Georgia, charging the enemy at Dalton. In the Atlanta campaign he was in many skirmishes, and just before the march to the sea, in the fall of 1864, when the cavalry force was di- vided, he returned to Louisville under Wilson. The next spring lie took part in the Wilson raid through Selma and Montgomery, Ala., also to Columbus and Macon, Ga. At Columnbus, Wilson's command captured twelve hundred Confederates, with a loss of only thirty men. Mr. Brim's com- pany was a portion of the force detailed to capture Jeff Davis, and though he was not with the party that took possession of that noted leader, lie rode over one hundred and seventy-five miles in. pur- suit of him. At the close of the war he held the rank of First Corporal, and was finally discharged at Edgefield, Tenn., August 4, 1865.
For four years after returning from the South Mr. Brim engaged in farming during the summer and teaching in the winter, after which he devoted himself entirely to the management of his father's homestead. In 1876 he moved to a farm in Mill- bury, and has since devoted himself exclusively to agriculture. He first purchased one hundred and sixty acres south of the village, but later disposed of that land. In politics he is a loyal Republican, and fraternally is a member of George Douglas Post No. 183, G. A. R., of Millbury. He has been Mayor and Councilman of this place, and has served as School Director.
February 4, 1875, Mr. Brim and Harriet S. Brahm were united in marriage. The lady was born in Loudon, Pa., January 18, 1847, and is a daughter of David and Sarah (Lookinbill) Bralım, natives of Roekland and Berks County, Pa., re- spectively. The former was a son of Abraham Brahm, a native of the Keystone State, and of Dutch descent. Mrs. Brim removed to Fremont, Ohio, with her parents when she was about four- teen years of age. By her marriage she has be- come the mother of four children. Mary E., born July 12, 1876, was married November 28, 1894, to E. E. Dancer, Superintendent of Schools at Milton
Center, Ohio. Thomas Earl, born February 4, 1879, and Walter Rolla, born October 19, 1881, are attending the local schools; and David Ray- mond, born June 1, 1891, completes the family. Mrs. Brim is a member of the Reformed Church, while her husband holds membership with the Christian Church. The father of the former was a resident of that part of Pennsylvania which was devastated by Lee in his raid, when the rebels took possession of his house, stole his horses, and oth- erwise made themselves free with his possessions.
Among many interesting incidents of Mr. Brini's army career may be mentioned the following: He was one of a party sent out to reconnoitre in the vicinity of Dalton, Ga. They were instructed to emerge from a small wood and deploy aeross a field in the face of the enemy. As Mr. Brim was in the advance, he was naturally last when the cnemy turned upon them, but while retreating lic noticed that a comrade, Sylvester Stump, had re- ceived a shot through the ear and along the side of the head. He was stunned and his horse had escaped. Although Mr. Brim was in the face of a deadly fire, he dismounted, helped the wounded man onto his own horse, and safely conveyed him to the ambulance that was concealed in the timber from which the- dash was made. Again, in the operations around Selma, Ala., Mr. Brim was sent out as a scout to discover the position of the en- emy, and when about twenty miles from the main force he and his companions crossed an alınost im- passable swamp and found themselves confronting the main body of a Confederate brigade which was on the way to reinforce Selma. To the left were the outposts of the garrison; to the right, along an unused road, was a small body of cavalry guard- ing the left flank of the Confederates. They were apparently hemmed in on all sides, but they made a dash for the cavalry outriders and drove them back far enough to pass the swamp and, escape to their command. Knowing of the reinforcements on the way, the latter assaulted the works at Selma that night and captured the place.
Unfortunately for Mr. Brim, when his command left the Tennessee River on the Wilson raid, he was just convalescing from an attack of camp fever, and was unfit to withstand the severe strain to
DORIA TRACY.
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which he was subjected. At Flint River Bridge, having ridden forty-five miles during the previous niglit, he succumbed and was left by the roadside, unable to proceed further. He has suffered almost constantly since his discharge, but has never re- ceived financial recognition of his injuries at the hands of the Government.
D ORIA TRACY, a retired capitalist and prominent citizen of 'Toledo, has made his abode here for about thirty years, and has witnessed much of the growth of this enterprising eity. Soon after his arrival he began dealing in real estate, and carried to success nearly every one of his numerous ventures. He has built eight bus- iness bloeks in Toledo, and among others ereeted the Traey Block, on Madison Street, and the Aldine Hotel, on the corner of Ontario and Madison Streets. He still has in his possession valuable business prop- erty on Summit Street, which he leases to responsi- ble tenants. He is a notable example of what may be accomplished in this fair land by men of intelli- gence, upright principles and industrious quali- ties. He began at the bottom and gradually worked his way npward until he is to-day a very wealthy man.
The ancestors of Doria Tracy were among the earliest settlers of New England. On the paternal side his progenitors settled in the United States as early as 1640. and members of the family were true and loyal patriots during her different strug- gles for liberty. The grandfather and father of our subject both bore the Christian name of Simeon. The latter, who was born in Berkshire County, Mass., was an agriculturist and a mechanie as well, and helped to build some of the first machinery for the manufacture of broadcloth. His wife, whose name before her marriage was Luey Reed, was also a native of Berkshire County, and was one of thirteen children. By her marriage, she became the mother of. seven children, all of whom survived to maturity, but our subject is now the only survivor of the family.
Doria Traey was born in Berkshire County, May 18, 1808, and was next to the youngest of his par-
ents' children. On leaving the common schools he entered the liome academy, where he pursued his studies for two years. Until he was eighteen years of age he remained on the old homestead, his time being employed in agricultural duties. Later lie learned the spinner's and weaver's trade, at which he worked for about five years. He next embarked in merchandising in the town of his birth, but eventually sold out and drifted west to New York State. There he engaged in operating a farm from 1844 until 1850. While on the farm he built a plaster-mill, and about 1850 built a sawmill in Allegany County, N. Y., on the Genesee Valley and Canal, and there engaged in lumbering. He found a ready sale for all the shingles, staves and lumber that could be manufactured in the mill, its produets being shipped to Rochester, Troy and New York City. Subsequently he built another sawmill for pine lumber, and had a prosperous bus- iness until the plant was burned down. After this misfortune he built another mill, which he operat- ed until the close of 1866, when, as previously stated, lie came to this eity, in 1867, and lias sinee been interested in real-estate affairs.
In his twenty-fourth year Mr. Tracy married Lucretia K. Hateli, who died in 1836, leaving one son, Henry, a well known and enterprising business man of this place. The second marriage of Mr. Tracy was withi Miss Almaria Nichols. She died in 1879, leaving a daugliter and two sons, Frank E., William N., and Catharine, wife of J. G. Lamson.
Though now in his eighty-seventh year, Mr. Traey is still active and very energetie and has not yet relegated to others the management of his es- tates and still extensive business interests. Sinee the formation of the Republican party he has been one of its truest supporters, and never fails to cast his ballot in favor of its nominees. He enjoys the respeet and esteem of all who know him, whether in a public or private capacity.
EORGE W. AULTMAN, a farmer of Web- ster Township, Wood County, is one of the native sons of the Buekeye State, his birth having occurred in Stark County, October
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30, 1842. He is much interested in the success of the Republican party, and has held the office of Constable. A veteran of the late war, he has since become a member of the Grand Army of the Re- publie, and in days of peace as well as war has been a loyal and faithful citizen.
Peter Aultman, the father of the gentleman whose name heads this sketeh, was born in 1813, in Pennsylvania, and on arriving at man's estate married Miss Mary Martin, who was also born in the Keystone State. Peter Aultman was a stone- mason by trade, but much of his life was devoted to farming. About 1854 he emigrated to Wood County, and having settled on a farm of one hun- dred aeres in Webster Township, proceeded to elear it of the thick forest with which it was en- eumbered. Here he passed the remaining years of bis life, and was finally placed to rest in the Zimmerman Cemetery. He died at the age of fif- ty-five years, but his wife is still living, being now in her seventy-eighth year. They were the par- ents of thirteen children, six sons and seven daughters, eight of the number yet living. Three of the sons fouglit for the Stars and Stripes in the War of the Rebellion.
George W. Aultman was only two years of age when he was brought by his parents to this coun- ty, and here he was reared to manhood. He re- ceived practical instruction in the proper manage- ment of the farm, and learned habits of thrift and industry which have served him in good stead. February 28, 1865, he enlisted as a private in Company G, One Hundred and Eighty-ninth Ohio Infantry, and was mustered into the service at Columbia. He took part in the campaigns in Ten- nessee and Alabama, and on serving his term of enlistment received an honorable discharge, Sep- tember 28, 1865.
October 26, 1879, Mr. Aultman was united in marriage with Ella Kelly, who was born in Free- dom Township, this county. Seven children have been born to this worthy couple, and the family eirele is yet unbroken by deatlı. In order of birth they are as follows: Ralph, Grace, Blanche R., Blaine, Leora, Eva and Urban S. Mr. and Mrs. Aultman are members of the Presbyterian Church, and enjoy the affection and esteem of a large cir-
ele of friends and acquaintances. Sinee his fa- ther's death the management of the old homestead has rested upon Mr. Aultman, who has condueted it up to the present time. The farm comprises forty-two aeres and is improved with good build- ings and fenees.
AMES P. EVANS, the popular druggist of Bradner, was born on a farm four miles from this eity, December 16, 1861. The first rep- resentative of the family in Ohio was his grandfather, James Evans, a native of Massachu- setts, who came to Ohio in 1824, but returned East two years later. On loeating a' second time in Ohio, he selected for his home a farm near Brad- ner, and there he spent the balance of his days, passing from earth in 1864. He was a soldier in the War of 1812.
According to the genealogieal record of the Evans family, we find that the first of the name to come to America were seven brothers, natives of Wales, who crossed the ocean together and sought homes in the New World. They settled in differ- ent states, one loeating in Massachusetts, and from him this braneli of the family is descended. James Evans married Hannah Dean, a native of Massa- chusetts, and they became the parents of eight sons and one daughter, of whom two sons died in in- fancy. George was a soldier in the One Hundred and Eleventhi Ohio Infantry during the Rebellion; Benjamin, wlio enlisted in Company G, Eighth Ohio Infantry, died during service; John, a mem- ber of Company A, One Hundred and Eleventh Ohio Infantry, was killed in the battle of Resaca; Joseph was a soldier in Company G, One Hundred and Sixty-ninth Ohio Infantry; and Everett, who served during the entire period of the war, was a member of Company G, One Hundred and Sixty- ninth Ohio Infantry.
The father of our subject, Everett Evans, was born near Bradner, July 24, 1839, and has spent
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his entire life in Wood County, being now a prom- inent and successful merchant of Bradner. By his marriage with Miss Sarah Huffman, he had four children, namely: James P .; Philip, who died at nine years of age; Alice, who also passed away when nine; and Mary Eleanor, who resides with her parents. The boyhood years of our subject were spent on his father's farm, and he received a prac- tical education in the public schools. In 1880 he embarked in the drug business at Bradner, and this he has since conducted, meeting with fair success in his work. In addition thereto, he is extensive- ly engaged in the oil business, being a member of the Yellow Hammer Oil Company, which controls large interests in the Wood County oil-fields.
The marriage of Mr. Evans united him with Miss Rena, daughter of O. P. Huffman, and a cul- tured young lady, who is prominent in the best society of the place. One child blesses their home, a son named Everett P. Our subject, socially, is a Thirty-second Degree Mason, as is his father also. He is prominently identified with the Knights of Pythias, in which organization he takes a lively interest. To the great questions before the people to-day he has given thoughtful attention, and, be- lieving the policy of the Republican party will sub- serve the highest interests of the people, he gives that politieal organization his ballot and influence.
D UDLEY LOOMIS is the oldest pioneer in Webster Township in point of years of residence, and it is within his recollection when there was only one shanty in Pemberville, and when the nearest neighbor to the south was three and a-half miles, the neighbor on the north twelve miles, to the east four and a-half miles, and westward over five miles distant. He is now the owner of two hundred and fifteen acres of land on section 14, Webster Township, on which he has
made all of the improvements. Besides attending to general farming, he has been quite extensively engaged in raising, buying and selling cattle and hogs. He is a loyal Republican, and for eleven years has filled the office of Trustee to the full sat- isfaction of his constituents.
In a family of eight children, Dudley Loomis is the third in order of birth, the date of that event being February 9, 1826, and his birthplace Grafton, Lorain County, Ohio. His brother George died in May, 1890, leaving a wife and family. Betsey, the eldest sister, and wife of Eli Colvin, lives on a farm near Grand Rapids, Mich. Melinda, who died June 1, 1894, was the wife of Samuel Muir, of Webster Township. Lorin L. is the next in the family. Almira married John Forrest, who died in 1865. Matilda, Mrs. Jefferson Stillwell, makes her home in Toledo; and William died in infancy.
The parents of this family, Levi and Prudie (Stedman) Loomis, were both natives of Massa- chusetts and were married in that state. In 1822 they settled on a farm ncar Grafton, Lorain Coun- ty, taking up a tract of Government timber-land. The father cleared and improved a farm, his fam- ily living in a log cabin until 1835, when they left the place to take up their abode in Wood County. They located on one hundred and sixty aeres of Government land covered with heavy forest, and paid therefor $1.25 per acre. A shanty made of poles, and with a roof and floor of elm bark, pro- vided a shelter for some time, and the mother cooked the first summer by a log pile in front of the house. This shanty was replaced in the fall by a substantial log cabin of one room, with a puncheon floor, and here the parents passed their last years. They were both placed to sleep their last sleep in what is known as the Loomis Bury- ing-ground, on the old homestead.
Dudley Loomis continued to live with his mother until he was seventeen years of age, when he took a contract to clear ten acres of land in return for a tract of forty acres of virgin forest land. He carried out his bargain to the letter and received the forty acres, which were on section 14, in this township. He was busily employed in clearing his farm until he reached his majority, when he re- turned to the old homestead and operated the same
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for two years. After that he went back to his own traet, on which he put up a log cabin, and here he dwelt until 1869, when he purchased the farm where he now lives. This place comprised eighty acres of fertile and well developed land, and witlı this for a nucleus he gradually increased his pos- sessions until he now owns two hundred and fif- teen acres.
In 1847 Mr. Loomis married Miss Mary Wallace, who died in 1862. She became the mother of the following children: Eliza, Mrs. John D. Muir; William L .; Rachel, who died in 1891; Sarah, Mrs. Wright Stacy; Emily, who departed this life in 1887; Linda; and Sanford D., a resident of this township. The present wife of Mr. Loomis, whom he married December 31, 1862, was then Miss Cath- erine Burke. She was born near Bowling Green, Ohio, February 21, 1842, and is a daughter of Will- iam and Christiana (Brandeberry) Burke. Ten children came to bless this marriage: Clara, wife of Samuel Jolly; Alma, Mrs. Henry Forrest; George M .; Samuel; Ella, Mrs. William Kinsley; Elbert; Henry; Nettie, who died in infancy; Frank and Orrin.
As an instance of the time which it took in the early days to go even short distances, Mr. Loomis tells that when a boy, in company with a brother, he went to Stein's Mill, on Green Creek, in order to have their corn ground, and was gone eight days, during which period they paid their board by working in the hay fields.
J ONATHAN E. LADD. For many years Wood County was considered one of the most worthless portions of the state, being marshy and of little value for farming pur- poses, and for this reason it was neglected. How- ever, through the thorough system of tiling and draining introduced of late years, the county has been converted into one of the most fertile and valuable farming communities of Ohio. The re-
markable fertility and richness of the soil, togetlier with the heavy increase of the oil output, combine to render property here as valuable as any in the state.
The development of the oil industry lias opened a new field of enterprise for many citizens, among whom we name Mr. Ladd, of Bradner. He was in- terested in putting down one of the first oil-wells at this place, and is a member of what is known as tlie "Yellow Hammer Oil Company;" he also has an interest in ten oil-wells. In addition to this enterprise he devotes considerable attention to the insurance business, and is now the special agent of the Union Central Life Insurance Company of Ohio. He was born in Sandusky County, Ohio, September 21, 1863, and is the son of Antos T. Ladd, a native of Columbiana County, this state, born in 1834. The latter was a member of the One Hundred and Sixty-ninth Ohio Infantry dur- ing the Civil War, after which he engaged in farming and stock-raising, becoming well-to-do. He had only one brother, Jonathan, who enlisted in the Union army as a member of the Seventy- second Oliio Infantry, and died at Vicksburg dur- ing his service.
The Ladd family is of English extraction, but has been represented in America for a century or more. Our subject's grandfather was a native of Virginia, born in 1806, and came with other niem- bers of the family to Ohio in 1812, where he re- mained until death. The mother of our subject was Rose McCreary, a native of Morrow County, Ohio. Her father, George, who was born on the 4th of July, 1812, was a pioneer of Morrow Coun- ty, and was noted as a skilled musician. He was one of those who, in 1849, crossed the plains to California and engaged in mining for gold in the far West. He is still living, and makes his home in Toledo. The family of which he is a member is of Scotch-Irish ancestry.
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