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 40
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 40
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January 3, 1840, Mr. Thomas married Hannah Gunn, who died in 1846. Their two sons, Lewis L. and Wallace W., are both deceased, the former having died in infancy, and the latter at the age of twenty-seven years. May 16, 1847, Mr. Thomas married Maria Worden, who was born May 13, 1825, in New York State. Her parents, Jasper and Anna (Baker) Worden, were natives of Vermont and Connecticut, respectively, and were of Eng- lish deseent. In 1835 they emigrated westward by the Lakes to Michigan.
Edwin Thomas was a lad of but eleven years when with his parents he came to this county, in the winter of 1829. They settled on eighty acres of Government land on seetion 15, Washington Township, paying $1.25 per acre. The father erected a block house, and before many years had passed had transformed his land into a thrifty and well cultivated farm. He was a member of the Disciples Church, and was revered and esteemed by all who knew him. His death occurred in 1836,
and he was placed to rest in the Toledo Cemetery. Like his son, our subjeet, he was a supporter of the Whig party. The latter has of late years given his allegiance to the Republican organiza- tion. In religious belief Mrs. Thomas is a Metli- odist.
ILLIAM SIEGRIST, who is Superin- tendent of the Eagle Brewing Com- pany of Toledo, and also a stockholder in the coneern, helped to organize the company in 1887, and has full control of the manufacturing department. He is a practical man, and thorough- ly understands every detail of the business. The brewery is equipped with the latest appliances and machinery, and is thus enabled to turn out thirty thousand barrels of a very superior grade of beer annually. Large quantities of this are consumed in Toledo alone, but their sales also extend to neighboring states.
The birth of William Siegrist took place in Ba- den, Germany, November 7, 1846, his parents be- ing Jolin and Louisa (Gerhard) Siegrist, who were both natives of Baden. The father was a brewer by trade, and followed that business successfully in his native land. Young William was literally brought up in the business, and by working in his father's brewery became familiar with the proper methods of manufacture at an early age. Accord- ing to the laws of his native land, he went to school until his fifteenth year, and obtained a good knowledge of his mother tongue and the general branches of learning.
In 1871 our subjeet bade adieu to his old friends and crossed the Atlantic to make a home and fort- une in the United States. From New York City he came direct to Toledo, and for the next three years was employed by the City Brewing Company. His ability and faithfulness to his employer's in- terest becoming known, he was offered a position
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as foreman in the Buckeye Brewing Company's works, and served acceptably as such for five years, since which time he has been connected with the Eagle Brewery. In political matters he uses his right of franchise in favor of the Democracy.
In June, 1873, Mr. Siegrist married Caroline Bornemann, who was born in Germany, but who came to the United States with her father in 1854. Mr. and Mrs. Siegrist have had born to them three children, but only one is now living, Louise, who became the wife of Fred Kocher, of this city.
J OHN VAN GUNTEN, one of the old settlers of Lucas County, resides on a good home- stead in Washington Township, where he carried on general farming and stock-raising. It is within his recollection when there were only a few houses in the city of Toledo, and when the Indians were still numerous in this locality. The first school which he attended was one on the sub- scription plan. The building, which was made of logs, with planks for seats, was situated two miles from his home, and to reachi it a daily journey of four miles through the thick woods was necessary.
Our subject was born April 16, 1831, in Switzer- land, his parents being Christian and Mary (Van Gunten) Van Gunten. Their other children were Christian, Mary, Annie (twin sister of Jolin), Fred- erick, Jacob and Elizabeth. In 1834 the family sailed from their native land, and after a long and tiresome voyage of fifty-eight days reached New York City. From there they went to Albany, and thence to Buffalo by canal. The remainder of their journey was made on the Lakes to Lucas County. The father took up one hundred and forty acres of Government land in this township, paying for the same $1.25 per acre. In a small elearing he erected a log cabin with one room, but as time passed felled the timber and made many
improvements on his farm. He died in 1852, in his sixty-sixth ycar. Religiously he was a mem- ber of the German Lutheran Church. The wife and mother survived until 1891, when she had reached the extreme old age of ninety-three years.
Jolin Van Gunten was only three years of age when he was brought to this vicinity, and lie was reared to manhood in the township which has since been his home. In 1847 he became the owner of a farm which is still in his possession, and in 1862 lie moved to the place where he now resides. The old log cabin of one room was supplanted in 1862 by a substantial and more commodious dwelling, part of the owner's present house. The land lias been cleared and yields abundant crops in return for the care bestowed upon it. In addition to the above-mentioned places he has also improved a farm of eighty acres in Wood County.
Mr. Van Gunten has been twice married, his first union occurring in 1854, when Miss Mary Biek be- came his wife. To them was born one child, Mary. In 1862 our subject married the lady who now bears his name, and who before that event was Miss Amelia Brew. They have one son and four daughters, as follows: Julia, Caroline, Henry, Amelia and Hannalı. The family attend the Ger- man Reformed Church, and give liberally to worthy purposes. In politieal faith Mr. Van Gun- ten is identified with the Republican party.
I SAAC ORDWAY is engaged in conducting his farm, which is situated on section 13, Sylvania Township, Lucas County. The homestead, which numbers seventy acres within its bound- aries, is well improved, and in addition to this the proprietor owns a good sawmill. IIe is a veteran of the late Civil War, having served from April 18, 1861, until June 3, 1865, with an interruption of only three months during this period. He is
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now a member of Scott Post No. 43, G. A. R., of Blissfield. In his political relations he is a Repub- lican. Though he has served several terms as School Director, his business affairs have so fully taken up his time that he has had no desire for serving in an official capacity.
Born January 14, 1837, in Warren County, Pa., our subject is a son of Isaac and Sallic (Crane) Ordway, natives of Vermont and Albany, N. Y., respectively. Their family comprised the follow- ing children: Lyman and Henry, deceased; Aaron, a resident of Ashland, Mich .; Edwin, whose where- abouts arc unknown; Tabitha, who lives in Eden- ville, Mich .; Eliza, deceased; Isaac, our subject; Israel and James, deceased; William, who lives in Petersburg, Mich .; and one who died in infancy. Isaac Ord way, Sr., who followed farming for his life occupation, in childhood moved from the Green Mountain State to Pennsylvania, and about 1848 took up his abode in Ogden, Mich., where he passed the remainder of his life on a farm of eighty acres. His death occurred December 3, 1865, and that of his wife April 14, 1873.
July 15, 1866, Isaac Ordway, Jr., married Tam- ma Butts, who was born October 15, 1849. Her parents were William and Jane A. (Gardner) Butts, natives of New York, the former born in 1827 and the latter in 1832. Their cldest son, Ora, born November 30, 1851, now lives in Grosvenor, Micli .; Adam, born September 23, 1854, is engaged in farming in Washington Township, this county; Eugenc, born April 14, 1857, now lives in Odgen, Mich .; Alderman, also of Ogden, was born May 23, 1861; and William, who is now working for our subject, was born December 9, 1863.
One of the first boys to don the blue in the War of the Rebellion, Isaac Ordway enlisted in Com- pany K, First Michigan Regiment, for three months' service, and August 20, 1862, re-enlisted for three years. He took part in the battles of Bull Run, Vicksburg and Jackson, Miss., Petersburg, and in many engagements of lesser importance. He did not receive any wounds on the field of battle, but was injured by the kick of a horse and was in the hospital for nineteen days.
Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Ordway. The eldest, Lester, a blacksmith of Tem-
perance, Mich., was born February 27, 1868. Cli- mena, born February 15, 1870, is now the wife of Herbert Bemis, of Selkirk, Mich. Ida J., born July 9, 1872, married Daniel Molosh, of Michigan. Cora B., wife of George Honeywell, was born De- cember 17, 1875, and lives in a house adjoining the home of her parents. Clara, born November 3, 1879, is still at home.
Beginning his life with few resources in a finan- cial way and with only a fair education, Mr. Ord- way deserves credit for the success which he has accomplishicd. He possesses the friendship and good-will of a large circle of friends and acquaint- ances. His faithful wife and helpinate lost her eyesight as the result of an attack of measles, and has been a great sufferer, as in addition to that misfortune she had a slight stroke of paralysis. She is patient and resigned to her fate and is min- istered to in her affliction by scores of loving friends and relatives.
R EV. TIMOTHY P. MCCARTHY, son of Timothy McCarthy and Abbie Sullivan, who is pastor of the Immaculate Concep- tion Church of Toledo, Ohio, was born November 1, 1843, on a farm in the parish of Durrus, County Cork, Ireland. His boyhood years were passed on his father's farm and in attending the National schools of his native land. His soul, however, sought something more elevating than the details of farm work, and he early determined to enter into the true path of his future career. In May, 1865, he came to America and spent a year with his uncle on a farm near Buffalo, N. Y.
In 1866 our subject began his classical studies in St. Benedict's College at Atchison, Kan., where he remained until October, 1867. With a strong let- ter of recommendation from Rev. Augustine Wirth,
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President of St. Benedict's College, he repaired, in October, 1867, to St. Vincent's College in Westmore- land, Pa., where he spent five years in the study of the classics. Having completed his classical course, in Junc, 1872, he applied to Rt .- Rev. Richard Gil- mour for admittance into the diocese of Cleveland. The Right-Reverend Prelate accepted his services, on condition that he would successfully pass the examination before the faculty of St. Mary's Sem- inary at Cleveland, Ohio. This he did to the satis- faction of all concerned, August 22, 1872. The subject of our sketeli passed five years in this great school of philosophical and theological learning, having completed his studies in June, 1877, and was ordained a priest July 5 of the same year by Rt .- Rev. Richard Gilmour, Bishop of the Cleveland Diocese.
Our subject was at once appointed temporary pastor at Avon, Lorain County, Ohio, with North Ridgeville as a mission in the absence of the regu- lar pastor. Here he spent about six weeks attend- ing to the spiritual welfare of the people. On the return of the regular pastor, our subject was ap- pointed pastor of North Ridge, Defiance County, Ohio, with Mud Creek, in the same county, as a mis- sion. In this new field he labored from Septem- ber, 1877, until June, 1878. He was transferred to the Good Shepherd Parish of Toledo, Ohio, June 22, 1878. Here he labored until August 7, 1887. During this time he built the fine pastoral resi- dence, put in a new sanctuary, frescoed the church, painted the pews, constructed vestibules, built fences, and planted trees, shrubberies and a fine vine- yard. Here he was happy and contented in the midst of his labors and the good-will of his people. He reduced the $10,000 debt to $2,500. He was transferred to St. Ann's Church of Fremont, Ohio, August 7, 1887, and ordered to build a church. He at once organized a Building Committee, and devised ways and means to enable liim successfully to bring his project to the approval of the people. Plans and estimates were furnished, and a contract for a $25,000 church was let in the spring of 1888. The structure was to be completed November 1, 1889.
Our subject was removed to the Immaculate Conceptiou Church of Toledo, Ohio, March 9, 1889,
and again ordered by his Bishop to build a $40,000 church. He entered into this enterprise with a strong determination to carry it through, the more so as he met with a stout opposition from many of his parishioners on the plea that a new church was not necessary. The contract for the church was let in the spring of 1891, at a cost of $42,345. The foundation was laid that year, on the 1st of May, 1892. Rt .- Rev. Ignatius Frederic Horst- mann, Bishop of Cleveland, blessed the corner- stone iu the presence of the greatest outpouring of people Toledo ever witnessed. The structure was enclosed the same year. Work was again re- sumed on the building in 1894. It is one of the grandest church edifices in Ohio. It measures one hundred and sixty-two feet, six inches in length, eighty-eight feet in transept, sixty-eight feet in main auditorium, and sixty-five feet, six inches from floor to top of center nave. It is purely Gothic in style. Besides the amount of the con- tract it will cost about $20,000 more to furnish and heat the church. The building will be ready for divine service in 1897.
Personally Father McCarthy is a man of fine physique, genial manners and unvarying courtesy, affable in his intercourse with others, and one who is an honor to the priesthood of the Catholic Church and to the citizenship of Toledo. He is devoted to the interests of his adopted country, and Toledo has no citizen more interested in its welfare than he.
F RANK E. ROFF, one of Toledo's native sons aud influential business men, was act- ive in the management of the Street Rail- way Company for ten years, and is now President of the Crescent Livery Company. He is an active member of the Toledo Club, a prominent organiza-
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tion, and . is also a member of the Masonic frater- nity, belonging to Sanford Collins Lodge.
The father of our subject, Charles B. Roff, a na- tive of New Jersey, was born in Essex County about 1818. His parents were Stephen and Mary (Ball) Roff, who both died in the Empire State. Charles B. Roff was a hardware mereliant after coming to Toledo, in the year 1854. He was a representative man, a leading Republiean, and served in the City Council for two terms. His death occurred when he had reached his sixtieth year. Ilis wife, who was before her marriage Miss Clara Manley, was born in Richfield Springs, N.Y., and is now living in her native state. She became the mother of two sons, one of whom is now trav- eling in Europe.
The birth of Frank E. Roff occurred October 24, 1859, and he remained under the parental roof until his father's death. He received an unusually fine edueation, as after leaving the Toledo public schools he pursued his studies at Hellmuth College of London, Canada, for two years, after which he went to Russell's School, at New Haven, Conn. He tlien entered Bradford Seminary in Middletown, and later was enrolled at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
His father had investments in the Toledo Street Railway, and the young man after leaving college returned to look after his business affairs. Having been blessed with the qualities necessary to the achievement of snecess, he has prospered and is well-to-do. His parents were formerly members of Trinity Church, which he also usually attends, al- though he is not a member of any congregation.
A LBERT W. FISHER, M. D. The medical profession in Toledo is represented by a number of skillful practitioners, who have an extended knowledge of therapeutics and hold enviable reputations as physicians of ability. This noble profession affords to the student a never-
ending souree of investigation and experiment. New remedies are being constantly discovered, steady progress is being made in surgery, and new diseases are presenting themselves under varying forms of civilization. Whatever may be said of dis- coveries in other fields of knowledge, and certainly they are astonishing, it can be truthfully said of this science that not one ean equal it in the great strides it is making toward a comprehensive grasp of the whole subjeet of man in relation to health and disease, the prevention and the eure of ills to which the human flesh is heir.
In the noble army of workers in this great field stands Albert W. Fisher, M. D., of Toledo. A sketeh of the life of one so well known will be of interest to our readers, and we therefore takc pleasure in presenting the following facts coneern- ing his history. He was born in Sunbury, North- umberland County, Pa., November 4, 1835, and is the son of Rev. Richard A. and Amelia C. ( Wei- ser) Fisher. His father, who was for many years a minister in the German Reformed Church, died in Millersburg, Dauphin County, Pa., in 1857, and was buried in Sunbury, Pa.
In the parental family there were five sons and five daughters, of whom the Doctor was the next to the eidest. He was reared in Sunbury, Pa., and on arriving at man's estate began the study of medieine under the preceptorship of Dr. J. B. Masser, of that place. Afterward he carried on his studies in the Jefferson Medical College, from which institution he was graduated in Mareh, 1860. The following year he entered the army as Assist- ant Surgeon of the Fifty-seventh Pennsylvania In- fantry, assigned to the Army of the Potomac. He continued in that capacity until the fall of 1862, when he was compelled to resign on account of ill health.
Coming to Toledo in 1862, Dr. Fisher has since eondueted a large and profitable praetiee in this city. In 1875 he was appointed Health Officer for the eity of Toledo, which position he held for six consecutive years. He also served in that eapacity during 1883-84 and 1891-92. In 1893 he held the position of Acting Surgeon of the St. Vineent Hospital. In 1879 he received a similar appoint- inent in the Marine Hospital, and continued as
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Acting Surgeon of that institution until the fall of 1892, when lie resigned. In everything per- taining to the profession he is deeply interested, and holds membership in the Toledo Medical As- sociation, the Ohio State Medical Society and the Northwestern Medical Association. He was one of the organizers of the Toledo Medical College, and was Dean of the faculty for the first five years, and Professor of Nervous Diseases and Clinical Surgery.
Miss Mary E., daughter of Henry Wise, of Sun- bury, Pa., became the wife of Dr. Fisher in 1861, and seven children have been born of their union, named as follows: Richard A., Mary M. A., Charles E., William H., Nevin W., Frank R. and Amelia L. Socially the Doctor is identified with the Order of Elks, and is also connected with the Grand Army of the Republic. With his wife he holds member- ship in the Westminster Church of Toledo, and is a generous contributor to its bencfactions.
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·H ON. BYRON F. RITCHIE. Intimately associated with the history of Toledo for many ycars, the subject of this sketch is also well and favorably known throughout the state. Ile is one of tlic foremost members of the Bar of this city, as well as one of its leaders in pub- lic affairs, and during the period of his service as a Member of Congress gained a widespread repu- tation for superior ability. Nature endowed him with rare gifts, among which was intellectual acu- men of high order, logical, discriminating and compreliensive. A close reasoner and impressive speaker, he has gained merited prominence in the legal fraternity, and as he is now but in the prime of manliood, the coming years will undoubtedly bring him added honors and suceesses in his pro- fession.
In presenting this biographical sketch of IIon.
Byron F. Ritchie, we deem it our duty to first briefly advert to the life story of those from whom lie draws his origin. His paternal ancestors were of Scotch origin, and his father, James M., wlio was a native of the "land of thistles," was born in Dunfermline in 1829, but emigrated in early life to the United States. He was a man of great abil- ity, and though lie had only very limited means on coming to America, by industry and the exer- cise of wisc judgment he achieved success. He married Miss Tirzah Foster, who was born in New York State in 1833, and they settled in' Ohio in 1854. For a number of years he made his home in Grafton, where he conducted an extensive gen- eral practice, but, desirous of a larger field for work, lie came to Toledo in 1860, and from that time onward was closely identified with the public affairs of this city. In politieal views lie was al- ways a devoted champion of Republican principles, and in public matters took an active part. His fel- low-citizens, appreciating his fitness for positions of large responsibility, elected him to represent them in the Forty-seventh Congress of the United States, and in this, as in all other positions hield by him, hc rendered able service in bchalf of his constituents.
The birth of Byron F. Ritchie occurred in Graf- ton, Ohio, January 29, 1853, and in that place the first seven years of his life were passed. In Janu- uary, 1860, lie accompanied his parents to Toledo, where he at once entered the common schools, con- tinuing his studies here until his graduation, in June, 1870. From boyhood the legal profession Lad been the goal of his ambition, and with this in view lic began the study of law under tlic su- pervision of his father. He was admitted to the Bar by the Supreme Court in 1874, and has since practiced his chosen profession in Toledo.
While taking an active part in politics, Mr. Ritchie has always held aloof from public office, and with only one exception has steadfastly re- fused political preferment. Believing that free trade would promote the industrial and cominer- cial welfare of our country, and would aid in crushing out the monopolies which liave been fos- tered by the protective tendencies of our legisla- tive bodies, he gives his support and loyal allegi-
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ance to the Democratic party. In November, 1892, he was elected to Congress from the Toledo dis- trict, defeating his opponent, Hon. J. M. Ashley (who had gained considerable notoriety at the time of the impeachment of President Johnson), by fourteen plurality in a district that usually gave a Republican majority of three thousand. He served until the close of the Fifty-third Congress, gain- ing the respect of other legislators and the confi- dence of his constituents, to whose interests he was ever faithful. Though the junior of the ma- jority of the Congressmen, he stood side by side with them in ability, energy and tact. His party found in him a judicious leader, and his district a loyal champion. At the expiration of liis term of service, he resumed the practice of law in Toledo, and has since been thus engaged.
In Williamsburg, Ind., April 11, 1878, occurred the marriage of . Hon. B. F. Ritchie and Miss Kate Ingersoll Taylor. Their only child, Violet B., was born August 27, 1881, and is a student in the pub- lic schools of Toledo. Mrs. Ritchie is the daugh- ter of Dr. Linus P. Taylor, formerly of Williams- burg. Ind., but later a resident of Toledo. He is remembered as one of the most prominent and tal- ented physicians of Indiana. His death occurred in 1892. In religious belief Mr. Ritchie is liberal and tolerant, granting to others that freedom of opinion which he demands for himself. He is a worthy representative of one of the leading fami- lies of Toledo, and by his upright life is adding honors to the illustrious name he bears.
H ON. JAMES M. RITCHIE, a leading member of the Toledo Bar, represented the Sixth Congressional District of Ohio (comprising the counties of Lucas, Fulton, Will- iams, Wood, Ottawa and Henry) in the Forty-scv- enth Congress, having been elected in 1880. He
served on a number of important committees, and faithfully advocated the rights of his eonstituents. He was elected on the Republican ticket, his op- ponent being Hon. Frank Hurd. When his term of office closed he resumed his law practice, in which he has gained an enviable reputation. In 1867 he was elected Police Judge for a term of two years, but resigned after serving for eighteen months, as his regular practice necessitated his en- tire attention.
A native of Scotland, J. M. Ritchie was born in Dunfermline, July 28, 1829. His father, Thomas M., was a teacher by profession, but in later years was a merchant and agriculturist. The family re- moved to the United States in 1832, settling near Ogdensburg, N. Y. The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Ann Robertson, and her birth also occurred in Scotland. She and her husband both died in Ogdensburg. In that city the boyhood of James M. was passed and his early education acquired. After completing the public- school course he entered a liome academy, and subsequently engaged in teaching for six years, three years in the Empire State, and the remainder of the time in Ohio.
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