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 42
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 42
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was there continued until Mr. Walbridge withdrew from the commission business.
For many years Mr. Walbridge was closely con- nected with the real-estate interests of Toledo, and was extensively engaged in buying and selling valuable property. In July, 1877, the firm of HI. S. Walbridge & Co. was organized by the ad- mission of his son, Thomas H. Through their en- ergy and judicious management large tracts of land previously not available were placed on the mar- ket, including many sub-divisions, also Walbridge's First, Second and Third Additions, Englewood, Stickney Avenue, Parkland, Baker and Braun's Additions. For some years he was President of the Real Estate Board of Toledo. In 1876 he pro- moted Woodlawn Cemetery, and in 1877, at its organization, he was chosen President, and held the office until his death.
The city of Toledo in 1869 appointed Mr. Wal- bridge Trustee for the construction of the Toledo & Woodville Railroad, and during the building of the line he filled the position of President of the board for five years. Among the other roads which received his active assistance were the Co- lumbus & Toledo and the Detroit & Toledo braneh of the Canada Southern. His connection with the banking interests of the city extended over a quar- ter of a century, and he was regarded as one of the shrewdest financiers of the country. In 1868 he owned and operated a private bank, known as the People's Bank, at the same time holding the posi- tion of President of the Northwestern Savings Bank, and in addition to thesc was Vice-President of the Toledo National Bank and a Director of the Second National and Northern National Banks.
Scarcely any measure was ever proposed for the welfare of the people and the prosperity of the city that did not receive the hearty sympathy and active co-operation of Mr. Walbridge, and to his efforts in many instances was due the adoption of plans that proved of the greatest benefit to the place. In the organization of the Toledo Gas Light and Coke Company he largely aided, and of it he was elected Vice-President. He was also inter- estcd financially in many of the manufacturing industries of Toledo. In 1868 he assisted Mat- thew Shoemaker in establishing the Union Manu-
facturing Company. He was one of the prime fac- tors in the establishment of the Maumee Rolling Mill, and was manager and President of that im- portant enterprise. For more than thirty years lie was an officer in Trinity Episcopal Church and a generous contributor to the good works of that denomination. His benefactions to other worthy causes were equally liberal, and among the institu- tions that were the recipients of his generous con- tributions were the Protestant Orphans' Home, the Home for Friendless Women and the Protestant Hospital. For several years he was President of the Toledo Society for the Suppression of Vice.
In October, 1853, Mr. Walbridge married Isa- bella D., daugliter of Thomas and Mary (Davis) Watkins, and of their children three are now living, Thomas H .; Narcissa Grace, wife of Arthur J. Secor; and Mary Davis, wife of E. W. Newton.
Politically Mr. Walbridge was a firm adherent of the principles of the Republican party. Hc was the originator, owner and builder of the splen- did office building known as "The Nasby." For many years he was President of the Toledo Board of Trade, and being a man of indefatigable indus- try, he bore a leading part in many other of the important enterprises calculated to foster and en- courage the growth of the city. In his death, Jan- uary 31, 1893, Toledo lost one of its trucst friends and most progressive citizens.
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R EV. PETER SCHNITZLER, S. J., is the efficient and popular pastor of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Toledo, and is a gen- tleman of superior intellect, thorough education and genial manners. Though a native of Ger- many, he has been a resident of the United States for a quarter of a century. He was assigned to his present charge in 1893, and during the brief timc which has since elapsed hic has greatly increased the prosperity and influence of the congregation,
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and brought renewed activity into cvery depart- ment of its work. In the arduous duties devolv- ing upon him he has as his assistants the Revs. Michael Zoeller and L. M. Kramer, S. J.
St. Mary's Catholic Church was founded in 1854, and has steadily grown from a very small charter membership to a large congregation, numbering nine hundred families. The parochial school in connection with the church has an average attend- ance of about seven hundred and twenty children. An efficient corps of teachers impart instruction to the pupils in all branches of elementary, seien tific and classical departments. The following-named priests liave preceded Rev. Mr. Schnitzler as pas- tors of St. Mary's: Rev. M. Zoeller, Rev. Al. Sigg, Rev. Anselm Leiter, Rev. William Kockerols, Rev. Nicholas Greisch, Rev. P. Spicher and Rev. Ch. Evrard. The priest's residence is at No. 618 Miehi- gan Street.
The birth of the subject of this notice occurred in Germany in 1837. He received a thorough ele- mentary education in the parochial schools of Veringendorf, and acquired both a practical and theoretical knowledge of his mother tongue. He pursued his higher studies in Sigmaringen, Munster, Aix-la-Chapelle and Maria-Laach, and was ordained priest September 13, 1868. In 1870 he set sail for the United States, and in this country he has since made his home, having held a number of important charges in various parts of the coun- try. He was for many years at Mankato, Minn., and during twelve years started many'missions in different dioceses of the United States. He is de- voted in his zcal for the church, a man of high religious principles and noble character, and strives to be a faithful shepherd of his Master's flock.
MMETT P. BLACK, a popular young busi- ness man, and the efficient agent of the Northwestern Natural Gas Company in Maumee, was born July 10, 1867, being the second child of William H. and Sarah (Truby) Black.
The former was a native of New York, where he was reared and educated. After arriving at man's estate, lie removed to Findlay, Ohio, and embarked in mercantile pursuits, which business he success- fully conducts at the present time. He served about a year as a private in the late war, and is now serving as Captain of Company A, Second Regiment Ohio National Guards. Socially he is a member of the Knights of Pythias. He has al- ways lead an honorable, upright life, and is reliable in all his business transactions. He is of Irish ex- traction, but his parents were natives of the United States.
The mother of our subject was a native of the Buckeye State, and resided here until her death, when only thirty years of age. Her parents were born in this country, but her grandparents, who emigrated to America in a very early day, were natives of England. Her father lost his life in defense of his country in the late war.
The subject of this sketeh received his education in the public schools of his childhood's home, and remained with his parents until he was about seventeen years of age, when he started out in life for himself. He first found employment as a switchman on the Lake Erie & Western Railroad, at Lima, but only occupied this position for three weeks, finding it uncongenial and not at all to his taste. Giving up his position, he went to Marion, Ind., and worked for the gas company of that city for one year, and then returned to Ohio and located in Toledo, where he soon found employ- ment with the Northwestern Gas Company. He remained in their employ in that city until 1890, when he came to Maumee as their agent in this eity, and he has remained in that capacity until the present time.
November 29, 1888, Mr. Black and Miss Alice Meeker were united in marriage, and as the result, of this union two children have been born, Rus- sell and Edna. Mr. Black is a stanch Democrat in his political views, and takes a deep interest in local politics. Fraternally he is identified with Maumce Lodge No. 682, I. O. O. F., and also of Maumee Encampment No. 254. He is not a mem- ber of any church, but contributes liberally to the support of the Presbyterian Church, of which Mrs.
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Black is a devoted member. He holds a good po- sition financially, and with his family stands high in the social circles of Maumee and vicinity.
M ARS NEARING, President of the First National Bank of Toledo, is recognized as one of the able financiers of the city and northwestern Ohio, and for more than a quar- ter of a century has contributed by his judgment and financial assistance to many important busi- ness enterprises, which he has aided in placing on a sound basis, thereby promoting the growth and development of the commercial, manufacturing and financial interests of Toledo. His residence in this city covers a period of more than thirty- five years, and to write the history of his life is, to some extent, to write also the history of the place with which his name is so closely linked.
In 1863 Mr. Nearing became interested in the banking business as a stockholder, seven years later was made Vice-President of the First Na- tional Bank, and in 1887 was clected President of that institution. The First National Bank of To- ledo has a capital stock of $500,000, and a surplus of $600,000. Largely through the shrewd, and at the same time broad and liberal, management of affairs by Mr. Nearing, the bank has stood firm during panics and has weathered safely all thc storms of financial depression.
Referring to the history of the family, we find that the father of our subject, Neptune Nearing, was born in Vermont, and after his marriage re- moved to New York State. In 1834 he brought his family to Ohio and settled near the county line between Wood and Lucas Counties. At that time the country was a vast wilderness, and it required the utmost exertion on his part to clear the land and improve a farm, but this difficult task he ac- complislied, and lived to enjoy the fruits of his la- bors. His death occurred at the old homestead in
1846. In character he was generous and strictly honorable in all his dealings, and though an en- terprising and shrewd business man, never over- stepped the limits of right and justice. Though almost a half-century has elapsed since his death, he is still remembered as one of the stalwart pio- neers of north western Ohio.
Mars Nearing is one of two children born to Neptune and Eunice (Bonney) Nearing, his sister being Eunice, who died in New York in 1892. He was born in Le Roy, N. Y., June 22, 1825, and passed the first eight years of his life in the Em- pire State. He came West with his parents and settled in Wood County, where he had such edn- cational advantages as the primitive schools of that day afforded. However, though his practical training was meager, he has always been a close reader and thinker, and to-day we find him to be a man well posted on the current topics of the day.
Leaving home at the age of seventeen years, Mr. Ncaring secured a clerkship in a country store in Lucas County. For two years he was in the employ of L. L. Morehouse, with whom he after- ward became interested as a partner in the firm of Morehouse & Co. They conducted a general store for eleven years, and at the expiration of that time the junior member sold out to his partner. In 1858 Mr. Nearing established his permanent abode in Toledo and at once embarked in the pork- packing business, which he carried on for two years. From 1863 to 1865 he was in partnership with Calvin Cone in the manufacture of cut and smoking tobacco, and for over a quarter of a cent- ury his interests have been almost exclusively in connection with banking.
In early manhood Mr. Ncaring was an old-line Whig, and since the organization of the Repub- lican party he has been one of its loyal supporters. In 1861 he was appointed Deputy Internal Reve- nuc Collector of the Tenth Ohio District for two years. His marriage occurred in 1869 and united him with Miss Mary E., daughter of the late V. H. Ketcham. They reside in a beautiful and well appointed home at No. 1617 Madison Avenue, where it is their especial pleasure to entertain their large circle of friends.
Personally Mr. Nearing is a man of sound men-
FREDERICK B. DODGE.
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tal calibre, incorruptible character and general trustworthiness, and is influential in Toledo. His success is largely due to his habits of economy and industry, which, formed in youth, have been of the greatest assistance to him since. He has al- ways made it a rule to attend personally to his business affairs, to which he still gives his super- vision with a vigor and energy not often possessed by men much his junior in years. He is held in high personal consideration, as he is in every sense a manly, straightforward gentleman, in whom liis fellow-citizens place implicit trust.
'REDERICK BLAKE DODGE. Intimately associated for many years with some of the most important enterprises of Toledo, the name of this gentleman was honored wherever known, and his death was recognized as a public loss. He came to this city in early manliood, and continued to reside here until his demise. During this long period he contributed of his ability and means to the advancement of progressive measures, and aided to a large degree the development of its manufacturing and commercial interests. .
A native of New Hampshire, Mr. Dodge was born in the city of Lyme, March 19, 1838. In his youth he was the recipient of exceptional educa- tional advantages, of which he availed himself to the utmost, being a diligent and painstaking stu- dent. He prepared for college at Kimball Acad- emy, at Meriden, N. H., and was graduated from Dartmouth College in 1860. Soon after he came West and accepted the position of Principal of the Toledo High School. Later he spent a year in the Adjutant-General's office at Columbus, Ohio, after which he returned to Boston for the purpose of
studying law. Admitted to the Bar, he practiced tlic legal profession for a short time in Toledo, but soon transferred liis attention to other lines.
Forming a partnership with Hon. T. P. Brown, Mr. Dodge embarked in the insurance business in 1868, and two years later formed the firm of Brown & Dodge, by which E. O. Brown and him- self were associated for many years, and which business is now continued by his sons. For many years he was Secretary and manager of the Toledo Fire and Marine Insurance Company. He was also interested . in real estate, and successfully car- ried out a number of large deals, as well as many of less magnitude. In the management of many manufacturing enterprises lie was active, and among the more prominent in which he was interested at the time of his death were the following: Toledo Electric Company, Toledo White Lime Company, Central Chandelier Company, Yaryan Manufact- uring Company, Milburn Wagon Company and Toledo Cotton Mills Company.
The political affiliations of Mr. Dodge broughit him into active sympathy with the Republican party, and he was deeply interested in such meas- ures as promised tlie growth of that organization. At one time he was a member of the Board of Al- dermen of Toledo. Interested in educational ad- vantages, he did his part toward raising the stand- ard of the schools, and for a long time was a member of the Teachers' Examining Committee of Lucas County.
In October, 1864, Mr. Dodge was united in mar- riage with Miss Caroline E. Perkins, of Newbury- port, Mass. They became the parents of five chil- dren, four of whom, Frederick H., Georgiana W., Henry P. and Agnes B., together with the widow, survive him. Mr. Dodge died suddenly, of apo- plexy, at his home, January 1, 1893. True to every duty of life as a man, husband and father, lie possessed a wide circle of friends, and his mem- ory is revered in the hearts of the many who knew and loved him for his excellent qualities and kind- liness of heart. As a business man he was success- ful, and his prosperity was gained solely through his unaided efforts. For some time he wasa mem- ber of the Board of Trade of Toledo, and his name was also associated with many other important en-
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terprises. Identifying himself with every interest of the county, politieal, manufacturing and com- mercial, he was justly accounted one of her sub- stantial men of affairs, and one of her law-abiding eitizens. His walk through life was marked by the utmost propriety, a sineere regard for others, and the exercise of the highest principles of honor.
EORGE F. EICHENLAUB, a resident of Washington Township, Lucas County, is engaged in market-gardening, finding a ready sale for the produets of his farm in the ad- jaeent city of Toledo. For the past eight years he has owned and operated his farm, which com- prises twenty-seven acres, and is doing very well financially. He is a native of Bavaria, his birth having oeeurred on the beautiful River Rhine, De- cember 17, 1828.
The parents of our subject were Joseph and Margaret Eichenlaub, whose family numbered six sons aud three daughters. The early boyhood of our subjeet was passed on his father's farm, and when twelve years of age he began working at the trade of a butcher. He was obliged to pay $280 in order to learn the business, and during the four years of his apprenticeship received only his board and elothes. After learning his trade he attended Heidelberg College for two years, in order to be more fully equipped for the battle of life.
After completing luis course at college, young Eichenlaub bade adieu to his old friends and set forth to make his livelihood and a home in the United States. After a long and tiresome journey, which consumed seventy-six days, he landed at New Orleans, in which eity he remained for two years. He then returned to Europe, where he vis- ited his relatives for a short time, after which he onee more set his face westward. The voyage this time was not of such long duration, only
forty-six days being spent on the ocean. The two years following his return he worked industriously, and then onee more, becoming homesiek, he sailed for Germany. The return voyage to the United States took ninety-six days.
In 1849 Mr. Eichenlaub went to Erie, Pa., where he started a buteher-shop, but finding a good op- portunity to sell out, went from there to Kendall- ville, Ind., and opened a shop in that place, which he condueted for two years. For the succeeding twelve years he was in the same business at La- Porte, Ind. In 1873 he settled in Toledo, and for some time condueted a shop on Summit Street, but in 1887 moved to his present farm.
July 4, 1850, Mr. Eichenlaub married Barbara Fellenberger, and they have had two sons and two daughters, as follows: Mary, Frank (deceased), Emina and Joseph. The family are members of the Catholic Church, and are respeeted by their friends and neighbors. In his pohtieal faith our subject uses his ballot in favor of the Demoeraey.
APT. OSCAR N. GUNN, an honored resi- dent of Maumee, has a war record of which he may well be proud, as he participated in many of the most famous campaigns and battles of the late Civil War, and won his title by gallant and meritorious serviee. In 1873 he came to make a permanent home in this eity, and has been ell- gaged in painting, paper-hanging and decorative work since that time. He is now a member of the School Board, and has held various other local offiees. For four years, under President Hayes' administration, he was Postmaster here.
Captain Gunn was born October 12, 1836, in Lucas County, his parents being Richard and Mary (Brant) Gunn, and he was next to the youngest of eight children. William E., the eldest, was a private in the Ninety-fifth Illinois Regiment, and
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was killed in a charge at Vicksburg, when within fifteen feet of the breastworks. He was about forty years of age at the time, and is now sleeping his last sleep on the famous battlefield. Melissa died in her eighteenth year, and Mary died when about twenty-three years of age. Montague is now liv- ing in Ft. Dodge, Iowa. Orilla died at the age of about fifty-five years. Richard O., who was a mem- ber of the Ninety-fifth Illinois Regiment in the late war, and held the rank of Corporal, was also wounded at Vicksburg, and died in the hospital at Keokuk, Iowa, aged about twenty-seven years. Eleanor is the wife of Allen Boomer, of Arkansas.
Richard Gunn was a native of Massachusetts, and was a lad of about ten years when his parents removed to New York State, where he remained until the fall of 1816. At that time, in company with a cousin, he came to Lucas County and took up land near Waterville, after which he went back to his old home and remained until the fall of 1817, when he settled on his claim. He made the journey from Buffalo to Sandusky by steamer, and from the last-named point proceeded by ox- team, reaching his claim when there were few set- tlers in this locality. He cultivated his farm until his death, which occurred in 1839. He was born in October, 1791, and took part in the War of 1812. His parents were born in Massachusetts, but his grandparents were natives of Scotland. Mary, the wife of Richard Gunn, who was born in Massachu- setts, April 11, 1802, died two years after her hus- band's demise, and was placed by his side in the Providence Cemetery. Her grandparents were born in Holland, but her parents were natives of the Bay State.
Capt. O. N. Gunn was only three years old at the time of his father's death, and two years later was again bereaved by the death of his mother. The family was separated and he went to live with a cousin, Alfred B. Gunn, of Fulton County. He was reared on his relative's new and unimproved farm, which he helped to clear and improve, and attended school two or three months of each year until the spring of 1861, when he began working for a farmer by the month.
April 19, 1861, our subject promptly responded to the call for one hundred-days men by offering
his services to Company F, Fourteenth Ohio In- fantry. His term of enlistment expired August 13 following, and thirteen days later he re-enlisted in Company I of the same regiment for three years. He was elected Orderly-Sergeant, August 2, 1863, and was promoted to the rank of Second Lieutenant of Company D) November 18, 1864. Then after serving as First Lieutenant, he was made Captain of Company D, January 6, 1865, and held that rank until he was mustered out at Cleveland, July 24, 1865. Among the battles in which he took an active part are the following: Philippi, Laurel Hill, Bealington Heights, Carrick's Ford, Logan's Crossroads, Mill Spring, Chicka- mauga, Mission Ridge, Lookout Mountain, Rocky Face Ridge, Buzzard's Roost, Snake Creek Gap, Resaca, Atlanta and Jonesboro. In the engage- ment last mentioned Captain Gunn's brigade made a gallant charge, and he led his company, which was the first over the second line of works. He then went with Sherman on his march to the sea, and thence to Washington, where he took part in the Grand Review. In the battle of Chickamauga he received a slight gunshot wound, and the scar over his left eye he will carry to his grave. Thir- teen balls passed through his clothing. His sword belt was cut off by a ball which passed through it, and a spent grapeshot, which struck him in the back of the neck, knocked him down. He was with his company in every battle in which they were engaged, and was only absent from the ranks two months, when he was sick with typhoid fever.
January 4, 1864, Captain Gunn returned home on a furlough, and on the 16tb of the same month married Mrs. Sarah Ellen (Davis) Gunn. After the war they settled on a rented farm near Grand Rap- ids, Ohio, to which place they later removed. The Captain carried the mail from Grand Rapids to Tontogany for two years, after which he conducted a farm in Lucas County for a year, and then fin- ally settled in Maumee.
Captain and Mrs. Gunn have had no children of their own, but adopted a son, Martin E., who lives in Maumee. During the war Mrs. Gunn went to the Southi to look for a wounded brother who had gone out as a member of the One Hun- dred and Eleventh Ohio Regiment and had been
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wounded. She found him at the Louisville Hos- pital, nursed him until he was able to travel, and then took him home. Socially Captain Gunn is a member of Northern Light Lodge No. 40, F. & A. M., of Maumee; of C. B. Mitehell Post No. 84, G. A. R .; and of the Union Veteran Union No. 49, of Toledo. He is quite an active worker in Re- publican party ranks. He and his wife are mem- bers of the Presbyterian Chureh, and possess the confidenee and love of a host of friends.
B ERNHARD BECKER, M. D., is one of the worthy German-American citizens of To- ledo, and is a successful medieal practi- tioner. He is a member of the Permanent Ger- man Congress of Surgeons at Berlin, and belongs to the Toledo, the Ohio State, the North western Ohio and the American Medical Associations. He is also a Fellow S. Se., of London, England, and in every possible manner endeavors to keep fully abreast of the times in all discoveries and inven- tions along the line of his ehosen work. For eighteen months he was City Physician and Sur- geon, and was formerly on the staff of practition- ers at St. Vineent's Hospital. He is now employed as surgeon of the Cineinnati, Jackson & Mackinaw Railroad.
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