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 45
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 45
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A son of William and Olcona (Flint) Wilkinson, Charles W. was born April 22, 1844, and up to the age of twenty-one passed his time quietly in farm work and in attending the district schools. At that age he enlisted as a private in Company I, One Hundred and Thirtieth Ohio Infantry, and was mustered into service at Johnston Island. He was later sent to Washington, and then was sta-
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tioned in Point Rock. He received an honorable discharge September 16, 1865, the same year he enlisted, and at once returned home.
As soon as he was old enough the charge of the old homestead fell upon the shoulders of our sub- ject, who had been trained as a practical farmer. He now owns eighty-three acres in his home place and another tract of eighty acres in Michigan. His education, while not of the best, was practical, and has been amply sufficient for his needs, and he has further supplemented it by private reading and observation.
September 2, 1870, the marriage of Mr. Wilkin- son and Miss Sarah A. Van Wormer was celebrated. The lady was born in Indiana, February 10, 1848, and is a daughter of Aaron and Philletta ( Wagon- er) Van Wormer. Two children, sons, have come to bless the union of Mr. and Mrs. Wilkinson, namely: Arden C., who was born January 1, 1874; and J. Edwin, whose birth occurred June 14, 1876. They are now attending business college in Tole- do, and are bright, promising young men.
In questions of politics Mr. Wilkinson is always to be found on the side of the Republican party. Both lie and his worthy wife are members of the Congregational Church, to which they are liberal contributors.
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J OHN W. WAMSHER is engaged in market- gardening on his valuable and well improved farm on section 19, Washington Township, Lucas County, on which place he has made his home since 1874. During the late Civil War he was one of the brave soldiers who fought in de- fense of the Union, and suffered the untold hor- rors of Libby and Andersonville Prisons, while a captive in the hands of the Confederates.
A son of John and Lydia (Kline) Wamsher, our subject was one of seven children, the others being
Jacob, William, Joel, Isaac, Moses and Bessie. The parents were both natives of Pennsylvania, and were of German extraction. Jolin W. was born in Schuylkill County, Pa., November 26, 1843, and in youth began working in the railroad shops at Philadelphia, serving an apprenticeship of four years. The first year he received twenty-five cents a day, the second year fifty, the third year seven- ty-five and the fourth $1 per day.
In 1862 our subject enlisted as a private in Com- pany I, One Hundred and Twenty-eightlı Pennsyl- vania Infantry, being mustered in at Harrisburg. Among the numerous important battles in which he took part were the following: South Mountain, Antictam, Philippi, Winchester, Fredericksburg, Monocacy, Chancellorsville and Cedar Creek. At the battle of Chancellorsville he was taken prison- er, May 3, 1863, and was conveyed to Thunder Castle at Richmond. Ten days later he was re- moved to Belle Isle, where he spent a week, thien for three weeks was confined in Libby Prison, and finally landed in Andersonville. Here he was kept for four months and a-half, after which he was paroled, being sent to Annapolis, Md. From there he proceeded to Harrisburg, where he was dis- charged on account of disability, and for six months or more he was unable to do any active work.
July 16, 1864, Mr. Wamsher re-enlisted in Company I, One Hundred and Ninety-fifth Penn- sylvania Infantry, and went on Sheridan's cam- paign. He received his final discharge from the army at Harrisburg, April 15, 1865. At the bat- tle of Antietam he was wounded by a minie-ball, which lodged in his right ankle, and was not ex- tracted for two months. During all this time, how- ever, he was not absent from his regiment. When captured at Chancellorsville he had been wounded by a minie-ball in the left wrist. On being taken prisoner he weighed one hundred and forty-three pounds, and when lie once more breathed the air of liberty he was emaciated almost beyond tlie power of description, weighing only seventy-six pounds. When in Libby Prison he received two meals a day, breakfast consisting of one-fourth of a biscuit, and supper of a small ladleful of soup. At Andersonville his rations were no better; in
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fact, hardly as much as at Libby. He made a dug- out in the side of the hill for a place of shelter. Many a friend aud comrade has he seen shot down for the slightest reason during that terrible time.
On his return to Pennsylvania Mr. Wamsher worked at his trade in Reading until October, 1866, wlien he removed to this county. For a year he lived in Providence Township, after which for six years he cultivated a farm in Wood Coun- ty. Then, purchasing the farm where he now lives, he has since engaged in its improvement. He has been a stalwart supporter of the Republi- can party since becoming a voter, and faithfully discharges thic dutics of citizenship.
March 27, 1877, Mr. Wamsher married Miss Anna Fox, a native of Bohemia. Five children have come to grace their union, and are as follows: Walter, Jolin, Myrtle, Iva and Pearl, the latter of whom died in infancy.
N ATHAN GARDNER, one of the honored pioneers and prominent agriculturists of Lucas County, now living on his farm in Oregon Township, was born April 5, 1821, in Wayne County, N. Y., being the eldest in the fam- ily of three children born to Robert and Cather- ine (Chapple) Gardner. Mercy, the next in order of birth, was the wife of Charles Coy, of Wood County, Ohio, where she made her home until her death, which occurred at an advanced age. Cathi- erine, the other sister, still resides in this county.
Robert Gardner, the father of our subject, came to this country as a British soldier in 1812, but joined the American troops, and fought with them until the close of the war. In 1830 he came to Ohio, and settled in Lucas County. Here lie pur- chased several acres of land and proceeded to clear a space on which to build his log cabin, the most fashionable residence of those early days. It was
soon completed, and the family took possession of their new home and began the struggle for exist- ence, an arduous task, indeed, in those days. He remained on this farm until his death, which oc- curred at the advanced age of seventy-eight years. The mother was a native of New York State, and passed away at the age of thirty-five years.
Our subject spent his early life at home on the farin with his father, attending the common schools of that day when not employed at work on the farm or hunting in the forests near his home. When nineteen years of age lic became a sailor on the lakes, running between Toledo and Buffalo, and followed this voeation for about five years. Becoming convinced at the end of that time that this was not liis calling, he gave up the occupation and returned to this county, purchas- ing the farm of forty acres on which he now re- sides, which at that time was in a wild, unculti- vated state. Toledo was but a small village, and the land that now comprises the fertile farm was bought for $2.50 per acre. The land was all cov- ered with a heavy growth of timber, and Mr. Gardner, being young and energetic, immediately set about clearing and cultivating it and adding the necessary improvements. This was soon ac- complished by the occasional aid of a few friends and neighbors and by his own industry and deter- mination to succeed. First a substantial log cabin made its appearance among the lofty forest trees, and day by day other improvements were added, until in a few short years a flourishing farm took the place of the wilderness. Deer and other wild game were thien in the county in abundance, and often made their appearance very ncar the house. He has made his home on this farm since 1844, and has been an eye-witness of the great trans- formation that has taken place in this county since then. He is a man highly respected in the community, and has been an important factor in the upbuilding and improvement of Oregon Town- ship, taking an active interest in all public im- provements and a very prominent part in agri- culture and stock-raising.
On the 12th of February, 1851, Mr. Gardner and Miss Sarah Ridout were united in marriage, and to the union ten children were born. Robert
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S. is a turner by trade, and resides in East Toledo; Thaddeus M. resides on the old homestead with his father; Isaac also makes his home on the same farm; Maria Catherine is the wife of George Oak- wood, of Toledo; Wallace Orlando, a well-driller by occupation, resides in Toledo; Grant is a resi- dent of the city of Toledo; John G. resides in East Toledo; Addie E., now Mrs. James Rabbit, makes her home in Toledo; Natlian G. is a mail- carrier of Toledo; and Malcolin M. is also a letter- carrier of the same place. The mother of this fam- ily was called to the land beyond October 18, 1888, at her home on the old farm where she first went to housekeeping.
Mr. Gardner is an old "Jackson Demoerat," and has always taken an active interest in local poli- tics. He has served as Supervisor, Assessor and School Director, besides filling various other of- fices in his township. He is not a member of any church, but is public-spirited and a liberal giver to any enterprise or good work that is for the bet- terment or improvement of the community in which he lives.
J UDGE IRWIN I. MILLARD, one of the lead- ing members of the Toledo (Ohio) Bar, and Judge of the Probate Court, has been en- gaged in the practice of his profession in this city for the past twenty-eight years, and in that time has built up a most enviable reputation. For many years he was a member of the firm of Bissell & Gorrill, this connection existing until 1891. In that year the subject of this sketch was elected to his present position, in which he served most ac- ceptably for a term of three years. In 1893 he was re-elected, on the Republican tieket, and is still acting with credit to himself and to the full satisfaction of his constituents.
The birth of Judge Millard occurred in Rich-
land County, Ohio, December 9, 1838. His father, Joseph, was born in Chester County, Pa., and learned the miller's trade. For a number of years he operated a flouring-mill at Lodi, Ohio, and was one of the prosperous business men of his commu- nity. He died in 1857, respected and loved by all. His parents were Rev. Thomas and Hannah Millard. The former was a circuit-rider, and an intimate friend of Peter Cartwright. The mother of Judge Millard bore the maiden name of Mary Immel.
Irwin I. Millard is the youngest of three broth- ers, and passed his boyhood in Huron and Wayne Counties, Ohio. During this period he attended the public schools, later supplementing his ele- mentary education by a course of study in Frenkes- burg Academy. After completing the course there he tanght school for the next three years. In 1861 he entered his country's service, and enlist- ed in Company I, Fifteenth Ohio Infantry, Col. Moses Dickey having command of the regiment, which was assigned to duty in the Army of the Ohio, and was stationed at Bowling Green, Ky. While there the Judge was taken ill, and for some time was in the hospital. In 1862 he was dis- charged on a surgeon's certificate, and returned to Crawford County, Ohio. When he recovered his health he again engaged in teaching school, at Weilersville.
It was in the spring of 1863 that Judge Millard came to make his home in Toledo. He was offered the position of clerk iu the Recorder's office, and acted in that capacity for one year. Later he be- came bookkeeper for Alonzo Goddard, consignee of the Erie Railway line of steamboats and the Miami & Erie Canal Line in this city. At the end of a year in that position lie entered the law office of Messrs. Bissell & Gorrill to prosecute legal studies, and in the spring of 1867 he was duly admitted to the Toledo Bar, after which he was taken into partnership by his former preceptor.
March 12, 1863, Judge Millard married Miss Mary C. Keller, of Weilersville, Ohio. Mrs. Mil- lard is the danghter of George Keller, and was born in September, 1843, in Crawford County. To the Judge and wife have been born seven chil- dren, four sons and three daughters, namely: Ir-
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win G., George W., John Frederick, Ralph B., Clara M., Edna G. and Edith B.
In his social relations the Judge is identified with Toledo Post No. 107, G. A. R. He is a man who is popular with his fellow-eitizens, and thor- oughly deserves the confidence and esteem which they bestow upon him in a large measure.
RANK B. DRAKE, General Manager of the Cincinnati, Jackson & Mackinaw Rail- way Company, was born in Elmira, N. Y., February 23, 1854. He is a son of Andrew Jack- son and Mary A. (Buchanan) Drake, the former born in Reading Center, Steuben County, N. Y., October 23, 1827, and the latter near Attiea, N. Y., August 18, 1826. His father lias followed the life- long occupation of a carriage and car builder, and now makes his home in Pittsburg, Pa.
The paternal grandfather of our subjeet was Benjamin Drake, a soldier of the War of 1812, who was born near Watkins, N. Y., December 12, 1791, and died July 17, 1862. His wife, whose maiden name was Catherine Dunham, was born in Lexington, Greene County, N. Y., April 20, 1794, and passed from earth November 3, 1852. The maternal grandparents were William and Betsey (Osgood) Buchanau.
The subject of this notice is one of seven ehil- dren, four of whom are now living. He attended the public sehools and free academy at Elmira, N. Y., until seventeen years of age, when he en- tered the employ of the Erie & Atlantie Sleeping Car Company (afterwards incorporated with the Pullman Palaee Car Company) as junior elerk in the shops at Elmira, N. Y. After about two years' service he was promoted to be senior clerk, and eon- tinued in that eapaeity until September 1, 1887,
when he went to St. Louis, Mo., as private secre- tary and stenographer to William P. Robinson, General Traffie Manager of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad.
October 8, 1887, Mr. Drake was united in mar- riage with Miss Nellie Burnham, the ceremony being performed by Rev. Thomas K. Beeeher in Park Chureli, Elmira, N. Y. Mrs. Drake is the daughter of Andrew and Julia J. (Locke) Burn- ham, the former born at Pittsfield, N. Y., May 30, 1821, and the latter in Chenango County, April 5, 1830. Her mother died January 26, 1878, and her father departed this life about two years later. Her maternal grandparents were Emmons and Polly (Benson ) Locke.
In the position above stated Mr. Drake remained until the latter part of 1881, when the Missouri, Kansas & Texas was absorbed by the Missouri Pacific Railroad, and Mr. Robinson's office was abolished. Mr. Drake then went temporarily into the office of the Auditor of the latter company, but one month later resigned to accept a position as stenographer in the general freight office of the Indianapolis & St. Louis Railroad. After six weeks there, he re- signed to take the still higher position of travel- ing private seeretary to A. A. Talmage, General Manager of the Missouri Pacific Railroad system, where he remained two years, or until Deeember 1,1883.
Promoted at that time to be Train Master of the Eastern Division of the same road, after six weeks Mr. Drake's jurisdiction as Train Master was ex- tended over the Middle Division of the same road. In August, 1884, he was called to the office of H. M. Hoxie, Vice-President and General Manager of the Missouri Paeifie and St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Systems, to aet as chief clerk. In February, 1885, lie was sent to Kansas City as Su- perintendent of the line between Kansas City and Omalıa. In July of the same year he was sent to Sedalia, Mo., as Assistant Superintendent of the Missouri Pacific proper, and the Missouri, Kansas & Texas north of Denison, Tex. April 7, 1886, he was promoted to the position of Superintend- ent of the Missouri Paeifie proper and its branches (two thousand miles in all), and continued in that offiee until July, 1887, when he resigned to become
ALBERT KIRK.
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General Manager of the Cincinnati, Jackson & Mackinaw Railway. He has sinee made his home in Toledo, and is still connected with this road, having, December 5, 1894, been appointed Receiver in addition to General Manager.
A LBERT KIRK. There is nothing of more interest to the general reader than a sketch of one who has won for himself both an enviable reputation and handsome competenee, though beginning without capital or influential friends. According to this principle, a brief ac- count of the life of Mr. Kirk eannot fail to prove interesting. He ranks among the retired business men of Toledo, and has gained a sufficient amount of this world's goods to make him easy and comfort- able for the rest of his days through the exereise of energy and sound judgment. A man of sterling worth and superior intelligence, he has been closely identified with the commercial and social prosperity of the city where lie has made his home sinee 1854.
A native of Ohio, Mr. Kirk was born in Stark County, near the city of Massillon, September 23, 1826. The family of which lie is a member origi- nated in Germany, but has been represented in America for a number of generations. His parents, William and Maria (Miller) Kirk, were natives, re- spectively, of Bald Eagle, York County, Pa., and Ohio, the mother being a daughter of John Miller, one of the early settlers of the Buckeye State. The parental family consisted of nine children, who at- tained years of maturity, and of these eight are still living.
Albert, who is the fourth child in order of birthi, spent his boyhood years on the home farm, and al- ternated agricultural pursuits with attendance at the district schools until reaching his eighteenth year. Going at that time to Canal Fulton, Ohio, he served an apprenticeship of four years to the trade
of a tinner, and later spent one year in Medina County, this state, then for three years he lived in Cleveland. The year 1854 witnessed his arrival in Toledo, with the subsequent commercial history of which he has been intimately associated. He began in the manufacture of eraekers with George Worts, the business at first being very small, but as their capital increased they increased the business until 1866, when the firm was changed to Worts & Co., and so continued until 1873, when the firm was changed to Worts, Kirk & Bigelow, and was operat- ed under this name until 1890, when it was merged into the United States Baking Company. During these years Mr. Kirk gained a name as a shrewd, far- seeing, discriminating and successful business man. The plant was situated on St. Clair Street, and the machinery was driven by a neat twenty-five horse- power engine. Constant employment was given to thirty or forty employes, and five traveling sales- men represented the coneern in the states of Ohio, Indiana and Mieliigan prior to its becoming amal- gamated with the United States Baking Company. After having continued uninterruptedly in busi- ness for twenty-six years, the partners finally, as stated above, sold out their business, in 1890, still, however, retaining their stock in the United States Baking Company, as well as their real estate.
The lady who in 1855 became the wife of Mr. Kirk was known in maidenhood as Miss Hannah S. Worts, and was a resident of Toledo, being a daughter of Mannister C. Worts, a resident of this eity, but a native of England. Mrs. Kirk was born in Detroit, and at the age of two years was taken to Oswego, N. Y., where she was reared and edu- eated, coming with her parents to Toledo in 1853. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Kirk resulted in the birth of six eliildren, four of whom are still living, as follows: Ezra E., Edward A., Bessie M. and Arthur W. The family is one of prominence so- eially, and is identified religiously with St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal Church, in which Mr. Kirk lias served as a Trustee for the past thirty years. They have a pleasant home, which occupies a val- uable building site on Jefferson Street, one of the principal residence streets of the city.
With everything pertaining to the progress of Toledo and the welfare of his fellow-citizens, Mr.
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Kirk is in hearty sympathy, and his co-operation may always be relied upon to support progress- ive measures. For two and one-half years he served as a member of the City Council, and in other local positions has been instrumental in pro- moting needed reforms. In his social connections he is identified witli Toledo Lodge No. 144, F. & A. M. In politics Mr. Kirk has always been a staneli Republican.
The fine property which Mr. Kirk owns and the comforts which surround his family are a eredita- ble showing for one wlio began in early youth with very little means and without influence, and indi- cate the sturdy nature of the man to whose deter- mination and unflagging industry they are due. His experiences have been diverse, his struggles hard and obstacles many; but, undeterred by mis- fortune or hardship, he has worked steadily on ward, until he is now one of tlic well-to-do citizens of Toledo. In all his enterprises he has received the co-operation of his wife, a lady of refinement, to whom he owes no small share of his success.
APT. JOHN B. VAN RENSSELAER sailed tlie Great Lakes from tlie time he was ten years of age until 1879, or for nearly forty years. In the year mentioned he embarked in the mercantile business in Maumee, and con- ducted the same until March, 1892, when he sold out his interests to his son and retired to private life. His dwelling-place has been in Maumee for upwards of fifteen years, and he is a well known and esteemed citizen. He owns about two liun- dred aeres of land in this county, and about sixty lots in the town. His wife is the owner of the old and historical fort at Miami.
The youngest of three sons, John B. Van Rensse- laer was born August 6, 1827, in Albany, N. Y., his parents being Philip and Harriet (Morehouse)
Van Rensselaer. The former's birth occurred near Albany, and for a number of years he was mnana- ger of an agricultural paper published in that city. He received a medical education, but did not en- gage in practice until his later years. In 1837 le settled at Put-in-Bay, Ohio, and built the first frame house in that city. There he made his home for five years, and for that period had charge of the Seven Islands as superintendent. Subsequent- ly he removed to Pt. Clinton, where he lived for three years and practiced his profession. He thien returned to New York City and continued in the same calling until advancing years caused him to retire from active life, when he went West and lived with his sons until his death, which occurred wlien lie was in his eiglity-second year. His fa- ther, Robert S., a native of New England, was a Colonel in the War of the Revolution, and a de- scendant of the celebrated Van Rensselaers, who were emigrants from Holland and owned a large section of land where New York City now stands. Grandfather Van Rensselaer was a merchant and sca-captain in carly life. Philip and Harriet Van Rensselaer had three sons: James, who died in To- ledo, when in his seventieth year; Peter Sanders, who is a farmer of Ottawa County, Ohio; and our subject.
When he was only ten years old John B. Van Rensselaer was employed on his father's sailing- vessel, and during the next few years filled all the positions from that of cook to captain. IIc was pilot of a vessel when only fifteen years of age, and two years later took charge of a packet running from Sandusky to Plaster Bead for one season, being captain of the boat. He also sailed from Chicago to Buffalo and Toledo, and was a captain altogether eighteen years.
On the 21st of October, 1850, our subject mar- ried Miss Eliza Marston, who was born September 5, 1831. Her parents, James and Maria (Patten) Marston, were natives of Maine and Rhode Island, respectively. The father, who was a blacksmith, came to Ohio in 1833, settling at Waterville, where he lived for a number of years, later removing to Wisconsin, where lie departed this life when in his fifty-sixtlı year. The line of his ancestry can be traced back to 1634, when his progenitors' record
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first became interwoven with the history of New Hampshire. Mrs. Maria Marston died in 1880, aged seventy-eiglit years. Her parents were na- tive Americans, but her grandparents were born in Ireland. Two children have been born to our subject and wife: Sarah J., whose birth occurred December 1, 1851; and Sanders M., who was born May 21, 1853. The former died August 24, 1878. Sanders M. is now engaged in the mercantile busi- ness in Maumee, being his father's suecessor.
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