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 48
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 48
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58
J UDGE GILBERT HARMON. Conspicuous among the progressive and influential men of Ohio whom it is a privilege to know and a pleasure to honor, stands this gentleman, who for a quarter of a century has been a promi- nent member of the Bar of Toledo, and for several years has filled the position of Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in this city. A native of Maine, he was born in Thorndike, Waldo County, March 30, 1839, a son of Elias and Mary (Moulton) Har- mon. The father, who was a merchant by oceu- pation, was also a native of Maine. His father,
440
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Josiah Harmon, was a hero of the Revolution, and served under Gen. George Washington for seven years. The Harmon ancestors were originally from Scotland, and settled in Standish, Me., in a very early day. The mother of our subject was also of Scotch ancestry, her grandparents being among the first settlers of Standish. Both the pa- ternal and maternal grandfathers lived beyond the age of ninety years.
Gilbert Harmon spent his boyhood days in Thorndike, where he attended the public schools until he was twelve years of age, when he removed with his parents to Biddeford, York County, Me., and continued his studies in the public schools of that place for some time. Later lie cntered West- brook Seminary, where he remained two years, after which he entered Tufts College, at Somer- ville, Mass., and after four years was graduated with honors from that institution in the Class of '63.
Soon after finishing his education, Mr. Harmon accepted the position of Principal of the high schools of Woodstock, Vt., whichi position he suc- cessfully filled for two and a-half years. Having previously decided upon a professional career, he then retired from the schoolroom and entered the law office of Philip Eastman & Son, of Saco, Me., with whom he studied for some time. In 1867 he was admitted to the Bar of York County, Me., and practiced his profession in Saco for about a year, after which he came to Ohio and located in Toledo, opening an office and conducting a general law practice in all the courts until November, 1888, when he was elected to the Bench as Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, which position he held until October, 1894.
October 11, 1870, Judge Gilbert Harmon was united in marriage with Miss Lucile C., daughter of Oramel and Electa (Foster) Watson, natives of Vermont. The marriage took place at the home of the bride's parents in West Topsham, Orange County, Vt. The union of Judge and Mrs. Har- mon has been blessed by the birth of three chil- dren, two daughters and one son. Esther, the eldest daughter, who graduated with the highest honors from the Toledo High School, in the Class of '94, is an accomplished young lady of eighteen years, and a leader in the social circles of her na-
tive home. Lucy, the second daughter, a bright girl of sixteen, is still a student in the high school; Gilbert Watson is a pupil of the public schools. The Judge is a member of St. Francis' Catholic Church, and Mrs. Harmon is a devoted member of the Unitarian Church. Their attract- ive residence is at No. 332 Batavia Street.
Judge Harmon is a pronounced Democrat, and takes an active part in politics. He has been a delegate to the various conventions of the state, and was also a delegate to the National Conven- tion which met at St. Louis, Mo., in 1888, and which nominated Grover Cleveland for President. He is a man of strong personality and sterling char- acter, possessing a high mind, that is abundantly able to grasp and master the great legal questions of the day. He is considered one of the best jurists in northern Ohio, and is honored and es- teemed by a large and influential number of friends and acquaintances.
AMES SOUTHARD is one of the representa- tive citizens and worthy pioneers of Lucas County. He has been identified with its up- building and development in many practical ways, and for four decades has lived on his farm situated on section 10, Washington Township. Here he carries on general farming, and has long been considered one of the practical farmers of this region.
Jaincs Southard is one of nine children born to James and Mary (Ellis) Southard, all natives of Devonshire, England. The other members of the family were as follows: Thomas, who died in 1840; Mary, widow of Thomas Laskey, of this township; Ann, widow of William Laskey; Betsy, who died in 1852; Priscilla, of West Toledo, widow of Will- iam Baker; Rhoda, Mrs. Van Wormer; John, a
ELIJAH W. PECKHAM.
443
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
farmer of this township; and Emily, who married Milton Gray, of Michigan.
James Southard, Sr., set sail for America about 1830, with his family, and at the end of a five- weeks voyage landed in New York City. Thence they procecded to Onondago County, N. Y., where they lived until 1833, and thence came by way of the Lakes to Lucas County. The father took up Government land in this township, most of the property being unimproved and situated on sec- tion 3. He erected a log cabin of two rooms, and energetically set to work to improve his farm. He died April 12, 1865, and was buried in the old Southard Cemetery. His wife survived him several years, dying in 1886.
James Southard of this sketch was born Decem- ber 31, 1821, in Devonshire, and passed the first twelve years of his life on a farm in the mother country. He then accompanied his parents to the United States and assisted his father in clearing his farnı in this township. Upon reaching his ma- jority, he commenced working for neighboring farmers at $10 per month, but at the end of the year rented a tract of land, which he cultivated for two or three years. His next venture was to purchase eighty acres of land on section 11. Of this only twenty acres had been broken, and the only building on it was a log cabin. When three years had elapsed he removed to his present farm, which now comprises one hundred and eighty-five acres.
December 15, 1851, Mr. Southard married Mrs. Mary Scoville, who was born in England, October 24, 1826, and passed away February 2, 1895, deeply regretted by all who knew her. She was a daughter of George L. Laskey, also a native of England. In 1833 she crossed the occan, and after a tedious voyage of seven weeks reached her destination. Three children were born to our worthy subject and his wife: Josephine, who lives at home; Alice, who is the wife of Clarence P. Fox; and Augusta, who married Clinton D. Fox, and resides at Rockford, Ill.
The Southiards have been prominently connected with the development and prosperity of this por- tion of the county, and have assisted in laying out roads, building schoolhouses, and in organiz-
ing various enterprises. Our subject has held a number of local offices, and is a true-blue Repub- lican. He and the members of his family are iden- tified with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and have hosts of sincere friends in the community.
LIJAH W. PECKHAM. The business men of Toledo are a power which cannot be ignored in studying the history, commer- cial or social, of this city. To every department of activity they impart a vitality which is produc- tive of great results. As a class they have added greatly to the financial strength of the place, and to its reputation among other cities of Ohio. Their probity and enterprise, their intelligence and united efforts for the upbuilding of its busi- ness interests, have been a power which cannot be lightly estimated.
As a prominent representative of this class, men- tion should be made of E. W. Peckham, who is general agent of the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company. He is a native of Rhode Isl- and, having been born in Pawtucket in 1838. His father died when he was four weeks old, and his mother shortly after moved to Braintree, Mass., where his early school days were spent, and when thirteen lie was sent to New Hampshire to finish his education. At the early age of seventeen he became a merchant in the city of Boston, engaging in the hosiery, glove and notion trade, which he carried on for six years, when, an opportunity presenting itself, he sold out and went to New York, and for a short time was engaged in the manufacture of proprietary goods.
The breaking out of the War of the Rebellion developed a new industry, in which Mr. Peekham became intensely interested, viz., that of the man- ufacture of paper bags and sacks. Formerly all Aour in less quantities than a barrel was sold in
444
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
sacks made of cotton cloth, but the rapid advance in the price of cotton made some substitute necessary, and paper was tried successfully. Mr. Peckham, foresecing an immense demand, made arrange- ments with some capitalists, who had established plants for the manufacture of these goods in four prominent cities, to sell the same on commission through the large cities and towns of New Eng- land and New York State. He was one of the pio- neers in this movement, and for the first two years was the only agent known in many of the places visited. This enterprise developed rapidly, until it became one of the great industries of the nation. The business was a success from the start, and for more than twenty-four years Mr. Peckham was one of the best known, popular and successful "Knights of the Grip" traversing that section.
Patents expiring, and strong competition reduc- ing commission, some change seemed desirable, and Mr. Peckham turned to life insurance, in which he had proved his faith by carrying for more than twenty years a heavy insurance on his own life. His first contract was with the Massa- chusetts Agency of the Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York, and his field of operations was in that state, with headquarters at the pic- turesque city of Springfield. Competition devel- oped the fact that there was another company which furnished as absolute safety and security, and its management, by confining its risks to the healthy portions of the United States, and invest- ing its funds (by charter restriction ) only in bond and mortgage loans and municipal bonds, was en- abled to reduce the cost to so low a point as to make a contract with that company much more desirable for any policy-holder. Wishing to sell only the very best goods that could be offered, Mr. Peckham applied to the concern, the North- western Mutual Life Insurance Company of Mil- waukee, for an agency, and was tendered the gen- eral agency for fourteen counties in northwestern Ohio, with headquarters at Toledo, and this posi- tion he accepted in July, 1891. His success has been very marked, and he has on his books as the result of his labors many of Toledo's most repre- sentative men for the full limit The North western will issue on a life, viz., $50,000. The Toledo
office of the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company is in the Darst Block, rooms 13, 14, 22 and 23; telephone, 1296.
At the age of eighteen, Mr. Peckham united with the Mt. Vernon Church of Boston, then un- der the pastorate of the renowned Dr. Kirk, and his tendencies since have been with the Congrega- tionalists. He, however, thoroughly believes men should live up to their religious profession and fol- low the Golden Rule in their every-day walk and conversation, and especially believes that one en- gaged in the life-insurance business should make only truthful representations, that will stand the test of time.
Politically, he has never been an aspirant for any office, and has always voted for those he con- scientiously believed to be the best men for the place, regardless of party, creed or affiliations.
EORGE J. SHEPERD, the able and effi- cient manager of the American Telephone and Telegraph Company of Maumee, is a native of Vermont, and was born in Hyde Park, May 16, 1867. He is the third child in a family of seven born to J. S. and Eliza ( Woods) Sheperd. The former, who was a native of Canada, came with his parents to the United States when a boy, and spent his early life in Vermont, where he still resides, at the age of fifty-eight years. He is of Irish ancestry, but his parents were natives of this country. The mother was a native of New Hamp- shire, and is still living. She is of Scotch-Irish extraction, but her father and mother were born in America.
The subject of this sketch was educated in the common schools of his home locality, and remained with his parents until he was fourteen years of age, when his father gave him his time and he started out for himself. He worked on a farm by
445
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
the month until he was about eighteen years of age, and then was employed as a teamster by the American Telephone and Telegraph Company. He followed this occupation for one year, after which he was given a position where he had charge of a number of men for about seven years.
In 1893 Mr. Sheperd was offered and accepted the position of manager of the office in this city, it being a telephone exchange and repeating sta- tion of the telegraph department for the East, West, North and South. The position is a very responsible one, but Mr. Sheperd is perfectly capa- ble of its management, and has the confidenee and estecm of the company. He has three assist- ants in the office, as there is a considerable amount of work to do, and his time is fully occupied.
February 16, 1893, Mr. Sheperd married Miss Martha J. Wilson, and one child has blessed this union, Helen M., a bright little girl, the pride of her parents. Our subject is a Republican in his political views, and takes an active interest in local politics, although never having aspired to public honors himself. Socially he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. He is a popular young man, and with his estimable wife occupies a high position in social circles.
J OSEPH E. HALL is one of the old and re- spected residents of Waterville, Lucas Coun- ty, where he has made his home for over three-score years. For a quarter of a century of this time he conducted a tailoring establishment, after which for twenty years he was engaged in general merchandising. In 1860 he erccted a two- story building on the canal, and here carried on his trade. After a busy and successful life he is now living retired, though much of his time is spent in looking after his property. He owns a farm of two hundred and eighty-five acres, eighty
acres of which are in Wood County. For one year he served as Mayor of Waterville, when he first came to the place, and under Pierce's administra- tion was appointed Postmaster, and served as such for twenty-one years. He has also been Township Clerk, Road Supervisor and School Director.
A son of Jewell and Betsy (Smith) Hall, our subject is a native of Portage County, Ohio, his birth having occurred April 16, 1816. His father was born in Tolland, Mass., and died in 1828, aged fifty-two years. His early days were spent on a farm in his native state, but in 1815 he emigrated to Ohio, settling in Charleston, Portage County, having, in partnership with his brother, traded his Massachusetts land for property in the Buckeye State. This comprised about twelve hundred acres in Medina County, and for years they sold it off picce by piece, but never lived thercon. The father died in Portage County, where he left a homestead of eighty acres. His wife died in April of the same year, aged forty-six years.
Twelve children were born to Jewell and Betsy Hall, but of the number only two are now living. In order of birth they were as follows: Clarensou, who went to Texas and died in that state; Smith; Lucinda; Judson, who died in Whitehouse, Ohio; Minerva; Jewell; Pamelia; Chauney; Edwin; Jo- seph E .; Julia, wife of H. A. Moulton, of Vermont; and Newell, who died in Whitehouse. Joseph E. and his sister Julia are the only survivors of the family.
Our subject spent his early days in farming dur- ing the summer season, and attended the district schools of the neighborhood in the winter time, until he had reached his thirteenth year. Going then to Ashtabula, Ohio, he began serving an ap- prenticeship at the tailor's trade, and gave his time thereto for the next five years. In 1836 he came to Lucas County and opened a tailor shop at Waterville. About 1880 he sold out his busi- ness interests, and has since passed his time quietly in his pleasant home, which has sheltered him for many years. He has been a Republican since the breaking out of the war. Religiously he has long been identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church.
The lady who for over fifty years shared the
446
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
joys and sorrows of Mr. Hall's career was be- fore her marriage Miss Jane Dee, a daughter of James and Abigail ( Bogue) Dee. The ceremony which united the lives of our subject and wife was performed September 12, 1837. They had born to them two daughters: Pamelia C., August 13, 1841; and Temperance, June 27, 1850. The elder daugli- ter became the wife of J. L. Pray, and died April 4, 1881, leaving three children. The younger daugliter is still living with her father. Mrs. Hall departed this life September 18, 1889, deeply mourned by her family and the friends she had made during a long and unselfish life.
Fo LIAS BOYER, a worthy old pioneer of Lu- cas County, departed this life October 9, 1894, at the age of seventy-five years, and was tenderly placed to sleep his last sleep in the Whitehouse Cemetery. He came to this section in 1865, and passed the remainder of his life here. During the late war he volunteered his services on the side of the Union, and from the effects of a fever with which he was smitten while in the army suffered until his death, as it left him in a weak- ened condition, and lic was obliged to retire from business in 1873, the charge of his farm thien dc- volving upon his sons. He was interested in tlie upbuilding of this community, and was always to be found on the side of progress.
The parents of Elias Boyer were Jacob and Cath- erine (Newman) Boyer, natives of Pennsylvania, in which state their entire lives were spent. Of their ten children, but one now survives. Elias was born September 19, 1819, in Union County, Pa., and there grew to man's estate, receiving a district-school education, and being trained in hab- its of thrift and industry, which never left him in later years. On the 12th of October, 1843, he mar- ried Miss Mary Whittenmeyer, who was born on
Christmas Day, 1826. They became the parents of eleven children, of whom seven are yet living. The names of the children and the dates of their birth are as follows: Elida, born August 27, 1844; Melinda, August 18, 1846; Samantha, July 18, 1848; Catherine, August 22, 1850; Martha, March 19, 1853; Ellen, May 25, 1855; Lamson, February 10, 1858; Oscar, September 12, 1860; Mary, July 16, 1863; Cora, October 3, 1866; and Clara, Octo- ber 1, 1870. Marthia died March 9, 1895.
In August, 1862, Elias Boyer cnlisted in Com- pany C, One Hundred and Seventy-second Regi- ment Pennsylvania Infantry, being mustered into the service at Harrisburg. At Gettysburg he was taken sick and was in the hospital for some time. At the end of nine months in the army he was honorably discharged. In 1865 he came to this county and bouglit a tract of eighty acres, which he soon sold. Hc thien invested in sixty-seven aeres, and on this farm carried on general farming as long as his health would permit. In politics he was a Republican. Personally he was very popn- lar with his neighbors, and esteemed for his many sterling qualities.
It is fitting that special mention be made of Os- car M. Boyer, who is now conducting his father's old homestead on section 23, Providence Town- ship. He is an energetic and enterprising young business man, and has been very successful in his many and varied ventures. Born in 1860, in Sny- der County, Pa., he was only five years of age when he was brought by his parents to this section. Much of the care of the farm devolved upon his shoulders while he was a mere youth, and since arriving at man's estate he has had full charge of the homestead. In May, 1889, he removed to his present residenee, a pleasant and commodious home.
October 14, 1884, Oscar Boyer married Kate La- Barr, who was born October 28, 1866, and is a daughter of David ar . Caroline (Miller) LaBarr, of Waterville, wh se family comprised ten chil- dren. Mr. and I rs. Boyer have had born to them two sons and two daughters. namely: Mabel L., born April 19, 1887; Alexander R., September 23, 1889; Chester M., September 1, 1890; and Marie A., September 13, 1892.
Like his father, Oscar Boyer is a staneh Repub-
WILLIAM G. GARDINER, M. D.
449
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
lican. He was elected Township Trustce in 1890, and is now serving his second term as such. He is also a School Director and takes commendable interest in educational affairs. Fraternally he be- longs to the Order of Red Men, Otsego Tribe, of Whitehouse, and is also connected with Turkey- foot Lodge No. 529 and Encampment No. 240, at Grand Rapids, Ohio.
ILLIAM G. GARDINER, B. S., M. D., has been a member of the Toledo med- ical fraternity for twelve years. He is thoroughly acquainted, both theoretically and practically, with everything pertaining to the science of medicine, and has a large practice. That lic may keep in line with modern research and ideas, he lias joined several societies which are very ben- cficial to the members of the profession, among these being the Northwestern and the Ohio State Medical Societies, and also the Microscopical So- ciety.
A son of John and Margaret (Gilfillan) Gardi- ner, our subject was born April 18, 1850, near Hamilton, Canada. His father was a merchant and also an agriculturist, and was a successful business man. He was born in Scotland, as was also his wife, who died in Canada in 1875. A few years after that event Mr. Gardiner removed to Iowa, where he departed this life May 25, 1894, at the good old age of seventy years. The union of himself and wife was blessed with ten children, four daughters and six sons. Two of the number died in infancy, and three in adult years.
William G. Gardiner received his primary edu- cation in the public schools of Buffalo, N. Y., but supplemented this with training at the Toronto Normal School. He then engaged in teaching for thirteen years, and was very successful in the pro- fession. During this time he attended Toronto
University, from which he received the degree of B. S., and then took up his medical studies in the Toronto School of Medicine.
In the year 1880 Dr. Gardiner came to Toledo and engaged in teaching school, still, however, keeping up the study of medicine. In 1883 he entered the Toledo Medical College, being a mem- ber of the first graduation class (1883) and one of seven who obtained degrees. Since that time he has been honored with several professorships in the college - was Demonstrator of Anatomy, Lec- turer on Physiology, and held the chairs of Chem- istry and Principles and Practice of Medicine. During this time he kept up his general practice, in which he met with encouragement and gratify- ing success from the first. In 1884 he was elected President of the Toledo, Maumee & Detroit Elec- tric Railway Company, and still holds that position of trust. He is also a member of the Oxygenated Fuel Oil Company of Toledo, a member of the Chamber of Commerce, and a member of the Edgewater Association.
In 1875 Dr. Gardiner married Miss Mary Pater- son, a native of Canada, her parents being David and Agnes (Murray) Paterson. The Doctor and wife liave five eliildren, four sons and a daughter, who are named as follows: John P., Agnes M., William G., Roy J. and George R. Dr. Gardiner in politics is a stanch Republican.
1
ILBERT B. BRIM, a well-to-do and pros- perous farmer of Lake Township, Wood County, makes his abode on section 27, near the village of Latchie. He has owned this homestead since the fall of 1875, when he rented it for a year to a tenant, but since that time has been engaged in its cultivation himself. He sold a por- tion of his original farm, but bought other and more fertile land, and the homestead now numbers
17
450
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
one hundred and sixteen acres. The place lies eight miles from Toledo, where a ready market is found for the farm products.
George Brim, the father of our subject, was born September 20, 1807, in Devonshire, England, and was one of the pioncer settlers in this county, to which he came in the spring of 1835. His declin- ing years were passed in Sandusky County, Ohio, where his death occurred December 7, 1873. Oc- tober 1, 1840, he married Miss Betsy M., daughter of Peter and Rebecca (Gilbert) Loop. She was born in 1813, and died March 12, 1895, aged eighty-two years. Nine children were born to George and Betsy Brim, namely: James J., who is operating the old homestead in Sandusky County; Walter W., who is represented elsewhere in this work; Emeline and Einily, twins, the latter of whom died in infancy; George, also deceased; Laney M., Mrs. J. C. Recker; Gilbert B .; Betsy M., Mrs. George Ash; and Clara E., Mrs. W. E. Gard- ner.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.