USA > Ohio > Fulton County > The County of Fulton: A History of Fulton County, Ohio, from the Earliest Days, with Special Chapters on Various Subjects, Including Each of the Different Townships; Also a Biographical Department. > Part 28
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the wife of Edward Crittenden, of Fayette; Donald A., who is a suc- cessful dentist in Toledo; Viola, who is deceased; and Earl, deceased, who was a drug salesman, residing in Grand Rapids, Mich.
WILLIAM BURR ALLEN, proprietor of a livery and sales- stable at Swanton, was born in Lucas county, one and one-half miles east of his present home, on October 27, 1858. He is the son of Frederick and Amanda ( Herrick) Allen, both natives of Ohio. Frederick Allen was born in Norwalk and from there removed to Lucas county. He was a carpenter and joiner by occupation and lost his life on August 13, 1869, by falling from the scaffold of a building in process of erection at Toledo. His widow is still living and makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Minnie Atkinson of Canton, O. Here follows the names of the seven children born to this couple: James L., a locomotive engineer of Toledo, O .; Emma, the wife of Lewis Chambard, a resident of Rathdrum, Idaho; William Burr; Catherine, who married in Silver King, Idaho; Viola, the wife of Jacob Gehring, station agent at Swanton of the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway; Minnie, now Mrs. Atkinson, and one child that died in infancy. William Burr Allen grew to manhood at the homestead, receiving a public school education. He learned the occupation of locomotive engineering, and in that capacity was em- ployed by the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway Company for more than eleven years, his residence being at Toledo, where he lived for eighteen years. After his marriage he located on a farm in Fulton township and followed farming for six years. On September 13, 1893, he removed to Swanton and embarked in the livery business and in that of buying and selling horses, in which enterprise he is still engaged. His stable, well stocked with the best of horses and up-to-date vehicles, has proved a paying venture. He is a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen, of the Knights of Pythias and of the Modern Woodmen of America. In politics he is a Republican. On May 15, 1883, he was united in the bonds of matrimony with Miss Mable Witt, a native of Fulton county and the daughter of Horatio and Alvira Witt. No children were born to this marriage. His first wife having died on the 22nd day of December, 1891, on May 13, 1894, he was wedded to Miss Mary Duncan of Fulton county. This union has been blessed by two children, named Frederick Seymour and Herrick.
CHARLES ARNSBARGER, one of the progressive young farm- ers and business men of Fulton county, residing in the village of Brailey, is incumbent of the office of trustee of Swan Creek town- ship, and is a member of one of the old and well known families of this favored section of the Buckeye state, four generations of the same being at the present time resident in the village of Brailey. He is a son of Orlando Arnsbarger, of whom individual mention is made in the succeeding memoir, so that further reference to the family history is not demanded in the present connection. Charles Arns- barger was born on a farm in Chesterfield township, this county, on
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the 10th of October, 1872, and when he was still a small child his parents removed to Dover township, where he was reared to ma- turity on the homestead farm, and his educational discipline was secured in the excellent public schools of North Dover. On the 12th of May, 1897, he located on the farm which he now owns, in Swan Creek township, adjacent to the village of Brailey. The farm is under effective cultivation, is equipped with excellent build- ings and is otherwise well improved. The village of Brailey was platted about 1901, and ever since it began to assume aught of pretentiousness as a trade center Mr. Arnsbarger has here been engaged in the sale of farming implements and machinery, pumps, etc., and he also operates a well-drilling outfit, in the meanwhile con- tinuing to give his supervision to his farm. He has been enter- prising and has manifested much discrimination in his business affairs, and he is the owner of the Charles Arnsbarger addition to the village of Brailey, having platted the same into a considerable number of most desirable building lots, which have met with an appreciative demand. In his political allegiance Mr. Arnsbarger is a consistent and uncompromising Republican, taking a loyal interest in the public affairs of the nation and especially in local matters. In No- vember, 1904, he was elected trustee of Swan Creek township, with jurisdiction over the northeast portion of the township, in matters pertaining to general improvements, construction of bridges, care of the indigent, etc. He is a member of Swanton Lodge, No. 590, Knights of Pythias. Mrs. Arnsbarger is a zealous and valued mem- ber of the United Brethren church, taking an active part in the various departments of the church work and being held in high regard in the social circles of the community. December 24, 1896, Mr. Arnsbarger was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Free, who was born in York township, this county, being a daughter of John and Adeline (Andrews) Free, now residents of Wauseon. Mr. and Mrs. Arnsbarger have three sons, whose names, with respective dates of birth, are as follows: Perry, March 16, 1898; Coy, Septem- ber 24, 1900, and Howard, January 3, 1903.
ORLANDO ARNSBARGER, one of the substantial farmers and honored citizens of Swan Creek township, owning a well improved farm a short distance east of the village of Brailey, is a native of the adjoining State of Michigan, having been born in Adrian, Lenawee county, on the 27th of June, 1851, and being a son of Daniel and Abigail (Barber) Arnsbarger, the former of whom was born in Cumberland county, Pa., September 2, 1826, and the latter was born in the State of New York, in 1831, their marriage being solemnized in Williams county, Ohio, where their respective families located in the early pioneer days. The parents of Daniel Arnsberger located in that county in 1840, and there he was reared to maturity, continuing his residence there for a number of years thereafter and for a time residing in Lenawee county, Mich., but after the Civil war he took up his abode on a farm which he pur- chased in Dover township, Fulton county, where he and his wife
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remained until 1897, when they took up their residence in the village of Brailey, where they now make their home, venerable in years and held in unqualified regard by all who know them. Mr. Arnsbarger is a stanch Democrat in politics and both he and his wife are mem- bers of the Christian or Disciples' church. It is interesting to record that in the village of Brailey four generations of the family are now found represented. Orlando Arnsbarger was reared to the sturdy discipline of the farm, in Williams and Fulton counties, and is indebted to the common schools for his early educational ad- vantages, which were somewhat limited. He became one of the representative farmers and citizens of Dover township and continued to give his active supervision to the operation of his fine farm until 1901, when he took up his residence in Brailey, purchasing forty acres of land contiguous to the village, having platted a portion of the tract into village lots, which he has placed on the market as Arnsbarger's addition to the village of Brailey, and he is also devot- ing special attention to the handling of wood for fuel purposes, cutting and preparing the timber to a large extent from the land in his own possession. In politics Mr. Arnsbarger has ever given his allegiance to the Democracy, and while a resident of Dover township he served several years as school director. Mrs. Arnsbarger became a member of the Disciples' church when fifteen years of age, but in later years has been identified with the United Brethren. In 1871 Mr. Arnsbarger was united in marriage to Miss Mina Cameron, daughter of John D. and Margaret (Lee) Cameron, both of whom were born in Holmes county, Ohio. Mrs. Cameron died on the 20th of June, 1898, and her husband is now living in Ossian, Ind. Mr. and Mrs. Arnsbarger have four children, namely: Charles, Franklin, Della and Lucelia. Charles is individually mentioned else- where in this publication; Della is the wife of Lewis C. Winzeler, a farmer near Brailey, and Lucelia is the wife of Ernst L. Kirkman, who is a resident of the village of Brailey.
FRED F. BANISTER, to whom the practical details of farming and stock-growing are familiar, through ample experience, is num- bered among the successful and popular agriculturists and valued citizens of Clinton township, his homestead being eligibly located one and one-half miles to the northeast of the county-seat, the city of Wauseon. Mr. Banister was born in Lorain county, Ohio, on the 21st of June, 1860, and is a son of Julius and Sabrina (Mead) Banister, the former of whom was born in Huron county and the latter in Portage county, Ohio. The parents were residents of Lorain county for many years, having come thence to Fulton county in 1880, and they are now residing on their well-improved farm, in York township. Fred F. Banister was reared to the discipline of the farm, and his educational opportunities were those afforded by the public schools. He has found scope for satis- factory and profitable enterprise in continued identification with the industry of agriculture, and in 1890 he purchased forty acres of his present homestead, securing an adjoining
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tract of equal dimensions, in 1900. He has made many im- provements on his farm, which is among the many attractive places which lend charm to this favored section of the county, and he is known as one of the progressive farmers of the county and. as a citizen ever loyal in spirit and action, He is a Republican in his political allegiance and has served his township in the office of road supervisor, though he has had no overweening ambition for public office of any description. He is affiliated with the Knights of the. Maccabees, and both he and his wife hold membership in the Christian church .. In 1885 Mr. Banister married Miss Abiah Kline, who was born in Freedom township, Henry county, Ohio, March 26, 1862, being a daughter of Harmon S. and Phoebe (Caldwell) Kline, the former of whom was born in Sparta, Livingston county, N. Y., in 1827, and the latter in Philadelphia, Jefferson county, N. Y., on the 28th of May, 1830. The father died in 1900 and the mother on the 9th of April, 1905. Mr. and Mrs. Banister have had two children: Orville K., who was born March 19, 1888, and who died April 1, 1890, and Rinaldo C., who was born January 25, 1893, and who is now attending school in Wauseon.
EDWIN L. BARBER, president of the Bank of Wauseon, is a native of that city, having been born there February 5, 1862. He is the son of. Col. Epaphras Lord and Sophia H. (Watkins) Barber, both natives of Ohio. His grandparents were Epaphras Lord and Jerushá T. (Sargent) Barber. Col. Epaphras Lord Barber was born in Cleveland, December 16, 1830. He grew to manhood on his father's farm near that city and attended the public schools until eighteen years old. His first employment was with the engineering corps of the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Chicago railway company. Then for two years he attended a private school to perfect himself in the profession of civil engineering. In 1853, while in the employ of the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern railway company, he came to Wauseon. After acquiring land at this city and in other parts of Fulton county, he quit the railway company and embarked in the real estate business. From 1858 to 1860 he served as agent of the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern railway company at Wauseon. In 1861, on the first call for troops by the general gov- ernment, he enlisted in the One Hundred and Fortieth Ohio infantry, with the rank of captain. After three months' service he was appointed major of the Thirty-eighth Ohio volunteer infantry. In this capacity he served eight months in Kentucky, when, owing to the death of his partner, Samuel Leggitt, he found it necessary to resign. Soon after, upon being commissioned colonel by Governor Todd, he organized the One Hundredth and the One Hundred and Eleventh Ohio regiments, and was placed in command of the latter. He served in this capacity until the fall of 1862, when he returned to Wauseon. Through his instrumentality the Bank of Wauseon was established in April, 1863. with which institution he was connected at the time of his death, April 3, 1899. Upon the organization of the Ketchum national bank of Toledo, he was chosen vice-president of
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that institution. From 1895 to 1899 he was president of the National Bank of Commerce of Toledo. He was associated with Mr. N. H. T. Yaryan in the plant of the Toledo Heating and Light- ing company, one of the largest concerns of that city. Colonel Barber was a patriotic citizen, a brave soldier, and a successful busi- ness man. He possessed those sterling qualities that characterize the true man and that make success in life a certainty. On October 20, 1853, he married Miss Sophia H. Watkins, the daughter of Timothy Watkins of Cleveland, at present a resident of Detroit, Mich. Timothy Watkins, whose ancestors came from Connecticut, was prominent in the public affairs of Cleveland and Cuyahoga county, having served as mayor of the former and as commissioner of the latter. The children of Colonel Barber and wife are: Addie L., who resides with her mother at Detroit; Edwin L., and Herbert, a sketch of whose life appears elsewhere in this work. Edwin L. Barber was reared in Wauseon and received his elementary educa- tion in the public schools of that city. He was of the class of 1882 of Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y. Afterwards he entered the employ of the Standard Oil company at Titusville, Pa. He next turned his attention to railroading, being in the service first of the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern at Cleveland and afterward in that of the Santa Fe at Topeka, Kansas. In 1887 he resigned his position with the Santa Fe to enter the Bank of Wauseon as cashier. Four years later he was made its president and is now serving in that capacity. In order to give Wauseon the benefit of an inde- pendent telephone system he, together with other progressive citizens, organized and installed the Wauseon Independent Telephone com- pany. So successful did this venture prove that Mr. Barber entered with his accustomed zeal into the independent telephone construction business, with the result that he is to day recognized as one of the leading spirits, if not the leading one, in this business. Under his able direction no fewer than sixty systems have been installed in as many different towns and cities throughout the country, one of the last to be established being at Kansas City, Mo., whose subscribers number thirteen thousand five hundred. He is president of the Central Telephone Construction company of Wauseon, O. Mr. Barber is affable, courteous, quick, alert, accurate and combines all the social and business qualities that go to make up a leader in business-in short, a captain of any industry to which he may devote himself. Edwin L. Barber was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary E., the daughter of A. W. McConnell, a retired merchant of Wau- seon. This distinguished man was born in Wayne county, O., in 1831, his parents being William and Mary (Russell) McConnell. His prominence in public affairs is evidenced by the fact that he was twice honored with the auditorship of Fulton county. William McConnell was born in Lancaster county, Pa., and served with credit in the War of 1812. A. W. McConnell married Miss Rosanna Smith, a native of Trumbull county, O. The following children were born to Mr. McConnell and wife: Edward (deceased) ; Rolla A., of Lorain, O .; Florence, the wife of C. E. Guilford, treasurer
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of Fulton county; Mary E., and William S. (deceased). The chil- dren of E. L. Barber and wife are Harold M. and Mary Louise.
HERBERT A. BARBER, cashier of the Bank of Wauseon, of which his brother, Edwin L .. is president, is a native of that city. His distinguished father was at the time of his death one of the most prominent and successful business men of Northern Ohio. A sketch of his equally prominent brother, Edwin L. Barber, in con- nection with that of his father, appears immediately preceding this one. Colonel Barber certainly had just cause to be proud of his children, and it is equally certain that they will honor his name by leading pure and honorable lives and by ranking among the fore- most of their fellow citizens. Herbert A. Barber was educated in the public schools of his native city. Great care was taken to fit him thoroughly for the responsible position he now holds. To fill successfully an office in a great financial institution requires ex- ecutive ability of a high order and sound judgment. No mistake has been made in placing him in this position, for he has clearly dem- onstrated his ability to manage the business successfully. Busy as he is with banking interests, he finds time to devote to public affairs. He is always ready and willing to do all in his power to promote any enterprise that is calculated to benefit Wauseon and Fulton county. The King Wind Mill company, the Wauseon Canning factory and the Ohio Dairy company are some of the business con- cerns in which he is interested, holding as he does, the treasurership of all of them. These concerns have brought prosperity to Wauseon and to the farmers of Fulton county. Mr. Barber married Miss Edna M. Kerr of Pittsburg, whose people are quite prominent in that city. Two very interesting children, William Allen and Sophia Adeline, have been born to Herbert A. Barber and wife.
JOHN H. BARDEN, the able and popular mayor of Lyons, and one of the leading representatives of the agricultural interests of Royalton township, was born in this township, December 20, 1862, and is a son of Benson L. and Mary E. (Young) Barden, the former of whom was born in Collins, Erie county, N. Y., and the latter in Lorain county, Ohio. The paternal grandfather, John L. Barden, was likewise a native of the old Empire State, and he settled in Royalton township about 1857, taking up eighty acres of land in Royalton township and developing one of the valuable farms of this section. He died on this homestead, in 1886, and his wife also died on the home farm. Their children were John, Francis, Benson L., George L. and Allen, all of whom are deceased; Almira, deceased wife of Stephen Bowen; Mareda, wife of William Potter; Ann, wife of Lyman Jeffers; Augusta, deceased wife of James Jenkins; Frederick and Henry, who reside in this county, and Adelaide, wife of Herbert Smith. John Young, maternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was a pioneer carpenter of Lorain county, where he died. Benson L. and Mary E. Barden came to Fulton county in 1857, and the former took up one hundred and sixty acres of land in Royalton township, reclaiming the property from its wild state and becoming
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one of the honored citizens and prosperous farmers of the township. He continued to reside on the homestead until his death. He was a man of sterling character and much ability and wielded consider- able influence in local affairs, having served several terms as town- ship trustee and two terms as infirmary director of the county. He was the chief promoter of the cheese factory in Amboy township, being associated with others in the erecting and equipping of the plant, which was the first of the kind in this part of the county. He and his wife were devoted members of the Christian, or Disciples' church, and he was affiliated with the Royalton Union Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons. Following is a brief record concerning his children: Alice married Alonzo Patterson and after his death be- came the wife of Charles L. Seward, their residence being in Royalton township; Eliza is the wife of Melvin D. Seward, of Gladwin county, Mich .; Ermina is the wife of Alfred Viers, of Royalton township; John H. is the immediate subject of this sketch; Lottie and Cora are deceased, and Charles W., who married Alta Smith, is a farmer of Royalton township. John Henry Barden was reared to the sturdy discipline of the home farm and duly availed himself of the advan- tages of the public schools. While farming has been his principal vocation from his youth he has also been identified with other lines of enterprise, manifesting his public spirit by supporting such business undertakings as have met the approval of his judgment, and being one of the leading citizens of his native township, where his entire life has been passed. His homestead farm, in the village of Lyons, comprises eighty acres, and is one of the model places of this part of the county, improved with fine buildings and conducted according to the most modern ideas and scientific principles. In politics he is an uncompromising Republican, and he served one term as trustee of Royalton township, and he was one of the first members of the village council of Lyons, which was incorporated in 1900. He took an active part in securing the village charter, and he continued a member of the council until 1904, when he was elected to the office of mayor, and his administration has justified the mark of appreciation thus accorded by the voters of the village. He and his wife are members of the Christian church, and fraternally, he is identified with Royalton Union Lodge, No. 434, Free and Accepted Masons; Lyons Chapter, No. 75, Royal Arch Masons; and Lyons Lodge, No. 622, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In 1882 Mr. Barden was united in marriage to Miss Mary Mobus, who was born and reared in Amboy township, a daughter of Philip and Elizabeth (Ottgen) Mobus, and of the three children of this union two survive, Elma, who remains at the paternal home, and Floyd A., who married Miss Opha Noble, and who is associated in the work of the paternal homestead farm. Mrs. Barden's death occurred on the 21st of Feb- ruary, 1904, and in 1905 Mr. Barden married her sister, Mrs. Rose Warren, who presides most graciously over their attractive home.
OLIVER P. BARNES, who is a contractor and builder at Lyons, and the owner of a valuable farm in Royalton township, has
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passed the major portion of his life in Fulton county, from which he went forth to do yeoman service as a soldier during the Civil war, and the same loyalty of purpose has marked his course in all other relations of life, so that he has not been denied the confidence and esteem of those with whom he has come in contact. Mr. Barnes was born in Freedom township, Holmes county, Ohio, June 12, 1840, a son of Leonard and Mary (Day) Barnes, both born in Pennsyl- vania, whence they removed to Holmes county in the pioneer days, there residing until October, 1849, when they came to Fulton county, and located in Clinton township, where the father purchased 120 acres of land, south of Wauseon, reclaiming much of the same from the wild state and developing a valuable farm. He died on this homestead, at the age of seventy years, and his widow attained the venerable age of eighty-two years. Of their large family of children ten reached years of maturity, namely: Catherine, wife of Robert Foster; William; Sarah E., wife of Judson Jones; Samantha, wife of Dennis Foster; Louise, wife of George Biddle; Hortensa, wife of George Scamp; Oliver Perry; Francis Marion; Thornton and Win- field. Oliver P. Barnes was eight years of age at the time when his parents took up their residence in Clinton township, where he was reared to manhood on the home farm, receiving a good common- school education, and there he remained until July, 1862, when he enlisted as a private in Company H, One Hundredth Ohio volunteer infantry, with which he took part in the battles of Knoxville, Jones- boro, Limestone Station and other engagements of minor impor- tance, remaining in the service until the close of the war and receiving his honorable discharge in June, 1865, at Lexington, Ky. He then returned home and for the ensuing four years was engaged in farming in Clinton township. In 1869 he went to Missouri, where he followed the same line of enterprise until 1876, when he returned to Clinton township, where he resumed farming on the old home- stead, there continuing operations until 1881, when he purchased his present farm of ninety-three acres in Royalton township, clearing a portion of the place and making numerous improvements of sub- stantial description, and he there remained until 1903, since which time he has maintained his home in the village of Lyons and has here followed the carpenter's trade, being a good workman and having followed this trade as an avocation to a greater or less extent for a number of years. He is a popular and well known citizen, is a Republican in his political proclivities, and is a comrade of Baxter Post, No. 238, Grand Army of the Republic, in his home town. In February, 1868, Mr. Barnes was united in marriage to Miss Rebecca Andrews, daughter of Matthias and Mary (Strock) Andrews, pio- neers of Clinton township, and the four children of this union are Winfield, Frederick, William and Lulu, the last named being the wife of George Evers.
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