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 37
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ham have two children-Ella E. and Gladys E., both of whom are at- tending the home schools.
ORRIN WATSON CURTIS, the efficient postmaster of Swanton, is a native of Fulton county, having been born in Fulton township On March 1, 1871. He is the son of Newton and Abigail (Showers) Curtis, both natives of New York State. His grandfather, George Curtis, was the son of John Curtis, a Revolutionary hero. Newton Curtis was born in Orleans county, N. Y., in 1831, and came with his parents, in 1836, to what is now Fulton county, O. He spent his pro- ductive years in the manufacture of brick in Swanton, where he and his wife, who was born in 1836, are now living. They are the parents of six children, four sens and two daughters, all except one daughter still living. The names are: George S., a resident of Huntington, Ind., where he is engaged in the railroad business ; Ida D., who married O. S. Allen and died at Metamora, this county, leaving three children ; Hattie, the wife of R. S. Watkins, a farmer of Swan Creek township; Frank J., a merchant of Swanton ; Clemon E., a retired farmer, having operated an extensive dairy business at Swanton for many years ; and Orrin W. Orrin Watson Curtis grew to manhood on a farm and receiv- ed his education in the public schools of Swanton. For a number of years he was employed as clerk in a mercantile establishment. Then he and his brother Clemon purchased the home farm and operated that as an extensive dairy business for some years. While thus engaged Mr. Curtis established the ice business in Swanton, constructing a large ice pond on the farm. Next he sold his farming interests and entered the employ of George D. Spaulding, then postmaster and mer- chant in Swanton. For three and one-half years he served as a clerk in the postoffice, after which, in 1897, he was appointed postmaster, then a fourth-class office. When, on January 30, 1901, he received his commission of President Mckinley, he had advanced the business sufficiently to have it recognized as a third-class office. On January 20, 1905, he was appointed for the third time. Under the jurisdiction of O. W. Curtis five rural free delivery routes from this office have been established. He has also taken an active interest in establishing the system throughout the county. In politics he has always taken an active part, but has never sought official honors other than that of post- master. Mr. Curtis is prominently connected with the Masonic fra- ternity, being a member of Swanton Lodge, No. 555, Free and Accept- ed Masons, of which he was worshipful master for two years ; Octavius Waters Chapter, No. 154, of Delta, Wauseon Council, No. 68, Royal Arch Masons, and Toledo Commandery, No. 7, Knights Templar. He is also a member of Lodge No. 588, Knights of Pythias, and a member of the Uniform Rank. On August 24, 1893, he was united in marriage to Miss Jennie C., the daughter of Harmon and Melvina ( Bechtel) Far- ner, of an old and prominent family of Lucas county. She was born in Spencer township, Lucas county. To O. W. Curtis and wife there has been born one son, Farner W., a lad of nine years.
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ROBERT H. BETTS, a well-known retired citizen of Archbold, is an honored veteran of the Civil war, having the dis- tinction of having been the first man to enlist from German township, this county. He was born in the town of Digby, Nova Scotia, still one of the principal seats of the fisheries of that section, on the 7th of June. 1842, being a son of John L. and Sarah Ann (Pryor) Betts, the former of whom was born in New Brunswick and the latter in Philadelphia, Pa. The father of John L. Betts died in St. Johns, New Brunswick, aged seventy-seven years ; his mother was eighty years old at time of death, and his grand- mother on the paternal side attained the age of ninety-two. In New York city John L. Betts was married to Sarah Ann Pryor, a daugh- ter of George and Elizabeth Pryor, the former a preacher in the Society of Friends, who died in Vineland, N. J., aged ninety-two years. The early married life of John L. and Sarah Ann Betts was attended with much poverty and deprivation, and he made a some- what precarious living for his family by his labors as a fisherman in Nova Scotia and elsewhere. He finally set sail with his wife and their nine children, in a small fishing boat, in which they made the long and perilous voyage from Digby, Nova Scotia, to New York city, a distance of nearly one thousand miles, landing at the old Novelty wharf in safety but practically penniless. Mr. Betts sold the boat for twelve dollars and this sum provided for the immediate necessities of the family. This long and eventful voyage was made in 1842, the year which marked the birth of Robert H. Betts, subject of this review. From New York the family came west to what is now Fulton county, Ohio, settling in the wilds of German township, which was then in Lucas county. The father secured a tract of gov- ernment land, three miles west of the present village of Archbold, and here he became a prosperous farmer and honored citizen, con- tinuing his residence in the township until his death, in 1900, at the patriarchal age of ninety-five years. His devoted wife passed away in 1883. Robert H. was the youngest of the nine children, and only one other than himself is living, Hiram L., who resides in Stryker, Williams county. Robert H. Betts was reared to the age of eleven years on the old pioneer homestead in German township, receiving limited educational advantages and early initiating his independent ca- reer. He left home at the age of eleven years and was employed at various occupations in this section until the outbreak of the war of the rebellion, when he was the first man to enlist from German township, as already noted. In April, 1861, he enlisted as a private in Com-
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pany H. Fourteenth Ohio Volunteer In- fantry, for a term of three months, at the expiration of which he re-enlisted. beconi- ing a member of Company E, Thirty- eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and at the expiration of his second term he en- listed in the Mississippi Marine Brigade, serving on the United States steamer "Baltic." Concerning his service Major D. S. Tallerday, of Poplar Grove, Ill .. wrote as follows: "I will say in regard to R. H. Betts that he was a member of Co. H, Fourteenth Ohio Volunteer Infan- try. I was a lieutenant in that company and knew him to be a good soldier. He was afterward enrolled as a corporal in Company C, Thirty-eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, of which I was captain; he was in several battles while in that com- pany, and in March, 1863, he entered the Mississippi River Marine Brigade as a sergeant with me; in this command he did many brave acts. At one time, near Greenville, Miss., he was cut off from the command and about to be captured; he charged through a lane with one other man and made his escape, cutting his way through some 200 of the enemy; his. comrade was captured and afterward made his escape. Again, while out scouting with one comrade, he charged into Lake Village, La., when it was garrisoned by some two or three hundred of the enemy, and put them all to flight, as they thought that the Marine Brigade was upon them; they soon found out their mistake, however, and tried to capture the "marine," as they called him, but they had given him time to look over the town and select a lot of their best horses, on two of which the boys made a hasty retreat, driving ten or fifteen fine horses ahead of them and being hotly pursued for some seven miles. About ten days after this event I went to this same town with my whole command, and R. H. Betts, as usual, was in command of the advance guard. He charged into the town, and as before, the enemy were again badly deceivedi, as they thought he was alone. The result was they showed fight and we succeeded in capturing a good lot of them. I could give many other instances of Mr. Betts' bravery, but will close by saying in regard to him that he was brave to a fault and always in the thickest of the fight." At the close of the war Mr. Betts was mus- tered out of the service, receiving his honorable discharge at Vicks- burg, Miss. He then returned to Fulton county, where he followed farming a few years, after which he was employed in governmental service in various capacities until 1902, since which time he has lived retired in his pleasant home at Archbold. His last official service was as confidential messenger for Governor Foraker. He is a valued and appreciative member of the post of the Grand Army of the Republic at Wauseon, and also is affiliated with the lodge, chapter and commandery of the Masonic fraternity, and he takes an active
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interest in public affairs, having been a Democrat in politics until the nomination of Bryan for the presidency, when, as he states the case, he "resigned." In 1865 Mr. Betts married Miss Charlotte Mark- aler, of German township, this county, and they have one son, Dr. Albert P., who is a graduate of Georgetown Medical College and who is established in the practice of his profession at Woodburn, Allen county, Ind.
ALBERT C. DANIELS is one of the progressive and energetic bus- iness men who have proven successful in carrying forward the various details of farming, and is numbered among the prominent and honored agriculturists of Royalton township. He was born in Mentor, Lake county, Ohio, July 21, 1839, a son of Enos C. and Mary Ann (Carroll) Daniels, natives respectively of New York State and Lake county, Ohio. They took up their residence in Royalton township, Fulton county, in 1840, and here the father followed the carpenter trade sev- eral years, later engaging in the undertaking business, manufacturing the coffins utilized in connection with his business. He purchased a considerable amount of desirable farming land in this township, and through his well-directed efforts accumulated a competency, having been the owner of a finely-improved farm of 160 acres at the time of his death, which occurred March 4, 1902. His cherished wife and help- meet passed to the eternal life on Nov. 10, 1896, both having been de- voted members of the Christian church. They became the parents of three children, namely: Albert C., subject of this sketch ; Ellen, wife of John Wood; and Mary, wife of Harmon Lauderdale. Albert C. was reared in Royalton township, receiving his early education in the com- mon schools of the locality and period, and at the age of eighteen years he began working at the carpenter trade, becoming an expert workman and having devoted fully one-half of his active career to his trade, be- coming a contractor and builder of this section of the county and hav- ing been concerned in the erection of many buildings hereabouts. He later turned his attention to farming and is now the owner of a farm of more than 240 acres, sixty acres of the same being a portion of the old homestead on which he passed his boyhood days. Mr. Daniels ren- dered valiant service as a soldier in the Civil war, responding to Presi- dent Lincoln's early call for volunteers. December 14, 1861, he enlisted as corporal in Company I, Sixty-seventh Ohio volunteer infantry, with which he proceeded to the front. taking part in the battles of Winches- ter and Fort Wagner, besides many minor engagements, and continu- ing in service, until practically the close of the war. He received his honorable discharge, as orderly sergeant of his company, in Columbus, Ohio, January 20, 1865. In 1889 Mr. Daniels engaged in the manufac- turing of baking powder, at Bryan, Williams county, where he remained two and one-half years, then returning to Fulton county and locating in Wauseon. In 1893 he was elected treasurer of the county, being chosen as his own successor in 1895, and thus serving two terms, and his administration of the fiscal affairs of the county was in every way dicriminating and commendable. In 1900 he returned to his farm, in Royalton township, where he remained until 1905, when he took up his
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residence in Lyons, where he is now living essentially retired, having here erected an attractive modern residence in the spring of that year. He is a strong adherent of the Republican party,, both he and his wife are members of the Christian church, and he is a valued comrade of Baxter Post, No. 35, Grand Army of the Republic, at Lyons. On New Year's day of the year 1861, Mr. Daniels married Miss Lydia M. San- ford, who was born in Cayuga county, N. Y., a daughter of Cyrenus and Louisa A. (Gardner) Sanford, who were at that time residents of Lenawee county, Mich. Mr. and Mrs. Daniels have four children : Rose E. is the wife of Cyrus Gillis of Mitchell, South Dakota; Luna M. is the wife of John Lowe; Charles J. is a traveling salesman for the Royal Baking Powder Co., and Maud L. is the wife of Luther Haley, of Sioux Falls, Dakota.
EDWARD SHERMAN DAVOLL, a representative citizen, presi- dent of the Home Savings Bank, business man of Metamora, and a member of one of the honored pioneer families of Fulton county, was born in Amboy township, June 25, 1853, and is a son of William P. and Eliza (Sherman) Davoll, natives respectively of Tompkins county and Erie county, N. Y. The paternal grandfather, John Davoll, was a pio- neer of Erie county, whither he removed from Tompkins county ; and the maternal grandfather, Charles R. Sherman, was a member of the old Puritan family of the name in Massachusetts, the line including many illustrious representatives, including the late Senator John Sherman and General William T. Sherman, of Ohio, and many other conspicuous ones in American history. Charles R. Sherman was an early settler of Erie county, N. Y., and died there. William P. Davoll, who was reared and educated in the Empire State, where he learned the carpenter trade, came to Fulton county, Ohio, in 1852, working at his trade for the ensuing decade and then making farming his principal vocation, clearing and improving a valuable farm in Amboy township, where he became the owner of one hundred acres. He lived in that township until 1884, when he removed to Charlevoix county, Mich., where he has since made his home, being eighty-one years of age (1905), and his cherished wife still remains by his side. They became the parents of four sons : William A. is a resident of Charlevoix county, Mich .; John and Edward S. reside in Metamora, Ohio; and Lewis F. resides in Mar- ion, this State. Edward S. Davoll passed his boyhood and youth in Amboy township, and was afforded the advantages of the common schools, making good use of his opportunities and becoming eligible for effective service as a teacher, being engaged in this capacity for twelve terms, in the schools of Fulton county, and he made a specially excel- lent record for his skill as a mathematician. Later he was employed five years as salesman in a general store in Metamora, and in 1886 he here engaged in the same line of enterprise for himself, building up an excellent business, in which he continued until 1894. In 1892 he pur- chased a farm of one hundred and twenty-three acres, in Amboy town- ship, and he still owns this property, to which he gave his personal man- agement until 1902. He owns a fifth interest in the Metamora Elevator
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company, whose well equipped plant was constructed in 1903 at a cost of $9,000, having a capacity for the accommodation of 25,000 bushels of grain. He is also a member of the Metamora Lumber company, re- tail lumber and coal dealers. He was one of the organizers of the Home Savings Bank of Metamora, in 1901, and has since been its presi- dent. He was also one of the organizers of the First National Bank of Wauseon, which initiated business February 15, 1904, and is a member of its directorate. October 15, 1876, Mr. Davoll married Miss Melinda A. Woodring, daughter of Reuben S. and Kate A. (Watkins) Wood- ring, pioneers of Fulton county. Edward, the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Davoll, died at the age of four years, but in their home they have reared a nephew and niece, Earl and Nettie Harger. Mr. Davoll has served two terms as justice of the peace, and also as corporation treas- urer of Metamora, as notary public and as president of the school board for a term of ten years, occupying this office at the present time, and he is also serving his first term as mayor of his home town, giving an ad- ministration which is progressive and effective and showing that lively public spirit which has animated him at all times. He has been very successful in his business affairs and he stands high in the estimation of the people of his native county. In politics he has always given an un- reserved allegiance to the Republican party.
GEORGE R. DAVOLL is a representative of one of the honored pioneer families of Fulton county and is one of the prominent and suc- cessful farmers of Amboy township, residing upon and owning the old homestead farm upon which his birth occurred. George Richmond Davoll was born April 7, 1858, and is a son of Job and Martha (Tay- lor) Davoll, both of whom were born and reared in the State of New York, and they came to Fulton county in 1845 and settled in Amboy township, on the farm now owned by the subject of this sketch. They experienced the usual vicissitudes and labors of the pioneer era, but in due time the father reclaimed the greater portion of his land to cultiva- tion and found definite prosperity and independence, and he was a citi- zen whose worth was much appreciated in the community. He died on the old homestead, March 26, 1869, at the age of fifty-four years, hav- ing been one of the influential citizens of Amboy township, of which he served as treasurer four years. He was a son of John Davoll, who was numbered among the pioneers of Erie county, N. Y., whither he removed from Tompkins county, that State. Martha (Taylor) Davoll, daughter of John Taylor, proved a devoted wife and helpmeet and she survived her husband by many years, her death occurring in 1902, at which time she was eighty-three years of age. The children of this honored pioneer couple were four in number: William is deceased ; Lucretia Josephine is the wife of Alfred O. Burrill, of Galt, Ontario, Canada; Ann N. became the wife of Albert N. Stillwell (both are de- ceased) ; and George R. is the youngest. The last named was reared to manhood on the old homestead, which is his present place of abode, and in the public schools of Amboy township he found the facilities which enabled him to acquire a good practical education. He has never wav- ered in his allegiance to the vocation in which he was reared, and his
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experience and native judgment, as coupled with energy and progres- sive ideas, have made him one of the leading farmers of his section, and in popular esteem he has well upheld the prestige of the name which he bears. His political adherence is with the Republican party, and he has been loyal to all the duties of citizenship, though never ambitious for office of any sort. His interest in educational matters has been such that he has been retained as a member of the school board of his town- ship for the past ten years. He is affiliated with Metamora Lodge, No. 875, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. December 30, 1880, Mr. Da- voll was united in marriage to Miss Emily F. Setzler, daughter of John and Louisa (Searls) Setzler, natives respectively of Germany and the State of New York, and numbered among the pioneers of Amboy township. Mrs. Davoll was born on February 28, 1861, in Huron county, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Davoll have one son, Charles A., who is one of the popular young men of his native township.
ANDREW JACKSON DENNIS is another of the native sons of Fulton county who have here continued to reside during the years which have witnessed the development of this section from the compar- ative wilderness of the pioneer days to that of the beauty and opulent prosperity of the twentieth century, and he is numbered among the representative farmers and stock-growers of Fulton township. He was born in this township, within a mile of his present residence, on the 6th of November, 1850, and is a son of Isaac and Martha Jane (Bau- vard) Dennis. Isaac Dennis was born in the State of New York, on the 19th of November, 1822, and was a son of Joseph and Mary (King) Dennis, both of whom were likewise born and reared in the old Em- pire State, and they came to Fulton county, Ohio, in the early pioneer era, locating on a farm across the road from what became the birth- place of the subject of this review. There they continued to reside a number of years, and they then removed to Lucas county, where both passed the remainder of their lives. Isaac Dennis purchased a farm near the parental homestead in this county, as before intimated, and there he developed one of the valuable places of the county, the old homestead continuing to be his residence until death, which occurred while he was serving as a soldier in the Union ranks. He was a mem- ber of the One Hundred and Thirtieth Ohio volunteer infantry, and died at Fort Powhatan, Va., on the 4th of September, 1864. His wife was born in Medina county, Ohio, January 1, 1827, and survived him by many years, her declining days being passed on the old home- stead, where she died on the 14th of May, 1897. They became the parents of seven sons and one daughter. William Henry resides in Lucas county ; Matthew Marvin is a farmer of Amboy township, Ful- ton county; Andrew Jackson was the next in order of birth; Francis Marion is a resident of Lucas county ; Joseph resides in the city of To- ledo; Ephraim Leroy is a resident of Lucas county, as are also Sarah Ann, who is the wife of William Drennan, and Isaac Alvin, who is a farmer of Spencer township, that county. William H. was a soldier in an Ohio regiment during the Rebellion and he has never recovered
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from the effects of disease contracted while in service. Andrew J. Dennis passed his boyhood days on the homestead farm, in whose work he early began to render his quota of assistance, and he secured his early educational discipline in the public schools, showing a marked appreciation of his advantages in this line and adding effectively to his store of knowledge through self-discipline, so that he is a man of broad general information and one who enjoys good literature, both standard and contemporary. He has never severed his association with the im- portant and basic art of agriculture, and has attained to marked success through his identification therewith. He owns the old homestead on which he was born, having inherited an eighth interest in the same and having purchased the interests of the other heirs. This place con- tains sixty acres, and his home farm, upon which he has resided the greater portion of the time since his marriage, comprises eighty acres. Both farms are under effective cultivation and are operated under his direct supervision, his son residing on the old homestead farm to which reference has been made. Mr. Dennis has ever shown an active inter- est in public affairs and is a recognized leader in the local ranks of the Republican party. He served one term as trustee of Fulton township and has been incumbent of other local offices of minor sort. He is affil- iated with Swanton Lodge, No. 555, Free and Accepted Masons, and with Octavius Waters Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, at Delta. Mrs. Dennis is a zealous and valued member of the Christian Union church at Zoar. On New Year's day of the year 1878, Mr. Dennis was united in marriage to Miss Marietta Welch, a daughter of Charles C. and Margaret (Cass) Welch, the former of whom was born December 6, 1811, of English and Irish ancestry, and the latter of whom was born January 25, 1816, of German lineage. They were married March 6, 1834, having been natives of Pennsylvania and having been residents of Seneca county, Ohio, at the time of marriage. In 1845 they re- moved from Seneca to Lucas county and settled in Richfield township, where the father became a prominent and successful farmer, and on the old homestead he and his wife continued to reside until death. He passed to his reward, November 2, 1889, and she died on the 21st of June, 1893. They became the parents of nine children, of whom six are living, the names of the nine being here entered in order of birth : Elias, Lydia, Eunice, Sarah, George, Amanda, Marietta, Eliza Jane and Me- lissa. Elias, Lydia and Amanda are deceased, and the others live either in Fulton or Lucas counties. Mr. and Mrs. Dennis became the parents of three children : Harley Andrew, who was born April 23, 1881, died December 6, 1900; Elias Charles, who was born March 27, 1884, was married, September 29, 1904, to Miss Ella Grove, of Fulton town- ship, and they reside on the homestead farm secured by his paternal grandfather so many years ago; and Enid Zada, born August 2, 1887, was graduated in the Boxwell course in the public schools of Fulton county in June, 1903, and at present is attending the high school at Swanton, living with her parents in the attractive home, which is a cen- ter of gracious hospitality.
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