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 41
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FRANK L. FLEMING is another of the native sons of Fulton county who has found it expedient to here continue his residence and to follow the important line of industry to which he was reared, the wisdom of his course being signified in his status as one of the successful farmers and honored citizens of Pike township. Mr. Flem- ing was born in Fulton township, this county, on the 23d of May, 1847, and is a son of Amos and Catherine (Lasell) Fleming, both of whom were born in the State of New York, and their marriage was solemnized in Huron county, Ohio, the respective families having located in the Buckeye State in an early day. In 1845 the parents of the subject of this sketch came to Fulton county and located on a pioneer farm in Fulton township, where the mother died in Febru-
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ary, 1878, her husband passing away in 1889. Amos Fleming was one of the prominent farmers and well-known citizens of Fulton township, and was a man of unimpeachable integrity, commanding the esteem of all who knew him. Frank L. Fleming was reared on the home farm and his educational privileges were those afforded in the common schools of the locality and period. He has always made agriculture his vocation and in the connection has put forth much energy and good judgment in the management of his affairs, so that his success has been cumulative, and he has became the owner of one of the fine farm properties of the county, his estate comprising one hundred and forty-two acres of fertile land, well-drained and equipped with modern improvements, including a commodious resi- dence, large barn and other farm buildings. Mr. Fleming takes a loyal interest in local affairs and lends his aid and influence in the support of measures tending to advance the general welfare. He is a stanch supporter of the principles of the Republican party, has served three terms as township trustee, and for five years he was a member of the school board. He is affiliated with Fulton Lodge, No. 48, Free and Accepted Masons, at Delta, and with Berry Grange, NO. IIII, at Ai. On the 21st of December, 1869, Mr. Fleming was united in marriage to Miss Clarinda A. Mercer, who was born in Ashland county, Ohio, November 28, 1849, a daughter of Washing- ton and Elizabeth (Harvot) Mercer. Her father was a farmer by vocation and his death occurred in Ashland county. About 1857 his widow came with her children to Fulton county, locating near Ai, in Fulton township, where she still resides. Mr. and Mrs. Fleming are the parents of seven sons : James B., Lewis W., Roy H., Frederick L., Sidney A., Floyd and Carl M. James and Sidney are carpenters by trade, and the former is foreman in the mill of the Demeresq Lumber company, at Delta, Ohio. The two youngest sons remain at the parental home.
JOSEPH P. FLORY, who is successfully established in the gen- eral merchandise business at Archbold, where he has a well-equipped establishment in which he handles dry-goods, boots and shoes, etc., was born in German township, this county, on the 22d of December, 1858, and is a son of Peter and Josephine (Carto) Flory, both of whom were born in France, Havre having been the native place of the former. When Peter Flory was an infant his parents immi- grated to America, in 1832, and ten years later they came to Fulton county, Ohio, becoming pioneers of German township, within whose borders the thriving little city of Archbold is situated. Joseph Flory, father of Peter, died soon after the family took up their abode in Fulton county, and of his four sons, Peter is the only one now living. The latter became one of the well-to-do farmers of German township, and he and his wife now reside in Archbold, enjoying the benefices of their former years of earnest toil and endeavor. They became the parents of eight children, all of whom are living: Joseph P. is the immediate subject of this sketch; Lewis E. is engaged in the dry-goods business in East Toledo;
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Andrew is identified with the Toledo Malleable Iron Works; Ed- ward J. is engaged in the clothing business in Toledo, Ohio; Stephen is associated with his brother, Lewis E., in East Toledo; Frederick is employed by the William Taylor Sons' Co., in Cleveland; and Amon is with the Winton Automobile company. Joseph P. Flory was reared on the home farm and secured his early education in the pub- lic schools of German township, and he later took a thorough course in the Cleveland Commercial College, being graduated as a member of the class of 1880. Thereafter he was employed in the mercantile establishment of Hull Brothers, in Archbold, for one year, at the expiration of which he purchased their stock and business, in asso- ciation with Joseph Moyne, whose interest he later acquired, having since been sole proprietor of the business, which he has made one of the most successful of the sort in the town, having a representative support and enjoying the confidence of the community. He is an enterprising and public spirited citizen, is a stanch Democrat in poli- tics, has served two terms each as township treasurer and village treasurer, and he is at the present time a member of the village council of his home town. In 1883 Mr. Flory was married to Miss Catharine Wahl, of Cleveland, Ohio, she being a daughter of Ignatius Wahl. Four children have been born of this union, the names and respective dates of birth being as follows: Celia, February 27, 1884; Lawrence, May 12, 1885: Coletta Olive (deceased), May 30, 1887, died November 6, 1892; and Ivo Joseph, born March, 1889.
ANSEL L. FORD is the owner of one of the largest and best landed estates in Gorham township, where he was born and reared, and he is well known as a progressive and successful farmer and as an extensive buyer and shipper of live-stock. He was born on the 15th of August, 1851, and is a son of Cyrus and Fanny (Landis) Ford. Cyrus Ford was born in Cummington, Hampshire county, Mass., and was a son of Ansel Ford, who brought his family to Ohio in 1842 and settled in what is now Gorham township, Fulton county, securing a tract of land one mile east and one mile north of the present home of his grandson, whose name initiates this para- graph. In the East he had been a manufacturer of scythe snaths, grain cradles, etc., but after coming to Ohio he made farming his vocation, having cleared and improved his land and had been duly prosperous, and both he and his wife passed the remainder of their lives in this county. The Ford family is of stanch Scotch extrac- tion and was early founded in New England, as was also the Tower family, of which Deborah, wife of Ansel Ford, was a member. Ansel and Deborah Ford became the parents of ten children : Charles, Otis, Amos, Lucius, Hosea and Cyrus are deceased; Frank resides in Fayette, this county; Elmina is the deceased wife of Benjamin Russell, whose second wife was her next younger sister, Delia, who survives him and resides in Fayette; and Ann became the wife of Nathan Shaw, both being deceased. Cyrus Ford devoted his entire life to agricultural pursuits and was one of the honored pioneers of Gorham township. He was born May 18, 1822, and died August 29,
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1868, having joined the Republican party at the time of its organi- zation and having been one of its prominent representatives in Fulton county. His wife, Fanny (Landis) Ford, was born in Erie county, N. Y., whither her parents removed from Maryland, and finally they came to Ohio, remaining for some time in Toledo and then removing to Williams county, continuing to reside in this sec- tion of the State until the death of the former. The latter makes her home with the subject of this sketch. Cyrus and Fanny Ford became the parents of seven children : Otis resides in Fayette; Mary Alice is the wife of Frank Hicker; Ansel L. is the subject of this sketch; David resides in Morenci, Mich .; Ella is the widow of Dr. Harry Van Buskirk and resides in Fayette; John B. is a farmer of Gorham township; and Addie holds a clerical position in the gen- eral store of the Fulton County Co-operative company, in Fayette. Ansel L. Ford was educated in the public schools of his native township, and he has never severed his allegiance to the funda- mental art of agriculture, under whose gracious influences he was reared. He is the owner of about three hundred and ninety acres of land, all in Gorham township, and the greater portion is maintained under effective cultivation, and his homestead is improved with good buildings and is one of the most attractive in this part of the county. He has been a stock-grower for many years and has also built up a large and prosperous business as a buyer and shipper of stock, being one of the leading dealers of the county and being known as a straightforward and able business man. In politics he is a stanch Re- publican, is the present assessor of his township and he served six years as township trustee, was real-estate appraiser and has served on the school board several terms, at varying intervals. He has been a member of the election board of the township on nineteen different occasions, and is one of the highly esteemed citizens of his native township. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and has filled all the official chairs in his lodge. Reverting to his operations as a dealer in live stock, it may be said that he has taken stock to Buffalo each year for the past thirty-one years, and no man in the county is a better judge in that line than is he. September 20, 1874, Mr. Ford was united in marriage to Miss Anna Humphrey, a daughter of the late Renselaer Humphrey, of Fayette, and they have five chil- dren: Alvah C., Bermah R., Elbert Clare, Denver A. and Demah A., all of whom are living, Alvah being one of the representative young farmers of Gorham township.
STEPHEN FOUTY, who is now living retired in the city of Wauseon, was for many years actively engaged in farming in York township, and is a citizen of sterling character. He was born in Mahoning county, Ohio, on the 17th of February, 1837, and is a. son of William Fouty, who removed to Fulton county in 1850, be- coming one of the representative farmers of York township, where he passed the remainder of his life, his death occuring in 1867. His wife died in Mahoning county. Stephen Fouty was reared to maturity in Mahoning county, where he received a common-school
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education, and he came with his father to Fulton county, where he has thus made his home for more than half a century, and he as- sisted in the reclaiming of a farm in the midst of the dense forest. He was among the first to tender his services in defense of the Union when the dark cloud of civil war shadowed the national horizon. On the 28th of October, 1861, he enlisted as a member of Company E, Sixty-eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and he remained in service for three years, receiving his honorable discharge on the 28th of October, 1864, in the city of Washington. He took part in the battles of Fort Donelson, Shiloh, and other important en- gagements and was a leal and loyal soldier of the republic. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. Mr. Fouty contin- ued to reside on his farm until 1892, when he removed to Wauseon, where he has since lived retired, enjoying the rewards of his former toils and endeavors. On the 11th of January, 1865, Mr. Fouty was united in marriage to Miss Charlotte Haines, who was born in Medina county, Ohio, on the 23d of December, 1844, and who died in December, 1869, leaving two children: Norval, who is a success- ful farmer of Fulton county; and Theodore, of whom individual mention is made in the succeeding review. In 1871 Mr. Fouty married Mrs. Leda Eck, who died May 11, 1893, leaving one child by a former husband. October 23, 1903, Mr. Fouty was united in marriage to Mrs. Amanda Gillett, who died on the 15th of April, 1905.
THEODORE FOUTY, one of the representaive farmers of York township, was born and reared in Fulton county, where he has passed his entire life. He is a son of Stephen Fouty, of whom individual mention is made elsewhere in this work. Mr. Fouty was born on the homestead farm, in York township, on the 12th of September, 1867, and his fundamental educational training was secured in the district school, after which he continued his studies in the Wauseon high school and in the normal school at Wauseon. He has made farming his vocation and is one of the enterprising and progressive agriculturists of his native county. His farm is equipped with ex- cellent improvements and comprises one hundred acres of most fer- tile land. In politics Mr. Fouty is a stanch adherent of the Repub- lican party, and he takes a loyal interest in public affairs of a local nature. He has served several terms as a member of the board of education of his township. He and his wife hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, and he is identified with the Wauseon camp of Sons of Veterans. In 1889, Mr. Fouty was united in mar- riage to Miss Martha D. Miller, who was born in York township on the 15th of July, 1869, being a daughter of Warren T. and Henrietta (Dumeresque) Miller. Mrs. Fouty was summoned to the life eternal on the 23d of June, 1897, leaving two children : Viola M., who was born January 20, 1890, and Willis D., who was born November 21, 1896. May 11, 1898, Mr. Fouty was married to Miss C. Edith Tressler, who was born in Holgate, Henry county, Ohio, being a daughter of George W. and Celia (Van Fleet) Tress-
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ler. Her father was born in Liberty township, Henry county, De- cember 22, 1854, and was a train dispatcher by vocation. He died at Rawlins, Wyoming, on the 10th of July, 1896, while en route home from California, his death occuring on the train. His wife was born in Liberty township, Henry county, Ohio, March 10, 1857, and she died March 1, 1889, at Lincoln, Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. Fouty have three children, namely : Vera L., born November 8, 1900; Alda L., born October 23, 1903; and Celia C., born June 29, 1904.
WILLIAM E. FOWLER, secretary of the Delta Building, Loan and Savings company, and ex-mayor of Delta, was born in York township of Fulton county, January 4, 1852. His ancestors have long been established in America, the founders being of German extraction. He is the son of Thomas W. and Lucy L. (Eddy) Fowler, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of New York State. Both accompanied their parents to what is now Fulton county and ended their days there. From 1833 to 1896 Thomas W. Fowler was a successful and prosperous farmer, dying in September of the latter year. He and wife were the parents of four children. Those living are : William E., the eldest; Robert, a retired farmer of Delta, and Mrs. Cornelia Meltin of Menton, Ind. His first wife hav- ing died July 15, 1860, he married again and became the father of one son, Eli, a real-estate agent of Guide Rock, Neb. William E. Fowler was educated in the public schools of his native township and Wauseon, and began his business career as a clerk in the dry- goods establishment of W. R. Huntington of Delta, remaining in the latter's employ five years. He then went into partnership with Ward Barber, of Colorado Springs, Col., in the clothing and furnish- ing business. In 1888 Mr. Barber retired, Robert Fowler being his successor. The firm of Fowler Bros. conducted a large and lucrative business until 1892, when a destructive fire practically destroyed the town of Delta and caused the firm to lose heavily. Since that time Mr. Fowler has been engaged principally in the real-estate business, combining with it loans and insurance, in the management of which he has met with marked success. Being a notary public he trans- acts a very large business in conveyancing and in drawing legal papers. The Delta Building, Loan and Savings company was or- ganized in 1889, the incorporators being Hon. Franklin Briggs, A. L. and M. S. Sargent, Henry G. Gelger, now of Wauseon, and William E. Fowler, A. L. Sargent being president from the organi- zation until 1902, when he was succeeded by Franklin Briggs. The assets of the institution, which now amount to one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars, are augmented every year. Mr. Fowler has served as secretary from the date of organization. The company has fine offices and safety vaults which have been occupied for seven years. Since 1875, Mr. Fowler has been identified with the Masonic fraternity, being a member of Fulton Lodge, No. 248. He also holds membership in Octavius Waters Chapter Royal Arch Masons and has held various offices in the above societies. In politics he is a Democrat. In 1898 he was elected mayor of Delta,
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and being popular with many of the Republicans he was re-elected in 1902 for a term of two years, which was cut short one year by the operation of the new code. Mr. Fowler was first married in 1892 to Miss Cora Ackerman, who died February 7, 1900. August 12, 1902, he was wedded to Miss Nellie Oaks, a native of New York State, but since childhood her parental home has been in the extreme southern part of Michigan, near Lyons, Fulton county, Ohio.
ANDREW J. FRAKER, member of the Delta Stave company of Delta, is a native of Clinton township, Fulton county, having been born near Wauseon, June 26, 1848. He is the son of George and Mary Ann (Gorsuch) Fraker, both natives of Ohio. George Fraker was born in Wayne county, Ohio, in 1819, and at the age of sixteen years came to Fulton county, at a time when the Indians still occu- pied that territory, and settled with his parents near Delta in 1835. Our subject's grandfather, Thomas Fraker, was a native of Pennsyl- vania, and was a bound boy in that State, where he learned his trade. Thomas Fraker entered a farm adjoining the present corporation limits of Delta, and there spent the remainder of his life, leaving a valuable estate at his death. When his son George attained to his majority Thomas Fraker entered for him the land near Pettisville, Clinton township, on which all of his family were born and reared. George Fraker was reared on a farm and chose farming and stock- raising as his vocation in life, and that he made a wise choice is evi- denced by the fact that he was at the time of his death a prosper- ous and wealthy man. He was one of the organizers of Fulton county, and was prominently identified with its history for many years, having assisted in cutting the first road in the county, and having born his full share in the establishment of schools, churches and county buildings. George Fraker and wife were the parents of eight children. They are: Andrew J., Thomas Jefferson, who died at the age of five years; George, who was forty years old at the time of his death; Benjamin, who died of the mumps at the age of twenty-one years; Amanda Elizabeth, the wife of J. V. Robinson of Toledo, Ohio; William I., who resides on the old homestead; Edna J., the wife of Judge J. V. Cuff of Napoleon, Ohio; Isabel, the widow of Fred. Bennett, who lives with her relatives, and is the owner of considerable property in Pettisville. George Fraker died at the age of eighty-four years and his wife at the age of seventy- two years. Both were well known and highly esteemed in Fulton county. Andrew J. Fraker was educated principally at Pettisville and grew to manhood on his father's farm. At the age of twenty- one years he left the parental roof without a dollar to help him make his way in the world. His first work was on a farm in Illinois, where he began, April 3, and by Christmas, when he returned home, he was the proud owner of a new suit of clothes and one hundred and sixty dollars in money. Then he farmed on his father's place for one season, receiving in payment a share of the crops. Then he bought a well-drilling outfit and for fifteen years he was engaged in putting down wells for the farmers of Fulton and
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Henry counties, realizing quite a handsome profit. In 1878 he pur- chased a saw-mill, a planing-mill and a lumber business at the loca- tion of the present stave factory, and continued the business until it grew to such proportions that he could no longer care for it by him- self, when he sold a half interest to Byron Yarnell. After running the establishment for five years, the planing-mill was destroyed by fire. when Mr. Yarnell sold his interest back to Mr. Fraker, who then sold the entire plant to the Dewey Stave company. After rest- ing from active business for three years, he, in May, 1903, associated himself with Charles P. Grisier of Wauseon, and Gotshall Brothers of Archbold and re-purchased the plant, now known as the Delta Stave company. The plant gives employment to twenty men, and from five to ten additional men are employed in the timber with from ten to twelve teams. The output, consisting wholly of staves and heading, is shipped in car-load lots to all parts of the country. Mr. Fraker is a stock-holder and vice-president of the Farmers' Na- tional bank of Delta, capitalized at twenty-five thousand dollars, of which institution he is one of the incorporators. He is the owner of four hundred acres of fine farming land, located in different parts of the county and wholly free of any incumbrance. This land in connection with a third interest in the Delta Stave company and his home property comprises the principal part of his possessions, ex- cepting seven thousand dollars which he recently inherited. Mr. Fraker is a member of Fulton Lodge, No. 248, Free and Accepted Masons. In politics he is identified with the Democratic party in national issues, but independent in local elections. Four years he has been township treasurer and for eight years treasurer of Delta special school district. January 14, 1878, he was wedded to Miss Rachel Fauble, a daughter of Isaac and Rachel (Watkins) Fauble, who were among the oldest and most prominent families of Fulton township. Mr. and Mrs. Fraker are the parents of three children, all graduates of Delta high school. They are: Charles I., employed in his father's business ; William H., assistant cashier of the Farmers' National bank, and Herma, at home.
JOHN GEE, one of the venerable pioneer citizens of York town- ship, was born in Ulster county, New York, on the 27th of May, 1822, and when he was about twelve years of age his parents removed from the old Empire State to Ohio, settling in Seneca county, where he was reared to manhood on a farm. There he continued to make his home, engaged in agricultural pursuits, until 1865, when he came to Fulton county and settled in York township, where he has ever since resided, save for a period of about four years, which he passed in Clinton township. He improved a valuable farm, which he still owns, and he is a man who has ever commanded the unqualified confidence and regard of the community in which he has so long made his home. On the 25th of March, 1849, Mr. Gee was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Grove, who was born in Frederick county, Maryland, on the 23d of December, 1830, and who remained his devoted companion during more than half a century,
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her death occurring on the 17th of July, 1901. They became the parents of two sons, William H., of whom individual mention is made upon a succeedant page of this work, and John C., who resides in Eaton county, Michigan. Mr. Gee is a Republican in his political views and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, as was also his wife.
FRANCIS B. GEER, attorney and counsellor-at-law of Swanton, is a native of Ohio, having been born at Norwalk, Huron county, May 7, 1851. He is the grandson of Amos C. and Dollie (Thomp- son) Geer, both natives of Vermont, where they were married and whence they removed to Ohio in 1832, locating in Lorain county. After a residence of eighteen years in that county they removed to Norwalk, Huron county. Five years later Amos Geer removed to Oberlin, where he died at the age of eighty-five years. He served in the War of 1812, enlisting as a volunteer from his native State. His first wife dying in 1849, he later was wedded to Harriet Chapin, who survived him until 1905, residing in Oberlin, where she died at the venerable age of ninety years. Of the children born to the first marriage eight attained years of maturity, Sylvia A. and Anna dying in infancy. Their names follow: Heman, Ezra, Benoni T., Abner, Betsey A., David, Hannah Eliza and Wakeley W. All are deceased except Mrs. Betsey A. (Geer) Thompson and David. Francis B. Geer is the son of Benoni T. and Louisa (Jones) Geer, both natives of Ohio. Benoni T. Geer came with his parents to Lorain county, O., in childhood and there assisted in clearing a new farm. At the age of seven years he took his ax and went to work felling trees, early in life becoming an adept in the use of that very necessary pioneer implement. Subsequently the family removed to Norwalk, Huron county, where from the time he was fifteen years old until his marriage he made his home in the family of Thomas B. Benedict and completed his education by graduating from the Norwalk academy. Then he studied law under the tutorship of "Oc." Kellogg. Later he attended the Cincinnati Law school, and was admitted to the practice of law in 1853. When Francis B. was only two years old his father came to Lucas county and taught a special school, termed a "Geography school," for one term. He then returned to Huron county and brought his wife and child back with him, becoming a permanent resident of this locality in 1853, at a time when the country was new and the Lake Shore railroad had not been constructed. Benoni T. Geer began the practice of law at East Swanton, Swanton township, and continued there until 1892. When not otherwise engaged, he devoted his attention to the man- agement of a farm that he had purchased there. In 1892 he estab- lished the office in Swanton that is now occupied by his son, the original sign and safe occupying their wonted places. At the age of sixty-six years, seized by a severe attack of La Grippe, from the effects of which he never fully recovered, his health began to decline, forcing him to wholly abandon his practice in 1896, and on June 4,. three years later, he died. He was a zealous and active worker in
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