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 45
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desired destination was reached. Some of the larger cabins of the pioneers were often used for religious services, led by the itinerant preachers or circuit-riders of the day, and log houses which had been discarded for larger ones were frequently used for the primitive schools. The nearest mill was at Maumee, twenty miles distant, and the ox teams were principally utilized by the early settlers. Amuse- ments were simple but wholesome, consisting principally of neighbor- hood parties and "bees" of various descriptions, and hospitality and good cheer were never lacking. September 20, 1860, Mr. Grandy was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Cameron, who was born near Lockport, Niagara county, N. Y., June 14, 1840. She was left an orphan in early childhood and was reared by her paternal grand- mother. She had two brothers, Joseph and Alexander, the former of whom died in the spring of 1863, while serving in the Union army, and the latter is a resident of Osborne county, Kan. Mr. and Mrs. Grandy had two children, concerning the older of whom, Fred, an individual sketch appears immediately preceding this one. Ida was born June 8, 1863, and remains with her father on the old home- stead. She was afforded good educational advantages and is an ac- complished musician, to the teaching of which art she has devoted her attention for a number of years, having large classes in Delta and in the neighborhood of her country home, and she is held in high regard in the community, being popular in its social circles. Mrs. Grandy was called to the eternal life on the 7th of October, 1893, and her remains lie at rest in the Fulton Union cemetery. She was a woman of gentle and noble character and endeared herself to all who came within the sphere of her influence. She was a devoted mem- ber of the Christian or Disciples church, with which Mr. Grandy also has been identified for nearly half a century, his daughter also being an active member. In politics Mr. Grandy has ever been a stanch sup- porter of the Republican party and its principles, having cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln. He has been incumbent of various offices of local trust, including those of township trustee, dis- trict clerk and school director, and his aid and influence have always. been freely given in support of measures and enterprises for the gen- eral good of the community. He inherited a half-interest in the old homestead of eighty acres, and purchased the other half-interest, and here he has maintained his home since he was a youth of sixteen years. He is one of the sturdy pioneer citizens of Fulton county, where his name has ever stood as a synonym of honor, integrity and loyalty.
JOHN A. GRANDY, township clerk of York township and en- gaged in practice as a pension attorney, at Delta, is an honored mem- ber of one of the sterling pioneer families of Fulton county, which has been his home from the time of his birth. He was born in Swan Creek township, on the 30th of January, 1839, the old homestead be- ng located three miles east of Delta, and is a son of Mishel B. and Anna (Leggett) Grandy, whose marriage was solemnized in the State of New York, whence they came to Fulton county in 1838, locating in Swan Creek township as pioneers. There the father developed a
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farm, becoming one of the prominent citizens of this section and ever commanding unqualified esteem in the community. Concerning him and his wife detailed mention is made in the sketch of their son Hen- ry R. appearing immediately before this one, and to the same refer- ence may be made for genealogical data apropos of the article at hand. John A. Grandy was reared on the home farm, and in the common schools secured his elementary education, which was supplemented by a course in the graded schools at Waterville, Lucas county. His in- dependent career was initiated by his service as a school teacher, and in this way he earned the first money which he ever could defi- nitely call his own. He tought his first term of school when he had just passed his fifteenth year, and he received eighty-eight dollars in gold for his services. He states that never since has he had a sum of money which looked as large to him or one in which he took so great pride. This first pedagogic experience was gained in the winter of 1854-5, and thereafter he continued to teach, especially during the winter terms, until 1863. On the 2d of May, 1864, he tendered his ser- vices in defense of the Union, enlisting as a private in Company H, One Hundred and Thirtieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with which he served one hundred and forty-five days, at the expiration of which he received his discharge. Thereafter he continued to teach for several years, in the meanwhile devoting much attention to the study of high- er branches of learning, and in the winter of 1864-5 he was employed as principal of the Delta schools. In May, 1865, he sold his farm in Swan Creek township-a property which he had acquired some time previously, paying for the same with money earned by teaching -and he invested the proceeds in a general store at Centerville, now known as Swanton, where he conducted a profitable business until 1875, when his establishment was destroyed by fire, entailing an almost total loss, as his insurance indemnity was very small. This misfortune made it impossible for him to resume business, and he again had recourse to his ability as a teacher, continuing his work in the school-room, and also working as a fire-insurance agent, until 1883. He then went to Hand county, South Dak., where he secured a homestead, to which he proved title in due time, continuing to reside on the place about five years and then returning to his old home. After returning from the West he taught one term of school, and in 1889 he adopted His present profession of prosecuting pen- sion claims before the various departments in Washington, in which field of endeavor he has been specially successful, gaining proper recognition of the claims of many deserving veterans of the Civil war. He is also a notary public, and has served consecutively as township clerk since 1892, through successive re-elections every two years. In political matters Mr. Grandy is a stalwart supporter of the principles of the Republican party, in whose cause he has been a somewhat active worker in a local way. He served four years as a member of the board of school examiners of the county, and has always maintained a deep interest in educational affairs. In a fraternal way he is a valued member of McQuillin Post, No. 171, G. A. R., of Delta, and is also a member of the National Union, a social
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and beneficial order. On New Year's day of the year 1863, Mr. Grandy was united in marriage to Miss Amelia L. Quiggle, who was born in Hampden, Geauga county, Ohio, being a daughter of Calvin and Louise Quiggle, who came to Fulton county in 1852, here passing the remainder of their lives. Mrs. Grandy has five brothers and two sisters. Romanso C. is a resident of Michigan; Horatio H., Clarence C. and Frederick E. reside in Delta; and Elmer C. main- tains his home in Hartford, Conn .; Lucy is the wife of Russell G. Merrill, of Lincoln, Neb .; and Maria is the wife of Jacob N. Bechtol, of Toledo, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Grandy have three children. Frank, who is now engaged as salesman in a mercantile establishment in Delta, was here engaged in the general merchandise business for himself until his place was destroyed by fire, in December, 1904. He served thirteen months during the Spanish-American war, as a mem- ber of Company G, Sixth Ohio Volunteers, his command having. been held in reserve for a number of months at Chickamauga Park and having been on duty in Cuba about six months. Jessie is the wife of Frank Shumaker, engaged in the meat-market business in Delta, and they have one child, Elmer. Mary, the youngest of the three children, still remains at the parental home, being one of the popular young ladies of the community.
SYLVESTER GREEN, a prominent farmer and popular citizen of Royalton township, was born in Fairfield township, Lenawee county, Mich., on the 28th of June, 1843, and is a son of James and Eliza (McConnell) Green, both of whom were born near the city of Belfast, Ireland, where they were reared and where their marriage was solemnized in the year 1830. In the same year they left the Emerald Isle and set bravely forth to establish for themselves a home in America. They remained several years in the State of New York, and then came to Toledo, Ohio, where the father secured employment in connection with the construction of the Maumee canal. He was thus engaged about one year and then settled in Fairfield township, Lenawee county, Mich., where, in 1840, he pur- chased forty acres of land, retaining possession of the same about two years and then exchanging the property for a tract of eighty acres, in the same township. This latter farm he reclaimed and im- proved and there both he and his wife continued to reside until his death, which occurred in September, 1888, at which time he was seventy-nine years of age. His widow still survives and has reached (1905) the venerable age of ninety-one years. They became the parents of ten children, of whom six attained years of maturity- Eliza, James Henry, Sylvester, William, Rachel and George. Eliza, who is deceased, was the wife of Edwin Smith, and Rachel is the wife of Richard N. Miller. Sylvester Green had an adequate experience in strenuous work during his boyhood and youth, since he aided in the reclaiming and cultivation of the pioneer homestead, in Fairfield township, Lenawee county, Mich., and his educational training was limited to the somewhat primitive schools of the locality and period. He continued to remain at the parental home until his
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marriage, in 1869, when he purchased a farm of eighty acres in his native township, where he continued to reside until 1875, when he purchased forty acres there and then came to Royalton township, Fulton county, where he purchased forty acres, in Section 9, later adding forty acres of adjacent land, clearing a considerable portion of the place from the wild condition, and he has continued to add to his landed estate from time to time until he now owns three hundred and six acres, lying in Royalton township and across the Michigan line in his native township of Fairfield. It includes also the little homestead of twenty-six and one-half acres where he now resides, a portion of the same being within the corporate limits of the village of Lyons, where he has an attractive home and where he has maintained his residence since the autumn of 1902, being practically retired, though still having a general supervision of his extensive farming interests. He is a stalwart Republican and has been in- cumbent of minor offices in his township, including that of land- appraiser. He is affiliated with Lyons Lodge No. 622, I. O. O. F., and with the adjunct organization, the Daughters of Rebekah, of which latter Mrs. Green also is a member. He and his wife are prominent members of the Lyons Christian church, in which he is a deacon. Mr. Green has been three times married. August 9, 1869, he wedded Miss Lavina Catlin, daughter of Burge Catlin, of Norwalk, Ohio, and she died in 1878, leaving two children-Almon B., who married Miss Fannie Oaks; and Mary L., who is the wife of Arthur Wood. For his second wife Mr. Green married Miss Eliza Catlin, sister of his first wife, and she died in 1887, leaving no chil- dren. He later married his present wife, whose maiden name was Celia Catlin and who is likewise a sister of the two former wives of Mr. Green:' No children have been born of this union.
GEORGE W. GRIESINGER, whose life was one of earnestness, industry and devotion to duty and who stood as one of the repre- sentative citizens and farmers of Fulton county, died on his home- stead place, in Fulton township, on the 7th of December, 1904, se- cure in the abiding esteem of all who knew him and leaving a record which stands both as lesson and incentive. Mr. Griesinger was born in Somerset county, Pa., on the 20th of February, 1836, and was a son of Gottfried H. and Esther (Schultz) Griesinger, the former of whom was born in the kingdom of Wurtemburg, Germany, and the latter was a native of the State of Pennsylvania, where their mar- riage was solemnized. George W. was a child of seven years at the time of his parents' removal from Pennsylvania to Ohio, and the family located in Fulton county, on land adjoining the homestead now occupied by the widow of the subject of this sketch, and here the parents passed the remainder of their lives, having been worthy pioneers of the county and having assisted in the initial stages of its agricultural and civic development. George W. Griesinger early gained a knowledge of arduous manual labor, since he assisted in the reclamation of the home farm and otherwise assisted in its work, and his educational advantages in a fundamental way were those
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offered in the somewhat primitive schools of the locality and period. He became a man of high attainments, largely through self-discipline, well-directed reading and a course of study in the normal school at Wauseon, and as a young man he was successfully engaged in teaching for some time. August 15, 1862, Mr. Griesinger enlisted as a private in Company K, One Hundred and Eleventh Ohio volun- teer infantry, with which he served until January 24, 1865, when he received his honorable discharge, by reason of disabilities caused by wounds received in action. His command was a part of the Western Army, and he took part in practically all the engagements in which that army was active from the time of his enlistment until the close of the war. Among the principal engagements in which he participated may be mentioned the following: Huff's Ferry, Lou- don Creek, Lenoirs, Campbell Station, Knoxville, Blaine's Cross- roads, and Dandridge, Tenn .; Buzzard's Roost, Resaca, Dallas, Kenesaw Mountain, Nickajack Creek, Chattahoochie river, Atlanta, Peachtree Creek and Lovejoy Station, Ga .; and Columbia, Franklin and Nashville, Tenn. He was thrice wounded, and 'never recovered entirely from the effects of his injuries, in recognition of which he eventually was granted a pension by the government. The same loyalty and fidelity which characterized his service as a valiant soldier of the Republic typified his entire life in its other relations, and he was the soul of honor and integrity, ever appreciative of the higher ideals and striving to order. his course in harmony therewith. Shortly after the close of the war Mr. Griesinger purchased sixty acres of the present homestead, in Fulton township, later adding an adjoining twenty acres, and here he made his home until death, having developed and improved one of the fine farms of the county and having attained a success worthy the name. In his political allegiance he was a stanch Republican, fraternally he was identified with the Masonic order, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Grand Army of the Republic, and he was a zealous member of the Evangelical Association, with which religious body he became identified when but twelve years of age. He was called upon to serve in various township offices, and was justice of the peace about five years, being incumbent of this position at the time of his death. Mr. Griesinger was twice married, the maiden name of his first wife, who died April 3, 1868, having been Mary M. McQuillan. They became the parents of three children, Ada May, John H. and Mary M., the last named being deceased. October 13, 1870, Mr. Griesin- ger married Miss Lydia A. Siegel, who survives him and still re- sides on the old homestead. She was born in German township, this county, on the 12th of June, 1852, and is a daughter of Jacob and Catherine (Naftzinger) Siegel, both of whom were born and reared in Germany, where they were married. They came to Ohio in an early day, having three children at the time, and first located in Wayne county, whence they removed to German township, Fulton county, in 1852. They were in very modest circumstances financially, as is evident when we revert to the fact that in caring for his family the father worked for some time for thirty-seven and one-half cents
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a day. By industry, economy and good management he acquired a fine property, and he was the owner of a well-improved and valu- able farm of one hundred and sixty acres, near Archbold, German township, at the time of his death, which occurred in 1884, his wife having passed away in 1882. They became the parents of nine chil- dren, of whom five are living, all being residents of Fulton county, where the four sons are prosperous farmers. To Mr. and Mrs. Griesinger were born twelve children, concerning whom the follow- ing brief record is incorporated: Daisy Almira, born September 14, 1871, died October 19, 1881; Thomas, born December 21, 1873, died on the 23d of the same month; Jacob A. was born December 25, 1874; George Peter, June 4, 1876; Daniel F., July 28, 1878; Dora Etta, July 1, 1880; Clarence E. and Clara E., twins, June 11, 1882; Katie, June 12, 1884; Emily V., February 10, 1887; Ola, January 10, 1889; and an infant son who died February 16, 1894. Mrs. Griesinger and her daughters are devoted members of the Evangelical Asso- ciation, and they are prominent in the church and social life of the community, the attractive family home being a center of generous hospitality.
CONLEY E. GUILFORD is incumbent of the office of treas- urer 'of Fulton county and is a popular and well-known citizen, so that it is incumbent that he be accorded representation in this work. He was born in the town of Cuba, N. Y., on the 24th of July, 1851, and is a son of Robert G. Guilford, who came to Fulton county in 1858 and located on a farm in Dover township. In 1863 the father tendered his services in defense of the Union, enlisting in the One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Ohio volunteer infantry, and he sacrificed his life on the altar of his country, his death occurring in 1863. He was a son of Samuel Guilford, a native of Massachusetts and of old Puritan stock. The latter removed from Wakefield, Mass., to the State of New York, where he passed the remainder of his life, hav- ing rendered valiant service as a soldier in the War of 1812. The maiden name of the mother of the present treasurer of Fulton county was Phoebe Post, and she was born in Cazenovia, N. Y. By reason of the loss of her husband a heavy burden of responsibility was thrown upon her shoulders, in the management of the estate and in caring for her children, and it is fitting that in this connection a statement of tribute be paid her memory for the noble and unselfish way in which she performed the duties which thus made so great exactions upon her mind, heart and strength. She died on the old homestead farm, in Dover township, in the year 1869. Conley E. Guilford is indebted to the public schools of Fulton county for his carly educational privileges, having been about seven years of age at the time of his parents' removal to this State, and in order to aid and relieve his widowed mother he early began the battles of life on his own responsibility. Having been reared on a farm, he natur- ally initiated his independent career as a worker along the lines to which he had been trained, but he was early called upon to serve in positions of public trust and responsibility. He was incumbent of
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the office of clerk of Clinton township about twelve years, and for two years was a valued member of the Wauseon school-board. In 1872 he engaged in the drug business in Wauseon, continuing in this line of enterprise until 1896 and being numbered among the rep- resentative business men of the county capital. In 1881 he was commissioned postmaster, by President Garfield, continuing in charge of the Wauseon office until the accession of Grover Cleve- land to the presidential chair. In 1901 Mr. Guilford became the candidate 'of the Republican party for the office of treasurer of Ful- ton county, was elected by a gratifying majority, and the popular estimate placed upon his administration was best indicated by his re-election in 1903. The routine of the office work was very sum- marily interrupted in January, 1905, by the daring robbery of the safe in the treasurer's office, and naturally, Mr. Guilford feels great- ly disconcerted and aggrieved over the affair, though by no means could he have anticipated or forefended the crime, which entailed a very considerable loss to him personally. Thus far all efforts to apprehend the guilty persons have proven futile. No iota of blame attaches to any of the county officials, since every reasonable provi- sion and effort were made to safeguard the county funds. It is evi- dent that the robbery was committed by experts, the vault and safe having been reduced to a chaotic mass of wreckage by means of nitroglycerine and other powerful explosives. The county's loss was made good by the insurance company which had indemnified the safe and its contents. Mr. Guilford has for many years taken a promi- nent part in the political affairs of the county, and is a leader in the local councils of the Republican party. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and deeply appreciative of the noble and time- honored organization. In 188r Mr. Guilford was united in marriage. to Miss Florence McConnell, daughter of A. W. McConnell, who removed to Fulton county from Medina county, in 1870, and who now resides in Wauseon. He served six years as auditor of the county and is a well-known and honored citizen. Mr. and Mrs. Guilford have two sons, Frank R., who is a student in the Ohio State University, in Columbus, and Clarence A., who is attending the Wauseon public schools.
GEORGE Z. GUNSAULLUS, one of the representative farmers of Royalton township, was born in Richland county, Ohio, March 15, 1840, and is a son of Melvin M. and Isabel (Forbet) Gunsaullus, of German and Irish lineage respectively. The parents came to Ful- ton county in 1846 and settled in Franklin township, where the father reclaimed forty acres of land from the virgin wilds, becoming one of the well-to-do farmers of the county and standing high in the esteem of all who knew him. Both he and his wife continued resi- dents of Franklin township until their death. Of their eight children seven grew to maturity-George Z., Daniel E., (deceased), Margar- et J., (deceased), Anna M., Nancy M., (deceased), Mary E., (de- ceased), and Elizabeth E., (deceased). George Z. was reared on the home farm, in Franklin township, early became inured to the work
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of the pioneer farm, and he secured his educational training in the common schools of the locality. September 10, 1862, he manifested his patriotism by enlisting in Company K, Thirty-eighth Ohio vol- unteer infantry, with which he went to the front, taking part in the battles of Missionary Ridge, Jonesboro, Chickamauga, Stone River, Lookout Mountain, and in the Atlanta campaign, and he was with Sherman's forces on the ever memorable "march to the sea." He was in active service nearly three years and received his honor- able discharge at Columbus, Ohio. On his return home he found employment as a farm-hand, and in the spring of 1871 he purchased his present fine homestead farm, comprising one hundred and sixty acres, in Section 28, Royalton township, where he has since made his home, reclaiming much of the land from the wild state and mak- ing the best of improvements, including the erection of substantial buildings. He is a stanch adherent of the Republican party. Decem- ber 16, 1866, he married Miss Lovina Ann Venetten, of Gorham township, this county, daughter of Gilbert and Julia Ann (Depew) Vanetten of Ulster County, N. Y. Mr. and Mrs. Gunsaullus have no children.
EPHRAIM GORSUCH, a representa- tive farmer and pioneer citizen of Clinton township, was born in Wayne county, Ohio, December 20, 1835. His father, Nathan Gorsuch, was born near Pittsburg, Pa., whence he came to Wayne county, Ohio, when a young man, being there married and there continuing his residence until 1854, when he came to Fulton county, settling in Section 15, Clinton township, and later establishing his residence in Section 16, where he died on the 3d of March, 1886. He served in the War of 1812 and represented Wayne county in the State legislature for one term. The maiden name of his wife was Elizabeth Ayers, and she was born and reared in Wayne county, and she died in Clinton township, Fulton county, November 29, 1872. This honored pioneer couple became the parents of seven sons and seven daughters, and of the number five are living. One son, Mordecai, was a member of an Ohio regiment in the Civil war, being taken prisoner and having been held in captivity for some time at Belle Isle and later at Jackson, where he died. Ephraim Gorsuch passed his boyhood and youth in Wayne county, in the common schools of which he secured his early educational training, and he was about nineteen years of age at the time of the family removal to Fulton county, where he has ever since resided and where he has attained to a high degree of success in temporal affairs. He is the owner of five well-improved farms in Fulton county, four of them being operated by his sons, and the aggregate area of his landed estate is four hundred and five acres, making him one of the exten-
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