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 51
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years on the homestead farm and then, in 1886, the family removed to Adrian, Mich, where he attended the high school of that city until 1889, when he began his independent career as salesman in a general store at Seward, Fulton county, being thus engaged until 1891, when he entered the medical department of the University of Wooster, in Cleveland, where he was graduated, August 14, 1893, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He began the practice of his profession in Seward, where he remained until December, 1894, when he came to Metamora, as before stated, and here he has built up a large and rep- resentative practice, extending into adjoining counties in this State and Michigan. He is a member of the Fulton County Medical Society, the Ohio State Medical Society, and the American Medical association. In politics the Doctor is a stalwart Republican, and fraternally he is identified with Royalton Union Lodge, No. 434, F. & A. M .; Lyons Chapter, No. 175, R. A. M .; Wauseon Council, No. 68, R. & S. M .; and Metamora Lodge, No. 875, I. O. O. F. He has farming interests in his native county and has been president of the Merchants' and Farmers' Banking company, of Metamora, from the time of its organ- ization, in 1902. November 7, 1892, Dr. Heffron was united in mar- riage to Miss Gertrude Cagwin, daughter of Hamden and Delight (Shepard) Cagwin, of Rome, N. Y .; and they have two sons, Harold and Howard.
WILLIAM H. LAMBERT, a member of the Delta Milling Com- pany, is a native of Bellevue, O., where he was born on September 16, 1857. He is the son of Benjamin F. and Susan (Taylor) Lam- bert, the former a native of Seneca county, N. Y., and the latter of Sandusky, O. Benjamin F. Lambert was a mechanic by occupation and died in August, 1901, aged seventy-two years. His widow sur- vives him and is now a resident of Wauseon. They were the parents of four sons and two daughters, of whom five are still lving. The names are: William H .; Mary, now Mrs. Jennings of Cleveland; George T. a miller of Delta; Samuel, who died at the age of twenty- seven years; Edward L., an expert paper-hanger and decorator; and Gertrude, employed in clerical work in Toledo, where she holds a responsible and highly lucrative position. William H. Lambert was reared and educated principally at Wauseon. Having learned the millers' trade, he was for twelve years in the employ of Lyon, Clement & Greenleaf. He next operated a mill for Scott & Powell at Bryan, O., for four years. In 1889 he removed to Delta and with A. H. Smith bought the old Charles Cullen mill and operated it until it was destroyed by fire in April, 1900. He then assisted in organizing the Delta Milling Company, his partner being A. H. Smith. The mill, whose capital stock is twenty thousand dollars, has a capacity of seventy-five barrels a day, and is equipped with a full roller pro- cess. The product of this mill is sold to local dealers and throughout the East and South. Mr. Lambert is one of the principal officers of Fulton Lodge, No. 248, Free and Accepted Masons, a member of Octavius Waters Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, and of the Knights
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of Pythias. In politics he is a Republican, being a zealous worker in the party's interests. For six years he has been serving on the Delta city council. On April 25, 1882, he was united in marriage to Miss Hattie Griffin, to which union one daughter, Alma, was born. His second marriage occurred on August 29, 1897, the name of the bride being Miss Sylvia P. Keith. They are the parents of two daughters, named Helen Ruth and Josephine.
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HARMON A. LEE, a retired farmer of Wauseon, was born in Holmes county, Ohio. He is the son of Josiah and Nancy (Stickle) Lee, both natives of that State. His grandfather was . James Lee, a pioneer settler in the land of the Buckeyes. Josiah Lee was born in Holmes county, in 1825, and came to Fulton county in 1845. Ten years later he bought a farm in Chesterfield township of that county, where he spent the remainder of his life. In public affairs he took quite an active part, serving as township trustee and asses- sor. In religious matters he was actively identified with the Chris- tian church. He married Miss Nancy Stickle, a native of Holmes county, her parents having come to that county from Pennsylvania. The marriage of Josiah Lee and wife was blessed with the following children: Mary Ann, who married Silas Barton of Chesterfield township, both deceased; Wesley, who enlisted as a soldier in the Civil war and died in a hospital in New York City; J. C., of Chester- field township; Harmon A., the subject of this sketch; Martha J., the widow of Frank Gray, who died in Fayette, Fulton county. Josiah died at his home in 1890, aged sixty-five years. Harmon A. Lee was reared on a farm and educated in the public schools of his native county. Seven years ago he came to Wauseon from his farm in Dover township. As a farmer he has been so successful that he has been enabled to retire from active work and to enjoy his well-earned wealth. In a financial way he is looked upon as one of the most solid men of the county, enjoying the esteem and respect of his fellow citizens. In the Spanish-American war he enlisted in Company G of the Sixth Ohio volunteer infantry, with the rank of head-quartermaster and sergeant of the company, but was taken sick at Chickamauga Park and discharged from the service. As a member of the Spanish War veterans he takes an active part in the work of that organization. He is also identified with the Knights of Pythias. He married Miss Ester J. Wood, the daughter of Gilbert and Dellia (Griffin) Wood of Dover township. Gilbert Wood was born and reared near New London, Huron county, O., his peo- ple having come to that county in 1836. Coming to this county, in 1865, he bought a farm, on which he died March 11, 1902, aged seventy-one years. His wife, the daughter of Ezekiel and Esther (Rose) Griffin, was born in Green county, N. Y., and died February 21, 1891, aged fifty-nine years. J. R. Griffin, an uncle of Mrs. Lee, lives at Brailey, this county. The Wood family came from near Rochester, N. Y. Grandmother Wood was a Reynolds and her mother a Lyon, both prominent families in the Empire State.
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JOHN S. LAVER, a well-known pio- neer citizen of Pike township, is particular- ly worthy of representation in this publica- tion. He went forth from Fulton county to do valiant service in defense of the Union during the War of the Rebellion, has here maintained his home for more than half a century, following the vocation of carpenter as well as farmer, and being now practically retired, though he still re- sides on his well improved farm, which comprises eighty acres. Mr. Laver was born in Hessen-Darmstadt, Germany, on the 12th of April. 1833, and was there CAPT. JOHN S. LAVER. Co. B. 182nd O. V. I. reared to the age of fourteen years, having in the meanwhile attended the excellent schools of his native province. His mother died before he had at- tained the age noted, and he faced the responsibilities of life with the self-reliance and courage of maturity. He was not yet fifteen years old when he boldly severed the ties which bound him to the fatherland and came to America, alone and with practically no finan- cial resources. He landed in New York city, whence he made his way to Stamford, Connecticut, where he found employment in a chain-pump factory, remaining thus engaged about three years. He then came to Ohio, and it was his good fortune to make Fulton county his destination, his arrival here dating back to the year 1850. Here he supplemented his educational training by attending school at intervals, and he gave his attention to learning the car- penter trade, becoming a skilled workman and continuing to follow his trade, largely as a contractor, until 1855. He has resided on his present farm since 1865 and has developed the same into one of the valuable places of this part of the county. In June, 1863, Mr. Laver enlisted in Company F, Eighty-sixth Ohio volunteer in- fantry, and upon the organization of the regiment he was made its commissary sergeant, serving as such during his six-months' term of enlistment and then receiving his honorable discharge. In 1864 Governor Brough commissioned him second lieutenant and detailed him to the duty of recruiting a company. He successfully accom- plished the work and the organization became Company B, One Hundred and Eighty-second Ohio volunteer infantry. He was made first lieutenant of the company and was later promoted its captain, in which position he served until the close of the war, having been mustered out and having received his honorable discharge in July, 1865. He took part in a number of minor engagements and was present at the battle of Nashville, though his regiment did not parti- cipate in the same. His interest in his comrades of the Civil war is shown in his retaining membership in the Grand Army of the Republic. In politics Mr. Laver is an uncomprising advocate of the principles of the Republican party, and he has been prominent in public affairs in his township. He served two terms as township
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assessor, for eighteen consecutive years was the able incumbent of the office of justice of the peace, and he served as United States census enumerator in both 1880 and 1890. Captain Laver is identi- fied with the Masonic fraternity. In 1858 he was united in marriage to Miss Nancy Alwood, daughter of Peola Alwood, who settled in Pike township in 1835. Mrs. Laver died in 1859, leaving one child, Mary, who is now residing at home. In 1864 Captain Laver mar- ried Miss Paulina Alwood, sister of his first wife, and her death oc- curred in May, 1883. She is survived by five children, namely: Grant S., who is a farmer in Fulton township; Solomon, who has charge of his father's farm; Philip, who is agent of the Toledo & Indiana Electric Railway, at Pettisville; John, who is employed in the milk-condensing plant in Delta; and Ura, who remains at the paternal home.
AARON KUNEY is the owner of one hundred and twenty acres of land, in Gorham and Franklin townships, the estate being in one body, and the residence is located in the latter township. Mr. Kuney is a veteran of the Civil war and is a citizen of sterling worth, com- manding the esteem of those who know him. He was born in Fayette township, Seneca county, N. Y., May 28, 1846, and is a son of Henry and Rachel (Landis) Kuney, both of whom were born in the State of Pennsylvania. In 1855 they removed to Fulton county, Ohio, and settled in Gorham township, one mile north of the present home- stead of their son Aaron, who was a lad of nine years at the time. There Henry Kuney purchased land, which he reclaimed and im- proved, and he passed the remainder of his life in this county, his death occurring in 1898, at which time he was eighty-four years of age. His wife preceded him into eternal rest by about one month, having been eighty-one years of age. They became the parents of thirteen children, of whom ten attained maturity: Martin resides in Fayette, this county; Polly is the wife of William Smith, of that place; Catherine is the widow of Lorenzo Downer and resides in Archbold, this county; Henry is a resident of Morenci, Mich .; Wil- liam is a farmer of Gorham township; Aaron was the next in order of birth; Sarah remains on the old homestead; Lucinda became the wife of Jacob Smith and both are deceased; Levi is a farmer of Gor- ham township, as is also Lawson. Aaron Kuney attended the com- mon schools of New York and Ohio and remained at the parental home until he had attained the age of fourteen years, when he se- cured employment in connection with construction work on the Lake Short & Michigan Southern Air-Line railroad, being identified with this line of work until March 28, 1862, when he enlisted in Company B, Sixtieth Ohio volunteer infantry, at Columbus, Ohio, whence the command finally went to the national capital and over into Alex- andria, Va., arriving in season to take part in the battle of the Wilder- ness. Other important engagements in which Mr. Kuney participated were as follows: Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, North Anna river, Gaines' Mills, Weldon Railroad, Yellow Tavern and Poplar Grove, as well as several engagements incidental to the siege of Petersburg.
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The regiment was encamped within a mile from that city during the winter of 1864, and was present at the surrender of the city. Mr. Kuney was twice wounded while in service, having received a gun- shot wound in the right leg and another in the arm, both wounds having been inflicted by sharpshooters. He remained at the post of duty until victory crowned the Union arms, having been mustered out of the United States service, at Washington, D. C., on the 28th of July, 1865, and having then proceeded with his command to Cleve- land, Ohio, where he received his honorable discharge from the State service, August 5, 1865. He then returned to Fulton county, where he was variously employed for the ensuing four years, after which he served an apprenticeship at the trade of wagon-making, in Moren- ci, Mich. He then opened a shop of his own at Handy, Fulton county, Ohio, where he remained three years. Since that time his vocation has been that of farming ,in which he has met with much success. In 1889 he purchased eighty acres of land in Gorham town- ship, and later he purchased eighty acres lying contiguous on the south, in Franklin township, thus having one of the valuable farms of this part of the county. In his political allegiance Mr. Kuney is a stanch Democrat, and he is affiliated with Stout Post, No. 108, Grand Army of the Republic, at Fayette. July 27, 1876, Mr. Kuney was married to Miss Alice Nathnaugle, daughter of Benjamin Nath- naugle, a pioneer of Gorham township and now deceased. Of this union have been born three sons, two of whom are living: Carey S. and George L, the former being engaged in farming in Franklin township and the latter in Gorham township. The youngest son, Bird D., is deceased.
ALBA A. LATHROP, a prominent farmer and influential citizen of Fulton township, was born in Berkey, Lucas county, Ohio, on the 25th of April, 1861, and is a son of Clark C. and Louisa (Tuttle) Lathrop, both of whom were born in the State of New York. The former came with his parents to Ohio in 1834, having been twelve years of age at the time, and he was reared and educated in Lucas county, where his parents continued to reside until their death. The Lathrop family is of English ancestry, was established in America in the Colonial days, and representatives of the same were found as valiant soldiers in the Continental line during the Revolution; also in the later wars in which the nation has been involved members of the family have manifested their loyalty in a similar way. The parents of Louisa (Tuttle) Lathrop were early settlers in Lenawee county, Mich., where she was reared and educated. Shortly after their mar- riage Mr. and Mrs. Lathrop settled on a farm near Berkey, Lucas county, and there they continued to make their home, sharing the sunshine and shadows which checker every human life, until death severed the silver cord of love and devotion, Mr. Lathrop having been summoned to the life eternal on the 23d of April, 1904, and his widow still remains on the old homestead, which is endeared to her through the gracious memories and associations of many years. In the family were three sons, of whom the youngest is Alba A., of
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this review. Dr. Arthur B., the eldest, is engaged in the practice of medicine at Swanton, and Edgar E. remains on the old homestead farm, of which he has charge. Alba A. Lathrop was reared to man- hood on the homestead farm, early familiarizing himself with the de- tails of the art of husbandry, and he received excellent educational advantages. After duly attending the public schools in the vicinity of his home he continued his studies in the Ohio Northern University, a well-equipped normal school, at Ada. He thereafter taught one term in the district schools, and since that time he has given practi- cally his undivided attention to agricultural pursuits. He operated a farm in Lucas county until 1896, when he sold the property. In the meanwhile, in 1895, he had purchased the farm where he now lives, the same comprising one hundred and twenty acres, and the property was but little improved at the time when he acquired the same. He has reclaimed the farm and developed it into one of the valuable places of Fulton township, sixty-five acres being now under effective cultivation, and the farm is equipped with a fine system of tile drainage. In 1897 Mr. Lathrop erected a substantial, modern barn, forty by eighty feet in dimensions, and his model farm resi- dence, one of the most attractive in this section, was built in 1903. Thrift and prosperity show forth on every side, and indicate that the owner of this fine farm is a man of energy and progressive spirit. In addition to his general farming he gives considerable attention to the dairy feature of the farm enterprise, keeping about ten milch cows and selling the product to the cheese factory in Swanton, and he is also taking up the cultivation of sugar beets, to which he de- voted about eighteen acres for the season of 1905. In his political allegiance Mr. Lathrop has always been a stanch Democrat, and he is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, the Patrons of Husbandry, and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which last he is past grand. April 8, 1886, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Lathrop to Miss Eva A. Printup, who was born in Sylvania township, Lucas county, being a daughter of John Printup, a prominent and prosper- ous farmer of that county. Mrs. Lathrop completed a course in the high school in Sylvania, and was successfully engaged in teaching in the public schools for several terms, prior to her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Lathrop have two daughters, Irma and Ila, both of whom are attending the Swanton high school.
SOLOMON LEININGER, who owns and operates a well im- proved farm of eighty acres, in Clinton township, is a member of - one of the well known pioneer families of Fulton county, which has been his home from the time of his birth. He was born on the old homestead farm, in German township, on the 9th of February, 1850, and is a son of John and Mary (Binder) Leininger, the former of whom was born in the province of Alsace, France, now a portion of the German empire, on the 19th of March, 1821, and the latter was born in Switzerland, in 1822. Their marriage was solemnized in Fulton county, Ohio, in 1841. The death of Mrs. Leininger oc- curred in February, 1903, and her husband died in 1905 on his old
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homestead farm, in German township, being one of the venerable and honored pioneers of the county. This worthy couple became the parents of twelve children, of whom eight are living. Solomon Leininger was reared to manhood on the home farm, early begin- ning to lend his aid in its cultivation, and his educational training was secured in the district schools of German township. After his marriage, in 1872, he located on his present farm, which he reclaimed from the forest, having developed the property into one of the fine places of Clinton township, practically all being under cultivation, and the improvements are of substantial order, including good build- ings. In politics Mr. Leininger is aligned as a stanch supporter of the principles and policies of the Democratic party, and both he and his wife are members of the Lutheran church, in whose faith they were reared. On the 25th of August, 1872, in Defiance coun- ty, Mr. Leininger was united in marriage to Miss Anna U. Seyfang, who was born in Weidenberg, kingdom of Bavaria, Germany, on the 25th of August, 1851, being a daughter of Jacob T. and Anna Barbara (Hesch) Seyfang, the latter of whom died in Germany, whence the father came with his children to America in 1864, set- tling in Defiance county, Ohio, where he passed the remainder of his life. Mr. and Mrs. Leininger have six children: George S., who married Miss Minnie Brant, is a successful farmer of German town- ship; Charles F., who married Miss Bertha Sourwine, resides in the city of Toledo and Philippine, John S., Otto and Barbara remain at the parental home.
PETER J. LENHART, M. D., a prominent and highly successful physician of Wauseon, was born near New Bedford, Coshocton county, Ohio. He is the son of Peter and Magdalena (Deitz) Len- hart, the former a native of Westmoreland county, Pa., and the latter of Tuscarawas county, O. Peter Lenhart took great interest in public affairs, having held office both in the township and the county. He died at his home in 1867, at the age of sixty-seven years. His wife was the daughter of Henry Deitz, who originally came from Pennsylvania. Dr. Lenhart was reared on a farm and received his elementary education in the public schools of his native county. Having chosen medicine as his profession, he entered the medical department of Wooster university, from which he graduated in 1875, ranking among the foremost in his class. Immediately after grad- uating he began the practice of his profession in Tuscarawas county, where he remained for several years, doing a profitable business. In 1878 he removed to Wauseon, where he has built up as extensive and profitable a business as is enjoyed by any other physician of the city or county. His services are in demand throughout Fulton county. His close application and his determined effort to keep abreast of the times have given him a reputation that few men enjoy. He is still a close student and will remain such until the day of his death. Dr. Lenhart served for a number of years on the board of pension examiners. Being a physician of great prominence, he is actively identified with all the medical associations represented
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in his home city. Among these are the county, the state, the North Western and the American medical associations. He married Miss Ida Pfeifer, a native of Fremont, O. They have had two children. The older, Carl Henry Lenhart, is an interne at Lakeside hospital, Cleveland. In 1901 he graduated from the literary department of the Western Reserve college of Cleveland, and in 1904 from the medical department of the same school. It is his purpose to begin the practice of medicine in 1905. Henry Hull Lenhart, the younger son, has been a student of Adelbert College, Western Reserve uni- versity, from which he was graduated in 1905, and is now engaged in teaching in the High school of his native town.
WILLIAM H. LEPARD resides on the fine old homestead farm which was the place of his birth, in Gorham township, and is one of the popular and representative agriculturists of his native county. He was born on the 15th of March, 1854, and is a son of Abram and Hannah (Forrest) Lepard, the former of whom was born in Lancaster, Fairfield county, Ohio, and the latter in Seneca county, N. Y., and both families were numbered among the pioneer settlers of Ohio. Abram Lepard was reared in Fairfield county, whence he came to Fulton county about the time of its organization, which oc- curred in 1850, settling on the farm now owned and occupied by his son William H., to whom this article specially pertains. Here he continued engaged in agricultural pursuits during the remainder of his active career, and he still resides with his son on the old homestead, having attained the venerable age of eighty-two years (1905). His loved and devoted wife passed to the world beyond in 1880, aged sixty-two years. Of their three children William H. is the eldest. Nancy is the wife of George Crits, of Jackson, Mich .; and Wesley resides in Charlotte, that State. William H. Lepard received his educational discipline in the public schools of Gorham township, and practically his entire life has been passed on the farm which is now his home and which comprises seventy-nine acres of most productive land, and the place is well improved and under effective cultivation. Mr. Lepard is a Democrat in politics, and the religious faith of the family is that of the Christian church. He is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, the Knights of the Maccabees and the Grange, of which latter his wife also is a member, as is she of the Rathbone Sisters, auxiliary of the Knights of Pythias. July 6, 1879, Mr. Lepard was united in marriage to Miss Ellen McNabb, who was born in Paulding county, Ohio, being a daughter of Daniel and Sarah (Hart) McNabb, both of whom were born in Ohio, and they now reside in Butler, Ind. Mr. and Mrs. Lepard have four children: Alta, who is the wife of Edward Hull, of Blissfield, Michi- gan; Willard, who resides in Toledo; and Dora and Mary, who re- main at the parental home.
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