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 70
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constrained by strict partisan lines. He and his famliy are zealous members of the German Lutheran church, as were also his honored parents. It may be said, in passing, that his father served six years in the cavalry arm of the German army. The family came to Ameri- ca in a sailing vessel, arriving in the port of New York city forty- -nine days after embarking, and the first three years were passed in Buffalo, N. Y., and they came thence to Toledo by boat on Lake Erie, then overland to .their destination in Fulton county. Mr. Stiriz has one of the finely improved farms of the county and enjoys that pros- perity and independence which are the just reward of years of per- sistent and well-directed effort. July 27, 1876, he was united in mar- riage to Miss Margaret Hermann, a daughter of John Matthias Hermann and Barbara (Barth) Hermann, both of whom were born in Bavaria, Germany, where the former died, May 24, 1869. His widow came to America with her six children in 1875, and located on a farm near Pettisville, Fulton county, where she died, March 26, 1902. Her six children were George, John, Margaret, Maria, Bar- bara, and Christina, and all are resident of Fulton county with the exception of Maria, who is deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Stiriz were born seven children: Gottfried, who is associated in the work and management of the parental homestead, married Miss Olga Seible and they have two children, Walter and Helen; Mary is the wife of Rev. Justus Kaufmann, pastor of the Lutheran church in Mt. Clem- ens, Mich., and they have one child, Huldah; Louise, Amelia and William remain at the parental home, and Frederick and Karl died in infancy.
CHARLES E. STRONG, one of the prominent farmers and hon- ored citizens of Pike township, is a member of one of the sterling pioneer families of the Buckeye State and is a representative of stanch New England stock. He is of the eighth generation in direct de- scent from John Strong, who was born in Taunton, England, in 1605. This worthy ancestor removed to London and later to Ply- mouth, England, from which latter place he set sail for America on the 20th of November, 1630, in the ship "Mary and John," com- manded by Captain Squab, and the passenger list numbered one hundred and forty persons. The vessel arrived at Nantasket-Hall, Plymouth colony, Massachusetts, on Sunday, May 30, 1630, and there, in the following December, John Strong was united in mar- riage to Miss Abigail Ford. He died April 14, 1699, leaving eighteen children, fifteen of whom had children at the time of his death: there were one hundred and fourteen grandchildren and thirty-three great- grandchildren. The direct line of descent is traced to the subject of this sketch through Jedediah Strong, son of John, the founder of the family in America. Jedediah Strong was born May 7, 1637, and on the 18th of November, 1662, he was united in marriage to Free- dom Woodward, who died in May, 1681. On the 19th of the follow- ing December he married Abigail Stebbins, who died July 16, 1689. In January, 1691, he married Mary Hart Lee, who died October 10, 1710. Jedediah Strong lived with his first wife for a period of nine-
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teen years, with his second wife seven years, and with his third nine years, and notwithstanding his three marriages he lived thirty- three years as a widower and sixty-one 'years unmarried. During the years 1677-8-9 he was paid eighteen shillings a year for blowing the trumpet to summon the people to church on Sunday. He died May 22, 1733, leaving fourteen children. His son, Jedediah Strong, Jr., was born, August 7, 1667, and on the 8th of November, 1688, was united in marriage to Miss Abby Ingersoll who was born August 24, 1663. He was a farmer in Northampton, Massachusetts, until 1696, when he removed to Lebanon, Connecticut, where there were but four white families settled at the time. He was killed by Indians, at Wood Creek, New York, October 12, 1709, leaving eight children. His son Ezra, the next in line of direct descent, was born November 2, 1702, and on the 12th of January, 1730, was married to Miss Abi- gail Caverly, who was born in 1715. Ezra Strong was a farmer at Lebanon, Connecticut, where he died March 7, 1785, his wife passing away in 1788: they became the parents of twelve children. Philip Strong, son of Ezra and Abigail (Caverly) Strong, was born, Febru- ary 9, 1735, and in 1757 or 1758 he married Rhoda Payne, who was born in 1739, and he died September 13, 1789, having been a farmer and drover by vocation and having been one of the first settlers at Warren, Litchfield county, Connecticut. His wife died November 10, 1825. It is a matter of record that in her younger days she was a woman of prodigious strength, and that she raised a large tub of clear water to her mouth and drank to the health of her betrothed, asking him to return the compliment: she became the mother of fif- teen children. The next in line of descent to the subject of this review was Stephen Strong, who was born at Warren, Connecticut, January 28, 1770. February 3, 1792, he married Lydia Hine, who was born January 3, 1775, a daughter of Daniel and Lydia (Beecham) Hine, of New Milford, Connecticut. He died December 8, 1852, his children having been eight in number. His son, Stephen Hine Strong, was born August 8, 1804, and was married, on the 14th of January, 1830, to Therza J. Everett, who was born in Warren, Connecticut, February 25, 1807. She died January 6, 1878, and his death occurred in 1898. They became the parents of ten children, whose names, with respective dates of birth, are here entered: Francis Marion, November 5, 1830; Flora J., July 7, 1832; Abbie M., May 10, 1834; Charles E., subject of this review, October 24, 1835; Edwin H., August 3, 1837; Mary A., March 20, 1839; Elijah M., January 3, 1841; William H., October 17, 1842; Stephen A., January 19, 1845; and Frederick, Jan- uary 24, 1848, his death occurring on the 21st of the following April. .Charles E., Edwin H., Elijah M. and Stephen A. were all in active service as Union soldiers in the Civil war. Charles E. enlisted in Company E, First Ohio Light Artillery, and remained in service until the close of the war, having taken part in the battles of Stone River and Nashville and in more than forty skirmishes. He received his honorable discharge on the 9th of July, 1865. Charles E. Strong was born in Warren township, Litchfield county, Connecticut, on the 24th of October, 1835, and two years later, in 1837, his parents. immigrated to Ohio, settling in Medina county and passing the re-
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mainder of their lives in this State. Charles was reared to the stren- uous discipline of the pioneer farm, and has ever followed agricul- ture as his life vocation. He continued resident of Medina county until 1874, when he came to Fulton county and located on the farm which is now his home. He has made excellent improvements on the place and it is now one of the attractive and valuable rural farms of the county, comprising eighty acres of land, all available for cultiva- tion. Mr. Strong is a stanch Democrat in his political adherency, and is affiliated with the Grand Army of the Republic and the Grange. On the 19th of September, 1865, Mr. Strong was united in marriage to Miss Helen M. Graham, who was born in Medina county, Ohio, on the 3d of September, 1846, being a daughter of Alanson and Jane (Stephenson) Graham, of English and Irish descent, respectively. Mrs. Strong was summoned to the life eternal on the 18th of Janu- ary, 1896, and is survived by two of her three children. Effie L., who was born February 5, 1867, was married, on the 16th of December, 1885 to John A. Gay, and she died December 21, 1891. Elwin G., born September 22, 1869, is now a resident of North Dakota. Orlo F., the youngest of the children, now has charge of the operation of the homestead farm. He was born on this farm, on the 18th of May, 1875, was educated in the public schools, has continuously been as- sociated with his father in farming operations, and he now devotes considerable attention also to the dairying business. On the 4th of February, 1899, Orlo F. Strong was united in marriage to Miss Edna C. Allen, who was born in Fulton county, on the IIth of September, 1879, being a daughter of Charles E. and Sarah J. (Smout) Allen, both of whom were likewise born in this county, the former on the 22d of October, 1850, and the latter on the 9th of May, 1854: They still reside in Royalton township, where Mr. Allen is a prominent farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Orlo F. Strong became the parents of two children, of whom the elder is deceased. Eva Helen, born February 25, 1901, died on the 17th of March, 1902. Charles A. was born August 22, 1902.
ELIJAH M. STRONG-In connection with the preceding sketch, dedicated to Charles E. Strong, brother of Elijah M., is given a spe- cially complete genealogical record, and by reason of this fact it is not necessary to re-enter the family history in the present article, since ready reference mav be made to the one mentioned. Elijah M. Strong is one of the representative farmers of Pike township, where he has a well improved estate of 120 acres, devoted to diversified agri- culture and stock-growing. Mr. Strong was born in Medina county, Ohio, on the 3d of January, 1841, and is a son of Stephen H. and Thirza J. (Everett) Strong. He was reared to manhood in his native county, in whose common schools he secured his early educational training. He was but twenty years of age at the outbreak of the War of the Rebellion, but he forthwith signified his loyalty and patriotism by tendering his services in defense of the Union. In 1861 he enlisted as a member of Company E, First Ohio Light Artillery, with which he served three years, seeing much of the strenuous duty
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of the soldier and taking part in many skirmishes and a number of important battles. He received his honorable discharge on the 2d of September, 1864, having made a record which stands to his per- petual honor. In March, 1866, Mr. Strong came to Fulton county and located on the farm where he now resides. His farm was in the midst of a tract of virgin forest, three milest square, and his original residence was a board shanty of primitive order. He has reclaimed his land to cultivation and has made the best of improvements throughout, including the erection of an attractive residence and other good buildings. As a young man he was engaged in teaching in the district schools at intervals, for a period of ten years. In politics Mr. Strong is a stanch Republican, in 1890 he served as land-appraiser, and he was incumbent of the office of township trus- tee several terms. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Re- public, and has been identified with the Grange from the time of its organization. He is one of the influential, zealous and prominent members of the United Brethren church at Winameg, Ohio, and is particularly active in the work of the church, contributing liberally of his time and means to the support of the organization and its various collateral benevolences. His wife also is a devoted member of the same religious body. In 1869 Mr. Strong was united in mar- riage to Miss Elizabeth Sindel, who was born in Fulton county, in 1851, being a daughter of John and Harriet Sindel, honored pioneers of the county. Mrs. Strong died in November, 1888, and in 1893, Mr. Strong married Mts. Mary E. (Cately) Dinius, widow of Samuel Dinius. She was born and reared in Fulton county and is a daughter of Judge S. H. Cately, deceased, of Delta, Ohio. She had three children by her first marriage, and they were reared and educated by herself and her second husband, and they also reared Miss Estella Converse, a daughter of Mr. Strong's sister.
CHARLES H. STUTESMAN, one of the honored citizens and prominent farmers of Chesterfield township, is a member of one of the old and well-known families of this section of the Buckeye State, his father having settled in what is now Fulton county seventy years ago. Charles H. Stutesman was born on the farm which he now owns and operates, in Sections 4 and 23, Chesterfield township, the date of his nativity having been September 19, 1849. He is a son of Samuel and Mary A. (Waite) Stutesman, the former of whom was born in Maryland, August 29, 1806, and the latter was born in England, whence her parents immigrated to America when she was a child of four years, settling in New York city, where she was reared and edu -. cated. She came to Fulton county, Ohio, for a visit, and here met and married Mr. Stutesman. Samuel Stutesman came to Fulton county in 1832 and secured eighty acres of government land in the midst of the dense forests of Chesterfield township. He then went to Maumee, Lucas county, where he was employed for the ensuing three years, at the expiration of which, in 1835, he located on his pioneer farm, the place now owned by his only surviving son, and here he died on the 6th of August, 1890, having become one of the prosperous farmers and rep-
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resentative citizens of his township. He was a Republican in poli- tics and both he and his wife, who died in 1843, were devoted mem- bers of the Christian church. This honored pioneer couple became the parents of three children, of whom Charles H. is the elder. His brother, John W., died at the age of six years, and one daughter, Lucinda Smith, lives in this county. Mr. Stutesman was reared on the old home place, which is an integral portion of his present fine landed estate, and he secured a good common-school education. He has been consecutively identified with agricultural pursuits from his youth to the present, is now the owner of three hundred and four- teen acres of as fine land as is to be found within the limits of Fulton county, and he has made improvements of the best type, including the erection of a commodious modern residence and large and substan- tial barns, making his homestead one of the most valuable and at- tractive in this section. An uncompromising Republican in his politi- cal allegiance, Mr. Stutesman has taken an active part in furthering the party cause in a local way, and he has served in offices of dis- tinctive trust and responsibility. He was trustee of his township two terms, and in 1903 was elected a member of the board of county commissioners, his term expiring in 1906. He is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Grange, and both he and his wife are among the most prominent and valued members of the Christian church at East Chesterfield, in which he is an elder, and he was formerly superintendent of the Sunday-school. In 1874 Mr. Stutesman was united in marriage to Miss Anna Roberts, who was born in Allen county, Ohio, December 20, 1855, and whose death occurred May 30, 1889. She is survived by one child, Ora, who is the wife of G. Scott Roos, mentioned else- where in this publication. June 25, 1890, Mr. Stutesman married Miss Nettie Roos, who was born in Chesterfield township, this coun- ty, December 5, 1863, being a daughter of John P. and Emily (Noble) Roos, and of this union have been born three children, whose names, with respective dates of birth, are as follows: E. Alleine, July 18, 1891; Glade Roos, March 1, 1897; and Marian Agnes, January 28, 1905.
JOHN SWIGERD merits recognition in this compilation by rea- son of his standing as one of the worthy citizens and substantial farmers of Fulton county, where he has maintained his home for nearly sixty years and where he has gained a competency through his own efforts, which have been directed with zeal and energy, guided and guarded by a spirit of inflexible integrity, so that he has not been denied the fullest measure of popular confidence and es- teem. Mr. Swigerd is a native of Germany, having been born in the kingdom of Wurtemberg, on the 7th of August, 1829, and be- ing a son of John and Elizabeth Catherine (Ely) Swigerd, both of whom were born and reared in Wurtemberg, where their mrraiage was solemnized. The father was born June 16, 1792, and bore the patronymic of his sire, John Swigerd, who was one of a party of de- voted pilgrims who started for the city of Jerusalem for the pur-
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pose of rebuilding the sacred place, but he died in Russia while en route, in 1817, his wife having passed away in 1806. John Swigerd (2d) immigrated to America in 1831, in company with his wife and their little son, John, who was then about two years of age. They located in New Philadelphia, Tuscarawas county, Ohio, where they maintained their home for several years, later removing to Coshoc- ton county, where the devoted wife and mother died in 1841, in mid- dle life. Her husband passed his declining years in Amboy town- ship, Fulton county, where he died at the age of sixty-four years. John Swigerd (3d), the immediate subject of this sketch, secured his education in the common schools of Tuscarawas and Coshocton counties, and in his youth he learned the trade of carpenter and joiner, which he followed as a vocation for a number of years, being known as a skilled workman. In 1846, when about seventeen years of age, he came to Fulton county, and here, in 1849, he was married to Miss Mary Schultz, who was born in Allegheny county, Pa., in 1828, and who was a child at the time of her parents' removal to Coshocton county, Ohio, where she was reared. In the autumn of 1861 Mr. and Mrs. Swigerd located on his present homestead farm, and here she died on February 2d of the following year, leaving six children, namely: Lucy Ann, who became the wife of James Hayes, now of Gladstone, Iowa, died on the 28th of August, 1876; George, who was born July 29, 1852, died in middle life, of consumption; John, born in 1853, died July 8, 1881, in Illinois; Elizabeth, born De- cember 29, 1855, became the second wife of James Hayes, and she died in Gladstone, Iowa; Cyrus, born February 26, 1858, is engaged in the shoe business at Battle Creek, Mich .; Jacob Washington, born March 4, 1860, is engaged in the restaurant business in the city of Chicago. January 1, 1863, Mr. Swigerd consummated a second mar- riage, being then united to Miss Delilah Frybarger, who was born in Somerset county, Pa., and she remained his cherished and devoted companion on the journey of life for nearly forty years, her death occurring February 11, 1900, when she was suddenly stricken, being apparently in the best of health, her death being almost instantane- ous. Concerning the five children of this union the following is a brief record: William Henry, born April 4, 1864, died October 14, 1881; Charles Wesley, born April 20, 1865, owns a good farm in Pike township but resides with his father on the old homestead, which he rents and operates; Mary Margaret, born August 12, 1867, is the wife of Addison Hudson, of Beallsville, Monroe county; Samuel, born November 5, 1869, is a contractor and builder in the city of Toledo. Prior to locating on his farm, where he had resided consecutively since, 1861, Mr. Swigerd gave his attention principally to the work of his trade. The farm comprises eighty acres and when he came into possession of the same it was discovered with the native timber and had no improvements. With the aid of his sons he re- claimed about sixty-five acres, and the place is now one of the best improved and most productive farms in this section, having an effec- tive system of tiling and being under a high state of cultivation, and the improvements of a permanent order are exceptional excellence,
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including the fine brick residence, two stories and basement, with slate roof, which was erected by Mr. Swigerd in 1887. Since the death of his wife he has passed much of his time visiting among his children, but he still looks upon the old farm as his home, the place being endeared to him through the associations and memories of the past. In politics he is a stanch Republican, and he has served in various township and school offices. His religious faith is that of the Evangelical Association, of which both of his wives were also de- voted members. He is a man of sterling character and is held in un- qualified esteem in the community which has been his home for so many years.
GEORGE G. TAPPAN was born on the farm which is now his home, is a member of one of the sterling pioneer families of the county, and he honored Fulton county through his valiant service as a soldier in the War of the Rebellion. His attractive farmstead is located in Section 34, Pike township, and comprises one hundred and twenty acres. Mr. Tappan was born June 16, 1841, and is a son of Whitfield and Amanda (Woodford) Tappan, the former of whom was born in the State of New Jersey, in 1798, and the latter of whom was born at Batavia, N. Y. The father located in Fulton county in 1834, taking up government land and reclaiming the same from the virgin forest. The original government deed is now in the posses- sion of the subject of this sketch, whose present homestead is a por- tion of the land secured by his father more than seventy years ago. On this homestead the parents resided until their death, the father passing away in 1884 and the mother in 1881. They became the par- ents of eight children, namely: Mary A., wife of James Debar; Frances, wife of William Griffin; George G., subject of this review; Helen L., wife of Levi D. Eversole; Laura C., wife of Eugene N. Gunn; Clarissa A., wife of Charles Wright; Eliza, deceased in in- fancy; and Whitfield W., a farmer of this county. George G. Tappan was reared to the sturdy discipline of the pioneer farm, assisting in its development and securing such educational advantages as were af- forded in the common schools of the day. He was one of those who responded to President Lincoln's call for volunteers to assist in the suppression of the Rebellion. In November, 1861, he enlisted as a private in Company F, Sixty-seventh Ohio volunteer infantry, with which he served until victory crowned the Union arms and the great factracidal conflict came to a close, and he took part in many of the important engagements of the war, being twice wounded-once in the engagement at Fort Wagner, North Carolina, and later at Chapin's Farm, Virginia. He has never lost his interest in his old comrades, and is a valued and appreciative member of the Grand Army of the Republic. Since the close of the war Mr. Tappan has given his undivided attention to agricultural pursuits, and his home- stead, endeared to him through the memories and associations of the past, is one of the fine farms of the county, being equipped with excellent improvements and maintained under a high state of culti- vation. Mr. Tappan is a stanch advocate of the principles and pol-
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icies of the Republican party and is one of the public-spirited and influential citizens of his native township. He has served as town- ship treasurer for twenty years, is a member of the board of direc- tors of the county infirmary and has held other local offices of trust. In 1874 Mr. Tappan was united in marriage to Miss Martha D. Dun- bar, who was born in Wayne county, Ohio, May 31, 1846, being a daughter of Boyd and Rachel (Fitzsimmons) Dunbar, both native of Pennsylvania, whence they came to Ohio, first locating in Wayne county and coming to Fulton county in 1849, here passing the re- mainder of their lives. Mr. and Mrs. Tappan are the parents of five children, namely: . Walter R., Florence G., Robert A., Misca J. and Frank G. Florence is the wife of Frank H. Hogue, and Misca is the wife of Ira Rambo.
HERMAN M. TAPPAN is the owner of one of the valuable landed estates of Pike township, is a prominent and influential citi- zen and is a farmer and dairyman of progressive ideas and marked energy. He was born on the farm which is now his home, on the 15th of July, 1848, and is a son of Moses Q. and Hettie (Miller) Tappan, both of whom were born in Morris county, New Jersey- the former on the Ist of February, 1804, and the latter on the 16th of June, 1806. They were married in their native county, where they continued to reside until 1836, when they came to Ohio, locat- ing in Toledo, where they remained until 1840, when, with their four children, they came to Fulton county and took up their residence on the farm now owned by the subject of this review, the land at the time having been covered with the native forest. The father in- stituted the work of reclaiming his farm and continued to reside on the same until his death, which occurred on the 27th' of June, 1858; his wife passed away on the 16th of September, 1899. They became the parents of seven children, concerning whom the following brief rec -. ord is incorporated: Quinby, who was born on the 25th of Sep- tember, 1825, died in February, 1902; Jacob H., who was born on the 27th of November, 1827, is a resident of the city of Toledo; William R., who was born in April, 1830, died in May, 1905; Oakley died in childhood; Phineas K., who was born February 16, 1835; is a resident of Colorado; Nancy, who was born May 11, 1842, is the wife of Edward C. Sindel, of Winameg, Ohio; and Herman M., subject of this sketch, is the youngest of the children. Herman M. Tappan assisted in the reclaiming and cultivation of the home farm, and in addition to receiving the advantages of the district schools was en- abled to attend school two years in the city of Toledo. He has made farming his life-work, and has been very successful in his operations, bringing to bear much energy and discrimination and thus securing the maximum returns from his efforts. His farm comprises two hun- dred and forty acres; the same has the best of improvements and is maintained under a high state of cultivation, and Mr. Tappan also finds dairying a profitable feature of his farm enterprise. In the same locality his son Walter own twenty acres, and he and his two sons conduct their farming operations together, and the results of
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