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 77
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1887, he was married, the lady of his choice being Miss Joanna Brat- ton, born on a farm in Swan Creek township, near his parental home. She is the daughter of Robert and Elizabeth (Dull) Bratton, natives of Ireland and Pennsylvania, respectively. To this union there have been born two sons. They are :: Ray Edward, aged seventeen, and Floyd Marion, aged fifteen. Both are still in school.
FRANK W. ZERMAN, recorder of Fulton county, was born in Wauseon of that county in 1871. He is the son of Casper and Mary Ann (Yarger) Zerman, the former born in France, as the records show, and the latter in Pennsylvania. He attended the public schools of Wau- seon two years, when he removed with his parents to Delta and there remained in school until he was twelve years old. His father being a cripple and sick nearly all of the time, he was forced to quit school when a mere boy, and to make his own living. He learned the print- ing business with the Atlas Printing Company of Delta, and filled every position from that of "devil" to manager of the office. Of the nineteen years that he was in the employ of this company, he served as foreman for eight years. Beginning life's work under the most discouraging circumstances, it is all the more remarkable that the subject of this sketch has won an honorable place among his fellow-men. By dint of hard, earnest toil and a determination to win in whatever he undertook to do, he has become a successful man, respected and trusted by those with whom he comes in contact. His life is a fine lesson for all strug- gling young men and boys to study and profit by. In this great coun- try there is no other aristocracy than that of merit, and all may belong to it by working with all their might to be worthy of it. Mr. Zerman is a member of Fulton Lodge, No. 248, Free and Accepted Masons ; Octavius Chapter, No. 154, Royal Arch Masons, both of Delta ; Defi- ance Commandery, Knights Templars; and Delta Lodge, No. 199, Knights of Pythias. He married Miss Clara Coe of Delta, a daughter of Henry Coe, deceased, who came to Delta from Fremont, O. Mr. and Mrs. Zerman have had two children, named Donald C. and Hubert. So successfully has the subject of this sketch conducted everything that he has undertaken that there is no doubt of future promotion.
SIMON ZIMMERMAN, a well-known and highly esteemed pioneer of Fulton county, maintains his residence in the attractive village of Delta, and his is the distinction of having here maintained his home consecutively for a longer period than any other citizen now living in the town, with one exception. For two generations his has been a familiar figure on the streets of Delta. He was a resident of the vil- lage for nearly twenty years before its incorporation, which occurred on the 3d of August, 1863, and he was a valued member of the first village council. For fifty-seven years Mr. Zimmerman was an active workman at the trade of carriage and wagon-making. and in the early days his mechanical skill, energy and industry made him a valuable and important factor in the industrial affairs of the community, and he reaped a due reward from his well-directed efforts. Though a skilled mechanic and an aggressive and successful business man, he never failed in ap-
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preciation of the interests of his adopted town and county, being ever known as a progressive and public-spirited citizen. He was one of the organizers of Fulton county and cheerfully contributed of his means to its development, to the erection of public buildings at the seat of its government and to the establishing of judicial and municipal affairs. When, in the judgment of the people, it became necessary to change the location of the county-seat he again cheerfully bore his part in establishing the new judicial center. In 1845, when Mr. Zimmerman took up his residence in Delta, Fulton county, as now organized, was unknown, and the idea of a separation from the then existing political organizations was a remote consideration. The Delta portion of this territory was then under the jurisdiction of Lucas county, and but shortly before had been decided the question as to whether this section belonged to Ohio or Michigan. After a prolonged controversy, dur- ing which much ill-feeling had been engendered and armed resistance inaugurated on both sides, the disputed boundary line was finally estab- lished. Then came the initial efforts looking toward the erection of a new county. At this time little had been accomplished in the way of internal improvement. Much of the land was still covered with the native timber, and a very considerable portion of the territory now comprised in Fulton county was covered with water, the condition be- ing practically that of impenetrable swamp. Roads were practically un- known except for the most frequented thoroughfares, and churches and schools were few and of primitive order. The youth of to-day, or even persons in middle-life, can have but little absolute appreciation of the hardships, toils and privations endured by the early pioneers. A log- cabin with a single room, provided with the crudest of home-made fur- niture; an earthen floor or, at best, one of rough puncheons; windows of greased paper in lieu of glass : a wide fire-place. used for heating and also for cooking-this was the average domicile which stood on the primitive farms where now are to be found finely-equipped modern residences, with all the advantages of an opulent civilization. All honor is due these sturdy pioneers who laid the foundations broad and deep for the later superstructure of advanced civilization. and one of the worthy representatives of this loyal class is Mr. Zimmerman. Local organization had much to do with the development of the surrounding country, but personal energy had more. The forests were felled by individual efforts, and largely through private labor were constructed the first drainage ditches. Then the township organizations came to the rescue in ditching and road-making. through a wise system of pub- lic taxation. The township trustees were endowed with almost un- limited power as to the details of transacting township business. It was necessary, therefore. that these public officials should be possessed of mature judgment, honesty of purpose and large experience along the lines of their assigned labors. To say that Simon Zimmerman served eleven consecutive years as trustee of York township is sufficient evidence that he possessed all the requisites demanded for the successful and satisfactory discharge of the duties of the office in which he was so long retained. He has served the people in various official capaci- ties, always with honor to himself and with acceptability to his constitu-
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ents. After a life of signal activity and well directed industry, he be- gins to feel the weight of years, and has thus modified his labors to correspond with failing strength. He suffered the loss of a grocery . stock in the Delta fire of 1892, and thereafter he did not again engage in business. He erected a small shop in the rear of his residence, and here he does light mechanical work for his friends and neighbors, but he devotes his attention principally to looking after his property inter- ests in the village and, in season, to the cultivation of his large garden, in which he takes much pride. As a business man he was exceptionally successful, though he never invested a dollar in speculative enterprises. Simon Zimmerman was born in Wayne county, Ohio, September 1, 1824, and is a son of Peter and Elizabeth (Monasmith) Zimmerman. both of whom were born in Cumberland county, Pa. They came to Fulton county in November, 1845, and located in Delta, where both died, well advanced in years. Of their nine children only Simon and Joseph are living, there having been seven sons and two daughters. September 14, 1847, Simon Zimmerman married Miss Sarah Kerr, who was born in Pennsylvania, and whose death occurred in the year 1898. Of their eight children only three are living, David, Almeda, and Ida. David is a resident of Pemberville, Ohio, and is a skilled painter and decorator. Almeda is the wife of Jacob M. Longnecker, of Delta, and Ida is the wife of George R. Whitehorn, of this place, both being per- sonally represented in this publication. Mr. Zimmerman has been for many years a devoted member of the Presbyterian church, as was also his cherished wife. In politics he was originally a Whig, thereafter supported the Republican party until 1868, when he transferred his allegiance to the Prohibition party, in whose support he exercised his franchise until 1896, since which time he has again been found in the ranks of the Republican party. He cast his first vote in York township and has never voted elsewhere, and he has never failed to vote at any election. He has ever shown a deep interest in educational matters, has filled various school offices, and he gave to his children the best possible educational advantages, which he was denied in his youth.
WILLIAM BORTON is the owner of a well-improved farm of one hundred and sixty acres, in Franklin township, and is one of the representative citizens of this section of the county. He was born in Brady township, Williams county, Ohio, on the 27th of August, 1842, and is a son of John and Elizabeth A. (Taylor) Borton, the former of whom was born in Burlington county, N. J., on the 4th of September, 1820, and the latter was born December 7. 1816. The death of the father occured on the 12th of July, 1899, his wife having passed away July 5, 1887. John Borton came to what is now Futon county. Ohio, in 1835, and took up eighty acres of heavily timbered land, in section 36, in the eastern part of Franklin township, purchasing the land from the govern- ment, for a consideration of one dollar and twenty-five cents an acre. He was one of a company of thirteen colonists who came at that time to establish homes in this section. He was a son of Bauthuel and Rebecca (Clifton) Borton : both of whom were born
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in New Jersey, where the respective families were early founded, and there the former was engaged in farming, devoting special atten- tion to the raising of peppermint, continuing resident of that section until his death. His wife later came to Ohio, passing the closing days of her life in Fulton county. She became the mother of six sons and four daughters, all of the sons having come to Ohio and all being deceased, as are also the daughters. The remains of the six sons rest in the burying ground of the Society of Friends in Franklin township. After John Borton had selected his land and prepared a dwelling of the primitive pioneer type he returned to New Jersey, where soon afterward was solemnized his marriage to Miss Elizabeth A. Taylor, of Burlington county, that state, with whom he made the long overland trip to the new home in the wilds of Fulton county, the journey being made with team and wagon. His first trip was made on foot, and twice afterward he journeyed through by walking. Upon locating on his eighty acres he initiated the work of reclaiming the place to cultivation, develop- ing a valuable farm and becoming one of the leading breeders of cattle, sheep and hogs of fine grade in this section, having been the first to introduce the Chester-White swine in this locality, while later he became an extensive breeder of the Poland-China type. It may be noted in an incidental way that his farm was in Williams county until the organization of Fulton county, in 1850, when Franklin township was included in the new county. He was a man of much initiative and of very progressive ideas, and as a stock-grower attained a considerable reputation, often paying high prices for fancy stock which attracted his admiration. He finally sold his farm and moved to Brady township, Williams county, in 1841, there continuing engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death. He and his faithful and devoted wife became the parents of ten children, concerning whom the following brief record is entered: Susanna is the wife of Elwood Tule, of West Unity, . Williams county; William, of this sketch, was the next in order of birth; John T. is a resident of Ithaca, Gratiot county, Mich .; Martha Ann is the wife of Nathaniel Lyons. of West Unity ; Reuben is decased; Sarah C. is the wife of David Crozer, of West Unity; Job is deceased; Elizabeth is the wife of George Pancost, of West Unity; Rebecca is the wife of a Mr. Hutchinson, of West Unity; and Mary Lydia is the wife of John Mason, of that place. William Borton passed his boyhood days on the homestead place, in Brady township. Williams county, where his early educational advantages were those afforded in the pioneer schools. He assisted his father in his farming and lumbering operations until January 1, 1863, when he initiated his independent career, a few months before attaining his legal majority. He rented a farm for a time and in 1867 he purchased his present homestead, upon which he has made the best of improvements, as the passing years have crowned his efforts with increasing prosperity, and he has made the place one of the model farms of Franklin township. He de- votes his attention to diversified agriculture and to the propagating
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of peppermint, from which he derives a good return, the crop being one which has been cultivated by at least four generations of the family, as his grandfather made a specialty of selling this product in the markets of Philadelphia. raising the mint on his farm, in the neighboring state of New Jersey. Mr. Borton has never been a seeker of public office. He is affiliated with the Masonic order. On New Year's day of the year 1863 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Borton to Miss Regina Oliver. who was born in Morrow county, Ohio, being a daughter of Nathan and Sarah (Carmichael) Oliver, who came to Futon county in 1846, when she was five years of age. The father died in Northwest township, Williams county, where he developed a good farm, and his wife. surviving him by a number of years, died in Hillsdale county, Mich. She was born in Ohio and her husband was a native of Greenbrier county, Va. They became the parents of five children, of whom three are living. Mr. and Mrs. Borton have five children: Ada is the wife of Sherman N. Ely. of Toledo: Charles L., a resident of Clear Lake, Ind., married Miss Bertha Baker. of Ransom, Hills- dale county, Mich., and they have three children .- Ruth, Allen and Dorothy; Sarah Elizabeth the wife of Verne Humphrey, of Fayette, Fulton county; John Nathan, who is associated with his father in the operation of the home farm, married Miss Cora Hib- bard, of Gorham township, and they have three children,-Vernon, Vera and Irene; Arthur William, the youngest of the children, is a member of the United States navy and is now serving on the new battleship, "Maine."
FRANK VENIER, former postmaster of Fayette and long num- bered among the most prominent and influential business men of the village, is a citizen who commands unequivocal confidence and regard, and after many years of successful mercantile life he is now living practically retired, having a pleasant home in Fayette and being sur- rounded by stanch and true friends. He has been dependent upon his own resources from his boyhood days, having come to America as a stranger in a strange land and having won success and independence through earnest and legitimate efforts. Such lives offer both lesson and incentive. Mr. Venier is of pure French lineage and was born in France, on the 29th of July, 1836. He was but nine years of age at the time of his father's death, and six years later his mother also passed away. His educational advantages had been good up to this time, but he was left without financial resources, save of the most limited order. In 1852, the year after the death of his beloved mother, he came to America, alone and dependent upon his own resources. He first located in Utica, N. Y., where he served a four years' apprenticeship at the trade of wagon-making, becoming a skilled worker. He then removed to Seneca Falls, N. Y .. in 1856, and there was independently engaged in the work of his trade until 1860, in which year he came to Ohio, locating in Wauseon, Fulton county, and there operating a wag- on shop until 1868, when he cast his lot with that of the village of Fayette, where he has since made his home. Here he was engaged in
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wagon-making about two years, during the next two years he was em- ployed as salesman in a general store, and within this time he also es- tablished a livery business, being the first to engage in this line of en- terprise in the town. The Canada Southern Railroad was then in proc- ess of construction through this section, and this fact had much to do with vitalizing local business in all lines, said railroad now being a portion of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern system. About 1873 he purchased the mercantile establishment and business of his employ- er, Charles L. Allen. his store having been located directly opposite from the present Opera House block. He continued actively engaged in the prosecution of this enterprise until he was appointed postmaster of Fayette, serving six years and then establishing himself again in the general merchandise trade, in which he continued successfully, as one of the leading merchants of this section of the county, until im- paired health necessitated his retirement, his enfeebled condition resulting primarily from a severe fall which he had received. He disposed of his mercantile business in December, 1903, since which time he has been retired, save for the maintaining of a general supervision of his vari- ous capitalistic and real-estate interests. In politics Mr. Venier has always been a stanch adherent of the Democratic party, and during his residence in Fulton county he has been actively and prominently aligned in the local ranks of that organization. He has served as a member of the village council of Fayette, was township treasurer of Gorham township for four terms, and was incumbent of the office of postmaster six years, being appointed by President Cleveland. He is affiliated with Fayette Lodge. No. 431, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. At Seneca Falls, N. Y., in the year 1860, Mr. Venier was united in marriage to Miss Mary A. Stout. who was born in Berks county, Pa., being a daughter of Samuel and Julia (Bawlily) Stout, who came to Fulton county, Ohio, in 1860, here passing the remainder of their lives. The father was a mason by trade and also became the owner of a good farm. in Chesterfield township. He died at an advanced age, and his wife passed away in December, 1902, at the venerable age of eighty-four years. Mr. and Mrs. Venier have two children. Fannie, born on the 7th of April, 1861, is the wife of Fred- erick Lewis, of Montpelier, Williams county. William L., born Aug- ust 5, 1863, now has the active management of his father's business affairs, having been associated with the same from his youth and hav- ing been an able coadjutor of his father. He was educated in the Fayette Normal University and is one of the prominent and popular citizens of Fayette, which has been his home from the time of his birth. May 9, 1804. he was united in marriage to Miss Alice Heist, who was born in Bethlehem, Pa., being a daughter of Frank H. Heist, now a resident of West Unity, Williams county, Ohio. Of this union have been born two children, Francis Bruce. and William L., Jr.
BENJAMIN F. CRONINGER .- Five miles north of the city of Wauseon, in Dover township, is located the pleasant homestead farm of Mr. Croninger, who is one of the well-known and popular citizens of this section. He was born January 16, 1868, and is a son of David
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and Lydia (Esterline) Croninger, the former of whom was born in Stark county, Ohio, and the latter in Pennsylvania. They came to Ful- ton county, Ohio, and here the mother died in 1882, and her widowed husband now maintains his home in Stryker, Williams county. They became the parents of nine children, all of whom are residents of Ohio, their names, in order of birth, being as follows: Amos, Margaret, El- zina, Francis, Mary E., Malinda, Elizabeth, Julia, Benjamin F., and James. Benjamin F. Croninger secured his early education in the public schools of Fulton county, and he has been identified with agri- cultural pursuits from his youth to the present. In 1902 he purchased his present farm, which comprises forty acres and which he is making one of the fine places of Dover township, being animated with a spirit of progress and having indomitable energy. He has won success through his own efforts, and his advancement is therefore the more pleasing to contemplate. He is a Republican in politics, and he has been incumbent of the office of road supervisor since 1902, while he served one year as a member of the school board. He and his wife are members of the Christian church. In 1888, Mr. Croninger was mar- ried to Miss Eliza First, who was born and reared in Fulton county, being a daughter of Shuman and Ellen First, who were born in Wayne county, and whose marriage was solemnized in Fulton county, in 1866. They now reside on their home farm, near Ottokee, this county. Mr. and Mrs. Croninger have these children, all of whom are at home: Alonzo, Hazel, Ada, Mildred and Wilma.
LEVI B. CAMP, who is serving as village marshal of Lyons and who is one of the successful stock-buyers and shippers of this section of the county, is also incumbent of the office of deputy-sheriff and is an able and discriminating official. He was born in Fairfield town- ship, Lenawee county, Michigan, on the 20th of September. 1868. be- ing a son of Jerome and Adelia (Russell) Camp, both of whom were born in Lenawee county, Michigan, being representatives of pioneer families. Ambrose Camp, father of Jerome, was among the early settlers of Dover township, that county, where he reclaimed a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, there passing the remainder of his life, as did also his wife, whose maiden name was Phoebe Jane Reeves. Levi and Jane (Hall) Russell, the maternal grandparents of the sub- ject of this review, were likewise early settlers of Lenawee county, whither they removed from Seneca county, New York. Mr. Russell became the owner of two hundred and ninety acres of land. in Fair- field township, developing a valuable farm from the virgin forest and there continuing to make his home until his death. Jerome Camp was reared in Lenawee county, and upon attaining his majority he engaged in farming and stock-dealing, in Fairfield township. He finally began to devote his attention more particularly to the stock business and fin- ally took up his residence in the city of Toledo, where he was engaged in the wholesale meat business for a period of twenty-two years. He died November 14. 1904, at the age of fifty-nine vears, and his widow still survives. Of their two children, Levi B. is the elder. His broth- er, Homer A., is a prosperous farmer of Fairfield township, Lenawee county, Michigan. Levi B. Camp was reared in his native county, in
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whose public schools he secured his early educational training, which he supplemented by study in the Fayette Normal School, at Fayette, Ohio, and Evans Business College, Adrian, Michigan. He early began to assist his father in the stock-buying business, becoming familiar with all details and gaining a thorough knowledge of grades and val- ues. While he has been identified with various other lines of enter- prise, his principal vocation has been that of buying and shipping stock, and to this he has given his exclusive attention since 1899, shipping to the Toledo and Eastern markets. He has been a resident of Lyons, Fulton county, since 1902. In the spring of 1905 he was appointed illage marshal, at the same time accepted the office of deputy-sheriff, and is making an excellent record in the two offices. He is a Repub- lican in politics, and in a fraternal way is identified with Royalton Union Lodge, No. 434, Free and Accepted Masons, of Lyons, and with Lyons Chapter, No. 75, Royal Arch Masons. October 30, 1891, Mr. Camp was united in marriage to Miss Rachel Strong, daughter of David and Irene (Hughes) Strong, of Lyons, and they have one son, Jerome.
JOHN C. SCHAFER, a well-known and highly prosperous business man of Swanton, Fulton county, O., is a native of Lenawee county, Mich., where he was born on February 10, 1879. His parents, George and Dora (Rynmiller) Schafer, are both natives of Germany. After their marriage in the Vaterland they emigrated to the United States thirty-five years ago and located near Metamora, O., on a farm half a mile north of the State line, where they have since resided and pros- pered in agricultural pursuits. To their marriage the following chil- dren have been born, the first two natives of Germany; Libbie, now Mrs. Jacobs; Gust. a farmer of Ogden Center, Mich .; George, a retail liquor-dealer of Blissfield, Mich .: Jacob : John C .: Fred, a meat-cutter of Swanton. O., and Ellis, a farmer living on the homestead. All are married and have families. John C. Schafer grew to manhood on the home farm and received a limited education in the district schools. After quitting school he learned the butchers' trade and served for seven consecutive years in one shop at Metamora. In 1900 he came to Swanton and for three years engaged in the same line of work. In 1903 he purchased a business house on Broadway and a residence on Garfield avenue in Swanton and embarked in the retail liquor business. He keeps a quiet, orderly place and is doing a very profitable business. Mr. Schafer is independent in politics, and has served on the election board of Swanton. In religious matters he was brought up in the faith of the German Lutheran church. On June 2, 1904, he was wedded to Miss Nellie Pfeiffer, a native of Swanton and the daughter of Henry Pfeiffer, deceased, who was a prosperous farmer of this county. To this marriage there was born, in February. 1905, a daughter; Dorothy by name.
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