The History of Tuscarawas County, Ohio, Part 119

Author: Warner, Beers & Co.
Publication date: 1884
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1017

USA > Ohio > Tuscarawas County > The History of Tuscarawas County, Ohio > Part 119

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GEORGE NUSDORFER, farmer and stock-raiser, P. O. Tuscarawas, was born in Bavaria, Germany, October 13, 1845, and is a son of Jacob and Mar- garet (Gross) Nusdorfer, the latter of whom died in Germany. The father emigrated to America with four children, settling in Warwick Township, where he is still a resident, the owner of 120 acres of well-improved land. The subject of this sketch was brought up on a farm, and in 1864 enlisted in the army, serving eight months. In 1872, he was united in mar- riage with Alice, a daughter of Henry Van Lehn, of this township. To this union were born two children-Robert H. and Catherine Augusta. Mr. Nus- dorfer is a member of the Lutheran, his wife of the Moravian Church. Mr. Nus- dorfer in politics is a Democrat. He owns fourteen and one- fourth acres of land, and is also a farmer ou shares on 200 acres of land owned by Mrs. Simon Blickensderfer.

JOHN OSSUALD, farmer and stock-raiser, P. O. Tuscarawas, is a native of Switzerland, born July 4, 1819, and is a son of John George and Elizabeth (Linenberger) Ossuald. His parents were born in Baden, Germany, and came to America in 1835, settling in Auburn Township, this county and, State His father was a locksmith in early life, but afterward followed farming. Of the family of five children, four attained maturity, of whom two, our subject and Mary, are residents of this township; the latter is the wife of Ferdinand Houk. Our subject received his education in Switzerland, and learned the stone-cutting trade, at which he worked for many years. He is now engaged in farming, and owns fifty-two acres of land in this township. He was mar- ried in 1850 to Magdalena Knaus, who died after ten months of wedded life. For his second wife, Mr. Ossuald married Elvina, a sister of his first wife, in 1853. She is a daughter of Samuel (deceased) and Catherine (Warner) Knaus, both of Pennsylvanian Dutch, the former of whom has a sketch elsewhere in

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this history. Our subject has had a family of seven children, of whom four died within eleven days, in the year 1865. The three surviving are Charles, a farmer, Anna M. and Lucy Jane Sarah. Mr. Ossuald and his wife are members of the Universalist Church. In politics, is a Democrat.

BENJAMIN RICHMAN, farmer, P. O. Tuscarawas, was born in Warwick Township, March 25, 1842, and is a son of Henry and Lucy Ann (Keffer) Rich- man, the latter a native of Pennsylvania, the former born in Mill Township, this county, both of German descent. Henry Richman was born in 1815, and in early life followed farming; he is still hale and hearty, in weight 210 pounds, and is yet able to perform a good day's work; he is residing in this county. Of his family of nine children, six are now living, our subject being the second. The survivors are all married, and with families, four residing in this township. Our subject was reared on a farm, and obtained a common school education, and learned farming, which has formed his occupation through life. He devoted one year to the carpenter's trade, and in 1862, dur- ing the rebellion, enlisted in Company K, Ninety-third Ohio Volunteer In- fantry; participated in a number of battles; was hit by bullets in three engage- ments, and at the close of the war was honorably discharged. In 1866, he was united in marriage with Almira G., daughter of George W. Brown, of English descent, to which union have been born a family of six children, five of whom are living-Addison Sherman, George Otto, Henry Clay and Jennie May (twins), Warren Dell (deceased) and Axie Bell (twins). Mr. Richman owns 112 acres of rich, fertile land, all secured since his return from the ar- my, and as a farmer has been generally successful. In politics, he is a Re- publican; for several years has been a School Director.

EDWARD ROMIG (deceased) was born in Warwick Township May 5, 1816, and was a son of John and Elizabeth (Bickell) Romig, both natives of Pennsylvania. They were of German descent, and emigrated to this county in 1803, settling in Warwick Township where our subject lived, and there they spent the remainder of their lives. Our subject's father was a miller and saddler in early life, but engaged in farming after he came to Warwick Town- ship. He owned 400 acres of land at the time of his death, 1835, and was a prom- inent man. He was appointed first Coroner in Tuscarawas. He had a family of nine children, two of whom are now living. Our subject chose farming for his occupation, and followed it all his life. He owned at his death 126 acres in this township, and seventy-five in Harrison County. He was married in 1839 to Elizabeth Auld, daughter of Steward and Sarah (Connell) Auld, who came to Ohio in 1811, settling in that part now known as Harrison County. Their family numbers six children living-Sarah, wife of J. A. Welfely, farmer; Elizabeth, wife of Philip Myers, farmer; Isaiah S., married, and an engineer on the Pan Handle Railway; Aaron, married, a farmer in Warwick Township; Mary, single at home; and Theophilus E., married, and a farmer at home. Mr. E. Romig was a member of the Moravian Church, of which denomination his widow is an adherent. Our subject also was Superintendent of a Union Sabbath school in this neighborhood. He died July 11, 1883. Theophilus E. Romig was born in 1858, and married in 1880 to Catherine I. Russell. To this union two children have been born-Ray- mond R. and Forest J. Mr. and Mrs. T. E. Romig are both members of the Moravian Church.

AARON D. ROMIG, farmer, P. O. Gnadenhutten, was born in Warwick Township February 10, 1847, and is a son of Edward Romig. He received the greater part of his education at the common schools, and attended the Normal School one term, and the Iron City Commercial College, from which he gratuated in 1870. He married, in 1872, Melissa McCreery, a daughter of

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James McCreery, an early settler of this county, and who at one time owned 1,000 acres of land. To Mr. and Mrs. Romig have been born four children- James Stanley, Emerson V., Victor Otto and Grace. Our subject is a Repub- lican in politics, and owner of 157 acres of well-improved land. Mrs. Romig is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

CHRISTIAN ROTH, farmer and stock-raiser, P. O. Tuscarawas, was born in Northampton County, Penn., September 12, 1813, and is a son of C. and Elizabeth (Mussulman) Roth, both of German descent. His father, grand- father and great-grandfather were farmers, the latter of whom was scalped by the Indians, and the grandfather was a Commodore in the navy, a native of Pennsylvania. Our subject's parents settled in 'Trenton, Ohio, in 1821, and had a family of seven children, our subject being the second child; his educa- tion was derived from the subscription schools held in log schoolhouses, and he was reared to farming. He aided in the building of the Ohio Canal, at which he worked steadily for two years. He is now employed in farming and stock-raising, and is the owner of a fine farm of 184 acres of well-cultivated land. On May 7, 1837, he was married to Nancy Ann Knaus, to which union were born six children, namely: Benjamin, a coal merchant; John (deceased); Sarah, wife of Samuel Dell; Louise (deceased); Mary Ann, wife of Peter Ferst, and Emannel (deceased). Mrs. Roth died on April 19, 1846, and Mr. Roth formed a second union, November 19, 1846, marrying Sarah Matilda, daugh- ter of Henry Simmers, of German descent, the latter an early settler of this county. From this union there resulted a family of nine children, of whom the eight living are Rufus, married and living in Trenton, Ohio; Albert, mer. chant in Trenton; Cyrus; Martba; Ellen, wife of Franklin Moyer, a farmer in this township; Christian (deceased); Alexander and Henry. Mr. Roth is a member of the Lutheran Church, to which he and his wife belong. He is a Democrat in politics; has filled the office of School Director and Township Trustee, many times having the unanimous vote of the county.

ALBERT E. ROTH, merchant, Trenton, was born in Warwick Township, November 21, 1849. His parents, Christian and Sarah Matilda (Simmers) Roth, were natives of Pennsylvania and England respectively. the former being of German descent. Christian Roth came to this State with his father in 1822: was educated in this township, and twice married, having a family of fifteen children. The subject of this sketch was the second child born of the last marriage, and was educated at the common schools of Warwick Township. In 1870, be engaged at clerking, being for six years in the employ of John Blattner, in a general store, and in 1876 embarked in business for himself, and for two years was a merchant in general produce. He is now proprietor of a general store, and has a good business, being well patronized. He was united in marriage with Lottie, daughter of Benedict and Anna (Fry) Kaderly, natives of Switzerland. Two children have blessed this union -Clarence and Emma Adella. Mrs. Roth is a member of the German Reformed, Mr. Roth of the Lutheran Church, the latter being Sexton of his church. In politics, Mr. Roth is a Democrat; has served as Assessor two terms. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., Lodge No. 107, New Philadelphia.

EDWIN S. RUSSELL, physician and surgeon, P. O. Tuscarawas, is a native of Jefferson County, Ohio, where he was born October 20, 1849. His parents, James and Mary (Croxton) Russell, are of Scotch and English descent re- spectively, the latter being a daughter of William Croxton; the former was a farmer in Carroll County, Ohio, and was a representative from Jefferson County in the Ohio Legislature. They are both living at about eighty years of age. The subject of this sketch is the ninth in a family of ten children, and was reared on the farm until seventeen years old. He was educated at

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the common schools and Harlem Springs College. He was also a student of medicine, and attended a regular course at Cleveland Medical College in 1872-73. He commenced the practice of his profession as physician and surgeon in 1873, in Trenton, and has carried it on successfully, alone, ever since. In 1874, he married Mary Blickensderfer, daughter of Jacob Blickens- derfer, a prominent railroad civil engineer. To this union have been born four children, three living-Alice Gertrude, Emma Louisa and Mary. A son died in infancy. Mrs. Russell is a member of the Moravian Church. Dr. Russell is in politics a Democrat. He is a member of the State Medical Society.

JACOB SCHINDLER, farmer, P. O. Tuscarawas, was born in Goshen Township, this county, May 17, 1837, and is a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Eno) Schindler, natives of Germany. The former, who was a farmer, emi- grated to this county from Germany in 1831, and died in this township in 1875. He was the father of five children, of whom Jacob was the third. Our subject is the owner of sixty-eight and three-fourths acres of land. He en- listed, in 1864, in the One Hundred and Sixty-first Regiment Ohio National Guards, Company F, and was discharged the same year. He was married in 1865 to Elizabeth Marty, a native of Switzerland, and a daughter of Nicholas Marty. To this union have been born three children-John, Victor and Ida May. Mr. Schindler is a member of the Lutheran and his wife of the Pres- byterian Church. He is a Republican in politics.

GEORGE SCHMITZ, farmer, P. O. Tuscarawas, was born in Philadel- phia, Penn., April 15, 1835. His parents, George. Sr., and Christina (Wag. rer) Schmitz were born in Prussia and Bavaria, Germany, respectively; the former in 1800, the latter in 1803. George Schmitz, Sr., was a soldier in the German Army, and served for seven years. When he reached this country, he was in debt, worked for several years in Philadelphia, finally coming to this township, where he and his wife are still living. He bought his first plow in New Philadelphia, and carried it home, a distance of six miles. The subject of this sketch received a common school education, and was brought up to farming. He is the oldest and only surviving member of a family of three, of whom Louisa died when young. and Reuben died when nineteen years of age, during the civil war, at Chattanooga, where he is buried. Our subject was married to Sarah E., daughter of Benjamin Van Lehn. Nine children have been born unto them -- John Lewis, married to Lilian Felton, professor in the Normal School at Ladoga, Ind., a graduate in 1878 of the National Normal University, Lebanon, Ohio, where he had taken a classical course, and taught over four years; Emma, deceased when three years and ten months old; W. J., married to Lizzie Fribly, a graduate, and teacher by voca- tion, at present Superintendent of the Rushford, Minn., Schools; Carrie, wife of Oliver J. Demuth, a farmer in this township; Laura, deceased at sixteen months; Mary C., at home, a teacher; Cora, Flora and Victor Monroe. Mrs. Schmitz is a superior woman, and is a member of the Moravian Church. Mr. Schmitz is a member of no church, but was formerly a member of the Lutheran and Moravian Churches. He is a Republican in politics, served in the Union army, has filled various public trusts, and is one of the reliable, trustworthy men in the community. His residence cost over $3,000, and he is the owner of 177} acres of fine, well-cultivated land. They are both in the prime of life, have many friends, enjoy the confidence and esteem of their neighbors, and possess to an unusual degree the affection of their children.

PHILIP SCHNEIDER, farmer and stock-raiser, P. O. Tuscarawas, is a native of Prussia, born August 3, 1823, and is a son of Nicholas and Elizabeth Schneider. Our subject came alone to America in 1847, and settled in this

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township. He was a blacksmith by trade, and worked at it for thirteen years, but subsequently purchased 108 acres of land, and turned his attention to farming. He now owns 167 acres of well-improved land, all due to his own energies. In 1851, he was married to Dorothy, daughter of Philip Seibel, and a native of Germany. To this union have been born three children-John, at home; Mary E., and George, married, a farmer in this township. The family are members of the Lutheran Church, of which Mr. Schneider was an Elder. For two years he was a School Director. In politics, he is a Republican.

JOHN SHOEMAKER, farmer, P. O. Tuscarawas, is a native of Germany, born November 3, 1819, son of Peter and Eva (Espenser) Shoemaker, also natives of Germany, the latter of whom is still living in her eighty-third year, and is residing with a daughter in this county. They emigrated to America, stopped for a time in New York, thence came to this township in 1851, where Peter followed farming. Of their three children, our subject is tbe eldest. He was educated at the common schools of Germany, where he worked at farming until seventeen years old, and then for ten years worked by the month. He came to America in 1839, locating in Pennsylvania; then in this county in 1848. For nearly a year after, worked by the day for Josiah Walton. In 1849, he bought ninety-nine acres of land, and now owns 182 acres, highly cultivated, on which he has erected two large barns, and a resi- dence at a cost of $3,000. He was married in 1848 to Elizabeth, daughter of Adam and Elizabeth Engle, natives of Germany. The six children by this union are as follows: John, a farmer in this township; Catherine, wife of John Shoemaker, proprietor of a boot and shoe store: Jacob, married, a farmer in Rush Township; Mary, wife of Eugene Lehn, of this township; and Philip, a farmer; and Charles, at home. Mrs. Shoemaker died in 1869, and in 1871 our subject was united in marriage to Barbara, a daughter of Nicho- las and Catherine Engle, the latter of whom is in her seventy seventh year. The result of this union has been two children-Joseph and Benjamin. Mr. and Mrs. Shoemaker are both members of the Lutheran Church, and the former is President of the Board of Trustees. He is a charitable, kindly disposed man, and is held in high esteem by his neighbors and friends.

JOHN SIMKINS (deceased) was born in Pennsylvania in 1816, and died in 1878, aged sixty-two years. He was a farmer all his life, and owned at one time 140 acres of land. He was a Republican in politics. He was mar- ried to Mrs. Anna Mary Miller, born in 1811, and a daughter of Jacob and Rose Ann (Stucker) Romig, natives of Pennsylvania. who reared a family of twelve children, of whom Mrs. Simkins was the fourth. Mrs. Simkins has been thrice married. Her first husband was Samuel Rammel (deceased), a son of Michael Rammel, by whom she had two sons-Jacob W., married and liv- ing in Nebraska, and Samuel, married and carrying on a farm in this county. Her second husband was Jacob Miller (deceased). She is still carrying on the farm of 105 acres, and has a life lease of it.

R. K. SMITH, farmer, P. O. Tuscarawas, was born in Warwick Township, July 1, 1853, and is a son of Thomas J. and Mary (Barnhill) Smith, both natives of this State. His grandfather, William G. Smith, was a prominent pioneer of this State, and served in the war of 1812. Our subject spent his youth on a farm, and for his education attended the common schools of this township, and the High School in New Philadelphia. He commenced the study of medicine in 1871 in the office of Dr. Buchman, of Trenton, Ohio; continued there for eighteen months, and thence went to the Cleveland Medi- cal College, graduating in 1875. He practiced for five years in Lorain Vil- lage, Lorian County, Ohio, after which he came to this township where he has since pursued farming, and owns forty-five and one-half acres of land.

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Dr. Smith was married in 1876 to Ella, a daughter of Henry and Jane (Chapman) Sacket, of English ancestry. The only child by this union is Bertha B. Dr. Smith and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he has been Steward, and is at present Superintendent of the Sabbath school. In politics, he is a Republican.

GEORGE SPILLMAN, farmer, P. O. Ulrichsville, is a native of Wurtem- berg, South Germany, where he was born September 20, 1846. He is a son of Martin and Mary (Hess) Spillman, both natives of Germany. He came to the United States in 1869, and in 1873 returned to Germany for his wife, mother and sister. By trade he was turner, but engaged in farming on coming to America. He was married in 1873, to Sophia Wineman, also a native of Germany, by whom he had five children-John Martin, Mary, Anna, Louise and Jacob. Mr. and Mrs. Spillman are members of the Lutheran Church. He is owner of 140 acres of land. In politics, he is a Democrat.

WILLIAM A. TAYLOR, farmer, P. O. Tuscarawas, was born and reared on the farm on which he now resides October 29, 1856, and is a son of Jona- than and Mary M. (Kunestric) Taylor. The former, born in 1813, in Clay Township, this county, had been a farmer all his life, and at the time of his death was owner of 290 acres of land in Warwick Township. Our subject's mother was also a native of Ohio. Of this family of six children, William A. is the fourth. He received his education in the common schools in this town- ship, and for a short time attended Uhrichsville High School. He was married, in 1879, to Ida M. Ramel, a daughter of R. S. Ramel, a prominent farmer in Warwick Township. By this union there is one child-Oliver. Mr. Taylor, in addition to his farm, runs a threshing machine. Is a Republican in politics. He and his wife are members of the Moravian Church.

EMMET C. TAYLOR, farmer and stock-raiser, P. O. Tuscarawas, was born in Warwick Township April 16, 1859, and is a son of Jonathan and Mary (Kennestric) Taylor, natives of this county. Our subject's father was a farmer, and was born in Clay Township, of this county, and died in 1880 in this township. Our subject was the youngest son of a family of eleven, five deceased. Our subject was brought up to farming and educated at the com- mon schools of Warwick Township. He and a brother are managing the home farm of 290 acres. He was married, in 1880, to Catherine Crouch, born in Jefferson County, Ohio, and is a daughter of Henry and Rachel (Hoover) Crouch, natives of Harrison County, Ohio. By this union there is one little daughter -- Opel.

MICHAEL UNGER (deceased) was a native of France, born October 14, 1825, and was brought to America when three years old, his parents settling in Trenton, Ohio. He was an only son, was educated at the common schools and reared to farming. On May 25, 1851, he was united in marriage with Mar- garet Stepper, a native of Germany. Her father was a farmer, and brought the family to America while Mrs. Unger was yet a child, settling in Holmes County, Ohio. The children of this union are nine in number, six of whom are living, viz., Emma (wife of Charles School, farmer in this township), Simon F. (at home), Sarah L. (wife of Calvin Kinsey, teacher and carpenter), Alice C., Henry Clay and Earnest V. The family are members of the Luther- an Church, in which Mr. Unger was Deacon for many years. In politics, he was a Republican. He was successful in farming, leaving to his family an estate of 300 acres of fine land, and was held in high esteem by his neighbors and friends. He died March 14, 1878, aged fifty-two years five months.

JOSIAH WALTON, farmer, P. O. Tuscarawas, is a native of Salem (now Clay) Township, this county. He was born December 9, 1811. His parents, Boaz and Rosanna (Rohads) Walton, were natives of Pennsylvania and of

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English descent. The former was a millwright in early life, but afterward a farmer. He was born in 1776, and came to this county in 1799, from Penn. sylvania. At that time he saw no white man in this county, excepting those who came with him and a missionary living among the Indians. He came to Gnadenhutten for the purpose of erecting a horse mill. In 1806, he removed to Clay Township and leased 200 acres of land of the Moravian Society for twenty-one years. When this lease expired, he moved to the farm now occu- pied by our subject-at that time a veritable wilderness. At one time he owned 900 acres of land. He died in 1836, and his wife in 1817. They were the parents of eight children, viz., Joseph (deceased in 1856), Lydia (wife of Cornelius O'Donnell, deceased, and afterward wife of John Coventry; she is still living in New Philadelphia, aged eighty-one years), Martha (married to Joseph Knaus, both deceased), Benjamin (a farmer, deceased in 1872), Cathe- rine (deceased), Josiah (our subject), Charlotte Rosanna (wife of Frederick Blickensderfer, farmer and merchant, both deceased) and Matilda (wife of S. P. Blickensderfer). The subject of this sketch received his education in the common schools and was reared on the farm. He has been a farmer all his days, excepting two years spent in a flouring mill in Warwick Township, and is owner of 240 acres of land in this township. He received a legacy of $700, but all the rest he possesses was earned by assiduous industry. He was twice married. On the first occasion, in 1841, to Martha A. Wright, a native of Virginia, of English descent. By this union there were three children, two surviving-Charles E. (a farmer) and Martha Rebecca (wife of Jacob Officer, of New Philadelphia). The name of the deceased child is James Madison, the oldest in the family. Mrs. Walton died in 1847, and Mr. Walton again mar- ried in 1849. The lady of his choice was Sarah Shaffer, of English and Ger- man lineage, and a daughter of Henry Shaffer. By this union there was a family of eight children, four surviving, viz., William H. (a merchant in New Philadelphia), Julia A., Emma C., Alice (wife of Thomas Fribly). Mr. Wal- ton is a Republican in politics, and in 1882 was elected President of the Pioneer Association of Tuscarawas County. He is an adherent of the Universalist Church.

CHARLES E. WALTON, the only son living of Josiah Walton, was born in this township November 26, 1844. He received a common school training, and selected farming life for an occupation. He is owner of fifty-two acres of well- improved land, and has one of the finest residences on his farm in this county. On February 17, 1864, he enlisted in the Signal Service Corps, and accompa- nied Sherman on his memorable march to the sea. He was with the signal detachment doing duty under Gen. McPherson at the time he was killed. He was also present at the burning of Columbia, S. C., and used every effort to save property. He was discharged in 1865. He was married, in February, 1871. to Ellen Bucy, a daughter of Paul Bucy. Their family numbers two children, Martha A. and Edmund W. Mr. Walton is a member of the Mora- vian, his wife of the Lutheran Church. He was Trustee of his church nine years, and is a School Director. Iu politics, he is a Republican.

JONAS WARNER, farmer, P. O. Tuscarawas, was born in Warwick Township February 12, 1821, and is a son of Daniel and Mary (Simmers) Warner. His father, of English descent, was a native of one of the New En- gland States, and his mother of French and Welsh ancestry, was born on the boundary line between New York and Pennsylvania. His father was a laborer, and came to Ohio at an early day, and married in 1818. Our subject secured a limited education from the subscription schools held in log houses, and worked on a farm until twenty years old. He then worked in a saw-mill, afterward renting one, and spent thirteen years at that business, after which

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The History of Tuscarawas County, Ohio, Part 119

Author: Warner, Beers & Co. Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Number of Pages: 1017

Author: Warner, Beers & Co.
Publication date: 1884
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1017