The History of Wyandot County, Ohio, containing a history of the county, its townships, towns general and local statistics, military record, portraits of early settlers and prominent men etc, Part 74

Author:
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago, Leggett, Conaway
Number of Pages: 1072

USA > Ohio > Wyandot County > The History of Wyandot County, Ohio, containing a history of the county, its townships, towns general and local statistics, military record, portraits of early settlers and prominent men etc > Part 74

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was born in New Jersey June 19, 1828. They have a pleasant home and hold a high position in the esteem of their fellow citizens.

JOHN MITSCH, farmer, was born near the city of Worms, Germany, December 23, 1828. He is the son of Henry and Elizabeth (Reyrner) Mitsch, who emigrated to America in 1841, and settled in Crawford County. In 1859, they removed to this county, and located in Antrim Township, where the father died in 1864, aged sixty-two years-the mother, January 7, 1878, in her eightieth year. They were the parents of six children, the living being John, Catharine and Magdalena. John Mitsch spent six years in the schools of Germany, and subsequently acquired some learning in this country. He resided with his parents on the farm in Crawford County till 1852, when he migrated to California in search of the "yellow dust," his efforts being crowned with success. He returned to the "paternal roof " in 1857, and in the following year purchased 160 acres of land at $12.50 per acre in this county, where has since resided and on which farm he erected a handsome brick residence at a cost of $3,000, in 1881. He has since added eighty acres to his original purchase and values the whole at $75 per acre. He has acquired his possessions by industry and good management, inheriting but a small sum from his father's estate; he is a scientific farmer and makes a specialty of rearing fine grades of cattle, horses and hogs. Mr. Mitsch was married, February 6, 1859, to Rose A. Kipfer, and five children have resulted from this union, four living-Albert H., born June 23, 1860; George F., May 6, 1864; Emma R. and Mary R. (twins) born January 2, 1866. An infant daughter is deceased; it was born July 13, 1861, and died in September of the same year. Mrs. Mitsch's death occurred January 19, 1866, and Mr. M. was again married, March, 1879, to Mrs. Elizabeth Ritter, née Kipfer, sister of his first wife and a native of Switzerland, born March 24, 1824; they have no children. Mr. Mitsch, with his wife, is a member of the German Reformed Church, to which they are liberal contributors. He has served as School Director during the greater part of his residence in the township, and favors the Democratic school of politics.

JOHN F. MYERS was born in Stark County, Ohio, December 23, 1827. He is the son of Peter and Susannah (Flickinger) Myers, natives of Pennsylvania. They were the parents of two children-Jeremiah A. and John F. The father's death occurred in January, 1828; the mother survived till August, 1882. She was born November 30, 1799. John F., our subject, spent the first thirteen years of his life in Paris, Starke County, subsequently removing to Canton, where he finished his education at the age of twenty-two. He engaged in the tailoring trade at Canton four years, and after several changes of place and business, opened a grocery store in Upper Sandusky in 1869. In this occupation, at the corner of Sandusky and Wyandot avenues, he is still engaged. Mr. Myers was married at. Little Sandusky, April 18, 1852, to Martha J. Eggleston, daughter of Da- vid and Elizabeth (McCleary) Eggleston, natives of New York and New Hampshire respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Eggleston settled in this county in 1841-42, and were the parents of six children, five of whom are now living-Mary, Martha J., Charles, George A., Chloe E. The deceased was Roxena, who died in Marseilles Township, in 1873. Mr. and Mrs. Myers are the parents of ten children-five living, namely: Frank E., born March 27, 1853; Emma J., September 18, 1854; Della M., in 1863; George, August 16, 1868, and Edward S., December 6, 1876. Mr. Myers served as Township Clerk in Pitt Township two years; as Township Treas-

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urer several years; was elected City Councilman in 1874, and re-elected in 1883. In politics, Mr. Myers is a Democrat. He is the owner of a valu- able farm southwest of the city of Upper Sandusky and a comfortable resi- dence on Seventh street.

JOHN F. MYERS, JR., was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, October 15. 1844. He is a son of Michael and Susan (McClain) Myers, the former a native of Hancock and the latter of Pickaway County. The parents set- tled in this county in 1846. Our subject was educated in the common schools and enlisted in the war in May, 1863, joining Company A, One Hundred and Forty-fourth Regiment Ohio National Guard, Capt. Regan commanding company ; Col. Hunt commanding regiment. He participated in the skirmishes at Berryville and Monocacy Junction, and was honorably dis- charged at Columbus, Ohio. He resided on the farm of his wife's parents till 1882, when he purchased his present farm of 110 acres, paying for the same $100 per acre. He has a desirable location, makes a specialty of rearing good stock, and is one of the model farmers of the county. He was married September 13, 1868, to Frances Hale, daughter of John and Eliza- beth (Donor) Hale. Their children are Harry E., born July 24, 1869; James B., October 26, 1872; William F., January 17, 1875; Elizabeth E. and Mary E. (twins), born February 17, 1878; Ralph E., September 11, 1876; George F., October 29, 1879. The latter two are deceased-Ralph E. dying August 21, 1877, and George F., September 14, 1880. Mrs. Myers was born in Cumberland County, Penn., October 27, 1846; died March 16, 1882. Mr. Myers is a member of the Church of God, the G. A. R., and a Democrat in politics.

LEVI T. MYERS, of the firm of Streby, Myers & Kail, city flouring mills, was born in York County, Penn., April 11, 1840, He is the son of Solomon and Elizabeth (Toner) Myers, also natives of Pennsylvania, and who were married in Carroll County, Md. They were the parents of eight children, namely, Levi T., Mary C., Susan, John T. and Jacob T. (twins), Ann M. and Elizabeth M. Sarah M. is deceased, her death occurring at the age of twenty-two. Levi T., our subject, was educated in the schools of Hanover, Penn., and at the age of ten began his work in the milling busi- ness, which he has ever since engaged in, with the exception of two years' grocery business in Bucyrus, Ohio, and eighteen months in jewelry in Penn- sylvania. After operating in the milling business for a number of years in the various places of Emmittsburg, Md., Milan, Bucyrus, Napoleon, and Wooster, Ohio, he removed to Upper Sandusky October 28, 1878, and formed a partnership with R. E. Kerr and Christian Merrick in the old Upper San- dusky Mills; this partnership existed two years. In 1880, he entered into a partnership with W. J. Streby, and a year later the present firm of Streby, Myers & Kail was formed. Mr. Myers was married at Boiling Springs, Penn., October 19, 1869, to Matilda D. Shaffer. They have one child- Dustin S., born August 6, 1870. Mrs. Myers is a native of Cumberland County, Penn., and was born in January, 1843. Mr. Myers is a member of the F. & A. M., and, with his wife. of the English Lutheran Church.

MICHAEL MYERS, son of Michael and Mary M. (Clore) Myers, na- tives of Pennsylvania, was born in Pickaway, Ohio, February 24, 1819. He is one of thirteen children, six living-Polly, Henry, Sarah, David, Hannah and Michael. Their parents were early settlers of Pickaway, but removed to Hancock County in 1832, where the mother died in 1835, and the father in 1853, the latter aged seventy-seven. Michael Myers was educated in his native county, and was there married, February 2, 1843, to Susan Mc-

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Clain, daughter of Zachariah and Susan (Spahr) McClain, of Irish and Ger- man ancestry. They have fifteen children, eleven living-John F., born October 15, 1844; George W., October 23, 1846; William M., February 9, 1849; James M., October 5, 1851; Bertha E., July 28, 1857; Michael U., October 3, 1859; Sue E., October 11, 1861; Dessa E. and Crissa A. (twins), August 28, 1866; Peter D., August 10, 1869, and Blanch, February 12, 1874. The deceased were Harriet, born September 14, 1853, died February 20, 1857; Mary E., born September 2, 1855, died April 22, 1857; Samuel E., born October 11, 1863, died March 3. 1864; Henry E., born December 30, 1864, died in September, 1865. Mrs. Myers was born in Pickaway County, July 24, 1826. Mr. Myers removed to this county in 1846, and purchased government land in Crane Township at $2.50 per acre, obtaining his title from James K. Polk, President. His farm is now valued at $80 per acre. Mr. Myers is a Democrat, self and wife members of the United Brethren Church.

T. Y. MOODY, retired farmer, was born in Waterbury, Vt., January 2, 1809. He is a son of David and Priscilla (Cady) Moody, natives of Massa- chusetts. They settled in Vermont before marriage, and were the parents of eleven children, of whom but two are now living, namely, Timothy and Priscilla. the latter residing in Upper Sandusky, wife of John Justice. The parents removed from their native State to Clark County, Ohio, in 1819, and five years later to Crawford County (now Wyandot), purchasing land near Bowsherville, where they resided until their death; the father's decease took place about 1840, at the age of sixty-six years; the mother survived till 1868, and died in her ninety-sixth year. With the exception of eight years in Indiana, Mr. Moody has resided in Wyandot County since 1824. He was married near Bowsherville, August 27, 1831, to Susan Bowsher, daugh- ter of Peter and Elizabeth (Harpster) Bowsher, and eleven children have blessed their union-Eliza, born August 7, 1832; Mary A., October 1, 1835; John, August 2, 1837; Priscilla, March 21, 1839; David, January 22, 1849; Lyman C., November 21, 1842; Maria, February 23, 1845; Ellen, October 1, 1848. The deceased are Matthew, born November 18, 1833, died May -, 1867; Leeland, born August 13, 1850, died December 31, 1864, and William A., born July 13, 1856, died March 19, 1871. These were followed by their mother, Susan Bowsher, July 29, 1880, her age being sixty-four years. Mr. Moody was married, December 29, 1881, to Orpah Lloid, of Upper Sandusky. They are members of the English Lutheran Church, and well respected as citizens. Mr. Moody has accumulated considerable property, and is now enjoying the fruits of his earlier labors.

HON. CHESTER R. MOTT, a leading attorney of Upper Sandusky, was born in Susquehanna County, Penn., July 15, 1813. He is the son of Orange and Ruhanna (Shattuck) Mott, natives of Connecticut, and of French and English extraction respectively. They were married in Con- necticut, and were the parents of nine children, of whom eight are still living, namely, Orange, Julia, Marilla, Louis, William K., Chester R., Harriet and Amasa. The mother died in 1821, aged thirty-nine years; the father died about 1870, aged nearly ninety-nine years. Judge Mott, as he is familiarly known, obtained as good an education as the common schools of the place of his nativity afforded. He became a teacher in such schools at the age of nineteen. After teaching in his native place for two consecu- tive winters, he pursued a course of studies in a seminary endowed by the Hon. Gerrit Smith, of Peterboro, N. Y., and located at Florence, Oneida Co., N. Y., under the name of Florence Manual Labor Institute. From

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this institution Mr. Mott went directly to Erie County, Penn., where he studied law; was admitted to the bar of the several courts of that State, including the Supreme Court and the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. He opened an office in Erie in 1838, and continued the same until the spring of 1844, when he removed directly to Upper Sandusky, Ohio, where he has ever since resided. At the organiza- tion of the new county of Wyandot, in April, 1845, he was elected Prose- cuting Attorney, and again elected at the October election in 1845, for the full term of two years, and after two years' service he resigned his office, and M .. H. Kirby succeeded thereto by appointment. In 1849, Mr. Mott was elected County Auditor, and re-elected in 1851; his second term ex- pired in March, A. D. 1854. In 1857, he was elected by the counties of Hardin and Wyandot their representative in the General Assembly of the State, in which body he served during its sessions of 1858 and 1859. De- clining to be a candidate for a second term, he continued the practice of his profession in connection with his partner, Hon. John Berry, now de- ceased, until;1865, when he was again elected to the office of Prosecuting Attorney of his county, just twenty years after his first election to the same office, but, before the expiration of this latter term, he was obliged to re- sign the same, to assume the duties of Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of the Third Judicial District of the State, embracing twenty coun- ties, being the largest territorial district of the State, and then embracing four subdivisions. Judge Mott was elected in the fourth subdivision, com- posed of the counties of Wyandot, Crawford, Seneca and Hancock, for the term of five years, expiring February 9, 1872, since which time his atten- tion has been turned to his professional pursuits. He was several times elected to the office of Mayor of Upper Sandusky, and for several years served as Councilman and a member of the Board of Education. Mr. Mott was married May 17, 1838, to Eleanor Chase, daughter of Briton and Eleanor (Carr) Chase, natives of New Lebanon, Columbia Co., N. Y. They have two married daughters now living-Harriett E., wife of James M. Orr, and Ella C., wife of S. A. Magruder. Judge Mott has spent many years in the public service and for the public good, and his long official career bas been characterized by its integrity, intelligence and firm adher- ence to principle under all circumstances.

JAMES N. NELSON, Coroner, Upper Sandusky, is a native of Beaver County, Penn., born September 10, 1831, son of William A. and Isabel (Patty) Nelson, natives of Lancaster Co., Penn. They had nine children, of whom but four are now living-Mary, George, Katie and James. The father died in Cleveland, Ohio, April 10, 1844, aged fifty-four years. James Nelson removed with his parents to Cleveland, and attended the schools of that city. In 1849, he removed to Pittsburgh and en- gaged in steamboating till 1856 or 1857, when he located in Upper Sandusky. At the beginning of the civil war he enlisted at the first call for volunteers in April, 1861, taking part in several skirmishes. September 1, 1861, he re-enlisted in Company D, Eighty-first Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Capt. P. A. Tyler in command of company and Col. Thomas Morton commanding the regiment. He was engaged in the battles of Shiloh, Corinth, Iuka, Mission Ridge, Lookout Mountain, Sec- ond Corinth, and joined Sherman's army at the siege of Atlanta. Being seized by sickness at the latter place, he was taken back to Paducah, trans- ferred to Nashville and finally to Taylor Hospital, Louisville, where he was placed on a hospital boat and sent to St. Louis, where he was discharged

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September 9, 1864. He returned home with health impaired, and has since engaged in various kinds of light labor. Mr. Nelson was married, in Upper Sandusky, January 14, 1858, to Amanda Chambers. They have one child- Lizzie Belle, now the wife of Frank L. Cross. Our subject is at present serving as Coroner of the county, and is a member of the G. A. R. He owns a valuable residence on Sandusky avenue, and votes the Democratic ticket.

MICHAEL O'DONNEL, restaurant and saloon proprietor, was born in Ireland November 18, 1839, and emigrated to America in 1853, settling near Newport, R. I. He engaged in farm labor in that locality about two years, removing to Clark County, Ohio, in 1855; engaged in farming and teaming till 1862. After spending some time in various enterprises, he began the restaurant and saloon business in Upper Sandusky in 1869, and in this he is still engaged. By strict attention to business has accumulated considerable property. He was married, February 15, 1869, to Catharine Haley, daughter of John and Margaret Haley, natives of Ireland, who came to America in 1847 and 1848 respectively. Nine children have resulted from this marriage, seven living -- John, born February 12, 1870; Simeon, September 6, 1871; Margaret, August 26, 1873; James C., December 27, 1876; Michael, February 21, 1879; Thomas A., March 11, 1881, and George, August 31, 1883. The deceased are Mary, born May 2, 1882, died Septem- ber 2, 1882; Michael, born January 20, 1876, died July, 1876. Catharine, the mother, was born in Urbana, Ohio, November 9, 1853. Mr. O'Donnel has served four years as city Councilman and manifests a great interest in local politics, voting for Democratic principles.

PETER PEIFER, manufacturer of and dealer in boots and shoes, North Main street, Upper Sandusky, was born in Germany, July 22, 1835. He emigrated to America, in 1852, settling in Philadelphia, where he learned his trade and resided eighteen years, removing to Upper Sandusky in 1870. He was educated in the German language in Germany. On arriving in Upper Sandusky he engaged with Michael Katzenmaier, with whom he re- mained three years, at the expiration of which he began the boot and shoe business in his present location. He employs two assistants the year around, and carries a stock of $2,000. He was married in Philadelphia, November 1, 1862, to Mary Kessler, her parents former residents of the above city, both deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Kessler have two children-Anna T., born February 17, 1864, and Emma L., born June 10, 1865. Mrs. Peifer was born in Germany, February 6, 1839, and emigrated to America in 1846. Mr. Peifer owns a valuable property on Seventh street where he resides. Himself and family are associated with the German Reform Church, to which he is a liberal contributor. Politically Mr. Peifer is a Democrat.

HENRY PETERS, son of Samuel and Mary (Stevenson) Peters, and one of the oldest and most honored pioneers of this county, was born in York County, Penn., October 1, 1796. His father was born in Philadelphia, September 27, 1772, and died September 10, 1829. Mary, his wife, was born in Baltimore County, Md., September 28, 1773, and died February 15, 1861. They were married in Maryland, and removed from that State to Ohio April 1, 1812, locating in Fairfield County. They were the parents of thirteen children, eleven of whom still survive, the youngest being in his sixty-seventh year. Their names are as follows: Henry, Robinson J., Wesly, Rachel, Stevenson, Andrew, Leah, Mary, Lewis, Elizabeth and Ebenezer. Henry Peters, the eldest of the family and the subject of this sketch, ob- tained but a limited education, attending school but three months in Man-

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chester, Md. He removed to Ohio with his parents and at the age of sixteen left the paternal roof to engage in blacksmithing at Zanesville, Ohio. He was here engaged eighteen months with Phillip Munch, after which time, by the assistance of his father, he purchased a set of tools and began work- ing at his trade on his father's farm, in Fairfield County. He remained at this point two years, at the expiration of which time he had saved $107 and paid for his outfit. In 1820, he bade adieu to his parents and brothers, and, with $107 in money and all his other worldly effects in a small sack strapped to his back, he started for Upper Sandusky, arriving at his desti- nation in April, 1820, only to find a reservation of Indians. Changing his plans he returned to Marion County, and witnessed the sale of the land now lying within the corporate limits of Marion. About the same time Mr. Peters and Judge Ozias Bowen, about 1829, purchased a quarter section of land which they divided, Mr. Peters taking the west part and subsequently laying out what is now the southern portion of Marion. He here engaged in his trade until 1829, when he and Thomas Sloan purchased forty head of horses and took them on foot to Philadelphia, selling them at a profit of $1,300. They then purchased a stock of general merchandise at a cost of $2,700, " wagoned " it over the mountains and opened a store in Marion on the exact ground now occupied by T. P. Wallace's bank. This partnership existed one year, during which time they dealt largely in horses, taking three droves to Eastern markets with financial success. In 1830, the partnership was dissolved, Mr. Peters having accumulated $3,000 up to that date. He resided in Marion twenty-six years, during which time he col- lected $20,000, and removed to Upper Sandusky in 1846. He purchased land at the first Government sale in 1844, and at each subsequent sale until the reservation was disposed of. 800 acres were procured at a cost of $2 per acre. At present Mr. Peters is the owner of 500 acres of well-im- proved land, valued at $100 per acre; he also owns valuable property in Marion and Allen Counties. He was married, April 12, 1829, to Phobe Anderson, daughter of H. Anderson of North Carolina. She was born March 6, 1807. But one child resulted from this union, her name being Corrilla A., born May 10, 1830; her death occurred in May, 1850. When twenty years of age, Mr. Peters declined the office of Associate Judge on account of extreme youth, favoring Judge Idleman, who was elected. He has declined several other prominent offices, but served as Coroner three years in Marion; was a stock-holder and Director of the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad three years, and has contributed largely to the interests of Upper Sandusky. He has reared ten children, including his only daughter, and all have died at about the age of twenty years ex- cept four. In politics Mr. Peters is independent, voting for the principle and not for the party. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and contributed $2,200 to the erection of the present church building in Upper Sandusky. As a worthy representative pioneer of the county, we give the portrait of Mr. Peters on another page of this volume.

HENRY W. PETERS, of the firm of King & Peters, dry goods mer- chants, was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, April 25,1840, son of Lewis S. and Margaret (Retter) Peters, both natives of Ohio, and of English and German extraction. They were married in Pickaway County, and were the parents of seven children, four now living-Mary, Henry W., Samuel R., and Wilson L. The deceased were Lucinda, Francis and Mattie. The mother departed this life in Pickaway County in 1861, aged about forty-two years. The father, Lewis Peters, still survives, residing at the " old home "

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in Pickaway, aged sixty-seven years. Henry W. Peters, the subject of this notice, was reared on the farm, and shared the advantages of the district schools till his sixteenth year, when he entered the Ohio Wesleyan Univer- sity, taking a classical course and graduating in 1862. He subsequently devoted two years to teaching and farming, and in May, 1864, enlisted as private in Company E, One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Regiment Ohio Na- tional Guards. On the organization of his company he was made its Cap- tain. his regiment being mostly engaged in patrol duty, stationed at Mar- tinsburg, City Point and Norfolk, Va. He was honorably discharged at Camp Denison, Ohio, September 10, 1864, and returned home. In April, 1865, he purchased 180 acres of land in this county, and in October of the same year moved upon the same, engaging in agricultural pursuits from that time till 1883, when he purchased J. W. Foucht's interest in the dry goods store of Foucht & King, and began the mercantile business under the firm name of King & Peters. The marriage of Mr. Peters to Mary M. White, daughter of the Rev. John W. and Ann C. (Williams) White, oc- curred March 22, 1866. They have four children, as follows: Fred W., born March 8, 1867; Earl H, August 8, 1869; Orrin R., February 4, 1871; and Avery W., May 16, 1877. Mrs. Peters was born February 4, 1835, a native of Marietta, Ohio. Mr. Peters is a member of the Knights of Honor, the G. A. R. and the Methodist Episcopal Church-of the latter organiza- tion since his twelfth year.

DAVID S. PETERSON, Supervisor of Subdivision 4, P., Ft. W. & C. Railroad, was born in Carroll County, Ohio, October 4, 1826; son of Will- iam and Jane (White) Peterson, natives of Jefferson County, Ohio, and Westmoreland County, Penn., respectively. They were married in Jeffer- son County, and were the parents of thirteen children, twelve attaining their majority. After several changes in their place of residence, the family located in Adams County, Ind., where the mother died in 1875, aged seventy- five years; her husband, William, survived till 1879, and died at Ada, Hardin Co., Ohio, aged eighty-two years. David Peterson, our subject, was reared on a farm in Carrol County, where he obtained a common school education. In 1843, he removed to Indiana with his parents, and engaged in farming and carpenter's work till 1852, at which time he became an em- ploye of the Ohio & Indiana Railroad Company, with which he has since been connected, with the exception of one and one-half years on the Wabash Railroad. In 1867, he received his appointment on the P., Ft. W. & C. Railway, and this position he still holds. Mr. Peterson was married August 20, 1850, to Harriet McDowell, of Carroll County, Ohio. They had four chil- dren-Hugh, Sarah J., Laura A. and William L. The death of Mrs. Peter- son, the mother, occurred, and Mr. Peterson was again married at Fort Wayne, Ind., to Amanda E. Zook, of Wayne County, Ohio. Jay E., their only living son, was born in December, 1874; three children under three years of age are deceased.

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The History of Wyandot County, Ohio, containing a history of the county, its townships, towns general and local statistics, military record, portraits of early settlers and prominent men etc, Part 74

Author: Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Chicago, Leggett, Conaway Number of Pages: 1072

Author:
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago, Leggett, Conaway
Number of Pages: 1072