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 84

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 84

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Hopp afterward established the business on his own resources, and has since conducted it, having the leading store of the place, and doing a good business. Mr. Hopp was married in Richland County, January 6, 1850, to Mary A. Bare, a native of the State of Pennsylvania, daughter of Benjamin and Mary Bare. Of their five children but one survives-Nellie B., born in June, 1867. Mr. H. has served one term as City Marshal; is a member of the I. O. O. F., Vice Grand of the order; member of the F. & A. M., and of the Advent Church, being a Trustee of the same; in politics, he is a Republican.

PHILIP M. HOWE was born in this county, November 29, 1846. He is a son of William and Rachel (Longwell) Howe, who came to this county with their parents about 1821. His father was one of the substantial farm- ers of this locality, and resided here all his life, his death occurring April 2, 1874. His mother, Rachel, is still living on the old homestead. She was born in Licking County, Ohio, in 1820, daughter of Isaac and Phœbe Longwell, her parents also among the first of the few settlers who located there in 1821. Her marriage to William Howe occurred about 1845, their children being Philip M., Amelia-now Mrs. Bowers-Cicero, James G., Fremont and Alice. Philip M., the subject of this notice, was brought up on a farm, and resided with his parents till his twenty-fourth year. He then farmed rented land four years, after which time he pur- chased with his brother his present farm of eighty acres, since purchasing his brother's interest. He is a good farmer, keeps good stock, and is in the front as an agriculturist generally. His farm gives an average yield of $1,200 to $1,500 per annum, and is valued at $80 per acre. Mr. Howe was married, January 5, 1871, to Rebecca Hite, who was born in Perry County, Ohio, June 11, 1843 (see sketch of John Hite). They have no children. Mr. Hite has an elegant home and enjoys the respect of his entire commu- nity, being one of its most energetic and successful citizens.

EARNEST R. IRMER is a native of Rosslau, Germany, born May 16, 1849. He is a son of William and Sophia (Bock) Irmer, also natives of Rosslau. His father was born November 23, 1808, and died in Germany, March 5, 1875; his mother is still a resident of her native land, and was born December 18, 1812. Ernest learned the baker's trade in Germany and emigrated to the United States in July, 1871. After being engaged at his trade for several years in the various places of Newark, N. J., Syracuse, N. Y., Cleveland and Chicago, he finally located in Nevada November 6, 1875, at which time he purchased his present grocery store in partnership with Philip Ruhlman, buying the latter's interest and conducting the busi- ness alone since 1876. He was married in Nevada, June 1, 1876, to Miss Henrietta Woolsey, their only child living being Inez M., born October 7, 1882. Three infants are deceased. Mrs. Irmer is a native of this county, and was born November 22, 1849. Mr. Irmer has established a good trade, and owns the brick storeroom which his stock occupies, and other property. He is a member of the F. & A. M., and is well respected as a citizen.

CHARLES P. JONES, M. D., was born in Wales September 3, 1834. His parents were David E. and Ann (Price) Wales, also natives of Wales, and emigrated to America with their six children in 1837. They settled at Utica, N. Y., where they resided till 1847, when they removed to Ohio, locating in Portage County, where they purchased fifty acres of land, on which the father died in 1856, aged sixty-nine years; the mother passed away August 29, 1882, aged eighty-three. Five of their eight children are still living- Jane A. (widow of Robert Jones), Winnifred (wife of John C. Jones), Mary

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L. (\, ife of Asba P. Burris), Charles P. and John C. The deceased are Ed- ward, Ann F. and David E. Charles P., the subject of this notice, was educated in the public schools of Cleveland, abandoning his studies at eighteen. He subsequently engaged in a mercantile establishment as sales- man, attending school at intervals, and began the study of medicine at To- ronto, Canada, in 1856, under the instruction of Dr. F. Tumblety, remain- ing with him nearly four years. In 1857, he entered the Toronto Medical Institute, graduating in 1859. In 1860, he began the practice of his pro- fession at Chicago, Ill., where he remained one year, when, on account of failing health, he was compelled to suspend his practice for about one year. He subsequently resumed his practice, and in 1865 located at Nevada, where he has since been engaged. He has a good practice, and has accumulated considerable property as a result of his labors, owning a good house and & two-story brick building on Main street, Nevada, the same costing $5, 000 in 1880. Dr. Jones is a member of the Northwestern Medical Association; Medical Examiner of the Knights of Honor, of which order he is also a member; member of the Lutheran Church, and a Republican in politics. He was married at Bucyrus, June 27, 1860, to Emma E. Caldwell, daughter of Judge Hugh R. and Ann (White) Caldwell, three children having been born to them; Gussie E., born May 14, 1875, is the only one living; Lewis A. and Charles N. are the deceased.

JOHN R. JURY was born in this county October 2, 1839. He is a son of Abner and Priscilla (Winslow) Jurey, natives of Virginia and New York respectively. His parents were married in what is now this county about 1835-36, and were therefore among its first settlers, having located in this section of the country about 1821-22. Mrs. Jury is still living, and is per- haps the oldest resident of the county, though she and Mr. Welsh located here about the same time. The children of this family were Henry, Sarah, John R., Margaret, Samuel W., Olive and Cyrus, the latter deceased. John R., our subject, resided with his parents till twenty-one. He then enlisted in Company I, Fifteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, for three months, at the expiration of which time he re-enlisted in the Eleventh Ohio Battery, and served three years. He participated in the battle of Island No. 10, first and second battles of Corinth, Iuka, siege of Vicksburg, Champion Hill, Jackson, Little Rock and several minor engagements, having the good fortune to es- cape either wounds or capture, yet never absent from his command twenty- four hours. On his return home, Mr. Jury farmed rented land about two years, after which he engaged in farming in Marion County about nine years. In 1875, he purchased his present farm of 126 acres, where he has since been engaged in agricultural pursuits. His farm is valued at $70 per acre. Mr. Jury was married, October 11, 1866, to Miss Anna Campbell, who was born in Marion County, Ohio, September 24, 1841. Her parents are Michael and Mary (Bibler) Campbell, and have spent most of their lives in Marion County. The children of the family are Ezra, Samuel, Anna, John, Barbara, Ellen, Catharine and Lizzie, the two latter deceased. Mr. and Mrs Jury have had seven children, four living, namely, Byron, born September 13, 1867; Bertha, March 31, 1873; Arthur, March 24, 1875; Lewis, May 22, 1877. Ellen, Maggie and an infant are deceased. Mr. Jury is a member of the K. of H., G. A. R., and is a Republican in politics.

THOMAS KENDALL is a native of Clinton County, Penn., born July 11, 1817. His parents, Richard and Elizabeth (Hayes) Kendall, were na- tives of England and Ireland respectively, both born in 1775. They emi- grated to America when quite young, and located in Pennsylvania, where

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they were married and reared two children-Thomas and Robert. By a former marriage in England, our subject's father had four children-Jane, John, Mary and Ellen-who emigrated to America. Thomas Kendall, the subject of this sketch, resided with his parents till twenty-one years of age; he then rented land several years as a farmer, coming to this county in 1867, and purchasing his present farm of forty acres, where he has since resided. He values his farm at $80 per acre. His father died in 1853; his mother in 1861. Mr. Kendall was married, December 27, 1838, to Miss Hannah Lunger, a native of Northumberland County, Penn., born Novem- ber 10, 1819, daughter of Isaac and Mary Lunger, also natives of Pennsyl- vania. Her parents are deceased, her father having died in 1851, her mother a few years later, leaving six children, viz., Eliza, Christopher, Hannah, John, Margaret and William J. To Mr. and Mrs. Kendall were born Mary E., July 26, 1840; Sarah E., April 11, 1842; Martha J., May, 11, 1844; Henrietta, March 26, 1846; Robert, December 21, 1848: Richard, April 10, 1851; Alice C., September 19, 1853; Marguerite, June 23, 1856; John, August 30, 1859; Anna E., January 19, 1863. In politics, Mr. Kendall favors the Republican policy. He owns a comfortable home, and ranks well among the farmers of the community.

JACOB KELLER, one of the oldest citizens of this county, was born in Virginia, in 1797. He is a son of John and Susan (Stengley) Keller, natives of Virginia and Pennsylvania respectively, and came to Ohio about 1799, locating at Chillicothe, removing to the Pickaway Plains six years later. They died in Franklin County, Ohio. Mr. Keller left his father's home and began business for himself at twenty-three. He was engaged eleven years at teaming, and then began farming, spending eight years in that business in Marion County, then moving to Wyandot, where he has since resided. He came to this county in 1825, and purchased 160 acres, which he afterward sold and then procured his present farm of forty acres, on which he has since resided. Mr. Keller was married in 1820, to Maria Warren, who was born in Ohio and daughter of Parker Warren, a native of Delaware. They have nine children, six living: Alfred, John, Nelson, Har- rison, Steward J. and Ann. The mother of these died March 24, 1868, and Mr. Keller was married February 10, 1870, to Elizabeth Schrull née Mc- Nickle, widow of Jacob Schrull. Mr. K. is now in his eighty-seventh year, and one of the representative pioneers of the county. He was inured to hard labor early in years, and has experienced most of the trials incident to pioneer life.

JOHN KELLER was born in Marion County, Ohio, April 23, 1843. He is a son of Harrison D. and Susanna (Young) Keller. his father being a native of Pickaway County, Ohio, born February 9, 1812. His parents were married in Marion County, Ohio, April 5, 1838, and thirteen children were born to them, eight of whom are now living, namely; John, Henry C., Mary J., George W., Adaline, Charles Turney D., Chase and Levinia. The mother died October 2, 1862, the father still living, a resident of Nevada. John Keller resided with his parents till twenty-one years of age, and after four months' employment as fireman of a saw mill enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Seventy-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was mus- tered into service at Camp Chase in September, 1863. He was on post duty during most of the time of his service, having participated in no bat- tles. His discharge was received in June, 1864. On his return from the war, Mr. Keller engaged at general job work about one year; farmed, rented land three years, and then purchased forty acres of his present farm, to

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HISTORY OF WYANDOT COUNTY.

which he has since added, till he now owns 1362 acres, valued at $80 per acre. Mr. Keller was married August 22, 1856, to Jane Leith, who was born in this county June 17, 1840 (see sketch of Hiram Leith), and eight children were born to them, namely: Florence N., January 14, 1868; Edward M., July 14, 1870; Chancy B., May 7. 1872; Mary J., March 10, 1874; Laura E., May 28, 1876; Gracie, January 3, 1879; Charles L., January 1, 1880; and Maggie L., August 16, 1882.

ROBERT KERR, one of the most widely known of the pioneers of Wy- andot and Marion Counties, was born in Mifflin County, Penn., October 22, 1807, and is a son of James and Betsey (Arbuckle) Kerr. His grandpa- rents, James Kerr and William Arbuckle, were both natives of Ireland. His father migrated to Knox Connty, Ohio, in 1818, and purchased a farm of 160 acres in Clay Township, where his wife Betsey died in her forty- second year. He afterward sold his farm to his son Robert, and moved to Licking County, Ohio, where he resided with his son-in-law, Aquilla Bar- ber, till his death at the age of eighty-seven years. Robert Kerr remained in the employ of his parents until nineteen, obtaining a very limited educa- tion. He then began an apprenticeship at the tanuer's trade with Joseph Rogers, Sr., at Martinsburg, Ohio, serving two years and five months, after which he was employed to drive hogs to the city of Baltimore at three shillings per day " and no dinner." Returning home. he was employed about a saw mill for some time at $11 per month, and subsequently en- gaged in clearing land for different parties at $2.50 to $3 per acre, his part of the contract being complete when everything under twelve inches was cleared from the ground. In this manner, he cleared the bottom land, also the brow of the hill lying between the Sandusky River and the town of Upper Sandusky, in 1830, and also cut 100 cords of wood west of the town, delivering the wood to George Garrett and Matthew Walker at 372 cents per cord. He cleared ten acres for an Indian chief named Hicks, and five acres for another by the name of Jack Oak. While engaged in this work he removed the timber from more than one hundred acres of land; cut about one thousand cords of wood at 20 cents per cord, and made many thousand rails at 50 cents per hundred. About this time he purchased two tracts of eighty acres each in Scott Township, Marion County, paying for them $100 and $200 respectively. He was married, August 29, 1833, to Matilda Swaggert, daughter of Daniel and Betsey (Coonrod) Swaggert, and from this time gave his attention to farming, clearing $100 cash the first year. He soon began dealing in stock, and in about three years purchased 360 acres more land in the same township at $1,500 on five years' time, the amount to be paid in payments of $300 yearly-interest six per cent. He stocked his land with sheep, acting on the advice of an old Pennsylvanian, Stephen Ulery, and was able to meet his payments promptly. The prices he obtained for his wool in the seven years in which he was dealing exten- sively, were 21}, 223, 29, 33}, 40, 50 and 80 cents respectively; the last season his receipts on sale of wool and sheep aggregating $33,000. He continued the business up to 1876-77, when the prices lowered, and Mr. Kerr sold out and quit the trade. He now owns 1,059 acres of land in Crawford County, 443 acres in Wyandot County and 2,573 acres in Marion County, all free of incumbrance. He was one of the original stockhold- ers in the Farmers' Bank, of Marion, and of the Nevada Deposit Bank, of Nevada, and now owns a large amount of stock in each. He is also stock- holder in a bank recently established at Winfield, Kan. He built (and owns) the Kerr House at Marion, at a cost of $60,000, and also the Kerr

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House at Nevada at a cost of $18,000, both being fine buildings that speak well for the enterprise of the builder. He donated $53,000 to Hiram Col- lege and $23,000 to Bethany College, of Virginia, and has contributed lib- erally to other institutions. He is, perhaps, the wealtiest citizen in this section of the country, his property being worth more than $600,000. This large fortune was wrought out by hard labor and untiring energy, combined with excellent financial ability and strict integrity in all business transac- tions. Mr. Kerr was a member of the Disciple Church for many years, but withdrew on account of what he considered the unchristian conduct of some of the members. His wife, Matilda, died in February, 1859, having been the mother of eleven children, six of whom are living, namely, Eliza- beth, Sarah, Stephen, Mary, John and Amanda. By his second wife, Martha Williams, to whom he was married in July, 1861, Mr. Kerr has one child -- Addie. On New Year's day, 1883, Mr. Kerr accidentally fell on the icy street at Caledonia, Ohio, dislocating his left hip joint, from the result of which injury he has not since been able to walk. He lived forty - four years in the place where he began housekeeping, but for ten years previous to the accident mentioned, he had lived in a house erected on his land in Scott Township, Marion County, a short distance from his old home. He is now a resident of Nevada, this county.

JOHN M. KLINGLER is a native of Wittenburg, Germany, and was born April 25, 1835. His parents were John M. and Anna (Bartole) Kling- ler, his father dying in 1836. He was therefore reared by his grandfather, Jacob M. Bartole, with whom he resided ten years. He then served an ap- prenticeship of three years at the shoemaking trade, and afterward worked at the same in Germany eight years. In April, 1857, he sailed for the United States, and located for a short time in Sandusky City. In 1860, he located in Nevada, where he has since plied his trade most diligently. He has devoted his entire life to " the bench," and has acquired a comfortable home by his industrious efforts. His marriage to Elizabeth Dinkle occurred February 19, 1861, their children being Mary A., born July 7, 1862; Lena, October 1, 1863; Anna L., February 17, 1865; and Matilda, January 11, 1866; John E., December 12, 1869, died January 9, 1883; two infants are also deceased. Mrs. Klingler was a native of Germany, born February 17, 1842. She emigrated to America in 1845 and died October 4, 1874. Mr. K. was married, September 9, 1875, to Mary E. Rowinsky. He has been a member of the F. & A. M. since 1879; himself and family being associated with the English Lutheran Church.

JOSEPH H. LAYMAN is a native of Union County, Penn., where he first saw the light of day April 20, 1825. He is a son of Christian and Maria (Botts) Layman, natives of Berks County, Penn., the former born January 1, 1798, the latter October 25, 1786. The parents were married in Pennsylvania, and resided in that State about twenty years, his father having been a soldier in the war of 1812 in the three months' service, being in hearing of the cannons at the battle of Baltimore. His mother was a pensioner of the Government. In 1836, they came to Crawford County, Ohio, where they resided many years, though afterward making several re- movals; the father dying in Noble County Ind., March 16, 1866, the mother in Crawford County, Ohio, August 5, 1879. Mr. Layman's uncle, Isaac Botts, now resides on the farm formerly owned by the father of Maj. Andre, the British spy of Revolutionary fame. Our subject lived with his parents till nineteen years of age. He then worked by the month for a few years, and, in 1848, traded a Mexican land grant for eighty acres in Steuben

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County, Ind., to which he subsequently added forty acres more, selling out three years later and purchasing property in Bucyrus, where he engaged five years in the plastering trade. In 1859, he purchased 108 acres, one-half of which now forms his present farm, to which he has since added forty-six acres, the whole valued at $85 per acre. He moved to this farm February 17, 1859, when there were no roads cut out, and erected a typical log cabin, where he has since resided. Mr. Layman was married, December 15, 1853, to Phidelia A. Nye, who was born in New York, January 17, 1833. She is a daughter of William and Rebecca (Nye) Nye, natives of Vermont, in which State they were married. Her parents moved to Utica, N. Y., and later, to Wayne County, Ohio, coming to Crawford County in 1846. Her mother died in 1850. Her father is still living, in his seventy-sixth year, a resident of Nevada. Mr. and Mrs. Layman have five children living, namely: James F., born October 27, 1855; Ida F., January 2, 1858; Susie, February 22, 1860; Maria, January 1, 1864; Hattie, March 9, 1866. Lucretia, L. W., G. B. Mc. and Harry H. are deceased. Mr. Layman is a citizen of good standing, and a Democrat in politics.

HENRY G. LEA is a native of Lycoming County, Penn., born Sep- tember 25, 1829. He is a son of, Zaccheus P. and Elizabeth (Davis) Lea; his father born in Kidminster, England, September 26, 1756, his mother in Lycoming County. His father emigrated 1776, and settled in the above county, where he resided till 1837, at which time he came to this county, settling in what is now Eden Township, remaining there till his death. He was the father of fourteen children; by his first marriage, John B., Thomas P. and Sarah A .; by his second marriage, Mary J., James D., Elizabeth, Zaccheus and Lydia; by a third marriage, Henry G., Catharine A., An- drew H. and Rebecca A. The subject of this notice, Henry G., resided with his parents during his boyhood, coming with them to this county at eight years of age. He obtained what education the schools of his neighborhood afforded, and, with no assistance, took up the blacksmith trade, to which occupation he has devoted most of his life. Mr. Lea was married, in Upper Sandusky, October 1, 1863, to Julia E. Kraken, daughter of Ernest M. and Mary R. (Roades) Kraken, her father having been the first surveyor of this county. The children resulting from this marriage are George W., Frank D., Norba H., Emma E., Louis L. and Ernest-the two latter deceased. Mr. Lea and his wife are members of the United Brethren Church, and well respected as citizens, he being a Democrat in political sentiments. In early life Mr. Lea had the Indian youths for playmates, they giving him his first lessons in archery, at which he is still an expert. Among the more noted of his dusky associates were Scott and Steward, sons of Aaron Coon, an Indian Chief.

HIRAM LEITH is a native of this county and was born January 9, 1836. He is a son of John and Elizabeth (Siple) Leith, who were natives of Guernsey County, Ohio, and Rockingham County, Va., respectively, the former born in 1807; the latter December 31, 1803. His grandfather Leith was born at one of the two old sites of Upper Sandusky, and resided most of his life in Fairfield and Guernsey Counties. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and spent all his life on the frontier. His great-grandfather, John Leith, was captured by the Indians while employed as clerk at the present site of Lancaster, Ohio, in an Indian trading-post of the Delaware tribe, by whom he was kept in captivity twenty-nine years. He was taken at the age of fifteen, and was employed at the agencies, being closely guarded for one year, after which he was given the privileges of the tribe. He was adopted

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into the family of Capt. Pipe, the famous chief of the Delawares, and while in custody was married to Miss Sallie Lowry, a white woman, who was cap- tured by the Mingo Indians at Big Cove, Penn., in 1762. After twenty- nine years of savage life they made their escape and joined the whites at Ft. Pitt (now Pittsburgh). being closely pursued by their captors, who ap- peared on the opposite side of the river in the same hour in which Mr. and Mrs. Leith and two children had crossed over in safety. The details of their history are full of interest and thrilling in the extreme. John Leith, father of our subject, located in this county about 1832-33, moving at that date from Fairfield County. He first leased land in this township, of the Wyandot Indians, and after seven years made a purchase of eighty acres. He was universally esteemed, and after a life of frontier hardships for many years died January 14, 1860. His aged companion, Elizabeth Leith, is still living and resides with her former son-in-law, Capt. Bacon. Hiram Leith,

the subject of this sketch, resided with his parents till twenty-one years of age, obtaining the rudiments of an education in the crude schools of his time and vicinity. He began work on a farm for his uncle, and by making payments as his means afforded, has acquired a fine farm of 121 acres, now valued at $75 per acre. He has always engaged in the common routine of farm life and has been fairly successful, though bis competence has been gained chiefly by hard labor. Mr. Leith was married, January 29, 1865, to Elizabeth J. Scott, a native of Knox County, Ohio, born January 25, 1845. Her father, Matthew Scott, was born in Ohio and died in 1849; her mother, Mary (Wilson) Scott, in Maryland. They were married in Wayne County, Ohio, but resided in Knox County, where her father died in 1842. Her mother subsequently married T. J. Hinkle, and now resides in Nevada. Mr. and Mrs. Leith have eight children living-Teffie, Frank M., Mary E., El- veretta, Emma A., Clara M., Alta J. and Grace A. Cora is deceased. Mr. Leith is a Republican. He is regarded as one of the thoroughly reliable citizens of the township, and is ranked among the first for his qualities as a man.

JAMES S. LEITH, son of George W. and Margaret P. (Steele) Leith, was born in this county March 6, 1838. His parents were of Scotch and French descent respectively, his father a native of Ohio, and his mother, of Pennsylvania. They were married in Seneca County and soon after settled in Wyandot County, where they resided from 1837 to 1867. In the latter year they moved to Nevada, where the mother died in August, 1868, the father March 10, 1883. The latter was a prominent citizen in his locality, a Whig in politics, serving as Associate Judge from 1845 to 1852. He de- voted the greater part of his life to agricultural pursuits, owning 400 acres of land and having a family of ten children, five of whom survive-James S., Mrs. Mary Goodbread, Martha S., Mrs. Jessie Balliet, Mrs. Josie Baglin, the two latter twins. Three of the daughters are residents of Nevada; the latter a resident of Pittsburgh, Penn. James S., the subject of this sketch, resided with his parents till 1862. He continued farming till 1866, when he engaged in the dry goods trade at Nevada. He remained here two years, selling his stock and entering the wholesale dry goods establishment of Lathrop & Luddington, of New York City, and remained with this firm till it became insolvent, December, 1869. During the seasons of 1871 and 1872, he engaged in the sale of agricultural implements at Nevada. He was one of the incoporators of the Nevada Deposit Bank, and was made one of its directors, disposing of his stock to Robert Kerr, in 1877. In 1875, he was appointed Railway Postal Clerk, which situation he held till 1882, since

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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 84

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

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