Twentieth Century History of Findlay and Hancock County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens, Part 35

Author: Jacob Anthony Kimmell
Publication date: 1910
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1189

USA > Ohio > Hancock County > Findlay > Twentieth Century History of Findlay and Hancock County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens > Part 35

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McCONNELL B. SMITH, who was born in Hancock County, O., on a farm in Jackson Township adjoining the one on which he lives, on March 17, 1868, has devoted the larger part of his mature life to agricultural pursuits. His parents were Michael and Calista (Bare) Smith.

Michael Smith was born in Germany in 1839 and died in Jackson Township, Hancock County, December 24, 1870. He came to America when young, in company with his parents who landed at New York and came from there to Jackson Township where they

entered eighty acres of government land. Michael Smith grew to manhood and married Calista Bare, who was born in Hancock County and died in Jackson Township, Au- gust 21, 1893. They were good people and were widely known.

McConnell B. Smith attended the schools in Jackson Township and went from there to Mt. Blanchard, where he remained a student for four years, during this tirme being under the instruction of such teachers as J. W. Corbin, W. O. Blosser and H. Walter Doty. In 1887 he received his certificate to teach school. Mr. Smith votes with the Democratic party. In 1888 he was elected township clerk and served in that office for ten years. He is an active citi- zen in all that concerns the public welfare and is a strong supporter of the public school sys- tem.

In 1889, Mr. Smith was married to Miss Orra E. Lee, a daughter of Noah and Mary Elizabeth (Sampson) Lee, and they have had seven children, namely: Harry, who is en- gaged in the oil business, resides at home; Dean, who attends the local school; Eugene, who died in infancy; and Marie, Mary, Rich- ard M. and Dorothy Margaret, all live at home. Mr. Smith has been a member of the Method- ist Episcopal church at Stoucktown for some eight years. He is identified with the Odd Fel- lows, belonging to Mt. Blanchard Lodge No. 344. He is one of the representative men of Jackson Township.

EDWARD S. LYON, one of the leading agriculturists and highly esteemed citizens of Allen Township, Hancock County, O., resides on a farm of eighty-five acres located in Sec- tion I, on the Perrysburg turnpike road, and has been a resident of this county since 1855.

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He was born June 4, 1847, in Crawford County, O., a son of Charles and Mary (Sal- mon) Lyon, the former of whom died when our subject was a lad of four years.

Edward S. Lyon came to Hancock County, O., in 1855, with his mother and step-father, Isaac Ausenbaugh, who settled on land in Allen Township. There he was reared and at- tended the school of District No. I. He has always followed farming, and after his mar- riage lived for fifteen years on his step-father's farm in Allen Township, just one-half mile west of his present farm, to which he came on August 4, 1880, and which he had purchased a few years previously. He has made all of the improvements on the place, clearing the land and tiling it, and erecting a dwelling, a barn, and other necessary farm buildings. Here he has since carried on farming and stock rais- ing, making a specialty of raising hogs.

On December 27, 1866, Mr. Lyon was joined in marriage with Anna Eliza Deming, who was born and reared in Portage Town- ship, a daughter of Treat and Catherine (Ly- ons) Deming, and they have six children: James, Henry, Mary, Emma, Clystia and El- mer. James, a clerk in the postoffice at North Baltimore, married Myrtle Aiken and they have one son, Albert. Henry, who is engaged in farming in Portage Township, owns a tract of 115 acres, in Oklahoma, and also twenty- three acres in Portage Township, operates and resides on a tract of forty-two acres which his father owns in that township. He married Belle Perry, and they have two children, Ray and Grace. Mary is the wife of Jacob Smith, who resides near Saline, Mich., and they have three children: Viola, Elizabeth and Edward. Emma is the wife of Henry Brinkman, who owns a farm of seventy-five acres, one mile east

of Van Buren, O., and they have three chil- dren : Floyd, Bertha, and Ruth Aneliza. Clys- tia is the wife of Bonda Spitler, who lives near Saline, Mich. They have two children, Ken- nith Edward and Dorothy. Elmer, who is a resident of North Baltimore, married Barbara Stutz, and has one daughter, Alma.

Mr. Lyon served two years as supervisor of Allen Township. He is a member and trustee of the United Brethren church.

W. W. SCOTHORN, justice of the peace and a general farmer, whose seventy acres of fine land lie in Section 10, Orange Town- ship, Hancock County, was born in Eagle Township, this county, January 4, 1865. His parents were A. W. and Eliza (Walters) Scothorn.

A. W. Scothorn was born in Reed Town- ship, Seneca County, O., and was reared on his father's farm and remained until about eighteen years old and then came to Hancock County and worked at various things here and in Indiana until his marriage in 1860. In 1868 he sold a farm he owned in Michigan and moved to Orange Town- ship, Hancock County, where he became a man of prominence. When he came first to Hancock County he worked on his brother- in-law's farm for three years and then rented land for six years and then bought the farm in Orange Township on which his widow re- sides. He took much interest in public mat- ters and was a zealous Democrat and by that party was frequently elected to office. He served as township trustee, as township clerk, and was elected township treasurer but declined that office. When the local Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, was estab- lished he lent his influence to the movement

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and served as its secretary. He was a ware merchants at McComb, O., was born member of the Baptist church. His death in Pickaway County, O., April 8, 1854, and is a son of John L. and Elizabeth (Burnley) Martin. occurred in February, 1908, at the age of seventy-three years and his burial was in Bishop's Cemetery in Eagle Township. A. W. Scothorn was married October 14, 1860, to Eliza Walters, a daughter of Lower Walters, a native of Virginia, and they had three children: Florence R., who married George Rote, who is a resident of Van Wert, O .; W. W .; and H. H., who resides at Findlay.

W. W. Scothorn received his primary edu- cation in the public schools of Orange Town. ship and then attended Findlay College. Later he alternated teaching school in Orange Township and attending the Ada Normal School, but after marriage came to his present farm which he took possession of before any of the buildings had been erected except the residence. All other im- provements he has made and they are of a very substantial character. He carries on farming along general lines which includes the raising of stock, particularly hogs and he has many head of these to market every year. In politics he is a Democrat and has served acceptably in township offices, one year as assessor and for the past nine years he has been a justice of the peace.

In April, 1899, Mr. Scothorn was mar- ried to Miss Flora Pochert, a daughter of William Pochert, of Huron County, Mich., and they have three children: William A., John Park and Walter Warren, Jr. The two older sons are bright, manly boys, de- voted to their school books.

JEROME M. MARTIN, senior member of the firm of Martin & Weinland, hard-

John L. Martin was born in Virginia, where his father died. He came to Pick- away County, O., when young and spent his subsequent life there, dying in 1861. He was a merchant at what was then called Genoa, but is now known as Commercial Point. His first marriage was to Elizabeth Burnley, who was also born in Virginia, a daughter of James Burnley by whom she was brought to Ohio when young. Of this marriage, Jerome M. Martin is the only sur- vivor, two other sons, Theodore and Howard, being deceased. His second wife was Jane Fulcher, who is also deceased. They had two sons and one daughter: John L., who is a merchant at Commercial Point ; Thomas J., who is an instructor in the civil engineering department of the Ohio Normal University at Ada; and Henrietta, who is the wife of William Wright of Grove City, Franklin County, O.

Jerome M. Martin was reared on a farm near Commercial Point, O., where he re- mained until he was twenty-one years of age, attending school irregularly in the meanwhile. He then went to Napoleon, O., where he engaged in carpenter work and became a contractor and continued there until 1888 when he came to McComb. Here he embarked in the hardware business in partnership with Mr. Weinland, their first location being in an indifferent frame build- ing which soon proved entirely inadequate to the growing demands of their trade, and in 1895 Mr. Martin and Mr. Weinland erected the present commodious structure.

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The firm carries a large stock in all lines of hardware and does a prosperous busi- ness. Mr. Martin individually has a number of additional business interests. He is vice- president of the People's Bank at McComb, and is secretary and treasurer of the Bohe- mian Pottery Company, at Zanesville, O.

In 1878, Mr. Martin was married to Miss Clara J. Weaver, of Napoleon, O., a daughter of Philip and Caroline Weaver, and seven children were born to them, namely: Ray L., who is commercial sales- man for a large hardware house, resides at Tiffin, O., and married Florence, daughter of Isaac Whetstone, of Findlay; Bessie, who died when aged but four months; Blanche, whose death occurred in 1906, was a grad- uate of the McComb High School and was the wife of Clyde Rockwell, of North Balti- more, O .; Charles E., who has resided in San Francisco some years, married Lillie Oke of that city ; Boyd F., who was educated in the McComb High School and the Yocum Business College at Findlay, is assistant deputy in the office of the treasurer of Han- cock County ; Sue, who is a graduate of the McComb High School; and Helen, who is yet a student. Mr. Martin is a member of the lodge of F. & A. M., at Deshler, of the Odd Fellows at McComb and of the Elks at Findlay. In politics he is a Democrat.

JOHN C. TRITCH, M. D., one of Find- lay's eminent physicians, with well appointed offices in the Gray and Patterson Block, at Findlay, O., was born in this city, September 25, 1857, and is a son of Parlee C. and Nancy (Shong) Tritch.

Parlee C. Tritch, who is an esteemed retired citizen of Findlay, for many years was promi-

nent both in business and politics. He con- ducted a harnessmaking establishment for a long period and was an active and useful citi- zen of both city and county, serving the latter as sheriff from 1876 until 1880. His wife sur- vived until 1909.

John C. Tritch was reared at Findlay, where he attended the grammar schools and the High School, graduating from the latter in the class of 1874. During the succeeding winter he taught a country school and then began the study of medicine under the late Dr. W. M. Detwiler, and from his instruction entered the Homeopathic Medical College at Cleveland, O., being graduated there in 1878. His field of labor has been Findlay and environs but his professional skill has extended his reputation far beyond this environment. He has been a delegate to the Ohio State Medical Society, is ex-president of the Hancock County Medical Society and is also a member of the American Medical Association and a valued contributor to medical literature. Aside from his profes- sion he has the interests of a well read, culti- vated man. For some years he has been mak- ing a collection of Indian relics together with curiosities from all parts of the world and the greater number of these he has generously do- nated to the Findlay High School.

Dr. Tritch married Miss Lydia Wolf, a daughter of Levi Wolf, who was a soldier in the Civil War and one of its martyrs, dying at Cincinnati while on his way home. Dr. and Mrs. Tritch have two daughters: Mary Gail and Martha Agnes. The former is a graduate of the Findlay High School and of Smith Col- lege, and is teacher of Latin in the former in- stitution. The younger daughter is a student in the sophomore year in the Findlay High School. Dr. Tritch is affiliated fraternally

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JOHN C. TRITCH, M. D.

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with the Masons, the Elks and the Odd The practice of his profession was begun at Fellows.

NORMAN L. MACLACHLAN, M. D., was born in East Williams, Middlesex County, Ontario, Canada, November 26, 1854. His parents were Alexander and Mary (Black) MacLachlan, and he is a grand- son of Donald MacLachlan, of Argyleshire, Scotland. Donald married Agnes McFar- lane, and Alexander was their eighth child.

Alexander MacLachlan was born in Ar- drishaig, Argyleshire, June 9, 1809. In 1840 he emigrated to Canada, settling in East Williams, Ontario, where he engaged in farming until May, 1861, when he removed to Argyle, Sanilac County, Michigan, where he died in 1879. His wife had died five years before. By his wife Mary, who was a daughter of John Black, a native of Glas- gow, Scotland, and a gauger by occupa- tion, he had a family of ten children, all of whom are living except the youngest, who died in childhood.

Norman L. MacLachlan, a child of six years when his parents removed to Argyle, Michigan, remained there up to the age of twenty, making the best of the educational opportunities to be had in a comparatively undeveloped region. At the early age of fourteen he worked in the lumber camps in winter and attended school and worked on the farm in summer.

Dr. MacLachlan began his medical studies in 1874, under the direction of Dr. William H. Greene, at Cass City, Michigan, in whose office he remained a year. He then entered the medical department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, Michigan, from which he was graduated March 27, 1878.

Cass City, and he remained there eleven years. He was mayor of Cass City in 1883, and was re-elected in 1884.

A few years later-in 1889-Dr. Mac- Lachlan came to Findlay where he has since been engaged in practice. He was surgeon to the Findlay City Hospital for several years and for many years has been surgeon to the C. H. & D. and the F. Ft. W. & W. Railroad companies. In October, 1897, President Mckinley appointed him a member of the Board of U. S. Pension Ex- amining Surgeons, and he was subsequently elected secretary of the Board. He is a member of the American Medical Associa- tion, Northwestern Ohio Medical Associa- tion, Ohio State Medical Society, and the Hancock County Medical Society, having served both as president and vice-president of the last named.

Politically Dr. MacLachlan is a staunch Republican and has taken an active part in the affairs of the city, county and state. He has never been an office seeker, but ever anxious and willing to aid his party and friends, and advance their interests, and more than one can testify to his ability as a political manager. From 1892 until 1898 he was a member of the City Council, serv- ing as president for two years. He was a member of the Board of Education several terms. Has served as chairman of the Re- publican County Executive Committee, and is at present a member of the State Re- publican Executive Committee.

For many years Dr. MacLachlan, in ad- dition to his practice, has been engaged in banking and manufacturing. He has been a director of the Commercial Bank and Sav-

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ings Company since it was organized, and the wife of Elias Powell; Edward, who died for several years he has been president of The Buckeye Traction Ditcher Company, The Findlay Publishing Company, The Findlay Sucker Rod Company of Findlay, O., and is a director in the Vanlue Banking Company of Vanlue, O.

He is a Mason and an Odd Fellow, hav- ing passed all the chairs in the latter order.

Dr. MacLachlan was married November 27, 1878, in Blenheim, Ontario, to Miss Emma Jackson, who died June 12, 1907. She was a daughter of John Jackson of Blen- heim, Ontario. They have one child, Ethel May, who was married July 17, 1909, to Herman W. MacPhail, a banker of Ray- mond, Washington, where they reside.

SYLVESTER RHINEHAMMER, who owns 160 acres of valuable farm land, situ- ated in Section 34, Marion Township, Han- cock County, O., was born in Luzerne County, Pa., April 20, 1837, and is a son of Daniel and Ann (Syms) Rhinehammer.

Daniel Rhinehammer was born in Hol- land and he left his home on the Zuyder Zee after he reached manhood and after coming to America found farm work and married Ann Syms, in Luzerne County, Pa., and lived there until their fourth child, Syl- vester, was three years old. They then came to Hancock County, O., buying a farm in Jackson Township, which they sold when they moved to Marion Township and bought a farm just east of the one on which their son Sylvester lives. The father died there but the mother had died previously while visiting at the home of her daughter, Amanda, in Michigan. They had the fol- lowing children : Rachel, deceased, who was

while serving in the Civil War as a member of the 57th O. Vol. Inf .; Reuben, who is deceased; Slyvester; Nelson and Simon, both of whom were soldiers with their brother Edward, in the 57th O. Vol. Inf., and all died in the army; Amanda; Elmer; and several who died young.

In 1840, the parents of Sylvester Rhine- hammer came to Hancock County and prob- ably he was the most carefully protected piece of property as he was then only a babe of three years. A one-horse wagon trans- ported the family and their household goods and Mr. Rhinehammer easily recalls the round log house which was the family home. He had but meager school ad- vantages as he soon had to help in the clearing and improving of the farm, the hardest kind of toil being necessary from every member of the family. He remained with his parents until he reached the age of twenty-one years, after which he worked around among the neighboring farmers for some fifteen years. At that time a salary of $12 per month and board was considered very satisfactory. He then decided to work for himself, prudently renting land at first and then purchasing and selling until he se- cured enough capital to invest where he de- sired. For many years he has engaged suc- cessfully in farming and raising stock and his son Benjamin is associated with him and in late years carries the most of the responsibility. He has made many improve- ments here, rebuilding almost entirely the brick residence of nine rooms and erecting barns and other farm buildings as needed.

In October, 1869, Mr. Rhinehammer was married to Miss Margaret J. Searfoss, a

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daughter of Jacob and Jane (Powell) Sear- which he followed successfully for forty-six foss. She was born in Marion Township, Hancock County, O., her parents having come early from Pennsylvania. To Mr. and Mrs. Rhinehammer four children were born, namely: John W., who is deceased; Benja- min, who operates the home farm, was born here May 23, 1873; Julius, who died at the age of nineteen years; and one that died an infant. Mr. Rhinehammer and son are Democrats. He has never accepted any office except that of school director. Both father and son are among the most reliable and respected men of this section.

JOSEPH BENSON CLAYTON, who is better known as "Uncle Bens," is one of the most prominent and widely known citizens of Hancock County, O., and resides in the village of Van Buren, in Allen Township. He was born December 30, 1833, at Sharpsburg, Wash- ington County, Md., and is a son of Joseph and Louisa (Showman) Clayton, and a grand- son of Henry Clayton who fought in the War of the Revolution. Joseph Clayton, an uncle of our subject, enlisted as a drummer boy in the War of 1812, also fought in the Mexican War, and three brothers of our subject served in the Civil War. Joseph Clayton, father of Joseph B. Clayton, was born and reared in Sharpsburg, Md., and was exceptionally well educated, being a fine mathematician, as well as a surveyor, civil engineer and school teacher. In about 1836 or 1837, with his family he re- moved from Maryland to Rushville, O., and there he and wife spent the remainder of their lives.

Joseph Benson Clayton spent his boyhood days in Rushville, O., and at the age of fifteen years began learning the plasterer's trade,

years. When a young man he came to Van Buren, O., and for fifty-four years, with the exception of five years spent in Fairfield County, has been a resident of this village. In 1856, when he came to Van Buren, Mr. Clay- ton was not only without money but in debt, but began working at his trade as a plasterer, and in connection with his trade, dealt largely in real estate, buying and selling farm lands, and often acted as advisor for others, who were transacting real estate deals, and proved himself a man of splendid business judgment. During his early life Mr. Clayton traveled ex- tensively, and has visited nearly every state in the union east of the Mississippi, and also Texas. He is a very interesting and entertain- ing conversationalist, and is held in high es- teem by a large circle of friends and acquain- tances throughout the county. In 1903, Mr. Clayton sold his farm of 100 acres, which was located in the northwestern part of Allen Township, and although he has owned various farms has never lived on any of them.

Mr. Clayton was married shortly after com- ing to Hancock County, to Caroline Myers, who is a daughter of Jonathan Myers, for- merly of Bloomdale, Wood County, O. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Clay- ton: Willis Melville, who graduated in the classical course at the Ohio Wesleyan Univer- sity, teaches the higher branches in the High School at Santa Anna, Calif .; Louisa, who is the wife of James V. Bushong, who operates a farm of 120 acres in Van Buren Township; Charlotte, who manages the home for her pa- rents since her mother suffered a stroke of paralysis in 1907; and Georgiana, who died aged 20 years. Mr. Clayton affiliates with the I. O. O. F. and his religious connection is with

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the M. E. church, although he has always been tion of being the most competent man in his a liberal supporter of churches of all denomi- nations.

HON. SILAS E. HURIN, presiding judge of the Circuit Court of the Third Judicial Cir- cuit of Ohio, was born December 22, 1858, at Cincinnati, O. He attended the public schools of Cincinnati and Wyoming, O., and was grad- uated from Princeton in 1882. After Prince- ton he taught one year in Morris Academy, at Morristown, New Jersey. In 1885 he was graduated from the Cincinnati Law School and was admitted to the bar. He came to Findlay, O., in 1887. In November, 1904, he was elected judge of the Circuit Court and has served on the Circuit Court since February 9, 1905.

H. MOLDER & SONS, general turnpike contractors, and owners of 197 acres of valua- ble land in Section 24, Orange Township, Hancock County, O., are representative citi- zens of this part of the county. H. Molder was born in Lorain County, O., August 15, 1845, and obtained his schooling there. After his marriage he settled on his present farm in Orange Township, Hancock County, where he operated a saw-mill for a number of years.

In 1902, Mr. Molder went into turnpike road contracting and did his first work in this line in Orange Township. He showed his business capacity and good judgment by providing him- self with all the equipments necessary to do satisfactory work in this line, including a stone crusher and roller and all the particular tools required in this class of work. He has done a large amount of turnpike contracting over the county, working under the firm name of H. Molder & Sons, and has the well-won reputa-

line of work in the county. He owns one team and gives employment to fifteen men, oversee- ing all the work himself. He also carries on extensive farming operations.

Mr. Molder married Miss Louisa Kramer, a daughter of Daniel Kramer, of Union Town- ship, Hancock County, and they have five chil- dren: Melvin, Allen, Frank, Augusta and Inez. Two of the sons, Allen and Frank, are in partnership with their father and all are en- terprising and successful business men. Mr. Molder and sons are Democrats.

E. LESLIE E. MUMMA, attorney at law at McComb, O., is a prominent member of the Hancock County bar and for forty years has been a political factor in the Republican party in the State of Ohio. He was born in Monroe Township, Allen County, O., April 8, 1854, and is a son of Peter K. and Susan (Montz) Mumma.

Peter K. Mumma was born in Lancaster County, Pa., July 19, 1819, and was of Swiss and French ancestry. His father, Peter Mumma, came to America from Alsace Lor- raine, then a French province, following the close of the War of 1812. He lived in Lan- caster and Susquehanna Counties, in Pennsyl- vania, and owned a distillery on the Susque- hanna River. He died in 1839. His widow, also a native of France, died in Lancaster County, Pa., in 1866. They had the following children: John, Peter K., Eliza, David R., Joseph H., and Mary A. John Mumma was an engineer on the first line of the Pennsyl- vania Railroad. Eliza married David Castle, of Lancaster County. David R. Mumma be- came a man of much prominence in Pennsyl- vania and was sent to the State Senate from

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Twentieth Century History of Findlay and Hancock County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens, Part 35

Author: Jacob Anthony Kimmell Publication date: 1910 Publisher: Number of Pages: 1189

Author: Jacob Anthony Kimmell
Publication date: 1910
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1189