Twentieth Century History of Findlay and Hancock County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens, Part 36

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 36

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Dauphin County and gave hearty support to the old political war-horse, Hon. Simon Cam- eron. He died at Harrisburg. Joseph H. Mumma came to Ohio in 1860 and lived in Hancock County during the remainder of his life until prior to his death, in 1908, which oc- curred at Payne, in Paulding County. He was a miller by trade. Mary A., the sixth member of the family and the only survivor, resides on a farm near Payne, O., and is now in her sev- enty-seventh year. She married Samuel Wilt- sie, who was born in 1827, in Otsego County, N. Y. He was a soldier in the Mexican War, serving under the late Gen. Joseph E. John- son, who later was an officer in the Confeder- ate army during the War of the Rebellion. He has been a resident of Paulding County since 1862 and is now in his eighty-third year.

Peter K. Mumma was not a collegian but he was a scholarly and educated man, reading Latin, Greek and French, also German and being particularly proficient in his ancestral tongue and easily conversed in the dialects of his land. He was a strong man both mentally and physically. He was one of the original Abolitionists and was associated in the anti- slavery movement with Joshua R. Giddings and Benjamin F. Wade and his home was one of the stations of the underground railroad, in the late fifties. This was one of the burning questions of the day at that time and the lead -. was entirely fearless. The cabin in which she ers in the abolition movement suffered in many lived in Allen County, stood until 1905 and was a place of pilgrimage for her grandchil- dren. ways as they promulgated their principles. In 1838 he was married in Lancaster County, Pa., and in 1840 came to Allen County, O., locat- To Peter K. Mumma and wife the following children were born: William J., Susan O., Joseph M., Zachariah Taylor, E. Leslie E., Simon G., Isaac N., Martha L., Mary E. and Roy Edmund. William J. Mumma was a mem- ber of Co. B, 99th O. Vol. Inf., and served ing on Riley Creek, a mile and a half from Bluffton, where he built a log cabin. In 1859 he removed to Orange Township, in Hancock County, not far from Bluffton in another di- rection. The land he secured was covered with

a heavy growth of oak and the forest was yet full of game and many Indians still remained in the neighborhood.

Peter K. Mumma was married in 1838 to Susan Montz, who was born in 1822, in Mary- land. Her father was Joshua Montz, a native of France and an emigrant to Maryland. After he died his widow married Daniel Odenwelder, a Moravian, and they came to Allen County and settled on Riley Creek in 1832. He was a noted hunter and a typical pioneer and his wife was no less courageous and resourceful. He died in Jo Daviess County, Ill. After the death of Mr. Odenwelder, the grandmother of Mr. Mumma crossed the plains to California with an ox-team and lived for ten years at Sac- ramento City, Calif. In the meanwhile the Pacific Railroad had been constructed and after she was 100 years old she decided to return east, boarded a train eager for the new experi- ence and safely reached Whitely County, Ind., where she died four years later. Her passing was peaceful, and she was found sitting in her easy chair, with her open Bible which she had been able to read without the use of glasses. In many ways she was a remarkable woman. In earlier years she lived in Ohio when her nearest neighbors were at Fort Findlay, six- teen miles distant and when she visited them, on horseback, she carried her gun with her and

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through the Civil War and was wounded at Stone River, but later went with Sherman to the sea He married Mary H. Reeber, of Han- cock County, later engaged in farming near Warsaw, Ind., where he died. Susan O. is the widow of James C. Bogart, who died at Bluffton, in 1905. Joseph M. follows the car- penter trade at Bluffton, O. He married Eu- phemia Hamilton, a daughter of Jonathan Hamilton, a pioneer of Hancock County. Zach- ariah Taylor, who is engaged in the mercantile business at Bluffton, O., married Amanda Hamilton. Simon G. Mumma has his home at Jamestown, N. D. He is traveling represen- tative of the Rock Island Plow Company, their general agent and a fine business man. He is a 32nd degree Mason and a Shriner. He has been twice married. Isaac N. Mumma is a farmer and plasterer, residing in Auglaize County, O. He married Elizabeth Johnson of Hancock County. Martha L. is the wife of Joseph Bowen, of Warsaw, Ind. Mary E. died unmarried at Tecumseh, Nebr. Roy Edmund is engaged in the mercantile business in Pauld- ing County, O. He married Bertha Miller. The father of the above family died July 7, 1897, at Bluffton, O., and the mother also passed away there. They were members of the Disciples church.

E. Leslie E. Mumma attended the public schools and after his High School course at Bluffton, entered Lebanon College and later was a student in the Ohio Northern University at Ada. In 1874 he became superintendent of public instruction in his home town and for a number of years made educational work his profession. For seven years he had charge of the schools of Vanlue, Hancock County, and for three years was at Benton Ridge. In asso- ciation with Prof. Zellers he conducted a Nor-

mal School at Findlay. He read law with Judge Burgett, who became chief justice of the Supreme Court of Ohio. In December, 1882, Mr. Mumma was admitted to the bar by the Supreme Court and for twenty years he en- gaged in practice at Findlay, being subse- quently admitted to practice in the United States Circuit and District Courts. In addi- tion to attending to what has always been a heavy practice, Mr. Mumma has been active in political matters and by tongue and pen has worked effectively for his party, for forty years being a favorite campaign orator. He has been a resident of McComb, O., for the past seven years.

On October 22, 1876, Mr. Mumma was mar- ried to Miss Sarah A. Waltz, of Tuscarawas County, O., and they have four children : Mor- ton C., Cliffe, Hiram Paul and Harlan Leslie. Morton C. Mumma was born March 8, 1878. He is a graduate of the Findlay High School and of the West Point Military Academy, in the class of 1900, where he gained honors in several lines. He at present is commandant of the State University of Iowa. He married a daughter of Alexander A. Zugsworth, of Find- lay, and they have three children: Morton C., Jr., who was born in the city of Manila, P. I .; Albert Gerard, who was born at Findlay; and Martha, who was born in Iowa. Col. Mumma is a member of the staff of the governor of Iowa and is judge advocate for the North- western States. Cliffe Mumma is the wife of Capt. Holcomb, of the 10th U. S. Cav., who is commandant of the Ohio N. W. University at Ada. He is a graduate of Orchard Lake Mili- tary Academy and of the Bay City High School, of Bay City, Mich. He served in the Spanish-American war and spent two years in the Philippine Islands and has traveled over a

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large portion of the world. His father, Cole Daniel Bailey and Jane (Summers) Beards- F. Holcomb was a hardware merchant. His ley, and his grandparents were Barney and Anna Beardsley. mother was a graduate of Vassar College and her mother married Lord Hamersley, a son of the Lord Mayor of England and a member of the English Parliament. Capt. and Mrs. Hol- comb have four children: Leslie Page, who was born at Fort Logan, Col., in 1901; Free- born Page, who was born on the Island of Jolo, in the Philippine group; Cornelius Cole, who was born at Walla Walla, Wash .; and Jack, who was born at McComb. Hiram Paul Mumma was born at Vanlue, O., April 20, 1882, and is a graduate of the Findlay High School. He has been a resident of California for five years and holds a responsible position in the Riverside postoffice. He married Flora Bright, a daughter of J. C. Bright, of Mc- Comb, and they have one daughter, Corinne, who was born in her grandfather's home, five years ago. Harlan Leslie Mumma was born at Findlay, O., December 6, 1894. He is a student in the Northwestern University at Ada preparatory to entering West Point Military Academy.

Mr. Mumma has been a member of Mt. Blanchard Lodge, No. 519, F. & A. M., for thirty years, and Findlay Chapter, No. 58, R. A. M. Mrs. Mumma is a member of the Pres- byterian church.

HERBERT V. BEARDSLEY, M. D., a thoroughly representative citizen of the city of Findlay, O., where he was born in 1859, occupies a prominent place in the medical profession but has never permitted its de- mands to entirely absorb him, having al- ways given liberally of his time to further the higher social and civic aims of the com- munity. The parents of Dr. Beardsley were

Daniel Bailey Beardsley was one of Han- cock County's able and influential men. His "History of Hancock County" is a valuable work and on account of its accuracy, to- gether with its interesting reminiscences, gathered through a long and busy life-time, is found in many Hancock County libraries. He was born in Licking County, O., in 1832, and was brought to Hancock County when two years old by his parents. He taught school at Findlay in early manhood and then read law with a prominent law firm at Bellefontaine, O., and in 1856 was ad- mitted to the bar. Among the many offices he held in city and county, was that of jus- tice of the peace at Findlay. He served as a collector of internal revenue after the Civil War. He was identified with the Masons and other fraternal orders and took a very active part in politics. On May 22, 1856, he was married to Jane Summers and they had one son and four daughters. He died at Findlay, September 29, 1894.

Herbert V. Beardsley went from the public schools of Findlay to Oberlin College, where he remained through the freshman and sophomore years, and then took a course at Cornell College, at Ithaca, N. Y. He then turned all his energies in the direction of the study of medicine and was graduated from the Homeopathic College of Cleve- land, in 1883. For sixteen months he prac- ticed his profession at Ada, O., and then came back to his native city which has re- mained the chosen field of his efforts until the present. In his profession he has more than met success and in the leading medical

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organizations of the country his name is family to Fairfield County but three years held in esteem on account of his ability.

Dr. Beardsley was married in 1886, to Miss Harriet Farrell, who died in 1896, sur- vived by four children: John D., Frances E., Ruth A. and Geraldine. In 1898, Dr. Beardsley was married for a second time. to Miss Laura B. Morehead, who died in 1903 survived by two children: Edith N. and Girard G. In 1906 Dr. Beardsley was married to Caroline Schulenberg, of St. Marys, O. The handsome family home is situated at No. 223 Center Street, Findlay.

For many years Dr. Beardsley has been an important factor in Hancock County politics and has many times served as a delegate to the State, Judicial and Congres- sional conventions of the Republican party. His political aspirations, however, have been along very moderate lines-the few offices he has been willing to accept being those in which he has recognized that he could best promote the progress of his city and the general welfare of the largest number. He is a member of and an official in a number of the fraternal and beneficiary orders of the country and is frequently sent as a repre- sentative to their annual councils.

WILLIAM WHITFIELD WYER, who owns 217 acres of fine farm land all situated in Hancock County, O., resides on a tract of 100 acres of this, located in Section 27, Marion Township, the other 117 acres being in Section 12, Amanda Township. He was born in Fairfield . County, O., January 29, 1851, and is a son of Henry and Anna E. (Ashbaugh) Wyer.

Henry Wyer was born in New Jersey and was a son of John Wyer who brought his

later moved to Iowa, accompanied by the most of his descendants and all of those who moved to the West died there. Henry Wyer and wife had seven children: Peter, John, Abraham, William, Henry, Margaret and Mary Ann. Henry Wyer did not ac- company the other members of the family to Iowa, remaining in Fairfield County, where he was married to Anna E. Ash- baugh. She was born there and was a daughter of Fred Ashbaugh, who was a well known early settler. In 1867, accompanied by his family, Henry Wyer came to Han- cock County, previously selling his farm near Wapakoneta. With this money he bought a farm which was then situated in old Findlay Township, now Marion. This was the old Samuel Switzer farm of 160 acres, which had been partly cleared. Henry Wyer bought, at different times, some 1,000 acres and as he possessed ex- cellent judgment, it was all desirable prop- erty. He subsequently divided it among his children. He had prospered through farming and stock raising, never speculat- ing in his life. He was born in 1828 and died in Marion Township in June, 1904. His widow still survives and makes her home with her son, Sherman Wyer, in Marion Township. Of the ten children born to Henry and Anna E. Wyer, William W. was the eldest. The record of the others is as follows: Emeretta, who died young ; John; Alice, who is the wife of George Snyder; Anna Mary, who is the wife of John Hall; Sherman; Laura, who is the wife of O. Foster; Calvin G., and two who died young.

William W. Wyer went to the country

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COL. JAMES A. BOPE

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schools when young but began to help his father as soon as his strength permitted and remained at home until he was twenty- eight years of age. He has made farming and stock raising his business and has been more than usually successful in promoting these industries. His home farm was for- merly known as the old Perry Lee farm. Mr. Wyer has done practically all of the improving here, putting up all of the sub- stantial buildings except the residence. It is well tiled and substantially fenced, this work also having been done by the present owner.

Mr. Wyer was married March 22, 1879, to Miss Susan E. Hagerman who was born in Pennsylvania and is a daughter of Mahlan and Catherine (Wideman) Hagerman. Four children were born to this union, namely: Jessie May, who died aged two years; Stella, who is the wife of Clarence Knight, who operates Mr. Wyer's Amanda Township farm, and they have two children -Arthur Earl and Hazel Irene; Mahlan Zell, who is his father's farmer, married Lottie Loy ; and Alice Catherine, who is the wife of Roland D. Foreman, of Eagle Town- ship, and they have one child, Evelyn Ellen. Mr. Wyer and family are members of the United Brethren church. In politics he is a Republican but is no office seeker.

COL. JAMES A. BOPE, for many years was a representative member of the Hancock County bar, eminent in all lines of practice but especially so in railroad and corporation law. His military title was not one of mere compli- ment, but was valiantly won on the field of bat- tle during his prolonged term of service in the Civil War. Colonel Bope was born at Win-

chester, Adams County, Ohio, November 30, 1832, and died at Findlay, October 25, 1908.

In 1838 the parents of our subject moved to Lancaster, Ohio, which place remained his home until 1859, when he settled permanently at Findlay. In 1857 he was admitted to the bar and immediately entered into practice, his ability in his chosen profession meeting with instant recognition. In 1862, however, not- withstanding the bright professional future that was then practically assured to him, he put aside his personal ambition and offered his serv- ices to his country. Enlisting in Company D, 99th O. Vol. Inf., he was made captain, and served in this capacity until July, 1864, when he was appointed acting inspector-general in Col. P. T. Swaine's brigade. At the head of his command in every time of danger, Captain Bope was frequently wounded but never seri- ously until the battle of Atlanta, from which field he was sent home by the late General Schofield, who never expected him to survive his injuries. In this supposition the veteran soldier was mistaken, for the young officer, spurred on by ambition and love of country, after some months, rejoined his regiment, that was then operating in North Carolina. Com- missioned a lieutenant-colonel, he was then placed in command of the 99th and 50th con- solidated regiments of Ohio Volunteer Infan- try and served as such until he was mustered out of the army, in July, 1865. He partici- pated in some of the most important of that long line of battles that left a trail of mourning over both North and South, and that even yet, after the passage of more than forty-five peace- ful years, arouse patriotic emotion when they are recalled; among them, Perryville, Chicka- mauga, Lookout Mountain, and Missionary Ridge.

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To have performed a hero's part in such a mighty conflict might have sufficed to confer enough distinction upon a young man to last a lifetime, but Colonel Bope came home from the wars to win equal prominence in a profes- sion he loved, and one for which he was emi- nently fitted-that of the law. In political preference he was a Republican but from his party he sought no honors, the only public position he ever accepted being that of prose- cuting attorney of Hancock County, the duties of which office he was performing at the time of his enlistment in the army. He was not a general practitioner, having early eliminated criminal cases from his line of professional work. His mind was analytical, deliberate and cautious, making him a safe counselor, and thus he was of inestimable value to great cor- porations in his state, large financial institu- tions, and important combinations of both pub- lic and private capital. For a number of years he was attorney for some of the leading rail- road companies of Ohio, and for some years also served the city council of Findlay in the same position. As a citizen he was honored and esteemed; as a man he was respected and beloved. At different times he had business interests aside from his profession, and at the time of his death he was a member of the di- recting board of the First National Bank of Findlay. His life forms an inseparable part of the history of the city in some of its most im- portant phases of development.

In 1861 Colonel Bope was married to Miss Martha J. Meeks, a daughter of Rev. J. A. Meeks. Their son, Edward V. Bope, who is one of Findlay's prominent attorneys, retains his father's old office at No. 3221/2 Main Street. He is a graduate of Kenyon College, of the class of 1885, and of the University of Michi-

gan, in 1887, in which year he was admitted to the bar. He married Miss Laila M. Ernest, a daughter of Jacob Ernest, of Fostoria, and they have one son, James A. They reside at No. 128 East Hardin Street.

FRANK ARCHER, one of Portage Township's most respected citizens and an honored veteran of the Civil War, in part- nership with his two sons owns 140 acres of valuable land here, which is divided into three farms. Mr. Archer was born in Bloom Township, Wood County, O., March 1, 1841, and is a son of James and Nancy (Copus) Archer.

James Archer came to Wood County, O., from Ashland County and died there when his son Frank was four and one-half years old. His widow survived him for many years, her death taking place in 1876, at the home of a daughter, Mrs. William Wall, in Portage Township, Hancock County.

Frank Archer grew to manhood in Wood County and obtained his education there. When the first call came for troops to pre- serve the Union, in April, 1861, he enlisted . in Co. G, 21st O. Vol. Inf., and served for three months and then returned home and occupied himself in recruiting until the fall of 1862, when he re-enlisted in the same company and regiment and served faithfully until January, 1864, when he was honorably discharged on account of disability. He was attached to the 14th Army Corps, the Army of the Cumberland, and he participated in a number of the great battles of the war, including Stone River and Chickamauga.

After his military service was over, Mr. Archer returned to Hancock County and in 1865 settled on his present farm. When

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he took possession the land was yet in an uncleared condition and without improve- ments and it required years of hard work to transform it into the richly cultivated and productive fields of the present. Mr. Archer resides on one tract containing sixty acres, situated in Section 4, near District No. 5 schoolhouse; his son Forest occupies one farm adjacent to his own but situated in Section 3; while the third farm, also of forty acres, is occupied by his son Wallace and it lies in Section 9, all in Portage Town- ship.

In 1874, Mr. Archer was married to Miss Cevnia Rader, who was born and reared near Van Buren, Hancock County, a daugh- ter of David and Hannah Rader, and they have five children: Rhoda, who is the wife of William A. Black and they live in Cali- fornia and have two children-Merle and Harry; Wallace, who married Amy Light- foot and they have two children-Agnes and Daniel Franklin; Forest, who married Emma McGee, and they have one daughter, Evalyn; Nellie, who married William Deter and they have two children-Thelma and Glenn; and Zella, who resides at home. Mr. and Mrs. Archer are members of the Brethren church.

ROSS WENTZ, who fills the responsible but very difficult position of superintendent of the Hancock County Poor Farm, is a na- tive of Ohio and was born February 21, 1862, and is one of a family of thirteen children born to his parents who were Jacob C. and Jane (Michaels) Wentz, the former of whom died in 1891.

public schools. He continued to engage in agricultural pursuits until he was appointed to his present office, in March, 1909. Mr. Wentz has the superintendence of over 228 acres of land and under his methods and excellent management, this land goes far in providing for the support and maintenance of the sixty-seven public charges. His ad- ministration of the affairs of the farm has proved very satisfactory to the county com- missioners.

On July 8, 1888, Mr. Wentz was married to Miss Carrie N. Bell, a daughter of James Bell, of Hancock County, and they have two children, Carl and Bertie P. Mr. and Mrs. Wentz are members of the Methodist Epis- copal church. He is identified with the Odd Fellows and with the Democratic party.

WILLIAM KRICHBAUM, who resides in Setcion 7, Van Buren Township, Han- cock County, O., on his valuable farm of 200 acres, is one of the representative agriculturists of this part of the county. He was born in Van Buren Township, October 15, 1870, and is a son of Peter and Catherine (Zearbaugh) Krichbaum. They were born in Germany and both came to Van Buren Township, where they married and still re- side, with their son.

William Krichbaum was educated in a German school in Van Buren Township, after which he worked at farming. His father had taken up this land from the Government when he was a young man and owned 280 acres. For many years the father carried on farming and stock raising and his son continues these industries with

Ross Wentz was reared on his father's farm and obtained his education in the a large amount of success. The buildings

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were all put up by the father. The land is in good condition and all but forty-five acres is well drained.

On January 9, 1907, Mr. Krichbaum was married to Miss Matilda Glick, a daughter of John and Mary (Marquart) Glick, and they have one little daughter, Clara Dora. Mr. Krichbaum, like his father, is a Demo- crat and has served as school director and once as supervisor. The family belongs to the German Lutheran church at Jenera, O.

JOHN W. GIBSON, who has been a resi- dent of West Independence, O., since 1865, where he now lives retired, for many years was an active business man in Big Lick Township and other sections. He was born in Stark County, O., in 1837, a son of James and Sarah (Bowers) Gibson.

James Gibson was born in Pennsylvania in 1815 and died in Hancock County, O., in 1900. He married Sarah Bowers, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1799 and died in 1868. They had five children: John W., B. F., Mrs. Nancy Burk, Isaac and James Henry. James Gibson came to Hancock County and on May 2, 1839, took up govern- ment land in Section 36, Big Lick Town- ship, which remained the family home.

John W. Gibson was two years old when he was brought to Big Lick Township and he grew up on the home farm and then learned the carpenter trade. He attended the school session held in the first log school- house ever built in this township, this being in 1843. Mr. Gibson worked as a carpenter, later spent several years railroading and then operated a saw mill for a long time. In 1865 he came to West Independence and started the mill which is still operated by

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Twentieth Century History of Findlay and Hancock County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens, Part 36

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

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