Twentieth Century History of Findlay and Hancock County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens, Part 40

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 40

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County, settling in Pleasant Township four minutes. Captain Bensinger was also wounded miles from McComb.

William Bensinger was the only child born to his parents. He attended school until he was sixteen years of age, as opportunity pre- sented, and worked on the home farm until 1861, when he enlisted for service in the Civil War. He was mustered in at Findlay, O., as a member of Co. G, 21st O. Vol. Inf. During the campaign through Kentucky and Tennes- see that followed, he was with his regiment continuously and took part in the battle of Ivy Mountain. Subsequently, with twenty-one comrades, he was detailed to capture certain trains and destroy certain bridges and at Big Shanty, while in the line of duty, captured a train on the West Va. Railroad and ran it for ninety miles, but then suffered capture himself. He was imprisoned at Chattanooga and with his companions was court martialed and eight of his comrades were executed. He was held a prisoner for eleven and one-half months when he succeeded in escaping but was recaptured and was then in prison at Atlanta from Octo- ber until December, 1862, when he was sent to Richmond and was exchanged on March 17, 1863. He reported to his regiment, then at Murfreesboro, and took part in the succeeding campaign which included the battle of Chicka- mauga. In the meanwhile he had applied to the Secretary of War for a commission as cap- tain of a colored regiment and this was given him and was signed by President Lincoln. In September, 1863, he organized Co. C, 13th Col. Inf., and continued in command until Jan- uary, 1866. The bravery and efficiency of the troops under his command was shown at the battle of Nashville, when twenty-eight of his men were killed and twenty wounded in twenty

but he never left the field.

After his honorable discharge, Captain Ben- singer returned to the home farm and operated it for two years and then went to railroading, becoming a brakeman on the C. H. & D. Rail- road, with which company he remained for twelve years, as brakeman, baggage master, fireman and engineer. He was also with the Pittsburg & Fort Wayne and the L. E. & Western, as an engineer. In 1880 he retired from the railroad and then engaged in farming in Pleasant Township where he continued until 1900, when he sold his farm and came to Mc- Comb. Since locating here, Mr. Bensinger has kept himself busy in the agency line, selling fertilizers and fruit trees.

Mr. Bensinger was married February 11, 1864, to Miss Sarah Harris, a daughter of Wesley and Mary (Smith) Harris, of Char- lotte, Tenn. She was born in North Carolina and accompanied her parents to Clarksville, Tenn. where both died. Mr. and Mrs. Bensinger have one son, Charles Harry, who was born at Waverly, Tenn. He is connected with the U. S. Mail service. He married Mary Barger, a daughter of Fred Barger, of Pleas- ant Township, Hancock County, and they have one son, William Frederick.

Mr. Bensinger and son are Republicans. In- frequently he has served in township offices, being constable for one term and in 1890 was census enumerator. He is a member of John Howard Post No. 154, G. A. R., at McComb.

JAMES S. JOHNS, sheriff of Hancock County, O., and one of its most popular of- ficials, was born in Marion County, O., Jan- uary 21, 1864, and is one of a family of ten children born to his parents, who were Samuel

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R. and Isabel (Bruce) Johns, the former of whom was a native of Allen County, but died in Pulaski County, Ind., in 1883.

James S. Johns was reared on his father's farm in Allen County where the family went in his boyhood. In November, 1892, he came to Hancock County and found work in the rolling mills and then went into the oil fields. In the meanwhile he had made many friends in the county and had impressed them with his courage and good judgment and in January, 1905, he was made deputy sheriff under Sher- if E. L. Groves, and in November, 1908, was elected sheriff, on the Republican ticket. Sheriff Johns has proven himself an admirable officer and during his administration many breakers of the law have had reason to fear his stern and unrelenting adherence to the path of duty.

Sheriff Johns was married to Miss Ella M. John, a daughter of Abiah John. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is prominent in Odd Fellowship, being a member of all its branches, and belongs also to the Knights of Pythias and the Rebeccas.

FRANK BROWN, who resides on his val- uable farm of eighty acres, which is situated in Section 10, Portage Township, Hancock County, O., about eight miles northwest of Findlay, came to this place in the spring of 1861. He was born in the State of New York, October 10, 1836, and is a son of Joseph and Susan (Severly) Brown.

The parents of Mr. Brown were born in Germany and when they came to America had four children. For some years they lived in Tonawanda, N. Y., and then moved to Craw- ford County, O., where they remained for thir- teen years and then went to Sandusky County,

where the father acquired twenty acres of land and by shrewd trading exchanged it for eighty acres. Joseph Brown, with the help of liis sons, cleared, ditched and cultivated this land.

When Frank Brown was twenty-five years old he came to Hancock County and located on the place on which he has ever since lived. No clearing or improving had yet been done on this land and he found the task a long and hard one to put the land under its present state of fine cultivation. He cleared up the greater part of his farm by himself. His first house was the usual pioneer log cabin, which he pulled down in 1882 and in its place built the fine large brick house in which he now lives in great comfort. He carried on general farming for many years but has been retired from active labor for some time, renting out his fields to reliable tenants.

Mr. Brown was married to Miss Mary Reed the estimable daughter of Matthew and Clar- issa (Nesbitt) Reed, of Richland County, O. She is a lady possessed of many accomplish- ments, not the least of these being a complete knowledge of all housewifely arts. By a for- mer marriage, Mr. Brown had nine children born to him, the six survivors being: Mrs. Amanda Jane Milligan, Samuel, Homer, Wil- bur, Mrs. Vesta Hutchison and Albert. The three children deceased were: Emma, Moses V. and Lewis, the sons being accidentally drowned. Mr. and Mrs. Brown are valued members of the United Brethren church at Van Buren, O.

J. N. WYER, whose farm of 275 acres is situated in Section 15, Union Township, Han- cock County, O., but who resides in Rawson, this county, was born at Lancaster, Fairfield

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J. N. WYER

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County, O., September 21, 1854, and is a son of Henry and Ann E. (Ashbaugh) Wyer.

Henry Wyer was born in New Jersey, in 1828, and died in June, 1906. He was young when his parents moved to Fairfield County, O., where he grew to manhood and subse- quently became a prominent farmer. He mar- ried Ann E. Ashbaugh, who was born in Fair- field County, O., and still resides on the old homestead in Marion Township, Hancock County.

J. N. Wyer obtained his education in Fair- field County and in schools near Findlay, to which place he came when thirteen years old. His business has always been farming and stock raising and he settled on his present place after his marriage. This took place on January 24, 1885, to Miss Laura O. Wonder, who was born and reared in Wyandot County, O. Her parents were Mathias and Katherine Wonder, old residents of that county. Mrs. Wyer died August 15, 1909, at Rawson, O. She was a most estimable lady in every relation of life and was a consistent member and earnest worker in the Evangelical church. Mr. and Mrs. Wyer had two children born to them: Oran O. and Mabel. The former is an expert telegrapher and is in the employ of the Lake Shore Railroad. Mabel graduated from the Bluffton High School on May 27, 1910, hav- ing taken also a special course in Latin. Mr. Wyer takes no very active part in politics.

JOHN S. ROSE, a well known general farmer and highly respected citizen of Han- cock County, O., resides on a farm of 106 acres, located in Section 23, Marion Township, and was born October 6, 1852, at Bellpoint, Delaware County, O., and is a son of Rev. Al- van and Elizabeth (Morey) Rose.

Rev. Alvan Rose was of Scotch-Irish de- scent and a native of Delaware County, O. His mother died at the time of his birth, and his father subsequently married and moved to Illinois. He was reared by relatives in Dela- ware County and for seventeen years taught. the district school during the winter months and a select school during the summers. He also practiced medicine a short time, but later entered the ministry, and after serving one year in the Mexican War, preached one year in Delaware County and three years in Seneca County. During this time he was sent among the Freedmen of Mississippi on the old Joseph and Jefferson Davis plantation, and while there had the small pox, and was nursed back to health by the old negro mammy who had nursed Jefferson Davis. Upon his return from the south Rev. Rose came to Findlay, O., where he traveled a circuit for many years and was for some years presiding elder of this district. Rev. Alvan Rose married Elizabeth Morey, a native of Pennsylvania, who came to Delaware County, O., at the age of seven years, and died at Findlay in February, 1900. Of their union were born ten children: Amelia, deceased; William, deceased; John S., our subject, and his twin, Anna, the deceased wife of Elias Hoot; Harvey and Horace, twins, both de- ceased; Alvan, deceased; Lillian, wife of Ernest Jacqua, of Medford, Ore .; Mary, wife of John Hoover, of Portland, Ore .; and Fran- cis. Rev. Rose died in September, 1881, at Findlay, O., aged fifty-three years and eight months.

John S. Rose was a small child when his parents moved to Indiana for a year, from whence they moved to Seneca County, O., and in the fall of 1864 came to Hancock County. Here he was reared and educated and during

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his early manhood taught school for a time, as did the other children of the family. He was also a clerk for a time in Connell's Book Store at Findlay, but since his marriage has followed general farming on his present farm, which was inherited by his wife, whose grandfather, Major Bright, entered the land from the gov- ernment.

Mr. Rose was married April 23, 1878, to Minerva Bright, who was born in Marion Township, Hancock County, O., and is a daughter of Levi and Mary (Gear) Bright. Of their union were born the following chil- dren: Lulu, died in infancy. Samuel, who re- sides on part of the home farm, is a graduate of the Tri-State College of Angola, Ind., and taught three years. He is politically a Repub- lican, and in the fall of 1907 was elected clerk of the township and a member of the school board. He is a candidate for county clerk of Hancock County, in the fall elections of 1910. He was married September 15, 1902, to Wilma Smiley, and they have three children, Alvan, Lela, and Ana. May, who is the wife of Roy Bear of Jackson Township, is the mother of two children, Olive Elizabeth and Bernerdine.

Mr. Rose is politically a Republican and has served six years as township trustee. He and his family are members of the United Brethren church, in which he has held all the local of- fices; and has been secretary of the Circuit since 1885, and has served as a delegate to the Central Conference and in various other of- fices.

JACOB E. POWELL, M. D., physician and surgeon at Findlay, has been actively engaged in the practice of his profession in this city since June, 1890, and through his professional knowledge and skill, has built up a large and

lucrative practice. He was born April 15, 1861, in Eagle Township, Hancock County, O., and is a son of Daniel L. Powell, one of the older residents of Eagle Township.

Dr. Powell was one of a large family of children and during his boyhood and early youth his help on the pioneer farm was needed by his father, the latter having secured his land from the Government in 1836. Agricultural life, however, did not appeal to the youth in any way and he eagerly took advantage of every chance to advance himself in a knowledge of books, and at a surprisingly early age se- cured a certificate to teach school. He con- tinued to teach and while so engaged continued his own studies and thus prepared himself for entrance to Findlay College, of which he is a charter member, and while there followed the same course and prepared for the College of Physicians and Surgeons, at Baltimore, Md. From that institution he was graduated in March, 1890.

With his diploma in his possession, which had been earned through perseverance and self denial, Dr. Powell confidently entered into practice and the immediate and continued suc- cess which has crowned his work, has given the best testimony to the thoroughness of his knowledge as well as to his natural aptitude in this greatest of professions. In 1892 he was elected coroner of Hancock County and served two years but otherwise has accepted no political position.

Dr. Powell was married November 6, 1887, to Miss Eva J. Oman, of Bluffton, Ind. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Fraternally he is an Odd Fellow. His convenient and well equipped office is located at No. 4147/2 S. Main Street, Findlay.

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CLYDE WHELAND, proprietor of the lots, and on November 3, 1889, bought a gen- Arcadia Elevator and dealer in grain, seeds, flour, meal, feed, lime, salt, coal, etc., makes a specialty of custom grinding, and is one of the representative business men of Arcadia, Han- cock County, O. He was born November 26, 1882, in Arcadia, and is a son of John Henry and Barbara Ellen (Warner) Wheland.

John Henry Wheland was born September 1, 1845, on the old Ebersole farm near Arca- dia, O., and is a son of William and Hannah (Kohlmeyer) Wheland, pioneer settlers of Washington Township, Hancock County, O. William Wheland, grandfather of our subject, was born in Center County, Pa., in 1817, a son of Michael Wheland, who was one of the early settlers of that section of Pennsylvania. In 1844, William Wheland, with his wife and child, came to Hancock County, O., and set- tled near what is now Arcadia, but which at that time was principally timberland, the town not being laid out until some time later. Wil- liam Wheland married Hannah Kohlmeyer, who was born June 2, 1824, in Butler County, Pa., and their union resulted in the following issue: George W., who served in the Civil War; John Henry, father of subject; Sarah C., deceased, who was the wife of Mosheim Hoffman, deceased; and Mary Jane, deceased, who was the wife of Richard Anderson. Will- iam Wheland and his wife both died on the farm near Arcadia, his death occurring at the age of sixty-nine years, and hers at the age of fifty-six years. John Henry Wheland was reared on the home farm, and in early man- hood bought seventy-four acres of the home place, of which he cleared about thirty-five acres and placed it under cultivation. About the time of the oil boom in Hancock County, he sold eleven acres at $300 an acre, for town

eral store at Arcadia from Fred Farley. This he operated until 1910, when he sold the busi- ness to his son, Floyd Wheland, and has since been residing on his farm near Arcadia. Dur- ing his early life he also operated a drug store for a time, and was one of the organizers and is a director of the Arcadia Bank and Savings Company.

John H. Wheland was married January 24, 1867, to Barbara Ellen Warner, who is a daughter of Jacob and Sarah Warner, and their union resulted in the following issue : Amanda, who is the wife of F. H. Conaway; Parley A., who is manager and proprietor of the Arcadia Electric Light Company; William, who died in infancy; Floyd, who is engaged in the grocery business; and Clyde and Clare, twins, the latter of whom died in infancy.

Clyde Wheland was reared and has always lived in Arcadia, and was educated in the pub- lic schools of the town. During his early man- hood he engaged in farming on his father's farm near Arcadia, and in 1905 purchased his present business from H. L. Lyons. The build- ing, which is located along both the L. E. & W. R. R. and the Nickel Plate R. R., was pur- chased from E. P. Huss.

Fraternally Mr. Wheland is a member of the Masonic order at Fostoria, O., and is polit- ically identified with the Democratic party.

In June, 1904, Mr. Wheland married Miss Ethel Parker, who is a daughter of J. H. Parker, of Findlay, O., and they have one daughter, Dorothy.

GEORGE W. MOWERY, one of Pleas- ant Township's best known citizens and a member of one of the pioneer families, re- sides on his finely improved farm of twenty

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acres situated not far from McComb, Han- cock County, O. He was born November 6, 1850, in Pleasant Township two miles southwest of McComb, in the log cabin his father had built with care and pride after coming into the wilderness as this section then was. He is the only surviving son of George and Eliza (Asire) Mowery.

George Mowery was born in Virginia and his father was a large slaveholder, hav- ing many bondsmen and owning 1,000 acres of land on the James River, forty miles from Richmond, to which city he sent flour from his mills and the products of his distillery. Circumstances led the son George to seek a home in early manhood in a free state and he went to Westmore- land County, Pa., where he married Eliza Asire, a daughter of Henry Asire. She spent her last days with her youngest daughter, Mrs. Growel, at McComb, O., where she died in September, 1907, in her eighty-eighth year. Her family came to Ohio and her parents died in Medina County. A sister and brother, Jeremiah and Mrs. Maria Moore, live in Indiana, and after a brother, David Asire, died at Fos- toria, his son, Judson Asire, assumed his father's business interests and is in the undertaking business there.

When George Mowery and family came to Hancock County, in 1846, they made the long journey in the usual pioneer wagon and many weeks passed before they were able to establish their little home. The father was a far-seeing man and he knew that his eighty acres of ridge and swamp land would sometime be of great value al- though at that time the ridge was covered with a heavy growth and the swamp acres

were under water. In fact the whole region between McComb and Toledo was then known as the Black Swamp. George Mow- ery came first and all alone built the cabin which the family subsequently lived in comfortably and happily for many years. No nails were used in its simple construc- tion. The mud chimney, however, was wide and deep and the subject of this sketch recalls many a happy evening when he and his brother David sat in its glow and warmth and roasted apples and potatoes. In retrospection those days seem to have been full of enjoyment. The death of George Mowery occurred in May, 1867, in his fifty-first year.

To George and Eliza Mowery the follow- ing children were born: Margaret, who is the widow of James Morrison, of Findlay ; Henry, who died at the age of seven years; Elizabeth, who is the wife of Robert I. Mackey, of Pleasant Township; Susan, who died, aged thirteen years; George W .; David, who is now deceased, was in the em- ploy of the B. & O. Railroad, lived at Defi- ance and is survived by his widow, Mrs. Rosa (Simcox) Mowery; Ada, who mar- ried Turner Mackey, resides with her husband on the old Mackey farm southwest of McComb; Belle, who is the wife of Jacob Growel, of McComb; William, who died aged three years ; Jane, who died at the age of five years : and John, who died in infancy.

George Washington Mowery enjoyed district school advantages, but he had to walk four miles along a blazed path through the woods in order to reach the little log school house. As soon as old enough to be useful on the farm his attendance was con- fined to the winter seasons. He easily re-

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calls when miles intervened between the homes of settlers. When he was but a small lad he could help his father in his harvesting by riding the horses when they trampled the wheat and he could carry the bags of grain on horseback five miles to a fanning mill in order to have the wheat separated from the chaff. Only one who can remember these old and arduous days of farming can fully appreciate the value of modern machinery and the new methods. Mr. Mowery remained on the home farm until he married. He learned the car- penter trade and worked at the same all through this section for twenty-five years but has devoted himself to the cultivation of his little farm for the past few years. In 1907 he started the erection of his hand- some ten-room house in which he has intro- duced many comforts and attractive feat- ures.

Mr. Mowery was married in 1873, to Miss Theresa Brown, a daughter of James and Mary Brown, who came to Hancock County from Ashland County, in 1865 and settled in Pleasant Township where Mr. and Mrs. Mowery now live. Mrs. Mowery's mother died on this farm at the age of sixty-three years and her father when aged sixty-six years. They had the following children: Theresa, Mrs. Mowery; Sarah, who is the wife of Ames Barger, of Mc- Comb; Thomas, who is a resident of Belle- fontaine, married Lillie Longfellow; Mag- gie, who lives at North Baltimore, O .; and Benton, who lives at McComb, married Daisy Van Stronder, of Van Wert, O.

Mr. and Mrs. Mowery have eight living children, one daughter and seven sons and one son is deceased. Charles B. married

Daisy Joyce, of Hamilton, O., and they re- side at Lima and they have one daughter, Mabel. Earl resides at home and assists his father. Wallace married Flossie Poe and they have one son, Robert Doldin. Pearl is the wife of George Sharninghaus, a successful farmer of Portage Township, and they have four children. Orie is un- married and lives at home. Bert is a painter by trade and is now an employe of the Nickel Plate Railroad in Pennsylvania. Ray and Jay are both at home. Mr. Mow- ery takes no interest in politics beyond the demands of good citizenship. He votes the Republican ticket.

HON. HOMER O. DORSEY, who was elected judge of the Probate Court, in Han- cock County, O., in the fall of 1908, has proved his judicial qualities in the most sat- isfactory way and is numbered with the leading jurists of the county. He was born in Allen Township, Hancock County, O., January 27, 1879, and is a son of Wallace and Lois (Nelson) Dorsey.

Judge Dorsey was reared on the home place and attended the public schools and later the Ohio Northern University at Ada, after which he devoted seven years to teaching and during this time was superin- tendent of the schools of Arlington, O. For five years he served as deputy clerk under Judge Banker, in the office of the probate judge of Hancock County, and in the per- formance of the duties of this position not only became well acquainted all over the county but inspired the confidence that re- sulted in his election with a very large ma- jority, to the office of the probate judge of

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this county. In politics he is a Democrat the wife of Frederick Wise; Magdalene, and a prominent factor in party affairs.

Judge Dorsey married Miss Hattie E. Dunlap, a daughter of George Dunlap, on February 11, 1900, and they have two chil- dren: Loel Dorothy and Anna Lucille. Judge and Mrs. Dorsey are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Their pleas- ant home is situated at No. 416 Cherry Street, Findlay. He is identified with the I. O. O. F., the B. P. O. E., the M. W. of A. and the Knights of Pythias, also with various political organizations, and fre- quently serves on benevolent and public spirited boards

PETER INEBNIT is a well known resi- dent of Blanchard Township, who lives in Section II, on a valuable farm of ninety- four acres. He was born in the old log house built on this place by his father, Feb- ruary 24, 1849. His parents were Uhlrich and Madalena (Wise) Inebnit.

Uhlrich Inebnit was born and reared in Switzerland and was there married. In 1844, when he was thirty-eight years of age, he came to America and after reaching Hancock County, O., bought forty acres of wild land in Blanchard Township, this be- ing the original homestead. He cleared his farm, but subsequently worked at his trade of tailor whenever he had the oppor- tunity. With the Inebnits the Wises came also to Hancock County, settling in Blanch- ard Township on an adjoining farm, Uhlrich Inebnit died in 1866, his widow sur- viving him until 1890. They were the par- ents of nine children, four of whom were born in Switzerland. The family record is as follows: Elizabeth, now deceased, was

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Twentieth Century History of Findlay and Hancock County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens, Part 40

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

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