Twentieth Century History of Findlay and Hancock County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens, Part 42

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 42

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Democrat and at different times he has served a farm in Amanda Township, Hancock County, as school director and supervisor.

J. CURTIS THOMAS, a prominent farmer and large land owner, of Portage and Allen Townships, Hancock County, O., has 160 acres in Section 10, in the former and eighty acres directly across the highway, in Allen Town- ship. He was born on this farm, February 12, 1875, and is a son of Levi M. and Mary C. (Wilson) Thomas.

Levi M. Thomas was born on Sand Ridge, Pleasant Township, Hancock County, a son of Jacob Thomas, who came to Ohio from near Moundsville, W. Va. Levi M. Thomas was reared in Pleasant Township and came to the farm owned by his son, J. Curtis, just after his marriage and cleared the land and made all the improvements. He was a successful farmer and large stock raiser and owned 372 acres of valuable lands. His death occurred May II, 1906. He married Mary C. Wilson, who was born in Illinois and was brought to Ohio in girlhood by her father, William Wilson. She survived until November, 1905.

J. Curtis Thomas has always been interested in farm pursuits and has been particularly successful in many branches of agriculture. He carries on a general farming line and raises stock and since 1891 has made a specialty of raising Percheron horses.

Mr. Thomas married Miss Alta Cathers, who was born and reared in Pennsylvania, a daughter of James Cathers, and they have three children: Mary Chloette, James Levi and Harold Curtis.

O., and is a son of James Washington and Easter (Clowr) Sheldon, who were well known farmers of this county. The father died in 1895 at Bluffton, O., and the mother died in 1880.

J. C. Sheldon attended the district schools and remained on the home farm until nineteen years of age, since which time he has been en- gaged in business for himself at Houcktown. He engaged as a bridge contractor for a num- ber of years, and has for years operated a saw mill, buying timber which he prepares for the market. He deals principally with the farmers of this locality, although he disposes of considerable red oak, basswood and maple at Findlay, and constantly employs two men in the mill beside himself. Mr. Sheldon recently purchased from Mrs. Hannah Brown a grist mill, which is one of the land marks of Houck- town, and will remove it to his saw mill prop- erty, where he owns one acre of land. Besides his residence property at Houcktown, where he has a lot 120 by 140 feet, he also owns eight acres of farm land north of Houcktown, and also owns the only blacksmith shop in town. This he rents out. With his sons he owns three sets of oil and gas well tools and con- tracts in drilling.

Mr. Sheldon was joined in marriage with Miss Sarah A. Marquat, who was born in Findlay, O., a daughter of John Marquat, and of their union were born the following chil- dren: Hettie Lorena, who is the wife of M. C. Woodward, of Marion, O .; Bert LeRoy, who is married and a resident of Findlay; Edith Lavinda, who is the wife of F. M. Samp- son of Arlington, O .; Cleo ,who is employed as a stenographer at Columbus, O .; Annie;

J. C. SHELDON, proprietor of a saw mill and one of the prominent business men of Houcktown, O., was born April 10, 1853, on John James; Grover Perry, who is married al-

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though but seventeen years old; and Irma Lo- rina.

SAMUEL L. McKELVY, formerly attor- ney at law but now engaged quite extensively in the insurance and real estate business at Findlay, O., was born on a farm in Island Creek Township. Jefferson County, O., Jan- uary 4, 1848, and is a son of Crawford and Charity (Van Gilder ) McKelvy.

Crawford McKelvy was an old settler in Jefferson County. In 1849 he made his first trip to the gold fields in California, where he remained for two years and then came home for a visit but subsequently went back and made a longer stay in the mining regions. In the fall of 1861 the Mckelvy family moved on a farm in Orange Township, Hancock County, which the father sold in 1867, and they then moved to Plymouth, Ind.

Samuel J. McKelvy attended school in Orange Township and during the spring and fall of 1866 was a student in the Findlay High School and after the family removed to Ply- mouth, Ind., he entered the High School there and was graduated in 1868. Mr. McKelvy went then to Ann Arbor, Mich., where he en- tered the University of Michigan and re- mained two years, taking a special course. From there he accepted the position of princi- pal of the High School at Missionary Valley Junction, Ia., and while there read law in the office of Judge Pealon. During a period spent in the South he was admitted to the bar and engaged in law practice in Arkansas until 1876, when he returned to Indiana and en- gaged in practice and dealing in real estate at Plymouth until 1890, when he came to Find- lay, where he has been an important business factor.

Mr. McKelvy is undoubtedly the largest real estate dealer in this city, making a specialty of Findlay property, although he is also inter- ested elsewhere. He is president and half owner of the Roanoke Development Company which owns over 1,000 acres of land, a part of which is being developed for oil and other parts devoted to rice culture and the raising of live- stock. Mr. McKelvy has a winter home on this property, which is situated at Roanoke, La. He has been the organizer of a large amount of city improvement-built the McKelvy Block on South Main Street, and owns the three- story brick block opposite, a 50-foot business lot opposite Argyle block, and owns addition- ally a part of the Currier Block together with residence and unimproved realty. Through his open and energetic business methods a large amount of outside capital has been brought here. His business in fire insurance is also a large item as he handles the risks of eleven of the leading companies. Such men of business enterprise are of value to any section.

Mr. McKelvy married Miss Dollie P. Har- gitt, a member of a Southern Indiana fam- ily, and they have five children: Clara May, who is the wife of Charles E. Sprague, of Cleveland; Mattie L., who is the wife of H. G. David, of Findlay; Maud M., who is a teacher in the Findlay schools; Erdien H .; and Loy De Witt, who is a student in the Northern Ohio University at Ada. Mr. McKelvy is a member of the order of Ben Hur and the Masons.

FREDERICK LUDEN, a prosperous gen- eral farmer of Allen Township, and one of the early settlers of Hancock County, O., resides on a valuable farm of eighty-five acres, and was born September 15, 1830, in Baden, Ger-

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many, a son of Frederick and Rosina (Shuck) Luden. The parents of our subject were both born and died in Germany, and his maternal great-grandfather Shuck, was a man of con- siderable wealth, and the manufacturer of fine fur garments.

Frederick Luden was reared in Baden, Ger- many, and there learned the French dyeing trade, making paints and coloring for calicoes and other materials. At the age of eighteen he came to America and located at Findlay, Hancock County, O., where he worked for two years in the old Swat Hotel. In 1851 he came to Allen Township and worked for five years for his uncle George Luden, who in 1841 came to this county from Wayne County, O., and located in a log cabin on the farm which our subject now owns. After leaving his uncle's home, Frederick Luden went to Wood County, O., where he was employed for two years in the largest hotel in the county. In 1855 he returned to Allen Township, Hancock County, and worked as a farm hand until 1861. He is now the owner of a fine farm of eighty-five acres, which is one of the most productive and highly cultivated in Allen Township, and which yields larger crops than most of the other farms in this locality.

Mr. Luden was joined in marriage with Agnes During, daughter of Rev. Matthew During, pastor of the German Lutheran Church of Findlay. Of their union were born seven sons: George, Paul, Frederick, Albert, Jacob, William and John, all of whom are stil living. Mrs. Luden passed out of this life in 1906. Mr. Luden is a member of the German Lutheran church of Findlay.

ERWIN ELLSWORTH EWING, ex- sheriff of Hancock County, O., a lifelong resi-

dent and for years prominently identified with oil production in this section, was born in Lib- erty Township, July 6, 1862. His parents were Jacob and Louisa (Cooper) Ewing.

Jacob Ewing, father of Erwin E., was born August 16, 1836, in Ashland County, O., and accompanied his parents to Hancock County in 1854. They were Jacob and Sophia (Mowery) Ewing, natives of Pennsylvania. They accom- panied their families to Ashland County, O. where they were married and resided until they came to Hancock County and settled in Liberty Township. Grandfather Jacob Ewing purchased 160 acres at first and later acquired more land until he owned about 300 acres. He died on the farm now owned by Jeremiah Ew- ing, in 1866, at the age of sixty-eight years and was survived but a short time by his widow. They had seven children, namely : Cornelius, who lives at Findlay, married Eliz- abeth Insley; Julia Ann, who is the widow of Elijah Goudy, resides at Findlay; Philip, who lives in Pleasant Township, married Sophia Swartz; Rudolph, who is a prominent farmer in Pleasant Township, married Elizabeth Mc- Kinnis; David, who died during the Civil War; Jacob; and Elmira, who is the widow of Richard Boyd and is a resident of Findlay.

In 1859, Jacob Ewing was united in mar- riage with Louisa Cooper, who was born in Licking County, O., a daughter of Hiram Cooper, a farmer who resided in Wood County previous to coming to Hancock County, his death taking place in 1883, in Blanchard Town- ship, at the age of eighty-one years. He was also a brick and stone mason and some of his work still may be seen in structures standing in the vicinity of McComb. He had a large family of children but the only one remaining is Miss Ellen Cooper.

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ERWIN E. EWING

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After his marriage, Jacob Ewing settled on He early became interested in politics and the old home place and also acquired a tract of served as deputy sheriff under several officials, first under Sheriff Cusac, and in 1890, under Sheriff Bartoon. In 1896 he was elected sheriff on the Democratic ticket and was re-elected.in 1898, serving out two terms and retiring from the office with the high regard of all law-abid- ing citizens. Mr. Ewing then turned his atten- tion to the oil business and for five years has been operating extensively in Crawford and Clark Counties, drilling a number of wells and in partnership with his cousin, P. W. Ewing, securing numerous leases. His operations in oil have been carried on in Illinois. He still is a leading factor in county politics and for a number of years has been a delegate to impor- tant conventions of the Democratic party. He is deeply interested in the public issues of 1910 and is ready to prove his loyalty to Democratic principles. Being a man of fine address and courteous manner, he exerts an influence in many circles and makes many personal friends. His place of residence is Deweyville, O. land in Liberty Township which he sold later, buying a farm in Pleasant Township, one mile south of McComb. Mr. Ewing, in 1888, ex- changed this farm for eighty acres situated one-half mile east of Deweyville, which his son, H. C. Ewing, now occupies. He came to this farm in 1878 and died here in the same spring, being in his forty-second year. His widow survived until March 13, 1904, her age being sixty-eight years. Her mother, the maternal grandmother of Erwin E. Ewing, Mrs. Louisa (Mills) Cooper, who died August 9, 1901, sur- vived many of her descendants, her age, at time of decease, being 100 years and sixteen days. Six children were born to Jacob and Louisa Ewing, namely: Ella, who resides at Deweyville, O .; Erwin E .; Hiram C., who lives on the old home place in Pleasant Town- ship, married Metta Bolton, daughter of Michael Bolton; Earle, who resides with his sister at Deweyville and is engaged in farming; Charles, who owns and operates a farm near Deweyville; and Jennie, who died at the age of two years.

Erwin E. Ewing obtained his education in the public schools but it was interrupted on ac- count of the death of his father when he was but sixteen years of age. Being the eldest son many responsibilities fell on his shoulders which, in spite of his youth, he bore in a manly and efficient way. He remained on the farm and was also interested for a number of years in the timber business, this region then being one where this industry was carried on with vigor at that time, valuable timbered land being purchasable at a very low figure. He bought 120 acres for less than $2.25 per acre and realized handsomely on the investment.

Mr. Ewing is identified fraternally with Lodge No. 227, F. & A. M. at Findlay; Find- lay Commandery, No. 49; and Mystic Shrine at Toledo. He has also attained the 32nd de- gree in the order. He belongs also to the Elks and the Knights of Pythias, both at Findlay. He was reared in the Presbyterian faith.

N. J. KRAMER, a well known citizen of Rawson, O., who has lived in this pleasant town for the past sixteen years, still retains his farm of eighty acres, which lies in the north- east corner of Section 10, Union Township, Hancock County, O. He was born in Fairfield County, O., August 26, 1849, and is a son of John and Hannah (Boyd) Kramer.

John Kramer was a native of Fairfield

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County but later acquired a farm in Franklin County and died there July 10, 1901. He was a well known farmer and respected citizen and for some twenty years held public office in Franklin County. His wife died in 1890.

N. J. Kramer was reared in Franklin County and for thirty years lived on his farm in Union Township, Hancock County. In 1860, he was married to Miss Susanna Fox, a daughter of David and Elizabeth (Bartoon) Fox, of Han- cock County. David Fox was born in Penn- sylvania and died in 1875. His widow sur- vived until 1892, her death taking place near Rawson. Mr. and Mrs. Kramer have had six children, as follows: David E., who married Lois Keller, has had three children-Ines, Grace and Erma, deceased; J. H., who resides at Little Rock, Ark., married Elizabeth Phil- lips, of Tennessee, and they have one child, Morris; Hannah E., who is a twin of J. H., married Isaiah Foltz, of Hancock County, and they have two children-Coyl, and Edna; Wil- lard, who married Cora McLish, of Union Township, has seven children-Mabel, Mary, Florence, John, Clara, Scott and Frances ; Wil- son P., a twin of Willard, married Lettie Clapp now deceased, and has four children- Walter, Wallace, Dwight and Myra, and Car- rie D., whose untimely death occurred at Raw- son in 1898, at the age of nineteen years. Mr. Kramer and family are members of the United Brethren church. For four years Mr. Kramer was a trustee of this church and for ten years officiated as its sexton.

WILLIAM N. YOST, M. D., physician and surgeon, who has been engaged in the prac- tice of medicine at Findlay, O., since 1892, and in Hancock County since 1872, occupies a fore- most position in his profession in this section

of the state. Dr. Yost was born at Thornville, Perry County, O., April 14, 1837, and is a son of Peter and Elizabeth (Taylor) Yost.

Peter Yost was of German extraction. In the childhood of his son, William N., he bought a farm in Licking County, O., near the Perry County line, within three miles of Thornville, and it is still called the old Yost farm in that neighborhood.

William N. Yost was reared on the above named farm and went to the country schools during boyhood. Later he attended the Thornville schools and subsequently the Som- erset Collegiate Institute, where he completed the course. For a number of years after this he taught school, being located in Thorn Town- ship, in Perry County, and in Union Township, in Licking County, and for four years previous to the Civil War, he had charge of the Union school at Hebron, in the latter county. During a part of this period he was township clerk and all his spare time was given to the preliminary study of medicine under the direction of Dr. Black. In June, 1862, he entered the Federal army, becoming hospital steward of the 113th O. Vol. Inf., and continued with that regiment and in the same capacity until the close of the war.

When his military service was over, Dr. Yost entered the Miami Medical College at Cincinnati, where he was graduated in 1868, and he entered into practice at Houcktown, Hancock County, where he remained for five years and then moved to Mt. Blanchard and continued in practice there until he came to Findlay. Dr. Yost maintains his office at No. 3221/2 South Main Street. He is a member of the Hancok County, the Northwestern and the Ohio State Medical Societies.

Dr. Yost married Miss Rebecca Stewart, a

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daughter of that brave soldier, Major James Stewart, of Licking County, O., who served through the Civil War. Dr. and Mrs. Yost have had five children : Minnie L., who is the principal of the Firman School at Findlay; Margaret, who died in 1902, was the wife of Harry George; Jessie Gertrude; Charles C., who is bookkeeper for the Logan Gas Com- pany; and Clarence E., who is secretary of the Findlay Casket Company. Dr. Yost served on the Pension Board for eight years during the Cleveland administration. Dr. Yost is a mem- ber of all branches of Odd Fellowship and has served as a representative to the Grand Lodge. He is identified also with the Masonic frater- nity and the B. P. O. E., and belongs to the G. A. R.

LEVI SEARFOSS, who owns forty-three acres of richly cultivated land situated in Ma- rion Township, Hancock County, O., devotes this largely to potatoes and berries, finding truck farming very profitable. He was born in a log house standing on his father's old farm, in Marion Township, January 2, 1845, and his parents were Jacob and Eliza (Garster) Sear- foss.

Jacob Searfoss was born and reared in Pickaway County, O., and in 1840 occurred his first marriage. He and wife came immedi- ately to Hancock County and settled on the farm in Marion Township where H. H. John- ston now lives. He entered eighty acres of heavily wooded land and in the log cabin he built there passed his life. His first wife died in 1848, leaving three children: Levi; Mary Ann, who is now deceased, who was the wife of Burtis Yocum; and Henry, who lives in In- diana. Jacob Searfoss then married Jane Powell, who is also deceased, and they had one

daughter : Margaret Jane, who is the wife of S. Rinkhammer, of Marion Township.

Levi Searfoss has spent his entire life in Marion Township with the exception of eigh- teen months passed in Illinois. He attended school while small, but as soon as able began to help in the clearing of the farm. He then learned the carpenter trade and followed the same for twenty-five years, spending twelve of these in the factory of Shull & Company. He built his attractive nine-room frame house into which he introduced many comfortable de- vices.

Mr. Searfoss was married the first time to Miss Samantha J. Alspach. His second mar- riage was to Mrs. Sarah M. (Jacobs) Switzer, widow of Jacob Switzer and daughter of James Jacobs. The children, four in number, were born to the first marriage. Harry married Mollie Jacobs and they live at Columbus and have two children-Florence and Etna. Eliza is the widow of Nelson Jacobs and they had three children-Ralph, Eva and Mamie, and they reside with Mr. and Mrs. Searfoss. Eliz- abeth and Flora also reside at home. No chil- dren have been born to the second marriage. The family belongs to the United Brethren church. In politics, Mr. Searfoss is a Demo- crat and at times he has served as road super- visor and school director. He is identified with the order of Odd Fellows at Findlay.

L. S. WOODS, M. D., who enjoys the distinction of being the oldest resident physician of Rawson, O., and is a valued and honored member of the Northwestern Ohio and the Hancock County Medical So- cieties, has been an interested spectator of the growth and development of the pleasant. town in which he chose his home, when

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starting out on his professional career. Dr. tlers in this section. Dr. and Mrs. Woods Woods was born November 3, 1853, in Madi- son Township, Hancock County, O., a son of James and Hannah (Hatcher) Woods.

James Woods was born November 16, 1810, in Columbiana County, O., and his wife was born in Stark County, O., July 5, 1815. They were married in 1833, settled in Delaware Township, Hancock County, in 1837, but in 1840 moved to Madison Township, which remained the old home place during the lives of the parents and one to which the children often tenderly and reverently re- turn in thought. James Woods lived into extreme old age, surviving his wife for many years, her death having taken place in 1894. Of their eight children, Dr. L. S. Woods was the youngest born.

From his boyhood, L. S. Woods cherished an ambition to become a physician. When the proper age was attained he was given an opportunity to study medicine under his older brother, Dr. Thomas E. Woods and made such rapid progress that in three years time he was adequately prepared to enter the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Baltimore, Md. There he was creditably graduated on March 17, 1887. He opened an office at Rawson and has become so closely identified with all that pertains to the progress and well being of this town that his name is inseparably connected with much that is important here. His interest is reciprocated and he is not only valued for his professional skill and business judg- ment and public spirit, but is esteemed for his purely personal qualities.

Dr. Woods was married January 1, 1884, . to Miss Inez E. Kelly, a daughter of George J. and Caroline Kelly, who were early set-

have three children: Leo Mozelle, Scott K. and Hannah K. Dr. Woods is promi- nently identified with both the Masons and Odd Fellows. He is a Republican in his political sentiments.

JESSE W. MONTGOMERY, chairman of the Board of County Commissioners of Hancock County, O., and residing in Orange Township, where he owns 340 acres, was born on the farm on which he lives, March 15, 1857, and is a son of John and Eleanor (McLain) Montgomery. The mother of Mr. Montgomery died in 1905, but the father survives.

Jesse W. Montgomery was reared on the home farm and his education was secured in the country schools. He has devoted him- self to agricultural pursuits and has engaged extensively and successfully in general farm- ing and stock raising. He has taken an active and intelligent interest in politics ever since attaining his majority and has long en- joyed the confidence of his fellow citizens. He served as treasurer of Orange Township for fourteen years and is now serving in his second term as county commissioner, first assuming official duties September 20, 1906, and entering upon his second term in September, 1909. In his political views he is a Democrat.

Mr. Montgomery married Miss Mary R. Mitsch, a daughter of John Mitsch, who was born in Germany and came to Wyandot County, O., when a boy. He was acci- dentally killed October 22, 1909, near his home at Bluffton, Allen County, an automo. bile causing his horse to run away. Mrs. Montgomery was born and reared in Wyan-

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dot County. Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery have eight children: John, Walter, Lida, Frank, Edgar, Helen, Ivan and an infant. Mr. Montgomery is a member of the order of Odd Fellows.

A. M. AGIN, a representative citizen of Van Buren Township, Hancock County, O., where he carries on farming on sixty acres of land and manages eighty more, was born in Orange Township, September 1, 1860, and is a son of William Agin.

William Agin was born in Fayette County, Pa. His father died when he was two years old and his mother in his four- teenth year. He came to Trumbull County, O., and worked at the tanning business and was married there the first time and one child was born to him. In 1836 he moved to Hancock County and entered 160 acres of land in Orange Township. In 1837 he was married to his second wife in Trumbull County and they had five children. He was married the third time to Mary (Mont- gomery) Thompson, the widow of William Thompson, and five sons and two daughters were born to this union. The family home remained in Orange Township, where the father died in 1891 and the mother in May, 1907. They were members of the German Reformed church and their burial was in the Hassam Cemetery. William Agin was a well known man and carried on his busi- ness enterprises honestly . and successfully. In earlier years he built a tannery on his farm in Orange Township and conducted it together with his farm work but subse- quently rented the tannery to a nephew.

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Twentieth Century History of Findlay and Hancock County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens, Part 42

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

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