Twentieth Century History of Findlay and Hancock County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens, Part 46

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 46

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Edward E. Jackson, general manager of the C. F. Jackson Company, was born at Norwalk, O., but spent ten years of his school period at Minneapolis. As soon as sufficiently matured he was taught business precepts in his father's store and continued in the Glass Block at Nor- walk until 1905, when he came to Findlay to be general manager of the new store. He is recognized as one of the progressive and wide awake young business men of the city and has made friends both of a business and a personal nature.

Mr. Jackson was married at Findlay to Miss Glenna Weil, a daughter of John Weil, who is in the drug business at Findlay, and they have one child, Mary. He is identified with the Elks.

SAMUEL SWAB, justice of the peace, is one of Cass Township's most valued and sub- stantial citizens, one of the heaviest taxpayers and public spirited men, and owns four fine farms, comprising 637 acres, and resides on one containing 140 acres. He was born in the old log house standing on his father's farm at that time, in Westmoreland County, Pa., Au- gust 5, 1845, and is a son of George and Mary (Rodibaugh) Swab.

George Swab was born in 1813, in West- moreland County, Pa., and his father's name was also George and he was born near Phila- delphia, his parents having come from Ger- many. Six children were born to the older George Swab: George, Solomon, Samuel, Christiana S., Smith, Mary, and Barbara Duf- field, all deceased. George Swab (2) grew to manhood in Westmoreland County, and for a

time operated a distillery there. He married Mary Rodibaugh, who died in Pennsylvania when their son Samuel was three years old. Six years later Samuel Swab accompanied his father and his brother and sister to Hancock County. The father settled in Cass Township, buying eighty acres of timbered land, the only improvement being a log house. He cleared and improved this place and put up the greater number of the buildings and continued to live here until the close of his life. His death oc- curred August 20, 1907, he being at that time the oldest man in the township. His second marriage was to Fannie Shaufler, who was born in Fairfield County and still resides in Cass Township.

Samuel Swab was the eldest born of his father's three children. His brother, David Swab, lives in Allen Township. His sister, Barbara, who is now deceased, was the wife of Andrew Pletcher, of Allen Township. Mr. Swab obtained a district school education. He gave great assistance to his father in clearing the homestead and has always been a hard working man. Although Mr. Swab owns much more land than does the average farmer, he has earned every acre of it by his own industry with the exception of the forty acres given him by his father. He has always been a progres- sive and enterprising man and has set a good example in his township in clearing and devel- oping his property, in which he has spared nei- ther time, labor nor expense. Oil is produced on all the farms.

On September 25, 1872, Mr. Swab was mar- ried to Miss Barbara Kagy, a native of Fair- field County and a daughter of Samuel and Hannah Kagy, who came to Hancock County when Mrs. Swab was an infant. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Swab: Blanche,

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who is the wife of John A. Nusser, of Allen on general farming and is extensively engaged Township, and they have one child, Dorothy; in raising cattle, hogs, sheep, horses, etc. Delora, who is the wife of Charles Harry, of Allen Township; Samuel K., who assists Mr. Swab on the home farm, married Bessie Ullery and they have two children-Gladys and Ber- nice; and Pearl, who is the wife of S. J. Over- holt, of Cass Township, and they have two children-Frances and an infant.

Mr. Swab and son are Republicans and he has served in responsible township offices, hav- ing been president of the school board and township treasurer and trustee. Samuel K. is also prominent in township affairs, serving as school director and at present is constable. The family is a representative one in Cass Town- ship, Hancock County.

LEWIS F. BRICKMAN, county commis- sioner of Hancock County, O., and a well known general farmer and cattle raiser of Pleasant Township, was born March 31, 1858, on the old Taylor farm in Washington Town- ship, Hancock County, O., a son of William and Aaronstina (Geisler) Brickman. William Brickman was born in Germany and died in Portage Township, Hancock County, O., where he was engaged in agricultural pursuits. The mother of our subject died in McComb.

Lewis F. Brickman grew to manhood in Hancock County, and attended the schools of his home district. He was reared a farmer and his first farm was a tract of twenty acres, which he bought in Pleasant Township in 1883. Mr. Brickman is now the owner of sev- eral farms, having 219 acres in Pleasant Town- ship, 240 acres in three tracts in Blanchard Township, and 103 acres in Allen Township, all in Hancock County. Mr. Brickman carries

Mr. Brickman is a Democrat politically, and in the fall of 1908 was elected a member of the Board of County Commissioners, assuming the duties of that office September 20, 1909. He served six years and nine months as trustee of Pleasant Township and was for twenty-seven years a member of the school board, but re- signed from office in the spring of 1910. He is a director of the McComb Banking Company of McComb. His religious connection is with the Lutheran church of McComb, of which he is one of the directors, and served as an elder many years, and for eight consecutive years was treasurer of same.

Mr. Brickman was married in 1883 to Amanda J. Fundum, who is a daughter of Henry Fundum of Blanchard Township, and to them have been born the following children : Henry, who married Inez Donaldson, who died leaving two children, Robert and Arthur ; Samuel; Clara, who is the wife of Charles Roy, has one child, Dorothy; and William.

JAMES SYLVESTER CUSAC, who owns 108 acres of valuable farm land, situated in Section 31, Portage Township, Hancock County, O., has lived here since 1889 and was born on an adjoining farm, September 1, 1852. He is a son of John and Nancy (Bell) Cusac, the former of whom died on this farm in the spring of 1904, aged eighty-three years. The latter still survives and is now in her eighty- eighth year.

James S. Cusac was reared in Portage Township and has always lived here with the exception of six years spent in Liberty Town- ship. He attended the country schools and has made farming and stock raising his main in-

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terests, and as he is practical and progressive he has met with very satisfactory results.

Mr. Cusac married Miss Margaret Litzen- berg, who was born at Findlay, O., and died on this farm in the fall of 1904. Her father was John Litzenberg. Mr. and Mrs. Cusac had three children: Robert, who married Oral Pennelton, has one child; May, who married Leroy Nutter, of Colorado, has one child; and Loren, who remains at home with his father. Mr. Cusac is a member of the Blanchard Pres- byterian Church.

JAMES A. McCALL. One of the impor- tant business concerns at Findlay, Ohio, is that of Tarbox & McCall, who are owners of stone quarries, and manufacturers and dealers in crushed stone and stone and concrete blocks- a business which was established here in the fall of 1897-also manufacturing cement drain tile. The firm consists of Harry L. Tarbox and James A. McCall. Their works and quar- ries are situated on Western Avenue, their of- fices being at No. 953 Western Avenue. Em- ployment is given to about twenty-five men, while the output has a wide field of distribu- tion.

James A. McCall was born on a farm in Greene County, Ohio, May 16, 1864, and is a son of John G. and Eliza (Junkin) McCall. They still reside on their farm, the same one on which their son was reared and resided un- til he came to Findlay in 1897. James A. Mc- Call was married to Miss Lulu Park of Belle Center, Logan County, Ohio, and they have two sons, Wallace A. and Ernest W.

Harry L. Tarbox. the senior member of the firm of Tarbox & McCall, was also born in Greene County but he came to Findlay several years prior to the advent of his partner. They

are both men of enterprise and are enjoying a prosperous business with a promising future. They are recognized as valuable additions to Findlay's good citizenship.

LEONARD B. DECKER, who owns the old homestead farm in Section 26, Allen Township, Hancock County, O., was born here, November 21, 1869, and is a son of James and Mary (Barnd) Decker.

James Decker was born in Crawford County, O., January 16, 1837, a son of Mahlon and Minerva (Dull) Decker, the former of whom was born in New Jersey and the latter in Pennsylvania. They married in Pennsyl- vania and shortly afterward came to Crawford County, O., and in 1845 to Hancock County. Here Mahlon Decker bought eighty acres of timber land in Section 24, Allen Township, on which he erected a log cabin in which they lived for twenty-five years. Mahlon Decker died in July, 1874. His widow survived until almost ninety years of age.

James Decker was eight years old when his parents brought him to Hancock County. In 1860 he purchased his first piece of land, a tract of forty-six acres, to which he added at various times. In August, 1862, he enlisted as a private in Co. G, 118th O. Vol. Inf., for service in the Civil War then in progress, and he participated in a score of battles in the Mid- dle West. He was severely wounded at the battle of Resaca, from the effects of which he became incapacitated as a soldier and was hon- orably discharged in 1865, a short time before the war closed. He lived many years after- ward, however, his death occurring December 12, 1904. He was a member of Stoker Post, G. A. R., Findlay. He married Mary Barnd. a daughter of John and Sarah Barnd, early set-

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JAMES A. M.CALL

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tlers in Hancock County. Mrs. Decker was born in Allen Township, in 1838, and still sur- vives, her home being at Defiance, O. Eight children were born to James and Mary Decker.

Leonard B. Decker has passed the greater part of his life on this farm, in fact all but nine years of it. During a part of that time he worked at Findlay as a carpenter and spent the remainder as a laborer in the oil fields. He acquired oil interests, his father being treasurer of the Hancock.Oil and Gas Company, this be- ing the first organization to open the fields north of Findlay. Mr. Decker rents out the farm for agricultural purposes, and to the Ohio Oil Company, which has twelve wells on the place beside the three producing wells owned by Mr. Decker.

Mr. Decker was married to Miss Rose Hor- ner, a daughter of Jacob Horner, and they have two children: Stella and Edna. Mr. Decker is not particularly active in politics, but he is interested in the fraternal order of Knights of Pythias and belongs to Lodge No. 85, at Findlay.

BENJAMIN BOWERSOX, owner of forty acres of fine farm land situated in Sec- tion 18, Union Township, Hancock County, O., has resided on this place for the past seventeen years and is one of the represen- tative citizens of Union Township. He was born in Snyder County, Pa., June 26, 1857, and is a son of Daniel and Amelia (Steim- ley) Bowersox, also natives of Pennsyl- vania. They came to Hancock County, O., in 1860 and settled in Eagle Township, where the father followed farming all his life. His death occurred five years later but his widow survived until 1887.

cated in Union Township. His business has always been of an agricultural nature and he is counted among the successful farmers and stock raisers of this section. His farm is well situated, lying about four miles north- west of Mt. Cory, on the Ridge road.

Mr. Bowersox was married first to Miss Christina Steiner, in 1891. She was a school teacher who had taught four terms in Put- nam County, where she was born. She died in Hancock County in 1901, aged forty- six years, leaving no issue. In 1901, Mr. Bowersox was married second to Miss Jen- nie Forsythe, who was born at Kenton, O., a daughter of a well known teacher there. No children have been born to the second marriage. Mr. Bowersox is a member of the Church of God, at Pleasant Ridge, in which he has served as a deacon and a mem- ber of the board of trustees.

FRANKLIN COOKSON, who is en- gaged in agricultural pursuits on a tract of ninety acres in Orange Township, Hancock County, O., was born December 25, 1848, in Trumbull County, O., and is one of the representative citizens of the community in which he lives. He attended the common schools of Orange Township, until twenty years of age, when he engaged in farming, and has made that his life occupation. He now has one of the best improved farms in the township, although at the time he pur- chased the place it consisted wholly of tim- berland.

Mr. Cookson was united in marriage with Miss Henrietta Thuston, who is a daughter of Henry and Eva Thuston of Orange Township, and to them have been born the

Benjamin Bowersox was reared and edu- following children: Hulda Alura, who died

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at the age of nineteen years, six months and twenty days, was buried at Hasson Ceme- tery; Alva V., who married Bertha Whit- beck of Orange Township, and they have two children-Charles F. and Mary Etta; and William Henry, and Clarence Calvin.

Mr. Cookson is politically identified with the Democratic party but has never held any offices. He belongs to the Evangelical church, in which he is a steward and a mem- ber of the board of trustees. Fraternally he is identified with the Masonic order at Bluffton, O.

GEORGE K. CHAMPION, a prominent citizen of Pleasant Township and one of the substantial agriculturists of this section of Hancock County, O., owns 227 acres of val- uable land which is devoted to general farm- ing. He was born in Pleasant Township, October 23, 1848, and is a son of William J. and Susan (Wiseman) Champion.

William J. Champion was a son of William J. Champion and was born near Fostoria, O., from whence he came to Hancock County in 1847. He settled in Pleasant Township, five miles west of McComb and one mile north of Shawtown and died on that farm in 1869, at the early age of thirty- eight years. When he came to this section it was almost all in woods and a large part was under water from lack of drainage. The forest stretched at that time from the tract purchased by Mr. Champion all the way to Fostoria and his widow recalls the fact that they stopped over night at Findlay while journeying to the new home. At that time Findlay was a village, but was the height of civilization compared to the forest in which these brave pioneers started the building of

their home. Mr. Champion's life was prob- ably shortened by the great strain he put upon his strength and vitality in clearing and draining this land and endeavoring to make improvements. He built a frame house and had prepared the timbers for a substantial barn when he was prostrated and his death followed. In early manhood he had married Susan Wiseman, also born near Fostoria, a daughter of James Wise- man. Mrs. Champion has reached her seventy-seventh year. Her home is with her son, George K. To William J. Cham- pion and wife the following children were born: Mary E., who is the wife of Lewis J. Hardin, of Pleasant Township; George K .; William, who is a farmer residing near Coldwater, Mich., married Rosanna Kelley, of Hancock County; Nancy, deceased, who was the wife of Edward Miller, of Wood County; and John, who is in the employ of the Downey & Harris Tile Manufacturing Company at Findlay, married Cora Miller. The father of the above family served three years in an artillery regiment in the Civil War, and suffered an injury from which he never recovered. In politics he was a Dem- ocrat.

When his father entered the army, George K. Champion, as the eldest son, had many responsibilities placed on him and his school period closed early. He has devoted him- self to agricultural pursuits in the main and carries on his operations in a scientific man- ner, being a firm believer in the value of rotation of crops. His farm of 227 acres has been his possession since 1889. It was formerly known as the old Daniel Spauld- ing farm and was purchased by Mr. Cham- pion from Obed Neible. He has done a

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large amount of general improving and erected the present comfortable residence.

In 1883, Mr. Champion was married to Miss Rachel Nevada Cummings, a daughter of George F. and Mary (Hull) Cummings and a grand-daughter of Benjamin Cum- mings, an early settler and one of the first men to fill the office of justice of the peace at McComb. The father of Mrs. Champion was a soldier in the Civil War and both he and wife are deceased. Mrs. Champion was an only child. To Mr. and Mrs. Champion three daughters were born, namely: Es- tella, who married Earl Smith, of Pleasant Township and they have one daughter, Dorothy; Ethleen, who is the wife of Bur- rell Auckerman, a farmer in Pleasant Town- ship; and Vivian, who resides at home. Mr. Champion and all of his family are mem- bers of the Church of God at Deweyville. In politics he is a Democrat and is active in party matters in the county although he has seldom consented to accept political honors for himself. He has served, how- ever, for some years as a member of the board of elections and is president of this body.

RICHARD J. GOHLKE, superintendent of the Maple Grove Cemetery, at Findlay, O., was born in Germany, December 23, 1862, and is a son of Ferdinand Gohlke and his wife; Henrietta Gohlke. The father died in Germany in February, 1872, but the mother still lives. She is in her eighty- eighth year and is cared for by her son, Richard J., and is a resident of his house- hold.

Richard J. Gohlke learned the florist and gardener business in his native land and be-

came so expert that he was employed in the Emperor's gardens in the city of Berlin. According to the German law he served his allotted term in the army and held the rank of corporal. Afterward he continued to work as a florist and in 1891 he decided to come to America, where his older brother, William Gohlke, was in the railroad busi- ness, being section foreman on the T. & O. C. Railroad, at Findlay. After joining this brother he worked under him for one year but kept on the lookout for work at his own trade and in 1892 found it and on May I, of that year, became an einploye of the Maple Grove Cemetery, a tract of forty- two acres of land. On May 1, 1899, Mr. Gohlke became superintendent, succeeding William Taylor, and here, with his force of twelve men, Mr. Gohlke has made this in- deed a beautiful spot. He understands landscape gardening and also the treatment of trees, vines, shrubbery and plants and the different composition of soil in which each one will best develop and has the nat- ural taste to teach him how to make all into an attractive whole. He spares no pains to make this place a credit.

Mr. Gohlke was married in Germany in 1885, to Miss Albertina Schwartz, and they have five children : Richard, who works with his father in the cemetery, is married and lives at Findlay; Paul, who lives in Cali- fornia ; William, who is a mail carrier; and Freda and Johanna, at home. Mr. Gohlke is a member of the order of Odd Fellows.

ROBERT BOWERSOX, who owns sev- enty-eight acres of well improved land in Section 16, Union Township, Hancock County, O., lying two miles north of Mt.

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Cory, is one of the representative men and successful farmers and stock raisers of this township, of which he has been a resident for fifty years. He was born in Snyder County, Pa., January 3, 1858, and is a son of Jacob and Mary (Keyster) Bowersox.

Jacob Bowersox was born in Pennsyl- vania, where he married, and with his wife came to Hancock County, settling in Union Township when their son Robert was an in- fant. He continued to live in Union Town- ship and carry on farming and here his death occurred in 1890. His widow, now eighty-seven years of age, lives on the old homestead east of Rawson, O.

Robert Bowersox attended the public schools in Union Township and has devoted himself to farm pursuits. His land is val- uable and he has it well tiled and carefully cultivated. He carries on a general farming line which includes the growing of grain and the raising of good stock of all kinds. His buildings are substantial in construction and are sufficient for all the needs of the farm.

In 1873, Mr. Bowersox was married to Miss Nevada Powell, a daughter of Henry and Susan Powell, of Hancock County. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bowersox, namely: Iva, who married Charles Bubring, also of Hancock County, and they have one son, Harold; and Ray- mond and Earl, both of whom assist their father. Mr. Bowersox is a Republican and in the fall of 1909 was elected assessor of Union Township for a period of two years. From 1906 until 1908 he served as a justice of the peace. For twenty years Mr. Bower- sox has been a member of the Allbright Methodist church at Mt. Cory.

BENJAMIN F. FRY, residing on a fine farm of 240 acres in Section 18, Liberty Town- ship, is one of the progressive and substantial farmers of Hancock County, O., and was born April 5, 1854, in Liberty Township, a son of Henry and Susanna (Spangler) Fry.

Henry Fry was born in Germany, in 1805, and when a lad of nine years stole his passage to the United States, landing in Baltimore, Md., after a voyage of four or five weeks, with but six dollars in cash. He remained one month in Baltimore, and after spending five dollars of his capital, worked by the day at a wage of twenty-five cents. He then went to Fairfield County, O., where he entered the employ of a Mr. Bazel, for whom he later spent some eight years as manager of the farm and as wool buyer. In 1848 he came to Hancock County and purchased a tract of forty acres in Liberty Township, and subsequently became the owner of over 600 acres of valuable farm land in Wood and Hancock Counties, the greater part lying in the latter county. During his early days he also dealt in cattle, and about the time of his marriage drove a large number to Pitts- burg, taking several months to make the trip. After coming to Liberty Township, he built a log road, about twenty inches thick, from the center of Section 18 to a little beyond the cen- ter of Section 19, and resided along that road the remainder of his life. His marriage with Susanna Spangler resulted in the birth of eight sons and five daughters, all living but one son and two daughters. His wife lived to the age of seventy-eight years, and he to the age of eighty-six years and eleven months, dying in August, 1892. Both are buried in the Aurand Cemetery of Liberty Township. Henry Fry and his wife attended the Church of God. Po- litically he was a strong Republican.

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residing on a fine 1 18, Liberty Towa- sive and substantial y, O., and was bora Township, a son ci gler) Fry. Germany, in 180;, rs stole his passage g in Baltimore, Md, five weeks, with ict emained one month iding five dollars of day at a wage di n went to Fairfield red the employ of a :er spent some eight farm and as wad :o Hancock County rty acres in Libery y became the owner able farm land i: ies, the greater pas During his cary and about the time ge number to Pics- is to make the trip ownship, he buib : hes thick, from tx ttle beyond the ct- ded along that road His marriage věž in the birth of eigt I living but one sa vife lived to the sạt d he to the age of n months, dying ? tried in the Aurza' vnship. Henry Fy Church of God P :publican.

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DON C. HUGHES, M. D.

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Benjamin F. Fry received his education in the schools of Liberty Township, and after completing same, devoted his time to agricul- tural pursuits on his father's farm. After his marriage he lived in the old homestead for two years, then built his present residence in which he has lived continuously since. Besides his farm of 240 acres, Mr. Fry also owns four fine residences in Findlay, O.

Mr. Fry was united in marriage with Miss Laura Grose, who is a daughter of Jacob Grose, of Findlay, and they have three chil- dren: Myrtle, who is the wife of Roy Schoon- over of McComb, O .; Ray; and Glenn. Mr. Fry is politically identified with the Republican party, and has been a member of the Liberty Township School Board for two years. The family attends the Union Christian church.

HARRY J. MOREHART, assistant cashier of the Vanlue Banking Company, at Vanlue, Hancock County, O., belongs to a substantial old family of this section. He was born in Amanda Township, Hancock County, O., No- vember 22, 1876, and is a son of Jesse D. and Elizabeth (Beck) Morehart.

Jesse D. Morehart was also born in Amanda Township, a son of David Morehart, who en- tered 160 acres of land in Amanda Township at an early day. This property came to his sons : David, John, S. F. and Jesse D. The last named married Elizabeth Beck, who was born and reared in Amanda Township. They still reside there and have had four children: Ray; Delle F., who married A. L. Woodyard, of Delaware Township; Ross V., who died at the age of fifteen years; and Harry J.

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Twentieth Century History of Findlay and Hancock County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens, Part 46

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

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