Twentieth Century History of Findlay and Hancock County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens, Part 49

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 49

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).

Frank S. Robinson obtained his education

in the Richland County schools and remained on the home farm of 140 acres until January, 1883, when he went to Deshler and in April to Blanchard Township, Hancock County, where he resided for seven years. Since his marriage, in 1890, Mr. Robinson has lived on his present farm of eighty acres in Pleasant Township. This is one of the best improved properties in this section of the county. The handsome, mod- ern residence is beautifully situated, and the barn, recently erected, is equipped with what is known as the Shawver's Patent, being the first one introduced in the township. Mr. Robinson follows scientific methods and is credited with being the most uniformly successful agricul- turist in this part of Hancock County.

On December 31, 1890, Mr. Robinson was married to Miss Nannie M. Davis, the young- est daughter of Alfred Davis, a substantial cit- izen of Blanchard Township. They have an adopted son, Tola, a nephew of Mr. Robinson, a youth of brilliant mind and with bright pros- pects. In 1910 he graduated from the Mc- Comb High School, with the highest honors of his class and is preparing to enter the Ohio State University, at Columbus, in the fall of the same year.

In politics, Mr. Robinson is a Republican and in 1908 he was the nominee of his party for the state legislature. While defeated he had a flattering following, running 250 votes ahead of President Taft, in the county. He is a member of the Hancock County Central and Executive Committees and was elected to the latter by a vote of twenty out of a possible twenty-one, although he had not sought the honor. For more than fifteen years he has served actively in Republican politics, has been a delegate to two state conventions and was a delegate to the state convention which was

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MRS. ELIZABETH A. DE RODES

REV. HENRY C. DE RODES

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held at Columbus, August 26, 1910. He is a years and preached every Sunday, being an member of McComb Lodge, No. 179, Knights acceptable local minister of the United Breth- ren faith. of Pythias. He was reared in the Methodist Episcopal church.

REV. HENRY C. DE RODES, a retired minister of the radical branch of the United Brethren church, has been a resident of Port- age Township, Hancock County, O., since 1851, and is a veteran of the great Civil War. He was born on a farm in Columbiana County, O., May 6, 1828, and is a son of Martin and Elizabeth (Pentz) De Rodes.

In large measure Mr. De Rodes is a self made and self-educated man. Although now he contributes interesting articles to dif- ferent newspapers which are read by hundreds of people, he had but few opportunities in his youth to train his mental faculties. In his day country boys began labor on the farm when young and continued with but short intervals, usually several months in the winter, until they reached manhood. He remained on the home farm until he was twenty years of age and then went to Cincinnati where he worked in a factory until 1851, when he came to Hancock County, and located in Portage Township, where his brother, Samuel De Rodes, and a brother-in-law, Andrew Nigh, were then living. Shortly afterward, in part- nership with his brother, he bought ninety acres of land on the north side of the road, in Section 4, and also the eighty acres on which he now lives, on the south side, directly across the road from the other farm. This eighty- acre tract, which subsequently became his own property, is situated near the Ten Mile Church. He has followed general farming for many

In August, 1862, Mr. De Rodes enlisted for service in the Civil War, entering Co. D, 99th O. Vol. Inf. and remaining in the army until the close of the war, his commanding officer being Colonel Bope. He was honorably dis- charged and was mustered out at Camp Denni- son, O. The hardships endured during this long period had shattered his health, impairing his eyesight, and for three years afterward he was more or less of an invalid. He subse- quently recovered and for many years after- ward was an active and busy man. All the buildings now on his farm he erected, some of the former ones having been destroyed by fire. In this way he lost his former residence, in 1892, and in 1902 his barn was destroyed by lightning.

Soon after coming to Hancock County, Mr. De Rodes was married to Miss Elizabeth Archer, a daughter of James Archer, of an old pioneer family, and they have had eleven chil- dren. Of these, Nancy married Henry Brown. Mary married George Brainard. Awilda died in infancy. Martin died aged eighteen months. Elsie married Lewis Brown and they live in Toledo. Henrietta married Newton Tarr, of North Baltimore. Ora F. lives at home. Jo- seph went out to Arizona where he is interested in a copper mine. Della and Harry reside with their parents. A babe died unnamed. The family belongs to the United Brethren church. Mr. De Rodes has never been very active in politics but when elected trustee of Portage Township, served with honesty and efficiency. He is widely known and universally respected and esteemed.

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JOHN S. RUHL, harnessmaker and daughter of Philip Hock, who was born dealer in harness and leather goods and en- in Germany. They have one child, Flora gaged in general harness manufacturing, Ellen, who is the wife of John F. Pogue, with quarters in the Rawson Block, 321 . who is president of the Hancock Stone Com- South Main Street, Findlay, O., has been a pany. Mr. Ruhl is a member of Hancock Lodge No. 73, Odd Fellows, and belongs also to the G. A. R. resident of this city since 1861. He was born at Canton, Stark County, O., March 30, 1843, and is a son of John G. and Su- sanna (Dickerhoff) Ruhl.

The father of Mr. Ruhl, Rev. John G. Ruhl, was a minister in the German Re- formed church and during the boyhood of his son, accepted a clerical call to Marion, O., and from there, in 1861, came to Find- lay, and became pastor of the East Main Cross Street German Reformed church. Both he and wife died at Findlay.

John S. Ruhl was reared in Marion County, O., and secured his schooling there. In October, 1861, he enlisted for service in the Civil War, entering Co. H, 66th O. Vol. Inf., of which he remained a member until the close of the war. He participated in many of the thrilling events of those years, · accompanied General Sherman to the sea and was on many a long march and terrible battlefield, escaping with two slight in- juries. He was honorably discharged at Washington in 1865. Mr. Ruhl then re- turned to Findlay, where he was elected city marshal and served in that office for nine years and then was made deputy U. S. marshal for five years more. In 1877 he went into the harness business at Findlay and is sole proprietor of the Findlay Har- ness and Leather Company and has given his entire time to it with the exception of the period when he served as deputy sheriff under Ex-Sheriff Myers.

Mr. Ruhl married Miss Helena Hock, a

GEORGE W. STALL, a member of the prominent business firm of Stall Bros., tile manufacturers, at Arcadia, O., is one of the representative citizens of this place. He was born on his father's farm in Big Lick Township, Hancock County, O., December 29, 1873, and is a son of John F. and Nancy (Roller) Stall.

John F. Stall was born in Carroll County, O., and was a boy when he accompanied his parents, George and Mary Stall, to Han- cock County. They settled in Big Lick Township, five miles south of Arcadia, tak- ing up land in the woods. Both George and Mary Stall died at Findlay. They had the following children : Barbara, Margaret, Belle, Sarah, Samantha, Jane and John F., the last named being the only son. He grew to manhood in Big Lick Township and helped clear the land and later pur- chased a farm for himself and continued to operate it until 1904, when he retired to Arcadia. He married Nancy Roller, a na- tive of Big Lick Township and a daughter of Wilson Roller, one of the pioneers of that section. Seven children were born to that marriage, as follows: Wilton J .: Flora Adell, who is the wife of R. B. Russell; and Edwin, Arthur J., George Wilson, Thomas J. and William H.

George W. Stall attended the district schools and remained on the home farm

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through boyhood and then worked for five years in the oil fields and after that pur- chased the hardware store of A. M. Nye, at Arcadia. He conducted the hardware busi- ness for six years and then became interested in tile manufacturing and through satisfac- tory business transactions, in June, 1910, he and his brother, W. H. Stall, became the proprietors of the tile manufacturing plant covering eight acres, situated on the Lake Erie & Western and Nickel Plate Railroads, while the firm of Stacy & Son, through the trade, took the hardware store. They give constant employment to six men and the output is drain tile.

In March, 1893, Mr. Stall was married to Miss Nora B. Overholtzer, a daughter of John Overholtzer, of Marion Township, Hancock County, and they have three chil- dren: Marie, Rachel and Marjorie. Mr. and Mrs. Stall are members of the Method- ist Episcopal church. In politics he is a Democrat and has served acceptably in the city council. He is identified with the order of Modern Woodmen of the World at Arcadia.

ELI SPITLER, a representative citizen of Allen Township, Hancock County, O., who re- sides on his valuable farm of eighty-seven acres, which lies on the Perrysville turnpike road, one mile north of Van Buren, was born on a farm, in Crawford County, O., October 25, 1839, and is a son of Samuel and Annie (Bretz) Spitler.

When Eli Spitler was one and one-half years old, his parents moved to a farm in Allen Township, Hancock County, which is now oc- cupied by S. D. Spitler, and there he grew to manhood and remained on the home farm for

some years after marriage. In 1880, Mr. Spit- ler came to his present farm, in Section 6, where he carries on general farming and stock rais- ing. His property is well improved, Mr. Spit- ler having built his large frame house and sub- stantial barns some years since. The T. & O. C. Railroad runs north and south through the center of his land.

In December, 1876, Mr. Spitler was mar- ried to Miss Martha Jane Ensminger, who was born in Allen Township, a daughter of Perry Ensminger, and they have six children: Charles, who lives in Toledo, is married and has three children; Clara (Mrs. Holmes), who lives at Deshler, in Henry Coun- ty, has four children; Cloice, who resides at home; Allan, who lives on a farm two miles northwest of Deshler, is married and has four children; Hattie (Mrs. Bonam), who lives in Oklahoma, has two children; and Daniel, who lives with his wife and child at Waterville, O. Mr. Spitler is a member of the United Brethren church. In politics he is a Democrat and at times he has taken a leading part in township affairs and has served as a trustee and also as a member of the school board.

JACOB T. CRITES, a leading citizen of Portage Township, Hancock County, O., town- ship clerk and an active Republican politician, lives on his valuable farm of 100 acres, which is situated in Section 33, five and one-half miles from Findlay. He was born in Allen Town- ship, Hancock County, May 25, 1868, and is a son of Joseph and Margaret (Doudle) Crites.

Joseph Crites was born and married in Fair- field County, O. He married Margaret Dou- dle, who was born in Pennsylvania and was brought to Fairfield County in girlhood. In 1860, Joseph Crites and wife moved to Han-

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cock County and both died on their farm in United States and in fact there is but one other Allen Township. They were worthy people who were respected by all who knew them.

Jacob T. Crites was reared in Allen Town- ship and in boyhood attended the country schools and later spent three years at Findlay College. Farming has been Mr. Crites' main occupation although he taught school very ac- ceptably for thirteen winters in early manhood. In 1894 he moved on his present farm, which then belonged to his father-in-law, and rented the land until 1902, when he bought fifty acres of it and purchased the other fifty in 1908. The barn was on the place when he took possession and in 1906 Mr. Crites erected the attractive modern residence which is now the family home. He has made many other improvements and has been successful in his farm and stock operations.

In 1891, Mr. Crites was married to Miss Blanche Cusac, a daughter of James Cusac, a prominent farmer of Liberty Township, and they have five children: Stella, Violet, Marga- ret, Alice and Sarah. Mr. and Mrs. Crites are members of the Blanchard Presbyterian church, of which he is treasurer and in which he has led the choir for twenty years. Mr. Crites has taken an active interest in public matters in his township and is more or less of a leader in all of importance. He is a member of the Repub- lican County Committee from Portage Town- ship and since January 1, 1908, he has been township clerk.

OSCAR KIRSTEN, who, in association with his brother, Otto Kirsten, owns and con- trols the American Mask Manufacturing Com- pany, at Findlay, O., has been so identified since 1884. This concern enjoys the distinc- tion of being the first one of its kind in the

mask factory in the whole country. Oscar Kirsten and brother were born in Saxony, Ger- many, the former in 1859, and they are sons of Henry Kirsten.

Oscar Kirsten spent his youth in Germany. In 1880 he came to America, stopping in Cin- cinnati until 1884, when he came to Findlay, his brother Otto reaching this city one year later. In 1884 the present business was started, its location being on South Main Street in the Headquarters Block, but subsequently removal was made to their present three-story factory, which is situated at the junction of the L. E. & W. Railroad and West Sandusky Street. The business of the firm is the manufacturing of masks of all descriptions and of novelties, such as the imitation joints of meat made use of by butchers for display purposes. This is a very important enterprise, requiring the work of more than forty hands, these being mainly girls, and their trade field is all over the United States and also Canada. The business is a constantly growing one and considerable cap- ital is invested.

CHARLES W. DEEDS, a representative business man of Rawson, O., where he is engaged in a general mercantile business, owns a farm of eighty acres, situated in Union Township, one and one-half miles northeast of this place, which is generally acknowledged to be one of the best man- aged properties in this part of Hancock County. Mr. Deeds was born on his fa- ther's farm in Eagle Township, three miles from Rawson, May 13, 1879, and is a son of Samuel and Martha Deeds. Both parents were born in Hancock County, the father in Union Township, in 1844, and the latter in

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Eagle Township, and they live retired at in Marion County, O. He was married Rawson.

Charles W. Deeds attended the schools of Eagle Township and Rawson and for the past thirteen years has been in business in this town, for seven years conducting his large general store. He carries a very heavy stock of up-to-date goods, including dry goods, groceries, hats, caps and all kinds of floor coverings, and owns his busi- ness quarters, a building with dimensions of 150 by 23 feet, located on Main Street. He enjoys the best patronage of the town and of the adjacent country.

Mr. Deeds was married February 28, 1904, to Miss Rosanna Foltz, a daughter of Abraham and Mary Foltz, who were well known people in Union Township. The mother of Mrs. Deeds died at Rawson in 1895, but the father survives. Mr. and Mrs. Deeds have two children: Dortha Louise and Martha Beatrice. Mr. Deeds and fam- ily belong to the United Brethren church at Rawson. He is identified with the Odd Fellows, for the past four years having been a member of Rawson Lodge No. 559, and of the Knights of Pythias, Lodge No. 410. in which he has filled every official position and at present is grand past chancellor.

JOHN HELDMAN, a retired farmer and much esteemed citizen of Jenera, O., is the owner of the old Heldman farm, which is located just north of Jenera in Van Buren Township, Hancock County, and was born there December 6, 1849, a son of Michael and Margaret (Arras) Heldman.

Michael Heldman was a native of Ger- many and at the age of twenty-five years came to the United States and first located

while there to Margaret Arras, the eldest daughter of Peter Arras, and in 1835, with his wife and child, came to Hancock County, bringing one horse and wagon. He settled on a tract of eighty acres of timber land in Van Buren Township, which now forms part of the present site of Jenera, and there erected a log cabin, which is still standing. This land he cleared, placed in a state of cultivation, and later bought an- other tract of 120 acres, which is now owned by our subject. He died here at the age of eighty-four years and six months, and his wife died at the age of sixty-six years. They were the parents of seven chil- dren, all but the eldest being born in Van Buren Township. They were members of the Lutheran church.

John Heldman was born in the old log house on his father's farm, and there grew to maturity. After his marriage he engaged in farming on the home place, which he. greatly improved, and was at one time the owner of 200 acres of fine farm land in Van Buren Township. That section of Jenera which is just north of the railroad, was for- merly owned by our subject, who laid out his land in town lots and sold about seventy lots in all. He still manages his farm, al- though a resident of Jenera, where he built a fine residence about 1889.

In 1888, Mr. Heldman was joined in mar- riage with Miss Elizabeth Rettig, a daugh- ter of John Rettig, who resides south of Arlington, and of their union have been born the following children : Henry, Emma, Elizabeth, Carl, Katie and Wilhelmine, the last three having all died with diphtheria. Mr. Heldman is a charter member and

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stockholder of the Farmers' Bank Company of Jenera, is politically a Republican, and although not a politician in any sense of the word, has served some years as town treas- urer. He is a member and deacon of the Lutheran church.

HENRY B. RADER, ex-county commis- sioner of Hancock County, O., and a prom- inent farmer of Pleasant Township, where he owns eighty acres of well improved land, was born in this township, one-fourth mile distant from his present farm, April 24, 1844, a son of John and Elizabeth (Wall) Rader.

The Rader family was established in Hancock County by the grandfather, Henry Rader, who came in 1835 and settled near Van Buren. He was born in Pennsyl- vania and moved from there to Virginia and later came to Ohio and died in Allen Township, Hancock County, at the age of eighty-two years. He married Catherine Bops, in Virginia, and they had eight chil- dren : James, John, David, Adam, Isaac, Henry, Annie Stephenson and Elizabeth Murray, all of whom died in Hancock County except Isaac, Annie and Elizabeth, who died in Henry County.

John Rader was a well known farmer in Pleasant Township. He married Elizabeth Wall, a daughter of Richard Wall, who came from Pennsylvania and settled in Portage Township, Hancock County, two miles east of Mr. Rader's present farm. Richard Wall died at the home of John Rader and wife. He had four children : H. B., Alice, Elizabeth and Millie, the last named being the wife of Adam Rader. All are now deceased. The following children

were born to John and Elizabeth Rader: Henry B .; Richard W., who is a farmer in Portage Township, married Lucy Sebring; William, who resides at Hoystville, mar- ried Fannie Rider; A. J., who lives in Hills- dale County, Mich., married a Miss Metz; John M., who is a resident of Toledo, mar- ried Ida Leonard; Millie, who married Andrew J. Rider, who is a farmer in Pleas- ant Township; Alice, who is deceased, was the wife of Rev. Leonard; and two that died young.

Henry B. Rader was reared on the farm on which he was born and obtained a com- mon school education. On November 4, 1861, he enlisted in the army, he became a member of Co. K, 65th O. Vol. Inf., enlist- ing at Findlay and being mustered in at Mansfield. His regiment was attached to Sherman's army and was sent from Mans- field to Louisville, Ky. His first battle was at Shiloh and from there the depleted regi- ment went to Corinth and after fighting there went on through Alabama back to Louisville, fighting at Crab Orchard and other points. It was at Stone River that Mr. Rader was so seriously injured that he lost his left arm and a recital of the circum- stances excite in the reader of the present day sentiments of sympathy and admira- tion. He was wounded on the field, far from any adequate surgical attention. With the courage and self control that a man might have shown who had already learned these attributes through suffering, this boy of eighteen years walked twenty miles to reach the hospital at Nashville. There his arm was first amputated, January 5, 1862, but it had been so long neglected that a second amputation became necessary and

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RESIDENCE OF J. J. SINK

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it was repeated ten days later. When it is Township; Theresa, who is the wife of remembered that surgeons operated at that Walter Otto, of Pleasant Township; and Lena, who resides with her parents. time with few of the merciful anaesthetics of the present day and practically no disin- Mr. Rader is a member and a trustee and also treasurer of the Church of God, at Deweyville. In politics he is a Democrat and has served as township assessor and as trustee and also as a county commissioner. He is identified with the John Howard Post, G. A. R., at McComb, O. fectants, it is a subject of wonderment that Mr. Rader had the power of will to watch the operation as would a bystander, as he did. It was some time before he recovered sufficiently to leave the hospital, when he returned home and subsequently attended and later taught school, and has long been numbered with the best informed and broad J. J. SINK, who operates a farm of 160 acres located on the Houcktown Road in Jack- son Township, Hancock County, O., was born August 27, 1847, in Jackson Township, this county, and is a son of John W. and Susan R. Sink, both natives of Pennsylvania. The father was a farmer and blacksmith and after his mar- riage came to Hancock County, O., where he and his wife both died. minded men of this section. He is one of the oldest native born citizens of Pleasant Township and has resided on this farm which he bought in 1867. He had a large acreage to clear and as time has passed has made many excellent improvements, having substantial buildings and comfortable sur- roundings.

On September 6, 1866, Mr. Rader was first married, the lady being Miss Elizabeth George, a daughter of Joseph George, a prominent farmer of this section, and the liv- ing children born to this marriage are: Franklin, who married Mary Conner, has two children, Howard and Nellie; Nevada, who married Isaiah Metzger, of Toledo, and they have two children, Alda and Ken- neth; Ida, who married Charles Ewing, of Deweyville, O., and they have four chil- dren, Ruth, Helen, Dorothy and Teddy; Ross, who resides at Findlay, married Grace Slaughterback and they have one child, Gerald. The mother of the above family died in 1882. Mr. Rader subsequently mar- ried his sister-in-law, Miss Sarah George, and three children were born to them: Dallas, who married Alta Barger, has one son, Elmo, ard they reside in Pleasant

J. J. Sink grew to maturity in Jackson Town- ship and received his education in the district schools. He was reared a farmer and has al- ways engaged in agricultural pursuits, and purchased his present farm of 160 acres from the Struble heirs about five years ago. Mr. Sink is politically a Democrat and has served his township as trustee. He has been a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church for the past forty years.

In 1873 Mr. Sink married Miss Lucy A. Struble, who is a daughter of Peter and Mary (Corwin) Struble, who owned and resided on the farm now owned by our subject. Peter Struble was born in New Jersey and his wife in Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Sink have reared the following children: Maud M., who taught five years in the district schools of Jackson, Eagle and Liberty Townships, mar- ried Andrew Altman, a mechanic of Findlay,

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O., and is the mother of two children-Blanche and Everett; Harley, who is a graduate of the Homeopathic Medical College of Cleveland, O., and has been practicing medicine for the past six years at Columbus Grove, married Sarah Stewart and they have two children- La Verne and Beda Alta; Ethel, who was edu- cated at Mt. Blanchard, taught three years in Delaware and Jackson Townships, married Charles Hauman, who is at present operating a farm of 200 acres, and is the owner of a tract of eighty acres in Jackson Township, where they reside, and they have five children -Mary, Nellie, Margaret, Helen and Leonard; and Oscar O., who has been practicing medi- cine at Smithfield, O., for one year, is a grad- uate of the Cleveland Medical College, and married Lillian Sampson, who, previous to her marriage, was a teacher.

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Twentieth Century History of Findlay and Hancock County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens, Part 49

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

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