Twentieth Century History of Findlay and Hancock County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens, Part 50

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 50

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HARRY A. GLATHART, city engineer of Findlay, O., with previous experience as as- sistant city engineer and also as county engi- neer, is a man well qualified for this responsi- ble position. He belongs to a well known fam- ily of Hancock County, of Swiss extraction. He was born at Lawrence, Kans., May 28, 1870, and is a son of Aaron J. and Amanda J. (Strothers ) Glathart.

The grandfather of Mr. Glathart came from Switzerland and established the family in Han- cock County in 1828. Aaron J. Glathart was born in Hancock County and spent many years here and also resided in Kansas. He was an honored veteran of the Civil War. His death occurred at Findlay in 1909. His widow sur- vives.

Harry A. Glathart was reared and educated at Findlay through a part of his boyhood. He was five years old when his parents came from

Lawrence, Kans., back to Ohio and until he was eleven years old the family lived at Find- lay and then moved to a farm in Marion Town- ship, six miles east of this city. He attended the country schools until he was twenty-one and then entered the Ohio State University at Columbus, and later he made a special study of civil engineering as well as electrical engineer- ing in the Ohio Normal University at Ada. After leaving that institution he went into rail- roading, both steam and electric, having his headquarters at different points-Cleveland, Ohio; Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; Kansas City and in Old Mexico. In 1905 he returned from Canada to Findlay and on the Republican ticket ran for county engineer and was elected to that office. He served as assistant city en- gineer and on January 1, 1910, was appointed city engineer by Mayor Graves.

Mr. Glathart was married to Miss Clara A. Landon, of Wyandot County, O., and they have four children: Theron, Justin, Grace and Clifford. Mr. Glathart is affiliated fraternally with the Masons, the Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias and he belongs also to the Sons of Veterans.

NICHOLAS FOX, one of Washington Township's best known citizens and most sub- stantial men, owning farms in Sections 16, 17 and 9, aggregating 540 acres of some of the best land in Hancock County, O., was born in his father's old log house that stood on the home farm in Washington Township, south of Fostoria, July 10, 1848. His parents were William and Catherine (Mails) Fox.

William Fox was a well known pioneer of this section. He was born in Pennsylvania. It is said that he and John Hooper and James Wiseman were the three white men who rep-

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resented the race in this section of Ohio, com- ing before Hancock County was organized and long before Findlay had been laid out. They all took up land from the Government, William Fox selecting that lying along the creek in Washington Township, and each cleared his own property, doing the first clearing in all this section. They no doubt faced and over- came many hardships and all have long since passed away. William Fox left many de- scendants, having been married four times and he became the father of twenty-five children. His first wife died in Pennsylvania and his second marriage might have been in Fairfield County, O., where the Pennsylvania pioneers stopped for a time. Her name was Whaley and she died in Washington Township. He then married Elizabeth Jacobs and after her death, Catherine Mails. Of the children born to the last union there are two survivors: Nicholas and Milton.

Nicholas Fox recalls the school house of his boyhood as a small log building with split log seats and wide fireplace. In those days farmer boys were not given a great deal of time for their books, the clearing and tilling of the soil being duties that could not be put off or avoided and Mr. Fox had a thorough training along these lines. He remained at home until he was married and then started out for him- self, going into debt for his first 120 acres which was all in woods. He not only cleared that but the larger part of the rest of his land which he bought from time to time as he was able and as he saw the property was valuable. In 1871 he bought his residence farm in Sec- tion 16, from Emanuel Kimmell, and put up all the substantial buildings here and has good buildings on all his other farms, all of which are otherwise well improved. All of his land

is under cultivation and all is operated by his own children.

On December 30, 1868, Mr. Fox was mar- ried to Miss Mary Gilmer, a daughter of John and Susan (Caster) Gilmer, who were Penn- sylvania people, coming from Allegheny Coun- ty and settling in Delaware Township, Han- cock County, where Mrs. Fox was born. To this marriage twelve children were born, six of whom died young. The family record is as follows, including the surviving children and grandchildren : Edward married Bertha Craw- ford and they live in Washington Township and have seven children: Ralph, Elmer, Mary, Emma, Rose and Bessie, twins, and Edward. John E. married Nannie Wells, now deceased, and they had one child, Lela, who lives with her grandfather. Mollie is the wife of S. E. Noel, of Washington Township, and they have four children: Carle, Wilbur, Mildred and Crystal. William married Etta Nusser and they live in Washington Township and have three children: Waldo, Fayma and Kenneth. Nicholas and Coral reside at home, Nicholas being the farmer of the home place.

JOHN D. BARND, one of the leading agri- culturists of Allen Township, Hancock County, O., resides on a farm of 1351/2 acres near Van Buren, and was born December II, 1844, on a farm which is part of the farm on which he now lives. He is a son of John and Sarah (Gerlinger) Barnd.

John Barnd came from Perry County, O., in 1832, and settled for a short time on land in Allen Township, but subsequently located on the farm on which our subject was born. He married Sarah Gerlinger, who was born March 31, 1811, in Shenandoah County, Va., a daughter of John and Elizabeth Gerlinger.

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At the age of eight years she came to Perry County, O., with her parents and was there reared and married. She was the mother of twelve children, eleven of whom grew to ma- turity, and died on the farm in Allen Township March 29, 1884. John and Sarah Barnd were members of the Primitive Baptist church, of which their son-in-law, Rev. J. B. Smith, was pastor. John Barnd served over thirty consec- utive years as justice of the peace of Allen Township.

John D. Barnd was reared in Allen Town- ship, and has made farming his life occupation. He has resided on his present farm since 1869, having purchased in 1867 thirty-eight acres, to which he has from time to time added small tracts, and is now the owner of 13572 acres of highly cultivated land, all in one tract. Mr. Barnd has made all of the improvements on his place, and is recognized as one of the sub- stantial and successful farmers of Allen Town- ship.

Mr. Barnd was married in 1868 to Emily S. Bushong, a native of Portage Township, Han- cock County, and a daughter of Jacob and Eliz- abeth (Bowhard) Bushong, pioneers of this county, who settled here in 1833. Nine chil- dren were born to Mr. and Mrs. Barnd: Sarah Elizabeth, who is the wife of Franklin Daniles of Allen Township; Cloyse M., who is a resi- dent of Allen Township; William H .; Bertie; Arby D., who is now serving as assessor of Allen Township; George A .; Blanche B .; and John Jacob and Nellie, both of whom died in infancy.

MARTIN INSLEY, one of Portage Township's most respected citizens, resides on his valuable farm of 159 acres, which lies in Section 18 and is devoted to general

farming and stock raising. He was born on a farm in Seneca County, O., September 18, 1841, and is a son of Zacharias and Esther (Sowards) Insley. The father died at Mc- Comb, in 1891, and the mother in 1897.

Mr. Insley accompanied his father and family to Hancock County in 1870, the father purchasing 100 acres of the farm which now belongs to his son and continued to cultivate the land until he retired. For forty years Martin Insley has resided in Portage Township with the exception of two years which he spent in Wood County. He has always been engaged in farming and stock raising but has more or less turned his heavy responsibilities over to his son, Charles Insley, who capably continues his father's industries.

In 1873, Mr. Insley was married to Miss Jane Montgomery, a daughter of George W. Montgomery, formerly a well known resident of the township and once post- master at Portage Center. Nine children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Insley, as follows: Ferdinand, who resides with his family in Portage Township; Charles, whose family includes twin sons, Blaine M. and Wayne A .; Nellie, who married Wes- ley Clark, of Portage Township, and they have three children, Ralph, Glen and Esther Mary: Lettie, who is the wife of Homer Brandebury; Bert, who married Freda Langhorst; Wilbur, who married Carrie Gorrell: Ola and Nola, twins; and Esther. Mr. Insley and family are mem- bers of the Portage Chapel Methodist Epis- copal church, in which he is a trustee. In politics he is a Republican. At times he has served as a school director, the Archer school in District No. 3 being situated on

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his farm. He has resided on this place since 1896, coming here from another farm in Portage Township, situated two miles southeast of his present property.

WILLIAM G. HIRSCHER, proprietor of the Hirscher Cement Blocks Company, manufacturers of cement blocks and of or- namental cement work of all kinds, is one of Findlay's progressive business men and has been a resident of Findlay, O., all his life, born here September 18, 1874. His parents were Martin and Elizabeth (Enz) Hirscher.

Martin Hirscher and wife were both born in Germany. They were married at Belle- fontaine, O., and in 1856 came to Findlay. He was a potter by trade and operated a pottery here and later acquired a stone quarry and while in the stone business be- gan the manufacturing of cement blocks. He continued in this line until his death, which occurred in October, 1893. His widow continued the business until 1894, when William G. Hirscher took charge. He has been established in his present quar- ters since January, 1909. There is no doubt but that Mr. Hirscher is engaged in a busi- ness that seems to have a great future and there are those who predict that cement blocks will sometime supersede all other kinds of material for building purposes. At present he finds it necessary to have the help of three first class workmen, and he has completed a number of important con- tracts.

Mr. Hirscher married Miss Louisa Wag- ner, who was born at Findlay and is a daughter of Ludwig Wagner, and they have two children: Catherine and Helen.

Mr. Hirscher is a member of the order of Odd Fellows.

J. H. VARNUM, M. D., a leading physi- cian and surgeon in Hancock County, O., who has a well established practice at Ben- ton Ridge, was born at Butler, Butler County, Pa., March 10, 1869, and is a son of E. L. and Elvina (McJunkin) Varnum, both of whom are deceased.

Dr. Varnum attended the public schools and later an academy at Prospect, Pa., after which he read medicine with a local practi- tioner and then entered the Medical De- partment of the Western Reserve Univer- sity, Cleveland, O. He located first at Bel- more, in Putnam County, but two years later came to Benton Ridge and has re- mained here ever since, identifying himself with the various interests of the place and yearly adding both personal and profes- sional friends to his circle of acquaintance.

In 1893, Dr. Varnum was married to Miss Lulu M. Cherry, a daughter of Robert N. Cherry, of Benton Ridge, and they have one son, Robert O. Dr. and Mrs. Varnum attend the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics he is a Republican but his interest in public matters is merely that of good citizenship. He belongs to the Hancock County, the Ohio State and the American Medical Associations.

P. J. GRESSLY, whose finely improved farm of 280 acres lies in Sections 5 and 6, Union Township, Hancock County, O., is a native of Union Township, born in 1879, and is a son of Jacob and Martha I. (West) Gressly.

Jacob Gressly was born in Pickaway County,

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O., and was only four years old when he ac- companied his parents to Hancock County and they were pioneers in Union Township, set- tling on a farm just south of the one above mentioned. Grandfather Henry Gressly died in Hancock County. Jacob Gressly followed farming all his active life, becoming one of the largest land owners in Hancock County. His standing as a citizen was high and he served as trustee of Union Township. He died at Find- lay, O., August 25, 1909, at the age of sixty- five years. He married Martha I. West, who was born in Hancock County in 1845, a daugh- ter of John and Catherine West. She resides in Union Township.

P. J. Gressly attended the country schools through boyhood and ever since has been in- terested in farm pursuits and is numbered with the most progressive and enterprising agricul- turists of Union Township. His crops and cattle, together with his buildings and general surroundings indicate thrift, care and prosper- ity. In 1908 he erected a barn which is fitted up with all modern improvements, one of the best in the township.

Mr. Gressly was married October 21, 1903, to Miss Grace Baldwin, who was born, reared and educated in Blanchard Township, Han- cock County, and is a daughter of Allen and Mary Ann Baldwin, the former of whom died May 9, 1893. Mrs. Baldwin survives and re- sides at Benton Ridge, O. Mr. and Mrs. Gressly are members of the Church of God, in Union Township, and he is superintendent of the Sunday-school.

DANIEL SHOOP, one of the representa- tive citizens of Pleasant Township, Hancock County, O., owns 104 acres of valuable land, on which he carries on general farming. He

was born in Lancaster County, Pa., November 12, 1840, and is a son of Jonas and Nancy (Goss) Shoop.

The parents of Mr. Shoop moved to Han- cock County in 1842 and settled in Portage Township where the father purchased a farm of forty acres. There both parents died, the father being aged seventy-three years and the mother seventy-one years. There were five children, Daniel being the youngest born. The others were: Joseph, who went to California during the gold excitement and died there; Elizabeth, deceased, who was the wife of Charles Deitzman, lived in Michigan where both died; Annie, who married Henry Miller, is deceased, as is also her husband; and Jonas, who died in 1865, while serving in the Civil War. He went out from Portage Township and never married.

Daniel Shoop grew to manhood in Portage Township and worked for his father on the farm until he was master of his own time. He learned the carpenter trade and worked at the same for eighteen years. His instructor was Jacob Slupe, a well known citizen of this coun- ty. Mr. Shoop assisted in the building of houses and barns all through this section and worked when the lumber was all dressed by hand. There are a number of residences stand- ing in McComb that Mr. Shoop helped to lay out, build and superintend and their stability proves his skill and honest work. As he ac- quired capital, for Mr. Shoop is a self made man and has earned every dollar he owns by his individual effort, he invested in land, his first purchase being forty acres in Portage Township which he sold when he moved to his present farm in Pleasant Township, in 1901. He has all but six acres under cultivation. When he first came here he began to drain his

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CHARLES II. SHULER

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land as had the older settlers, with pole and timber drains, but was one of the first to put down tile in the county. He can remember when the landscape presented a very different appearance than at present and when he was a boy heavy timber covered the greater part of the county and so much of it was under water that the name of the Black Swamp was given to miles and miles of what is now the most fer- tile land in this whole section. He has lived in Hancock County for sixty-eight years and en- joys the reputation of being one of its best and most reliable citizens. In all his business deal- ings he has been honest and straightforward and on any question there is never any doubt where he stands. This sincerity has brought him the confidence of his fellow citizens.

In 1868, Mr. Shoop was married to Miss Emma Miller, of Portage Township and two children were born to them: Joseph Edwin and Martha. Joseph Edwin resides in Portage Township. He married Millie Shanninghouse and they have five children: William, Doro- thy,. Harry, Lois and Clara. Martha is the wife of Aaron Collingwood, of Liberty Town- ship, and they have one living child, Harry Col- lingwood. Mr. Shoop's first wife died April 29, 1887. In 1898 he was married to Miss Phebe Insley, a daughter of Zacharias Insley. They attend the Lutheran church.

CHARLES H. SHULER, a representative business man of McComb, O., where he has re- sided for the past twelve years, has large grain and elevator interests in Pleasant Township and as a business man is known all over Han- cock County. He was born on West Craw- ford Street, Findlay, O., August 17, 1866, and is a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Cunning- ham) Shuler.

Henry Shuler was born in Westmoreland County, Pa., August 10, 1823, and died Sep- tember 13, 1900. He came first to Hancock County in 1853. He was a miller by trade and for some years lived at different points beside Findlay, but later moved on the Judge Cary farm, near Findlay and in 1883 purchased eighty acres of it, then forty, and later another forty, making 160 acres in all, and resided con- tinuously on it from 1884. The work of clear- ing, ditching and improving has been done by his sons, the land at the time of purchase being practically entirely unimproved, there being no fences on the land and no buildings with the exception of a small saw mill. Henry Shuler was twice married. His first wife was Mar- garet Funck, a daughter of Abraham Funck, and the following children were born to them: Josiah, who lives at Swanton, O .; Mary, who is the wife of Pulaski Harmon, lives in Put- nam County; Sylvanus Webb, who lives at Findlay; Tillman Abraham, who is a miller, lives at Norwich, Kan .; Emeline, who is de- ceased, was the wife of Jasper Walters; and William Wood, who is an attorney at law and is also a successful business man, resides at Oklahoma City, Okla. The second marriage of Henry Shuler was to Elizabeth Cunning- ham, who was born in Pennsylvania, a daugh- ter of William Cunningham. She is also de- ceased. The children of this marriage were as follows: Isaac T., who resides on the farm in Pleasant Township; Alice M., who is the wife of Benjamin Dice, of Pleasant Township; Charles Henry; John F., who is a farmer; Daniel C., who is in the grain business; Susan, who is the wife of Paul Vance, now of East Chicago, Ill., formerly of Toledo, O .; and Freddie, deceased, who was a twin brother of

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Susan. The parents were members of the at Fremont as editor and proprietor. In 1880 Church of God.

Charles H. Shuler attended the public schools of Findlay and started his business life as a worker in the oil fields. For the past eighteen years he has been in the grain busi- ness and has made a success of it. In the spring of 1903, he built his elevator on the Shuler farm and there handles about 125,000 bushels of grain annually. He is considered an exceptional business man.

On December 30, 1891, Mr. Shuler was mar- ried to Miss Delphia Strouse, a daughter of Peter Strouse, of Pleasant Township, and they have had six children: Harvey Earl, who is deceased; Ina Pearl, an attractive school girl of fifteen years; Arthur Dales, who is a bright youth of thirteen years; Nellie Ruth, who is aged eleven; Charles Ernest, who is eight years old; and Ralph Eugene, who has passed his sixth birthday. Educational and social ad- vantages await them and they give promise of becoming worthy successors of their parents. In politics Mr. Shuler is a Republican as was his father. With his family he belongs to the Presbyterian church.

ALFRED W. BALSLEY, M. D., physician and surgeon, with offices in the Rawson Block on South Main Street, Findlay, O., has been established in practice here since 1899 and has been a resident of Hancock County since he was four years old. He was born at Fremont, O., November 14, 1872, and is a son of Alfred and Lucy (Wickham) Balsley.

For many years the father of Dr. Balsley was prominent in journalistic circles in Ohio and at one time conducted a number of newspa- pers in the smaller towns of this section of the state and was also identified with the Journal

he founded the Jeffersonian, which was the pioneer daily paper of Findlay. He was also a factor in Republican politics and under the administration of President Grant, served as postmaster at Plymouth, O. He located at Findlay in 1876 and his death occurred here in 1904. His widow survives.

Alfred W. Balsley was reared at Findlay and in 1892 he was graduated from the Find- lay High School. His father owned a tract of twenty acres, one-half of which lay within the city limits and the other half outside, and dur- ing his youth he spent some of his time on the farm and also became well acquainted with the work in the printing office. In the meanwhile he was making preparations to enter medical college and in the fall of 1894 he became a stu- dent in the medical department of the Univer- sity of Michigan at Ann Arbor, where he was graduated with the class of 1899, immediately afterward locating at Findlay. His early pre- ceptor at Findlay was Dr. J. C. Tritch.

Dr. Balsley enjoys a generous amount of practice among people who have known him almost all his life and not only have confidence in him professionally but also esteem him per- sonally. He resides on Balsley Avenue, the beautiful avenue having been named in honor of his father. He is a Knight of Pythias and a Mason, belongs to the Tribe of Ben Hur and also to the American Insurance Union and is examiner and cashier of the last named body. In politics he is a Republican and in 1902, under Governor Nash, he was elected county coroner of Hancok County and was elected to a second term. He keeps in close touch with all devel- opments in medical science and is a member of the Hancock County, the Ohio State and the National Medical Societies.

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On June 8, 1910, Dr. Balsley married Miss Gertrude E. Alge, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Alge, residents of Findlay.

LEMUEL C. ILER, a well known citizen of Marion Township, Hancock County, O., owning a valuable farm of 120 acres, situated in Section 28, devotes it largely to dairy pur- poses. Mr. Iler was born on this farm, Septem- ber 19, 1872, and has practically spent all his life here. His parents were Jackson and Abi- gail T. (Hallowell) Iler.

Jackson Iler was also born on this farm, a son of Jacob and Mary (McClain) Iler, the former of whom was born in Pickaway County. Jacob Iler, father of Jacob, was the one who entered the land and it has never been out of the family name. Both Jacob Iler and his son Jacob died in the log cabin that was first built when the forest covered all this land. To Grandfather Jacob Iler the following children were born: Jackson, Jacob, Mary Ann, Susan, Catherine, Louisa and Lewis. Jackson Iler was also born in the old log house and his life was spent in the cultivation and improvement of this farm. He married Abigail T. Hallo- well, a daughter of Charles and Mary Hallo- well. His death occurred of paralysis when aged sixty-two years. They had two children : Lemuel Conrad and an infant.

Lemuel C. Iler was educated in the district schools and at Findlay College and then taught school for twelve years very successfully and during that time made many friends who have continued such to the present day. At the death of his father he came into possession of the farm which is now known as Brookdale, and since 1908 he has been in the dairy busi- ness, on a moderate scale and operates a milk route to Findlay.

On June 17, 1896, Mr. Iler was married to Miss Frances H. Roth, a daughter of Adam and Margaret (Rowe) Roth, and they have four children: Homer, Fred, Harry and Frank. Mr. and Mrs. Iler are members of the United Brethren church, of which he is a trus- tee and for seven years he has been superin- tendent of the Sunday-school. In politics he is a Republican and for four years has been township clerk. He is identified with the Odd Fellows and the Foresters, both at Findlay.

ELMER HILTY, county surveyor of Han- cock County, O., and a graduated engineer, was elected to this important public office on the Democratic ticket and assumed the duties of the same on September 6, 1909. He was born in Orange Township, Hancock County, O., March 16, 1880, and is a son of John and Mary (Thut) Hilty, who still reside in Orange Township.

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Twentieth Century History of Findlay and Hancock County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens, Part 50

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

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