Twentieth Century History of Findlay and Hancock County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens, Part 51

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 51

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).

Elmer Hilty was reared on the home place and attended the country schools. Finding himself ambitious for another career than that of farmer, he set about preparing for securing a technical education. After teaching school for six years he entered the Ohio Northern Uni- versity at Ada, and was graduated in the class of 1904, having given his attention to the sci- entific and engineering courses. In the same year he was appointed deputy county surveyor and served as such until 1906, under County Surveyor Bolton, and from then until 1909 he was engaged in railroad work. His ability is recognized and seemingly his future profes- sional success is assured.

Mr. Hilty married Miss Gertrude Linn, a daughter of Henry Linn and they have one child, Mary Catherine.

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WESLEY CLARK, who resides upon his valuable farm of eighty-seven and one- half acres of land situated in Section 19 and 30, Portage Township, Hancock County, O., was born on a farm in Liberty Town- ship, November 27, 1873, and is a son of Charles and Rosa (Hart) Clark.

Charles Clark was brought to Liberty Township, Hancock County, in boyhood. His father was Daniel Clark, one of the early settlers. Charles Clark and wife re- side in Liberty Township, where he owns two valuable farms, and owns also a farm in Pleasant Township and still another large farm which is situated in Putnam County. He married a sister of John and Isaac Hart, both of whom are leading men of this section.

Wesley Clark was reared in Liberty Township and, with the exception of three years during which he worked in the oil fields, he has always been a farmer. He came to his present farm in April, 1898, and immediately began to make improvements which include the building of a barn and other structures and the rebuilding of the farm-house. He carries on a general farm- ing line and is one of the representative agriculturists of the township.

Mr. Clark was married March 17, 1898. to Miss Nellie Insley, a daughter of Martin Insley, and they have three children: Ralph, Glen and Esther May. Mr. Clark is a member of the order of Maccabees at McComb.

SAMUEL S. PLETCHER, who is en- gaged in agricultural pursuits on a farm of eighty acres, located in Section 5. Allen Township, has been a resident of this neigh-

borhood since the fall of 1900, and was born January 26, 1855, on a farm in Bloom Township, Wood County, O., and is a son of Christopher and Margaret (Hunsicker) Pletcher.

Christopher Pletcher and wife were both born and reared in Pennsylvania, but were married in Wood County, O. He followed farming until the latter part of his life, and at the time of his death was engaged in run- ning an ashery at Van Buren, O. His widow subsequently married John Fox, who for many years was janitor of the college at Findlay, O. She purchased a farm near North Baltimore. In 1905, when returning from the church at North Baltimore she was killed by a B. & O. train.

Samuel S. Pletcher was about twelve years old at the time of his father's death, after which he went to work for old Johnny Ho, who lived near the Ten Mile church in Pleasant Township. Three years later he went to work for Mrs. Hannah Kagy, with whom he remained about three years and then worked out by the month until the time of his marriage. He began house- keeping on the John Hudson farm in Allen Township and about eighteen months later purchased a house and lot in Van Buren, O., where he resided one year. He then sold his property and for two years rented and farmed the Trout farm, in Allen Township, after which he rented his mother's farm of ninety-six acres, which was located one mile south of McComb. Eighteen months later his mother sold the farm, and he rented his brother's farm, which was three miles east of Belmore, for two years. He bought a house and several acres of land at Republic. Seneca County, O., and after

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farming that one year or more, removed to Bairdstown, Wood County, where he ran a meat market for two years, when he dis- posed of it, and for eight years rented the Adams farm of 240 acres in Bloom Town- ship, Wood County. In 1900 he located on his present farm, which he had bought the year before, and has since carried on gen- eral farming here. He has greatly improved the place, remodeled the house, done con- siderable tiling, and otherwise made his property more valuable.

In 1877, Mr. Pletcher was united in mar- riage with Emma J. Drew, a daughter of Horace Drew, who is a veteran of the Civil War, and resides with our subject. Four children were reared by Mr. and Mrs. Pletcher: Horace Franklin, who died in June, 1906, left a widow, Sadie (Barnd) Pletcher, and two children, May and Samuel, the latter of whom has been adopted by our subject and wife; Henry Irwin, a barber, of Van Buren, O., married Edith Hedge and has two children, Horessa and Emmeline Irvina; Callie, and Horessa. They belong to the United Brethren church of Van Buren.

COLLIN D. HAYWARD, dealer in lumber and coal, with business quarters on Crystal Street, Findlay, O., is a thoroughly representative citizen and is serving in his second term on the city council. He was born at Kellysville, Ashtabula County, O., in 1859, and is a son of Samuel Hayward.

The father of Mr. Hayward was born in St. Lawrence County, N. Y., in 1826. In manhood he located at Conneaut, Ashta- bula County, O., where he engaged in the banking business and became a prominent

figure in politics, serving in the state legis- lature. He died in 1885, at the age of fifty- nine years.

Collin D. Hayward was reared and edu- cated at Conneaut. When twenty years of age he went to Chicago and for two years was with the great mercantile house of Marshall Field & Co. In 1885 he came to Findlay and has resided here ever since and has identified himself with the leading in- terests of this section. In addition to his lumber and coal enterprise he is vice presi- dent of the Buckeye Traction Ditcher Com- pany, which is the largest independent manufacturing concern at Findlay, makers of the famous Buckeye Traction Ditcher, the demand for which is world-wide. At present his company gives employment to about 200 men and when contemplated ad- ditions to the plant are finished, there will be 400 men employed. It is in a very pros- perous condition, its business outlook being favorable in every way.

Mr. Hayward was married in 1907 to Miss Clara M. Coburn, who was born at Bradford, Pa., but has been a resident of Findlay since 1890. Mr. and Mrs. Hayward have one child, Rachel. In politics he is a Republican and on that ticket was elected councilman-at-large and has been a useful and effective official. He is identified with the Elks.

REV. T. R. STEINER, one of Union Township's most esteemed citizens, is a minister in the Church of God and has been a member in the same since he was four- teen years of age. He resides on his valu- able farm of 100 acres, which is situated in Section 7, Union Township, Hancock

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County, O. He was born in Riley Town- and served very acceptably as township ship, Putnam County, O., December 1, trustee from 1903 to 1905.

1858, and is a son of Rev. I. and Mary P. (Rothen) Steiner. The father was born in Wayne County, O., and was a preacher and farmer.

T. R. Steiner obtained his early educa- tion in the schools of Riley Township and later, between 1876 and 1882, attended at irregular intervals as his other duties per- mitted, the sessions of the Ada Normal School. He taught six winter terms of school in Riley Township and in Richland Township, in Allen County, and proved his ability as an instructor. He has always been interested in educational matters and in 1909 was elected president of the school board of Union Township. In 1907 he was ordained a minister in the Church of God, in which he had been an elder for many years, and he has charge of a congregation near Convoy, O. Following his marriage he settled on his present farm which lies three and one-half miles north and two and one-half miles west of Mt. Cory. This is a very valuable property, being improved in every way, excellent fencing, perfect tiling and modern attractive buildings. General farming is carried on and the place is well stocked.

Mr. Steiner was married December 18, 1884, to Miss Mary S. Green, whose par- ents were well known people in this section. Five children make up the family, namely : Raymond W., who attended Findlay Col- lege for six years; Otto B., who attended the same institution for three years; and Lloyd G., Ralph and Herold, all living at home. Mr. Steiner has never taken an ac- tive part in politics but he is a good citizen

A. H. GOOD, general manager and half owner of the Risser & Good grain elevator, at Jenera, O., is also cashier of the Farmers' Bank Company and is one of the most en- terprising business men of this thriving little city. He was born July 14. 1864, in Putnam County, O., and is a son of Ashford and Catherine (Dicus) Good, the former a native of Franklin County, O., and the lat- ter of Champaign County. The father died when our subject was less than one year old and the mother resides on the old home farm in Putnam County, O. She is the mother of five children, all of whom are still living.

A. H. Good was reared and educated in Putnam County, and remained on the home farm until thirty years of age, then located ten miles west of Columbus Grove. In 1900 he came to Jenera, where he formed a partnership with Mr. Risser and purchased the present Risser & Good grain elevator, which they have operated continuously and successfully since that time. On November II, 1902, he organized the Farmers' Bank, a private bank of Jenera, with four stock- holders, and the following officers were elected: John Von Stein, president; John Heldman, first vice president; A. J. Gross- man, second vice president, and A. H. Good, our subject, cashier. They erected the present bank building in 1905, and in Janu- ary, 1909, incorporated as the Farmers' Bank Company with a capital stock of $25,000 with eleven stockholders, which have since been decreased to ten. Mr. Good, with three others, is also interested

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township and haif elevator. Farmers most en- thriving 1864, in Ashiord ormer a the lat- 1er died 'ear old I home is the om are ited in home )cated : In ned a hased 'ator. · and nber Bank. ock- vere ohn OSS- od. the nu- IT'S of ch [r. ed

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J. W. H. BEACH, M. D.

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in a Texas ranch and rice field of 1,240 acres. Mr. Good is a man of public spirit and enterprise and is recognized as one of the most progressive and substantial busi- ness men of Jenera, O.

Mr. Good was united in marriage with Miss Mary E. Brenner, who is a daughter of ex-Senator Simon Brenner, of Dayton, O. No children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Good.

J. W. H. BEACH, M. D., who has been successfully engaged in the practice of medi- cine at Arlington, O., since April, 1898, was born in Crawford County, O., December 6, 1872, and is a son of Frederick and Martha (Feick) Beach.

Reinhart Beach, grandfather of Dr. Beach, was a native of Germany, and came to Craw- ford County, O., at an early period where he entered a tract of 160 acres of farm land from the Government in Vernon Township. There he spent the remainder of his life and died in 1885. Frederick Beach, father of subject, was born November 7, 1837, in Crawford County, O., where he has always lived and where he follows farming.

On April 25, 1900, Dr. Beach was joined in marriage with Miss Florence N. Reigle, who was born September 11, 1876, at Arlington, where she was reared, and is the youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. P. A. Reigle. Her father was one of the best known stock buyers in Northwestern Ohio and died at his home near Arlington at the age of seventy years, three months and twenty-three days. One child, who died at the age of ten days, was born to Dr. and Mrs. Beach. Dr. Beach is a member of the German Reform church, and Mrs. Beach holds membership with the Meth- odist Episcopal church of Arlington.

EPHRAIM M. WARFEL, proprietor of the jewelry store located at No. 208 South Main Street, Findlay, O., has been estab- lished in business in this city since 1894 and enjoys a liberal amount of patronage on account of the reliable goods he carries and his honorable methods of disposing of them. He was born in one of the small villages of Lancaster County, Pa., January 30, 1843, and is a son of Abraham M. and Fannie (Maynard) Warfel.

J. W. H. Beach was reared in Vernon Town- ship, Crawford County, O., and after com- pleting the elementary course in the common schools, attended the High School of Crestline, O., for three years. In 1891 and 1892 he took a general course of study in the Normal School at Crestline, and in 1895 entered the Medical College at Fort Wayne, Ind., now known as the Purdue University, and on March 14, 1898, received a diploma for the practice of medicine. Dr. Beach came to Arlington, O., on April 27, being called the City Mill. After a resi- 1898, and has since been located here in the practice of his profession.

When six years old, the mother of Mr. Warfel died and he was reared under the care of a step-mother. She saw that he at- tended school during some years of boy- hood and he continued to work on a farm until he was twenty-one years of age, when he learned the flour mill business. For three years he worked in a flour-mill in his native county and then was employed at Knoxville, Ill., working in a mill at first in which he later bought a half interest, this dence of eleven years at Knoxville he sold his interests and moved to Galesburg, Ill.,

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and was employed three years in a mill at that point and then leased a mill at Rush- ville and worked there as a mechanical en- gineer, and came from there to Findlay and embarked in his present line of business.

Mr. Warfel was married (first) in Lan- caster County, Pa., to Miss Eliza Dritch, who died in 1893. They had three children : Elmer E., who lives at Pasadena, Calif .; Lizzie, who is deceased, was the wife of Frank Black; and Harvey Clyde, who learned the watchmaking trade at Rush- ville and is associated with his father. Mr. Warfel was married (second) to Mrs. Elizabeth M. Knapp, a native of Vermont. She was the widow of Dr. Frank Knapp, formerly of Findlay. They are members of the First Methodist Episcopal church, and Mr. Warfel is a class leader and is also president of its board of trustees.

SAMUEL M. BIBLER, whose well im- proved farm of forty acres is situated in Pleas- ant Township, Hancock County, O., is a rep- resentative agriculturist of this section in which he has made his home for many years. He was born in Fairfield County, O.

The parents of Mr. Bibler were also natives of Fairfield County and the father died there. The mother died at the home of her son Samuel B., in June, 1908, aged eighty-four years. They had five children to die in infancy and those who survive are: William, who lives in Pleasant Township, northwest of McComb; Frank, who is a farmer in Jackson Township; Clinton, who is a resident of Findlay; Etta, who is the wife of John Wright, of Fairfield County ; and Samuel M.

Samuel M. Bibler came to Hancock County in 1875 and his first employer was Charles Hart.

Thomas, whose farm was situated one and one- half miles east of Findlay, and with him he re- mained for eight months, then worked for the same period for Alfred Wilkes and for eighteen months for W. B. Miller. In 1884 he was married and for two years afterward lived on Mr. Miller's farm and operated it. In April, 1889, together with his father-in-law he pur- chased the John King farm and since April, 1890, has been located on his present farm in Pleasant Township. Here he replaced both the house and barn and has made many other im- provements. General farming and moderate stock raising have been the industries which have claimed his attention for the past twenty- one years.

Mr. Bibler was married on November 13, 1884, to Miss Louie Baker, a daughter of Aaron Baker, of Findlay Township, Hancock County, and they have three daughters : Maud; Hazel, who is the wife of Cecil King, a resi- dent of Pleasant Township and they have had two children-Dorothy Caroline and Lucile, the latter deceased; and Ethel, who is a school girl of twelve years. Mr. Bibler and family attend the Methodist Episcopal church at Mc- Comb. In politics he is nominally a Democrat but usually exercises his own good judgment in casting his vote, demanding that candidates shall be well qualified for the offices they seek and able to show an honorable past record.

JOHN HART, who is one of the three mem- bers making up that civic body, the Board of Review, of Findlay, O., came to this city from his farm, in the fall of 1894. He was born on a farm in Portage Township, Hancock County, O., in an old pioneer log house, March 7, 1843, and is a son of Abraham and Christina (Lynn)

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Abraham Hart was born in Pennsylvania have three children: Charles Austin, who is and his wife in Maryland. They were mar- married and lives at Findlay; and Violet Olive and Eva Belle. ried in Ashland County, O., and in 1841 came to Hancock County and settled on a wilderness farm in Portage Township. He had to chop a clearing on which to erect his cabin but he lived to not only see his whole 160 acres cleared but also cultivated and improved. Abraham Hart was born June 8, 1815, and he died September 29, 1885, surviving his wife, who was born in 1809, for two years. They had a large family, six of whom reached matu- rity and four are yet living. Elizabeth became the wife of Abraham Bayles. She was born January 28, 1840, and died November 4, 1869. John was the second of the family. Isaac, who was born June 13, 1845, survives. Lucinda, who was born December 31, 1847, became the wife of Benjamin Huntwork, and after his death married John Dishong, who is also de- ceased. She died November 7, 1895. Ro- sanna, who was born December 15, 1850, be- came the wife of Charles Clark. Sarah Ann, who was a twin sister of Rosanna, became the wife of William Moorehead.

John Hart grew to manhood on the home farm and attended the country schools. The opening of the Civil War found him ready to offer his services but he was not able to ar- range to go before August, 1862, being not quite nineteen years of age, when he enlisted in Co. F, 21st O. Vol. Inf., his first period cov- ering one year. In April, 1864, he enlisted again, entering Co. G, 133rd O. Vol. Inf., and served 100 days. Mr. Hart was fortunate enough to escape all injuries, although often in danger, and returned home safely.

On October 1, 1868, Mr. Hart was married to Miss Eliza J. Taylor, a daughter of Wash- ington Taylor, of Hancock County, and they

Immediately after marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Hart moved to his farm in Liberty Township and went to housekeeping in a log house, which, in the course of time gave way to a commodious .brick residence, two stories in height, the building of which cost Mr. Hart $4,000. He made many other fine improve- ments, put the entire eighty-four acres under a fine state of cultivation and there carried on farming and sheep raising. He still owns the farm and has fourteen light-producing oil wells on the property. With his wife he owns the handsome family residence at No. 506 North Main Street, Findlay, together with a house and lot on North Cory Street. Both in Liberty Township and in Findlay he has been an active and useful citizen. In the former he served twenty-one years as township trustee and re- signed the office when he came to this city, where he has been a member of the city council and is serving in his second term on the Board of Review, his associates being P. B. Arnold and David L. Grable. He is one of the repre- sentative men of Hancock County.

E. W. BURKET, who is owner and pro- prietor of the largest grocery store at Rawson, . O., where he is one of the leading and repre- sentative citizens, was born in Union Town- ship, Hancock County, O., October 27, 1867, and is a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Walter) Burket.

Jacob Burket was also born in Union Town- ship and now lives retired at Rawson. He was engaged in agricultural pursuits during the entire period of active life. He married Eliz- abeth Walter, who was born in Blanchard

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Township and has spent her whole life in Han- cock County.

E. W. Burket was mainly educated in the Rawson schools and from being a pupil he be- came a teacher and a very acceptable one. He taught four terms at Seton, Ill., and one term in District No. 1, in Union Township, Han- cock County. In the fall of 1891 he started into business at Rawson, invested largely in property and became an active and enterprising citizen. He is a Democrat in politics and in 1906 was elected mayor of the town and was reelected in 1908. In 1898 he was elected a justice of the peace and for the past ten years has been a notary public. Mr. Burket has car- ried on his business at Rawson for the past nineteen years. He owns one of the largest business blocks in the town, the property which he occupies himself and also seventeen acres of land lying on the corporation lines of Rawson. In addition to dealing in groceries, he handles hardware.

On January 21, 1891, Mr. Burket was mar- ried to Miss Alpha M. Werts, of Sunbeam, Ill., a daughter of George W. and Mary (Decker) Werts, natives of Zanesville, O. The mother of Mrs. Burket died at Aledo, Ill., in February, 1906, and the father still resides at Aledo. Mr. and Mrs. Burket have three children : Firm C., Ruth M., and Leslie V. Mr. Burket and fam- ily belong to the United Brethren church at Rawson, with which he has been identified for ten years. For twenty years he has belonged to Lodge No. 410, Knights of Pythias at Raw- son, in which he has filled every office.

CHARLES KILGOUR, chief engineer of the Toledo, Bowling Green & Southern Trac- tion Company, who also operate the street rail- way system of Findlay and the Findlay-

Mortimer Line, has been identified with this concern since 1905 and has been a resident of Findlay since that date.

Charles Kilgour was born in Cincinnati, O., and obtained his education in the schools of that city and in eastern institutions. Mr. Kilgour is a practical electrician and has been associated with various traction and electric light concerns since 1889, commencing his career in that line of business with the old Thompson-Houston Company of Lynn, Mass. This company later consolidated with the Edison Company, the consolidated firm being known as the General Electric Company of Schenectady, N. Y., with whom our subject was later employed on the road, installing machines in various parts of the country. Mr. Kilgour came to Findlay in 1905 and since that time has had charge of the engineering department of the Toledo, Bowl- ing Green and Southern Traction Company, whose main offices are located in Cincinnati, O. Besides their other railway interests the com- pany also operate the electric light plant and hot water heating systems of Findlay.

Mr. Kilgour was united in marriage with Miss Lucile Dolly. He is fraternally a Mason and a member of the B. P. O. E.

JOHN WORTMAN, one of the best known and most respected citizens of Blanchard Township, Hancock County, O., who, in asso- ciation with his son, E. C. Wortman, is equal owner of a farm of 160 acres, was born Sep- tember 10, 1825, in Lawrence County, Pa. Mr. Wortman came to Hancock County, O., in 1857 and settled in Blanchard Township on the farm on which he now lives. When he purchased his land it was almost a wilderness and it required many years of diligent atten- tion and hard work to clear and improve it.

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He has been satisfied to devote it to general County during his entire life. He was born farming and stock raising and has never made on a farm in Cass Township, March 4, 1859, and is a son of John B. Horn. any tests for oil or gas. He still has thirty acres in timber.

Mr. Wortman was married in Pennsylvania to Miss Julia Dilworth, a daughter of Robert and Katherine Dilworth, of Lawrence County, Pa. She died in 1896 and her burial was at McComb, O. She was a most estimable lady, a consistent member of the Presbyterian church, a good neighbor and a faithful and ten- der wife and mother. She has one surviving sister, Miss Angie E. Dilworth, who taught twenty-five terms of school in Hancock County and is very highly thought of. To Mr. and Mrs. Wortman three children were born: Mary Ellen, E. C., and Florence E. Mary Ellen died at the age of sixteen years. E. C., who is half owner of the home farm, is a prominent citizen of the township of which he has served as su- pervisor. He devotes himself to farm pursuits and taught school for four winters in Blanch- ard Township. He is a stockholder in the Farmers' Mutual Telephone Company of Mc- Comb. He is unmarried. Florence E. mar- ried M. J. Fenstermaker and they live in Put- nam County, and have one child, Hazel Glenn.

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Twentieth Century History of Findlay and Hancock County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens, Part 51

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

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