Twentieth Century History of Findlay and Hancock County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens, Part 57

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 57

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).

Mr. Stough was united in marriage with Miss Maria Eckert, a daughter of Sullivan Eckert, of Marion Township, and they have had three children: George, who is president of the Allen Township School Board, lives on a farm adjoining that of his father; Charlie J., who resides on the old Eckert farm in Cass Township; and Guy, who figures prominently in the oil industry, resides on Center Street, Findlay, O. Mr. Stough is an adherent of the Democratic party, politcally, and served eight years as trustee of Allen Township, his term expiring in 1907.

Thomas J. Saunders was born in Fairfield County, O., and came to Hancock County when twelve years old, with his father, Jacob G. Saunders, who established himself in the shoe- making trade at Benton Ridge. Thomas J. Saunders learned his father's trade and he also taught school and after coming to Findlay, where he died in 1901, he conducted the Saun- ders Hotel for a number of years. His widow survives.

O. H. Saunders was reared at Benton Ridge and attended the public schools there, subse- quently becoming a teacher and for nine years prior to 1887, when he accompanied his parents to Findlay, he taught school in Hancock County. About that time he entered the Ohio Medical College, now the University of Cin- cinnati, and was graduated there in the class of 1891, when he returned to Findlay and en- gaged in medical practice here for one year, moving then to West Indepedence, where he continued to practice for eight years. In 1900 he returned to Findlay and established his of- fice at No. 31512 South Main Street. Dr. Saunders is a member of the Hancock County, the Ohio State and the National Medical Socie- ties and keeps thoroughly abreast with the times in the advancement of medical science. He is an active citizen and in 1901 was elected a member of the Findlay School Board and since 1907 has been clerk of this body.

Dr. Saunders was married to Miss Anna E. Winbigler, a daughter of William Winbigler, of Maryland, and they have two children :

O. H. SAUNDERS, M. D., physician and surgeon at Findlay, O., and a representative Ralph Thomas and Marie L. He is fraternally

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affiliated with the order of Ben Hur and the Maccabees.

EDWARD GEORGE, M. D., who has been engaged in the practice of medicine at Van Buren, O., since 1876, was born March 18, 1850, in Mercer County, Pa., and is a son of Jonathan and Elizabeth (Harlow) George. The father of our subject was a carpenter and cabinetmaker by trade and about 1855 came to Hancock County, O., and followed his trade at Benton Ridge during the remainder of his act- ive life. He died in Findlay, O., in 1901, and his wife died in 1900.

Edward George was reared at Benton Ridge, O., where he obtained his early educa- tion in the common schools and also taught one year. He then began reading medicine with Dr. T. C. Ballard, formerly of Benton Ridge, but later of Findlay, and after studying with him one year and six months, entered the Medical Department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, where he spent one year. He then entered the Medical College at Indianapolis, Ind., and graduated from same with the class of 1876, and has since been suc- cessfully engaged in the practice of his profes- sion at Van Buren, Allen Township, Hancock County, O. Dr. George owns a fine tract of farming land in Allen Township. He is a member of the American, Ohio State, Hancock County, and the Northwestern Ohio Medical Societies, and is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias. His religious connection is with the Presbyterian church of Van Buren.

Dr. George was united in marriage in 1875 with Miss Esther Whistler, a daughter of Sam- uel Whistler, a miller and farmer of Benton Ridge, O.

NORMAN HUFFMAN, a prominent farmer and stockman, owning 160 acres of val- uable land situated in Section 26, Cass Town- ship, Hancock County, O., has oil and financial interests in this section and is a representative business man. He now enjoys one of the fine residences of the township, but he was born June 3, 1845, in a round log house that stood on his father's farm in Washington Town- ship, Hancock County. He is a son of Will- iam and Margaret (Ruff) Huffman.

William Huffman came to Hancock County in 1844 from Portage County, O .; and located first on a tract of eighty acres, situated in Sec- tion 7, which he later sold and bought sixty-one acres in the same township. He died on that place a comparatively young man although he had a family of ten children. He married Mar- garet Ruff, who died in 1904, being then more than eighty years of age. Hiram, the eldest son, was a member of Co. A, 49th O. Vol. Inf., and died during the Civil War. Joseph, who was a member of the same regiment, survived the entire period of strife and now resides in Michigan. Christina is the widow of David Caldwell. Alvira is the wife of Reason Cro- zer. Mary is the widow of John Wineland. The others survive: Jefferson and Addison, twins; George, Jeremiah and Norman, the last named being the fourth in order of birth.

Norman Huffman grew to manhood in Washington Township .. His father died while his older brothers were in the army and for this reason his own school period was short- ened as he had to take charge of the farm un- der these conditions. He remained with his mother until his own marriage and by that time some of the younger sons were capable of man- aging her interests. He purchased his present farm from V. E. Baker and while the brick

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EDWARD G. HERSH, M. D.

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residence was standing, he found plenty of im- O., in 1830 and died in Wood County, in 1890. proving to do in other ways and a large amount of buildings and sheds to erect for his cattle, as he makes a great specialty of all kinds of stock. He gives attention only to the best strains, breeding and handling Percheron horses, Shorthorn cattle and Chester White hogs. He has ten producing oil wells which are a steady source of income. He is interested also as a stockholder in the Arcadia Bank at Arcadia, O.

Mr. Huffman was married the first time to Mary Anderson, who died after the birth of seven children, namely: Morris, who is de- ceased, married Lola McCracken, also de- ceased; William E., who married Etta Mosier, has four children-Frances, Helen, Donald and Pearl; Laura, who is the wife of Ballard Nelson; Ephraim and Arthur, twins, the for- mer of whom married Lucy Taylor and they have one child, Lloyd; Bertha, who is the wife of Reily Canfield, and they have two children -Orpha and Fay; and Della, who is the wife of Edward Walters and they have one child, Florence. Mr. Huffman's second marriage was to Mary A. Taylor, a daughter of George Taylor, formerly an old resident of Hancock County, now of Indiana. In politics, Mr. Huff- man is a Democrat and he has served as school director, township trustee and in other offices. He is identified with Lodge No. 421, Knights of Pythias, Arcadia, O.

EDWARD G. HERSH, M. D., who com- mands a large medical practice at McComb, O., where he is a leading citizen and has property investments, was born at Grand Rapids, Wood County, O., January 29, 1865, and is a son of Henry and Hannah (Bell) Hersh.

Henry Hersh was born in Holmes County,

Prior to 1860 he moved to Wood County and there engaged in farming. He served as a soldier in the Union army during the Civil War and was identified with a post of the Grand Army of the Republic. He married Hannah Bell, who was also born in Holmes County and still survives, being now in her seventy-eighth year. Two of their family of children are deceased, but the following are living: Maggie J., who is the wife of J. B. Gunday, of Toledo; John A., who resides in Cleveland; George E., who is a lumber mer- chant at Grand Rapids, O .; W. H., who is a graduate of the College of Physicians and Sur- geons at Chicago, where he is engaged in med- ical practice; Arthur B., who is engaged in farming near Grand Rapids; and Edward G. In politics, Henry Hersh was a Republican and both he and wife were members of the United Brethren church.

Edward G. Hersh obtained his education in the common schools and the High School at Grand Rapids and then took a scientific course in the Middlepoint Normal School. After teaching school for four terms he entered the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery, which is now known as the University of Cin- cinnati, and was graduated in the class of 1890. In the same year he came to McComb and has identified himself with the people and interests here, in 1900 completing the erection of his beautiful modern residence. He is a member of the leading medical organizations of the country, including the American Medical Asso- ciation, the Ohio State Medical Society, the Northwestern Ohio Medical Association, the Hancock County Medical Association, and the National Association of Railway Surgeons. He

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is special surgeon for the C. H. & D. Railroad tion with the drug business for seven years, and the Nickel Plate Railroad.

On October 6, 1890, Dr. Hersh was mar- ried to Miss Cora Kimberlin, who was born and reared at Grand Rapids, a daughter of Jacob and Sabina Kimberlin. They are mem- bers of the Presbyterian church. Dr. Hersh is a 32nd degree Mason, a Knight of Pythias, and belongs also to the Elks. In his political views he is a Republican.

JOHN C. FIRMIN, proprietor of Firmin's Drug Store, at Findlay, O., has been owner of his present business since the fall of 1890. He was born at Wilbraham, Mass., October 5, 1857, and is a son of F. B. and Mary (Chapin) Firmin.

F. B. Firmin died in Massachusetts, in 1881, after which his widow came to Findlay, where her death occurred in 1903. The name of Fir- min has been a prominent one in medical and drug circles of Findlay. The late Dr. Lorenzo Firmin, an uncle of John C. Firmin, in his day was one of the eminent physicians of this city. Dr. F. W. Firmin, a brother of John C., is as- sociated with his son, Dr. John M. Firmin, in medical and surgical practice at Findlay. Dr. Lorenzo and Dr. F. W. Firmin were already established at Findlay when John C. Firmin came here in 1877.

John C. Firmin was twenty years old when he came to Findlay and started to learn the drug business with John Decker, who was then the proprietor of what is now known as the Central Drug Company. After serving the required apprenticeship, Mr. Firmin entered Washington College, at Washington, D. C., where he was graduated in 1883, with the de- gree of Phar. D. He then returned to his native state and was engaged there in connec-

during the larger part of the time in the city of Worcester. In 1890 he returned to Findlay and bought the old Huber & Burns store and has continued in business here ever since. He carries a full line of drugs, sundries, candies and cigars, together with all the specialties found in a modern drug store and has probably the most complete establishment in this line in Hancock County.

Mr. Firmin has long been recognized as one of the representative and public spirited citizens . of Findlay. He served continuously as city treasurer from 1903 until January 1, 1910, be- ing elected to that office on the Republican ticket. He is a member of the Masonic frater- nity. Mr. Firmin has never married.

LUKE EDWARDS, a citizen of Mt. Cory, O., to which pleasant town he came in 1907, for ten years previously resided on a farm of eighty acres near the town, and is well known all through this section. He was born at Liverpool, England, May 7, 1852, and is a son of Thomas and Anna (King) Edwards. The parents of Mr. Ed- wards were born in Monmouthshire, Eng- land. They came to America and settled first at Richmond, Va., and later in Medina County, O., and lived also at St. Louis, Mo., the father in all these places working as a heater in a rolling mill. He and wife both died at Peru, Ind., the father in 1907 and the mother in 1908.

Luke Edwards was mainly educated in the schools of St. Louis. During a large portion of his business life he has been in- terested in the oil industry, for some years being in the employ of the Standard Oil Company, near Findlay. At present he

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owns a lease of 1,000 acres of oil land at bought eighty acres south of Jenera, also Fort Recovery, O., and has thirty producing wells.

In 1873, Mr. Edwards was married to Miss Sarah Evans, a daughter of John and Martha (Smith) Evans, the former of whom was a roller in a tin plate mill in England, where he died in 1870. Mrs. Edwards came to America in 1870, with her brother, An- thony Evans. Their grandmother, Sarah Anthony, was the daughter of a very promi- nent and wealthy man in England. Mr. and Mrs. Edwards went to housekeeping at first in St. Louis. They have three children : John, who is a train repairer, married a Mrs. Metzler, of Chicago, and they have two chil- dren-Preston and Wallace; Gordon, who married Ollie Shine, of Mt. Cory, has two children-Treva and Waneta; and Lottie Doris, who is the wife of Fred Fisher and they have one daughter, Beatrice.

ADAM BOWER, general farmer and highly respected citizen of Orange Town- ship, Hancock County, O., where he owns a farm of forty acres, situated in Section 12, was born in Franklin County, O., May 17, 1854. His parents were Jacob and Cath- erine (Fendrick) Bower.

Jacob Bower was born in Germany and was twenty-seven years of age when he came to Franklin County, O., where he soon after was married to Catherine Fendrick, also a native of Germany. They continued to live in Franklin County until after the birth of three children-Mary, Elizabeth, and Adam-and then moved to Van Buren Township, Hancock County, taking up forty acres of land on the western township JACKSON H. CRAWFORD, chief of line. Later Jacob Bower sold that land and the Findlay police force, has been a member

in Van Buren Township, and there the rest of the children were born - Catherine, Henry, Maggie and Barbara. Jacob Bower lived there into old age, his death occurring October 31, 1909, when he was ninety-one years old. His burial was in the cemetery attached to the Lutheran church of Eagle Creek of which he was a member. His widow still survives and lives on the home- stead.

Adam Bower had attended school for one term when the family moved from Franklin County although he was only five years old at the time. He continued at school, dur- ing the winter seasons, until he was eighteen years of age, devoting his summers from boyhood to farm work. After he married he settled on his present property and he has made all the excellent improvements, erect- ing the substantial buildings and attending to the draining of the land. He also had a large part of the farm to clear and still has five acres in valuable timber. As far as he knows, his land has neither oil nor gas as he has never thought it advisable to make tests.

Mr. Bower was married in Van Buren Township to Miss Catherine Essinger, a daughter of John and Elizabeth Essinger, and they have had five children: Andy, Elizabeth, George, Lucinda and Henry Ed- ward, the last named having died when five months old. Mr. Bower and wife are mem- bers of the Evangelical Lutheran church of Eagle Creek. He votes the Democratic ticket.

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of the organization since April 20, 1902, and has occupied his present responsible posi- tion since August 1, 1909. He was born in Warren County, Pa., May 27, 1865, and is a son of Patrick Henry and Margaret (Downs) Crawford. Henry Crawford was a railroad man for some years but now is engaged in farming in Shelby County, O., where both he and wife reside. In 1868 they moved to Wadsworth and later to Mansfield, O., and still later to their farm.

Jackson H. Crawford was reared at Mans- field and attended school there and then went into the oil fields and for thirteen years was in the employ of E. Wanamaker, the large oil producer. He was twenty-three years old when he came to Findlay, March I, 1888, and was in the oil industry until he became a member of the police force as indicated above. Faithful and efficient serv- ice brought about promotion and in the summer of 1909 he was appointed chief of the department by Hon. J. B. Walker, mayor of Findlay. His administration has been an effective one and he commands the con- fidence of the city. Chief Crawford was married at Shelby, O., to Miss Laura E. Barga, and they have two children: Verl D. and Myrtle.

WILLIAM H. FALK, postmaster at Mt. Cory, O., and proprietor of a general store, was born in Adams County, Ind., and is a son of Sylvanus and Margaret Falk.

The parents of Mr. Falk were born in Pennsylvania. When the father was small his parents came to Hancock County when the present site of Mt. Cory was covered with a dense forest growth. The grand- father secured eighty acres of Government

land, which Sylvanus Falk assisted him to clear. He continued to live on the farm until he went for a time to Indiana, where he worked in a tannery. He then came back to Hancock County and now resides retired at Mt. Cory. He married a mem- ber of an old Pennsylvania family that came to Fairfield County, O. She died at Mt. Cory in 1906.

William H. Falk was reared in Union Township, Hancock County, where he at- tended school. After his marriage he moved to Mt. Cory and has become one of the sub- stantial business men of the place. He owns the largest business block in the town, which he has completed within the past six years and his general store leads all other enter- prises of its kind in volume and quality of stock. He handles groceries, shoes, hats, caps and dry goods, and since April 1, 1906, he has been postmaster.

In 1892, Mr. Falk was married to Miss Sophia Fox, whose parents were farming people residing one and one-half miles north of Rawson, O. The mother still resides on the homestead but the father died in 1902. Mr. and Mrs. Falk have six children :: Mar- querite Levon, Dorothy, Winona, Donald and Elizabeth. In politics, Mr. Falk is a Re- publican.

EDWARD BOUTWELL, who carries on general farming and stock raising on his valuable farm of 100 acres, which is situated in Section 14, Orange Township, Hancock County, O., was born in this township, March 19, 1866, and is a son of Edwin and Rebecca (Elder) Boutwell.

Edwin Boutwell was born in the State of New York and in boyhood accompanied his

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parents to Coshocton County, O., where he tics Mr. Boutwell is a Democrat as was his was educated in the schools of that day, father before him. mostly of the pioneer type. He then came into Hancock County and soon married Re- FRED E. ANDERSON, V. S., with office at No. 130 East Crawford Street, Find- lay, O., entered into the practice of his pro- fession in this city in 1887, and has built up a large business in this section. He was born at Carey, Wyandot County, O., April I, 1864, and is a son of Isaiah J. and Eliza- beth (Stauffer) Anderson. becca Elder, of Mt. Blanchard, a daughter of Robert Elder. They settled in Orange Township and there eleven children were born to them, three of whom are living. Edwin Boutwell was one of the early set- tlers and did the most of the clearing of his land. Later in life he moved to the State of Washington in search of health and lived there until his death, in his seventy-fifth year. His wife died when aged seventy-two years and was buried in the Hassam Ceme- tery, Orange Township. They were mem- bers of the Riley Creek Baptist church.

Isaiah J. Anderson was born and reared at Fostoria, O., and was a son of James Anderson, a pioneer there, who once owned several hundred acres of land and conducted one of the early stores of that place. From Fostoria, Isaiah J. Anderson moved to Carey, in Wyandot County, where he con- ducted a store until 1869, when he moved onto his farm. He died in July, 1905, hav- ing survived his wife since 1882.

Fred E. Anderson was five years old when his parents moved on the farm and he remained there until he was nineteen years of age. While he was never particu- larly interested in the tilling of the soil, from boyhood he liked animals and was able to control them and when the time came for him to choose a pursuit and profession, he decided to be a veterinary surgeon and to this end became a student in the veterinary college at Toronto, Canada, where he was graduated in 1886. He practiced at Carey from April 1, 1886, until January 1, 1887, when he came to Findlay. He stands at the head of his profession in Hancock County.

Mr. Boutwell was married in 1885. to Miss Eliza Zarabaugh, a daughter of Peter Zarabaugh, of Orange Township, and they have had eleven children: Charles H., Dr. Anderson married Miss Laura E. Moses, of Sandusky County, and they have two children: Harry T. and Gertrude O. Burley, William, Arthur, George, Luella, Ward, Etta, Mabel Cloyce and Ruth. The family attend the Baptist church. In poli- He recently purchased a beautiful residence

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Edward Boutwell has almost always lived on his present farm and as soon as his school days were over began to give his father much assistance. He spent the first year after his marriage in Van Wert County and then returned to Orange Township and se- cured the southeast quarter of the home- stead. This part of the estate he has greatly improved, having erected all the substantial buildings now standing and having done all the underdraining and ditching. The first wild-cat well drilled in Orange Township was on his farm and some oil and gas were developed. He has six acres in very valu- able timber.

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at No. 219 East Sandusky Street. He is to Miss Glenn Treece, a daughter of Isaac identified with the Masonic fraternity.

HERBERT S. SOLT, general farmer and owner of eighty acres of well improved land which is situated in Section 21, Eagle Township, Hancock County, O., seven and one-half miles southwest of Findlay, on the Rawson road, was born on this place, March 9, 1868. His parents were Peter and Hen- rietta (Cloud) Solt.

Peter Solt was born in Fairfield County, O., as was also his wife, and they came to Eagle Township in the fall of 1855 and set- tled here when for miles and miles around there was nothing but forest. Peter Solt engaged in stock buying for many years and made many trips to New York to find a market, driving his stock himself. He lived to see many changes of all kinds, his death occurring June 20, 1908. His wife was a daughter of Mordecai Cloud, who was a prosperous farmer in Fairfield County. Mrs. Solt survives and lives with her son, D. B. Solt, at Rawson, Ohio.

Herbert S. Solt obtained his education in the township schools and from boyhood has been busy on the farm on which he was born. He carries on a general farming line and raises considerable stock, each year hav- ing hogs, sheep, horses and cattle to sell. Since coming into possession of the farm he has done quite a large amount of improv- ing, building a commodious and comfortable farm house and also a substantial barn and he has also put down enough tile to ensure proper drainage. Mr. Solt is a progressive farmer and carries on his various operations according to modern ideas.

On May 18, 1909, Mr. Solt was married

and Amy Treece, and they have one child, Rena Lucile. Mrs. Solt was a teacher prior to her marriage and taught in Van Buren Township from 1907 until 1908 and later taught one term in Eagle Township, and was very highly esteemed in both neighbor- hoods. Mr. Solt takes no very active in- terest in politics but he is a fair-minded man and his neighbors know that he may be de- pended upon to support all measures which promise to be beneficial to his section.

GEORGE FRANKLIN VAN EMAN, who has been postmaster of Van Buren, O., since February 6, 1908, when he succeeded G. S. Brushwood, was for many years engaged in agricultural pursuits in Cass Township, Han- cock County, O. He was born August 30, 1863, on a farm in Cass Township, and is a son of Joseph Cooper and Mary E. (Hollingshead) Van Eman.

Joseph Cooper Van Eman was born in Greene County, Pa., and at the age of thirteen years came to Hancock County, O., with his parents, who located on a farm six miles west of Findlay in Blanchard Township. Here he was reared to maturity and during his early manhood taught school a few terms, and en- gaged in the mercantile business, but spent his later years on a farm of 150 acres in Cass Township, where his death occurred in 1891. He was one of the substantial farmers and prominent citizens of the county, and is still survived by his widow, who is a resident of Bloomdale, Wood County, O.

George F. Van Eman was reared on the home farm in Cass Township and for years was engaged in farming in that township, re- moving to Van Buren, O., in 1903, in which

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Twentieth Century History of Findlay and Hancock County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens, Part 57

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

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