Twentieth Century History of Findlay and Hancock County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens, Part 60

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 60

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JOHN BAME, who is one of the represen- tative German-American citizens of Orange Township, Hancock County, O., owns an ex- cellent and carefully improved farm of eighty acres. He was born in Germany, November 5, 1857, and was twenty years of age when he came to America, making the voyage on a ves- sel that required two weeks to cross the Atlan- tic Ocean.

In 1875 Mr. Swinehart was married in Wood County to Eva Staley, who at that time was a widow. They had five children, namely : Oliver Allen, an infant (daughter) ; Charles H., another infant daughter, and Mathias Bur- ton. Mrs. Eva Swinehart died May 6, 1897, and her burial was at Fostoria. Two of the sons, when aged respectively five and seven years, gave their father a terrible fright and aroused the whole city of Findlay. The little lads started to get the cows (which pastured in forty acres of fenced woodland) and became lost, and before their distracted father found them, they had wandered thirty-five miles. Practically the whole city of Findlay, aroused by pealing bells, joined in the search, which happily proved successful after an all-day hunt.

Mr. Bame had attended school in his native land and had a good German education. He landed at the port of New York and from there came to Hancock County, O., and se- cured farm work in Van Buren Township and attended two terms of school there. He worked by the month and by the year as a farmer until after his marriage. In 1897 he bought his present farm from Jacob Heldman. He imme- diately began to improve his property, com- pleting the draining of the land and rebuild- ing his farm residence and putting all the dif- ferent structures in good shape. He devotes himself to general farming, especially grain growing and each year also turns out some fine cattle.

Mr. Swinehart married for his second wife, Mr. Bame was married in Van Buren Town- ship to Miss Barbara Beach, a daughter of John Beach and they have three children: Mena, Henry and Harvey. Mr. and Mrs. Bame are members of the Lutheran church. He is an independent voter, making his own esti- Miss Sarah Diebert, a daughter of Solomon Diebert, of Lehigh County, Pa., and they had one child, Claude Arthur. This wife died in November, 1901, and was buried in the Weaver Cemetery, in Wood County. On June 19, 1904, Mr. Swinehart was united in mar- mate of the men who desire office and casting

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his ballot according to his judgment. Mr. old site of Dorney and Harris being occupied. Bame has very sensible, practical ideas on gen- eral subjects and enjoys the respect of his fel- low citizens.

DANIEL E. CHILD, manager of the Han- cock Brick and Tile Company, and also mana- ger of the Buckeye Tile Company, at Findlay, O., is one of the representative business men of this city. He was born on a farm in Lorain County, O., June 7, 1843, and is a son of Abi- jah and Cordelia (Ennis) Child, the former of whom is deceased but the latter survives, being now over eighty-six years of age.

After leaving the country schools, Daniel E. Child attended Oberlin College and for seven years afterward taught graded schools, during the last two years being engaged in the Union Christian College, at Merom, Ind. In 1869 he located at Dayton, embarking in the sewing machine business and from that became a man- ufacturer of organs and was engaged in the music business in that city until 1887, when he came to Findlay. In 1888, with Mr. Dor- ney and Mr. Murray, he entered into the busi- ness of brick manufacturing and in 1891 he purchased Mr. Dorney's interest, the firm name having been Dorney, Child & Murray. The old factory was near the present plant of the Hancock Brick and Tile Company. In Septem- ber, 1892, a fire destroyed the old plant and at the time of this disaster, Mr. Murray was caught by the falling walls and lost his life. In the winter of 1892-3, Mr. Child bought the in- terest of Mr. Murray's heirs, rebuilt the plant and continued until 1903, at which time he pur- chased the Dorney and Harris plant. This plant had burned two years previously but Mr. Child rebuilt and in March, 1903, the Hancock Brick and Tile Company was organized, the

This plant lies along the T. & O. C. Railroad in the southern part of Findlay, but the offices are in the Buckeye National Bank Building. Employment is given sixty men at this plant and the foreman is D. Earl Child, who is also vice-president of the company.

D. E. Child and Sons also hold a controlling interest in the Buckeye Tile Company, of which D. Earl Child is president and his father, Daniel E. Child, is manager. The Buck- eye Tile Company operates three separate fac- tories-one being located at Pemberville, Wood County, O., another at Trowbridge, in Ottawa County, and the third at Curtice, also in Ottawa County and in each of these plants ten men are employed. They are under the supervision of Daniel E. Child and his sons: D. Earl, Leo, and Roy B. Child. The secretary of this com- pany is George E. Harper, of Ada, O. The output is exclusively farmers' drain tile which is shipped to agents in different parts of the country.

Mr. Child has been prominent in the brick and tile industry for twenty-two years but his interests are not confined to this line. In 1887 he entered into the dairy business and in 1900 organized the Findlay Dairy Company, of which he was president until 1908, when he sold. He owns the old Stopher farm of 180 acres, which lies in Marion Township and ad- joins Findlay and for twenty years operated a dairy business from that farm. Although formerly and at present interested at North Baltimore, O., Mr. Child never resided there, having maintained his home at Findlay ever since coming to this city in 1887. He organ- ized the North Baltimore Pressed Brick plant and owned a large amount of land there, one tract of sixty acres which he laid out still being

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known as the Child's addition to North Balti- came to the present farm. Here he has more. Mr. Child is a man of great business ability and with few exceptions his undertak- ings have proved successful.

Mr. Child married Mrs. Minnie J. Richard- son, of Pittsburg, Pa., and they have three sons, all unmarried, and two of whom are as- sociated with their father in his business enter- prises. Mr. Child is one of the active members and liberal supporters of the Baptist church at Findlay.

Mr. Child has been since 1893 an active member of the Symposium, the oldest literary society in the city. He has been an active sup- porter of reform in politics, but not a strong partisan.

W. A. WILLIAMSON, who is one of the largest breeders and dealers in full blooded stock in Hancock County, O., owns 160 acres of fine farm land, eighty of which is situated in Section 34, Union Township, which has been his home since he was twenty-one years of age, while the other eighty acres are located in Section 3, Orange Township. He was born in Orange Town- ship, Hancock County, O., February 19, 1854, and is a son of W. M. and Jane (Mc- Crosky) Williamson.

W. M. Williamson was a well known farmer and man of influence in Orange Township, where he lived for forty-four years. He was born in Greene County, O., came to Orange Township in Hancock County, in 1850, and died at Mt. Cory in 1894, at the age of eighty-four years. His widow survived him but a short time.

done a large amount of improving and dur- ing the past twelve years has erected his new frame house and barn and has com- pleted the tiling of his land. While he car- ries on general farming he also gives much attention to stock and his reputation for high grade stock of all kinds has extended all through this section of Ohio. He has other business interests, being one of the directors of the Mt. Cory Elevator and Ex- change Company, at Mt. Cory, and is presi- dent of the Farmers' Mutual Telephone Company, of Hancock County. He has taken an active part in township affairs, has served as assessor six different times, for seven years was a member of the school board and now is land appraiser.

Mr. Williamson was married October 14, 1880, to Miss Jane Hamilton, of Fairfield County, O., and they have two children: James M. and Ruth Ethel. Mr. Williamson and family are members of the United Pres- byterian church of Cannonsburg, in which he is an elder.

WILLIAM F. HOSLER, cashier of the City Banking Company, at Findlay, O., of which he was one of the organizers, was born on a farm in Washington Township, Hancock County, O., February 1, 1862, and is a son of Peter and Susan (Sherman) Hosler.

Peter Hosler was born in Pennsylvania and was only a child when his parents moved to Stark County, O., where he was reared a farmer, but later became a carpenter and contractor. He was married at Canton, O., and immediately afterward moved to Tiffin

W. A. Williamson obtained his education in the schools of Orange Township and lived at home until his marriage, in 1880, when he and shortly afterward to Hancock County,

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and to Findlay in 1875, when he was elected Louise. Mr. Hosler has additional in- county treasurer. He was a man of ample fortune, good business perception and pub- lic spirit. In 1890 he built the business block in which the City Banking Company has quarters, and he was one of the organizers of this financial institution and its first presi- dent. He died in 1897.

William F. Hosler was educated in the country schools and at Findlay, where he at- tended the High School and after his father became county treasurer he served one year as a clerk in his office and from there en- tered into the banking business in the Farmers' Bank, as teller. The City Bank- ing Company began business as a private bank on May 1, 1887, and was reorganized as a state bank in 1897. The original or- ganizers were: Peter Hosler, William F. Hosler, Morgan D. Shafer, P. B. Morrison and David and Morris Hosler, brothers of William F. The first president as stated, was Peter Hosler, and the first president after reorganization, was Morgan D. Shafer. All have passed away with the exception of the sons of Peter Hosler. The bank was moved to its present location in 1890. Its present officers are: D. H. Hiestand. of Findlay, president ; Charles E. Jordan, vice- president : and William F. Hosler, cashier. The board of directors is made up of the fol- lowing capitalists : D. H. Hiestand, Charles E. Jordan, William F. Hosler, Morris Hosler and Elmer Y. Sphar, all Findlay men. Mr. Hosler has been cashier ever since 1887, when the bank was organized.

Mr. Hosler married Miss Helen M. Shafer, a daughter of Morgan D. Shafer. now deceased, who was a leading attorney of this city, and they have one child, Mary

terests. He is a director of the Buckeye Traction Ditcher Company ; is secretary and treasurer of the Findlay Courier Company, and is a director also in the Findlay Table Manufacturing Company. He has been affiliated with the Odd Fellows since he was twenty-one years of age and is a charter member of Lodge No. 75, Elks. ·

GEORGE H. WERTENBERGER, who, for the past twelve years has been engaged in the furniture business at Arlington, Han- cock County, O., was born April 28, 1876, in Madison Township, Hancock County, O., and is a son of John Wertenberger.

John Wertenberger was born in Germany and in 1859, at the age of eleven years, came to this country with his father, George Wer- tenberger, who settled on land just south of Arlington in Madison Township. The father of our subject is still living, a resident of Arlington, but the mother died in 1898 on the home farm just south of Arlington.

George H. Wertenberger was reared on the home farm in Madison Township and attended the district schools of his home locality. Since 1898 he has been engaged in the furniture business, and also carries a general line of other goods, including glass- ware, silverware, rugs, carpets, sewing ma- chines and jewelry.

In 1898, Mr. Wertenberger was joined in marriage with Miss Lizzie R. Rettig, who is a daughter of Peter and Eva Rettig, well known farmers of Madison Township. Mrs. Rettig died on the home farm in Madison Township in 1908, but Mr. Rettig survives and resides on the farm. Mr. and Mrs. Wertenberger began housekeeping in Ar-

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lington. They have one child: Marvin E. They are both members of the Lutheran church of Arlington, in which Mr. Werten- berger is superintendent of the Sunday- school.

SAMUEL S. STOVER, deputy probate judge of Hancock County, O., and one of the representative citizens of Findlay, was born October 5, 1885, on a farm in Amanda Township, Hancock County, and is a son of John L. and Emma J. (Snyder) Stover. They had three children : Jessie M., Samuel S. and Morris L. John L. Stover died on a farm in Allen Township, Hancock County, April 29, 1892, but is survived by his widow.

Samuel S. Stover was reared on the farm and attended the district schools of the township and the public schools of Findlay, after which he spent twelve years working in the oil fields. In February, 1909, he as- sumed the duties of deputy probate judge, receiving the appointment from Probate Judge Dorsey.

Mr. Stover was united in marriage with Laura B. Reimand, who is a daughter of Philip Reimand. Fraternally he is a mem- ber of the Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias.

RICHARD N. LEE, M. D., one of the lead- ing physicians and surgeons of the southwest part of Hancock County, O., is a prominent citizen of Mt. Blanchard, of which place he has been a resident for twelve years. He was born in Jackson Township, this county, and is a son of Noah and Mary (Sampson) Lee.

Noah Lee was born in Amanda Township, Hancock County, O., August 15, 1845, a son of Richard and Lydia (Wyant) Lee, both of

whom were natives of Fairfield County, Ohio. Richard Lee came to Hancock County in 1830 and entered a tract of land from the Govern- ment, on which he settled in the following spring. He died in 1856 at the age of forty- eight years. Of his eleven children, his son Noah was the youngest. He married Mary Sampson, a daughter of Nicholas and Eliza Sampson. The Sampsons lived on a farm ad- joining that of the Lees, and at the time of marriage, Mary Sampson was twenty years of age. After his marriage Noah Lee rented the Houck farm, near Houckstown, and after living thereon for some seven years he pur- chased it, thereby becoming the owner of 146 acres of land. To this he added from time to time until he now owns 260 acres of some of the best farm land in Hancock County. His wife died on the homestead on August 20, 1881. She had been the mother of seven chil- dren.

Richard N. Lee, who was the third child of his parents in order of birth, was reared in Jackson Township and attended the common and high schools of Arcadia. During the years 1892-3-4 he taught school. In 1895 he began the study of medicine, reading under two of the leading physicians of Findlay. From under their instruction he entered Starling Medical College at Columbus, where he was graduated in 1898, and in May of that year he established himself in practice at Mt. Blan- chard. Dr. Lee also attended school at the New York Post-Graduate School and Hospital in 1907. He has been very successful in general practice, and there have been special occasions when he restored to health patients for whom there seemed to be little hope. He has thus won public confidence in his professional ca- pacity and is personally esteemed and held in

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high regard as a useful and progressive citizen.

On June 15, 1898, Dr. Lee was married to Miss Sylvia Marquett, who was born in Madi- son Township, Hancock County, Ohio. They have two children, Ruth M. and Robert J. Dr. Lee and family are members of the Meth- odist Episcopal church at Mt. Blanchard. He has been active in public affairs and in 1899 consented to become a member of the town council. He is identified fraternally with the Modern Woodmen, the Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias, being a Past Grand of the Odd Fellows.

WILLIAM R. RUMMELL*, proprietor of the flourishing furniture, stove and uphol- stery business located at Nos. 116-118 East Sandusky Street, Findlay, is one of the repre- sentative business men of the city. He was born at Findlay, Ohio, September 2, 1860, a son of David and Mary (Reed) Rummell, and he is a grandson of Jacob Rummell, who was born in Germany, in 1792, who was the first of this branch of the family to come to Amer- ica. Grandfather Rummell was an early set- tler in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, and followed his trade of brick mason and contractor for many years, dying in Findlay, in 1879. He was re- spected as a good and useful citizen by all who knew him.

comfortable degree of prosperity that ranked him among the well-to-do citizens of the town. He took an interest in public affairs and was a man highly respected in the community, serv- ing for a number of years as a member of the city council and also on the board of education. He was married in 1851 to Mary Reed, who was a daughter of William Reed, of Leetonia, Columbiana County. Their family numbered four children, namely: Ellen M., Jesse B., William R. and George B.

William R. Rummell received his educational training in the public schools of Findlay. He began his industrial career at the age of fif- teen, becoming clerk in his father's furniture store. During the years that followed he fa- miliarized himself thoroughly with every de- tail of the business, and in 1888, thirteen years after his industrial initiation, was admitted to partnership, at which time the firm name of D. Rummell & Son was adopted. The elder Rum- mell died in 1897, since which time, William R. Rummell has continued the business alone, hav- ing considerably increased its size and prestige. The store, equipped with a large and select line of furniture, stoves, etc., is now one of the most popular business establishments of the city, and every year sees the business increase, as the result of the straight-forward, honora- ble, methods adopted years ago by the father and since continued by the son.

David Rummell, son of Jacob and father of William R. Rummell, was born in Columbiana Mr. Rummell is identified fraternally with the Odd Fellows, Elks, Knights of Pythias, and the Junior Order of United American Me- chanics. In politics he pays allegiance to the Republican party, while religiously he belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church. County, O., in the year 1830. He followed the occupations of chairmaker and brick mason. In 1848 he came to Hancock County and continued to work at his combined trades until 1875, when he established himself in the furniture business at Findlay. He proved a successful In Allegan County, Michigan, in 1882, Mr. Rummell was married to Miss Nancy E. Bow- business man, his enterprise combined with honorable methods bringing their reward in a man, who died March 8, 1908. Her father was

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William Bowman. She is survived by three who died at the age of three years ; Edward; children: Karl R., Maud B. and Mary C. The Frank, who married Catherine O'Roark of family home is at No. 409 E. Lincoln Street, Findlay. Blanchard Township, and has one son, Richard; and Donna, who resides at home. Mr. Worst takes no very active part in pol- itics but he is a good citizen and shows his worth when any question comes up in re- gard to the general welfare of his neighbor- hood. He believes in good schools and good roads.

JOSEPH WORST, who owns 160 acres of some of the finest farm land to be found in Madison Township, has lived on this place for sixty-two years and is one of the best known and most respected citizens of this section. He was born in Stark County, O., March 16, 1848, and is a son of Israel and Anna (Maner) Worst.

The parents of Mr. Worst were born in Germany and after they married they came to America and settled in Stark County, O., and from there came to Hancock County in 1849. Here they entered forty acres of land in Madison Township and the father de- veloped a good farm on which he lived until his death, which occurred in 1890. The mother survived but one year longer.

Joseph Worst attended the district schools in boyhood whenever his father could spare him, and as soon as he was old enough he became the home farmer and remained with his parents until his marriage. He started housekeeping on a farm quite near the one which he now owns but shortly returned to the old homestead and has lived here prac- tically all his life. He carries on general farming and stock raising.

Mr. Worst was married January 30, 1870, to Miss Mary Isenbarger, of Madison Town- ship, Hancock County, a daughter of Arnold and Susan Isenbarger who were natives of Columbiana County, O. Mr. and Mrs. Worst have had five children, namely : John. who married Maggie Eibling. of Washing- ton Township. Hardin County, O .: Effie.

ROBERT LEFFLER KING, one of the leading men of Big Lick Township, a justice of the peace and the owner of one of the good improved farms in this township, be- longs to one of the old and substantial fami- lies of this section of Hancock County, O. He was born at Springfield, O., August 24, 1863, and is a son of R. Q. and Hattie (Dan- forth) King. R. Q. King, father of R. L., was born at Tarlaton. O., August 13, 1832, and is a son of David King who purchased the farm owned by his grandson in 1849. R. Q. King resides in Springfield, O. He was married in early manhood to Hattie Danforth, a native of New Albany, Ind., who died in 1907. Five children were born to this marriage: D. Ward. Thomas D., Robert L., Almena A., and Madge C., the second and last named being deceased.

R. L. King traveled through the west for several years, working at farming part of the time. February 2, 1887, he began to live on and improve this land which had first come into the King name thirty-eight years before. but had never been even cleared. After taking up his residence on this land he cleared, fenced it and began to prepare it for cultivation. The draining of this land was the cause of a great deal of trouble, the county having put through

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HANCOCK COUNTY ORPHANS' HOME, FINDLAY

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two ditches, from one of which came consider- married twice, his first wife being a Miss able litigation. Mr. King, however, finally suc- ceeded in getting all necessary draining com- pleted and has found himself in possession of a farm of exceeding fertility. Being enterpris- ing and progressive, he has made other im- provements, erecting buildings, which have no superior in the township.

On December 18, 1908, he lost his large barn by fire, a conflagration which was deemed the largest that ever occurred in Hancock County, outside of Findlay. At the present writing he is rebuilding and the new structure will be practically indestructible, being largely made of concrete and vitrified blocks. It is his ob- ject to make all his buildings equally fireproof and he has completed his horse stable and gran- ary and also two very large vitrified block and cement silos. He has very practical ideas and has adopted many modern methods in conduct- ing his farming and stock raising. In 1891 Mr. King was married to Miss Lola Askam, who was born and reared at Vanlue, Hancock County, and they have three children: Edwin .A., Hamlin C. and Jessie.

ROBERT P. TWINING, one of Liberty Township's large farmers and well known citi- zens, resides on what was formely known as the old Bushong farm, which is now owned by Mrs. Twining-a tract of 221 acres, lying in both Liberty and Portage Townships, Hancock County, O. He was born in Hancock County, August 27, 1860, and is a son of Eleazer and Eliza Jane (Sharp) Twining.

Eleazer Twining was born in Bucks County, Pa., and was seven years old when he accom- panied his parents, Joseph and Mary Twining, to Hancock County, where they spent the re- mainder of their lives. Eleazer Twining was

Thomas and his second wife Eliza Jane Sharp, who was a daughter of Philip Sharp. Their family consisted of five sons, two of whom are now deceased. Eleazer Twining spent the greater part of his life in Marion Township, Hancock County, where his death occurred when he was fifty-four years of age. His bur- ial was in the Van Horn Cemetery. The mother of Robert P. Twining died at the age of thirty-eight years and her burial was in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery. They attended the Methodist Episcopal and the Evangelical churches. In politics Mr. Twining was a Re- publican but cared nothing for office, his time being fully occupied with farming and work at the carpenter's trade.

Robert P. Twining obtained his education in the public schools of Hancock and Wood Counties and then worked for two years at the plough. He finally decided to learn the brick- laying trade and has done a large amount of first class brick work through this section, building many schoolhouses, foundations and furnaces. After marriage he lived at Findlay for six years and then moved to a farm for two years, later returning to Findlay. Subsequently he came back to Mrs. Twining's farm, which he has managed ever since.

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Twentieth Century History of Findlay and Hancock County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens, Part 60

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

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