Twentieth Century History of Findlay and Hancock County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens, Part 67

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 67

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).

Edward Waggoner, father of our subject, grew to manhood in Jefferson County, Ohio, where he was joined in marriage with Eliza Allen, also a native of that county. In 1849 they came to Hancock County and settled on a tract of timberland in Cass Township, where he built a log cabin and made a clearing. He subsequently sold this land and removed to Michigan, where he and his wife both died. They were the parents of seven children : Aaron Jackson, deceased, who served in the Civil War; William Glenn, our subject; Mary, who is the wife of David Reichard; James, who served in the Civil War; Samuel; Sarah, is the wife of Joseph Wang; and Keziah, who died young.

William Waggoner was reared in Cass

parents settled when he was quite young, and his education was obtained in the old log pay school of this district. He assisted in clearing the farm, and when young worked at carpen- tering, and also worked as a tanner seven years, which was also his father's trade. He pur- chased 40 acres, and his wife inherited 40 of the Davis farm (80 acres in all) and follows general farming. He has cleared all the land with the exception of 25 acres, has erected all of the buildings, and has had five oil wells in operation.

Mr. Waggoner was married in 1866 to Rachel Davis, a daughter of William Davis, and sister of Isaac Davis. Three children have been born to our subject and wife; Edward, who married Laura Wisley, and is the father of three children-Catherine, William and Ed- ward; (he is a resident of Lima, O., and is em- ployed on the railroad) ; and Charles and Mary May, twins. Charles, who lives near our sub- ject, married Catherine Fisher and has one daughter, Ruth. Mary May married John Welch of Kansas, and has two children : Helen R. and Mary Margaret. Mr. Waggoner is politically a Republican.

JOHN M. HAMLIN,* a representative member of the Hancock County bar and a well known resident of Mt. Blanchard, was born in Delaware Township, Hancock County, Feb- ruary 1, 1841, and is a son of Washington and Mary (Marshall) Hamlin. Washington Ham- lin was born in Guernsey County, O., and in 1827 came to Hancock County and settled in Delaware Township, where he died in 1892. His widow survived until 1895. They were farming people and were well known and highly respected in Delaware Township.

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John M. Hamlin attended the schools in his native township in early boyhood and later had better advantages at Findlay. From 1857 un- til 1862 he conducted a general store at Mt. Blanchard and at that time was the youngest buyer from the West in the eastern markets. In the latter year he became a student of law under the direction of Attorney Israel Brown, at Findlay, and in the fall of the same year entered a law school at Cleveland, where he was graduated. Later he was admitted to the bar in Guernsey County, where he practiced for one year and then returned to Findlay, was admitted to the Hancock County bar and en- gaged in the practice of law in that city for forty years. Mr. Hamlin then returned to Mt. Blanchard, where his first business venture had been conducted and has been one of the leading citizens ever since. In 1869 he was the candi- date of the Republican party for prosecuting attorney of Hancock County but the Demo- crats gained the election in that campaign.

In 1861 Mr. Hamlin was married to Miss Mary Lockwood and eight children were born to them, namely: Abbott L., who was born January 25, 1862, and died August 20, 1882; Lulu, born August 6, 1863, who died June II, 1865; a babe that died early; Florence, who was educated at Delaware College, married M. C. Shaffer, of Findlay, and they have three children-Richard, Mary C. and Morgan W .; Nellie C., who was also educated at Delaware College, and married Frank Preston McGui- gan, of Pennsylvania; Ida May, who is a suc- cessful teacher at Portland, Ore .; Gale Leora, who was a graduate of the Findlay High School, and died April 30, 1900; and Arthur L., who was born August 20, 1883, and died April 25, 1885. Mr. Hamlin and family are members of the United Presbyterian church at

Mt. Blanchard and he is president of its board of trustees.

CLINTON S. CORTHELL, deceased, for- merly one of Findlay's capitalists and promi- nent business men, was largely identified with the oil industry for many years. He was asso- ciated with C. L. Casterline in the Genesee Oil Company, the Bradford Oil Company, and the Bradford Glycerine Company, and was a stockholder and director in several suc- cessful enterprises. For a number of years he was interested also as a stockman and dealt extensively especially in horses, being a fine judge of horse flesh and owning at different times many valuable animals. He was born in Hinsdale Township, Cattaraugus County, N. Y., in 1844, and died at Findlay, April 16, 1903.

Mr. Corthell was a self-made man and his remarkable business success was entirely brought about through his own efforts. He be- came interested in the Pennsylvania oil fields in 1864. He owned and for six years operated the stage line between Franklinville and Hins- dale, N. Y. For many years he was favorably known to the business men of Bradford, Pa., and in 1887 he moved from there to Findlay, O., where his natural good judgment again controlled his investments and eventually brought him the ample fortune which placed him among the city's capitalists. They valued his advice and consulted his judgment and in their reliance on his foresight, largely directed their investments. In the public affairs of Findlay, Mr. Corthell was also active and the same qualities which brought about his per- sonal prosperity, contributed to the progress of the city when he was in a position to make use of them as a member of the city council, a

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position he held for some eight years. He was County except Mary Ann, who married and an old-time Democrat in politics and was zeal- lived in Holmes County.

ous in support of Democratic principles al- though it was often said that he was as honest in politics as he was in business. He was a charter member of the order of Elks at Findlay and was valued highly by his fraternity. Per- haps no more generous, open-handed man ever lived at Findlay. Genial, kind and thoughtful with his friends, when appeals were made to his sympathy for the poor, needy or suffering, he was generous without limit. In his home life, his best qualities were manifested.

Mr. Corthell was married in Pennsylvania, in 1887, to Miss Mary A. Boyington, Mrs. Corthell and daughter, Frieda, enjoy a beauti- ful home at No. 218 Park Place, Findlay.

THEODORE KARN, one of the best known men of Cass Township, Hancock County, O., a lifelong resident and a member of an honorable old pioneer family, for many years has carried on general farming on his own place of sixty acres, situated in Section 15, and on thirty-eight acres belonging to his wife, in Section 14, both in Cass Township. He was born in this township, February 9, 1842, and is a son of Ezra and Elizabeth (Albertson) Karn, and a grandson of Valentine Karn.

Ezra Karn, father of Theodore, was born in Maryland and was a boy when he accompa- nied his parents to Ohio. His father, Valen- tine Karn, was of German extraction. He set- tled first in Holmes County and moved from there to Hancock County and subsequently died in Cass Township. He had ten children: Mary Ann, Joshua, Magdalena, Aaron, Ezra, Elizabeth, Abram, Samuel, David and Rebecca. All accompanied their father to Hancock

Ezra Karn was about nineteen years of age when the family came to Hancock County. The farm his father secured had two or three acres cleared around a small log cabin, otherwise no improvements had been made and when the sons grew old enough they helped to complete the clearing of the land and assisted in its cul- tivating, making use of oxen in those days. Their nearest neighbors were the Albertsons, who had come from New Jersey and in the previous year, 1835, had also settled in the woods in Cass Township. They were New Jersey people, George Albertson, wife and daughter, Elizabeth, the latter being then six- teen years old. They had started on the long journey from New Jersey to Hancock County, O., with a one-horse wagon. It was strongly built and as Elizabeth walked almost the whole distance, safely transported the family effects until the party reached what is now the main thoroughfare of Fostoria, when it was so stalled in the mud that assistance had to be afforded before the travelers could proceed further. Ezra Karn subsequently married Elizabeth Albertson and eight children were born to them, Theodore being the second in order of birth. The others are as follows: William, who is now deceased-was a mem- ber of Co. G, 118th O. Vol. Inf., in the Civil War and suffered the loss of a leg in the battle of Peach Tree Creek; Drucilla, deceased, who was the wife of Fred Karrick, who is also de- ceased; Jerome, who lives in Cass Township; Simeon, who resides in Washington Township; Albert, whose farm is in Cass Township; Mar- tin L., who resides at Findlay; and Mary E., deceased, who was the wife of George Taburn. Theodore Karn attended the old log school-

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house in the neighborhood of his father's house, with his brothers and sisters, but hard work early awaited farmers in those days and as soon as he was able to handle the hoe and rake there was daily toil for him. He assisted in clearing up the parts of the farm still in a wild condition and remained under the home roof until his marriage, when he pur- chased from the other heirs. He no longer at- tends personally to his farm, renting out his fields and also having others attend to the work necessitated by five producing oil wells on his property.

On November 15, 1883, Mr. Karn was mar- ried to Miss Mary E. Swisher, who was born at Ada, O., a daughter of Peter and Mary (Doty) Swisher. Peter Swisher was a soldier in the Civil War, a member of the 99th O. Vol. Inf., and while in the service was captured by the enemy and imprisoned for 100 days in Libby prison. He died at the home of Mr. Karn in Cass Township. Mr. and Mrs. Karn have four children: Grace V., who is the wife of Jolin Barnhouse, of Van Buren, O .; and Jennie, Edwin S. and Hazel A. In politics, Mr. Karn is a Democrat. He has served in township offices, having been school director and supervisor and for two years was a justice of the peace. He has witnessed many changes during his long life in this section, in methods of farming, ways of transportation and stand- ards of living. As he swiftly moves over the fine country roads in his handsome new model Ford automobile, he can scarcely fail to con- trast it with the ox-team which he used in his boyhood. Mr. Karn is one of the men who has kept up with the times and having helped bring about more comfortable ways of living, does not hesitate to enjoy them.

SAMUEL S. FRANKS,* township trustee and an extensive agriculturist of Allen Town- ship, Hancock County, Ohio, is the owner of two tracts of farm land, the one on which he lives consists of 112 acres and is located just east of Van Buren, Ohio, and the other con- sisting of 1021/4 acres, is located one and a half miles north of Van Buren. He was born March 13, 1874, in Cass Township, Hancock County, Ohio, and is a son of Jasper and Mar- tha (Smith) Franks.

Jasper Franks was born in Pennsylvania and at an early age came to Hancock County, Ohio, with his father, John Franks, who was one of the earliest settlers of the county. Jasper Franks married Martha Smith, who was born in Seneca County, Ohio, and they began housekeeping in Cass Township, Hancock County, where they followed farming some years. Later in life Jasper Franks moved to North Baltimore, where he lived in retirement some years, but he subsequently returned to Hancock County, and passed out of this life at Van Buren, Ohio, July 13. 1901. The mother of our subject died on the farm in 1899. Four children were born to the parents of our subject : John Franks; Evaline, who is the wife of George Peffly; Samuel S., the subject of this record; and Della, who died in Febru- ary, 1907, and who was the wife of William Alworth.

Samuel S. Franks was ten years of age when his parents removed to Findlay, where they resided but two years. They then settled on the old Franks farm of 1021/4 acres in Allen Township, and subsequently fell heir to the land, which is now owned by Mr. Franks. Mr. Franks was married in 1899 and began house- keeping on this farm, and in the fall of 1909 bought the old Henry Franks farm of 112 acres

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just east of Van Buren in Allen Township. Mr. Franks resides on the latter property, but farms both places, and makes a specialty of raising poland china hogs in connection with general farming.

Mr. Franks was married in 1899 to Jessie Lauer, a daughter of Nicholas Lauer and they have two children: Martha Elizabeth, and Samuel Eugene. In politics Mr. Franks is a Democrat and in the fall of 1907 was elected trustee of Allen Township, and re-elected to that office in the fall of 1909, his present term expiring January 1, 1912. He is fraternally affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, No. 473, of Van Buren.

JAMES T. ADAMS, deceased, formerly president of the Adams Brothers Company, at Findlay, Ohio, one of the city's important man- ufacturing concerns, was identified not only with the development of this business from its infancy, but was also connected with many other important enterprises. Mr. Adams was born April 22, 1825, and his death occurred April 10th, 1906. His native place was Perry County, Pa., and from there, when ten years old, his parents brought him to Ohio. His father was Rev. William Adams, who settled in Wayne County in 1837 and came to Findlay in 1860.

The Adams family to which the late James T. Adams belonged, is of English extraction, of colonial settlement and of Revolutionary stock. Mr. Adams, however, was a man who needed no background of distinguished ances- try to impress those with whom he came in contact, although their sterling traits of char- acter may have had a hereditary influence in the makeup of his own. From the age of four- teen years he provided for his own mainte-

nance. At that age he began to learn the tin- smith's trade at Massillon, Ohio, where he lived until 1845. He then went to Plymouth and continued work there until 1854, when he came to Findlay. He continued work as a tin- smith until 1864 and then opened a general hardware store which he conducted for about six years, selling out in order to enter-rather extensively for the time-into the manufacture of linseed oil. This industry he continued un- til 1878, when, in association with his broth- ers he organized the foundry and machine busi- ness which is continued under the style of the Adams Brothers Company. In 1890 the busi- ness was incorporated, James T. Adams be- coming president, and Newton Adams, treas- urer. The enterprise has grown steadily, while in all Western Ohio no firm name stands higher in the trade than that of Adams Brothers.

For fifty-five years the late James T. Adams was identified with Findlay's interests and these he frequently made personal ones. With fidelity to the public he served for sixteen years on the city council where his practical common sense and sound business advice made him an invaluable public servant. He was equally use- ful as a member of the school board, and was the promoter of many of the benevolent enter- prises which have made Findlay notable in charitable records. The Adams Building, which he erected in 1902, is one of the hand- somest and best equipped business structures in the ctiy.

Mr. Adams was married in 1849, to Miss Harriet L. Bodine, who was a daughter of Peter Bodine, formerly of Richland County, Ohio. Three children were born to this union, the two survivors being: Charles F. and Liz- zie. The latter married John A. Meeks and they reside at Findlay. Mr. Adams was mar-

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ried in 1902 to Mrs. Catherine Elmes, a native of Findlay. She was a daughter of Simon Ransbottom, a farmer of Hancock County. Mrs. Adams occupies her comfortable home at No. 203 East Hardin Street, Findlay.

In his political views, Mr. Adams was a Re- publican. He was a member of the Presbyte- rian church and a generous supporter of many of its benevolent movements. From early manhood he had been identified with the fra- ternal order of Odd Fellows, being in fact the oldest continuous member in Hancock County, and belonged to both the primary branch and to the Encampment.

The following remarks, which are part of an extended notice which appeared in a local paper on the occasion of his death, will serve to show the esteem in which he was held by the citizens of Findlay and of the county generally :

"In the death of J. T. Adams the city of Findlay loses one of its foremost citizens and his family a good father and friend. He was a self-made man, by his own efforts rising to wealth and influence, and by his example form- ing an object lesson that the young men of to- day might do well to emulate. He spent the greater portion of his life in Findlay, witness- ing its growth from an obscure village to its present splendid proportions, and he materially assisted in such growth, spending very many thousands of dollars in its upbuilding and ex- pending millions among working men and for material during his long and busy career in this city. He has truly been a benefactor to his fellows, and while not of a demonstrative disposition, possessed a warm heart and gen- erous nature, and the friends he made were always steadfast and staunch."

Such indeed was Mr. Adams-a man who

will not soon be forgotten by any of those with whom he came into personal contact.

JAMES M. BARR,* who for many years was identified with the oil and gas industry, and served four years as postmaster of Find- lay, O., was born June 27, 1847, on his present residence property at No. 200 W. Front Street, Findlay, Ohio, a son of James H. and Mary (Shaw) Barr.

James H. Barr was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, and in early manhood came to Findlay, Ohio. He was one of the pioneer merchants of Findlay, being a member of the old firm of Taylor and Barr, and was the first probate judge of Hancock County, in which capacity he served two terms.

James M. Barr was reared in Findlay, Ohio, and after obtaining an education in the schools of this city, went to New York City, where he spent six years working in a wholesale house. He then returned to Findlay, Ohio, where he succeeded S. C. Moore as postmaster, receiving his appointment during Cleveland's last ad- ministration. Since the close of his term as postmaster, Mr. Barr has devoted his time to the oil and gas business, but is now not actively engaged in business.

Mr. Barr was united in marriage with Laura P. Starr, who comes of one of the prominent families of Wyandot County, Ohio, and is a daughter of Hiram J. Starr, deceased, who was one of the prominent farmers and stock- men of that county. Mr. Barr is identified with the Democratic party in politics, and has served as councilman and in various other offices. He is fraternally a Mason.

JOHN W. ZELLER, state school commis- sioner, one of Ohio's earnest and effectual men

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in the educational field, for more than thirty consecutive years was superintendent of the schools of Findlay. With almost a parent's interest he watched them develop from a prim- itive state with more or less crude methods of. instruction to the highly organized and thor- oughily representative educational bodies they are today, in all their features reflecting the scholarly influence he has brought to bear in this long period of association. Prof. Zeller was born January 22, 1849, in Union Town- ship, Hancock County, Ohio, coming of solid, substantial, virtuous and frugal German pa- rentage.

When seventeen years of age, having made the most of his afforded opportunities in the district schools, he began to teach school, and after six years found himself able to enter the Ohio Normal University at Ada; in 1874 he was a member of the first graduating class of that institution. After more schoolroom work, in Logan County, Ohio, where he was school superintendent for two years, he entered Mt. Union College where he earned the degree of Ph. B., from which college he also received later the degree of Ph. M. He subsequently took up the study of languages at the Ohio Normal University, where he also acted as a tutor; he studied political economy at Ann Arbor, Michigan, and later at Findlay Col- lege, where he obtained the degree of Ph. D., in 1892.

In 1877 Professor Zeller was first appointed superintendent of the Findlay schools, with sixteen teachers, three buildings and fifteen schools under his charge. A comparison shows in some degree what he has accomplished in the way of advancing the material possessions of the city in this line. There are, in 1910, ninety-four teachers, fourteen buildings and

one of the finest High School buildings in the state. These structures are modern in every particular, their equipments being such as to give students the advantages which their fath- ers could scarcely have obtained in college or academy in their pupil days. To estimate the work done and progress made in intellectual advancement by Professor Zeller, would be a difficult task, but it may be indicated by the fact that graduates from the Findlay High School take precedence generally in any intel- lectual contests where opportunities are af- forded them for competition.

Professor Zeller has long been an important factor in every organization in the state de- voted especially to the advancement or the ad- vantage of teachers. He was one of the foun- ders and served several times as president of the Northwestern Ohio Teachers' Association. For years he has conducted institutes all over the State, and in the fall election of 1908 he was chosen State School Commissioner by a. plurality of 46,559. So closely has he applied himself to the educational interests of his sec- tion that purely business enterprises have never appealed to him to any great extent; but he early became interested in the development of natural gas and was a member of the company that drilled the first gas well in Ohio, this being the memorable event of the year 1886 in Find- lay. Together with his interest in all that per- tains to the public weal of his fellow citizens, he takes active part in the Findlay Y. M. C. A. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he has been a steward, and was one of the prime movers in the erection of the Howard and Heck Methodist churches at Findlay. In politics he is a Republican. His. handsome residence is located at No. 311 East Lincoln Avenue, Findlay.

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M. D. NEFF,* senior member of the firm of in Badenheim, near Bingen on the Rhine, Hes- sen Darmstadt, son of Martin and Elizabeth (Bertram) Karst.

M. D. Neff & Co., lumber dealers and opera- tors of a planing-mill and saw-mill, with works and yards on Fair Street, at the junction of Main and the L. E. & W. Railroad, Findlay, Ohio, is a thoroughly experienced man in this business, being only eighteen years of age when he became his father's manager in the same line. He was born at Fremont, Ohio, November 6, 1860, and is a son of M. T. and Samantha (Turner) Neff.

M. T. Neff was born in 1832, at Fremont, Ohio, where he was reared and there entered into the lumber business and operated exten- sively, at one time having three saw-mills on the Sandusky River. He extended his inter- ests to Michigan, where he dealt by wholesale and it was while occupied there that he was seriously injured. He transferred his interests to Findlay, in 1878, and continued in the busi- ness, under the style of the M. T. Neff Lumber and planing mill, until his death, in 1903.

M. D. Neff was reared and educated at Fre- mont and from boyhood has been interested in the lumber business, giving his father assist- ance even before he left school. When the father died, Mr. Neff, together with his sister, Lucretia Neff, bought out the other heirs and changed the firm style to M. D. Neff & Co., and the business has been prosperous ever since, employment being given to from twelve to fifteen men. Mr. Neff was married to Miss Etta Belle Jones, of Pittsburg, Pa., and they have one child, Mildred. Mr. Neff belongs to the Elks.

FRANK KARST, senior member of the firm of Karst and Laffey, well known grocers of Findlay, Ohio, has been a resident of Find- lay since 1849. He was born March 29, 1827,

Frank Karst was reared in Germany and at the age of fourteen years began working as a clerk in a hardware store. He later became identified with a wholesale notion store, and in 1849 came with his parents to America. The family stopped for a few months in Reading, Pa., with a brother of our subject, but subse- quently located on a farm in Eagle Township, Hancock County, Ohio. Mr. Karst was una- ble to endure the hardships of clearing the land, and came to Findlay in 1849, where he spent the first month working in a dry goods store, but later clerked one and a half years in a grocery store.

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Twentieth Century History of Findlay and Hancock County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens, Part 67

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

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