Twentieth Century History of Findlay and Hancock County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens, Part 69

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 69

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M. C. Shafer was reared at Findlay and was graduated from the Findlay High School in the class of 1885. His father owned 600 acres of land in Hancock County and Mr. Shafer be- came interested for a time in farming and dur- ing one winter he taught a school in Marion Township. He then spent one year at Findlay College, after which he entered the University of Michigan, where he devoted two years to literary studies in general and two more to the special department of law, being graduated in 1893. Immediately after his return to Ohio and admission to the bar he established him- self in his present convenient offices at No. 4071/2 Main Street, Findlay. Mr. Shafer's practice is general, requiring much knowledge along many lines, and he has earned a fore- most place among a notable body of profes- sional men.

Mr. Shafer was married at Findlay, in 1893, to Miss Florence Hamlin, a daughter of John

M. Hamlin, and they have three children: Richard H., Mary C. and Douglas M. Mr. Shafer has club connections and fraternal af- filiations and is particularly active in the Elks, the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Wood- men.

GEORGE W. NORRIS, a representative citizen of Cass Township, who, together with his wife, owns 250 acres of very valuable land, was born on his father's farm in Fairfield County, O., July 27, 1846, and is a son of Alexander and Maria (Stone) Norris.

Alexander Norris was born in Maryland, a son of English parents, and came to Fairfield County, O., when a young man of twenty- seven years, where he established himself as a shoemaker. He was married to his first wife there and after her death he married Maria Stone, who was born in Virginia. She died in 1892, aged eighty-one years and he survived until 1898, dying at the age of ninety years. To the first marriage four children were born, namely : William, deceased; Mary Frances, wife of Samuel Mosier, of Findlay; and Eliza- beth Ann and Sara J., both deceased. Three children were born to the second marriage: George Whitfield, David L., and Anna, wife of H. Borroughf, of Pleasant Township. In 1852, Alexander Norris and family came to Hancock County, where he bought twenty acres in Marion Township, then added forty acres and then a second forty acres and still later, 120 acres, and devoted his later years to farming.

George W. Norris was a child when the family came to Hancock County and he grew to manhood on the home farm, which he helped to clear. He occasionally found a chance to attend school but not as frequently as he de-

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sired, as his services were required at home. On December 21, 1870, he was married to Miss Amanda Baker, a daughter of Alexander and Catherine (Eckert) Baker, old residents of Cass Township. John H. Eckert came to Hancock County from Fairfield County and was the original owner of the farm of Mr. and Mrs. Norris, having made the entry. Mr. and Mrs. Norris have three children: John, who assists his father on the farm of ninety acres, lying in Section 34, on the township line; Belle, who is the wife of D. A. Thomas, who oper- ats Mr. Norris' second farm, and they have three children-Gail, Bernard and Raymond; and George Dallas, who resides at Findlay, married Laura Belle Gibson, and they have one daughter, Pearl.

Mr. Norris has made farming his occupa- tion and has prospered. Oil has been produced on one of his farms. He came to his present one on February 7, 1871 and has made many of the excellent improvements, including the erec- tion of the brick residence which is commo- dious and attractive.

Mr. Norris has an admirable Civil War record. He enlisted on October 7, 1864, in Co. F, 47th O. Vol. Inf., under Capt. Brachman, and was mustered out in August, 1865. He saw hard service, being under Gen. Sherman in the memorable march to the sea and took part in many serious engagements including Fort McAllister and Bentonville. He was for- tunate enough to escape injury and after his honorable discharge returned to Hancock County. He is a member of Stoker Post, No. 54, G. A. R., Findlay, and is also identified with the Odd Fellows there. In politics he is a Republican and for the past twelve years he has been township treasurer. With his wife he belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church.

JOHN H. HILTY,* one of Orange Town- ship's representative business men, the senior partner in the firm of J. H. Hilty & Company, manufacturers of brick and tile, has his plant located on his farm in Section 36, where he owns sixty acres of excellent land. He was born in Richland Township, Allen County, O., March 2, 1848, and is a son of Christian and Madelina (Eicher) Hilty.

Christian Hilty was born at Berne, Switzer- land. When he was four years old the family started for America but the mother died on the ocean and was buried at sea. His father con- tinued his journey until he reached Wayne County, O., where Christian Kilty was reared. At the age of twenty-four years he married Madelina Eicher, who was born in Alsace, now a part of Germany, and came to America when eighteen years old. Six children were born to Christian Hilty and his wife, as follows: an in- fant that died unnamed; Benjamin, who is de- ceased; John H .; David, who lives in Orange Township; Katherine, now deceased, who was the wife of a Mr. Lugenbihl, of Allen County ; and Christian. All the children were born in Richland Township, Allen County, where they settled after marriage, on a farm of eighty acres. There Christian Hilty died in 1872, his burial being in Allen County, three miles north- west of Bluffton. Both he and wife were mem- bers of the Swiss Mennonite church.

John H. Hilty was reared and attended school in Richland Township and remained on a farm near Bluffton, in Allen County, for three years following his marriage, when he came to Orange Township, Hancock County. At that time his present farm was practically uncleared. He was enterprising and indus- trious and soon recognized the fact that this section would prove an admirable location for

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the brick and tile business. He started into the same at first in partnership with a brother-in- law, one and one-half miles west of his present location. Later he purchased the other inter- ests and took his son into partnership under the firm name of J. H. Hilty & Son, which con- tinued until 1908, when it became J. H. Hilty & Company and its members are: John H. Hilty, Christian Hilty and John Baumgard- ner. The business has prospered. Formerly about thirty kilns a year were burned but in the present season, up to date, the company has put out about one kiln a week. The product is building brick and tile, in size from three to fifteen inches. The quality of brick and tile compares favorably with that of older and bet- ter known plants and its future prospects are very bright.

Mr. Hilty was married in Allen County to Miss Mary Ann Thutt, a daughter of John Thutt, of Richland Township, and six children have been born to them, namely: Christian, who is a member of the above firm, married Minerva Gilbert : Rhoda; Reuben, who resides at Toledo, is a veterinary surgeon; Elmer, a resident of Hancock County, is a civil engineer ; Clara, who is the wife of Edward Hansinger, of Martinsburg, Pa., and Elnora, who resides at home. Mr. Hilty and family are members of the Mennonite church. In politics he is a Democrat.

JOHN P. MOSIER, owner of 330 acres of valuable land comprising the old Mosier home farm in Sections 3 and 4, Marion Township, Hancock County. O., and 112 acres lying in Section 23, Cass Township, is numbered with the substantial men of this part of Hancock County. He was born March 24. 1843. in the old log house which his father erected on the

farm after he had cleared a space for it, and is a son of Henry M. and Catherine (Davis) Mosier.

Henry M. Mosier was born in Virginia and remained there until reaching manhood when he went to Fairfield County, O., where he soon married Catherine Davis. They had three children: Samuel; Mary, wife of George Wolfe; and John P. After his first wife died he married Catherine Swab, who was born in Pennsylvania and died in February, 1883, at the age of sixty-nine years. They had one child, Cory E., who resides in Marion Town- ship. Henry M. Mosier died in March, 1881, aged seventy-one years. When he came to Hancock County and secured land in Marion Township, it was heavily timbered and it re- quired years of industry to clear and prepare the ground for cultivation. All this work he accomplished, with the assistance of his son, John P., when the latter grew old enough. By trade Henry M. Mosier was a carpenter and builder and numerous structures still standing in Fairfield County, attest his skill. Later he devoted his entire attention to his farm inter- ests and stock raising became an important fea- ture. He was known all over the county, en- joyed a large degree of confidence and fre- quently served in township offices although he was in no sense a politician.

John P. Mosier had such school advantages as the place and time afforded and he well re- members the old log schoolhouse with its slab seats. He began to help his father when quite young and continued closely associated with him and this interest made the elder desire that this son should remain on the farm. An ami- cable agreement was reached with the other heirs and Mr. Mosier has continued here. To the homestead he has added his other land as

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it suited his convenience and he has three sets of buildings, all in good condition. In 1890 he erected his handsome frame residence, giving it a beautiful setting and showing taste in the laying out of the lawn and the placing of shade trees and ornamental shrubbery. In the month of roses one of the bushes in his yard is worth traveling miles to view and enjoy.

Mr. Mosier was married June 13, 1869, to Miss Maria F. Myers, a daughter of S. S. and Ann Myers, both of whom are deceased. Mrs. Mosier was born in Westmoreland County, Pa., May 17, 1845, and her death occurred in 1904. They had six children: Ida May, who died in 1902; Etta Virginia, who married Wil- liam E. Huffman; William D., who died June 10, 1898; John H., who died June 10, 1897; Cletus L., who died April 26, 1900; and Mertie Blanche, who died September 19, 1903. Mr. and Mrs. Huffman reside with Mr. Mosier and Mr. Huffman operates the farm. He is a son of Norman Huffman. Mr. and Mrs. Huffman have four children: Frances E., Helen M., Donald J. and Pearl M. Mr. Mosier is a Re- publican and he served on the school board for many years. He has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church since 1866.

EDWARD BATTLES*, a representative and substantial citizen of Orange Township, Hancock County, O., where he owns 230 acres of land, was born April 7, 1850, in the old log house that was then standing on his father's home farm, which adjoins his on the south. He is a son of Asa and Catherine ( Raimers) Battles, and a grandson of Brier Battles.

Asa Battles was born in Pennsylvania, in 1815, and accompanied his father to Trumbull County, O. There he grew to manhood and when he possessed sufficient means, started out

as a pioneer himself, purchasing 200 acres of virgin forest in the center of Orange Township, Hancock County. There he built his first log cabin and began the clearing and developing of this land to which he subsequently added un- til he owned 680 acres, enough to give each of his surviving sons a farm. He was a man of considerable local importance, recognizing his duties in the way of religion and good citizen- ship and during a long and worthy life retain- ing the respect of his fellow citizens. He mar- ried Catherine Raimers, who was born in Ger- many but who then lived with her parents in Allen County, O. To them the following chil- dren were born: John, Alfred, William, George, Edward, Eliza Jane, Asa, Jesse, Free- man, Robert and Harry. But few of these survive. The two eldest sons died in the army while serving as soldiers in the Civil War. Asa Battles, the father, died in November, 1904, and the mother followed in February, 1909. Their burial was in the Thompson cem- etery. Both were valued members of the Ger- man Lutheran church.

Edward Battles obtained a district school education and then settled down to farming on the homestead. After his marriage he came to the present farm, next to the one on which he " was born. It had not been improved but Mr. Battles erected the present residence, barns and outbuildings, tiled the land and in this way has added largely to its value. He carries on a general line of agriculture and is one of the township's prosperous and independent farm- ers.

In 1875 Mr. Battles was married to Miss Matilda Pipple, a daughter of William Pipple, of Orange Township, and they have five chil- dren: John F., who married Goldie Burns, and has two children-D. and Neva Catherine;

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Fairy, who is the wife of Fred Beihl, and re- sides in Orange Township; Bertha, who mar- ried J. C. Wetheral and has one son, Robert; Lewis, who married Ida Kidd, who, at death, left one daughter, Helen; and Harley J. B., who assists his father. Mr. Battles is identi- fied with the Democratic party.

WILLIAM F. SMITH, whose finely im- proved farm of 130 acres lies in Blanchard Township, Hancock County, Ohio, was born in Hancock County and is a son of Henry Wil- liam and Albertina (Tagler) Smith.

Henry William Smith and wife were both born in Germany and when they came to America they located first in Hancock County, Ohio, near Fostoria, in Washington Township, where he purchased forty acres of land. This he subsequently sold and moved into Pleasant Township and then to Blanchard Township. During the Civil War he served as a soldier under the call for 100-day men. He died when aged seventy-four years and his wife at the age of sixty-seven years and their burial was at McComb. They were charter members of the Lutheran church at that place. He followed farming through his active years. To Henry William Smith and wife the following children were born: Sarah, who is the wife of George Bach, and resides at Belmore, Ohio; William F .; Louisa, who is the wife of M. C. Warren, of Blanchard Township; George H., who re- ceived the home farm and married Della Fry; John W., who married Nancy Fundum; Della, who is the wife of James Warren, of McComb; and Mary, who died in infancy.

After his school days were over, William F. Smith appplied himself to farming. On March 4, 1880, he was married to Miss. Theodosia Fundum, a daughter of Henry J. and Kather-

ine (Stone) Fundum, and they have had the following children: Anna Mary, Henry Wil- liam, Frank Alford, Lulu Alverta, William Jay, and Clarence Ora. The last named died in in- fancy and was interred at McComb.

Henry J. Fundum, who was a well known resident of Blanchard Township for many years and one of its best citizens, was born in Germany. When he came first to America he settled in Pennsylvania and from there came to Seneca County, Ohio, where he married Kath- erine Stone, a native of his own birthplace. They settled near Fostoria and remained there until after the birth of two of their children, when they moved to the farm on which Wil- liam F. Smith and family now live. With the assistance of his brothers, Henry J. Fundum bought this property and later, through pur- chase, became sole owner and cleared the larger part of it. Subsequently he purchased adjoining land until he owned 400 acres all in one block. This land he divided among his three daughters and their husbands and all of it is improved and well cultivated. Henry J. Fundum lived to be seventy-seven years of age and his wife to be sixty-seven. They were charter members of the Lutheran church at McComb. He was a Democrat in politics, and a member of the local grange. Three daugh- ters were born to Henry J. Fundum and wife, namely: Theodosia, who is the wife of Wil- liam F. Smith; Amanda, who is the wife of Lewis Brickman, a county commissioner of Hancock County; and Nancy A., who is the wife of John W. Smith. It is the pleasant privilege of all three sisters to live near to- gether and thus to unite with each other in their joys and support each other in their sor- rows.

After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Smith

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went to housekeeping on the present farm and here their children were all born. They are members of the Evangelical church in which he is an elder. In politics he is a Democrat and has served as township trustee for two years. He erected all the buildings on his farm, cleared a portion of it and did the draining.

CHARLES DENNIS,* who owns 242 acres of valuable land situated in Blanchard Township, Hancock County, O., was born in Eagle Township, Hancock County, February 2, 1865, and is a son of Samuel and Matilda ( Alspath) Dennis.

Samuel Dennis was born in Pennsylvania and died at Rawson, O., at the age of eighty- two years, being buried in Benton Ridge ceme- tery. In early manhood he came to Fairfield County, O., where he married Matilda Alspath and engaged in farming there. Three sons were born to them in the same house in which Mrs. Dennis was born. They moved then to Hancock County and five more sons were born in Eagle Township, and one more in Blan- chard Township. Samuel Dennis traded farms with John Smith and after he took possession of the Blanchard Township farm he built the present farm residence, which has needed but a small amount of repairing since. Samuel Dennis lived at McComb for two years and then moved to Rawson. He was a Democrat. After his death his widow came to make her home with her son Charles. She is a member of the Church of God, but her husband be- longed to the Methodist denomination.

Charles Dennis went to school in Blanchard Township and then worked for his father until he was about twenty-two years of age, when he married and since then has operated the farm for himself. He is very successful in his

undertakings and is one of the most enterpris- ing and hard working farmers of this neigh- borhood.

Mr. Dennis married Miss Emma Ritter, a daughter of W. C. Ritter, and they have three children, Ethel, Leo and Herman. In politics he is nominally a Democrat but has independent leanings and very often exercises his own judg- ment only in casting his vote. For seven years he has served as a member of the township school board. He belongs to the order of Knights of Pythias, attending the lodge at Findlay.

HARVEY H. WELLS,* who, for fifty years has been a resident of Hancock County, O., owns a valuable farm of 120 acres which lies in Pleasant Township, which he devotes to general farming and stock raising. He was born in Licking County, O., and is a son of Noah and Edith (Warner) Wells.

Noah Wells was born in Arundel County, Md., a son of Richard Wells who came to Licking County, O., at an early date and died there. Noah Wells grew to manhood and mar- ried in Licking County and came from there to Hancock County during the War of the Re- bellion and settled in Pleasant Township, on the Ridge road, one mile west of Deweyville. He purchased and improved forty acres of land. In later years he removed to Paulding County, O., where both he and wife died. Six sons and six daughters were born to Noah and Edith Wells, namely : Calvin, who served in the Civil War, enlisting at Newark, O., and died in the service from typhoid fever; Ann, who married Joseph Simmons in Licking County, moved first west of Deweyville and later to Missouri, where both died; David, who died of typhoid fever while serving as a soldier in the Civil

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War; Mary, who married Rutherford Adams, and resides at Croton, Licking County ; Millie, who married Bazil Sparling, of Hancock County, survives him and resides at Toledo; James, who resides at Benton Ridge; Amanda, who is the wife of Myron Moore, and resides in Henry County; Nelson, who resides in Put- nam County; Harvey H .; Emma, who lives in Putnam County, is the widow of R. C. Dillon, who died in May, 1910; and two that died in infancy.

Harvey H. Wells attended the township schools as opportunity offered in his boyhood and then worked on the home farm until he married. For sixteen years afterward he worked as a farmer for Lewis Dukes, of Blan- chard Township. He had no capital to begin with and every dollar he has invested he has earned by his own persevering industry. His first purchase of land was forty acres in Put- nam County and later he bought 106 acres of Amelia Austin but sold over twenty-six of them and then continued to cultivate about eighty acres until in March, 1907, when he sold this land to advantage. He then purchased what was locally known as the Francis Hull farm, his present property. This land was originally entered by James Ewing in the early days of the county and it later passed into the hands of a Mr. Orrick who subsequently sold it to Francis Hull. Mr. Wells lost his house by fire in 1909 which necessitated the building of a new one. His fine barn is one of the best structures of its kind in the township.

In the spring of 1880, Mr. Wells was mar- ried to Miss Sidney Ellen Riggle, a daughter of John and Mary (Goodwin) Riggle, and they have three sons and one daughter, namely : Claud, who resides in Liberty Township and is a worker in the oil fields, married Pearl

Smith and they have four children-Ralph, Orville, Evelyn and an infant; Lettie May, who is the wife of Roy Rader, of McComb, has two children-Dorothy and Catherine; and Clarence and Orie, both of whom give their father assistance on the farm. Mr. Wells and family are members of the Church of Christ at McComb. In politics he is a Republican but is no seeker after political rewards. He is one of the representative and worthy citizens of this section of Hancock County.

ELI ALEXANDER,* vice president of the Buckeye Ice and Coal Company, and foreman of the block department of the Findlay Clay Pot Company, has been a resident of Findlay, Ohio, since 1887. He was born December 15, 1862, on a farm in Richland County, Ohio, a son of George and Sarah (Hersch) Alexander. 'The father of our subject died in the fall of 1890 in Dickinson County, Kansas, where he located with his family in 1880. The mother is still living in Kansas.

Eli Alexander was reared on the home farm and in 1880 went with his parents to Kansas, where he learned the carpenter's trade. In 1887 he returned to Findlay, Ohio, where he worked for a time at his trade and in 1889 be- came a mold maker in the Findlay Clay Pot Company, with which he has since been iden- tified. He is now one of the directors of that concern, and is foreman of the block depart- ment of same. For the past 14 years he has been identified with the Buckeye Ice and Coal Company, of which he is now vice president. Mr. Alexander is politically a Democrat, has served two years on the City Council, and was a member of the Board of Water Works at the time the new water system was installed. He is fraternally a member of the Masonic order.

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C. L. CASSTERLINE

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Mr. Alexander was united in marriage with Elizabeth J. Stoker, a daughter of T. A. Stoker, who is a prominent farmer of Allen Township, Hancock County, Ohio. The fol- lowing children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Alexander : Jennie, Eve, George, Ruth, Isabelle, Harold and Dora. The family re- side at No. 2512 North Main Street.

CYRUS L. CASTERLINE,* vice presi- dent of the American National Bank at Find- lay, Ohio, proprietor of the Bradford Oil Company and secretary and treasurer of the Genesee Oil Company, has been one of Find- lay's enterprising and successful business men for a number of years. He was born in 1851, at Angelica, Alleghany County, New York.

Mr. Casterline was educated in his native place and first became identified with the oil industry when he went to the Bradford oil fields, in. 1876. He became a partner of the late C. S. Carthell in the Bradford Oil Com- pany and after Mr. Carthell's death purchased the business and has continued as its sole pro- prietor. As secretary and treasurer of the Genesee Oil Company, of Findlay, he occupies a prominent position in the commercial life of the city, while other business enterprises in which he is officially interested, have still fur- ther increased his influence. His worth as a progressive and public-spirited citizen has been recognized in many ways and he has served with efficiency in civic offices, especially as a member of the city board of improvements.

In politics, Mr. Casterline is a Republican, but his business interests have always been so large that he has found little time to entertain political aspirations. He has a very beautiful home on South Main Street, although a bache- lor, and in his elegantly fitted apartments may

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Twentieth Century History of Findlay and Hancock County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens, Part 69

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

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