PAGE - 75 - PICTURE OF LEWIS C. LAYLIN PAGE - 76 - BLANK HURON COUNTY, OHIO - 77 He was reappointed a member of the committee on Judiciary, also a member of the committee on Insurance, and of the committee on Rules. In September, 1891, he was again nominated for the Legislature by the unanimous vote of the Republican delegates of Huron county, was elected, and on January 4, 1892, he was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives of the 70th General Assembly. His administration as the executive officer of the House was in the highest degree creditable to him, and is commended by both Democrats and Republicans. He is an excellent parliamentarian, prompt in his rulings, and clear in his reasonings. During his entire term as Speaker not one of his decisions was appealed from. In his characteristics Mr. Laylin is not possessed of that bold aggressiveness which forms so large a part in the characters of many of our public men. He is never offensive, to even his greatest adversary. The strong elements of his nature which have marked him as a party leader are his deliberation and his powers of organization. In this regard he is essentially a harmonizer of factions; while his gentility, his integrity and well-known moral and Christian manhood commend him to the individual. Notwithstanding the fact that he has been almost constantly in office since he was admitted to the bar, he has found time to build up a lucrative law practice. As an advocate he is pointed, logical and forcible, and many of his discourses, both at the bar and before public assembly, have been complimented as master-pieces. Mr. Laylin was married November 3, 1880, to Miss Frances L., daughter of John F. Dewey, a prominent citizen of Huron county, and three children have been born to this marriage, viz.: Clarence Dewey, Robert Weyburn ana Lewis Fairchild, Our subject is past eminent commander of Norwalk Commandery K. T,; past master of Norwalk Lodge, F. & A. M., and past master of Bellevue Lodge F. & A. M. He is a member of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Norwalk, and of the official board of same. JOHN LAYLIN was born in Westmoreland county, Penn., May 22, 1791. His parents removed to Beaver, Penn., in 1796. In March, 1810, his father sold his farm and started for the " lake country," taking with him all his family except John, who remained behind until June of the same year to receive a payment for the farm, which became due at that time. John hired out during the summer to a farmer at ten dollars and fifty cents per month, and attended school during the following winter. In the spring his grandfather, Abraham Powers, and Hanson Reed decided to follow John's parents to the frontier. Accordingly they started overland through the wilderness, taking with them such household goods and other property as they could carry. John accompanied them, assisting in driving stock, and in other ways rendering them aid during their long, tedious journey. The party at length arrived at Cuyahoga portage. They then learned that John's father and mother had stopped there the previous spring, on their way to the frontier, and raised a crop of corn, and in the fall had removed to the mouth of the Black river, on the lake shore. John remained with his grandfather's party until they reached Greenfield, Huron county, where they settled. He remained with Hanson Reed one month, to assist him in planting corn. He then started alone and on foot, by Indian trails, to join his father's family, near Black river. , While on this lonely journey, sleeping on the bank of the Vermillion river, he was surrounded by wolves, but, by the greatest vigilance, and kindling a fire, he kept them at bay until morning. In October,1811, the family removed to West Berlin, Erie county, During the following winter, Mr. Laylin taught school, 78 - HURON COUNTY, OHIO. receiving his board and one dollar and a quarter tuition per scholar, as compensation. In the spring of 1812 war was declared between England and the United States. A meeting of the citizens of that and the surrounding counties was held to provide means for defense. A petition, asking for assistance from the governor of Ohio, was forwarded, and a company of " Minute men" was organized for home defense. Mr. Laylin joined the company, and on the next day it marched to the peninsula off Sandusky, to ascertain if there were any Indians in the vicinity. Mr. Laylin was prevented joining this expedition by severe sickness. From the entire company of thirty, only four or five survived the expedition. Nothing was heard of the poor fellows until their whitened bones were found in the following September by a detachment of Commodore Perry's victorious troops. In August, Gen. Hull surrendered to the British, which was not known among the settlers until a small British fleet appeared off Huron, from which some of the prisoners taken were sent in small boats to the shore. The greatest consternation prevailed. In the panic which followed, the family fled to Mount Vernon. At Mansfield, they met a regiment hastening to the protection of the citizens on the border, and Mr. Laylin joined these troops. After his term of enlistment had expired, he rejoined his father's family at Mount Vernon. Here lie learned the mason's trade. He was fond of reading and study and, not being confined closely at his trade, found time to avail himself of the advantages of a public library. He became a great student of ancient and modern history. He also watched with deep interest the great discoveries in science and the inventions of genius. It was during this time that his most lasting political and religious opinions were formed. In the meantime, his father's family had removed to Norwalk, but he remained in Mount Vernon until 1817, when he was called home by the death of his father. In October, 1818, he married Olive Clark, wife of Daniel Clark, of Bronson. Mr. Laylin then settled near Norwalk, on a farm which he had previously bought, where he passed the most active and useful portion of his life. During the years that followed he was a most zealous worker in the Methodist Episcopal Church, having made that the church of his choice. He was appointed superintendent of sia Sabbath-school in the neighborhood, which position he filled for a number of years. During the year 1841 he was sorely bereaved in the death of his wife and two children. There remained of the family six children—two sons and four daughters. Six years afterward Mr. Laylin married Mrs. Mary Weyburn States, of Hartland, who proved an excellent wife and mother. In the strength of her affection she gathered into her love the remains of two broken families, and was a true mother to them all. Soon after his second marriage he removed to a residence on Medina street, Norwalk, where he remained until his death. His faithful wife died April 16, 1877, after a long, painful illness, which baffled skill, love and care. For several years her husband's infirmity, and his desire to have her by him, confined her to the precincts of home. She was its light and strength, Her worth was manifest in the high esteem and reverence in .which she was held by all her family. Mr. Laylin survived the death of his wife but a few days. He died, peacefully, April 26, 1877. There remain of I his children : Elvira, Mrs. Richard Elliott; Celestine, Mrs. W. W. Hildreth; Olive, Mrs. M. L. Carr; Marriette, Mrs. F. Gard; Marie, Mrs. Frank Evans, and his sons, Theodore C. and Lewis C., residents of Norwalk. Mr. Laylin was a man of untiring en. ergy and perseverance. Favored with few early advantages for mental culture, he availed himself to the utmost of what he had. Strength and definiteness were leading characteristics of his mind. He held HURON COUNTY, OHIO - 79 decided and independent judgments on all religious and political questions that from time to time stirred public thought during his long lite. SAMUEL P. DEWOLF (deceased) was a descendant of an old New England family. He was born October 15, 1832, in Wellington township, Lorain Co., Ohio, and resided there until 1861, when he located near the village of Clarksfield, Huron county. His father, Whitman DeWolf, was born January 22, 1802, at Otis, Mass., where he grew to manhood. He was married January 4, 1827, to Alice Pelton, also a native of Otis, born April 9, 1798. Her father, Samuel Pelton, was born May 9, 1757, at Granville, Conn., and her mother, Mary Pelton, was born January 21, 1761, at Groton, Conn. Seventeen days after their marriage they started for the "Far West," accompanied by Mathew DeWolf, his wife Mary, and son Homer, then a lad of twelve years. The record of the journey, as made by Mrs. Alice DeWolf, is given as follows : On January 12, 1827, we, a little New England band from Berkshire County, Mass., left our native home for Ohio, the " Far West;" and who were this choice few? Matthew DeWolf his wife and son, my husband and myself. We were just one month en the road, with Scotch plaids and camlets belted around us; fur capes and hoods, muffs and tippets, and covered sleighs. Thus we all started, leaving dear friends behind. We were brought safely through; found kindness in every stranger, with the laminar salutation " Bound for Ohio." Whitman DeWolf purchased lands in Wellington township, Lorain county, from the State of Connecticut, made a clearing and erected a cabin thereon, one mile and a half west of the village of Wellington. When the two brothers and their families arrived they found shelter in that cabin, and there the following named children came to Whitman and Alice DeWolf: James S., born March 11, 1829, a resident of Clarksfield; Samuel P., subject of this sketch, and Melville W., born September 28, 1834, now connected with the Erie Railroad in the office in New York City. The father died September 3, 1850, on the farm which he reclaimed from the wilderness, and was buried in Wellington cemetery. His life of twenty-three years in Ohio was a successful one, not only as a farmer, but also as a stock-dealer and trader, in all of which he exhibited unusual business ability, and won success. His widow, who resided with her son Samuel, died September 18, 1871, and was buried by the side of her husband. Samuel P. DeWolf passed his youth after the fashion of boys of the period, attending the winter school and working on the farm. While yet a lad he would accompany his father on trips to the West to purchase live stock, and thus he became himself an acknowledged judge of cattle. His health, however, opposed an active agricultural life, and consequently he entered the hardware store of J. S. Reed, at Wellington, where he was employed about one year. The following year he worked for his cousin, Samuel Jones, then conducting a general store at Brighton, Lorain county. After this insight into mercantile life, he returned to the home farm, purchased the interest of the other heirs, and began a successful agricultural career, continuing therein until 1861, when he removed to the larger tract which he purchased just south of Clarksfield village. He was united in marriage July 20, 1872, with Sarah Fox, who was born February 4, 1847, in Hopewell township, Seneca Co., Ohio. Her parents, David and Jane (Johnson) Fox, who were married in Seneca county, moved to Wisconsin, thence to Iowa, and returning to Ohio in 1861 settled in Clarksfield township, Huron county. The children born to Samuel P. and Sarah DeWolf are Alice Mae, Mrs. Willis Viets, of Clarksfield township; Jessie L. (Mrs. H. E. Seeley, of Clarksfield township), born November 10, 1875, and Bessie M., born January 16, 80 - HURON COUNTY, OHIO. 1883, residing at home. The father of this family died April 2,1889, in his home near Clarksfield, and was buried in the cemetery of the neighboring village. He was a very extensive stock dealer, and the owner of a beautiful farm of 260 acres, besides other real estate, including two store buildings. Politically he was a Republican, and gave to the party a loyal support. He was not a politician in the sense of being an office seeker, but one who favored safe principles and good officials. Well known and highly esteemed, his death was mourned by a large number of sincere friends. Mrs. Sarah DeWolf has managed the estate with more than ordinary ability, proving that woman possesses executive and business tact, when circumstances or necessity call for their exercise. She is a member of the Congregational Church, and popular in social circles in the township.W WILLIAM HENRY MITCHELL. In the publication of the biography of W. H. Mitchell, we will revert briefly to the personality of his grandparents. Jethro Mitchell was born on the island of Nantucket, Mass., January 27, 1784. Mercy Green was born in Rhode Island, January 31, 1785, and was a daughter of Thomas Green, who subsequently moved to Nantucket. Jethro Mitchell and Mercy Green were married to each other at Nantucket, October 5, 1805. As the result of this marriage twelve children were born— six boys and six girls—one dying in infancy, and the others all living to manhood and womanhood. All but the youngest, Mary, were born at Nantucket, she being a native of Brooklyn, N. Y. The tenth child was Walter, who was born November 14, 1819, and who is the father of the subject of this sketch. When Walter was but four years of age his parents and family moved to New York City, thence, after a year, to Brooklyn, and thence, after eight years, to Cincinnati, where Walter continued to live for a period of seventeen years. From 1845 to 1848 he was a student at Lane Theological Seminary, Walnut Hills, Cincinnati, Ohio, graduating in the latter year. He was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Dayton in a meeting held at Dayton, Ohio, April 6, 1847. He has preached successively at Greenville, Ohio, at Bedford and Boonville, Ind., at Moscow, New Richmond, Hebron, Marysville, Gallipolis, Russellville, and Wilmington, Ohio, in all a period of over forty-four years. On October 31, 1848, he was married to Miss Mary Eliza Evens, at the home of her father, Platt Evens, Cincinnati, Ohio. Platt Evens was born in Herkimer county, N. Y., June 13, 1792, and was married March 30, 1816, to Miss Eliza Ann Murray, at Albany, N. Y. The latter was a native of Vermont, and was born at Rut. land, October 24, 1798. In 1817 Platt Evens and wife moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, where they continued to reside until both were removed by death. Three children were born to them, the third of whom was Mary Eliza, who became the wife of Walter Mitchell, and the mother of Walter Platt, Theodore Jethro, William Henry and Anna Louisa, the third of whom, William Henry, was born in Boonville, Warrick Co., Ind., August 3, 1853, and all of whom are still living, except Anna Louisa, whose death occurred June 19, 1869, at the age of fourteen years. The family is distinguished for health and longevity. Jethro Mitchell's death at forty-eight years of age was the result of an accident, a fall through an elevator shaft of a building in Cincinnati in which he was doing business. His wife, Mercy Mitchell, lived to be seventy-four. Platt Evens lived to be eighty-one, and his wife, Eliza Ann Evens, was upward of eighty at the time of her death. Walter Mitchell HURON COUNTY, OHIO - 81 and Mary Eliza Mitchell are still living, and bid fair to equal if not exceed the limit of life attained by their parents. William Henry Mitchell continued to live with his parents until seventeen years of age, when, having completed his high- school course at Gallipolis, Ohio, he entered Marietta College, at Marietta, Ohio, in September, 1870, and four years later, in July of 1874, before he was twenty-one years of age, graduated from the classical course of that thorough institution with the degree of A. B., and three years later received therefrom the degree of A. M. Following his graduation Mr. Mitchell entered at once upon the work of teaching, and although he located at Gallipolis, Ohio, the borne of his boyhood, he was soon elected to the Principalship of Gallia Academy, an institution then of thirty Pears standing, and chartered with full college privileges, even to the conferring of degrees. Mr. Mitchell's success in the management and control of the affairs of this school, together with his otherwise recognized ability, secured for him, in 1876, appointments to membership on both the Gallia County and the Gallipolis City Boards of School Examiners, in the organization of each of which he was elected to the clerkship, and all of which honorable and important positions he continued to hold until he became ineligible by non-residence, in 1883. In 1878 W. H. Mitchell bought of the Hon. S. Y. Wasson, at Gallipolis, Ohio, a book and stationery store, which he continued to operate as the sole proprietor, doing a large and lucrative business until 1883, when lre disposed of the same at private sale, that he might again give his entire time and attention to teaching, the profession of his choice. In 1879, after the requisite five years of successful experience in teaching .had been served, Mr. Mitchell received, upon application, at the hands of the Ohio State Board of School Examiners, a strictly first-class teacher's certificate, good for life, and so comprehensive in character that he is empowered thereby to discharge the duties of any public-school position in the great Commonwealth of Ohio. On May 1, 1879, W. H. Mitchell was married to Clara Cooley, youngest daughter and child of the late William Henry and Caroline Miller Langley, of Gallipolis, Ohio, the former being widely and prominently known as the first president of what is now the Columbus, Hocking Valley & Toledo Railway. Clara Cooley Langley was the eighth child of her parents, and was born April 20, 1857. A fact worthy of note here is that her second sister, Mary Frances, born July 16, 1851, is the wife of Theodore Jethro, her husband's second brother. To William H. and Clara L. Mitchell have been born two children— a daughter and a son. The first, Caroline Langley, was born April 25, 1885, and the second, Walter Evens, December 3, 1888, and at this writing both of these are mentally and physically strong, healthful children, with every prospect of long and useful lives. In June of 1883, Mr. Mitchell, being desirous for a change from the scenes and surroundings which had been familiar to him for fifteen years, and to his wife from her birth, sought and secured the position of superintendent of the public schools of Monroeville, Huron Co, Ohio, and from that time to the present has continued to discharge the responsible duties of that important trust. He has also served as the principal of the High School, and for nine years as clerk of the Board of Education with which he has been associated, arid is still the incumbent in all of these capacities. In 1885 he was appointed by the Probate Court a member of the Huron County Board of School Examiners, a little later was elected clerk of that body, and is thus officially still serving Huron county. Educationally in his county and section Mr. Mitchell is a recognized leader, having repeatedly served as president of Teachers' Associations, and having again 82 - HURON COUNTY, OHIO. been the past year, president of the Institute. As a summer school and institute worker his services are sought and ever appreciated. He has filled positions on the programme of State and National Teachers' Associations; has contributed liberally to the public prints, and is conceded to be a fluent and forceful speaker, an active and earnest educational worker, and a facile and finished writer upon themes educational and ethical. Masonically, our subject has likewise achieved distinction and honor, having had conferred upon him all the degrees of the blue lodge, chapter, council, and commandery, and having in these bodies filled numerous official stations. At this writing he has entered upon his third term as Worshipful Master of Roby Lodge, No. 534, F. & A. M., of Monroeville, Ohio, and thereby the highest official and the acknowledged head of the order in his home town. Politically he is a Republican, and in politics as in all things else is active and energetic, though sufficiently conservative as not to be offensively partisan. His voice is heard in the conventions of his party, and in the Huron County Convention of 1892, the largest and most remarkable in the history of the county, he was both the temporary and permanent chairman; and a prominent Cleveland daily, in giving an account thereof, published his portrait and biography, and added the comment that, "with malice toward none, and charity for all, we will venture the assertion that the Huron county perspiring patriots, in convention assembled, could not have selected from all their hosts a more competent Irian than Sup't. W. H. Mitchell, of Monroeville, to preside over their deliberations." Religiously, W. H. Mitchell is a Presbyterian, having in mature manhood been received into that church by his father, and having later transferred his membership to the Presbyterian church of Monroeville. He is president of the Board of Trustees of the church of his choice, and is an active and useful member in the management of all of its affairs. As an educator, Mason, citizen and Christian, William Henry Mitchell may be recorded as a manly man. An honor to his profession, an example to his fraternity, a credit to his community, a support to his church, and withal a dutiful son, affectionate husband, and kind and indulgent father. WILLIS H. PETERS, than who there is no more enterprising an popular citizen in the fair city Norwalk, is a native of the pla born September 1, 1853, a son of Eli an Mary Jane (Weed) Peters. Eli Peters was born of pure Hollan Dutch descent, in Union county, Penn. where he was reared and educated. In 1853 he came to Norwalk, and at once embarked in the clothing business, which he followed during life, and died December 12, 1890, at the age of sixty-five years. His parents having died when he was yet a boy, he had to shift for himself; and his remarkable success in life, considering his advantages, was entirely due to his plodding perseverance, sound judgment in all business transactions, and unquestioned integrity. It has truly been said of him that his character was without blemish, and his honor pure and unsullied. On December 15. 1852, at Wooster, Wayne county, he was married to Mary Jane Weed, a native of Wayne county, Ohio, and a relative of Thurlow Weed, by which union there were born two children. Mr, Peters was a member and senior warden of the Episcopal Church at Norwalk for many years, and in his political sympathies he was a Republican. Willis H. Peters, of whom this biographical sketch is written, was educated at the public schools of Norwalk, and afterward took a course at the Spencerian Commercial College, Cleveland. When of HURON COUNTY, OHIO - 83 proper age he was taken into his father's store, serving at first sias clerk, and later, in 1877, was admitted as a partner, the style of the firm being E. Peters & Son for over ten years. At the death of his father he succeeded to the business, and has since carried it on with the same degree of care, attention and scrupulous dealing which characterized it during his father's lifetime. The Peters Clothing Company is the largest house in that line in Norwalk, and gives steady employment to some twenty-seven assistants, the stock consisting of gents' furnishings, clothing, bats, caps, etc., In addition to which merchant tailoring is a specialty. Mr. Peters is a member of a syndicate of twenty-nine merchants combined for the better purchasing of clothing. On May 17, 1892, Willis H. Peters was united in marriage with Miss Corinne Barrett, of Santa Anna, Cal., who for many years was principal of a school at Columbus, Ohio. Mr. Peters is a member of the Episcopal Church, and in politics is a stanch Republican. Socially he is a member of the A. F. & A. M. (in which he has attained the thirty-second degree), of the Ancient Scottish Rite, also of the Mystic Shrine and of the Order of Elks. As a citizen he is much esteemed, and his popularity is unbounded. EDGAR MARTIN, M. D., the eighth child of Gilbert and Hannah (Washburn) Martin, was born in Fitchville, Huron Co., Ohio, October 10, 1826. In 1851 he came to Townsend, and commenced the practice of medicine. In 1853 Dr. Martin married Miss Mary J. Chapman, of Townsend, and they have had six children, viz.: Marie, Fred D., May, Clarence E., Mary E. and Edgar G., of whom are living Marie, May and Edgar G.; Clarence E. died at the age of five years,. Mary E. when aged nne months, and Fred D. at the age of thirty-seven years. Marie married T. H. Bain, and lives n Topeka, Kans. (they had one daughter, now dead); Fred D. married Bessie Kellogg, and died July 8, 1893 (he practiced medicine, his specialty being the eye, ear and throat); May married Charles A. Smith, and lives in Spokane Falls, Wash. (they had one daughter); Edgar G. is attending college. Dr. Edgar Martin took his degree from the Cleveland Medical Collecre in Cleveland, Ohio, in the year 1856, after five years of practice. He practiced medicine from 1851 up to 1883, in Townsend and adjoining townships. In 1859 he was elected justice of the peace, and has held the office for thirty years—twenty-four years in Townsend and six in Norwalk, and is enjoying his third term in that town. In the early part of the Civil war he was commissioned first lieutenant in the One Hundred and Twenty-third Regiment O. V. I., and was soon promoted to a captaincy in the One Hundred and Sixty- sixth Regiment O. V. I. In 1873 he was elected to. the State Legislature, serving therein two years. In early life Dr. E. Martin was an Abolitionist, and in 1852 voted for John P. Hale, for President. He has been a stanch Republican since the organization of the party. The Doctor sprung from a Quaker ancestry, which will explain to some extent, at least, his pronounced anti-slavery conviction in his early manhood. To properly estimate such a character we must bear in mind that the church society and the two great political parties were intensely pro-slavery, and all alike ready to rend the man who had the temerity to stand and talk and vote for human rights. To remember those in bonds, as bound with them, created the bitterest antagonisms as well as social ostracism, and was considered sufficient cause for personal abuse and cruel persecution in many cases, both in the church and out of it. This 84 - HURON COUNTY, OHIO, fact will add a special lustre to the early manhood of Dr. E. Martin. Socially he is a Knight Templar, and a member of the G. A. R. Post, East Townsend. WILLIAM H. PRICE. The true standard by which to judge a community is the character of its prominent citizens. Progress is rarely, if ever, the result of chance, but always the execution of well-laid plans based on a thorough comprehension of the laws of business. It is only by keeping in view the lives of men who are ever associated in the busy marts of commerce that we can judge of the importance of development, and the possibilities of progress. Thus it is, that from the commercial, more than the literary or political side, the most valuable lessons of life are to be extracted. In this connection, as a gentleman whose business qualifications are of the best, as indicated by the numerous enterprises which he has brought to a successful issue, a brief biographical sketch is given of William H. Price, president of the Norwalk Savings Bank Company. He was born in Herefordshire, England, in 1845, a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Harris) Price, the former of whom is a farmer of Herefordshire, and both the Prices and Harrisses are of Welsh descent, coming from the line of ancient Britons. Samuel Price, the father of the Henry Price above mentioned, and also the great- grandfather of the subject of this sketch, — Grenow, were both born at the old family English home, in Herefordshire, which is still in the family possession. The Prices were stock dealers and farmers, while the maternal branch of the family were seafaring men and miners; two of them were sea-captains, sailing from Swansea. The venerable parents of subject are still happily residing on the old homestead -the beloved father and mother of seven living children. W. H. Price reached his manhood in his parental home, receiving but a fair business education in the public schools of the vicinity, after which he served an apprenticeship to the droving and slaughter. ing business. At the age of twenty-one he came to America with Mr. William Prowbert, of the firm of William Prowbert & Co., Cleveland, who was a friend of his father, and who in his day was one of the leading business men of that city, Mr. Price was associated with Mr. Prow. bert two years, having charge of much of the firm's business, especially the buying of stock for slaughtering purposes; after two years' service in this capacity he became manager of the firm of E. Cadle Co. in a similar line of business. Continuing four years with this company as manager,. he organized the firm of W. H, Price & Co., closing with the old firm, During the next six years the new firm did a leading wholesale and retail slaughter business in Cleveland, at the end of which time Mr. Price again sold and retired, on account of failing health, caused by his over-zealous attention to their extended affairs. He sailed for Europe in the early part of 1878, and again visited the familiar scenes of childhood, and those of the dear old parental home. This change and total relaxation of all care continued through the season, and brought a happy restoration of health and strength. It is proper enough to here say that this was his second severe sickness in this country. Soon after he first came to America, and when he had only been fairly launched in business, an unfortunate accident befell him that finally sent him to the hospital for a long term, and where he had to. undergo a dangerous surgical operation, from which he barely emerged with life. The young man had come with but a limited capital, and his sickness had exhausted this and all his earnings, leaving him more than one hundred dollars in debt-misfortunes that would have quite vanquished many a young man, especially if far from PAGE - 85 - PICTURE OF WILLIAM H. PRICE PAGE - 86 - BLANK HURON COUNTY, OHIO - 87 home and family friends. While the young man's energy outran his physical nature, yet he had resolute will—a soul undaunted and a purpose high, he moved ever forward. On his return from Europe he organized the firm of Price & Chandler, which did an exclusively wholesale and retail business, furnishing meat to the retail dealers, and many of the public institutions of Cleveland, Mr. Price visiting Chicago and St. Louis, purchasing the stock of the firm. His solicitude and constantly painstaking labor, in whatever capacity he acted, again told upon his health; and after the firm had enjoyed three years of very prosperous business he found it necessary to retire from active life in order to allow his energies to recuperate. With this view he sold out his interest in the firm and removed to a farm in the suburbs of Norwalk, where after two years of quiet and outdoor exercise he found much of his former vigor regained, and soon again plunged into business. In 1884 he was associated with C. H. Stewart in a real-estate partnership, and during the five years they were actively thus engaged they laid off four additions to Norwalk, and the rapid growth of the place then commenced, as they sold more lots and built more houses than all the other dealers in the place, helping many workmen to buy homes, as they would sell to them on the installment plan. The period from 1884 to 1889 was marked as the improvement era of Norwalk, and much of this was due to the energy, foresight and liberality of this firm. In 1889, in connection with C. H. Stewart and W. O. Monett, Mr. Price organized the Norwalk Savings Bank, a copartnership concern until 1891, when it was reorganized and was chartered as a joint-stock company. Mr. Price has been president of both organizations, and this is now one of the most successful financial institutions in this part of Ohio, with a capital stock of one hundred thousand dollars. Mr. Price is a stockholder in the First National Bank of Norwalk. In the early part of 1892 the people of Norwalk became deeply interested in the question of electric motive power for street and road transportation. As the rapid development of the use of electricity as the handmaiden of man, street railroads became a leading question, and a road connecting Sandusky, Milan and Norwalk was mooted. This called out people of greatest enterprise. A company was soon formed, the project put on its feet, and was rapidly pushed to completion. Mr. Price is a promnent stockholder and director, and was by the unanimous voice of the owners called to the most important place in directing its movements, the company all feeling that with him at the helm there was ample guarantee of assured success, Another enterprise of moment to the city was also launched in 1892, when a company was formed to build the Norwalk Foundry and Machine Works, now a successful plant, and again Mr. Price was called by his fellow stockholders to the leading place of president. In the organization of the Arcade Savings Bank Company, of Cleveland, he was a prime mover and is a stockholder; was active in establishing the Garfield Banking Company, whose place of business is located in Cleveland and owned by Price & Stewart; he is a stockholder in the Dime Savings Bank of Cleveland, president of the Norwalk Nursery Company, and president of the Norwalk Brick Company, two of the important industries of the city, which may well look to him as their foster-father, as they received the benefit of his intelligent judgment and financial resources. Ile is vice-president of the Smith Specialty Company, one of the flourishing factories of the place; stockholder and director of the Norwalk Metal Spinning and Stamping Company, and stockholder of the Lake Erie Tobacco Company, of Norwalk. As stated, he has opened four additions to the city of Norwalk, on which he has built over 150 houses, and in addition to these many 88 - HURON COUNTY, OHIO. important interests Mr. Price operates two farms; and it is not to be wondered it is said of him that he is one of the busiest of busy men. The chief elements of Mr. Price's success lie in his competency to plan, coupled with his executive ability and shrewd foresight. His mind is never easy except when the channels of each enterprise with which he is connected are clearly defined. It is in the fog that the ship strikes upon the shoal or rock, and is wrecked. Business natures have their misty days, and it is then that a hand at the helm, familiar with the way, saves from collapse. It may well be said that no enterprise with which Mr. Price has been associated has ever proven a failure. He gives personal supervision to every detail of his business, and the wonder is that he succeeds in doing so, considering the extent and variety of his occupations. In person he is of strong frame and medium stature. During his youth he was quite an athlete, and met few men his equal in physical strength, but on just entering into his business career a severe spell of sickness left results that have impaired his physical vigor. He has since been forced to guage his accomplishments to his strength. In reviewing his life and early associations, and recalling many who started equal in the race with him, but whose lives have fallen short of success, he has been prone to speculate as to whether his physical disability has not been a main cause of his keeping himself aloof from the entanglements and dissipations which have proven destructive to many others. Yet it may be safely held that men of Mr. Price's stamp, who have a definite aim in life, are hard to swerve from their course. They go straight to the end, surmounting obstacles as if driven by the hand of destiny. However, after having made life a marked success, it may be well said of him that he has achieved all under adverse circumstances. William H. Price and Catharine A. Wheaton, daughter of Daniel and Anna (Meyhew) Wheaton, natives of Cambridge, England, were joined in wedlock May 15, 1872. Mrs. Price was born in the old English home, and came to America with her people when but three years of age, the family locating in Norwalk, where they made their home. Mrs. Wheaton died in 1878. To Mr. and Mrs. Price were born six children, as follows: Harris Wheaton Price, born April 25, 1874, now teller in his father's bank; Bessie M. (deceased); Anna Meyhew; Bessie Louise; Wesley Hildreth, and Olive Edna. The family is Protestant in faith, and Mr. Price, while .he may be classed as affiliating with the Democratic party, has always been in fact independent in his voting, preferring the best men and public weal to mere party claims. WILLIAM SANDMEISTER, M. D., a popular and rising young physician of Bellevue, is a son of Dr. Charles Sandmeister, who was for many years one of the most prominent members of the medical profession in Huron county. John George Sandmeister, the grandfather of subject, was a native of Hersfeld, Hessen-Cassel, Germany, was a merchant in that city, and died there in 1853. Dr. Charles Sandmeister was born February 22, 1831, in Hersfeld, Hessen-Cassel, Germany, emigrated to the United States in 1851, and studied medicine at Tiffin, Ohio. In 1855 he commenced the practice of the profession, and in 1864 graduated from the Eclectic Medical Institute of Cincinnati. On October 22, 1860, he was married to Lena Wygant, of Sandusky City, and to this union five children were born, two sons—of whom, Charles, yet living, has graduated in pharmacy at Chicago College of Pharmacy—and three daughters, one being deceased. Dr. Charles Sand. meister died in 1888. He was a member of three medical Societies, the National, HURON COUNTY, OHIO - 89 the State and the Northwestern Eclectic Medical Associations. In 1877 the Doctor visited Germany, and brought his mother to this country, where she died in April, 1882. At the time of his death he owned 227 acres of fine land in Thompson township, Seneca county, and had a large income from his practice, for he was recognized as a most competent physician and surgeon, and one of liberal professional views. In politics he was a Democrat; in religious faith, a Lutheran. Dr. William Sandmeister was born January 23, 1865, at Bellevue, Huron Co., Ohio, and received his elementary education in the public schools of his native city, afterward attending the Capital University, Columbus, Ohio, whence he graduated in 1886. Next entering Western Reserve College, Cleveland, he was graduated from that institution in 1889, in which year he established himself in practice at Bellevue. In September, 1891, he visited Europe, took a general course in medicine in the great hospitals of Vienna, Austria, returned in June, 1892, and resumed practice, in which he has since been continuously engaged. Though young in years, he is already thoroughly experienced in the profession. The teachings of his father, no less than his father's high reputation, have made his journey to professional success comparatively easy. His thorough studies of medicine both in this and foreign lands, together with his industry, qualify him to take the place in professional and popular estimation held by the late Dr, Charles Sandmeister . H. E. HILL. This representative prosperous citizen, and leading business man of Monroeville, is a native of Ohio, born in Berlin Heights, Erie county, December 11, 1840. Noah Hill, his grandfather, who was of English descent, came from Connecticut to Ohio in 1817, bringing his wife and five children. They were veritable pioneers of Erie county, where Noah, who had been a cloth dresser in the East, followed the trade of ship carpenter, becoming a master builder and a very expert workman. He was also a well-to-do farmer, owning at one time over 400 acres of land, all accumulated by hard work, and for part of which he remained in debt some forty-five years, but eventually succeeded in paying off the last penny. In 1850 he disposed of his property and retired, making his final home in Berlin Heights, where he died in 1864. He was a large, well-built man; a Republican in politics, formerly a Whig, and served as a justice of the peace. By his wife, Sukey (Butler), he had children, as follows: Horace L., Edwin I., Elihu P., Benjamin L., Henrietta, Mary Ann, Hester, Sarah, George S., Sterling and Noah. Edwin I. Hill, father of subject, was one of the five children of Noah Hill who became pioneers of Erie county. He was born in Guilford, Conn., in 1809, and consequently was eight years old when he came. to Ohio. He learned the cooper's trade, which he followed as long as it was profitable, and then took up farming, in which lie continued many years. He was thrice married, first time to Lucy A. Tenant, who bore him children as follows: Horace C., killed at Resaca, Ga., May 15, 1864, while a member of the One Hundred and Third O. V. I. (his brother H. E. was also in the same battle, totally ignorant of Horace being also there, as he had not seen him since enlistment; the interment of Horace took place before H. E. knew of his death); Benjamin I., a farmer, of near Berlin Heights; Alpha A., now Mrs. Charles Tillinghast, of Berlin Heights; and H. E. The mother of these dying August 31, 1842, Edwin I. Hill married, in 1844, Miss Catherine Wendall, by which union was born one child, Lucy, who died young. This wife passed away in 1855, and for his third spouse Mr. Hill wedded Miss Sallie Pea- 90 - HURON COUNTY, OHIO. body, by whom there are two children: Sterling L., superintendent of schools at Berlin Heights, Erie county, and. Louise, at present attending Oberlin College. Edwin I. Hill departed this life January 24, 1888, and was buried at Berlin Heights, Erie county. In his political sympathies he was first a Whig, afterward a Republican, and was well read on all public issues. H. E. Hill, the subject proper of this sketch, received his primary education at the common schools of his native place, later attending a seminary at Berlin Heights, in those days an educational institution considerably in advance of others in northern Ohio. fie was but eighteen months old when he lost his mother, but he was adopted by an aunt, Mrs. Horace L. Hill, who reared him, and was as kind to him as the kindest mother could be; her husband also treated him with great kindness, and took much interest in him. On April 20, 1859, his foster-father having given him two hundred dollars in gold, our subject set out, in company with five others, for Pike's Peak, taking rail to St. Louis, thence boat to Leavenworth, Kans., where they secured their outfit, including provisions, three yoke of oxen, wagons, etc. In fifty-one days they reached Denver, Colo., at that time a ragged collection of rude huts, the route of the party being across prairies where they saw vast herds of buffalo, some of which fell to their rifles, thus supplying them with plenty of fresh meat. The summer the party spent in the mountains, and in the fall they made their. return trip homeward. At Huron, Ohio, April 19, 1861, Mr. Hill enlisted in Company E, Seventh 0. V. I., three months service, and from Sandusky they proceeded to Cleveland, where was completed the organization of the regiment, which then moved to Camp Dennison, near Cincinnati, Ohio. About the middle of June, 1861, the three months term having expired, Mr. Hill, along with the majority of the old members, re- enlisted into the Seventh. The regiment, which was attached to the army of the Potomac, being ordered South, crossed the Ohio river at Bellaire into West Virginia, where at Cross Lanes it experienced its first general engagement with the enemy. The next campaign was in the Shenandoah Valley, in which, owing to :illness, Mr. Hill was unable to participate. He was sent to the convalescent camp at Washington, D. C., for a few weeks, and on his recovery he rejoined his regiment. He was present at the battles of Culpeper Courthouse, Cedar Mountain and Antietam; thence marched to Fredericksburg, after which came the two-days' battle of Chancellorsville. From there the regiment proceeded to Gettysburg, where early on the morning of the third day of the memorable battle there he was wounded in the left arm. After lying ten days in the field hospital, he was removed to Philadelphia. In January, 1864, he once more joined his regiment, in time to take part in the battles of Dallas and Resaca, from which latter locality the command was ordered to Chattanooga, where it remained till the end of June, 1864, and July 6, following, our subject received an honorable discharge at Cleveland, Ohio, returning to Berlin Heights, having served three years and three months. He was promoted to sergeant, and at Gettysburg, Cedar Mountain and Chancellorsville he is reported as having ".served with valor," Having now resumed the vocations of peace, Mr. Hill took a course at the Eastman Business college, Poughkeepsie, N. Y., and April 3, 1865, he made his residence in Monroeville, where he entered the freight office of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad, as clerk, remaining as such until August 1, 1873. On January 1, 1874, Mr. Hill embarked in the grain elevator business, becoming associated with Mr. Fish, his present partner; but some time afterward he abandoned this industry and commenced in mercantile trade at Berlin Heights, in HURON COUNTY, OHIO - 91 partnership with Mr. Webster, under the firm name of Hill & Webster. In the tall of 1878 he once more removed to Monroeville, where be opened up an extensive grain trade, and July, 1881, having again become associated with Mr. Fish, bought the present flourishing business, the firm becoming on the first day of the following September, Skilton, Fish & Hill; in 1886 it was changed to Fish & Hill, its present style—a firm of high standing. On December 10, 1878, Mr. Hill married Miss Louisa B. Harter, born in Sandusky, Ohio, a daughter of Charles Harter, and the children of this union are Horace C., Ruth T., Marcus H. and Anna L. Mrs. Hill is a member of the Presbyterian Church. A Republican in politics, Mr. Hill takes an active interest in all matters tending to the welfare of his country, State, county and town; he is a member of the village council, and while a resident of Erie county served his township as treasurer. He is a past master of Roby Lodge No. 534, F. & A. M. GEORGE E. WOOD, editor and publisher of The Bellevue News, was born in Walworth county, Wis., August 3, 1860. His parents, J. G. and Almira (Mills) Wood, were born in New York, and at an early date settled in the West. After an extended residence in Wisconsin, they again looked westward for a home, and in 1867 located at Monticello, Jones Co., Iowa, where the subject of this sketch grew to manhood. In 1890 they removed to Bellevue, Ohio, and took up their abode with their son George. J. G. Wood died at Bellevue June 28,1892; his widow is still living. George Elmer Wood completed his education at the State Agricultural College, at Ames, Iowa, and for some time after leaving engaged in school teaching. Later he entered upon the study of law, and while so engaged was chosen justice of the peace and re-elected. He was admitted to the bar of Iowa in 1884 before the State Supreme Court, but soon relinquished the practice of his chosen profession to move to Anamosa, the county seat, and fill the position of acting county recorder, to which he was appointed. For fourteen months he served in that capacity, and then resigned in 1885, to accept the position of county superintendent of schools, to which he had in the meantime been elected. In April, 1888, Mr. Wood came to Bellevue, purchased the Local News office, improved the appearance of the paper, built up a really local newspaper, extended the circulation, abolished the old name, and in 1890 adopted the present title, The Bellevue News. The paper has a local circulation among 1,300 subscribers, and is a first-class advertising medium. It was established in 1875, without political affiliations, and has continued independent to the present time. Mr. Wood is a young man, energetic and ambitious. and by well- directed industry has widened the influence of his journal, and succeeded where others failed. Our subject was united in marriage August 29, 1888, with Miss Jessie Denison, a native of Anamosa, Iowa, and daughter of A. M. and Lucy A. (Roberts) Denison, both natives of the State of New York. CHARLES W. ARNOLD, M. D., who for the past several years has conducted a general mercantile business at Townsend Center, was born August 11, 1825, in Oxford, Chenango Co., N. Y., the eldest of two children born to James and Emily (Cook) Arnold, the former of whom was a native of Norwalk, Conn., the latter of Dutchess county, N. Y. Both were of English descent. James Arnold received in his youth but a limited school training, but in after years he succeeded by his own exertions in 92 - HURON COUNTY, OHIO. acquiring a good practical English education, and a wide and varied stock of general nformation. He was all his life a close reader, and was well posted, not only on current topics, but also on general history—ancient and modern-and the various sciences. His character was formed in the practical school of experience, and this rendered him broad and liberal in all his views. In early life he learned carriage- making at Utica, N. Y., with a man named Lloyd, serving an apprenticeship of some three years, after which he followed the trade for a time as a journeyman. On November 14, 1824, he was united in marriage, in North Norwich, N. Y., to Miss Emily Cook, and in 1831 migrated westward to Ohio, coming via the Erie Canal to Buffalo, N. Y., and thence on a lake- boat, the "Sheldon Thompson," one of the earliest on the lakes, to Sandusky (then Portland). Qn the same boat was a company of Wyandot chiefs, who were returning from a trip to Washington City. Mr. Arnold located at Milan, Erie county, where he opened a carriage and wagon shop, and continued to follow his trade for some three or four years, when he removed to Townsend, Huron county. Here he purchased wild land, and cleared and improved a farm, and was for several years engaged in agricultural pursuits; then, in 1849, he bought a slightly improved farm near Townsend Center, on which stood an old blockhouse. He built the first frame house in Townsend Center (where he subsequently engaged in general merchandising), and also the first sawmill, which he sold to William and Dudley S. Humphrey. For many years he was postmaster at East Townsend. For several years he was in partnership, in the general mercantile business, with his younger son, who later bought out his father's interest in the store, and removed the business to New York, after which Mr. Arnold, led a retired life until his death, which occurred March 26, 1882. He was one of the oldest Masons in the county, having for a number of years been a member of Mt. Vernon Lodge No. 64, F. & A. M., Norwalk, and afterward a charter member of East Townsend Lodge No. 322, and he was buried with Masonic ceremonies. His father was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, rendering gallant service throughout the entire struggle, and at the battle of New London, Conn., was taken prisoner and confined in the famous sugar-ware. house prison in New York. By profession he was a civil engineer and surveyor. The ancestors of the Arnold family were among the hardy and patriotic pioneers of the old Hartland colony, and took an active and honorable part in the affairs of the commonwealth during Colonial days. Mrs, Emily (Cook) Arnold died January 20, 1885, an ardent, lifelong member of the Baptist Church. Her father, Joseph Cook, who was born in 1751, was also a soldier in the Continental army, having entered the service at an early age. He participated in the engagement at Plattsburg and many other battles. Dr. Charles W. Arnold, whose name opens this sketch, received in his early years a fair common-school education, and was employed on the home farm until he attained his majority. He then commenced the study of medicine under the preceptor. ship of Prof. B. L. Hill, of Berlin Heights, Ohio, completing his professional education at the Eclectic Medical Institute, Cincinnati, whence he graduated with high honors in 1850. Entering upon the duties of his profession at Townsend Center, his old home, he remained there several years, and then practiced in the vicinity of Cold. water, Mich., for six or eight years. From there he removed to Athens, Calhoun Co, Mich., where he continued to practice about three years, after which, in 1874, he abandoned his profession and returned to Townsend Center, to care for his parents, who were becoming aged and feeble. Sub. sequent to their death, in 1886, he embarked in his present business, which he has since successfully carried on. In September, HURON COUNTY, OHIO - 93 1845, Dr. Arnold was married to Miss Eliza Jane Proctor, who was born in Ohio; her parents were natives, respectively, of England and Vermont. To this union came two children: Horace S., who at the age of eighteen, in 1863, enlisted in Loomis' Battery, from Coldwater, Mich. (he died April 4, 1864, at Huntsville, Ala.), and Ida G,, who died June 10, 1854, when aged four years. Mrs. Eliza Arnold died June 4, 1854, a Universalist in religious faith, and on October 17, 1873, our subject wedded, for his second wife, Miss Jennie L. Howard, who was a native of Michigan and of English-German extraction, In politics the Doctor is a Democrat, and served for several years as postmaster at East Townsend. Socially he is a member of the A. F. & A. M., East Townsend Lodge No. 322, and also of the I. 0. 0. F., Subordinate Lodge and Encampment. WILLIAM M. RUSTED, Norwalk. Edward E. Rusted, father of this gentleman, was born in Danbury, Conn., December 27, 1805, and came with his father's family to Huron county, Ohio, in 1810. Samuel Rusted, father of Edward E., was the first settler of Clearfield township, in that county, and died there during the Civil war, at the age of eighty-two years. Edward E. Husted grew to manhood in Huron county, and was married in 1832 to Miss Debora Gray, a native of Danbury, Conn., by which union were born children as follows: Edwin G., machinist in railroad shops; Elmer E., postmaster at Wellington, Ohio; J. Frank, who died in 1890, aged fifty years; Edward L., bookkeeper for G. M. S. Sanborn, coal dealer, Norwalk; Emma G., Mrs. Abner Baker; William M., and Ella J., Mrs. J. H. Husted, of Chicago, Ill. The mother departed this life September 26, 1884, at the age of seventy-two, an active, Christian woman, and member of the Congregational Church, prominent in its affairs. Her brother, Erastus Gray, opened a shoe store in Norwalk, in 1832, and afterward became a partner of Edward E. Husted, the style of the firm being Hunted & Gray, which was afterward changed to Gray & Hunted, and finally to Hunted & Son. Mr. Gray, who was a native of Connecticut, and one of the first settlers of Norwalk, reached the age of seventy-six years. Edward E. Hunted died December 25, 1878. He was an upright, intelligent and valuable citizen, and a merchant of wide repute, keeping a .shoe store in Norwalk until 1857, which was established by Rusted & Gray, as already related. He was first elected sheriff of Huron county in 1840, at which time he moved from his fine farm to Norwalk, and served his term, not only to the satisfaction of the Democratic friends who had elected him, but of the entire community, and was re-elected. Afterward he was elected, on the Republican ticket, two terms as county treasurer, and in this office was equally successful in pleasing his constituents. He was an Abolitionist, and is said to have kept a "station" on the "Underground Railroad." For many years he was a consistent member of the Congregational Church. ISAAC HARRISON CHANDLER, of Norwalk township, was born December 2, 1830, in Madison county, N. Y., a son of Ebenezer Chandler, who was a son of Simeon, who was a son of Benjamin. Benjamin Chandler, great-grandfather of subject, came to America with Gen. La- Fayette, in the French army, in which he was serving as captain. He took an active part in the Revolutionary war until its close, and afterward settled near Hartford, Conn., where he followed farming. He had three children. Simeon Chandler, son of Benjamin, was born in Connecticut. At the age of fourteen years, he fell on the ice, injuring his knee so badly as to cripple him for life, 94 - HURON COUNTY, OHIO. and this accident may be said to have materially governed his future life. He be came a shoemaker, and learning the violin became a player of no small repute. He married Miss Louise Benjamin, a lady of Welsh descent, and seven children were born to them, all growing to maturity, viz.: Simeon, Benjamin, Rebecca, Fannie, Louise, Parmelia and Ebenezer. Of these Ebenezer was the father of the subject of this sketch. He was born in 1800, in Connecticut, and there received but a limited education, as he had to remain at home in order to assist his widowed mother, besides working out at whatever he could find to do. At the age of eighteen years he left his native State for New York State, locating on a farm near Perryville Falls, Madison county, where he engaged in agriculture. He was there married in 1822 to Miss Lydia Post, a daughter of Isaiah Post, a farmer of that locality. In 1836 they came to Hartland, Huron Co., Ohio, settling on a farm, where he died in 1877. He was originally a Whig, later a Republican, and held numerous township offices. His wife died in 1891. They were the parents of ten children, viz.: One that died in infancy; Luretta, deceased; Dolly, now Mrs. Truman, of Clarksfield, Huron county; Cornelia, deceased; Isaac H., our subject; Ebenezer, in Erie county, Ohio; Joseph E., a resident of Fitchville, Huron county; Amelia, deceased; and Arvilla, now Mrs. R. Barrett, of New London, Huron county, and Frank B., of Colorado. Isaac H. Chandler, whose name opens this sketch, was six years of age when he came with his father to Huron county, where he attended the common schools and was reared to farming pursuits. The country was yet very wild, abounding in deer and turkeys, many wolves yet roaming about in search of prey. He commenced business life as a lumberman, spending some time in the lumber regions of Michigan, where he met with success. Returning to Huron county, he bought a sawmill at Hartland, and later, in 1868, a second one on what is now the Fries farm, in Norwalk township. This he operated till 1874, when the boiler burst, killing his eldest son, then about twenty-one years of age, our subject himself having a narrow escape. In 1876 he rebuilt the mill, and has kept it in partial operation since. In 1863 he had bought the farm of sixty acres on which he lives, and in 1866 moved thereto. In 1853 Mr. Chandler was married to Miss Catherine D. Rumsey, daughter of George Rumsey, of New London, Huron Co., Ohio, and seven children were born to them, as follows: Homer, who was killed in the sawmill; Charles H., a bookkeeper in Cleveland; Lewis, a farmer of Fitchville township; Frank, deceased in infancy; F. H., who lives on a farm adjoin. ing his father's; Clarence C., married, residing with his father; and Clara May, deceased when four months old. In his political preferences Mr. Chandler is a stanch Republican, and he has held various township offices. HENRY P. STENTZ, president of the First National Bank of Monroeville. This gentleman is prominent in the array of leading financiers and capitalists of the State, and one of the most widely-known, respected and prosperous of her citizens. In Monroeville, and indeed in the whole county of Huron, there is no name that ranks higher than that of Henry P. Stentz, in all those qualities which constitute good citizenship; and there is none more deserving of an exhaustive biographical record in the pages of this volume. Mr. Stentz was born in Middletown, Penn., February 26, 1838, and is descended from sturdy, honest German stock, from which he inherits in a marked degree the characteristic energy, good judgment and other business qualities that have made him the successful financier he is. He is PAGE - 95 - HENRY P. STENTZ PAGE - 96 - BLANK HURON COUNTY, OHIO - 97 a son of Peter and Catherine (Keller) Stentz, natives of Pennsylvania, who removed to Huron county, Ohio, in 1840, thence, after a brief stay, proceeding to Plymouth, Richland county; but the greater part of their lives was afterward passed at Galion, in Crawford county, whither they removed in 1853. Receiving his education at the Union schools of Plymouth, Ohio, Mr. Stentz at an early age entered the employ of Mr. A. Atwood, a merchant and banker in that town; and true to his nature as evidenced in all his business career, young Stentz put his whole soul into the business, his remuneration at first being but eight dollars per month. His close attention to business, and devotion to every detail of his employer's affairs, soon ganed for him the esteem and confidence of Mr. Atwood, who did not fail to give substantial recognition. Mr. Stentz remained in this connection until during the Civil war, when he severed himself from it, and launched out on his own responsibility, speculating in various articles of merchandise, such as cotton, hemp, sugar and molasses. This necessarily involved a good deal of travel. ing in the South, and business of this kind and magnitude, requiring as it does the application of shrewd finessing, cool judgment, and bold, fearless push and action, Mr. Stentz found himself well adapted to by nature. But in these commercial enterprises he does not claim to have made any fortune, no doubt for the reason that in those feverish, unsettled times the markets were too capricious; yet it was n this experience that he added capital to his already no small stock of business tact and acumen. At the close of the war he retired from the field of speculation, and in 1866 came to Monroeville to fill the position of cashier of the Exchange Bank of that town, as successor to Mr. S. V. Harkness. In 1879, this bank was organized as the "First National Bank of Monroeville," with a capital of fifty thousand dollars, and Mr. Stentz continued as cashier of same until 1889, when he was promoted to the presidency. Mr. Stentz, during the time of his wide commercial relations, organized the First National Bank of Galion, Ohio, one of the first institutions of the knd established in Ohio under the new regime, and he subsequently assisted in the organization of the National Bank of Plymouth. In addition to his banking business, and aside from it, he is largely interested in real estate, owning some one thousand five hundred acres of fine farming land in the vicinity of Monroeville. He has never married. Though not a professor of religion he is an adherent and supporter of the Presbyterian Church in Monroeville. Henry P. Stentz furnishes a striking illustration of a conservative and successful business man. Assuming the responsible duties of cashier of the Monroeville Exchange Bank when a young man of twenty-eight summers, he, by close attention to every known duty connected with that institution, and making himself thoroughly conversant with all the details of its working system; by strict and honorable dealing and by careful and wise management; by all these and more, Mr. Stentz succeeded in elevating it to the highest point of excellence attained by any institution of the kind in Huron county. And since, in order that its interests might be extended, the Exchange Bank was, through his efforts, organized into a National Bank, he has brought it to such perfection as a financial institution that it now ranks among the soundest and best managed banks in northern Ohio, his name being identified with it as a leading capitalist and business man. It has now an annual deposit account of one hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars, and pays a dividend of five per cent. semi-annually. From a recent issue of the Monroeville Weekly Spectator we quote some portions of an article written during the wild panic 98 - HURON COUNTY, OHIO. of the summer of 1893: "During a commercial crisis like that through which we are now passng, when doubt and distrust are apparent on every hand, there is sweet consolation in the thought that the solvency of our own home bankl is unquestioned. While hundreds of similar institutions throughout the length and breadth of the land are being forced into suspension or failure, because of the existing lack of confidence, the First National Bank of Monroeville stands and will stand a monument to the integrity, judgment and fidelity of the efficient management it has ever enjoyed, and which to-day is identical with that under which it began its career over twenty-seven years ago. * * * The present crisis finds it in better condition than ever before to cope with panical problems, and it will speedily and satisfactorily solve all that are presented, provided they legitimately come within the sphere of its action. * * * Mr. Stentz has been the moving spirit, the power behind the throne, the manager from the organization to the present time, and to his efforts are chiefly attributable the longcontin tied prosperity and substantial growth that have characterized the bank's career, and the enviable reputation, standing and confidence which it now enjoys." Mr. Stentz has not accumulated his capital by speculation—far from it-but through the well-regulated conservative rules of legitimate business. His marked success in, comparatively speaking, so unpretentious a town as Monroeville, is a lesson for every young man setting out in life on a business career, with naught to aid him save honesty of heart, integrity of purpose, a good courage and, withal, a willing pair of hands and a level head. CHARLES HILL STEWART, attorney at law, Norwalk, is a native of the place, born November 6, 1859, a son of Hon. Gideon T. and Abby (Simmons) Stewart. Our subject was reared amid generous and pleasant surroundings, and while he was born with no doubt the average allotment of youthful barbarism, yet the civilizing precepts and examples of a refined home, the lessons of the school and the ever-vigilant eye of the community, with its searchlight thrown upon the conduct and bearing of the young, were enough to bear him successfully to that time of life when the youth becomes the father to the man. The boy went the rounds of the public schools with success, mixing in the days with the usual riot of a vigorous boy's life, as well as a turn as printing office boy, hunting " the type-louse," or on an errand for the " devil's shooting-stick." Like a sensible man, he regards his time in the printing-office as days of his life not ill-spent —barring a sigh of regret at the way, boy-like, he would go down the stairway at about two steps, always bringing the frightened occupant of the lower floor out to see if any one was killed. These perilous but happy times were not entirely ended by his transfer to the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, Ohio, where he remained until well along in his junior year. Returning to his home he commenced the study of law in his father's office, and on June 6, 1882, he was licensed to appear in the courts as attorney. While reading law he took his recreation in edit. ing and publishing the Daily News of Norwalk, a vigorous and spicy paper, independent politically. This he sold to his brother, and it is now part of the Experiment-News. Graduating out of the publishing business into the law, he then spent a year seeing with his own eyes something of the wild life of the West, a large part of the time in the Dakotas and the Indian Territory. Of all his years of schooling this was perhaps the necessary sand-paperinga polishing process of incalculable value. On his return to Norwalk, he opened his law office and set about the real business of life, which was crowned from the start HURON COUNTY, OHIO - 99 with more than the average professional success. Soon he was operating in real estate, and in this line his record is remarkable for its brilliant achievements. It is proper to explain that his operations in real estate were commenced soon after his marriage, his first venture being the purchase of a plot and laying it off in lots, which he sold on the installment plan— introducing in Norwalk the favorable scheme of helping the poor man to own his home. Disposing of this, he next laid out an addition on Harris avenue and Olive street, followed by another on Grand avenue and Spring street, another on Courtland street, and still another on Carey place. During all these years he has built from five to twenty-five houses each summer, selling many on the installment plan, and retaining many, until he is one of the most extensive landlords of Norwalk. Of itself this tells us of the importance this young man has been to the city's development. In other lines, however, he has been still more active and efficient. He was one of the promoters of the " Home Savings & Loan Company," and its attorney and appraiser. Resigning his official connection with this company, he helped to organize the "Ohio Loan, Savings & Investment Company," of which he is a stockholder, director and attorney; he was one of the founders of the Norwalk Savings Bank, of which he is vice-president; is president of the Norwalk Gaslight Company; was one of the active organizers of the C. W. Smith Company, of which he is director and treasurer; one of the organizers of the Lake Erie Tobacco Company, of which he is director and treasurer; helped to organize the Norwalk Metal Stamping & Spinning Company, of which he is manager and director; is treasurer and director and owner of one-half of the Bellevue Electric Light & Power Co.; also assisted in the organization of the Norwalk Foundry & Machine Company, of which he is a director; established with others the Norwalk Brick Company, of which he owns one-third, and is one of the managing operators; also owns one-third of the C. H. Whitney Nursery Company, of which he is director and one of the management. Mr. Stewart has been associated with Mr. William H. Price as his partner in most of his real-estate operations, and in several of the companies named. While they have been actively engaged in real- estate deals in Norwalk and Huron county, they have carried on their real-estate business in the city of Cleveland, owning business blocks on Euclid avenue, Sheriff street, and other property in that city. They also assisted in organizing the Arcade Savings Bank of Cleveland, and are directors. Combined with his dealings in real estate, here is a record of which our oldest and most successful business men need not feel ashamed, but " Charley "—that is the term used by everyone, with a kindly accent of tone—is yet but at the threshold of life; the future is before him radiant of promise. Charles H. Stewart and Miss Mayme Carey, of St. Louis, Mo., the daughter of Gen. Man. M. G. Carey, of the Wabash Railroad, were united in wedlock, Novvember 26, 1884. This happy marriage was the outcome of the young lady's visits to her relatives and friends in Norwalk, and the whilom trans-Mississippi school-girl presides with rare accomplishments over their pleasant Norwalk home, where were born their four children as follows: Olive, December 19, 1885; Carey, September 18, 1887; Abby, September 7, 1889; and Mary, January 26, 1891. Mr. Stewart served as captain of Company G, Fifteenth Regiment Ohio National Guard, but pressure of business matters compelled him to resign. He has been a working Republican for many years, and takes an active interest n politics. He served for several years as president of The Young Men's Republican Club of Norwalk; has acted many times as dele- 100 - HURON COUNTY, OHIO. gate to State and District conventions, and to State and National conventions of the National League of Republican Clubs (in which he takes a warm interest). He is now a member of the Congressional Committee in his District, and at the last convention nominating a common pleas judge in his District, was the choice of his county for the position, but at his request his name was not presented to the convention. He says he is too busy to accept office for himself, but is always ready to assist his friends. HON. HARLON LINCOLN STEWART. This gentleman's name cannot escape becoming a permanent part of the history of Norwalk, of which beautiful little city he is a native. Mr. Stewart was born December 12, 1861, a son of Hon. G. T. and Abby (Simmons) Stewart, and was reared in the pleasant social atmosphere of a refined home, and the cultured circle of the city of his birth. He passed through the public schools, afterward taking a special course in the State University at Columbus, and when be had gained the necessary mental discipline to engage in the preliminary reading of a professional life, he became a law student in his father's office. A touch of his active nature, however, soon found him at the genial pastime of founding, in connection with his brother, a daily paper —The News, a bright and newsy journal —which was carried on a year by the founders. After a successful year's existence, it was sold, and the young newspaper man resumed the reading of the law in his father's office. But the pleasant aroma of the editorial tripod lingered, and "Blackstone's Commentaries" soon dulled in interest; so another paper was launched on the uncertain sea of journalism—the Sunday News—which became an independent supporter of Grover Cleveland in the Presidential campaign of 1884. In little while this was consolidated with T Experiment, the veteran Democratic pa of Huron county, established in 1835,a named after President Jackson's famo campaign against State banks, and his vocacy of a new system which he called "experiment." The consolidated pa which was named the Experiment-News was a weekly until 1889, when was add a daily edition, which in 1893 was so and continued as the Daily Press. The Experiment-News, greatly improved, was continued as a weekly, ceiving Mr. Stewart's entire attention. At all times the strong and facile pen the editor attracted wide attention, whi on the stump his voice was heard, an everywhere his earnestness of purpose an convincing logic were part of the supreme work that contributed much to the stead gains of his party in this part of the Sta The young editor and orator soon forg his way to a pronounced leadership in h party; his sudden celebrity coming to hi in 1888, when in company with Hon. H. Wadsworth he participated in the fi systematic speaking campaign in behalf Democracy that was ever made in Huro county. In 1891 he was chosen chairrn of the Democratic Executive Central Committee of that county. In the campaign of 1892 he was nominated on his part ticket, in the face of a strong list of aspirants, as standard bearer for the office State senator from the Thirtieth District. He was elected, and served through the Seventieth General Assembly; and, a though the youngest member in the Sea. ate, was a recognized leader. In 1893 h was prominently mentioned by the press, generally, as a candidate for lieutenant. governor, but declined to permit the use of his name. He was renominated for senator, receiving the unanimous vote of the convention, but in the following election, though running ahead of the general ticket in all parts of the District, he was borne down in the overwhelming tide of HURON COUNTY, OHIO - 101 defeat that engulfed his party in the election of 1893. Hon. H. L. Stewart and Cora Nile Parker, one of the accomplished leaders of the best social circle of the city of Norwalk, were joined in wedlock January 7, 1891. CHARLES B. SIMMONS, a prominent retired citizen of Fairfield township, is a direct descendant of the family who emigrated, it is supposed, from Wales, and settled in an early day in Bristol county, Massachusetts. Edward Simmons, the grandfather of our subject, owned large flouring mills in Rehoboth, Bristol Co., Mass., which were burned by the British during the Revolution, but were afterward rebuilt. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, serving as captain in the Continental line, and he was an influential figure in military matters. Of his children, Edward settled in New Hampshire and became a judge; Noble, who was a blacksmith, died in New York State; Eliphalet B. is referred to below; William, who owned the mills, died in Massachusetts. Eliphalet B. Simmons was born, in 1773, in Bristol county, Mass., and passed his youth and early manhood there. In 1804 he moved to Delaware county, N. Y., where for thirteen years he carried on the lumber business, meeting with quite a degree of success. During his residence here he married Esther, daughter of Capt. Charles Brown, of New London, Conn. In 1817 he started for the " Firelands " of Ohio, making the journey to Huron county by wagon, and arriving July 12. He purchased land in the Second section of Greenfield township, and took up his residence on Lot No. 22, where his grandson, John N. Simmons, now resides, and became a pioneer in the wilderness. He was a man of great industry, coupled with honesty of purpose, as well as good practical judgment, and eventually acquired a large property. His selections of real estate made in that early day have stood the tests of time, and stand approved as the best individual farms to this day. He was twice married, and had a family of four children, namely: Harlon E. (deceased), Charles B., Albert (deceased), and Washington L. (a resident of Kansas). Eliphalet B. Simmons died at his home in Greenfield January 26, 1836, in the sixty- third year of his age. In politics he was a Democrat, and took an active interest in party matters. In religion he was a Baptist. Mrs. Simmons died in 1830. Charles B. Simmons was born August 2, 1806, in Delaware county, N. Y., obtained his education in the common schools, and in 1817 came with his father to Huron county, where he worked on the home farm. On July 5, 1829, he was married to Maria P. Hanchett, a native of Wayne county, Penn., where her father, Reuben Hanchett, was a farmer, and for six years the young couple lived in a log house. Mr. Simmons then sold his farm, and purchasing the home place removed thereon, taking care of his invalid father. He had 337 acres of fine land, among the best in this section, and he engaged extensively in raising Merino sheep, keeping as many as 400 at one time. He also reared a large number of horses. Mr. and Mrs. Simmons had nine children, viz.: Jeremiah Cole, a farmer of Indiana; Esther, who died young; Lewis C., a lumber merchant of Minnesota; Volna E., a merchant, who resided in Indiana, deceased in 1879; John N., who owns the old farm in Greenfield township, and a sketch of whom immediately follows; George D,, who died when one year old; Emily I. and Mary, who died in 1849, and Harlon, a resident of Kansas, who is in the railroad business. Mrs. Maria Simmons died September 24, 1850, and September 20, 1852, our subject wedded Miss Aura K. Palmer, daughter of George Palmer, who at one time was a farmer in Richland county, Ohio, and later resided in Oberlin. To this marriage have come 102 - HURON COUNTY, OHIO. two children viz.: Frank P., who died in infancy, and Sherman E., a physician of Norwalk. Mr. Simmons in his political predilections is a stanch member of the Republican party, has held every office in the gift of his township, justice of the peace, etc., and served one term, 1858-59, in the Legislature. In 1876 he retired from active life, and since that time has made his home in North Fairfield. Though now over eighty-seven years of age, he is still active and vigorous, and is one of the most highly respected men in his section, JOHN N. SIMMONS, son of the above, was born August 28, 1842, in Greenfield township, Huron Co., Ohio, of which locality he is a prominent farmer and stock grower. His education was received in the district schools of the neighborhood, his attendance thereat being confined to a few months in winter time. He commenced farming under the direction of now father, on the same farm which he now owns and resides upon, and remained with his parents until August 28, 1863, when he enlisted, at Sandusky, in Company M, O. V. H. A., joining his command at Loudon, Tenn. Be served through Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama, and at the close of the war returned home to Huron county, where he commenced agricultural pursuits on his father's farm in Greenfield township, renting same for ten years. On September 30, 1868, Mr. John N. Simmons was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth A. Richards, who was born in Norwich township, daughter of John Richards, who came to Huron county with his parents in 1816. To Mr. and Mrs. Simmons has come one child, George B., born August 7, 1869, who resides with his father on the home farm. In September, 1875, Mr. Simmons purchased his present farm, where he has since made his home, following general farming and stock growing. He is practical and systematic, and has made a decided success in agriculture. Politically he is a Republican, and his ideas have consider. able weight in the local council of that party. He has filled various township offices. An outspoken, sincere man, he has hosts of friends who know, understand and admire him for his many sterling qualities. He does not affiliate with any religious body, but takes the Golden Rule for his guide. W. B. KEEFER, prominent in banking and business circles in Chicago Junction, was born September 9, 1848, in Fairfield township, Huron county. His great-grandfather, Walter Keefer, emigrated from Holland during the eighteenth century, and, it is supposed, settled in New York. Walter Keefer, father of our subject, was born in 1810, in Vermont, a son of Walter Keefer, also a native of that State, received a primary education, and was trained to farm work. In 1835 he accompanied his parents to Sandusky county, Ohio, and afterward resided at various places in the State. Some time in the " forties" he located in Huron county, but subsequently moved to Erie county, and there made his home until 1853, when he located in New Haven township, Huron county. On March 10, 1836, he was married to Lydia Wiles, and to them eight children were born, namely: Mason S., Herman, Frank E., W. B., Wilber, Mary A., Homer and John S. Mason S, died at the age of two years, Herman at thirteen, and Wilber at three; five are now living and residing in Huron county. In religious faith Mr. Keefer is a member of the M. E. Church, in politics a Republican, W. B. Keefer received a primary education in the schools of New Haven. At the age of sixteen years he was crippled, and seeing that this militated against his engaging in manual labor, he wisely HURON COUNTY, OHIO - 103 directed his attention to a preparation for business. He attended the school at Norwalk for one session, neglecting no opportunity to obtain a practical education, and at the age of twenty-three years he taught school for one term, after which he traveled one year for a sewing machine company. Subsequently he learned telegraphy, and was appointed yard clerk at Chicago Junction for the Baltimore Si Ohio Railroad Company. When the postoflice was established at Chicago Junction he was appointed postmaster, and held the office for thirteen consecutive years. In 1877 he opened a jewelry store at Chicago Junction, which he carried on until 1888. In August, 1888, Mr. Keefer founded the Commercial Bank of Chicago Junction; this is a private banking house, and is one of the recognized financial institutions of the county, enjoying as it merits the confidence of the citizens. On February 13, 1883, Mr. Keefer was married to Miss Eva L. Shepard, of Hillsdale, Mich., and they are the parents of one son, Walter Dale. Mr. Keefer is a Republican, and takes an active interest in town and township political affairs. He is an ideal sell-made man, and having earned the wealth he possesses, understands thoroughly its true management and value. JOHN G. SHERMAN was born in Wakeman township, Huron Co., Ohio, November 11, 1830. His father, Justin Sherman, was one of the first settlers in Wakefield county, and a descendant, in direct line, of Hon. Samuel Sherman, who came from Dedham, County of Essex, England, in 1634. The entire life of our subject was spent on the farm where he was born. His early years were devoted to the usual round of duties of a farmer boy, and a few months each year spent in the district school furnished him "good enough" education for a full-fledged farmer. In the spring of 1851 he married Miss Julia E. Beecher, daughter of Cyrenius Beecher, an early settler of Florence township, Erie Co., Ohio, and began farm life in earnest. After six years of labor together, Mrs. Sherman died from an attack of dropsy, leaving her husband and one daughter to mourn her early death. In 1858 Mr. Sherman married, for his second wife, Miss Elizabeth D. Miller, daughter of John Miller, a substantial farmer in New London township, Huron county, she taking up the household duties and the care of the daughter who had lost a mother's devotion. This union resulted in the birth of one son and two daughters, who, with the exception of one daughter, together with Mrs. Sherman survive Mr. Sherman, who died May 27, 1893, from the effects of heart disease. In the active years of his life Mr. Sherman was successful as a farmer. Crops well cultivated; stock well bred and cared for; farm implements housed when not in use-in short everything done in season and in first-class order—formed the elements of his success. He was a close observer, a great reader of farm publications as well as the current news, and endeavored to keep well informed on all matters pertaining to his occupation as well as the political, social and religious news of the day. He gave more or less attention to local and State politics; was frequently a delegate to conventions, notably to the Republican National Convention at Philadel- hia in 1872, to renominate President Grant. Social in a high degree, he enjoyed the esteem of a large acquaintance. Religious, with a deep sense of duty, the outgrowth of an early experience and training, he was for years an active member of the Congregational Church at Wakeman, and one of its deacons at the time of his death. For years lie took great interest in its Sunday-school, and assisted in its work as superintendent and teacher, ever giving it liberal support. During all his years of farm life, with its demands, be always found time to enter- 104 - HURON COUNTY, OHIO. tain friends or enjoy a day with his family at social gatherings. At the close of day, for over thirty-five years, he recorded in his diary his failures or successes; the condition of the weather; the crops, when in season, and all the events that go to make up a family history. More notable, possibly, was the service he rendered for over fifteen years as newspaper reporter. On more than one occasion did he take down, in long hand, a verbatim report of political speech, or testimony given in court, and mail to paper for publication without rewriting. His crop and weather reports were regularly mailed for many seasons. In domestic life Mr. Sherman was a devoted husband and father—temperate, attentive to all home duties, thorough in his undertakings, economical, yet given to acts of kindness and deeds of charity. REV. T. F. HILDRETH, A. M., D. D., is a native of Tompkins county, N. Y., born November 29, 1826, the third son of Benjamin and Susan Hildreth, the former of whom was born in Monmouth county, N. J., the latter, whose maiden name was Colegrove. born in Schoharie county, New York. The parents came with their family to Huron county, Ohio, in 1833, and here passed the remainder of their lives, the father dying September 20, 1852, in his fifty-eighth year, the mother March 15, 1855, in her sixty-first year. The family consisted of nine children—four girls and five boys—the subject of this sketch being the sixth in the order of their birth. Dr. Hildreth was in his seventh year when his parents settled in Huron county, and his education began in an old schoolhouse a mile and a half from home, in the summer helping what he could in clearing up the farm, and in the winters attending the district school till his nineteenth year, when he took two terms in the Old Nor walk Seminary, which at that time was under the supervision of the Baptist Church. He was converted when but eleven years old, but did not unite with the Church till in his sixteenth year. As his parents were Methodists, he united with the same Church, and from the date of his conversion he was the subject of deep convictions regarding his duty to enter the Christian ministry. However, before he had fully decided as to his life work, he entered his name as a law student in the office of the Hon. Samuel T. Wooster, of Norwalk, then considered one of the ablest attorneys in the State. Before he had completed the course of study necessary to admission to the bar, he had been licensed as a local preacher in the M. E. Church, and having been recommended by his Quarterly Conference, he was received on trial in the North Ohio Conference at its Session held in Bellefontaine, August 22, 1851. Dr. Hildreth occupied several of the leading appointments in his Conference till the fall of 1864, when he was transferred to the New York Conference and stationed at Trinity M. E. Church on Thirty-fourth street. During his pastorate in New York his health became so impaired that he was obliged to resign his charge, and in the fall of 1867 he returned to his home in the bounds of the North Ohio Conference. After a year of rest, his health being greatly improved, he was given charge of the M. E. Church in Norwalk, of which be was pastor three years, and then by special request of the church in Ionia, Mich., he was transferred to the Michigan Conference and stationed at that place. The Doctor held three successive appointments of three years each, and then, by reason of impaired health, returned again to his home in Norwalk, and once more took his relation to the North Ohio Conference. When the pastorate of the Rev. Dr. Mendenhall expired, by the request of the Norwalk Church Dr. Hildreth was again appointed its pastor, and again PAGE - 105 - REV. T. F. HILDRETH, A.M. HURON COUNTY, OHIO - 107 served it for three years. At the close of his term in Norwalk, he was appointed to the Lorain Street M. E. Church in Cleveland, Ohio, but at the end of one year he severed his connection with the North Ohio Conference, and took charge of the People's Tabernacle Church, at Music Hall, an undenominational Society, composed of such persons of the various churches as desired more particularly to do Gospel temperance work. In this field the Doctor remained two years, and upon the death of its founder and chief patron, Hon. W. H. Doan, Dr. Hildreth resigned his position and returned to his own quiet home in Norwalk. In 1863 the Ohio Wesleyan University conferred upon the Doctor the degree of A, M., and in 1887 the same institution honored him with the degree of D. D. Dr. Hildreth's popularity as a speaker has ever caused him to be much sought after at the dedication of churches, believing, as the people did, that he was always eminently successful in securing church debts. His sympathy for the soldiers caused him to be frequently called upon on memorial occasions, and as a lecturer few have excelled him in popularity on the platform. His style is purely extemporaneous, never reading either a lecture or sermon, and seldom using even a brief. While Dr. Hildreth is well versed in metaphysics, and literature, his language is simple, and his methods of presenting truth easy to follow. His imagination is often brilliant, and at times he sways his audiences with the grandeur of his imagery. He has written many poems of merit, and some of them have received from the press the highest commendations. Though not now the regular pastor of any church, the Doctor is constantly engaged either in the pulpit or on the platform, and retains in a high degree the vigor both of his body and mind. In 1849 Dr. Hildreth was married to a most estimable lady, Miss Eudolphia C. Cherry, whose quiet unassuming life and sterling worth have ever been a tower of 6 strength to him all through their years. They are spending their evening twilight in quietness and peace in their own cozy home, surrounded with many friends. STEPHEN F. CLARKE, a successful farmer of Lyme township, has all his life been engaged in agricultural pursuits, and is to-day prominently identified among the progressive and wide-awake farmers of Huron county. His father, John Clarke, was born in Ashelworth, Gloucestershire, England, July 19, 1794, and was married May 5, 1823, to Miss Elizabeth Lloyd, of Tibberton, Worcestershire, England, who was born January 26, 1801. Of this union eleven children were born (seven of whom are still living), namely: Mary Lloyd, born September 17, 1824; Catherine L., born October 18, 1825; John S., born February 17, 1827; Christopher, born August 30, 1828; Frederick, born December 28, 1829; Elizabeth E., born April 15, 1831; Edwin, born July 22, 1832; Lucy, born October 15, 1833; Philip, born April 29, 1835; Stephen F., born December 19, 1839; and Theodore E., born April 12, 1842. John Clarke was a farmer from his youth, and in 1836 moved to Ohio, where he followed this occupation, ranking high in the esteem of his neighbors. He was a great Church worker, being one of the founders of Lyme Trinity Episcopal Church; was also lay reader for years after the church was first organized, and during the remainder of his life he was senior warden. He died May 2, 1877; his wife passed away November 10, 1861. Stephen F. Clarke was born on Pipe creek, in Erie county, Ohio, and was five years old when his parents moved to the homestead, where lie now resides. He attended the district school in the vicinity until the formation of the union school in Bellevue, where he continued his studies, afterward completing them at Oberlin, and 108 - HURON COUNTY, OHIO. at Heidelberg College, Tiffin, Ohio. At an early age he manifested a talent for agricultural pursuits, and has devoted his time exclusively to farming, having lived on the property where he now resides since 1845. He owns eighty-five acres of valuable and well-cultivated land, situated about one mile from Bellevue, and each year adds many improvements, in the way of buildings, new farming implements, and in putting into execution new methods for carrying on his work. He was proficient in music, and was a member of various bands for years, playing also the trombone in church at Bellevue several years. On September 9, 1868, Stephen F. Clarke married Sarah Rosa Stults, daughter of Ralph and Ann Stults, who lived on a farm about two and one half miles east of Bellevue. She was an active member of Lyme Trinity Episcopal Church and choir. Her life was cut short by an early death from childbirth, passing away March 30, 1872, at the age of twenty-three years; the child, Edith R., was born March 24, 1872. On September 4, 1878, Mr. Clarke was married to Minnie Louise Anderson, daughter of James Emory and E. Louise Anderson, on both sides descendants of Scottish ancestry. The first seven years of her life were spent on her father's farm (the second one from where she now lives), after which her father sold his farm, and with his wife and daughter moved into the town of Bellevue, where he engaged in the grocery business. He is now manager of a large Orange grove in Daytona, Fla. Mrs. Minnie L. Clarke attended a select school for three or four years, and then entered the public school at Bellevue, where she completed her studies with the class of '78. To her marriage with Mr. Clarke have been born three children, viz.: John A., born October 19, 1879; M. Louise, born October 20, 1881, and A. Bessie, born May 16, 1884. Mr. and Mrs. Clarke are members of the Congregational Church at Bellevue, of which they are liberal sup porters. Mrs. Clarke has been a member of the choir for over sixteen years, notwithstanding her many family cares. Alvin Anderson, grandfather of Mrs. Minnie L. Clarke, was born July 28, 1800, in New York State, of Scotch descent, his parents having come from the land of Scott and Burns at an early day. In 1820 he married Miss Harriet Baldwin, who was born July 24, 1800, the eldest daughter of Dr. Baldwin, of Newark, N. J. The young couple then lived on a farm near Honeoye, N. Y., where five children were born to them, viz., Adeline, September, 1822; Martha, April 30, 1825; Alvin Clark, February 18, 1830; Emily, 1833 (deceased in infancy); and James Emory, August 13, 1836. In 1838 Mr. and Mrs, Anderson, with their young children, left the East to %seek their fortune in the West (as Ohio was then considered), they having to drive the entire distance, as in those days there were no railroads through these parts, the country being entirely new, and as a consequence they endured many hardships. Neighbors were poor and far apart, and the dense forest teemed with wild animals, including ferocious wolves that " made night hideous" with their howlings. The family settled on a tract of between four and five hundred acres of land, situated one mile and a half east of Bellevue, toward Strong's Ridge. This was in course of time cleared and cultivated, and sold off to new comers, and other farms and town property bought. One by one the children married, and had homes of their own, the father giving each a share until the youngest, James Emory, came to marry. The parents then moved into their town "Cottage," giving James Emory the homestead, whither he brought his handsome and accomplished bride—E. Louise (Pennell)—from Honeoye, Ontario Co., N. Y., they having married January 27, 1859. She was the eldest daughter of Dennis Pennell, an extensive dealer in pianos, organs, etc., who gave to each of his children every advan- HURON COUNTY, OHIO - 109 tage money could procure (which in those days was considerable), sending three of his daughters to Music Vale Seminary, Salem, Mass., where they graduated in music in all its branches. They afterward became teachers for over thirty years, their duties never interfering with family cares and society work. Two children came to brighten the home of J. Emory and E, Louise Anderson, viz.: Minnie L., born May 26, 1860, and Charles E., born April 13, 1868, now on the "Nickel Plate" Railroad, his home being in Bellevue, On May 24, 1891, he married Pearl Jessie Kline, of Flat Rock, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Anderson journeyed through life together over sixty-two years, and in 1870 they celebrated their golden wedding. In 1882 this " blessed, good, kind old lady, beloved by every one" (as affectionately described by her granddaughter Mrs. Clarke), received a paralytic stroke, the second one in her old age, from the effects of which she died within a few days, the date of her demise being August 30. For the first five years after the death of his wife, Mr. Anderson made his home with his son J. E., until the latter moved to Daytona, Fla., in 1887; he then lived alternately with his two daughters—the late Mrs. J. B. Higbee, of Bellevue, Ohio, and Mrs. Basil Meek, of Fremont. Mrs. Meek and two sons—J. E., and A. C. (of New Bremen, Ohio)—survive him. Alvin Anderson died March 5, 1893, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Meek, aged ninety-two years, seven months, seven days. He was possessed of much strength of mind, a wonderful spirit of endurance inherited from his Scotch ancestry, and was a man of great industry and integrity. Liberal of his means, he contributed largely to the support of the churches with which he was connected, as well as educational institutions, especially at Lima, New York, Berea, and Delaware, Ohio, and cheerfully gave his children the advantages of the above named institutions. Upon arriving at his new home in Ohio, in 1839, and finding no Methodist Church in Bellevue, and only two or three members besides his parents and sister of his own denomination, he gathered them together, organizing them into a Methodist class, which became the nucleus to the present Methodist Church in the town. He was a loyal Methodist, but liberal toward all other denominations, and his honored name will ever be held in grateful remembrance. L. O. SIMMONS, the genial mayor of Monroeville, also editor and proprietor of the Spectator, is one of the most prominent and popular citizens of the place. He is a son of George and Mary (Whaley) Simmons, both of whom were born in England, and, immigrating to America many years ago, settled in Huron county, Ohio. Their other children were Susie C., Mary, Fannie, Frank and Louis, living, and one daughter—Belle-and one son--George--deceased. The father died in 1873. L. O. Simmons was born September 16, 1867, in Monroeville, Huron Co., Ohio, and attended the common schools of his native town, afterward the high school, from which he graduated. While pursuing his literary, work during regular school hours, the ambitious youth also devoted every hour of spare time to private study, and after leaving school learned the printing business in Cleveland, Ohio. In April, 1886, he purchased the Monroeville Spectator, and began business in that then dull little town, which owes the greater portion of its present prosperous condition to the energetic efforts and enterprise of Mayor Simmons. On June 20, 1889, L. O. Simmons, wisely deciding that "two were better than one," married Miss Margaret Fanning, and their union has been blessed with one daughter, Viola B. In April, 1892, Mr. Simmons was elected mayor of Monroeville, and has per- 110 - HURON COUNTY, OHIO. formed the several duties of that responsible position with rare judgment and to the entire satisfaction of his constituency. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., also of the Junior Order United American Mechanics. His paper is independent in politics, a spirited exponent of its editor's principles. L. E. BARKER, justice of the peace, dealer in real estate, and insurance agent, of Greenwich, is widely known in Huron and adjoining counties. He was born in 1848 in Huron county, Ohio, was educated in this county, and at the age of seventeen years went to Michigan. He remained three or four years in that State, returned to his native county in 1872, and located at Greenwich, where he was connected with the dry-goods business until 1881. In 1884 he engaged in the insurance business, and now represents no less than seven leading companies. At the same time he established as a real- estate agent, buying, selling and trading lands, town lots and other property on commission. Mr. Barker served the municipality of Greenwich as clerk for two terms; was elected mayor of Greenwich in 1889, and in April, 1892, was elected justice of the peace. He was united in marriage on December 16, 1875,. with Mary Sypher, a native of Des Moines, Iowa, and daughter of Reuben and Jennie (Armour) Sypher, the former a native of Pennsylvania, the latter of Indiana. Her mother died sixteen years after marriage, and her father died at Des Moines, Iowa, in 1879. Their daughter, now Mrs. Barker, was sent to Oxford, Ohio, when seventeen years old, to attend school, and remained there for two years. To her marriage two children were born, namely: Echo Armour and Ethel Adeline. Nelson and Adeline (Hinkley) Barker, parents of Justice Barker, were born in New York State, the former in 1819, the latter in 1822, and are now residents of Ripley township, Huron Co., Ohio. Their parents came to Huron county about the year 1834, and here Mr. and Mrs. Barker were married, and five children were born to them, three of whom are living, Dr. I. N., H, W., and L. E. Joseph Barker, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, who was of English descent, resided here from his coming in the " thirties " until his death. The maternal grandparents, natives of Connecticut, who settled in Huron county, resided here until death removed them from the circle of old settlers. The Hinkleys are of French descent, grandfather Hinkley being a cousin of Salmon P. Chase; his wife, Laura, was Scotch-English. The father of L. E. Barker, ",Nelson Barker," died July 31, 1893, and L. E. Barker's only sister, L. Delia, was appointed administratrix of the estate of Nelson Barker, was taken sick on October 4, 1893, and died October 17 following at the age of thirty-seven years, five months, twenty-five days. COMMODORE O. H. PERRY, well-known and respected in Peru township, where he is a prosperous agriculturist, is a native of New York State, born in Cayuga county April 12, 1829. Joseph Perry, father of subject, was born in Orange county, N. Y., in 1785, and was there educated and reared. Some time after marriage he was induced to go to Cayuga county, N. Y., and there remained until 1832, when he came to Ohio, settling in Peru township, Huron county. The journey was made by boat from Buffalo to Sandusky, and from there by wagon to Peru, where Mr. Perry took up wild land and cleared same. In New Jersey he married Miss Sarah Seward, a second cousin of Gen. Seward, and the children born to this union were Horace, HURON COUNTY, OHIO - 111 Emeline, Catharine, Daniel S., Eliza, Julia, Sally A., Joseph and C. O. H. The mother of these children died in October, 1861, the father on May 31, 1859; he was a hardy pioneer of sterling worth, much respected, and in politics he was first an Old-line Whig, later a Republican. The subject proper of this sketch received his education at the common schools of his native place, and was reared to farming pursuits. He was three years old, as will be seen, when he came to Huron county, and has ever since lived on the home place in Peru township. On June 27, 1867, he was united in marriage with Frances J., daughter of W. H. Snyder, of Peru township, Huron county, and the children born to them were: (1) Fannie, married to J. C. Wheeler, by whom she had three children, Perry, Alto and Mary; and (2) Oscar, deceased at the age of two years. The mother of these being called from earth on May 31, 1892, Mr. Perry married Miss Mary M., daughter of S. P. Towne, of Norwalk, Huron county. A Republican in politics, Mr. Perry has served as county commissioner six years, commencing in 1886. He was a most efficient and popular officer. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church of Peru, of which he has been an elder for eleven years past. Prompt and decisive in action, practical and steadfast in purpose, industrious and painstaking, a man of judgment and probity, he is held in high esteem by his neighbors and wide acquaintance. Social and lively in temperament, with a keen sense of the humorous, which is apparent in many a droll and witty remark, " Uncle Com," as he is familiarly called, is welcomed everywhere as "good company" by young and old. His hospitality is unbounded. He is a model farmer and a natural mechanic, and has always been noted for his fine stock. Always busy himself, he has no sympathy for the shiftless and idle, but to the unfortunate he is a kind and help ful friend, whose sympathy is shown in acts rather than words. In any plan for the advancement of his community, his active co-operation is relied upon. D. N. CARPENTER, the popular mayor of Chicago Junction, was born October 18, 1833, near Bellville, Richland Co., Ohio, a son of Samuel and Eunice (Phelps) Carpenter, natives of Genesee county, N. Y., and Vermont, respectively, and who were early settlers of Richland county, having come hither with their parents in youth. In 1847 Samuel Carpenter removed to Richmond township, Huron county, with his family, purchasing a corner lot, where lie resided until the period of the Civil war, when he established his home at Defiance, Ohio, and there remained until his death. Politically he was a Whig until 1856, when he became a Republican. Of fourteen children born to Samuel and Eunice Carpenter, eleven grew to maturity, of whom five sons and three daughters are living. Three sons and one daughter reside in Ohio; another daughter in Tennessee; one in Indiana; and a son in Wisconsin, all heads of families. The sons are all large men, D. N. Carpenter, who stands six feet in his stockings and weighs 170 pounds, being the smallest of all in stature. Our subject was the eldest son in the family, and consequently became inured to work from childhood, continuing on the home farm until twenty-two years of age. But little attention was given to his literary education, but his natural intelligence more than compensated for the lack of school knowledge. On December 10, 1854, Mr. Carpenter was united in marriage with Sarah A. Smith, daughter of John Smith, of Seneca county, Ohio. Immediately afterward he purchased a sawmill in the southwest corner of Richmond township, Huron county, which he operated for ten years, when he sold the property. He then commenced work for Philip Caruthers, who 112 - HURON COUNTY, OHIO. paid him one dollar and seventy-five cents a day for the first month, two dollars a day for the second month, two dollars and twenty-five cents a day for the third and fourth month, and so on until he finally became a partner, and they worked together two years, when Mr. Carpenter retired from the business to give attention to his contracting and building interests. In 1880 he settled at Chicago Junction, where he has erected a large number of houses, including some of the finest buildings in the town. Politically he is an active Republican, and is now serving his second term as justice of the peace of Richmond township, on the line of which he resides. In the spring of 1893 he completed his second term as mayor of Chicago Junction. For three terms before moving to town he served as trustee of Richmond township, and in the fall of 1892 he was candidate for the office of county commissioner. Mr. Carpenter, on locating at Chicago Junction, purchased a house and two vacant lots, and in 1885 he built a commodious residence, where he resides with his family. To Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter have come children as follows: J. W., yard engineer at Chicago Junction, in the employ of the B. & 0. Railroad Company; A. A., a carpenter, contractor and builder; Mary, wife of I. M. Croninger, a contractor and builder; Lou, wife of Dr. Kauffman; Emma, wife of B. F. Fink; and one child that died young. Mr. Carpenter is a member of the United Brethren Church. He is very prominent in municipal affairs, is a man of excellent ability, and a citizen who is worthy of the name. MAJOR L. B. MESNARD, surveyor, Norwalk, was born in Huron county, Ohio, December 31, 1837, a son of EH and Harriet (Baker) Mesnard, the former of whom was born October 16, 1797, in Norwalk, Conn., where he grew to manhood. Eri Mesnard received his education at Ithaca, and became a practical engineer. He was assistant engineer in the location and construction of the Ithaca & Owego Railroad, one of the first railroads built in the State of New York. On June 11, 1835, he was married to Harriet Baker, and in 1837 came to Huron county, Ohio, par. chased a farm, sold it, and then bought property in Norwalk township, on which he made his permanent home. In 1850 he was elected county surveyor of Huron county, and was several times re-elected, holding the office for fourteen consecutive years. He was originally a Democrat in politics, but in 1856 voted for Fremont, and ever after remained a Republican, He was one of the most prominent men in Huron county, highly honored by his neighbors for his well-known probity and nobility of character. In religious faith he was a member of the Methodist Episco. pal Church. He died January 29, 1879, Mr. Mesnard was a descendant of the French Huguenots who left Rochelle, France, about 1700, came to America and settled New Rochelle, near Saratoga, N. Y. The immigrant Mesnard married a daughter of Judge ,Hoyt, who was a judge in the Colonies by appointment from the English crown. Mrs. Harriet (Baker) Mesnard, mother of our subject, was a native of Massachusetts. She was married in New York, and bore her husband three daugh. ters and one son: L. B. (subject of this memoir), Mrs. Ellen M. Mead, Mrs. Mary A. Wood, and Celestia H. L. B. Mesnard grew to manhood under the parental roof, and received his education in the public schools of the vicinity and Norwalk Seminary, exhibiting special aptness in mathematics. He afterward became his father's constant companion, even when a small boy attending him on many of his surveying expeditions; and he had thus many advantages, both in the line of mathematics as well as in practical surveying, etc. Ending his school daysin 1859, he followed the profession of teacher HURON COUNTY, OHIO - 113 until the breaking out of the Civil war, when he enlisted, in September, 1861, in the Fifty-fifth Regiment O. V. I., serving in the army of the Potomac, taking part in the battles of South Mountain, Second Bull Run, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg, where he was severely wounded. He subsequently went west with the Twentieth Corps, under Gen. Hooker, and participated in the engagements at Missionary Ridge, Lookout Mountain, and the siege of Knoxville. He then received a veteran furlough, and while at home raised, at Norwalk, a new company, which was mustered in as Company B, Twenty-fifth O. V. I., of which he was commissioned captain. He went with his command to Washington, thence to Hilton Head, S. C., in the Coast division, and served till the close of the war, at which time they were at Charleston, S. C., and was commissioned major of the Twenty-fifth O. V. I., some three months previous to its muster out of service, June 18, 1866. During his service in the ranks at the front he carried a musket 3,500 miles, filling the important position of first sergeant of his company for a year or more, and during his long service in the army was always present for duty except when absent, wounded. After the war he engaged in farming in the south part of Norwalk township, which he followed till 1880, when he was elected County Surveyor, in which office he is now serving his fifth term. Maj. L. B. Mesnard and Hattie Baker, of Syracuse, N. Y., were united in marriage, in December, 1865. Two sons, Howard W. (now at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute of Troy, N. Y.) and Ralph E. (a senior in the Norwalk High School) have been born to this union. REV. J. M. SEYMOUR, pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Norwalk, is a native of the Buckeye State, having been born in Portage county, February 3, 1842, a son of Erastus and Mary A. (Chapman) Seymour, natives of Connecticut. The family are of English descent, those members of it, under immediate consideration, being descended from Richard Seymour, who made his first trip to America before the "Mayflower's" time, locating in Maine; then revisited England, and returning to America finally settled in Connecticut. Our subject's paternal grandfather came in 1820 as a pioneer to Portage county, Ohio, bringing his family, Erastus being one of them, and the journey was made, by some on horseback, by others in wagons, in which were also stowed their household effects, their "Lams et Penates." The father of Rev. Seymour died in Portage county in 1883; the mother in 1892. He was a strong Republican, and in church connection he was a Congregationalist. Our subject's maternal great-grandfather served in the Revolutionary war. Rev. J. M. Seymour, in early boyhood, and before the war of the Rebellion had called a " magnificently stern array" of troops into the field, attended school at Rootstown, in his native county, and at Mansfield, also Hiram College, of which latter James A. Garfield was president at that time. On the breaking out of hostilities, our subject enlisted in the Forty-second O. V. I., of which Garfield was colonel, and served in Virginia, Kentucky and Mississippi, participating in the battles of Middle Creek (Ky.), Cumberland Gap, Chickasaw Bayou, Port Gibson, Champion's Hill, Black River Bridge and the siege of Vicksburg, besides many minor engagements. In 1864 he was honorably discharged as sergeant, and returned home to the more congenial pursuits of peace. For some time lie now applied himself to study and school teaching, after which he graduated from the Western Reserve College, from which institution he went to Andover Theological Seminary, where he also graduated. Having now received a license to preach, Rev. Seymour com- 114 - HURON COUNTY, OHIO. menced his pastoral labors at Brookfield, Mass., where he remained two years; thence went to Fort Wayne, Ind., and from there after filling a seven years' incumbency came in 1884 to Norwalk, of the Presbyterian Church of which place he has since been pastor. On October 1, 1877, Mr. Seymour was united in marriage with Miss Edna Speaker, a native of Stark county, Ohio, and one child, Emma M., has been born to them. Extremely popular among all classes, Mr. Seymour is admired for his scholarly attainments, ability as a preacher and his high moral standing. He is far-famed for his powers of oratory, purity of language and deportment as a Christian gentleman, and is much sought after to grace the platform on public occasions by his presence and elegant addresses. In the Church and Sabbath-school he is a hard worker, and outside these duties he takes an especially active interest in the welfare of indigent old soldiers, widows and orphans. He is a member of M. F. Wooster Post, G. A. R. D. W. VAIL, M. D., Norwalk, one of the prominent and influential citizens of Huron county, of which he is a native, is a son of David Vail, a descendant of early Puritan stock. The father of our subject was born in New York, October 2, 1811, and is a resident of Olena, Huron county, a prosperous farmer, ripe in years and rich in the respect and confidence of the many friends and neighbors among whom he has spent his life since coming to Ohio in 1837. He was united in wedlock in 1845 with Almira Adams, daughter of Peter Adams, of Connecticut stock who came to Huron county as early settlers in Fairfield township, and of this union were in the order of birth the following children: D. W. Vail, L. A. Vail, J. J. Vail, Alice (Mrs. Robert Lambert) and C. W. Vail. David Vail reached legal age at the time when Andrew Jackson was forging his way to the front as the great American representative Democrat, and became one of his most earnest adherents. To this day he has maintained, as a Jacksonian Democrat, the unflinching courage of his early political convictions, and in his religious views he is a Baptist. In the list of the family of children above given, it will be noticed that the gentleman whose name commences this brief notice is the eldest. He was reared on his father's farm, where he was born June 3, 1847, and received the rudiments of an English education in the common schools of the place. When prepared he entered Oberlin College, and, completing his literary education, began the study of medicine under Prof. Thayer Cleveland, at Western Reserve College, Cleveland, Ohio, where he was graduated in the class of 1869. As an evidence of the young student's diligence, it may be here stated that he was fully prepared for graduation two years before he attained the customary age of graduation in the institution. Immediately on reaching his majority, he opened an office for the practice of his profession at New Haven, in Huron county, where he was employed the next fourteen years, a period of professional success and eminence, both at home and abroad. In 1883 he removed to his present place of residence, Norwalk, and from that time to the present has been actively engaged in important business affairs that have practically withdrawn him from his profession. He was an active member of a company which established the Post-office Box factory at Norwalk, which was being successfully operated till it and contents, with several other buildings, were destroyed by fire, entailing a serious loss; the factory has never been rebuilt. Dr, Vail is president of and was a chief factor in the erection of the plant of the Incandescent Light and Power Company, that is furnishing and lighting the city of Norwalk, one of the most important improve- PAGE - 115 - PICTURE OF D. W. VAIL, M.D. PAGE - 116 - BLANK HURON COUNTY, OHIO - 117 ments in the place. It was established in 1891, and at present is supplied with machinery of 350 horse-power. He is also president of the Norwalk Metal Spinning and Stamping Company, which was established in 1890, the goods of which are entirely of nickel and copper. Dr. Vail is also president of the C. W. Smith Manufacturing Company, of Norwalk, where is made wood fabrics of great variety. This commenced in a small way, making mostly easels, and has been extended to include a variety of products until at present it is the second plant of importance in Huron county; it has 150 employees. The output the first year amounted to twelve thousand dollars; second year, twenty- eight thousand dollars; third year, forty thousand dollars, and the present year (1893), eighty thousand dollars. Burdened as he was with all these important affairs, the Doctor became postmaster at Norwalk, filling all its duties thoroughly four years and one month, and during his term became one of the co-proprietors and editor of the Daily and Weekly Experiment-News, of Norwalk, purchasing a half interest in the paper in January, 1890, and was with the publication more than a year. Dr. Vail's political preferences have been Democratic. At the age of twenty- two he was elected justice of the peace, and served a full term; has held most of the township offices where he resided; was a member of the Democratic State Central Committee; was a candidate on the Legislative ticket, and suffered defeat with his party; a candidate for Congress, and by circumstances was cheated out of the nomination; was one term a member of the Norwalk City Council; is at present a member of the School Board; in 1888 was appointed postmaster and served as already stated. This is something of the record of the professional, business and political career of one who is yet a young man, and before whom is still the promise of his best years. Doctor Vail and Hannah Southard were united in wedlock December 30, 1870; she is a native of Tuckertown, N. J., and a daughter of James P, and Mary (Stiles) Southard, natives of New Jersey. She is one of a family of ten children, all residents of Ohio. In the home of Dr. and Mrs. Vail is one child, Harry. OLIVER W. WILLIAMS. Among the prominent citizens of Norwalk this gentleman is recognized as one of the most deservedly popular. His thrilling experiences as a veteran of the Civil war form a theme of conversation which fascinates the younger men, to whom the story of that bloody contest is a romance of " truth stranger than fiction." Oliver W. Williams was born February 2, 1841, in Tiffin, Seneca Co., Ohio, a son of Richard Williams, a native of Pennsylvania, whose father was a soldier in the war of 1812. Richard Williams was born in 1815, and when a young man married Miss Eunice Randall, who was born in 1817, in Williamsport, Penn. In 1840 the young couple settled in Tiffin, Seneca Co., Ohio, where he practiced law and served both as county auditor and treasurer. He died in 1852, having been preceded to the grave by his wife in 1841. Oliver W. Williams was reared and educated in Seneca county, Ohio, and when twenty years of age entered the army. On June 18, 1861, he enlisted at Camp Chase, Franklin Co., Ohio, in Company G, Twenty-fifth Regiment, O. V. I., which regiment, of which he was appointed hospital steward in November, 1861, did gallant service from the time of its organization until mustered out of the service. It was commanded by Col. James A. Jones, and Company G fought under Capt. Asa Way. On July 29, 1861, the regiment entered West Virgina, where Company G assisted in guarding the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad between Wheeling and Grafton. They left the railroad 118 - HURON COUNTY, OHIO. August 26, and after reporting to Gen. Reynolds at Beverly took a position on the summit of Cheat Mountain. As cold weather came on, it found many of the soldiers without overcoats, shoes or blankets, at the mercy of the freezing sleet and heavy snow storms. On September 12 a wagon train was sent into the valley for provisions, and being captured on the way, two companies were sent to overtake the enemy. They drove the Confederates back to the main lines, and on discovering that Lee's army was in the vicinity, began hasty preparations for defence. But about this time the Union troops arrived from the valley with a supply of provisions, and the Confederates withdrew. On October 3, the Twenty-fifth marched from the summit with several other regiments under Gen. Reynolds, to attack the Confederates at Greenbrier, but returned without important results, the Twenty-fifth having been the last regiment to leave the field. In November it went into winter quarters at Huttonsville, and on the 31st of December went to Huntersville, marching one hundred and six miles in five days, and destroying a vast amount of Confederate stores. This was one of the famous raids of the war, and resulted in valuable aid to the Union forces. In April, 1862, the Twenty-fifth crossed Cheat Mountain and the Alleghanies, arriving at Monterey after marching one hundred and twenty-five miles through an unknown region. They were attacked by Gen. Johnston, who was repulsed and then retreated. The Unionists under Gen. Milroy followed the enemy to McDowell, where they remained until confronted by a large force under Johnston and Jackson. On May 8, the battle of Bull-Pasture Mountain was opened by a gallant charge from the Twenty-fifth Regiment. All day the contest raged fiercely, and as darkness fell the light from ten thousand muskets illumed the night. First to lead the van, the Twenty-fifth remained till all others had left the field, then covered their re- treat to Franklin. On June 8, they fought in the battle of Cross Keys, and August 29 joined Pope in the second battle of Bull Run, then went into winter quarters at Brooke's Station. The Twenty-fifth was transferred April 27, 1863, to the Second Brigade, First Division, Eleventh Corps of the army of the Potomac, and it is a remarkable fact that they left Brooke's Station with 443 men, and arrived at Chancellorsville with 444. They remained with the army of the Potomac until after the battles of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, in which they were prominent actors; then were transferred to South Carolina under Gen. Q. A. Gilmore, moved to Morris Island and assisted in the siege of Fort Wagner. Mr. Williams re-enlisted, January 1, 1864, as a veteran, at Folly Island, where he cast his first vote the previous October. He received his discharge as hospital steward May 25, 1864, in order to accept the position of second lieutenant of Company C, and received a commission as first lieutenant August 11, 1864, being mustered in November 1, same year. The War Department issued a special order "No. 188," releasing all wounded officers from duty, and having been wounded at Chancellors. ville, Honey Hill and Deveaux Neck, Oliver W. Williams was discharged, April 26, 1865, under this provision. After the war Mr. Williams returned to Plymouth village, Richland and Huron Cos., Ohio. On March 5, 1864, during his veteran furlough, he was united in marriage, at Elk Rapids, Antrim Co., Mich., with Miss Gertrude Baker, a native of Seneca county, Ohio, who has borne him five children, namely: Addie J., Eliza M., Henry B., Eunice H. and Roger 0. After locating in Plymouth Mr. Williams served as justice of the peace for some time, then entered the hardware business. In May, 1877, he was nominated treasurer of Huron county, being elected in October of same year. He served four years in that capacity, and in April, 1883, HURON COUNTY, OHIO - 119 was elected city clerk of Norwalk, which office he filled for six years, (luring which time he became associated with the organization of the Home Savings & Loan Company of that town, having been its first and only secretary. He attended to the clerical and general work of the Company until 1891, since which time the loan business has increased so rapidly as to demand his entire attention. He has filled the office of notary public since 1866. Mr. Williams is grandson of a soldier of 1812, and great-grandson of a soldier of the Revolution. His wife is the daughter of a Union soldier, the granddaughter of a soldier of the war of 1812, and great- granddaughter of a soldier of the Revolutionary war. F. M. SHEPHERD, whose name is as " familiar as household words" in the agricultural community of Wakeman township and surrounding country, is a native of Ohio, born July 4, 1844, in Lorain county, near Wellington, on the old homestead settled by his father. Samuel Shepherd (grandfather of our subject) and his wife Rachel (Taylor) came from England to America and made a new home in what is now Belmont county, Ohio, being among the first settlers to commence farming in the then wild woods of the "Far West," bears, deer, panthers and other wild animals being numerous. They reared a family of eleven children, of whom are yet living James, in Barry county, Mich., and Mary, in Hendrysburg, Belmont Co., Ohio. Grandfather Shepherd, in 1822, then in his fiftieth year, was killed by a falling tree near where the town of Piedmont, Harrison Co., Ohio, now stands. He was a Whig in politics, and in religious faith a Quaker, as was also his wife. John Shepherd (father of F. M.) eldest son of Samuel Shepherd, was born in April, 1812, in Brandywine, Md., and when a twelve-year-old boy was taught the trade of shoemaker in Flushing, Ohio, following same in Hendrysburg, same State, several years. On August 4, 1838, he married in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, Jemima Organ, and for about four years thereafter they remained in that county, at the end of which time they came to Wellington township, Lorain county, settling on a farm of fifty acres, situated four and one half miles southwest of the village of Wellington, this farm being paid for out of savings from his shoemaking business. There were in those days neither roads nor near neighbors, naught but apparently insurmountable difficulties; but bravely did these pioneers hew out a home for themselves and future generations. A family of six children were born to them in this wilderness, namely: Jessie, Mary and Emanuel, all three now deceased, the first named dying in Tuscarawas county, the others in Wellington, Ohio; Lydia, in Tuscarawas county, Ohio; Manuel W., now residing on the old homestead in Spencer township, Medina county, and F. M. The father died in August, 1890, the mother in 1889. John Shepherd was a member of the Methodist Church for twelve years in early life, but from that time to the day of his death was associated with the United Brethren Society; politically he was originally a Whig, later a Republican. F. M. Shepherd, whose name introduces this sketch, received a fair education at the common schools of his native township, and assisted on his father's farm until he was eighteen years old, at which time, September 16, 1862, he enlisted in Company E, One Hundred and Twenty- fourth O. V. I., under Capt. Bullock, of Elyria, Col. Oliver H. Payne commanding the regiment. He was mustered in at Cleveland, Ohio, and honorably discharged July 9, 1865, at Nashville, Tenn., after a service of nearly three years. He participated in the engagements at Fort Donelson, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, Resaca, Buzzard's Roost, Kenesaw Mountain, 120 - HURON COUNTY, OHIO. Peach Tree Creek, New Hope Church, Atlanta, Jonesborough, Franklin, Nashville, and many skirmishes between Chickamauga and Atlanta, terminating with the surrender of Hood's army. Our subject was wounded in the fight at Dalton, and was reported " dead," but after three months confinement in hospital was again reported, this time "convalescent." For services at that battle he was promoted from private to sergeant. On his return home from the war he resumed farm life, buying for himself a place of forty-seven acres in the southeast corner of Wakeman township, Huron county, to which he afterward added twenty-seven acres lying to the west of it, and forty acres in Clarksfield township. Here he has since been actively and successfully engaged in general farming, dairying and stock raising. He has cut from the timber on his farms 4,000 cords of wood for the railroad, and made 300 pounds of sugar from the maple trees in the immediate vicinity of the house. He has also made many substantial improvements on the property, and in 1881 built a comfortable dwelling and commodious outbuildings. On February 25, 1866, our subject was married to Miss Permelia A. Clifford, daughter of George Clifford, the first male white child born in Wellington township, and who has lived his entire life on a portion of the Clifford farm. Children as follows were born to this union: Three deceased in infancy, and Edith A., a school teacher, living at home. In his political preferences our subject is a Prohibition- Republican, and has held various township offices. Since he was seventeen years old he has been a member of various denominations. M. W. Shepherd is now living on the old farm near where the subject of the sketch was born, and is engaged in farming and the production of honey, being the possessor of a large number of colonies of bees. He made a trip to California in 1891, and while there made the care of bees a specialty, and upon returning home settled down to spend the rest of his days. The maternal grandfather and great-grandfather of F. M. and M. W. Shepherd were soldiers in the Revolutionary army, the great-grandfather giving his life in defense of his country at the battle of Bunker Hill, being torn to pieces by a cannon ball while standing beside his son; the last words he uttered were " God bless my country!" The paternal grandfather was a soldier in the war of 1812, and an uncle was one of Scott's soldiers during the war with Mexico; he was badly wounded at the battle of Monterey; was at the storming of the City of Mexico, and was paid one hundred thousand dollars for previously entering the city as a spy for the American troops. WILLIAM HUMPHREY JOHNSTON, B.S., M.S., M.D., is a native of Townsend Center, Huron Co., Ohio, born December 17, 1866, only child of Hon. Watson D. and Delia (Humphrey) Johnson. Hon. Watson D. Johnston was born in Allegheny county, Penn., May 21, 1844, the eldest in the family of five children of Rev. John W. and Sarah (Murray) Johnston, natives, the father of Pennsylvania, the mother of New York State, and of Scotch-English and Scotch-Irish descent, respectively. Rev. John W. Johnston received a thorough classical education at Jefferson College and the Western Theological Seminary of Allegheny, graduating from both institutions with high honors. After completing his theological studies he was ordained to the ministry of the Presbyterian Church, and was pastor for various congregations in the western part of Pennsylvania. In 1842 he was married in his native State to Miss Sarah Murray; he died in March, 1882, in his seventy-seventh year. His father, Rev. Robert Johnston, HURON COUNTY, OHIO - 121 was also a lifelong Presbyterian minister, and was a veteran of the war of 1812, having served in the Pennsylvania line. The ancestors of the Johnston family were among the pioneers of western Pennsylvania, taking an active and honorable part in the various struggles of that Commonwealth in the old Colonial days. The Murray family were among the early settlers of New York, the old family home being in the vicinity of Albany. Watson D. Johnston received his education at the common schools in the vicinity of his place of birth, at an academy and at Oberlin College, all which advantages were secured to him mainly by his own exertions. After leaving college he taught school for about two years in Illinois, after which he was employed in the office of a rolling mill at Kittanning. one year. He then came to Townsend Center, Huron county, where he has since been successfully engaged in a general mercantile business, and has been postmaster of the village for several years. He is a stanch Republican, and represented the county in the State Legislature two terms, from 1883 to 1887; at various times he has been clerk and treasurer of his township, all of which incumbencies he has filled with credit to himself and satisfaction of his constituents. On March 15, 1866, he was married in Townsend Center to Miss Delia Humphrey, a native of Ohio, daughter of William and Sarah (Bierce) Humphrey, both natives of Connecticut and of English descent. One son was born to this union. William Humphrey, subject of sketch. The mother died in June, 1869, and for his second wife Mr. Johnston was wedded in June, 1872, at Butler, Penn., to Miss Caroline Walker, a native of Pennsylvania, born in April, 1844. This union was blessed with five children, viz.: Robert, Mame, Thomas, Emma and Maggie. Mr. Johnston is a Royal Arch Mason, a member of Lodge No. 322, F. & A. M., East Townsend, of which he has twice been worshipful master. William Humphrey Johnston, after several years attendance at the common schools and academy of his native town, entered the Scientific Department of the University of Notre Dame, near South Bend, Ind., from which institution he subsequently graduated with highest honors, in June, 1885, receiving the degree of B. S.; to him was also awarded the gold medal, or first prize for English Essays; the gold medal for original work in the Biological Laboratory, and the gold medal of the Scientific Association. During the same year, 1885, he became a member of the American Society of Microscopy. After graduating he taught at the University in the department of Natural Science for some two years, and at the same time took a medical and a, special or post-graduate course, receiving the degree of M. S. in 1887. Dr. Johnston then pursued his medical studies in the Medical Department of the Western Reserve University, of Cleveland, Ohio, during which time he served as assistant professor in the Department of Microscopy, having charge and principal control of the laboratory, and he was also first assistant to Prof. C. B, Parker, M. R. C. S., professor of surgery. He graduated with high honors in the class of 1889, after which he returned to the home of his childhood, where, in the short space of three years, he has succeeded in building up an extensive and lucrative practice. The Doctor is fully equipped with all the latest modern appliances, having beyond a doubt the largest and best collection of surgical and scientific instruments and apparatus to be found in this part of the State. His microscope, with its various attachments, is one of the most complete known to the profession. Aside from his use of the instrument in the usual lines, and as an aid to medical study and diagnosis, he has devoted much time to the more delicate and difficult microscopical technique, such as finds its application in so-called " expert-work." In addition to 122 - HURON COUNTY, OHIO. his professional work, he also takes considerable interest in agriculture, owning, in the immediate vicinity of Collins and Townsend Center, a well-improved farm of between three and four hundred acres, which, however, is mainly operated by tenants. On September 18, 1888, Dr. Johnston was married at Norwalk, Ohio, to Miss Nellie E. Dollard, daughter of James P. Dollard. She was born in Bellevue, Ohio, August 12, 1868, and left that place at about the age of four, residing first at Collins, Ohio, afterward, and until her marriage, at Norwalk. Dr. and Mrs. Johnston have one child, Donald Humphrey, born May 8, 1893. Socially Dr. Jonnston belongs to the Masonic Fraternity, being a member of East Townsend Lodge No. 322, F. & A. M., Huron Chap- 'ter No. 7, R. A. M., Norwalk Council No. 24, R. & S. M., and Norwalk Commandery No. 18 K. T. He is also a member of the S. of 'V., and Tent physician of the Townsend K. O. T. M. His present residence is the old Wm. Humphrey homestead. HON. O. A. WHITE, ex-mayor of Norwalk, of which city he is a most prominent, highly respected citizen, was born in 1820 in New York State. His parents, Abel and Polly (Warren) White, were natives of Vermont, descended from pure English stock, and were farmers by occupation. In 1849 they migrated to Ohio, where they passed the remainder of their days. The White family were originally among the early pioneers of New England. Our subject was reared and educated in his native State, and at the early age of seventeen commenced teaching school, which profession he followed until he was elected town superintendent of schools at Gerry, N. Y., and then commissioner of the county schools of Chautauqua county, N. Y. He served in the latter position for a term of three years, at the end of which time he came west, locating in Norwalk, Ohio, with the intention at first of going into the manufacturing business; but being urged, lie accepted the position of principal of the grammar school, and served the city of Norwalk in that capacity for the next five years, when in 1867 he was elected mayor of Norwalk; was reelected in 1869, and again in 1876. He became trustee of the Water-works, and built the Works; has been civil engineer for many of the public improvements in and about the city, and has at all times filled a prominent place in advancing every enterprise of importance to his adopted city. BRAINARD W. SALISBURY, one of the representative men of Monroeville, influential, progressive and substantial, is a native of the State of New York, born in the town of Theresa, Jefferson county, May 17, 1846. Percival B. Salisbury, father of subject, was a son of Lodowic Salisbury, a native of Massachusetts, who was married in the town of Adams, that State, to Mary Phillips, who bore him eight children— seven sons and one daughter—of whom six sons lived to marry and have families. Percival B., the youngest son, was born in Henderson, Jefferson Co., N. Y., July 27, 1818. His elementary education was received at the subscription schools of his native town, and he afterward attended Watertown (N. Y.) Institute, where he was fitted for the vocation of teacher, which he followed for some years. On March 2, 1842, he was married to Stella Willard, of Adams, N. Y. He then engaged as agent for a lumber company, whose business was in a wild part of Jefferson county, about eight miles from Theresa. There he lived a short time, and then moved to Theresa, and engaged in mercantile pursuits. In October, 1854, he came to Ohio, locating in North Monroeville, Erie county just HURON COUNTY, OHIO - 123 across the Huron county line, and for seventeen years he was postmaster at this place. In Adams, N. Y., Mr. and Mrs. Salisbury had one child, Newell, born June 6, 1843. This son enlisted in Company E, One Hundred and Twenty-third O. V. I., and was twice captured by the Confederates, each time at Winchester, Va.; his first imprisonment was in Belle Isle, and also in Libby Prison. In October, 1863, he was exchanged. In September, 1864, he was wounded at Winchester, and again captured by the enemy, but was released at the time Sheridan retook that city, September 19, 1864. He died just twelve days afterward, and lies buried in the National cemetery at that place. At Theresa, N. Y., two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Salisbury, to wit: Brainard W., subject proper of sketch, and Emma A. Cowles, now living with her widowed mother in Monroeville, Ohio. Percival B. Salisbury died March 14, 1879, and is buried in Monroeville cemementery. Politically he was a Republican, and for years served as township clerk of Oxford township, Erie county; was also a justice of the peace at the time of his death. In church connection he was a Congregationalist. Brainard W. Salisbury, as will be seen, was eight pears old when he came with his parents to Ohio. He attended school in North Monroeville, his first teacher being Ellen Young, and at the age of seventeen he left the common school to attend a mere advanced one in Belleville, N. Y., where he took a business course, after which he returned to Ohio. He clerked for a time in various stores, and later was employed in the Monroeville postoffice. Some time afterward he went into the insurance business with A. S. Skilton, after which he moved to Cleveland, where he found employment as bookkeeper in the office of the Howe Machine Company. Here, however, he remained but a few months, and then took his departure for Collins, Ohio, to take charge of the books of the Union Bending Works, located at that place. In May, 1876, he came to Monroeville, where he was installed as bookkeeper for the Exchange Bank (at that time owned by Davis, Crim & Stentz). On the reorganization of this institution in November, 1879, it became the first National Bank of Monroeville, and he continued in the same incumbency until 1888, when lie was promoted to cashier, a position he has since filled with eminent ability, and to the complete satisfaction of both the public and the directorate. On October 4, 1876, Mr. Salisbury was united in marriage with Jane Todd, of Port Chester, N. Y., a daughter of William Todd, by which union there is one child, Stella, born November 9, 1877, now a most interesting young lady. Politically our subject is a Republican, and has held various offices; was member of school board six years; was treasurer of Monroeville school board three years, and treasurer of Ridgefield township, one term. Socially he is a member of Nachee Lodge No. 94, I. 0. 0. F., Monroeville, and of Maple City Tent No. 13, K. 0. T. M. In religious faith he and his wife and daughter are members of the Presbyterian Church, of the Sabbath-school of which he is superintendent, and he is a member of the board of trustees and treasurer of the Church. C. F. STEWART, a well-known resident of Norwalk, of which city he is a native, was born March 18, 1854. His mother's death, when he was but six months old, was the cause of his young life being spent in a family of the name of Ruggles, on a farm, where as a child and youth he remained till he was seventeen years of age, receiving the lessons of the farmer boy, with an occasional attendance at the common schools. 124 - HURON COUNTY, OHIO, He had learned to work, and at an early age evinced a marked quickness in mechanics, with a handy use of tools. When he was seventeen years of age he quitted the farm and found employment with the Lake Shore Railroad Company, and, without any other experience as a carpenter than that of a boy on the farm, he went with a carpenter's gang, and found no difficulty in competing with the best of them. After about one year he quitted this employ, and profiting by his observation of the wants of wood workers, commenced to make and put upon the market dowel pins. Readily seeing that turning these out by the slow process of making by hand could be improved, he invented his own pattern and machinery for making them, and this he soon had in its present perfected form. He then opened his factory, which rapidly grew to such importance that the output for one year was 7,000 barrels of pins, which were readily taken in the markets. He next invented a machine to split the wood, and thus again facilitated the making of them, while it improved and cheapened the product. So rapidly did this new industry grow and spread that in July, 1890, Mr. Stewart was justified in changing this business from making the pins to the more important one of manufacturing the machinery for the purpose, in which he is now engaged; and he is now in the control and operating of one of the growing factories of the city. His goods find no competition in the market; the whole industry is one of his exclusive creation, and his machines have been introduced into many of the leading factories of the country. The old process was for each workman to make his own pins as he had to use them, much as, originally, all nails were made by blacksmiths. A distinguished Englishman has said that the really great men of earth are the discoverers of new truths and the inventors of new and useful machinery. To these men alone civilization looks in all its advances onward and upward. The discoverers and inventors blaze the way--they are the children of the immortals, they deserve to live forever. As "all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy," Mr. Stewart adopted the manly sport of rifle shooting for recreation, and became so expert with his favorite arm (The Ballard rifle) that he easily won the honors for his native State at Toledo, in competition with the noted crack shots of the United States. The next year he was declared "King of Sharpshooters" at the Detroit (Mich.) rifle tournament, for making the greatest number of " bullseyes" in the two days' competition. This feat he repeated at Newark, N. J., in 1888, where nearly one thousand riflemen were striving for the honor. In 1879 Mr. Stewart was united in marriage to Miss Helen I. Manahan. CALEB HATHAWAY GALLUP. From time immemorial the tradition has been handed down by members of an ancient family of the name of Kolopp—residents of the Province of Lorraine, now in Germany-that one of their number went to western Europe as a follower of William, Duke of Normandy, and never returned. As corroborative of this tradition, another exists in the Gallup family of America to the effect that the founder of the English branch came at the Conquest into England from France. The different spelling of the name by the two families is no indication of a difference in origin. "In those early days education was confined to the monasteries, and family names were perpetuated by the medium of their children more than by written records. Afterward, as education became more general, and men learned to write their names, the manner of spelling them was arbitrary, depending upon the sound, or the fancy of the individual. Kolopp is a correct phonetic spelling of the German pronunciation of Gallup." PAGE - 125 - PICTURE OF C. H. GALLUP PAGE - 126 - BLANK HURON COUNTY, OHIO - 127 In the year 1630 John Gallup came over to this country from England, and made his home in Boston, then but an infant settlement. He was an English sailor, who soon became a Massachusetts fisherman, and with his little fishing smack became historic in the Indian troubles of that time. He died at Boston January 11, 1650. Soon after the settlement of New London, Conn., and about 1648, his son John, who married at Boston, became a resident of that part of New London since called Groton, where he brought up his three sons, John, Benadam and William, and probably other children. In 1675 John received warning, from a friendly Indian, of the trouble soon to culminate in that historic event known as "King Philip's War." That warning came in the shape of the present of a wampum belt, or, rather, a belt made out of the long coarse hair of the black bear, ornamented with. white beads set in the form of a W. This indicated war. He raised a company of soldiers, and took them into that " direful swamp fight" of December 19, 1775. The following is a succinct account of Gallup's fate, as related in Barbor's "Connecticut Historical Collections" and elsewhere: "The Legislature of the colony, in a representation of the services they had performed in the war, say: In that signal service, the fort fight, in Narragansett, as we had our full number in proportion to the other confederates, so all say they did their full proportion of service. Three noble soldiers—Seeley, courageous Marshall and bold Gallup-died in the bed of honor; and valiant Mason, a fourth captain, had his death wound. There died many brave officers and sentinels, whose memory is blessed, and whose death redeemed our lives.'" Benadam survived the war, and lived to rear a large family, including a son named Benadam (2), who also reared a large family of seven sons and four daughters. One son, named siWilliam, removed from Groton, Conn., to Kingston, Penn., in October, 1774, and was living there at the time of the Wyoming Massacre of July 3, 1778. His son Hallet was in the fight, and escaped by floating down the Susquehanna river, with his body under water and his face protected from view between two rails grasped in his hands, Two twin daughters --Sarah and Hannah, born March 4, 1773, at Groton, Conn., and aged about five years—were captured and carried off by the Indians, painted and adopted by a squaw, but were soon after ransomed. Hannah was the Mrs. Hannah Jones who died at Kingston, Penn., about 1860. Sarah was the Mrs. Sarah Hoyt, who died at Norwalk, Ohio, in 1858. She first married Peter Grubb, Jr., and after his death became the wife of Agur Hoyt, and removed to Danbury, Conn., whence, in 1831, they came to Norwalk, Ohio. She was the stepmother of the late Agur B. Hoyt, of Norwalk, and mother of William R Hoyt, now of Toledo, Ohio. Another daughter, Mary, was engaged to be married to James Divine, of Philadelphia. He went to Kingston to visit her, and was one of the victims of July 3, 1778. She never married. William Gallup (2), then a lad, escaped the massacre, and at maturity married Freelove Hathaway, sister of Capt. Caleb Hathaway, mariner, of Philadelphia. Their children were William (3), Hallet, James Divine and Caleb Hathaway. William Gallup (3) came to Norwalk, Ohio, in 1818, and May 2, 1819, married Sally Boalt, daughter of Capt. John Boalt (the first marriage in Norwalk), and their children were: William (4), lately deceased in Cleveland, Ohio; Matilda (Mrs. William Bombarger), now of Denver, Colo.; Mary, deceased; Frances, who died in Denver, Colo.; Ruth Ann (Mrs. Lafayette S. Lyttle), of Toledo, Ohio; Eliza (Mrs. Frederick Hunt), now of Aspen, Colo.; George, who died in Tiffin, Ohio; Susan (Mrs. Thomas Thresher), in New Mexico; Samuel C., now of Pueblo, Colo.; James Divine (2), now of Denver, Colo.; John (3), 128 - HURON. COUNTY, OHIO. formerly of Boulder, Colo., now dead; Rose (Mrs. Albert Nusley), of Sandusky City, Ohio. Hallet Gallup (2) was born in Kingston, Penn., in 1796, and upon his birth a relative at Groton, Conn., sent on to his parents the wampum belt (given by the friendly Indian to Capt. John Gallup, in 1775), with the request to name the child John. That belt, still in almost perfect preservation, is in the possession of Carroll Gallup, of Norwalk, Ohio. In 1812 Hallet (2) joined Capt. Thomas' company of Pennsylvania volunteers, and served in the artillery under Harrison. On being mustered out of the service at the close of the war, he, in 1816, moved to Bloomingsville, then in Huron county, and in 1818 came to Norwalk. In 1819 he was appointed collector of what was then Huron county. On April 9, 1820, he married Clarissa, daughter of Platt and Sally Benedict, and died July 11, 1877, at Norwalk, Ohio, in his eighty-second year; his wife died at the same place January 11, 1878, at the same age. Their children were: Catherine, formerly of Norwalk, now deceased; Maria (Mrs. M. A. Dunton), now living in San Diego, Cal.; Lydia, deceased in childhood; Carroll, in Norwalk; Sarah (Mrs. Henry Brown), also in Norwalk; Eliza, deceased in infancy; Caleb Hathaway (2), and Lizzie Frances, both now living in Norwalk. James Divine Gallup, third son of William (3), spent the greater part of his life as a mining engineer, in the then just developing coal regions of Pennsylvania, and died unmarried at Mauch Chunk in March, 1856, aged about fifty-eight years. Caleb Hathaway Gallup, fourth son of William (2), was born at Kingston, Penn., in 1802; came to Norwalk, Ohio, in 1825, and opened a cabinet shop on the lot so long occupied by the late John H. Foster. He died at Norwalk, September 20, 1827, unmarried. Caleb Hathaway Gallup (2), the subject proper of these lines, son of Hallet Gallup (2), was born at Norwalk, Ohio, May 10, 1834. At Madison University, Hamilton, N. Y., he graduated, in 1856, from the Literary and Scientific course, and was the first student upon whom that institution conferred the degree of Bachelor of Philosophy. In 1857 he commenced the study of law with Worcester & Pennewell, of Norwalk, and in April, 1858, graduated from the Cincinnati Law School with the degree of Bachelor of Laws, shortly afterward opening an office in Norwalk. In 1859 he removed to St. John's, Mich., and July 19, same year, was admitted to practice law in the courts of that State. The following summer he removed from St. John's to Port Austin, Huron Co., Mich., arriving there June 24, 1860. In the fall of that year he was elected the first prosecuting attorney of that county, to which position he was re-elected for four succeeding terms, holding the incumbency till January 1, 1871, a period of ten years, He also held the offices of circuit court commissioner and injunction master during most of the same period, as well as that of township treasurer, and several other minor offices. During the war of the Rebellion, he acted as deputy United States marshal for the western district of Huron county, Mich., was himself drafted, and instead of being sent to the front, was ordered back to duty as deputy marshal. In 1866 he was elected a member of the Michigan Legislature for two years; and while acting in that capacity introduced and obtained the passage of a joint resolution. calling on Congress to provide for and construct a harbor of refuge at or near Point au Barques, Lake Huron. He also had printed and circulated, at the different cities bordering the great chain of lakes, a petition to the same end. This was the first step ever taken to obtain such a harbor, and did not meet with immediate success; but it set- the movement on foot that eventually culminated in the magnificent harbor of refuge at Sand HURON COUNTY, OHIO - 129 Beach, Huron Co., Mich. Hundreds of vessels, thousands of sailors and millions of dollars worth of property now find safe shelter there from the terrible storms of Lake Huron. In 1867268-69 he made repeated efforts to obtain an extension of the Western Union telegraph line from Lexington to Port Austin—seventy miles —and with success. On June 20, 1860, Mr. Gallup married Miss Kate M., daughter of John V. and Mary S. Vredenburgh, then of Peru, Huron Co., Ohio, by which union there is one son, Richard Carroll, born September 2, 1861, at the Peru farm. His mother was called from earth May 25, 1863, and November 3, 1869, Mr. Gallup married Miss Helen A., daughter of William and Mary Glover, of Trenton, N. J., and niece of Hon. Joel Parker, of Freehold, same State, the only person who has twice held the position of governor of that State. She died April 8, 1872, at Port Austin, Mich., aged twenty-nine years, and is buried at Norwalk, Ohio. The issue of this second marriage are one daughter—Mabel Parker, born September 17, 1870—and one son—Herbert Alpheus, born April 5, 1872, both born at Port Austin. On July 9, 1872, Mr. Gallup removed with his children back to Norwalk, Ohio, his present place of residence, and then abandoned the practice of law, engaging in general business as well as public enterprises, and taking care of his family and the family estate. He has been identified with nearly every public enterprise for the good of • his city and of the community at large, that has been set on foot. He was instrumental in having the Lake Erie Railroad run through Norwalk, and subsequently visited New York City for the purpose of advocating the locating of the Railroad shops here. He has assisted in securing the establishment of most of the factories, etc., in Norwalk. In 1888 he with others organized the Home Savings & Loan Company in Norwalk, Mr. Gallup being its first president, a position he still fills; and it may be said that it is due to his management that this institution has grown so vastly beyond the proportions estimated by even the most sanguine. As a business man, Mr. Gallup is recognized as possessing the highest ability, and is called in council in all matters of public moment. lie is quiet and unobtrusive in his manner, but pushes all his projects with characteristic energy, and shows high executive power in the adjust, ment of business. PLATT BENEDICT. About the year 1500, William Benedict, of Nottinghamshire, England, had an only son born to him whom he called William; this William (2) had an only son whom he called William; and this William (3) had, in 1617, an only son, whom he called Thomas. In 1638 Thomas Benedict came to America and settled in New England; and after remaining there for a time he removed to Southhold, on Long Island, where were born to him five sons and four daughters, whose names were Thomas, John, Samuel, James, Daniel, Betty, Mary, Sarah and Rebecca. From Southhold the family removed to Hassamamac, from there to Jamaica, Long Island (where Thomas was married), and from there they finally removed to Norwalk, Fairfield Co., Conn., where all the remaining children were married. Daniel married Mary, daughter of Matthew Marvin, of Norwalk; was a soldier in the "direful swamp fight," of December 19, 1675; after which, at a Norwalk town meeting, January 12, 1676: "The towne, in consideration of the good service that the soldiers sent out of the towne engaged and performed by them, and out of respect and thankfulness to the sayd soldiers, doe with one consent and freely give and grant to so many as were in the direful swamp tight, twelve acors of land; 130 - HURON COUNTY, OHIO. and eight acres of land to so many as were in the next considerable service." Accordingly, there was granted by the plantation, as a gratuity unto Daniel Benedict, " being a souldier in the Indian warr, twelfe acors of land and lyeth in three parcels." In 1690 he sold his Norwalk property, and removed to Danbury. His children were Mary, Daniel (2), Hannah and Mercy. Daniel Benedict (2) married Rebecca, daughter of Thomas Taylor, one of the original settlers of Danbury, Conn., and their children were Daniel (3), Matthew, Theophilus, Rebecca, Mary, David, Nathan and Deborah. Captain Daniel Benedict (3), born 1705, married Sarah Hickok 1728, and died November 9, 1773; their children were Daniel (4), Lemuel, Noah, Sarah, Jonas, Aaron, Ruth, Mary and Amos. Of these, Jonas was born September 21, 1742; married January 14, 1767, to Mercy Boughton, and died October 30, 1820. He was a member of the General Assembly of Connecticut in 1809. Their children were Elizabeth, Jonas (2), Platt, Sarah, Daniel (5), Mary and Eli. Platt Benedict, the subject of this memoir, was born at Danbury, Conn., March 18, 1775, and was of the sixth generation of Benedicts in America. He married, November 12, 1795, Sarah, daughter of Daniel DeForest, of Wilton, Conn. She was born August 27, 1777, and died June 24, 1852, at Norwalk, Ohio. Their children were: (1) Clarissa, born September 4, 1796; married Hallet Gallup, April 9, 1820; died January 11, 1878, at Norwalk, leaving two sons and four daughters, viz.: Catherine (deceased), Maria (wife of Marlin A. Dunton, of San Diego, Cal.), Carroll, Sarah (widow of Henry Brown), Caleb H. and Lizzie F., of Norwalk. (2) David Mead, born August 17, 1801; married September 24, 1833, to Mary Booth Starr; and died June 16, 1843, at Danbury, leaving no issue. (3) Daniel Bridgum, born June 1, 1803; died unmarried September 9, 1827, at New Orleans, La. (4) Jonas Boughton, born March 23, 1806; married October 8, 1829, to Fanny, daughter of Henry Buckingham:, and died at Norwalk, Ohio, July 29, 1851, leaving one son, David DeForest (Dr. Benedict, the present druggist of Norwalk, Ohio), and one daughter, Fanny B., who married Louis H. Severance, of Cleveland, and died August 1, 1874. And (5) Eliza Ann, born October 27, 1812; married William Brewster, May 1, 1832, and died August 17, 1840, at Norwalk, Ohio, leaving two sons, both of whom died in childhood. After his marriage Platt Benedict removed to North Salem, Westchester Co,, N. Y., where his daughter Clarissa was born; from there he removed to Randal's Island, in East River, where he engaged in market gardening; in a few years he removed back to Danbury, and was appointed collector of that town, in which capacity he acted in 1812-13. In September, 1815, he first came to Ohio to look up a new home, and in the latter part of October,in company with Elisha Whittlesey and Maj. Frederick Falley, visited and examined the present site of Norwalk. He then returned to Danbury and negotiated the purchase of about one thousand, three hundred acres of land (now the site of Norwalk) on behalf of Elisha Whittlesey, Matthew B. Whittlesey, E. Moss White and himself, In January, 1817 he again returned, to take charge of and make improvements upon the new purchase; erected a log house (which was the first building constructed by white men within the present corporate limits of the village of Norwalk), commenced a clearing upon the flats south of his new house, and on April 4 returned to Danbury, arriving there May 4. In July, 1817, he left Danbury with his family, in a covered wagon drawn by one horse, and another wagon loaded with household goods, provisions, etc., drawn by four oxen; also one saddle horse. After seven weeks of fatiguing travel and hardship, they arrived at the house of David HURON COUNTY, OHIO - 131 Gibbs and Henry Lockwood in Norwalk on September 9, and then learned that their house, built that spring, was burned down. In this emergency, the open-handed hospitality of frontier life was extended to them by the families of Gibbs and Lockwood, and there they remained until a new house was erected. Of the erection of that house, destined to be the avant-courier of so many noble structures and happy homes, Mr. Benedict himself says: On hearing of my house being burned, we slopped with Messrs. Gibbs and Lockwood, who very hospitably entertained us until I got my house in a condition to move in. They were accomm )dating Capt. John Boalt's family, nine of whom were sick with the ague. We stayed there from Monday until Friday, when we went into our new homeo a log pen twenty feet square, no doors, windows, fire-place, and no furniture except some cooking utensils used on our journey. Built a fire against the logs on one side of the shanty, made up our beds on the floor, which was so green and damp it spoiled the under-beds, which induced me to fit up two bedsteadso one for myself and wife and one for my daughters, placed in opposite corners of the shanty, by boring holes in the logs, for the sides and feet, and one upright post put into a hole in the floor, and fastened at the top, and with basswood bark, made matting in the place of cord, and when completed they were very comfortable. I cut out two doors and two windows. The sash I bought but could get no glass, in place of which I used greased paper. Built an oven in one corner, part in and part outside, with clay and sticks; also a slick chimney above the chamber floor, had no jams. After burning out three or four logs, I built up the back part of the chimney of muck and sticks. I chinked up and mudded between the logs, which made it very comfortable. For a few days we were almost without provisions; we had green corn, turnips and milk. The late Seth Jenning, of Milan, says: I commenced splitting clapboards out of oak timber to make the roof of. Every man that could work was on hand to help and do his best toward getting up the house. The women turned out and brought up our dinners that day; but we got along so well with the house that the next morning Mr. Benedict moved up, and Mrs. Benedict cooked our dinners that day by a log near the house. In " Scattered Sheaves, by Ruth," it is stated: There were present Levi Cole and his sons, Maj, Underhill, David and Jasper Underhill, his nephews, Lott Herrick, — Sanderson, Daniel Clary, Noah P. Ward, Elihu Potter, Richard Gardiner, Reuben Pixley and his son Reuben, Henry Lockwood, David Gibbs and others. Says David Underhill, 2d., " Asher Cole, Sanderson and myself, cut logs in the woods near, or on the ground now occupied by the railroad buildings, and the water was ankle deep; Lou Herrick drove the team. Mr. Benedict regaled his fellow laborers wrth Jamaica rum instead of whiskey, which was usually furnished on such occasions. Mrs. Underhill furnished, cooked the drnner, and sent it to us. It consisted mainly of pork, potatoes, turnips and bread." In an unpublished narrative, dictated by Mrs. Benedict not long before her death, she says: Two miles from any neighbor our little cabin stood; the floor of logs split in the middle, not smoothed by plane or chisel; our chairs made in the same rude manner; our table was of pieces of boxes in which our goods had been packed, and "saplings " fastened together formed our bedsteads. On one side of our cabin was a large fireplace, on the east and west sides were doors, on the north our only windows, in which to supply the place of glass we pasted pieces of greased paper. And many pleasant evenings we spent beside that large fireplace, cracking nuts and eating, not apples, but turnips. You need not laugh, I tell you those raw turnips tasted good when there was nothing else to eat, and as the flames grew bright, our merry party would forget that they were not in their eastern home, but far away in the wilds of Ohio. We heard the howl of the wolf and the whoop of the Indian resounding through the forest, for a favorite hunting ground of these wild men was situated near our cabin, and often would the Indians assemble and renew their noisy sports, little dreaming of the tide of immigration which should finally sweep them away. One night the loud barking of our dog attracted our attention, followed by a knock at the door; on opening which, in stalked a large Indian, dressed in furs and blanket, and fully armed. The children huddled close to me as he came near and asked for " daddy." He was evidently intoxicated, and I did not dare to let him know that " daddy " was not at home. I asked him to sit down, but he preferred to stretch himself before the fire, where he soon fell asleep. When he awoke he was nearly sober, and quite inclined to be talkative. He told me of the many wrongs the Indian had suffered; that the white man planted corn over his father's bones: and the poor old Indian wept. Finally he started up, exclaiming, "daddy no come, you no sleep, I go to my brothers;" and he went away. Sleep was a stranger to our eyes that night, we kept ourselves in readiness for flight, for we expected the "red-face " would return with his brothers to murder us all. The riches of a kingdom would not repay us for another such night of anxiety. But as time passed on we gained the friendship of these denizens of the forest, and they brought us many, many presents in their own rude way. From the date of Mr. Benedict's settlement to that of his death, his history is so completely intertwined with that of the 132 - HURON COUNTY, OHIO. growth and prosperity of the town, that to give it here in detail would only be a repetition of a large part of the history of Norwalk. On June 17, 1856, he married, as his second wife, Mrs. Lavina P. Benton, of Republic, Ohio, who survived him and died February 9, 1875. A few days before his death he attended the Grand Encampment of Masons at Toledo, became very much fatigued by over exertion, was attacked by bowel complaint, but so great were his physical powers, and so determined his will, that he returned to Norwalk, after which he rapidly grew worse; yet, so remarkable was his vitality, that he kept up and around his room until within a very few hours of the end. One of his last acts preceding his death, only about six hours, was the dictation and signing a very salutary codicil to his will for the benefit of his wife. With all his faculties of mind clear and distinct to the last, he quietly passed away ̊ October 25, 1866, aged ninety-one years, seven months and seven days. His funeral took place on the following Sabbath, and was conducted by the Knights Templar from various parts of northern Ohio, who came in special trains run from Cleveland and Toledo for that purpose. His cherished and aged friend, Rev. Samuel Marks, of Huron, Ohio, officiated, and at the grave, in the presence of assembled thousands, said: "Venerable man ! May thy ashes rest in peace, and the clods fall lightly upon thy bosom ! Thy virtues will be embalmed forever in our heart of hearts. - Fare thee well." PROFESSOR A. D. BEECHY, Norwalk, was born April 11, 1852. He is a native of the Buckeye State, haying first seen the light of day in the somewhat historic county of Holmes. He is the fourth son of David and Judith (Yoder) Beechy, who came to Ohio from Somerset county, Pa., where the Beechy family is now quite numerous. His ancestors came to this country from England about 1767, and, like most people of those times, engaged in agricultural pursuits, His mother is a relative of ex-Congressman Yoder, of Ohio. Both parents are still living at this writing, and now reside in Sugar Creek, Tuscarawas Co., Ohio. Mr. Beechy's early education was very limited, as in boyhood and early youth he was occupied almost entirely in laboring on his father's farm, attending only a short winter term of district school each year until lie arrived at the age of thirteen years. From this time until he reached the age of eighteen, all the opportunity he had for pursuing his studies was that afforded by home instruction during the long winter evenings, rainy days, etc, At these times he diligently applied himself to the study of arithmetic and reading of history. In this way he worked his way through several old arithmetics without any assistance whatever. Mathematics has ever since remained one of his favorite studies, partly owing, no doubt, to this early training in this line of thought. While progress in the rudiments of an education was necessarily slow under these circumstances, the lesson of self-dependence thus learned stood him in good stead when better opportunities offered later in life. At the age of eighteen he attended a term of seventy-three days of country school, before the end of which he passed an examination by the county board of examiners, and received a certificate for twelve months, the longest issued to applicants without experience in teaching, The following year he commenced teaching, in which profession he has ever since been engaged with the exception of about a year. After teaching two six-months terms of country school, he attended two terms, commencing the summer of 1874, the Hayesville Academy, then under the management of Dr. Martin. At the time HURON COUNTY, OHIO - 133 it was a preparatory shoo] for Wooster University. Soon after this he learned something of the advantages offered to self dependent young men by Mt. Union College, and directed his studies with a view to entering this institution, which he did in 1876, and from which lie graduated in the classical course in 1880. During each of the years while at college, he taught a term of school of four or five months, but kept up with his class by private work and taking the regular examinations. In mathematics he stood first in his class. During the following year he was principal of the schools of his native town, Berlin, Ohio. In December of this year he went before the State board of examiners, and was granted a life certificate, being the youngest applicant, with one exception, to whom such a certificate had then been granted. At this time only one grade of certificates was issued, to be entitled to which one had to pass an examination in the common branches, all the higher branches taught in any high school of the State, and a certain number of additional higher branches selected by the applicant. It authorizes the holder to teach any branch in any school in the State. The law has since been amended so as to allow two grades of certificates to be issued—high school and common school. The following year he was elected to the superintendency of the schools of Louisville, Ohio, which position he filled for four years. While in this place he was married to Miss Theresa Baumann, of Louisville, on December 25, 1883. One child, Ada May, has come to cheer their home. Prof. Beechy next purchased a half interest in a semi-weekly and weekly newspaper, The Alliance Review. In less than a year's experience, however, he found some of the work connected with its publication and management quite uncongenial. Besides, he could not agree with his partner in some matters of honor and right, as well as the political policy to be pursued by the paper. He therefore sold his nterest to his partner for what seemed a fair consideration, but which proved to be a considerable loss. Determining to return to the profession of teaching, he was elected superintendent of the schools of Elmore, Ohio, in which position he continued his work four years, rendering eminently successful services to these schools. While in this place he also conducted a Normal School under the auspices of the Toledo Business College, during several summer vacations. In 1886 the degree of A. M. was conferred on him by Mt. Union College, he having completed a post-graduate course of study in that in stitution. In 1889 the subject of this sketch was elected to the principalship of the Norwalk High Schools. After two years' service in this capacity he was elected to the superintendency of the public schools in the same place, for which position his ability and experience preeminently qualify him, and which position he holds at this writing. The Professor is a strong believer in hard work, whether it concerns pupils, teachers or himself. He owes his own success almost wholly to the fact that he was never disposed to shirk it. For the boy or girl who is faithful to duty he has an unlimited amount of sympathy and encouragement; but in truancy and idleness he recognizes two of the greatest evils that afflict the young, and with these he wages eternal warfare. Realizing that the " child is father to the man," he insists that, in order to have citizens who will respect the authority of the State, we must train chili dren to respect the constituted authority of the home and the school. Discipline is therefore insisted on in the schools under his management. Although giving his best thought and efforts to the schools of which he is the head, Mr. Beechy has found time to pursue a regular course of reading and study in the post-graduate department of Wooster University. He has just completed a very comprehensive course of study in social and political 134 - HURON COUNTY, OHIO. science, and received the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. While he is liberal in his views on politics and other subjects, as one who has had his extensive reading could hardly help but be, he believes that on nearly all the great questions of national interest which have divided the parties of this country, the Republican party has been in the right. In politics, therefore, he is a Republican. His political principles were undoubtedly intensified by the impression left on his mind by the unpatriotic actions of many of the adherents of the other party in his neighborhood and county during the Rebellion. JOHN A. PITTSFORD, superintendent of public schools at Chicago Junction, comes of Welsh descent. His grandparents, David and Ann (Davis) Pittsford, were natives of Wales, born in 1762 and 1773, respectively. They were married in their native land, and coming to America in 1798 (soon after the birth of their eldest child), located in Chester county, Penn. They resided on a farm in that county until 1816, then came to Licking county, Ohio, where he purchased one hundred acres, other land having been added to the original tract, and the old farm now contains 160 acres. The children born to David and Ann Pittsford were as follows: William, who moved to Indiana; Mary, wife of Isaac Price; Isaac, who moved to Indiana; John, whose sketch follows; Elizabeth, wife of Rev. Thomas Hughes, and James, all of whom were married and left children. John Pittsford was born in Chester county, Penn., October 2, 1802. He received a good common-school education, and afterward, in 1828 and 1829, attended Kenyon College, near Mount Vernon, Ohio. He married Mary, daughter of Philip Peters, of Baltimore, Fairfield Co., Ohio, who resided at Baltimore. After his marriage John Pittsford supervised the repairs of a large portion of the Ohio canal. He then conducted a store at Baltimore for two years, and in 1842 moved upon a farm in Licking county which he afterward purchased and resided upon until his death. He was a Radical Whig in politics, and in religion was a member of the Presbyterian Church. He died in 1847 at the age of forty-five years; his widow is yet living with her son (John A.) at the age of eighty-two years. After the death of her husband Mrs. Pittsford was married to Myron Merchant, and bore him three children. He died, and she then made a third choice in the person of Alfred Hatch, who is also deceased. Eight children were born to the union of John and Mary (Peters) Pittsford, as follows: Mary, deceased in youth; Martha, wife of Isaac Finkbone, living in Licking county; George, deceased in youth; Hiram, living in Dayton, Ohio; Harriet, deceased in infancy; Diana, wife of John Harritt, of Findlay, Ohio; John A., whose name opens this sketch; and Timothy H., who died March 11, 1865, in the hospital at Chattanooga. John A. Pittsford was born April 12, 1844, in Licking county, Ohio. When he was but a boy, three years old, he lost his father, and soon after his mother's second marriage he went to live with an aunt, Elizabeth Hughes, in Morrow county, Ohio, with whom he remained until he was seventeen years old. At the age of fifteen years he taught a three months' summer school, and when in his seventeenth year entered Denison University, at Granville, Ohio. He then taught and attended school alternately until 1866, when he entered the National Normal University at Lebanon. While there he accepted a position in a school near Lebanon, and continued teaching and attending school about two years. In 1868 he engaged to teach in the A. Grammar school at Findlay, in the meantime continuing his private studies, and remained there three years. From September, 1871, to 1873 he was superin- HURON COUNTY, OHIO - 135 tendent of the schools of Johnstown, Licking Co., Ohio. In 1873 he became superintendent of a school at Mount Blanchard, Hancock Co., same State, which position he occupied six years, when he was elected superintendent at Forest, remaining there three years. On July 25, 1877, he was united in marriage with Josie R. Smith, native of Mount Blanchard, and daughter of Rev. John Smith, a native of Virginia, a pastor of the M. E. Church. In 1882 Prof. Pittsford accepted the superintendency of the schools of Carey, Wyandot county, where he remained six years. After the erection of the new school building in Chicago Junction, in 1888, he was elected superintendent, which position he still holds, having been recently re-elected for a term of two years, making seven in all. He has a corps of ten teachers. He has held the position of County School Examiner in Hancock and Wyandot counties for one and two terms each; and is likely to receive the same appointment soon in Huron county. When but two years of age Mr. Pittsford was injured by a fall, his hip being dislocated, which crippled him for life. As soon as he was old enough to realize this fact he resolved to make teaching his profession, and possessing a naturally apt mind, applied himself with earnest zeal to preparation for his chosen calling. The result of his efforts has been evident since the, day that the crippled lad of fifteen years taught his first school, which was the beginning of an unusually successful life. He had no advantages save those of a common-school education ; but the necessity which rendered it imperative that he should teach in order to secure an education proved of valuable training to him. He thus gained industrial habits and the self-reliant ways which are so essential in this profession. Few men are as well qualified for their vocations as is Prof. Pittsford, and through his untiring efforts the schools of Chicago Junction now occupy a position second to none in the county. The phenomenal growth in number has been fully met with enlarged and sufficient facilities. He has been president of the Huron County Teachers' Association for several years. In politics lie is a Republican, and in religions matters he has been an active member of and elder in the Presbyterian Church since that denomination was organized at Chicago Junction. The union of Prof. and Mrs. Pittsford was blessed with five children, viz.: Ernest Cecil, Clarice Lelia, Lulu Grace, Lois Mary and Bruce Eugene, the latter dying at the age of nine months. A. M. BEATTIE, a well-known member of the Huron county bar, was born June 10, 1853, in Ashland county, Ohio. He is a son of John and Isabel (Thom) Beattie, both natives of Scotland, the former of whom came to America in 1836, the latter in 1837, both locating in Ashland county, Ohio, where he became a prominent farmer of his day. He died January 8, 1883, in his sixty-eighth year; his widow still survives, now aged sixty-six. They were the parents of eleven children, seven of whom are now living, our subject being fifth in the order of birth. A. M. Beattie received his primary education in the public schools of the vicinity of his birthplace, afterward taking a course in a Normal school. He then followed the profession of school-teacher for some years, and in the meantime commenced a systematic course of study of the law, under the tutelage of Judge Curtiss, of Ashland. He afterward took a course in the Law Department of the State University of Indiana, graduating in 1877, and in the spring of 1878 opened his law office in New London, Huron Co., Ohio, the style of the firm being Laning & Beattie. The partnership was dissolved in 1882, and Mr. Beattie continued alone in the duties of his profession until 1884, when he was elected 136 - HURON COUNTY, OHIO. clerk of the courts of Huron county, filling this office for the next six years. At the end of his official term he resumed the practice of the law, in which he has ranked from the very first as one of the leading, safe members of the bar of northern Ohio, prominent in his profession and widely known as a leading influential man. Mr. Beattie at present is treasurer of the board of education; he is a stockholder in the Laning Printing Company and its attorney, and attorney for the Home Savings and Loan Company of Norwalk, Ohio. A. M. Beattie and Dora Sullivan were united in marriage April 15, 1879, and to their union have been born two sons and two daughters, namely: Blanche, Anna, Walter and Homer. Mrs. Beattie was born February 3, 1854, in Pennsylvania, and moved with her parents to Ohio, while quite young, making her home in Ashtabula county, till her marriage. Her parents, Josiah and Phebe A. (Hopkins) Sullivan, were natives of New York State, where they were both born in 1825. REV. N. C. HELFRICH, pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Ply- month, was born February 9, 1837, in Crawford county, Ohio. Peter and Margaret (Burnett) Helfrich, natives of Germany, emigrated to America in the ,'twenties," and finding a home in Crawford county, Ohio, engaged at once in agriculture. Of their family of five children—three sons and two daughters—the subject of this sketch is the youngest. Peter Helfrich was an officer in Napoleon Bonaparte's army, but after settling in Ohio he gave all his attention to pastoral pursuits. N. C. Helfrich obtained a primary education in the public schools of his native place, which was supplemented by a course in Iberia (now Central) College. He graduated in 1863, and was appointed professor of mathematics, a position he filled most satisfactorily for three years. In 1868 he entered Union Theological Seminary, N. Y., and graduating from that institution in 1870 he was called to the pastorate of the Presbyterian Church at New Concord, Ohio, where he remained six years. From 1876 to 1889 he served the churches at Newton Falls, Hayesville and Weston, and in 1889 accepted a call to the Plymouth Church, of which he is regular pastor, as he also was over his other charges. Mr. Helfrich is a close student and an earnest worker, and being endowed with a strong constitution, he is in every way well fitted for the profession he selected. His marriage with Miss Josephine Graham took place August 23, 1866, at Galion, Ohio. She died in 1873, and on August 26, 1875, he married Miss Carrie Marquis. Their home is the center of Presbyterian unity in Columbus, Ohio, He accepted a call to the West Broad street Presbyterian Church of that city in August, 1893. W. W. GRAHAM. The subject of this biographical memoir is a typical American, not alone by birth, but also because of his characteristic push, energy and progress. • iveness; and of those whose names will remain permanently associated with the development of enterprises of magnitude, there is none deserving of more prominence in the pages of this volume. Mr. Graham was born in Wayne county, N. Y., in 1842, a son of Zachariah and Lydia (Carrier) Graham, the former of whom, a blacksmith by trade, was born of Scotch ancestry, in Cayuga county, N. Y,, the latter being a native of New York City. The father died in 1852, at the age of fifty-four years, the mother in 1888, when seventy-nine years old; our subject's paternal grandparents died at very advanced ages, the grandfather when ninety. HURON COUNTY, OHIO - 137 seven years old, the grandmother when one hundred and four. At the age of thirteen, W. W. Graham left the paternal roof-tree, and turning his face toward the setting sun, boldly advanced westward in the direction of the fertile State of Illinois, arriving in 1859 at Urbana, Champaign county. For twenty-two years he resided here, engaged, the greater part of the time, in mercantile pursuits. In 1861, on the first call for troops to suppress the Rebellion, he offered his service in the army to the Union cause, but was rejected on account of his youth; however, on the second call for troops, May 1, 1861, he enlisted in Company K, Twenty-fifth Ill. V. I., under Gen. Sigel, serving in the army of the Southwest. The first battle in which he participated was Pea Ridge, and afterward he was quartered at Rolla, Mo., until the following spring. After eighteen month's service, he was detailed for special duty, and at the close of the war he was at Memphis, Tenn., while his regiment was stationed at Vicksburg, Miss. He was honorably discharged at Sedalia, Mo., as corporal, and returned to his home in Urbana, Ill. He was there engaged in the dry-goods business until 1880, in which year he came to Ohio, having been appointed paymaster for the Wheeling & Lake Erie Railroad Company. While serving in that capacity he did some railroad contracting, and as he could not be engaged in both businesses at the same time, he in 1884 resigned his paymastership, since when he has given his almost exclusive attention to contracting. He contracted for and built nearly all the bridges, arid furnished the bulk of the ties, for the Wheeling & Lake Erie Railroad; and within the past eight years the amount of his contracting has reached the large sum of one and one-half million dollars. During the four years he served as paymaster on the road, he paid out over three and one-half million dollars, without ever making any mistake amounting to as much as fifty dollars. During the past year he built seventy miles of bridges for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. The Lake Erie Tobacco Company had been organized at Cleveland, Ohio, but on account of adverse circumstances of some nature was about to go into insolvency. This concern Mr. Graham and others bought and moved to Norwalk, where they placed it on a firm and promising basis, and it is now in a flourishing condition. In 1864 W. W. Graham was united in marriage, at Urbana, Ill., with Miss Nellie M. Griggs, whose father was general contractor for the Wheeling & Lake Erie Railroad. In 1887 Mrs. Graham was called from earth, leaving two children, Maude and King. In 1890 our subject married Miss Carrie M. Rude, of Sandusky, Ohio. Mr. Graham is a F. & A. M., 32nd degree, and a member of the Mystic Shrine at Cleveland. REV. JOSEPH BLASER, pastor of St. Alphonsus Church, Peru, Ohio, was born November 8, 1846, at Schlier, in the Kingdom of Wurtemberg, South Germany, a son of Anton and Crescentia Blaser, who belonged to the agricultural class. Their parents and ancestors for generations were farmers, perhaps as far back as the time when the bearded and pious Eberhard V was created Duke of Wurtemberg, by Maximilian I, in 1494. The youth, Joseph, received a practical education in his native town of Schlier, and when fourteen years old was so far advanced in study as to warrant his parents sending him to the famous Jesuit College at Feldkirch, Austria. There he completed his study of the classics, and thence was sent to Eichstadt, Bavaria, to study philosophy and theology. In 1870, when he was twenty-three years and six months old, he was ordained priest, and became assistant pastor at Basel, Switzerland. Six weeks after lie was appointed pastor at Kleinlutzel, Switzerland, and there had charge 138 - HURON COUNTY, OHIO. of a congregation of 1,100 souls, and was director of three schools. For two years he labored at Kleinlutzel, and here won golden opinions. In 1874 Father Blaser left Europe, then in a much disturbed condition, called Culturkampf, to seek a borne in the New World, and coming to Ohio, found a resting place for a time. Some time after his arrival at Cleveland, he was appointed, by the late Rt. Rev. Bishop of the diocese, pastor of the churches at Nordridge and Mud Creek, in Defiance county. At Mud Creek he built a neat frame church, and, under his administration of three years, progress was unmistakable. Bishop Gilmour transferred him to Millersville, Sandusky county, where he erected an elegant residence and enlarged and restored the old church. After ten years and eight months of pastoral labor, he was removed from Millersville and appointed, by Bishop Gilmour, to his present charge. His restoration and enlargement of the church building here, and its conversion into a modern Gothic house, pronounce him a man of culture and taste. JOSEPH ROE McKNIGHT. The subject of this sketch, whose portrait is seen on the opposite page, would, if called upon, disclaim any of that kind of modesty which would exclude him from these pages; not that he is so egotistical as to believe his own achievements entitle him to public notice; but because he deems it honorable and just to associate himself at all opportune times, both in name and person, with good men and good deeds. His ancestral line, both paternal and maternal, runs unbroken to what is known as Scotch-Irish people. He was born on a farm in Richland county, Ohio, on the 25th day of December, 1853. His father's name was John Beard McKnight; his mother's maiden name was Susanna Lori mor. The fifth one of eight children, he is the only member of his father's family living. His father died on the 16th day of August, 1865; his mother on the 24th day of May, 1893. His youth and early manhood were spent on a farm, where lessons of industry are practically and continuously taught. His educational training was obtained at a country-district school, supplemented by one year at Ohio Central College, and a three-months' term at Iron City College. Mr. McKnight was married to Sarah Jennette McCullough, on the 14th day of April, 1874, at the home of her mother in Mansfield, Ohio, and they immediately went to house-keeping on the farm on which he was born. Although inured to farm life, it had always been distasteful to him, which caused him to seek a favorable opportunity to change his business, which opportunity was found in 1880, at which time he engaged in the drug business in Shelby, Ohio. Having conceived a very great liking for the law as a profession, he commenced the study of it in connection with the drug business, using what spare moments he could find, without neglecting hie other interests, in reading law. In the summer of 1886 he disposed of his interest in the drug business, and on the 5th day of October, in same year, was at Columbus, Ohio, admitted to the practice of law, On the 22nd day of November, of the same year, in partnership with George T. Thomas, he opened a law office in Norwalk, Ohio. At first business came slowly, but an increasing acquaintanceship brought an increase in clientage, and it was not long until he had every reason to be satisfied with his choice of profession and location. No careful observer can well doubt that the administration of the county prosecuting attorney's office exerts a co-ordinate influence which penetrates and inoculates the sociology of its own and surrounding counties, making it one of the most important offices in a county. In 1891 Mr. McKnight was elected to this office in Huron PAGE - 139 - PICTURE OF JOSEPH ROE MCKNIGHT PAGE - 140 - BLANK HURON COUNTY, OHIO - 141 county, Ohio. Entering upon the duties of the office on the first Monday of January, 1892, he has, with the utmost integrity, faithfully and impartially administered the affairs of the office. His domestic relations are congenial; he and his wife have three children: Edna Ninetta, John Bronson, and Ethel Bird. PERRY TILLSON, a representative well-to-do agriculturist of Norwalk township, was born in Peru, Huron Co., Ohio, September 3, 1855, on the farm where his grandfather, Thomas Tillson, had settled in 1816. Our subject is a son of the late Rufus Tillson, who was born in Butternuts, Mass., a son of the Thomas Tillson above mentioned, a weaver by trade. Thomas married Martha Stewart in his native State, and in 1816 he came alone on foot to Huron county, Ohio; two years later his wife followed him, making the trip on horseback, carrying in her arms her first born, Rufus, who afterward became the father of the subject of this sketch. Thomas Tillson made a settlement in Peru township, where were born the rest of his family, to wit: Stephen, who moved to Chicago, Ill., where he practiced law in an early day, and died in Iowa; Harriet, married to Alba C. Turner, and died in Wyandot county, Ohio; and Thomas, deceased. The father of this family passed the rest of his useful life in Peru township, dying in 1844, the owner of 450 acres of land, the greater part of which he had cleared himself. He had extensive farming interests, employing a large number of bands; and being a good manager he made a success. His first dwelling was the traditional log cabin, but later he erected substantial and capacious buildings. He also conducted a tavern for the benefit of wayfarers — in those days chiefly "freighters" and persons traveling from the lake to the southern part of the State. In politics he was a hig, in religious faith a Universalist. His wife survived him some years, and they lie side by side in Peru cemetery. Rufus Tillson, eldest son of Thomas Tillson, was born in Massachusetts, May 19, 1818, and was, as has already been stated, an infant when brought to Peru township, Huron county. He received such education as the subscription schools of his boyhood days afforded, proving an apt student, and, compared with the rest of the scholars, an expert mathematician and good penman. He was reared to agricultural pursuits, and continued to conduct the home farm till 1882, after which he lived a retired life until his decease in July, 1890; his remains were laid to rest in Peru cemetery. First a Whig, later a Republican, his maiden Presidential vote ,was cast for William H. Harrison. He was a great reader, intelligent above the average, most unassuming and a despiser of shams. As an all-round farmer he made a success, and took a close interest in the many details of agriculture, including the care of stock. Rufus Tillson was twice married, first time, in 1841, to Miss Julia Perry, a native of New Jersey, daughter of Joseph Perry, and the children of this union are as follows: Irving, a farmer of Peru township, Huron county; Annette, now wife of E, P. Snyder, also a farmer of Peru township, and Perry, the subject proper of sketch. The mother of these died in 1873, and for his second wife Rufus Tillson married Mrs. A. J. Canfield. Perry Tillson passed his boyhood in much the same way as most country boys —working on the farm in summer and attending in winter the district school, where he received all his education, excepting what he gleaned during a few terms at the normal school in Milan, Erie county. He has been a farmer all his days, and after marriage lie and his wife purchased the property where they now reside in Norwalk township, near Norwalk, known 142 - HURON COUNTY, OHIO. as the old Lewis farm, it having been purchased by Mr. Lewis in 1815, and was the second farm settled in the township. In 1881 Mr. Tillson was married to Grace M. Clapp, daughter of Aro Clapp, of Norwalk township, where she was born February 12, 1860. The children of this marriage were: Carl Dean, born May 6, 1884, uied February 20, 1887; Howard Clapp, born June 20, 1886, and Helen Lucile, born May 16, 1893. Mr. Tillson is a very successful farmer, and while he raises considerable grain and potatoes, makes a specialty of dairying, selling milk to the milkmen for the city trade. In 1889 he replaced the old house (built about the year 1830 by Mr. Lewis) with a handsome residence, and in 1891 he put up a second house for the use of his hired help. These and other improvements, together with the natural fine building spot the farm affords, make their place an ideal country home. Politically Mr. Tillson is a Republican, and, although not a member of any Church, he attends the Universalist, and contributes to its support. GARDNER YOUNG. The rugged hills of New England have seemingly imparted a strength of character to those born and bred beneath their shadow, which harmonizes well with the aspect of Nature in the Granite and Green Mountain States. Strong men and true have breathed the bracing air of New England, and gone forth from the borders to found new homes, there implanting those principles of honor and enterprise characteristic of their native States. From such ancestors is descended the subject of this sketch. Josiah Young was born February 25, 1780, in New Hampshire, passing his boyhood on the home farm, and in 1804 was there married to Mary Bardin, a native of the same State, born in 1785. They remained in New Hampshire until about 1812, when they removed to Rochester, Windsor Co., Vt. On May 2, 1836, Josiah Young, accompanied by his son, Gardner, set out on an exploring expedition, intend• ing to find a home in the then "Far West.” Their route was from Whitehall, N. Y., to Albany, thence via the Erie Canal to Buffalo, from there sailing on Lake Erie to a northern Ohio port, then proceeding to Akron, Ohio, where they visited friends. From Akron they walked to De Kalb county, Ind., where the father purchased land, and, leaving his son Gardner in charge, returned to Vermont for the family. While en route to his new home, Josiah Young was persuaded by some relatives to locate in Ohio, and consequently he bought 117 acres near North Monroeville in Ridgefield township, Huron county, where he died September 18, 1870, when nearly ninety-one years of age. He was an indulgent husband and father, finding his chief pleasures in domestic life, and a zealous member of the First M. E. Church of Monroeville. He was one of the founders of that Church, and in addition to liberal contribution, made a valuable gift to the congregation. In political opinion he was formerly a Whig, afterward uniting with the Republican party, of which he was an enthusiastic supporter. Mrs. Young was laid to rest February 10, 1880, at the age of ninety-four years, and was buried beside her husband in the cemetery at North Monroeville. Their children were as follows: Reuben, who left Vermont and went west, where all trace of him was lost; Lorenzo, first married in Vermont (he came west after the death of his wife, and was married to Lena Mackey; he died in Monroe county, Mich.); Orrilla, widow of Mahlon Young, is living in Norwalk, Ohio; Gardner, whose sketch follows; Sophronia, who died August 23, 1893, while in Chicago attending the World's Fair (she was the widow of Joel P. Brown, of Lenawee county, Mich.); Mary, deceased wife of Lewis Pearce; Martha, married to Isaac DeWitt, of Ridgefield township; Joseph, deceased farmer of Ridgefield township; HURON COUNTY, OHIO - 143 Ellen, wife of Milton Margatt, of Oakland, Cal,; and John, a resident of Norwalk, Ohio. Gardner Young was born December 23, 1815, in Rochester, Windsor Co., Vt., there receiving his early education. After coming to Ohio he learned the cooper trade, but followed it only a short time. On September 6, 1847, he selected a life companion in the person of Martha, daughter of John and Hannah (Austin) Warren, born in 1822, in Vermont, where the mar• riage took place. The young couple immediately came to Ridgefield township, Huron county, Ohio, where he had previously purchased land. In 1870 Mrs. Young met with a fatal accident. She was returning from Monroeville in a buggy by herself, when her horse became frightened at a hand-car and ran away. After running with her nearly two miles, she fell frdm the buggy, was picked up insensible, and lived but a few minutes. She was the mother of the following children: Henry J., a farmer of Sumner county, Kans.; Clara A., deceased in early youth; Charles S., a real estate man of San Francisco, Cal.; Alice L. and Albert W, (twins), the former a school teacher, the latter a farmer in Colorado; Jennie, who died in 1882; Jessie, living at home, and Cora B., a resident of San Francisco, California. In 1880 Mr. Young moved to his present home in Monroeville, where he lives in semi-retirement, simply superintending the care of his property. He has been a most successful business man. In politics he is a leading Republican, formerly a Whig, and has served in various local offices: All of his children enjoy the advantages of a college education.J. J. A. NICOLLS was born May 12, 1827, in Lock. Cayuga Co., N. Y., a son of John and Sarah (Peck) Nicolls. William Nicolls, his grandfather, a native of New York, was in the service of his country during the entire seven years of the Revolutionary war. The father of subject, also a native of New York, was a soldier in the war of 1812, serving throughout that conflict, and was in the battle of Fort George under Gen. Schuyler. In 1837 John Nicolls came to Ohio, locating in Bronson township, Huron county, and cleared off a farm, becoming a prominent farmer in the township, where be died in 1845. His widow was afterward granted a pension for his services in the war; she died in 1876, aged eighty- five years. Their children were seven in number, as follows: William, who died when aged twenty-five, unmarried; Lorina, Mrs. Hagermann, of Bronson township; Samantha; Newell Ray, who died in 1865, aged forty-five; J. A., subject of sketch; George, of Bronson township, and one deceased in infancy. J. A. Nicolls was ten years of age when he came with the family to Ohio. He attended the common schools of that period, the days of the primitive log schoolhouses, where each pupil furnished so much wood, as well as paying the teacher. When he was fifteen years old he commenced to work out as a hired man at six dollars per month, which money all went to help support the family. He thus labored four years, tilling the land on shares, when he went into debt and bought a farm. By working hard and saving closely, and buying other land on credit, in the end he paid off all the accumulated debts, to the sum of over four thousand two hundred dollars (including six years interest), with several lucky years' crops. He contnued to follow farming till 1877. On August 24, 1870, J. A. Nicolls and Miss Rosanna Fisher were united in marriage by Rev. John Hawker, and to them were born four children, as follows: Ralph, Dean, Jessie and John A. In 1877 the family removed to Norwalk, and made extensive investments in real estate, at the same time farming and dealing extensively in stock. Mr. Nicolls has served acceptably as township assessor during seven 144 - HURON COUNTY, OHIO. successive terms; he was also township clerk, and for about three years was postmaster at Bronson, having his appointment (which was signed by President Fillmore) still in his possession. One of his Norwalk enterprises was the erection, in the fall and winter of 1877, of the elegant "Nicolls Block," which was burned in September, 1888; but he rebuilt it at once, and still owns the fine property; he also owns 270 acres of land in Bronson township, and the elegant grocery house building on Benedict avenue, in Norwalk. In 1876 he built his elegant residence on Norwood avenue, where the family now resides, the grounds around which include about three acres, tastefully laid out and highly ornamented, making, altogether, one of the finest homes in the city. Mr. Nicolls did not go into the army to put down the rebellion, having an aged mother and aunt to care for; but he gave liberally of his means to those that did enlist for their country's protection. Politically he is an active Prohibitionist, having enlisted with the party at its commencement. CHARLES M. NIVER, prominent among the most prosperous and influential of the farmers of Norwich township, Huron county, is a native of the same, born in 1835. C. B. Niver, father of the subject of this sketch, came in 1833 from Orange county, N. Y., to Norwich township, Huron county, where he settled on a farm of 600 acres, part of which he sold to his brothers, owning at the time of his death 250 acres of valuable land which he had cleared. He was by trade a wagon maker, but after coming to Huron county devoted his attention exclusively to agriculture. He married Miss Emily Moore, of Seneca county, N. Y., and four children were born to them, viz.: Laura J. and John M. (both deceased), Albert E. and Charles M. The father died in 1886, in politics a solid Republican. Charles M. Niver, the subject proper of this sketch, was born on his father's farm, and was there reared to agricultural pursuits, attending during the winter months the public schools of the neighborhood of his place of birth. He now owns 151 acres of prime land, where he successfully carries on general farming. Politically he follows in the footsteps of his father, being an uncompromising Republican. CALVIN WHITNEY. The flexibility of American genius—the ability to project and successfully manipulate the details of a new business, after having for a protracted period conducted one, perhaps diametrically different in its nature—is one of its• distinguishing characteristics. This easy transition from an old to a new vocation may be said to lie at the bottom of nearly all great material development in the United States. Capitalists, who for the most part are discreet in their investments, embark in new enterprises only when the way has been carefully mapped out by this quality of genius, and liberal returns are insured; and, as a consummation of plaits and ventures of men of this type, on grass-covered prairies have sprung up towns and cities where the incessant hum and roar of industry in all its phases is the AEolian music of commerce and trade. Thus capitalists, who furnish employment to the masses by the establishment of such enterprises, become our greatest benefactors—our practical philanthropists— to whom the public owe no less a debt of gratitude than to men of letters, to the statesmen, or to the soldier. In this connection we here introduce a brief biographical sketch of Mr. Calvin Whitney, president of the A. B. Chase Company, of Norwalk, one of the leading industries of the kind in the country, and certainly the leading one in the State of Ohio. HURON COUNTY, OHIO - 145 The Whitney family are of English origin, Henry Whitney, grandsire of the branch of the family in this country, having been born in the "tight little island" about the year 1620. Immigrating to this country, he became a pioneer of the, then, New England Colonies, and the family lived for successive generations in and around the vicinity of Norwalk, Conn., until the migrating therefrom of Henry Whitney, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, as will be presently related. This last mentioned Henry Whitney was born in 1791, in Norwalk, Conn., where he married Miss Lucy Grumman, afterward moving to the western border of civilization, and, in 1819, settling in what is now Shelby, Richland Co., Ohio. To this honored pioneer couple were born eleven children, ten of whom lived till after the youngest had passed the fiftieth milestone on the highway of life. One of these children, by name Charles, born September 23, 1812, in his younger days followed blacksmithing and farming, and he is now a resident of North Fairfield, Ohio, a hale and hearty octogenarian. He married a widow lady Whose maiden name was Roxanna Palmer, and they became the parents of six children, the eldest of whom, Palmer, gave every promise of a bright career, but at the age of nineteen he enlisted in Company A, Twenty-fourth Regiment O. V. I., and after a gallant service in the Federal cause was mortally wounded at the battle of Shiloh; Anne, the second child, died in infancy; Calvin, John L., Richard B. and Idalia L. are yet living. Calvin Whitney was born in Townsend, Huron Co., Ohio, September 25, 1846. As a boy he pursued the usual vocations of farm life during the summer seasons, in winter time attending the common schools of the neighborhood, where he developed an ambition for learning, and exhibited a special fondness for mathematics. He proved an apt and diligent scholar, and by close study at home by the cheerless light of a tallow candle, and daily encouraged by a loving, patient, painstaking mother, he succeeded in mastering the elements of an English education; and when at the age of fifteen he found his school days terminated, he had acquired a higher mental discipline than many whose advantages in that respect had been greater. Something he learned also—the greatest lesson of life —to think for himself. At the age of eighteen Mr. Whitney began business for his own account by taking a farm to work on shares, but a hailstorm came and destroyed his crops, which disaster he interpreted as an ill-omen, and concluding that Providence did not design him for a farmer (to use his own words), he determined to change his vocation. Accordingly, in the fall of 1865, husbanding his means-some four hundred dollars—he went West and opened out a hardwood lumber business, on a scale such as his finances admitted, soon established a credit, and so made the venture a success from the outset. Under his care the business grew rapidly, and for several years before he commenced to withdraw his attention from it, and look after matters of still greater magnitude, the lumber sales aggregated from one hundred and fifty thousand to two hundred thousand dollars per annum. But notwithstanding the extensive and remunerative trade in this line of industry which he had built Up, Mr. Whitney was ever on the "qui vive," watching for possibilities in other directions. In the fall of 1875 lie assisted in organizing the A. B. Chase Organ Company, for the purpose of manufacturing reed organs, the capital stock of the concern being then fifty thousand dollars. Of this company he was a director until April, 1877, when, on the death of Mr. A. B. Chase, he was unanimously elected president of the same. Now, after fifteen consecutive years of assiduous duty, he still occupies the responsible position, and it may be added that since his administration, the business 146 - HURON COUNTY, OHIO. has grown extensively in its proportions. The following excerpt from the company's latest statistical statement speaks for itself: September 1, 1875. Charter was granted and Company organized to manufacture Organs and Pianos. January 1, 1876. First factory building erected, 40 x 100 feet, three stories, frame. July 1, 1876. The first organ was completed. July 1, 1880. First addition, 40 x 80 feet, three stories, completed. September 1, 1880. Entire factory destroyed by fire. Loss, $65,000. January 1, 1881. Brick factory erected, 40 x 200 feet, three stories. July 1, 1883. Brick addition, 56 x 150 feet, three stories, completed. January 1, 1886. Commenced the manufacture of pianos. July 1, 1890. Second addition, 56 x 85 feet, completed. STATISTICAL RECORD. At this date, January, 1892, about 200 men are employed in the manufacture and sale of their goods, 25 different styles of Pianos, and 70 different styles of Organs are now being made; 200 Organs and 100 Pianos are turned out each month. 30,000 Pianos and Organs have been made and sold by this Company in the United States since it was organized. $10,000 is paid out by them each month for wages alone- $1,250,000 has been paid for labor in this county by this Co. since it commenced business. $2,500,000 worth of instruments have been sold by them. These have gone into all parts of the world, and the money returned to Norwalk, where a large proportion of it has been spent for labor and material. With superior business tact the sale of the instruments has been pushed into not only the rural districts, but into all the great business centers, in the metropolitan cities, in all parts of the United States, besides a considerable export trade to Canada, Australia and Europe. Mr. Whitney gradually withdrew from the lumber business, and for the past three years has given his undivided attention to the manufacturing business at Norwalk. Calvin Whitney was united in marriage, November 5, 1868, to Miss Marian, daughter of Royal Cady and Marian (Smith) Dean, of Townsend, Huron Co., Ohio, and this union has been blessed with four children, viz.: Marian Daisy, Ruby L., Ida C. and Warren C. After spending one year of married life in the West, Mr. and Mrs. Whitney removed to Norwalk, where they now live in a comfortable and commodious residence on West Main street, surrounded by an interesting and growing family, and an abundance of everything that can make life worth living. Although so much pressed by business cares, Mr. Whitney finds time to attend to social, domestic and religious matters. He and his wife united with the First Methodist ' Church of Norwalk in February, 1875, and he is a prominent layman in that Society. In 1884 he represented the laymen of Northern Ohio in the general Conference at Philadelphia, Penn, and assisted in the electing of five bishops. In 1888 he attended the general Conference at New York in similar capacity, and assisted in the election of six bishops. Mr. Whitney's parents were members of the Baptist Church for over fifty years, and have imparted much of their religious zeal to their son. He donated ten thousand dollars to the Church Extension Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, for the purpose of building churches in the Far West; and in honor of his beloved wife, this is known as the "Marian Whitney Fund." JOHN W. ROORBACK, for over sixty years a resident of New London township, where he is held in the highest esteem both as a loyal citizen and an industrious agriculturist, is a native of Orange county, Ind., born January 12, 1824. John Roorback, his father, born in Adams county, Penn., in 1796, married Miss Ann Spooner, a native of Yates county, N, Y., born in 1800, and five children came to them, namely: Martha A., Mary B., Frederick S., John W. and Elizabeth, the last named dying at the age of two years, In 1825 John -Roorback and his, then, little family; moved to Yates county, N. Y., and in 1830 came to Huron county, Ohio, locating in New London township, at the time when there were but eight voters besides himself in the township. The country was very wild, and turkeys, deer HURON COUNTY, OHIO - 147 and other animals were numerous, affording plenty of sport and supplying an unlimited amount of food. John Roorback died in 1862, his wife in 1879. Martha A., died in 1892. John W. Roorback. whose name introduces this sketch, attended the primitive subscription schools of the neighborhood of his new home in Huron county, at the same time assisting his father in the clearing of the land. In 1855 he married Miss Rebecca J. McConnell, and one child was born to them—Annie, wife of Peter Robertson, by whom she has three children: Nellie J., John W., and Gorden. The mother of these dying in 1874, Mr. Roorback married, for his second wife, in 1878, Miss Eva Doty, by which union there are two children: Marie and Paul J. Our subject in his political sympathies is a straight Democrat, and has served with great credit as township trustee. He is enterprising and public-spirited, and is ever to be found on the side of progressiveness and good government. HENRY F. BROWN, dairy farmer and milk dealer, is a son of Frank Brown, whose father was born in Connecticut. The latter afterward moved to New York, and purchased 300 acres of land near Binghamton, where he died. Frank Brown was born in Connecticut, afterward moving with his parents to Broome county, N. Y., where he followed agricultural pursuits. When a young man he was united in marriage with Susan Rose, whose parents were of English descent. Frank Brown in politics was a Henry Clay Whig, in religion a member of the Presbyterian Church. He died at about the age of fifty-five years; his widow is now living in Toledo, Ohio, in her seventy-first year. They were the parents of eight children, of whom Henry F. is the eldest. Henry F. Brown was born August 24, 1836, in Broome county, N. Y., and received his education at the schools of Binghamton. About the year 1861 he came to and settled in Norwalk, Ohio, and was there married, in February, 1865, to Ellen Brown, a native of Peru township, Huron Co., Ohio, of which locality her parents were early settlers. Three sons have blessed this union, as follows: George, an engineer on the Wheeling & Lake Erie Railroad; Hiram, living at home, and Lewis, attending school. After locating in Norwalk, Mr. Brown conducted a gristmill for some time; then devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits, which he has followed in various localities. For the past nineteen years he has resided on his pleasant farm containing sixty-five acres, forty-three of which are included within the limits of Norwalk. He has conducted a milk business about nine years, now owning sixteen cows, and sells about one hundred and fifty dollars' worth of milk per month, buying milk also at wholesale to furnish customers. Politically he is an active member of the Republican party, and in April, 1892, he was elected a member of the city council from the Fourth Ward. He has erected a pleasant dwelling and commodious barn, ample evidence in themselves of his prosperity. NELSON O. ALLEN, son of Joseph and Martha (Devore) Allen, was born in Richland county, Ohio, in 1858. Joseph Allen was a native of the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, and is a descendant of the pioneer Aliens of the Valley of Virginia, whose names are associated with agrarian affairs in Ireland in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, and with the Revolution here, in which many of them served their adopted country. Martha (Devore) Allen is a native of Richland township, and the mother of seven children, the subject of this sketch being the eldest. 148 - HURON COUNTY, OHIO. Nelson O. Allen grew to manhood in Richland county. Less than a decade ago he came to New London, and was engaged as clerk in one of the houses there until he became connected with the D. J. C. Arnold manufacturing concern when it was organized. His business ability was so apparent that his connection with this manufacturing enterprise promised success, and redeemed the promise. His marriage with Josephine Reich, daughter of Uriah and Mary Reich, took place on the eighth day of January, 1880, at New London; she was born in Cleveland, Ohio. Politically Mr. Allen is a Republican, one of the most active members of the party in Huron county. A representative of his township in county and district convention, and chairman of the New London delegation in the county convention of 1891, he was nominated for sheriff on the Republican ticket in 1892, and elected sheriff in 1892. In Society affairs our subject is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a bright and progressive young man, who can fill the dual role of business man and politician with ease and success. As sheriff of Huron county, the administration of that office must be satisfactory to all. ARTHUR. The families of this name in Greenfield township are descended from sturdy, honest North of Ireland people, for the most part tillers of the soil. John Arthur, grandfather of Robert and William H. Arthur, of Greenfield township, was a native of County Tyrone, Ireland, where his son John was born February 18, 1795. This John received a practical education at the schools of his native place, and was reared to agricultural pursuits. He married Martha Easter, also a native of County Tyrone, and to this union was born, in Ireland, one child, Margaret. In 1822 the family emigrated to America, pushed westward from New York to Huron county, Ohio, and settled on a tract of land in Greenfield township, There was a small clearing on this tract, which was an extra inducement to the stranger to purchase it for two dollars and a half per acre. On this farm the other children of the family were born, namely: Ann J., who is now the widow of James McPherson; Mary, widow of Thomas Irwin; Robert and William H., sketches of whom follow, and Catherine, who resides in Greenfield township. Margaret, the eldest child, married Alexander Lewis, and lived to be sixty-two years of age, The mother of this family died in 1879. John Arthur was one of the most successful pioneers of Greenfield township. His farm grew from very small beginnings to a tract of 700 acres, and when he died, in 1888, this large place was highly improved from end to end—the result of his indomitable energy coupled with industry and shrewdness. In political affairs he affiliated with the Democratic party, and held various township offices, in which he was always faithful in the discharge of his duties. In religious matters he and his wife were active members of the Congregational Church, which they helped organize, and were its main supporters in this district. Mr. Arthur filled several offices in this church. ROBERT ARTHUR, eldest son of these honored pioneers, was born March 4, 1829. He passed his boyhood in the manner common to pioneer children-farm work, in one form or another, taking first place in his training. On December 27, 1867, he married Julia E. Cook, who was born in Peru township, Huron county, daughter of Wyatt Cook, a native of Mt. Holly, Vt., who came to Huron county, Ohio, in 1818, settling in Peru township. Here he was married to Sophia Root, of North Monroeville, and they resided in Peru township until 1870, when they removed to Fairfield township, where he died. Their children were Sarah, Mrs. Spencer HURON COUNTY, OHIO - 149 Summerlin; Chauncey C., now in Waterloo, Iowa; Elms, deceased; Jay, deceased; Anna and James, in Fairfield township; and Julia E. In politics Mr. Cook was originally a Whig, afterward becoming a Republican, and an ardent Abolitionist. In religious belief he was from his youth a member of the Freewill Baptist Church at Greenfield. To Mr. and Mrs. Robert Arthur the following named children were born: Mattie G., Clarence C., J. Vinton, Laura A. and Fred R. Immediately after his marriage he located on his present farm. He is now the owner of 1,200 acres of choice land, and is the heaviest tax-payer on real estate in his township. In addition to carrying on general farm work, he is also engaged in stock growing and dealing in cattle. While he inherited considerable land, he is personally deserving of great credit for the progress he has made. Other young men could and would have dissipated the inheritance in a little while; but over it and around it he has built up a most valuable property, and has become, if not the largest farmer in Huron county, the largest, certainly, in Greenfield township. Almost two square miles of land tell of his acquisitions in a quarter of a century, while his sheep and cattle speak of the varied directions in which his agricultural tastes run. A heavy wool-grower and cattle dealer as well as an extensive farmer, he appears to have developed the very best principles of agriculture. His residence is the finest in the township, elegantly furnished and homelike. A warm-hearted neighbor, and a most lenient landlord, Mr. Arthur walks through life unassumingly, as one who cannot realize the important relation which he bears to the community or the very high place which he and his family hold in the public estimation. Politically he is a Democrat, and is an enthusiastic supporter of his party. He and his wife are members of the Congregational Church, in which he has been a trustee for some years. WILLIAM H. ARTHUR, second son of John and Martha (Easter) Arthur, was born February 20, 1831. He received a fair education in the common schools of his district, and subsequently labored on the home farm until 1867, when he married Jennie, daughter of William H. Armstrong, of the same township. To this marriage was born one son, who died in infancy. Mrs. Arthur died April 15, 1888, and was buried in Steuben cemetery. After his marriage Mr. Arthur located on the farm where he now resides, but for the last quarter of a century has not been actively engaged in farm work. Beyond the business of leaning money on real estate, and collecting rents from the tenants on his property, his life is practically a retired one, so far as business is concerned. He takes an active interest in the success of the Democratic party; but although he has held various township offices he is not a politician, and he has never sought office. He is a member of the Congregational Church, and for several years was a trustee in that Society. He is a reader and a close observer, conversant with the times and manners, and well posted on American public affairs. WILLIAM W. TWADDLE, one of the most successful farmers of Clarksfield township, was born November 16, 1833, in Holmes county, Ohio, the fourth son and twelfth child of Alexander and Elizabeth (Ramage) Twaddle. William Twaddle was educated in the district schools of Huron county (where his family settled in 1836), a Miss Starr being his first teacher. When school days were over, he began work as a farm hand and ox driver at eighteen pence per day, and from his savings he was enabled to pay the shoemaker (Hinman) for the first pair of boots he wore. On October 30,