A CENTENNIAL


BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY


OF


SENECA COUNTY


OHIO


ILLUSTRATED


EMBELLISHED WITH PORTRAITS OF MANY WELL KNOWN PEOPLE OF SENECA. COUNTY,


WHO HAVE BEEN OR ARE PROMINENT IN ITS HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT.


CHICAGO

THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY

1902




SENECA COUNTY COURTHOUSE, TIFFIN, OHIO



SEARCH ENGINE





When you reach the page you have been referred to by the search engine, search this page by going to the top of your browser, click Edit and then click find on this page. Type in the desired search word and click. This will take you to the places on the page where this word is found. It will take you through all of the places that this word is found on this page





(RETURN TO THE HOME PAGE)





INDEX VOLUME






PREFACE.


OUT of the depths of his mature wisdom Carlyle wrote, " History is the essence of innumerable biographies." Believing this to be the fact, there is no necessity of advancing any further reason for the compilation of such a work as this, if reliable history is to be the ultimate object.


Seneca County, Ohio, has sustained within its confines men who have been prominent in public affairs and great industrial enterprises for almost a century. The annals teem with the records of strong and noble manhood, and, as Sumner has said, " the true grandeur of nations is in those qualities which constitute the greatness of the individual." The final causes which shape the fortunes of individuals and the destinies of States are often the same. They are usually remote and obscure, and their influence scarcely perceived until manifestly declared by results. That nation is the greatest which produces the greatest and most manly men and faithful women; and the intrinsic safety of a community depends not so much upon methods as upon that normal development from the deep resources of which proceeds all that is precious and permanent in life. But such a result may not consciously be contemplated by the actors in the great social drama. Pursuing each his personal good by exalted means, they work out as a logical result.


The elements of success in life consist in both innate capacity and determination to excel. Where either is wanting, failure is almost


PREFACE.


certain in the outcome. The study of a successful life, therefore, serves both as a source of information and as a stimulus and encouragement to those who have the capacity. As an important lesson in this connection we may appropriately quote Longfellow, who said : " We judge ourselves by what we feel capable of doing, while we judge others by what they have already done." A faithful personal history is an illustration of the truth of this observation.


In this biographical history the editorial staff, as well as the publishers, have fully realized the magnitude of the task. In the collection of the material there has been a constant aim to discriminate carefully in regard to the selection of subjects. Those who have been prominent factors in the public, social and industrial development of the county have been given due recognition as far as it has been possible to secure the requisite data. Names worthy of perpetuation here, it is true, have in several instances been omitted, either on account of the apathy of those concerned or the inability of the compilers to secure the information necessary for a symmetrical sketch; but even more pains have been taken to secure accuracy than were promised in the prospectus. Works of this nature, therefore, are more reliable and complete than are the " standard histories of a country.


THE PUBLISHERS.


A.


Adelsperger, John, 195

Albright, John, 710

Alcott, Roger. 192

Allen, Eugene W., 64

Alter, John K., 230

Ames, Charles, 689

Anderson, Anson A., 491

Anderson, John, 322

Ansberger, Albert, 717

Anway, Joseph L., 687

Anway, William H., 278

Arbogast, Michael, 344

Armstrong, Jacob S., 566

Artes, Thomas H., 327

Ash, Charles, 440

Ash, William, 464


B.


Bacher, Jacob T., 27

Baker, Grattan H., 680

Baker, William, 173

Balbian, Henry, 661

Ball, John, 571

Ball, Joseph, 614

Baltzell, Lewis, 357

Baltzell, Thomas, 125

Bare, James M., 462

Barrick, William, 34

Barto, Elias, 748

Bealer, Andrew, 757

Beard, Eli F., 655

Beck, Felix, 6o

Bemenderfer, William K., 14

Benham, George, 197

Berkey, John, 33;, 756

Berlekemp, H. Bernhardt, 169

Berlekemp, Frederick W., 104

Bever, Joseph M., 232

Biggs, Joseph, 641

Bigham, John, 578

Bihn, Andrew, 24

Black, Harry P., 11O

Blaine, H. G., 558

Blair, Thomas, 443

Blum, Joseph, 716

Bollinger, Daniel, 715

Bollinger, Louis W., 617

Bollinger. Phillip, 407

Bork, Francis J., 366

Bork, John P., 'co

Bork, Minrad, 456

Bork, Philip H., 458

Borough, Michael, 267

Bowser, John, 254

Boyd, Catherine, 314

Boyd, David, 629

Boyd, Hiram, 315

Boyd, Levi, 477

Boyd, Levi F., 315

Bradner, Harry E., 271

Bradner, John A., 697

Bradner, John R., 82

Brauser, Rudolph, 162

Brayton, Peter, 600

Brendle, Jacob, 411

Bretz, Philip, 657

Brewer, Edward A., 188

Brewer, Nelson L., 185

Brickner, George, A., 609

Briney, George, 574

Britt, John, 53

Brown, Daniel, 434

Brown, David W., 568

Brown, Jacob, 98

Brown, Owen T., 272

Brown, Wilbur C., 288

Brundage, Henry H., 134

Buchman, Jacob, 138

Buchman, P. A., 376

Buckley, George, 589

Buckley, Michael, 589

Bunn, Jacob F., 128

Bunn, Otho A., 520

Butterfield, Isaac, 272

Byers, Henry, 494


C.


Caples, Philip D., 329

Caples, Robert F., 330

Carbin, lames T., 96

Carle, Roscoe L., 111

Chamberlin, John W., 669

Chance, Henry, 393

Chappelle, Caleb, 197

Charlton, M. A., 99

Church, Earl, 223-4

Clark, Henry D., 637

Clouser, Lewis J., 319

Coffman, Joseph, 246

Cole, Harrison; 41

Cole, William, 98

Conaghan, Dennis, 218

Cook, C. G., 243

Cook, Fred, 161

Cook, Harmon H., 673

Cook, Jacob, 518

Cook, John H., 332

Cook, Solomon, 167

Cookson, Isaac W., 303

Cooley, Frank, 55

Corfman, Dr., 50

Corfman, Levi, 323

Corrigan, Peter, 494

Corthell, George, 169

Cramer, Daniel H., 360

Cramer, Frederick, 77

Cramer, William, 505

Creeger, Henry W., 336

Crissel, W. J., 433

Crocker, John, 177

Crocker, Rawson, 328

Crockett, Edward. 326

Cromer, Ezra, 469

Crum, Daniel L., 416

Crum, Elias W., 300

Crum, Frederick, 203

Culler, Philip H., 173

Cunningham, Arthur A., 258. 260-1

Cunningham, George W., 156

Cunningham, Sylvester, 653


D.


Daniel, Valentine, 148

Davis, Levi, 259

Decker, Amos, 512

Deisler, Charles, 619, 716

Deisler, George, 384

Delaplane, Abraham H., 46o

Derr, David H., 76

Detterman, Harrison, 205

Dewald, Jacob, 95 Dewald,

Peter, 544 Dewald, Philip, 469

Dick, Joseph, 22

Donaldson. Andrew J., 228

Doran, William H., 405

Downs, Lemuel, 635

Drenning, Samuel, 727

Droll, John G., 482

Dudrow, William, 325

Dunn, Arlington, 649

Dunn, Deroy C., 202

Dunn, Norman, 553

Dunn, William N., 637


E.


Eakin, Samuel, 451

Earl, Leroy, 83

Ecker, Jacob, 488

Egbert, Jeremiah, 410

Egbert, Newton U., 220

Einsel, Henry, 208

Elliott, George W., 314

Emerine, Andrew. 282

England, Frederick E. 638

Eppler, Jacob, 118


F.


Falter, Henry G., 609

Falter, John B., 646

Falter, Philip, 661

Feasel, Charles E., 563

Feasel, Charles H.. 551

Feasel, Isaac, 529

Feasel, Samuel, 195

Ferree, Elijah B.. 535

Fiant, Martin, 555

Finch, Madison, 640

Fitz, George W., 226

Flack, Albert L.. 663

Flack, Jacob, 580

Flack, Lewis, 552

Flack, More, 606

Fleet, William, 682

Flicker, John, 201-2

Foos, Peter J., 19

Force, Alfred, 559

Force, C. A., 438

Forrer, John R., 714

Foster, Charles, 176

Foster, Charles W., 48, 177

Foster, Sampson, 442

Frederick, Frank J., 412

Free, Howard S., 330

Free, John, 333

Frees, Wesley B., 44

Freeze, Barney, 419

Fritcher, Jacob. 284

Fruth, John, 621

Fruth. John F., 581

Fry, Franklin J., 707

Funk, Henry K., 428

Funk, Isaac, 408


G.


Gangwer, Charles D.. 390

Gault, Isaac, 138

Gerber, Michael, 237

Gerhart, E. V., 357

Geyer, Charles, 598

Gibson, John, 166

Gibson, William H., 102

Glick, John, 144

Good, J. H., 354

Good, Reuben, 213

Gooding, Josiah, 90

Gray, Edson F., 683

Gray, William, 37

Green, Owen P., 573

Griffin, Philip, 114

Grimes, Elias H., 685

Groff, Hezekiah, 131

Grove, William, 298

Guss, Casper, 594


H.


Haines, Owen, 339

Hall, Luther A., 398

Harmon, William, 347

Harter, Joseph, 750

Harvey. W. H.. 352

Hatfield. John, 639

Haverstick, David, 53

Haverstick, John. 132

Heath, Edward E., 274

Hedges. Josiah, 188

Heiserman, Jacob, 96

Hemming. Thomas, 425

Henzy, Albert J., 748

Herr, George W., 375

Hershberger, Jonas. 19

Hershiser, Henry K., 93

Hickman. Dr., 50

Hite, David, 352

Hoke, Jacob, 17

Hollenbaugh. Elias, 633

Holmes, David, 527

Holmes, John R., 261

Holtz, Charles D., 264

Holtz, Clay. 408

Holtz, John, 168

Honey, Christ, 551

Hoover, Joseph F., 321

Horn, Samuel, 695

Hosler, Peter, 754

Hossler, Isaac N., 68

Hossler, Jacob, 293

Houck, Jacob, 154

Houck, William, 690

Hovey, A. B., 212

Huber, Eugene B., 153

Huber, Horace, 151

Huber, Uriah 144

Huffman, Josiah, 543

Hughes, Albert, 158

Hull, Abraham W., 147

Hunsicker, Michael, 743

Huss, Jacob S., 576

Huss, David, 265

Huth, Nicholas, 476


J.


Johnson, Joseph, 72

Jones, Junius V., 57


K.


Kaga, Rudolph, 78

Kagy, Isaac, 496

Kaufman, Samuel F., 542

Kaull, John, 379

Keller, Amos, 304

Keller, Peter, 62

Kelley, Charles, 284

Kennedy, John, 191

Kenower, J. L., 157

Keppel, Guilford B., 12

Keppel, Henry D., 208

Kepple, George, 416

Kern, Eli, 521

Kibbler, Anthony. 750

Kimmel, Henry, 31

King, Obediah, 668

King, William H., 417

King, William T., 189

Kintz, Thomas J., 217

Kirgis, Henry, 250

Kishler, George W., 72

Kissaberth, Philip, 480

Kistler, Herbert, 202

Kistler, Josiah, 280

Kistler, Monroe J., 199

Klaiss, Henry, 83

Knapp, James H., 432

Knepper, Benjamin F., 615

Knight, Thomas C., 276

Koller, Henry A., 116


L.


Lake, George C., 548

Lake, James L., 231

Lambright, Henry, 302

Lebold, Frederick, 505

Lee, J. C., 102

Lee, John C., 186

Leonard, Clark, 66

Leonard, Henry, 358

Leonard, William F..

Lepard, Ira H., 228

Lepard, Isaac, 148

Lewis, James, 659

Lichtle, Martin, 485

Lockwood, Alonzo, 304

Long, Adam, 480

Long, Benjamin L., 479

Long, Charles R., 509

Long, Michael, 255

Lonsway, Julius J., 712

Loomis, Wildman, 723

Loose, Daniel, 656

Loose, T. C., 308

Lutes, Nettie C.,

Lynch, John A., 407


M.


Magers, James V., 341

Manecke, Frederick, 752

Mansfield, Henry, 30

Marshall, Jacob, 738

Martin, Anthony McC., 291

Martin, John, 475

Martin, John W., 333

Martin, Joseph M. 623

Matthews, Henry W., 546

Matthews, Scott J.. 348

McCauley, John, 362

McCray, J. R., 49

McCollum, Ephraim J., 651

McDole, Ellsworth L., 238

McDonald, John M., 403

McDonel, James D., 191

McDougle, Benjamin, 491

McKinley, Abner, 290

McMeen. William S., 446

McNama, Morris, 714

Meeker, Commodore P., 483

Mergenthaler, Gottfried, 623

Mergenthaler, William, 728

Meyers, George W., 203

Meyers, Rudolph, 205

Michaels, Leroy J., 169

Miller, Adam, 210

Miller, Joseph, 137

Miller, Paul, 736

Miller, Robert, 125

Miller, Wesley W., 350

Millhine, John, 564

Mourer, James P., 392

Mumaw, W. S., 107

Musgrave, Elijah, 706

Myers, Benjamin F., 592

Myers Brothers, The, 42

Myers, David, 586

Myers, E. Bruce, 45

Myers, E. Shelby, 44

Myers, John M., 42

Myers, Joseph, 487

Myers, Leon B., 45


N.


Naylor, John M., 536

Neikirk, Daniel, 332

Neikirk, D. J., 230

Neikirk; John, 224

Newcomer, John, 588

Niebel, Elijah, 269

Nighswander, Lee, 746

Noble & Lutes, 110

Noble, Warren P., 9

Noel, John, 225

Norris, Ephraim, 132

Norris, Lloyd, 74

Norris, William H., 244

Norton, James A., 422

Null, Jacob, 570

Null, William H., 312

Nyman, Philetus, 740


O.


Olmsted, Charles, 376

Omwake, Jacob 312

Oster, Jacob W., 650

Overmeire, Hugh, 361

Owen, Alanson S., 584


P.


Paine, James, 93

Palmer, William, 165

Pankhurst, Jeremiah. 490

Pankhurst, John, 532

Park, George H., 523

Parker, James M., 559

Patterson, Daniel, 598

Patterson, William H., 163

Pennington, Adam, 461

Pennington, Robert G., 100

Peter, Jacob, 583

Peters, Abraham, 695

Petticord, Daniel, 92

Philhower, Elias, 529

Phillips, John, 415

Phillips, Louis, 660

Pillars, James, 240

Pittinger, Benjamin, 538

Platt, James H., 109

Portz, Nicholas, 47

Puetz, John P., 675


R.


Randell, Edwin. 700

Rawson, Abel, 102

Reber, Valentine, 153

Reed, Seth, 38

Reeme, William, 617

Reid, William L., 17

Reisz, Daniel, 436

Reynolds, Abraham, 578

Rex, Irvin N., 46

Rex, Jeremiah, 32

Rhineberg, T. B.. 566

Rhineboldt, Joseph. 96

Ricketts, Lorenzo D., 678

Ridgely, John H., 24

Rife, Abram. 67

Rigby, W. J., 235

Rine, Abraham, 201

Rine, Jacob, 201

Rine, Nathan, 141

Rinebold, Abraham, 174

Rinebold, Henry, 487

Robertson, John, 726

Robertson, Robert, 604

Rock, Nicholas, 236

Rodegeb, Joseph, 479

Rohn, John K., 378

Rohrer, Silas W., 51

Rollins, William B., 658

Rosenberger, Eli L., 556

Rosenberger, Henry. 209

Rosenberger, John F.. 719

Rosier, George W., 471

Rospert, John, 28

Ross, William, 693

Royer, Isaac, 524

Royer, John C., 122

Ruch, John, 122

Rule, Daniel C., 222

Rundell, William, 541

Ruse, Solomon, 418


S.


Saliers, Henry A., 39

Sankey, Joseph, 19

Saul, Stephen A., 590

Schatzel, Jacob M., 744

Scheerer, Henry F., 742

Scherger, Anton, 516

Schlink, Francis H., 631

Schmaus, M. R., 725

Seemuth, William D., 120

Seewald, Henry, 626

Seiger, Charles H., 297

Seiple, John, 675

Seitz, Aaron, 112

Seitz, John, 350

Seitz, Lewis, 597

Sendelbach, Joseph, 608

Seney, George E., 393

Shade, Samuel, 386

Shafer, Alfred L., 445

Shannon, George. 78

Shaull, John B., 569

Shaw, John W., 642

Shaw, Joseph, 364

Sherman, Lorenzo, 248

Shidler, Abram D., 691

Shireman, Aaron, 346

Shock, Jacob, 113

Shuman, Thomas G., 59

Skinner, Morris P.. 377

Slaughter, ____ , 585

Slosser, Vernon H., 430

Smeltz, Frederick L., 503

Smeltz, Jacob. 383

Smith, Abraham, 536

Smith, Charles F., 85

Smith, David, 684

Smith, George E. 473

Smith, Henry L. 717

Smith, Jacob, 482

Smith, John H., 74

Smith, Matthias, 368

Smith, Philip. 562

Smith, Samuel B., 136

Smith, S. H. 267

Smith, William J., 386

Sneath, Ralph D., 260

Sneath, Robert, 107

Sneath, Samuel B., 256

Sneath, William, 307

Songer, John, 535

Souder, John, 335

Spaulding, Samuel D., 253

Speck, Peter, 321

Spitler, John K.. 596

Spraggins, John W.. 501

Stackhouse, David. 284

Stahl, Ephraim, 693

Stahl, Henry, 489

Staib, Jacob, 449

Staib, Lewis, 296

Starck, Melchior, 511

Stearns, George. 666

Steinmetz, Balthasar. 648

Steinmetz, John C., 612

Stevenson, T. D., 738

Stinchcomb, James, 447

Stinebaugh, Isaac B., 254

Stoner, George. 430

Stoner, Henry, 345

Strauch, Charles A., 272

Strausbaugh, Jacob, 629

Stuckey, Philip, 521

Stucky, Henry. 263

Sutton, A. G., 309

Sutton, Lester, 539

Swope, Daniel, 556


T.


Tendick, Peter, 439

Thayer, Sarah J., 358

Thomas, Liverton, 199

Thomas, Mahlon A., 86

Thornburg, Harrison, 298

Tittle, William R., 70

Titus, J. Frank. 564

Titus, Rasselas R., 709

Tompkins, Isaac, 567

Tremaine, Warren, 279

Trott, Christian, 454

Trumbo, Enoch, 466, 533

Trumbo, Pliny, 603

Tubbs, Jane E., 366


U.


Unser, Joseph, 76

Unser, Julius, 414


V.


Valentine, John, 17

Van Natter, Moses, 405

Van Nest, Joseph, 73o


W.


Wade, William H., 131

Wagner, Daniel, 705

Wagner, John, 166, 554

Wagner, Samuel, 721

Wagner. Winfield S., 755

Wall, Nicholas, 193

Walter, Michael. 421

Waltermier, James T., 554

Wannamaker, Samuel, 419

Washburn, William B., 80

Weeks, George R., 293

Wehrle, Xavier, 752

Weininger, Charles L., 388

Weller, Henry J., 363

Wenner, Edward, 105

Wenner, Henry L., 211

Wentz, James H., 46

Werley, Andrew, 561

Wertz, Jacob, 735

Whitman, George. 533

Wilhelm, David, 232

Wilhelm, John B., 619

Wilkerson, Charles, 574

Williams, Daniel, 507

Williams, John D., 643

Williams, Reuben, 643

Williams, Rollin K., 316

Williard, George P., 372

Williard, George W., 368

Wolf, Samuel, 331

Wolfe, Solomon, 35

Worm, Christian, 612


Y.


Yambert, Aaron, 452 Young, David, 270


Z.


Zarges, Frederick, 294

Zeigler, Benjamin, 69

Zeigler, Jacob, 162

Zeis, Godfrey, 61, 625

Zeis. William H., 466

Ziegler, Henry, 88

Zimmerman, John B., 310

Zirger, Marcus, 22

Zutavern, Conrad H., 382

Zutavern, Jacob B., 62

Zutavern, Paul W., 252