500 - HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY minded citizen, whose abounding energy has been notable not only in his personal business Association, but in his interest in everything pertaining to the advancement of the city. JAMES A. PARK, oil contractor and producer, and proprietor of a large and well-appointed livery establishment at Spencerville, is one of this city's valued public men and substantial citizens. Mr. Park was born near Willshire, Ohio, May 25, 1865, and is a son of Samuel W. and Sarah A. ( Philbee) Park. On the paternal side, Mr. Park comes of Scotch-Irish ancestry, and of German extraction on the mother's side. Samuel W. Park was born near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in 1822, and died in Ohio in April, 1903. In 1845, at Newark, Ohio. He married Sarah A. Philbee, who was born in Germany in 1826 and was three years old when her parents emigrated to the United States. They made the six-weeks voyage on a sailing vessel, enduring hardships innumerable. She died in Ohio in 1893, after a long and useful life, having been permitted to see her family Of io children grow to intelligent maturity and to establish happy domestic circles of their own. Her own passing was the first break in the family circle. She left behind her husband, her io children, 27 grandchildren. and Three great-grandchildren. The children are : Alexander ; Louisa, wife of Charles Bowman, of Van Wert County ; Elizabeth, wife of William McMichael, of Van Wert County ; Catherine, wife of T. C. Bowman, of Van Wert County ; Ellen, wife of G. W. Stetler, of Van Wert County ; Jennie, wife of E. F. Htinter, of Van Wert County ; William, a resident of Van Wert County, who married Anna Royston ; Samuel, who married Hulda Royston and resides at Lima ; Tames, of this sketch ; and Benjamin, who married Myrtle Lewis and lives at Spencerville. The family record reaches back to the days of the Revolutionary War, when our subjects' great-great-grandfather was a lieutenant under General Washington. He was of Scotch birth as was also his son, Col. Robert E. Park, who was an early Governor of Connecticut. The grandfather of our subject was born in New Jersey in 1789 and moved to Ohio in 1831. His son, Samuel W., at One time owned the land on which now stands the Ohio State Penitentiary, at Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio. On his mother's side, Samuel W. Park was first cousin to John R. McLean, the distinguished editor and publisher of the Cincinnati Enquirer. James A. Park was reared on the farm of his father in Van Wert County until the age of 14 years, attending in the meantime the local schools and subsequently the Van Wert High School, earning his expenses by serving as a clerk in a dry goods store. With an idea of becoming a teacher, he then attended the Ohio Normal University at Ada, and there was under the instruction of his own cousin, Professor Park, a noted educator and a compiler of various acceptable text-books. During the succeeding three years, he followed the profession of teaching and, had his health not become impaired, he might have reached the same distinguished position in the educational field as that filled by his cousin. Finding it necessary to adopt another line of activity, Mr. Park went into the hardware business at Ohio City, Van Wert County, and while residing there filled out the' unexpired term of George Banter, as postmaster, a period of two years, under the first Cleveland administration. Mr. Park then engaged for a time in a livery business at Decatur, Indiana, removing then to Portland, Indiana. During his residence there he was elected city clerk and subsequently county surveyor of Jay County. In 1895 he removed from Indiana to Spencerville. Here he has been interested in the oil business and in conducting a livery ever since. His livery establishment is conducted along modern, up-to-date lines, and his assortment of all kinds of vehicles is complete. His oil operations have been successful and from being a contractor he has gone into the producing business and has a string of tools. While a man with many important business interests, Mr. Park has found time to be also AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 503 a worthy, public-spirited citizen and a worker along lines looking to the best civic government. Since locating at Spencerville he has served two years as city treasurer and for two years was a member of the Board of Education, being a member of the board when the last addition to the public school building was authorized. Politically he is a Democrat. At present he is serving as a valued member of the City Council, in which body he is chairman of the finance committee. He has been elected three times to the Council and is now serving in his sixth year, the expiration of his last term being in .January, 1907. He is credited with many local reforms by his fellow-citizens ; but he assumes no honor on this account, it being his belief that it is the duty of the business man to assist in maintaining good government. As an intelligent, wide-awake man, Mr. Park is interested in public affairs and is more or less of a politician. He has been chosen for a number of positions of honor and responsibility by his party, and has represented it at many notable gatherings, serving as a delegate on many occasions. He was a delegate to the State convention that nominated James Kilbourne for Governor ; was a delegate to the congressional convention, at Sidney, that nominated Robert Gordon for both his first and second term in Congress, and was also a delegate to the district senatorial convention that nominated Senator T. M. Berry, the present incumbent. He has filled the important position of chairman of the Allen County Democratic Executive Committee for the past two years. He is well known all over the county, and is in accord with its good citizens in matters of public moment, irrespective of party. On December 25, 1887, Mr. Park was married to Mary E. Eller, who was born March 19, 1870, in Van Wert County, Ohio, and is a daughter of Frederick and Nancy (Kilmer) Eller, natives of Richland County, Ohio, but of Pennsylvania descent. Mr. and Mrs. Park have one daughter, Hazel Marie, who was born February 24, 1895. She is a bright, attractive maiden of 11 years; a student in the Spencerville schools. The family residence is one of the most attractive in the city of Spencerville, and is located on Pearl street, a half block north of the Christian Church. In his religious views Mr. Park is liberal-minded. Mrs. Park is an active and interested worker in the Christian Church, with which she united in 1893. She is a lady of many accomplishments and the biographer may be forgiven for mentioning her artistic needlework. She has taken many premiums when she has consented to exhibit her specimens of lace-work. Aside from his business, Mr. Park has always taken an interest in horses, even in boyhood having more control over them than his companions. He has owned many fine animals and can scarcely remember when he was not able to drive or to enjoy the exercise of a fine mount. D. C. DUNN, president of The Eagle Stave Company, Atlas Cooperage Company, Colonial Column Company and Dunn Cooperage Company, has been a resident of Lima but a few years, yet even in this short period he has identified himself with the business and social interests of the city in a way to make his influence felt throughout the entire municipality. He was born September 27, 1874, in the village. of Lee, Massachusetts, and is a son of George Dunn, a retired manufacturer, living at Miamisburg, Ohio. George Dunn is a native of Scotland, and there learned the trade of paper manufacture, becoming an expert in the business. Coming to this country he continued to work at the business for many years in different States. This accounts for the fact that our subject has been a resident of almost every State east of the Mississippi River, and secured his education in various localities. Arriving at man's estate he engaged in the real estate business in Miamisburg for two years, and then embarked in the cooperage business. He engaged in the latter occupation at Minister, Auglaize County, Ohio, where he remained three years and then moved to Cridersville, where he continued in the same work for another two years. In 1902 he came to Lima and organized The Eagle Stave Company, which was incorporated in 1905 with a capital stock of $25,000. The 504 - HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY officers of this company are : D. C. Dunn, president, and A. J. Dunn, secretary and treasurer. They manufacture staves and hoops. Mr. Dunn is president of the Atlas Cooperage Company, of Lindsey, Ohio; president of the Dunn Cooperage Company of Gilberts, Ohio; secretary and treasurer of the Rough River Cooperage Company, of Livermore, Kentucky; vice-president of the Lima Progressive Association and president of the Colonial Column Company, of Lima, of which A. J. Dunn is vice-president and secretary and Henry Groby is general manager. He is also secretary of the Humane Horse Shoe Company, of Lima, and vice-president of the 0. C. Robinson Company, of Creston, Ohio, and of the Mercer Cooperage & Lumber Company, of Fort Recovery, Ohio. Mr. Dunn has a business record worthy of emulation. Beginning life with a capital of $50 in cash, he has shown remarkable sagacity in his investments and has achieved his present success by honest industry and application, backed by sound common-sense. In 1896 Mr. Dunn was married to Bessie Groby, daughter of Henry Groby, who is a lumber dealer of Miamisburg. They have one child, Marian. Mr. Dunn is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and a man who stands high in the opinion of all who have the honor of his acquaintance. His portrait accompanies this sketch, being shown on a preceding page. VALENTINE HEIL, one of the leading contractors of Lima, where he has resided for some 15 years, was born in Germany, December 27, 1863. He was educated in his native land and there completed an apprenticeship to the stonecutter's trade In 1882 Mr. Heil came to America in search of more favorable labor conditions. He located at Cincinnati where he continued to work at his trade until 1890, and then came to Lima. Here he worked at his trade by the day for a short time until he saw a good opening, and then entered into a contracting business for himself and has continued in the same line until the present. He has built up an extensive and profitable business, and no man in the contracting line bears a better reputation for reliability and skill. For the past few years almost all the important building contracts have been proffered him, and he has erected many of the most substantial business blocks as well as handsome residences in the city. Among these may be mentioned the stone work on the Y. M. C. A. Building the Lima House ; the Holland Block ; the Hotel Norval ; St. Paul's Lutheran Church ; the Black Block ; the Adgate Building; the Lima electric light plant; and the beautiful and well-proportioned residences of these citizens : Lufkins, Agerter, Selfridge, Curtin, Charles C. Miller, Henry Deisel and many others. Mr. Heil was married in 1886 to Rosa Beyer, who is a native of Kentucky, and they have a family of six children. The family belongs to the German Reformed Church, of which Mr. Heil has been a trustee for some years. Fraternally he is associated with the Eagles, the Red Men and the I. 0. 0. F., of Lima. ABRAHAM ZURFLUH, one of the venerable and valued citizens of Richland township, was born in Canton Bern, Switzerland, near the village of Souboz, September 3, 1833, and is a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Ne Wahly) Zurflüh. The parents were natives of Switzerland, where the mother died when our subject was but 12 days old. The family consisted of four children, viz : Mary Ann, born in 1825; Katherine, born in 1827; John, born in 1830, who still lives in Switzerland ; and Abraham. The sisters accompained our subject and family to Ohio and both died here. Abraham Zurflüh remained on the home farm until about 18 years of age, in the meantime devoted himself as closely as possible to his books, with the result that he later became a successful teacher, and at present has three languages at command—French, English and German, the latter being the medium of com- AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 505 munication at home. This is somewhat remarkable as the only training Mr. Zurflüh ever enjoyed' was what he obtained in three winters in a French school. In the month following his marriage, he and his wife joined a party of some 8o members of the Mennonite Church, who had decided to seek homes and religious freedom in America. They left their home in Switzerland on March 8, 1852, for Havre, where they took passage on a sailing ship, one of the old-class vessels, 122 feet long, with few accommodations provided for the comfort of the voyagers. They arrived safely in New York on April 28th and reached Wayne County, Ohio, May 7, 1852. Mr. Zurflüh and wife remained there until the first of the following July, when they removed to Putnam County and, in want of other accommodations, lived in a church building until October 28, 1852. In the meantime Mr. Zurflüh had been looking about for a suitable place to locate permanently and had secured his present farm of 80 acres at a public sale of school lands, at Lima. The country all about the new home was a dense wilderness, when on October 28, 1852, the little family moved into a little log-cabin before either windows or door had made it a very adequate shelter from the elements or from the wild animals, which were still plentiful. The little cabin of 18 by 22 feet, was, however, a home and we can well believe that happiness dwelt upon its broad hearthstone. He was obliged to borrow in order to make his first payment, on his first purchase, which comprised 40 acres ; but he had faith in what his industry and frugality could accomplish, and later results demonstrated that this self-confidence was justifiable. Not one foot of his land had yet been cleared and his nearest neighbor was beyond sight and hearing. Through his persevering industry he cleared the first body of land and subsequently added another tract of 40 acres. He has now one of the best cultitivated farms in Richland township and one which is valued at a high price in comparison with adjacent properties. This farm is situated in section 16, Richland township and is on the rural mail route, No. 2, from Bluffton, the carrier coming to his door over well-graded highways, where Mr. Zurflüh can remember first wandered a blazed trail, which he helped to widen into a good road. There are a number of substantial buildings on this farm, including five dwellings and a huge barn, 38 by 86 feet in dimensions. The main products of Mr. Zurflüh's farm have been grain and stock. On February 7, 1852, in his native land, Mr. Zurflüh was married to Mary Ann Ranseiar, who was born in Canton Bern, Switzerland, January 18, 1832, and was a daughter of Isaac and Mary (Bartschy) Ranseiar. Mrs. Zurflüh died on August 15, 1887. The children of this union were nine in number, viz : Mary, Jacob, Anna, David, Elizabeth, Christian, Katherine, Fannie and Sarah. Mary married Benjamin Basinger and they live near Pandora and have 12 children. Jacob, unmarried, remains at home and operates the farm.. Anna, who is the wife of Herman Kindle, keeps house for her father. David lives at Lima. Elizabeth died aged 29 years and Christian died aged 25 years. Katherine is the wife of Ferdinand Loney, of Bluffton. Fannie married Alfred Hochstettler. She died of consumption. Her husband was accidently killed while out hunting quail. They are survived by a daughter —Ella. Sarah is the wife of Amos Luginbihl; and they reside with their five children on the homestead. The biographer has been favored with a view of a most interesting group picture which was photographed at the home of our esteemed subject on the 72nd anniversary of his birth—September 3, 1905. It shows four generations of the family, the most prominent being Mr. Zurflüh himself. By his side is seated his eldest daughter, Mary (Mrs. Benjamin Basinger), who was born June 28, 1853. By her side is her daughter, Josephine, (Mrs. John Moser), who was born April 7, 1882, while in the grand-grandfather's arms rests little Mary Elizabeth Moser, infant daughter of Mrs. John Moser, who was born April 4, 1905. As we have noted above, Mr. Zurflüh is an educated man. He taught school in his own country in 1851 and up to the time of his coming to America, in 1852. He taught five winters in the public schools of Allen County and has taught in parochial and German schools. 506 - HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY For many years he has served as a school officer and his clerical ability has been frequently recognized. In religious life Mr. Zurflüh has always been identified with the Mennonite Church, and he has always taken a very active part in its affairs here. For 12 years he was church secretary and for 28 years he served as a teacher in the Sunday-school. It is said that he is more conversant with the dates and history of the Mennonite bodies than any other instructor in his locality, and can trace its interesting history back to its beginning in 1492. As he is able to read and converse in French, English and German his services are frequently in demand as an interpreter. In his political convictions, Mr. Zurflüh is a Democrat. His first presidential vote was cast for Stephen A. Douglas. From choice as well as from religious motives, he has never consented, to accept any public office, except in the line of education. He is one of the best-known and most highly esteemed representatives of the German-Swiss element in Allen County, from which class has come so many of the State's most reliable citizens.   HENRY H. HEMAN. Among the good citizens of Lima, now living retired from business activity, is the subject of this sketch, who for many years was connected with one of the largest lumber firms of this city. Mr. Heman is also one of the heroic survivors of the great Civil War, in which he participated with honor and in the vicissitudes of which he almost lost his life. He was born at New Bremen, Auglaize County, Ohio, December 8, 1843, and is a son of Gerard Heman, who, with his wife, two daughters and one son died in the cholera epidemic of 1848. Mr. Heman was reared and educated by relatives in Auglaize County until the age of 17 years, when he enlisted in Company C, 37th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., and was mustered into the service at Cleveland, Ohio. A lad in years, he was of a man's statue. His regiment was sent first to Charlestown, \Vest Virginia, and took part in its initial engagement at Loop Creek. It was concerned in numerous light engagements and passed back and forth between Ohio and West Virginia until January I, 1863, when it was ordered to Vicksburg. This regiment was the first detail of troops to reach the city, and it remained all through the siege until May 22, 1863, when our present interest in its movements pauses. It was upon this date that Mr. Heman was struck by a cannon-ball during the second charge on Fort Graveyard. During the charge the Confederates began firing on the Union troops from Fort Hill, fully two and a half miles distant. Mr. Heman was struck in the third volley, the first having come between him and the fort, the second fell some 20 feet distant, but the murderous third took, with its swift passage, Mr. Heman's good right arm and killed his comrade beside him. In the days of the Civil War, surgery had not yet attained its present perfection and as anaesthetics were scarcely in use, the unhappy wounded were obliged to submit to the seemingly cruel treatment at the hospital tents on the field, suffering tortures which would be nowhere permitted at the present day. From the field hospital he was transported to Webster Hospital at Memphis, Tennessee, and after two months of treatment was honorably discharged on September 17, 1863. Mr. Heman was then but entering manhood. He returned to Auglaize County and as soon as sufficiently convalescent began to look about for suitable employment. In October he came to Lima and went to work in a grocery store. conducted by G. Steiner, with whom he remained one year. In order to fit himself for a more remunerative position he then entered a commercial school at Fort Wayne ; after graduation, he returned to Lima and entered' into a grocery business on North Main street under the firm name of Smith & Heman. Two years later Mr. Heman sold out his interest to Mr. Smith and in 1868 he was elected city clerk of Lima. Mr. Heman served with entire satisfaction for six years and in 1875 he was elected county recorder of Allen County, serving also in this office for six years. After retiring from public office Mr. Heman engaged for a time in an insurance busi- AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 507 ness and then became bookkeeper for the firm of Dobbins & Ashton, lumber merchants, remaining with them in that capacity until he retired, in 1903. Mr. Heman in public and in business life displayed the same qualities of devotion to duty and fidelity to the trusts imposed in him that made him a fearless and efficient soldier. In October, 1874, Mr. Heman was married to Malinda Opt, who is a daughter of the late Henry Opt, of Seneca County, Ohio. They have one child, Homer Dow, who is employed by the Ferrel Brick Manufacturing Company, of Zanesville, Ohio. Mr. Heman is connected as appraiser with the South Side Building & Loan Association of Lima. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias and also to Mart Armstrong Post, No. 202, G. A. R. E. R. CURTIN, vice-president of the .Lima Trust Company and general manager of The Manhattan Oil Company, of Lima, is one of the younger, business men of this city who have achieved success through genuine ability and great personal enterprise. Mr. Curtin was born in Franklin, Pennsylvania, in 1868, and is a son of William W. Curtin, a well-known oil producer of this section who has been in the business since 1865. After completing his education, which included the common and high school courses, Mr. Curtin entered into business as an employee of the Wells Supply Company, with whom he remained for six years. His next work was with his father and with oil companies in the Pennsylvania oil field, and for seven years he was interested with the Neely Brothers, the large operators of St. Marys. For the past 15 years he has been with The Manhattan Oil Company, of which for five years he has been manager. This company does a pipe-line business and owns a large refinery at Welker, Ohio. Mr. Curtin is identified with the city's interests in many ways, being vice-president of The Lima Trust Company and a member of many of the city's public organizations. Mr. Curtin was married in 1892 to Effie Allen, who was born in New York, and they have one son, Emmet L. For a number of years he has been prominent in Masonry, belonging to Blue Lodge, Council and Commandery at Lima, and the Consistory, at Toledo. He also belongs to the Elks. For the past eight years Mr. Curtin has filled a large place in the business life of the city and has won the warm friendship and hearty esteem of the many who have had business and social relations with him. HON. JOHN W. MANGES, Representative in the Ohio State Legislature-from Allen County, was born near Somerset, Perry County, Ohio, March 1, 1857, and is a son of Peter and. Mary (Staats) Manges. The grandparents of Mr. Manges were Pennsylvania Dutch. They came to Ohio. about 1832-33, locating at Circleville, Pickaway County. Peter Manges was born in Pennsylvania, January 1, 1830, and he was 15 years. old before he had mastered the English language. He died at Bluffton, Ohio, in October, 1898, aged 68 years. He was a farmer and a veterinarian, and during the last 15 years of his life he practiced his profession to the exclusion of other occupations. He had three brothers and two sisters. He married Mary Staats,. who was born in Perry County, Ohio, and died in Allen County in 1863. They had these chil dren : Harriet, who is the wife of T. L. Goble, of Paulding County.; Amanda, who married Rufus Parker, of Charlottesville, Virginia ; John W., of Allen County ; Rachel, who died aged 16 years; and Charles J., of Bluffton. In the spring of 1861, the parents of the subject of this biography came to Allen County; and settled on a farm near West Cairo. He remained with his father on that and other farms in Northern Ohio until his marriage, when he located at Beaver Dam. His education had not been neglected in the meantime and after finishing school he taught for 15 terms in Allen County. In addition to his farm interests he has engaged in the fire insurance business ; but for so long a period has he 508 - HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY been a public official that much of his time has been consumed in attending to the various duties imposed upon him. For 20 years he has been clerk of the School Board of Beaver Dam, was village clerk for six years, mayor for four years, township clerk for two terms and for the same period was township trustee, and is now serving his fourth term as justice of the peace. In 1901 he was elected on the Democratic ticket to represent Allen County in the State Legislature, and his course at Columbus met with public approval to such an extent that he was reelected in 1903. He has served on a number of important committees, at all times looking out for the interests of his community, and has done excellent work on the taxation committee, the dairy and food committee and on the committee which looks after the affairs of the sailors' and soldiers' orphans. Mr. Manges was married in Wood County, Ohio, March 27, 1884, to Lizzie Plowright, who was born April 10, 1856, and died January 18, 1905. She was a daughter of Henry and Mary (Cross) Plowright, natives of England, who came to Allen County, Ohio, moved to Monroeville, Huron County, and finally to Wood County. Mr. and Mrs. Manges have had five children, namely : Flora M. ; Layton ; Charles, who died aged four and a half. years; Byron and George. For 30 years Mr. Manges has been a member of the Church of Christ, in which he has been an elder for a quarter of a century. His fraternal relations are with the Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America. FRANK L. MAIRE, a leading citizen of Lima, who, with his brother, Edward J. Maire, under the firm style of Maire Brothers, is extensively engaged in the production of oil, was reared and educated in Crawford County, Pennsylvania, where he was born in 1871. When a young man he embarked in the mercantile business at Bolivar, New York, near the Allegany oil field in which he soon evinced great interest. Seeing the profits accruing from this industry, he dis- posed of his mercantile business and invested the proceeds in the oil fields there, later extending his operations to Pennsylvania and giving his entire time to the business. With his brother, Edward J. Maire, whose biography appears elsewhere in this work, he invested in the oil fields of Ohio, and became a stockholder in companies operating in New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Kansas and Indian Territory. Maire Brothers have well-equipped offices in the Opera House Block, a handsome structure, which they purchased of John D. Rockefeller, in November, 1905. Mr. Maire has been a resident of Lima about nine years and has taken an active part in promoting the welfare of the city. He is one of the stockholders of The Lima Trust Company, and stands high in both social and business circles. He is affiliated with the Masonic order. SILAS REED, one of the prominent farmers of Shawnee' township, who resides on a well-improved farm of 60 acres in section 14, is also a veteran of the Civil War, having given over three years of his life to the services of his country. Mr. Reed was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, January 18, 1840, and is a son of Samuel and Mary M. (Aker) Reed. Samuel Reed was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, and was a son o7f Noah Reed, who was born in Licking County, this State. Samuel Reed was a cooper by trade, working at his vocation during the winter and farming in the summer. He owned a farm in Shawnee township, where he died in August, 1894, aged 79 years. He married Mary Aker, who was born July 30, 1814, and died in March, 1905, at the age of 91 years. Their children were : Clara, who married Josiah Snyder, and was left a widow six weeks later, her husband dying in the army ; Silas ; Salem, a farmer of Shawnee township; Isaac, a farmer of Shawnee township ; John W., deceased ; Freeman, a resident of Lima Nelson, a resident of Cridersville; Almeda, deceased, formerly the wife of Cyrus Nye ; Emma, the wife of Charles Andrews; and Laura (Redmond), a resident of Lima. Our subject was a lad of 13 years when he AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 511 accompanied his parents to Shawnee township. He attended school and assisted his father until he was 19 years old, when he went to work for William U. Hover, with whom he remained until he enlisted, soon after Fort Sumter was fired on. His first enlistment was in Company A, loth Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., under Capt. Mathias H. Nichols, which was sent immediately to the front, and until August was engaged mainly in garding the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, during this period participating in numerous skirmishes. In July, 1862, Mr. Reed reenlisted, in Company B, 99th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., for three years, or until the close of the war, when he was honorably discharged at Cincinnati. The regiment participated in the battles of Stone River, Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, Atlanta and Jonesboro; was with General Sherman's forces until the battle of Resaca and was placed under General Thomas at Nashville. Here Companies B and F were consolidated, or the former merged into Company F, after which the command went to Washington and Wilmington, where it again came under General Sherman and moved on to Salisbury, Raleigh, City Point and Cincinnati. During this long period Mr. Reed distinguished himself as a loyal, cheerful, faithful soldier. Upon his return from the army, Mr. Reed was married and located four miles west of his present farm, on which he lived for seven years and then, in 1873, bought his present property. On August 8, 1865, Mr. Reed was married to Harriet B. Napier, who was born in Trumbull County, Ohio, July 7, 1843, and is a daughter of the late William and Sarah (Huff) Napier. Mrs. Reed was a babe of three months when her parents came to Shawnee township. Her father was one of the prominent and esteemed citizens here for many years, a man of substance and much valued in the church and the community at large. Her venerable mother still survives and lives on the homestead in section 14. Mr. and Mrs. Reed have had the following children, namely : Florence, who died aged five years ; Alta, living at Lima ; Della, also of Lima ; William E., who died at Fostoria, Ohio, aged 24 years ; Mamie, who died aged 17 years ; Ethel, of Lima ; LeRoy, who died in infancy; Zelpha, who married Edwin Pryer, and is residing temporarily in Missouri ; and Roy, aged 15 years, who lives at home. Like his father, Mr. Reed is a Republican. He was at one time an active member of Mart Armstrong Post, No. 202, G. A. R., of Lima, but does not now attend the meetings because of the distance from home. For the past 48 years he has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. WILLIAM ARCHIBALD CAMPBELL, postmaster. at Lima, whose portrait accompanies this sketch, belongs to one of the old Scotch families which left Scotland in 1700 and, to escape religious persecution, settled in Coleraine, County Derry, Ireland. The descendants of Dougald, Robert and John Campbell came to America between 1730 and 1840, settling in Pennsylvania; from there the descendants of Dougald removed to Rockbridge County, Virginia, those of John to Washington County, Virginia, and three sons of Robert settled at Augusta, Virginia. Mr. Campbell's ancestry dates to Robert Campbell. Samuel L. Campbell, grandson of Robert Campbell and grandfather of our subject, became a distinguished physician in Rockbridge County, Virginia, where he died in 1840. He was connected with Washington College and Washington and Lee University as rector of the board of trustees, was treasurer of the college and was president of the faculty from 1796 to 1799. Two of his sons were graduates of the institution. He was married September 19, 1794, to Sarah Alexander, sister of Rev. Archibald Alexander, D. D., afterward president of Princeton College. Charles Fenelon Campbell, son of Samuel L. Campbell and father of our subject, was born September 13, 1803, at Lexington, Virginia, and died at Georgetown, Ohio, September 2, 1864. He was graduated at Washington College in his loth year and was admitted to the bar as attorney and solicitor in chancery for the State of Virginia. In 1824 he went from Virginia to Brown County, Ohio, and prac- 512 - HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY tired his profession until his death, becoming eminent as a jurist throughout Southern Ohio. He published the Whig, and later the Bee, at Ripley, Ohio. He received a military education at the Virginia Military Institute, at Lexington, Virginia, and when the Rebellion broke out he was commissioned by the Governor of Ohio to organize the militia of his section of the State. His labors in this capacity brought on the disease which resulted in his death. He was an astute lawyer and an able and impartial judge. On September 12, 1833, he was married to Harriet E. Kephart, of Ripley, Ohio, and they had issue as follows : Angus K., Francis T., John Quincy Adams, Mary Antoinette, William Archibald and Charles Delevan. William Archibald Campbell was born at Ripley, Brown County, Ohio, July 4, 1844, where he was reared and educated. In young manhood he became interested in newspaper work and in this he has continued to the present time. Mr. Campbell came to Lima in July, 1877, and with his brother, Charles D. Campbell, established the Allen County Republican, which was later consolidated with the Lima Gazette, under, the name of the Lima Republican-Gazette, and is now one of the leading journals of the city. Mr. Campbell served in the War of 1861-65, in the Second Independent Battery, O. N. G., Light Artillery. Since March 24, 1904, he has been postmaster at Lima. Mr. Campbell married Sallie S. Shaw, a daughter of Rev. Joseph Shaw, of Bellefontaine, Ohio, and they have five children,—Florence, Lillian, Donald D., Beatrice and Dudley A. The family home is a comfortable residence at No. 622 West North street. LEECH & LEECH, the leading firm of architects at Lima, is composed of two brothers, Charles M. and F. M. Leech, son of William F. Leech, of No. 1015 Rice avenue, Lima. Both were born in Allen County. William F. Leech, the father, was born in Pennsylvania. For many years he has been a leading contractor here, and his work is found all over the city, represented by handsome residences and stately buildings. He built the First Congregational Church, and also the Boone Block, the latter a fine example of a well-planned business building. A soldier in the Civil War, he wore the Union blue all through that stormy time as a member of Company F, 14th Reg., Pennsylvania Vol, Inf., with the rank of corporal. Immediately after the close of his honorable service, he came to Lima which has been his place of residence ever since. FRANK M. LEECH was reared and educated in Allen County and served an apprenticeship to the carpenter's trade. For several years prior to 1896, when his present partnership was formed, he was in business as a contractor. In 1891 he married Mary T. Hursh, who is a daughter of John Hursh, a large contractor of Mansfield, Ohio. They have two children, Clara and Marjorie. The family belong to Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mr. Leech has served as a member of the official. board. Politically he is a Republican, and is a member of the Republican County Central Committee. Fraternally he belongs to the Knights of Pythias and to the Royal Arcanum. CHARLES M. LEECH was born in Allen County, June 2, 1866, where he was reared and educated. In 1890 he went to Columbus and while there he was acting superintendent for John Flynn, the architect. In 1893 he began in the architectural line himself, forming a partnership under the firm name of Leech & Thomas, which continued until he came to Lima in 1896 and, in association with his brother, formed the partnership of Leech & Leech. In 1892 he married Olive M. Sherrick, who is a daughter of the late Noah Sherrick, whose father was one of the old pioneers of Allen County. They have one son—Donald. Mr. Leech is an active member of Trinity-Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a stockholder in the American Manufacturing Company, of Mattoon, Illinois. Both he and his brother are men of sterling character, dependable in all business transactions and skilled in their profession. Since the formation of their firm, the lead- AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 513 ing one of the city, Leech & Leech have drawn the plans and superintended the erection of the Epworth Methodist Episcopal Church, St. Paul's Lutheran Church, the First Evangelical Lutheran Church, the Presbyterian Church at Portland, Ohio ; Methodist Episcopal Church at Crestline, Methodist Episcopal Memorial Church at Van Wert, Mount Horeb Church in Van Wert County, South Lima Baptist Church, German Baptist Church at Lima, Wesley Methodist Episcopal Chapel near Lima, Disciples' Church at Mannington, West Virginia, and numerous other churches at different points. Other buildings of various kinds have been erected all over the State, including a town hall at Beaver Dam and one at Lafayette. In Lima they have done a great deal of work, recently finishing Dr. Bennett's apartment house on West Market street, and have submitted plans for important work in 1906, which will include two or three blocks at Bluffton, the hospital for contagious diseases at Lima, and buildings in many of the neighboring counties. BEN JAMIN L. JAUMAN, senior member of the undertaking firm of Jauman & Weger, funeral directors and embalmers, at Delphos, and one of the city's esteemed citizens, was born August 1o, 1876, in Marion township, Allen County, Ohio, and is a son of Anthony and Cresencia (Graf) Jauman. Anthony Jauman was born in August, 1837, in Germany, and died in Ohio on Thanksgiving Day, 1903, aged 66 years. He was a pioneer of the county and engaged in farming and dairying in Marion township. He came to America shortly after the close of the Civil War and settled in Marion township, Allen County, Ohio, where George Lang's mill and elevator now stand. For 25 years he followed dairying and was one of the best known residents of Marion township, one who was regarded with general esteem, on account of his honest and upright character. His widow, born in 1842, resides at Delphos. Their eight children are all living. Benjamin L. Jauman was educated in the - 27 - German union schools at Delphos, and was 15 years old when he became a clerk for Joseph Krift in the furniture business, some years later going to Defiance, Ohio, where he was employed in the furniture and undertaking lines. He then lived at Lima for two years, engaged in the same business, and while there completed a course in the Cincinnati College of Embalming. Mr. Jauman then came to Delphos and, in partnership with his brother, Joseph Jauman, embarked in a furniture and undertaking business, under the firm name of Jauman Brothers, our subject taking charge of the latter branch of the business. On September 21, 1905, in partnership with Augustus E. Weger, Mr. Jauman purchased the business of H. J. Burgfelt. The style of the firm is now Jauman & Weger. They have well-equipped quarters on Main street, in the central part of the city. Mr. Weger is also interested in the photographic business and devotes the greater portion of his time to that branch, while Mr. Jauman is the active member of the firm in the undertaking line. Mr. Jauman is a member of the Church of St. John the Evangelist at Delphos. He is connected with the Elks and the Knights of Columbus, at Lima, and with the Catholic Knights of Ohio, at Delphos. Both Mr. Jauman and Mr. Weger are young men of irreproachable character and are numbered with the best citizens of Delphos. WILLIAM R. JONES, a prominent resident of Lima, is a stockholder in a number of oil companies. He was born May 11, 1867, in Steelville, Chester County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of Emmor S. Jones, who was formerly a leading contractor of the county named, but is now retired from active life. The early years of our subject were spent on a farm in his native county, where he later engaged in farming for himself, at the same time buying and selling live-stock, greatly to his pecuniary advantage. In 1889 he came to Lima and immediately secured work with the Lake Erie & Western Railroad, remaining in 514 - HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY the freight department of that road for about nine years. For 'two years he conducted a grocery store and then resumed work in the railroad office for a short time. Then he and his brother bought the grocery store on the corner of North and Jackson streets, which they conducted under the style of Jones Brothers. Later they disposed of that stock and opened another store in the Masonic Temple, which they sold in 1902. They then invested their money in the oil business, their first venture being in the Beaver Dam field. Mr. Jones is a producer and contractor, with interests in the Cylinder Oil Company, of Joliet, Illinois, whose official board is as follows : Julian Barnes, president ; John H. Savage, secretary ; and George H. Munroe, treasurer. He is also connected with the Eagle Petroleum Company, of Cleveland, Ohio, the officers of which are: T. M. Marks, president ; A. P. Hammond, secretary; and H. J. Brooks, treasurer, all of Cleveland. In addition to having an interest in these organizations, he has charge of the Euclid Oil Company, and the Dr. Charles E. Lawton Company. Mr. Jones was married November 17, 1893' to Addie M. Johns, daughter of Samuel Johns, of Pulaski County, Indiana. They have two children—Frederick and Mary Helen.. Mr. Jones is a member of the Church of Christ and is also affiliated with the Knights of the Maccabees. WILLIAM A. CORE owns 52 acres of fine farm land in section 29, Perry township, where he has been a resident for several years and has come to be known as one of the progressive agriculturists and reliable, upright citizens of the community. He was born March 25, 1856, in Noble County, Indiana, his parents being William and Mary Ann (Rogers) Core. William Core. the elder, was born in Pennsylvania and remained there until he had grown to manhood, when he moved to Logan County, Ohio, and later to Indiana. He engaged in farming in Noble County, Indiana, until 1877, when he came to Allen County and settled on the farm just south of the one now owned by our subject. Here he carried on farming until his death, which occurred about 1883 at the age of 73 years. His death and that of his wife occurred within the same year. She was formerly Mary Ann Rogers, daughter of Horace Rogers, of Morrow County, Ohio. and came originally from New York. She was the mother of the following children : Celestia (Shindollar) ; Andrew, who, although under age, joined an Ohio regiment and served three years in the Civil War, taking part in many of the fiercest engagements ; Euretta (Schamp) ; Horace ; Seymour ; Olive (Fielder) ; William A. ; Rufus ; Gashum ; and Marion. William A. Core has been a farmer the greater part of his life. \\Then he came to Allen County, a young man of 21 years, he began doing for himself by hiring out by the month as a farm-hand. He was identified with the oil industry for about six years, together with a number of citizens of Lima, but he abandoned that enterprise to give his attention again to agriculture. He rented the 0. B. Selfridge farm which he cultivated about five years, after which he rented the farm of his brother-in-law for five years, and then purchased his present property of Frank Parrott. Mr. Core was married in 188o to Mary Lucettie Shockey, a native of Perry township and a daughter of Christopher Shockey. They have two children, Arlie C., who was born August 2, 1882, and Clarence E., born September 2, 1891. The elder son resides in Lima. He married Myra Brewer who died in Colorado, where she had gone in the hope of regaining her health. Mr. Core is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a Prohibitionist in politics ; but is independent enough to give his support to the best man, regardless of party. PHILIP JACOB ALTSTAETTER, who resides on the old Altstaetter homestead farm of 160 acres, situated in section 18, Monroe township, was born on this farm August 10, 1861, and is a son of Jacob and Catherine (Bucher) Altstaetter. Elsewhere in this work—in the sketches of AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 515 Frederic and George L. Altstaetter, brothers of our subject—will be found an extended notice of the parents of our subject who were the early founders of the German settlement here, and for many years very prominent residents. Philip Jacob is the 12th in their family of 13 children. Our subject was reared to plenty of hard work on the home farm, as his father was a man who believed in industry and set the example. His schooling was obtained in the district schools and he remained at home until 23 years of age. He then worked at the carpenter's trade for two years at Dayton and continued to be thus engaged for some four years after he returned to Allen County. After his marriage, in 1889, he went to Columbus Grove and there first clerked in a dry goods and hardware store, and then bought a half interest in a furniture and undertaking business there, which he subsequently sold, returning to the old homestead in 1898. Here he has carried on general farming and stock-raising. On January 1, 1889, Mr. Altstaetter was married to Emma L. Miller, who was born January 1, 1868, in Monroe township, Allen County, Ohio, and is a daughter of Henry and Mary ( Sauer) Miller, natives of Hesse, Germany, who accompanied their respective parents to America in childhood, the Millers, settling in Pennsylvania, and the Sauers in Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Miller had 14 children and the wife of our subject is the third in order of birth. Mr. and Mrs. Altstaetter have eight children, namely : Emil Henry, Gilbert William, Clifford Jacob, -Mary Catharine, Waldo Emerson, Albert Arthur, Clara Helena and Lena Albertina. Mr. Altstaetter is a Democrat. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias lodge at Columbus Grove. He has the German's gift of music and is an expert violinist. Among many interesting relics in the old homestead, he takes especial pride in a fine violin which was purchased at Antwerp, where he visited in 1885. This violin was made in Italy after the pattern of one fashioned in 1715. The old homestead has numerous examples of the cabinet-making skill of his father and some of the pieces of furni ture that were made from rough timber in the pioneer days. He also prizes highly an old family Bible, which is still well-preserved, although it was printed in 1745. SAMUEL B. EARLY, a prosperous agriculturist of German township, has been a lifelong resident of Allen County, having been born in Sugar Creek township April 15, 1849. His paternal grandfather came from Germany to America and settled in Rockingham County, Virginia, and it was there Jacob Early, the father of our subject, was born, April 20, 1816. He grew to manhood and was married to Mary Simmons, daughter of John Simmons, also of Rockingham County. About 1839 the family moved to Ohio, and in 1862 became citizens of German township, Allen County. A family of seven sons and two daughters were born to them, viz : Noah, Isaac, Abraham, Jonas, John, Jacob, Samuel B., Sarah and Elizabeth. Only four are living, namely : Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Samuel. Abraham, Noah and Jonas served in the Civil War, the last named meeting his death at Stone River in 1863. Noah, who was a private, was severely wounded but lived until October, 1903. Abraham was captured by the Rebels and was still confined in Andersonville at the time of Lee's surrender. Samuel B. Early was reared and educated in this vicinity and has always been a farmer. He was married in .1870 to Emeline King, daughter of Aaron King, of Logan County, Ohio. This union resulted in the birth of 13 children, viz. : Charles, who married Carrie Irvin, has two children, Eva and Ray, and lives in Van Wert County ; Mittie, who married Jesse Byerly in 1895 and has four children—Lois, Victor, Faith and Dwight ;Mary, who married Michael Roeder, of Bath township, and is the mother of five children—Edith, Dale, Irene, Don and an infant ; Dean ; Schuyler ; Sarah, John ; Zelma ; Russell ; Jacob ; Schula and two that died in infancy. Mrs. Early died May 14, 1896, and our subject was again married, in November, 1899, to Elizabeth Wenger, of Au- 516 - HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY gusta County, Virginia, and they have two children : Carrie Beatrice and Fleeta Christine. Mr. Early is a trustee of the German Baptist Church, of Bath township, of which he is a member. JESSE GUY HONNELL, M. D. The death of Dr. Jesse G. Honnell, on July 13, 1898, removed from Allen County one of its pioneer physicians and universally valued citizens. Dr. Honnell was born in Greene County, Pennsylvania, January 9, 1831, and was a son of William and Ellen Honnell. Jesse G. Honnell was one of a large family, his parents rearing 12 children. No family in his section displayed more notable patriotism during the Civil War, than did the sons of William Honnell. One brother of Dr. Honnell, Capt. T. C. Honnell, served through the war ; another, Rev. William Honnell, was chaplain of a regiment during the war, and a third, Rainey Honnell, was taken prisoner on the field of battle and his young life went out in Andersonville Prison. Jesse G. Honnell was about six years old when his parents came to Ohio and settled at Sidney, in Shelby County, where he remained until 21 years of age. He obtained his literary education in the local schools and prepared for medical college by reading with a physician at Sidney, after which he entered the Cleveland Medical College, where he was graduated when 24 years of age. He practiced for about a year near Port Jefferson. In 1855 he married and with his bride came to Allen County, locating at Beaver Dam, where he was the only physician for a long time. This being the case, his practice was of the most exhausting kind, entailing much riding over the country and loss of rest and sleep in his efforts to respond to calls for his medical care. He was beloved and honored and, when five years prior to his death, his failing health made retirement from the profession necessary, he was followed into private life by the love and gratitude of those whom he had faithfully served for almost 40 years. During this time he had accumulated a competency and had invested in farming lands, owning at the time of his death a farm of 43 acres, on which Mrs. Honnell still resides, and one of 160 acres north of the village, on which he had a tenant installed. Dr. Honnell was married October 3o, 1855, at Piqua, Miami County, Ohio, to Amelia C. Clark, who was born April 25, 1834, in Livingston County, New York, her parents being Rev. E. W. and Mary P. ( Stiles) Clark, both of whom were born in New York. The father of Mrs. Honnell was a Baptist clergyman. He was one of a large family, having nine brothers and five sisters. Dr. and Mrs. Honnell had six children, as follows : Estella, who is the wife of Henry Shull, of Beaver Dam ; Carrie, who is the wife of Clayton Hobart, of Detroit ; Annie, who is the wife of James E. Marshall, of Chicago ; Mary F., who died in infancy ; Jessie C., who died aged 17 years ; and Eugene Guy, Who resides on the farm with his mother. Dr. Honnell was a man who took a deep interest in his community and who kept well informed concerning current events. In early life he was a Democrat, later became a Prohibitionist; but was never what might be called a politician ; in fact he was inclined to vote independently, turning his influence toward the candidate who in his judgment would most efficiently perform the duties required. For about 4o years he was an active member of the Presbyterian Church at Rockport. He is still recalled by his fellow-citizens with the greatest respect and esteem. JAMES A. JACOBS, a prominent agriculturist of Perry township, residing in section 21, was born in Clinton County, Ohio, March 4, 1833, and is a representative of one of the oldest families in the State, the family having located in Warren County in 1802. His parents were John P. and Elizabeth (Hazard) Jacobs, and his grandparents were Jehu and Elizabeth (Kreitser) Jacobs. The Jacobs family were founded in America during early colonial days when the first ancestor came from England during the time of William Penn and settled in Pennsylvania. The Jacobs AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 517 were Quakers in religion and lived in what was afterwards Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Here the great-grandfather, John Jacobs, was born during the latter part of the 18th century. He was a soldier of the Revolution and in 1812 located in Miami County, Ohio, where he lived until his death at the ripe old age of 95 years. Jehu Jacobs was also a native of Pennsylvania while his wife, Elizabeth Kreitser, was from Holland. They came to Warren County, Ohio, in 1802, before the State had been admitted into the Union, and located on part of the land owned by Governor Morrow, of Ohio. This land was little more than a wilderness which had to be cleared before any farming, could be clone. They were industrious and persevering and, although they began life poor, they accumulated considerable means during their lives. Their children were Eliza, Samuel, John P., Ann, Samuel and James J. The last named, who is an esteemed resident of Lima, is the only member of the family living. John P. Jacobs was born in Warren County, Ohio, June 3, 1806, and was there married in 1829 to Elizabeth Hazard, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Miller) Hazard, of Dutchess County, New York. They were the parents of four children, viz : Elizabeth, who died in infancy ; James A. ; Phoebe D., widow of William Harrod and a resident of Auglaize County ; and Ann, wife of John Harrod,—both now deceased. In 1833 John P. Jacobs came to Allen County on a prospecting tour, and the following year brought his family, locating in Union township, which is now in Auglaize County. They were the seventh family possessing sufficient temerity to venture into the new country and the hardships and privations endured uncomplainingly by them cannot now be appreciated. In 1858 Mr. Jacobs moved to Perry township and lived in section 21 until April 2, I880. when his wife died. Thereafter he made his home with our subject until his own death in February, 1888. He was a Democrat in politics and a man of strong conviction and resolute character. James A. Jacobs remained at home until his 23rd year, when he spent two years in Auglaize County, returning in 18F,9 and settling on the homestead where he still lives. In 1862 he went to California and for about four years engaged in mining in that State, and in Washington and Idaho. The trip out was made by boat, but the return was on horseback with a party of about 20 other travelers. Mr. Jacobs has devoted the greater part of his life to farming. He has taken advantage, however, of the fact that his land lies in the oil belt and had io oil-wells sunk on his farm, which are no inconsiderable source of income. Mr. Jacobs was married on April 17, 1856, to Martha J. Bitler, daughter of Samuel and Mary (Rumer) Bitler, of Union township, Auglaize County. Six children have been born to this marriage, viz. : Elwin, John C., Samuel D., Charles D., William H. and Olive 0. Elwin, born February 24, 1857, became the wife of F. M. Bacome (now deceased), by whom she had one child, Frankie G. She was married, a second time, to Thomas R Leatherman, of Auglaize township. John C., born November 23, 1858, resides near his father. He married Luella French, daughter of George French, and is the father of two children,—Jessie and Charles D. Samuel D., born October 28, 186o, lives at home. Charles D., born March 27, 1870, died in 1890. William H. was born March 3, 1872. Olive 0., born October 2, 1874, is the wife of H. C. Franklin, whose biography appears on another page of this work. Mr. Jacobs is a Democrat and has held a number of township offices, serving as justice of the peace and assessor. He is a member of Siskiou Lodge, No. 105, F. & A. M. having joined that order while in Siskiou M., California. In religious belief Mr. and Mrs. Jacobs are Universalists. J. B. PALMER, of the firm of Palmer & Owen, carriage manufacturers of Lima, is a native of Columbus, Indiana, and was born in 1859. His father, George W. Palmer, is still a resident of Columbus and is now in his 87th year. He has been one of the leading citizens of Bartholomew County, was treasurer of the county for two terms and was employed to rewrite the records of the county, a task which required two years of hard work to complete. 518 - HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY He was employed in the pension office for 16 years. When J. B. Palmer was a lad of 14 years, he went to Rochester, New York, where he entered a carriage-shop and learned how to manufacture a buggy and carriage from the raw material. He was with the James Cunningham, Son & Company for two years and then worked at different places throughout the United States until 1899, when he came to Lima and formed a partnership with M. D. Owen. They opened a factory at the rear of No. 121-123 West Market street, where they make a specialty of manufacturing first-class buggies and carriages. During the six years since their establishment they have done a good business, having a splendid local trade and extending their sales into the surrounding territory. They have the name of putting out the best vehicles manufactured in the State and merit the large patronage accorded them. In 1887, Mr. Palmer was married to Caroline Kaiser, whose father is Henry Kaiser, of the Henry Kaiser Buggy Company, of Kenton, Ohio. Their only child is Pauline Marie. Mr. Palmer is a member of the Knights of Pythias of Lima. WILLIAM FRANKLIN BOOGHER, who for many years has been the most prominent business man and citizen of Hume, is a man of great business capacity, and has success- fully engaged in various ventures. He is a man of public spirit and enterprise and for years has performed his share in making Hume an active business point. He is at the present extensively engaged in the grain business, serves as agent and operator for the Lake Erie & Western Railroad, and is postmaster of the town. Mr. Boogher was born in Greene County, Ohio, May 15, 1861, and is a son of Seely and Margaret (Helwig) Boogher. His grandfather, Daniel G. Boogher, who was a native of Pennsylvania, located in Montgomery County, Ohio, when the city of Dayton had but four houses. His farm was situated on the Green County line, and a part of the family lived in that county. He resided there until his death in 1882. He married Rachel Danford and they had a large family of children. Seely Boogher, father of our subject, was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, and upon marrying located across the line in Greene County. His wife, Margaret Helwig, a native of Allegheny, Pennsylvania, was seven years old when she moved from Pennsylvania to Cincinnati with her father, William Helwig. Two children were born of this union, William Franklin, the subject of this sketch, and Alvin G., who lives in Santa Fe, Auglaize County, Ohio. William F. Boogher was a boy when his parents moved to Montgomery County and there received his educational training in district schools and in the public schools of Dayton until he was 13 years old, when his widowed mother moved to New Bremen, Ohio, in 1874. He then entered the postoffice at that place, and continued there until 188o, when he came to Hume, accepting the position of agent and operator for the Lake Erie & Western Railroad. He served as such until 1890, and after that date served solely as agent until 190o, since which time he has again discharged the duties of operator as well. In 1881 he bought the general store and grain business of William L. Metheany and has been in the grain business ever since. He disposed of his store in 1895. In December, 1881, he was also appointed postmaster and has served as such ever since, except from 1893 to 1897, during Cleveland's second administration. He also operated a sawmill and engaged in the lumber business from 1885 to 190o. In addition to the many duties devolving on him in the capacities enumerated, he was engaged as oil producer and contractor during the oil activity in his section of the county, continuing during the 12 years ending in 1902. He has an unlimited capacity for work and at the time mentioned was putting in about 20 hours a day in hard work. It is to his untiring efforts and a natural capacity for business he owes his continued success. On August 13, 1882, Mr. Boogher married AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 519 Louisa Fritz, a native of St. Marys, Ohio, and a daughter of Adam Fritz, of New Bremen. Six children blessed their union, of whom the following are living : Alice M., William F., Jr., Charles Oscar and Hazel Augusta. Those deceased are: Nellie E. and Edward L. Politically, Mr. Boogher has always been an ardent Republican and has held numerous township offices ; among them, township clerk for two years, and member of the School Board for six years, serving one year as president of the board. He was candidate for county recorder one year in opposition to Peter T. Mell, and although defeated made a remarkable race. In the Democratic stronghold of Shawnee township he received the handsome majority of 52 votes. It was the first and the only time the township has ever gone Republican on a State election. For three years he served on the board of directors of the Allen County Fair. Fraternally, he is a member of the Knights of Pythias and of the Fraternal Order of Eagles. Although a comparatively young man, just entering middle life, Mr. Boogher is a man of wide experience and has been the longest resident of the town, being sometimes referred to as the "Father of Hume." JOHN N. HUTCHISON, probate judge of Allen County, and one of the most able members of the bar, is an old and highly respected resident of Lima, having been a citizen for upwards of 30 years. He was born in Monroe County, Ohio, July 10,- 1845, and is one of six children whose parents were Alexander C. and Rachel (Nelson) Hutchison. The elder Hutchison was a native of Washington County, Pennsylvania, and his wife was a native of Ireland. In his early days he had learned the trade of a tanner and he carried on this work in connection with his farming operations. He died in 1894. John N. Hutchison was a student of Washington and Jefferson College,. of Washington, Pennsylvania, graduating with the class of 1872. James G. Blaine was present at the graduating exercises of the class, and was celebrating the 25th anniversary of his graduation. from the same college. He then read law at Wheeling, West Virginia, under the preceptorship of Bridge Cracraft and was admitted to the bar by the Supreme Court of West Virginia in 1874, at which time he was also admitted to the practice of the law in Ohio. In the fall of the same year he came to Lima and: at once formed a partnership with M. L. Becker, the firm of Hutchison & Becker being continued two years. Then this partnership. was dissolved and our subject became associated with Hon. John E. Richie. Later the old firm of Hutchison & Becker was reestablished and continued until Mr. Hutchison began practicing alone. He has a large clientage among the best class of people and gives to his cases his best efforts. Mr. Hutchison was married to Emily C.. Cunningham, daughter of James Cunningham,. of Lima, who was an old settler and a veteran of the Civil War. Two children were born to this union, namely : Clarence C., deceased, and Halce, who lives at home. Clarence C. enlisted in the late Spanish-American War and underwent exposures that • resulted in his con-. tracting quick consumption, from which he died in 1899. The family are members of the. Presbyterian Church. Mr. Hutchison once. served as justice of the peace and also served as city solicitor of 'Lima, and it is the general consensus of opinion that there could not have been a wiser selection for the office of probate judge. He is a member of the local bar association and is also a prominent Odd Fellow and Knight of Pythias. PETER M. NEUENSCHWANDER,, deceased, who for over 30 years was a resident of Richland township. mainly engaged in agricultural pursuits, was born in Wayne County, Ohio, June 14, 1842, and was one of a family of 13 children born to John and Magdalena (Loyman) Neuenschwander, the former a native of Switzerland and the latter of Wayne County, Ohio. At the age of about seven years Peter M. 520 - HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY Neuenschwander accompanied his parents to Iowa where they lived until he was 14. Returning to Ohio, they moved to the present homestead of our subject's widow, where he continued to live until 187o, when he went to Bluffton and for 12 years was engaged as a brick and stone mason. He then returned to the farm, but continued to work at his trade in addition to farming up to the time of his death. The farm originally consisted of 160 acres, l00 acres of which were afterwards sold and an adjoining 50 purchased. In addition to this, he also owned 40 acres about half a mile from his home farm. He was an energetic, industrious man and spent few idle hours. His spare time during the winter was spent in hewing timber to be used in the construction of his barns and other buildings. His first home was a log cabin ; but he built for his family four good homes at different times during his life, one being a fine brick residence in Bluffton and one the substantial brick house which is now the residence of his widow. Mary Katherine Zerbach was born in Hessen, Darmstadt, Germany, February 14, 1852, and is a daughter of John and Barbara (Thomasbarger) Zerbach, with whom she came to the United States when a girl of 16. Her father is now in his 86th year, hale and hearty, and makes his home with his daughter, Mrs. Neuenschwander. The mother passed away about three years ago. In May, 187o, Miss Zerbach and Mr. Neuenschwander were united in marriage and a family of 13 children were born to them, namely : Noah, a resident of Bluffton ; William, a resident of Richland township ; Louis, also of Richland township ; Dora, wife of Albert Logbrake, of Findlay, Ohio ; Alma, wife of David Steinbrenner, of Bluffton ; Henry ; Mary ; Sarah ; Walter, who is a student in the Ohio Northern University at Ada ; Clara ; Gertrude ; Bessie and one who died in infancy. Mr. Neuenschwander was a Democrat and held various school offices, always using his influence for the upbuilding and improvement of the schools. He was a member of the German Reformed Church, and a man whose sterling worth caused him to be universally respected. His death, which occurred January 1, 1902, was regarded as a personal loss by all who knew him. His voice is no longer heard, but the influence of his noble life will continue to be felt long after the present generation has passed away. JOHN H. BERRYMAN, one of the influential agriculturists of Shawnee township, residing in section 3, was born August 19, 1843, in that part of Allen County, which has since been set off to Auglaize County. His parents were Russell and Margaret ( Slain) Berryman and his grandparents, William and Rachel (Clausen) Berryman. The grandfather came from England and settled in New Jersey, from which State he entered the Continental Army.. Later he moved to Virginia and about the year i800 located in Montgomery County, Ohio. He and his sons entered a large body of land which extended along the Auglaize River some two miles and included what is now the Fort Amanda farm. Here he tilled the soil and also did considerable work at shoemaking, which trade he had learned in early life. Russell Berryman was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, January 10, 1814, and seven years later accompanied his parents to Allen County. The two white families who had already settled here comprised the entire white population of the county at that time. Their supplies were to be had only at the expense of a long, tedious journey to Dayton or Toledo, and most of what we consider necessities were unknown to the pioneer homes. As Russell Berryman grew older he helped clear the farm and care for the growing crops and, as the land was rich and mellow, the wooden mould-board plow answered very well for breaking up the soil and making it ready for planting. When the grain had ripened, the sickle and cradle were used for harvesting it, many of the pioneers boasting of their skill and the rapidity of their work with these implements. The Indians were a constant menace to the quiet of the rapidly growing community and a military company was formed for defense against them, Mr. Berryman being the captain. He AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 523 died on the homestead in 1877 in the 63rd year of his age. He married Margaret Slain, who was a native of Virginia, and the following children were born to them, viz. : Cornelia (Stocken) ; Ephraim, deceased ; Rosabelle (Blackburn), deceased; John H. ; and James. Mr. Berryman was a Democrat. John H. Berryman was reared to manhood on a farm about one mile south of Fort Amanda, where he remained until 1867. He then rented a farm and began buying and feeding cattle for the market. This proved profitable and enabled him to purchase the Dickey farm, and afterwards the Goodman farm, then known as the Turkey Foot farm. Following this, he moved to Lima and engaged in the manufacture and sale of buggies for about one year after which he returned to the country and located on his present farm. About 1879, Mr. Berryman had purchased this property from the heirs of his wife's father. In addition to buying and shipping stock, he also began butchering, a business which he conducted for many years. For about seven years he ran a dairy, keeping 60 cows to supply the milk. His land is situated in the oil belt, and at the present time eight wells are being pumped. On March 12, 1868, Mr. Berryman was married to Sally Columbia Boyd, who was born February 3, 1845, on the farm which is still her home. Her parents were Abraham and Maria (Hover) Boyd. Her maternal grandfather, Ezekiel Hover, came from New Jersey about 1832 and settled in Trumbull County, Ohio, removing in 1833 to Allen County as one of the first pioneers. Mr. and Mrs. Berryman have been blessed with a family of seven children, viz. : Myrtle, wife of William Minton; Margaret, who married John R. Bristow and has one child, John R. Jr.. ; Russell, who was a cadet four years and died in his 26th year ; Mabel, who died when four years of age; Harriet, who married J. M. Davis and died leaving two children—Calvin Russell and Harriet Berryman ; Robert Fulton, a graduate of Oberlin College, who is now a teacher in the Philippines ; and Waldo, a member of Company C, Second Regiment, Ohio National Guard, who lives at home. Mrs. Berryman is a member of the Presbyterian Church, while Mr. Berryman holds a membership in the Methodist Episcopal denomination. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. Like his father, he is a Democrat, and has served as school director, justice of the peace, trustee, assessor and supervisor. He was the party candidate for nomination for Congress, but withdrew his name, much to the disappointment of his many friends who would have strongly supported his candidacy. HON. RICHARD E. JONES, M. D., whose portrait accompanies this sketch, may be aptly referred to as the "Grand Old Man." When this title is bestowed, it is conferred on one who is not only eminent in one or more direction, but whose life, achievements and character appeal to all that is best and highest in human nature. Hon. Richard E. Jones, M. D., is the "Grand Old Man" of Gomer, where, for half a century he has gone in and out among his fellow-men, ministering to them in sickness, advising them in trouble, defending them with ripe judgment in business complications, representing them with dignity and fidelity in the Legislature, and setting them a high example in his interpretation of Christian life and fellowship. Dr. Jones is not an American by birth, but he is one by development. Although in accord with American ideas and institutions, his heart still fondly turns to the homestead at Tawelfan, Llanbrynmair, Montgomeryshire, North Wales, where he was born on April 19, 1834. His parents were William and Mary (Evans) Jones, names familiar to every Welshman. William Jones, the father, was born at Tymayr, North Wales, and lived to be 90 years old, dying in Allen County, Ohio, a man generally respected and esteemed. In April, 1848, William Jones decided to emigrate to America with his little family, and hence took passage on the sailing vessel bearing the friendly name of "William Penn." After a more or less trying voyage of eight weeks on the Atlantic Ocean, the strangers were landed at Philadelphia, with a long journey by rail, river and canal still before them ere they could 524 - HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY reach their destination in Allen County. In time the father acquired a half-section of land and throughout his entire active life was an agriculturist. He was interested in the founding and supporting of the Welsh Congregational Church at Gomer, and for many years was one of its deacons. He married Mary Evans, who was born in North Wales, and survived her husband but two years, dying at the age of 79. The three children of this union were : Richard E. ; William, a resident of Lima ; and Mary, who died unmarried. Richard E. Jones was a bright, intelligent youth of 14 years when the family reached Sugar Creek township and settled on the selected farm, some seven miles north of Lima. He readily recalls the pioneer surroundings and the wild state of the country between Delphos and Gomer, wagon tracks taking the place of roads, this condition of affairs making transportation during bad weather almost an impossibility. He remained with his father for about two years, assisting on the farm until the second son could take his place, and then turned his attention to the study of medicine, an ambition he had long cherished. About 1851 he became a student under Dr. Monroe, at Vaughnsville, and under his direction continued his professional reading through some four years, afterward attending the medical lectures and pursuing the course at Miami Medical College, Cincinnati, from which he was graduated in February, 1856. The year of 1855 was one of unusual sickness in this locality and, in dating the beginning of his practice, Dr. Jones may justly name this year, during which he probably was kept as busy in visiting patients all over the township as for any like period in his career. Dr. Jones has always been a general practitioner and a close student, having been very active in the diffusion of medical knowledge. He was one of the early promoters of medical societies in the county, is a member of various medical organizations throughout the State, and for a number of years served as president and secretary of the Northwestern Ohio Medical Association. Outside of his profession, he has served on many civic bodies, and has taken a prominent part in business and social life. For a long period he has been one of the directors of The First National Bank of Lima. When the Elida Pioneer Society was organized 12 years ago, he was naturally chosen as its president. It is probably the largest organization of the kind in the State, having an attendance of about 10,000 at its annual meetings, which are looked upon in the light of most enjoyable events. The Elida Pioneer Society held a notable meeting on August 11, 1904, and in the list of its officers may be found the names of the leading men of importance in Allen County, beginning with the president, Dr. R. E. Jones. Dr. Jones has always been identified with the Democratic party, casting his first presidential vote for James Buchanan. For 42 years he served as treasurer of Sugar Creek township, during 4o years of this period being obliged to contend with a large Republican majority in the township, but his personal popularity has always been so great that in any contest where he has been concerned party lines have been entirely ignored. He served two terms in the General Assembly, demonstrating there his ability as a statesman, and but adding to the confidence and trust which his fellow-citizens already reposed in him. For 57 years he has been a member of the Welsh Congregational Church at Gomer and has been one of its most liberal supporters and useful members. During the erection of two church edifices and the remodeling of one, he has served on the building committee, his care and judgment being the means of obtaining the best results through the least possible expenditure. Dr. Jones has never married ; seemingly he has so given his life and energies to those who have needed his services as to ignore the possible possession of a. domestic circle of his own. While he has acceptably filled many positions, he has always been first and foremost a physician, and as such has borne many of the heaviest burdens of the community for more thas two-score years. Between him and those to whom he has ministered so faithfully exists a sentiment much deeper than confidence and esteem ; for his faithfulness in times of trouble and distress, his heroic efforts to save life, or to prolong it, and his deep, warm sympathy when all his skill, experience and learning could AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 525 not combat disease, are so well known that herein lies the feeling with which his fellow townsmen regard him. Admired as he is as a physician, he is beloved and reverenced as a man. In him the weak and friendless, the humble and the obscure, have found as true and faithful a friend and physician, as have those whose lives of affluence and ease have not prevented the inroads of disease or the grip of affliction. That Dr. Jones, with his multitudinous interests, his private friendships and public tasks should have remained the same kind, unobtrusive, gentle-mannered citizen, accessible to everyone—ready to freely give himself, his time, his money, his skill—might surprise a stranger, but to those who know him best, this is but an example of what they have always found and is one reason why he is the "Grand Old Man." On June 11, 1904, dawned the sun on the loth birth year of Gamer's best beloved citizen. The day and its significance had not escaped him, but he had no conception of the manner in which it was to be celebrated by his fellow-citizens and friends, even in far-off Wales. It has been the editor's privilege to peruse the glowing accounts published in the Ohio journals, and it seems but a fitting close to this imperfect biography to speak at length of the interesting events of that notable day. Dr. Jones has a beautiful home, set in handsome grounds surrounded by shrubbery and, in season, by beautiful flowers, cared for by Edith Jones, the admirable lady who presides here—her uncle's homemaker and often his almoner. When his birthday was approaching, Miss Jones, with Dr. Davis, a partner of 42 years, and several very near and dear friends, began to plan a little surprise for the beloved Doctor, with the intention of offering some entertainment at his home to those of his closest friends who would be delighted with an opportunity to do him honor on his natal day. By the time Miss Jones, and those with whom she consulted, had remembered 1,500 names, the project had assumed such proportions that the original idea was changed and the elaborate celebration was planned which later took place. An honorary committee composed of these citizens undertook the task of sending out invitations : Dr. S. A. Baxter, Lima ; A. M. Bushey, Gomer ; Rev. R. Lloyd Roberts, Gomer ; Dr. Frank D. Bain, Kenton ; Hon. S. D. Crites, Elida ; Dr. C. B. Stemen, Fort Wayne, Indiana ; Thomas H. Jones, Lima ; Samuel T. Griffith, Cincinnati ; Alexander Shenk, Delphos; Judge J. M. Pugh, Columbus ; Hon. J. G. Roberts, Elida, corresponding secretary. This committee sent out 1,200 invitations; out of this number, only 64 letters and telegrams of regret were received, and they came from admiring friends in different sections of the United States and from across the Atlantic. Gomer is essentially a settlement of Welsh pioneers who brought hither their habits of frugality and industry, their high ideals of right and wrong and their religious convictions. Here they have multiplied and flourished and, in large measure, retained the leading characteristics of their native land. From Gomer have gone out many men and women who have taken an honorable part in the country's affairs. On the day mentioned, all Gamer was in gala attire and the whole town was interested in the celebration about to take place. The reception committee was composed of Miss Edith Jones, Mrs. Dr. John Davis, Mrs. William Price, Rev. R. Lloyd Roberts, Dr. C. B. Stemen and Hon. S. D. Crites. A bountiful feast had been prepared by hundreds of willing hands and after it had been enjoyed, Dr. S. A. Baxter, himself an honored and beloved citizen of Allen County, called the meeting to order as presiding officer. Then followed poems, speeches and the presentation of numberless beautiful gifts, all in such generous profusion, that the good Doctor's eyes filled with moisture, and when his time came to speak to this great concourse which represented only a part of his friends, he found that his ready wit, his easy speech and confidence of manner, which had never deserted him before critical bodies in public and business life, failed him, to a degree, in the presence of a seemingly boundless affection. Restraining his emotion, however, he heartily thanked those who had met to do him so much honor, his closing remarks being : "You will pardon me if I am overwhelmed 526 - HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY w.ith emotion at seeing so many old and young friends. There are but few here, but those I know intimately. To these and to those who send regrets from all over this broad land, the land of my adoption, and schoolmates and friends of My boyhood days in my native land, my heart goes out to overflowing. The tokens of your esteem will be highly prized as long as I live, and this day will never be eliminated from my memory. May God bless you all." Dr. Baxter presented many notable people present, all of whom spoke at some length, expressing beautiful sentiments of admiration, appreciation and good will. Among these were : Hon. S. S. Wheeler, E. B. Walkup, Dr. Beardsley, Dr. William Enslen and Hon. John G. Roberts. The last speech on the program was a sincerely eulogistic one, made by an old friend and colleague of Dr. Jones, Dr. C. B. Stemen, of Fort Wayne, Indiana. Then with a touching prayer by Rev. I. J. Swanson and the singing of "Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow," this remarkable demonstration was officially at an end. The remainder of the beautiful day was spent in visiting and social reunions of a most agreeable character. Much beautiful music was rendered during and after the exercises. Dr. Jones possesses musical ability himself, as do almost all native Welshmen, and was an appreciative listener. The Republican Gazette, of Lima, spoke of Dr. Jones editorially as "one whose life has impressed itself indelibly upon the character of the community and indirectly upon the whole country. His life has been one worthy of emulation. The splendid demonstration was the legitimate and spontaneous outburst of gratitude from his friends and neighbors, in recognition of the beautiful life he has spent among them." The Times-Democrat was no less eulogistic, the Columbus Grove Clipper also giving a long and interesting account of the celebration, with words of just praise. Among the beautiful gifts brought by friends and relatives as tokens of the day, may be mentioned : A handsome silk umbrella, a gold cane, a leather chair, a gold shaving mug and brush, a handsome chair of unique design in leather and rattan, a 24-section book-case, a clock, a filing case, a chair and a beautiful golden oak office desk of old English pattern. It was estimated that about 2,000 people participated in this celebration. HENRY CLIFTON FRANKLIN, the genial proprietor of the general store at Yoder, came to this village in 1900 and the following year was appointed postmaster by President William McKinley, and retained the office until it was discontinued in 1904. Mr. Franklin was born in Perry township, Allen County, Ohio, about five miles from Yoder, on November 28, 1867, and is a son of John Henry and Sarah A. (Schooler) Franklin, deceased. His grandfather, also named John Henry, was among the pioneers of Perry township, locating early in the '30's and remaining here until his death about 1874. John Henry Franklin, Jr., was born in 1832, probably in Allen County, Ohio, where he lived all his life. He was a farmer by occupation and was still a young man when his death occurred in December, 1868. He married Sarah A. Schooler, by whom he had five children, three of whom are living, viz : Sarah Elizabeth, who married Jonathan McPheron, of Perry township ; James I., who lives on the home farm in Perry township ; and Henry Clifton. Mrs. Franklin was a native of Knox County, Ohio, and a daughter of George and Elizabeth (Fawcett) Schooler, who moved to Allen County where they spent the remainder of their days. Mrs. Franklin was married twice, her second husband being James Biddinger, of Auglaize township. The fruits of the second union were : William A. ; Orlin and Ellen. Mrs. Biddinger died in December, 1894. at the age of 54 years. Henry Clifton Franklin attended public school and remained on the home place until he was 20 years of age, when he entered the employ of the Ohio Oil Company and for 13 years worked in the Ohio oil field. In 1900 he located at Yoder and started in his present business. Mr. Franklin is a Democrat, as has been the family for years, and it was in recog- AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 527 nition of his merits that he received the appointment of postmaster from President McKinley. Mr. Franklin was married in October, 1893, to Olive 0. Jacobs, a native of Perry township and a daughter of James A. Jacobs, whose biography will be found elsewhere in this volume. Two bright children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Franklin, namely : Yula, born August 6, 1894; and Milo, born February 25, 1898.   COL. ISRAEL T. MOORE, president of The Commercial Bank, of Lima, a distinguished survivor of the great Civil War, and essentially a self-made man, was born February 9, 1831, in Butler County, Ohio, and is a son of Andrew P. and Elizabeth (McTaggert) Moore. The father of our subject was born in New Jersey, came subsequently to Ohio and was a large farmer and stock raiser. In 1834 he removed to Allen County and there reared his family of nine children. Israel T. was three years old when the family settled in Allen County and he grew to the age of 13 years on the farm, attending the local schools, and then the family moved to Franklin, Warren County. In 1846 Israel T. Moore returned to Allen County, and here learned the trade of cabinet-making; but, finding the field well occupied in this line, in the following year he went to Cincinnati in search of a better business opening. There he engaged as a clerk in a grocery store, finding a position just in time to save himself from want, as when he landed in that city from the canalboat his capital consisted of just 25 cents. His salary of $5 a month was not very generous, but it carried some perquisites with it and he very soon found his. salary increased to $7 per month. In the meantime an uncle, who was a capitalist, had watched the young man with interest, when he found him thoroughly reliable and hard-working, he consented to loan him the sum of $200, to enable him to go into business with Joseph Cunningham. The partnership was formed, the grocery business was established and for two years it was successfully carried on. Then a fire came and they lost all they possessed. Although this was naturally a bitter experience, Mr. Moore did not lose heart but courageously and immediately went to work again as a clerk, commanding now $28 a month, and held his position for two years, managing during this time to save the amount he had borrowed from his uncle, which he repaid with interest. Mr. Moore continued in the grocery and produce business with his brother on Ninth street, Cincinnati, for some years, the firm being known as Moore Brothers. Two years. later his brother William opened up a .branch store at South Warsaw, while our subject continued the business in Cincinnati until 1855, when he sold out and joined his brother at South Warsaw. The business was continued here for a time and then they disposed of it and went into the stock business, later becoming interested extensively in real estate. Mr. Moore purchased a tract of 10 acres of land for his own use, later added 30 acres and still later 80 acres. While he had prospered in material ways, the young man felt the need of wider mental qualifications, and as he had accumulated. enough capital to allow him to give up business for a while, he entered the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, where he remained two terms, during this time he secured the position of teacher in the lower grades, which enabled him to pay for his own tuition. In 1861, when the country was convulsed in the throes of the great Civil War, he felt the- loyal enthusiasm of the time and was not slow to enlist in his country's defense. He entered Company D, 54th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., as a private, on September To, 1861, and wore the Union blue until the close of strife in 1865. His rise from the ranks was rapid, passing quickly through the lower grades to 1st lieutenant, then to captain, later to major and during the last two years before his honorable discharge he was lieutenant-colonel, most of the time having command above his rank. At one time he had command of the 90th Illinois in addition to his own regiment, and at another time his. 528 - HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY command included, besides his own regiment, a troop of cavalry and two pieces of artillery. During his whole period he served under but two of the great commanders—Ulysses S. Grant and William T. Sherman. It is unnecessary to state that Colonel Moore took part in the hardest fought and most decisive battles of that great war. Without enumerating any of the skirmishes, he has 27 battles to his credit, his personal valor in these resulting in his promotion to the important rank of which he attained. He is a valued member of the Grand Army of the Republic, a body of men which will be respected as long as one hoary head is left. He helped to organize the society of the Army of the Tennessee at Raleigh, North Carolina. Patriotic Americans, while proud of the achievements of the younger generation, can never forget that to the "Boys of '6i" we are indebted for the peace and prosperity of the present. After the close of the war, Colonel Moore came to Lima, and for the two following years he was engaged by a business firm of the city as bookkeeper. In 1870 the three brothers—Israel T., William and Henry Moore combined their capital and embarked in a dry goods business which they carried on through one year. They then disposed of their dry goods line and Israel T. and William engaged in the grocery business. The grocery business succeeded from the first, our subject being a practical man in that line and they enlarged until they had an extensive wholesale as well as retail business. This they successfully carried on for a period of 10 years, when they closed the retail department and for the next 10 years did only a wholesale business. In 1891 the death of William Moore brought changes, our subject buying his interest and the business was continued as a stock company for —the next eleven years. No longer having need to accumulate, Colonel Moore then retired from the business and spent some time looking after his many investments and in recreations which his former busy life left him no time to enjoy. In 1904, however, Colonel Moore once more entered the business field, this time as a banker, becoming the president of The Commercial Bank, of Lima. Of this institution his son Harry M. Moore is the cashier and Clem S. Baxter is assistant cashier. Mr. Moore's reputation and known conservative methods have resulted favorably for this financial institution, which enjoys a well-deserved prosperity. Colonel Moore was united in marriage with Mary S. Metheany, who is a daughter of the late Robert Metheany, and they have had eight children, five of whom are now living and well established in life, one son, as noted above, being with his father in the bank. The family residence is located at No. 545 West Market street, Lima, one of the old, comfortable homes of this choice locality. Colonel Moore with his family attends the Presbyterian Church, of which he is a liberal supporter. He is prominently identified with the Republican party as far as influence goes, but he is not a politician in the common acceptance of the term. In fraternal life he has long been a member of the Odd Fellows. Few citizens of Lima enjoy in greater degree the esteem of his fellow-citizens than does Colonel Moore. In him they recognize the able business man, the brave and loyal soldier and the good citizen, one whose life holds special interest for those who, left as he was, to fight almost alone in early youth, conquered through manliness and courage. He has always shown an interest in young men, and on more than one occasion his practical advice has been accompanied by financial assistance. JOHN CRIDER, deceased, was one of the representative men of Spencer township, for many years. during which time he was closely identified with its material development. He was born in Knox County, Ohio, in 1843, and was a son of David Crider, a native of Virginia, who early settled in Knox County and was a pioneer in Spencer township, in 1851. The late John Crider was reared in Spencer township from the age of eight years and attended school during his boyhood as opportunity presented. His father had entered a AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 531 farm in section 23, Spencer township, and young Crider assisted him in converting it from a swamp and wilderness into the valuable property it subsequently became. After his marriage he settled in a log house on this property, and even at that time the only roads in the vicinity were very poor corduroy roads. It required years of hard work to clear away the forest growth to drain the land and to put it under cultivation. Later, when oil. was discovered on the property, it was greatly enhanced in value. Now six oil-wells are operated where, in the young manhood of Mr. Crider, stood giant forest trees underneath which roamed deer in numbers and where wild turkeys nested. In 1865 Mr. Crider was married in Allen County to Mahala Osborn, who was born in Greene County, Ohio, in 1847, and is a daughter of Lewis and Sarah (Farris) Osborn. One of her grandfathers was William Lee, who was drowned while attending to his duties as lock-tender on the Miami and Erie Canal. For his second wife he married Mrs. Elizabeth E. (Sampson) Farris and the survivor of their family is one son—David Lee. Mrs. Crider was four years old when her parents moved to Allen County and settled in Amanda township. She was the only child of her parents and from the age of two years was reared by her grandfather. He was a native of Kentucky and settled on land where the city of Cincinnati now stands, at a time when only five houses had been built in the embryo city. He raised broom-corn on the very site of some of Cincinnati's tallest buildings. He was also one of the earliest settlers in Amanda township, Allen County, coming to Spencerville when it was yet called "Arcadia" and was a village of 75 people. Mrs. Crider has passed through many pioneer hardships and can recall a great many interesting event connected with her early life both before and after her marriage. She became accomplished in all the housewifely arts and frugal ways necessary at the time and, with a just amount of pride, says that she could yet spin and weave if necessity required. Since the death of her husband, on February 11, 1887, she has resided on the farm, which is under lease. It has been greatly improved and is one of the township's fine properties. Mr. and Mrs. Crider had three children : Ida Elizabeth, who died aged eight years Clarence Clyde and John Edward. Both of the sons are interested in the oil business. Mrs. Crider was one of the first members of the Union Christian Church, and her membership has never changed. She has in her possession the original deed to her home farm which was given David Crider in 1851. SALATHIEL A. HITCHCOCK, M. D., whose portrait is shown on the opposite page, is a representative member of his noble profession. He is located at Elida, in German township, where he has been in active practice for over a quarter of a century. Dr. Hitchcock was born July 9, 1843, at Junction City, Perry County, Ohio. Dr. Hitchcock was reared in Perry County and was prepared in the local school for his collegiate course at Lexington, Ohio. Upon completing that he entered upon the reading of medicine at Junction City and then entered the Cincinnati College of Medicine, where he was graduated in the spring of 1870. On August 1st of that year he entered into practice at Junction City, where he gained his early experience, coming to Elida on February 5, 1879. He may be classed with the pioneers of the profession in this locality and still continues active in it. In August, 1898, he was appointed United States pension examiner. Dr. Hitchcock was married first on December 31, 1863, to Ellen Beck, who was a daughter of George Beck, of Junction City, Ohio. Mrs. Hitchcock died there in December, 1877, the mother of five children, viz : Charles W., Frank A., George, Luella and Maine, all surviving with the exception of George, who died in March, 1877. All the others are married. The eldest son, Charles W. Hitchcock. is a prominent lawyer in practice at Bay City, Michigan. He is a graduate of the Valparaiso Col- 532 - HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY lege, Indiana. After serving six years as county commissioner of schools of Bay County, Michigan, he was the candidate selected by the Democratic party for probate judge. Dr. Hitchcock was married, second, on May 29, 1879, to Eliza J. Hummell, who is a daughter of Isaac Hummell, of Carroll, Fairfield County, Ohio. They have three sons—Clay, Roy and Don. The Doctor and wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church at Elida. He is a member of the local subordinate lodge of Odd Fellows and the encampment at Lima. THOMAS C. LONG, of German township represents a type of manhood that is the pride of our American civilization—the self-made man who has worked his way, unaided, to an honorable and prominent place among his fellows. Born in Sugar Creek township, Allen County, Ohio, in 1855, he was one year old when his parents moved to Amanda township, and was not yet nine years of age when death deprived him of their love and care. He was bound out to Samuel Miller, on whose farm he worked for about nine years, when he hired out to William Anderson for one month for the sum of $18. Drawing his pay for this work, he went to Lima and purchased two suits of clothes, one for Sunday and one for everyday, and then returned to German township and attended school in District No. 11 for the four winter months. When farm work opened up in the spring, he hired out at $18 per month to William Holmes and, during the seven months thus engaged, hoarded his earnings so carefully that he spent but $2, receiving Mr. Holmes' note for the balance. Again he took up his educational work, entering school in Shawnee township and attending through the winter and spring months. The following summer he took up painting and was able by close economy to clear $200 by his season's work. Again he started in school for the winter, spending all his spare time out of school in working for his board. When summer came again, he took contracts for painting and followed that work for two years. In March, 1876, Mr. Long was married to Mary Benedum and a family of five children have been born to them, namely : Wardilla May ; William Thomas, who is employed in the Indiana oil field; John Benedum ; Harvey and Amos. Mrs. Long died December 10, 1905, aged 49 years. After his marriage, Mr. Long again turned to farming, having, in 1875, purchased 36 acres of land and in 1877 opened a stone quarry, to furnish stone for the building of pikes and bridges. He did well at this work and has been engaged in it ever since. Later he contracted for building pike roads, and most of the roads in German township have been constructed by him, as well as many others in the county outside this township. In 1892 he went to Van Wert County where he put down 48 miles of pike in Ridge township, the work taking him four years. During the past seven years he has done considerable repaving and about five years ago he began making cement walks, barn foundations, etc., and has been very successful. He has purchased outright 125 acres of land and has a life lease on 90 more, where he keeps many head of cattle and horses. For some time he has been engaged in buying and selling stock, his ventures in this line proving very profitable. Mr. Long is a member of the Odd Fellows and of the Eagles and is a. zealous worker in the Methodist Church. GEORGE L. ALTSTAETTER, proprietor of the "Pleasant Fruit Farm," a fertile tract of 80 acres, situated in section 17, Monroe township, was born in this township; February 5, 1846, and is a son of Jacob and Catherine (Bucher) Altstaetter. Jacob Altstaetter was born in Hessen-Darmstadt, Germany, February 21, 1811. Prior to coming to America he worked as a carpenter, and during one year spent in Maryland he continued to follow his trade. He desired a different field of work, however, and thinking that Ohio would probably afford it he walked to Cincinnati ; soon after he removed to Dayton, and while working at his trade there met the estimable lady whom he soon after married. AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 533 At that time he was 25 years of age and almost immediately after, in the fall of 183.6, he came to Allen County, and in the following spring settled on 40 acres of land, paying out all his capital, $50, for it. He built a log house and shop on the farm and, as the seasons permitted, alternated between work at his trade and clearing up his land. He was deft at furniture making and frequently the midnight hour would find him still at work fashioning chairs, beds and tables for his neighbors, for which they paid him in labor. A man of his industry could hardly escape accumulating capital, and he continued to invest in land until he finally owned boo acres, which through his own efforts he almost entirely cleared. He was a hard worker all his life and expected others to be industrious also. In appearance Jacob Altstaetter was a well-set-up man, five feet in height, with a pleasant, intelligent countenance and shrewd, kindly eyes. He lived to be almost 88 years of age, dying on the farm on which he had settled, November 1o, 1898. He was a stanch supporter of the Democratic party, casting his first presidential vote in 1836. He was a worthy member of the German Evangelical Church, very active in its work, and during the greater part of his life was one of the trustees. He was one of the first and prime movers in the project of building the first church of his denomination in the locality, giving first the ground and then the timber, and subsequently presenting the church organ. He was always liberal in church contributions and his advice and counsel always supported the efforts of the ministers. He was a good man and a perfect type of the thrifty, industrious, provident, home-building German—__ On October 26, 1816, the mother of our subject was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, not far from Salem; she died in Monroe township, December 28, 1903. She was married on her 19th birthday and accompanied her husband to Allen County in the following spring, living a happy, contented, peaceful and useful life for 63 years thereafter. Her parents were John and -Elizabeth (Miller) Bucher, residents of Ohio, the former a native of Switzerland and the latter, of -Virginia. They became residents of Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Altstaetter had 13 - 28 - children, 12 of whom reached maturity and seven of these still survive. Our subject, George L. Altstaetter, has resided in his present school district all his life,. and has carried on agricultural work ever since lie became old enough to hold a plow, the only kind of farm labor his late father never did. He remained at home assisting until his marriage, when he was 26 years old. His father was always just and generous with his children and at this time he gave him an equity of $1,500 in a farm of 80 acres which he chose from other tracts. Our subject subsequently paid the remainder due to the estate, and settled on the farm in section 17, which he has occupied ever since. Along with other agricultural operations, including extensive farming and the raising of considerable stock. Mr. Altstaetter has paid a great deal of attention to the growing of fruit. In addition to small fruits, he has an apple. orchard of four acres. The fruit-growing is such a feature that the name, "Pleasant Fruit Farm," is very appropriate. In addition to improving his land and adding yearly to its value. Mr. Altstatter has erected good buildings and a handsome residence, so that the appearance of the place is very attractive. He has one of the finest homes. in the township. On November 9, 1871, he was married to Margaret Olt, who was born in Hessen-Darmstadt, Germany, on February 24, 1849. Her parents, Adam and Eva (Orth) Olt, are both, deceased, the father dying at the age of 36 years and the mother when 30 years of age. This is remarkable as all four of Mrs. Altstaetter's grandparents lived to old age, three dying at the age of 80 years and one at the age of 92. An orphan at the age of 18 years, she came alone from Germany, found plenty of friends: in Dayton, Ohio, and, as noted above, four years later was married to our subject. To this union six sons and six daughters have been born, namely : John; who died in his sixth year ; Barbara, who is the wife of Fred Haas, of Dayton ; Louise, who is the wife of Samuel Bower, of Napoleon, Ohio ; Otto, who died aged four years ; Adam, who died aged one Anna, who resides at home ; and Michael, 534 - HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY who is a student in the senior class in Lima College, and is a very bright young man, who can show a go per cent average in all his studies ; Emma, who died aged four and a half years; Albert, who died aged five years; and Elsie, Oscar and Freda, living at home. Mr. Altstaetter has been identified with the Democratic party all his life, and has been his party's choice for many of the important local offices. He has served several terms as road superintendent, has been a school director many terms and is now serving his third term as township trustee, having served two terms some 3o years ago. Like his father he has been a consistent member and liberal supporter of the 'German Evangelical Church of Monroe township for years and is one of the present trustees, a position he has held many. times. J. J. EWING, who is prominent in the business circles of Lima, where he conducts a large hardware business, was born in Trumbull County, Ohio, May 1850, and is a son of the late Ralph Ewing, of Lima. In early life Ralph Ewing was a farmer, but later he moved to Columbus Grove and there became a well-known business man and representative citizen. He was engaged in the hardware business here for a number of years with his son, our subject, under the firm name of R. Ewing & Son. He died in 1897. Our subject was an infant when his parents moved to Hancock County, .Ohio, where they resided until he was 11 years old, and then they removed to Huron County, .Michigan, where they remained for three years. The next removal was to Bluffton„ Allen County, and later to Columbus Grove, where the father was in the hardware business with our subject for 14 years. Then the son bought the father's interest, continuing the busines for three years alone. Mr. Ewing then sold his stock at Columbus Grove and came to Lima, where he entered into partnership with W. K. Boone, and for three years a very successful hardware business was conducted under the firm name of The W. K. Boone Company. Mr. Ewing then sold his interest, and in partnership with a Mr. Emerick bought the stock of J. M. Dungan, who was located at Nos. 225-227 North Main street. The firm of Ewing & Emerick continued four years, when the senior partner bought the junior's interest and since then he has conducted his business under his own name. With his years of practical experience in this line, Mr. Ewing is well fitted to be the leading hardware merchant of the city, and in his extensive establishment can be found everything pertaining to his line. Mr. Ewing was married in 1872 to Jennie Bayley, who is a daughter of the late Nathaniel H. Bayley, of Putnam County, Ohio. They have two children, viz : Madge and Porter J. The former is a graduate of Mrs. Richard's private seminary in Philadelphia, and the 'latter is a student at the University of Michigan, and a former student at Colonel Brown's military institute at Germantown, Ohio. Mr. Ewing, during his long residence in Lima, has championed all movements designed to promote the general welfare and has always lent his influence in the direction of the advancement of social, moral and educational interests. He has not aspired to political honors, his preference being for a quiet life devoted to his private affairs.   ROBERT WATT, one of Jackson township's prominent farmers, has resided for the past 58 years on his present farm in section 20, Which now consists of 225 acres. He belongs to one of the old pioneer families of Allen County. He was born in Champaign County, Ohio, November 16, 1827, and is a son of Samuel L. and Olive (Walton) Watt. Samuel L. Watt was born near Marysville, Kentucky, and accompanied his parents to Champaign County, the family consisting of four sons and three daughters. His father, Thomas Watt, who was born in Ireland, emigrated to America, settled first in Pennsylvania, went from there to Kentucky and later to Champaign County, Ohio, where he died aged AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 535 80 years. He was a farmer and wood-worker, an expert manufacturer of wagons and ploughs. His children were : Robert, John, James, William, Samuel, Joseph, Margaret, Polly and Betsey. William was the first judge in Allen County. Joseph died in the War of 1812. All the Watt Brothers entered land in Allen County and all settled along Hog Creek. Samuel L. Watt owned several different tracts of land, and at one time a farm of 120 acres. Samuel L. Watt married Olive Walton who was born in Quebec, Canada. She came to Union County; Ohio, with her parents who were Joseph and Deborah (Gilbert) Walton, natives of Canada. For his second wife Mr. Watt married Mary Greer. The children of the first marriage who reached maturity were: Deborah ( Jamison), who died in Iowa; Robert, of this Sketch ; Joseph, deceased in young manhood ; James, deceased ; Thomas, of Michigan; Harriet, widow of John Guthrie, of Nevada ; Christina (Leech), who died at Walla Walla, Washington ; and Nancy. (Enos), of Oakland, California. The children of the second marriage were : John J., of Louisiana ; Samuel L., of Sac County, Iowa ; Olive (Conley), of Iowa ; Lydia ( Stouker), of Iowa ; Sidney, of Iowa ; and Sarah Frances, of Missouri. In 1852 Mr. Watt moved to Sac County, Iowa, driving through with an ox team. Two months were spent on the journey and when he reached there he located near Sac City, the county seat. He laid out Jackson township there and named it after his old home township in Allen County. He became the first county judge of Sac County, where he died. Robert Watt, our immediate subject, remained at home until he was 20 years old and then went on a rented farm for a year before buying 4o acres of timber land in section 20, Jackson township. Little by little he kept on buying land and. clearing it until he owned some 500 acres. Of this he retains 225, having divided the rest among his children. For 4o years he lived in the first little frame dwelling which he built with timber taken from his place, but it finally gave way to the handsome, modern brick residence in which he has lived ever since. Mr. Watt can look back over years of honest industry. He cleared lob acres of land by himself and he has assisted his children to build comfortable homes on land which he has helped them to acquire. He has. done a great deal of teaming and has had contracts for public work. He and his sons have done the greater part of the pipe laying in their section of the county. As a .farmer, he has devoted the most of his attention to the raising of grain and the breeding of draft horses. In his 20th year Mr. Watt was married to Eva Staley, who was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, May 13, 1825, and came here with parents when seven years of age. She is a daughter of Jacob and Eunice (Fisher) Staley, natives of Virginia. They have five children living, as follows : Samuel J., of Jackson township; James R., of Jackson township; Marion ; and William Henry and Jacob. Allen, of Jackson township. Two sons and one daughter died young. Mr. Watt has been a life-long Democrat. He has been offered many of the local Offices, but has accepted only that of township trustee. He is one of the reliable, substantial and representative men of his township. J. H. M. MORRISON, who has been engaged in the drug business at Lima for the past 14 years; was born August 11, 1859, in Darke County, Ohio, and is a son of James M. Morrison, a retired citizen of Dayton. He was educated and grew to manhood in Darke County and then went to Dayton, where he secured work in a boilershop. One year later he went to Omaha, Nebraska, and there engaged in the transfer and storage business for a period of four years. Since his return to Ohio in 1-891, he has been a partner of D. Cramer in conducting a pharmacy at Lima, being pleasantly located at the corner of Kibby and Main streets, where they enjoy a large patronage. Mr. Morrison was married December 15, 1887, to Emma Ridenour, daughter of Jacob Ridenour, a lady of many estimable qualities. They have two daughters—Hazel and Helen. 536 - HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY Mr. Morrison is a member of Grace Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is trustee, and also holds the same office in the Second Street Methodist Episcopal Church. He is an active worker in the church and has frequently been a delegate at conference meetings. He is a Re. publican and is at present a member of the Board of Public Service of Lima, and has been a member of the City Council and Board of Health. LUCIUS JOHN RUSSELL SIDDALL, long the leading man in the leading industry of Bluffton, Ohio, the pioneer quarryman not only of Bluffton but of all Northwestern Ohio, was born in Mahoning County, Ohio, eight miles south of Salem, on the old mill property of the family, not far from the village of Ellsworth, July 29, 1838. His parents were Isaac and Rebecca (Altaffer) Siddall. The father of Mr. Siddall was born in Virginia and the mother belonged to a well-known Pennsylvania-Dutch family. She died when our subject was nine years old. The ancestors on the paternal side were from Ireland, and Isaac Siddall possessed many of the qualities which have made natives of that land successful men the world over. He was the father of 16 children by his first marriage and of two by his second ; 14 of these grew to maturity. For years he was engaged in the milling business, and never ceased his industry until stricken with paralysis. He died in 1872. Lucius J. R. Siddall was io years old when his parents moved to Rockport, Ohio. A few years later he accompanied his father when the latter went to Mount Blanchard to run the Fahls' mills, and two years later to the National mills, four miles up the river. Our subject worked there some four years, all the time with his father, and in 1852 came to Bluffton, where his father bought a log grist-mill, run by. water power, together with 17 acres of adjoining land. He worked hard under his practical, industrious father, and when the latter was disabled by paralysis, in 1867, he ran the mill by himself for two and a half years. When his father died, he bought the mill at the appraiser's valuation, $2,250. Subsequently he sold the mill and turned his attention to the stone and lime business. In 1872 Mr. Siddall, in partnership with Elijah Reese„ under the firm name of Siddall & Reese, bought and developed a quarry and later took in another partner and formed the firm of Siddall & Company. Some years later Mr. Siddall bought out the other partners and operated the business alone, and still later opened up another quarry which covered seven acres. He took I. M. Townsend into partnership and the business was conducted as Siddall & Townsend for 18 years, when John Amstutz bought Mr. Townsend's interest and continued with Mr. Siddall for one season. Our subject then continued the operation of the quarry alone, adding a larger body of quarrying land, until the spring of 1905, 'when he sold out to the Buckeye Stone Company. Since disposing of his quarry business, Mr. Siddall has been interested in a concrete business, having a large plant, with excellent facilities, producing a concrete which is used for cellars and other purposes, and making a fine macadam for roads. During his active operations he gave employment to some 5o men. Another line in which he has been interested is the manufacture of the "Eureka" fence post, one of the most durable posts ever placed before the market. For 5o years he has been a leader in business circles at Bluffton, and has been identified very prominently with the. growth and prosperity of the town. He still owns 17 acres of land that is now within the town limits. In 1865 Mr. Siddall was married to Mary Elizabeth Katherine Bridgeman, who was born in Hancock County, Ohio, about four miles from Bluffton, January 26, 1841, and is a daughter of George and Eliza (Grimm) Bridgeman, natives of Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Siddall occupy a fine brick residence at Bluffton, which Mr. Siddall built seven years after his marriage. Politically he has been a life-long Democrat, and on many occasions his fellow-citizens have chosen to show him honor and confidence. For six years he served on the Town Council and served several terms as a member of the AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 539 Board of Education. Fraternally he is an Odd Fellow, belonging to Bluffton Lodge, No. 371, and to Bluffton Encampment, No. 238. He is one of the oldest members of the subordinate lodge here, haying joined the order in 1864. A half century is a long period in any man's life, and to have passed through it, meeting Competition on every side and overcoming obstacles as every business man must, and still, near its close, be able still to command the respect and esteem of one's fellow-citizens, reflects much credit and should bring pleasant reflections. HON. AZARIAH D. MILLER, one of Allen County's prominent public men, probate judge, educator and successful attorney-at-law, was born June 18, 1853, on the homestead farm in Amanda township, and is a son of Joseph and Minerva J. ( Shock) Miller. Azariah D. Miller was liberally educated, completing first the common-school course, and later taking advantage of the educational institutions of Lima and the National Normal School at Lebanon, Warren County, Ohio. From the age of 16 until he was 34 years of age, he taught school more or less continuously, the greater portion of this period in his native township, and it is safe to say that few men have more personal friends in this locality. During 1871 and 1872 he was employed as bookkeeper in the freight and express office of the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railway at Elida, Ohio, and as this did not require all of his time he served also as clerk in the mercantile establishments of Rice & Leist and G. W. Moore. During all this time he was quietly reading law, as opportunity afforded. In 1877 he was elected assessor of Amanda township, on the Democratic ticket. and in the following year was chosen justice of the peace ____ an office he satisfactorily held for the following five years. In 1885, having been admitted to the bar, he became a member of the law firm of Remington & Miller and began the practice of the profession in which he has met with deserved success. Fire destroying- his law library in 1887, he relinquished his practice and retired to his farm. After engaging in farming pursuits and the contracting business until February 9, 1894, he was called from his seclusion to accept the duties of clerk of the Probate Court. He was elected to his present position in 1899. In 1876 Judge Miller was married to Darthula Place, who is a daughter of James and Susan Place, and they have these children : Lehr E., Fredia G.. Susan A., James J. and Mabel. The family belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church. Judge Miller has always been prominent in Democratic politics, has been a member of the Democratic County Central Committee, and was sent as a delegate to the St. Louis National convention from the Fourth Congressional District. He is fraternally connected with the Elks, in which order he has held many positions is a charter member of the Spencerville Lodge of Knights of Pythias and of the Modern 'Woodmen of America and the Home Guards of America. His residence at Lima is at No. 937 West High street. A portrait of Judge Miller is presented on a foregoing page in connection with this sketch.   SALEM REED, one of Shawnee township's leading citizens and substantial farmers, is also a survivor of the Civil War. He owns a well-improved farm of 80 acres, located in section 14, Shawnee township, which was formerly a part of the old. Napier homestead. Mr. Reed was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, May 2, 1842, and is a son of Samuel and Mary M. ( Aker) Reed. Samuel Reed. the father of our subject, was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, and was a son of Noah Reed. a native of Licking County, Ohio. He died on his farm in Shawnee township in August. 1894. aged 79 years. He married Mary M. Aker, who was born July 3o, 1814. and died in March 1905, at the age of 91 years. Their children were : Clara, Silas, Salem. Isaac, John \W., Freeman, Nelson, Almeda, Emma and Laura. Salem Reed accompanied his parents to 540 - HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY Shawnee township in 1853. He attended school until he was about 18 years old, and remained practically on the home farm until he had attained his majority, working for neighboring farmers as well as his father. On February 1, 1864, he enlisted for service in the Civil War, joining Company H, 74th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., in which he served until the close of hostilities. He participated in many battles, the first one of importance being that at Resaca. His regiment was often employed in guarding railroads, accompanying Sherman to the sea and participating in all that wearying campaign. which resulted in such great victories for the Union cause. It remained in North Carolina until after the surrender of Johnston. After the war he returned home, where he lived until his marriage, when he bought a tract of land in Shawnee township, near the family homestead and partially cleared it ; but in a few years settled on another farm he had purchased, on which he resided for nine years. For the past 22 years Mr: Reed has been living on his present place, where he has carried on general farming and stock-raising. In 1866 Mr. Reed was married to Elizabeth Adelia Napier, who was born in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, June 28, 1841, and is a daughter of those honored old pioneer settlers of the township, the late William and Sarah (Huff.) Napier. Her father was one of the leading men of the township during a long and exemplary life. He died in March, 1900, and is survived by his venerable wife who still resides on the :old homestead in section 14, Shawnee township. Mr. and Mrs. Reed have had eight children, namely : Ida, who married William Hover and has two children, Palleene and Alleene; Samuel W., who married Florence Wilson and resides in Cleveland ; Lulu, who married Frank H. Place and has seven children—Frank, Belva, Lee Everett, Ralph, Eudora Lu, Olive, and an unnamed infant ; Smith Hamlin, who married Lulu Klippinger and has one daughter—Evelyn, the family residing at Toledo; Florence LaVerne, who married Clyde Coleman and resides at Toledo ; Walter Cled. ith, a. resident of Cleveland ; Maud Sylvania, who married Clarence McDaniel, the couple living at home ; and an infant, deceased. Politically Mr. Reed is identified with the Republican party, but is not always bound by party ties, voting occasionally according to his personal judgment of candidates. Formerly he was active in Mart Armstrong Post, No. 202, G. A. R., at Lima ; but, like his brother Silas, finds the distance too great to make attendance easy. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and a liberal contributor to its support. A. D. HILDRETH,the enterprising general superintendent at Lima of the Prudential Insurance Company of America, is a prominent and highly esteemed citizen of this city, who may always be depended upon to lend his influence and substantial support to any enterprise which has for its object the welfare of the place. He is a son of David Hildreth, who has devoted his life to agricultural pursuits in Union County, Ohio, where he is still living in the 84th year of his age. Born and reared in Union County, our subject received there the rudiments of his education, supplementing it with four years in the college at Delaware. In January, 1896, soon after leaving college, Mr. Hildreth located in Columbus, Ohio, where he at once became an agent for the Prudential Insurance. Company. In a short time his ability received recognition and reward by his promotion to the office of assistant superintendent of the company, with headquarters at Columbus. Three years later he was placed in charge of the general offices at Lima, with supervision over a territory consisting of counties. These offices were established in Lima in 1893, and were in charge of E. Newman until September 25, 1899, when Mr. Hildreth was made general superintendent. He has branch offices at St. Marys, Findlay, Van Wert, Defiance and Bowling Green, requiring eight assistant superintendents and 4o agents to handle the large volume of business which passes through their hands. The Prudential (ices an extensive business, both in industrial and ordinary insurance, and is one of the strongest companies in the field. Mr. Hildreth was married, in 1890, to Min- AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 541 nie Baker, a daughter of Lyman G.. Baker, a retired farmer of Marysville, Ohio. They have one child, Harold A. Mr. Hildreth is a stockholder. in the Columbus Savings & Trust Company, and also has other interests in that city. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and an earnest Christian who takes a leading part in the work of the Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church and Sunday-school. He is also deeply interested in the progress of the Y. M; C. A., being vice-president of the Y. M. C. A. parliament, a member of the hoard of directors of that institution and chairman of the membership committee. WILLIAM A. BOWERS, a substantial resident of section 31, German township, was born in the neighboring township of Amanda, on January 14, 1862. His parents. William and Rebecca (Barnt) Bowers, were well-known in Allen County, both of them having come here with their parents when they were children of eight years. The father was from Fayette County and was a son of Solomon Bowers. The mother came from Fairfield County. The family consisted of two sons and nine daughters, namely : Charles Wesley, a farmer residing in Amanda township ; William A. ; Hannah Jane, who married Nathaniel Stoup and is the mother of two children ; Sarah Elizabeth, who married David Hillyard and died leaving seven children ; Deborah Ann, who married Levi Crites, of Kempton, and is the mother of two children ; Mary Catherine, who married Franklin P. Shobe, of Amanda township and has six children ; Rebecca Angeline, wife of John Swartz, of Amanda township and the mother of two children ; Martha, who died in infancy ; Curlila, who married Abia Carr, of Amanda township and has eight children ;..Eliza who died at the age of five years; and Emma Sabina who married James Stalter of Muncie, Indiana, and has four children. William A. Bowers was reared and educated in his native township, where he engaged in farming for several years. He owned 104 acres of land situated in section 31, German township, and section 36, Amanda township. He lived on his farm until 1901, when he moved to Lima and purchased the Botkins livery stable, which he conducted in partnership with Jacob Shobe. Later he sold his interest in the business to his partner and purchased the Fisher livery barn, which he ran for about 18 months. This was then sold and Mr. Bowers moved back to the farm. He purchased a farm in Wyandot County, which he traded for the Lima truck line, moving to Lima to take charge of the business. After operating it for 75 days he sold it to John Harley, and again returned. to his farm in the spring of 1905. The following October he purchased the Shobe farm, which contains 65 acres, thus giving him 90 acres in one tract. Mr. Bowers was married October 4, 1883, to Nona B. Highland, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Berry) (McDonald) Highland, of Allentown. Joseph Highland was born March 7, 1837, and died December 26, 1891. His wife was a daughter of David and Elizabeth (McIntyre) Berry, who came from Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, to Ohio, stopping a short time in Clark County and then locating in Allen County, when Mrs. Highland was about eight years of age. Mrs. Highland Was born. November 27, 1832, and was twice married, her first husband being William Wesley McDonald,. who died in 1855 leaving two children ; Mrs. Sarah Kennedy, of Lima and Gilbert. McDonald. Mrs. Bowers has one sister, Ida Herring, and a brother, Marion, who died at the age of five years. Mr. Bowers has three children, Verne Lester, born August 16, 1887, who is a student at Elida ; Myrtle Leona, born April 21, 1894 ; and Zelma Irene, born September 28, 1897. Mr. Bowers is a trustee of the Christian Church in Amanda township, of. which he is a member.   C. F. STOLZENBACH, president of the Stolzenbach Baking Company, and of the Allen County Building & Loan Association, is a prominent figure among the business men of Lima. Mr. Stolzenbach was born at Roseville, Muskingum County, Ohio, where he was reared and educated. 542 - HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY After completing his schooling, Mr. Stolzenbach entered his uncle's bakery at Zanesville, Ohio, with whom he remained for six years, in this time becoming a skilled baker. His uncle, Conrad Stolzenbach, is still in the business and is associated with the National Biscuit Company. From Zanesville our subject went to Pittsburg, Detroit and Columbus, working in all these cities and learning every chemical secret of the trade as well as perfecting himself in the manufacture of every kind of bakery product. Mr. Stolzenbach then located at Newcomerstown, where he opened up a first-class bakery ; but he soon found that the place was too small for the goods he was able to put upon the market and he remained there only until 1889, when he bought the Diamond bakery at Lima, entering into partnership with a Mr. Benton under the firm name of Stolzenbach & Benton. After conducting the business for six months under that style, Mr. Stolzenbach bought the Benton interest and admitted his father to partnership. The new firm became Stolzenbach & 'Company which continued thus until 1904, when the business was incorporated as the Stolzenbach Baking Company, with a capital stock of $30,000, fully paid up. The officers of the company are : C. F. Stolzenbach, president; J. H. Stolzenbach, vice-president ; and Martin Stolzenbach, secretary and treasurer. The plant turns out weekly some 35,000 loaves. their specialties being "Butternut" and "Mother's" bread, both these brands being in large demand. The plant is equipped with every modern and sanitary appliance, its capacity being 10,000 loaves daily. In 1892 Mr. Stolzenbach was married to Magdalen Hickey, who is a daughter of Henry Hickey, of Putnam County, and they have six children Edward, Mary Louise. Magdalen, Charles Henry, Robert W., and an infant daughter. The family belong to the Lutheran Church and Mr. Stolzenbach has been a deacon of St. Paul's congregation for the past nine years. Mr. Stolzenbach is a prominent member of the National Bakery Association of the United States. He attended the annual meeting of this body at the Arlington Hotel, Washington City, on September 11, 1905, joining the Chicago contingent on a special car. He is one of Lima's capitalists, a stockholder and director in The Lima Telephone & Telegraph Company and is treasurer of the National Roofing Tile Company. For a number of years, under both Republican and Democratic administrations, he has been a member of the city Board of Health. He is always prominent in all public-spirited movements, gives largely to charity, and fulfills every duty incumbent upon a conscientious, broad-minded man and citizen. AARON FISHER, one of the leading citizens of Delphos. and a member of one of the pioneer families of this county, was born January 1, 1847, near La Fayette. Allen County, and is a son of Jacob and Catherine (Long) Fisher. The Fisher family originated in Germany, and the descendants have widely scattered. having been always distinguished as solid citizens, good home-builders, and industrious, intelligent and thrifty members of the communities in which they have lived. The father of our subject was born in Pennsylvania and accompanied his parents to Perry County. Ohio, where he was reared and learned the blacksmith's trade. In 1835 he settled in Allen County, locating on a tract of 8o acres of wild land which was situated in section 25, Jackson township, a mile and a quarter from LaFayette. As illustrative of those primitive days, Mr. Fisher recalls the stories told by his father of how he lived comfortably, for a time, under the shelter of an old oak tree, while the building of the log cabin took place. With an abundance of game of all kinds, including flocks of wild turkeys, the question of subsistence was merely a nominal one. The clearing of the farm followed, the old log house gave way to a modern, convenient frame residence, where, surrounded by an affectionate, obedient family, the father's life closed at the age of 7o years. It is interesting to recall those days of early settlement in Jackson township. Considered in the light of the present, there seems to have been many drawbacks to content and comfort, AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 543 but in those days they were taken as matters of fact and were looked upon with an indifference begotten of familiarity. The cultivation of the land was carried on entirely with the sickle, rake, old-fashioned horse plow and harrow, and the grain was threshed out on the barn floor with flails. Clothing was almost entirely of home manufacture, that for summer wear being made from the flax grown on the farm and that for winter from the wool sheared from the flocks of sheep which formerly were raised in great numbers. The wool was taken to Delphos and St. Marys to be carded. In a reminiscent mood, our subject can recall how, as a little lad. he had to make a trip to mill, and was so small that lie had to be strapped to the horse's back with the bag of grain. in order that both should not come to grief on the way. He recalls that on a later occasion lie took the grain to mill on a vehicle made of a wagon tongue and two wheels. This journey sometimes consumed several days. as each customer at the mill had to wait his turn, and the old-time construction of the grist-mills was such that expedition was impossible. Mr. Fisher vividly recalls the boyish delights hovering around the cooking of the corn pone before the open fire-place in the old log cabin kitchen, with its pots and kettles in close proximity, and remembers the toothsome viands prepared in the old Dutch oven. In those days hospitality was an accepted virtue, and in no home was it more honored than in that of Jacob Fisher. His pioneer cabin was a traveler's inn, and on its threshold the weary stranger found the willing hand of brotherly friendship extended. Especially welcome was the coming of the pioneer preacher. who brought with him news, not otherwise obtainable, of other sections of the State, and Mr. Fisher can remember when lie and his brothers climbed on the fence to eagerly watch for his coming. Especially welcome on account of the many engaging qualities which he possessed. with his tried and true Christian zeal, was a Mr. Doner who made the home of Jacob Fisher his headquarters when in Jackson township. The latter was the real founder of the Lutheran Church in his district, and assisted in the construction of the log edifice which was also used as the first schoolhouse. Jacob Fisher was one of the men who should never be forgotten in Jackson township. Of his nine children all reached maturity except one. He gave three sons to the service of his country during the Civil War—Joseph, Benjamin and Noah—the last mentioned of whom never returned to his home, but fills a soldier's grave at Memphis, Tennessee. The three surviving daughters are : Susanna, who is the widow of Simon Foster, of Middlepoint. Van Wert, County ; Nancy (Hallman), a widow, who resides near La Fayette; and Mary Ann (Ernsberger), now of Decatur, Indiana, where she has resided for the past year, but formerly for 35 years a resident of Delphos. Aaron Fisher was the youngest child in the above family. He attended school in the nearby log schoolhouse, and learned to write with a quill pen and with ink made from bark and the berries of the poke weed. The advantages afforded for an extended education were somewhat meagre. but a taste for learning was inspired and, for all practical purposes, a sufficient familiarity with reading, writing and arithmetic was acquired by the pupils. At the age of 21 lie married and moved to LaFayette, where he hired out as a carpenter and during the first year his wife taught the village school. For the next eight years he worked as a thresher, and also operated a rented farm. In the spring of 1870 he removed to Delphos. After settling at Delphos. Mr. Fisher carried on a teaming business for a number of years. He began with a very small capital, but, through good management and industry, soon increased it, bought a livery stable, later ran an omnibus line, and started the first street sprinkler in Delphos. Subsequently he sold the site of his stable to the city, and the present Town Hall now occupies it. Later, through trading he acquired a farm on which was an excellent stone quarry. This lie operated for some years. and then purchased a tract of land inside the corporate limits of Delphos, which he afterward sold to his son and son-in-law, and which is still known as the Fisher stone quarry. In addition to his teaming and livery enterprise, he embarked in an ice business and these lines are continued by his son. His 544 - HISTORY OF ALLEN. COUNTY own interests, however, are. still important. He purchased the business block on the corner of Main and Second streets, first the south one-half and. later the north, and this is known as the Fisher Block. He also owns and conducts a neat; cigar and tobacco store on the block located on the banks of the canal. He is a director of the Delphos Foundry Company and has other considerable interests. The death of Mr. Fisher's first wife occurred in December, 1899. She was a lady much admired and beloved, a popular teacher and an active church worker. Of the four children, two sons survive, viz : Arthur, his father's business successor,. who lives. in Van Wert County ; and Orville D., of Lima. An adopted daughter, Nellie M. Fisher, resides with our subject. Mr. Fisher's present wife, formerly Mrs. Margaret Ward, had two children by her first marriage : May, who is a teacher, and Dana, who is in business with Mr. Fisher. Throughout. his life Mr. Fisher has been actively identified with. the Democratic party, and in 1894 was elected sheriff of Allen County, giving four years of active effort to the honest enforcement of the law. The record of this period is one of loyal faithful service to his fellow-citizens. At the close of his term he visited th.e West, mainly in the hope of restoring his wife to health, but these efforts proved unavailing: . After his return, he built a fine livery barn on West Spring street, Lima, which is 5o by 200 feet in dimensions—one of the largest establishments of its kind in the city. Mr. Fisher is serving. his second term on the City Council at Delphos. He is chairman of the fire committee, and a very useful member of. the improvement and of the sanitary and sewer committees. He has been sent as the representative of his party to many county and congressional conventions and was honored with the appointment of sergeant-at-arms at the Democratic National Convention at Chicago when President Cleveland was nominated the second time. He is a member of the. Masonic bodies from the Blue Lodge to the Mystic Shrine, attending the lodges of the higher branches at Dayton, Ohio ; he is also connected with the order of Elks. GEORGE P. CONNER of Lima, one of the leading Masons of the United States is a native of Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, born in 1858, and is a son of James A. Conner. The father was also born in the Keystone State, where he died some 40 years ago, being a steamboat pilot on the Alleghany River nearly all his life. Our subject left Pennsylvania in 1876. In boyhood he had moved to Philadelphia where he was educated and later mastered the business of sign painting. In the year mentioned he located in Ada, Ohio, and four years thereafter (1880) in Lima, two years later removing to Topeka, Kansas. He followed his profession in that city for 13 years, and then spent some four years traveling in the interest of the Pittsburg Plate Glass Company and Carter's, White Lead Company. In 1902 he returned to Lima, and this city has been his place of residence ever since. In 1880 Mr. Conner was married to Fannie L. Funk, a daughter of Randolph M. Funk,. and they have two daughters—Rhea Lillian and Mabel Pauline. The former married Charles R. Lingo, a locomotive engineer residing at Cincinnati, Ohio, where he is at present manager for P. F. Collier & Company. The latter resides at home. Mr. Conner and family attend the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Conner enjoys. the distinction of being one of the most competent cryptic Masons in the Union, and is probably one of the most widely known members of the fraternity in the United States. He has a national reputation as an expounder of the Masonic work. In 1893. he was the exemplifier of cryptic rite work before the General Grand Council of the United States at Topeka, Kansas, and is thrice illustrious master of Lima Council, No. 20, R. & S.. M. ; is the grand representative of the Grand Council of Kansas near the Grand Council of Ohio. In this fraternal connection is quoted the following extract from the proceedings of the. M. I. Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters of Kansas, at their 37th annual assembly, held in the city of Wichita, Kansas, February 13-14, A. D., 1904, A. Dep. 2905 : AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 547 "It has been my pleasure during the year to issue a commission to Ill. Comp. George P. Conner, now of Lima, Ohio, and.' formerly a member of Zabud Council, No. 4, Topeka, Kansas. Comp. Conner, with his usual energy and devotion to' the work of Cryptic .Masonry, became interested in Lima Council and. in the Grand Council of Ohio. When Comp. Brom- well our Grand Representative near the Grand Council of Ohio, became acquainted with Comp. Conner, he immediately insisted that he should resign and that the. Grand Master of the Grand Council of Ohio should recommend the appointment of Comp. Conner, which was accordingly done, and a commission issued to Comp. Conner. We are pleased to be able to enroll his name among the Grand Representatives of this Grand Council." Great pleasure is also taken in quoting from the proceedings of the Grand Council of Royal, Select and Super-Excellent Masters of Alabama, held in the city of Montgomery, as follows : "One of the most interesting gatherings in the Masonic history of Montgomery and indeed in the State, was in the Odd Fellows' Hall which had been kindly tendered for the occa- sion, last evening, when Montgomery Council of Royal and Select Masters received 26 candidates into the beauties and mysteries of Cryptic Masonry. Companion George P. Conner, of Zabud Council, No. 4, Topeka, Kansas, one of the brightest and most intelligent Masons of the Union, had kindly consented to be present and assist in the work. To him the greatest credit for the success of the assembly is to be accorded." C. C. BLISS, M. D., mayor of Delphos, whose portrait is herewith shown, is one of Allen County's most prominent citizens and comes from a family which has been connected with the important events in this section of the country for more than a half century. Dr. Bliss was born at Lima, Allen County, Ohio, and is a son of Col. Lester and Aldulia (Curtis) Bliss, grandson of Dr. David Bliss and great-grandson of Samuel Bliss, a patriot of Revolutionary fame whose :.ancestry was both English and Dutch. Early records make Samuel Bliss a man of note in peace as well as in war. Dr. David Bliss was born in Vermont and married Mary Van Trees, who came from an old Holland family that became established in New York at an early date. Dr. David Bliss was one of the pioneer physicians of Sparta, Morrow County, Ohio, and there he practiced his profession until his death in 1846, at the age of 60 years. He was a man of local prominence outside his profession, and served as a justice of the peace for very many years. The children of Dr. David Bliss and wife were : Morgan L., a physician ; and Maria, Mason, Mahala, Porter, Lester and Mary A., who have passed off the scene of life's activities. In Cola Lester Bliss, the father of our subject, Ohio possessed a man of intellectual versatility, one who attained wide repute as a lawyer, soldier and statesman. The sixth child of , his parents' family, his birth took place at Cooperstown, New York, August. r o, 1817. His education was the most liberal that the time and locality afforded, his literary training being secured at Gambier, in Knox County, Ohio, and at Granville, in Licking County.. At an early age he turned his attention to the study of the law. pursuing his studies under Hon, Henry B. Curtis, a leading attorney. While a resident of Lima, he was also interested for a time in a store and foundry business. When Colonel Bliss removed to Delphos, he transferred his business to his new location and it was continued here for a number of years under the firm name of Bliss & Hover, his partner being a connection through his first marriage. In 1850 Colonel Bliss was elected the fiat mayor of Delphos and administered the affairs of the town to its benefit and became so generally popular with his fellow-citizens that in 1852 he was elected to the Legislature under the new State constitution. In 1853 he was nominated for the office of Lieutenant-Governor of Ohio, but before the final contest came he withdrew his name in the interest of party concord. It was during this memorable campaign that he lost his wife, who was the mother 548 - HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY of our subject, a lady to whom he was devotedly attached and one upon whom he greatly depended for advice and counsel. Her death had much to with his loss of interest in political advancement. Later Colonel Bliss accepted the position of superintendent of the Ohio & Indiana Railroad now a part of the Pennsylvania system, which position he filled for several years. In 1859 he disposed of his business at Delphos and moved upon a farm west of the city, on which lie lived for some years. subsequently trading it for a beautiful property of 312 acres situated .along the Auglaize River, some five miles south and east of Delphos. which he secured while at home on furlough from his duties as an officer in the Civil War. When the 118th Regiment, Ohio Vol. Inf., was recruited in 1862. Colonel Bliss was delegated to visit Governor David Tod in order to make arrangements for its efficiency in the field and the Governor immediately appointed Colonel Bliss as 'quartermaster, with rank of major. One year later he was commissioned lieutenant-colonel and with the regiment was sent to serve with General Burnside in the East. He took part in the siege of Knoxville and in many other engagements of a more or less serious character and continued in the service until his health, caused by army hardships, compelled him to resign in 1863. He returned to the quietude of his country home and resided there in retirement until his death in 1898. Colonel Bliss was thrice married : first, in 1844, to Belinda Hover, who was a daughter of Emanuel and Caroline (Adgate) Hover, of Shawnee township, Allen County. At her death in 1847, Mrs. Bliss left two sons. viz : David M.. of Lima, who is associated with the Western & Southern Life Insurance Company and Lester LeGrande, a veteran of the Civil War. who died at Fort Scott. Kansas. Colonel Bliss married. second, Mrs. Aldulia Kennedy, who was a daughter of William Curtis and the widow of a prominent early attorney of Lima. The most estimable. beloved and admired lady passed away as above stated. leaving an only child, C. C. Bliss. of this record. The third marriage of Colonel Bliss was to a sister of his first wife. Mrs. Bliss still resides at Delphos. For many years Colonel Bliss was very active in the Methodist Episcopal Church and filled the greater number of the offices in the local church at Delphos. In political sentiment he began his political career as a Democrat: at the opening of the war he became identified with the party known as War Democrats: but in later years he became affiliated with the Republican party. He was a very prominent member of the G. A. R. Post at Delphos and, as 17e would have chosen, his funeral was conducted with military honors. C. C. Bliss came to Delphos in boyhood and first attended the public schools here and enjoyed still better advantages at Mount Vernon, in Knox county. Determining to become a physician, he studied and worked for three years under Dr. H. P. Wagner, of Delphos, as preceptor and in 1874 was graduated from the Bellevue Hospital, Medical College, of New York. His preceptor was a graduate of the same college, had enjoyed post-graduate work in Europe, was one of the censors of the Medical College, and came to what is now Delphos in 1847, settling in what was then known as "Section Jo." After the death of Dr. Wagner; Dr. Bliss opened an office of his own and continued in practice for four years and then was interested in a paper mill which he purchased and operated for a time. Later he resumed practice for a short period, after which he engaged for some years in farming. In February, 1883, he again took up professional work and also entered into a drug business with J. W. Evans. Dr. Bliss has always been active in politics and in 1899 he was elected, on the Republican ticket, mayor of Delphos. After serving two years in this position, he was succeeded by G. W. Wilson for one year, was then re-elected in 1902 and is still the incumbent. In his official life he has ever shown that he has the best interests of the community at heart andhas demonstrated that he is a true friend of education, culture and progress. Dr. Bliss was married to Sophronia O. Herrick, who was born at Mount Gilead, Ohio. and is a daughter of Simeon and Tirza ( Nichols) AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 549 Herrick. Fraternally Dr. Bliss is a Mason of very high degree and has filled many official positions. He is a director of the Commercial Bank at Delphos and secretary of the Delphos Building and Loan Asociation. MINOR T. LONG, one of the prominent citizens and substantial, reliable and representative men of Allen County, residing in his comfortable and attractive home on his farm of 350 acres, located in sections 28, 33 and 34, Marion township, was born August 24, 1845, in Clermont County, Ohio, and is a son of Jacob and Rebecca A. (Westerfield) Long. The Long family is a typical American one, the record of past generations showing loyalty to country and good citizenship in upholding her laws. Jacob Long, the grandfather of Minor T., and a son of Jacob, removed with his first wife, Elizabeth Carlinard, from Fayetteville, North Carolina. to Hamilton County, Ohio, settling with the pioneers on the site of the present city of Cincinnati. He had done good service in the War of 1812. After some years of residence at Cincinnati, he decided to press still farther into the wilderness, much of which was then almost unknown territory, and after making his decision shipped the household effects from Cincinnati to Clermont County, and in the spring of 1852 he came by canalboat to the neighborhood of Delphos, and settled on 73 acres, which comprise a part of our subject's farm. The land is beautifully situated, sloping gently to the Auglaize River, and has every advantage of location and fertility to make it one of the most valuable estates in this section of Ohio. On this land, engaged in clearing and tilling, in looking after the interests of his family and paying attention to the welfare of his community, Grandfather Long spent the rest of a long, useful and worthy life, dying May 6, 1869, aged 87 years, 2 months and I day. His second wife, Mrs. Minerva (Free) Westerfield, who was the widow of Jacob Westerfield, died seven years later, on November 25, 1876, aged 76 years, 8 months and 19 days. Their remains rest in Walnut Grove Cemetery, a marble slab marking the spot. In close proximity rest the ashes of their son, the father of our subject, and here in his memory has been placed one of the most beautiful granite monuments of the "City of the Dead." For a number of years these venerated pioneers lived in a primitive log cabin, surrounded by the forest, and they passed through many of the hardships which early settlers so courageously faced and endured. They wore homespun clothes, they made by hand almost all of the necessary household implements, and they labored from rise to set of sun ; but they also found time to build up those civilizing influences which have always attended upon worthy living, throwing open their cabin to the traveling preacher and securing instructors for their children. Mr. Long was a better educated man than many of his neighbors and naturally was consulted by them on public questions. All over the county this venerable couple were known and their virtues were appreciated. Jacob Long, father of our subject, was born in Ohio and died in Allen County on July 31, 1895, aged 71 years, 8 months and 3o days. He married Rebecca A. Westerfield, whose death occurred at the age of 64 years, I month and 8 days. They both were worthy and interested members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, being connected with the Morris Chapel congregation at Delphos. They were the parents of four children, namely : Minor T., of Marion township; Marianna, who married Theodore Culp, of Van Wert, Ohio, and has a family of children ; F. E.,who is a farmer living in section 22, Marion township, married and has reared a family ; and Minerva, who is the wife of Samuel W. Wright, a member of the Board of County Commissioners of Allen County—he resides in section 29, Marion township, his farm being on the Lima turnpike road. The father of Mr. Long followed agricultural pursuits through life, farming in section 28, Marion township. During the Civil War he followed the example set him by his father, and became a soldier when his country needed