100 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY WILLIAM H. HISE. One of the most widely known and highly esteemed citizens of Liberty township, Crawford county, is William Elise., who for forty years was an eminent justice of the peace and for a period of four years the careful and efficient treasurer of Liberty township. By birth Mr. Hise is a Pennsylvanian, being born in York county, on July 25, 1818. His parents were John and .Eve E. (Kunckle) Hise, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania, and the fathers of both were born in Hesse, Germany. They came to America as soldiers in the British army during the Revolutionary war and both the grandfathers participated in one engagement, but after it was over both of them ,deserted from the British army, joined the troops under General Washington and continued their services in the Patriot .army until the close of the struggle. Many of their Hessian acquaintances who were taken prisoners at the battle of Stillwater did likewise. After the close of the war, Mr. Hise and Mr. Kunckle made their way to York county, Pennsylvania, where they settled and turned their attention to farming, literally turning their swords into ploughshares. There both lived to advanced age. This Hise, of Revolutionary fame, reared four sons, and one of them, John, became the father of our subject. He learned the trade of shoemaker,. married in York county and then lived for a time in Adams county, coming to Crawford county, Ohio, in 1824. Here he entered eighty acres of land in Jefferson township, built his log cabin and established a shoe shop. His land was cleared by hired help, as he was able to earn enough by his trade to pay for having it done. Here he prospered until he removed to Bucyrus, in 1832, and to Circleville in 1836. William H. Hise learned the shoe trade of his father and worked with him in Crawford county until the latter's removal. He then opened a shoe shop at Parcher's Corners, in 1844. The following year, on March 13, 1845, he was united in marriage to Miss Isabella. Ridgely, a native of Wayne county, Ohio, who was born on July 15, 1818. She was a daughter of Wesley Ridgely, who came to Crawford county either in 1818 or 1819 and settled in Jefferson township. Later he sold his first farm and located on another two miles east of Bucyrus, and in 1844 removed to Cass county, Michigan, where he died in the following year. Mr. and Mrs. Hise had seven children, the six survivors being: Sarah C., the widow of Nelson Smith, of Bucyrus, Ohio ; John W., of this township; Andrew H., of Carrollton, Ohio; Samuel L., of this township; Nora B., the CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 101 wife of O. E. DeWitt, of Bucyrus; and Rebecca, at home. Mrs. Hise, the devoted wife and mother, passed out of life on March 10, 1895. Following his marriage Mr. Hise removed to Liberty township and bought an acre of land upon which was a house and shop and began work at his trade, which he followed industriously and continuously until about 1887, a period of nearly forty-two years. Then he gave up work and since that time has devoted his attention to the cultivation of his farm of eighty acres, which he purchased about 1865, and removed to this property in 1876, his sons managing the farm while he continued his work at his trade, which always was pressing. Mr. Hise has been very active in Democratic circles in the county and has been held in such high esteem that his selection as township treasurer met with approval from loth parties. Four years of service were faithfully given, and also several years as township trustee. For forty years his decisions as justice of the peace were upheld by the superior courts and he then declined to serve longer. Although Mr. Hise has reached his. eighty-third year he is a man of much younger years in appearance, rides .a bicycle with pleasure and during the past year not only seeded but cultivated seven acres of corn and. seven of oats by his own labor ! Through this section of the county no one is better or more favorably known than William H. Hise. FRANK DICK. Close application to business, aptitude for earnest labor and indefatigable enterprise have been the salient features in the success which has crowned the efforts of Frank Dick, the well known proprietor of the Dick Brewery and'. Artificial Ice Factory, of Bucyrus. He has carried on business here since. July, 1889, his trade constantly increasing. Mr. Dick was born in Hamilton county, Ohio, in the year 1861, but his parents were both natives of Baden, Germany, whence they crossed the Atlantic to the new world. Under the parental roof he was reared, and in early life he became associated in business with his father, who owned and operated a brewery in La Porte, Indiana. He was admitted to a partnership in the enterprise, but in 1889 he sold his interest and came to Bucyrus, establishing the brewery of which he has since been proprietor. In 1890 he erected a large brick and stone building, a model, and in connection. with the brewery business. added the manufacturing of artificial ice, and in both lines of business he has enjoyed a constantly increasing trade. He confines his sales to this section of 102 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY Ohio, having a large patronage from surrounding towns. He gives close attention to his business affairs, allowing no outside interest to interfere with the duties that come to him in this relation. Each year he overhauls and equips his plants, which are supplied with the latest improved. machinery and all modern conveniences and accessories. He now employs a large force of workmen, and he is familiar with his business in every detail. He personally conducts all, transactions with patrons and is in full control of the business, being acquainted with the work done in every department. In 1893 Mr. Dick was united in marriage to Miss Bertha Aichner, of Chicago, Illinois, and they have a pleasant home in Bucyrus. He takes an. active interest in political affairs as a Supporter of Democratic principles, and does everything in his power to advance the growth and insure the success of the party. He has served as a member of the county and other committees and is a recognized leader in Democratic ranks. He belongs to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, but his time and attention are largely given to his business affairs, which are constantly growing in volume and importance, and are therefore annually augmenting his income. AARON J. QUAINTANCE. Aaron J. Quaintance is one of the highly esteemed and public-spirited men of Crawford county. His birth was in Holmes township, on March 4, 1834, a son of Joseph and Hannah (Hale) Quaintance, and was one of a family of ten children, five of whom survive, namely : Aaron, of this sketch; Samuel, of Todd township; Angeline, the wife of Edward Smith, of Todd township; Lucetta, the wife of Valentine Underwood, of Todd township; and Fisher, of Todd township. The father was born in the state of New York, a son of Samuel Quaintance, who came to Crawford county, at an early day, settling in Holmes township, on the Tiffin road about two miles north of Bucyrus, where he entered eighty acres of land and built a log cabin in the forest, passing the rest of his life there. After Joseph Quaintance married he settled on a tract of forty acres given him by his father, on the east of the home farm, on which he built a cabin, cleared the land and lived there some years and then sold it to buy a farm of eighty acres in Liberty township, where he spent the remaining years of his life. In his political life he was an active Whig and for very many years was a leading member of the Methodist church. Our subject was reared on the farm and acquired but a limited education CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 103 in the common schools, as his services were so often needed in the management and clearing of the land. About the age of sixteen the death of his father threw upon him the responsibility and care of the family, as he was the eldest son. Most worthily did he perform this duty, taking the place of his father with a judgment far beyond his years and earning the affection and gratitude of the other members of the family. In 1857 Mr. Quaintance was united in marriage to Miss Mary Heller, a native of Pennsylvania, the daughter of Daniel and Catherine (Gingery) Heller, who came to Crawford county about 1839, settling in Liberty township for one year and later permanently settling in Holmes township, where they died. When the home farm was sold, one hundred and three acres of our subject's present farm was purchased, and our subject's mother lived with him some years, when he bought the estate from her and she passed her last days in Todd township. Some years later Mr. Quaintance purchased an additional fifty-seven acres, making the amount in his possession one hundred and sixty acres, a fine and Valuable estate. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Quaintance numbered twelve, and ten of these survive, namely : Joseph, of this township; Leroy, of Bucyrus, Ohio ; Martha E., the wife of William Dobbins, of Sandusky township ; Daniel, of Johnson county, Kansas ; Oscar; of Whetstone township, Crawford county, Ohio; Blanche, the wife of D. S. Kimble, of the same township ; James, of Bucyrus ; Olive E., at home ; Orland J., and Onie M., who is the wife of Albert Brown, of Bucyrus, the latter two being twins. Israel and Hannah are dead. The political affiliations of Mr. Quaintance is with the Republican party, while religiously all the family are connected with the United Brethren church, where they are highly esteemed. PETER HELFRICH. Peter Helfrich is the ancestral head in America of one branch of the family of that name that has helped Crawford county to a citizenship which has always proven a credit and a substantial support. He came from Germany to this country in 1830. His birth occurred in the fatherland and he was the son of parents who were well-to-do and prominent people. His father served as burgomaster, an office equivalent to that of mayor in this country, and was also public administrator, in which position his duties were similar to those performed by the sheriff in the United States. Peter Helfrich acquired a good common-school education which he broadened by study at home and his 104 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. appreciation of education was indicated by the liberal advantages which he afforded his children, a large family of farmer's children seldom receiving such good opportunities as he gave to his sons and daughters. Ere leaving his native country, Peter Helfrich was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Burmuth, and when they came to the United States they brought with them their daughter, Margaret, then two years of age. The voyage across the Atlantic was made on a sailing vessel and consumed eighty-five days, while to-day the same trip can be made in one-fourteenth of that time. Mr. Helfrich first settled in Pennsylvania and in 1835 he came with his family to Crawford county, taking up his abode in Whetstone township. Here he entered land from the government, built a house and established the Helfrich family, which, grown very numerous, celebrated a reunion on July 4, 1901. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Peter Helfrich were born the, following named Jacob, now a prominent farmer of Missouri ; Nicholas C., who for thirty-three years has been a representative of the ministry of the Presbyterian church and is now located in Columbus, Ohio ; Catharine, the wife of John C. Sherer ; and Elizabeth. The Helfrichs, with one or two exceptions, were identified with the Lutheran church. The death of Peter Helfrich occurred in 1862, but he is still remembered and honored by those in Crawford county who knew him and yet survive him. H. S. Z. MATTHIAS. The press has not only recorded the history of advancement, but has also ever been the leader in the work of progress and improvement,—the vanguard of civilization. The philosopher of some centuries ago programed the truth that "the pen is mightier than the sword," and the statement is continually being verified in the affairs of life. In molding public opinion the power of the newspaper cannot be estimated, but at all events its influence is greater than any other single agency. In the history of Crawford county therefore an account of the Galion Inquirer should form an important factor, and as the paper is the mirror of the thought, effort and labor of its editor, the history of Mr. Matthias well deserves place in the annals of his native county. He was born in. Sandusky township May 21, 1844, on what is now known as the "Old Biddle Farm," east of Kinsely Springs. His father, the late M. Matthias, was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, and at CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 107 an early age accompanied his parents on their removal to Ohio, the family taking up their abode upon a farm in Stark county, where at the age of twenty-five years Mr. Matthias was married to Miss Frances Bryfogle, of the same county, who had removed to this state from Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, with her parents. For a number of years. Mr. and Mrs. Matthias resided .in Stark county, but in 1837 came to Crawford county, accompanied by four children, who had been born to them in their first home. While residing on the Biddle farm three children were added to the family, one of whom was the subject of this sketch. At Galion two more children were born, making nine in all. The parents both died a number of years ago. Mr. Matthias, of this review, was about three and a half years of age when his parents sold their farm to the late Rev. Alexander Biddle and removed to a farm on the Columbus and Portland state road, one .mile northwest of Galion, where, at the age of about five years H. S. Z. Matthias lost the use of his lower limbs from the effects of scarlet fever. A year later his parents sold their farm and removed to Galion, where they purchased and conducted the Franklin House, and old time tavern. This move was made principally for the purpose of securing better educational facilities for the cripple boy, and there in the private. and public schools he received the mental discipline and training which fitted him for his life work. With great ambition and an indomitable will the boy grew to young manhood, and on The 7th of January, 1864, he purchased the only printing office in Galion, entering the field of journalism as the youngest .editor in Ohio. He successfully conducted the Galion District Democrat and several other newspapers, and for the past twenty-four years he has been .part owner and editor of the Galion Inquirer, a weekly Democratic paper, and for nine years thecditor of the Evening Inquirer, which is the daily issue of the journal. He as always been devoted to his work and starting out in a modest way he: lias steadily improved his papers until to-clay they are among the brightest. and best journals published in the state, being gems in mechanical and typographical. appearance. On the 26th of November, 1868, Mr. Matthias was united in marriage to Miss Delia French, at Mount Vernon, Knox county, and they now have two children, Verna, who is now the wife of B. A. Baker, and George G., who is his father's assistant in the recorder's office. Mr. Matthias has never held. any public position except that of recorder, although he was elected justice of the peace in 1893. He refused to serve, however, on account of the duties of the office interfering with his business. In the spring of 1896 he was: 6 108 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. nominated on the Democratic ticket for the position of county recorder and was elected to that office the following November by a plurality of two thousand, seven hundred and eighty-seven votes, leading the ticket by forty-nine more than were cast for William J. Bryan. He assumed the duties of the office September 6, 1897, and in the spring of 1898. he was nominated 'for a second term, being re-elected the following fall.. In his official duties he has been punctual, careful and obliging, and has given the best of satisfaction in every respect. Fraternally Mr. Matthias is a member of Galion Lodge, No. 215, I. O. O. F., and of Lebanon Encampment, No. 123. While he has always been a very busy man, he has found time to devote to literary pursuits outside of his newspaper work. He has written a number of very creditable poems. He reads widely, is a deep thinker and carefully digests what he reads. Through the columns of his paper he has had marked influence in promoting public interests in Crawford county, and has ever been found the champion of reform, improvement and advancement. , HENRY SCHIEBER. Among the successful farmers and highly esteemed citizens of Liberty township, Crawford county, Henry Schieber takes a leading position. He was born in this township on May 24, 186o, and was the second son of Jacob and Eva (Mauer) Schieber, to whom nine children were born. The survivors are : John, Jr., of Bucyrus, Ohio; Henry, of this sketch; David S., of Bucyrus; Emanuel, of Liberty township; Mary, the wife of Frederick Hieber, of Liberty township; Elizabeth, wife of John Hieber, of Liberty township; and Samuel Abraham, of Holmes township. The father was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, on May 19, 1831, a son of Gottleib and Magdalena (Brose) Schieber, who emigrated to the United States in 1832, settling in Liberty township. The father of our subject was only one year old when brought by his parents to America; and as he was the youngest son who grew to maturity he remained with his parents until his twenty-fourth year, assisting in clearing the land. On June 14, 1855, he was united in marriage to Miss Eva Mauer, and he continued to farm on his father's land during the following year. In 1856 he purchased eighty acres of land in Liberty township, twenty of which had been cleared, on which stood a log cabin, and here Mr. Schieber moved his family, both he and wife energetically laboring to make this a comfortable home. Prosperity rewarded their efforts, and later they added thirty-seven CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 109 and one-half acres and eighty more purchased in Liberty township. Gradually additions made to the farm increased it to two hundred and eighty-seven acres; and as time went on, each year saw improvements added, in the way of excellent buildings, fences, and planting of orchards, the estate being finally regarded as one of the most desirable in the township. In the meantime Mr. Schieber had made himself well known. and had gained the, confidence of his fellow-citizens to such a degree that he was made township trustee for a period of two years, faithfully performing the duties. He was long, a valued member of the Lutheran church. His death occurred November 4, 1883.  The estimable widow of the late Jacob Schieber, Martha Mauer Schieber, was born on June 21, 1835, in Stark county, Ohio, and was but two weeks old when her parents removed to Crawford county. Her father, Jacob Mauer, emigrated from Germany, with his wife and One child, settling in Stark county, subsequently removing to this county, where he died, leaving a widow who later married Simeon Price. Mrs. Schieber now makes her home with Mrs. John Hieber, of .this township, one of here daughters. She is the only survivor of a family of six children. Henry Schieber, our immediate subject,. grew up to honest labor on the home farm and acquired his education in the .common schools, remaining at home until his twenty-first year and then was given regular wages. On February 29, 1884, he was married to Miss Elizabeth S. Pfleiderer, a daughter of Daniel Pfleiderer, who was a son of Jacob Pfleiderer; a sketch of the last mentioned appears in another part of this volume. After marriage Mr. Schieber and his bride removed to Holmes township, where he rented a farm of eighty acres, and upon that they lived for eighteen months, and there his young wife died and he returned to Liberty township and took charge of the home farm and remained there a number of months. On October 3, 1900, our subject contracted a second marriage, this time with Mrs. William O. Steen, formerly Miss. Clara C. Pfleiderer, a daughter of David Pfleiderer, and then Mr. Schieber purchased his present home farm,. which consists of eighty acres, and has carried on general farming and stock-raising ever since. Mrs. Schieber's first husband was a son of William Steen, one of the early settlers of Crawford county. One child was born to this marriage, Rufus D. Steen, May 1, 1892. Politically Mr. Schieber is a prominent member of the Democratic ranks. Both he and his estimable wife are valued and consistent members of the Evangelical church, where they are known to be kind, charitable and devoted 110 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. Christians. Mr. Schieber has a fine farm, esteemed in the community, happy in domestic life, a valued member of the church, and thus represents the best class of citizens. TILGFIMAN GEORGE. An eminently successful and thoroughly representative farmer of Holmes township, Crawford county, is Tilghman George, who was born in Northampton county, Pennsylvania; on May 12, 1834, and was a son of Jacob G. and Elizabeth (Houpt) George. Jacob G. George was born in Northampton county, Pennsylvania, where he grew to manhood and learned the trade of shoemaker. In 1852 he emigrated to Ohio; settling in McCutchenville in Wyandot county, where he remained but a short. time, going then to Lykens township, in Crawford county, where he rented a farm, placed his sons in charge of it while he continued to work at his trade. About 1858 he removed to Seneca county and here rented a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, continuing to engage. in farming and shoemaking. About seven years after his last removal his first wife died, and some time later he married a Mrs. Trombold, formerly a Miss Elizabeth Yeager, who was a native of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania. Shortly after this marriage he removed to Tiffin, Ohio, where he worked at his trade for many years. After the death of his second wife he made his home with our subject and his other son, William,. until the time of his decease, in his eighty-second year. He was: always an ardent Democrat, and a consistent member of the German Reformed church: His first marriage had been to Elizabeth Haupt, and they became the parents. of eight children. Those living are Tilghman, our subject; William, of this township ; James, of Tiffin, Ohio; Elizabeth, the wife of Julius Deal, also of Tiffin, Ohio; and Stephen, of the same place, while the three deceased are Apecena, who .married a Mr. Sloat, and died in Indiana and two daughters died in girlhood. Our subject was reared on a farm and had but limited opportunities for acquiring an education. In May, 1852, he left his parental home and came to Ohio, reaching McCutchenville on May 5th, and during the following slimmer worked as a farm hand ; but when his father arrived, five months later, he assisted him in the shoe shop, accompanying the family in its removal to Lvkens township. The following summer was spent in work on the farm, and the winter in work at shoemaking. In November, 1857, our subject was married to Miss Sarah Miller, who was a native of Holmes township and was CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 111 the daughter of Jonathan and Anna (Shupp) Miller. Mr. and Mrs. Miller were among the earliest settlers of Holmes township. The winter following his marriage was spent by Mr. George in hauling cord wood for the Pennsylvania Railroad, with an ox team which he had purchased, but in the following spring he remoVed.to 'Wyandot county, where he conducted a shoe shop through the summer, and returned to Crawford county in the autumn. He again opened up a shoe shop, and conducted it in Lykens township for a period of eighteen months, removing then to Seneca county: where he rented a small farm and began to operate it. Here he farmed for some twelve years as a renter, continuously, with the exception of one summer spent in Holmes township. At the expiration of his teni. years as a renter, Mr. George purchased a farm of fifty-five acres and operated-this for two years, selling it then to locate in Crawford county, where he purchased seventy-one and one-half acres, his present home farm. During his .early farming experiences, Mr. George operated a threshing machine; with success, for several years. His land has been well cultivated and his methods of farming meet with the commendation of his neighbors who in friendly spirit rejoice in his prosperity. To Mr. and Mrs. George were born seven children, six of whom sur vive, as follows : William, of Seneca county, Ohio ; Wesley, a baggage master for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, at Chicago; John, of Holmes township; Anna, the wife of Reuben R. McBride, of Van Wert, Ohio; Raleigh, of Wyandot county, Ohio; and Rosetta, the wife of Abraham Schaal, of Marshall county, Indiana. Mr. George has been a life long Democrat, but is liberal in his views. For two terms he faithfully served the township as trustee, and he is one of the leading members of the Evangelical church, having held lmost all of its lay offices, discharging the duties most efficiently. ANDREW J. HARVEY. Andrew Jackson Harvey was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, August 14, 1817, and is a son of Thomas and Frances (Bartley) Harvey, who were also natives of the same county and there the father died in 1830 at the age of fifty-three years. He was a son of Thomas Harvey, who came to the "United States from Ireland at an early period in the development of our country's history. On the maternal side, our subject is also of Irish lineage. Andrew J. Harvey is one of a family of fourteen children, eleven of whom reached mature years. He was reared upon a farm and pursued his 112 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. education in the common schools in a, log school house. He was only fourteen years of age at the time of his father's death. The mother and her children came to Ohio in i835 and settled in Crawford county, where Mrs. Harvey died when about sixty-seven years of age. Here our subject has since resided, and throughout his entire business career he has carried on agricultural pursuits. For about eighteen years he also operated a threshing machine and owned the second thresher ever used in the county. Until 1846 he resided in Whetstone township, but has since made his home in Bucyrus township, where he owns two hundred and eleven acres of fine land. When thirty-six years of age Mr. Harvey was united in marriage to Miss Maria McCracken, but she lived only a year afterward, and three years later he wedded Elizabeth Price, by whom he had six children now living, namely : Olive, Lawrence Lincoln, Minnie May, Ulysses Grant, Clay .McCracken and Ida Annetta. In his political views .Mr. Harvey is a stalwart Republican but has never sought office, preferring to give his. time and attention to his business affairs. In his work he has prospered, and as the years: have passed, he has added continually to his income so that he is to-day the possessor of a handsome competence. He has now reached the age of eighty-four years—a venerable old gentleman, honored and esteemed by all who know him. JOHN G. MYERS. Prominent among the progressive, intelligent and broad-minded citizens. of Holmes township, is John G. Myers, who is well and favorably known through Crawford county, having been for many years one of its most popular teachers. Mr. Myers was born in Berkeley county, Virginia, which is now included in West Virginia, on February 6, 1826, a son of John L. and Margaret (Fiser) Myers, and was a member of a family of eight children, the survivors of whom are : Susan L., the widow of Nathaniel Heaton, now a resident of Seneca county, Ohio; John G., of this biography; and Isaiah and Margaret P., both members of our subject's household. The father, John L. Myers, was born in Berkeley county, Virginia, a son of Henry and Susan Myers, natives of the same place, the former being a veteran of the Revolutionary war. In the fall of 1832, John L. Myers, with his family of six children, his parents and one sister, emigrated to Ohio, settling in Richland county, where they spent the succeeding winter, in the spring of 1833 locating near Melmore, in what was then a part of Crawford county but now is included in Seneca county. CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 113 There Mr. Myers bought eighty acres of land, upon which was a hewed-log cabin and a recently erected Jog barn, paying for it five hundred dollars. Some four acres of the land had been cleared, but the balance was still virgin forest. Here the father of our subject passed his life, showing his aged parents a most filial regard and caring for them until their lives. ended, when at advanced age. John L. Myers died about 1846. His life had been a busy and useful one. Reared in a slave state, he always adhered to the belief that the negro could never learn self-government, and continued all his life a pro-slavery man. His religious connection was with the Methodist church. The mother, a daughter of Michael Fiser, also was born in Berkeley county. John G. Myers grew up in his pleasant home, with a decidedly studious bent of mind. After completing the common-school course he was given educational advantages at the Ashland Academy, and at Republic, where he was under the instruction of Professor Harvey and also his assistant, Professor Schuyler, the author of Schuyler's Arithmetic. A short time was spent at. Delaware, but sickness compelled his return home. Prior to his twenty-first year Mr. Myers began teaching school and continued with marked success in this profession for fifteen or twenty years, teaching in every school in Holmes township except the one in district No. 3. In 1855 Mr. Myers purchased eighty acres of land in section 30, Holmes township, where he resided from 1856 to 1.858, in the latter year selling this farm and buying sixty acres of the present home farm. Some years later he purchased forty acres across the road from his other possessions, making his, present ownership of land about one hundred acres. In politics Mr. Myers is a stanch Republican and has twice efficiently served as assessor of the township and several terms as a member of the election board. He is held in high esteem in this section and has a wide circle of friends, both in public and private life. ROBERT WILLIAM KERR Among the prosperous young agriculturists of Bucyrus township is, Robert William Kerr, who is successfully cultivating a fine farm of ninety acres. Mr. Kerr is a native of Ohio; born in Wyandot county on September 22, 1872, a son of John and Alice (Chambers) Kerr, the former of whom was horn in Marion county and the latter in Wyandot county. For many years John Kerr was a successful and extensive farmer, but is now one of the respected retired citizens of Bucyrus. 114 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. Robert W. Kerr was reared on a farm and received his primary education in the common schools, supplementing this with a period at a military school in Orchard Lake, . Michigan, and later by a. course in a business college in Poughkeepsie, New York. For several years Mr. Kerr was variously employed,.undecided as to the choice of a. career. He was a member of Company A, Eighth Ohio National. Guards, and when this company was called into service in 1898, in the war of the United States with Spain, he went with his company to Cuba as a corporal. His command landed at Sibona, but it saw no active service: Corporal Kerr was very fortunate, as his excellent constitution prevented him from falling ill of Cuban fever; nevertheless he returned with his company with a well nigh broken constitution, reaching home in September, 1898, and was mustered out of the service in November 1898. In the spring of 1899 Mr. Kerr rented a fine and productive farm from his father, which he has successfully operated ever. since. On March 20, 190o, he was married to Miss Jessie Strawbridge, a most estimable young lady, who ably assists him in dispensing the hospitality of their pleasant country home. Unto the marriage a son, John Milton, has been born. JOHN A. CHESNEY, M. D. One of the exacting of all the higher lines of occupation to which a man may lend his energies is that of the physician. A most scrupulous preliminary training is demanded, and a. nicety of judgment little understood by the laity. Then, again, the profession brings one of its devotees into almost constant association with the sadder side of life,—that of pain and sufferings,—so that a. mind capable of great self control and a heart responsive and sympathetic are essential attributes of him who would essay the practice of the healing art. Thus when professional-success is attained in any instance it may be taken as certain, that such measure of success has been, thoroughly merited. Dr. Chesney was born in Marseilles, Wyandot county, Ohio, November 10, 1857, and is of Scotch lineage. His parents were John M. and Jumelia (Thompson) Chesney. His paternal grandfather, John Chesney, was a native of Scotland and became the founder of the family in America. He married Elizabeth Mahon, and unto them, in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, on the 31st of May, 1825, was born a son, to whom they gave the name of John M. The latter was educated in an academy at Jamestown, Pennsylvania, and studied. medicine under the direction of his brother, Dr. Robert CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 117 Chesney, of Shelocta. From 1853 until 1876 he was engaged in practice in Marseilles, Ohio, and prior to that time had been a member of the medical fraternity in Kenton and in Huntersville, Ohio. In 1876 he came to Bucyrus and established a drug store, which he conducted up to the time of his death, in 1883. He wedded Jumelia Thompson, a daughter of James and Elizabeth Thompson, who came from Lynchburg, Virginia, and settled in Marion, Ohio, where Mrs. Chesney was born. Her father was a colonel in a Virginia regiment during the Mexican war. In Marion he took quite an active part in public affairs, and at one time served as sheriff of his county. His death occurred a number of years ago. Dr. Chesney, whose name introduces this record, pursued his literary education in Wooster University, of Wooster, Ohio, and, determining to make the practice of medicine his life work, he then began study in the office and under the direction of Dr. Cuykendall, in 1876. Subsequently he entered the Columbus Medical College and was graduated at that institution with the class of 1879. In 1880 he became connected in practice with Dr. J. N. Richie, of Oceola, their relation being maintained until 1881, when Dr. Chesney completed his medical studies in New York, in the College of Physicians and Surgeons, where he graduated in 1882. He then formed a partnership with Dr. Thrift, of Lima, Ohio, at that time a leading physician in that city and a professor in the Fort Wayne Medical College. Owing to his father's death Dr. Chesney came to Bucyrus and has since practiced his profession in this city with excellent success. His reputation is not limited by the confines of the county and his practice has extended into adjoining counties. Hellas very superior ability as a surgeon, and the fraternity as well as the public accord him a foremost place as a representative of the medical science. In 1883 he declined the chair of physiology in the Fort Wayne Medical College. In connection with. his private practice he has served as division surgeon for the Toledo, & Ohio Central Railroad for the past sixteen years, is local surgeon of the Pennsylvania Railroad, also for the Columbus, Sandusky & Flocking Railroad. He was one of the organizers of the National Association of Surgeons, and as a student he is continually carrying his investigations into broader realms of medical, knowledge. Each year finds him further advanced on the road to perfection in his profession. He is also identified with other lines of business activity, is president of the Caledonia Deposit Bank, of Marion county, Ohio, and is a director in the First National Bank of Bucyrus. He is also president of the Broken Sword Stone Company. 118 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. In 1887 Dr. Chesney was united in marriage to Miss Cora Rouse, a daughter of William and Catherine Rouse. Her death occurred in 189:2, and a daughter,. Edith, was left to mourn her loss. In 1898 the Doctor was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Celia B. Mulford, of Hanover, New jersey. In the summer of 1900 the Doctor and his wife visited Europe, traveling over a portion of the continent and visiting many places of Historic and modern interest. Theirs. is one of the tasteful and finely appointed homes of Bucyrus, and he also has a splendidly equipped office,. supplied with all .modern accessories that prove of aid and value in the line of his profession. He is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and of the Masonic and Knights of Pythias fraternities. .A man of scholarly attainments and. broad general information, he is not only a leader in professional circles but is held in high. esteem in fraternal and social circles, and .enjoys the warm regard of all with whom he is associated. CHRISTIAN F. BIRK To achieve renown in the political field there must be something substantial on which to base aspirations and something more than the desire: to attain prominence. A man must possess a strict sense of honor, a firm conviction that he is capable of performing the duties to which he is assigned and must have the welfare of his community and constituents at heart, sacrificing his personal interests to those of the people. For more than a quarter of a century Mr. Birk has been identified with the Democracy and has labored untiringly to promote its growth and to secure the adoption of its platform. Many times has he.been honored with positions of public trust and responsibility, and in these he has ever been found faithful to his duty. He is now serving as: mayor of Bucyrus and handles the reins of city government in a manner that has pr'omoted the welfare and progress of the municipality. One of the native sons of Bucyrus, Christian F. Birk was born April 29, 1852, a son of John G. Birk, who was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, and came to the United States in 1845. After living for a time in Albany, New York, he went to Tuscarawas county, Ohio. In 1847 he came to Bucyrns, and here followed harness-making many years. From 1874 to 1876 he served as .treasurer of Crawford county. His death occurred November 1o, 1888. In 1851 he married Miss Joanna Kuhn, also a native of Germany and a representative of one of the pioneer families of Crawford county, her people having come to this section of Ohio in 1836. Her death occurred in October, CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 119 1893, when she had attained the age of sixty-five years. In their family were the following named: Christian F., of this review ; George M., who is gaged in the drug business with his brother ; Christian F.; Emanuel R., who is now proprietor of the harness shop established by his father and is doing a very extensive business, making sales in various portions of the state and even beyond its borders ; Lewis C., who is foreman in the harness store; and Elizabeth, the wife of F. P. Donnenwirth, a retired citizen of Bucyrus. Christian F. Birk, whose name forms the caption of this review, acquired a common-school education in Bucyrus, and at the. age of fourteen began assisting his father in the harness shop, where he mastered the business both in principle and .detail. For several years he was a partner with his father in the enterprise, under the firm name of J. G. Birk & Son. For fifty-three years the business has been continued as the Birks Harness Store and is one of the most successful commercial institutions of the city, being now conducted by two of the sons of the former. In 1892 our subject and. his younger brother, G. M. Birk, established a drug store, which they are still conducting. They carry a large and well selected stock of goods and their business methods are such that those who once become their customers remain as regular patrons. Their sales are constantly increasing and ihe proprietors therefore enjoy a good income. Our subject is also connected with the Board of Trade. In Bucyrus, in 1873, was celebrated the marriage of Christian F. Birk and Miss Bertha S. Volk, a daughter of William F. Volk, who came to Crawford county about sixty years ago. They now have three children : John W., a graduate of a commercial course in Chicago, was the first lieutenant in Company A, of the Eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, during the Spanish-American war and erved at Santiago, being present at the time of the surrender of the city ; Carry Elizabeth is now the wife of G. W: Kerr, of Wrightsville, Pennsylvania ; and Edna T. is a teacher in the schools of Bucyrus. The mother died August 10, 1898, a month after her son sailed for Cuba, and while he was still on the Island. Socially Mr. Birk is connected with Knights of Pythias fraternity, and with the Benevolent and Protective. Order of Elks. He also belongs to the email Lutheran church and in his political affiliations.. is a stalwart Democrat, unswerving in his support of the party. When only twenty-three years of age he was elected to the city council and after an interval he was chosen, in 1896, for a second term of two years. He served as city marshal from 1884 until 189o, and in. the latter year entered upon a four years' term as county sheriff. His fellow townsmen conferred upon him the highest honor within their power when, in 1898, he was elected mayor of Bucyrus, and two years 420 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. later they again called him to the same position, a fact which indicates, how faithfully he had served them, his administration being practical, progressive and beneficial. Public spirited, he has withheld his support from no measure that he believes will promote the welfare and substantial advancement of Bucyrus, and his discriminating mind enables him to judge correctly of the value to the city of any measure introduced. Over. the record of his public life and private career there falls no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil, and he is rich in those qualities which win and retain personal friendships. FREMONT F. STURTZ Fremont F. Sturtz was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, .August 8, 1857, and is the youngest of five children of Solomon and Elizabeth (Kennel) Sturtz. His father was born in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, near :Harrisburg, August 22, 1821, and his youth was spent upon the old home farm there. He afterward went to Westmoreland county when a young man, .and was there married to Miss Elizabeth Kennel. Their children were Joseph, of Fayette county, Pennsylvania; Susan, the wife of Peter Stoner, of Scottdale, Fayette county; Samuel, of Crawford county, Ohio ; Elizabeth, the wife Emanuel Hess, of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania ; and Freeman F. For some years after their marriage Mr. and .Mrs. Sturtz resided upon a rented farm. In 1857 the wife and mother died, and in 1859 the father married Mrs. Barbara Davis, the widow of Solomon Davis. Her maiden name was Barbara Brooks. By the second marriage there are three children : the widow of James Bodley, of Plymouth, Ohio; Dolly A., who married Henry Morton, of Shelby, Ohio; and George B., of Bucyrus: Soon after his, second marriage Solomon Sturtz purchased a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, and continued its cultivation until 1865, when he came to Crawford county, locating in Liberty township. Here he rented land until 1887, since which time he has lived retired in Whetstone township. In early life he was a Republican, but since coming, to Ohio has joined the Democratic ranks. Religiously he is connected with the Evangelical church. When only eight years of age Fremont F. Sturtz was bound out to a man by the name of Jehu Davis, in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, and with him our subject remained until eighteen years of age, when he entered upon an independent business career. For three years he was employed as a farm hand by Mr. Laucks, of Westmoreland county, and in December, .1878, -he came to Crawford county, Ohio. During the three succeeding years he CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 121 worked by the month for his brother. On the 17th of February, 1881, he was. joined in wedlock to Miss Ella J. Charlton, a daughter of John E. and Laura . E. (Lanes) Charlton. Her father was born on the farm where our subject now resides, December 18, 183o, and was a son of John Charlton, who came to Crawford county among its first settlers; making the journey hither from . Maryland. He entered eighty acres .of government land, upon which Mr.. Sturtz now resides. After his death this farm was purchased by John E. Charlton, who afterward bought an adjoining forty acres, so that the farm comprised one hundred and twenty acres. It remained his place of residence up to the time of his death, and he also purchased another farm of ninety acres on the Bucyrus road. He voted with the Republican party and in religion was a stanch member of the Evangelical church, in which he held different offices for many years. His death occurred July 12, 1897. He had three children : Ella J. ; Joseph E„ of North Enid, Oklahoma and Wilbur J., who is in the employ of the Pittsburg; Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad. Soon after his marriage Mr. Sturtz took charge of his father-in-law's farm, which he operated up to the time of the latter's death, when J. E. Chad, ton was appointed administrator of the estate. When the business was settled . up our subject purchased the old homestead of one hundred and twenty acres, and he and his wife are now thereon rearing their children, namely : Melvin Roy, Florence E. and Milton Clare. Mr. Sturtz votes the Republican ticket and is. a stanch: supporter of the rinciples of the party. He,. too, belongs to the Evangelical church, in which lie has served as trustee, and socially he. is connected with Sulphur Springs Tent, No. 298, K. O. T. M. At the tender age of eight years he started out to make his own way in the world and has since depended entirely upon his own resources. Whatever success he has achieved has resulted froth his bors and his energy, guided by sound judgment. His career has ever been right and honorable, winning him the confidence and good will of those with whom he has been brought in contact. SAMUEL SPONSELLER. Samuel Sponseller is one of the influential and esteemed citizens of Crawford county, where he owns and operates a well cultivated and productive farm of one hundred and ninety-six acres of land, in Liberty township. His birth was on the farm where he now resides, on December 31, 1836, a son of Michael and Susanna (Mentzer) Sponseller, and is one of a family of eleven 122 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. children born to his parents, ten of whom grew to maturity and five of whom still survive, viz.: Susanna, the widow of Martin Brown, resides near Dixon, Indiana; Emanuel is a farmer of Hancock county, Ohio; Henry is a farmer of Kosciusko county, Indiana; Reuben is a farmer of Defiance county, Ohio; and Samuel, of this sketch. The father, Michael Sponseller, came to Crawford county from Columbiana county about 1831, having been married there, and eight of the children were born there. Upon his arrival in this county he purchased eighty acres of land, where our subject now. resides. This was owned by his brother-in-law, John Mentzer. Then he entered the eighty acres adjoining this on the west, and soon after purchased another eighty acres on the south, making his farm One of two hundred 'and forty acres. In 1858 he built a commodious farm residence and the year following he erected a substantial and sightly barn, making his property one of the best improved in this locality. The mother died in 1858 and the father contracted a second marriage, with Mrs. Maria Hatton, who survived him some seven years. The father died in 1874, having been one of the thoroughly respected citizens of the township. In his early days he was a Democrat, but cast his first Republican vote for Abraham Lincoln, and ever after voted and worked for that party. Our subject, Samuel Sponseller, grew up and spent his boyhood on the old farm, gaining his education in the schools of the locality, with one summer at the Haysville Academy, and at the age of twenty-two took charge and managed the home farm for his father. In 1860, on the 18th of April, he was united in niarriage with one of the fair daughters of this county, Miss Sarah A. Kling, a native of Cranberry township, the daughter of Moses Kling, who for fifteen years was a well known justice of the peace in his township. After his marriage our subjeCt remained on the home place and continued to manage it successfully, but about 1870 he bought forty acres of the home farrii, which he cultivated until his father's death, when he purchased the old place of one hundred and twenty acres, from the other heirs, the father having previously disposed of eighty acres to his son Emanuel, and still later our subject bought of his brother eighteen and one-half acres, and also seventeen and one-half of the Daniel Chambers farm, making his acreage one hundred and ninety-six acres, which is desirably located in section 20. Mr. Sponseller has displayed great energy, judgment and industry in the acquisition of so large a farm, but he thoroughly understands the management and care of it and enjoys the ownership of not only one of the most productive but also one of the most attractive farms of the county. CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 123 To Mr. and Mrs. Sponseller have been born three children, two of whom, Sylvanus E. and James, are deceased, the survivor being William H., a farmer of Bucyrus township. Although not a member, Mr. Sponseller is a liberal supporter of the German Baptist church, of which his estimable wife is a consistent member and he is an attendant on the services. A life-long Republican, he has taken an active interest in the success of his party and its men an plans, believing the principles advocated by it to be the best for the country at large. Several years he served as a member of the school board and is regarded as one of the safe and reliable advisers in educational matters. The esteem in which he is held is general, and he may be justly regarded as a representative man of Crawford county. WILLIAM A. ECKERT. Among the successful and highly esteemed farmer citizens of Dallas township, Crawford county, is William A.'Eckert, who was born in Wyandot county, Ohio, on August 1, 1851, a son of the late Nathaniel H. and Emeline (Decker) Eckert. Nathaniel H. Eckert was born in Syracuse, New York, on August 4, 1819, and was reared and educated in his native state. When about thirty years of age he came to Ohio and bought forty acres of land in Wyandot county, near Nevada, and upon that farmed for some nine._ or ten years. Selling that tract he bought fifty-five acres just east of Nevada and. here he farmed until 1867, when he came to Dallas township and bought ninety-five acres in section 24 and later fifty-five acres in section 25. For several years he lived on the former tract and about twenty-five years ago built a residence on the south side of the road, on the other tract, and lived upon it until his death, with the exception of about two years' residence in Nevada. The marriage of Mr. Eckert was to Emeline Decker, who was born in Crawford county, Ohio, her parents being pioneer settlers of th6 county. Her death took place on September 3, 1892, her husband surviving until April 25, 1900. Their children were William A,., Marietta, Caroline, Delia Jane, Sarah Loetta and George E., the latter a farmer of Bucyrus township: Only William A. and George survive. Although Mr. Eckert began life with limited means, by industry and good business management he became a substantial farmer and stock-raiser. Before his death he added still another fifty-acre tract to his estate and was thus one of the large land owners of the county. In politics he was a Re- 124 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. publican and for many years was a leading member of the United Brethren church, and was a man who enjoyed the respect and esteem of the whole neighborhood. William A. Eckert, the most worthy son of this estimable father, was reared on the farm, and was educated at the' State Deaf and Mute Institute at Columbus, Ohio. His home has always been in Dallas township since his parents came to Crawford county. Mr. Eckert was married on December 7, 1880, to Bertha O. Sohlke, who was born in Germany; a daughter of Christian and. Emma Sohlke, who emigrated to America when Bertha was four years Old. They settled in New York, but later removed to London, Ohio, later to Putnam county, where they died. Mrs. Eckert was, also educated in the fine institution for the mutes at Columbus, and there formed the acquaintance of her husband. Three-bright, entertaining and well educated children form the home circle for Mr. and Mrs. Eckert,---Callie, Victoria and Robert. Ray. Mr. Eckert has been a successful farmer, is a Republican voter and is one of the most highly respected citizens of the township. TARLINGTON B. CARSON. Tarlington B. Carson is now serving as postmaster of New Washington and is one of the honored pioneer settlers of Crawford county, whose growth and progress he has witnessed from an early period, having located within its borders when civilization had hardly gained a foothold, much of the land being in its primitive condition, while the work of development and improvement lay in the future. A wonderful transformation has since occurred, and the forests have been replaced by waving fields of grain, giving evidence of the care of enterprising agriculturists ; towns and villages have also been founded and, have been supplied with all of the accessories known to the older east. Mr. Carson was born in Venus township, Seneca county, Ohio, June 7, 1837, his parents being Samuel and Elizabeth (Willoughby) Carson, both of whom are of German-Irish descent, and were natives of Virginia, but were married in Harrison county, Ohio, in 1814. In 1835 they removed to Seneca county, locating in Venus township. The father entered a. section. of land and erected thereon a double log house, which served as the family residence for several years and was also used as a place of religious worship. Later a log schoolhouse was built in the neighborhood and it was used for church CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 127 as well as school purposes. Samuel Carson was a distant relative of the celebrated trapper and Indian fighter, Kit Carson: A man of very decided views and excellent judgment, he was in his day considered one of the Most prominent and intelligent residents of northern ,Ohio. In politics he was a Democrat until the election of Buchanan to the presidency. Entertaining strong abolition views and not being pleased with Buchanan's administration, he enlisted under the banner of the new Republican party which was formed to prevent the further extension of slavery, and was identified with that organization from the early days of its history until his death. His fellow townsmen, recognizing his ability, frequently called him to positions of public trust, yet he was never an office-seeker. He had the high regard of his neighbors and friends and he left the impress of his individuality upon public thought, feeling, progreis and advancement. His wife died in February, 1866. She was very devoted and considerate in her relations with her husband and children and won the love of all. Her husband survived her until June of the following year, when,he, too, passed away and was laid to rest by the side of the woman who had been to him a faithful companion and helpmeet on life's journey. They were both active and consistent members of the Methodist Protestant church, Mrs. Carson being most influential in carrying forward all church and charitable work. They became the parents-of eleven children, namely : Robert, Jackson W., Annie, Harrison H., George,. Margaret, Sarah, Hannah, Eliza, Samuel and Tarlington B. The last named is the immediate. subject of this review, and is one of the well known citizens of Crawford county. His school privileges in youth were very meager, for he probably never attended more than forty days in any one year. At the time of his birth there were but five families in the! school district, the, country round about being a vast wilderness. He, however,. mastered the common branches of the English course, and when twenty-years of age he began teaching, which profession he followed for four years:. Desiring to still further perfect his own knowledge, he then entered the Seneca Academy and he was also materially assisted in his studies by his two older brothers, who were teachers, and by his brother-in-law, Alanson Cory who at that time was one of .the ablest educators of this portion of the state. He had two brothers, Harrison,H. and George W., who were ministers of the Methodist Protestant and Freewill Baptist churches, respectively, and four of his sisters and three of his brothers were teachers. Mr. Carson eagerly continued his pursuit of knowledge, often .studying far into the night, and by this means he acquired an excellent education. On the breaking out of the 7 128 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. Civil war he responded to his country's call and joined the boys in blue of Company K. Fourteenth Regiment of Ohio Volunteer Infanti-y„. being mustered into the service on the 5th of September, 1861. Not Jong afterward ..the-regiment joined the Army of the. Cumberland, and he served his country faithfully throughout the war and participated in many engagements, among ..the most prominent of which were the battles of Chickamauga, Lookout •Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Jonesboro, Wild. Cat; Spring Mills and many otherS of lesser importance. He was also in the skirmishes around Pittsburg Landing and was in the battle of Tuscumbia, Alabama. . He sustained two flesh wounds, one at Missionary Ridge and the other at Chickamauga, :and on the close of his three years term of service was honcirably discharged September 9, 1864, returning home with a most commendable record for valor and loyalty. After again reaching Ohio Mr. Carson purchased eighty acres of the farm upon which he was born, but in 1868 sold that property and for a year ,resided upon what was known as the Joseph Summerland farm. Later he removed to a farm of eighty acres, now owned by Samuel Willford; .having purchased this property at the time he sold his first farm. He cleared and :improved it making it his home for seven years, when he found a purchaser for the property, and having disposed of it invested his money in another farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Cranberry township, which he still owns. During the ten years of his residence thereon he cleared eighty acres, placing the tract under a high state of cultivation, but in March, 1886, he rented his land and removed to New Washington, taking up his abode in his present residence; which he rented for a year and then. purchased. On the 2d of May, 1861, Mr. Carson was united in marriage to Miss. Sarah R. Smith, a native of Venus township; Seneca county, and a daughter of Jonathan and Elizabeth (Bigam) Smith. By this marriage were born seven children; of whom. three are yet living. During the earlier years. of his business career Mr. Carson, also engaged in teaching in the public schools for twelve years in connection with his farming Operations, and many of the prominent men of New Washington and vicinity were among his pupils. On the 15th of May, 1889, without solicitation on his part he was appointed postmaster of New Washington, and occupied, the position. until October 1, 1893. On the 1st of September, 1897, he .was again appointed to the office and is the present incumbent. In his political views he is a stanch Republican, unswerving in his advocacy of the party which upheld the Union cause during the Civil war, and has ever been found on the side of progress and reform. CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 129 In 1894 he was solicited by many of his friends to become a candidate for the office of township trustee. At length he consented, and although the township is strongly Democratic he was elected by a majority of fifty-five votes. His party would have again given him the nomination, but he refused uncompromisingly to become a candidate. A member of the Methodist Episcopal church, he is an earnest Christian gentleman, whose business record, public career and private life are likewise above reproach or condemnation. To the duties of the home, in commercial circles and when in office lie is as true and loyal as when he was. a Union soldier upon the battle-fields of the south. JACOB DENZER. Jacob Denzer, who has passed the eightieth milestone on life's journey, is one of the oldest citizens and most honored pioneers of Crawford county. He was born in Baden, Germany, May 13, 1821, a son of Andrew and Hester A. (Finfgelt) Denzer. The father also was -born, reared and educated in Baden. and served as a soldier under Napoleon Bonaparte, going with that general on the ill fated expedition to Moscow, where thousands of his comrades fell. Unto him and his wife were born four sons and, a daughter, namely : Andrew, George, Jacob, Mary and Simon. Two of the number died in fatherland and were buried in Upfingen, Baden. The father died about 1840, seven years after coming to this country, but the mother lived Many years, passing away in 1876, at the age of ninety-four years. It was in the autumn of 1833 that Jacob Denzer, then a lad of thirteen years, came with his parents and their family to the new world. Not long after their arrival they became residents of Crawford county and the father purchased fifteen acres of timber land in Liberty township. This tract was then cleared and a log cabin was built the following spring. Jacob Denzer began to earn his own living that spring by working as a farm hand, receiving three and four dollars per month for his services. He was employed in that capacity until twenty-five years. of age and gave his wages to his parents until he had attained his majority. At the age of twenty-five he began farming on rented land, which he operated for three years. As a further preparation for a home of his own Mr. Denzer secured as a companion and helpmate for the journey of life Miss Matilda McNeal, of Crawford county, their marriage being celebrated on the 13th of March, 1850. The lady was born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, December 6, 1826, 130 - CENTENNIAL. BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. and proved of great assistance to her husband in his work. After his marriage Mr. Denzer rented one farm for six years, and in the meantime he purchased thirty-eight acres of land. In 1863 he bought his present homestead —one of the best farms in the county, the purchase being made possible through the .enterprise and energy of Mr. Denzer, who has labored consecutively and industriously, thus working his way upward to a position of affluence. For ten years he operated a sawmill, working the fields in the day time and running the mill by night and through the seasons in which he was not cultivating his crops. He thus prospered and became one of the extensive and representative farmers and stock-raisers of the county. He made may improvements on his place, adding thereto all the accessories and conveniences of the model farm. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Denzer were born the following children : Mary L., Jennie, Andrew, Esther, Simon J., Anson J.., Ella, Alexander, Maggie, Lewis I. and Electa V. Two died in childhood— Florence and an infant son. In rearing their children Mr. Denzer and his wife brought up a family of sons and daughters who are a credit to their name, being valued and influential citizens of the respective communities in which they make their homes. Mr. Denzer cast his first presidential vote for Martin Van Buren and since that time has been a stalwart Democrat in his political views. For several years he has loved a retired life, owing to impaired health, and well he deserves his rest for he has passed the eightieth milestone on life's journey and his honorable, active and useful career deserves to be crowned with a period of rest. He is respected by all who know him, and his acquaintance has been a wide one through his residence of more than six decades in the county, which he has seen developed from a wild region into a splendidly developed tract of country, which has become the abiding place of a contented and prosperous people. LEWIS I. DENZER. Lewis I. Denzer is one of the native sons of Crawford county and is widely known among its citizens, where his educational work and his personal characteristics have made him popular and respected. He is a son of Jacob Denzer, an honored pioneer, whose sketch appears above. His birth occurred May 12, 1867, on the old family homestead in Bucyrus township, where his father is still living. There our subject early became familiar with the duties and labors that fall to. the lot of the agriculturist. He assisted in the cultivation of the fields, the planting and harvesting of crops and in the Winter season CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 131 he pursued his education in the common schools. His preliminary course was supplemented by study in the Ohio Normal University, at Ada. He has fol7 lowed his chosen vocation with success and for several years has been widely known as one of the most competent and popular teachers in the county. He is a follower of the Democracy, earnest and enthusiastic in support of the principles of his party, and on its ticket he has been elected for the second time to the office of township assessor of Bucyrus .township, in which position he discharges his duties with promptness and fidelity. He still resides on the old family homestead, which is endeared to him through the associations of youth as well as those of his manhood. He is a member of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics. His acquaintance is extensive, his friends many, and among the young men of the county he holds a high place in public regard. MRS. LOUISA MILLER. Perhaps there is no more highly esteemed resident of Holmes township than the most estimable lady whose name introduces this sketch. Born in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, February 24, 1825, she has lived, a long life filled with worthy deeds and has exerted an influence for good through the community. Her parents were Cyrus and Margaret :(Warner) Hacker, both of whom were natives of Dauphin county who emigrated with their family to Ohio, in 1835. Father Hacker purchased eighty acres of land in Liberty township, and settled down to make a living for his family. The soil was fertile, but it required hard work to clear the land, and only a portion of it was ready for cultivation when his death occurred, in 1848, when he was but forty-seven years old. His widow was left with a family of seven children to rear, under circumstances which would have completely crushed many a woman; but Mrs. Hacker was made of strong nerve, took up her burden, managed her farm, reared her children to be capable and self-supporting and self-respecting men and women, and in her later years found a peaceful home with ne of her excellent daughters in Indiana. Our subject grew up at her mother's side and was taught all the household duties of the time, and the art of spinning and weaviing the put into practice in later life, after marriage, when she wove all the cloth for family use, working frequently by firelight, and to those early efforts much of the success of Mr. Miller was due. In 1848 occurred the marriage of Louisa Hacker to Joseph Miller, and during the succeeding ten years he farmed for his father, 132 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. on shares; but in 1858 he came to Crawford county and purchased eighty acres. of land, in Holmes township, where the present Miller residence is located. The years that followed were years of hard work, but diligence and perseverance had their final reward. The land was unimproved, and for eleven years a pioneer log cabin was the family home. In 1867 Mr. Miller erected a substantial barn and two years later one of the best residences in the township. As he prospered he added eighty adjoining acres to his farm on the south, eighty more on the north and fifty a. short distance east of his home farm, making his farming lands comprise about two hundred and ninety acres. During all these years, while life for Mrs. Miller was at its busiest and most demanding stages, for she was rearing her son and assisting in every way possible the business interests of her husband, Mrs. Miller was making a happy home and becoming a beloved neighbor in the rapidly growing community. Mr. Miller died on January 28, 1897, a man of sterling worth, with a name which was ever recognized as good as his bond, and one of the leading members of the United Brethren church which he had faithfully served as trustee, class-leader and Sunday-school superintendent for many years. His early education was neglected because of the demands made upon him when a child when he should have been at school. Joseph Miller was born in Richland county, Ohio, September 16, 1816„ a son of Israel and Rachina (Kitch) Miller, the former of whom was a native. of Pennsylvania, a blacksmith by trade, which he followed in connection with farming. His marriage was in his native state and there his three children were born ; but Joseph, who was the fourth child, was born in Richland county. Some time about 1816, Israel Miller removed to Richland county, Ohio, and entered one hundred and sixty acres of land, in Franklin township, building upon it a cabin and. making other improvements, residing upon it until 1860, when he sold this farm and removed into Todd township, Crawford county, where he bought a small place of forty acres, and had his children, settled comfortably around him. Here he remained a number of years, but late in life' remoyed to Osceola and spent his last clays in retirement, dying on April 30, 1872, at the age of eighty-three years and six months. The separation was too great a blow to his devoted wife, and twenty-four hours later she also passed away, at the age of seventy-six years.  During life Joseph Miller voted with the Democratic party, having been reared in that faith. Since his death Mrs. Miller has continued to reside on the farm, her son, Ceno P., living with her and managing the estate with CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 133 ability. Many changes have taken place. since this estimable lady first made this her home, and it is with satisfaction that she can look back and realize how much of the improvement is due to her own efforts. CONRAD HASSEL. The life of a man who gives his years and his energies to evangelical, educational and charitable work is always. interesting and valuable as showing men what a fellow. man has done for Mankind. Rev. Conrad Hassel, one of the most prominent preachers and workers in the field of Christian charity,. living at Galion, Ohio, was born two miles southeast of Sharon, Mercer county, Pennsylvania, January 26, 1863. When he was six years old his parents removed to a point two and a half miles southwest of Sharon, Trumbull county, Ohio, where he passed his boyhood and received his early education in the district school near his home. and at a night school taught in that neighborhood in which special attention was given to arithmetic. He was constructed in the German language at his home by his parents and attended several winter terms of a German night school at Sharon, where he devoted himself to German, grammar and writing. In his boyhood he became a member and regular attendant of the Reformed church at Sharon. For a number of years he taught a class in the Sunday-school of that church and was a. regular attendant at another Sunday-school in that neighborhood, the sessions, of which were held on Sunday afternoons. The superintendent of the Sun,ay-school last mentioned had a happy faculty for simple narration of the deeds and sufferings of Christ, and his presentation of the Savior's career and Mission was so effective that it powerfully impressed young Hassel, who has no recollection as to when he first conceived a desire to enter the ministry of the gospel. As long ago as he can remember, he felt such a desire. Even at the age of seven, while reading the simple narratives of the Bible, he was strongly impressed by the Gospels and the Acts to preach Christ and him crucified. At the age of twenty young Hassel entered Calvin College at Cleveland, Ohio, where under the competent direction of the Rev. H. J. Ruetenik, D. D., L. D., he took a full collegiate course and won a gold medal which was offered as a prize to the student taking first rank in the German language. After graduating, with the degree of B. A., he took a seminary course at Heidelberg University, Tiffin, .0hib, where he was graduated with the degree. 134- CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. of B. D., and seven :years later his alma mater conferred upon him the degree of A. M. Rev. Hassel's first pastorate was composed of the Reformed, Ithureh at Ashland and a country congregatioh near West Point, Ohio. That pastorate continued for two years and nine months, during Which time the Membership, especially in the country church, was greatly improved and in many ways it was crowned with the reward of blessed work well done. Having accepted a call from the First Reformed church of Galion; Ohio. Rev. Hassel entered upon his second pastorate April 1, 1891. The tenth anniversary of his connection with the Galion. church was made the occasion. of an interesting celebration. His church has a membership of over six hundred. In addition to his work in the ministry Rev. Hassel has distinguished himself in connection with the Crawford County Historical Society. He began historical researches local in character in 1893 which attracted so much attention and prompted so much interest in the matters in question that the society was duly, organized May 18, 1896, with Conrad Hassel as president. In the same year a monument was erected by the society on the site of the Olentangy battlefield, where on June 6, 1782, Colonel Crawford's retreating army faced and and had a battle with the pursuing Indian warriors from Sandulky and Buttler’s Rangers from Fort Detroit. Though hard pressed the Americans gained the victory. Rev. Hassel's familiarity with the opening of the Northwest Territory gave him intimate knowledge concerning its early settlement and the trials and successes of such pioneers as Boone and his contemporaries, as well as the subsequent brave path finders of the wilderness. Rev. Hassel has been president of the Heidelberg Classis, president of the Central Syhod; delegate to the. General Synod and treasurer of the .Home Mission board and is at this time president of. the board just mentioned. Rev. Hassel married Lydia Forwick, of Vermillion, Ohio, August 26, 1889,. union was blessed. with six children, three boys and three girls, named as follows : Frieda, Alma, Otto, Irene, Carl and Ira. Mrs. Hassel is a daughter of a well known minister of the Reformed church; now deceased. JAMES G. GORMLY The unostentatious routine of Private life, although of vast. importance to the welfare of the community, has not figured to any great extent ill.the pages of history. But the names of men who have distinguished themselves CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 137 by the possession of those qualities of character which mainly. contribute to the success of private life and to the public stability and who have enjoyed the respect and confidence of those around them should not be permitted to perish. Their example is more valuable to the majority of readers than that of heroes, statesmen and writers, as they furnish means of subsistence for the multitude whom they in their useful careers have employed. Such are the thoughts that involuntarily come to our minds when we consider the life of him whose name initiates. this sketch. He is one of the most prominent. representatives of the banking interests of this section of Ohio. A man of .sterling worth, his ability in business and reliable methods have won for the institution with which he is connected a foremost position in money circles. Mr. Gormly was born in Bucyrus November 23, 1836, and is the eldest son of John A. Gormly, whose birth occurred in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, July 19; 1804. His paternal grandparents were John and Elizabeth (Gill) Gormly. The former was born in county Tyrone, Ireland, in 1776, and about 1790 crossed the Atlantic to the new world, locating in Pittsburg, where he entered the milling business. He wedded Elizabeth Gill, a daughter of John Gill; who was born in Scotland and took up his abode in the Keystone state prior to the Revolutionary war. When the colonies attempted to throw off the yoke of British oppression he joined the army and valiantly assisted in obtaining independence: About 1830 John A. Gormly removed to Brownsville, Pennsylvania, where he engaged in the dry-goods business, and while residing there became a member of the Presbyterian church. In 1833 he was united in marriage to Miss Louisa Bowman, and in 1836 they came to Bucyrus, Ohio, where he conducted a small general store on Sandusky avenue, having purchased property there. By close attention to business and careful management on the part of himself and wife he became one Of the wealthy men of the county. He judiciously invested a part of his capital in realty, becoming the owner of valuable city property and one thousand acres of rich farming land. In 1859 he turned his attention to the banking business, establishing the People's Deposit Bank, which he successfully conducted until 1864, when he organized the First National Bank of Bucyrus and was chosen its president, acting in that capacity until his death, which occurred May 8, 1878, when he was in his seventy-fifth year. To his management, fair dealing and integrity the bank owes its high reputation, which has not been lessened under the management of his son, James B. Gormly, who is now president. In church work he always took an active interest, 138 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. doing all in his power to promote the cause of Christianity. In 1838 he was elected a ruling elder in the Presbyterian church and in 1868 was made a lay delegate of the presbytery from Bellfontaine to the general assembly in Brooklyn, New York. His wife passed away prior to his death, being called to her final rest May 6, .1872. In their family were three children, James B., George C. and Mary L., the daughter being the wife of the Rev. James G. D. Findley, of Newburg, New York. Mr. Gormly, whose name introduces this record, pursued his education in the schools of Bucyrus until his seventeenth year, when he entered the store of his uncle, James P. Bowman, with whom he remained for a year In 1856 he was graduated in Bartlett's Commercial College, of Cincinnati, and then entered the Exchange Bank, of Bucyrus, as teller and bookkeeper there, remaining until 1859. In that year he and his father organized and became sole proprietors of the People's Deposit Bank, which ceased to do business on the organization in 1864 of the First National Bank, of which the father became president, while Mr. Gormly was made cashier, serving in that capacity until 1878, when he succeeded his father to the presidency. For almost a quarter of a century he has occupied the position, and the safe, conservative policy which he has followed has annually increased the business transacted over the counters of that institution. A man of splendid executive force, of keen discrimination and of splendid powers as an organizer, he has been an active factor in the control of many important business concerns in this section of the. state. From 1871 until 18.75 he was secretary and treasurer of the Ohio Central Railroad Company and was treasurer of the Crawford County Agricultural Association from 1867 until 1878. He was for several years the president of the Gas & Electric Light Company and is now president of the Bucyrus Water Works company. Of the former he served as president until its sale in 1901. In 1893 he was made assignee of the. estate of ex-Governor Foster, of Fostoria, Ohio, the business of which he has just brought to a conclusion. In connection with Colonel W. C. Lemert, he was one of the organizers of the Fry-Sheckler Company, now the American Clay Working Machinery Company, of which he was treasurer for several. years. This is the largest enterprise of the kind in the world. In 1859 Mr. Gormly was united in marriage to Miss if E. Virginia Swingly, a daughter of Dr. Frederick and Mary (Denman) Swingly. Their children are: Ella K., now the wife of F. S. Monnett, ex-attorney general of Ohio and now a resident of Columbus; Susie E., wife of W. H. Picking, a hardware merchant of Bucyrus; and James B. CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 139 son was educated in the schools of Bucyrus, and in 1890 entered the First National Bank, where he is now acting as assistant cashier. The family is one of prominence in the community and attends services at the Presbyterian church, of Which Mr. Gormly is an elder.. In politics he is a Republican.. There are few men whose lives are crowned with the honor and respect which, is uniformly accorded him, and through more than a quarter of a century's connection with the business interests of Ohio his has been an unblemished character. With him success in life has been reached by his sterling qualities, of mind and a heart true to every manly principle. FREDERICK SWINGLY M. D. No representative of the medical fraternity in Crawford county has had a more extended patronage or a higher reputation in the line of his profession than Dr. Swingly, late of Bucyrus. He was Will in Washington county, Maryland, November 22, 1809, and was a son of Leonard and Prudence (Brentlinger) Swingly. At the usual age he entered school and continued his studies in the schools of Hagerstown, Maryland, until eighteen years of age. Subsequently he determined to make the practice of medicine his life work and became a student in the office and under the direction of Dr: Russell, of Mt. Vernon, Ohio, who planned his reading until he matriculated. in the Jefferson Medical College, of Philadelphia. In 1840 he was graduated in the Ohio Medical College, of Cincinnati, and immediately afterward began practice in Chesterville, Ohio, where he remained for seven years. Subsequently he spent one year in Mt. Gilead. His success in his profession was so pronounced that his reputation extended to surrounding counties and he became recognized as one of the leading members of the medical fraternity in this part of the state. In 1843 he came to .Bucyrus, where he was. already known by reputation, and at once secured a lucrative practice. The Doctor spent many years in his profession. His work was arduous, for the practice of medicine in those days involved long and dreary rides by day or night, in storm or sunshine, and he often had to make his way over almot impassable roads or through stretches of forest, but he never failed to respond to the call of the sick and suffering. Often times he knew that no pecuniary remuneration would be received, but his generous spirit .and broad humanitarianism prompted him to relieve those in need of .professional service. On the 21st of June, 1836, Mr. Swingly was united in marriage to Miss Mary, 140 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. daughter of Joseph and Mary (Trobridge) Denman, of Knox. county, Ohio. Their children are : Edith V., now the wife of J. B. Gormly, a banker of Bucyrus; Ellen M., who for several years was principal of the 'schools of Bucyrus, and is now the wife of Major E. C. Moderwell, of Chicago, Illinois; John R..; Frederick ; Mary D., wife of Colonel C. W. Fisher, of Bucyrus ; and Kate M., the wife of H. M: Fulton, also of Bucyrus. The mother of this family died February 28, 1874, and on the 5th of June, 1889, the Doctor was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Barbara Van Vorhees, widow of Isaac Van Vorhees, one of the early, settlers of Crawford county. Dr. Swingly passed away June 13, 1900, at the age of ninety-one years. His was a long, useful and honorable career, and his life history forms an integral part; of the annals of Crawford county. Probably no man in the community was more widely known than this loved family physician in many a household. His work brought him into close contact with a large majority of citizens, and his sterling worth gained him very warm regard. SYLVANUS CHARLES CHANEY. A good name is a priceless legacy and one. of which the children of an ordinary man should be more proud than the children of a great financier who had died. and left millions smirched with dishonor. Sylvanus Charles Chaney, in his time one of the prothinent citizens of Crawford county, Ohio, left such a priceless legacy to his descendants and to his children, property of .ponsiderable value which he won by hard work and honest dealing with his fellow men. Sylvanus Charles Chaney was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, July 5, 1836, a son of Johnson and Mary (Brooks) Chaney, who had six sons and two daughters, only two of whom—James Chaney of Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Mary, who is the wife of Elija Moore, of Columbiana county, Ohio,—survive. His parents were both of Irish blood and his grandfather died when Johnson Chaney was only a lad, leaving his widow with, a family of six children and without means adequate for their support. When our subject's father was only fifteen or sixteen years old, he began to work out by the month to assist in the maintenance of the family. After his brothers and sisters had become old enough to be self-supporting, he married and took up the career of a farmer in Columbiana county, Ohio, where he lived until his leath which occurred in 1875 at the advanced age of ninety-three years. CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 141 Sylvanus Chaney was one of six brothers, five of wham, including himself„ learned the carpenter's trade and one of whom became one of the most skill.: fill workmen in his line in the country. After he finished his apprenticeship,. he took up the work of his trade and in connection with farming he continued it until the spring of 1860. In September, 1858, he had come to Crawford' county for his bride, whom he took to Columbiana county where they lived about a year and a half. In the spring of 1860 he returned to Crawford county where he took up his residence and in connection with Eli Q. Lones, his brother-in-law, rented a farm of two hundred and twenty-six acres, which' belonged to his father-in-law, which they worked together for three years under lease. At the expiration of that time, they bought the farm and owned it in partnership, Eli Q. Lones living in Mr. Chaney's family, until 1876, when Mr. Lones married and the property was divided and Mr. Chaney became owner of one hundred and fifty-six acres of the original farm. Later he purchased of the Lones heirs seventy acres of land, which is now the home of his son, Lambert. As a farmer he was thoroughly enterprising and his splendidly improved property and everything upon it afforded ample evidence of his, thrift and of the excellence of his business management. Mr. Chaney's educational advantages were limited to those afforded by the public schools of his day, but he possessed an active mind that was inclined to the acquisition of knowledge and by reading he became well in formed in a general way, and by careful attention to business and a constant study of economic conditions and influences became one of the ablest business men in his part of the county. One of his marked traits was caution. and he brought it into use often with most gratifying results. Eminently fair. in all of his dealings, his integrity and probity were never questioned and he is remembered as one who in all his relations with his fellow men was fair and honorable. Of keen perception and liberal views, his grasp of all questions was certain and comprehensive and his gift of language was such that he was noted for the clearness and force with which he presented his views of any question that he discussed, and he was no less convincing in argument than entertaining in conversation. Though not a member of any church Mr. Chaney attended religious: services frequently and, with a leaning toward Presbyterianism, was a liberal supporter of churches of various denominations. An advocate of popular education, his influence upon schools in his neighborhood was very marked and his public spirit was so great that, it may be said of him that during. all his active years he withheld his encouragement and financial support from- 142 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. no measure that promised good to the general public. In politics he was an uncompromising Republican and as such he was elected to numerous local offices, and in the capacity of township trustee he served his fellow citizens with noteworthy ability and fidelity. A man of deep conviction, he possessed courage and force of character to maintain any position to which he was brought by his view of any question. He was a true and faithful friend and nobly filled his obligations to his fellow men, and as a husband and father he was loving, generous and in every way helpful, a blessing to those who depended upon him and who mourn him with tender affection and reverence. In September, 1858, Mr. Chaney married Mary J. Lanes, daughter of Joseph and Jane (Bowman) Lones. Mrs. Chaney's father was born in Berkeley county, Virginia (now West Virginia), March 17, 1801, a son of John and Mary (Spahr) Lones. It is a singular historical fact that he was born in the same house in which his mother was born. John Lones, also a native of Virginia, was a son of one of three brothers who early came from Germany to America, and, locating in different parts of the country, lost knowledge of one another's whereabouts and fortunes. John Lones' father served his adopted country in the Revolutionary war and was killed in battle. John, who was at that time but ten years old and spoke only in the German language, was bound out to an English speaking family, with whom he remained until he attained Mature years, entirely forgetting his mother, tongue. In 1810, when Joseph Lones was nine years old, his father moved to Columbiana county, Ohio, and settled about six miles from the Ohio river. Upon Joseph, who was the oldest of eleven children of parents who were comparatively poor, much farm work devolved early in his life and he aided his father very materially in improving and cultivating his farm and in rearing his large family. In 1828, Joseph Lanes removed from Columbiana County, Ohio, to Crawford county, Ohio, with John Bowman: his father-in-law, and settled in Holmes township. There is a tradition in the family that the journey consumed eleven days, John Bowman and his family coming to the county in.a. large wagon drawn by five horses, while Mr. Lanes drove a sixth horse attached to a small Dearborn wagon. This journey was made in the month of March, through a wild country so nearly impassable that on some days not more than ten miles were traveled. Mr. Lones built a cabin of poles, fourteen by sixteen feet inside, in a locality near Bucyrus, Ohio, known as Ludwig's bottoms. There he spent. the summer, entering one hundred and sixty acres of land adjoining the Quaintance farm in Holmes township. Having only twenty-five dollars in CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 143 cash, he worked on the streets in Bucyrus at twenty-five cents a day to earn money with which to pay for his farm. .Later he worked on the canal in Columbiana county and from time to time at whatever his hands found to do. In the fall succeeding his arrival in the county he penetrated the dense forest which included his land to a point where he made a small clearing, in which he intended to erect a cabin. Attempting. to return to the place a few days later, he was utterly unable to find it and accordingly made a new clearing, in which he built a home for himself and family, and it was not until years afterward that one day he came unexpectedly to his original clearing. For some years he lived there in a primitive way until he replaced his log cabin with a more modern frame residence. After a time he bought sixty-six acres of the old Eli Quaintance farm, which extended his holdings to the road on the west side; and. not long afterward. he bought sixty acres more of the Quaintance farm, on the east side of the road, and where he erected a residence and good farm buildings, and lived out the remainder of his days. A few years after Mr. Lones came to Crawford county he entered eighty acres of land north of his home farm for his father, who soon came to the ounty, of which he was a citizen until his. death. To enter the tract of land just mentioned Mr. Lanes was obliged to walk to the land office at Tiffin, twenty-seven miles distant. He had completed his business and had covered seven miles of the return journey by dinner time of the day on which he had left his home, and by the time h.e had eaten dinner the muscles of his legs were so badly swollen that he was unable to resume his journey until the following day and he remained over night at Melmore, Seneca county, Ohio. He died at the age of eighty-six, in the year of 1886. He was Married three times. Mr. Lones was a man of remarkable constitution; but the strenuous life of his earlier years told upon him and in his later years he suffered much from rheumatism. His early political affiliation was with the Whigs, for he was a strong anti-slavery man, and from the organization of the Republican party until his death he was a member of that virile and influential political party. His interest in public education was such that, though he was not an office seeker, he was repeatedly. elected a member of the local school board, and his advocacy of road improvements made him so popular with his fellow citizens that he was several times elected supervisor, in which office he served most willingly and efficiently. For many years he was an active member of the Protestant Methodist church. By his first marriage Mr. Lones had eight children, of whom three survive. One of these is Mrs. Sylvanus Chaney, who was born in Holmes township, on her father's farm, on which she now lives, 144 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. on the eighteenth day of December, 1832. She has borne her husband five children, of whom the following survive: Emma C., wife of J. M. Herron, of Perry, Iowa ; Laura J., who is a member of her mother's household ; Lambert J.; a farmer of Holmes township, and Rush A., who is the manager of his mother's farm: Johnson Chaney,. another of her sons, died in infancy, at the age of two years and four Months. WALLACE B. FORREST. Wallace Byron Forrest, who is occupying the position of clerk of the courts of Crawford county, was elected to the office in 1897 and entered upon the discharge of his duties on the 1st of August, 1898. In the fall of 1900 he was re-elected, so that he is now serving for the second term. If all public officers were as true and faithful to duty as Mr. Forrest there would be no complaint Of corruption in politics, for his public service is above reproach. Mr. Forrest was born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, May 3, 1853, and is a son of James and Margaret (Aston) Forrest. On the paternal side he is of Irish lineage, for his grandfather was a native of county Derry, Ireland, whence he emigrated to the new world, becoming a resident of the Keystone state. James Forrest was born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, in the year 1799, and died at Oceola, Ohio., in 1880, at the ripe old age of eighty-one years. His wife, who was born in the same county, in 1805, passed away in 1881, at the age of seventy-six years. She was of Scotch lineage for the Astons came, to the new world from the land of hills and heather. In 1854 the parents of our subject came to Ohio, taking ,up their abode in Todd township, Crawford county, upon a farm, where they spent their remaining days. They became well known and highly respected citizens of the community. Wallace B. Forrest was an infant at the time of the removal, and thus within the boundaries of Crawford county he was reared. To its public school system he is indebted for the educational privileges which he enjoyed in his youth. In 1872 he began teaching school and for seventeen years followed that profession in Oceola. He was acknowledged to be one of the most competent instructors in this portion of the state, was enthusiastic and zealous in his work and has the ability to impart clearly and accurately to the students the knowledge which he had acquired, and to forcibly impress upon the young minds the lessons which prepare them for life's practical CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 147 duties. He also served as school examiner for six years and was long an active member of the Crawford County Teachers Association, . and served as its president for two years. Mr. Forrest was married, in Oceola, to Miss Lottie E. Stull, a daughter of J. M. and. Mary E. (Smith) Stull, who removed from Stark to Crawford county. The marriage of our subject and his wife has been blessed: with the following named children: Edith S., who is now acting as deputy clerk for her father; Nina, the wife of Charles McLaughlin, of Oceola; Fannie, who is in school; Bruce and Irene. The family took up their abode in Bucyrus in 1898, removing hither from Oceola. Mr. Forrest is a them ber of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Junior Order of American Mechanics. In politics he is a Democrat and takes considerable interest in political affairs, doing all in his power to advance the growth and success of his party. Todd township many times honored him by electing and re-electing him to office, he having held the offices of clerk and treasurer for ten and five years, respectively. In 1880 he was a census enumerator for Todd and Dallas townships, having been appointed by a Republican president over three Republican rivals. In 1890 and 1891 he acted as deputy county treasurer under Frank Blicke. For five years he was proprietor of a general store, which he closed out in order to assume the duties of county clerk, and during four years of the time he spent ins merchandising he was also postmaster, appointed to the office by President Cleveland in 1892. During the fiftieth congress he was an index clerk im the house of representatives, having been appointed to the position by General Clark, of Missouri, who was at that time clerk of the house. In the spring of 1901 Mr. Forrest was elected a member of the Bucyrus city council, a position he now holds. His election to this office, he being not long a resident of Bucyrus, indicates the high esteem in which he is held by his fellow citizens of Bucyrus. Called to the position of county clerk by popular ballot, he discharged his duties so faithfully through one term that he was re-elected to the office. His public career is one over which there falls no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil, and as a man and citizen Mr. Forrest. commands uniform respect. JAMES KERR. James Kerr, deceased, resided in Crawford county for many years, and so active was he in affairs that contributed to the material growth of the community and so extensively did he engage in farming and wool growing 8 148 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. that no biographical record of Crawford county would be complete without mention of this honored and venerable gentleman, who through a long and useful career ever commanded the respect and esteem of his fellow men. Mr. Kerr was born in Knox county, Ohio, February i 8, 1818. His parents were James and Elizabeth (Arbuckle) Kerr, natives of Pennsylvania, whence they removed to Knox county, Ohio, at a very early clay. In that county their son James was born and there he spent his youth, working on the home farm, but when seventeen years of age he left his father's fireside to take up' the battle of life for himself. His mother had passed away in death and his father had married a second wife, and it was a disagreement with the step-mother that caused Mr. Kerr to leave home.. He came to Crawford county and made his home with his elder brother, "Bobbie" Kerr, for whom he worked on the farm for about three years.. On the expiration of that period he began farming for himself and completed his arrangement for a home of his own by his marriage to Miss Nancy Towers, on the 5th of November, 184o.. They began their domestic life upon a farm of forty acres, which he had purchased in Dallas township. Not long afterward, however, he sold that tract of land and purchased another farm in Whetstone township, taking up his abode thereon and making it his home for many years. He prospered in, his undertakings and became an extensive land-owner, at one time his possessions aggregating nearly nine hundred acres. For years he engaged in trading and raising, sheep, carrying on the business on a very large scale, finding it a profitable source of income. For five years he lived with his son, George T. Kerr, but in 1897 he removed to Marion, Ohio, where his wife died July 12, 1900, and he himself passed away October 22, 1901. Mrs. Kerr was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, January 4, 1820, and was a daughter of Thomas and Nancy (Sullivan) Towers, both of whom were natives of Maryland, whence they removed to Pickaway county in an early day. In later life they came to Crawford county and here made their home until called to their final rest. The father was a soldier in the war of 1812 and was a farmer by occupation, following that pursuit in order to provide for his family: Both he and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. They had twelve children, six sons and six daughters. Unto James and Nancy Kerr were born the following children: Susan, the wife of William. Arbuckle, a resident of Crawford county; George T.,, who is mentioned elsewhere in this volume; and James F., who died when four years of age. The mother was a most noble woman. She was a pioneer CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 149 daughter, a pioneer wife and bore bravely the struggles and hardships of pioneer life. She worked with an energy equal to that of her husband and materially assisted. him in gaining a competence in life. She passed away in the eightieth year of her age, but her memory remains as a blessed benediction to all who knew her. Like her husband she was for many years an active and faithful member of the Disciples church, located in Bucyrus, an organization which owes much to their support. They were liberal contributors to the erection of the church building, and to the work as it was carried on along various lines. Upon the death of Mrs. Kerr her remains were laid to rest in the beautiful cemetery at Bucyrus. Mr. Kerr passed the eighty-third milestone on the journey of life. He certainly deserves great credit for the exemplary life he lived and the success he achieved. A man of strong conviction, yet charitable in his opinions of others ; honest in his business relations and at all times living in harmony with upright principles and honorable manhood, he not only gained wealth, but also won that good name which is rather to be chosen than great riches. GEORGE A. SPAHR. A familiar and well-known figure in all of the important and progressive agricultural movements in Holmes township, Crawford county, for many years past, has been George A. Spahr, a highly respected citizen and most substantial farmer. The birth of Mr. Spahr was in Cinitherland county, Pennsylvania, on June 21, 1825. He was a son of Jesse and Margaret (Peterman) Spahr, and is one of three surviving children. His two sisters are : Catherine, who is the wife of Urias Smith, of Defiance county, Ohio; and Sarah A., who is the wife of Richard Knisley, of Liberty toWnship, in this county. Jesse Spahr, the father of our subject, was born. in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, and grew up on a farm there, married in his native vicinity nd there four of his family of children were born. In 1830 he emigrated to Crawford county, Ohio, and after farming for some years as a renter he purchased eighty acres of land in Liberty township, six miles east of Bucyrus, and there he resided until the time of his death in his eighty-fifth year. In politics he was an adherent of the Democratic party; became prominent in public affairs in the township and efficiently filled: the office of trustee for several terms. Both he and his wife were life-long: devoted members of