550 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. occurred in 1854. Six years previous his constitution had been broken down by the suffering caused from milk sickness. He was a stanch member of the Methodist Episcopal church and was a Democrat in his political affiliations, but was never an office seeker. Unto Thomas and Esther Cory were born seven children, of whom six are yet living, namely : Mary E. is now the wife of James Morrow, of Auburn township. James E. is a dealer in oil and gas lands in Marion, Indiana, and was for four years representative from his county in the state legislature. He was the author of several important enactments, which passed both the house and the senate. Robert W. is a veteran of the Civil war, serving for three years as a member of. Corn: pany C, Sixty-fifth Ohio Infantry, and is now a farmer living at Galena, Missouri. Hugh M. is the next younger. Sarah E. is the wife of Henry C. Martin, a farmer of Montgomery county, Kansas. Susan N. is the wife 0f John Morrow, an agriculturist of Auburn. township.. The second member of the family was Thomas C. Cory, a veteran of the Civil war, who afterward .became a prominent attorney of Kansas, but died in that state, as the result of his wounds, in 1888. Hugh M. Cory spent his childhood days under the parental roof and acquired his education in the district schools. On the return of his brothers from the army the burden of the farm work and management was taken from his shoulders and he was then able to acquire a better education, so that in 1864 he entered Lexington Seminary, where he pursued his studies during the summer months for four years. In the winter season he engaged in teaching in order to pay his tuition. He was also a student for one term in the Delaware University. In April, 1870, he went to Kansas, and shortly afterward, 0n account of the building of the two branches of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad, he went to Parsons, Kansas, which was at the junction. of .the two railroads and there the company purchased four sections of land, laying 0ut the town of Parsons. Believing that the new town would prove a. desirable place Mr. Cory and his brother hastened thither, acquiring some property, and for eight years Mr. Cory, of this review, was engaged in the real-estate business at that point, while his brother practiced law. Our subject read law with his brother in his leisure hours, but never applied for admission to the bar. However, during that time he argued many cases. before the justice court and was very successful in law work. In August, 1878, he sold his real estate in Kansas and returned to Ohio, soon afterward locating in New Washington, where he engaged in the real-estate and fire insurance business. In 1882 he was elected justice of the peace, and CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 551 with but two or three terms intermission has continuously filled the position since that time. In 1885 he was elected mayor of New Washington and served for fourteen consecutive years in that office. He has a record for public service that is scarcely paralleled and no comment need be made concerning his ability and fidelity, for this is indicated by his long continuance in office. Mr. Cory was one of the founders of the Settlers' Advocate, a weekly publication in the interests of the settlers, as well as real-estate men. In 1886 occurred the marriage of our subject and Miss Carrie F. Baker, a native of Crawford county and a daughter of George W. Baker, a pr0minent farmer of Vernon township. Six children have been born unto them : Hazel, now deceased; Minnie M., who born in 1888; a son who died in infancy ; Thomas, born in 1894; Lois, born in 1898; and Mary E., born on the 1st of May, 1899. The parents hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Cory is one of the well known and highly esteemed residents of New Washington. GEORGE STUCKEY. While Germans and men of German extraction have won success in nearly every walk of life, they have been especially successful as farmers, a fact that has been amply demonstrated by farmers of German blo0d in Crawford county, Ohio, notably in Lykens township, where George Stuckey and others have made records which distinguish them above many other well-to-do farmers in the county. George Stuckey was born in Lykens township, Crawford county, Ohio. on the same farm which is now his home, August 19, 1867, a son of Carr Stuckey, a native of Bavaria, Germany, born in 1821. Carl Stuckey, who was a blacksmith by trade, came to America in 1847 and landed in New York City, after forty days' voyage on an old-fashioned sailing vessel. From New York he went to Sandusky, Ohio, where for a time he was employed at railway construction. Removing to Bloom township, Seneca county, he worked as a farm hand for several years by the month until he was able to buy eighty acres of land in Lykens township, Crawford county. The land was heavily timbered and he made a clearing on it and built a log house, in which he lived until 1864, when he removed to the farm on which he died, January 22, 1899. He was twice married. His first wife, Mary Keiffer, bore him two children : Henry, who lives in Seneca county, and Mary, who married John Ohl. His second wife was Laura Kellar, and they had eight 30 552 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY children, as follows : Lena, who is the wife of Frank Dennis, of Seneca .county, Ohio; Charles, who is a well-known citizen of Texas township, Crawford county; Elizabeth, the wife of Lewis Young, of Lykens township; Hattie, who married Charles Mohr,. of Lykens township; George, who is the immediate subject of this sketch and the next in order of birth; William J., a respected citizen of Texas township; Laura, who married Cyrus. Ohl, of Seneca county and Nellie, who makes her home with George and is a student at Heidelberg College, at Tiffin; Ohio. The mother of these children died in September, 1893. George Stuckey was brought up to work on the farm and received a practical education in the common schools near his home. In 1890 he rented his father's homestead, which has been his home to the present time. He owns one hundred and sixty acres of good land and gives his attention to general farming and stock-raising. He is a member of the German Reformed .church and. in politics he is a Democrat. He has never been active as a politician and has never sought any public office, but he exerts a good influence in a political way and his public spirit has led him to identify himself with many movements, which he believed promised to benefit his fellow citizens. Mr. Stuckey was married February 28, 1896, to Miss Etta Boomershine, and has a boy named Glenn. SAMUEL SNYDER Samuel Snyder, who resides on one of the fine farms of Todd township, and is one of the highly esteemed and useful citizens of Crawford county, Ohio; was born in Holmes township, on November 17, 1836. He was a son of Rudolph and Anna (Schlabach) Snyder, who had six children, our subject and his brother John, of Henry county, Ohio, being the only ones remaining. Born in Berne, Germany, about 1800, Rudolph Snyder grew up in his native land and was thoroughly instructed in the trade of carpenter, and married an estimable lady in his neighborhood. Starting with his wife and three children for the United States, in 1836, he reached this country with his wife and only one of the children, as two of the little ones died on the voyage and were buried at sea. Not only did Mr. Snyder and his wife have to suffer from this double bereavement, but the voyage was one of storm and danger, after sixty-four days being towed into New York harbor by a passing vessel, their own sails having been washed away. CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 553 Mr. and Mrs. Snyder made their way to Bucyrus, Ohio, where many of their countrymen resided, and with them found sympathy and remained there for six months. Their means were limited and Mr. Snyder was able to buy but nine acres of land. This was covered with timber, but on it Mr. Snyder dug a cave, improvised a roof and lived here for the following two years, and then built a substantial and comfortable hewed-log house, in which he resided until 1856, when he removed to what was known as the Hall farm, which he rented for three years. That Mr. Snyder was frugal, energetic and industrious may be inferred from the fact that about this time he was financially able to purchase eighty acres of timber land, in Todd township, this being the farm upon which our subject now resides. During these succeeding three years, by working on mo0nlight nights and taking advantage of every holiday, receiving some assistance from his little sons, Mr. Snyder succeeded in clearing up ten acres, and in 1859 he built a portion of the present handsome farm residence and here he lived until his death, in 1879. His faithful wife, who has endured all his trials and cheered him through the years of their companionship, survived him only eight days. They were most worthy people and were members of the Lutheran church, while in politics he was in sympathy with the Democratic party, although he never took any active interest in public affairs. The subject of this sketch, Samuel Snyder, grew to sturdy manhood, strengthened by the hardships of pioneer life, and became a m0st important factor in the clearing of the farm, and in 186o bought twenty acres, which adjoined his father's purchase. Two years later he was married to Miss Catherine Spiegel, who was a native of Germany and a daughter of Christopher Spiegel, who came to Ohio from his German home and settled in Todd township about 1860. After marriage our subject began housekeeping on his little farm and worked also at the carpenter's trade and built many of the largest barns in this section of the township, although he never served any apprenticeship, having inherited the capacity for mechanical skill from his father. In 1879, when the parents of Mr. Snyder died, the home farm, which had been acquired with so much industry and economy by his father, and upon which he had worked through many a year, came into his possession, while his brother John took a farm in Henry county, in which our subject also had an interest. Since that time Mr. Snyder and family have lived on the old homestead, now one of the most valuable properties in this part of the township. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Snyder, namely : 554 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. Hygeia, the wife of Joseph Hilborn, of Bucyrus; Hattie, the wife of George Allbright, of Todd township; Charles, at home; and Bertha, the wife of Benjamin Beall, of Bucyrus township, in this county. Mr. Snyder is inclined to favor the Democratic party in politics, but he is liberal-minded, and frequently votes for the man instead of the party. He is one of the highly respected citizens of this township, and a most worthy representative of the honest and persevering parents who so bravely battled through poverty and misfortune and won the esteem of all with whom they came in contact. WILLIAM GLEDHILL. There are few farmers in Jefferson township, Crawford county, Ohio, who are better or more favorably known than William Gledhill, who was born March 12, 1838, in Jefferson township, Crawford county (then Richland county), Ohio, a son of Joseph and Mary (Mitchell) Gledhill. Joseph Gledhill was born September 11, 1799, at Browbridge, Others field, Yorkshire, England; married at Leicester, England, in the year 1824,. Mar) Mitchell ; moved to America in 1826, and located in Trumbull county, Ohio. Being a carder .by trade, he ran a woolen factory for five years, then removed to Youngstown and engaged again at his trade, and from Youngstown he came to Crawford county, in 1832, and bought a farm, where he resided until his death, at the age of sixty-eight years. His wife, who bore him eleven children, attained the advanced age of eighty-four years. The following facts concerning the children of Joseph and Mary (Mitchell) Gledhill are pertinent to the purpose of this sketch. Eight of them grew to manhood and womanhood. Elizabeth, the eldest, married David Snyder and they have both passed away. Mary married Perry Russell and lives at Middletown, Ohio. Esther married John Shoemaker and is dead. Martha, who, became the wife of Colonel Calvin Burwell, is also dead. Sarah married Henry Castle and lives in Jefferson township. John married Susan Burgin and died in 1883. Joseph is a prominent citizen of Jefferson township. William is the immediate subject of this sketch. William Gledhill was born and reared on his father's old homestead in Jefferson township, of which he took charge at the age of nineteen years, of which he is now the owner and on which he has lived all his life. He owns-one hundred and seventy acres of well improved and very productive land and gives his attention to general farming and stock-raising. A Republican CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 555 in politics, he has taken an active interest in local affairs and has held the office of township trustee for eleven years, with some intervals, and is its incumbent at this time, and his interest in good roads has been such that he has for many years been kept in the office of road supervisor. He is a member of the Junior Order of American Mechanics. Mr. Gledhill was married April 10, 1873, to Miss Rebecca Gilliland and they have five children, named Olive, Esther, Edward, Tacy and Cleo Hazel. Edward married Miss Idessa Deam and lives in Jefferson township. JOHN KELLER. One of the fertile and valuable farms of Crawford county is the property of John Keller, one of the leading agriculturists of his locality. He is a native of Ashland county, Ohio, born on the 3d of April, 1843, a son of Henry and Maria (Geip) Keller. The father was born in Northampton county, Pennsylvania, in 1816, and when fourteen years of age came with his parents to Ashland county, Ohio. In 1847 he took up his residence in Crawford county, settling in Todd township, where he purchased eighty acres of land, but seven years later he sold that tract and purchased one hundred and thirty-three and a third acres north of Osceola, also in Todd township, where he spent the remainder of his life, passing away on the 1st of June, 1899. He was a Democrat in his political views and was a member of the German Baptist church. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Keller were born seven children, five of whom still survive: Hettie, the wife of W. V. Fagin, of Sycamore, Ohio; John, of this review ; Sarah, the wife of J. A. Welsh, of Wyandot county, Ohio; Nancy, the wife of Samuel Keifer, of Osceola ; and Elias, a resident of Todd township. After the death of the mother of these children the father was again married, Miss Mary Baker becoming his wife, and they had one son, William, who resides at Lemert, Todd township. John Keller, whose name introduces this review, acquired a limited education in the old log school house of his district. In February, 1864, he enlisted for service in the Civil war, becoming a member of Company E, Thirty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He took part in the Lynchburg raid, was with Sheridan in the second engagement at Winchester, and took part in the battles of Berryville, Cedar Creek, Fisher's Hill and many other engagements of the war. He was captured at t everly, Virginia, on the 8th of January, 1865; and was sent to Libby prison, where, after forty days, he was paroled and exchanged, after which he returned to his home on a thirty 556 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. days furlough. On the expiration of that period he returned to his command, and on the 31st of July, 1865, received his honorable discharge at Columbus and returned to his home. Mr. Keller then worked for his father until the following December, when he went to Michigan and worked as a farm hand there for one year. Again returning to his home, he then took charge of the old homestead, which he worked on the shares, and in August, 1872, he purchased his present farm of sixty acres, where he has since resided. In 1866 Mr. Keller was united in marriage with Miss Sarah L. McCreary, a native of Lorain county, Ohio, and a daughter of John McCreary. They have had two children, but only one is now living, Eva L., the wife of J. C. Frost, who is serving as postmaster 0f Osceola. Our subject is liberal in his political views, but gives his preference to the Democracy. He is one of the most successful men of his community and is regarded as one of its well-to-do citizens. ALBERT HAMMOND. Albert Hammond was one of the honored pioneers of this portion of Ohio, and for many years was identified with agricultural interests here. He was a native of Cayuga county,- New York, born February 25, 1813, and was a 'son of George and Sarah (White) Hammond. His father, at a very early period in the development of Crawford county, emigrated westward, settling near Tiro, where he entered one hundred and sixty acres of land from the government and began the arduous task of developing a new farm, and there lived and died. Mr. Hammond, the subject of this sketch, married Miss Catherine Groesbeck, who was born October 4, 1813, and they became the parents of six children : Almira; Alvira; Philora, deceased; Orlando, deceased ; Ellen Delora; and Lucy. In 1834 our subject removed to Lykens township and settled where Jacob Breode now lives. He entered the land from the government, built a log cabin and began to clear and improve the farm, which he. transformed into a desirable property, the fields yielding to him good hatvests. There he resided until 1875, when he removed to the farm upon which he spent his remaining days, his death occurring when he was seventy-two years of age. He was actively concerned in the work of public progress and improvement. Indians were still to be seen in this part of the state when he came to the county and the work of progress and improvement seemed scarcely begun. He helped to lay out roads, build school houses and assisted CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 557 in building the Baptist church. No work calculated to advance the general welfare sought his aid in vain and he was widely known as a most valuable citizen. He held various township offices, ever discharging his duties most faithfully, and wherever he was known he was held in the highest regard by reason of his upright life and fidelity to principle. Almira, the eldest child of Albert Hammond, was born in Lvkens township, Crawford county, Ohio, May 12, 1835, and has spent her entire life in the county. She has been twice married. She first wedded James Miller, and they had four children : Albert, a merchant of Plankton, Ohio; Izora A., wife of Elbridge Tippin, of Kansas ; Elbert P. and Francis M. The last two learned blacksmithing and located in Tiffin, Ohio, where the younger was killed by a kick from a horse in July, 1901. After the death of her first husband Mrs. Miller gave her hand in marriage to Jacob Johnston, and they had two sons, one dying in infancy, and the surviving one is Corma E., at home with his mother. Mrs. Johnston owns eighty-two acres, which is cultivated by her youngest son, and the farm is now in good condition. The mother and son are both members of the Baptist church. Mrs. Johnston is a milliner by trade and has engaged in business along that line to a considerable extent. She is one of the worthy and honored pioneer ladies of the county, representing a prominent family, and is held in high regard for her many estimable characteristics. HENRY R. LINN. As one of the largest land-owners and most substantial citizens of Crawford county, Henry R. Linn occupies a prominent position, although there are many who can recall the clay when his only capital was an abundance of energy, an industrious and willing nature and an honesty, which his worthy parents had taught him while still a child. Mr. Linn was born in Holmes township, in Crawford county, on April 12, 1840, and was a son of Philip and Christina (Holcher) Linn. They were born in Wurtemberg, Germany, and were married in their native land, and there their oldest son, John, was born. John Linn is now a prosperous farmer of Chatfield township. In 1833, when John was but three years old, Mr. and Mrs. Linn came to America and settled on a farm in Holmes township, where the rest of the children were born, these being: William, who died in 1862 ; Mary, who married Andrew Green, of Liberty township; Henry R.; Philip, who resides in Marion county, Ohio; Jacob, who also resides in Marion 558 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. county ; Charles, who lives. in Bucyrus ; and Elizabeth, who is unmarried. The mother died in 1870, at the age of sixty-five, the father surviving until he was eighty-two. These worthy and pious parents reared their children in the German Lutheran church and did their best to give them a common-school education. Until he was fifteen years old Henry Linn remained at home, but the family was large and he early decided to look out for himself, and for five or six years he worked by the month and then. bought .a team, and as a renter engaged in farming. For about eight years he rented farms and finally bought a tract of one hundred and thirty acres in Holmes township, but never located on that land. After owning it for some three or four years he sold it and bought one hundred and fifty-six acres in Dallas township, upon which he moved, and there he lived for two years, erecting. a house and barns, with other outbuildings and putting it into perfect repair. This enabled him to sell at a good profit and then he bought a fine estate, consisting of three hundred and twenty acres in Dallas township where he now lives. Here he has built one of the most attractive residences in this locality, and one of those barns so necessary upon a farm where large. operations are successfully carried on, and has. made other improvements, both to beautify and increase the value of his property. Since this purchase he has added ninety acres and now owns four hundred and ten acres of some of the finest land in the county. In 1877 Mr. Linn married Miss Alice Martin, the daughter of Henry and Elizabeth .(Miller) Martin, pioneers of Crawford county. To Mr. and Mrs. Linn three daughters and one son have been born ; Grace E., who has taught several terms of school ; Gertie, who has also proved . herself a fine teacher; Helen and Ora. With his wife and children he belongs to. the Methodist church, where all are highly valued. Mr. Linn. has been a life-long, Democrat and has efficiently served for two years as township treasurer. Henry Martin, the father of Mrs. Linn, was born in Richland county, Ohio, on January 12, 1826, and was a son of Charles Martin, a pioneer of Richland county, who later lived in Crawford county and then removed to Huron county, where he died. His ancestry was German. Mr. Martin was married to. Elizabeth Miller, in 1853, in Marion county, Ohio, where Mrs. Martin's parents were then living. She was born there. Her parents, also of German descent, were early settlers of Marion county. To Mr. and Mrs. Martin ten children were born, all of whom survive and are George W., Alice J., Mary J. , Effie A., Sarah. Ellen,: Ida May, Viola CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 559 Charles E., Harry J. and Blanche I. The lamented death of Mr. Martin occurred on August 19, 1891, and his widow lives on the old home place. In 1857 Mr. Martin m0ved to Dallas township, Crawford county, and established the home upon which his widow now resides. By trade he was a carpenter, but he worked at it very little after coming to this county. In business he was fairly successful. He took a great interest in the Democratic party and for several years was justice of the peace and township treasurer. He was held in high esteem in the Methodist church, of which he was a worthy member. JEFFERSON MARQUART. Jefferson Marquart is a representative of a well-known family of Crawford county, whose members have ever been people 0f sterling worth, well meriting the high regard in which they are uniformly held. Throughout his entire life he has been identified with agricultural pursuits in his native county. His birth occurred on the old family homestead, where his father now resides, his natal day being October 4, 1858. He is a son of Michael Marquart, 0f whom extended mention is made 0n another page of this work. During his youth he had the influences of a good home and was enabled to acquire a practical English education in the common schools. He received training in the work of the fields and meadows and was thus fitted for carrying on business on his own account. On the 23d of May, 1882, he was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Riedel, a native of Chatfield township, and a daughter of Conrad Riedel, one of the pioneer settlers of Crawford county, now residing in New Washington. After his marriage Mr. Marquart and his bride located upon his father's land in Seneca county and operated that farm, while he and his brother August also carried on the home farm, the partnership continuing for one year. In the succeeding autumn Jefferson Marquart removed to his present home of eighty acres, which his father had purchased only a short time previous. Here he has since resided, his time and attention being given to agricultural pursuits. Everything about his place is neat and thrifty in appearance and in his farming operations he is meeting with creditable prosperity. For eight years he ran a thresher, but in 1899 disposed of his interests in that business. The many excellent improvements which he has made upon his farm have transformed it into one of the valuable farm properties in this portion of the county. 560 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. In 1884 Mr. Marquart was called upon to mourn the loss of his first wife, who died on the 22d of May, and their only child is also deceased. On the 2d of January, 1887, he was again married, his second union being with Miss Mary E. Shade, a native of Seneca county, Ohio, and a daughter of William and Anna (Deisler) Shade, both of whom were natives of Seneca county, Ohio. Her paternal grandfather, Samuel Shade, was born in Pennsylvania and came to Seneca county, Ohio, among the first of its pioneer settlers. Her maternal grandfather, Charles Deisler, also cast in his lot with the early residents of that community when it was a frontier region, he having emigrated to the new world from Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Marquart now have one child, Rosa A. C., who was born December 20, 1887. In his political views Mr. Marquart is liberal, although he usually supports the Democracy. He and his family are very highly esteemed people and are c0nsistent members of the Lutheran church. Their circle of friends is extensive and their own home is well known for its cordial and sincere hospitality. ROYAL R. ROSS. The Ross family, to which our subject, Royal Resolved Ross, who is a leading citizen of Crawford county, Ohio, traces his ancestry, originated in Scotland, from which country his great-grandfather came generations ago, settling in Pomfret, Connecticut, among the early settlers. The grandfather was a well known physician there who later removed with his family t0 Otsego county, New York, where the father of our subject grew to manhood and married in 1825 he came to Crawford county. The parents of our subject, Abel C. and Celia (Emmons) Ross, had a family of four children, but 0ur subject is the only survivor. Two died in infancy and one daughter, Phoebe Alzina married William Cuykendall, who at death left four children, viz. : Ross, Don, Edessa and William R. Abel Ross was born in Pomfret, Connecticut, in 1 800, and was a son of Royal Ross. After his marriage in the state of New York he came to Crawford county, Ohio, and settled on the farm in Auburn township, which is now the property of Alfred C. Ross, and here he entered eighty acres of land, and in later years added thirty-two and one-half acres to the original purchase. At that time it was virgin forest, but he worked hard and succeeded in clearing it up, and lived in the log cabin, which he built upon it, until our subject was eighteen years of age. Then Mr. Ross built a commodious and comfortable frame residence,. and lived here until his death.. CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 561 The mother of Mr. Ross, of this sketch, died when he was only four years. old. By a later marriage, to Miss Laura A. Carlisle, three more children were added to the family,—Byron H., Celia A. and Alfred C., the last. named residing on the home farm. In his early years Mr. Ross was a Whig, and later naturally connected himself with the Republican party. Although not a member, he was a supporter of the Baptist church, and was known as a man, of probity and Christian life and character. Royal R. Ross was born in Auburn township; Crawford county, Ohio, on November 25, 1832, and he was a son of Abel C. and Celia (Emmons) Ross, as mentioned above. He grew up on the home farm and acquired his education in the common schools, all of his attendance, with two years' exception, being in the pioneer log hut, with slabs for benches and with a puncheon: floor, over which the little barefooted children had to walk with circumspection, always being in danger of splinters. When he had reached the age of nineteen years our subject began to work for neighboring. farmers, assisting in the haying and harvesting, and was a welcome hand for the fol- lowing four years, being strong and willing. About 1855, desiring to see something of the world, Mr. Ross went to Charlotte, Michigan, and worked through one year in a sawmill there, going then to Marion, in Linn county, Iowa, where he was employed during the next: year on a farm. A party of friends desired Mr. Ross to accompany them to Kansas, and he bought a h0rse and made his way to. Independence, Missouri, where he joined them, but the party was detained some weeks and our subject in the meantime found temporary employment. They all reached Neosho Falls, Kansas, but finally decided to turn. back. Mr. Ross returned with. them to Ohio, and found business conditions better in his native place than in other sections of the country. In 1858 he entered into a partnership with Samuel Hilborn and Samuel Wynn and they built a steam sawmill in this township, and this enterprise was successfully conducted for seven years. During this time Mr. Ross bought a farm of one hundred acres, known as: the Williams farm, later trading this for one of eighty acres, located near-; the mill. Two years later he sold this property to advantage and bought eighty acres, where he now resides, selling the mill at this time and removing-to his present property, where he now owns one hundred and twenty acres of well-improved and highly cultivated land. Forty acres of desirable land our-subject gave to his sons. The marriage of Mr. Ross was in 1860, to Miss Mary A. Aumena, and to this union five children were born, their names being as follows : 562 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. Emmons W., who is a farmer in this township; William B., who is a farmer of Richland county, Ohio; Fred R., who is a resident of Bloomville, Ohio ; .and Amelia A. and Howard, who have passed away. In politics Mr. Ross is a Republican and has filled a number of the local offices with credit to himself, notably those of justice of the peace for two terms and some five terms as township trustee. He is a member of the Methodist church, in which he is both trustee and class-leader and to which he contributes most liberally. Mr. Ross is highly respected as a self-made man and as one of sterling character, upright and honorable in his citizenship and esteemed in every relation of life. GILBERT F. MALCOLM. A busy, useful and successful career has been that 0f Gilbert Ferris .Malcolm, who is one of Crawford county's native sons and who has throughout his entire life been connected with the agricultural and stock-raising interests of this locality. He stands to-day as one of the leading representatives of this department of labor and in his business affairs he is meeting with 'splendid success. A son of James Harvey and Elsie M. (Monnett) Malcolm, he was born on a farm in the southeastern portion of Bucyrus township, April 29, 1865, and there the days of his youth were passed. His father was an extensive farmer and stock-raiser and early he became familiar with the best methods of caring for stock and cultivating the fields. He pursued his education in the public schools, acquiring a good knowledge of the English branches of learning usually taught in such institutions. He was a stout and hearty youth and even at the early age of twelve years he was able to perform the labors usually assigned to a man. Between that time and his majority no man of the many employed 0n his father's farm ever did more hard labor than our subject. In fact, he has experienced many hardships and has done much difficult work. Learning in early life the value of industry and perseverance, he has made them salient features in his career and they have contributed in large measure to his prosperity. He continued to work and labor in the interests of his father with no salary or any agreement about the work until he was twenty-nine years of age, at which time he was given a fourth interest in the profits of his father's stock business and was also given two hundred and eighty acres of land. In the stock business he was associated with his father until the latter's death. CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 563 Mr. Malcolm remained under the parental roof until his marriage and just after the celebration of that event he removed with his young bride to their present residence, situated on section 33, Bucyrus township, the place being known as the Ed Monnett homestead. Upon the death of his father, in June, 1900, he assumed the business control of the estate and now superintends the operation of nineteen hundred acres of land, of which he leases and cultivates six hundred and sixty-eight acres, all in one body and constituting one of the finest farms in the entire county. In addition to this he operates his farm of two hundred and eighty acres, given him by his father on the twenty-ninth anniversary of his birth, and a tract of four hundred acres, which he owns in Dallas township and which adjoins his Bucyrus township land on the south. He is one of the largest, if not the largest, cattle feeders of the county, having at this time about two hundred and fifty head upon his farm. He buys all of the cattle which he feeds, and in addition he raises horses, mules and hogs on quite an extensive scale. He has a large frame barn with stone foundation and basement, a modern and convenient frame residence and other good improvements upon his place. On the 18th of February, 1897, Mr. Malcolm was married to Miss Elizabeth Hinamon, a daughter of Fred Hinamon, of Marion county, Ohio, where occurred the birth of Mrs. Malcolm. Two children grace their union : Catherine Elsie and James Harvey. Their home is celebrated for its pleasing hospitality and their friends throughout the community are many and the circle is c0nstantly increasing. In his political views Mr. Malcolm is a Republican and is a firm believer in the principles and policy of the party, but has never sought office as a reward for party allegiance. He prefers to give his time and attention to his business interests, which are extensive and important, demanding capable management and keen business discernment in their control. He is widely regarded as a most enterprising farmer and stock-raiser, reliable in business and in all trade transactions, conducting his interests along the lines of the strictest commercial honor. JOHN SHALTER. The once prominent citizen of Lykens township, Crawford county, Ohio, whose name is above, was born in Stark county, Ohio, December 30, 1815, and died at his home in Lykens township, August 3, 1880. His parents died: when he was three years of age and he lived with different families until he was able to begin the battle of life for himself. He passed his early life 'in- 564 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. working at whatever he could find to do and in 1832 moved to Crawford county and took up eighty acres of government land in Lykens township, on which he built a log cabin, which a few years later he replaced by a more commodious log house, which in turn was superseded by the modern house which is the home. of his daughters. At the time of his death he owned one hundred and fifty-five acres, which had been cleared and improved by his own industry. His wife died August 30, 1892, aged eighty-two years and six months. They were active workers in the church and useful citizens in. the c0mmunity. Mrs. Shalter was Miss Elizabeth Albaugh, of Jefferson county, Ohio, and she bore her husband thirteen children, the following information concerning whom will be of interest in this connection. Hiram, the first born, is a farmer in Texas township, Crawford county. John lives in Putnam county, Ohio. Abraham lives in Seneca county, Ohio. Saloma is the wife of Daniel C. Savage and lives at Cripple Creek, Colorado. Mary A., Levi, Catharine, Susannah, Emma and David are dead. Nancy, Lizzie and Della live on their father's homestead. For several years the three were the proprietors of millinery stores at Bloomville and at other places in Ohio, and before that, for several years, Della was a successful teacher. ROBERT E. CROWLEY. Robert E. Crowley, who is a passenger conductor on the Big Four Railroad, was born in Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, in 1849, and is a s0n of Robert Crowley, a native of Scotland. Having arrived at years of maturity, the father married Miss Agnes J. McCullough, also a native of the land of hills and heather, their wedding being celebrated in Edinburg. Crossing the Atlantic to America, they became residents of Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, where occurred the birth of our subject. He spent his boyhood days under the parental roof until fifteen years of age, when he ran away from home in order to aid his country in preserving the Union. On account of his extreme youth his parents withheld their consent for him to become a s0ldier, but his spirit of loyalty could not be checked and he therefore quietly left the parental abode in 1864 and was enrolled as a member of the Sixth Pennsylvania Cavalry. Five other boys 0f the neighborhood enlisted at the same time, but four of the number were killed or died in the service. Mr. Crowley was with Sheridan in the Shenandoah valley and did dispatch duty for a long time. This service was particularly arduous and CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 565 dangerous, but he never faltered, although so young, and was ever found true to the trusts reposed in him and to the important work given into his charge. He was twice slightly wounded, and at the close of the war was mustered out at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, receiving an honorable discharge. Throughout the greater part of his business career Mr. Crowley has been connected with railroad service, having been for twenty-eight years in the employ of the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis Railway Company. He was on the road when it was known as the Bee line, and since 1873 he has been a conductor on what is now the Big Four Railroad, a part of the Vanderbilt system. For some years he acted as freight conductor between Galion and Union City, Indiana, but since 1880 has, been a passenger conductor, running to Indianapolis. During all of the years of his connection with the road he has never had an accident, never been suspended and has never been reprimanded by railway authorities. It is a record of which he has every reason to be proud and one indicating close application and unquestioned fidelity. Mr. Crowley was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Carrothers, a daughter of George Carrothers, who came from county Fermnagh, Ireland, to the new world when a lad of ten summers, accompanied by his parents, who located in Guernsey county, Ohio. This family of Carrothers were heirs to the Abercrombie castle and estates in Scotland. After some time spent in Guernsey county, George Carrothers removed to Noble county, from there to Morrow county, where his last days were passed. His widow is still living on a farm. in that county, her home being seven miles from Galion. Unto Mr. and Mrs.. Crowley, have been born five children : Agness Jane and Clyde W., twins, who died in infancy, at the ages of eight months and two years, respectively; Margaret, who is in Little Rock, Arkansas, acting as private secretary to Bishop Brown, of the Episcopal church. She was educated in St. Mary's Episcopal school, at Knoxville, Illinois, being graduated with the class of 1898, in which she won class and valedictorian honors. She learned stenography and typewriting in three months, after which she accepted her present position. Bishop Brown was residing in Galion during her infancy and acted as her godfather and Mrs. Brown as godmother. There Are also two sons in Mr. Crowley's family,—Forest Glenn and Robert Garfield,—both of Galion, the latter now a student in the high school. Mr. Crowley is a Republican in his political views, and, though he takes no active part in campaign work, he believes firmly in the principles of the party and keeps well informed on the issues of the day. He was reared in 566 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. the Episcopal church and he and his family attend its services. Although his life has been quietly passed it contains many lessons worthy of emulation, as does that of every man, who, like Mr. Crowley, is true to his duties, to himself, to his neighbors and to his country. WILSON C. LEMERT. No adequate memorial of Colonel Wilson C. Lemert can be written until many of the useful enterprises with which he has been connected have completed their full measure of good in the world and until his personal influence and example shall have ceased their fruitage in the lives of those with whom he has been associated while an actor in the busy places of the world. Yet there is much concerning him that may with profit be set down here as an illustration of what can be done if a man with a clear brain and willing hands but seriously undertakes the real labors and responsibilities of life. Colonel Lemert is numbered among the native sons of Crawford county who have attained distinction and honor in connection with commercial and industrial interests. He was born upon a farm in Texas township, in 1837. His father, Louis Lemert, was born in Loudoun county, Virginia, August 5, 1802, and was a son of Joshua Lemert, who was also a native of the Old Dominion, but whose parents were of German birth. Joshua Lemert was united in marriage, in Virginia, to Miss Mary Wright, and in 1808 emigrated to Ohio, settling on a farm in Coshocton county, Ohio. He served as an officer in the war of 1812 and is said to have been the strongest man in the regiment. He died in Muskingum county, Ohio, in 1858. Lewis Lemert, the father of the Colonel, acquired a fair education in his youth, and on the 2d of January, 1823, was united in marriage to Miss Ruth Perdew, who was born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, April 4, 1802, a daughter of William and Rachel Perdew, who removed to Coshocton county, Ohio, in 1816. In 1826 Lewis Lemert came with his young wife to Crawford county and took up his abode on a farm in Texas township, where he won prosperity through the tilling of the soil. Both he and his wife were active members and liberal supporters of the Methodist church in an early day and they lived exemplary Christian lives. The father held various p0siti0ns of public trust and ever merited the hon0r and confidence reposed in him. Their son, Joshua, was for three years a member of the Seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry at the time 0f the Civil war and for one year commanded his company, with the rank of captain. CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 569 Wilson C. Lemert pursued his preliminary education in the schools of Crawford county, later entered the Republic Academy; in Seneca county, Ohio, subsequently was a student in Heidelberg College, of Tiffin, Ohio, and was graduated in the Ohio Wesleyan University, in Delaware, with the class of 1858. In the following year he was graduated in the Cleveland Law College, and in 1860 began the practice of his chosen profession in Greensburg, Indiana, but about a year later he put aside all personal considerations that he might aid his country, then engaged in civil war. During the first year of hostilities between the north and the south Wilson C. Lemert joined the Seventh Indiana Infantry, was chosen second lieutenant of his company, and during the first year of his services was promoted to first lieutenant and afterward to captain, receiving the latter promotion in recognition of meritorious conduct on the battlefield of Winchester. In1862 Governor Tod tendered him a major's commission in the Eighty-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and in 1863, on the reorganization of that regiment, he became its colonel. The regiment was assigned to the command of General Burnside, with the Ninth Army Corps and was active in the historical campaign of eastern Tennessee. Colonel Lemert was given command 0f the Third Brigade, Second Division, Ninth Army Corps, consisting of over seven thousand soldiers, including infantry, cavalry and artillery troops, which constituted the Federal forces in the department of Clinch river. His headquarters were at Cumberland Gap, the strategic gateway of east Tennessee. Colonel Lemert continued in command of this brigade and a part of the time was acting commander of the division, until the expiration of his, services in 1865. The movement of his troops formed an important chapter in the history of the war. He was a gallant officer, with a comprehensive and practical knowledge of military tactics. Ever fearless himself, he inspired his men with his own bravery, yet he was never reckless in exposing them to needless danger. His loyalty was above question and he enjoyed the confidence of his superior officers and those who served under him. On his return from the war the Colonel entered upon a business career requiring generalship no less marked than that needed in commanding troops on the field of battle. It requires a master mind to plan, formulate and execute gigantic business enterprises, and this the Colonel has done. No citizen of Crawford county has been connected to a greater degree with important commercial and industrial concerns. In 1865 he was president and general manager of the Bellefontaine Cotton Company, engaged in raising and trading in cotton in Mississippi and Alabama. From 1867 until 1877 he was a part- 31 570 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. ner and manager in the business of A. M. Jones & Company, extensive manufacturers of wagons, carriages and sleighs. In 1877 he became manager of the firm of McDonald & Company, railroad builders, who constructed and operated the Toledo & Ohio Central Railroad. In 1878 he became president and manager of the Moxahala Furnace Company, of Perry county, Ohio, constructed and opreated the plant and opened coal, iron-ore and fire-clay mines at Moxahala. During the same time he superintended the construction of the Toledo & Ohio Central Railroad from Moxahala to Corning. He purchased the land, platted and built the town of Corning and there developed other coal mines, with a daily capacity 0f three thousand tons. In 188o he completed the Corning mines and built the railroad from Corning to Buckingham, and raised by subscription along the line to Toledo one hundred thousand dollars to complete the line to Toledo and enlarge its equipment. He was appointed manager of the entire mining and railroad properties and conducted the "Corning war" which resulted satisfactorily to miners and operators. During the same year he secured a location of the railroad machine shops at Bucyrus and purchased and reorganized the Bucyrus Manufacturing Company, which became large producers of mining and railway equipments, steam shovels and dredges. In 1881 he built an extension to the Ohio Central Railroad from Corning to the Ohio river, a distance of fifty-one miles. He also successfully operated extensive draft-horse ranches in Iowa and C0lorado for ten years. He was appointed chief engineer on the staff of Governor Foster. In 1882 he built the St. Louis & Emporia Railroad, afterward a part of the Missouri Pacific system, and in 1883 began the construction of a railroad from Findlay, Ohio, to Columbus, which was sold 'to the Ohio Central Railroad Company. He was also in-. terested in the Nickel Plate enterprise, which was sold at a good profit to the Vanderbilts. Colonel Lemert organized the Northwestern Natural Gas Company, which supplied Toledo, Sandusky, Tiffin, Fostoria, Fremont, Clyde, Bellville and Detroit with natural 'gas. Colonel Lemert then assumed the general supervision of the Brice & Thomas natural gas plants in Ohio and Indiana, —at Springfield, Dayton, Piqua, Sidney, Troy and Lima, Ohio, and Fort Wayne, Logansport and Lafayette, Indiana. In 1887 he purchased-, rebuilt axial consolidated the gas and electric light properties at Bucyrus and in 1889 purchased the brick machinery factory of Frey, Sheckler & Hoover, organizing the Frey-Sheckler Company, which he later consolidated with the Penfield & Son plant, at Willoughby, Ohio, the new organization being known CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 571 as the American. Clay Working Machinery Company. This company has enlarged its business until it now has the most extensive plant in the world in the manufacture of clay-working machinery. In 1894 Mr. Lemert purchased, combined and rebuilt the gas and electric light plant. and the electric railroad at Fort Smith, Arkansas, so that the different concerns are now under one management. In addition to all his other interests the Colonel is a 'director in the First National Bank at Bucyrus. In his manifold undertakings he has prospered and is now able to retire with a coinfortable fortune acquired through good management, close attention to business and careful economy. His relations with his employes have ever been of the most desirable character. His bearing is entirely free. from ostentation and there is a kindly interest manifest in his intercourse with those who serve him. He is generous in helping the needy and distressed, is quick to reward merit and is ever prompt in payment. Colonel Lemert was united in marriage to Miss Mary L. Jones, a daughter of Dr. A. M. and Elizabeth Jones, of Bucyrus, and unto them were born two daughters, Katie E. and Blanche, but the former died on the 11th of March, 1896. The Colonel has traveled extensively, visiting many points of interest in Europe, continuing his travels to Palestine and looking upon the evidences of the ancient civilization of Africa. He has always preferred to control gigantic business enterprises rather than to enter politics and has declined many resp0nsible positions of 'honor and trust. He has never held office, save when in 1866-7 he was postmaster of Bucyrus. The career of Colonel W. C. Lemert has ever been such as to warrant the trust and confidence of the business world, for he has ever conducted all transactions on the strictest principles o' f honor and integrity. His devotion to the public good is unquestioned and arises from a sincere interest in the welfare of his fellow men. What the world needs is such men—men capable of managing extensive, gigantic mercantile concerns, and conducting business on terms that are fair alike to employer and employe—men of genuine worth, of unquestioned integrity and honor,—and then the questions of oppression by capitalists and resistance and violence by laborer's will be forever at rest. HENRY D. MILLER. Henry D. Miller, who is engaged in general farming, was born May 25, 1869, on the farm in Lykens township, Crawford county, upon h he now resides. He is a son of Christian Miller, deceased. He. attended the 572 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. common schools in his youth and also assisted in the cultivation of the fields upon the old homestead, thus early becoming familiar with farm work in its various branches. When eighteen years of age he took charge of the old homestead, practical experience having well qualified him for the work. Since that time he has managed the farm, and its well cultivated fields and neat appearance indicate his careful supervision. He is an industrious, progressive farmer, and he annually harvests good crops. He now owns one hundred. and seventeen acres of the old home place in Lykens township and is therefore numbered among the substantial young farmers of the community. On the 28th of November, 1895, Mr. Miller was united in marriage to Miss Ida Margraff, a daughter of Charles and Leah (Miller) Margraff, and they now have one child, Donna Blanche, who is a most interesting member of the household. Mr. Miller is well known in Crawford county and his. fellow citizens of Lykens township have honored him with office. He served. as assessor in 1894 and 1895, and in his political affiliations he is a Democrat. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Reformed church,. and he holds social relations with the Knights of Pythias lodge of Lykens. He is a charter member of the organization and has filled all of its offices. A wide-awake and pr0gressive farmer, he well deserves mention in the history of his native county. ABRAHAM MONNETT. Abraham Monnett was for many years a prominent resident of Crawford county, but the boundaries of the locality in which he made his home were too limited for the capabilities of such a man. He was a typical representative of the Aemrican spirit, which within the past century has achieved a work which arouses at once the astonishment and admiration of the world. Crawford county was fortunate in that he allied his interests with hers, for his labors proved of benefit to the entire community, as well as resulting to his individual prosperity. The marvelous development of the middle west is clue to such men, whose indomitable energy and progressive spirit have overcome all obstacles and reached the goal of success. He was not so abnormally developed as to be called a genius, but ,vas one of the strongest because one of the best balanced, the most even and self-masterful of men, and he acted so well his part in b0th public and private life that Ohio as well as Bucyrus has been enriched by his example, his character and his labor. When he was. CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 573 called from this life the community mourned the loss of one of its most valued and honored citizens. Abraham Monnett was born October 12, 1811, in Virginia, near the Maryland line, and was a son of the Rev. Jeremiah and Aley (Slagle) Monnett, who, in 1814, left the south and with their family came to Ohio, locating in Pickaway county, where Abraham Monnett grew to manhood, early displaying his active and energetic disposition, his strong will and decisive character. With few local advantages he yet obtained a good education, reading, observation and experience continually supplementing his knowledge until he became a well informed man. He took an active interest in local affairs and was made first lieutenant of a militia company commanded by Captain Berkley. He aided in everything pertaining to the public progress and development, and his worth to the community was widely acknowledged. In early life he purchased forty acres of land in Scott township, Marion county, Ohio, where he began farming on his own account. On the 9th of June, 1836, in Pickaway county, Ohio, he was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Braucher, who in her fourth year was left an orphan and inherited three thousand dollars, which helped to lay the foundation of his financial success. This, together with a small sum received from his father, was the only part of his large fortune which Mr. Monnett did not accumulate through his own industry, energy and economy. In 1838 he began buying stock in Illinois and driving the cattle to his farm in Crawford and Marion counties, Ohio. His operations in this line of business proved very successful and he continually added to his income until he became one of the wealthiest men in this portion of the state. He assisted in organizing the Marion County Bank, and was its president from 1864 until 1881. In 1879, in connection with Mr. Hall, he organized the Crawford County Bank, of Bucyrus, was made its chief officer and acted in that capacity until his death. The successful conduct of the enterprise was due to his efforts, his capable management and his keen business discernment, and he made the institution one of the most reliable financial concerns in this part of the state. As the years passed he also increased his landed possessions by making judicious investments in farm property and became the owner of over eight thousand acres of land in Marion and Crawford counties. By his first marriage Mr. Monnett became the father of twelve children, namely : Ephraim B., who is now living in Bucyrus, Crawford county ; Martha, wife of G. H. Wright, a resident of Marion, Ohio; Oliver, who also is living in Marion; John T., who makes his home in Marion county ; Elsie, 574 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. widow of James H Malcolm, of Bucyrus ; Augustus E., who is living in Colorado; Mervin J., who makes his home near Central City, Nebraska; Mary J., wife of J. G. Hull, of Findlay, Ohio; Madison W., of Michigan; Melvin H., who resides in Marion county ; Amina J., wife of Judge J. C. Tobias, of Bucyrus; and Kate, wife of Linus H. Ross, of Delaware, Ohio. The mother of this family was called to her final rest February 8, 1875. She was a woman of sterling qualities of mind and heart, a worthy and faithful wife, and a most kind, just and affectionate mother. On the 30th of May, 1877, Mr. Monnett was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Jane L. Johnston, a most estimable lady, whose family history is given elsewhere in this volume. Mr. Monnett was a supporter of the Republican party, but the honors and emoluments of office had no attraction for him. He belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church, and his life was ever in harmony with its teachings and principles. His history contains many valuable lessons. It is impossible to keep a man of merit in the background, although his early surroundings were not such as to win him prominence. A progressive spirit knows no bounds, and ability has no limitations of time, place or space. The man who has no opportunities makes them and molds adverse conditions to his own ends. Such characterictics won for Mr. Monnett a place among the most prominent, successful and reliable business men of his portion of the state. As a man his business ability was constantly manifest, and his operations in land as well as the banking business became extensive. His advancement resulted from determined purpose, resolute will and keen sagacity, combined with unfaltering industry, and he won a place among the most prosperous residents of Crawford county. His affairs were ever conducted along the line of legitimate trade, and over the record of his career there falls no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil. He passed away March 19, 1881, and the community mourned the loss of one whom they had learned to respect and honor. JAMES H. ROBINSON. There are no rules for building character ; there is no rule for achieving success. A man who can rise to a position of eminence is he who can see and utilize the opportunities that surround his path. The essential conditions of human life are ever the same and the surroundings of individuals differ but little, so that when one man passes another on the highway of life, reaching the goal of prosperity before those who, perhaps, started out ahead of him, it is because he has the power to use advantages which probably encompass the CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 575 whole human race. To-day among the most prominent business men of Crawford county stands James Henry Robinson, the vice-president of the Bucyrus State Bank and a man whose influence in business and political circles has been far reaching. The history of such a man cannot fail to be of widespread interest, for he ranks high among the representative citizens of this portion of the state. Mr. Robinson was born on the home .farm in Chatfield township, Crawford county, February 22, 1839, and manifests in his life many of the sterling characteristics of his Scotch ancestry,—for the family is of Scotch lineage. The great-grandfather, John Robinson, was born in the land of hills and heather, and when a young man crossed the Atlantic to America, locating in Virginia, where he met and married Miss Stout, whose parents came to the new world from the Emerald, isle. Mr. Robinson was at one time captured by the Indians in Virginia and brought by them to Ohio. They intended to burn him at the stake, but for some reason changed this decision, and he finally escaped, but four of his companions were killed. John Robinson, Jr,, the. grandfather of our subject, was a native of Virginia, and on leaving the Old Dominion emigrated westward to Coshocton county, Ohio, casting in his lot among its early settlers. In 1825 he came to Crawford county,. bringing with him his family. James M. Robinson, the father of our subject, was 'born in 1807, near Wheeling, West Virginia. He wedded Mary E. Cooper, and in 1825 came to Crawford county, taking up his abode on a farm in Chatfield township, where the birth of our subject afterward occurred. He died in 1874, at the age of sixty-seven years; and his wife passed away May 15, 1852, at the age of forty-two years. They had two sons who served in the Civil war, both having been members of the Third Ohio Cavalry. They are now deceased. having passed away in Michigan in 1883. One daughter of the family, Melvina J., became the wife of E. Clady, of Chatfield township, and died in 1872 ; Nathan J. died in Crawford county 'in 1874 ; and Alpheus D. is now living in Paulding county, Ohio. James Henry Robinson, whose name introduces this record, was the second of the family. He pursued his education in Chatfield and in the Otterbein University at Westerville. He was a student for two years. Subsequently he engaged in teaching eight terms of school in Chatfield, giving excellent satisfaction through his ability to maintain discipline and to impart with readiness and clearness to others the knowledge he had acquired. He has many times been called to public office, where he has served with ability and fidelity. He was township clerk of Chatfield township, and for two terms. held 576 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. the office of county surveyor. In the meantime he had engaged in merchandising at Chatfield for ten years, and in 1876 he became identified with industrial interests in Bucyrus as the secretary and treasurer of the Franz & Pope Knitting Machine Company, in which capacity he served for one year. In 1876 he also became county auditor, and filled that position for six consecutive years, or until 1882. On the 1st of January, 1886, he became cashier of the Bucyrus City Bank, acting in that. capacity for, fifteen years, or until the 1st of January, 1900, when he was elected vice-president. The success and growth. of this institution is largely due to his efforts. He has been untiring in promoting its welfare, and his genial manner and unfailing courtesy have made him a popular officer of the institution, while his well-known reliability has added to its high standing in financial circles. Mr. Robinson was married in Crawford county, to Miss Louisa Hipp, a daughter of Frederick and Catherine (Kunzi) Hipp, of Bucyrus. Her father is a director of the Bucyrus City Bank and ex-probate judge of the county. Their marriage has been blessed with two children: Francis Marion, who died in 1871, at the age of five years, and Minnie M., now the wife of F. B. Lauck, of Bucyrus.. In his political affiliations Mr. Robinson is a Democrat, and socially he is connected with the Masonic fraternity, belonging to the blue lodge, chapter and commandery. He also has membership relations with the Odd Fellows society, in which he has passed all the chairs, and in the Knights of Pythias lodge, of Bucyrus, he was the .first past chancellor. He holds membership relations in the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and also the English Lutheran church. In all life's relations he has commanded the respect and confidence of those with whom he has been associated. Regarded as a citizen, he belongs to that public-spirited, useful and helpful type of men whose ambitions and desires are directed in those channels through which flaw the greatest and most permanent good to the greatest number, and it is, therefore, consistent with the purpose and plan of this work that his record be given among those of the representativemen of the state. CHARLES R. SHECKLER, M. D. The family, physician sustains a peculiarly confidential relation to his, fellow citizens, and if he be a man of tact and honor comes in time to be their confidant and adviser in many matters of importance. Such a well-established, useful citizen is Dr. Charles R. Shedder, of Brokensword, Crawford county, Ohio. CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 577 Dr. Sheckler was born at Bucyrus, Ohio, March 7, 1856, a son of Edward Scheckler, a native of Bedford county, Pennsylvania, and a tailor by trade, who located early at Bucyrus and there married Adaline G. Shawk, who bore him four children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the first born. Their daughter Nettie became the Wife of E. J. Williams, of Holmes township, Crawford county. Their sons Thompson and Edward became farmers. Their son Charles R. received his primary education in the public schools at Bucyrus, and when about fifteen years of age began reading medicine under the preceptorship of Dr. A. Cuykendall, of that town. He was graduated in the Columbus Medical College in 1877, at the age of twenty-one years. After practicing his profession five years at North Robinson, Crawford county, he located at Brokensword, where he has met with gratifying success. He affiliates with the Democratic party, but is not a practical politician, preferring to give his time entirely to his profession. He was married in 1881 to Miss Catharine Bogan, and they have three children, named Ralph, Ada and Archibald. JOHN F. SMITH. The subject of this sketch is of that sturdy German stock which in all parts of our country has developed good citizenship and done its full share in bringing about general progress and prosperity. Mr. Smith was born in Lykens township, Crawford county, Ohio, June 22, 1840, a son of Frederick Smith, a native of Germany, who married Christina Lipman, who bore him six children: Lewis lives in Lykens township; Hiram is dead; John F. was the next in order of birth ; Adolphus lives at Aurora, Illinois; and Clara is the wife of Joseph Laipply, of Chatfield township, Crawford county, Ohio. A sixth child died in infancy. Frederick Smith came to America in 1832 and located at Columbus, Ohio, where he worked as a stone and brick mason until 1840, when he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land in Lykens township, Crawford county, and engaged in farming. The land had no improvements and was practically wild and cost him six hundred dollars. He lost no time in erecting a hewn-log house and in beginning the work of improvement and cultivation. His wife died at the age of thirty-four years and he married Lucy A. Shupp, who bore him the following children : Cornelius, Frederick T., Henry, Jefferson, L. M., Matilda, Catherine, Lucy, Emma and Sarepta. He became a prominent man in the township and died at the age of sixty-two years. The subject of this sketch was born and reared on his father's homestead 578 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. in Lykens township and was brought up to farm work and received his education in the public schools. At the age of twenty-two years he began a practical apprenticeship to the carpenter's trade. After working as a journeyman carpenter for eight years he engaged in contracting and building, which he followed successfully until 1881, when he bought his father's old home farm of one hundred and sixty acres, on which he lived until 1895, when he retired from active life and removed to Brokensword, Lykens township, where he has made his home to the present time. In 1865 Mr. Smith married Melinda Shupp, and of their children we observe that Lulu married Edward Pfetcher ; Laura married Wesley Lust ; Horace J. married Ida Fralick and lives in Lykens township ; Lucy Edith and Hiram are dead; Learra married George Lecrove, a farmer of Lykens township ; Lottie L. and Lestie B. are members of their father's household; and Linna is dead. The mother of these children died April 22, 1887, at the age of forty years. She was a woman of many virtues, who was ,dearly beloved by all who knew her, and, like her husband, was a consistent member of the Evangelical church. Mr. Smith has been prominent in township affairs and has in many ways shown his public spirit. At one time he held the office of township trustee. In politics he is identified with the Democratic party. He has always been a hard-working man and has achieved success by means of industry and a good name by fair and upright living. DAVID CRUM. David Crum is now living a retired life, and his rest is well merited, for through' a long period he was an active and energetic factor in agricultural circles. in Crawford county. His industry, perseverance and energy were the means of bringing to him success, enabling him to overcome many obstacles and difficulties in the path to prosperity. Over the record of his business and private life there falls no shadow of wrong, and thus he enjoys the warm regard of many friends. Mr. Crum is a native of the Keystone state, his birth having occurred in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, on the 8th of July, 1829. The family is of German lineage and was founded in America by the grandfather of our subject. Our subject's father, Leonard Crum, was born in the same state, in 1786, and there grew to manhood., learning the wagonmaker's trade in his youth. For a short time he followed hat business and also, conducted a small CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 579 distillery, but this covered a period of only a few years, after which he retired. from the distillery businesss and located upon a farm in Dauphin county, where. he resided throughout the residue of his days, his death occurring in 1869. He was twice married, his first wife having been a Miss Hain, by whom he had four children, all of whom are now deceased. He afterward wedded. Catherine Stine, and unto them were born twelve children, but only five are now living : Jonas L., a retired farmer of Decatur, Illinois ; David, Sarah E., wife of Samuel Crum, of Dauphin county, Pennsylvania; Rebecca, wife of. Samuel Swartz, also of Dauphin county ; and Benjamin, who is living in Progress, that county. Mr. Crum was enabled to provide comfortably for his family, for in his farming operations he prospered, acquiring possession of three hundred and nine acres of valuable land in Dauphin county. He was also. one of the influential and representative residents of his locality, and until his fortieth year he was a member of the Lutheran church, but about that time he became converted to the Evangelical faith and remained a consistent member of that denomination up to the time of his death, serving through a long period. as deacon and elder in the church. His early political views were in harmony with the principles of the Whig party, and on its dissolution he joined the ranks. of the Republican party. The mother of our subject was born in Dauphin. county, Pennsylvania, in 1795, and, like. her husband, was of German lineage. She, too, was .an active member of the Evangelical church, and died in 1887, at the age of eighty-two years. David Crum mastered the branches of English learning and taught in the common schools and received his training at farm labor on the old homestead.. He was married October 4, 1849, the lady of his choice being Miss Mary Crall,. a native of Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, and a daughter of Christian and Elizabeth (Hanshew) Crall. Her father was a native of. Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, born ,November 13, 1805, and her mother was born in Cumberland county, November 27, 1804. In 1855 they emigrated to Crawford. county, Ohio, purchasing the old Conkle farm in Liberty township, where Mr.. Crall carried on agricultural pursuits until within thirteen years of his death. His wife died August 29, 1884, and he then made his home among his children until his demise, on the 27th of September, 1892. Both were members. of the United Brethren church and were people of the highest respectability. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Crum were born thirteen children, of whom eight yet survive, namely : Mary A., the wife of William Caris, of Bucyrus; Elmira, wife of F. M. Lash, a farmer of Auburn township; Ellen, the wife of Joseph Bucher, of Liberty township; Sarah, who married C. C. Heller, of Liberty town- 380 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. ship; Willis A., a practicing physician of Carey, Ohio; Myrtle, wife of W. C. McCullough, of Bucyrus; and Cora E. and Hayes C., at home. After his marriage Mr. Crum took his bride to a farm belonging to his father in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, and there carried on agricultural pursuits for six years.. He also engaged in the butchering business to some extent during the winter months, erecting a stall in the Harrisburg market house. In the spring of 1856 he came to Crawford county, Ohio, and purchased the .Samuel Smalley farm of ninety-eight and a half acres in Liberty township. This he still owns. With the exception of three years, during which time he was engaged in the butchering business in Bucyrus, he resided upon his farm continuously until 1888, when he purchased four lots in Sulphur Springs. Upon this land stands his present residence, and it has been his home continuously since. While living in Bucyrus he engaged in the live-stock business, continuing in that line of trade for fifteen or twenty years, and thus he added materially to his income derived from his farming operations. At the present time, however, he is living retired, having acquired a handsome competence, which enables him to put aside the more arduous duties of business life and :spend his remaining days in ease and quiet. His political support is given the Republican party, and on that ticket he was elected a member of the township 'board of trustees for several terms. He and his wife are consistent and faithful members of the United Brethren. church, of which he served as trustee, class-leader and superintendent for a number of years. His life has ever been in harmony with his professions, being guided by sound judgment, honesty and integrity. JOHN MOORE. For more thin half a century John Moore has resided upon the farm which is now his place of residence and is therefore to be numbered among the early settlers of Crawford county. Through many decades he has been identified with agricultural interests in the Buckeye state and is still interested in farming, giving his personal supervision to the cultivation of his land. He was *born near Hagerstown, in Harrison county, Ohio, July 7, 1823, and is a son of Morris Moore, whose birth occurred 'in New Jersey, where he was reared and married Hannah Davis. They became the parents of thirteen children, of whom seven are now living.. The record is : Mary. A., ,now deceased; George, who' died in infancy ; John, our subject ; George Davis, deceased; .Elizabeth, the wife of Thomas Kemp, of Seneca county, Ohio; Morris, who CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 581 died in hospital while in the Civil war ; Margaret; who married Finley Leonard and is living near Attica, Ohio; Martha and Hannah, both deceased; Louisa, the widow of. Josiah Haughman, of Attica; David Bennett, of Franklin county, Ohio, who served during the Civil war with the One Hundred and Twenty-third Ohio Volunteer. Infantry ; Frank, who is living in Kansas ; and Theodore, who makes his home in Indiana. In 1823 the father moved from New Jersey to Ohio and entered a tract of land from the government in Harrison county, where he remained until the. fall of 1833, when he went on horseback to Seneca county and there entered one hundred and sixty acres of government land, near Caroline. The following year he removed his family to the new place and there he built a double log cabin of two rooms. The land was covered with heavy timber and it was an arduous task to develop the. farm. In 185) he took up his abode in Attica, Ohio, where he lived retired until his death, which occurred when he was eighty-seven years of age. He aided in laying out roads, building school houses and in other work of progress and improvement which resulted to the benefit of the community, and he was an active member and earnest worker in the Methodist Episcopal church. When eleven years of age Mr., Moore, of this review, accompanied his, parents to Seneca county and there he began to assist in the difficult task of cutting away the timber and preparing the fields for cultivation. He remained at home until his marriage, which occurred in 1845, the lady of his choice being Miss Sarah R. McLaughlin, a daughter of Joseph McLaughlin, a native: of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. He was a son of James McLaughlin,. who was one of the heroes of the Revolutionary war, as was also Mr. James, Fisher, the maternal grandfather of Mrs. Moore. Her paternal grandmother: was Mary Mackey, and her maternal grandmother. was Mary Kiester. Mr. Fisher spent the winter at Valley Forge and participated in many important. battles, and, coming to this state, he ran the first boat on the Ohio river. Joseph McLaughlin served in the war of 1812. Mrs. Moore became a resident of Seneca county when seventeen years of age and attended a subscription school, held in a log school-house in Columbiana county, to which she walked.. a distance of three and a half miles. She is a member of the Presbyterian church and a most estimable lady, who has been to her husband a faithful. companion and helpmate on the journey of life. They have become the parents, of four children.: Eliza J., deceased, who married Charles Meeker; Hannah, A., deceased, who married John Melroy ; Sarah, who became the wife of John P. Yingling; and Della; who died at the age of nine years. 582 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. After his marriage Mr. Moore rented land in the vicinity of Bucyrus for two years and in 1848 purchased the farm which he now owns and operates and which has been his place of abode since 1849. He paid four hundred dollars for eighty acres of land, upon which he erected a hewed-log house of one room in the yard where his present residence is located. Oak, beech, basswood and maple trees stood upon the place, which was heavily timbered. Mr. Moore has cleared sixty acres of his land and has made excellent improvements. When he came here he owned no horses and worked out for others until he could get the money with which to purchase a team. He has since- carried on general farming and all that he possesses has come to him as the, direct result of his own labor. His life has indeed been a busy and useful one and prosperity has rewarded his efforts. In his political views Mr. Moore is a Republican and he has served as school director and supervisor. As a citizen he has ever been public-spirited and progressive, manifesting an earnest interest in everything pertaining to the welfare of the community and to progress along material, social, educational and moral lines. His has been an upright life, worthy of emulation. EDWARD FRALICK. Among the pioneer families who came to Crawford county when this portion of the state was largely an undeveloped region and aided in laying broad and deep the foundations for the present prosperity and progress of the county were the Fralicks, and since 1839 the name has been honorably and inseparably interwoven with the history of the community. The subject of this review was born in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, December 22, 1834. His father, David Fralick, also a native of that state, was there married to Elizabeth Garrett and they became the parents of four children, of whom Edward is the eldest. David, the second, is now a farmer of Lykens township. Levina, the third, married Joseph Rank, and after his death became the wife of Benjamin Witmire, her death occurring in 1897. Henry, the youngest of the family, is living in Lykens township. It was in 1839 that the father, with his wife and children, left his old home in the Keystone state and with a one-horse wagon traveled to Ohio, settling first in Richland county, where he purchased four acres of land. He was a weaver by trade and followed that pursuit in Richland county for a few years, after which he came to Crawford county and bought a forty-acre tract of wild land in Holmes township. Upon the place he erected a log cabin, and into this the family moved before there were doors CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 583 or windows in the structure. After three years, however, David Fralick, Sr., returned to Richland county, where he rented land for a time and then returned to Crawford county and purchased one hundred acres in Lykens township. The home here was also, a log house, in poor. condition, but soon he erected a substantial log house, which is still standing, and in which he made his home until his death, which occurred in 1876, when he was seventy-eight years of age. His wife, surviving him several years, died in 1888, past the age of seventy. She was a consistent member of the Reformed church and a most estimable lady, sharing with her husband in the high regard in which he was uniformly held. Reared to farm life, Edward Fralick soon became familiar with the work of clearing and cultivating the fields and harvesting the crops, and on the old homestead he remained until his marriage, which occurred March 19, 1861, the lady of his choice being Miss Sarah Porter, a native of Lykens township and a daughter of Edward and Rachel (Shupe) Porter. Her father was a school teacher in Crawford county in an early day and also served as justice of the peace. He came to Crawford county at a period of its primitive development and from the government entered eighty acres of wild land, upon which Henry Fralick now resides. There he developed his farm, reared his family of nine children and made his home until his death, in 1849. His wife died in June, 1897, at the age of eighty-three years, and thus passed away one of the honored pioneer couples. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Fralick has been blessed with four children : Jerome E., who resides in Fremont, Indiana; Clara ; William Porter, a farmer of Holmes township; and Hattie A. The daughters are unmarried and at home. The first year after his. marriage Mr. Fralick resided upon his father's farm, and on the expiration of that period he and his brother. David purchased ninety-three acres of land in Holmes township, where they made many improvements, developing an excellent farm, upon which our subject resided until 1896, when he came to his present home in Lykens township. He owns thirty-eight acres of land here and one hundred and thirty-eight acres in Holmes township, and his property has all been acquired through his own exertions. It is fertile land, highly cultivated; and the fields return to him a golden harvest. His business ability and untiring energy are the foundation stones upon which he has reared the structure of his success, and his example in this regard, as well as in many other ways, is well worthy of emulation. In his political preference Mr. Fralick is a Democrat, and keeps well in- formed regarding the political questions of the time, but has never sought or 584 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY desired public office. His wife and family are identified with the Protestant faith, and in the community they are well known and highly esteemed, the possession of many admirable characteristics winning for Mr. Fralick the enviable regard of those with whom he has come in contact through the long residence in Crawford county, which classes him among its early settlers. THOMAS J. MONNETT. The influence which Thomas J. Monnett had upon the material and moral, development of Crawford county was very great. As -a minister of the gospel he labored for the spiritual welfare of the people, and at the same time he was an active factor in many movements and enterprises which contributed. to the prosperity and happiness of the .people among whom he lived and by whom he was ever held in the highest esteem. He departed this life in Crawford county, in May, 1901, and the 'community thereby lost one of its most valued citizens. "His life was noble and the elements So mixed in him that Nature might stand up And say to all the world 'This was a man.' " Thomas J. Monnett was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, January 26, 1826, a son of the Rev. Jeremiah and Alcy (Slagle) Monnett. When on was nine years of age his parents removed to Crawford county and settled on "the plains" south of Bucyrus. They were among the pioneers of the county and. aided in its primitive development, assisting to lay broad and deep the founda- Lion upon which its present prosperity and progress rests. In the country. schools such as were common at that time the son Thomas pursued his studies,. mastering the branches of learning which were taught in such institutions.. He afterward attended the •Ohio Wesleyan University, at Delaware, in 1845, and subsequent to his return home engaged in teaching school. He studied: medicine to some extent, but under the direction of his father, who was a Methodist minister, he prepared for that holy calling and was at length. licensed to preach for the same denomination. For many years he proclaimed the "glad tidings of great joy" among the people of Ohio, acting as: pastor of the Methodist churches at Fostoria, Kenton, Upper .Sandusky and other places. At Fostoria he was associated with G. W. Collier, now chaplain in the United States army, located at Columbus, Ohio. In 1861 he be- CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 585 came superanuated and thereafter, not being in good health, his ministerial labors were not consecutive, although he never lost his deep interest in Christian work and did much to advance the cause of the church. In 1861 Mr. Monnett located upon his farm in Bucyrus township and became a successful and extensive agriculturist and stock-raiser, but his efforts were not confined alone to this line. He was interested in the Bucyrus Woolen Mills, the Bucyrus Gas works, together 'with other enterprises, and his. business and executive ability made his advice and management of value in the successful control of such industrial concerns. Mr. Monnett was married, in 1848, to Miss Henrietta Johnston, of Crawford county, and unto them were born the following named children: Webster, who died in childhood; Orwin Bruce; William A.; Francis S.; John G., who died at the age of nineteen years ; Effie, who was the wife of Hon.. S. W. Bemalt and died November 20, 1898 ; and Agnes, who died in childhood. The mother departed this life November 22, 1871, at the age of forty-two years, and on the 4th of September, 1873, Mr. Monnett was joined in wedlock to Sarah Rexroth, who was one of the early school teachers of the county. In politics he was always a stalwart Republican and supported his position by intelligent argument, always keeping well informed on the 'issues of the day. During his work in the ministry he was an earnest, forceful and convincing speaker and his influence was widely felt. In business he was industrious, determined and straightforward, and thereby won prosperity. During the last few years of his life he lived retired in Bucyrus. He was a man whom to know was to respect and honor, and his career furnishes an. example well worthy of emulation. WILLIAM M. GEIGER. William M. Geiger was born in Bloom township, Seneca county, Ohio, February 1, 1846, a son of Henry and Christina (Zuderoem) Geiger.. Henry Geiger, a native of Germany, was brought to America by his father, Jacob, Geiger, when he was thirteen years old. The family located in Stark county, Ohio, where Jacob Geiger lived out his days and died. Henry Geiger began his active life in Stark county as a farm hand, doing work by the month.. In 1835 he located in Bloom township, Seneca county, where, after filing his claim to one hundred and sixty acres of government land, he began a fight for fortune with one dollar in money and an ax, and little else,—without a team, which would have made his labors easier. He managed to erect a log cabin, 32 586 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY but having no stove was obliged during the first two years of his residence there to cook beside a convenient stump. For a time he had no neighbors except George Weickley and Jacob Hosier and a Mr. Troxel. The three were the first settlers in Bloom township. At his death Mr. Geiger owned two hundred and forty-seven acres of improved land, which was regarded as one of the best farms in Seneca county He died in 1.882, in his seventieth year. He was a member of the Dutch Reformed church and was influential in all public affairs. The following brief mention of each of his eight children will be found interesting in this connection : Conrad lives in Fulton county, Ohio. Catharine is dead. Jacob lives in Bloomville, Ohio. Maria is the wife of Nelson Shaffner, of Bloom township, Seneca county, Ohio. Of William M., who is the immediate subject of this sketch, more will be said hereafter. Henry lives in Indiana. Madison is a resident of Wyandot county, Ohio. Jacob, who is the owner of his father's homestead, is one of the prominent men in Seneca county and is president of the Sycamore Bank and of the Bloomville Bank. Wiliam M. Geiger was reared on his father's homestead in Seneca county, Ohio, and remained there until 1869, when, at the age of about twenty-five years, he married Miss Maria. Lebold, and moved upon an eighty-acre farm in Bloom township. He remained there a year and then he removed to his present home farm in Lykens township, Crawford county, which he purchased of William Hanks, arid which contains one hundred and forty acres and this, added to fifty acres which is comprised in another farm that he owns, gives :him an aggregate of one hundred and ninety acres. He carries on general farthing and stock-raising on a large scale and with a satisfactory percentage .of profit. Though he persistently refused to accept any public office, he is, as a Democrat, interested in all public questions and his public spirit is such that he is at all times ready to assist to the extent. of his ability any movement for the general good. He was a charter member of Wren Lodge, No. 530, Knights of Pythias, of Lykens Ohio, has filled every chair in that body. and has been a representative of the order in the grand lodge. Mr. Geiger was educated in the common schools in vogue during his boy-. *hood and has many interesting reminiscences of days spent beneath the low roof of the log school-house. for smile time after his father came into the neighborhood wild game was plenty and at times wild turkeys roosted on the roof of his cabin. Mr. Geiger still owns two of the first set of chairs in. use in his father's house. His father was a man of good character and toad business ability and expert knowledge, and these qualities constituted the founda- CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 587 tion stone upon which William M. Geiger, our subject, built the success which has made him well known in his part of the state. Mr. and Mrs. Geiger have had four children. Their daughter Bertha D. is a member of their household. Their son Nelson E. was graduated at the Ada Commercial College, at Ada, Hardin county, Ohio, and married Margaret Johnston and lives on the old Gingling homestead, a fine farm of one hundred acres. Miss Emma Geiger died at the age of nineteen years; and Mr. and Mrs. Geiger lost a son named Edward, who died when he was thirteen years old. JOHN A. SMITH. Throughout his entire life John A. Smith has resided in Crawford county and therefore his record is well known to many of its citizens, by whom he is regarded as a man of sterling worth, his industry, energy and reliability having won for him the merited regard of his fellow men. He was born in Jackson, now Jefferson, township, July 24, 1837, his parents being George and Hannah (Chisholm) Smith. His paternal great-grandfather, John Joseph Smith, was born in Baden, Germany, November 8, 1736, and there resided until late in life, when he came to America, but he was not long permitted to enjoy his new home, his death occurring soon afterward, on the 16th of November, 1813, when he had attained the age of seventy-seven years His wife, Mrs. Catherine Smith, was born August 8, 1736, and died November 11, 1819. Their son, John Joseph Smith, grandfather of our subject, was born in Baden, Germany, July 25, 1767, and just before attaining his twenty-first year of was married. To avoid military service he came to America in the spring of 1788 and purchased a small farm in Perry county, Pennsylvania. To this he added in later years until his landed possessions were quite extensive. By occupation he was a weaver. His death occurred July 9, 1836. He was an ardent member and a local preacher of the United Brethren church and was a man highly respected for his many virtues. The father of our subject was born in Perry county, Pennsylvania, January a), 1803, and was a son of John Jacob and Elizabeth (Fisher) Smith. In his native county he was reared and there learned the shoemaker's trade, which he followed through the winter months while in the summer season he assisted in the cultivation and improvement of his father's farm. In his native county he married Miss Hannah Chisholm, who was born in that county, September 28, 1806, her parents being John and Margaret (McBride) Chisholm. Her father was born near Glasgow, Scotland, while her mother was a native of 588 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY Perry county, Pennsylvania. Three children were born unto Mr. and Mrs.. Smith in Perry county, and in the spring of 1836 the family came to Crawford county, Ohio, the father entering from the government forty acres of land in. Jackson, now Jefferson township. He soon afterward purchased an adjoining tract of ten acres. All was wild, his farm being covered with a dense growth of forest trees, in the midst of which he erected a lo cabin. When he had thus provided shelter for his family he at once began Tearing away the trees, the woodman's ax awakening the echos in the forest. His labors in this. direction were followed by the track of the shining plow, and he continued the work of developing the fields up to the time of his death, which occurred April 23, 1852. In the winter months he also worked at the shoemaker's trade until about. 185o. He was a Whig in his political affiliations and served for a number of years as township trustee, while for a considerable period he filled the office of a member of the school board and did all in his power to promote the cause of education in the community. He was an ardent worker and consistent member of the United Brethren church, taking a leading part in its work, was one of its officers and was a liberal contributor to all charitable and benevolent purposes. His wife died in February, 1864. Her many excellent qualities and true womanly character had won her the esteem and friendship of all with whom she had been associated. She had seven children, but only two are living, John A. and George B., the latter a resident of North Baltimore,. Wood county, Ohio. John A. Smith spent his boyhood clays on the home farm and in the common schools he mastered the English branches of learning usually taught in such institutions. He was only fifteen years of age at the time of his father's death and three years later took charge of the home farm, which he operated for his mother until the spring of 1864. On the 28th of May, 1863, he won as a companion On life's journey Miss Jemima Modderwell, a native of Liberty township, Crawford county, who was born on the farm which is now her home and where she has resided continuously since her birth, with the exception of one year. Her parents were James W. and Mary (Peterman) Modderwell, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Cumberland county, Pennsylvania. With their respective families they came to Crawford county, Ohio, becoming its first settlers. In the spring of 1864 Mr. Smith removed to his father-in-law's farm, which he operated as a renter until 1875. He then purchased the farm of eighty acres in Liberty township and twenty acres in Sandusky township and in later years he has added twenty-one acres to the tract in Sandusky township. He is diligent, persevering and energetic in his farm CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 589 work and the well tilled fields return to him abundant harvests for his labor. In 1864 he purchased a thresher and for twenty-four consecutive years he carried on the threshing business and also operated a wood-saw. He became one of the expert threshers of the county and secured a very liberal patronage, his services being in demand throughout the harvest season. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Smith have been born two children : Anna W., now the wife of J. S. Keller, a hardware merchant of Sulphur Springs; and Nessie F. S., who married W. C. Charlton, who operates her father's farm. The parents have a wide acquaintance in the county and the hospitality of many of the best homes is extended to them. In political views Mr. Smith is a stalwart Republican. For thirteen consecutive years he served on the school board and is at present acting in that capacity. He has also served repeatedly as supervisor and in 190o he was appointed census enumerator. He is now secretary of the Crawford County Pioneers' Society, and is one of the most highly respected men of the county. For more than sixty-three years he has resided in Crawford county, and his memory forms the connecting link between the primitive past and the progressive present. Where are now seen richly cultivated fields once stood the forest trees and the intersecting roads had not been laid out. The pioneer homes were widely scattered and the work of progress and improvement was in its primitive condition. He belongs to that class of substantial citizens who have aided in the work of improvement, and well does he deserve mention among the honored pioneers. MATTHIAS SHEIBLEY. Matthias Sheibley, who carries on general farming in Cranberry township and has served as township trustee, is a native resident of Ohio, for his birth occurred in Shelby, Richland county,. January 25, 1863, his parents being Albert and Elizabeth (Karl) Sheibley. Their children were provided with loving care and attention in youth and were afforded good education privileges that they might be fitted for the arduous duties and the responsibilities of life. Our subject acquired his elementary education in the district schools, which was supplemented by study in the high school of New Washington. He was trained to farm work on the old homestead and remained with his father until he had attained his majority, when he started out upon an independent business career. During the following year he was an employe of the Crawford. county infirmary and in the succeeding year was employed by a Mr. 590 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. Gibson, a prominent farmer living east of Bucyrus. He then returned to the infirmary, where he remained for two years and afterward he was engaged in tile ditching and threshing. He also followed various other occupations through a period of four years and then rented land of a Mrs. Hamilton—a tract of sixty acres in Cranberry township. Thereon he began farming for himself, and during five years cultivated that land. Mrs. Hamilton then died and the farm passed into the possession of her sister, Mrs. William jolly, but during these years Mr. Sheibley had displayed business ability of such an order that he was retained to manage the property, which he has since cultivated. The farm now comprises eighty-six acres. In 1892 he increased his responsibilities by taking charge of his father's farm of eighty acres, and on the old homestead he now resides. On the loth of April, 1894, occurred the marriage of Mr. Sheibley and Miss Catherine McMahon, a daughter of Thomas McMahon, a prominent agriculturist of Vernon township. The young couple began their domestic life in the old Sheibley residence, where he had resided for two years prior to his marriage. Unto them have been born three lovely children, but Frank J., the eldest is now deceased. The others are Edward W. and Gertrude E. Mr. Sheibley is a very energetic man, indolence and idleness being utterly foreign to his nature. During the year 1896-7 he had the management of the farm belonging to Mrs. Bloom, formerly a portion of the Volney Powers farm, and in 1900 he also assumed the responsibility of cultivating his father's land, comprising forty acres, one mile east and a quarter of a mile south of New Washington. He is operating altogether two hundred and six acres of land and is one of the prosperous and progressive agriculturists of the community. He carries on his work along advanced lines, basing his labor upon scientific principles, close observation and practical experience. He is a recognized factor in political circles, being a leader in Democratic ranks. In 1892 he was elected justice of the peace, filling the office for three years, and in 1899 he was chosen a member of the board of township trustees, in which capacity he is now serving in a most commendable manner. He and his wife are consistent members of the Catholic church and for four years he served as one of its trustees. Mrs. Sheibley is a charming and accomplished wife, who presides with gracious hospitality over their pleasant home. They contribute to the support of all charitable work and public interests calculated to promote the general welfare, and the circle of their friends is almost co-extensive with the circle of their acquaintances. CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 591 NICHOLAS SCHEERER. Mr. Scheerer was born in the village of Kleinbundenbach, county of Homburg, Rhine province, Bavaria, Germany May 7, 1825, and his early childhood was spent upon a farm in the fatherland, but when a youth of fourteen he began learning the carpenter's trade, depending entirely upon his own resources for advancement in life, and well may he be proud of his success, as his close application and industry made him a good workman, and his unaided labor brought to him a comfortable competence. He followed this pursuit in the land of his birth until 1847, when, at the age of twenty-two, he resolved to try his fortune in America, and upon a sailing vessel embarked for the new world. After fifty-two days spent upon the water anchor was dropped in the harbor of New York and he found himself a stranger in a strange country, unfamiliar with the language and customs of the people. He started out upon his new life with determined heart, however, resolved to make the most of his opportunities. Coming to Chatfield township, Crawford county, Mr. Scheerer was employed as a journeyman carpenter for four years and then began contracting and building on his own account, which pursuit he followed with good success for seven years. The money he saved enabled him, in 1853, to purchase sixty acres of land, upon which he located, giving his time to the development of his farm and his building operations. He had cleared almost the entire tract, when, in 1863, he removed to the farm upon which he now resides, and which has been his home for thirty-eight years. Today he owns a quarter section of rich land, well improved, and his valuable farm is attractive with its many improvements, including a fine residence, which he planned and erected. In 1850 Mr. Scheerer was married to Miss Elizabeth Schaack, who was born November 8, 1828, in Schmittshausen, county of Zweibruecken, Rhine province, Baaria, Germany. She came to America in 1849 and in 185o was married to Mr. Scheerer. This union was blessed with seven children, of whom six are living, their names being as follows : Henry, of Seneca county ; Jacob and John, farmers of Chatfield township, Crawford county; Sarah, the wife of Solomon Klink, of Liberty township; Elizabeth, the wife of Emanuel Pfleiderer ; and Louisa, the wife of George Pfleiderer, also of the same township. These are residing on farms near Ridgeton and Sulphur Springs. Mr. and Mrs. Scheerer are members of the German Reformed church, and in politics. he is a Democrat. He has never had occasion to regret his 592 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. determination to make Amierica his home, for in this land, where ambition and energy are not hampered by caste or class, he has worked his way steadily upward and has not only gained prosperity, but has also made many warm friends. WILLIAM H. MILLER. William H. Miller is now living a retired life in Bucyrus, after long connection with stock dealing interests, whereby he won a handsome competence that now enables him to put aside the more arduous duties of business. He was born September 4, 1844, in Winchester, Ohio, and is a son of John Miller., who died during the early boyhood of our subject. The father was a native of Germany and emigrated to this country about 1830, settling at Winchester, Crawford county, about 1837. The mother, Mrs. Catherine Miller, is still living. William Henry Miller acquired his education in the common schools of his native county and subsequently resided with his brother-in-law, Jacob Yeaagly, whom he assisted in farm work, receiving as compensation for his services his board and clothing. He was thus employed until about seventeen or eighteen years of age, after which he worked for Ephraim Monnett and. G. H. Wright. the afterward entered the service of William Kinear, with whom he remained until February, 1864, when he responded to the country's call for aid, enlisting as a member of Company E, Thirty-fourth Ohio Mounted Infantry. He was then only nineteen years of age. His command was known as Captain Shaw's Company, and after the promotion of Captain Shaw, Captain Helwig was in charge.' Mr. Miller participated in the battle of Lynchburg and of Staunton and in the movement in western. Virginia. He was Wounded on the 24th of July, at the battle of Winchester, being shot through the hips. He was then taken from the field ;by two comrades, being supported by placing his arms around their necks, and in this way he was dragged along until late in the evening, when he was placed on a horse and rode until about ten or eleven o'clock at night. He was then put in an ambulance, in which he remained until the next afternoon, when he was transferred to a freight car with many other wounded comrades and thus taken to Sandy Hook, Maryland, where his wounds were dressed in the field hospital. He there remained for several days, and he and his comrades were again placed in box cars and sent to Baltimore. While in the hospital in that city gangrene set in and he also suffered from fever. Many CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 593 of his comrades died of flesh wounds, from the effects of gangrene and blood poisoning, but the best possible •care and attention was given the wounded soldiers. From Baltimore Mr. Miller was afterward transferred to Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, where he remained until the surrender of General Lee, when he received an honorable discharge and returned to Bucyrus. Here Mr. Miller worked at various employments for a time, after which he returned to the service of Mr. Monnett. After a time he was married and began farming upon rented land in Marion county, Ohio, which he op, erated on the shares, continuing to make that place his home for five years. He then rented a farm in Crawford county, of Robert Kerr, giving part cash for the use of the land, and paying the remainder of the rental in farm products. In a few years he was able to rent the entire farm of six hundred and forty acres, for which he gave fifteen hundred dollars a year. He then began dealing in stock-buying, feeding and selling cattle, and for about thirteen years he remained upon the Kerr farm. He then purchased a farm of one hundred and twenty acres south of Bucyrus, for which he paid nine thousand dollars. After a year or two there passed he engaged in buying and shipping stock, in partnership with Samuel Shriber. After leaving the farm he continued in that business for three years. He rented the place and took up his abode in Bucyrus, however, continuing the stock business until the spring of 1900, when he retired to private life. In 1887 he purchased of Charles Raymer a farm of eighty acres, for the sum of three thousand seven hundred and fifty dollars, and in 1896 he purchased another tract of eighty acres on the east, known as the Morris farm, for which he gave thirty-four hundred dollars. His business affairs as a stock dealer were prosecuted so diligently and managed with such keen discrimination that he was annually enabled to add to his income and is .now the possessor of a handsome competence. In August, 1866, Mr. Miller was united in marriage to Miss Lucinda Weirick, a daughter of Aaron and Margaret Weirick. Her father was born in Weiricktown, Pennsylvania, June 6, 1814, and about 1834 emigrated to Crawford county, Ohio, where he purchased and operated a farm. His wife bore the maiden name of Margaret A. Clark, and was a daughter of Archibald and Ann Clark. Her birth occurred April 5, 1819. The mother of Mrs. Weirick's paternal grandmother lived to the very advanced age of one hundred and three years. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Miller have been born four daughters and a son, namely : Josephine, born April 29, 1867, Ellamina, born March 6, 1869; Margaret, born February 6, 1871, and died on the 594 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. same day; Florence, born February 11, 1872; and Sanford Aaron, who was born April 22, 1874, and died August 9, 1882. Mr. Miller is a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church, of Bucyrus, contributes liberally to its support and is deeply interested in all that pertains to its upbuilding and advancement. GEORGE WECHTER. George Wechter was born in Monroe county, New York, October 1, 1829, and is to-day one of the wide-awake and progressive farmers of Cranberry township, Crawford county. He is the eldest child of George and Frances (Hertrich) Wechter, and the family is of French lineage. His father was born in France, in 1806, and learned the blacksmith's trade, after which he crossed the Atlantic to the new world, making the voyage in 1828. He was accompanied by his wife and one child. Locating in Rochester, New York, he there followed various occupations until he had acquired a few hundred dollars, when he purchased a small place of seven acres near the city, residing thereon until 1853, when he came to Ohio. Here he purchased eighty acres of land in Chatfield township, Crawford county, and successfully carried on agricultural pursuits for some time, when he sold that property and bought a quarter section of land in Cranberry township, upoon which his son Frank now resides. Throughout his remaining days he carried on farming, his life's labors being ended in death in 1884. His study of American politics led to his support of Democratic principles. In religious faith he was a Catholic, and in the community where he took up his abode he was well known and highly respected for his possession of many sterling characteristics. His children were George ; Mary A., the wife of Peter Miller, of Grand Rapids, Michigan; Jacob, of Allen county, Indiana ; Joseph, a florist of Rochester, New York; and Franklin, who is living in Cranberry township. George Wechter had the usual experiences of farmer boys in youth, enjoying the pleasures of the play-ground, attending to the duties of the schoolroom and assisting in the work of the home farm. In 185o he was united in wedlock to Miss Mary A. Brinderman, of Rochester, New York, but a native. of Prussia, having come to the United States with her parents when a young lady of eighteen years. Mr. Wechter and his bride began their domestic life in the suburbs of Rochester and during the four succeeding years he was employed in a nursery or along other lines of labor that would yield him an honest living. Thinking to better his financial condition further CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 595 west, he came to Crawford county, Ohio, in 1854, and was employed as a farm hand in Cranberry township until 186o, when, with the capital he had acquired through his industry and economy, he purchased his present home place, comprising twenty-six and three-fourths acres. It has been his residence for forty-one years, and his labors have been given to its cultivation and improvement. On the 1st of October, 1862, Mr. Wechter was drafted into the service of his country, and leaving his wife to care for the family of five children in their forest home, he shouldered his musket and started with his comrades for the front. He was mustered in as a member of Company F. Sixty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. The regiment was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland, under General Rosecrans, and was stationed for some time at Bowling Green, Kentucky, and at Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The troops were also ordered to Chattanooga, but the order was countermanded. They reached Stone River three days after the battle at that point, and after doing guard duty at the places mentioned Mr. Wechter was mustered out of the service at Hillsboro, Tennessee, on the 1st of August, 1863. He then returned to his family and resumed the responsibilities and burden of their support, having since devoted his attention assiduously to farm work. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Wechter have been born five children : George and David, who are residents of Cranberry township ; Jacob, who operates the home place ; Agnes, the wife of Peter Maas, a resident farmer of Cranberry township ; and Mary, deceased. The family hold membership in the Catholic church, and in his political views Mr. Wechter is a Democrat, but has never sought or desired the emoluments of public office, his time being fully occupied by his business duties. BERNARD YOUNG. Bernard Young owns and operates one hundred acres of land in Cranberry township and the well developed farm gives every evidence of the careful supervision of an owner at once practical and progressive. He was born on the 1st of January, 1855, in Crawford county, his parents being Peter and Mary (Stein) Young. The father was a native of Alsace, France, now a part of Germany. His birth occurred in 1815 and when he was eighteen years of age he crossed the Atlantic to the new world with his parents. His father was Louis Young, who came to this country in 1833 and on his arrival here took up his abode in Crawford county and entered land in both 596 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. Auburn and Cranberry townships, the former then a part of Richland county. Subsequently he became an extensive land owner, his poossessions aggregating several hundred acres. After the death of his Wife he returned to the fatherland on a visit and while there was taken ill and died. Peter Young, the father of our subject, lived with his parents until his marriage, which occurred in 1839, Miss Mary Stein becoming his wife. He then located on a tract of land in Auburn township, belonging to his father, and then cultivated the same on the shares for a number of years. Later he . acquired a farm of his own, where his son Bernard now resides. It then comprised two hundred acres, and upon the place he remained until called to the home beyond. In 1865 he purchased a farm of one hundred and fifty-two acres on the corporation line of New Washington, now owned by Thomas Nedolus. In his political views he was a stanch Democrat. For some years he served as trustee of Cranberry township, called to that office by the vote of his neighbors, who recognized his worth and ability. Of the Catholic church he is an ardent and zealous member and through a long period served as church trustee and in other ecclesiastical offices. His wife was born in Lutering, Alsace, about 1819, and made the journey across the Atlantic about the time of the emigration of the Young family, taking up their .abode in that portion of Crawford county which was then included in Richland county. Her death occurred in the year 1886. Mr. and Mrs. Young were the parents of ten children, but only four are now living, namely : Catherine, wife of Bernard Alt, of Auburn township; Margaret, who is engaged in teaching school in Buffalo, New York ; Barbara, who resides in Putnam county, Ohio; and Bernard, of this review. At the usual age our subject entered the school-room and therein mastered the principles of English learning. He was married June 24, 1884, to Miss Catherine Kastner, a native of Crawford county and a daughter of Andrew and Cecelia (Horning) Kastner, both natives of Baden, Germany. In early manhood the father came to the United States and the mother was brought to America by her parents when a little maiden of only three years. Both became residents of Crawford county. Unto our subject and his wife were born four children : Charles, Frank, Cecelia and Joseph. Mr. and Mrs. Young began their domestic life on the farm where they yet reside, our subject there owning one hundred acres of land, which had been given him by his father. The place is divided into fields of convenient size by well-kept fences. The cereals best adapted to the climate are raised, the buildings are kept in good repair and the farm in all its appointments is CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 597 modern and well improved. Mr. Young votes with the Democracy and in religious belief is a Catholic. He now serves as one of the trustees of the church and contributes in large measure to the promotion of the cause. His entire life has been passed in Crawford county and the fact that many of his best friends are numbered among those who have known him from boyhood, is an indication of an honorable career. J. P. SHEEHAND. J. P. Sheehand, who is one of the early settlers of Crawford county and for many years was a well-known railroad engineer, was born on a canal boat near Cincinnati, November 20, 1834, his parents being William and. Mary (Patten) Sheehand. His father was a native of Ireland and on coming to this country became a canal boat captain on the Dayton & Pickaway canal. His wife was born in Kentucky and is now living, at the age of seventy-eight years, in Loudonville, Ashland county, Ohio. This worthy couple became the parents of nine children, but only three are now living, namely : William P., who is a passenger conductor on the St. Louis & Alton Railroad ;. Margaret, the wife of John Davis, of Loudonville, Ohio; and J. P., of this. review. Our subject is the eldest of the surviving children. His parents removed to Ashland county, locating on a farm, where he was reared, early becoming familiar with the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. In his youth he attended the district schools of the neighborhood and afterward began working on the railroad, driving a cart at the time-of the building of the Pennsylvania road through Ashland county. He was afterward employed on a construction train, carrying water and oiling cars.. His next service was in the capacity of brakeman. He worked in that way on the first local freight train on the Pennsylvania road, running between Crestline and Alliance, Ohio, and for three years he acted in that capacity,. after which he was employed as fireman for two years and eight months on the same line. He was next promoted to the position of engineer and for thirty-eight years he acted in that capacity on the Pennsylvania Railroad, running most of the time between Crestline and Alliance. For eighteen years he was passenger engineer on one of the fast trains. He is the oldest employe of the Pennsylvania Railroad at this place, being continuously in their service since 1853, during which time he was never suspended from duty He has, however, suffered from injuries from railroad wrecks, having at one 598 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. time been incapacitated for work for three months. The company, however, recognize him as a most careful, expert and reliable engineer, and no higher testimonial of faithful service can be given than the statement of the fact of his long continuance with one occupation. In the year 1856, Mr. Sheehand was united in marriage to Miss Sidna Van Gill, and unto them have been born four children who are yet living, namely : Frank, who is a passenger engineer on the Pennsylvania Railroad; William L., a master mechanic at Massillon, Ohio; Clyde, who is engaged in the telephone business in Crestline; and Laura, the wife of W. K. Scott, of Galion. Mr. Sheehand belongs to the Masonic lodge and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Crestline, and is one of the pioneers of the place, having long been identified with its interests, and his co-operation is heartily given to every movement and measure for the general good. He has a very wide acquaintance here, the circle constantly increasing with the passing years and the number of his friends is almost co-extensive with the number of his acquaintances. JACOB J. PFLEIDERER. Prominently identified with the farming and stock interests of Crawford county is Jacob J. Pfleiderer, a resident of Liberty township. The birth. of Mr. Pfleiderer was in this township, on August 4, 186o, an he was the son of David and Mary (Heckenlively) Pfleiderer. In 1831 the grandparents of Jacob J. Pfleiderer, who were Christian and Barbara (Auberly) Pfleiderer, emigrated from their native country, Germany, to America, and stopped for a few months in Columbiana county, Ohio, en route to Crawford county, arriving in the latter in the spring of 1831. Christian Pfleiderer located on a tract of eighty acres of land in Liberty township, which at that time was still virgin forest. After entering- this tract of land from the government, Christian here built a pioneer cabin of logs, a part of which still stands. Those were busy days, but gradually the land was cleared and from time to time other tracts were added to it, until finally it became one of the largest, as well as the best, farms in Crawford county. David Pfleiderer, the son of Christian and Barbara Pfleiderer, came to this country and to this county with his parents when they emigrated from Germany. He grew to m hood here and on November 13, 1842, was united in marriage to Miss ary Heckenlively, of Chatfield township. She was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, on September 15, 1826, and was a daugh- CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 599 ter of John and Margaret (Lefler) Heckenlively, both of whom were natives of Wurtemberg, Germany, and came to the United States in the same vessel, and were married in Baltimore three weeks after landing, and went then to Columbiana county, Ohio. In 1832, with friends, they went to Phillipsburg, Ohio, where they remained some eighteen months, and in 1833 they emigrated to Crawford county, where the grandfather entered eighty acres of land in Chatfield township, a mile west of the town of Chatfield, built a log cabin in the big woods, and began the clearing of the land. Here he lived until about 1843. His first wife died in 1839, and in 1843 he married a second time and removed to Liberty township. After coming to Crawford county he began his gospel ministry, in the English Lutheran church, and for several years traveled in Iowa as one of its efficient missionaries. To the marriage of David and Mary Pfleiderer fourteen children were born, and eleven of these still survive, viz. : Magdalena, the wife of Christian Harmon, of Warsaw, Indiana ; Mary A., the wife of Gottleib Lindharth, of Liberty township ; Abraham, of Kosciusko county, Indiana ; Margaret, at home; Barbara, the wife of Reuben Crall, of Liberty township; Lydia, the wife of Samuel Ulmer, who conducts a sawmill at Sulphur Springs ; Isaac, of Liberty township; Jacob, of this sketch, a twin brother of Isaac ; Leonora, the wife of Jacob Ulmer, of Liberty township; Caroline, the wife of S. Light, of Liberty township ; and Clara, the wife of Henry Sheiber, of Liberty township. After marriage Mr. Pfleiderer located on a farm of eighty acres adjoining the home place and still later, when given the opportunity, purchased the home farm from the other heirs, and thus became one of the large landholders of the county. He took an intelligent interest in public affairs and was particularly prominent in the Evangelical church, where for twenty-five years he did all he could to advance the cause of religion. He was very liberal and assisted in the building of two churches and was a man who possessed the confidence and esteem of every member of the community. In September, 1898, he was stricken with paralysis of the left side, this affliction causing him to grow very nervous, and the end came on January 17, 1901, at the age of seventy-eight years, one month and fifteen days. His widow survives and resides on the old homestead. Jacob J. Pfleiderer grew to manhood on the home farm and obtained his education in the common schools. At the age of twenty years he began the business of buying and selling stock and was very successful in this line. On December 11, 1883, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary A. Chambers, who was a native of this township, having been born on. the farm which