750 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY reading. His marriage was on February 21, 1883, at which time Miss Mary Alice E. Charlton became his wife. She is a native of Hardin county, Ohio, a daughter of Thomas and Matilda (Hite) Charlton and a granddaughter of Henry Charlton, who came to Crawford county from Maryland when still a young man. After his marriage Mr. Pfleiderer settled on his present farm, which was purchased at that time, in partnership with his brother Jacob and his father, and our subject conducted it as a renter until 1898, when he became its sole owner. He is one of the thorough agriculturists of this locality and understands all matters pertaining to rotation of crops, drainage and the various foods needed for the different grains he desires to cultivate, his prosperity testifying to the merit of his excellent methods. Since 1883 he has been engaged in buying and selling horses and this has proved a very successful line of business. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Pfleiderer, these being : Edna Belle, 'Who is attending high school in Sulphur Springs, has passed the Boxwell examination; Gusta M., also at her studies in the high school, has likewise passed the Boxwell examination ; and Fred M., who is at home. The political affiliations of our subject have always been with the Democratic party and he has efficiently served two terms as township assessor. At present he is acting as township clerk and for sixteen years has been a valuable member of the school board and has been clerk of the district ever since his election. During five years he served as president of the board. Mr. Pfleiderer for several years was the central committeeman from his district and for six years was a member of the Crawford county agricultural board, of which he is still a member. He has been identified with the business, social and political life of the township in a greater degree than almost any other man of his years, and has shown ability in every position in which he has been placed. Both he and wife are consistent members of the English Lutheran church of Sulphur Springs. Personally he is of a genial, pleasant nature, and with his amiable wife delights to show hospitality to his friends. SAMUEL B. KOONS. Samuel B. Koons is one of the leading men of Liberty township, Crawford county, and was born in Sandusky township on November 17, 1840, on the farm which is the second one east of his own at the present time. His parents were Abraham and Jane (Mills) Koons, who reared a family of fourteen children, twelve of whom still survive, as follows : Ann E., single, CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 751 a resident of Sulphur Springs; Mary M., the widow of Rev. R. Armstrong, of Cowley county, Kansas; Sarah J., the wife of Frank Moore, of Lansing, Michigan; David, of Leipsic, Putnam county, Ohio; Martha E., the widow of Madison Roberts, of southern California; Samuel B., of this sketch; Harriet L., the widow of Joseph Stephenson, of Missouri; Benjamin F., for the last eleven years president of the State .Agricultural College of Mansfield, Connecticut; Catherine, the wife of Rev. Pope, of Oberlin, Ohio ; Robert P., a practicing physician of Lone Jack, Missouri; Oliver J., physician and surgeon, of Brooklyn, New York ; and Francis M., of Toledo, Ohio. Abraham Koons was born in Philadelphia about 1773 and lived to be ninety-six years old, dying in 1869. His first wife was Susan Schrader, by whom he had thirteen children, all of whom are now deceased. The father of Abraham was one of three brothers who came from Germany to America at an early day, bringing with them a sum of ten thousand dollars, with which they engaged in the brewery business in Philadelphia, during the Revolution. On the death of Grandfather Koons, the two brothers were made guardians of his children, and when Philadelphia was threatened by the British the Koons brothers converted the property into money and departed and were never located until after the death of Father Koons, and by that time all of the documents pertaining to the case were lost and the children of Abraham never received any share.. The latter was but a child at the death of his father and he was bound out to work for a neighbor, but as he was not treated well there he ran away, at the age of seven years, and supported himself in unknown ways until he became a youth old enough to learn the carpenter's trade. After he had thoroughly learned the trades of carpenter and millwright, which were then combined, he worked for a number of years in and about Philadelphia,. and in 1829, learning of the rich lands to be had in Ohio, he came to Richland: county and purchased eighty acres, and pursued both farming and work at his trade. Seven years later he disposed of his property there to advantage, and located in Sandusky township, in Crawford county. Here he first purchased one hundred and sixty acres and later added thirty-seven acres, and resided in that township until the time of his death, in 1869. He was reared near the Pennsylvania and Maryland line, and after coming to Ohio was often heard to predict that there would be a war between the north and the south, although he might not see it. In early life he was a Democrat, but later, when he came to a thorough understanding of the slavery question from personal observation, he became an ardent Republican. For many years he was a consistent member of the United Brethren church. 42 752 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. Samuel B. Koons grew up on his father's farm and his school opportunities were very limited. His father had large stock interests and he was obliged to look after them, while his brothers and sisters, coming later, were educated at Oberlin College. When he was about twenty years old the Civil war broke out and with three of his brothers he entered into the service of his county. David entered Company. B, of the Eighth Ohio, enlisting as a private and leaving the service as a captain ; Benjamin was a corporal in Company H, One Hundred and Twenty-third Ohio ; and William, now deceased, was a member of an Indiana regiment. Our subject enlisted on August 15, 1861, in Company C, Forty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was sent froth Fort Dennison to Louisville, taking part in all of the battles of the Army of the Cumberland, until the terrible struggle of Missionary Ridge, where he was wounded. The accident happened from the Union artillery, the block between the powder and the ball striking him in the back of the head, on the morning after the taking of Orchard Knob, November 24, 1863. For the succeeding eighteen days our subject lay unconscious in the hospital at Chattanooga, and after thirty days was sent home on furlough, where he remained until March 1, 1864. During this time the regiment had become veterans and they were home on furlough, and when they returned to the front one of the most determined soldiers was our subject. When he had reached Buzzards' Roost, his enlistment having expired, he was sent back to Chattanooga, later to Nashville, thence to Jeffersonville, and on September 5, 1864, was mustered out of the service at Columbus, Ohio. On the following 24th of November our subject was married to Miss Maggie Stevenson, a native of Seneca county, Ohio, the daughter of John Stevenson, who was born in Pennsylvania. The latter came to Seneca county at an early day. Soon after, marriage the young couple settled on his father's farm, in an extra house, where they lived comfortably for three years, while Samuel cultivated his father's land on shares, but in 1868 the opportunity came to purchase a desirable tract of seventy-one acres, this being the present home farm, and here the family has since resided. To Mr. and Mrs. Koons six children have been born, all of them being well known and popular members of society, viz. : Clarence, a farmer of Richland county ; Virgil, a letter carrier in Colorado Springs, Colorado; Jennie, at home; Mat, at home; Ray, a teacher in the public schools, at home ; and Inez, also a teacher, living at home. Mr. Koons has always been a very ardent Republican and has been active in work for his party. He has taken an intelligent interest in educational matters and has been a valuable member CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 753 of the school board for several years, always advocating every measure which has promised to be. of general benefit. He is a member of the G. A. R., and bears a fine record for gallantry during his term of service.. His standing in the community is that of an honest, upright citizen, who well represents Crawford county. CASSIUS C. HELLER. During almost the whole of his business life Cassius C. Heller, of this biography, has been engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was born on the farm in Liberty township, Crawford county, upon which he now resides, on April 5, 1857, a son of Jonathan and Susanna (Spade) Heller. His parents had a family of seven children, and six of these still survive, these being: Byron F., a carpenter and builder in Bucyrus, Ohio; Cynthia E., the wife of A. W. Tustison, of Bucyrus ; Elizabeth, the wife of Philip Thoman, of Galion, Ohio; Cassius C. ; William L., a farmer of Sandusky township ; and Hattie M., the wife of B. F. Robison, of Bucyrus. Jonathan Heller, the father of our subject, was born in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, on January 26, 1823, ason of Jacob and Elizabeth Heller, both natives of Pennsylvania. They came to Ohio when their son was but nine years old and settled on the farm now occupied by Jacob Pfleiderer, but later removed to the one now owned by Mr. Harringer, in section 33, and here the father died. When a young man he had learned the carpenter's trade and once made a walking trip back to Pennsylvania, working by the way, finally covering the four hundred miles in this way. After his marriage, on March 11, 1847, he lived for some years on one of his father's farms, but later purchased the farm now owned by his son, where he died on March 22, 1892. The mother of our subject was born in Portage county, Ohio, on November 18, 1830, a daughter of Jacob and Susanna (Hazel) Spade, both of them natives of Pennsylvania, who were among the early settlers of Portage county, where they located, in 1842 coming to Crawford county, where they lived until the time of their death, when in advanced years. Mr. Heller was a consistent and valued member of the United Brethren church and for several years was one of the trustees. In politics he was an active Democrat and in early life efficiently filled many of the minor offices. Mr. Heller was one of the highly respected old citizens of the county who left behind him an unblemished name. Our subject grew up surrounded by excellent home influences and obtained his education in the district schools of his locality. In 1881 he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah M. Crum, the daughter of David Crum, of 754 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. Sulphur Springs, whose biography is given elsewhere. For the two years following his marriage Mr. Heller farmed for his father, but in 1883 he rented what is known as the Moderwell farm, located one mile east of the home farm, and for three years successfully operated this estate. Then he removed to his father-in-law's land and there continued farming for eight years, and then came back, in 1896, to the home farm and took charge of it for his mother. In the spring of 1900 he purchased this most desirable property and now has one of the choice farms of Crawford county. To Mr. and Mrs. Heller two children have been born : Orpha Grace and Mary Ruth. Mr. Heller has taken a very active interest in politics, and in national affairs votes with the Democratic party, but in local affairs he votes as his judgment indicates. As an earnest and capable worker and a conscientious and worthy Christian, Mr. Heller is widely known in the United Brethren church, having been a trustee for the past four years, and for a long period has been the efficient superintendent of the Sabbath-school. He seems to possess the ability which enables him to organize, and the school connected with this church reflects great credit upon him.. In all his affairs he displays an energy and thoroughness which have done much to place him in the estimation of his neighbors as one of their best representatives. WEBB J. KELLY. The world instinctively pays deference to the man whose success has been worthily achieved, who has attained wealth by honorable business methods, acquired the highest reputation is his chosen calling by merit, and whose social prominence is not less the result of an irreproachable life than of recognized natural gifts. We pay the highest tribute to the heroes who on bloody battlefields win victories and display a valor that is the adtniration of the world : why should the tribute be withheld from those who wage the bloodless battles of civil life, who are conquerers in the world of business ? Greater than in almost any line of work is the responsibility that rests upon the physician. The issues of life and death are in his hands. A false prescription, an unskilled operation, may take .from man that which he prizes above all else—life. The physician's power must be his own ; not by purchase, by gift or by influence can he gain it. He must commence at the very beginning, learn the very rudiments of medicine and surgery, continually add to his knowledge by close study and earnest application and gain reputation by merit. If he would gain the highest prominence it must come as the result of superior skill, knowledge and CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 755 ability, and those qualities are possessed in an eminent degree by Dr. Kelly. He is known throughout the country as one of the most eminent members of the profession, and his opinions are recognized as authority throughout a great portion of America. The life history of such a man is always of profit as well as interest. Dr. Kelly was born in Galion. His father, Harmon Rockerfeller Kelly, M. D., for many years a prominent and successful physician in this place, was born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, in 1834, and there spent his boyhood days. He pursued his education in the Ohio Wesleyan University, making his own way through college. He thus displayed the elemental strength of his character, which in later years developed into a stalwart and resolute manhood, enabling him to maintain a foremost place in the ranks of his chosen calling. He was graduated in Starling Medical College, of Columbus, in the class of 1856, and from that time until 1860 engaged in practice at West Point, in Morrow county, five miles south of Galion. For many years he performed all the important surgical work in this portion of the state. In 1870 he was appointed surgeon for the Erie Railroad Company, then the Atlantic & Great Western Railway Company, and did the active work for that corporation until 1880, when his son, Dr. Webb J. Kelly, was appointed to the position and the father became consulting surgeon. For thirty years the father and son acted as surgeons for the road. Herman R. Kelly was united in marriage to Miss Mary Keech, who was of Quaker family and was of Scotch descent. Her maternal grandfather, Mr. Bebb, was an architect in Philadelphia, and constructed the first water works there. He was also the architect for Stephen Girard and was a Welsh Quaker. Dr. Kelley, whose name introduces this record, pursued his education in the schools of Galion and was graduated in the high school with the class of 1874. He afterward entered the Wesleyan University at Delaware, Ohio, where he completed his literary course, and then, determining to make the practice of medicine his life work, he entered Starling Medical College, where he was graduated in 1889. Desiring to still further qualify himself for his chosen calling, he then entered Bellevue Medical College, of New York, in which he was graduated in 1880, when in his twenty-first year. In March of that year he was appointed surgeon for the Cincinnati division of the Erie Railroad, from Kent to Dayton. Since 1885 he has been surgeon for the Big Four Railroad Company, being the only physician to hold that position between Delaware and Cleveland. His knowledge of anatomy is remarkably comprehensive and accurate. Added to this is a logical mind, cool nerve and steady 756 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. muscles, without which the surgeon never wins success. His ability in surgical work has advanced him far beyond mediocrity, and he is to-day recognized. as one of the most capable representatives of that branch of the profession in the country. He has performed almost every surgical operation of importance in Galion county for a number of years and has treated over five thousand injured railroad men. For seven years prior to 1900. he was one of the lecturers in the Ohio Medical College, of Columbus. He is now associate editor of the New York Medical Legal Journal and is national agent of the New York Medico-Legal Society. He is a member of the American Medical Association, also of the American Medical Academy, the Railway Surgeons and the National Association of Railway Surgeons. Mr. Kelly married Miss Kate M. Grandy, a daughter of Rev. I. B. and Julia (Lee) Grandy. Her father was a Universalist minister and a representative of a prominent and distinguished New England family, while her mother was a granddaughter of General Robert E. Lee. Unto the Doctor and his wife have been born two children,—Rufus and Dessa. The parents hold membership in the Presbyterian church, and the Doctor is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the Masonic fraternity. The Doctor is a social, genial gentleman, interested in all that pertains to his community, is charitable and benevolent, and worthy demands of the needy are seldom made in vain. He has a large circle of warm friends, and his friendship is best prized by those who know him best. In his professional capacity Dr. Kelly is known throughout the country, his reputation extending far beyond the limits of his state, an honor to the profession, by which he has been especially distinguished. HENRY B. GREEN. Henry B. Green, who is serving as engineer with the Pennsylvania Rail road, makes his home at Crestline, Ohio. He was born in Ashland county, on the 16th of February, 1849, and represents one of the pioneer families of that locality. His grandfather had thirteen quarter sections of land, which he divided into thirteen farms and gave them to his thirteen children. Thomas W. Green, the father of our subject, was born in Maryland, and when a young man became a resident of the Buckeye state, where he followed farming and milling. He wedded Mary Kilinger, a native of Center county, Pennsylvania, but who went to Ashland county when twelve years of age. There they were married, and their union was blessed with a family of eleven children, namely CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 757 Noah, George and Olive, who are now deceased; William, Mary, Sarah, Anna, Henry B. and four who died in infancy. The father at the time of the Civil war offered his services to the government and remained in the army until 1865, when he died from exposure and hardships. His wife, long surviving him, passed away in 1887. Henry B. Green is the youngest of their children. He was reared in Ashland and Wayne counties and enjoyed the educational privileges afforded. by the common schools. He entered the railroad service as an employe on the. Erie Railroad, working at anything he could get to do in order to support his mother. In the meantime he learned telegraphy and eventually became an operator on the Grand Trunk Railroad. In 1878 he became a fireman on the-Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad, and in 1882 was promoted to the position of engineer, in which capacity he has served continuously since with the same road. He has been in but one accident, and that was a head-end collision, in which eighteen cars were burned, the accident resulting from the: fault of an operator giving wrong orders. Several of the employes were killed, but Mr. Green was not badly injured, although his clothing was largely torn from him. On the 2d of June, 1887, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Green and Miss Ella M. Obney, a native of Indiana, born October 7, 1861. She was reared in Alliance, Ohio, and in its schools acquired her education. Her father is a native of Pennsylyania, her mother of Ohio, and they are farming people now residing in Alliance, aged eighty and seventy-five years respectively. The father served for three years in the war of the Rebellion as a defender of the-Union. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Green has been blessed with five children,—Earl, Lee Briton, Ella M., Henry Wayne and Russell Clifford. Out' subject is a member of the Brotherh0od of Locomotive Engineers, is a Republican in his political views and is a member of the Lutheran church. His long continued service with the Pennsylvania Railroad indicates plainly his fidelity to duty and his care and precision in his work. W. D. COVER. There is, in the anxious and laborious struggle for an honorable competence and a solid career of the business or professional man fighting the every-day battle of life, but little to attract the idle reader in search of a sensational chapter ; but for a mind thoroughly awake to the reality and meaning of human existence, there are noble and important lessons in the life of the 758 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. man, who, without other means than a clear head, a strong arm and a true heart, conquers adversity, and toiling on through the work-day years of a long career, finds that he won not only wealth, but also something far greater and higher,—the deserved respect and esteem of those with whom his years of active, life placed him in contact. Mr. Cover was born in Crestline, March 12, 1865, and is therefore one of the younger representatives of the business interests. His father, Jacob Cover, was a native of Richland county, Ohio, and came to Crestline in the '50s. About 1870 he established a meat market, and conducted the enterprise until 1890, when he retired from active business, since which time he has enjoyed a well earned 1st. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and one of the respected and worthy citizens of Crestline. He married Martha Devine, who died when her son W. D. was a lad of seven summers, leaving two children, the daughter, Laura, being now the wife of David Baker, of Crestline. W. D. Cover, the younger child, was educated in the schools of his native town, and putting aside his text-books began to work in his father's market. In 1884 he was admitted to a partnership in the business, under the firm name of J. Cover & Son, a connection that was maintained until about 1888, when he sold his interest to his father and accepted a- position as clerk and yardmaster with the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad, remaining with the corporation for, two years. He then returned to mercantile life, opening a meat market, which he conducted for seven years, when he extended the field of his labors by adding a grocery stock. His place is known as the Central market. There he carries a large line of staple and fancy groceries and meats, and is enjoying a very liberal patronage. His efforts, however, have not been confined alone to the conduct of his store. He is a man of resourceful business ability, possessed of executive force and keen discernment. He became one of the organizers of the First National Bank of Crestline in the year 1897; and on the 1st of January, 1898, the institution opened its doors for business. Mr. Cover was elected vice-president and has since held the position. He is also a stockholder in the Sohill Brothers Manufacturing Company, and his sound judgment and correct opinions carry weight in business circles, especially having influence over the manner of conducting the two enterprises with which he is connected. In the year 1889 Mr. Cover was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Snyder, a daughter of John and Mary (Burnison) Snyder, residents of Crestline. The marriage has been blessed with one daughter, Marjorie. The parents CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 759 are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church, take an active part in its work and labor earnestly for its advancement. Mr. Cover is serving as one of its trustees and as church treasurer. In politics he is a Democrat and socially is connected with the Knights of Pythias fraternity. He is secretary of the Crestline water works and does everything in his power to promote the welfare and progress of his native city, in which he has a deep and abiding interest. JOHN ADAM WALKER. Among the many well cultivated farms of Holmes township the one occupied by John Adam Walker attracts notice as one which demonstrates that its occupant is a most careful and excellent agriculturist. The birth of Mr. Walker was in Chatfield township, this county, on the 18th of March, 1849, a son of John George and Elizabeth (Durr) Walker, he being one of a family of six children, three of whom survive, namely : Mary, the widow of William Pfleiderer, of Bucyrus, Ohio; John Adam ; and Frederick, also of Bucyrus. John George Walker was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, where he learned the trade of shoemaker, and emigrated to America when twenty years old. For several years he traveled over the country, working at different occupations, but finally came to Crawford county and settled in Chatfield township, where he married and bought a farm of sixty acres. In 1856 or 1857 he sold this farm and removed to Holms township, where he bought eighty acres, in section 14, upon which he lived, and died on February 5, 1892. His farming. efforts had met with success, and at the time of his -death he was the owner of three hundred and eighty acres of land. The mother, who also was born in Germany, died in 1853. John Adam Walker grew up at home and attended the public schools. On February To, 1881, he was married to Miss Mary A. Schieber, a native of Liberty township, this county, and the daughter of Gottlieb Schieber. After marriage the young couple settled down to domestic life on the eighty-acre farm owned by the father, at Spore, in this county, and there they resided for three years, when Mr. Walker located upon his present farm, which was deeded to him by his father. Since taking possession Mr. Walker has added twenty-two acres to the original tract, which makes his farm contain one hundred and two acres. In 1885 he built his present handsome residence, this improvement being followed, in 1898, by the rebuilding of his farm structures, all of -which are now in a most desirable and substantial condition. 760 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. Mr. and Mrs. Walker have four children : Carrie J., Luella M., George W. and Alpha R. A life-long Democrat, Mr. Walker has taken an active interest in political matters and posessses considerable influence through the township. His religious membership is in the German Methodist church, but as this is situated four miles distant from his home he usually attends the English Evangelical church, which is more convenient. Probably there is no more highly esteemed resident of Holmes township than Mr. Walker, who has long been considered one of the substantial citizens of the county. HENRY L. SCHWENK. Henry L. Schwenk, a leading farmer of Holmes township, Crawford county, and known both as an excellent agriculturist and as a liberal-minded and progressive citizen, was born in Liberty township, this county, on August 26, 1859, and was a son of Hironemus and Mary (Zimmers) Schwenk. Jacob Schwenk, the grandfather of Henry L., was a native of Germany, who came to America with his family in 1835. After three months spent in New,York City they came to. Crawford county and settled in Liberty township, and here Grandfather Jacob bought a farm of about one hundred and ten acres, built a cabin upon it and began the hard work of clearing the tract. Here his son Hironemus attained his majority and assisted his father, and some years later purchased it, giving his parents a comfortable home with him during the remaining years of their lives. Hironemus Schwenk was born in Bavaria, Germany, in 1818. After attaining his majority he married Mary Zimmers, and they reared a family of twelve children, seven of whom survive, as follows: Jacob, of Auglaize county, Ohio; Peter, of Hardin county, Ohio; Charles, of Hardin county, Ohio; Samuel, of Auglaize county, Ohio; Paulina, the wife of jack Vanvoors, of Bucyrus; William, of Bucyrus ; and our subject. In 1866 Hironemus. Schwenk old the home farm and removed to Holmes township, where lie bought the farm he now occupies, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres. This property was formerly the farm of Jacob Lutz, and here Mr. Schwenk lived and enjoyed every comfort of life until his death, in 1887. For many years he had been connected with the Democratic party, and was an active Member of the German Lutheran church, and was known through the neighborhood as a most liberal and just citizen. Our subject grew up on the farm and when his health permitted attended CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 761 the district school. On October 9, 1887, he was married to Miss Lenora E. Fralick, who was born in Holmes township and 'was a daughter of Henry Fralick. Her father was a native of Pennsylvania and was one of the early settlers of Crawford county. In the month of February preceding our subject's marriage his father died, and with his bride he settled with his mother on the other heirsrm and managed it for the other,heirs until 1895, when he purchased his farm of eighty-three acres, which he has made one of the most desirable in the township. Here he carries on general farming, and has made many improvements and is justly regarded as a model agriculturist. To Mr. and Mrs. Schwenk three children were born, the one survivor being Ross Delvin, born October 18, 1899. Although much engaged in his farming enterprises, Mr. Schwenk has taken a great interest in township affairs. He is a stanch Democrat and is now serving his second term as township trustee. He is also a trustee of the United Brethren church, of which he has long been a consistent member, and is well and favorably known through Holmes township. CHRISTOPHER G. SCHIEFER. Prominent among the agriculturists of Holmes township, Crawford county, is Christopher G. Schiefer, one of the highly esteemed German-American citizens. The birth of Mr. Schiefer was in Wurtemberg, Germany, on July 11, 1824, and he was a son of Conrad F. and Rosina (Krauter) Schiefer, the former of whom was also born in Germany and was the son of Abraham and Sibula Schiefer. When Conrad Schiefer was called upon to select an occupation he decided to be a shepherd. After the death of his father, with his mother and his own family, in the fall of 1831, he emigrated to America. The -voyage was long, covering sixty days, but they finally landed safely in New York. From there they went to Canada, locating some fifteen miles from Waterloo, where Conrad bought one hundred acres of forest land. This was a wilderness indeed, for at that time both bears and wolves were frequently seen. Many discouragements beset the emigrants, and as Mr. Schiefer learned of more desirable lands in the state of Ohio, he brought his family thither, in 1834, and left them in Cleveland while he prospected in Crawford county.. He finally found what he considered a desirable locality, in Chatfield township, and before he returned to Cleveland had closed the bargain by which he became the owner of forty acres of land, two cows, one heifer, two yoke of oxen and all else on the place, for the sum of one hundred and ninety dol- 762 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. lars. This remained his home during the rest of his life, his death being caused, on October 15, 1853, by being run over by a team. Before his death he had added to his farm until it contained seventy acres, and his industry made it one of the best in the county. Mr. Schiefer was a good and pious man, highly esteemed by his neighbors and valued in the Evangelical church. His knowledge of the Bible had come from its constant study. The mother of our .subject, who also was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, in i800, was a daughter of Michael Krauter, and she survived her husband for ten years. They had a large family, numbering fifteen members, the names of the five .w ho still survive being : Christopher ; Frederick, of Leavenworth, Kansas ; Mary, the widow of a Mr. Kennedy, of Kansas City, Missouri; Abraham, of Clinton county, Iowa; and Christiana, the widow of Frederick Mack, of Chatfield township. Christopher Schiefer passed his boyhood and youth surrounded by many strange physical features and experienced many thrilling events. At one time, when about eight years old, he was sent to look after some stock and became lost in the dense forest and spent a night of terror in the bushes, while he could hear the wild beasts prowling around him. His education was necessarily limited, the school facilities being poor, and the work which fell to his share occupied the greater part of his time. On reaching manhood he began his career as a farm hand, working by the month for the neighbors, gaining a reputation for honesty, industry and efficiency. On. April 13, 1851, he was married to Miss Sarah Miller, who was born in Texas township, this county, and was a daughter of John and Maria (Wirt) Miller, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania, Grandfather Miller having emigrated to that state form Germany. Five children were born to our subject and wife, these being: Sarah A., the wife of Lewis Schiefer, of Chatfield township; Jacob F., of this township; Isaac, of this township; Abraham, of Lykens township.; and Amanda, the wife of Charles Ollifelt, of this township. A very delightful circumstance of this family is that the children are all located almost within call of their parents. Following his marriage our subject purchased a sawmill from Mr. Charles Kiplinger in Liberty township, which he operated some ten years. Some eighteen months after the purchase of the mill he bought five acres of land in the section in which he now resides and removed his mill to that land,. having just enough money to pay for the deed, trusting to his success to get enough to pay for the land. The success came, and ten years later he sold his mill and bought four hundred acres of land in Iowa, but later exchanged that for CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 763 the farm upon which he now resides. His landed property at one time amounted to four hundred acres in this and Lykens township. He has retained one hundred and fifty-five acres in his home place and has divided the rest among his children. Until the time of the Civil war Mr. Schiefer was a Democrat in politics,. but the issues of that struggle made him a Republican. For many years he has given a liberal support to the Evangelical church, of which he is a member. He is well and most favorably known and respected by all through the part. of the county which has so long been his home. CLYDE D. SHILLING. One of the leading business men of Tiro, Crawford county, Ohio is Clyde D. Shilling, who conducts a large lumber business in this vicinity and who is one of the most progressive citizens of Auburn township. The birth of Mr. Shilling was in this township, on February 7, 1873, and he was a son of Jacob, and Elizabeth (Staley) Shilling, who reared a family of three children, all of whom survive, being : Frank F., of Ann Arbor, Michigan ; Lorena, at home; and Clyde D., who is the subject of this biography. Clyde D. Shilling grew to young manhood in his home and acquired his education in attendance at the common schools of his neighborhood. At the age of eighteen years he entered upon an apprenticeship to the carpenter's trade, working in this line for four and one-half years. At the age of twenty-three years Mr. Shilling began his lumber and timber operations, the sawing being done in his father's mill, but on May I, 1899, this mill was destroyed by fire. His father then offered him a one-half interest in another mill if he would agree to remain in the business, as he had shown such unusual ability in this line, and later, in association with his brother Frank, the mill was rebuilt. Since that time the business, under our subject's management, has become one of the leading ones in this locality and is a very important industry in Crawford county. The marriage of Mr. Shilling was on September 12, 1900, to Miss Minnie Wood, who was born in Tiro, and who is the accomplished daughter of Jacob Wood. Mr. Shilling is a valued member of Tiro Lodge, No. 592, K. of P., and is chancellor and commander of the lodge. Mr. Shilling is prominently identified with many of the leading business interests of Tiro, is secretary of the Tiro Building & Loan Association ; is a member of the town council ; and is also a s tockholder and one of the directors 764 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. in the Bell Spice Cabinet Company, of this city. He is one of the most conspicuous young business men of this city on account of his energy, ability and business integrity, and has built up a business which opens avenues for much future usefulness. WILLIAM H. BRIDGEMAN. Among the excellent citizen s and successful business men of Tiro, Crawford county, Ohio, is William H. Bridgeman, who is the reliable and efficient foreman and engineer of the Bell Spice Cabinet Company, of this city. The birth of Mr. Bridgeman was in Mansfield, Richland county, Ohio, on June 8, 1855, and he was a son of William F: and Sophia (White) Bridgeman. These parents reared a family of seven children, and the five survivors are : William H., who is the subject of this sketch; Matilda M., who is the wife of C. A. McCaskey, of Shelby, Ohio; Alexander A., who lives at home; Rose, who is the wife of N. J. McBride, of Shiloh, Ohio; and Melinda, who is the wife of A. W. Lash, of Auburn township. William F. Bridgeman, who was the father of our subject, was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, in 1833, and in 1848 came to America and settled in Mansfield, Ohio. Here he learned the trade of brickmaker and later married in this locality, and continued to follow this line of work until about 1859, when he came to Crawford county and began farming on rented land in Vernon township. Later he purchased a small farm here and resided upon it until his death, on May 7, 1883. His political affiliations were with the Democratic party all he was honored by it with almost ali of the local offices, in which he served with efficiency and satisfaction. Mr. Bridgeman had long been one of the leading members of the German Reformed church, in which he was a trustee, and he was known as a public-spirited and progressive citizen as well as an honest and upright man. The mother of our subject was born in Switzerland, in 1830, and came to America about 1848, making the journey on the same vessel that brought young William Bridgeman to these shores. She also located in Mansfield, and later married the father of our subject. She still survives and is an honored member of the home of her sons, our subject and Alexander. William H. Bridgeman, who is the subject of this biography, was reared on his father's farm and acquired his education, in the public schools of his neighborhood. In 1878 his father purchased a sawmill and gave the management of it into the hands of his son, who was permitted to retain the proceeds CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 765 for his own use. Until 1881 our subject conducted this mill, but was then married and settled on a farm belonging to the family of his wife. After three years on this place he purchased an interest in a threshing machine and for the two following years engaged in the threshing business. In 1887 he bought an interest in the Shilling sawmill, of Tiro, which interest he still retains, as good, paying property, and until 1899 he worked in the mill, later employing a man to fill his place there while he spent a year in a different line. During the next twelve months he successfully engaged in the buying and shipping of lumber, but in the spring of 1901 he accepted his present responsible position as foreman and engineer of the Bell Spice Cabinet Company, and has continued here ever since. Mr. Bridgeman is a stockholder in this company and is one of the well known and progressive young business men of the county.   In 1881 Mr. Bridgeman was married to Miss Frances J. McCaskey, who was a native of Auburn township, in this county, and who was a daughter of John and Anna J. (Furrow) McCaskey. Her father was a native of Ireland, and her mother was a native of Ohio. Two children were born to our subject and wife, Otis J., and Pearl, both of whom have passed away.   Mr. Bridgeman is prominent in the Lutheran chchurchnd is a trustee, and he is also a member of Tiro Lodge, No. 592, K. of P., and at present is filling the office of "master at work." He is also connected by membership with Lodge No. 688, I. O. O. F., of Tiro, of which he is the treasurer In politics he is cne of the prominent Democrats, and is a man highly respected in social and business circles over a great part of Crawford county.   WILLIAM McMANIS.   Among the residents of Crawford county, Ohio, who number their personal friends by the score and who have served their fellow citizens in various positions with integrity as well as ability, is William McManis, a long-time resident of Vernon township. The birth of our subject was in Crawford county, on September 4, 1827, and he was a son of James and Sarah (Walters) McManis, to whom five children were born. Three of these still survive, our subject being the only son, the daughters being : Sarah, the widow of Nicholas Brown, of Williams county, Ohio; and Matilda, the widow of Thomas Couts, also of Williams county.   The father of our subject was of Scotch-Irish ancestry, but he was born in Pennsylvania and came to Liberty township, in Crawford county, when he   766 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.   was a young man. Here for a time he engaged in work on the surrounding farms and gained such a reputation for sobriety and industry that he soon married and became a resident on the Crall farm, which is located just west of Sulphur Springs. Here he resided for a number of years and then removed to Fremont, Ohio, where he worked at the carpenter's trade and lived in that city until his death, in his seventy-sixth year. In his political belief he was a Democrat and took an active interest in public affairs.   The mother of our subject was born in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, in 1800, and her parents removed to Crawford county some time prior to 1820, and settled in Liberty township, where Mr. Walters died in a few years, his widow surviving for some years after.   William McManis, who is our immediate subject, on account of domestic misfortunes, made his home from the age of ten years until he was eighteen with neighboring farmers, beginning at the latter age his personal career as a farmer, working through the succeeding three years for Mr. John Dickson.   On January 16, 1851, our subject was united in marriage to Miss Emeline Dickson, who was a native of Vernon township and who was born on the farm on which the family of our subject now resides. She was a daughter of George Dickson, who was a native of Indiana county, Pennsylvania, coming to Crawford county in 1822. He put in a crop of wheat on the land which was then in Richland county, and in 1823 removed his family to our subject's present farm, his father having entered this land some time prior to his death.   After marriage Mr. McManis and his bride located on the farm of grandfather Andrew Dickson, and here he carried on his farming operations as a renter, and then he moved to a farm of ninety-three and one-third acres which belonged to his father-in-law. Two years later removal was made to the farm adjoining his present one, lying to the west, which also was the property of Mr. Dickson, who was a large land-owner. In 1874 Mr. McManis located on his present farm, working faithfully for his esteemed father-in-law until the death of the latter. Prior to this event Mr. Dickson willed to our subject eighty acres of the homestead, and afterward the latter bought eighty additional acres from the other heirs, making his farm one of one hundred and sixty acres of finely cultivated and improved land. Mr. McManis also owned seventy-eight more acres of land in this township, but this he recently sold to his son-in-law, Jefferson Easterday. Mr. McManis has long been regarded as one of the most thorough farmers in this locality, his excellent crops and fine, sleek cattle testifying to the interest he has taken in these pursuits.   To Mr. and Mrs. McManis were born eight children, but all have passed   CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 767   away except these three : Clara, who is the wife of William Brown, of Vernon township, and they have two children, Frank and John William; Emma, who is the wife of Jefferson Easterday, and they have two children, Maud and Mable; and Cora, who is the wife of John Weidemeier, of Vernon township, and they have one child, Ruth Emeline. Those who have passed out of life bore these names : Mary M.; George, who left five children, John, Bertha, Emma, William and May; John; Agnes; and Maggie, who was the wife of William Bloom, and one son, Raymond, survives her.   The argicultural interests of this section have received much attention from our subject. For some years he followed threshing in this county, and by many young farmers he is regarded as an undoubted authority in the management of agricultural operations. Mr. McManis is of that kind and neighborly nature that makes him a willing adviser and very often a substantial helper. As a leader in the Democratic party he has been honored with many offers of preferment, but aside from one term as township trustee and a long season as school director he has declined them all. He is well known and is respected and esteemed by all who have come within his genial presence, and is a representative man of Vernon township.   JAMES B. CARROTHERS.   A prominent citizen of Crawford county, Ohio, is James B. Carrothers, who testified to his loyalty to his country during the Civil war, and since that time has become one of the most substantial farmers of this part of the state.   The birth of James B. Carrothers was in Vernon township, Crawford county, Ohio, on February 2, 1841, and he was a son of John and Elizabeth (Laird) Carrothers, and is one of the three surviving children of eight who were born to these parents. The others are : George Carrothers, who resides, in Findlay, Ohio; and Dr. Morton M. Carrothers, who is a practicing physician, also in Findlay.   John Carrothers, Jr., their father, was born April 4, 1807, in Fernamagh county, Ireland, and he was a son of John, Sr. and Mary Carrothers. When a small boy six or seven years old, he emigrated with his parents to this country. The voyage was a long and perilous one. The ship was wrecked at midnight during a storm, and everything on board was lost save the lives of the crew. His father had five hundred guineas stowed away in the till of a chest which with all other valuables, including the family record, was lost. When the vessel was driven against the rock it was damaged so that it at once   43   768 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.   began to fill with water, and at that moment it was not known by any soul on board that land was anywhere within probable reach, and, with death and desperation confronting them, the captain and first mate hastened to their cabin and drank to intoxication. The second mate ordered a detail of men to the pumps and also the life-boats to be lowered. Meanwhile he had made such observations as were possible in the darkness and discovered what was either a cloud or land. A life-boat, manned by a few trusty sailors, was sent to investigate. The distance was four miles : they returned with the news of land. The women and children were ordered to be taken first from the sinking ship, and were handed out of the window to the boats. When the subject of our narrative was handed out, the receiver did not catch him until after he had fallen into the water between the ship and the boat, when he was caught by the hair of the head and thrown into the boat! The drunken captain and first mate were the last to be rescued from the ill-fated vessel, and the life-boat was so near the ship when it sank that it was nearly drawn under by the suction of the water. When daylight came they found themselves on a barren island of four acres, poorly clad and with nothing to eat. The signal of distress—the white flag—was hoisted, and lest the white only should not attract attention, it was again lowered and to it was attached a lady's red petticoat. They were soon signaled by a British man of war and carried to Nova Scotia, and thence to Philadelphia.   The destination of the family was Guernsey county, Ohio. After residing a few years in that county the parents of John Carrothers died. He was married April 25, 1834, to, Elizabeth Laird, who survives him and with whom he lived a little over fifty years. In 1836 they moved to the eastern part of Crawford county (then Richland county), where Mr. Carrothers entered a quarter section of land, on which he erected a log house and commenced the slow process of hewing a home out of the forest. At that time wild game was abundant and many a deer and turkey fell under his unerring aim and was carried home to make glad the household. From a slight injury to the ankle received in the year 1828 there developed a cancerous growth which rendered him for many years a continual sufferer. In 1853 it was removed by a surgical operation. Two years afterward it returned and he submitted to an unsuccessful attempt to remove it by caustics. Some months afterward the limb was amputated, by Drs. H. Mack, of Shelby, and Keller, of West Liberty. Be submitted to the operation without chloroform. Two leading characteristics of his life were courage and energy. His family consisted of six sons and two daughters. The two daughters and one son preceded him to the   CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 769   spirit world. Five sons are living, four of whom were in the late war. They were all present at his bedside during his last sickness and death. Years ago he united with the Church of God. A few days prior to his death he made his last requests and spoke of his willingness to depart. Frequently he exclaimed, "Bless the Lord, Oh my soul." Thirty days before his death he received an injury from a fall, and his last illness was one of constant suffering, ending only in the sweet repose of death, which took place at his late residence in Vernon township, Crawford county, Ohio, on Wednesday, May 21, 1884, in the seventy-seventh year of his age.   Elizabeth (Laird) Carrothers, their mother was born in Fermanagh county, Ireland, December 15, 1809. She was a woman of conviction and having found the truth she planted herself upon it with a firmness unshaken by friend or foe. She was sincere and could not bear a sham any more than she could be a sham herself. The beauty of her character was that she always seemed to be cheerful and happy when being visited by any of her host of friends. She appreciated everything natural, no matter how homely or insignificant, and would give it due value. She made choice of her funeral text, the words found recorded in Romans XIV, 8 : "Whether we live, we live unto the Lord, and whether we (lie, we die unto the Lord, and whether we live or die, we are the Lord's." She seemed to realize that the Lord both died and rose that he might be the Lord both of the dead and living, that the Lord was just as able and willing to care for her in life as in death, in this life as in the life to come, and this has been her constant faith in all the changes and cares of this life. What she did, she did it as unto the Lord, and not as unto man. She seemed to impress her Christian character and faith upon her children and leaves to the world five sons of honor and character, two of whom are trustees of Findlay College, and three are honored members of the Church of God. Her sons can well attribute their honorable standing to the teaching of a noble, pious mother. They can well concole themselves with the knowledge that they have bestowed that reverence and affection due so worthy and kind a mother. She held her membership in the Church of God at Liberty for many years and to the time of her death, which took place at Findlay, August 31, 1891, when she was eighty-one years, eight months and sixteen days. Her funeral took place at the residence of her son, James, near Tiro, Crawford county, September 2, 1891. Her remains were followed to the grave by a large concourse of people, and they were deposited in a vault beside her husband to await the summons of her Lord unto whom she lived and unto whom she died.   770 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.   James B. Carrothers was reared on his father's farm and acquired his education in the common schools. On September 29, 1862, he became a member of Company K, One Hundred and Twentieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, for service in the Civil war, and almost immediately his regiment was sent to the front, where it took part in the battle of Vicksburg, and on December 25th they were at Big Black river. After fighting for six days here the Union officers sent a flag of truce to the Confederates asking to be permitted to bury their dead, and they were given one day, the night following being marched six miles to the river and loaded on transports. The regiment went down the Black river and then up the Arkansas river to Arkansas Post, where they captured seventy-eight hundred prisoners and ten thousand stacks of arms, after twenty-four hours of fighting. On January 16, the regiment then went down the stream to Young's Point, Louisiana, and landed in front of Vicksburg on March 9, going up the river to Milliken's, where they remained until April 2, at this time leaving this part of the army and going to Richmond,. New Carthage and Grand Gulf, where they crossed the river. They were present at Thompson's Hill, Port Gibson and Rocky Springs, coming around in the rear of Vicksburg, where they engaged- in fighting for five days. Then the regiment moved to Big Black river and here he succumbed to fever and was left behind. He rejoined the regiment on June 1, and was a part of it during, the siege of Vicksburg and remained until July 6, two days after the surrender, when the regiment started in pursuit of Johnston. They marched to Jackson and there engaged in fighting through a whole week, routing the enemy. Marching back to Big Black creek the regiment reached it on July 23, and remained there for two weeks, but on August 8 the soldiers started on marine boats for Port Hudson landing, and went into camp until August 17, when they went on to New Orleans, remaining until the l0th of the month. On September 5, the regiment reached Brashear City, Louisiana, and our subject went to Carrollton, where late in October he was discharged on account of physical disability, and he arrived home November 8, 1863. This ended a long and trying period, the effects of which he still experiences.   In August, 1864, James Carrothers was married to Miss Sarah J. Cole, who was born in this township and who was a daughter of Barnet Cole now deceased, who was one of the well known farmers of Vernon township. After marriage our subject remained with his father for two years and during the winter months he taught the district school. In 1866, he went to live with James Carrothers, Sr. At that time this uncle owned the farm which James now occupies and took charge of it. October 14, 1872, the uncle died. James   CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 771   and his brother George had previously purchased this farm, which consists of three hundred and twenty acres. For two years they farmed this land in partnership. At the end of this period a division was made by which he retained one hundred and sixty acres, and upon this place he had erected a substantial frame house in 1870. He has been successful in real estate business.   Ten children were born in the family of James Carrothers and wife and eight of these still survive, their names and residences being as follows : Flora E., who is the wife of Isaac N. Latchaw and resides in McComb, Ohio; Emma L., who is the wife of Sherman Morris and resides in Sandusky township; Hattie M., who is the wife of Amos Keller, and also resides in San--dusky township, and E. Ida B. Weaver, Jennie M., Sadie L. B. L., Dee Ora Lee and Robert B. Carrothers, who reside at home. Mr. Carrothers has taken just pride in his intelligent family.   James Carrothers has long been connected with the religious body known as the Church of God. He is a man of high character, is an honorable and upright citizen, and fills every situation' in life with dignity and in a manner to gain the respect and esteem of all who know him.   JOHN ECKSTEIN.   John Eckstein, who is a trustee of Vernon township, and one of its leading and most progressive farmers, was born in Richland county, Ohio, on November 20, 1856. His father was George Eckstein, extended mention of whom may be found in the biography of his son, Adam Eckstein, in another part of this volume.   John Eckstein of this sketch was reared on the home farm and acquired a good common school education. After he had reached his twenty-first year be received from his father the customary wages of a farm hand, this being satisfactory to both parties. On November 24, 1882, our -subject was united in marriage to Miss Louisa Minck, who was a native of Vernon township and a daughter of Conrad Minck, who was a native of Germany and one of the early settlers of Vernon township, where the remainder of his life was passed.   After the death of the father of our subject, in 1886, the latter and his brother George purchased one hundred and sixty acres of the estate, sixty acres of which our subject owned personally, which was situated across the highway from the home farm. Our subject continued to farm the land upon shares for the following seven years or until the death of his mother, when   772 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.   he bought the home farm, consisting of ninety-three acres, and this made his own land aggregate one hundred and fifty-three acres. Since that time Mr. Eckstein has demonstrated that he is a practical farmer and has the satisfaction of owning and operating one of the best cultivated and most highly improved farms in the township. For a number of years he has given his attention to his land, understands its possibilities and intelligently meets its. demands.   Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Eckstein and seven of these still survive and make a happy home circle. These are as follows : Charles W., Mamie B., John A., Ella F., Grover A., Edna M., and Emery B., as intelligent and attractive family as Vernon township can produce. They are all being thoroughly educated in the Common schools and promise to become useful members of society.   In politics Mr. Eckstein is a Democrat, but his personal popularity is so great that the whole township has been glad to place him in a position to serve as its trustee, being now in his second term, this honor having been conferred upon him without his consent. For a number of years he has been one of the leading members of the German Reformed church, and for four years was one of the deacons. He is a man who enjoys the esteem of his neighbors and is not only one of the best farmers but also one of the most useful citizens of Vernon township.   ARTHUR CLELAND.   Distinguished as the first white child born in Vernon township, Arthur Cleland, who is the subject of this biography, is a well-known resident of Crawford County, Ohio, through which he is also known as a substantial farmer and estimable citizen. His parents settled in Crawford county late in the fall of 1825 and his birth took place on February 6, 1826. He was a son of William and Rachel (Ramsey) Cleland, who had eight children born in their pioneer home, the brothers and sisters of our subject being as follows : William, who is a resident of Defiance county, Ohio ; and Rachel, who is the wife of Hugh Dobbins and lives in Bucyrus township, while those who passed away bore the following names : Mary, who married Thomas McCullough ; Margaret J., who married William Magee ; Susan, who married Thomas Alemus ; Eliza, who married Davidson Maddox ; and John.   William Cleland, the father of our subject, was born in county Down,. Ireland, May 14, 1796, and he was a son of Arthur Cleland, the latter being   CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 773   of Scotch-Irish extraction. About 1816 an aunt of our subject emigrated to America and soon after wrote such glowing acounts back to the old country of the conditions and opportunities in the United States, awakening in the breasts of those left behind also an ambition to cross the sea, that resulted in the sale of the little farm and the embarkation, on a sailing vessel, of the whole family, bound for a new home across the Atlantic. Our subject's father, with his parents and his brothers and sisters, left Ireland on May 14, 1817, and after a voyage of sixty-six days were landed at Cape May, at the mouth of the Delaware river. Their destination was New York, but head winds drove the poorly managed ship out of its course, and as a major portion of the passengers wished to go to Wilmington the captain landed them all there. From Cape May the Cleland family found its way to Washington, Pennsylvania, and resided there for a time, later removing to Jefferson county, Ohio. The grandfather had been a famous weaver in his prime, but he and his wife were growing old and from this time remained with some one of their children.   In the fall of 1824 the father of our subject, with his brother John, came to Crawford county, Ohio, and entered our subject's present home farm, a fractional quarter section, consisting of one hundred and fifteen acres. Then they returned to Jefferson county and in the fall of the following year William Cleland, with his wife and his brother John, removed to the new home in the Ohio woods. The men soon cleared .off a space and built a log cabin, and, in the February following, into this frontier home came the child whose biography appears in this writing. In the following spring John Cleland went to Mansfield, where plenty of work was to be found at his trade of stone mason, and it was in that year the great canal system of the state was begun. For two years he worked in stone and brick and then went back to Pennsylvania.   In the spring following the location of William Cleland in this part of the county, the township was organized, and at the spring election the ten votes were polled by William Garrison, Eli Arnold, Isaac Hitchkok, George Dickson, three of the Coles family, James Richards, James Clemens, and William Cleland. During these early days William Cleland worked as a weaver and exchanged the product of the looms for labor to assist in the clearing of land, and much of the laborious work was performed in this way. For many years he continued his work at the loom, finding ready sale or barter for all he could produce. His death occurred on September 25, 1881, in the eighty-sixth year of his age, after a life of usefulness and industry, which left his family well provided for at his decease. His many years here had covered a period that saw the forest give place to smiling, fruitful fields and orchards, and the little   774 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.   log cabin, during this time, gave place to the magnificent country home which is not only complete in comfort and construction, but is also an ornament to the landscape.   Mr. Cleland was an excellent man of business and was in the habit of buying land when he found desirable tracts for sale, until he had acquired three hundred and twenty-four acres in Crawford county, and two hundred and twenty acres in Defiance county. Democratic in politics, he always ardently upheld the party of his choice, while he was equally active in the support of the Presbyterian church. The mother of our subject was a most superior woman and came from noted ancestry. She was born in Brooke county, West Virginia, on January 16, 1801, and she was a daughter of Samuel Ramsey, who was a native of Ireland. During the war of the Revolution he, in company with one hundred and thirty others, was captured by the British, and he was one of the four of those who escaped and almost starved, in hostile territory, before he reached his friends. The mother of our subject was one of the hardy pioneers who became a tower of strength to her husband in those early days, and reared a family to habits of thrift and industry.   The early school days of our subject were spent in a very primitive log building, where the instruction was not much superior to the surroundings. Mr. Cleland possessed a quick and active mind and soon absorbed all the teacher had to impart. His father needed his services and he remained on the home farm until his twenty-ninth year. On October 4, 1855, he was united in marriage to Miss Priscilla Gundrum, who was a native of Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, her birth occurring near Harrisburg, on March 2, 1833, and she, was a daughter of 'John Gundrum. The latter belonged to a fine old Pennsylvania family, and he came to Crawford county in 1836, spending the first winter in Bucyrus, removing in the following spring to Sandusky township where his last days were spent.   After his marriage our subject located on one of his father's farms, consisting of eighty acres, in Sandusky township, making an agreement with his father to clear the land, rebuild the house and pay the taxes, for which he was to keep the proceeds of the property. During this time his father purchased an additional forty-nine acres, and our subject took charge of this also, and lived here until the spring of 1877 when he went back to the home farm, in order to extend filial care to his ageing parents. Since that time this has been our subject's home, and it is one of the best improved properties in Crawford county. Success has attended the persistent efforts of Mr. Cleland, and in 1879 he pur-   CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 775   chased one hundred and sixty additional acres situated on the west of his home farm, the place now aggregating two hundred and seventy-five acres.   Three children have been born to our subject and wife, only two of these surviving, viz. : William J., who farms his father's land and is serving his second term as township trustee; Arthur B., who died October 30, 1886, aged twenty-three years and ten months ; and Rachel E., who is the wife of Marion Bender, of Auburn township.   In political sentiment Mr. Cleland has clung to the Democratic doctrine in which he was reared and he has acceptably served for five years as township clerk, and was township trustee previously in Sandusky township. He is held in high esteem in Vernon township, and although his life has not been filled with exciting events, they have been replete with faithful and well-directed work, and he enjoys the consciousness of knowing that he is regarded as one of the best representative citizens of this unequaled county.   ANTHONY BENDER.   Among the enterprising citizens of Crawford county is Anthony Bender, who is extensively engaged in agricultural pursuits in Vernon township. His marked ability has done much to promote the business activity of the community, and in agricultural circles he^ enjoys an unassailable reputation. A native son of the Buckeye state, his birth occurred in Richland county, on the 20th of March, 1849. The educational advantages which our subject re•eived in his youth were extremely limited, as his services were required in improving and cultivating his father's land, but as time has passed he has greatly added to his knowledge by constant reading and observation. He remained at home until after his marriage, when he located on what is now known as the Hanley farm, then the property of his father, located in Cranberry township, where he resided for three years. Returning to the home farm, he was there engaged in agricultural pursuits with his brother John for the following three years, on the expiration of which period he removed to Tiro, where he remained for four years, and during that time operated the homestead farm. In 1885 he removed to the place on which he now resides, the land also belonging to his father and consisting of seventy-five acres, but after a few years he was enabled to purchase a tract of eleven acres, and a few years later became the owner of another tract of twenty-four acres. After his father's death he inherited the seventy-five acres on which he resided, and his landed possessions now aggregate one hundred and ten acres. In his   776 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.   farming operations Mr. Bender has ever followed the most improved methods, and as the result of unremitting toil and excellent business ability he has won for himself a name and place among the leading business men of his locality.   On the 26th of August, 1876, he was united in marriage with Miss Catherine A. Kahler, a native of New Washington, Crawford county, and a daughter of Conrad Kahler, a retired carpenter of that city. He came with his parents to Crawford county, Ohio, when a little lad of five years. On their arrival here the family erected a but out of brush, and in this rude domicile they made their home until a more suitable log cabin could be erected. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Bender have been born four children,—Ella E., the wife of 'Wilson Hoover, a farmer of Sandusky township, Crawford county ; and Frank B., Burton S. and William, who are still at home. In political matters Mr. Bender casts his ballot in favor of the Democracy, and in his social relations he is a member of Tiro Lodge, No. 592, K. P. Mrs. Bender is a prominent and active member of the Lutheran church. The business career of our subject is one most commendable. He is thoroughly reliable in. all relations with his fellow men, has strict regard for the ethics of commercial life, and by enterprise and careful management has secured a most gratifying success.   DAVID C. ROBINSON.   One of the most highly esteemed residents of Crawford county, Ohio, is David C. Robinson, who resides upon a farm now included in the corporate limits of the town of Tiro, upon which he was born June 23, 1848. He was a son of Barber and Mary T. (Morrow) Robinson, who reared nine children, all of whom reached maturity. The first break in the family circle was caused by the death of C. M. Robinson, in 1899, at the age of fifty-five years, and two weeks later occurred the death of A. C. Robinson, at the age of fifty-three years. The survivors of this vigorous family are as follows : David C., who is the subject of this sketch ; Mary, who is the widow of George Clawson, of Tiro; Martha E., who is the wife of Samuel Baxter, of Van Wert, Ohio ; James B., who resides in California ; Robert H.; William F., who is a resident of Tiro; and Florence, who is the wife of A. W. Kaufman, of Tiro.   Barber Robinson was born in Ireland, in 1818, and was the son of Robert and Jane (Barber) Robinson. His parents came to America when Barber was twelve years of age, landing in New York after a voyage of six weeks: They first settled in Virginia, but soon removed to Ohio, locating in Auburn township, in Crawford county, purchasing a farm then located one-half mile   CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 777   east of what is now the village of Tiro. This property is now owned by Levi Lash and John Randabauch. When the grandparents of our subject came to Crawford county the country was a wilderness, and in order to build the log cabin for immediate use, the great forest trees had to be first cut down and a space cleared. Industry was the order of the day and hard and unremitting toil followed, but Grandfather Robinson was one of the hardy, energetic men who was well fitted for pioneer life. His death occurred on the farm where his children were born and reared. Barber Robinson grew up amid these pioneer surroundings and did his share in the work of clearing the one hundred and sixty acres of land which his father had entered. After the death of his father he cared for his mother until her death. After the marriage of Barber Robinson to Mary, the daughter of Charles Morrow, of Ohio, they settled in Tiro until Mr. Robinson could build their log cabin and then he started into the clearing of his own land, as he bought one hundred acres located across the road from the old homestead. After the death of his father he bought the home farm also and for a time owned four hundred and twenty acres.   Mr. Robinson was a life-long Democrat and was a man who exerted a great influence in the councils of his party. For six years he efficiently served as county commissioner and was one of the best men that could have been found for that position, as he possessed excellent judgment and great executive ability. For years he was a leading member of the Lutheran church, during much of his later life being one of the elders in the same.   David C. Robinson was reared in a good, Christian home and was given every educational opportunity possible in his locality at that time. At the age of twenty-two years he began agricultural work on his father's farm, working on shares, and soon proved to be a very capable and successful farmer. On September 26, 1878, our subject was married to Miss Anna L. Bowers,. of Sulphur Springs, and continued to work on his father's farm until the death of the latter. When the estate was settled our subject purchased eighty acres and the buildings on the land, and this has been the family home ever since.   Politically our subject is a Democrat. He was once elected township clerk, but as he found that in order to do justice to the duties of the office he would be obliged to neglect his farm he resigned. However; he has served several years in the town council and has also been treasurer of Tiro, where he is held in high esteem by members of both political parties and by the citizens generally.   778 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY   ELI RININGER.   One of the most substantial, prominent and highly esteemed citizens of Crawford county, Ohio, is Eli Rininger, a most worthy representative of one of the old and much respected families of Bedford county, Pennsylvania. The birth of our subject took place in Bedford county, on December 14, 1845, and he was a son of John and Sophia (Black) Rininger, who had a family of nine children, the only survivors being William H., who is a resident of Lexington, Ohio; and Eli, who is the subject of this biography.   John Rininger, who was the honored father of the subject of this record, was born in Bedford county, where for forty years he conducted a cabinetmaking and undertaking establishment, in Shellsburg. He was also a successful farmer and owned a farm of one hundred and three acres of land near the above town, but the last twenty years of his life were spent in comfortable retirement. He was a life long Democrat, and for a number of years was a justice of the peace and was identified with many public affairs. From his early youth he had been a consistent member of the Lutheran church and was a constant attendant upon its services until his death, in 1890, in his eighty-third year.   The mother of our subject belonged to one of the old and well established families of Bedford county, Pennsylvania, where she was born in 1809. She was a daughter of Joseph Black, who was a native of Maryland and located in Bedford county soon after his marriage. He was well known all through the county as a successful farmer. The mother died in 1865.   Eli Rininger was reared on the home farm and attended the nearest schools and thus acquired a good common-school eucation. At the age of seventeen years he enlisted in the service of his country, first entering a regiment called the Independent Cavalry, in July, 1863, for the three-months service, when each volunteer supplied his own horse. His second enlistment, which was for three years, was on January I, 1864, in Company H, Fifty-fifth Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteer Infantry, and his regiment was assigned to the Army of the James. Mr. Rininger was a brave and daring soldier and he took part in thirteen engagements, some of these being : Old Town Creek, in Virginia ; three days at Durris Bluff, in Virginia ; two days at Cold Harbor, where he was wounded on June 3, 1864, when eleven thousand men fell inside of ninety minutes ! Our subject was sent to a hospital at Fort Schuyler, New York, where J was confined for three months, and when he was permitted to rejoin his regiment it was in front of Petersburg, and the battle that was   CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 779   fought there made the fourth one in which our subject was engaged. Then came Chippens' Farm, Signal Hill, and Hatcher's Run, all in Virginia. At the last mentioned place four thousand Confederate prisoners were captured. Next came Fort Craig, which was one of the strongholds of Petersburg; Bright's Station, Virginia; and Appomattox, when Mr. Rininger was present at the surrender of the army of Gen. Lee. This list does not include the minor engagements, during which many a brave man lost his life. Our subject was discharged on August 30, 1865, at Petersburg, Virginia.   After his return to peaceful pursuits our subject purchased his father's business, as he had learned the trade in his youth, and eight succeeding years were spent in the management of this business; but in 1873, influenced by the fervid literature of the land agents and the reports of many settlers already located there, emigrated to Douglas county, Kansas, and there purchased a farm. His experience was discouraging, as the first year the crops through his section were destroyed by the drought and the second year everything was eaten by the grasshoppers. His only remedy was to turn again eastward, leaving almost all he possessed behind. Upon reaching Ohio our subject rented a farm in Richland county, near Lexington, and there he engaged in farming for two years, and then came to Crawford county, locating in Auburn township. For two years our subject rented a farm, at the end of which period he moved to Tiro and there erected a residence and during the. following year was employed in farming, teaming and other occupations.   In the spring of 1880 Mr. Rininger purchased what was known as the Rand-Nye farm, consisting of eighty acres of fine land. In 1885 he built a commodious and comfortable residence, and in 1890 erected .a substantial bank barn, making other improvements which placed this estate among the best in the county. In 1891 he added twenty acres and has spared neither time nor expense in the improvement of his property, one item being the placing of twenty-one hundred rots of tile. The energy, good management and industry of our subject is worthy of note. When he came upon his farm it was with a debt of four thousand dollars, which has been cleared off ; and not only does he have the proud consciousness of not owing a dollar but he has his property as mentioned, a town residence also, and in February of the current year he bought another farm consisting of one hundred acres, which was the property of W. H. Carlisle, and is considered one of the finest farms in Auburn township. Mr. Rininger has been a very successful stock-raiser, making a specialty of hogs.   The marriage of Mr. Rininger was on October 16, 1865, to Miss Maggie   780 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.   Hoover, who was a native of Indiana county Pennsylvania, and a daughter of Jacob Hoover. Eight children were born to our subject and wife, these be. ing as follows : Elwood, deceased ; Effie, deceased ; Dr. Edmund, of Nome, Alaska; Dr. William, of St. Louis, Missouri ; Alfred Moody ; Lucy May, the wife of Rev. Michael Yeagle, of Findlay, Ohio ; Olive M., at home; and Eli Roy, deceased. Dr. Edmund M. Rininger is located in Nome, Alaska. He was one of a committee of three sent to congress in the winter of 1900-1 to present the needs of the people of Alaska. Dr. William Rininger graduated at the Marion Simms Medical College in 1893, with high honors. For three years he was the president of his class and since beginning practice has rapidly won his way to the front.   For sixteen years our subject voted with the Prohibition party, but since that date has been associated with the Democratic party, and has been honored with many of the local offices, serving on the ticket at present as township trustee. Both he and wife are consistent and worthy members of the United Brethren church, in which he has long been the efficient Sunday-school superintendent. Socially our subject is connected with the G. A. R. and much enjoys talking over the days when he and his comrades defended the Union.   PETER B. LASH.   Since early in the '30s the name, of Lash has been favorably known in Crawford county, Ohio, and Peter B. Lash, who is the subject of this biography, is a most worthy representative of that pioneer family. The birth of Mr. Lash was in Crawford county, Ohio, on July 21, 1838, and he was a son of Peter and Mary (Fredline) Lash, who became the parents of ten children, the seven surviving members of the family being among some of the most highly esteemed residents of this part of Ohio. These Ore : Charity, who is the widow of Samuel McConnell, of Tiro, Ohio; Matilda, who is the widow of Frederick Mead, of Paint, Ohio; Peter B., who is the subject of this sketch ; Franklin, who resides in Auburn township ; Phoebe, who is the wife of Henry Eller, of Cranberry township; Francis, who lives in Auburn township ; and Lucinda, who is the wife of Franklin Holsapler, of Allen county, Indiana.   The father of our subject was born in New Jersey, about the year 1808, and bore the same name as our subject. While still a lad his parents removed from his native state and settled in Wayne county, Ohio, where Mr. Lash grew to manhood, later married Mary Fredline, who was the daughter of a neighboring farmer, and two children were born to them prior to their removal early   CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 781   in the '30s to Crawford county, Ohio. When their canvas-covered wagon reached the new home, unbroken forest surrounded them. The fertile and well-cultivated fields which now delight the eye and fill to overflowing barns and granaries with their generous yield, were then but stretches of unknown woods and rank undergrowth, but the courage which inspired Mr. Lash and his brave wife to make the journey, in the hope of providing a future for their children, still filled their minds with hope and the strength to meet the new conditions. Here Mr. Lash entered one hundred and three acres of land, this farm now being owned and operated by his youngest son Francis. One of the most distressing features of pioneer life in almost every locality, was the prevalence of fever and chills, the disease being called ague, and Mr. Lash suffered much in this way, and to such an extent that a man of less energy and perseverance would have lost heart. However, he kept steadily at work and with amazing rapidity cleared his land, later added eighty acres to it and would doubtless been one of the largest landholders of the county had not his career been cut short by an attack of erysipelas, at the age of forty-three years. His political sympathies had always been with the Whig party, and he was one of the leading men of his neighborhood in assisting every enterprise looking toward morality and virtue.   The honored mother of our subject survived her husband for thirty-five years, making her home on the farm. She was born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, in 1811, and her beautiful life ended on June 15, 1888, when she had reached the age of seventy-seven years, four months and twenty-two days. With her estimable husband she had really founded the Bucyrus circuit of the United Brethren church. She was a rare character, retiring, quiet, with a charity and a kindness of heart that made her life a benediction to all who knew her.   It is a lasting good fortune to grow to manhood in a pious, virtuous home, and such was the case with our subject, Peter B. Lash. His common-school education was finished early so that he could become an earning factor in the household, as his older brother, George, had left the parental roof when our subject was but fifteen years of age. Thus much of the heavy farm work fell upon the latter's shoulders, and later he and his younger brother Frank managed the farm together, until Prank was able to take entire charge. Our subject worked for three years at the carpenter's trade, but in 1864 he purchased a small place of twenty-five acres where he now resides.   Mr. Lash was married on March 30, 1865, to Miss Mary Kauffman, who was a native of Cranberry township and who was a daughter of Daniel and   782 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.   Elizabeth (Kauffman) Kauffman. Mrs. Kauffman was a native of Holmes county, Ohio,. while he was born in Pennsylvania, both of them. coming to Richland county with their parents when they were children. They were married in that county and later moved to Crawford county, locating in Cramberry township, and Mrs. Kauffman still survives and resides in Tiro.   After his marriage our subject located with his bride on his compact little farm, beginning housekeeping in a log cabin which had been erected by a former settler, and in the course of about seven years twenty-five more acres were added to the original purchase. In 1880 the log cabin was abandoned and removal was made to the substantial and comfortable residence which Mr. Lash had erected. About this time he bought an additional nineteen acres of land and in 1891 he added twenty-one more acres, his farm now consisting of ninety acres, well improved and under a fine state of cultivation.   Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Lash, their names being as follows : Albert, the owner of the Grand F. Kauffman farm, in Cranberry township; Clara, at home ; Levi, a teacher and a farmer in Auburn township ; Cantwell, the farmer on the home farm ; and Anna and Grace, at home.   For a number of years Mr: Lash was an ardent worker for the Prohibition party, but now is a supporter of Republican principles, believing that that party will ultimately solve the various problems which now disturb the country. The church in which his father and mother were so deeply interested is the one in which he has reared his family, and he and wife, with four of their children, are active workers in it, while he has long been one of the class-leaders. No family in the county more deserves the high esteem in which this one is held.   ANDREW WINGERT.   Andrew Wingert, one of the substantial and representative farmers of Crawford county, was born in Erie county, New York, on the 6th of June, 1835, a son of Godfrey and Anna (Kahler) Wingert. The father was born in Bavaria, Germany, in 1807, a son of Andrew and Catherine Wingert. He was reared in his native country, and at the age of twenty-three years, in 1830, he left the land of his birth for the United States, his parents joining him in this country about two years later. He arrived in this country with only six cents in his pocket, but with only this small sum with which to secure the necessities of life he refused a position of ten dollars a month, as the work necessitated the milking of a cow. He made his way to the vicinity of Buffalo, where he secured work at six dollars a month, and there he was married and pur-   CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 783   chased a small tract of twenty acres, where he resided until 1836. In that year he came to Ohio, coming by the Great Lakes to Sandusky, where he hired a team and brought his family to Crawford county.   The grandfather of our subject after coming to the United States also located in Erie county, where he purchased a small tract of land. He had four sons, Godfrey, Jacob, Henry and Christ. The three younger sons were mechanics, and one was also a shoe-maker, one a blacksmith, and the other a cooper and brewer. Jacob, who followed blacksmithing, removed to Detroit soon after the family located in this state, and afterward came to Crawford county, where he induced his father to join him. In 1835 the latter sold his place in Erie county and came to this locality, purchasing one hundred and seventy acres of land in Liberty township, the present site of the water works reservoir. A sawmill had also been built upon the land, and it was the father's intention to have the sons conduct the mill. The land was finally divided among the sons, and there Godfrey Wingert, the father of our subject, located on his arrival in Crawford county. Henry received the land on which the mill was located for his share, which he operated for a number of years. Godfrey located on his forty-two and a half acres, and later acquired the shares originally owned by his brothers Jacob and Christ, making a tract of one hundred and twenty-eight acres, and there he passed to his final reward in March,. 1879. He was a Democrat in political matters, and was an active member of the Reformed church. He was a fine old gentleman, and was highly esteemed by all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance. The mother of our subject was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, in 1807, and she came to the United. States with a sister, Mrs. Sclaifley, when sixteen years of age. Her death, occurred in 1887. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Wingert were born eight children, six of whom still survive, namely : Andrew, the subject of this review ; George, a. resident of Laclede, Missouri ; Maria, widow of Jacob Kinsey, and a resident of Todd township, Crawford county ; Louisa, the wife of Herman Manhardt„ of Custer, Wood county, Ohio; Amos, of Fulton county, Ohio ; and Leonard,. who makes his home near Lincoln, Nebraska.   Andrew Wingert, the immediate subject of this sketch, was reared to manhood under the parental roof and acquired his education in an old log schoolhouse with puncheon floor and slab benches. In 1859 he was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Schifley, a native of Erie county, New York, and a daughter of John Schifley. To this union was added one child, who is now deceased. After a happy married life of only three years the wife also died, and two years later Mr. Wingert married Miss Fidelia Kinsey, a native of Erie   44   784 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.   county, New York, and a daughter of Jacob Kinsey, who was of Pennsylvania German descent. Nine children were born unto this marriage, but only seven are now living, namely : Hattie, who resides with her sister, Mary Sharp ; Jennie and Franklin, twins, who are both at home; Rufus and Ephraim, also at home; and Mary, the wife of Edward Sharp, of Bucyrus township, Crawford county ; and Martha, at home. The mother of these children has also passed to the home beyond, her death occurring on the 7th of April, 1886.   After his first marriage Mr. Wingert located on his present home farm, which was then a vast wilderness, and he cut the first stick of timber upon the place with which to build his log cabin. He began his business career with an indebtedness of six hundred dollars hanging over him, but pluck and energy are numbered among his chief characteristics, and he soon placed his farm under a fine state of cultivation. His place now contains one hundred and seventy five acres of choice land, and he now takes rank among the leading farmers of the county. In political matters he is a stanch supporter of the Democracy, his first presidential vote having been cast for James Buchanan, but although a public spirited and loyal citizen he has never been an aspirant for political honors, preferring to give his undivided attention to his business interests. He is an active worker and prominent member of the Reformed church, and all movements to uplift his fellowmen receive in him a warm friend.   AARON CHANCE.   Among the old settlers of Todd township, Crawford county, Ohio, no residents are more highly esteemed and universally respected than Aaron Chance and his wife, these venerable people being the oldest married couple in the township. The birth of Mr. Chance was in Harrison county, Ohio, on May 27, 1816. His father died before his birth and he was left motherless when but seven years of age. His grandparents gave him parental care and he lived with them and grew up in a farming neighborhood, remaining at home until his marriage to Miss Jane Bell, on March 26, 1840. She was born on January 16, 1817, and together they have weathered the storms and enjoyed the comforts of life for sixty-one years. The four children born to them were James, Sarah J., deceased, Nomenia and Jonas.   In 1852 Mr. and Mrs. Chance came to Crawford county and settled in Bucyrus township, first renting land for four years and then buying a tract of wild land, and building a log cabin. In 1867 they located on their present   CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 785   farm of one hundred and thirty acres, in Todd township, where Mr. Chance has carried on a general line of farming.   In politics Mr. Chance has always been a Republican. Although his education was only such as could be obtained during a short period in the subscription schools, he is a well informed man and one of the most highly respected among the old settlers.   LEONARD STARNER.   Among the highly respected citizens of Crawford county, Ohio, is Leonard Starner, who has been a resident of this county since 1841. Although Pennsylvania was the state of his birth, Mr. Starner has lived a long and successful life in Ohio, and is reckoned with her most esteemed and substantial citizens.   The parents of Leonard Starner, who is the subject of this record, were Sharick and Ann (Ensley) Starner, natives of Pennsylvania, who emigrated with their children to Ohio some time later than 1830, spending their first winter in Perry county. In the following spring Mr. Starner removed to Fairfield county, remaining there until 1841, when he came to Crawford county, attracted thither by the desirable lands of this favored portion of the state. Here he located on the Marion road, some seven miles from Bucyrus, and here he farmed for two years, on rented land, later buying eighty acres near the Scioto bridge. Seven years afterward. Mr. Starner sold this farm and then purchased eighty-three acres where Jacob Duncan now lives, and upon that property he resided until the time of his death, at the age of sixty-three years. He was reared in the Democratic political. faith, but after casting his vote for President Lincoln he remained in sympathy with the Republican party. To his first marriage twelve children were born, the four survivors being: Leonard, the subject of this sketch ; Emily, the widow of Mr. Buchmaster, of Allen county, Ohio; Minerva, the wife of Frank Harvey, of Bucyrus ; and Ensley, a resident of Missouri. Mr. Starner was married three months prior to his death, to a Miss Kile.   Leonard Starner was born in 1825 and accompanied the family when it came to Ohio and later when it located in Crawford county. He was given the best educational advantages that the time afforded, and at the age of twenty-one began life for himself. On May 13, 1852, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary M. Warner, who was a native of the state of New York, born three miles from Buffalo, and she was a daughter of Joseph Warner, who   786 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.   came to this county in 1838, settling in Bucyrus township, later removing to Seneca township, where he died.   After marriage Mr. Starner began farming on a tract of eighty acres which he had purchased, and this has been the family home ever since, twenty additional acres having been since added. A family of twelve children were born to our subject and wife, the eight survivors of this family being as follows : Ranford, of Nevada, Ohio; Phoebe J., the wife of Griffin Davise, of Indiana; Joseph L., of Todd township; John, of Nevada, Ohio; Edward, of Nevada, Ohio; Alfretta, the wife of Frank Shaffstall, who is the home farmer ; Eugene, of Todd township; and Luella, at home.   In politics our subject has ever been one of the stanch supporters of the Republican party and has taken an active and intelligent interest in all public affairs. Although not formally connected with any church organization, Mr.. Starner contributes to the support of all; and although he has lived a comparatively quiet life it has been one of usefulness and uprightness, and he enjoys the esteem of all who know him.   GEORGE E. SIGLER.   One of the highly esteemed old settlers of Todd township, Crawford .county, Ohio, who has been a resident of this place for more than half a century,. is George E. Siger, who was born in Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, on. October 23, 1826. His education was acquired in the log school-house of pioneer times, and even the instruction there received was obtained under difficulties, as he was obliged to walk more than two miles in order to reach the schol-house. At the age of twenty-one years Mr. Sigler began life for himself. His father had a sawmill in the woods, in Crawford county, and our subject worked in this mill for two years and also assisted in clearing and cultivating the farm.   Mr. Sigler married Miss Harriet Hoorick and his children are named Loraine, Elliott, Rosamund and Dal. Soon after marriage Mr, Sigler began making improvements on his farm of eighty acres. It was heavily timbered and much hard work was required in order to clear and cultivate it, but finally seventy acres were in fine condition. There the family lived until 1872, when Mr. Sigler removed to the tract upon which he now resides, this consisting of one hundred and seventeen acres, and since locating upon it Mr. Sigler has, given his entire attention to its improvement, the result being that he now owns one of the most desirable farms in Todd township.   CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 787   In politics he has been a life-long Democrat. He is well and favorably known through all this neighborhood, and is very well posted not only on the current events but can be most entertaining concerning the pioneer days. With interest he has watched the wonderful growth of every industry and has done his part in the development of the farming interests.   THOMAS REGULA.   Thomas Regula, who is engaged in general farming and stock-raising in Chatfield township, has spent his entire life in the vicinity of his present home. He was born on the farm in the township where George Kibler now resides, the date of his birth being February 29, 1850. His father, Jacob Regula, was born in Rhine province of Germany, in 181i, and in 1831, when twenty years of age, crossed the Atlantic to America as a passenger on a sailing vessel, which reached the American harbor after a voyage of six weeks. He at once made his way westward to Crawford county, Ohio, and secured employment as a farm hand in Chatfield township. He thus worked for two years after which he purchased thirty acres of land, on which he erected a log cabin. He removed to his farm in 1872, and continued its cultivation and improvement until his death, which occurred in the year 1890, at the ripe old age of seventy-nine years. In early manhood he had married Catherine Reidle, and unto them were born the following children : Louisa, wife of Aaron Colb; Catherine, who is now deceased ; Christina, wife of Daniel Fox, a farmer ; Peter, who is living in Seneca county, Ohio; Jacob, who makes his home with his brother Thomas, who is the next in order of birth.   Thomas Regula was born and reared upon his father's farm and remained on the old home place until twenty-nine years of age. He attended the common schools until he had mastered the usual branches of learning taught in such institutions, after which he gave his attention entirely to the farm work, from the time of early spring planting until crops were gathered in the autumn. At the, age of twenty-nine he was married to Catherine Brown, and they now have four children—Daniel, John, Robert and Edwin.   After his marriage Mr. Regula began operating his father's farm on the shares, and later, when his labors had brought to him some capital he purchased land of his own, and is now the owner of one hundred acres, constituting a valuable place. He carries on general farming and stock-raising, and in both departments of his business is meeting with good success. His place is well improved with modern equipments and the owner is numbered   788 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.   among the substantial and industrious farmers of his neighborhood. Although his life has been a busy one he has found time to devote to the public service and for several years has served as school director. He is also one of the trustees of Chatfield township and in politics is a Democrat, believing firmly in the principles of his party. As his entire life has been passed in Chatfield township he is well known and has gained many friends among its residents and in other parts of the county.   JACOB FAUSER.   The fine farm with its many excellent improvements which is the property of Jacob Fauser is a monument to his enterprise and labor, for all that he possesses has been acquired through his own efforts. He was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, April 27, 1837, a son of John G. Fauser, who was a native of Wurtemberg, Germany, and when a young man came to the United States, locating in Columbiana county, Ohio, where he was united in marriage to Miss Magdaline Crume. They became the parents of nine children, namely : Living; Mary, deceased; George G., now a resident of Erie county, Ohio : Elizabeth, who has passed away ; Catherine, the wife of Abraham Burkey, a resident, of Lykens township; and Caroline, John, Abraham and Lena, all of whom have departed this life. The father of these children was a baker by trade, but through much of his life followed farming. About 1839 he came to Crawford county and secured one hundred and sixty acres of land in Chatfield township, upon which he erected a log cabin of one room. Therein he began life in true pioneer style, but as the years passed and his financial resources increased he was enabled to add many modern improvements to his place. He continued farming for many years, and died on the old homestead, September 19, 1892, at the age of eighty-two years. His wife passed away a year later, and thus ended the earthly career of two of the honored pioneer settlers of the county.   Jacob Fauser was only two years of age when, with his parents, he came to this county, and amid the wild scenes of the frontier he was reared, sharing with the family in the usual hardships and trials incident to the settlement of a new country. As his age and strength permitted he assisted in the work of the home farm, where he remained until his marriage, which occurred in 1868, Miss Elizabeth Riedle becoming his wife. For a third of a century she has been to him a faithful helpmate on life's journey. The home has been blessed with the following living children : Samuel, Jacob, Mary, Louisa and   CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 789   William, and they have also lost three daughters,—Elizabeth, Emma and Lydia.   Soon after his marriage Mr. Fauser located on the farm which has since: been his place of residence. The young couple began domestic life here in a little log building, but it has long since been replaced with a modern brick residence, and many other accessories of the model farm have been added, including substantial barns and outbuildings for the shelter of grain and stock. The farm embraces one hundred acres of rich land, and as a general farmer Mr. Fauser is meeting with desirable success, annually harvesting good crops. and thereby adding to his income. He and his estimable wife are members. of the Pietist church, and in his political affiliations he is a Democrat. He has served as school director and road supervisor and his faithfulness to duty has. challenged uniform commendation. His worth is widely acknowledged the county where he has made his home through more than six decades and which he has seen transformed from a wild region into one of rich fertility, enjoying commercial and agricultural prosperity.   JACOB RIEDLE.   Jacob Riedle, who is engaged in general farming in Chatfield township, where he owns One hundred and fifty acres of land, was born in the same township, January 2, 1846, and is a representative of one of the oldest families of the county. His father, Jacob Riedle, Sr., was born in Rhineburg, Germany, September 24, 1809, and worked in a stone quarry in that country. In 1840. he came to the United States with his father, the fancily establishing their home in Crawford county. There were five children in the grandfather's family : Frederick, Mary, Jacob, Catherine and Elizabeth, all now deceased. They took up their abode on a farm in Chatfield township and there the grandfather lived to an advanced age.   Jacob Riedle, Sr., the father of our subject, began working as a farm hand by the month after his arrival in Crawford county, and later he turned his attention .to the manufacture of potash. As a companion and helpmate for the I journey of life he chose Miss Elizabeth Ricker, and they became the par ents of five children : Elizabeth, the wife of Jacob Fauser; Jacob, whose name heads this record ; Peter, who is living in Chatfield township; and Catherine and Mary, who have departed this life. In the year 1859 the father purchased forty acres of the farm upon which his son and namesake now resides. There was a log cabin upon the place and a few improvements had been made.   790 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.   He at once began the work of developing the property and in due course of time transformed it into a valuable farm. His death occurred July 8, 1892, at the age of eighty-three years, and his wife passed away in 1897. They were both consistent Christian people, holding membership in the Presbyterian church.   When only thirteen years of age Jacob Riedle, whose name stands at the head of this review, came to the farm upon which he now lives. He was educated in the common schools, attending through the winter season, while in the summer he worked on the farm, giving his father the benefit of his services throughout his minority. He continued to assist him in the cultivation of the place until his marriage, when he assumed the entire management and has since successfully engaged in its cultivation. He to-day owns one hundred and fifty acres of land, of which one hundred and twenty-five acres are cleared and divided into fields of convenient size for improving.   On the 9th of April, 1874; Mr. Riedle was united in marriage to Miss Fredericka Brosa, and they now have one daughter, Lena. They are well-known people of this part of the county and have a large circle of friends. Their home is a pleasant one, and Mr. Riedle has made most of the improvements upon the farm. He is industrious, determined and self-reliant, and may well be called a self-made man, for his prosperity has come as the merited reward to his efforts.   FRANK STUMPF.   Frank Stumpf, a well-known representative of the agricultural interests of Crawford county, is now living on section 21, Jackson township. He was born upon- the farm which is yet his home, March 28, 1857, and in his life manifests many of the characteristic traits of his German ancestry. His father, Joseph Stumpf, was a native of Baden,' where he followed the occupation of farming until thirty-five years of age, when he crossed the briny deep to the new world and located upon the farm which is now the home of his son Frank. He at first owned eighty acres of land, but with the passing years increased his realty possessions until at the time of his death he hliad a valuable tract of one hundred and fifty-six acres. His political support was of the men and measures of the Democracy. In this county he married Miss Catherine Becher, who was born in Crawford county and pursued her education in a log school house near her home. Her parents were natives of the fatherland and became early settlers of this community. The parents of our subject had the following   CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 791   children, all born on the old homestead where Frank Stumpf now resides, namely : Vince, a conductor on the Ohio Central Railroad; Lawrence, now deceased ; Lawrence, the second of the name, who is farming in Crawford county; Elizabeth, of Galion ; Amore. and Martin, who have passed away ; John, who is engaged in farming with his brother Frank ; Lee, who is in the employ of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad Company; and Anthony, who has also passed away.   Frank Stumpf, of this review, is the third child. His entire life has been passed in Crawford county and in his youth he engaged in the pleasures of the playground and the duties of the school-room and in the labors of the field, finding, perhaps, in the first mentioned the greatest enjoyment, but the other two proved to him a practical preparation for life's responsible duties. He and his brother John now own and operate the old homestead together and are enterprising agriculturists whose labors are bringing to them a good financial return.   Mr. Stumpf, of this review, was married to Miss Sophia Seafrety, who was born in Germany and died in 1898. Mr. Stumpf wedded Agnes Winters, a sister of his first wife. She was born in Germany, June 8, 1877, and they became the parents of twins, but one is now deceased.   In his political affiliations Mr. Stumpf is a Democrat. He and his family are members of St. Joseph's Catholic church.   WILLIAM BROWN.   The subject of this review is a man of much influence in his community, for he is highly respected, and is justly regarded as a man of sound judgment in public affairs as well as in matters relating to the farm. The property which he now owns is located in Vernon township, and is one of the best improved and fertile farms of the locality.   Mr. Brown is a native son of Crawford county, his birth having occurred in Vernon township, on the 24th of April, 1852, a son of John and Catherine (Kinney) Brown. He was early inured to the labors of field and meadow, and his educational advantages were those afforded by the common schools of the neighborhood. At the early age of seventeen years he began his career as a farm hand, working for neighboring farmers until after his marriage, when he located on a farm of one hundred and thirty acres belonging to his father-in-law, in Vernon township, making his home thereon for two years. In 1880 he became the owner of the farm which he now occupies, consisting of   792 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.   one hundred and thirty acres, and here he has ever since made his home. He has been very successful in his farming operations, and in addition to the raising of the cereals best adapted to this soil and climate he is also extensively engaged in the breeding of Aberdeen and Durham cattle. For a number of years he was also engaged in the breeding of Shire and Norman horses, but of late years he has paid but little attention to that branch of business. In the spring of 1900 he acquired a two-thirds interest in a one-hundred-acre farm, formerly known as the Carlisle place, and his present fine residence was erected in 1893.   The marriage of Mr. Brown was celebrated in January, 1878, when Miss Clara McManus became his wife. She is a daughter of William McManus. Two children have been born unto this union,—Frank and John W., both at home. The Democracy receives Mr: Brown's hearty support and co-operation, and religiously he is a member of the German Lutheran church, in which Ile is an active and zealous worker. He is well known as a public-spirited citizen, and exhibits among his excellent traits of character honesty, integrity and sterling worth.   JACOB BROWN.   Jacob Brown is one of the thrifty and substantial farmers of Craw ford. county, where he has passed his entire life. Personally he bears a high reputation for honorable and upright dealing with his fellow men, and is always. found in the front rank in the world of improvement and public benefit.   Mr. Brown was born in Vernon township, Crawford county, on the 28th of November, 1855, a son of John and Catherine Brown. He acquired a limited education in the common schools of his locality, and as early as nine years of age he was following the plow, making a hand at farm work, and from that time until reaching years of maturity he spent much of his time in working for neighboring farmers. After his marriage he rented one of his father-in-law's farms for three years, the place consisting of two hundred and ten acres, and was located west of the place on which he now resides. In 1881 he became the owner of eighty acres of his present homestead, which he purchased of his father-in-law, and by unremitting labor and close attention to business success has attended his efforts. In 1893 he purchased eighty acres of land adjoining his home on the west, formerly known as the Cole place, thus making him the possessor of one hundred and sixty acres of rich and fertile land. Here he is successfully engaged in general farming and in the raising of Shorthorn   CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 793   cattle. His fields are under a fine state of cultivation, and in both branches of his business prosperity has abundantly rewarded his well-directed efforts.   On the 14th of October, 1875, Mr. Brown was united in marriage with Miss Mary Schwerer, also a native of Vernon township, and a daughter of George and Elizabeth (Heitman) Schwerer. The parents were born in Darmstadt, Germany, and their marriage was celebrated just prior to their embarking on their journey for the new world. After their arrival in America they spent a short time in Pennsylvania and then continued the journey to Mansfield, Ohio, where they remained for some years, when they came to Crawford county, locating in Leesville. Later they removed to the farm which adjoins our subject's place on the east, and there they are now spending the evening of life in the enjoyment of the fruits of their former toil.   Unto Mr. and Mrs. Brown have been. born four children, namely : 'William J., who operates one of his father's farms ; Elsie M., wife of Aaron Cole, of Vernon township; and Ralph W. and Edmon E., who are still at home. Mr. Brown gives his political support to the Democracy, but has refused to allow his name to be used in connection with public office, as the honors or emoluments of public positions have had no attraction for him. The family are members of the German Lutheran church, and for a number of years he has held the office of steward therein. His life has been characterized by energy, perseverance and hard work, and to these principles his success is due. He began his career under adverse circumstances, having been compelled to make his own way in the world, and his success in life illustrates most forcibly the power of patient and persistent effort and self-reliance.   ADAM FEICK.   One of the prosperous and highly respected farmer citizens of Crawford county, Ohio, who has been and still is prominently identified with the political and religious interests of his locality, is Adam Feick, the owner of one of the best cultivated and improved farms in the county.   The birth of Mr. Feick was in Vernon township, in this county, on Junta), 1845, and he was a son of Philip and Elizabeth (Fetter) Feick, and was. one of a family of ten children, five of whom still survive, these being as follows : John, of this township; Jacob, a carpenter in Crestline, Ohio; Adam, our subject ; George, on the old home; and Mack, of this township.   Philip Feick, the father of our subject, was born in Hesse-Darmstadt,. Germany, and grew to manhood there, where he learned the shoemaker's trade..   794 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.   Immediately after his marriage he and his bride emigrated to America, locating in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where he carried on his business for three years. When neighbors and friends began the westward movement which resulted in the settlement of this part of Ohio, Mr. Feick also decided to secure some land in order to make further provision for his family. With one horse and a spring wagon he came to Crawford county, and as his means were limited he gave the horse and wagon as part payment on a tract of forty acres of land in Vernon township. At that time little clearing and no cultivation had been done on this land, which was partly swamp and partly timber. During the spring and fall rains the struggling pioneers lost many of their cattle by their miring in the overflowed marshy grounds. However, Mr. Feick possessed the sturdy perseverance of his race and did not permit himself to be .discouraged, and in time he conquered difficulties and became one of the very successful farmers of the county, owning at the time of his death about two hundred and forty act-es of fine land, all of which he had placed under cultivation and improvement. His years extended to seventy-seven and he had been .one of the most useful and progressive citizens of his township. In early life he had been connected with the Lutheran church, but after the division came he became a member of the German Reformed church and for years was both a trustee and an elder. A man of strong character, he was a leader among his Democratic brethren, and served in many of the local offices and was township .trustee for a long period.   Although Adam Feick is now one of the most intelligent and well-informed citizens of his township, his early educational advantages were very limited. His schooling was principally in the German schools, only five weeks being afforded him in the English school; but any disadvantage of that kind has long since been forgotten, for Mr. Feick, in his public life, has mingled with the residents of his county to so great a degree that any difference is little noted. His father was an energetic and industrious man, and he required the same habits in his children, so that very little time was given in those days to books, while the work on the farm was pressing.   On June 20, 1866, our subject was married to Miss Catherine Cook, who was a native of Richland county, Ohio, and who was a daughter of George Cook, a native of Germany, who came to America after attaining manhood, and settled in Richland county, where he became one of the substantial citizens. After his marriage our subject worked for his father-in-law for some eighteen months and then removed to his present home farm of eighty acres, which had been purchased by his father, some time prior to this, with this end in view.   CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 795   In 1878 this fine farm became the property of our subject, his father only requiring of him one-quarter of the crop during the former's lifetime.   Three children were born to our subject and wife, and two of these still: survive, these being : Catherine, the wife of Philip Glower, of Jefferson township; and Philip, of Sandusky township. Mrs. Feick died on February 28, 1872, and on October 7, 1873, our subject was married to Miss Elizabeth Frank, who was a native of Wyandot county, Ohio, and the daughter of Peter Frank, who emigrated to Wyandot county from Hesse-Darmstadt. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Feick, as follows : Peter, of Jefferson township; William, at home; Ida, at home; Bena, the wife of William Holcher, of Crestline, Ohio; and Lizzie, Christian and Tillie, at home.   Mr. Feick has been very prominent in Democratic political circles. For four years he served as constable and for nine years was the efficient supervisor of the township. The high esteem in which he is held in the county was shown in 1893, when he was elected to the important position of a director on the board of county infirmary, and for six years he faithfully and conscientiously performed the duties of the office.   Mr. Feick has lived a busy and useful life, but he has never neglected his duties as a consistent member of the German Reformed church, in which he has served as trustee and is now one of its faithful stewards. He has been liberal in support of all charitable and benevolent enterprises in his locality and is justly regarded as one of the leading men 'of the county, highly esteemed both at home and abroad.   SOLOMON HARLEY.   The birth of Solomon Harley, who is the subject of this biography, was. in Chatfield township, in this county, on October 24, 1841, and he was the second son in the family of his parents, John and Anna (Rock) Harley. Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Harley, the seven survivors being as follows : George, a merchant in Leesburg, Kosciusko county, Indiana; Solomon, the subject of this biography ; Susan, the wife of John Bittikofer, of Sulphur Springs, in this county ; Mary, the wife of Samuel Knecht, of Petoskey, Mich igan; Caroline, the wife of Aaron Flohr, of New Washington, in this county; Alexander, the county treasurer of Kosciusko county, Indiana ; and Isaac, of Shelby, Ohio.   John Harley was born in Baden, Germany,. in 1815, and he was a son of John and Margaret Harley, people of limited means who came to America.   796 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.   after their son had become able to care for them. He nobly fulfilled this filial duty, building them a house for their comfortable residence and cared for them until their lives ended. John Harley was but seventeen years of age when he came to America and made his home soon after in Columbiana county, Ohio. There he married and lived for two more years in the same locality, coming then to Crawford county. Here he located on a farm of eighty acres, in Chatfield township, forty acres of which he had purchased prior to coming hither, the other forty acres being given him by his father-in-law. Upon this land Mr. Harley erected a log cabin, living in an old shed while he was building this residence. In time he cleared his land and in later years he purchased additional land until his farm consisted of one hundred and sixty acres. In 1864 he sold this farm and purchased the one hundred and ten acres which comprise the farm of our subject, located in Sandusky township. Before removing to this place Mr. Harley built on it one of the handsomest and most attractive residences in Crawford county, making it a home filled with comforts and conveniences. Here his useful life closed three years later, passing away surrounded by sorrowing friends. In politics he had ever been an ardent Republican, and was active in public affairs in his neighborhood. In former years he had been connected with the Methodist church, but at the time of his death he was a consistent member Of the Reformed church.   The mother of our subject was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, on December 8, 1812, and she was the daughter of Henry and Maria Barbara (Reith) Rock, both of whom were natives of Berks county, Pennsylvania. They came to Crawford county from Columbiana county, having resided there some years, and located in Liberty township at an early day. Mr. Rock came into the possession of about three hundred acres of land and was one of the substantial farmers of the county. The mother of our subject died in her eighty-ninth year, on February 3, 1901, having been for many years one of the most devoted members of the Reformed church.   Solomon Harley, of this sketch, was reared on the home farm and educated in the common schools. After attaining his majority he remained at home as the farmer, receiving his share of the yield, but in 1870 he purchased an interest in a sawmill and after that period he gave the greater part of his time and attention to the management of this property, continuing to operate this mill during the larger part of twenty-five years. After his marriage he removed to a residence situated near the mill, and here his first wife died, three years later, and. then he returned to the home farm: where he has since resided.   CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 797   In 1875 our subject, in connection with his brother Isaac, took charge of the home farm and carried on a general line of agricultural work in the interest of the heirs, continuing until about 1887, when the whole burden was assumed by our subject, his brother Isaac marrying at that time and removing to another locality. Mr. Harley still continued on the farm and in 1900 bought the property. His long residence upon it made it doubly valuable to him, and he has now not only one of the best farms but also one of the finest residences in this vicinity.   The first marriage of Solomon Harley was in 1870, to Miss Minerva A. Stevens, who was a native of Cranberry township, in this county, and who was a daughter of Jacob Stevens, a resident of Tiro, of whom extended mention is made in another part of this work. Two children were born of this union, the survivor being Elmer J., who is in the insurance business in Kansas City. The second marriage of our subject was in 1875, to Miss Anna Immel, who was a native of Cranberry township and a daughter of Philip Immel, a native of Pennsylvania, who was one of the pioneers of Crawford county. To this marriage six children have been born, the five survivors being as follows : Nora, Charles, Homer, Clara and Leroy, all of these still residing in their beautiful home, with the exception of Charles, who lives in Tiro.   In politics Mr. Harley has been a life-long Republican and has most efficiently served for the past twelve years as justice of the peace, filling also many of the other offices, serving during one term as the careful and accurate township treasurer, and for several years served as a member of the board of school directors, and many of the excellent reforms introduced into the school system in this district have resulted from his intelligent interest. Mr. Harley is justly considered one of the leading citizens of Sandusky township, and is a man who has established a reputation through the county for unimpeachable integrity.   AMOS F. KELLER.   Rising above the heads of the masses are many men of sterling worth and value, who by sheer perseverance and pluck have conquered fortune, and by their own unaided efforts have risen from the ranks of commonplace to eminence and positions of respect and trust. It is to his perseverance and indomitable energy that Amos F. Keller owes his success in life, as well as to his keen and brilliant mind. He has continued through life a diligent student, being now one of the best informed men on general subjects in Crawford county, and as an orator he also stands in the front rank.   798 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.   A native son of the Buckeye state, Mr. Keller was born in the house where he still resides, his parents being Phillip and Hannah (Stucker) Keller. He acquired his early education in the common schools of the neighborhood, supplementing the knowledge there gained by a scientific course under Professor Churchill, of Oberlin University, and for eight years thereafter he also pursued the Ohio teachers' reading course. At the age of nineteen years he began teaching in the district schools, which profession he followed for eighteen years during the winter months, while in the summers he worked in field and meadow. When twenty-one years of age he and his brother, John H., took charge of the home farm, which they conducted on the shares for two years, after which our subject had entire charge of the old homestead, the brother removing to another farm. On the 30th of October, 1895, Mr. Keller was united in marriage with Miss H. Maudesta Carrothers, a daughter of James B. Carrothers, of Vernon township and a sketch of whom will be found on another page of this work. This union has been blessed with three children,—Constance Rebecca, John Carrothers and Robert Warren.     In political matters Mr. Keller was reared in the faith of the Republican party, and his first vote was cast in its favor, but in later life he has identified himself with the Labor party. In 1894 he was a condidate on the People's ticket for congress, and in 1896 and again in 1900 he stumped this entire section of the country for Bryan. He has also held the position of organizer of labor under Powderly one year. Mr. Keller is a great reader, and in recent years his study has largely been confined to philosophical and historical works, while at the present time he is engaged in reading law. He has one of the largest and most complete general libraries in Crawford county. Religiously he is an active member of the German Reformed church, in which he is at the present time serving as an elder, and he is as broad-minded and liberal in his religious views as upon all other subjects. With a capacity and experience which would enable him to fulfill any trust to which he might be chosen, he has never sought to advance himself in office, but has been content to do his duty where he could and leave the self-seeking to others. Viewed in a personal light, he is a. strong man, of excellent judgment, fair in his views and highly honorable in his relations with his fellow men. He is a man of very strong convictions, and his integrity stands as an unquestioned fact in his career. He has always been a student, and the scope and amplitude of his knowledge render him a charming conversationalist. He is in full sympathy with all the great movements of the world about him, and watches the progress of events with the keenest interest.   CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 799   JACOB PRY.   Jacob Pry, who is a well-known and highly esteemed resident of Crawford county, Ohio, was born in Sandusky township, in this county, in December, 1846, and he was a son of Frederick and Rickey (Bowman) Pry, the former of whom was born in Germany in 1803 and died on April I, 1893, in his ninetieth year. After coming to the United States with his. mother and brothers and sisters, the father of our subject bought a farm near Sulphur Springs, in Liberty township, Crawford county, Ohio, and later sold it and bought the fine property now owned and occupied by our subject.   Jacob Pry, of this biography, grew to manhood on his father's farm and attended the common schools. After reaching his twenty-first year he started out to make a career for himself, beginning as a farm hand, his labor bringing excellent wages. In this line he continued until his marriage, on April 28, 1870, to Miss Elizabeth Gundrum, who was a native of Sandusky township.   After marriage Mr. Pry, in association with his brother John, bought the farm now owned and occupied by the latter, and here the two brothers combined their interests together for some years. Then our subject removed from there and engaged in farming on rented land for a number of years. In the latter part of the '80s our subject and Lewis Pry bought the old Kinsley farm,. consisting of ninety-six acres, and for three years they carried on extensive farming operations, at the end of which period our subject purchased his. present home farm, consisting of ninety acres, to which lie removed in 1896, and here he has since resided. This is one of the highly cultivated and valuable farms of the county, and Mr. Pry has the reputation of being a thorough, and progressive farmer as well as a useful and most intelligent citizen.     In his political sympathies Mr. Pry is independent, although he was: elected as township trustee on the Populist ticket. His term of service was most satisfactory and demonstrated the confidence and esteem in which he is held by his fellow citizens. He has long been a leading member and generous supporter of the United Brethren church, where he is highly valued for hiss exemplary life and high moral character.   CALEB PFAHLER.   As an example of the usefulness and prominence to which men of character and determination may attain, it is but necessary to chronicle the life of Caleb Pfahler, one of the representative agriculturists of Crawford county.   45