AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 851 Mr. George is a Democrat in politics and belongs also to the Knights of Pythias Iodge at Bucyrus. JAMES S. McCARRELL, D. D. S., deceased, for 44 years was one of the leading professional men of Bucyrus, where, also as a citizen, he was held in respect and esteem. He was born Feb. 14, 1835, in Armstrong county, Pa., and died at Bucyrus, O., May 3, 1909. He was one of a family of three sons and one daughter born to Rev. James McCarrell, who, at one time was a prominent minister in the United Presbyterian church in Pennsylvania. James S. McCarrell had school advantages, his father being a scholarly man, and early became a teacher. When the Civil War broke out he and his two brothers enlisted for service but serious illness caused his discharge on account of disability, while his brothers survived the early hardships of army life only to die later of starvation in the stockade at Andersonville, Ga. He resumed teaching and later became superintendent of the public schools of Beaver Falls, Pa. He completed his studies in dentistry at New Brighton, Pa., and in 1865 came to Bucyrus and established himself here where his subsequent life was spent. He was one of the most successtui practitioners of dental surgery in this city, his long experience and scientific skill qualifying him for all ordinary dental work and for those delicate operations which, in his later years, served to elevate the profession to its present high plane, with which he made himself thoroughly familiar. He was a member of the Ohio State Dental Association and in many lines of dental practice was considered an authority. For many years he was identified with the Masonic fraternity. He called himself a Democrat but was always independent in his views. Dr. McCarrell was married at Bucyrus to Miss Mary A. Matthews, who was born in 1837, at Utica, N. Y., and was three years old when her parents moved to Sandusky, O. Her grandfather, Rev. Robert Matthews, was a native of Bath, England. He was possessed of means and for forty years devoted his life to the free ministery of the Baptist church. Robert Matthews, Jr., father of Mrs. McCarrell was educated in England. He married Mary Kelly, of Troy, N. Y. and afterward settled permanently at Sandusky, O., where Mr. Matthews continued in business until his death. His widow subsequently married James Paul and they had one son, Charles. She lived into old age and died at Sandusky. Mrs. McCarrell has one surviving brother, William Matthews, of Sandusky. To Dr. and Mrs. McCarrell three children were born: James, who died when aged three years and eight months; Maud, who is the wife of Edward George Reid, a prominent citizen of Bucyrus; and Susan, who resides with her mother. Mrs. McCarrell is a member of the Presbyterian church and Miss Susan of the Episcopal church. They are well known in social circles here. Mrs. McCarrell had an exceedingly trying experience at one time in her life. She was attending the performance at Ford's Theater, Washington, D. C., on that memorable occasion when President Lincoln was fatally shot by the assassin, J. Wilkes Booth. CHARLES H. LANIUS, passenger agent at Galion, O., has been identified with the C. C. C. and B. I. and now Big Four R. R., at this point since 187o and is one of the best known railroad men on the line. He was born at Kelshausen, Kreises Wetzlar, Prussia, Dec. 20, 1848, a son of Peter and Elizabeth (Sames) Lanius. The parents of Mr. Lanius were also of German birth and parentage. During the Revolution of 1848 Peter Lanius became involved and in the spring of 1849 embarked with his wife and infant son on a vessel sailing for America. After a voyage of three months the travelers were safely landed in the harbor of New York and from there made their way to Buffalo and then to Sandusky, O. From that place, in a grain wagon, then denominated a land schooner, the German family reached Galion. At first Peter Lanius accepted farm work at 35 cents a day a small wage but in that day it purchased it double the amount that it would at present time. Later, for many years he draying business at Galion and his death occurred in this city in 1886, when he was aged 63 years, having survived his wife for five 852 - HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY years. They were members of the First Reformed church and were highly respected by all who gained their acquaintance. The fanf ily contained four sons and two daughters, there being three sons yet living, namely: Charles H. ; William P., who is general yardmaster with the B. & O. Railroad at Lorain, O.; and John, who is a car inspector for the Big Four, at Galion. Charles H. Lanius was reared and attended school at Galion and in 1870 entered the employ of the C. C. C. and B. I. now Big Four R. R. In 1878 he was made ticket and express clerk and continued until 1907, when he was made passenger agent. Mr. Lanius was married at Galion to Miss Catherine Sittler, who was born here, a daughter of John Sittler, who was born in Dodenau, Hesse Darmstadt and married at Galion, where he died aged 44 years. By trade he was a cooper. The mother of Mrs. Lanius, was born at New Philadelphia, O., and died at the age of 68 years. Mr. and Mrs. Lanius have six children, namely: Frederick, agent of Big Four R. R., at Galion, who married Zula Belle Cutchfield and has three children—Ralph, Vivian and Dean; Mary, who passed the grammar grade, and follows the dressmaking trade; Ora, who is a clerk in a dry goods store and a graduate of Galion High School; Carl, train director for the Pennsylvania lines at Pittsburg, Pa., who married Cora Clark; Otto, who is with the C. and E. I. Railway, at Danville, Ill., and Cleo, also a graduate of Galion High School, who is a stenographer, in the Big Four Railway offices at Galion. All the children have been given educational advantages and all stand well in their communities. Mr. and Mrs. Lanius have reared their family in the faith of the First Reformed church. Fraternally Mr. Lanius is a Blue Lodge Mason, and in his political sentiments he prefers to be free from party ties. SAMUEL BAKER, whose death on Sept. 15, ~9io, deprived Dallas township of a good and worthy citizen, was born in Whetstone township, this county, Sept. 22, 1845, son of Benaiah and Mary (Houck) Baker. His parents were natives of Pickaway county and were farmers. They had nine children, namely: Rebecca, who married Thomas Ken nedy; William; Phillip; John; Matilda, wife of Marcus Hemphill; Samuel, subject of this sketch; Lucinda, wife of George Miller; Polly, who was the wife of William Crissinger; and David, who perished in the Civil war. Samuel Baker was educated in the common schools and was brought up to farming, which occupation he followed for the rest of his life. Politically he was a Democrat and though not particularly active in township affairs was recognized as a capable farmer and reliable citizen, exercising usually a sound judgment on matters of public interest. He was married Oct. 14, 1869 to Lydia Jane Kennedy, a daughter of William and Margaret (Shank) Kennedy. Mrs. Baker's parents were born in Pennsylvania and both came to Ohio when young. After their marriage they took up farming in Marion county. Their children were Lydia Jane, above mentioned; Thomas S., a farmer of Dallas township, where and elsewhere he owns large tracts of agricultural property, being also a stockholder in the Farmers and Citizens Bank of Bucyrus, and whose wife was in maidenhood Esther F. Monnett; Martha, now deceased, who was the wife of George Watts; James William, of whom we have no special record; Emma, who is the wife of Madison Roberts; Zilla, who is the present wife of George Watts; and Margaret Ellen, who is the wife of John Hill. After the death of Mrs. Margaret Kennedy, Mrs. Baker's mother, William Kennedy married for his second wife Mary A. Lance and they had born to them a daughter, Samira, who is the wife of Ellsworth J. Jones. Mrs. Baker's grandparents on the paternal side were Thomas and Nancy Kennedy, and on the maternal side. Jacob and Lydia Shank. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Raker have been as follows: Della, who married Charles Garver and whose children are C. Marion, Marvin J. and Jane Ermyntrude; William P., who married Icy Birdilla Blowers and has two children—William Carl and Daniel Earl; Thomas, who married Rose Shell and whose children are Ernest, Cleo and Mildred; David, who resides in the state of California; Roda: Sylvia; Idro, wife of Jay Stoltz has one child, Treva Fern: Vernon J. and Hertha. The Baker family in general attend AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 853 the Methodist church. They are numbered among the good citizenship of Crawford county, in the development and upbuilding of which they are taking an active and useful part. Mrs. Baker herself owns So acres in Dallas township, which came to her from her father, William Kennedy. JACOB LUST, whose well improved farm of 150 acres lies in Holmes township, Crawford county, O., on the Oceola road, four miles west of Bucyrus, was born in Lykens township, Crawford county, March 17, and is a son of David and Catherine (Yeiter) Lust. David Lust came of German ancestry but was born in Marion county, O., and in 1828 accompanied an uncle to Crawford county and resided in Chatfield township until after his marriage. He then moved to Lykens township and for many years carried on farming but is now retired, being in his 84th year. He married Catherine Yeiter, who was born in New Jersey and was brought to Crawford county in youth. Ten children, six sons and four daughters were born to them and all survive except one daughter, Mrs. Lydia Stump, the next to the youngest born. The others are: Jacob; Mrs. Elizabeth Heiber; Simon, of Liberty township; Noah, of Whetstone township; Mrs. Mary Cook, of Bucyrus; Wesley, of Holmes township; Mrs. Sarah Hayden, who resides with her father; Abraham, of Holmes township; and Amos, who is the home farmer. Jacob Lust obtained his education in the district schools and afterward engaged in farming in Liberty and Bucyrus townships prior to coming to his present place, Aug. 17, 1893. He has greatly improved this property since it came into his possession and has a valuable and well stocked farm. Mr. Lust married Miss Amanda Brown, a daughter of John Brown, who was born in Germany. They have had six children, namely: Verne, who married Ora Benson and has two children—Florence and Fairy; an infant, deceased; Effie, who died at the age of fifteen years; Roy, who married Elsie Schifer and has two children—Norma and Fred; and Leora and Raymond, who remain at home. Politically Mr. Lust is a stanch Democrat and he has served in the office of township trustee and is a member of the school board, the District No. 9 school-house being on his farm. Mr. Lust and family attend the Lutheran church. They are all well known and highly respected people of this section. SAMUEL F. WEIDEMAIER, who, for 25 years has resided on his present exceedingly valuable farm of 280 acres, which is situated in Bucyrus township, Crawford county, O., is a representative man of this section, one who is held in high esteem by all who know him. He was born in Marion county, O., March 28, 1860, and is a son of Peter and Christina (Diegle) Weidemaier. Peter Weidemaier was born in Germany and came to America in youth and became a farmer in Marion county, O. There he married Christina Diegle, who was born in Marion county, of German parents, and there they lived until the end of their lives, being quiet, good, thrifty and religious people. They had the following children born to them: Samuel F., Jacob, Daniel Joseph, Thomas and Minnie, all of whom survive except Daniel and Minnie. Samuel F. Weidemaier was trained to farm pursuits by his father, with whom he remained until he was 28 years of age. Since he has been in business for himself many of the farm methods have changed and improved machinery has taken the place of former wearying hand work, but the principles remain the same. For 16 years Mr. Weidemaier rented the farm he then bought, purchasing it from the heirs of Daniel Stump, who was his father-in-law. He has made improvements as he has deemed them necessary and since taking charge of the property has probably doubled its value. He engages in a general farming line. In 1887 he was married to Miss Louisa Stump, a daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Zimmerman) Stump, and they have two sons, Arthur and Wesley. In politics Mr. Weidemaier is a Democrat. With his family he belongs to the German Methodist church, of which he is a trustee and in which he has served as Sunday-school superintendent. CHAS. F. MATTHEW, who served Crawford county in the office of recorder for six consecutive years and is now engaged in the abstract, insurance and real estate business at 854 - HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY Bucyrus, O., has been a resident of this city for over a half century. He was born in Seneca county, O., July 3, 1854, and is a son of Charles M. Matthew. Charles M. Matthew was born in one of the Rhine provinces of Germany and in 1847, during the insurrection, left Germany and came to America, locating in the Lake Superior region and some time later removed to Scipio, in Seneca county, 0., where he followed the trade of cabinetmaker. There he married Margaret Shock, who was born in Bavaria, Germany, and had been brought to America by her parents when she was a child. After the birth of three of their seven children, they moved to Bucyrus, where the remainder of their quiet, virtuous, useful lives were spent, the mother dying in 1885 and the father surviving until 1905, he being then in his 76th year. They were members of the German Reformed church. Politically he was a Democrat. Six of the family of children still live and four reside at Bucyrus. Chas. F. Matthew was the eldest born of his parents' children and was six years old when the family came to Bucyrus. Here his education was attended to and he was usefully employed in various ways until 1880, when he went to work in his father's furniture store and became a partner in 1885 and continued in the business for the next ten years. In 1897 he was appointed deputy county recorder and in 1903 was elected recorder and filled out two terms in this office with marked efficiency. In the meanwhile he had become interested in abstract work and later opened an abstract office and, in connection with his other interests, continues the same. In 1909 he became associated with Milton R. Lewis in the insurance and real estate business at Bucyrus and theirs is a busy office in the News Forum Building at Bucyrus. Mr. Matthew was married in Pennsylvania to Miss Kate B. Schack, who was born in the state of New York but was reared at Wilcox, Pa. They have two children: Eva A., who was born in 1878 and is the wife of Dr. F. C. McGaughy, a well known dentist of Galion, 0., and Fred A., who is interested in mining in Mexico. Mr, and Mrs. Matthew are members of the Presbyterian church. Politically he is a Democrat and formerly was active as a Knight of Pythias. ALBERT J. SEELE, whose excellent farm of 93 acres lies in Bucyrus township, Crawford county, O., was born in Holmes township, Crawford county, Feb. 19, 1857, and is a son of Emil and Catherine (Spade) Seele. Emil Seele was born in Germany and was 16 years old when he came to America and located in Crawford county. He learned and followed the shoemaking trade for some years but later became a farmer in Holmes to«-nship, where he died. He was a highly respected man, a faithful member of the German Lutheran church, and a Democrat in politics. He married Catherine Spade, who was born in Stark county, O., and she also is deceased, through life having been a member of the German Reformed church. They had the following children : Malinda, who 'married Charles Gerstenberger; Edward; Matilda, who married Abraham Ditty; George Delmar; Albert J.; Celestia, who married Daniel Smith; and William, Clarence, and Charles Westley. Albert J. Seele attended school until he was 12 years of age and then began to help his father on the home farm and remained until he was 30 years of age, farming having been his business through life. For 14 years Mr. Seele rented land, having his present farm rented for ten years before buying it, in Feb., 1901, from David W. Nussbaum. He has made improvements since becoming its owner and still continues these and has a valuable property. He carries on general farming and raises stock but only enough for his own use. On December 12, 1887, Mr. Seele was married to Miss Ellen Rupert, a slaughter of Solomon and Lydia (Haas) Rupert. The father of Mrs. Seele was born in Stark county, 0., and the mother is Lykens township, this county. They lived on a farm in.Lykens township. They had three children: Aaron, Ellen and Emery. Mr. and Mrs. Seele have one son, James Carson, who was born Oct. 2, 1888 and assists his father. He is a member of Co. A, O. N. G., at Bucyrus. Mr. and Mrs. Seele attend the English Lutheran church. Both Mr. Seele and son are Democrats, and James C. Seele belongs fraternally to the Jr. O. U. A. M., at Bucyrus. C. R. SHECKLER, M. D., who is the oldest resident physician of Brokensword. Crawford county, O., to which place he came in AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 855 1882, was born at Bucyrus, O., in 1856, and is a son of Edward F. and Adeline (Shawk) Sheckler. Edward F. Sheckler was of German parentage but was born in Pennsylvania and from there came to Crawford county in young manhood. For many years afterward he conducted a tailoring establishment at Bucyrus and his death occurred at the home of his son, Dr. Sheckler, when he was aged 67 years. He married Adeline Shawk, who passed away at Bucyrus some years before her husband. They had four children, namely: C. R.; Nettie, who married E. J. Williams, a teacher and fruit farmer in the State of Washington; J. Thompson, who is also a resident of Washington, a carpenter by trade; and Edward, who also follows carpentering in Washington. C. R. Sheckler attended the public schools of Bucyrus and with a local physician did his preliminary medical reading and then entered the Columbus Medical College, Columbus, O., where he was graduated in 1877. He commenced practice at North Robinson, Crawford county, where he continued for six years and then came to Brokensword and made this pleasant town his permanent home. His practice covers a wide territory and few men are better known in this section. As a citizen he. has been active in advancing the interests of the place and has taken much interest in educational matters and has served on the board of education. Dr. Sheckler married Miss Catherine Bogan, a daughter of Samuel Bogan of North Robinson, and they have three children Ralph, a railroad man, who married Catherine Gallagher of Fort Wayne, Ind., and has one child; and Adeline and Archie B., both of whom reside at home. In politics Dr. Sheckler is a Democrat and fraternally belongs to the order of Foresters. JOHN PARCHER,* farmer, and one of the leading citizens of Dallas township, was born in Bucyrus township, Crawford county, O., Sept. 16, 1846, a son of Daniel and Mary (McNeal) Parcher. His father was a native of this county, while his mother was from Pennsylvania. Daniel Parcher was a carpenter by trade and also followed farming to some extent. In politics he was a Democrat. He and his wife are both deceased and their remains rest in Bucyrus cemetery. Their children were: John, whose name appears at the head of this sketch; Juliet, wife of Josiah Keckler; Wellington, Benjamin, Allison, Edith (deceased), George, Daniel, and Elizabeth and Alexander, who are both deceased. John Parcher was educated only in the common schools so far as literary attainments are concerned, but his education in the school of life has been broader and more comprehensive, and in it he has learned many things that are not taught by schoolmasters. Having been trained to agriculture, from his youth up he has followed farming as his regular occupation and now owns 120 acres of excellent land in Dallas township, which is well cultivated and cared for. His buildings are convenient and substantial and he is recognized as one of the prosperous citizens of the community. He has owned his present farm for about 15 years, but has lived on it for about 34. years altogether; it was formerly known as the Wesley White farm. In connection with his general farming operations, Mr. Parcher keeps enough stock for his own use. Hs is a Democrat in politics and has been sufficiently active to serve in public office. He was county commissioner for six years and has also served as township trustee. Mr. Parcher was married Jan. 1, 1868 to Adelia Wilson, a daughter of Daniel and Sarah (Taylor) Wilson, the former a native of Crawford county, while Mrs. Wilson was from Ross county. Mr. Wilson was an active man among the early settlers of this section; he was both a farmer and merchant, his mercantile operations including a considerable trade in furs, which he bought from the Indians. There were thirteen children in the Wilson family, namely : John, Mary, Richard, Susan, Samuel, Malissa, William, Sarah, Daniel, Rachel, David, Adelia and Olive—a good stock contributing to form that high grade of citizenship for which the state of Ohio is noted. The same may be said of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Parcher, ten in number, who are as follows: Jesse; Mary E., wife of G. L. Shemer; Susannah, who is now deceased; Clara, also deceased; Lewis; Alma, wife of C. O. Shemer; John Grover; 856 - HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY  Clarence; Calvin, deceased; and Delcie. Mr. and Mrs. Parcher and family attend the Method st church, while Mr. Parcher is a mcrnber of the Royal Arcanum lodge at Bucyrus. JACOB GEIGER, a well known business man of Bucyrus is the proprietor of the Bucyrus Copper Kettle Works, a large and well equipped plant which gives employment to many people. He was born in Rhenish Bavaria, 75 years ago, and was three years of age when his parents with their family came to this country, settling near Chatfield. At the age of 14 Mr. Geiger came to Bucyrus, where he was employed as a clerk by A. P. Widman, then a prominent dry-goods merchant. He remained with Mr. Widman about four years, then accepted a position as clerk and bookkeeper in the dry-goods store of J. P. Bowman. Later he went to Hayesville where he attended school. Returning to Bucyrus Mr. Geiger clerked for several years, and in the fall of 1863 with Daniel Picking formed a partnership known as Picking & Geiger. This firm bought out the former hardware business of E. Blair, and conducted a hardware store, with Mr. Geiger as manager. In 1874 this firm started the manufacture of Copper Kettles for boiling apple butter. Mr. Geiger remained in this business until the spring of 1879 when he sold his interest to D. Picking & Co. He then erected the first building of the Bucyrus Copper Kettle Works, and in the fall of 1879 formed a partnership with Philip E. Bush for the manufacture of copper kettles. To increase the business, other lines of kettles have been added from time to time, and as it became necessary there were additions built to the plant. Since the death of Mr. Bush in 1907, the business has been continued under the old firm name of Geiger & Bush, but Mr. Geiger has been sole proprietor. He is still actively engaged in managing the business and is assisted by his son, J. D. Geiger. Mr. Geiger was married June 6, 1877, at Bucyrus to Millie Fenner. They have two children, Judson Dale, a graduate of Rose Polytechnic Institute, who is associated with his father in the business, and Alberta, (B. Lit., Oxford College) who is the wife of Charles W. Kern. GEORGE BEARD, an agriculturist of Dallas township, where he operates his farm of 81 ¼ acres, came here on April 8, 1911, from Tod township, where he had lived since 1859 with the exception of one year spent in Wyandot county. The family had previous to 1859 been located in Richland county, Ohio. Mr. Beard was born in Germany, May 12, 1847, but was brought to this country when seven years of age. After a residence of seven years in Richland county, O., which was his first home in the United States, he came to Crawford county, this being, as before stated, in 1859. Mr. Beard is a son of Jacob and Josephine (Reichley) Beard, natives of Germany, who are both now deceased and buried at Nevada, Ohio. After coming to this country Jacob Beard engaged in farming and in this way the rest of his life was spent. He was a Democrat in his political views and he and his wife were Lutherans in religious faith. Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Beard reared a family of eight children, as follows: John, George, Mary, Cresia, Hattie, Fannie, Anna and Susan. Mary became the wife of Barrick Holmes; Cresia is married to A. D. Mulford; Annie is the wife of George Christy; and Susan, who is now deceased,. was the wife of Reuben Wilcox. George Beard grew up on the home farm and received the common school education generally afforded the youths of his day. He has since that time spent his life in agricultural pursuits with the exception of one year, when he lived retired at Nevada, Ohio. He does general farming and has been so successful in his undertakings that he now needs the services of hired men to help him. He raises stock for his own use. In 1874 Mr. Beard was married to Mary Feichner, who was born in Crawford county. She is a daughter of John and Rose Ann (Cafeir) Feichner, who were well known farming people of Liberty township, Crawford county. They are both deceased and buried in Liberty township, one mile north of Sulphur Springs. Mr. and Mrs. Beard have had one child, Lettie McHenry. Mr. Beard is a Democrat in politics. He and his wife are affiliated with the Lutheran church. AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 857 WILLIAM MERIT McHENRY, a well-known resident of Dallas township, whicheie is serving as township trustee, was born on the farm on which lie now lives, Nov. 21, 1874. This property comprise10000 acres of well-improved land. Mr. McHenry is a son of Caleb and Adeline (Rex) McHenry. Caleb McHenry was born Nov. 15, 1829 in Columbiana county, O., his parents being Malcomb and Elizabeth (Wickert) McHenry, who had moved from Pennsylvania to Columbiana county, O., in 1812 and afterwards moved to Richland county, O., where they remained until 1838, in which year Malcomb McHenry left his home to go west in search of a better location. He was never afterwards heard of and it is supposed that he was killed by the Indians. His wife moved to Indiana and died there Feb. 6, 1878. Caleb McHenry, son of Malcomb, and father of our subject, grew up on the farm and followed agriculture all his life. He came to Dallas township, Crawford county, O., in 1840 and all his subsequent life with the exception of eight years when lie was in Lake county, Ind., was spent here. He was widely known in Dallas township, having served as justice of the peace for a great number of years and also as township trustee and clerk to the chairman of the school board. He was first united in marriage with a Miss Parmer, of Indiana, and their children were: Curtis, deceased; Emma, deceased, who was the wife of R. L. Hudson; Millard Esther, deceased, who was the wife of Jacob Shupp; Joseph; and Marv, the wife of David Graham. He married, secondly, Adeline Rex and they became the parents of children as follows: Martha, the wife of Willis Spade; Orpha, deceased, who was the wife of Benjamin Grooves; Milen and William M., the direct subject of this article, who is the youngest born. William M. McHenry received the usual common school education and then turned his attention to farming which has since been his life's occupation. His land is well improved and Mr. McHenry successfully carries on general farming on it and he takes pride in raising good stock though not registered. On April 7, 1898, Mr. McHenry was married to Miss Lettie Beard, who was born in this county, a daughter of George and MaryFeichnerer) Beard, who were formerly resi dents of Tod township but who now reside in Dallas township, where Mr. Beard is a farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Beard have had but one child, Mrs. McHenry, but Mrs. Beard has three children from a former marriage to a Mr. Mauer, namely: Frank; Caroline, who was married first to William Miller and secondly to Frank Layman; and Malissa, the wife of Edward Starner. To Mr. and Mrs. McHenry have been born the following children: Eber Wayne, Mary Eunice, Vera May and Maud Fay. Politically, our subject is a Republican but votes for the man who in his judgment is most capable of filling office, rather than his party's choice. He is serving in his second term as township trustee, having filled this office for four years. He is fraternally affiliated with the Knights of Pythias at Nevada, Ohio, and religiously, he and his family are connected with the U. B. Mt. Zion church in this township. FRANK E. HAMAN, deceased, was a well known resident of Bucyrus, O., for many years and enjoyed the respect and esteem of his fellow citizens. He was born in the state of New York, Dec. 13, 1834, a son of William and Mary (Hopp) Haman. He was yet young when his parents moved to Richland county, 0., where they spent the remainder of their lives. They had a large family of children, one daughter still surviving in the person of Mrs. Fannie J. DeGraff, who lives near Strakers, O. Frank E Haman spent his boyhood on his father's farm and attended the district schools. When old enough to learn a trade he carne to Bucyrus and apprenticed himself to a blacksmith and became a first class mechanic. Later he became a member of the city fire department and was a brave and efficient worker in that admirable organization for full 18 years. Politically he was a Republican and took an active interest in local measures and served for some years in the office of city marshal. He was a dependable man in every relation of life and his memory is tenderly preserved by his family and friends. His death occurred Feb. 17, 1905, and his obsequies were conducted by the Masons, of which fraternity he had been an active member. 858 - HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY On March 2, 1852, Mr. Haman was married to Miss Isabella Jane Cromleigh, who was born at Middleton, Dauphin county, Pa., Oct. 11, 1830. Her father died in Dauphin county when aged 37 years, 3 months and 7 days having been a well known man, a teacher, merchant and lumber inspector. He was one of the leading members of the Lutheran church in his community and for years was superintendent of the Sunday-school. After some time his widow married a Mr. Stringfellow, but no children were born to the second union.. Mrs. Haman was 18 years old when she accompanied her mother to Richland county, being the only child born to the first marriage. Her mother died in Ohio when aged almost 60 years. She was a member of the Christian church. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hainan, three sons, and five daughters. One daughter, Josephine, died in far off Honolulu, having gone to Hawaii as a teacher of music. She was very talented and in girlhood had been the organist in the Presbyterian church at Bucyrus. She is survived by her husband and two daughters. Two other daughters died in maidenhood, M. Jennie, at the age of 14 years, and Ida, at the age of 13 years. Effie J., another child, died in her fourth year. There are three surviving members of the family : Lewis C., who resides with his family at Cleveland, O.; Loring C., who resides with his family at Warsaw, Ind., where he is in the restaurant business; and Frances E., who is the widow of Joseph Shanks and has two sons. Mrs. Haman and slaughter are members of the Presbyterian church. WILLARD T. WHITE, proprietor of a farm of 800 acres in Dallas township, is one of this township's best known and most prosperous citizens. He was born in Dallas township, Crawford county, Ohio, Aug. 8, 1845, a son of Charles Wesley and Hannah (Hoover) White. His paternal grandfather, also named Charles, was born and reared in Virginia, and, being about 16 years old when the Revolutionary war broke out, was placed on the muster roll of the militia and was in active military service for several years during the struggle for independence, serving for a part of this period under the direct command of General Washington. He also served for several years in that branch of the service known as "minute men." He inherited an estate from his father, a part of which consisted of slaves, and as the public conscience of those days had not been generally awakened in regard to the iniquity of a traffic in human beings, he continued to own them and afterwards added to their number, settling subsequently in Fayette county, Ky. Later, however, he adopted more modern ideas with respect to the slavery question and becoming disgusted with the brutality of the system, liberated his slaves, some thirteen in number, and took up his residence in Ross county, Ohio. 1'his act of self-sacrifice caused him to fall into somewhat straightened circumstances, and at the time of his advent in Ross county, which was in 1812, he had barely enough pecuniary resources to purchase a farm of 145 acres, upon which he settled. By industry and perseverance, however, he gradually improved his condition. He resided in Ross county for some 40 years, and died about the year r8j6, at the advanced age of 96 years, 6 months and 14 days. He was the father of three sons—Samuel, George and Charles W. The two elder were soldiers in the War of 1812. Charles W. White, the youngest son, was born in Fayette county, Ky., within a mile and a half of Lexington, July 18, 1802. He was too young at the time of the second war with England to take any part in it. At the age of 18 he left his home in Ross county and visited the New Purchase for the purpose of in seeking another hone in this section of the state. About the year 1820 he obtained a situation at the old Indian mill, located on. the Sandusky river, several miles about the present site of Upper Sandusky. He was employed by the Government Indian agent, received $15 a month, and boarded himself. His assistant in the mill was Charles Garrett, and at this tune the nearest white settler was at the Indian mission, then Upper Sandusky. White assisted at the mill for some three years. During this time he saved money enough to purchase his first farm, consisting of 207 acres, now located in Dallas township, which farm he owned for over half a century. After working for different persons during the next nine years, he removed to his land, and, by AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 861 industry, economy and hard labor he acquired a competence, and was the owner of some 1300 acres in Dallas township, besides 97 acres in Bucyrus township. His principal occupation was the raising of cattle, and from it he derived the larger part of his income. He was married Nov. 25, 1830, to Miss Hannah Simmons Hoover and they were the parents of five, children, namely: Mary, wife of S. D. Welsh; Lorena, who married first Benjamin Welsh, and secondly J. J. Fisher; Emma, wife of Dwight Welsh; W illard T., subject of this sketch; and Charles W. Willard T. White was educated in the common schools and was brought up to farm life on the homestead, on which he passed his active career engaged in agricultural pursuits. He inherited from his father about 300 acres of the land, acquiring the rest by purchase. For some years he has been practically retired, his sons looking after the farm, and during a part of this time he has resided in Bucyrus. The homestead property is in excellent condition, well cultivated, and enough stock being kept for use on the farm. Mr. White is a Republican in politics and attends the Baptist church. He was first married to Clementine Swigart, a resident of this county, but who was born in Illinois. They had two children—Leo and Irene. The former, Leo White, is a prosperous agriculturist of Dallas township, now serving in his third term as township trustee. He operates 240 acres of his father's farm and has an additional tract of 160 acres, which he rents. In 1898 he married Velnia Maude Shemer, a native of Crawford county and has two children—Helen L. and Hazel M. Irene, the other child of Mr. White's first marriage, is the wife of E. H. K. McComb, who is assistant superintendent of the Manuel Training School at Indianapolis, Ind. After the death of his first wife, Willard T. White married secondly Ella Brown, of Wyandot county, and of this marriage there are two children: Garrett B. and Abram Jay, the latter of whom married Bertha Beal, a daughter of Benjamin Peal of Crawford county. ALVERTIS D. SHARROCK, who owns two of the finest farms in Bucyrus township, Crawford county, O., occupies one of 160 acres and also cultivates his other place, where he has 93 acres and also owns a piece of timber land of seven and one half acres. He was born in Bucyrus township, Aug. 9, 1871, and is a son of Charles A. and Mary Ann (Stineman) Sharrock. His father was a native of Morrow county, O., and followed farming for many years in Bucyrus township and owned a large body of land. His death occurred April 21, 1909, and his burial was at Bucyrus. He was a member of Mt. Zion church, to which his widow, who survives, also belonged. She continues to live on the old homestead in Bucyrus township. They had two children: Alpha, who is the wife of Tiro E. Ditty, and Alvertis D. After his school days were over, Alvertis D. Sharrock assisted his father in his farm industries and has always lived in his native township. In addition to general farming he raises Percheron horses and Mrs. Sharrock takes much interest in her registered Jersey cattle. In the summer of 1911 Mr. Sharrock built a very fine modern residence already having other substantial farm buildings. In 1893 Mr. Sharrock was married to Miss Emma L. Mollenkopf, who was born in Bucyrus township and is a daughter of John G. and Christiana Mollenkopf, who were born in Germany and later came to Crawford county. Mrs. Sharrock has three sisters and one brother, namely: Mary, who is the wife of August Sheffler; Frederica, who is the wife of Charles E. Wisman; Otto F.; Tena, who is the wife of Alvin Brinkman; and Elsie. In August, 1898, Mr. and Mrs. Sharrock's only son, Leo C., was born, who is a school boy. In politics Mr. Sharrock is a Democrat as was his father. He and wife are members of the Lutheran church. They belong to old and highly respected families of this section and are representative people. TIRA EDWIN DITTY, who is one of the substantial citizens and prosperous farmers of Bucyrus township, Crawford county, O., purchased his home farm of zoo acres in 1900, and, in partnership with his wife owns this tract, another farm one-half mile west, containing 49 acres, a seven and one-half acre timber tract and also a handsome residence situated on the corner of Fisher and Reed 862 - HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY streets, Bucyrus. Mr. Ditty was born in Holmes township, Crawford county, Feb. 13, 1872, and is a son of Abraham and Matilda (Seele) Ditty. Abraham Ditty and wife were both born in Crawford county and he engaged in farming throughout life, his death occurring in 19o8. He was a member of the Evangelical church and his burial was at Brokensword. His widow survives and resides at North Bucyrus and she also is a member of the Evangelical church. They had the following children: Clara, who is the wife of Frank Stineman; Tira Edwin; Irene, who is deceased, was the wife of William Drexel; and Laura, who is the wife of Roy Linn. Tira Edwin Ditty obtained a public school education and grew to manhood on the home farm, afterward working for some two years on farms by the month and this practical training has proved valuable to him in the management of his own large property. He carries on general farming, grows fruit and poultry for home consumption and sufficient stock also for his own use. On Nov. 14, 1894, Mr. Ditty was married to Miss Alpha Sharrock, who is a daughter of Charles A. and Mary Ann (Stineman) Sharrock. The father of Mrs. Ditty was born in Morrow county and died April 21, 1909. His widow survives and still occupies the old homestead in Bucyrus township. Mrs. Ditty has one brother, Alvertis D., who owns 260 acres of fine land in Bucyrus township. Mr. and Mrs. Ditty have two children: Cleland Lemoin, who was born October 10, 1895; and Reva Ilo, who was born January 17, 1898. Mr. and Mrs. Ditty attend the United Brethren church. Nominally he is a Democrat, as was his father, but frequently exercises his own judgment in casting his vote. He is identified with the K. O. T. M. at Bucyrus. WILLIAM F. CROWE, justice of the peace, and one of the well known men of Crawford county, who has been vitally interested in the city of Crestline for more than 40 years, was born in County Clare, Ireland, Jan. 3, 1841, and is a son of John and Mary (Flannery) Crowe. William F. Crowe was left fatherless in his boyhood, and, as it so often has been the case, the seven children of the family owed their rearing, education and encouragement to the brave and devoted mother. In 1849 the farnily set sail for Opebec, Canada, and after vovaging for seven weeks and three days, were safely landed. From there they traveled to Burlington, Vt., and in the fall of the same year reached New Franklin, in Columbiana county, O., and from there, in the autumn of 1851, to Richland county, William F. then being ten years of age and picking up a knowledge of books vwherever and whenever opportunity offered. In the following year removal was made to Mansfield and there he attended school until 1853, when he came to Crestline, finding employment with the Pennsylvania Railroad as a driver. In 1854 his mother and the younger children joined him and here the remainder of her life was passed and it is a satisfaction to her son, that each year it grew more comfortable and less filled with care. She passed away in 1895, when aged 8z years and her burial was in St. Joseph's cemetery, she having been a faithful Catholic all her life. Of the family of seven children, the following survive : William F. ; John, who served all through the Civil war in the Federal Army as a member of Co. E, foist O. Vol. Inf.; Mrs. Ellen Purcell, who lives at Alliance, O., and has three children; and Jane, who is Mrs. Francis J. Gosser, and lives at Crestline, the mother of one son and one daughter. In all essentials, William F. Crowe is a self-made man. His early opportunities were limited and those he enjoyed he had to make for himself, yet, before he reached the prime of life he is found serving his fellow citizens in honorable positions and respected and looked up to as one in authority. For more than 40 years he has held official responsibilities at Crestline, serving seven years in the council, for two terms was county recorder, for ten years was corporation treasurer, twice has served the city as mayor and for the past 14 years has been justice of the peace. He has been regardful of the city's interest in the performance of all these public duties and his record as a citizen not only shows unselfish public spirit, but the ability and foresight of a thorough business man, making his services of permanent value. Judge Crowe was married at Marion, O., to AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 863 Miss Ellen Haley of County Kerry, Ireland, who accompanied her parents, Bartholomew and Ellen (Lynch) Haley, to America and she and one sister Mrs. D. Cusick of Marion, O., are the only surviving children. Mr. and Mrs. Crowe have the following children: Mary, who is the wife of H. L. Sossenheimer, agent for the Berger Manufacturing Co., and lives at St. Louis, having one daughter, Colletta, at Cleveland, 0.; Ellen, who is in the dressmaking business at Crestline; Anna M., who has been a teacher in the Crestline union schools for some ten years; Jane, deceased, who was the wife of W. H. Bagley of Tulsa, Okla., and is survived by one son, Paul S.; Frances, who is the wife of Francis Charon, of Oklahoma, and has two sons—Francis H. and William R.; Agnes, who occupies a clerical position at Wagner, Okla.; Florence who is in the millinery business at Cleveland; John W., who is connected with a gas company in Oklahoma, as a machinist; and Eugenia and Josephine Hortense, who reside at home. Judge Crowe and family belong to St. Joseph's Catholic church at Crestline and his daughter Anna M. is president of the L. C. B. A., a most worthy charity connected with the work of the Catholic church, one that was organized by Kate Crowe, a daughter of Judge Crowe, and its first president. She was the first president of the emergency hospital maintained by the public. In 1861 Judge Crowe was active, with others, in securing the erection of the first church edifices for St. Joseph's congregation and has always been hearty in its support. In his political views he is a Democrat. MRS. SAMUEL MILLER,* who in maiden life was Mary Catherine Swartz, is a native of this county, being a daughter of George and Eliza (Staufer) Swartz. George Swartz was born in Richland county, Ohio, and his wife in Pennsylvania, but came to Crawford county, Ohio, when children, this region being then a wilderness. Mr. Swartz as a farmer endured the hardships of the early settlers and cultivated his land successfully. To him and his wife were born the following children: Sarah Jane, deceased, who was the wife of A. M. Zook; Mary Catherine, the subject of this ar ticle, who on Dec. 28, 1887, was married to Samuel Miller, of Wyandot county, and James Benjamin, deceased. Mrs. Miller owns 60 acres of well developed land and has a modern, attractive home and substantial farm buildings, which she has built. Mrs. Miller does not make a specialty of raising any particular product on her farm but rather lets her land yield the ordinary crops that are most successfully raised in the section of Ohio in which she resides. Stock sufficient for her own use is also raised. Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Miller are the parents of six children, namely: Grace, Maud, Donna, Lester, Garrett and Lena. Grace is the wife of Grove Maley and they have three children—Merl Allen, Maud Fern and Robert Edwin. DAVID PETRY, whose well cultivated farm of 132 acres is located in Bucyrus township, was born in Schuykill county, Pa., July 4, 1841. His parents were Charles and Phoebe (Knepper) Petry. They were natives of Pennsylvania and moved to Ohio about 1851 or 1852, locating first east of Mansfield. There they remained one year when they removed to northeast of Lexington and from there came to Richland county, where they spent the rest of their lives. Mrs. Petry died on the home farm but her husband's death occurred in Mansfield, where he was living retired after his life of farm work. He was affiliated with the Democratic party and with his wife belonged to the Lutheran church. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Charles Petry: William; David, our subject: and Sarah, the wife of George Stewart. After the death of the mother of these children, Charles Petry remarried, his second union being with Miss Elizabeth Strater, who was born in Germany. David Petry received his education in the common schools of his locality and after that assisted his father in the farm work until he was 21 years of age. He then rented the homestead farm but after eight years that was sold and in 1872 David Petry and his father came to Bucyrus township and together purchased the farm on which our subject now lives and which he successfully operates. In 1862 David Petry was united in .marriage with Miss Mary Ann Wert, a native of Germany, who came to this country when eight 864 - HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY years old and spent the last years of her life in Crawford county. She died Feb. 1, 1910 and was buried in Bucyrus cemetery. She was a daughter of Christian and Margaret Wert, both natives of Germany, who had the following children: John, Christiana, George and Mary Ann (Mrs. Petry) . One daughter was born to David Petry and his wife—Amanda, the wife of Joseph McHenry, a farmer of this township. Mr. Petry is a Democrat politically and in religious faith, a Lutheran. DAVID L. ZINK, who is secretary of the Crestline Building & Loan Association, of Crestline, O., is one of the well known and most active business men of Crawford county, long connected with railroad life and since then keenly interested in other lines of activity and usefulness. Mr. Zink was born at Marietta, Lancaster county, Pa., Dec. 1, 1833, a son of Samuel and Sarah Zink, one of three children. Mr. Zink has one brother, Samuel, also a resident of this city. Early in life Mr. Zink had spent some time with his father at Pittsburg, Pa., and in the early fifties went into the commission business in that city with a relative, and from there, in September, 1856, came to Ohio and located at Crestline. Here he found his most promising business offer in a railroad office and went to work for the Pennsylvania line in the freight department. On Feb. i, r86r, he was appointed agent for the Pennsylvania company at Crestline, this point having become one of great railway importance. Mr. Zink still retains this official notice as it bears the signature of the late Augustus Bradley, once a railroad magnate and his friend, then being superintendent of the eastern division of the Pennsylvania lines. In May, 1865, he was appointed ticket agent of the Big Four Railroad, serving for about 47 years for the Pennsylvania road and jointly for both roads until his age limit retirement, Dec. 1, 1903. During this long period he handled railroad money amounting to millions of dollars and his books and records showed an accuracy that was perfect. When he retired he was the recipient of many congratulatory messages and of personal testimonials that would seem flattering if they were not so thoroughly just. Many men after so long and arduous a business life and retirement on a pension, would feel justi.lied in putting aside nosiness care and devote some time to rest and refreshment, but this was not the feeling that Mr. Zink had when released for his railroad duties. From youth a hard worker and still being in vigorous health of mind and body, he merely turned his attention in another direction arid has devoted himself closely to the interests of the Crestline Building & Loan Association, of which he has been secretary since its organization. This was on Oct. 23, 1891, and business was begun Jan. 1, 1892. The capital stock was $50,000, which was increased to $300,000, on March 1, 1892; and was further increased, in 1906, to $600,000, a prosperous business having been done from the beginning. The original officers continue: C. P. Frank, of Crestline, being president; David L. Zink, being secretary; and Jacob Babst, being treasurer. The board of directors is made up of the following reputable and stable business men: C. P. Frank, W. R. Boyd, F. M. Anderson, Joseph Ins, Jacob M. Winter, John Marquart, Jr., and A. A. Reeve. On Aug. 25, 1855, Mr. Zink was married at Pittsburgh, to Miss Mary Jane Hall, who was born at Chambersburg, Pa., June 30, 1830, and of their family of eight children all survive except one son, Robert George, who died in infancy. The others are: John E.. who is joint ticket agent for the Big Four and the Pennsylvania Railroads, and freight agent for the Pennsylvania Lines, at Crestline, and who resides here with his wife and two sons; Sarah Alice, who was educated at Oberlin College, who married H. F. Atkinson, and lives at Landsdown, Pa., and has three living daughters; Jennie, who is the wife of Frank Snyder, a machinist residing at Kankakee, Ill., and has one daughter; William H., who is freight agent for the Pennsylvania Company at Rochester, Pa., and lives there with his wife and son; Emma F., who is the wife of Jaynes Harrop, of Bucyrus, O., and who has two sons Wesley S., who is storekeeper with the Rock Island Railroad at Chicago, and has one daughter; and Walter, who is a machinist with the Big Four Railroad and lives at Bellefontaine, O., with his wife and one son. The mother of the above family died on March 14, 1903. AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 865 On Dec. 1, 1908, his seventy-fifth birthday, Mr. Zink was tendered a reception and spent a long to be remembered evening surrounded by his family and old friends who gladly gathered to offer good wishes and recall old memories. Mr. Zink has witnessed many changes come over Crestline since he first made it his home, and in every possible way has contributed a share in bringing about its present prosperity. JOHN WENTZ, a retired farmer and highly respected citizen of Bucyrus, O., has long been prominent in the affairs of Crawford county and for years has been very active in all that pertains to the great agricultural order, the Patrons of Husbandry. He was born at Chambersburg, Pa., Sept. 1, 1837, and is a son of John and Mary (Manard) Wentz, and a grandson of Philip Wentz. Philip Wentz lived and died in the home of his ancestors in Hesse Darmstadt, Germany. He was a small farmer and inn keeper. He was the father of four sons and three daughters, all of whom except the oldest came to America and settled mainly in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana. John Wentz, the second son, was born in Germany about 1810 and was a young roan when he took passage on a sailing vessel that landed him, 90 days later, in the harbor and port of Baltimore, Md. He was the pioneer of the family in the United States. As a farmer in Franklin county, Pa., he was satisfied at first to work for $10 per month, and later accepted fifty cents a day for railroad work and was offered what was then considered a necessity, a certain amount of ruin a day. He was temperate in his habits and made friends with some of his Irish fellow workmen by turning this allowance over to them. He took care of his wages, small as they were, and in the course of time he had enough capital to warrant his looking for land in which to invest it. In the meanwhile he married and located at Chambersburg, from which place, in 1839, with his small family and household possessions, all packed in a one-horse wagon, he journeyed as far as Blackford county, Ind., which was then practically a wilderness. There he invested his savings which amounted to $200. and on the land then purchased both he and wife died. She also was born in Germany, a native of Langstadt, and had come alone in early womanhood to the United States and lived at Chambersburg, Pa., at the time of marriage. She died in 1871, when aged 65 years, being survived by her husband into his 85th year. They were members of the German Lutheran church. Their family record reads as follows: One babe died in infancy. Elizabeth died when aged 17 years. Mary, deceased, was the wife of Louis Schmidt. Tena died at the age of twelve years. Jacob lives at Findlay, O., a retired farmer. He married Elizabeth Kanable and they have children. John was one of the early born in the family. John Wentz was 20 years of age when he came to Ohio in October, 1857, having obtained his schooling in Indiana. On Thanksgiving Day of the above year he was married to Miss Catherine Greenish, who was born at Waynesboro, Pa., May 30, 1836, and the daughter of Jacob and Christina Greenish. Mrs. Wentz was reared from the age of six years in Crawford county, where she died June 21, 1908. She was a woman of kind and loving impulses and a Christian, being a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Wentz, as follows : Mary, the widow of Thomas Caldwell, who lives in Crawford county and has seven children; Annetta, who is the widow of John Bell and has four chilclren : Clement C., a resident of Bucyrus, who married Mary Schaffner; Willis, a farmer in Crawford county, who married Mary Miller; Alice, who married H. M. Dobbins of Bucyrus and has three children; Ida M., who is the wife of Henry Shafner of Galion, O., and has two children; Enima P., who lives with her father; John Earl, who manages the homestead farm, who married Lillie Florence Miller and has three children. Mr. Wentz was a very successful farmer and conducted his agricultural operations along the lines that have brought prosperity to inen in that line of business from early days—constant industry, careful oversight, good seed and good judgment, the last named being a very necessary part of the farmer's equipment as it is of any vocation. In the earliest days of its organization, 1874, he became interested in the Bucyrus Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, 866 - HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY this body being of considerable importance as it is the only order in the county that has never surrendered its charter. Mr. Wentz is the only surviving charter member and he has served in all its offices. He has also been prominently identified with the Crawford County Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Company, which is, with but one exception, the largest mutual fire company in Ohio, and for 24 years was its treasurer and later, for two years was vice president of the company, retiring from office in June, 1910. In politics he is a Democrat but has never accepted public office to a large degree, although in 1890 he was appointed land appraiser of Holmes township. WILLIAM A. BILSING, proprietor of Rock Brook Farm, a fertile tract of 163 acres of valuable land, situated five miles northwest of Crestline, O., has been interested in agricultural affairs ever since his school clays. He belongs to a pioneer family of Ohio, his grandfather having conic from Germany and settled in Crawford county at an early day. At that time his father, Adam Bilsing, was a boy of ten years. Adam Bilsing grew to manhood in Crawford county where he married first Lavina Swisher, a native of Crawford county. To them were born the following children : John H., Barnet C., Mary C., William A., Anna D., Eliza, Samilda C., FIora A., and Margaret E. Of these, John H. married Nancy Laughbaum and lives in New Mexico. Parnet C., who lives in Jefferson township, Crawford county, married Elizabeth James, who is deceased. ,Mary C. is deceased. Anna D., who married John Rader, died in 1885. Eliza became the wife of Allen Laughbaum and lives at Davenport, Wash. Sainilda C. is the wife of Lincoln Hoover and they live in Vernon township, Crawford county. Flora A., now deceased, was the wife of Prof. Franklin Brining, formerly a civil engineer in the employ of the British Government and at present an instructor at Thomason College, in India. Margaret E. died at the age of two years. Adam Bilsing married secondly Catherine Dapper and to them were born four children. namely: Aaron, Augusta (wife of George Frown), Franklin D. and Frances. William A. Bilsing obtained a district school education and then turned his attention to farming and this has been his main interest ever since. Rock Brook Faun is considered one of the finest farms in Vernon township and Mr. Bilsing has taken pride and pleasure in improving it. In early manhood Mr. Bilsing was married to Miss Catherine A. Weaver, a daughter of Henry and Charlotte (Heis) Weaver, the former of whom died in 1908. The mother of Mrs. Bilsing survives, being now, in her 79th year and lives at Leesville, O. Mrs. Bilsing had two sisters and one brother: Ellen, who is the wife of Frank Cassel and lives at Crestline; Charles B., who died at the age of two years; and Mary E., who died when aged 40 years. Mr. and Mrs. Bilsing have two children: Alma E., who married Calvin B. Parr; and Sherman, who is a graduate of Otterbein University and is now a student in the Ohio State University preparing for a profession. Mr. Bilsing and family are members of the United Brethren church, of which he is a trustee and has held the office of superintendent of the Sunday school and class leader. In politics he is a Republican. He is well known all over the county and is correspondent for three of the county newspapers. JOHN A. LAUTHERS,* one of the highly respected citizens of Whetstone township, Crawford county, 0., is also one of the most substantial and owns 175 acres of fine land in this township and 25 acres in Liberty township, and has additional interests. He was born in Huntingclon county, Pa., July 8, 1858, and is a son of Samuel and Sarah Jane (Seibert) Lauthers. The parents of Mr. Lauthers as well as the paternal grandfather, James Lauthers, spent their lives in Pennsylvania. They had the following children: James; Sadie, who is the wife of Andrew Shearer: John A.; Anna, deceased, who was the wife of William Trego; Samuel Morrison; and Belle, who is the wife of Samuel 'Widney, she being the eldest of the family. John A. Lauthers obtained a district school education in his native place and remained on the home farm with his father until he was 21 years of age. when, in answer to a gen- AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 867 eral call for help on western farms, he came to Ohio and for two years following worked on farms by the month. Afterward, for three years he rented land and then bought So acres in Dallas township, from L. H. Ross and lived on that place for seven years. In 1893 he purchased his present home farm in Whetstone township from John Brehman and has resided here ever since, having everything exceedingly comfortable about him. Later he sold his farm in Dallas township and bought 154 acres in Sandusky township, and all told owns about 354 acres of rich land in Crawford county and also has stock in the Summer addition of Bucyrus and in the Second National Bank of that city. In November, 1882, Mr. Lauthers was married to Miss Celestia Carpenter, of Mount Gilead, O., a daughter of Charles and Lydia (Bingham) Carpenter, farming people in Morrow county. Mrs. Luthers has two sisters: Carrie, who is the wife of Frank Pitman; and Jennie. Mr. and Mrs. Lauthers have two sons: Walter L. and Charles W. The family belongs to the Presbyterian church and is a prominent one in Whetstone township. While Mr. Lauthers is a stanch Democrat he has no political aspirations. ABRAM C. MONNETT, deceased, was an honored veteran of the Civil War and for many years after its close was a successful farmer and stock dealer in Crawford county. He came of an old Ohio family of some military distinction, and was born at Bucyrus, March 3r, 1839. His parents were Col. William and Elizabeth (Cahill) Monnett. Col. Isaac Monnett, the grandfather, was born in Pickaway county, O., and died at Bucyrus, Crawford county, when aged 92 years. For many years he was identified officially with the state militia. The family was an agricultural one and he owned and cultivated large tracts of land. With other members of the family he was active in his support of the Methodist Episcopal church, being a lay preacher in the same himself, while his brother Thomas and son 1Villiam, both became accepted ministers in the same. He married Elizabeth Pittenger, who was born in Ross county, O., and died in old age at Bucyrus. Col. William Monneit, a son of Col. Isaac and father of the late Abram C. Monnett, was five years old when he accompanied his parents from Ross to Pickaway county and some years after marriage he moved to the plains of Crawford county, where he acquired i,000 acres of land, mainly situated in Cranberry township. When twelve years old he united with the Methodist Episcopal church and was a militant Christian, accepting election as colonel of the i ith O. militia on the same day that he was licensed as a Methodist minister. For 11 years he continued active ministerial work, failing health then requiring his resignation. He married Elizabeth Cahill and they had five children : Abram C. ; Mary J., who married Hon. S. R. Harris, both now deceased; Rachel, who married William H. Kinnear, both now deceased; Sarah L., who is the widow of L. L. Walker, of Whetstone, O.: and Isaac WV., who died in Washington state. when aged 43 years. The father of the above family died in 1884, the mother surviving until 1891. Abram C. Monnett was reared on his father's large estate and attended the district schools in youth. When civil war was precipitated he entered the Federal Army, enlisting in the 34th O. Vol. Inf., in which he served until the close of hostilities, escaping wounds and capture but suffering all the rest of his life from the exposure to which he had been subjected. After he returned to peaceful pursuits he resumed his agricultural activities and continued the same during the remainder of his active life. Like all his people he was an interested and conscientious citizen, doing his full public duty on every occasion but asking no political reward. He was a Republican. His death occurred at his home in Bucvrus, April 17, 1879. Abram C. Monnett was married at Bucyrus to Miss Jennie E. Walwork, who was born at Saratoga, N. Y., and is a graduate of the Albany State Normal School. She came to Bucyrus as a teacher and five years later was united in marriage with Mr. Monnett. Her parents were Thomas and Mary (Stevens) Walwork, the former of whom was born in Liverpool, England, a son of Thomas Walwork. The younger Thomas Walwork came to the United States in early manhood and was 868 - HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY married near Philadelphia, Pa., to Mafy Stevens and they subsequently moved to Saratoga, N. Y., where Mr. Walwork established and opterated a large woolen factory. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. They were people of social standing and the father possessed an ample enough fortune to give his children excellent educational advantages. To Mr. and Mrs. Monnett the following children were born: Frank W., M. Elizabeth, Julia A., Wallace L. and Rachel. All have been given superior educational advantages. Frank W., the eldest son, was a graduate of the Cincinnati law school when he enlisted for service in the Spanish-American War, and died in the Philippine Islands, when aged 29 years. M. Elizabeth, who was the wife of Rev. James Cass, died at Bucyrus in 1902. She was a graduate of the Bucyrus High School and also a graduate in music and was not only a young woman of great talent but was amiable and engaging in social and domestic life. Julia A. is a graduate of the Conservatory of Music and Oratory at Cincinnati, is married to Rev. James M. Cass, pastor of the First M. E. church, at Westport, and has one daughter, Ruth E. Her home is on Lake Champlain, at Westport, N. Y. Wallace L. is a graduate of Bucyrus High School and of the Cincinnati Law School and at present is serving in the office of referee in bankruptcy. He resides with his wife and four children, at Bucyrus. Rachel, the youngest member of the family, is a graduate of the Bucyrus High School and the Cincinnati School of Music and Oratory, and is the wife of Edwin G. Beal, cashier of the First National Bank of Bucyrus. URIAS CRISTEE, who has resided on his present farm of 120 acres, situated in Tot township, Crawford county, O., for 42 years, was born in Dauphin county, Pa., Feb. 16, 1831, and is a son of Joseph and Hannah (Grape) Cristee. Joseph Cristee was born in Pennsylvania and was of Scotch parentage. By trade he was a blacksmith and he thought so well of it as a means of subsistence that he taught all his sons this trade. In 1833 he came to Richland county, O., and there his death occurred at the age of 70 years. He married Hannah Grape, who was born in Germany and was seven years o1d when her people brought her to America. They had eight children, Urias being the fifth born. Urias Cristee was sent to school in boyhood, his parents being concerned in the education and welfare of their children. He was about 21 years old when he came to Crawford county. For several years he was associated with his brother-in-law in business at Bucyrus, where they started the first real provision store, and dealt also in grain and seed, purchasing clover seed, oats and corn and has seen the day when corn could be bought for 35 cents and sold for seventy-five. After two and one-half years in the grain and provision business, Mr. Cristee sold out and for 30 years afterward worked at the blacksmith trade in Oceola, O. After selling his shop he spent six months in Richland county and worked as a horse shoer and was considered a fine one although he never believed himself as skilled a workman as was his father, the latter being a natural born mechanic and without instruction was able to make a wagon as well as one who had learned the trade. Mr. Cristee preserves many memories of his father, whom he held in the highest respect and with great affection. He had had no educational opportunities but could keep his accounts accurately although he could not tell one letter of the alphabet from the other. From Richland county Mr. Cristee worked one year for his brother at Oceola and then returned to Bucyrus for three months, and in 1870 settled on his present valuable farm in Tod township, one mile west of Oceola. He put up the substantial buildings on this property and his residence is a handsome brick structure. Mr. Cristee was married to Miss Adeline Failor, of Bucyrus, who died in 1902, when aged 65 years, and 11 children were born to them, the survivors being: Mrs. Ida Yost. Frank, Mrs. Nellie Yost, Mrs. Clara Andrews. Those deceased were : William, Lizzie. Mrs. Emma Moore and four infants. Mr. Cristee is a member and liberal supporter of the United Brethren church at Oceola. In politics he is a Republican and he keeps well posted concerning public affairs. JOHN E. GEISSMAN, who is one of the successful young farmers of Cranberry township. Crawford county, resides in section 22, AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 869 where he is profitably cultivating 114 acres, which belongs to his father. He was born in Holmes township, Crawford county, July 30, 1882, and is a son of W. H. and Mary (Leimenstall) Geissman. W. H. Geissman was born in Chatfield township, Crawford county, where he was reared and educated. When he came to the present farm, 74 acres of which were bought of John Nigh, and do acres of Jacob Millimaier, very little improving had been clone. In 1893 he built the substantial barn and in 1896 he erected the comfortable residence and made other additions to the farm equipment and put all its industries on a solid footing. In 1909 he retired and moved to Chatfield and later became mail carrier on Rural Route No. i, out of that place. He married Mary Leinienstall, who died June 2, 1904, the mother of six children. The second marriage of Mr. Geissinan was to Mrs. Rosa Klink. After his school period was over, John E. Geissman determined to become a farmer. He had been given excellent preparation for the same for after attending the high school, he had practical training in the Columbus Agricultural School. For the past three years he has been operating the home farm along modern lines and has met with excellent returns, and has brought Plain View Stock Farm up to a high standard. Like the other enterprising agriculturists of this section, he is a member of the Cranberry Township Grange. On April 4, 1909, Mr. Geissnnan married Miss Pearl Harrer, who was born in Lykens township, Crawford county, the only daughter of Caleb Harrer, and they have an infant daughter, Fern Mary Ann, born April 29, 1912. Mr. and Mrs. Geissman are members of the Pietist and Evangelical churches respectively. In political opinions Mr. Geissman calls himself an independent Democrat, and his neighbors consider him a valuable citizen and a wide awake business man. G. F. ACKERMAN was born in Liberty township, Crawford county, Dec. 10, 1871, and until he was 16 years of age attended school and worked on his father's farm. The next two years he continued his studies at New Washington High School and in the fall of 1890 he entered the Ohio Normal University at Ada, taking the scientific course. He then became a teacher and taught school in the winter months, working on the farm in the summer until he returned to Ada and took a course in stenography in 1893 and 1894. He resumed teaching and farm life, and again in the spring of 1896 took a review course at Ada. He then took up the study of law under Judge Tobias, also acting as the Judge's stenographer, but continuing to teach school in the winter months. From 1898 to 1902 he served as Principal of the Third Ward School of Bucyrus. On the 1st clay of January, 1902, he was appointed Deputy Sheriff of Crawford county, which position he filled until January, 1906. From 1906 to 1908 he was engrossing clerk for the senate at the state capitol, also acting as bookkeeper during the interims between sessions for the American Clay Machinery Co. In 1907 he accepted a position as salesman for the Strine & Grinder Manufacturing Co., of New Philadelphia, O. In June of 1908, he was nominated by the Democratic party for auditor without opposition and was elected the ensuing fall. As his predecessor's term of office did not expire for eleven months he became principal of the Third Ward school of Bucyrus for the school year of 1908 and 1909. He is considered a very able and efficient auditor. He has served on the county central committee and has been delegate to judicial and senatorial conventions. Also in 1907 he was a member of the city council and was clerk of the county board of elections during 1903, 1904, and 1905. In 1896 he was secretary of the Bryan Free Silver Club which had an enrollment of twelve hundred members. On Nov. 10, 1896, G. F. Ackerman married Caroline E. Kuhn, slaughter of August and Catherine (Limbach) Kuhn, of Tutscarawas county. They have two children living: Elva Marie and Margaret Catherine. His father, Caleb A., was born in Crawford county, Dec. 12, 1840. He married Margaret High, also a native of Crawford county and born Sept. 4, 1844. Both were of German ancestry and of pioneer families of Crawford county. They are still living and reside in Bucyrus. Caleb A. served in the War of the Rebellion in the Forty-Ninth Ohio Regiment under Colonel Gibson. Mr. G. F. Ackerman is a member of 870 - HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY the Knights of Maccabees and of the Order of Eagles. In 1908 he was sent as a delegate by the Eagles to the national convention at Seattle, W 'ash. He is also a member of the Reformed church and for 13 years has acted as treasurer and trustee of that church in Bucyrus. His chosen profession is the law which it is his intention to follow after the expiration of his term of office. JOHN C. CAHILL, residing nine miles north of Crestline, O., and one and one-half miles south of Tiro, O., on the old homestead farm of 160 acres, which he owns, is one of the representative men of Vernon township, of which he has been a trustee for some ten years. He was born on this farm in 1862. and is a son of R. W. and Catherine (Richards) Cahill. R. W. Cahill was born in Pennsylvania and after coming to Ohio and marrying, followed an agricultural life until his death. The surviving members of his family are: Eliza; Jennette ; Davis; D. C., who lives at Bucyrus; R. W., who lives at Napoleon, O. ; John C.: and G. W. and James, who live at Tiro, O. John C. Cahill attended the district schools in Vernon township and later the Ohio Normal School, at Ada, after which he returned to his father, with whom he remained until the former's death, when he purchased the homestead. widely known as the Green Hill Farm. He has made many improvements and is progressive in his agricultural methods and is numbered with the most successful farmers of this section. Mr. Cahill married Miss Mary A. Weirich. a daughter of Christian and Adeline (Miller) Weirich, and they have had three children: Allen W., John R. and Edith, the last named being deceased. In politics, Mr. Cahill is a Democrat and in addition to his long period of service as township trustee, he was clerk of the township for four years, and enjoys the very desirable reputation of having conscientiously performed every public duty. CLAUDE A. LTNGENFELTER, M. D., physician and surgeon at Bucyrus, O., and a specialist in diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat, was born at Loudonville, O., May 24, 1884, and is a son of Dr. James A. and Mary (Petot) Lingenfelter. Dr. James A. Lingenfelter was born in Bedford county, Pa., of German parentage, and lost his parents when young. He grew up on a farm, having no opportunity to follow the bent of his desires for a medical education. and was already a young man when he came to Ohio. He lived in Stark county for several years and then came to Loudonville and found work in a butcher shop as a meat cutter, but he by no means had given up his ambition to become a physician. Only he can tell of the obstacles he overcame and of the self denials he practiced before he was finally able to secure his degree from a medical college at Cincinnati. He is known as a skillful physician and has a large practice. In politics, a Democrat he has held local offices but his profession claims the larger part of his time. He is identified with the Masons and other fraternal orders. He married Miss Mary Petot, who was born and reared at Loudonville, a daughter of Claud and Catherine (Specht) Petot, the former of whom was born in France and the latter in Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Petot were married in Paris and soon afterward emigrated to the United States, living first at Pittsburg, Pa., and later moving to Loudonville, O. Mr. Petot was one of the leading shoe merchants of Loudonville at the time of his death. His widow still resides there. They were of the Catholic faith but later united with the English Lutherans and Mr. Petot was liberal in his support of all church demands made on him. Three sons were born to Dr. James A. Lingenfelter and wife : Claude A.; Harry, who is engaged in the jewelry business at Loudonville: and Charles, who is in business at Los Angeles, Cal. Claude A. Lingenfelter attended school at Loudonville and was graduated from the High School in ryoo, after which he spent a student year at Oberlin College,-and then he entered the Cleveland Medical College, where he remained for one year and subsequently was graduated after a four year course from the New York Homeopathic College in the class of 1906, with his well earned degree. He engaged in a general practice at Loudonville until 1908, when he came to Bucyrus, where, in answer to a general demand, he has specialized in the diseases of eye, ear, nose AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 871 and throat, these so generally prevailing that careful and scientific men following this branch of medical practice are welcomed almost everywhere along this line of practice. Dr. Lingenfelter has been more than usually successful. Dr. Lingenfelter was married in New York, to Miss Marian Gilmartin, who was born at Scranton, Pa., an was educated at Mt. Morris, N. Y., completing her musical studies at Oberlin College. Her parents were Frederick and Rhoda (Jones) Gilmartin, of 1Velsh extraction. The mother died in 1906, but the father survives. Mrs. Lingenfelter has one sister, Dollie, who is a professional nurse residing in Philadelphia. Dr. and Mrs. Lingenfelter have one son, William Claude, born June 3, 1908. Politically Dr. Lingenfelter is a Republican and fraternally a Master Mason, Royal Arch Mason, Royal and Select Master Mason and a Knight Templar Mason, being identified with the Commandery at Marion, O. SAMUEL J. STUMP,* who carries on his successful agricultural industries on three tracts of valuable land, situated in Whetstone township, Crawford county, O., resides on a farm of 163 acres and owns a second one of 63 acres, and additionally, in partnership with Professor Guinther, superintendent of the schools of Galion, O., he owns a third farm of 190 acres. Mr. Stump was born on his home farm, July 9, 1857, and is a son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Zimmerman) Stump. Daniel Stump spent almost his entire life in Crawford county, being only six years old when his parents brought him from Lycoming county, Pa. His death occurred in the spring of 1897 and his burial was in the Sherer cemetery. He married Elizabeth Zimmerman, who Was born in Crawford county and still stirvives, residing on the homestead. The following children were born to them : Samuel J. Louisa, who is the wife of S. F. W'hitearnire; Joseph, who died at the age of 12 years: Sarah, who died at the age of eight years: Lydia, who died when aged five years; and Clara, who passed away at the age of 19 years. She was an attractive and talented young woman, had prepared herself for teaching and had just completed her first term as a teacher when she died. Samuel J. Stump attended school near his home and then helped his father on the home farm and they remained together until the father's death. At that time the latter owned 163 acres in Whetstone township and 174 acres in Bucyrus township. Mr. Stump is a sensible, practical farmer, devoting his attention to the grains and tubers that he has proved are most profitable to cultivate in this soil and climate, and to a good grade of stock that has proved satisfactory, and he has prospered. On March 16, 1897, Mr. Stump was married to Miss Lottie Guinther, a daughter of Jacob and Catherine (Shellenmiller) Guinther, and a granddaughter of George and Margaret Guinther. The parents of Mrs. Stump are both now deceased, their burial being in the Sherer cemetery. Her father was born in Germany and was 15 years old when he came to the United Ctates and for seven years afterward lived at Philadelphia, Pa., where he was in a bakery business. After coming to Crawford county he followed farming. He married Catherine Shellenmiller, who was born in Lycoming county, Pa., and they had the following children born to them : Mary, who is the wife of George K. Ulmer; George; Sophia. who is deceased; Catherine, who is the wife of Samuel Rexroth; Isaac C., who is principal of the Galion public schools : Lottie, who is the wife of Mr. Stump: and Jacob. To Mr. and Mrs. Stump the following children were born : Gertrude Elizabeth, who died when aged two years; Clarence Willard and Howard James. Mr. and Mrs. Stump are members of the German Methodist church, of which he is a trustee and for three years was superintendent of the Sunday-school. Mr. Stump calls himself an Independent Democrat. W. H. GARRIGUES, who owns one of the best improved farms in Tod township, Crawford county, O., containing 80 acres situated one-half mile west of Oceola, O.. was born at Oceola, in 1864. and is a son of R. T. and Sarah A. (Wert) Garrigues. R. T. Garrigues was born in Maryland and came here before the town of Oceola was laid out. Being a carpenter by trade he had much to do with the erecting of the buildings at Oceola and became a man of ample means as the reward of a long and busy life, his death 872 - HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY occurring at Oceola in 1910, when he was aged 84 years. He married Sarah A. Wert, who survived until 1911, passing away in her 7ôth year. Three of their eight children died in infancy, the others being: Mrs. S. D. Trout, of Bucyrus; Mrs. Minnie I. Froth, of Oceola; W. H., subject of this sketch; Mrs. Mettie A. Snavely, of Sulphur Springs; and Mrs. Sallie N. Brown, of Oklahoma. W. H. Garrigues attended the Oceola schools and afterward became a farmer, and for 12 years lived on a place east of Oceola, on which he made improvements and then moved to the farm where he still lives, one-half mile vest of the town, and in March, 1907, having bought his present property, where he carries on general farming and stock raising. Mr. Garrigues has very progressive ideas as to his agricultural methods and is no less particular concerning the way he lives. His fine residence in which he has installed all modern comforts and conveniences, and these include a complete system of lighting, would do credit to a city and surrounded as it is with a fine lawn and concrete walks, attracts attention and favorable comment from every passer-by. It is a type of home that here and there, through the wealthy agricultural communities, is taking the place of the uncomfortable and often unsanitary dwellings that the prosperous farmer of the present clay no longer feels satisfied to occupy, and this change brings a large measure of comfort, happiness and content to the whole family. Mr. Garrigues married Miss Cora E. J. Peck, who is a daughter of Taylor Peck, a well known farmer of Bucyrus township. They have one son, Harry W., who attends the public schools in Oceola. Mr. Garrigues has frequently been elected to public office in Tod township and for two years was a member of the Tod township board of trustees. Mfr. and Mrs. Garrigues are members of the United Brethren church. For some years he has been connected with Lodge No. 116 Jr. O. U. A. M. at Oceola. He is an intelligent, liberal-minded man, a capable farmer and a useful citizen. JOSEPH A. BLUM, owner and manager of a prospering business enterprise of Cranberry township, Crawford county, O., to which he hay given the appropriate name of the Twentieth Century Hatchery, is one of the wide awake, well informed and enterprising young business men of Crawford county. He was born May 22, 1888, on his present farm situated in section 23, Cranberry township, where he resides with his father, F. X. Blum. Joseph A. Blum grew to manhood in his native township and obtained his education in the public schools. In pushing out- into a somewhat new field of industry, Mr. Blum has shown commendable enterprise and he has a growing investment. The Twentieth Century Hatchery is located 3 miles southwest of New Washington. 0., where it was started in 1904, with a 2,000 egg capacity. Its present capacity is 30.000 eggs per hatch, and during the season there is a calculated hatch of 3,000 per week. Shipments are made to all sections of the country, special boxes being provided. Mr. Blum's present plant contains two buildings, one with dimensions of 22x75 feet and the other of 42x24 feet. In politics he is a Democrat. He belongs to the Roman Catholic church and is identified with the hnights of Columbus. CLEMENCE J. WILLIAMSON, V. S.,* who is the oldest veterinary surgeon in Crawford county, O., in point of professional service, has been a resident of Bucyrus for a number of years and commands a large practice. He was born in Crawford county, Jan. 14, 1872, and is one of a family of seven chil(iren. His parents were Benjamin F. and Mary (Auk) Williamson. The father was a native of Pennsylvania, where he learned the carpenter trade and came to Crawford county in 1850, from which county he entered an Ohio regiment and served in the Civil War. Dr. Williamson attended the public schools in boyhood and grew up on the home farm. Later he attended the Ohio Northern University, where he was graduated in pharmacy, in 1893. Subsequently he entered the Ontario Veterinary College, at Toronto, Can., where he was graduated in 1897 and immediately entered into practice at Springfield, O., in 1899 coming to Bucyrus. Dr. Williamson married i Miss , Catherine E. Reiff, a daughter of Herman Reiff, and they have three children. With his family he belongs to the Lutheran church. Politically he AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 873 is a Democrat but the volume of his professional duties have always prevented his considering any invitation to accept political office, but he is a reliable and interested citizen and enjoys the confidence of professional brethren and the public at large. J. ERNEST WENTZ, who, for 33 years has been a continuous resident of Bucyrus. O., and until recently active in the business life of the city, was born at Chambersburg, Pa.. Dec. 7, 1840, and is a son of Anthony and Catherine ( Steak) Wentz. Anthony Wentz was born in Germany probably in 1815. He came to America when a young man and located in Pennsylvania and was married at Chambersburg in that state, to Catherine Steak. They remained there until after the birth of their first child, in the following year, 1842, starting in a great covered wagon for Crawford county, O. Mr. Wentz opened his shoemaking shop at Bucyrus and followed his trade until 1846 when his death occurred. He was an official in the English Lutheran church. His widow survived for many years, her death occurring at Bucyrus in her 7th year. Five children were born to Anthony Wentz and wife, namely: J. Ernest, George, who died in childhood ; Albert, who died May 1, 1910. at the Soldiers' Home, Sandusky, O., who had served during the Civil War as a member of the 10th O. Vol. Cay., and was honorably discharged, and is survived by two daughters—Florence N., wife of J. H. Huff, D. D. S., Chicago, and Sarah L., who is housekeeper for her uncle, J. Ernest Wentz ; William M., a machinist at Bucyrus. who is married and has four children ; and Mary, who died at the age of ten years. J. Ernest Wentz was educated in the Bucyman in a general store, first at Bucyrus and rus schools and afterward he became a sales-later at Mansfield, O. In 1878 he returned to Bucyrus and for ten years afterward was associated with George W. Harris in the produce business. In 1888 he opened up his own business on the corner of Walnut and Charles streets and continued until June, 1907, when he sold out and since then has lived retired. He has never married but his domestic affairs are well looked after by his niece, Miss Sarah L. Wentz, a very capable housekeeper and estimable lady. Both she and her sister. Mrs. Huff, are Christian Science practitioners and for some years she was First Reader in the church of this organization at Bucyrus. I\Ir. Wentz is in close sympathy with the tenets of this religious body. Politically he is a Republican and fraternally is a Knight of Pythias. CHARLES C. STEPHAN, a representative citizen of Vernon township, Crawford county, O., residing seven and one-half miles northeast of Crestline, where he owns 8o acres of fertile and well tilled land, was born in Crawford county, in 1864, and is a son of Adam and Anna (Frank) Stephan. The parents of Mr. Stephan were born in Germany, from which country the father came to the United States when 15 years of age, and the mother was brought when five years old, by her parents, who settled in Crawford county, O. To Adam Stephan and wife the following children were born : Frank, residing at Crestline, who married Barbara Paffenbach; George, who married (first) Mary Bauer, and (second) Lizzie Lauer and survives them both ; John, who lives at Crestline., who married Clara Swerer ; Amanda, who is the wife of Conrad Strauch, of Crestline; Edward, who resides at Mansfield, O., and who married Hattie Culp: Ida, who lives at Crestline, the widow of Jacob Sleighberger, who died in 1912; Louis, who died in California, when aged 23 years; and Charles C., whose name heads this sketch. Charles C. Stephan followed farming with his father until he was 23 years of age and then went to Crestline and was employed there for two years, after which he resumed farming and purchased his present property. He devotes his land to general agriculture, raising the usual products of the soil that do well in this climate and also gives some attention to growing stock. Mr. Stephan married Miss Catherine Kindinger, a daughter of John and Catherine (Kaffenberger) Kindinger. her brothers and sisters being: Charles, John, . Mary, Julia, Emil, Albert and Emnnia. Mr. and Mrs. Stephan have seven children, namely: Wilbur, Velma, Edgar, Anita, Lester, Luella and Lloyd. Mr. Stephan and family are members of the Reformed church, of which he is a trustee and is also serving as church treasurer. 874 - HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY CHARLES SHELDON WERT,* postmaster at Monnett, O., and proprietor of a general store, was born at Oceola, Crawford county, Aug. 6, 18i9, and is a son of James and Mary (Neally) Wert. The parents of Mr. Wert were both natives of Ohio, he of Tod township, Crawford county, and she of Wyandot county. The father was a carpenter and contractor. Both he and wife are now deceased, their burial being at Bucyrus. They had three children: Rahland B., Charles Sheldon and Jessie, the last named being the wife of Stewart Laune, who is in the grocery business at Springfield, O. Charles S. Wert attended the public schools and for some years afterward engaged in farming and then embarked in a general store business at Mortimer, O., where he continued for two and one-half years and then came to Monnett, where he has built up a fine trade. In addition to carrying the usual merchandise of a general store, he handles farm implements. He has the leading place of business in the town and for the past year has been postmaster, being an ardent Republican. The only other public office he has held was that of constable for one year while living in Dallas township. Mr. Wert was married Feb. 29. 1902, to Miss Agnes E. Linn, who was born in Marion county, O., a daughter of Jacob and Mary (Martin) Linn, who were substantial farmers there. Mrs. Wert is the youngest of their three children, the others being: Vela, who is the wife of Welcome Lewellyn, and Minor. Mr. and Mrs. Wert have a son and a daughter Raymond and Mary. The family belongs to the Christian church at Bucyrus and Mr. Wert is identified with the fraternal order of Junior United American Mechanics of the same city. CHARLES S. SPORE, one of the well known men of Holmes township, Crawford county, O., who carries on general farming and stock raising on his farm of 62 acres, which is situated six and one-half miles northwest of Bucyrus, was born in Liberty township, Crawford county, O., July 28, 1858, and is a son of S. L. and Sarah E. (Brahman) Spore, and a grandson of David C. Spore, who made the record of teaching forty consecutive terms in the schools of Crawford county. S. L. Spore was born in 1834, in Canada, and was two years old when his parents moved to Crawford county and settled in Liberty township. Prior to his enlistment in 1862, for service in the Civil War, Mr. Spore engaged in farming. He served out his first enlistment of nine months and served nine months more tinder his second contract and then received an honorable discharge, on account of disability. Subsequently he learned the cooper trade and followed that with farming until again prostrated by ill health, after which he was in the real estate business until his health failed entirely and he retired to the Soldiers' Home, at Marion, Ind., where he could have constant care and medical attention and died there in 1906, his burial being in Crawford county. Although he did not fall on the field of battle, nevertheless he was a victim of the Civil War. his hardships and exposure having undermined his health. At the time of death he owned 80 acres of land. He married Sarah E. Brahman, who was born in Huron county and died in 1893, aged 56 years. Of their nine children three died in infancy, the others being: Charles S.; Mrs. Honora Linn, of Bucyrus; And David; Rufus D., who has a large grocery business at Bellevue, O.; Benjamin M.. who is a foreman in the Pennsylvania Railway shops at Fort Wayne, Ind. ; and Mrs. Loretta M. Goodwin, who is a resident of Bucyrus. Charles S. Spore obtained a district school education and afterward taught school in Holmes and Chatfield townships for three years. After marriage he settled on his present farm and his main interests since have been agricultural. He is a Republican in his political sentiments and is a member of the township school board. For two years he carried the mail from Bucyrus to certain points and in 1900, also 1910, was one of the census enumerators. Mr. Spore is a reliable, trustworthy citizen and is universally respected in this section. On March 1, 1883, Mr. Spore was married to Miss Lucy A. Linn, who is a daughter of William Linn, who is a resident of Holmes township, and they have had four children, namely: Lula G., who is the wife of R. A. Rexroth. who is in the real estate business at AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 875 Rock Creek, O.; Carrie E., who lives at Bucyrus; Harry W. B., who resides at Newell, W. Va.; and Ray E., who assists his father on the home farm. Mr. Spore is connected by membership with the Odd Fellows, the Grange, the Home Guards of America, the I. O. F.. and the Rebecca branch of the Odd Fellows, taking an interest in all these organizations and as nearly as possible setting an example as to their aims and benefits. FREDERICK BEACH, whose finely equipped farm of eighty acres lies five miles northwest of Crestline, O., in Vernon township, Crawford county, O., is one of the well known residents, his whole life having been more or less passed in this section. He was born in Crawford county in 1837, and is a son of Rinehardt and Louisa (Klahn) Beach. The parents of Mr. Beach came to the United States from Germany in 1829 and settled in Crawford county. They had the following children: Adam, Frederick, Margaret, Sarah, Elizabeth, George, Caroline, William, Samuel. Susan and Louisa, the last named dying at the age of 15 years. Frederick Beach attended the district schools in boyhood although their advantages were meager compared with those of the present day, and, remained at home assisting his father until he was 15 years of age. Then he learned the cabinetmaking trade and worked at the same for six years and then returned to the farm and has been mainly interested in farming ever since. He bought one farm and afterward sold it and then purchased his present one on which he has made many improvements. He carries on general farming and raises stock, having always been a man of industry and good judgment and has prospered. Mr. Beach was married to Miss Margaret E. Feick, a daughter of John G. Feick. native of Germany, and ten children have been born to them, namely: Emma S., who married William Harter and lives at Sandusky City, O.: George H., who married Ida Brendle and lives at Toledo. O.; John W., a physician practicing at Arlington, O., who married Florence Rigle; Samuel F., who lives at Sandusky, and who married Hattie Takes: Minnie M., who is the wife of Albert Render, of Sandusky: Charles C., deceased, September 21. 1907, Who was a physician in Indiana, and married to Emma Cline; Callie A., the wife of William Beyers, who lives at Shelby, O. ; Augusta, who died in infancy; Cornelius, who is superintendent of the Irondale schools in Jefferson county and lives at home; and Luetta, the youngest, who also lives with her parents. Mrs. Beach has two sisters in Germany, Mary and Barbara, while two, Elizabeth C. and Catherine, and a brother, John G., are in America. Mr. Beach and family are members of the German Reformed church and all are people who are held in the highest esteem in their neighborhood. CALEB B. FOSTER,* now living retired after many years of successful business endeavor and efficient official life, occupies his comfortable home which is situated at No. 510 Spring street, Bucyrus, O. Mr. Foster was born May 17, 1831, in Stark county, O., and is a son of William and Elizabeth (Crohrninger) Foster. William Foster was born in New York and his wife in Pennsylvania and both came when young to Stark county, O., where they married and continued to live. By trade William Foster was a shoemaker and he also conducted a farm. He was a quiet, industrious, well meaning man and was known all over the county. In his political views he was a Jacksonian Democrat. He survived his wife, his death occurring during the Civil War, when aged about fib years. They were members of the U. B. church. Of their large family of children three survive: Caleb B. and George, the latter of whom resides at Lansing, Mich., being now in his 76th year. The father was twice married and one daughter of the first union survives, Sarah A., who is the widow of a veteran of the Civil WVar. Caleb B. Foster was quite young when his parents came from Stark county to Bucyrus and here he was reared and schooled. He learned the carpenter trade and later became a building contractor and erected many of the substantial structures of Bucyrus before he retired from active life quite a long time since. He was then elected a justice of the peace and served in that office for 21 years during which time his decisions were seldom reversed. He has been a Democrat since he first exercised his citizen's privilege and for some years was 876 - HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY a member of the Democratic county organizations. Mr. Foster was married first in Crawford county to Miss Maria Simmons, who died in 1862, aged 35 years, at Oceola, where Mr. Foster lived for some 12 years. At Oceola he was married again, Miss Annetta Fox becoming his second wife. Her death occurred in March, 1908, at Bucyrus. Both wives were estimable women but neither left issue. Although Mr. Foster has no daughters he has had the tender care of an estimable woman during his declining years, in the person of Miss Jennie Smith. She was born at Chamhersburg, Pa., 45 years ago, and came to Bucyrus when aged 19 years, and for some ten years has been at the head of Mr. Foster's household. WILLIAM GUNDRUM, who is one of the leading men of Vernon township, Crawford county, O., township trustee and a prosperous farmer, owns 51 ¼ acres of valuable land, situated eight miles north of Crestline, O. He was born on his father's farm in Crawford county, eight miles east of Bucyrus. O., and is a son of Silas and Lavina (Buck) Gundrum. Silas Gundrum was born in Pennsylvania and was five years old when his parents moved to Ohio and settled in Crawford county. Here he grew to manhood and then married Lavina Buck, who was born in Ohio and they had eight children born to them, namely : John, who lives two and a half miles cast of Galion, O., and who married Maggie Ostermeyer; Anna, who is deceased; Joseph, living in Sandusky township, who married Ruie Fetter; Silas, who is deceased ; Maggie, who married Albert Heller, of Sandusky township; [ mma, who is deceased: and Frank and W William. Silas Gundrum died March 9, 1902, his wife having passed away sonic years before, the date of her death being Oct. 2, 1898. William Gundrum obtained his education in the district schools and assisted his father until he was 21 years of age. After that he engaged in farm work for other agriculturists, by the day or the month for a time and afterward rented land for five years, at the end of which time be bought his present place, on which he carries on general farming. He has made all the excellent improvements here and has doubled the value of his property. Mr. Gundrum married Miss Emma Fix, who is a daughter of Andrew and Matilda Fix, and they have three children : Grace, Blanche and Zella. Mrs. Gundrum has one sister and two brothers : Bert, Charles and Lilly. One sister, Mary. is deceased. In politics Mr. Gundrum is a Democrat and frequently has been called upon to serve in local offices. For a number of years he has been a member of the township school board and at present is a very efficient member of the township board of trustees. He belongs to the United Brethren church. L. H. NAGEL, a prominent business man of Brokensword, O., who conducts the largest general store in the place, was born in this town in 1880 and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Gearhert) Nagel. John Nagel was born in Erie county, O., and from there came to Crawford county when aged 21 years and for 21 subsequent years was engaged in the hotel business at Brokensword. He is now a manufacturer of soft drinks, at Bellevue, O., being in his sixty-fourth year. He married Elizabeth Gearhert, who was brought to America when a child of four years and spent her after life at Brokensword, where she died in her 54th year. They had three children: Esther, who is the wife of Henry Shealy, of Bucyrus; Emma, who married George Grower; and L. H., of Brokensword. L. H. Nagel was educated in the public schools and first entered into business at Bucyrus, in the clothing line, and continued until May r6, 1904, when he opened his present store at Brokensword, where he owns his own building and has, by far, the largest patronage of any business house in the place. His stock includes a complete assortment of groceries, dry goods, boots, shoes and hardware. Mr. Nagel is a Democrat in politics and fraternally is connected with the Maccabees, the Foresters, and belongs to the National Protective I..egion at Bucyrus. Mr. Nagel is unmarried. HENRY PHILLIPS, a representative citizen and a native of Whetstone township, owns 274 acres of land located in this township, ioo acres of which constitute the farm on which AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 879 he lives. He was born Feb. 26, 1850. His father, Benjamin Phillips, was born in Northumijerland county, Pa., but came to Ohio when a boy of 12 years and spent most of his life in Whetstone township, where he followed farming. He married Sarah Null, a native of Parks county, Pa., and to them were born four children: Rebecca, Henry, Franklin and Samuel, all of whom are deceased except Henry, whose name heads this article. Benjamin Phillips was a Democrat in politics and he and his wife attended the Reformed church. They are both now deceased and their remains rest in Whetstone cemetery. After completing a common school education, Henry Phillips went to work on the farm with his father. He later owned a threshing machine and a saw mill v hich he operated in connection with his farm work. His first purchase of land was a tract of 20 acres, which he bought in partnership with his brother Samuel and to this through his industry and ambition he has added until now he owns 274 acres of excellent land on which he carries on general farming and raises stock for his own use. Henry Phillips was united in marriage in 1883 to Miss Sarah Kunert, a daughter of Charles W. and Mary ( Franks) Kunert, farming people of this county. Their children were: Charles, John, Frank, Jacob, Samuel, Sarah, Josephine (wife of John Dapper) and Anna (wife of William Crider). To Mr. and Mrs. Henry Phillips have been born. children as follows: Ada P., wife of William H. Ruth; Edwin R., who lives on the homestead farm; Ida, the wife of Arthur Gearhart; Mary S., the wife of Fred Stiger ; Russell S., Luther H., Anna M., Paul B. and Esther S. Mr. Phillips is a Democrat in his political views and has served several times as road supervisor. Religiously, he is identified with the Reformed church. A. N. PHILLIPS, deceased, for many years was a prominent and representative man in Crawford county, O., and a useful, respected and esteemed resident of his community. He was born in Frederick county. Md., June 25, 1846, and died on his valuable farm of 235 acres, situated in Tod township, June 1, 1911. His parents were John and Ruth Phillips, who were natives of Maryland, where the father died in February, 1860, she in the following May coming to Crawford county, and died in August of the same year. A. N. Phillips attended the country schools and later became a student at Heidelberg University and was ever afterward considered a man of well trained faculties and excellent judgment, this general opinion making his fellow citizens anxious to secure his advice on perplexing questions and eager to see him serving in responsible offices. For 18 months, soon after returning from the university, he served as deputy auditor. In 1875 he went into the flour mill business on his own place and continued until 1886 and afterward, for many years, carried on the usual farm activities. From his own quarries he furnished the stone for the building of many of the good roads in this section. For 30 years he was a notary public and he settled up and administered many estates. Those who knew him well remember him as a man faithful and conscientious in the performance of every duty, a man who was honest in all business relations and was kind, thoughtful and considerate of his friends. In April, 1884, Mr. Phillips was married to Miss Alice Teeterick, a daughter of Samuel and Margaret Teeterick.. Her father was born in New York and her mother in Germany, the latter having been brought to America when six years old and lived for a time in Pennsylvania and then came to Bucyrus, O., where she was married to Mr. Teeterick on Sept. 14, 1842. They have had eleven children born to them and eight of these still live To Mr. and Mrs. Phillips two children were born: an infant that died early: and Charles Albert, who was born July 4, 1897, and died when aged five years, six months and eighteen clays. In his views on public questions Mr. Phillips was a consistent Democrat. While he never united with any particular church body he was a Christian in faith and works and gave liberally to every ivorthty cause, and for 20 wears taught the Bible class in the Methodist Episcopal church. Mrs. Phillips owns the valuable farm left by her husband and it is tinder the excellent management of her brother, Frank Teeterick, a well known farmer of Tod township. 680 - HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY AMANDUS FENNER,* deceased, for many years was a well known business man at Bucyrus, O., where the larger part of his life was passed and where he was held in high esteem. He was born April 25, 1855, at the Delaware Water Gap, Monroe county, Pa., a son of George and Elizabeth (Bush) Fenner. The parents of Mr. Fenner came to Crawford county, O., in 1857, settling at Bucyrus, where they spent the rest of their lives, the mother dying at the age of 60 years and the father, of heart disease, when aged 70 years. He was a carpenter contractor and in his line of business was well known all over the county. There were five children in his family, four of whom reached maturity: Frank, Foster, Eliza and Amandus. George Fenner and wife were members of the Lutheran church. Amandus Fenner remained at home and attended school until he was 15 years of age, when he went to Cleveland in order to learn fine house painting and decorating under competent instructors and remained in that city until he was 21, when he returned to Bucyrus, where he followed the above trade during the rest of his active life. He built up a large business of his own in this direction, giving employment to from five to eight expert helpers, and all over Bucyrus may be found examples of his taste and skill. On Nov. 7, 1878, Mr. Fenner was married to Miss E. O. Hufrangle, who was born Dec. 1, 1865, at Bucyrus, O., which has always been her home. Her parents were Frederick and Frederica ( Koch) Hufrangle, natives of Germany. They came to Bucyrus when young people, married and spent their lives here, the death of the father occurring July 3, 1894, at the age of 65 years, and that of the mother on March 4, 1902, when in her 6Tst year. For some years he followed the trade of harness maker and saddler and afterward successfully engaged in the dairy business. Mrs. Fenner has the following brothers and sisters : Otto, August, Frederick, Edward, Cora, William and Elsie, all of whom are married and in comfortable circumstances. To Mr. and Mrs. Fenner the following children were born: Maybell, who was born November 8, 1890, and married Walter V. Bybee, who is in the electrical supply business in Cincinnati ; Irene Julia, who was born April 26, 1892, and resides with her mother; Marie Elizabeth, who was born August 23, 1898; and George, who was born June 15, 19o2. Mrs. Fenner and family are members of the German Lutheran church as were her parents. Both her father and husband were Democrats in their political affiliation. Mrs. Fenner owns considerable valuable property in this city, including her handsome residence at No. 718 Rogers street. LOUIS EDWARD SHEALY, who is one of the representative citizens and careful and prosperous farmers of Liberty township, Crawford county, O., resides on his highly improved farm of 98 ¾ acres, and was born in this township in 1869. He is a son of Gottlieb and Frederica (Bauer) Shealy. Gottlieb Shealy and wife were both born in Wittenberg, Germany. He came to the United States when aged 14 years and after marriage lived in Liberty township, Crawford county, O. They had the following children born to then : George, who is a resident of Liberty township as is his next brother, Jacob, neither of whom have married ; Catherine, who is the wife of Jacob Green, and lives in Liberty township; Louisa, deceased, who was the wife of Jacob Ackerman of Chatfield township: Ricka, deceased, who was the wife of John Green, of Mercer county; Elizabeth, who keeps house for her unmarried brothers; and Louis E. Louis E. Shealy secured a district school education and continued to work on his father's farm afterward until his marriage and for four years longer and then bought the home farm, it pleasing him better than any other situated in Crawford county. He remodeled the barn and erected a modern residence and made many other improvements which serve to place this farm among the best in this section of the county- He carries on stock raising and general farming and is a practical and prosperous agriculturist. Mr. Shealy was united in marriage with Miss Lydia F. Hieber, who was born in 1870, in Liberty township, a daughter of Christian and Christiana (Wagner) Hieber. Mrs, Shealy had one brother, John G., who died in 1902, survived by his widow, Elizabeth (Shieber) Hieber. Mrs. Shealy's sisters were: AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 881 Louisa, who married Emannel Shieber, of Liberty township; Anna, who died at the age of 20 years; and Bertha, who lives in Liberty township. Mr. and Mrs. Shealy have two children: Luella Lydia and Alton Edward, both of whom reside at home. The family belongs to the Lutheran church, in which Mr. Shealy is an official, being treasurer and also a member of the board of trustees of this church. He has served his township in the office of road supervisor and is well informed concerning the subject of good roads. JOHN H. HARTER, deceased, who was a well known and highly respected citizen of Crawford county, O., for many years was a successful agriculturist and held numerous offices of responsibility in his section and was a veteran officer of the great Civil War. Captain Harter was born at Aaronsburg, Center county, Pa., Aug. 11, 1838, and was a son of William and Rebecca Harter, both of whom are buried at Aaronsburg, Pa. Mr. Harter had district school advantages in boyhood and then learned the blacksmith trade and was engaged at ,pork in that line at Mifflinburg, in Union county, Pa., when he enlisted for service in the Civil War, in July, 1862. He entered Company I), i;oth Pa. Vol. Inf., as a private, and participated in 20 battles and had been promoted many times for gallantry before his injuries when he was forced to retire from military life on Oct. 20, 1864, on a surgeon's certificate. His company was first detailed to do guard duty at the summer home of Abraham Lincoln and then was sent to the front to partake in the battles of Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, the Wilderness campaign and Petersburg. Capt. Harter's army record is the subject of frequent reference in a popular library book entitled "The Recollections of a Drummer Boy," which appeared first in St. Nicholas Magazine and later was published by Ticknor & Co., of Boston, Mass. The author of these recollections, Rev. Harry M. Kieffer, was the drummer boy of the company of which Mr. Harter was captain and the two were bunk mates and personal friends. In July, 1862, Mr. Harter was made corporal in rank and on May 3. 1864, had reached the rank of first lieutenant and on June 26. 1864, was commissioned captain. He was wounded at Spottsylvania on May l0th, at Petersburg on June 18th and again on Aug. 10, 1864, and these injuries so disabled him that he unwillingly had to accept his discharge, honorable although it was. He united with the G. A. R. at Nevada, O., and was valued as a comrade in that body . After his first marriage, Mr. Harter settled at Nevada, O., as a blacksmith and carriage builder and was associated with his brother, Thomas H. Harter, in the ownership of the old Nevada enterprise, a weekly newspaper, selling his interest in it on Jan. 3, 1879, to J. N. Wilcox. In 1882 he bought a farm north of Oceola, on which he resided until igoi, when he retired to Oceola, where his death occurred on March 9, 1912. Mr. Harter owned 182 acres and was an expert farmer. For a number of years he had been vice president and a director of the Crawford County Mutual Fire Insurance Company, and a member and official of the Crawford County Agricultural Society. He became a Republican in politic at the resumption of specie payments in 1819 and was steadfast in his political faith till his death. He was many years a member of the Masonic fraternity and belonged also to the Jr. O. U. A. M. At Oceola, O., Feb. 28, 1867, Mr. Harter was married to Miss Margaretta A. Forrest, a lady of fine literary talents and the author of some popular poems. They had four children, namely: Frederick, who resides at Oceola, and married Kittie Stiner, they having three children; Marion, who married Albert Hauslaib and has two children ; James W., an attorney and resident of Duluth, Minn., who married Nellie Walters, of Akron, O., and Bessie, who resides at Occola. The mother of the above children died March 2, 189,. In 1897 Captain Harter was married to Mrs. Lena (Sharp) Doty, of Oceola. Mrs. Doty had one son. Harry, by her former marriage, and to her second marriage one son was born, Robert. Mrs. Harter lives in the family residence in Occola. She is well known and has a wide circle of friends in this section of Crawford county, in which she has passed her life. HERSCHEL V. FLICKINGER, deputy county surveyor of Crawford county, O., and formerly county surveyor. has been identified 882 - HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY with the surveyor's office since 1895 and is recognized as. one of the most capable men in this line of work in North Central Ohio. He was born in Holmes township, Crawford county, O., July 11, 1860, coming from one of the old county families. Samuel Flickinger, grandfather of Herschel V. Flickinger, was born in Bucks county, Pa., and was one of the early settlers in Stark county, O., from which section he came to Crawford county, probably about 1822. He secured 16o acres of government land situated in Holmes township, four miles from the present busy city of Bucyrus, a place of three houses at that time. He kept his land and improved it and died there when aged 72 years. He was a man of influence in the Democratic party and was a representative pioneer in the best sense of the word. He married Malinda Healy, who was born in Vermont, and she also died in Holmes township. Their is children all survived to maturity and all married with one exception. The only one yet living is Mrs. Horace Austin, of Ravenna, O. Horace Flickinger, father of Herschel V., was born in 1833, in Holmes township, Crawford county, was reared on the homestead and inherited a part of it. Later he purchased a farm in Bucyrus township and there spent the rest of his life, his death taking place in 1898. In addition to farming he was also interested in lumbering for some 25 years and owned a saw mill. He was married in Holmes township to Catherine Fralick, who was born there in 1843, and died in Bucyrus township in 1909. She was a daughter of Henry Fralick, formerly a farmer in Holmes township. To Horace and Catherine Flickinger the following children were born: Herschel V.; Delia, who is the wife of F. Lincoln Harvey of Bucyrus, and has four children—Carrie, Harrison, Cecil and Maude: Clement L., who is a farmer in Bucyrus township, unmarried; Alvin G., who is a clerk in the county auditor's office; and Carrie B., who is the wife of A. L. Shumaker. Herschel V. Flickinger attended the country schools, later those of Bucyrus and afterward was a student in the North Western University at Ada, O. Well qualified for any line of business, circumstances led to his becoming identified with official life in his native county and his usefulness has been so recognized that more or less he has been connected with public affairs in the county-ever since leaving college. In his many years of official life he has been deputy county auditor and deputy treasurer under Treasurer C. F. Shonert. In November, 1895, he was elected county surveyor and served for six years, and served six years as deputy under Surveyor Bryant, and in September, 1911, was appointed deputy under Surveyor L. P. Michelis. He has administered all these offices carefully and well, performing his duties with perfect accuracy and with satisfaction to the public. he is a zealous Democrat and has been appointed a delegate to county, state and congressional conventions. One of the charter members of the fraternal order of Eagles, he has always taken a deep interest in that organization and was its first vice president and belongs also to the Elks. He is unmarried. JACOB J. SCHNEIDER, a general farmer and well known and respected citizen of Crawford county, O., who owns ioo acres of valuable land, in partnership with his brother. Adam Schneider, situated in section 11, Cranberry township, was born two miles northwest of Leesville, O. His parents were John Jacob and Margaret (Loutenslater) Schneider. John Jacob Schneider was born in one of the Rhine provinces, Germany, and was 18 years of age when he accompanied his parents, Michael and Elizabeth Schneider, to America, who settled with their three sons and one daughter, in Pennsylvania. Later they came to Leesville, O., and still later moved on a farm in Chatfield township, Crawford county, one mile northeast of Chatfield, and there they died and their burial was in the cemetery attached to the Reformed church. John Jacob Schneider followed farming during the greater part of his life. For two years after his marriage he lived at Leesville and then moved on the farm which is now owned by his sons, Jacob J. and Adam. Here his death occurred when he was aged 71 years and his burial was in the Chatfield cemetery. In politics he was a Democrat and was a man of influence - in Cranberry township and served one term as road supervisor. He belonged to the Re- formed church. His widow survives and lives AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 883 in Chatfield township. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Schneider and all but two. Mary and an infant son, survive, namely: Margaret, Emma, I.ew is, Hannah, Jacob J., Adam and William. Jacob J. Schneider obtained his early knowledge of books in what is known as the Swiss school, in Chatfield township and was about five years old when his parents moved on the present hone farm. In association with his brother Adam he has improved the place which includes the building of the substantial and comfortable farm house. Mr. Schneider was married to Miss Caroline Huber, who was born at New Washington, O., a daughter of Charles Huber. They are members of the Lutheran church. Mr. Schneider and his brother are identified with the Democratic party but neither have ever sought political office. They are practical farmers and quiet, industrious citizens. WILLIAM C. SCOTT, a prosperous farmer and well known citizen of Dallas township, Crawford county, O., resides on his well improved farm of 8o acres, devoting it to general agriculture. He was born in Harrison county, O.. Jan. 5, T854, and is a son of Andrew and Michel (Trickel) Scott. The father of Mr. Scott was a native of Ohio and was a farmer all his active life. The mother was born in Maryland. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Of their children, William C. was the youngest, the others being: Charlotte, wife of Samuel Lellv; Wesley: Matilda, wife of John Gwinner: Bishop; Nathan; Mary, wife of Miles Murphy: and Jane, wife of Leonard Huffman. William C. Scott has been interested continuously in farming ever since his school days. He lost his father when he was only 15 years of age and more or less has looked out for himself since then, working for several years by the month with neighboring farmers before he went into business on his own account. After renting land for 20 years he purchased his present farm, from Dice Beers and immediately set about improving it. It required tiling and fencing and before Mr. Scott was satisfied he had also built a comfortable house and substantial barn. His land is in fine condition and satisfactorily productive. In 1872 Mr. Scott was married to Miss Anna himble, who was born in Crawford county and is a daughter of Nicholas and Sarah (Billings) Kinible, well kno«n residents of this section. Their children all survive with the exception of three sons, William, James and Nicholas. The others are: Mary, wife of Thomas Woodruth; Lillian, wife of James CoNvells.: Joseph; Charlotte, wife of Andrew Claybaugh; Daniel; Amy, wife of William Wilson; Cora, wife of Duke Wells ; and Anna, wife of William C. Scott. To Mr. and Mrs. Scott nine children have been born, namely: Elmer, who married Laura Albright; Charles, who married Laura Kearns ; Phebe, who married Hanford Cline; Alfred, who married Eva Monnette; Gertrude, who married Jess Canode ; Naomi, who married Clinton Shaw ; May, who married George Purviss : Sanford, who married Anna Kiesling; and Ray, who married Jessie Kiesling. Mr. Scott and family attend the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics he is a Republican as was his father. He has never been eager for political position but as a matter of duty has served as school director, being much interested in the public schools and in every movement that promises to advance the general welfare of the community. JOHN NICHOLAS REXROTH. 1800-1867. John Nicholas (Johann Nicholaus) Rexroth was the first bearing that surname to locate in Crawford county, O. He arrived with his young family in 1833. The name is a Latin-German derivation and means "The Red-King.'' Relatives in the fatherland adhere to a tradition that it dates back to one of the Othos, an emporer of Germany, from whom the family traces descent. Another version comes from a member of the family, who in his travels came upon the name, in a city of southern Europe, where it was recorded, centuries ago, that the second syllable or part was rath meaning counselor, in German, and that the word meant "The King's Counselor." Unfortunately his record is not available and the name of the city is forgotten. Either meaning points to some close connection with royalty. The practice of giving a common prenomen or given name, as occurred in the family, and 884 - HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY which was, Johann to the sons and Johanna to the daughter, suggests a custom of the last days of the Ronan republic. Whatever the facts may be as to the remote ancestors, it is certain the immediate ancestors of the subject under review, were honest, industrious, religious people, who intended to meet life's needs honorably and to the best of their ability. John Nicholas Rexroth was born at Erbach, Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, Nov. 6, 1800. He was the eldest child in a family of eight sons and two daughters born to John Conrad Rexroth and wife. The names of the sons, in the order of their ages, omitting the common given name, only as by repetition it becomes the real given name, were—Nicholas, Johan, KarI, Eberhard, Johanness, George, Ludwig and Conrad, and the daughters, Mary and Sophia. These names, with the common given name, were so blended in their use in the family as to constitute a new list. The mother of these children was a large woman of fine administrative ability and a thorough disciplinarian. System and order were the rule in her home, though ever pervaded by the spirit of kindness and the loving gentleness of the true mother. Of her thriftiness, American descendants were assured, when after her death and by her previous order, the oaken, iron-bound chests with their generous shipments of linen sheets, shirts, etc., arrived for her loved children in America. Of the above named children, Nicholas, Johanness, Mary and Sophia and descendants of Karl and Conrad emigrated to America. There were about forty grandchildren, descendants of the original family and the posterity is now a large company. The American contingent is already widely distributed and high school, college and university graduates with their degrees are numerous among them, and the emblem of Phi Beta Kappa is also in evidence. They are engaged in a variety of honorable and useful pursuits. agricultural leading, and the so-called professions, teaching, ministry, missionary, medicine. dentistry, have representatives from them who are making good. Each of the children of the elder Rexroth received a common school education and all of them were indoctrinated in the tenets of the Lutheran faith and confirmed and received into that church at the usual age. The father was a blacksmith and trained all but one of his sons in that trade; the son exempt had met with an injury to one of his hands. The smithy with its numerous forges, was no small affair; but an extensive establishment and the leading one of its kind in that locality and drew its patronage from a wide area. There, were manufactured agricultural implements and the iron parts of wagons and vehicles of all kinds. Those sturdy sons of vulcan drove a thriving business as they wrought at the flaming forge, and not one ever seemed to suspect that the world owed him a living, only as he returned an equivalent in useful labor. In addition to the home training, each son traveled as a journeyman workman through a prescribed territory, to learn best methods, as pertaining to his art. The "wanderbuch" (journal) is an interesting relic of this practice. It was in this way that one of them discovered the family name as referred to above. The youngest son, Conrad, traveled more extensively than the others, spending considerable time in Switzerland. He became a highly skilled artisan and possessed the taste and genius of an artist. Later he became attached to the court of the Grand-duke George II, of Saxe Meiningen and had charge of all equipages, designing, drafting all designs and superintending the construction of all ducal coaches, carriages, etc., with their silk and satin brocade upholstering and of these. the fashions changed annually. Thus, the inventive faculty of the superintendent was not without exercise. The duke, who is living at the age of seventy-nine, possesses several palaces of great magnitude and has as a confidential secretary, a son of Conrad Rexroth, who among other duties, signs all orders on the government pay-roll. The only member of this branch of the family, in this country, is Mrs. S. Kranich, North Sandusky Avenue. Bucyrus, O. George, the sixth son of Conrad, Sr., became quite wealthy, being rated near a millionaire before his death. The homestead is in his family; the house where all the children were born, built many years ago, is still used as a residence; he took care of his aged parents—the mother survived the father fifteen years and was an invalid for several years and received her daily outing in a wheel-chair, propelled by a grandson. From AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 885 recent advices, a cousin, once removed, of our subject is a government surveyor in the German empire, resides at the imperial palace and eats at the same table with the emperor. A relative, Rev. George Rexroth, is at present pastor of the First German Methodist church, at Frankfort-on-the-Main. The subject of this sketch was relieved from military duty as his help would be needed to raise the large family of younger sons, who would contribute to the service of the state, which each one did as he arrived at the proper age. He was a most dutiful and industrious son, whom the father affectionately called the "Bread Winner." His influence in the home and business was very salutary and in later years members of the family took pleasure in bearing witness to it, a common expression being: "He was so pleasant to be with or work with." The young man's journal recites that he left home on his journeyman tour, Aug. 28, 1822, and bears stamps of many places visited and signatures of deputies or magistrates testifying to his fidelity. After serving the required time, he returned to help his father until early in 1830 when he departed for America, where the record states he arrived at Baltimore, Md.. May 24th, 1830. There he made the acquaintance of and married Anna Maria Rittman on the ninth day of January, 1831. The wedding was solemnized in the “Old Otterbein Church" by the incumbent pastor. The wife was born Dec. 29, 1806, at Middle Mutchelbach, near Manheini, Baden. Her ancestors came from Denmark. The family had suffered hardships on account of the wars of Napoleon, two uncles being in the Russian campaign, one of whom perished at the siege of Moscow. The father died when this slaughter was an infant and the mother when she was sixteen years of age. When, after some years of indecision as to her life course, a family of neighbors and close friends decided to emigrate to America, she concluded to go with them and at once converted her patrimony into money and joined the company. They embarked on a sail ship and were thirteen weeks on the ocean—all the passengers being sea-sick but herself, but after arriving she was the longest in becoming acclimated. They arrived at Baltimore in 1829 where, later, she was married, as above stated. She was a very comely voung woman, with an almost perfect complexion which never lost its beautiful tint in spit of the hardships endured, to the close of her more than 86 years. She was fond of society, interested in business and public affairs, possessed strong practical Sense, a fine sense of humor and readily made and retained friends. Not being decided as to their future, permanent location, the young couple went to Gettysburgh, Pa., on account of relatives, the Schmucker family, prominent in the college and the Luthern church at that place; but the tide of emigration had set strongly to the Northwest Territory and they were carried with it and in company with others they endured the hardships of the journey until they reached Bucyrus, O., where they decided to locate. Here, in 1833, Mr. Rexroth erected a good frame house, still used as a residence, and a forge at the corner of what are South Walnut and Middletown streets, where he worked. industriously, at his trade and rapidly accumulated property, investing his earnings in land. He was an extremely hard-working and conscientious tradesman, all his activities being marked by celerity and energy, and a desire to perform his work to the full satisfaction of his patrons. Like all pioneer tradesmen, whose business required a fuel, that would yield an intense heat, he must needs burn his own charcoal. These occasions gave the wife an experience of adventure, not quite to her liking—in going into the deep forest to carry meals to her husband who must stay by the charcoal kiln until the product was finished she frequently met Indians sometimes returning from Bucyrus full of "Sandusky water." which always was a cause of fright: but as they were the friendly Wyandottes, she was never harmed. After about eight years of residence at Bucyrus, Mr. Rexroth removed with his family to New Winchester. The reason for this change is not known unless it was a desire to engage in brick-making and a large tract of suitable land to be had there induced him to make the venture. Possibly he had wearied of the hard, unremitting toil and thought the change would bring relief. The question of the future value of the location when all the settlements around were mere villages and their future conjectural and when Brokensword Avenue was laid out at Oceola 886 - HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY to accommodate the future county buildings, did not seem to have influenced him to make the change. But brick-making, other than gold bricks, was a premature venture, pioneers having plenty of building material and little cash and after a few years the business was abandoned and he again took up the work of his trade and later, seeing Bucyrus advancing, he returned hither in the spring of 1849 and moved into his own house, which had stood unoccupied. Here with the help of the older sons and apprentices, whom he had trained, he resumed business with the customary success. In 1856 the forge was moved farther on Middletown street and a new residence was built on the corner, which, at the present time, is spoken of as one of the best built houses in the city, with its substantial oak framework in contrast with the light-timbered buildings of to-day. But the oldest son having died and the younger sons desiring to engage in farming, the father sold the town property and bought land and in the spring of 1858 the family moved to the new purchase, south of the city, adjoining the corporation. From this location, the younger children continued to attend the town schools and the Ohio State Normal School which flourished for a few years, but was closed on account of the war. Some years later another change was deemed advantageous—this was to the farm on the Alarion road, known as the Riley Pettit farm, a well-improved place with a commodious brick residence. Here, on the 17th of June, 1867, "life's labors ended" and the father passed into the better life, in the sixty-seventh year of his age. Mr. Rexroth was a man with an ardent religious nature, very candid and confiding and financial reverses which came to him and despoiled him of much of his hard earned property are directly traceable to this fact, as his personal and business habits were correct and almost ideal. He became surety for others and lost, though never in any sense reduced to abject poverty as he always owned his own home; but as the reverses interfered With privileges for his family, which he had fondly cherished, his regret was deep and sincere. His tender sympathy, kindness of speech and gentleness of manner disarmed prejudice and his children and friends ever held him in deepest regard amounting to reverence. He looked upon life as a sacred trust and upon himself as one who must give an account of his stewardship. To him, success was the meeting of moral obligations to his fellow men, rather than the amassing of wealth by personal shrewdness. The only true estimate of this man must be based upon his personality, rather than on his worldly achievements. To him the character whose activities approached most nearly the true standard of conduct, whether of a rich man or a poor man, marked the successful man, so in life much time and labor were spent in exhorting men to keep their consciences and their records clean and family and friends ever saw that he conscientiously practiced what he preached. The influence of such a personality can never die and the sentiment of a descendant, uttered in a burst of enthusiasm : "Oh, how it wears," was full of meaning. Though reared and confirmed in the Lutheran church, he and his wife resolved to identify themselves with religious people, ir'herever their lot might be cast, even if of another denomination : thus we find them members of the Evangelical Association and later German Methodists. They helped to found the first German Methodist church at Bucyrus and Mr. Rexroth was the confidential correspondent of the Reverend William Nast, the founder of German Methodism in the united States, and the organizer of the local church. He was ever the sympathetic friend and adviser of his pastors and they valued his spiritual help and support. One of the most prominent of them said, recently, when I was pastor at Bucyrus. I always felt that Brother Rexroth ought to be in the pulpit and I in the pew, such was the impression his spiritual insight and attainments made upon me.'' His ability along this line was greatly appreciated in pioneer days and brought into exercise by calls to the homes of sickness and death and on occasions of funerals when in the absence of a pastor, he was invited to address the people and speak the words of comfort. An incident occurring during the residence at New Winchester deserves a permanent record, though the main features only can be noted. AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 887 A fellow-countryman had arrived and erected his primitive abode in the dense woods near the village. Mr. Rexroth had met him and they had a long conversation—this was the extent of their acquaintance. Several weeks thereafter Mr. Rexroth had a vision or a dream three times repeated in one night, representing the new arrival as being in great distress and needing his help and directing him to go to the relief. He arose at dawn intending to go to the home; but the wife thinking it was only a dream clue to indigestion interposed objections which caused him to delay, but later the wife noting his distress advised hint to go and investigate which he slid and upon arriving found the man unconscious from a fatal injury received that morning when he had gone out to fell timber and he died before night. The remarkable feature was that when Mr. Rexroth was passing a night of distress on account of this man and directed to go to his relief—the victim himself was well and resting peacefully in his bed. The occurrence made a profound impression, as the people saw that the revelation to Mr. Rexroth coming before the accident could have had none but a supernatural source and as showing the close connection between the spirit world and this. After the death of the father the family home was transferred to Bucyrus and maintained there until all the children were married, after which the mother chose to live with her youngest daughter with visits to her other children, this arrangement continuing for many years, till within several years of her death when she went to live with her son John and; family, where on March 2, 1893, she passed into the spirit world in the eighty-seventh year of her age. She had survived her husband nearly twenty-six years. Her jovial disposition and less intense nature were, no doubt, conservators of the vital forces as death was due to congestion of the lungs and not to the infirmities of age. Her burial was in Oakwood cemetery, in the family lot beside her husband. She was a devoted wife and mother, sharing to the full the privations and hardships of pioneer life, always inculcating respect and obedience to high ideals of living and ministering to the needs of others, to the best of her ability. The ten children born to this pioneer couple are briefly sketched as follows: All but one lived to maturity, all were reared in the Methodist faith and united with that church in early life, all had such school privileges as the pioneer communities afforded, four, succeeding the oldest in age, were born at Bucyrus, O., the rest at New Winchester. Each of the living is enjoying a material competency obtained by observing the natural laws of success—patient industry, economy, sacrifice and good management. In politics, the sons are Republicans as their father was, who, previously, had been a Whig. Adam, born at Gettysburg, Pa., March 28, 1832, died at Bucyrus, O., Jan. 10, 1855; a young man of superior mental endowments; a faithful helper to his father, and devoted to the welfare of the family. His leisure was employed in acquiring knowledge, his books shoving a purpose to have a liberal education. His last illness was protracted and full of suffering. Incidents of the sickness and death resulted in the conversion of his physician, a highly educated German, who had been an atheist. The last audible words of Adam Rexroth were a quotation from Shakespeare in German: "Ende gut; alles gut," spoken to his father. Catherine, born Nov. 21, 1833, is living at Nevada, O., at the age of seventy-nine; is well, with mental faculties unimpaired, surrounded by most of her children. She married Emanuel Albright, the children born of this union being, William W., Joseph R., George H., married Harriet Snyder; Mary, deceased, married Lewis Kissling; Gertrude, married John Kissling; Grace, married John W. Stuckman, president of the Crawford County Agricultural Society; Nellie, married George Fahl, deceased; Frederick married Beril Kerr; Margaret M., married Henry Gushman; and a deceased infant. Mr. Albright was a great-nephew of Jacob Albright, founder of the Evangelical church and served the full time in the Civil war. He died in 1897 and is buried in Nevada cemetery. John, born May 10, 1836, died May 8, 1895, at his home on the Sandusky Pike: successful farmer and stock raiser; member of the M. E. church, in which he held many official positions: director of the First National Bank, the 888 - HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY officials being his hall-bearers; a man honored and beloved. Dec. 18, 1867, he married Magdalena Frey, a worthy lady, who survives. Children: Charles married Catharine Kieffer; John, deceased; Lillian I.; Roy married Lula Spore; Clyde; Elva married Edward Campbell. Daniel, born Oct. 24, 1837, living at his home on the Marion Road; successful agriculturist, helped to found Scioto chapel ; many years president of Crawford County Mutual Insurance Company. Dec. 2, 1862, married Mary Purkey, strong personality, now deceased. Living children : Edward K. married Margaret Montgomery; Anna married D. N. Harvey; and Raymond C. married Maud Chesney. Deceased, Charles, the first born, at thirteen months; Effie Nina and Nellie Belle in young womanhood; and several infants. Elizabeth, born May 20, 1840, died in the Methodist parsonage at Upper Sandusky, Oct. 19, 1889. Graduate of Mt. Union College, teacher of drawing and oil painting at the college, also teacher in Bucyrus public schools, an almost perfect reader of human nature, and a humorist of the first order. On Sept. 6, 1870, married the Rev. Gershom Lease, one of the ablest ministers of the Central O. M. E. Conference. No children. Mr. Lease had been previously married and had three children, Eninla, Lura and Edward. He was a General Conference delegate at New York City, May, 1888; died Feb. 8, 19o1, aged about seventy-three years. Sarah, born May 4, 1842, living at S. W. corner Poplar and Charles streets, Bucyrus, O., graduate of Mt. Union College, taught in the college. At 16 years of age began teaching, taught seven terms in the country, about seven years in Bucyrus public schools, from primary to principal of the high school. Sept. 4, 1872, married the Rev. Thomas J. Monnett, an able minister of the North Ohio Conference M. E. church, with whose sketch elsewhere given, appears other brief items. Lydia, born Nov. 6, 1843, died at her home south of Bucyrus, April 30, 1889, educated in Bucyrus public schools and O. S. N. S. Taught school—gentle refined lady. In May, 1872, married Benjamin Beal, farmer, secretary of the Agricultural Society, secretary Crawford County Mutual Insurance Company for many years, Methodist ; held many official positions died March 4, 1898 at Bucyrus. Living children, Benjamin married Bertha Snyder; Mary J. married Rev. Thomas H. Housel of Central O. M. E. Conference; Edwin G., cashier First National Bank, married Rachel K. Monnett: William D., minister, missionary, member Bengal M. E. Conference, on leave of absence from Belgaum, India, married Bessie Ellice Robinson, Bertha E., history teacher Bucyrus high school, married Abraham J. White. deceased children : Frederick Alexis and an infant. Mr. Beal had been previously married and had three children : Albert, who became a minister of the North Ohio Conference, M. E. church, died April, 1908, married Mary McCully; Wesley, prosperous farmer, married Eva Beall; Emma married Charles E. Ensminiger. David, born June 4, 1846, living at Marion, O., progressive farmer and able business man, on building committee and generous giver M. E. church, Oxford, Ind., Civil War veteran. Feb., 1873, married Margaret Purkey, noble wife, deceased February, 1896. Children, John Nicholas, wealthy farmer, married Eleanor Walters; Oliver Morton, deceased; Mary, domestic science graduate; Bessie married Oscar Hord, prosperous farmer; Elizabeth Lease, graduate O. W. U. and Cincinnati Missionary Training School, under appointment Woman's Foreign Missionary Society, M. E. church, missionary to North India. Samuel, an infant, died early in 1845. Margaret, born Aug. 24, 1848, is living at Bucyrus, O., educated in local public schools and O. S. N. S., taught; for many years cared for her aged mother. February, 1873, married Samuel Kurtz, now deceased. Living children: George, S. Aaron, Simeon G., Bertha R., Harrison and Edwin. Deceased, Catharine and Paul. More complete data of this family are given in the sketch of Samuel Kurtz, given elsewhere in this history. Rexroth relatives meet in Annual Reunion on the last Wednesday in August, thus far at Seccaium Park, as being most central. Object, mutual encouragement and helpfulness. About one hundred have attended to enjoy a short literary and business program, a bountiful dinner and general exchange of greetings. Last year a motion prevailed to undertake some work in a united capacity and an annual do- AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 889 nation to the missionary work of the Rev. "Villiam D. Leal was agreed upon. HARRY E. LOTT,* a successful general farmer in Dallas township, Crawford county, O., who operates his wifes farm of 15 acres, known as the old Monnett homestead, was born in Clark county, O., Sept. 2, 1872, and is a son of William Henry Harrison and Mary (Yarnell) Lott. The parents of Mr. Lott were born in Clark county and the father follows farming there. He was married first to Mary Yarnell, who died after the birth of the following children: Stella, who is the wife of Ernest Keyes; Jennette, who is the wife of William A. White ; Louie, who is the wife of R. A. Garlough and Harry E., Walter and Charles. To his marriage with Elizabeth Crampton four sons were born: Fred, Frank, Crampton and Harvey. Harry E. Lott attended the public schools in Dallas township and the high school at Selma, where he was graduated in 1888, after which he perfected himself in the art of telegraphy and was a telegraph operator for railroads for 20 years. Since settling on the present valuable farm, in March, 1911, he has devoted himself entirely to farming, and stock raising and his agricultural undertakings have proven judiciously planned and well carried out. In February, 1899, Mr. Lott was married to Miss Emma Lois Monnett, a daughter of Oliver and Mary (Raymon) Monnett, this family being one of the old and best established ones in the county. Mr. and Mrs. Lott have three daughters : Mary Eloise, Bonnie Lois and Bess Virginia. The family attends the Presbyterian church. He is identified with Lodge No. 402, Knights of Pythias, and Lodge No. 32, Elks, both at Marion. Politically he is a Republican. JOHN SCHIMPF. one of the well known farmers and respected citizens of Sandusky township, Crawford county, O., residing on one farm of 120 acres and owning a second one, of 82 acres, lying also in the sane township, was born at Bucyrus, O., in 1857, and is a son of Frederick A. and Lizzie (Molenkoff) Shimpf. Frederick Schimpf was born in Germany, where he grew to the age of 18 years and learned the shoemaking trade. He then came to the United States and located at Bucyrus, O., where he worked at his trade until he moved on his farm first in Lykens township and then in Chatfield township, after which he engaged in farming until his death, at the age of 56 years. He married Lizzie Molenkoff and they had 11 children. John Schimpf attended the district schools in boyhood and gave his father assistance on the hone farm, which was good land but required much improving. In 1888 he came to his present home farm, making all the improvements on the place, and here has been successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits ever since. Mr. Schimpf married Miss Eliza Layer and they have one son, Clarence, who resides at home and takes many of the responsibilities in the operating of the two farms. In politics Mr. Schimpf is a Democrat. He served on the school board seven years.. H. J. ROOP, a successful farmer and highly respected citizen of Sandusky township, Crawford county, O., residing nine miles northeast of the city of Bucyrus, where he and wife own 389 acres of fine land which has been highly improved, belongs to one of the solid old families of this section and is a son of John and Sarah Roop. John Roop was born in Pennsylvania and came to Ohio in early manhood, where 1w lived until his death, for many years having been a farmer and stock raiser in Crawford county. Ile married after coining to this state and a family of 13 children was born to him and wife, all but two of whom, Rebecca and Joseph, still survive. Those living are : Alice, Marinda, Fancina, May, Laura, Frank, Ellsworth, Wellington, Peter, Charles and H. J. The parents of these children are both deceased and are buried in Roop cemetery, Liberty township. John Roop died June i8, 1912. H. J. Roop obtained his education in the public schools and his main occupation has been farming. He is a progressive and intelligent agriculturist and his operations are on an extensive scale. He has devoted much care and attention to the improvement of his large prop- 890 - HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY erty and his residence is of modern construction and very attractive from every point of view. Mr. Roop married Miss Angeline Songer, who is a daughter of Jacob and Lydia (Schreck) Songer, and they have two children: Lester C. and Orlo E. Mrs. Roop has one brother, William H., who married Marie E. Reiff and they have two children: Lloyd W. and Delwyn E. Mr. Roop and family belong to the Lutheran church. JOSHUA McNEAL,* one of Bucyrus most respected citizens, has been a resident of Crawford county since he was 12 years of age and has witnessed and taken part in much of its material development during the past 65 years. He was born in Huntington county, Pa., April 3, 1825, and is a son of Alexander McNeal. The McNeal family undoubtedly is of Irish extraction but Alexander McNeal was born in America, in Huntington county, in 1790, and lived there many years afterward. He married Jane Goshorn and in 1837 they came with their children to Crawford county, pioneers in every sense of the word, and found land that suited them in Bucyrus township, on which they lived out long and useful lives. Alexander McNeal died when aged 75 years and was survived by his wife for several years although she was some years his senior. They were among the founders of the Presbyterian church in Bucyrus township. Of their twelve children, five were sons and seven were daughters and all grew to maturity except one, and three yet survive : Joshua : Alexander, who resides north of Bucyrus with his children, his wife being deceased; and Eliza, who is the wife of William Young, of Ada, O. Joshua McNeal was a sturdy boy of 12 years when he came with his people to Crawford county and remained on the home farm until he was 25 years of age. Farming was his main business during all his active life and he has spent it in Bucyrus and Dallas townships, where he has owned property, residing in the latter from 1865 until 1910, when he was prevailed upon to come to Bucyrus and become a member of the household of his son, Dennis A. McNeal Although his 87 years preclude any active participation in business, Mr. McNeal in mind or person gives no indication of such a passage of time, being in excellent health and interested in all that transpires not only in the domestic and social circles but in the larger life that takes in public enterprises and outside affairs. Mr. McNeal was married in Bucyrus township to Miss Loett 1'alnier, who was born in 1829, in Lorain county, O., and was ten years old when she accompanied her parents, Dennis and Olive (Terrell) Palmer, to Crawford county. Dennis Palmer was born in England and his wife in Massachusetts, where they were married. They finally came to Bucyrus township and died there when aged about 70 years. To Mr. and Mrs. McNeal the following children were born: Esther, who is the wife of Lawrence Murphy, and has children, Alfred, Joshua and Daisy, the last named being married; George and Anna, the latter being married; J. Curtis, who lives at Detroit, Mich., who married Martha Wise and has three children—Marvin J., Charles and Eula ; Dennis A. ; and Francis, who is a business man at Bucyrus. Dennis A. McNeal was born on the old homestead in Bucyrus township, July 15, 1859, and attended the public schools through boyhood. For a number of years he engaged in farming and lumbering and is a man of substantial fortune, owning a valuable farm and also city realty. He was married in Crawford county to Miss Hulda Reamer, who was born in Perry county, O., and was ten years old when her parents came to Crawford county. She is a daughter of Henry and Rebecca (Grove) Beamer, the former of whom was born in Perry county, April 8, 1837, and still survives. The mother of Mrs. McNeal was born in 1846 and died Dec. 22, 1887. She was a member of the old-school Baptist church. Mrs. McNeal is one of the following family: Calvin, who is a resident of Nevada, O.: Corda, who is the wife of John Starner, also of Nevada, O. ; Noble B., who is a farmer in Wyandot county: Myrtle, who is the wife of Williani Van Horn, of Crawford county: Elva L., who is the wife of Charles Harvey, of Bucyrus township: George, who lives in California: a babe that died: and Mrs. McNeal, who is the eldest born of this family. Mr. and Mrs. Dennis A. McNeal have two AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 891 children: Frances C., born October 6, 1885, graduating in the class of agog from the university at Ada, O., who is principal of the East Side public school at Bucyrus, and is married and has one son, Webster M.; and Orpha A., born June 9, 1891, who has been given excellent educational advantages and holds a teacher's certificate. 11r. and Mrs. McNeal are members of the English Lutheran church. SAMUEL KURTZ, .whose well improved and finely cultivated farm of 112 acres, lies two miles northeast of Sulphur Springs, O., in Liberty township, Crawford county, belongs to one of the highly respected old German families of this section, his grandparents having come to America with their families when his parents were children. He was born March 22, 1850, in Chatfield township, Crawford county, where his parents had settled on a farm of 40 acres. Samuel Kurtz had district school advantages in boyhood and grew up as a farmer, and has continued to follow agricultural pursuits ever since. In 1883 he settled on his present fine farm which he has improved with excellent buildings and here carries on his agricultural operations with complete success. Mr. Kurtz married Miss Kate Kessler, who was born in Schuykill county, Pa., and three children have been born to them, James Garfield being the only surviver, the two other dying in infancy. This son has remained with his father and gives him assistance, being a competent agriculturist, trained to the business tinder his father's supervision. He married Miss Elizabeth Hoss and they have had three children : Ruth, John Wesley and one that died in infancy. Mr. Kurtz and son are Republicans but neither are seekers for political prominence. The family belongs to the Reformed church. G. FRANKLIN LASH, who resides on his valuable farm of 110 acres, which is situated in Sandusky township, Crawford county, O., two and one-half miles northeast of Sulphur Springs, was born in 1868, on his father's farm northwest of Tiro, O., and is a son of George and Eliza (Hutson) Lash. The parents of Mr. Lash was born in Wayne county, O., and the father was five years old when his people came to Crawford county. He was a farmer and resided northwest of Tiro, where his death occurred at the age of 67 years. His widow, Eliza (Hutson) Lash, now in her 79th year, lives at Tiro. George F. Lash had three brothers, one survivor, Benjamin, residing at Tiro, while William and Elmer are deceased. G. Franklin Lash obtained his education in the district schools and then assisted his father until he was 25 years of age. Since 1894 he has lived in Sandusky township continuously with the exception of seven months when he resided at Sulphur Springs. He carries on general farming and stock raising, having made many excellent improvements. His surroundings indicate good management and thrift. Mr. Lash married Miss Leila A. Stock, daughter of George W. and Mary (Loudon) Stock, both of this county. Mr. and Mrs. Lash have two children : G. Dellis and O. Ellsworth. Politically a Democrat, Mr. Lash is a hearty party worker. He enjoys the confidence of his fellow citizens, irrespective of party, and has served seven and one-half years as township trustee. JAY F. SHAWK, a prosperous farmer and well known citizen of Holmes township, Crawford county, O., carrying on agricultural operations on 160 acres of finely improved land situated seven miles north of Bucyrus, O., was born on the old family homestead in this township, April 25, 1870, and is a son of Jennings T. Shawk, a grandson of Thomas Shawk and a great-grandson of Jacob Shawk, who was a Revolutionary soldier. The family is one of age and prominence in Holmes township and the father of Mr. Shawk is the oldest native born man here. Jay F. Shawk was educated in the schools of Crawford county and received his agricultural training on the home farm and in 1894 took charge of his present one. General farming and moderate stock raising are the industries engaged in and his methods are those of the progressive agriculturists of the day. On Feb. 21, 1883, Mr. Shawk was united in marriage with Miss Lizzie Fralick, who was born in Richland county, O., but came with her parents to Holmes township when 892 - HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY young. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Shawk, namely : Ruth, ww ho married Ralph Lahnian, of Lykens township, and has one daughter, Hilda; Willis, who is deceased; Naomi; and Laverne, who is deceased. In politics Mr. Shawk is a Democrat like his father, and has served one term as township trustee and also as road superintendent. He takes much interest in the Patrons of Husbandry and is a member of the Bucyrus Grange. He and wife attend the Protestant Methodist church at Broken Sword. BLOOMER B. GILL, a representative and enterprising business citizen of Galion, O., belongs to one of the early families of this part of Crawford county, one that has had a great deal to do in developing this section along every line. Mr. Gill was born here, in 1859, and is a son of James Woodgill and Louise ( Baker) Gill, and a grandson of David Gill. David Gill, the grandfather, was the founder of this family in Ohio, coming from an eastern state, and was the first teacher in this section of Crawford county. He married a Miss Wood, whose people were of English extraction. Of their family of children there is but one survivor, Mrs. Catherine Monnett, of Crawford county. James Woodgill Gill, father of Bloomer B. Gill, was the only son of the family. His birth took place in 1824, on what is now the site of Galion, and he died here April 24, 1866, at the age of 42 years. He secured 160 acres of land and lived to see a part of this beautiful city built on this property, its rapid development resulting largely from his efforts in securing the construction of the railroad. He was married here to Louise M. Baker, who was born in Pennsylvania and was brought to Ohio by her parents, who settled near Galion but in Richland county. She survived her husband and not only carried forward the plans that were interrupted by his death, but pursued a business policy of her own and laid out what is known as the Gill Addition to Galion. For the past 27 years she has been an esteemed resident of Dixon, Ill., where she is interested in social matters and church relationships, still possessing an active mind as well as perfect physical health although she is now in her 83rd year. Her second marriage, after which she removed to Dixon, was to the late Theron Cumins, for many years a prominent and respected citizen of that city. Mrs. Cumins was reared in the Society of Friends but in later years united with the Methodist Episcopal church. Of her four children, two survive: Bloomer B. and Mrs. Carrie G. Todd, of Dixon, Ill. One son, Jay, died at the age of 18 months, and another, James Woodgill, Jr., at the age of 17 years. After completing his High School course, at Galion, Bloomer B. Gill engaged first in the hardware business an later became a manufacturer and as such is prominent in local circles. He is secretary and treasurer of the Howard Motor Car Campany which has recently been merged and the new corporation is known as the Cleveland- Galion Motor Truck Company, which is capitalized at $500,000. Mr. Gill, like both parents, has great faith in the future of Galion and not only invests in local enterprises himself, but is ever ready to foster the interests of others and has been the means of bringing much outside capital here. He owns one of the finest residences in Crawford county, which he erected in 1884, patterning it after the old southern colonial mansions, with wide verandas inviting to repose and broad pillars producing a fine architectural effect. Mr. Gill was married at Galion to Miss Nellie Stewart, who was born, reared and educated here, a daughter of A. M. and Hannah (McClelland) Stewart, the former of whom came to Galion from Boston. Mass., and for many years was livestock agent for the Erie and the Big Four Railroads at this point. His death occurred in this city when he was 58 years old, his widow surviving. She is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. and Mrs. Gill have fo tir children, namely : Mary L., who is a graduate of Galion High School and the Phelps School of Columbus, O. ; Isabel Stewart, who was graduated at the Hathaway-Brown School, Cleveland, in the class of 1910: Mina Miller, who, for several years has been an art student at Chicago. Ill., giving especial attention to portraiture, for which she has decided talent : and Tames Cumins, who is studying mechanics and resides at home. Mrs. Gill AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 895 belongs to that cultured body of ladies at Galion which forms the membership or the Fortnightly Club. Mrs. Gill is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Politically Mr. Gail is a Repuulican. JEREMIAH HOPPLE,* one of the substantial retired farmers of Crawford county, O,. resides in his comtortable residence at No. 321 spring street, Bucyrus, but still owns his valuable farm of 242 acres, which is situated near Sulphur Springs. He was born in Northampton county, Pa., Dec. 5, 1848, and is a son of Reuben and Christianna (Deal) Hopple. Mr. Hopple comes of German and French ancestors, many of whom came to America and several served in the Revolutionary War. Reuben Hopple was one of a family of six sons and three daughters. He grew to manhood in Northampton county, Pa., and there married Christianna Deal. They continued to live in their native section until 1856, when they came to Ohio and settled in Crawford county. Reuben Hopple first bought land in Liberty township and sold the same in 1861, but purchased another tract in the sane township and on that farm his wife died, and a few years later he moved to a farm near Bucyrus, where he passed the rest of his life, dying in 1898, at the age of So years. Ile was a member of the German Reformed church, and was a Democrat in politics. The children born to Reuben Hopple and wife were :Anna, deceased, who was the wife of John Davison; Ephia, who married Joseph Kneisley, both now deceased; Jeremiah, the subject of this sketch; Emma, who is the wife of Amos B. Charlton, of Liberty township. Mr. and Mrs. Charlton have seven children Virgil, Parry B., Michael, Anna, Maybell. Orlo and Donald H. Jeremiah Hopple remained at home until he reached manhood and afterward engaged in agricultural pursuits for himself. His finely improved farm is known as the old Michael Charlton farm. In April, 1904, he came to Bucyrus to reside and is one of the well known and well informed citizens of this place. In national movements he is identified with the Democratic party politically while in local matters he exercises his own judgment. In 1873 Mr. Hopple was married in Liberty township, to Miss Mattie Sheiber, a daughter of Christopher and Lydia (Hershberger) Sheiber, the former of whom was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, and the latter in Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Sheiber were married in the above state and then came to Crawford county and they died on the same farm they settled on in their early married life. Mrs. Hopple has two brothers : Jacob, a farmer in Liberty township, who married Elizabeth Knabberger and has the following children Ella, Anna, Amelia and Pearle; and John, who resides on the old homestead. He married Caroline Klink and they have children—Henry, Charles, Anna, Albert, Cora, Verne, Walter, Irving and Mary. Mary was accidentally killed at the age of 14 years, while on a railroad crossing. Mr. and Mrs. Hopple have four children Myrtle, who married Ralph McCalacan, of Decatur, Ill., and has two children—Helen and Myra; Otis Milton, who is a resident of Los Angeles, Cal.; Elden J., who is a member of the business firm of McCullough & Hopple; and Helen, who is a student in the Domestic Science School, north of Decatur. CHARLES M. WERT, general farmer, who owns 80 acres of valuable land which is situated ten and one-half miles northeast of Bucyrus, O., in a productive section of Sandusky township, Crawford county, was born at Sulphur Springs, in Liberty township, and is a son of J. H. and Elizabeth Wert. His father and grandfather were born in Pennsylvania, but his mother was born in Ohio. He has one brother, Herbert B. Wert, who married Minnie Markle and they have four children: Logan, Harold, Paul and Warren. The father, J. H. Wert, is deceased, but the mother survives. Charles M. Wert has devoted himself to agricultural pursuits since he has been of suitable age. After his district school days were over he assisted his father and in the course of years became the owner of his present well stocked and well improved farm. He takes much interest in it as his many substantial improvements show, and is numbered with the prosperous agriculturists of this section of the county. In politics he is a Democrat. Mr. Wert married Miss Edith Darr. a 896 - HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY daughter of Aaron and Mary Darr, and they have four children : Eldon, who lives at Marble Head, O., and who married Miss Frances McKean and has one daughter, Marian Luise; and J. Darr, Karl F., and Sarah N. Mrs. Wert has three brothers, George, William, deceased, and Frank, and two sisters, Harriet and Lucetta. Mr. AVert and family belong to the Lutheran church. JOHN GORDON, a well known and highly respected resident of Tod township, Crawford county, O., and one of the most successful agriculturists, resides on his finely improved farm of 165 acres, which is situated two and one-half miles southwest of Oceola, O. He was born in County Glamorgan, South Wales, March 3, 1849, and is a son of Thomas and Catherine (Morris) Gordon. The parents of Mr. Gordon were farmers in South Wales and in comfortable circumstances. The father died in 1869, when aged 61 years, but the mother survived to the age of 73 years. They had the following children born to them : Mary, who is the wife of George Bevan and lives in Wales ; Thomas, who manages the old homestead farm in Wales; Eliza, who lives in Wales, being the widow of Lewis Bowen, who was a surveyor and civil engineer; John, subject of this article ; Richard, who is deceased ; Ann, who was the wife of George Fleming, both of whom are deceased ; and George, who still lives in Wales. John Gordon obtained his education in the schools of his native land. When 21 years of age he decided to come to the United States and after reaching an American port he made his way to Trumbull county, O., where he found employment on a dairy farm and continued for four years, when he married, and then moved to a place near Bucyrus and two years later came to his present farm in Tod township. He found a large amount of improving necessary and immediately began its renovation and has made of this one of the finest farms of this part of Crawford county. Mr. Gordon's methods have resulted in much prosperity. He has always been a hard-working elan and still looks carefully after his farm interests. Mr. Gordon married Miss Callie F. Flock and they have had six children : Luella, who is the wife of Edward McLaughlin, who operates an elevator at Nevada, 0., and has two children—Velma and Gordon; Henry, who assists his father; Alice, who helps her mother; and Florence, Elva and Letty, all three of whom are now deceased. Mr. Gordon is a Democrat in his political views and for a term of six years was township road commissioner and still keeps up his interest in the good roads subject, his long experience in the above office having made him an authority on the subject. Mrs. Gordon is a member of the Lutheran church. JOSEPH KNISELY,' who is a nicinber of one of the old and substantial families of Crawford county, O., now lives retired at Bucyrus, which city has been his preferred home since 1887. He was born Feb. 11, 1830, at Knisely Spring, in Sandusky township., Crawford county, O., and is a son of Samuel and Sarah Knisely. Samuel Knisely was born in 1782, in York county, Pa., and was a young man when he accompanied his German father to Ohio. The name of the latter has not been preserved but he was one of the enterprising pioneers of Tuscarauwas county, where he entered 1,600 acres of land and probably was the founder of New Philadelphia. He died there in extreme old age. It is said of him that with the old flintlock musket, which his grandson carefully preserves, he made it a practice to kill just Too deer each season, laying aside the fowling piece then until the next year. Samuel Knisely enlisted for service in the War of 1812 and assisted in the construction of the block-house at Mansfield, built to preserve the settlers from the Indians and took part in the battles there with the savages and helped to inter the tnl fortunate families who were slain. He was first lieutenant of his company and the annals speak of him as a brave and daring soldier. In 1823 he came to Crawford county and settled in the isolated little log hut village of Bucyrus, securing later Government land lying eight miles west of here, the place being still known as Knisely Springs. Like his father he was a great huntsman and made use of the old flintlock musket. The Indians learned to both fear and esteem him, for he was a just as AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 897 well as kind man, and on many occasions he assisted savages and fed them and won their good will. Thus he was able to travel far without fear, both on his hunting trips and also on his missions of mercy, for he was ever ready to assist other settlers in the building of their cabins. the sowing of their grain or to give help in times of sickness and death. He was so well known that people as far distant as Marion county frequently begged his presence. In May, 1867, this admirable man, who had been likened by his admirers to Daniel Boone, passed out of life at the home of his son Joseph Knisely. His wife died in 1859, when aged 73 years. She was a member of the Baptist church. They had 13 children, four of whom survive. Joseph Knisely grew up on the Crawford county farm and has always resided in this county with the exception of seven years prior to his marriage, which he spent in Illinois and Indiana. He acquired the old homestead of 160 acres and continued farm activities there until 1887, when he traded the farm for a large tract of land in the immediate environs of Bucyrus. Much of this land has been disposed of for building purposes as the city has grown. Mr. Knisely has occasionally worked at the mason trade and a large part of his time has been occupied with the duties of public office, to which he frequently has been elected on the Democratic ticket. Mr. Knisely was married to Miss Minerva Baughman, who was born Oct. 12, 1839, in Putnam county, O., a slaughter of Abram and Jane (Book) Baughman, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Wayne county, O. After Mr. and Mrs. Baughman married they began housekeeping in a thatch-roof log cabin in Van Buren township, Putnam county, on the 400 acres of land which Mr. Baughman subsequently developed into a fine farm. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal church and among the most worthy and respected people in that section. To Mr. and Mrs. Knisely the following children were born: Fannie, who was born in 1860 and died in 1881 ; Sabilla, born Feb. 26, 1861, who is the wife of George Dinkle, of Bucyrus; Florence, born Dec. 4, 1863, who is the wife of David Knisely, of Goshen, Ind., and has one son, Clyde: Lewis, born Dec. 1, 1864, who resides with his wife at Bucyrus; Sadie, who was born Oct. 25, 1868, and is the wife of William Hizer, of Galion, O.; Minnie, who was born Nov. 12, 1870, and is the widow of Joseph Burger and has one daughter, Inmogene; and Maude, who was born April 10, 1873, who is the wife of Edward Miller, residing at Columbus, O., and has two children—George and Dorothy. Mr. Knisely and family attend the Methodist Episcopal church. G. P. WELSHONS, whose finely improved farm of 120 acres is located three miles northeast of Sulphur Springs, O., was born in 1859, at Crestline, O., and is a son of Stephen and Lucinda (Rininger) Welshons. Stephen Welshons was born in Pennsylvania, of German ancestry. He came to Crawford county, O., in 1858, and selected Crestline as his home. He had learned the cabinetinaking trade in Pennsylvania. He spent five years in California in the gold mines. He was then employed by the railroad company in Crestline and later worked in the Big Four yards, during the remainder of his active life, but was living on a farm east of Crestline, his death occurring at the age of 76 years. He married Lucinda Rininger and they had four children, the two survivors being G. P. and Elwood, the latter being a railroad engineer. In the schools of Crestline, O., G. P. Welshons obtained a common school education and then went into railroad work, serving for two and one-half years as a fireman and later as an engineer. He tried farming for a short time but returned to the railroad, but later resunied farming and has made a success of his undertaking. All the substantial improvements on his place show a sensible interest and much forethought and his modern residence is both comfortable and attractive. He raises grain, hay, potatoes, fruit, poultry and stock and is one of the prosperous agriculturists of this section. Mr. Welshons married Miss mary Peppard, and they have two children : Samuel and Ernest. He is a good citizen but no seeker for public office, and casts his vote with the Republican party. ELIAS CRISSINGER, who is a leading citizen of Dallas township, Crawford county. O., active in its public affairs and successful 898 - HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY in his agricultural activities, owns 120 acres of very productive land and carries on general farming. He was born Aug. 11, 1853, in Illinois, anu is a son of William and Mary (Baker) Crissinger, and a grandson of Benaiah Baker. The father of Mr. Crissinger was born in Crawford county and was a farmer and laborer prior to entering the Federal Army for service in the Civil War and died while a soldier. he married Mary Baker, who was also born in Crawford county, and died when their son Elias was but two years old. Their other children were : James A. ; Mary, deceased, who was the wife of Henry Zoll; Emma, who is the wife of Elias Stiger; Isabel, who is deceased; and Dora I., who is the wife of John Lyons. The parents of the above family were members of the German Reformed church. Since his school clays, Mr. Crissinger has been interested continuously in farm pursuits and in late years has received assistance from his son but still retains the general management of his estate. He is largely a self-made man, becoming an orphan when ten years old and afterward living with relatives and strangers until he made a home for himself. On Oct. 20, 1874, Mr. Crissinger was marred to Miss Harriet L. Houser, who was born in Scott township, Marion county, O., a daughter of Anthony and Eliza (Wise) Houser. The father of Mrs. Crissinger was a farmer in Marion county, O., and also followed the carpenter trade. Mrs. Crissinger was the youngest but one of his children, the others being: John, Eliza, who married (first) Michael Mathias, and (second) Christian Pommert; Catherine, who married Robert Highley; Sarah, who married Elliott Denman; and Malinda, who married Jacob Spiece, To Mr. and Mrs. Crissinger the following children were born: Manford Roy, who married Agnes Keckler, and has two children, Julia and Frank, Daisy Viola, who married Wallace Lindsay, and has two children, Plites, and Reo May; William A. ; Ray, who married Hattie Mollenkoff, and has five children—Helen, Homer, Raymond, Velma and Wilma ; Grover O., who married Mary Oberlander, and has two children, Harold and Eveline ; Blanche E., who is the wife of David Pierce: Mervin F.: and Florence. Mr. Crissinger and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he served some years as steward and for six years was a class leader. As a citizen Mr. Crissinger has been interested in all that has promised to build up and make more stable good laws and good influences in his community. Politically his opinions have made him a Democrat and for many years both in Marion and in Crawford counties he has served honestly and efficiently in township offices, being assessor for five years in the former and for three years in the latter, and for six years served Dallas township on its board of trustees. JOHN WILLIAM EXLEY, one of the highly respected residents of Bucyrus, O., who is a well-known blacksmith, was born here. May 19, 1858, and is a son of John Jacob and Frederica (Krebs) Exley. John Jacob Exley was born in 1825, in laden, Germany, and in childhood his father died and shortly afterward his mother. In 1838, being then only 13 years of age, he started for America in company with two friends, the late Jacob Schoub being one of these and Daniel Bauslinger, the other. These youths embarked on an old sailing vessel that required 42 days to transport them to Yews York. They managed to make their way from that city to Crawford county, O., and all came to Bucyrus. They were too young to have yet learned a trade but all three became respected men and useful citizens. John Jacob Exley died after a very short illness, on Sept. 12, 1868. He was a Democrat in politics and was a member of the Lutheran church. He was married at Bucyrus to Frederica Krebs, who was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, in 1836, and died Dec. 4. 1904. She accompanied her parents to America in 1834, landing at New York, and came to Crawford county by way of Buffalo. Her parents, Gottlieb and Rica Krebs, subsequently moved to Wyandot county where the mother died aged 68 years, after which the father returned to Bucyrus and lived to be 87 years of age. To John Jacob Exley and wife the following children were born : John William : Charles, who is a blacksmith, living in this city; Callie, who died Aug. 28, 1897, who was the wife AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 899 of Joseph Nutter and the mother of two children- Willie and Georgia, both now of Detroit, Mich. ; Emma, who is the widow of Albert Miller, and lives at Bucyrus, having one son, Carl; and Katie, who resides with her sister, Mrs. Miller. John William Exley attended school in boyhood and afterward learned the blacksmith business with the late John Horvald, and followed this trade in connection with other work, being a natural mechanic. Through industry, thrift and prudence he has accumulated a competency and owns several valuable pieces of city property. With the exception of four years he has spent his life here and is well known to the majority of the citizens. On many occasions he has filled public office with efficiency, for eight years has been a member of the city council, of which he was president two years and vice president four years, and has been a member of all the committees. He is a Democrat. Mr. Exley was married at Bucyrus to Miss Augusta Petersilge, who was born here Nov. 22, 1861, a daughter of Ferdinand and Frederica (Winegartner) Petersilge, natives respectively of Saxony and Wurtemberg, Germany. The father of Nfrs. Exley came to the United States in 1852. He was born Jan. 21, 1836, and died Sept. 7, 1902. His widow survives and was 13 years old, May 22, 1912; she has been a resident of the United States since 1854. Two of her children survive: Mrs. Exley and Fred. The latter was born in 1865 and is a resident of Bucyrus and formerly was engaged in the restaurant business. He married Anna Trautman and they have two children : Augusta P. and Ralph P. Mr. and Mrs. Exley are members of the German Lutheran church. He is a member of a German organization and for 28 years has been a Knight of Pythias, this long connection entitling him to the orders gold medal. J. H. KIESS, * who has lived on his present farm of 160 acres, situated in Whetstone township, Crawford county. 0., for 42 years. has owned this land for 36 of these, purchasing from Jonathan Heinlein, it then being called the old Burkhardt farm. Mr. Kiess was born in Lycoming county, Pa.. a son of Jacob and Catherine (Roth) Kiess. Christopher Kiess, the grandfather, was born in Germany and came from there in 1806 and settled in Lycoming county, Pa., where he was one of the early school teachers. In 1850 the family decided to come to Crawford county. O.. and it required two weeks for the loaded farm wagons to make the long overland journey. They settled in Whetstone township and among the good citizens of this section the name is not an unusual one. The mother of J. H. Kiess died after coming to Crawford county, leaving two children : J. H. and Lydia, the latter of whom is now deceased and is survived by her husband, Lewis Cripes. Jacob Kiess married Catherine Delker for his second wife and they had the following children : Simeon, Joseph, Daniel, Samuel, W. C.. Christiana and Mary Margaret. J. H. Kiess had but meager school advantages in the English language but in Pennsylvania attended a German school. His help was needed by his father when he was yet young and he has devoted his whole business life to agricultural pursuits. He has enriched his land and carefully cultivated it and it gives bountiful returns, and his buildings are those that are found on the farms of substantial and self-respecting people, built and kept up not only for shelter but for comfortable living. Mr. Kiess makes no attempt to raise any great amount of stock but always has enough for hip own use. In 1864, Mr. Kiess was married (first) to Miss Elizabeth Cook, a daughter of Jacob and Mary (Kiess) Cook, and to this marriage the following children were born: Mary B., Franklin J., Ella Lucinda and Matilda, all of whom are deceased: Rebecca, who is the wife of J. P. Crawl; and Ida E., who is the wife of Sanitiel Keiser. Mr. Kiess was married second to Miss Rachel Cook, a daughter of George and Rebecca (Young) Cook, and they have had five children : Reuben, who is deceased ; Wesley, who is a mail carrier : and Olen, Charles V. and Bertha May. Mr. Kiess has frequently served in public office but it has not been any political reward as he votes independently. He has been very useful and progressive in relation to educational matters and has been equally concerned in giving the people good roads, for some years serving as road supervisor. With his family he attends the Evangelical church.