50 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY a brick house upon her place, the brick being made upon the farm, but it was destroyed by fire in 1883. In addition to the old homestead, comprising two hundred and forty acres, she owned another farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Seneca county and in the management of the estate displayed excellent business and executive ability. John S. Bishop, one of the leading agriculturalists and representative citizens of Eagle township, was born on the site of his present home, December 13, 1847, and his whole life has been spent upon that farm. He remained with his mother until her second marriage, when in partnership with his brother Isaac he bought the interests of the other heirs in the property, becoming owner of one hundred and twenty acres. Nineteen years ago he erected his present residence, which is located on the banks of Eagle creek five and a half miles south of Findlay. He is a progressive and practical farmer who thoroughly understands the vocation which he follows and is meeting with well deserved success in his operations. Besides his part of the old homestead he owns another farm in Jackson township and has city property in Findlay. On the 4th of April, 1872, was celebrated the marriage of John S. Bishop and Miss Angeline A. Woodruff, a daughter of Elijah and Sarah (Walters) Woodruff, our subject's nearest neighbors. She was born on an adjoining farm, August 14, 1850, and was there reared, she and her husband being school-mates. Unto them were born three children : Charley Cloyce, who died at the age of two years, one month and fifteen days ; Sadie Blanche, now the wife of Henry Hartman, of Jackson township, by whom she has two children, John Durell and Clarence Harold ; and Carrie Audra, who was educated in the Findlay high school and is still with her parents. Both daughters have studied music and the younger is quite an accomplished pianist and also a vocalist of more than ordinary ability. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Bishop is a little boy, Earl Bishop Newman, now. nine years of age, who has made his home with them since the death of his mother during his infancy. In his political views Mr. Bishop is a stanch Democrat, and though he takes an active interest in public affairs he has never been an aspirant for political honors, preferring to devote his undivided attention to his business interests. His estimable wife is a member of the Pleasant Grove United Brethren church, but he still adheres to his mother's teachings and in religious faith is a Baptist, although he is not connected with any church organization. That his life has been an upright and honorable one is shown by the fact that those who have known him from boyhood are numbered among his warmest friends. CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 51 HARVEY C. MILEY. The gentleman above mentioned, at present one of the popular business men at Findlay, has had a varied experience as school teacher, real estate dealer and newspaper publisher, with a little office-holding on the side. Such occupations are necessarily educational if not especially profitable, and the training added to the information acquired is apt to prove useful in later life. At any rate Mr. Miley does not regret the time spent in "teaching the young idea how to shoot" nor his experiences as a "moulder of thought" while presiding over the sanctums of country newspapers. All this is behind him now, however, and he is intent only upon making a lasting success of his present business, which is that of real estate, insurance and loans, and those who know him best are of the opinion that he is apt to succeed in whatever he undertakes. Harvey C. Miley was born near Wauseon, Ohio, in .1855, grew up on a farm and went through the usual experiences as to training- and education that fall to the lot of boys in the country. This routine continued until he had reached the nineteenth year of his age, when he made his first venture in life as a teacher of a Fulton county school. He kept up this occupation in his native county about six years and then went to Kalkaska, Michigan, where for a year he was engaged in the real estate business. This he abandoned temporarily to accept the principalship of the school at Williamsburg, which position he held a year, and then took charge of the schools at Fife Lake, where he also spent a year. Leaving the school room permanently at the end of his term at Fife Lake, he opened a real estate and insurance office at that point and conducted the same for the following two years. His next move was to Boyne City, Michigan, where he continued the real estate business two years and then purchased the Boyne Citizen, a weekly independent newspaper, which he managed a year and a half. Disposing of this plant, Mr. Miley made another investment in the newspaper field by purchasing the Enterprise, a weekly publication at East Jordan, Michigan, but this he retained only six months and ended his career as an editor by a sale of the plant. In 1887 he came to Findlay, opened a real estate, insurance and loan office and since then has been well to the front in that line, to which he has devoted all his time and energy with satisfactory results. In 1880 Mr. Miley was united in marriage with Mary E. Miller, of Fulton county, Ohio, and they have two children : Earl L., and Vera E. He is a Republican in politics,. but aside from holding the city clerkship while a resident at Boyne City, Michigan, in 1884-5, he has occupied no official po- 52 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY sition. His religious affiliations are with the Church of Christ, and his fraternal connections with the Knights of Pythias and Independent Order of Odd Fellows. JAMES DENNISON. James Dennison, a native of the state of Ohio, and a veteran of the Civil war. is one of the early settlers of Hancock county, having lived in the county for over sixty years. Mr. Dennison was born in Plymouth, Ohio, in 1837, and lived there until he was four years of age, when he moved, with his parents to a farm in Union township, Hancock county, where he lived until he was ten years old. The family then moved to Findlay, Ohio, and ever since that time, Mr. Dennison has made his home there; at first, with his parents, and later, with his wife and children. His father was Elihu Dennison, Jr., who was born in New York state in 1799, came to Ohio in 182i, and to Hancock county, Ohio, in 1841, finally settling in Findlay in 1847. He opened the first meat market ever in Findlay, and successfully carried it on until his death in 1858. James Dennison was married in the year 186o to Mary Louthan, who died in 1861. In July, 1863, feeling that his country needed his services, Mr. Dennison enlisted in the Union army at Findlay, Ohio, in Company L, First Regiment Ohio Heavy Artillery, as fifth sergeant, and a year later, was promoted to first sergeant, and served as such until mustered out at Knoxville, Tennessee, in August, 1865, after the great struggle for the preservation of the Union was ended. Although he served for over two years, Mr. Dennison was in no regular engagements, but was in several skirmishes with guerrillas in eastern Tennessee. After being mustered out when the war was ended, Mr. Dennison returned to Findlay, Ohio, and, choosing the trade which his father had followed all his life, he went into the butchering business, and still continues in it. Mr. Dennison married again, in 1868, his present wife being Elizabeth (Spaith) Dennison, and they have eleven children, all living, five boys and six girls. Mrs. Dennison was born in Germany, emigrated to the United States at three years of age, and with her parents settled in Findlay a half century ago. James Dennison's grandfather, Elihu Dennison, Sr., was born in New York state and died there before his son Elihu, Jr., James's father, came to Ohio. He was a farmer. Mr. Dennison is honored and respected in the community in which he lives. CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 53 He is an earnest Republican, sincere in his love of country and home, and as ready to work kr their interests and welfare now, as he was when he entered the army in '63 ; but he merits the rest which should come with advancing years, and can leave the work for his boys. He belongs to Stoker Post, No. 54, G. A. R. ROBERT B. RUSSELL. Old men for wisdom, young men. for action. We here present the name of one of the young and prosperous farmers who is aiding in .maintaining the reputation held by the agricultural class of Hancock county. He resides in Big Lick township, where he owns a farm of eighty acres of valuable farming land, and upon which he has two producing oil wells. Mr. Robert B. Russell claims nativity in the township in which he resides, where he was born May 13, 1865. He is the son of William Russell and Eliza Taylor. His life, which has been an uneventful one, has been passed in Hancock county. His education was received in the common schools of his own district. He was born and bred a farmer, and adopted that occupation as his life work. The vigorous manner in which he has conducted his farm has made him pre-eminently successful, and he bids fair to become one of the leading agriculturists of northern Ohio. The event of his life which he considers of most importance, occurred the day following Christ-mas of 1886, when he was joined in marriage to Miss Flora A. Stahl. Miss Flora was the daughter of J. F. and Mary Stahl, and is a lady of many accomplishments and of a refined and gentle nature. The happy union has been blessed with three beautiful children : Franklin L., November 1, 1887; Etta J., December 22, 1889; and William C., March 6, 1894. The family of which Mrs. Russell is a dutiful daughter is an old Buckeye family. The family of which Robert B. Russell is an honored representative, have been for long years residents of the state of Ohio. William Russell, his father, was born in Jefferson county, Ohio, April 14, 1826. Eliza Taylor, his mother, was a native of Washington county, Pennsylvania, where she was born November 28, 1826. William Russell came to this county in 1840, when but a boy of fourteen years. When he grew to maturity he purchased ninety-four acres of land, to which he soon added enough to make three hundred and eighty-six acres. It was in two bodies, eighty acres being located in Putnam county, Ohio. William Russell was an active, energetic man in business, one of the practical kind of farmers, who looked closely after his own interests. He was a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and the 54 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY party of Lincoln suited him politically until the breaking out of the Civil war, at which time and for a period thereafter he gave his support to the Democracy. Later in life his convictions concerning the prohibition question were such that he turned towards that party and acted with it until his death. For some time he was a member of the Grange and was earnest in his efforts for its advancement. He held many of the offices of trust in his township, and for a number of years administered the duties of trustee. His marriage to Eliza Taylor occurred June 1, 1850, and there were nine children born to him, eight of that number now living : George, Martha John W., William T., Sara C., Alfred L., Robert B. and C. W. Mr. Russell is at present a resident of Findlay, having accumulated sufficient competence to live a retired life.. His wife died some years ago. Her father, William. Taylor, was a pioneer resident of Hancock county, where he married Cassandra Bell. The original entry of his land was made in 1835, shortly after they came to Hancock county. He was a native of Ireland. Their family consisted of eight children, three of whom still survive. They were highly respected in the community for their worth as good citizens. WILLIAM FRANK SNIDER. The Sniders constitute one of the oldest families in Hancock county, nor is its length of residence by any means its only recommendation. They have borne their full share of the burdens of development, have "held up. their comer" at every trying conjuncture and have made a creditable showing in the business, social and political life of the county. In fact the oldest inhabitant cannot remember a time when the Sniders, individually and collectively, were not conspicuous figures in social circles. It was in 1835 that John Snider removed from York county, Pennsylvania, and purchased from Henry Litzenberger fifty-six acres of land lying in what is now Amanda township. John was industrious and was soon able to add twenty more acres to his original purchase, which, by a similar increase in 1860, eventually amounted to ninety-six acres, and this he cleared, fenced and generally improved until it was converted into a fertile and beautiful farm. All accounts agree in representing John Snider as a man of large heart, upright character and a model citizen in every respect. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and quite influential in religious circles, holding the position of trustee and class leader. Shortly after his arrival in Hancock county he was married to Eliza Treece, a native of Pickaway, and with her he. settled down to housekeeping on his newly purchased farm. They had ten children, CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 55 of whom eight are living and six of them are residents of Hancock county. The father ended his active and useful life in 1888, having long survived his wife, who passed away in 1862. William F. Snider, one of the surviving children of the pioneer couple just described, was born in 1849, on the farm he now owns in Amanda township, Hancock county, Ohio. His education as well as his training was received within the confines of his native township, and during his whole career he has known no other regular pursuit than that of farming. In 1880 Mr. Snider joined with his brother Isaac in purchasing sixty-six acres of land, but eight years later disposed of his share to the fraternal partner and used the capital to buy the place on which he now resides. It consists of sixty-six acres of well improved land, on which Mr. Snider built in 1898 a handsome and commodious residence, which, with the addition of other modern improvements, makes this one of the coziest country homes in the county. Mr. Snider has served his township as trustee and was summoned as a member of the first jury that sat in the new court house at Findlay, whose term lasted forty-two days. In 1872 Mr. Snider was united in marriage to Elizabeth, daughter of Josiah and Margaret Morehart, and the fruit of this union was an only son, born in 1878 and named Truman. The parents are devout members of the United Brethren church, of which Mr. Snider has been trustee for twenty-five years. WILLIAM F. HOSLER. This gentleman is the present efficient and popular cashier of the City Banking Company of Findlay, Ohio. He was born on a farm in Washington township, Hancock county, Ohio, on February 1, 1862. He passed the period of youth to the age of thirteen on the farm, receiving the ordinary education given in the country school. At that age he came to Findlay, Ohio, with his parents, where he had the advantages of better schools, and which he improved. Leaving school in 1878 he entered the office of the county treasurer as assistant and remained there until September, 1880, when he entered the employ of the Farmers' Bank as teller. In this position he served two years, and with such efficiency as to merit promotion to the assistant cashiership. He acted in this position until January 1, 1886, when the bank was made a national. organization and our subject was made assistant cashier of this new organiza-tion. He served in this position as such until April 1, 1887, when he resigned. and accepted the position of cashier of the City Bank of Findlay. He served in this relation until December 1, 1897, when the bank was reorganized and 56 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY took its present name, the City Banking Company of Findlay, and our subject was made cashier of the new organization, and has continued to hold thatMrosition until the present. time. Mi. Hosler began his married life in Findlay, Ohio, on October 7, 1885, when he was joined in marriage to Helen M., daughter of M. D. Shafer. Mr. Shafer died in June, 1899, in Findlay, at sixty years of age. He was born in Hancock county, was admitted to the Hancock county bar at the age of twenty-one, and for nearly forty years was a lawyer in this city. The mother of Mrs. Hosler was born in Mahoning county, Ohio, in 1842, and now resides in the city of Findlay. To, the marriage of Mr. and Mrs.. Hosler has been born one daughter, Mary L. Mr. Hosler is a popular citizen of Findlay, in which city he has a host of friends.. Socially he affiliatesFellows Independent Order of Odd FellolArs, and that other excellent order the B. P. O. E. Passing for a few moments now to the consideration of the family history of our subject, his father, Peter Hosier, was born in Pennsylvania in 1821, and came to Ohio in his boy-hood with his father, Christopher Hosler, who located in Stark county, Ohio. They later removed to Hancock county, the year being about 1842. Prior to his removal to this county Peter Hosler married in Stark county, Ohio, Susana Sherman, to whom were born a family of twelve children. Peter Hosler was a contracting carpenter in his earlier life and later a farmer. He was a man of good character, of large influence in the county and in 1875 was elected treasurer of Hancock county on the Democratic ticket. In this office he served two terms. He was president of the Farmers' Bank and later of the Farmers' National Bank, and in 1887 was made president of the City Bank, which position he held at the time of Hoslerath in 1897. In politics Mr. Hosle0 is a Democrat. He is a young man of excellent prospects, who will delight a large circle of friends by his continued success among them. EDGAR A. HAWKINS. The visitor to Findlay who registers at the Hotel Benton is sure of first class entertainment, but he will enjoy additional pleasure if he cultivates the acquaintance of the gentlemanly manager who, though of quiet manners and unobtrusive demeanor, seen much of the, world and has some interesting stories to tell growing out of his personal experience. Mr. Hawkins served all through the Civil war in one of the fighting regiments, and many were the battles, skirmishes and engagements in which he took part during the long and bloody struggle between the north and the south. In civil life Mr. Hawkins CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 57 has made a record as a telegraph operator, which in point of time has probably not been surpassed by any other manipulator of the keys in this country. During those busy thirty years he gained and long retained the reputation of beim.); one of the most rapid and accurate of all the operators in the service of the Western Union, and during this time he held positions of great responsibility at important railroad centers. The third stage in Mr. Hawkins's career has been as a hotel man, in which role he has been familiarly known for the last twelve years in connection with a number of prominent houses in various cities of Ohio and Indiana. The foregoing summary will be ample justification for the remark that Edgar A. Hawkins is an interesting man to know, and for the purpose of better introducing him to the traveling. public and the readers of this volume this brief biographical sketch of his life and .career has been arranged. The family of this name originated in New York state, and from there Lafayette and Elizabeth (Smith) Hawkins removed in early life to Michigan, where they located in the county of Monroe. Subsequently they :went to Lucas county, Ohio, where. Mr. Hawkins was. engaged for many years in the sawmill business at Maumee. His wife died in 1844, and his own death occurred four years later, both finding their final resting place in the cemetery at Petersburg, Michigan. At this town also their son, Edgar A:, Hawkins, was born May 26, 1843, but he. received his education chiefly in Ohio, and has been identified with this state during the larger part of his life. After attending school at Galion and Marion for some years he was graduated in the high school of the last mentioned city in. 1858 and immediately entered into the occupation which he has chosen as his life work. As early as sixteen years of age he became proficient as a telegraph operator, and in 1860 was given charge of an office of the Bee Line Railway Company at LaRue, Ohio. In April of the following year he was busy with his keys when his quick ear caught a message going over the wires which was the most momentous ever transmitted since Morse invented this wonderful means of communicating intelligence. The news of great moment which arrested the at- 4 58 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY tention of the young operator at LaRue and about the same time was sending a thrill throughout the length and breadth of this great nation was to the effect that the rebels congregated at Charleston harbor, under command of one P. T. Beauregard, had had the audacity to fire upon the flag of the United States as it floated over the battlements of Fort Sumter. That meant Civil war, and this awful fact was realized by every man and woman in the Union as soon as the news of the transaction at Charleston was floated over the wires. The young telegrapher at LaRue was not one to stand back when his country needed his services, and on the 12th of July, 1861, we find him enlisting at Marion as a member of the Fifth Regiment, Ohio Cavalry, in which he served during the nine following months and then obtained a transfer to Company G, Fifteenth Regiment Ohio Infantry. He remained with the latter command until June 8, 1865, his total service lacking one month of four years, and those who are familiar with the record of the old Fifteenth need not be told that these who staid with it had all the hard marching and fighting that could be desired by the most :ambitious campaigner. This remark will be verified by an enumeration of the principal battles and engagements in which Hawkins took part with his regiment during the four years that elapsed after he left his little office at LaRue. This list includes Winchester, Fairfax Court House, Cheat River, Maryland Heights, Bolivar Heights, Martinsburg, all in Virginia; Bowling Green and Cumberland Gap, Kentucky ; Stone River, Tullahoma, Lookout :Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Chickamauga, Tennessee; Ringgold, Peach Tree Creek, Dug Gap, Kenesaw Mountain, Atlanta and Resaca, Georgia. Mr. Hawkins received a gun shot wound in the left leg at the last mentioned battle, but was ready for duty again after the expiration of three weeks in hospital. Then commenced that epoch-making military movement known in history as the march to the sea, during which Mr. Hawkins took part with his command in the fights at Savannah, Fort Fisher and Goldsborough, after which the conquering and united armies of the north proceeded on and made their triumphant entry into the national capital. The grand review, so often described and so well rememberd by every participant, closed the Civil war with a spectacular exhibition of patriotic pride and justifiable jubilation which made a fitting finale to the greatest tragedy of history. While his regiment was located at Savannah, Georgia, Mr. Hawkins was given a commission which promoted him to the rank of .second lieutenant of his company, an honor well deserved as a result of his long and loyal service to the Union cause. After the war Mr. Hawkins resumed his calling as a telegraph operator, CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 59 and continued it for many years, during which time he was stationed at various points throughout the west. For eighteen years he was traffic chief at Indianapolis, and in 1887 was sent by the Western Union to Wichita, Kansas,. and remained there during the period of the famous "boom" at that place. At length, after terms of service which in all amounted to thirty years, Mr. Hawkins was compelled to drop his keys on account of what is called telegrapher's paralysis and seek other lines of employment. Entering the Hotel Cambridge at Lima, Ohio, he remained in the service of that popular hostelry for three years, and went from there to Frankton, Indiana, where he became an employe of the Altoona Hotel. He was afterward with the Kerr House at Marion, Ohio, the Grand Hotel at Indianapolis and the Morscher House at Tiffin, until finally he took charge as manager of the Benton at Findlay and has since retained that position. In 1867 Mr. Hawkins was married to Miss Katie Rhodes, who died a year later, and in 1872 he was united with his second wife, in the person of Miss Ella Wood, who died July 23, 1889, after becoming the mother of two children, Harry W. and Edna N. The political affiliations of Mr. Hawkins have always been Republican, and by virtue of his military service he is a. member of Mart Armstrong Post, No. 202, Grand Army of the Republic, at Lima. The thousands who have come in contact with Mr. Hawkins in a business way, as telegrapher operator or hotel manager, have always found him a courteous and obliging gentleman, and this reputation he has fully maintained since taking charge of the Benton. ROBERT L. LEONARD. Robert L. Leonard, a prominent and well known farmer of Big Lick township, owning and operating one hundred acres of well cultivated soil,. was born in the township in which he resides, August 4, 1854. Here he was reared in the old homestead, which continued to be the scene of his boyhood labors and pleasures until his maturity, and during the meantime he became familiar with the curriculum of studies covered by his home school. He remained on his father's farm for several years after his majority, his first real estate purchase being in 1875 and consisting of ten acres. This was soon increased by seventeen acres donated to him by his father. These small holdings he continued to improve, and in due time. sold at a good figure, with the proceeds of which he purchased, the first sixty acres of his present farm. He cultivated this until 1901, when he added the remaining forty acres. On this farm he has erected suitable and commodious buildings of modern construction, which 60 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY add much to the pleasing prospect. The marriage of our subject occurred in this county in 1875, he being joined to Sarah A., the daughter of John and. Polly A. Kinsel. To this happy union were born three children : John A.,. a telegraph operator in Findlay, Ohio Fred S. and Estella G. Fred S., .the. youngest son, has taken up agriculture as his vocation, and is now working the home form. The mother of these children was born in Big Lick township, being a member of one of the noted pioneer families of the early day. They are both members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which body he is a class leader and also a trustee. The religious life of Mr. Leonard has always been exceedingly active. There has never been a time when he has not been connected with the public life of his church in some particular. He has served long years as superintendent of the Sunday-school, and is at the present time advancing his interests in the important place of chorister. He is a man who carries out well the doctrines he believes in his every day life without the sound of trumpet or the display of banner. Fraternally he is a member of the order of Ben Hur. Samuel B. Leonard, the father of our subject, was born in Pennsylvania, March 27, 1815. His grandfather was Robert Leonard, Sr., and his grandmother, Frances Bayless, both of whom were also natives of Washington county, Pennsylvania. At the close of the war of 1812 they removed to.. Columbiana county, Ohio, where they resided until 1837. At that date they came to Hancock county, where they purchased a half section of land in Big Lick township. This he divided between his two sons, Samuel B. and Silas. His family consisted of six children, four sons and two daughters. He later made provisions for his sons William K. and Abner. The daughters were Elizabeth and Mary A. The parents were members of the. Presbyterian church, and were the means in. their day of the establishment of what is now known as the Enon Valley Presbyterian church. He was exceedingly strict with his children and looked well to their moral development. He reared them in accordance with the divine injunction "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it."; He died in 1867, mourned by a devoted family and a large circle of friends. The wife had died some years previously, about 1854. Samuel B. Leonard was reared on the home farm, received his early education in Columbiana county, and removed with his wife to Hancock county in 1836, his parents coming here a year later. He continued his residence on the same farm which he received from his father up to 1901. He, was united in marriage to Miss Isabelle Curry in February, 1836. To this union there were born three children, Elizabeth F., John C. and Robert L. CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 61 John C., who was a member of Company A, Twenty-first Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, was captured at the battle of Chickamauga and spent a period at Libby prison, from which he was removed to Danville and finally to that dreadful den at Andersonville, where he was starved to death. The date is not known. Elizabeth is the wife of C. Garber, elsewhere sketched in this volume. Samuel B. Leonard has. been connected with the Methodist Episcopal church for over sixty year's. In that time he has been very active in the service of the Master, having served a continuous period of over fifty years as class leader. His wife is a native of Columbiana county, Ohio, born November 29, 1815. It will be of interest to mention in connection with this family sketch that the first husband of Mrs. Elizabeth Garber, Absalom Kleckner, was a member of Company A, Twenty-first Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was killed at the battle of Stone River. He was sent home and buried with military honors. It is hardly necessary to add that Robert L. Leonard and his family have the entire confidence of the community in which they reside, in which they are useful and loyal citizens. JOHN W. S. RIEGLE. The above named gentleman has succeeded well in the popular profession adopted in youth, having served two terms as surveyor of Hancock county, and now being the city engineer of Findlay. His thorough education at the beginning, especially in mathematics, supplemented by subsequent practical experience, has so qualified Mr. Riegle as to give him standing as an expert in his calling. and one of the best civil engineers of his age in the state. He has given entire satisfaction by his work, both in public and private capacities, and being yet in the prime of life a successful and even brilliant future would seem to be before him. John W. S. Riegle, son. of Elias and Catherine Riegle, was born at Arlington, Hancock county; Ohio, July 29, 1866, and received his training as well as his education in Madison township. Mr. Riegle, however, was desirous of something more than could be acquired in the country schools, so after leaving the latter he entered the Normal University at Ada, where he took a thorough course and was graduated with the class of 1887. Still unsatisfied, Mr. Riegle subsequently took a post-graduate course in mathematics at Findlay College, after which he taught school several years in Hancock county. His first venture in the line of his profession was as civil engineer in the employment of the Ohio Central Railroad Company, with which 62 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAP.FIICAL HISTORY he continued two years and did such satisfactory work as to receive commendation from his superiors. This performance led to promotion, as in 1890 he was nominated and later elected to the office of surveyor of Hancock county. He discharged the duties of this position so thoroughly and satisfactorily that by general consent he was given the renomination of his party and had little difficulty in securing a reelection in 1893. After serving two terms in this office, amounting in all to a period of six years, Mr. Riegle was appointed city engineer of Findlay in 1896 and has since discharged the duties of that place with entire acceptability. In 1894 Mr. Riegle was married at Marysville, Ohio, to Miss Lorinda A., daughter of John and Susan Smalley, and their only son is named John William McKinley Riegle. After stating this fact it is hardly necessary to add that the father's political predilections are decidedly Republican, and he is usually at the front in campaign times among the most zealous workers for his party. His only fraternal connection is with the Masonic order. ISAAC INSLEY. The above named gentleman, whose postoffice address is Macomb, Ohio, is one of the thriving farmers of Hancock county, owning one hundred and thirty-eight acres of well cultivated land in Portage township devoted to general farming. It is only necessary to look over this farm to see that the owner understands his business and deserves to rank with those whose enterprise and progressive spirit have given Ohio such high rank among the agricultural states. His father, Zacharias Insley, a native of Ashland county, Ohio, wedded Esther Sowards of Virginia, and after marriage resided in his native county for some years, removing in 1870 to Hancock county. He purchased one hundred and forty acres of land in section 21 of Portage township, which at the time was in a fair state of cultivation. Being an industrious and practical farmer he prospered measurably and in the course of years made his farm one of the most desirable of its size in his neighborhood. He was a moral and upright man, a member in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal church and so bore himself as to earn general esteem. He died in 1892 and his wife two years later, having become the parents of twelve children, of whom eight grew to maturity and six are still living. Among the latter is Isaac Insley, whose birth occurred in Seneca county, Ohio, April 29, 1837, and there he grew to manhood. In 1862 he enlisted in Company D, One Hundred and Twenty-third Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with which he served gallantly and loyally until the close of the Civil war. CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 63 Among the important battles in which Mr. Insley' participated were those at Winchester, Cedar Creek, Lynchburg, James River, Petersburg and Appo-mattox Court House, not to mention the innumerable skirmishes which fell to the lot of the command to which he belonged. The fact that he was detailed as a sharpshooter is evidence of Mr. Insley's high standing as a soldier and the estimate put upon his prudence and bravery by his commanding officers. More. than once a commission was offered to him, but this Mr. Insley declined, be-ing satisfied to do his duty as a soldier in the ranks. After a Most creditable military career, during which he made a faultless. record, this brave young soldier was honorably discharged from the service in 1865. Isaac Insley was thirty-three years of age when his parents' located in Hancock county. Eight years. previous to this he had purchased about sixty acres of land in Portage township, to which he subsequently added until his entire holdings amounted to one hundred and thirty-eight acres. This land land he has cultivated most industriously and intelligently since taking possession and his affairs have been generally Prosperous. In September, 1970, Mr. Insley married Elizabeth A. Smith, who was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, November 10, 1848. Her parents were John W. and Catherine Smith, the former born May 15, 1815, and the latter in Virginia, October 25, 1804. In 1851 they removed to Hancock county and some years later located on a farm of eighty acres which Mr. Smith had purchased in Pleasant township. On this home place they both ended their days after useful lives, during which they played their parts well and earned general esteem. The union of Isaac and Elizabeth A. Insley proved both happy and fruitful, their children numbering nine, of whom seven are living. These, with the dates of their respective births, are thus recorded in the family Bible: J. W., in 1871; Albert M., in 1873; Cora B., in 1875; Rosetta M., in 1878; Harley L., in 1882 ; George R., in 1887; and Lester R., in 1895. In. addition to her husband's property, Mrs. Insley owns thirty-six acres in her own right. .Besides her virtues as a housewife and mother, she is a lady of excellent judgment and good business qualities. Including both parents and children, the Insleys constitute a worthy and deserving family. GEORGE B. RUMMELL. A native of the county of Hancock, Ohio, and a descendant from one of the pioneer settlers of the state is George B. Rummell, who was born at Findlay, Ohio, in 1868, and was there reared and educated, and has lived there all his life, with the exception of about three years, 1893, 1894 and 1895, which 64 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY be spent at Ottawa, Ohio. After leaving school in Findlay, Ohio, Mr. Rum-mell entered the Ohio Veterinary College at Cincinnati, Ohio, and graduated from there in 1893. After leaving the college he decided to locate at Ottawa, and resided there for three years, but learning that there was an opening for a livery stable at Findlay, he returned to his native town in January, 1896, and opened up in the livery business, which he now carries on, and for which he is peculiarly fitted, being a great lover of good horses, and thoroughly understanding their control and management and never so happy as when, holding the lines over one of his high steppers, he takes a friend for a spin along the drive. Mr. Rummell is a member of the County Agricultural Board of Hancock county, Ohio, where his knowledge of a good horse is well known and highly appreciated. Socially he belongs to the Odd Fellows, and in politics is an active Republican and interested in the welfare of his party. Mr. Rummell's father, David Rummell, was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, in 1828, and after a useful and industrious life spent at his chosen work, he died in December, 1896. He was a furniture dealer, and was also the father of W. R. Rummell, whose record appears elsewhere in this volume. George B. Rummell was married in Findlay, Ohio, in 1888, to Etta, daughter of C. B. Struve, of Toledo, Ohio, and they are the parents of two children, as follows : Earl D., born in 189o, and Harry B., born in 1897. Mr. Rummell is progressive and energetic, happy in his home and prosperous in his business, a worthy citizen of Findlay, Ohio, and known and rerspected throughout Hancock county. HENRY BYAL. To have attained to the extreme fulness of years and to have one's view broadened to a comprehension of all that has been accomplished within the flight of many days, is of itself a sufficient cause for a consideration. of such a life, but in the case at hand. the tribute is all the more merited from the fact that it concerns a career of usefulness, of exalted honor, of charity, and one never darkened by wrong or injustice. It must ever be regarded as a matter of regret that when an aged man of historical importance has been gathered to his -father's later generations have not been given a more intimate knowl-edge of his personality and his actions.; that the lips have been silenced which might have told of incidents that had marked bearing on the thought and action of scenes of the past; and that there is denied a familiarity with the ambitions and struggles of his youth and the more crucial trials of his later CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 65 years. It is thus gratifying to enter a tribute to this venerable a,nd honored citizen of Hancock county and. to note the salient points in his long and useful life, whose declining days are crowned with well earned prosperity. Grandfather William Byal was a native of Maryland and died in 184o when at the age of sixty-seven years; his son, John Byal, was also born in that state in 1791 and died in 1853. These are the forebears of Henry Byal, and it is evident that the family were established. in this. country during the colonial epoch. The birth of Henry Byal occurred in Stark county, Ohio, March 23, 1817, thus being a representative of one of the pioneer families of the Buckeye state. He remained in his native county, at an early day began to contribute his share to the work of the farm, and attended the country school as opportunity offered, although his educational training was very meagre after he was fifteen years old. In March, 1832, his father brought him to Hancock county, locating in Findlay township about three miles west of the city of the same name he erected a saw mill there and two years later built a grist mill. There young Byal lived and labored for about seven years ; he then secured employment in connection with the construction of the Wabash canal and during the ensuing winter worked on the St. Mary's reservoir in Mercer county. Until he was twenty-five years old he was engaged in various occupations. At that age he was married and after that he was employed on a farm in this county for four years. He was continually forging ahead in the world and his next venture was in the merchandising business in Ottawa, Putnam county, where he remained for eighteen months and also served as postmaster. He next engaged in business at Pendleton, Putnam county, where he continued for three years, and in 1853 came to Findlay. From this time up to the present he has been actively concerned in farming, has accumulated much valuable real estate in the county and has now retired from active affairs and. enjoys the repose and freedom from care which are the rewards. of toil. Mr. Byal was elected to the office of justice of the peace in 1854; he was the candidate of the Democratic party. and his personal popularity is shown in the fact that he overcame the usual Republican majority of about six hundred. He held this office for nine years and was one of the excellent public officials of the county during that period. For many years Mr. Byal has been a devoted member of the Presbyterian church, and has always been. generous in aiding its work. Mr. Byars first marriage occurred in March, 1842, to Dorothy Comer, who was born in Fairfield county, Ohio. Her parents were Isaac and Hannah (Culp) Comer. Her father was born in the Shenandoah valley in Virginia in 1793, and died September 3, 1852, on the farm three miles west of Findlay, while her mother was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, 66 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY as far back as 1803, and died on the old Collier farm in 1830. Isaac Corner married for his second wife Hannah Burton, with whom he came to Hancock county from Lancaster, Fairfield county, in 1832. Four children were born to Mrs.. Dorothy (Comer) Byal, but she died in 186o, and all of her children have also passed away, As a memorial to his family Mr. Byal bequeathed the munificent sum of twenty thousand dollars, with which the Byal Memorial Chapel was completed in 1901, a beautiful tribute to those whom he loved so. well. In 1861 Mr. Byal took as his second wife Mary Lamb, who was his faithful companion for thirty years, and passed away in 1900, leaving no children. On February 7, 1901, Mr. Byal became the husband of Lydia J. Eaton,. who is his devoted partner for the remainder of life's journey. She has been engaged for forty years at Findlay in the mercantile and millinery trade. JOHN B. HEIMHOFER. The above named gentleman, during, his life of less than forty years, has achieved a notable success in various lines of business, including those of oil producing, farming, banking and mining. He comes from an old Swiss family, both his grandfather and parents being natives of the famous Alpine republic. The latter, whose names were John M. and Agatha (Miller) Heimhofer, married in Switzerland and had three children: John B.; Fred H. and Ida. John B. Heimhofer, the eldest son, was born in Switzerland in 1863 and when still quite young was brought to America by his parents, who located in what was then Luzerne, now Lackawanna county, Pennsylvania. The father became interested in the oil business, then a leading industry in the Keystone state, and one in which his son was destined later to achieve success. The latter attended a select school at Archibald and by the time he was seventeen years old had acquired a fair education. About that time he accompanied his parents to, McKean county, and the family found a location at the little oil town of Red Rock, where our subject remained and worked about two years in the butchering business. He soon abandoned this, however, to engage in teaming in the oil field and soon realizing the possibilities for profitable investment in this line he lost no time in seeking connection therewith. In partnership with his brother Fred and E. V. Wyssbrod, Mr. Heimhofer purchased a lease in McKean county, and the firm entered vigorously into, the business of oil producing. On the original lease, and others subsequently obtained, they owned in all about eleven wells. Eventually, the partners disposed of all their holdings in Pennsylvania and transferred their scene of operations to Ohio. In November, 1886, they opened a CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 67 hardware store in Findlay under the firm name of Wyssbrod & Co.,. which continued business about three years, meantime resuming their original occupation of oil producers. After the dissolution of the mercantile partnership, Mr. Heimhofer continued in the production of oil on his own account, and in 1899 bought a farm which he has since operated. Together with his brother Fred and E. V. Wyssbrod, he is also interested in zinc mines at Joplin, Missouri, and mineral lands in Arkansas. When the Commercial Bank and Savings Company was organized at Findlay in 1901, Mr. Heimhofer was elected vice president, a position which he still retains. He is also a director in the Toledo Times, a daily morning paper, published in the famous lake port at the mouth of the Maumee. In October, 1898, was solemnized the marriage of John B. Heimhofer and Miss Rosetta, daughter of R. W. Boyd, all of Findlay, Ohio. Two children have been born of this union, John Russell and Bessie M., of whom the former died in infancy. Mr. Heimhofer has served one term in the city council of Findlay as a representative of the. Republican party, and his fraternal connections are confined to membership in the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. His standing in the business world is amply demonstrated by the important positions to which he has been chosen and socially himself and family have the entree to the best society of Findlay. JOHN L. KISSEBERTH. Among the younger generation of farmers who have been operating during the last two decades in Hancock county, the above mentioned has taken rank as one of the most progressive and deserving. He owns a handsome farm in Blanchard township, which he has managed and cultivated in such a way as to show that he is a complete master of his business and is not unworthy of comparison with the wideawake farmers for which Hancock county is noted. He is the son of Gabriel and Elizabeth Kisseberth, who. were at one time residents of Hancock county, where the former owned and operated fifty acres of farming land. Later he removed to Putnam county and carried on a mercantile business at Gilboa, but at present is residing at Fostoria, where he leads a retired life. His first wife, Elizabeth, died August 2, 1861, and subsequently he was again married to the lady who now shares his home in retirement. John L. Kisseberth, son of the first marriage, was born in Gilboa, in Putnam county, May 10, 1859, and received his education in the schools of his native place and Hancock county. After he grew up he entered his 68 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY father's store, where in the capacity of clerk he assisted for several years in conducting the business. When he reached the age of twenty-one, however, he decided to abandon the mercantile for agricultural life, a step which was preceded by the selection of a partner to share his joys and sorrows. August 11, 1880, he was united in marriage with Miss America B., daughter oof B. B. and Elizabeth Powell, substantial farmers of Hancock county, where the family had long been established. Shortly after his marriage, Mr. Kisseberth purchased from his father-in-law the seventy-nine. acres of land which constitute his present homestead in Blanchard township; and to the management of which he has since devoted all his time. He has made many improvements, chief among which was the erection of buildings suitable for his business, and the place is now attractive in appearance, everything indicating good management and orderly arrangement. Mr. and Mrs. Kisseberth have had four children : Jessie V., Charles F., Edwin L. (deceased) . and Lewis C. Jessie V., the eldest daughter, is now the wife of Aaron Slupe, a farmer of Pleasant township. Mr. and Mrs. Kisseberth are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and take an active interest in all matters concerning the work of that extensive denomination. As a farmer, Mr. Kisseberth is up-to-date in all his operations, practical in his methods. and believes in keeping up with all modern improvements. He devotes himself to general agriculture, cultivating all the standard crops and raising the usual variety of stock found on Ohio farms. He does not branch out into experiments or "fads" but adheres to the safe system which experience shows is productive of the best results. MILLARD C. COWLEY. For twelve years the gentleman whose name appears as the subject of this sketch has been the agent at Findlay for the United States Express Company. This is a position which brings its occupant. into close and frequent contact with the public, and his personality, as well as his business qualifications, are subject to close scrutiny and criticism. Few positions require more evenness of temper, self--possession and urbanity in the discharge of its duties, and only those men well equipped with the qualities mentioned will meet the requirements satisfactorily. Mr. Cowley, however, by his long tenure has evidently "filled the bill," and the reasons therefor are well understood by the people of Findlay whose affairs take them to the express office. Mr. Cowley understands how to dispatch business expeditiously as well as courteously, and by his general bearing has obtained the respect as well as the friendship CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 69 of the city's entire population. He comes of excellent stock and traces his lineage through an ancestry that was always loyal and patriotic during the "days that tried men's souls." Jonathan Cowley, his grandfather, -was born in Ire-land in 1752 and thirteen years later came to America with his father, St. Leger Cowley, who located in Scoharie, Delaware county, New York. About eleven years after the arrival of these Scotch-Irish emigrants in the then colonies, the great American Revolution began in the war for independence and the Cowleys, true to the instincts of their race, espoused the cause of liberty. St. Leger Cowley was appointed adjutant of the Fifth New York Regiment of Continental troops and his son Jonathan joined the same command as a private. Both fought gallantly through all the seven years of that terrible conflict, and participated in the many dangers, privations and trials which fell to the soldiers who were making the fight for freedom. After reading the foregoing record of honorable service at the period when the great republic had its birth, none will deny that our subject has a clear title to membership in the patriotic order of the Sons of the American Revolution. He does 'not, however, rest his claim for consideration upon ancestry, but what he has been able to do himself and he has certainly proved, by his conduct that he is not an unworthy son of worthy sires., Millard C. Cowley was born at Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania, in 1851, but was taken later. by his parents to Addison, New York, where he was reared and, educated. This New York town. continued to be his home until he had reached the age of twenty-six and his mature years were spent in work upon the farm until. 1874. In that year he was offered and accepted a position as clerk in the office of the Erie Railroad Company at Addison. He remained in this employment for six years and during that time received the training and obtained the experience which fitted him for the duties which he has since so well performed in his chosen vocation. In 1880 Mr. Cowley went to Allentown as agent for. the United States Express Company but only remained there six months, being transferred to Elmira in the same state to become joint agent for the. United States and Adams Express Companies at the union station. He held this' position until 1886, when he was sent to Olean, New York, to take charge of the business at that point of the United States Express Company, After an experience of three years in this location, Mr. Cowley was transferred by his employes to Ypsilanti, Michigan, and remained their agent there. until 1896, when he came to Findlay as agent of the United States Express. Company and has ever since continued to represent that corporation at this point, The best evidence of a man's efficiency is long continued employment by the same people, especially when the employers are of the exacting kind found at 70 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL. HISTORY the head of all great business corporations, whose immense interests and countless ramifications can only be satisfactorily attended to by trained and expert talent. Such a man has evidently been found in the person of Mr. Cowley and not only by continuous retention but in many other ways he has received evidence of the esteem and approval of his superiors. October 1, 1902, Mr. Cowley was promoted to the position of route agent for the company in the second division, comprising the states of Ohio, Michigan, Indiana and Illinois; with headquarters at Findlay. While residing in Addison, New York, in 1877, Mr. Cowley was united in marriage with Miss Nellie M. Mullen, a worthy young lady of that city, and their union has been blessed, by the birth of one daughter, Florence M. The family are members of the Presbyterian church and enjoy. cordial relations with the best society of Findlay. DAVID SHERICK. David Sherick, retired farmer, has spent almost his entire life in agricultural pursuits, and only put away the plow and laid down the hoe within the last two or three years, when, feeling old age creeping- on him, he decided to move into town, and enjoy some of the comforts for which he had labored so long and industriously. It is the men who, like David Sherick, have worked early and late, year in and year out, tilling the soil and feeding the cattle, who have given Ohio the proud name which she bears of being such a great agricultural state and have enabled her to rank so high in this respect. David Sherick was born on a farm in Wayne county, Ohio, in 1831, where he lived until he was twenty-two years of age. His childish memories take him back to the days of log school houses, and wide open stretches of country,—country which looked just as fertile in those days, but which as yet had not been under cultivation, for settlers were few and far between in those times, and Ohio was one of the new states which had been carved out of the Northwest territory some years before. Mr. Sherick lived the life of the average farther's boy, in the winter time attending school and looking after the cattle, and in the summer, plowing and harvesting the grain. When, he was twenty-two he left the home farm and started out in life for himself, going to Liberty township, Hancock county, where he bought a farm and built him a home, and a little later, brought a wife, and there they toiled and saved, taking life a little easier as the years went by, and the children grew up and shared their burdens; and finally, in 1899, they moved into Findlay to spend the remainder of their days. CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 71 Mr. Sherick was married December 28, 1854, in Liberty township, Han-cock county, Ohio, to Catherine, daughter of George Heck, and they have had nine children,. of whom seven are now living, as follows : Peter; Barbara, wife of T. C. Boyd; Martha, wife of R. M. Poe; Irene, wife of N. L. Acocks; Emma, wife of I. L. McGee; John H., and Maud. Sherick is a member of the Church of God, and in his politics has been a life long Republican. Our subject's father was Peter Sherick, born in Fayette count, Pennsylvania, December 5, 1798, and died June 14, 1886. He, too, was a "tiller of the soil," and our subject, David was his only son. Our subject's grandfather was Christian Sherick, who was born in Pennsylvania and died there. The Sherick family is of German descent. Mr. Sherick has lived a useful and industrious life, has managed his business affairs with intelligence and is now one of the prosperous farmers of the community, taking his well earned rest and enjoying the society of his children and friends. HENRY STOUGH. Henry Stough, a prosperous farmer and dairyman, residing in Cass township, Hancock county, Ohio, owns here a valuable farm of one hundred and thirty-nine acres and carries on extensive farming operations in conjunction with a very profitable dairy business. The birth of Henry Stough was on April 12, 1844, in Ashland county, Ohio, and he is a son of George and Catherine Stough, who came to Hancock county, Ohio, in 1853, when Henry was nine years of age. George Stough was born on the Monongahela river, in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, on March 27, 1815, and he was a son of Moses and Mary (Riddle) Stough, both natives of Pennsylvania, the former being a son of George Stough, of German descent. Moses Stough removed from Pennsylvania to Ashland county, Ohio, in 1818, when his son George was three years old. By trade he was a cooper and this trade he followed during the years of his active. life, and died in Allen township, this county, at the age of eighty-three years. As mentioned George Stough came to Hancock county in 1853, and here became a practical and successful farmer. He was a man of exemplary life and character and was much respected and beloved in his locality, universal regret being felt when his death occurred in June, 1898. His marriage was to Catherine Gerhart, and they had a family of ten children, the survivors being: Eliza, Daniel, Henry and Christian. 72 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY Henry Stough, our subject, attended school in his early years, is opportunity offered. He has always been more interested in agricultural pur-suits than in anything else and has 'succeeded most admirably in his labors. In 1867 he purchased his present farm and has since then been engaged in its development. December 14, 1865, he was married to Susannah, daughter of Josiah and Mary Shafer, who was born in Stark county, Ohio, in 1846, and was an infant in her mother's arms when she entered Hancock county. She. had three brothers in the Civil war, Hiram, Mordecai and Samuel, the two first named belonging to the Twenty-first Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and the last named to a Kansas regiment. Each served his country long and well and were honorably discharged. The children born to our subject and wife were but two in number, Henrietta and William. The latter died in boyhood, his death being indeed a sad blow to his parents, as he promised to grow into a most estimable man. Henrietta married G. E. Watchtel, and they have two children,—Merle and Corinne. Mrs. Stough died August 3, 1902. Mr. Stough is one of the much respected citizens of his township and is known for his excellent farming and fine methods of dairying, over a large part of this section. He keeps twenty-five cows for milk, of a breed noted for its richness of cream and milk, and his output finds a very ready sale. In politics Mr. Stough is a Democrat. ABRAHAM BROWN. This honored and prominent representative of the farming and. stock-raising interests of Hancock county is one of the successful men in that line of business. His pleasant and commodious home is situated in Washington township, where he conducts a farm of one hundred and forty acres, where. he is possessed of all that a prosperous farmer needs to satisfy every wish. He is the son of Martin and Catherine (Leady) Brown, the father having located in Washington township in about 1835, on his farm of about one hundred and sixty acres. Both Martin Brown and his wife were natives of the Keystone state, where they. married, and soon removed to Knox county, Ohio, locating in Hancock county, Ohio, in the year above stated. He was a hard working and industrious man, clearing all his land, as did many other pioneers in that early day, and combining good sound business judgment with fine physical health and a will to labor, he became a very successful representative of the farming interests. He was an honest and up- CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 73 right man in all of his dealings with his neighbors, was a member of the German Baptist church, and in politics favored the policies of the Republican party. The family that was born to him consisted of ten children, nine of whom are living at this writing and three of this number reside in Hancock county, as follows: Mrs. Elizabeth Meyers, Mrs. Sarah Jacobs, and Abraham Brown, the immediate subject of this sketch. Mr. Brown passed his early boyhood in the exacting labor of farm life in that early day, and received his primary education in the district school of his native township. As a lad he performed the duties required of a boy of his size on his father's farm, and developed that sturdiness of character which generally attaches to the ordinary country youth. When that dreadful calamity which cast a dark cloud over the face of our country, occurred, the firing on Fort Sumter, Abraham Brown was not old enough to do duty in the field, but his young mind was in close sympathy with the cause of Old Glory. As the months sped on and the cloud darkened, Mr, Brown became matured by sheer patriotism and in September, 1862, willingly gave himself a sacrifice to his country, serving the remaining three years of the war. He enlisted as a private in Company A, Twenty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and which regiment became a part of the Army of the Cumberland. He followed the flag through twenty-three general engagements, besides participating in a large number of lesser battles and skirmishes. Following is a brief mention of the principal actions in which he was engaged : Stone River, Chickamauga (where he lost the second finger of his left hand), Resaca, Bald Knob, Kenesaw Mountain and Atlanta. He participated in that thrilling and victorious march of the man who denominated war as "hell," and returning north on the victorious march of that chieftain, he was mustered out at Louisville and re-turned to his home with the consciousness of having performed his whole duty to his beloved country. During the services he was promoted from the, private ranks for meritorious services on the field to duty sergeant. He received an honorable discharge and was paid off at Columbus, Ohio, in July, 1865. Mr. Brown took up the thread of life just where it had been broken when he went to the army. Returning to his school and to his books, he fitted himself for a future life of usefulness, Upon leaving school the first business in which he became interested was in the line of dry goods at West Independence. It was here that Mr. Brown chose as a companion and helpmate on life's journey Miss Rebecca A. Newhouse, the marriage occurring in the year 1868. Three children came to brighten their home: John C., born in 1869; Abbie A, 1871; and Charles M., in 1879. This latter boy inherited the patriotism of his father and offered himself to his country in its late unpleasantness with Spain. He 5 74 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY enlisted for two years in Company H, Second Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was a faithful soldier and was honorably discharged at Macon, Georgia. The mother of this family, Miss Rebecca Brown, was born in Washington township, Hancock county, in 1851. She has proved to her husband a faithful companion and helpmate in life's journey, and her sound advice and assistance were important factors in his prosperity. Mr. Brown takes an active part in politics, and while he is a stanch Republican, he will not tolerate what he thinks is an act of duplicity on the part of his colleagues. About 1875, when his own party leaders displeased him, he formed a new party in his own township, known as the Farmers' Alliance. This was subsequently merged into the People's Party, a convention of this party having been held under the leadership of Mr. Brown in 1896, in Arcadia. Owing to his masterful direction, this movement was successful until 1896, when it was absorbed by the Democratic party, at which time and date our subject returned to his old love, the Republican party, and of which he is now a stanch supporter. Mr. Brown is a man much above the average intelligence, and a promoter and supporter of many progressive and commendable. enterprises. He has paid a marked tribute to the rural mail free delivery in the erection of two beautiful and conspicuous pillars, one on either side of his gateway. On each of these. pillars is painted a figure, one representing "Uncle Sam," and the other "Abe " Brown. Mr. Brown enjoys the full confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens, and well deserves representation in this volume. WILLIAM MONTGOMERY. The ancestry of the family of this name, which for more than half a century has been identified with the agricultural development of Orange and Van Buren townships, is given in the sketch of John Montgomery, which appears on another page of this volume. It is there told how they descended from an Irish emigrant who fought in the Revolutionary war and left de-scendants in western Pennsylvania, who later settled in eastern Ohio. William Montgomery, above mentioned, is a brother of John and was the eighth of the twelve children born to William and Sarah (Fouts) Montgomery after their settlement in Columbiana county in the early part of the last century. His birth occurred on his father's pioneer farm in the hills of eastern Ohio, April 1.7, 1833, and he remained in that section until he had reached his ma-jority. As his, brothers had migrated to Hancock some years before, he naturally followed in their wake, hoping for better opportunities than were CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 75 afforded in his native locality. In 1854 he arrived in Hancock county, and for a short time worked on his brother Albert's farm in Orange township, and continued to work as a farm laborer for different parties during the next two years. A family by the name of Brannan had come from Trumbull county, Ohio, and taken up land in Orange township, and among their chil-dren was a daughter named Elizabeth. She was a child at the time of her arrival, and was reared and educated in her new home in Hancock county. In 1855 William Montgomery and Elizabeth Brannan were united in mar-riage, and lived together as man and wife for nearly forty years in utmost affection and harmony; For a while after marriage the young couple lived in Orange township, but in 1860 Mr. Montgomery bought land in section 36, Van Buren township, to which they soon removed and commenced the difficult task of clearing. It was situated in the woods, was wholly unimproved and to any one not possessed of the pioneer spirit would have presented anything but a pleasing prospect. Mr. Montgomery, however, soon had a log house thrown up and a stable built of the same rude materials, and securing a few needed animals he set manfully to work to carve for himself a home out of this wilderness. The way was long and the road' was hard, but he finally arrived, as men of the right kind of "grit" in those days generally did. Any one who visits section 36 in VanBuren township may see at a glance the magical changes that have been effected by Mr. Montgomery's industry, determination and dogged perseverance. The log cabin has long since given place to a comfortable brick residence; the former wildwood has been trans-formed into smiling meadows or bounteous grain fields; what was once marsh or swamp, under the modern system of tiling and ditching has been converted into dry land suitable for cultivation. On this farm Mr. Montgomery has. been living for forty-seven years, and though he has experienced all the ups and downs incident to agricultural pursuits he has done well on the whole and has a comfortable competence to smooth the decline of life. His good wife, who was a member of the. Disciples church and always. an exemplary Christian, closed her earthly career on August 1, 1894. Of their seven children two died in infancy, but the other five grew to maturity and are 'now doing well in their different spheres of life. Dr. Wesley Montgomery, the eldest son, is practicing medicine with success at Ada, in Hardin county, Ohio; Clara, the eldest daughter, married James E. Pore and is living with her husband on Logan avenue in Findlay; John, the second son and third child, pastor of the First Presbyterian church of Findlay; W. L., the fourth, resides on the old home farm; and Frank, the youngest, a resident of Ada, is mail clerk on the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad. Mr. Mont- 76 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPIIICAL HISTORY gomery is respected by all, not only as one of the county's pioneer. farmers, but because in all the relations of life, both as a. neighbor. and citizen, he has done his full duty in assisting to build up the community. Mr. Montgomery was a Democrat until 1896, when he voted the Republican ticket. SAMUEL H. ELSEA. One of the well known and respected farmers of Jackson township, Samuel Henry Elsea, is a representative of an honored pioneer family of Hancock county that was established here when conditions were very different from those now existing. The green woods stood as they came from the hand of nature and few roads penetrated. into the forest. The homes of the settlers were widely scattered and the tents of the red men were frequently seen, while bears, wolves and other wild animals haunted the forest. Deer were frequently shot by the hunter and lesser wild game was often upon the table of the pioneers. Farm implements were very crude compared to those of the present day and the most farsighted could hardly have imagined the changes which would occur and make Hancock county a thickly settled region, rich in fine farms and thriving towns. The Elsea family bore their part in the work of improvement and development here and like the others of the family the subject of this review has always been known as a worthy and progressive citizen, as he has carried on his work along agricultural lines. Samuel Henry Elsea was born April 18, 1838, on the old family homestead in Eagle township, being the third in order of birth among the children that. came to that household. His father, Moses Elsea; was born April 24, 1812, in Virginia, a son of William and Mary Elsea, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Maryland. William Elsea followed teaming in his native state and afterward removed to Pickaway county, Ohio, where his death occurred. In his family were ten sons and two daughters. Among the number was George, who lived. for a short time in Hancock county, but afterward located in Putnam county; William, who resided for a few years in Eagle township and then went to Putnam county; and James, who lived and died in Eagle township, and his son Jacob is still living there. After the death of the father Moses Elsea became responsible for the family, the other sons being much younger. He brought his mother, his younger brothers and his sisters to this county, and the mother spent her remaining days in Eagle township, reaching an advanced age. Moses Elsea was married in Pickaway county, January 14, 1833, to Mary Ann Oman, who was born in that county, June 27, 1815, a daughter of Moses and Elizabeth Oman, who CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 77 were natives of Pennsylvania and at an early day located in Pickaway county. They had a large family, of whom two sons, John and .Peter, came to Hancock county, while Sarah married John Knight and both died in Eagle town-ship, and Elizabeth became the wife of Clement Jester and lived in this county until her husband's death. Moses Oman was the owner of an extensive farm in Pickaway county. In Hancock county he entered one hundred and sixty acres of land for each of his two sons, John and Peter, and eighty acres for his daughter, Mary Ann. All three. came to the county in the spring of 1834, settling upon. their land. They had to. cut their way through the woods for miles, so wild and unimproved was this district. The brothers had a good team, but the. father of our subject performed his farm work in. an early day .with ox teams. John and Peter Oman each built a good cabin. Their father came with them on their first trip in order to see them comfortably established and usually visited them once a year after that. After his death, which occurred in Pickaway county, his widow lived with her children in this county, spending her last years with her daughter, Mary Ann. She died suddenly in the night when about eighty years of age. The farms of the Oman brother's and their sister all adjoined, but they had lived in the county for several years before, they had any neighbors, when Henry Falk, Alfred Ralston and Abram William-son located within two or three miles of them. It was some time before they knew anything of Findlay, where they afterward did their milling. For the first season they made their own living off the land. The woods were full of game so that they had an ample supply of venison and wild fowls. Many bears were also in the forests and wolves were frequently heard howling around their cabin homes, sometimes even jumping against the door. After his marriage Moses Elsea devoted his attention to the work of clearing his farm, and after getting a start in this way he also did some teaming to Sandusky and Upper Sandusky, hauling his own produce. to market there and bringing goods back on the return trips. He soon began to buy more land, and also purchased the farm of John Oman, who removed to Indiana. He added other tracts from time to time and also assisted others who wished to make purchases, including his brother, William, and his brother-in-law, David Loy.. He gave each of his sons a farm and yet at the time of his death still had between four 'and five hundred acres of land. He lived to see all of his children married and with homes of their own which he had assisted them in obtaining. His estate, at the time of his demise, was valued at between fifty and. sixty thousand dollars, and yet all through his life he had been most generous in helping others, and had given away much money 78 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY and land. Mr. Elsea had no educational advantages in his youth; but after he was married he learned to read, and through reading, observation and experience he continually broadened his knowledge and kept well informed on all public questions of his day. In politics he was a Democrat until the organization of the Republican party, when Jae joined its ranks. He retained the management of his business affairs as long as he lived, and continued his farm work until within a few years of his death, when he removed with his wife to Findlay, spending his last days there in quiet retirement. Even on the night he died he chatted cheerfully, seemingly being in usual good spirits. He had been ailing for some days previously, but no one thought death was so near. He died March 30, 1885, and his wife passed away in Findlay April 11, 1884. They had eight sons and four daughters. The subject was reared under the parental roof, and bore his part in the work of the farm, thus gaining a practical experience of farm work that enabled him to carry on business for himself in a profitable manner when he had attained his majority. As a companion for life's journey he chose Miss Margaret Ella Line, a daughter of Conrad and Catherine Line, of Eagle township, where she was born July 19, 1841. They were. married October 18, 1860, and in the spring of 1862 came to their present farm, which was then in the woods. He was drafted for service in the war and went to Lima, but his brother, Newton, was determined to go if Samuel did, so that it was arranged. that Newton should go as his substitute. This cost him four hundred and fifty dollars, whereas if he had gone he would have received twelve hundred dollars from others. He also had to pay about three hundred and fifty dollars each year to his father for land, and other expenses had to be met, but prices were high about that time and he had considerable walnut and other timber on his place, the sales of which brought to him excellent returns. Thus he was enabled to meet the payments on his place, and inside of five years he found himself ahead on his payments and began to build a barn. He lived in his original cabin until he erected his present brick residence, and as his financial resources increased he bought more land on the state road near Findlay. He also made other purchases. and has given to each of his children a good tract of land or its equivalent, while he still has one hundred and fifty acres in the old homestead and one hundred and twenty acres in another farm, while his wife has forty acres in Eagle township. He has bred good stock—sheep, hogs, horses and cattle, and his sales of stock have annually augmented his income. He believes in tiling, and has therefore drained his land until it is very productive, and everything about the place is kept in first-class condition. CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 79 Unto Mr. and Mrs. Elsea have been born four children who are yet living, and they lost one. Lorena Ellsworth, born October 25, 1865, died May 25, 1880. Conrad Moses, born February 5, 1862, is a farmer of Jackson town-ship, and married Amanda Beard, by whom he has two children, Samuel Merley and Charles. Mary C., born August 8, 1863, is the Wife of Albert Lincoln Miller, of Findlay. Lucinda and Matilda, twins, were born July 31, 1872. The former is the wife of Charles Shank, of Jackson township, and their children are Carl Henry and Edna. Matilda is the wife of Josiah Pepple, a farmer of Jackson township, and they have two sons, Ezra Lloyd and Albert Lau-rence. In 1856 Mr. Elsea voted for Fremont and has since remained a stanch Republican in national affairs, but at local elections does not consider himself bound by party ties. When fifteen years of age he became a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and both he and his wife are now identified with Center Chapel, although she was connected with the United Brethren church for a number of years. Mr. Elsea has in his possession the old family Bible, and a valuable watch, which was carried by his father when a young man and which he himself carried several years. 'It was then worn in turn by all the younger brothers, eventually reverting to the father, and our subject purchased it upon the settlement of the estate. This in brief is the life history of one of the native sons of the county connected with its history from pioneer days. He has been a witness of much of the growth and development of this part of the state and like the others of the family has borne his part in the work of agricultural improvement here. He has always lived at peace with his fellow men, being just in his dealing's and upright in his conduct, and through earnest labor he has prospered. A. J. FISHER. We have here a gentleman who has for long years been intimately connected with the development of Hancock county, in which he was born in Cass township, February 19, 1849. He is at the present time residing at Findlay, having by thrift and business sagacity been able to acquire a competence. He is a son of John and Katherine A. (Dunlap) Fisher, both of whom were natives of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and came to Hancock county about 1835, where they located in Cass township, buying eighty acres with very little cleared. They continued to reside on this farm, which they gradually brought under a high state of cultivation, and upon which they made many substantial improvements. John Fisher is remembered as' an 80 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY exceedingly social, kind hearted man, a Democrat in politics, though not taking much part in public life. He was married in 1827 to the lady above mentioned, and to them were born fifteen children, only four of whom are now living, James W., Vincent, Joseph L., and our subject, A. J. Fisher. The father of the family died on the 2d of June, 1864, mourned by a large circle of friends. His wife continued to live a widow until her death in August, 1872. A. J. Fisher passed the period of his adolescence on the farm with his parents, conning his lessons in the primitive log school house of that day. He later finished his literary education at the Findlay high school. Here he applied himself with such diligence that he was able to enter the teaching profession and in 1868 taught his first school in Washington township. For a period of fifteen years he continued to teach during the winter, giving his attention to agricultural pursuits in the summer. He, however, in. 1882, abandoned the teaching profession entirely and since that time has given his undivided attention to farming. He made his first purchase of real estate in 1875, buying sixty acres in Allen township. He subsequently added to this sixty, which he continued to improve and beautify until he had one of the finest properties in Hancock county. During his active life in the community he held the offices of assessor, school director, councilman and infirmary director. He never shrank from giving his time and talent to the furtherance of the best interests of his county. His marriage occurred in 1872, when, on the 19th of November, he was joined to Miss Martha E. Hart. This lady was the daughter of Cyrus and Elizabeth Hart, and has borne him two children, Ottis W., born April 19, 1874, and Lizzy M., born October 28, 1879, now Mrs. John E. Betts, her husband being a leading young attorney of Findlay. The son, Ottis W. Fisher, was united in marriage on the 23d of March, 1898, to Miss May, the accomplished daughter of Henry and Susana George, and they have one daughter, Gertrude L., born September 10, 1901. Mrs. Fisher, who was born November 13, 1847, and died November 1, 1902, was a member of one of the old pioneer families of the county, which will be found mentioned elsewhere in this volume. Her parents located in Portage township in 1836, bought eighty acres of land on which they lived about fifteen years, and then exchanged it for one hundred and sixty acres in Allen township. Cyrus Hart is remembered as a practical farmer, and a good neighbor. In 1887 he sold, this farm and removed to Findlay, where he died March 3, 189i. This removal was caused by the death of his wife, which occurred July 27, 1887. These parents were both consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which Mr. Hart was a very active member, having served many CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 81 years as a class leader. Their family numbered eleven children, of whom the six now living are Rachel, Mary J., Izabelle, Eli R., Parley C. and John W. A. J. Fisher has always been prominently identified with the material interests of Hancock county, and is remembered as having been president of the company which opened the oil field north of Findlay. This company, which opened the first oil well, was afterward absorbed by the Ohio Oil Company. Mr. Fisher is one of the esteemed citizens of Hancock county, whose efforts during a useful career have added to the general prosperity. JAMES WILLIAMSON. The family to which the above named belongs can show a creditable record both in civil and military life, as it has been well represented in two of the country's wars. Aaron Williamson, grandfather of our subject, was a soldier in the war of 1812, and two of his descendants upheld the flag during the great rebellion of 1861-5, which threatened destruction both to the Union and liberty itself. Peter and Rachel (Pinkerton) Williamson may justly be considered. pioneers of Hancock county, as they arrived in 1832 when but little improvement had been made in that part of the state, and agriculture, especially, was in a decidedly raw and backward state. Peter was born in Pickaway county, March 19, 1816, but his wife was a Pennsylvanian, and after their arrival they located in what is now Jackson township. The father died September 3, 1890, and the mother January 9, 1878, after becoming the parents of six children, of whom four are now living. James Williamson, the eldest, was born in Findlay township, Hancock county, Ohio, June 24, 1837, obtained his education at the schools of the vicinage and was trained to do farm work during his growing- years. Shortly after reaching manhood the Civil war was raging and he determined to take his part in the great work of saving the Union. For this purpose he enlisted in August, 1862, as a private in Company G, Ninety-ninth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, for the three years' service in the Western army. He took part in all the battles in which his regiment was called on to engage, and bore himself with that fortitude, self-denial and obedience to orders that characterized the soldiers of the great struggle between the states. He was discharged with an excellent record and no demerit marks against him in the summer of 1865, after all serious hostilities terminated. His father was also one of the heroes of the mighty conflict, and served in Company D, same regiment in which his son was enlisted. Mr. Williamson returned home immediately after obtaining his re- 82 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY lease from the army and lost no time in renewing his acquaintance with farm work. His first purchase of real estate was made in Putnam county, where, in 1865, he secured a farm of forty acres and cultivated the same for the next four years. At the end of that period he sold all his belongings in Putnam county and moved over to Hancock county, spending one year at Findlay and the next four years at other places without obtaining a permanent location. in 1887 he found a place to suit him in Blanchard township, where he bought the sixty-four acres which he has since cultivated and which constitute his present homestead. Mr. Williamson is a general farmer, confining himself to raising- the standard cereal crops and sufficient stock for .domestic purposes, but not attempting anything in the ."fancy" line. In 1861 Mr. Williamson was united in marriage with Miss Azubah D., daughter of Steven and Betsey Smith, and they had scarcely passed their honeymoon when he went to the front in obedience to his country's call, They had the unusually large family of fourteen children and succeeded in raising eleven to maturity, their names being Francis M., Peter, Alexander, Jasper, Eddy, Nancy J., Mary, William, James, Alice and Benjamin H. Mrs. Williamson, the mother of this interesting family, is a native of Blanchard township, where her birth occurred in 1844. Mr. Williamson' takes a natural pride in all things relating- to the Civil war and its surviving- veterans, with whom he renews relations and recalls old times as a member of Engle Post I a), Grand Army of the Republic. He is a stanch Republican, having cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln in 186o and voted the Republican ticket ever since. JAMES A. BOPE. From whatever viewpoint assumed, it must be acknowledged that the lawyer is a pre-eminent factor in all affairs of private concern and national importance. The man versed in the laws of the country, as distinguished from business men or politicians, has been a recognized power. He has been depended upon to conserve the best and permanent interests of the whole people, and without him and his practical judgment the efforts of the statesman and the industry of the business man and mechanic would prove futile. The reason is not far to seek. The professional lawyer is never the creature of circumstance. The profession is open to talent, and no definite prestige or success can be attained save by indomitable energy, perseverance, patience and strong mentality. Among the representative members of the bar of Hancock county is Colonel Bope, who has been engaged in the practice of CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 83 his profession in the city of Findlay for two score years and whose is the added distinction of having rendered the valiant service of a true son of the republic when the integrity of the nation was menaced by armed rebellion. His life has been one of signal honor and usefulness, he has 'high rank in his profession and he has so lived as to gain and retain the confidence and esteem of his fellow men. It is certainly consistent that a review of his career be incorporated in a work of the province assigned to this publication. James A. Bope is a native of Ohio, having been born in Winchester, Adams county, on the 30th of November, 1833. His parents removed to Lancaster in 1838, and there he received his preliminary educational discipline, after which he was matriculated in Wittenberg College, at Springfield, Ohio, where he was graduated as a member of the class of 1855. There has been no element of vacillation in his nature, and thus it was to be expected that he would early form definite plans as to his course in life. He began reading law in Lancaster, being a close and assiduous student and so rapidly advanc-ing in his technical knowledge as to secure admission to the bar of the state in 1857. He served his novitiate as a practitioner in Lancaster, where he re-mained until 1859, when he came to Findlay, where he has ever since main-tained his home and where by his life and services he has added to the dignity of the bar of the state. In 1861 Colonel Bope had been elected prosecuting attorney of the county, but the responsibilities of this incumbency and the demands of his general practice did not deter him from promptly responding- to the clarion call to arms when the dark shadow of Civil war obscured the national horizon. In July, 1862, he enlisted as a member. of Company D, Ninety-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, of which he was made captain and in which he served until July 10, 1864, when he was appointed acting inspector general in the brigade commanded by Colonel P. T. Swaine. In the battle of .Atlanta our subject was severely wounded and was sent home by General Schofield, presumably never to return to the front or even to survive his injuries. He, however, recovered and rejoined his command in North Carolina. He was made lieutenant colonel and was placed in command of the Ninety-ninth and Fifteenth Consolidated Regiments of Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in which capacity he served until the close of the war, being mustered out in July, 1865. He was an active participant in all of the engagements of his command, from Perryville, Kentucky, to the end, including the battles of Lookout Mountain, Chickamauga and Missionary Ridge, and from Dalton to Atlanta. He had received several minor wounds prior to being incapacitated by his injuries at Atlanta. 84 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY After being mustered out Colonel Bope returned to Findlay' and resumed his interrupted professional work, in which the long intervening years have brought him marked precedence and a representative clientage. For more than a decade he was retained as counsel for the Findlay city council, and. thereafter served for four years as city solicitor. He devotes his attention principally, to corporation law, having nothing in the line of criminal cases in connection with his professional work, though he has proved a strong advocate, versatile and thorough and learned in the minutiæ of the law and precedents and the general science of jurisprudence. He is counsel for a number of important corporations, including leading banking institutions, and is attorney for the Cincinnati, Sandusky & Cleveland and the Big Four railroads and also for the Bowling Green & Southern Traction Company. His. political allegiance is given to the Republican party, of whose cause he has ever been a stalwart supporter and advocate. In 1861 Colonel Bope was united in marriage to Miss Martha J. Meeks, a daughter of Rev. J. A.. Meeks, and their home is a center of gracious hospitality. JOHN BAKER. A pioneer family whose descendants have done much to sustain the reputation of Hancock county in the great state of Ohio, is here presented for the consideration of our readers. Grafton Baker, the paternal grandfather of the gentleman named above, was the original pioneer, he with his wife Mary and four sons and a daughter removing- to the county- in 1835. They located in Washington township and entered one whole section, three-fourths of which was in Cass township, which he afterward divided into equal parts, giving one to each son. Grafton and his wife were strong advocates of the tenets of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in that early day did much to establish it in the county. Politically he was a Whig. After a life of toil and care for the welfare of his family, a life uneventful but useful, he passed to his rest in 1849. He \vas born in the year 1767, so that he lived to a ripe old age. The wife of his bosom died at an advanced age. Alexander Baker, one of the four sons of this pioneer couple, was born in Carroll county, Ohio, in 1816, and was a youth of nineteen years when the family located in Hancock county. Here in 1843 he married Katherine Eckert, who was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, in 1824, and whose pioneer parents are noticed elsewhere in this volume. These parents reared three children : Lucinda, deceased; Amanda, now Mrs. G. W. Norris; and John, the subject of this sketch. The father of the family, Alexander Baker, was a practical farmer re- CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 85 siding on the quarter section given to him by his father. He had been given more than the average education, and had taught school during the early part of his life, but after his marriage he confined himself to farming. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and a man of good judgment as well as sound morals. His useful career was cut short by premature death in 1849 at the age of thirty-three years, but his wife, wh0 survives to honor his name and memory, lives with her son John on one of the original quarter sections. John Baker, the youngest child, was born in Cass. township in 1847 and educated in the usual way in the district schools. He has been a continuous resident of this immediate section of the county during his entire lifetime, and his character has been such that he wields influence for good throughout all the county. After he reached his majority he set up an establishment of his own, and was joined in marriage to Miss Sara, daughter of Michael and Ann Binger, the event occurring in 1868. Of the six children resulting from this union only three are living: Alexander, Lemuel and Amanda. The mother, who died in 1887, is remembered as a woman of good heart and gentle disposition. Mr. Baker, like his ancestors, has confined himself to agricultural pursuits in a practical way. He enjoys the full confidence of his fellow citizens, who have honored him with several of the offices of the township, and at different times he has been trustee and justice of the peace. The last mentioned office he has held for twenty years, a fact which speaks eloquently of the manner in which he has administered its duties. Mr. Baker has a place of one hundred and sixty acres which he devotes to general farming. WILLIAM AND JAMES M. CUSAC. Few names are better known in Hancock county than that of Cusac, and no citizens are more highly esteemed than those who bear this honored designation. For many years and through two generations they have been identified with the agricultural and industrial development of that portion of Ohio in which their lots were cast. The founders of the family were Daniel and Sarah (Sellers) Cusac, natives of Pennsylvania, who removed in 1839 from Perry county. Daniel was a wagonmaker by trade and a good workman, who combined skill with intelligence. At different times he purchased land in Hancock county, which in the aggregate amounted to one hundred and twenty acres, and on this he settled after his arrival in Ohio. By dint of much hard work and assisted by his sturdy sons, this land was eventually cleared and brought into that high state of cultivation so characteristic of the Ohio farms. 86 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY In the fullness of time and years the parents were called to their long rest, after rearing a family of sons and daughters who rank among the best class of Ohio citizens. Of the nine children, the eight now living are Nancy, Mary A., Sarah E., Margaret, John, James M., Isaac and William. All the children were reared and educated in Hancock county and like their parents were trained in the doctrine and discipline of the Presbyterian church. After the death of his parents William Cusac, the youngest of the living children, purchased the, interest of the other heirs and since 1877 has had fall possession of his father's estate. About the year-1886 he leased the oil privileges of his land to a responsible company and from this transaction has received a profitable revenue. In addition to this, however, he operates an oil field on his own account and this also has proved remunerative. Since .he took charge of his father's estate Mr. Cusac has made many needed improvements by the erection of necessary buildings, beautifying of the grounds and other additions, both ornamental and useful, which go so far towards the enhancement of landed property. Mr. Cusac stands high in the community, as a citizen of moral worth and blameless character, and is active in religious work, holding the position of trustee and treasurer of the Presbyterian church. December 10, 1858, the nuptials of William Cusac and Phebe A., daughter of Amos and Elizabeth Cooper, were solemnized at the home of the bride's parents. This union, which proved a happy one in every respect, was blessed by the birth of four children, of whom Amos N., Daniel J. and Elizabeth A. are living, while Joseph M. has departed this life. Mrs. Cusac, the beloved mother of this family and a lady of most excellent traits, is a native of Han-cock county, having been born in Liberty township in 1836. James M., another son of Daniel and Sarah Cusac, also deserves especial mention as a successful man of affairs. His birth occurred November 25, 1832, and he was seven years of age when his parents moved to Hancock county. He early exhibited those traits of character which have made the name of Cusac notable, and from his youth has been industrious, saving and cautious in the transaction of business. The result of this steady application and exercise of good judgment has been marked success in his ventures, and at this time James M. Cusac owns one hundred. and thirty-five acres of valuable land, upon which are operated thirty-one oil wells. Besides this property, however, of which he still retains control, Mr. Cusac has deeded one hundred and fifty acres to his children. His first investment in real estate was in 1862, when he made a modest purchase of twenty-three acres of land. This nucleus, within the next twenty years had been increased by Mr. Cusac to one hundred and eighty-five acres of as valuable land as Hancock county CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 87 affords. Not only as a business man, but in private life, in religious circles, as a neighbor and. as a citizen, James M. Cusac enjoys the highest standing and consideration. Everybody likes him and everybody respects him. For six years he filled the important position of infirmary director and for a long period, in fact from his earliest youth, he has been a consistent and honored member of the Presbyterian church. In 1856 he was married to Miss Rachel W., daughter of Ebenezer and Sarah (Davis) Wilson. The latter were Kentuckians and among the first settlers of Hancock county, where the family has always been highly respected. Rachel Wilson, who became Mrs. Cusac, was born in the neighborhood where she now resides and there her happy married life has been spent since 1882. The children of James M. and Rachel W. Cusac, ten in number, are named as follows in order of birth: Marilla D., Sallie, Josephine, Milan D., Mary V., Alice B., Lulu R., Edson J., George V. (deceased) and Mack W. In politics Mr. Cusac is a Democrat. CORNELIUS S. JAMESON. This. worthy and respected farmer lives in Big- Lick township, on a farm of seventy-one acres, which he devotes to general farming. This tract of land has been in the family for a number of years, he having been born there May 25, 1838. His father was the Rev. Ira Jameson, an efficient and popular minister in the Methodist Episcopal church, who removed to this county in J833, where he bought the land upon which our subject now resides. Before he died he added forty-five acres to the tract, all of which he cleared to a great extent. He was a regularly ordained minister of the gospel, and preached for a number of years with great acceptance. He was. a native of the Blue Grass state, where he was born near Paris, in 1802. He married Rebecca Polston February 6, 1822, the issue being ten children, viz. : Cornelius S.; Sarah, who was born August 12, 1840; Ira M., August 9, 1843; Susana, July 12, 1825; Prior B., February 9, 1827; Andrew, March 16, 1829; Anna, July 2, 1831; Maria B., September 19, 1833; Asbury, December 17, 1837; and an unnamed infant. Ira, the father of this' family died July 21, 1848. The wife, Rebecca, was a native of Maryland. She died October 27, 1868. Cornelius S. Jameson, as stated above, has passed the entire period of his life in Big Lick township, where he has always been engaged in agricultural pursuits with the greatest. success. He purchased his, first farm in 1876, and two years later he called to preside over his home Miss Sara A., the daughter of William and Sara Stokes. To this union, which was a union 88 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY of hearts, were born Edith D., March 23, 1881; Ira W., January 12, 1883; Jason, June 3o, 1885, and a deceased infant. Mrs. Sara A.. Jameson was born in Indiana in 1845. The Jamesons were natives of Ireland and came here before the Revolution and were Protestants from a remote period. Mr. and Mrs. Jameson are worthy and active members of the Methodist Episcopal church, whose interests they delight to forward. Mr. Jameson is an acceptable and efficient class leader and steward in the organization. They have been prominently and honorably associated with the history of Hancock county, and as such it is a pleasure to give them representation in this volume. In the summer of 1902 a company drilled a well on Mr. Jameson's farm, and produced oil. Rev. Ira Jameson's mother was a Brown, and her mother was a Ball, and as Martha Washington was of the latter family, a relationship is shown. Mr. Jameson was a member of the Squirrel Hunters, a body of men called out by Governor David Tod to protect the state of Ohio from the rebel invasion of 1862. In September, 1862, he received his discharge, signed by Governor Tod, Charles W. Hill, adjutant general of Ohio, and Malcom McDalad, major and aide de camp. Daniel Brown, brother of Ira Jame-son's mother, was killed by the Indians in Kentucky. He had sent his family to the blockhouse for protection, and while looking after the stock was surprised by the Indians and killed by having sixteen shots fired into his body: ROBERT DAVY. Robert Davy, deceased, was a prominent farmer of Washington township, Hancock county, where he was during his lifetime held in great respect. He was born in Carroll county, Ohio, November 14, 1824, and there received his training and education. Upon arriving at manhood he engaged in agricultural pursuits, which he followed with great success during his life. In June, 1847, he was united in marriage with Rebecca, daughter of Henry and Rachel Newhouse, and a year later left their old home for Hancock county, where they purchased eighty acres of land, to which they subsequently added one hundred and twenty. The latter tract, after Mr. Davy's death, was divided among his children, the original purchase of eighty- acres remaining still in the possession of his widow. Mr. Davy was a worthy man, a practical farmer, a loyal citizen, a loving husband, and an indulgent father. The date of his decease was April 14, 1872. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Davy were Ruth, James, Elza, Alley and Effie. CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 89 Mrs. Rebecca N. Davy was born in Carroll county, Ohio, in January, 1827, and her parents removed to Hancock county in 1848. They purchased here eighty acres of land, and upon this they resided during their lives, surrounded with all the comforts of a country home of that day. He was an energetic and successful farmer and stood high in that community. He was a native of Carroll county, and died in Hancock county in the ninetieth year of his age. His wife Rachel was born in Virginia, and died at the age of eighty-seven years in Hancock county. They were worthy citizens and held the esteem of their numerous friends and acquaintances. JACOB H. BOGER, D. D. S. This is an age of progress, and America is the exponent of the dominating spirit of the age. In the beginning of the last century our country was in its infancy, and history shows no parallel for its growth and achievements. No other country has made as great advancement in the lines of science and mechanical invention, and its prestige in this regard is distinct and undisputed. In this steady growth and development which has characterized the age of science dentistry—which is both a science and a mechanic art—has kept pace with the general progress, and in this profession the subject of this review stands as one of the most skilled representatives in the state of Ohio, who is established in the successful practice of dentistry in the city of Findlay, Hancock county, where he is honored as a citizen and as a lead-ing member of his profession. He is at the present time incumbent of the office of postmaster in his home city, and has given a most discriminating and capable administration of the affairs of the same, gaining the endorsement of the local public and ever aiming to insure the best possible service. He has been otherwise prominent in the political and civic life of the city, and is well worthy of consideration in this work as one of the representative citizens of Hancock county. Jacob Henry Boger is a native of the old Keystone state of the Union, having been born in the city of Harrisburg, capital 0f Pennsylvania, on the 27th of June, 1859, a son of John A. and Mary A. (Kuhnle) Boger, both of stanch German lineage. His father is likewise a native 0f Pennsylvania, where he has attained a position of prominence and influence, being now in-cumbent of a position in the comptroller's office in the city of Philadelphia, where he took up his abode when his son, the Doctor, was a lad of about ten years, and where he soon gained precedence as one of the leaders in the local ranks of the Republican party. He and his wife became the parents of 6 90 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY seven children, of whom six are living at the present time. Dr. Boger secured his initial scholastic discipline in his native city and thereafter continued his studies in the work of the public schools of the city of Philadelphia until 1877, when he began the work of technical preparation for that profession in which he has attained so marked precedence and success. He began the study of dentistry in the office and under the direction of Dr. J. F. Fryer, in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, one of the most eminent members of his profession in that section of the Keystone state, and Dr. Boger thoroughly familiarized himself with the methods adopted by his able preceptor, in both the operative and laboratory departments of dental science, and in 1877, in order to thoroughly fortify himself for the active work of his chosen profession, he was matriculated in the Pennsylvania College of Dental Surgery, in Philadelphia, where he was graduated as a member of the class of 1880, receiving at that time the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery and class honors. On the 16th of March of the same year, Dr. Boger began the active practice of his profession in the city of Findlay, which has ever since been the field of his well directed and signally successful efforts. He has steadily risen in popular favor and his professional business is now the largest in the city. His offices are finely equipped with the most improved mechanical accessories are made attractive with the tasteful furnishings, and the professional services of the Doctor have been in demand by a patronage of distinctively representative character. Of him it has been well said that he is not a man "whose ability is limited to one line of business activity alone. He has largely contributed to the material resources of the city and is deeply interested in all that is calculated to promote the growth and upbuilding of Findlay. He has dealt to a considerable extent in real estate and has found this a profitable source of income." Dr. Boger has given an unequivocal support to the Republican party from the time of attaining his legal majority and he has been a prominent and influential factor in political affairs in this section of the state. He was a, member of the board of election supervisors of Hancock county, in which capacity he served consecutively for seven years, the local public having implicit confidence in his impartiality and judgment. In 1884 the Doctor was elected to the office of city clerk of Findlay, and of this position he was the efficient incumbent for four years. Of his position in regard to matters political another publication gave the following appreciative estimate : "He has given valuable aid to the county committees and his counsel is valuable and is gladly received. He was chairman of the congressional committee of the eighth district in 1898, and is active in the Ohio League of Republican CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 91 Clubs. In 1896 he was a member of the executive committee of Ohio from Hancock county, and in 1887 he was one of those who went to New York City to form the National League of Republican Clubs. He was a delegate to the state convention in 1891, when Major William McKinley was nominated by acclamation for governor, and later he was one of the most earnest and efficient supporters of the illustrious Ohio statesman for the presidency." On the 22d of June, 1898, Dr. Boger was appointed postmaster of Findlay by President McKinley, the appointment meeting with most favorable reception, and he has proved an able executive and one fully appreciative of the responsible duties entrusted to his care in connection with this department of the government service. He was reappointed by President Roosevelt June 27, 1902. For some years he took an active part in the interest of the Episcopal church, and fraternally he has attained distinguished rank in the time-honored order of Freemasonry, in which he has advanced to the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite, being also a noble of the Mystic Shrine. He has taken a very deep and appreciative interest in this great fraternal organization, and is past eminent commander of Findlay Commandery, No. 49, Knights Templar. He is a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Royal Arcanum and Knights of Pythias. He has ever kept in close touch with the advances made in his profession and is a member of several societies established in the interests of the same, including the Ohio State Dental Association and the Dentists' Protective Association. Reverting, incidentally, to his genealogy, it should be noted that the Doctor's maternal great-grandfather, Samuel Skeen, was a lieutenant in the Philadelphia county, Pennsylvania, militia in the early days. On the 6th of December, 1882, Dr. Boger was united in marriage to Miss Jennie Mungen, a daughter of Hon. William Mungen, who was the only representative ever sent from Hancock county to Congress and who was one of the distinguished citizens of Findlay. Dr. and Mrs. Boger have one child, Corinne. REV. ASA ELLIS. For sixty-three years the subject of this review has been numbered among the honored and highly respected citizens of Hancock county and has been prominently identified with those interests calculated to uplift and benefit his fellow men. For many years he labored in the Master's vineyard as a member of the Baptist church and was also engaged in the practice of medicine, thus ministering to both the spiritual and temporal needs of the people. 92 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY Mr. Ellis was born in Bertie county, North Carolina, September 12, 1819, and is of English descent, his paternal grandfather, Ezekiel Ellis, having come to this country from England in 1730. His son, Ezekiel Ellis, Jr., the father of our subject, was a native of North Carolina, and on reaching man's estate married Margaret Lee, a first cousin of Robert E. Lee. The Ellis family were not slaveholders and were active members of the Baptist church. At the age of seventeen years our subject began preaching in the primitive Baptist church and continued to devote his time to the ministry for many years. On leaving his old home in North Carolina he decided to locate in Tennessee, Where he had relatives living, but falling in with a company of friends bound for Ohio, he came to this state in 1889 at the age of twenty years. He first stopped at Chillicothe and from there went to Fayette county with 6,n uncle, Isaac Drace, spending one winter there engaged in preaching. He finally determined to go to Illinois, but on his way there in 1844 stopped at Findlay to see Henry Bishop, editor of the Courier and a prominent Baptist, and also Price Blackford, father of Aaron Blackford. There being no Baptist minister at this place he was persuaded to preach for the congregation and filled the position twenty-five years, during which time he organized five societies in this section of the state, at Findlay, Carey, Orange, Gilboa and Eagle. Mr. Ellis was married April 14, 1846, to Miss Maria Reynolds, a native of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, and a daughter of Robert and Elizabeth Reynolds, who brought their family to Wyandot county, Ohio, when she was a child of eleven years. By trade her father was a blacksmith and gunsmith. Mr. Ellis became acquainted with his wife while preaching at Carey, the family being members of the congregation there. At the time of her marriage Mrs. Ellis was twenty-four years of age and she became the mother of eight children, namely : Bishop Reynolds, who died at the age of eleven years; Curtis Welch, who served as postmaster of Curtellis, Ohio, spent several years in the west and died at the age of forty-eight; George Washington, who died in Montana at the age of forty-two; Valinda Elizabeth, who married Albert Johnson, of St. Joseph county, Michigan; Robert A., a physician of Findlay, Ohio, and San Francisco, California, who died in the Klondike, where he had gone as a medical practitioner; Abner Theodore, a prospector now in Alaska; Willie, a farmer of Jackson township, who married Eva Gossage; and Jerema, who died in infancy. In the fall of 1846 Mr. Ellis located on a farm in Jackson township, but did not engage in agricultural pursuits, as he devoted his attention wholly to the work of the ministry and the practice of medicine, which he began in CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 93 1848. He continued to engage in practice until 1870, when the state passed .a. law requiring that all physicians pass an. examination before the state board, but not wishing to take an examination he retired from the profession. He had quite an' extensive patronage extending for miles into the surrounding .country and he met with most excellent success in the treatment of various diseases. During the cholera epidemic seventeen persons died in Eagle township, but he lost but one patient and cured many. He was also very successful in the treatment of typhoid fever and milk sickness, which was quite prevalent among the early settlers of this portion of the state and lost no cases toward the close of his practice. After his practical retirement he continued to prescribe for his old neighbors and friends to some extent, but always free of charge. He was a member of the physio-medical school, although he never received the degree of Medical Doctor, and was very proficient in his profession. During all this time Mr. Ellis continued to preach. from 1834 until 188o, and occasionally since that time. He has performed many marriage and funeral ceremonies and labored untiringly as a local pastor. While in his prime he held many religious debates with the Bible as his text book, and he always held to the spirit if not to the letter of the text. He is broad and liberal in his views on scriptural, as well as other subjects, and is a man who commands the respect of all who know him. At one time Mr. Ellis was the owner of four hundred acres of land, two-thirds of which he placed under cultivation, and he still retains one hundred and twenty acres in the home farm, having given to each of his children a farm. In early life he was a Democrat until 1840, when he became a Whig, and continued to support that party until the organization of the Republican party in 1856, when he joined its ranks. He endorses its views on the money question, but is not an advocate of expansion, and stands with the admin-istration in regard to Cuba but not to the Philippines. He has taken an active part in political conventions and has always kept well informed on the questions and issues of the day. His life has been exemplary in many respects and he well merits the confidence and respect so freely accorded him by his fellow citizens. S. M. STEWART. Though a native of Pennsylvania, Mr. Stewart has been a resident for thirty-two years in various counties of Ohio. During his active life he has tried different pursuits, including merchandising and dealing in real estate, and he met with a fair measure of success, but he eventually returned to the 94 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY first experience of his youth and settled down permanently to. farming. At the present time he owns two places: in Hancock county, his home farm being situated in Blanchard township and consisting of one hundred and sixty acres of fertile land. This tract is devoted to general farming, including the standard crops and stock-raising, and as Mr. Stewart is a good business man and careful manager, he ranks as one of the safe, and conservative farmers of his neighborhood. It is only necessary to mention the names of Stewart and Randolph to recall to any reader of English and American history that they are among the most ancient and famous in our annals. On his father's side the subject of our sketch is:descended from a Scotch family of Stewarts who were quite prominent in the land of Bruce and Burns, their ancestors being connected with powerful and aristocratic families, and participants in many of the famous wars of "old Scotia." On his mother's side Mr. Stewart is descended from the English Randolphs, who came over shortly after the Mayflower voyage, and subsequently figured so conspicuously in Virginia. Eventually the two families in one of their remote branches came together by the marriage in Butler county, Pennsylvania, of Joseph Stewart and Elizabeth Randolph. S. M. Stewart, son of this couple and subject of this biography, was born while his parents were residing in Butler county, Pennsylvania, in 1852, and remained there until he was eighteen years old. After receiving the usual education afforded by the common schools and learning farm work during the interims, he decided before reaching his majority to try his fortune in the west. It was in 187o that he made his first appearance in Hancock county and as the most available opportunity in sight he sought employment in ordinary labor on a farm. Subsequently he removed to Allen county, Ohio, bought a stock of boots and shoes and opened up a mercantile business in that line, which he prosecuted for some time with a fair degree of success. This enterprise, however, he eventually traded for a farm in Paulding county and upon removing to that locality shortly after became a dealer in real estate. These various transactions consumed his time until 1898, when Mr. Stewart returned to Hancock county and, like the giant in the fable, sought strength again by renewing his touch with mother earth. He purchased a farm of eighty acres in Pleasant township and in 1901 bought and removed to another in Blanchard township, on which he has since resided. In 1871 Mr. Stewart was united in martimony with Miss Orissa Coates, who was born in Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, in 1850, came to Blanchard township when a little girl and was reared on the farm where she now lives. She was the daughter of Gardner and Emma Coates, her father having CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 95 at one time done a thriving business as a woolen manufacturer in Massachusetts. Owing to financial reverses he came west and after a residence of several years in Pennsylvania removed to Hancock county in 1855 and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land. He was a man of sterling qualities and of the strictest walk in his daily life. His family consisted of seven children, of whom four are living-, the eldest, William by name, having lost his life while serving his country as a soldier in the Civil war. Mr. and Mrs. Stewart have two sons, of whom Alva, the eldest, is a successful school teacher, and L. A. is a prosperous farmer in Paulding county. The family are members of the Blanchard Methodist Episcopal church and enjoy cordial relations with a wide circle of neighbors and friends. CHRISTOPHER A. SALTZMAN. The gentleman whose name is. above inscribed, at present a thrifty farmer of Big Lick township, is descended from one of the French emigrants who came to Hancock county about the middle of the last century and who have done their full share towards its progress and development. Andrew and Mary (Rupp) Saltzman emigrated from their native land of France in 1857, came directly to Ohio and located on one hundred and thirty acres of land purchased in Big Lick township. There were but few improvements and the land was rough and unkempt, but French thrift soon found way to better things and eventually make of the place an ideal farm. At first a rude log house was put up for temporary purposes, but this in time gave place to a commodious dwelling more suitable to the prosperity that had come to the owners. Andrew was a good farmer, who attended strictly to his own business, let politics alone and was intent on making friends instead of enemies. In religion he was an adherent of the Mennonite faith and his politics were mildly Democratic, though he avoided office seeking and the intrigues inseparable from that pursuit. Andrew Saltzman terminated his industrious and blameless life December 27, 1896, being the survivor of his wife, whose demise occurred March 25, 1895. They reared a family of four children, all of whom are still living, and among the number Christopher A. Saltzman, who was born in France, December 5, 1849, and was consequently eight years old. when his parents crossed the sea. As a bright little French boy, with all the vivacity and quickness to learn so characteristic of the children of that sunny land, young Saltzman soon "caught on" to American ways and rapidly absorbed the best that could be taught in the schools of Hancock county. As he grew he learned all about the details of farm life by perform- 96 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY ing the work usually allotted to farmer boys, and when he became a man was well fitted for success in his chosen pursuit. His father gave him the farm where he now resides, which he has cultivated judiciously and industriously, in addition to the management of a sawmill situated on his place, which he. owns and operates. Between the two kinds of occupation Mr. Saltzman has been a very busy man and his steady application to business has been rewarded by a flattering measure of success. His fellow citizens honored hrm with an election as township clerk and he discharged the duties of that office with fidelity and efficiency. November 1895, Mr. Saltzman was united in marriage with Miss Cordia, the worthy daughter of Franklin and Mary Heart, to which union have been born two children : Andrew F., Decem-ber 17, 1896, and Virgil C., April 27, 1899. Mrs. Saltzman is a native of Nevada, Ohio, and is a member of the Christian Union church, to which her husband also belongs. The family, both of the older and younger generations, have always been highly esteemed by their neighbors and the members have furnished fine examples of French citizenship thoroughly Americanized by the free institutions of their adopted country. DAVID DICK. The history of mankind is replete with illustrations of the fact that it is only under the pressure of adversity and the stimulus of opposition that the best and strongest in men are brought out and developed. Perhaps the history of no people so forcibly impresses one with this truth as the annals of our republic. If anything can inspire the youth of our country to persistent, honest, and laudable endeavor, it should be the life record of such men as he of whom we write. The example of the illustrious few of our countrymen who have risen from obscurity to the highest positions in the gift of the nation serves often to awe our young men rather than inspire them to emulation, for they reason that only a few can ever attain to such eminence; but the history of such men as David Dick proves conclusively that with a reasonable amount of mental and physical power success is bound eventually to crown the endeavor of those who have the ambition to put forth their best efforts, and the will and manliness to persevere therein. Mr. Dick is to-day one of the most successful men of Hancock county, and certainly deserves great credit for what he has accomplished. He first saw the light in Richland county, Ohio, May 28, 1836, being the son of George and Sarah (Nicholas) Dick, both of whom were natives of Bedford county, Pennsylvania. Here they were reared, and after marriage moved out to Ohio, CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 97 the year being 1826. During his lifetime, George Dick made his impress on the society of that early time as an honest, worthy citizen and a good farmer. He and his wife were members of the German Reformed church. He lived to a most advanced age, having been born in 1796, and his death occurring in 1888. His wife Sarah also lived to a good age, her birth having occurred in 1796, and her death in 1881. The family which they reared consisted of eleven children, but only five are now living, David being the only one in this county. Mr. Dick was reared and educated in Richland county, where he deliberately chose the calling of a farmer, which he has followed with marked success up to the present time, not in the desultory manner which marks the efforts of some people in life, but with a straightforward, year in and year out persist-ency and it is due to this fact and the further fact that he is possessed of a good business head that he owes his success in life. The home life of Mr. Dick began March 1, 1862, when he celebrated his marriage with Barbara, the daughter of Adam and Susanne, Weiser. They have had six interesting children, namely : Willia A., now deceased; George ; Cora A., Jemmie M., deceased; John A., and Charles. Mrs. Dick's father, Adam Weiser, was born in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, and was by occupation a farmer. Her mother, Susan Bender, was born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania. They were married in Richland county, Ohio, in 1835, and became the parents of twelve children, two of whom died in infancy, and nine grew to manhood and womanhood, and six are living. Mrs. Dick was born in Richland county, near Mansfield, May 1.4, 1842, and was educated in the common schools while growing to womanhood. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Dick occurred in, Richland county, Ohio, where they continued to reside for four years. After the war they removed to Hancock county, where they located in Washington township, purchasing fifty-three acres of very ordinary land and in a very poor state of cultivation. Mr. Dick improved this property, and in 1872 sold it to advantage. He again purchased farm land, this time one hundred and sixty acres of the tract which he now owns. This also was in a run-down state, but Mr. Dick by hard work and honest toil has succeeded in making it one of the best farms in the county. He has erected new and commodious buildings, and in many other respects has increased its value. He later added eighty acres to the original purchase. The oldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Dick, George W., is comfortably situated as a young agriculturist, having married Miss Jessie Taylor, who has presented him with four beautiful children, Ethel ; Lula; Nellie and John E. Cora A., the daughter, married Alvin Davidson, a popular resident of the county. David Dick is a public spirited citizen, whose labors have been a valuable 98 - CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY contributor to the material advancement and substantial progress of his adopted county. His resistless energy and resolute purpose have placed him in the forefront, so far as material matters are concerned, and his high qualities of citizenship insure him the respect of his neighbors. GEORGE F. PENDLETON. Whatever else may be said of the legal fraternity, it cannot be denied that members of the bar have been more prominent actors in public affairs than any other class of American people. This is but the natural result of causes which are manifest and require no explanation. The ability and train-ing which qualify one to practice law also qualify him .in many respects for duties which lie outside the strict path of his profession, and which touch the general interest of society. The subject of this record is a man who has brought his keen discrimination and his thorough wisdom. to bear, not alone in professional paths, but also for the benefit of his county and state. Hon. George F. Pendleton, at present one of the leading attorneys of Findlay, Ohio, was born in Waldo, now Knox county, Maine, September 27, 1840, and the following year was brought by his parents to Hancock county, of which he has since been a resident. Mr. Pendleton is a son of Darius and Rachel Pendleton. His father was a farmer, builder and contractor, and lived out his life in Hancock county, where he died in September, 1876. He was born in South Fox Island, Maine, in 1816. At the breaking out of the Civil war he entered the service, becoming first lieutenant of Company G, One Hundred Eighteenth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He served until April 19, 1863, when, not being able to stand the rigors of active campaigning on account of physical disability, he returned home and was appointed colonel of the Second Regiment of Home Guards of Hancock county, in which position he continued to serve as long as the regiment preserved its organization. James Gilkay Pendleton, father of Darius, was born in 1783 on Long Island, Maine, located in Licking county, Ohio, and continued to reside there until his death, which occurred August 8, 1867. The father of the last mentioned was Gideon Pendleton, a large owner of real estate on Long Island, Maine, and also extensively engaged in the shipping industry, owning a number of vessels. The family is of English origin and traces its genealogy to the sixteenth century. The emigrant ancestor was Major Brian Pendleton, who came to America ten years after the Pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock. George F. Pendleton, heir to this long line of worthy forefathers, passed the period of his boyhood upon the farm, and received his education prin- CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY - 99 cipally in schools at Stanley, Putnam county, Ohio, and near McComb, Hancock county, Ohio. The father of our subject had in 1849 yielded to the gold excitement and in the spring of 1850 went to California. He returned in 1851, and removed from his previous location in Union township to a tract of two hundred acres in Blanchard township, in Hancock county. Here at the immature age of fifteen our .subject began work for himself, using that stepping stone in the lives of so many of our prominent men—the school room. He taught in the winter and worked on the farm in the summer until August, 1862, when he closed his school at Union Center and responded to the call of his country for asistance in preserving the Union. August 19, 1862, he enlisted in Company G, One Hundred and Eighteenth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, of which his father, Darius Pendleton, was first lieutenant and his brother John a private. After a year's service as private in this company our subject was advanced to the position of corporal, in which he served in the company and on detached service until he was mustered out on June 5, 1865, at Columbus, Ohio. Our subject, after remaining with his company for the first fifteen months, was detailed to act as chief clerk of the brigade commissary, and shortly afterward was advanced to the position of chief clerk of the post commissary, with headquarters at Kingston, Tennessee. After the war Mr. Pendleton returned to Nashville, Tennessee, where he assisted in closing the military accounts of different officers. In August, 1865, his health compelled him to resign, and he returned to his home in Hancock county, where he resumed his work of teaching. In 1867 he was appointed chief deputy in the office of C. B. Wilson, internal revenue col-lector for the seventh district of Ohio, with headquarters at Findlay, and in this office he passed the two following years. Having made up his mind to adopt the law as a profession, he at that time entered the office of Brown & Anderson in Findlay, and after doing the requisite amount of reading, passed the examination and was admitted by the supreme court of Ohio to the bar, at the December term in 187o. A partnership was at once formed with W. H. Anderson, who was the junior member of the above firm, the firm name being Anderson & Pendleton, which continued with a year's intermission, until 1876. At that time the partnership was dissolved, and our subject connected himself with Hon. Henry Brown, the senior member of the firm who had been his preceptors. This partnership continued for a period of two years, after which time Mr. Pendleton practiced alone until 1883. He had taken a very active interest in the campaigns of the party, and as a recognition of his services he was elected common pleas judge for the tenth district in October of that year. In this office he served for a period