HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY - 401 WILLIAM JORDAN, one of the honored old soldiers of the Civil War, one of the first to enter the service of his country when her defenders were summoned in 1861 and only leaving after more than three years of hardship had brought on serious disabilities, is one of the best known and most esteemed residents of Washington Township, Hancock County, 0. His comfortable frame residence stands on his little farm of fourteen acres, not far from the village of Arcadia. He was born in Tuscarawas County, 0., January 19, 1833, and his parents were Charles E. and Margaret (Moore) Jordan, Charles E. Jordan was born near Stillwater on the Ohio River when this great commonwealth was yet a territory. The names of his parents have not been preserved but when he was small they moved down the river below Wheeling and there he grew to manhood and learned the shoemaking trade. He worked there at his trade and also engaged to some extent in farming and there married Margaret Moore, the daughter of a neighbor. Some time later they moved to Tuscarawas County, 0., settling in the woods six miles southeast of New Philadelphia and lived there until the fall of 1835 when they moved to Hancock County. The father entered 16o acres of Government land at that time and later 160 more lying east of his first farm. No clearing or improving of any kind had yet been done, the land lying as a virgin wilderness and therefore the family had to live in the wagon until the father could clear a site and then erect his log cabin. At that time there was plenty of game in the forest, a few wild hogs running through the underbrush and fattening on the nuts from the trees, while deer and wild turkey were not difficult to shoot. Thus, in those early days, there was no lack of food or fuel, nor of shelter, the three great necessities which each year in modern life and civilized communities are the most difficult for the poor man to procure. Charles E. Jordan in the course of time cleared up his land and enjoyed the result of his many years of hard work. Before his death he retired to Findlay and there he passed away in old age. His first wife died on the farm and he later married a widow by the name of Mrs. Winders. She had several children born to her first marriage but none to the second. To Charles E. and Margaret Jordan the following children were barn : Daniel, Martha, William, John M., Nancy Jane, James, Charles Wesley, Mary and Robert D. Of the above family five sons were in the Civil War. William served in the 49th Ohio. John M. was in the 57th Ohio, and is deceased. James, who was killed May 27, 1864, at the battle of Peach Tree Creek, was a member of the 49th 0. Vol. Inf. Charles Wesley, who is now deceased, served as a member of the 57th 0. Vol. Inf. Robert D. was also a member of the 57th Ohio. Nancy Jane is the wife of Michael Steelsmith. Martha and Mary are both deceased. William Jordan recalls many events of his childhood in this section but he was too young to remember the wagon journey here from Tuscarawas County. He remembers his childish interest in the forming and drilling of the local militia which took place on his present farm. As soon as he grew old enough he had farm tasks to perform, his school attendance not exceeding two months in the year. When he reached the age of sixteen years he decided to learn a self-supporting trade and being somewhat accustomed to leather on account of his father's shoemaking business, he concluded to also learn a leather trade, hence served an 402 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY apprenticeship with Capt. John Poorman, a well known saddle and harness maker at Tiffin, 0., and he followed this trade until the outbreak of the Civil War, which found him at Cedar Rapids, Ia., where he had been with G. W. Westlake for six years. Mr. Jordan was one of the first volunteers to offer himself as a private in the First Ia. Vol. Inf., but was not accepted on account of being lacking in required height for that regiment. He then returned to Ohio and enlisted in Co. A, 49th 0. Vol. Inf., under Col. William Gibson and he continued in the service for three years, three months and thirteen days, during this time participating in the long and weary marches and innumerable skirmishes and such notable battles as Shiloh, Stone River, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge and Nashville. He was then attacked with measles and was made so seriously ill that he was confined for some eight months in different hospitals and very nearly lost his eyesight. After receiving his honorable discharge, Mr. Jordan returned to Hancock County and again visited Iowa and possibly might have remained there, finding excellent business prospects in buying and selling land, but the brisk western wind affected his eyes to such an extent that he decided it to be the part of wisdom to return to Ohio. After his return to Hancock County, Mr. Jordan bought 160 acres of land in Cass Township and kept adding farm after farm until he had taxes to pay on 288 acres of land. He carried on farming and sheep-raising until March, 1903, when he sold out and came to his present place where he has enough land to keep him pleasantly occupied in its cultivation without taxing his strength. Formerly he did considerable business in shipping cattle and hogs together with dealing in sheep but no longer attention to these industries. He greatly improved his present place and erected his frame house and other substantial buildings. He has always been deemed a good business man and is a stockholder in the Arcadia Bank at Arcadia, 0. On July 27, 1876, Mr. Jordan was married to Miss Mary Dietz, a daughter of Joseph and Caroline (Nunemaker) Dietz. They came to Hancock County from New Jersey when Mrs. Jordan was small. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Jordan, namely : Margaret, who died young; Martha May, who married Ridgeway Anderson, and they have five children—William, Dale, Frances, Charles and Arlouine; Charles, who married Bessie Taylor ; and Sarah, who is the wife of Verne McCracken. Mr. and Mrs. McCracken have the following children : Delmar, Arthur, Esther, Laverne and Hartley Howard. Mr. Jordan and family are members of the Lutheran church. In his views on public questions Mr. Jordan is a strong Republican but he has never been willing to accept public office although he is well qualified for the same and is so esteemed by his neighbors that the affectionate title of "Uncle Billy" is very generally accorded him. He is a valued member of Norris Post, Grand Army of the Republic at Fostoria and takes much interest in army matters. Mr. Jordan possesses a fund of interesting reminiscences. He has seen wonderful changes since 1858 when he drove across country from Arcadia to the city of Denver. THOMAS W. LANG, who is serving in his third term as city solicitor of Findlay, 0., is recognized as an able member of the Findlay bar. He was born in Cattaraugus County, N. Y., April 15, 1882, and is a son HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY - 403 of Charles and Anna (Curtis) Lang. Charles Lang is a well known gas and oil contractor at Findlay and one of Hancock County's substantial citizens. He came to Findlay from New York in 1889. Thomas W. Lang attended the Findlay schools and was graduated from the High School in 1900 and from the business department of Findlay College, in 1902, when he entered the Ohio State University where he took a complete law course and was graduated in 1904. He located at Findlay and soon built up a very satisfactory practice and so demonstrated his legal ability that he was selected two years later on the Republican ticket, city solicitor. He occupies well appointed offices in the Adams Building, Findlay. Mr. Lang was married to Miss Maud Marion Boehmer, a daughter of A. Boehmer, formerly of Findlay, now residing at Los Angeles, Calif. Mr. Lang is a member of the Elks, the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen. PHILIP SCHALLER, whose well improved farm of 118 acres is situated in Section 6, Van Buren Township, Hancock County, 0., has always lived here, it being the old homestead. He was born in the old log cabin that then stood on the farm, February 15, 1833, and is a son of Christian and Mina (Bower) Schaller. Christian Schaller was born in Germany and was twenty-one years of age when he came to America. He was a farmer 411 his life and spent many years of it on the present farm in Van Buren Township, dying here when aged seventy-eight years. He married Mina Bower, a daughter of William Bower. She died when aged forty-two years and both she and husband were buried in the Van Buren Township Cemetery. They were members of the Lutheran church. Christian Schaller was a strong Democrat in his political views. They had five children. Philip Schaller obtained his education in the district schools. From boyhood he has filled a man's place on the farm and much of the excellent condition of the land may be attributed to his careful cultivation of it for so many years. His flocks and herds compare favorably with others in this section and he is regarded as one of the most successful farmers of the township. In 1884 he erected his present comfortable residence and in 1897 put up the commodious and substantial barn. In politics, Mr. Schaller is a Democrat. He has never accepted any township office, finding the care of his farm sufficiently important and demanding the larger part of his time. Mr. Schaller married Miss Margaret Bower and they have five children: Jacob, William, Charles, Mary and Barbara. Mr. Schaller and family belong to the Lutheran church, in which he is a deacon. HIRAM COOPER EWING, a lifelong resident of Hancock County, 0., a member of an old and honorable family, owns one of the best improved farms in Pleasant Township and is one of its most substantial men. He was born in Liberty Township, Hancock County, 0., April 12, 1863, and is a son of Jacob and Louisa (Cooper) Ewing. Jacob Ewing, father of Hiram C., was born August 16, 1836, in Ashland County, 0., and accompanied his parents to Hancock County in 1854. They were Jacob and Sophia (Mowery) Ewing, natives of Pennsylvania. They had 404 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY accompanied their parents to Ashland County and were married there and when they came to Hancock County settled in Liberty Township. Grandfather Jacob Ewing first bought 160 acres and later added to it until he owned 300 acres. His death occurred in 1866, on the farm now owned by Jeremiah Ewing and his widow survived him but a short time. They had seven children, as follows : Cornelius, a resident of Findlay ; Julia Ann, widow of Elijah Goudy, also of Findlay; Philip, of Pleasant Township; Rudolph, also of Pleasant Township; David, who died in the Civil War; Jacob; and Elmira, widow of Richard Boyd and a resident of Findlay. In 1859, Jacob Ewing of the above family, was united in marriage with Louisa Cooper, a native of Licking County, 0., a daughter of Hiram and Louisa (Miller) Cooper. Her father died in 1883, in Blanchard Township, but her mother lived until August 9, 1901, her age being 100 years and sixteen days. To Jacob Ewing and wife the following children were born: Ella, who resides at Deweyville, 0. ; Erwin E., formerly sheriff of Hancock County, resides at McComb; Hiram C. ; Earl, a farmer, who resides with his sister at Deweyville; Charles, who owns and operates a farm near Deweyville; and Jennie, who died at the age of two years. After marriage, Jacob Ewing remained for some years in Liberty Township and then exchanged his farm there for eighty acres in Pleasant Township, coming to the farm on which Hiram C. Ewing lives, in 1878. He died in the same spring, being then in his forty-second year. His widow survived until 1904, she being sixty-eight years of age. Hiram Cooper Ewing attended District No. 1 school in his boyhood, this being in Pleasant Township. He assisted on the home farm and also worked in the tile business and also in getting out timber, but has made farming his main business. He owns eighty acres of valuable land and he has put many improvements here although it was in fair condition when he came into possession. He is regarded among his neighbors as an unusually successful farmer. Mr. Ewing was married in January, 1888, to Miss Metta Bolton, a daughter of Michael and Elizabeth (Shepler) Bolton, the former of whom died in 1883 and the latter of whom has reached her eighty-third year. Mrs. Ewing was reared in Liberty Township, the youngest of four children, the others being: Hattie, who is the wife of P. J. Gross, of Findlay; Elizabeth, who is the wife of William Browneller, of Deweyville; and Jacob, who is a carpenter by trade and a resident of Findlay. Mr. and Mrs. Ewing have four children: Lloyd Ernest, born in 1888; Troas, born in 1891 ; Lee Bolton, born in August, 1899; and Ralph Cooper, born in 1901. Mr. Ewing and family are members of the Church of God. In politics he is a Democrat. FRANK L. MILLER, one of Amanda Township's most substantial citizens, owning 240 acres of valuable land situated in Sections 5 and 8, was born on this farm, in Amanda Township, Hancock County, 0., October 10, 1868. His parents were Jones R. and Mary (Gilbert) Miller. Jones R. Miller was born in Chester County, Pa., in 1830, and was a son of Henry Miller, who was also a native of Pennsylvania. He first married Margaret Carver of Hancock County, and her death occurred here. After the death of his first wife, Jones R. Miller married Mary Gilbert, who was born in 1823, in Baltimore County, Md., and died in 1905, aged HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY - 405 eighty-two years, his death taking place in the same year, he being aged seventy-five years. They were parents of four children, namely : Thomas G., who was accidentally killed on the railroad in 1892; D. J., who died in his sixth year; Eliza, who is the wife of John F. Hoy, of Vanlue, 0. ; and Frank L. By his first marriage he had one son, William. Jones R. Miller came to Amanda Township in 1854 and purchased the farm which his son, Frank L., now owns. He erected here the first brick house in the township and did all the construction work himself. Frank L. Miller was educated in the schools of Vanlue, and at Findlay College and Delaware College, and was graduated from the last named institution, after which he taught school for four years. Mr. Miller then turned his attention to farming and has found an agricultural life perfectly satisfactory. He carries on a general farming line and grows livestock. In 1895, Mr. Miller was married to Miss Cora F. Spangler, of Wyandot County, 0., and they have two children : J. Lee and Helen. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and for more than twenty years he has been superintendent of the Sunday school. In politics he is a Democrat and has occasionally accepted township office and has served acceptably as assessor and as trustee. He belongs to Lodge No. 710, Knights of Pythias, at Vanlue. JAMES LONG, senior member of the firm of Long Bros., conducting a livery and feed stables at Findlay, and a quick transfer line, is continuing an enterprise which was founded here by his well known father, J. W. Long. James Long was born on a farm in Eagle Township, Hancock County, 0., in 1874. In 1875, John W. Long moved to Dunkirk, 0., where he embarked in a livery business which he continued until 1890, when he removed to a farm in the vicinity of Dunkirk, but in 1893 he came to Findlay and in the following year founded the present business in partnership with his son, James Long, under the firm name of J. W. Long and Son. In 1900, another son, R. J. Long, entered the firm, and the partnership continued until 1909, when J. W. Long retired and bought the Standard Livery. He occupies a substantial two-story brick building on West Sandusky Street and devotes his time mainly to the buying and selling of fine horses and conducting a feed stable. He has been in the livery business for thirty-five years. James Long was practically reared in his present business as he became associated with his father as soon as he left school. Prior to 1902 the main business was confined to the conducting of a first class livery but at that date the firm broadened out and entered also into funeral work, investing in all necesasry accommodations for the same and now own ten rubber-tired hacks suitable for funerals. They also have fine vehicles for hire for other purposes, and keep several hacks which meet all trains for transporting both travelers and their luggage and also do a general transfer business, keeping from thirty to forty head of horses all the time. Their stables and warehouse are situated in the rear of the Phoenix Inn. James Long was, married to Miss Viola Werts, of Findlay, 0., and they have two children : Robert Neil and Annabelle. Mr. Long is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Elks. He is numbered with the progressive and public spirited men of Findlay. 406 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY ELIAS FOX, who resides in Section 13, Washington Township, Hancock County, 0., is one of the capitalists of this section, being interested in banking institutions and owning 11,000 acres of land which is divided into easily cultivated farms, the most of them being occupied by his children. He was born in 1834, in an old log house that stood on the home farm in the woods, on Section 12, Washington Township, Hancock County, and is a son of William and Elizabeth (Whaley) Fox. William Fox was born in Pennsylvania and after his first marriage he came to Fairfield County, 0., where he rented land. From there he moved to Seneca County, where he cleared up a small farm south of Tiffin, 0., and thereby made enough money to enable him to enter eighty acres of land in Hancock County, in 1832. He was a man of business foresight and resource and to his eighty acres he added forty more by clearing up twenty acres for Isaac Wiseman, which he did with the help of his older sons. When William Fox settled first in Section 12, Washington Township, he hastily put up a plain log house which later gave way to a hewn log one and this in turn to the brick house which is still standing. He was known to every one in the neighborhood and was called "Uncle Billy" in friendliness. After the death of his first wife he married Elizabeth Whaley, a lady of Scotch descent, who died in 1837, leaving two children : Isaiah and Elias, the former of whom died at the age of nineteen years. The third marriage of Mr. Fox was to Elizabeth Jacobs, who died without issue. He married Catherine Mailes for his fourth wife, and they had a large family, of whom there are two still living—Nicholas, of Hancock County, and Milton, of Seneca County. He survived his last wife, his death occurring in 1871, when he was aged seventy-nine years. Elias Fox grew to manhood on the old farm which he helped to clear and spent some of his boyhood days in the old log school house, one of the primitive kind, with slab benches, puncheon floor and great fireplace which had to be supplied with fuel by the boys who brought logs in from the forest. After he reached manhood he spent a few years in Wisconsin and after he came back entered his first tract of land, forty acres. He kept it until he was able to sell at a profit of about $400, and this was the capital with which he started his business operations which have grown to be so important. Just before he married he bought thirty-seven acres in Section 13, Washington Township, paying $27 an acre, and in a log house there he and bride commenced housekeeping. For many years he carried on general farming and did much business also in shipping stock. He has believed in improving his land and on almost all the farms he has put up good buildings and has laid, in all probability, 200,000 tiles. He is a stockholder in the bank at Bradner, 0., and was one of the organizers of the Union National Bank at Fostoria, of which he is a director. On March 22, 1860, Mr. Fox was married to Miss Louisa Felkley, a daughter of William and Catherine (Fritcher) Felkley. The parents of Mrs. Fox were born in Germany but were not married until they met in Pennsylvania, where Mrs. Fox was born. She was fourteen years of age when her parents came to Washington Township, Hancock County. Nine children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Fox, as follows : Amelia, now deceased, was the wife of Andrew Coleman and two children survive her—Emma and Della, the latter of whom HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY - 407 is the wife of David Hines; Charles married Nellie Greene; Bailey married Lela Kiser and they have three children—Harold, Ray and Alverta ; Clara is the wife of Fred Crannell; John married Cora Grubb and they have two children—Clarence and Howard; Curtis A. married Sophia Burroff and they have five children —Rosetta, Marcella, Janetta, Ruth and Helen; William, who is unmarried; Lulu, is the wife of Charles Good; and Elias, who married Iva Kendell. They have one son, Alfred. Mr. and Mrs. Fox have the satisfaction of having all their children, with one exception, settled near them in Washington Township. Clara, Mrs. Crannell, lives at Johnstown, Pa. In politics, Mr. Fox is a Democrat. He has served in township offices, being township trustee for three terms. Mr. Fox has become a man of large estate through frugality and good business judgment. CYRUS HENRY CARR, one of the leading agriculturists and representative citizens of Allen Township, Hancock County, 0., is the owner of two tracts of farm land, one of 140 acres on which he lives, is located in Section 20, and the other of twenty acres is located in Section 19. He was born Angust 8, 1853, in a log house, which was situated on a portion of his present farm, and is a son of Charles Wesley and Rebecca (Barnd) Carr. Charles Wesley Carr was born in Ashland County, 0., and when a boy came to Hancock County, where he always followed agricultural pursuits, and died on the farm in Allen Township, August I, 1909, aged eighty-four years. He married Rebecca Barnd, whose death occurred in 1899, and who was a daughter of John Barnd, one of the pioneers of Allen Township and a justice of the peace for over twenty years. Cyrus Henry Carr has always lived on his present farm and has made farming his life occupation. On June 27, 1907, a fine large barn and the residence of our subject were entirely destroyed by fire, but have since been replaced by new and commodious structures. Mr. Carr married Sarah V. Taylor, who was born and reared in Allen Township, and is a daughter of Washington Taylor. Mr. and Mrs. Carr have the following children: Linne E., who died aged twenty-seven years; Harvey 0., who married Mary Brust and has two children—Bernadine and Genevieve; and Estella, who is the wife of Paul Goeke, resides at home with her parents. The religious connection of the family is with the Van Buren Presbyterian church. SAMUEL SNIVELY, a leading citizen of Portage Township, and one of the successful farmers and stock raisers of Hancock County, owns eighty acres of fine farm land in this township and also a second farm of eighty acres which lies in Section 10, Pleasant Township. He resides on the first mentioned farm, all of which with the exception of three acres in Section 29, lies in Section 20, Portage Township. Mr. Snively was born at London, Madison County, 0., February 26, 1853, and is a son of John and Margaret (Barnhart) Snively. The parents of Mr. Snively were natives of Pennsylvania. They came to Ohio and lived for a short time in Madison County but moved to Union County when Samuel was a babe and there the father followed his trade of wagonmaker. The mother died in 1861 and the father in the following year. 408 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY Left an orphan when nine years old, Mr. Snively had but few of the pleasures and advantages that the normal boy craves but what he lost in some ways perhaps he gained in others. He grew up self reliant and as soon as old enough learned the carpenter's trade, which proved to be one of the best steps he ever took. With his kit of tools and the knowledge of how to use them, he has traveled over a large part of his native land and has left specimens of his handiwork in fifteen states of the Union. His journeying took him all over Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland, New York, Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Iowa and Kansas and on even to the Black Hills. At Buffalo, N. Y., he was foreman for a time for a large lumber firm and in 1880 came from there to Hancock County to buy timber. The first tract he purchased was the farm adjoining the one he now owns and it was while on this business expedition that he first met the young lady who subsequently became his wife, their marriage taking place in the following year. For one year after he continued in the lumber business and then rented the farm which he has subsequently acquired, with the intention of settling down to an agricultural life, but shortly afterward his house was burned and he lost practically all he owned here. He then moved to the Wood County line where he bought eighty acres of woodland, but for good reasons he remained there but a short time and then removed to what was the Samuel Culp farm in Portage Township. However, prosperity did not attend him and so he turned again to the excellent trade which had previously proved so valuable an asset. Leaving his wife with substantially every cent of his money, he again shouldered his kit of carpenter's tools and set his face toward the West. Within one year Mr. Snively sent for the waiting wife who immediately joined him and for twelve years afterward they lived on a farm in Nebraska and prospered there. In 1896 Mr. Snively returned to Hancock County on a visit and old home associations proved too strong. He purchased the farm of eighty acres in Portage Township on which he now resides. It was unimproved and all the substantial and appropriate buildings now standing thereon were erected by him as rapidly as possible. When he sold his farm of eighty acres in Nebraska, he bought his eighty-acre farm in Pleasant Township. Mr. Snively was married in 1881 to Miss Rachel Montgomery, a daughter of George W. Montgomery. Her father was an auctioneer in Portage Township who had much more than a local reputation and he also was postmaster at Portage Center, which was the second post-office established in Hancock County. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Snively, namely : Elmer F., Edna I., Ethel Fern, Dorothy and Lottie M. Elmer F. Snively resides on his father's farm in Pleasant Township. He married Jessie Pingle, who died April 20, 1910, and is survived by a son, Cloyce, who is now aged eighteen months. Edna I. is the wife of T. E. Bond. Dorothy is the wife of Clarence Freed. Elmer Snively is known all over this section, having been a popular school teacher for some years and later mail clerk on the C. H. & D. Railroad. Neither he nor his father are very active politically hut they are numbered with the reliable, de- HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY - 411 pendable men of this section of Hancock County. JASPER F. HARRY, one of the substantial farmers and much esteemed citizens of Allen Township, who resides on a farm of 76 acres about four and a half miles north of Findlay, has been living on this farm since 1869. He was born November 8, 1836, on a farm four miles east of Van Buren in Cass Township, Hancock County, Ohio, and is a son of Samuel and Rachel (Franks) Harry. His parents were both born and reared in Pennsylvania, and after their marriage located in Hancock County, where the father died when our subject was very young. The mother subsequently removed to Seneca County, Ohio, where she settled on a farm, and many years later married William Myers, who died about 1856. Our subject and mother then returned to Hancock County and located for a time on a farm one mile northwest of his present place. In 1869 they purchased the farm on which Mr. Harry now resides, and the mother later removed to Van Buren, where her death occurred. Mr. Harry has made all of the improvements on his place, and erected his fine frame residence in 1889. When 'gas was first discovered in this locality, it was struck on his farm, and he received $1,500 a year as royalty for it. He now rents out his farm, and is taking a well earned rest after years of unceasing activity. In 1871 Mr. Harry married Sarah Jane Decker, a daughter of Mahlon and Minerva (Dull) Decker, who in their day were very prominent citizens of Allen Township. To Mr. and Mrs. Harry were born the following children: Lilly Adosia, died aged nineteen months; Maud Nora, who is the wife of Burgett Murray of Findlay, and has two children, Margaret and Caroline; Charles B., who is engaged in agricultural pursuits on a farm three miles east of Van Buren in Cass Township; Edith, who died aged two weeks; and Augusta, who is the wife of Franklin Spaythe, of Akron, Ohio. JOSEPH ALGE, junior member of the firm of Alge Brothers, well known stone, concrete and brick contractors of Findlay, 0., was born February 24, 1869, in Martinstown, Hancock County, 0., and is a son of Joseph and Theresa (Beck) Alge. Joseph Alge, Sr., was born in 1839, in Baden, Germany, and when eighteen years of age came to America and settled in Hancock County, 0. He first located in Martinstown, where he purchased forty acres of land, and in 1871 went into business in Findlay Township, where he operated a brick yard near Findlay and in 1888 came to Findlay, where his death occurred February 16, 1910. He was one of the prominent pioneer contractors of this city, having followed that business here since previous to the Civil War. He was contractor for many of the dwellings and business blocks of Findlay, the last building for which he contracted having been the Karst Block of this city. One son, Charles Alge, was associated in business with him from 1884, and ten years later his son Joseph became a member of the firm. Mr. Alge was the owner of 268 acres of fine farm land in Hancock County at the time of his death, having made investments not many years after locating in the county. He married Theresa Beck, who is still living. 412 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY Joseph Alge, the subject of this sketch, was reared west of Findlay, 0., where his parents located when he was about four years old, and he began working in the Alge brick yard when about eighteen years of age and continued working there until 1894, when he became identified with his brother in the contracting business at Findlay, 0., and has since been junior member of the substantial firm of Alge Brothers, stone, concrete and brick contractors. Mr. Alge was joined in marriage with Mary Cahill, and of their union have been born five children : Edwin J., Mary, Verna, Lewis, and Robert. Lewis died aged twenty-five months. Mr. Alge is a Democrat politically and served two years as a member of the city council. He is a member of the Catholic church, and belongs to the Knights of Columbus. CYRUS F. KING, M. D., who is the only registered drug physician in Hancock County, 0., has been in active practice at Mt. Cory, since the summer of 1895 and is one of the best known members of his profession in this section. He was born in Portage Township, Hancock County, January 26, 1855, and is a son of John and Louisa (Hart) King. John King, who is probably the oldest resident of Hancock County, was born in Ashland County, 0. In earlier years he taught school through Portage and Liberty Townships and for many years resided near McComb. He married Louisa Hart, also of Ashland County, who died July T0, 1898, at Findlay. Cyrus F. King was reared in Portage Township and obtained his early education in the old No. 9 district school, after which he completed the school course at Findlay. He started to read medicine with Dr. Watson, a practitioner at that time at McComb, and from under his instruction entered the Eclectic Medical College at Cincinnati, where he was graduated June 8, 1878. He started into practice at Arlington, 0., where he opened the first drug store, also opening the first one at Mt. Cory, and maintained his home at Arlington for seventeen years. He came to Mt. Cory, June 19, 1895, and has been a leading citizen, serving as mayor of the town for two years, and for two years was a member of the town council. He was a member of the board of pension examiners at Findlay, for ten years. Dr. King was married December 17, 1876, to Miss Manerva Porter, a daughter of Amos and Sarah (Comer) Porter, the former of whom died April 6, 1899, and the latter August 9, 1900, near Findlay. To Dr. and Mrs. King a family of twelve children was born, as follows : Dwight J., who formerly was superintendent of schools at Vanlue, 0., for four summers has been attending the Illinois Medical College at Chicago, married May Brenneman of Mt. Cory and they have two children—Ralph and Wendell ; Alvin E., who, for the past year has been a student at his father's old college, formerly taught school for five years at Van Buren, one year in Orange Township and four years in Union Township, married Coza M. Light, of Mt. Cory ; Merrell S., who also studied medicine at Chicago, Ill., married Ida Hubler, of Mt. Cory ; Bessie, who died September 22, 1906, at the age of twenty years, was a teacher in Cass HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY - 413 Township; Wade, who is a student at the Ohio Normal University at Ada, 0.; Carrie, who is employed in the Farmers' Bank of Mt. Cory ; Marco, Sarah, Martha and Mary, who are at home ; and two who died in infancy. Three sons : Merrell S., Dwight J. and Alvin E. are attending the Eclectic Medical College at Cincinnati. A number of Dr. King's children have been successful teachers and for five years before entering on medical practice he taught school in Blanchard, Pleasant, Liberty, and Findlay Townships. The family is an unusually intellectual one. They are members of the Evangelical church at Mt. Cory, Dr. King being one of its trustees. In politics he is a Republican. He is identified with several fraternal organizations, belonging to the Modern Woodmen at Bluffton, to the Maccabees at Mt. Cory, and to the Royal Arcanum at Findlay. PETER J. SMITH, township trustee in Van Buren Township, Hancock County, 0., where he is a prominent farmer, owning eighty acres of excellent land, situated in Section 22, was born in this township, February 9, 1857. His parents were Peter and Christina (Hickler) Smith. Peter Smith was born in Germany and was about seven years old when his parents brought him to America. They settled in Madison Township, Hancock County, and there Peter Smith grew to manhood and later married Christina Hickler, a daughter of Andrew Hickler, of Van Buren Township. Thirteen children were born to this marriage and eleven of these still survive. Both parents lived into honored old age, the father dying when almost eighty years old and the mother in her seventy-third year and their burial was in the German Lutheran Cemetery, southeast of Jenera. They were good, Christian people, devoted members of the Lutheran church. The father cast his vote with the Democratic party. Peter J. Smith, with his brothers and sisters, attended the district schools and he was twenty years old when he spent his last winter in the school room. He helped his father on the home farm for four years more and then married and for two years afterward lived in Madison Township and then moved on a farm situated just east of his present one. After selling that place he purchased his present farm in Section 22. He has made many improvements here and all the buildings now standing have been remodeled. He carries on general farming and stock raising. Mr. Smith is one of the representative men of this section and in no way can his reliability be better shown than by the fact that he is serving in his fourth year as township trustee. He enjoys the entire confidence of his fellow citizens. In politics he is a Democrat. In 1881, Mr. Smith was married to Miss Mary Piper, a daughter of Adam Piper, of Madison Township, and they have had four children : Henry, who married Minnie Traucht ; Charles, who married Amy Piper, a daughter of Adam Piper ; George, who married Dora Bame, a daughter 0f David Bame, of Madison Township and Emma, who died when three years old. Mr. Smith and family are members of the Lutheran church at Jenera. GEORGE W. KEERAN, a representative citizen and prominent farmer of Pleas- 414 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY ant Township, Hancock County, 0., who owns eighty acres of well improved land located one-half mile north of McComb, was born in Sandusky County, 0., in 1853, and is a son of Nathaniel and Eliza (Linch) Keeran. The parents of Mr. Keeran came to Hancock County and settled in Portage Township about two miles east and two miles north of McComb, about 1863. Previously the father had followed the blacksmith trade but after coming to this section engaged in farming and died on his own land in Portage Township, in 1879. His parents were of Scotch-Irish ancestry and came from the north of Ireland to Sandusky County, 0., where he was born. Nathaniel Keeran married Eliza Linch, who died in 1886. They had twelve children born to them : Cornelius, Nancy, John, Mary Ann, Malinda, Esther, Reuben, George W., Eli, Adaline, and one that died an infant. William was a farmer and at the time of his death, in 1909, he lived in Illinois. Cornelius, who spent some years in Kansas, returned to Ohio before his death, which took place at Belmore, in Putnam County. Nancy was the wife of Lawrence Brown and they both died at Toledo. John was killed when serving as a soldier in the War of the Rebellion, at the battle of Antietam. Mary Ann is the wife of Frank Brown. Malinda is the widow of John Buchanan and resides in Wood County, 0. Esther, who died in August, 1910, was the wife of William P. Routson, of Portage Township. Reuben is a prominent physician at Findlay. Eli is a farmer in Putnam County. Adaline is the wife of J. J. Routson and they live in Michigan. The father and mother of the above family were members of the Baptist church. In politics the father was a Republican. George W. Keeran obtained a district school education and worked on the home farm for his father until he was twenty-one years of age and after that time was employed by his father for some years. Farming has been his main business and he has engaged in it at several points, spending six years west of Deweyville and for' twenty years before settling on his farm in Pleasant Township, he lived in Henry County, where he owned 120 acres of land. After selling that place, in the spring of 1908, he purchased what was known both as the Griffin farm and the Wall farm. Mr. Keeran has made many improvements here, including the building of a fine modern residence and a substantial hip-roof barn. His farm industries are all in fine shape, all of his land with the exception of eight acres being now under cultivation. He may be numbered with the comfortably independent men of the township but his prosperity has been brought about through his own efforts. When he decided to purchase his first farm he borrowed the money for his first payment from his kind mother. Misfortune pursued him apparently at first, as he lost seventy-five head of fat hogs from cholera and later lost his barn in Henry County, from fire. In spite of many discouragements, however, Mr. Keeran kept up his courage and where he had worked hard before, worked still a little harder and applied himself a little closer and the time came when he no longer owed a dollar and, on the other hand, had lands and herds which made him a man of ample means. In politics he is a Republican. HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY - 415 Mr. Keeran married Miss Mary Yantis, a daughter of George Yantis of Pleasant Township. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. C. F. JACKSON COMPANY, proprietors and founders of one of the largest business enterprises of Hancock County, 0., conduct an immense department store at Findlay which is locally known as the Glass Block. The president of this company is C. F. Jackson, while the general manager is his son, Edward E. Jackson, both of whom are men of large business experience and unquestioned integrity. Before investing in property at Findlay, the members of the above firm visited the place and carefully considered its possibilities as became astute men of business and after deciding that the field was a promising one in which to establish their proposed great store, they soon secured an excellent location. They purchased the old hotel building formerly known as the Joy House, on the corner of Main and W. Sandusky Streets, and after completely remodeling the same and installing modern conveniences and appliances, opened for business in 1905. This store inaugurated an entirely new scale of merchandising at Findlay. Prior to this no merchant had ever had the courage to gather together so complete and valuable a stock under one roof, or had the enterprise to put forth the efforts which have made the Glass Block, at Findlay, a complete success, so great a one that in the year following its beginning a business of over a half million dollars was transacted. The different departments, some twenty in number, include those devoted to meats, groceries, notions, ladies' and gentlemen's furnishings, shoes, clothing, furniture, millinery, carpets musical instruments, in fact here may be found almost every object, utensil, commodity or convenience that establishments of this kind in metropolitan cities offer. The company maintains a very large force, more than 105 names being on the pay roll, these including salesmen, salesladies, window trimmers, bookkeepers, managers and others in more humble capacities, all being necessary to the smooth running of so large a business. The company occupies the entire building at Nos. 500-508 Main Street, which is three stories high, together with a portion that reaches up another story. The company has provided also for the enjoyment of .their patrons by establishing aesthetic surroundings, few mercantile houses in this part of the state having what may be termed a foyer with comfortable seats surrounding a playing fountain as may be seen in the Glass Block. In addition to other goods of modern design and up-to-date ideas, the company has one department devoted to the display and sale of automobiles, their garage being located on Park Place, near the Court House. Here may be seen cars of every price and description that have been favorably received by the public, together with automobile tires and sundries. To successfully manage a stupendous business like this requires much more than the usual amount of ability and the members of the firm of C. F. Jackson Company are thus accredited. C. F. Jackson, the president of the C. F. Jackson Company, was born and reared at Norwalk, 0. He obtained his education and entered into business there, in the course of time becoming a member of the firm of Marsh & Jackson. Later he sold his interest in that firm and moved to Minneapolis, where he was engaged in business for ten years when he returned to Ohio and subsequently opened the 416 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY Glass Block department store which the company still conducts, at Norwalk, 0., where Mr. C. F. Jackson resides. This was in 1894. Edward E. Jackson, general manager of the C. F. Jackson Company, was born at Norwalk, 0., but spent ten years of his school period at Minneapolis. As soon as sufficiently matured he was taught business precepts in his father's store and continued in the Glass Block at Norwalk until 1905, when he came to Findlay to be general manager of the new store. He is recognized as one of the progressive and wide awake young business men of the city and has made friends both of a business and a personal nature. Mr. Jackson was married at Findlay to Miss Glenna Weil, a daughter of John \'Veil, who is in the drug business at Findlay, and they have one child, Mary. He is identified with the Elks. SAMUEL SWAB, justice of the peace, is one of Cass Township's most valued and substantial citizens, one of the heaviest taxpayers and public spirited men, and owns four fine farms, comprising 637 acres, and resides on one containing 140 acres. He was born in the old log house standing on his father's farm at that time, in Westmoreland County, Pa., August 5, 1845, and is a son of George and Mary (Rodibaugh) Swab. George Swab was born in 1813, in Westmoreland County, Pa., and his father's name was also George and he was born near Philadelphia, his parents having come from Germany. Six children were born to the older George Swab : George, Solomon, Samuel, Christiana S., Smith, Mary, and Barbara Duffield, all deceased. George Swab (2) grew to manhood in Westmoreland County, and for a time operated a distillery there. He married Mary Rodibaugh, who died in Pennsylvania when their son Samuel was three years old. Six years later Samuel Swab accompanied his father and his brother and sister to Hancock County. The father settled in Cass Township, buying eighty acres of timbered land, the only improvement being a log house. He cleared and improved this place and put up the greater number of the buildings and continued to live here until the close of his life. His death occurred August 20, 1907, he being at that time the oldest man in the township. His second marriage was to Fannie Shaufler, who was born in Fairfield County and still resides in Cass Township. Samuel Swab was the eldest born of his father's three children. His brother, David Swab, lives in Allen Township. His sister, Barbara, who is now deceased, was the wife of Andrew Pletcher, of Allen Township. Mr. Swab obtained a district school education. He gave great assistance to his father in clearing the homestead and has always been a hard working man. Although Mr. Swab owns much more land than does the average farmer, he has earned every acre of it by his own industry with the exception of the forty acres given him by his father. He has always been a progressive and enterprising man and has set a good example in his township in clearing and developing his property, in which he has spared neither time, labor nor expense. Oil is produced on all the farms. On September 25, 1872, Mr. Swab was married to Miss Barbara Kagy, a native of Fairfield County and a daughter of Samuel and Hannah Kagy, who came to Hancock County when Mrs. Swab was an infant. Four children have been born to Mr.. and Mrs. Swab : Blanche, HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY - 417 who is the wife of John A. Nusser, of Allen Township, and they have one child, Dorothy; Delora, who is the wife of Charles Harry, of Allen Township; Samuel K., who assists Mr. Swab on the home farm, married Bessie Ullery and they have two children—Gladys and Bernice; and Pearl, who is the wife of S. J. Overholt, of Cass Township, and they have two children—Frances and an infant. Mr. Swab and son are Republicans and he has served in responsible township offices, having been president of the school board and township treasurer and trustee. Samuel K. is also prominent in township affairs, serving as school director and at present is constable. The family is a representative one in Cass Township, Hancock County. LEWIS F. BRICKMAN, county commissioner of Hancock County; 0., and a well known general farmer and cattle raiser of Pleasant Township, was born March 31, 1858, on the old Taylor farm in Washington Township, Hancock County, 0., a son of William and Aaronstina (Geisler) Brickman. William Brickman was born in Germany and died in Portage Township, Hancock County, 0., where he was engaged in agricultural pursuits. The mother of our subject died in McComb. Lewis F. Brickman grew to manhood in Hancock County, and attended the schools of his home district. He was reared a farmer and his first farm was a tract of twenty acres, which he bought in Pleasant Township in 1883. Mr. Brickman is now the owner of several farms, having 219 acres in Pleasant Township, 240 acres in three tracts in Blanchard Township, and 03 acres in Allen Township, all in Hancock County. Mr. Brickman carries on general farming and is extensively engaged in raising cattle, hogs, sheep, horses, etc. Mr. Brickman is a Democrat politically, and in the fall of 1908 was elected a member of the Board of County Commissioners, assuming the duties of that office September 20, 1909. He served six years and nine months as trustee of Pleasant Township and was for twenty-seven years a member of the school board, but resigned from office in the spring of 1910. He is a director of the McComb Banking Company of McComb. His religious connection is with the Lutheran church of McComb, of which he is one of the directors, and served as an elder many years, and for eight consecutive years was treasurer of same. Mr. Brickman was married in 1883 to Amanda J. Fundum, who is a daughter of Henry Fundum of Blanchard Township, and to them have been born the following children : Henry, who married Inez Donaldson, who died leaving two children, Robert and Arthur ; Samuel ; Clara, who is the wife of Charles Roy, has one child, Dorothy; and William. JAMES SYLVESTER CUSAC, who owns 108 acres of valuable farm land, situated in Section 31, Portage Township, Hancock County, 0., has lived here since 1889 and was born on an adjoining farm, September 1, 1852. He is a son of John and Nancy (Bell) Cusac, the former of whom died on this farm in the spring of 1904, aged eighty-three years. The latter still survives and is now in her eighty-eighth year. James S. Cusac was reared in Portage Township and has always lived here with the exception of six years spent in Liberty Township: He attended the country schools and has made farming and stock raising his main in- 418 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK. COUNTY terests, and as he is practical and progressive he has met with very satisfactory results. Mr. Cusac married Miss Margaret Litzenberg, who was born at Findlay, 0., and died on this farm in the fall of 1904. Her father was John Litzenberg. Mr. and Mrs. Cusac had three children : Robert, who married Oral Pennelton, has one child; May, who married Leroy Nutter, of Colorado, has one child; and Loren, who remains at home with his father. Mr. Cusac is a member of the Blanchard Presbyterian Church. JAMES A. McCALL. One of the important business concerns at Findlay, Ohio, is that of Tarbox & McCall, who are owners of stone quarries, and manufacturers and dealers in crushed stone and stone and concrete blocks—a business which was established here in the fall of 1897—also manufacturing cement drain tile. The firm consists of Harry L. Tarbox and James A. McCall. Their works and quarries are situated on Western Avenue, their offices being at No. 953 Western Avenue. Employment is given to about twenty-five men, while the output has a wide field of distribution. James A. McCall was born on a farm in Greene County, Ohio, May 16, 1864, and is a son of John G. and Eliza ( Junkin) McCall. They still reside on their farm, the same one on which their son was reared and resided until he came to Findlay in 1897. James A. McCall was married to Miss Lulu Park of Belle Center, Logan County, Ohio, and they have two sons, Wallace A. and Ernest W. Harry L. Tarbox, the senior member of the firm of Tarbox & McCall, was also born in Greene County but he came to Findlay several years prior to the advent of his partner. They are both men of enterprise and are enjoying a prosperous business with a promising future. They are recognized as valuable additions to Findlay's good citizenship. LEONARD B. DECKER, who owns the old homestead farm in Section 26, Allen Township, Hancock County, 0., was born here, November 21, 1869, and is a son of James and Mary (Barnd) Decker. James Decker was born in Crawford County, 0., January 16, 1837, a son of Mahlon and Minerva (Dull) Decker, the former of whom was born in New Jersey and the latter in Pennsylvania. They married in Pennsylvania and shortly afterward came to Crawford County, 0., and in 1845 to Hancock County. Here Mahlon Decker bought eighty acres of timber land in Section 24, Allen Township, on which he erected a log cabin in which they lived for twenty-five years. Mahlon Decker died in July, 1874. His widow survived until almost ninety years of age. James Decker was eight years old when his parents brought him to Hancock County. In 1860 lie purchased his first piece of land, a tract of forty-six acres, to which he added at various times. In August, 1862, he enlisted as a private in Co. G, 118th 0. Vol. Inf., for service in the Civil War then in progress, and he participated in a score of battles in the Middle West. He was severely wounded at the battle of Resaca, from the effects of which he became incapacitated as a soldier and was honorably discharged in 1865, a short time before the war closed. He lived many years afterward, however, his death occurring December 12, 1904. He was a member of Stoker Post, G. A. R., Findlay. He married Mary Barnd, a daughter of John and Sarah Barnd, early set- HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY - 421 tiers in Hancock County. Mrs. Decker was born in Allen Township, in 1838, and still survives, her home being at Defiance, 0. Eight children were born to James and Mary Decker. Leonard B. Decker has passed the greater part of his life on this farm, in fact all but nine years of it. During a part of that time he worked at Findlay as a carpenter and spent the remainder as a laborer in the oil fields. He acquired oil interests, his father being treasurer of the Hancock Oil and Gas Company, this being the first organization to open the fields north of Findlay. Mr. Decker rents out the farm for agricultural purposes, and to the Ohio Oil Company, which has twelve wells on the place beside the three producing wells owned by Mr. Decker. Mr. Decker was married to Miss Rose Horner, a daughter of Jacob Horner, and they have two children: Stella and Edna. Mr. Decker is not particularly active in politics, but he is interested in the fraternal order of Knights of Pythias and belongs to Lodge No. 85, at Findlay. BENJAMIN BOWERSOX, owner of forty acres of fine farm land situated in Section 18, Union Township, Hancock County, 0., has resided on this place for the past seventeen years and is one of the representative citizens of Union Township. He was born in Snyder County, Pa., June 26, 1857, and is a son of Daniel and Amelia (Steimley) Bowersox, also natives of Pennsylvania. They came to Hancock County, 0., in 1860 and settled in Eagle Township, where the father followed 'farming all his life. His death occurred five years later but his widow survived until 1887. Benjamin Bowersox was reared and educated in Union Township. His business has always been of an agricultural nature and he is counted among the successful farmers and stock raisers of this section. His farm is well situated, lying about four miles northwest of Mt. Cory, on the Ridge road. Mr. Bowersox was married first to Miss Christina Steiner, in 1891. She was a school teacher who had taught four terms in Putnam County, where she was born. She died in Hancock County in 1901, aged forty-six years, leaving no issue. In 1901, Mr. Bowersox was married second to Miss Jennie Forsythe, who was born at Kenton, 0., a daughter of a well known teacher there. No children have been born to the second marriage. Mr. Bowersox is a member of the Church of God, at Pleasant Ridge, in which he has served as a deacon and a member of the board of trustees. FRANKLIN COOKSON, who is engaged in agricultural pursuits on a tract of ninety acres in Orange Township, Hancock County, 0., was born December 25, 1848, in Trumbull County, 0., and is one of the representative citizens of the community in which he lives. He attended the common schools of Orange Township, until twenty years of age, when he engaged in farming, and has made that his life occupation. He now has one of the best improved farms in the township, although at the time he purchased the place it consisted wholly of timberland. Mr. Cookson was united in marriage with Miss Henrietta Thuston, who is a daughter of Henry and Eva Thuston of Orange Township, and to them have been born the following children : Hulda Alura, who died 422 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY at the age of nineteen years, six months and twenty days, was buried at Hasson Cemetery; Alva V., who married Bertha Whit-beck of Orange Township, and they have two children—Charles F. and Mary Etta ; and William Henry, and Clarence Calvin. Mr. Cookson is politically identified with the Democratic party but has never held any offices. He belongs to the Evangelical church, in which he is a steward and a member of the board of trustees. Fraternally he is identified with the Masonic order at Bluffton, 0. GEORGE K. CHAMPION, a prominent citizen of Pleasant Township and one of the substantial agriculturists of this section of Hancock County, 0., owns 227 acres of valuable land which is devoted to general farming. He was born in Pleasant Township, October 23, 1848, and is a son of William J. and Susan (Wiseman) Champion. William J. Champion was a son of William J. Champion and was born near Fostoria, 0., from whence he came to Hancock County in 1847. He settled in Pleasant Township, five miles west of McComb and one mile north of Shawtown and died on that farm in 1869, at the early age of thirty-eight years. When he came to this section it was almost all in woods and a large part was under water from lack of drainage. The forest stretched at that time from the tract purchased by Mr. Champion all the way to Fostoria and his widow recalls the fact that they stopped over night at Findlay while journeying to the new home. At that time Findlay was a village, but was the height of civilization compared to the forest in which these brave pioneers started the building of their home. Mr. Champion's life was probably shortened by the great strain he put upon his strength and vitality in clearing and draining this land and endeavoring to make improvements. He built a frame house and had prepared the timbers for a substantial barn when he was prostrated and his death followed. In early manho0d he had married Susan Wiseman, also born near Fostoria, a daughter of James Wiseman. Mrs. Champion has reached her seventy-seventh year. Her home is with her son, George K. To William J. Champion and wife the following children were born : Mary E., who is the wife of Lewis J. Hardin, of Pleasant Township ; George K. ; William, who is a farmer residing near Coldwater, Mich., married Rosanna Kelley, of Hancock County ; Nancy, deceased, who was the wife of Edward Miller, of Wood County ; and John, who is in the employ of the Downey & Harris Tile Manufacturing Company at Findlay, married Cora Miller. The father of the above family served three years in an artillery regiment in the Civil War, and suffered an injury from which he never recovered. In politics he was a Democrat. When his father entered the army, George K. Champion, as the eldest son, had many responsibilities placed on him and his school period closed early. He has devoted himself to agricultural pursuits in the main and carries on his operations in a scientific manner, being a firm believer in the value of rotation of crops. His farm of 227 acres has been his possession since 1889. It was formerly known as the old Daniel Spaulding farm and was purchased by Mr. Champion from Obed Neible. He has done a HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY - 423 large amount of general improving and erected the present comfortable residence. In 1883, Mr. Champion was married to Miss Rachel Nevada Cummings, a daughter of George F. and Mary (Hull) Cummings and a grand-daughter of Benjamin Cummings, an early settler and one of the first men to fill the office of justice of the peace at McComb. The father of Mrs. Champion was a soldier in the Civil War and both he and wife are deceased. Mrs. Champion was an only child. To Mr. and Mrs. Champion three daughters were born, namely : Estella, who married Earl Smith, of Pleasant Township and they have one daughter, Dorothy; Ethleen, who is the wife of Burrell Auckerman, a farmer in Pleasant Township; and Vivian, who resides at home. Mr. Champion and all of his family are members of the Church of God at Deweyville. In politics he is a Democrat and is active in party matters in the county although he has seldom consented to accept political honors for himself. He has served, however, for some years as a member of the board of elections and is president of this body. RICHARD J. GOHLKE, superintendent of the Maple Grove Cemetery, at Findlay, 0., was born in Germany, December 23, 1862, and is a son of Ferdinand Gohlke and his wife, Henrietta Gohlke. The father died in Germany in February, 1872, but the mother still lives. She is in her eighty-eighth year and is cared for by her son, Richard J., and is a resident of his household. Richard J. Gohlke learned the florist and gardener business in his native land and be- came so expert that he was employed in the Emperor's gardens in the city of Berlin. According to the German law he served his allotted term in the army and held the rank of corporal. Afterward he continued to work as a florist and in 1891 he decided to come to America, where his older brother, William Gohlke, was in the railroad business, being section foreman on the T. & 0. C. Railroad, at Findlay. After joining this brother he worked under him for one year but kept on the lookout for work at his own trade and in 1892 found it and on May 1, of that year, became an employe of the Maple Grove Cemetery, a tract of forty-two acres of land. On May I, 1899, Mr. Gohlke became superintendent, succeeding William Taylor, and here, with his force of twelve men, Mr. Gohlke has made this indeed a beautiful spot. He understands landscape gardening and also the treatment of trees, vines, shrubbery and plants and the different composition of soil in which each one will best develop and has the natural taste to teach him how to make all into an attractive whole. He spares no pains to make this place a credit. Mr. Gohlke was married in Germany in 1885, to Miss Albertina Schwartz, and they have five children : Richard, who works with his father in the cemetery, is married and lives at Findlay ; Paul, who lives in California ; William, who is a mail carrier ; and Freda and Johanna, at home. Mr. Gohlke is a member of the order of Odd Fellows. ROBERT BOWERSOX, who owns seventy-eight acres of well improved land in Section 16, Union Township, Hancock County, 0., lying two miles north of Mt. 424 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY Cory, is one of the representative men and successful farmers and stock raisers of this township, of which he has been a resident for fifty years. He was born in Snyder County, Pa., January 3, 1858, and is a son of Jacob and Mary (Keyster) Bowersox. Jacob Bowersox was born in Pennsylvania, where he married, and with his wife came to Hancock County, settling in Union Township when their son Robert was an infant. He continued to live in Union Township and carry on farming and here his death occurred in 1890. His widow, now eighty-seven years of age, lives on the old homestead east of Rawson, 0. Robert Bowersox attended the public schools in Union Township and has devoted himself to farm pursuits. His land is valuable and he has it well tiled and carefully cultivated. He carries on a general farming line which includes the growing of grain and the raising of good stock of all kinds. His buildings are substantial in construction and are sufficient for all the needs of the farm. In 1873, Mr. Bowersox was married to Miss Nevada Powell, a daughter of Henry and Susan Powell, of Hancock County. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bowersox, namely: Iva, who married Charles Bubring, also of Hancock County, and they have one son, Harold; and Raymond and Earl, both of whom assist their father. Mr. Bowersox is a Republican and in the fall of 1909 was elected assessor of Union Township for a period of two years. From 1906 until 1908 he served as a justice of the peace. For twenty years Mr. Bower-sox has been a member of the Allbright Methodist church at Mt. Cory. BENJAMIN F. FRY, residing on a fine farm of 240 acres in Section 18, Liberty Township, is one of the progressive and substantial farmers of Hancock County, 0., and was born April 5, 1854, in Liberty Township, a son of Henry and Susanna (Spangler) Fry. Henry Fry was born in Germany, in 1805, and when a lad of nine years stole his passage to the United States, landing in Baltimore, Md., after a voyage of four or five weeks, with but six dollars in cash. He remained one month in Baltimore, and after spending five dollars of his capital, worked by the day at a wage of twenty-five cents. He then went to Fairfield County, 0., where he entered the employ of a Mr. Bazel, for whom he later spent some eight years as manager of the farm and as wool buyer. In 1848 he came to Hancock County and purchased a tract of forty acres in Liberty Township, and subsequently became the owner of over b00 acres of valuable farm land in Wood and Hancock Counties, the greater part lying in the latter county. During his early days he also dealt in cattle, and about the time of his marriage drove a large number to Pittsburg, taking several months to make the trip. After coming to Liberty Township, he built a log road, about twenty inches thick, from the center of Section 18 to a little beyond the center of Section 19, and resided along that road the remainder of his life. His marriage with Susanna Spangler resulted in the birth of eight sons and five daughters, all living but one son and two daughters. His wife lived to the age of seventy-eight years, and he to the age of eighty-six years and eleven months, dying in August, 1892. Both are buried in the Aurand Cemetery of Liberty Township. Henry Fry and his wife attended the Church of God. Politically he was a strong Republican.