HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY - 427 Benjamin F. Fry received his education in the schools of Liberty Township, and after completing same, devoted his time to agricultural pursuits on his father's farm. After his marriage he lived in the old homestead for two years, then built his present residence in which he has lived continuously since. Besides his farm of 240 acres, Mr. Fry also owns four fine residences in Findlay, O. Mr. Fry was united in marriage with Miss Laura Grose, :who is a daughter of Jacob Grose, of Findlay, and they have three children : Myrtle, who is the wife of Roy Schoonover of McComb, O. ; Ray ; and Glenn. Mr. Fry is politically identified with the Republican party, and has been a member of the Liberty Township School Board for two years. The family attends the Union Christian church. HARRY J. MOREHART, assistant cashier of the Vanlue Banking Company, at Vanlue, Hancock County, O., belongs to a substantial old family of this section. He was born in Amanda Township, Hancock County, O., November 22, 1876, and is a son of Jesse D. and Elizabeth (Beck) Morehart. Jesse D. Morehart was also born in Amanda Township, a son of David Morehart, who entered 160 acres of land in Amanda Township at an early day. This property came to his sons : David, John, S. F. and Jesse D. The last named married Elizabeth Beck, who was torn and reared in Amanda Township. They still reside there and have had four children : Ray ; Delle F., who married A. L. Woodyard, of Delaware Township; Ross V., who died at the age of fifteen years; and Harry J. Harry J. Morehart was educated in the public schools of Amanda Township and at Vanlue, after which he engaged in farming until he accepted the position of assistant cashier of the Vanlue Banking Company, on May 1, 1909. He has a wide acquaintance in the agricultural districts and enjoys the confidence of the whole business community. In 1909, Mr. Morehart was married to Miss Cora Deidrich, who was born and reared in Wyandot County, O. They have one son, Ralph J. Mr. and Mrs. Morehart are members of the United Brethren church. He is identified fraternally with the Odd Fellows at Vanlue and the Knights of Pythias at Findlay. DON C. HUGHES, M. D., who has been in the active practice of medicine and surgery at Findlay, O., since September, 1894, is numbered with the leading medical men of his city and is in the enjoyment of a very satisfactory business. Dr. Hughes was born at Findlay, February 17, 1871, and is a son of Leonidas H. and Eva (Swapp) Hughes. The Hughes family is an old Pennsylvania one and from that state went Great-grandfather William Hughes into the Patriot Army in Revolutionary days. The father of Dr. Hughes was born in the old home where his father had lived and died, and remained there until 1858, when he came to Hancock County, O. In 1861 he enlisted for service in the Civil War, entering Co. E, 59th O. Vol. Inf. On the dreadful field of Chickamauga, he was so seriously wounded that he was obliged to return home permanently. He settled at Findlay, and later he filled public offices. Don C. Hughes is an only child and he was carefully reared and was given school advantages at Findlay, where he graduated from the High School in 1889. Prior to entering upon the study of medicine, he devoted more than a 428 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY year to civil engineering, an accident at that time changing the current of his life. Undoubtedly Dr. Hughes would have become a competent civil engineer for he possesses the carefulness and accuracy which that profession would have demanded and which are equally necessary in the one in which he has reached a high degree of success. His preliminary study was done with Dr. F. W. Firmin, and in 1893 he was graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, at Baltimore, Md. For eighteen months Dr. Hughes practiced in Chicago, during this time being one of the physicians to the World's Fair Hospital Corps, and while there visited many times the great clinics in that city. His whole period of medical practice with this exception has been at Findlay. Here his interests have been centered more or less all his life, and here, together with friends made in recent years, are those who have watched his career with interest, since his boyhood. Shortly after his graduation from medical college, Dr. Hughes was married to Miss Maude Gleason, of Chicago, now deceased. He was recently married to Laura, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Vallorous Brown, of Columbia City, her father being one of the wealthy and influential citizens of Indiana. Dr. Hughes has erected a handsome residence on North Main Street, with all modern conveniences. He is identified with the leading medical organizations, including the Hancock Medical Society, of which he is now president ; the Ohio State Medical Society; the Northwestern Ohio Medical Society, of which he is vice president ; and the American Medical Association, and is surgeon of the 5th Reg. O. N. G., with headquarters at Cleveland. Dr. Hughes is now, and has been for the last seven years, head medical examiner for Ohio, of the Modern Woodmen of America, the largest insurance fraternal organization in the world. In politics he is a strong Republican. AARON J. GLATHART, a former well remembered citizen of Findlay, O., a veteran of the Civil War and a member of a prominent pioneer family, was born in Hancock County, O., February 14, 1844, and died at Findlay, January 8, 1909. The father of Aaron J. Glathart was born in Switzerland, in 1802, and lived there until 1828, when. he came to Hancock County, and settled on a farm in Big Lick Township. He was a stonemason by trade and was one of the men who helped build the old Erie Canal. Aaron J. Glathart was reared on the home farm and when fifteen years old went to Lawrence, Kans., where his older brother, J. H. Glathart, was operating a bakery and provision store. In 1859, the younger brother was taken into partnership but in the early part of 18-6o the business was sold and Aaron J. returned to Hancock County and in the same year his father died. In the following year Civil War was precipitated and in August, 1861, Mr. Glathart enlisted in a company organized at Findlay, O. He was one of four Glathart brothers and was the only one to escape a violent death. Rudolph H., was killed by guerrillas of the Confederate force, on Brazos River, Tex., in May, 1865. Manassa G.., who was a scout under General Lyon, was killed at Wilson's Creek, Mo., August io, 1861. Leon L., who was a private in Co. C. 49th O. Vol. Inf. died of smallpox at Chattanooga, Tenn., February 29, 1864. Aaron J. Glathart enlisted in Co. H, 57th O. Vol. Inf., 1st Brigade, 15th Army Corps, Army HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY - 429 of the Tennessee, and perhaps he saw as much hard army service as any other man that went out from Hancock County. He was on many battlefields and participated in the struggles that took place 'between the contending forces at the following points : Fort Donelson; Shi-loh; Siege of Corinth; Morning Sun, Tenn. ; Wolf Creek Bridge; Tallahatchie; Holly Springs, Miss. ; Chickasaw Bayou; Yazoo Pass, Miss. ; Arkansas Post, Ark. ; second expedition to Chickasaw Bayou; Steele's Bayou ; Deer Creek, Miss. ; running the batteries at Vicksburg, on the ram "Queen of the West" on April 16, 1863; Raymond, Miss. Jackson, Miss. ; first and second battles at Champion Hills; Big Black River, Miss., May 17, 1863 ; Siege of Vicksburg, May 18-July 4; Chattanooga ; Missionary Ridge; Knoxville, Tenn. ; Snake Creek Gap; Dalton; Resaca ; Kingston; New Hope church; Big Shanty; Kenesaw Mountain; Pumpkin Vine Creek and Atlanta, Ga. During all this long and dangerous service he was a brave and ready soldier but it was not ordained that he should escape all the most se-rious trials of warfare. On July 19, 1864, the Army of the Tennessee swung around Atlanta and on July 22, just after the tragic death of the brave General McPherson, Mr. Glathart was made a prisoner. He was despatched with others to Andersonville, Ga., the mention of the horrors of which still blanches many a cheek, and there he was held from July 25, 1864, until October 1864, when he was sent to Savannah and was held there for two weeks. From there he was sent on to Milan, Ga., and kept in a stockade there until December 1, 1864, then passed on to Charleston, S. C., where, with other unfortunates. he was placed under the fire of the Federal batteries. About four days he was kept in that position and then was turned over to the authorities at Florence, S. C., where a new stockade had been built. In the latter part of December, 1864, he was fi-nally paroled and sent to a hospital at Annapo-lis, where he was given a parole and returned home. At this time he seemed completely wrecked in health and for seven months after-ward was unable to speak aloud. A splendid constitution, however, and home care restored him sufficiently to attend the Grand Review at Washington, D. C., although he went against the protests of friends and physicians, and through excitement was stimulated enough to proudly take his old place as color bearer in his regiment, a position he had held for the last fourteen months of his service. During the last charge on Vicksburg, July 4, 1863, Mr. Glathart was severely wounded in the abdomen, a ball piercing the twenty-seven thicknesses of his rubber blanket and a heavy brass belt plate. He was placed in a field hos-pital, but, in spite of his injury, managed to escape from his guards the same night and made a desperate march until he rejoined his regiment, being determined to not be left be-hind. The full history of these heroes of the great struggle will never be adequately told. His wound would not heal, however, and later it became so aggravated that he could neither carry his musket nor wear a belt, therefore he was detailed to light duty about camp and was made postmaster and was serving. in that capacity as well as color bearer when he was honorably discharged and mustered out at Little Rock, Arkansas, August 25, 1865. Broken in health, Mr. Glathart returned to Findlay, but soon afterward went to Kansas and sought to regain, his health by open air treatment, camping out on the prairies for three months. He became well pleased with 430 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY Douglas County and entered into the auctioneering business and in the following year bought a farm near Lawrence, on which he remained until 1874, when he returned to Hancock County. He still continued to reside on a farm up to 1897, when he came to Findlay and in this city he passed away January 8, 1909, aged sixty-five years. He was interested in the Grand Army of the Republic and was a member of Stokes Post, No. 54. Mr. Glathart was married to Miss Amanda J. Strother, who was born in Hancock County, O., and was a daughter of Anthony W. and Mary Strother. Her uncle, Robert Strother, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War from Virginia. To this marriage seven children were born, as follows : Lena, who married Capt. T. L. Huston, of the U. S Engineer Corps; Harry A., who is city engineer of Findlay, O. ; Floy M., who married Levi K. Harvitt ; Edna E., who was the wife of Harvey Warren, died August 25, 1897; Roland L., who was a member of Co. A, 2nd Ohio Infantry in the Spanish-American War; Gail G., who married Harry Riemund, and Carl A., who enlisted in the U. S. Navy, June 6, 1900. JOHN BAKER, whose 240 acres of valuable land all lies in Cass Township, Hancock County, O., 160 acres being in Section 26, and eighty acres in Section 27, farther west, is one of the substantial and representative men of this part of the county. He was born on this farm, January 5, 1847, and is a son of Alexander and a grandson of Grafton Baker. Alexander Baker was born in Carroll County, O., and was a young man when he came to Hancock County. His father was Grafton Baker who was probably a native of England but moved from Maryland to Virginia and from there to Carroll County, O. When he came to Hancock County he entered 200 acres of land in Washington Township and a three-quarter section in Cass Township, and his son John has the old deed for this land, bearing the signature of Andrew Jackson as President of the United States. Grafton Baker died on the Washington Township land, leaving his property to his children. He had four sonsElisha, James, Alexander and Garrett, and one daughter, Nancy, who was the wife of John Ebersole. In the division of the property, Elisha, Alexander and James took the Cass Township land, while Garrett kept the old homestead in Washington Township. Each one cleared up his own land, and erected cabins in the woods, but Alexander was better off as his father had built a frame house. All have taken pride in keeping this land in the Baker name. Alexander Baker married Catherine Eckert, who was born in Fairfield County, O., and had accompanied her parents to Hancock County. After marriage Alexander Baker and wife settled on the 160-acre farm, on which John Baker lives, although at that time it was covered by the forest. Later he improved his residence and partly cleared the farm. He died in 1849, aged thirty-seven years, but his widow survived until 1909, dying in her eighty-fourth year.. They .had the following children : Lucinda, deceased ; John; and Amanda, who is the wife of G. W. Norris. John Baker had but meager school opportunities as his father died when he was young, but he remembers the old log school house. Being the only son he was forced to take charge of the farm before he had reached man's estate, but success has always attended his well directed efforts. He no longer cultivates his land, renting it out, and he enjoys a consid- HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY - 431 erable income from oil wells on the property. The substantial buildings on his home place he put up and has done a large amount of improving in one way or another. Mr. Baker has additional interests, being vice-president and one of the directors of the Arcadia Bank and Savings Company, at Arcadia, O. On January 16, 1868, Mr. Baker was married to Miss Sarah Binger, who died in 1887. Mr. Baker has three children : Alexander, Lemuel and Amanda. Alexander lives on a part of his father's land. He married Marion Taylor and they have three children : Earl, Helen and Garnett. Lemuel married Mary Belle Dorsey and they have four children : Lois, Harry, John and Frances. Mr. Baker is a Republican in politics, and at times he has served in public office, having been township trustee and for twenty-four years has been a justice of the peace. SAMUEL EDGAR MOOREHEAD, president of the Portage Township School Board and a leading citizen of this section, owns 125 acres of valuable land, all in one body, although thirty-three and one-half acres lie in Henry Township, Wood County, O. The Portage Township land is situated in Section 4, on the Sand Ridge road and the Wood and Hancock County line runs through the farm. Mr. Moorehead was born on his father's farm in Portage Township, May 4, 1860, and is a son of John E. and Catherine (Morris) Moorehead. John E. Moorehead was born in Stark County, O., and was a son of Samuel Moorehead who came to Hancock County when the former was ten years old. Samuel Moorehead was a native of Pennsylvania. In 1834 he entered the land now owned and resided on by his grandson, Samuel E. Moorehead, and cleared and developed a farm. Later in life he went to live with a daughter in Big Lick Township, where he died. The Morris family came from Stark County to Hancock at the same time that the Moorehead family settled here. John E. Moorehead married Catherine Morris, a daughter of Mahlon Morris. She died in Portage Township in February, 1891. Her husband survived until May, 1908. At one time he owned 370 acres of fine land. They had six children and five of these are living. Samuel E. Moorehead obtained his education in the country schools and has made farming and stock raising his main industries ever since and is numbered with the successful agriculturists of the township. He was married August 16, 1883, to Miss Sophronia Deter, a daughter of Jacob and Mary J. (Lewis) Deter. The mother of Mrs. Moorehead died at North Baltimore, in Wood County, O., in 1905. For a number of years Jacob Deter was a prominent farmer but he now lives retired at North Baltimore. After marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Moorehead went to housekeeping on the Jacob Deter farm and moved from there, in 1905, to his present farm which he purchased in June of that year. Mr. Deter gave Mrs. Moorehead a farm of forty acres, in Section 9, Portage Township, and it was on that place, a part of the old Deter homestead, that Mr. and Mrs. Moorehead lived before coming to their present one. Mr. Moorehead bought forty acres, also in Section 9, and twenty acres, in Section 8, making 100 acres, and this they sold when they came to the old Moorehead homestead. Improvements of various kinds have been made 432 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY on the farm since then, the most important one being the building of the commodious and substantial barn in 1910, one of the best in the township. Mr. and Mrs. Moorehead have had seven children, namely : Pearl, who died in infancy ; Maude, who died when one year old; Clarence ; Mary ; John; Florence and Morris, the last named dying in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Moorehead are members of the United Brethren church at Ten Mile, of which he is one of the trustees. He is a Republican in politics and has served seven years as township trustee and for two years has been a member of the school board, and for the past year has been president of this important body. He is one of the township's representative men. DAVID A. BIBLER, a well known general farmer and a trustee of Jackson Township, has been a lifelong resident of Hancock County, O., and was born April 14, 1853, on his grandfather's farm in Jackson Township, Hancock County, O., a son of John and Marietta (Smith) Bibler. John Bibler, father of subject, was born about 1818 in Fairfield County, O., and in 1834 came to Hancock County with his father, Abraham Bibler, who entered 240 acres of land, in three eighty-acre tracts in Jackson Township. His father spent the remainder of his life here engaged in farming. The mother of our subject was a native of New York state and came to Hancock County, O., during her girlhood. David A. Bibler spent his early boyhood on the farm in Jackson Township, where his grandfather settled, and in 1866 came with his parents to his present farm,- where he was reared and has since lived. He has always followed farming and resides on a tract of sixty-five acres located two miles west of Houcktown, on the Houcktown road, and also is the owner of a tract of fifteen acres located about two miles north of where he lives. Mr. Bibler learned the trade of a mason with Joseph Alge of Findlay, O., and with the assistance of Albert Sampson did all of the work on his new brick residence, which was erected in 1906. Mr. Bibler was married to Martha E. Swinehart, who is a daughter of George Swinehart, and they have four children living : Charles E., who married and has two children—William and Thelma ; Homer, who is engaged in farming, married Grace Claybaugh ; Oscar L., who lives two miles east of his father's farm ; and Ray, who lives with his parents. Mr. Bibler is a member of the Grange, in which he has served as treasurer. He belongs to the Baptist church. In politics he is a Democrat and in 1910 was elected a trustee of the township. WILLIAM M. KAGEY, president of The North Side Department Store Company, carrying on a very large and constantly increasing business, with quarters at Nos. 818-822 N. Main Street, Findlay, O., has been a resident of this city since 1892, but was born at Mifflin, Ashland County, O., July 18, 1867. His parents were John C. and Elizabeth (Kohler) Kagey. The late John C. Kagey came to Findlay from Ashland County, in 1892, and for a time operated a planing mill at Ashland, later was in the grocery business and still HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY - 433 later in the shoe line. He died in 1898, hav-ing survived his wife six years. When William M. Kagey was three years old, his parents moved from Mifflin to Ash-land, O., where he attended school until he was sixteen years of age, leaving then in order to begin to learn the grocery busi-ness. He was a grocery clerk at Ashland for seven years before coming to Findlay, where he was in the grocery line as a merchant up to the organization of The North Side Department Store, in February, 1907. Of this enterprise he is president and C. F. Fisher is vice-president. They have an abundant capital and handle groceries, dry goods, shelf hardware, patent medicines, granite and tinware, and employment is afforded eleven people. It promises to be-come one of the most important general stores in the city, its managers and owners being practical, trained men in the mercantile line. The business is incorporated with six stockholders and a working capital of $10,000. Mr. Kagey was married to Miss Frankie McBride, of Wooster, O., and they have one child, Ralph. He belongs to the order of Maccabees. ELBERT B. AUTEN, druggist, who has been identified with the business interests of Rawson, O., for the past twenty, years, was born in Knox County, O., December 4, 1867, and is a son of Clinton and Mary (Harbin) Auten. Clinton Auten was born in Pennsylvania and was a son of J. C. and Rebecca Auten, with whom he came to Ohio and settled on a farm in Knox County. He learned the blacksmith trade and later purchased a farm on which he raised quantities of fruit, in Knox County, and died there in 1870. He married Mary Harbin, who was born in Guernsey County, O., where her father followed the trade of a cooper. She resides with her son at Rawson. Elbert B. Auten was reared in Knox County and attended the public schools. In 1890, after preliminary study, he entered the Ohio Normal University at Ada, O., and was graduated there in 1891, with his diploma as a pharmacist. His first professional position was at Cardington, O., and from there he came to Rawson and in 1902 he purchased his present place of business and has been identified with the leading interests of this section ever since. In politics he is a Democrat and on that ticket has been elected to responsible offices, for the past fifteen years having served as city treasurer and for four years prior to 1901 was also treasurer of Union Township. In 1895, Mr. Auten was married to Miss Rachel Buckwalter, of Knox County, and they have two children : Agnes and Mary. Mr. and Mrs. Auten are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Rawson, of which he has been a trustee for ten years. For fifteen years he has been a member of the Masonic fraternity, identified with Lodge No. 418, at Rawson, of which he has been worshipful master. Mr. Auten is widely known and is one of the town's most reliable and useful men. J. P. MARQUART, a representative citi-zen and retired farmer of Van Buren Township, Hancock County, O., of which he is a trustee, owns 105 acres of valuable land for which he receives a satisfactory cash rent. 434 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY He was born in this township, August 23, 1854, and is a son of Philip and Elizabeth (Heckler) Marquart. Philip Marquart was born in Hesse Darmstadt, Germany. When eighteen years of age he came to Amreica, landing at the port of New York in 1846 and came directly to Hancock County, O. He married Elizabeth Heckler, a daughter of Andy Heckler and they had five children : Mary, J. P., Catherine, J. G. and J. W., both daughters being now deceased. All the children were born on the old home farm of eighty acres, situated in Section 16, Van Buren Township. Philip Marquart acquired other land. He bought forty acres which adjoined the home farm and later eighty acres more and also the 105-acre farm now owned by his son, J. P. Marquart, together with property in Jenera which he gave to his daughters. He was a very industrious man and had excellent judgment and made his investments carefully. He cleared up his home farm and built his log cabin on the first spot cleared, and as he recognized the value of drainage he put down wooden drain pipes according to the best known methods of the time and thereby made his land very productive. In 1864 he built a comfortable frame house which is still standing. Later he moved to Jenera but his wife died soon after, in 1900, and he then returned to the farm with his son William and lived there until his own decease, which took place in March, 1910. He attended the Lutheran church and was always very liberal in his donations to the same. He was a Democrat. J. P. Marquart, with his brothers and sisters, attended a German school in Van Buren Township and then worked for his father on the home farm until he was twenty-four years of age. After he married he settled on the present farm. All of the land is tillable except ten acres yet in woods. Mr. Marquart built a new house and remodeled the barn and other farm buildings and also attended to the draining of the land and carried on farming and stock raising until 1908, when he retired from business activity. Mr. Marquart married Miss Maggie Rettig, a daughter of John and Catherine (Piper) Rettig. She was born in Van Buren Township. Her parents came from Germany in 1836 and bought a farm of forty acres in Van Buren Township and when she was eleven years old they moved to Madison Township, buying eighty acres of land, where the father still lives, being now over eighty years of age. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Rettig were : Lizzie, Maggie, Adam, Catherine, Philip, Samuel, George, Henry, Minnie, Charles, Emma and Mary, and all of these who lived to maturity received a farm from their father. Mr. and Mrs. Marquart have three children, as follows : Matilda, who married Edward Wilch, of Eagle Township and they have three children—Ida, Fairy and Mabel ; Mary, who married William Wertenberger, and they have two children—Effie and Roy ; and Lucinda, who married Adam. Wilch and they have one child, Fern. Mr. Marquart and family are members of St. Paul's German Lutheran church of Van Buren Township. He has always voted the Democratic ticket. He is a man of very high standing in his township and served one year on the school board and twelve years as township trustee. HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY - 437 ERNEST W. HOPPER, a leading business man of McComb, proprietor of a general mercantile establishment, was born in Wood County, O., between Bowling Green and Pemberville, December 26, 1871, and is a son of William and Matilda (Gorrell) Hopper. William Hopper was reared in Wood County, where he became a farmer. His death occurred in 1879, when aged forty-four years. He married Matilda Gorrell, who now resides in Bowling Green. They had five children born to them, as follows : George, who is deceased ; Frank, who is in the clothing business at Bowling Green; Ernest W.; William A. ; who is in business at Bowling Green; and Nellie, who is the wife of J. F. Crippen, who is with the street railway company of Cleveland. Ernest W. Hopper was but eight years old when he lost the protecting care of his father. He attended school at Bowling Green until he was about fourteen years of age and then became a clerk in a grocery store and thus gained the experience that encouraged him to embark in the grocery business for himself and for three years he conducted a grocery at McComb. In 1894 he disposed of his grocery stock, going then to Toledo, where he completed a business course. On returning to McComb in 1895 he purchased a half interest in the dry goods firm of .Ewing & Hull, Mr. Hull retiring. The new firm, known as Ewing & Hopper, continued in business until 1902 when Mr. Hopper, through close application to business, was able to purchase the entire stock which now consists of general merchandise, a fine stock of dry goods, carpets and furnishings, and through good judgment and honorable methods he has developed a large business which has still better prospects for the future. For twenty years he has been identified with the best interests of McComb and his standing both as a business man and citizen is exceedingly high. In 1892, Mr. Hopper was married to Miss Blanche McDonald, a daughter .of Robert and Susan McDonald, the latter of whom is deceased. Mrs. Hopper was reared and educated at McComb. They have two children : Lulu and Richard, aged respectively sixteen and ten years. In politics Mr. Hopper is a Republican, but has accepted no political position except membership on the school board. He is identified with the Knights of Pythias and the Maccabees. SAMUEL H. BOLTON, postmaster at McComb, O., of which place he has been a resident for the past twenty-five years, is an honored member of John Howard Post, No. 154, Grand Army of the Republic, having bravely won a right to this comradeship through years of valorous service as a soldier in the Civil War. Mr. Bolton was born in Stark County, O., January 10, 1845, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Houk) Bolton. Both parents of Mr. Bolton were born in Dauphin County, Pa., where they were married and then came to Stark County, O. There John Bolton worked at the carpenter trade until 1846, when he decided to turn his attention to farming, having had some previous experience in Stark County, and after coming to Hancock County he invested in 145 acres of. land on the Blanchard River. Later he moved from there to five miles west of Benton Ridge, on the county line of Putnam County, and there his first wife died when about seventy years of age. The father then moved to Findlay where- his death occurred when in his seventy-eighth year, and both he and first wife were buried in the Clymer Cemetery. Eight 438 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY children were born to John and Elizabeth Bolton, as follows: Reuben, who was a minister of the Church of God, died at Findlay, in the midst of usefulness ; Cyrus S., who is a retired minister of the Disciples church, at Davenport, Neb.; John Henry, who is a farmer, residing near New London, Ia. ; Amanda, who is the wife of Levi Hummon, of Leipsic ; Michael, who died at the age of twelve years ; Samuel H. ; Benjamin F., who is a retired minister of the Disciples church ; and one that died in infancy. Three of the above family served in the War of the Rebellion—Cyrus being a member of Co. F, 21st O. Vol. Inf. ; John H. serving under Col. William Gibson, in the 49th O. Vol. Inf. ; and Samuel H., being a member of Co. D, 99th O. Vol. Inf., all surviving the many hazards of war and living useful lives after their patriotic services were over. Samuel H. Bolton attended the district schools in his boyhood and then went to work on the home farm which he left in order to take up arms for his country. His regiment was attached to the Army of the Cumberland and the first great battle in which he participated was that of Stone River. He was engaged also at Chattanooga and Lookout Mountain and was with his command under General Thomas on the march to Atlanta. He was then connected with the Signal Corps at General Sherman's headquarters after the memorable march to the sea, and from there marched to Goldsboro and then to Raleigh, N. C., and was in that city at the time of General Johnson's surrender. He remained in the army until the close of the war and took part in the .triumphant review at Washington, D. C., and was honorably discharged at Gen. Sherman's headquarters at St. Louis, Mo., July 11, 1865. Mr. Bolton then returned to Hancock County and for twenty years followed farming successfully on the old homestead and then removed to McComb. Ever since he has been more or less interested in building cement tanks, taking contracts for the same all over the country. He has been a lifelong Republican and on May 7, 1906, he was appointed postmaster at McComb. This is ranked as a third class office and Mr. Bolton has proved a very popular public official. In 1866, Mr. Bolton was married to Miss Lucretia Moffitt, a daughter of Charles and Elizabeth Moffitt, of Union Township, Hancock County, O., and nine children have been born to them : Mary Elizabeth, Cora O., Ella, William M., John A., Elmer, Elva, Blaine and Nellie Grace. Mary Elizabeth married Wilson Boyer, a very successful farmer of Blanchard Township, and they have four children : Gayle, Carroll, Catherine and Robert. Cora O. and Ella are both popular teachers, the former in the public schools of Cleveland and the latter at Lima. William M. Bolton is principal of one of the public schools of Cleveland. He was educated at Ada, O. He married Miss Pearl Conine, at that time a teacher at McComb, and they have two children, Dorothy and William. John A. Bolton was educated at Ada, O., and Ann Arbor, Mich., and subsequently was graduated in the class of 1910, at the Western Reserve Medical College and is serving as an interne in a hospital in Cleveland. Elmer, who is a member of the present senior class of the medical department of the Western Reserve, attended the Ohio Normal University and other excellent schools. Elva, who was also educated at Ada, O., is a teacher in the Cleveland public schools. Blaine, who is a graduate of the Findlay High School, is assistant postmaster at McComb. The youngest of the fam- HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY - 439 ily, Nellie Grace, died in infancy. William M. Bolton of the above family served as a member of the First O. Vol. Cav., in the Spanish-American War, enlisting at Cleveland. For many years, Samuel H. Bolton has been identified with the Masonic fraternity. He is a member of the Church of God. This is one of the prominent and representative families of Hancock County. CARL KOBE, a representative business man of Findlay, O., a dealer in pianos and mu-sical instruments, with fine quarters in the Niles Block, has been a resident of this city since 1872, coming from Saxony, Germany, where he was born on October 9, 1853. His parents were Hinrich and Johanna (Hornung) Kobe. Hinrich Kobe never came to America. He was a contractor in mine excavation for many years and was the only man in that section at that time, who had the courage and enterprise to use dynamite for blasting. Later he was given a position as mail carrier. After his death his widow began to listen to the urgings of her son, Carl Kobe, to join him in America and finally consented to cross the Atlantic Ocean, but died in 1900, four weeks after reaching Findlay. Carl Kobe left his native land when he was over eighteen years of age and came directly to Findlay, where his uncle, Fred Hornung-, was already located. He had learned the brick and stone mason trade in Germany and easily found employment at the same and continued until other business opportunities opened up more to his liking, but for a long time he was a well known and successful contractor here. He was interested in the line of life insurance for a time and still handles risks for the Home Life Company of New York. A natural musician he soon became identified with musical organizations at Findlay and for eighteen years or more played brass and string instruments in the orchestra at the Findlay Opera House. In 1906, in partnership with his son, Karl P. Kobe, he embarked in the piano business, the latter being a practical piano tuner and maker, having learned the trade in a piano factory at Van Wert. Mr. Kobe is interested in other industries. In 1887 he started the first steam laundry at Findlay, which was located where the McManus mills now stand. He has in-vested carefully in property at Findlay and is one of the substantial citizens of the place. In his political sentiments he is a Republican and his value as a political factor has been recog-nized by his party and many times they have made him a member of both the central and executive county committees. Mr. Kobe married Miss Minna Fillwock, a native also of Germany, and they have three children : Karl P., Emma and Ida. With his family he belongs to the German Lutheran church, of which he is treasurer and in which he is the leader of the choir. He is identified with the Masonic fraternity. SAMUEL STOUFFER, a prominent farmer of Hancock County, O., who, with his wife, owns 265 acres of valuable land, lying in Washington and Portage Townships, was born on his father's farm in Fayette County, Pa., March 9, 1846, and is a son of Joseph and Nancy (Dobler) Stouffer. Joseph Stouffer was born in Northampton County, Pa. He was a cabinetmaker by trade and in those days the making of coffins by hand work was a large industry, and charges for the construction of the same, of black walnut, were 440 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY regulated by the number of feet, the price being one dollar a foot. From his native county he moved into Fayette County and married Nancy Dobler, and in 1855 they came to Washington Township, Hancock County. This farm was about one-half cleared at that time and here they lived the remainder of their days. His death occurred in 1891, when aged seventy-nine years, and she survived until 1895. They had the following children : Mary J., who is deceased, was the wife of Cyrus Eckles, also deceased ; Levi, who died in infancy ; Henry D., who is in the hardware business at North Baltimore, O.; Samuel; Sarah, who is the wife of James Slosser, of Washington Township; Susann, who is the wife of John S. Stoner, of Westmoreland County, Pa. ; Josiah, who is engaged in the shoe business at Bloomdale, O. ; Catherine, who lives in Washington Township; Jacob W., who is a resident of Findlay; and Magdalena, who died young. Samuel Stouffer remembers the journey to Hancock County when the trip was made Over an early railroad into Findlay, when the old-fashioned iron rails were spiked to a 4x.4 plank, the best method that had yet been evolved. He grew to manhood in Washington Township, spending his early years in clearing up the farm and in helping as he grew older, to improve and cultivate it. He had little chance to attend school except during the few winter months when farm work had to be suspended. In early manhood' he went to Fostoria with the intention of learning the harnessmaking trade, but subsequently decided to return to the country and has followed agricultural pursuits ever since. After he married he settled on the present farm which is part of the old John H. Stoner estate. He bought additional land at a later date and has done considerable building and improving here. He carries on general farming and stock raising. Mr. Stouffer has additional interests and is a stockholder in the Union National Bank at Fostoria. On March 26, 1868, Mr. Stouffer was married to Miss Sarah J. Stoner, a daughter of John H. and Elizabeth (Overholt) Stoner, who had come to this section as pioneers from Westmoreland County, Pa. They were well known people. Mr. Stoner died January 8, 1867, aged forty-eight years. His widow survived until March 3, 1898, reaching her seventy-seventh year. They had four children, namely : Abraham O., of Washington Township; Sarah J., the wife of Mr. Stouffer; Anna E., wife of A. Purkey, of Bloomdale, O. ; and Mancinus, who died June 6, 1895, aged thirty-seven years. To Mr. and Mrs. Stouffer two children were born : Cora M., who is the wife of Charles Bricker, of Washington Township ; and Anna M, who is the wife of T. J. Manecke, who operates one of his father's farms. They have two children : Florence E. and Lela Leona. Mr Stouffer and family are members of the United Brethren church, of which he has been a trustee for the past forty years. In politics he is a Republican, and he has served two terms as township trustee. ALBERT BURSON LYON, who is engaged in general farming and stock raising on a farm of 105 acres, located in Section 2, Allen Township, Hancock County, O., is one of the representative citizens and substantial farmers of the community in which he lives. He was born April 8, 1869, on a farm just east of his present one, and is a son of Lewis S. and Sarah (Weisel) Lyon, the latter of whom died in 1899. The father of our subject was born in Harrison County, O., and at the age of thir- HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY - 441 teen years came to Allen Township, where he was reared, and subsequently engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1903, when he removed to North Baltimore. He became a man of affluence, owning 340 acres in Allen Township, the greater part of which contains oil in large quantities. Albert Burson Lyon , who is familiarly known in Hancock and Wood Counties as Burt Lyon, spent his boyhood days on his father's farm in Allen Township, and has made farming his life occupation. The first five years of his married life were spent on his father's farm, and in the fall of 1897 removed to his present property, which he purchased from Lloyd Weisel, and which was formerly known as the Frederick Henniger farm. Mr. Lyon has made extensive improvements on the place, remodeling the house, thoroughly tiling the land, and in various other ways has made changes. He carries on farming in a general way, raises considerable stock, having on hand fifteen head of cattle, eight head of horses and eighty head of hogs, making a specialty of Chester Whites. On December 24, 1892, Mr. Lyon was united in marriage with Alice Havard, a daughter of Evan Havard of Sandusky County, O., and of their union have been born three children: Elva Anna, Ada, and Mabel Margaret. Mr. Lyon is politically a Democrat, has served one term as trustee of his township, and in June, 1910, served as a delegate to the Democratic County Convention at Findlay. He is a member and a trustee of the United Brethren church, of North Baltimore, O. WILLIAM J. HENNINGS, a prominent citizen of Portage Township, Hancock County, O., who is serving as a member of the township board of trustees, resides on his well cultivated farm of 160 and one-half acres, which lies in Section 7 and was formerly known as the old Wall farm. He was born in Portage Township, March 15, 1864 and is a son of William and Kathern (Perskey) Hennings. Both parents of Mr. Hennings were born in Germany and they came to America on the same vessel and shortly after landing were married in New York. William Hennings was a shoemaker by trade and he worked at the same in Hancock County until the last year of the Civil War, when he enlisted in the Union army and served for nine months. He acquired a farm in Portage Township and resided there during the rest of his active life and then retired to McComb, where his death occurred. His wife had died previously in Portage Township. William J. Hennings was reared in Portage Township and has devoted himself to agricultural pursuits. After he married he operated his father's farm for two years and then bought a farm of forty acres in Milton Township, Wood County, on which he remained for one year and then sold and purchased ninety acres in Liberty Township, Wood County, and continued on that place for eight years, having previously rented land there for about six years. When he sold his ninety-acre farm in Liberty Township, in 1907, he purchased his present farm in Portage Township, Hancock County and devotes it to general farming and stock raising. Mr. Hennings married Miss Orpha Smith, a daughter of David Smith. She was born 442 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY in Crawford County, O., but came to Hancock County as a girl. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hennings : Roxie, Arthur, Charles, Minerva, Raymond and Lettie. The beloved mother of this family died in October, 1907. Mr. Hennings is a member of the North Baltimore English Lutheran church. In politcs he is a Democrat and on the Democratic ticket he was elected township trustee in the fall of 1909 and assumed the duties of office on January I, 1910. M. M. CARROTHERS, M. D., who has been engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery for thirty-eight years, has spent twenty-two years of this period at Findlay, O., where he is also identified with those things which interest an enlightened man and good citizen. Dr. Carrothers was born on a farm in Crawford County, O., February 8, 1845, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Laird) Carrothers, both of whom are deceased. Reared on the home farm and educated in the country schools, Dr. Carrothers reached manhood and then taught school before beginning his medical studies, three terms in Crawford County and two terms in Richland County. His medical reading was done in the office of Dr. A. E. Jenner, of Crestline, O., and in February, 1872, he was graduated from the medical department of Wooster University, and in 1882 he was graduated from Adelbert College, connected with the Western Reserve University at Cleveland. He entered into practice at Sulphur Springs, Crawford County, O., and from there came to Findlay. Aside from his professional interests, Dr. Carrothers has led a busy life in other directions. As early as his age permitted he became a soldier, following three older brothers into the army during the Civil War, and for four months was a member of Co. F, 163rd O. Vol. Inf. In 1904 he was elected on the Republican ticket to the Ohio State Legislature and completed one term ; has served many years as a member of the Findlay Board of Health and for eight years lips been a member of the city council and is now in his third term as president of this body. He is a broadminded, liberal man, one who, with judgment and discretion, champions movements designed to promote the general welfare. Dr. Carrothers was married to Miss Mary Wert, who was born in Crawford County, O., a daughter of David Wert, and they have four children : May, who is the wife of Dr. W. B. Keator, of Findlay, O. ; Eva E., who is the wife of Rev. A. E. Renn, who is pastor of a Lutheran church at Atchison, Kans. ; and John R. and Alta B., both of Findlay. The family is connected with the Trinity Lutheran church, in which Dr. Carrothers is an elder. HON. CHARLES I. MOORE, mayor of Rawson, O., one or the town's most enterprising and substantial citizens, was born near Rawson, in Union Township, Hancock County, April 6, 1873. His parents were George and Mary A. (Fox) Moore. George Moore was born on the county line of Franklin County, O., December 31, 1828, and was a son of Edward Moore, one of the old residents of Franklin County. When twenty years of age, George Moore came to Hancock County and settled on the farm in Union Township on which he lived HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY - 443 until he moved to Rawson in 1890, living at the latter place until his death, which oc-curred March 31, 1909.. His widow, a native of Hancock County, still survives and resides with her son, Mayor Moore. Charles I. Moore was reared in his native county and was educated in the schools of Union Township and Rawson. He has been a resident of this town for the past two years and has been a considerable factor in its development. His business interests here are important, including the ownership of property and the operating of a gents' furnishing goods establishment and a large and finely stocked grocery store. He has been active in Democratic politics and in the fall of 1909 was elected president of the city council, and on April 1, 1910, assumed the duties as mayor of Rawson. Mr. Moore was married first, December 28, 1898, to Miss Christina Harpst, who died July 1, 1907. She was a daughter of Jacob and Amanda Harpst, farming people of Union Township. Three children survive her : George R., Price H. and Lloyd E. Mr. Moore was married second on May 12, 1910, to Miss Vera Easterly, a daughter of William A. and Jennie Easterly, of Gibsonburg, Sandusky County, O. Mrs. Moore is a member of the Christian church at Gibsonburg, O. He is identified fraternally with the Masons and the Odd Fellows, having united with the former body in 1907 and belonging to the latter organization for the past sixteen years. E. L. DILLER, who has been postmaster at Jenera, O., since May, 1909, owns a one-third interest in the Diller & Pifer general store in that village, and was born June 1, 1878, at Bluffton, O., and is a son of John G. and Elizabeth (Shumaker) Diller. John G. Diller was a native of Putnam County, O., and for many years followed farming in that county, residing north of Bluffton. He died at Pomona, Calif., in 1908, at the age of sixty-seven years. His marriage with Elizabeth Shumaker, who died in 1881, resulted in the birth of eight children, all of whom are living. Politically he was a Democrat, and he and his wife were both members of the Mennonite church. E. L. Diller was reared at Bluffton, O., and after. completing a course of study at the public and high schools of that city, spent one year at the Ohio State Normal at Ada, and Columbus Grove, and two. years at Dalton, O., and in 1905 came to Jenera, where he embarked in his present business. He served first as assistant postmaster under his brother, William Diller, who was at that time also interested in the Diller & Pifer general store at Jenera, and since May, 1909, has been postmaster at this place. In November, 1905, Mr. Diller was joined in marriage with Bessie Thornton, who is a daughter of James Thornton of Columbus Grove, and they have two children : Dolores and Harry Lemont Diller. Mr. Diller is a member of the Methodist Protestant church at Jenera. FRANK S. ROBINSON, one of the promi-nent men of Hancock County, O., and one of the most successful and progressive farmers, owns 320 acres of valuable land, eighty acres in Pleasant Township, being his home farm, eighty more being situated in Blanchard Township, while 160 acres lie in Putnam County. 444 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY Mr. Robinson was born in Richland County, O., April 25, 1865, and is a son of William and Mary (Kahl) Robinson. William Robinson was born in Richland County and died there. His parents were of English birth and were pioneers in that county. They had two sons, William and James S., the latter of whom became one of Hardin County's leading men. He learned the printer's trade and then entered journalism. He established the Kenton Republican and continued its editor for a number of years. In 1880 he was elected to the office of Secretary of State, in Ohio, and served two terms and for two terms was a member of Congress. He became a man of wealth as well as public importance and entertained lavishly at his hospitable home, his residence taking up a whole block at Kenton. He married Hester Carlin, of Findlay, for his second wife, and a son and daughter survive them. Frank S. Robinson is one of a family of ten children, in which there were five sons and five daughters, he being the sixth in order of birth. Clara, the eldest, is the wife of I. Q. Haverfield, of Mansfield, O. Florence never married. Charles W. is a farmer in Richland County and married Belle Pittinger. James C. is a farmer in Putnam County and married Flora McClish. Jennie, who is deceased, was the wife of Morris Shively, of Richland County, and is survived by two children : Tola and Harry. Kate is the wife of Paul Roethlisberger, of Mansfield. Etta is the wife of Walter Y. McGuire, of Ashland. County. George resides on the old farm in Richland County. He married Eliza Myers. Walter, the youngest, married Irene Pittinger. He is a farmer in Richland County. Frank S. Robinson obtained his education in the Richland County schools and remained on the home farm of 140 acres until January, 1883, when he went to Deshler and in April to Blanchard Township, Hancock County, where he resided for seven years. Since his marriage, in 1890, Mr. Robinson has lived on his present farm of eighty acres in Pleasant Township. This is one of the best improved properties in this section of the county. The handsome, modern residence is beautifully situated, and the barn, recently erected, is equipped with what is known as the Shawver's Patent, being the first one introduced in the township. Mr. Robinson follows scientific methods and is credited with being the most uniformly successful agriculturist in this part of Hancock County. On December 31, 1890, Mr. Robinson was married to Miss Nannie M. Davis, the youngest daughter of Alfred Davis, a substantial citizen of Blanchard Township. They have an adopted son, Tola, a nephew of Mr. Robinson, a youth of brilliant mind and with bright prospects. In 1910 he graduated from the McComb High School, with the highest honors of his class and is preparing to enter the Ohio State University, at Columbus, in the fall of the same year. In politics, Mr. Robinson is a Republican and in 1908 he was the nominee of his party for the state legislature. While defeated he had a flattering following, running 250 votes ahead of President Taft, in the county. He is a member of the Hancock County Central and Executive Committees and was elected to the latter by a vote of twenty out of a possible twenty-one, although he had not sought the honor. For more than fifteen years he has served actively in Republican politics, has been a delegate to two state conventions and was a delegate to the state convention which was HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY - 447 held at Columbus, August 26, 1910. He is a member of McComb Lodge, No. 179, Knights of Pythias. He was reared in the Methodist Episcopal church. REV. HENRY C. DE RODES, a retired minister of the radical branch of the United Brethren church, has been a resident of Portage Township, Hancock County, O., since 1851, and is a veteran of the great Civil War. He was born on a farm in Columbiana County, O., May 6, 1828, and is a son of Martin and Elizabeth (Pentz) De Rodes. In large measure Mr. De Rodes is a self made and self-educated man. Although now he contributes interesting articles to different newspapers which are read by hundreds of people, he had but few opportunities in his youth to train his mental faculties. In his day country boys began labor on the farm when young and continued with but short intervals, usually several months in the winter, until they reached manhood. He remained on the home farm until he was twenty years of age and then went to Cincinnati where he worked in a factory until 1851, when he came to Hancock County, and located in Portage Township, where his brother, Samuel De Rodes, and a brother-in-law, Andrew Nigh, were then living. Shortly afterward, in partnership with his brother, he bought ninety acres of land on the north side of the road, in Section 4, and also the eighty acres on which he now lives, on the south side, directly across the road from the other farm. This eighty-acre tract, which subsequently became his own property, is situated near the Ten Mile Church. He has followed general farming for many years and preached every Sunday, being an acceptable local minister of the United Brethren faith. In August, 1862, Mr. De Rodes enlisted for service in the Civil War, entering Co. D, 99th O. Vol. Inf. and remaining in the army until the close of the war, his commanding officer being Colonel Bope. He was honorably discharged and was mustered out at Camp Dennison, O. The hardships endured during this long period had shattered his health, impairing his eyesight, and for three years afterward he was more or less of an invalid. He subsequently recovered and for many years afterward was an active and busy man. All the buildings now on his farm he erected, some of the former ones having been destroyed by fire. In this way he lost his former residence, in 1892, and in 1902 his barn was destroyed by lightning. Soon after coming to Hancock County, Mr. De Rodes was married to Miss Elizabeth Archer, a daughter of James Archer, of an old pioneer family, and they have had eleven children. Of these, Nancy married Henry Brown. Mary married George Brainard. Awilda died in infancy. Martin died aged eighteen months. Elsie married Lewis Brown and they live in Toledo. Henrietta married Newton Tarr, of North Baltimore. Ora F. lives at home. Joseph went out to Arizona where he is interested in a copper mine. Della and Harry reside with their parents. A babe died unnamed. The family belongs to the United Brethren church. Mr. De Rodes has never been very active in politics but when elected trustee of Portage Township, served with honesty and efficiency. He is widely known and universally respected and esteemed. 448 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY JOHN S. RUHL, harnessmaker and dealer in harness and leather goods and engaged in general harness manufacturing, with quarters in the Rawson Block, 321 South Main Street, Findlay, O., has been a resident of this city since 1861. He was born at Canton, Stark County, O., March 3o, 1843, and is a son of John G. and Susanna (Dickerhoff) Ruhl. The father of Mr. Ruhl, Rev. John G. Ruhl, was a .minister in the German Reformed church and during the boyhood of his son, accepted a clerical call to Marion, O., and from there, in 1861, came to Findlay, and became pastor of the East Main Cross Street German Reformed church. Both he and wife died at Findlay. John S. Ruhl was reared in Marion County, O., and secured his schooling there. In October, 1861, he enlisted for service in the Civil War, entering Co. H, 66th O. Vol. Inf., of which he remained a member until the close of the war. He participated in many of the thrilling events of those years, accompanied General Sherman to the sea and was on many a long march and terrible battlefield, escaping with two slight injuries. He was honorably discharged at Washington in 1865. Mr. Ruhl then returned to Findlay, where he was elected city marshal and served in that office for nine years and then was made deputy U. S. marshal for five years more. In 1877 he went into the harness business at Findlay and is sole proprietor of the Findlay Harness and Leather Company and has given his entire time to it with the exception of the period when he served as deputy sheriff under Ex-Sheriff Myers. Mr. Ruhl married Miss Helena Hock, a daughter of Philip Hock, who was born in Germany. They have one child, Flora Ellen, who is the wife of John F. Pogue, who is president of the Hancock Stone Company. Mr. Ruhl is a member of Hancock Lodge No. 73, Odd Fellows, and belongs also to the G. A. R. GEORGE W. STALL, a member of the prominent business firm of Stall Bros., tile manufacturers, at Arcadia, O., is one of the representative citizens of this place. He was born on his father's farm in Big Lick Township, Hancock County, O., December 29, 1873, and is a son of John F. and Nancy (Roller) Stall. John F. Stall was born in Carroll County, O., and was a boy when he accompanied his parents, George and Mary Stall, to Hancock County. They settled in Big Lick Township, five miles south of Arcadia, taking up land in the woods. Both George and Mary Stall died at Findlay. They had the following children : Barbara,. Margaret, Belle, Sarah, Samantha, Jane and John F., the last named being the only son. He grew to manhood in Big Lick Township and helped clear the land and later purchased a farm for himself and continued to operate it until 1904, when he retired to Arcadia. He married Nancy Roller, a native of Big Lick Township and a daughter of Wilson Roller, one of the pioneers of that section. Seven children were born to that marriage, as follows : Wilton J. ; Flora Adell, who is the wife of R. B. Russell ; and Edwin, Arthur J., George Wilson, Thomas J. and William H. George W. Stall attended the district schools and remained on the home farm HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY - 449 through boyhood and then worked for five years in the oil fields and after that purchased the hardware store of .A. M. Nye, at Arcadia. He conducted the hardware business for six years and then became interested in tile manufacturing and through satisfactory business transactions, in June, 1910, he and his brother, W. H. Stall, became the proprietors of the tile manufacturing plant covering eight acres, situated on the Lake Erie & Western and Nickel Plate Railroads, while the firm of Stacy & Son, through the trade, took the hardware store. They give constant employment to six men and the output is drain tile. In March, 1893, Mr. Stall was married to Miss Nora B. Overholtzer, a daughter of John Overholtzer, of Marion Township, Hancock County, and they have three children: Marie, Rachel and Marjorie. Mr. and Mrs. Stall are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics he is a Democrat and has served acceptably in the city council. He is identified with the order of Modern Woodmen of the World at Arcadia. ELI SPITLER, a representative citizen of Allen Township, Hancock County, O., who resides on his valuable farm of eighty-seven acres, which lies on the Perrysville turnpike road, one mile north of Van Buren, was born on a farm, in Crawford County, O., October 25, 1839, and is a son of Samuel and Annie (Bretz) Spitler. When Eli Spitler was one and one-half years old, his parents moved to a farm in Allen Township, Hancock County, which is now occupied by S. D. Spitler, and there he grew to manhood and remained on the home farm for some years after marriage. In 1880, Mr. Spitler came to his present farm, in Section 6, where he carries on general farming and stock raising. His property is well improved, Mr. Spitler having built his large frame house and substantial barns some years since. The T. & O. C. Railroad runs north and south through the center of his land. In December, 1876, Mr. Spitler was married to Miss Martha Jane Ensminger, who was born in Allen Township, a daughter of Perry Ensminger, and they have six children: Charles, who lives in Toledo, is married and has three children; Clara (Mrs. Holmes), who lives at Deshler, in Henry Coun-ty, has four .children; Cloice, who resides at home; Allan, who lives on a farm two miles northwest of Deshler, is married and has four children; Hattie (Mrs. Bonam), who lives in Oklahoma, has two children; and Daniel, who lives with his wife and child at Waterville, O. Mr. Spitler is a member of the United Brethren church. In politics he is a Democrat and at times he has taken a leading part in township affairs and has served as a trustee and also as a member of the school board. JACOB T. CRITES, a leading citizen of Portage Township, Hancock County, O., township clerk and an active Republican politician, lives on his valuable farm of 100 acres, which is situated in Section 33, five and one-half miles from Findlay. He was born in Allen Township, Hancock County, May 25, 1868, and is a son of Joseph and Margaret (Doudle) Crites. Joseph Crites was born and married in Fairfield County, O. He married Margaret Doudle, who was born in Pennsylvania and was brought to Fairfield County in girlhood. In 1860, Joseph Crites and wife moved to Han-