400 - HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY place and carried intact, down the river to a point about midway between there and the head of Brady Island, where it lodged, and after the flood subsided it was used as a footbridge until the spring freshets came and carried it further down stream and broke it to pieces. Flood of 1883. The conditions which caused the disastrous flood of February 3, 1883, were similar to those of 1833, a half century previous. The river flowed with a mighty current through Front Street. Probably 500 homes on the flats were all surrounded by the flood and at least 2,000 people were driven from their homes. Those homes near the river were half submerged, and many of the inmates were rescued in boats. Brave men waded in water up to their shoulders, carrying women and children to places of safety. A freight train was precipitated through the L. S. & M. S. Railroad bridge, which was lifted from its foundations by the flood, and fell just as the train entered upon it. Two of the cars were deposited near the residence of C. H. Bell on State Street. One of the floating cars passed through the house of George Barkeimer. All the houses in the First Ward south of the Lake Shore Railroad were flooded and the occupnts taken out in boats, many of them half dead with cold and fright. The water rushed through the Lake Shore "dry bridge" down Front Street, with fearful velocity, and the people on the east side of Front Street, near the railroad, were rescued with great difficulty and lost most of their clothing, furniture and family stores. The loss to business houses and factories, as well as to homes, was great. The damage in money was not less than $1 00,000, and that was not the worst of the damage, when homes were considered. There were drowned two citizens, one on the east side, Mrs. Burgess, and one on the west side, Patty Gleason. The sight of the river at the Ballville bridge was grand—the water being from fifteen to twenty feet above usual level, rushing over the rapids with terrible velocity was like a miniature Niagara. The flats in the Third Ward were one great field of piled up ice-blocks, several feet in depth, surrounding the homes. The scars on shade trees along the streets caused by the ice are yet visible as marks of the height of the flood. There were dozens of hair-breadth escapes from drowning. Many of the families on the flats were rescued with the greatest difficulty. Some did not even awaken from their sleep until the water was a foot deep in their houses. Some families were taken out at the greatest peril as the current almost prevented approach to their houses in boats. Others could not possibly be removed until 'the water abated somewhat and were forced to take refuge on the roofs or in the second stories of their houses. Boats frequently capsized in the currerit and the occupants had narrow escapes from drowning. One family escaped the water by climbing into a tree top. A relief committee composed of Gen. R. B. Hayes, W. E. Haynes, J. A. Higbee, J. M. Osborn and I. M. Keeler was appointed to report a plan for organized action of relief. Subscriptions were started for money, clothing and provisions. In a short time, over 700 persons and firms responded liberally. Seventeen gave $100 each, aril others in proportion to their ability. About $4,000 in cash, besides large quantities of clothing, fuel and provisions of all kinds were contributed. The committee on supplies were E. H. Underhill, chairman; C. Stausmyer, Henry Coonrod, J. W. Moore, George Krebs and T. F. Heffner, with headquarters at city hall, ground floor. Many ladies of the city worked daily in making clothes, bedding, etc., for the destitute. The committee on distribution was composed of George Engler, A. Moos, E. Loudenslager, George Baker, John Hockenadel and John Ryan. To more than one thousand people relief was dispensed for nearly a week in the shape of food, clothing and Other necessities. Friday afternoon, February 2, 1883, it commenced snowing, and toward evening it turned to rain. This froze as it fell, and in the morning ground, trees and everything outdoors was covered with an inch or more of solid ice. Shade trees, 'the pride of the city, were unable to sustain their burden of ice, and huge branches and whole trees came crashing to the AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 401 ground. In many places the streets were entirely obstructed. The magnificent 'trees near the court house were nearly ruined, as were the trees all over the city. They cannot regain their lost beauty by many years of growth, if ever. Orchards suffered terribly, especially the peach trees. In the woods the noise of the falling branches could only be compared to heavy cannonading by many batteries. Huge limbs falling from the tops of trees carried everything before them, leaving the trunks almost denuded. Telegraph and telephone wires broke under the burden of ice. Nearly all the poles along the Lake Shore road, which carry the Western Union wires, between Fremont and Norwalk were snapped off. Floods of January, February and March, 1904. January 22, 1904, a flood very similar to the former floods before described occurred, and quite as disastrous in the damage to property and homes, but no lives were lost. The water lacked but little of reaching as high a point as in the former great floods. The sufferers had not more than become settled again in their homes, from which they had been driven, when on February 7, the flood was repeated, and about equal to that of January 22. The same scenes of disaster were witnessed, and suffering endured as before. And incredible as it may appear to the future inhabitants of the Sandusky Valley, there came within a month a third flood with like results, to homes and property, as in its predecessors. This third one occurred March 2. The water did not rise quite so high. as before, but the lower parts of the city on both sides of the river were submerged above the lower floors of the homes ; and traffic was impossible on Front, Tiffin and South Streets and Bidwell Avenue on the west side, and on East State Street, together with Howland and the cross streets within the flats. Boats were in requisition to rescue inmates from their homes in many parts of the flooded districts. The water on State Street on each side, within the flats, was about two feet deep. The Sleet Storm of 1909. On February 14, 1909, occurred a storm of wind, rain, sleet and snow, and was undoubtedly the worst this locality has ever suffered, and broke the record of all the great ice or sleet storms that ever visited the place. On all sides, wires and poles were down and telegraph and telephone companies could get no connection with nearby. towns. The scenes about the city Sunday and Monday were mingled with grandeur and ruin. The storm reached the city at an early hour Sunday morning and continued more or less all day, and it was not long before all trees, wires, walks, buildings and poles were covered with a coating of ice an inch or more thick. Then the weight began to tell and the cracking of broken limbs, the snapping of wires and breaking of the poles could be heard in all sections of the city, making it very dangerous for pedestrians to be on the walks or streets of the city. There were many narrow escapes but no one was injured. The heaviest losers were, The Fremont Home Telephone Company, The Bell Telephone Company, and the Western Union Telegraph and Postal Telegraph Companies, and The Fremont Yaryan Company. From all reports, it was evident that Fremont and Sandusky County were the worst hit by the storm. The severest part of the storm seemed to be between Fremont and Genoa and Fremont and Norwalk. The damage done to the telephones, telegraphs and the Yaryan Companies ran into the thousands of dollars. In the parks and in the streets great damage was done to the beautiful shade trees, for which Fremont is noted. The weather turned colder after the storm, and the ice remained on the limbs and branches of the trees for several days, presenting a grand sight, indeed, but destructive in its effects. Many fruit trees were badly injured. It was weeks before the telephones could be put in good working order. THE PROJECTED FREMONT-FOSTORIA ELECTRIC RAILWAY. At Fostoria, Sepember 28, 1909, the incorporation papers were prepared and sent to Columbus for the charter and work is to be pushed on the engineering and construction work. The incorporators are F. D. Carpenter, J. D. McDonel, F. R. Havens, A. H. Jackson and Charles Ash. The original plan was to run the line on the north side of the L. E. & W. 402 - HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY and the right of way was all secured for this route. It has been decided that the south side of the road will be better and the old route has been abandoned and enough of the right-of-way secured to insure the getting of the remainder. It is the intention of the company to complete the grading of the road yet this fall and if it is found possible to secure material and the weather will permit, to push the other construction work. A decision will be arrived at within ten days as to whether the work of construction will be done by contract or by the company as was done by the T., F. & F. on the northern extension of their line. The building of the proposed line will close the gap between Cleveland and Cincinnati, by connecting the Lake Shore Electric, T., F. & F., and Western Ohio. The offices of the company will be in Fostoria and the power with which the cars will be operated will be furnished by the Lake Shore Electric, arrangements to this effect having been already made. RIVER DISTANCES. The following figures concerning distances down the Sandusky River were measured along the center of the channel from a survey made by Col. T. J. Crane, colonel of U. S. engineers, in 1866. The measurements begin at a point where is now located the Lake Erie & Western bridge and the distances to well known and familiar points along the river are as follows : Center of Whitaker bar stretch, two and six-tenths miles; Nigger Bend, five and two-tenths miles; Muscalonge Creek, five and five-tenths miles; Hineline's residence, six miles; Shannon's residence, seven and twenty-seven hundredth miles ; Nickle's residence, eight and two-tenths miles ; Willow Point, nine and four-tenths miles ; Tuckerman's residence, nine and nine-tenths miles; Cochran's residence, ten and two-tenths miles; Wightman's grove, ten and eight-tenths miles ; Ottawa Shooting Club, eleven and six-tenths miles ; Dutch Gap, twelve and seven-tenths miles; Green Creek, thirteen and five-tenths miles; Squaw Island, fourteen and six-tenths miles; Lower end of Eagle Island, sixteen and eight-tenths miles; Can Buoy, mouth of river, Sandusky Bay, seventeen and eight-tenths miles. GATEWAY TO SPIEGEL GROVE, HARRISON TRAIL, DEDICATED. Spiegel Grove may in time become a mecca for lovers of American history, like Mt. Vernon, Monticello, and the Hermitage, preserved as they were in the time of their glory, when the old-fashioned hospitality was dispensed within the great house, by a great leader of his time. The gift of Col. Hayes will preserve for future generations, the only abiding place of the long line of Ohio presidents. As before stated in this volume, Col. Hayes has given to the Ohio Archaeological society that portion of the old homestead property lying along Buckland Avenue, the main approach from the city, and including more than one-half mile of the Harrison military road. The property will remain permanently under control of the society. American history of the section around Spiegel Grove begins when it was the neutral town of the Erie Indians. One portion of the town was on each side of the river. Warriors of the contending tribes from the east could find refuge in the eastern town, and those from the western tribes in the opposite town. Erie passed between the two sections but gave no word of the refugees on one side to those in the other town. It was so used when the Huron confederacy was destroyed by the Iroquois in 1650. It was the furthermost western point reached by Colonial troops from New York, New jersey and Connecticut under Israel Putnam, later the hero of Bunker Hill, and British troops under Colonel Bradstreet in their expedition against Chief Pontiac and the French in 1764. It was the site of the British post during the Revolution. The old French and Indian trail which ran through Spiegel Grove extended from Franklinton, now part of Columbus, along the Scioto and Sandusky rivers to Lake Erie. Later it became a military road, used by General William Henry Harrison. founder of the line of Ohio presidents, who, for a time, had his headquarters in the War of 1812 in Franklinton. In many places this old road is distinctly marked, even where not now in use as a public highway. It has been proposed that it be AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 403 purchased by the state and made into a model highway. From Columbus it passes through Delaware and Marion to Upper Sandusky ; to Fort Ball, now Tiffin; to Fort Seneca, on the Sandusky, where General Harrison made his permanent headquarters in the northwestern campaign, which resulted at Detroit in 'the final overthrow of British rule in the great western country. General Harrison's troops and Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry's fleet were co-operating in the campaign. When Perry won the last naval engagement between the two great English-speaking peoples, it was to Harrison that he sent his immortal message : "We have met the enemy and they are ours." Perry's vessels were used to transport Harrison's troops 'to Detroit. The road continued north from Fort Seneca to Fort Stephenson, at Lower Sandusky, as Fremont Was known in the early clays, to Port Clinton, near which are the ruins of the old Fort Sandusky of 1745. Across Sandusky Bay, or Lake Sandusky, was the French Fort Junundat, built in 1754. Two large cannon erected by Col. Hayes mark the gateway of the trail and bear the following inscriptions : "Old French and Indian Trail, 1755 ;" "Harrison's Military Trail, 1812." The Harrison Trail Gateway is a memorial. copied after the principal gateway at the Arlington national cemetery. Washington. It consists of two ten-inch Rodman guns, weighing fifteen thousand pounds each, which have been placed on a cement foundation. They stand in an upright position with a fifteen-inch solid shot on top. The guns have been painted black and the solid shot white. The guns were secured by Col. Hayes from the United States government. from Governor's Island, New York City, and the large expense in transportation and preparation of the foundation was borne by the Ohio Historical and Archaelogical society. The celebration of the dedication was begun at 1:3o p. m., September 23, 1909. Admiral Clark, Prof. Wright, Hon. E. O. Randall, Mrs. B. A. Haves, Pres. Ellen, of the 23d regiment, O. V. I. ; Com. P. J. Winters. of Eugene Rawson post, and Col. Hayes occupied chairs on the platform. Col. Hayes presided and in a delightful and informal manner introduced the speakers of whom the first was Prof. George F. Wright, of Oberlin, president of the Ohio State Archaeological society. Admiral Clark succeeded Dr. Wright, and though his remarks were brief, he said some very important things and pleased the old soldiers immensely in the short address. Hon. E. 0. Randall, of Columbus, a reporter of the Ohio supreme court and secretary of the State Historical and Archaelogical Society, was the principal speaker, .relative to the dedication of the Gateway and history of the trail. A pleasing feature of the occasion was the naming of one of the large trees in the grove in honor of Admiral Clark. The reunion of Col. R. B. Hayes' regiment, the 23d O. V. I., was held in connection with the ceremonies of the Trail Gateway dedication, rendering the occasion doubly interesting and memorable. LADIES' SOLDIERS' AID SOCIETY OF CLYDE. The Ladies' Soldiers' Aid Society, Clyde, Ohio, was organized September 5, 1862, with Mrs. N. P. Birdseye, president ; Mrs. Bement, vice-president ; Mrs. Frances A. Tuttle, secretary, and Mrs. Amanda Birdseye, treasurer. The directors were Mesdames 'Owen, Stark, Weaver, McMillan and Mary Jackson. Among others of the ladies active in the society's early and noble work were Mesdames Eaton, Wales, Stilson, Hess, McPherson, Perin, Wottring, Sutton, Ramsey and Gates. The society still exists, but many of the early members have passed away. This society rendered efficient aid to the soldiers and their families during the Civil War and ever since to the needy, rendered so by the war. PIONEER REUNION. At the annual picnic of the Sandusky County Pioneer and Historical Association, held at Fremont, September 8, 1909, the following persons, 65 years of age and over, were present and registered : 65, Elisha Haff, Alexander Dolwick, George Lattimore, Mrs. George Lattimore, Mrs. Lucy Streeter ; 66, Mrs. Zoe Long, J. P. Roush, S. H. Raudebaugh, Mary Smith (Bradner, 0.) ; 67. Mrs. S. E. Bowlus, Jacob Rimelspach, Mrs. Lany Smith, Mrs. S. H. Raudebaugh, 404 - HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY Mrs. Mary Whitmore; 68, John Harris, Daniel Carnicom, George Flumerfelt, David Mooney, Mrs. J. L. Loose; 69, George W. King, Martha Deemer, Mrs. Mary Rhodes, Levi Snyder, B. B. Overmyer, Mrs. Elizabeth Ellis, Mrs. Leonard Carr, Mrs. J. D. Loveberry, Albert Streeter, Rebecca Gephart, Christian Hintz; 70, Thomas Thraves, D. P. Batezole, William Boyer, J. H. Burgoon, Mrs. Margaret Brubaker, Rev. W. A. Bowman, Mahala Carr, Absalom Shell ; 71, V. Gephart, Mrs. H. J. Kramb, Gustavus Jaeger, Mrs. J. N. Engler ; 72, Edward Deemer, Mrs. John P. Moore, William Nauman; 73, Leonard Carr, J. L. Loose, Mrs. Mary B. Stahl, Hugh Havens; 74, John Roberts, Rachel Fowler, Mrs. N. Engler, Samuel Doll, Mrs. Grant Forgerson; 75, Mrs. N. R. Tucker; 76, J. C. Barnes, Mrs. Sarah J. Bonam, Mrs. Ruth Wight, Mrs. H. H. Tucker, Mrs. W. A. Mugg; 77, Harmon Baker, J. D. Loveberry, Mrs. Harriett Bauman, Elizabeth Kenan, Mrs. Elizabeth Stierwalt; 78, Mrs. J. C. Smith, Lewis Bolin, Mrs. Margaret Hollingshead; 79, H. H. Tucker, J. J. Bonam, Mrs. Z. Van Doren ; 8o, John P. Moore, Basil Meek, Mrs. Mary E. Stevenson; 8i, W. C. Hollingshead, W. A. Mugg, C. M. Fouke, Lafayette Wright, Mrs. George M.cGormley ; 82, Dr. W. G. Walker, Harriet S. Sweet ; 83, W. H. Tyler, J. S. Fouke; 84, Eliza Fuller, Martha J. Feasel ; 85, Susanah Fought, Wallace Strohl ; 86, Samuel Kuns, N. R. Tucker ; 88, John H. Feasel, H. F. Palmer ; 95, Mrs. Rachel Ludwig. THE RIVER OF TIME. "Oh, a wonderful stream is the river of Time, As it runs through the realm of tears, With a faultless rhythm and musical rhyme, And a boundless sweep and a surge sublime, As it blends with the Ocean of Years. "How the winters are drifting, like flakes of snow, And the summers, like buds between; And the year in the sheaf—so they come and they go, On the river's breast with its ebb and flow. As it glides in the shadow and sheen. "There's a magical isle up the river of Time, Where the softest of airs are playing; There's a cloudless sky and a tropical clime. And a song as sweet as a vesper chime, And the Junes with the roses are staying. * * * * "There are hands that are waved, when the fairy shore By the mirage is lifted in air ; And we sometimes hear, through the turbulent roar, Sweet voices we heard in the days gone before When the wind down the river is fair." B. F. TAYLOR. REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS. PETER BEAUGRAND, M. D., for seventy years a medical practitioner and enjoying the distinction of being the oldest member of his profession in the State of Ohio, has spent eighty-six years of his life, with but few interruptions, in Fremont, having been brought to Lower Sandusky, by his parents, in 1823. Dr. Beaugrand was born August 26, 1814, at Detroit, Michigan, his mother's native city. His parents were John B. and Margaret (Chabert) Beaugrand. In 1760, the Beaugrand family was founded in the Dominion of Canada, by the grandfather of Dr. Beaugrand, James Baptiste Beaugrand, an Indian trader and merchant, who came from Bordeaux, France. In 1768 he lived at Three Rivers, Canada, at which place and in that year occurred the birth of his son, John B. Beau- grand. The latter also became a merchant and Indian trader. Prior to the War of 1812 he located at Detroit, Michigan, later moved to Maumee and during the invasion of that city his place of business was destroyed by fire. He continued his mercantile pursuits in Detroit until 1822, when he came to Ohio, and after one year he sent for his family. It requires but a few words to state that fact, but the journey, as recalled by Dr. Beaugrand, was one of danger and hardship. It was in the first week of January, 1823, and a sleigh was the conveyance selected, the proposed trip being on the ice on Lake Erie. Travel in this way was not unusual and for many months was entirely safe, but this was one of the exceptional occasions and, although the trip was taken along the shore, the ice gave way and the horses and sleigh broke through and the party was only saved from drowning by fortunately being near land at the mouth of the Tous-Sainte River. Dr. Beaugrand has frequently pointed ont, to those interested, the very spot on which the family landed and where they built a great fire and became dry and warm enough to enable them to complete the journey by land. Dr. Beaugrand recalls also the courage and resourcefulness of his venerated mother, who, on this occasion, as on many others, was the leading spirit in all that concerned the safety .and comfort of the party. This mother, Margaret Chabert, was born February 26, 1781, and died May 12, 1859. She was one of the finest types of the women of her day. The warmth and cordial hospitality of the home over which she presided, the dignity of her mien, the loving, care which she gave her large family, together with the unselfish charity she displayed, up to the close of her beneficent life, are well known to all who are familiar with the early days of this city. Her memory is recalled and her beautiful life commemorated by the oil painting which is one of the notable adornments of the public library at Fremont. Of the ten children born to John B. and Margaret Beaugrand, Dr. Peter Beaugrand is the only survivor. James A., the youngest, died in 1906. One sister was the wife of Hon. Rodolphus Dickinson, Member of Congress. All of the family who survived infancy, became more or less prominent. Dr. Beaugrand, being nine years old when his parents came to Lower Sandusky, attended the schools of the town during boy- - 407 - 408 - HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY hood, and when eighteen years of age enjoyed one term in Wells academy in Detroit, Michigan. By 1833 he had decided upon his life work and entered the office of Dr. B. and Dr. U. Q. Rawson, at Findlay, and during the winter of 1835-6, he attended medical lectures at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, at Fairfield, Herkimer County, New York, and later the Ohio Medical College, at Cincinnati, Ohio, graduating at the latter institution in 1845. As early as 1834 he had commenced to practice, at Lower Sandusky, and the success that crowned his earnest efforts from the beginning, proved an encouragement as he continued. In 1864 he was appointed surgeon of the 169th O. V. I., which was sent to Fort Ethan Allen, Virginia. Dr. Beaugrand served there in that regiment, for 100 days. With that exception, his absences from Fremont have not been of long duration, consisting mainly of attendance upon some medical gathering, or as a consulting physician in some desperate case. Not frequently is found a man of his years yet in active business, and still less frequently one whose profession has required such scientific training, such drafts made on strength and endurance, and such calls upon his sympathy. However, in his pleasant home and book-lined office, at No. 223 East State Street, this Nestor of his profession may be found daily, just as alert, just as discerning, and necessarily more skillful, than sixty years ago. He numbers among his patients members of the families with which he has been closely identified during almost the whole of his professional career, and the circle of his personal friends each year has widened. His long life has spanned the most important period of his country's history, and in all her progress, civilization and development, he has taken a deep interest. HON. JOHN J. LEHMAN, whose public services as a member of the Ohio State Legislature, have given him deserved distinction, is a prominent patent attorney at Fremont, of which city he has been a resident for a num ber of years. Mr. Lehman was born on his father's farm in Sandusky County, Ohio, October 4, 1863, and is a son of Leodegar L. and Barbara (Staub) Lehman. The father of Mr. Lehman was born in Germany in 1821, and the mother was born on the Atlantic Ocean, in 1832. The father was brought to America in 1833, and to Sandusky County in 1834. His active years were passed in agricultural pursuits and he still survives, having reached his eighty-eighth year. His family numbered eleven children. John J. Lehman remained at home during his early school period, but when 21 years of age, became a student at the Ohio Normal University, at Ada, Ohio, where he prepared for teaching and for some subsequent years spent his winters as a pedagogue and worked on the home farm during the summers. He was considered an excellent teacher and for two years served as principal of the schools at Rising Sun, Ohio. During this time he made his preparatory studies in law and was admitted to the bar on October 4, 1894. Following a short practice at Fostoria, he came to Fremont and for years has been a leading member of her bar, paying particular attention to pension and patent claims. Early taking an interest in public affairs, he identified himself with the Democratic party and ever since has been an influential member of that organization in this section of Ohio. His loyalty and efficiency have been frequently recognized and he was elected to township offices when little more than a youth. In later years higher honors were accorded him and in 1901 he was first brought forward by his party as its candidate for Representative. His defeat was by the small majority of thirty-one votes. In 1903 his party again brought him out and the result was his election over his former opponent. Hon. E. R. Tyler, by a pluralitv of 1,015. His course in the House of Representatives met with the approval of his constituents and he was reelected. The records show how earnestly he sought to promote wise legislation and how high an estimate was placed upon his knowledge, judgment and experience. He fathered some of the most important bills introduced in the General Assembly and his com- AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 409 mittee work was marked with a constant regard for the best interests of the people at large. On October 16, 1894, Mr. Lehman was married to Miss Lillian B. Fry, who is a daughter of Jacob and Eliza Fry, and they have four children : Lester, Ruth E., William Elbert and John F. The family home is one of Fremont's beautiful residences. Mr. Lehman maintains his law office in the First National Bank Building. With his family he belongs to the Roman Catholic Church. Mr. Lehman has been closely occupied for years in public matters but he has never forgotten his duties as a public-spirited citizen of Fremont and has ever been ready to lend a helpful influence to develop it in every desirable direction. He is identified with a number of fraternal bodies including : the Knights of Columbus, the Modern Woodmen, the Maccabees, the Woodmen of the World, the Catholic Mutual Benefit Association and the Home Guards. WILLIAM O. DIPMAN, manager of the Zorn-Hornung elevator at Gibsonburg, Ohio, and clerk of the city council, is one of the representative citizens of this section. He was born January 6, 1855, at Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio, and is a son of John F. and Sarah (Wegstein) Dipman. John F. Dipman was born in Saxony, Germany, and he accompanied his parents to America in 1853. They settled at Fremont and near that city John F. Dipman has passed all his subsequent life, except three years when lie worked as a carpenter, in Tennessee. In his day he was considered a very skilled workman. For twenty-two years he has been sexton of St. John's Lutheran Church. He was married first to Sarah Wegstein. who died in 1861, and his second marriage was to Elizabeth Munch. William O. Dipman was educated in the schools of Fremont and at Oberlin College and afterward he taught school in Harris Township, Ottawa County, for a time, subsequently purchasing a farm of forty acres in Washington Township, Sandusky County, settling on it after his marriage. Later he moved to near Helena and from there, in 1900, to Gibson- burg, where he went into the business of weaving carpets which he continued until he became manager and overseer of the Zorn-Hornung elevator. As a business man Mr. Dipman is held in very high regard and his practical qualities are shown in the efficient manner in which he discharges his present duties. He is a sound Democrat and his good citizenship has been recognized on many occasions when he has been called on to accept township offices. He served three years as a trustee of Washington Township and nine years as a member of the School Board and for six years has been town clerk of Gibsonburg. On February 6, 1879, Mr. Dipman was married to Miss Margaret Smith, a daughter of Richard and Elizabeth (Nachbar) Smith, and they have had the following children : Henry A., who is a teacher at Appleton, Wisconsin, married Emma Schoen and they have two children—Harold and Winnefred; Clara Emma, who married Emanuel Paul, of Gibsonburg, has one child, Margaret Lucile; Estella and Laura, both of whom are self-supporting; Carl, who graduated from the Gibsonburg public schools, and is now engaged as a teacher in Woodville Township; Lucy and Bertha, who are at school ; and Florence, still at home. Mr. Dipman and family are members of the Lutheran Church. C. W. STIERWALT, secretary of the Simple Account Sales Book Company, and also a member of the city council of Fremont, Ohio, is a thoroughly representative citizen and is valued as such. He was born July 15, 1871, at Fremont, and is a son of Jonathan and Mary Margaret (Wise) Stierwalt. Jonathan Stierwalt was of German extraction. He was born in Pennsylvania but spent the larger part of his life in Ohio, his parents moving to Fremont in his boyhood. For many years he was a contractor and builder in this city, and died here April 30, 1896. C. W. Stienvalt was educated in the Fremont schools and took a commercial course in the Eastman College at Poughkeepsie, New York. After his return he worked as a bookkeeper with Fremont business houses, and prior to taking his commercial course had served in 410 - HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY that capacity very acceptably for a year, for the Fremont Savings Bank. For three years he was bookkeeper for the Lehr Agricultural Implement Works and for the last fourteen years has been identified with his present company. He went into this house first as shipping clerk, later was advanced to be bookkeeper and subsequently became a stockholder and secretary. Mr. Stierwalt married Miss Laura Gottron, a daughter of Herman Gottron, and they have one child, Lucy M. Mr. Stierwalt is serving in his first term as a member of the city council, at large, elected to this office on the Democratic ticket. Careful, conservative and persevering in his own affairs, his presence on the council board gives promise of excellent public service. He is identified with the Masonic fraternity. WILLIAM E. CRISMORE, M. D., physician and surgeon at Helena, Ohio, was born April 10, 1872, at Wooster, Wayne County, Ohio, and is a son of Dr. James Madison and Lucy (Carbaugh) Crismore. Dr. James Madison Crismore was born at Marshalltown, Ohio, in 1844, and died at Helena, September 6, 1907. At one time his father had been engaged in the practice of law in Boston, later moved to Wayne County, Ohio, and died there in 1846. He left two sons, James Madison and Wesley. The latter resides at Wooster and has four children : Aggie, who married Scott Rex, a lawyer at Grand Forks, North Dakota ; Reddie, who lives at Willoughby, Ohio, has one daughter ; Gertrude, who is the wife of the cashier of a bank at Grand Forks, North Dakota ; and Arlow, who resides with his parents at Wooster. Dr. James M. Crismore was a prominent physician for many years. He was a graduate of the Eclectic Medical Institute of Cincinnati and of the Western Reserve College at Cleveland. He came to Helena in 1876, from Wooster, Ohio, and continued in the active practice of his profession until his death. He was known for his medical skill all over Sandusky County. In both branches of Odd Fellowship he was prominent, belonging also to the Maccabees, and was examiner for almost all the insurance com- panies doing business in this section. In politics he was a staunch Republican. He united with the Methodist Episcopal Church at Wooster and was ever a consistent member of that body. He was married at Marshallville, Ohio, in 1867, to Miss Lucy Carbaugh, who still survives, residing with her son, Dr. William E. Crismore, at Helena. She was born in December, 185o. There were six children born to Dr. James M. Crismore and wife, namely : Alice, William E., Permelia, Matthew, Reba and Elizabeth. Alice died when aged 15 years, Reba died in infancy and Matthew died from the effects of an accident. Permelia is the widow of Paul Snyder and has one daughter, Lucy. Elizabeth married Asa Smith and they reside at Prairie Depot, Wood County, Ohio, and have four children. William E. Crismore was 7 years old when his parents came to Helena. After completing the common school course he entered Heidelberg College, at Tiffin, where he spent two years and then took a scientific course at the Ohio Normal University at Ada, later graduating in the classical course at the Ohio Normal School at Lebannon. He then spent four years in medical study at the Eclectic Medical Institute of Cincinnati, and graduated with credit on June 5, 1895, one in a class of forty-eight students. He returned to Helena and for eight years was associated in practice with his father. In 1903 he went to Genoa, where he practiced until 1906 and then returned to Helena and has remained here until the present. He still owns property at Genoa but makes his home with his mother at Helena. He is identified with the Odd Fellows, and like his late father is medical examiner for a number of the fraternal organizations and insurance bodies. JACOB R. BILLOW, an enterprising citizen and a successful agriculturist of Sandusky Township, residing on his valuable farm of eighty-five acres, situated in Section 26, was born in Rice Township, Sandusky County, Ohio, August 25, 1871, and is a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Odermot) Billow. Both parents of Mr. Billow were born in Germany and were brought to America and San- AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 411 dusky County by their parents in youth, the Billows coming in 1844 and the Odermots in 1845. Both families were pioneers in Rice Township. For many years Jacob Billow was a resident of Rice Township and then moved to Sandusky Township, settling on the farm which has been Jacob R. Billow's home for the past thirty years. Jacob Billow was a man of sterling qualities and from one end of the township to the other was affectionately called "Uncle Jake." He was both a Mason and odd Fellow, identified With lodges at Fremont, and in politics lie was a Democrat. He was popular and enjoyed the confidence of his fellow citizens, but would accept no public office except that of township trustee. His death occurred in Sandusky Township in 1896. Of his children, the following survive : John, residing in Williams County, Ohio ; Charles F.. living in Riley Township ; Henry and William, both residents of Fremont ; Louis, Jacob R., Annie C., wife of August Johnson, of Sandusky Township; Caroline E., residing in Sandusky Township; Emma L., wife of Otto Smith, living in Sandusky Township; and Lucy R., wife of Lloyd Croft, residing at Fremont. Jacob R. Billow was reared in a good home and with his brothers and sisters, attended the country schools and later he engaged in farming and dairying, for about eight years running milk wagons in Fremont, but at present he gives his whole attention to his land and the breeding of light harness horses. He is the owner of Glenwood B., 2 : I 3 , and Ironwood, a speedy 4-year old colt, both sired by the well known Pinewood. In 1896 he was married to Miss Lillie Younkman, a daughter of John and Christina (Mathia) Younkman, residents of Fremont, and to this marriage have been born seven children, five of whom survive, namely : Pearl S., Gideon R., Philip L., Elmer R. and Marguerite Ruth. Stephen and James are deceased. Those living are in attendance at the Fremont public schools. Mr. and Mrs. Billow are members of the Reformed Church at Fremont. Formerly Mr. Billow was identified with the lodge of Modern Woodmen in that city, but is no longer so connected. JOHN C. BOLINGER, cashier of the Croghan Bank and Savings Company, at Fremont, has been identified with this institution since September I, 1901, having previously had an extended banking experience. He was born at Middletown, Frederick County, Maryland, August 7, 1859, and is a son of John C. and Rachel (Crawford) Bolinger. John C. Bolinger, father of our subject, was born in Germany and there learned the weaving trade in all its branches. He was a high grade workman and manufactured many kinds of goods on his looms. He died when his son was an infant. The widow moved with her family to Ohio, buying a small farm of three and one-half acres in Townsend Township. This capable and resourceful mother still lives and during a large part of her year resides at her son's home in Fremont, although her stated place of residence is. Clyde. John C. Bolinger, bearing his father's name, attended the public schools in Townsend Township and while almost a boy, taught his first term of school. Later he attended the Fremont and Clyde schools and also a Normal School at Milan, in Huron County. After he returned home he worked on the home place until the fall of 1878, when he entered into the employ of the Clyde Banking Company, first as a general utility man, and continued with that corporation until August, 1883, when he resigned. He was instrumental in bringing about the organization of the Peoples Banking Company of Clyde and was elected its first cashier, which position he occupied from January 1, 1884, until he accepted his present office in the fall of 1901. Mr. Bolinger entered this bank under the presidency of the late A. E. Rice, who served until his death, March 15, 1909, when he was succeeded by F. H. Dorr. At Clyde, Ohio, Mr. Bolinger was married in 1882, to Miss Annie M. Foster, and they have had six children, namely: Grace R., who married M. J. Slessman, and they have three children, Grace B., Alice and Metta ; George C., who is a resident of Binghampton, New York; John C., Jr., who is an employe of the Croghan Bank; Howard F.; Thomas D., who died when aged three years and James A. Mr. 412 - HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY Bolinger and family reside on Ewing Street, Fremont. He is identified with the Masons and the Knights of Pythias, and belongs also to the Forresters and the Royal Arcanum. He is interested in all that concerns the general welfare and is numbered with the representative citizens of Fremont. JOHN W. WELLS, who resides on his farm on ninety-one acres, all rich farming land, situated three and one-quarter miles southwest of Lindsay, was born in the State of New York, February 19, 1856, and he is a son of James and Sabria (Barnes) Wells, and a grandson of Isaiah Wells. Mr. Wells resided in his native State until he had passed his 24th birthday, attending the public schools until he was 17, and after that followed farming. He then located at Gibson-burg, Ohio, where he engaged in teaming for five years and then rented a farm northeast of that town, on which he lived for eight years. He then purchased his present farm from George Richard, settled on it and has continued its cultivation and improvement to the present time. Mr. Wells has two brothers and one sister, namely : Charles H., who married Minnie Murray; Frank D., who married Sarah Keller; and Hattie J., who married George Kinney. On January 29, 1883, Mr. Wells was married (first) to Miss Julia Hoyt, who, at death, left one daughter, Nettie. The latter married Frank Holmbaugh, and they lived at Shelby, Ohio. Mr. Wells was married (second) to Miss Phoebe S. Daum, a daughter of John P. and Elizabeth (Boston) Daum, the former of whom was born in Germany and the latter in Medina County, Ohio. The Daum family included the following children : John, who married Jane Conway ; Nancy, who married Laben Bowser, of Elkhart, Indiana ; George, who married Eliza Garn, resides at Angola, Indiana ; Mary, who married James Voorhees, lives at Gibsonburg, Ohio ; James, who lives at Fostoria, Ohio, married Belle England ; and Phoebe S., who is the wife of John W. Wells. To Mr. and Mrs. Wells were born one son, Frederick Arthur, who married Elnorah Parrish, and they reside at Gibsonburg, Sandusky County, Mr. Wells being Superintendent of the public schools at Burgoon. They have one son, Earl Edwin, born January 9, 1908. John W. Wells and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Both he and his son, Frederick Arthur, are identified with the Knights of Maccabees. He is a Republican in his political views and takes a great deal of interest in all current events. JOHN HILT, one of the infirmary doctors of Sandusky County, Ohio, is a well known farmer of Ballville Township, where he owns and resides upon a farm of seventy-five acres. He was born on this farm October 21, 1849, and is a son of George and Salomo (Livingstone) Hilt, both natives of Alsace-Loraine, Germany. George Hilt was born in February, 1805, and some time after his marriage came to the United States. In May, 1843, George Hilt and wife made their way west to Buffalo, New York, thence by boat to Sandusky City, and by wagon to Ballville Township, Sandusky County, where they purchased fifty acres of land. He improved that farm and lived upon it until his death in November, 1886. Mrs. Hilt, who was born January I, 1812, also died on that farm in July, 1875. The following children were the issue of their union : George : Charles, now deceased ; Peter, deceased; Fred; Jacob; Sarah, widow of Frank Meeker ; John ; Elizabeth, wife of Emandus Hollinger ; and William F. John Hilt has always lived on his present farm and has always followed farming. He received a good common school education, but in the main his training has come through the greatest of teachers, Experience, and in contact with the world. He is a broad-minded and liberal man and has been actively identified with the affairs of the community. For twenty years he served as a member of the School Board, of which he was president six years. In the fall of 1908, he was elected on the Democratic ticket to the office of infirmary director, the duties of which he is discharging in a highly efficient and satisfactory manner. February 15, 1881, Mr. Hilt was married at Perrysburg, to Miss Mary Knaus, who was born in Wood County. Ohio, October 13, 1857. AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 413 and is a daughter of George and Katherine (Harch) Knause, both natives of Wurtemberg, Germany. Her father was born March 21, 1830, and died in Wood County, Ohio, August 18, 1900. Mrs. Knause was born May 23, 1829, and died in Wood County on December 21, 1908. They were parents of the following children : Katherine, George, Mary (Hilt), Tillie, Adolph, Annie, Christine, Lena and Bertha. Mr. and Mrs. Hilt have two sons : George, who was born July 14, 1882, and lives at home with his parents; and Theodore, who was born January 1, 1884. The latter was married June 25, 1908, to Miss Lillie Wehrurg, and they live at Fremont, where he conducts the East Side Livery. Mr. and Mrs. Hilt are members of the Grace Lutheran Church. PHILIP DORR, for many years one of Fremont's most respected citizens and successful business men, founder of the enterprise now known as the Dorr Bros. Shoe Store, a leading business concern of this city, was born in that part of Bavaria, Germany, termed the Rhine Palatinate, March 17, 1811, and died at his home in Fremont, Ohio, June 18, 1886. A German youth is pretty sure of securing an education adequate to his needs and in addition to this, Philip Dorr, before leaving his native land, learned the trade of shoemaker, and with the shoe business he was identified throughout the entire course of his .business life. He came to America in 1837, safely landing after a perilous voyage on a sailing ship, and from New York City went to Erie, Pennsylvania, and from there, soon afterward, to Sandusky, Ohio. In August, 1841, he became a resident of Fremont, it then being known as Lower Sandusky, and on State Street, east of the river, he founded the business which has reached its present large proportions. As he prospered he secured more desirable quarters, on the northeast corner of Front and Garrison Streets, but the move proved disastrous, as a fire swept over that portion of the town and reduced his stock and property to ashes. However, by this time, he had secured a large patronage and when he started into business again, on Front Street, old customers as well as new ones found him and he began to think of erecting a building for himself. This plan matured and in partnership with Edward Leppelman he purchased land and built frame structures. At that time Fremont suffered, like other similar towns, from inadequate fire protection, and Mr. Dorr, for a second time, saw his possessions swept away. In 1856 Mr. Dorr completed the erection of the brick building now occupied by the Dorr Bros. Shoe Store, and then he continued in the boot and shoe business during the remainder of his active life and had the satisfaction of seeing his sons prepared to succeed him. Philip Dorr was married in June, 1843, to Miss Anna Meyer, who was born March 18, 1815, in Canton Argau, Switzerland, and in 1829 accompanied her parents, Jacob and Fanny Meyer, to America. She lived at Philadelphia and Franklin, Pennsylvania, later at Sandusky City, prior to her marriage. Three sons survive their parents : F. H., H. S., and J. L. The brothers are associated in business as Dorr Bros., and F. H. is also president of the Croghan Bank and Savings Company. They all reside at No. 418 Birchard Avenue, Fremont. MAJOR JEROME VOORHIES, whose splendid farm of 240 acres is situated in Jackson Township, near Burgoon, Sandusky County, was born Mai ch 19, 1854, in Liberty Township, Seneca County, Ohio, and is a son of John and Sarah J. (Winters) Voorhies. John Voorhies, father of Major J. Voorhies, was born in New Jersey, February 1, 1832, and died in Jackson Township, October 2, 1907. In boyhood he accompanied his father, Elias Voorhies, to Sandusky County, and in 1853 was married to Sarah J. Winters, in Jackson Township, and then moved to Seneca County and bought land in Liberty Township. The family lived about a year in Liberty Township and then returned to Jackson Township, where Mrs. Voorhies still resides. She was born January 21, 1835. They had two children, . Amanda J., and Major Jerome. The former was born August 30, 1856, married John Michaels, and they live at Kansas, Ohio. They have one daughter, Gestiver, who married Earl 414 - HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY Ash, of Fostoria, and they live at Anson, Ohio. Major Jerome Voorhies has resided in Jackson Township since he was two years of age, and ever since he completed his school attendance, has been deeply interested in farming, making this his life work. His operations are carried on systematically and his abundant crops and sleek cattle testify to his wise management of his many broad acres. His surroundings are attractive and his home is a handsome country residence. On February 15, 1872, by Rev. John French, Mr. Voorhies was married to Miss Anna R. Havens, the eldest daughter of W. J. and Anna (Paden) Havens. W. J. Havens was born December 13, 1833, and died March 31, 1906. His widow survives, having been born July 27, 1833. Mrs. Voorhies is one of a family of eight children, the others being: George, deceased; John Fremont, Charles, Frank, James L., deceased; Emma J, and Orval B. Mr. and Mrs. Voorhies have had three children : Estella, Lulu Belle and John W. Estella, born February 14, 1874, died April 18, 1878. Lulu B., born July 12, 1885, died March 29, 1898. John W., born November 23, 1898, is a sturdy school boy. Mr. Voorhies and wife are members of the United Brethren Church of Jackson Township and he has been a church trustee for many years. For seven years Mr. Voorhies served as township trustee and for a long time was a school director. HON. JOHN B. RICE, M. D., who ably represented the Tenth Ohio Congressional District, in the Forty-seventh Congress, was equally prominent in the field of medicine as in that of statesmanship. The city of Fremont has proudly written his name on her roll of honor, for he was born here, in the days when the village was Lower Sandusky, on June 23, 1832. His parents were Robert S. and Eliza Ann (Caldwell) Rice. In his youth John B. Rice learned the printing trade in the office of the Sandusky County Democrat, serving an apprenticeship of three years, but this was merely subsidiary, his desire being for a thorough knowledge of the science of medicine. The printing office is an excellent school, but more thorough training is necessary before a learned profession like that of medicine can be satisfactorily pursued, and realizing this, Mr. Rice became a student at Oberlin College. Two years later he entered the medical department of the University of Michigan, where he was graduated in 1857. In 1859 he attended lectures at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, and clinics. at Bellevue Hospital, New York. When the Civil War was declared, Dr. Rice had already won his way as a physician and surgeon in his native city, and when he presented himself for medical service, was assigned to the Tenth Regiment Ohio Vol. Inf., in which he served as assistant surgeon, in West Virginia. In November, 1861, he was transferred to the Seventy-second Regiment, as surgeon, and continued in the army until the close of the war, frequently acting as surgeon-in-chief and being assigned to the most important and dangerous posts. When we realize the wonderful strides made in surgery since those days, then only can the present generation adequately value the services and remarkable success of those men of nerve and skill, who performed major operations (which now are done only with the finest scientific instruments, and with every antiseptic precaution) with the old-time saws and lancets and with no sanitary protections for either themselves or their unfortunate patients ; yet, on every side may be seen the veteran who, for forty years has survived his injuries and led a useful life, thanks to those brave and skillful doctors. Dr. Rice successfully performed the (at that time) rare operation of resection of the elbow joint (excision of condyles and olecranon) on J. L. Jackson, private Company A, 72d 0. V. I.. who had been wounded. Mr. Jackson was after the war for many years night watchman in the treasury department at Washington, D. C. When he was no longer needed on the battle field or in the army hospitals, Dr. Rice returned to Fremont and quietly resumed his private practice. His harrowing HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY - 417 experiences had not rendered him callous, as it did many others of the profession, but rather enlarged his natural sympathies, thus enabling him to win the confidence of his patients, while his medical and surgical ability soon placed him far ahead of the ordinary practitioner. He became eminent in his profession, was welcomed into the folds of every reputable medical organization, was in demand as a lecturer and as a contributor to medical journals and found himself, while comparatively a man in middle age, a leader among his professional brethren. For several years he was a member of the faculty of the Charity Hospital Medical College at Cleveland, and was lecturer on military surgery and obstetrics, at the University of Wooster. The late Dr. Rice was at all times too broad-minded a man to ignore the duties of good citizenship; rather they were ever apparent to him and in the furthering of public-spirited measures designed for the general welfare, the people of Fremont knew how dependable he was. He believed in the principles of the Republican party and gave that organization his hearty support and in 188o was nominated for Congress The Tenth District was then com- posed of Erie, Hancock, Huron, Sandusky and Seneca Counties, and he was elected with a fine majority. He served so acceptably that he was renominated, but declined to serve, returning then to look after his practice and his many business interests. During his Congressional service he had favored many measures of the greatest possible importance and one of these was the legislation providing for the granting of pensions to worthy veterans of the Civil War. The Grand Army of the Republic always claimed a large share of his affection, as did also the Loyal Legion, and his death, which occurred January 14, 1893, brought grief to hundreds who had known his kind ministrations and helpful encouragement. For many years he was active also in the Masonic fraternity. On December 12, 1861, Dr. Rice was married to Miss Sarah E. \Nilson, who i s a daughter of the late Dr. James W. and Nancy E. (Justice) Wilson, of Fremont. Dr. and Mrs ..Rice had two children—a daughter and a son: Lizzie and Wilson. Mrs. Rice survives and resides in one of Fremont's stately homes located at No. 500 Court Street. She is a member, as was her husband, of St. Paul's Episcopal Church. PETER STEPNIAK, florist and landscape gardner, with greenhouses situated in Sandusky Township, near Fremont, is a leading citizen of this part of Sandusky County. He was born in the province of Posen, Germany, August 22, 1867, and is a son of Mathias and Mary Stepniak. Peter Stepniak was 18 months old when his father died and he was reared on the home farm by his widowed mother. When he was 17 years old he started to learn the florist and gardening business, for which he seems to have had natural talent, and he has pursued the same up to the present time. In 1891 he came to America, and at Cleveland, Ohio, was engaged as superintendent by the well known florist of that city, John Miller. For two and one-half years he was landscape gardner for the Ursaline Convent in East Cleveland and laid out the beautiful grounds of that institution. Later he came to his present location and engaged in business for himself. Mr. Stepniak has been very successful although he is an entirely self-made man, coming to America unknown and dependent upon himself. He was able, however, to prove his ability in his special line of work and has been appreciated by the public. He has taken an active interest in public affairs in his section and is serving in his second term as one of the directors of the Sandusky County Infirmary. In politics he is a democrat and has served as a member of the Democratic Central Committe of Sandusky County. Mr. Stepniak was married October 2, 1893, to Miss Mary E. Saner, who is a daughter of B. Saner, of Sandusky Township, and they have a family of seven children, namely : Petet J., Gertrude M., Agnes A., Amelia R., Irene U., Marie M. and Cecelia K. They have a 418 - HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY pleasant home on W. Napoleon Street, Fremont. Mr. Stepniak and family are members of St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church at Fremont. HENRY KLINE, who for a period of thirty-four years has been prominently identified with business interests in Fremont, Ohio, is owner and proprietor of a plumbing establishment located in the Kline Block, on East State Street. He was born in Union County, Pennsylvania, February 20, 1849, and is a son of Jacob and Catherine Kline. Henry Kline was about 6 years old when his parents, in 1855, moved to Sandusky County, Ohio, locating first on a farm four miles north of Bellevue, and then bought a farm near Castalia. There he was reared to maturity, and his parents being in moderate circumstances, Ile was given the privilege of but a meagre education in the district schools. In October, 1875, he moved to Fremont where he soon became well established in business. Notwithstanding his limited educational advantages; by hard work and devotion to business he has prospered beyond the average and is now ranked among Fremont's substantial men. He engaged with success in the liquor business for a time, for thirteen years was concerned in pork packing; was in the sand business a number of years; and conducted a grocery in the frame building which stood on the site of his present handsome business block. In 1893 he erected this building, a three-story brick, which has three large business rooms and eight residence apartments, and is also the owner of other valuable realty in the city. He has been in the plumbing business since June, 1908. The subject of this record was married to Miss Kate Gearhart and they have two children : Hattie, who is the wife of M. D. Brown of Clyde, Ohio, and has two children, Bernice Delton and Catherine ; and a son, Jesse H., who is unmarried and lives with his parents. Mr. Kline has been a member of the Knights of Honor for more than twenty-four years. ALLEN KERNS, a well known agriculturist of Washington Township, and owner of a fine farm of 114 acres located about five and a half mile west of Fremont, was born November 5, 1863, on his father's farm, which adjoins his own property and is owned by his brother, Obadiah Kerns. He is a son of Daniel and Julia Ann (Walters) Kerns, the former a native of Columbia County, Ohio, and the latter of Pennsylvania. Daniel Kerns came to Sandusky County, Ohio, in 1843, and purchased a tract of timber land in Washington Township, which lie cleared and placed in a state of cultivation, and which is now owned by two of his sons, Allen and Obediah. Mr. Kerns died at Linsday, Ohio, in 1904, and is survived by his widow, who is in her 85th year. They reared a family of eight children; Caroline, who married William Collar, of Toledo, Ohio ; Rebecca, who is the wife of William Smith, of Oklahoma ; Lydia A., who is the wife of T. I. Kerns, of Cleveland, Ohio; Obediah, who married Louisa Longenbach ; Emma S., who married John Slates, of. Cleveland, Ohio; Allen, subject of this record; and Dora V., who married A. A. French, of Cleveland, Ohio. Allen Kerns was reared on his father's farm, adjoining his present place, attended school until 20 years old, then worked on his father's farm until his marriage, when he moved to his present farm, where he has since continued to reside, with the exception of two years during, the oil excitement, when he conducted a restaurant at Gibsonburg. He purchased the land from his father, September 5, 1902, has made various improvements, building fences and laying tile, and has just completed a fine new barn, and stock shed, all equipped with concrete flooring, at a cost of about $2,700. The lumber for this was sawed on his own farm. Mr. Kerns was married September 14, 1886. to Annettie Fought, a daughter of "William and Harriet (Jams) Fought, of Havens Station. Sandusky County, Ohio. She is the second of four children born to her parents. the others . being : Mary Jane, who is the wife of John Barman. of Washington Township ; Cora Alice. who married Orville Havens, of Jackson Township ; and Charles Edward. who married Maud Flinchbaugh. and resides at Robinson, Illinois. Mr. and Mrs: Kerns have one son, Webb Zenas. AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 419 who attends the Washington Township schools. Mr. Kerns and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is also a trustee. In politics he is a Republican. HENRY F. BISCHOFF, who has been postmaster at Burgoon, Ohio, continuously since July 23, 1885, is proprietor of a general store at this place and is a veteran of the Civil War. He was born in New York City, February 29, 1848, and is a son of John J. and Mary Bischoff, who were the parents of three children, the other two being, Mary, who married and lives in New York City and Lewis, who is a resident of Fremont, Ohio. Henry F. Bischoff was a lad of 8 years when his parents came to Sandusky County, Ohio, and located at Fremont, where he was reared and attended the local schools. He engaged as a clerk in a grocery store until 1864, when he enlisted in Company B, 72nd Ohio Vol. Inf., at Fremont, and served throughout the entire Civil War. He participated in numerous important battles and skirmishes, was taken prisoner at Guntown, Mississippi, and confined ten and a half months at Andersonville Prison, where he was at the time of the assassination of President Lincoln. He was mustered out at Columbus, Ohio, in 1865, after which he returned to Sandusky County and located on a farm in Green Creek Township, where he resided for about three years. He then came to Burgoon and opened a general store, beginning on a small scale, and used a part of his house for his limited stock of goods. He soon had a growing and successful business established and at the end of three years, bought out J. N. Powell, who owned his present place of business, which he has successfully conducted for the past thirty years in connection with performing his duties as postmaster of Burgoon. On April 8, 1877, Mr. Bischoff was united in the bonds of wedlock with Sarah S. Seaman, a daughter of John Seaman of Clyde, Ohio, and to them have been born the following children : Charles, Blanche and Floyd, all of whom live at home. Mr. Bischoff owns a very fine residence property in Burgoon. He is a member of the United Brethren Church of Burgoon of which he is also a trustee. He is affiliated with the I. O. O. F. No. 405, of Kansas, Ohio; the G. A. R. Rossen Post of Fremont. He has served as a member of the School Board, and was appointed by the County Commissioners to see that all old soldiers of the township without funds were given a proper burial. ELMER E. BOWLUS, proprietor of the Bowlus Ice and Cold Storage Company, has been in the ice business in Fremont, Ohio, since 1882, and has a large and well established business. He was born on a farm two and one-half miles west of Fremont, in Washington Township, Sandusky County, December 15, 186o, and is a son of Hanson R. and Rebecca (Black) Bowlus. Hanson R. Bowlus followed farming many years and then engaged in the lumber business, in which he continued but a few years. He then purchased the Star Mill, now operated by the Cox's, and carried on a milling business in partnership with Mr. Beery, under the firm name of Bowlus and Beery. He disposed of his interests in this plant at the time he went into partnership with the subject of this sketch in 1882. He continued in the ice business until 1890, since which time he has lived in retirement at Fremont. He is 77 and his wife is 74 years of age at the present writing (1909.) Elmer E. Bowlus was reared on the farm until he was 15 years old, and then came to Fremont with his parents. He worked in the lumber yard for his father, and later was engineer in the flour mills. He and his father in the fall of 1881 built the ice house in Fremont, and in the winter of 1882 put up their first natural ice. In 1905 Mr. Bowlus erected a large modern ice plant, equipped with the York Compressing System, it having- a daily capacity of twenty-five tons. They do an enormous business and in season run three wagons. Mr. Bowlus is a director of the Colonial Bank of Fremont. Elmer E. Bowlus was united in marriage with Miss Vida Stewart, by whom he has a son, Ralph E., who now is manager of the Bowlus Ice and Cold Storage Company. The latter was united in marriage with Miss Mabel Gottron. In his earlier years our subject served two years as a member of the city coun- 420 - HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY cil. Fraternally, he is a member of the Order of Odd Fellows, is a Thirty-second degree Mason, and also belongs to Lodge No. 169, Order of Elks, of Fremont; his son, Ralph E., being exalted ruler of this lodge. M. G. VEH, funeral director and undertaker and proprietor of a first class furniture store, at Gibsonburg, Ohio, is one of the substantial and representative business men of this place. He was born in Bavaria, Germany, December 18, 1859, and is a son of Michael and Dorothea (Dornberger) Veh. The parents of Mr. Veh came from Germany to America in 1865 and settled at Oak Harbor, Ottawa County, Ohio, where the father died on April 18, 1908. His widow resides at Gibsonburg. M. G. Veh attended school at Oak Harbor and then learned the cabinet making trade and served as a clerk in the furniture store of Charles Urech for five continuous years. Going then to Grand Rapids, Michigan, he was employed in a furniture factory there for one summer, and then returned to his old employer for several months, after which he established a furniture and undertaking business at Woodville. He had a partner in this enterprise and remained at Woodville for ten years, when he sold out and came back to Gibsonburg, buying a half interest in the furniture and undertaking business of his old employer. Later he purchased the entire interest, and after the fire which destroyed many business houses on the opposite side of the street, he moved into his present building which he erected on the site of one of the buildings destroyed. He carries a line of high grade furniture, bought from the best manufacturers of the same, and he does a large business. He is fully prepared also for all calls relating to funeral directing, having excellent facilities and equipments for the same, all along modern lines. Mr. Veh was married at Gibsonburg, Ohio, September 10, 1885 to Miss Ella E. Yeasting, a daughter of J. F. and Margaret (Friar) Yeasting, and they have three children: Fred, who is his father's chief assistant; Carrie, wife of Clarence S. Stilson; and Raymond. Mr. Veh and family are members of the Evangeli cal Church. In politics he is a republican and has served in the town council and on the School Board. He is one of the stockholders of the Home Banking Company at Gibson-burg and of the Gibsonburg Banking Company. He is identified with several fraternal organizations. W. V. B. AMES, M. D., for many years an eminent medical practitioner at Fremont of which city he has been a resident since 1859, was born in 1821, in Huron County, Ohio, and is a son of Jason C. and Sarah Ann (Moore) Ames. The father of Dr. Ames was born in New Haven, Connecticut, and his mother in Pennsylvania. They were married in Huron County, Ohio, where the father engaged in farming and also followed the trade of shoemaker. They had seven children born to them, the eldest being the subject of this sketch. The members of the family are now widely scattered through different states, Dr. Ames being the only one living in Ohio. As soon as his school days were over, Dr. Ames began to read medicine with a well known physician of Huron County, and in 1845 he entered into practice at South Bend, Indiana, where he remained until 1851. About this time he decided to visit the far West, and journeying to California by the overland route, he engaged in mining in Yuba County and also practiced medicine there until 1855, when he returned to his native state. In 1859 he settled permanently at Fremont and he has since been identified with the interests of this city, successfully practicing his profession for many years and accumulating an ample fortune. Surrounded by all that makes the evening of life happy and comfortable, and enjoying the respect and affection of his family, together with the esteem of his fellow citizens, Dr. Ames finds that age brings many compensations. His handsome residence is situated at No. 116 High Street. Dr. Ames was married (first) in Huron County, Ohio, to Miss Adaline Harrington, who died May 30, 186o, leaving children as follows: Elizabeth, who married Evandor HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY - 423 Dunning; Alice, who married Charles A. Norton; William V. B., and Rose. Dr. Ames was married (second) to Miss Catherine Strohl, who is a daughter of the late Peter Strohl, a Sandusky County pioneer. The children of this marriage were : Frank, Nell and Jane, all of whom reside at home. Dr. Ames has been a leading factor in promoting the progress and development of Fremont and has never lost interest in noting its advancement. DAVID WALTER, general farmer and representative citizen, owning a valuable farm in Woodville Township, situated three miles mlies from the village of Woodville, Ohio, is a son of Lewis Walter, who entered eighty acres of land from the government. In the early days the entering of Government land was even a greater undertaking than it is at present, for, while there was no excess of population as at present, there was such a scarcity of money that suffering was frequently caused by the lack of a few dollars even when the land had been secured. This was the case when Lewis Walter came first to Woodville Township, the payment for his land leaving him with but a sixpence in his pocket. At Wheeling, Virginia, however, lived a man who owed him money and Mr. Walter traveled on foot the whole distance in order to collect it. This man, however, did not have the money at the time and Mr. Walter had to return without it. Six years later he made a second journey and received his money but lost it to a sharper, who induced him to take a watch for the sum, and the timepiece proved of no value. Mr. Walter was obliged to borrow from his former debtor to enable him to get hack to Sandusky County. Being then but little better off than before, Mr. Walter went to work at Perrysburg for 25 cents a day, his wife, in the meantime remaining alone in the little cabin on the land, and this small wage was not even paid in cash. Finally Mr. Walter succeeded in getting enough of his land cleared to make a small crop and after that his circumstances improved and he subsequently became a man of ample means, and lived to be 84 years of age. His widow was 79 years old at the time of her death. David Walter helped his father on the home farm and attended the district school in the winter time for some years. He left home at length and spent five working at various employments in Michigan and Indiana, but after marriage he came back to Woodville Township, where he rented a farm of H. Bruns, on which he lived for fifteen years. When the father died, Mr. Walter and a brother, George Walter, bought out the other heirs, and Mr. Walter has eighty acres of this very valuable land. This he devotes to general farming. He adopts modern methods of agriculture and works along scientific lines. All his land is tiled and his extensive operations are carried on with the best modern machinery that can be procured. Mr. Walter has a fine residence, one of the most modern rural homes in the country, equipped with a hot water system and lighted and heated by gas, the improvements on his home alone costing $3,000. He handles a large amount of the best stock and has a reputation over the county for his fine cattle. Undoubtedly Mr. Walter and his brother, George Walter, are the best farmers in all this section and no better improved or more productive land can be found in the county. Mr. Walter married Miss Mary Brunthaver, a daughter of John Brunthaver, and they have five children, namely : Arthur, who married Lillian Katzmyer ; Gladys, who married Charles Myers, has two children—Walter and Myrth; John L., who married Mrs. Bessie (Walter) Reynolds, of Lansing, Michigan; Henry, who resides at home; and Dale, who is yet in school. Mr. Walter and family are members of the United Brethren Church, to which he gives liberal support. In politics he has always been a republican but has never been willing to accept any but a township office. He has been particularly interested in the condition of the public highways, his attention being directed to this important public matter while he was doing road contracting. He served in the office of road supervisor for a number of years and it was mainly through his efforts that the fine stone roads have been established all through this section, adding thousands of dol- 424 - HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY Lars of value to property with which they communicate. Mr. Walter is a member of the School Board. His fraternal connection is limited to the Independent Order of Foresters, with lodge at Woodville. W. L. STIERWALT, M. D., physician and surgeon at Fremont, maintaining his offices in the old Heim Block, on West State Street, has been in the active practice of his profession in Sandusky County, for some twenty-two years and is known from one of its borders to the other. He was born in Sandusky Township, Sandusky County, Ohio, April 30, 1859, and is a son of Moses and Elizabeth Stierwalt. Dr. Stierwalt remained on the home farm until he was 17 years of age and having, in the meanwhile, obtained a good common school education, embarked in school teaching and continued in educational work with success, for twelve years, and during this time perfected his knowledge in the necessary preliminary medical studies, while saving his money with which to go to college. He was first graduated from the department of pharmacy in the scientific department of the Ohio Normal University at Ada, and in 1888 from the Toledo Medical College. He entered into practice at Lindsey, Ohio, and continued there until 1900, when he sold out and came to Fremont. The early years of practice included the covering of a wide territory. In 1883, Dr. Stierwalt was married to Miss Ida E. Hinline, a daughter of T. A. Hinline, and they have two children, namely : Howard L., who is a graduate of the Fremont High School, and is now a student in the department of Pharmacy, at Toledo ; and Mercedes M., who is a High School pupil at Fremont. Dr. Stierwalt is identified with both the Masons and the Odd Fellows. He is a broad-minded citizen and has always been deeply interested in the public schools. FRANCIS M. WINTER is a representative farmer of Jackson Township, Sandusky County, Ohio, and is the owner of the forty-acre tract on which he lives, and another farm of 108 acres on which his son lives. He was born in this township, April 18, 1845, and is a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Strayer) Winter, who were early settlers of this county. Jacob Winter was born in York County, Pennsylvania, in 18o6, and in 1830 moved with his wife to Wayne County, Ohio, where they lived three years. They then moved to Sandusky County and purchased a farm of 160 acres in Jackson Township, on which he lived until his death in 1886. His wife, who also was born in York County, Pennsylvania, died on the same farm on March 23, 1864. They were parents of the following children : Harriet, widow of John Bauman ; Sarah Jane, wife of John M. Vorhies; Jeremiah ; William, who was a member of the 21st New York Vol. Inf. during the Civil War, was killed in the second battle of Petersburg; Francis M., and Jerome, who is deceased. Francis M. Winter has never lived outside of Sandusky County except the time he was in the service during the Civil War. He attended the district schools and followed farming from his early boyhood. On May 4, 1864, he enlisted at Fremont as a member of Company H, 169th Ohio Vol. Inf., and was stationed at Fort Ethan Allen. He was discharged at Cleveland, Ohio, September 4, 1864. In that year he purchased the farm of 1̊8 acres on which his son now lives and made his home there for a period of thirty-four years. He made all the improvements on that place as well as some on the place where he now lives, which he purchased of H. Dundore in 1900. He has a gas well on each farm, operating them for private use, and has also the many conveniences and modern improvements so necessary for the successful prosecution of farm work. He is located one-half mile east of Burgoon. On March 24, 1866, Mr. Winter was united in marriage with Miss Samantha Fry, who was born in Sandusky County, and is a daughter of George and Mary (Gust) Fry. Her father was born in Prussia in 18o8, and died in Sandusky County, November 26, 189o. Her mother was born in Pennsylvania, March 14, 1821, and died in Sandusky County, August 23, 1880. Mr. and Mrs. Fry were parents of the following children : Henry N., deceased ; Samantha (Winter) Catherine, deceased wife AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 425 of Henry Bowe; Thomas F., deceased; Mary M., deceased; Anna E., deceased wife of John F. Havens ; and George S. Francis M. and Samantha Winter have one son, William F., who was born in Jackson Township, March 6, 1869. He was married December 24, 1896, to Olive M. Code, of Pennsylvania, and they have three children : George F., Helen E., and Eric N. In religious attachment the subject of this record and his wife are members of the United Brethren Church. He is affiliated with Rossen Post, G. A. R., at Fremont. HENRY H. OVERMYER, who has successfully solved the problems and discovered the secrets of fruit growing and bee culture, in Sandusky County, resides on his valuable farm of thirty-one acres, twenty-two of which are planted with choice fruit trees, which is situated in Washington Township, about seven miles west of Fremont. He is a native of Washington Township, born here December 2, 1842, and is a son of Peter and Mary P. (Shively) Overmyer. Peter Overmyer was of German extraction and was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He married Mary Shively, who was born at Weirickstown, Pennsylvania, and they came to Ohio about 1833. The parents died here and the father engaged in farming through all his active life. Henry H. Overmyer was his father's only son and for that reason he was not able to attend school very regularly during his boyhood, his help being needed on the farm. When 24 years of age he took a course of eight weeks and during that time perfected his knowledge in those branches that he had earlier been obliged to neglect. He served for some months in the Civil War, a member of Company K, 169th Ohio Inf., and was discharged September 4, 1864. In 1872 he moved on his present farm and while engaged in general agriculture he became much interested in the subject of fruit growing and also in the bee industry and in that year began to devote a large part of his time to developing the latter, in which he has been remarkably successful. Mr. Overmyer engaged in it intelligently and had carried it on scientifically, makes his own hive forms, does his own swarming, takes the place of Nature in the selection of his queens, and consequently is prospering where a less well informed man would have failed. He carries from 100 to 500 colonies over the winter which produce from twenty-five to sixty-five barrels of honey every season. As a great assistance he subsequently set out his fruit orchards, the bees finding in the apple, pear, mulberry, cherry and plum blossoms the nectar which they chemically change into delicious honey. As early as 1876 he set out his first trees and now has twenty-two acres of productive orchards. He protects his trees from insects, using a spraying wagon which is operated by a gasoline engine, the results of his care and science being shown in the perfect fruit which is produced in abundance. His crop of apples alone for 1908 amounted to 3180 bushels. These orchards in their May blossoming season are well worth miles of travel to see. Mr. Overmyer has recently built two new barns and is contemplating other improvements, including the erection of a new residence, although, for all practical purposes, the old one is sufficient, but he is a man of progress and the new home doubtless will soon be built. On June 2, 1869, Mr. Overmyer was married to Miss Margaret Angelica Walker, who was born in Sandusky County, March 16, 1843. Her parents were David and Nancy (Waggoner) Walker. Mr. and Mrs. Overmyer have five children : Waldo Emerson, born May 16, 1870; Nellie, born October 14, 1872 ; George, born December 2, 1877; Frederick, born July 24, 1881; and Wilfred Rollin, born November 15, 1882. Mr. Overmyer is independent in his political views. Hs has acceptably served his township in the offices of school director and road supervisor. GEORGE B. SMITH, D. D. S., who, for the past twenty-one years has been engaged in the practice of dental surgery at Fremont, commands a large amount of the best practice of the city, as he is numbered with the most expert practitioners in this section. Dr. Smith was born in Ballville Township, Sandusky 426 - HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY County, Ohio, May 5, 1864, and is a son of John C. and Elnora (Bowland) Smith. Dr. Smith comes of Dutch ancestry and of Revolutionary stock. His great-grandfather, Peter Smith, was born in Holland and was a member of one of the colonies that came to New Jersey from Holland and have left traces of their thrift and homely virtues, in many parts of the Atlantic State. Peter Smith served in the Patriot Army under George Washington and then returned to his former settlement and there reared a lamily of sons and daughters. William Smith, son of Peter and grandfather of Dr. Smith, was born in New Jersey, where he continued to live until 1839, when he came to Ohio. He located in Perry County, where he remained until 1847, when he moved into Sandusky County and secured his farm in Ballville Township, where he lived to be an old man. John C. Smith, son of William and father of Dr. Smith, was born in Warren County, New Jersey, July 9, 1828, and was nineteen years old when he accompanied his father to Sandusky County. In the course of years he came into possession of the home farm in Ballville Township. In 1850 he married Elnora Bowland, and they had the following children : Susan, who married Judge Kelley; Frank P., who married Laura Spade; Amanda, and George B. George B. Smith was educated in the Fremont schools. He entered upon the study of dentistry with Dr. Cregar, at Fremont, and later took a regular course in the science at the Philadelphia Dental College, where he was graduated in 1887, when he entered into practice at Fremont. Dr. Smith's office at No. 11272 Front street is well equipped with all the modern appliances which, have, in the past few years, assisted very materially in lessening the former torture of the dental chair. Dental science has made as many strides forward as has medical science, and they have, more or less, traveled hand in hand, for there are no skilled and reliable dental surgeons of the pres- ent day, who are not, to a large degree. also physicians. Dr. Smith has kept thoroughly abreast of the times, being a member of the Ohio State Dental Society, the Northern Ohio Dental Society, the Toledo Dental Society and the Sandusky County Dental Society. On May I, 1893, Dr. Smith was married to Miss, Iva M. Fitch, a native of Indiana, a daughter of the late Dr. John Fitch, who served in the Civil War, where he received a bullet from a Confederate musket, which pierced the lung and which injury subsequently caused his death. Dr. and Mrs. Smith have two sons: Robert F., and J. Towner. They have a pleasant home at No. 1200 Garrison Street, Fremont. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and interested in the Epworth League. In politics he is a Republican, is fraternally connected with the Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias and Woodmen of the World. SARDIS BIRCHARD was born at Wilmington, Windham County, Vermont, January 15, 18o1. Both his parents died while he was yet a child. Both of his grandfathers were Revolutionary soldiers. His grandfather. Elias Birchard, died of disease contracted near the close of the war. His grandfather. Captain Daniel, served as an officer under Washington bornuring the war and survived many years. The Birchards were among the first settlers of Norwich, Connecticut. Sardis was the youngest of five children. He was placed in charge of his sister Sophia, who married Rutherford Hayes, became one of the family, and lived with them at Dummerston, Vermont. until 1817, when he accompanied them in their emigration to Ohio. In Vermont young Birchard acquired the rudiments of an English education. by irregular attendance at such schools as were in existence at that day in the country districts of Vermont. He became, for a boy of his age, an expert hunter and horseman, and gained some knowledge of business in the store of his brother-in-law, Mr. Hayes. In Ohio he worked with his brother-in-law in building. farming and driving and taking care of stock, and employing all his spare hours in hunting. He was able with his rifle to supply his and other families with turkeys and venison. HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY - 429 In 1822 his brother-in-law, Mr. Hayes, died, leaving a widow and two young children and a large, unsettled business. Mr. Birchard, who was then only twenty-one years old, at once assumed the duties of head of the family, and applied himself diligently to the management of the unsettled affairs of his brother-in-law's estate, and to the care of the household. Inheriting from his father what was considered a handsome start for a young man, with a jovial and friendly disposition, fond of wild sports and wild company, with no one to look to as entitled to control or advise him, his future might well have been regarded with apprehension. He was then a slender, delicate, handsome youth, with engaging and popular manners, and a favorite among the young people of the new country. Warmly attached to his sister and her children, he devoted himself to them and their interests, and was the mainstay of the family. While vet a boy he was hired to help drive hogs to supply the first settlers of Fort Ball, now Tiffin, in 1817. The men in charge were hard drinkers, and soon after leaving Delaware the whole management depended upon Mr. Birchard. It was in the bitterly cold weather of early winter. The streams were bridgeless. and the roads all but impassable, but with praiseworthy energy and zeal he pushed forward to the Tyamochtee, where he delivered the drove to a party of Fort Ball settlers. This was Mr. Birchard's first visit to the Sandusky. He saw Lower Sandusky for the first time in September, 1824. His companion was Benjamin Powers, afterwards for many years a successful merchant and hanker at Delaware. They traveled in a one-horse spring wagon. At Fort Ball they met Erastus Rowe, At Fremont they stopped at Leason's tavern, a log house which stood where Shomo's block now stands. The village population at that time numbered about two hundred. While stopping here they made the acquaintance of George Olmstead and Judge Howland. Mr. Birchard and his traveling companion went to Portland (now Sandusky City) the following day, and on their return Mr. Birchard bought a drove of fat hogs, which, as soon as the weather was cold enough, he drove to Baltimore. Mr. Birchard has narrated two incidents of the trip : At Wheeling it was necessary to swim the hogs across, and they came near losing them all by the swift current of the river. By great exertions, and at considerable risk, they got all but half a dozen safely over. They were overtaken by a tall, fine looking gentleman on horseback, who had also a carriage drawn by four horses, and two attendants on saddle-horses. The gentleman helped Mr. Birchard get his hogs out of the way, chatted with him about the state of the market, and advised him as to the best way to dispose of his drove when he got them to Baltimore. He learned that the gentleman was General Jackson, on his way to Washington after the Presidential election of 1824, in which he received the highest vote, but was not finally the successful candidate. In the summer of 1825, while mowing in the hay-field he was seriously injured in health by over-exertion. He never entirely recovered, but remained in poor health during the remainder of his life. In the winter of 1825-26 lie had an attack pronounced consumption, and it was supposed he would not live till spring. He, however, thought hopefully of his condition, and spoke of a horseback trip to Vermont. One day lie heard two men at work in the room below him. discussing his case. One of them said : "It is strange how Birchard is deceived ; he thinks he will make a long journey soon ; but the only journey he will make is when lie leaves his house, feet foremost, for the graveyard." But the cheerful disposition of Mr. Birchard, assisted by the elasticity of his constitution, carried him through. In May he made a horseback trip to Vermont, where he remained till the approach of cold weather, and then traveled south to Georgia where he remained till the spring of 1827. Having recovered his health he went to New York for the purpose of laying in his first stock of dry goods. He was without money, and had no acquaintances. Passing about the streets he fell into conversation with a young merchant ,named William P. Dixon, a stranger to him, connected with the firm of Amos Palmer & Company, to whom he developed his plans and explained his condition. Dixon told him he would sell him 430 - HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY all the goods he wanted in his line and would recommend him to others. His stock was made up and shipped to Cleveland, he accompanying the goods. Mr. Birchard's plan was to sell to laborers on the Ohio Canal, then being built from Cleveland southward. He followed the canal into the Tuscarawas Valley, but became dissatisfied and sold part of his goods to another trader, and with the remainder opened a store at Fort Ball (now Tiffin). Here he remained, trading successfully till December, when he decided to remove to Lower Sandusky. He purchased the stock of Richard Sears, who had made his fortune trading with the Indians. Merchants, at that time, paid very little cash for produce, and consequently received very little cash for goods, except from the Indians. For clothing, broadcloth, Kentucky jeans, and linsey cloth was generally in use. The Indians bought fine blue cloth, Mackinaw blankets, beads, powder and lead. A great deal of corn was received in payment for goods. This was traded to the distilleries for whiskey, and the whiskey was shipped to Buffalo and sold. Mr. Birchard received the Indian trade to a large extent by refusing to sell them whiskey. At the end of about four years he had accumulated about ten thousand dollars, which at that time was considered a large amount of money. He was making arrangements to retire, but in 1831 was induced into a larger business than ever. In partnership with Esbon Husted and Rodolphus Dickinson, under the firm name of R. Dickinson & Company, the largest store in Ohio west of Cleveland and north of Columbus was opened. The yearly sales amounted to $50,000. Senecas, Ottawas, Wyandots and a few Delawares, traded in Lower Sandusky at this time, and the store was often full of customers from the reservations. Mr. Birchard found the Indians in his business transactions generally very honest. They would not steal as much as the same number of whites with the same opportunities. He often had his storeroom full of Indians sleeping at night, with no watch or guard. In 1835 Esbon Husted died and his place in Mr. Birchard's firm was taken by George Grant, who had been a clerk in the establish ment since the organization of the firm. In 1841 Mr. Grant died and the firm was dissolved, the business being settled by Mr. Birchard. Mr. Grant was one of the most promising business men in the place. He was tall, slender, of fine address, and full of life and ambition. He died young, aged only thirty-two years. Mr. Birchard's connection with banking is mentioned under the proper head. He made large investments in wild land which, as the county improved, rapidly multiplied his wealth. Mr. Birchard was one of the rare men who, with increasing wealth, became more generous and public spirited. His good works are conspicuous. He advanced by means of his wealth and influence every public enterprise, and so many were his munificent gifts that he fully deserves the title often given him—"the city's benefactor." His business operations stimulated commerce between this point and Buffalo. He worked unceasingly to secure the necessary legislation for the macadamizing of the Western Reserve and Maumee road. The Toledo, Norwalk and Cleveland railroad enterprise received his strongest efforts. In politics Mr. Birchard was a Whig, and after the formation of the Republican party became supporter of its principles. During the war he used his influence to encourage enlistments, and when money was wanted he was never appealed to in vain. He was the first Ohio purchaser of Government bonds, in 1862. Mr. Birchard's private charities were large, and his public gifts are a monument to his memory. He had a deep sympathy for the poor, and could not bear to know suffering without offering relief. During the last years of his life, when poor health required confinement at home, he left with his friend. Mr. Miller, cashier of the bank, standing instructions to contribute liberally to worthy charities. His tenderness and solicitude for the unfortunate is illustrated by a letter to Mr. Miller written on a cold, stormy day in early winter. which reads as follows : Mr. Miller: What a storm! I fear many poor people are suffering. If you hear of any such, give liberally for me. S. BIRCHARD. AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 431 His gifts to the public of a library, and to the city, of public parks, have been mentioned under proper heads. It was the earnest wish of Mr. Birchard that the library should be located on the site of the Fort, and that the city should own that ground for a park. Hence when the owner, viz. Lewis Leppelman, of four lots embracing the fort ground property for $18,000 and Mrs. Claghorn and Dr. W. V. B. Ames, each a lot on the south which connect the ground from Crog,han to Garrison Streets, consented to sell for $9,000, Mr. Birchard authorized the trustees of the library to divert $6.000 of the library fund to the purchase. This not being sufficient, with the funds appropriated by the city, Gen. Hayes, to complete its purchase of the whole block, guaranteed $3,000 more out of the library fund and the whole was purchased and deeded to the city with condition that the library building should be erected therein. In addition to the above gifts made in his life time, he gave by his will : $5.000 to Oberlin College, $5,000 to Home Misssions, $1,000 to the Fremont Ladies' Relief Society, and $1,000 to the Conger Fund. Mr. Birchard was especially devoted to the fine arts, and during his eventful life made a fine collection of oil paintngs, several of which were placed in and form part of the attractions of Birchard Library. In May, 1857, Mr. Birchard became a member of the Presbyterian Church of Fremont, and remained in its communion all his life. Mr. Birchard was characteristically hospitable. warm-hearted and friendly. He was one of the marked characters in the history of the county. His life was fortunately spared to ripe old age. He died at 12 o'clock M. January 21, 1874, aged seventy-three years and six days. ISRAEL A. HETRICK, one of Washington Township's most substantial and best known citizens, owns six acres of valuable land in the township proper and considerable real estate at Lindsey, together with an interest in 1600 acres of land and a copper mine in Oregon. He was born November 20, 1856, in Rice Township, Sandusky County, Ohio, and is a son of Daniel and Mary (Seigenthaler) Hetrick. The parents of Mr. Hetrick came when young to Sandusky County, from Pennsylvania. The mother died in Fremont in 1906 and the father continues to reside there. They had the following children : Catherine, who is the wife of H. C. Smith, lives at Gibsonburg, Ohio; B. F., who was married (first)) to Elizabeth Reed, and (second) to Mary Markley, resides at Ottawa, Ohio; Israel A.; Henrietta, who married Frank Strawman, lives in Washington Township; Mary L., who married Morris Overmyer, lives in Ballville Township; Lydia, who married James Kessler, lives at Fremont; Charles H., who married Clara Overmyer, lives at Toledo ; Alfred D., who married Celesta Overmyer, lives in Washington Township ; Emma, who married Frank Overmyer, lives at Fremont ; Alice, who married William Boyer, lives at Fremont ; Harry; Rosella, who married McDonald C. Cameron, lives at Fremont ; and Haidee, who married Warren Bellinger, lives at Fremont. Israel A. Hetrick obtained a good public school education and then went to teaching in Rice Township, where he continued for three years and then taught four years in Harris Township, near Elmore in Ottawa County, where he also followed ,farming in addition to teaching. Later he gave up educational work but continues to cultivate his small farm. He has other interests of more or less importance. In 1879, at Elmore, Mr. Hetrick was married to Miss Catherine Overmyer, who is the oldest daughter of Solomon and Mary (Overmyer) Overmyer, whose other children are the following: Jacob, A. W., Sarah E., Philip A. and George N. Mr. and Mrs. Hetrick have three children. namely : Mary E., who married Fred Ames, resides at Elmore; Dora M., who lives with her parents ; and Fred D., who assists his father. Mr. Hetrick and family are members of the Evangelical Church at Lindsey. In politics he is a Democrat. He has served to the satisfaction of all concerned, two consecutive terms as a justice of the peace. 432 - HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY MARK THRAVES is a well-to-do farmer residing six miles southeast of Fremont, in Ballville Township, where he owns a splendid farm of 13o acres. He was born in England, December 7, 1832, and is a son of William and Marrietta (Graves) Thraves. William Thraves was born in England, in 1799, and there followed the trade of a butcher. He remained in that country until 1844, then moved to the United States with his wife and children, the voyage consuming thirty-five days. He settled on a quarter section of land in Washington Township, Sandusky County, Ohio, improved the place and resided there for a score of years. He then sold out and purchased seventy acres of land in Ballville Township, where he and his wife passed the remainder of their days. He died in 1889, and Mrs. Thraves, who was born in England in 1799, died in 1893. They were parents of the following children: George and Anna both deceased, who were twins; Robert, deceased; Mark; Faith, deceased; William who was killed in Panama in 1856; Thomas; and Levi, Faith Thraves was the wife of Henry Bauman, deceased. Anna Thraves was the wife of John Crowell, who also is deceased. Mark Thraves attended the common schools in England until he was twelve years old, at which time he was brought to the United States by his parents. He helped farm the home place until 1851, when he went west to California and engaged in gold mining. He returned to Sandusky County in 1856, but the same year again went to California, where he remained until 186o. Returning again to Sandusky County, he in 1861 purchased of James Drowns the farm of 130 acres in Ballville Township, on which he has since lived. He has made all the improvements on the places and has successfully followed general farming. On April 3, 1862, Mr. Thraves was united in marriage with Miss Sarah A. Huffard, who was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, April 17, 1834, and is a daughter of Cornelius and Mary (Zook) Hufford. Her father was born in Kentucky, May 3o, 18o6, and died in Sandusky County, Ohio, March 20, 1884. Mrs. Hufford was born in Pennsylvania in 1809, and died in Sandusky County, Ohio, in 1882. They were parents of the following children: Sarah A., wife of the subject of this record; Simon, who was born January 13, 1837, lives in Michigan; Elizabeth, who was born February 17, 1842, married Norton S. Rathbun of Green Creek Township; Katherine, who was born July 12, 1845, married James Emerson of Fremont; and Martha, who was born December 14, 1846, married Elliott Fernburg, and lives in Michigan. Mr. and Mrs. Thraves became parents of three children, as follows : Delphan C., who was born February 28, 1863 ; William, who was born May 15, 1865; and Mattie, who was born October 29, 1869, and died July 7, 1903. Delphan C. Thraves, who lives at Fremont, was unitel in marriage with Miss Alice Cook. William Thraves, who resides on the home farm in Ballville Township, was married to Ida Huber and they have a daughter, named Winnifred. These sons are owners of 120 acres of land in Ballville Township. Fraternally, the subject of this sketch is a member of Lodge No. 318, I. O. O. F., at Green Springs, and has filled all the chairs. He served four years as treasurer of Ballville Township, and was twice land appraiser, in 1890 and again in 1900. He is a progressive and public-spirited citizen and stands high in the community. MAJOR ISADORE H. BURGOON, of Fremont, Ohio, is one of Sandusky County's prominent citizens. From boyhood he has been more or less identified with railroad interests and has occupied positions of grave responsibility in the service. Major Burgoon was born in Sandusky Township, Sandusky County, Ohio, January 25, 1839, and is a son of Peter and Margaret (Flegle) Burgoon, whose portraits appear in this volume, and a grandson of Francis Burgoon. His paternal great-grandfather was Jacob Burgoon (of a Catholic family), who emigrated to America from the Province of Loraine. France. settling near Tawneytown. Maryland. In that state Francis Burgoon was born. During the administration of President Andrew Jackson, he entered three tracts of HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY - 435 land in Sandusky County, each of eighty acres. His neighbors, the Coes and the Englers, together with other Burgoonstwenty families in all—left Westminster, Maryland, and journeyed to Ohio by way of the old National Turnpike Road. The grandfather, Francis, died in Perry County, Ohio. He had a family of four sons and four daughters, among whom was Peter, the father of the subject of this sketch. Peter Burgoon was born July 13, i800, in what was then Frederick County, but which is now Carrol County, Maryland. His wife, Margaret, was born July 18, 18o1, and ,vas a daughter of John Flegle, son of Vallen Flegle. They were neighbors from their birth, having been born and reared on adjoining farms, situated on Meadow-branch and Bearbranch Creeks, tributaries of the Monocacy River, in Frederick (now Carrol) County. They were married in Littlestown, Pennsylvania, October 18. 1821. In 1824 they emigrated from Maryland to Ohio, coming by way of the old Baltimore National Road, by team. They settled first in Perry and then in Licking County, Ohio, and moved to the Black Swamp in October, 1829, locating in Sandusky Township, Sandusky County, where they lived and reared a family of ten children, five sons and five daughters. All of these, except one daughter, grew to maturity under the shelter of the little log cabin home, the dimensions of which did not exceed 18x24 feet. Peter and Margaret Burgoon both died at the old Burgoon homestead in Sandusky Township—the former on March 17, 1879, and the latter on June 8, 1871—and are buried west of Fremont in the Four-Mile House Cemetery. Isadore H. Burgoon assisted his father on the home farm and went to school in the neighborhood until he was about eighteen years of age; he then began to teach school during the winter seasons. During the fall of 1859 he attended school at Oberlin College in the preparatory department. In the fall of 186o, however, he chose the career which he wished to follow, coming then to Fremont and beginning railroad life as an office boy for the Fremont & Indiana—now the Lake Erie & Western—Railroad. Though he held at first but an humble position, he performed its duties cheerfully and well, thus earning the promotion which rapidly came to him. Step by step he rose, serving successively as station agent, conductor, freight agent, trainmaster and superintendent. He was then made receiver for the road, an office which he filled for three years, during which time he attended to the business transactions connected with the sale of the road. After the latter was reorganized he became the general superintendent. Mr. Burgoon continued with the Fremont & Indiana line for eighteen years, leaving on September 10, 1879, to take charge of the Toledo, Delphos & Burlington, now the Toledo, St. Louis & Western Railroad, and had charge of it for three years, and during that time and under his management and direction the road was built and organized; he also built 300 miles of telegraph line along this road. He then began the construction of the Cleveland, Delphos & St. Louis Railroad—now the Northern Ohio Railroad—and during the three years that he had charge of that work, lie built fifty-seven miles of track and the same length of telegraph. To go back a little, we should say that in 1864, Mr. Burgoon left the railroad to take upon himsel army service, enlisting as a private in the 169th Ohio Vol. Inf., during his service being promoted to the rank of sergeant-major. He spent the summer of 1864 at Fort Ethan Allen, Virginia, where his regiment was stationed. .He was mustered out with his regiment at Camp Cleveland, Ohio, on the 4th day of September, 1864, on expiration of terms of service. This duty done lie resumed his railroad connection, even before he had taken the time to visit his beloved mother. He has been continuously engaged in railroad work ever since, in various capacities. Upon leaving the Northern Ohio he became general agent for the Indiana, Bloomington & Western Railroad, having under his 436 - HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY care all the property of the road (consisting of about seven hundred miles), under the general manager. After one year with that road he was offered the receivership of the Bellaire, Zanesville & Cincinnati Railroad, and he was with that road for two years, when he persuaded the judge to release him from the receivership duties so that he could take charge, as general manager and treasurer of the Terre Haute & Peoria Railroad, with which' he remained for three years, or until it was sold to the Vandalia lines. He remained one more year as superintendent under the Vandalia management, when he returned to Fremont and became general superintendent, under a receiver, for the Findlay, Ft. Wayne & Western Railroad. Four months later he was relieved, as the road was sold. About this time he received a call to the West, and at Salt Lake City he took charge as general superintendent, general freight and general passenger agent, under the management of a receiver of the Utah Central Railroad. He remained there for two years and then resigned and returned to Ohio in order to take charge of the Ohio Southern Railroad, under a receiver, and remained at Springfield, Ohio, for one year, after which he went to Missouri. There he built thirty-two miles of railroad, a part of which was the beginning, and is now included in, the St. Louis & Memphis Railroad. Two years later he returned to Ohio and since then has been mainly connected with the Toledo & Ann Arbor electric line, now under construction, and is serving with Willis Baldwin, of Monroe, Michigan, as one of the receivers. It is thus seen that Major Burgoon has been often called upon to accept responsible railroad offices at a critical time in the road's affairs—a fact which evidences the wide-spread confidence in his practical knowledge and executive ability, He owns a fine farm of 175 acres in Sandusky County, which he takes pleasure in visiting for recreation. On October 19, 1865, Major Burgoon was married to Miss Eliza Ann Chapman, a daughter of Joseph and Dorinda (Ayers) Chapman, and they had two children, the one survivor being Charles P., who is an attorney at Bowling Green, Ohio. The first born died in infancy. For more than forty years Major Bur-goon has been actively identified with the Grand Army of the Republic, and is a past commander of Eugene Rawson Post, No. 32, Department of Ohio, G. A. R. He is president of the 169th Regimental Association, which office he has long filled. He is treasurer of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Association of Sandusky County, and has given much attention to these patriotic organizations. He is a thirty-second degree Mason and prominent in the fraternity all over the state. He was a Taft presidential elector from the 13th District of Ohio in 1908. For many years Major Burgoon served as secretary of the Sandusky County Pioneer and Historical Society, succeeding the late Rutherford B. Hayes in that office, when the latter became President of the United States ; still later Major Burgoon was elected president of this organization, a position he both values and adorns. In his religious views he is both liberal and broad-minded, to which condition of mind his wide experience with his fellow beings of all classes has brought him. He is and for several years has been fhe president of Oakwood Cemetery Association. at Fremont, Ohio. The Major has. taken an unassuming part in public matters, but not as a politician, having never sought office. He has for some years been the patriotic instructor for Rawson Post, G. A. R., and frequently, goes into the public schools and gives lectures to the children along patriotic lines—a work that will bear precious fruit doubtless in years to come, should our country within the next generation reach another crisis in its national life. Major Burgoon takes an active interest in public improvements and gives his best thought and service in all matters pertaining to the public welfare. AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 437 PETER UNSINGER, president of the Unsinger Razor Blade Company, manufacturers of the Globe Safety Razor, with plant on Bidwell Avenue, Fremont, is a representative business man of this city. He was born near Heidelburg, in the town of Waldorf, Germany, May 8, 1855, and is a son of John Jacob Unsinger, who still survives and resides in Germany, having reached the advanced age of eighty-nine years. The father of Mr. Unsinger was a watchmaker by trade but the son was not inclined to that business, and he learned the machinist trade before he left his native land. This was when he was eighteen years old, in 1873„ and between then and 1877, when he settled first at Fremont, he worked as a machinist over a large part of the United States. For three years after reaching this city he was employed in the old Harvester works and for seven succeeding years was a traveling salesman for the house of D. June & Co., during three years of this time having his headquarters at Waco, Texas. He returned then to Fremont and established a small machine shop and conducted it for several years and then sold out and went to Washington State. There he took up land and for three years followed farming but there were few advantages in that section then for his family, and this caused him to again return to Fremont, where in 1905, he entered into his present business of manufacturig. In October, 1908, excellent quarters were secured and the enterprise is one of the most flourishing in its line in the city. Employment is afforded to from thirty-five to forty skilled workmen. The officers of the company are : Peter Unsinger, president and general manager ; Philip Unsinger, a son, vice president ; and M. F. Engler, secretary. Mr. Unsinger was married at Fremont, in 1880, to Miss Emma Engler, a daughter of August Engler, and they have three children : Harold, who is a student in Heidelberg University at Tiffin, Ohio; Philip, who is associated with his father in business, married Ethel Hunt and has two children—Winnie and Richard ; and Fannie. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to Ft. Stephenson Lodge. at Fremont. CHRISTOPHER C. LAYMAN, an prominent lawyer located at Woodville, Ohio, is a veteran of the Civil War and bears the enviable honor of having served longer in that war than any other man from this section of the country. He also is engaged in the real estate and insurance business and is one of the foremost business men of the community. He was born in Canton Berne, Switzerland, May 2, 1845, and is a son of John and Magdalena ( Jacobs) Layman. John Layman, in 1847, moved with his family to the United States and located near Luckey, in Webster Township, Wood County, Ohio. He was a carpenter by trade but finally gave his entire attention to farming. He became the owner of a good farm on which he lived until his death at the age of seventy years. He and his wife became parents of five children, of whom three are now living. C. C. Layman was but two years of age when his parents moved to Wood County, and there he received a public school education in Webster Township, at Bowling Green and at Perrysburg. He then completed a course in the law department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, Michigan. After his graduation he went to Lansing, Michigan, where he was admitted to the bar by the Supreme Court, and then proceeded to Columbus, Ohio, where he was admitted to the Ohio bar in 1882. He practiced two years in Wood County, after which, in 1884, he took up his residence in Woodville, where he has since maintained an office and been in active practice. In 1884 he secured the incorporation of the village and in 1886 organized the Woodville School District. He is an active Republican in politics and has always taken a deep interest in public affairs. He has built up a large real estate and insurance business, and represents the following substantial insurance companies : The North America, Royal, Aetna, Springfield, New York Underwriters, Queen of America, and Phoenix of Hartford. Mr. Layman enlisted for service in the Union Army August 18, 1861, and was honorably discharged July 16, 1865. He served as sergeant of Company B, l0th Ohio Vol. Inf., Second Brigade, Third Division, 17th 438 - HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY Army Corps, Army and Department of Tennessee, commanded successively by Generals Grant, Sherman, James B. McPherson and O. O. Howard. He participated with his regiment in forty-five engagements, among which were a number of the most important battles of the war. This list of battles was inscribed on the National Colors of the regiment, and deposited at the State Capitol, Columbus, Ohio, July 19, 1865, by orders from Headquarters of the Army and Department of the Tennessee. Mr. Layman highly prizes two mementoes of the war which he possesses, one a medal for bravery awarded him by the State of Ohio, the other a piece of the tree under which General Pemberton and his 45,000 men surren dered to General Grant on July 4, 1863, at Vicksburg. July 5, 1901, the subject of this record was united in marriage with Miss Emma A. Robbins of Sidney, Ohio. They attend the United Brethern Church at Woodville. He is affiliated with the Order of Odd Fellows. JOHN C. OVERMYER, who, in November, 1908, was elected county treasurer of Sandusky County, on the Democratic ticket, with a majority of 1300 votes, was born November 20, 1871, in Washington Township, Sandusky County, Ohio, and is a son of Barnhart B. and Mary Malinda (Walborn) Overmyer. He began teaching school before he was seventeen years old, and continued for thirteen consecutive years. During this time he was more of a student than any of his pupils and entirely through his own efforts prepared for and subsequently completed the civil engineering course at the Ohio Northern University, at Ada, in 1893. He was also a student at Oberlin College and took a course in bookkeeping at the Bryant & Stratton Business College, of Buffalo, New York. From 1898 to 1903 he was secretary of the Sandusky County Fair Association and for four seasons was bookkeeper and assistant cashier for the Continental Sugar Company. Mr. Overmyer takes pardonable pride in the history of his family and is able to trace both lines quite far back. Much important data concerning the same he has secured through personal effort. For some years he has devoted himself very closely to his profession and prior to 1902, when he established his own office at Fremont, he served a season with the county surveyor of Wood County and for two seasons was in the employ of the engineering firm of Riggs & Sherman, Of Toledo, Ohio. He owns his comfortable home on Court Street and also a farm of fifty-five acres one-half mile northwest of Fremont. On August 1, 1894, Mr. Overmyer was married to Miss Ida C. Hasselbach, at Kingsway, Ohio. She is a daughter of Charles and Rosa (Locher) Hasselbach. Prior to her marriage, Mrs. Overmyer also taught school, having been a student at the Ohio Normal University, at Ada, for some time. They have two children : Calvin J., born February 13, 1897, and Edith E., born April 8, 1899. Mr. Overmyer and family belong to the Lutheran Church. Mr. Overmyer entered upon the duties of his office September 6, 1909, with the esteem and good will of the people at large, irrespective of party, and in his administration they feel there will be no barriers to justice, as far as lie is concerned, no time for speculation nor possible admission of private for public interests. MICHAEL J. DAUB, who has long been one of Jackson Township's representative citizens, owns and manages his valuable farm of 240 acres and also devotes considerable time in the spring of each year to buying wood. Mr. Daub was born March 21, 1833, in York County, Pennsylvania. and is a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Fearst) Daub. The parents of Mr. Daub came to America from Germany in 1833 and settled in York County, Pennsylvania, where they remained until 1835, and then moved to Lancaster County, in the same state. After six years they returned to York County but removed from there in 1853 to Ohio. The father bought a farm of ninety-seven and one half acres in Jackson Township, Sandusky County, not far from Burgoon, and there both he and wife passed the rest of their lives, the father passing away at the age of eighty years and the mother at the age of about sixty-five years. Henry AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 439 Daub was married twice, first to a Miss Shiesler, who left two children, Jacob and Maria. The second wife of Henry Daub was the mother of Michael J., of Jackson Township, and of two daughters, Catherine and Elizabeth. Catherine is now deceased. She was the wife of .Hugh Havens of Jackson Township. Elizabeth married Josiah Fry and they live at Freeport, Illinois. Michael J. Daub spent a boyhood and youth full of hard wark. His parents could not afford to give him many advantages and all the schooling he received was at odd times while living in York County. He was a good son and remained at home doing his part in taking care of the family and did not have property of his own until after he was married. He then bought his father's farm, on which he continued to live until 1882, when he sold the place and bought his present one of the heits of William Boon, taking possession in the spring of 1883. Mr. Daub has made many excellent improvements here and his fine brick residence is one of the most comfortable homes in Jackson Township. In addition to placing his land under fine cultivation, Mr. Daub engaged for a number of years in dealing in stock, his buying and selling bringing him in a large income annually. In recent years, however, he gives livestock no attention, his only business interest, as mentioned above, beyond looking after his farm, being the buying of wool, in which he is an expert. Mr. Daub has been a resident of Jackson Township for over a half century and has seen many remarkable changes. He has done his full share in advancing the value and interest of his section and deserves the high consideration in which he is held by his fellow citizens. At various times he has served as township trustee but has never cared enough for public office to make much effort to secure it. On May 7, 1857, in The Deal hotel at Fremont, Mr. Daub and Mary C. Siler were married by Rev. William Jones, and they have been spared to travel life's path together and to celebrate their Golden Wedding and to have their children and grandchildren attend it. They have a son and a daughter : Philip H. and Cora M. Philip H. married Laura Love- bery and they resided at Helena. They had two children, Hildrid, who died aged ten years, and Wade G. Cora M. married Robert C. Bowlus and they reside in Pike County, Ohio, and have one son, Harold. Mr. and Mrs. Daub are leading members of the United Brethren Church at Helena. Mrs. Daub is of Sandusky County pioneer stock. She is a daughter of Philip and Anna (Disler) Siler. Her father came from Martinsburg, Berkley County, West Virginia, to Sandusky County, Ohio, in 1832. Her mother was a daughter of Jacob Disler and she came with her father's family to Stark County, Ohio, in 1824, and from there they moved to Sandusky County in 1833. Philip Siler and Anna Disler were married in Sandusky County, January 29, 1835. They entered a farm one mile north of Burgoon and lived there until 1882. Mrs. Daub has lived all her life in Jackson Township, Sandusky County, Ohio. W. L. BUTMAN, who for fifty years has been continuously connected with the Western Union Telegraph Company, is still one of the most trusted employes of that great corporation which he has served with signal fidelity for a half century. He was born at Paris, now Plymouth, Ohio, August 6, 1837, and is a son of Benjamin and Mollie (Cook) Butman. Mr. Butman was left an orphan when seven years of age, his mother dying when he was only four years old. His father operated the Butman foundry at Milan, Ohio, for some years, this being the first foundry successfully operated in Northern Ohio. His health failed, however, and his death took place when his son, W. L., was seven years of age. With this son and daughter, Benjamin Butman was taking a trip on the lake and died of dropsy, when nearing Detroit. W. L. Butman was reared by an aunt and continued to live at Milan after his father's death, attending school for a short time but very early beginning to provide for his own necessities. He there entered the local telegraph office as a messenger boy and learned the art and became so proficient that when fifteen years of age he was called to Fremont to take charge of the Speed Telegraph Company of 440 - HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY that city, an enterprise later bought out by the Western Union. He had charge of the Western Union Telegraph Company's offices at Fremont from its organization until 1907, since which time he has filled a still higher position, being a special operator, on a regular and satisfactory salary. Few men in the service have had a more thorough experience and through all the various industrial troubles he has ever been reliable and dependable, devoted to the interests of the company. On December 8, 1861, Mr. Butman was married at Fremont, to Miss Josephine Du Combe Mead, affectionately called Minnie by her family. She was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and is a daughter of William and Rose (Du Combe) Mead and a granddaughter of Vincent Du Combe, a native of France. The Du Combe family fled from France during the Reign of Terror. The father of Mrs. Butman was born at Norwich, Connecticut, of English ancestry. He served in the Mexican \\Tar and lost his life there. Mrs. Mead moved from Philadelphia to Steubenville, Ohio, joining a sister there, and later they came to Fremont. Subsequently, Mrs.Mead married Judge John L. Green, a descendant of Benjamin Franklin. Mrs. Green died some years since at Fremont. To Mr. and Mrs. Butman seven children were born, all of whom almost reached maturity, but the only survivor is V. D. Butman. The others bore the following names : Grant Douglas, John Wallace, Marshall, Wilbur, Thomas Stillwell and Cecile. Mr. and Mrs. Butman enjoy the comforts of their fine residence which stands on Birchard Avenue, Fremont. ROBERT H. RICE, M. D., who was one of Fremont's eminent men of medical science, was a physician by inherited tendencies, thorough training and years of practical experience. He added distinction to a name already widely known through the skill of his father and older brother, and sustained it through a long period of practice. He was born December 20, 1837, in what was then Lower Sandusky but is now Fremont, and was a son of Dr. Robert S. and Eliza Ann (Caldwell) Rice. Dr. Robert S. Rice was born in Ohio County, Virginia, May 28, 1805, was ten years old when his parents brought the family to Ohio, and died at Fremont August 5, 1875. In 1827 he came to Lower Sandusky, where he made his living by working as a potter, utilizing all his spare moments in reading such medical literature as he could secure. This was scanty and he had no means to even attend lectures, but the spirit of the physician was in him—the natural gift of healing—and he gradually began to practice, meeting with surprising, success. As he gained experience and accumulated resources, his knowledge grew and the time came when no other physician commanded the respect and confidence of the public, throughout all Sandusky County, as did Dr. Robert S. Rice. His natural attitude of helpfulness led him to take a deep interest in philanthropic movements and long before the general public became aroused as to the inhumanity practiced on children, long before magazine pages were filled with their pictured woes, Dr. Rice had raised his voice and uttered protests on their behalf. He was likewise mindful of other wrongs and with tongue and pen endeavored to bring them to the notice of the public in order to effect a cure. He was active in many fields of usefulness, was prominent in military affairs in Sandusky County, was a justice of the peace and served one term as mayor of his city. In 1824 lie married Miss Eliza Ann Caldwell, who was born in Ross County, Ohio, in 1807, and died at Fremont in 1873. They had nine children, the late Dr. Robert H. Rice being the sixth in order of birth. Robert H. Rice spent his boyhood and early youth in his native place, attending school and making himself useful for a time as a clerk in a local store. His father then sent him to Oberlin College, where he continued his studies for two years and then came home in order to enter upon the study of medicine with his father and his brother, the late Dr. John B. Rice. Subsequently, in March, 1863, he was graduated from the medical department of the University of HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY - 443 Michigan, immediately entering into practice in association with his father. He shortly was received into full confidence of the community and even before he became associated with the late Dr. John B. Rice, the eminent surgeon, his practice was an absorbing one. In order to more thoroughly quality himself, Dr. Rice spent 1872-3 in Europe and during a large part of this time he visited the famous medical schools and clinics of Paris and Berlin. With this trip in view, he had studied and perfected himself in the languages of these countries and thus gained special benefits. Through his medical learning and his scientific investigations, he quickly advanced to the very front rank in his profession in his native State and continued for many years an able and honorable representative of it at Fremont. The late Dr. Rice was a man of versatile talents. He took an interest in agricultural development and experiment, and proved himself an excellent business man. For years he was interested with his brother in the Trommer Extract of Malt Works at Fremont. He was identified with and an official of numerous medical organizations, and for some thirty years was prominent in Masonry. He was a well rounded man, capable in everything he undertook, one whose memory is tenderly preserved by his family and recalled with admiration by his fellow citizens. On June 14, 1865, Dr. Rice was Married to Miss Cynthia J. Fry, who is a daughter of Henry and Abigail (Rideout) Fry. To Dr. and Mrs. Rice were born three children : Henry C., Anna and Ada. Anna is the wife of J. W. Pero, president of the Colonial Savings Bank and Trust Company. Mrs. Rice resides in her handsome residence which is situated at No. 408 Arch Street, Fremont. ELLIOTT ROE, one of Washington Township's well known men and substantial citizens, resides on his valuable farm of seventy acres, which is favorably situated two and one-half miles west of Lindsey, Ohio, has been engaged in farming all his mature life and enjoys a comfortable income also, from ten producing oil wells. He was born at Elmore, Ottawa County, Ohio, March 27, 1856, and is a son of Jedediah S. and Mary (Wallace) Roe. Jedediah S. Roe was born in Orange County, New York, and was eight years old when he accompanied his parents, John S. and Margaret Roe, to Huron County, Ohio. After locating in Ohio, John S. Roe went back to New York to adjust some business matters and while there he died from cholera. Later, Jedediah S. Roe came to Sandusky County and spent the rest of his life here, his death occuring November 3o, 1901, when aged eighty-three years. On November 24, 1853, he married Mary Wallace, a daughter of Abraham and Sarah Wallace, and she died March 23, 1905, at the age of eighty-one years. They were most worthy people and were esteemed and respected by the community in which they lived so long. They had five children, namely : Martin, born February 19, 1841; a daughter, born August 13, 1854, died September, 1854. unnamed; Elliott; Letitia, born January 25, 1858, married Maxwell Ferris, resides in Alabama, and they have one daughter, Nellie ; Oscar, born August 12, 1863 ; and Ellsworth, born October 22, 1865. Mr. Roe is a man who does his own thinking and hence has never identified himself with any political party, casting his vote independently and making choice according to his own judgment. He is a good citizen and can always be depended upon to do his full duty when public affairs and township needs are brought to his attention. Mr. Roe has no domestic circle, having never married, but he is a man of frank and pleasant manner and has many friends. JOHN F. MAUNTLER, a member of the firm of Mauntler Brothers, general merchants of Woodville, Ohio, is one of the foremost business men of this vicinity and has large and various business interests. He was born near that village-in 186o, and is a son of Henry and Mary (Myers) Mauntler. Henry Mauntler came to the United States from Hanover, Germany, in 1836, and was one 444 - HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY of the early farmers of Woodville Township, Sandusky County, Ohio. He was a progressive and substantial citizen, and at his death, which occurred at the advanced age of eighty-one years, was possessed of 280 acres of land, his home being about one mile from the village. He was married to Mary Myers, who was born near Hanover, Germany, and they had four children : Mary, wife of Henry Stein of Wood County, Ohio; John F.; George H.; and Fred L. John F. Mauntler was reared on the farm and received a good public school education at Woodville. After leaving school he operated the farm for about eighteen years, at the end of which time he located in the village and with his two brothers established the general store, which is located in the Keil Block on North Main Street. They carry a full line of dry goods, clothing and groceries and are well patronized by the people of the community. The Mauntler Brothers have been engaged as oil producers since 1893, when the Woodville field was first opened, being still in operation. In 1901, they piped gas into Elmore, Ohio, and under the name of Mauntler Brothers and Company, furnish the village with gas. John F. Mauntler is a director of the Woodville Savings Bank Company. About the year 1906 Mauntler Brothers purchased the old Oak Harbor Natural Gas Company and still carry on the business, new wells being placed in operation all along the line. He served one year as township assessor and also was on the village council. He is treasurer of the German Farmers' Mutual Protective Association, which has its headquarters in Woodville and operates in Wood, Ottawa, Lucas and Sandusky Counties. Mr. Mauntler was united in marriage with Miss Sophia Taulker, a daughter of Henry Taulker, a retired farmer residing at Gibson-burg, and they have one son, Edward, who is in charge of the Mauntler Brothers store at Woodville. Politically, the subject of this record is a Democrat. He and his family attended the German Lutheran Church. JOHN W. PERO, president of the Colonial Savings Bank and Trust Company, of Fremont, Ohio, has been identified with the bank ing business almost continuously since he left his school books and is one of the leading financiers of Northern Ohio. He was born November 2, 1860, at Fremont, Ohio, and is one of a family of three children born to his parents who were John and Catherine L. (Christian) Pero. Until he was seventeen years of age, Mr. Pero attended the Fremont schools, where he was an apt pupil, particularly in mathematics. In 1878 he went into the First National Bank of Fremont, as a clerk and climbed step by step until he became paying teller and continued with that institution for nine years. On July 1, 1887, Mr. Pero removed to Findlay, Ohio, where he entered the First National Bank of that city, with which he remained identified until July, 1888, at which time he returned to Fremont. On July 25, 1888, he entered upon the duties of cashier of the Croghan Bank, of this city and continued as such until he sought a season of rest, retiring in August, 1901. For three years Mr. Pero kept out of the banking business but the pause was only temporary and on June 30, 1904, he accepted the vice presidency of the Colonial Savings Bank and Trust Company, of Fremont, which position he held until he was elected president of the institution on February 1, 1906. Mr. Pero's success in business is a tribute to his faithfulness, industry and integrity. Mr. Pero married Miss Anna Rice, a daughter of the late Dr. Robert H. Rice. In his political views he is a Republican. He has long been identified with the Masonic fraternity. BIRCHARD HAVENS, who has been a resident of Ballville Township, Sandusky County, Ohio, since April 3, 1905, and owns his comfortable home here, owns also a farm of 152 acres, which is situated in Jackson Township on the Bettysville and Lindsey road three miles north of the former place. He was born August 16, 1846, in Jackson Township, Sandusky County, Ohio, and is a son of Henry and Sarah (Imes) Havens, old settlers of the county. The father of Mr. Havens was born in New Jersey in 1809 and died in Sandusky AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 445 County at the age of forty-four years. The mother lived to be one year older. She was a native of Columbus, Ohio. They had six children, namely : W. J., who is deceased; Hugh; Mahala, deceased, who was the wife of George W. Shawl ; Birchard; Orrie, who married Abraham Rhinehart; and Mary J., deceased, who was the wife of Charles Carr. Birchard Havens lived in Jackson Township until 1905, obtaining his education in the schools near his home and engaging in a farmer's pursuits. He acquired a farm of eighty acres, situated two miles north of his present one, but after making extensive improvements, sold it to his eldest brother. In the spring of 1867 he bought the farm in Jackson Township that he still owns, of his father-in-law, Lewis Overmyer. Mr. Havens was married January 17, 1867, to Miss Elizabeth Catherine Overmyer, a daughter of Lewis and Mary Ellen (Stauffer) Overmyer, old settlers, who took up Government land in Jackson Township. The father of Mrs. Havens lived to be seventy-five years of age and her mother to be fifty. They had five children, as follows : Hugh. who married Dinah Kelley and lives at Fostoria, has children—Samuel, Freeland J., Elizabeth, Lewis, Rhoda and Anson; Susan, who married John Kelley, lives at Fremont and they have two children—Willis and Rufus; Mary E.. who married Henry Sherfler, has five children—Frank, Albert, Henry, Francis and Mary E. ; Benjamin, who married Harriet E. Burkhart, has two children—Charles and Cora, and Elizabeth Catherine. Mrs. Havens. Mr. and Mrs. Havens have had five children, namely : Clara, who married George Kenan, November 11, 1887, has two children—Armina and Edna R. ; Hattie, who married William W. Smith, November 12, 1896, lives at Toledo, Ohio; Myrtie, who died aged six months; Della, who married Rev Eugene Williams, lives at Lucas, Ohio, and they had one son, Havens Eugene, who died August 8, 1909, and an infant, who is deceased. These families are all well and favorably known through Jackson and Ballville Townships. Their ancestors were among the pioneers and their descendants, reaping the advantages of several generations, will push onward the work of improvement and progress in which their parents have been engaged. TSCHUMY BROS., furniture dealers and undertakers at Fremont, with fine quarters in the Tschumy Block, on South Front Street, have been in business in this city for many years, succeeding their father, Charles W. Tschumy, who was the founder of it. The firm is made up of two brothers, Charles W. and Edward J., who have operated under the present style since the death of their father, in 1897. C. W. Tschumy, Sr., was born in Baden, Germany, and came to America when about sixteen years of age, settling first at New Orleans, but left that city when it was visited by a yellow fever epidemic. He came as far north as Fremont and as he had learned the cabinetmaking trade, he started in a small way, his first work being handmade coffins. He was careful, honest and industrious and continued to make progress in his business until he became the leading undertaker and furniture dealer in Fremont. He married Elizabeth Weiker, a daughter of Jacob Weiker, a farmer of Sandusky County, and they had six children born to them, namely : Mary ; Charles W.; Julia, who is the wife of Horace Cooper, of Kokomo, Indiana; Edward J.; George, who died when aged twenty-one years, and Carrie. The mother of the above family still survives. Charles W. Tschumy was born at Fremont, Ohio, February 2, 186o, and was educated in the Fremont schools, completing the High School course. As soon as his school days were over, he and his younger brother went into business with the father and they have continued ever since. Both are practical undertakers and their equipments for funeral directing are the best in the city. They have two funeral cars and every other necessity required in the business. Their furniture business is the most extensive, in that line, in Fremont. They occupy almost all of a three-story building and four stories of an annex and also have the third floor over the Jackson Dry Goods Company. In business circles this firm stands deservedly high, and individually the 446 - HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY brothers are numbered with the best citizenship of their city. Charles W. Tschumy married Miss Amelia Miller and they have six children, namely: Carl, Edith, Horace, Herbert, Robert and William. His fraternal affiliations are with the Odd Fellows, the Red Men and the Mystic Circle. WILLIAM HAAR, who is operating a farm of eighty-three acres which belongs to his father and is situated in Washington Township, three miles west of Lindsey, was born in Washington Township, Sandusky County, Ohio, April 5, 1882, and is a son of Charles and Mary Ann (Maerose) Haar. Charles Haar was born in Germany, July 6, 1831, and was nineteen years old when he accompanied his mother, two brothers and one sister to America. He remained for two and one-half years with the family in New York City and then came to Washington Township, Sandusky County, Ohio, where he rented land for eight years and then bought the farm in Washington Township on which he still lives, with his wife and one son, Philip. His father, also Charles Haar, died in Germany in his youth, and his mother, Mrs. Angeline Haar, died in Washington Township. He married Mary Ann Maerose, a daughter of Frederick and Louisa (Hurrelbrink) Maerose, who came from Germany and were married and died in Wood County, Ohio. The children of Charles and Mary Ann Haar are the following: John, who married (first) Louisa Beeker, and (second) Elizabeth Berkman, lives in Washington Township ; Charles, who married Clara Strauch, lives in this township; Fred, who married Aurelia Auxter, lives in this township; George, who married Annie Hotmer, lives in Ottawa County, Ohio; Annie, who married John Beeker, of Washington Township, and William and Philip, the latter of whom still lives at home. William Haar attended the township schools during boyhood and early youth and then assisted his father until his own marriage, when he rented his present farm from his father and has been very successful in operating it. He is very industrious and enterpris ing and takes a great deal of interest in raising big crops and first class stock. In 1908 Mr. Haar was married to Miss Elizabeth Bach, a daughter of Philip and Christina (Krause) Bach, well known farming people of Washington Township. Mrs. Haar has two sisters, Christina and Emma, and one brother, August. Mr. and Mrs. Haar are members of the German Lutheran Church. They are favorably known in the pleasant social life of their community. In politics, Mr. Haar is a Democrat. AUGUSTUS E. RICE, deceased, late president of the Croghan Bank and a distinguished citizen of Fremont, Ohio, was one of the most prominent financiers of the state of Ohio. He was president of the Ohio Bankers' Association, was active in the reforms brought about by that body, and from all indications had not reached the zenith of his power and usefulness when laid low by the hand of death. His rise from the lowly position of errand boy to the exalted position he held at the time of his demise, is a record of continuous and ambitious striving, close application to business, whether it was his own or that of others, conscientious service to his employers and zealous devotion to their interest, and the ability to grasp an opportunity when it was presented. His career stands in bold relief as an example well worthy of emulation_ Mr. Rice was born at Elmore, Ohio, November 26, 1847, and was a son of James F. and Catherine (Luckey) Rice. He was but a boy when his father died and it became necessary for him to provide for his own support at a very early age. While attending school, he worked mornings and evenings, and at the age of fifteen years began working as an errand boy. On March 22, 1865, he came to Fremont and accepted a position as errand boy in the First National Bank, which was located in a one-story building standing on the present site of the Colonial Bank Building. He there rose from errand boy to assistant cashier and in 1882 left that institution to become HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY - 449 first cashier of the Fremont Savings Bank. In 1888 he organized the Croghan hank and served as its president from its inception until his death, which occurred March 15, 1909. Late in life he realized one of his greatest ambitions in the erection of the new Croghan Bank building; this beautiful building, said to be the handsomest and most complete of any of its size in the country, will be a lasting monument to him and his work. Mr. Rice had a most comprehensive grasp of the banking business and its multitudinous details, and notwithstanding the great demands of his interests on his time, he wrote a number of works on banking and business which were published and had wide circulation. Among them may be mentioned, "Small Talks on Business," "Practical Bank Advertising," and "Direful Effects of a Postal Savings Bank." The last publication appeared shortly before his death and a copy was sent to each United States Senator and Congressman. He was for a number of years a member of the executive committee of the Ohio Bankers' Association, and at the annual meeting held at Alexandria Bay, New York, in July, 1908, was honored 1w election to the presidency of that body. On April 23, 1867, Augustus E. Rice was united in marriage with Miss Phebe A. Dean, who also was born at Elmore, Ohio, and who died at Fremont, April 9, 1904. They are survived by a daughter, Miss Nettie G. Rice, who resides at the old home place in Fremont. Mr. Rice was a devout member of the Presbyterian Church. In fraternal affiliation, he was a member of Brainard Lodge, F. & A. M.; and Fremont Chapter, No. 64, R. A. M. He was a Republican in national politics, but was inclined to be independent in local affairs. His death was one which the people felt keenly; he had a wide personal acquaintance throughout this section of the State, and enjoyed the confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens to a remarkable degree. ELIAS BABIONE comes of one of the oldest families of Ballville Township, Sandusky County, Ohio, and is located on a tract of two and one-half acres, about one and a half miles south of Fremont. He was born in that township, April 11, 1843, and is a son of John G. and Mary (Renick) Babione, he being a native of Germany and she of American birth. John G. Babione, upon coming to the United States in 1793, first located in Virginia, after a short time moved to Fairfield County, Ohio, where they did not, however, remain long, but made their way to Sandusky County, where they entered Government land in Ballville Township. These hardy pioneers lived in the times when encounters with the Indians were not infrequent, and amid the hardships of the most primitive conditions. John G. Babione died here at the age of eighty-three years, and his wife at the age of seventy-eight. They were parents of the following children : Samuel, deceased ; Daniel; John ; Katherine, deceased ; William ; Rebecca, deceased; Mary Ann, deceased ; Sarah E. deceased, and Elias. Elias Babione was reared and educated in Ballville Township, and has always followed agricultural pursuits, and at one time owned considerable farm land. On August 13, 1862, he enlisted at Fremont for three years service in the Civil War, as a member of Company A, 111th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and saw much hard fighting. He participated in thirty-eight battles, among which may be mentioned Knoxville, Nashville, Stone River, Resaca, Decatur, Alabama ; and Louden, Tennessee. He was with Sherman in the march to the sea and was in the siege of Atlanta. He had his leg broken by a gun shot and was for some time incapacitated for duty. He was mustered out at Cleveland, Ohio, in July, 1865. On March 28, 1867, Mr. Babione was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Ott, a daughter of Fidella and Isabel (Wiley) Ott, and they became parents of the following children: Mary B. ; William, who died at the age of four years ; Hattie, who married Frank Bauman, of Ballville Township and has two children, Wayne and Gertrude; Lester of Fremont, who married Lena Robenstein and has a daughter named Hazel; Reuben; Ella; Roy, who mar-