850 - HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY to the blacksmith and horse-shoeing trade and worked at the same for four years in Pennsylvania. He was then twenty-two years old and came to Bellevue, Ohio, where he worked for four years more as a blacksmith. For nine months after this he was fireman on an engine on the Nickel Plate Railroad, following which, in September, 1902, he came to Colby and two and a half years later, built his shop. Mr. Diehl has equipped his place of business with modern improvements, putting in a gas engine, drills, saw, plane and a forge with the latest 'pattern of hand blower. The quality of his work and the promptness with which it is done, have brought his success. In July, 1898, Mr. Diehl was married in Center County, Pennsylvania, to Miss Rose 'Corman, a daughter of James Corman, a farmer who still lives in Center County. Mr. and Mrs. Diehl ,have one son, Corman James, a bright school boy of ten years. Mr. Diehl is a member 'of the German Aid Association, of Bellevue. GESSNER FAMILY—Louis GESSNER, M. D., for many years of a long and useful life, was honored and esteemed through Sandusky County, and in many households his name is revered as a beloved member of the family. He was eminent in his profession and by Nature was endowed with those qualities which endear human beings to each other. He was born in Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, April 6, 1804, and was a child of but five years when his father died. Although deprived of the protection and assistance of a father, Dr. Gessner had a noble, devoted mother, and after she had exerted every effort to advance her son, she unselfishly sent him, when fifteen years of age, to relatives in Vienna, who were willing to further him in his ambition to become a physician. In the great schools of that city he completed his studies and determined to enter upon practice in Switzerland. His fortune he had yet to earn and therefore it was as a student on foot, with his knapsack on his shoulder, that the young doctor entered the Canton of Berne, in 1828. In the same year he married and in 1833, he came to America with his family and they lived mainlv at Buffalo, New York, until 1837. In that year, with his family settled at Williamsville, he visited his old home in Switzerland, attending to some necessary business, and on his return in the following year, located in Lower Sandusky, Ohio. Thenceforward Dr. Gessner remained identified in his activities to Sandusky County, building up a large practice, acquiring property, rearing a most estimable family and finally passing away, leaving an honored name behind. His death took place November 25, 1884. Dr. Gessner was associated as partner with the following named German physicians, who were located here for various periods at different times, viz. : Dr. Andrew Gross, a cousin of Dr. Gessner. came to Lower Sandusky in 1838 and died in less than a year after his arrival. In 1839, after the death of Dr. Gross, Dr. John N. Beutler came to Lower Sandusky and entered into partnership with Dr. Gessner. Dr. Beutler removed to Kolida, Paulding County, Ohio. in 1841. Then came Dr. Christopher Castelhun, who formed a partnership with Dr. Gessner in 1846 and continued in practice here until 1848, when he removed to St. Louis, Missouri. Dr. Otto Knause next located in Lower Sandusky and became a partner of Dr. Gessner in 1850 and continued until 1852. He married Louisa, the oldest daughter of Dr. Gessner, and in 1852 moved to Napoleon, Ohio. Then came Dr. F. Wilmer in 1852, who became a partner of Dr. Gessner and remained such until 1855. In 1828, Dr. Gessner was married in Switzerland to Miss Elizabeth F. Schwartz, who was a daughter of a prominent physician of Thun. Her maternal grandfather was Dr. Samuel Rubin, and his father was Dr. Johann Rubin, a physician of note, whose work on materia medica, issued in 1688, is still extant. In the wall of one of the oldest churches in Thun is a granite tablet erected to the memory of Dr. Samuel Rubin, born 1648, and died 1720. She was a lady of education, refinement and culture and her family still recall her gift of music. She died in 1864. To Dr. Louis Gessner and wife eleven children were born—Karl, Frederick. Louisa M., Emily, Matilda, Caroline, Gustavus A., Rudolph, and three that died in infancy. Of the eight that reached HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY - 853 maturity, three have since passed away, Louisa M., Matilda, and Caroline. Louisa M., born at Thun, Switzerland, January 16, 1832, was twice married-first, to Dr. Otto Knause, who died young, leaving two little daughters. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Knause took her children to Germany to live with their grandfather Knause. After an absence of about two years, Mrs. Knause returned to Fremont and married Henry Dorr of Riley Township. Six children were born to the second union, none surviving. She died November 26, 1906. Matilda, born March 1, 1839, married Henry Rousch in 186o, died January 17, 1875, survived by her husband and three children. Caroline. born March 22, 1841, died January 6, 1883. Of four sons born to her only two are living-Robert Beeler of Holgate, Ohio, and George Dorr of Fremont, Ohio. Of the above family, Dr. Gustavus A. Gessner is a survivor. Dr. Gessner is serving as postmaster of the city of Fremont, Ohio, having retired from medical practice, after a long period in the profession. He has taken a very active part in political life and in 1899 was appointed postmaster, a public office which he has filled in the most efficient manner. Dr. Gessner resides at No. 803 Garrison Street, Fremont. By a second marriage, to the widow of August Lahr, Dr. Louis Gessner had four children born to him, viz : Ida, wife of William Nickel ; Laura (deceased), who was married to Louis Balsizer ; Minnie, who married Charles Mierke, and Moritz, who lives on the old homestead in Riley Township. Louis S. J. GESSNER was born September 25, 1830. He came to Lower Sandusky July 16, 1838, entered the common schools there and remained until 1846. He was then employed by George Brown until December 17, 1867, and later was sent to F. Runge, pharmacist, located on Hester Street, corner Eldrige. New York City. He left New York May 21, 1848, and taught school in the Mowry settlement for three months. In the spring of 1849 he worked on his father's farm until the summer of 1852, then entered the printing office of C. J. Orton and worked as a compos itor until July 31, 1854, when he left for Europe. He studied medicine at Heidelberg and in Prague, Bohemia, and returned to Fremont on January 7, 1859, and commenced the practice of medicine. He was commissioned assistant surgeon 37th Regt., O. Vol. Inf., July 8, 1862; served in West Virginia until December 29, 1862, when he resigned his commission and returned home, but could not long remain at home, while the war lasted. He served one month at Camp Chase, Columbus, Ohio. In the fall of 1863 he went to Louisville, Kentucky, where he applied for a position as contract surgeon, and was assigned to Brown Hospital, Louisville, Kentucky, for duty, and on December 13, was assigned for duty to Hospital No. 11, Nashville, Tennessee, and was discharged April 25, 1865. He married Catherine Rust November 17, 1859. Two children were born of this union - Haidee, wife of Edward R. Young of Toledo, Ohio, and Mame, wife of George W. Lesher of Fremont. Ohio. GUSTAVUS A. GESSNER was born March 11, 1844, in the house then owned and occupied by Dr. Louis Gessner on Arch Street, opposite the present residence of C. M. Fouke. He attended the public schools, was clerk in the drug store owned by Dr. Wilmer and afterwards by Dr. Gessner. He worked in "Courier" printing office with George Homan and Paul Knerr. He was appointed clerk in the post office while S. M. Ellenwood was postmaster. He took position in drug store of J. B. VanDoren at Fostoria, Ohio, and remained there until the outbreak of the Civil War. He then enlisted April 21, 1861, in Captain Blackman's Company H, of the 21st O. Vol. Inf., under Lincoln's first call for volunteers. He participated in the campaign under Cox in the Kanawha Valley, during the summer of 1861; was mustered out of three months' service August 25, 1861; re-enlisted in Company H, 72nd 0. Vol. Inf. (Buckland's Regiment), served as sergeant, color-bearer and hospital steward of the 72nd Regiment from December 9, 1861, to September 10, 1865 ; was captured at Shiloh and severely wounded in a successful attempt to 854 - HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY escape; was again captured in the unfortunate Guntown raid; and was held prisoner at Andersonville, Georgia, Charleston and Florence, South Carolina. After the close of the war he went to the Medical Department, University of Michigan, and practiced medicine for a short time with his brother, Dr. Louis S. J. Gessner. He was engaged in drug business with Dr. William Caldwell at Elmore for a. short time, but returned to Fremont in 1869 and entered the employ of S. Buckland & Son, as pharmacist. With Drs. John B. and Robert H. Rice and Stephen and Ralph Buckland he founded the Trommer extract of malt business in 1875; was connected with the American Carbon Company of Noblesville, Indiana, for several years. He was appointed postmaster at Fremont, Ohio, by President McKinley, March 19, 1899, and reappointed by President Roosevelt in 1904 and again in 1909. He was married in 1867 to Corolin E. Lawton, daughter of William H. and Betsey Ryder Lawton, born at Cape Vincent, Jefferson County, New York. Mrs. Gessner was a teacher in the public schools in Toledo, Genoa and Elmore. Four children resulted from this union : Two sons—Dorr Lawton and Gustavus A., Jr., —and two daughters—Gertrude Lisette (married. Dan A. Brown), and Bessie Hope (deceased). The eldest son, Dorr Lawton Gessner, is assistant postmaster at Fremont, Ohio, and the younger son, G. A. Gessner, Jr., is a civil engineer and resides in Toledo, Ohio. RODOLPHUS C. GESSNER was born at Lower Sandusky (now Fremont, Ohio,) December 5, 1845. He was educated in the public schools; worked on the farm for some years, and also followed carpentering. He was married at Genoa, Ohio, to Mary Phillips, by whom he had one child, a daughter, Vadnor, born at Genoa, Ohio, August 28, 1872, who is now the wife of Wm. Kingdon, a well-to-do merchant of Edmunds, Washington. Mr. Gessner's first wife died May 28, 1873, and shortly afterwards he returned to Fremont, Ohio, where he married his present wife, Lena (Dunning). The children of the second marriage are Corinne D., born December 17, 1877, married February 14, 1905, to Henry Glass, now engaged in farming at Fort Angeles, Washington ; May M., born December 31, 188o, married June 30, 1900, to J. C. Farrell, a prosperous merchant of Anacortes, Washington. FREDERICK B. GESSNER, born at Buffalo, N. Y., August 20, 1834, was apprenticed at an early age to Isaac Sharp, a boss carpenter. He went to California in 1855, and has not been heard from directly since 1868, but is said to be living in the southeastern part of Washington or northwestern part of Idaho. AMELIA (GESSNER) RUST, born at Buffalo, N. Y., August 16, 1836, married Peter Rust, who died in 1895. Of the eleven children which resulted from this union but two survive, Theodore and Reginald, who, with their mother, are engaged in farming near Williston, Ohio. HENRY WILBERT, proprietor of a fine farm of 137 acres in Townsend Township, is a prominent citizen of this section, of which he has been a resident for more than a quarter of a century. He was born March 15, 1860, in Rensselaer County, New York. and is a son of Nicholas and Catherine (Wyant) Wilbert. Nicholas Wilbert was born in Germany and emigrated to the United States in 1852. locating in Troy, New York, where in the following year he married. About 1864 he and his family removed to Erie County, Ohio, in which location they remained for a number of years, or until 1881, when they came to Sandusky County. Here he first rented a part of the John Whitmore farm in Townsend Township, but subsequently bought forty acres from Burton Beebe, which was known as the Holbrooks farm, and where he now resides. His wife, Catherine, who was a native of Rensselaer County, New York, died in 1890. She had born her husband the following children : Anna, wife of Van Sutton. of Erie Comity, Ohio ; Catherine, wife of John Bruckner, of Sandusky, Ohio ; Henry, who is the subject of the present article; Edward, of .Green Creek Township, and Jacob, who resides on the home farm. Henry Wilbert grew to manhood on the parental homestead, attending the district schools. In 1887 he entered into mercantile AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 855 business at Whitmore Station, and while thus occupied also acted as deputy postmaster and as station agent for the Lake Erie and Western Railroad. In the spring of 1889 he sold out his business to Christopher Wiedel and since then has been engaged in farming. In 1901 he bought twenty acres of land in Townsend Township from Chauncey Levisee, and in the following year purchased 109 acres of the Joseph Bookmyer farm. In 1905 he bought the J. E.. Beebe place of eight acres, on which he now resides. During the last ten years he has bought and sold a number of farms, and as already stated, his present holdings amount to 137 acres. Besides managing his own farm he superintends a farm which his wife inherited from the John Whitmore and Walter Davlin estates. Mr. Wilbert was married March 25, 1884, to Carrie, daughter of J. W. Ruliff, and granddaughter of John Whitmore of Townsend Township. They have two children, namely : Catherine, who is the wife of Archy Holloway, of Bucyrus, Ohio ; and Joseph, who is residing at home. The family attend the North Ridge Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics Mr. Wilbert is a Democrat and has taken an active interest in the affairs of his township. He was one of the organizers and is treasurer of the Vickery Telephone Company and is a wide-awake and progressive citzien, a useful factor in the business life of the community and one who stands for a high plane of moral rectitude. E. L. TRIFFIT, who has been a resident of Gibsonburg, Ohio, since October, 1908, is editor and proprietor of the Gibsonburg Derrick, a newsy publication which is conducted on a high plane and makes its appearance weekly. Mr. Triffit was born in Lodi, M.edina County, Ohio, and was graduated from the public schools and Lodi High School. He completed a four years' classical course in the University of Wooster, graduating in 1904 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, and while in that institution was for a time editor of the college paper. After graduating he spent two years in attendance at the Western Reserve Law School, at Cleveland, Ohio. Upon leaving that city he engaged in newspaper and advertising work, being at one time advertising manager of the Roderick Lean Manufacturing Company, of Mansfield, Ohio. October I, 1908, he purchased the Gibsonburg Derrick and has since made his home in that village. In 1907 Mr. Triffit was married to Miss Eleanor Olive Wright, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Wright, of Perth, Ontario, Canada. JOHN CHARLES MOOK, manager of the Colby elevator, which is owned by the W. H. Gardner Grain and Mill Company, of Bellevue, is one of York Township's representative men. He was born on the farm of sixty-seven acres, on which he lives and of which he is part owner, in. York Township, Sandusky County, Ohio, April 14, 1882. His parents were John Henry and Catherine (Swartz) Mook, and he is an only child. The late John Henry M.00k was born on the county line in York Township, two miles southwest of Bellevue, and died August 28, 1906. His father, Conrad Mook, was born in Union County, Pennsylvania, and came to Sandusky County when a young man. He was a preacher of the Evangelical faith and was also a doctor. After coming to Ohio his life was spent in York Township. John Henry Mook married Catherine Swartz. She was born in Union County, Pennsylvania, as was also her father, John Swartz, who settled in York Township, on a farm two miles east of the Mook homestead, when she was six years old. Mrs. Mook still survives and is one of the well known and highly esteemed ladies of this section, being active in church work and having a wide social circle. John Charles Mook grew to manhood in York Township, attended the country schools and assisted on the home farm until he became manager of the elevator at Colby, having filled that position for about two and a half years. On November 25, 1902, Mr. Mook was married to Miss Bessie Slater, a daughter of Lewis C. and Anna M. (Heath) Slater. She was born and reared in Huron County and her parents now reside in Seneca County. Mr. and Mrs. Mook have one son, Glenn Charles. Mr. Mook is a member of the United Brethren Church at 856 - HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY Colby and is president of the adult Bible Class in the Sunday school. He belongs also to the German Aid Society at Bellevue. Mr. Mook has been somewhat active in politics and was first appointed ditch superintendent, and in 1907, on the Republican ticket, was elected to the office for a term of four years. HON. J. L. DONNELS, formerly mayor of Gibsonburg and now one of the town's most highly esteemed retired citizens, still retains his valuable farm in Madison Township, which contains 120 acres of well developed land. Mr. Donnels was born March 3o, 1842, in Scott Township, Sandusky County, Ohio. The death of his father, when he was only thirteen years of age, made Mr. Donnels dependent upon his own efforts at an earlier period than would otherwise have been the case, and in boyhood he learned to work hard and continuously. He learned the science of farming and applied it successfully when he came into possession of property of his own, and also became a saw-mill worker and continued to be interested in the saw-mill industry until he retired from active labor. He cleared up his Madison Township farm, with the exception of fifteen acres, which is still timbered. This place he improved with excellent farm buildings and put in enough tiling to thoroughly drain the land for cultivation. While engaged in this work, which Mr. Donnels denominates as his "rest" work, his main business was in the sawmill and lumber industry. Mr. Donnels is one of the stockholders in the Home Banking Company and also in the Toledo Biscuit Company, of Toledo, Ohio. He has always been an active citizen and one whose character and attainments have inspired the confidence of his fellow citizens. For a period of nine years he was a, justice of the peace in Madison Township, served as trustee and in other offices for years. and after taking up his permanent residence at Gibsonburg, was elected mayor and served most usefully in this office for two years. During the Civil. War he was a member of Company 169th Ohio Vol. Inf., and after the expiration of his term of enlistment, was honorably discharged on September 13, 1864. He was corporal of his company. Mr. Donnels was married (first) April 6, 1863, 'to Catherine Bowser, who died September 3o, 1883. She was a daughter of George and Rosanna (Fickes) Bowser. Five children were born to that union, namely : Emma, who married John Vantine, and has one daughter, Winnie; Minnie A., who married David Blausey and has one son, William ; Lewis, who married Susan Lattimore, daughter of Thomas Lattimore, and has two children, Clarence and Alta ; Elma, who married David Biddle, and has one child, Elsie ; and Mattie, who married Henry Blausey, and has two children, Harold and Neta. Mr. Donnels was married (second) October 11, 1888, to Mrs. Jennie Ridley, a daughter of Jacob and Sarah (Mowery) Henry. Mr. and Mrs. Donnels attend the Christian Church. In politics he is a Democrat. NELSON R. TUCKER, one of Sandusky Township's well known and substantial citizens, who has resided on Dickinson Street, Fremont, since 1896, owns two finely cultivated farms, about one hundred and forty acres in Section 16. Sandusky Township. which land he developed from the wilderness by his own industry. Mr. Tucker was born April 16, 1823. in Jefferson County. New York. and is a son of Nathaniel B. and Marv A. (Ballard) Tucker. The Tucker family is of English extraction and the record is that three brothers came to the American colonies in 1630 and settled in New England. Caleb Tucker. the grandfather of Nelson R. and Nathaniel B., the father, were both natives of Massachusetts and both were soldiers in the War of 1812. Caleb Tucker married Miss Kate Billies at Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. Nathaniel B. was the oldest son and was born October 29, 1797. Nathaniel B. Tucker moved to Jefferson County, New York. where he married June 16, 1821. Mary A. Ballard. She was a daughter of Rufus and Mary (Swartwout) Ballard. and a granddaughter of Thomas Ballard, a soldier of the Revolution. Mrs. Tucker. mother of Nelson R., died September 19, 1892, aged ninety-one years. three months and nineteen days. Mr. and Mrs. Nathaniel B. Tucker moved to St. Lawrence County, New York, AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 857 when the subject of this sketch was two and a half years old. In 1839 the family moved to Sandusky County, Ohio, settling in what is now Rice Township, on the Port Clinton Road, about five miles north of what is now known as Fremont, but was then called Lower Sandusky. They were pioneers there. Nathaniel E. Tucker had a good trade, being a tanner, currier and shoemaker, and the latter business he followed more or less all his life until advanced age prevented any further effort. He died at the home of his son, Nelson R., in Sandusky Township, July 15, 1884, when aged nearly eighty-eight years. In his early political life he was a Whig, but later became identified with the Republican party. Of his children there are two survivors : Nelson R. and Henry H., the latter also a resident of Fremont. Nelson R. Tucker was reared in St. Lawrence County and went to school through the woods, to the little log schoolhouse, a mile distant from his home. Those were the days when the teachers were "boarded 'round" and when it came his father's turn, the family felt quite elated, taking pleasure in entertaining the guest. Opportunities were rather meager, however, but Mr. Tucker laid the foundation of his education there and subsequently added all that proved needful. When he was seventeen years of age he helped hew the logs and construct what was the first real schoolhouse in what is now Rice Township. on land donated by his father for this purpose. He originally had 240 acres in his farm on the Oak Harbor Road in Sandusky Township, of which he cleared and Stumped 200 acres. He later sold off 100 acres of this farm to his brother-in-law, I. H. Burgoon. In addition to clearing his own land Mr. Tucker did much pioneer work for others and helped also to develop different parts of the township, road making and bridge building being necessary public improvements which increased the value of each farm. From the time he first settled in the woods of San,, dusky Township he began the improvement of the road past his farm and his activity led to his repeated election as supervisor of his district, in which capacity he served nine successive terms. While the incumbent of that office he began hauling stone for the road, taking the initiative in the establishment of the Oak Harbor Pike, one of the best pikes in the county. After making a start, he procured enough signatures of property owners to make a tax levy for the purpose of completing the pike, and although his ninth term as supervisor expired before its final completion, he continued active in its building until the end. When the people realized the benefits derived they gave him credit for it in large measure and many thought the road should be designated "the Tucker Pike." Mr. Tucker was married (first) March 16, 1843, to Miranda Burgoon, who died February 3, 1895. She was born in Maryland and in 1829, in her childhood, accompanied her parents to Sandusky Township, Sandusky County. They were very early settlers and her father, Peter Burgoon, was one of the well known men of his neighborhood. The children .born to this marriage are: Martha, who lives in Sandusky Township; Rachel E., who is the wife of Peter Kleinhans, of Toledo, Ohio ; Julia J., who is the wife of Daniel Hartman. of Swanton, Ohio; Hattie, who is the wife of Charles Baker, of Fremont; Lillie V., who is the wife of George W. Strang, of Toledo ; and Charles G. and John P.. of Sandusky Township. The children of Rachel E. (Kleinhans) are Nelson, Sadie, Rodney (deceased) and Bessie ; those of Julia J. (Hartman) are Ralph, Rawley, Roscoe and Roswell (twins) and Mabel ; Hattie (Baker) has a son Glenn ; Lillie V. (Strang) has two children, Ray and Paul ; Charles G. married Minnie Nowlan and they have the following children, Harry, Mae, Elmer (who was drowned) and Ada. John P. Tucker married Fannie Hartman and they have three children, Esther, Thelma and Nelson R. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson R. Tucker had five children who died, two of whom reached maturity and were Married, Mary and Nellie. Mary Tucker married John Parrish and had four children, who were raised by the subject of this record, namely : Perry, Foster, Boswell and Goldie. Nellie Tucker married Robert Struble and they had a son, Carl Struble, who lives in Toledo. 858 - HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY On September 7, 1898, Mr. Tucker was married (second) to Mrs. Lydia P. Benedict, who was born in Wyoming County, Pennsylvania, June 30, 1834, and is a daughter of William and Olive (Wiltsey) Patrick. Her father was born in Connecticut and her mother at Auburn, New York. In 1835 she was brought to Huron County, Ohio, by her parents and was reared and educated there, when only fifteen years of age becoming a teacher. Mrs. Tucker taught school for three years and in the meanwhile developed her own literary talent, which has resulted in much creditable work, especially in connection with the W. C. T. U. and also with the Sandusky County Pioneer and Historical Association, before which she has read several very interesting papers. Mrs. Tucker in 1909 inaugurated the idea of an Old Ladies Fair Society. The first meeting was held at the Sandusky County Fair grounds on August 18, 1909, and fifty names were registered as members. The object of the society is 'to have exhibits of ancient relics and a display of old time coverlets and quilts. There were about fifty coverlets and quilts on exhibition and a good many highly prized relics—one coverlet owned by Mrs. Leroy Deemer, which is over one hundred vears old and well preserved, drew first prize. The officers of the society are, Mrs. Nelson R. Tucker, president ; Mrs. J. D. Alexander, secretary, and Mrs. Zoe A. Long, treasurer. The many quaint and beautiful treasures of a half century ago are as satisfying and refreshing as an old time garden of lavender and mignonette, and they bring to the rushing modern days 'the same suggestion with the same fragrant memories. Mrs. Tucker was the widow of Charles M. Benedict, to whom she was married on November 6, 1856. Their children were, Olive C., who is now deceased ; and Milbry E., a prominent business man of Green Springs, Ohio. For over forty years Mrs. Tucker has been a member of the First Baptist Church at Clyde. In politics Mr. Tucker is a Democrat but has Prohibition leanings and encourages his wife in her active work in the W. C. T. U. He has never been eager to fill public offices, but accepted that of coroner and served acceptably for four years. When he was eighteen years old he was made captain of a local militia company and served as such as long as the military organization existed, a matter of some years. The last time the company was called out at general muster was for enlistments for the Mexican War, in which several from his company served. NATHAN T. WILDER, vice president of the Clyde Kraut Company, at Clyde. Ohio, is a retired farmer who still maintains his home on his farm of fifty-nine acres, situated in Green Creek Township, on the electric railroad. Mr. Wilder was born on his father's farm in Granger Township, Medina County, Ohio, April 17, 1843. His parents were William and Elsie T. (Hatch) Wilder. William Wilder was born in Connecticut and was a young man when he left his native place to seek his fortune in what was then considered the far distant West. With his ax on his shoulder he walked to Ohio, his intention being to settle on land which he could cultivate and improve. This he found in Granger Township, Medina County, where he secured sixty acres. It was then in the wilderness, practically an uncleared one, his onlv neighbors being Indians. Here he made his home the rest of his life, developing in the course of years, a valuable property. The bountiful apple orchards on the old homestead grew from seed that he had carried from the old Connecticut home. He lived to the age of seventy-seven years, dying in 1866, from the effects of a fall. Three years after coming to Medina Countv, he was married to Elsie T. Hatch. She was -born near Number Nine, Canandaigua County. New York, and her father at one time owned all of North Bristol Township in that county. When the family migrated to Medina County she took her turn at walking, on the journey, as was the custom with the early settlers in their efforts to relieve the strain on the overtaxed teams. She survived her husband for many years, her death occurring at Clyde. Ohio, February 8, 1891, when aged ninety-one years and eleven months. The following children were born to 'William and Elsie T. Wilder : Lucy who was the wife of Homer Johnson ; William H., who is deceased ; Calvin H., now deceased, HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY - 861 who was a Baptist preacher ; Annis A., who was the wife of S. N. Welton; Charlotte E., who is the widow of S. H. Rhodes; Marlin Joseph, who is deceased; Saphronia L., who is the widow of D. H. Beeman; James Alonzo, who is president of the Clyde Kraut Company; Nathan Thomas ; and Janette, deceased. Nathan Thomas Wilder, who was named for his two grandfathers, spent his boyhood on the home farm and gained his first knowledge of books in the little old red schoolhouse near his home, but later had better advantages in the graded school at Painesville, Ohio. He remained on the farm until he was twenty-eight years or age, in 1871 coming to Clyde. Here he was engaged in a life and fire insurance business until 1882, after which he became interested in a grocery business with his older brother, Alonzo James Wilder, and was concerned in this enterprise for thirteen years. In 1890 the Wilders established the kraut business, which has developed into one of great importance. After retiring from the grocery firm, Mr. Wilder became manager of this new enterprise and continued in that position for eight years, retiring from active work in 1903. In the meanwhile, by 1900, the kraut business had assumed such large proportions that incorporation became advisable and the following officers were elected to carry on the Clyde Kraut Company : A. J. Wilder, president ; Nathan T. Wilder, vice president ; and W. W. Wilder, secretary and treasurer. This plant is the largest in the United States for the manufacture of their specialty, the capacity being 1000 pounds a day, and employment being given to 100 men. Shipping facilities are excellent, the plant being situated on the L. S. & M. S. and the Big Four Railroads. A branch house for the manufacture of kraut and pickles has been established at Jackson, Michigan. Mr. Wilder enjoys country life, but he does not personally carry on farming, his fields being under rental. He purchased his land from the Limon Miller estate. The farmhouse stands somewhat back from the highway, and although built in 1858 it is yet exceedingly comfortable and its location, on the electric road, makes possible the combining of rural and town life. On December 27, 1866, Mr. Wilder was married to Miss Sarah A. Nettleton, a daughter of Samuel Clark Nettleton, and they have five children, as follows : Nettie A., who married Rev. H. C. Cunningham, has two children —Edna Louise and Nathan Wilder ; they reside in Erie County ; Edna C. married B. E. Babcock, who is in the kraut business and is a resident of Phelps, New York ; Martha E., who is the wife of D. E. Fuller, residing at Clyde, has two children—Karl and Annis; Clark N., who resides at Clyde, married Helen Snyder ; Fannie E., who resides at Clyde, married John W. Becker. Mr. Wilder and family belong to the Presbyterian Church. In politics he is a Republican. He is also a Mason and is identified with the Clyde lodge. ADAM ROTH, who is engaged in general farming on a tract of eighty-five acres located in Section 12, Sandusky Township, Sandusky County, Ohio, was born March 18, 1848, in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, and is a son of John and Lena (Bash) Roth. John Roth was born and reared in Germany, where he became a linen weaver by trade, and was married to Lena Bash, who was also born and reared in that country. He subsequently brought his family to America. After spending one year at Buffalo, New York, he came to Fremont, where for a time he rented land. This he cultivated until he purchased a tract of fifty acres in Ball-ville Township, where his death occurred when in his seventy-third year. His wife died at the age of sixty-four years. They were 'the parents of ten children, of whom but four are living, namely : Adam, the subject of this record ; Elizabeth, the wife of William Truesdale, of Lima, Ohio; Peter and John, of Green Springs, Ohio. Adam Roth was five years of age when his parents came to the United States; the voyage. was made in a sailing vessel occupying eleven weeks. Mr. Roth was reared on his father's farm in Sandusky County, Ohio, and obtained but a limited amount of schooling, the greater part of his time having been devoted to the work on the farm. He has always followed agriculture and purchased his present farm of eighty-five acres in 1908. He makes a spec- 862 - HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY ialty of cabbage, and for the past two years has won first prize at the Bellevue Fair, the amount he raised on seven and one-fourth acres in 1908 having sold for $1,632. November 19, 1878, Mr. Roth married Elizabeth Gadeger, who was born January 29, 1856, in Germany, and is a daughter of August and Mary (Johnson) Gadeger. Her father, with whom she came to this country at the age of thirteen, and who located in Fremont, Ohio, in August, 1869, was a blacksmith by trade. He died July 29, 1904, aged eighty-four years, his wife's death having occurred in Germany, when her daughter, Mrs. Roth, was but one year old. Mr. and Mrs. Roth are the parents of the following children : Emma, who is the wife of William Dohms, and has one son. Howard; Lewis, who married Edith Dymond, and has two children, Richard and Russel ; Henry, who married Maude Lyons, and has one r child, William ; Caroline, who married George Bower, and has a son, Walter; Carl ; Hattie; Elizabeth ; Adam ; and three who, died in infancy. In politics. Mr. Roth is identified with the Democratic party. He is a member of the German Lutheran Church and also of the German Aid Society. JOHN H. BOWMAN, M. D., physician and surgeon, who has been in active practice at Vickery, Ohio, for almost two decades and is a leading citizen of the village. was born January 3, 1859, at Carlisle. Pennsylvania. and is a son of John and Catherine (Hippie) Bowman. The parents of Dr. Bowman came to Sandusky County in the fall of 1859. settling near Fremont, where the father engaged in agricultural pursuits. There were five sons in his family and four of these are practicing physicians, namely : David E., of Toledo, Ohio : Charles J., of Genoa. Ohio : A. L.. of Martin, Ohio; and John H., of Vickery. The fifth son. William T., is a United States mail clerk, traveling out of Toledo. John H. Bowman attended the country schools and 'the Fremont High School and in 1878 he was graduated in the commercial department from the Fostoria Academy. For the five following years he taught school in Kansas and during a part of this time he read medicine in the office of his brother, Dr. David E. Bowman, who was then located in that state. About 1887, he returned to Ohio to complete his. medical studies, entering the Columbus Medical College and graduating in the class of 1890. He came 'to Vickery in the fall of 189o, and after a few months of practice at Fairview, opened his office in this place and has built up a large and profitable clientele. Dr. Bowman is a member of the Sandusky County and the Ohio State Medical Associations and he keeps apace with the advancement in ideas and practice, made by his profession. In April, 1891, Dr. Bowman was married to Miss Emma L. Goodhart, daughter of Daniel Goodhart, of Batesville, Ohio, and they have two daughters: Mary C. and Willie Pauline. Dr. Bowman and wife attend the Methodist Episcopal Church at 'Vickery. Fraternally he is identified with the M. W. A. JOHN H. VICKERY. residing on his valuable farm of 120 acres. which is situated one mile north of the village of Colby. in York Township, Sandusky- County, was born on a farm in Erie County, Ohio. November 6, 1861, and is a son of John and Mary Jane (Parker) Vickery. John Vickery was born near the birthplace of his wife, in England. and both came to America and were subsequently married Bellevue. Ohio. To them were born the following children : Thomas. who is deceased John Henry, of York Township James P., who is a practicing lawyer at Bellevue. Ohio ; and two who died in infancy. John H. Vickery was nine years old when his mother died. The family had moved to York Township when he was about five years old and the father purchased the farm which he subsequently sold to his son. John H. The father was married a second time, the lady being Mary Beichler. who is now deceased, but Mr. Vickery still survives and resides at Colby. John H. Vickery was educated in the country schools of York Township and he has made farming his main business in life. He married Miss Emma McKeen, who was born in Clinton County, Iowa. and was three years old when AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 863 her parents moved to Seneca County, Ohio, where she was reared. She is a daughter of John and Mary (Shutts) McKeen, who now resides at Green Springs, Sandusky County. Mr. and Mrs. Vickery have two children, John Henry, Jr., and Bernice May. Mr. Vickery takes no active part in politics, but he is known as a good and useful citizen. WILHELM MYERS, a general farmer and well known citizen of Scott Township, residing on a well improved farm of forty acres in Section 29, was born on this farm, which is a part of the old Myers homestead, on June 27, 1864. His parents were Christian and Magdalena (Schweitzer) Myers. There were four children born to the parents of our subject : Elizabeth (Stondinger) and they live near Rising Sun, in Wood County; the second was an infant who died while the family was en-route to this country and was buried at sea ; the third also died at sea : and Wilhelm, the youngest. A half-brother. Albert S. Myers, lives on an adjoining farm. Wilhelm Myers was educated in the local schools and in the university at Ada, Ohio, where he spent one term. His main business in life has been farming, and for a number of years past lie has been very successful at this occupation. After his marriage, which occurred in 1895, he remained on the home place and looked after his parents as long as they lived. His mother died August 18, 1895, and his father on February 21, 1909. They were both. buried in Trinity Cemetery. The original Myers homestead contained 160 acres, but of this amount Wilhelm Myers has but forty. He first cleared twenty acres, located in Section 29 which lie later sold to D. S. Loe. He then bought forty acres in Section 32, thirty of which were cleared, the remainder being in timber. He subsequently cleared this tract also and later ploughed all the forty acres, the newly cleared acres being, of course, virgin ground. This latter forty-acre tract he sold to Ed. Master. While engaged in this work he resided 'on his present farm. He still has five acres in standing timber and also owns four oil wells. He raises principally corn, wheat and oats, and raises some stock for his own use and some for sale. He tile-drained the three farms in Scott Township above mentioned, about one hundred acres in all, a task representing years of the hardest toil. He is the owner of two separate farms, having one of ninety-nine acres in Jackson Township, Paulding County, which property he has improved with a fine set of farm buildings, but he has never lived on the place, his nephew operating it under lease. He is also a Stockholder in the Prairie Depot Bank, of Prairie Depot. On September 19, 1895, Mr. Myers was married to Miss Ida E. Freese, a daughter of, Adam and Margaret (Beech) Freese (both deceased). Mrs. Myers was born in Vernon Township, Crawford County, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Myers attend the Trinity Evangelical Church. In politics the former is a Democrat, as was his father. For a number of years he has been an Odd Fellow and has passed all the chairs in the lodge at Rising Sun. As a useful and enterprising citizen of approved character, Mr. Myers has the full respect of his fellow townsmen. CALVIN C. COLLIER, one of York Township's best known citizens, who has lived on his valuable farm of eighty acres, situated one mile east of Colby, for thirty-nine years, was born July 18, 1866, at Bellevue, Ohio, and is a son of George and Mattie (Romig) Collier. George Collier was born in Snyder County, Pennsylvania, and when thirty years old came to Ohio and located at Bellevue. There he was married to Mattie Romig, who was born in Thompson Township, Seneca County, Ohio., In 187o the family moved to the farm on which his son still resides and resided here until his death, which occurred June 3o, 1909. His widow still survives and is one of the 'township's esteemed and venerable ladies. Calvin C. Collier was mainly reared in York Township, as he was four years old when his parents brought him here. He attended the country schools through boyhood and has made farming his business in life. He has made many improvements on his place and one of these is the fine frame house, roomy and comfortable, which he built in the summer of 1905. 864 - HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY Mr. Collier married Miss Augusta Ladd, who was born in Christian County, Illinois, and who is a daughter of Noyes Ladd. They have four children : Alta, Lulu, Herbert and Irwin. Mr. and Mrs. Collier are members of the Reformed Church. He has never given himself many vacations, but the great exposition of 1909, at Seattle, Washington, attracted him and on July 28th of that year, he started on his journey to the Pacific coast, with the intention of making a visit of several weeks. CHARLES T. MOORE, owner of 160 acres of fine farming land in Ballville Township. on which .he resides, conducting the Walnut Grove Dairy, also has valuable property in Fremont and is one of Sandusky County's substantial citizens. He was born on the farm on which he lives, March 24, 1846, and is a son of James and Harriet (Patterson) Moore. The paternal ancestors of Mr. Moore came to America from Dalkeith, Scotland, the first settler being Samuel Moore, who lived in New Jersey as early as 1760. Evidence is given that the family later moved across the line to Pennsylvania, as family records show that in 1814, David Moore, son of Samuel, moved to Ross County, Ohio, from Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania. The Moores came to Sandusky County in 1818 and David Moore built a log cabin on the west side of the Sandusky River, about half a mile southwest of the village of Ballville. He was one of the enterprising men of the time and place, for he built a saw-mill and also a grist-mill, both very necessary conveniences for the pioneers. His death was caused by falling in his mill, December 24, 1829. He had married Elizabeth Davis, who died July I, 1826. Their children were George, James, John, Mrs. Eliza Justice, and Mrs. Sarah Fields. All came to live in Sandusky County, but George subsequently returned to Ross County, where he died in 1850. John Moore was a miller at Ballville for many years and died there in 1876. James Moore, father of Charles T.. was born in 1809, in Huntingdon County. Pennsylvania, and accompanied his father to Ross County and later to Sandusky County. He assisted in the mill and after his father's accidental death, he conducted it for a number of years. He was a man of sterling character and of great enterprise and public spirit. He contributed largely to the construction of the Fremont and Fostoria Plank Road, realizing the great importance of this highway, and also to the building of the Lake Erie & Louisville, now the Lake Erie & Western Railroad. During the Civil War he was liberal in his contributions to assist in putting down the Rebellion and was particularly interested in the noble charity which established permanent help for the widows and orphans of soldiers. James Moore died December 6, 1873, and was buried at Oakwood Cemetery. In 1832 he married Harriet Patterson. who was born May 17, 1810, at Syracuse, New York. and who was a daughter of Reuben and Eunice (Danforth) Patterson. The Pattersons came from New York to Sandusky County in 1816 and lived for a time in Fort Stepheson. Mrs. Harriet Patterson Moore's ancestors emigrated from Framington, England, in 1634, in the ship "Griffin" from London to Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts. The Danforth genealogy gives an account of many heroic and charitable deeds of the early progenitors of the family, most of whom were professional men in high standing. The same work contains portraits of some of those now living in luxury in New England and California. Mrs. Harriet Patterson Moore was but six years old when her parents came from New York to Sandusky County in 1816. She was remarkably active in mind and body, a very intelligent, charitable and self-sacrificing wife and mother, and lived a long life of good deeds. She died in her eighty-ninth year. To James Moore and wife were born the following children : Orvin, born January 1, 1833, was drowned in the Sandusky River in 1838 Juliette, married William Rice. a merchant of Fremont, in 1858; Leroy, born December 28, 1836, married Mary J. Dawley in 1869 and died July 29, 1888; Celiette, born January 16, 1838, died July II, 1854 ; Manville, born in 1842, was wounded at the battle of Gettysburg and died from the wounds received July 12, 1863 ; Charles T. is the subject of this sketch; HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY - 867 Celia Fisher, born in 1848, is living in Sandusky County and Oriette Speller, born in 1850, resides in Michigan. Charles T. Moore was educated in the Ballville and Fremont schools and the University of Michigan, and assisted his father in the dairy business almost from boyhood, and with this long experience, has developed an industry that is one of considerable importance in Ballville Township. Mr. Moore married Miss Jennie M. Huber, daughter of Lewis and Mary Jane (Fleming) Huber, of Pleasant Plains, Illinois. The father of Mrs. Moore was born in 1810 at Lancaster, Ohio, and died December 17, 1883. Her mother was born in 1819 and married in 1838. The children born to the Huber family were the following : Henry and Ferguson, both deceased ; George and Martha, also deceased ; Lewis A. Jennie M. ; Addie, who married John M. Fleming; and Margaret B., who married Newton Rawles. Lewis Huber's ancestors emigrated from Zurich, Switzerland, to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1749. He was a descendant of King Henry Huber of Canton of Zurich, Switzerland. His grandfather, Henry Huber, pur- chased a large body of land in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and was also engaged in the manufacture of wagons and carriages. In the struggle for his adopted country's liberty he was a zealous and active advocate for independence. He bore a militia captain's commission during colonial and revolutionary wars. His not being educated in the English language kept him from coming forward as a public character. He was a man of strict management of business and religious affairs. Lewis Huber's father, John Huber, came to Fairfield County, Ohio, in 1802: he bought land and was successful in agriculture and the live stock business. Lewis, the youngest of six sons, was a merchant for forty years of his life at Lancaster, Ohio, also at Lithopolis. After his marriage to Jane Fleming he was engaged in the live stock business and farming in Pickaway County in connection with other enterprises. Naturally vigorous and elevated mind for a merchant, active and strict member of the Presbyterian Church, being elder for fifty years of his life and superintendent of Sabbath school ten years, loved and esteemed by all who knew him, generous and charitable to all, indulgent Christian husband and father. Jane Fleming Huber was of sterling character, ready to help all in need, a loving, indulgent wife and mother, remarkable in her management of household and family. Jennie Huber Moore has always been an active worker in the Presbyterian Church and a liberal contributor to charity ; a hospitable home maker, and an indulgent, affectionate wife and mother, possessing a refined and artistic nature. Her mother's ancestors came from Flemington, Scotland. They were landlords and professional men. Many hold high political offices in Virginia and West Virginia, at the present time. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Moore were three in number, the two survivors being: Julia and Huber. The eldest, Mabel, died when one year old. Mr. Moore takes no very active interest in politics, but all members of his family have been good citizens and promoters of all that tends to contribute to the general welfare. ROBERT A. FORGRAVE, a retired farmer and substantial citizen, of Scott Township, Sandusky County, Ohio, where he owns an excellent farm of sixty acres, is also an honored veteran of the Civil War and a member of the G. A. R. post at Bradner. He was born in Perry County, Ohio, November 27, 1842, and is a son of Robert W. and Mary (Kuhn). Forgrave, the latter of whom died in 1844, While the former survived until February 1, 1881. Robert A. Forgrave was educated at the Thornville school in Perry County, and had scarcely left there before he enlisted for service in the Civil War. He entered Company G, 8th O. Vol. Inf., under Capt. William Haynes, and during his long period of service he participated in twenty-seven important battles. He subsequently enlisted in Company K, 126th O. Vol. Inf., in which regiment he served until the close of the war. Mr. Forgrave escaped with only a slight wound,. although during the 868 - HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY whole period he was never absent from his post and many times faced death and injury. After the close of his military service, Mr. Forgrave returned to Scott Township and engaged in teaching school, after his marriage, at Oak Harbor. He then settled on the farm of sixty acres on which he has since lived, twenty of which he cleared. He put up all the buildings now standing and did some of the first under-draining that was ever done in the township. Mr. Forgrave has twelve oil wells on his farm. He is numbered with the township's men of ample means and is a stockholder in the Helena Bank. Mr. Forgrave married Miss Emma A. Poorman, and they have had four children : John A., Robert William, Anna Belle and an infant. The only survivor is John A.. who married Retta Wineland. The father of Mrs. Robert A. Forgrave was William Poorman, a well known farmer of Scott Township. In politics Mr. Forgrave is a Republican. REGINALD C. ARLIN, the well known florist of Clyde. Ohio, who conducts an extensive business under the name of the Clyde Floral Company. has been a life-long resident of Sandusky County. He was born at Fremont, January 29, 1875. and is a son of Harvey and Eliza (Collins) Arlin. Harvey Arlin was for many years a resident of Fremont, and was traveling representative for the A. H. Jackson Manufacturing Company. He was first married to Miss Levica Woodford, by whom he had two children, Alfred and Ella. both of whom are deceased. After the death of his first wife. Mr. Arlin formed a second union with Miss Eliza Collins of Fremont, and they had the following. children : Grace, wife of Harry Ellinger : Minnie, wife of Grant Lockwood : Reginald C. and Arthur. Reginald C. Arlin was reared to manhood in Fremont and there received a public school education. He became interested in his ,present business when a small boy, working for Joseph L. Wetsel of Fremont for four years, and next for J. M. Gasser, a florist of Cleveland, Ohio for two years, and in 1902 came to Clyde. Here he purchased the greenhouse of O. P. Horton, on Maple Street, and continued for five years. He had at that location six greenhouses, 60x15 feet, but the growth of his business was such as to require more commodious quarters. In 1907 he purchased thirteen and one-half acres along the electric railroad, from Mr. A. B. French. and has erected six greenhouses, four of them 21X 100 feet in dimensions, and two of them 11 X 100 feet. He conducts a general florist business and maintains two cut flower stores, one at Fremont and the other at Bellevue. On Christmas Day, 1902, Mr. Arlin was married to Miss Lettie Griffin. and they have a daughter. Margaret. Fraternally, he is a member of Clvde Lodge, Knights of the Maccabees and Blue Lodge F. & A. M., at Clyde. JAMES PHILLIP ROUSH. assessor of York Township, where, for many years, he was a farmer and stock raiser and where he still owns sixty-eight acres of valuable land, resides in his comfortable home at No. 809 West Main Street, Bellevue, Ohio. He was born in Union County, Pennsylvania, March 5, 1843, and is a son of Joseph P. and Catherine (Kreisher) Roush. Joseph P. Roush and wife were natives of Union County and they resided there until 1856, when they moved to Sandusky County. Ohio, settling on the farm in York Township. a part of which their son, James P.. now owns. Joseph P. Roush purchased eighty acres when he came to York Township, adding a second eighty and still later a third farm of forty acres. During his active years he was a man of industry and excellent business perceptions, but toward the close of an unusually prolonged existence, his sight failed and for the last twelve years of life he was blind. He died aged ninety-three years, in June 1907. He married Catherine Kreisher, who. died in 1893. They had seven children, namely : Charles F., and James P.. both of whore are residents of Bellevue : John H., who lives at Lindsey. Ohio : George. who died aged thirteen years: Mary. who is the wife of William C. Williams, of York Township : and William A. and Alice, twins, the latter of whom died in infancy, and AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 869 the former of whom is a resident of Chicago, Illinois. James Phillip Roush was thirteen years old when he accompanied his parents to Sandusky County. He obtained his education in -the schools of York Township and assisted on the home farm. On November 12, 1863, he was married to Miss Nancy Longfellow, a daughter of Joseph and Mary (Pollock) Longfellow, the former of whom was a first cousin of Henry W. Longfellow, the poet. Joseph Longfellow was born in Delaware and was a son of Joseph Longfellow. He married Mary Pollock, who was born in Scotland and was one year old when her father, Layton Pollock, brought his family to America. Joseph Longfellow was a boy when his parents moved to Champaign County, Ohio, where his father lived to the age of 104 years. He engaged in trapping up to within three years of his death. When the parents of Mrs. Roush were first married they went to housekeeping on a farm in Logan County, and there Mrs. Roush was born in 1844 and lived until her marriage and three years longer. Both her parents had been previously married and the father already had five children and the mother three, and to their marriage with each other, eight children were born. As indicative of the quiet, peaceful domestic atmosphere. these children all grew to maturity in the greatest harmony. Joseph Longfellow died in Logan County. Ohio. aged seventy-four years and his wife survived to be ninety-one years, three months and twenty-one days. She was at that time the oldest person known in Logan County. It was during the time that Mr. and Mrs. Roush lived in Logan County, that he served 135 days in the Civil War, enlisting May 2, 1864, in Company F, 132nd Ohio Vol. Inf., and being discharged at Camp Chase. September 10, 1864. This was one of the two regiments sent to the front, where it did garrison duty around Richmond. The unaccustomed exposure, however. caused Mr. Roush to fall sick and he was confined to a hospital during a large part of this period. He is a member of the C. B. Gambee Post, No. 33, G. A. R. at Bellevue. In 1867 Mr. and Mrs. Roush moved to York Township and here they have lived ever since. They have had three children, namely : a babe that died ; Edward J., who manages and operates the farm for his father and has three children—Mary, Allen and Wilson Edward; and Arthur, who died at the age of three years. Mr. and Mrs. Roush are members and liberal supporters of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Mrs. Roush having been united with this religious body since she was ten years old. In politics, Mr. Roush is a Republican and has always been more or less active in party matters, has served in local offices and at present is assessor of his township. W. H. KELLER. general farmer, owning sixty-eight acres of valuable land situated in sections 5 and 8, Scott Township. is a representative citizen and a useful member of the school board. He was born in Scott Township. Sandusky County, Ohio. June 15, 1869, and is a son of John A. and Rowenna (Plantz) Keller. The father of Mr. Keller was a farmer in Scott Township, where he lived respected and esteemed for many years. His death occurred July 15. 1899, and his burial was at Chestnut Ridge Cemetery, in Wood County. He was a worthy member of the Reformed Church. He married Rowenna Plantz, a daughter of Jacob and Rowenna (Rhodes) Plantz. who still survives and is a beloved member of the household of her son, William H., the subject of this sketch. W. H. Keller was educated in the district school near his home and assisted his father on 'the farm until he went into a teaming business in the oil fields, for himself. He settled on the homestead after his marriage and has done a large amount of improving here. His father built the farm house and set out one orchard. The son has put up a substantial barn. has set out a new orchard and has underdrained the whole farm. He has five producing oil wells, on his place. He is a prudent, industrious man and in looking out for the future has become a stockholder in the Bradner Bank. On December 18, 1890, Mr. Keller was married to Miss Minnie L. Zimmerman, a daughter of George and Anna Zimmerman, and they have five bright, interesting children : Virgia. Guy, Gladys, George and Irene. Mr. Keller 870 - HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY and family attend the Lutheran Church. In politics he is a Republican and fraternally he is an Odd Fellow and has passed all the chairs of Lodge No. 676, at Bradner. JOHN DALTON is a prosperous farmer 'residing on a farm of 120 acres in Townsend Township, Sandusky County, Ohio. He was born in Livingston County, New York, March 7, 1853, and is a son of Matthew and Margaret (Quirk) Dalton. Matthew Dalton was born in County Longford, Ireland, in 1806, and there grew to manhood. He married a Miss Kinney, who died during an epidemic of cholera. After her death, Mr. Dalton moved to America and settled in Livingston County, New York, where he was married to Mrs. Margaret (Quirk) Welsh, widow of James Welsh. About the year 1855, he moved west with his family to Sandusky County, Ohio, and purchased eighty acres of land in Townsend Township, which he later increased to 240 acres. He died on this farm, January 24, 1883, at the age of seventy-seven years, and was survived many years by his widow, who died August 25, 1907, at the age of eighty-five years. As a result of his first union, Matthew Dalton had six children, as follows : Richard, who was a member of Company I, 111th O. Vol. Inf., and died during the Civil War; Bridget, wife of H. B. Smith ; Paul F., of Lemar. Iowa; James, of Jessop, Iowa ; Matthew, who died of fever in 1865 : and Katherine, a teacher in the schools at Washington. District of Columbia. Matthew and Margaret (Quirk) Dalton had five children to grow to maturity, namely : John, William and Henry, who reside in Townsend Township ; Mary. wife of Allen Sanford, of Riley Township. Sandusky County ; and Anna, wife of James H. Garvin, of Townsend Township. As a result of her first marriage, Mrs. Dalton had two sons : Patrick Welsh, who was killed in an accident on the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad; and James Welsh, who died in California, from the effects of a sunstroke. John Dalton spent his youth on the home-Stead, farming and attending the district schools. After he had become grown, he taught in the schools for eight terms and then gave his entire attention to agricultural pursuits, which he has since followed. At his father's death he took the home property of eighty acres as his share of the estate, and has since added a tract of forty acres to it. He has a finely improved property and has followed general farming with good results. On November 25, 1884, John Dalton was married to Mary Garvin, a daughter of James Garvin, of Riley Township, and they have four children : Katherine, born October 11, 1885 Matthew, born December 21, 1891 ; John, born October 4, 1894; and Helen, born October 11, 1895. They are members of the Catholic Church at Clyde. Mr. Dalton is a Democrat in politics, and has served efficiently as township assessor, trustee and school director, but is not now holding office. REV. EDWARD M. O'HARE, pastor of St. Ann's Catholic Church at Fremont, Ohio, has been in charge of this important parish since 1906. He was born at Sarcoxie, Mo., May 3, 1877, and is one of a family of seven children born to his parents. who were James and Ellen (McDermott) O'Hare. His father was born in Ireland and came to America when a boy of fifteen years. Father O'Hare attended the parochial schools in his native place through boyhood. took a college course at Cleveland, Ohio, and completed his theological studies at St. Mary's Seminary. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 24, 1902, by Bishop Horstmann of Cleveland, and his first pastoral work was done in that city, as assistant priest at St. Patrick's. In 1906 he was appointed priest of St. Ann's at Fremont, and entered upon his duties with an enthusiasm that has been reflected in both the material and spiritual advancement of this church, one of the oldest in this part of Ohio. He has 600 souls in his spiritual charge, seemingly a heavy one for a pastor of his comparative youth. and he directs a fine church school, which has 125 pupils. A new church building was completed prior to his coming to St. Ann's, and a beautiful parsonage was built by him at a cost of $8,000. The buildings are all substantial, of stone and brick construction. HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY - 873 Father O'Hare is much beloved by his parishioners, and he has won many friends in this city outside of his congregation by his liberality of view, his interest in all that concerns the general welfare and his many acts of benevolence. F. C. HORNUNG, one of Sandusky County's prominent business men, is identified with the leading interests of Gibsonburg, where he maintains his home. He was born at Gibsonburg, Ohio, September 30, 1872. Mr. Hornung was educated in his native place and when he entered into business he immediately became identified with the Zorn-Hornung Company. At present he is vice-president of this concern, that controls many of the leading enterprises of this section. It was founded in April, 1896, and the other officers are G. W. Hornung, president, and F. W. Zorn, secretary and treasurer. The company owns a general store, manufactures staves, operates a creamery that at one time was the largest in the county, and is prominent in oil production both in Sandusky and Wood Counties. An elevator is operated by the company at Gibsonburg, as a grain and feed exchange. The company formerly owned a lime plant, but subsequently disposed of it to the Ohio & Western Lime Company, which has its main office at Cleveland. In addition to his responsibilities in the above concern, Mr. Hornung has many important individual interests. He is president of the Madison Oil and Gas Company, is a stockholder and director in the Gibsonburg Banking Company, is a stockholder in the Gibsonburg Telephone and Electric Light Company; is interested in oil leases. On October 24, 1896, Mr. Hornung was married to Miss Jessie Miller, a daughter of W. S. and Letha (Bond) Miller, and they have two children : Catherine, who is a student in the sixth grade in the Gibsonburg public school ; and Robert M. Mr. and Mrs. Hornung are members of the Lutheran Church. In politics he is a Democrat, but he has accepted no public office except membership on the school board. WILLIAM HENRY BLAIR is editor and proprietor of the Reporter, an interesting newspaper, Democratic in politics, which makes its appearance weekly in some fifteen hundred homes in Clyde and vicinity. Mr. Blair has always resided in Clyde, where he was born September 21, 1873, and is a son of Charles A. and Ellen (Smith) Blair. Charles A. Blair was born in Wurtemburg, Germany, and was a boy of about eight years when he was brought to the United States by his parents. He grew to maturity at Sandusky, Ohio, where he was in business some years prior to his removal to Clyde. He, in partnership with a brother, operated a boat between that place and the islands, and during the Civil War carried bread to Johnson's Island, where the rebel prisoners were kept. He subsequently learned 'the trade of a painter, which occupation he still follows at Clyde. He was sixty-eight years of age in July, 1909, and his wife has passed her sixty-fourth milestone in life's journey. She was born near Elmore, Ohio, and of her marriage with Mr. Blair were born the following children : George, Charles, Ferdinand (deceased), Lillian (deceased), and William Henry. William H. Blair attended the grade and high schools in Clyde, and when still a boy entered the printing office of the Clyde Enterprise. That paper was then owned and conducted by Mr. B. F. Jackson, and he continued in his employ for a period of thirteen years. He then, in 1899, bought the. Reporter, its former proprietor, Burt Richards, having died. Mr. Blair is a practical printer, having risen from the position of "devil" to that of editor and proprietor, and gives special attention to high grade job printing. September 9, 1895, W. H. Blair was married to Miss Carrie Bacon, daughter of William Bacon, the pioneer dry goods merchant of Clyde. They have one son, Homer, and the family home is on Cherry Street. Mr. Blair is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Royal Arcanum. HARMON WENSINGER, county surveyor of Sandusky County, Ohio, whose comfortable home is at No. 321 South Clover, 874 - HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY Street, Fremont, is serving in his second term of office. Mr. Wensinger is a native of Sandusky County, born November Jo, 1875, and is a son of John H. and Anna (Bauer) Wensinger. Mr. Wensinger was educated in the public schools. His first experience in the line of surveying was when he went out as a rod man with the firm of Dickinson & Hughes, and in 1892 he decided to take up the study of surveying, with the idea of making it his business. He continued until 1896, when he became an assistant in the city engineer's office, at Fremont. and served as assistant deputy surveyor under two consecutive surveyors. In November, 1906, he was elected county surveyor and in 1908 was re-elected and still continues in office. He is considered one of the most accurate and best equipped officials of the county and devotes to the duties of this office all of his time, being the only surveyor since the office was created in Sandusky County. that has never demanded an assistant. Mr. Wensinger married Miss Emma Stokes, a daughter of John Stokes. a prominent farmer of Riley Township, Sandusky County. Mr. and Mrs. Wensinger are members of Grace Lutheran Church. He is identified with the order of Woodmen of the World and with the Elks, being past grand exalted ruler of the latter organization. FRANKLIN STULL, owner of sixty acres of rich farming land in Ballville Township. situated about two and a half miles southwest of Fremont, was born February 8. 1858, in Seneca County, Ohio. His parents. Solomon and Sarah (Spade) Stull. were early settlers in Seneca County. going there from Pennsylvania. Franklin Stull grew to manhood in Seneca County and there obtained his education. In 1895 he came to Sandusky County and in 1907 bought his present property from Christian Depp. Mr. Stull makes a specialty of truck gardening and supplies the Fremont market with early vegetables and fruit. On January 15, 1878. Mr. Stull was married in Seneca County to Miss Josephine Crawford, a daughter of William and Mary ( McCloy) Crawford. of Berkeley County. Virginia. The father of Mrs. Stull was born there in 1816 and died .May 2, 1897. Her mother died in 1867. Mrs. Stull was born in Virginia, June 12, 1860, and was the seventh in a family of ten children. Mr. and Mrs. Stull have been the parents of four children. namely : Myrtle, Blanche (deceased), Cedilla (deceased), and Willis. Mr. Stull and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. They are among the respected residents of Ballville Township and are always found on the side of progress and active in supporting the Moral and material advancement of the community. FRANK A. PARKER, a representative citizen of York Township, where he owns a farm of 278 acres, was born at Boston. Massachusetts. September 25. 1859. and is a son of Milton B. and Harriet J. ( Ward) Parker. Mr. Parker is a lineal descendant of Thomas Parker, who sailed from London. March 11, 1635, and landed at Boston or Lynn in the same year. The Parker family was prominent in colonial affairs and many members of it took part in the Revolutionary War. one of the most distinguished being Capt. John Parker of Lexington fame. Both parents of Mr. Parker died when he was quite small and after their death he came to Sandusky County and made his home with the family of Joseph Stevenson, in York Township. The Stevenson family was long- one of great prominence in Sandusky County. Richard Boyd Stevenson was born at Frederick. Maryland, January 10, 1820. a son of Dr. Matthew and Jane ( Gilson) Stevenson. and a grandson of James Stevenson. who came to Pennsylvania from Ireland. James Stevenson married a relative of Hon. James Buchanan, later President of the United States. Dr. Matthew Stevenson was born in 1777. in Frederick County, Maryland. read medicine. and practiced for a time at Gettysburg. Pennsylvania, and later in Westmoreland County. He married Jane Gilson. whose mother belonged to the Boyd family that was captured by the French and Indians in war time. Grandmother Boyd being killed by the savages. Dr. Stevenson returned to Frederick County after AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 875 the death of his father, and in 183o came to Ohio; locating first at Tiffin and subsequently in York Township, Sandusky County, pur- chasing the farm now owned by Mr. -Parker, from a Mr. Birdseye, who had. entered it in 1822. After this, Dr. Stevenson no longer practiced medicine, engaging in agricultural pursuits until his death, in 1849. He had eleven children. His widow survived until 1877. The homestead came into possession of Richard B. Stevenson and was long known through the county under his name. He resided with his sisters, Lucinda and Mary E.. both now deceased, never having married. His death occurred November 25, 1898. Mr. Parker was reared in the home of Joseph Stevenson until he was of age, gaining his education in the country schools. He has always engaged in farming and now resides on the old R. B. Stevenson farm, which was once the property of Dr. Matthew Stevenson, the grandfather of his wife. Mr. Parker was married December 19. 1883, to Miss F. Eva Stevenson. a daughter of Beverly Waugh and Elizabeth A. (Thompson) Stevenson. of Green Creek Township. The present handsome dwelling was erected by Mr. Parker in 1905 and it occupies the site of the first house which was erected by Dr. Stevenson in 1833. The stone spring-house standing in front of the residence and close to the highway. was built, in 1870. by Richard Boyd Stevenson, who, with admirable public spirit, dedicated this spring of clear, cold water, to the use of the public. This spring, located on the North Ridge Road, was known in pioneer days as the Indian spring, from the fact that the Indian camping ground was near this flow of water. Mr. Parker has long been much interested in archeology, in connection with and reference to this section, and has the finest private collection of Indian relics in the county. WILLIAM FREDERICK, an experienced and successful farmer of York Township, Sandusky County. Ohio, who resides on his well cultivated farm of 1o6 acres, which is situated on the South Sand Ridge Road. about seven miles northeast of Clyde, was born in Union County, Pennsylvania, February 16, 1842, and is a son of William and Catherine (Kline) Frederick. Both William Frederick and wife were born_ in Pennsylvania. They were farming people of Union County before coming to Ohio, in 1854. They settled first in Erie County, on a place about three miles northeast of William Frederick's present farm, and lived there until 1859, when they moved to the farm in York Township, which is now the property of their son, George W. Frederick. On that farm both William Frederick and wife died, the mother very suddenly, from a stroke of paralysis, when aged seventy years. The father survived into extreme old age, dying in November, 1892, when almost ninety-six years old. He had lived so long in the community that his death left a blank. William Frederick was twelve years old when his parents brought him to Ohio. His whole life has been an agricultural one. He settled on his present farm in the spring of 1877 and has made many improvements here. He raises stock and his main crops are wheat, corn, oats and hay. Mr. Frederick has been fortunate in his family relations, his wife and all of his children and grandchildren being still alive and all settled near enough to make frequent visiting possible. He married Miss Elizabeth Berman, who was born in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, and is a daughter of John and Anna (Showers) Berman. To this marriage three children were born, one daughter and two sons, namely : Cora. who is the wife of John Meyer, resides in Erie County and has three children—Naomi, Ray and Elmer ; Samuel, who married Dora Dwight, lives near Riddles' Corners and has three children—Leroy, Ezra and Ida ; and Ernest, who remains at home to assist his father. J. A. NIESET, president of the Home Banking Company, at Gibsonburg, Ohio, and also engaged in the oil industry as producer and contractor, is one of Washington Township's prominent and representative men. He was born in Washington Township, Sandusky County, Ohio, July 15, 1867, and is a son of 876 - HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY Andrew and Bridget (Kahler) Nieset. His mother died July 21, 1883. Mr. Nieset received a common school education in Washington Township and remained at home with his parents until he was twenty-one years of age. About that time he went into contracting and worked for two years digging public ditches through Sandusky County. He then bought an outfit of oil well drilling tools and went into oil well contracting and worked for two years in Sandusky County. He then visited the oil fields of South Dakota and Indiana, working at different points for two more years, after which he returned to Sandusky County and went into the oil business, in addition to contracting. At the present writing, 1909, he is interested in eighty-three producing wells in Sandusky Township, nine in Washington Township, 100 in Jackson Township and six in Wood County, Ohio. He has also invested in gold, silver and copper property in Arizona, Idaho and California. To these various interests he has given close attention, but still has found time to identify himself with the business and other interests, of the place which he has selected as his chosen home. After his marriage in 1897 he located at Millersville, in Sandusky County, where he resided until 1907, since which time he has been a valued citizen of Gibsonburg. Mr. Nieset was married September 21, 1897, to Miss Emma Andrews, a daughter of John and Mary (Coller) Andrews. They are members of St. Michael's Catholic Church at Gibsonburg. Mr. Nieset is not active enough in politics to be called a politician, but he is a rigid supporter of the law and never neglects any duty of good citizenship. He is a Democrat. TILLMAN HORNUNG, general farmer, residing on his eighty acres of well improved land, which is situated one and one-half miles west of Hessville, in Washington Township, Sandusky County, Ohio, was born on a farm two and one-half miles northeast of his present one, January 22, 1840. His parents were Jacob and Elizabeth (Siegenthaler) Hornung. Jacob Hornung and wife were born in Germany and after emigrating to America they lived for six years in Pennsylvania and then came to Sandusky County and settled in Washington Township on the farm where their son Tillman Hornung was born, where they lived for fourteen years. They then moved to the one he now resides on and remained there during the rest of their lives. They had six children : Charlotte, Caroline; Mary, Tillman, Adam and Jacob. Tillman Hornung has been engaged in farming ever since he finished attending the district school. He assisted his father during his minority and later farmed the place for him and in 1876 he purchased the farm for himself. He has all but twelve acres under cultivation and raises excellent crops of wheat, corn, oats and hay, and enough stock for his own use. He has excellent farm machinery and has made many improvements on the place since it became his own property, including the building of a comfortable two-story frame res- idence and a substantial barn. In 1886, Mr. Hornung was married to Miss Margaret Strock, a native of Germany and a daughter of Philip and Elizabeth Strock, both of whom were born in Germany. Mrs. Hornung has three sisters and one brother : Elizabeth, Sophia, Mary and Philip. Mr. and Mrs. Hornung have had three children, namelv : Catherine, who is deceased : Lydia, who married Henry Craft, lives at Hessville and they have three children—Clara, Tillman and Ruth : and William. The latter resides at home and does the practical work on the farm, his father having more or less retired from farm labor. Mr. Hornung and family are members of the Lutheran Church. In politics he is a Democrat. G. L. DONNELS. of Gibsonburg, Ohio, a retired farmer, merchant, and saw-mill operator, is a veteran of the Civil War, in which he served with credit. He was born in Madison Township. Sandusky County, Ohio, July 23, 1847, and is a son of Gilbreth S. and Nancy (Wolcott) Donnels. Gilbreth S. Donnels was born in Hopewell Township, Washington County. Pennsylvania, in April, 1818, and was a son of James Donnels, who at an early date moved west to Scott Township, in Sandusky County, Ohio. Gil- HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY - 879 breth S. Donnels was married to Nancy Wolcott, of Scott Township, Sandusky County, Ohio, and here he became the owner of a farm of 120 acres in Madison Township. He died in middle life at the age of 'thirty-six years, being killed by his team in a runaway, and was buried at Quimsham Cemetery. His wife survived him until 1889. Religiously, they were members of the Christian Church. He was a Whig in politics and later a Republican. The following children blessed their union : Louisa, who died at the age of nine years ; John L. ; William N. ; G. L., subject of this record ; G. F. ; Stanley B. ; James A. ; and Jessie O., who died at the age of sixteen years. G. L. Donnels attended the public schools in his native township and worked on the farm until he joined the army. August 11, 1862, he enlisted as a member of Company A, 111th Regiment, O. Vol. Inf., and served with credit throughout the remainder of the war. He was mustered out on July 19, 1865, and returned to Sandusky County, where he worked at the sawmill business for 'two years. In 1893 he bought a store at Helena, which he operated successfully for six years, then sold out and purchased a store at Gibsonburg. He conducted this establishment some six years, it being located west of the railroad, and then sold out to M. E. Long & Son. He has since that time devoted his attention to his home affairs. He also is a stockholder and director of the Gibsonburg Banking Company. Mr. Donnels was first married August 1, 1867, to Miss Mary M. Bowser, a daughter of George and Rosanna Bowser, and they had the following children born to them : Edwin M.; Elmer E., who married Clara Laherman, a daughter of David and Mary. Laherman, and has two children, Lucy and Lindon; Lester L., who married Ella Laherman, daughter of David and Mary Laherman, and has children —Leonard, Ossia, Elva, Bertha and Milburn; George H., who married Ella Hubbs, daughter of Charles and Jane Hubbs, and has children—Clare, Gladys, Hazel, Verle and Harrold; and Bertha, who married Michael Murray. Edwin M. Donnels was married September 28, 1899, to Eva Hanline, daughter of Tobias and Ellen Hanline, and she died leaving two children, Brice and Dale, the latter being also deceased. He formed a second marriage with Nora Lafarre. The wife of the subject of this sketch died September 15, 1887, and was buried at Gibsonburg Cemetery. He formed a second union, February 23, 1893, with Mrs. Katura Olive James. The latter was first married in 1876 to R. J. James, by whom she had a son, William B. They reside in Gibsonburg. Mr. Donnels is past commander of Canfield Post, No. 124, G. A. R. He is a Republican in politics. Religiously, he and his wife are members of the Christian Church. HARRY WATSON ROBINSON, president of the Robinson Kraut Company of Green Spring, Ohio, is also an extensive dealer in grain and hay. He came to this village in 1895, since which time he has been prominently identified with the business interests of the locality. He was born on a farm in Seneca County, Ohio, July 29, 1872, and is a son of Joseph T. and Mary (Watson) Robinson. Joseph T. Robinson and his wife are both natives of Seneca County, Ohio, where they were reared and educated. Mr. Robinson has always been successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits and owns 600 acres of valuable farm land at Rockaway, where he also operates a grain elevator. He was for four years a member of the Ohio State Agricultural Board, and for a period of eleven years served on the Ohio State Experiment Station Board. He has been prominently identified with the Republican party and has served in both State and county politics. Mr. and Mrs. Robinson are the parents of the following children : Harry Watson, the subject of this record ; C. Grier Robinson, a resident of Green Spring, who is secretary and treasurer of the Robinson Kraut Company and superintendent of the plant; Dr. Rush Robinson, who is engaged in the practice of his profession at Columbus, Ohio, and is a graduate of the Ohio State University, and of Heidelberg College of Tiffin, Ohio; and Alice, who is principal of one of the schools at Fostoria, Ohio. 880 - HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY Harry W. Robinson spent his early boyhood days on his father's farm in Seneca County, Ohio, and at the age of seventeen years entered Heidelberg College at Tiffiin, Ohio, where he continued until the time of his graduation five years later. In the spring of 1895, Mr. Robinson came to Green Spring and served for one year as assistant principal of the Green Spring Academy under H. C. Duran, after which he was principal of the academy for two years. In July, 1895, he was appointed county school examiner of Seneca County by Judge Kiskadden, and was at that time the youngest school examiner in the state, being but twenty-three years of age. He subsequently turned his attention. to the hay and grain business, building his present elevator and hay barn, which he operates under the firm name of H. W. Robinson & Company. The Robinson Kraut Company, of which he is president, was established in 1895, the plant being located on the Nickel Plate Railroad. It produces between fifteen and twenty thousand barrels of "White Line Kraut" annually. Mr. Robinson has for a' number of years been an active member of the National Hay Association, of which he has served as a director for the past four years and was elected president of that association at the 1909 annual meeting. He has for many years been a member of the Ohio Grain Dealers' Association, of which he was elected president in June, 1909. In politics a Republican, Mr. Robinson has served as committee man and in various other offices. He is fraternally affiliated with the Masonic Order, being a member of the Blue Lodge at Green Spring, and of the Chapter at Clyde ; and also belongs to the Knights of Pythias Lodge at Green Spring. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church of Tiffin, Ohio. On September 9, 1896, Mr. Robinson was joined in marriage with Grace Holtz, a daughter of C. D. Holtz, county commissioner of Seneca County, Ohio. To them has been born one daughter, Marion Holtz. REV. THOMAS FRANCIS QUINN is pastor of St. Mary's Church at Clyde, Ohio. where he has been located since 1904. He is an enthusiast in the work in which he is consecrated, and has accomplished glorious results in this parish. Father Quinn was born at Ballindine, County Mayo, Ireland, December 23, 1875, and is a son of Thomas and Juria Gibbons (McKrager) Quinn. His parents were born in Ireland and always lived in County Mayo, where Thomas Quinn followed farming. They were parents of eight children : Rev. James J. Quinn, pastor of St. Catherine's Church at Cleveland ; Rev. John S.. Quinn of Ontario. Canada ; Catherine (McMahon). whose husband is a captain in the English Army ; William of Cleveland ; Peter, who remained in Ireland : Sister Juliana, a member of the Ursuline Community at Cleveland ; Patrick, who also lives in Ireland ; and Rev. Thomas Francis Quinn. Rev. Thomas F. Quinn spent his early boyhood on the home farm and until he was thirteen years old attended the common schools. At that age he came to the United States and for a period of five years was enrolled at St. Charles College at Baltimore, Maryland. At the end of that time he returned to Ireland and pursued a philosophical course at Waterford, South Ireland. He was there ordained a priest and in 1899 returned to America. He was assistant pastor of the church of the Immaculate Conception at Cleveland for two years. after which he was for two years stationed at Summitville, Columbiana County. Ohio, and for seven months at Medina, Ohio, prior to his removal to Clyde, Ohio, in 1904. In that year he succeeded Rev. Father Powers as pastor of St. Mary's Church. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus and of the P. T. A. L. WILLIAM C. WILLIAMS, one of York Township's substantial citizens, residing on his farm of twenty-two and three-fourth acres at Mt. Pleasant, just west of Bellevue, owns a second farm containing eighty acres, which lies two miles west of his home farm, both being valuable and well improved properties. Mr. Williams was born near Bellevue, in Lime Township, Huron County, Ohio, April 2, 1852, AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 881 and is a son of Adam and Catherine (Henney) Williams. Adam Williams was born in Wayne County, Ohio, and was a son of Daniel Williams, and a grandson of David Williams, who came originally from Wales. His wife, Margaret Lyons, was born in Ireland. David Williams was one of General Washington's body-guards and his Wife was the great commander's laundress while he was at Valley Forge. Her last resting place was made in the woods three miles east of Bellevue, her husband having died while the family tarried in Wayne County. Daniel Williams and wife came from Pennsylvania and were early settlers in Wayne County, later in Huron County, and they died in Erie County. Adam Williams was one of a family of fourteen children ; he died in September, 1908, at Bellevue. aged eighty-four years. One of his brothers, John Williams, lives at Milan, Ohio. and is in his ninetv-third year. Adam Williams Married Catherine Henney, who was born in Wayne County, one of a family of thirteen born to her parents, Adam and Catherine (Rishel) Henney. She died in Huron County. Ohio, when aged seventv-two years. After his marriage, Adam Williams settled on a farm on which he lived for fifty-six years. William C. Williams was mainly reared in Huron County. He was afforded good educational opportunities and in 1872 he graduated from the Bellevue High School, and in the fall of that year began to teach. For twenty-three consecutive winters he taught school and devoted his summers, in the main, to farming. In August, 1890, he moved to Sandusky County, buying a farm of eighty acres, on which he lived for seventeen years, when he sold it and bought his present eighty-acre farm, on which his son resides. Mr. Williams married Miss Mary E. Roush, a member of a prominent county family and a sister of James P. Roush, a leading citizen of York Township. They have had four children : Warner F., who married Stella Cregar, and has one child, Leona May ; Joseph Edgar, who died aged eighteen years ; Bernice Catherine. who died aged one year and seven months : and Lorena Isabella. Mr. Williams and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Fraternally he is identified with the Masons, the Woodmen of the World, being past council commander of Bellevue Camp No. 40, of this organization, and he is also president of the Lime Township Horse Protective Association. FRANK H. GILBERT, who conducts a meat market at Vickery Village, has been interested in the stock and butchering business here since 1906. He has invested in property and is one of the prosperous business men of the place. Mr. Gilbert was born in Riley Township, Sandusky County, Ohio, September 8, 1877, and is a son of George and Emma (Lowe) Gilbert. George Gilbert was born in Lincolnshire, England, November 6, 1852, and in 1861 was brought to America by his parents, John and Rebecca Gilbert. They settled first at Monroeville, Huron, Ohio, and in 1871, George Gilbert came to Clyde, Sandusky County. On December 13, 1878, he married Emma Lowe, a daughter of Hiram Lowe, of Gibsonburg, Ohio. The family lived in Washington, Riley and Townsend Townships until 1900, when removal was made to Eaton County, Michigan, where Mrs. Gilbert and one daughter still reside. George Gilbert died at Charlotte, Michigan, November 22, 1901. There were four children in his family, namely : Frank H., of Vickery ; Zeldon, of Clyde; Burd, now deceased ; and Maude, wife of Glenn McCreery, of Charlotte, Michigan. Frank H. Gilbert spent his boyhood on the home farm in Riley and Townsend Townships, attending the district schools and assisting his father. After his marriage he rented a farm and continued to operate it until he embarked in his present business at Vickery. He bought land and erected his comfortable home and commodious shop. On February 14, 1899, Mr. Gilbert was married to Miss Edna Daniels, and they have two children : Pearl, who was born in August, 1902 ; and Burd, who was born in December, 1904. Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert attend and support the Methodist Episcopal Church at Vickery. 882 - HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY In his political sentiment he has always been a Republican, never, however, having consented to accept public office. GEORGE SLESSMAN, who, for the past thirty-two years has been a large shipper of stock, is one of the representative business men of Clyde, Ohio, and is the senior member of the firm of Comstock & Slessman, dealers and shippers of grain and produce and manufacturers of the celebrated Clyde sauerkraut. Mr. Slessman was born in Adams Township, Seneca County, Ohio, June 27, 1853, and is a son of John M. and Mary (Freymoth) Slessman. The parents of Mr. Slessman, who were born in Germany, came to the United States in youth and were married in Huron County, Ohio. The father secured land in Seneca County, where he engaged in farming and also followed his trade of wagon-making. John M. Slessman died there in 1862 and his wife in 1905. They were the parents of eight children, the youngest of the family being George. George Slessman was educated in the public schools and was reared to manhood on the home farm. After his marriage he conducted farming operations on the old Slessman homestead for nine years. He then purchased a farm in Sandusky County, a mile south of the village of Clyde, where he operated a meat market for eight years. Then selling his other interests, he went into the stock and grain business at Clyde, which he Still conducts. Mr. Slessman has been an active politician and earnest citizen. In November, 1893, he was elected sheriff of Sandusky County and reelected in 1895 and served two terms with the greatest efficiency in an office which carries great responsibilities with it. He is a member of the Lutheran Church. Mr. Slessman was married in 1872, to Miss Clara E. Whiteman. who was born October 16, 1852, a daughter of A. G. and Mary (Myers) Whiteman, the former of whom was born in 1808, in Ohio, and the latter in 1811, in Virginia. Both are deceased. They were consistent members of the Free Will Baptist Church. Mr. and Mrs. Slessman have the following children : Lena, Allen, Martin, Frank, Mary, Charles and Leta. Mr. Slessman is a member of the Knights of Pythias, the Knights of Honor and the Royal Arcanum. WILLIAM H. BACON, for many years a resident of Clyde, Ohio,, was born in the great city of London, England, June 24, 1833, and is a son of Benjamin and Mary (Oliver) Bacon. The parents of Mr. Bacon were also born in London and it is said that the mother could trace her ancestry back to Oliver Cromwell. Four children were born to Benjamin and Mary Bacon, namely : 'William H. ; Benjamin and James, both of whom are deceased; and Sarah, who is the widow of L. Emmerson. Benjamin Bacon prospered in his business and became a man of means. However, this prosperity was brought to a sudden end when fire devoured his possessions and left him practically a poor man, with a family to provide for. He saw no possible way in which to accomplish this in his old surroundings, where competition was even then fierce, but he remembered the stories he had heard of the roiling prairies and teeming forests of the land across the sea which was awaiting- those who would take possession. As soon as the personal belongings could be collected and transportation secured, the little family embarked for America, in 1848, arriving at Portland, now Sandusky City, Ohio, on the fifth of the following November. after a voyage in a sailing vessel of thirty days. Fresh from his counting room and mercantile desk, Benjamin Bacon was but little prepared for the hardships he encountered when he took possession of the land he secured in Townsend Township and he soon succumbed. His widow, on the other hand, lived to the unusual age of ninety-two years. William H. Bacon was fifteen vears old when the family came to Townsend Township and for a couple of years he did his best at farm work, for which he had neither taste, training nor strength. In 1852 he came to Clyde and on the second of March entered the employ of P. B. Beery, a dry goods merchant, and continued there until 1857, gaining a fair AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 883 knowledge of this line of business. In 1859, in association with his brother Benjamin, he embarked in the dry goods line and the business was conducted under the firm name of Bacon Brothers, until 1866. For one year he remained out of business, attending to other interests, but in 1867 he again entered into mercantile life and conducted his store until 1884. After retiring from this enterprise he went to the West and remained there until 1889, when he returned to Clyde and resumed merchandising and after a prosperous period of twenty years, definitely retired January 6, 1909, his son, Homer M., assuming the responsibilities. Mr. Bacon was married December 27, 1858, to Miss Mary Persing, a daughter of Mathias Persing, one of Green Creek's pioneers, and the children they reared were as follows : Fred P., who married Louisa Ott ; Homer N., who married Belle Mann ; George, who married Cora Henry ; Will H., who died December 9, 1907; Gertrude, who died aged three years ; and May, who is the wife of William Karling. The death of Will H. Bacon, of the above family, was a domestic affliction of more than the usual severity. He completed the High School course and then entered the Ohio Wesleyan College at Delaware, where he graduated with the class of 1903. He then read law in the office of the law firm of Rechards & Haffner and in 1905 he was admitted to the Sandusky bar and a brilliant career was predicted for him. He left a wide circle of mourning friends who admired him for his talents and loved him for his personal attributes. In politics, Mr. Bacon is a stanch. Republican, but has not been willing to accept public office, with the exception of membership on the School Board. Since July 8, 1858, he has been identified with the Masonic fraternity, and in this connection is probably known all over Ohio. FRED A. VICKERY, township trustee of York Township and also president of the township school board, resides on his well cultivated farm of forty-eight and one-half acres, which is situated near Colby. He was born on his father's farm, situated three-fourths of a mile east of his property, in York Township, Sandusky County, Ohio, May 7, 1870, and is a son of Richard and Jane (Kingdon) Vickery. The parents of Mr. Vickery were born in England, where they were reared and married, and they remained there until after the birth of three of their eight children. After coming to America they settled in York Township, Sandusky County, Ohio, where the father still lives. The mother died in 1898. Their children were as follows : Lizzie, now deceased, who was the wife of R. H. Benfer ; Mary, now deceased, who was the wife of Joseph Swartz ; Emma, who is the wife of David Joseph, of Colby ; Richard, who lives on his farm of 195 acres, north of Colby ; Theresa, who married Milton Billman, who owns fifty acres at Colby; Ella, who married Frank Dymond and resides on the old homestead with her father ; John, who is a commission merchant at Columbus ; and Fred A. Fred A. Vickery was reared in York Township, where he attended school through boyhood ; he later took a course at the Normal School at Ada. He began to teach school whet eighteen years old and taught for eleven consecutive winters, nine of them in York Township, one in Erie County, Ohio, and one in Seneca County, Ohio. His summers were devoted to farm work and he remained at home until he was twenty-one years of age. For about a year and a half he then worked for other farmers by the day, after which he rented a farm north of Bellevue, where he remained eight years. Then for two years he operated the home farm and then worked for one year-in the elevator at Bellevue. Thus, before he finally purchased his present farm, in 1903, Mr. Vickery had proved his industry and efficiency in various lines. After coming to this place he built the house and remodeled the barn and put all his surroundings in good shape. He engages in general farming and makes a specialty of raising corn and cabbage. Mr. Vickery married Miss Hattie Nearhood, a daughter of Nathanial and Susan (Heimbauch) Nearhood. Mrs. Vickery was born and reared in York Township, where her fam- 884 - HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY ily is well known. They have had three children, namely: Earl, who died when aged eleven weeks; Carl and Alice, who are both bright students at school. Mr. Vickery and wife are members of the United Brethren Church at Mt. Carmel and for several years he has been superintendent of the Sunday-school. In politics, Mr. Vickery is a prominent Republican in this section. He is serving in his third year as township trustee and for four years has been a member of the school board and for two years has been president of this useful body. ROBERT BASIL MEEK, M. D., son of Basil and Martha E. (Anderson) Meek, was born at Clyde, Sandusky County, Ohio, January 14, 1869. His paternal ancestry is given in the sketch of his father. On his mother's side he is of Scotch descent. The Andersons were Covenanters, and during the persecutions waged against their faith in Scotland they emigrated to the north of Ireland. From here David Anderson, the great ancestor of this family line, about the year 1740, with a colony of Scotch Presbyterians, who brought with them a minister and schoolmaster, came to this country and settled first in Massachusetts ; later in Lawrence County, N. Y. Among his children was a son named John, then a small boy, who here grew to manhood and married Elizabeth McCracken, who also was of this colony. John Anderson had five sons—David, Samuel, Joseph, James and John—all of whom were soldiers of the Revolutionary War, fighting for their country. James Anderson married Betsy Dodge, and several children were born to them, one being, Alvin Anderson, who married Harriet Baldwin. Among the children of Alvin Anderson was Martha E. Anderson, who married Basil Meek, and is the mother of the subject of this sketch, Robert B., who, when he was ten years old, moved with his parents to Fremont, Ohio, where he completed his elementary and high-school education. In 1887, while his father was postmaster at this place, he was appointed first assistant, and served as such until September, 1890, rendering very efficient and satisfactory service to the public, among whom he was universally popular. During 1890-91 he pursued a scientific course at Adelbert College, Cleveland, Ohio, preparatory to entering upon the study of medicine. In 1891 he entered the Western Reserve Medical College at Cleveland, where he remained two years; then became a student in Wooster Medical College, in that city, taking his senior course therein and graduating in the spring of 1894. During his three years' course in the medical college he spent his vacations in the office of his able and skillful preceptor, William Caldwell, M. D., of Fremont. In the summer of 1894 Dr. Meek opened an office in Fremont and entered upon the practice of his profession. In the spring of 1895 he was chosen one of the city physicians of the board of health. He is a member of the Northwestern Ohio Medical Association, The Sandusky County Medical Society and The Ohio State Medical Association. In 1895 Dr. Meek went to Europe, where he took a post graduate course in Vienna. Austria, after visiting the leading colleges and hospitals in London, Hamburg, Berlin and Paris. In 1896 he returned to America after his studies abroad and resumed his practice of medicine in Fremont, Ohio. He has not only been successful in medicine but also in surgery. He was for many years, surgeon to the L. S. & M. S. Railroad Company and is now surgeon of the Lake Shore Electric Railroad Company, besides being examiner for many prominent insurance companies. Dr. R. B. Meek and his estimable wife and daughter. Helen, reside at 1126 Birchard Avenue. Dr. Meek assisted Dr. M. Stamm in performing successfully the first gastrostomy operation ever performed. This operation is now being done by all the leading surgeons of the world, resulting in great benefit to humanity, prolonging life in cases of cancer and other growths in the upper part of the stomachs of the afflicted. LEVI SWOPE. a prosperous general farmer, residing on his fine land situated in Section 32, Scott Township, where he owns loo acres, was born in Jackson Township, Seneca AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 885 County, Ohio, January 6, 1864. His parents were Noah and Katherine (Byers) Swope, both now deceased. In his boyhood, the parents of Mr. Swope moved to Scott Township, Sandusky County, and there he went to school. He helped his father clear up the farm and make many of the improvements, these including the thorough draining of the land and the building of the substantial barn. Mr. Swope continued to live on the farm after his own marriage, his parents moving to Rising Sun. He built the present comfortable farm house and has made other improvements. He has six producing oil wells on his land and in all his work he makes use of modern machinery and up-to-date methods. On December 23, 1887, Mr. Swope was married to Miss Minnie Smeed, a slaughter of Summer and Nancy Smeed, and they have four children, Verna, Homer, Olive and Ralph. As the children have grown to school age, Mr. Swope has given them advantages. He has taken much interest in the educational affairs of his district and has been a member of the school board for ten years. He is identified with the Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias at Rising Sun and has passed all the chairs in these orders and he belongs also to the lodge of Rebeccas, as does his wife. Mr. Swope is a representative citizen of. his township. MRS. LOVINA HITT WELCH, residing in her beautiful residence, on her large estate in York Township, situated on the Maumee and Western Reserve Turnpike Road, about one and one-half miles west of the center of Bellevue, Ohio, was born on this farm on January 17, 1845. Her parents were Seneca and Mahala (Stafford) Hitt. Seneca Hitt and wife were both born in Rutland County, Vermont. They were reared, educated and married there and shortly after their wedding, in 1837, they took up their residence in York Township, Sandusky County, Ohio. Seneca Hitt came first to this section in 1836, and with his cousin, Henry Nichols, purchased the present farm of Mrs. Welch, Which contained 126 acres. After building a house on the land, Mr. Hitt returned to Vermont and was married. Several years later, he bought his cousin's interest and he and his wife passed the remainder of their lives here. Seneca Hitt was a man of high standing in his community and for many years he served as township clerk. He had been born into a Quaker family and never gave up his birthright. His death occurred January 17, 1872, and he was survived by his widow until June 21, 1884. To him and his wife were born four children, Mary E., Adelia, Lovina and Seneca D. Mary E. for almost twenty-five years was a teacher in the Fremont public schools. In 1871 she marrieJ Silas Wood, but was left a widow in the following year. Later she was married to Hon. L. G. Ely, 'then of Fulton County, Ohio, but they now are residents of West Unity, Williams County, Ohio. Adelia, who died in 1883, at Dundee, Michigan, was the wife of George H. Mugg, then of York Township, who later passed away at Dundee, Michigan. The one son died in infancy. Lovina Hitt grew to attractive young womanhood in the shelter of her father's home and attended the country schools and later the schools of Bellevue, Ohio, qualifying herself for 'teaching. Later she took up educational work and for seven years enjoyed the duties of the school room, teaching both the district schools and in the graded schools of Bellevue and Milan. In October, 1867, she was married to Charles H. Welch. He was born in Lyme Township, Huron County, Ohio, November 15, 1839, and was a son of Ebenezer and Mary Lovina (Hubbell) Welch. Reared and educated in Huron County, he became a prominent fruit grower there. He was a member of the firm of Long & Welch, which, in 1857, set out the first peach orchard in this section. He was prospering in business when the country was convulsed by the outbreak of the great Civil War. At Bellevue, Ohio, in 1861, he enlisted as a private in Company A, 55th 0. Vol. Inf., and continued in the service until the close of the war. He was a member of the regimental band. His record as a soldier reflects honor on him and for a number of years he was a leading member of the C. B. Gambee 886 - HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY Post, G. A. R., at Bellevue. After the close of his military career, he returned to York Township and resided on the Hitt farm, where he was engaged to attend to the fruit orchards and later, as stated above, he was married to Miss Lovina Hitt. To this marriage four children were born, namely : Alice R., who died in 1895, aged twenty-seven years; Mahala, who is the wife of Joseph L. Royer, and occupies a residence on the west side of the home farm (they have had five children—Lewis, Gladys, Lloyd, Florence, and an infant, the last named and Gladys being deceased) ; Adelia, who is the wife of John F. Collins, and resides near Mrs. Welch while he is in business at Bellevue, and who has had two children—Robert W., who died in 1905, and Mary L.; and Charles H., who manages his mother's property, and resides with her with his family. He married Gertrude Neff, of Bellevue, and they have two children—Raymond and Helen. Mrs. Welch erected her imposing brick residence in 1906. It is one of the fine rural homes of York Township. In his political views, Mr. Welch was a Republican. He was frequently urged to accept public office, but consented only to serve as township clerk, a position he filled for fifteen consecutive years. He was a man of sterling character and when his death took place on April 5, 18.97, it was felt that York Township had lost one of her most valuable citizens. BURTON BEEBE, general farmer and a notary public, residing on the old Beebe homestead in Townsend Township, and also owner of a valuable estate of 147 acres, situated in Townsend Township, is a leading citizen of this section of Sandusky County. He was born July 11, 1849, in Riley Township, Sandusky County, Ohio, and is a son of William and Jane E. (Tuttle) Beebe. The Beebe family is one of the oldest in Sandusky County and traces its name back to Adonijah Beebe, who came to Ontario County, New York, from one of the New England States about the close of the Revolutionary War. He had three children. Richard, Diadama and Azariab. Azariah Beebe was the founder of the family, in Sandusky County. He. was born January 28,. 1783, supposedly in Ontario County, New York, and in 1806 he married Mary Ryon of New London, Connecticut. They came to Ohio between 1808 and 1810 and settled at Black River, now Lorain,. moving from there to Vermilion, Erie County, about 1813. They then moved to Huron County and finally located in Sandusky County, where Mr. Beebe bought eighty acres of Government land in Townsend Township. This land, which was purchased in 1824, is still in the family name and is owned by Harriet R. Beebe, a daughter, who, now a venerable lady, continues to reside on it. Azariah Beebe died on this farm December 12, 1834. His widow survived many years, dying December 11, 1864. They were the parents of the following children : Diaclama, Almira, William, Harriet R., James, Aaron, Enoch and Ethan A. Diaclama was born January 15, 1808 and died December 4, 1890. She was married to Isaac Wood and after his death to Henry Snow and then moved to Townsend Township. Almira was born September 18, 1810. and died August 27, 1841. She married Carnahan McCord and they lived in Kansas. William was born July 13, 1812, at Vermilion, Ohio, and died in Riley Township, Sandusky County, March 23, 1859. Harriet R. was born March 12, 1819. and has passed her ninetieth birthday. James was born August 28, 1816, at Huron, Ohio, and died May 19. 1893, in Townsend Township, Sandusky County. Aaron died October 6, 1840, at the age of eighteen years. Enoch was born February 17, 1825, in Huron, Ohio, and died August 7, 1894. Ethan A. was born March 17, 1826, and still resides in Townsend Township. William Beebe, the eldest son of Azariah Beebe, married Jane E. Tuttle in 1847 and became a resident of Riley Township, San. dusky County. He purchased a tract of land, which he improved, and there he lived until the close of his life. His family contained six children, namely : Aaron, who died in infancy ; Burton, who resides in Townsend Township ; Myra. who is the wife of Luther Gibbs of Riley Township ; Susan, now de- HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY - 889 ceased, who was the wife of David Worman of Vickery, Ohio ; William, who resides in Michigan, married Lavina Jones; and Jane Emily, who is the wife of Burton Gibbs, residing at Clyde. William Beebe was active in the affairs of his township, at various times holding positions of trust and once was township treasurer. He was one of the old-time Whigs, later took part in the Know-Nothing movement, was in sympathy with the radical thinkers of the day and readily lent his influence to the organization of what is now known as the Republican party. He was a man of high motives and of unstained private life. Burton Beebe grew to manhood on his father's farm and began his own business career as a school teacher, but after six terms of educational work he turned his attention to farming, moving then to Townsend Township. Since 1874 he has made his home with his venerable aunt, Miss Harriet R. Beebe, on the old homestead, which he conducts in his aunt's interest, together with his own large farm, making his agricultural activities extensive. For twenty-five continuous years, Mr. Beebe has been a notary public. He has been quite active in township affairs. He was elected township assessor on the Democratic ticket, then town clerk on the Republican ticket, both elections being more tests of his personal popularity than of party action, and during late years he has been affiliated with the Prohibition party. Mr. Beebe has never married. C. F. ZIMMERMAN, who carries on general farming on his estate of ninety acres, situated in Section 34, Scott Township, Sandusky County, Ohio, and also largely interested in oil production, was born in this township, February I I, 1869, and is a son of Josiah and Elsie (Brion) Zimmerman. After he completed his school attendance in Scott Township, Mr. Zimmerman went into the saw-mill business, in which he is still interested, and when he married he bought a home in the village of Squires, where he resided with his family until 19o8, when he sold out and bought the homestead farm of his father. He cleared about twenty acres of this land, has underdrained about half of 'the farm and has ten acres in second-growth timber. He devotes twenty acres to the growing of wheat, forty to corn, twenty to oats, twenty-five to hay and four to buckwheat. He also manages his mother's and sister's farm of eighty-three acres. Mr. Zimmerman put up all the substantial buildings on his property and has completed a fine new barn. He has been interested in the oil business for a number of years, has a seventy-five-acre lease in Seneca County, owning one-half of it, and has leased thirty acres which formerly belonged to 'the old homestead, having fifteen oil wells already drilled. He has other investments and is a stockholder in the Rising Sun Bank at Rising Sun. On December 3, 1890, Mr. Zimmerman was married to Miss R. C. Shupe, a daughter of William L. and Nancy Shupe, and they have five children, Melvin, Chloe, Hertha, Fay and Jay. As his children have grown old enough, Mr. Zimmerman has given them school advantages. In politics he is a Republican and he served one term on the school board of Scott Township. He is an able, intelligent man, well qualified for public office, but his business interests are so many that his time is too fully occupied to permit him to take other responsibilities at present. ZENO T. BRUSH, general farmer and prominent citizen of Townsend Township, belongs to one of the old and substantial families of this section. He was born on the, old homestead farm on which he lives, in Townsend Township, Sandusky County, Ohio, October 18, 1842, and is a son of Zopher P. and Almira (Tibbles) Brush. Zopher P. Brush came to Sandusky County from New York State in 1839 and settled first in Castalia. In 1841 he came to Townsend Township and bought the present homestead of eighty acres, from the Tibbles estate, formerly the Ethan Townsend farm, after whom the township is named. Ethan Townsend erected the first frame barn in the township on this farm, and it is still standing. Zopher P. Brush died September 6, 1905, aged seventy-nine 890 - HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY years. He had been a justice of the peace for twenty-five years and during his life here had held many other offices of responsibility. His widow still survives and resides on the homestead. He was married on October 1o, 1841, to Almira Tibbles, daughter of Zeno Tibbles, of Huron, now Erie County, and they had six children born to them, as follows : Zeno T.; Joseph B., who died in Iowa, December 24, 'goo; Mildred N., who resides in Seneca, Kansas; Margaret, who died November 14, 1865; James E., who died December 17, 1887; and Allie, who died December 20, 1886. Zeno T. Brush was educated in the district schools and became a school-teacher and was engaged in educational work when the Civil War broke out. August 7, 1862, he enlisted at Fremont, Ohio, in the Tooth Regt., 0. Vol. Inf., and was mustered into the United States service at Toledo, Ohio, by Capt. C. 0. Howard, Eighteenth Regt., U. S. Inf. He was appointed second sergeant August 20, 1862; appointed first sergeant, November 17, 1862; was commissioned second lieutenant, January 24, 1863 ; commissioned first lieutenant, commission to date from January 18, 1863 ; was commissioned captain to date from January 2, 1864, until discharge, May i6, 1865. He was captured at Limestone Station, Tennessee, September 8, 1863, and was a prisoner of war one year, five months, and twenty-three days, spending about eight months of this time in Libby prison. After the war Mr. Brush returned to Ohio and resumed school-teaching and later went to Missouri, where he combined teaching and farming until 1875. In that year he came back to Sandusky County and for the following fifteen years was employed as a traveling salesman. In 1891 he returned to the homestead farm and since then has given his exclusive attention to agricultural pursuits. Mr. Brush was married (first) in 1866, to Miss Clara. E. Laughlin, of Berlin, Erie County, Ohio, who died in Missouri, August 21, 1875. They had one daughter, Myrtle, who married W. J. Ballard and resides in Townsend Township. Mr. Brush was married (second) in 1880, to Miss Agnes Green, a daughter of Charles Green, of Erie County. Mr. and Mrs. Brush attend the North Ridge Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics he is a Democrat and on numerous occasions he has been elected to office and has served most efficiently. For a number of years he has been identified with the Masonic fraternity. JOSEPH BRUNNER, justice of the peace and prominent citizen of Rice Township, resides on his valuable farm of I10 acres, situated in Section 27. which he developed himself out of its wild state. He is a man of thrift, enterprise and public spirit and is well and widely known. He was born in Alsace, France, before that beautiful province became, through the fortunes of war, a part of the German Empire. His parents were Morand and Catherine Brunner and both are now deceased. Mr. Brunner was ten years old when he accompanied his parents to America and directly to Sandusky County. He remained at home with them, at Fremont, until he was sixteen years of age. when he started out to take care of himself. He became a sailor and for seventeen years spent his time on the sea, voyaging across both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and seeing strange sights in many lands. He led a more or less adventurous life for many years. During the Civil War, in 1862. he became a member of a military organization, called the "Squirrel Hunters," and was stationed in Kentucky with the same. After his discharge from this service he sailed around the world. returning in time to enter the naval service in the quartermaster's branch and was present at the capture of Wilmington, North Carolina, and capture of Fort Fisher. He aided in furnishing rations and other relief to the liberated prisoners at Wilmington. June 5, 1865, he was honorably discharged from this service and again became a sailor and sailed around the world. Mr. Brunner's family contains three marine engineers, two school teachers, one drygoods salesman, two farmers and one hospital nurse. Mr. Brunner's agricultural life began when he settled on his present farm in 1874. At that time wild conditions prevailed in Rice Township and on many occasions he found deer in AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 891 the vicinity of his land. It took years of hard and persistent work to bring about the excellent state in which his land now is and he continues its improvement. Extensive travel broadened his views on many subjects and he has been useful 'to his township in many ways. For a number of years he has served in the office of justice of the peace, his decisions covering a multitude of legal points, and few of these have ever been overturned. In 1900 he served as land appraiser of Rice Township. On November 26, 1872, Mr. Brunner was married to Miss Elizabeth Hurley, a daughter of the late Thomas Hurley, of Fremont. She died November 26, 1904. To Mr. and Mrs. Brunner were born the following children : Thomas, Jay, John, George, Edmond, Paul, Jenna, Helena and Mary. The last named is a trained nurse in a Cleveland hospital. The second son, Jay Brunner, is serving in the office of clerk of Rice Township. During boyhood, Mr. Brunner attended the Fremont schools and while at sea made a special study of navigation. He has always given liberal support to the public schools and has lent his influence to every movement designed to advance the material interests and the comfort and prosperity of his section. Z. C. GARN, a member of the board of directors of the Helena Banking Company, at Helena, Ohio, of which pleasant town he has been a resident since 1896, owns valuable farm and oil property in Jackson Township, together with improved realty in Helena. He was born in 1854, in Jackson Township, Sandusky County, Ohio, and is a son of Martin and Catherine (Croyle) Garn. The parents of Mr. Garn were natives of Bedford County, Pennsylvania, where the father was born February 17, 1818, and the mother, May 4, 1820. They were married in 1839 and in 'the fall of the same year started in a strong farm wagon, with their possessions, for Sandusky County. Martin Garn took up 160 acres of State land in Jackson Township, establishing it as his home and making the clearing, cultivating and improving of this land his business through life. He died July 3, 189o, the death of his wife following on September 30, 1898. They had seven children, namely : Thomas, Ephraim, Edman, Tidus, Chauncy, Jesse and Z. C. Z. C. Garn spent two years of his student life at Oberlin College, after which he engaged in school teaching in Jackson and Washington. Townships for several years, prior to his marriage. In 1883 he purchased forty acres of the' old homestead, situated east of Helena, and continued to reside on his farm, engaged in farming and in oil producing, having five wells on his land, until 1896, when he moved to his handsome residence at Helena, one of the best in the town. For a number of years he was as a partner in the Imler Garn & Company firm, oil producers. Mr. Garn recognized as a man of fine business capacity and is also an example of the enterprising and progressive citizen. Mr. Garn married Miss Jennie Ickes, who is a daughter of Michael and Hannah Ickes,. of Jackson Township, and 'they have two children, Orville and Royal. Orville Garn was born December 11, 1878, and is a graduate of-the Davis Business College, at Toledo, of which city he is a resident. He married Miss Emma Carnican and they have one son, Lewis Zachariah. Royal Garn was born September 27, 1883, and resides at Helena, Ohio. He also is a graduate of the Davis Business College, at Toledo. He married Miss Pearl Conningham and they have one child, Opal. GEORGE J. BLOOM, one of Sandusky County's highly esteemed retired citizens, who was successfully engaged in farming and stock raising for many years and still owns a large' amount of rich farming land in Ballville Township, was born November 25, 1836, in Baden, Germany. He is a son of Jacob and Barbara. (Florien) Bloom, and a grandson of Joseph Florien, a German pioneer in Sandusky County, whose death occurred in this county at the advanced age of one hundred and one years. The parents of Mr. Bloom emigrated to America in 1854, coming almost immediately to Sandusky County, Ohio, and settling on a farm of forty acres, in Ballville Township. Jacob Bloom died there, July 2, 1883, his wife 892 - HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY having previously passed away. To Jacob and Barbara Bloom were born the following children: Jacob, William, George J., Barbara and Mary. George J. Bloom was eighteen years of age when he accompanied his parents to America and to Sandusky County. He had attended school in his native land and had there learned the barber's trade. After the family was safely established in Ballville Township he assisted his father in the clearing up of the land and decided to devote himself to agricultural pursuits rather than go to some town or village and work at his trade. He met with great success in cultivating land and raising stock and accumulated an ample fortune. In order to give his children educational advantages better than could be secured in a country school, in 1892, Mr. Bloom moved to Fremont, but city life had little attraction for one who had always lived in the country and in 1895 he again took up his residence in Ballville Township, where he expects to spend the remainder of his days. Mr. Bloom was married February 18, 1863, to Miss Annie Coleman, who is a daughter of Frederick and Marie (Stratman) Coleman. She was born February 2, 1841, in Hanover, Germany, and was brought to America by her parents in 1845 and was reared near Woodville, Ohio. Their children were Caroline, Amelia, Mary, Barbara, Anna, George W., Ida and Charles. Caroline, wife of Charles Martin, has children—Ralph, Blanche, Vinnie, Mabel, Iva, Walter, Irene and Velma. Amelia is the wife of Oscar Lemmon and her children are Edward and Hazel. Mary is the wife of Dr. D. W. Philo, of Woodville. Barbara is the wife of Henry Vickery and has one child, Beldon. Anna is the wife of C. Y. James, of Genoa, and has one child, Arthur. George W. is auditor of Sandusky County and for many years has been a prominent educator. He married Mollie E.. Loose and has two children, Melvin and Myron. Ida resides at home. Charles also prefers to remain on the farm and is successful in his chosen vocation. In politics Mr. Bloom may be styled independent. He has little patience with hide bound partisans and believes that party lines should be broken down, especially in local affairs, and competent men elected to fill responsible positions. Both he and estimable wife were reared by worthy parents, in the Lutheran Church. They are Christian people recognizing in the fullest sense the brotherhood of man and the fatherhood of God. JOHN W. FLICKINGER, who has earned some bread and a little salt as a newspaper laborer, was the publisher of the "Clyde Enterprise" at Clyde, Ohio, from January 10, 1901, to September 11, 1909. He was born at Dayton, Ohio, January 17, 1864, and is a son of Rev. D. K. and Susan (Woolsey) Flickinger. Rev. D. K. Flickinger was born in Butler County, Ohio. and in earlv life entered the ministry in the United Brethren Church. He was one of the pioneer workers in the African missions, and visited Africa upon a dozen different occasions. He also visited England and Germany in connection with his work. He established a manual training school in Africa, and in his endeavors there accomplished a wonderful amount of good. After sixty years in church work he retired from activity to enjoy a well earned rest. He is the author of "Fifty Years in the Ministry," and other church publications. He was married in Africa to Miss Susan Woolsey, an American missionary, in that country. By a former marriage, Rev. Flickinger was the father of Samuel J., who has had a wide experience in the field of journalism and who was private secretary to Governor Harris of Ohio ; also of Lintner Flickinger, whose widow and four children are residents of Denver, Colorado. The African marriage was blessed with six children, all of whom were born in Ohio. They are: Mary C., wife of George Rothrock, who lives in Indianapolis, Indiana ; Sarah J., deceased, who was the wife of C. P. Williams; Nellie, wife of H. H. Myers, of Winona Lake, Indiana; Elmer E., state agent of the John Hancock Life Insurance Company, in Indiana, whose home is in Indianapolis; John William, AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 893 whose name heads this record ; and Charles, who died at the age of nine years. John W. Flickinger was but a small child when taken to live at Willoughby, Lake County, Ohio, where he attended the grade and high schools. After his graduation from the latter in 1880, he entered Otterbein University, at Westerville, Ohio, from which he was graduated in 1884 after a four year course. After spending a short time in the State of California, he became a reporter on the "Ohio State Journal," at Columbus, Ohio, his first assignment being to report a speech of the late Gen. Rutherford B. Hayes at the Ohio State University, of which institution he was a trustee for many years and whose life, after retiring from the White House, was devoted largely to the cause of education. The subject of this sketch continued in newspaper work in Columbus for about fifteen years. He served in various capacities and, as legislative correspondent, he gained a wide acquaintance with the public men of Ohio during the administrations of Campbell, McKinley and Bushnell. During the presidential campaign of 1900, he was with the press bureau at state headquarters in Columbus, under Hon. S. S. Knabenshue. In January, 1901, he purchased the "Clyde Enterprise" from Mr. B. F. Jackson, to whom he recently sold it. It is a newsy publication and is devoted 'to the interests of the Republican party. October 17, 1897, Mr. Flickinger was married to Miss Ethel Campbell, a daughter of J. C. Campbell, of Lake County, Ohio. They resided in Clyde about nine years. They have four children : Yie, Bee, Fern and John Campbell Flickinger. Fraternally, Mr. Flickinger is affiliated with the order of Masons, and the Knights of Pythias. CHILDS BROTHERS, clothiers, proprietors of one of the largest establishments in this line, at Fremont, with place of business on South Front Street, are members of one of the old pioneer families of Ohio and are the successors of their father, the late James B. Childs, who founded the business in 1893. The present firm is made up of Thomas and Walter Childs. The paternal great-grandfather, Walter Childs, was a stockman and trader and traveled all through the Western Reserve buying various commodities, dealing especially in furs. In 1802 he traded land that he owned in Alexandria, Virginia, for the site of the present city of Wooster, Ohio, and established his home in Wayne County, coming with his possessions in a wagon drawn by oxen. His trade was that of hatmaker but after he came to Ohio he bought furs, maple syrup, etc., and also horses, taking his purchases to New York for sale. He started into a mercantile business when Wooster was little more than an Indian trading post and his descendants have shown the same commercial instincts. His son, William T. Childs, was born at Wooster, in 1804, and he also was a trader. James B. Childs was born at Wooster and in the course of years engaged in a clothing business there. In 1893 he founded the business at Fremont and continued to be engaged in it until his death, in 1902. He was married at Wooster to Elinor Kammarer and six of their nine children are yet living, namely, Robert, William, James, Thomas, Walter and Clarence, all of whom were born at Wooster. In 1889 Thomas and Walter Childs accompanied their parents to Fremont and the father continued his business as a traveling clothing salesman until 1893. These sons were practically reared in the business and assumed its responsibilities and established the firm name, on the death of the father. Walter Childs was married to Miss Jessie S. Smith, who died March 12, 1908, leaving three children, Alice, Jessie and Walter, the latter of whom has since died. Walter Childs is a member of the Masons, the Modern Woodmen and the Protective Legion. Thomas Childs is identified with a Masonic lodge at Syracuse, New York. He is unmarried. JACOB B. KING, residing on his valuable farm of 141 acres, which lies in Ballville Township along the Tiffin road, was born in Jackson Township, Sandusky County, Ohio, No- 894 - HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY vember 6, 1856, and is a son of John and Mary (Mowery) King. John King was born in Perry County, Ohio, in 1819, and died in Sandusky County, in 1899. His wife was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, in 1822, and died in 1891. They had the following children : Catherine, deceased, who was the wife of Valentine Mowser, also now deceased ; Mary, who was the second wife of the late Valentine Mowser, resides in Allen County, Ohio; George, who married Mary J. Ludwick, of Delphos, Ohio; Sarah, who married Jacob Mowery, and lives in Michigan; Elizabeth, deceased, who was the wife of David Roberts ; Lydia, who married William Slates, and lives in Michigan ; John, who married Carrie Humlock, and lives in Ballville Township; Jacob B. ; Elmira, who married John Seafores, lives in Michigan ; and Perry, residing at Lansing, Michigan, who married Sarah Humlock. Jacob B. King continued to live in his native township until he was twenty years of age. securing a good public school education in the meanwhile, and assisting on the home farm. In 1875 he accompanied his parents to Ballville Township, at which time his father bought the farm on which John King now resides, and also acquired other land. In 1881, Jacob B. King purchased his present farm from his father. It was formerly known as the old Emmerson place. When Mr. King took possession he immediately started to improve in every direction and has spent a large amount in placing the property in its present fine condition. His surroundings give evidence of good management, thrift and prosperity and the large brick residence is one of the best country homes in this section. Mr. King engages in general farming, raising grain, hay, fruit and stock. On April 3, 1884, at Elida, Ohio, Mr. King was married to Miss Freeda Crites. a daughter of Charles and Sophia (Ludwick) Crites. They have two children, Omar Crites and Charles De Witt. The former was born in 1885. His education has been a liberal one, due attention being given to his unusual talent in artistic work, and includes educational courses in the Fremont schools, the Actual Business College of Fremont, the Ohio State University, at Ada, Ohio, and at Valparaiso, Indiana. The second son, Charles D., was born November 17, 1889, and has pursued his studies in the Fremont public schools and the Actual Business College. Mr. King and family belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church. GEORGE W. BLOOM, auditor of Sandusky County, Ohio, is a well known and popular citizen, for a number of years haying been engaged in educational work before he accepted his present responsible office. Mr. Bloom was born April 19, 1875, in Ottawa County, Ohio, and is a son of George J. and Annie (Coleman) Bloom. The Bloom family. was established in Sandusky County by the grandparents of George W., as early as 1854. They were Jacob and Barbara (Florien) Bloom, natives of Baden, Germany. In that section of Germany, on November 25, 1836, George J. Bloom, father of George W., was born, and he was 18 years of age when he accompanied his parents to Sandusky County. He assisted his father to clear up the farm and converted much of the timber into potash, engaging in this industry until the land was cleared. Later he acquired a large amount of farm land in Ballville Township and for a number of years was a leading, agriculturist. He now lives retired. He married Annie Coleman, and they had eight children. George W. being the sixth in order of birth. George W. Bloom was reared on his father's farm and before his parents moved to Fremont, in 1892, he attended the country schools. He then entered the high school, where he was creditably graduated in 1895 and almost immediately began to teach. He continued to devote the winter seasons for some years to teaching, but spent his summers in healthful work on the home farm. Thus about eight years passed away teaching country school and farming, and during this time Mr. Bloom became well and favorably known. He also served three years as principal of an east side school in Fremont, resigning in 1908 to accept the superintendency of his home township and also Riley Township school. In politics he is a liberal Republican and is something of a leader Business College, of Fremont, the Ohio State in party councils in this section. In the fall HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY - 897 of 1908 his friends urged him to make the race for the responsible office of county auditor and although Bryan carried Sandusky County by a majority of 1167 votes over Taft, Mr. Bloom was elected on the Republican ticket, receiving a majority of 155 votes over his opponent. Mr. Bloom married Miss Mollie E. Loose, who is a daughter of George Loose, who resides near Bellevue, and they have two children, George Melvin and Myron Ward. The pleasant family home is situated at No. 723 East State Street, Fremont. Mr. and Mrs. Bloom are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is identified with the Knights of Pythias. GEORGE W. KING, who has served for nine consecutive years as a justice of the peace, in Rice Township, resides on his valuable farm of 146 acres, which is situated in Section 32, to which he came in 1864. He owns also a tract of twenty-one acres in Washington Township. He was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, September 25, 1840, and is a son of Peter and Mary (Shoemaker) King. The King family is of German extraction, but for generations has been essentially American. The great-grandfather, John King, was born in Virginia and from there went to Perry County, Ohio, where he settled as a pioneer. His son, George King, was born in Perry County, as was also the latter's son, Peter King, who in 1852 came to Sandusky County from Fairfield County, where he had resided after his marriage to Mary Shoemaker, a native of Pickaway County. The Kings settled on a partly cleared farm of 240 acres, in Washington Township, and in that section Peter King became a man of much consequence. He served in many of 'the township offices, was a leader in the Democratic party and was one of the most liberal supporters of the German Reformed Church. He was the father of a large family and six of his children survive, namely : Samuel S., living in Henry County, Texas; George W. ; Henry M., residing at Napoleon, Ohio; Levi, living in Henry County; Ohio; Peter S., a resident of Continental, Ohio ; and Jacob M., engaged in farming in Washington Township. Three daughters, all now deceased, were named respectively, Rebecca, Malinda and Mary A. Peter King died in 1880. George W. King has spent almost all his life in Sandusky County and is indebted to Washington Township for his schooling, his natural abilities enabling him to advance beyond many of his school mates. He has long been a representative citizen of the county and for the past forty-five years has been a resident of Rice Township. He has been an active citizen, is an influential Democrat and for twelve years served as postmaster of the village of Kingsway. He is also a director and stockholder in the Kingsway Grain and Elevator Company. As a justice of the peace he has been a popular official and is widely known. On November 13, 1862, Mr. King was married to Miss Louisa E. Waggoner, who was born October 6, 1842, in Sandusky Township, Sandusky County, a daughter of John and Mary (Bowman) Waggoner, natives of Pennsylvania. John Waggoner was a soldier in the War of 1812, and his father was one of General Washington's body-guard regiment. The parents of Mrs. King were early settlers in Perry County, Ohio, and they came from there to Sandusky County. Her father died when she was five years old. To Mr. and Mrs. King have been born the following children : Mary M., who is the wife of Milton Boggs, of Toledo, Ohio ; Clara E., who is the wife of John Gross, of Green Creek Township ; Louisa E., who is the wife of Frederick Coppus, of Hessville, Ohio; Samuel, who is a resident of Louisville, Kentucky; Celesta A., who is the wife of Irvin Fetterman, a prominent citizen of Rice Township; Catherine M., who is the wife of Henry M. Hetrick, of Sandusky Township; John Jacob, who is engaged in farming in Rice Township; Ida Isabel, who is the wife of Irvin Boyer, of Lansing, Michigan ; Perlie A., who is the wife of E. F. Monroe, of Lansing; Carrie E., who resides at Lansing, Michigan; and Daisy M., who is the wife of George Kiser, of Sandusky County. The mother of the above family is a member of the Lutheran Church, but Mr. King was reared in the German Reformed faith. 898 - HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY HON. GEORGE F. ALDRICH, cashier of the Helena Banking Company, of Helena, Ohio, has been prominently identified with the educational, business and political circles of Sandusky County for many years. He was born February 26, 1857, in Scott Township, Sandusky County, Ohio, and is a son of Hiram H. and Ellen (Donnel) Aldrich, and a grandson of Nero Aldrich. Nero Aldrich was probably a native of the state of New York, from which he moved to Rhode Island, and from there to Ohio. He purchased forty acres of land in Scott Township, Sandusky County, on which he passed the remainder of his life. He was one of the early pioneers of this section and had much to do with its material development. Hiram H. Aldrich, father of George F., was born in New York. in 1834, and was five years old when the family came to Ohio. He spent all of his subsequent life in Sandusky County, with the exception of a few years in Kansas, where his wife died, and his death occurred in Madison Township, in 1903. There were five children born to Hiram H. Aldrich and his wife, namely : John, a resident of Fostoria, who married Catherine Hearls; Mary, who resides at Tinney, Sandusky County, is the widow of John W. Hudson ; George F.; Charles A., who resides in Scott Township; and Andrew Jackson, who married Adelia Stahl and resides at Gibsonburg, Ohio. George F. Aldrich comes of an agricultural family, and, in addition to his other interests, he has given more or less attention to farming. From the public schools of Scott Township he entered the Normal School at Fostoria and later attended the Normal School at Mansfield. For twenty-five years he taught school in Sandusky County and for twelve years conducted a select normal school, and, with other township offices, served for four years as a member of the County Board of School Examiners. The cause of education has always been one of supreme interest to him and his efforts have ever been directed to further it. He has been an efficient member of the School Board for three years and much of the excellence of the Scott Township schools may be credited to his influence. Mr. Aldrich has been identified with the Helena Banking Company, of Helena, Ohio, since its organization, December 10, 1907. This institution has a paid in capital of $12,500, and was started to do a general banking business. The first officials were J. C. Fisher, president; Dr. C. A. Stephens, vice-president; George F. Aldrich, cashier ; and I. W. Walters, assistant cashier. The board of directors was made up of the following capitalists : J. C. Fisher, John Posey, R. M. Garn, John Spohn, Jacob Nieset, Sr., Dr. C. A. Stephens, G. F. Aldrich, M. J. Daub, P. H. Daub, Q. Seiple, and S. A. Raridon. Some changes in the personnel of the bank have taken place and the officers in 1909 are: J. F. Yeasting, of Gibsonburg, president ; John Posey, first vice-president ; John Spohn, second vice-president ; G. F. Aldrich, cashier and secretary ; and S. D. Spohn, assistant cashier. The members of the directing board are the following: John Posey, J. F. Yeasting, J. C. Fisher, C. A. Stephens, of Toledo, W. A. Heyman, John Nause, Samuel Roberts, John Welsh, H. J. Ickes, John Spohn and Z. C. Garn. Of the seventy-five stockholders all but four reside in Sandusky County. On March 7, 1878, in Scott Township, Mr. Aldrich was married to Miss Eulalie Tinney,. who is a daughter of Darwin Scott and Sarah (Wiggins) Tinney. The Tinney family gave the name to the village of Tinney, in Sandusky County, which was formerly known as Greensburg but was later changed to Tinney at request of the Post Office Department. Mr. and Mrs. Aldrich have had four children : May Haven, Byron and Mabel. May, who was born December 10, 1878, married C. E. Vandersall and they reside at Toledo and have one son, Homer S. Mrs. Vandersall is a highly educated and accomplished lady. She was a student of the Ohio Normal University, at Ada, and was formerly a very acceptable teacher in Scott Township. Haven Aldrich. the eldest son, was born December 22, 1886. He secured a teacher's certificate when he was only fifteen years of age. He is a graduate of both the Actual Business College of Fremont, and of the Davis Business College of Toledo. He is employed in the discount department of the AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 899 Home Savings and Trust Company, of Toledo. Byron, the second son, was born December 2, 1900, and is a bright student at school. Mabel, the twin sister of May, died in infancy. In political affiliation, Mr. Aldrich is a Democrat. He has been honored by his party on many occasions and has given efficient and valuable service. For nine years he was a justice of the peace in Scott. Township, served also as township clerk and in 1880 was census enumerator. In 1891 he was elected a member of the Seventieth General Assembly of the State of Ohio and was re-elected to a second term, his record at Columbus showing that his constituents made no mistake in electing him as their representative. He is one of the prominent Odd Fellows of this section, a member of Lodge No. 592, at Helena, in which he has filled all the official positions and has also been district grand master. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias at Fremont and also of the Modern Woodmen of America, of Tinney. With his family he is active in the Methodist Episcopal Church at Tinney and is a member of the Board of Trustees. VINCENT F. OMLOR, who is engaged in farming on a highly cultivated tract of 160 acres in Ballville Township, Sandusky County, Ohio, was born July 28, 1872, in Ottawa County, Michigan, and is a son of Peter and Mary (Snyder) Omlor, who were among the early settlers of Ottawa County. Vincent F. Omlor was one of eight children born to his parents, the others being as follows : Flora ; Oleva, is the wife of Gils Rubuck, of Michigan ; Celia, married Max Myers and resides in Michigan; Rosie; Laura; Alfred. deceased ; and Peter. Peter Omlor died aged forty-five years and is still survived by his widow, who is now sixty-six years of age. Vincent F. Omlor grew to maturity on his father's farm in Ottawa County, Michigan, and attended school until about sixteen years old, after which he assisted his father with the work on the farm. When twenty-five years of age he came to Sandusky County, Ohio, and worked for two years on a farm in Jackson Township, then moved to Sandusky Township, where he rented a farm for a period of three years, after which he came to his present farm, which he rented for four years, finally purchasing the land from his father-in-law, in 1908. He was married January 25, 1898, to Clara Wilhelm, a daughter of Louis and Katherine (Toppie) Wilhelm, who were prominent among the early settlers of this county. Mr. and Mrs. Omlor have three children : Ollie, Alfred and Marie. Louis Wilhelm, father of Mrs. Omlor, was born in Germany and at the age of nine years came to this country with his parents, who settled in Sandusky County, Ohio, where he was reared and educated and later engaged in agricultural pursuits. He married Katherine Toppie, who was born and reared in Sandusky County, Ohio, and died at the age of fifty-one years. To them were born nine children : Mary, married Michael Dulwich; Frances, married John Welden ; Frank, deceased; Clara, wife of our subject ; Joseph, married Martha Fichtner; Ollie, married Hellen Hoffman; Eva, married John Rheinick; Lucy, is the wife of Irvin Myers, all of whom are residents of Sandusky County. Mr. Wilhelm is still living at the age of seventy-one years. Vincent Omlor holds membership with St. Joseph's Catholic Church of Fremont and is affiliated with the C. M. B. A. JOHN FANGBONER, vice president of the First National Bank of Fremont, and formerly auditor of Sandusky County, is one of the substantial and representative men of this city. He was born in Union County, Pennsylvania, June 3, 1846, and is a son of James and Catherine (Hick) Fangboner. James Fangboner was born in New Jersey and died in Union County, Pennsylvania, in 1892, aged eighty-four years. He was a farmer and also followed the trade of wagon making. He was survived some years by his widow, who was born in 1811, in Pennsylvania. John Fangboner, one of a family of six children, was reared through boyhood on his father's farm. When sixteen years of age he made his first attempt to enter the army, but his youth prevented his acceptance, but on February 24, 1864, he succeeded and became a member of Company K, 51st Regiment, Pa. Vol.