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DAVID J. FENNER, successful farmer and prominent citizen of Royalton township, where he has made his home for nearly half a century, was born in Lake county, Ohio, March 4, 1847, being a son of Pallid and Mahala (Way) Fenner, the former of whom was born in Connecticut and the latter in the State of New York. The parents were numbered among the pioneers of Lake county, Ohio, whence they came to Fulton county in 1858, the father purchasing eighty acres of wild land, in Section 9, Royalton township, where he developed a valuable farm property, continuing his residence on this homestead until his death, at the age of sixty-seven years, his cherished and devoted wife having passed away at the age of sixty years. Anthony Fenner, father of Daniel, was likewise an early settler of Royalton township, where both he and his wife died. Of his children those who became residents of Fulton county were as follows: Daniel, father of the subject of this sketch; Alpheus, who reclaimed several farms in Chesterfield and Royalton townships ; Irwin and Thomas A., who likewise were prosperous farmers ; Almira, who became the wife of David Pates, of Royalton township; and Jane, who married Ichabod Edson. Daniel Fenner was twice married, the maiden name of his first wife having been Caroline Pitcher, who bore him two sons, Charles and Irwin, both now deceased. Five children represented the offspring of his marriage to Mahala Way, namely: Caroline and Dennis, who are deceased; David J., whose name initiates this paragraph; Julia, 'who is deceased; and Angeline, who is the wife of Nicholas McGurer. David J. Fenner became the owner of the old homestead farm of his parents, and there he continued to reside until the spring of 1905, when he removed to his present fine farm, of one hundred and fourteen acres, in Section 17, same township, but he still owns the old home farm, previously mentioned, thuS being one of the large land-holders of the county and having been signally prospered in his energetic and progressive endeavors as a representative husbandman of his native county. In politics he is a stanch adherent of the Republican party, both he and his wife hold membership in the Christian church at Lyons, and he is identified with the Knights of the Maccabees. January 22, 1881, Mr. Fenner was united in marriage to Miss Evaline Wood, daughter of Joshua and Ann (Ingle) Wood, the former a native of Monroe county, N. Y., and the latter of London, England. Mrs. Fenner was reared in the State of Iowa, but haS been a resident of Fulton county since 1870. Mr. and Mrs. Fenner have two sons, Rufus B. and Omer, both of whom remain beneath the home roof being associated with their father in the work of the farm.
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MRS. SARAH L. FRAKER, who owns and occupies one of the most attractive rural homes in Fulton township, is the widow of George W. Fraker, whose death occurred in his forty-fourth year, on the 14th of December, 1895. He was a member of one of the old and honored families of the county, and a due record concerning the same is given in the sketch of Andrew J. Fraker, appearing on pages immediately preceding this memoir. Mrs. Fraker was born in Fulton township and is a daughter of Isaac and Rachel A. (Watkins) Fauble both of whom were born and reared in Ohio. They were numbered among the early settlers of Fulton county, taking up their abode on a primitive farm near the present Fulton Union church, in Fulton township, were the father died at the age of fifty-eight years, his devoted wife living to attain the age of sixty-five years. They had six children: Christopher, who died in childhood; Mary Jane, who is the widow of Frederick Koos, and resides in Clinton township; Robert. who is a representative farmer of Fulton township ; James Edward, who resides in Swan Creek township, where he is a prosperous fanner; Sarah L. whose name initiates this sketch; and Rachel Ann who is the wife of Andrew J. Fraker, mentioned in preceding sketch. The marriage of George W. Fraker and Sarah L. Fauble was solemnized on the 14th of January, 1877, and they immediately located on the farm where Mrs. Fraker now maintains her home. this farm, which comprises eighty acres, in the southeast corner of Section 33, Fulton township, was but partially reclaimed and had few and inferior improvements at. the time when Mr. and Mrs. Fraker here took up their abode. Mr. Fraker was a man of good judgment, comprehensive knowledge of the details of farm work, and of indefatigable industry, and these forces came into effective play in the improving and management of the new farm, which he cleared and placed under an advanced state of cultivation, building substantial fences, installing an excellent system of tile-drainage and making the place a model farm. He erected the handsome modern residence which adorns the place, and the fine barn was erected through the efforts of Mrs. Fraker since his death. In politics he was a supporter of the cause of the Democracy, he was affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, and was a zealous member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Swanton, in which his widow also holds membership. The family is one of marked prominence and popularity in the social life of the community, and the beautiful rural homestead is a center of gracious hospitality. The residence, with, its fine lawns, hedges, flowers and shrubbery, occupies a commanding site, overlooking the surrounding country, and the interior gives evidence of refined taste and of appreciation of the ideal home-life. Mr. and
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Mrs. Fraker became the parents of three children, the eldest of whom, Mabel, is now the wife of Lyman Eugene Wiley, who n has charge of the Fraker homestead farm, he and his wife making! their home with the latter's mother. Mr. Wiley is a son of Isaac, Wiley, of whom individual mention is made elsewhere in this work Mr. and Mrs. Wiley are the parents of one child, Frank Fraker Wiley, born December 7, 1901. Frank, the only son of Mr. ant Mrs. Fraker, died October 1, 1898, a promising and noble youth toff seventeen years and a member of the senior class in the Delta, high school at the time of his demise. Ethel, the youngest of the children, completed her education in Fayette Normal University, this comer, and she has since been a popular teacher in the district schools of her native township. She is a member of the Daughters of Rebekah,. auxiliary of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and both she and her sister hold membership in the Rathbone Sisters, adjunct to. the Knights of Pythias.
THOMAS H. FRAKER is one of those enterprising citizens who find a due measure of satisfaction and profit in carrying forward. the various lines of farming industry and is one of the progressive; and successful farmers and stock-growers of York township, where, he owns and operates the old homestead on which he was born and. reared. He was born April 23, 1863, and is a: son. of Isaac, and Nancy Jane (Kizer) Fraker, both born in Wayne county,. Ohio, the former on the 24th of April, 1826, and the latter on. the 22d of Apt;; 1837. They were married in October, 1852, at East Swanton, Lucas county, and forthwith took up their abode on the farm. where their son, Thomas. H., now lives, the fine farmstead being located on the eastern line of York township; and adjacent to the thriving village of Delta. This property was secured from the government, in the early pioneer days, by Thomas Fraker, grandfather of the present owner, and the original entry comprised a large tract of land, of which one hundred and six acres are retained in the present homestead. In addition to this place Mr. Fraker also owns another farm,. of eighty acres, in the same section, and a good farm of one hundred acres in Lucas county. He has always made his home on the ancestral farmstead except for one year, during which he was engaged in business in Montpelier. His honored father was one of the prominent farmers and business men of the county, having been for many years engaged in the buying and shipping of live stock and having also dealt somewhat extensively in real-estate. He was a man of unassuming worth, had traveled much and was broad in his intellectuality, and he commanded the esteem of all who knew him. He died January 24, 1901, his wife having passed away January 11, 1889. Of their four children, Thomas H. was the only son and he is the only one now living. Elizabeth I., the eldest, was born. October 11, 1853, and died in her eighteenth year; Susannah M„ born February 20, 1858, died March 24, 1859; and Ida Ethel, born, August. 30, 1860, died November 17, 1864. Thomas H. Fraker was reared to manhood on the old homestead and duly availed himself of
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the advantages of the excellent public schools of the village of Delta. He finally purchased the home farm from his father, and he has become recognized as one of the leading representatives of the thrifty farming element of this favored section of the Buckeye State, each of his three farms being well-improved and conducted under his general supervision, though he gives his personal attention more particularly to the old home place. He is one of the leading growers of short-horn cattle in Fulton county, having made this department of his enterprise a specialty during the past eight years and breeding from thoroughbred stock. He has at the present time a herd of about twenty-five thoroughbreds, and he also has about twenty head of milch cows, selling his dairy product principally to the milk condensery at Delta. In politics he clingS to the ancestral faith and is an uncompromising Democrat, taking a lively interest in the party cause but never being an aspirant for office. April 2, 1889, Mr. Fraker married Miss Jennie L. Watkins, who was born in thiS county, being a daughter of Wesley and Catherine (Fesler) Watkins, concerning whom more detailed mention is made in the sketch of their son, George W., on another page of this work. Mr. and Mrs. Fraker have no children.
SAMUEL FRYBARGER, one of the representative farmers of Fulton township, is an honored veteran of the Civil war and in all the relations of life he has shown the same loyalty and integrity which marked his course during the days when he followed his country's flag on the battle-fields of the South. He was born in Somerset county, Pa., on the 5th of October, 1843, being the eldest son of John Henry and Mary (Schultz) Frybarger, the former of whom was born in Germany and the latter in Pennsylvania, and the respective years of nativity were 1800 and about 1810. They were married in the old Keystone State, whence they went to Missouri where the father was engaged in farming for a time, finally returning to Pennsylvania, whence they came to Fulton county, Ohio, in 1854. They located on a tract of wild and heavily-timbered land in Fulton township, one mile east of the homestead of their son, Samuel, of this sketch, and there the father died in the following year, and his widow remained on the farm with her children until her death, in June, 1888. Of the twelve children eight are living: Caroline is the wife of Joseph Gehring, of Delta, this county; Samuel is the subject of this review; Barbara is the wife of a Mr. Petty, of California; Margaret is the wife of Washington Hall and they reside in Oklahoma; John Henry is a resident of Delta; George W. remains on the old homestead, which he owns; and Henry is a successful farmer of Indiana. Samuel Frybarger secured a common school education and remained at home until he had attained the age of twenty-six years. Exceptional Burdens of responsibility were early placed upon his shoulders, since he was the eldest son and was but twelve years of age at the time of his father's death. Largely through his personal effort the home farm was cleared and reclaimed to cultivation, placing his loved mother in comfortable
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circumstances. The early years of toil were very rigid in their demands, and the utmost economy had to be observed by the family, but with the passing of years prosperity yielded itS grateful tribute in compensation for past labors and self-denial. August 15, 1862, Mr. Frybarger enlisted as a private in Company K, One Hundred and Eleventh Ohio volunteer infantry, with which he served three years in the Western army. He participated in the Atlanta campaign, returning with his command, under General Thomas, to the defense of Nashville, and taking part in the battles of Franklin and Nashville, as well as in many other important engagements incidental to the great conflict which perpetuated the integrity of the Union. Among the engagements in which he was an active participant may be mentioned the battles of Knoxville, Campbell's Station, Hough's Ferry, Strawberry Plains, Siege of Knoxville, Burnt Hickory, Lost Mountain, Kenesaw Mountain, Peachtree Creek and Atlanta, besides innumerable skirmishes. He was never captured or seriously wounded, though escaping by very close margins on several occasions. He received his honorable discharge, June 27, 1865, at Salisbury, N. C., having thus served until the close of the war, and in recognition of his fidelity and of disabilities resulting from his service he receives a pension. In 1875 Mr. Frybarger went to Kansas and Secured a homestead in Pawnee county, where he remained four years. Two years of protracted drouth caused him to meet with entire failure of crops and he therefore )eft the Sunflower State and purchased .a farm in Lenawee county, Mich., where he resided one year, when he disposed of the property and purchased his present fine homestead of one hundred and two acres, where he has resided for a score of years, having sold his Kansas farm after returning to Ohio, He is engaged in general farming and stock-growing, and for a number of years "has also conducted a successful dairying business, being associated with his son John in the work and operation of the farm. He is a stalwart Republican in his political proclivities and while he has ever taken a lively interest in public affairs he has never sought or held office. Mr. Frybarger has been thrice married. September 21,- 1867, he wedded Miss Lucinda Schrock. who was born in Holmes county, Ohio, April 4, 1847, and who died February 25, 1875, leaving one daughter, Rosa B., who is the wife of Herrick McArthur, of Fulton township. January 24, 1877, Mr. Frybarger married Miss Sarah Ann Cook, who died February 27, 1883, leaving two children: Laura, who is the wife of Norton Miller, of Pike township, and Eliza, who remains at the paternal home. February II, 1885, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Frybarger to Miss Jane Ann Egnew, who was born in East Swanton, Lucas county, Ohio, being a daughter of James and Mary J. (Emmick) Egnew, both of whom died in that county in 1882. Mr. and Mrs. Frybarger have two children. John and Grace, both of whom remain members of the home circle.
JOHN J. GAMBER.—Lying immediately contiguous to the little city of Fayette, on the northeast, is the fine farm estate of Mr. Gam-
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ber, who is one of the sterlmg pioneers and prominent farmers of Gorham township. He was born in Fayette, Seneca county, N. Y., tin the 11th of September, 1835, and is a son of Henry and Polly (Hartrauft) Gamber, both natives of Pennsylvania, whence they removed to Seneca county, N. Y., where the father was engaged in farming until 1852, when he came with his family to Fulton county, Ohio, having previously visited this section and selected a location for his future home. He and his wife and their six children made the entire trip with a team and heavy wagon and a one-horse buggy, being thirteen days en-route. He purchased one hundred and sixty ems, on the present site of Fayette,—eighty acres on each side of the town as now established, with Main street as the southern boundary. He paid seven hundred and fifty dollars for the east half and eight hundred dollars for the eighty acres on the west side, and about one-half of the present town of Fayette is on the land which. he thus secured and which he cleared and improved. The old family residence was on the site of the present fine brick dwelling which institutes the attractive home of John J. Gamber, subject of this sketch. There were two log houses on the property when the other came into possession of the same, one on each tract described in the foregoing lines, one being situated on either side of the street and about ten rods south of the present residence of John J. Gamber. The entire wet eighty acres have been cut up into town – lots, and of the east eighty Mr. Gamber retains thirty-seven acres for agricultural purposes, the remainder being solidly built up with business buildings and residences. Save for the portions sold for Village lots the property has remained in the possession of the family from the time of purchase, more than half a century ago. Henry Camber was born June 11, 1808, and his death occurred May 29, 1854, only two years after he took up his residence in the county. His wife was born August 7, 1809, and her death occurred on August 1, 1884. They became the parents of seven children, of whom only the youngest was born in Fulton county. William resides near Norwalk, Ohio; John J., of this review, was the next in order of birth; Maria married a Mr. Tuesly and is now deceased; Sarah is the wife of Myron Smith, of Chesterfield township; Lorenzo is a resident of Fayette; Susan is the wife of Charles L. Allen, of Fayette; and Francis died in childhood. The father, who was a ranch adherent of the Democratic party, held several local offices after taking up his residence in this county, and both he and his wife were worthy members of the Lutheran church. John J. Gamber. availed himself of, the advantages afforded in the common schools of his native county in New York, and was fourteen years of age at the time of the family removal to Fulton county. He remained at the parental home until the death of his father, after which he was engaged in work for others in this locality, principally in farm labor. In 186o he located on that part of the ancestral homestead which is his present place of abode, and two years later he purchased a farm farther to the north, giving his attention to its cultivation and improvement until 1868, since which time he has resided on his pres-
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ent fine homestead, which he owns partially through inheritance and partially through purchase. He is a worthy representative of one of the old and honored families of the county, and is held in uniform esteem in the community which has been his home for so many years. He has always been a loyal supporter of the cause of the Democratic party, and has served in various local offices, and he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His wife was a devoted member of the Disciple church, their long and gracious companionship having been severed by her death, which occurred in September, 1898. In 1859 Mr. Gamber was united in marriage to Miss Elvira Sales, daughter of George W. Sales, who was numbered among the pioneer settlers of Fulton county. The only child of Mr. and Mrs. Gamber is Lerichmod, who is a representative farmer of Gorham township. He married Miss Clara Coffin, of Fayette, and they have two children, Howard and Louise.
HON. WILLIAM GEYSER, ex-senator from the Thirty-third Ohio district, was born in Wurttemberg, Germany, on October 3, 1840. He came with his mother to Lucas county, Ohio, when about ten years old, where he resided until 1862, when he enlisted in Company I of the Fourteenth Ohio volunteer infantry, serving in the army of the Cumberland, and participating in the battles of Mill Springs, Pittsburg Landing, the Atlanta campaign and the march to the sea coast under General Sherman. At the expiration of his time of service he re-enlisted in the field and remained at the front until the end of the ,war. He followed the varying fortunes of the Third Brigade of the Fourteenth Army Corps throughout the war, the list of battles to his credit being a long one, and his military record unimpeachable. At Green River Bridge, Ky., while on the chase after the raider, Morgan, he sustained a hernia which has practically disabled him through life. This, at present, protrudes some nineteen inches, and is seventeen inches in circumference, and for thirty-five years the parts have refused to return to their normal condition. In consequence of this disability he receives a liberal pension from the National government. After his return from the war he engaged in the grocery business in Swanton. Beginning in a small way he rapidly increased his business until the sales averaged $40,000 a year for a number of years. He was the first merchant of Swanton and shipped the first grain from this station. He was extremely prosperous for many years, his credit being unlimited. His venture in the cold-storage business at Wauseon proved disastrous, owing to the indifferent management of his partner. In 1887, unexpectedly to himself and without solicitation on his part, he was chosen a delegate to the senatorial convention at Toledo, where he was nominated as one of the two candidates of the joint ditrict embracing the counties of Lucas, Wood, Hancock, Henry and Fulton. The district was normally Democratic, but by energetic work and proper management Mr. Geyser and his colleague, William Carlin of Findlay, were triumphantly elected by a majority of eighteen hundred and forty votes. While serving in the Eighty-eighth general
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assembly he favored the Sunday-closing law, thereby incurring the displeasure of the saloon element, and at the election following he was defeated by four hundred votes. After serving as mayor of Swanton for several years he declined further honors in that direction. For seven years he acted as a member of the board of trustees of the State Hospital for the Insane, at Toledo. At present he is serving as assessor for the incorporated village of Swanton. He has always been a power in the counsels of the Republican party and active and energetic in anything that he has undertaken. Mr. Geyser has been thrice married. By his first wife he had two children, both living. They are Maude and Lizzie, both married. Mrs. Geyser having died in young womanhood, he was wedded to Miss Catherine Schrock and by her had one daughter, the wife of Robert Finn of Fulton county. Two years after the death of his second wife he married Miss Amy Haubiel of Fulton county, who prior to her marriage had taught for eight years in the Delta public schools. To this union there have been born two children, a son and a daughter. William, Jr., the elder child, for the past two years has been bookkeeper for the International Harvester Company of Chicago. He received a liberal education at Oberlin and Gambier and the Cleveland Business College. Dorothy, the younger child, has achieved an enviable reputation as a musician and linguist, having spent two years at the German and French capitals. While her strongest forte is music, now has attained great proficiency in foreign languages. She is now engaged in teaching music and conducting musical concerts in New York City, where she has relatives of high standing in the musical world, and where she stands very close to the aristocracy. Mr. Geyser has always taken a deep interest in the organizations of the Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the Elks. Mrs. Geyser, as the granddaughter of a colonel in the Continental army, is actively identified with the Daughters of the Revolution, being vice-president of the Wauseon chapter.
WILBUR M. GIVIN, a representative farmer of Gorham township, was born in Cadiz, Harrison county, Ohio, on the 21st of September, 1853, the place of his nativity having been a primitive log cabin, which was the family domicile for a number of years. He is a son of George and Eliza (Lavely) Givin, both of whom were likewise born in Harrison county, where the respective families were founded in the early pioneer days. The Givin family is of stanch Scotch-Irish lineage, and the original representatives in America were two brothers, who came from the Emerald Isle to this country as young men, one of them being Robert Givin, grandfather of Wilbur M., subject of this sketch. This worthy ancestor, first settled in Lancaster county, Pa., whence he removed to Steubenville, Jefferson county, Ohio, and later he took up his residence in Harrison county, where he died in the year 1854. He was a paper-maker by trade, but after locating in Ohio he devoted his attention principally to agricultural pursuits, in which he was successful. George Givin made fanning his principal vocation during his active career, and
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for several years he was a resident of Illinois, but he passed the closing years of his life in Harrison county, Ohio, where he died in 1902 at the age of seventy-seven years. His widow, who is of German and English ancestry, now resides with her son, Robert A., of North Platte, Neb. Of the three children, Wilbur M. is the eldest ; Robert A. is a resident of North Platte, Neb., as just stated, and Harvey L. is a resident of Harrison county, Ohio. Wilbur M. Givin was afforded the advantages of the public schools of Harrison county, after which he was a Student for one year m Scioto College. He was a successful teacher in the public schools of Harrison county for a period of three years, and since that time his vocation has been that of farming, in which he has met with marked prosperity, his efforts having been directed with consummate energy, intelligence and enterprise. In 1876 he removed to Crawford county, Ohio, where he maintained his home until 1900, when he took up his residence in Gorham township, Fulton county, on his present farm, which comprises one hundred and Sixty acres of valuable land, and the place has excellent improvements of a permanent nature. Mr. Givin is a Republican in his political proclivities, is serving in the office of justice of the peace, and he was a school director for several years in Crawford county. He is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is a member of the Methodist church, as is also his wife. On Christmas day of the year 1877 Mr. Givin was united in marriage to Miss Rebecca Bukey, of Franklin county, Ohio, daughter of William and Mary Bukey, prominent citizens of West Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Givin have three children: Austin C. and Clark A. are residents of Crawford county, and Mary E. is the wife of Charles Young, of Toledo, Ohio.
JOHN W. GODDEN merits recognition in this compilation by reason of his being one of the prosperous farmers and sterling citizens of Pike township, and he has passed his entire life in Fulton county. He was born in Amboy township, on the 8th of February, 1857, and is a son of William and Mary (Bennett) Godden. William Godden was born in county Rent, England, on the 10th of September, 1820, and his wife was born in the same county in November, 1820, and there their marriage was solemnized on the 27th of November, 1840. They immigrated to America in 1849, arriving in the month of May, and resided for a short time in Syracuse, New York, whence they came to Ohio, residing for a time in the city of Cleveland and thence coming to Fulton county about 1855. The father was 'a tanner and currier by trade, but after coming to Fulton county he devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits, developing a good farm in Pike township, where he died in 1902, his wife passing away in 1897. They became the parents of ten children, six of the number having been born prior to the removal to the United States. Robus is the wife of Sylvester I. Spring, of Fulton county; William is nOW residing on the old homestead farm; Martha has been thrice married and widowed, her last husband having been Ephraim J. Padgham, and she resides in Fulton county ; Sarah is deceased;
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Mary resides in North Baltimore ; Margaret is deceased; Stephen also resides on the old homestead; Phoebe is deceased; Eliza is deceased, and John is the immediate subject of this review. John Godden was reared on the homestead farm and has never wavered in his allegiance to the industry of agriculture, in connection with which he has met with excellent success in his independent operations. He is indebted to the public schools of Fulton county for his early educational discipline, and is a man of broad and progressive ideas. His farm comprises thirty-four acres, is under a high state of cultivation and is improved with excellent buildings, including a fine modern residence. He is a Republican in politics. November t, 1899, Mr. Godden was united in marriage to Miss Nettie Arnold, who was born in Hillsdale county, Michigan, on the 8th of January, 1863, being a daughter of Levi and Nancy (Truman) Arnold, early settlers of the Wolverine State, both being now deceased.
NATHAN N. GORSUCH is one of the representative farmers of Pike township and has passed his entire life in Fulton county, where he commands the high regard of all who know him. He was born on the homestead farm, in Clinton township, on the 2d of December, 1864. and is a son of Ephraim and Anna M. (Castleberry) Gorsuch, both representative of pioneer families of the old Buckeye State. He was afforded the advantages of the public schools of his home township and was reared to the sturdy discipline of the farm, and he has shown excellent judgment in making agriculture his vocation throughout his mature career, finding in the connection ample scope for effective and 'profitable endeavor and enjoying that independence which is denied those who mingle in the "madding crowd's ignoble strife." Mr. Gorsuch is the owner of a well improved farm of 100 1/4 acres, the same. is devoted to diversified farming and stockgrowing, and special attention is given to dairying, which proves a profitable department of the farm enterprise. In politics Mr. Gorsuch is independent, and he is one of the prominent members of the Church of God in his native county, being a minister in the same and being a devoted worker in the vineyard of the divine Master, as is also his wife. On the 6th of December, 1886, Mr. Gorsuch was united in marriage to Miss Lucy S. Becker, who was born in Wayne county, this State, on the 3d of December, 1861, being a daughter of Charles and Lucy S. (Shaffer) Becker, both of whom were born and reared in Germany, their marriage having been solemnized in Wayne county, Ohio, where they continued to reside until 1874, when they came to Fulton couy and located on a farm in Clinton township, where Mr. Becker died on the 19th of April, 1905, and where his widow still maintains her home. Mr. and Mrs. Gorsuch have four children, concerning whom the following brief record is entered: Florence M., who was born February 20, 1888, is the wife of Orrin Baughman, an engineer on the Lake Shore railroad; Robert W. was born January 10, 1893; Sophia, September 25, 1896; and Maria, March 23, 1900.
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HARMON GASCHE, one of the representative farmers of the younger generation in Clinton township, is a native of Fulton county and has here passed his entire life thus far, and he has maintained an unwavering fealty to the great fundamental industry of agriculture and has met with marked success in his efforts. He was born in German township, this county, on the 29th of December, 1861, and is a son of George and Catherine (Honeberger) Gasche. His father was born m Wetzlor, Prussia, on the 1st of May, 1819, and in 1832 he severed the ties which bound him to the fatherland and emigrated to America, settling in Cumberland county, Pa., whence he later came to Wayne county, Ohio, where he took up his residence in Fulton county in 1858, having purchased a tract of land in German township,. in 184o. His wife was born in the Kingdom of Bavaria, Germany, April 23, 1824, and came with her parents to America in 1837, the family first settling in Canton, Stark county, Ohio, and she was a resident of Holmes county at the time of her marriage. Her honored husband passed to the life eternal on the 24th of January, 1895, and she now resides with her daughter, Amelia L. Sower, wife of G. H. Sower, of German township. Hannon Gasche was reared on the home farm and was able to properly avail himself of the advantages of the public schools of the locality, and he initiated his independent career by engaging in the vocation to which he had been reared. In 1887 he purchased his present farm, which comprises eighty acres and which is one of the model places of the township, having the best of improvements m the way of buildings and being devoted to general agriculture and to the raising of high-grade live stock. In politics Mr. Gasche maintains an independent attitude, being a man of well defined convictions and opinions and taking an intelligent interest in the isSues and questions of the hour. He served two years as road supervisor, but has never been ambitious for public office of any sort. March 9, 1899, Mr. Gasche was united in marriage to Miss Maria Kimerer, who was born in Fulton county, July 23, 1864, being a daughter of Charles and Christena (Biddle) Kimerer, the former of whom was born in Preston county, West Va., October 21, 1812. In 1838 Mr. Kimerer married Christena Biddle, who was born January 3, 1822,
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and they came to Fulton county in 1842, the father here turning his attention to farming, which was his vocation during the remainder of his active career. He died October 26, 1898, his wife having passed away on the 11th of March, 1897. Mr. and Mrs. Gasche have two children—Carl H., born May 5, 1902; and Catherine, born August 11, 1904. In a fraternal way Mr. Gasche is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Patrons of Husbandry.
THOMAS E. GOODWIN, a representative of one of the old and prominent families of Fulton county, of which he is a native son, is one of the leading farmers and stock-growers of the younger generation in York township, where he has a fine property. He was born in Swan Creek township, this county, on the 7th of November, 1869, and is a son of Thomas and Rosetta (Keene) Goodwin, being he seventh in order of birth of a family of eight children. He was geared to the strenuous and wholesome life of the farm, and productive agriculture, with its allied lines of enterprise, has never lost its .attraction in his case, and he has so systematically and ably directed his efforts in that connection that he has gained recognition as one of the progressive and substantial farmers and stock-growers of his native county, and his status as a citizen is altogether creditable. On the 26th of October, 1889, Mr. Goodwin was united in marriage to Miss Ruth A. Tremain, and he thereafter operated rented farms until 1894, when he purchased his present place, which comprises sixty-two and one-half acres, and which was the original homestead of his wife's parents, having been entered from the government by her paternal grandfather, then descended to her father, and it remained under the Tremain title until Mr. Goodwin purchased the property, on the 25th of January, 1894. Mr. and Mrs. Goodwin have four children: Piercie A., born August 9, 1890; Leon D., August 2, 1893; Helen F., November 2, 1899, and Charles E., February 20, 1905. In politics Mr. Goodwin has been aligned as a stanch supporter of the cause of the Republican party from the time of attaining to his legal majority, and he has served two terms as township assessor, and for the past several years he has been a Valued member of the township school board. He and his wife are members of the Christian church, and in a fraternal way he is identified with Delta Lodge, No. 46o, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he is past grand, and with the Fulton Encampment, No. 197, of the same fraternity. Reverting to the family history of Mr. Goodwin, it has been stated that he was the seventh in order of birth of the eight children of Thomas and Rosetta (Keene) Goodwin, and of these children seven are living, Charlotte having died in young womanhood. The names of the others in order of birth, are as follows: John C., Adella, Jeanette, Agnes M., Lucy, Thomas E. and Albert P. Charlotte, who was the sixth child, became the wife of Allen Swartz of Fayette, this county, and was killed by a runaway team, in the very flower of her young womanhood. She is survived by two children . Lucy, the sister next older, is
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the wife of Harry Persing, of Clyde, Ohio; Jennette is the wife of James Pease, of Traverse City, Mich.; Agnes Margaret is the wife of Courtland A. Knapp, of York township; and the brothers all reside in Fulton county, as does also the eldest sister, Adella, who. is the wife of Alfred Bloom, of Swanton. The father of these children was born at New Church, Radnorshire, in the south of Wales, and came to America when a youth, his marriage to Rosetta Keene having been solemnized in the eastern part of Ohio, of which State she was a native. She died in Fulton county in 1875, and her husband survived her by nearly a score of years, his death occurring September 3, 1894. Ruth Ann (Tremain) Goodwin, wife of the subject of this review, was born in Fulton county and is the younger of the two children of Daniel M. and Catherine (Markel) Tremain. Her sister, Lillie Arthilla, is now the wife of Robert Carpenter, and they reside in Henry county, Ohio. Daniel M. Tremain was born in York township, this county, January 25, 1840, being a son of Gardner and Elizabeth (Miller) Tremain, the former of whom was born in Cuyahoga county, Ohio, April 15, 1813, and the latter was born in Dutchess county, New York, March 8, 1814. They were married October 14, 1834, and came ,to Fulton county, Ohio, in 1836, here passing the remainder of their lives, and each attained advanced age. They were numbered among the early and honored pioneers of the county, which was not organized as such until nearly a decade and a half after they took up their residence here. They became the parents of eight children, of whom three are living, and their descendants are numerous in Fulton county. John J., the eldest of the children, died of smallpox, while serving as a soldier in an Ohio regiment during the war of the Rebellion, his death occurring in a hospital in Knoxville, Tenn., in 1864, at which time he was years of age, having been a Member of the One Hundredth Ohio volunteer infantry. Daniel M., the father of Mrs. Goodwin, was the next in order of birth. He also was a soldier m the Civil war, having enlisted, in 1861., in Company K, Thirty-eighth Ohio volunteer infantry, with which he was in active service four years and seventeen days. He escaped disabling wounds, but while in the service contracted disease from the effects of which he has never recovered, and in recognition of which he receives a pension. Phoebe E., the wife of John Schloff, died in 1872; Benjamin Tremain died in childhood; Abraham is a retired farmer, residing in Delta; this county ; Martha is the wife of A. A. Duamersq, a lumber dealer in Delta ; Arthilla died in childhood, and Warren Benjamin, the youngest of the family, resides in Delta. The Markel family was early established in Fulton county. William and Ruth A. (Williams) Markel, parents of Mrs. Catherine Tremain, came here in 1844, shortly after their marriage. William Markel here traded a span of horses and a wagon for eighty acres of wild land, and initiated the development of a farm in the midst of the forest, his cash capital at the time being represented in the sum of six dollars. He became one of the well-to-do farmers of the county,
where he died at an advanced age. Mrs. Catherine (Markel)
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Temain died in Delta, in 1891, and five years later her husband was united in marriage to Miss Helen Bayhe, who was born in Bluffton, Wells county, Indiana, being a daughter of George and Agnes (Hopplitzel) Bayhe, both of whom were born in Wurttemburg Germany, the death of the former occurring in 1884 and that of the latter in 1892. In his early manhood Daniel Tremain was employed four years as a government mail carrier, transporting the Tail from Waterville, Lucas county, to Bryan, Williams county, and baking one round trip each week. He encountered many hardships find perils during these years of service in the undeveloped country, Ind his reminiscences of the early days are graphic and interesting.
SOLOMON GOTSHALL is a representative of one of the pioneer families of Ohio and is one of the prominent and influential land-holders and business men of Fulton county, maintaining his residence near Fayette. He was born in Richland county, this state, on the 1st of February, 1836, and is a son of George and Elizabeth (Castle) Gotshall, the former of whom was born in Pennsylvania, of sturdy German lineage, and the latter was of English descent and was born in Ohio. At the age of nineteen years, in 1833, George Gotshall came to Ohio and located in Richland county. About two years later his parents also took up their residence in the county, where his father, Solomon Gotshall, engaged in farming, there passing the remainder of his life, as did also his wife. George Gotshall continued a resident of Richland county until 1885, when he came to Fulton County, where he made his home until his death, though he was in Michigan at the time when the summons came to enter the eternal his wife having passed away several years previously. They were the parents of four children, of whom Solomon was the first born Rachel is the wife of John Bard, of Gratiot county, Michigan. Daniel is a resident of near Fayette; and Mary is the wife of Adam Dare, of Mansfield, Ohio. Solomon Gotshall was reared on the homestead farm, in Richland county, in whose common schools he secured his early educational training. After attaining his majority he there engaged in farming on his own responsibility, continuing operations in this line four years, at the expiration of which, in 1861, be removed to Williams county, where he was engaged in the same line of enterprise until 1866, when he removed to Gorham township, Fulton county, where he engaged in farming. He also became prominently identified with lumbering and stock-dealing interests, and for a number of years he conducted an agricultural store, in Fayette, and also controlled an extensive business in the handling of agricultural implements and machinery, such as engines and separators. His progressive spirit became further manifest in his operation of a threshing outfit, and he was the first man in the township to make a success of utilizing a steam engine for power in this line, the first person for whom he did work with the new outfit of this sort demanding that Mr. Gotshall insure his barn against fire while doing the threshing. In 1881 he engaged in the lumber business at Archbold, where he purchased a saw-mill and planing-mill, also equipped
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for the manufacture of staves and headings. He waS with his son, L. D., in this enterprise, and a branch factory is maintained in Delta and Toledo, run by his sons, L. D. and J. W. The Archbold institution is the leading manufactory of the town and in the same employment is given to about 160 men. Mr. Gotshall is the owner of two hundred and forty acres of valuable land in Fulton county, and has taken a foremost part in advancing the agricultural interests of the same. lHe was the first man to propose the circulation of a petition for the improvement of Bean creek, which has been made to drain in an effective way the southeastern part of Gorham township, increasing the value of the swamp lands in that section by the amount of fifty to one hundred dollars an acre. He had a great deal of opposition in this project, and was compelled to give a bond of $10,000, signed by Heman A. Canfield. Mr. Gotshall was also one of the principal promoters of the Toledo and Western electric railway, coming into. Fayette. In this project he also had opposition, many thinking it would be a detriment to the village. But it proved to be the reverse. Mr. Gotshall felt confident that it would be a great benefit to the village and surrounding county, and now feels a pardonable pride in the results of his faithful work. Mr. Gotshall is a stalwart supporter of the principles and policies of the Democratic party, and has held various local offices, including that of trustee of Gorham township, and he was secretary of the school board of that township for eighteen years. He is a charter member of the Fayette Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. On the list of December, 1856, Mr. Gotshall was united in marriage to Miss Maria Whistler, who was born in Ashland county, Ohio, being a daughter of Christopher and Eliza Whistler, both of whom were born in Pennsylvania, whence they removed to Ashland county, Ohio; and her parents took up their residence in Richland county when Mr. Gotshall was Six years of age, there passing the remainder of their lives. Mr. and Mrs. Gotshall became the parents of four children: Granville is deceased; L. D. is a resident of Toledo and is interested in the mills with which his brother is identified in Archbald; Minnie is deceased; and I. W. is also concerned in the milling business at Delta, Toledo and Archbold, he residing at the latter place.
FRED GRANDY, who is engaged in the livery business in Delta and who is also the owner of a good farm in Fulton township, is a son of that sterling pioneer citizen, Henry R. Grandy, to whom a due tribute is paid on pages 385, 386 and 387, so that a recapitulation of the family history is not demanded in the present connection. Fred Grandy was born on the homestead farm now occupied by his father, in Fulton township, on the 29th of August, 1861, was reared to the discipline of the farm, and his educational advantages were those of the public schools of his native county. He has been engaged in the livery business in Delta since 1900, and controls a large patronage, having the only well-equipped livery in the town. He has done much to raise the grade of horses in this section, having kept thoroughbred breeding stock for many years and being a lover of the noble animals
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to whose breeding and raising he has thus devoted his attention. He and his wife own a fine farm of ninety-five acres, two miles north of Delta, and also have a handsome modern residence in Delta. He is a stalwart Republican in his political proclivities, and is affiliated with Fulton Lodge, No. 248, Free and Accepted Masons; Octavius Waters Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, and Aurora Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, of which last Mrs. Grandy also is a member. February 22, 1885, Mr.. Grandy was united in marriage to Miss Eva F. Thompson, who was born and reared in this country, being a daughter of the late Abraham B. Thompson, one of the old and honored pioneers of Fulton county, concerning whom more specific mention is made in the sketch of the career of his son, Addison B., published AM another page of this volume. The only living child of Mr. and Mrs. Grandy is Grace Evelyn, who remains at the parental home. Mr. :Grandy served several years as deputy sheriff of Fulton county, and he is at the present time a valued member of the village council of ,Delta, being one of the progressive business men and popular citizens ,-of this place.
MARSHAL TIMOTHY GRAVES, real-estate dealer and pension attorney of Wauseon, was born in Glencoe, Ontario, Canada, in 1858. He is the son of Peter W. and Hannah (Warner) Graves, both natives of Pontiac, Mich. His grandfather Graves and John 'Graves, an uncle of the father of the subject of this sketch, saw active service in the War of 1812. The wife of the grandfather Graves, a native of Pennsylvania, was Mary Cooley before her marriage. One uncle and three brothers of the subject of this sketch served in the Civil war. Marshal Timothy Graves came from Canada to Ohio when seventeen years old, having received his education in the schools of Glencoe. For four years he was a sailor on the fresh-water lakes and then for two years he was employed in the railway service for the Wabash Company. In 1898 he enlisted in company G. Sixth Ohio volunteer infantry, at the age of forty years, with the rank of corporal, and was discharged May 24, 1899. He was stationed at Cuenfuegos, in the Island of Cuba. In Ig01 he came to Wauseon and bought a farm south of the city, and is now living in Wauseon. After coming here he embarked in the real estate business, establishing at the same time a pension agency. He has met with marked success in everything that he has undertaken. In the sale of real-estate he operates in Fulton and the adjoining counties. As pension, attorney he does business m many States. Few pension attorneys have served their clients more successfully than he. Mr. Graves has always taken an active part in all matters pertaining to the general improvement of Wauseon. By subscribing liberally to its stock he succeeded in locating in his home city a large canning factory. He married Mrs. Emma C. Fenton, a widow, of Franklin township, Henry county, O. She is the daughter of Rev. N. S. Waden of Henry county, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church North, well-known all over the State of Ohio. The subject of this sketch is commander of Camp Candaleria, No. 20,
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United Spanish War Veterans, of Wauseon. He is a wide-a-wake, progressive business man and farmer, part owner of a fine farm of one hundred and forty acres, in a state of high cultivation, one and one-half miles south of the city. A fine modern residence and large barn are among the improvements he has erected on the land.
GEORGE GRAY, a leading contractor and builder of Lyons, is a well-known and popular citizen of this part of the county and is a representative of one of the sterling pioneer families of Fulton county, which figures as the place of his nativity. He was born in York township, December 5, 1845, and is a son of Charles and Marilla (Donaldson) Gray. Charles Gray was born in England, whence he came to America when a young man, and he became one of the early settlers in York township, this county, where he reclaimed and improved a farm of 120 acres. With advancing years, he retired from active labor, taking up his residence in the city of Wauseon, where he died August 6, Two, at the venerable age of eighty-two years. His first wife, Marilla, nee Donaldson, died in 1850, having become the mother of three children, George, James and Mary, the last-named having become the wife of Stephen Coff and being now deceased. For his second wife Charles Gray married Esther Cooper, and they had three children, Charles W., Amos A. and Jennie. After the death of his second wife he married Miss Mell Hodges, who died a few years later, leaving one daughter, Etta. Mr. Gray thereafter consummated a fourth marriage, wedding Elizabeth Cooper, who survives him. George Gray was reared to manhood in Fulton county and duly availed himself of the advantages of the common schools, and farming was his principal vocation for many years. He took up his residence in Royalton township in 1886 and has been a resident of the village of Lyons for ten years. He was identified with agricultural pursuits in this township until 1898, since which time he has followed the trade of carpentry, being an excellent workman and being successful in his efforts. He rendered loyal service in .the Union ranks at the time when the integrity of the Republic was menaced by armed rebellion. In October, 1862, he enlisted as a private in Company K, Thirty-eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with which he took part in the memorable battles of Stone River and Missionary Ridge, after which he was detailed as division teamster, in which capacity he served until the close of the war, receiving his honorable discharge, at Columbus, Ohio, June 22, 1865. He is a valued member of Baxter Post, No. 238, G. A. R., at Lyons, and in politics his allegiance is given to the Democratic party. February 20, 1867, Mr. Gray wedded Miss Mary Kane, daughter of Henry and Mary (King) Kane, who were born and reared in Ireland and who were pioneers of York tOWnship, this county. Mr. and Mrs. Gray have two daughters: Cora, wife of Michael Heiner, and Clara, wife of William Seward.
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RUDOLPH GIGAX, a retired farmer of Elmira, Fulton county, 0., is a native of Switzerland, having been born on a farm about six miles from the city of Berne, July 20, 1850. He is the son of Jacob and Magdalena (Burkholder) Gigax, both natives of Switzerland. Jacob Gigax was a successful farmer in the old country until 1854, when, with his family, consisting of wife and six children, he emigrated to the United States. Coming directly to Ohio, he located in German township, Fulton county, where the present village of Burlington is situated, and followed general farming until his death, on March 5, 1871, aged sixty-four years. His widow survived him until March 15, 1882, aged sixty-seven years. To these parents there was born a family of nine children, two of whom were born in this country. Their names follow : Fred, who died in 1904, aged sixty-five years, followed farming in Franklin township; Elizabeth, the wife of L. W. Brown, died in 1881; Godlip, a farmer of German township ; Mary, now Mrs. John Keller of German township; Rudolph ; Rosetta, the wife of Eli Wyse of Franklin township; Christina, (deceased), the wife of George Younges ; John, of German towns- ship, and Mary Ann, who died in infancy in Switzerland. Rudolph Gigax was reared on his father's farm and educated in the public schools. Until 1882 he was engaged in general farming, when he embarked in the mercantile business, conducting a hardware establishment for two years. Then he purchased the general store at the village of Burlington and conducted it with unusual success for two years. Disposing of this business, he retired to his fine farm, a half-mile north of Elmira. In politics he has always acted independently, preferring to use his own judgment when passing on the fitness of candidates for public office. His success in life is largely due to his untiring energy, his close application to business and his scrupulous honesty in dealing with his fellow-men.
HENRY R. GRANDY.—The annals of the pioneer days read almost like a romance to those of the younger generation, but stern reality robbed the era of much of its glamor for those who were active participants in the drama of initial development .which has reached its denoument in the opulent material and civic prosperity of the present day, as the grand twentieth century rolls into the cycle of the ages. Mr. Grandy is one of those honored citizens whose memory links the formative epoch with that of latter-day prosperity, and he is now living practically retired on his fine farmstead, in Fulton township, where he has made his home for nearly sixty years, being a scion of one of the well-known pioneer families of this section. Mr. Grandy was born in Clinton county, N. Y., on the 9th of Septem-
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ber, 1832, and is a son of Michael B. and Anna (Leggett ) Grandy the former of whom was born in Massachusetts, December 5, 1802, and the latter was born in New Hampshire, December 21, 1809. They were married in Easton, Washington county, N. Y., on the 24th of December, 1827, and thereafter resided in Clinton county, that State until 1838, when they came to Fulton county, Ohio, having four children at the time, and three more were born after they became residents of this county. Betsy J., born October 17, 1828, was married on the 8th of November, 1846, to Charles Thompson, who is now deceased, and she resides in Edgerton, Williams county, having five children. Judson W. was born August 2, 1830, and his death occurred January 3o, 1858, his wife and one child having preceded him into eternal rest. Henry R. of this sketch, was the next in order of birth. Samuel P., born May 21, 1835, married Ann E. Harris, March 27, 1859, and of their three children two are living—Jennie, wife of Daniel K. Ladenburg, of Delta, and Charles, manager for the Pittsburg Coal Company in the city of Toledo. Samuel P. resides in Delta and is employed by his nephew, Fred Grandy, of whom mention is made in the preceding sketch. John A., who was born, January 31, 1839, resides in Delta, being a notary public and a pension attorney. Moses D., born July 13, 1841, was killed in the battle of Honey Hill, S. C., December 1, 1864, having been in service at the time as a member of the One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Ann E., born June 4, 1844, is the widow of William A. Lingle, to whom she was married, October 25. 1866, and she resides in the city of Owosso, Mich. Henry R. Grandy secured his early educational discipline in the pioneer schools of this section, and his earliest practical duties were in connection with the work on the farm, in the midst of the primeval forest. The family lived on rented farms in Swan Creek township until 1845, when the father purchased a tract of eighty acres, comprising a portion of the fine landed estate now owned by the subject of this review, this having been the fink permanent home of the family after coming to Ohio. The land was wholly unimproved, and the father and sons found theirs the task of felling the giant forest trees and reclaiming the tract to cultivation, all having rendered due quota of aid in the development of this section. The first house 'was constructed of logs, being sixteen by twenty-eight feet in dimensions, with a "lean-to,” fourteen feet wide, running its entire length at the rear. This was one of the best houses in the locality at the time. A mammoth fireplace occupied one end of the living room, and when this was filled with the crackling logs of burning hickory a generous warmth was diffused and the interior made attractive in a homely way. The cooking was largely done in or in front of the fireplace, and bread was usually baked in an iron kettle, which was embedded in live coals and covered with a high flanged lid, which also held its complement of coals. A later device was the tin reflector, which was supposed to catch and concentrate the heat from a roaring fire and thus do the baking. Mr. Grandy recalls that the roads of those days usually followed the ridges, or highest ground, winding around through the forest, by blazed trail, until the
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desired destination was reached. Some of the larger cabins of the pioneers were often used for religious services, led by he itinerant preachers or circuit-riders of the day, and log houses which had been discarded for larger ones were frequently used for the primitive 'schools. The nearest mill was at Maumee. twenty miles distant, and the ox teams were principally utilized by the early settlers. Amusements were simple but wholesome, consisting principally of neighborhood parties and "bees" of various descriptions, and hospitality and good cheer were never lacking. September 20, 186o, Mr. Grandy vas united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Cameron, who waS born near Lockport, Niagara county, N. Y., June 14, 1840. She was left an orphan in early childhood and was reared by her paternal grandmother. She had two brothers, Joseph and Alexander, the former !of whom died in the spring of 1863, while serving in the Union army, and the latter is a resident of Osborne county, Kan. Mr. and Mrs. Grandy had two children, concerning the older of whom, Fred, an individual sketch appears immediately preceding this one. Ida was born June 8, 1863, and remains with her father on the old homestead. She was afforded good educational advantages and is an accomplished musician, to the teaching of which art she has devoted her attention for a number of years, having large classes in Delta and in the neighborhood of her country home, and she is held in high regard in the community, being popular in its social circles. Mrs. Grandy was called to the eternal life on the 7th of October, r893, and her remains lie at rest in the Fulton Union cemetery. She was a woman of gentle and noble character and endeared herself to all who came within the sphere of her influence. She was a devoted member of the Christian or Disciples church, with which Mr. Grandy also has been identified for nearly half a century, his daughter also being an active member. In politics Mr. Grandy has ever been a stanch supporter of the Republican party and its principles, having cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln. He has been incumbent of various offices of local trust, including those of township trustee, district clerk and school director, and his aid and influence have always- been freely given in support of measures and enterprises for the general good of the community. He inherited a half-interest in the old homestead of eighty acres, and purchased the other half-interest, and here he has maintained his home since he was a youth of sixteen years. He is one of the sturdy pioneer citizens of Fulton county, where me has ever stood as a synonym of honor, integrity and loyalty.
JOHN A. GRANDY, township clerk of York township and engaged in practice as a pension attorney, at Delta, is an honored member of one of the sterling pioneer families of Fulton county, which has been his home from the time of his birth. He was born in Swan Creek township, on the 30th of January, 1839, the old homestead be located three miles east of Delta, and is a son of Mishel B. and Anna (Leggett) Grandy, whose marriage was solemnized in the State of New York, whence they came to Fulton county in 1838, locating in Swan Creek township as pioneers. There the.father developed a
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farm, becoming one of the prominent citizens of this section and ever commanding unqualified esteem in the community. Concerning and his wife detailed mention is made in the sketch of their son Henry R. appearing immediately before this one, and to the same reference may be made for genealogical data apropos of the article at hand. John A. Grandy was reared on the home farm, and in the common schools secured his elementary education; which was supplemented by a course in the graded schools at Waterville, Lucas county. His independent career was initiated by his service as a school teacher, and in this way he earned the first money which he ever could definitely call his own. He taught his first term of school when he had just passed his fifteenth year, and he received eighty-eight dollars in gold for his services. He states that never Since has he had a sum of money which looked as large to him or one in which he took so great pride. This first pedagogic experience was gained in the winter of 1854-5, and thereafter he continued to teach, especially during the winter terms, until 1863. On the 2d of May, 1864, he tendered his services in defense of the Union, enlisting as a private in Company H, One Hundred and Thirtieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with which he served one hundred and forty-five days, at the expiration of which he received his discharge. Thereafter he continued to teach for several years, in the meanwhile devoting much attention to the study of higher branches of learning, and in the winter of 1864-5 he waS employed as principal of the Delta schools. In May, 1865, he sold his farm in Swan Creek township—a property which he had acquired some time previously, paying for the same with money earned by teaching —and he invested the proceeds in a general store at Centerville, now known as Swanton, where he conducted a profitable business until 1875, when his establishment was destroyed by fire, entailing an almost total loss, as his insurance indemnity was very small. This misfortune made it impossible for him to resume business, and he again had recourse to his ability as a teacher, continuing his work in the school-room, and also working as a fire-insurance agent, until 1883. He then went to Hand county, South Dakota., where he secured a homestead, to which he proved title in due time, continuing to reside on the place about five years and then returning to his old home. After returning from the west he taught one term of school, and in 1889 he adopted His present profession of prosecuting pension claims before the various departments in Washington, in which field of endeavor he has been specially successful, gaining proper recognition of the claims of many deserving veterans of the Civil war. He is also a notary public, and has served consecutively as township clerk since 1892, through successive re-elections every two years. In political matters Mr. Grandy is a stalwart supporter of the principles of the Republican party, in whose cause he has been a somewhat active worker in a local way. He served four years as a member of the ,board of school examiners of the county, and has always maintained a deep interest in educational affairs. In a fraternal way he is a valued member of McQuillin Post, No. 171, G. A. R., of Delta, and is also a member of the National Union, a social
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and beneficial order. On New Year's day of the year 1863, Mr. Grandy was united in marriage to Miss Amelia L. Quiggle, who was born in Hampden, Geauga county, Ohio, being a daughter of Calvin and Louise Quiggle, who came to Fulton county in 1852, here :passing the remainder of their lives. Mrs. Grandy has five brothers .and two sisters. Romanso C. is a resident of Michigan; Horatio H., Clarence C. and Frederick E. reside in Delta; and Elmer C. maintains his home in Hartford, Conn.; Lucy is the wife of Russell G. Merrill, of Lincoln, Neb.; and Maria is the wife of Jacob N. Bechtol, of Toledo, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Grandy have three children. Frank, who is now engaged as salesman in a mercantile establishment in Delta, was here engaged in the general merchandise business for himself until his place was destroyed by fire, in December, 1904. He served thirteen months during the Spanish-American war, as a member of Company G, Sixth Ohio Volunteers, his command having been held in reserve for a number of months at Chickamauga Park and having been on duty in Cuba about six months. Jessie is the wife of Frank Shumaker, engaged in the meat-market business in Delta, and they have one child, Elmer. Mary, the youngest of the three children, still remains at the parental home, being one of the popular young ladies of the community.
SYLVESTER GREEN, a prominent farmer and popular citizen of Royalton township, was born n Fairfield township, Lenawee county, Mich., on the 28th of June, 1843, and is a son of James and Eliza (McConnell) Green, both of whom were born near the city of Belfast, Ireland, where they were reared and where their marriage was solemnized in the year 1830. In the same year they left the Emerald Isle and set bravely forth to establish for themselves a home in America. They remained several years in the State of New Yolk, and then came to Toledo, Ohio, where the father secured employment in connection with the construction of the Maumee canal. He was thus engaged about one year and then settled in Fairfield township, Lenawee county, Mich., where, in 1840, he purchased forty acres of land, retaining possession of the same about two years and then exchanging the property for a tract of eighty acres, in the same township. This latter farm he reclaimed and improved and there both he and his wife continued to reside until his death, which occurred in September, 1888, at which time he was seventy-nine years of age. His widow still survives and has reached (1905) the venerable age of ninety-one years. They became the parents of ten children, of whom six attained years of 'maturity Eliza, James Henry, Sylvester, William, Rachel and George. Eliza, who is deceased, was the wife of Edwin Smith, and Rachel is the wife of Richard N. Miller. Sylvester Green had an adequate experience in strenuous work during his boyhood and youth, since be aided in the reclaiming and cultivation of the pioneer homestead, in Fairfield township, Lenawee county, Mich., and his educational training was limited to the somewhat primitive schools of the locality and period. He continued to remain at the parental home until his
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marriage, in 1869, when he purchased a farm of eighty acres in his native township, where he continued to reside until 1875, when he purchased 'forty acres there and then came to Royalton township, Fulton county, where he purchased forty acres, in Section 9, later adding forty acres of adjacent land, clearing a considerable portion of the place from the wild condition, and he has continued to add to his landed estate from time to time until he now owns three hundred and six acres, lying in Royalton township and across the Michigan line in his native township of Fairfield. It includes also the little homestead of twenty-six and one-half acres where he now resides, a portion of the same being within the corporate limits of the village of Lyons, where he has an attractive home and where he has maintained his residence since the autumn of 1902, being practically retired, though still having a general supervision of his extensive farming interests. He is a stalwart Republican and has been incumbent of minor offices in his township, including that of land appraiser. He is affiliated with Lyons Lodge No. 622, I. 0. 0. F., and with the adjunct organization, the Daughters of Rebekah, of which latter Mrs. Green also is a member. He and his wife are prominent members of the Lyons Christian church, in which he is a deacon. Mr. Green has been three times married. August 9, 1869, he wedded Miss Lavina Catlin, daughter of Burge Catlin, of Norwalk, Ohio, and she died in 1878, leaving two children—Almon B., /who married Miss Fannie Oaks; and Mary L., who is the wife of Arthur Wood. For his second wife Mr. Green married Miss Eliza_ Catlin, sister of his first wife, and she died in 1887; leaving no children. He later married his present wife, whose maiden name was Celia Catlin and who is likewise a sister of the two former wives of Mr. Green: No children have been born of this union.
GEORGE W. GRIESINGER, whose life was one of earnestness, industry and devotion to duty and who stood as one of the representative citizens and farmers of Fulton county, died on, his homestead place, in Fulton township, on the 7th of December, 1904, secure in the abiding esteem of all who knew him and leaving a record which stands both as lesson and incentive. Mr. Griesinger was born in Somerset county, Pa., on the loth of February, 1836, and was a son of Gottfried H. and Esther (Schultz) Griesinger, the former of whom was born in the kingdom of Wurtemburg, Germany, and the latter was a native of the State of Pennsylvania, where their marriage was solemnized. George W. was a child of seven years at the time of his parents' removal from Pennsylvania to Ohio, and the family located in Fulton county, on land adjoining the homestead now occupied by the widow of the subject of this sketch, and here the parents passed the remainder of their lives, having been worthy pioneers of the county and having assisted in the initial Stages of its agricultural and civic development. George W. Griesinger early gained a knowledge of arduous manual labor, since he assisted in the reclamation of the home farm and otherwise assisted in its work, and his educational advantages in a fundamental way were those
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offered in the somewhat primitive schools of the locality and period. He became a man of high attainments, largely through self-discipline, well-directed reading and a course of study in the normal school at Wauseon, and as a young man he was successfully engaged in teaching for some time. August 15, 1862, Mr. Griesinger enlisted as a private in Company K, One Hundred and Eleventh Ohio volunteer infantry, with which he served until January 24, 1865, when he received his honorable discharge, by reason of disabilities caused by wounds received in action. His command was a part of the Western Army, and he took part in practically all the engagements in which that army was active from the time of his enlistment until the close of the war. Among the principal engagements in which he participated may be mentioned the following: Huff's Ferry, Loudon Creek, Lenoirs, Campbell Station, Knoxville, Blaine's Crossroads, and Dandridge, Tenn.; Buzzard's Roost, Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain, Nickajack Creek, Chattahoochie river, Atlanta, Peachtree Creek and Lovejoy Station, Ga.; and Columbia, Franklin and Nashville, Tenn. He was thrice wounded, and never recovered entirely from the effects of his injuries, in recognition of which he eventually was granted a pension by the government. The same loyalty and fidelity which characterized his service as a valiant soldier of the Republic typified his entire life in its other relations, and be was the soul of honor and integrity, ever appreciative of the higher ideals and striving to order his course in harmony therewith. Shortly after the close of the war Mr. Griesinger purchased sixty acres of the present homestead, in Fulton township, later adding an adjoining twenty acres, and here he made his home until death, having developed and improved one of the fine farms of the county and having attained a success worthy the name. In his political allegiance he was a stanch Republican, fraternally he was identified with the Masonic order, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Grand Army of the Republic, and he was a zealous member of the Evangelical Association, with which religious body he became identified when but twelve years of age. He was called upon to serve in various township offices, and was justice of the peace about five years, being incumbent of this position at the time of his death. Mr. Griesinger was twice married, the maiden name of his first wife, who died. April 3, 1868, having been Mary M. McQuillan. They became the parents of three children, Ada May, John H. and Mary M., the last named being deceased. October 13, 1870, Mr. Griesinger married Miss Lydia A. Siegel, who survives him and still resides on the old homestead. She was born in German township, this county, on the 12th of June, 1852, and is a daughter of Jacob and Catherine (Naftzinger) Siegel, both of whom were born and reared in Germany, where they were married. They came to Ohio in an early day, having three children at the time, and first located in Wayne county, whence they removed to German township, Fulton county, in 1852. They were in very modest circumstances financially, as is evident when we revert to the fact that in caring for his family the father worked for some time for thirty-seven and one-half cents
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a day. By industry, economy and good management he acquired a fine property, and he was the owner of a well-improved and valuable farm of one hundred and Sixty acres, near Archbold, German township, at the time of his death, which occurred in 1884, his wife having passed away in 1882. They became the parents of nine children, of whom five are living, all being residents of Fulton county, where the four sons are prosperous farmers. To Mr. and Mrs. Griesinger were born twelve children, concerning whom the following brief record is incorporated: Daisy Almira, born September 14, 1871, died October. 19, 1881; Thomas, born December 21, 1873, died on the 23d of the same month; Jacob A. was born December 25, 1874; George Peter, June 4, 1876; Daniel F., July 28, 1878; Dora Etta, July 1, 1880; Clarence E. and Clara E., twins, June 11, 1882; Katie, June 12, 1884; Emily V., February 10, 1887; Ola, January 10, 1889; and an infant son who died February 6, 1894. MrS. Griesinger and her daughters are devoted members of the Evangelical Association, and they are prominent in the church and social life of the community, the attractive family home being a center of generous hospitality.
CONLEY E. GUILFORD is incumbent of the office of treasurer of Fulton county and is a popular and well-known citizen, so that it is incumbent that he be accorded representation in this work. He was born in the town of Cuba, N. Y., on the 24th of July, 1851, and is a son of Robert G. Guilford, who came to Fulton county in 1858 and located on a farm in Dover township. In 1863 the father tendered his services in defense of the Union, enlisting in the One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Ohio volunteer infantry, and he sacrificed his life on the altar of his country, his death occurring in 1863. He was a son of Samuel Guilford, a native of Massachusetts and of old Puritan stock. The latter removed from Wakefield, Mass., to the State of New York, where he passed the remainder of his life, having rendered valiant service as a soldier in the War of 1812. The maiden name of the mother of the present treasurer of Fulton county was Phoebe Post, and she was born in Cazenovia, N. Y. By reason of the loss of her husband a heavy burden of responsibility was thrown upon her shoulders, in the management of the estate and in caring for her children, and it is fitting that in this connection a statement of tribute be paid her memory for the noble and unselfish way in which she performed the duties which thus made So great exactions upon her mind, heart and strengths She died on the old homestead farm, in Dover townShip, in the year 1869. Conley E. Guilford is indebted to the public schools of Fulton county for his early educational privileges, having been about seven years of age at the time of his parents' removal to this State, and in order to aid and relieve his widowed mother he early began the battles of life on his own responsibility. Having been reared on a farm, he naturally initiated his independent career as a worker along the lines to which he had been trained, but he was early called upon to serve in positions of public trust and reSponsibility. He was incumbent of
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the office of clerk of Clinton township about twelve years, and for two years was a valued member of the Wauseon school-board. In rap he engaged in the drug business in Wauseon, continuing in this line of enterprise until 1896 and being numbered among the representative business men of the county capital. In 1881 he was commissioned postmaster, by President Garfield, continuing in same of the Wauseon office until the accession of Grover Cleveland to the presidential chair. In 1901 Mr. Guilford became the candidate of the Republican party for the office of treasurer of Fulton county, was elected by a gratifying majority, and the popular estimate placed upon his administration was best indicated by his reelection in 1903. The routine of the office work was very summarily interrupted in January, 1905, by the daring robbery of the in the treasurer's office, and naturally, Mr. Guilford feels greatly disconcerted and aggrieved over the affair, though by no means could he have anticipated or forefended the crime, which entailed a very considerable loss to him personally. Thus far all efforts to apprehend the guilty persons have proven futile. No iota of blame attaches to any of the county officials, since every reasonable provision and effort were made to safeguard the county funds. It is evident that the robbery was committed by experts, the vault and safe been reduced to a chaotic mass of wreckage by means of nitroglycerine and other powerful explosives. The county's loss was good by the insurance company which had indemnified the safe its contents. Mr. Guilford has for many years taken a prominent part in the political affairs of the county, and is a leader in the Pal councils of the Republican party. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and deeply appreciative of the noble and time honored organization. In 1881 Mr. Guilford was united in marriage to Miss Florence McConnell, daughter of A. W. McConnell, who removed to Fulton county from Medina county, in tarn and who sow resides in Wauseon. He served six years as auditor of the county and is a well-known and honored citizen. Mr. and Mrs. Guilford have two sons, Frank R., who is a student in the Ohio State University, in Columbus, and Clarence A., who is attending the Wauseon public schools.
GEORGE Z. GUNSAULLUS, one of the representative farmers of Royalton township, was born in Richland county, Ohio, March 15, 1840 and is a son of Melvin M. and Isabel (Forbet) Gunsaullus, of German and Irish lineage respectively. The patents came to Fulton county in 1846 and settled in Franklin township, where the father reclaimed forty acres of land from the virgin- wilds, becoming one of the well-to-do. farmers of the county and standing high in the esteem of all who knew him. Both he and his wife continued residents of Franklin township until their death. Of their eight children seven grew to maturity—George Z., Daniel E., (deceased), Margaret J., (deceased), Anna M., Nancy M., (deceased), Mary E., (deceased), and Elizabeth E., (deceased). George Z. was reared on the home farm, in Franklin township, early became inured to the work
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of the pioneer farm, and he secured his educational training in the common schools of the locality. September 10, 1862, he manifested his patriotism by enlisting in Company K, Thirty-eighth Ohio volunteer infantry, with which he went to the front, taking part tit the battles of Missionary Ridge, Jonesboro, Chickamauga, Stone River, Lookout Mountain, and in the Atlanta campaign, and he was with Sherman's forces on the ever memorable "march to the sea!.” He was in active service nearly three years and received his honorable discharge at Columbus, Ohio. On his return home he found employment as a farm-hand, and in the spring of 1871 he purchased his present fine homestead farm, comprising one hundred and sixty acres, in Section 28, Royalton, township, where he has since made his home, reclaiming much of the land from the wild State and making the best of improvements, including the erection of substantial buildings. He is a stanch adherent of the Republican party. December 6, 1866, he married Miss Lovina Ann Venetten, of Gorham township, this county, daughter of Gilbert and Julia Ann (Depew) Vanetten of Ulster County, N. Y. Mr. and Mrs. Gunsaullus have no children.
EPHRAIM GORSUCH, a representative farmer and pioneer citizen of Clinton township, was born in Wayne county Ohio, December 20, 1835. His father, Nathan Gorsuch, was born near Pittsburg, Pa., whence he came to Wayne county, Ohio, when a young man, being they married and there continuing his residence until 1854, when he came to Fulton county, settling in Section 15, Clinton township, and later establishing his residence in Section 16, where he died on the 3d of March, 1886. He served in the War of 1812 and represented Wayne county in the State legislature for one term. The maiden name of his wide was Elizabeth Ayers, and she was born and reared in Wayne county, and she died in Clinton township, Fulton county, November 29,
1872. This honored pioneer couple became the parents of seven sons and seven daughters, and of the number five are living. One son, Mordecai, was a member of an Ohio regiment in the Civil war, being taken prisoner and having been held in captivity for some time at Belle Isle and later at Jackson, where he died. Ephraim Gorsuch passed his boyhood and youth in Wayne county, in the common schools of which he secured his early educational training, and he was about nineteen years of age at the time of the family removal to Fulton county, where he has ever since resided and where he has attained to a high degree of success in temporal affairs. He is the owner of five well-improved farms in Fulton county, four of them being operated by his sons, and the aggregate area of his landed estate is four hundred and five acres, making him one of the exten-
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sive land-holders of the county. He is a man of liberal views and much public spirit, and is held in unqualified esteem in the community in which he has so long maintained his home. Mr. Gorsuch is now living essentially retired, having an attractive little place of five acres, improved with a fine residence and other buildings, and is here making his home near the scene of his former indefatigable labors as an agriculturist. After his marriage he located on a tract of eighty acres of land, of which only seven acres had been cleared, the remainder being covered with a dense growth of timber. In the reclaiming of the farm he utilized an ox team, a number of years passing before he secured horses, and in the early days he was accustomed to utilize his oxen in driving to the church which he and his good wife attended. He has contributed his quota to the development and progress of the county and is known as a worthy citizen. In politics he gives his support to the Democratic party, and he and his wife are members of the Christian church. On the 3d of March, 1862, Mr. Gorsuch was united in marriage to Miss Maria Cantleberry, daughter of David and Louisa (Davenport) Cantleberry, who settled in Fulton county in 1844, here residing until death. He passed to his reward in 1886 and his wife died in 1895. David Cantleberry was born in Pennsylvania, in 1807, and as a young man he removed to Holmes county, Ohio, where he followed the trade of gunsmith, also engaging in farming. He was married in that county, and after his removal to Fulton county made farming his principal vocation. Mr. and Mrs. Gorsuch have four sons, each of whom has been provided with a good farm, through the providence and kindness of their father. Edwin L., who resides in Section 3o, Clinton township, married Miss Margaret Mohr; Nathan N., whose farm is in Sections 4 and 33, Pike township, married Miss Lucy Becker; David W., whose farm is in Section 30, York township, married Miss Ida Bryant ; and Frank P., who resides on the old homestead, in Clinton township, married Miss Henrietta Genter. The sons received good educational advantages and are numbered among the representative young farmers of the county.
GEORGE B. HEISE, a prominent and well-known lawyer of Wauseon, is a native of Pickaway county, 0., where he was born on November 6, 1862. He is the son of Solomon S. and Olivia (Coontz) Heise, both natives of Pickaway county. Solomon Heise is a representative of a very early established family in that section of the State. The father of Solomon Heise was George Heise, a native of Pucks county, Pa., who came to Pickaway county at the age of eighteen years and entered government land, a portion of which has remained in the family for nearly a hundred years. George Heise was a soldier in the War of 1812, being a member of a Kentucky regi- tent that participated in the campaign against Detroit. Martin Heise, the father of George Heise, was a Revolutionary hero. This family has been represented in America for more than two hundred years, the founders of the American branch being natives of Germany. The
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mother of George B. Heise was a daughter of Henry Coontz, a native of Pennsylvania, who came to Pickaway county in young manhood, with his wife, a Miss Wall, a descendant of the well-known Wall family, who emigrated to America with Lord Baltimore. The Walls were a prominent and wealthy family whose influence did much towards establishing the right of Americans to worship God according to the dictates of their own consciences. Henry Coontz, a native of Virginia, was a teacher in the early history of that commonwealth, and a man of influence and prominence. The parental home of George B.. Heise is still in Pickaway county, about twenty miles from that on which his father was born. George B. Heise grew to manhood on the parental home, near Circleville, receiving his elementary education in the public schools of his native county. He prepared for teaching at the Central normal school, Worthington, 0., supplementing this by a course of study at the Fayette Normal University. Then for twelve years he taught in the schools of Fulton and Pickaway counties and earned the reputation of being a successful educator. But like most young men who enter the teachers' profession, he did not consider that calling permanent. Under the tutorship of John W. Roseborough, the nestor of the Fulton county bar, he read law and was admitted to practice on June 8, 1893. In September following he began his professional work at Wauseon, where he has since resided. Though engaged in general professional work, he has given special attention to probate business and the settlement of estates, and has built up a large and lucrative practice. George B. Heise easily ranks among the foremost lawyers of the Fulton county bar, being a thorough student and indefatigable worker and the possessor of a valuable professional library. In politics he is an earnest Democrat and he wields a potent influence in the counsels of that party as an organizer of great strength. He was the prime mover in the organization of a successful opposition to a clique of corrupt politicians who for years dominated politics m Fulton county, dictating nominations and elections, and resorting to the worst questionable/ means 'to carry out their nefarious ends. The confidence of the people in the sincerity and honesty of Mr. Heise brought to his standard well-meaning men of every political faith, and through their energies the county was purged of its political leprosy and brought to a system of honest caucuses, honest conventions and honest elections: Being an, earnest adherent to the principals advocated by the National Democratic conventions of 1896 and 1900, he believes that if any faction of the party needs "reorganizing," it is the one that followed strange gods and allied itself with the so-called party which came into existence for the purpose of defeating the nominees of the "regular" Democratic party. He is a thoughtful, careful writer upon political subjects, expressing himself in language that cannot be miscontrued, and has no patience whatever with ambiguous political platforms. Recently Mr. Heise has become interested in the organization of, the -Mercer Co-Operative Department Store in Wauseon, of which corporation he is the treasurer. The purpose of this establishment is to make the stockhold-
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ers participants in the profits arising from the sale of goods. A wide distribution of the stock of this concern is assured by the fact that it is non-transferable and limited to one hundred-dollar shares. A competent manager is employed to supervise the details of the business. As the experimental stage has been successfully passed, the promoters of the enterprise are planning to establish similar stores at suitable places throughout the United States. Mr. Heise, while at school at Fayette, became a member of the Good Templars, and he still adheres to the principles of that fraternity, using neither tobacco nor intoxicants in any form. He is treasurer of the local camp he of the Modern Woodmen of America, recorder of the local camp of the Court of Honor, and a member of the Encampment and subordinate lodges of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In his religious views he is quite liberal, being nominally a Methodist, though not wholly in accord with the discipline of that church. George B. Heise chose for his helpmeet on life s journey Miss Minnie E. Reiger of Franklin township, a daughter of George and Barbara Reiger, both of whom are deceased. Two promising sons have come to bless this union. They are: Roscoe S., a student at the Ohio State University and Bryan, a pupil of the Wauseon city schools.
DERICK HELFRICH, mayor and prominent merchant of Swanton, Fulton county, O., is a native of Lucas county, having been born in Richfield township, nine miles northeast of Swanton, on October 18, 1859. Frederick and Mary (Pitzen) Helfrich, his parents were both natives of Germany, the former of Hesse Darmstadt and the latter of Prussia. They emigrated to America with their parents and were married in Perrysburg, Wood county, O. From there they removed to Richfield township, Lucas county, Ohio, where Frederick Helfrich spent his life farming, dying in 1874, aged fifty-nine years. His widow, who survived him many years, died in November, 1903, at the ripe old age of eighty-two years. To these parents there were born seven children, of whom six are yet living. Their names follow: Frances, the wife of Adam Myers, a farmer of Lucas county, O.; Barbara, the wife of Henry Langenderfer, also a farmer of Lucas county; Anthony, an undertaker and furniture dealer of Lorain, O.; Frederick; Mary, unmarried and living with her relatives; Stephen, a merchant of Raab's Corners, Lucas county; and John the eldest, who was killed when thirteen years old by a vicious animal. Frederick Helfrich was reared on a farm and received his education in the public and parochial schools of his native county. For some years after attaining to his majority he followed farming. Then he was employed for one year as salesman in a dry-goods store in Toledo, O. In 1886 he came to Swanton and engaged for the next nine years in the livery business. Quitting the livery business, he established the only exclusively crockery store in Swanton, in which business he has met with marked success. This establishment carries a full line of crockery-ware, tinware, lamps, notions, etc. In connection with this business he is also ticket-agent of the Toledo and Indiana Electric railroad. In 1903 he was elected mayor of
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Swanton, his term expiring January 1, 1906. In political views he is liberal, not controlled by party lines, though he usually supports the Democratic ticket in national elections. He has served several years as a member of the board of health and one term in the village council. He is a past chancellor commander of the Swanton lodge of Knights of Pythias and with his wife a member of St. Richard's Catholic church. On May 5, 892, he was united in the bonds of matrimony to Miss Elida Reed, a native of Swanton and the daughter of A. A. and Sarah Reed, pioneer settlers of this locality. To Frederick Helfrich and wife have been born two children. They are:- Ruth, aged twelve years, and Fern, aged ten years.
WILLIAM HILL, retired farmer and highly respected citizen of Swanton, is a native of Tuscarawas county, O., where he was born on June 5, 1844. He is a son of Capt. John Hill, a native of Ohio, his mother in maidenhood being Elizabeth Buffington of Pennsylvania. In early life John Hill was a canal-boat captain, operating on the Miami and Erie Canal and the Wabash river, and to a ling ited extent on the Great Lakes. When the canal was superseded by the railroad he was forced to give up his avocation. He at the home of his son, William, in his seventy-third year, his wife having died just one month before. They were the parents of seven children, of whom only three are now living. Those living are: William; James, a farmer of Fulton county; and Alice, the wife of James Berry of Swanton. Charles died at the-age of seventeen and the other three in childhood. William Hill accompanied his parents to Fulton county when he was ten years old. His education was quite limited, as his father put him to work on the canal-boat immediately after the removal of the family to this county, depriving him each year of .a mother's care and attention during the he months of the boating season. Tiring of this monotonous work, he ran away and enlisted in the Union army. After having failed to pass the required examination, he finally succeeded in get enlisting into the One Hundred and Eleventh Ohio volunteer infantry and served three years. His regiment was for a time under command of General Brailey. He participated in fourteen ha among which may be mentioned the following: Bowling Green, Ky., Resaca, Ga., Campbell's Station, Term., Siege of Knoxville and Dandridge, Tenn. At the last named engagement he received a disabling wound and was sent to the hospital at Lancaster, Ky. while convalescing at the hospital, he with others of different regiments and companies was organized into a company to take part in the race after the Rebel raider, Morgan. In 1865 he was discharged from the service at Cleveland, O., and at once returned to his parental home near Swanton. For the first two years after his return from the war he was an employee of the American Express company. At the age of twenty-five, after his marriage, he located manently at Swanton. After being engaged in different lines of work for many years, he has laid aside everything else except that looking after his garden and fruit orchards. In politics Mr.
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is a stanch Republican. For twelve years he served as constable and for four years as deputy-sheriff of Fulton county. He is a member of Quiggle Post, No. 289, Grand Army of the Republic, having filled :the various chairs in that organization, and with his wife a member of the Baptist church. In 1870 he chose as his life partner Miss ;Mary Lucinda Berry, a daughter of Isaac and Arminda (Frost) Berry, pioneer settlers of this community. Of the five sons that have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hill three are still living. The names of those deceased were John L. and Bert. Walter I., the eldest, is master-mechanic of the American Tin-Plate company, located at Monessen, His position is as lucrative as it is responsible, and it is needless to state that he is filling it to the entire satisfaction of his employers. The maiden name of his wife was Miss Carrie Benz, a native of Fayette. Pearl D., the second of the living sons, is a member of the Regular Army, and holds the position of First-Sergeant, and is stationed in Arkansas. Louis G., the youngest child of the family, is foreman of the machine shops of the American Tin-Plate
.company at Monessen, where he is living a happy married life. William Hill is a progressive, public-spirited citizen. By industry and sobriety he has earned a fine home, where he and wife enjoy the pleasure of perfect domestic harmony. Their lives have been congenial and happy, and the parental home is still the dearest place on earth to the devoted sons whose business life has called them to other localities. For the disabilities incurred in army life, Mr. Hill is now drawing a liberal pension. William Hill and his most estimable wife have just cause to be proud of the achievements of their ens, all of whom have attained prominence.
JOHN P. HOLLAND is a progressive farmer and honored citizen of Royalton township, where he has resided from the time of his birth, and it was his to represent Fulton county as one of the 'valiant "boys in blue" who followed the old flag on the battlefields of the South during the greatest Civil war known in the annals of history. Mr. Holland was born on the homestead farm, in Royalton township, on the 26th of December, 1844, and is a son of Thomas R. and Deborah M. (Thompson) Holland, both of whom were born and reared in Buckinghamshire, England, being representatives of sterling old English families, long settled in that section of the "right little isle." They came to America in 1832, and the father made his way to Toledo, Ohio, where he was employed until about 835, when he came to Fulton county and settled in Royalton township, as one of the early pioneers of this section, which was then a part of Lucas county. He took up eighty acres of government land, the same being still covered with the native timber, and he reclaimed the greater portion of this tract to cultivation, the same being located in Section 24, and there the family home was retained until 1861, when he removed across the line into Fairfield township, Lenawee county, Mich., where he made his home for a score of years, engaged in agricultural pursuits. He then removed to the village of Weston, that county, where he lived retired until his death,
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October 24, 1904, at the patriarchal age of ninety-three years. His first wife, the mother of John P., died in 1849, five children having been born of the union, namely: Annie M., deceased, wife of Henry Ritchey; Ezekiel U., a resident of Amboy township; Louisa A., wife of Joseph Southworth; John P., to whom this sketch is dedicated; and Esther J., deceased wife of Lewis Miller. For his second wife Thomas R. Holland married Mary A. Boyce, and after her death he married Elizabeth C. Hindee, who survives him. John P. Holland was reared to manhood in Royalton township, his memory links the pioneer era with these latter days of opulent prosperity and advanced facilities in the section where his life has been passed, and his early education was secured in the common Schools of the locality. On the 9th of August, 1862, when but seventeen years of age, he enlisted as a private in Company H, One Hundredth Ohio volunteer infantry, which was assigned to the Army of the Ohio, and he was with his command in the battle of Limestone, Tenn., September 8, 1863, being there taken prisoner and being taken to Libby prison, Richmond, Va., and later to Belle Isle, where he remained in captivity until March 13, 1864, when he was paroled, reaching City Point four days later and rejoining his regiment in the following June, at Big Shanty, Ga. He took part in the battles of Jonesboro, Ga., Wilmington, N. C., and Columbia, Franklin and Nashville, Tenn., besides many minor engagements, and continued in the ranks until the close of the war, having received his honorable discharge June 20, 1865, at Goldsboro, N. C., and the regiment was mustered out at Cleveland, Ohio, on the 1st of the following month. After the termination of his military career Mr. Holland returned to Fulton county, and in the spring of 1868 he settled on his present farm, comprising eighty acres. In Section 13, Royalton township, having reclaimed the greater part of the tract from its wild state and having made excellent improvements of a permanent nature, so that it is now one of the attractive and valuable farmsteads of this section of the county. In politics Mr. Holland is an uncompromising Republican, he has ever shown a loyal concern in local affairs of a public nature, and he has served in various township offices. He and his wife are prominent members of the First Baptist church of Weston, Mich., about ten and one-half miles distant from their home. January 5, 1868, Mr. Holland was married to Miss Ann E. Sprague, daughter of Charles and Rebecca (Herrick) Sprague, natives of New York and New Hampshire, respectively, who settled in Royalton township, this county, in the autumn of 1857, here passing the remainder of their lives. Mr. Sprague improved a good farm of one hundred and sixty acres, and the property is now owned by hiS daughter Ann, wife of Mr. Holland, Subject of this sketch. Mr. and Mrs. Holland have one son, Rupert, who is engaged in the practice of law in the city of Toledo.
ELMER W. HOLMES, who is incumbent of the office of trustee of Royalton township, is one of the progressive farmers of this section of the county. He was born in Fairfield township, Lenawee
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county, Michigan, on the 14th of September, 1865, being a son of John and Lucretia (Packard) Holmes, the former of whom was born in England and the latter in the State of New York. John Holmes was one of the early settlers of Lenawee county, having first located in the city of Adrian and having later taken up his residence in airfield township, where he was engaged in farming for many years. e died in Royalton township, Fulton county, Ohio, May 8, 1893, which time he was sixty-two years of age. John and Lucretia (Packard) Holmes reared three children, Henry, who is a resident of North Dakota; Elmer W., who is the subject of this sketch; and Amanda., who became the wife of Ernest Spencer and who is now deceased. Elmer W. Holmes was reared to maturity on the old homestead farm, in Fairfield township, Lenawee county, Michigan, and his vocation throughout life has been that of farming, in connection with which he has attained marked success, and he has been a resident of Royalton township since 1891. He has a well improved farm of 160 acres, is one of the enterprising and progressive farmers of the county, and he is held in high esteem in the community. In politics he is a stanch supporter of the cause of the Republican party, and he is now serving his first term as a member of the board of trustees of Royalton township. On the 15th of December, 1886,
Mr. Holmes was united in marriage to Miss Wilda Onweller, daughter of Samuel and Amanda (Hilton) Onweller, of Royalton township, and they have three children: Frank, Ralph and Mabel.
CHARLES C. HOLT is one of the largest land owners and one of the most progressive and farmers of Royalton township, where he made his home from the time of birth. He was born In this township, on the 26th of May, 1858, and is a son of Frederick and Jane (Gilmore) Holt, The father was born and reared in Prussia, whence he immigrated to America in 1837, passing the first two years in Rochester, N. Y., and then coming to Toledo, Ohio. About 1842 he took up eighty acres of government land in Royalton township, Fulton county, reclaiming the same from the virgin forest, and thereafter, as his affairs prospered, he continued to add to his original purchase until he accumulated a landed estate of four hundred and eighty acres, of which he retained possession until his death, a large part of which he personally cleared and improved, and his success was entirely due to his own thrift and industry. His name was a synonym of integrity, and no man in the community commanded more unqualified esteem and confidence. He died in 1896, at the age of seventy-four years, and his devoted wife passed away the same year, aged sixty-two. The latter was a daughter of Ambrose Gilmore, who was a native of Pennsylvania, and who settled in Royalton township in 839, one of the earliest pioneers, passing the remainder of his life on the farm of eighty acres which he reclaimed from the wilderness. Frederick and Jane Holt became the parents of six children, of whom the following named attained maturity: Oliver, who is the present sheriff of Lenawee county, Mich.; James, who is a prominent farmer, owning land in Lenawee county,
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Michigan; Charles C., who is the subject of this review ; and Hattie, who is the wife of Perry Carpenter, a leading merchant of Lyons, this county. Charles C. Holt was reared on the old homestead farm, received his education in the public schools of the vicinity, and he continued to reside upon the home farm until 1904, when he removed to the village of Lyons, though he still maintains a general supervision of his extensive farming and stock interests. After his father's death, through inheritance and purchase, he came into poSSession of the home farm, being the owner of five hundred and seventy acres of most arable and well-improved farming land, all in one body, and he also owns his attractive residence in Lyons. In politics he is a stanch Republican, and is at the present time serving as trustee of Royalton township. He is affiliated with Lyon Lodge, No. 622, I. 0. 0. F., and both he and his wife are prominent and zealous members of the Christian church, in which he is a deacon. November 8, 1880, Mr. Holt was married to Miss Mary Naylor, who was born May 7, 858, in AShland county, Ohio, and reared principally in Royalton township, being a daughter of James and Priscilla (Deibler) Naylor, and the two living children of this union are Pearl and Mabel, both daughters being still at the parental home.
MONTRAL B. HOYT, of York township, is employed by the National government in the capacity of general agent in the rural free mail-delivery service and is held in high esteem in this section of the county, where he has lived from the time of his birth. He was born on the homestead farm, in York township, November 5, 1858, and is a son of John and Rebecca (McLaughlin) Hoyt, the former of whom was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, and the latter in the state of Pennsylvania. Their marriage was solemnized in Fulton county and they located on a farm two miles west of the present home of their son, Montral B., subject of this sketch, where both passed the remainder of their lives. The father passed away when Montral B., was but one year of age, and the death of the mother occurred in 1882. Mr. Hoyt was reared to maturity on the farm which he now owns, his widowed mother having come to the place to reside with her mother, Mrs. Susan McLaughlin, who then owned a portion of the farm. Mr. Hoyt duly availed himself of the advantages of the public schools of his native township and also attended the graded, school in Delta. That he made good use of his opportunities is evident when we revert to the fact that he engaged in teaching in the schools of his native county, following this vocation at intervals for fifteen years and meeting' with marked succesS in his pedagogic labors. For three years he gave his attention to farming and in 1889 he was elected county surveyor, in which office he served about seven years. In his official capacity he was identified with many important internal improvements in the county, notably the Bean Creek enterprise, --which resulted in protracted litigation and was finally settled by the supreme court of the State. In September, 1896, Mr. Hoyt retired from the office of surveyor and thereafter gave his supervision to the operation of his farm until 1900, when he was appointed route
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inspector in the rural free mail-delivery service, later being promoted special agent and finally to his present position, as rural agent. His field of labor thus far has covered nearly every State east of the Mississippi river. When he entered the service there were but two hundred rural mail-routes in the Union, and at the present time the number is fully thirty-five thousand. He has proved an able and discriminating executive and has found his work agreeable and profitable. In politics he is a stanch adherent of the Republican party, and in a fraternal way he is identified with Fulton Lodge, No. 2, F. & A. M.; Waters Chapter, No. 154, R. A. M.; Delta Lodge, No. 460, I. O. O. .F.; Fulton Encampment of the last mentioned order; and with the Knights of Pythias and the Knights of the Maccabees. In 1881 Mr. Hoyt was united in marriage to Miss Addie Allman, who was born in llamas county, in 1860, being a daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth Allman, well-known residents of Swanton. Mr. and Mrs. Hoyt have an adopted son, Rollo D., a promising and popular youth of sixteen years.
JOHN M. HULL, manager of the Fulton County Co-operative company; of Fayette, is one of the representative business men and popular citizens of this place, and it is largely due to his executive ability and unflagging energy that the enterprise over which he is placed in charge has forged to the front rank in prestige and success. He was born in the township of Venice, Seneca county, Ohio, on the 9th of November, 1849, and is a son of George and Elizabeth (Resh) Hull, the former of whom was born in New Jersey, January 21, 1802, and the latter was born in Pennsylvania. The father was a child at the time of his parents' removal from New Jersey to Franklin county, Pa., where he was reared to manhood and where his marriage was solemnized. In 1846 he removed to Seneca county. Ohio, purchasing a farm in Venice township, where he made his home until 1863, when he disposed of the place and removed to the city of Van Wert, Ohio, where both he and his wife passed the remainder of their lives. John M. Hull has the invigorating discipline which is ever involved in the life of the farm, having been reared until ten years of age on the homestead in Seneca county, and his educational advantages were those of the public schools, though his attendance was somewhat irregular. When ten years of age he went to work in a general store at Benton, Crawford county, where he remained one year, passin the ensuing three years in Chatfield, that county, having been his brother, Michael R., in bath places. His father then sold the farm and engaged in the grocery and provision business in Van Wert, and John M. was employed in the store for the ensuing four years, at the expiration of which his father disposed of the business. John M. thereupon joined his brothers, George W. and Henry S., who had established themselves in the dry-goods business in Wauseon, Fulton county, and he was associated with this enterprise, in the capacity of salesman, until 187o, when he entered into partnership with Jacob M. Longnecker, under the firm name of J. M. Hull & Company, and engaged in the general merchandise business in Delta. He continued thus engaged until 1879, when he disposed of his interest
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in the business and removed to Angola, Ind., where he conducted a dry-goods store until 1882, when he sold out and removed to South Dakota, taking up a half-section of land, in Hand county, perfecting his title to the two claims and being still the owner of a quarter section, which has greatly appreciated in value, with the rapid development of the country. After proving up on his farm he engaged in buying grain for the firm of G. W. VanDusen & Company, having charge of their elevator at New Ulm, Minn., for three years. The following decade he maintained his home and business headquarters in Canby, Minn., where he had charge of the flour-mills of the same company, for whom he continued to buy grain. He thereafter was engaged in the grain and coal business for himself, in the same town, where he remained .until 1898, when he purchased a stock of dry- goods and engaged in business at Delta, disposing of the business in 1901, and taking up his residence in Fayette, where he engaged in the general merchandise trade. In 1903 he effected the organization of the Fulton County Co-operative company, to which he turned over his Stock, becoming manager of the concern. This represented the first co-operative store in the county, and the success of the enterprise has been most gratifying, a dividend of five per cent and 'eight per cent interest on capital invested having been declared the first year. The company is incorporated with a capital stock of twenty-five thousand dollars, with shares at one hundred dollars each, no stockholder being entitled to more than one share and to only one vote. The company store is large and well-equipped, being conducted on the department plan and having a select line of general merchandise, and the business is conducted on a strictly cash basis. Mr. Hull is a member. of the common council of Fayette and is one of the town's most liberal and public-spirited citizens and he is a Republican in politics, and is-affiliated-with the lodge and-chapter of the. Masonic order and with the Independent Order of Odd' Fellows. April 13, 1871, Mr. Hull was united in marriage to Miss Telitha C. Jones, of Wauseon, daughter of the late John Jones, an honored citizen of Fulton county. Mr. and Mrs. Hull became the parents of four children: Edwin C, born March 1, 1872, is agent for the Toledo and Western Railroad at
Blissfield, Lenawee county, Mich ; Dora died at the age of two years, and Ora at the age of five; and Blanche W. was born March, 6; 1896.
ARBY JOHNSON is a representative of one of the well-known families of Fulton county, where he has lived from the time of his birth; and he is numbered among the prosperous farmers and popular and loyal 'citizens of Dover township. He was born in Amboy township, this county, on the 3d of March, 1851, and is a son of Sullivan an Adelia (Woiden) Johnson. His father was born in the State of Vermont, where the family was early founded, the date of his birth having been July 1, 1814. He came to Ohio as a young man, having received a good common-school education, and his marriage was solemnized in" Toledo, 'which was then represented by only three buildings. He came with his wife to Fulton county in 1838, and became the owner of a farm of one hundred and twenty acres,
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in Amboy township, having reclaimed the greater portion of the tract from the virgin forest. He impressed himself deeply upon the civic and public life of the community, ever holding the unqualified confidence and regard of his fellow-citizens, and being called upon to serve in various offices of public trust. He held, at different intervals, practically all of the township offices, including that of justice of the peace, of which he was incumbent about thirty-six years, and he served aS sheriff of the county four years, giving an admirable administration and one that called forth unqualified popular approval end commendation. For a number of years prior to his death he lived retired, in the village of Metamora, where he died on the 17th of, May, 1897, at the venerable age of eighty-three years. His wife was born in the State of New York, on the zest of April, 1818, and stied, August 7, 1905. Following is a brief record concerning the eight children in the family: Falena is the wife of Thomas Whitney, of Lorain county, Ohio; Roba is the wife of Myron Richardson, a farmer of Fulton couy; Aim is the wife of Joseph Warren, of Tedrow; Alice is the wife of Levi Chamberlain, of Ypsilanti, Mich.; Jennie became the wife of Alphonso Covill and died in Colorado; Hattie is the wife of David S. Brown, of Lyons, Fulton county; George is a successful farmer of Amboy township; and Arby is the immediate subject of this review: Arby Johnson grew to manhood on the home farm and was accorded the advantages of the common schools, and his vocation throughout his independent career has been that of agriculture and stock-growing. In 1895 he took up his residence on his present well-improved farm, which comprises eighty acres. He gives a stanch allegiance to the Republican party, and though he has never been ambitious for 'office, he served four years as deputy-sheriff under the regime of his father and two years under that of Sheriff Alfred F. Shaffer. He is affiliated with the Tedrow lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and with the Masonic lodge in the village of Lyons. In 1878 Mr. Johnson was married to Miss Effie A.; Sellers, who was born and reared on the farm where she and her husband now reside, the date of ..her birth being August 16, 1859. She is a daughter of Elias and Emberetta Sellers, the former of whom was born July 1s, 834, the latter in Summit county, Ohio, October 4, 1836, and she was about twenty years old at the time of coming to Fulton county, where she met and married Elias Sellers, who was one of the honored pioneers of Dover township and who was one of the representative farmers of the county, his death here occurring on the 17th of May, 1904. His wife now resides in Tedrow. They became the parents of two daughters, of whom Mrs. Johnson is the elder. May, born April 27, 1866, is the wife of Frank A. Potts, and they reside in Chattanooga, Tenn; Mr. Sellers served three years as a soldier in the Civil war, having enlisted as a member of Company H, One Hundredth Ohio volunteer infantry, of which lie was corporal at the time of receiving his hon orable discharge. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have seven children, whose names, with respective dates of birth, are as follows:. Davis B., December 30, 1881 ; Floy, December 13, 1883; Marvin B.. February
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1885; Otis, November 5, 887; Sullivan, November 12, 1891 ; Ruth, April 19, 893; and Beulah, February 19, 1904.
GEORGE DANIS JOHNSON, who is one of the representative farmers and stock-dealers of Amboy township and also the OWner of a finely-equipped carriage and wagon emporium in the village of Metamora, was born on the old homestead farm where he now resides, in Section 15, Amboy township, on the 16th of April, 1853, the date bearing its measure of significance in that it indicates that his parents must have been early settlers in this section. He is a son of Sullivan and Fidelia (Warden) Johnson, natives of Vermont and New York, respectively, and both represented families long identified with the annals of America. Sullivan Johnson settled in Amboy township in 1844, this Section at that time being a portion of Lucas county, and his original homestead was the one now owned and occupied by the subject of this review. The original farm comprised eighty acres, the most of which was covered with a heavy growth of native timber, and the father cleared and improved the property; to which he later added an adjoining forty acres, developing one of the best farms in this part of the county. He continued his residence on the homestead until 1896, when he removed to Metamora, where he lived retired until his death, which occurred on May 18th of the following year, at which time he was in his eighty-third year. His devoted wife passed away August 7, 1905. They became the parents of eight children, namely: Philena, wife of Thomas Whitney ; Roby, wife of Marvin D. Richardson; Ann, wife of Joseph B. Warren; Jennie, deceased wife of Alfonso A. Covell; Alice, wife of Levi Chamberlin; Hattie, wife of Davis Brown; Arby, a resident of Fulton county; and George D., subject of this sketch. For more than half a century Sullivan Johnson was prominently identified with the civic and industrial history of Amboy township, and no man in the township was held in higher confidence and regard. He held practically every office of importance in the gift of the people of the township, including that of justice of the peace, of which he was incumbent many years, making the office justify the name and wisely adjudicating difficulties for his friends and neighborS, who had confidence in his integrity, fairness and discrimination. He served two terms of two years each as Sheriff of Fulton county, and his record in the office is recalled as one of the best made in the annals of the county's history. He was at first a Whig and later a Republican. George Danis Johnson was reared to manhood on the home farm, was afforded a good public-school education, and he was signally favored also in having the guidance of a loving and intelligent father and mother. He early began to assume personal responsibilities in connection with the work of the home farm, and ever since he was fourteen years of age he has been engaged in the buying and selling of live-stock, being one of the best judges of stock in the county and being still one of the extensive buyers and shippers at this section. For several years also he was identified with the wholesale butchering business in Metamora and Toledo. In 1904 he engaged in the retail
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carriage and wagon business in Metamora, as a member of the firm .of Johnson & Scheuer, and in March, 1905, he became the sole owner of the business. He purchased the old homestead of his father in the year 1896, and has made the place his home from the time of his birth. In politics Mr. Johnson is a loyal and uncompromising advocate of the -principles and policies of the Republican party, and he served two terms as trustee of Amboy township. He is affiliated with Royalton Union Lodge, No. 434, Free and Accepted Masons ; Lyons Chapter, I No. 75, Royal Arch,. Masons; and Toledo Commandery, No. 7, Knights Templar, taking deep interest in and showing marked appreiciation of the time-honored Masonic fraternity. Mr. Johnson has been twice married. November 2, 1879, he wedded Miss Margaret Biehl, daughter of Conrad and Catherine Biehl, of Amboy township, the parents haying been born in Germany and having came to Fulton ,county in an early day. Mrs. Johnson was summoned into eternal rest on the 31st of July, 1901, having borne six children, of whom one survives, Carma, who still remains at her paternal home. February 12, 1903, Mr. Johnson was united in marriage to Miss Cora Jones, daughter of John and Arabella Jones, of Hillsdale county, Mich., where-she was born and reared.
JOHN HOWARD JOHNSON, a prominent and highly-successful physician and surgeon of Wauseon, was born in Springfield, 0. He is the son of W. S. Johnson, who makes his home with him. The subject of this sketch received his literary education in the Cleveland, 0., schools where he made an enviable record as a brilliant student. He was one of a class of ninety-one to graduate from the medical department of the University of Cleveland in 1897. For one year he practiced his profession in the city of Cleveland, when he removed to Wauseon, where he has built up a large and lucrative business, his practice calling him to all parts of Fulton county. Doctor Johnson has always taken an active interest in public affairs. At present he is serving as president of the board of education, having been elected first to the board in 1900. The same year he was appointed to the office of coroner of Fulton county, to which office he was elected in 1901 and re-elected in 1904. In politics he is identified with the Republican party and is now serving as a member of the couy executive committee. In 1901 he was appointed surgeon for the Montpelier division of the Wabash railway, a position which he still holds. In fraternal matters he is identified with the Masonic fraternity. His repeated election to office and his appointment to such an important office as that of division surgeon of a great railway system speaks volumes for the push and energy of the subject of this sketch. He holds these important positions because h