876 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.

DR. WILLIAM G. BRAYTON, physician and surgeon, Arcadia, is a native of Wyandot County, Ohio, born April 23, 1849, one of eleven children born to William and Margaret (Carry Brayton, natives of Vermont and New York, respectively, former a miller by trade. Our subject's grandfather built the first flouring-mill in this section at a very early date. Dr. Brayton remained in his native county until twenty-four years of age. He studied medicine under the instruction of his uncle, Dr. A. Brayton, and afterward attended the Michigan University at Ann Arbor, and later took several courses of lectures at the Miami Medical College at Cincinnati, Ohio. He graduated at the Medical College of Ohio in March, 1873, and subsequently attended the Bellevue Medical College, New York. The Doctor came to Arcadia in 1873, and has since been engaged in extensive practice at this place. He married Miss Susan Zuck, a daughter of Charles Zuck, of Caret', Ohio, and by this union has two children: Charles W. and Genevieve.

JOSEPH DILLERY, farmer, Arcadia, born January 13, 1823, in Darmstadt, Germany, is a son of Francis and Catharine (Stires) Dillery. Francis Dillery, who was a gardener, directing his attention to general horticultural and agricultural pursuits, came to America with his family in 1831, and in 1840 his son, Joseph, came to Hancock County, Ohio, where he has since resided. Joseph Dillery has been largely identified with the saw-mill and lumbering business of this county, but of late years has given his attention more to his farm interests. In 1864 he enlisted in Company F, One Hundred and Seventy-seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Col. Wilcox commanding, and served ten months. On his way home he suffered from an attack of sunstroke, from the effects of which he has never fully recovered Mr. Dillery was first married, October 23, 1845, to Catharine Peters, daughter of Ambrose Peters, and of the seven children born to this union five are now living: Mary J., William H., George W., Susan and Prude B. William H. married Miss Lucy Bowman, daughter of J. W. Bowman (they have two children living: Zetta and Stella); George W. married Miss Ella Mounts (they have one child, Mary C. ). Our subject' s second marriage was April 13, 1873, with Lovenia, daughter of John and Hannah (Wolf) Bowman. and by this union there are three children: Dora E., John F. and Rolland J. Mr. Dillery has filled many offices of importance during his residence in this county, served several years as mayor of Arcadia, and as deputy provost-marshal for Washington Township, this county. He at present fills the position of justice of the peace, having served as such for six years. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., Arcadia Lodge, No. 595.In faith he is a Spiritualist; in politics a Republican. His family, by his last marriage, belong to the Lutheran Church.

JOHN FISHER, physician and surgeon, Arcadia, was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, March 28, 1811, the second of eleven children born to Peter and Catharine (Shepler) Fisher, natives of Lancaster County, Penn., former of whom was a soldier in the war of 1812. Peter Fisher's father,

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Adam Fisher, lived to be one hundred and sixteen years old, as did also his wife; the old people were remarkably agile and youthful in their move ments in their advanced age, the old gentleman readily walking several miles with no uncomfortable results. Our subject left his native county at the age of fourteen years, coming to Carroll County, Ohio, and in the year 1833 to this county. Dr. Fisher's early life was spent at the blacksmith trade, learning in connection therewith the edge tool and general gunsmithing business. With John Miller he established the first foundry in Fostoria, Ohio, and built the first engine in this section of the State, and daring the years engaged in this direction, he studied medicine, more, at that time, for his own gratification; but he gradually drifted into a more vigorous study and subsequent practice. He read mainly with Dr. Elias Brien, of this county, a physician of the Thompsonian school, and began an extensive practice under this teaching, but soon afterward took up the eclectic system, under which he has since practiced with increased success. Dr. Fisher married Miss Rachel Heckerthorn, daughter of Christian Heckerthorn, of Carroll County, Ohio, and by this union he has four children, three of whom are living: Eliza, Peter and Joseph; the two latter served in the Twenty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in the late civil war.

NICHOLAS FOX, farmer, P. O. Arcadia, was born in this county July 10, 1847, son of William and Catherine (Males) Fox, the former a native of Pennsylvania. William Fox enlisted in the war of 1812, but did no active service; he removed to Fairfield County, Ohio, and afterward to Seneca County, and finally to Hancock County about 1827, and here lived until his death, engaged in farming. Nicholas Fox has always resided in this county, and has at present a farm of 160 acres of land in a high state of cultivation. He married, December 31, 1868, Miss Mary Gilmer, daughter of John Gilmer, an old resident of this county; four of their eight children are now living: Edward, John E., Mollie and William; those deceased are Myrtie, Rosa, Nettie and Minnie. Mr. Fox is a member of the I.O.O.F., Arcadia Lodge, No. 595. He is one of the substantial and progressive farmers of Washington Township, this county. In politics he is a Democrat.

TIPTON H. HALE, farmer, P. O. Arcadia, was born in this county, July 25, 1845, son of Charles and Eliza (Swindler) Hale, natives of Jefferson County, Ohio, who were the parents of nine children, eight of whom are now living: Grafton B., Thomas J., Ann E., James S., Tipton H., Randle P., Sarah M. and Charles W. Randle Hales (the original spelling of the family name was Hales, the "s" being dropped by the present generation), the grandfather of our subject, came from Ohio to Maryland, and was one of the early hotel keepers in the town of Fostoria. Both he and his family were hard-working people, much respected in the community. Tipton H. Hale has always resided in this county with the exception of four years, during which he was engaged in the drug business in Stark County, Ohio. He has a farm of 100 acres, and gives considerable attention to the raising of fine horses. Mr. Hale married October 15, 1873, Miss Mary R. Post, daughter of Charles Post, of Trumbull County, Ohio. This union has been blessed with four children: Franklin B., Mary A., Amelia E. and Harley G. Mr. Hale is a member of the Methodist Church. In politics he is a Republican.

RANDLE P. HALE, farmer, P. O. Arcadia, was born in this county, son of Charles and Eliza (Swindler) Hale, natives of Jefferson County, Ohio,

878 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

a sketch of whose family will be found in that of Tipton H. Hale, above. Mr. Hale has a farm of fifty acres, and gives his attention to farming and the raising of fine horses. He married Miss Arminda Moore, daughter of Joseph Moore, a former resident of Hancock County, Ohio.

HENRY HEISTAND (deceased) was one of the pioneer settlers of Hancock County, and his vote was one of the first seven cast in Washington Township. He was a son of Jacob Heistand, and came from Pennsylvania. He resided in this county, engaged in farming, until his death, which occurred in February, 1881, at which time he had farm property to the extent of 400 acres. He was a member of the Lutheran Church, and a stanch Democrat in politics, and filled many offices in the township with great acceptance to the people. He married Susan Welsh, and eight of their large family of children are now living Mary E. , Sarah A., Harriet, John, Jeremiah, William, Morris O. and Charles. John, the eldest son, married Miss Sarah Zimmerman, daughter of Andrew Zimmerman, formerly of this county; William married Miss Julia B. Clarke, daughter of Matthias Clark, of this county (they have two children, Pearl and Alda); Morris O. married Miss Lucy Brayton, sister of Dr. W. G. Brayton, of Arcadia, Ohio (they have one child, Clair). These three sons (John, William and Morris O.) reside on divided portions of the old homestead.

WILLIAM MANECKE, farmer, P. O. Fostoria, was born near Philadelphia, Penn., November 4, 1836, son of Henry and Christina (Markley) Manecke, natives of Germany. The father was engaged for many years in the sugar refining business in Philadelphia, and later gave his attention to farming; he died in this county December 23, 1861, his widow following him January 9, 1866. They were parents of eight children, of whom seven are living, William being the eldest of the family. Our subject came to Hancock County with his parents, and has since been one of the most extensive and successful farmers of Washington Township, owning, with his brother Peter, 640 acres of improved land. In September, 1362, Mr. Manecke enlisted in Company K, One Hundred and Eighteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry; he received a severe wound in his right hip December 29, 1863, at Mossy Creek, east Tennessee, which incapacitated him for further service. and he was mustered out in the spring of 1865. He was first married to Miss Susan Ernest, daughter of Jacob Ernest, an old settler of Hancock County, and to that union was born one child, Della. Mr. Manecke's second marriage was with Miss Caroline Stout, daughter of Christian Stout, of Henry County, Ohio. There are seven children living of this union: Romain, Gilbert, Thomas J., Ross, Maude, James and Emma.

HENRY SHEETS, farmer, P. O. Arcadia, was born in Lebanon County, Penn., July 26, 1824, the eldest child of Jacob and Christiana (Boher) Sheets, both of whom were of Pennsylvania birth and of German descent. They were the parents of nine children, of whom seven are now living. Jacob Sheets, a farmer by occupation, was a son of Matthias Sheets, who was a blacksmith and laborer, and was brought to America in 1776 with the German allies of the British Army, but deserted them in New Jersey, safely escaping into the American lines. Henry's maternal grandfather, Nicholas Boher, was a private soldier in the Revolution. When nine months old our subject was taken by his parents to Center County, Penn., where he was brought up on a farm, and in the winter seasons sent to the common district school. At the age of seventeen, by permission of his parents, he

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came to Ohio, locating near Arcadia. Here he worked on a farm and at carpentering, and also taught fourteen terms of school. In 1860 he was elected county auditor, and in the spring of 1861 took up his residence in Findlay, where he filled the offices of county auditor and school examiner. In 1866 he moved back to his farm at Arcadia, where he still resides. In 1870 he was appointed to fill the unexpired term of the county treasurer, and in 1876 was elected to fill the unexpired term of representative in the State Legislature, to which latter position he was reelected for a full term in 1877. In politics he is, and always has been, a Democrat. December 18, 1851, Mr. Sheets married Miss Martha Campbell daughter of James Campbell, a once prominent farmer of Cass Township, this county, and there are six children living of this union: Rufus W.. James H., Matthew, Mary E., Elizabeth and Homer. Mr. Sheets has a farm of 155 acres of land, which was mostly cleared by himself, and upon which he has resided most of the time since 1848. Since 1849 he has been a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, with which most of his family is connected. In his own affairs he has been successful during life. having only $4 left when he came to Ohio; and while serving the people, in various capacities, has shown that integrity of purpose and fairness of action in all things that have won him the esteem and confidence of the entire community.

DAVID SICKLES, farmer, P. O. Fostoria, was born in Harrison County, Ohio, November 18, 1814, son of Elias and Margaret (Hendrix) Sickles, natives of Maryland and Pennsylvania respectively. Elias Sickles was a son of David Sickles, and during life gave his attention to farming. He had lived in Hancock County, but at the time of his death was a resident of Williams County, Ohio. The subject of this sketch lived in his native county until he was seventeen years of age, then came to Hancock County, and has since resided here, engaged wholly in farming, having at present a farm of 180 acres of land. He is a member of the United Brethren Church. Mr. Sickles married Miss Elizabeth Oler, daughter of Peter Oler, of Carroll County, Ohio. She died in August, 1881, leaving two children: Margaret, wife of John Morganthaler, and John, who is married to Malissa Naw, daughter of Jacob Naw, a retired farmer of this county.

A. O. and M. C. STONER, farmers, P. O. Fostoria. were born July 1, 1843, and February 22, 1858, respectively, the former in Westmoreland County, Penn., and the latter in this county. They are the sons of John H. and Elizabeth (Overholt) Stoner, natives of Westmoreland County, Penn., who came to Hancock County in the spring of 1845, locating in Cass Township, and here lived for nineteen years, when the farm was traded for the one upon which the widow and children now reside. John H. Stoner was a farmer and cooper, as was also his father, John Stoner, who kept a still-house as well in an early day. John H. Stoner filled several offices in the county; he was a hard working man, held in great esteem by the entire community. A. O: Stoner married Miss Lydia A. Hollingshead, and their union has been blessed with three children, two of whom survive: Emma I. and John C. (Clara L. , a twin sister of the latter, died when young). M. C. Stoner married Miss Minerva Zimmerman, daughter of Andrew Zimmerman, a farmer of this county, and by her has two children: Cora B. and Ollie D.

ROBERT W. TAYLOR, farmer, P. O. Arcadia, was born in this county April 2, 1839, son of William and Casander (Bell) Taylor, former a native of Ireland, latter of Maryland. William Taylor, who was a farmer, came

880 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

to Hancock County about 1835 and died in 1840. His father, William Taylor, never came to America. To the parents of our subject were born eight children, of whom five are living: Eliza, Mark, Mary A. , George, and Robert W. Cur subject has always given his attention to agricultural pursuits and has at present a farm of 270 acres of land. He married, December 5, 1865, Miss Mary Moore, daughter of John Moore, a farmer of this county. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor have four children: Hillery, Agnes, Howard and Rush.

ANDREW WISEMAN, farmer. P. C. Fostoria, is one of the family of thirteen children born to James G. and Elizabeth (Summers) Wiseman, both of whom were born in Virginia. Cur subject was born September 28, 1817, in Madison County, Ohio, his parents having removed to this State but three days previous to his birth. His father, a blacksmith and farmer, had served in the war of 1812, in a cavalry regiment under a Col. Lewis. He resided in Madison County. Ohio, nearly two years then moved to Ferry County, Ohio, and there lived until 1831, at which date the family came to Hancock County, where our subject has since resided. James G. Wiseman died in his eightieth year, chiefly from the effects of injuries received from a runaway horse; the mother died three year; later. The thirteen children of the old family are John, Andrew, James G.. Samuel, George W. Joseph, Simon C., Margaret, Eliza, Sarah (who died in her infancy), Emily Rebecca J. and Angeline. Andrew (a son of John). James G. , Samuel. George W.. and Simon C. served in various regiments in the war of the Rebellion. and all were either killed or died from disabilities received during service. The grandfather of our subject, John Wiseman, was a Revolutionary soldier; his occupation was that of a farmer; he was also a preacher in they Methodist Episcopal Church. Andrew Wiseman, the subject of this sketch served a year in the Twenty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was discharged for disability. (James Hale; brother-in-law of our subject, was a member of the Seventy-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He served his full time, part of which was spent in Andersonville Prison.) Mr. Wiseman bought his present farm of 160 acres in 1848, and has resided here since 1850. Here he has a park of eight acres, containing at present thirteen beautiful specimens of the red deer. Mr. Wiseman was first married to Miss Louisa Smith, daughter of James Smith, of Ferry County, Ohio. His second marriage was with Miss Ellen Lindsey, daughter of William and Margaret: (Buck) Lindsey, of Pennsylvania, and has one child by this union, Minnie D. Mr. Wiseman has been a member of the A. F. & A. M. since 1847, belonging at present to the Blue Lodge at Fosteria, and to the Chapter at Findlay. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Politically he is a stanch Republican.