Crawford County, Ohio - The whole text, 1902 (part 21 of 22)

Mr. Smith was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, on the 2d of June, 1 82 1, a son of Joseph S. and Jane (Hogan) Smith. The father was also born in Washington county of the Keystone state, his birth occurring in 1797. He was a son of Alexander and Jane (Snodgrass) Smith, both natives of the Emerald Isle. After coming to the United States the grandfather became a well-known and prominent farmer of Washington county, Pennsylvania, where he spent his remaining clays. He was a veteran of the war of 1812, and was a man highly respected and esteemed for his many estimable traits of character. His son, Joseph S., was reared and educated in the county of his nativity, and was early inured to the work of field and meadow. After his marriage he located on a portion of his father's farm, where he remained until 1825, and in the fall of that year he came with his wife and two children by wagon to Crawford county, Ohio. During a portion of the journey it was necessary for him to go ahead and clear a road ere the wagon could proceed, and on his arrival here he located on the farm on which he still resides, he having entered the land from the government in 1821 while on a prospecting tour through Ohio. The place consisted of one hundred and sixty acres, and was then covered with a dense growth of native timber, and while he erected a cabin the family were obliged to live in the wagon. Mr. Smith cleared and improved this place, and in later years erected a more modern and commodious hewed-log house, in which he spent his remaining days, passing away in 1843, in early life. He was an active church worker and a member of the Presbyterian denomination, and he aided materially in the erection of the first Presbyterian church in Crawford county. Our subject, who was then a lad of thirteen years, drove an ox-team in hauling the timber used in its construction. In his political affiliations Mr. Smith was a Democrat. He was also active in military affairs, and for a number of years served as captain oi a company. The mother of our subject, who was born in Maryland, in 1797, was a daughter of William Hogan, who removed to Washington count}', Pennsylvania, from Maryland, his native state, and was of Irish extraction. Mrs. Smith survived her husband about ten years, dying in 1855, and was accidentally killed by being thrown from a buggy. They were the parents of seven children, three of whom still survive, - Alexander, the subject of this review; William W., a resident of Woodson county, Kansas; and Tabitha«J., the widow of James Majors.

Alexander Smith, whose name introduces this review, was reared to the quiet purusits of the farm and received his educational advantages in the old pioneer log school house, with its puncheon floor, slab benches and greased paper windows. In 1843, after his marriage, he erected a log cabin on a portion of his father's farm, which he operated on the shares, thus continuing for about five years. In the meantime, however, the farm had been divided, and on the expiration of the five years our subject purchased the interests of the other heirs and thus became the possessor of the entire homestead. In

1857 he erected his present substantial frame residence, and his farm, which consists of one hundred. and fifty-two acres, is one of the valuable places of Crawford county. For the past twenty years, however, he has lived retired, in the enjoyment of a well-earned rest, the result of unfaltering energy, wise judgment and business ability. The management of the farm is now left to his sons. In the days of the horse-power thresher Mr. Smith also devoted a part of his time to threshing, but his principal occupation has been farming, and in that vocation his efforts were attended with a high and well-merited degree of success.

The year 1843 witnessed the marriage of Mr. Smith and Miss Nancy J. Dix, a native of Columbiana county, Ohio, and a daughter of Joseph Dix. This union was blessed with seven children, four of whom still survive, namely: Joseph M., a resident of Crawford county; Porter W., of Oklahoma ; Alexander, who operates the home farm ; and Martha J., the wife of Oliver McKeehen, also of Sandusky township, Crawford county. The wife and mother passed away in death on the 14th of August, 1887, at the age of sixty-five years. For the past fifty-seven years Mr. Smith has been an active and zealous member of the Presbyterian church, and during all of that time has served as an elder therein, much of the time also acting as a trustee. In political matters he is a stanch supporter of the Democracy. He has been the choice of his party for a number of local offices, having served for two terms as township trustee, two terms as clerk of his township, two terms as township assessor, and for more than twenty years has held the office of township treasurer. In all of these positions he discharged his duties with the utmost fidelity and honesty, and in all relations of life he has ever been true to principle and the right.

John Guiss

Research, into the early history of Crawford county indicates the fact that the Guiss family was founded here in early pioneer days and that they became identified with agricultural interests, thus aiding in the work of reclaiming wild land for purposes of civilization. Our subject is numbered among the native sons of the county, his birth having occurred in Cranberry township, on the farm which Jacob Sheets and wife now own. His father, Abraham Guiss, was a native of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, and was a son of Jacob Guiss. Both removed from the Keystone state to Columbiana county, Ohio, at a very early day, locating near Xew Lisbon, and in 1836 they came with their respective families to Crawford county. The journey was made with ox-teams and they were twenty-one days upon the way. In addition to their household effects and other personal property they brought with them three geese, one of which is still living and is now in possession of our subject. The grandfather entered nearly one thousand acres of government land and took up his abode where Jacob Myres resides. He was the father of twelve children, namely: John, George. Abraham, Christian. Henry, Anne, Susan, Catherine, Martha and others whose names are not remembered. The grandfather, Jacob Guiss, or real name Guissinger, wandered from home when quite young, and on going to school the "inger" was omitted by the teacher and thus only Guiss remains.

The Guiss family lived in true pioneer style and endured the usual hardships and trials which fall to the lot of settlers upon the frontier. Amid such surroundings our subject was reared, and upon the old homestead he remained until twenty-one years of age. At the age of nineteen he began teaching in the district school, having thirty-five scholars, of whom thirty-one were relatives. He remained in charge of that school for two years, and for a similar period had charge of the New Washington school, after which he was engaged in photographic work in Plymouth, Ohio, for two years. Subsequently he spent one year as a bookkeeper in Cleveland, and then returning to Plymouth, he clerked in a general store for two years. The succeeding year was spent as a salesman in Shelby, Ohio, after which he bought an interest in a store in West Liberty, carrying on business at that place for two years. He was next owner of a half interest in a store in Sulphur Springs, where he carried on mercantile pursuits for fourteen years, meeting with good success in his undertakings. On the expiration of that period he removed to the farm upon which he now lives and which has been his home continuously since 1880. He is engaged in general farming, having eighty acres of rich land, which he has placed under a high state of cultivation.

On the 19th of November, 1863, Mr. Guiss was united in marriage to Miss Susan Fry, and unto them have been born six children : William H., a practicing physician residing in Tiro, Ohio; Mellville, who makes his home in Cedartown, Georgia, where he is serving as treasurer and secretarv of the Alabama & Georgia Iron Company; Ethie, who is engaged in school-teaching and makes her home with her parents; Charles A., who was also engaged in teaching school, but is now taking a course at the Ohio State University : Warren G., who is the principal of the Chatfield schools; and Maude R., who is attending the Heidelburg School of Oratory. The children have been pro-

Mr. Guiss has frequently been called to public office by his fellow townsmen, who, recognizing his worth and ability, have chosen him for public honors. For nine years he served as justice of the peace and discharged his duties with strict fairness and impartiality. He was also township clerk of Liberty township, was assessor, notary public for six years, and for ten years was assistant postmaster at Sulphur Springs. In politics he is a stalwart Democrat, and in every position in which he has served he has discharged his duties in a most able and energetic manner, winning the commendation of all con- -cerned. In religious faith he is a Lutheran. He was a charter member of the Knights of Pythias lodge at New Washington, has. filled all the chairs and is now a past chancellor. His life exemplifies the beneficent spirit of the fraternity. He is widely and favorably known and is held in the highest regard where he is best known.

Jacob Crum

One of the old and highly respected farmers of Crawford count)' is Jacob Crum, who has established a reputation as a thorough farmer and estimable and useful citizen during a residence here which covers more than a half century. Mr. Crum was born in Adams county, Pennsylvania, on April 10, 1825, and he was a son of Moses and Margaret (Rex) Crum, and was one of a family of six children which was born U> his parents. Of this family our subject and his brother Michael/ who is a resident of Richland county, are the only living representatives.

Moses Crum was a farmer in Pennsylvania, where he was born in 1792, and from that state he emigrated to Ohio, about 1838, locating in Sharon township, Richland county. Here he lived until 1877, at which time he passed away, at the age of eighty-five years and two months. His most worthy widow survived him for about ten years, her age reaching* ninety-five years. Mr. Crum possessed at the time of his decease about two hundred and forty -acres of land, and provided well for his children, ever taking a deep interest in their welfare.

Jacob Crum was reared to farm work and was about thirteen years old when his parents removed to Ohio. His educational advantages were limited, his only opportunity being during the few winter months when he could be spared from the farm, the school house being such as the pioneer locality pro-

Our subject remained at home until his marriage, in 1855, to Miss Susan Naser, who was a native of Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, and who was a daughter of Samuel Naser, who came to Richland county in 1834. Mr. Naser located in Sharon township and lived there his remaining years. After marriage our subject and his young wife began housekeeping on the farm which he now occupies, in Vernon township. This property was a present from his honored father and comprised one hundred and sixty-six acres, to which our subject has since added other lands. In 1880 he purchased a tract of fortv' acres, which is located one- fourth of a mile south of his home place, and in 1885 he bought another farm, the location of the latter being in Auburn township, across the highway from his residence farm, and consists of one hundred and seventy acres. With these additions our subject owns three hundred and seventy-six acres of land, and carries on extensive farming and stockraising operations.

Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Crum, as follows : Samuel, residing on the Auburn township farm ; Elzina, the wife of Warren Turtle, of Shelby; Jeremiah, of the state of Washington; Curtis, of Shelby, Ohio; John, residing at home; Catherine, the wife of Edward Johnson, of Shelby; and Luella, deceased. In politics Mr. Crum has been a life-long Democrat, and has been of service to his locality in several offices, notably as school director, for several years. He has been long one of the leading members of the Reformed church, as was his wife until her death, in 1888. During his long life in this locality Mr. Crum has witnessed many changes, and lias done his part in (developing the agricultural section in his vicinity, and is held in high esteem and is one of the most substantial citizens of the county.

John Burgbacher

The pioneer history of Crawford county would be incomplete without mention of this gentleman, who for more than sixty-five years has made his home within her borders, his time and attention being given largely to agricultural pursuits. He has assisted in reclaiming the wild land for purposes of civilization and in many ways has contributed to the substantial development and growth of the county. He has always been an interested witness -of its improvement, from the time when the region was dotted here and there with rude log cabins, down to the present, when line farms and thriving villages indicate the prosperous condition of a contented and happy people.

Mr. Burgbacher was born in \\ urtemberg, Germany, June 23, 1824, a son of Johannes and Rosina (Bypus) Burgbacher. In 1835 the father brought his wife and children to America, sailing in June of that vear and reaching New York after a voyage of sixty-two days. From the eastern metropolis they proceeded by lake and canal to Sandusky and thence by team to Crawford county. He was a wagon-maker by trade, but after coming to this country he located on the farm where our subject now resides, purchasing- eighty acres of land, of which four acres had been cleared, while a log cabin had been builded. The land was covered with heavy timber, beech, oak, elm and ash, but the father and his sons at once began to clear awav the trees and prepare the fields for cultivation. For four years after their arrival the father and his son John tilled what corn they planted with a hoe. The deer were so numerous that they would often come to the hay stack and feed with the cows. Everything was wild, the land was in its primitive condition and the work of progress and improvement seemed scarcelv begun, but in course of time all this was changed and the farm is now one of the most valuable farming properties in the count}-. The father died in 1842, at the age of sixty-seven years, while his wife passed away December 14, 1850. They were the parents of five children.

Air. Burgbacher, of this review, was eighteen years of age at the time of his father's death. He then assumed the management of the home farm, which he has since operated and which has continuously been his place of residence since 1835. He to-day owns one hundred and seventy acres of rich land, all under a high state of cultivation, and his farm is one of the best improved in this portion of the county. He is energetic and progressive in his methods and his earnest labor has brought to him success as the vears have gone by.

On the 3d of July, 1849, Mr- Burgbacher was united in marriage to Miss Susan M. Koenig, a native of Germany and a daughter of William and Marie L. (Fay) Koenig, who came to America in 1833 and located in Chatfield township, Crawford county. He secured eighty acres of wild land, where Gottlieb Knicht is now living, and erected thereon a log cabin of one room. This contained besides a stove, a table and chairs, three beds, and in that room the father, who was a cooper by trade, also engaged in the manufacture of barrels. Both he and his wife spent their last days in the home of our subject and both died when eighty-two years of age. Unto Air. and Airs. Burgbacher have been born nine children : Otto P., who died in childhood ; Mary, wife of Will- iam Hohl, of Lima, Ohio ; John, a resident farmer of Defiance county, Ohio ; William, of Chatfield township; Rosa, the wife of Jacob Bringle, of Chatfield township; Henry and Jacob, who are deceased; Elizabeth, the wife of F. E. Hiser, who is engaged in the operation of a sawmill and tile factory in Carrothers ; and Hannon, a merchant of Seneca, Ohio.

Mr. Burgbacher has been a prominent factor in public affairs for many years and has been called upon to serve in many positions of honor and trust. In 1862 he was elected county commissioner and served for two terms of three years each, being chosen to the office as the Democratic candidate. In 1853 he was elected justice of the peace and since that time has continuously served in the office, with the exception of nine years. He has also been trustee for many years and school director for forty years, and in every office in which he has been called to serve he has discharged his duties in a manner winning him the highest commendation of all concerned. He and his wife hold membership in the Lutheran church and are earnest, consistent Christian people, everywhere honored and esteemed for their sterling worth. Mr. Burgbacher aided in laying out some of the roads of the county and has ever borne his part in the work of public progress as a citizen who has the general good deeply at heart.

Solomon Seery

Solomon Seery has resided upon the farm in Lykens township which is now his home for more than two-thirds of a century, taking up his abode there when a boy of ten years. He was born in Ross county, Ohio, Septeml:er 22, 1823, a son of Solomon Seery, one of the honored pioneers of Crawford county, who aided in its substantial development in early days. In the fall of 1833 tne father brought his family to Crawford county, where our subject has since made his home. He began his education in a log schoolhouse, seated with slab benches and supplied with other primitive furniture, and the methods of instruction were almost equally crude. Although a youth of only ten summers when he came to this county, he aided his father in the work of clearing the fields for cultivation and assisted in the plowing, planting and harvesting.

In 1855 occurred the marriage of Solomon Seery and Miss Elizabeth Park, and unto them have been born three children, namely: Independence, a hoop manufacturer of St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin; John W., a resident farmer of Lykens township; and Russell O. The wife and mother died April

20, 1890, at the age of fifty-four years, respected by all who knew her, so that her loss was deeply mourned by her many friends, as well as her immediate family.

Throughout his entire life Mr. Seery has carried on general farming, and to-day he owns three hundred and twenty-five acres of rich land, all in Lykens township. The well tilled fields yield to him golden harvest and everything about the place is kept in good condition. In the early days he was celebrated as a coon hunter. For a half century he has been a member of the United Brethren church and throughout the greater part of the time has served as trustee, while for a long period he was class-leader and superintendent of the Sunday-school. His first presidential vote was cast for Henry Clay, the Whig candidate, and at the present time he is a Prohibitionist. He gives his support to all movements calculated to promulgate temperance, morality and intellectuality and has aided in many interests for the general good. His life has ever been honorable and upright and all who know him esteem him for his genuine worth.

Henry J. Oberlander

On the farm in Lykens township which is yet his home Henry J. Oberlander first opened his eyes to the light of day on the 31st of May, 1847, and throughout his entire life he has been connected with the agricultural interests of Crawford county. He is now numbered among its leading and representative farmers, and wherever he is known is held in high regard.

His father, Jacob Oberlander, was born and reared in York county, Pennsylvania, and there he married Elizabeth Allbright. They began their -domestic life upon a farm in that county and also lived for a time in Adams county, Pennsylvania, but determined to try his fortune farther west. In 1832 Mr. Oberlander made his way to Richland county, Ohio, hiring a horse team with which to accomplish the journey. There he resided until 1835, when he came to Crawford county and entered a tract of land of eighty acres in Lykens township, from the government. The following year he brought his family to the new home and soon they were living in true pioneer style in a little log cabin containing but one room. The farm was covered with a heavy growth of timber and it required many long years of arduous toil to clear and improve the place. Throughout the remainder of his days Jacob Oberlander carried on farming here, and at one time was the owner of four hundred and twentv acres of valuable land. He made many excellent im- provements upon his place and his property became one of the most attractive and desirable farms of the county. He was a member of the Pietist church and an earnest Christian gentleman, who commanded the respect and confidence of all with whom he was associated in the active affairs of life. He died January 21, 1887, at the ripe old age of eighty-three years.

On the old homestead Henry Oberlander has spent his entire life. The common schools afforded him his educational privileges and under his father's direction he' early became familiar with all the duties that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. Together they carried on their farming operations until the father's death, and Mr. Oberlander of this review has since resided on the old hi me place, devoting his energies to the cultivation of his farm, comprising one hundred acres, of which ninety acres is cleared and the greater part divided into fields, which are highly improved. He carries on general farming and his well directed labors bring to him a good financial return.

On the 25th of June, 1874, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Oberlander and Miss Sarah J. Feltis, of Wyandot county, Ohio, and unto them have been born four children : Irvin J., who married Florence Bogart and is living at home ; Lawrence E., who married Ida Spade and is a farmer of Lykens township; Iona B., the wife of John Wisenhour, of Lykens township; and Cora M., the wife of Noah Aleck, by whom she has one child, Lena L. Mr. Oberlander and his family are well known people of the community and enjoy the warm regard of a large circle of friends and acquaintances. In politics he is a Democrat, but has never sought or desired office, preferring to give his time and attention to his business interests, in which he is meeting with creditable success.

Jacob Broede

Jacob Broede, who is carrying on general farming and stock-raising in Lykens township, where he owns and operates two hundred and forty acres of land, is one of the worthy German-American citizens of Crawford county. His birth occurred in Bavaria, Germany, August 25, 1832, his parents being Adam and Catherine (Blinn) Broede. Upon his father's farm he was reared and in the schools of his native land he acquired a good education. At length he determined to try his fortune in the new world, believing that better advantages were here afforded young men. Accordingly he crossed the Atlantic in 1 85 1 and after a voyage of twenty-two days upon a sailing vessel he made his way to Utica, New York, where he worked as a farm hand, by the month, for two1 and a half years. On the expiration of that period he returned to Germany, on account of his father's death, and assumed the management of the home farm, which he operated for six years. He then again came to America, spending three months in the Empire state and in the fall of i860 he arrived in Seneca county, Ohio, where he remained for seven months. On the expiration of that period he purchased eighty acres of land in Chatfield township and for three years made his home thereon, buying his present farm in 1864. He purchased one hundred and twelve acres of Albert Hammond and a few years later added to this a tract of fifty-six acres. His landed possessions now aggregate two hundred and forty-eight acres, and thereon he is successfully engaged in general farming and stock-raising, his business ability, careful management and enterprise enabling him to overcome all obstacles and work his way upward to prosperity.

Mr. Broede has been twice married. He first wedded Jacobina Poth, and unto them was born a son, August, who is now overseer of the brewery owned by the firm of Poth & Sons, of Philadelphia, the senior partner being his uncle. For his second wife Mr. Broede chose Eva Ehresmann, and they have eight children: Jacob J., of Seneca county; Adam, who is now living in Iowa; Emma, the wife of Albert Angeny ; Albert, a resident farmer of Seneca county ; Malinda, the wife of Henry Kurgis; Henry, Lizzie and Charley, all at home.

Mr. Broede exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Democracy and, while he keeps well informed on the issues of the day, has never sought office. He belongs to the German Reformed church and is a man of genuine worth. Pie has never had occasion to regret his determination to come to America, for in this land of the free he has found the opportunity he sought for advancement in the business world and has not only gained a comfortable competence, but has won many friends.

Abraham Haas

Old and honorable families of Germany have given to America mamcitizens of exceptional worth. Crawford county, Ohio, has its share of such and Abraham Haas is one of the best known of this class in Lykens township. Mr. Haas was born near Columbiana. Columbiana county, Ohio, November 3, 1834. a son of Conrad Haas, a native of Germany, who was brought to America by his parents when he was ten years old. The family settled in Pennsylvania and thence Conrad Haas came to Ohio, locating in Columbiana county, where he married Catharine Meyer, who bore him eleven children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the second in order of nativity. John, their first born child, died at the age of sixteen years. Their daughter Lydia is the widow of Solomon Rupert. Their daughter Sarah married Philip Hogert and is dead. Their son Benjamin lives at Aurora, Illinois. Their daughter Catharine is the wife of D. Y. Ditty, of Lykens township, Crawford county, Ohio. Their son Henry lives in Holmes township, in the same count}'. Their daughter Elizabeth is the wife of David Faileck, of Lykens township. Their daughter Susan is the wife of John Meyers, of Lykens township.

In the spring of 1835 Conrad Haas brought his family to Crawford county, making the journey from Columbiana county with ox-teams, and settled in Lykens township, where he homesteaded one hundred and twenty acres of government land, which he developed into the farm on which the subject of this sketch now lives. At that time the land was heavily timbered and he was obliged to make a small clearing on which to erect a log cabin of r< nind logs. He carried the work of improvement forward as rapidly as possible and became prominent in his neighborhood. He died in 1848, at the age of forty-one years. His death was most untimely, for he was a useful man in the township, where he built the first school house, helped to organize several schools and laid out roads. He was a devout member of the Baptist church and contributed liberally to all its interests. His wife died at about the age of sixty years.

When the subject of this sketch was brought to Lykens township, he was about six months old. He was educated in the common schools and reared to farm work and by the death of his father, when he was fourteen years old, was thrown upon his own resources at a comparatively early age. For three years after his father's death the home farm was leased. Young Haas worked in the neighborhood for a year and afterwards worked near Columbiana until his mother got her family together and came back to the farm. Then, at the age of seventeen years, he took charge of the place which he has managed successfully since, except during a year and a half when he lived in Wood county. He now owns eighty acres of the old homestead, and the good house and other improvements on the place were placed there by himself. He has done general farming and has dealt extensively in horses, and during the days of horse-power threshers, he ran threshing machines in season for many years. In politics he is a Democrat and he is not without influence in the councils of his party, but he has never sought nor accepted public office. He was married in 1857 to Miss Martha Schupp, a woman of many good qualities, who has been to him a most worthy helpmeet. The recollections of his school days include vivid memories of crude, old-fashioned schools, taught in log school houses with puncheon floors and slab seats and desks, and he has during all his active life done everything in his power to advance the cause of public education.

Samuel Dew Alt

The well-known citizen of Lykens township, Crawford county, Ohio, whose name is mentioned above, is of that sturdy Pennsylvania stock, which, transplanted to all parts of the United States, has been fruitful in enterprise, progressiveness and enlightenment.

Samuel Dewalt was born on the farm on which he now lives October 1 8, 1855, a son of Robert Dewalt, who was born in Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, in 1818, and was married there to Elizabeth Broder, who bore him six children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the fifth in order of birth. Their daughter Isabella married Owen Olds, of Texas township, Crawford count}-, Ohio. Their daughters Henrietta and Savannah and their son Alexander are dead. The fifth in order of birth was the subject of this sketch. Their youngest son, Richard, is dead. In 1850 Robert Dewalt removed from Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, to Crawford county, Ohio, and settled on the farm on which his son Samuel now lives. His first purchase of land there was two hundred and twenty acres, thirty acres of which were cleared, and on which a log cabin had been erected. He died there February 17, 1894, aged seventy-seven years, and his wife died October 10, 1877. They were members of the German Reformed church and Mr. Dewalt took a great interest in all its work, serving in the offices of deacon and elder and as a member of the building committee which had charge of the erection of its house of worship.

Samuel Dewalt was interested with his father in agricultural enterprises until 1876, when he took charge of the farm on which he now lives. He owns one hundred acres of the old Dewalt homestead, which, together with eighty acres in another tract, makes his real estate holdings aggregate one hundred and eighty acres. These two pieces of land adjoin and constitute one of the best farms in the vicinity. Mr. Dewalt is a Democrat in politics and is a member of the German Reformed church. He was married in 1876 to Mahala Shawk, of Seneca county, Ohio, and they have four children, Dora ; Delora, who is the wife of J. W. Swalley; Alta and Ralph. Mr. Dewalt is a man of much recognized public spirit, who remembers with pride the fact that he was educated in the public schools of his native township and has always taken an interest in their development and improvement. There is no cmestion affecting the public welfare in which he does not take an intelligent interest and there is no movement for the general good which he is not readyto assist to the extent of his ability. He naturally takes an interest in the church, toward the upbuilding of which his good father labored so zealously, and he is liberal in his assistance of all its varied interests.

Andrew Moore

Any adequate account of the life of a self-made man is necessarily both interesting and instructive. It is always a story of human ambition, struggles and triumph and as such must claim the attention of every student of human nature and of the progress of the people at large; and as an example of what may be done by industry and perseverance by one actuated by worthy motives, it is worth}' the emulation of all young men who have their way in the world to make. Such a career as is here indicated has been that of Andrew Moore* of Benton, Lykens township, Crawford count}', Ohio.

Andrew Moore was born in Erie county, Pennsylvania, Februarv 2, 1847,.. and when he was six years old, in 1853, his father died. Not long afterward, his mother took her family to Crawford county, Ohio, and settled in Texas township, where, at the early age of twelve years, the boy began working on farms by the month. This was necessary from the fact that his mother was very poor and that as soon as the}' were old enough her four sons were obliged. to earn money to lie expended toward her support and the maintenance of, their home. The names of these sons were William, Joseph P., Andrew and' 1 [enry. Soon after the Civil war began Mrs. Moore, who was a devout Christian woman of much education and refinement and of great patriotism, madethe following declaration, which her son remembers word for word: "I know that this is to be a terrible war and we must make sacrifices to save the Union and I am willing that my sons should go to the front, and may ( rod protect them and bring them back to me." The sons whom she thus devoted to the service of her country were her only support. Joseph P., the second son. was the first to avail himself of this permission. He enlisted in 1 8 n as a private in Company H, Forty-ninth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was killed at the battle of Stone River, on New Year's morning, 1862. William, the eldest son, was the next to enlist and he was color-bearer in the One Hundred and First Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was killed while carrying the flag in the front line of battle at Chickamauga, in August, 1863. At that time Andrew was only little more than sixteen years old, but without serious objection on the part of his mother, who believed that it was her duty, if necessary, to sacrifice her last son old enough to be of any assistance to the cause of freedom, enlisted in the One Hundred and Twentythird Regiment of Infantry at Martinsburg, West Virginia. His first experience of battle was at Newmarket, where he was dangerously wounded in the left thigh by a minie ball. After lying for two days in a field hospital he was taken to Clairsville hospital, in the mountains near Cumberland, Maryland. After he had been under treatment there three months he was able to go home on a furlough. He rejoined his regiment at Kernstown and after that fought at Winchester, Cedar Creek, and in other engagements and participated in the righting which resulted in the fall of Petersburg and Richmond. After the evacuation of Richmond the One Hundred and Twenty-third Ohio and the Fifty-fourth Pennsylvania Regiments were detached to burn the bridge across the river to keep Lee's army from crossing. When they arrived at the bridge Lee's cavalry was on the point of crossing the river, and not only succeeded in doing so, but took about five hundred prisoners of war from the two federal regiments mentioned, Mr. Moore among them, who were under guard with the Confederates when Lee surrendered.

After the war Mr. Moore returned to Benton, Lykens township, Crawford county, Ohio, where he remained only a short time, however, before going to Oil City, Pennsylvania, where he was employed for three years. Returning to Texas township, he farmed four years and after that sold agricultural implements for twelve years. After that he was for five years a buyer for Young & Brother, lumber dealers at Canton, Ohio. Since that time he has been buying timber on his own account, cutting it up into sawlogs and selling it in that form to lumber manufacturers.

He is a Republican in politics and is a member of Roberts Post, No. 672, Grand Army of the Republic, at Benton, Ohio. He has held the office of township trustee and has otherwise served his fellow townsmen with ability and credit. His mother, of Christian and patriotic memory, who was a lifelong member of the United Brethren church, died at Benton at the age of seventyone vears.

Mr. Moore was married June i, 1868, to Miss Mary J. Haskins, and she has borne him three children. Their son Earl was accidentally killed in 1895, ^"hile attempting to get on board a moving train of cars. Their daugh- ter Bertha is now Mrs. Haskins. Their son Clyde, who is a proficient stenographer, is a student at the Northern Indiana Normal School at Valparaiso, Indiana.

James Brixe

Men popularly known as Pennsylvania Dutchmen have gone forth from the Keystone state to all parts of the west and southwest and wherever they have gone they have planted the standard of enterprise, prosperity and popular enlightenment and have maintained it wherever they have flung it to the breeze. Crawford county, Ohio, was, perhaps, specially favored in receiviiig a large number of settlers of German antecedents and of Dutch ancestry from her sister state beyond the Alleghenies. A name that has become well known in Texas township, Crawford county, Ohio, and the history of which may be traced through many generations of such sturdy men and women as have here been referred to is that of Brine, which is most worthily represented by James Brine, who was born in Northampton county, Pennsylvania, August 6, 1833.

James Brine was brought up on his father's farm in Pennsylvania and educated in the public schools, and at the age of eighteen entered upon a three-years' apprenticeship to the shoemaker's trade. After completing his apprenticeship he worked at his trade in Pennsylvania until 1855, when he went to Seneca county, Ohio, and worked on a farm by the month at Honey Creek for five years. After that he rented a farm nine years and managed it with such success that at the expiration of that time he was able to buy the farm of sixty acres on which he now lives. He has purchased twenty acres elsewhere and now owns eight}' acres, which he devotes to general farming.

December 27, i860, Mr. Brine was married in Seneca county, Ohio, to Amanda Fotelman, a native of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, who had emigrated to Seneca county with her parents two years before. James and Amanda (Fotelman) Brine became the parents of six children, the following items of information concerning whom will be interesting in this connection. James, their first born child, is dead. Their daughter Nora, born next after James. is the wife of Warren Johnson, of Lykens township, Crawford county, Ohio. Alfred, their third child in order of birth, is dead. Their daughter Cora married Benjamin Hushouer, of Texas township, Crawford county, Ohio. Their daughters Mattie and Ruth are members of their household. It has been one of the ambitions of Mr. Brine's life to bring his daughters up to be good women and to educate them in such a manner as to enable them to

In political affiliations Mr. Brine is a Republican, proud of the history of his part}- and ardently devoted to its principles and work. Taking a broad and comprehensive view of all public questions and knowing that, like charity, national progress begins at home, he has, while not being an office seeker or in the ordinary sense of the term a politician, given his aid to the utmost possible extent to every movement tending to advance the interests of his township and county.

Owen Ohl

The man whose name is above is one of the old and honored citizens of Texas township. Crawford county, Ohio, and is a native of the Wyoming Valley in Pennsylvania, having been born in Luzerne county, February -8, 1833, a son of Philip and Mary (Kless) Ohl, who had six children, named as follows: Joshua, John, Owen, Abraham, Caroline and Elizabeth, of whom the subject of this sketch is the only one now living. Philip Ohl served his country as a soldier in the war of 181 2 and became a man of local prominence at his old home in Pennsylvania. In 1851 he moved with his family from Pennsylvania to Ohio, and located in Texas township, Crawford county, on the farm now owned by his son Owen. He bought eighty acres of land, on which was a small clearing and a log house. He made improvements and remained there continuously until 1876, when he died, at the age of eighty-three years.

Owen Ohl lived on his father's home farm until 1869, when he removed to Lykens township, where he bought eighty acres of land, on which he lived seven years. After that he lived for four years on a farm owned by his father-in-law, Robert Dewalt, and then returned to his father's old homestead. He has been successful in a material way and has acquired two hundred acres of land, one hundred and twenty acres of which he divided among his children in 1901, retaining only his old homestead. In politics he is a Democrat and he and his wife and children are communicants of the German Reformed church.

Mr. Ohl was married May 11. 1861, to Miss Isabelle Dewalt, daughter of Robert Dewalt, of Lykens township, and they have had seven children, the following data concerning whom will be of interest in this connection. Their son Robert lives in Wyandot county, Ohio. Their daughter Marv is the wife of P. A. Frankenfield, of Texas township, Crawford county. Their son Richard E. is a farmer in Seneca county, Ohio. Their daughter Laura E. is the wife of Albert Braldie, of Seneca county, Ohio. Their son William is a well-known citizen of Texas township. Their son Albert is a member of their household. Their daughter Ida is the wife of Willard Moore, of Texas township.

Mr. and Mrs. Ohl are passing the declining years of their lives quietly and calmly, with few bitter memories and with many pleasant thoughts of their past years, for their lives have been blameless and their worldly success has been won by most worthy means. Their charity has not been stinted and they have many times proven themselves friends to those in need. Their example has been a good one to their children and to all who know them and -they are justly held in high esteem by a wide circle of acquaintances.

Obadiah Banks

The family of Banks, which produced the well-known resident of Texas township, Crawford county, Ohio, whose name is the caption of this article, is the same old colonial family of which the late General Nathaniel P. Banks, warrior and statesman, was a representative. Obadiah Banks comes of a good old New York family and was born in Cayuga county, that state, November 29, 1834. His father, Rhesa Banks, was born in Connecticut and married Lucinda Mead, who bore him seven children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the first in order of birth. Ursula and Marion, twins, were next in order of birth and they are both dead. The next born was Sybil, who has also passed away. Their fifth child, Celestia, married Martin Welsh The next in order of nativity was Ellen, who is the wife of C. Jump, of Benton, Crawford county, Ohio. Their young'est child, David, lives in Texas township, Crawford county. In the course of events Mr. and Mrs. Banks removed with their children to Crawford county, Ohio, and settled in Texas township, where Mr. Banks bought one hundred and sixty acres of land, which he developed into a good farm and on which he spent the remainder of his life, dying in 1885, at the age of seventy-five years. His wife died ten years earlier. He was a man of prominence in the township and was influential in public affairs and for a time he ably filled the office of township trustee.

In 1854, when his parents located in Texas township, Obadiah Banks was twenty years old. He remained with his father, assisting him in the management of his farm until June, 1864, when he married Miss Jane Mulsog, by whom he has two children, Eva, who married C. H. Miller, who is a school teacher at Bucyrus, Ohio, and Truman, who is a member of his father's household.

Soon after he was married Mr. Banks located on his present farm, which has been his home since that time, except for three years. He owns eighty acres of well improved land, which he is cultivating profitably and is regarded as ' me of the well-to-do farmers of the township. He has always taken a deep interest in the causes of education and temperance and is a member of the Prohibition party. That he is not without considerable influence in local affairs will lie understood when the fact is considered that he has held the office of constable six years and has for four years been township trustee of Texas township, He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and has always contributed liberally toward the maintenance of Christian worship in his neighborhood. All in all he is a man of much public spirit, who is ready at all times to assist any measures which he deems likely to further the general interests of his fellow citizens.

Andrew Fraxkexfield

Reference has been frequently made in this work to the good influence of Pennsylvania blood upon the settlement and development of the great middle west. Of such ancestry is Andrew Frankenfield, of Texas township, Crawford county, Ohio, who was born in Northampton county, Pennsylvania, April 6, 1820. and was there reared to a practical knowledge of farming and educated in the common schools. In due time he married Rebecca Besulma, who bore him five sons and five daughters, of whom seven are living.

In 185 1 Air. Frankenfield removed to Crawford county, Ohio, where he bought five acres of land, on which he erected a cabin and a log blacksmith shop. Later he bought fifty acres of heavily timbered land, which he gradually cleared and put under cultivation and on which he lived for twenty-five years, farming and doing carpenter work as there was a demand for his services. At the expiration of that time he located on a farm in Seneca county, ( )hio, where he lived until 1868, when he removed to his present farm of one hundred and seventeen acres in Texas township, Crawford county, Ohio, where he has given his attention to general farming with much success.

Politically Mr. Frankenfield affiffiliates with the Democratic party and his influence in local public matters is recognized. At the same time he is not in the ordinary sense of the term a practical politician and he has never sought nor accepted office. He is a communicant of the Presbyterian church and has for many years been a liberal contributor toward the support of its various interests. He began life poor and is a self-made man. whose success has been won most worthily and who is highly regarded by all who know him.

E. Lambert

It is always a pleasure to the writer and it should edify the reader to peruse and consider any adequate sketch of the career of a man who has made his way to worldly success without the aid of influential friends and in spite of many discouragements, a man who. with the single idea of achieving victory, pushes obstacles from his path and. making himself superior to circumstances, presses forward to the goal which he seeks. Such a man is the subject of this sketch, who, though a farmer in a rural community, more fittingly represents the possibilities of legitimate American enterprise than a Gould or a Morgan.

Mr. Lambert comes of that sturdy old Pennsylvania stock which has given strength and activity to enterprise and impetus to education and enlightenment in all parts of our great west, and was born in Northampton county, in the Keystone state, February 2, 1819. He was reared on a farm and became early familiar with hard work and only the most meager educational advantages were available to him. At the age of nineteen he began to work at the blacksmith's trade. In 1843 he removed from Pennsylvania to Summerville, Xew Jersey, and worked there as a blacksmith for seven years. From Summerville he went to Ohio, and locating in Lykens township. Crawford county, opened a blacksmith shop there, which he conducted successfully for four years, when he traded it for another shop at Benton, in the same county, where he carried on blacksmithing until 1864.

In the year last mentioned Mr. Lambert retired from blacksmithing and bought the eighty-acre farm in Todd township, Crawford county. Ohio, on which he has since lived and the acreage of which he has since increased until it embraces one hundred and seventy-eight acres. The writer wishes to impress upon the mind of the reader the fact that Mr. Lambert has acquired this fine property by his own unaided efforts, by many years of hard toil, during which he has dealt with all with whom he has come in contact with the most scrupulous honesty. These facts are known to all who know Air. Lambert and they should go far to discourage a belief which has taken root in the minds of many voting persons that the easy way and the trickey way is the only sure way to financial success. Such a man exerts upon the community at large an influence more potent for good than that of a dozen millionaires, who have made their money by grinding the faces of the poor and are flaunting it brazenly before an outraged world.

Mr. Lambert is a Democrat in politics and has held the office of supervisor of his township, which he filled most ably and to the entire satisfaction of all concerned, but he has been without political aspirations and has believed and acted religiously upon the belief that one man who does his duty thoroughly as it comes to his hands from day to day, is more useful than any ten men who go about advising others what they should do, especially men who are actuated by the professional politician's hope of profiting by the labor of others. Mr. Lambert is now eighty-two years old and he attributes his healthy longevity to an active and regular life and to the fact that he has never used tobacco or liquor in any form.

Air. Lambert was married in 1845, to Miss Margaret Kunnsman, who has borne him six children. Alary. Adam, Samuel, Emma, David and Sarah, whom all except David and Sarah are living.

Daniel Beck

The record of a life well spent and useful is always interesting and edifying and it is to be regretted that the brevity necessary to the plan of this work does not admit of the introduction of all details of the life of such men as the late Daniel Beck, of Jefferson township, Crawford county, Ohio.

Daniel Beck, who is descended from good Pennsylvania ancestry, was born in AYestmoreland county, Pennsylvania, in 181 8, and lived there until 1830, attending school and assisting about the home work. In the year last mentioned, in company with his father and other members of his family, he went to Crawford county. Ohio, where Adam Beck, the father, built a gristmill within the borders of Jefferson township, and took up land and engaged in farming. Daniel grew to manhood as his father's assistant in his agricultural and other enterprises and remained with him until 1845, when, at the age of twenty-seven, lie married. Then under an independent arrangement he took charge of his father's farm, on which he lived until 1855. In 1857 ne located on the farm which became known as his homestead and on which he died November 30. 1892. In politics he was a Republican and he exerted a recognized influence upon public affairs.

Ohio, February 5, 1821. Their son Robert W. is dead. Their son Joseph lives in Indiana. Their sons William and Shannon and their daughter Louisa are dead. Their daughter Margaret is living in Morrow county, Ohio. Mrs. Beck, who survives her husband, is the daughter of Robert Lareiner, a native of Ireland, who at the age of six years was brought to America by his parents, who settled in Pennsylvania. Later Robert and one of his brothers went to Fairfield county, Ohio, making the journey out from Pennsylvania on foot. Mrs. Beck's first recollections of home are of a floorless log cabin, and she states that she never had anything to do with a stove until after her marriage. The Beck homestead, now under her control, consists of eighty acres of rich and well cultivated land, which is a valuable agricultural property. Mrs. Beck is one of a family of twelve children and the only one now living.

Samuel S. Freese

The family of Freese has long been well known in Pennsylvania, where the name has become identified with success and agricultural and mechanical pursuits, in financial and commercial circles, in the professions and in politics. AYherever representatives of the family have gone, following the westward course of the empire, they have not only planted well, cultivated thoroughly and reaped abundantly, but have been so upright in their dealings with their fellow men and so public-spirited in their relations to their fellow citizens that every where the name has become a synonym for good citizenship. There may have been men named Frees who have fallen short of realizing this description, but such have never been known in Crawford county, Ohio, where the family has been well represented by Samuel Freese, of Jefferson township, and by others.

Samuel S. Freese was born at Lancaster, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, October 8, 1820, one of the five children of John J. and Susan ( Eldis) Freese, and he is the only one of them now living. The others were named William, Elizabeth, Susan and Adam. In 1823, when the subject of this sketch was about three years old, he was taken by his parents to Holmes county, Ohio, where the family lived until 1831, when they removed to Crawford county. John J. Freese bought eighty acres of land in Jefferson township, on which some improvements had been made and a one-room log house had been erected. Mr. Freese died at Galion, Ohio.

cation in the subscription school taught in a log school house near his pioneer home. He has a vivid recollection of early days in Crawford county and remembers the now flourishing city of Galion at a period in its history when it consisted of only a few scattered log cabins. He remained on the farm, assisting his father, until 1848, when, at the age of twenty-eight years, he married Lena Eberlv and moved on his present farm, on which there then stood a small log house, which has since given place to a substantial modern residence. He proved himself to be a man of exceptional business capacity and became the owner of more than hve hundred acres of land, three hundred acres of which he has divided among his children. His home farm of two hundred acres he devotes to general farming" and stock-raising.

Adam Ashcroft

The subject of this sketch is the son of parents who were pioneers in what is now Crawford county, Ohio, and was born within the limits of Jefferson township at so early a date that he might well claim pioneership for himself. He comes of the old Pennsylvania family of Ashcroft and his father was Newton Ashcroft, a son of Adam Ashcroft, in honor of whom the present Adam Ashcroft was named and who was himself an early settler in Crawford county. Adam Ashcroft came out from Pennsylvania in 1828 accompanied by his son Newton and other members of his family and settled in Jefferson township, where he bought the farm which is now the property and home of his grandson, the second Adam Ashcroft. It consisted of one hundred and sixty acres of land, on which there had been a small clearing, in the midst of which stood a lonely little log cabin. Adam Ashcroft, who was a surveyor and school teacher, became prominent in the county and being a member of the church, with a gift for prayer and speech, he did effective work among the early settlers as an exhorter and an evangelist. He was a very industrious man and worked on his woodland farm early and late, chopping down trees, logging, grubbing and burning out stumps and in all necessary ways preparing for cultivation, and when he died at the age of ninety-two years, it was a farm of which he had long been proud.

Adam Ashcroft. grandson of Adam Ashcroft and son of Newton Ashcroft, was born in 1834 and passed his youth on the farm and in obtaining a practical education in local subscription schools, an ambition in which he was encouraged by his mother, who before her marriage to Newton Ashcroft, was Miss Mary Hershener. Of the seven children of Newton and Mary (Hershener) Ashcroft, three of whom were sons and four of whom were, daughters, the subject of this sketch and his sisters survive. Elizabeth is the widow of Samuel Trosh. Mary is the wife of John Creider. Catherine is the wife of John Johnson. Lydia is the wife of Johnson Davis. John and Henry are dead. Newton Ashcroft, who is a carpenter and stone cutter by trade, was a constant resident of Jefferson township, from his advent there in 1828, until his death in 1892, at the age of nnety-two. His wife died at the age of eightv-eight years. Their son Adam, who now owns one hundred and eleven acres of his grandfather's original homestead, has lived on the place all his life, except during two years and he took charge of the place in 1858. He owns two other pieces of land of twenty-five and thirteen acres, respectivelv. At the age of twenty-one he began working at the carpenter's trade, at which he was employed four years.

In [858 Mr. Ashcroft married Lydia Crieder. who has borne him four children, as follows : Homer, who lives in Wells county, Indiana ; Alice, who is the wife of Richard Hiltner, of Jefferson township; Edith, who is the wife of Harry Smith, of Jefferson township; and Pearl, who is the wife of William De Gray, of Jefferson township. Since he married Mr. Ashcroft has given his attention entirely to farming, in which he has been very successful. Politicallv he is a Republican, devoted to the principles and measures of his party and, while he is not without influence in local affairs, he is neither a practical politician nor an office seeker, but he is a man of recognized public spirit. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and is a liberal supporter of Christian worship in his township.

Charles M. Hilborn

Charles M. Hilborn is one of the successful and progressive farmers of Bucvrus township, and is also a well-known and highly respected citizen. Mr. Hilborn is a native of Crawford county, having been born in Todd township, September 9, 1863, and is a descendant on both paternal and maternal sides from pioneer settlers of this county and of Richland count}'. Grandfather Hilborn was one of the earliest settlers of Richland county, while Grandfather Joseph Reinhart came to Todd township, Crawford county, when it was but a wilderness. The father and mother of our subject were Samuel L. and Mary

Charles M. Hilborn, of this biography, is the second child in a family of ten children born to his parents, and was reared on his father's farm, where he remained until attaining his majority. His education was pursued in the common schools, and he grew to manhood a line type of the agricultural regions of one of the best counties in the state of Ohio.

After leaving the parental roof Mr. Hilborn spent the first summer in operating a threshing machine, and was so successful in this line that he has made that a business for every season since, three years of this time being a partner in the threshing business. His occupation has been exclusively that of a farmer, and since 1890 he has operated a fine farm in this township, where he has become prominent in Democratic politics. During 1896-97 he was the efficient assessor of Bucyrus township, and in 1900 he was almost successful in his candidacy for trustee, having gained the confidence of the public by his excellent management of the business connected with his former office.

Air. Hilborn was married in 1888 to Miss Catherine Hirtz, who was born in Holmes township, Crawford county, and he has six children living. Mr. Hilborn and family belong to the highly esteemed and respected residents of the township.

Benjamin A. Sinn

The agricultural interests of Crawford count)-, Ohio, are in the hands of experienced and capable men, whose fertile fields and attractive surroundings testify to their efficiency in their chosen line of effort.

Among the thriving agriculturists of Bucyrus township is the leading citizen, Benjamin A. Sinn, whose birth took place in a log cabin, on the farm now owned by Jonathan Carmean, in this township, on September 23, 1832. His parents were George and Sarah (Hawk) Sinn, who reared a family of ten children. George Sinn was a native of Pennsylvania and came with his wife to Crawford county, Ohio, in 1826, where they were among the pioneers. He successfully operated a grist and sawmill in this county, and about 1856 purchased a farm on section 4 in Bucyrus township, upon which he lived for man}- years. His death occurred in 1870, his wife surviving for six years. Mr. Sinn was a man of character and prominence, well and favorably known throughout the county, and thrice acceptably filled the position of county auditor, in addition holding other offices of honor and trust.

Benjamin Sinn, of this biography, was reared on the farm, but the major portion of his time was employed in the mill, where he became thoroughly instructed as a miller, both in grinding and sawing. In 1857 he decided to see something of the country, starting westward, and after a period spent in Iowa reached Denver, Colorado. At that time the present flourishing and beautiful city was but a collection of log" cabins, and mining was the principal industry, the greater part of the population having been attracted thither for that purpose. Mr. Sinn also became interested in mining, but after a year of trial, with but indifferent success, he turned his face homeward, passingthrough the state of Misouri.

Upon reaching Ohio Mr. Sinn took charge of a gristmill at Sycamore, Ohio, where he remained for one year, and then went into the operation of a sawmill at Glenville, where he continued for eight years, passing- the succeeding five years upon a farm. The following ten years were spent by Mr. Sinn in the successful operation of a sawmill in Fulton county, Ohio. It was not until 1882 that he decided to settle down to an agricultural life on his present farm, which he purchased from his father, but since that time he has shown such marked ability in his chosen line that his success as a farmer and also as a stock-raiser is well known through the locality. Mr. Sinn still continues to look after his stock and farming interests, but not so actively as formerly. A lifelong Democrat, he has taken a deep interest in township affairs, and was an efficient trustee of the same in 1867-8. He enjoys the esteem and respect of the community and is considered one of the representative men of Bucyrus t< >wnship.

Leo White

Leo White, a young and successful farmer and stock-raiser of Dallas township, Crawford count}", is a son of Willard T. White, a retired farmer, residing in BUcyrus, Ohio. The White family is numbered among the oldest in the county. Going back in the history of the ancestry, it is found to be of Virginia stock. Charles White, the paternal great-grandfather of Leo White, was born and reared in the Old Dominion and was about sixteen years of /age when the Revolutionary war began. His name appears on the muster roll of militia. He was in active military service several years during the struggle of the colonies for American independence, being for a portion of that period under the immediate command of General Washington. He served also as one of the "minute 'men." When his father died he inherited as a portion of his estate several slaves, and being reared amid slavery conditions he was not at first opposed to the system. Through inheritance and purchase he became in time the owner of a large number of slaves. He removed to Fayette count)-, Kentucky, and while there he liberated his bondsmen. He had fought for liberty in the war of the Revolution and could not believe it right to hold his fellow men in bondage or reconcile it with the principles of eternal justice. Becoming disgusted with the iniquitous system, he liberated his negroes, thirteen in number, and soon afterward removed to Ross county , Ohio, taking up his abode there about 1812. He followed farming with fair success in that county, where he continued to reside until his death, which occurred in 1856, when he had attained the advanced age of ninety-six years. He had three sons, namely: Samuel, George and Charles W., and the first two served in the American army during the war of 1812.

The youngest son, Charles W. White, was the grandfather of our subject. He was born in Fayette county, Kentucky, Jul)" 18. 1802, and when about eight years of age accompanied his father on his removal to Ross county, Ohio. At the age of eighteen he left the parental home and visited the ''New Purchase" in northern Ohio. He secured work on the Indian mill, located on the Sandusky river, being employed by the government Indian agent at fifteen dollars per month. There he worked for three years and saved his money, with which he purchased two hundred and seven acres of land in what is now Dallas township, Crawford count)'. After working for the succeeding nine years for different people, he removed to his land, and by industry, economy and good business management became one of the largest land-owners and most successful farmers and stock-raisers of the county. In 1830 he married Hannah Simmons Hoover, and unto them were born the following named children: Lorena, W'illard T. and Charles. W'illard T. White, the father of Leo White, was born in Dallas township, August 8, 1845. After engaged in farming and stock-dealing on an extensive scale for many years and meeting with prosperity in his undertakings, Mr. White, the father, removed to Bucyrus, where he is now living in retirement from business cares. Leo White resides upon the old homestead in Dallas township, where his birth occurred July 17, 1870. He was educated in the district schools and has always been connected with the cultivation of the fields and the raising and sale of stock. He has dealt quite largely in cattle and is a very energetic, wide-awake young business man, carefully conducting his interests, yet his methods are progressive and his enterprise and straightforward dealings have gained him prominence as one of the leading agriculturists of his community.

In 1899 Air. White was united in marriage to Miss Velma Maud Skemer, a daughter of Levi Shemer, of Dallas township, and they have one child, Helen Lorena. Mr. White is now serving as township treasurer, an office to which he has been twice elected. He is a member of the Benevolent and Protective ( >rder of Elks, and is one of the leading and influential citizens of the community in which, his entire life has been passed.

Elias Crissinger

Elias Crissinger, a trustee of Dallas township and a prominent farmer and successful stock-raiser, was born near Peru, Illinois, August 11, 1853. Pie was a son of William and Mary (Baker) Crissinger, both natives of Ohio, the former of Marion county and the latter of Crawford county. The paternal grandparents were of Dutch ancestry and removed from Pennsylvania to Crawford county, Ohio, early in its settlement, later going to Marion county where they spent their last days.

William Crissinger was reared in Marion county, but his wife grew up in Crawford county, where her father, Benajah Baker, was a pioneer settler of Whetstone township. Later in life he removed to Indiana and died in Jasper county. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Crissinger, one o>f whom has passed away. After the death of our subject's mother in Illinois, when he was but two years old, the father placed the children in the care of their paternal grandparents. Later he married a second time and lived in Marion count)-, and from there, in 1861, he entered the United States army, and upon the expiration of his term of enlistment re-enlisted, and died at Murfreesboro while serving in the cause of his country.

Our subject did not live with his grandparents very long, as after his second marriage the father claimed his children. After his death they were directed by a guardian and thus Elias had several early homes, but was given a common-school education and was taught how to work on a farm. From early life, however, he was obliged to earn all he received and perhaps the stern discipline of neseccity helped to make him the reliable and excellent man he now is.

In 1874 Mr. Crissinger was married to Harriet L. Houser, a daughter of Anthony Houser, of Marion county, Ohio, and then settled in Dallas county, where he began farming, first as a renter. An accidental discharge of a sh< itgun so injured his hand that the amputation of his arm below the elbow became nescessarv, and affliction which was borne with most woderful courage.

For the following seventeen years the family resided in Marion county upon a forty-acre farm given to Mrs. Crissinger by her father, but in 1896 he bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, in Dallas township, Crawford county, where he has since lived and followed farming.

In 1897 Mr. Crissinger was elected trustee, and in 1900 was re-elected for a second term and in the spring of 1901 he was made assessor also and is now serving in both positions, to the entire satisfaction of the community- In politics he is a member of the Democratic party and is one of the representative men of his community. With his wife and family of eight children he belongs to the Methodist church, where he is most highly esteemed for his many traits of Christian character. His business relations have brought him into contact with almost all the residents of the township and there is no one who nas more friends than Elias Crissinger.

Jesse Hollinshead

The family of Hollinshead are representatives of those who have been leaders in thought and in action wherever their lots have been cast. The family has been ably represented in Ohio, by Richard Hollinshead and his sons, one of whom, Jesse Hollinshead, is a prominent citizen of Texas township, Crawford county.

Jesse Hollinshead was born near McConnellsville, Morgan county, Ohio, August 2^,, 1823, a son of Richard and Catharine (George) Hollinshead, who had five sons and three daughters and two of whose sons, Jesse and Philip, fought gallantly for the Union cause in the Civil war, the former in Company H, One Hundred and Twenty-third Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, the latter in the Fourteenth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry.

In 1829 Richard Hollinshead moved with his family from Morgan countv, Ohio, to Seneca county, and in 1838 to Crawford county where he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land in Lykens township, of the United States government, his purchase being comprised in what was known as the Indian reserve. The land was heavily timbered and he cleared a small space in which he erected a log cabin and addressed himself bravely to the work of improving his property ; but he died at the age of fifty-two years, in 1842, only four years after his arrival there, and his wife died in 1853. When his parents located in Lykens township, the subject of this sketch was fifteen years old, and he received a scanty education in the common schools and was brought up to the hard life of a poor boy on the frontier. He began an independent career at

Amanda, eldest daughter of Jesse and Christina (Feasel) Hollinshead, married J. G. Snyder, a wagon-maker and sawmill proprietor of Benton, Ohio. Their daughters, Sarah and Catharine, and their sons, Lawson and Herman, are dead. They have only one grandchild, Jesse H. Hollinshead, son of their son Lawson.

August 19, 1862. Mr. Hollinshead enlisted in Company H, One Hundred and Twenty-third Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. At Winchester, where he saw his first experience of battle, he was made a prisoner of war. After being confined two days in Libby prison he was transferred to Belle Isle prison, from which he was liberated after about thirty days on parole and went to a camp at Martinsburg, Virginia, and participated in the engagements at New Market and Snickers G ap. He fought under General Hunter at Kernstown and later under General Sheridan at the battle of Opecken. Still later he participated in the fighting at Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek, and after that his regiment was transferred to the Army of the James, under command of General Grant, and for a time was stationed at Camp Holley at Deep Bottom. Mr. Hollinshead fought at Hatchers Run and participated in the movements against Petersburg and Richmond. After the fall of Richmond, as a means of preventing Lee from crossing the river the One Hundred and Twenty-third Ohio and the Fifty-fourth Pennsylvania Regiments were detailed to destroy a bridge, and in an attempt to carry out that purpose were captured by the enemv and were prisoners with Lee at the time of the latter's surrender.

After the war Mr. Hollinshead returned to Ohio and took up carpenter work and for nearly forty years was successfully engaged in contracting and building. He is a Republican in politics, has been township trustee three years and is a member of Roberts Post, No. 672, Grand Army of the Republic.

The Monnett family is one of the oldest of the pioneer families of Crawford county. Its origin is traced to the French Huguenot refugees. One branch came from near Lyons, France, having been driven from their native country after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, A. D. 1685. Many tied to England, some to Holland, and afterward three brothers emigrated from England to America and settled in Maryland and Virginia. A large number them keeping' up their native tongue, and others are found in the French settlements of New Orleans. Different branches of the same family vary the orthography somewhat, some attaching the final "e," others omitting- one of the "n's," and some of the old families even spelling it with one "n" and one "t." The Anglicized or American spelling is with the two "n's" and two "t's," and usually accented on the last syllable, but perhaps more properly with an equal emphasis on the first and last syllables.

The earliest record of accurate data of the Crawford and Marion counties branch of the family is of Isaac Monnett, born about 1726, in Westmoreland count}-. Maryland, where there is still an old homestead by that name. Isaac and his wife Elizabeth had children at this place, and among their immediate descendants was Abraham Monnett, born March 16, 1748. The latter married Ann Hillary, daughter of William Hillary; branches of this family are still found in Virginia, also in Ross and Pickaway counties, Ohio. Of this Abraham Monnett and Ann were born the following children, namely : Isaac, Osborn, William, Thomas, Elizabeth, Margaret, Ann and Jeremiah. Isaac, Osborn, Thomas and Jeremiah settled in Crawford and Marion counties. This elder generation all seemed to have lived to an advanced age and some to extreme old age, and have everywhere left a highly honorable record. Abraham Monnett, the father of Jeremiah, moved into Ohio in 1803, and entered a section of land in Pickaway county, and also' land in Ross count;,-, which sections are in the neighborhood of Kingston on the border line between Ross and Pickaway counties, and still bear the name of Monnett sections. Part of the real estate is now in the possession of- the Downs family.

The wife of Jeremiah, hereinafter referred to, and her ancestors were Roman Catholics, - a strange meeting of the Jesuits and the Huguenots after generations of religious persecution! It could be truthfully said of the elder pioneer Monnett family that they were "diligent in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.'' The above named Jeremiah was an enthusiastic, old-time and old-style Methodist, and opened his home at all times generously to the circuit-rider, presiding elders and the bishops. Before the days of churches his home was the "meeting-house." His daily family prayer, his exemplary life and his exhortations, precept and example, have left their impress upon all who came in contact with him, even descending- to the third and fourth generations. The good deeds done by Jeremiah Monnett have been to his descendants an inspiration, and he has, truly, by them been "sainted."

Jeremiah Monnett was born September 12, 1784, and his wife Aley (daughter of Jacob and Hannah Slag-el) was born March 1, 1788. They were the parents of seven sons and seven daughters, two of whom died in infancy. Twelve lived to mature manhood and womanhood : Jacob, born March 18, 1806; Isaac, November 16, 1807; Abraham, October 12, 181 1; Elsie, October 13, 1813; Margaret, July n, 1816; Hannah, December 13, 1817; Ann, August 25, 1819; John, January 11, 1820; Jeremiah, January 2, 1823; Mary, April 2, 1824; Thomas J., January 16, 1826; and Martha, January 21, 1828.

At the marriage of Jeremiah Monnett with Aley Slagel, at Cumberland, Maryland, a part of the bride's dower included a number of slaves. All of these so delivered to him in bondage, he freed, and he early became an abolitionist.

In 1814, accompanied by his wife and young family, he removed to Pickaway county, Ohio, and located near Kingston, and thence he moved directly north, in the year 1835, to a point five miles south of Bucyrus, Crawford county, being half way between Sandusky City and Columbus. He was a man of great physical strength, filled with energy and possessed of great endurance. He not only managed his large landed estate wisely but also reared his family of twelve children to be honored citizens wherever they took up their abode for life. His interest in church buildings and church founding and education never ceased, and he filled his posterity with high ambitions along these nobler lines. Hardly a Methodist church, in fact church building of any denomination, in that part of the county, but that he assisted financially, as well as personally, attending their services and admonishing and exhorting more earnest work for the Master whom he lived to honor. About the year 1844 he- founded and established Monnett chapel and donated the premises whereon to build the same. This little spot has been famous in that community for the number of noble youth, also men and women of more mature years, who have received their inspiration for a religious life and their aspirations for a higher social development. In this year, 1901, as a fulfillment to his request of forty years ago, we might say, as a fulfillment of his prophecy, a memorial stone chapel has been contracted for, to supplant the present church edifice that has. occupied the site so dedicated by him about sixty years ago. He requested, and frequently repeated in his last prayers, "that a church would be continued there to the last generation." This exemplary citizen and his noble wife each lived to within a few weeks of fourscore years, and are both buried in the cemetery adjoining Monnett chapel.

Abraham Monnett, his son, referred to in another part of this work, carried on as his life work stock-raising, farming and banking in Marion county, and amassed an unusually large estate, leaving at his death property to about the amount of six hundred thousand dollars. Mrs. Martha Warner, widow of the late R. K. Warner, is the only survivor of the large family and occupies a large landed estate adjoining the old homestead.

The descendants of Jeremiah Monnett have made enviable records also in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri and in almost all the western states. Colleges have been endowed, seminaries named for their beneficences, and public charities and churches have ever been remembered by many of these noble sons of a noble sire. From his family altar and from the hearthstone of this devout pioneer have gone forth influences that have reproduced ministers, lawyers, professors, teachers, physicians, railroad men, bankers, ranchmen, land-owners, - in fact, almost all the honorable professions and vocations have been honored by the descendants.

Thomas Jefferson Monnett; the seventh and youngest son of Jeremiah and Aley Monnett, came with his parents to Crawford county in 1835, at the age of nine years. Being the youngest in the family, he had better opportunities than some of the elder ones for cultivating his natural instinct and taste for scholarship and literary life; and in addition to attending the district schools he prepared for college in a select school held in the neighborhood, and afterward attended the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, to fit himself for the ministry. He was licensed to exhort as early as 1845. He prepared for his life-work by teaching school in the winters and working on the farm in summer, and all the time taking an active part in church work. After completing his education he became a member of the North Ohio Conference of the Methodist Episcopal church, and was stationed at Melmore, Fostoria, Kenton, Upper Sandusky and other points. He was an extremely hard worker in his pastorates, finally breaking his health down in the work of i860 and 1861, and so severely injuring his throat that for years he was obliged to retire from the regular work. In taking up his secular work from 1864 until he retired from active work in 1899, he never failed to give much time to church and Sunday-school work and educational enterprises. For twenty years he was at the head of the Woolen Mills at Bucyrus ; for eighteen years he was president of the Bucyrus Gas Company and owner of the plant, and at the same time was interested in banking and stock-raising and engaged.

In looking after his landed estates. He spurned all sham methods of accumulating- wealth, and his word was considered in commercial and business circles as good as his bond; and, notwithstanding his attention given to church and educational work, he amassed a comfortable fortune, as well as endowing his children with a liberal education and financial opportunities.

Thomas J. Monnett died of bronchitis May 10, 1901, at his beautiful home in Bucyrus, in the seventy-sixth year of his age, and was buried at Monnett Chapel near his parents, brothers and sisters, the spot so dear to him. He was married October 19, 1847, to Miss Henrietta Johnston, daughter of Hon. Thomas F. Johnston and Martha (Walton) Johnston, honored pioneers and leaders in their community and for many years residents of Marion county. Of this marriage were born seven children, hereinafter referred to. Mrs. Henrietta Monnett died November 20, 1871, at the early age of forty-one, leaving five children surviving her. Mr. Monnett was married the second time, to Miss Sarah Rexroth, who was at the time principal of the Bucyrus high school. She was an alumna of Mount Union College and brought with her a rich Christian experience, a well-trained intellect and a mind and heart full of noble inspirations. She gave the best years of her life to the rearing of the family and fitting them for the more serious duties of life and training- them for high-school and college education, along with her other arduous family duties. She was a devoted companion and a ministering angel to Mr. Monnett in his declining- years.

The children of Thomas J. and Henrietta Johnston Monnett were Webster and Agnes, who died in childhood ; John Gilbert, known among his companions as "Bert," who died at the age of eighteen years, March 26, 1879. Orin Bruce, the oldest of the surviving children was born September 29, 1850, at the farm near Monnett chapel. He attended school at Kenton and Upper Sandusky, and afterward the district school, completing his education in the Ohio Wesleyan University. Bruce spent several years in the Bucyrus Woolen Mills, was superintendent of the gas works and was interested in the grocery business for many years. He retired to one of his farms in Bucyrus township, where he resides in luxury and ease, surrounded by his happy family. He was married November 24, 1877, to Miss Anna, daughter of Charles and Katherine Hoffman. The}/ have two children, - Ethel Mae and Bessie Monnett.

William Arthur Monnett, the second son, was born at Fostoria, January 4, 1854, attended the union schools at Upper Sandusky and the district schools in Crawford countv, and graduated at a commercial college at Pitts- burg, Pennsylvania, in 1873. He spent ten years as one of the foremen of Wood Brothers in the Union Stock Yards, Chicago. He has always been a stockman, and for years has occupied the old family homestead where he still resides. He was married, February 25, 1875, to Miss Annetta Boyer, daughter of J. P. and Charlotta (Stough) Boyer. They have three children, - Kay, Grace and Charlotta.

The third son was Francis Sylvester Monnett, burn in Kenton, Hardin county, Ohio, March 19, 1857. He was educated in the district and select schools and took a preliminary training under Mrs. Sarah Rexroth Monnett, his stepmother, who assisted in training him for the high school and the university. He graduated at the Bucyrus high school in 1875; took the full Greek classical course at the Ohio Wesleyan University, graduating in 1880, and received numerous honors at college in his class, literary societies and in his fraternity. In childhood he mapped out his career and stated before he entered the high school at Bucyrus that he expected to graduate at the high school and at Delaware and take a course in law at Harvard University. He did not vary from his self-arranged program, except to substitute the National Law School of Washington, D. C, for the Harvard Law School, either one of which he had his choice of entering. Having several warm friends at the National Law School, and, preferring the opportunities afforded at the capital city, he chose the latter and graduated at that institution on June 15, 1882.

Pie was admitted to practice law in the District of Columbia in June of that year, under the common-law practice, and was admitted by the supreme court, in 1882, to practice law in Ohio. He opened up an office January 1, 1883, at Bucyrus, thoroughly in love with his profession, and always adopted the maxim, "Keep thy shop and thy shop will keep thee." He was never without a substantial clientage, and entered actively into the social, political and professional life of Bucyrus and its environments. He was twice elected city solicitor by the Republican party, a party greatly in the minority in this Democratic Gibraltar. He was a frequent delegate to the county, district and state Republican conventions. H'is young friends in power in the district urged him to accept the nomination for congress, but as he had pledged himself to place in nomination and support "Uncle" Stephen R. Harris, he declined to betray his friend Harris, placed him in nomination and assisted in electing the first Republican congressman ever sent from the district ; and in turn Harris's friends urged his nomination for attorney general of the state of Ohio, for which place he was nominated at Zanesville, this state,. May 30, 1895, and, being elected, served in that office from 1896 to 1900.

In this position he carried through to the United States supreme court the taxation cases against the Western Union Telegraph Company, the rive express companies and the thirteen national bank cases, winning each and every contest, and in his second term took up the fight on behalf of the state of Ohio against the Standard Oil trust, the Tobacco trust, the Cracker trust, the Beer trust, and was the author of the anti-trust act passed by the Ohio legislature in 1898. When he retired from office there were pending upward of twenty-five cases of ouster against these law violators. His vigorous campaign against monopoly brought a cyclone of corporate wrath that hurled him from his office. He resumed general practice the day following his termination of office as attorney general, and has a large and remunerative clientage in the state and federal courts at Columbus and throughout the state.

Mr. Monnett has campaigned in almost every county in the state many times, and spoken before the leading literary clubs of Boston, Philadelphia and several times at Xew York City, Chicago and Detroit, and campaigned for the national committees through the northwest. He is a constant contributor, on economic questions, to the leading magazines and newspapers of the country.

He took a trip abroad for pleasure and study in the summer of 1899, under contract with a newspaper syndicate to write up municipal ownership of four of the leading cities of England, which articles were broadly published throughout the United States in the leading newspapers.

Mr. Monnett was married to Miss Ella K. Gormly, daughter of James B. and Virginia (Swingly) Gormly, of Bucyrus, February 16, iSSS. Mrs. Monnett was a pupil of the Cincinnati Musical College after graduating at a private school at Newburgh, New York, and also took a short course at the Ohio Wesleyan at Delaware. She took a prominent position among the club women of the capital city, and takes a keen delight in public and social affairs. She has always been a church worker, both at Bucyrus and at Columbus.

The fourth child was Miss Effie Monnett, an only daughter, who was born December 25, 1865. She attended private school and was fitted for the high school by her stepmother, graduating at the high school in 1884 and at the Ohio Wesleyan University in 1888. She was fond of her classical studies but excelled in her mathematical grades in all her classes. On February 12, 1891, she was united in marriage to Smith W. Bennett, an active young attorney of Bucyrus, who was afterward' selected as special counsel in the office of attorney general at Columbus, Ohio, under F. S. Monnett, and still retains the same position under Attorney General Sheets. Two children were born of this marriage: Hugh Monnett and Grace Lizetta. Mrs. Effie Bennett failed in health late in the year 1896, and spent the fall and winter and the following summer in Alabama, Texas and New Mexico, and finally succumbed to the dread malady, consumption, on the 27th of October, 1898, and was buried in Oakwood cemetery, Bucyrus, Ohio.

John C. Cahill

Prominent among- the eminently successful farmers of Crawford county, Ohio, is John C. Cahill, who is one of the most progressive and intelligent agriculturists of his locality and one who has raised his farming operations into a science. The birth of Mr. Cahill was on the farm which he now occupies, in Vernon township, on April 14, 1862, and he is a son of Richard Wallace and Catherine (Richards) Cahill. and was a member of a family of thirteen children born to his parents. The seven survivors of this once large family are: Eliza, who is the wife of Washington Cummins; James, who resides in Tiro; Isaac, who is an attorney in Bucyrus; Richard, an attorney who resides in Napoleon, Henry county, Ohio; Warren, who lives in this township; John C, the subject of this sketch ; Jennette Gundrum, of Toledo, Ohio.