Defiance Township (part 5 of 11)

1833-34 he attended the Academy at Governeur, and also in the winter of 1834-35. In May, 1835, he left St. Iiawrence County and came to Defiance, arriving Jnno 5, 1835, and continued to reside until liis death. His lirst work in Defiance was for Sidney S. Sprague, scoring timber for the erection of the house in which Euos Blair now resides. In the fall of 1835, in company with two others, he took a job of grubbing for John E. Hunt, of Maumeo, of 100 acres of land in Defiance, afterward known as the Warren farm, and lately as Warren and others Addition to Defiance. After having grubbed about thirty acres, Gen. Hunt sold his farm to Dr. John Evans, and W . A. Brown and Edwin Phelps went to Maumee City and worked for John E. Hunt until the 1st day of December, during which time they assisted in raising tho first Presbyterian Church in that village. Ujion his return to Defiance, he engaged in teaching school the greater part of the time, some of the time tending post office for Dr. Jonas Colby, then Postmaster, In October of 1837, he was elected Auditor of "Williams County, which then included Paulding Countj' and a larger part of what is now Defiance County, which office he took March, 1838, and held until March, 1S42. He was married. May 20, 1840, at Sandy Creek, N. Y., to Harriet N. Stow, daughter of Rev. William B. Stow. From thence they returned to Defiance and continued to residi^ here ever since. The fruit of this marriage was six children, three sons and three daughters, four of whom, two sous and two daughters, sm-vive him, and are residing in Defiance. One son and one daughter died in infancy. His wife survives him, having traveled the same road with him for more than thirty-five years. Defiance County was organized in the spring of 1845, and in the fall of the same year ho was elected Auditor of Defiance County, which office he held for two years. For a great many years, he, by himself and in company with others, was engaged in mercantile pursiiits and in the ]iurchase and shipment of grain, and afterward leased the Defiance Mills,, and finally purchased thom. He was an industrious, sober man, never using licjuor in any shape, nor even tobacco, and was kind and affable in all tho relations of life, a very warm friend and an affectionate husband and father. Mrs. ^ViUiam A. Brown is still living in Defiance, as also are the ionr surviving "children. Frank G., the eldest son (the Secretary of the Defiance Machine Works), was born in Defiance, Ohio. Setpember 11, 1841, where he lived until he enlisted undc^r the first call for three months' volunteers and served until mustered out, as Sergeant of Company K, Twenty-first Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry. He then engaged with Maj. D. Taylor, Paymaster of i ho United States Volunteers, as his clerk, going on duty at Washington, D. C, with the Major in October, 1861, and served in this capacity until March, 1862, when he received an appointment in the Second Auditor's office of the United States Treasury Department, Washington, D. C, where ho was in charge of a large division, numbering over sixty clerks, remaining until January 1 , 1868, when he resigned and moved back to Defiance. August 2.'), 1864, ho was married to Miss Kate E. Oliver, eldest daughter of David L and Elizabeth Oliver, who were early settlers of Defiance County. Four children have been born to them - Maude, now deceased, born in Washington, D. C, June 28, 1.S65; Oliver Sessions, born in Washington, D. C, September' 14, 1867; Hattie E., born in Logansport, Ind. , June 18, 1872, and James Scott, born in Defiance, Ohio, T'ebruary 1 5, 1875. Helen B., the eldest daughler of William A. Brown, was born May 25, 1847, and was married to Dr. J. L. ;Scott June 8, 1 869, a former resident of Richmond, Ind., but who had removed to Defiance some time previously and located as resident dentist, and is still the leading dentist of the place. Mary A., the other daughter, was born August 30, 1849, and was married October 17, 1871, to James J. Jarvis, proprietor of the Defiance Woolen Mills, who removed from Piqua, Ohio, to Defiance in 1865, and this daughter with her husband and children live in the old homestead built by her father in 1844. Alfred S,, the remaining child, was born May 13, 1853, and is now a resident of Cleveland, Oliio, where he is assistant to John L. Freeman, General Baggage Agent of the L. S. & M. S. Railroad.

Rev. William B. Stow was born in Marlboro, Middlesex County, Mass., January 1, 1782. His father being a farmer, he remained at home, helping to carry on the farm in the summer seasons and going to school in the winter, until he was twenty-one years of age, at which time he entered Williams College, and after graduating there studied theology at Andover. Mr. Stow was married, November 11, 1811, to Miss Lucy Moore, who was born in Warwick, Mass., July 22, 1782. To them were born six children - Lucy Moore, William R., Adeline, Harriet N., Alfred M, and Blary T. William R. and Lucy M. are dead. Rev. Alfi'ed M. lives in Canandaigua, N. Y. ; Mary T. married W. W. Smith and lives in Brooklyn, N. Y. ; Adeline married Lorenzo Higby, and resides in Ridgeville, Henry County, Ohio; Harriet N. (widow of AVilliam Brown, deceased), is now living here at Defiance with her children. Mi's. Stow died August 3, 1825. Mr. Stow was married twice thereafter. For his second wife he married Catharine Sprague, and to them was born one child, Kate, who married J. D. Gillett, of New York; and for his third wife, Hannah Brainard.

Rev. Mr. Stow came to Defiance, A. D. 1837, from Mexico, N. Y., under the auspices of the Home Missionary Society. At that time there was no church organization at Defiance, except the Methodist Episcopal. Mr. Stow took an active part in organizing the Presbyterian Church at that time, which was accomplished December 11, 1837, and at said organization he was chosen their pastor and remained as such until the spring of 1839, when, owing to ill health of himself and family, he resigned his charge and with his family returned again to his former home in New York. Subsequently, A D. 1852, he returned again to Defiance, but not to take the place of pastor in the church at Defiance, bat preached every other Sabbath or as health would permit in the little church at Eidgeville, until his death, April 24, 1856, aged seventy-four years. A few days before his death he penciled the following lines:

" With joy I proclaim to this body farewell, I've no more occasion within thee to dwell; Long hast thou been faithful and firm to endiu'e, L'~>ag wilt thoa be re.sting, all safely secure. I leave thee at present in charge of kind friends, All needed attentions will comjiass thy ends; May you rest in all quiet down under the clod, B(:nealh His protection, thy Lord and my God. Roused up after ages by the Omnipotent word, Oh, how much delight will re-union afford; With pleasure surpassing all present portray. No more to be sundered, all hail the bright daj'. Such rays from oin- Savior will fall on us then. To render us happy, oh, stop, my poor pen; Oh, wonder of wonders, no mortal can tell, "With joy in conclusion, I say, fare thee well."

Henry Sauer was born on September 10, 1812, in Cassel, the Capital of the former electorate of Hesse- Cassel.now a portion of Prussia, Germany; immigrated to America at the age of nineteen, arriving at New York in the summer of 1832, after a long and tedious voyage on a sail vessel; being without means or friends to assist him, ho immediately worked his way westward until he arrived at Cleveland in the fall of 1834, here he found two families that had immigrated a few years before from his neighborhood in Germany; they were the families of George A. Hoffrichter and Frederick Leah. On May 10, 1835. he married Wilhelmina, daughter of George A. and Julia Hoffrichter. In the summer of 1836 he with the families of Hoflfrichtpr and Lesh removed to where he now resides in Pleasant Township, Hemy County, Ohio, being now the oldest living settler in the township. Arriving at Independence, Defiance County, their only path to their newly purchased home (which was represented as being not far distant from Cleveland) was the lonely Indian trail. Upon arriving at the spot they found nothing but a dense forest, wild beasts and the Indians, who were peaceable and did the new-comers no damage. By un ring energy and perseverance, he set to work and soon had several acres ready for the plow, which was pi lied by one ox, or sometimes a man was hitched up with him. A few years later, when the canal was 1 ^ing built through Defiance, he left his little farm, ti en consisting of 40 acres, and helped to construct it from Defiance to Delphos, in this way procuring means to buy more land. By continuing at hard -woi'^ until the present day, he was able to secure 240 acres of land, which is to-day in the garden spot of Northwestern Ohio. The result of his marriage was fifteen children, ten girls and five boys, nine of whom are living to-day. He is now enjoying the fruits of his hard labor and is living on the same piece of land ho moved onto in 1836, being seventy-one years of age, his wife sixty-five, both in good health and neither one would be taken for the earliest settlers in the township.

John Hively came to Defiance County in 1817, entered a farm, settled on the north hank of the Maumee, about three miles below Defiance, where he built and operated in connection with his farm a small tannery. He had four sons and two daughters, one of whom, Polly, married John Bridenbaugh, and after his death, John Ruth, with whom she now lives in Milford Township. Thomas, one of the sons, lives in Indiana; John, another son, lives with his sister, Mrs. Ruth. John Hively, Sr., and his wife died on the farm they had entered from the Government.

Rev. Truman Felton is the son of Chauneey and Lucinda (Delsworth) Felton. His father was born in Holmes County, Ohio, and his mothei in Hillsdale County, Mich. Their children were John, Truman, Harriet, Charlotte and George. John went to Iowa in 1869, and to the Black Hills in 1874, where he was when last heard from. Mr. Ch; uncey Felton was a soldier in the late war, and an early pioneer and hunter of Defiance County. Trumtm spent his boyhood upon the farm, professed religion at the age of twelve years, studied for the ministry and was licensed to preach in the United Brethren Church in 1882. January 16, 1875, he was married to Miss Mary, daughter of Henry and Hannah (Lay) Shafer. Their children are Chauneey, born March 6, 1876; Anna, born December 25, 1877; Lucinda, born January 1, 1880. and Myrtle, born January 20, 1882.

Townsend Newton, the second son and third child of William and Laura (Moore) Newton, was born August 9, 182G, at Willsboro F- Us, Essex County, N. Y. His parents were born, tht former January 1, 1880, in Scotland, the latter May 15, 1800, in Essex County, N. Y. They were married and settled down for a time at \Villsboro, where they remained until 1847, when they remo 1 to Clinton

County, N. Y., where Mr. Newton died August 20, 1849. Mrs. Newton came to Defiance County in 1861 and died at the residence of her son William, in Defiance Township, in January, 1872. Their children were "William (dead), Mary, Townsend, Alma, George, Margaret (dead), Isabella (dead). Townsend Newton, the subjecfof this sketch, was married to Canline E., daughter of Elisha and Eliza (Koe) Brown, September 20, 1849, at Port Ann, Washington County, N. Y., and moved to Clinton County, and from there to Hopkinton, St. Lawrence County, N. Y. , and from there to Defiance County, Ohio, in the fall of 1862. In the spring of 1863, he purchased the old pioneer farm, known as the Nathan Shirley farm, situated on the Auglaize River on Section 17, Defiance Township, to which he has added 80 acres, making a homestead of 240 acres. Six children have blessed this union - Ella, born October 9, 1850, died May 13, 1873; Mary, born January 2, 1852; William, born May 28, 1854; Charles, born August 20, 1856; Helen, born April 12, I860; Hattie, born June 25, 1868. Mrs. Newton died March 26, 1872. Mr. Newton then married Mrs. Dickey, April 2, 1873, with whom he is now living. Mr. Newton, owing to ill health of his father, started out at the age of eleven years to work on a farm at 12.50 per month. At the age of seventeen, went to learn the bloom trade (making iron rods from the ore).. After completing his trade, penniless, he started out in the world, borrowing 50 cents and traveling all day, put up at night. The landlord asked if he wanted supper, to which young Newton replied he would like supper, lodging and breakfast, and tendered him the 50 cents. The landlord told him to keep it and pay him when he got a job, which he afterward did, and by economy and good management he is " well fixed," having a good farm of 240 acres in a body, besides several small farms in this and the adjoining counties

Jacob J. Greene, one of the most widely known citizens of Defiance County, was born at Lancaster, Fairfield County, Ohio, in July, 1821; moved to the town of Defiance in the summer of 1843, and has resided there continuously ever since. He edited and published for twenty -five years, from February, 1849, the Defiance Democrat, which was not only the county paper for Defiance, but for a time also for several of the .adjoining counties. He is now (and has been since January, 1854), Probate Judge of Defiance County. He has held various local offices, besides having been a member (elected from the counties of Williams, Defiance, Paulding, Van Wert and Putnam) of the Constitutional Convention in 1850-51, as also (from Defiance and Paulding) of that of 1873-74. In politics, he has always been a Democrat, prominent as a Freemason, and has from his youth been a communicant of the Episcopal Church. The Judge is somewhat scholarly, being an A. M. of Kenyon College. His wife, Mary, is a daughter of John Donaldson, an early settler of TifSn Township. At sixtytwo, with unusually good health, and in the ready use of his faculties. Judge Greene bids fair to live years yet to enjoy his comfortable home and the esteem of friends, comprehending all classes and all parties. Capt. J. E. Casebeer, formerly proprietor of the Crosby House, Defiance, Ohio, was born, near Canal Dover, Tuscarawas County, Ohio. June 25, 1841, being now in his forty-second year. His parents are both living at Hicksville, Ohio, respected and well to do. His boyhood days were spent on a farm at hard work. He obtained a good business education by attending the district school of from two to three months each winter, but to natural ability he is more indebted for his education than to any advantages the schools afforded. At the age of twenty he enlisted as a soldier in Company D, Forty- fourth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, September 20, 1861, and re-enlisted as a veteran at Chattanooga, Tenn., Jamiary, 1863, and was with his company and regiment frcn the time of its mustering in until its mustering out. As a soldier, he participated in the battles of Port Donelson, Pittsburg Landing, siege of Corinth, Perryville, Stone River, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge and Nashville, besides the innumerabl-'^ skirmishes, marches and hardships attending an active campaign of four years' duration of a desperate and bloody war. He was honorably discharged, September 25, 1865. He was married to Dorothy Miller, May 15, 1867, a lady beloved by her friends and esteemed and honored by her acquaintances, who was born near Hicksville, Ohio, June 27, 1848. They have two children - Laura A., fifteen years old, and Odie K., thirteen years old. From 1867 to 1872, Mr. Casebeer engaged in the manufacturing business with success. From 1872 to 1876, he was engaged in the mercantile business, when he failed through the cause of the panic of 1873 and the close times and general unsettled state of business attending it. He immediately embarked in the hotel business without a dollar, every cent of his former capital going to his creditors. In 1878, he was burned out and lost everything again. Still undaunted, with nothing but energy and grit left, he commenced business anew, and through his able management, the Crosby House was second to no other of its size in the State, besides he is making other investments and improvements, the most important of which is the Casebeer Block at Hicksville, Ohio, which at present is the best building in town. Having sold the furniture and fixtures of the Crosby, he moved to Tole- do in June, 18S3, and re-opened, the American House under the name of the Merchants' Hotel. Socially, Mr. Casebeer is a liberal, whole-souled, plain speaking gentleman, with many friends and few enemies. Politically, he is Independent, uutrammeled by any pai'ty ties, reserving the right to vote as he thinks best, believing that all orood and honest measures should be sustainod and that corrnption and dishonesty should be rebuked, regardless of' party prejudices. Religiously, he is liberal, believing that every one has a right to his own religion: but in doing good to suffering humanity whenever we can, we come nearer to meriting our true reward from the great Giver of all good.

J. S. Haller was born March 0, 1837, in Chambersburg, Pena. His father immigrated to this country in 1827, from Baden, Germany. His mother was of German extraction, but born in America. They were married in 1830, by Rev. D. A. Gallatzer, at Loretto, Cambria County, Penn. The father's occupation was selling wall clocks, at which he was quite successful. Shortly after his marriage, he located at Chambersburg, Penn. His family consisted of two sous and two daughters, all born in Chambersburg, and all living except the younger daughter, who died at the age of five years. The father after a residence of thirteen years at Chambersburg, purchased a small farm three miles south of Harrisburg, Penn., on which they moved in the spring of 1850, and foUoweil gardening for a living. In 1855, the father died, aged sixty-seven, and in 1861 the mother followed, aged forty-nine. Both parents and sister rest in the family lot at Chambersbnrg. J. S., our subject, started "West in 1851), bound for Nebraska, purchasing a ticket for St. Louiw, but stopped over at Defiance to see his uncle, who with others })ersuaded him to try this place. In the fall, he secured employment with King Bros., commission merchants of Toledo, and afterward with Powers & Fish, also commission merchants of the same city. Then through C. Knos, general freight agent o£ Wabash Railway, he secm-ed a clerkship in the Logansport freight house, remaining there until the fall of 1861, when he returned to Defiance and married Josephine, eldest daughter of Mr. Weisenberger, on October 1, 1861, making his wedding tour to Harrisburg, Penn., and while there his mother died. The following spring he retui-ned to Defiance, settling down for life. His first attempt was in the grocery line, purchasing a small stock, at the one-story frame called the Recess, where now stands Mallet Bros.' marble works. After a time he purchased the lot where the Democrat now is. built a one- story brick building thereon, moved his original stock to a frame build ing owned Ijv his uncle, Mr. Weismantel. After the completion of his own brick building, he moved into it his family and stock, and was very successful. He then entered into partnership with F. Wolfsiffer, but after a year sold out to Richolt Bros; then purchased the S. R. Hudson property, moving his stock into the place; in a few years, formed a partnership with J. W Phillips, express agent, but in a year they dissolved and Mr. Haller was appointed agent, which he followed exclusively until 1871, except that for some time he was in partnership with J. & F. Wolfsiffer in groceries. He was then appointed joint agent at Logansport for two express companies, remaining until the winter of 187'.^. Next spring he traded the Gorman property for a half-interest in Ryder & Gib son's saw mill, which business he followed until 1870, when he leased the grounds and erected the buildings, now standing, to E. Gove & Co. In 187'2, with Mr. Gorman, he purchased twenty-fiye acres of H. C. Bouten, which they divided and improved, where they now reside. From 1876 to 1882, Mr. Haller was gardening, etc. In 1882, William Gibson and he commenced manufacturing a very useful wooden fork and improved threshing machine, both recently patented. Mr. Haller's family consists of four sons and five daughters.

Mrs. Eliza Brubaker was born in 1803, and lived a large portion of her life in Defiance. She took a great interest in the Presbyterian Church, of which she was a life-long member, and was one of the litcle band of nineteen who organized the church at Defiance in December, 1837, and continued an active member in every good work for the promotion and best interests of the same. She was the first to organize a sewing society, as one of the helps to build a church, in which she was permitted to worship to a good old age, when her spirit took its flight to the church triumphant on high, April 15, 1879. Mrs. Brubaker was the mother of Mrs. C. L. Noble, of Paulding Center, Ohio, and grandmother of Mrs. L. G. Thacker, of Defiance, Ohio.

John Lawrence Scott was born in Springboro, Ohio, June '.), 1839. His father, William E., of English descent, his mothei', -4.nn Trotter, of Scottish descent, were both raised and married in Virginia, and in the early days moved to Springboro, ^^'arren County, Ohio. They had three sons and two daughters - Edward (deceased), Ann E. (Mrs. Edwards, of Madison County), William J. (of Pana, 111.), John Lawrence, and Louisa (Mrs. Henry Lawrence, of Plainfield, Ind. ). When three years old, our subject, on the death of his father, went with his mother to Richmond, Ind., and in 1859 began the study of medicine with Dr. Butler, attending one course of lectures at Philadelphia. On the death of Dr. Butler, he went to Wabash, Ind., aud studied dentistry for two years with Dr. J. Bechtol. In

1863, he enlisted and served two years in the army aa Captain of Company A, One Hundred and Fiftythird Indiana Vohinteer Infantry. He returned to AV abash, and resumed the practice of dentistry, but selling out Febniary 1 , 1800, he moved to Defiance, where he still practices his chosen profession. He married in 1809, Miss Helen Brown, of Defiance. In 1877, he engaged in the drug business in connec tion with Dr. W. D. Colby, which interest he still retains in connection with the active duties of his profession.

.Vbijah John Miller, attorney, was born in Pennsylvania and received his literary training at Williamsport Academy, where he graduated in 1836. He graduated in law at the Cincinnati Law School in 1839, and has been a resident of Defiance since 1849.

Convad Marquardt was born November IS, 1S4S, in Germany, his parents. John and Anna (Shafer) Marquardt, who were born in Germany and came to America and settled at Toledo, Ohio. May 8, ISol. They have one daiighfer, Anna, born in 1810, who married Lewis Eiebel, of Toledo Sir. Marquardt died at Toledo in 1861, aged forty-six years. j\Irs. M. is still living; at Toledo. At the age of sixteen years, Conrad started out to learn the door, sash and blind business. In 187:2, he came to Defiance, where he has remained ever since, working at his trade. In May, 1804, he enlisted in the three months' service, served his time and was honorably discharged at Toledo, where he had enlisted.

Samuel S. A^hbiu^'h. attorney, was born in La Grange Coanty, Ind., March 'liS. 1852. being the youngest child of Andrew and Elizabeth (Davis) Ashbaugh. He lived on a farm in this county with his parents until he was about fifteen years of age, when they removed to Hillsdale, Mich., to obtain !)etter educational advantages for their childi-eu. Mr. Ashbaugh completed the classical course of Hillsdale College in 1874, and now holds the degree of A. M. After graduating, he taught school at Allen and Jonesville, Mich., declining a second re-election at the latter place, in order to read law, and was admitted to the bar at Hillsdale, in March, 1879. In September, following, he resumed teaching, taking chai'ge of the public schools of Defiance. Ohio, which situation he held 'three years, resigning in Jitne. 1882, that he might enter the practice of law. He immediately formed a pai'tnership with Henry B. Harris, was admitted to the bar of Ohio, January 2, 1883. and is now engaged in the active practice at Defiance, Ohio.

Henry B. Harris, attorney, second son and third child of Thomas Drake and Elizabeth (.Ishton) Harris, was born in Defiance, Ohio, on the 4th day of November, 18ri3. He attended the union schools of

Defiance, and afterward the Ohio Wesleyan University, at Delaware, Ohio, whore he graduated in 1874. The year succeeding his graduation he was employed as superintendent of the union schools of Hicksville, Ohio. In the summer of 187."), Mr. Harris commenced the study of law at Defiance under the tutelage of Henry Ne.\ begin, Esq. In December, 1877, he was in the Supreme Court of the State admitted to the pi'actice of law in Ohio, and the first of the new year following entered the active practice in his native village. On the 18th of October, 1882, at Rushville, Ohio, Mr. Harris married Alice A., eldest daughter of John W. and Elizabeth Shaw, of Fairfield County. Ohio. Mr. Harris is now senior member of the enterprising and prosperous firm of Harris & Ashbaugh.

William Carter, attorney, son of William and Elizabeth E. (Daggell) Carter, was boi-n at Defiance, Ohio, December 31, 1850; wa=i educated in the public schools of that place, and after spending most of four 3'ears in the employ of the civil engineering department of the B. & O E. E. Company in constructing one of its lines, entered the law department of the University of Michigan in September, 1870, and graduated therefrom in 1878. He was admitted to practice in the State of Ohio in 1879. and located in his native city, where he has since followed his profession with success. Dm'ing his yet short career as a lawyer, he has in several instances been called to till places of responsibility by the court and citizens outside as well as inside his own county. He is now Master Commissioner for Defiance County, and a Trustee of several organizations within the county, among which is the Defiance Female Seminai'v. We predict for the future of Mr. Carter that degree of success and eminences in his profession which integrity, fidelity and perseverance in all mattersmerit. Mr. Carter was married to Emma A., daughter of Exifus A. and Christina (^Valls) Houghton, of Defiance. Ohio. April 30. 1S7S. They have two childi'en - Abbie Carier, born April 9, 1^79, and William Carter, born December 19, 1881.

Charles E. Bronson. The subject of this sketch is the eldest son and fourth child of Sedgwick and Johanna E. Bronson, who were married in the fall of 1838. at Fredonia, N. Y. His father was born in Chautauqua County. N. Y,. February 2. 1816. and his mother in same county in the fall of 1818. They are the lineal descendants from the same ancestors with Greene C. Bronson, the late Chief Justice of the State of New York. Their parents moved form New Haven. Conn., in 1790, to ^Vestern New York, where they settled and engaged in farming, raising stock and engaged in dairy business, and some of their children ai'e still residing on the old homestead which he erected in 1790 at Mayville, N. Y. In the fall of 1849, his parents moved to Defiance, Ohio, where he was born March 10, 1850. His father was engaged in the saw mill business and had charge of the saw mill on Indiana Lock, owned by S. S. Sprague, Esq., which he managed for fifteen months. In 1852, the family returned to Chautauqua County, N. Y. The family consisted of his parents and four children, viz.: Sarah E., Caroline W., Charles E. and Frank C, one girl died in infancy. He attended the common schools of their home until he was fifteen years of age, when he went to Forestville Academy, then under the control of the Board of Regents of Albany, N. Y. His parents were not able to pay his board and tuition, so he accepted the' position of janitor of the school buildings to pay for the same, and attended the regular course in the acailemy for two years. He then succeeded in passing the examination prescribed by the Board of Regents of the State, standing at the head of his class. In the fall of 1807, he came to Defiance, Ohio, his native place, and made his home with his uncle, J. W, Phillips, and attended a select school taught by S. H. Wallace; during the winter, he taught the dia trict school four miles southwest of town, known as the "Duck District," where he gave good satisfaction. The winter of 1808-09, he taught the school in '' Conkle" District, Adams Township, also a two months' term at Independence, Ohio. The winter of 1809-70, he taught the Farmer Center School. During the year preceding this - his last school - he commenced the study of law with the firm of Hill & Cowen, and on the 19th of March, 1871, just nine days after he became of age, he passed the examination without missing a single question at the session of the district at Defiance, Ohio, and the next day, March 20, was duly sworn in attorney and counselor at law; on the 10th day of April, the same year, he formed a law partnership with the Hon. Henry Hardy, an old attorney of the city, and entered upon the active duties of his profession. He was successful from the beginning, and in a short time had a lucrative practice. In March, 1873, the partnership was dissolved by mutual consent, and on the 5th day of June, 1873, he was nominated for Prosecuting Attorney of the county of Defiance, by the Democratic party, and was elected. He was so successful and faithful in the discharge of the duties of his office that he was twice re-elected, holding the office for three successive terms of two years each. - At the close of his third term, January, 1880, he retired from the office and rented the suite of rooms on the second floor, directly opposite the court house, where he has since been engaged in the practice of law, and a general loan and real estate business.

He has one of the finest suites of rooms in the city. On December 6, 1871, he was married to Miss Mary A. Thacker, youngest daughter of I. N. Thacker, M. D. , one of the oldest and best physicians of the city. To them were given three boys - Eddie S., I. Newton and Charlie Thacker, the last of whom died in the spring of 1880, at the age of eighteen months, with that terrible disease, scarlet fever.

Ludger Blanchard was born in Canada, November 12, 1842. His father, James, and his mother, Harriot, were Canadians by birth. The latter died in Canada in 1851, and the former in Paulding County, Ohio, May 26, 1876. They had ten children, nine boys and one girl, who died in infancy. Their names are as follows: James, Joseph, Ludger, Gideon, Simon, Malina, Philip, Philleus, Patrick and Edmund. Simon, Malina and Philip are dead. Joseph, Gideon and Ludger are living in Defiance, Philleus being in Paulding County, Patrick in Wyoming Territory, James and Edmund in Canada. The mother died when Ludger was eight years old, and the family were scattered. At the age of seventeen years, Ludger went to Montreal to learn the cabinet-making. After serving three years, he went to Plattsburg, N. Y., and worked there eighteen months. From Plattsburg he went to Defiance, in the fall of 1863, and worked for the firm of Hoffman & Geiger eight years. In 1872, he commenced the undertaking business, and still continues in it. December 25, 1866, he was married to Bridget T. Downs, of Defiance, who was born in Toledo, March 22, 1.^43. Eight children have blessed this union - Joseph J. A., Ovid D., Annie H. (deceased), Eugenie Z., Mi-na T., Charles G., Albert L. and D. A.

Joseph Blanchard is engaged quite extensively in the timber business in Defiance. He married Sarah Hess, of Defiance, in the fall of 1874, and they have five children - Frank, Nettie, Josio, James and Mary M. James and Josie are deceased.

Gideon Blanchard is a resident of Defiance, where he has been engaged in the timber business for the past twenty years. His wife was Margaret Mumber, of Paulding County, to whom he was married June 6, 1865, and they have six children living - Gideon, Harriet, John, Eddie, Zelia and Israel.

Charles Carroll Strong was born at Tbetford, Vt., June 30, 1829, and is a descendant of the Elder John Strong, of Taunton, Somersetshire, England, who came to America in 1629. The father of Charles Carroll, Horace Strong, was born in Lebanon, Conn., April 9, 1791, and was married, at Thetford, Vt., October 22, 1818, to Laura Allen, who is a sister to Dr. Jerome and Bella Allen, with whom so many of the pioneers of Defiance are acquainted. Horace Strong died September 24, 1830, leaving a wife and live children, of whom CharleB was the youngest. At the age of aixteen, he left home for Chicopee Falls, Mass., to learn the machinist's trade. July 12, 1851, he was married to I'rances K. Cheeney, daughter of Elias and Lucy F. Cheeney, at Thetford, Vt. Their childi'on were Frances and Sarah, twins, born at Nashua, N. H., April, 1852; Harriet M., born at Windsor, Vt. , March, 185'); Horace, at Defiance, Ohio, February, 18(11; Kate, at Detiaiice, Diiccinber, 1803; Nellie (1. and Addie G., at Detianco, November, 1865. Of a family of sovoii children, only two are now living, Harriet M. and Addie G. They moved from I'hiladelphia, Penn. , to Defiance, March, 18r)S. He, with his brother Sariuel and Marcus Oi-cutt, bought the foundry then owned by P. Kettenring, they adding a machine shop.

John McCollister was born in Mad River Township, Ghampa;;;n Co., Ohio, January 7, 1840, and in September, 1850, he removed with his father to Jennings Township, Van Wort County, at that time almost a wilderness. The nearest school being threemiles off, his father provided a boarding place about half-way to school, and John and his brother Noah, and his sisters, Polly and Anna, went to school, in 1850 and in 185 I, to David Price. In September following, his sister Nancy died, and then his mother and sister Anna, all in three weeks, so his fourteenyear-old sister Polly was left to keep house. About this time, our subject had an exciting and dangerous tussle with a wild hog, which he killed after putting live balls into him. On another occasion, he was obliged to enlarge a hole in a hollow tree, in which his little nine year brother was stuck. In August, 1855, his father died, aged fifty-five. He was a native of Shenandoah County, Va. , and his mother of Tennessee, her maiden name being Sarah Taylor. He then lived with his uncle, John Taylor, of Defiance, going to school to Angeline Meredith, a daughter of Thomas M'arren, then to Bldridge Willie, and next to "\V. W'olls, and finally, in 1S51), to Oscar Myers. On December 1^5. 18(10, he married Esther Brown, by whom he has had nine sons and three daughters; of the boys, only Charles Strong, David Locke, Lafayette Burohard and an infant not named, now survive. The girls are Clara Covila, Emma Dell and Fannie Augusta. In 186'2, Mr. McCollister enlisted in Company A, Sixty-ninth Battalion Ohio National Guards, and in April, 1862, they were ordered to Cleveland, there mustered into the United States service and ordered to Washington. They were stationed at Fort Ethan Allen, seven miles from Washington. He was transferred, at Cleveland, into the One Hundred and Sixty- ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in Company K, Capt. Bowhis, Lieut. Loveberry. He was honorably discharged at Camp Cleveland, August, 1801.

A. Viers, son of John and Rebecca Viers, was born near Delta, Fulton Co., Ohio, March 27, 18-45. His father was also a native of Ohio, born January 9, 1800, and was married to Rubecca Salisberry, born in Pennsylvania June 8, 1806. They moved to Fulton County at an early day, being the third white family in the county. They cleared a large farm, and raised a family of nine sons and four daughters. Five of .the sons served their country in the late war, in which two lost their lives. John Viers died July 2, 1873; his wife is still living. The subject of this sketch was married, June 17, 1869, to Alice M., daughter of Adam and Mary J. Stoirt, born March 12, 1851. Thay first settled in Florida, Henry County, remaining until 1871, when they moved to Defiance, where he entered into mercantile life as salesman for Messrs. Flickinger & Blair. In the spring of 1883, he formed a partnership with Thomas Hilton in the grocery business, and opened up in the Holgate, Potterf & Tittle Block, opposite the Eassell House. His family consists of two children - Nettie B. , bora March 16, 1871, and Adam C, born February 2, 1874.

EnoB Blair was born in 1839 in Greenwood, Steuben Co., N. Y. His father, William M. Blair, was born in Massachusetts in 1799, and died a^. Litchfield, Mich., in 1846. His mother, Selinda A^' heeler, was born in New Hampshire in 1799, and is still living at Litchfield, Mich. They were married, in 1820, at Dryden, N. Y. , and a few years after moved to Greenwood, N. Y., and then, in 1845, to Litchfield, taking with them their six-year-old sou, Enos, and from that tinie until he was thirteen he lived on his brother's farm. In 1852 and 1853, he attended school at Defiance; returned to Michigan, remaining until 1857, going then to Illinois, working on a farm in summer and teaching in the winter for two years. He then entered into the stove trade in Defiance for two years, when he went into the dry goods business, in the fall of 1863, in partnership with C. A. Flickinger, and they still continue to do a thriving and prosperous business. He married, September 2, 1868, Amanda M., daughter of J. J. and Susan M. Myers, of Defiance, who was born at Mogadore, in Summit County, November 15, 1848. They have three children - EvaM. , born June 15, 1869; Hattie A., November 10, 1873; Elmer Enos, July 26, 1876.

John M. Preisendorfer was born in Oberstine, Bayern, Germany, October 22, 1838, and is son of Adam and Agnes Preisendorfer, who had a family of five sons and one daughter, of whom three survive - John M. , Joseph and John. His father died in 1846, the mother in 1881. John M. came to this country in 1860, remaining in iS'cw York until February, IXIil, wlipn he came to Defiance, working eleven months for A. Dolke, at the boot and shoe trade, when he went into business with his brother Joseph, but after five years bought out the latter. In 1867, he liuilt, at a cost of §4, '200, his present place of business, 49 Clinton street. He married, November ".^4, 1865, Elizabeth Wilbelm, of Henry County, by whom he had nine children - Mary A., John J., Adam (died in infancy), Agnes E. , Alphonso E., Anthony F. , I'rank S., Adam and Louis Charles. In politics, Mr. P. is an active and faithful Democratic worker, and has held office as Corj)oration Treasurer from 1870 to 1878, and now, in connection with his boot and shoe business, in which he carries a large and carefully selected stock, he is prepared to suit all. He has kept abreast of the times, and has never allowed any competitor to surpass him in the completeness and variety of his stock, the fairness of his prices and liberality of his dealings.

He also represents a large number of first-class American and European tire and life insurance companies, and takes risks on all commercial and farm property. Defiance has a good representative in Mr. Preisendorfer, who is an honorable and upright citizen, and a merchant of reliability and established reputation.

William Higgins, son of Schuyier and Sophia (Carter) Higgins, was born on the Western Reserve, in South Amherst, Lorain Co., Ohio, June 9, 1828. Left fatherless at the age of ten years, he and his seven brothers and sisters were dependent on their own exertions for a living and education. Endowed with a large amount of energy and perseverance, he manfully resolved to win for himself " a name and a fame. " At the age of fifteen, with his school books and personal effects tied up in a cotton handkerchief, he left home for Sandusky, en route for the then far West. Arriving at his brother Franklin's, who lived thirty miles west of Chicago, he worked for two months at ^S per month. With the money thus earned, he furnished himself with suitable clothing, and came back to Valparaiso, Ind., where he attended school. War having been declared between Mexico and the United States, August 3, 1846, at the age of seventeen, he enlisted in the mounted rifle regiment at Michigan City, Ind. , and was immediately ordered to Jeiferscn Barracks, Mo., where the regiment was (organized, drilled and equipped. Here he was assigned to Company G, commanded by Capt. John L. Simonson. After three months' camp life at Jefferson Barracks, he was ordered to Jackson Barracks, New Orleans, where the regiment continued cavalry drill till the February following, when orders were received to proceed at once to the mouth of the Rio

Grande. A few weeks' stay here, and they were ordered to Lobos Island, in the Gulf of Mexico. Two weeks later, the fleet was organized, and sailed for Vera Cruz, intending to besiege and bombard the city. Mr. Higgins. with others, was transferred fi-om the ship "Diadem," to the sloop-of-war "Albany. " From the " Albany " he was one of the first to enter the surf-boats and effect a landing under cover of the fire from the fleet. After a -siege and bombardment of four days, the city of Vera Cruz and the castle of San Juan de Ulloa surrendered. From here the army marched to Plandel Rio, where they stopped for rest and to prepare to storm the heights of Cerro Gordo. He was now with Gen. Twiggs, in the storming party that flanked the enemy on the right and rear; which movement, Manuel M. Jimen, in the Mexican official journal. El Diario, afterward likens to the passage of Bonaparte across the Alps, and "that the road by which the enemy flanked us was impracticable." On the forenoon of the 18th, while storming the main heights, led by Lieut. Ewell, with the shot and shell falling thick and fast around them, and many a poor comrade breathing his last, our hero fell, badly wounded, which unfitted him for further service. After a tedious stay in the hospitals at Jalapa and castle of Perote, on the 31st day of October, 1847, he was discharged, and went immediately home, where he was an invalid for eighteen months, from the effects of his wound and disease contracted in the army. With the partial return of health, his old energy and force of character began again to assert itself, and in the fall of 1848, at the age of twenty years, he engaged in his first speculation, which consisted in the purchase and shipment to Chicago of one hundred barrels of- green apples; the sale of which he personally superintended. January 19, 1849, he located his land warrant, and became the possessor of a farm of 160 acres of rich prairie land in Grundy County, 111, which he still owns. In March following, he returned to Birmingham, Ohio, and made all necessary arrangements for a journey across the plains to California during the coming summer. At the appointed time, his expected partner concluded not to go, and thereby caused him to defer till a later day his trip to the land of gold. September 1, he again enrolled himself, not as a soldier but as a student at Baldwin University, Berea. On the 8th day of April, 1850, he started from Birmingham for California across the plains, and reached Ringgold September 22' following. Here he followed the occupation of a miner till March, 1S52, when he engaged in mercantile business at Placerville, in which he continued till January, 1854, during which time ho built the pioneer or first brick business block in Placerville, situated on the corner of Main and Sacra- monto stroetrt; it is strictly lire-proof, and is now occupied as a post office building. In February, 1854, lio nilnrnod to Ohio by the Nicaragua route, passing most of the time till September in traveling through the Western and Southern States, when he again started for California, by the Panama route, and reached San Francisco in October. He again followed the occu])atioii of a niinei', sjxmdingthe greater part of his time at lAIonte Ohristo, on the celBbratod Bine Lead, until January, ISriN. when, the homo attractions becoming stronger than all else, ho again returned to Ohio. On the 8th day of May, 1858, ho came to Deliance, whore ho has since resided, spending the first f oar years of his stay in the law oflice of Hon. William Carter, since deceased. August 19, 18r)'j, lie consummated a very important event of his lif(<, vi/,., his marriage with Miss Delia Stone, of Advism, Mich., a teacher in the public schools and an accomplished and highly esteemed lady. Four years later, his wife died, leaving him a childless widower. In October, 1807, he married Miss Amelia Tiuney, of Irving, Erie Co. ,N. Y. The fruits of this union were Bertha H. , LoraD. , William E. , Schuyler E. and Minnie E. In 1873, he, with three others, built the lino edifice on the corner of Clinton and Third streets, known as the Keystone Block. In November, 1875, his wife, Amelia, died, leaving him again a widower. January 1, 1877, the dread angel Death again visited his family, and Schuyler, his second son, was taken. June 24, 1880, ho again embarked on the soa of matrimony, and married another teacher, Miss' Clara E. Peck, of Erie County, Ohio, whose home was near his own birthplace. One beautiful little girl, Mary Augusta, has come to bless their union. Financially, he has boon more successful than could have been exjiected from one whoso business has boon so varied and changeful as his. By his strict integrity and uprightness of character, lie has won many friojids and been honored with offices of trnst by his fellow-townsmen, among which was the Mayoralty of the city. He also held a commission under Gov. Tod during the late civil war, as Colonel of militia. He is positive in temperament and outspoken in manner, showing the world his strict ideas of right and wrong regardless of consequences. Politically, he is a life-long Democrat, of the true Bourbon stripe. Religiously, a supporter of the Church, a friend of the })oor and needy, and an adherent of the doctrine that a (piiet, conscientious, consistent life is a better example of true Christianity than loud spoken words and acts " to be seen of men. "

Lewis Neill, a lineal descendant on the mother's side of G-avin Hamilton, oE Scotland, the patron of Burns, the Scottisli poet, and on the father's side, of

Hugh O'Neill, the Earl of Tyrone (the unyielding Irish patriot who battled so long against the armies of the British crown), is a son of Lewis and Corbina E. Neil (both deceased), of Jefferson County, now West Virginia, His forefathers came to colonial America whilst Lord Fairfax held and lived upon his " grant " of the " Northern Neck of Virginia, " and Lewis Neill, the great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch, at one time owned 12,000 acres of that Fairfax, land. Lewis Neill has two surviving brothers; George W. Neill (unmarried), and Samuel B. Neill (married), and two surviving sisters - Mary S. Neill (unmarried), and Virginia Johnston (married). Lewis Neill, our subject, married Ellen M. Greer, only daughter of Judge James S. Greer and Louisa Greer, both of Defiance, Ohio, the former a native of Maryland, and the latter of Vermont. Mrs. Neill, his (now deceased) wife, was born in the village of Defiance May 2, 1814, and Mr. Neill was born in Jefferson County (now West Virginia) March 1(5, 1821. They had one child only - Lewis Greer Neill (living), who was born March 18, 1866. Mr. Neill was Justice of the Peace and County Recorder for six years. He settled in Defiance County in the year 1803.

William C. Holgate, banker, lawyer and capitalist, was born November 23, 1814, at Burlington, Vt., of English and Scotch descent. He has in his possession an ancient English coat of arms, without date, of which he has no knowledge save that it has been handed down from his ancestors. He was the son of Curtis and Alvira (Prentice) Holgate, A sketch of his father will be fcjund on another page. William C. Holgate attended the academy and select school at Utica, N. Y. , and was admitted to Hamilton College in the year 1832, graduating in 1835. In 1841, the college bestowed on him the degree of A. M. He studied law with Willard Crafts, of Utic-a, and then w.ith Horace Sessions, of Defiance, Ohio, where he was admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court of Ohio in the year 1838. About this time, he was appointed Clerk of the Court, which office he resigned in 1839, then receiving the ajjpointmont of Prosecuting Attorney of W^ilHams County, in which position he had his first experience in the practice of law. His first case in a court of record was where Morrison R. Waite, now Chief Justice, delivered his maiden speech as opposing counsel. In the winter of 1844- 45, he went to Columbus with a petition for the ei'ection of Defiance County, and succeeded in securing the passage of a legislative enactment establishing the county. The bill was drafted by him, and by his untiring efforts carried through the Legislature, amid the most violent opposition, in the short space of three months. On his return home with a certified copy of the law, he met such a reception from his fellow citizens as was never given to any other man in the county. Well they might, as of some twenty-live projects of a similar kind, his was the only one that succeeded. About 1851, a Mr. Allen, with his agents, "was found listing and taking possession of ndarly all the vacant land surrounding the town of Defiance, under a contract with the Governor of the State, by virtue of an adroitly framed resolution of the Legislature, reading in such a way as to mislead the members passing it, and also the Grovernor and Auditor of State. Ascertaining that this contract would put Mr. Allen in possession of nearly 40,001' acres of land in close proximity to Defiance, and so smother the growth.and prosperity of the village and surrounding country, and believing there must be a great fraud and wrong underlying the matter, Mr. Holgate called upon the leading men of Defiance to see if they would join with him in an 'attempt to thwart the proceeding. He found that nearly all of them had already been interviewed by Allen, and been led by him to concur in the legality of his claim "But," said they, " if it is wrong, what can we do about it, with all the leading officials of the State against us ? " Mr. Holgate replied that he would show them what "we could do about it," and immediately called a public meeting of the town, in which, as Chairman of a committee appointed by the meeting, he made an elaborate report of the law and facts relating to the matter, which was received and adopted, and, with appropriate resolutions, was published in the papers of the town and republished throughout the State. A great consternation was aroused among the people on the subject. The officials of the State were led to review and reconsider their action in the matter, and to hedge Mr. Allen's procedure with difficulties. The Auditor soon brought the lands to sale, and the most of them were bought by actual settlers, Mr. Allen, having failed in getting action of the Supremo Court in his favor, finally abandoned his claims to the lands, and thus were the great interests of the State as well as the people of Defiance, saved by the action of Mr. Holgate. When the Michigan Southern Railroad and the Pittsburgh & Fort AVayne Railroad went through the State, cutting off most of the territory tributary to the business interests of Defiance, business men talked about removing to other places, and everything looked as if the doom of the town was sealed, and no one to lift a helping hand, only to say there was no hope. It was then that William 0. Holgate came to the front once more and secured to the town the ^V abash, St. Louis & Pacific Railway. None can now appreciate the really hard mental as well as physical work it took to accomplish this object. Late at night and early in the morning.

Mr. Holgate worked and worked on. He corresponded nearly every railroad man and interest - east as far as Buffalo, and south as far as Cincinnati, and west as far as La Fayette - and the correspondence would now fill a volume. Nearly every railroad meeting within those limits was attended by him, and he depicted in vivid colors in the newspapers of the town the advantages of railroad routes through Defiance. The strain upon bim in doing this work, in connection with his law office and large real estate interests and infirmities produced by a bilious and debilitating climate, caused his health to give away in 1853, to such an extent as to render him unfit for active business for the succeeding twelve to fifteen years. He could not read or write for much of this time, and was compelled to give up his law practice, and now rarely attends to any but that in which he is personally interested. Though tolerably comfortable, Mr. Holgate has never entirely recovered from the prostration that came upon him in 1853. In 1864, when the land contracted to the town fourteen years previously for the Defiance Fefaale Seminary had been forfeited to the State for the non-payment of purchase money, and a bill was about being passed by the Legislature requiring the State Auditor to sell the same, he went to Columbus and secured the passage of an act authorizing a deed of the land upon payment of the mftney due. . Mr. Holgate and Horace Sessions advanced the money from their private funds and secured the deed, thereby saving to Defiance the 1,280 acres. It was about the year 1869 the citizens felt the want of increased railroad facilities to accommodate the manufacturing interests of the place, and this again brought him to the front in the interests of the people. Several lines for a railroad were proposed and urged by the leading citizens of the town. Feeling that the most imporbant , route for the next railroad through the place would be from the southern bend of Lake Michigan, as Chicago could be most directly connected through it with the cities of the Atlantic seaboard, Mr. Holgate organized a company in Ohio and Indiana, its line surveyed two years later being accepted and built upon by the Baltimore & Ohio Company. The beneficial effects of this railroad upon the business prosperity of the town are incalculable. He was appointed Director in this new road. The city and county of Defiance are almost wholly indebted to Mr. William C. Holgate for securing to them that great improvement in their interest known as the " Second Street Bridge." A Board of Commissioners in 1873, had advertised the letting of a contract for the construction of a $40,000 stone and iron structure at the crossing of the Auglaize River at Hopkins street, which, if proceeded with, Mr. Holgate saw would so exhaust the bridge moneys of the county that it would cut off all hopes or prospects of a bridge at Second street. It was found that, in addition to the hostility of the Commissionprs, no direct relief to prevent tho letting of the Hopkins street contract could be obtained by injunction fioiu either Judge residing in the county, and the cawc seemed hopeless. Already contractors from several States had begun to crowd tho hotels, when as a desperate alternative, Mr. Holgato entered the Auditor's office with i-espousible parties, and i^ave security, and so caused the transfer of the papers relating to the ('Cjmmissiouors' jn'oceedings about the Hopkins street bri<li;e, b\ appeal, to ihe Clerk's office of the Court of Common Pleas. \\'hen the hour foi' letting came, tho Conunissioners found they had no ])a|)ers on their tiles in jiroper shape authorizing a letting, and dismissed the assembled bidders. Mr. Holgate was fully conscious this appeal would not, on final hearing, be sustained, but knowing it would tide over the dangerous emergency, he waited until a good ease could bo made up for an injunction before Judges outside of the county, in the absence of those residtnit within. He took the apj)eal as his only chance. The case was now in court, with some few of the leading attorneys of tho town, supported by Morrison K. A\'aite as their adviser. All the Coiiuty Commissioners and the other prominent officials of the county sought to get the case out of court, so that they could proceed with the letting, while SEr. Holgate tried to keep it in, in order that the people of the county might have an opportunity to rally and elect a Board of Commissioners that should take care of their own and the great public interests affecting the matter. It suffices to say that in this, as in the first case in court in which Mr. Waite was the opposing counsel to Mr. Holgate, the latter's success was complete. The case was ended late in the year 1874 by a decision of the Supreme Court of the State against the Commissioners. While this suit was pending, two new Commissioners were elected in the interest of constructing the bridge over the Auglaize River at Second street, and they caused its erection in the summer of 1875. While the proposed Hopkins street bridge was on the outskirts of the city, with its approaches narrow and crooked, Second street is a broad avenue running by the court house through the center of the business part of. the town in a straight line across the Auglaize River to a point half a mile east. This had a direct outlet given to it by an old county road to the east and by another one running south. The town of Holgate, twelve and one-half miles east of Defiance, on the Baltimore&Ohio Railroad, laid out by the citizens of Defiance, was named as a compliment to Mr. Holgate for his efforts in securing that road to their j)lace He always took a warm interest in the real estate improvements of the town, and his brain teemed with projects to promote its growth. His efforts, with those of his partners, have secured to the town of Holgate maoy important factories and other interests, together with the Toledo, Delphos & Burlington Railroad, which adds greatly to the prosperity of the town. Holgate avenue was originally a road graded by Mr. Holgate about 1844, through a fifty-acre tract owned by him, adjacent to the city of Defiance on the west, on which, in 1858, he built a house for his residence. After lining the street with shade trees and making it inviting to those seeking homes, he opened it to the public, and the village soon spread over his land and extended its limits a mile westerly. Holgate pike reaches from the north end of the Man-' mee River bridge in Defiance on section lines to Williams County. About the year 18-")(), Mr. Holgate secured the passage of a special act for the locating of the AVilliamstown&Ridgeville Free Turnpike road on this line. Its name, by another special act of which he secured the passage, about the year 1856, was changed to that of the Defiance & Michigan Free Turnpike road, but the people called it the "Holgate Pike,'' by which name only it is known. After the Defiance County Agricultural Society located its fair grounds on this road m 1875, Mr. Holgate added to it a strip of land forty feet wide, for a mile and a half north of the river, making it one hundred feet wide. He then planted three rows of maple trees along this pike, which are already giving it a pleasant and beautiful appearance. Assisted by his son Curtis, he is now engaged in opening in this vicinity une of the best stock farms in the State. It consists of about 900 acres north of the Maumee, embracing what is known as " Sulphur Hollow," and 200 acres soiith of that river. In "Sulphur Hollow," there is located a very valuable mineral spring. Mr. Holgate is opening out, grading, and building roads on most of the subdivision lines of sections through this tract, making of his farpi a beautiful park. He keeps about one hundred head of cattle, about twentyfive of which are thoiMDUghbred short-horns of the finest pedigrees, the increase of which will soon make his whole herd full bloods. He has other farminolauds not adjacent to the city, amounting to 5,000 acres, besides a large amount of city property, which he is improving every year. Mr. Holgate's expressed wish and desire seems to be to hold only such lots and lands as he can properly improve, all the remainder being for sale. He was the prime mover in organizing the Defiance County Agricultural Society, drafted its by-laws, performed the duties of Secretary, and took upon himself nearly all the business management for five years, when he was compelled to resigu on account of sickness. In polities, he was formerly a Whig, but since a Republican. Mr. Holgate has always been too much engrossed with important matters affecting his own interests as well as those of the public to devote much of his time to the business of politics. Being a man of great determination, he has always been eminently successful in all his undertakings, wliether of a private or public nature, and especially has this been the case in matters of public interest, which he has always pushed to success regardless of personal inconvenience, and yet he has never held or sought any public office. Strictly honorable in all his dealings and prudent in all his business matters, he has acquired a handsome fortune, without sacrificing the esteem and confidence of his fellow-citizens, by whom he is regarded in the highest manner--and especially is this the case among those who have known him from pioneer days down to the present time. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church. He is President of the Merchants' National Bank of Defiance, and also of the Defiance Manufacturing Company, a strong organization, manufacturing hubs, spokes and bent work. Mr. Holgate was married in 185D to Miss Mary Hoelrich, who died June 6, 1865. They had two children - W. Ciu-tis Holgate, born November 21), 1854, who was married September 14, 1876, to Miss Florence Gleason, who have also had two children - William Curtis Holgate, born July 19, 1877, and Robert Gleason Holgate, born October 1, 1880; Fannie Maud Holgate, born October '2, 1856, was married to Commodore Perry Harley, July 9, 1874, who have had one child - Holgate Christian Harley, who was born June 19, 1876.

Curtis Holgate was born inDummerston, Vt. , August 28, 1773. He was of English and Scotch descent, and was a son of Asa Holgate, whose father came from Eno-land, while we were colonies of Great Britain, as a Surgeon in the British Army. He died while in the service and was buried at sea between Boston and Halifax. Dr. Holgate left oiie son, Asa, who at seventeen years of age, being without a home, enlisted as a'private in the British Army, and was engaged in the old French and Indian war. At the close of this war, he married a daughter of Capt. Kathan, a Scotchman, who had settled on the Connecticut River, near Brattleboro Vt.. and owned fine lands for nine miles along the river. Ciu'tis Holgate was born on a farm, and was one of the younger children of a large family. While yet a child his father moved to Lake Champlain. The young man toiled vigorously at whatever he found to do, and at the age of thirty-six had accumulated a capital of about $1,500, the savings of his own labors. He received nothing from his father, as the fine landed estates on the Connecticut River had been lost to the family. His first wife having died, he married Miss Alvira Prentice, the daughter of a physician in Northern Vermont, and shortly after, gathering together all of his worldly possessions, he moved to Burlington, Vt. It had considerable commercial importance, but was without a wharf, though situated upon the broadest and most exposed part of the lab», and where one would be of the greatest value. Many had been built, but none of them permanently enough to stand, on account of the exposure of the coast to heavy storms and ice-drifts. Mr. Holgate felt confident that he could build a dock that would withstand the storms, and applied to the Legislature for a sole right to wharf privileges, which was. granted to him for the term of fourteen years. He had nearly completed his first structure when it was all swept aAvay in one night by ice and a heavy storm. Arriving at the scene the next morning he saw where the weak points were, and decided to try again. To give up was not in his character. He was called the Napoleon of Burling-tou, on account of his energy and perseverance. Having no money, but the full confidence of all who knew him, he went to a leading capitalist and laid the case before him, telling him if he would lend him the amount he needed to build another wharf, he would give him one hundred per' cent interest. His application was successful. The required aid was' granted, and in a short time the second dock was built. It answered his expectations and stood for a long time against all storms, thereby giving to the city of Burlington an accommodation indispensable to its commercial interests and prosperity. The wharf is still in existence, and has made it the chief city of the State. It was completed, together with the necessary warehouses, just before the war of 1812, The commencement of the war found him with all the debts for the construction or the wharf paid up in full, according to contract, and a very prosperous business on his hands. Commodore McDonough found the dock of great use during the war of 1812, for here he fitted out for the battle of Plattsburg, where he gained his great victory over the British. Previous to this battle, the British considered themselves masters of the lake. Their ships of war wenl sailing up and down its broad expanse, firing into the villages and towns. One of their lai^gest vessels anchored opposite to Burlington, but three miles distant, and sent a gunboat within about a mile of the place, which commenced cannonading the town. A prominent object was the house of Mr. Holgate, which stood on the wharf. One ball entered the roof of the house, passed into the dining-room, struck' a corner post, bounded back and rolled under the dining table, from which the family had just been hastened to the back country. Other balls struck his yard and garden fences, leveling them to the j^round. Goiiit;; to Commodore McDonough, Mr. Holgate asked him to fit out a gunboat to drive off the British marauders, aud agreeing to furnish the men necessary for the purpose. The Commodore granted his request and furnished the boat with cannon. Mr. llolgate and his fellow-citizens set forth, and in a very short ti'iie silenced the British gunboat, driving it biok to the ship. » At the close of the war, Mr. Holg.'ite sold the dock to Messrs. Mayo & Follet for $22,000, and moved on a farm two miles south of Burlington, also buying 800 acres of laud af^ross the lake opposite Burlington. Having 8o)uo money left, ho purchased six or eight vessels, and put thom on the lake. On the tract of land opposite Burlington, he laid out a town, calling it Port Douglas, and building a wharf, warehouse, hotel, store and saw mill. About this time, the " Steamboat Company of Lake Champlain," which was very wealthy, laid out a town in opposition to his, about three miles to the north, and called it Port Kent. Mr. Holgate feeling that his investment would prove a loss if Port Kent should succeed, offered to sell out to the steamboat company if they would give him first cost and interest, which they declined to do. He therefore sold his farm, moved to his hotel at Port Douglas stocked his store with goods, built a turnpike three miles through the mountains to Keeseville, a great center of the iron .business, and now a noted pleasure resort in the Adirondacks, and started a line of stages Lo connect with the line of packets from Burlington, thereby causing their boats to stop at Port Douglas instead of Port Kent. , Mr. Holgate secured the business of the Peru Iron Cofnpany at his dock and also a large lumber trade. These enterprises he carried on for one year in competition with the steamboat company without charge, when that corporation offered to accept the terms of sale made to them a year previous, on the basis of which Port Douglas was closed out to them, he receiving all his expenditures together with six per cent interest. About 1823, he had made a trip West with his own team to see the country, pursuing the lino afterward followed by the Erie Canal, passing through and spoading some time at Buffalo, Cleveland, Columbus and Newark, This trip occupied the whole summer. He formed a very high opinion of the prospects of the towns and country which* he visited, and, after disposing of Port Douglas, arranged to reniove to the AVest. He went by the way of Whitehall and the Northern Canal, in his own boat, and, stopping at Troy, he bought a stock of general dry goods in New York, taking it to Syracuse, and opening a store at Salina, now a part of Syracuse. In that place he bought two salt works, which he carried on about one yeai° in connection with his store. About this time he lost throe children with the measles, who died and were buried within the space of three weeks. This so disheartened him that he sold out all of his ])r(jperty and moved to the city of Utica, where lie lived until he had educated his children, engaging in no business. But while here the part of the New York Central Railroad from Schenectady to Utica was located, and he became one of the original subscribers to the stock, taking about $28,000 worth. Shortly after and before the road was completed, he sold his stock at a premium of twenty-eight and a half per cent, and then made a trip to the West, purchasing property in Buffalo and in and near Fort "Wayne, Ind. About 1835, he visited Toledo, and bought an interest in Manhattan property; then going to Defiance and purchasing the interest of Benjamin Leavell, one-half of the town of Defiance and one- third of the town of Napoleon, together with some adjacent land. In 1836, he removed to Buffalo, N. Y, , and thence to Defiance, Ohio, in the fall of J 837. He and his family were very much prostrated by sickness up to his death, which occurred January 15, 1810, at the age of sixtysix years. When about sixty years old, he united with the Presbyterian Church. He took very radical grounds on the side of temperance, as will be shown . in the following instance: In the summer of 1839, when help was very scarce, he applied to the canal contractors for men to help harvest his wheat. The contractors were willing, but the men refused to go unless they were permitted to have liquor on the ground. Mr. Holgate told them ho would not allow that, but would give them $2 per day, the regular wages being $1.25. They agreed to this offer, and the wheat was harvested. Though Mr. Holgate resided at Defiance with his family but a few years, death calling him away, his memory is fresh in the minds of the people, who feel that they owe a great deal to his help in the infancy of their town. He was almost the first citizen that brought any capital with him into the place. Strict moral principles governed him in every walk of life.

Hon. Elmer Wliitc, second son ol' iiymau and Louisa White, the former of New York Stale, the latter of Now Hampshire, was born at West Lodi, Seneca Co., Ohio, April IG, 1847. His parouts came to Ohio in 1836 and located at Tillin, Seneca County, where Elmer passed most of his early life. He received his education in the public schools of that place, graduating June 4, 1864, with the highest honors of his class. Choosing the printer's trade, he learned the business in the Tifflu Adrurtiso- office, under the preceptorship of Hon. W. W. Armstrong, afterward Secretary of State, and now proprietor of the Cleveland Flaiii DcuJet-. Mr. White was united in marriage" with Miss Celia

A. Huyt, of Onondaga County, N. Y.j on January 22, 1S6S. The fruits of this union were three children, two of whom are living - Irving E., born July 26, 1870, at Tifflu, Ohio ; Lyman, Jr., born October 30, 1875, at Defiance. A little daughter, Mary, was born Februar}' 26 1874, and died September 29" 1875. In 1869, Mr. White established the TilBn lita.r, and continued its publication until the fall of 1873, when he removed to Defiance and l)ccame editor and part owner of the Defiance Deniocraf, succeeding Hon. J. J. Greene, who had published the paper twenty-four years. Is still connected with the Democrat and is also, in connection with Frank J. Mains, proprietor of the Weekly Herald, a German paper of influeuce. Mr. White was elected City Clerk of Defiance in 1873, and held the office for two terms. In 1881, he was elected a State Senator, representing the Thirty-second District, comprising the counties of Williams, Defiance, Paulding, Van Wert, x\llen, Auglaize and Mercer. Mr. White has the reputation of being a zealous and active worker in the Democratic party of Northwestern Ohio. He comes of good Democratic stock, his father before him (who is still living), having always been a strong worker in that party. In the State Senate he took a leading part in legislation, and well merited the words of praise frequently bestowed upon him by the press and public. In the Legislature, he was one of the champions of the canal interests of Ohio, and through his work and influence the State made a large appropriation to rebuild the Wabash & Erie Canal west of Junction in Paulding County. Local interests were well cared for by him, and in public matters he was a defender of the people against jobs and schemes of all kinds. Mr. White is a fine speaker and able writer. His eulogy of the late Senator 0. Hogan, from the Thirtieth District, delivered in the Senate Chamber January 9, 1883, received the highest encomiums of the press and his fellow-members. Gov. Charles Foster doing him the honor of calling upon him at his desk, to personally tender his congratulations, and afterward, many distinguished citizens of the State publicly expressed their admiration of this masterly and eloquent tribute to the memory of their departed friend and colleague. Mr. White is now in the prime of health and vigor, and has still an eminent and useful career before him. A brother of IMr. White, now Lieutenant Commander Edwin White, United States Navy, is Executive Officer in the flagship Hartford, of the Pacific squadron, now stationed at the Society Islands. He entered the naval service of tiie United States in 1861 and graduated at the Naval Academy in June, 1861. His home is in Princeton, N. J., his wife being a daughter of Rear Admiral Emmons, of the United States Navy, and a niece of Rear Admirals Thornton and Jenkins.

William Ouylord Blymyer, son of John and Sarah Blymyer, was born August 31, 1841, at Mansfield, Ohio. In July, 1857, his parents moved to Booneville, Cooper

Co., Mo., where, in the fall of that year, he commenced the trade ot a printer in the Observer office. He served faithfully as an apprentice for three 3'ears, after which he took charge of the mechanical part of the office, which position he held until the office was closed, on the approach of Gen. Lyons' army, in June, 1861. From that time until 1864, he spent his time between his old Ohio home and Missouri. In 1864, he established the Booneville Monitor, a weekly paper devoted to the cause of the Union. It was the first Union paper published in Central Missouri, and, indeed, we might say one of the first published in the State. On account of the mail}' bushwhackers in that part of the State, and the great danger in publishing a Union paper, he was forced to give it up after issuing twenty-six numbers. After the Monitor was discontinued, he came to Mansfield, Ohio, and was married, December 17, 1864, to Miss Susan A., daughter of George and Sarah Sheets. They have two children - Olive S., born April 4. 1868, and George S., born February 28, 1880

In 1865, Mr. Blj'myer purchased the Fostoria Neios, which paper he published for about one year, when he up stakes " and became one of the publishers of the Kansas City, Mo., Doity Advertiser. Not liking the place, he again returned to Ohio, and became interested in the Findlay Jeffersoitian, with the Locke Bros. 'In 1868, they sold the Jeffersouian, and purchased the Tiffin Tribimr, which they continued to publish until 1873, when Mr. B. sold his interest to his partners and moved to Defiance, and purchased a halfinterest in the Democrat, with which he remained connected till June, 1881, when he sold his interest to his partner, Hon, Elmer White. In October of the same year, he founded the Democratic Times, which paper was a success from the start, supplying what seemed to be a want in the political papers of the city and county. The Times is in a prosperous condition, having a large circulation in both citj' and country, and does an extensive job printing business.

Frank C. Culley, editor and publisher of the Defiance County Express, sou of Matthew D. and Emilj' Culley, was born at Fremont, Ohio, July 2, 1838. At the age of fifteen, he began to learn the printer's trade, and has been connected with the newspaper business ever since. In April, 1861, he enlisted as private in Company F, Eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served till February, 1863. Soon after liis discharge, to wit, February 16, 1865, he was united in marriage at Perrysburg, Ohio, with Miss Emma R., daughter of J. R. and Mary A. Rudulph, who was born at New Lisbon, Ohio, in 1842. They have four children - OUie M., born at Haskins, Ohio ; h. Belle, born at Bowling Green, Ohio ; Fritzie Allen, born at Eaton Rapids, Mich. ; and J. Ray, born at Defiance, Ohio.

In 1867, Mr. Culley founded the Wood County Sentinel, and published it for two years, when he sold out and moved to Eaton Rapids, Mich., and published the

Journal at that place for eight years ; after which, in 1879, he ctuiic to Deliance and Ijoiight the E.rjur.sa, the the history of whicli paper appears in another part of this worl{. Mr, Culley cDnii's of a patriotic family, his ancestors beini; in the Revolutionary war. lie is a stanch Republican, advocatinj;- earnestly tlie principles of the [i^irty, tliough he has never held office.

Dr. I. N. Thaoker, born January '2,1, 1811, in the town of Essex and county of Essex, State of New York. He came with his parents to Cincinnati, Ohio, in the fall of 1815. In the spring of 18 lo, his parents jnoved on a farm in Clermont County, Ohio, where the Doctor grew up, attended district school in the winter season and helped his father ou the farm in summer, till uineteon years of ago. In 1831, he studied medicine under Dr. John Thacker, a cousin of his, in Goshen, in the same county. In 18115, ho attended a course of lectures at the Ohio Medical College, at Cincinnati, and in 1840 he graduated at the same college, and commenced practice at what was then Rochester, now Morrowtown, AVarren County, Ohio, and remained there about liftee;! years. He was married to Miss Lydia Haywood, of Goshen, Clermont County, Ohio, November 21. 1833. Six children were born to them, four boys and two girls, viz. : Joseph O., William H., L. G. , Sarah A., Isaac N. and Mary A. Mr. Thacker came to Defiance October 27, 1853, where he has continued the prac tico of medicine for nearly thirty yeai's. Three of his sons were physicians: William H., was a graduate of Ann Arbor Medical University, Michigan ; I. N., of Starling Medical College, Columbus, Ohio; L. G., graduated at Bellevue Medical College of Now York City, and commenced practice at Defiance, March, 18(ill. He has an c^-xteusive practice, and was married to Miss Lillie Noble, January 27, 18()9. They havi( two children, Eugenie and Myrtle, aged respectively thirteen and live years. The surviving brother, Isaac N., is practicing medicine at Chihuahua, Mexico. Joseph O. also studied- medicine, but died at the age of twenty years, before completion of studies. He died May 3, 1858. William H. died in Denver, Colo., July 80, 187().

Dr. Anthony Borchtold was born December li), 1852, in Sarnen, Canton Unterwalden, Switzerland, and was the second son of Anthony and Kosa (Stockton) Berchtold, who had eleven children, seven boys and four girls. Of this number, five only are living, viz : Fridolin, Anthony, Gerold, Rosalie and Mary. Anthony, the subject of this sketch, attended the primary and secondaiy schools from his sixth to his thirteenth year, then entered the Latin school in his native land, and passed through the different branches, consuming six years, then entered a philosophical course at Schoyz, to complete the Latin studies and his education. lu 1872, he entered Medical College of Freiburg, Germany, and remained one year. He then went to Berne, Switzerland, and attended the Medical College there two years, and came back to Freiburg in October, 1875, where he completed his medical studies in the summer of 1876, and passed an examination the same year for physician, before the Board of Examiners of Canton Unterwalden, after which he commenced the practice of medicine with his uncle. Dr. M. Stockman, at Larnen, remaining with him one year, and then came to this country, lauding at New York October 3, 1877. He went to Newark, N. J., and remained there five months; came from there to Monroeville, in Huron County, Ohio, where he remained ten months and then came to Defiance, arriving here on the 9th of January, 1879, and commenced his practice here. He was married, October 7, 1879, to Josephine, eldest daughter of Joseph and Anna Maria (Durrer) Bucher. Two children have been born to them - Rosa E., born March 4, 1881, and Josephine Theresa, born September 12, 1882.

Dr. W. S. Powell was born in Napoleon, Ohio, in the year 1850; commenced the study of medicine in April, 1870; graduated at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, in March, 1874, returning then to his native place, where he practiced medicine for two years, when he located at Defiance, in July, 1870. The Doctor was united in matrimony, December 24, 1878, with Miss Libbie Jarvis, of Piqua, Ohio.

Daniel Widmer was born in Switzerland April 9, 1838; immigrated to this country with his parents, Jacob Widmer and Anna (Frecker) Widmer, when about sixteen years old, arriving at Defiance June 5, 1854. The family consisted of five children - Anna, Daniel, John, Jacob and Mary. Mr. Widmer was married at Defiance, June 7, 1863, to Miss Rosa Winkler (by Rev. Detzer), who was also born in Switzerland, Canton Berne, April 13, 1841. They have a family of four children - A. C. ^\'idmer, born at Fort Wayne, Ind. , in 1864; Ellen, born August 10, 1865; Huldah, born February 5, 1S70; Eugene, born March 11, 1874; the three latter were born in Defiance. Mr. Widmer and brother, John, are doing a veiT extensive business in this town at beer bottling, putting up in bottles and small kegs about one hundred barrels per week. Mr. W. was a member of the Council at Defiance from 1876 to 1878. Mrs. Widmer's parents, Christian and Eosa "\Mnkler, came lo this country, to Tuscarawas Corinty, Ohio, in 1853, and to Defiance in 1857.

John Widmer, son of Jacob and Anna, was born in Switzerland, 1845; immigrated i;p America with his parents in 1854, landing at New York May 27, and proceeded immediately for the West, arriving at Defiance June 5 1854, coming from Toledo by packet on canal. His parents both died here at Defiance. Mr. AVidmer was in the late war, 1861-65, in Company G, Thirty-eighth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was honorably discharged at the close of the war, July 24, 1865. March 28, 1869, he was married to Miss Caroline Hauck, of Defiance, who was born in Alsace, Germany, in 1853, and came out with her parents. The fruits of this marriage are three children - John E., born February 6, 1870; William H. , born October 12, 1871; and George C, born December 15, 18S0. Mr. Widmer and brother Dan are doing a very extensive wholesale trade at this town, bottling and ship^jing lager beer, receiving about one hundred barrels per week from Toledo Brewing Company, and C. Windisch Muhlhauser & Bro. , Cinciu nati, Ohio.

Joseph J. Kahlo, the second eldest child living of Charles John Kahlo, who was born February 12, 1818, a native of Prussia, was born in Defiance November 14, 1856. He was married, December 14, 1880, to Kate, eldest daughter of Christian and Caroline Geiger, of Defiance. They have one child, William Carl, born December 4, 1881 . At the first election of officers, held April 3, 1882, after Defiance became a city, Mr. Kahlo was elected a member of the Council for two years. January 26, 1851, the parents of Mr. Kahlo set sail for America, on board the old ship Mota, and arrived at Defiance County April 18, 1851, with their little daughter Mota, who was born dm-ing passage on ship which landed her on the shores of America, and from which she received her name. Mr. Kahlo settled in what is now known as East Defiance. Eight children were born to them, of whom there are now living Mota, Joseph J. and Charles J. Mr. Kahlo died December 13, 1861, and Mrs. Kahlo married John Stetler November 26, 1868, and accompanied her husband to his home in Delaware Township, where they lived six years and then returned to the Kahlo homestead in East Defiance, where they now live, and where the dauo-hter Mota was married to John Stetler, Jr.

Charles Andrew Fliokinger was born in Rhenish Bavaria, Germany, August 28, 1836. His parents, John Jacob and Caroline (Glasser) Flickinger, were natives of Bavaria, and were married in October, 1835, having two children born to them, the subject of om- sketch and Elizabeth, who was born October 5, 1841, and is now the wife of Adam Minsel. Mr. Flickinger had a strong love for the land of his birth, with all of itsa.ssociations, from his childhood, yet he realized the advantages of a republic, with its glorious free institutions, where his chikb'en would have equal chances with others to rise to high positions.

Entertaining those views, he bade good-bye to the fatherland, and started for the United States with his wife and two children, traveling in an emigrant wagon to Havre de Grace, and thence by a new -threemasted ship, named Emerald, to New York, arriving in the spring of 1844. He immediately started for the West, going to Albany by steamer, to Buffalo by rail, to Toledo by steamer and from thence to Defiance, Ohio, by canal-boat, arriving June 1, 1844. He bought a farm in Richland, where he lived seven years, and then moved to Defiance, where he remained until his death, March 9, 1861. His widow married John Grass, and survives her second husband, who died in the spring of 1874. Charles A. Flickinger attended the district school while living in Richland, and afterward the school in Defiance when his father moved to the latter place. He spent three years at this school, working during vacation for $1.50 to J2 per week to get money to buy books and clothing. On leaving school, he entered his father's grocery, and conducted the business until he became of age, when his father deeded to him all of his property, both real and pin-sonal. In the following year, 1858, he erected the brick building now used by the Defiance Fire Department, and entered into a general store business, dealing in dry goods, boots and shoes, hats and caps, groceries and queenswaro. In the fall of 1863, he associated with him in business Enoa Blair, his brother-in-law, under the firm name of Flickinger & Blair. In 1874, he erected what is called the Stone Front Building, the handsomest block in the city. His firm occupies a part of it with a general line of dry goods, and also another store with clothing, gentlemen's furnishing goods, hats and caps and boots and shoes. He started with the smallest stock in the city, and is now at the head of the largest houses there. He attained the position, not by sheer luck or by some happy chance, but by hard, honest work. In 1863, when the National Guards, of which he was a member, were called out hj Gov. Tod, for one hundred days, he furnished a man at $50 per month until discharged. Although not a professor of religion, he is a regular attendant at the Presbyterian Church with his wife, who is a member. The churches find in him a ready helper in pecuniary matters. He is also one of the foremost men in Defiance to further the interest of manufacturino' and railroad enterprises, helping and donating liberally. Early in life he became a champion of the abolition of slavery. He was the first yonng German of Defiance County to espouse the Republican cause; and although he received taunts and jeers from every side, yet he stood firm on the position he had taken. He has voted for every Republican President. His love for liberty, the equal rights of all men, and the advancement of moral principles, led him to make choice of this party. He could not be i)rom])ted by selfish motives, with the hopo .of gain, or being honored with office, as his county always gives a large majority for tlie opposition. Ho takes an active part in campaign work each fall. In INSO, he took the stump for Gen. James A. Grartield, and delivered from two to throe speeches oaeli week. He is a great thorn in the sides of the Democracy. He was married, March 'JS, lS(il, to Eliza, daughter of William M. and Solinda Blair. They have had born to them two children - Alva C, January 4, 18G2, and Karl A. , November 7, ]!S(i;!. Both sons are now students at the univcu'sitv of Woostor, Ohio. Mr. Flickino-er is a man of high character, of gracious manners and sterling disposition. His name stands high. He has read uiul observed much, and, as an aid to his studies, has gathered a fine library of books. At the Republican State Convention, July 7, 1HH2, he received the nomination for member of the Board of Public \\ orks.