Sandusky Township (part 46 of 57)

Elizabeth (Lazier) LeaSure; the motlier, was born in September, 1826, is now living in the home erected by her husband in 1852, and enjoying remarkable health for one of her advanced years. She is one of the very few remaining pioneers of Delphos, having lived here ever since her marriage in 1850.

George N. LeaSure is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, having taken every degi-ee in everj' branch of that order and has served through all the chairs; he is also a member of the Elks and is a republican in politics. At the present time he is filling the office of mayor of his city and has iDcen honored with a renomination for the same office.

William Henry Bruns. An industry whose wheels have been turning and whose machinery has been making useful products for more than half a ceiitury is always an interesting institution in the life of a community. Such has been the sueees.sful work through two generations of the Woodville Flour IMills. These mills have been making flour and grinding the grist for the people in the vicinity of Woodville for a gi-eat many years and the product has furnished the bread for many of the oldest as well a.s the youngest citizens of that locality.

This institution is the more interesting for the fact that it has been under practically one ownership for the entire lialf century. It was file venerable William Henry Bruns, a man ii()\v ]iast fourspoi-e yoar.s of age, who establisheil tli<> mill in 1SG5. At that time he had the familial- mailiiiicry and processes of that age, aiul it was a tlireo burr mill, witli a capacity of custom gruiding of fifty barrels a day. The original mill stood on a foundation 35 by 50 feet. At the present time the mills have the full roller process and machinery, and have a daily capacity of 150 barrels. There are now three large buildings comprising the group known as the Woodville Mills. Two of these buildings are 35 by 50 feet each, and one, Uised for storing purposes, is 30 by 90 feet in ground dimensions. The elevator has a capacity of 10,000 bu.shels. There are six regular employees, and the business has long been looked upon as the central landmark in the Woodville business district.

The mill.s, however, are not the only institution for which Woodville is indebted to the enterprise of William Henry Bruns. In 1864 he organized and started a general store ill the town, and tliat business likewise is still in operation. There are five people employed in looking after the trade of this store, and the stock and offices are in a two-story and basement building 46 by 90 feet.

As the character of a town depends largely upon its class of business men, any community might consider itself fortunate to have such a citizen as William Henry Bruns. He was born at Osnabruck in the Kingdom of Hanover, Germany, February 4, 1834, a son of Christopher and Catherine (Niemann) Binins. His father was a German farmer and died in 1848. After getting his education in the old country William H. Bruns immigrated to America in 1852. During the first year spent in New York City he was employed in a grocery .store, and there learned the fundamentals of American methods of retail trade. In the fall of 1853 he first came to Woodville, Ohio, but soon found employment at Maumee as porter in the old Null House. A year later he i-eturned to Woodville, clerked in a general store two years, and for the next two years was employed in General Hunt's dry goods store. His first independent work as a merchant was done at Genoa in partnership with a cousin, but after a year he sold out on account of ill health, and subsequently resumed merchandising in Archibald, Fulton County, Ohio. Then in 1864 he returned to Woodville, started a general store and soon aften\'ard the mills which have been in operation ever since, and around which has been centered much of the growth and life of the village.

During his long and honorable business career Mr. Bruns has taken an active part in local affairs. He has filled the offices of mayor and justice of the. peace, was for many years on the school board, and was a member of that body when- the present schoolhouse was erected in 1878. He is a director in the Ohio Savings Bank at Toledo. Mr. Bruns is a member and was formerly deacon of the Lutheran Church.

In 1857, at Genoa. Ohio, he married Caroline Uhlmann, who came from the same locality in Germany in which he spent his early youth. Of their children the son John William has for a number of years been associated with his father in the business in the general store at Woodville; he maiTied Rica Reeker of Woods County, Ohio, and they have a son Donald. The son Adam Henry, who was also with his father in business, died at the age of forty-eight. He married Mary Wegmann, who lives in Woodville, and is the mother of two ehildreu. namely : William Henry, now assistant cashier in the State Savings Bank, and Carrie, living at home. The son Augustus, who died at the age of thirtyfour, married Sophia Sandwich, who is still living. The daughter Ella is the wife of John Molkenbur of Woodville, a faitner in that locality, and they have a daughter named Florence. The other living daughter is Carrie, still at home with her parents. Among the large possessions which William H. Bruns has accumulated during the many years of his active career should be mentioned several farms aggregating altogether 2,500 acres.

A. J. HoTER has accomplished a great deal since he started as a butcher's apprentice during his early boyhood, and is now member of the firm Daub, Schuehardt & Hoyer, the leading firm of retail meat dealers in Findlay.

ilr. Hoyer was born in Fostoria, Ohio, in 1873, a son of George and 31ary (Bannan) Hoyer. He is of Gennan and Swiss stock. His father was born in Germany, came to America at the age of sixteen, lived in Boston for several years and in 1875 came west to Ohio. He died in 1915.

A. J. Hoyer attended the common schools of Fostoria until he was twelve years of age and then began learning the butcher's business with the firm Lyberger & Lynch. He was with them six months, and then worked at different places until he removed to Findlay. Here for a short time he was with Joseph Feldkercher and tlien with J. P. Spayth. He retiumed to Fostoria for a short time, but was soon in Findlay again, and for ten years worked as an all around man with one of the butcher firms of the city. On July 24, 1903, he became a partner in the firm of Daub, Schuehardt & Hoyer, and now owns most of the stock of the companj' and is practically head of the business.

In 1898 he married Arista E. :Miller. daughter of B. Franklin and Elizabeth (Hein) Miller, of Findlay. Mr. and ilrs. Hoyer have two children : Carl Miller, born in 1899, and George Franklin, born in 1902. ^Ir. Hoyer is a democrat, is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias and he and his family worship in the United Brethren Church.

Jay W. Borough has for twenty-one years been cashier of the Hardy Banking Company of North Baltimore. His career since early youth has been identified with banking and his success and position are due to complete

The Hardy Banking Company was organized in 1896 under the state laws of Ohio. One of the largest stockholders was James Hardy, a prominent early settler of North Baltimore and a man of large business affairs. The company took its name from him. The first president was D. W. IMurphy, of Toledo, now deceased. The first vice president was Dennis O'Brien of Parkersburg, West Virginia, also now deceased. Mr. Borough is the only official who has been steadily with the bank since it was organized and always in tlie capacity of cashier. Mr. Murphy was succeeded in the office of pi-esident by Dr. D. W. Reddin, who still fills that post.' Mr. Clark succeeded Mr. 0 'Brien as vice president and he in turn by Dr. E. A. Powell, who is now vice president. Both Doctor Powell and Doctor Reddin are well known old timers of North Baltimore.

The original capital stock of $50,000 has never been changed. This is an institution now with resources of nearly three hundred forty thousand dollars and flie management and service have always been such as to inspire complete confidence in the business community which the bank serves. The bank now has deposits of over two hundred eighty thoiisand dollai*s. The board of directors consists of Dr. D. W. Reddin, Dr. E. A. Powell, James Cathers, A. H. Jimison, all of whom are local residents and well to do men of North Baltimore.

Mr. J. W. Borough was born in Hancock County, Ohio, December 14, 1866. He spent his early life on a farm there and his advantages in the counti-y schools were supplemented by six months in the Fostoria Academy. In 1887, at the age of twenty-one, he came to North Baltimore, and soon became connected with the Old People's Bank of that town, which liquidated in 1893. Three years later he assisted in organizing the Hardy Banking Company, and has given his time and talents to that institution continuously.

^Ir. Borough was a son of William I. and Rhoda J. (Needles) Borough, both natives of Pennsylvania, where they were reared and married. Immediately after their marriage they came to Ohio, locating near Mount Corey in Hancock County, and in 1877 they removed to Jackson Township in Wood Country. Here the father improved a new farm and was successfully identified with agriculture there for many years. His wife passed away in 1910, at the age of sixty-six. AYilliam I. Borough still lives on his farm near North Baltimore and at the age of seventy-six is working in his fields almo.st every day and from his industry and vigor one would be completely deceived as to his real age. His normal expectation of life is nnich greater than the average, since his father lived to be past ninety and his grandfather was 104 years of age when he died in Pennsjdvania. His father died at Traverse City, ^Michigan. William I. Borough, with liis wife, has long been identified with the United Brethren Church and in politics lie is a republican. There were two sons, Jay W. and Frank C. The latter was formerly in the bank at North Baltimore but is now a banker in Lawrenceville, Illinois. He married Edith Chalfant, of North Baltimore, and they have a son, William, now fourteen years of age.

Jay W. Borough married at North Baltimore Zella McClarran, daughter of Doctor A. and Ellen (Bowles) McClarran. Her parents are both deceased. They located near North Baltimore toward the end of the seventies and spent the rest of their days here. Doctor Mc- Clarran and his wife wei'e both born in America of Scotch stock. ]\Ir. and Mrs. Borough have one son, Fred, now eighteen years of age and a graduate of tlie North Baltimore High School with the class of 1916. He is now filling the responsibilities of assistant bookkeeper in the Hardy Banking Company. Mrs. Borough is active in the Presbyterian Church, while he is a member of the Knights of Pythias and in politics a republican. For twenty-two years he has filled the office of eitj- treasm-er and is also secretary and director of the Hardy ^Machine Company, manufacturers of oil well tools and supplies.

Ed\v.\rd B. Conliss has been a figure in Toledo journalism for upwards of twenty years. He is vice president and business manager of the Toledo News-Bee and his abilities have found fullest exercise and chief success in the management of this large newspaper.

'Sir. Conliss was born at Cooperstown, New York, January 1, 1874, a son of Thomas and Margaret (Delaney) Conliss. His liberal education has been the fruit of experience rather than of association with colleges, and he attended only the common schools and an academy at Cooperstown.

the Toledo Times and the Toledo News until the consolidation of the News and Bee under the title News-Bee. He has been with that paper ever since it became the property of the well kno-mi Scripps-McRae syndicate, and as business manager has been largely responsible for building it up to its present high prosperity and immense circulation.

Mr. Conliss is a man of public spirited activities and freely contributes of his time to public affairs, especially to the Commerce Club, of which he is a director. He is a member of the Toledo Club, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Yacht Club, the Old Sod Club, the Young Men's Christian Association, Commerce Club, Knights of Columbus, Rotarj- Club, Inverness Club, Toledo Automobile Club. He is a Catholic and a member of the Cathedral Parish. Mr. Conliss. who is unmarried, resides at 22 Kenilworth Drive in Toledo.

Prank P. Spitzer. It would be diffieult to conceive of a more substantial eomliination for the attainment of financial security than a bank founded upoii the prosperity and landed values of such a rich agricultural county as Wood. The Citizens' Savings Bank of Pemberville, therefore, is illustrative of the best type of bank in a farming community, something founded upon a stable basis, which the panics and the peculations of the metropolis cannot affect. Frank P. Spitzer, president of this institution and one of its founders, has been identified with financial matters at Pemberville since 1897, and during the twenty years of his residence here has taken an active part in the movements which have made for better civic government as well as for improved conditions generally. He was born in Medina County, Ohio, February 1, 1868, and is a son of Aaron and Anna M. (Collins) Spitzer.

Mr. Spitzer belongs to an old and honored family of Medina County, which was founded in America by his great-grandfather, a Dutch- Huguenot, who came to this country prior to the Revolutionary war, in which he served as chaplain of a regiment of patriot soldiers. Nicholas Spitzer, grandfather of Frank P., was born in the Mohawk Valley of New York, from whence he and his two brothers left for various parts of the country, one going to IMichigan and another to some Southern state. All were in very modest financial circumstances, and as they had no means of comnumicating with one another lie soon lost sight of his brothers and did not hear from them thereafter. Nicholas

Spitzer came to Ohio in 1836, at a time when Cleveland was still a small hamlet, and located six miles southwest of Medina, at that time one of the principal trading points for the early settlers of this locality. A few years later his wife died on the farm, but Mr. Spitzer lived for a long time thereafter, became a sound and substantial citizen who was highh- thought of by his fellow-citizens, and died when eightyfour years of age. He and the grandmother were faithful members of the German Lutheran Church. Of the children of Nicholas Spitzer, three sous and two daughters lived to grow to maturity.

Aaron Spitzer, father of Frank P., was born in the State of New York, in 1826, and was a lad of ten years when brought by his parents to Ohio. He grew up amid pioneer surroundings and learned to be self-reliant and industrious, received what education could be secured in the primitive schools of his day, and was trained in the arts and pursuits of the farmer. For many years he was known as one of the leading farmers and stockraisers of Medina County, and one year prior to his death changed his place of residence to the City of Medina, where he passed away ilay 13, 1893, aged sixty-seven years. A man of sterling character and probity, he established an excellent record for business dealings and public spirited citizenship, and his community suffered a distinct loss in his death. Politically, he supported the candidates of the republican party. Mr. Spitzer was married in Medina County, and by his first wife had a son, C. M., formerly of Toledo, but now a resident of Los Angeles, California. Mr. Spitzer next married j\Iiss Anna M. Collins, who was born at Troy, New York, and now resides at Medina, having been seventy-six years of age on her last birthday, January 7, 1917. She is a member of the Congregational Church, as was her husband. There were three sons in the family : Frank P. ; Garrett E., the proprietor of a stave manufacturing plant at Maiden, Missouri, married and the father of three sons ; aud Sidney of the Sidney Spitzer Bond & Brokerage Co. of Toledo, and acting as assistant cashier of the Citizens' Savings Bank of Pemberville at the time of organization.

Frank P. Spitzer grew up on the home farm in Medina County, and received his education in the public schools there and Oberlin (Ohio) Business College, from which institution he was graduated in 18SS. Following this he returned to the liome farm for two vears, at the end of that time comraencirig his experiences ill the field of finance as an employe of a bank at Medina. The gi-eat panic of 1893 sent many banking houses crashing into bankruptcy, but Mr. Spitzer's institution withstood the shock and came through with colors flying. In the summer of 1895 Mr. Spitzer came to Pemberville, where, in company with C. S. Strong, he founded the Strong Banking Company, a private house. Two years later, July 22, 1897, he became one of the incorporators of the Citizens' Savings Bank, an institution which from modest beginnings has grown to be one of the strongest in Wood County, now having a paid-in capital of $25,000. The first officers of the bank were: President, G. W. Barnes; vice president, M. Hobart; cashier, secretary and treasurer, F. P. Spitzer, and assistant cashier, Sidney Spitzer. In 1900, Allen 1). Rees of Luekey, Ohio, became identified with the bank, remaining until 1906, when he withdrew, and John S. Hoyman succeeded Morris Rees in the office of president. Mr. Hoyman retired in 1915, at which time Frank P. Spitzer became president, the other officials at this time being H. F. Bowlus, vice president ; Otto Bushman, cashier (who in October, 1916, succeeded S. R. Williams) ; Sidney Spitzer, assistant cashier; and Jacob Clink, A. A. Zindler, H. F. Bowlus, Frank Joseph, F. P. Spitzer, George H. Speck, Otto Bushman, George A. Weber, and Sidney Spitzer, directors. It has been President Spitzer's fortune to have drawn about him men of energy and ability, and one of these was S. R. Williams, a young man of progressive ideas, who was with him for ten years, from 1907 to 1916, as assistant cashier and cashier, now a resident of New Madrid, Missouri, where he is engaged in business. The excellent condition of the Citizens' Savings Bank of Pemberville is shown in the condensed statement issued at the close of business June 20, 1917, when the following figures were given out : Resoiirces : Loans, $220,281.01; Bonds, $46,143.75; Real Estate, Furniture and Fixtures, $8,000.00; Overdrafts, $520.78; Cash on Hand and in Banks, $82,501.66. Liabilities: Capital Stock, $25,000.00; Surplus and Undivided Profits, $7,772.98; Dividends Unpaid, $30.00; Deposits, $324,644.22. Total, $357,447.20. This bank was particularly active in the sale of Liberty Bonds, and aided a number of its depositors in buying loan bonds. It has always been the policy of the institution to give aid and money to the Government as well as to the town and the communitv in which it transacts its business, and the straightforward manner in which it lias met all proposals has won it many friends. As the guiding spirit of the concern, Mr. Spitzer has shown himself a capable, far-seeing and conservative financier, with a comprehensive knowledge of banking jirinciples and economic conditions; in short, a man worthy of the trust placed in him by his associates and tlic bank's depositor,s. He has served his coimnunity as a member of the city council and the school board, as well as in other ways which have contributed to the advancement of Pemberville, and supports all good civic movements, as well as those of the Presbyterian ( 'Inii-cli, of which he and his wife are members. I'ulii ically he is a republican. As a fratenuilist. lie belongs to Pemberville Lodge No. 516, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of which he has twice been master.

Mr. Spitzer married Ora I\I. Wells, daughter of Rev. W. L. and JIary (Moore) Wells, natives of Southwest Ohio. Rev. Mr. Wells spent his life in ministerial labors in the Methodist Episcopal Church, principally at West Lafayette. He and his wife died in Pemberville and they were laid to rest side by side in the little cemetery at West Lafayette. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Spitzer: Donald, a gi-aduate of the Pemberville High School ; Beatrice, who is attending that institution ; and Edward Aaron, who is a student in the gi-aded schools.

EzR.v G. Gill was bom in Wood County in 1865. When he was a child he went to Hillsdale County, Michigan, with his parents, George E. and Roziua (Moe) Gill; tliey were the parents of six children, as follows- Ezra G; Grant, who died in 1894; Herbert, living near Grand Rapids, Wood County, Ohio; Fred, who resides on the Maplewood Farm owned by his brother; Sherman resides near Weston, Ohio; and the only daughter. Rose, died in young womanhood. His father was born in Pennsylvania and his mother in Ohio and they were married in Huron County. When they came to Wood County the district was practically all a swamp and from here they moved to Hillsdale County, Michigan. After twenty-one years they returned to Wood County and the father located on his father's (Harrison Gill's) homestead near Tontogany. There the mother died three years later when past fifty. The father is still living on the old farm and is now seventy-six years old. He and his wife were formerly active members of the Congregational Church but afterward joined oue of the local denomiuatious represented near Toutoganj^ He has been a prominent republican, always active in local affairs, and for a number of years served as justice of the peace ilr. Gill entered business as a merchant at Tontogany in 1890, and his interests in that line and as a farmer have been steadily increasing until he is now one of the leading factors in the business and civic affairs of his community.

He is head of the firm Gill & Company, handling lumber, coal, hardware and automobile garage. His son is the active member of the garage. They handle the ilaxwell and Oldsmobile cars and also do a general repair business. When Mr. Gill entered business at this i^lace in 1890 he handled lumber and coal and in 1905 opened a general store. The company carries a large general stock of merchandise and it is one of the leading supply centers for a large section of country surrounding Tontogany.

ilr. Gill is also owner of a 110-acre farm on the east side of the village. This farm is a noted landmark in that section, part of it being known as ilaplewood Park, and the entire farm is known as the Maplewood Farm. This park consists of a grove of handsome maple trees, set out on the plan of a wheel, the rows radiating from a central point like a hub. This landscape feature was developed by Mr. Roswell M. Skinner, who obtained the land from the Government, improved it and lived there for many years, eventually acquiring about 500 acres. About fifteen years ago Mr. Skinner died intestate, and the Probate Court then allowed his widow to have the farm as a home until her death, which occurred about eight years ago. The property under the will fell to the American Bible Society, and this society subsequently sold out the land in parcels. ]Mr. Gill acquired the 110 acres from the society, including the old home and the park. IMr. Skinner had bought most of the land from the (jdvernment. and had paid for it by hunting eoons ; he figured that each coon at $1.25 would pay for one acre of land and he bought 450 acres, paying for it in the above wa.v. Today this same land would bring from $200 to $250 per acre. Mr. Skinner was a notable pioneer of Wood County, and was very prominent in the Presbyterian Church.

now a public institution by opening the grounds for free use and every Sunday afternoon in the summer the churches unite in services in the beautiful grove. Mr. Gill married in Wood County in 1890 ]\Iollie Smith. She was born near Weston, Ohio, January 22, 1869, and was reared and educated in that community and, like her husband, was for some years a teacher. Her pai-ents were William and Jane L. (Miller) Smith, both natives of Erie County, Ohio, where they grew up but were married near Weston in Wood County, ilr. Smith died in August, 1913, and his wife in 1908. They were active supporting members of the Christian Church and Mr. Smith was a republican. Mrs. Gill's father made a ci'cditable record as a soldier in the Union army in Company K of the Eleventh Ohio Infantry under Col. Isaac Sherwood, the present congressman from the Toledo district. He fought with the regiment in the Murfreesboro and other campaigns and was once seriously wounded by the bursting of a .shell, and left on the field for dead. He subsequently revived and after recovering rejoined his regiment and fought gallantly until the close of the war. After the war he took up farming and finally retired to Weston, where he died. He was a member of Neibling Post of the Grand Army of the Republic. ^Ir. and Mrs. Smith celebrated their golden wedding anniversary on June 6, 1904, at Weston, Ohio.

Mr. and Mrs. Gill have one son. Harley E. He was born June 30, 1893, graduated from the local high school in 1910 and completed the course of the Toledo High School in 1913. He is now an active member of the firm Gill & Company, and is an expert mechanic and garage man. He married Blanche Wenig, of Washington Township, Wood County, who is a daughter of Jjohn and Elizabeth W^enig, prominent fanuer of Washington Township, Wood County. She was graduated from the local high school. Mrs. Gill is an active member of the Evangelical Church.

Edmund R.wmond Voorhees. A very capable and well informed lawyer at Woodville, Edmund R, Voorhees has been in practice twelve years and enjoys the cream of the legal business in the Woodville community. When the civic welfare is at stake he is also willing to work hard and without expectation of reward for some benefit that will accrue to all.

(Damn) Voorhees. His father followed the trade of plastering and cement work. The sou grew up in a home of good infiuence.s and simple comforts, and acquired an education in the public schools. After leaving high school- he entered the Ohio Northern University at Ada, aud subsequently studied law under J. L. Hart at Gibsonburg. After his admis.sion to the bar on June "11, 1903, he opened liis office and has since had his home in Woodville. While he has taken many cases of a general nature, Mr. Voorhees also handles much of the public and business affairs of a legal nature in Woodville. He is attorney for the village n-prcscnts liotli banks, is attorney for the Wiisliiimtim liuilding Lime Company, and is siMictiny and atloniey for the Woodville llutual l^ive Stock Insurance . Association. He is a member of the Ohio State Bar Association.

On May 12, 1910, Mr. Voorhees married Henrietta Babione, of Woodville Township, Sandusky County. They are the parents of one daughter, Celestine Gladys.

SiMox Cohen. The presence of a business man and public spirited citizen like Simon Cohen is an asset to any community. He is one of the newer business men of Pindlay, but has shown a remarkable energy not only in connection with his work as manager of the People "s Shoe Store, but also in promoting the general welfare of the community.

His career is one that has many lessons for the struggling yoimg man. He was born near Riga, Russia, in 1882, and of a substantial family of Russian Jews, at one time prominent merchants in that locality, ilr. Cohen has one brother and four sisters still living. The family maintained a private tutor for the education of the children and Simon Cohen was thus instructed until he was sixteen years of age. He then took charge of his father's store and continixed in business until he was nineteen. On account of political oppression in Russia he practically exiled himself from that country, and came alone to America, landing at Baltimore. His sister Lena lived at Baltimore. Here he worked at the tailor's trade for five months and then witli a cash capital of only 75 cents bought a small stock of tinware and carrying the stock on his back he peddled it through New York State, selling to farmers. He finally paid $15 for a horse, wagon and harness, and began traveling up and down the roads of New York State, soon paying for his equipment and vehicle aud

After this calamity he returned to Tioga County, New York, bought a horse ou credit from his friend, Eugene Schoenhover, a farmer, bought a wagon on credit from another friend, and still another friend stood good for a set of harness. He also borrowed the cash necessary to stock up. Again he was on the road as a peddler. In order to avoid the expense of lodgings he slept by his wagon or in the homes of friends. About that time he bought an old engine from a farmer, paying $25, and soon afterward sold it at a profit of $45. He then began buying and selling, and continued in that line for four years. He next started a stock of jewelry and for a time had a shop at Newca.stle, Pennsylvania, and at Monessen, Penn.sylvania, he established a clothing aud shoe store. He was there a year and a half, but was unable to establish himself in a profitable business. His next location was Lynchburg, Pennsylvania, where he and a partner started a store under the name Cohen & Ives. Through the carelessness and neglect of the partner the business soon failed. Mr. Cohen then went to Newcastle, Pennsylvania, and was in business for a time with his "brother. He prospered there but in 1914 he again faced bankruptcy. His next enterprise was a shoe store at Rochester, Pennsylvania, and having as his principal asset a reputation for good business dealings he secured the credit necessary to get his store stocked and he was once more on the highway to success.

On April 12, 1915", Mr. Cohen came to Pindlay to become manager of the People's Shoe Store, a branch of a house which has similar stores in various cities. Here he has done nnich to build up this store, and his public spirit has led him into efforts at securing cooperation between the merchants of the town and the residents of the trade territoiy tributai-y to Findlay. He has especially studied means hy which the people of the city and the rural disfi-icts may come into closer and more cordial relationship. He has thus formulated a plan for an organization known as the ilerchants and Farmers Institute. The principles of this <ii-uaiiizati(iii are that the local merchant shall t'liniish ill.' farmer a square deal and thus slaiid licliiiid the l)usiness relations of the communities which are naturally dependent upon each other. The organization has also encouraged a plan of public markets, where the products raised in the country may be sold at fair prices by the farmer. Tliis plan of Mr. Cohen has received the cordial approval of the business men in general and the Commerce Club and has been inaugurated with great success.

Mr. Cohen was married November 10, 1913, to Miss Rose Tobinfield, daughter of Max and Sylvia Tobinfield, of Pittsburgh. They have one daughter, Sylvia Floretta. Mr. Cohen is a republican in national polities, but is strictly non-partisan in local affairs. He is a member of the Findlay Commerce Club and is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

Alphons Philbert Schmidt has a long and honorable record as a merchant at North Baltimore. He is the leading dry goods merchant of the town, and his store has steadily found favor and prestige in that community because every one recognizes the business ability and integrity of the man at the head.

Mr. Schmidt was born in Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio, September 22, 1875. His is an interesting family record. His parents were Simon and Mary A. (Darr) Schmidt. His paternal grandfather was a soldier in the Napoleonic wars and was at the battle of Waterloo. He afterward spent his life in Alsace, where he died in old age. Simon Schmidt was born in Alsace, near the City of Metz, and was of French ancestry. He was born there in 1820, grew up in his native city, and as a young man served in the cavalry branch of the regular army. He fought in several wars, including a campaign in Algiers. He learned the trade of cabinetmaker, and when still unmarried, in 1852, he set out for the United States. He crossed the ocean in a sailing vessel, and after landing at New York came West to Fremont, Ohio, where he established himself in the business of his trade. There he met and married Miss Darr. She was born in Germany, of German ancestry, in 1836, and was two years of age when her parents immigrated to the United States. They were members of a colony of German people who settled on new land in Ottawa County, Ohio, and her parents developed a farm there, on which they spent the rest of their lives. They were a fine old family and all members of the Catholic Church. Mary A. Darr was reared and educated in Ottawa County, and after her marriage she and her husband moved to Fremont in Sandusky County, where they were long known as capable and hard working people and substantial members of their community. Simon Schmidt died in 1906, at the age of eighty-three, and his widow survived him until 1911. They were married in April, 1856, and had celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary a short time before his death. Both were confirmed members of the Catholic Church, and Simon Schmidt was a democrat. Of their thirteen children, five sons and eight daughters, the subject of this article was the twelfth. All the children grew up, and all are still living except two, who died after their marriage.

Alphons P. Schmidt was reared and educated in Fremont. He attended the parochial schools there and later had a business college course. At the age of fifteen he became self supporting and has made his own way in the world ever since by reliance upon his efforts, judgment and enterprise. At first he worked . in manufacturing plants, but about the time he reached his majority he became a merchandise clerk and with what capital he was able to accumulate he removed to North Baltimore in 1902 and has since been an independent business man. From 1902 to 1911 he was head of the firm A. P. Schmidt & Company. In 1911 occurred a destructive fire in North Baltimore, which destroyed all the property on the west side of the street where his business was located. After this fire, in 1913, Mr. Schmidt opened up a large stock of dry goods and notions in his store 22x100 feet on the east side and in the heart of the business district. His well filled shelves and counters speak for themselves as to the prosperity of the store.

Roland A. Hughes is one of the men who do things and get things done in the community of Cygnet in Wood County. Mr. Hughes is a banker, an extensive oil operator, and also one of the leading farmers and stock raisers in that community. Almost every expression of his life is in some form of practical work. Everything he undertakes he makes a success of and he has likewise been fortunate in having in his wife a practical business woman as well as a splendid home maker.

Mr. Hughes is president of the Cygnet Savings Bank. This institution was organized in 1900, and has a capital of $25,000. He has been president from the start. The bank has had a healthy growth and reflects in its resources the prosperous condition of the surrounding country. The vice president is Wil- son Solether, while Charles Solether is cashier. Besides these officials the other directors are Henry Fi-yraan, Thomas Whitiker, J. C. Soletlier "and "Wills E. Apple. The bank is local depository for township and school funds.

Mr. Hughes was bom in Aroostook County, Maine, September 10, 1853, and is of Irish parentage. He is a son of Alexander and Margaret (Buckley) Hughes. Both were natives of County Clare, Ireland, and wgre married in Maine after they came to the' United States. Roland A. Hughes was sixteen years of age when his father died and three years later the death of his mother left him an orphan. He early learned to look after himself, and with an eminently practical character got along with very little education.

Mr. Hughes has been in the oil industry since 1876. He acquired his first experience in Butler County, Pennsylvania. In 1880 he went to McKean County, Pennsylvania, and was a successful operator there until 1890, when he came to Wood County. As an oil operator for the past forty-one years Mr. Ilughes has become widely knowni in the Wood County district and also in the states of Illinois, Kansas and Oklahoma. He took some of his capital and enterprise into Oklahoma in 1907. He is one of the interested capitalists in the Barnesville Pool in Washington County, Oklahoma, where he and Charles F. Solether have some very valuable holdings and leases.

When Mr. Hughes came to Wood County the oil industry was in its infancy. He gave it encouragement through his active developments and has made this county one of the largest producers in the state.

Some mention should also be made of his farming and stock raising. He has a 300 acre farm in Bloom Township, all well improved with two complete sets of buildings. As a breeder he handles only the graded stock, and keeps a number of stallions, jacks and bulls and feeds over 100 head of cattle and many hogs every year. He also operates a high class dairy.

In 1874, in his native county, Mr. Hughes married Miss Helen L. Martin. She was born and reared in the same neighborhood and was well educated. Mrs. Hughes is one of the few women who have a practical and thorough knowledge of the oil industry. She can handle practically every proposition connected with oil production almost as well as her husband, and many times has gone into the oil fields and taken part in the practical work, from directing the drill to the shooting of a

John Ciu'rch Allen. A family name that has possessed itself of numerous worthy distinctions in Northwestern Ohio was founded by the late John Church Allen, one of the oldest and in his time one of the foremost citizens of Lucas County.

Though a native of New England, where his family had lived for generations, Mr. Allen sjjent all his active years from early childhood in Ohio, and was identified with Lucas County from pioneer days. He was born at ^lartha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, January 27, 1809, and died in ilauraee, Ohio, when nearly a hundred years old. His father, James Allen, was born in the same locality of Massachusetts, January 25, 1783. The grandfather was born there also in 1763, while the great-grandfather was born in 1719. The late Mr. Allen's mother was Cynthia (Cottell) Allen. She became the mother of four sons and three daughters.

Owing to the family home being on one of the exposed positions of the Atlantic coast, the early generations suffered much from depredations by the British during the Revolutionary war. Much of the property was taken away by force or destroyed. James Allen, father of John C, established on the island of Martha's Vineyard the first nail factory in the United States. During the AVar of 1812, being unable to obtain raw material or to sell his stock of nails, he was forced to suspend operations. Then in 1815, with his father and with their respective families, they set out for a new and unbroken country beyond the Alleghenies. Coming to Ohio, they settled at Zanesville. It re(|uired six weeks to make the loiiu' and hiboi'ious juni'- ney from New Englaml to Sdutln'in nhio. James Allen died at Zancs\-ille in 1S47, -while his wife passed away in 1863.

Reared in the wilderness of Ohio from the time he was six years of age, John Church Allen came to manhood with the training and instinct of the pioneer. He was still a young man when on March 10, 1835, he arrived at Maumee in Lucas County. The following year he opened a provision store and later he established and for some years conducted the Central House Hotel. As a merchant his business record extended until 1872, covering a period of thirty -six years.

and upright citizen and one who wielded more than an ordinary influence in the early life of JIaumee. He was a member of the first city council, and was the fourth mayor to be elected by the people of ilaumee. For twenty years he"^served as city treasurer under Frederick E. Kirkland, who was in office when the Maumee Courthouse M^as first occupied. An illustration of this old courthouse of Lucas County at IMaumee is found on other pages of this history For many years John C. Allen was an active and useful member of the board of education of Maumee, and he was a man whose character and attainments enabled him to perform a great deal of community work. On September 30, 1839, John Church Allen married ^liss Nancy Kirkland of Parkman, Geauga County, Ohio. She was born in that county :\Iarch 8, 1817. Her parents, Frederick "aud Sophia (Parkman) Kirkland, were married in September, 1808, and they were numbered among the very earliest settlers of Northern Ohio, having established a home in Geauga County as early as 1806. The late Mr. Allen and his wife were active members of the Protestant Episcopal Church of Maumee. John C. Allen was baptised by Bishop Chase, the first Protestant Episcopal bishop west of the Alleghenies aud at one time bishop of the diocese of Ohio. J\Ir. and ilrs. Allen became the parents of ten children : Mrs. W. R. Carr ; John Church, Jr., who died July 31, 1855, at the age of thirteen ; Mrs. E. J. Leppelman, who died in Washington, D. C, on ilarch 9, 1886 ; James F. ; Noah N., who died April 14, 1870 ; Francis E. ; George C. ; Henry A. ; Charles E. ; and Lucy M. The sons, James F. and Noah N., both served with creditable records as volunteer soldiers in the Union army during the Civil war.

Frank Guy Bl.vnchard, M. D. For nearly twenty years Doctor Blanchard has practiced medicine in Woodville. People of that community know him as an able and conscientious physician aud a man who has conferred dignity upon his profession. His name is also associated with much of the community life. His career as a practicing physician covers more than a quarter of a century, but he still keeps up with the profession as much as many younger men.

A native of Pennsylvania, he was born in Troy Township March 10, 1860, a son of Jacob Guy and Sarah Jane (Marvin) Blanchard. His father was a contractor and builder in Western Pennsvlvauia, and it was in that section of country that Doctor Blanchard spent his early youth and manhood. In 1881 he finished the course of the Sunville Seminary in Venango County, Pennsylvania, and soon afterwards took up the study of medicine. .Doctor Blanchard is an alumnus of the Western Reserve Medical College, which awarded h)im his degree Doctor of Medicine on March 7, 1888. During the years up to ^94 he was engaged in a promising practice at Pleasantville, Ohio, but then on account of illness had to retire from professional work for two years. In May, 1896, he located in Woodville, and has since eu- .ioyed a large general practice. He is a member of the Sandusky- County and the Ohio State Medical societies and the American Medical Association, and has served as health officer of the town. For years he was a member of the local school board. Fraternally Doctor Blanchard is a lodge and chapter Mason.

On December 16, 1885, Doctor Blanchard was married in Venango County, Pennsylvania, to Martha Catherine Sharp-Plumb. To their marriage have been born two daughters. Josie, who died June 15, 1916, was Mrs. Albert Henry Vilbrandt, and she left one child. Byrd is now Mrs. William Byran O'Connor of Woodville. Mr. O'Connor is a driller in the lime quarries. They have three children.

Flobien Giauque. The name of a prominent Cincinnati lawyer, author, litterateur, figures in Northwest Ohio history chiefly because of his extensive land holdings and more important .still because of the influence he has exercised on development work in and around Deshler in Henry County.

Quite early in his career Florien Giauque became noted for his exceptional skill in the handling of real estate law cases. As early as 1885 he was selected by the wealthy Deshler heirs of Columbus to look after their holdings, comprising a vast bulk of lauds in Henry County. These De.shler lands were largely unproductive, not because they were lacking in fei-tility but becaiLse the necessary development work had not been done. It was a district of swamps, heavy timber, and of only casual cultivation and improvement. Mr. Giauque, as already stated, had handled much litigation invoh-ing real estate, and had had some personal experience in real estate investments, chiefly in Missouri. He also had the insight and vision which enabled him to see possibilities where many persons would find only ground for pessimism. Thus when the dissatisfied owners of the great black swamp district in which the Deshler lands were located offered their property for sale Mr. Giauque purchased it and thus acciuired more than 2,500 acres. The residents of Henry County are thoroughly familiar with what has been accomplished. "When the land was drained and its heavy timber cleared oif, nothing could surpass it in fertility and in productiveness snstaiiiod yonr aftor yoar at a ma.xJmuiii yirld. .Ah-. (JiaiKiuc aftn- .j.^lting the preliminary iiii|>i'(ivciii('iits made miM most of the land at great financial profit. This in itself was an important achievement sufficient to link his name with the permanent prosperity of Henry County.

But his interest in the De.shler community has been a continuing cue. He I'ecognized the possibilities of Deshler as a .junction point on the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton and the Baltimore & Ohio railways, and further as a station on the Ohio Electric Line. 'Sir. Giauque, while never a resident of Deshler, has been as keenly interested in its developnaent as any local citizen. He spent money lavishly on local improvements, and how well tlie community has responded is a matter of special delight to him. For one thing he erected the well appointed and modern fiftyroom hotel which bears his name and which is known to commerieal travelers all over Northwest Ohio. He also put up some of the largest and best blocks in the town, all of them solid brick buildings, and they would be a credit to places several times the size. At one time he owned most of the property on both sides of iMain Street, and even now he owns about 100 tenant houses in the town, which he built in advance of development and for the good of the community.

An appropriate sketch of the career of Florien Giauque will lend distinction to these pages. He was born on a farm near Berlin, Ohio, 'Slay 11, 1843, and is descended from some of the early Swiss families of Holmes County, Ohio. Some of these families were the Giauqites. the Guillaumes and the Marehands, who came out of the Canton of Berne in the French speaking part of Switzerland to Ohio between the years 1830 and 1836. They have l)een described as sturdy folk, self-respecting, honest, industrious, law abiding, Protestant and not illiterate. Among them was John David Giauque, gi-andfather of the Cincinnati lawver. His son Augustus, father of Florien, married Sophia Guillaume, and they subseciuently moved to a farm about a mile southwest of Berlin, Ohio. Their three children to grow up were : Sophia ; Emely, who married Jacob W. Auderson, the latter dying while a Union soldier ; Mary A. J., who married W. S. Peppard, a lawyer; and Florien.

In 1849 Florien 's father removed to Wayne County, Ohio, and died soon afffrwanl, leaving his widow only means euou-li wiili which to buy a modest cottage in in the same coimty. She kept her children together and sent them to the public school and to the Presbyterian School, and as part of their education insisted that they speak French. This knowledge of a foreign language, inculcated much against his will at the time, Florien Giauque has always been grateful for. In IS.).') his iiKith.i' laaii-ied Ulysses Jeanneret, another reincseiitai i\ e of the Swiss people. He was a very jirae) ii-al business man. provided well for bis I'amilw l.iit had ne s\iupathy with Florien 's ,h'siiv \\,v .m

lu his early IioxIkkmI I'dmien (iiauque felt an unceasing apical finm the snmll voice" within him td study and ^vt a college editcation. In some way he had learned that his ancestors in Switzerland were people of considerable learning and of social pretension.s, and he made up bis miml that his own life in America sliould have eonsisteney with his forebeare. His fii-st instruetion aside from that given him by his mother was acquired in a subscription school taught by an accomplished neighbor woman, and Florien was not too proud to drive her cow to pasture and back home as part pay for his tuition. There are few men, even in the ranks of the more sueees,sful, who can say that they have unflinchingly and undeviatingly carried out a fi.xed ideal and purpose formulated in early youth. That is perhaps Florien Ciauque's most interesting distinction and one that affords inspiration to the earein-s of younger men. As a boy he determined to become a lawyer. It should be remembered that be was jioor and had the utmost difficulty in securing even a common school education. His stepfather was opposed to such pretentious ideas and at almost every turn he met obstacles in the way of carrying out his purpose. But he persisted and won the fight to secure a liberal education and eventually admission to the bar, and what he has accomplished in his profession is a complete .iustification for the unwavering ambition of his youth. He enjoyed boyish sports, but i;sed every possible spare inoment in reading, and at the same time worked to support the family and pay his own expenses in the subscription school. For two terms he attended an excellent academy maintained in the Village of Fredericksburg. One of his classmates there was John K. Cowan, who later became prominent as chief counsel, president and receiver of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad.

In a career dominated bj' such purpose it is only natural to look for a positiveuess of character and somewhat of an indifference to public oijinion when convinced by conscience and rea.son that his course is right and just. Florien Giauque grew up in a time much more liberal in respect to many things than is true of modern social standards. He resolved that he would sow no wild oats, would refrain from the use of all intoxicants, including tobacco, and has not only carried out these principles strictly but has always lived very simply if not akstemiously, indulging such bevei-ages as tea and coffee very mildly. His family were all democrats, but he resolved to become a republican. This choice of a political party increased his stepfather's disgust. His position at home was not altogether pleasant, though he was devoted to his mother and at her request remained with her until her death and practically nursed her throughout her last illness and has since found that one of the greatest satisfactions of bis life. His mother died in 1861. At that time the family physician requested the lioy to enter his home and office and take up the study of medicine. It was an offer which in ordinary circumstances woiild have meant much to him and would liave opened the way to a promising and no doubt a .successful career. But he frankly told the doctor of his resolution to become a lawyer and tliat nothing could be allowed to stand in the way of carrying out that design.

At the time of his mother's death he was eighteen years old. As a result of work at different times he had accumulated a small fortune of $20. He used that to attend five months of school at Vermilion Institute. In those years his chief resource as a livelihood was manual toil. He has always respected the dignity of manual toil as a stepping stone to higher things. He worked out on farms, and as soon as competent and qualitied he secured the position of teacher in a public school near "Wooster.

the duty he recognized to become a soldier in the Civil war involved the severest kind of self-sacrifice and self-abnegation. He determined that he ought to enlist, and enlist he did in Company H of the One Hundred and Second Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Through the hardships of the war to its close he served under Generals Buell, Rosecrans, Thomas, Sherman a.ud Grant. Few men suffered more from the disease and ills of army life, and again and again he passed through severe attacks of fever and other disease and yet he never asked for nor received a furlough, was uncomplaining and cheerful in obedience to command, and went through to the end, coming out of the war hollow-chested, stoop-shouldered, weak and emaciated, and it was more than three years after his discharge before he weighed as much as when he enlisted.

During one spell of illness he was in a hospital at Nashville, Tennessee. While in a convalescent camp near that city he determined that he was fit for a resumption of active duty. The .surgeon curtly informed him that he must remain in camp. He boarded a freight train bound for the South, but having no official discharge he was ordered off by the military conductor. He finally took his place unobserved between a couple of cars, and after the train was well under way he went back to the caboose. The conductor, astonished and angry, came at him in a verj^ threatening manner, but the boy calmly informed him that he knew he would not be put off since that would mean capture by the rebels. The conductor closed the colloquy with the words: "Well, you are the most anxious soldier to get to your regiment I ever saw." The next morning, arriving at his destination, he reported for duty to his colonel, who told him he had received information by wire that he had deserted. After allowing the enorihity of such a charge to sink in, the colonel said : "But you deserted in the right direction, you can go to .vour company."

Only one other time during his army career did Florien Giauque disobey orders. While suffering the tortures of disease his physician ordered him to drink ale, but Giauaue was not to be shaken from his early resolution and absolutely refused to take the dosage. Understanding his principles the kind physician excused him. Even while in the army Mr. Giauque showed his leader.ship among men, and was appointed to a non-commissioned office. He served in that commission during

Mr. Giauque made another resolution which he kept, .and that was that he would never apply for nor accept a pension for his services as a soldier until by a general law practically every soldier of the war should be granted one. After his return home, though weakened with illness and exposure, he re-entered Vermilion Institute, and while there carried studies in some of the regular classes and was also a teacher. In 1866 he entered Kenyon College at Gambier and remained there until he graduated with honors in 1869. Such was his standing as a student that he won the honorai'y scholarship fraternity Phi Beta Kappa. He completed a four years' course in three years and at the same time had taught Latin and other classes in the preparatory schools at Gambier and a iniiiilici' of private pupils. He had a class of iirivatf pupils consisting of young ladies at .Mdunt \'ernon, five miles away, i.nd walkcil liiick and forth through all kinds of XM-atlicr t\\ ice a week one entire winter. As a result of such unflagging industry and determination ilr. Giauque came out of college not only out of debt but also with $90 in his pocket. Since then Mr. Giauque has sei-ved as a trustee of Kenyon College, and has received from that institution the honorary degi-ees A. M. and LL. D., the latter chiefly liecause of his authorship of certain law books. While in college he had as classmates the sons of some rich and aristocratic families of eastern cities. He came to have a better appreciation of the essential democracy of young men of wealth, since these rich fellow students showed for him complete respect for his conduet and success even though he was of poor and humble family. He was accorded the highest honor of his literary .society, the Philo, when he was elected in his senior year as orator on Washington's Birthday. The reputation as a speaker and writer which has followed him so persistently in later years Mr. Giauque acquired while in Kenyon College. In 1868 he delivered an oration on his father's native country, Switzerland, and it was accorded unstinted appreciation and praise both for the thorough knowledge he showed of the land of his ancestors and the feeling with which he portrayed the patriotic spirit prevalent in the land of William Tell. Mr. Giauque. needless to say, when his army record is considered, has proved as patriotic to

Even after leaving Kenyon College there stood between him and his cherished goal several years of hard and self-denying work. To make his living while he studied law he taught school. He had been granted a state teaclier 's certificate, indicating that he had passed an examination with high grades in twenty-seven different branches. Mr. Giauque went to Glendale, a suburl) of ('incinnati, and served as principal nf its pnl)lic schools until 1875. He was seven times un.inimously elected principal and refused 1 hi' seventh term. In the meantime he luhl sIikUimI law under the late Justice Stanley .Maliliews, ilieu a resident of Gleudalc. In 1675 he gave up teaching and opened a law office in Cincinnati and has been continuoasly an active and influential member of the bar of that city for over forty years, iluch of the time he was in partnership with Henry B. McCTure. Mr. Giauque still lives at Glendale.

In politics he has been a republican, a -strong advocate of its principles, but has been too busy with his profession and other affairs to seek even local offices. However, he could not refuse to accept some of the honors conferred upon him by his neighbors at Glendale, and served as solicitor and mayor of the village, as president of the school board, president of the waterworks board and member of the board of health.

Mr. Giauque is widely known among the profession as a leeal writer and editor. Among the publicatiims assoeiated with his name are " Giauque 's Revised Statutes of Ohio," "Settlement of Decedent's Estates," "Manual for Assignees," "ilanual for Guardians," "Manual for Notaries," "Road and Bridge Laws of Ohio," and he and his law partner prepared "Life Tables," a work of great value. For more than twenty years he prepared and kept revised The Robert Clarke Company's series of legal blanks.

Mr. Giauque 's literarv- interests are wide and varied, and he has both written and spoken much on scientific and patriotic questions. He is fond of American Archaeology, and has gathered a fine collect ion of stone and copper prehistoric implements and pottery. This collection was exhibited and won medals at various expositions, including the Centennial at Philadelphia in 1876. He was one of the men who had charge of the Ohio Archaeological Exhibits at that Centennial. Much of the collection was destroyed by fire.

Mr. Giauque has been an extensive traveler. For business as well as pleasure he has visited most of the states of the Union and has acquired his extensive real estate interests largely as a result of personal observations of opportunities. He has owned many thousands of acres in Loiusiana and other portions of the South, and in Sabine Parish, Louisiana, a town was named for him, Florien.

Mr. Giauque was married November 18, 18S4, to :\riss :\lary :\rillpr, daughter of William II. Miller, llci- t'allii'r was a lawyer of llaniiltciii, ( )lii(i, anil \\as killed in action while an oflicer of the Union army during the Avar. Mrs. Giauque was a granddaughter on her mother's side of John Woods, long a leading Ohio lawyer and at one time member of Congress, auditor of the state, and prominently identified with early canal and railroad building. Five of ilrs. Giauque 's ancestors were soldiers on the American side in the Revolutionary war and others were in Colonial wars. Mrs. Giauque is now deceased, and there were no children of their marriage.

Charles A. Gr.\h.\m is one of the very successful business men of Lima. He was a farmer boy by training, started life without capital or special influence, taiight and managed schools for many years, and now has a gi'eat variety of interests, chief among which are his duties as secretary nf the Central Building and Lnan ( 'ompaiiy of Lima.

Mr. Graham was ideniiiied with the organization of this company, and since 1908 has been its secretary. This company has completed ten full years of business activity. The year lOlfi was one of the best in its history, tile ciiinpaiiy's growth in that year was measuivd liy nearly $135,000 increase, and the present assets are over $576,000. During its ten years the company has never foreclosed a morigage, has never lost a cent on a loan, and as security for its depositors and shareholders it has loans on first mortgage real estate of more than $500,000. While perhaps not the largest this company is one of the strongest in Northwest Ohio, and otherwise its record is unexcelled.

Mr. Charles A. Graham was born in a log cabin, which is still standing, in Auglaize County, Ohio, November 17, 1864. His parents were John and Mary (Tussing) Graham. The Grahams go back to early pioneer times in Auglaize County. Grandfather Charles Graham was a native Iri.shman, came to Auglaize County in early days, and acquired land from the Government, his i:)atent being signed by President Andrew Jackson. He also assisted in building the St. Marys Reservoir. This ancestor brought with him from Ireland a watch, and it is still a prized relic in the family. John Graham, father of Charles A., was born in Auglaize County July 1, 1839. He was born, reared and died on the same farm. That farm is now owned by his widow who was born in Franklin County, Ohio, July 21, 1840, and is now in her seventy-seventh year. They were married in Allen County. Of their five children, four are living: Charles A, ; Thomas H. on a farm in Auglaize County ; Anna D., wife of William White, a farmer in Auglaize County: and George W., who owns a farm in Allen County. John Graham and wife were members of the Christian Church. He was a democrat, was a well educated man, was an excellent penman and was well read. His brothers Thomas and Christopher were both soldiers in the Civil war. Thomas was killed near Baltimore while Christopher went througli the war and is now living in Allen County. Mr. Graham's maternal grandfather was John Tussing of German descent.

Charles A. Graham started life with the resolution and ambition to make the best of every opportunity. From the farm and country schools he broadened his advantages by a student career in the Ohio Northern University at Ada. At the age of eighteen he taught his first school and continued in that work for twenty years. Most of the teaching was in Auglaize and Allen counties. For eight years he was superintendent of schools at Lafayette, and he closed his career as a teacher as superintendent of the Spencerville schools.

. He assisted in organizing the Central Building and Loan Company at Lima on September 1, 1906, and has since been actively identified with its management. He was elected secretary in 1908. Much of the responsibility of its "management has devolved upon him, and he can personally be credited with much of its prosperous record.

However, ilr. Graham has been identified with Lima and Allen County in many other important relationships. He served two terms as clerk of courts from August, 1909, to Augiist, 1913. For six years he was county school examiner of Allen County, and is now and has been for twelve years secretary of the Allen County Agricultural Society and for eighteen years has served on the board of directors of that society. Mr. Graham has done much to bring about a cordial relationship between the interests of the city and those of the country districts. He is director and recording secretary of the Lima Y. M. C. A. and is a member of the executive and business eoiniiiittee of the Ohio State Sunday School Assoriation. In season and out of season lie is a booster for Lima and Allen County.

In 1888 Mr. Graham married Eva Inez AVoniicll. She was born in Allen County, daughter of the late Edward and ilary Jane Wonnell. Edward Wonnell was an early settler at South Warsaw in Allen County, was for many years a merchant, served as postmaster of the village thirty years, receiving his first appointment to that office from President Lincoln. Mr. Wonnell was a soldier in the Civil war. ilr. and Mrs. Graham have two cliildren : Helen Estelle is a graduate of the Lima Business College and is now and has been for several years deputy clerk of courts. Rftssell Thoburn Graham is a graduate of the Lima High School, and is now bookkeeper for the Central Building and Loan Company.

ilr. Graham and family are members of the First Christian Church. He has been prominent in Odd Fellowship, has lieen through all the chairs of the SnlHU'ilinali- l-oduv and Encampment, was ri'pnsi'iitnti\i' tn llie Grand Encampment eight ycaiN. has I'crrntly closed his term as grand junior warden and is now grand senior warden of the State of Ohio. The majority given him in liis election as grand junior warden was the largest ever paid to a candidate for that office. He has also filled all the chairs in the ]\Iodern Woodmen of America, having lieen consul for several years. He is also affiliated with Lima Lodge No. 54, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of Pythias, the IVIaccabees, the Royal Arcanum, and the Loyal Order of Moose. In politics Mr. Graham is a democrat and has rendered valuable services to the party.

Len L. Trout is one of the practical and aggressive business men of North Baltimore, and has built up one of the leading commercial establishments of the town as a dealer in furniture, carpets, musical instruments and other househokl wares and equipment.

Mr. Trout has been in active business in North Baltimore since 1904. For the past eight years he has occupied the Dirk Building, with a forty-five foot frontage and a hundred feet in depth. He has both floors of this building in use for his stock. The building was built and designed especially for use as

Mr. Trout came to North Baltimore from Findlay, Ohio, for the purpose of stai'ting a branch house of the Trout Brothers firm of that city. These brothers conduct a large store at Findlay, which was established in September, 1900, and is operated on the same high plane as the store at North ^Baltimore.

The Trout family is one of the oldest and most substantial of Hancock County, Ohio, where they have lived through four generations, for a period of nearly ninety years. Len L. Trout was born in that county on a farm. This farm was the old homestead entered bj^ his great-grandfather, John Trout, for his son George. George was the grandfather of Len L. John and Eleanor Trout and their family removed from Perry Count.v, Ohio, to Hancock County in 1828. John Trout became one of the men chiefly influential in laying out and founding the Town of Van Buren. He was a thorough business man and practical farmer and he died at the old homestead in 1832. At Van Buren he had conducted a hotel knowu as the Trout House. A sigu swung before the door of this hotel bearing the picture of a trout to correspond with the family name. John Trout fought in the second war with Great Britain in 1812. He had three children, George, Ephraim and Jack. Of these George was the grandfather of Len L. Trout. George Trout married Caroline Heller and had six children, including Judson B. Judson B. Trout was born in Hancock County seventy years ago, and has lived an industrious and active career as a farmer aud is now living retired at Van Buren. His wife died in December, 1912, in her sixty-fifth year. She was an active member of the United Brethren Church.

Len L. Trout is the youngest of three children. The oldest is George P., who is senior partner of the firm of Trout Brothers in the furniture business. He is married and has a daughter, Irene. The second child is ^Irs. Cora Campbell, wife of Frank Campbell, who.se father, Hugh Campbell, was one of the early residents of North Baltimore. Mrs. Campbell has one son, Roy.

Len L. Trout grew up in Hancock County, acciuired a common .school education, and at an early age identified himself with business affairs and has become successful. At Findlay he married j\Iiss Dolly Lyne. She was born thirty-five years ago near Findlay and was reared and educated there, ilr. and Mrs.

Trout have four eliildreu : Clarence, aged fifteen, now a student in the North Baltimore High School; ]Mary, aged ten, in the fifth grade of the public schools; Grace, aged six, and Leu L., Jr., born iu 1916. Mr. Trout is a Chapter Mason at Findlay and in politics is an independent republican. He has contributed to the development of North Baltimore by the erection of'a fine cottage home on South Main Street and in every way is closely associated with the prosperity and progress of that town.

Hon. Clyde R. Painter was graduated from the Ohio Northern University in 1892, and later passed one year in the Ohio State University at Columbus, Ohio, specializing in law. He took up the study of law under Ira C. Taber, then of Bowling Green but now general counsel for the National Supply Company of Toledo. Since his admission to the bar in 1896 Jlr. Painter has been one of the leading lawyers of Bowling Green, has served in- the Legislature and in many ways has made his profession a means of important service to the community.

After his admission to the bar he was associated as a law partner with Mr. Taber until the latter removed to Toledo. For the past twenty years he has practiced alone and has handled a large volume of important litigation in the local and state courts.

Mr. Painter was elected a member of the Legislature in 1897 and served continuously from 1898 until 1902. He was chairman of the judiciary committee and held various other committee assignments. He has been chairman of the Standing Republican Caucus of the Legislature during his last term and iu 1906 was nominated for state senator from the Thirty-third District. However, in that .year he failed to overcome the large democratic majority. He was at one time the candidate of his party for common pleas judge. In politics he has wielded a large influence in Wood County and for years has been a well known figure in local, congressional and state conventions of his party.

Mv. Painter was born in Wood County in 1866 and has always lived here. He is of Scotch-Irish and Dutch ancestiy, and the Painters have been well known in Penn.sylvania for generations. His grandfather, Peter Painter, came from Allegheny County in Western Pennsylvania to Columbiana County, Ohio, and subsequently pioneered into Wood County, making the journey over the rough roads and through the woods with wagons and ox teams. His location was in the forests of Bloom Township, and there he cleared up and improved a farm. His death occurred before the Civil war and he left his widow and a large family. He married Elizabeth ilusser, who died in 1898. Her father, MichaeL ilusser, great-grandfather of ^Ir. Painter, was a soldier under General Harrison during the War of 1812 and was in the battle at Fort Meigs and in numerous other engagements. He was one of the pioneers who made early history in Wood County, where he spent his last years.

Peter S. Painter, father of the Bowling Green lawyer, was the eighth in a family of eleven children. He was born in Bloom Township of Wood Couut.y on August 6, 1841, and is still living, active and vigorous for his years and for his varied experiences. During the Civil war he enlisted in Company H of the Forty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry under General Gibson, and served as a private for three years and six months. Among the major battles in which he participated were those of Pittsburg Landing, Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge, and toward the end of his service he was wounded by gunshot and also by the explosion of a shell which fractured several ribs. After three years and six months in the army he was given his honorable discharge and returned and for the past fifty years has been quietly engaged in the vocation of agriculturist. Politically he is a republican and has been a more than interested participant in the councils of his party. He has served on various committees and has been a delegate to county, congressional and state conventions. Peter S. Painter was married in Wood County to Mary J. Sehwinehart, who was born and reared iu this county and died at the old homestead in October, 1911, aftjtlie age of sixty-eight. She was an active member of the Christian Church, as is her husband.

Clyde R. Painter was the oldest in a family of four children. His sister, Mollie, married William Holmes and died at the old homestead near Bloomdale, Ohio, leaving a daughter, Jeanette Holmes, who is now living with her grandfather in Wood County. Lissa A. is still at home, is a college graduate and is a teacher. Evaline is the wife of Vaneier Fiesael, a farmer of Bloom Township near the old Painter home. They have a daughter, Mollie, who is now attending high school. Mr. Cl.ydc K. Painter has never married. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, The father of the above children was in very meager circumstances, especially so while his children were of school age, but he gave each of them a college education.

R. J. DoRNEY, of Arlington, Ohio, has distinguished himself by that hard work which alone enables a man to conquer success and acquire and manage numerous interests profitably and well. While Mr Dorney has retired from some of his business activities, he is still president and a director of the Farmers and Merchants Banking Company of Arlington.

He was born at Arlington, Ohio, April 16, 1862. a son of Robert and Clara (Myers) Dorney. His father w'as born on the Isle of Man, a British subject, in December, 1821. When a small child he was brought to America by his uncle and was bound out among strangers. He spent those early and hard working years near Cleveland, and though his indenture was until he reached his majority, he left his employers at the age of eighteen, practically running awa.y. At the time he had only a three cent piece in his pocket He then learned the blacksmith trade and for a time was employed in the iron work for the construction of canal boats at Boston in Stark County. On December 9, 1845, in Stark County, he was married by Squire Chamberlain to Miss Clara Myers. In 1856 Robert Dorney removed to Arlington, Ohio, and opened a blacksmith shop on ]Main Street. He continued liis work there until the beginning of the Civil war, when he enlisted and served as a private in the Sixty-sixth Illinois Sharpshooters. He was also assigned to work on a supply wagon and as a blacksmith. He spent thirteen months in the army, until January, 1868. After the war he resumed his trade at Arlington and also acquired 160 acres of land within the corporation limits. He was noted as a natural mechanic in iron and steel and was a very versatile as well as successful business man His death occurred in Arlington in 1884.

He and his wife had the following children : ilarshall, who was born November 15. 1846, and died in August. 1847. Robert Fulton, born November 14, 1849, died September 12, 1850 : Arthur J., born in January, 1851, and now a retired farmer at Clare, ^liehigan; Julius Zacharias, born November 21. 1852, now deceased; George Sidall, born January 28, 1856, and died October 25, 1899; Alice

Almeda, born in 1854, and the deceased wife of Jacob Kiebler; Allen Ricketts, born at Arlington November 15, 1859; and Robert John W^esley, the special subject of this sketch.

Mr. Dorney had his early training in the public schools, attending school in the winter time and during the summer season developing his muscle by helping pull stumps, rolling logs and clearing up the home farm. At the age of eighteen he gave up schooling and began working about among the neighboring farmers. He distinguished himself even then by a long look ahead and was keenly interested in saving his money so as to get into business for himself. Finally with a modest capital he and his brother George started a brick yard. That proved a disastrous venture and all his savings were lost. During 1885 ^Ir. Dorney traveled over Ohio, Illinois and North Dakota, and was employed by the Walter A. Wood Company of Gleuus Falls, New York, to set up the binders which were then praetiealh' new in the han'esting machine line.

On April 3, 1886, Mr. Dorney married Miss Ida May Ghaster, a daughter of Solomon and Mary (Fox) Ghaster. Her parents were farmers near Mount Corey, Ohio, and of German stock of the so-called Pennsylvania Dutch. Mrs. Dorney is of Revolutionary ancestry.

Mr. and Mrs. Dorney now live in a handsome red brick house just across the street from the old Dorney homestead in Arlington. After his marriage Mr. Dorney rented a farm of ninety-five acres from his wife's mother, and has since continued its active management. In 1891 he engaged in the wire fence business and bought a patent right for Hancock County. He made a great success in selling fence. Doubtless from his father he inherited some mechanical genius and his experience in the wire fence business led to the invention of the "Little Giant'' wire stretcher, which has had a wide sale and has brought him considerable revenue. He also invented the Dorney Adjustable Farm Gate, which has also had a wide distribution and sale. For some years Mr. Dorney had a plant for the manufacture of wire fence and sold his product all over the county. In the general fencing business he continued actively for twenty yeai-s. From the fall of 1896 until 1915 he was likewise engaged in the buying and selling, baling and shipping of hay. Mr. Dorney 's mother died November 27,

1892, and in the following year he bought the homestead farm from the estate and has developed that into a model place. As a land owner he now has 160 acres and 83 acres, and is also interested in a property on Catawba Island and has a summer home at Pon-She- Wa-Tiug, Michigan. He is one of the principal stockholders in the bank of which he is president.

Mr. Dorney has always shown a public spirited attitude toward everything that concerns the public welfare. He is a republican, served seven _years as county infinnary director and for two terms was a member of the city council of Arlington. He is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in the Subordinate and Encampment degrees and the Knights of Pythias.

Mr. and ilrs. Dorney have only one child, Donna Dorcas, now the wife of Rev. Mr. I. Powell, a minister of the English Lutheran Church. Mrs. Powell has three children: Robert Theodore, born in 1912; Luther Vincent, born in 1914 ; and Burdett, born in 1915.

Henry Cordes, Jr., enjoys the proud position of a farmer in Ht'iny County. Farming has always enjdvi'il ;i ])laro of dignity second to none among tlie cixupations of mankind, but never in the history of the world was the lot of the farmer one of greater emolument, prestige and contentment than it is today.

No small part of the development of Henry County from wilderness conditions is to be credited to the influejice and energies of the sturdy people who came from Gennany. It is as representative of this class of citizenship that Henry Cordes. Jr., stands.

His fine country home is situated in section 9 of Pleasant Township. He has lived there for seventeen years, and he now owns seventynine acres. Nineteen acres are in section.? 9 and 10 of the same town.ship just across the road from the main farm. Some of the best practices of Ohio farming can be found illustrated on this place of Mr. Cordes. The entire tract is under cultivation except eight acres of native timber. Mr. Cordes is constantly studying' improved methods of increasing the efficiency of the farm, and also of making his home more comfortable and attractive. He recently erected a fine barn 40 by 60 feet with 20 foot posts. With its coat of red paint it stands up as one of the conspicuous features of the landscape. Mr. Cordes also has a new home, a seven-room

Mr. Cordes was born in Hanover, Germany, September 28, 1868. When he was sixteen years of age and after he had acquired his education in the German common schools he came with his father to America. They took passage on a vessel at Bremen, sailing for New York City, and from there proceeded direct to Henry County, Ohio. His father, Henry Cordes, located forty acres of wild land in Flat Rock Township, and he has been identified with the development of that place ever since. He is still living and is now seventysix years of age, quite well and hearty. He o«ais 160 acres in Flat Rock Township and his homestead of eighty acres is in section 27. While living in Hanover, Henry Cordes married J\Iary Lenthurst, who was born in Hanover and died there in 1880, when about forty years of age. She was the mother of six children: Anna, who came to America and was married in Defiance County to Detrick Bresling, and when she died at the age of forty years left three sons and three daughters. The second of the family is Henry. Detrick is a successful farmer in Pleasant Township, where he owns 160 acres in sections 8 and 9, is married and has one daughter. Bertha. ]\Iary is the wife of August Schlitter, of Flat Rock Township, and they have two sons and three daughters. Fred is a farmer of Flatrock Township and by his marriage to Dora Brener has a son, Harold. Herman is a progressive young farmer in Flat Rock Township, lives at home with his father, and is still unmarried.

Henry Cordes has never married and for a number of years has kept bachelor's hall. He grew up on the old homestead in Henry County, and lived with his father until he took title to his present farm. He has made the chief improvements on his land and is a thoroughly public spirited citizen of his community. He and his brothers and sisters and father are all members of St. John's Lutheran Church, and the father and sons are usually democrats in their voting.

M. G. Norton, superintendent of the Paragon Refining Company's plant at Gibsonburg, is a veteran in the oil industry, which he has followed actively nearly twenty years. His success is due to hard work and good management, and it is noteworthy that he started life a poor boy and has either found or created his own opportunity.

Mr. Norton was born at Danville, Pennsylvania, February 13, 1858, a son of Michael and Bridget (Ducey) Norton. Both parents were natives of Ireland, his father born in 1822 and his 'mother in 1820. In 1842 Michael Norton crossed the ocean and located at Quebec, Canada, where he married. For a number of years he was in the railroad business and subsequently moved to Pennsylvania, where he filled various positions at Emporium. He came to the United States with very little capital, but made considerable success in life. In his later years he was engaged in the oil business with his sons Peter and M. G. Norton. He was a democrat in politics, and he and his wife were active members of the Catholic Church, in which they reared their family. Of their four children, M. G. Norton is the only one now living. The oldest was Peter J. Norton, who first followed railroading, afterwards was an oil man, and he died December 8, 1882; Ella died in 1879, and Cassie died in 1880.

il. G. Norton arew up and received most of his education at Emporium, Pennsylvania. He left school when in the seventh grade and began railroading as a switchman and followed that occupation from the age of sixteen until he was twenty. In 1878 he became associated with his father and brother in the oil business, and first worked as a laliorer on tlie T'nion Pipe Line. In 1892 he left the Pipe Line Company to become fii'bl sii|HM'intendent of the Paragon Refining ( *.iiii|.;iny of Toledo. For two years he lived in Tn]c(li), and since then has had charge of tlie Gibsonhurg office. He is now superintendent of the works and also has a financial interest in the company.

Mr. Norton was married April 26, 1892, to Jennie M. Sherry, who was born at Portville, New York. To their mai'riage were born nine children, and the three now living are: William L., who works for his father; Harry M., a traveling representative of the Paragon Refining Company ; and Catherine, at home. The family are memliers of the Catholic Church in Gibsonburg. Mr. Norton is affiliated with the Knights of Columbus and has filled all the chairs of the Catholic ^Mutual Benefit Association and is president of the branch of that order at Gibsonburg. Politically he is an independent democi-at. For a number of years he has filled a position on the local school board and has done much to promote educational advancement and general community progress.

J. W. Beckett, of North Baltimore, is one of the widely known oil contractors and producers in this section of the state. He entered this business when a young man and while he has experienced the ups and downs characteristic of the industry, his operations on the whole have been profitable and have made him widely known in the different oil fields of Ohio.

ilr. Beckett is also member of the firm Fulton & Beckett, garage proprietors at North Baltimore. They established their garage in 1915, and have a large well equipped building 50x140 feet, with a complete service and repair department. Since 1914 they have been agents for the old and reliable Ford ears, and handle this car in four townships of Wood County. Through their agency about a hundred thirty Ford cars have been distributed in this territory annually.

Mr. Beckett has been a resident of North Baltimore for the past twenty-one years, having carried on his productive activities as an oil man from this city. He is both an oil well contractor and producer, and still has some productive properties in the North Lima field. Mr. Beckett was born in Wvandot County, Ohio. October 9, 1869, a son of John and Elizabeth (Moulds) Beckett. His parents were both born in Yorkshire, England, and in the paternal line his lineage goes back to the family of the . noted ecclesiastic and churchman Thomas a' Beeket. John Berkett and wife married in their native shire and Avliilc living there three children were born, ilary, Zilla and Ada. The little family crossed the ocean in 1869, locating in Little Sandusky, Ohio, and in 1876 removing to Harpster. The father was a mason by trade, having learned that occupation in England, and was also a local minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, his wife being closely associated with him in his church work. They died at Harpster, the mother at the age of sixty-six and the father at seventy-six. Five other children were liorn to them in Wyandot County, including J. W. The others were : Betha, wife of T. J. Martin, of Rising Sun, Ohio; Charles W., now superintendent of the Ohio Oil Company at Wyoming, Ohio, also married; Ernest M., who is married and is an oil man at Westfield, Illinois ; and Florence, wife of E. C. Swihart, of Wyandot County, and the mother of one daughter.

and at the age of twenty-five entered the business of oil eontractiag. In North Baltimore he married iliss Nannie ^l. Turnpaugh. She was born in Oliio and was reared and educated in North Baltimore. For his first wife Mr. Beckett married Miss Cora B. McLain, who was born and reared at North Baltimore and died there September 5, 1895, at the age of twenty-seven. She left two children: Clyde, a graduate of the local schools and still single ; and Gail i\I., who is twenty-three years of age and has likewise received a substantial education. The family are members of the Presbyterian Church and Mr. Beckett is past master of the local Lodge of Masons at North Baltimore and is affiliated witli the Royal Arch Chapter, the Council and Commaudery at Findlaj^ and the Odd Fellows Lodge, No. 110, at Upper Sandusky, Ohio.

JoHX Joseph Allex, M. D. One of the more recent additions to the medical profession of Wood County is Dr. John Joseph Allen, who located in Bowling Green after an extended expei-ieuee in practice in West Virginia, and as a result of his thorough qualifications has quickly built up a fine reputation and practice.

Doctor Allen is a graduate of the Baltimore IMedical College, now the medical department of the University of ]\Iaryland. He finished his course and received his Doctor of Medicine degree in 1901, at the age of twenty-six. He began practice at Wheeling, West Virginia, and continued his professional activities there for eight years. After some experience elsewhere Doctor Allen located at Bowling Green July 1, 1916. He has both a city and country practice, and his offices are at 113 South iMain Street, where he has a complete equipment, including X-ra.y apparatus.

Doctor Allen was born in Venango County, Pennsylvania, of an old family in that section of the state. His grandfather, Capt. Joseph A. Allen, was a noted citizen of Venango County and during the Civil war trained many recruits for the service. He was a streniiotis advocate of the preparedness principle. In fact he was the best known military man in that county. For a number of years he had served as county commissioner and for fifty-six years was an elder in the Presbyterian Church. He died at the ripe age of eighty-eight. He was from the organization of the part}' an active republican. Captain Allen was three times married. Thei-e were

Doctor Allen's father was John Allen, whose mother was Jane Coleman. He was born on a farm near Wesley, Pennsylvania, in 1846, grew up there, was well educated, and after succeeding to the ownership of part of the old homestead acquired another portion by purchase and continued a career as an active farmer and good citizen until his death in the summer of 1911. He was a man of decided convictions and positive character, was an active republican and a life long and faithful Presbyterian. He was married in his native county to Mary M. Ford, who was born and reared there, of mingled Scotch and Dutch ancestry from Pennsylvania and ilaryland. She is still living in Pennsylvania with her oldest sister, and is now sixty-two years of age and a devoted member of the Presbyterian Church.

Doctor Allen had a country school education in the rugged district of Western Penns.ylvania, also attended an academy, and for a time was a teacher before he took up the study of medicine. Besides his private practice at Bowling Green Doctor Allen represents a number of insurance societies and old line life insurance companies, including the New Yoi'k Life, the Continental, the Reserve Loan Life of Indianapolis. He is an active member of the County and State IMedical societies. and is affiliated with the ilasonic Lodge at West Liberty, West Virginia, and with the Knights of Pythias at Bowling Green.