Sandusky Township (part 57 of 57)

Like his father he is devoted to religious work, has for many years been active in Jhe Washington Street Congregational Church, and is especially prominent in its Sunday School. He was first assistant superintendent of the Sunday School for more than a quarter of a century, and for the past four years has been its superintendent. This Sunday School is the larsest in Toledo, having an enrollment of 1,450 members. It is known as the Marion Lawrance Sunday School, having been named in honor of Marion Lawrance who was for thirty-one years superintendent and who is now general secretary of the International Sunday School Association and the world wide leader in Sunday School work. Mr. Beard was assistant for many years while Mr. Lawrance was in charge of the Sunday School and it is an honor of which he may well be proud that he succeeded this notable leader in Sunday School work.

Cora Campbell, who before her marriage was a teacher in the Toledo Public schools. She died in 1885, leaving one son, William E., who is now in the real estate business at Toledo. On July 12, 1889, Mr. Beard married Miss Lillian Donnolly of Toledo. To this union were born four children : Shirley W., who died in December, 1908. at the age of fourteen, and was at that time in the Toledo High School as a student; Dorothy L., who is a member of the class of 1916 in" the Scott High School; Marion, who die<J in 1904 at the age of six mouths ; and Ruth, now attending the grade schools. All the children were born in Toledo.

Jonas J. Hulse is cashier of the Commercial National Bank of Upper Sandusky. He has been well known in Wyandot County since early youth. In early life he was a farmer, gaining a college education in the intervals of hard work and has applied himself successfully to larger business affairs.

Mr. Hulse was born on a farm on the Carey Road five miles north of Upper Sandusky November 7, 1864. He is the son of Jonas and Lucy (Davis) Hulse and is of German and Welsh stock. His grandfather Silas Hulse came to Wyandot County in the early days, and was for a number of years known as a successful teacher in the crude but effective schools of the pioneers. Silas Hulse died at an early age, leaving his family with but little of this world's goods. Jonas Hulse, Sr., who was one of seven or eight children, was born on a farm in Wyandot County and at an early age he and his brother Jason went to live with Judge Carey near what is now the Town of Carey, where they remained until they were eighteen. Later the family home was established on a farm near Lovell, and there the sons provided for the comfort of their mother. After the discovery of gold in California, three of the brothers alternated in going to the Pacific Coast as miners, one of them always remaining behind with the widowed mother. Wlien Jonas Hulse returned from his last trip to California around Cape Horn, about 1860, he bought the home farm. There he took his wife after his marriage in 1863, and there he died in August, 1864.

His son, Jonas J. Hulse, grew up in the country, attended district schools in the winter time and during the summer seasons assisted in the work of the home farm. In 1880, when he was sixteen years of age he first en- tered the Ohio "Wesleyan University at Delaware and took up the classical course. It was not possible for him to remain in school continuously since his presence was required at home in the management of the farm. He managed to keep up his work in spite of long intermissions and in 1891 was graduated A. B. While in college he was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity.

His mother, Lucy Olive Hulse, died in Upper Sandusky, in the year 1893. Just prior to this time Mr. Hulse went to Eastern Tennessee, and was there connected with a lumber firm for several years. He returned to Wyandot County in 1900, and promoted the org-anization of the Commercial National Bank of Upper Sandusky. He became one of its first board of directors, and has been cashier of this strong institution from the beginning.

ilr. Hiilse is treasurer of the Upper Sandusky Telephone Company, a member of the Board of Library Trustees, and is chairman of the County Executive Committee of the Wyandot County Young Men's Christian Association. Mr. Hulse is one of the pi-ominent laymen of the Methodist Episcopal Church, is a trustee of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Upper Sandusky and secretary of the Quarterly Conference. His faithfulness in service was recognized by his election as a member of the General Conference of his church in 1916, and by his appointment as a member of the Board of Control of the Epworth League.

In 189.3 at Harriman, Tennessee, ilr. Hulse married Frances Lilly Dnrflinger, daughter of Philip and Sarah (Burnham) Dnrflinger. Mrs. Hulse 's people were residents of Madison County, Ohio, and went to Harriman in 1890. IMr". and ]\Irs. Hulse have three children : ilarjory, who was graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University in 1917; Alfred Philip, now a member of the junior class of Ohio Wesleyan University, and Frances, born in

Hon. James ^Mackenzie. One of Northwest Ohio's most distinguished citizens was the late Judge James Mackenzie, who died at Lima May 9, 1901. His career is still continued in business and professional fields at Lima through his sons Eugene C. and William L., both of Lima.

12, 1795. In 1820 he removed with his family to Canada and four years later established the Colonial Advocate at Toronto. In 1828 he was elected to the Provincial Parliament and thenceforward he was a leader in Dominion politics and especially in the reformed party. In 1832 he was sent as a delegate to London with a petition of grievances. He was elected the first mayor of Toronto in 1834, and in his public and his private capacity he continiied to insist on reform in every In-anrh of the Government. Through his nf\v.s|ia|>iT The Constitution he publicly attacked the lieutenant general of the Dominion. II(' look an ai-tive part in tlic iusurrectinn of 1837, lieaeling a band of armed insurL'riils who demauded a settlement of grievaincs fi-om the lieutenant general. In consequence of this participation in armed rebellion against the constituted authority of Government he was banished, and he lived in the United States until the amnesty proclamation of 1849. He then returned to Canada, at once resumed his conspicuous place in public affairs, and served as a member of parliament from 1850 to 1858. His death occurred at Toronto in 1861.

The late James Mackenzie absorbed the high ideals and many of the characteristics which subsequently distinguished him from his famous father. He learned the printing business in his father's office and wa.s a young man of twenty-three, when in 1837 he crossed the international boundary line and joined the insurgents along the frontier in the Canadian insurrection of that year. He was his father's closest friend and sympathizer and later he started a paper at Lockport, New York, designed to help the Canadian cause, naming it the Fi'eeman's Advocate. This journal was widely eii-cwlated along the frontier, but was disroutimieil in 1839. Subsequently he was employed as editor by the fii"m of Vick & Company of Rochester of the daily paper, the Workingmen 's Advocate, and when this paper was sold and re-established as the Rocliester Advertiser Mr. Mackenzie continued for a time as reporter and local editor.

On coming to Ohid "Mr. ^lackenzie located at Cleveland, whi-re lie i-esumed the law studies which he had begun in Lockport. spent some time in the office of Bishop & Backus, and was admitted to the bar in 1843. He then removed to Henry County, Ohio, and while awaiting cases he taught school and took an active interest in politics. He was elected township clerk and in 1844 prosecuting attorney, but resigned the latter office in 1845 and removed to Putnam Countv. Journalism had a stronger hold on him than the law, and in Putnam County lie bought the Kalida Venture, a democratic paper which he built up as a widely circulated and influential journal in that and other counties. He continued proprietor of the Kalida Venture for ten years. In the meantime in 1846 he was elected prosecuting attorney of Putnam County and reelected in 1848 and 1850. In 1853 he was elected a member of the Ohio State Legislature, and again in 1856 became prosecuting attorney of Putnam County. He was thus closely identified with the political activities of Ohio during that exciting period of the decade preceding the war.

Judge ilackenzie brought his family to Allen County in 1858 and for 21^ years was editor and publisher of the Allen County Democrat. In 1861 and in 1863 he was elected prosecuting attorney of Allen County, and in the fall of 1865 was elected judge of the court of common pleas to supply a vacancy. He was elected to the full term of that office in 1869 and again in 1874. His long term as a judge came to a close in Februaiy, 1879, after fourteen years on the bench, and there are still some of the older lawyei"s in Northwestern Ohio who have a kindly and grateful memory of this just and honorable judge. On retiring from the bench he took up active practice at Lima with Theodore D. Robb as partner. He has been described as a man scrupulously upright and one who never could be convinced that a question was right unless his judgment told him so. This solid judicial sense with a kind of intellectual honesty and freedom from all bias, made him admirably fitted for so responsible a position as that of judge. During the war period he had rendered effective service through his civil office and also on many occasions as a friend of liberty and a supporter of the Union movement.

Eugene C. Mackenzie. For fully forty years Eugene C. Mackenzie has been one of the leading men in Allen County, both in public and business affairs. He is a former county clerk of the county and is now active manager of one of the leading coal companies of the city.

He was born in 1856 at Kalida, Putnam County, Ohio, a son of Judge James ^laekenzie, who in 1858 brought his family to Allen County, Ohio. Eugene C. ^Mackenzie grew up in Allen County, gained a public school education, and in 1876, at the age of twentj- became deputy county clerk. After a number of years of experience in that office he was elected in 1882 county clerk and served two terms. He then bought a flour mill at Lima and operated it until 1892 when it was Durned. 3Ir. Mackenzie then became identified with the Manhattan Oil Company in charge of the shipping department at the refinery in Wood County. In 1900 on the organization of the Fidelity Coal & Supply Company he became its manager at Lima, and that has been his principal business for the past fifteen years.

Mr. ilackenzie is a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason. He married Ella Gorton, daughter of William B. Gorton. Their children are Helen JI. and James Gorton IMackenzie. The son is an architect by profession but now gives his time chiefly to farming and the real estate business.

William Leonard Mackenzie, of the firm Mackenzie & Weadock, a prominent practicing attorney and a leading factor in several large corporations, is a Ohio man by birth, training and education. Admitted to the bar in 1882, he at once opened an office at Lima, and, through his able qualities as a lawyer, and his stable, popular traits as a man, has continued his progress both in the development of a professional reputation and a profitable legal business.

Mr. ^lackenzie was born at Lima, Allen County, Ohio, July 10, 1859, and acquired his education in the public schools. The sou of Hon. James Mackenzie, a well known Lima attorney, he pursued his legal studies in the office and under the capable preceptorship of his father, and was admitted to the bar in 1882. His practice has been broad in scope and character, embracing both civil and criminal law, and the formation, development and conservation of large corporations and business interests, and at various times he has been connected with others in professional partnersliips, the present firm of Mackenzie & Weadock consisting of Mr. ^Mackenzie, James J. Weadock, Ralph P. Mackenzie and Paul T. Landis. The offices of the concern are in the Holines Building. Mr. Mackenzie has not sought preferment in public life, but served two (2) terms in the capacity of city solicitor during the early years of his practice. He was appointed by Governor Cox as a member of the commission for the building of the Fort Amanda ^Monument, and has been identified with other public movements and enter- prises. As a participant in business and financial aifairs, he is vice president of the Oerman-American Bank and a director in the South Side Building and Loan Association of Lima. His professional connections are with the Allen County Bar Association and the Ohio State Bar Association, while he is also widely known in fraternal and social circles, being a member of the Lima Club, the Shawnee Country Club and the Benevolent aud Protective Order of Elks. He is interested also in historical matters, and is a director of the Allen County Historical Society.

Mr. Mackenzie was married June 12, 1884, to Miss Florence H. Holmes, of Lima, daughter of Brannon P. Holmes, and they have two sons: William H., a graduate of Lawrenceville College and Yale University, and now connected with the German-American Bank of Lima, married Miss Edith Finley, of Lima, daughter of John Finley, and has one daughter, Mary ; and Ralph P., a graduate of Lawrenceville College, Yale LTniversity, and the University of ilicliigan, class of 1913, and now a practicing attorney and member of the firm of Mackenzie & Weadock.

Frank H. Aldrich has been one of the most successful men in Toledo devoting their artistic energies to the commercial phases of the profession. As a commercial designer, ]\Ir. Aldrich has his offices and studio in The Fifty Associates Building. He has built up a large clientage, has held responsible positions as a designer, and his personal service is now in demand by the advertising trade and by a large group of individual business firms and others.

He was born in Fulton County, Ohio, ilarcli 29, 1866, a son of Harvey and Eugenia (Handy) Aldrich. His father was also a native of Fulton County, was a prominent republican, and for four years licld the office of sheriff in that county, ile died in 1882.

The only son aud child of his parents. Frank H. Aldrich attended the grammar and high schools of his native county, and afterwards had a course in art in New York City to supplement Ids own unusual talent in that direction. He began his career as a newspaper man, and for five years was editor of a country paper. In 1898 he removed to Toledo and became a designer for the Peninsular Engraving Company's l)i-aiifli i>f the main Detroit house. Mr. Aldrii-h h:i(l iMitire charge of tlie designing and cnt;raviiiy- phint at Toledo for the first year and remained with the firm as superintendent for five years. He withdrew from the Peninsular Company to engage in the Advertising Service Company with G. E. Harter under the name Harter & Aldrich. After two years the business was succeeded by an association with Chas. F. Dowd, under tlie naiue of Aldrich & Dowd, and they were together five years, with offices in the Spitzer & Nasby buildings. Since the withdrawal of Mr. Dowd from the partnership Mr. Aldrich has followed business by himself in the creation and designing of advertising and commercial art. Mr. Aldrich has developed tlie art of engrossing on parchment to a high degree, being recognized throughout the country as a leader in that line. His work is largely used by banks, corporations and fraternal societies.

He is a member of Toledo Lodge No. 141, Free and Accepted Masons, belongs to the Artklan and Commerce clubs and is a democrat in politics. On November 22, 1893, he married Miss Kate Stevens. Her father was James M. Stevens. To their marriage were born two children, Zilpha and Harvey.

CharijES W. Counter. Friends of good government in Lucas County have reason for congratulation on the re-election of Charles W. Counter for a second term as county commissioner. Mr. Counter was elected by a large plurality in November, 1916. He is one of Toledo's old and honored business men, and during the many years spent in this city he has also taken a public spirited part in local affairs.

He is a native of Canada, having been born at London in the Province of Ontario October 11, 1846. His parents were Charles and Jane A. (Watts) Counter. His father who was born in Devonshire, England, emigrated to the Province of Ontario about 1840, and soon afterwards settled at Gait. He was a shoemaker by trade, and carried on quite an extensive business in custom slioe making. From Gait he niiKived i,, l.nn.leii, wliere he remained until \i^'u. the same business in Clinton, Ontario, from 18.57 to 1870 and then migi'ated to Belleville, Kansas, where he took up the land which lie farmed until his death. In his family were eleven children, eight of whom are still living.

The second oldest of the family, Charles W. Counter lived at home until he was twentyone years of age. He grew up in a home of substantial comforts, gained a good education, and learned the shoemaker's trade under his father. In October, 1867, going to Jackson, Michigan, Mr. Counter worked at his trade for a time, but soon afterwards removed to Toledo, where he has resided for upwards of fifty years. The first eight years spent in this city lie followed his trade, and he then opened a "stock of retail shoes and similar wares, though continuing to do work for a large custom trade which he had built up. While continuing the shoe business Mr. Counter bought a tract of fourteen acres within the corporate limits of Toledo, and devoted it to gardening and the raising of flowers. All of the land' was used for those purposes at one time, but tlie business has now been specialized for the growing of flowers under glass. The greenhouses located on ^Michigan Avenue are under tlie direct supervision of Mrs. Counter and tlieir son. It is one of the chief sources of line cut flowers for the Toledo trade, and the product is sold both wholesale and retail.

In December, 1875, at Toledo ilr. Counter married Jessie N. Scott. Her father Peter Scott was born in Scotland, came to America in 1853, lived for a time in Philadelphia, and from there came to Ohio. Mr. and ilrs. Counter have four children : John S., Nellie R.. a teacher in the public schools of Toledo. Adelaide A., and Charles M. All these children were liberally educated in the local schools.

Ever since becoming an American citizen ]\Ir. Counter has been actively affiliated with the democratic party. He has done much work in behalf of its welfare, and every position of trust given him has brought out the best of his abilities in true service. For two years he was a member of the city council from the First Ward, and he was also appointed to the office of city forester, holding that place 41/0 years. In 1914 he was elected a county commissioner and was re-elected on November 7, 1916.

In addition to his other business interests Mr. Counter for the past sixteen .years has been general agent at Toledo for the Equitable Life Assurance Association, and through his business and his public position he has rendered every possible service within his power to the betterment and upbuilding of this city. His favorite recreations are the games of cricket and curling. He learned cricket as a l)oy in Canada, and was long an official member of the Toledo Cricket Club, which maintained well equipped grounds, but was finally abandoned. Mr. Counter is also a leader in the Toledo Commerce Club.

Samuel B. Sne.vth, whose life began almost contemporaneous with the founding of Tiffin and was identified by residence and business interests with that community for upwards of seventy years, had perhaps as important a part in sustaining and fostering the growth of that city as any other individual in its history.

In 1827 Tiffin had become the home of his parents Richard and Catherine (Baugher) Sneath. It was a pioneer era in this section of Ohio. Ninety years ago there was not a railway line in the entire country, and the beginning had not even been made in the development of the Ohio canal system. It was a typical frontier community in which Samuel B. Sneath first saw the light of day on December 19, 1828. The family homestead was then located on Washington Street opposite the site of the present Court House in Tiffin. His father, of Scotch lineage, was a native of Delaware. He moved to Maryland where he married Miss Catherine Baugher, a native of Frederick County, that state. The Baughers were among the old colonial families. Richard Sneath was a pioneer merchant and manufacturer at Tiffin, and died there in 18-12 at the age of fifty-six. Energetic and able, he prospered in most of his enterprises but met considerable financial loss before his death. He was a whig in polities. His widow died at Tiffin at the age of sixty-eight. They had eight children whom they reared to maturity. Their son Richard went to California in 1849 and became one of the prominent pioneer citizens of San Francisco. He acquired wealth and also large influence and at one time was president of the Board of Trade at San Francisco. In his home he entertained the ^linister of China while in San Francisco.

In such schools as were maintained at Tiffin during the '30s and '40s Samuel B. Sneath acquired his education. He was thirteen when his father died and at tlie age of fifteen he found work in the old fanning mill factory established by his father. He also clerked in a dry goods store about three years. In 1853 he became a partner of Jesse Shriver in the dr^' goods and clothing business eonducted under the name of Shriver & Sneath. This firm had a prosperous existence for about eight years. For thirty years Mr. Sneath was in the produce business and gradually developed a grain trade which is the basis today of a large grain firm in which his .son is an interested participant.

During the last half century of his life Mr. Sneath became widely known as a banker, railroad ovvner and manufacturer. In 1865 he was one of the incorporators of the National Exchange Bank of Tiffin. Associated with him in that enterprise were John D. Loomis, R. W. Shawhan, A. J. Sneath, J. I^. .Naylor, H. A. Buskirk, S. il. Ogden, Able Rawson, A. B. Hovey, J. H. Good, Levi Davis, John Swigart, J. H. Pittinger, Robert Smith, B. T. Stickuey and J. A. McFarland - comprising a list of notable business men of the time, of which Samuel B. Sneath was perhaps the last sui-vivor. In 1876 Mr. Sneath took an active part in the organization of the Commercial Bank of Tiffin, served for many years as its cashier, and subsequently was president. A few years before his death this was reorganized as a National bank, and Mr. Sneath continued as one of its directors until his death. For some years he had also been interested in banking in New Orleans.

His power and influence as a business man were directed from time to time to the improvement of Tiffin's standing as a commercial and industrial center. There were few if any of the big industries started in the city with which his name was not associated. For several years he was connected with the great Western Pottery Company, with the National ^Machinery Company, and was one of the principal stockholders in the Tiffin Glass Factory which subsequently was removed to Indiana, and in which he continued as a stockholder.

As a railway builder his name is most closely associated with the building of the Tiffin, Fostoria & Eastern Electric Railway between Tiffin and Fostoria. He not only built but had the management of the line the rest of his life. One of his cherished plans was to construct another railway between Tiffin and Clyde. Advancing years proved the greatest obstacle to that accomplishment. A few years before his death he had acquired the Tiffin City Railway, and spent a large amount of money in rehabilitating the system, and in improving the facilities of the service. He was responsible for those extensions which enabled Tiffin to reach by rapid transit the two beautiful parks Meadowbrook and Riverview, which are among the noted beauty spots in that section of Ohio. l\Ir. Sneath spent much money on the improvement of Riverview Park, a property which he had acquired as part of the Tiffin Electric Railway and Power Company's assets.

It is said that Mr. Sneath spent nearly a year of earnest effort in inducing the Baltimore & Ohio Railway Company to construct their line through Tiffin. Without his cooperation at this critical juncture Tiffin might have been left to one side and its futui'e development permanently crippled. It was the large financial contribution made by Mr. Sneath which assured Tiffin the possession of the Webster Manufacturing plant.

During the later years of his life Mr. Sneath spent much of his time away from his residence city of Tiffin. He had a summer home at Port Colburn in Canada and nearly all the winter months were passed at New Orleans. For several years he had suffered from ill health and at the close of December in 1914 he had gone with his wife and daughter and his physician to New Orleans and soon after to Pass Christian, Mississippi, where a house had been taken for their future home. In this southern seaport death came to the aged financier January 7, 1915, when he was past eighty-six.

As a local newspaper said in editorial tribute: "Although much of his time has been necessarily demanded by his business he took a lively interest in the welfare and conduct of the community. He never sought official position, evidently preferring to use his influence as a citizen merely. In the death of Mr. Sneath, Tiffin has lost one of her best and most useful citizens, and a man who has done much toward bringing this city to its present place as one of the most flourishing cities of its size in the state. Mr. Sneath succeeded along with the city and this success he shared liberalty with the community and for this due credit should be accorded him by all those who have enjoyed the benefits of Tiffin 's progressiveness. ' '

During his frequent visits to the South Mr. Sneath recognized the wonderful opportunities for the commercial development in that section and in 1901 began to invest in New- Orleans. He assisted in reorganizing a bank now known as the Interstate Trust and Banking Company, was made a director, and his energy proved the turning point in the bank's prosperity and influence. He was also connected with the ilortgage Securities Company of New Orleans. For many years he had spent several months of each winter in the South.

was interrupted after seven years in 1868 and she was survived by a daughter and son. The daughter is Mrs. C. F. M. Niles, wife of a former prominent banker at Toledo. The son is Ralph D. Sneath, an active business man of Tiffin elsewhere referred to.

In November, 1879, Mr. Sneath married Laura A. Stephenson of Findlay. Mrs. Sneath is one of the notable women of Northwest Ohio. Her parents were William and Mary A. Stephenson, her father a native of linox County, Ohio, and her mother of Pennsylvania. Her mother's people were pioneers in Licking County, Ohio. Her great-gi-andfather, Patrick Anderson, was a member of the staff of General Washington in the Revolutionaiy war, and his son James was captain of a company in the same aiTuy. General Washington was deeply interested in various projects for building canals or other trafficways across the Allegheny ^Mountains into the Middle West, and by appointment from him when President, Patrick Anderson made some preliminary surveys along the Hudson River for a route for a canal, plans which were subsequently carried out in the construction of the Erie Canal.

Mrs. Sneath was educated in the high school at Findlay and in Normal School and was a teacher for a number of years. She taught four .years in the Tiffin High School. Throughout most of her life she has been a devout member of the Presbyterian Church. She has the distinction of having served as the first vice-president of the Woman's Federation of Clubs in America. Woman's, club work was her chief interest for many years. She took part in the organization of the Federation in 1890, and assisted in organizing the first club at Tiffin. Since her husband's death she has given up most of these interests in order to devote her time and ability to various extensive business affairs. She is a director of the Interstate Trust and Banking Company and the Mortgage Security Company of New Orleans, and was formerly on the executive committee of the bank in that city. She is president of the Tiffui, Fostoria and Eastern Railway, and a director in the Sneath Glass Company. ^Irs. Sneath was the mother of two children : Richard W., who died at the age of seven years; and Marian Lee, now the wife of Justice Wilson, a prominent Toledo attorney.

He was born in Crawford County, near New Washington, on the 17th of July, 1846, the son of Martin and Catherine Winter. When a boy he lost his father and because the family was large and means limited, was early thrown upon his own resources and compelled to make his own living. He was not yet fifteen when the war broke out, and yet had the strongest desire to enlist at the beginning of that trouble and sanguinary conflict. He refrained because of the objection of his widowed mother. For several years he worked steadily in a drug store at Bueyrus.f' Earl.v in 1864, unable to resist longer the call of his country, he enlisted in Company D, of the Fifteenth Regiment of the Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served with that organization until the close of the war. He saw active service in several battles and with his regiment participated in a part of the Atlanta campaign. After the surrender of Lee, his regiment with others was sent to Texas on a mission known onlj- to the administration at Washington. He remained in that part of the South for several months after the real close of the great civil conflict. On returning home he was granted an honorable discharge.

After the war Adam R. Winter engaged in business at Benton, in Crawford County, and for a number of years was senior member of the firm of Winter & Temple. They dealt in general merchandise and did an immense business covering a wide territory. For a couple of years the firm was located at Care^^ and from there moved to Bucyrus. ]\Ir. Winter finally retired from merchandising and went upon a farm near Melmore, but in a year or so found himself again impelled into business affairs. Returning to Benton he resumed business at the old stand, for a time being the senior member of the firm of Winter & Longwell. He also served for a number of years as postmaster of Benton. On his final retirement from business he removed to Bucyrus, where he lived until his death on January 2, 1902.

Mr, Winter was active in the Grand Army of the Republic and was also a member of the Masonic Order and the National Union. In early manhood he united with the Methodist Episcopal Church and was a working member of the churches in the different localities where he had his home. He was always greatly interested in civic affairs and never failed to do his duty as a citizen. He was a man of the strictest probity, and his word was always considered as good as his bond in business transactions.

At Benton, Ohio, in 1868, he married Martha Ellen Dunlap, daughter of Daniel and Isabella Dunlap, a pioneer family of that community. After his death she removed to Toledo, and resided in that city with her son until she passed away August 2, 1910. She was a woman of lovable character and most amiable disposition, and her home was her greatest interest. They were the parents of two children. The only son is Nevin Otto Winter, author of this History of Northwest Ohio. The daughter. Lulu, married Charles Curtis Coyle, and is now living in Gallon. They are the parents of two children, Elizabeth Eleanor and Charles Winter.

Nevin Otto Winter. The people of Northwest Ohio naturally have a special interest in the author of this history. His literary reputation is of course well known not only in Ohio, but elsewhere, though it will not be out of place to note some of the things he has written and also the broad outline of fact regarding his personal career. The publishers therefore take this opportunity of presenting a brief sketch of Mr. Winter. The greater part of what follows is paraphrased from an article that recently appeared in a journal, with such additional facts as seem pertinent.

In Toledo, where Mr. Winter has had his home for a number of years, he is known as a lawyer as well as a writer. The principle which caused him to turn from law to letters is briefly expressed as follows: "If you can't find the book you are looking for, write it. ' '

Mr. Winter, a son of the late Adam R. Winter, was born at Benton, where his father was long a business man. He wa.s graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University with the degree of bachelor of arts and received the degree of bachelor of laws from Ohio State University. Since his admission to the bar, he has maintained a law office in Toledo. In 1916 he was granted the honorary degree of doctor of letters (Litt. D.) by the Ohio Wesleyan University.

After leaving Ohio Wesleyan he spent a year and a half traveling in Europe and Northern Africa. A strongly developed intellectual curiosity, and a desire to know and to observe, have been dominant factors throughout his life, and he has never been thoroughly

A few years ago he made an extended trip through Mexico. On his return, having become much interested in the country, he sought some authoritative and comprehensive books dealing with Mexico and her people. This search revealed only the fact that there were no such books of recent publication, so he spent his spare time in writing one and readily found a publisher. The book appeared under the title "Mexico and Iler People Today," in 1907, and it was so well received in the literary world that it was i included in the New York Times' list of "one hundred best books" of the year. The reviewer, a former diplomat resident in Mexico, pronounced it the best book that had appeared on that country for two generations. It has passed through many editions and was thoroughly revised in 1912, and several chapters added. So pleased was a Japanese educational society that permission was requested to translate it into Japanese to be used as a text book on that country. Shortly afterward Mr. Winter wrote "Guatemala and Her People of Today." Because of the appreciation that attended these books, his publishers made a proposition to Mr. Winter for an extensive trip around South America, to be followed by several books. After a thorough investigation of the South American republics, he wrote "Brazil and Her People of Today," "Argentina and Her People of Today," and "Chili and Her People of Today." 'These books and the two preceding are classed by the publishers as the "Latin-American Series." They have established his reputation as an authority upon the Latin-American countries, and he has addres.sed many clubs and organizations on these subjects. They are studies of the country, the people and their customs, with an historical background, rather than books of travel. Mr. Winter has an interesting manner of writing, at once accurate and attractive, and has succeeded in investing all his literary work with a charm of narrative combined with the judgment of the real historian.

At the suggestion of his publishers, a European trip was made in 1912, in which practically every part of European Russia was visited, as a result of which "The Russian Empire of Today and Yesterday," and "Poland of Today and Yesterday" appeared. These books have attracted much attention.

as they were published just before the outbreak of the European war and were the latest authorities upon these countries. Editions have been published of several of the books by the leading English publishing houses in London, and they are found for sale throughout all the English-speaking world. Few public libraries will be found without some of his books on the shelves. His latest work was "Texas, the Marvellous," published in 1916. "Florida; the Land of Enchantment," followed in 1917 in a new series called "See America First." Mr. Winter has written articles for the North American Review, World's Work, World Today, World Outlook, Christian Herald, Technical World, Leslie's Weekly, Travel, National Geographic Magazine, Overland, and various religious and other periodicals.

In November, 1913, Clark University, of Worcester, Massachusetts, summoned a Latin- American Conference, to which were invited men considered leading authorities upon the Latin-American countries. Among those invited were college professors, writers, the diplomats of the Latin-American republics and American diplomats accredited to those countries. Mr. Winter was invited to give the leading paper upon the subject of Mexico. This paper was afterwards published as a monograph by the university. He had entered into a contract with a prominent New York publishing house to visit Germany, in the fall of 1914, in order to prepare a book upon that country and write a series of articles for a magazine, but was prevented by the outbreak of the great war.

Mr. Winter is a trustee of the Toledo Public Library; an official member of St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal Church ; a member of the Phi Kappa Psi and Phi Delta Phi fraternities, the Toledo Commerce Club, the Toledo Museum of Art, the Toledo Automobile Club, the National Geographic Society, the Pan-American Society, of New York, and the American Academy of Political and Social Science, of Philadelphia.