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BIOGRAPHIES
Source:
History of Allen County, Ohio
And Representative Citizens
Edited and Compiled by
Charles C. Miller, Ph. D.
Assisted by
Dr. Samuel A. Baxter
Lima, Ohio
Published by Richmond & Arnold
George Richmond; G. R. Arnold
Chicago, Ill
1906
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WILLIAM NAPIER,
one of the old pioneers of Shawnee township, after a long, busy
and useful life, passed away on his large farm in section 14, on
Mar. 15, 1900.
Prior to his marriage William Napier had
bought property at Pulaski, Pennsylvania, and was married in
that State while his bride was temporarily residing there.
She was Sarah Huff, born in Hubbard township,
Trumbull County, Ohio, Apr. 7, 1818, and a daughter of Adam
and Anna (Hall) Huff, the former of whom was born in
Virginia and the latter, in New Jersey. The children born
to William Napier and wife were: Adelia,
who died aged two years; Amanda, who died aged six years;
Charles, who died aged two years; Hanlon, who died
at Toledo, in 1899, who had been a member of the 54th Regiment,
Ohio Vol. Inf., in the Civil War; Harriet B., wife of
Silas Reed, of Shawnee township; Elizabeth
Adelia, wife of Salem Reed, of Shawnee
township; Hillary C., a prominent citizen of Lima and a
member of the City Council, who married Emma Bird;
Susan, who married Freeman Reed, of Lima;
Sarah, who married William A. Smith; and Mary,
who married John Striff.
On Oct. 7, 1843, Mr. Napier started with
his family from Trumbull County to make a home in Allen County,
which was then almost a wilderness. The great wagon, with
its house hold goods and the family, lumbered along through the
unbroken forests, not a road having yet been cut, crossed
dangerous streams and had numerous adventures; but after a
journey of two weeks Mr. Napier reached Shawnee
township and settled first on a farm south of the one now
occupied by his family. Later he moved to the farm in
section 14 on which he lived for 46 years. He graded and
constructed the road in front of his home, and in the year
following the Civil War erected the present comfortable brick
house in which Mrs. Napier still resides.
Although he had not been reared to agricultural work, being a
shoemaker and tanner, he cleared and put under cultivation two
farms, developing them from the forest. At one time he
owned 200 acres of land, but subsequently sold 80 acres to his
son-in law, Salem Reed.
For many years Mr. Napier was identified
with the Republican party; but in later life, realizing the
crime and curse of intemperance, he cast his influence in favor
of the Prohibition party. He was a man of principle and
always had the courage of his convictions. He was a worthy
and valued member of the Disciples’ Church at one time; but
later united with the Methodist Episcopal Church. To all
denominations he was liberal as became a Christian man, and he
was a generous contributor to the erection of Darling Church,
the first Methodist Episcopal edifice in his locality.
Until infirmities prevented, he was active in church and
Sunday-school and no more thorough teacher of the Holy
Scriptures could be found. He had studied them carefully,
and was frequently called upon to make clear some obscure
subject.
During the entire period of his active life Mr.
Napier took an interest in developing the township,
assisting in framing good laws and in forwarding movements for
the building of churches and school-houses and the construction
of good roads. His venerable wife survives him; and in
spite of her burden of 88 years retains her active mental
faculties and enjoys the visits of her neighbors and devoted
children.
Source: History of Allen County, Ohio, Publ.
by Richmond & Arnold, Chicago, IL - 1906 - Page 558 |
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HARRY NEELEY,
oil operator and oil contractor, at Lima, has been a resident of
this city for the past 15 years. He was born in this
county in 1870, and is a son of H. C. Neeley.
The father of Mr. Neeley was
born in Allen County, Ohio, in 1843, and is a son of William
Neeley one of the early pioneers of the county. H.
C. Neeley was a farmer and also an oil contractor during his
active years, but is now living in retirement at Ottawa.
Harry Neeley was reared on his father's farm and
obtained his education in the local schools. Almost all of
his business life has been devoted to oil interests. In
1895 he commenced to contract at Lima and through the Ohio oil
field, and this has been his main occupation ever since.
For the past seven years he has been associated with the Ohio
Oil Company. He owns three separate sets of drilling tools
and, with the exception of a few months, these have been in
constant use ever since he has been engaged in the business.
On Oct. 23, 1896, Mr. Neeley was married to
Della B. Johns, who is a daughter of T. J. Johns, of
Lima. They have one son, Robert L.
Mr. Neeley is one of Lima's first-class citizens,
although he devotes very little time to politics. For some
years he has led a very busy life, and is probably as well
posted on the different oil fields, their present value and
future promise, as any man in this section. He belongs to
Allen Lodge, No. 223, I. O. O. F., at Lima.
Source: History of Allen County, Ohio, Publ.
by Richmond & Arnold, Chicago, IL - 1906 - Page 796 |
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SCOTT NEELY, of
Allentown, is one of the best known residents of German
Township. He was born Aug. 3, 1861, in German township,
Allen County, Ohio, and is still a resident of the township, his
home farm containing 10 acres in section 24, while he is also
the owner of a farm of 120 acres in section 23, besides property
in the village of Allentown. Mr. Neely's parents
were James and Mary Catherine (Barrick) Neely, both of
whom were pioneers of Allen County. His grandfather,
Thomas Neely, was born in Hanover, Germany and was a boy in
years when his parents became residents of Allen County.
Scott Neely's maternal grandparents were William and
Mary Barrick, of German township.
James Neely, our subject's father, was a
volunteer in the Civil War, being in the service four years and
eight months. He reared a family of seven children, all of
whom are living, namely: Frank, William,
Charles, Scott, Alice, wife of W. F.
Rathell; Margaret, wife of Frank Kruse; and
Ida May, who was first married to Col. E. Hains and
after his death to J. L. Fantz.
Scott Neely is a man of resources, having
been engaged in a number of enterprises in Allen County, and it
would be difficult to say in which he has met with most success.
He has bought and sold horses; he has been engaged in crying
sales and is one of the best auctioneers in this vicinity; for
more than 20 years he was engaged in hauling straw for the
American Straw Board Company, of Lima, and when the plant of
that company was destroyed by fire, it was Mr. Neely who
was selected out of a crowd of 70 men to act as foreman at a
good salary to oversee the laborers in their work of tearing
down the ruins. Since then he has bought a hay-baler and
buys up hay and straw which he bales and ships to all parts of
the country. He also sells wood, which is cut and hauled
from his own land. His farm is known as the old T. T.
Mitchell farm. While Mr. Neely operates the
farm, he has leased the oil privileges to Thomas Mitchell,
of Lima.
Mr. Neely was first married Dec. 31, 1883, to
Sarah Bruner, daughter of Martin and Sarah Bruner,
of Auglaize County. She died Oct. 30, 1886, leaving two
children, Clem, who was born Aug. 17, 1884, and lives at
home; and Neva Etta, born Sept. 16, 1887, who
married A. T. Whyman in June, 1903, lives in Wapakoneta,
Ohio, and has two children - Opal Beatrice and
Ola May. On Jan. 5, 1897, Mr. Neely
was married to Lydia Cary, daughter of Henry and
Rebecca Cary. Her father was born in Hanover, Germany,
and came to America when six years old, locating in Allen
County, Ohio. The children of the second marriage were as
follows: Cary May, born Sept. 4, 1897; Cecil
Marie, born Feb. 27, 1899; Lester Lloyd,
born Feb. 27, 1901; Russell Earl, born Apr. 20,
1903; and Oliver. born Apr. 17, 1905. Mr.
Neely is a Democrat. At present he is serving on the
School Board. He is a trustee of the Methodist Episcopal
Church of Allen town and is treasurer of the Epworth League and
of the Sunday-school. He was formerly president of the
Epworth League and has been an efficient teacher in the
Sunday-school for the past 10 years. Fraternally he is a
member of Solar Lodge, No. 783, I. O. O. F., of Lima.
Source: History of Allen County, Ohio, Publ.
by Richmond & Arnold, Chicago, IL - 1906 - Page 784 |
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PETER M. NEUENSCHWANDER,
deceased, who for over 30 years was a resident of Richland
township, mainly engaged in agricultural pursuits was born in
Wayne County, Ohio, June 14, 1842, and was one of a family of 13
children born to John and Magdalena (Loyman) Neuenschwander,
the former a native of Switzerland and the latter of Wayne
County, Ohio.
At the age of about seven years Peter M.
Neuenschwander accompanied his parents to Iowa where they
lived until he was 14. Returning to Ohio, they moved to
the present homestead of our subject's widow, where he continued
to live until 1870, when he went to Bluffton and for 12 years
was engaged as a brick and stone mason. He then returned
to the farm, but continued to work at his trade in addition to
farming up to the time of his death. The farm originally
consisted of 160 acres of which were afterwards sold and an
adjoining 50 purchased. In addition to this, he also owned
40 acres about half a mile from his home farm. He was an
energetic, industrious man and spent few idle hours. His
spare time during the winter was spent in hewing timber to be
used in the construction of his barns and other buildings.
His first home was a log cabin; but he built for his family four
good homes at different times during his life, one being a fine
brick residence in Bluffton and one the substantial brick house
which is now the residence of his widow.
Mary Katherine Zerbach was born in Hessen,
Darmstadt, Germany, Feb. 14, 1852, and is a daughter of John
and Barbara (Thomasbarger) Zerbach, with whom she came to
the United States when a girl of 16. Her father is now in
his 8th year, hale and hearty, and makes his home with his
daughter, Mrs. Neuenschwander. The mother passed
away about three years ago. In May, 1870, Miss Zerbach
and Mr. Neuenschwander were united in marriage and a family
of 13 children were born to them, namely: Noah a resident
of Bluffton; William, a resident of Richland township;
Louis also of Richland township; Dora, wife of
Albert Logbrake, of Findlay, Ohio; Alma, wife of
David Steinbrenner, of Bluffton; Henry; Mary; Sarah;
Walter, who is a student in the Ohio Northern University at
Ada; Clara; Gertrude; Bessie and one who died in
infancy. Mr. Neuenschwander was a Democrat and held
various school offices, always using his influence for the
upbuilding and improvement of the schools. He was a member
of the German Reformed Church, and a man whose sterling worth
caused him to be universally respected. His death, which
occurred Jan. 1, 1902, was regarded as a personal loss by all
who knew him. His voice is no longer heard, but the
influence of his noble life will continue to be felt long after
the present generation has passed away.
Source: History of Allen County, Ohio, Publ.
by Richmond & Arnold, Chicago, IL - 1906 - Page 519 |
NOTES:
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