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Source:
History of Northwestern Ohio
A Narrative Account of Its Historical Progress and
Development
from the First European Exploration of the Maumee and
Sandusky Valleys and the Adjacent Shores of
Lake Erie, down to the Present Time.
By Nevin O. Winter, Litt. D.
Assisted by a Board of Advisory and Contributing Editors
Illustrated
Vol. II
The Lewis Publishing Company
Chicago and New York
1917
BIOGRAPHIES
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JOHN NOBLE BAILEY,
who died Jan. 20, 1915, was a lawyer and banker at Spencerville,
and for a great many years wielded an influence and power in
proportion to his giant physical and mental strength. He
was in every sense a big man. He was of Quaker ancestry,
and he possessed that quiet energy and great strength of body
and mind which one likes to associate with those people.
It was only late in life that he took up the study and practice
of law, and for many years he was a carpenter and contractor,
but wherever duty called him he was master of himself and his
circumstances, and a true leader among men.
John Noble Bailey was in his seventy-sixth year
when death came to him. He was born on a farm in Auglaize
County, Ohio, Sept. 3, 1839, a son of Christopher and Nancy
(Noble) Bailey. The Bailey ancestors came to
Pennsylvania under the leadership of William Penn, and
for 100 years they had their home in Pennsylvania. His
grandfather was married in Virginia, and Christopher Bailey
was born in that state. Thomas Noble moved to
Highland County, Ohio, in 1808, and thus the Bailey family
ha been identified with the Buckeye state for more than a
century. John N. Bailey was the oldest of five
children, and was survived by one brother only, Green,
whose home is in Auglaize County.
With a farm training, with a practical common school
education, John N. Bailey early marked out for himself a
career of strenuous endeavor. He settled at Spencerville
very early in the growth of that community, and his career
helped to make the community what it is. For many years he
followed bridge contracting and carpentry, and among other
products of his skill he constructed the Christian and Catholic
churches of Spencerville, the Christie Chapel and the Amanda
Baptist Church near Conant. He became paymaster of the
Narrow Gauge Railroad when it was completed to Spencerville.
At the age of forty Mr. Bailey decided to become
a lawyer, applied himself with great industry and concentration
to his studies at the Cincinnati Law College, was admitted to
the bar and from that time until his death practiced at
Spencerville, for more than thirty-five years. He was made
the first president of the Farmers Bank of Spencerville, and he
was head of that institution until his death. What he
meant to the community is partly disclosed in a quotation from a
local paper: "His honesty, untiring efforts and the
wonderful amount of work that he was capable of doing made him
an ideal force in the banking world. To this master man
with his master mind Spencerville owes a debt that we can never
repay. What he has accomplished in the way of good cannot
be fathomed; and only time itself will reveal what he has given
to the world; and better the world is that this man lived.
For years Mr. Bailey was a member and a pillar or the
Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church at Spencerville, and was one
of the oldest Masons in the local order. His great
strength of character made him a leader, but kindness was his
ruling power."
On Feb. 11, 1861, Mr. Bailey married Minerva
Baber. Of the nine children of their union five
survived their father: Mrs. O. P. Kephart, Mrs. Emma J.
Brittan, Charles F. Bailey, Mrs. B. H. Colt and Arthur N.
Bailey. Themother of these children died Feb. 20,
1877. On Nov. 20, 1879, Mr. Bailey married
Hannah Snorf Caldwell, who died Jan. 16, 1914, just about a
year before the death of her husband.
Source: History of Northwest Ohio
Vol. II - Published by The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago &
New York - 1917 - Page 731 |
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GEORGE B. BENNETT
was born near Waynesfield in Auglaize County, has spent
practically all his life there, and has developed a large and
successful business in the town as a carriage maker, dealer in
carriages, and in more recent years has established a
first-class garage. Besides furnishing a varied line of
equipment and supplies and expert repair service, Mr.
Bennett has the agency for the Chevrolet and Saxon
automobiles.
He was born near Waynesfield Nov. 23, 1860, a son of
George B. and Mary (Basil) Bennett. Though both his
parents were natives of Pennsylvania, the two respective
families were pioneer settles in Auglaize County.
Grandfather Amos Bennett settled in the woods in the
early days and acquired his land direct from the Government.
He spent the rest of his life in the county.
Grandfather Basil came also as a pioneer and took up land
from the Government. George B. and Mary Bennett
were married at Waynesfield, and became the parents of fourteen
children, nine of whom are still living, George B., Jr.,
having been the tenth in order of birth. The parents were
active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and the father
was a republican who served for a number of years as justice of
the peace. Though he was much handicapped he gained
success in life and was able to provide well for his large
family. For many years he was a school teacher, but the
greater part of his life he was more or less an invalid.
He taught, was also employed at writing, and an interest in a
mill gave him his chief income. Two of his sons fought as
soldiers in the Civil war. One of them, John R., is
still living at Waynesfield, while H. S. Bennett died
young.
Mr. George B. Bennett received his education in
the public schools of Waynesfield, and as a boy he began
learning the trade of carriage maker. While learning he
was paid wages of 25 cents a day, and after three years of
apprenticeship he engaged in business as a journeyman and
subsequently established a shop of his own. In 1911 he
entered the automobile business.
In 1883 Mr. Bennett married Laura Kelley,
who was born in Illinois. They have no children.
Mrs. Bennett is a member of the Methodist Protestant Church.
He is a charter member of Lodge No. 685 of the Knights of
Pythias at Uniopolis. A republican in politics, he was
elected mayor of Waynesfield in 1910 and has served in that
office to the present time.
Source: History of Northwest Ohio
Vol. II - Published by The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago &
New York - 1917 - Page 809 |
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JOHN R. BENNETT.
Aside from his service as a boy soldier during the Civil war,
John R. Bennett's life has been spent almost entirely within
the limits of Auglaize County. While he is now living
practically retired from business affairs at Waynesfield, his
time and energies have been usefully devoted to business and
civic affairs, and he is one of the best known men in that
section of the county.
His birth occurred in Auglaize County May 11, 1845, a
son of George B. and Mary A. (Basil) Bennett. Both
the Basil and Bennett families were among the pioneers of
Auglaize County. Grandfather Amos S. Bennett came
from his native state of Pennsylvania to Auglaize County in
1836, secured land from the Government, cleared it up,
subsequently went into the hotel business at St. John, Ohio, and
that was his last important occupation. The maternal
grandfather, Nelson R. Basil, a native of New England,
came to Auglaize County in 1835. Beginning with Government
land he cleared it up and developed a fine farm, and was one of
the substantial citizens of his day. George B. Bennett
was born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, in 1822, while his wife
was a native of Knox County, Ohio. They were married in
Auglaize County. George B. Bennett was never
a strong man physically, and he had to combat his physical
infirmities almost constantly and did so remarkably well.
For a number of years he worked as a farm hand, then bought a
small farm, and about 1850 opened a stock of groceries in the
country two miles west of Waynesfield. In 1856 he went out
to the new State of Iowa, where he taught school for a couple of
years, returning to Auglaize County in 1858. In 1860 he
and two brothers engaged in the sawmill business at Waynesfield,
and they continued their partnership until 1870, when he sold
his interests to his brothers. After he was one of
Waynesfield's merchants until 1895, when failing health
compelled him to retire. After that he did some clerical
work and he also served as justice of the peace. He was a
man of excellent education, and stood very high in the
community. He was a republican and his wife was a member
of the Methodist Protestant Church. They had a large
family of fourteen children, ten of whom are still living.
The oldest of the children died in 1880. Mr. John R.
Bennett is now the oldest of those living. Record of
the others is as follows. Amos S., a carpenter at
Lima, Ohio; Enos B., who lives at Toledo and is inside
finisher; Dantha, widow of William doty and living
at Waynesfield; Fernando D., of Waynesfield; Mary C.,
wife of William Perry, a jeweler and farmer at New
Hampshire, Ohio; George B., who is mayor of Waynesfield
and proprietor of a garage; Stephen A., a druggist at
Waynesfield; Calista M., wife of W. E. Bush, a
painter at Waynesfield; and W. T. S. Bennett, a carpenter
and contractor at Waynesfield. Thus nearly all the
children still reside about the old home town, and as a family
they have been one of the most useful and respected in this
country.
John R. Bennett as a boy attended the district
schools and the public schools at Waynesfield. For several
years he was employed in his father's mill, but when nineteen
years of age, in 1864, he volunteered his services in the Union
army, entering Company A of the One Hundred and Eightieth Ohio
Regiment. He was in service for twelve months, and took
part in some of the concluding campaigns and was a participant
in one battle, at Kingston, North Carolina. He was a
corporal when discharged. After the war he returned to his
work in the mill, followed the carpenter's trade a year, then
leased the old mill, and in 1873 bought the property which he
continued to run with success until 1914, when the supply of
local timber having been practically exhausted, it was deemed
best to discontinue its operations. Under his management
the enterprise was successful, and gave him the means to provide
for his home and his family.
In 1873 Mr. Bennett married Rebecca J.
Bennett, a daughter of John G. Bennett, who was also
an early settler in Auglaize County, for many years was a
merchant and farmer, lived for a time in Urbana, but returning
to Waynesfield, conducted a hotel in that village until his
death. Mr. and Mrs. Bennett had two children:
Maude M. and Ada M. Ada who was one of the
first graduates of the Waynesfield High School, married for her
first husband L. F. Hoon, who died in 1904, and she is
now the wife of R. Y. Skinner, a clothing merchant of the
Methodist Protestant Church. Mr. Bennett is a Mason
and he and his wife and children belong to the Order of Eastern
Star, havinb become charter members in that organization when it
was established in 1907. Mr. Bennett was the
first worthy matron, and Mrs. Skinner has been secretary
of chapter since it was organized. Mr. Bennett has
filled chairs both in the lodge and the Eastern Star. He
was also one of the original members of the Grand Army Post at
Waynesfield and was its first commander. Politically he is
a republican, has served as village trustee, was for six years
mayor of Waynesfield, and for twenty-seven years a member of the
board of education. For eight years he was on the board of
supervisors of election in Auglaize County. While now
practically retired from business, Mr. Bennett has
a farm of fifty-seven acres near Waynesfield, and he also owns
considerable town property, and this gives him employment for
his declining years.
Source: History of Northwest Ohio Vol. II -
Published by The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago & New York -
1917 - Page 814 |
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CHARLES C. BERLIN, M.
D. The name Berlin has had an
honorable and useful association with the medical profession in
Auglaize County and in the community of Wapakoneta for fully
half a century. Before the late Doctor Cicero gave
up his duties as an active practitioner his son, Charles C.
Berlin, had begun practice there, and thus the community
have never been without the services of one of these able
physicians.
Born in Auglaize County Feb. 13, 1872, Dr. C. C.
Berlin is a son of Doctor Cicero and Elizabeth (Hite)
Berlin. His father was born in Pennsylvania Aug. 6,
1827, and in 1830 when three years of age was brought to
Columbiana County, Ohio, by his parents. He died Oct. 11,
1906. His wife was born in Delaware County, Ohio, Dec. 21,
1829, and died Dec. 24, 1914. They were married in
Delaware County Oct. 17, 1855.
Dr. Cicero Berlin attended an academy as part of
his early education, took up the study of medicine under
Doctors Wise and Geiger, at Dayton, Ohio, and
subsequently attended the Western Reserve College at Cleveland
and the Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati. He began
practice at Brookville, near Dayton, but in 1862 moved to
Wapakoneta, where he was steadily engaged in his practice until
his death. He also played an important part in local
affairs, serving as a member of the school board fifteen years
and part of the time as president. He was a democrat and a
Royal Arch Mason and he and his wife were members of the
Methodist Episcopal Church. Of his four children two are
now living, the daughter being Mrs. R. J. Boyd of Kansas
City, Missouri. Dr. Charles C. Berlin graduated
from the Wapakoneta High School in 1889, and then entered the
Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, where he graduated in the
scientific course in 1895. In 1901 his alma mater
conferred upon him the degree Master of Arts. His early
studies were directed with a view of entering the medical
profession, and after leaving Ohio Wesleyan he entered the
University of Cincinnati, where he was graduated in 1898.
The following year he spent as interne in Christ's Hospital in
Cincinnati, and in October, 1899, began practice as a physician
and surgeon at Wapakoneta. Doctor Berlin is a
member of the Auglaize County and Ohio State Medical societies
and the American Medical Association.
In 1903 he married Miss Maude Peterson of
Xenia, Ohio. They have two children: Florence E. and
Frederick P., both in school. Doctor and Mrs.
Berlin are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Fraternally he is identified with the Masons, the Knights of
Pythias, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Junior Order of
United American Mechanics. Politically he is an
independent democrat. For several years she has held a
place on the local school board, was its president two years and
is now clerk of the board.
Source: History of Northwest Ohio
Vol. II - Published by The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago &
New York - 1917 - Page 800 |
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WILLIAM BITLER.
The Bitler family has been one of many
prominent associations with the Auglaize County since pioneer
times. The different members of the family have been
pioneer agriculturists and successful farmers, have been
business men, public officials, and in many ways the community
has been benefited by their presence and their influence.
William Bitler, who is himself a native of Auglaize
County and represents the third generation of the family, has
spent upwards of forty years in the grain and elevator business
at Wapakoneta and is one of the oldest business men in that
city.
He was born on a farm six miles east of Wapakoneta Apr.
7, 1858, a son of Arthur and Margaret (Baughman) Bitler.
His grandfather, William Bitler a native of Bucks County,
Pennsylvania, came from Pennsylvania in the early days, first
locating in Columbus, Ohio, and in 1833 removing to Auglaize
County, which was then almost entirely a wilderness. He
took up land direct from the Government and made his home on his
claim until his death. For over twenty-five years he was a
mail carrier. Mr. Bitler's maternal grandfather,
Jesse Baughman was also a native of Pennsylvania, and was an
early comer to Auglaize County, where he spent the rest of his
life.
Arthur Bitler was born in Columbus, Ohio, in
1832 and died in December, 1914. He was married in
Auglaize County to Margaret Baughman who was born in this
county in 1835 and died in 1863. Arthur Bitler was
an infant when brought to Auglaize County, lived on a farm until
1865, and in that year was elected county treasurer, serving two
terms. On retiring from office he entered the elevator
business, which he continued until 1881, and afterwards was
engaged in contract work until he retired in 1906. He was
a very well known and highly respected citizen of Auglaize
County. Besides his service as county treasurer he was a
member of the school board, the town council, and at two
different times was land appraiser. He did much for the
upbuilding and improvement of Wapakoneta. In politics he
followed the for
tunes of the democratic party until 1896, and after that voted
with the republicans. He was charter member of the Royal
Arcanum, was affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd
Fellows, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
By his first marriage he had four children, the two now living
being William Bitler and Delilah. The
latter is the wife of A. W. Klipple, a retired grocer.
For his second wife Arthur Bitler married Elizabeth Davis,
and there are four children of their six still living.
Ira is a gardener in Florida. Bertha is the
wife of Jule Wehrner, who is connected with a
wholesale hardware store at St. Joseph, Missouri. Harry
is employed by the Buckeye Pipe Line Company at Lima.
Catherine is the wife of Mr. Burk, a banker at
Champaign, Illinois.
William Bitler attended the public
schools of Auglaize County, graduating from the Wapakoneta High
School in 1875. He soon afterward engaged in the grain
business and his success is due to the fact that he has
concentrated his efforts along one particular line. He is
now a member of the firm of The Hauss & Bitler
Company. They not only conduct a large grain business and
elevator at Wapakoneta but also have extensive sales rooms for
the handling of automobiles and agricultural implements.
Mr. Bitler began his business career with little
or no capital, and has found success by hard work and
persistently keeping his mind and energies directed along one
channel.
In 1877 he married Miss Minnie L. Mott.
She is a native of Auglaize County, daughter of Oscar
Mott, who is a cooper by trade. Mr. and Mrs.
Bitler have twelve children, but only five are now
living. Morris is a railroad man living at St.
Louis, Missouri. George is foreman of a munition
factory at Dayton, Ohio. Milo is associated in
business with his father. Susie is the wife of
A. J. Miller, a rural mail carrier out of Wapakoneta.
Arthur is employed by the Delco Light Company at Dayton.
Mrs. Bitler is an active member and
worker in the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr.
Bitler is affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective
Order of Elks and in politics
is a republican. For three years he served as a member of
the Wapakoneta School Board.
Source: History of Northwest Ohio Vol. II -
Published by The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago & New York -
1917 - Page 728 |
NOTES:
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