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BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX
 Source:
History of Crawford County, Ohio
Publ. Chicago: Baskin & Battey, Historical Publishers
186 Dearborn Street
1881
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Bucyrus Twp. -
HIRAM FENNER, P. O. Bucyrus; is the son of Abraham and
Eliza (Pickering) Fenner; was born in Pike Co., Penn., July
13, 1821; he lived on a farm until his 19th year, acquiring in
the meantime but little education, one winter attending school
but nine days. He left the farm at the age of 19, and went
to learn the merchant-tailoring trade, serving his
apprenticeship in Easton, Penn., and remaining until he was 24.
In April, 1845, he came to Bucyrus, and at once engaged in
tailoring, following that business for some ten years, and then
commenced merchant-tailoring, beginning with a small stock; he
soon took in Moses Simon as partner for ten years,
when Mr. Fenner retired, and at once started anew
and continued for seven years, retiring in 1865, having been
blessed with good success, and all attained by his own efforts.
He was married, Apr. 21, 1846, to Elizabeth Myers,
daughter of Gen. Samuel Myers; they have
four children — Mary A. Lewis, Samuel L., who is a
merchant at Terre Haute, Ind.; Millie, the wife of
Jacob Geiger, of Bucyrus, and Hiram W., a physician
at Terre Haute. Mr. Fenner has been, and is
at present, Secretary of the Cemetery Association, and has held
the office for fifteen years. He was one of the twenty-six
persons who organized the association, and he has been a Trustee
since 1858. He is a member of the Lutheran Church, and is
a man of uprightness and integrity.
Source: History of Crawford County, Ohio,
Publ. Chicago: Baskin & Battey, Historical Publishers, 186
Dearborn Street. - 1881 - Page 734 |
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Bucyrus Twp. -
HON. EBENEZER B. FINLEY, lawyer, Bucyrus;
is a native of the State of Ohio, having been born at Orrville,
in Wayne Co., July 31, 1833; his earlier years, until he had
attained the age of 20, were passed on a farm, and his education
was such as the common school of the neighborhood afforded; at
that age he left his home and went to Kansas; Mr. Finley
subsequently left Kansas, and for awhile lived in Illinois; for
two years he taught school in Fulton Co., but, in 1858, with the
desire of seeing more of the great regions of the West, he went
to the Rocky Mountains, then far wilder and less frequented than
now; passing the years 1858 and 1859 there, he returned to his
native State, establishing himself permanently at Bucyrus, where
he entered upon the study of law; he was still engaged upon his
studies when the war of the rebellion broke out; he at once
recruited a company, which formed a part of the 64th O. V. I.,
and was elected as First Lieutenant; in 1862, he resigned his
commission, and, being admitted to the bar, commenced the
practice of his profession at Bucyrus, which he has continued to
the present time. In 1875, Mr. Finley was
nominated for the Forty-fifth Congress by the Democrats, and
elected by over 5,000 majority; he was re-elected to the
Forty-Sixth Congress, over his competitor, Charles
Foster, y upward of 2,000 majority. Mr.
Finley is recognized as an indefatigable worker in Congress,
and gained considerable distinction through his able speeches
delivered in the House of Representatives. He had an
attentive auditory whenever he spoke, and was marked for his
readiness and earnestness in debate, and for the clear and
forcible manner in which he presented his facts and deductions.
Mr. Finley is now Chairman of the Committee on
Public Expenditure, and a member of the Census Committee.
He retires from Congress with the expiration of the present
House. He was married on Feb. 18, 1858, to Miss Emeline
C. Codding, of Copley, Summit Co., Ohio, a daughter of
Robert Codding, now of Marion, Ohio; he has but one child, a
son, Harry M., a midshipman in the navy, having graduated
at Annapolis, Md., on June 10, 1880.
Source: History of Crawford County, Ohio,
Publ. Chicago: Baskin & Battey, Historical Publishers, 186
Dearborn Street. - 1881 - Page 734 |
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Bucyrus Twp. -
CHRISTIAN W. FISHER,
Postmaster, Bucyrus, is a son of David and Elizabeth (Stayman)
Fisher, and was born in Franklin Co., Penn., Aug. 23, 1825.
His father was a farmer, and young Christian lived the
first three years of his life on the farm where he was born.
His parents removed to Richland Co., Ohio, in 1828, and settled
on a farm, where their son was reared, to work against the
privations of a new and wild country, and to struggle against
the disadvantages of pioneer life. But little time could
be spread for schooling in those days, and the school houses
were of the primitive character described in other portions of
this work. The only text books in Mr. Fisher's
early school days were the spelling book, and that revered
volume, the Bible, but Mr. Fisher, despite the barriers
which arose before him in the acquirement of an education, was a
hard student, and, at the age of 20, was enabled to teach
school. Soon after his debut as a pedagogue, he entered
the Ashland Academy, then in charge of Loring Andrews.
For a period of several years he attended and taught school, and
proved himself a successful instructor. In June, 1848, he
removed to Bucyrus, and upon his arrival was tendered and
accepted a clerkship in the dry goods store of A. Failor,
where he continued five years. On the first day of the
year 1856, he commenced business as a partner in the firm of
Root, Fisher & Hall, which enterprise was successful.
The business was sold out at the end of two years, and our
subject accepted a clerical position under the firm of Hall &
Juillard, remaining one year, when he purchased a
half-interest, and the business continued under the firm name of
Juillard & Fisher, and this partnership lasted until 1865.
In January, 1866, Mr. Fisher commenced a new enterprise,
opening a general store three doors north of the National Bank,
under the firm name of Fisher & Lauck. This was
continued until February, 1877, when he retired. Feb. 1,
1879, he received the appointment as Postmaster from
President Hayes, an office the duties of which he has ably
discharged, and making himself popular among the citizens of
Bucyrus. He has been a prominent and useful member of
society, having served on the School Board for several years.
He is a charter member of Howard Lodge, Knights of Honor, No.
109, and was its first presiding officer; also its delegate to
the second session of the Grand Lodge of Ohio, and was elected
Chaplain of that body. At the third elected Chaplain of
that body. At the third session he was elected Grand
Dictator, and in 1878 he retired, becoming Past Grand of Ohio.
He was elected delegate to the Supreme Lodge for two years,
Nashville in 1878, and Boston 1879. Mr. Fisher is a
member of the St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church. He
was married in May, 1852, to Miss Henrietta Lauck, of
Bucyrus, and of this marriage there are seven children -
Edgar L., Charles J., George P., Mary L., Frank M., Blanche
and Grace.
Source: History of Crawford County, Ohio,
Publ. Chicago: Baskin & Battey, Historical Publishers, 186
Dearborn Street. - 1881 - Page 735 |
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Bucyrus Twp. -
DAVID E. FISHER, merchant, Bucyrus; was
born in Mansfield, Ohio, Mar. 24, 1846, where the first fourteen
yeas of his life were spent in attending the schools of that
place. In the fall of 1860, he came to Bucyrus to live
with an uncle, Mr. C. W. Fisher, assisting him on his
farm and attending school one year. In July, 1862, he
enlisted in the 131st O. V. I., from which after five months'
service, he was honorably discharged. He then began
clerking in his uncle's store, filling a position there until
the 136th O. N. G. marched to the defense of the National
Capital. At the expiration of the term of his enlistment,
he was again discharged from the service, and resumed his duties
in the store with his uncle, C. W. Fisher, until 1869, t
which time the firm was changed to Fisher & Lauck; he,
however, remaining with that firm until 1873, when he entered
into a partnership with his brother, J. J. Fisher.
He was married Nov. 3, 1869, to Miss Maggie Hoover, by
whom he has three children - Bessie M., Jay C. and
infant son. He is a member of St. Paul's Lutheran
Church and Sunday school, holding, in the last-named
organization, a responsible position.
Source: History of Crawford County, Ohio, Publ.
Chicago: Baskin & Battey, Historical Publishers, 186 Dearborn
Street. - 1881 - Page 736 |
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Bucyrus Twp. -
GEORGE W. FISHER, merchant, Bucyrus; is
the son of E. B. and Lydia (Webster) Fisher, and was born
July 23, 1856, in Middletown, Butler Co., Ohio; his early youth
was spent in this village, and, when he was about 7 years of age
his parents removed to Franklin, Ohio, where he received his
education; at the age of 16, he commenced to learn tailoring
with his father, who is a skillful cutter and tailor; in 1873,
the family removed to Tiffin, Ohio, and the subject of our
sketch became, at the age of 18 years, cutter for G. H.
Corthell & Co., at that time doing the best business in
Tiffin in their line; he continued here until 1876, when he
worked in Marion for six months; he formed a partnership with
Morrison on Jan. 8, 1879. He was married to Hattie
E. Cook, of Tiffin, Ohio, by whom he has one son - Harry
W., born Feb. 19, 1880. Mr. Fisher is a young
and energetic business man, and the business of his firm is
prospering finely; as a cutter, he has few equals and no
superiors in Bucyrus.
Source: History of Crawford County, Ohio, Publ.
Chicago: Baskin & Battey, Historical Publishers, 186 Dearborn
Street. - 1881 - Page 737 |
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Bucyrus Twp. -
H. M. FISHER, carpenter and builder,
Bucyrus; is a son of David and Elizabeth (Stayman) Fisher,
and was born in Franklin Co., Penn., Dec. 12, 1818. While
a boy, he lived on a farm and received a good common-school
education. His father was born near Greencastle, Penn., in
1787; was a farmer and also a miller, becoming a merchant later
in life; he was possessed of a liberal education, and was
married in Pennsylvania in 1809, and came to Ohio in 1828, and
lived here until his death. The subject of our sketch came
with his parents here, and assisted his father on the farm, near
Mansfield, and remained until the death of the latter. He
learned the carpenter trade with his brother in Mansfield, about
1842. In 1854, he came to Crawford Co., and worked in an
around Bucyrus, following his trade, in company with his
brother, David Fisher, until 1865. In 1867 and
1868, he also worked in Marion Co. He has been engaged in
carpentering and bridge-building ever since 1854, in this and
adjoining counties. He was married, Oct. 29, 1850, to
Miss Solena Culver, of Richland Co., Ohio; she died Jan. 13,
1852. Sept. 20, 1855, he was again married, to Miss
Sarah A. Dickson, of Vernon Township, this county; there is
one child of this family - N. C. Fisher, Civil Engineer
for the Pennsylvania Railroad, stationed at Chicago. Of
his father's family, there are the following children living,
besides himself - Eliza, wife of Henry Cook, of
Constantine, Mich.; C. W. Fisher, Louisa, widow of
Joseph Davis, of Evansville, Ind., and Susannah.
Mr. Fisher has been a Republican since the organization of
the party, and is one of the respected and influential citizens
of Bucyrus.
Source: History of Crawford County, Ohio, Publ.
Chicago: Baskin & Battey, Historical Publishers, 186 Dearborn
Street. - 1881 - Page 735 |
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Bucyrus Twp. -
J. J. FISHER, merchant, Bucyrus; is a son
of David and Martha (Cook) Fisher, and was born in
Mansfield, Ohio, Nov. 22, 1837. He attended school in that
place until 18 years of age, at which time he left school and
came to Bucyrus, where he was clerk in a dry goods store for
nine years. In 1865, he entered into a partnership with
J. A. Schaber, at Sulphur Springs, Ohio, and they there
started a general store. This enterprise they sold out,
however, and he commenced business again, in company with
Juillard and Lewis in the grocery business at Bucyrus.
This partnership lasted until 1869, doing a very successful
business. Mr. Fisher's health failing, he retired
and spent some time on a farm. In March, 1873, he and
D. E. Fisher entered into business together under the firm
name of J. J. Fisher & Bro. Since then they have
conducted the business together. In 1871, they erected the
Fisher Block, a three-story brick structure, 158 feet
deep and 23 wide. The first story is occupied with dry
goods and groceries, the basement with carpets and queensware.
They are doing an immense business, and are enterprising and
successful in business. The subject of our sketch was
married Sept. 17, 1865, to Miss Arena White, daughter of
C. W. White, of Dallas Township. He is an Elder in
St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church, and is a consistent and
steadfast Christian. His father, David Fisher, was
born in Franklin Co., Penn., Nov. 11, 1810. He was a
carpenter by trade, and came to Mansfield in 1832. He was
married there in 1836, and continued at his trade throughout his
life. There are four children, James J., Joseph E.,
John W. and David E., of this first marriage, are
still living. His wife died in 1846. He was
remarried in 1849, to Sarah Furguson. They had one
child a daughter, named Amelia, now Mrs. D. F. Welsh.
He died July 22, 1880, holding a firm belief in the tenets of
Christianity, and was a member of the Congregational Church.
Source: History of Crawford County, Ohio, Publ.
Chicago: Baskin & Battey, Historical Publishers, 186 Dearborn
Street. - 1881 - Page 737 |
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Jefferson Twp. -
JOHN J. FREEZE, farmer; P. O. Gallon; was
born in Crawford Co., in 1848, and is the son of Samuel and
Magdalena Freeze. The father was a native of
Pennsylvania, and the mother of Germany, she came to America,
and to Crawford Co., when young, and the father came to the
county about the year 1825, and has lived here ever since.
He has a family of five children, the subject of this sketch
being the oldest. He was raised on a farm, and has always
followed farming as a business. He received a
common-school education. He has been married twice; his
first marriage was in 1860, to Hannah C. Snider, who was
born in the county, her parents were natives of Pennsylvania,
and came to Crawford Co. at a very early day. From this
union there is one child—Charles A. The mother of
this child died in 1875. Mr. Freeze lived a
widower until 1877, when he was again married; this time the
lady of his choice was Margaret Trumpler, who was
born in Richland Co., where her parents came at a very early
day. From his second marriage, there is also one child—Albert
L. Mr. Freeze has always followed farming and
stock-growing as a business, owns a fine farm of 80 acres of
land, and is in good circumstances.
Source: History of Crawford County, Ohio, Publ.
Chicago: Baskin & Battey, Historical Publishers, 186
Dearborn Street. - 1881 - Page 1002 |
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Jefferson Twp. -
SAMUEL S. FREEZE, farmer; P. O. North
Robinson; was born in Lancaster Co., Penn., in 1810, son of
John T. and Susan Freeze, who were born in Germany, and came
to America about the year 1811, and settled first in
Philadelphia, then went to Lancaster Co., and in 1831 came to
Crawford Co., where the father died in 1875. and the mother in
1840. In the father's family there were five children—William,
Samuel S., Elizabeth, Susan and Adam. Mr.
Freeze was raised on his father's farm, and has always
followed farming as a business. He received a common
school education and was married, in 1840. to Lena
Everly; she was born in Germany, and came to America with
her parents in 1841, they settled in Crawford Co., where her
parents lived and died. From this union there were four
children—John J., Caroline E., Eliza, William A. Mr.
Freeze began business for himself a poor man, and by hard
work and proper economy has accumulated quite a fortune, and now
owns about 400 acres of well-improved land in this county.
His children are now all married, and doing business for
themselves. He and family are members of the German
Lutheran Church.
Source: History of Crawford County, Ohio, Publ.
Chicago: Baskin & Battey, Historical Publishers, 186
Dearborn Street. - 1881 - Page 1002 |
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Liberty Twp. -
ALFRED FRY, merchant and Postmaster,
Sulphur Springs; was born near Sulphur Springs, this county,
Feb. 7. 1835. He is the son of J. H. and Catharine
(Williamson) Fry, whose sketch is in this work. Being
among the pioneer settlers, his school advantages were very
limited for those in the country who were earnestly endeavoring
to carve out a habitation in the woods. Mr. Fry
got but the ordinary course in the common schools; but, being
naturally apt to learn, he made more of his opportunities than
most boys do. He spent the summers of 1856 and 1857 in the
Primary Department of Oberlin College. Although he
returned to work on the farm, he improved his leisure moments
until in the end he acquired a practical business education.
He enlisted in the war of the rebellion in May. 1861, in Co. C.
8th O. V. I. At the battle of Winchester, Va., Mar. 22,
1862, he received a serious wound; an ounce ball entered the
side of his right thigh, immediately below the hip-joint,
passing through both thighs and lodging near the outer surface
of the left thigh. As a souvenir from the confederacy, he
has carefully laid the missile aside. He lay in the
hospital at Winchester seven weeks, and then got a furlough, but
had been home only a few days when inflammatory rheumatism set
in. When convalescent, he joined the regiment, in
September of the same year, at Alexandria, and served until
November, when he was discharged on account of physical
disability, which was brought on by the severity of his wound.
He came back to his father's, and took a tour of several months
through the Western States. When he arrived again at home,
he accepted a clerkship with Jay & Biddle. of
Sulphur Springs, which lasted one year. With a view of
improving his commercial education, he entered college at
Pittsburgh, Penn., attending the winter terms of 1864 and 1865.
and the following spring he built a business-room at Sulphur
Springs, and put in a stock of general merchandise, and opened
in trade on his own responsibility in October, 1866, where he
has been ever since, with several changes in the firm.
John Guiss, Jr., bought an interest in Apr.,
1867, with Mr. Fry, which partnership continued
until 1876, when Guiss sold out to C. A. Keller,
with whom he conducted business one year, under the firm name of
Fry & Keller; subsequently, he sold out his
interest in the stock to Isaac Klopfenstein, and still
retained the building, which is equivalent to one-third interest
in the business, the firm name being Klopfenstein & Co.
Mr. Fry received the appointment of Postmaster in
1869, which position he has held ever since. In 1872, he
was elected Township Treasurer. He was united in marriage
with Laura C., daughter of Thomas and Marie Gillespie,
Sept. 16, 1874. They have two children—Edgar and a
babe. Mrs. Fry was born in Bucyrus Oct. 8, 1843.
Her father, Thomas Gillespie, came here from
Pennsylvania. He was twice married; his first wife died in
Bucyrus in 1845, leaving two children—Laura C. and
Charles. He afterward moved to Paulding Co., but
finally returned to Sulphur Springs, and died at the residence
of Mr. Alfred Fry, July 31, 1880.
Source: History of Crawford County, Ohio, Publ.
Chicago: Baskin & Battey, Historical Publishers, 186 Dearborn
Street. - 1881 - Page 919 |
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Liberty Twp. -
FRANCIS FRY, farmer; P. O. Sulphur
Springs; is the youngest of the family of John H. and
Catharine (Williamson) Fry, and was born near the village of
Annapolis, May 13, 1848. He remained at home until nearly
22 years old, and received a good common-school education.
He united his fortunes with those of Jennie, daughter of
Lewis Perse, on Oct. 27, 1869. She was born
in this township Apr. 26, 1847. When she was quite young,
her mother died, and she was reared by Charles Perse,
her father's brother. They have five children — Charlie
F., Myrtie C., Maudie O., Laura J. and Katie. Mr.
Fry owns 80 acres of well-improved land in a beautiful
location, to which he moved in November, 1870. They are
members of the Lutheran Church. Mr. Fry is a
member of the Knights of Honor, Liberty Lodge, No. 845.
Source: History of Crawford County, Ohio, Publ.
Chicago: Baskin & Battey, Historical Publishers, 186 Dearborn
Street. - 1881 - Page 920 |
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Liberty Twp. -
J. H. FRY, deceased; was born in the
Canton of Zurich, in Switzerland, Nov. 14, 1791. His
passport to this country bears date Mar. 11, 1817; he landed at
New York, and went thence to Chambersburg, Penn., where he
resided several years, when he resolved to come to the West, and
in 1824 he came to Crawford Co., entering 160 acres of
Government land, west of where the village of Annapolis is
located. In January, 1827, he married Catharine—
daughter of Thomas Williamson, and in 1833 they
sold out, but purchased 160 acres about half a mile north of
where the village is located, of one Matthias Markley;
this location Mr. Fry made his home until he was
called hence by the messenger of death. They were, quite
prosperous in their farming pursuits, and were also blessed with
a family of ten children —Henry, Elizabeth,
Catharine, Thomas, Alfred, Hannah,
John, Sarah, Joshua and Francis, all
of whom are living except Elizabeth. Mrs.
Fry was born in Schuylkill Co., Penn., October, 1809, and
came to Crawford Co., Ohio, with her father's family, in 1826;
they located on the Broken Sword, in Liberty Township, but in
1829 they moved to St. Joseph Co., Mich., with seven of their
children, four sons and three daughters. There Mrs.
Fry's mother, Mrs. Williamson, died, and,
after the death of his wife, Thomas Williamson went, with
others, to California, and died in San Francisco in 1846.
While they resided here, their daughter Polly was married
to Jacob Whetstone; she and Mrs. Fry
being the only members of the Williamson family to
remain here. For years Mr. Fry had been a
member of the Lutheran Church, and on Mar. 11, 1875, he received
the summons to enter into the full enjoyment of a higher and
better life. His widow still survives, and although her
72d year is rapidly approaching, she is as quick, both mentally
and physically, and as ambitious as many who have scarcely
passed eighteen summers. Her memory is replete with
incidents of pioneer life, when this district was almost an
unbroken forest, and when neighbors, though far apart as to
location, were as one in feeling and sociability.
Source: History of Crawford County, Ohio, Publ.
Chicago: Baskin & Battey, Historical Publishers, 186 Dearborn
Street. - 1881 - Page 918 |
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Liberty Twp. -
JOHN H. FRY, hardware merchant, Sulphur
Springs; was born Dec. 28, 1839, in Chatfield Township, Crawford
Co. His father, John Fry, was born in Switzerland
Dec. 17, 1799, and emigrated to the United States in 1834.
He came direct to Ohio, and worked four years for his brother,
J. H., in this county, who had been here several years
previous. In 1838, he married Rachel Helm, who was
a native of Somerset Co., Penn., and came to Liberty Township
with her father's family about the year 1825. They reared
three children—John H., Susanna (now Mrs. John Guiss),
and Lorene (who married William Guiss, and
who are both deceased). John H., being the eldest
and only boy in the family, was compelled to apply himself
steadily to the farm, and therefore had little time to devote to
educational exercises, and having but poor schools, at best, in
the vicinity where he was reared, made it so much the worse.
The bulk of his schooling was one term, which he attended in
Liberty Township with one Williams, whose reputation as a
teacher was good. He then resumed work on the farm the
following spring, and continued until he was 28 years of age,
when, on Nov. 1, 1876, he united his fortunes with Julia
Warner, who was born in Vernon Township, this county,
June 15, 1844. They have four children living—Rilie R.,
Daisy D., Cora and Elve A.; and one
deceased—Willie J. He continued to work on his
father's farm for about one year after they were married, and,
in 1868, he purchased a half interest in the hardware store of
Henry Fry, in this village. For about five
years they did business together under the firm name of H.
Fry & Co., when, in 1873, the subject of this sketch bought
the remaining half interest of H. Fry, and, since then,
has been doing a very prosperous business in his own name.
He carries a very good and large assortment of everything in his
line, both shelf and heavy hardware, such as is seldom equaled
in much larger towns—a minimum estimate of which would no doubt
be about $4,000 in value. His well-deserved patronage is
daily increasing, as he has in his line all that is required in
any farming community, and his patrons show their appreciation
of honorable dealing In' increased patronage and confidence.
Source: History of Crawford County, Ohio, Publ.
Chicago: Baskin & Battey, Historical Publishers, 186 Dearborn
Street. - 1881 - Page 919 |
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