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Source:
A Centennial
Biographical History
of
Crawford
County, Ohio
- ILLUSTRATED -
"A people that take no pride in the noble achievements of remote
ancestors will never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride
by remote generations."
- MACAULAY
Publ. Chicago:
The Lewis Publishing Company
1902
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ROBERT
K. WARNER. Among the honored pioneers who aided in
laying broad and deep the foundations for the present prosperity
and progress of Crawford county, who met the hardships and
trials of pioneer life, yet continued an active factor in the
work of reclaiming the wild land for purposes of civilization
was Robert K. Warner. He was one of the
representative men of the community, honored by all for his
sterling worth and upright life, and in the biographical history
of the county he well deserves prominent mention.
A native of Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, Mr.
Warner was born on the 8th of April, 1825, a son of
Benjamin and Mary (Walton) Warner, both of whom were born in
the same county and were of English descent. The father's
birth occurred about 1801, the marriage was celebrated in 1822,
and in 1827 he came with his family to Ohio, traveling in a
wagon drawn by four horses. When they were about four
miles from Galion the wagon sunk so deeply in the mud that the
family were obliged to get out and walk the remaining distance
to the home of a relative in Galion, leaving the wagon behind.
The father remained in Crawford county throughout the remainder
of his life and for many years carried on farming. He
settled in the southern portion of Whetstone township, Crawford
county, but in 1833 removed to a farm on section 35, Bucyrus
township, where he resided through a long period. He was a
successful farmer, although frail health prevented him from
taking an active part in the work of the fields, but he capably
managed his affairs and realized therefrom a good financial
return. He died May 8, 1872, while visiting in Kankakee,
Illinois, and his wife passed away Mar. 7, 1877. He was a
man of kind heart and noble purpose and his wife was a most
excellent woman. They were of the Quaker faith and lived
useful and quiet lives, which gained them uniform respect.
They had three children: Robert K.; Harriet, the
widow of St. Clair Welsh and a resident of Missouri; and
Louisa, the wife of Hiram Everet, of Iowa.
Robert K. Warner was only two years of age when
brought by his parents to Ohio, and here he was reared amid
pioneer scenes and environments. The Wyandot Indians were
still numerous in the county and he played with the "Johnny Cake
boys" many a day, also learned their language. It was in
1836 that he attended the first school taught in Dallas
township, the teacher being Miss Susan Bovee. He
continued his education in the old log school house until twenty
years of age and was reared to manhood upon the farm, where he
early became familiar with the work of caring for the stock and
cultivating the field. Lessons of industry and perseverance were
early impressed upon his mind and were active factors in his
successful career. He remained under the parental roof
until he had reached his twenty-third year, when he was married.
The wedding was celebrated Nov. 22, 1847, Miss
Martha Monnett becoming his wife. She is a daughter of
Jeremiah and Elsie (Slagle) Monnett, and to her husband
she proved a most faithful companion and help mate on the
journey of life. For a year and a half they resided on a
farm on section 26, Bucyrus township, on the Columbus & Sandusky
road and then removed to the old homestead on section 27, of the
same township, where Mrs. Warner still makes her
home. At that time he owned one hundred and twenty acres
of land, to which he added in later years, until at the time of
his death his farm property comprised four hundred and twenty
acres. In 1875 he erected a fine residence and afterward
built a barn. He was a successful business man and gained
a large estate, dying a wealthy man. The home was blessed
with four children: Ellen, the wife of W. T. McKinstry,
of Bucyrus township; Mary, the widow of Albert
Yaker; Harriet, the wife of Smith C. Caldwell;
and Louisa, who married Francis M. Caldwell.
They reside with her mother on the old homestead.
Mrs. Warner is now in her seventy-fifth
year and yet enjoys fair health. She was born and reared a
Methodist and has been a member of the church since fourteen
years of age, her entire life being in harmony with her
professions. In his political views Mr. Warner was
a strong Republican and held a few minor political positions,
but was not an office seeker. He was highly esteemed for
his strict regard for honesty and upright principles and in his
religious faith was a Quaker, living a life consistent with that
faith. He passed away Oct. 14, 1889. In his
friendships he was faithful and in the discharge of his duties
of citizenship he was loyal and true, while in his family he was
a devoted husband and father, finding his greatest happiness in
ministering to his family.
Source: A Centennial Biographical History of Crawford County,
Ohio - Chicago: 1902 - Page 170 |
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LEO WHITE, a young
and successful farmer and stock-raiser of Dallas township,
Crawford county, is a son of Willard T. White, a retired
farmer, residing in Bucyrus, Ohio. The White family is
numbered among the oldest in the county. Going back in the
history of the ancestry, it is found to be of Virginia stock.
Charles White, the paternal great-grandfather of
Leo White, was born and reared in the Old Dominion
and was about sixteen years of age when the Revolutionary war
began. His name appears on the muster roll of militia. He
was in active military service several years during the struggle
of the colonies for American independence, being for a portion
of that period under the immediate command of General
Washington. He served also as one of the "minute men." When
his father died he inherited `as a portion of his estate several
slaves, and being reared amid slavery conditions he was not at
first opposed to the system. Through inheritance and purchase he
became in time the owner of a large number of slaves. He removed
to Fayette county, Kentucky, and while there he liberated his
bondsmen. He had fought for liberty in the war of the Revolution
and could not believe it right to hold his fellow men in bondage
or reconcile it with the principles of eternal justice.
Becoming disgusted with the iniquitous system, he liberated his
negroes, thirteen in number, and soon afterward removed to Ross
county, Ohio, taking up his abode there about 1812. He followed
farming with fair success in that county, where he continued to
reside until his death, which occurred in 1856, when he had
attained the advanced age of ninety-six years. He had three
sons, namely: Samuel, George and Charles W.,
and the first two served in the American army during the war of
1812.
The youngest son, Charles W. White, was the
grandfather of our subject. He was born in Fayette county,
Kentucky, July 18, 1802, and when about eight years of age
accompanied his father on his removal, to Ross county, Ohio. At
the age of eighteen he left the parental home and visited the
"New Purchase" in northern Ohio. He secured work on the Indian
mill, located on the Sandusky river, being employed by the
government Indian agent at fifteen dollars per month. There he
worked for three years and saved his money, with which he
purchased two hundred and seven acres of land in what is now
Dallas township, Crawford county. After working for the
succeeding nine years for different people, he removed to his
land, and by industry, economy and good business management
became one of the largest land-owners and most successful
farmers and stock-raisers of the county. In 1830 he married
Hannah Simmons Hoover, and unto them were born
the following named children: Lorena, Willard T.
and Charles. Willard T. White, the father of
Leo White, was born in Dallas township, August 8,
1845. After engaged in farming and stock-dealing on an extensive
scale for many years and meeting with prosperity in his
undertakings, Mr. White, the father, removed to
Bucyrus, where he is now living in retirement from business
cares. Leo White resides upon the old homestead in
Dallas township, where his birth occurred July 17, 1870. He was
educated in the district schools and has always been connected
with the cultivation of the fields and the raising and sale of
stock. He has dealt quite largely in cattle and is a very
energetic, wide-awake young business man, carefully conducting
his interests, yet his methods are progressive and his
enterprise and straightforward dealings have gained him
prominence as one of the leading agriculturists of his
community.
In 1899 Mr. White was united in marriage
to Miss Velma Maud Shemer, a
daughter of Levi Shemer, of Dallas township, and
they have one child, Helen Lorena. Mr.
White is now serving as township treasurer, an office to
which he has been twice elected. He is a member of the
Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and is one of the
leading' and influential citizens of the community in which his
entire life has been passed.
Source: A Centennial Biographical History of Crawford
County, Ohio - Chicago: 1902 - Page 827 |
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G. WASHINGTON WILLIAMS.
Among the residents of Crestline who are identified with the
railroad service is Mr. Williams, who is an engineer on
the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad. Numbered
among Ohio's native sons, his life record began in Richland
county on the 4th of August, 1843. His father, Joseph
Williams, was also a native of Ohio and became one of the
honored pioneers of Richland county, where his last days were
spent. He married Rebecca Chew, who was born in
Richland county, and there her demise also occurred. They
were the parents of six children, but only three are now living.
G. W. Williams pursued his education in his
native county, attending the district school near his home, and
after he had become old enough to handle the plow he assisted in
the work of the fields, becoming familiar with every department
of farm labor. His time was thus occupied until he
attained the age of eighteen years, when, the country having
become involved in Civil war, he donned the blue as a defender
of the Union, enlisting on the 10th of October, 1861, as a
member of Company E, Sixty-fourth Ohio Volunteers. The
regiment was assigned to Sherman's brigade, and he served
for three years, two months and nineteen days, during which time
he participated in many hotly contested engagements, including
the battles of Shiloh or Pittsburg Landing, Stone River,
Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge. His
division, under command of General Thomas Wood, was the
first to land on the top of the ridge. After the
engagement at that place Mr. Williams was with the
pioneer corps until mustered out of the service in 1864.
On many a field of battle he had displayed marked bravery and
loyalty, and with a most creditable military record he returned
to his home in Lucas, Richland county, Ohio.
Not long afterward he assumed the position of brakeman
on the Pennsylvania Railroad, and was thus employed for three
years, after which he worked for a short time in the machine
shops in Crestline. He next became fireman on the same
road, devoting his energies to that task for thirteen months,
when he became hostler in the roundhouse. After fifteen
months he was promoted to the position of engineer, on the 23d
of March, 1883, and since that date has been a regular engineer
on the road. His service in the employ of the Pittsburg,
Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad has continued through thirty-five
years, during which time he has met with but one accident, and
that of a very unimportant character. Fidelity to duty,
promptness and close application are qualities which are
absolutely demanded by railroad corporations on the part of
their employes, and that Mr. Williams is lacking in none
of these particulars is plainly indicated by the fact that
through more than a third of a century he has been retained in
the service of one company.
On the 4th of June, 1866, was celebrated the marriage
of our subject and Miss S. E. Travis, who was horn in Mt.
Vernon, Ohio. Her father was a native of this country, but
her mother was born in England. Mr. and Mrs. Williams
have become the parents of three children, of whom two are
living, — Charles A. and Mrs. E. Moores. In his
political affiliations Mr. Williams is a stanch
Republican, giving an inflexible support to the principles of
the party. He belongs to the Brotherhood of Locomotive
Engineers, to the Knights of Pythias fraternity and to the Grand
Army of the Republic. In an analyzation of his character
it is not difficult to determine that fidelity is one of his
salient characteristics. It was manifest upon the held of
battle, and has been continuously shown forth in his business
career. Although he has lived a quiet and uneventful life,
his history is one which has ever commanded respect and
confidence, and as one of the reliable and representative
citizens of Crawford county he well deserves mention in this
volume.
Source: A Centennial Biographical History of Crawford County,
Ohio - Chicago: 1902 - Page 221 |
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ADAM J. WISMAN.
Adam John Wisman, one of the progressive young farmers
and stock-raisers of Crawford county, was born in Bucyrus
township, Feb. 12, 1863, a son of Christian and Elizabeth (Conkle)
Wisman. The father was born in Waynesboro, Franklin
county, Pennsylvania, Sept. 15, 1827, and was a son of
Frederick and Elizabeth (Heinlen) Wisman, both of whom were
natives of Wurtemberg, Germany, from which country they came to
America in childhood. They were married in Pennsylvania
and resided in that state until their removal to Crawford
county, Ohio, in the year 1828. The father was a
wagonmaker by trade, but after establishing his home in the
Buckeye state devoted his energies to farming. He was an
industrious man, reliable in business and was greatly respected
by his neighbors and acquaintances. His wife died about
fifteen years after their arrival in Ohio, and his death
occurred on the 18th day of February, 1867. They were the
parents of nine children.
Of this number Christian Wisman, the father of
our subject, spent his youth and early manhood in assisting
hisfather upon the farm, and in the primitive log school house,
such as was common at that time, he obtained his education.
On the 17th of October, 1850, he was united in marriage to
Miss Elizabeth Conkle, who was born in Columbiana county,
Ohio, Sept. 30, 1830, and by her marriage became the mother of
three children, namely: Adam J., Elizabeth and
Amanda, the last named now deceased. Upon a fine farm
situated on the west bank of the Sandusky river the father
farmed for many years, but is now living retired in Bucyrus,
where he had made his home for several years. He started
out in life with no capital save a stout heart and willing
hands, but by means of industry and frugality he gained a good
estate and ample competence. In politics a stanch
Democrat, he, however, never sought office, preferring to give
his attention to other interests. He was esteemed for his
honesty, his integrity standing as an unquestioned fact in his
career.
Mr. Wisman, whose name forms the caption of this
review, was reared upon the home farm and educated in the
neighborhood schools. He lived with his parents until
twenty-three years of age and was then married and established a
home of his own in Bucyrus township. In March, 1890, he
took up his residence on the Sandusky road, about two miles
southeast of Bucyrus, where he has a fine farm of one hundred
and sixty acres of fertile land. The place is splendidly
improved with all modern equipments usually found upon a model
farm. There is a pleasant and attractive residence, a
large and substantial barn and other outbuildings and the latest
improved machinery. In addition to the home farm he also
owns another tract of land in Bucyrus township, consisting of
eighty-six acres, and a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in
Sandusky township. A man of marked energy and enterprise,
he carries forward to successful completion whatever he
undertakes and as a result of his perseverance and business
ability his capital is annually increasing.
In 1886 Mr. Wisman was united in marriage to
Miss Louisa Brown, a daughter of John G. and Catherine (Christman)
Brown. Her father was a native of Wurtemberg, Germany,
and when a young man came to America. For several years he
was employed in Bucyrus, and in this locality he was married.
He then located in Holmes township, where he became a prosperous
farmer and useful citizen, respected by all who knew him for his
sterling worth. He died there in 1892, but his widow
still resides on the old homestead. They were parents of
one son and nine daughters, and they reared their children in
the faith of the German Lutheran church, of which they were
members. Mrs. Wisman was born and reared in Holmes
township and by her marriage she became the mother of three
children, namely: Cleo L., Ruth and Mabel.
In his political views Mr. Wisman is a Democrat and as
every true American citizen should do he keeps well informed on
the issues of the day. Although he has never sought or
desired political preferment to any extent, his fellow townsmen,
recognizing his worth and ability, have called him to public
office in 1888, when he was chosen township trustee, and for six
consecutive years he was continued in that position through
re-election. HE is a good citizen, liberal and
public-spirited and by all who know him he is highly esteemed
for his genuine worth of character.
Source: A Centennial Biographical History of Crawford County,
Ohio - Chicago: 1902 - Page 151 |
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FREDERICK WISMAN.
Among the prosperous farmers of Bucyrus township is Frederick
Wisman,
who owns and operates a large, well cultivated and finely
situated farm, consisting of one hundred and forty acres of
fertile Crawford county land.
The birth of Mr. Wisman was in this same
township on Nov. 2, 1833. His parents were Frederick
and Elizabeth (Heinlen) Wisman, both natives of Wurtemberg,
Germany, from which country they came when they were children.
After their marriage in Pennsylvania, in 1828, they came and
located in Crawford county, where the remainder of their lives
were spent, the mother dying in 1843, the father surviving until
1867. By trade Mr. Wisman was a wagonmaker, but
after locating in Ohio he pursued farming. His life was an
honest and industrious one and both he and his wife lived and
died enjoying the respect of all who knew him.
Frederick Wisman was one of nine children born
to his parents, and he was reared on the farm thus becoming well
prepared for the active duties of an agriculturist. He
education was in the schools of his neighborhood. In 1861
he married Malissa Aumiller, and then left the parental
roof to set up his own home. For a time the young couple
lived on a farm located just west of his birthplace, but later
removed to Holmes township. In 1864 Mr. Wisman
moved to the farm he now occupies, which consisted of eighty
acres and belonged to his father. After the death of the
latter Mr. Wisman purchased this farm and has added to it
until he now owns one hundred and forty acres, and in addition
to this, he, in association with his son Charles E., owns
a tract comprising ninety acres. In 1874 Mr. Wisman
built his fine, brick residence and has made many improvements
of a substantial character which not only add to the attractive
appearance of the place but materially to its value also.
One feature of Mr. Wisman's business is the raising of
great numbers of sheep.
The three children of Mr. Wisman are all
comfortably settled in life, in Crawford county, Alfred E.,
being a successful farmer in Holmes township; Emma,
Allice, the wife of Joseph Starner, lives in Todd
township; and Charles E. is a farmer with his father.
Mr. Wisman is identified with the Democratic party, and
is generally regarded as one of the leading citizens of Bucyrus
township.
Source: A Centennial Biographical History of Crawford County,
Ohio - Chicago: 1902 - Page 279 |
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