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BIOGRAPHIES
Source:
History of Defiance County, Ohio
containing a History of the County; Its Townships,
Towns, Etc.;
Military Record; Portraits of Early Settlers and
Prominent Men; Farm Views; Personal
Reminiscences, Etc.
Published at Chicago: Warner, Beers & Co.
1883
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Adams Twp. -
EPHRAIM MARKEL was born Feb. 4, 1819, in Delaware County,
and came to Adams Township in 1835 with Eli Markel, an
uncle, in September, and was seven days making the trip.
Eli Markel died about 1860, has wife about 1869.
Mr. Markel married Miss Barbara Layman, Apr. 19,
1840. His children are Mary A., Aaron, Daniel, Eli
and Nancy, all living but Nancy and all grown and
married. His homestead contains eighty acres. The
township was very wet at an early day, the lands being
overflowed from the "big swamp" or marsh, which is now drained
and mostly cultivated. At an early day, Markel
spent much time as a hunter for bear and deer. He
generally killed three or four bears and about forty or fifty
deer. He was quite successful in trapping wolves, which
were then plenty. He also used a trap for bears and caught
a good many.
Source: History of Defiance County, Ohio -
Published at Chicago: Warner, Beers & Co. -
1883 - Page 254 |
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Defiance Twp. -
CONRAD MARQUARDT
Source: History of Defiance County, Ohio - Published at
Chicago: Warner, Beers & Co. - 1883 - Page 235 |
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Mark Twp. -
HENRY MARTIN was born Nov. 28, 1832, and
came with his parents, Daniel and Mary (Caster)
Martin, from Surrey, Engand, to Summit County, Ohio,
in 1832, and to Defiance County in 1834. The children of
Daniel were Eliza A., Henry, James G., Mary A., Amelia
and Frances V., Mr. Martin (Daniel) died in Mark
Township, Apr. 24, 1866, aged sixty-four years. Mary,
his wife, died in Mark Township, May 16, 1863, aged fifty-eight
years. Henry Martin was married June 1, 1855, to
Miss Eliza Dysinger, daughter of Jacob and Christina
(Long) Dysinger, who was born in Seneca County, N. Y., Sept.
29, 1835. The children of Henry and Eliza Martin
are Angeline and Emeline, twins, Adelaide,
Melinda, Harriet A. and Leonard. Mr. Martin
lives in Crane Township, Paulding County, Ohio, but purchased
eighty acres of land in Mark Township in Section 35, being the
old homestead of his father.
Source: History of Defiance County, Ohio - Published at
Chicago: Warner, Beers & Co. - 1883 - Page 319 |
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Farmer Twp. -
WILLIAM MARTIN was born June 6, 1809, in Cumberland
County. Penn., and came to Trumbull County, Ohio, and from there
to Beaver County, Ohio, and remained there until nine years old,
and then went to Columbiana County, and from there to Farmer
Township, Defiance Co., Ohio, in 1848. He married Miss
Maria Hahn, Mar. 19, 1849. His family,
Sarah, John (dead), Elizabeth, George,
Henry, Maria and Emory; all living and
grown but those mentioned. George Martin
married Miss Sarah Gardner, and has three
children living — Ora, Gertrude, Park; three dead—Moses,
Blanch and Cloyd, Mr. M. has a homestead
of 120 acres, and resides in a good frame house and has a good
frame barn. He has cleared 100 acres of land and done much
hard work.
Source: History of Defiance County, Ohio - Published at
Chicago: Warner, Beers & Co. - 1883 - Page 273 |
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Defiance Twp. -
JOHN McCOLLISTER
Source: History of Defiance County, Ohio - Published at
Chicago: Warner, Beers & Co. - 1883 - Page 237 |
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Defiance Twp. -
MRS. HANNAH McFARLAN was born Feb. 13,
1810, in Washington Township, Columbia Co., Penn., and was the
fourth child of a family of twelve children, three boys and nine
girls, of Edmund Herin and Rhoda (Young) Herin. The
children all grew up, were married and raised families, except
the third child, who died in infancy. Mr. Herin was
born in the State of New Jersey May 25, 1772, and died in
Defiance County, Ohio, in September, 1838. His wife,
Rhoda, was born Nov. 30, 1773, in Trenton, N. J., at
which place they were married. Mr. Herin moved from
Trenton, N. J., to the forks of the Susquehanna River in
Pennsylvania. From goods. Upon their arrival here,
they could find no unoccupied rooms, and were compelled to take
shelter in an old French cabin, dingy with age and smoke,
situated on the lands where the upper ends of East Defiance now
stands. The first visit Mrs. Kiser made, at a
distance from this place, after locating here, was to
Steubenville, in the summer of 1837, performing the whole
journey on horseback, a distance of more than three hundred
miles, passing in the route through Maumee, Findlay, Upper
Sandusky, Fremont, Mansfield, Wooster, New Philadelphia,
Sandyville, Harrison and a number of smaller towns and villages.
Returning by the same route as far as Mansfield, thence to
Maderia and across the black swamp, where the mud and water was
midside to a common horse, compelling the riders to sit with
their feet drawn up on the saddle to keep them dry. They
stopped at Ottaway on Sunday, July 3, for dinner, at a house of
private entertainment. The proprietor at first refused his
guests anything to eat, or to provide anything for their horses;
but finally gave them some bread without butter, ten without
sugar and onions without salt, also sent his man to the field a
half mile away for green oats to feed their horses, declaring
this was the best he could supply them, but was expecting fresh
supplies by wagon hourly, which, owing to the condition of the
roads, was several days behind. The party feeling
refreshed for this bill of fare, and the assurance of the host
of fresh supplies in a few days, started on their journey.
In 1838, Mrs. Kiser, then Julia A. Downs,
was married to John H. Kiser, of Wayne County, Ohio.
Mr. Kiser was born in Jefferson County, Ohio. His
parents were natives of Pennsylvania; his grandparents of German
descent. He was one of a large family of children, now all
dead, save one who resides in Noble County, Ind. In July,
he moved to this place, bringing with him a large stock of
goods, his being the first saddle and harness shop in the
county. He afterward entered into the mercantile business;
was also Treasurer of Defiance County, and held offices of trust
on the canal. He took the census of Defiance County in
1860; died Mar. 19, 1861. They had five children. -
John H., born May 16, 1839, resides in Defiance County,
Ohio; married Mary E. Bridenbaugh July 21, 1870, has
three children living, Victoria A., born Nov. 16, 1841,
married S. A. Shields May 21, 1873, has one child,
resides in San Francisco, Cal.; Mary E. born Dec. 25,
1844, married Dr. T. H. Ashton July 20, 1865, has two
children, resides in Defiance; James P., born Feb. 16,
1847, died Aug. 25, 1855; Callie E., born Apr. 6, 1849,
married S. H. Cave Feb. 7, 1874 has one child, resides in
Terrace, Utah. Victoria and Callie were engaged in
mission teaching among the Mormon's (for some time previous to
their marriage), Mary the second daughter, has in her
possession the old clock which grandfather Downs brought
to this county. It is a tall coffin shaped affair, after
the old Dutch style, and a great curiosity in these days of
style and now city. Mrs. Kiser resides with her son
John H. at the old homestead at the corner of Wayne and
First streets. Is in the enjoyment of good health, having
lived to witness the progress of Defiance from an almost howling
wilderness to a city of 7,000 inhabitants.
Source: History of Defiance County, Ohio - Published at
Chicago: Warner, Beers & Co. - 1883 - Page 211 |
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Defiance Twp. -
ABIJAH JOHN MILLER, attorney, was born in
Pennsylvania and received his literary training at Williamsport
Academy, where he graduated in 1836. He graduated in law
at the Cincinnati Law School in 1839, and has been a resident of
Defiance since 1849.
Source: History of Defiance County, Ohio - Published at
Chicago: Warner, Beers & Co. - 1883 - Page 235 |
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Farmer Twp. -
B. E. MILLER was born Feb. 7, 1846, at
Saville, Medina Co., Ohio, and when young moved to Smithville,
Wayne County, where he remained until about twelve years of age,
when he went to Bridgewater, Williams Co., Ohio, where he
remained until the spring of 1859. His mother having died
in December, 1859, he remained at Bridgewater. There were
four members of the family left - Cyrus, Benjamin E. and
Elizabeth A., one sister, Rebecca, having died in
1859. Dr. Miller married Ella M. Gonser May
20, 1873. Their family consists of Charles E. and Maud
May. Dr. M. graduated in Cincinnati College of
Medicine and Surgery in 1871, having attended the first course
of lectures at Ann Arbor, Mich., 1869 and 1870. Settled in
Farmer Center in July, 1875. The doctor who preceded him
was Dr. Martin Thrall, who practiced about twenty years,
and died in 1878. There have been about eleven physicians,
at different times, who have practiced at Farmer enter
since Drs. Rice and Thrall were here. Dr.
Rice in his day, had a large practice and few equals.
Source: History of Defiance County, Ohio - Published at Chicago:
Warner, Beers & Co. - 1883 - Page 271 |
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Defiance Twp. -
CHARLES L. MILLER, born March 1/, 1860,
was married to Miss Ella M. Heller, of Crawford County,
Ohio. Mr. Miller came to Defiance County in
1850, and settled on the north side of the Maumee River, North
Defiance, where he now lives. vHe is a carpenter and joiner by
trade, and has put up many of the residences of Defiance, and
still continues the business.
Source: History of Defiance County, Ohio - Published at
Chicago: Warner, Beers & Co. - 1883 - Page 222 |
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Tiffin Twp. -
DAVID MILLER, one of
the most extensive farmers in Tiffin Township, was born Apr. 18,
1825, in Holmes County, Ohio, his ancestors being from Germany,
who settled first near Baltimore, Md., then removed to
Pennsylvania and thence to Ohio in 1802. His grandfather's
name was Jacobs, his grandmother's name Hartman.
On his mother's side, his grandparents were David
Weaver, and his grandmother he thinks was a Coonrad.
The parents of our subject, Abraham and Elizabeth (Weaver)
Miller, were Pennsylvanians, the former born Oct. 1, 1801,
died in Richland Township Nov. 9, 1847; the latter died on
Section 35, Tiffin Township, at the home of David, her
son, Feb. 18, 1808, aged sixty-seven years. Their children
were David, Jacob (dead), Barbara (dead),
Daniel, John (dead), Coonrad, John B.
Philip, Catharine (dead) and Mary.
Daniel and J. B. Philip live in Coshocton County.
Our subject married, Feb. 13, 1857, Mary A., eldest
daughter of Lewis and Diana (Webb) Purtee, born Aug. 22,
1828. Their children were Lewis, born May 1, 1852;
Franklin L., born July 30, 1854; Orlando, born Feb/
25,1857, died Jan. 31, 1860; John, born Oct. 31, 1860;
Allen, born May 11, 1865; Sophia, born Feb. 29, 1868;
Malinda, born Dec. 10, 1870; Charlotte, born Jan.
4, 1874. Lewis Muntee, who was a soldier in
the late war, was married to Catharine Miller,
sister of the subject of this sketch, but died in 1865 at the
close of the war. His wife died Apr. 13, 1865, leaving
three children, viz.: Clara E., born May 10, 1863;
Sarah and Amanda, twins, born Apr. 13, 1805. Mr.
Miller had no advantages of school, attending but
eighteen days in all. Spent his boyhood days in Holmes
County. Came to Defiance in fall of 1857, and entered 160
acres in Tiffin, Section 25, at $1.00½
per acre, and part at $1.33⅓
per acre. Mr. Miller is serving in the
capacity of Township Trustee, which position he has occupied for
a number of years. He now owns 400 acres of land, probably
the largest farm in the township.
Source: History of Defiance County,
Ohio - Published at Chicago: Warner, Beers & Co. - 1883 - Page
357 |
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Delaware Twp. -
ELIAS MILLER was born in Harrison County,
Ohio, July 19, 1817, and grew up and attended the district
schools of that county, and married Miss Rebecca Foose,
June 10, 1841, and removed to Crawford County, where he remained
about two years, and then removed to Delaware Township, Defiance
County, in 1855, and commenced improving his present farm on
Section 19. His family is Johnson, born Apr. 9,
1842; Emanuel, born Dec. 4, 1843; Vincent N., Born
Dec. 18, 1845; Zeno H., born Oct. 7, 1848; Stewart W.,
born Feb. 25, 1851. All living and grown. Johnson
served in the war of 1861-65, and was wounded twice. The
village of Sherwood which took its name from Secretary
Sherwood, was laid out by William Taylor and
William Rock in 1875. The number of lots north of the
railroad is about seventy-five. Mr. Elias Miller
laid out all south of the railroad, seventy-two lots, in 1879.
The Miller brothers built the first store house in
Sherwood. The Methodist Episcopal Church was built about
1868. It was organized by Elias Miller, Jacob
Cone, Aaron Mitchell and wife, Uriah Smith and
Wife, John Rannel and wife. At first, preaching was
by a local preacher, Rev. Archibald Robertson. The
Methodist Episcopal and United Brethren unite in Sabbath
schools. Mr. Miller had to go to Brunersburg to
mill, and did his trading at Defiance. Mr. M.
remembers one schoolhouse here and one near the old farm of
Peter Blair, now owned and occupied by N. L. Blair,
which was probably the first in this locality. There is
one schoolhouse at Sherwood.
Source: History of Defiance County, Ohio - Published at
Chicago: Warner, Beers & Co. - 1883 - Page 260 |
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Defiance Twp. -
HORACE P. MILLER was born
in Williams County, Ohio, Sept. 24, 1848. His father,
William Miller, was born in Tompkins County, N. Y., Mar. 17,
1808; came to Summit County, Ohio, and there married Miss
Phebe Parker, by whom he had seven children, three boys and
four girls; of these, four are living - H. P. Miller,
Alice J., Charity M. and William P.
Horace P. Miller, the subject of this sketch, received his
education mostly at Lockport, Ohio, and was married to Miss
Jennie S. Beaty Sept. 22, 1870. They have two
children, Frank G. and Claud W. Mr.
Miller started out in life at farming, and afterward went to
work in the produce business for O. T. Letcher & Co., of
Bryan, Ohio, carrying on the business at Defiance. In
1878, Mr. Miller bought out the business, and formed a
copartnership with G. Morgan, of Fostoria, Ohio, and the
firm name became Miller & Morgan, who are doing
quite an extensive produce business, handling during the past
year about 250,000 pounds dressed hogs, 60,000 pounds poultry,
130,000 pounds butter, 60,000 pounds hides, 3,660 bushels clover
seed, 280,000 dozen eggs.
Source: History of Defiance County, Ohio - Published at
Chicago: Warner, Beers & Co. - 1883 - Page 224 |
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Defiance Twp. -
JOHN MILLER was born in Canton, Stark Co.,
Ohio, Mar. 18, 1828. His parents, William and Betsey (NooIb)
Miller, were born, the former in 1797 and the latter in
1807. They had a family of ten children, viz., William,
Polly, Henry, George, John, Mary Elizabeth, Sarah, Margaret,
Catharine Ann and Samuel - all living except Henry,
who died May 1, 1865, at Chattanooga, Tenn., having enlisted in
the Sixteenth Regiment of New York* Regulars in March, 1863,
Mr. John Miller was married, in the year 1846, to Miss
Agatha Null, who was born in Germany, Nov. 2, 1827. Her
parents, Martin and Agatha, were born in
Germany, the former Apr. 30, 1779, the latter Jan. 15, 1776, and
were married A. D. 1817, and emigrated from Homerstine, Germany,
to America, in 1832. Martin Null's family
consisted of six children five daughters and one son. Mr.
Miller's family were as follows: John J., the eldest
son, was born Nov. 3, 1848, enlisted in Company G, Thirty-eighth
Regiment Ohio Volunteers, Jan. 29, 1864, to serve three years or
during the war, but on account of disability was discharged Apr.
20, 1864, but after regaining his usual health, enlisted again
in the same regiment on the 26th of January, 1865, for one year
or during the war: was discharged at the close of the war, July
12, 1865. He was married, in 1870, to Miss Rosetta J.
Britton, who was born near Pleasant Lake, Steuben Co., Ind.,
in 1852. The fruits of this marriage were four children -
William Irvin, born May 30, 1871; Nellie Irene,
born Jan. 30, 1873, deceased Mar. 1, 1881; Maggie Isabel,
born Aug. 4, 1875; Edie Mabel, born Sept. 29,
1878; all born in this county (Defiance).
William H. was born Aug. 17, 1850.
Margaret H., was born Aug. 11, 1853; was
married, in 1875, to James W. Dellett. To them was
born one child - Gwendoline, born Mar. 28, 1876.
Mrs. Dellett deceased Oct. 4, 1877. Mr.
Dellett was in the late war, 1861-65; enlisted in Company
G., in the Third Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, in 1863, and was
honorably discharged at the close of the war in 1865. He
died July 2, 1877,
Barbara A. was born Feb. 8, 1859; was married,
in 1877, to John C. Barber. Of this union two
children have been born to them - Emma L., born Dec. 1,
1878, and Florie A., born Mar. 24, 1880.
Source: History of Defiance County, Ohio - Published at
Chicago: Warner, Beers & Co. - 1883 - Page 221 |
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Hicksville Twp. -
JOHN A. MILLER was born in Jefferson
County, Ohio, Oct. 14, 1814. His parents were natives of
Washington County, Penn., who married in Jefferson County, Ohio,
and removed from there in 1815 to Holmes County. Mr.
Miller remained with his parents until of age, having little
or no educational advantages. He married, May 31, 1836,
Margaret, daughter of Samuel and Susan (Davison) Boon,
and they have a family of five sons and two daughters, viz.:
James M., who died from the effects of disease contracted
while in the army; Samuel B.; William A. and John C.
They moved to Section 5, this township, October, 1845, taking up
at first eighty acres of wild land, then eighty more. In
1856, he sold his farm and went in with Byron Works for
two years, in the dry goods business; then he ran the tannery on
the corner of Fort Wayne and Antwerp pike for six years.
He bought the business of Ross & Boon. He then
started the saw mill and shingle manufactory, and from December,
1873, till 1880, he was in the bakery business. He is now
retired, enjoying the fruits of his labor and energy.
Source: History of Defiance County,
Ohio - Published at Chicago: Warner, Beers & Co. - 1883 - Page
307 |
E. B. Mix |
Highland Twp. -
E. B. MIX
Source: History of Defiance County, Ohio -
Published at Chicago: Warner, Beers & Co. - 1883 - Page 316 |
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Tiffin Twp. -
JACOB MOON, JR. was
born Aug. 12, 1803, in Old Winchester, Va. His father, Jacob,
Sr., was born in Germany, and came to America when a boy to
Virginia, and from there moved to Alleghany County, Md., where
he died, aged ninety-five years. His mother, Rebecca
(Gray) Moon, also died at the age of ninety-five years in
Maryland. They had six children, four sons - Thomas,
Jacob, Jr., William, John, and two daughters.
Jacob. Jr., worked at home, farming till twenty-six years of
age, then married Elizabeth A. Wiles, daughter of
William and Sarah (Bowman) Wiles. Her parents were of
Dutch descent. Mr. and Mrs. Moon have eight children -
Eugene J., Norman, Isaiah G., Ann, Perry, Caroline, John,
Harriet. Eugene married Katie Oxenrider, of Tiffin
Township; Norman went to Missouri, and is still
unmarried; Isaiah married Sarah Moon and
lives in Tiffin Township; Perry married Lydia
Figley, of Washington Township; Ann married John
G. Wheelan and lives on the homestead with her parents;
Caroline married John Meek, of Bryan;
Harriet married Lewis Sugar, who lives in
Stryker; John married Betsey Wieland. Mr.
Moon came to Ohio in 1829, near Steubenville, then came
to Tiffin Township in 1833 with his wife and one child.
When he came to Ohio, he had 50 cents in cash and a mare on
which his wife and child and his effects were carried.
This was his condition when he came. He prospered
afterward and got a farm of 200 acres. He is now retired
and lives happily
with his son-in-law in Tiffin Township.
Source: History of Defiance County,
Ohio - Published at Chicago: Warner, Beers & Co. - 1883 - Page
360 |
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Washington Twp. -
SAMUEL PERRY MOON
was born in Defiance County in 1837, and his wife in Crawford
County. Ohio, June 28, 1839. They were married in this
county Aug. 30, 1860. His wife's maiden name was Lydia
A. Figley. The names of their children, Rilla,
Belle, Hulda, Madora, Amos M.,
Wallace J., George W., Lyman C. and F.
Bostater. The father of Mr. Moon was
Jacob, and his mother Elizabeth. The father of
his wife was Simon Figley, and her mother
Margaret Figley. They settled in Defiance
County in 1841. Simon Figley served in the war of
1812. The Moon family were among the early
settlers of Washington Township, and some of the family now live
in Tiffin Township.
Source: History of Defiance County,
Ohio - Published at Chicago: Warner, Beers & Co. - 1883 - Page
393 |
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Delaware Twp. -
JOHN MUSSELMAN was born May 30, 1803, in
Shenandoah County, Va., and immigrated to Montgomery County,
Ohio, where he remained five years and married Miss
Eliza Clemmer, in January, 1832, and came to Paulding
County, Ohio, in 1834, now Delaware Township, Defiance County,
on the banks of the Maumee, where he now resides. The
township was then covered by a heavy forest and much wet land,
so much so that it was settled only along the river. At
that time it was known as Williams County. In 1843, Mr.
Musselman put up a small tannery, where he tanned all
kinds of leather. The yard is now useless, and much like
himself. John Cummings, who came in Wayne's
expedition in 1794, lived with and died at Mr. M.'s.
George Platter, George Platter, Sr.,
George Platter, Jr., and Joseph
Miller were early settlers. They settled mostly along
the river. It was supposed that the settlements would be
only along the river, and that nothing would grow but grass,
where now good wheat is produced. Tile drainage is now
much used and is redeeming the land. Mr. M. acted
as Justice of the Peace for Delaware Township for about nine
years when in Williams County, and was Commissioner of Paulding
County. Understanding the diseases of the country,
though not having been a graduate, he was often employed to
treat the sick among his neighbors, which was done quite
successfully. He often met the eccentric "Johnny
Appleseed," who frequently passed up the Maumee planting
nurseries of apple-seeds. He planted seeds on different
farms along the river. Mr. M. has some trees on his
farm planted by '' Johnny " at that time, grown from seed
planted by him, that have fine fruit. His last appearance
was about 1845, when he went to Fort Wayne. Mrs. M.
died Sept. 18, 1880, aged about sixty-six years. She was
the mother of fourteen children, twelve living; these were named
David, Amos, Diana, John, Mary, Cyrus, Eliza, Jane,
Minerva, William, Ira and Ida, all married. Amos
was in the army in 1861-65. Martha died July 25,
1840, Letitia, died Aug. 17, 1846.
Source: History of Defiance County, Ohio - Published at
Chicago: Warner, Beers & Co. - 1883 - Page 261 |
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Highland Twp. -
JACOB K. MYERS was
born in Clermont County, Ohio, Dec. 27, 1821, and lived there
until 1850, at which time he came to Defiance County and settled
in Highland Township, Section 11, where he has since lived.
He was married to Miss Sarah J. Wellman Dec. 30, 1841.
Their children are Benjamin F., John W.,
Harriet Ann and Sumner B. , all of whom are living and
married. Mrs. Myers died Aug. 12, 1848. Mr.
Myers married, for his second wife, with whom he is still
living. Miss Elizabeth A. Wheeler; of this union were
born four children, viz.: Orlando O., Alvaro P.,
Eliza Ada May and Willie Arnam
Henry; all are living. Orlando and Alvaro
are married. Benjamin F. and John W., of the
first family, were in the war of 1861-65. Benjamin F.
enlisted in the Thirty-eighth Regiment Ohio Volunteers,
September, 1861, and served about four years, being discharged
August, 1805. John W. enlisted in the One Hundredth
Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, July, 1862. Discharged
June 15, 1865. Mr. Myers has been connected
with the Defiance County Agricultural Society ever since its
organization; was one of its directors for six years; Vice
President two years; was Postmaster at Ayersville three years,
dating from Nov. 5, 1868. He has held the office of
Justice of the Peace for the last eighteen years. Land was
cheap when Mr. Myers first came to the township in
1850; for his first purchase of 80 acres of good land, he paid
$1,000.
Source: History of Defiance County, Ohio - Published at
Chicago: Warner, Beers & Co. - 1883 - Page 312 |
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