Source:
Twentieth Century History
of
Findlay and Hancock County, Ohio
and Representative Citizens.
By J. A. Kemmell, M. D.
"History is Philosophy Teaching by Example"
Published by
Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co.
F. J. Richmond, Pres.        C. R. Arnold, Sec'y and Treas.
Chicago, ILL
1910.

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	HENRY BENTON THOMAS, who enjoys the distinction of being the oldest born native white child in Pleasant Township, Hancock County, O., a member of one of the oldest township families and an honored survivor of the great Civil War, has lived a busy and useful life and is a man of very interesting personality.  He was born on the old Thomas farm on which he lives, Sept. 1, 1837, and is a son of Jacob and Rebecca (Edginton) Thomas.      The paternal grandparents of Mr. Thomas were Charles and Mary (Ripley) Thomas.  Charles Thomas was born in Virginia and his father was a native of Pennsylvania.  Grandfather Thomas and wife settled in Marion Township, Hancock County, when they came to Ohio from Virginia, they died there, and their burial was on the old farm.  They had seven children and of these the father of Henry B. Thomas was the eldest.  A number of the others have descendants in this section.  Nancy married Robert Hamilton and both died at Findlay.  Eliza was the wife of David Henline.  John married Nancy Ankrom and he and wife lived and died near the Thomas Church.  Daniel married Lucy Ann George and they lived east of Findlay, where he died.  George first married Catherine Paden, then Mary Paden and they lived and died on their farm three miles east of Findlay.  William married Sidna Paden a sister of Catherine and Mary Paden, and lived the greater part of his life on the home farm which he later sold and moved to Findlay, where he died.  Narcissa married a Mr. Bennett and they lived and died at Bryan, in Williams County.      Jacob Thomas, father of Henry Benton, was born in 1810, in Tyler County, Va., and died in Pleasant Township, Apr. 2nd, 1878.  He accompanied his parents to Ohio in 1832 and with them settled in Section 16, Marion Township, Hancock County, and remained two years longer with his father.  In 1837 he came to the farm now owned by his son, Henry B., which has never since been out of the Thomas family.  At the time of his death he owned 240 acres.  Pioneer conditions prevailed when Jacob Thomas came to Pleasant Township.  The land was heavily timbered and not a stick had ever been cut.  There was not much chance for sociability as the other nearest settler was several miles away.  The first log cabin had dimensions of 12 x 14 feet but a second house was built in the same fall, 16 x 18 feet, of hewed logs and with a clap-board roof.      Jacob Thomas was twice married.  His first wife was Rebecca Edginton, and his second was Elizabeth Gorrell. Four children were born to the first union: Mary Jane, May 28, 1835; Henry Benton, Sept. 1, 1837; Levi Marion, Oct. 13, 1839; and Julia Ann, July 27, 1843.  Mary Jane married Peter Deter (died Jan. 11, 1900) whom she survives and lives in Portage Township.  Levi Marion married Mary C. Wilson.  He lived near North Baltimore, where he followed farming.  He was a soldier in the Civil War, a member of Co. G, 21st O. Vol. Inf., and was captured with his comrades, at Chickamauga.  He died May 11, 1906.  Julia Ann married Jan W. Butler formerly of Pleasant Township, but a resident of Findlay before his death.  She resides on Center Street in that city.  The children born to the second marriage of Jacob Thomas were:  William C., Feb. 12, 1848; Caroline, Sept. 4, 1846; David H., Jan. 6, 1852; Cyrene, Jan. 13, 1850; and Amanda Apr. 30, 1859 (died July 22, 1899).  William C. Thomas holds the position of captain in the Soldiers' Home at Dayton, O.  He served in the Civil War in the 178th O. Vol. Inf.  He has been twice married, first to Barbara E. Nye and second to Belle Lathonce, of Columbus, O.  Caroline married Hon. Eb. Poe, late of Columbus, and formerly state auditor of Ohio.  David H. Thomas formerly resided in Pleasant Township but is now engaged in mining in the West.  He married Columbia J. Bowman.  Cyrene married J. F. Dillinger and they own a farm near Hoytsville, O., but reside in Dayton.  Amanda, who is now deceased, was the wife of Corwin Wilson who survives her and lives near North Baltimore, O.      Henry Benton Thomas grew up on the home farm and obtained a district school education.  He worked on  his father's and his uncle's farms, the latter living then eat of Findlay.  He was a member of an independent military company which had been organized in 1861, at McComb.  They went to Findlay and there he formally enlisted for service in the Civil War, on Sept. 19, 1861.  His regiment was sent first to Camp Dennison, at Columbus, and from there to Piketown, Ky., and from there to Louisville and he was on guard duty at Lexington, Murfreesboro, Tenn., and other points and then went to Nashville, Tenn.  Later he was a participant in the battle of Stone River and was at Lookout Mountain and Chattanooga, Graysville, Kenesaw Mountain and Atlanta.  He celebrated his birth in September, 1863, by fighting in the battle at Jonesboro, Ga.  He belonged also to the victorious army that marched with Sherman to the sea.  Other engagements in which he bore a brave soldier's part were Raleigh, Goldsboro and Martha's Vineyard, on New River, N. C., and then came Richmond and later the grand review at Washington, D. C., and he was finally mustered out at Columbus, O.  Mr. Thomas saw very hard service and the word soldier recalls to him the sternest kind of discipline and scenes of carnage and suffering that he hopes his country will never again witness.      Mr. Thomas returned to Hancock County practically unharmed after his military service was over.  His father had given him eighty acres of land in Pleasant Township and to this he added eighty more.  In 1878 he sold this land and moved to Saline County, Kas., where he spent one year in agricultural efforts, but his success was not up to his expectations and his crops were entirely destroyed by the hot winds.  In the meanwhile his father had died and so he returned to Pleasant Township and here he has continued to live ever since.  The house in which Mr. Thomas and family had lived since their return to the old homestead, was destroyed by fire and the present handsome residence was erected in 1901.  Mr. Thomas has 116 acres under cultivation, this farm being one of the best in the township.      Oct. 4, 1866, Mr. Thomas was married to Miss Ruthanna Archer a daughter of Henry and Lucinda (Osenbaugh) Archer, of Mercer County, O.  Six children were born to them, namely:      Mary Orlida, born July 9, 1867; married Willis Mygrants, Apr. 9, 1898; they live in Jackson, Mich.  They have three children - Warren born Mar. 11, 1899; Russell, born Sept. 12, 1900; Clifton, born Oct. 30, 1905.      Minnie L., born Oct. 4, 1868; married Chester Ewing of McComb, Dec. 6, 1899.  They have three children - Lois, born May 30, 1901; Webster, born Mar. 5, 1903; and Arthur, born Apr. 21, 1906.      Delos Archer was born Dec. 13, 1869; was married to Belle Norris of Cass Township (where they have since resided), Sept. 5, 1894.  They have three children - Gayle, born Sept. 4, 1895; Bernard, born Jan. 25, 1900, and Raymond born Sept. 8, 1903.      Estella J., was born Oct. 31, 1871; was married to Fred King, Jan. 23, 1896, and they have two children - Ralph, born Feb. 10, 1897, and Iloe, born Sept. 21, 1900.      Sarah Elizabeth and Laura Leota, who reside with their parents.      Mr. Thomas and family were members of the Thomas Methodist Episcopal church, in which he formerly was an official.  For the pat twenty-five years he has maintained opinions that identify him with the Prohibiton party, but formerly he was a Democrat.  He served a number of times as township trustee and was active generally in public affairs.  He is a member of the John Howard Post, No. 154, G. A. R. at McComb. Source: Twentieth Century History of Findlay and Hancock County, Ohio - Published by Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co. - Chicago - Ill. - 1910 - Page 597
	J. CURTIS THOMAS, a prominent farmer and large land owner, of Portage and Allen Townships, Hancock County, O., has 160 acres in Section 10, in the former and eighty acres directly across the highway, in Allen Township.  He was born on this farm, Feb. 12, 1875, and is a son of Levi M. and Mary C. (Wilson) Thoams.      LEVI M. THOMAS was born on Sand Ridge, Pleasant Township, Hancock County, a son of Jacob Thomas, who came to Ohio from near Moundsvile, W. Va.  Levi M. Thomas was reared in Pleasant Township and came to the farm owned by his son, J. Curtis just after his marriage and cleared the land and made all the improvements.  He was a successful farmer and large stock raiser and owned 372 acres of valuable lands.  His death occurred May 11, 1906.  He married Mary C. Wilson, who was born in Illinois and was brought to Ohio in girlhood by her father, William Wilson.  She survived until Nov. 1905.      J. Curtis Thomas has always been interested in farm pursuits and has been particularly successful in many branches of agriculture.  He carries on a general farming line and raises stock and since 1891 has made a specialty of raising Percheron horses.      Mr. Thomas married Miss Alta Cathers, who was born and reared in Pennsylvania, a daughter of James Cathers, and they have three children:  Mary Chloette, James Levi and Harold Curtis. Source: Twentieth Century History of Findlay and Hancock County, Ohio - Published by Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co. - Chicago - Ill. - 1910 - Page 378
	JOHN D. THOMAS, funeral director, who is engaged in business at McComb, O., was born in Indiana, May 24, 1855, and is a son of Benjamin and Marilla (Westbrook) Thomas.       Benjamin Thomas and his wife were both born in Morrow County, O., where the Thomas family was established by the grandparents of John D. Thomas, many years ago.  They were John D. and Lena Thomas and were natives of Wales.  When they came to Morrow County the land was yet so much of a wilderness that they could only safely make their way through the forests by blazing the trees as they pushed through.  Benjamin Thomas assisted his father in clearing the farm.  He resides with his son,, John D. Thomas, being now aged eighty-five years.  His wife died over fifty years ago.  Four sons were born to them; Wilbur, who is a farmer in Morrow County; Martin, who was a resident of Detroit, Mich., for a number of years; Elmer, who lives in Morrow County; and John D. of McComb.      John D. Thomas was born while his parents were making a short sojourn in Indiana, but he was reared and educated in Morrow County.  In August, 1878, Mr. Thomas was married to Miss Alice Needles who died in November, 1900.  Her father was Levi Needles of Morrow County.  Mr. and Mrs. Thomas had two daughters: Cora and Elise, both of whom reside with their father.      Mr. Thomas came to McComb from Fredericktown, in April, 1908.  He took his examination as an embalmer at Zanesville, O., and received his license in 1902.  He has a finely equipped establishment and has so gained the confidence of the public that calls come for his services from all this section.  Mr. Thomas is identified with a number of fraternal bodies, including the Knights of Pythias, the Odd Fellows, the Modern Woodmen and the Maccabees.  He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.  In politics he is a Republican. Source: Twentieth Century History of Findlay and Hancock County, Ohio - Published by Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co. - Chicago - Ill. - 1910 - Page 487
	CALVIN D. TODD, M. D. Source: Twentieth Century History of Findlay and Hancock County, Ohio - Published by Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co. - Chicago - Ill. - 1910 - Page 391
	HON. THEODORE TOTTEN, formerly mayor of Findlay, O., and now serving in his second term as postmaster, has been a prominent citizen here for many years and has been an active member of the Republican party in Hancock County, and at the same time has been a representative member of her bar.  He was born on Staten Island, N. Y., Jan. 1, 1848, and is one of the family of seven children born to his parents who were William and Susan (Platt) Totten.      Theodore Totten was educated in the public schools and when only fifteen years old left home and enlisted in the United States Navy.  Probably the fact that his father was a ship builder and the youth was more or less accustomed to hearing of life on the water in this connection, may have determined his choice of the branch of the service to which he attached himself, but the record shows that he was a brave if an unusually young sailor.  He is identified with the Grand Army of the Republic.      In 1866, Mr. Totten came to Findlay and embarked in the cigar and tobacco business and later added to his duties and responsibilities by accepting the agency of the Western Union Telegraph Company with which corporation he continued to be connected for twelve years.  Although early circumstances had prevented his following his natural bent and entering into the law in early manhood, he was still sufficiently interested to pursue his legal studies by himself and in 1881 gained admittance to the bar.  He engaged in the practice of law from then until 1904, in the meanwhile serving one term as prosecuting attorney of Hancock County and one term as mayor of the city of Findlay.  In the above year he was first appointed postmaster and was reappointed in January, 1909.  This office is systematically managed and the people of Findlay boast of its good service.  In his assistant, Charles A. Saunders, Postmaster Totten has an able helper and he has under his direction and supervision twenty-four other employes, with all of whom his relations are most cordial.      Mr. Totten was married to Miss Melinda Porch, a daughter of Henry Porch.  Their pleasant family home is situated at No. 208 First Street.  Mr. and Mrs. Totten are members of the First Methodist Episcopal church.  He is affiliated with a number of organizations and log has been a Free Mason. Source: Twentieth Century History of Findlay and Hancock County, Ohio - Published by Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co. - Chicago - Ill. - 1910 - Page 340
John C. Tritch, M.D.	JOHN C. TRITCH, M. D., one of Findlay's eminent physicians, with well appointed office in the Gray and Patterson Block, at Findlay, O., was born in this city, Sept. 25, 1857, and is a son of Parlee C. and Nancy (Shong) Tritch.      PARLEE C. TRITCH, who was an esteemed retired citizen of Findlay, for many years was prominent both in business and politics.  He conducted a harnessmaking establishment for a long period and was an active and useful citizen of both city and county, serving the latter as sheriff from 1876 until 1880.  His wife survived until 1909.      John C. Tritch was reared at Findlay, where he attended the grammar schools and the High School, graduating from the latter in the class of 1874.  During the succeeding winter he taught a country school and then began the study of medicine under the late Dr. W. M. Detwiler, and from his instruction entered the Homeopathic Medical College at Cleveland, O., being graduated there in 1878.  His field of labor has been Findlay and environs but his professional skill has extended his reputation far beyond this environment.  He has been a delegate to the Ohio State Medical Society, is ex-president of the Hancock County Medical Society and is also a member of the American Medical Association and a valued contributor to medical literature.  Aside from his profession he has the interests of a well read, cultivated man.  For some years he has been making a collection of Indian relics together with curiosities from all parts of the world and the greater number of these he has generously donated to the Findlay High School.      Mr. Tritch married Miss Lydia Wolf, a daughter of Levi Wolf who was a soldier in the Civil War and one of its martyrs, dying at Cincinnati while on his way home.  Dr. and Mrs. Tritch have two daughters:  Mary Gail and Martha Agnes.  The former is a graduate of the Findlay High School and of Smith College, and is teacher of Latin in the former institution.  The younger daughter is a student in the sophomore year in the Findlay High School.  Dr. Tritch is affiliated fraternally with the Masons, the Elks and the Odd Fellows. Source: Twentieth Century History of Findlay and Hancock County, Ohio - Published by Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co. - Chicago - Ill. - 1910 - Page 314

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