CHARLES FRANCIS ABBOTT, one of the prominent farmers of Dudley township, Hardin county, Ohio, is a native of Wood county, Ohio, born Oct. 8, 1859. a son of Charles and Elizabeth (Shanks) Abbott.  Charles Abbott was born in Huron county and became a farmer.  At the time of the Civil war he enlisted in the One Hundred and Twenty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and died in a hospital the next year (1863), having been shot through the mouth.  His widow died in 1864, at the age of thirty years.  Her father was a native of Ireland.  Charles Abbott's father, Bennett Abbott, was born in New York state and was a farmer.  He and his wife moved to Wood county, Ohio, where he died in 1870, at the age of sixty-six years.  Charles F. Abbott has one brother, William Elwood, a railway employe living in Huron county.  His sister Ida died in 1890.
     After the death of his mother Charles F. Abbott and his brother and sister were placed in the hands of their grandfather Abbott, and after his death his second wife, Martha (Hallett) Abbott, took care of them until they were able to look out for themselves.  She is still living, and has reached the age of ninety-two years.  After reaching the age of sixteen years Charles F. Abbott worked out on a farm by the month until attaining his majority.  He married and bought a small farm in Wood county, where he lived seventeen years, and then removed to Dudley township, Hardin county, where he now owns one hundred and twenty acres of fine farming land.  He carried on general farming with splendid success and made a specialty of stock raising.  He has now retired from the harder labor of the farm and is enjoying a well-earned rest.  Politically Mr. Abbott is a Republican, and he has served two terms as township trustee.  He is a member of the United Brethren church and has been a trustee of the church for many years.  His wife is also a member of this church and both are actively interested in this prosperity and good work.  Mr. Abbott has always worked with great energy and by his good management and thrift has acquired a fair amount of property.  Being left an orphan at an early age he has felt the necessity of looking out for himself since childhood, and has always demonstrated his business ability.
     Mr. Abbott married Matilda Ann, daughter of Levi and Levina (Long) Helm, the father a native of Crawford county, Ohio, and a farmer.  Levi Helm was born Aug. 27, 1827, and died in 1864.  He was a son of John and Susanna (Kirtz) Helm, and he married Levina Long, daughter of James and Matilda (Markey) Long, of Crawford county, Ohio.  Mrs. Abbott has one sister living, Sarah Jane, wife of George Mell, a half sister, Julia Ann, and a half brother, Albert.  To Mr. and Mrs. Abbott children have been born as follows:  Arthur J., a farmer of Goshen township, married Fay Wilcox, of Hepburn, and they have five children, Audra Cecil, Paul Wilcox, Clidath Justin and Alvin H.; William Frederick, who is now attending the University of Michigan, in preparation for ministry in the United Brethren church, married Grace Mauller in Marion county; Ernest Leroy, a farmer in Dudley township, married Bessie Niesley, and they have one child, Anna Bell; Ida, at home; Luella May, wife of George W. Breitenstein (whose father's sketch appears elsewhere in this work), has two children, Freda M. and Dortha May; Charles Francis, at home; Early Wesley, at home; and Clarence Edmund, also living at home.
Source: A Twentieth Century History of Hardin County, Ohio - Vol. II - Publ The Lewis Publishing Company - Chicago - 1910 - Page 491

  ALBERT G. AHLEFELD, the Postmaster of Kenton, is greatly respected for those qualities of head and heart which have won for him the esteem and confidence of all with whom he associates.  He is popular in his official capacity, discharging the duties of his position with characteristic fidelity and greatly to the satisfaction of all concerned.
     Our subject was born in Ada, Ohio, June 25, 1859, and is the son of Nathan Ahlefeld, a native of Richland County, this state, where his birth occurred in 1839.  His father, Rinehart Ahlefeld, was a German by birth, and came to this country when a young man.  He had learned the trade of a millwright in his native land, and on making his home in America operated a flouring-mill in Ohio for a time.  In 1849 he purchased a farm just across the line in Allen County.  He later sold that, however, and bought one near the city of Ada, where he lived until his death.
     Nathan Ahlefeld, one of the most prominent residents of Hardin County, was Auditor in 1869.  He was also many years ago one of the Board of Managers of the Ohio Penitentiary, to which position he was appointed under the administration of Governor Campbell.  Of late years, however, he has turned his attention to dealing in real estate, and is the owner of many pieces of valuable property within the limits of this city.
     Prior to her marriage, the mother of our subject was Celia Wyley, daughter of Dr. Isaac Wyley, a prominent physician of this state, who practiced at Middletown and Cincinnati.  Her brother, Dr. Albert Wyley, held the responsible Government position of Indian Agent during President Grant's administration, and was also a Senator in Kansas.  He is now residing in Trinidad, Colo., where he is engaged in the practice of his profession.
     Mr. Ahlefeld, of this sketch, was an only son.  He obtained a good education in the common schools of Ada, after which he attended a Catholic school at Dayton, Ohio.  After completing his studies in that institution he spent some time on the home farm, and in 1887 he engaged in the real-estate business with his father in Kenton, and was thus employed when, in April, 1894, he was appointed Postmaster, taking charge of the office May 6 of that year.  He has always taken a very prominent part in the politics of this city, and is very influential in Democratic circles.  Since assuming charge of the office in Kenton, he has instituted many reforms and improvements, such as adding to the force on free delivery.  He stands high in social orders and is a prominent Knight of Pythias. 
     Mr. Ahlefeld was married, in 1885, to Miss Florence Reese, daughter of John Reese, of Kenton.  To them were born two children, Nathan (deceased) and Kate.
Source: A Twentieth Century History of Hardin County, Ohio - Vol. II - Publ The Lewis Publishing Company - Chicago - 1910. - Page 317