H. G. EDGERTON, D. D. S.  The name Edgerton is of English origin, but representatives of that family have been many years in the United States.
     Prominent among the business men and manufacturers of Fremont, Sandusky county, for nearly half a century has been Chester Edgerton, who was born in Pawlet, Vt., in 1819, and came to Ohio in 1844.  He is now seventy-six years old, and is living retired.  He was an attorney in his day, and a very successful collector.  He was also for a number of years engaged in the lumber business, as a member of the firm of Edgerton Bros.; by fair dealing and close attention to business he accumulated a small fortune, and is recognized as one of the most successful men of the early days of Fremont.  He is a Republican in politics, and in the year 1847 was elected mayor of the city.  IN 1845 he married Miss Augusta F. Fusselman, who was born in 1826, and six children were born to them: Frank, now living in Tennessee; Hattie, wife of G. Kinney, an attorney at law, of Fremont; Fannie A., who died in 1879; Maude, wife of Lieut. John Garvin, U. S. N.; Chester, living in Kansas City, Mo.; and H. G.
     Dr. H. G. Edgerton was born in Fremont, Ohio, Apr. 23, 1859, and was educated in the Fremont public schools and at Oberlin College.  He began the study of dentistry in 1875, and graduated from the Dental Department of the University of Ann Arbor (Mich.) in 1881, with the degree of D. D. S.  He practiced his profession at Toledo, Ohio, one year, and then came to Fremont, where he has had a leading practice for several years in his pleasant rooms over the First National Bank.  He is a Republican, a member of the Knights of Pythias and of the National Union, and is connected with several social clubs of the city.  On Jan. 29, 1884, he married Miss Clara Meek, daughter of B. Meek, an attorney at law, and four children have been born to them: Mary B., Rachel, Dorothy and Henry Meek.
Source: Commemorative Biographical Record of the counties of SANDUSKY & OTTAWA, OHIO - Publ. J. B. Beers & Co. 1896 - Page 99

BENEDICT EMCH , now retired, Woodville, Sandusky county, was born in the canton of Solothurn, Switzerland, June 8, 1829.   It is probable that the Emch family had lived there for ages—this much, at least, is known, that his grandfather lived and died in the house in which Mr. Benedict Emch was born.
     Our subject is the son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Kuntz) Emch, the former of whom was also born in Switzerland, came to America in 1834, and settled in Wood county, Ohio, when that region was a pioneer wilderness.  He died on June 1, 1859; Elizabeth Kuntz, his wife, was born in 1797, and died in 1862, both being faithful members of the German Reformed
Church.  They were the parents of four children: Jacob, who died in Berne, Switzerland, at the age of sixty-seven years; Benedict, subject proper of this sketch; John, who joined the Union army in Wood county, Ohio, and died in a hospital during the Civil war; Mary, who came to America and lived here about nine years, married one Benedict Emch, who by the way was not related to her family; he died, and she returned to Switzerland, where she now resides.  By his second marriage, Jacob Emch had the following children: Stephen, Samuel, Elizabeth, Ann, Margaret, Rosa, Susan, Sophia, besides two that died in infancy.
     Benedict Emch came to America in 1845. He remained in Wood county a year with his father, and then went to Perrysburg, Ohio, to learn the trade of harness-maker. This completed, he was prepared to face the world and battle for himself. He worked at his trade until 1852, when the great excitement in California attracted his attention, and he determined to cast his fate among those hardy adventurers who pushed their way across the great American desert, in caravans, in search of the yellow metal of the Pacific Slope. It took him and his party six months, lacking five days, to make their overland trip from Maumee City, Ohio, to Hankstown (now Placerville), the county seat of El Dorado county, Cal.  Mr. Emch proceeded at once to prospecting, and a short time after his arrival found him located on a claim, and digging for gold in El Dorado county.  For the first year or so he made something over a living, but made quite a success of gold digging afterward. He remained in the gold fields until 1856, when he returned home by the Nicaragua route.  In Ohio he remained for a few months to visit, and, in July of 1856, returned to his native Switzerland.  He made the voyage on a sailing vessel, and after landing, traveled through England, studying its interesting features, the great cities of Liverpool and London, thence by way of Rotterdam, Holland, up the River Rhine to Manheim, and to his home in Switzerland.  In May, 1857, he returned to America, bringing with him his mother and about twenty other friends.  On his return to Woodville he engaged in business, keeping a grocery store until the spring of 1859, and then, during the Pike's Peak gold excitement, started for that land of promise across the Plains again, and remained there during the summer, digging for gold with good success. Having considerable gold on hand in the fall, he purchased a team and accoutrements, and started back for the States. When he reached the vicinity of St. Joseph City, Mo., he left his team for keeping, with a farmer, and found more convenient transportation to Ohio.  He soon afterward proceeded on his way to New Orleans, that city having the most convenient United States mint, and there he had the gold dust coined.  Returning from New Orleans about the commencement of the year, he remained in Ohio, with his mother, until spring.  In the spring of 1860 he induced some friends to join him, and they went to St. Joseph, Mo., and rigged out his team, left there the fall before, and again put forth across the western sands to rob the rocks of the valuables hidden in their dusky caverns.  They prospected in mining that summer in the vicinity of Denver City.  The following fall Mr. Emch again returned to St. Joseph, Mo., and on his trip across the Plains he met the famous "Pony Express," that made the fastest time ever made over the Plains by a team.  They were carrying to the Territories the news of President Lincoln's election.  Mr. Emch proceeded from St. Joseph, Mo., to New Orleans again, to get more gold coined.  The impending war was at this time growing to a fever heat.  He had difficulty in getting a place to deposit his gold in New Orleans, but finally succeeded.  From there he went to Galveston, Texas, with the intention of spending the winter, but the Civil war was about to break forth, and the excitement was too intense to be pleasant.  He immediately took his departure for New Orleans, drew his coined gold from the place of deposit, and started for Ohio. Remaining there until spring, and the war having broken out, he went to Pennsylvania to inspect the oil fields, soon returning to Ohio, however, and immediately left for the West, locating in the mountains around Denver City.  The following spring he sold his claim there, and started for Oregon, locating on Powder river, where he built a cabin and stayed until December.  It was at this period that gold was discovered in Idaho, and he and his companions started for Idaho City with a team of oxen.  There was from three to four feet of snow on the ground when they reached that place.  The first thing they did was to butcher the ox-team in order to secure meat enough to live on during the winter.  Mr. Emch states that the oxen were not over fat, but that their team, being old, was not the worst beef people had to eat there.  A crowd of their companions butchered their ox-team and borrowed Mr. Emch's frying kettle to render the tallow. They placed the ingredients in the kettle, mixed with water, and, after having fried and cooked it and permitted it to cool, there was not a sign of tallow on the surface of the water.  Mr. Emch says there was just enough on his own to grease one pair of boots.  Besides the beef, Mr. Emch and his companions had with them a keg of molasses and a small amount of Hour.  They remained in camp during winter, doing but little prospecting, and when the pack trains came in the spring, Mr. Emch paid $80 for l00 pounds of flour.  During the following summer they all made some money, and remained until the fail of 1868.  Mr. Emch paid $100 in gold for a stage ticket to Sacramento City, going thence to San Francisco, where he took a series of baths for rheumatism, which he had contracted in the mines.  He remained about four weeks in the city of the Golden Gate, when he bid a final adieu to the West, and returned to Ohio by the Panama route.  He had been here, however, only about two months, when his roving spirit again got the better of him, and he determined to see more of his Fatherland than he had ever seen before.  He started for Europe, going from New York City to Hamburg, and traveled all through northern Germany, studying its features and the habits of the people.  On the trip he visited relatives of many of his old friends at Woodville, and was thoroughly gratified with the general information that he thus acquired.  It was a pleasant recompense for the dreadful sea voyage, during which they had been almost wrecked, and which consumed twenty-eight days.  On his return trip he remained in Switzerland from July until the following December, and then came back to his home in America.  Before going to Europe he had purchased the farm he now lives on in Woodville township; but farming was not to his taste, so on his return he located in Woodville, buying out Charles Powers' general store, which he conducted until 1874, and then sold out.  He had also carried on an ashery for some time; but having accumulated wealth he did not enter heavily into business; he attributes his success in life greatly to the promptness with which he has always met his obligations.  With the aid of his industrious wife he has cleared up the land that he purchased, and their excellent brick mansion, erected a few years since, is one of the finest in Sandusky county.  At the present time, Mr. Emch is living retired, surrounded by an intelligent family, with all the conveniences of life at hand, and ample means to sustain him.  After the varied career of his early days, he is a well contented man.
     In 1870 Mr. Emch married Miss Louisa Sandwisch, who was born in Woodville township, Sandusky Co., Ohio, March 17, 1844, and five children have blessed their union: Edward, born December 11, 1873, who is now working on his father's farm; William, born May 29, 1875, now a student at Capitol University, Columbus, Ohio, studying for the ministry of the Lutheran Church; Carrie, born December 2, 1876, at home with her parents, and George and Gusta (twins), born December 25, 1879, now attending school at Woodville.  Mrs. Emch is the daughter of Harmon and Catherine (Mergal) Sandwisch, both of whom were born in Hanover, Germany, the father in 1811, the mother in 1809.  Harmon Sandwisch died in Woodville township August 6, 1854, of cholera; he was a blacksmith by trade.  Mrs. Sandwisch is still living, in Toledo.  Their family consists of five children: Mary, widow of Jacob Bischoff, of Toledo, who has five children; Louisa, Mrs. Emch; William R. , living in Fremont, who married Clorinda Swartzman, and has three children; John, of Wood county, Ohio, who married Almira Gallop, and has four children living, and Emma, Mrs. Charles Bradt, of Atlanta, Ga. , who has one child.
Source: Commemorative Biographical Record of the counties of SANDUSKY & OTTAWA, OHIO - J. B. Beers & Co. 1896 - Page 243

FRED EMCH, a well-known and popular citizen of Woodville township, Sandusky county, was born in Switzerland Sept. 17, 1831, and is a son of Urs and Elizabeth (Baumgartner) Emch.
     Urs and Elizabeth (Baumgartner) Emch were the parents of ten children, as follows:  Anna lived in Switzerland and died there; Benjamin died in May, 1884; Elizabeth married Ben Messer, and they had three children (she lived and died in Switzerland); John, a farmer in Wood county, Ohio, married Mary Weiss, and they had thirteen children (he died in 1876); Nicholas, a farmer in Woodville township, sketch of whom will be found at page 319; Urs. Jr., who lives in Woodville township, married Annie Eisch, and they had six children; two children died in infancy; and Fred is the subject of this sketch.  Urs Emch, the father, died in Switzerland in 1835, at the age of forty-five years.  In 1845 his widow came to America with her children, and they remained a short time in Buffalo.  Then, in June, 1845, they came to Ohio, and located in Woodville township, Sandusky county, being among the first settlers in what at that time was called the "Black Swamp."  They bought land commenced to clear it and put up buildings, and the first year, after hard work, they managed to put in fifteen acres of wheat.  There was a good deal of sickness at that time, and one of the children died of dropsy* the same season.  The mother died in 1854, at the age of sixty-one.
     At the age of sixteen, Fred Emch started out in life for himself, first going to Toledo, Ohio, where he worked in a wholesale store about one year.  In 1850 he went to Tiffin, Seneca Co., Ohio, where he learned the gunsmith's trade, following that for about three years.  In 1858 he moved back to Woodville township, Sandusky county, and went into business for himself, and he has made his home here ever since.  On September, 11, 1861, he enlisted in Company G, Thirty-seventh O. V. I., serving as teamster.  They went to West Virginia, where he remained seventeen months, and was in several battles, and later was in Kentucky, for about three weeks, when he was mustered out and returned to Woodville.
     On Mar. 17, 1853, he was united in marriage with Margaret Hoffman, and they had two children, namely: Melinda, who was born Dec. 17, 1853, married Joseph McKinley, and had two children; and Amelia, born Oct. 5, 1859, who died at the age of five years.  Mrs. Emch died at the age of thirty-one years, and was buried in Woodville cemetery.  For his second wife Mr. Emch married Christina Redert, who was born Apr. 28, 1843, and four children have come to them, namely: Mary, who died in infancy; Dora, born Feb. 16, 1865, who married Aaron Unger, a butcher of Woodville township, Sandusky county, and had three children; Etta, born July 2, 1871; and Fred, Jr., born Feb. 22, 1877.  Mrs. Emch is a Democrat in politics, was constable for twelve years, assessor three years, and marshal two years.
Source: Commemorative Biographical Record of the counties of SANDUSKY & OTTAWA, OHIO - J. B. Beers & Co. 1896 - Page 843
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     * Dropsy, also known as edema, is a condition that causes swelling under the skin.  It's a symptom of many diseases, including heart failure, lung problems, malnutrition, liver disease, and pancreatis.

NICHOLAS EMCH was in Switzerland Dec. 27, 1823, and is a son of Urs and Isabel (Baumgartner) Emch, whose children were as follows:  Benjamin, Jacob, John, Nicholas, Samuel, Urs, Frederick and Annie.  Urs Emch was a native of Switzerland, never came to America, and died at the age of forty-five, of colic.
     At the early age of thirteen Nicholas Emch left home, and had to work out for several years.  He learned the shoemaker's trade, which he followed for a number of years.  In 1845 he came with his mother and brothers to America, and they first went to his brother at Perrysburg, Wood Co., Ohio, who had been settled there about four years, but did not remain long.  He and his brothers bought 128 acres, all timber land, cleared a portion and put up a log cabin.  Mr. Emch worked at his trade, when he could get anything in that line to do; also helped on a farm, and followed agricultural pursuits, until 1891.
     In 1849 he was united in marriage with Barbara Flickinger, who was born in Switzerland Jan. 5, 1823, and they were the parents of children as follows: (1) Mary, born Nov. 24, 1850, married Nelson Klink, Sept. 15, 1872, by whom she had three children - Bruce, Roy and Loyd, the last named dying in September, 1893, aged twelve years.  (2) Gottfried, from Dec. 10, 1851, is still single.  (3) Solomon, born Jan. 19, 1854, married Caroline Shriner Mar. 18, 1880, and they have three children - Bertha, Edward and Charley.  (4) Caroline, born May 10, 1855, married John Klink June 28, 1874, and they have four children - Orma, Lilly, Julia and Bessie.  The mother of this family, Barbara (Flickinger) Emch, died June 18, 1856, aged thirty-three years six months.
     On Nov. 1, 1858, Nicholas Emch was married to Rosanna Flickinger, who was born in Switzerland June 18, 1836, and children as follows were the result of their union: William now a farmer of Woodville township, Sandusky county, born Dec. 13, 1859, and married Josephine Snyder on Nov. 27, 1881, by whom he had two children - August and Carrie; Sophia, born Sept. 7, 1861, married Frank Miller, and they have four children - Bertha, Elmer, Clarence and Grace (they reside in Woodville, Sandusky County); Nicholas, Jr., born Nov. 26, 1865, is single and lives at home; Joseph, born Mar. 16, 1868; Ettie, born May 16, 1870, married John Kopp on May 3, 1894, and they live in Woodville, Sandusky county; Louisa born May 17, 1876, and George, born Dec. 4, 1877.  Rosanna Flickinger, now Mrs. Nicholas Emch, came to America with her parents in 1847.  They located in Ohio, rented land for several years, then bought forty acres and built themselves a home, where they passed their remaining days.  Mr. Flickinger died Oct. 17, 1854, at the age of sixty-five; and his wife Apr. 16, 1863, at the age of seventy-one.  In 1890, Mr. Emch leased his land to the Standard Oil Company, and they have since put down wells.  He retired from farming in 1891, and his sons now operate the place.
Source: Commemorative Biographical Record of the counties of SANDUSKY & OTTAWA, OHIO - J. B. Beers & Co. 1896 - Page 319

SOLOMON EMCH, a successful farmer, was born in Woodville township, Sandusky county, Jan. 19, 1854.  He remained at home until his twenty-first birthday, then worked out by the day, being employed at different places for about six years, until the time of his marriage.
     On Mar. 18, 1880, Solomon Emch married Caroline Schreiner who was born in Troy township, Wood county, Sept. 24, 1859, and they have become the parents of three bright children - Bertha, born Dec. 5, 1880; Eddie, born Dec.15, 1882, and Charles, born Mar. 27, 1889.  After his marriage Mr. Emch rented a farm from his cousin, which he worked for about eleven years.  He then bought forty-five acres which cost him $4,200.  In 1894 he leased his land to an oil firm, and they put down three wells, which are in operation daily.  Mr. Emch is very popular, is an honest, upright man, has always worked hard and saved his money, is a good manager and provides well for his family.
Source: Commemorative Biographical Record of the counties of SANDUSKY & OTTAWA, OHIO - J. B. Beers & Co. 1896 - Page 444

Source: Commemorative Biographical Record of the counties of SANDUSKY & OTTAWA, OHIO - J. B. Beers & Co. 1896 - Page 254