BIOGRAPHIES

Source:
A History of Seneca County, Ohio
A Narrative Account of its Historical Progress,
in People, and in its Principal Interests
- Illustrated -
- Vol. II -
Publ. The Lewis Publishing Company
Chicago-New York
1911

Helen M. Heath E. E. Heath	HELEN M. HEATH. - Americans are beginning to realize the moral as well as the historical significance of genealogical foundations.  A nation which relies upon the record of its homes for its national character cannot afford to ignore the value of genealogical investigation as one of the truest sources of patriotism.  The love of home inspires the love of country.  There is a wholesome influence in genealogical research which cannot be over estimated.  Moreover, there is a deep human interest in it.      Helen M. (Shaw) Heath is the daughter and the widow of American citizens who contributed in generous measure to the civic and material development of the communities which represented their homes during their long and useful lives.  She was born in Seneca county, Ohio, on the 31st of August, 1846, and is a daughter of Captain JOSEPH and Rachel Ogdon (Price) SHAW, both of whom are now deceased.  Captain Shaw was a native of the old Empire state of the Union, his birth having occurred in Scipio township, Cayuga county, New York, on the 20th of March, 1811.  He was a son of Robert Shaw, born in New York in 1785, a farmer by occupation.  After attaining to his legal majority, Robert Shaw wedded Miss Sarah Keller and in 1836 they came to Seneca county, Ohio, locating in Scipio township, on several hundred acres of land eligibly situated on Morrison creek.  They became the parents of ten children, namely: Mary, Eliza, Joseph, Matilda, Sallie, Silas, George, Roxa, Jerome and Alfred, all of whom are deceased.  Robert Shaw was summoned to the life eternal Aug. 14, 1864, and his cherished and devoted wife passed away in 1868.  Captain Shaw was reared and educated in his native county and as a young man he became captain of an Erie canal boat, continuing to be identified with that line of enterprise for a period of seven years.  In 1841 he removed to Scipio township, Seneca county, and engaged in agricultural pursuits, owning a fine farm two and a half miles west of Republic.  Just prior to his advent in Ohio he married Rachel Ogden Price, of Genoa, New York.  To this union were born three children, namely: Jane E., who became the wife of Captain George Tubbs; Helen M., the immediate subject of this review; and Annie E. who is the wife of G. R. Hemingway, traveling salesman for the Hess & Clark Company, with headquarters at Ashland, Ohio.      In 1850 Captain Shaw, with is family, returned to New York and for twenty years thereafter he was actively engaged as hotel proprietor at various points in New York.  He returned to his farm near Republic in 1870, but the closing years of his life were passed at Republic, where he died Aug. 20, 1877.  His widow long survived him, her death occurring on Mar. 30, 1900, at Ashland.  Captan Captain Shaw was a man of fine mentality and broad human sympathy and he is held in reverent memory by all who knew him.      Jane E. Shaw, the eldest daughter, was born Nov. 27, 1843, in Scipio township, Seneca county, Ohio, and on the 26th of May, 1868, at Candor, New York, she was united in marriage to Captain George Tubbs, a native of Elmira, New York, where his birth occurred on the 19th of May, 1833.  At the time of the in ception of the Civil war he gave most effective aid in organizing the One Hundred and Forty-first Regiment of New York Infantry, in which he served as second lieutenant of Company I.  Later he was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant and at the battle of Resaca he was wounded by a minie ball, which struck him in the right foot.  After his recovery he was given charge of an invalid corps for a short time but later was detailed as topographical engineer on the staff of General Knipe, commanding a brigade of the First Division of the Twentieth Army Corps.  Subsequently, on the march from Savannah through the Carolinas, he was appointed topographical engineer on the staff of General Jefferson C. Davis, of Indiana, who commanded the Fourteenth Army Corps.  He was with Sherman on his march to the sea and on his staff in the Grand Review in the city of Washington, at the close of the war.      Captain Tubbs returned to his home in the Empire state, when peace had again been established, and there he was married and at Candor, Tioga county, that state, conducted an iron foundry for four years.  In 1872 he emigrated to Ohio and established his home at Republic.  He ever retained a deep interest in his old comrades in arms and signified the same by membership in Robinson Post, Grand Army of the Republic, at Republic.  He served as commander of Robinson Post and in his civic life he was mayor of Republic and was serving his second term as justice of the peace at the time of his death, on the 2nd of March, 1899.  His wife survives him and she has long been an active factor in Relief Corps work, having filled the position of president of Robinson Women’s Relief Corps for no less than five terms.  She is also a member of the Reading Circle and the Daughters of Rebekah.  Captain and Mrs. Tubbs became the parents of three children.  Joseph K. who was born at Candor, New York, on the 27th of September, 1870, married Hattie L. Crapsey, of Bradner, Ohio,  May 5, 1898, and they maintain their home at Velasco, Texas; Robert M., who was born at Republic, Ohio, on the 22nd of June, 1873, is a resident of Ashland, Ohio, where was solemnized his marriage to Mary E. Brinton, of that city, the date of the ceremony being June 23, 1906 and they have two children: Florence E., born June 13, 1907; Robert Edward, born Jan. 22, 1909; and Charles E., born Mar. 30, 1875, died Aug. 1, 1907.      Helen M. (Shaw) Heath was a child of but four years at the time of her parents’ removal to New York, in which state she was reared and educated.  On the 1st of December, 1869, at Candor, New York, was celebrated her marriage to Edward E. Heath, who died June 18, 1905.  Mr. Heath was born in Tompkins county, New York, Feb. 12, 1843, and was a son of James Heath, who removed with his family to Hartford, New York, in 1849, to the public schools of which place Mr. Heath was indebted for his educational training.  When seventeen years of age he entered upon an apprenticeship at the tinner’s trade, at Homer, New York, and he was thus engaged until the 21st of August, 1862, when he manifested his intrinsic loyalty to the cause of the Union by enlisting as a private in Company H, One Hundred and Fifty seventh New York Infantry, at Hamilton, where he was mustered into service.  His term of enlistment was for three years.  He participated in many engagements marking the progress of the war, in the first of which, at Chancellorsville, he was severely wounded by a minnie ball, which passed through his left thigh and lodged against the bone of his right leg.  He was in the field hospital for three days, after which he was sent to a hospital in Washington, where he remained for seventeen days, during which time the ball was extracted.  After his recovery he was sent to David’s Island and on the 1st of September. 1863, he was transferred to Fort Schuyler.  Later he was at Bedloe’s Island and at Alexandria, Virginia, where he was put on detached service, being thus engaged until his discharge, at the close of his term of three years.  He had been a most faithful soldier and was mustered out of service on the 14th of July, 1865, as first sergeant, having been promoted to the rank of corporal before leaving New York.      At the close of the war Mr. Heath took up his abode at Homer, New York, where he followed his trade for two years.  He then removed to candor, Tioga county, where he was engaged in the hardware business until 1874, which year  marked his advent in Republic, Ohio.  This change was made on account of Mrs. Heath's impaired health.  Being much benefited by the change, permanent location was made in Seneca county and Mr. Heath turned his attention to the buying and selling of walnut timber.  Subsequently he engaged in the tinware and hardware business at Republic and prior to his death he was connected with the oil industry at Rollersville, Ohio, for a number of years.  In politics, Mr. Heath was ever aligned as a stalwart supporter of the principles and was ever aligned as a stalwart supporter of the principals and policies of the Republican party and he held membership in Robinson Post, Grand Army of the Republic, in which he gave most efficient service as commander.  Mr. Heath was an influential factor in public affairs, showing a deep and intelligent interest in all enterprises tending to advance the general welfare.  He was long a member of the town council of Republic and served on the fire and water committee.  For more than a score of years he was correspondent for the Tiffin Tribune and he had various financial and real estate interests of broad scope and importance.  He was a valued and appreciative member of Republic Lodge, No. 40, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and at the time of his death.  June 18, 1905, his funeral was in charge of this order.  Many celebrated members from New York and various points in Ohio attended the services and his remains were interred in Fairwell Retreat Cemetery, at Republic.  He was a man of quick perception and extraordinary executive ability, was modest and unassuming, a home lover who sought and found his chief pleasure by his own fireside in the companionship of his family and devoted friends.      Mar. Heath is a woman of most gracious personality and broad mental ken.  She has traveled extensively throughout the United States, visiting its many large cities and celebrated health resorts.  She has considerable literary talent and devotes much of her time to writing, being a correspondent for and a contributor to several prominent periodicals.  Though she is now past sixty years of age she scarcely looks for, her clear vision and splendid vigor being wonderfully preserved.  Her sister, Mrs. Tubbs, resides with her, as already stated, and she accompanies Mrs. Heath on her extensive travels.  She is an ardent worker in the Women's Relief Corps, in which she has served as treasurer, and is past noble grand in the Daughters of Rebekah.  She is also a member of the Eastern Star and secretary of the Daughters of America.  She has taken a prominent part in the work of this letter organization and has been delegate to the state meetings of the order on various occasions.  Her religious faith is in harmony with the tenets of the Presbyterian church, to whose charities and benevolences she has ever been a liberal contributor.      Anna E., youngest daughter of Joseph and Rachel O. Shaw, was born at Sycamore, Wyandot county, Ohio, Feb. 22, 1849.  She was united in marriage to Grace R. Hemingway, at Candor, New York, on the 30th of December, 1868.  In 1870 Mr. and Mrs. Hemingway removed to Republic, Ohio, and to them were born three children: Rachel Blanche, Ella Maud and Amy Winona.  Rachel Blanche was born at Republic, Ohio, July 26, 1871, and she is now the wife of Frank L. Heath, of Candor, New York, the date of her marriage being June 14, 1899.  Ella Maud was likewise a native of Republic, the date of her birth being May 7, 1873.  She was summoned to eternal rest on the 11th of September, 1873, at which time she was an infant of but four months of age.  Amy Winona, bor at Republic, on the 14th of June, 1877, married Emory E. Brown, of Ashland, on the 12th of September, 1900.  They reside at Ashland and have one son, Joseph H. whose birth occurred April, 23, 1908. SOURCE: A History of Seneca County, Ohio - Vol. II - 1911 - Page 657
	ALBERT E. HEILMAN - An energetic and enterprising business man of Tiffin, Albert E. Heilman is meeting with well merited success in his operations, as a dealer in new and second hand furniture having built up a thriving trade.  A native born citizen of Tiffin, his birth occurring Apr. 28, 1877, he is a son of John Heilman.      Having acquired his elementary knowledge in the city schools, he took a full commercial course at the Heidelberg College, completing his studies in 1895.  Learning then the trade of a boiler maker, he followed it until 1904.  In that year Mr. Heilman opened a second hand store at No. 1 South Washington street, where he has since been located.  He has been exceedingly fortunate in his enterprise, winning a large and lucrative patronage.  He handles both new and second hand furniture of all kinds, and makes a specialty of repairing, that part of his business being of much importance.      Mr. Heilman married Sophia Borgee, and they have one child, Vera Heilman.  Mr. Heilman is affiliated with the Democratic party, but is not active in politics.  He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and both he and Mrs. Heilman belong to the German Lutheran church. SOURCE: A History of Seneca County, Ohio - Vol. II - 1911 - Page 709
	WILLIAM HARMON HOMAN. - A man of honest worth, endowed with the habits of thrift and industry characteristic of his German ancestors, William Harmon Homan holds an assured position among the respected and valued residents in Tiffin.  A son of the late George Homan, he was born, Feb. 3, 1871, in Findlay?, Hancock county, Ohio, but has spent the greater part of his life in Tiffin.      George Homan was born, reared and married in Germany.  Learning the trade of a printer, he followed it in the Fatherland until 1860, when he came with his wife and children to the United States, locating first in Buffalo, New York.  After working in a printing office in that city for eight years, he moved to Findlay, Ohio, where he had charge of a boarding house for four years.  Going to Fremont, Ohio, in 1872, he conducted the Fremont Courier five years, when he sold out.  Coming from there to Tiffin, he established the first, and only German newspaper of Seneca county, which he managed from 1881 until 1893.  He was quite active in public affairs, and in 1888 was elected sheriff of Seneca county, and served until his death about six months before the expiration of his term of service.  His wife, whose maiden name was Catherine Florian, was born in Berlin, Germany, his native city, and is now living with her son, William H., who is the eighth child in order of birth of her family of nine children, a part of whom were born in Germany.      Brought up and educated in Tiffin, William H. Homan began learning the jewelry business when but fourteen years of age, and has made that his life occupation, being a skilful and artistic workman.  During his younger days, however, Mr. Homan worked with his father to some extent as a newspaper man, and also served as deputy sheriff under his father.  He is a Democrat in politics, and a member of the German Catholic church.  Mr. Homan married, Apr. 9, 1907, Gertrude M. Smith. SOURCE: A History of Seneca County, Ohio - Vol. II - 1911 - Page 691