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History
of Tuscarawas County, Ohio
Source:
History of Tuscarawas County, Ohio
Chicago: Warner, Beers & Co.
1884
BIOGRAPHIES
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Oxford Twp. -
GEORGE GARDNER, section foreman on the
Pan Handle Railway, Newcomerstown, was born in that city
Jan. 27, 1850, and is a son of William and Susan
(Tufford) Gardner, natives of New Jersey. Our
subject was married to Annetta Pocock, Feb. 20, 1879,
also born in Newcomerstown, Feb. 23, 1856. She is a
daughter of Elisha and Emma C. (Hand) Pocock; the
former, a blacksmith of German extraction, was born Feb. 5,
1821, in Maryland; the latter was born Jan. 5, 1824 in New
Jersey. They were married in 1842. Our subject
is a parent of one child living, Clarence E., born
Sept. 4, 1880. Two are deceased, one died in infancy,
and Bernice, born Dec. 10, 1882, died Feb. 22, 1883. Mr.
Gardner has acted as section foreman on the Pan Handle
Railway for five years. He is a member of the Masonic
order, connected with No. 175, Newcomerstown, and his wife
is a member of the M. P. Church.
Source: History of Tuscarawas County, Ohio - Chicago:
Warner, Beers & Co., 1884 - Page 869 |
Oxford Twp. -
IRA GARDNER, butcher, Newcomerstown,
was born Jan. 1, 1853, in this county, and is a son of
William and Susan (Tufford) Gardner, natives of New
Jersey. Our subject was married Mar. 19, 1882, to
Minnie, daughter of E. S. and Samantha (Frost) Pocock,
of New Jersey, the former living, the latter deceased.
Mr. and Mrs. Gardner are the parents of one child,
Charles Edwin, born Oct. 26, 1882. Our subject's
parents were early settlers of this county, his father being
by occupation a carpenter. Mr. Ira Gardner is
the youngest of ten children, five boys and five girls, two
of the latter deceased.
Source: History of Tuscarawas County, Ohio - Chicago:
Warner, Beers & Co., 1884 - Page 869 |
Oxford Twp. -
WILLIAM H. GARDNER, drayman,
Newcomerstown, was born in this county in 1844, and is a son
of William and Susan (Tufford) Gardner, natives of
New Brunswick, N. J. The former, who was a farmer, was
born in 1798, and died April 24, 1876; the latter was born
Mar. 27, 1810, and died May 10, 1878; she came to this
county at the age of six years. They were married in
1829, and are both buried in Newcomerstown. The latter
was of German, and former of English descent. They
were the parents of ten children, five boys and five girls,
viz., Margaret, Catherine, Annis, Sarah Ann
(deceased), Josephine, Alvin, William, John, George
and Ira; Catherine and Alvin are
single. Our subject was married, Dec. 24, 1873, to
Martha Packer, born in Carroll County, Ohio, in 1842,
daughter of Samuel and Eliza Jane (West) Packer, both
deceased. Mr. Gardner has been a drayman for
seven years, and by trade is a stone-mason. He is a
member of the order of Odd Fellows and during the war was a
member of the One Hundred and Seventy-eighth Regiment
Company H, serving eleven months. He participated in
the battles of Kingston and Murfreesboro, Tenn. He
worked for nine years on the Pan handle Railway.
Mr. Gardner's wife's father was a native of Jersey, her
mother of London, England. Her father died Sept. 17,
1869, aged fifty-six years; her mother died about the year
1848, aged twenty-two years.
Source: History of Tuscarawas County, Ohio - Chicago:
Warner, Beers & Co., 1884 - Page 869 |
Fairfield Twp. -
LEWIS GECKELER, farmer and
stock-raiser, P. O. Zoar Station, was born in the kingdom of
Wurtemberg, Germany, Dec. 22, 1828. He so emigrated to
America in 1850, and settled in Tuscarawas County.
Three years later, he married Ann Grove, a native of this
county. Of their eleven children, ten are living -
William, John G., Lewis, Emma, Frederick, Louisa,
George, Margaret A., Charles and Henry.
Mrs. Geckeler died Apr. 8, 1872. She
had been a member of the Lutheran Church and a good wife and
kind mother. For his second wife, Mr. Geckeler
married her sister, Emeline Grove.
One child - Mary Malvina - has been born to
them. Mr. Geckeler has been
industrious and successful in life, as his fine farm of 240
acres amply proves. Its value is enhanced by a
splendid residence and other good buildings upon it.
He also owns a valuable farm of 146 acres in Stark County.
Mr. Geckeler takes great interest in
raising fine stock, and has many domestic animals of
valuable breeds upon the premises. He is a Democrat
and has served his township as Trustee and Treasurer, and is
a member of the Lutheran Church. Fairfield Township
has no more upright citizen nor more reliable business man
than Lewis Geckeler.
Source: History of Tuscarawas County, Ohio - Chicago:
Warner, Beers & Co., 1884 - Page 766 |
Lawrence Twp. -
VALENTINE, DAVID and LYDIA GIBLER, farmers, P. O.
Bolivar, are the children of Henry and Mary (Rhinehart)
Gibler, who emigrated from Pennsylvania to Stark
County, Ohio, in 1810-11, and in 1825 removed to this
township, settling on the farm, near Bolivar, on which
stand the ruins of Fort Laurens. Henry and Mary
Gibler had six children; Aaron died in 1837;
Henry, in1859, and John in 1877. Of the
three survivors, Valentine was born July 23,
1833; David, Apr. 27, 1836; Lydia Ann,
Apr. 19, 1840. They are all unmarried, and reside
on the home farm, which they till in common.
Mrs. Mary Gibler died Oct. 23, 1873.
Henry Gibler commenced life for himself
with 25 cents. Nearly all the furniture and other
necessary articles he himself made. Wheat was then
cut with a sickle, threshed with al flail, cleaned by
shaking in a sheet before the wind, and hauled on a sled
on the bare ground to Canton, where a bushel was
exchanged for a pound of coffee, and the balance of the
load for a very little calico. The fine farm on
which our subjects reside cost their father $150.
It is one of the best in the township, and from its
generous crops they have accumulated a sufficient
competency. Valentine and David Gibler are
Republicans. Their great grandfather was one of
the soldiers who garrisoned Fort Laurens in 1778-79.
Source: History of Tuscarawas County, Ohio - Chicago:
Warner, Beers & Co., 1884 - Page 784 |
Lawrence Twp. -
MRS. MAGDALINE GIBLER,
farmer, P. O. Bolivar, widow of John Gibler,
was born Aug. 6, 1833, the daughter of Daniel and
Magdaline (Swank) Younkman, natives of Pennsylvania,
who emigrated to Stark County, Ohio, in 1810-11.
Our subject was the eighth child in a family of twelve
children. She was married, in 1852, to John
Gibler, son of Henry Gibler. He died
Oct. 10, 1877, leaving the following seven children:
Mary E., Melissa J., William H., David V., Lydia Ann,
Adaline F. and John Franklin. Melissa J. is
the wie of Henry Spohnhaner, and Mary E.
of Nathan Bose, of Stark County. Mrs.
Gibler resides on an excellent farm located near
bolivar, where her children have the advantages of the
best schools. Her sons manage the farm for her.
Source: History of Tuscarawas County, Ohio - Chicago:
Warner, Beers & Co., 1884 - Page
186 |
|
Clay Twp. -
S. S. GINTHER, farmer, P. O. Lock 17, was born in the county
June 22, 1832, the son of
John A. and Lydia
(Demuth) Ginther, who were among the earliest pioneers of the county, and
came from Pennsylvania. The subject of this sketch was reared
to manhood on the farm, receiving what education the common schools afforded. He was married in 1858, to
Mary Demuth born Sept. 30, 1841, and
daughter of Daniel and Maria (Simmers),
Demuth, who were also among the foremost settlers of the county. The family of our subject consists of
nine children – Ella Cora, born Sept.
30, 1859, the wife of Franklin Peter,
of this township; Jesse D., born Jan.
8, 1861, and died at the age of thirteen years;
Carrie May, born May 7, 1864; Alice C. born Sept. 22,
1866; Ada Belle, born Jan. 1, 1869;
Eva Maria, born June 21, 1871;
Charles Wesley, born Feb. 19, 1874;
Maud Pearl, born Aug. 22, 1876; and
Claud Lester, born Mar. 23, 1880.
Mr. Ginther was five months in service as a member of the One Hundred and Sixty-first Ohio
National Guard, which was stationed in Maryland and Virginia, and was at Shenandoah,
Staunton, Lexington, Lynchburg, Sweet Sulphur, White Sulphur
Springs, June 28, 1864; Harpers Ferry, June 2-5; Maryland Heights, July 5-8; Martinburg and Shepherdstown.
Mr. Ginther is a member of the Moravian Church, of which he
was Trustee and is Elder at the present time.
Source: History of Tuscarawas County, Ohio -
Chicago: Warner, Beers & Co., 1884 - Page 735
|
Bucks Twp. -
JACOB S. GONTER,
farmer, P. O. Bakersville, was born in Dover Township June
28, 1813, son of George and Magdaleen, who came to
this County from Pennsylvania in 1810. George
Gonter was a native of Somerset County, and his wife of
Chester County, Penn. They reared a family of twelve
children. Jacob S. was raised on the farm, and
in 1840 was married to Elizabeth Stilgenbauer, whose
father, Peter, emigrated from Germany to Ohio in
1835. Mr. and Mrs. Gonter have seven children -
Sophia, Elizabeth, Mary Jane, Luellen, Sylvester, Adaline
and George. The family are members of the
Lutheran Church. Mr. Gonter has been a member
of the School Board. He has resided on his present
farm since 1853, and was obliged to build a cabin before he
could settle here.
Source: History of Tuscarawas County, Ohio - Chicago:
Warner, Beers & Co., 1884 - Page 729 |
Oxford Twp. -
DR. JOHN W. S. GOUDY, of the firm of
Goudy & Sons, dealers in groceries, glassware,
queensware, provisions, etc., Newcomerstown, Ohio, is a son
of Andrew and Nancy Goudy, and was born Jan. 13,
1833, in Brooke County, W. Va. In 1845, his father
emigrated to Warrenton, Jefferson Co., Ohio, where he
received his educational training, at intervals assisting
his father, who was largely engaged in mercantile pursuits.
In his eighteenth year, he entered the medical office of
Dr. James M. Kelly, a very distinguished physician of
Warrenton, with whom he remained one year, then going to
finish his course of study with Dr. William M.
Worthington, formerly Physician to the Marine Hospital,
Cincinnati, Ohio, after which he entered the Jefferson
Medical College of Philadelphia, and there finished his
collegiate course in March, 1855. Immediately after
leaving college, he set out to find a suitable location, and
was influenced by his brother-in-law, Dr. S. R. Thompson,
to locate in Uhrichsville. On Mar. 27, 1855, he opened
an office in the Commercial House, then kept by William
McCullom. A good professional income was soon
secured. On Feb. 28, 1858, he married Ann Eliza
Huston, a daughter of Jacob and Margaret A. Huston,
a young lady of most remarkable gifts - handsome,
accomplished, a leader in every circle in which she entered.
To her the Doctor ascribes nearly all of his successful
professional life. The fruits of this marriage are two
sons. The oldest, John H. was born Jan. 23,
1859, and married Lottie E. Richmond, daughter of
John Richmond, of Evansburg, Coshocton Co., Ohio; the
youngest, Rollin A., born Oct. 30, 1863, who is a law
student, and at home. Feb. 1, 1860, the Doctor came to
Newcomerstown, and on Apr. 1, following, brought his family.
Immediately upon his locating here, he began a course of
unusual professional success. Although a young man, he
at once became a leader in his profession, and has
maintained it to this day, standing as one of the most
prominent physicians of the Tuscarawas Valley. In his
eighteenth year, he joined the Methodist Episcopal Church,
of which his parents were members. In 1865, the
Methodist Episcopal Church had no church building in
Newcomerstown. The society was small and poor.
However, it was determined to build a church. In this,
as in everything else that the Doctor took hold of, success
followed. Assisted by John W. Ayers, they
procured what they could by subscription, which was not one
half required, and then they borrowed the balance, giving
their own individual pledges as security for it. The
church was completed, and today the Methodist Episcopal
Church of Newcomerstown is largely indebted for its strength
and influence to Dr. Goudy, sided by John H. Ayers
and A. C. Tufford. He is yet in the prime of
life, of large wealth, active, energetic, and of indomitable
perseverance in whatever he undertakes. The Doctor is
a widower, having lost his wife in June, 1882.
Source: History of Tuscarawas County, Ohio - Chicago:
Warner, Beers & Co., 1884 - Page 869 |
Wayne Twp. -
CHRISTIAN
GRABER, cheese manufacturer, P. O. Dundee, is a
native of Switzerland, born May 2, 1841, and is a son of
Ulrich and Magdalina (Rufend) Graber. His parents
reared a family of four children - John, Frederick, Mary
Ann, wife of Solomon Bowman, and Christian
all of whom came to America, the parents remaining in their
native country where they died. Our subject married
Miss Susanna, daughter of Jacob and Susanna (Myers)
Boss, natives of Switzerland, where they lived to the
close of their lives. To this union have been born
three children - Susanna, Christian and
Louis. The family are members of the German
Reformed Church. Mr. Graber has been engaged in
the cheese business for about twelve years, and manufactures
on a large scale, making about 250 cheeses per season.
He came to this county in April, 1881, and settled in Wayne
Township.
Source: History of Tuscarawas County, Ohio - Chicago:
Warner, Beers & Co., 1884 - Page 995 |
Sugar Creek Twp. -
CHRISTIAN
GRAF, tanner, Shanesville, was born in the canton of Berne,
Switzerland, Dec. 31, 1835. His parents ended their
days in their mountain home in the mother country. One
of the sons is at present Principal of the city school of
the capital. The family are all scattered; four of
them are in the State of Ohio. Our subject emigrated
to America in 1854, and worked for thirteen months in
Virginia, and then traveled for two years as a journeyman
tanner, visiting the cities of St. Louis, New Orleans
(during the yellow fever epidemic in 1855), Chicago and
Milwaukee. In 1858, he came to Shanesville, where he
has since remained. He was married, Feb. 9, 1858, to
Miss Elizabeth Zimmerman, also a native of Berne,
Switzerland. To this union were born six children, of
whom three are living - Emma, wife of
John Davy, Mineral Point, Ohio;
Hattie, teacher, Rowville, Ohio, and Mary,
at home. Mrs. Graf died on Feb. 9,
1873. She was a member of the German Reformed Church,
and was a faithful wife and kind mother. Mr.
Graf subsequently married Miss Maggie
Norigan, a native of Harrison County, Ohio, and by
this union has had one child - Norrie.
Our subject has been engaged in tanning ever since his
residence here. He now owns the only tannery in the
township of Shanesville. He carries on an extensive
business, and has a large custom from the neighboring
counties. He is a member of the German Reformed
Church, and in politics is a Democrat.
Source: History of Tuscarawas County, Ohio - Chicago:
Warner, Beers & Co., 1884 - Page 935 |
|
Clay Twp. -
DAVID GRAM,
Sr., farmer, P. O. Gnadenhutten, was born in
Lancaster County, Penn., Mar. 1,
1807, son of Henry and Esther (Souder)
Gram, who in 1808 emigrated to the Tuscarawas
Valley, and settled in Clay Township.
David was raised on the farm, and
received his education in an old log schoolhouse.
He worked on the Ohio Canal
in his youth, and in 1830 married Sybilla
Colver, of this county. Of their
ten children, Louisa (wife of
Josiah Blickensderfer),
Sarah and
Lewis S., and five infants, are deceased; David H. resides in this county, and John T. is a salesman in a New York
store.
David H. enlisted in a California regiment, and served through the war;
John T., was a drummer boy, and
Lewis was fifer in the 100 days’
service.
Mrs. Gram died in 1865, and in 1866
Mr. Gram was remarried. By his second marriage he has had six
children – Jesse P.,
Harvey B., Alice
R., Franklin W., Ida Pearl and Anna
Belle. Mr. Gram received a
heritage of 100 acres, and by his industry added to it 400 acres. He has recently erected a residence
at Gnadenhutten, and has retired to private life.
He has served his township thirty-four years as Justice of the Peace, and
is still in office; for two terms he was
County
Commissioner.
He is Republican in politics, and has been an Elder in the
Moravian
Church, of which
Mrs. Gram is also a member.
Source: History of Tuscarawas County, Ohio -
Chicago: Warner, Beers & Co., 1884 - Page 735
|
Salem Twp. -
ISAAC GRAY (deceased) was a resident
and a farmer of Salem Township. He was born in
Guernsey County, Ohio, Sept. 9, 1820, son of John and
Sarah Gray, natives of Virginia, and emigrated to Ohio,
where John Gray died; his widow died in Iowa.
Isaac Gray was engaged in farming most of his life,
and at the time of his death owned 199 acres of land.
He was for many years a local minister in the Methodist
Episcopal Church. He was for many years a local
minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was
united in marriage, Feb. 28, 1839, with Mary Hide, born in
Pennsylvania Sept. 11, 1822, daughter of Andrew and Mary
Hide, both of whom died in Ohio. Of the eleven
children born to Mr. and Mrs. Gray, eight survive,
viz., John, Andrew, Mary M., William B., Rachel C.,
Martha H., Isaac W. and George E.; the deceased are
William H., Sarah E. and Eliza A. Mrs. Gray
survives her husband and is a member of the Methodist
Episcopal Church.
Source: History of Tuscarawas County, Ohio - Chicago:
Warner, Beers & Co., 1884 - Page
903 |
|
Goshen Twp. -
CHARLES
F. GRINNELL, weighmaster Brock Hill Mine, Pike
Run, was born in Tioga County, Penn., March 22, 1853.
His father Edward Grinnell, was also a native of the
Keystone State, and was engaged in the lumber business.
He went to Kansas about three years ago. He married
Catherine Kimball, who died in 1867. She was the
mother of seven children, our subject the only one in this
county; one brother, James, is Superintendent of the
Garfield and Camp Creek coal miles of Stark County, Ohio,
Charles F. was raised in his native State and in
early life assisted his father in the lumber business.
In 1873, he came to Pike Run, and commenced work "on the
outside" of Mine No. 1. He then accepted position of
weighmaster; held that two years, then went to Camp Creek
Shaft, Stark County, Ohio, but a year later resumed present
position, which he has since held. Mr. Grinnell
is a Chancellor Commander of the La Belle Lodge, No. 160, K.
of P. of Barnhill; member of the Plains Methodist Episcopal
Church, and Superintendent of its Sunday school. He
was married, January 4, 1876, to Ellen, daughter of
John McClelland. They had three children -
May, Lulu and Ollie. Wife died February 1,
1881 and Mr. Grinnell was again married, August 28,
1882, to Jane McClelland, his sister of his first
wife. Mrs. Grinnell is also a member of the
Plains Church. Mr. Grinnell is a Republican in
politics, and has served as Director of School District No.
4, of Goshen Township.
Source: History of Tuscarawas County, Ohio - Chicago:
Warner, Beers & Co., 1884 - Page 703 |
Sugar Creek Twp. -
JACOB GROH, wagon-maker,
Shanesville, was born in Rhine-Prussia Oct. 17, 1831.
His parents, John and Margaret Groh,
emigrated to this country, and passed their last days in
Auburn Township, Tuscarawas County. They were
industrious, honest people, and died having the respect of
all who knew them. Our subject obtained his education
in the fatherland, and in 1852 came to Tuscarawas Co., Ohio,
living for two years each in Ragersville and Dundee, thence
coming to Shanesville, where he has since resided. He
was married, Mar. 9, 1856, to Miss Elizabeth
Schlarbs, also a native of Germany. To this
union have been born ten children, viz., Clara
(wife of John Hachtel), Amelia,
John, Jacob, Frederick, Anna, Lottie, Alice, Victoria
and Robert. Mr. Groh
supports the principles of the Democratic party, and, with
his wife. is a member of the German Reformed Church.
They have given their children good educational advantages,
both literary and musical. Mr. Groh
carries on a general wagon and carriage and repair shop, and
has a good trade, which he has established by his reputation
for good, honest workmanship. He and his wife have
raised a large family of intelligent and moral young people
who reflect much credit upon their parents.
Source: History of Tuscarawas County, Ohio - Chicago:
Warner, Beers & Co., 1884 - Page 935 |
Salem Twp. -
BENJAMIN F. GROSS, proprietor of
planing mill, Port Washington, was born in this county Oct.
28, 1847. His mother, Malinda, is a native of
Port Washington; his father, Benedict Gross, of
Switzerland. Both are still living and reside at Lock
17. Benjamin Gross began life for himself as a
clerk. He was afterward engaged in the stock business
in Iowa, and in 1877, began dealing in lumber and
manufacturing doors, blinds, sashes, etc., at Port
Washington. He is an enterprising and energetic young
man, and has been very successful in his business. He
was married, May 22, 1879, to Anna J. Hay, who was
born in Coshocton County Mar. 22, 1862. Two children
have been born to them - Robert B. and Harry.
Source: History of Tuscarawas County, Ohio - Chicago:
Warner, Beers & Co., 1884 - Page
903 |
Dover Twp. -
PETER GROSS, wagon manufacturer,
Dover, established business in this city in 1856, occupying
an old building on his present premises, and to which he has
built a large and commodious manufactory. This ground
he subsequently purchased, and on the adjoining lot erected
his residence. He has large and lucrative trade, and
is one of the active business men of the city. Mr.
Gross is a native of Prussia, where he was born in 1831,
embarking in 1852 for this country, and coming direct from
New York to Dover, where he landed on June 16. He was
married in 1857 to Miss Margaret Zeigle, a native of
Hessen, Germany, and a daughter of Adam Zeigle, of
this county. Six children born to this union are all
living, their names as follows: Mary, Maggie, Anna,
Lizzie, Freddie and John. Mr. Gross is
serving his fifth term in the City Council, being the oldest
of the city fathers at present; he has also filled other
offices for eight terms. He is a trustee of the St.
Joseph's Catholic Church, of which he is a member.
Source: History of Tuscarawas County, Ohio - Chicago:
Warner, Beers & Co., 1884 - Page
748 |
NOTES: |
