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JACOB F.
ACKOM, of Harrison
township, Van Wert county, Ohio, was born in Marion county, Ohio,
April 29, 1841. His father, PETER ACKOM,
was born near Darmstadt, Germany, was a tailor by trade, and was a
soldier in the German army, attaining the rank of captain.
While in the army he married Margaret Rudle, who bore
him seven children, six of whom are still living, viz; Jacob F.,
Mary, Catherine, Peter, Margaret and Elizabeth. In
1834 Mr. Ackom came to America and located in Marion
county, Ohio, on fifty-one acres of land, which he sold in 1859, and
then came to Van Wert county and bought 110 acres, of which eighty
acres are in Harrison township and thirty acres are in Harrison
township and thirty acres in Pleasant township. This land he
improved and cultivated until his death, which occurred in 1868, at
the age of sixty-seven years. Mr. and Mrs.
Ackom were members of the German Reform church, in which he
was an elder, and in politics he was a democrat.
Jacob F. Ackom was about eighteen years of age when he
came to Van Wert county with his father. May 15, 1862, he
married Miss Rebecca Baxter, daughter of Thomas and Nancy
(Suddeth) Baxter, who are both now deceased. He enlisted,
first, in an independent company, state guards, and was mustered
into the United States service at Camp Cleveland, Ohio, in May,
1864, for the term of 100 days, but served until honorably
discharged in September, 1864, as commissary sergeant. On his
return home he resumed his trade as carpenter, and for four years
lived in Van Wert. He bought his present farm in 1870.
It then comprised sixteen acres only, but he has sine increased it
to fifty-four acres, and improved it with substantial buildings,
constructed with his own hands. In 1869, also, he engaged in
the undertaking business, which he successfully conducted for
sixteen years. He has also devoted considerable attention to
the insurance business, and for two terms has been a director in the
Farmers' Mutual Aid association of Van Wert county.
The union of Mr. Ackom with Rebecca
Baxter has been blessed with four children, viz:
Rosecranz S., John J. (who died at the age of two
years), Nettie A. and Dora, wife of John
Snyder, of Harrison township. The eldest, Rosecranz S.,
has been school teacher for seven years. He married Eliza
Pruden, who has borne him five children. Mr. and Mrs.
Ackom are members of the Baptist church, and in politics Mr.
Ackom is a republican. He is a member of Capper post, G.
A. R., of Convoy, and for two terms held the position of
quartermaster, and is also a member of the grange, of which he has
served as master for four years. He and his devoted wife are
greatly respected by the citizens of Harrison and adjoining
townships, not only for their intelligence and morality, but for
their patriotism, which was made manifest by the young wife when her
newly-made husband volunteered to aid in the suppression of the
Rebellion. The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Ackom
-
Elias Suddeth - lived to the remarkable age of 113
years, dying in Harrison county, Ohio, and his eleven children also
attained an extraordinary longevity.
Source: A Portrait and Biographical Record of Allen and Van
Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co. - 1896 - Page
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HARVEY ADAMS
Source: A Portrait and Biographical Record of Allen and Van
Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co. - 1896 - Page
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DELLES E. AGLER,
a member of the firm of Longsworth & Agler, photographers of
Van Wert, Ohio, was born in Liberty township, Van Wert county, Feb.
6, 1869, and is a son of Wert Agler, whose biography is on
page 471.
Mr. Agler was reared to manhood on a farm,
enjoyed the advantages of the common schools of his youth, and also
attended the Rockford schools for a period of two years. In
the month of September, 1889, he entered a photographic studio in
Van Wert, where he remained until he became proficient in the art of
photography, and then, in 1890, went to 'saint Mary's, and there
opened a studio of his own, on which he followed the profession he
had chosen until his studio was burned out in April, 1893, when he
returned to Van Wert, where he became engaged as operator for J.
E. Smith, remaining thus engaged until November of that year.
He then succeeded J. I. Ream and organized the firm of
Longsworth & Agler, which is now so widely known throughout the
country for its excellent work in the special art to which they
devote their attention. Their studio is finely equipped for
high-grade work in photography and is visited by many hundreds who
desire the finest results of that art, which, to quote a favorite
expression of photographers, "secures the shadow ere the substance
perishes."
Shortly after leaving Saint Mary's, he was married June
15, 1893, to Miss Mollie Huffman, who was born
in Beaver Dam, Allen county, Ohio, and is a daughter of Lewis and
Annie (Stewart) Huffman both of whom are natives of Ohio.
To this marriage there have been born two children, viz.:
Lucile E. and Robert Wert. Mr. Agler is a member of
the I. O. O. F., and both he and his wife are members of the
Methodist Episcopal church, and are people highly regarded by the
community in which they live.
Source: A Portrait and Biographical Record of Allen and Van
Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co. - 1896 - Page
472 |
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JERRY
AGLER,
a prosperous young general merchant at Abanaka post-office, Van Wert
county, Ohio, was born on his father's farm in Willshire township,
April 8, 1860, and comes from a pioneer Buckeye family, his
great-grandfather, Peter Agler, a native of Pennsylvania, having
settled in Stark county, Ohio, in a very early day. Jeremiah
Agler, a son of Peter, was also a native of the Keystone state, was
still a young man when he came to Ohio with his parents and located in
Stark county, where the later married Mrs. Mary Putnam, daughter of
John and Betsey Putnam, also natives of Pennsylvania. In 1837,
Jeremiah and his wife came to Van Wert county, which was then an
unbounded wilderness, with but two or three cabins in Liberty
township, where he settled and hewed out a farm from the wild woods,
and became a citizen of considerable note and a hunter of great
renown. He was a democrat in politics and served two terms as
township trustee; in religion he believed with the United Brethren in
Christ, and was a charter member of the Congregation in Liberty
township; his death took place in 1872, and his widow was eighty-two
years old on the 14th day of February, 1895. Timothy Agler, son
of Jeremiah and father of our subject, was born in Stark county, Ohio,
March 3, 1834, and was reared on his father's farm. In
September, 1864, he enlisted in company A, Fifteenth Ohio volunteer
infantry, and was honorably discharged in June, 1865. His
marriage took place February 8, 1855, with Elizabeth Brewer, daughter
of Mathias Brewer, the result of the union being the following
children: Jeremiah, Charles, Lillie, McCoy and
Ira. After
his marriage he settled on the farm now occupied by our subject, and
here lost his wife November 25, 1893.
Jerry Agler, the subject proper of this sketch, was
first married, in 1881, to Ida Moor, daughter of Isaac
Moor, to which
marriage one child - Roland - was born; the mother died May 29, 1883,
and the second marriage of Mr. Agler took place September 18, 1885,
with Cora Shaffer, daughter of L. B. and Elizabeth
(King) Shaffer, of
Liberty township, and this union has been blessed with three children, viz:
Robby, Blanche and Carrie M. In 1886 Mr. Agler
began
in mercantile business at Abanaka, where he since carried on a most
prosperous and remunerative trade, his stock, which has just been
invoiced, amounting to over $2,400. He also owns a neat little
farm of twenty-two acres in the township, and a pleasant village
residence, all made through his own labor and industry. In
politics Mr. Agler is a democrat, and in religion both he and wife
worship with United Brethren in Christ.
Source: A Portrait and Biographical Record of Allen and Van
Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co. - 1896 - Page
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JOSEPH
AGLER,
the subject of this biography, is an enterprising farmer of Liberty
township, and one of the substantial citizens of the community in
which he resides, he is a German descent paternally, and from his
mother he inherits the characteristics of the English. His
great-grandfather came to American from England in colonial times, and
settled in Pennsylvania, but afterward returned to the old country,
where his death occurred. William Agler, grandfather of
Joseph,
was born in England, but early came to America, settling in one of the
eastern states, where he was living at the breaking out of the war of
the Revolution, in which struggle he took part, serving seven years.
After remaining in Pennsylvania until his marriage with Miss Mary
Fox,
he immigrated to Stark county, Ohio, being one of the pioneers that
led the van of civilization into that part of the Buckeye state.
William Agler entered 160 acres of land, made a fine farm, and was one
of the substantial men of the community which he assisted in founding;
he and wife both died in the county of Stark.
Conrad Agler, son of William Agler and father of the
subject of this biography, was a Pennsylvanian by birth and a farmer
by occupation. His wife, whose maiden name was Margaret
Wagner,
daughter of Valentine Wagner, became the mother of the following
children in the order named: Mary, Ann, Matilda,
Katie,
Valentine, William, Jane, John Charlotte,
Sarah, Joseph, Elizabeth,
and Minerva. After a residence of a few years in Stark county,
Conrad and Margaret Agler, about the year 1841, moved to the county of
Van Wert, and purchased a farm in Liberty township. Mr. and Mrs. Agler were devout members of the Lutheran church and in politics he
was an old line whig.Wil
Joseph Agler was born in Stark county, Ohio, August 1,
1835. He was reared to agriculture, has given his attention to
the same all his life, and is now a prominent farmer of the township
of Liberty, Van Wert county. His life has been one of great
activity, and he has never known what it was to eat the bread of
idleness. The improvements upon his place, all of which are in
first-class condition, bespeak for its owner a thorough knowledge of
farming, and he is a true believer in the dignity of his calling.
Mr. Agler, was married October 17, 1856, to Susan
Neiford, daughter of
George and Mary (Swank) Neiford, and to his union the following
children in the order named have been born; Conrad, died at the age of
twenty-two; Charity, wife of George Johnson; Nancy, wife of
Alonzo Smith; Willis, who married Ida Walters. The sons,
Isaac and
Frank, are also married, the former to Louisa Voltz and the latter to
Ida F. Humrickhouse. The parents of Mrs. Agler were born and
married in Pennsylvania, and in an early day moved to Stark
county, Ohio, thence the county of Van Wert, where they resided until
death parted them from this world for a better place. Mrs.
Agler's parents were believers of the Dunkard church, of which they
were members, and Mr. Neiford died leaving his wife in good
surroundings, although the family of children consisted of twelve.
There are eight of these living and four dead. The names of the
dead sisters and brothers were Lydia, Samuel, Mahala and
Johnnie;
those that are living are James, who is married to Polly
Wagers; Mary,
to Jerry Swigart; Sallie, to Peter Putnam;
Susan, to Joseph Agler, the
subject of this sketch; Nancy, to David King; Elizabeth, to
John Agler;
William, to Maria Anders; George, to Libbie
Roberts; Samuel was
married to Polly Rush. In politics George
Neiford, the father of
Agler, was a democrat. Mr. and Mrs.
Agler are glad to say they
are the father and mother of seven children and grandparents of
fifteen.
Source: A Portrait and Biographical Record of Allen and Van
Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co. - 1896 - Page
5 |
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WERT AGLER, a most
worthy citizen of Van Wert was born in Mercer county, Ohio, June 10,
1838. He is a son of J. and Mary (Putnam) Agler, both
natives of Pennsylvania, the former of whom was born in 18__, and
the latter in 1813, and were married in 1833. J. Agler
was reared on a farm in his native state and followed that honorable
and most useful occupation until his death. Soon after his
marriage he removed to Ohio and bought a farm in Mercer county,
where he remained one year, and then removed to Liberty township,
Van Wert county, where he remained the rest of his life, dying in
1868. He was a most industrious and honorable citizen, and was
liberal in the use of his money, freely contributing to the aid of
religious and other worthy enterprises to the extent of his ability,
at the same time being unusually successful in his calling.
Politically he was a democrat and religiously a member of the United
Brethren church.
He and his wife were the parents of the following
children: Timothy, Harmon, Wert, Morris, Sarah, Andrew,
Charlotte and Putnam. Of these Harmon,
Sarah and Putnam are dead. The rest are married and
heads of families of their own. Timothy married
Elizabeth Brewer of Van Wert, and she died in 1893.
Morris married Mollie Sinder, and is living in Marshall,
Ind.; Andrew married Nancy Acum of Mercer county, and
after her death married Sarah Putnam, they are living in Van
Wert county; Charlotte married Daniel Whitmore of Van
Wert, and they are living in Van Wert county. The mother of
these children still lives on the old farm in Van Wert county, is a
highly respected woman, and a member of the United Brethren church.
Wert Agler, the subject, was born in Mercer
county and was reared on his father's farm, coming on Van Wert
county with his father. Continuing to follow farming until the
war, he then enlisted, Sept. 10, 1861, in company A, Forth-sixth
regiment Ohio volunteer infantry, in which he served one year and
six months, and participated in several battles and skirmishes, the
principal battle being that at Pittsburg landing in which he had a
narrow escape, being shot in the hand while loading his gun and
slightly wounded. At Corinth he was taken sick, but went on
with his regiment to Memphis, Tenn, where, on Jan. 1, 1863, he was
discharged. Returning to his home he resumed farming on his
father's farm, and April 16, 1863, he was married to Anna Krick.
Not long afterward he purchased a farm and began life in earnest on
his own account and met with most gratifying success. In
March, 1893, he moved into the city of Van Wert, purchased a
beautiful cottage, and is now living retired. Politically he
is a democrat and religiously a member of the United Brethren church
- freely donates to the cause of religion and also that of
education, as well as to all public enterprises of merit. He
and wife are the parents of two children: Morris Monroe
and Delles E. Morris Monroe was born July 20, 1864, and
died Mar. 18, 1867. Delles E. was born in 1869 and is
at the present time a member of the firm of Longsworth & Agler,
photographers of Van Wert, and one of the finest artists in the city
and is married to Mollie Huffman, of Saint Mary's.
Mention has already been made of the excellently artistic work
executed by these gentlemen.
Anna Krick, wife of the subject, was born July
22, 1842, in Ashland county, Ohio, and lived with her parents until
her marriage. She is a woman of great worth and a member of
the United Brethren church. Her father, Phillip Krick,
was born in Pennsylvania, in June,, 1792, and at an early age
learned the cooper trade, afterward learning the carpenter trade, at
which for the greater part of his life he worked, and was unusually
successful, being a man of industry and skill at his trade.
When he became old he returned to the cooper trade, which he
followed for some years. He married Susan Cumler of
Pennsylvania, removed to Ohio and located in Ashland county.
In 1846 he removed with his family to Adams county, Ind., where he
remained for twelve years, returning to Ohio in 1858, and settling
on a farm in Van Wert county, working at farming, as well as at his
trade, until his death, which occurred in 1872. Politically he
was a democrat and religiously a member of the Presbyterian church
He and his wife were the parents of fifteen children, as follows:
John, William, Mary, Samuel, Eliza, Margaret, Jacob, Phillip,
Emanuel, Elijah and Elias (twins), Henry and
Lydia (twins), Catherine and Anna. Of these
fifteen children William, Mary, Samuel, Emanuel, Henry, John,
Philip and Catherine are dead, the rest are married and
heads of families of their own. The mother of these children
died in 1868, a mother of these children died in 1868, a good,
highly esteemed woman, and a member of the Presbyterian church.
Source: A Portrait and Biographical Record of Allen and Van
Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co. - 1896 - Page 470 |
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JOHN
AIKEN, a
well-known lumber dealer of Scott, Union township, Van Wert county,
Ohio, was born in Washington county, Pa., in 1830, and is a son of
James Aiken, who was also a native of Washington county, and was born
in 1801; the father of James, George Aiken, was born in Cork county,
Ireland, and was reared a farmer; while still a young man he came to
America, located in Pennsylvania, served in the war of 1812, and
probably held a captain's commission. He lived through four
score years, and died in Pennsylvania about the year 1840.
James Aiken was reared on the home farm in
Pennsylvania, and was also instructed in the trade of carpentry,
following the latter chiefly for a livelihood. About the year
1827 he married Miss Jane Scott, who was born in Washington county,
Pa., in 1805, and was a daughter of Robert and Elizabeth (Mullen)
Scott, this marriage resulting in the birth of the following children,
beside John, our subject: Elizabeth, deceased wife of Samuel
Kilbreth,
of Washington county, Ohio; Martha, deceased wife of Henry
Spence, of
Jefferson county; Jane, wife of John Roberts, of Harrison county;
Robert and James both farmers of Jefferson county; Benton, a soldier,
deceased; Josiah, deceased; Alexander, who died from a wound received
in the late war, and Coe, who was killed in a railroad accident.
Robert Scott, father of Mrs. Jane Aiken, was also a
native of Pennsylvania, of Scotch ancestry, was a farmer and was an
early pioneer of Carroll county, Ohio were he died in 1833. Mrs.
Elizabeth (Mullen) Scott was also of Scottish descent and a native of
the Keystone state. Mrs. Jane Aiken, a strict member of the
Presbyterian church, died in 1863, in Jefferson county, Ohio, whither
she had come with husband shortly after marriage. James
Aiken
was a strong advocate of the principles of the democratic party, was a
pioneer of Jefferson county, Ohio, where he became quite prominent,
and died in 1883, in the faith of the Presbyterian church, of which he
had been a life-long member.
John Aiken, our subject, was reared in Jefferson
county, Ohio, and there learned the trade of wagon-making. In
1851 he married Miss Martha J. Trainer, a native of Lancaster county
and born in 1828 - a daughter of John and Esther (Holmes) Trainer.
To this union were born the following children: Ida, now
Mrs.
Edward Shefler, of Rush county, Ind.; James, a farmer of Allen county,
Ind.; Martha J., wife of Wallace Beard, residing near Fort Wayne,
Ind.; Mary J., married to Erastus Wilson, of Huntington county, Ind.;
Annie, wife of Eli Larimer, of Fort Wayne; Edwin, in the saw-mill and
lumber business at Scott, Ohio, and John H., Jr., an attorney at Fort
Wayne, Ind. Mr. and Mrs. Trainer, parents of Mrs.
Aiken, were
born near the city of Cork, Ireland, and came to America in 1823,
locating on a farm in Lancaster county, Pa., whence, about 1835, they
came to Ohio and first located in Jefferson county, whence they moved
to Allen county, Ind., where the mother died in 1881 and the father in
1884. Their children were named as follows: William,
deceased; Mary, deceased wife of John McClave, of Indiana;
John,
attorney of Steubenivlle, Ohio; Nancy, deceased wife of Abner
Kelsey; Robert, deceased, and Mrs. Aiken.
At the breaking out of the Civil war, our subject gave
up his trade and purchased a farm in Allen county, Ind., near Fort
Wayne, and for twenty-eight years was prominently identified with the
agricultural and other interests of that county. In 1890 he
disposed of his property in Indiana and came to Scott, Van Wert
county, Ohio, engaged in the lumber business in company with his son
Edwin, and has since been doing an active and prosperous trade.
In religion Mr. Aiken is a pious and consistent member of the
Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is a trustee and to the
support of which he freely contributes of his means; he is also a
member of the Masonic fraternity, and is, beside, town treasurer.
He is an upright gentleman, whose integrity now one has ever disputed,
and has the entire confidence and respect of his neighbors as a
successful and pious man and useful citizen.
Source: A Portrait and Biographical Record of Allen and Van
Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co. - 1896
|
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THOMAS A. ALBAN,
resident of York township, Van Wert county, is a native of Wales,
born in October, 1828, the son of Thomas and Ann
(Morgan) Alban.
The parents came to American, with their five sons, in 1835.
The father made a permanent settlement in Jackson county, Ohio,
purchasing 160 acres of land, which he cleared and sold, and then
purchased 320 acres which are now in the same county on which he
resided until the time of his death in 18632 - his widow surviving
until 1889. In addition to the five sons born in Wales, four
daughters were born in this country, named: Ann, the wife of
David Davis of Van Wert county, Ohio; Sarah, wife of
David Richards, of Gallia county, Ohio; Elizabeth,
wife of Edward Edwards, of Jackson county, Ohio. Of the
sons, David located in Marietta, Ohio, where he rose to
eminence as a lawyer, served as prosecuting attorney of Washington
county for a number of years, and died about 1882. John is
a farmer of Jackson county, Ohio, and Evan resides on and
owns one-half of the old homestead in the same county.
Thomas A. Alban, our subject, spent his life on
the homestead, and when a boy made many trips of Centerville, with
grain, and on returning from the market would come home with his
wagon laden with merchandise for the country merchants; this proved
to be a sorce of considerable revenue, every dollar of which
he turned over to his father. His sincere belief in the old
proverb "honesty is the best policy," has brought to him peace,
prosperity and a guileless conscience. In 1849 he married
Ann Jones, daughter of Thomas T. Jones, of Jackson, Ohio,
and five children were born to this union, viz: Mary, wife of
Hugh Evans, a farmer of York township; Ann, married to
William W. Evans, of Jennings township; Elizabeth,
wife of William B. Jones, of Van Wert city; Margaret,
wife of Abram Jones; David, living with his father, and
Thomas, a twin of Margaret, who died at the age of three
years. The mother of these children died in 1862, and Mr.
Alban was next married to Rachel Evans. In the fall
of 1865 Mr. Alban came to his present home, making many
improvements and clearing up most of the land, and has seen the
county taken from almost a swamp, and converted into productive
fields; his original purchase consisted of nearly 200 acres, and he
has devoted much of his time to breeding fine short-horn cattle,
deserving and taking many premiums from the state fairs.
Mr. Alban originally was a whit - then a republican, and for the
last ten years he has been identified with the prohibition party,
and served two terms as infirmary director, from 1869 to 1875.
He and wife are members of the Welsh Presbyterian church, and are
highly respected throughout the community for their steady habits
and strict integrity. Mr. Alban avers that with his own
hands he has cleared at least 200 acres of land.
Source: A Portrait and Biographical Record of Allen and Van
Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co. - 1896 - Page
199 |
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ELI ALBRIGHT, brother
of William Albright, whose
biography appears on page 7, was born in Fairfield, 1838. Such
educational training as he obtained was acquired, during the
winter seasons, in a little log school-house, and in his youth he
turned his attention to mechanical pursuits, becoming proficient at
blacksmithing, carpentering, cabinet-making and tanning. With
the rest of his father's family he came to Van Wert county in 1859
and purchased a farm in Pleasant township, where he has since
resided, giving the greater part of his attention to tilling the
soil, in which he has met with well merited success. In
addition to agriculture he was for some time engaged as a
auctioneer, in which capacity he visited nearly every part of Van
Wert and adjoining counties; in 1880 he purchased the farm where he
now lives and is classed with the progressive and substantial
citizens of Pleasant township. In December, 1860, his marriage
was solemnized with Lucy Gleason, daughter of Stephen and
Amanda (Fletcher) Gleason. The following children were
born to this marriage: Florence, wife of Howard Kreider;
Cora, wife of George Augemine and Sherman.
The mother of these children was born Aug. 3, 1834, in New York, and
when a child was brought by her parents to Van Wert county.
Her death occurred, Dec. 6, 1864, and June 14, 1866, Mr. Albright
married Mary E. Riedenbach, natives of Germany, but for a
number of years residents of the county of Van Wert. Mrs.
Albright was a native of Holmes county, Ohio, and died Feb. 22,
1882, being the mother of the following children: George
W., Charles W. (deceased, Harry, Alfred, Leonard
(deceased), Adeline and Katie. Mr. Albright
then married his present wife, Ella M. Border, daughter of
Nathaniel and Katie (Taylor) Border natives respectively of
Virginia and Pennsylvania. Five children are the results of
the third marriage, viz.: Bertha, Mercy L. Icy, Mattie and
Eli. Mr. Albright is a democrat in his political belief,
fraternally he is a member of the Masonic order, with which he has
been identified for thirty-four years, and is a leading citizen of
the community in which he resides.
Source: A Portrait and Biographical Record of Allen and Van
Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co. - 1896 - Page
472 |
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JOHN C. ALBRIGHT, one of the wealthiest and most influential
farmers of Union township, Van Wert county, Ohio, and a veteran of the
late Civil war, is a son of Solomon and Margaret
(Cramer) Albright, and was born in Marion county, Ohio,
in 1842. Solomon was a native of Schuylkill county, Pa., born
in 1809, and a boy when he came to Ohio with a brother, on whose farm
in Fairfield county they lived until 1836, when he entered eighty
acres and lived thereon until 1870, then sold and purchased his
present farm, adjoining. His wife was born in Fairfield county, Ohio,
in 1815, a daughter of Benjamin and Margaret
Cramer, of Pennsylvania-Dutch stock, and they were married in
1834, eleven children being the result, of whom six are still living,
viz: Henry H., of Michigan; John C, our subject;
William and Silas, of Paulding county, Ohio; Samuel,
farmer and stock raiser of Morrow county, Ohio, and Amanda, wife of
James Wescott, of Marion county, Ohio.
John C. Albright was reared a farmer, and after
four years of farming on his own account in Marion county came to
Union township, Van Wert county, and purchased eighty acres of land,
to which he has since added eighty acres, and has also bought eighty
acres in Paulding county, adjoining; his home place is now one of the
finest in the county, having 3,000 rods of tile drainage. December 9,
1861, Mr. Albright enlisted in company D, Eighty-second
Ohio volunteer infantry, under Capt. John S. Riggs,
and was mustered into service at Kenton, Ohio, December 31, 1861,
under James Cantwell. They left Kenton January 25, 1862,
and the next day crossed the Ohio river and camped, on the 27th, at
Grafton, West Va.; March 18, they left by rail, and on the 19th
marched to Pittsburg and Franklin; April 10 they fought the battle of
McDowell, returned to Franklin and skirmished with the enemy on
the 12th. May 25, they joined Fremont's expedition through the
Shenandoah valley and skirmished with Jackson's forces near
Strasburg; June 1, marched through the place, thence to Woodstock and
to Mount Jackson, and on the 4th reached Harrisburg; June 8 they went
to Cross Keys, on the 9th fought the battle of Port Republic; on the
10th reached Harrisburg, and the 11th New Market, thence to
Perryville. August 8th they went to Culpeper and fought under Gen.
Sigel; from 7th to 12th went by Port Royal and Luray to
Robinson's Ferry; 13th and 14th, marched to Rapahannock Station, where
they took part in that battle; September 19th camped at Arlington
Heights, and the 25th at Fairfax C. H.; November 5th, at Gainsville,
and the 18th returned to Fairfax C. H.; thence went to Junction and
Leesburg and Edwards' Ferry, and crossed the Potomac; January 25th,
the following year, they went to Emmettsburg, Md., and July 1-3
participated in the battle of Gettysburg; September 29, reached
Bridgeport, Ala.; October 1, reached Wauhatchie; thence marched to
Missionary Ridge, when a battle was fought. November 29, was at
Knoxville, Tenn.; thence went to Lookout Mountain; January 10, 1864,
he started home on a furlough as a veteran, and reached Columbus,
Ohio, January 21; February 26, returned to the field, reaching
Bridgeport, Ala., March 3; from there went to Chattanooga, where a
battle was fought; thence to Chickamauga, Resaca, Dalton, Peach Tree
Creek, New Hope, Lost and Kenesaw Mountains, Atlanta and Savanah; from
there crossed to South Carolina, thence to Bentonville, N. C, where
their last battle was fought. Mr. Albright was wounded
in the foot at the battle of Bull Run and again in the side at the
battle of Gettysburg. While in Virginia he was captured, but released
by his comrades in a few minutes. His marches covered a distance of
4,000 miles. He was honorably discharged at Columbus, Ohio, August 1,
1865; and now receives a pension of $6 per month. The marriage of
Mr. Albright took place in 1872, to Miss Mary
E. Shafer, daughter of Jacob H. and Hester A. (Cupp) Shafer,
from an old Pennsylvania-Dutch family. No children have come to bless
the union of Mr. and Mrs. Albright, but they have adopted two—J.
W. Holden and Myrtle B. Loffer. In politics Mr. Albright is
a republican, and takes an active part in the success of his party. He
is progressive in every department of citizenship and renowned for his
practical benevolence, and holds the respect of his fellow citizens to
the fullest extent.
Source: A Portrait and Biographical Record of Allen and Van
Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co. - 1896
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WILLIAM
ALBRIGHT, a well-known and prominent farmer of Pleasant township,
Van Wert county, Ohio, is descended from Dutch ancestors, his
grandfather, Henry Albright, having emigrated from
Holland to the United States a number of years prior to the beginning
of the present century. Henry Albright was born in
1758, became a resident of the new world when a young man, settling in
Pennsylvania, of which state he was a pioneer; his death occurred in
1811. John Albright , son of the above, and father
of the subject, was born in Schuylkill county, Pa., in 1792, grew to
manhood in his native state and at the age of nineteen entered the
army and served with credit in the war of 1812. He held a
captain's commission while in the army and for services rendered
subsequently received from the government a land grant, which he
afterward laid in Wells county, Ind., and Van Wert county, Ohio.
In 1859 John Albright disposed of his interest in
Fairfield county, to which part of Ohio he moved about the year 1814
in company with a younger brother and sister, and came to the county
of Van Wert, where he purchased a large tract of unimproved land. Many
years previously he had become proficient as a veterinary surgeon, and
after locating in Van Wert county followed that profession in
connection with farming. He was quite successful in his business
enterprises and accumulated a comfortable competence, the greater part
of which consisted of real estate, which afterward increased greatly
in value. He married, in 1818, Hannah, daughter of Adam
Wagoner of Fairfield county, who bore him the following children
in the order named: Jacob, John, George, Henry,
Lena, Daniel, Isaac and Samuel. Mrs.
Albright died in 1836, and later Mr. Albright
entered into the marriage relation with Eliza, daughter of
Daniel and Hannah Gearheart, to which union were
born five children, namely: Eli, Mrs. Catherine
Spencer, William, Mrs. Victorine
Baltzell and Josiah S. Mrs.
Hannah Albright was born about the year 1806, in Fairfield
county, where her parents settled in an early day, moving there from
Maryland. She was a member of the German Reform church and departed
this life on the 5th day of March, 1873. Mr. Albright
was also a member of the same denomination and gave liberally of his
means to the support of the church and to all other causes tending to
advance the moral well being of the community. A commendable trait of
Mr. Albright was his benevolence, and no one in need of
assistance ever applied to him in vain. In politics he was an old line
whig, and later a republican. This excellent man was accidentally
killed by the falling of a tree in January, 1861.
William Albright, whose name introduces
this sketch, is a native of Ohio, born in the county of Fairfield in
1840, being the second son of John and Eliza (Gearheart)
Albright, above mentioned. In his boyhood years he attended at
intervals such schools as the country at that time afforded, and at
the age of seventeen accompanied his parents to Van Wert county, where
he assisted his father in clearing the farm and fitting the soil for
cultivation. He was reared to agricultural pursuits, to which he has
always given his attention, and in which his success has indeed been
encouraging, he being at this time the owner of a good farm and a
comfortable share of this world's goods. In 1863, in Van Wert county,
Mr. Albright was united in marriage with Martha
J. Rowland, daughter of John and Ann (Marshall)
Rowland—the parents early settlers of this part of the state.
To Mr. and Mrs. Albright have been born
the following children: Magdalene, Irene, deceased;
Lovell, Victorine, deceased; William L., Ferre,
Hattie and Charles. Mrs. Albright was born
in Van Wert county, September 2, 1845; her father is a native of the
county of Harrison, Ohio, born in the year of 1811, became a resident
of the county of Van Wert in 1837, and resided here until 1869, at
which time he emigrated to Kansas, where he still lives. Mr.
Albright is a practical and successful farmer, a useful citizen of
the community, and enjoys the respect of his fellow man. He is a
member of the Masonic fraternity, and stands high in the local lodge
to which he belongs.
Source: A Portrait and Biographical Record of Allen and Van
Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co. - 1896 - Page
7 |
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FRANCIS M. ALLEN,
a successful farmer and well known citizen of Pleasant township, Van
Wert county, is a son of Joseph and Nancy J. Allen, natives of
Perry county, Ohio. The father was born May 7, 1823, and was descended
from an old English family, representatives of which settled in
Virginia in an early day, and also in Kentucky, of one or the other of
which states the subject's grandfather was a native. Grandfather
Allen spent his early life in Virginia, and about 1820 emigrated
to Ohio, settling in Perry county, where he followed the occupation of
farming, and where he also spent the remainder of his days. He married
in Virginia and reared a family of six children, whose names are as
follows: George, James, Joseph, Sarah,
Betsy and Eliza.
Joseph Allen, father of Francis
M., was reared and educated in Perry county, where, early in life,
he selected agricultural pursuits as his occupation. He was united in
marriage, in March, 1844, to Nancy J. Stultz, daughter of
David and Mary (Philson) Stultz, who bore him the following
children: Nathaniel S. of Portland, Ore.; Francis M.
whose name appears at the head of this sketch; Greenburry W.,
an attorney of Portland, Ore.; Lydia A., died in childhood;
Mary M. and William F., who, at this time, lives on the old home
farm. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Allen lived two years
in Perry county, and in 1846 moved to the county of Allen, locating on
a farm which he had previously purchased. It is a fact worthy of note
that Mr. Allen made his first trip to his purchase in
Allen county on foot, and erected a small cabin in a dense forest for
the reception of his young family, which came later. Mr.
Allen was a man of great industry, developed a good farm, and was
identified with the agricultural interests of Allen county for a
period of eighteen years. Desiring more territory for his increasing
family, Mr. Allen, in 1863, sold his farm and moved to
the county of Van Wert and purchased a tract of land in Pleasant
township, all but a few acres of which was at that time covered with a
native forest. He cleared and improved this place until it ranked
among the best cultivated farms in Pleasant township, or Van Wert
county, and by successful management succeeded in accumulating a
reasonable amount of this world's goods. He was a member of the
Methodist Episcopal church, to the success of which he contributed
liberally of his means, and no man in the community stood higher is
the estimation of the people than he. His death, which occurred in
December, 1891, was a loss not only to his family and immediate
friends, but to the community in which he resided as well.
Mrs. Nancy J. Allen was born February 10, 1825,
of Dutch English ancestry, her parents being among the earliest
pioneers of Perry county. She was left an orphan at the age of ten
years, and afterward made her home with an uncle, George
Stultz, until her marriage at the date above mentioned. She is
still living, having reached the alloted age of three score and ten
years, possesses, in a reasonable degree, her faculties physical and
mental, and makes her home with her son on the old homestead in
Pleasant township. She is also a member of the Methodist Episcopal
church and has been for many years, and her daily. life exemplifies
the religion which she professes.
Francis M. Allen, second son of Joseph and
Nancy J. Allen, is a native of Allen county, Ohio, and dates his
birth from January 28, 1848. Like that of the majority of farmer boys
his early life was uneventful, and he grew to manhood, assisting his
father, and attending in the meantime the common schools of his
neighborhood. On attaining his majority, he selected agriculture for
his occupation and has followed the same with success and financial
profit ever since. In October, 1869, he was united in marriage with
Mary L. Troup, daughter of Philip and Sarah (Balyeat) Troup,
of Van Wert. Mrs. Allen was born September 24, 1851, in
Richland county, Ohio, was a true helpmate to her husband, a
consistent member of the Baptist church, and died in October, 1875.
She was the mother of three children, viz: Ida V., wife
Aaron Smith, of Union township; Harriet A.,
deceased; and Orlin F. Mr. Allen's second marriage
was solemnized, in 1886, with Eliza J. Balyeat, daughter of
Aaron and Martha (Larue) Balyeat, the union being blessed with the
birth of four children: Lawrence Russell, Francis Larue, Harry Earl,
and Marietta. The mother of these children was born in Van Wert
county, May .23, 1851. (See sketch of Balyeat family.)
In 1876, Mr. Allen purchased his present
beautiful home two miles west of the city of Van Wert, where he is
living the life of a successful and progressive farmer. He takes
an active interest in all that pertains to the welfare of his
community, and it is a compliment well deserved to class him with the
representative men of the county of Van Wert. Mrs. Allen is an
active member of the Baptist church, and with her husband belongs to
Pleasant grange, No. 399.
William F. Allen, also a son of Joseph and
Nancy J. Allen, was born in Allen county, Ohio, in November, 1860,
and received his education in the common schools of the county of Van
Wert, which he attended at intervals during the years of his minority.
He was reared to agricultural pursuits, has always followed the
farmer's vocation, and now resides on the old homestead, which he
cultivates, looking after the interest of his mother in her old age.
In March, 1881, he married Harriet Sidel, daughter of
James and Elizabeth (Juven) Sidel, and his
home is brightened by the presence of three children, Claud W.,
Perry J. J. and Margaret J. Mrs. Allen was born
September 24, 1862, in Fairfield county, Ohio.
Source: A Portrait and Biographical Record of Allen and Van
Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co. - 1896
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HARRISON L.
ALLEN, who has carried on a prosperous farm of 120 acres in
Liberty township, Van Wert county, Ohio, since 1880, was born in Erie
county, Ohio, December 27, 1841. His grandfather, Samuel
Allen, was of Scotch descent, was born in Connecticut, was reared
a farmer, and on reaching man's estate settled near Oriskany Falls,
Oneida county, N. Y., where his son Ransom Allen, the
father of our subject, was born December 17, 1813. Ransom
Allen there married Laura Reynor, moved to Erie
county, Ohio, and was there engaged in farming until his death, which
took place in January, 1877, his wife dying October 19, the following
year.
Harrison L. Allen was born and reared in Erie
county, Ohio, where he attended Milan Normal college,
after which he taught school two years. April 19, 1861, he enlisted in
company E, Seventh Ohio volunteer infantry, and saw service in West
Virginia, Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia. At
Cedar Mountain he sustained a severe flesh wound in his nether left
limb, and at Chancellorsville was captured, but was soon exchanged. In
the fight at Ringgold, Ga., Mr. Allen, with his
regiment, took a most gallant part, thirteen out of fourteen of the
officers being killed or wounded, and the slaughter of privates being
in proportion. Mr. Allen was also in all the main
battles of the famous Atlanta campaign, and was honorably discharged
July 6, 1864. Mr. Allen found an opportunity, however,
during the civil struggle, to get married, which important event took
place October 17, 1863, in Erie county, Ohio, to Statira
Quayle, daughter of John and Cordelia (Hollister) Quayle.
Mr. Quayle was a shoemaker by trade, had long been
identified with the interests of Erie county, Ohio, and on his farm
his death took place in March, 1876. On this property, however, his
widow still resides. He was a leading Methodist and in politics was a
republican. The family of John and Cordelia (Hollister) Quayle
consisted of the following children, named in order of birth:
William, Ashley (deceased) Cecilia, Catherine,
Sophronia, Statira, John, Charles,
Francis and James, the last three deceased.
For the first four years after their marriage Mr.
and Mr. Allen lived in Iroquois county, Ill., whence they returned
to Erie county, Ohio, and then, in 1880, came to Van Wert county and
took possession of their present farm, which has since been improved
by a farm dwelling and a substantial barn. In politics Mr.
Allen is a stanch republican, and in 1884 was elected a county
commissioner of Van Wert and gave every satisfaction in the
performance of the duties of the office; in 1888 he was appointed to
fill a vacancy in the same position.
Mr. Allen is an honored member of the G.
A. R. and he and wife are devout members of the Methodist church. The
children born to Mr. and Mrs. Allen are named Tad E.,
Earnest R., Frank and Kittie M.—Earnest R.
being a successful school teacher.
Source: A Portrait and Biographical Record of Allen and Van
Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co. - 1896
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RICHARD
ALLINGHAM, Jr., a well known contractor and builder of Van Wert,
was born in Lancaster, Fairfield county, Ohio, January 26, 1854. His
parents, Richard and Anna (Knight) Allingham, were born in
Kent, England, the former of May 15, 1808, and the latter in 1812.
They were married in 1830, and came to America in 1840, locating in
Lancaster, Ohio, and became the parents of twelve children, all of
whom are now deceased, with the exception of our subject, and Frank,
a brickmason of Van Wert. Richard, the father, was a
nurseryman, and as such was an assistant at Lancaster until 1860, when
he moved to Campbell county, Ky., where he was employed in his calling
until 1881, when he had the misfortune to lose his eyesight, and made
his home with his sons in Van Wert until death, September 15, 1895. In
religion he was a Presbyterian, and in politics a republican.
Richard Allingham, Jr., was six
years old when the family went to Kentucky, where he was reared until
he reached the age of seventeen, when he went to Toledo, Ohio, where,
for some time, he worked as a brickmason; later he worked at his trade
in Defiance, Ohio, and at Portland and at Fort Wayne, Ind. In June,
1874, he came to Van Wert, and here he has since been engaged at his
trade and in successfully contracting and building until the present
time. August 3, 1882, he married, in Van Wert, Miss Sarah
O'Day, who was born in Fayette county, Ohio, June 4, 1858, and
is a daughter of James and Nancy (Beatty) O'Day, also natives
of this state. The fruit of this union has been five children, viz:
William (deceased), Maud, Earl, Richard and Hugh
L. Mr. Allingham has made himself very popular since his residence
in Van Wert, has built up a good trade, and as a republican has been
elected a member of the city council, in which office he is now
serving his third! term. He is an active member of the Abenaki tribe,
No. 77, Improved Order of Red Men, and in religion he and wife are
consistent and devoted members of the Lutheran church. He owns a neat
residence at the corner of Walnut and First streets, and he and family
are held in high regard by their neighbors, as well as by the
community at large.
Source: A Portrait and Biographical Record of Allen and Van
Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co. - 1896
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WILLIAM
ALSPACH,
one of the well-known citizens and farmers of Washington township, Van
Wert county, Ohio, living two miles west from Delphos, in section No.
22, is a native of Ohio, having been born in Marion township, Allen
county, June 13, 1851. His parents were Elias and Mary
M. (Palmer) Alspach, both natives of America, the father having
been born in Fairfield county, Ohio, and the mother in Berkeley
county, Virginia. Sebastian Alspach, the grandfather of
our subject, was a native of Pennsylvania, and was an early settler of
Ohio. Elias and Mary M. Alspach were married in Perry county,
Ohio, and then came to Allen county, and located in Marion township,
about one mile from Delphos. In August, 1851, he moved to Washington
township, Van Wert county, where he purchased a quarter of a section
of land, the same being the place where our subject now lives, and
here lived and followed farming until his death which occurred
December 24, 1884, in his sixty-sixth year. His widow is still living,
and makes her home with our subject. To these parents eight children
have been born, all of whom are now living except next to the eldest.
The children were named as follows: Sebastian, now a citizen of
Lima; Christian, deceased; Charles, farmer of Washington
township, Van Wert county; Christiana, now the wife of G. H.
Mallon, of Chicago; Serepta, now the wife of D. S.
Carpenter, a farmer of Washington township; William; Mary E.,
wife of Louis Irick, of Delphos; Lucy, the wife
of A. E. Klinger, of Wood county, Ohio.
William Alspach was reared on
the farm in Washington township, attended the district schools, and
secured a good education. He remained on the home farm until about a
year before his father died, and then moved on fifty acres he had
purchased, which adjoined the old farm. After his father's death the
homestead was sold and our subject bought it in, and then moved back
upon it and has since resided there and followed farming. He now owns
a fine farm of 157 acres in section No. 22, all under fence and all
improved.
Mr. Alspach was first married in 1875
to Mary Clark, who was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, and is
the daughter of Emanuel Clark; To this union four children were
born, as follows: Valerie, Thomas, Earnest, and Fredick.
His first wife died February 26, 1887, and he next married, November
28, 1888, Mrs. Ella Seitz, to which union two children have
been born—Marion and Loren. Mr. Alspach has been
a leading citizen of this township, and has been quite active. He was
for some time engaged in the sawmill and stone quarry business,
but has sold out his interests. He is a member of the democratic
party, and for four years served as trustee of Washington township,
making an able officer.
Source: A Portrait and Biographical Record of Allen and Van
Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co. - 1896
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DANIEL ALSPACH,
deceased, paternal grandfather of Jeremiah J. and Oliver O.
Alspach, was born in Berks county, Pa., May 15, 1792, and was
of German parentage. At the age of ten years he was brought to Ohio by
his parents, who located in Fairfield county, and there he learned the
carpenter's trade. December 20, 1814, he married Miss
Elizabeth Runkle, who was born in Rockingham county, Va.,
January 11, 1797, of Virginia parentage, but of German descent.
Elizabeth was also brought, when young, to Fairfield county, Ohio,
by her parents. To the union of Daniel and Elizabeth
were born fourteen children in the following order: Elizabeth,
died in infancy; Amos, a retired farmer of Wells county, Ind.;
Jesse, deceased; Abraham B., an old settler of Van Wert
county, Ohio; Nancy, widow of Jacob Richmond, of
Perry county; Christine, deceased; Moses, deceased;
Jeremiah, farmer, of Licking county; Henry K., farmer of
Perry county; DeLeslie, who died in infancy, Samuel,
farmer of Perry county; Joel, Reform minister, of Illinois;
Sophia, wife of John Castanian, farmer of Wyandot
county, and Daniel, who died in infancy. After his marriage
Daniel Alspach settled in Jefferson township, Fairfield
county, where he followed his trade as carpenter until 1825, when he
bought a farm, which he cleared up from the woods and resided on for
five years; in 1830 he sold and moved to Perry county, where he bought
another farm, and on this he made his home until his death, which
occurred April 5, 1839; his widow survived until June 21, 1878, and
both were consistent members of the Reform church. Abraham B.
Alspach, one of the old settlers of Ridge township, Van Wert
county, and a son of Daniel and Elizabeth Alpach,
was born August 28, 1820, in Bloom township, Fairfield county, was
reared in Perry county, and June 4, 1846, married Eliza
Biemer, a native of the county and of German descent. To this
union were born six children, viz: Mary, who died in infancy;
Arlo, who died of diphtheria at the age of six years; Clara
E., widow of Edward Long and now the wife of John
McDonald, a miller of Fairfield county; Viola, wife of
William Neel, of Perry county; Mary Eliza, wife
of Henry McDonald, a miller of Van Wert, and Daniel H.,
a farmer of Van Wert county. After his marriage, Abraham B.
Alspach farmed until 1883, when he came to Van Wert county and
bought his present home. Here his wife died January 6, 1885, and
in March of the same year Mr. Alspach married Mrs.
Phebe C. (DeCamp) Melchi, daughter of John and Lydia C.
(Williams) DeCamp, natives of New Jersey and of French descent. Mrs.
Phebe C. Alspach was born in Van Wert county December 2, 1844, and
became the mother of three children by her first husband—Frances,
Charles and John; and of two children by Mr. Alspach—
Abraham Guy, now nine years old, and Bessie Caroline,
aged seven years.
Source: A Portrait and Biographical Record of Allen and Van
Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co. - 1896
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OLIVER O. ALSPACH, manager of John
H. Kauke's extensive hardware store, on the northeast corner of
Main and Washington streets, Van Wert, Ohio, is a native of Perry
county, Ohio, was born November 24, 1857, and is a son of Jesse and
Eva (Long) Alspach. The father, Jesse Alspach, son
of Daniel Alspach, was also a native of Perry county,
born in 1813, was a farmer, and died in Thorn township, Perry county,
in 1863, the father of five children, viz: Benjamin,
Elizabeth, Jeremiah, Allen and Oliver O. The
mother of these children died in May, 1874, a member of the German
Reform church, to which her husband also belonged.
Oliver O. Alspach remained on the home farm and
attended the schools of the county until 1877, and then passed two
years in Delaware college; returning to Perry county, he was employed
as a clerk in a hardware store in Thornville until June, 1887, when he
went to Lima, Ohio, and clerked in the hardware store of W. K.
Boone & Co. until February 6, 1888, and then came to Van Wert,
and for one year was manager for the J. H. Kauke
Hardware company; he then served as clerk and bookkeeper until the
spring of 1892, when he resumed the position of manager of the
business, which covers about $40,000 per annum.
The salesroom and warehouse comprise three floors, and
the stock consists chiefly of builders' and other heavy hardware,
cutlery and glass, and is handled by four salesmen and our subject.
The marriage of Mr. Alspach took place in
Perry county, Ohio, October 17, 1882, to Miss Sarah C.
Rissler, a native of Fairfield county, Ohio, born September 18,
1864, and a daughter of Thomas J. and Melissa (Martin) Rissler,
the fruit of this union being one child—Jesse Raymond—born
August 12, 1889. Mr. and Mrs. Alspach are members of the
Methodist Episcopal church. Politically he is a democrat, and
fraternally is a commandery Mason. He is also president of the
Fraternal Building & Loan association, has charge of a fine farm of
120 acres in Ridge township, and also of the Kauke mansion, and
he has in every respect shown himself to be worthy of the confidence
reposed in him.
Source: A Portrait and Biographical Record of Allen and Van
Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co. - 1896
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HENRY ALTHOEN,
the leading hardware merchant of Willshire, Van Wert county, Ohio, was
born in Bavaria, Germany, June 2, 1839, a son of Philip and
Lucetta (Morvilius) Althoen. Philip
Althoen, also a native of Bavaria, was a tailor by trade, and
carried on an extensive business in his own country. There were born
to his marriage two children, Henry and Philipena, of
whom the eldest is our subject. The mother died in her native land,
but her father, who had previously crossed the ocean alone for the
purpose of selecting a home in the United States for him and family,
was seized with yellow fever and died near New Orleans. Both parents
were devoted adherents of the Lutheran church.
Henry Althoen, subject of this
sketch, attended school in his native country until seventeen years
of age, when he came to America, and until 1865 labored as a mechanic
and conducted an undertaking business for the purpose of accumulating
sufficient money with which to begin his present extensive enterprise,
which he established in 1873. He now owns a large brick store building
in Willshire, supplied with one of the largest and most complete lines
of hardware in the county; in addition to this store, he has two large
warehouses, filled with wagons and agriculture implements, as
diversified and complete as his hardware stock. The marriage of Mr.
Althoen took place, June 29, 1866, to Miss Anna E.,
daughter of Philip Hill, and to this marriage have been born
the following children: Lucetta, Otto and Carl, all
deceased; Annie, Minnie, Edward (deceased), Loretta
M. and Freddie. In politics Mr. Althoen is strongly
democratic. He is now filling his second term as township treasurer,
has been a councilman fifteen years, and has filled a number of minor
offices. He is liberal in his religious views, while his wife is a
consistent member of the Baptist church, which, as well as the other
churches, is freely aided by Mr. Althoen in a pecuniary
way. Fraternally, Mr. Althoen is a member of
lodge No. 43, A. F. & A. M., and also of the Willshire lodge of the I.
O. O. F. His residence is one of the handsomest two-story brick
dwellings in Willshire, and his surroundings, social and domestic, are
all that man can desire. Mr. Althoen is indeed the ''architect
of his own fortune," as he was alone and penniless when reaching
Cincinnati on his first coming to this country, and his wealth, now
summing up to $50,000, has all been gained through the exercises of
his own sound judgment, and the practice of industry and economy. He
is public spirited and liberal in all things—especially in his
contributions to all projects conceived and designed for the
advancement of the township and county. As a friend of education he
is earnest and sincere, and has seen to it that the members of his own
family have had the benefits of all the advantages for instruction
available.
Source: A Portrait and Biographical Record of Allen and Van
Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co. - 1896
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ELIJAH ARNOLD, farmer
and stock-raiser of Jennings township, Van Wert county, is a son of
John and Rachael (Gilbert) Arnold, and was born in Fayette
county, Ohio, in the year 1835. John Arnold was a
pioneer of Van Wert county, moving to the same in October, 18326,
and locating on what is now known as the Thomas farm in
Jennings township, where he reared his family. In 1861, he
removed to Delphos, which was his home for some years; he afterwards
lived for a limited period in the city of Van Wert, moving thence to
Ridge township, where he died on the third day of March, 1869, at
the age of seventy-three years; his wife died about the year 1845.
John and Rachel Arnold had a family of ten children, as
follows: Elizabeth, married Claude Griffin;
Priscilla, widow of Mr. Keith; Levi,
died in early childhood; Mary, wife of Joseph
Tomlinson; John, resides in Iowa; Hanna, deceased wife
of Alexander Strowther; Samuel; Elijah, and Elias,
twins, the latter dying at the age of twenty-two; and Charley,
whose death occurred when quite young. By a subsequent
marriage, with Mary Ross, Mr. Arnold had one child, a son,
Dallas.
Elijah Arnold grew to manhood on the farm,
attending in the meantime the district schools, and in the fall of
1863 he enlisted in company G, Second Ohio heavy artillery, with
which he served until the close of the war. In March, 1869, he
married Miss E. C. Mathis, daughter of Ephraim and
Caroline Mathis, daughter of Ephraim and Caroline Mathis,
a union blessed with the birth of the following children:
Frank, deceased; Cora, a popular teacher and accomplished
musician; Elva, and Ethel. Mr. Arnold came into
possession of his present beautiful home in Jennings township by
inheritance. He has made many improvements upon his farm,
which contains 160 acres of excellent land, and his residence and
out-buildings rank with the best structures of the kind in the
community. He is a successful farmer and enjoys the confidence
and esteem of a large circle of neighbors and friends. He was
elected to the office of township treasurer in 1881, and has held
the position continuously since, his period of service being longer
than that of any of his predecessors. Mr. Arnold cast
his first vote for the first republican candidate for president, and
has been an earnest supporter of the republican party ever since.
Mr. and Mrs. Arnold and daughter are members of the Methodist
church; and he contributes liberally of is means to the promulgation
of the doctrines of the same.
Source: A Portrait and Biographical Record of Allen and Van
Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co. - 1896
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M. M. AYERS, M. D., a
leading medical practitioner at Ohio City, was born at Tedrow,
Fulton County, Ohio, in 1867, and is a son of David Ayers and
a member of one of the pioneer families of his native county.
Moses Ayers, the grandfather of Dr. Ayers,
moved to Fulton County when it was practically a wilderness,
entering a large body of Government land there. He was a
native of Maryland. On the maternal side, grandfather
Tedrow was one of the earliest settlers in Fulton County, and
the postoffice of that name keeps in memory one of its most
prominent citizens in his day.
David Ayers, father of Dr. Ayers, was
born in Wayne County, Ohio, in April, 1828, and removed with his
father to Fulton County, in 1838. He became a prominent farmer
in Fulton County at a later date, and served as county treasurer
from 1871 to 1875. He married Ann Bayes, who was born
in Holmes County, Ohio, in 1835, but later accompanied her parents
to Fulton County.
M. M. Ayers was reared at Tedrow, where he
obtained his earlier education, going from there to the Normal
School at Wauseon, and later teaching school for two years.
In 1890 he entered the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor.
Here he remained through the four-years' course, his being the first
class that, as a whole, took the four-years' medical course there.
He was graduated with credit in 1894, and returned to Tedrow, where
he remained for six months, removing then to Continental, Putnam
County, where he practiced his profession until March, 1902.
After taking a thorough post-graduate course at the Chicago Post
Graduate College, he located for one year at Wauseon, and then came
to Ohio City where he has since been in active work. Dr.
Ayers is one of the progressive medical men of this city, always
awake to all the scientific discoveries of benefit to his
profession, and he keeps himself closely in touch with the best
medical thought of his time by membership in the Ohio State Medical
Society and the Northwestern Ohio Medical Association.
Politically, Dr. Ayres is a Republican. In
Putnam County he served several years as a member of the Republican
Executive Committee. Fraternally, he is a Mason, a member of
Eureka Lodge, No. 592, of Ohio City, and of the Knights of the
Maccabees, of which order he is a trustee and tent physician.
He is also identified with the Fraternal Order of Eagles.
History of Van Wert County, Ohio -
Publ. 1906 - Page 732 |
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WILLIAM H. AYERS, farmer
and stock-raiser of Liberty township, also trustee of the
same, is of German-Irish descent, both branches of the
family having settled in Pennsylvania many years ago.
His grandfather, James M. Ayers, a native of Wayne
county, Pa., married Jane Richie, and a few years
later immigrated to Ohio, settling in Ashland county, where
he was an early pioneer. His son, Cyrus Ayers
father of William H., was born June 20, 1826, in the
county of Ashland. He was a farmer, and after his
marriage, Sept. 5, 1848, with Rachel Butler, settled
in Ashland county, thence in 1850 moved to the county of Van
Wert, and entered forty acres of land in the township of
Liberty, which forms a part of the farm now owned by the
subject of this sketch. Cyrus Ayers was a
democrat in politics, and a minister of hte regular Baptist
church, to which he was expecting to devote his life.
On the 3rd of April, 1858, while felling timber, he was
caught by a falling tree, and his spinal column broken; he
lived, in great agony, for seventeen days after the
accident, and his death was a great loss, not only to his
immediate family, but to the community as well. His
widow is still living. Following are the names of the
children of Cyrus and Rachael Ayers, together with
the dates of birth: Martha J., July 9, 1849;
James M., Jan. 2, 1851; William H., Sept. 2,
1853; Cyrus S., Jan. 28, 1857, died Oct. 3, 1862, and
Rachel M., whose birth occurred Mar. 9, 1859.
The parents of Mrs. Ayers were John and Mary
(Lindsey) Butler, the father a native of Bedford county,
Pa., and the mother of Tuscarawas county, Ohio.
William H. Ayers, whose name introduces this
biography, and the date of whose birth is noted in the
preceding paragraph, is one of the leading farmers of the
township of Liberty, and has devoted his attention to
agriculture ever since beginning life for himself. He
was married Oct. 30, 1878, to Alvina VanGundy,
daughter of Abraham and Elizabeth (Exline) VanGundy,
the parents natives, respectively, of Ross county, Ohio, and
Bedford county, Pa. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs.
Ayers the following children have been born:
Vernon M., September 2, 1879; Emery L., Oct. 1,
1881; Orley, Mar. 21, 1884; Tony G., Sept. 12,
1887; Ethel B. E., Dec. 1, 1889, and Agnes E. M.,
Nov. 7, 1892, all living.
Mr. Ayers has been successful, financially and
has a well cultivated farm of 240 acres. He was
elected as a democrat to the office of township clerk, the
duties of which position he discharged satisfactorily for
two terms, and for three yeas served as treasurer of his
township; he also held the office of township trustee two
terms and is the present incumbent. Mr. Ayers
was nominated by acclamation for the office of county
commissioner, but went town with his party, which was
defeated that year, not only in Liberty township, but
throughout the entire county. He was never defeated
for office in his own township, which fact may be taken as
an evidence of the confidence which the people repose in
him. In religion he accords the utmost liberty to all,
and fraternally is a member of Liberty grange, No. 322, P.
of H.
Source: A Portrait and Biographical Record of Allen and Van
Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co. - 1896 -
Page 27 |
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Mr. & Mrs.
William H. Ayers
& Family |
WILLIAM H. AYERS, one of the
successful and enterprising business men of Liberty township, owner
and operator of a valuable farm of two hundred acres situated in
sections 34 and 35, in a native of Van Wert County, where he was
born on September 2, 1853. He is the son of Cyrus and
Rachel (Butler) Ayers.
His father was born in Ashland County, Ohio, June
20, 1826, and was a son of James M. Ayres of Wayne County,
Pennsylvania, who married Jane Richie, and subsequently moved
to Ashland County, Ohio. He was married Sept. 5, 1848, and
moved to Van Wert County in 1850. On Apr. 3, 1858 while
felling timber, he was caught by a falling tree, which broke his
spinal column and caused his death 17 days later. His wife
Mrs. Rachel Ayers, was a daughter of John and Mary (Lindsay)
Butler, of Tuscarawas County, Ohio, and died on July 2, 1905.
They had six children, all of whom are living.
William H. Ayers, the subject of this sketch,
was reared in Liberty township, received a good, common school
education, afterward devoting his time to agricultural pursuits, and
in 1878 was married to Alvina Vangundy, daughter of
Abraham Vangundy, a prominent farmer of Mercer County, Ohio.
They have six children: Vernon, who married Nellie Smith
and lives in Rockford, Mercer County; Emery Lee, who married
Nellie King, of Van Wert, lives in Ohio City, and is the
father of one child; Orley, who lives at home; Tony
Gaylord; unmarried; Ethel Burdella Edna and Agnes
Edith May.
About three years after his marriage, Mr. Ayers
purchased 80 acres of land (the old home place) from the heirs of
the estate, his father having originally entered 40 acres of land in
section 35. He has added to this tract until now he is the
owner of 200 acres of productive and valuable farm land. At
one time he had 240 acres, but disposed of 40 acres in 1905.
He also owns two residence properties in Ohio City, and has 13
producing oil wells on his land. In addition to the 13 wells
on his own farm, which is leased to the Trial Oil Company, he has in
operation 10 complete oil wells on other land which he has himself
leased. He has two producing wells on the Straw lease, one on
the Butler lease, and four on the Peter Temple lease. Mr.
Ayres had on his farm the second oil well drilled in the Ohio
City field, which for several months produced 200 barrels per day.
It has been pumping since Apr. 1, 1904 and is yet productive.
Mr. Ayers is recognized as one of the township's
progressive and public-spirited men - one whose interests are
coincident with those of the community. He is a Democrat and
has always taken a lively interest in the success of the party,
being elected trustee of the township by that party and serving thus
for several years. He was for three years treasurer of the
township and for two years township clerk, being at one time an
unsuccessful candidate for county commissioner. For several
years Mr. Ayers was one of the directors of the warehouse and
elevator at Van Wert, which is owned by the Grange and Liberty
township. In all these various duties Mr. Ayres has
ever striven to give the public his best and most conscientious
efforts. On a preceding page in proximity to this, is shown a
picture of Mr. and Mrs. Ayers and their family, executed from
a recent photograph.
History of Van Wert County, Ohio -
Publ. 1906 - Page 471 |
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