BIOGRAPHIES.
Source:
A Portrait and
Biographical Record of Allen and Van Wert Counties, Ohio
containing biographical sketches of many prominent and representative
citizens :
together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents
of the United States, and biographies of the governors of Ohio.
Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co.,
1896
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HENRY H. FACKLER
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JOHN KETZENBARGER
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William Feasby
Anne Feasby |
WILLIAM FEASBY
Source: A Portrait and Biographical Record
of Allen and Van Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W.
Bowen & Co. - 1896 ~ Page 289
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MRS. ESTHER A. FISHER,
widow of Samuel Fisher, late of Union township, Van
Wert county, Ohio, is a daughter of John and Hannah
Ferguson, and was born in Cecil county, Md., Oct. 30,
1829 - the youngest of seven children, named as follows.
George, deceased; Mrs. Eliza Moore, of
Michigan, deceased; William; Margaret, deceased;
Robert; Mrs. Rebecca McVay, and our subject, Esther
A., now Mrs. Samuel Fisher.
Mrs. Esther A. Fisher was educated in the select
school of her native state, and was first married, Feb. 25,
1847, to John F. McCullough, a son of John and
Susan McCullough, to which union were born the following
children: Samuel H., May 30, 1848; Susan J.,
Jan. 22, 850; George W., May 18, 1852; Harriet A.,
June 8, 1855; Margaret E., Oct. 13, 1857; William
C., Apr. 8, 1860. Mr. McCullough, the
father of these children, was born in Lancaster county, Pa.,
Aug. 14, 1827, and was a farmer. After marriage he,
with his family, lived on a farm in Lancaster county for
twenty-four years, and then moved to York county, same
state, and several years later - about 1857 - came to Ohio
and located in Fairfield county, whence, in 1861, he came to
Van Wert county and purchased a small farm in Liberty
township, on which he located his family, and in the same
year enlisted in Company H, Forty-sixth Ohio volunteer
infantry. At the battle of Pittsburg Landing he was
seriously wounded in the foot and was consequently laid up
in the hospital at Saint Louis, Mo., where he recovered,
and, on returning home, enlisted in the Fifteenth Ohio
volunteer infantry for the remainder of the war.
During his services in his two enlistments he took part in
the severe campaigns of Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama and
George, and at Dallas, Ga., gave up his life, and now rests
in a grave among the unknown but gallant brave.
After Mr. McCullough's death, his widow, our
subject, with the assistance of her sons, managed the home
farm in Liberty township until 1869, when she sold the place
and moved to her present home in Union township. In
June, 1870, she was united in marriage with Samuel Fisher.
This lamented gentleman was a son of Jacob Fisher,
and was born in Crawford county, Ohio, May 25, 1822, and was
reared a blacksmith, as well as to farming. He first
married Julia A. French, to which marriage were born
five children, all of whom are now residents of Paulding
county. Samuel Fisher was also a gallant
soldier in the late Civil war and served in company H, One
Hundred and Thirty-second Ohio volunteer infantry, of
Paulding county. At the close of this internecine
struggle he resumed blacksmithing and farming, and lost his
wife in 1868. After his marriage to our subject he
retained his residence on his farm in Paulding county for
twelve years, and there, with his second wife, our subject,
stood very high in the estimation of his neighbors as a
useful and valuable member of society. His untimely
death took place May 8, 1892, in the faith of the Church of
God. In Politics he was a republican and was an
honored member of the Grand Army of the Republic. He
held several local offices, having been quite popular with
his party, and being always recognized as an honest,
intelligent and trustworthy citizen.
After the death of her lamented husband Mrs. Fisher,
soon returned to her old home in Union township, Van Wert
county, where she is now residing with her daughter,
Susan J., one of the children born to her first
marriage. Susan J. McCullough was married Nov.
26, 1868, to Jacob Wise, a son of James and Julia
A. (Bartin) Wise, and has borne her husband three
children, named as follows: James H., of
Middlebury, Summit county, Ohio; Cora A., wife of
Frank Rolsten, of Union township, Van Wert county; and
Zelma A. Mr. Wise was born in Morrow county,
Ohio, Apr. 11, 1847, is of Pennsylvania - Dutch descent, and
came to Van Wert, Ohio, with his parents in his boyhood, and
here his life has ever since been identified with the
agricultural interests of the county.
Mrs. Fisher, like her husband, is a devoted
member of the Church of God, in which faith she has reared
all her children. The relict of two brave soldiers,
she is passing away, a venerated and honored woman, the
remaining years of his life, awaiting only the call of the
Being after whom her church is named.
Source: A Portrait and Biographical Record
of Allen and Van Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W.
Bowen & Co. - 1896 ~ Page 298 |
Daniel Fortney
Mrs. Christina Fortney |
DANIEL FORTNEY
Source: A Portrait and Biographical Record of Allen and Van
Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co. -
1896 ~ Page 326 |
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GEORGE
S. FREEMAN, the genial and affable proprietor of the
Hotel Marsh, Van Wert county, Ohio, is a native of Flint, Mich., born
February 22, 1845. His father, Joseph Freeman, was born
in New Jersey, in 1804, left his native state in 1836, and made his
way to the town of Flint, Mich., where he followed the trade of
carpentering. He was married in Flint, Mich., in 1840, to
Louisa Kimbal, who was born in the state of New York in 1818, and
to this union were born three children, viz: Ellen, wife of
J. G. Fisher, a furniture dealer; George S., our subject,
and Delaskie D., a grocery merchant of Flint, Mich. The
father was a republican in politics, and was a successful business
man, and died in 1871, a pious member of the Methodist Episcopal
church. His widow became the wife of Horace Bristol, and
now resides in Milwaukee, Wis.
George S. Freeman was reared in Flint
until twenty-six years of age, when he engaged as an assistant with
Newell & Co., in the manufacture of sash, doors and blinds, and in
1872 went to Bellevue, Ohio, and there engaged as a machinist in a
furniture manufactory, where he remained until 1874, when he went to
Fremont, and for eight years was a clerk in the Ball Hotel; thence he
went to Fostoria, Ohio, where he had charge of the Hayes House for two
and a half years, when he returned Fremont and for a year and a half
was proprietor of the Ball Hotel; he next went to Frankfort, Ind., and
for six years was proprietor of the Coulter House, the leading hotel
of that city, and then again went to Fremont, Ohio, and once more
conducted the Ball Hotel for a year; he then purchased the Hotel Marsh
in Van Wert, and took possession thereof in May, 1892. This is
the finest hotel building in the city, contains forty-five rooms, is
steam heated, and is now the best conducted establishment of its kind
in northwestern Ohio, its tables being unsurpassed in any particular.
George S. Freeman was united in the bonds of
matrimony, in Bellevue, Ohio, April 15, 1873, with Miss Dela
Ford, who was born in Bellevue, January 4, 1854, a daughter of
John and Thurza (Joint) Ford, and this union has been
blessed by the birth of four children, viz: John, clerk in the
Hotel Marsh; Harry and Harold, deceased, and Florine.
The family are communicants of the Episcopal church, and in politics
Mr. Freeman is a republican. Fraternally he is a Mason
and a Knight of Pythias
Source: A Portrait and Biographical Record of Allen and Van
Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co. -
1896 ~ Page 281 |
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SOLOMON FRIESNER, a prominent business man of Van Wert,
Ohio, was born in Hocking county, this state, April 18, 1839, a son
of FRED and Leo (Fought) Friesner,
natives, respectively, of Kentucky and Pennsylvania, and the former
by vocation a farmer. Solomon, our subject, lived with
his parents until he reached his twenty-third year, when he bought
ninety-seven and a half acres in Hocking county and went to farming
on his own account. In 1865 he sold his property and moved to
liberty township, Van Wert county, where for seen years he engaged
in the grocery business. He then resumed farming on his 120
acres of land, which he had here purchased, and followed this
vocation until he wife's death, in 1882, when he sold his place, and
in the spring of 1883 came to the city of VanWert, and for two years
was employed at labor work on the gas line and on the street cars.
He then joined Willard Smith, in the grocery business,
on East Main street, but at the end of fourteen months Mr.
Friesner withdrew from the firm and was employed as clerk in one
or more groceries until 1889, in January of which year he formed a
partnership with George Wert in the stove and tinware trade,
on South Washington street, where a successful business was carried
on until 1891, when Mr. Friesner bought the lot and erected
his present building on Main street, to which the firm moved and
carried on their trade until August, 1, 1893, and Mr. Wirt
retired, leaving the business solely in the hands of Mr. Friesner,
who carries a stock valued at $2,000. In addition to his
regular trade in stoves and tinware, Mr. Friesner makes a
specialty of handling old iron, and junk generally, in which trade
he has almost a monopoly.
Mr. Friesner was first married Jan. 2, 1862, in
Hocking county, Ohio, to Miss Christina Weaver, a native
thereof, and to this union were born six children, of whom four
survive, viz: Lovine, wife of George Spahr, a
carpenter of Van Wert; Ida A., wife of William Ickes; John
F., in the employment of his father, and Ora S., a
grocery clerk. The mother of this family died Sept. 25, 1883,
and Mr. Friesner's second marriage took place in Mendon,
Mercer county, Ohio, Sept. 15, 1890, to Mrs. Laura R. Rider, a
native of Kentucky, born in 1837, and the widow of William Rider.
Mrs. Friesner is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and
in politics Mr. Friesner is a democrat, under the auspices of
which party he has served as city assessor two terms, as township
clerk and as constable. Fraternally he is a master Mason.
He is the owner of his residence on Sycamore street, and a
residence and business block on Market street. Mrs.
Friesner owns in her own right sixty acres in Mercer county,
Ohio, beside five oil wells, which yield her an income of $150 per
month. Mr. Friesner is a thorough business man and
sells the Eclipse ranges and heating stoves, as well as his
queensware and tinware, at No. 81 East Main street, strictly for
cash.
Source: A Portrait and Biographical Record of Allen and Van
Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co. -
1896 ~ Page 190 |
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B.
F. FRONFIELD, a prominent business man of Van Wert,
Ohio, was born in this county in November, 1847, a son of
WILLIAM FRONFIELD, and this county and city have been his
home up to the present time.
B. F. Fronfield was reared in Jennings township
until seventeen years of age, when he left his parents and enlisted
Feb. 20, 1865, in company D, One Hundred and Ninety-third Ohio
volunteer infantry, was assigned to the Second division of the army
of the Potomac, and served under Capt. Alexander Gable, until
August, 1865, when he was honorably discharged at Winchester, Va.
He then came to the city of Van Wert, worked as a laborer in the old
Warren & Wells stave factory for four years, then in the Eagle works
for a year, and then, in 1880, in company with J. H. Fronfield,
opened a meat market on South Washington street, which they carried
on for nine years. Our subject then engaged in the grocery
trade in partnership with C. H. Brown for eighteen months;
then was sole proprietor for a short time, when William Young
bought a half interest, and the two did business together for
sixteen months, when Mr. Fronfield again became sole
proprietor until January 15, 1894, when he closed out and retired;
since then he has been assisting the city civil engineer on street
improvements.
Mr. Fronfield was married in York
township, Van Wert county, Jan. 7, 1866 to Miss Maggie A. Hammond,
a native of Mercer county, Ohio, and daughter of John and
Catherine Hammond, and this union had been blessed by the birth
of three children, viz: Ollie I., wife of Dr. William
Kirkpatrick, of Lincoln, Ill.; Edith A., still at home,
and an infant deceased. In politics Mr. Fronfield is a
republican, and is 1892 filled a seat in the common council for six
months, supplying a vacancy, and i 1894 was elected a member of that
body for two years. He is a Free-mason, a member of the G. A.
R., and of the National Union, and is a most agreeable and highly
respected gentleman. He owns a tract of twenty acres adjoining
Van Wert and considerable property in town, and has been the maker
of his own fortune.
Source: A Portrait and Biographical Record of Allen and Van
Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co. -
1896 ~ Page 198 |
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JOSEPH
B. FRONFIELD, merchant, ex-soldier and farmer of Van Wert,
Ohio, was born in Stark county, Ohio, June 30, 1839, a son of
Jacob and Barbara (Wornewag) Fronfield, the former of
whom was born in Pennsylvania, was a blacksmith, and was married in
his native state to Miss Wornewag, who was a native of
Germany and was but seventeen years of age when she came to America.
In 1841, Jacob Fronfield emigrated from Pennsylvania and
purchased a home in the woods of Union township, Mercer county,
Ohio, on which he lived until his death in December, 1865, his wife
having preceded him to the grave in Sept., 1862. The children
born to Jacob and Barbara Fronfield numbered seven and were
named as follows: William of Van Wert; George and
John, deceased, Mary, of Mercer county; Jacob and
Barbara, both deceased, and Joseph B., our subject.
In politics the father of this family was a republican and with his
wife was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, was successful
in life, and left a farm of eighty acres in fine condition.
Joseph B. Fronfield was but eighteen months of
age when brought by his parents to Mercer county, Ohio, and in the
woods of Union township he grew to manhood and worked for his father
until his majority, when he married, cleared up his own farm of
ninety-five acres, and on it made his home until 1866, when he
traded for another farm of eighty acres, on which he resided two
years; he then traded for 112 acres, which he retained and
cultivated for five years, and then sold and bought a farm of 160
acres in Ridge township, Van Wert county, which he still owns, and
which he cultivated until 1889, and on which he lived with the
exception of intervals, when he was engaged in business in Van Wert,
in which city he took up his permanent residence in the year last
named. In 1886 he began the undertaking business in
partnership with B. L. Vore, from which partnership he
withdrew at the end of eighteen months, and a year later, in company
with M. Gackenheimer, started business in the same line on
South Washington street, which was profitably pursued until 1894,
when Mr. Fronfield became the sole proprietor, and is still
doing a general undertaking and picture-frame business. He is
a practical embalmer, owns a fine hearse, and handles a well
assorted line of caskets.
The marriage of Mr. Fronfield took place Apr.
23, 1861, in Mercer county, Ohio, to Miss Martha Yocum, who
was born in Wayne county, Ohio, in October, 1840, a daughter of
John and Betsey (Shelly) Yocum, and to this union three children
have been born, viz: Morris M. and Mary Ann, deceased,
and Joseph R., a farmer
Mr. Fronfield has his military experience, having enlisted in
February, 1864, in company C, Thirty-first Ohio volunteer infantry,
under Captain Barber, for the term of three years or during
the war, but was honorably discharged in February, 1865, at Camp
Dennison, on account of disability. His active battles were
those at Missionary Ridge, Snake Creek Gap, Lookout Mountain, Big
Shanty, Peach Tree Creek, and Atlanta, in all of which he nobly and
faithfully acted his part. Mr. and Mrs.. Fronfield are
Presbyterians in their religious belief, and beside the 160 acre
farm in Ridge township, they own their fine residence, corner of
Cherry and Crawford streets, Van Wert.
Source: A Portrait and Biographical Record of Allen and Van
Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co. -
1896 ~ Page 196 |
NOTES: |
