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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WILEY M. KEAR, an
extensive real estate dealer and money broker of Van Wert, Ohio, was born in
that village Apr. 22, 1851, and is a son of
Thomas Reed and Catherine (Frisinger) Kear.
Thomas Read Kear
was born in Maryland Apr. 26, 1806, and during his
early youthful days was a sailor on the ocean.
Some time prior to the attainment of his majority he removed to Licking
county, Ohio,
to which county his parents had preceded him, and there he lived on a farm near
Jacksontown, in the meantime learning the carpenter trade. He afterward moved to Champaign
county, Ohio.
Here, Apr. 29, 1829, he married
Catherine Frisinger, who was born in Virginia Apr. 12, 1812, and by whom he had
ten children, as follows:
Mary M., wife of
Jackson Pence, and now living in
Willshire township; John J., of Van
Wert county; Amelia C., deceased;
Lydia A., of Petersburg, Ill.;
Amanda A., of Van Wert;
Benjamin F., who died in Oklahoma;
Sarah E., who died in Buchanan
county, Iowa; Robert T., who died in
Van Wert; Wiley M., the subject of
this sketch, and Elsie A., deceased.
Removing to Van
Wert county in 1835, Mr. Kear settled
in Willshire township, where he was employed mainly as a cabinet-maker and as a
carpenter until 1843, when he removed to Van Wert, which place at that time
contained only eleven families. As a
democrat, Mr. Kear served as a deputy
under the first sheriff of Van Wert county, was afterward himself elected
sheriff, and served as public crier for many years. His death occurred May 11, 18654, his
widow dying in Van Wert Nov. 1, 1895, at the age of eighty-three years, six
months and nineteen days. She was
converted at a camp meeting in Urbana, Ohio,
in 1830, united with the Methodist Episcopal church, and was a member of the
first Methodist class in Van Wert county, which met in the house of
Richard Pring, in Willshire township,
Mr. Pring having been the organizer
and leader of the class and being an exhorter of no mean ability. She joined this class in 1836. Her sisters, of whom she had several,
lived most of their lives in Champaign Co.,
Ohio, and many of their descendants now reside in that
county. Her brothers were among the
early settlers of Van Wert and Mercer counties,
Ohio, and were named
William, Jacob, John, Peter, and
Noah Frisinger.
Peter Frisinger,
the father of Mrs. Kear, died during
the war of 1812, while fighting the battles of his country, and was buried at
Norfolk, Va. His wife was a
Miss Worley, and several of her nephews and nieces lived near Eaton, Preble Co.,
Ohio.
Thomas Reed Kerr had two brothers,
John Reed and
William Reed, the former of whom died
while a young an, in Champaign county, and the latter of whom was last heard
from as living in Syracuse, Nebr. He
also had three sisters, - Mary Ann,
who married Richard Pring, and
removed to Polk Co., Iowa; Eleanor,
who married John Pring, a brother of
Richard, and removed to Fort Wayne,
Ind., and Amelia R., who married
Frederick Baylor, and removed to
Wayne Co., Iowa.
Following are the
names of some of the descendants of these three sisters:
Harriet R. Deyve, of
Princeton,
Mo.; Mary J. Deyve, of
Ravanna, Mo.;
Margaret Eby and
Fanny Fry, of
Great Bend, Kan.;
Thomas Pring, of Allerton, Wayne Co.,
Iowa; Jerry Pring, of Adams, Adair
Co., Iowa; Amelia Whittaker, of
Oakley, Kan.; Margaret McCleary, of
Dexter, Iowa; Jane Adams, Ethel (Pring)
Stewart, and George W. Pring, all
three of Adair Co., Iowa; Emma Trummel,
of Nebraska; Mary Woodrow, of Rock
Falls, Iowa; Nellie Whittaker, of
Oakley, Kan.; James Pring, of
Cedarville, Ind., and Maggie Cornell,
of Kirksville, Missouri.
Thomas Reed Kear was a son of
John Cears, who married
Eleanor Reed, in or near
Baltimore. She had three brothers, viz:
William, John and
Thomas, all of who lived in Baltimore
or the vicinity.
John Cears was a ship-builder and a sailor, and
somewhat late in life removed to Licking county,
Ohio. Of his two sisters,
Nancy married a Mr. Pussely, and lived at
Zanesville, Ohio, and Mary married a
Mr. Basiel or
Bassil, and lived in Licking county. The
father of John Cears came from England
prior to the Revolutionary war, and established a large ship-building yard in
Maryland, which he conducted profitably
until the breaking out of that war, when all his property was confiscated.
Wiley M. Kear, after the death of his
father, worked in a stave factory for two years, and then removed to
Plymouth,
Ind., where he worked on a farm during the summer
season and attended school during the winter, working for his board. Returning to Van Wert he was for
three years engaged in a stave factory eight months in the year and attended
school four months. For some time
afterward he was engaged in various kinds of farm work, and having attained his
majority he went to Brandon,
Iowa, and there was engaged in farm labor until
1873. Returning to Van Wert he
worked for some years in a saw-mill, at general teaming and school teaching in
winters, at the same time laying out the plat of
Kear’s addition to Van Wert, selling
lots, and building a home for his mother.
In 1879 he accepted a position as deputy recorder of Van Wert county,
under his brother-in-law, W. P. Wolcott,
and while in this position began loaning money, thus laying the foundation of
his present extensive and profitable business, and in 1883, at the expiration of
his term as deputy recorder, he opened his present office, at the corner of Main
and Washington streets, Van Wert.
Mr. Kear was married June 17, 1879,
at Brandon, Iowa, to Miss Malinda Romig, who
was born in Wisconsin,
Oct. 14, 1853, and to this marriage there have been born seven children, as
follows:
Carleton R.; Helen L; Georgiana M.; Roy Donald; Paul Winfred; Harry Alexander; and
Thomas W., deceased.
Mr. and Mrs. Kear are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Knox is an Odd Fellow, and a
republican, and bears a fine reputation as a successful and honorable business
man.
Mrs. Kear removed with her parents from Wisconsin
to Brandon,
Iowa, and resided there until her marriage. Her father, Isaac Romig, was a merchant at that place.
He was born in Lehigh county, Pa., Mar. 26, 1814, and married Mrs. Elizabeth Young, who was born in Northumberland county, Pa., Aug. 8, 1823, a daughter of
Jacob and Sarah (Richey) Williamson,
the marriage taking place Mar. 13, 1842.
To this marriage there have been born seven children, as follows:
Henry H., who died at
Memphis, Tenn., May 21, 1864,
from the effects of a musket-ball wound in the hand;
Harriet D., wife of
H. S. Van Buren, of Brandon, Iowa;
Mary Ann, wife of
Henry Fouts, of Brandon, Iowa; James M.,
who married Sarah L. Newcomb, and
lives at Independence, Iowa; Benjamin,
who died when a child; Malinda, wife
of the subject of this sketch; Clara
Marilie, wife of A. T. McDonald,
of Independence, Iowa. All seven of
the above-named children were born in the state in Wisconsin.
Source: A Portrait and Biographical Record of Allen and
Van Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co. -
1896 - Page
903
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JOHN KESLER,
a substantial farmer of Tully township, Van Wert county,
Ohio, is a native of the county and was born Mar. 22, 1841,
a son of Samuel and Louisa (Frazier) Kesler. Samuel
Kesler was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, was reared a
farmer, and early in 1841 settled in Ridge township, Van
Wert county, where he entered 160 acres of land, which he
subsequently increased 310 acres. He and wife became
parents of thirteen children.
John Kesler received a fair education in the
common schools, was reared to manhood on the home farm, and
Dec. 3, 1865, married Hannah S., daughter of Job
and Lydia A. (Cavett) DeCamp, of French origin.
Job DeCamp, however, was born in Licking county, Ohio, a
son of John DeCamp, of Pennsylvania. Job
DeCamp came to Ridge township, Van Wert county, Ohio, in
1840, and here entered 160 acres of woodland, which he
succeeded in clearing and converting into a farm that
equaled any in the township. His family comprised ten
children, named as follows: John, Mary E., William H.,
Andrew E., Joseph W., James (deceased), Hannah S., Newton
A., Arrilla, and Thomas P. The father of
this family was called to his long home at the age of
sixty-six years, dying an honored and respected citizen.
After marriage, Mr. Kesler settled on a farm
of eighty acres on the Defiance road, where he lived until
he bought his present farm of 120 acres. To his marriage
have been born two children—Joseph E. and Almeda.
Joseph E. Kesler, the son, married Sarah Harris,
of Union township, and has had born to him one child.
John Kesler has been very successful as a farmer, and
his dwelling and grounds give evidence of skillful
cultivation and thrifty progress. He is highly
respected in the community in which he lives, has afforded
his children all the educational advantages within his
power, and has proven himslf to be a first-class and
progressive citizen, well deserving the high esteem in which
he is held by his neighbors.
Source: A Portrait and Biographical Record of Allen and
Van Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co. -
1896 - Page 396 |
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SAMUEL KESLER,
deceased, of late one of the most experienced and well-to-do
farmers of Ridge township, Van Wert county, was born in
Fairfield county, Ohio, in July, 1812. His parents,
PETER and Elizabeth (Bowman)
KESLER, were natives of Pennsylvania
and had born to them, beside Samuel, the
following-named children: Abraham, who settled on a
farm in Allen county, Ohio, and there died in 1890 or 1891;
Polly, who died in early womanhood; Jakey, who
died in boyhood; Barbara, now the wife of Reuben
Timbers and residing in Ridge township; Milly,
now Mrs. Zeigler of Illinois; Eli, who died
about the year 1881; John, who was a soldier in the
late war and died from disease; Anna, wife of
Charles Sterling of Illinois; Betsey, who died in
earlly childhood, and Peter, who still resides in
childhood, and Peter, who still resides in Fairfield
county, Ohio. About the year 1852, the parents of our
subject, who had settled in Fairfield county, Ohio, made a
trip to Allen and Van Wert counties to see their boys, and
shortly after their return to Fairfield county, while
preparing on a Sunday to attend church, their horse, which
was being held by Mrs. Kesler, suddenly became
unmanageable and broke away, throwing the lady to the
ground. The wheels of the vehicle to which the animal
was attached passed over the prostrate form of Mrs.
Kesler, inflicting injuries which resulted in her death,
and shortly thereafter the disconsolate husband moved to
Allen county and there made his home with his eldest
son, Abraham, until he was himself called away.
The first marriage of Samuel Kesler took place
when he was twenty-two years of age, to Miss Louisa
Frazier, and for four years after this event worked by
the day on his father's farm and elsewhere; he also farmed
on rented land in his native county until 1840, when he came
to an Wert county, and entered 160 acres in a dense forest
in Ridge township - a part of his present farm. His
first care here was to erect a cabin in which to shelter
himself, his wife and three children. After that time
more than 1,000 acres were bought and sold by him and at his
death he was still owner of a magnificent farm of 295 acres.
To Mr. and Mrs. Kesler were born the following
children: Jacob, who was a soldier in the late
war, served a little over two years, and died in 1865;
Peter, who was also a soldier, now lives in Illinois;
Barbara, is the wife of George Workman; Mary Jane,
who was twice married, is now deceased; John is a
resident of Van Wert county; Louisa is the wife of
Mr. Griswold, of Fort Wayne, Ind.; Sarah was
married to Thomas Hyers, of Van Wert county, Ohio;
Martha is the wife of Emanuel Baker, also of Van
Wert county, and Ellen who became the wife of
Loren High, is now deceased. The mother of this
family having died, Mr. Kesler married, in 1885, the
widow of Benjamin Fisher. Mr. Kesler was a
member of the Lutheran church, stood high in the good
opinion of the people of the township and county, and in the
Lutheran faith. Mr. Kesler was called away Nov.
20, 1895. In politics Mr. Kesler was a democrat
and for two terms served as township trustee. His
respected widow still resides in Middlepoint, Van Wert
county.
Source: A Portrait and Biographical Record of Allen and
Van Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co. -
1896 - Pages 389-390 |
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THOMAS
C. KENSLER, a well known and experienced farmer of
Ridge township, Van Wert county, Ohio, is a native of
Delaware county and was born Mar. 29, 1828, a son of John
and Sally (Longwell) Kensler. John, the
father, was born in Pennsylvania, and was a boy when he was
brought to Delaware county, Ohio; Sally (Longwell)
Kensler was a native of Delaware county, and by her
marriage with Mr. Kensler became the mother of eight
children, viz: Elizabeth, wife of Henry Valentine,
of Indiana; Thomas C., our subject; Catherine,
wife of Gideon Alspach, of Miami county, Ind.;
James; Louis; Harrison, who died in childhood;
William, who also died young, and Matilda.
The mother of this family died in June, 1843, and in
November of the same year John Kensler married
Louisa Flemming, and to this union were born the
following named children: Sally Mona, John, David,
Alfred, who died young, and Martha. In
1851, John Kensler went to Fulton county, Ind., and
bought a farm, but in 1855 removed to Madison county, Iowa
where he bought another farm on which he resided until his
death, in November, 1859.
Thomas C. Kensler was reared on the home farm
until he was nineteen years of age, when he went out to
work, at $12 per month; three months later he hired out by
the year, at $110 for the first year, and at $120 for the
next three years following. At about the age of
twenty-five years he had saved some money, and he then
purchased a small piece of land in Delaware county, Ohio,
and also rented a farm of his uncle; at the age of thirty
years he was married, Apr. 8, 1858, to Miss Phebe Ketcham,
which union was blessed by the birth of three children:
John W., who married Irene Cramer who became
the mother of Fred, Ray, Wilbur, Thomas and Virgil;
the second child born to our subject was named Charles,
and died at the age of twenty years, and the third child,
Eva, died in childhood.
In 1863, Mr. Kensler came to Van Wert county,
having previously purchased eighty acres of wooded land in
Ridge township and also eighty acres in Jackson township.
His possessions now comprise 180 acres in Van Wert county,
as he disposed of a part of his original purchases.
Mr. Kensler, on his first coming to his present home,
found it necessary to labor hard one-half day in order to
chop a pathway within his building site. The cabin
that first sheltered his little family on this farm yet
stands in his doorway.
Mar. 10, 1882, Mr. Kensler had the
sorrowful misfortune to lose his helpmate, who had been a
devout member of the Methodist church from twelve years of
age - of which church, also, Mr. Kensler has
been a communicant since 1875. Mr. Kensler
has served his fellow-citizens as infirmary director,
filling the position six years, and also served as township
trustee for three terms. He is a gentleman in whom the
people of Ridge township place every reliance and feel that
they can implicitly trust, as there has never been a word
uttered that would in any way impugn his honor or integrity.
He is, as will be perceived, an entirely self-made man, and
well deserves the confidence which is placed in him by all
who know him.
Source: A Portrait and Biographical Record of Allen and
Van Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co. -
1896 - Pages 388-389 |
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JOHN KETZENBARGER,
an enterprising young farmer of Hoaglin township, Van Wert
county, Ohio, was born Nov. 28, 1851, a son of Sebastian
and Rachael (Cramer) Ketzenbarger. Sebastian
was born in Germany in 1823, and was but twelve years of age
when brought to America by his parents, Michael and Eve (Staungy)
Ketzenbarger, the former of whom died in Hancock county,
Ohio, in 1858, and the latter in Wood county, Ohio, in 1874,
at the age of eighty years. Sebastian was
reared to farming, and about 1847 married Rachael Cramer,
daughter of Philip and Christina (Harmon) Cramer, to
which union were born nine children, viz.: Belle,
John (our subject), Sarah (deceased), Andy,
Rene, George, Ella (deceased), Oliver and Mrs.
Mary Hammon. Philip Cramer was a native of
Pennsylvania and in youth was brought to Ohio by his
parents, who located in Fairfield county, where Philip
grew to maturity and was married, the the six
resulting children being named Adam (deceased,
Daniel, Jacob (deceased), Rachael (Mrs. Ketzenbarger),
Christina and Peggy (both deceased).
Rachael, subject's mother, was born in Fairfield county
about 1818, and died in Hancock county in 1893, a member of
the United Brethren church.
John Ketzenbarger, our subject, was born in
Hancock county, Ohio, was reared a farmer and educated in
the common schools of his township. In 1872 he married
Miss Mary Fackler, daughter of Henry and Nancy
(Bear) Fackler whose biography is attached hereto.
To this union have been born five children, viz.:
Homer M., Hermi I., Florence E., Alice J., and
Earnest J. Mrs. Ketzenbarger was born in Richland
county, Ohio, in 1853, and was married in Wood county, where
her husband had located in 1866, and where he followed
farming until 1890, when he came to Van Wert county and
purchased his present home, which is one of the finest farms
in Hoaglin township. In February, 1893, Mr. Kentzenbarger
met with a serious accident on the Pittsburg railroad, near
Columbus City, two coaches, in one of which he was a
passenger outright and injuring some thirty others. In
this disaster Mr. Ketzenbarger had a shoulder
dislocated and sustained a number of other injuries, from
which he has not yet fully recovered. In politics,
Mr. Ketzenbarger is a democrat, and holds the office of
township treasurer; fraternally he is a member of Van Wert
lodge, No. 251, I. O. O. F., and is recognized by the
community at large as a straightforward, upright gentleman;
as a farmer he is progressive and prosperous, taking an
active interest in the welfare of his county and aiding in
every public enterprise designed for its advancement.
HENRY H. FACKLER, a
prominent farmer of Van Wert county, Ohio, was born in
Dauphin county, Pa., in 1823, to Abraham and Barbara
(Hough) Fackler. Abraham Fackler was born
in the same county in 1777, and was a son of Wentle
Fackler, who was born in Germany, in 1746. At the
age of seventeen years Wentle came to America, and
was sold or apprenticed, on the streets of Philadelphia, for
three yeas to reimburse the funds necessary to defray his
passage expenses, but by the time his term had half expired
he was released by his master and employed at regular
laboring rates. Two years later he returned to his
native country for his mother and two brothers, his father
having been killed in battle. On his return to America
he served three years in the Revolution under Washington,
enduring the hardships of Valley Forge and encountering
Burgoyne in the north of Cornwallis in the south. He
then bought a tract of land from the government and hewed
out a home. He married Anna Rank, and to this
union were born ten children, of whom Abraham was the
eldest son, and departed this life in 1823, a member of the
Presbyterian church.
Abraham Fackler, father of Henry H., was
reared on his father's farm, and also learned the trade of
weaving. He took an active part in the war of 1812,
and fought, among other places, in the battles of Buffalo,
N. Y., and Baltimore, Md. In early life he was a
Presbyterian, but later became a German Baptist, and
married, Mar. 30, 1801, Barbara Hough, daughter of
Henry Hough who was a Revolutionary officer, and to this
marriage were born fourteen children, of whom two only are
still living - Wentle and Henry H. The
mother of these was born in 1871, of German parentage, was
also a member of the German Baptist Church, and died May 10,
1844- the father surviving until Jan. 12, 1866, when he died
in Richland county, Ohio.
Henry H. Fackler was reared a farmer, and became
quite accomplished in both the German and English languages.
In 1840 he came with his father from Pennsylvania, in
wagons, to Richland county, Ohio, and here began farming for
himself on an eighty-acre tract. which he drained and
improved with good and substantial buildings, but in 1868
sold and bought land in Wood county, Ohio, where he lived
nearly twenty-two years. In 1890 he sold his farm,
increased to 200 acres, and bought his present home of 239
acres, in addition to which he has given homes to his
children. On Sept. 7, 1843, Henry H. Fackler
married Nancy Bear, who was born in Dauphin county,
Pa., in 1819, a daughter of Henry and Maria (Nisley) Bear,
and this marriage has been blessed by the birth of the
following children: Jacob, deceased;
Solomon, farmer of Union township, Van Wert county;
Emanuel, deceased; Mary wife of John
Ketzenbarger, of Hoaglin township; Leah,
deceased; Sarah A., married to Addison Fry of
Union township (deceased); Alice, married to
William Young, a farmer of Union township. In his
politics Mr. Fackler is conservative, voting for a
good man rather than for a party nominee..
Source: A Portrait and Biographical Record
of Allen and Van Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W.
Bowen & Co. - 1896 ~ Pages 400-401 |
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HENRY H. KING,
carpenter and liveryman of Willshire, Van Wert county, is a
son of JESSE and Catherine (Sivey)
KING, and was born in Franklin
county, Ohio, Feb. 3, 1842.
JESSE KING, father of Henry
H., was born in Franklin county, in 1805, and was a son
of PHILIP KING, of German descent and
a native of Pennsylvania. By occupation Philip King
was a farmer and married Miss Leah Wright by whom he
had six children, of whom Jesse was the
second-youngest child. Philip King emigrated to
Fairfield county, Ohio, when Jesse was but a small
boy, and there he spent the remainder of his life.
During the war of 1812-15, he served as a soldier in defense
of his country, and in politics he was an old-line whig.
He having died, his widow removed to Van Wert county, where
he died in 1850 at the home of her son. Jesse King
was reared upon a farm in Fairfield county, and in 1830
married Catherine Sivey, daughter of John and
Phoebe (Holler) Sivey. Jesse King and his
wife were the parents of six children, viz: William,
deceased; Solomon, a retired farmer and owner of
valuable coal mines in Kansas, - was a soldier in the war of
the Rebellion and served in Company A, Thirty-fourth Ohio
volunteer infantry for two years; John, deceased,
served in the war as a member of the Eighty-eighth Ohio
volunteer infantry; Philip, was a soldier in company
F, Ninety-ninth Ohio volunteer infantry, served three years
and was killed at the battle of Nashville, in December,
1864; Henry H. is the subject of this sketch;
Jesse is a prosperous farmer of Black Creek township,
and Franklin, who died in infancy.
The mother of these children was born in Richmond, Va.,
in 1816, and while yet young removed with her parents to
Franklin county, Ohio. Her father, John Sivey,
was a native of Virginia, and of German ancestry. By
trade he was a miller, and was one of the early settlers of
Franklin county, remaining there until 1824, when he removed
to Adams county, Ind., where he built a mill at what is now
called Pleasant mills, and there passed the rest of his
days. He served as a soldier in the war of 1812 in the
same company as did the paternal grandfather of our subject.
He and his wife were parents of four children, viz:
William, Jonathan and Levi, all deceased,
and Catherine, mother of the subject.
A few words more are due in this sketch to Jesse
King and his wife. After their marriage they
located in Franklin county, where Mr. King
followed farming until 1844. They then removed to
Mercer county, and there he entered 300 acres of land from
the government, 160 acres of which are still owned by his
son, Jesse. Upon this 300-acre tract Mr.
King erected a log cabin, cleared his land and lived
there until his death, which occurred in March, 1867.
He was one of the prominent farmers and citizens of his day;
filled the office of justice of the peace for eighteen
years, was township trustee a number of times, and also held
other and minor offices. In politics, to ward the
latter part of his life he became a republican, and he was
an active member of the United Brethren church, holding at
different times all its offices. His wife, equally as
devoted a Christian as himself, was a member of the same
church, and died in 1878.
Henry H. King, of whom it is now designed
briefly to treat, was educated in the common schools, was
reared on his father's farm, but learned the trade of
carpenter, and has followed that trade all his life.
In August, 1862, he enlisted for three years-in company F,
Ninety-ninth Ohio volunteer infantry, and served in his
regiment down to the battle of Stone River, where he was
shot through the ankle and had to be sent to the hospital at
Nashville, from which he was discharged in December, 1863.
He participated also in the battle of Cumberland Gap, which
took place previously to that at Stone River.
In October, 1863, Mr. King was married to
Miss Margaret Slusser, daughter of
Jacob Slusser; but she lived only seven months after her
marriage, dying in her twenty-second year. On Aug. 10,
1865, Mr. King married Miss. Miranda
Jolly, who was born June 6, 1844. To this
marriage were born four children, viz: William H.,
born Aug. 5,1866, now deceased; James W., of Convoy;
John W., of Willshire, and Charles F., Sept.
26, 1873. The mother of these children died in 1877,
and Mr. King married, for his third wife,
Miss Anna L. Conklin, daughter of Theodore and Jane
(Dawkins) Conklin. To this marriage there has been
born one daughter, viz: Frances Marie, born Mar. 18,
1880.
Miss Anna L. Conklin, the third wife of Mr.
King, was born in Fort Wayne, Ind., Feb. 21, 1848.
Her father was a native of New York, was a wagon-make by
trade, and located in Fort Wayne in 1843. At Fort
Wayne he worked at his trade and also founded an art studio.
He was an able and industrious. man and was well
thought of by all that knew him. In politics he was a
republican and served as justice of the peace one term.
He was a member of the Presbyterian church, as also was his
wife. He died Apr. 1, I880, in his sixty-eighth year.
Her mother was born in Kent county, England, but came to the
United States when thirteen years of age, and married here.
Her children were three in number, viz: Frank, wife
of George Martin, of Chicago; Kate,
wife of Michael Bixler, of Hudson,
Steuben county, Ind., and Anna L., wife of
Mr. King, already mentioned. The mother of
these three children died when Mrs. King was
seven years of age.
Source: A Portrait and Biographical Record
of Allen and Van Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W.
Bowen & Co. - 1896 ~ Page 398 |
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DANIEL
P. KLINGER, one of the ex-soldiers of the late Civil war and
a respected farmer of Washington township, Van Wert county, Ohio, is
a son of Joseph and Eliza Klinger, of whom further mention is
made on another page, and was born in Hocking county, Ohio, Feb. 10,
1814. He was quite well educated in his native county up to
the age of thirteen years, in the meantime being inured to the
hardships of a boy's farmer life. At the age named he was
brought by his parents to Van Wert County and here reared to manhood
on the home farm and became an expert agriculturist. At
Delphos, in this county, he enlisted, Aug. 22, 1862, in company F,
One Hundred and Eighteenth Ohio volunteer infantry, and served until
honorably discharged, at Salisbury, N.C., June 24, 1865, through
general orders, and a few weeks within the expiration of the term of
his full enlistment, which was for three years, or during the war.
He fought in the battles of Mossy Creek, Tenn., and Buzzard's Roost,
and was in all the fights of the Atlanta campaign, except Resaca, in
which his regiment participated - in this campaign being for nearly
three months under fire night and day. Later he fought at
Dallas, Pumpkinvine Creek, Kenesaw Mountain, and still later in the
battle in front of Atlanta; was in the pursuit of Hood and finally
was with Sherman when Atlanta fell, September 2, 1864. He was
also at the battles of Columbia, Duck River, Spring Hill, Franklin,
and the two days' fight at Nashville, Tenn.; he was also at Fort
Anderson, and so held on a brave and faithful soldier until a
Victorious peace was reached.
At the conclusion of the Civil war Mr. Klinger
retired to Van Wert county, Ohio, and here married, Feb. 18,1866,
Sarah J. Carpenter, who was born April 21, 1843, in Fairfield
county, Ohio, a daughter of James William Carpenter, a
pioneer of Washington township, Van Wert County.
James W. Carpenter was of Virginia birth and of English descent;
his grandfather, John Carpenter, was a soldier of the
Revolution, and his son, William R. Carpenter, who was born
in Virginia, Feb. 3, 1792, served in the war of 1812. He
married Catherine Brewer, whose only child, James William,
was born near Richmond, Va., where he was first married and where
his first wife died. Later he moved to West Virginia and
married Betsey Barnes, who born three children, two of whom
died young. John Carpenter eventually settled near
Rushville, Fairfield county, Ohio, an honored member of the Baptist
church.
James W. Carpenter, father of Mrs. Klinger,
was born near Richmond, Va., Feb. 20, 1821, and was about five years
of age when he was taken to West Virginia by his father, and thence
brought to Ohio. He married Apr. 28, 1842, in Fairfield
county, Susannah Ream, who was born in Fairfield county,
Ohio, May 7, 1823, a daughter of Jacob and Rebecca (Clines) Ream,
the union resulting in the birth of thirteen children, viz: Sarah
J., Charles W., Mary A., Rebecca E., David S., Margaret E., Emma C.,
Clarissa P., Alvira, Wilson H. L., Minerva I., Lucetta and
Iga O. - the first six born in Fairfield count and the
remainder in Van Wert county, Ohio. Mr. Carpenter lived
in Fairfield county until 1851, and then came to Van Wert county,
where he bought and has cleared up 120 acres from the woods and
stands among the most respected residents of the township. He
has held the offices of township trustee and steward of the United
Brethren church, and in politics is a republican. His son,
C. W. Carpenter, was a gallant soldier in the Civil war, and for
seventeen months endured all the miseries of a rebel prison.
After marriage Mr. Klinger settled on his
present farm, which then consisted of forty acres only, which then
consisted of forty acres only, but which he has since cleared foom
in the woods and increased to eighty acres, improved with every
possible convenience. To his marriage have been born eight
children, viz: J. W. S., who died at the age of twenty-seven
years; David E., who died at twenty-one; Irena, Reuben,
Irella I., John G., Lola and Elva. The parents of
this family are devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal church,
of which Mr. Klinger is a trustee and Sunday-school
superintendent. In politics Mr. Klinger is a
republican, is one of the most honored citizens of Washington
township, and is rearing his children to become, like himself,
worthy and useful members of society.
Source: A Portrait and Biographical Record of Allen and
Van Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co. -
1896 - Page 408 |
| |
JOSEPH
KLINGER, is an experienced farmer and practical carpenter, of
Washington township, Van Wert County, Ohio, was born in Hocking
county June 12, 1815, and is of sturdy Pennsylvania Dutch stock.
JOHN HENRY KLINGER, father of the subject of
this biography, was a native of Pennsylvania and came to Ohio in
1812. He entered eighty acres of land in Hocking county, and
married in Fairfield county, and married, in Fairfield county,
Elizabeth Bresler, the union resulting in the birth of nine
children, viz: Lydia, Joseph, John, Henry, three that died in
infancy, Tinnie and Phebe: After clearing up a part of his
eighty acres, here he lived to be seventy-one years, six months and
eleven days of age, died a respected citizen, and was in politics a
democrat.
Joseph Klinger, our subject, was reared on a
farm and learned the carpenter's trade in Hocking county. When
about nineteen years of age he married, July 8, 1834, Eliza E.
Crist, who was born Oct. 19, 1812, the prolific union resulting
in teh birth of fifteen children, viz: Two, who died in infancy;
John W., who died at the age of four years; William; Jacob
and Jackson, twins; Daniel P., Isabel, Mary A., Eliza
A., Tinnie; Matilda, died at the age of age of eleven;
Joseph, Asa and Ella. After marriage Mr. and
Mrs. Klinger resided on an eighty-acre farm in the woods of
Hocking county, which he partly cleared up and then sold; he next
lived on rented land until Sept. 6, 1853, when he came to Van Wert
county and bought a farm of 120 acres in Washington township, deep
in the woods; this farm he soon denuded of its forest growth, made a
fine home, and did, beside, an immense amount of clearing for
others.
At Dephos, Ohio, in 1863, Mr. Klinger enlisted
in company A, One Hundred and Fifty-first regiment, Ohio National
guards, for 100 days, under Capt. Edward King, was on duty at
Washington, D. C., was present when the rebels made their attack on
the works, and after a service of 120 days was honorably discharged,
with the compliments of his captain for his faithful performance of
his duty. Mr. Klinger then returned to his farm, which
he has never since had occasion to leave. Mr. Klinger
also had two sons in the war - Jackson and Daniel P. -
both in the One Hundred and Eighteenth Ohio infantry; also one
brother, Daniel, in an Ohio regiment, and also a
half-brother, Fred Smith, in an infantry regiment from the
same state, who was for a long time a prisoner in four different
prisons - among them Andersonville.
June 21, 1892, Mr. Klinger had the misfortune to
lose his devoted life companion and helpmate, at the age of
fifty-nine years. She was a true woman and mother, and died in
the faith of the Methodist church, of which she had been for many
years a pious member; of this church Mr. Klinger was for a
long time class-leader, steward and Sunday-school superintendent,
and a constant attendant until advancing years, with accompanying
infirmities, precluded his further mingling with his brethren in
their house of worship. In politics Mr. Klinger was
first a democrat, but changed his proclivities and joined the
republicans in the infancy of their organization, and voted for
their first nominee for president of the United States - John C.
Fremont. He has always held the respect of this party and
of the citizens, and has held the usual township offices. In
the days of vigor and strength that graced his youth and earlier
manhood, he was an industrious and a willing worker, and his mellow
middle age was still marked by diligence and well directed toil.
He has always been liberal in his support of enterprises designed
for the public welfare, and stands before his fellowmen an honored
citizen, father, patriot and man.
Source: A Portrait and Biographical Record of Allen and
Van Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co. -
1896 - Page 407 |
|
Peter Knittle |
PETER KNITTLE,
one of the well-to-do farmers of Ridge township, Van Wert
county, was born in Allen county, Ohio, Apr. 8, 1850, a son
of GEORGE and Margaret (Walters)
Knittle, the former of whom was a native of Pennsylvania
and the latter of Hocking county, Ohio. George
Knittle was born July 23, 1803, and after an
extraordinarily prolonged and useful life, died May 10,
1894; his wife was born in 1827, but did not reach the
longevity that was granted to her husband, having died July
26, 1870. The more prominent events in the life of
George Knittle may be briefly summed up as follows:
As a child he was brought from Pennsylvania to Ohio by his
parents, who settled in Fairfield county, where George
was reared to farming. In Fairfield county, also,
George Knittle was first married, and in 1833 moved
to Allen county, where he entered 160 acres near Elida, on
which he settled with his wife and first-born child, John,
and after his settlement in Allen county, this little family
was increased by the birth of Elizabeth, Sarah and
William - all four of whom are now deceased. In
1842 his first wife died, and to his second marriage, with
Margaret Walters were born three children - Samuel,
who resides in Ridge township; Caroline, the wife of
Jacob Burgner, a farmer of Pleasant township, Van
Wert county, and Peter, our subject. In 1853,
George Knittle came to Van Wert county and purchased 320
acres in section No. 14, Ridge township. To this land
he added acreage to some extent, and after giving to his
surviving children eighty acres each, had a residue of 240
acres, which have since been partitioned.
Peter Knittle, our subject, besides being a
practical farmer, has devoted considerable of his time to
carpenter work, blacksmithing and threshing, being in every
respect a thorough-going business man, filled with energy
and expedients. He has served his fellow-citizens four
years as township trustee, and in the fall of 1892 was
elected to the office of county commissioner, receiving the
largest vote of any candidate on his ticket, and in both
position his duties were well and creditably performed and
in a manner that has redounded to his own good name and to
the benefit of his constituents - many miles of ditching
having been completed during his incumbency of his last
position. In the fall of 1895 Mr. Knittle was
elected to the second term of county commissioner, being the
only democrat elected in the county, and , having a majority
of ninety-six to overcome, was elected by thirty-two votes.
Mr. Knittle was happily married, June 24, 1875,
to Miss Lucy A. Stewart, daughter of Thomas and
Angeline (Nye) Stewart, of Fairfield county, Ohio, the
result of the union being five children, viz: Nettie May,
Joseph Edward, Laura Emma, Ora Edith and Noah Andrew.
Mrs. Knittle and her eldest daughter, Nettle, are
devout members of the Lutheran church, and the entire family
have so lived as to win the respect and good will of all
that know them.
Mr. Knittle owns 220 acres of fine land situated
in section No. 14, Ridge township, with fine buildings and
well drained, and in company with Philip Paulus owns
a complete Rumley thresher outfit, picket-mill, corn husker,
etc.
Source: A Portrait and Biographical Record of Allen and
Van Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co. -
1896 - Page 447 |
| |
GEORGE W. KOHN,
the able editor and manager of the Van Wert Times, is a
native of Paulding county, Ohio, and was born Oct. 8, 1860,
a son of SAMSON and Margaret H.
(German) Kohn. The paternal grandfather of our
subject was born in Virginia and was an early settler of the
Buckeye state. He died while his son Samson was
still quite young, after which sad occurrence his widow
removed with her family to the Middle Creek settlement, in
Paulding county, where her son Samson (who was born
at Central College, Franklin county, Ohio) was reared to
manhood and was married.
In 1870, Samson Kohn came to Van Wert
county, and purchased his present farm in Pleasant township,
close to the Van Wert city boundary, where he has since been
prosperously engaged in the buying and shipping of horses
and cattle, at the same time looking after his farming
interests. His marriage has been blessed by the birth
of five children, named George W. (our subject),
MRs. Mary C. Morton, Thomas H., Lucy A., wife of H.
G. Bergert, of Chicago, Ill.), and Miss Emma J. Kohn.
Politically Samson Kohn is a stanch democrat, and in
his religion is devotedly attached to the Methodist
Episcopal church, and to the support of which he is a
liberal contributor, and in the faith of which his lamented
wife was laid to rest July 17, 1891.
George W. Kohn, whose name stands at the head of
this biographical notice, received his elementary education
in the public schools of Van Wert city and was advanced to
the high school, from which he was graduated in June, 1877.
The next year he entered the Ohio Wesleyan university,
Delaware, Ohio, and from this institution he graduated with
the class of 1882. He chose the law as a profession,
read under the auspices of Estep, Dickey & Squire, of
Cleveland, Ohio, and in June, 1884, was admitted to practice
at the bar. Returning to Van Wert, he formed a
partnership with Saltzgaber & Glenn and continued in
practice two years, when he withdrew from the firm and
organized, in July, 1886, a stock company, which purchased
the Van Wert Times establishment, and of this newspaper
Mr. Kohn has been editor and manager up to the
present time. In this capacity he has made the Times a
newsy and popular journal, and as an organ of the democratic
party has placed it at the head of the influential
papers of the state of Ohio.
The marriage of Mr.
Kohn was solemnized Nov. 22, 1892, with Miss
Carrie Boyd, daughter of Robert Boyd,
of London, Madison county, Ohio, and this felicitous union
was crowned by the birth, July 3, 1894, a daughter -
Margaret Alice.
Source: A Portrait and Biographical Record of Allen and
Van Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co. -
1896 - Page 410 |
NOTES: |
