OHIO GENEALOGY EXPRESS

A Part of Genealogy Express
 

Welcome to
Wayne County, Ohio
History & Genealogy

BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX

Source:
A History of Northwest Ohio
A Narrative Account of Its Historical Progress and Development
from the First European Exploration of the Maumee and
Sandusky Valleys and the Adjacent Shores of
Lake Erie, down to the Present Time
By Nevin O. Winter, Litt. D.
Assisted by a Board of Advisory and Contributing Editors
ILLUSTRATED
Vol. I & II
The Lewis Publishing Company
Chicago and New York
1917

PLEASE NOTE:  If there are any special biographies that you want transcribed ahead of time, please
 CONTACT ME.INDEXES >



TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Chapter I - Location, Area, Influence
- Huron, Lorain, Medina, Wayne, Ashland, Richland & Knox Counties Part of Vast Region Claimed by Four Nations.
- Population Comparisons
- Influence		 33
Chapter II - Geology, Topography, Resources
- What North Central Ohio Owes to the Ice Age
- "Grist of the Glacier"
- Rich Agricultural Region
- Coal
- World's Largest Sandstone Quarries at South Amherst
- Ohio and Gas.		 38
Chapter III - Mound Builders
- Few Traces Remain of Earthworks in North Central Ohio that Early Settlers Found
- Director Shetrone Believes Mound Building Peoples Belonged to Native American Race.		 41
Chapter IV - Indian Nations of Ohio Country
- Why Exploration of Country South of Lake Erie was Delayed
- French Fear of Strong and Hostile Iroquois
- Mountain Barriers to the East
- Struggles for Possession.		 46
Chapter V - Creation and Organization of Counties
- Connecticut and the Western Reserve
- Grant of Half Million Acres to Sufferers from British Incursions During Revolution
- Wayne County Originally Vast Territory
- Surveys and Charges in County Lines		 53
Chapter VI - Early Settlements
- Hardships of Pioneers
- Their Resourcefulness, Courage and Enterprise
- Long Journeys to Mill
- Fortitude of Pioneer Mothers		 58
Chapter VII - St. Christopher of the Backwoods
- Picturesque Hero of Early Day Ohio Whose Plantings Bore Fruit Over One Hundred Thousand Square Miles of Territory
- Ashland Memorial		 64
Chapter VIII - Forest Communities
- Scattered Settlements Up to War of 1812
- Pioneer Missionaries
- Founding of Clinton, Mount Vernon, Fredericktown, Mansfield, Wooster
- Roads in Wilderness		 70
Chapter IX - Exciting Events of 1812
- Effect of War of 1812 on Frontier Settlements of North Central Ohio
- Surrender of General  Hull's Army at Detroit
- Indian Massacres in Blackfork Valley
- Beall and Crooks Expeditions. 		77
Chapter X - General Harrison at Camp Council
- Near Shenandoah, Commander of Northwestern Army Halts Revolt of Beall's Troops
- Hardships Encountered by Crooks' Expedition on March to Upper Sandusky
- Winter of 1812-13
- Victories Make Frontier Safe.		 84
Chapter XI - Tide of Immigration Resumed
- Settlers Return From Blockhouses to Their Cabins
- Number of Villages Laid Out-New Haven Once Rival of Norwalk and Mansfield
- Ashland is Founded		 91
Chapter XII - Christian Fast, Indian Captive
- Dramatic Meeting of Ashland County Settler in 1815 with Indian Warrior Who Had been His Captor Thirty-four Years before
- Patrick Murray's Experience with General Harrison at Fort Meigs		 103
Chapter XIII - Growth of Villages
- Strategy by Which Mt. Vernon Won County Seat Over Clinton
- Ely's Saw Mill and Grist Mill at Elyria Put Into Operation
- Founding of Milan, Formerly in Huron County
- More Villages Laid Out
- Great Hinckley Hunt
- Execution of Two Indians at Norwalk		 103
Chapter XIV - Agricultural Contrasts in North Central Ohio
- Toilsome Methods of Early Day Farmers
- Reminiscences of U. S. Judge Martin Welker and Clem Studebaker
- Scientific Agriculture
- Master Farmers 1926-30
- Farm Organization		 113
Chapter XV - Early Day Schools
- School in Columbia Settlement Lorain County Held in 1808
- Children Taught in Blockhouses at Wooster and Mansfield
- Reminiscences of Late Charles H. King
- Early Day Academies
- Beginnings of Kenyon and Oberlin Colleges		 120
Chapter XVI - Ministers and Churches
- Influence of Religion on Life of Pioneers in North Central Ohio
- Rev. Joseph Badger, First Missionary to Western Reserve
- Circuit Riders Hold Meetings in Settlers Cabins
- Log Churches in Forests
- Communities of Friends
- Rev. Russel Bigelow and Dr. Thompson		 128
Chapter XVII - Military History
- North Central Ohio in Wars of Nation
- More Than Two Hundred Revolutionary War Soldiers Buried in Seven Counties
- Soldiers of War of 1812
- Early Companies of Militia
- General Training Days
- Some Outstanding Leaders in Mexican War
- General George W. Morgan, Wm. McLaughlin, Colonel Thomas H. Ford.		 138
Chapter XVIII - Civil War Veterans
- Fading Line of Blue Recalls Service of North Central Ohioans in War of the Rebellion.
- Distinguished Leaders From This Section
- Famous Twenty-Third and Forty-Second Regiments with Three Presidents of Nation
- Aged Veterans of Few Remaining G. A. R. Posts.		 146
Chapter XIX - Spanish-American and World War
- North Central Ohio's Part in Conflict for Freedom of Cuba in 1898
- Colonel, Hard, Commander of "Presidents Own" was From Wooster
- Service of Soldiers from Seven Counties Recalled
- Our Soldiers in Great War
- Men Who Made Supreme Sacrifice
- Legion Posts of American Legion		 166
Chapter XX - Famous Underground Railroad
- North Central Ohio Homes Where, in Ante-Bellum Days Fleeing Slaves Were Secreted and Assisted on Way to Freedom.
- Savannah Woman Tells of Father's Operations
- Richland County Farmer Outwits Slave-Hunters
- Oberlin-Wellington Rescue Case.		 179
Chapter XXI - Banks and Bankers
- Community Storekeepers in EArly Days Served as Bankers to Farmer Customers.
- Kelley Banking Act of 1845 Put Banking on Substantial Basis
- First Banks in Mt. Vernon, Mansfield, Norwalk, Wooster, Elyria, Ashland, Medina
- Civil War Financier Native of Firelands
- Present Banks and Building and Loan Associations.		 185
Chapter XXII - County Seat Newspaper
- Trump of Fame, First Newspaper of Western Reserve Publishers First News of Perry's Victory
- Ohio Register Established at Clinton in 1813
- Later Moved to Mt. Vernon
- Ohio Spectator, Wooster, 1817
- Mansfield's First Paper 1818
- Norwalk Reporter 1827
- Lorain Gazette 1829
- Medina and Ashland Newspapers		 197
Chapter XXIII - Twentieth Century Newspaper
- Survey of Daily and Weekly Publications in North Central Ohio with Some High Spots in Their History.
- Newspaper Publication of Nineteenth Century Contrasted with Highly Specialized Business of Today
- Field of Usefulness Constantly Widening
- Some Pioneer Editors		 205
Chapter XXIV - Medical Profession
- Inspiring Example of Early Day Physicians
- Self-Sacrifice Emulated By Twentieth Century Physicians
- Pioneer Doctors of Knox County
- Ashland's First Physician
- Dr. Clark of Medina
- Other Doctors of North Central Ohio in Long ago.
- Aged Physicians Who Are Still in Active Practice.		 219
Chapter XXV - Libraries, Museums, Historical Societies
- Oberlin College Library and Late Azariah S. Root
- Wooster City and College Libraries
- Kenyon College Collection
- Libraries of Elyria, Lorain, Ashland, New London, Norwalk, Mansfield, Medina, Mt. Vernon, Shreve, Shelby, Avon Lake, Amherst, Loudonville, Wadsworth, Wellington, Willard
- Museum
- Increased Interest in Local History.		 228
Chapter XXVI - Growth of Electric Service Industry
- Isolated Steam-Engine Driven Plants for Lighting Forerunners of Superpower Plants
- Interurban Electric Lines
- Melco and Avon Power Stations
- Industrial Development		 247
Chapter XXVII - Bench and Bar
- Early Day Lawyers of North Central Ohio Who Were Active Also in Other Lines of Work as Teachers, Bankers, Newspaper Publishers, Congressmen and State Representatives
- Famous Lawyers of This Section of Ohio
- Judges, Congressmen and Members of General Assembly Today
- Constitutional Conventions.		 251
Chapter XXVIII - Evolution of Transportation and Communication
- Airports and Beacons Along Aerial Routes in North Central Ohio as Travel by Planes Increases
- Trail-Blazing Pioneers and Difficulties They Faced
- Building of Early Roads, Stage-Lines, Canals, Stream Railways, Electric Lines
- Auto Routes of Today
- How Bee Line From Cleveland to Columbus Was Built		 259
Chapter XXIX - Colleges and Public Schools
- Alumni and Former Students of North Central Ohio Colleges Listed in "Who's Who"
- Five Famous Oberlin Educators are Honored.
- Some Figures Regarding Oberlin, Wooster and Kenyon
- Ashland College Extending Its Influence
- Brethren Publishing House
- Enrollment of City, Rural and Village Schools of North Central Ohio in 1930.		 268
Chapter XXX - Young Buckeyes' Achievements
- Activities of Boy Scout Troops in North Central Ohio
- Scout Camps at Fleming's Falls and in Huron County
- Eagle Scouts
- Farm Boys and Girls of 4-H Clubs
- Splendid Work They are Doing in Many Practical Projects
- Livestock Raising and Domestic Science
- Young Debaters, Spellers, Writers, Musicians.		 275
Chapter XXXI - Artists, Musicians, Players, Writers
- Young People of North Central Ohio in Increasing Numbers are Winning Honors as Singes Instrumentalists, Dramatic Production and as Writers
- Noted Novelists, Poets, Singers, Travel Writers, of Past and in Recent Years.		 291
Chapter XXXII - Ashland and Ashland County
- Steady Growth of Ashland in Recent Decades
- Ashland Academy
- Formation of County and Selection of Ashland as County Seat
- Industrial Growth
- Public Buildings
- Loudonville's Advancement
- Its Famous Sons
- Hanover Township Scenery
- Perrysville, Jeromesville, Hayesville, Savannah, and other Villages.		 294
Chapter XXXIII - Norwalk, Bellevue, Huron County
- Norwalk, The Maple City
- Historic Mansions
- Institutions of Huron County Capitol
- Religious Organizations
- Manufacturing Industries Past and Present
- History of Education in Norwalk
- George Kennan, Siberian Traveler
- Other Notables
- Bellevue
- Willard
- Monroeville
- New London
- Other Communities		 331
Chapter XXXIV - Mt. Vernon and Other Knox County Communities
- Clinton, Mt. Vernon and Fredericktown Founded Before Knox County Was Organized
- Area and Population of Twenty-two Townships of County
- Early Taverns
- First County Buildings
- Mt. Vernon's Factories, Hospitals, Parks,, Playgrounds
- Dan Emmett Composer of Dixie
- Gambier and Kenyon College
- Fredericktown, Danville, Centerburg, and Other Villages
- Schools		 368
Chapter XXXV - Lorain County Cities and Towns
- Elyria, Picturesquely Situated at Forks of Black River, Founded by Heman Ely
- City's Fascinating History
- First High School in Ohio
- Growth of Industrial City of Lorain
- Classic Town of Oberlin
- Wellington Once Greatest Cheese Shipping Center
- Other Lorain County Communities		 408
Chapter XXXVI - Medina and Medina County Communities
- Settlement of Medina County Goes Back One Hundred and Twenty Years
- Three Governors Who Lived in this County, Other Notables
- A. I. Root Company History
- Sketch of Medina Village and its Institutions, County Buildings and Officials
Wadsworth's Early Day Academy
- Growth of Community
- Lodi, Leroy, Seville, Spencer, Chippewa Lake and Other Villages		 448
Chapter XXXVII - Mansfield, Shelby, Richland County
- Historical Background of Manufacturing City of Mansfield
- Typically American Population
- Journey to Columbus 101 Years Ago
- First Telegraph Line Through Mansfield
- Coming of Railroads
- Industries and Institutions of Mansfield Today
- Park System
- Schools
- Mayors of Mansfield
- Growing City of Shelby
- Its Notables
- Plymouth, Bellville, Lexington, Butler, Lucas
- Other Villages		 486
Chapter XXXVIII - Wooster, Wayne County Towns
- Ohio's Wealthiest Agricultural Center
- Master Farmers Remarkable Attendance at Institutes
- Four-H Club Achievements
- State Agricultural Experiment Station
- Apple Creek Institution for Feeble Minded
- Wooster and Its Institutions
- Wooster College
- Manufacturing Plants
- Distinguished People
- Orrville, Smithville and Other Towns		 527
VOLUME TWO - BIOGRAPHIES 567
VOLUME THREE - BIOGRAPHIES - CONTINUED 1091

PORTRAITS

The following portraits are not limited to One County.  They are a compilation from all counties in this Book.  ~ S.W.

Anderson, C. J., Hon. 1072  
Ash, L. B., M.D. 1472 Ashland
Backenstos, Perry W. 760  
Baker, Ransom C. 976  
Battles, Melvin L., Major 848  
Beck, Arthur Sheridan 608  
Beelman, Charles C. 920  
Beer, Frank R. 1256 Ashland Co.
Bissman, B. Franklin 777  
Bissman, Benjamin F. 776  
Bissman, Wilbert J. 680  
Bixler, Sherman W. 1544 Richland Co.
Black, Fred G. 1328 Richland Co.
Boyd, A. E. 1000  
Boyer, F. Walter, Dr. 1392 Medina Co.
Bracy, Hazel I. 832  
Bracy, Rex F. 832  
Brown, E. E. 1456 Ashland Co.
Carpenter, Reid 632  
Cashell,George 640  
Chidsey, Grant Greenwood 904  
Clark, Jesse Lewis 1168 Ashland Co.
Cook, Thomas N. 1280 Lorain Co.
Courtney, Arthur E. 672  
Coxe, John Henry 856  
Cummins, Abram Cahill, Capt. 1360 Richland Co.
Dann, Edward William 1384 Richland Co.
DeVault, Joseph 984  
Dilmore, John G. 1016  
Dix, Emmett C. 1496 Wayne Co.
Downs, Harry Van Dorn 744  
Eby, John C. 816  
Everhard, Nathan S. 1064  
Fate, Albert A., Rev. 1488 Richland Co.
Felger, E. E. 1312 Ashland Co.
Frankenberger, John W. 600  
Fridline, Jacob, M.D. 1216 Ashland Co.
Fritzinger, Paul C. 1232 Ashland Co.
Fuller, Gaillard B., M.D. 1552 Ashland Co.
Garber, Aaron L. 1304 Ashland Co.
Garber, O. M. 1304 Ashland Co.
Giford, William Henry 648  
Gongwer, Clifton P. 1224 Ashland Co.
Goebel, R. C., Rev. 792  
Grabill, S. H. 1128  
Graven, D. Homer 1192 Ashland Co.
Guth, Henry W. 1368 Ashland Co.
Hartline, Joe C. 664  
Henry, William Samuel 1401 Ashland Co.
Herring, James Henry 808  
Heyl, Herbert L. 1448 Ashland Co.
Hildebrand, George 1144  
Hiner, Arthur A., D. D. S. 1464 Ashland Co.
Hoffman, George Alfred 1040  
Hofman, Orsan S. 1424 Huron Co.
Homberger, Herman Edward 624  
Hubler, C. D. 1352 Ashland Co.
Innes, Charles A. 1536 Richland Co.
Johnston, J. K. 1376 Richland Co.
Jones, Howell E. 1344 Richland Co.
Kettering, Adam 1320 Ashland Co.
Kettering, Charles Franklin 1160 Ashland Co.
Kilhefner, Edwin L. 1200 Ashland Co.
Koehl, Edgar 1336 Ashland Co.
Lantz, Charles M. 1032  
Lockhart, Aaron L. 1432 Richland Co.
McClellan, Charles L. 584a  
McMillin, James W. 824  
McMillin, Lillie 824  
Mehl, George W., M.D. 1208 Ashland Co.
Mellert, George Silvan 888  
Miller, Thomas M. 1104  
Mohn, Daniel Lester, M.D. 1240 Ashland Co.
Myers, Alvah Newton 1136  
Myers, Francis E. 1096  
Myers, G. Denton 1152  
Myers, John C. 1112  
Myers, P. A. 1120  
Nail, Edwin S. 578  
Neldon, Thomas R. 960  
Nimmons, Robert Hugh 1440 Richland Co.
Nugent, William Henry 912  
Ober, P. H. 752  
Parker, Harry A. 616  
Parry, Leonard L. 840  
Patterson, Helen M. 784  
Patterson, Joseph 1091  
Patterson, Willard G. 784  
Priest, Harry Raymond 1480 Ashland Co.
Remington, T. J. 968  
Ricketts, George W. 704  
Routzahn, C. F. "Ted" 712  
Sanborn, Joseph George 1288 Wayne Co
Sattler, Carl F. 1056  
Schultz, John C. 1264 Wayne Co.
Scott, H. Seymour 1176 Ashland Co.
Scudder, Walter Henry, M.D. 896  
Selby, John W. 736  
Shafer, Delno F. 656  
Smith, Henry F. 864  
Smith, Tilmon H., M.D. 936  
Snyder, Reginald C. 872  
Stoodt, Albert L. 1248 Richland Co.
Sturges, Henry Hale 1048  
Stuhldreher, Clarence H. 1024  
Swaney, Roy F. 768  
Tingley, Charles B. 728  
Tinsley, Ralph E. 1184 Ashland Co.
Troll, Karl Philip 688  
Ulrich, Joseph F. 1400 Richland Co.
Umbaugh, Frederick L. 928  
Underwood, Walter 696  
Wappner, Philip 992  
Wappner, Willis C. 1008  
Webber, A. R., Hon. 1296 Lorain Co.
Weidner, Theodore John 880  
Wertz, Edwin S. 1272 Wayne Co.
Westland, Louis John 944  
Wilson, Howard Frederick 720  
Wiltrout, H. J. 1504 Ashland Co.
Wolff, Fred Barnard 800  
Workman, Charles H. 592  
Zebold, A. M., M.D. 1416 Richland Co.
Zebold, Anna, Mrs. 1416 Richland Co.
Zinsmeister, Ralph Wise 1281 Lorain Co
---------    

ILLUSTRATIONS

The following illustrations are from all the counties in this book.  ~ S. W.

Park Avenue West, Mansfield, Ohio 32
Ohio State Reformatory, Mansfield, Ohio 32
Most beautiful stretch of highway in North Central Ohio.  Ashland Road over the Ashland hill from the Pennsylvania Viaduct east, past Madison Twp.  High School, to the left near the foot of the hill. 40a
Industrial Mansfield.
   This picture is taken from the "Sherman Orchard" on the West side of the Ashland hill.  The picture covers a territory of about five miles square.  The smoke of he Humphreys Mfg. Company can be seen at the extreme left.  To the right are the "Flats" filled with factories and shops, and they extend north to the Lumbermans Heights, and west to the Empire Steel plants.		 40a
Memorial Arch, Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio 64a
Arts Building, Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio 64a
View of the Blackfork Valley from the Wooster Road looking over the valley east into the hills of Ashland County. 80a
On top of he Ashland Hill, east of the City of Mansfield, looking south and east over the valley of the Rocky Fork. 80a
Actual view of the valley of the Clear Fork, near Lexington.  Orchard Park to the extreme left; the Village of Lexington nestles on the hillside to the extreme right.  The highway shown leads to Mansfield.  There is a background of hills some eight miles distant. 112a
The Valley of the Clear Fork, viewed at the Spohn House, near Sandy Hill on the Lexington Road, between the City of Mansfield, and the Village of Lexington.  This picture covers an area some twenty-five miles square.  It includes some of the famous potato lands extending south through the Village of Bellville. 112a
High School, Bellevue, Ohio 120a
High School, Shelby, Ohio 120a
West Side of Public Square, Plymouth, Ohio 192a
Lorain County Court House, Elyria, Ohio 192a
Herrick Library, Wellington, Ohio 240a
Wellington High School, Wellington, Ohio 240a
Armory, Ashland, Ohio 296a
Ashland County Court House, Ashland, Ohio 296a
Huron County Court House and Citizens' National Bank, Norwalk, Ohio 336a
Public Library and Firelands Museum, Norwalk, Ohio 336a
South Main Street, Mt. Vernon, Ohio 368a
Main Street, Bellville, Ohio 368a
Knox County Memorial Building, Mt. Vernon, Ohio 384a
Administration Building, Ohio State Sanatorium, Mt. Vernon, Ohio 384a
Elyria Post, American Legion, Elyria, Ohio 408a
U. S. Post Office, Elyria, Ohio 408a
High School, Medina, Ohio 448a
Street Scene, Medina, Ohio 448a
Senior High School, Mansfield, Ohio 488a
Municipal Building, Mansfield, Ohio 488a
U. S. Post Office, Wooster, Ohio 536a
Severance Hall, Wooster College, Wooster, Ohio 536a
Loudenville High School, Loudonville, Ohio 1512a
School building at at Shiloh, Ohio 1512a
Sullivan Central School, Sullivan, Ohio 1528a
School Building at Savannah, Ohio 1528a
   



 
CLICK HERE to RETURN to
WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO
INDEX PAGE		 CLICK HERE to RETURN to
OHIO GENEALOGY EXPRESS
INDEX PAGE

FREE GENEALOGY RESEARCH is My MISSION
GENEALOGY EXPRESS
This Webpage has been created by Sharon Wick exclusively for Genealogy Express  ©2008
Submitters retain all copyrights