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BIOGRAPHIES
Source #3
Commemorative Biographical Records
of
Northwestern Ohio
including the counties of
Defiance, Henry, Williams & Fulton.
Published at Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co.
1899
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JOHN
H. SCHRIDER. Thoughtful readers, in
perusing the varied histories contained in this volume, will find the
conviction borne in upon their minds that, underlying all differences of
ability, training, or environment, there exists another factor from
which the career of each individual takes its bias. With an ideal, a
steady purpose in view, life is simplified and all things tend to bring
about, sooner or later, the object of one's ambition. Truly "where
there's a will there's a way;" and fortunate is he who early in life
directs his energies in such a manner as to realize the best results.
The subject of this sketch, a leading attorney of Bryan, Williams
county, has made his way to success in spite of many obstacles, and his
history cannot fail to stimulate others to effort.
Mr. Schrider is of German descent, his
ancestors on the paternal side having had their home in Baden Baden,
where they were chiefly identified with agricultural pursuits. The first
of the family to choose America for his home was our subject's
grandfather Schrider, who crossed the ocean about 1842 with his
family of children and settled near Medford, New Jersey. Philip
Schrider, the father of our subject, was born in Germany in 1830,
and was a mere child at the time of the removal to this country. At the
age of fifteen he began to work in a glass factory at Medford, and for a
number of years he was employed there and at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, in
that business. In 1874 he removed to a farm in Gorham township, Fulton
county, Ohio, where he now resides. He has always been a temperate,
industrious man, an excellent citizen, and he is a devout and consistent
member of the Lutheran. Church, in which he was reared. In politics he
is a Republican, and while living in Pittsburg he was elected to a seat
in the common council from his ward, but he declined to serve. His
estimable wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Taylor Schrider, to whom he was
married in New Jersey, is of Irish descent, but her ancestors settled in
America several generations ago. They had five children: Jorni H.
(our subject), Dorothy A. (Mrs. Henry W. Koser), Thomas E.
(a physician), Sarah E., and
Charles T. (a farmer).
Our subject was born April 8, 1859, at Pittsburg, on
the "south side" and his education was begun in the schools of that
city. When he was about fifteen years old his parents removed to their
present farm, and for a few years he attended the district schools of
that locality during the winter seasons. As these opportunities did not
satisfy him he taught for three winters in order to secure funds for a
further course of study, and in 1880 he entered the normal school at
Fayette, Ohio, where he completed the scientific and teachers courses,
while still continuing his teaching during the winter. On graduating in
1884 he spent two years in teaching in the public schools at Lyons,
Ohio, and at Fayette, giving considerable attention in the meantime to
reading law. In the fall of 1888 he went to Toledo, Ohio, and passed one
year as a student in the law office of Hamilton & Ford,
well-known attorneys, and in 1889 he entered the law department of the
University of Michigan, where he received his degree of Bachelor of Laws
in 1891. Locating at Bryan, he formed a partnership with Charles E.
Scott, under the firm name of Scott & Schrider, and
they are now known far and wide as being among the most successful
general practitioners of Williams county.
Mr. Schrider is a stanch Republican,
politically, and since coming to this section has taken an active and
influential share in partisan work. For three years, from 1893 to 1895,
he was chairman of the central and executive committees of his county,
the first year being that of McKinley's campaign for governor,
which occasioned an exciting but successful struggle for the Republicans
of the district. In 1895 Mr.
Schrider served as a delegate to the State convention held at
Zanesville, and he has frequently been chosen as a member of
Congressional and other conventions. Municipal affairs have also claimed
much of his attention, and in 1884 he was elected mayor of the city. His
interest in the cause of education has been shown by able service on the
school board from 1892 to 1895.
Mr. Schrider has a pleasant home in North Main
street, Bryan. He was married in 1886 at Royalton, Fulton county, Ohio,
to Miss Helen R. Egnew, and the union has been blessed by two
children: James
P.
and Esther E. He and his wife are prominent socially, and he is a
leading member of the Christian Church at Bryan. For six years he
belonged to the Chautauqua Society, and he is also a member of the
Knights of Pythias and the National Union.
Source: Commemorative Biographical Records of Northwestern Ohio
including the counties of Defiance, Henry, Williams & Fulton.
Published at Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co. 1899 - Page 537 |
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REV. GEORGE W.
SELLERS
Residing in Section 36, Center township, Williams
county, is Rev. G. W. Sellers. He is not only engaged in farming,
but also devotes much of his time to the work of the ministry, being an
ordained preacher of the Dunkard Church. He was born near Tiffin,
Seneca county, Ohio, December 3, 1853, a son of Frederick and Hannah (Shidler)
Sellers. The paternal grandfather, Frederick Sellers, Sr., a
native of Germany, brought his family to America in 1820, and took up
his residence in Seneca county.
Frederick Sellers, Jr., was born in Germany, in
1817, and therefore but three years old when he emigrated with is
parents to the New World. In Seneca county he grew to manhood, and
throughout his active business career engaged in agricultural pursuits
there, making his home in that county until called to his final rest.
He died, however, in Wood county, Ohio, October 7, 1892, at the age of
seventy-four years, while visiting one of his children. His wife
survived him only about fourteen months, dying at the same age. In
their family were seven sons and two daughters, namely: Jacob
(who died while serving in the Union army at the age of nineteen years),
David (who also served in the Union army as a private soldier),
Elizabeth, Frederick, Reuben, George W., Jesse, Anna and Andrew.
Upon his father's farm in Seneca county, George W.
Sellers passed the days of his boyhood and youth, becoming thoroughly
familiar with agricultural pursuits and acquiring a good practical
education in the common schools of the neighborhood. After his
marriage he remained upon the old home farm, operating it for four
years, and in February, 1881, came to Williams county. In Section
36, Center township, he purchased his present farm of eighty acres, upon
which he has made many good improvements, and the well-tilled fields and
neat and thrifty appearance of the place testify to his skill and
ability in his chosen calling.
On December 20, 1876, in Williams county, Mr. Sellers
was united in marriage to Miss Isabella Brown, who was born in that
county, August 29, 1855, a daughter of Jacob and Catherine Brown.
Mr. and Mrs. Sellers have four children, whose names and dates of birth
are as follows: O. V., February 27, 1883; Lowell, May 30, 1885;
Arthur L., February 24, 1887; and Edith, March 25, 1890
Mr. Sellers takes a deep interest in educational
affairs and has most efficiently served as school director and school
clerk. On October 25, 1885, he was elected to the ministry of the
Dunkard Church, and was forwarded to the second degree October 2, 1887.
He is a man of thoughtful, earnest purpose, of broad charity and kindly
nature, and by all who know him is held in the highest regard.
Source: Commemorative Biographical Records of Northwestern Ohio
including the counties of Defiance, Henry, Williams & Fulton.
Published at Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co. 1899 - Page 265 |
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ISRAEL S. SHANKSTER. Mr.
Shankster, who is an agriculturist of energy and ability, residing in
Section 33, Jefferson township, William county, was born Jul. 30, 1837,
in that township, a son of John and Nancy (Streets)
Shankster, who died
there.
Of their seven children, Israel is third in the order
of birth, and being reared in much the usual manner of farmer lads, he
early became familiar with agricultural pursuits. He has always
resided in Jefferson township, and throughout his business career has
successfully engaged in farming. He remained under the parental
roof until his marriage, when he located upon his present farm,
comprising eighty acres of rich and arable land, which he has placed
under a high state of cultivation and improved with good and substantial
buildings so that it is now one of the best farms of the locality.
Mr. Shankster married Miss Mary Hoff, and to them have
been born three children, namely: Mildred, Carrie and
Clyde.
Our subject is one of the prominent and influential citizens of his
township, and is thoroughly interested in whatever tends to promote the
moral, intellectual and material welfare of the community. He has
always been identified with the Republican party, and has done all
within his power to promote its interests or insure its success.
Source: Commemorative Biographical Records of Northwestern Ohio
including the counties of Defiance, Henry, Williams & Fulton.
Published at Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co. 1899 - Page 391 |
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HENRY SNYDER.
Like many other residents within the bounds of Williams county
who started out with naught but an abundance of determination and
indefatigable industry, and who have succeeded through their own
diligence, energy and economy, we classify the gentleman whose name
opens this sketch. He is now
actively engaged in agricultural pursuits upon his fine farm of one
hundred and twenty-three acres in Brady township, pleasantly located a
mile and a half north of West Unity.
Born in Morrow county, Ohio, Nov. 18, 1843,
Mr. Snyder is a son of
John and Mary L. (Held) Snyder¸
the former a native of Pennsylvania
where his father located on coming form Germany during Colonial days.
In his native State John Snyder grew to manhood and learned the weaver’s trade, which he
followed for some time; later in life he removed to
Ohio, and subsequently to
Indiana, where he purchased a farm and continued
its cultivation until called from this life in 1851.
In religious faith he was a member of the
Mennonite
Church.
His brothers and sisters were
Leah, Abram, Jacob, Henry, David
and Jonas.
In
the house built by our subject upon his farm, his mother is still living
at the ripe old age of eighty-four years.
After the death of her first husband she married
Frame Freeman, an Englishman
by birth, and two children blessed this union:
William and
Jennie ¸both born in Indiana, where
the former is still living, while the latter is a resident of Illinois.
The mother is a daughter of
Henry Held,, who on coming to
this country from Germany first located in Pennsylvania, later removed
to Morrow county, Ohio, and in 1862 became a resident of Williams
County, making his home with his daughter until his death, which
occurred in 1864. With the Mennonite Church
he held membership. In his
family were nine children, namely:
Lewis, Henry, Christ, Daniel,
Mary L., Sally, Peggy, Harriette and Katherine.
Henry Snyder, the subject proper of this sketch, was about
seven years old at the time of his father’s death, and since then he has
been dependent almost entirely upon his own resources for a livelihood,
at first doing chores and other work upon different farms.
His school privileges were therefore limited.
At the age of nineteen he enlisted in Company F, One Hundred and
Eighty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, commanded by
Colonel Butler, the regiment being assigned to the Western
Department, Fourteenth Army Corps.
It was stationed most of the time Kentucky
and Tennessee, doing guard duty and assisting in the
construction of Fort Butler at
Nashville.
For one and honorably discharged at Columbus, Ohio,
in 1865, as the war was over.
He was never fully recovered from his army service, and now
receives a small pension.
Before entering the service
Mr. Snyder had engaged in
blacksmithing to some extent, and for a time after his return home he
followed that occupation, but during an eighteen-months’ illness all the
money that he had saved was exhausted.
In the fall of 1867 he went to the lumber camps of
Michigan, where he worked for two years, saving enough in
that time to purchase eighty acres of heavily-timbered land in
Fulton county, Ohio, after his return to
this State. After his
marriage in 1870, he located upon his grandfather
Held’s place, only one-half
mile from his own land, and the following fall he and his wife selected
a site and erected a cabin upon their place.
While he cut and prepared the timber, she gathered the brush for
burning. Into their
hewed-log house they removed, and during their ten years’ residence
there sixty acres were placed under cultivation, a more modern dwelling
erected and a large barn built.
On selling out at the end of that time
Mr. Snyder purchased his
present farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Brady township, Williams
county, all of which was cleared with the exception of twenty acres, and
to general farming and stock raising he now devotes his attention.
Upon the place is a commodious residence, good barn and
substantial outbuildings which stand as monuments to his thrift and
industry. Since attaining
his majority he has always cast his ballot with the Republican party,
ahs creditably filled a number of township offices, and is now acting as
administrator of estates.
Socially he is an honored member of Rings Post, No. 637, G. A. R., of
West Unity.
In 1870 Mr. Snyder married Miss Eliza
J. Reynolds, who was born Oct. 30, 1846, in
Richland
county, Ohio, of which her father,
Benjamin J. Reynolds, a
native of Pennsylvania, was an
early settler. In 1848 he
came to Williams county, where he bought land and improved a farm,
making it his home until called to his final rest in 1890.
When a young man he worked his home until called to his final
rest in 1890. When a young
man he worked at wagonmaking, but after coming to Williams county
devoted his energies to agriculture.
His wife died in 1887.
Both were faithful members of the Church of God.
Their children were Jacob,
Hezekiah, Eliza J., Henry L., Mary E. and
Franklin.
Mrs. Snyder, who was a
devoted wife and mother, died Mar. 13, 1893, leaving four children:
William A., a farmer
of Brady township;
Benjamin J., also a farmer;
Lewis M., a resident of Kansas; and
Charles, at home.
Mr. Snyder has again
married, his second union being with
Mrs. Sirena J. Shultz, who was born November 20, 1847, a daughter of
I. N. Sheets, a retired
farmer now living in Montpelier, who in
1852 came to Williams county from Columbiana county,
Ohio, and has since been prominently identified
with its interests. He is an
ardent Republican in politics, and has filled a number of important
offices in both township and county, including those of auditor and
county commissioner. During
her girlhood Mrs. Snyder
married
Charles Chancy, and after his
death became the wife of Samuel J. Shultz, by whom she had one son,
Earl Shultz, now living in West Unity.
There are no children by her first or last marriage.
In religious belief she is a Methodist.
Source: Commemorative Biographical Records of Northwestern Ohio
including the counties of Defiance, Henry, Williams & Fulton.
Published at Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co. 1899 - Page 490 - PORTRAIT IN BOOK
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GEORGE W. & PETER O. STIVING.
These well-known farmers of
Madison
township belong to one of the prominent and highly-respected families of
Williams county, their parents being
Philip and Leah (Dohm) Stiving.
The
father was born May 9, 1821, in Baden, Germany (where the name was
formerly spelled Stibing), and in 1834 came to America with his parents,
JACOB
and Savilla (Weidner) Stiving, also natives of Germany, who landed
in the United States in September of that year, and located near Shelby
in Richland county, Ohio. In
his native land Jacob Stiving had engaged in milling, but here he turned his
attention to agriculture, and developed one of the best farms in Richland county, making in
his home until called to his final rest.
He was a member of the Reformed Church.
In his family were five children:
Philip;
Mrs. Catherine Phingsday; Charlotte, who died at the age of fourteen
years; George, who died in Madison township, Williams county; and
Peter, who died in Richland county.
There mother died at the home of her children in Williams county,
aged eighty-nine years.
PHILIP STIVING (father of our subjects) remained with his parents
until 1845, when he married Miss
Leah Dohm, who was born in York
county, Pennsylvania, in 1823.
Her father, Christian Dohm, a native of Germany, came to this country during
the Colonial period, and aided in the Revolution.
Some of his brothers located in Virginia, becoming prominent residents of that State, but
he settled in Pennsylvania, whence he
afterward removed to Crawford county,
Ohio, where he developed a farm.
His last days, however, were spent at the home of his son
Jacob in Williams county.
Both he and his wife died at a ripe old age.
The children born to Philip and Leah (Dohm) Stiving are:
Catherine, now the wife of P.
Widener; Jacob W., a prominent farmer of Madison township, Williams county;
Mrs. Mary Traxler; George W.;
Mrs. Sarah A. Greek, whose husband is a noted teacher now living in
Alabama; Peter O.;
Mrs. Emma J. Keller; and Mrs.
Savilla L. Kunkle.
Philip Stiving
had labored hard to make a home for his parents, and on starting out
in life for himself was without capital, but, with the aid of a devoted
and faithful companion, he met with success in his undertakings, and at
his death left a large and valuable estate to his children.
In 1856 he moved to Williams county, locating on the farm where
his sons are now living.
Five years previous he had made a trip on horseback to this county, and
purchased eighty acres of heavily-timbered land.
Soon afterward he contracted to have forty acres of timber
slashed and deadened, but on locating here he had to cut a road a mile
in length in order to move his household effects by wagon to his new
home. Finding an old log
shanty near his land, he fixed it up and lived there until the following
season, when he built a hewed-log house upon the place.
He also began to clear and cultivate his land, and as his
financial resources increased he added to his possessions until he owned
four hundred and ten acres of valuable land.
Upon the old homestead, comprising two hundred and forty acres,
he erected a commodious two-story brick residence, a large barn and
substantial outbuildings, making it one of the most desirable farms of
the locality. He was a
popular man, widely and favorably known, a stanch Democrat in politics,
for a number of years served as township trustee, and also filled many
minor offices of honor and trust. Religiously
he was a member of the German Reformed Church, with which he became
connected at the age of twenty-two.
Deer and other wild animals were abundant where he first came to
Williams county, and one day while on his way to a sale in company with
others, during his first year in Madison township, he discovered a deer
caught in the snow, it having broken through the crust and so disabled
from proceeding faster.
Their dog caught the deer, and the men placed it in an adjacent
corn-crib, then on their return from the sale they dressed it and took
it home with them.
GEORGE W. STIVING, one of
our subjects, was born in Richland
county, Ohio,
Jan. 15, 1851, and Peter O.
was born there Aug. 19, 1854.
Both were educated in School District No. 5, Madison township,
Williams county, and early became familiar with all the duties which
fall to the lot of the agriculturist.
At one time they gave considerable attention to the buying and
shipping of stock, but at present devote their entire energies to the
cultivation and improvement of the old homestead, which they now own.
Here they have one hundred and twenty acres, and also own another
well-improved farm of eighty acres, one-half mile distant, and sixty
acres south of the homestead.
Their elegant residence commands a fine view of the surrounding
country, and the farm is supplied with all modern improvements,
including a good windmill, through which water is supplied to the
different lots which contain their stock.
George W. Stiving married
Miss Anna Kiser, a native of
Fulton county, Ohio, and a daughter of
John Kiser, now a farmer of that county, who was born in Germany,
and served as drummer in the German army under
General Siegel. The only child born of this union died in infancy,
and the mother died three years later, on Jan. 4, 1893, since which time
George W. made his home with
his brother.
PETER O. STIVING
was united in marriage to
Miss Martha J. Kunkle, was was born in Williams county, a daughter
of H. S. Kunkle, and died in
1881. In June, 1887,
Mr. Stiving was again
married, his second union being with
Miss Mary E. Wallace,
who was born in Mill Creek
township, Williams county, Jan. 22, 1868.
Her parents, Lockwood M. and Emily (Stants) Wallace, were natives of New York State
and Crawford county, Ohio,
respectively, but were married in Williams county.
The paternal grandfather,
Samuel Wallace, came to Williams county at a very early day, but, as
the country was new and seemed very unhealthy at that time, he returned
to New York
State
after about two years. In
1847, however, he again came to this region, and here improved a farm.
Game of all kinds was then quite plentiful, and during the first
winter spent here he was enabled to kill many deer with a club, as they
would break through the crust on the snow and be unable to extricate
themselves.
Lockwood Wallace grew to
manhood amid these primitive scenes, and for many yeas successfully
followed farming, but he and his wife are now living retired in the village of Kunkle,
Williams county. They are
earnest members of the
United
Brethren
Church, and he was formerly a Republican in
politics, but is now a free-silver Democrat.
During the Civil war he served for a year and a half as a Union
soldier. His children are
Mary E.;
Mrs. Liddia M. Erick; and
Rosa E.
To Peter O. Stiving
and his wife have been born three children, whose names and dates of
birth are as follows:
Martha B., January 2, 1888; Grover C., July 31, 1891; and
Bessie R., Apr. 17, 1894.
Politically the Stiving brothers are both stalwart supports of the Democracy, and
advocate the free coinage of silver.
Although they have never cared for official honors, they have
creditably served in several township offices, including those of
supervisor and school director.
For over a year and a half
Peter O. also carried the email on horseback from Deer Lick to
Kunkle. Wherever known they
are held in high esteem, and have a host of warm friends throughout the
county.
Source: Commemorative Biographical Records of Northwestern
Ohio including the counties of Defiance, Henry, Williams & Fulton.
Published at Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co. 1899 - Page 455
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JACOB A. STIVING Source:
Commemorative Biographical Records of Northwestern Ohio including the
counties of Defiance, Henry, Williams & Fulton. Published at
Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co. 1899 - Page
438 |
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JOHN A. STOUGH. This prominent farmer, who is one of
hte trustees of Springfield township, Williams county, is a native of
Ohio, born Nov. 17, 1848, in Wayne county, whence his parents removed to
Fulton county, same State, when he was five years old. There he
spent the days of his boyhood and youth in much the usual manner of
farmer lads of his day, and he continued to make his home in that county
until coming to Williams county in 1880. In Springfield township
he now owns a fine farm of one hundred acres, which he has placed under
excellent cultivation, making it one of the most desirable places in the
locality. He is a thorough and systematic agriculturist, and has
met with a well deserved success in his life work.
While still a resident of Fulton county, Mr. Stough
was married, Oct. 22, 1871, to Miss Laura Cunningham, a native of
Trumbull county, Ohio, by whom he has two children: Mary (now the
wife of W. W. Himes), and David B.
Politically, Mr. Stough is a pronounced
Republican, and is one of the most prominent and influential members of
the party in his community, taking an active part in its work, and
serving on the Republican committee in Springfield township for several
years. He has also been called to public office, and efficiently
served as supervisor two terms; as school director two terms; as clerk
of District No. 4 and trustee of his township for the same length of
time. In the Methodist Episcopal Church he holds membership, takes
an active interest in all Church work, and is now filling the office of
steward. Those who know him best are numbered among his warmest
friends, and no citizen in Springfield township is more honored or more
highly respected.
Source: Commemorative Biographical Records of Northwestern Ohio
including the counties of Defiance, Henry, Williams & Fulton.
Published at Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co. 1899 - Page
466 |
NOTES:
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