BIOGRAPHIES

*Source:
Portrait and Biographical Record of
City of Toledo & Lucas and Wood Counties, Ohio
Chicago: Chapman Publishing Company -
1895

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CASPER BEEKER, one of Wood County's wealthiest citizens, and a resident of Pemberville, was born in Hanover, Germany, January 1, 1829.  His father, Christian, was a native of the same place, born about 1796, and came to the United States in 1843, settling near Gibsonburg, Sandusky County, where he purchased a small farm of forty acres.  To the cultivation of this place he gave his attention until his death, about 1862.  He was a man of great industry and perseverance, but never accumulated wealth, and therefore was unable to give his children many advantages or much material assistance when they started out for themselves.      At the time of coming to the United States, the subject of this notice was a lad of fourteen years.  He received but limited educational advantages, as he was obliged to start out for himself at a very early age.  His first position was that of a farm laborer, for which he received $8 per month.  This work he continued for several years during the summer seasons, while in the winter months he engaged in chopping wood at two shillings per cord.  Working from daylight till dark industriously, he gained a reputation for industry and energy, and his services were in demand in the neighborhood.  In this way he not only supported himself, but was also enabled to assist his parents.      When he was twenty, our subject bought a colt for $27, and this he traded, with other considerations, for a piece of land comprising eighty acres.  At the age of twenty-four, he bought eighty acres near Gibsonburg, for which he paid $660 in cash, leaving an indebtedness upon it and the other property of $200.  His next task was that of clearing a small place and building a log house, to which, at marriage, he brought his wife, formerly Miss Clara Brauksieker, who had come to this country from Germany at the same time he crossed the ocean.      In order to assist in clearing the land, Mr. Beeker bought a pair of oxen, for which he went in debt.  From that time he prospered.  He was enabled soon to pay all indebtedness, thus giving him an opportunity to save money.  In the buying and selling of land, which he conducted upon an extensive scale, he accumulated considerable money, prosperity rewarding all his enterprises.  In 1858 he came to Wood County and bought a farm, situated about one-half mile from the present town of Pemberville, which at that time consisted of a store, a mill and one or two houses.  On removing from Sandusky County, he sold his property near Gibsonburg for $32,400.  He gave his attention to the improvement of his farm near Pemberville and there made his home for seven years, after which he sold the place for $6,000.  During the war he made a fortune buying horses and other stock for the Government.      Upon selling his farm near Pemberville, Mr. Beeker bought four hundred and forty acres situated three miles from this place, and there he resided for some twenty years.  For the past nine years, however, he has made his home in Pemberville, where during a portion of the time he has operated a store.  On his farm there are eleven oil wells, representing a small fortune in themselves.  Aside from his elegant home, he owns considerable property in the village.      Of the family of Mr. and Mrs. Beeker, six children survive, five being deceased.  Henry was born July 28, 1863, and died August 3, 1856; Mary was born May 22, 1855, and died August 13, 1856; Frank, whose birth occurred June 11, 1857, is married and resides on his father's farm; Mary (2d), who was born November 28, 1859, is the wife of Harmon Smeasal, and lives on a farm adjoining the old homestead; Casper was born January 29, 1862, and died June 22 of the following year; Eliza, who was born April 5, 1865, married William Heckman, a farmer near Pemberville; Catherine was born September 23, 1867, and passed away September 27, of the same year;  Anna was born December 21, 1869, and is the wife of Frederick Rohr, who is engaged in farm pursuits near Pemberville; Caroline, born May 9, 1872, is the wife of John Dieger, a farmer; John F., who was born April 10, 1874, assists his brother in the cultivation of the farm; Jacob was born February 23, 1878, and died on the 5th of March following.  The family is connected with the Lutheran Church, to the support of which, as well as to all benevolent enterprises, Mr. Beeker is a generous contributor. ( Source: Portrait & Biological Record of City of Toledo & Lucas & Wood Counties, Ohio - 1895 - Page 144)

OBEDIAH A. BIGLEY is engaged in a hardware and general mercantile business at Rising Sun, Montgomery Township, Wood County.  In 1883 he bought the store and stock, and a few years later erected a good and substantial building, in which he has conducted a successful business, and won a reputation as an honorable and capable business man.      The father of our subject, Obediah, Sr., was born in Orange County, N. Y., October 1, 1804, and was married in Seneca County, Ohio, in 1830, to Elizabeth Bowerman, a native of Pennsylvania, born March 23, 1817.  In 1822 he came to Ohio and worked as a farm hand for his grandfather.  In 1824 he came to this county, where he remained for two years, and then returned to Seneca County, continuing to make his home there for many years.  In 1835 he purchased one hundred and twenty acres of timber-land in Montgomery Township, this county, and after clearing five acres built a log house.  He later sold forty acres of his land, but continued to cultivate the remaining eighty acres until his death, which occurred August 20, 1888, at the age of eighty-four years and ten months.  His wife departed this life March 7, 1894, when in her seventy-eighth year.  Mr. Bigley is administrator of his parents' estate.  Their eldest child, Charlotte, married Henry Swartz, who died in the war, and after that event she married Thomas Hunt, but both are now deceased.  Julia first became the wife of Samuel Essex, and after his demise she married Martin Mound, of this township.  John lives in Charlotte, Mich.  Mary is the wife of Edward J. Teeples, of Bradner.  Obediah A. is the next in order of birth.  Harriet was the wife of Benjamin Eshelman.  Louis and Lucy, twins, were the next in the family.  The former is a resident of East Toledo, but his sister is now deceased.  Jane, the youngest of the family, married Daniel Conant, and lives in Amsden, Seneca County, this state.      Obediah A. Bigley, whose name heads this article, was born March 13, 1845, and was only ten years old when he came to Wood County.  He attended school more or less until 1864, when, on the 22d of February, he enlisted in Company E, Twenty-fifth Ohio Infantry, at Sandusky City, under Colonel Houghton.  After a short period spent at Camp Chase, he was sent to New York City, and thence to South Carolina.  He took an active part in the battle of Du Bois Neck, in which the Union forces were defeated, and later, in the engagement at Honey Hill, he was in the hardest fight of the campaign, about two hundred and fifty soldiers of this regiment being killed or wounded in the encounter.  While on the raid to Georgetown he was wounded in the left knee.  Much of his army service consisted of picket and guard duty.  After the war had closed he continued to work for the Government until June 18, 1866.      On his return to Wood County Mr. Bigley was variously employed for a couple of years, and then began working at the carpenter's trade.  He followed this calling until 1881, when he took charge of his father's farm for six months.   From that time until the present, as stated above, he has been interested in merchandising in Rising Sun.  Under Harrison's administration he was Postmaster, and served for six months over the four-years term.  In local Republican circles he was quite active, as he has also been in the Grand Army of the Republic, in which he is Commander of Whitman Post.  He holds membership with the Patriotic Order Sons of America, and is President of Camp No. 10, in addition to which he is a member of the Odd Fellows' society, in which he is Chaplain.      April 26, 1868, Mr. Bigley married Anna Bates, daughter of John and Samantha (Knight) Bates.  The former was a native of Stark County, Ohio, and when eleven years old moved to Sandusky County.  After his marriage he settled in Seneca County, and after a short residence in Rising Sun moved to Missouri.  He later returned to Ohio, where he died, in Fostoria, May 16, 1881, in his sixty-first year.  His wife departed this life July 12, 1894, aged seventy-three years.  To Mr. and Mrs. Bates were born five children:  Lucy, who is the wife of Jacob Baker, a laborer; Mrs. Bigley; Sylvester, who lives in this county; John, deceased; and Willis, whose home is in Kansas City.  Mr. and Mrs. Bigley are faithful members of the United Brethren Church, of which he has been Class-leader for the past two years.      The union of Mr. and Mrs. Bigley has been blessed with seven children.  C. P., the eldest, born February 15, 1870, is a graduate of the State Normal School at Fostoria, Ohio, and was taken into partnership by his father October 1, 1894.  They commenced operating in the oil business in 18932, in which line they are still engaged.  Sarah A., who was born in August, 1872, married F. W. Bowers, and lives in Rising Sun.  Myron O., born June 4, 187, is attending the local schools.  Wilbert and Wilber, twins, were born March 21, 1881, and the latter died July 5, 1881.  Claude and Clyde were born May 1, 18832, and the former died September 8 following.      Since coming to the village of Rising Sun Mr. Bigley has met with brilliant success, having made $6,500 and the son $2,500.  The former met with a severe accident October 8, 18923, being kicked in the neck by a horse, and he is still suffering from the effects of the accident. ( Source: Portrait & Biological Record of City of Toledo & Lucas & Wood Counties, Ohio - 1895 - Page 147)

THOMAS N. BIERLY.  No citizen of Pemberville has contributed more to the development of its highest interests than has the subject of the following paragraphs, who is well known throughout northwestern Ohio as an able attorney and a man of superior business qualifications.  With but limited means, when a young man, and with no influence to assist him, he nevertheless, by indefatigable energy and tireless determination, has gained a position of prominence among the professional men of the locality, and occupies an influential place in the legal fraternity of Wood County.      Before presenting in detail the events that have given character to the life of Mr. Bierly, some mention of his ancestors may appropriately be made.  The family has been identified with the history of America for a number of generations, and its members have invariably been patriotic and honest men.  He traces his lineage to Prussia.  His great-great-grandfather, who was born in that country, participated in the conflict usually known as the Thirty Years War, in which he was severely wounded.  On coming to America, he settled in Pennsylvania, though it is not known whether his home was in Bucks or Lancaster County.  For many years he led a secluded life, and his last days were passed in a cabin on the top of Blue Mountain, where he died unattended by any friends.      Anthony Bierly, the great-grandfather of Thomas N., was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, serving through the entire period of the conflict.  His house and all of his property were destroyed by the Indians; but, undaunted by the misfortune, he worked his way once more to prosperity and success.  He was a man of some education, and was looked up to as a leader among the early settlers of Center County, Pa.  His son Nicholas was born near Sunbury, Pa., in 1775, and married Miss Lucinda Buchtel, a native of Center County, and a descendant of German ancestors.  Her father was obliged to work seven years in payment for his passage from his native country to America.  Aside from this fact, but little is known of the early history of that branch of the family.  The last days of Nicholas Bierly were spent in the home of his son, George, to whom he bequeathed his farm.      The father of our subject, George Bierly, was born in Center County, Pa., July 17, 1819.  His character is in some respects unique.  Possessing no educational advantages except four months in school during his boyhood days, he nevertheless became one of the best posted men in his locality.  He has been a thoughtful reader of ancient and modern history, and is particularly posted concerning current historical topics.  In early life he learned the trade of a wheelwright, but later adopted the occupation of an agriculturist.  Possessing the brave and patriotic spirit of his ancestors, he enlisted in the army during the Mexican War, but saw no active service.  For seven years he was connected with the Pennsylvania Militia.      In 1857 Mr. Bierly came to Ohio and settled on the farm near Bradner, where he still makes his home.  A Republican in his political belief, he has advocated the principles of that party since the time of President Lincoln's first election.  Among the pioneers of Wood County he was a leader, and by his fellow-citizens he was often selected to occupy positions of trust and honor.  His wife, Sarah, was born Jan. 21, 1821, and is a daughter of James Magee, who was born in Londonderry, Ireland, but was of Scotch descent.      Two years before the family removed to Ohio, the subject of this notice was born in Center County, Pa., Feb. 21, 1855.  He grew to manhood in Wood County, and has known no other home than this.  Even in boyhood he was prominent among his schoolmates on account of his superior talents and recognized ability.  Being a diligent student, he availed himself of every opportunity to acquire knowledge, and early bid the foundation of the broad fund of information he possesses to-day.  At the age of seventeen he took the examination for a West Point cadetship, and stood fourth in a class of twenty-three, with an average of over seventy-seven per cent.  He attended the Normal School at Republic, Ohio, and taught several terms of school.      When the time came for him to select a life occupation, Mr. Bierly chose the profession of law, and carried on his readings with the late Hon. James R. Taylor, of Perrysburg.  Immediately after his admission to the Bar in 1877, he opened an office in Pemberville, where he has since conducted an increasing and profitable practice.  As a member of the Democratic party he has been active in local politics, and is a leader in the councils of his party.  He has served as Mayor several terms, has been President of the School Board, and was candidate for Prosecuting Attorney, to which he would undoubtedly have been elected had it not been for the large Republican majority in the county      The landed possessions of Mr. Bierly are extensive and valuable, including residences in Pemberville and there well improved farms in Wood County, besides the Crystal Hotel at Bradner and other real-estate interests.  His dwelling, one of the most attractive homes in Pemberville, is situated on the east side of the river and is a substantial frame structure, a model of architectural beauty, and surrounded by a wide spreading and well kept lawn.  Into their pleasant home Mr. and Mrs. Bierly welcome their hosts of personal friends, and extend a cordial greeting to the stranger within their doors.  Mr. Bierly was in maidenhood Miss Jennie Furbush, and is a native of Wood County, where her entire life as been spent.  Four children bless the happy home, Clarence, Lulu, Everett and Neva.      Possessing a generous and philanthropic nature, Mr. Bierly has made a fortune, not for the purpose of hoarding it, but that he may do good and render the lives of others happier.  He contributes liberally to the support of his parents, whose declining years are made comfortable through his thoughtful attention; and he is also generous in aiding other members of the family who need assistance.  His benefactions, however, are not limited to the circle of his relatives, but extend to all worthy enterprises.  The public library of Pemberville is a standing monument to his generosity; most of the books and shelving were donated by him, and he has taken the liveliest interest in the success of the work.  On Christmas of 1894 he presented each of the Sunday-schools of the city with one hundred books as a free gift.  Fraternally he is connected with the Odd Fellows and the Royal Arch Masons, and for some time served as Master of the Masonic lodge at Pemberville. ( Source: Portrait & Biological Record of City of Toledo & Lucas & Wood Counties, Ohio - 1895 - Page 135)

A. L. BORDNER, one of the leading business men of Bradner, was born on a farm near Prairie Depot, Wood County, Ohio, January 28, 1851.  He is a son of Michael Bordner, who was born in Licking Township, Dauphin County, Pa., Feb. 28, 1812.  His grandparents on the paternal side, Peter and Catherine (Godman) Bordner, were natives of Pennsylvania, the former having been born in Lebanon County.  Both were descendants of German ancestry.      Thrown upon his own resources at the age of eleven years, our subject's father began to work upon a farm, receiving his board and clothes in compensation for his labor.  When fifteen years old he commenced to learn the shoemaker's trade, and the following year he came to Ohio with the hope of improving his chances for making his way in life.  He worked at his trade in Stark County, receiving $27.50 and a pair of fine boots for a year's labor.  After four years in Stark, he came to Wood County, and purchased a tract of land on the west side of the middle branch of the Portage River, near the present site of the village of Portage.  Returning a short time afterward to Stark County, he married Miss Leah Bauchtel, and, accompanied by his young wife, started for his prospective home in Wood County.      The place was then a wilderness, and on account of high water it was impossible to reach the land upon which Mr. Bordner had intended to settle.  However, he soon succeeded in disposing of the property, and purchased eighty acres near Freeport, in Wood County, upon which he constructed a small house of round poles, covered with clapboards, and with a floor and door of puncheon.  The nearest mill at that time was at Fremont or Perrysburg, and to reach either of these points it was necessary to make a long and tedious trip.  The journey hither was made with an ox-team, and as the roads were very muddy, considerable trouble was had in preventing the oxen from getting stuck in the mud.  The family subsisted mainly upon the game brought down by Mr. Bordner's unerring rifle.  Animals were numerous, and at one time when going home after dark, he was followed by a pack of wolves to his very door, and in order to keep them from entering the house by way of the chimney (the top of which was but a few feet from the ground) he was compelled to build a fire in the fireplace.  In those frontier times, surrounded by all the hardships a pioneer life, many were the hardships endured by this brave man, but in spite of all the drawbacks he now looks back upon those days as the happiest of his life.  In 1854 he lost his first wife, and three years later he married Polly Yoey, of DeKalb County, Ind.      For twenty years Michael Bordner lived on the farm, after which he spent two years in Freeport, and then came to Bradner, which he bought a small tract of land.  Here his second wife died, since which time some of his children have resided with him in order to make his remaining days as happy and comfortable as possible.  In many respects he has been a remarkable man.  Starting in life a poor boy, settling in the swamps of Wood county without means, he nevertheless made a fortune.  His generosity has been unlimited, and while he still has an ample fortune left, much has gone to benefit others.  In all his dealings with his fellow-men his character has never been stained by deceit or shadowed by dishonesty.  In fact, he has been known for the uprightness of his life and the kindness of his heart.  No appeal to him from a worthy person has ever had made in vain.  He is known and honored as one of the most enterprising, generous and kind-hearted citizens of the county.      In the family of Michael Bordner there were eight children.  Henry, who enlisted in the Union army during the Civil War, was a member of the Twenty-first Ohio Infantry, belonging to Company D; he died during his service.  Calvin, also a member of the Seventy-second Regiment, lost his life in service.  Mary  is the wife of George Bower.  Lucy is married to Levi Brook.  Rachel is the wife of Michael Bowe, of Rising Sun.  Ellen, Mars. Jasper Weller lives in Michigan.  Sarah, wife of M. Fairbanks, resides in Deshler, Wood County, Ohio.      The only surviving son of the family is the subject of this biographical sketch.  He spent his early life upon the home farm and was educated in the country schools.  After a short time devoted to farm work he came to Bradner, in 1889, and opened a mercantile establishment, which he has since conducted.  He is an extensive dealer in stock and poultry, and also has a large grocery trade, having met with gratifying success in these various lines of work.  He owns a farm upon which there are five oil wells, and also has considerable valuable property in Bradner.  His ability as a financier is recognized by all who know him, and he is considered one of the shrewdest business men of the county.      In 1871 Mr. Bordner was married to Miss Mary Shinew, the daughter of a farmer living near Portage, Wood County.  They have three children living, and lost one in infancy.  The surviving sons are Edwin L., Harvey N. and Floyd W., intelligent young men, whose prospects for successful careers are the brightest.  Socially Mr. Bordner is an Odd Fellow.  In his religious views he is connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is Trustee, and for two years he has filled the position of Superintendent of the Sunday-school. ( Source: Portrait & Biological Record of City of Toledo & Lucas & Wood Counties, Ohio - 1895 - Page 449)

GILBERT B. BRIM, a well-to-do and prosperous farmer of Lake Township, Wood County, makes his abode on section 27, near the village of Latchie.  He has owned this homestead since the fall of 1875, when he rented for a year to a tenant, but since that time has been engaged in its cultivation himself.  He sold a portion of his original farm, but bought other and more fertile land, and the homestead now numbers one hundred and sixteen acres.  The place lies eight miles from Toledo, where a ready market is found for the farm products.      George Brim the father of our subject, was born Sept. 20, 1807, in Devonshire, England, and was one of the pioneer settlers in this county, to which he came in the spring of 1835.  His declining years were passed in Sandusky County, Ohio, where his death occurred Dec. 7, 1873.  Oct. 1, 1840, he married Miss Betsy M., daughter of Peter and Rebecca (Gilbert) Loop.  She was born in 1813, and died Mar. 12, 1894, aged eighty-two years.  Nine children were born to George and Betsy Brim, namely: James J., who is operating the old homestead in Sandusky County; Walter W., who is represented elsewhere in this work; Emeline and Emily, twins, the latter of whom died in infancy; George, also deceased; 'Laney M., Mrs. J. C. Recker; Gilbert B.; Betsy M., Mrs. George Ash; and Clara E., Mrs. W. E. Gardner.      Gilbert B. Brim was born near Woodville, Sandusky County, May 19, 1853, and attended the district schools of that neighborhood until reaching his majority.  AS soon as he was old enough to work his help was required on the farm, and he continued to live with his widowed mother until he was married, in 1877, when the exception of one year, when he worked at Millbury with his brother Walter W.  He has been a School director and Highway Supervisor, and in politics is a Republican, having cast his first vote for R. B. Hayes.      In Troy Township occurred the marriage of G. B. Brim and Lizzie E. Hahn, Mar. 1, 1877  The lady was born July 16, 1853, and is a daughter of Valentine and Magdalene (Berg) Hahn, who were married in July, 1852, and had a family of four sons and six daughters, as follows:  'Lizzie E.; Herman D., who is carrying on the old farm in Troy Township; Mary and Laura, twins, the former the wife of George Brown and the latter the wife of William Andrews, both farmers of Troy Township; and Theodore, Barbara, Katie, Albert, August and Clara.  The six last mentioned are living at home with their parents.  Valentine Hahn was born in Germany, near the River Rhine, Mar. 3, 1814, and came to the United States about 1844, since which time he has been engaged in farming.  He is a son of Jacob Hahn, who was a miller in the Fatherland.  Mrs. Magdalene Hahn was born in Germany, and was a daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Smith) Berg, who came to America prior to 1843.  They first settled in Cleveland, and went thence to Ashland County, where they passed remainder of their lives.  Jacob Berg was also a miller by trade, and worked at that vocation after coming to this country.      Nine children came to bless the union of Mr. and Mrs. Bain, their names and dates of birth being as follows:  George Valentine, born Dec. 6, 1877; Clara Mabel, Aug. 8, 1879; Otto Richard, Dec. 18, 1881; Orville Gilbert, Aug. 18, 1883; James Lloyd, Oct. 4, 1885; Logan L., Feb. 14, 1888; twin children that died unnamed; and Edna May, born May 17, 1894.  In Jan., 1892, Mr. and Mrs. Brim became members of the Evangelical Church at Millbury. ( Source: Portrait & Biological Record of City of Toledo & Lucas & Wood Counties, Ohio - 1895)

WALTER W. BRIM, who purchased his residence in Millbury in 1884 and rents a farm near the village, is one of the native sons of Wood County, having been born in Troy Township, Dec. 9, 1843.  During the late war he fought in defense of the Union, and has a record of which he may well be proud.      The parents of our subject were George and Betsy M. (Loop) Brim, the former of whom was born Sept. 20, 1807, in Devonshire, England, and came to the United States in the spring of 1835, settling near Stony Ridge, Wood County.  At first he worked in a brickyard, then was employed in lumbering on the Maumee River, and from 1837 to 1840 assisted in building the Western Reserve and the Maumee Turnpikes.  He then rented land, and in 1848 bought forty acres in Sandusky County, where he lived until his death, which occurred Dec. 7, 1873, at which time he was the owner of about two hundred acres of land.  He was bound out when only nine years of age, and served until reaching his majority, and from that time until his emigration worked on farms.  He came all the way from England to Toledo by water, and was accompanied by his brother, John W., who shortly afterward moved to Illinois, and all trace of him has been lost.  George Brim was a son of George Brim, Sr., who died in Devonshire, England, Prior to 1835, leaving a large family.      The marriage of George Brim, Jr., to Miss Betsy M. Loop was celebrated Oct. 1, 1840.  The lady born in New York State, Mar. 13, 1813, being a daughter of Peter and Rebecca (Gilbert) Loop.  The former died June 9, 1855, and the latter Apr. 9, 1841, aged, respectively, eighty-eight and sixty-eight years.  George and Betsy Brim became the parents of nine children, as follows:  James J., who is operating the old homestead in Sandusky County; Walter W., or subject; Emeline and Emily, twins, the former of whom is the wife of William Duke, a farmer near Lamont, Pettis County, Mo., and the latter of whom died in infancy; George, who was a farmer in Johnson County, Mo., and is now deceased; Laney M., who is the wife of J. Christian Recker, a farmer of Troy Township; Gilbert B., who owns a farm in Lake Township; Betsy M., wife of George Ash, a furniture dealer of Logansport, Ind.; and Clara E., wife of W. E. Gardner, of Lake Township.  The mother of these children died Mar. 12, 1895, aged eighty-two years.      The early years of Walter W. Brim were quietly passed in Sandusky County.  When only four years of age he commenced going to school, this being before his parents removed from Wood County.  Later he attended the seminary at Maumee, a Methodist Episcopal denominational school, leaving there in the spring of 1863, after having pursued three terms of study.  Sept. 24, 1863, he enlisted in Company L, Third Ohio Cavalry, under Col. Charles Seidell and Colonel Howland.  He served in Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi and North Carolina, taking part in the battle of Mission Ridge and the siege of Knoxville (in which he was among the advance forces), and was among the first to break through the lines and communicate with Burnside.  After following Longstreet into North Carolina, he went with his regiment into winter quarters on the Hiawassee River, and in the spring of 1864 followed Bragg into Georgia, charging the enemy at Dalton.  In the Atlanta campaign he was in many skirmishes, and just before the march to the sea, in the fall of 1864, when the cavalry force is divided, he returned to Louisville under Wilson.  The next spring he took part in the Wilson raid through Selma and Montgomery, Ala., also to Columbus and Macon, Ga.  At Columbus, Wilson's command captured twelve hundred Confederates, with a loss of only thirty men.  Mr. Brim's company was a portion of the force detailed to capture Jeff Davis, and though he was not with the party that took possession of that noted leader, he rode over one hundred and seventy-five miles in pursuit of him.  At the close of the war he held the rank of First Corporal, and was finally discharged at Edgefield, Tenn., Aug. 4, 1865.      For four years after returning from the South Mr. Brim engaged in farming during the summer and teaching in the winter, after which he devoted himself entirely to the management of his father's homestead.  In 1876 he moved to a farm in Millbury, and has since devoted himself exclusively to agriculture.  He first purchased one hundred and sixty acres south of the village, but later disposed of that land.  In politics he is a loyal Republican, and fraternally is a member of George Douglas Post No. 183, G. A. R., of Millbury.  He has been Mayor and Councilman of this place, and has served as School Director.      Feb. 4, 1875, Mr. Brim and Harriet S. Brahm were united in marriage.  The lady was born in Loudon, Pa., Jan. 18, 1847, and is a daughter of David and Sarah (Lookinbill) Brahm, natives of Rockland and Berks County, Pa., respectively.  The former was a son of Abraham Brahm a native of the Keystone State, and of Dutch descent.  Mrs. Brim removed to Fremont, Ohio, with her parents when she was about fourteen years of age.  By her marriage she has become the mother of four children.  Mary E., born July 12, 1876, was married Nov. 28, 1894, to E. E. Dancer, Superintendent of Schools at Milton Center, Ohio.  Thomas Earl, born Feb. 4, 1879, and Walter Rolla, born Oct. 19, 1881, are attending the local schools; and David Raymond, born June 1, 1891, completes the family.  Mrs. Brim is a member of the Reformed Church, while her husband holds membership with the Christian Church.  The father of the former was a resident of that part of Pennsylvania which was devastated by Lee  in his raid, when the rebels took possession of his house, stole his horses, and otherwise made themselves free with his possessions.      Among many interesting incidents of Mr. Brim's army career may be mentioned the following:  He was one of a party seat out to reconnoitre in the vicinity of Dalton, "Ga.  They were instructed to emerge from a small wood and deploy across a field in the face of the enemy.  As Mr. Brim was in advance, he was naturally last when the enemy turned upon them, but while retreating he noticed that a comrade, Sylvester Stump, has received a shot through the ear and along the side of the head.  He was stunned and his horse had escaped.  Although Mr. Brim was in the face of a deadly fire, he dismounted, helped the wounded man onto his own horse, and safety conveyed him to the ambulance that was concealed in the timber from which the dash was made.  Again, in the operations around Selma, Ala., Mr. Brim was sent out as a scout to discover the position of the enemy, and when about twenty miles from the main force he and his companions crossed an almost impassable swamp and found themselves confronting the main body of a Confederate brigade which was on the way to reinforce Selma.  To the left were the outposts of the garrison; to the right, along an unused road, was a small body of cavalry guarding the left flank of the Confederates.  They were apparently hemmed in on all sides, but they made a dash for the cavalry outriders and drive them back far enough to pass the swamp and escape to their command.  Knowing of the reinforcements on the way, the latter assaulted the works at Selma night and captured the place.       Unfortunately for Mr. Brim, when his command left the Tennessee River on the Wilson Raid, he was just convalescing from an attack of camp fever, and was unfit to withstand the severe strain to which he was subjected.  At Flint River Bridge, having ridden forty-five miles during the previous night, he succumbed and was left by the roadside, unable to proceed further.  He has suffered almost constantly since his discharge, but has never received financial recognition of his injuries at the hands of the Government. ( Source: Portrait & Biological Record of City of Toledo & Lucas & Wood Counties, Ohio - 1895 - Page 299)

DAVID B. BROWN, M. D.  The professional men of Pemberville are an element in the development of this progressive little city, to the reputation of which they are constantly adding by their talents and skill.  To this class belongs Dr. Brown, who has conducted a general practice as a physician and surgeon here since 1881.  As a physician he is patient, constant, sympathetic, yet in the hour of extremity cool, calm and courageous, thus inspiring his patients with the greatest confidence in this skill.  Although his practice requires almost his entire time, yet he still continues the study of his profession, keeping himself abreast with the practical details in the improvements of medicine.      For several generations the family to which the Doctor belongs has resided in Ohio.  His father, Thomas, was born in Knox County, this state, near the city of Mt. Vernon.  He was reared upon a farm, and upon arriving at man's estate selected agriculture for his life occupation. Settling in Morrow County about 1850, he engaged in cultivating a farm there for nine years.  In 1859 he came to Wood County, and afterward made is home upon a farm seven miles south of Pemberville, where his death occurred in 1889.  His widow, who is still living on the old homestead in this county, was a native of Hayden, Md., and bore the maiden name of Rachel Mills.  Orphaned by the death of her parents when she was a mere child, she came to Ohio parents when she was a mere child, she came to Ohio with a family of the name of Meyers, with whom she remained until her marriage.      During the residence of the family in Morrow County, Ohio, the subject of this sketch was born April 17, 1852.  The family of which he is a member consists of three brothers and three sisters, all of whom are living.  Henry B. has for twenty-four years been Principal of a college at Valparaiso, Ind.; William T. resides on a farm near Bradner, Ohio; Sarah  is the wife of James Shoewalter; Ellen married Milton Ashley; and Mary  is the wife of Joseph Jennings.      The first seen years of the life of our subject were passed on the home farm near Mt. Gilead.  In 1859 he came with his parents of Wood County, where he attended the district schools of the neighborhood and the public schools of Bradner.  On completing his studies he began  to teach, and followed that profession for five years.  It was not, however, his intention to make this his life work, and having resolved to become a physician, in 1872 he commenced the study of medicine at Freeport, Ohio, under the guidance of Dr. N. W. Goodrick with whom he remained for two years.  In 1874-75 he attended lectures in the Cincinnati Medical College, from which institution he was graduated February 23, 1876.       At once after completing his medical studies, Dr. Brown opened an office for practice at Sherwood, Defiance County, Ohio, where he remained for a number of years.  In 1881 he came to Pemberville, where he has given his attention to professional duties ever since, and has built up a large and remunerative practice.  Through devotion to his profession he has gained a place among the successful physicians of the county, and has also become the possessor of some valuable property, including a comfortable residence.  Here he and is wife, with their three children, Truman Glen, Dale Benton and Neva B., have established a pleasant home. Mrs. Brown was Miss Minnie Truman prior to her marriage in 1881, and is the daughter of a farmer living near Woodville.      In his fraternal relations Dr. Brown is a Royal Arch Mason, of the blue lodge.  In the Odd Fellows' lodge he is serving as Noble Grand.  He is also connected with the Order of the Maccabees.  His religious views incline him to the faith of the Baptist Church, of which he was a member until death.  Mrs. Brown is an active member of the Presbyterian Church and is always ready to aid in charitable enterprises for the aid of those in distress.  While the Doctor has never been an aspirant for official honors, he never fails to cast his ballot for the men nominated by the Democratic party, and his views coincide with the principles promulgated by that organization. ( Source: Portrait & Biological Record of City of Toledo & Lucas & Wood Counties, Ohio - 1895 - Page 128)

JOHN W. BROWNSBERGER.  No resident of Weston has been more closely identified with its history than the subject of this sketch, who has been an eye-witness of its material growth and an important factor in the development of its commercial interests.  Here he is conducting a furniture and undertaking business, and by his reliable and straightforward transactions he has gained the confidence of the people as a patriotic citizen and an upright, shrewd business man.      In Perrysburg Township, Wood County, Ohio, the subject of this notice was born Mar. 24, 1843, being the next to the youngest among eight children comprising the family of John and Barbara (Failor) Brownsberger.  His father, who was born in Cumberland County, Pa., Mar. 27, 1800, was reared on a farm, and in his youth learned the trade of a weaver, which occupation he followed until 1832.  In the spring of that year he came to Ohio and entered land near Perrysburg, in Wood County, being one of the pioneers of this region, which was then in its primitive state.  It was not long, however, before settlers began to flock into the county, and soon improvements were introduced, cities sprang into existence, and fine farms were improved.      Soon after making settlement in Perrysburg Township, John Brownsberger was chosen Justice of the Peace and superintendent of road improvements.  For a number of years he also had charge of the toll-gates. So faithfully did he perform his duties as a citizen that he gained the esteem and confidence of his neighbors.  A short time before his death he removed to Lucas County, and there he passed away at the age of eighty-six.  He was of German descent, but the family had been represented in America for many generations, and some of his ancestors took part in the Revolutionary War.      The mother of our subject was also a native of Cumberland County, Pa., and was born Aug. 30, 1804.  Her death occurred in Lucas Co., this state, at the age of seventy-six, after she had spent a number of years in total blindness.  She was of German origin, her ancestors having emigrated to the United States in an early day.      Our worthy subject spent his early life on a farm, and received his education in the country schools near his home.  At the age of fifteen he started out in life for himself, first becoming a clerk in a grocery store, where he received only his board for the first three years.  Aug. 5, 1860, he enlisted in Company A, One Hundredth Regiment Ohio Volunteers, and served for three years.  He enlisted as a private, but was promoted to the office of Corporal soon after, and served in that capacity during his enlistment.  He took an active part in a number of engagements, and was taken prisoner, with about three hundred others, at Lewiston Station, Tenn., and was confined at different times in Jonesborough, Libby and Belle Isle Prisons, being held a prisoner for seven months before he was paroled.  He was mustered out July 3, 1865, and returned to his home at Perrysburg.      A short time after coming home, Mr. Brownsberger took a course in a commercial college, and then entered a dry-goods store in Toledo, where he remained eight years.  After this he went into the office of the Auditor of Lucas County, and prepared a set of geographical books for Wood County, and when the work was completed he remained as assistant clerk for a short time.  He was then appointed Deputy Sheriff, serving for two years.  In 1858 he was elected Sheriff of the county, and re-elected in 1870.  It was during this term of office that the fight between Bowling Green and Perrysburg for the distinction of being the county seat occurred, and he had a hard time in preserving order during that exciting time.  He followed the instructions of Chief Justice Waite, and defended the records from being taken by a mob that came to remove them.  On the 3d of July, 1869, a celebration was held at a place about twelve miles from Perrysburg, and in the disturbance that generally takes place on such occasions David Shilling shot and killed Charles Lunday.  A mob collected, which was going to hang Shilling immediately, but a friend sent word to our subject, who was Sheriff at the time and he rode his horse on the run the whole twelve miles, and arrived in time to rescue the man.  Mr. Brownsberger was a young, boyish-looking fellow at the time, and the mob consisted of twenty-five of the most desperate men in the county, but he had the nerve to rush into the crowd, rescue his man and take him to the county jail.      When his term of office had expired, Mr. Brownsberger removed to Weston and erected a large saw and planning mill, which he successfully conducted for three years.  In connection with his other business, he also acted as Deputy Sheriff of the county, in which office he had gained a reputation as a terror to evil-doers and a friend to the law-abiding citizens.  In July, 1874, he sold out his interest in the mill, and took charge of the records of the Probate Court, which position he filled for two years.      In the spring of 1876 our subject became a keeper in the State’s Prison at Columbus, Ohio, but only remained there eleven months.  After returning to his home he remained a short time, and then went to Bowling Green, where he occupied the position of Deputy Clerk for five years.  At the expiration of this time he was obliged to resign his place in the office on account of poor health, and, going from there to Toledo, he embarked in the undertaking business.  He followed this occupation for three and a-half years, and then sold out and found employment as a conductor on the Clover Leaf Railroad.  He was also express-man and baggagemaster for a time, and remained in the employment of the railroad for six years.  In 1892 he bought an interest in a furniture store in Weston, and in January, 1893, came here and took possession, and has been actively engaged in the furniture business, in connection with that of undertaker, up to the present time.  He has an attractive store, and his trade extends over the surrounding country, as he is a man who is held in the highest respect by all who know him, and has the confidence of the entire community.      Mr. Brownsberger was united in marriage with Miss Lucy J. Bonney, of this city, Feb. 24, 1869, and to them three children have been born.  Bessie May is the wife of C. K. Merrill, and resides in Toledo.  Mabel B. is attending school in Toledo.  The only son died in infancy. Our subject is a stanch Republican in his political views, and in his younger days took an active part in politics, being one of the leading men of his party in the county.  Fraternally he is connected with Lodge No. 123, F. & A. M., of Perrysburg, and Post No. 20, G. A. R., of Weston.  He is also a member of the Undertakers’ Union and Gen. John W. Fuller Commandery, at Toledo. (Source: Portrait & Biological Record of City of Toledo & Lucas & Wood Counties, Ohio - 1895 - Page 456)