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Source:
A Centennial Biographical History
of
Richland and Ashland County, Ohio
- ILLUSTRATED -
A. J. Baughman, Editor
Chicago
The Lewis Publishing Co.
1901
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JAMES ZEHNER
was born in Milton township, in what is now Ashland
county, Jan. 19, 1835, a son of Peter and Mary (Cook)
Zehner, who had but two children, twins, the sister
of our subject being Mary, now the widow of
Christ Stover, of Ashland, Ohio. The
father was born in Schuyler county, Pennsylvania, and
was a son of Peter Zehner, a native of
that state and of German extraction. The latter
emigrated with his family to Ohio and entered from the
government a tract of land of one hundred and sixty
acres in what is now Milton township, Ashland county.
There he and his wife spent their remaining days, his
attention being given to the work of the farm. He
had previously operated a sawmill in Pennsylvania, but
on arriving in Ohio he built a log cabin in the midst of
the forest and began to clear and cultivate his land,
which was transformed into a very rich and valuable
fields. In politics he was an old-line Whig until
the dissolution of the party, after which he became an
ardent Republican. He was also a consistent member
of the Lutheran church and was a man of much influence
in the neighborhood, highly respected for his many
virtues.
Peter Zehner, the father of our subject,
was reared to manhood amid the wild scenes of the
frontier and with the family shared in all the hard
ships and trials of pioneer life. He wedded
Miss Mary Cook and with his bride
settled on the old homestead, working with his father
until his death, which occurred in 1844, when he was
still a young man. His wife had preceded him to
the home beyond several months, and their twin children,
then nine years of age, were reared by their paternal
grandparents. The subject of this review acquired
his education in the common schools, and at the age of
sixteen went to live with his uncle, Henry
Zehner, who also resided on the home farm, which he
afterward purchased in connection with his brother
Isaac. There Mr. Zehner remained
until the time of his marriage, in 1859, Miss
Catherine Letz, a native of Pennsylvania,
becoming his wife. She was a daughter of John
Letz, who emigrated to Ohio in 1850, settling in
Milton township.
When sixteen years of age, James Zehner
had apprenticed himself to the carpenter's trade and
continuously followed that calling until 1862, when the
Civil war caused a cessation in building, and he
accordingly removed to his father-in-law's farm, where
he entered upon an active career as an agriculturist.
There he remained for eight years, and on the expiration
of that period purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty
acres four miles west of Ashland, in Milton township.
That continued to be his place of abode until 1885, when
he sold the property and removed to his present farm in
Butler township, becoming the owner of two hundred and
ten acres of rich and productive land. The fields
yield to him an excellent return for the care and labor
he bestows upon them. The farm is one of the best
improved in the county, being supplied with all modern
accessories and conveniences, including the latest
improved machinery, substantial buildings for the
shelter of grain and stock and a pleasant residence.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Zehner have been born seven
children, as follows: John T., a carpenter
of Wabash county, Indiana; Samuel, a farmer of
Butler township; Esther, now the wife of Irvin
Schweyer, who runs her father's farm; Ella,
the wife of Judd Cline, an agriculturist
of Franklin township; H. Harmon, who is living in
Cleveland, Ohio, where he conducts a grocery store;
Dora, at home; and Kate, the wife of Alvin
Wolford, a farmer of Blooming Grove township.
Mr. Zehner is unswerving in his advocacy of
Republican principles, believing that the platform of
the party contains the best elements of good government.
He is a member of the Lutheran church and contributes
liberally to the support of all Christian and charitable
work. His life is in harmony with his professions.
and in business circles he sustains an unassailable
reputation by reason of his trustworthy methods.
He is a man of ambition and much energy and his success
in life is due entirely to his own efforts. His
persistency of purpose has been the chief element of his
success.
"Let the fool prate of luck. The
fortunate
Is he whose earnest purpose never swerves.
His slightest action or inaction serves
The one great aim." |
Source: A
Centennial Biographical History of Richland and Ashland
County, Ohio - Publ. 1901 - Page 636 |
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JOSEPH B.
ZEHNER. J. B.
ZEHNER was born in Mifflin township, Ashland county,
Mar. 7, 1870. His father, Peter Zehner, was
born in the same township Oct. 29, 1836. His
mother's maiden name was Hannah Boyer, who
was born in Butler county, Pennsylvania, Mar. 15, 1839.
The Zehner family live in the historic Ruffner
locality. The family connections are so numerous
that reunions are annually held.
J. B. Zehner has traveled extensively in the
west, and taught school in several of the new states.
In 1899 he engaged in the grocery business in Mansfield,
and on July 20 of the same year he married Miss Vina
Zehner. They have one child, a son, named
Harold Ivan Zehner.
In the winter of 1901
Mr. Zehner disposed of his stock of groceries to
engage in other business. He is a young man of
good character, and has many friends who wish him
success in whatever field of endeavor he may engage.
Source: A
Centennial Biographical History of Richland and Ashland
County, Ohio - Publ. 1901 - Page 476 |
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MRS. MARY
M. ZOOK, who is living in section
20, Mifflin township, was born Jan. 26, 1851, in the
township which is now her home, her parents being
Henry and Lydia (Byers) Hoover. She spent her
girlhood days under the parental roof, aiding in the
work of the household and pursuing her education in the
common schools. In January, 1872, she gave her
hand in marriage to Joseph C. Zook, a native of
Franklin county, Pennsylvania, born Aug. 5, 1844.
He was the son of John Zook, who was born in
Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, in December 1817, and
with his parents removed to Franklin county during his
boyhood. There John Zook was reared,
learning the miller's trade, which he followed until
1850, when his health failed and he engaged in farming,
hoping that the outdoor life might prove a benefit to
him. He married Miss Elizabeth Clippinger,
who was born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, in
February, 1816. In his business affairs he
prospered, becoming well-to-do. He was an
active churchman whose consistent Christian life
commended him to the confidence of all with whom he was
associated. His death occurred in May, 1899, and
the community thereby lost one of its valued citizens.
Joseph C. Zook spent his youth on the home farm
and the schools of the neighborhood afforded him his
educational privileges. The Zook and
Hoover families were neighbors in Pennsylvania, and
in 1871, when Joseph C. was on a visit to friends
in Illinois, he stopped in Ohio to see the Hoover
family. His acquaintance with the daughter of
the household ripened into love, and three weeks after
his return to Pennsylvania he again came to Ohio to
claim his bride. He took her back with him to the
old homestead in the Keystone state and then assumed the
management of his father's farm, which he ably conducted
up to the time of his death, on the 29th of December,
1891. He was a gentleman of sterling worth,
diligent in business, straightforward in all his
dealings and reliable in all life's relations. He,
too, was an earnest church member, and was highly
esteemed by all who knew him.
By the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Zook five
children were born: David L., who resides
on the old Zook homestead in Pennsylvania;
John H., who is a farmer of Mifflin township,
Richland county; and William S., Jacob W.
and Prudence E., who are with their mother.
Five years after her husband's death Mrs. Zook
returned with her family to Richland county and located
upon her farm of one hundred and seventeen acres which
she had purchased four years previously. Shortly
after her arrival she purchased another farm of
forty-two acres, and both tracts are now in a high state
of cultivation, yielding a good income, which supplies
Mrs. Zook with all the comforts and many of the
luxuries of life. She displays excellent business
and extensive ability in the care of her property and at
the same time manifests those truly womanly qualities
which everywhere command respect. Her home is
celebrated for its gracious hospitality, which is
enjoyed by her many friends.
Source: A
Centennial Biographical History of Richland and Ashland
County, Ohio - Publ. 1901 - Page 246 |
NOTES:
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