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OHIO GENEALOGY EXPRESS
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DEFIANCE COUNTY
OHIO BIOGRAPHIES |
These biographies have been extracted from
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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NOTE: If you are interested in any of the names listed
below, please contact me
and I will put it on her sooner. Thanks,
Sharon Wick
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PARTEE, Elmer F.
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PARTEE, Parmenus
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PETER, Philip
* PETTIT,
Barton Sellers
* PHELPS, Edwin
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PHILLIPS, Charles W. |
* PHILLIPS, William
* PRICE, William
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ELMER
F. PARTEE.
This well known and highly respected farmer of Tiffin
township is one of Defiance county's native sons, and is a
representative of one of her most prominent and honored
families, whose identification with her history dates from
the earliest settlement of the county, his paternal
grandfather, Enos Partee, locating here December 24,
1825. He came from Highland county, Ohio, and his was of the
second white family to take up their residence in Tiffin
township, with whose development and prosperity its members
have since been identified.
William E. Partee, our subject's father, was
born in Highland county, January 23, 1821, and was therefore
only four years old when brought by his parents to Defiance
county, where he grew to manhood amid pioneer scenes, aiding
in the arduous task of transforming the wild land into
productive and highly cultivated fields. On December 11,
1852, he was united in marriage with Miss Sarah
Wissler, a native of Pickaway county, Ohio, and they
began housekeeping upon a farm in Tiffin township, Defiance
county, making it their home until 1882, when they removed
to the city of Defiance. There she died November 7, 1890,
and he passed away February 16, 1894, honored and respected
by all who knew them.
Our subject, who is the only child of this worthy
couple, was born in Tiffin township, November 19, 1856, and
upon the home farm passed the days of his boyhood and youth,
obtaining his education in the local schools. He remained
under the parental roof until he was married, in Hicksville,
Defiance county, October 12, 1882, to Miss Emma
Lehman. She was born in Noble township, same county,
December 8, 1854, a daughter of Christian Lehman,
a native of Germany, whence he came to the New World in
1830. In this country he married Catherine Bahr,
who was also born in Germany, and emigrated to America in
1835. They continued residents of Defiance county until
called from this life, Mrs. Lehman dying in
Noble township, March 26, 1882, and her husband in
Hicksville, June 30, 1891. In their family were twelve
children, Mrs. Partee being tenth in the order
of birth. She was a teacher, and taught school nine terms.
Our subject and his wife have become the parents of two
children: Verna U., born May 1, 1890, died May 10,
1890; and Elma F., born November 7, 1892.
Soon after his marriage, Mr. Partee
located upon the farm in Tiffin township, where he still
continues to live. It is one of the most desirable places in
the community, comprising two hundred and eighty-one acres
of valuable land, which he had improved and placed under
excellent cultivation. His beautiful home is surrounded with
good barns and outbuildings, and the neat and thrifty
appearance of the place well indicates the industry,
perseverance and progressive spirit of the owner. In
connection with farming, Mr. Partee
successfully engaged in teaching school for seven winters.
For three years he held the office of township clerk, and
has always taken a commendable interest in local affairs.
Socially, he affiliates with the Independent Order of Odd
Fellows: in religious faith, both he and his wife are active
and prominent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church: in
politics he gives his influence to the Populist party. |
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PHILLIP
PETER. This venerable
and highly respected resident of Defiance is deserving of
special mention in this volume. Like many of our
successful citizens he is of German birth and ancestry, but
he came to this country in early manhood, and for more than
a half a century he has had his home in Ohio.
Born Feb. 19, 1820, in Germany, he is a son of
Abraham Peter, who in 1840 brought the family to the
United States and settled upon a farm in Seneca county,
Ohio. Here our subject continued to reside until he
reached the age of twenty-four, assisting in the work of the
homestead. He then married, and engaged in farming on
his own account in the same county, continuing about seven
years. In 1849 he removed to Defiance county, locating
upon a farm in Richland township on Dec. 2d of that year.
In 1879 he rented his farm and removed to the village of
Defiance, where he has since resided in a pleasant home at
No. 303 East Second street.
Mr. Peter has been four times married, first
time in Tiffin, Ohio, to Miss Rosina Haiserman, who
died in Seneca county leaving one son, John, now a
farmer in Defiance county. By his second marriage to
Miss Katherina Kirhner, Mr. Peter had a large family
of children, of whom the following are living:
William, Jacob, Frederick, Albert, Adam, Caroline, and
Lizzie. The mother of this family died in
Defiance, and Mr. Peter formed a third matrimonial
union, which wife also died in Defiance county.
Subsequently he was married in that county to Mrs. Maria
Bentz Bahringer, who was born in Germany Aug. 21, 1835,
coming to America when nineteen years old. After
spending two years in New York City she came to Defiance
county, where she was married on Apr. 4, 1856, to her first
husband, Adam Bahringer, who died Apr. 12, 1876,
leaving three sons, Charles, Andrew and Adam. |
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EDWIN
PHELPS.
For more than three score years
there dwelt in Defiance county, Ohio, Edwin Phelps (now
deceased), a man of sterling integrity and sound judgment,
whose character in its stern simplicity and upright bearing
stands out plainly and distinctly, a type of that past
generation whose watchword was Duty, whose characteristics
were industry and honesty.
Edwin Phelps was born at Old DeKalb, St. Lawrence
county, New York, December 30, 1815. In 1834 he
emigrated from New York to what is now Defiance county,
Ohio. From an old memorandum book it is learned that
on leaving New York he had three dolloars in his pocket, and
that he had borrowed to come west; when he reached northern
Ohio he had seven cents left. On August 20, 1834, he
was ferried across the Maumee river by the father of Mrs.
Jonas Colby and E. F. Lindenberger. He expended his
seven cents for crackers to appease his hunger, and then,
through the assistance of an uncle, he found employment with
the hotel keeper for eight dollars a month and board.
Three years later he was appointed clerk of the courts of
Williams county, eight years before the organization of
Defiance county. He active work in the interests of
his town and county and his careful attention to whatever
duties fell to his lot, made him a much-sought man for
public office.
In 1839 he was admitted to the Bar before the Supreme
Court of Ohio, and the committee that examined him - Peter
Hitchcock, Henry Stanberry, P. B. Wilcox, John W. Andrews
and Judge George J. Smith - was composed of men whose fame
was national. In 1845, when the county seat of
Williams county was changed from Defiance to Bryan, the
people determined on the organization of Defiance county.
As Mr. Phelps was well known as a stanch Democrat in his
political faith, he was selected to go to Columbus and to
use his influence to secure the erection of Defiance county;
that his efforts were crowned with success is shown in the
history of the State. He was appointed the first
auditor of the new county, and was also a member of its
first board of school examiners. Was elected clerk of
the courts of 1857, and served for seventeen years. He
was actively interested in politics for almost his entire
life, attended all the State conventions as well as those of
the county, and some of the National conventions. The
last National convention to which he was a delegate was in
1864, when General George B. McClellan was nominated for the
Presidency at Chicago. Chief Justice White of the
Supreme Court of Ohio, after years of personal experience
with the work of Mr. Phelps as clerk of the courts, said
that "Mr. Phelps was the best and most accurate clerk of the
courts in Ohio."
He was not only prominent in politics, but also in
every interest that seemed to tend to the improvement and
progression of his community. He spent much time and
money in securing the location of the Toledo and Illinois
(now the Wabash) railroad through Defiance. Prior to
this he was actively engaged in the construction of the
Miami & Erie canal on which for a time he was employed.
It was through his influence and work that the Baltimore &
Ohio road secured the right of way through Defiance, and
again he labored almost unceasingly when he projected
Columbus, Lima & Milwaukee road was first talked of Mr.
Phelps was a man of fine physique, and his wonderful
constitution enabled him to perform tasks that an ordinary
man could not conceive of. Long hours of work,
physical or mental, seemed to leave no trace.
In 1840 Mr. Phelps was married to Mary A. Woodward, who
survived but one year; in 1843 he married Emily Eaton, and
to this union three children were born: Adelaide
Victoria; Emily J., who married Charles Seymour, of
Defiance; and Ida R., who married Mr. Gensheimer, and now
lives in Erie, Pennsylvania. For his third wife Mr.
Phelps, on September 25, 1862, married Evaline Richardson,
and to this union were born; Mary Alice, who married J. W.
Ackley, of Granville, Ohio; Helen Dorothy; Julia, who
died in 1863; Grace, who died in 1870; Abbie, who married F.
P. Weisenburger; and Edwin J. The father of this
family was found ever kind and liberal in his home, true to
his friends, honorable in his business relations faithful to
every trust. After four score years of toil, sustained
by the love and respect of all who knew him, this grand old
man passed quietly to his last rest, September 28, 1897.
"His life was gentle and the elements so mixed in him
That nature may stand up and say to all the world.
This was a man."
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WILLIAM
PHILLIPS. Mr.
Phillips is one of the leading and influential citizens
of Defiance township, Defiance county, where he was
successfully engaged in farming for forty years, and has
also been prominently identified with the material
development of the locality. He is a native of Ohio,
born Aug. 29, 1820, in Hamilton township, Warren county, and
on the paternal side is of Welsh descent. His parents
were Isaac and Ruanza (Kelly) Phillips, the former a
native of Pennsylvania, the latter of Loudoun county,
Virginia, and both died in Warren county, Ohio, in 1826 and
1884, respectively.
In their family were seven children - two sons and five
daughters - our subject being third in the order of birth.
He was six years old when his father died, and from that
time until he attained his fifteenth year he made his home
with his maternal grandfather, Peter Kelly. At
the age of seventeen he commenced learning the tanner's and
currier's trade, his term of apprenticeship not expiring
until he reached his majority. Having mastered the
business, he followed that occupation in his native county
for fourteen years.
While still residing in Warren county, Mr. Phillips was
married at the age of twenty-four years, to Miss
Cynthia Shawhan, who died in that county at the age of
thirty-two years. Of the three children born to them -
two sons and one daughter - only the daughter survives, and
she is now the wife of Jacob Adams, Esq., of Highland
Township, Defiance county. On April 1, 1856, in
Richland township, Defiance county, Mr. Phillips
wedded Miss Mary Ann Kepler, a daughter of Samuel
and Rachel (McKinnis) Kepler, who were the first white
couple married in Hancock county, Ohio. They were
natives of Pennsylvania, and were honored pioneers of
Richland township, Defiance county. Mrs. Phillips,
who was born in that township, Mar. 9, 1827, was the
eldest of eight children - two sons and six daughters.
To our subject and his wife have been born six children,
namely: Rachel, now the wife of William
Dickey; Samuel K.; Robert W.; Josiah M.; Isaac K.; and
Mary E., wife of Albert Kusian.
Two years after his second
marriage, Mr. Phillips came to Defiance county, first
locating in Highland township, where he continued to live
until 1872, when he removed to his present farm in Defiance
township. In this county he has devoted his time and
attention to agricultural pursuits, and in his undertakings
has met with excellent success, owning at one time six
hundred acres of fine farming land, but has since disposed
of all but two hundred acres, which he has placed under a
high state of cultivation and improved with all modern
conveniences, making it one of the best farms in Defiance
township.
Since its organization, Mr. Phillips has been an
ardent supporter of the Republican party, and as a good
citizen he has always taken a commendable interest in public
affairs, giving his support to all measures which a member
of the Patrons of Husbandry since 1872, and is a charter
member of Auglaize Grange, No. 371. Religiously he and
his wife are both worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, and wherever known they are held in high regard for
their sterling worth and many excellencies of character. |
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WILLIAM
PRICE.
The fertile soil of this
section has attracted an enterprising class of
agriculturists, among whom a high type of citizenship
prevails. The subject of this biography, a wealthy
resident of Farmer township, Defiance county, settled in
that locality in April, 1845, and by industry and good
management has accumulated a handsome property, being the
owner of three amongst the best farms in the county.
Born August 9, 1820, in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania,
Mr. Price is a son of John and Sarah (Will) Price, both also
natives of Pennsylvania, the former born in the city of
Philadelphia. Our subject, who is the fifth in a
family of eleven children- five sons and six daughters - was
about three years old when his parents came to Ohio with
their family, which then consisted of six children.
The father, who was a shoemaker by trade and also a farmer,
his sons doing the farming, purchased land in Sugar Creek
township, Stark county, where he remained eight years and
then, selling out, removed to Wayne county, and spent two
years there. The lands in Hancock county being
disposed of by the government at that time, he availed
himself of the opportunity to secure a tract for a
homestead, where his remaining years were passed. He
died December 26, 1869, aged seventy-nine years and eleven
months, and his estimable wife breathed her last March 12,
1870, at the age of seventy-six years. When he came to
Ohio his farm "stock" consisted of a blind mare, and when he
settled he ha just twenty-five cents cash capital.
Mr. Price, our subject, remained at the old homestead
in Hancock county until 1845, becoming familiar with all the
details of farm management. On removing to Defiance
county in April of that year, he settled on eighty acres in
Section 28, but disposing of that he in 1852 bought one
hundred and sixty acres in Section 10. In 1880 he
removed to Section 3, where he bought one hundred and
fifty-three one hundredths acres in all. As a citizen
he is public-spirited, taking an interest in all that
concerns the welfare of the community, and he is regarded as
one of the influential workers in the local Democratic
organization. At times he has held office in the
township, having served six years as clerk, one year as
assessor, and one year as land appraiser. Socially, he
and his family are prominent, and he is an active member of
the Masonic fraternity.
On May 28, 1846, Mr. Price was married in Farmer
township, Defiance county, to Miss Sarah Ann Thorp, who was
born May 13, 1825, a daughter of Isaac L. and Hannah (Evert)
Thorp, well-known pioneer settlers of that township, having
located there in 1836 on remvoing from their early home in
Wayne county. Of the ten children of this marriage
only two are now living: Sarah Ellen (wife of Josiah
B. Miller), and Rachel (wife of Forest O. Hutchins); the
others were Orley E., Joseph E., Mary, Laura J., Orpha I.,
John H., Lambertha A. (Mrs. Jonas Fullmer) and Virgil T.
The mother of this family died August 31, 1878, in Farmer
township, and on May 20, 1880, Mr. Price was married to Mrs.
Fannie (Sweet) Wolford, who was born June 24, 1835, in St.
Lawrence county, New York, a daughter of Thoams J. and
Ormanda (Bowker) Street. Her first husband, Emanuel
Wolford, died in Farmer township, Defiance county, October
10, 1872, leaving four children: Frank W.; Carrie E. (Mrs.
H. M. Wolt); Ida O. (who married George Beerbower, and died
in Farmer township, September 4, 1882), and Effie L. (who
did not long survive her father, her death occurring
November 13, 1872 at the age of five years.). Mr.
Price started in life with nothing save good health, courage
and indomitable perseverance, all he now owns being the
result of his own unaided efforts.
NOTE 1:
Census Record of 1860 - Defiance Co., Farmer
Twp. - Film Series M653 - Roll 947 - Bk. 1 - Page 370b -
Dwelling 349 - Family 347
Lists:
Wm. Price 39 M
Farmer $3500 $875
Pa.
Sarah "
35 F
b. Ohio
Sarah "
12 F
b. Ohio
Virgil "
9 M b.
Ohio
Lembertha " 8 F
b. Ohio
Mary "
5 F
b. Ohio
Rachel "
3 F
b. Ohio
Laura "
1 F
b. Ohio
NOTE 2: Census
Record of 1870 - Defiance Co., Farmer Twp. - Film Series
M593 - Roll 1195 Bk. 1 - Page 85b - Dwelling 137 Family 125
includes William ae. 49; Sarah A. ae. 45; Sarah E. ae. 22;
Virgil T. ae. 18; Lumbertha A. ae. 17; Rachael M. ae. 13;
and Albert G. Cronk ae. 22 - Farm laborer b. Ohio |
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