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* Source 1 : History of Stark County: with an outline sketch of
Ohio
Chicago: Baskin & Battey, 1881
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Source 2:
Portrait &
Biographical Record of Stark County, Ohio
Chicago - Chapman Bros. - 1892
NOTE: If there is a particular biography that you want
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JACOB OBERLIN (Jackson
Twp.), farmer; P. O. McDonaldsville; was born in Lancaster
Co., Pa., Nov. 4, 1817; is the son of Jacob and Elizabeth
(Runk) Oberlin, who were natives of Lancaster Co., Pa.,
and removed to Stark Co., Ohio, in 1826, and settled in
Jackson Tp. Father died about 1850 and mother in 1872.
Jacob Oberlin, the subject, has been a resident of
the county and township since 1826. In 1845 he married
Elizabeth Lutz, daughter of Elizabeth Lutz,
daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Arnold) Lutz.
Mrs. Oberlin was born in Stark Co., Ohio, in 1823.
Mr. Oberlin has five children - Isaac, Sarah J.,
wife of John Real; Mary A., wife of M. Slate;
Elizabeth A., and Catharine A. Mr. Oberlin
and wife are members of the Reformed Church, and he is a
staunch Republican. |
JACOB L. OBERLIN. The
farm which is occupied by the above-named gentleman is one
of the most highly developed in Stark County. It
consists of one hundred and sixteen acres on section 32,
Plain Township, and the passing stranger will note with
delight the ample accommodations for stock and crops and the
means that have been taken to enhance the comfort of the
dwellers thereon. The residence is of pleasing
architectural design, convenient in arrangement, and
displays in its neatness and order the care of a tasteful
woman.
Mr. Oberlin was born on the old homestead March
10, 1830, and is a son of Adam Oberlin, who was born
January 26, 1802, in Lancaster County, Pa. The
grandparents of our subject were born in Germany and,
emigrating to the New World, made their home in the Keystone
State. The grandfather was a soldier in the
Revolutionary War and died in Pennsylvania when the father
of our subject was but sixteen years of age. The
latter, determining to see what lay in store for him in the
Buckeye State, in 1824 came on foot to this county and
located on what is now the property of our subject, when the
only improvement which the tract bore was a log house and
barn. Among the Indians and wild animals he entered
upon the pioneer work which resulted in securing to his
family a good home, and that his efforts in tilling the soil
were crowned with success is indicated from the fact that at
his death he left an estate of one hundred and thirty-six
acres. He possessed at one time three different farms,
which he sold, and in this way added to his already good
income. His decease, which occurred in 1881, took
place at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. Reems,
in Henry. He was an active member of the German
Lutheran Church and enjoyed the respect of many friends.
A Republican in politics, he was ever ready to advance the
interests of his party by his ballot, personal influence and
argument.
Mrs. Elizabeth (Albright) Oberlin, the mother of
our subject, was born in Pennsylvania in 1802, and when a
girl of fourteen came to this county with her parents, where
she met and married the father of our subject. Their
union was blessed to them by the birth of nine children, of
whom the following six are living: Elizabeth, Anna,
Jacob L., Catherine, Harriet and Emma.
The mother, who was also a devoted member of the German
Lutheran Church, died in 1871. She was the daughter of
Frederick Albright, who came overland to this
county in an early day and, purchasing property in Plain
Township, there developed from the wilderness a good farm of
one hundred and thirty acres. At the time of his
settlement here, the city of Canton contained only a few log
houses, and with characteristic energy he set to work to
cultivate his land, and in this way added to the material
prosperity of the township. He was of German descent,
so far as is known, and lived to advanced years.
Jacob L. Oberlin, of this sketch, was reared in
his native county, and received a fair education in the
district school. The occupation of his early life was
congenial to his tastes, and he therefore gave his attention
in later years to farming and stockraising, in which he was
proved successful. When twenty-five years of age, he
took charge of the home place, which he cultivated on shares
for nine years, when it came into his possession by
purchase.
The home of Mr. Oberlin is presided over by a
lady of energetic nature and great intelligence, who was
known in her maidenhood as Miss Sarah E. Poyser.
She was born in this county and has become the mother of six
children, namely: William, Norman, Charles, John,
Water and Martha. Their marriage was
solemnized in 1864, and in their community they enjoy the
friendship of the best residents. Mr. Oberlin
had been previously married in 1855 to Sarah Spangler,
who was born in this township, and their union was blessed
by the birth of these children: Josiah W., who
resides in Portage County; Clara, Mrs. Racer, who
makes her home in Trumbull County; and Laura, Mrs. Burry,
who is living in Shelbyville, Ill. The mother died in
1863.
As before stated, he of whom we write owns one hundred
and sixteen acres of land and is successfully engaged in
mixed farming. Among the numerous and commodious
buildings on his farm is a modern frame residence, which was
erected in 1883, and which is supplied with many
conveniences, which make of it one of the pleasantest homes
in the county. Our subject also has a large frame
barn, which he built in 1882. The family are
attendants of the English Lutheran Church and are classed
among the respected members of society.
Our subject has given sufficient attention to politics
to satisfy himself as to the merits of the parties, and
always deposits a Republican ballot. For the past
seventeen years he has served as School Director, and been a
member of the Township Board for eleven years in succession.
He is active in social matters and gives his aid and
countenance to the progressive and elevating enterprises
that are promulgated in this vicinity, and that he is
respected by his associates it is needless to say. |
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JOSEPH OBERLIN (Tuscarawas
Twp.), farmer; P. O. West Brookfield; was born July 5, 1826,
on Sec. 19, Tuscarawas Twp., Stark Co., Ohio. He is
the seventh son born to Peter Oberlin, who was among
the early pioneers of Tuscarawas Township. Joseph
was raised to man's estate under the parental roof,
having received good school advantages, he improved the
same, by teaching the young ideas of the neighborhood for
several years. In February, 1853, he caught the gold
fever and spent four years and a half in California, where
he was mostly engaged in mining, returning to Stark County
in 1857. Dec. 20, 1860, he married Mary Christman,
born July 30, 1838, in this township, daughter of John
Christman, whose wife's maiden name of Margaret
Fisher. John Christman was born Feb. 17, 1811, in
Mt. Pleasant Twp., Westmoreland Co., Penn., son of Jacob,
who had seven children born him, John being the
eldest. Joohn Christman was married May 16,
1833, to Margaret Fisher, who was born in 1811, in
Westmoreland County. Mr. Christman emigrated to
this State in 1835, and purchased 160 acres in Tuscarawas
Township, upon which he has since lived. Mrs.
Oberlin died June 9, 1879, leaving four children -
Arthur C., Anna M., Inex R., and Mary L.
After Mr. Oberlin's marriage he moved on the
homestead, where he lived several years. He has now
100 acres on Sec. 19. Sine 1869, he has resided with
his father-in-law, Mr. Christman. Mr.
Oberlin is a member of the German Reformed Church. |
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OBED OBERLIN,
(Plain Twp.), farmer; P. O. Middle Branch; is a son of
John and Susan (Sharp) Oberlin, who were natives
of Lancaster Co., Pa., where they were engaged in farming.
Obed was born in Lancaster Co., Pa., in 1828, where
he spent his childhood, receiving a common school education,
and in 1853 came to Ohio, settling on a farm in Plain Twp.,
and after running this farm a few years, he removed to Green
Twp., Summit Co., and there remained three years. He
returned to Plain Twp., and purchased the Grist mill known
as the Centre Mill, and for nine years he was engaged in the
milling business. In 1866 he bought and settled on a
farm of 150 acres, where he still lives. In 1850 he
married Catherine Smith, who bore him eleven children.
Mr. and Mrs. Oberlin are members of the Lutheran
Church. In politics he is a Republican, and has always
voted the Republican ticket. |
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W. DALLAS OBERLIN (Tuscarawas
Twp.), farmer; P. O. Dalton; is a son of Peter Oberlinb,
who was born in this township, on Sec. 19, Jan. 29,
1820, and raised in this township. He married Lydia
Lichty, who was born in Pennsylvania, a daughter of
John and Mary (Schloot) Lichty, who raised four children
- Abram L., Susan Martha and Lydia. Susan
married John Cully, of Sugar Creek Tp., Wayne
Co., Ohio; Martha, wife of Jacob Slayman, and
resides in Carroll Co., Ill.; Abram L. resides in the
same county and State. The Lichty family came
West, to Ohio about the year 1825. Peter Oberlin
removed to Wood County, this State, about 1846, where he
remained several years; then located, several years, in
Sugar Creek Twp., Wayne Co., finally located permanently in
this township, on the northwest quarter of Sec, in this
township,,, where he remained until his death, which
occurred in February, 1872; he was a member of the Reformed
Church, and Elder in the same for several years, and was an
active worker in the Sunday-school cause; was
Superintendent; his wife yet survives him, and remains on
the homestead, in this township. They had five
children - Sumanthan, W. Dallas, Otilia, wife of
Peter Poorman, in Sugar Creek Township, this county,
Joseph and Ira J. W. Dallas was born in Wood County,
this State; received the advantages of the common teaching,
and has taught twelve terms and is a successful teacher.
June, 1869, he married Hadassah Hassler, who was born
in this township, daughter of Joseph Hassler; has one
child - Anson Leroy; is a member of the Reformed
Church, and a Democrat; has abandoned teaching, and is
giving his time entirely to farming. |
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WILLIAM E. OBERLIN
(Tuscarawas Twp.), Massillon; was born in Tuscarawas
Township, March 9, 1822, the sixth son in order of birth,
born to Peter and Susanna (Cramer) Oberlin.
Our subject was raised to farming, attending the district
schools, and finishing his education in the academy at
Wooster; for some time taught school and clerked for various
firms, after which he went to Wooster to school, and there
resumed teaching, having taught, all told, sixteen terms.
In October, 1852, he married Susan Dague, born in
Lancaster Co., Penn., in 1832, daughter of Jacob and
Maria (Overley) Dague. The Dague family
came to Wayne County in 1837. After the marriage of
our subject, he purchased a small piece of land, on which he
lived five years, when he sold it and moved to his present
place of 70 acres, known as "Stand's Farm," having in all
about 140 acres; he has four children - Otto E., Albert
B., Charles D. and Jennie M. Mr. Oberlin
was elected Township Assessor about 1854, and served three
terms; served about 1854, and served three terms; served
also as Justice of the Peace from 1857, and was re-elected
in 1881; also as Township Treasurer nineteen years; has
administrated on several estates, and been guardian for ten
persons; he has always been a Democrat, and is a member of
the Reformed Church. |
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ROBERT PHERSON, farmer; P.
O. Justus; was born on the farm upon which he lives, Nov.
19, 1837, the fourth child of eight, born to Theophilus
and Eliza (Tate) Pherson. Theophilus was born in
County Down, Ireland, in 1800, son of Robert and Jane (McWhinney)
Pherson. Robert's parents were Robert and
Elizabeth (McClure) Pherson, to whom where born Nancy
Jane, William Robert, and Betsey, who died young.
Jane McWhinney was a native of Ireland, daughter of
James and Margaret (Bailey) McWhinney. James
was a son of Robert. The children of James
and Margaret McWhinney were - James, Francis, Robert,
William, John, Jane, Nancy, and Margaret.
Theophilus Pherson, the father of our subject, was in
his minority when his father arrived in this county. He
worked on the Ohio canal some time, where he earned the
money to purchase his land, consisting of 160 acres
unimproved, upon which he settled, remaining thereon as long
as he lived. He died in February, 1848. Of eight
children born them, seven are living - Jane, wife of
Rev. Thomas, in Defiance, Ohio; Elizabeth,
wife of J. M. Trubey, Esq., of this township; John
resides in Dickinson Co., Kansas; Robert, our
subject, Almina, unmarried; William in the
West; Albert, a physician in Henry Co., this State;
Ann, now deceased, was the wife of Mr. Gillet.
Robert was young when his father died; he was raised
among strangers. On Feb. 22, 1859, he married Lydia
Hall, who was born in August, 1837, in this township,
daughter of Samuel Hall, one of the early pioneers of
the county. They have five children - Ursula M.,
Susan S., Mary V., Clarence C., and Gertrude L.
He has about 160 acres of land in this township, and 160
in Lagrange Co. He is a member of the United Brethren
Church, and is a Republican. |
DR. A. C. PONTIUS, dentist;
Louisville. The subject of this biography is a native
of Pennsylvania, and was born Oct. 14, 1843. He is a
son of Ezra and Emily (Turney) Pontius, grandson of
Jacob Pontius, and great-grandson of John Pontius,
who was a native of Germany. The time of this family's
arrival in America is unknown, but it must have been early
in 1700. For generations previous to Ezra Pontius,
the occupation of this family was farming. Our
subject's father was a native of eastern Pennsylvania.
In about 1817 he removed to Armstrong Co., same State, and
engaged in mercantile pursuits. In that county Dr.
Pontius was reared. He received the advantage of
the common and high schools of his native town, finishing
his general school education with one year at Meadville
College. The latter part of his schooling was taken in
view of applying it in his study of medicine, which
occupation he had chosen as his vocation in life. In
March, 1862, he enlisted in the First Board of Trade Battery
of Chicago, commanded by Captain Stokes. He
served with the Battery through the battles of Stone River,
Chickamauga and Nashville, and through ill health was
discharged for disability in the spring of 1864. He
then returned home to Pennsylvania, remaining there until
the fall of the same year, when he re-enlisted as a private
in the Fifth Pennsylvania Artillery, but was soon promoted
to First Lieutenant. Dr. Pontius still has the
sword and sash presented him by his Battery. At the
close of the war, he returned home, and in the fall of 1865
commenced the study of medicine in his native town under
Dr. Hosack. During the winter of 1867-8, he attended
lectures at the Michigan Medical College at Ann Arbor, where
he graduated the term of 1868-9. After is graduation,
Dr. Pontius commenced practicing in Kellersburg, Pa.,
but at the end of a year removed to Ellerton, where he still
continued his practice. While here his office was used
as a dentist's room, and during this time Dr. Pontius
paid special attention to dentistry. His health being
somewhat broken down by active practice, he concluded to
make dentistry his future occupation. In 1876 he came
to Louisville, Ohio, where he has since been. His
previous practice as a physician, together with his
knowledge of dentistry, ranks him among the best dentists in
the county. In June, 1868, Dr. Pontius and
Emily Hastings, were united in marriage. This
union has been blessed with two children - Wilda L. P.,
and Albert A. H. Mrs. Pontius is a daughter
of Enoch Hastings, and is of Scotch descent.
Dr. Pontius is among the leading Republicans of
Nimishillen, a member of the I. O. O. F., and a gentleman.
Source 1 : History of Stark County: with an outline sketch of
Ohio - Chicago: Baskin & Battey, 1881 -
Page 911 |
A. V.
PONTIUS; Louisville, was born in Plain Twp.,
Dec. 21, 1840. His father, Peter Pontious, is
one of the oldest pioneers of Stark Co., a portrait of whom
will be seen in another part of this work, as well as the
general family history. His mother is Catharine (Essig)
Pontius, who was also an early resident of the county.
A. V. Pontius passed his youth and early manhood on
his father's farm, during which time he received the
common-school advantages. He was married Oct. 25, 1870
to Maria Yoder, and in the fall of 1875 discontinued
farming, moved to Louisville, where he built a fine
two-story brick dwelling-house, and has resided here ever
since. During the spring of 1881, he leased the
Buckeye Brick-yard, and is at present actively engaged in
the manufacture of brick in Louisville, running a force of
about twelve men. In May, 1841, he formed a
partnership with Jacob Geib, under the firm name of
Jacob Geib & Co. This firm has now in course of
erection, what will be one of the largest grist-mills in
Stark Co. They expect to confine their business to
merchant milling, and this establishment will be the largest
manufacturing house in Louisville. Mr. Pontius
is a young man of enterprise, and is among the leading men
of his tow.
Source 1 : History of Stark County: with an outline sketch of
Ohio - Chicago: Baskin & Battey, 1881 -
Page 912 |
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ANDREW PUTNAM, farmer; P. O.
Justus; was born January 30, 1816, in Somerset Co., Pa., son
of John and Charlotte (King) Putman. He came
West with his parents when he was two years of age, locating
in the woods, and remained with them until his marriage,
being brought up as pioneer children were, and taught the
use of the ax, and how to clear land. September 28,
1837, he was married to Judith Shlater, who was born
June 23, 1820, in Somerset Co., Pa., she being the youngest
of a family of fifteen children, all of whom lived to
maturity and raised families except two. Her parents
were natives of Fayette Co., Pa., but removed to Tuscarawas
Co. Her father's name was Samuel. The
names of the children born him were - Job, Polly, Barbara
and Katharine (twins), Henry, Samuel, Absalom,
Elizabeth, Nancy, Jacob, Jane, Sarah, Judith, William,
and Peter - but three of them now living. Her
parents were of Presbyterian faith, her father being a Whit.
After the marriage of Mr. Putman he located on Sec.
15, where he lived until 1862, since which time he has been
located at Justus Station, and engaged in farming. Of
five children born, but three are living - Haman,
Winfield C., and Selecta. Haman
resides in the township and is engaged in farming;
Winfield is a practicing physician at Justus; Selecta
is the wife of
Daniel Hoffman,
of this township. Clarris was the eldest of the
family; she died at the age of 27, and was the wife of
William McClintock. Mr. Putman is a member
of the United Brethren, having been identified with that
Church for many years, and having served in all the official
stations of the same: as class-leader, steward, trustee,
etc., and is one of the pillars of the church. |
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