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Bridgewater
Twp. -
JOSEPH W. BACK was born in Chaplin, Conn., Dec. 7,
1824, and was the youngest of seven children of Erastus and Anna
(Flint) Back, also natives of Connecticut. The father brought
his family to this township in 1838, purchased 160 acres of land, and
thereon ended his days in the fall of 1847. Joseph, who had
received a good education, began teaching a week before his twenty-first
birthday, and taught eleven terms consecutively. He is fully
posted as to the condition of the early schools of the township, and
tells of one in which there were seven different text-books in
arithmetic; and he still takes great interest in educational affairs.
He has been twice married. Both his wives were teachers, and four
of his children have acted in the same capacity. In 1849, he
married his first wife, Mary A. Shorthill, a native of
Pennsylvania, and then teaching in this township. She died Aug.
22, 1850, aged about nineteen, the mother of one child, which died
young. Four years later, he married Rebecca J. Thomas, also
a teacher from Pennsylvania, who has borne him six children - Edward
E., Flora A., Mary E., Albert J., Sarah E. and Cornelia J.
Mr. Back still owns and resides on the eighty-acre farm presented to
him by his father, and has besides bought and deeded to his sons over
one hundred acres additional. He is one of the earliest pioneers,
having come to the township only one year later than the first settler.
He held the office of Township Clerk for ten years, and for six years
was Justice of the Peace, and also Postmaster for the same length of
time. He has been Class Leader in the M. E. Church for thirty-two
years, and Sunday School Superintendent over half the time since 1849;
was President of the Township Sunday School Convention, and Vice
President of the County Sunday School Convention, and in politics is a
Republican and Protectionist.
Source: County of Williams, Ohio, Historical & Biographical -
Illustrated - Publ.
Weston A. Goodspeed, Historical Editor - Charles Blanchard, Biographical
Editor - Chicago: F. A. Battey & Co., Publishers - 1882 - Page 785 |
| |
| J.
E. BAILEY (Centre Township) is a son of Alexander and Ann
Bailey, who were natives of Pennsylvania; the former was born
in 1810, the latter in 1807; they were married in Pennsylvania in 1833,
where they resided until 1835, when they moved to Ashland County, Ohio,
and after one year's residence moved to Williams County, Ohio; here they
remained until 1865, when they removed to Missouri, where he died in
1872; she is still living there; their family comprised eight children.
J. E. Bailey was born in Williams County, Ohio, March 15, 1843,
where he has ever sine resided. On August 27, 1863, he was married
to Adaline Marriman, of Portage County, Ohio, where she was born,
March 19, 1846. In 1865, he moved to Missouri and purchased
property, remaining until 1875, when he returned to Williams County,
Ohio, where he bought a farm, moved thereon, and remained until 1879; he
then sold this property, removed to Melbern and engaged in mercantile
business, continuing one year, when he purchased and occupied the farm
he now has in Section 29. He has a family of three children -
Effie R., Eva and Merritt H. Mr. and Mrs. Bailey
are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Bailey
was a soldier in the late war, in Company H, Thirty-eighth Ohio
Volunteer Infantry, and served one year. |
| |
JOSEPH
BALDWIN was born in Huntsville, Luzerne Co., Penn. His
parents, Burr and Lucy A. (Trux) Baldwin, are also natives of
Pennsylvania, and came to Ohio in 1849, locating on a farm in Jefferson
Township, Williams County. Joseph Baldwin worked on his
father's farm and attended school until his marriage to Miss Mary J.
Andre, which occurred July 27, 1862. He was drafted into the
army in October of the same year, and served for ten months, taking part
in the engagements at Stone River, Hoover's Gap and Tullahoma, and
receiving his discharge at Winchester, Tenn. After his return, he
worked his father's farm for one year. Purchased eighty acres of
land, in 1865, in Ransom Township, Hillsdale Co., Mich., where he
removed with his family, and began the work of clearing the primeval
forest; after this was accomplished, he began trading in poultry,
handling thirty-five tons per season, which he shipped to Boston, Mass.
Mr. Baldwin followed this business until 1881, when he came to
Montpelier, and, in connection with A. H. Baldwin, erected a
brick block, and turned his attention to insurance. Mr. B.
represents the most reliable companies in this line, and does a fine
business, filling the office of Notary Public in connection with the
same Mr. B. also owns an interest in the new steam elevator,
which has a capacity of 10,000 bushels; was built in Montpelier, in
1882, and is a great addition to the place. Mr. and Mrs.
Baldwin are parents of four children - Laura E., Almond B., Eva
L. and Orpha O. Mrs. B is a member of the United
Brethren Church.
Source: County of Williams, Ohio, Historical & Biographical
- Illustrated - Publ.
Weston A. Goodspeed, Historical Editor - Charles Blanchard, Biographical
Editor - Chicago: F. A. Battey & Co., Publishers - 1882 - Page 623 |
| |
Madison Twp. -
J. W. BARGER was born
in Jefferson Township, this county, Jan. 4, 1844, and is a son of
William and Elmira (Whitney) Barger, the former a native of Portage
County, Ohio, and the latter of New York. They were the parents of
six children, of whom five are living, viz.: Thomas, George L.,
J. W., Phebe and Martha S. They are among the
oldest settlers in the township, having come here in 1838. J.
W. Barger was reared to a farmer's life, but at present he is the
proprietor of a livery stable at Pioneer. In the spring of 1865,
he enlisted in Company D, One Hundred and Ninety-fifth Ohio Volunteer
Infantry, and at the close of the war was mustered out, Dec., 1865.
Feb. 4, 1864, he married Miss Hannah A. Thompson who is a native
of Pennsylvania. To this union there were born two children, one
only now living - Della E.
Source: County of Williams, Ohio, Historical & Biographical -
Illustrated - Publ.
Weston A. Goodspeed, Historical Editor - Charles Blanchard, Biographical
Editor - Chicago: F. A. Battey & Co., Publishers - 1882 - Page 696 |
| |
JOHN
BAUER is one of America's thrifty German citizens, and was born
September 26, 1850, and emigrated to the United States in 1867. He
served a two years' apprenticeship at the baker's trade in Germany, and
after his arrival here followed the same for eight years at Ann Arbor,
Mich. He then removed to Detroit, Mich., remaining one and
one-half years in the same business, after which he came to Montpelier,
Ohio, purchased a lot, erected a building, and opened a bakery and
restaurant, of which he is sole proprietor. This is the only
establishment of the kind in the place, and by this thorough knowledge
of and strict attention to business, combined with courtesy and kindness
to patrons, he has won an extensive and successful trade. Mr.
Bauer's parents, Ulrick and Mary Bauer, still remain
in Germany. Mr. Bauer and Miss Fredrika Mosthler
were married at Ann Arbor, Mich., August 28, 1873. She is a native
of Wurtemburg, Germany, and the mother of one daughter - Laura.
Mr. and Mrs. Bauer are both members of the German Lutheran Church.
Source: County of Williams, Ohio, Historical & Biographical
- Illustrated - Publ.
Weston A. Goodspeed, Historical Editor - Charles Blanchard, Biographical
Editor - Chicago: F. A. Battey & Co., Publishers - 1882 - Page 624 |
| |
D.
C. BAXTER, (Bryan Township), one of the prominent citizens
of Bryan, was born April 29, 1840, in Fulton County, Ohio. His
father, James Baxter, was a native of Pennsylvania, where his
youth was passed. He went to Knox County, Ohio, at an early day,
where he married Miss Marcia Morrison. In about 1828, they
emigrated to what is now Franklin Township, Fulton County, Ohio, then a
part of Williams County, and consequently were among the first settlers
of that locality. Mr. Baxter entered 200 acres of land from
the Government, it at that time being in a state of nature. He
erected on this one of the old - fashioned backwoods cabins, into which
he moved his household goods and family, and in this manner began life's
battle in the backwoods of old Williams County. He always made
that his home, dying in 1856 on the land he had entered. His widow
married Timothy Hickson, since deceased, and is now living in
West Unity. D. C. Baxter is the third of a family of nine
children, seven of whom are yet living. He received good
educational advantages in youth, and began for himself in the capacity
of pedagogue, continuing the same in Fulton and Williams Counties a
total of twelve terms. In 1866, he went to West Unity, where he
engaged in stock trade and merchandising, and for some time held the
position of Postmaster under Lincoln's administration. In 1871, he
moved to Bryan, and in January, 1872, was elected Cashier of the First
National Bank - of which he was a stock-owner - a position he held until
February, 1882. Besides his interest in the First National Bank of
Bryan, Mr. Baxter is a partner in a private bank at Fayette, is
junior member of the firm of Gleason & Baxter, hardware dealers
of Bryan, and owns an interest in a hardware store at Hicksville.
He possesses valuable town property, including a half-interest with
Hon. J. N. Nelson in the Armory Hall, and conjointly with A. J.
Tressler and A. M. Pratt, owns one of the finest farms in
Williams County. This he has acquired entirely by his own labors,
having began life a poor boy. He is a member of the Masonic and
Odd Fellow fraternities, and is a Sir Knight of Defiance Commandary and
Camp degree Odd Fellow of Bryan. He is of Scotch descent on his
father's side, his great-grandfather being the progenitor of the name in
America. His mother is a native of Vermont and of English descent.
Mr. Baxter was married in March, 1861, to Miss Maria
Shepardson, who has borne him one son - Charles E., now a
student of Williams College. Mr. Baxter is a stanch
Republican in politics and one of the prominent men of Williams County.
Source: County of Williams, Ohio, Historical & Biographical
- Illustrated - Publ.
Weston A. Goodspeed, Historical Editor - Charles Blanchard, Biographical
Editor - Chicago: F. A. Battey & Co., Publishers - 1882 - Page 541 |
| . |
JAMES Q. BEATTIE was born in
Cumberland County, Penn., April 25, 1817. His father, Robert Q.
Beattie was born in the same county March 11, 1791, and January 30,
1815, he married Mary Kelso, who was born in 1798. To this
marriage were born nine children, of whom three brothers and three
sisters are yet living. In 1838, the family moved to Richland
County, this State, and located on a farm near Mansfield, where Mrs.
Beattie died July 19, 1845. In 1848, Mr. Beattie
married Eliza Cook, and to this union six children were born.
December 5, 1872, Robert Q. Beattie took his departure for "that
undiscovered country, from whose bourn no traveler e'er returned."
James Q. Beattie is the second son born of his father's first
marriage. He was reared to manhood in his native State, where he
received only very limited educational advantages. Notwithstanding
this fact, he has paid considerable attention to educational matters,
and today is one of the well posted citizens of Bryan. He has
always made farming his occupation, and owns good farming interests in
William County. He married, Miss Asenath W. Cleland,
November 18, 1841, who was born July 5, 1819, in Washington County,
Penn. They remained in Richland County until October, 1849, when
they emigrated to Williams County, Ohio, where they have been engaged in
agricultural pursuits. In 1874, they removed to Bryan, where they
are esteemed and respected citizens. They have had born to them a
family of eighty children, only two - Robert C. and Mary A.
- of whom are yet living.
Source: County of Williams, Ohio, Historical & Biographical
- Illustrated - Publ.
Weston A. Goodspeed, Historical Editor - Charles Blanchard, Biographical
Editor - Chicago: F. A. Battey & Co., Publishers - 1882 - Page 542 |
| . |
EZRA E. BECHTOL, County Clerk, was
born in Superior Township, Williams County, Marcy , 1841, and is the son
of Adam and Mary (Starr) Bechtol, the farmer a native of
Pennsylvania and of German descent. Adam was a molder, and
worked at that trade till about 1837, when he came to this county and
entered 320 acres of Government land in Superior Township, which at that
time was a dense forest. Here his wife, who had borne him seven
children, died in January, 1851. His second and present wife, who
was Elizabeth A. Hight, has borne him five children, of whom four
are still living. Ezra E. Bechtol was reared in this
county, and August 30, 1862, enlisted in Company K, Sixty-eighth Ohio
Volunteer Infantry, and was sent to join his regiment at Bolivar, Tenn.
His regiment made its first important move through Mississippi the
winter of 1862 - 63, worked along the line of the Memphis & Charleston
R. R., and then co-operated with Grant until the fall of
Vicksburg, and participated in the number of severe engagements, among
others, Port Gibson, Jackson and Champion Hill. At Vicksburg his
regiment was veteranized; subsequently it joined Sherman at
Acworth, Ala., and fought through all that campaign up to and including
the 22d of July, 1864, when the battle of Peach Tree Creek was fought,
in which our subject was shot through the left shoulder by a musket
ball, which caused his confinement in hospital till September 25, when
he received a thirty-days furlough, came home, then reported at the
hospital in Columbus, and April 10, 1865, received his discharge.
On his return home, he attended the Ohio Wesleyan University four years,
during and after which time he taught school five terms, In the
fall of 1875, he was elected Clerk of the Common Pleas and District
Court of Williams by the Republicans; served three years; was defeated
at the next election, but in 1881 was re-elected over his successful
competitor of 1878. November 11, 1869, he married Miss
Louanna M. Griffith, who has borne him one daughter - Florence.
He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Source: County of Williams, Ohio, Historical & Biographical
- Illustrated - Publ.
Weston A. Goodspeed, Historical Editor - Charles Blanchard, Biographical
Editor - Chicago: F. A. Battey & Co., Publishers - 1882 - Page 543 |
| . |
DANIEL
BENDER. (Centre Township) Previous to the
Revolutionary war, George Bender, the grandfather of Daniel
Bender, emigrated from Germany to America, settled in Lancaster
County, Penn., after moving to Franklin County, Penn., where he
purchased a large tract of land and spent his days. His eldest
son, John, was born and married in Lancaster County, Penn., and
shortly after his marriage settled in Franklin County, Penn., near
Chambersburg, which was their life-long home. Mrs. John
Bender was Miss Mary Harmand, and was the mother of eight
children, seven growing to maturity. Daniel Bender, the
youngest (son of John and Mary), was born in Franklin County,
Penn., March 8, 1813. Here he remained until of age, having
acquired the trade of carpenter and builder, where he was employed as
foreman in the construction of the hotel of Mr. John Yantz, at
Navarre, Stark County, Ohio. Here he purchased a home, to which he
removed after his marriage with Miss Nancy Fisher in Wilmot May
30, 1837. She is the daughter of Adam and Sarah Fisher, and
a native of Stark County. Mr. Bender bought a farm in the
vicinity of Navarre in 1842, where the family resided until 1847, when
he sold out and transferred his interests to Williams County, which has
sine been his home. Here he has a fine farm of forty acres, which
he cultivates, devoting some time to the practice of his former
profession. Mr. Bender is an energetic, industrious man,
highly esteemed by all. The family consists of ten children.
Source: County of Williams, Ohio, Historical & Biographical
- Illustrated - Publ.
Weston A. Goodspeed, Historical Editor - Charles Blanchard, Biographical
Editor - Chicago: F. A. Battey & Co., Publishers - 1882 - Page 765 |
| |
CHARLES S. BENTLEY was born
in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, September 5, 1846, and is the son of
Stroughton and Orsey (Baldwin) Bentley, natives of Ohio, to which
State their parents came at an early day. The elder Mr. Bentley
died in Erie County, Ohio, September 5, 1852. His widow (now the
relict of Joel Chapman) resides in Bryan with Charles S.
Adamson Bentley, the grandfather of Charles S., was one of
the earliest Disciple ministers in this State, and was quite renowned in
his day. Baldwin Bentley, eldest brother of Charles S.,
at the breaking-out of the rebellion, enlisted in Company A,
Forty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry - which regiment was almost wholly
made up of students from Hiram College, of which James A. Garfield
was then the President - and died in his country's defense.
Charles S., after eleven years of age, lived on a farm until
sixteen, attending in the interval the common schools. He then
entered Hiram College, and afterward Eastman's Business College at
Poughkeepsie, N. Y., from which he graduated in 1865. For three
years thereafter he clerked in a store at Portage, Ohio, and then
entered Hillsdale (Mich.) College, from which he graduated in 1870.
He next engaged in the wholesale lumber business at Allegan, Mich., and
while there employed his spare hours in the study of law. In the
spring of 1872, he entered the law office of Hon. D. Cadwell, of
Cleveland, Ohio, and was admitted to the bar in the fall of the same
year. February, 1873, he formed a co-partnership with the Hon.
A. M. Pratt in the practice of law at Bryan, which association still
continues. May 1, 1874, he married Miss Isabel Kempton, who
was born in Hillsdale County, Mich., January 20, 1849, and to this union
one daughter was born - Isabel L. - March 30, 1875. Mrs.
Bentley died October 30, 1877. Mr. Bentley has
filled the office of Prosecuting Attorney of Williams County, and also
has been School Examiner and City Solicitor. He is a stanch
Republican, a leading member of the bar and an influential citizen.
Source: County of Williams, Ohio, Historical & Biographical
- Illustrated - Publ.
Weston A. Goodspeed, Historical Editor - Charles Blanchard, Biographical
Editor - Chicago: F. A. Battey & Co., Publishers - 1882 - Page 543 |
| . |
AMOS
BETTS, (Centre Township) the son of Luther and Hannah Betts,
was born in Seneca County, N. Y., November 24, 1818. His
father was a native of Connecticut,a nd settled in New York at an early
day, and the mother was a native of Vermont. The father died in
his native State, and the mother soon after moved with her family of
fourteen children to Marion County, Ohio, and then came to Williams
County, Ohio, where she ended her days. Amos accompanied
his mother to Marion County, and there remained until 1838, when he went
to Huron County, where, September 12, 1841, he married Mary M.
Darling, a native of Cattaraugus County, N. Y., and born April 17,
1824. In 1847, he removed from Huron to Williams County, and
purchased some land which he afterward sold. Here his wife died,
March 27, 1874. April 19, 1877, he married Louisa Lockhart
who was born in Ashland County, Ohio, January 14, 1839. He now
bought back his old farm, and still resides upon it. He has a
family of ten children - Margaret m., Charles R., Luther, Rosina A.,
Benjamin P., Henry A., Cornelia L., Theodore D., David D., and J.
A.
Source: County of Williams, Ohio, Historical & Biographical
- Illustrated - Publ.
Weston A. Goodspeed, Historical Editor - Charles Blanchard, Biographical
Editor - Chicago: F. A. Battey & Co., Publishers - 1882 - Page 766 |
| |
Bridgewater
Twp. -
J. C. BLACKFORD was born Feb. 28, 1842, in Portage
County, Ohio, and is one of eight children born to Jacob and Mary (CoppP
Blackford, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter a satire
of Pennsylvania. Mr. Blackford was educated at the common
schools in his youth, and was also taught the carpenter's trade.
He remained with his parents till twenty-three years of age, and Nov. 5,
1865, married Miss Nettie McCarty, and native of this township.
He then moved to Pioneer, this county, where he worked at his trade
about thirteen years, and then moved to Bridgewater and located on his
present farm, which comprises forty acres of good land, which, as a
rule, he hires farmed. He is a first-class carpenter, and the
frequent demands for his services clearly indicate. He has been a
member of Pioneer Lodge, No. 461, I. O. O. F, and of the Methodist
Episcopal Church and was always al Republican in politics, at the
present holding, through the suffrage of that party, the office of
Justice of the Peace. He is the father of one child - Alta;
he is esteemed as a conscientious man and public-spirited citizen.
Source: County of Williams, Ohio, Historical & Biographical -
Illustrated - Publ.
Weston A. Goodspeed, Historical Editor - Charles Blanchard, Biographical
Editor - Chicago: F. A. Battey & Co., Publishers - 1882 - Page 785 |
| |
THOMAS
BLAIR (Centre Township) was born in Lycoming County,
Penn., April 22, 1815, the second eldest child of Aaron and Margaret
Blair. The former was born in Pennsylvania in 1783, and the
latter in New Jersey in 1787, and were married in Lycoming County in
1808. They had a family of seven children, viz., Ann, Thomas,
Elizabeth, Ruth, Peter, John and Aaron K. August 11,
1842, Thomas Blair married Sarah J. Hahaffey, also a
native of Lycoming County, Penn., and born October 15, 1824. Just
after marriage he came to this township and settled on eighty acres of
fine land, on which he has since made his home. At his house his
father, who was on a visit to him from his home in Pennsylvania, was
taken ill, and died in October, 1846. His mother expired at the
old homestead in Lycoming, in October, 1653. Mr. Blair is
an old and respected citizen of Centre Township, and has had born to him
a family of ten children, viz., Susan E., Margaret A., Sarah J.,
Esther M., Zelma L. (deceased), Emma A., William A., Rhoda I.,
Della R. S. T. and a son who died in infancy.
Source: County of Williams, Ohio, Historical & Biographical
- Illustrated - Publ.
Weston A. Goodspeed, Historical Editor - Charles Blanchard, Biographical
Editor - Chicago: F. A. Battey & Co., Publishers - 1882 - Page 766 |
| . |
SCHUYLER E. BLAKESLEE, attorney
at law, was born near Avon Springs, N. Y., and when a child was taken by
his parents, Ozi and Achsa (Taylor) Blakeslee, to Geauga County,
Ohio, where the father engaged in farming. The parents were
natives of the Nutmeg State, and to them were born eight children.
The father was a Captain in the war of 1812, and was present at the
battle of Black Rock, near Buffalo, N. Y. At this battle, Col.
Samuel Blakeslee, father of Ozi and grandfather of
Schuyler, was a command of the American forces, the General and
charges of the same being absent at the time. The father live din
Ohio after the war, serving in many minor offices, and for a time was
Captain of a company of State Militia. The subject of this sketch
was reared on a farm, receiving in early years an academic education,
and when twenty-one years of age entered the law office of Gov.
Seabury Ford, who resided at Burton, Geauga Co., Ohio. Here he
remained until he graduated in law. In 1844, he came to Bryan,
where he began the practice of his profession, which he has continued
until the present. Mr. Blakeslee is a man of unusual mental
endowments, and since 1844 has been one of the recognized leaders, not
only of the Williams County bar, but also of the bar of Northwestern
Ohio. He has been Commissioner of Insolvents, Prosecuting
Attorney, and has represented Williams County three terms in the Lower
House of the State Legislature, first in 1856, and then in 869 and 1871.
He was the author of several bills which became laws of the State, and
was one of the most active members of the sessions in which he served.
He was an Old Line Whig, but sine the formation of the Republican party,
has been an earnest soldier in its ranks. The county has no better
citizen.
Source: County of Williams, Ohio, Historical & Biographical
- Illustrated - Publ.
Weston A. Goodspeed, Historical Editor - Charles Blanchard, Biographical
Editor - Chicago: F. A. Battey & Co., Publishers - 1882 - Page 544 |
| . |
ALVA
BOISE, (centre township) son of Nathan and Deborah
Boise, was born in Portage County, Ohio, May 1, 1820. His
father, Nathan, was born in Massachusetts about the year 1779,
and was a son of John and Sarah Boise. This family is of
French origin, and their ancestors belonged to the noted Du Boise
family, who were very prominent in France during the reign of Louis
XIV, and were driven from that country to the northern part of
Ireland during the Huguenot persecutions. Here the name was
changed to Boies, and in about 1825 to the present mode. In
the early part of the last century David, a descendent of the
family, emigrated from Ireland to America and located in the town of
Hopkinton, Mass., but subsequently removed to Blandford, Mass., about
1735 or 1737. But a few people, at that early period, had turned
their attention toward the settlement of the backwoods of the State, as
the country was mountainous and heavily timbered, and permanent settling
was attended with much more danger and labor there than in the valleys.
David was a man of deep religious thought and principles. He
had a large family of children, of whom three were sons, viz., John,
William and Samuel. John, arriving at manhood,
turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. He reared a family
of children, and his two sons were named John and Samuel,
the former being the grandfather of the subject of our sketch. He
was born in Blandford November 22, 1744, and was one of the first white
male children to see the light in that town; he was celebrated as a
schoolmaster, and was a prominent member of the Baptist Church; he was
married to Sarah Freeland, by whom he had a family of six
children, who all lived to a mature age; three of them were sons -
James, Enos and Nathan. He died September 9, 1830; his
son, Nathen was born in Blandford, Mass., in 1779, and there he
lived until 1802, when he came to Portage County, this State, where he
shortly after married Deborah, the daughter of Thompson and
Mary Pegg. Nathan and wife died in Portage County in
the years 1826 and 1863, leaving a family of eight children, viz.,
Enos, Sarah, Joel, Elijah, Alva, Mary, Lydia and Philo.
Alva Boise was married, in Portage, October 18,1847, to
Catherine, daughter of Joshua and Elizabeth Calvin, and until
October, 1850, he remained there following his trade of wagon-making; he
then came to this township and purchased and moved upon the farm he
still occupies. This contains 120 acres of very fine land, and is
well improved in all respects. Mr. Boise is the father of
one son, Watson, who was born May 29, 1857, and was married,
September 15, 1877, to Miss Rebecca Brannan; he resides on the
old homestead, and superintends the cultivation of the farm. The
family are all people of superior intelligence, and are among the most
respectable in the township.
Source: County of Williams, Ohio, Historical & Biographical
- Illustrated - Publ.
Weston A. Goodspeed, Historical Editor - Charles Blanchard, Biographical
Editor - Chicago: F. A. Battey & Co., Publishers - 1882 - Page 766 |
| . |
Florence Twp.-
JOHN
BOMAN, son of George and Christine (Hachenbarg) Boman, was
born in
Wayne County, Ohio, Mar. 28, 1839. His father was a shoemaker,
but occasionally worked at farming; he came to Williams County in 1853,
settling on the place now owned by our subject. John Boman's
early life was passed on a farm, yet he acquired a fair education.
In September, 1861, he became enrolled in Company H, Third Ohio Cavalry,
continuing in the military service for three years and three months, and
taking part in the battles of Perrysburg, Stone River, Chickamauga, Snow
Hill, Woodsonville, Bardstown and others. He was under Gen.
Thomas during his Georgia campaign, and was discharged at Nashville
Dec. 30, 1864, since which time he has been employed in farming.
It was largely due to Mr. Boman's influence that the town of
Blakeslee can trace its origin, he having donated about four
and one-half acres to the Wabash & St. Louis Railroad Company, for depot
and grounds; he also caused a survey and platting of the town, which was
done Nov. 15, 1880. At that time the only improvements were one
log house and a grocery, built for the railroad company. Since
then Blakeslee ahs grown rapidly, Mr. Bowman having erected a
building now used as a hardware store, as well as disposing of about
twenty-nine acres of land in town lots and for depot grounds. He
still has, however, a snug farm of fifty-seven acres. He is a Free
and Accepted Mason.
Source: County of Williams, Ohio, Historical & Biographical
- Illustrated - Publ.
Weston A. Goodspeed, Historical Editor - Charles Blanchard, Biographical
Editor - Chicago: F. A. Battey & Co., Publishers - 1882 - Page 743 |
| . |
MELVIN M. BOOTHMAN, merchant, was
born in Jefferson Township, Williams Co., Ohio, October 16, 1846, and is
one of nine living children, of a family of ten, born to Lemuel M.
and Melisendra (Hart) Boothman, who was natives of Trumbull County,
Ohio, and of English descent. Lemuel Boothman was reared
and educated in his native county. At the age of eighteen months
he was left an orphan, and was reared by a Mr. Mitchell.
The spring of 1843, he came to Williams county; purchased eighty acres
of land in Jefferson Township, it, at that time, being all woods;
cleared a place, sufficiently large in which to erect a log cabin, and
shortly afterward married, moved upon his place and began clearing and
improving it. He lived on this farm until 1873, when he sold out
and moved to Bryan, where he has since resided. M. M. Boothman
was reared in Williams County, assisting his parents on the farm at
clearing and farming. He received a fair common-school education,
and January 4, 1864, enlisted four three years, or during the war, as
private in Company H, Thirty-eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was
mustered into service at Toledo, a few days after his enlistment.
He participated in his first battle the 7th of August, 1864, at the
right of Atlanta, known as Utoy Creek, when his company lost eleven men
killed and wounded. After that occurred the battle of Jonesboro,
September 1, 1853, in which the company went in with thirty-three men
and came out with a loss of nineteen. It was here that Mr.
Boothman was one of five who lost left limbs. He was shot
directly through the left knee, by a musket ball, which resulted in the
amputation of that limb the next morning. The wounded went into
hospital on the field, and after a few days were removed to Atlanta;
remained there until October 29, and thence were removed to Atlanta;
remained there until October 29, and thence where removed to
Chattanooga, Tenn., Nashville, Jeffersonville, Ind., Camp Dennison,
Ohio, and from there received a thirty-day furlough. He received
his final discharge June 7, 1865. He began then going to school,
afterward engaged in teaching, and in this way acquired a good practical
education. He attended the law school at Ann arbor in October,
1869, graduating in September, 1871. He then came home, and the
20th of June of that year married Miss Angeline Bushong.
That same fall, he was elected County Treasurer by the Republican party,
and re-elected in 1873, serving two terms. He then began the
practice of his profession, in partnership with B. E. Sheldon;
subsequently (1881), with Thomas Emery. Mr. Boothman
has made the practice of law a success, and he and Mr. Emery are
doing a good legal business. He is a Republican in politics, and
he and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church, and the parents of
four children - Howard E., Grace, Dale M. and one as yet unnamed.
Source: County of Williams, Ohio, Historical & Biographical
- Illustrated - Publ.
Weston A. Goodspeed, Historical Editor - Charles Blanchard, Biographical
Editor - Chicago: F. A. Battey & Co., Publishers - 1882 - Page 545 |
| . |
CHARLES A. BOWERSOX, present
Representative from Williams County to the State Legislature, was born
October 16, 1846, in St. Joseph Township, Williams County, Ohio.
He is the youngest but one of a family of seven, four of whom are yet
living, born to John W. and May Jane (Breckenridge) Bowersox, who
were both natives of Maryland and of German and Scotch-Irish descent
respectively. John W. Bowersox was reared in his native
State, and when a young man, moved into Pennsylvania, where he married,
after which he moved into Starke County, Ohio, where he worked at his
trade, shoemaking. He came to St. Joseph Township, Williams Co.,
Ohio, in October, 1838, where he entered a large tract of land from the
Government. He has live don this farm ever since. At the
time of his arrival, settlers were very few, and wild animals and
Indians were far more plentiful than civilized people. His wife
died in March, 1868. Charles A. Bowersox was reared in
Williams County, receiving his education in the log schoolhouse of that
early day. The winter after he was sixteen years old, he began
teaching school and vocal music, and from the proceeds of his labor as
teacher, together with what he earned farming summers, he has educated
himself. He entered Otterbein University at Westerville in 1870,
and graduated from the classical department in June, 1874. He then
came back to Williams County, and for two years superintended the
schools of Edgerton, during which time he was a member of the Board of
County Examiners. In 1875, he was elected Probate Judge of
Williams County, and after serving his term of three years, formed a
partnership in the practice of law with Hon. Edward Foster, which
has since continued with success. The fall of 1881, Mr.
Bowersox was elected Representative to the State Legislature by the
Republican party, and is a present occupying that position. He was
married, June 10, 1875, to Miss Laura A. Jarvis, of Westerville,
Ohio, also a graduate of Otterbein University. She was born
December 8, 1854, in Stark Co., Ohio. The log cabin erected by
John W. Bowersox in St. Joseph Township on his arrival is yet
standing, and in this cabin five of his seven children were born.
Source: County of Williams, Ohio, Historical & Biographical
- Illustrated - Publ.
Weston A. Goodspeed, Historical Editor - Charles Blanchard, Biographical
Editor - Chicago: F. A. Battey & Co., Publishers - 1882 - Page 546 |
| . |
J.
A. BOWSER was in the Fairfield County, Ohio, July 25, 1826, being
one of a family of three born to John J. and Barbara (Opt) Bowser.
Mr. Bowser left Fairfield County for Seneca County when about
twenty-one years old, learning while there the trade of a shoemaker.
At this place he married Nancy A. Bordnet; on Jan. 13, 1852,
remaining four years, when he returned to Fairfield County, coming to
Williams County in 1857, and settling on the place he now owns, a fine
farm of one hundred and twenty-acres; this farm is now nearly all
cleared, and has good buildings, but was only partly cleared when Mr.
Bowser, took possession. His family comprises four children -
Laura E., John J., Ida J. and Alta L., the two eldest
being married and residing in this township. Mrs. Bowser
died Jan. 1, 1873. Mr. Bowser is a communicant of the
German Reformed Church. ~ Page 744 - Florence Twp.
Source: County of Williams, Ohio, Historical & Biographical
- Illustrated - Publ.
Weston A. Goodspeed, Historical Editor - Charles Blanchard, Biographical
Editor - Chicago: F. A. Battey & Co., Publishers - 1882 - Page 744 |
| . |
F.
P. BRAKEMAN, (centre township) saw-mill proprietor and
lumber dealer, is a son of Peter and Clarissa Brakeman; was born
in Oakland County, Mich., February 22, 1844 and came with his parents to
Williams County, in 1854. At the beginning of the late war, he
enlisted in Company C, Fourteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry and served
three months, and at the expiration of his term re-enlisted in Company
K, Sixty-eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served till the close of
the war, in all serving four years, four months and twenty-seven days,
mostly under Gen. Sherman. On his return, he married,
December 20, 1865, Anna E. Cummins, who was born in Seneca
County, Ohio, December 6, 1844, He then made his residence on his
father-in-law's farm in St. Joseph's Township, until the fall of 1870,
when he came to this township and purchased a saw-mill, which he has
been running ever since, in connection with a trade in lumber. He
has had born to him a family of five children - Ida, James G., Zadie
B., an infant son who died unnamed and Herbert. He is
an enterprising young business man and an upright, public spirited
citizen.
Source: County of Williams, Ohio, Historical & Biographical
- Illustrated - Publ.
Weston A. Goodspeed, Historical Editor - Charles Blanchard, Biographical
Editor - Chicago: F. A. Battey & Co., Publishers - 1882 - Page |
| |
EMANUEL
BROWN (Centre Township), the son of Abraham and Hannah Brown,
natives of Pennsylvania, was born in Wayne County, Ohio, June 8,
1827 and was there married November 9, 1848, to Juliann Stauffer,
who was born in Lancaster County, Penn., September 19, 1829. In
the fall of 1861, he came from Wayne to Williams County and settled on
Section No. 9, this township, on the same farm where he now resides,
which comprises eighty acres of excellent land. In 1871, he moved
to Bryan and did business there till 1881, when he returned to his farm.
He has had born to him two children - Abraham (deceased) and
Clarissa. Mr. Brown is a member of the I. O. O. F., and has
taken the fifth degree. He is a useful and enterprising citizen
and is highly respected as a man.
Source: County of Williams, Ohio, Historical & Biographical
- Illustrated - Publ.
Weston A. Goodspeed, Historical Editor - Charles Blanchard, Biographical
Editor - Chicago: F. A. Battey & Co., Publishers - 1882 - Page 768 |
| |
HENRY
BROWN (Centre Township) is a son of Daniel and Elizabeth Brown,
who were natives of Bedford County, Penn. The former was born
January 1, 1785, the latter January 12, 1789. They were married in
Bedford County, Penn., in the year 1806, remaining there until 1810,
when they removed to Stark County, Ohio, where Mr. Brown died
November 16, 1832. His widow came to Williams County about the
year 1842, where she died in 1862. They had a family of twenty
children, fourteen of whom they reared to maturity. The subject of
our sketch was the third of this family, and was born in Stark County
December 7, 1810. He was married in the same county, March 8,
1832, to Catherine Keller, and in the following October moved to
Hancock County, Ohio, and purchased land. There Mrs. Brown
died January 27, 1853. To this marriage twelve children were born
- Susan, John, Eli, Sarah, Lucinda, Rebecca, Aaron, Samuel, Henry,
Jacob, Mary and Isaac. He was married a second time
June 22, 1856 to Leah Myers, by whom he had four children -
Anna (deceased), Jennie, Amelia and Viola (deceased).
In the spring of 1866, Mr. Brown removed to Williams County,
Ohio, purchasing and occupying his present farm and residence. He
is a member of the German Reformed Church.
Source: County of Williams, Ohio, Historical & Biographical
- Illustrated - Publ.
Weston A. Goodspeed, Historical Editor - Charles Blanchard, Biographical
Editor - Chicago: F. A. Battey & Co., Publishers - 1882 - Page 768 |
| |
JACOB
BROWN (Centre Township) is a native
of Stark County, Ohio, where he was born October 9, 1815. His
parents, David and Barbara Brown, were natives of Lancaster
County, Penn., where Mr. Brown was born in 1783, and the mother
in 1786. They were married and remained in this State until 1814,
when they moved to Stark County, Ohio, where Mr. Brown was called
home in March, 1835. Mrs. Brown lived on the old homestead
until 1854, when she decided to come to Williams County, Ohio, and spend
the remainder of her days in the home of her son Jacob Brown.
Here her death occurred the January following. Mr. and Mrs.
Brown were parents of nine children. Mr. Jacob Brown
remained in his native place until 1838, when he bought a farm in
Hancock County, Ohio, upon which himself and family lived until July,
1848, when he disposed of this property and purchased land in Williams
County, which has since been his home. Here he has a fine farm of
305 acres, acquired and brought to its present state of cultivation by
habits of industry and perseverance. Mr. Brown commands the
respect and esteem of his neighbors for uprightness and integrity;
besides tilling the soil, he administers in spiritual things,
being a preacher of the German Baptist faith. Mr. Brown was
married, September 10, 1837, to Miss Catherine Brenner, a native
of Germany, who came to Stark County with her parents in 1830; Mr.
and Mrs. Brown are parents of nine children, eight still living -
Abner K., Barbara, Lydia, Jacob, Catherine, Nancy, Isabella and
Charles F. One son, Reuben, was offered as a sacrifice
on the altar of his country.
Source: County of Williams, Ohio, Historical & Biographical
- Illustrated - Publ.
Weston A. Goodspeed, Historical Editor - Charles Blanchard, Biographical
Editor - Chicago: F. A. Battey & Co., Publishers - 1882 - Page 769 |
| |
JOHN
BROWN (Centre Township) is a son of Daniel and
Elizabeth Brown, natives of Pennsylvania, and was born in Stark
County, Ohio, February 12, 1812, and was there married, March 30, 1834,
to Lucinda Briggs, who was born in Columbiana County, Ohio,
August 22, 1815. About the year 1835. Mr. Brown moved
to Hancock County, Ohio, where he remained till 1848, when he moved to
Williams County, on the farm where he now resides, on Section 13.
There has been born to him a family of nine children, as follows:
Samuel, Joseph, Mahlon, John (all deceased), Lydia,
Sanford, Leander and Harriet (deceased) and Manuel.
His wife died February 7, 1881, and he again married December 29, 1881.
He is a minister of the German Baptist Church, and is highly respected
in his community as a man of piety and strict integrity. He has
been a successful farmer, and has devoted his life more to the quiet of
social pursuits than to the excitement of politics.
Source: County of Williams, Ohio, Historical & Biographical
- Illustrated - Publ.
Weston A. Goodspeed, Historical Editor - Charles Blanchard, Biographical
Editor - Chicago: F. A. Battey & Co., Publishers - 1882 - Page 768 |
| |
JOHN A.
BROWN The subject of this sketch is one of the progressive
and successful farmers living in Center township, Williams county, as
well as one of its representative citizens. Born there July 6,
1850, he is a son of Nicholas and Sarah (McManus) Brown, both natives of
Pennsylvania, having located in Center township, Williams county, Ohio,
in 1847. The father died here in September, 1895, but the mother
is still living at an advanced age. In their family were five
children: William M.; James W., who died in infancy; John A.; Mary J.,
who wedded Ellis Jordan, and died in Center township, in 1879; and
Andrew T., a business man of Edgerton, Williams county.
Amidst play and work John A. Brown spent the days of
his boyhood and youth upon his father's farm in Center county, acquiring
his education in the common schools of the neighborhood. He has
always been a resident of that township, and has been prominently
identified with its public affairs as a leading and influential citizen
of the community. For four years after a leading and influential
citizen of the community. For four years after his marriage he
continued in the employ of his father on the old homestead and then
located upon his present farm, consisting of eighty acres of rich and
fertile land, which he ahs placed under a high state of cultivation.
He has erected good and substantial buildings upon the place, and made
many other valuable improvements, which stand as monuments to his thrift
and industry.
In Center township, April 30, 1871, Mr. Brown married
Miss Mary J. Stockman, who was born in that township, May 20, 1849, a
daughter of Ephraim Stockman. They have two children: Clara E.,
now the wife of William Kreiger; and Andrew J., who married
Grace
Snyder. Since reaching man's estate Mr. Brown has been identified
with the Democratic party, and since the spring of 1888 he has most
creditably and efficiently served as justice of the peace in his
township. He has also filled the office of school director for
seven years, and has done much to advance the cause of education in his
community. He is one of the leading members of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, with which he has been connected for many years, and
has led an upright, honorable life, a fact that has won for him the
confidence and high regard of all with whom he has come in contact.
(Source: Commemorative Biographical Record of Northwestern
Ohio - Chicago - J. H. Beers & Co. 1899 - pg. 588) |
| |
W.
M. BROWN (Centre Township), of the firm of Brown & Brenner,
merchants at Melbern, in this township, was born in Crawford County,
Ohio, October 14, 1846, and is the eldest of the four children of
Nicholas and Sarah Brown, who were respectively born in Fayette
County, Penn., August 11, 1821, and Crawford County, Ohio, December 29,
1825, and married in Crawford January 23, 1844, and who moved to this
county in 1846, where they still reside. October 21, 1866, W.
M. Brown married, at Williams Centre, this county, Caroline
Jaques, who was born in Holmes County, Ohio, April 30, 1848, and was
the daughter of David L. and Mary Jaques, natives of France.
After his marriage, Mr. Brown moved upon one of his father's
farms in this township, remained there two years, then bought the estate
of his wife's parents in the same township, moved upon it and there
remained till 1877, sold it, moved to Melvern, and in October of the
same year entered into the business at which he is now engaged, and at
which he is finely prospering. He has a family of four children -
Laura B., Sadie, Charlie N., and William G. Mr. and Mrs.
Brown are members of the M. E. Church, and he is one of the
enterprising business men of Melbern.
Source: County of Williams, Ohio, Historical & Biographical
- Illustrated - Publ.
Weston A. Goodspeed, Historical Editor - Charles Blanchard, Biographical
Editor - Chicago: F. A. Battey & Co., Publishers - 1882 - Page 769 |
| |
Superior Twp. -
CHARLES BRUNDYDGE, so of Jonathan and Susan
Brundydge, was born Sept. 27, 1800, in Westchester County, N. Y.,
where his parents lived and died. Our subject lived at the
scene of his birth until twenty years of age, attending school and
laboring on the farm. He then removed to Connecticut, engaging at
farm labor. In 821, he was married to Miss Maria Brown,
daughter of David Brown, native of Connecticut. Two years
later he came to Huron County, Ohio, where he purchased fifty-three
acres of woodland, which he cleared and improved. This he
exchanged, in 1842, for 160 acres of unimproved and in this township,
where he resides. Mr. and Mrs. Brundydge are members of the
Presbyterian Church. They have three children - Jane, Phebe
and C. Henry; the first is a widow, and the last two are also
married. Mr. Brundydge is an uncommonly active man for his
years, still taking his part in the fields. C. H. Brundydge
resides with his father and is a successful manager of the home farm.
Source: County of Williams, Ohio, Historical & Biographical
- Illustrated - Publ.
Weston A. Goodspeed, Historical Editor - Charles Blanchard, Biographical
Editor - Chicago: F. A. Battey & Co., Publishers - 1882 - Page 627 |
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