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BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX >
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JOHN
FAY, a native of Northern England, is the first of that name who
came to America, the descendants of whom are now living in Bryan, Ohio.
At the age of eight years (1656) he took passage on the good ship
"Speedwell" bound for the new country across the Atlantic Ocean where he
had friends living. On the arrival of the ship at Boston, he
learned of his friends' death, and at that age he began for himself.
After remaining there a short time, he drifted to different places, and
finally died in Boston.
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 552 |
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DANIEL
FETTERS (Centre Township), son of Jacob and Eve Fetters,
was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, October 18, 1818, and came to this
county with his parents. He was married April, 1841, to
Elizabeth Miser, a native of Ohio, and born in 1817. Mr.
Fetters, shortly after his marriage, purchased the farm of eighty
acres of Section 28, in this township, on which he still resides.
At the time of his first location here, the country and one dense
forest, but by industry Mr. Fetters has succeeded in clearing off
sixty-five acres, which are now under a fine state of cultivation.
His children were seven in number, and named as follows - Eliza,
Sarah A., Frederick, Mary A., Catherine M. (deceased) and two infant
daughters deceased. Mr. F. is a Granger, is an excellent
farmer and an upright 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 771 |
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GEORGE
FETTERS (Centre Township) was born in Montgomery County, Ohio,
May 10, 1829, and was the son of Jacob and Eve Fetters, who were
born in Pennsylvania June 22, 1792, and August, 1792, and in that State
married in about 1812. John Fetters was a soldier in the
war of 1812 for some time, and, shortly after his return, moved with his
young wife to Montgomery County, Ohio, and thence, in 1836, to this
county; settled with his family on Section 37, this township, on the
farm where George Fetters now resides, and there departed this
life respectively December 19, 1836, and March 18, 1874, the parents of
twelve children, viz., Catherine, Mary, Lydia, Moses, Daniel, Esther,
Jacob, Eve, John, George, Eliza and Solomon (the last
deceased). George Fetters was married, August 12, 1852, to
Hester Fetters, who was born in Wayne County, Ohio, June 8, 1834.
Her parents, Daniel and Sarah Fetters, natives of Pennsylvania,
were born respectively in 1806, and 1809. Soon after his marriage
George bought the old homestead, and now owns 160 acres of good
land. He is the father of eleven children, viz., Eve J., Polly
A., William H., Charles L., Thomas A., Johnnie C., Frank F., Della D.,
Oliver V., Nolia B. and L. J. Mr. Fetters is one of the
leading citizens of Centre and has held the office of Assessor for nine
years.
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 771 |
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ELMER E.
FIRESTONE. Mr. Firestone, who is editor of the "Stryker
Advance," of Stryker, Williams county, was born in Waterford, Indiana,
November 16, 1865, but was reared in Wakarusa, that State, until
thirteen years of age, when he went to Syracuse, Indiana, to learn the
printer's trade, remaining there but three months, however.
Going to South Bend, he completed his apprenticeship,
and for six years worked on the "St. Joseph Register," which was
established by the Hon. Schuyler Colfax. On leaving there he was
employed in different places until 1888, at which time he was made
foreman of the "Butler Record," of Butler, Indiana, holding that
position for two years. Later he was similarly employed in the
office of the "Bryan Press," at Bryan, Ohio, for three years, and from
there went to Sherwood, Michigan, where he established the "Sherwood
News," but after conducting it for six months sold out and removed to
Wauseon, Ohio. There he served in the capacity of foreman of the
"Wauseon Republican" for over two years, or until coming to
Stryker in November, 1896. Purchasing the "Stryker Advance" he has
made the paper one of the best journals of Williams county, and it now
has a circulation of over seven hundred. It is independent in
politics, and is a bright, newsy sheet.
In 1889, at Hillsdale, Michigan, Mr. Firestone married
Miss Helen M. Blaker, a native of Williams county, Ohio, daughter of
John Blaker, of Butler, Indiana, who died in 1895. By this union
there are four children: Lois M., Maym C., Charles V. and Helen R.
(Source: Commemorative Biographical Record of Northwestern
Ohio - Chicago - J. H. Beers & Co. 1899 ) |
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MARTIN
FIX was born in Alsace, France (now a part of Germany), May 10,
1834. He is one of a family of eight children born to Henry and
Sarah S. (Kleiss) Fix; seven of these are now alive. His
father landed in America, at New York, in May, 1843, thence traveling
West by steamer and canal, arriving in Wayne County in July. Here
he remained until 1844, when he came to Williams County, settling in
Centre Township until 1881, when he came to Florence and made his home
with Martin. Martin Fix is engaged in farming and
stock raising. He purchased the farm he owns and manages in 1864;
it is a good one, and contains 100 acres. He was married, Feb. 20,
1863, to Mary Fetters, of William County, by whom he has a family
of seven - Sarah S., Ida R., Henry D., Zora C., Irena S.,
Ethel B. and Hiram M. Mr. Fix is a member of the
Lutheran Church and a man of average education, notwithstanding his lack
of opportunities in early life.
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 747 |
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DAVID
FLIGHTNER (Centre Township) was born in Defiance County, Ohio,
January 20, 1854. Son of Adam and Catharine Flightner, and
came with his parents to Williams County, which has since been his home.
He remained with his father until nearly twenty-one years of age, when
he assumed the duties and cares of life for himself. His marriage
with Miss Clara H. Lane took place at Bryan, Ohio, March 16,
1878. She is a daughter of Jacob and Kerten Lane, and was
born in Williams County, Ohio, September 27, 1860. Mr. and Mrs.
Flightner removed to Defiance County, Ohio, shortly after their
marriage, where they remained one year, when he purchased the farm of
eighty acres in Centre Township, Williams County, which has since been
their home. Mr. Flightner is a worthy citizen of the
township, and highly respected and esteemed by all who enjoy the
pleasure of his acquaintance. A son and daughter cheer their home,
viz., Arthur H. and Alma Flightner.
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 772 |
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SAMUEL
FLIGHTNER (Centre Township) is an American born citizen of German
descent. His parents and grandparents emigrated from Germany to
"the land of the free and the home of the brave" at an early day.
The marriage of his parents took place in Crawford County, Ohio in 1841,
where Samuel, the eldest of a family of eight children, was born
in March, 1842. The family removed to Williams County, Ohio, in
1860, having been located some time previously in Defiance County.
Mrs. Flightner died at her home in Williams County in May, 1874.
Mr. Flightner was remarried the year following, removed to Bryan in
1876, where the second Mrs. Flightner died shortly afterward.
Mr. Flightner entered the married state again in 1880, and one
child is the result of this union. Mr. Samuel Flightner was
married, October 15, 1864, in Edgerton, to Mrs. Lucinda H. Stevens,
a native of Crawford County, Ohio, where she was born December 18, 8144.
Their family numbers eight children - Mary L., Charlie W., Edward J.,
Elnora A., Franklin E., Jennie B., Myrta M. and an unnamed infant
daughter. Mr. Flightner's vocation has always been that of
a farmer. Their home, until 1875, was in Defiance County, on a
farm purchased of Mr. Flightner, Sr. when they disposed of this
and purchased the old family homestead in Williams County, which is
their present home. This consists of 160 acres of land, and is a
valuable piece of property.
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 772 |
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WILLIAM
FORD was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, Oct. 15, 1837, and is
one of a family of nine children born to Uriah and Elizabeth (Duling)
Ford; six of these children survive, but our subject is the only one
living in Williams County. Mr. Ford has a medium education,
and is a carpenter by trade, having begun the business at twenty years
of age. Previous to coming to Williams County, he was engaged in
the drug and grocery trade at Clyde, Sandusky Co., Ohio, in which he
continued about two years, afterward exchanging this stock for the farm
he now possesses, 163 acres, eighty under cultivation, in Williams
County. He was married in December, 1857, to Mary C. Hosford,
of Sandusky County, to which union six children have resulted, four of
whom survive- Isabella, Franklin, Albertie and George
U. ~ Page 747 - 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 747 |
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HON. EDWARD FOSTER, attorney at law,
was born October 27, 1824, in Portage County, Ohio, and was the son of
Jonathan and Elizabeth (Eggleston) Foster, natives of
Massachusetts, and of English descent. They were the parents of
seven children, four of whom are still living. The father was born
October 25, 1773, and was a farmer, an occupation which he followed
chiefly through life. At the age of twenty-one, he emigrated to
Portage County, this State, where he married, about 1807, Miss Betsey
Eggleston, who was born in 1783, and was a daughter of Benjamin
Eggleston, who settled in Portage County about 1804. The
mother died September 20, 1866, and was followed by her husband six days
later, after a married life of nearly sixty years. He enjoyed the
full confidence of his fellow townsmen, and was elected by them to
several offices, among them, Justice of the Peace, Township Trustee,
County Commissioner, etc., and was also appointed by the Legislature
Associate Judge. He was also a member of the seventeenth and
eighteenth sessions of the House, and of the nineteenth and twentieth of
the Senate of the General Assembly. Edward Foster's youth and
early manhood were passed in Portage, with the exception of the time
passed at school. He acquired a thoroughly practical education,
finishing at the Western Reserve College. In 1844, he began the
study of law under the instruction of Judge Day, of
Ravenna, afterward under Tilden & Ranney, and was admitted
to the bar in the fall of 1846. In 1848, he came to Bryan, engaged
actively in his profession, and occupied a leading position as a member
of the bar of Williams until the spring of 1867, when because of ill
health, he sold out his practice and retired to a less active life.
He has been prominent in county affairs ever since his arrival; has been
President of the Bryan Bank (now the Farmers' National Bank), for ten
years, and has filled several other responsible positions.
Previous to the war, he acted in harmony with the Democrats, and by them
was elected to represent the counties of Williams, Defiance, Paulding,
Van Wert, Mercer, Allen and Auglaize in the State Senate. He
served in the same session with Gen. Garfield, Gov. Cox, Judge Key
and other men who have risen to prominence. While in the Senate in
1861, Fort Sumter was fired upon, and Lincoln issued his call for
troops. Mr. Foster then took an active part in the support
of the Administration, and since then has affiliated with the
Republicans. He formed his present law partnership with Judge
Bowersox in December, 1879, which has since been successfully
conducted. Mrs. Serena C. Foster, wife of our subject, is
the eldest daughter of Levi and Amanda Cunningham, and was born
in Zanesville, Ohio. She has born her husband four children, three
of whom are still living - Emmett C., aged twenty-six, and a
lawyer; B. Douglas, aged twenty-four, and a student of medicine
at Jefferson University, Philadelphia, and George C., aged
twenty. Mr. Foster is a Royal Arch Mason, and one of the
oldest residents of Bryan.
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 552 |
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SIMON FRASER was born in Perry County,
Penn., March 3, 1817. He is one of the seven sons of Paul and
Jane (Kirkpatrick) Fraser, the former being a native of Scotland and
the later of Pennslyania. Paul Fraser, at the age of about
seventeen, left his native land and came, with his parents, to the
United States. The family purchased a large tract of land in
Pennsylvania, upon which a fine home was made. Paul was
married here, but, in 1832, he moved, with his family, to Richland
County, Ohio, and here himself and wife passed the remainder of their
lives. Simon was reared on his father's farm, receiving,
meantime, a common education. He lived with his parents until the
age of twenty-five, when his marriage with Miss Rebecca Cooper
was celebrated, February 15, 1842. This lady was born in
Washington County, Ohio, May 16, 1822. Mr. and Mrs. Fraser
have had no children of their own, but they have reared four other
children, and have given them a good education, and a start in life.
In 1844, Mr. Fraser and wife came to this county, locating on a
farm of eighty-three acres, on Section 6, Brady Township, which Mr.
Fraser had bought two years before. Here he farmed until 1874,
when he moved to Bryan, in which place he has since resided. He
owns a small property in the city, besides considerable land outside.
At one time he owned an eighty acre farm in Hillsdale County, Mich.
Mr. Fraser was formerly a Whig, but is now a Republican.
Himself and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church. He is a
man who says but little regarding the good deeds he may have done in
life, but the past speaks for itself; it tells of a good citizen and an
honest 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 555 |
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CHARLES A. FREELAND.
This leading representative of the business interests of Montpelier, is
senior member of the firm of Freeland & Zimmerman, proprietors of the
Montpelier City Mill. Of excellent business ability, he has attained a
prominent place among the enterprising and substantial citizens of this
part of Williams county, and is a recognized leader in public affairs.
He has won success by his well-directed, energetic efforts, and the
prosperity that has come to him is certainly well deserved.
Mr. Freeland was born March 7, 1861, in Jonesville,
Hillsdale county, Michigan, where he continued to live until fifteen
years of age, working in a woolen mill at that place during the last two
years. He then went to Hillsdale, Michigan, where, with the exception of
two years, he made his home until 1890, and in that place, at the age of
sixteen, began learning the milling business, which he has made his life
work. For two years he operated a gristmill at North Adrian, Michigan,
and was in the employ of F. W. Stock, a miller of Hillsdale, for six
years before coming to Montpelier, Ohio, in January, 1890. In company
with J. R. Zimmerman he leased the City Mill until 1894, and in February
of that year he and his partner purchased the plant, successfully
carrying on a general custom and flouring business since taking
possession. The product of their mill is of a superior grade, and from
the public they receive a liberal patronage. The firm is also conducting
the ice business of the city, having sole contract in that line.
In Hillsdale, Michigan, in 1884, Mr. Freeland wedded
Miss Mary Blood, who died at that place in 1887, leaving two children,
namely: Mabel and Cassius. Mr Freeland was again married in 1888, his
second union being with Miss Cornelia Blood (sister of his first wife),
by whom he has three children: Charles A., Jr., Donald and Russell A.
Being a public-spirited, enterprising citizen, Mr.
Freeland has ever taken quite an active and prominent part in public
affairs, and is now serving his third term as a member of the city
council. He is deeply interested in everything pertaining to the public
welfare of the town, and withholds his support from no enterprise
calculated to prove of public benefit. Socially he affiliates with the
Knights of Pythias.
(Source: Commemorative Biographical Record of Northwestern
Ohio - Chicago - J. H. Beers & Co. 1899 ) |
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