In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1911) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1857, Jackson township
From History of Seneca County, Ohio; a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests (1911), A centennial biographical history of Seneca County, Ohio (1902)
CHARLES ASH.
Seneca county, Ohio, has been the home and scene of labor of many men who have not only led lives which should serve as a lesson and incentive to those who come after them, but who have also been of important service to their county and state through various avenues of usefulness. Like his honored father, Charles Ash has been an important factor in connection with the industrial activities of this his native county, where he has not only attained a high degree of success in connection with the great basic art of agriculture, but has also done much to promote the industry of stock-raising and forward the agricultural interests as a buyer and shipper of grain. In September of the present year
(1902) Mr. Ash will enter upon the active duties of the office of treasurer of Seneca county, and his election ho the same is significant of the high estimate placed upon his integrity and abilities by the people of hisnative county, for he was chosen to this responsible office as the candidate on the Republican ticket, by a majority of about twelve hundred, votes, and that in face of a normal Democratic majority of about fifteen hundred in the county. His preferment under these conditions-is, indeed, significant, and no further endorsement need be entered as indicating the confidence and esteem in which he is sol uniformly held, for the public is a discriminating factor and ever pronounces unequivocally upon the intrinsic worth of the individual.
Charles Ash was born on the parental homestead, in Jackson township, Seneca county, Ohio, on the 18th of December, 1857, being the son of that honored pioneer citizen, William Ash, to whom individual reference is made on another page of this work, SO that a genealogical recapitulation is not demanded at this juncture. Our subject was reared on the old homestead and received his early educational training in the public schools of the locality. At the age of eighteen years he became actively associated with his father in the buying and shipping of live stock, soon giving evidence of that discrimination and that executive capacity which have been the conservators of his success. In February, 1885, Mr. Ash effected the purchase of eighty acres of his present fine homestead, and forthwith located on the same, where, in connection with general agriculture, he continued to devote his attention to the buying and selling of live stock for a number of years, his operations in the line being of marked benefit in furthering the advancement of the stock industry in this locality. He has added to his landed estate until he now owns six hundred and ninety-one acres, in five farms, of as valuable land as can be found in the county, the same having been equipped with the best of permanent improvements and standing as model farms of this, section of the state. His farming is conducted by tenants, though in past years he did an extensive business, cultivating several hundred acres, with several men in his employ. His principal crops are wheat, corn, clover-seed and hogs. For twenty years he tilled on a much larger scale than at present, though he now manager the home farm of three hundred acres, growing nearly one hundred acres of corn as one feature of this line of his business. He also owns three hundred and twenty acres of land in Logan county, Kansas. Nearly a decade ago Mr. Ash enlarged the scope of his operations by beginning to buy and ship grain, initiating this enterprise in a. somewhat modest way. It has, however, been cumulative in character, and in the summer of 1901 he erected a well-equipped grain elevator in the village of Amsden, and has since handled a large business in this line, making extensive shipments and thus aiding materially in advancing the agricultural interests of the locality. He is essentially alert and public-spirited in his attitude, and his interest in all that conserves the general welfare is unabating.
In political matters Mr. Ash has ever been found standby arrayed in support of the principles and policies of the Republican party, and tie has been called upon to serve in positions of local trust and responsibility aside from that to which reference has already been made. He was incumbent of the position of township clerk for two years, and for the past.sixteen years has served as justice of the peace, an office in which his father gave able and efficient administration for more than a quarter of a century. In November, 1901, our subject was elected to preside over the fiscal affairs of the county, and, as before stated, will enter upon the discharge of his duties as treasurer in September of the present year. In 1900 he served as land appraiser of his township. Fraternally Mr. Ash is identified with Fostoria Lodge, No. 305, Independent Order of Odd Fellows with Kansas Lodge, No. 183, Knights of Pythias, at Kansas, this county; and with Kansas Tent, No. 282, Knights of the Alaccabees.
On the 25th of March, 1883, Mr. Ash was united in marriage to Miss Belle F. Foster, who was born in Jackson township, the daughter of Sampson and Alargaret (Stahl) Foster, an influential farmer of that locality, and of this union five children were born, namely: Earl, Herbert F. and Carmen, who remain at the parental home; and William and Rebecca, who died in infancy. Mrs. Ash is a member of the Alethodist Protestant church, and while our subject is not a member of any religious body he is chairman of the board of trustees of the Methodist Episcopal church at Amsden and takes a consistent concern in the promotion of religious, educational and other interests for the general good.
As printed in A centennial biographical history of Seneca County, Ohio (1902). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Charles Ash was born upon the old homestead farm in Jackson township, this county, on the 18th of December, 1857, and is a son of William and Rebeccah (Trumbo) Ash. The father was born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, on the lath of April, 1830, and is a son of George and Letitia (Reed) Ash, the former of whom was likewise a native of Bedford county, where he was born in the year 1779. In 1833 he came to Seneca county, Ohio, and secured one hundred and sixty acres of heavily timbered land in Liberty township. There he reclaimed a farm upon which he continued to reside until his death, at the patriarchal age of ninety years, his wife having passed away at the age of sixty-eight years.
William Ash was reared under the scenes and conditions of the pioneer epoch in this section of the state and through his mature judgment and well directed efforts he has become one of the large landholders and influential citizens of the county, where he now owns more than twelve hundred acres of land. For many years he was also a prominent factor in the buying and shipping of live stock, as well as of grain. He has served in various public offices, including that of justice of the peace, which he retained for more than a quarter of a century. He has long served as vice president of the First National Bank of Fostoria. His wife was born and reared in Seneca county and is a daughter of Enoch Trumbo, one of the prominent pioneers of this section of the state. Of the three children two are living: Ellen, who is the wife of Alfred Nowrey, of Jackson township, and Charles, who is the subject of this review. Concerning the career of the honorable Charles Ash. the following data are well worthy of reproduction in this volume:
- “Our subject was reared and received his early educational training in the public schools of the locality. At the age of eighteen years he became actively associated with his father in the buying and shipping of live stock, soon giving evidence of the discrimination and that executive capacity which have been the conservators of his success. In February, 1885. Mr. Ash effected the purchase of eighty acres of his present fine homestead, and forthwith located on the same, where, in connection with general agriculture, he continued to devote his attention to the buying and selling of live stock for a number of years, his operations in the line being marked benefit in furthering the advancement of the stock industry in this locality. He has added to his landed estate until he now owns more than twelve hundred acres of as valuable land as can be found in the county, the same having been equipped with the best of permanent improvements. His farming is conducted by tenants, though in past years he did an extensive business, cultivating several hundred acres, with several men in his employ. He also owns three hundred and twenty acres in Logan county. Kansas. Nearly a decade ago Mr. Ash enlarged the scope of his operations by beginning to buy and ship grain, initiating this enterprise in a somewhat modest way. It has, however, been cumulative in character, and in the summer of 1901 he erected a well equipped grain elevator in the village of Amsden, where he handled a large business in this line, making extensive shipments and thus aiding materially in advancing the agricultural interests of the locality. He is essentially alert and public spirited in his attitude, and his interest in all that conserves the general welfare is unabating. M
Besides his extensive farming interests Mr. Ash is identified with many important industrial enterprises which have conserved the advancement and prosperity of his home county. He is president of the Commercial Savings Bank of Fostoria, in which he is one of the largest stockholders, as is he also in the Standard Light & Power Company of that city. He is also secretary and treasurer of the Fostoria Union Stock Yards & Commission Company, besides which he holds stock in other industrial concerns.
In politics Mr. Ash has ever accorded unswerving allegiance to the cause of the Republican party and he has served two terms as treasurer of his native county. His election to this most important office showed most conclusively the estimate placed upon him in his home county, for the same normally gives a Democratic majority of fifteen hundred votes, while as a Republican he received a majority of twelve hundred votes at the time of his first election. He was a township clerk for two years and for years held the office of justice of the peace. Ilis first election to the office of county treasurer occurred in 1901 and he was re-elected. He gave a most able and discriminating administration of the fiscal affairs of the county and thus marked himself for higher political honors. He is the only Republican ever elected treasurer of Seneca county. In November. 1908, Mr. Ash was elected to represent the county in the lower house of the state legislature, in which he served one term and made an admirable record for faithful
‘ work in behalf of good government and wise legislation. He is identified with Fostoria Lodge. No. 305, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; Kansas Lodge. No. 183, Knights of Pythias; and Kansas Tent, No. 288, Knights of the Maccabees, the two last named lodges being located in the village of Kansas, this county. Both he and his wife hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church at Amsden and he is chairman of its board of trustees.
On the 25th of March, 1883, Mr. Ash was united in marriage to Miss Belle F. Foster, who was born in Jackson township, this county, and who was the daughter of Sampson and Margaret (Stahl) Foster. Her father was an influential farmer of this county. Air. and Mrs. Ash became the parents of five children, two of whom. William and Rebeccah, died in infancy; Earl F.. who was born on the 19th of April, 1886, is now associated with his father in the farming and grain business; Herbert F., who was born in October. 1888, was graduated in the Tiffin high school and in 1910 was graduated at Heidelberg College, in the same village; Carmen, is a student in the Bristol school, at Washington. District of Columbia, and is a young woman of most gracious personality. Mrs. Ash was summoned to the life eternal in 1907. Mr. Ash contracted a second marriage, being then united to Mrs. Jeanette C. Chamberlain, who was born in Crawford county, and whose father moved to Seneca county when she was a child.
Arthur M. Henney. — Residing with his parents on the old homestead farm in Thompson township which was the place of his birth, Mr. Henney is numbered among the popular young men of Seneca county, and in addition to being identified with the operation of the farm lie is also engaged in the manufacturing of the Morning’ Star acetelyn gas machines, of which he is the inventor and patentee.
Mr. Henney was born on the farm which is still his home and the date of his nativity was November 2. 1875. He is a son of Aaron and Anna (Gilbert) Henney, the former of whom was born in Center county, Pennsylvania, on the 15th of May, 1841. and the latter of whom was born in Seneca county, Ohio, on the 31st of July, 1851. a daughter of Perry and Barbara (Mowerv) Gilbert, the latter of whom died when Mre. Henney was a child of three years. Aaron Henney was about twelve years of age at the time of his parents removal from the old Keystone state to Ohio, and for the first three years the family home was in Huron county. In 1856 removal was made to Thompson township, Seneca county, where the paternal grandfather of the subject of this review purchased one hundred and forty-four acres of land, which he developed into a productive farm. Aaron Henney continued to reside with his parents until the time of his marriage, when he removed to Sherman township, Huron county, where he was engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1860, when he returned to Seneca county and purchased his present fine farm of eighty-eight acres in Thompson township. He has made the best of improvements on this homestead, which has been his place of above for a half century, and here he and his devoted wife are enjoying the gracious prosperity which is the due reward of. former years of earnest toil and endeavor. With them reside their son Arthur M. and his wife, and the father is now living virtually retired from active labor, though he still maintains a general supervision of his farm. He is a man who has ever commanded the unqualified confidence and esteem of the community in which he has so long maintained his home, and he holds prestige as one of the representative agriculturists of the county. His political allegiance is given to the Democratic party and both he and his wife hold membership in the United Evangelical church at Flat Rock. The only other surviving child of Aaron and Anna Ilenney is Myrtle, who is now the wife of Charles Mook, a prosperous farmer of Sandusky county, they have one child, Deloris.
Arthur M. Hennev was reared to adult age on the home farm and early began to contribute his quota to its work, the while he duly availed himself of the advantages afforded in the public schools. He has continued to be associated in the management of the farm during the intervening years, and remains with his wife in the old homestead which was the place of his birth. He has taken a loyal interest in all that has touched the welfare of his native county and while he has never been ambitious for public office he accords a stanch support to the principles and policies for which the Democratic party stands sponsor.
On the 2nd of December, 1903, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Hennev to Miss Jennie Bennehoff, who was born in Thompson township, this county, on the 26th of February, 1882, and who is a daughter of William F. and Barbara (Royer) Bennehoff, the former of whom was born in Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, and the latter at Fireside, Seneca county, Ohio. Mrs. Bennehoff was a daughter of Samuel and Mary (Bunn) Royer and a sister of Judge John C. Royer, of Tiffin, who is one of the representative legists and jurists of Seneca county and who has served as a member of the state senate. The original progenitors of the Royer family in America came to the new world on the historic ship “Mayflower,” on the occasion of its first voyage to America. Samuel Royer was a son of John and Mary M. (Romig) Royer, both of whom were born in Snyder county. Pennsylvania, whence they came to Ohio and took up their residence in Wayne county about the year 1820. In 1829 they came to Seneca county and Mr. Royer here purchased a tract of heavily timbered land in Thompson township, where he eventually reclaimed a good farm, upon which both he and his wife passed the residue of their lives. The family was one of the first three to make permanent location in Thompson township, and the name has been closely identified with the social and material development and progress of Seneca county, where many of its representatives still remain. John Royer was eighty-seven years of age at the time of his death, and his wife preceded him to eternal rest by a number of years. The Romig family likewise was numbered among the very early settlers of Thompson township.
Samuel Ro'ver was four years of age at the time of the family removal to Seneca county, where he received such educational advantages as were afforded in the pioneer schools and where he did his part in the arduous work of reclaiming: the home farm. He continued to be identified with the great basic art of agriculture until his death, at the age of fifty-nine years. He and his wife were devoted members of the Reformed church and Mrs. Royer, long surviving her husband, is passing the closing years of her life in the home of her son, Hon. John C. Royer, of Tiffin. Samuel and Mary Ann (Bunn) Royer became the parents of fifteen children, and it is worthy of note in this connection that Mrs. Royer and her two sisters had a total of forty-three children.
As printed in History of Seneca County, Ohio; a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests (1911). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Named in this biography: Enoch Trumbo (b. 1804)
Their biographies name Charles Ash: Frank S. Walter (b. 1845) William Ash
The printed record stops around 1911. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.