In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1910) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1851
From Twentieth century history of Findlay and Hancock County and representative citizens (1910), A Centennial biographical history of Hancock County, Ohio : embellished with portraits of many well known people of Hancock County, who have been or are prominent in its history and development (1903)
CYRUS L. CASTERLINE.
As a member of the Bradford Oil Company of Findlay, Cyrus L. Casterline has been connected with the development of what has become one of the leading industries and a great source of wealth to this part of the state. His position in business circles is a creditable one. A native of the Empire state, he was born in Angelica, in 1851, and was there reared and educated, attending the public schools and acquiring thereby knowledge that well fitted him for the responsible duties of his subsequent career. At the age of twenty-five he left his native town and in 1876 went to the oil fields in the vicinity of Bradford, Pennsylvania, where he remained until he came to Findlay, since which time he has made his home in this place. He is interested in the development of the oil belt here and is an active working member of the Bradford Oil Company, which owns some good producing and valuable wells.
In 1900 Mr. Casterline was appointed by Charles E. Watson, mayor of Findlay, a member of tHioty board of improvements and is now serving in that capacity. He takes deep interest in the progress and welfare of the city and is using his official position to further every measure which he believes will contribute to the general good. In his political views he is a Republican, always voting for the candidate of the party and never faltering in his allegiance to the party principles. Fraternally he is associated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and with the Knights of Pythias iratemity. He is a progressive, wide awake, enterprising business man, a valued addition to the community, and in Findlay he has gained many friends who recognize his business and social worth.
As printed in A Centennial biographical history of Hancock County, Ohio : embellished with portraits of many well known people of Hancock County, who have been or are prominent in its history and development (1903). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
CYRUS L. CASTERLINE,* vice president of the American National Bank at Findlay, Ohio, proprietor of the Bradford Oil Company and secretary and treasurer of the Genesee Oil Company, has been one of Findlay’s enterprising and successful business men for a number of years. He was born in 1851, at Angelica, Alleghany County, New York.
Mr. Casterline was educated in his native place and first became identified with the oil industry when he went to the Bradford oil fields, in 1876. He became a partner of the late C. S. Carthell in the Bradford Oil Company and after Mr. Carthell’s death purchased the business and has continued as its sole proprietor. As secretary and treasurer of the Genesee Oil Company, of Findlay, he occupies a prominent position in the commercial life of the city, while other business enterprises in which he is officially interested, have still further increased his influence. His worth as a progressive and public-spirited citizen has been recognized in many ways and he has served with efficiency in civic offices, especially as a member of the city board of improvements.
In politics, Mr. Casterline is a Republican, but his business interests have always been so large that he has found little time to entertain political aspirations. He has a very beautiful home on South Main Street, although a bachelor, and in his elegantly fitted apartments may be found many articles of more than usual interest, notably a collection of horns which is probably the most complete in the state and one pair, elaborately carved, would grace any museum. He is a 32nd degree Mason and a Shriller and belongs also to the Elks and the Knights of Pythias. He is a man of generous impulses and his donations to charity are large although very quietly made.
ALPHEUS HOFMASTER* who is engaged in general farming on a tract of 100 acres in Section 24, Washington Township, Hancock County, Ohio, has been a life long resident of the county. He was born December 28, 1856, on the old Jacobs farm in Washington Township, and is a son of Jonas and Mary (Jacobs) Hofmaster.
John and Rachel (Eadler) Hofmaster, paternal grandparents of our subject, were natives of Germany and were among the early settlers of Mahoning County, Ohio. They subsequently came to Hancock County and located on what is now known as the William Earnest farm in Washington Township. Here they spent the remainder of their lives, his death occurring at the age of 91 years; his wife died at the age of 86 years. They were the parents of the following children: Paul, deceased; Catherine, deceased; Anna, deceased; Jonas, deceased; Rachel, deceased; Mary, who is the wife of Isaac Hooper; Ellen, deceased; Lydia: Jacob, deceased; Hannah; and three who died in infancy.
Jonas Hofmaster was born August 13, 1829, in Mahoning County, Ohio, and when a young man came to Hancock County with his parents, who settled on a tract of timberland in Washington Township. He was married to Mary Jacobs, who was born in Hancock County,
Ohio, and was a daughter of John and Margaret Jacobs, natives of Germany, who came to Hancock County in 1833 and entered land one mile north of our subject’s place in Washington Township. After his marriage Jonas Hofmaster spent ten years on the old Jacobs farm, then bought 80 acres of land from Nick Jacobs, to which he later added 20 acres, the farm now being owned by our subject, Alpheus Hofmaster. The land was partly cleared and there was an old log house on the place, but it was later replaced by the house which is now on the farm. Jonas died on this farm January 2, 1904, and was survived by his widow until February 22, 1907, who was 73 years old at the time of her death. They were parents of the following children: Alpheus; Alice Elizabeth, deceased wife of Clarence Stewart of Michigan; Celestia, who married Dr. N. C. Miller of Fostoria, Ohio; Margaret, the wife of Miron Smith, of Fostoria; Ella, who died young; and two who died in infancy.
Alpheus Hofmaster was reared on his present farm, having been just a boy when his parents removed from the old Jacobs farm, where he was born. He attended the district schools of the township, but being the eldest child was obliged to devote considerable time to the farm work, and after his marriage, continued to live here, buying the farm from the Hofmaster heirs. He has remodeled the barn, erected milk-houses and otherwise made many improvements, and in connection with general farming is extensively engaged in shipping cream to Indiana.
Mr. Hofmaster was married November 22, 1887, to Jennie Brown, who is a daughter of Alexander and Mary (Pughe) Brown, the latter of whom is deceased, and they have two children: Harry, and Mary. Mr. Hofmaster is one of the public spirited and enterprising citizens of the township and in politics is identified with the Democratic party.
As printed in Twentieth century history of Findlay and Hancock County and representative citizens (1910). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Named in this biography: Alpheus Hofmaster (b. 1856) Isaac Hooper
The printed record stops around 1910. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.