William F. Kean

As printed in 1910

WILLIAM F. KEAN.

The career of William F. Kean at the Wayne county bar has been emphasized by persistent industry, strict attention to business, unswerving integrity, the closest application and study, and a degree of care, prudence and promptitude in the disposition of responsibilities intrusted to him, worthy of imitation. Punctuality he observes as a professional maxim. With him, appointments once made become debts. He always aims to do things at their right time. Affien engagements are made, he does not want to be waited for, or wait. And thus, it is punctuality by which men testify their personal respect for those whom they are called upon to meet in affairs of business. This and other commendable qualities have formed the key-note to his success.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

Ahlliam F. Kean grew up on the home farm, which he worked when he became of proper age, attending the neighboring schools during the winter

W. F. KEAN months. He later studied at the Smithville Academy, also went to school at Shreve and later entered the University of Wooster, graduating from that institution with the class of 1881, having made a splendid record there. He early decided to. devote his talents to the legal profession and accordingly studied law in the office of McClure & Smyser, and, having made rapid strides in the same, he was admitted to the bar in June, 1886, and soon thereafter opened an office in Wooster. He soon had an excellent patronage, which has increased with the advance of years until he has long since been numbered among the most worthy of the local bar, always busy in the local courts, his name having been connected with the trial of most of the important cases here for at least two decades, and the manner in which he conducts a trial wins for him the approval of client, his fellow colleagues and the trial judge, to say nothing of his influence over a jury. Mr. Kean has served as referee in bankruptcy for twelve years in the counties of MHyne and Holmes, his administration having been most acceptable to litigants as well as attorneys.

Politically Mr. Kean is a strong Republican and religiously he holds membership with the Methodist Episcopal church. As a church member he has been most liberal in his support, giving much time, thought as well as money to the furtherance of the kingdom of Christ and for five years was the efficient superintendent of the Methodist Episcopal Sabbath school of Wooster. By his observance of fundamental rules of business based upon honesty, rectitude, and fidelity to trusts and confidence reposed in him, he has won the public esteem, achieved professional success and fixed his star in the ascendant. As a practicing lawyer, he is courteous and cordial in his friendships, cautious, temperate, ambitious, zealous, consistent, moral and circumspect in all the affairs of life.

Mr. Kean was married October 24, 1883, to Alice A. Smith, daughter of Daniel and Roseana Smith, of near Hayesville, Ashland county, Ohio, who was engaged in the milling business. Her mother died in 1889 and her father now lies in Akron, Ohio, being retired. Mr. and Mrs. Kean have had five children, three dying in infancy; those living are: Clara h'stella, born January 26, 1889, is now a junior at Ohio Wesleyan University; Frances Gertrude, born June 25, 1895, is attending high school at Wooster.

EMANUEL H. WENGlfR.

A man who has contributed largely to the material welfare of the community and township where he resides and who has shown himself to be one of the strong, sturdy characters that constitute the high order of citizenship for which Wayne county is noted is Emanuel H. AAenger, who was born in Sugar Creek township, March 3, 1856, the son of Emanuel E. and Alartha (Hess) AAenger, both natives of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, the former having been born there on June 13, 1828. In 1853 he married Alartha Hess, daughter of Christian and Barbara Hess, of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. She was born March 15, 1833. She came to Wayne county, Ohio, in 1853 and her death occurred April 12, 1878. She married Mr. Wenger in 1853.

To Mr. and Mrs. Emanuel E. AATnger se'en children were born, namely: Benjamin H., born December 9, 1854; Emanuel H., of this review, Avas next in order of birth; C. H., of Clinton, Ohio, was born November 5, 1857; M. H. was born February 25, 1860; Henry H. was born November 23, 1861; Amos H., of Massillon, Ohio, was born August 22, 1866, and David H. was born March 22, 1864. (See his sketch on another page of this work.)

The parents of these children were members of the Mennonite church and persons of excellent standing in their community; the father passed to his rest on July 4, 1900, after a long and useful life.

Emanuel H. AVenger was reared in Sugar Creek township and when he arriv-ed at the proper age he worked on the home farm during the summer months and attended the district schools during the winter, receiving a good common school education. He left the farm when he was twenty years old. Turning his attention to merchandising, he began clerking in a general store in 1876 in Burton City. He later purchased the store and remained in business there for four years, then he was employed as shipping clerk and weighmaster for the Fox Lake Coal Company, of Cleveland, for a period of fourteen years, during which time he was regarded by this company as one of their most trusted employes. He then severed his connection with the above named concern and took a position with the AAdiite Oak Coal Company as secretary and paymaster, remaining with them for three years, giving his usual faithful services. He had saved his money and was enabled to gratify a desire of long standing by moving onto a farm and leading the free life of a husbandman. He has since remained on the farm and has made a great success, now owning two of the best farms in Baughman township, consisting of one hundred and eighty acres. They are well improved and have been so skillfully managed that the soil has retained its original fertility, bounteous harvests being reaped from the fields annually, by reason of Mr. AVenger’s able management. He has an excellent residence and is w'ell fixed to enjoy life. He keeps various kinds of good stock and is an admirer of good horses.

Mr. AATnger was married in 1880 to Alice Rudy, who was born October

5, 1858, the daughter of Daniel Rudy, a prominent citizen of this part of Wayne county. Idiis union has resulted in the liirth of four sons, namely: Clarence R., born February 17, 1882, is farming; Ivan H., born April 12, 1885, is cost clerk for the Brown-Hoisting Company of Cleveland, Ohio; he was educated at Canal Fulton, this state; Justice F., a farmer, was born July 27, 1887; Daniel O. 'was born July 27, 1891, and is a student in the Orrville high school.

Mr. and Mrs. Wenger are members of the United Presbyterian church at Dalton, this county. In politics Mr. Wenger is a Republican, being an active worker in the party. He has very ably served both as treasurer and clerk of Baughman township. Fie is regarded by all who know him as a hustler, a man who takes a delight in the progress of his community, and while looking after his own interests he does not neglect his duty to his neighbors, but is generous, obliging and always trustworthy, according to those who know him best.

As printed in History of Wayne County, Ohio (1910). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.