Past and Present of the City of Zanesville and Muskingham County, Ohio: Together with Biographical Sketches of Many of Its Leading and Prominent Citizens and Illustrious Dead
By J Hope Sutor, Chicago, The S.J.Clarke Publishing Co., 1905
p. 495
C. W. ESCHMAN. C. W. Eschman, a representative of agricultural interests in Muskingum County, was born in Dresden, October 31, 1851. His father, Harmon Eschman was born in 1814, in what was then Prussia, but is now Westphalia. In his native land he married Miss Fredericka Schulte, who was born in the same neighborhood, in 1818. Crossing the Atlantic to the new world they took up their abode near the Muskingum bottom in 1838. The voyage to the United States had been made in a sailing vessel and they were six weeks upon the sea. Landing at Baltimore they proceeded at once to Cleveland, Ohio, and thence by canal to Dresden. Mr. Eschman began working by the day on the dam as watchman and he sat on the abutment and drilled the holes that hold the clevis where the rollers are to hold the bridge. He afterward worked in a distillery in Dresden owned by J. S. Crane and occupied other positions, buying hogs for the distillery. He afterward purchased a team and began work on the Panhandle
Railroad and when his mechanical skill and persistent industry had secured him a small sum of money he made investment in a farm in Adams Township that is now owned by J. Darner. He afterward purchased the farm upon which C. W. Eschman now lives and there he spent his remaining days, his death occurring March 4, 1881, while his wife died October 12, 1889. They are the parents of four sons and five daughters, of whom two daughters and one son are deceased. The brothers of our subject are: M. W., who resides near the Muskingum River;and H. H. Eschman. who is a shoe dealer of Dresden. C. W. Eschman mastered the branches of learning taught in the common schools and remained with his father until the latter’s death. As a companion and helpmate for life’s journey he chose Miss Mary Akeroyd, whom he wedded February 4. 1897. She is a daughter of William and Margaret (Oden) Akeroyd. Her father came from England and was a druggist and lumber merchant, who also engaged in bridge-building. He maintained his home in Dresden and his business interests are still carried on there although he passed away in 1876, his widow, a native of Muskingum County, still surviving. In their family were seven children, two living, the son being William Akeroyd, who is conducting the old drug store his father established in Dresden. At the time of his marriage Mr. Eschman located on a farm and he now owns one hundred and sixty acres of bottom and hill land about a half mile from Dresden. The soil is very productive and he therefore annually harvests large crops. He is systematic in all that he under takes and carries forward to successful completion any business transaction which claims his attention. He is thoroughly reliable and his success is therefore well merited. Mr. Eschman is a republican in his political views and for three terms has served as township trustee, while for a similar period he was treasurer, the duties of these offices being discharged with promptness and fidelity. He belongs to the Odd Fellows lodge at Dresden, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, while his wife belongs to the Presbyterian Church. They are widely and favorably known for their genuine worth and many excellent traits of character, and deserve mention with the representative people of MadisonTownship.
p. 506
H. H. Eschman, proprietor of the only exclusive shoe store in Dresden, and also the owner of valuable farming interests in Muskingum County, was born May 29, 1848, in the town which is still his home. He is a son of Harmon H. and Fredericka (Schulte) Eschman, natives of Westphalia Germany, the former born in 1814, and the latter in 1818. Hoping to enjoy better business opportunities in the new world than could be secured in his native country Harmon H. Eschman took passage on a sailing vessel, which, after six weeks landed at Baltimore. He then made his way to Cleveland and by canal continued his journey to Dresden, in which district he established his home. H. H. Eschman pursued his education in Adams Township and when sixteen years of age became an apprentice at the shoemaker's trade, working the first year for thirty-five dollars. He was thus employed for two and a half years, after which he returned to the home farm, upon which he spent six years. When that period had elapsed he established a shoe business in Dresden and since 1877 in connection with the same has conducted agricultural interests here. He now has in his employ a shoemaker who has been with him for a quarter of a century. His is the only exclusive shoe store in the town. In 1879 he was the owner of property bordering on Main Street for one hundred and eight feet. It was covered with a ?ne business block, but on the 26th of October of that year a disastrous fire occurred and the entire block was destroyed, occasioning great loss to Mr. Eschman. He still owns, however, fifty-eight feet on Main street, on which has been erected two business houses and a one hall. He also has a beautiful and attractive residence in Dresden and two ?ne farms in Madison township and his
property interests represent his utilization of business opportunities, his close application and the outcome of his laudable ambition. On the 6th of September, 1883, Mr. Eschman was united in marriage to Miss Alice E. Little, the eldest daughter of James Little, now deceased. She was born December 3t. 1854, and became the mother of two children but Frederika, who was born
February 5. 1885, died April 26. 1890. The son, Karl, born June 23, 1891, completed a course in the Dresden grammar school and is now being educated in music, possessing much natural talent as a pianist. Mr. Eschman is a stanch advocate of republican principles, has served as a member of the board of education and also of the town council, and his efforts in behalf of the up building and improvement of Dresden are far reaching and beneficial. He and his wife hold membership of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a gentleman of genial manner and kindly disposition and owns a comfortable and attractive residence in Dresden, where in the midst of an interesting family he delights in entertaining their many friends.
p.536
FRED H. F. EGBERT. Fred H. F. Egbert, who owns and operates a farm in Madison Township,is numbered among the worthy citizens that Germany has furnished to Muskingum County. The Teutonic race has ever been an important element in the civilization of the new world, sending its members into all parts of the country to aid in the work of progress and improvement through their energy and persistency of purpose. To this class Mr. Egbert belongs. He was born March 16. 1845. in Hanover, now Prussia, and was a son of John Henry and Mary Elizabeth (Egbert) Egbert. In 1845 the father crossed the Atlantic to America with his family, arriving in Muskingum County on the 8th of October. He located in Dresden and there engaged in business as a merchant tailor. The journey across the Atlantic was made in a sailing vessel, six weeks being spent upon the sea, after which they landed at Baltimore. After living for a time in the town of Dresden, John H. Egbert removed to the farm that is now owned and occupied by his son Fred, continuing to make it his place of residence until his death, which occurred December 31, 1882, when he was sixty-eight years of age. He had prospered in his undertakings as the years had passed by and had become the owner of three hundred and thirty-one acres of land. His wife survived him for more than ten years, passing away August 22, 1893, at a very advanced age. Fred H. F. Egbert is the only survivor of a family of eight children. He is indebted to the public-school system of Dresden for the educational privileges he enjoyed, and in early life he made preparation for a business career by learning the tailor's trade, entering upon his apprenticeship at the age of thirteen and working at that calling until twenty years of age. He then took up his abode upon his farm where he lived for seventeen years or until his father’s death, when he took charge of the tailoring business that had been established by his father in Dresden. He also operated a ?ouring mill, and for two years managed those business interests. On the expiration of that period he returned to the farm and has since given his undivided attention to agricultural pursuits, being to-day the owner of three hundred and thirty-one acres of land that is very fertile and productive. The farm is well supplied with modern equipments and accessories and he uses the latest improved machinery to facilitate the work of the fields. The buildings are substantial and everything about his place is indicative of the careful supervision of a pains taking and methodical owner. In addition to his farm property he has a residence and several lots in Dresden. Mr. Egbert was married, September 9, 1866, to Miss MaryEschman, who was born September 6, 1844, and is a daughter of Harmon and Fredericka (Schulte) Eschman. The father was born in Prussia, near Westphalia, and the mother's birth occurred in the same locality in 1818. They were married in their native land and thinking that they might enjoy better business privileges in the new world and more quickly secure a good home here, they took passage on a sailing vessel, which after six weeks reached the harbor of
Baltimore. Landing in that city they proceeded at once to Cleveland. Ohio, and by canal continued the journey to Dresden, settling near the Muskingum dam in 1838. The father secured employment by the day on the dam, working as watchman. He was afterward employed in the distillery at Dresden and other places, purchasing hogs for the owners of that plant. When he was enabled to save a sufficient sum from his labors he bought a team and began working for the Panhandle Railroad Company. From this time on he prospered and as his financial resources increased he purchased a farm in Adams township that is now owned bv l. l)arner. He then bought the farm where C. W. Eschman lives and his death occurred there on March 4. 1881. His widow, surviving him several years, departed this life October 12, 1889. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Egbert has been blessed with seven children, who are yet living, while two have passed away, John Harmon having died at the age of one year, while the second died in infancy. Those still living are as follows: M. Bertha, who was born February 11, 1869, and is the wife of Alva Bell, who is manager of a wholesale harness and saddlery store in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Mary J., who was born February 25, 1872, and is the wife of J. H. Evans, of Dresden; John Frederick, who was born December 29, 1875, and is at home; Ella A., who was born March
28, 1877, and is the wife of John C. Weber, a grocer of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Laura L., who was born March 9, 1879, and is the wife of Frank D. Snyder, who is living on the old home farm: Frances E., who was born October 21, 1881, and is the wife of Fred Brill, an electrician, connected with the electric light works of Dresden; and Charles H., who was born March 3, 1883, and is shipping clerk for a wholesale hardware and saddlery company in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The family home is pleasantly located about a mile from Dresden and its hospitality is one of its most attractive features. Both Mr. and Mrs. Egbert are members of the Dresden Methodist Episcopal church and he affiliates with the Odd Fellows lodge there. His ballot is cast in support of the men and measures of the Republican Party and he has been school director,
township clerk and justice of the peace. He was also corporation treasurer in Dresden for eight years and township treasurer for two years and in all these offices discharged his duties with promptness and fidelity, his capable service gaining him the good will and esteem of all with whom he has come in contact. He ranks with the quiet, persevering and prominent citizens of Madison Township, prominent on account of what he has accomplished in commercial and agricultural circles and by reason of the public-spirited interest in the general welfare that has prompted active cooperation in many measures that have contributed largely to the improvement of the county.
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