Thomas Grubb, the subject proper, spent his early years upon the farm, and his education was obtained in the common schools. He lived with his parents until 1878, and two years later came to Amanda township and purchased 120 acres of land in section No. 35, on which he located. The land was wholly unimproved, and was a veritable frog pond, as its owner facetiously remarked. With industry, combined with good judgement, however, he has made his once forlorn farm one of the finest in this section of the country, and at present has 100 acres of it under cultivation, having placed in the soil 2, 500 rods of drain-tile, and enclosed with substantial fences. In 1890 he erected a commodious frame residence, and in 1894 put up a handsome frame barn, 40 x 50 feet, with eighteen- feet posts. Numerous other buildings and conveniences have been added, and the farm approaches an ideal one. He keeps a high grade of stock, believing that the expense is no more to grow a choice animal than to harbor an indifferent one. Starting in life empty-handed, he has by his own energies, prospered and thrived, and may be justly esteemed as a self-made man and one of the well-to-do citizens of this county.

Mr. Grubb has served his township as justice of the peace six years, and is a member of the order of Patrons of Husbandry, and has been secretary of the county organization, having held nearly all of the offices of the fraternity, and has been a member ever since its introduction into this section.

His political faith is that of a populist, and in this, as in all his hands and heart find to do, he abides on lukewarm or half-way measure. In August, 1878, he was married to Miss Catherine Bowers, daughter of John B. and Amanda E. (Shannon) Bowers. She was a native of Clarke county, Ohio, and was born near Springfield, April 20, 1857. Three children came to bless this union, viz: Rolla G., Laura B., and Zida M. Mr. and Mrs. Grubb are worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and Mr. Grubb is a steward of the same. He is also president of the township Sunday-school association, and is an active and efficient worker in various church societies. It is an agreeable task to write of such men, and it makes one reflect how much more than riches are such persons to be valued in a community.

A Portrait and Biographical record of Allen and Van Wert Counties by A.W. Bowen & Co., 1896-pg 295-296

George W. Winegardner, father of our subject, was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, May 10, 1837, was a farmer, and married Margaret Ann Patterson, daughter of Samuel Patterson, a farmer of Marion county, Iowa, the marriage resulting in the birth of the following children: Emma R. wife of William Davis; Francis H., our subject; Mary M. wife of J.B. Andrews; and Clara D., wife of Thomas Drury. George W. Winegardner was a young man when he first became identified with the farming interests of Marion county, Iowa, where he later  married and where he resided a number of years; there also, he lost his first wife, the mother of the above-named children. In 1872, he married Mary J. Myers, daughter of David Myers, of Auglaize county, Ohio, this union being favored by the birth of one son- John D. In 1875 Mr. Winegardner relinquished his Iowa interests, returned to Ohio, and bought a farm of eighty acres in Wayne township, Auglaize county, on which he made his home until his death, October 20, 1892.opular as a democrat in Iowa, where for a number of years he held the office of justice of the peace, and, although equally popular in Auglaize county, he never there aspired to political preferment.

Francis H. Winegardner was reared on the home farm until twenty-two years of age, receiving a good common school education in the meanwhile. At the age mentioned he became identified with the village of Harrod, his present place of residence. During the first eight years after locating here, he was in the employ of his uncle, S. T. Winegardner, in a saw-mill and planing-mill, learning, at the same time, the trade of carpenter under his relative's instruction. He was careful of his earnings, and in 1892 bought his half-interest in his present business, in conjunction with a wood-working shop and a modern blacksmith-room, with a buggy trimming shop above. They handle buggies, wagons, carts, and all other kinds of vehicles, and do all kinds of repairing pertaining to this line of trade, and sometimes contract for the building of a special kind of buggy or other class of vehicle required for some purpose outside of the usual demand. Their undertaking outfit is of a superior order, and they are well prepared to fill all orders in the line when called upon.

Mr. Winegardner owns and occupies a neat modern village residence, and all he owns is the result of his own industry. He was married March 6, 1892, to Sydney C. Murray, daughter of Michael and Catherine Murray- the former an agriculturist of Hamilton county, Iowa, and the latter deceased. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Winegardner has been blessed with two children- Lelah R., and the baby, deceased. Mrs. Winegardner is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and is faithful in her observance of its teachings. In politics Mr. Winegardner is a democrat, and fraternally he is a member of the Sager lodge, No.513, F. & A.M., of Lafayette, Ohio. As a business man Mr. Winegardner is recognized as one of the brightest of his years in Auglaize township, and his social standing is with the best in the community.

A Portrait and Biographical record of Allen and Van Wert Counties by A.W. Bowen & Co., 1896-pg 549