The William Saul Family

George Saul, Sr. was born in Germany on August 8, 1795, to Leonard Saul, Sr. born September 5, 1776, and Eva Rubracht, born March 24, 1768.

Leonard was the son of George and Barbara Saul, both of Germany. George Saul first came to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and then settled near Tiffin, Ohio, in 1823. In 1826 he married Mary (Polly) McEwen who was born on September 19, 1807, in Northampton County, Pennsylvania. She was the daughter of William McEwen, the first blacksmith of Seneca County, Ohio, who was born November 8, 1775, in Columbia County, Penn., and wife Sarah Johnson, born February 28, 1785, in Northampton County, Penn. The former was the son of John McCune (McEwen), a sturdy Scotsman, and Sarah Harris, and the latter was the daughter of John Johnson, an American, and Jerusha Kitchen of Ireland.

In 1828 George and Mary McEwen Saul moved to a farm in Liberty Township, Seneca County, Ohio, and a Saul descendant still owns and lives on this homestead, and still has the farm deed signed by John Quincy Adams in 1828. Here they raised a family of nine children, five who died without issue. One son, John, died while serving in the Civil War on July 25, 1862, in Washington, D.C.

Our ancestor was William Saul, the fourth child, who was born November 27, 1834, on the Saul Homestead in Seneca County. He served in the Civil War from 1861 to 1865 in Company D., 68 Regiment O.V.L. On October 4, 1861, he married Christina A. Kline. She was born in Seneca County, Ohio, on March 20, 1841, to John J. Kline, born in Germany, and Ann E. Breiner, born September 22, 1811.

Saul Men and Nephews. Left to right, standing: John Jacob, Wm. Alton, nephews - Orsa Myers and Orley Myers, Charles Saul; sitting: James, Elda, George Saul.

It is not known exactly what year William and Christina Kline Saul came to Henry County, but here they lived on a farm near Hamler, Ohio. William died on May 5, 1888, while carrying eggs on the way to Hamler and wife Christina followed on December 17, 1906. They had raised the following nine children: Phoebe Jane; Mary Elizabeth; James Elias; George Marion; William Alton; John Jacob; Charles Francis; Elda A.; and Melvin Vienne. Four of the boys, George Marion, William Alton, John Jacob, and Charles Francis stayed in this county and leave many descendants who live here.

William Alton, the fifth child, was born May 14, 1871, and on December 25, 1902, he married Lillie May Gunter, born on November 24, 1881, in Henry County. She was the daughter of David Herring Gunter, formerly of Richland County, and Jennie Maria Carey, formerly of Beaver County, Pennsylvania. William Alton owned and operated a tile yard in Shunk, Ohio, on Route 109. He and wife Lillie had two daughters. The eldest, Hazel Ruth, is married to Leroy Riggs, a farmer near Liberty Center, who was born in Henry County to Charles W. Riggs and Wilhelmine Hoch. The younger daughter, Mae, married C. E. Obee of Toledo and there she still lives. Hazel and Leroy are the parents of seven children: Norma Lee (deceased) wife of Edwin Ingle, Sylvania, and formerly of Napoleon; Lloma Jean, wife of Howard Kirian, Fostoria; Geraldine, wife of William Cline, Fostoria; Norman, married to Ruth Lester, and living in Defiance; Arlene is married to James Adams of Grelton; Rita is married to George Kryder of Napoleon; and Mary is married to Kenneth Beilharz of Van Buren and formerly of Liberty Center. Only two of the above then, still live in this county. They are Arlene Adams and Rita Kryder.

Lillie May Saul died on May 8, 1906, while her two daughters were still babies, and William Alton then married for the second time to Esther R. Murphy, of this county, and they had two daughters, Edna Alice Ovall (deceased), and Zona Luella Robinette of Cygnet. William Alton passed away on March 5, 1913.

Submitted by Beatrice Riggs Kline