Zebulon Herbert Travis

Zebulon Herbert Travis was born on March 14, 1896, and died on December 14, 1971. He married Jayne Belle Suydam, who was born on February 3, 1893, a daughter of Franklin Benjamin and Ida Frances Chamberlin Suydam. They were married on February 20, 1915.

The Suydam history is in this volume. Frank Suydam, son of Leonard Suydam, was born in Detroit, Michigan, on December 6, 1850. His father left for the gold fields of California and the family lost track of him. Frank's mother died soon after and Frank was taken, and raised, by Richard West Suydam, a native of Monmouth, New Jersey. The Suydam family came from Norwalk, Ohio, about 1865 and settled in Harrison Township, Henry County, Ohio. Richard West Suydam died in 1875, and Ida Chamberlin Suydam died on May 20, 1937. Ida was born in Venice, Erie County, Ohio, on July 17, 1872, and was a daughter of Horace M. and Emma Louisa Fawcett Chamberlin. Ida's grandfather, Robert Fawcett, came from England. Franklin Benjamin Suydam died on August 1, 1935.

Zeb Travis and his family lived on various farms in the area until 1926 when they moved to a farm they purchased in York Township, Fulton County, Ohio. They lived there raising livestock, grain and produce for the Toledo wholesale and retail markets until 1941.

Zeb and Jayne moved back to Napoleon and Zeb operated a restaurant for the Campbell Soup Company for one year. Then he opened up a restaurant called "Zeb's Place" and continued to operate the restaurant, which later contained a bar, until his retirement in 1968.

Zeb loved people, was a great humanitarian and helped those who were in need. For many years he stayed open on Christmas Day preparing a dinner for travelers and others who had no family or friends to spend Christmas with. He made no charge for the food that day although guests could, if they so desired, drop a donation into the can for a favorite charity.

Volunteer help for the day came from among his friends and members of the Loyal Order of the Moose. Zeb was a member of the Moose Lodge for over fifty years; a member of the Eagles Lodge, the Napoleon Senior Citizen's Club, and St. Paul Methodist Church.

Zeb died on December 14, 1971 at the Detwiler Manor Rest Home in Wauseon, and is buried in Forest Hill Cemetery, Napoleon, Ohio. His widow, Jayne Belle Travis, lived in Napoleon.