Wikipedia

Adam W. Oberlin

Adam W. Oberlin (May 13, 1859 – November 1921) was an American politician from Ohio. He served as a member of the Ohio House of Representatives from 1915 to 1916 and as a member of the Ohio Senate in 1917. In 1917, Oberlin went missing while the Republican candidate for mayor of Canton. He was found in Norfolk, Virginia, working as a carpenter seven months later. He moved to Miami and later worked as a deputy U.S. marshall until his death in 1921.

Adam W. Oberlin
Oberlin in a 1918 publication
Member of the Ohio Senate
from the 21st district
In office
1917–1917
Member of the Ohio House of Representatives
from the Stark County district
In office
1915–1916
Personal details
Born(1859-05-13)May 13, 1859
Plain Township, Stark County, Ohio, U.S.
DiedNovember 1921(1921-11-00) (aged 62)
Miami-Dade County, Florida, U.S.
Resting placeCanton, Ohio
Political partyRepublican
Spouses
  • Marietta Gans
    ​
    (m. 1878)​
  • Ida Marie Keough
    ​
    (m. 1921)​
Children5
EducationSpencerian Business College
Occupation
  • Carpenter
  • marshall
  • politician
  • real estate businessman
  • sheriff

Early life and family

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Adam W. Oberlin was born on May 13, 1859, at a farm in Plain Township, Stark County, Ohio, to Anna (or Nancy[1]) (née Wenger) and John Oberlin. His parents were from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. His grandfather John Oberlin served in the War of 1812 and his great-grandfather Mike Oberlin served in the Revolutionary War.[2] At a young age, Oberlin learned to mine and haul coal at the coal mine on the family farm. Oberlin was educated at common schools and Avery Academy in Canton. He took a business course at Spencerian Business College in Cleveland.[1][2] In 1881, Oberlin bought a coal yard in Canton between 3rd and 4th streets.[3]

Oberlin married Marietta Gans, daughter of Benjamin Gans, of Middlebranch in 1878. They had five children, John Frederick, Gertrude, Harold Vincent, Benjamin Gans and Edith.[1][2] He married Ida Marie Keough on June 1, 1921.[4][5] He was a member of the Trinity Reformed Church in Canton.[1][6]

Legislative career

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Oberlin was a Republican.[2] In January 1906, Oberlin was appointed deputy sheriff of Stark County. He served until 1911, when he was elected county sheriff. He served in that role for two terms, until 1914.[1][2] He was elected to the Ohio House of Representatives, representing Stark County, in 1914. While in the House, Oberlin introduced a bill to establish a home for disabled children in Ohio.[2] He was elected to the Ohio Senate, representing the 21st district (Stark and Carroll counties), in 1916. While in the Senate, Oberlin served as chairman of the soldiers' and sailors' home committee.[2] Oberlin worked at the Adam W. Oberlin Agency Company, a real estate company.[6]

Campaign for mayor and missing months

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In August 1917, Oberlin defeated incumbent Charles A. Stolberg in the Republican nomination for mayor of Canton.[7] On September 4, 1917, Oberlin went missing. In mid-September, a man was found dead by suicide in nearby Lima, but the body was determined to be a different person.[8][9] Despite remaining missing, Oberlin's name remained on the ballot for mayor, but lost to Charles E. Poorman.[10] In late March 1918, Oberlin was found in Norfolk, Virginia. After arriving to Norfolk in late September 1917, he worked several jobs before settling to work as a carpenter. He first worked as a carpenter at Naval Station Norfolk and then the army base. During this time, Oberlin reportedly believed his name was "A. Wegner".[6][11][12] Oberlin moved back to Ohio with his son and was placed in a sanitarium in Cleveland.[12][13] After he was found in Norfolk, it was reported that Oberlin shaved his mustache to disguise his identity.[12] In an interview in May of that year, Oberlin revealed he ran away to avoid being elected mayor of Canton and no longer sought political office, but wanted to do physical work.[14]

Florida years and death

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Grave of Oberlin at Henry Warstler Cemetery

In 1919, Oberlin moved to Miami, Florida. After arriving in Miami, he ran for sheriff of Miami on the Republican ticket, but lost. He was appointed by U.S. marshall Dyson as deputy U.S. marshall for the Miami district. He started that role on August 1, 1921.[4][15]

On November 15, 1921, Oberlin went missing again. His body was found on December 29, 1921, in the Everglades in Miami-Dade County. He died by suicide by gun.[4][16][17][18] He was buried in Canton.[19]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e John H. Lehman, ed. (1916). A Standard History of Stark County, Ohio. Vol. 2. The Lewis Publishing Company. pp. 710–712. Retrieved September 18, 2023 – via Archive.org. 
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Mercer, James K. (1918). Ohio Legislative History, 1913–1917. pp. 474–475. Retrieved August 9, 2023. 
  3. ^ "New Coal Yard". The Stark County Democrat. September 1, 1881. p. 5. Retrieved August 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. 
  4. ^ a b c "Memory Lapse Factor in Mystery of Oberlin; Again on Missing List". The Cincinnati Enquirer. November 26, 1921. p. 2. Retrieved August 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. 
  5. ^ "Keough–Oberlin Wedding". Miami Daily Metropolis. June 2, 1921. p. 6. Retrieved August 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. 
  6. ^ a b c "Missing for Seven Months". The Cincinnati Enquirer. March 30, 1918. p. 9. Retrieved August 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. 
  7. ^ "Canton". The Greenville Journal. August 23, 1917. p. 3. Retrieved August 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. 
  8. ^ "Canton Hunts State Senator". The Springfield Daily News. September 19, 1917. p. 11. Retrieved August 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. 
  9. ^ "Relative Fails to Identify the Body". The Lima Times-Democrat. September 21, 1917. p. 1 s. Retrieved August 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. 
  10. ^ "Vote for Missing Man". The Cincinnati Post. November 7, 1917. p. 3. Retrieved August 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. 
  11. ^ "Ohio Senator Working Here as Carpenter". The Virginian-Pilot and the Norfolk Landmark. March 30, 1918. p. 2. Retrieved August 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. 
  12. ^ a b c "Senator Oberlin Cut Mustache When Recognized". Virginian-Pilot and the Norfolk Landmark. March 31, 1918. p. 13. Retrieved August 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. 
  13. ^ "Oberlin in Sanitarium". Lancaster Daily Eagle. April 2, 1918. p. 1. Retrieved August 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. 
  14. ^ "Oberlin Tells His Story". The Times-Democrat. May 15, 1918. p. 2. Retrieved August 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. 
  15. ^ "Oberlin Takes Office August 1". Miami Herald. July 30, 1921. p. 7. Retrieved August 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. 
  16. ^ "Ohio Citizens Lost in the Everglades". Greenville Daily Tribune. November 26, 1921. p. 1. Retrieved August 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. 
  17. ^ "Ohioan Kills Self at Miami, Florida". The Democratic Banner. December 30, 1921. p. 1. Retrieved August 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. 
  18. ^ "Body is Found in Dade Swamp". Tampa Bay Times. December 29, 1921. p. 1. Retrieved August 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. 
  19. ^ "Oberlin Funeral Held Last Night". Miami Herald. January 2, 1922. p. 4. Retrieved August 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. 
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