553 N. Bever St., Wooster, Ohio

The square wood frame house with 2-story bay windows at 553 N. Bever St. was built between 1907-1908 by property owner developer and contractor Charles O. Langell. Photograph by S. Zimmerman

The square wood frame house with with 2-story bay windows and full front porch at 553 N. Bever St. was built between 1907-1908 by property owner developer and contractor Charles O. Langell. Upon construction of the house, it was sold to William H. Wiler and his wife Mary.

In the book, Commemorative Biographical Record of Wayne County, Ohio, by J.H. Beers & Co. William H. Wiler, was said to have received his education in Wooster, Ohio and in his youth learned the trade of carpentry. As an adult, he established himself in the boot and shoe business in downtown Wooster. In 1876 he married Miss Mary Lucas, daughter of Josiah and Elizabeth (Bitter) Lucas, natives of Pennsylvania. Three children were born of their union, one of whom, Roy, born in 1878, died when six months old; Zella, born in 1880, and Charles, in 1882.

William H. Wiler held an honored place in the business and social circles of Wooster, and was an esteemed businessman and citizen who took pride in the growth and prosperity of Wooster and Wayne county. His first start in the shoe business was in partnership with his father-in-law, Josiah Lucas, which connection continued until 1882, after which he ran the business alone.

After living in the house for 12 years the Wiler's sold the house to Charley and Laura (Troxel) Rutt who lived in the house for only 3 years when they sold it to Leo and Susie Crites who would live there for the next 20 years. The Crite's sold it to Daisy Hassenpflug who lived there for 16 years until her death in 1958 and the house was sold to Herbert S. Slater in 1959 and later passed to other Slater family members which had the longest total ownership of 38 years. Since the Slater family sold the house in 1997 it has gone through a series of owners and has since been used as a rental property.

Wayne County Recorder Property Transfers

• 1816: William Henry, Joseph H. Larwill, Abigail Larwill To John Bever Vol. 1 p.100 $1
• 1837: Last will and testament of John Bever deceased gave to daughter Mirtilla (Bever) Bowman married to James L. Bowman land containing 68 acres.
• 1857:
  • Mirtilla Bowman To Jacob B. McKennan Trust Deed Vol. 50 p.242-244
  • J.B. McKennan's Addition to the Town of Wooster: Plat of 30 outlots numbered 149-178 dated November 7, 1857.
• 1863: J.B. McKennan Jr. To Constant Lake Vol. 58 p.140 Old Lot No. 164 $386.85
• 1868: Constant Lake sub-divided Old Lot No. 164 into 8 parcels: Lot No.s 1001-1008.
• 1869: Constant Lake To John McSweeney Vol. 72 p.143 Lot No.s 1001 and 1002 $1,432
• 1892: John McSweeney, Kate McSweeney To Jennie McSweeney, daughter Vol. 123 p.587 Lot No.s 1001 and 1002 $1 Quit-Claim
• 1895: Jennie McSweeney To Maggie J. Curry Vol. 128 p.63 southwest part of Lot No. 1002 $600
• 1907: Maud Curry Heyden, George Heyden, Flora Curry McConnell, Roy McConnell, heirs of divorced wife, Maggie J. Curry, of Jerome Curry To Charles O. Langell Vol. 156 p.608 southwest part of Lot No. 1002 $525
• 1908: Charles O. Langell To Mary A. Weiler (Wiler on Deed) Vol. 157 p.230 southwest part of Lot No. 1002 $2875
• 1920: Mary A. Wiler, W.H. Wiler To Charley Rutt, Laura Rutt Vol. 186 p.219 southwest part of Lot No. 1002 $5,000 according to $5.50 revenue stamp
• 1923: Charley Rutt, Laura Rutt To Leo C. Crites, Susie Crites Vol. 195 p.388 southwest part of Lot No. 1002 $7,273 according to $8 revenue stamp
• 1943: Leo C. Crites, Susie Crites To Daisy F. Hassenpflug Vol. 251 p.152 southwest part of Lot No. 1002 $5,500 according to $6.05 revenue stamp
• 1959: Daisy F. Hassenpflug, deceased To Herbert S. Slater, Davina W. Slater Vol. 358 p.678 southwest part of Lot No. 1002 $9,250
• 1985: Herbert S. Slater, Davina W. Slater To Charles T. Slater, Herbert S. Slater Jr., Stanley R. Slater, Bruce D. Slater Vol. 608 p.427 southwest part of Lot No. 1002 $0
• 1997: Charles T. Slater To Gerald R. Johnson, Carol Johnson southwest part of Lot No. 1002 or parcel 64-01474 $54,000
• 2004: Gerald R. Johnson, Carol Johnson To Icarus Investments southwest part of Lot No. 1002 or parcel 64-01474 $81,500 Sheriff Deed
• 2004: Icarus Investments To Seth A. Miller, Renee S. Miller southwest part of Lot No. 1002 or parcel 64-01474 $0 Joint-Survivorship Deed
• 2005: Seth A. Miller, Renee S. Miller To Albert J. Kopina, Tamara L. Kopina southwest part of Lot No. 1002 or parcel 64-01474 $114,900
• 2010: Albert J. Kopina, Tamara L. Kopina To Deutsche Bank National Trust Co. southwest part of Lot No. 1002 or parcel 64-01474 $50,000 Sheriff Deed
  • Deutsche Bank National Trust Co. To Alan Streit southwest part of Lot No. 1002 or parcel 64-01474 $42,750
• 2013: Alan Streit To Terri J. Edmunds southwest part of Lot No. 1002 or parcel 64-01474 $72,500

See Also

• To figure out how much people paid for a property read about Revenue Stamps and Property Conveyance Fee History