Putnam County, Ohio - Biographical sketches, 1915 (part 2 of 33)

Peter Steiner was the fourth child of his parents. He was married at the age of twenty-five, just before coming to America, to Barbara Schuhmacher, who was the daughter of Christian and Barbara Schuhmacher. Both she and her father were natives of Basel, Switzerland. Her parents and four children came to America at the same time the Steiner family came. The children of this family were Peter, who was a minister; John, Christian and Barbara, the mother of Peter P., the subject of this sketch. Peter Steiner, and the remainder of the family, settled in what is now Richland township, Allen county, which was then a part of Putnam county. They entered land from the government, for which they paid one dollar an acre. The Steiners had been considered well-to-do in Switzerland, were prosperous farmers and had lived on the same farm, "The Buchwald," for seven successive generations. This was a large farm, probably consisting of two or three hundred acres.

Christian Schuhmacher, the father of Peter P. Steiner's mother, was a miller in Switzerland and also a wine merchant. After entering his land from the government, built a log cabin and proceeded to clear his land It is related that he used to haul grain to mill at Sandusky, Tiffin and Maumee, forty or fifty miles away, with an ox team. He could only haul about fifteen or twenty bushels at. a time, on account of the bad condition of the roads, and it usually took a week. At all times he would have to carry an ax, with which to cut his way through fallen trees. It was on the farm that he established, by dint of energy and push, that his eleven children were reared, all of whom grew to man and womanhopd. The children were as follow: Catherine, deceased, wife of Christian Gratz; Christian; Barbara, deceased, wife of Peter D. Diller; Mary Ann, deceased, wife of Chris Hilty; Elizabeth; David, who died at the age of twenty-one; Peter P. ; Mattie, who died at the age of twenty; Benjamin died at the age of fifty-five, in 1895: Fannie, who died single, and Susan, deceased, wife of Benjamin Hilty. They are no«- all deceased with the exception of Christian, Elizabeth and Peter P. The mother of these children died about 1885. His father, at the time of his death, owned four hundred and twenty-six acres of land and was known as a good farmer. He was a Democrat and a very earnest supporter of the Mennonite church.

It was on the old homestead farm in Richland township, Allen county^ that Peter P. Steiner spent his boyhood days. Here he attended the district, schools and, of course, helped his father on the farm, until twenty-two ^ years of age.

Peter P. .Steiner was married on March 7, 1867, and remained on the home place until the following fall, when he moved to Riley township, Putnam county, on a place owned by his father. This farm of one hundred and twenty acres, he later purchased from his father. It was in a virgin state and Mr. Steiner, like his father, cleared the land and built his cabin. He felled the first tree on the site of his new home on October 28,. 1867. He cleared two acres and on December 13, with his bride, moved to his new home. He had previously dug a well. His wife was Elizabeth Luginbihll, the daughter of Christian Luginbihll and wife. Mrs. Steiner was a native of Riley township, Putnam county, and her parents were natives of Switzerland. She died on September 20, 1905. She was a splendid Christian woman, a devoted wife and loving mother. She was the mother of four children, Helen, the wife of P. D. Amstutz, the postmaster of Pandora, who have three children, R. Mendelssohn, Melvina and Hilda W.; Martha,, the twin sister of Helen, who died in infancy; Noah, who married Elizabeth Luginbihll, and has five children, Melvin, Eulalia, William, Waldo and Earl D., and Mary, who died at the age of twenty-seven. She attended Findlay College and was a teacher of music. She was a fine Christian, young woman, very popular and highly esteemed in the community.

After clearing up his farm, Peter P. Steiner continued to farm until 1898, when he moved to Pandora. The following spring he entered the milling business, the firm name being Steiner, Hilty & Schuhmacher. The firm name now is Steiner, Hilty & Kempf, Mr. Kempf being the bookkeeper. Mr. Steiner has continued in the milling business up to the present time. He was elected president of the firm and has since continued to hold this office. In addition to his other holdings, Mr. Steiner has accumulated considerable town property. He is a stockholder in the Farmers' Banking Company.

Mr. Steiner is a Democrat. He is one of the main supports of the Mennonite church and has been a deacon in that church for the past forty years. He is one of the most substantial citizens of Riley township and Pandora. He is influential and highly respected and is a fine type of the present-day Christian gentleman. Mr. Steiner deserves great credit for his many accomplishments. He has toiled early and late, but he has the satisfaction of knowing now that he has always toiled to good purpose.

Fred H. Ellerbrock

The Ellerbrock family have been residents of Glandorf, Putnam county, Ohio, since 1836. In that year the grandfather of Fred H. Ellerbrock came from Germany and located in this county, when practically the entire county was covered with a dense forest. In fact, it was only a few years after the county was organized that the Ellerbrock family became permanent residents. They have taken an active part in the life of this community, from earliest pioneer times, and the various members of this family are highly respected in the community where they live.

Fred H. Ellerbrock, the son of Fred and Lizette (Wischmeyer) Ellerbrock, was born September 25, 1882, at Glandorf, Putnam county, Ohio His father was born, in Ottawa township, in this county, near Glandorf,. and was a son of Herman Ellerbrock, who was born in Hanover, Germany,. and came to America, about 1836, where at once located on the farm near Glandorf, in Putnam county. There he spent the remainder of his life.

Fred Ellerbrock, Sr., was reared on his father's farm, at Glandorf, and, upon reaching his maturity, married Lizette Wischmeyer. She was born at Hunteberg, Oznabruck, Germany, and was a daughter of Henry Wischmeyer and wife. She came here in her girlhood days with her sister, while her father later came from the Fatherland and spent his declining years^ in Glandorf. Fred Ellerbrock, Sr., was a life-long farmer, first locatingin Pleasant township and later, near Glandorf. He was twice married, his first wife being Mary Borgelt, who died, leaving two children, William and Mary. To his second marriage were born six children, three sons and three daughters, Henry; Lucy, the wife of Henry Karkhoff; Fred, of Glandorf; Bernard; Lena Frances, living, and Louis, who died in early childhood^ The father of these children died in July, 1913. His widow is now living near Glandorf.

Fred H. Ellerbrock was reared on his father's farm near Glandorf, and educated in the public schools of his home neighborhood. He, in partnership with Charles B. Ellerbrook, in 1910, bought the saloon at Glandorf, which they have since operated in partnership, conducting the business in a clean and orderly manner.

Mr. Ellerbrock was married in May, 1908, to Dora Kaufman, who was born, at New Cleveland, Ohio, and is the daughter of William and Catherine (Schmenk) Kaufman. Her father was a life-long farmer, at New Cle^'eland. Mr. Ellerbrock and his wife are the parents of three children: Marie, Norbert and Alma.

Mr. Ellerbrock and his family are members of the Catholic church, at Glandorf, and he belongs to the St. John's and Ss. Peter and Paul's Aid

The late Warren F. Reed, M. D., was a resident of Putnam county, Ohio, from the spring of 1867 until the spring of 1913. For many years iie was one of the leading practitioners of the county, and was also inter- in the political life of the county as well. During the twenty years jjreceding his death, he was president of the Bank of Ottawa, although he continued to practice his profession until the time of his decease. When a young man he enlisted for service in the Civil War, and made a notable record in that terrible conflict. Doctor Reed was a well-known man, of -broad character, and most kindly disposition. He was unassuming in manner, devoted to his profession and faithful in the discharge of every duty which came before him.

The late Warren F Reed was born near Lima, Ohio, November 22, 1839, and died at his home, in Ottawa, March 28, 1913. He was a son of Manuel and Elizabeth (O'Harr) Reed. His father was a native of Trumbull county, Ohio, and became a resident of Allen county, Ohio, as early as 1834, purchasing a tract of one hundred and sixty acres of government land in that year, near Lima. He married Elizabeth O'Harr, a daughter of Arthur O'Harr, one of the pioneers of Franklin county, Ohio. Manuel Reed was a farmer and carpenter, was a man of quiet and unostentatious manner and exerted a beneficial influence in the community where he resided. His ancestors were pioneers of Pennsylvania. The O'Harrs were descended from an old Scottish family, a number of representatives of which settled in Pennsylvania early in the history of that state.

Doctor Reed was educated in the district schools of Allen county and later graduated from the Lima high school. When a young man, he began the study of medicine, under Doctor Harper, of Lima, and after returning from the war, he completed his medical education in the University of Michigan, from which institution he graduated in 1866. He then entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons, of New York City, and, in the spring 1867, began the practice of his profession in the town of Kalida, Putnam county, Ohio, where he lived until 1890. In that year he moved to Ottawa, having been elected to the oflice of county auditor on the Republican ticket.

His election was a striking tribute to his worth, as a citizen, in view of the fact that the county was very strongly Democratic. Doctor Reed was appointed assignee of the Ottawa Exchange Bank in 1894, and in July of that year, in partnership with I. H. Kahle, of Glandorf, and W. H. Harper, Jr., of Lima, he reorganized the Bank of Ottawa, and was president of that financial institution until his death, in the spring of 19 13.

In addition to his business and official duties. Doctor Reed continued the practice of medicine during all these years. He was a member of the Northwestern Medical Society, the Putnam County Medical Society and State Medical Society. He was a member of the Free and Accepted Masons and had attained to the chapter, council and commandery degrees.

Doctor Reed was married in 1873, to Clyde Gordon, the daughter of Judge John H. and Mrs. Jane C. (Perry) Gordon. To this union four children were born, Mary, Nellie, Gordon, who died at the age of seventeen, and one child, who died in infancy.

John H. Gordon, the father of Mrs. Reed, was a native of Pennsylvania, and was reared to manhood in that state. He was largely a selfeducated man, and came to Ohio early in his manhood and settled in Butler county, where he married Mrs. Jane C. Perry. To this union five daughters were born, Ruth, deceased, who was the wife of Edward Dunn, of Indianapolis, Indiana; Rebecca J., the wife of W. C. G. Krauss, of Ottawa, Ohio; Zella, the wife of George D. Kinder, of Ottawa; Clyde, the wife, of Doctor Reed, and Mrs. Minerva Hornaday, now the matron of the Soldiers' Home, at Xenia, Ohio. Mrs. Gordon, by a previous marriage, had one daughter, Mary P., who became the wife of James Johnson, of Indianapolis, Indiana.

Mr. Gordon taught school, in Ohio, for several years, after coming to this state, and made an excellent record as an instructor. He was especially proficient in mathematics and made this branch of study a specialty. He served three terms as recorder of Butler county, Ohio, and also engaged in farming and in the livery business at Hamilton, Ohio. In 1856 Mr. Gordon moved his family to Putnam county, and for some years thereafter was engaged in the manufacture of lumber, but later, turned his attention to contracting, building and the making of stone roads. He was elected to the office of probate judge for two terms, served two terms as mayor of Ottawa, and was a justice of the peace for several years. In this latter office, Mr. always used a reasonable effort to effect an amicable adjustment of difficulties without bringing the cause in dispute to trial. He had a deep dislike for litigation, on account of the bad feelings which were usually aroused by a trial. A man of strictest morality and integrity, he enjoyed the confidence of the community to the fullest extent, and would often suffer a wrong rather than commit one. While serving as probate judge, he frequently refused to collect fees, feeling that the people were too poor to be taxed for his services. Liberal to a fault, his charities were widely dispensed,, and in consequence he never succeeded in accumulating great wealth. Mr- Gordon was a stanch Democrat, but during the Civil War, he was an ardent Union man and did much to induce the young men of his county to volunteer. By reason of an accident, in which he lost an arm when a young man,, he was rendered ineligible for military duty. His life was one of high aims and in his death Putnam county lost one of its most prominent and valued citizens.

Doctor Reed was a member of the One Hundred and Fifty-first Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and although he had many narrow escapes,, he returned home after the close of the war without injury or without impairment of his health. He was a keen business man and an executive of marked ability. He was president of the building commission, who had charge of the erection of the present Putnam county court house, and rendered valuable and efficient service while the seat of justice was being erected. It may be assumed that Doctor Reed was a man of unusual attainments, by reason of the fact that he took such an active part in the life of his community. His career, extending over nearly half a century, was fraught with great good to his county, and at his death he was sincerely mourned by a large circle of friends and acquaintances.

Thomas Harvey Rower

The Rower family came to Putnam county, Ohio, in 1849, at which, time Frederick Rower, the great-grandfather of Thomas Harvey Rower, came to this country from Saxony and located in Franklin county, at which place he died. For more than sixty years this family has been identified with the history of the county, and has seen it emerge from its primitivestate to the prosperous county which it is today. Thomas H. Rower was. a school teacher in his younger days, then was cashier of the First National. Bank of Leipsic for a time, but since 1907 has been a partner of W. F. Stevenson in general insurance, bonds, loans and real estate.

Rower, was born January 9, 1878, in Jackson township, three and one-half miles west^ of KaHda, along the Big Auglaize river. His father, who was the son of John and Nancy Rower, was born in 1851, on the same farm. John Rower was the son of Frederick Rower, who was born in Dresden, Saxony, in 1 779, and came to America in 1 799, and located in Pennsylvania, later crossing the mountains and locating on a farm in Franklin county, Ohio, in 1812, where he died in 1826. His wife, Elizabeth (Long) Rower, died in 1846. He was one of the first pioneer settlers to make his homecoming in 1849 and literally carved and drained a home out of the swampy forests. The pioneer experiences of this sterling German-American citizen would make interesting reading.

Lewis A. Rower was only a child when his father died at the age of thirty-two. His mother later married John Rager, and moved to Franklin county, and there Lewis A. grew to manhood and married Mary E. Begg, February 11, 1875. She was born in Franklin county, a daughter of John and Mary Begg, who came from Cumbernauld, Scotland, in 1844, and located in Frankli-n county. The Begg family lived in Franklin county most of their lives, but about the time of the war lived for two years in Putnam county, after which they returned to Franklin county, and later to Allen and Putnam counties, where they spent the remainder of their days. After Lewis A. Rower was married he moved back to the old Rower home in Putnam county, west of Kalida, and farmed there until his death in 1886. He died at the age of thirty-five, the same age as his father at the time of the latter's death. Lewis A. Rower left his widow with five children, John, who died in infancy; Thomas H., of Leipsic; Mary Janet, of Kalida, Ohio; Lewis Edson, of Kalida, Ohio; Philip A., of Kalida, Ohio; Mabel A., the wife of Rudolph Raabe, of Ft. Jennings, Ohio. The widow remained on the farm until 1913, when she moved into Kalida, where she now makes her home.

Thomas H. Rower was reared on the farm and remained there until he was twenty years of age. He became a student in the Western Ohio Normal School at Middle Point, Ohio, in the fall of 1898, and remained there until he graduated in the spring of 1900. The following year he taught in the public schools of Leipsic and for the next four years was the superintendent of the schools at Hamler, Ohio. After the close of his last year in Hamler, in the spring of 1905, he returned to Leipsic and became the cashier of the First National Bank. He remained with this bank until its voluntary liquidation two years later, and then formed a partnership with Walter S. Stevenson in the insurance, stocks, bonds, loans and real

Mr. Rower was married on June 15, 1904, to Annetta Wynn, who was born in Germantown, Pennsylvania, and is a daughter of Isaac and Margaret (Wrightly) Wynn. Both Mrs. Rower's parents were members of old and highly-respected Philadelphia families, her father being a cousin of ex-Postmaster-General Robert Wynn. Members of family of Mr. and Mrs. Wynn were, Ernest, deceased; Ervin, a resident of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Annetta, wife of the subject of this sketch.

Mr. Wynn died when Mrs. Rower was an infant and her mother later married Rev. W. H. Hyatt, a Presbyterian minister, and has since lived in a number of places, as his work took him from one city to another. Mrs. Rower is a fine musician and has taught instrumental music. Mr. and Mrs. Rower are the parents of four children, Margaret Eloise, Mary Annette, Helen Lucile and Alfred Wynn.

Mr. Rower is independent in politics, and takes an intelligent interest in the current issues of the day. He has been president of the Leipsic board of education since the beginning of 1914. He is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, and he and his wife are active workers in the Presbyterian church, in which he has been an elder for several years.

Homer R. Day

One of the most illustrious, as well as one of the oldest, families in America, is the Day family, of which the gentleman whose name is noted above, a popular merchant, at Columbus Grove, Putnam county, Ohio, is an honorable representative of the present generation. To go into all the various ramfications of the Day family in America, or to set out in detail the most salient points in the lives of the numerous representatives of this family, who have rendered distinguished service to their country, would require a book larger, perhaps, than this volume and the biographer, keeping within the proper limitations prescribed in the compilation of a work of this character, must content himself with a mere side light on the beginnings of the family which will serve as an introduction to the present generation, and then conne himself to a brief biography of the gentleman whose name appears as the caption of this interesting sketch, the ninth in direct line of descent from Robert Day, the first of his name to settle in America.

Those who are interested in the ampler history of the Day family are referred to the Day Book, one of the most monumental and painstaking works of genealogical research ever printed in this country and which tontains the lineage of the Days far back beyond the time the first of the name in this country reached America, early in the seventeenth century.

The Day Book traces the present family of Days, in Putnam county, of which Homer R. Day, merchant, at Columbus Grove, is perhaps the best-known local representative, back to the year 1680, in which year Robert Day arrived in Boston, from England, one of a party of earnest colonists, numbering one hundred or more, who came to this country, under the leadership of the Reverend Hooker, to find new homes. This party penetrated the wilderness and founded the town of Hartford, Connecticut, Robert Day taking no small part in the strenuous labors of these colonists. The majority of the Days, in the earlier history, were ministers of the Gospel or farmers, and in whatever relation they served their fellow men, they did their duty as they saw it. The Rev. Jeremiah Day, sixth in line from Robert Day, was president of Yale College, from 181 7 to 1846, and George Day, who wrote the Day Book, so well known to all genealogists, was also president of Yale for many years. The late Alfred H. Day, whose name for so many years was literally a household word in the neighborhood of Columbus Grove, by reason of his long connection with the mercantile interests of that city, was the eighth in line from the Robert Day above mentioned ; his father, the venerated Reverend Alvin Day, second, having been a son of the Reverend Jeremiah Day, referred to above as president of Yale for so long a period. There are many biographies of the Reverend Alvin Day extant, to any one of which the reader, curious for further information, is referred. Sufficient here to say that he was born in Wilberham, Massachusetts, married Anna Maria Stebbins and died December 3, i860, his widow surviving, until September 7, 1867.

To the Reverend Alvin and Anna Maria (Stebbins) Day thirteen children were born, of whom the late Alfred H. Day, father of Homer R., was the seventh in order of birth, the others being Harrison C, Nelson, Gilford, Lovina, Sandford, George, Olive Maria, Mary Azubah, Alvira, Jane Eliza, Walter S. and Alvin C.

Alfred H. Day, who for many years was a merchant, at Columbus Grove, and whose death on March 24, 191 1, was so sincerely mourned thougrhout this whole section, was born at Wilberham, Massachusetts, January 25, 1840, the son of the Reverend Alvin and Anna Maria (Stebbins) Day, the former of whom was one of the most distinguished Baptist ministers of his day.

Alfred attended school at Wilberham until he was sixteen years of age, when he decided to come west. Starting out alone, he proceeded to Rockport, Illinois, where he hved for a period of two years, attending school during the winter and making his time further serviceable by clerking in a local store where he no doubt laid the foundation for his later mercantile success. He then moved to Lima, Ohio, where he was for some time engaged in a clerical capacity in a grain warehouse and, in 1861, came to Putnam county, locating in Columbus Grove, where for two years he engaged in the grain business with such success that, in 1863, he was able to purchase the general merchandise store of J. P. Jones, consisting mostly of groceries, which was located in a frame building on the west side of the street. This was his first start in the dry-goods business, in which he later became so successful. About the year 1872, Mr. Day moved this frame structure and erected in its stead a fine brick building, in which he conducted his store with so much success that his business outgrew its quarters and it became necessary to enlarge the store capacity. To this end, in 1883, he enlarged the old store and erected the fine building which still stands a monument to his energy, the store which he so long conducted now being under the management of his son. There was a reason for the success which attended the efforts of the elder Day. He was a good business man, level-headed and cool, possessing excellent judgment and had a rare sense of values. In addition to this, he was always on duty, being at the store early and late, and was a master of detail. Mr. Day erected, in 1873 in Columbus Grove, one of the finest residences in the town, which is still standing, a home of unusual beauty and good taste. In the same year he built the Grove House, now known as the Witt Hotel, in Columbus Grove, and also for some time held an interest in the grain elevator in his home town. He watched his business grow with pride and, in 1893, he took into the store, as a partner, his son, Homer R. Day, who has since been continuously active in the direction of the business, and who, since his father's retirement, in 1906, has been the sole owner. About five years after his retirement, at the age of seventy-two, Mr. Day passed on to his reward and many there were in this county who mourned his demise.

Alfred H. Day was a loveable man, of excellent habits, unassuming and plain-spoken, of sterling character, dependable in all his relations in life and a power in his community, his death being a distinct loss to the town. Not only was he unusually active in the mercantile life of Columbus Grove, but he paid close attention to the community's civic interests and was always interested in any movement which had, as its object, the advancement of the public welfare. He was a Republican and took a good citizen's part in political affairs, his wise counsel and sound judgment being of much force in the deliberations of the local party managers. For sixteen years he was treasurer of Pleasant township, and for years was also corporation treasurer of Columbus Grove, besides being a member of the town council and the school board, in all these duties giving the same studious attention to the public's business as he gave to his own personal affairs. He was a devoted member of the Presbyterian church, as are all the members of his family, being prompt in his attendance upon the services of the church and a liberal contributor to the various beneficences of the same.

Alfred H. Day was united in marriage, in 1865, to Ada L. Pease, who was born in Monson, Massachusetts, and who is now living with her children. To this union three children were born, Rose E., who married Dr. Frank H. Pugh and lives at Bryan, Ohio; Clyde, who died in infancy, and Homer R., the immediate subject of this interesting biographical sketch.

Homer R. Day, who was born at Columbus Grove, April 9, 1873, son of Alfred H. and Ada L. (Pease) Day, received his youthful education in the schools of his native town and, upon completing the course there, took a supplemental course in the business college, at Poughkeepsie, New York, where he received his business training and from which institution he was graduated with the class of 1893, after which he returned home and entered business with his father, who took him as a partner that year. This mutually pleasant and profitable arrangement continued until the year 1906, when the elder Day retired, turning all interests over to his son, since which time the latter has been sole owner and has -continued the wise policies of his father with such careful direction that the business is continuing to grow in the most satisfactory fashion. In addition to his commercial interests, Mr. Day finds time to give his share of attention to public affairs, in which he naturally takes a deep interest. He has been a member of the board of public affairs for the past seven years, served for two terms as treasurer of the township and also for two terms as a member of the school board. He is also a director of the Exchange Bank of Columbus Grove. As was his father, he is a Republican, and his counsels carry weight with the party managers in Putnam county; by reason of his sound judgment and excellent executive ability. He has made himself a most valuable power for good in the community and commands the highest respect of all throughout the entire section of the county where his name and that of his father, before him, are so well known and so highly regarded. A man of unquestionable honesty, he believes in the application of sound principles to the conduct of both public and private business and is an earnest advocate of all measures which look to the betterment of the social, moral or civic conditions of the cpmmunity in which he lives.

Homer R. Day was united in marriage on April 25, 1897, to Miss- Winifred Rice, who was born at Ada, Ohio, the daughter of John F. and Jennie (Hemphill) Rice, members of old families of that section of the state, and to this union four children have been born, Aline, born on March 27, 1898; Jeannette, born on January 7, 1900; Mildred, born on March 15, 1902, and Fred R., born on June 3, 1905, and who died on December 15, 1907. The three youngsters, in the pleasant Day home, keep things lively there and are the delight of the lives of their devoted parents. Mr. and Mrs. Day are members of the Presbyterian church and take an active part in the beneficences of that organization, as well as being devoted in their attention to all movements that seek to better mankind.

A well-known woman, of Putnam county, Ohio, who was born and reared in Allen county, is Mrs. Addie Lillian (Hall) Zahrend. Her husband was a prominent business man of this county for many years, and was engaged in the lumber business, at Leipsic, at the time of his death, in the spring of 1905. He was a man of high character, a thorough Christian gentleman, a leader in all reform movements. Since his death, Mrs. Zahrend has been devoting her time and attention to the rearing of the children who were left in her care. She is a woman of refinement and culture, deeply devoted to her domestic life.

Mrs. Addie Lillian (Hall) Zahrend was born at Gilboa, Putnam county Ohio, December 22, 1861. She is a daughter of John F. and Nancv lane (Hoagland) Hall. "

Mrs. Zahrend spent her early childhood at Gilboa and, when fi^-e vears of age, moved with her parents to Bluffton, Allen county, Ohio where she was educated and lived until her marriage. She was married June ^c 1885, to John Carl Zahrend, and to this union six children were born Alartha Mane, Robert Franklin, Eugene Hall, John Carroll, Howard Lewis and Charlotte Lucile. Martha Marie was married, February 15, 1910 to Charles M. Harris, of Leipsic, Ohio, and now lives in Gore county, Kansas Mr and Mrs. Harris have three sons, Harold, Eugene and Charles Robert

Franklin married Margaret Cotter, of Philadelphia, October 16, 1909, and now lives in Wayne, Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia. Eugene Hall was married, December 17, 19 13, to Elizabeth Doyle, of Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, where he now resides. Eugene and his wife have one daughter, Dorothy Elizabeth. The three younger children, John, Howard and Charlotte, are still living with their mother and attending the public schools of Leipsic.

John Carl Zahrend was born in Mecklenburg Schwerin, Germany, June 22, 1858, and was the son of Herman and Minnie (Henning) Zahrend. Herman Zahrend was engaged in farming in Germany and in 1870, came to- America and located at Liberty Center, Henry county. Upon coming to this country, Herman Zahrend engaged in railroad work and later resumed farming near Napoleon, Henry County, Ohio. A few years later he removed to a farm east of Napoleon and there lived the remainder of his life. He was a member of the Dutch Reformed church and a stanch Republican in politics. Herman Zahrend and wife were the parents of seven children, John, who became the husband of Addie Lillian Hall ; Henry, who died at the age of twenty; a daughter, who died in her childhood; Frederick of Napoleon, Ohio, who married Ella Fahringer, and has two sons, Earl 'and Frederick; Harmon, a farmer living near Liberty Center, Ohio, who married Clara Hudson, and has two children, Goldie and Ralph; Louise, who^ died February 26, 1905, the wife of James Fahringer, who left her husband with three sons, Harry, Ora and Arthur; Charles, of Lima, Ohio, who married Minnie Freeman, and has three daughters. Vera, Mildred and a baby.

John C. Zahrend attended the common schools, of Liberty Center, Ohio, and later took a course in a Detroit business college. He was first employed as a clerk in a general store at Bluffton, Ohio, and later engaged in thegrocery business at that place, with Charles Day. He sold out his interestsin the grocery store, a short time after his marriage, and moved to Lima, Ohio, in 1886, where he took a position in a shoe store. A few years later he moved to Leipsic, Ohio, and became a partner of the O. E. Townsend Company, a company operating a large lumber and planing mill in Leipsic The firm consisted of John Zahrend, his brother-in-law, O E Townsend and the latter's father, L M. Townsend. Mr. Zahrend continued in this business until it was sold to the Robert Hixon Lumber Comany, after which he was retained by the latter company as the manager of the plant. He was also interested in the Peters Lumber Company, of Irwin, Kentucky.

Mr. Zahrend was in active business in Leipsic until his death, March 7 1905. He was held in high esteem by his business associates, and throughout the community where he had lived so many years. He was a man of strict business integrity, and had a fine Christian character. He was a loyal member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and was interested in everything which pertained to its welfare. He was a class leader, and a member of the official board- of the Methodist church at Leipsic. He was especially interested in temperance work.

Since the death of her husband, Mrs. Zahrend makes her home in Leipsic, with her three unmarried children. One of Mrs. Zahrend's uncles, her mother's side, James Hoagland, died in his early twenties, while living at Fort Wayne, Indiana. Before his death, he was elected to the state Senate -of Indiana, but died before the Legislature convened. He was said to be the youngest man who had been elected to the Indiana Senate up to that time.

Frank Gmeiner

There are citizens of Putnam county, Ohio, who have come here from many states in the Union, as well as many foreign countries. The Austrian empire has contributed some of the best citizens who are now making their homes in this country and among them, Frank Gmeiner, of Ottawa, occupies .a prominent place. Coming to this country with his parents when a small -boy, he has been a resident of Putnam county, since the spring of 1864, and for the past half century has been actively interested in everything pertaining to the welfare of the county. His parents dying shortly after he reached his majority, left him with five younger children, to whom he acted as father and mother.

Frank Gmeiner, the son of George and Mary (Flatz) Gmeiner, was born on December 3, 1852, in Vorardelberg, Tyrol, Austria. He was six years of age when his parents came to America and located in Sandusky Ohio, nine miles northwest of Fremont. In that county his father bought forty acres of timbered land, on which was a log school house, that, had just been abandoned. He lived in the school house until such time as lie was able to provide a better house. George Gmeiner cleared his land and had it partly improved when the Civil War broke out. He enlisted in the Seventy-second Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry and after his enlistment had expired, in the spring of 1864, he sold his farm in Sandusky -county and moved to Putnam county, where he bought eighty acres of timbered land, in Monterey township, four and one-half miles northwest of

Ottoville. Here again the family lived in a school house for a short time, Mr. Gmeiner renting it for about two or three months until he could build a log cabin for the family. On this farm George Gmeiner and his wife lived, until their death, both dying in October, 1875, the mother dying on the second day of the month aiid the father on the sixteenth. It is a singular coincidence that both of them died at half past three, on a Friday morning.

When George Gmeiner and his wife died, in the fall of 1875, they left six children. Frank, with whom this narrative deals, was the eldest, he being about twenty-two years of age at the time. The next eldest child was six years younger than he, his eldest sister being fourteen years of age, at which time she became the housekeeper for the orphan children. The youngest child was only seven years of age. The six children were as follows: Frank, of Ottawa; Gebhard, of Washington; Mary, the wife of Charles Duvall, of Havana, Arkansas; Leonard, who is a farmer of this county, living between Kalida and Cloverdale; Kate, the wife of Joseph Leatherman, a farmer living near Vaughnsville, in this county; and George, a baker at St. Louis, Missouri. Upon the death of his parents, Frank became executor of his father's will and at his father's request before his death, took his place as head of the family and took charge of the farm and httle flock of fatherless children, who were obedient and were industrious and prospered. A few years later, the paternal estate was divided equally, each of the children going into the world to make a living. All of them have become useful members of society.

Frank Gmeiner moved to Ottoville, and he and J. J. Miller and Andrew Kehres started a tile factory at that place. He continued in that business for about six years and then disposed of it and went into partnership with Wilham Gasser in the planing mill in the same place. He remained in this for about seven years, after which he engaged in the general real estate, loan and insurance business, which he has since followed.

Mr. Gmeiner, very early in life, began to fill official positions in his township and county. At the age of twenty-two he was elected justice of the peace and was-re-elected for another term. He has also served as a notary public, taking out a commission more as a convenience to the public than for any remuneration which he might receive from the office. He has been frequently called upon to serve as an executor, administrator, guardian, etc. As a matter of fact, his time was so consumed in this way that in 1896, he disposed of his interest in the planing mill and lumber business and devoted all of his time to the real estate, loan and insurance business.

charge of the office in September of the same year and held it for threeyears. At the expiration of his first term, he was re-elected and served for another three years. During the second term incumbency, the law waschanged as to the term of recorder's office to two years, and he was commissioned to hold over one year more, so that he held the office continuously for seven years, the last term expiring in 1909. Since that time he has continued to reside in Ottawa, and is engaged in various lines of activity. He does a considerable amount of land abstracting, buying and selling real estate, making loans and acting as guardian and administrator for estates. He was appointed by the state board in September, 1913, as a member of the board of liquor license commissioners for Putnam county, and. is still serving in this capacity.

Mr. Gmeiner was married on June 7, 1893, to Mary Mallifskey. She was born at New Washington, Crawford county, Ohio, and is a daughter of Martin and Mary (Gorise) Mallifskey. Her parents were natives of German Bohemia, in Austria, and came to Ottoville, Putnam county, in the fall of 1892. Her mother died in this county, October 17, 1893, when her father came to live with Mr. and Mrs. Gmeiner and remained with them until he dropped dead suddenly in the court house at Ottawa, June 21, 1911.

Mr. and Mrs. Gmeiner are loyal members of the Catholic 'church. Heis a member of the Knights of Columbus, Catholic Knights of Ohio and als® St. Peter's and Paul's Aid Society.

Nimrod Speaker

The oldest resident of Belmore, Putnam county, Ohio, is Nimrod Speaker, who has been engaged in business in that place for twenty-nine years. When he first came to the pleasant village of Belmore, there was only a little board depot and two log cabins. During his long residence in the village he has seen it grow to its present prosperous condition, and has borne no inconsiderable part in making it what it is today. A leading business man for more than a quarter of a centui-y, he has been active in promoting the general prosperity of the town, and during a great part of. this period, he has held one official position or another. He is now retired from active work and is spending his declining years in retirement, highly honored and respected by everyone who knows him.

was born on March 21, 1841, in Licking county, Ohio. His parents were natives of western Pennsylvania and Virginia, respectively, and came to Licking county with their respective parents. Andrew Speaker was a son of Charles Speaker. Elizabeth Moreland was a daughter of David Moreland, and both the Speaker and Moreland families were early pioneers in Licking county. Andrew Speaker and family moved to Putnam county, in 1857, and located in Blanchard township, not far east of Leipsic, and there, on a farm, the parents both died within four weeks of each other, in 1866.

Soon after the family located in this county, Nimrod Speaker went to Put-in-Bay Island and worked there for some time. However, his health became impaired and, in 1861, he came to Belmore and worked in the timber, cutting out wood and timber, until 1868. In that year he and his brother, -George, bought a general store, at Belmore, and continued in partnership, until 1890. In that year, his brother withdrew from the business, and Mr. Speaker continued it alone, until 1897, when he retired from active work. Mr. Speaker has been a participant in the life of Belmore, since its inception. He is better informed on the history of the town than any other man.

Mr. Speaker was married in 1865 to Hattie Ward, who was a native of Ireland and was two years of age when her parents brought her to America, the youngest of several children. At New Yoi'k both parents died and the children were left orphans. Relatives came and got them and reared them, these relatives living on a farm next to Mr. Speaker's father's home. He and his wife were schoolmates together, in their childhood days. To this union were born three children, George, who died at the age of twenty; Edward, who died in childhood; Katherine, who died on January 2, 1913, leaving her husband, Alvin Hook, with three children, two sons and a daughter.

Mr. Speaker married Ellen Blue, in 1883, who was reared in Ashland county, Ohio, and came to Putnam county, with her brother, William, and now lives five miles east of Belmore. To this second union have been born three children, John Burgan, Harvey and William. John B. is a minister in the Methodist church, and is now stationed in Illinois. He married Lola Lonzway, and has three children. Harvey is a painter and decorator and makes his home in Belmore. William is a farmer at Belmore, who married Linkhart. The mother of these three children died, in 1904.

Mr. Speaker has been justice of the peace, for thirteen years, and still has three years more to serve of his present term. He has been clerk of Tiis township for two terms, treasurer for two terms, and has been on the school board for the past twenty-seven years. He holds his membership in the Masonic lodge, at Deshler, and in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Belmore. He is financially interested in the Belmore Banking Company, and is now the vice-president of that institution.

Harry F. Wendell

A substantial business man of Leipsic, Ohio, is Harry F. Wendell, who has been a resident of the city since 1894. He was in the newspaper business for the first few years after coming to this place and then engaged in the mail order business and has been engaged in selling by mail various things ever since that time. He started in by selling memorial cards by mail and still continues this business, although he has since added various other lines, such as mops, fire extinguishers and vacuum washers. Mr. Wendell has taken a very active part in the civic life of Leipsic since becoming a resident of the city, and has been one of the potent factors in advancing reforms of all kinds.

Harry F. Wendell, the son of Daniel and Hannah (Schaub) Wendell, was born in Noble county, Ohio, in 1867. His father was born in the same county, a son of Harrison Wendell. Harrison Wendell was a son of Frederick Wendell, who was high sheriff of Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, for fifty-two years. Harrison Wendell, the grandfather of H. F. Wendell,' was born in Shenandoah Valley, in 1816, and came to Batesville, Ohio, when he was about fourteen years of age and helijed to build a seven-room brick house in that place. He carried the brick which went into the building as his father, Frederick, erected it. It was in this building, Harrison Wendell died in 1906, which building was for many years the finest in the community.

Daniel Wendell was reared in Noble county and spent his whole life there. He enlisted in the Civil War in the Seventieth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was severely wounded and died from the effects of the wound in 1870. His wife, Hannah Schaub, was born in Monroe county, Ohio.

H. F Wendell was reared at Batesville, Ohio, until he was sixteen years of age, and then moved to Cambridge, where he learned the printer's trade, and followed that until the spring of 1894. He came to Leipsic in that year and bought the Leipsic Tribune, a paper which had been started two years previously. He was a practical newspaper man and built up the paper and operated it successfully for five years. He sold the paper in 1899' and has since that year been engaged in mail order business, selling memorials, and he has made an immense success of, the venture. He still continues the business and now ships his cards all over the United States and Canada. This venture proving so successful he started the United States Mop Company, another mail order concern, with H. S. Huttinger as partner, and managed this business until the fall of 1910, selling mops all over the United States and foreign countries by mail. He and Mr. Huttinger established another mail order proposition in 1909 and sold chemical fire extinguishers under the name of the United Manufacturing Company. He disposed of this biisiness in 1910, at the same time when he relincjuished interest in the mop company. He established the Wendell Vacuum Washer Company in the fall of 1913, which he conducts himself. He has a factory at Leipsic for the manufacture of the washers and employs a large office force to attend to the mail orders. Within a very short time he has built up such a business that he now ships his washers all over the civilized world.

Mr. Wendell became one of the incorporators of the First National Bank, of Leipsic, in 1903, and was made vice-president of the institution. The bank went into voluntai'y liquidation, two years later, and completed its business by paying all depositors in full. He was secretary of the board of trade and for a time vice-president of the Leipsic Industrial Association. He was also president, for a time, of the Law and Order League, an organization which was promoted to improve the moral welfare of the city. This league was very active, after Leipsic went "dry," about ten years ago. Mr. Wendell was one of the most active men in the league and, while the fight was being made to vote the saloons out, he made a canvass of seventeen school districts with petitions signed by the farmers asking the city merchants to take the side of the "drys." These petitions taken together made a row of names fifteen feet long, and was a potent factor in subsequently ousting the saloons from Leipsic.

Mr. Wendell has served on the Leipsic council and is now a member of the school board. He has been asked, repeatedly, to run for mayor, but has steadfastly refused to make the race for the office. He has alsoserved on the board of health, of his city. Li fact, there is probably not a man in the city who has been more active in its general welfare than Mr. Wendell, and in all things he has tried to do that which would be the best for the city at large.

Mr. Wendell was married in 1892, to Laura Gallogly, who was a native of Licking county, Ohio, is a daughter of Jacob and Frances (Brown) Gallogly, and to this union has been born one son, Francis, who is now attending the public schools of Leipsic.

Mr. Wendell is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, and has attained to the thirty-second degree. Fie also holds his membership in the Knights of Pythias. He and his wife are active workers in the Presbyterian church, and he has performed the duties of treasurer of his church, and for many years, was a member of the board of trustees. At the present time he is an elder in the denomination. In all things, Mr. Wendell has tried to promote the moral welfare of his community, and it is safe to say that he is distinctively one of the representative men of Leipsic.

Llewellyn Geiger

One of the enterprising and rising yOung men, who are native born to Putnam county, Ohio, and who are making names and reputations for themseleves in the marts of trade is Llewellyn Geiger, whose father was also born in this county. Marked aptitude and diligence characterize the activities of this young man, who is highly esteemed for his many excellent qualities and for his quiet, gentlemanly methods of transacting his business afifairs in the community where he is carving out a career for himself.

Llewellyn Geiger was born in Riley township, Putnam county, Ohio, May 29, 1883, a son of David G. and Mary (Hilty) Geiger. David Geiger was born on November 7, 1852, in Riley township, a son of John G. and Mary (Lugibihl) Geiger. John G. Geiger was born in 1819, in Berne, Switzerland, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Christian Geiger.

John G. Geiger came to America, with his parents, in 1838, when he was nineteen years of age, and settled in Riley township, Putnam county, Ohio, where he entered government land. He experienced the usual pioneer hardships, but cleared his land and built a log house of two rooms and a log stable. It was in that house that David G. Geiger was born, one of a family of three sons and five daughters.

David G. Geiger attended the public school and, during the periods when he was not in school, helped his father to clear the land on the farm and to operate the threshing machine which, in those days, was operated by horsepower. At the age of twenty-three, in 1875, he -married Mary Hilty, a

Mr. And Mrs. Llewellyn Geiger

After his marriage, he settled on a part of his father's farm, where he still lives. His wife died on April 22, 1885, when Llewellyn Geiger, the subject, was not quite two years of age. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Geiger. They are Matilda, the wife of David Bucher, who lives in Riley township; Helena, the wife of Amos Hilty, who lives in Allen county; Gideon, who married Elizabeth Steiner and lives in Lima, Ohio; Elizabeth, the wife of Ezra Steiner; Llewellyn, the principal of this sketch, and Tillman, who married Rosa Suter and lives in Riley township.

David Geiger was married a second time, in 1886 or 1887, his second wife being Rosine Gilliam, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Gilliam. Six children were born to this union, also, who are, Mary, unmarried, who lives at home; Hulda, the wife of Oswin Gerber, of Pandora, Ohio; Hiram, who married Cecil Starkey, and lives at Pandora, Ohio; John, Melvina and Wil- Jiam, who live at home.

David Geiger has always done general farming and has been eminently successful. He is a loyal member of the Swiss Mennonite church and is active in its work.

He is a stanch member of the Democratic party and has always taken an active interest in political matters. For three years he has been a school director, an office which he has filled to the complete satisfaction of the

Llewellyn Geiger was born in Riley township, Putnam county, Ohio, May 29, 1883. He grew to manhood on the old homestead and attended district school, No. 7, until he was seventeen years of age. He continued to help his father in the operation of the farm until he reached the age of twenty-one, when he began to work as a carpenter, a trade which he followed for three years, spending a large portion of that time working in a saw-mill.

When he was twenty-four years of age, September 15, 1907, Llewellyn married Pauline Suter, who was born on November 30, 1882, a of David D. and Elizabeth (Neunschwander) Suter, 'of Riley township. David D. Suter was born in Riley township on April 14 1852 the son of Christian and Anna (Basinger) Suter. Christian Suter was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Christian Suter, Sr., Elizabeth Neunschwander was the daughter of Isaac and Mary (Steiner) Neunschwander, both of pioneer stock and Swiss descent.

months in making a tour to the Pacific coast, spending several months in California and Oregon. On their return, Mr. Geiger engaged in the planing mill business, buying an interest in the firm of D. C. Shank & Company, of which concern he is now vice-president, assistant manager and a director.

Mr. and Mrs. Geiger are both members of the Grace Mennonite church and are active in the church work. He is a member of the Democratic party, has taken an active interest in the political afifairs of his community, and in his party affiliations has served as a precinct committeeman.

Llewellyn Geiger is a clean-cut and progressive young business man^ of good character and unquestioned integrity. He is well known and universally respected.

John William Ellerbrock

The Ellerbrock family have been residents of Putnam county, Ohio, since 1835, when the parents of John William Ellerbrock came from Hanover, Germany, and settled south of Glandorf. Mr. Ellerbrock grew to maturity in this county and was engaged, for the greater portion of his life, in the manufacture of woolen goods, at Glandorf. In fact, this was the main business of the village of Glandorf for many years. In addition to his woolen manufacturing, he was also engaged in farming, but devoted most of his time and attention to the woolen business. He was a pioneer in the county, and a man who was highly respected by everyone who knew him. He and his good wife reared a large family of children to Hves of usefulness, and they, in turn, married and are rearing families of their own.

The late John William Ellerbrock was born in Hanover, Germany, February 10, 1830, and died at his home in Glandorf, Putnam county, Ohio, May 25, 1 9 14. He was a son of William and Mary C. (Kracht) Ellerbrock, and came to America, in 1836, with his parents, being only six years of age at the time the family located in this county. He was reared amidst pioneer conditions and, from his earliest boyhood, knew what it was to swingan ax and handle the rifle. He received such education as was afforded by the schools of his home neighborhood and, immediately after his marriage, he and several of his friends started the Glandorf woolen mills, and for the most of his life, was engaged in this particular line of business. Later in life, he invested in farming lands and gave some of his attention to the tilling of the soil. He was an excellent business man and his integrity was such that it was never questioned.

John W. Ellerbrock was married on October 22, 1856, to Mary A. Utendorf, who was born on February g, 1838, south of Glandorf, in this county, and was a daughter of Joseph and Mary A. (Gerdeman) Utendorf. To this union fourteen children were born, ten of whom are still living, Andrew, deceased; a twin brother to Andrew, who died in infancy; Mary, the wife of Matthew Schroeder; Catherine, a nun; Theodore, of Ottawa; Elizabeth, the wife of Henry E. Schweickert, of Peru, Illinois ; Philomina, a nun in the same convent with her sister, Catherine; Frank, of Peru, Illinois; Theresa, who is living in Glandorf; Charles B., a business man of Glandorf; Emma, the wife of Peter A. Missler, of Glandorf; Frances, the wife of John Geier, of Gallon, Ohio; Joseph, who died in infancy, and Bennie, a twin brother of Emma, who died in infancy. The mother of these children died on July 23, 191 o, and the father, as before mentioned, died on May 25, 1914.

The Ellerbrock family are all loyal members of the Catholic church, at Glandorf. Theresa and Charles B. are now living in the old family residence, in Glandorf. John W. Ellerbrock was a man who was widely known throughout the county, and, during his career of nearly eighty years in the county, there was never a time when he was not ready and willing to help those less fortunate than himself. He was charitable to the faults of his neighbors, kind and indulgent to his own family, and a genial and wholesouled citizen, who always stood for the best interests of his community.

Frank K. Hammett

Almost any business will give a substantial return if it is properly managed. Proper management involves a careful consideration of the relation between revenue and operating expenses. Frank K. Hammett has prospered and has made a success of the drayage and transfer business at Leipsic, bectuse he has never failed to look after his business carefully. Mr. Hammett is one of the substantial citizens of Leipsic.

He was born in 1861 at Covington, Ohio, the son of James H and Elizabeth (Dunning) Hammett. His father came from Bedford county Pennsylvania, with his parents to London county, Ohio. He grew up iii northeastern Ohio and became the driver of a stagecoach along the shore of Lake Erie, between Cleveland and Buffalo. He was employed to drive a coach, hauling the man who had charge of building the Rock Island rail- road across Iowa. It was all new country. They stopped at Marengo, a little frontier tavern, and there he met and became much interested in the daughter of the landlord of the little hotel. She was Elizabeth Dunning, the daughter of Theodore Dunning who was a pioneer by nature and inclination, a genial old man who could play the fiddle.

James H. Hammett returned to Ohio and wrote to the girl occasionally. Again he drove across Iowa, along the line of the road in course of construction, to Council Bluffs. When they reached it after a long and tedious journey, they found the town consisted of a tent and a party of men who were there to help build the railroad. In later years Mr. Hammett saw it as a thriving city.

He came back to Ohio but finally returned to Iowa and married the girl. He came back to Covington, Ohio, and worked in an elevator for a time and later bought a farm here, about 1863, where he lived until about 1866. Mr. Dunning, his wife's father, moved here during the war and -Started the old Leipsic hotel in a two-story frame building, on the corner, where the Geltz store is now located. There were only a few houses then and not over forty inhabitants in the town aside from the railroad construction gang. The old man got the pioneer fever again about 1866, fixed up a pioneer wagon and he and his wife drove to Nebraska, where they entered land and spent the rest of their lives with their sons and daughters who also entered land and prospered in the same community.

Some time after his marriage James H. Hammett moved to Leipsic and took a place in a store. Later he moved to Leipsic and worked in an elevator for two years. Finally he and John Alt went into the general merchandise business and prospered. They extended the business and built an elevator and did a large business in grain. They met with reverses, however, and had to retire, Mr. Hammett turning his attention to the insurance business. He later moved to Toledo and took a place in a large agricultural implement business, living there until his death. Mr. Hammett was twice married.

By his first marriage were born three children, Luella, Frank K., the subject of this sketch, and William W. Frank K. was about three years old when his mother died. His father then married Mrs. Ann Elizabeth (Black) Waters, a widow, and to this second union five children were born, Lily, who died at the age of three; Eva Netta, Alva DeLoss, Lettie Arlina and Edward Early.

Frank K. Hammett grew up at Leipsic and after working in various lines, in July, 1878, began draying at Leipsic and has followed this business for thirty-seven years. Most of the time he has had from ten to twelve men employed and many teams. He has prospered exceedingly in this business. He w^as ag-ent for the American Express Company for over fifteen years, or until March, 191 3.

Mr. Hammett was married to Mary M. Hayes, in 1883. She was born in Warren county, Ohio. One son has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hammett December 28, 1884, Harry H. He attended the Tri-State Business College at Toledo, Ohio, and has been a stenographer most of the time since. He has worked mostly in railroad services; has traveled over most of the United States and in fourteen foreign countries. He has been in Cuba, Mexico, Hawaii, the Philippines, Japan, where he spent two years, China! Island of Guam and most of the principal European countries. In fact, his chief occupation has been traveling. He has a vast fund of information first hand. Altogether Harry H. Hammett has traveled not less than one hundred and fifteen thousand miles, undoubtedly, the most widely-traveled man m Putnam county, Ohio.

Frank K. Hammett is popular in Leipsic and an influential citizen in his community. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias. Mr Hammett remembers Leipsic in its early days. He has seen deer between Main street and Leipsic Junction and wild game in abundance where the town now stands

Theodore Deters

A prominent citizen of Glandorf, Putnam county, Ohio, who was born m this village, before the Civil War, and has spent his entire life in the county, is Theodore Deters. Both of his parents were born in Germany and they settled in this county in 1841. Since that time, the Deters family have been residents of Glandorf. Mr. Deters has served as assessor of Ottawa township, for more than twenty years, and has filled various other official positions m an efficient and satisfactory manner.

Theodore Deters, the son of Frank William and Mary (Redecker) Deters was born on May 13, 1858, in Glandorf, near the present location of the tile factoiy. His father was a native of Oldenburg, Germany, his birth having occurred there on April 14, 1814, coming to America at the age of nine, having previously lost both of his parents. Upon coming to America he' became a sailor and, from the age of seventeen until he was twenty-six years of age, he traveled over much of the world in a sailing vessel. He then left the sea and, for seven years, worked in a pottery factory at Cincinnati. It was while living there he married Mary Redecker. His wife was born in Hanover, Germany, and came to America in 1833, with her parents, Henry and Mary Redecker. The Redecker family located in Putnam county, Ohio, south of Ottawa, where the father bought a farm and lived the remainder of his days. Frank W. Deters and his wife moved to Glandorf, in Putnam county, in 1841, where he bought forty acres and settled down to the life of a farmer. Later he bought one hundred and twenty acres north of New Cleveland, but spent all of his life in the village of Glandorf, where he died, in 1887. He served as land appraiser on two dififerent occasions and for many years was assessor of Ottawa township, filling this office for more than eighteen years, from 1856 to 1874. He and his family were loyal members of the Catholic church. His widow died on August 26, 19 10. Ten children were born to Frank W. Deters and wife, only three of whom are now living, Theodore, of Glandorf ; Frank,, of Hamler, Henry county, Ohio, and William, a farmer living three miles north of Glandorf.

Theodore Deters received his education in the schools of Glandorf and worked on his father's farm during his boyhood days. He remained at home until his marriage and then began farming for himself, continuing to reside in Glandorf. He served as assessor of Ottawa township, from 1891 until the spring of 1914. He has also been the appraiser of the Glandorf German Building and Loan Association, for six years. He has taken an active part in the ci^'ic life of Glandorf, and has been a member of the council for three years.

Mr. Deters was married in 1882, to Magdalene Wischmeyer, who was a native of Hanover, Germany, and, in 1879, came to America with her father, Henry, and her sister, settling in Glandorf, where an elder brother, Herman, had previously located. Her father spent the rest of his life here with his children.

Mr. Deters and his wife are the parents of six children, Frank, a painter who married Magdalene Lehman, and has two children, LenOra and Edna: Mary, the wife of Edward Gerdig, of Ottawa; Magdalene, who is still living with her parents; Frances, who married Charles Ellerbrock, a farmer of Glandorf, and has three children, Carolos, Mildred and Bertha; Joseph, who is now teaching in the public schools at New Cleveland, Ohio ; Henry, who is still living at home with his parents.

Mr. Deters and his family are all members of the St. John's Catholic church, of Glandorf. He is also president of the St. John's Aid Society.

George Franklin Polk Smith

An enterprising newspaper man, of Leipsic, is George Franklin Polk Smith, who is the able editor of the Free Press, in that place. His father was thei editor of this same paper for many years, and Mr. Smith has worked in newspaper ofifices from his boyhood days. He has had a very interesting career, having spent many years in professional baseball, where lie made a record as a player. He received an injury, in 1910, which compelled him to leave the profession and since that time he has given all of his time to newspaper work. Since the death of his father, in 1912, has had sole charge of the Free Press.

George F. Smith, the son of William W. and Viola Ann (Baughman) Smith, was born at Leipsic, Ohio, June 14, 1888. His father was connected with the Free Press in Leipsic for many years, and was editor and owner up until the time of his death, February 16, 1912.

Mr. Smith spent his boyhood days in Leipsic, and after finishing two years in the high school in this place, entered Lima College, as a student, "but did not complete his college course. When he was sixteen years of age, he became a member of the Leipsic Baseball Club, and while with this club had a state-wide reputation. When he was about eighteen years of age, he branched out as a professional baseball player with the Zanesville team, in Ohio. This team was in the Ohio-Pennsylvania League, and he remained with Zanesville for two years, and then spent one season in Galveston, Texas, playing with the team of that city, after which he went to Peoria, Illinois, and joined the Three I League. After spending half a season with this team, he went to Kewanna, Illinois, where he finished the season. The next two seasons were spent in the Ohio State League, and he was in this league when he injured a ligament, in 1910, and had to retire from professional baseball. Since that time he has given all of his attention to newspaper work, and upon the death of his father assumed control of the paper which that parent had so ably edited for many years. During all of the time he was playing baseball, he spent the rest of the year in his father's newspaper office and, when he took over the paper in 1912, he was thoroughly conversant with every detail of newspaper management. Consequently, he was abundantly able to take charge of the paper and he has already demonstrated marked ability in its management. He conducts a first-class paper, all of which is printed in his own plant. He is constantly on the alert for up-to-date methods, and has added a number of

Mr. Smith was married on April 5, 1910, on his father's sixtieth birthday, to Mary Magdalene Orians, who was born near Kirby, Ohio, and reared at Upper Sandusky. She is the eldest of ten children born to Frank J. and Rachel (Cooper) Orians.

Mr. Smith and his wife are the parents of three children, George F., Jr., born on January 29, 191 1, who died hy0 days later; Robert James, born on June 19, 1912, and Mary Janet, born on April 21, 1914.

Mr. Smith is an ardent supporter of the Democratic party and advocates its principles in his paper. He belongs to the Findlay Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Ottawa Council, Knights of Columbus, anJ the Wadras Caravan of the Alhambra, of Toledo. He also holds his membership in the Leipsic Club. He and his family are loyal members of the Catholic church.

Jacob A. Suter

The career of Jacob A. Suter contains no exciting chapter of tragic events, but is replete with well-defined purpose, which, carried to successful issue, has won for him an influential place in business circles and high personal standing among his fellow citizens. His life work has been one of unceasing industry and perseverance. The systematic and honorable methods, which he has ever followed, have resulted, not only in winning the confidence of those with whom he has had business dealings, but also in building up a large and profitable business. The Pandora Overall Company, in which Mr. Suter is superintendent, vice-president and a member of the board of directors, is one of Putnam county's leading industrial enterprises,, and to Mr. Suter is due a large share of the credit for its successful career.

Jacob A. Suter was born on September 25, 1874, in Riley township,. Putnam county, Ohio. He is the son of Abraham and Elizabeth (Lugibihl) Suter, the former of whom was born in 1824, in Wayne county, Ohio. Abraham Suter was the son of John and Elizabeth Suter. John Suter was a native of Switzerland.

Jacob A. Suter spent his boyhood days on the old homestead farm' where he attended the district schools and helped his father durino- the summer months.

ried to Barbara Amstutz, the daughter of Abraham M. and Catherine (Hihy) Amstutz. The family history of Abraham M. Amstutz will be found in the sketch of P. A. Amstutz, a brother of Mrs. Suter, and the history of Mrs. Abraham M. Amstutz will be found in the sketch of Isaac- Hilty, her brother. To Mr. and Mrs. Jacob A. Suter have been born threechildren, Elda Loretta, who is a student in the high school ; Orlo Edison, who is in school, and Royle Kenneth.

After his marriage, Mr. Suter took charge of the old home place. Helived here for about one year and a half and then removed to Pandora, where he became interested in the Pandora Manufacturing Company. Hewas one of the organizers of the enterprise, the other members of the firm being the Gerber brothers, John Amstutz and Albert Burry. Mr. Suter took the position of secretary and treasurer of the new company and looked after the mechanical end of the business. About four years later, the mill burned,, and the company was reorganized under the name of the Pandora Overall- Company. Since the organization of the new firm, which has an annual production of over two hundred thousand dollars, Mr. Suter has acted assuperintendent and has served in the capacity of vice-president and a member of the board of directors.

Reverting to Mr. Suter's family history, John Suter, his grandfather, came with his wife to America in the early days and settled in Wayne county, Ohio, near Orrville. It was here that his family of twelve children^ four sons- and eight daughters, was educated and reared.

Abraham Suter, one of the elder children, was bound out at the age of eight years to learn the shoemaker's trade. He remained at home until hewas a young man. He then came to Putnam county, where, for a time, he worked for different farmers in Riley township. Subsequently, he entered a tract of eighty acres of land from the government, one mile east of Pandora. This land was covered with virgin timber and a great deal of water. Abraham Suter first built a log cabin and barn and then proceeded to clear his farm. A few acres were prepared each year until, finally, the whole farm had been put under cultivation. Before entering his land from the government, Abraham Suter had been married to Elizabeth Lugibihl, the daughter of John Lugibihl and wife. It was shortly after his marriage, that he started in to find a new home in the wilderness. Abraham Suter and wife passed through the usual pioneer experiences in clearing their land, draining it and getting it ready for the plow. It was on this homestead, the family of twelve children lived. This family consisted of John, Mary, Peter A., Barbara, Catherine, Fannie, Susan, Magdalene, Elizabeth, Jacob

A., Sarah and one who died in infancy. Abraham Suter added to his original farm of eighty acres and greatly improved his additional farm holding. He died on the old home place, having been killed by a runaway team, in November, 1897. About one year later, in November, 1898, his wife passed away. She was a member of the Mennonite church and was -a splendid Christian woman, a devoted wife and a loving mother. Abraham Suter was also a member of the Mennonite church. He was an ardent Democrat and an industrious, hard-working citizen, a man of high ideals and unquestioned integrity.

Jacob A. Suter, like his father, is a man of unquestioned integrity in the community where he lives and where his active business work is carried on. He is a Democrat, but has never been especially active in the councils of his party. He is a member of the Grace Mennonite church, as is also his wife. Jacob A. Suter is a clean-cut, progressive young business man and one of the original organizers of one of Putnam county's largest industries. He is recognized as a good citizen and a man of splendid attainments.

Men who have obtained success in their professional work are always Jionored and respected by the community in which they have lived and labored. Dearly loved are those who always find time to work in the interest of the whole community, inspiring others to industry, public spirit and faithfulness. Such men never fail to raise the standard of life in their community and the biographer is always proud to record the incidents of their lives. A descendant of men who fought bravely for freedom in the Revolutionary War and who, himself, has been a loyal patriot in another way is William Henry Hickey, M. D., of Leipsic, Putnam county, Ohio.

\\^illiam Henry Hickey, M. D., was born in 1847, in Licking county, Ohio, the son of Henry and Mary (Wilkins) Hickey. Henry Hickey was born on June 29, 1820, in Licking county, the son of William and Phoebe (Shambaugh) Hickey. William Hickey came from Winchester county, Virginia, not far from Baltimore, Maryland, coming to Ohio in 1813, and locating in Licking on a leased farm of forty acres, owned by Congressman Stansbury. William Hickey was the son of Edward Hickey. Edward Hickey was an Irish boy from County Clare, Ireland, who came over with -nineteen others under a contract to work for their* passage after they ar- rived in America. They were employed building docks, at Baltimore, and the entire twenty, with their employers, enlisted in the Revolutionary army under the command of Ewing, who was with Washington at the crossing of the Delaware. Ewing's force was kept on one side of the river, while Washington went across and won the victory.

William Hickey was a soldier in the War of 1812 and he and his father are buried side by side in Barnes' graveyard, near Wilkins Corner, in Licking county.

Mary Wilkins was born on a farm adjoining the Hickey farm, in Licking county, a daughter of Henry and Magdalena (Smootz) Wilkins. They were from the Shenandoah valley, in Virginia, and from here they came to Ohio. Her parents were of Huguenot ancestry. Her father built the second grist-mill in Licking county, a mill that ran until the close of the Civil War.

Henry Hickey and wife moved to Putnam county, October 6, 185 1, bringing with them their two sons, Dr. William H. and Reese F. Henry Hickey located on a farm one mile south of Gilboa and lived in that community the rest of his life. His wife died on October 17, 1865. She was the mother of William H., Reese, Magdalena, RoUa and Lyman David, the latter dying when two years old. Rolla died at Hammond, Indiana, in 19 1 2. Magdalena is the wife of Charles F. Stolzenbach, Jr., the well-known baker of Lima. Reese lives south of Gilboa, on a farm.

After the death of his first wife, Henry Hickey married Sarah Harris and to this union was born one son, Edward F., who has been in the employ of the Standard Oil Company, at Woodstock, Canada, for many years. Henry Hickey died on April 21, 1871.

Dr. William H. Hickey grew up on the farm south of Gilboa and attended college at Haysville in Ashland county. He studied medicine with T. E. Paul, M. D., of Ottawa. He attended the Medical College, in Cincinnati, and also the medical department of Western Reserve University, at Cleveland, where he was graduated on April i, 1870. He began the practice of medicine, in Leipsic, April 15, 1870, and here he has practiced medicine since that time. Dr. Hickey also has a farm at the north edge of Leipsic.

Dr. William H. Hickey was married on February 10, 1870, to Rachel Creighton. She was born in Kalida, and was a daughter of John E. and Mary Elizabeth (Stout) Creighton. Her father was left an orphan and brought to Putnam county by an uncle, William McClure, from Pennsylvania, who was county treasurer of Putnam county, during the seventies, and who died while in office. John E. Creighton grew up and served as county auditor, of Putnam county. Mary E. Stout was a daughter of Elisha and Abigail Stout. Elisha Stout came from Coshocton county, Ohio, during the late twenties and entered land where the town of "Gilboa is now located. In fact, he laid out the first plat of the town and also built the first grist-mills at Gilboa, one located two miles up the river, while another was built two miles down the river. His was the first water-power mill in the county and in order to run it he had to go to Columbus to get a permit from the legislature. Coming home, he started in the afternoon and reached Gilboa in the evening of the next day. He had a wonderful constitution. John E. Creighton entered land where Leipsic Junction is now located, and platted the first town lots at Leipsic. It was first called Cratontown. At Leipsic Station, lots were later plated.

William H. Hicke_\- and wife are the parents of four children living and two dead, as follows: Brandon D., Jennie C, Wiley D., and Floyd. Brandon \\'as born in 1871, and is now yardmaster on the Nickel Plate railroad at Continental. He graduated from the Tri-State Normal School, at Angola, and the Lima Business College. He was admitted to the practice of law, in Angola, and practiced there for three years. He married Maude M. Nease and has one son, Robert. Jennie C, who graduated from the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music and Oberlon Conservatory of Music, lives near Limon, Colorado. Wiley D. Hickey, M. D., was bom in 1874. He attended the Hiram College, where he graduated in 1895. Upon graduation, at Hiram, he entered the medical department of the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, in the fall of 1896, graduating in 1900. He immediately began practicing, at Leipsic, Ohio, and has practiced with his father since that time. Wiley D. Hickey, M. D., was married on June 12, 1905, to Eleanor A. Rowland, of Columbus Grove, the daughter of David Rowland and wife. Mrs. W. D. Hickey attended the Oberlin conservatory of Music. Dr. and Mrs. W. D. Hickey have one daughter, Dorothy Ellen. FJoyd D. lives at Limon, Colorado, on a cattle ranch owned by him, his sister, Jennie, and their father. He was born in 1882, and graduated from the Ann Arbor high school, and at the Eastman Business College, at Poughkeepsie, New York.

Dr. William H. Hickey has served as township treasurer for two terms ; mayor of Leipsic two terms, and a member of the council and board of education. He was health officer of Van Buren township for twenty-five consecutive years and is the present health officer at Leipsic. Wiley D. Hickey, M. D., has been mayor two terms, health officer of Leipsic two terms, and is at present a member of the city council. Brandon was justice of the peace of Van Buren township for two terms. Brandon and Dr. W. D. were both in Company A., Sixth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in the Spanish-American War. Dr. Wiley D. was for five years assistant surgeon of the Second Regiment, Ohio National Guard, with the rank of first lieutenant, and, at the time of his resignation, was ranking first lieutenant in the medical -department. William H. Hickey, M. D., was a charter member of the Masonic lodge at Leipsic, and his sons are also members of the same local lodge. Brandon is also a member of the Knights of Pythias. Dr. Wiley D. is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. Mrs. William H. Hickey -was elected a member of the school board at the first election after the law was passed authorizing the election of women and was treasurer of the board all the time she was a member.

William H. Hickey, M. D., and Wiley D. Hickey, M. D., are both members of the Putnam County Medical Society, the Northwestern Ohio Medical Society and the Ohio State Medical Society. William H. Hickey, M. D., was pension examiner under Cleveland's administration. Wiley D. Hickey, M. D., is a member of the Egbert Spanish War Veterans' Association, at Toledo, Ohio.

There are only six or seven people in Leipsic who were here when W. H. Hickey, M. D., came. He is very well known in this part of the state, as an able physician and a public-spirited man. He has also given his children exceptional educational advantages, far beyond the average, at a great personal sacrifice to himself. He has lived and guided his children so that they feel a kind fellowship with him and honor him as dutiful and loving sons and

Benjamin F Seitz, Sr

The future of this country lies in the hands of the present generation. Those who contribute most to the welfare of future generations are those who are at this minute keenly interested in progressive movements affecting all lines of human endeavor - those who are ever active in their business, their trade or profession. These are the men who acquire splendid fortunes, accumulate vast and fertile farms and a lucrative and enviable professional practice. These are the men who serve their fellow men faithfully, whatever may be their chosen profession. One of the well-known citizens of Putnam county, Ohio, and a man who has been foremost in the business affairs of this

Benjamin F. Seitz, Sr., was born on September i6, 1853, in Union township, Putnam county, Ohio, on a farm. He first saw the light of day in an old log cabin and has slept many a night under a slab board roof of a log cabin, through which the snow sifted in his face. His parents were pioneer settlers of Putnam county. He is the son of David and Lydia (Hufford) Seitz. David Seitz was bom in Fairfield county, Ohio, in 1819. His parents were David and Catherine Seitz.

The father of Benjamin F. Seitz, Sr., grew up in Fairfield county, Ohio, and while living there married Lydia Hufford, who was born and reared in Perry county, Ohio, the daughter of Daniel Hufford. David Seitz and wife moved to Putnam county in 1847, settling in Union township. They purchased land for one dollar and seventy-five cents an acre, all of which was wild wood. Until Mr. Seitz could build a log cabin, the family lived at the the home of Abram Funk, nearby. Before the family was brought to the cabin, David Seitz had partly furnished it. The first night after the arrival of the family, he finished enough floor upon which to place a bed, and the wife cooked the first meal beside a sugar stump. It was in this cabin that Benjamin F. Seitz, Sr., was born and spent his boyhood days. He still remembers seeing a few wild deer and many turkeys during his youth. On this farm his parents lived and died. David Seitz had more than ordinary political influence in his community. He was a justice of the peace, land appraiser and township trustee. Benjamin F. Seitz lived on this farm until his' marriage.

He was married in 1877 to Sarah J. Funk, the daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Clevenger) Funk, a grand-daughter of Abraham Funk, who sheltered them when his father's family first came to Putnam county. Mrs. Seitz was born in Sugar Creek township. Her father and mother both grew up in Putnam county. Abraham Funk came from Fairfield county before the arrival of the Seitz family. Elizabeth Clevenger was the daughter of Samuel Clevenger, who was reared in Putnam county and the son of pioneer parents, coming from Franklin county. They settled where Vaughnsville is now located. Samuel Clevenger's father owned considerable land along Sugar creek.

After Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin F. Seitz, Sr., were married they settled on a tract of wooden land in Sugar Creek township. The land was just as it had been left by the Indians, except for a small patch of deadened timber. Mr. Seitz still has the sheepskin deed that was signed by President James K.

Polk. He and his wife went to housekeeping in a log cabin until Mr. Seitz: could build a house. He owned eighty acres of land then and he improved this farm and added an adjoining eighty. Later he added one hundred and fourteen acres across the road in the same township, a total of two hundred and seventy-four acres. He continued farming there until 1905, when he moved to Columbus Grove, and has lived here since that time. He still owns this farm, except fifty-seven acres, which he sold.

About twelve years ago Mr. Seitz purchased an interest in the Exchange Bank, and upon the death of Mr. Crawford, who was then president, in 191 1, he became president of the bank and served in that capacity until it was reorganized as a state bank. He decided that the president should be at the bank regularly during business hours and that another should hold the place, so he gave up this office and the present incumbent has served as president, Mr. Seitz serving as vice-president.

To Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin F. Seitz, Sr., seven children have been born, one of whom, Bessie, died at the age of fourteen months. Those living are John D., Maude, Peter, Benjamin F., Jr., David and Marion. John D., wholives on part of his father's farm, married Nellie Reynolds, and has four children, May, Helen, Lucile and Margery. Maud, who married J. D. Guffy, lives in Shawnee, Oklahoma, and has four children, Roy, Russell, Fay and Vestina. Peter, who lives in Sugar Creek township, on the old homestead, married Dula Dresky and has four children, Charles, Clarence (deceased)^ Blanche and Myrtle. Benjamin F., Jr., who lives in Columbus Grove, married Myrtle Reiger and has three children, Emerson, Christine and Mildred. David, who lives in Columbus Grove, married Vida Sakemiller and has one daughter. Donna. Marion F. is now fifteen years old.

Mr. Seitz recalls the early roads of Putnam county, when it required a whole day to go six miles from the farm to Columbus Grove, and back again. At the time Mr. Seitz was rearing his family it required a day to. haul four or five, hogs to Columbus Grove.

Mr. Seitz and wife belong to the Christian church and Mr. Seitz is a trustee in this denomination, also being chorister for some time in the church at Columbus Grove. Formerly he was clerk of the Ottawa River church, in Sugar Creek township. Mr. Seitz is a member of the Knights of Pythias. Few men in Putnam county are better known than Benjamin F. Seitz, Sr., and a few men are more entitled to the confidence and esteem of the community which he enjoys to the fullest measure, than he. He is one of those men of whom it may be truly said when his last work is finished, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."

Levi Hummon

One of the oldest pioneer settlers of Putnam county, Ohio, is Levi Hummon, whose whole career, of more than seventy-seven years, has been spent within this county. He and his young bride started in with an eightyacre farm in 1859, where they lived until 1906. Mr. Hummon had one hundred and sixty acres of well-improved land when he moved to Leipsic, in the spring of 1906, which is the direct result of his own work, supplemented by that of his wife and children. He and his good wife have reared a large family of children to lives of usefulness and honor. A greater thing than this can no man do.

Levi Hummon, the son of John and Mary (Winninger) Hummon, was born in Putnam county, Ohio, December 31, 1837. His father, a son of Peter and Mary (Carn) Hummon, was born at Kittanning, Pennsylvania, in 1815. Peter Hummon was a native of Pennsylvania, a farmer in his early life and, later, a distiller of whiskey and applejack. Mary Carn was a native of Holland, who came to America alone, when a girl, and located in Kittanning, Pennsylvania, where she met and married Peter Hummon.

It is interesting to note how the Hummon family came to locate in Ohio. After Peter Hummon and his wife had been married several years, and she had reared six children, she came, alone on horseback, to Wyandot county, Ohio, where she entered one hundred and sixty acres of government land. After accomplishing this unique feat she returned to Pennsylvania and then, with her husband and six children, together with all of their household came back to Ohio and made their home in the wilderness. They made the overland trip with an ox team and located in Wyandot county, where they lived the remainder of their lives. Peter Hummon and wife were the parents of ten children, eight daughters and two sons, one of whom was John Hummon, the father of Levi.

John Hummon was reared on the farm in Wyandot county, and there all the hardships and thrills of pioneer life. When he was a small boy he was often frightened by the Indians, who, though harmless, enjoyed seeing the lad run. He remained on the homestead until he grew to manhood, and, about 1836, married Mary Winninger, a native of Germany, who came to Ohio with her parents and located in Wyandot county. Immediately after their marriage, John Hummon and his young bride moved from Wyandot county to Riley township, Putnam county, Ohio, in 1837, where they entered government land. This farm he cleared, developed and lived upon the remainder of his hfe. There were ten children born to John Hummon and wife, five of whom are still living, Levi, Adam, deceased- deceased; David, Peter, Minerva, Clara and Ada, deceased. One boy, William, died at the age of thirteen, and a daughter, Mary Ann, died at the age of two.