Putnam County, Ohio - Biographical sketches, 1915 (part 27 of 33)

On February 17, 1893, Albert Reese was married to Jennie Bennett, who was born in Sugar Creek township, Putnam county, on February 7, 1870, the daughter of John and Ann (Davis) Bennett, natives of North. Wales. John Bennett came to America about 1868, settling in Van Wert county, Ohio, for a short time and later coming to Sugar Creek township, Putnam county, where he met Mrs. Ann (Davis) Garner, to whom he wasmarried and to which union one child, Jennie, was born. To Albert and Jennie (Bennett) Reese have ben born three children, Mabel, Margueriteand Mary.

Mr. Reese is an ardent exponent of Republican principles and has taken an active part in local political affairs. He was elected trustee of his township and also served as school director in his home district. In his party, hehas long been prominent and served as a member of the county executive committee with efficiency and to the advantage of his party. Mr. and Mrs. Reese are faithful members of the Congregational church. Mr. Reese is a. member of the official board and is active in the various interests of thechurch. He is a man who, in every respect, has merited the high esteem in which he is universally held, for he is characterized by public spirit, honest motives and a clean life.

Josirus R. Reese

An enterprising farmer of Liberty township, Putnam county, Ohio, is Josirus R. Reese, who has made this county his home since 1865. He has been a life-long farmer, and, although the farm which his father bought bere in 1872, was then a timbered swamp, today it is largely under cultivation and producing excellent crops. Most of this county was originally of a swampy nature, but under the skillful management of such farmers as Mr. Reese, it has been drained and made to blossom as the rose.

Josirus R. Reese, the son of John Y. and Lucinda (Handshy) Reese, was born in 1858, in Hancock county, Ohio. His father was bom in Trumbull county, Ohio, in 1834, and was a son of Joseph and Mary (Young) Reese, who came from Washington county, Pennsylvania.

John Y. Reese was only about a year old when his parents moved from Trumbull county, Ohio, to Putnam county, and located along the county line northeast of Bluffton. His parents bought government land and were among the first settlers in Riley township. John Y. Reese was reared to manhood in, Putnam county, and later moved to Hancock county and married Lucinda Handshy, in 1857, who was born in this county, and is a daughter of Sebastian and Sarah (Nickerson) Handshy.

Sebastian Handshy was born in Germany and came to America with his parents, Jacob Handshy and wife, at the age of ten. The Handshys made their home in Fairfield county, Ohio, and Sebastian grew up in that county and there married Sarah Nickerson. Later, he moved to a farm near Columbus Grove, while the county was just being settled, their nearest neighbor being three miles away. The Handshys moved to Hancock county in 1837, where they lived the remainder of their lives. Lucinda Handshy grew to^ womanhood in Hancock county and was living there at the time of her marriage to John Y. Reese, who, with his family, moved to Putnam county in 1863, and located in Liberty township. Mr. Reese bought one hundred and twenty acres of land in 1872, north of the Ridge road, in section 15, of this township, and there made his permanent home. Two children were born to John Y. Reese and wife, Josirus R. and Martha Roselda. Martha R. married Perry Alleman, and had one son, Benjamin Harrison, who lives at Lima, Ohio. He married Etta Applegate, and has one son, Jesse Derrell.

Josirus R. Reese was about fourteen years of age when his his parents moved to the farm on which he is now living, and where he has since made his home. He helped his father to clear the land and to bring it under cultivation, which land was originally heavily timbered and so swampy as to be almost impassable. In fact, John Y. Reese said, a few years before he bought it, that he would not have it as a gift. The first house was a rude log cabin which previously stood on the Montouth farm on the southeast quarter of section 15, on the north side of the Ridge road, from whence it was moved to its present location, where it is still standing, being one of the oldest log cabins in the county. Josirus R. helped his father clear and drain the land and father and son worked together until the death of the father, on June 20, 1908, who was a man of strong character and was highly esteemed by his neighbors.

Josirus R. Reese has never married and now lives with his mother on the old home farm. About eighty-five acres of the one hundred and twenty are under cultivation, while the rest is still timber land. The family are members of the United Brethren church. Mr. Reese is a quiet and unassuming man, a good neighbor and deserves the respect which is accorded him by his fellow citizens.

Daniel Richard Risser

The best history of a community or state is that which deals most with the hves and activities of the people, especially of those, who by their own endeavors and indomitable energy, have forged to the front and placed themselves where they deserve the title of progressive men. In this brief review is to be found the record of one who has outstripped the less active brothers on the highway of life, and achieved a splendid career in business affairs, and a name which all men who know him delight to honor, owing to his upright life and habits of thrift and industry.

Daniel R. Risser, a successful business man and leading citizen of Vaughnsville, was born in Sugar Creek township, on August 27, 1865, and is a son of Daniel and Elizabeth M. (Smith) Risser. Daniel Risser, the father, was born in Durkheim, Bavaria, Germany, on January i, 1836, the son -of Abraham and Catherine (Sunzenich) Risser. In 1857, Daniel Risser came to America, first settling in Cleveland, Ohio, where he engaged in the -operation of a transfer and bus line. On the outbreak of the Civil War, David and Christian Risser enlisted in the Union army, serving throughout that great struggle in the defense of their adopted country. Some time after locating in Cleveland, Daniel Risser went to Vera Cruz, Mexico, as an employe of a Cleveland concern who were engaged in the operation of a stage line from Vera Cruz across the isthmus to Tehuantepec. This venture, however, was not successful, and six months later Mr. Risser returned to Cleveland where he remained until 1859, when he and his brother Henry came to Putnam county, locating in Sugar Creek township, where they bought land. Daniel Risser bought eighty acres, located one and one-half miles southeast of Vaughnsville, which became the family homestead. At that time the only improvements on the place were a log cabin and stable, and but a small amount of the land had been cleared. Daniel Risser devoted himself to improving the farm, erecting substantial buildings, tiling and ditching the land, so that eventually it became one of the best-improved and mostproductive pieces of farming land in that section of the county. He was very industrious and intelligent in his affairs, and by good management and economical habits, he became well to do and finally became the owner of seven hundred acres of land. He carried on general farming operations, in connection with which he gave considerable attention to the breeding and raising of live stock.

Daniel Risser died at the home of his son, Daniel R., at Vaughnsville, on September 15, 1902, at the age of sixty-six years, and his widow died here

Daniel K. Kisser

-on November 2, 191 1, at the ripe old age of seventy-five years. She had been a consistent and faithful member of the Christian church for many years. Mr. Risser was a Democrat in politics, and in his religious belief was affiliated with the German Lutheran church.

At the age of twenty-six years, and on August 14, 1862, Daniel Risser was united in marriage to Elizabeth M. Smith, whose birth occurred in Ashland county, Ohio, on April 18, 1836. She was the daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Risser) Smith, who came to Putnam county, Ohio.in 1865, buying the farm adjoining the one owned by Mr. Risser. There were five children in the Smith family, Mary, Elizabeth, Catherine, Charlotte and Jacob, all being now deceased, excepting the two last named. To Daniel and Elizabeth Risser were born six children, namely: Julius C, on February 25, 1864; Daniel R., the immediate subject of this sketch; Otto, December 20,' 1867,' John ]., July 21, 1870; Emma L., February 28, 1873; Elizabeth A., October 28, 1876. All of these children are living, except Emma, who died on March 5, 1893, shortly after her marriage.

Daniel Richard Risser spent his childhood and youth on the old homestead farm in Sugar Creek township, assisting his father when old enough, in the cultivation and operation of the farm. His preliminary education ias received in the old Michael district school, which was supplemented by later attendance at the Northwestern (Ohio) University at Ada, where he took a business course. Upon the completion of his studies, Mr. Risser returned to the home farm where he remained until the spring of 1892, when he engaged m the grain business at Vaughnsville, a business which demanded his'^thne and attention continuously since that time. From the beginning Mr. Risser met with good success, and as he prospered he added other lines of business including agricultural implements, tools, lumber and building supplies in the handling of which he has met a long felt want in his community. In addition to his establishment at Vaughnsville, Mr. Risser also operates a similar concern at Rimer and Rushmore, this county, and is also interested in concerns of a like nature at Columbus Grove and Jenera, Hancock county That he IS a man of good business qualifications, is evident in the fact that he ^ives careful attention to the multitudinous details of these various establishmaits all of which have been successful under his guidance. Mr. Risser in connection with his brother also operates a quarter section of land 'in Allen county, and one hundred and eighty-seven acres in Wayne county which he has found a profitable source of income. He is a stockholder in the Peoples Banking Company of Vaughnsville, and in various ways is actively and materially interested in the business interests of his community. Broadminded, sagacious and far-sighted, his counsel is considered valuable in all matters of business, and he stands high in the esteem of his contemporaries, being well and favorably known throughout this section of the state.

Mr. Risser is a Democrat, taking an active and intelligent interest in public affairs, and has served several terms efficiently as treasurer of Sugar Creek township. This township being, normally, strongly Republican in politics, it is a^ marked testimony to Mr. Risser's standing among his fellow citizens, that he, a Democrat, should successively be elected to this most important township office. Fraternally, he is a charter member of Vaughnsville Lodge No. 711, Knights of Pythias, and also belongs to Vaughnsville Lodge No. 312, Knights of the Maccabees. Mr. Risser has never married, and now resides with his sister, Mrs. Elizabeth A. Redding, in Vaughnsville.

James G. Thomas

The farmer of today must needs be more than the farmer of a half century ago, or even a decade past. He must be broader and more intelligent, his sympathies must be more diversified and his ideals must be higher and his ambitions wider. The farmer of today needs good, intellectual training, he needs scientific training, in fact. He, however, needs the practical science of education, somewhat different from that which the agricultural colleges are giving, and which are training young men to be agricultural scientists rather than practical farmers. The agricultural colleges, however, have done something to demonstrate that intellectual vision and mental activity are quite as necessary to successful farming as physical energy. James G. Thomas, a prominent farmer of Sugar Creek township, Putnam county, Ohio, is a man who especially believes in scientific training for the farm. Mr. Thomas is one of the well-known farmers residing near Vaughnsville.

James G. Thomas was born in Jennings township, Putnam county, on September 4, 1881, and is the son of John and Sarah (Good) Thomas. John Thomas was born in Sugar Creek township, Putnam county, in 1845,. where he died at Rimer in 1882. John Thomas was the son of James and to America in the early days, settling near Gomer, in Sugar Creek township, Putnam county. John Thomas spent his childhood and youth on his- father's homestead farm. Here he received his early education and here he remained until his marriage. His occupation was thrashing, which he followed until the time of his death. He was married, at the age of about thirty, to Sarah Good, who was born in Sugar Creek township, Putnam county, Ohio, in 1858, and who was the daughter of Isaac and Mary (Rhinehart) Good, the former was a native of Fairfield county, as well as his wife. They settled in Putnam county in the early days and lived in Sugar Creek township, and Jennings township. It was in the latter township that he lived at the time of his marriage to James G. Thomas's mother. They had two children, James G. and Bertha M., the latter of whom is the wife of Ellis Hess, and resides in Darke county, Ohio.

A few years after his marriage John Thomas died, in 1882, and after this his wif* Sarah remained single until 1898, when she was married to Isaac Krouse. No children have been born to this last union. They now reside in Darke county, Ohio.

James G. Thomas spent his childhood on the home farm of his grandfather Good, where he lived for nine years. After this, his mother moved to Kalida, where he also lived for the ensuing four years. After his mother's second marriage, he moved to the farm of Isaac Krouse, in Jennings township, where they remained three or four years, when his mother and stepfather moved to Darke county. This was his residence until he was twentyone years of age.

At this time, on September 17, 1902, Mr. Thomas was married to Cora Leona Sherrick, who was born in Sugar Creek township, Putnam county Ohio, on February i, 1882, and who is the daughter of David and Aseneth (Parcher) Sherick. The former was born in Crawford county, Ohio on October 29, 1837, and died in Sugar Creek township, Putnam county,' on June I, 1912. He was the son of Joseph and Rebecca (Bibler) Sherrick both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania, and who settled in Crawford county. They came later to Putnam county about 1865, and settled first near Rimer, and then near Columbus Grove, where he died. His wife Rebecca spent her last years with her son, David, in Sugar Creek township David Sherrick came to Putnam county about 1863, and settled first at Pleasant valley, Jennings township. Later, he moved two and one-half miles north of Rimer, and here he and his wife resided for the remainder of their lives David Sherrick was a successful farmer and owned one hundred and seventysix acres of well-improved land. He was a member of the Pleasant Valley Methodist Episcopal church. His wife, Aseneth, was a member of the Ottawa River Christian church. Aseneth (Parcher) Sherrick was born on April 3

After his marriag'e, James G. Thomas took up his residence on the Sherrick home place and has resided here ever since. He has always done general farming, and has been an advocate, especially, of diversified farming. His home farm of one hundred acres is one of the best-improved farms in Sugar Creek township. It has a beautiful seven-room residence and a large and commodious barn and other buildings in keeping with the surroundings.

To James G. and Cora Leona (Sherrick) Thomas and wife have been born the following children: David, on July 15, 1903; Dale, April 22, 1906, and Devere, May 22, 19 10.

Mr. Thomas is a member of the Pleasant Valley Methodist Episcopal church and is a trustee in this church. Mrs. Thomas is also a member. Mr. Thomas is a Republican. He is one of Sugar Creek township's progressive young farmers. He is well and favorably known and well liked by all his neighbors, not only in Sugar Creek township, but in adjoining townships.

William L. Wollam

It is the farmer who makes it possible for man in other occupations to live. Farming was the original occupation of man and it is the only profession or business which could exist independently of all others. Indeed, every occupation is dependent upon the farmer. The products of the farm have made our railroads what they are today, and the great bulk of manufacturing is made necessary because of the farmer's needs. The people of the city could not live a week without the farmer's products. He holds not only the purse-strings of the nation, but even the very life of the people. For this reason the farmer has in reality the most important business of all. Putnam county has as fine farms and as good farmers as can be found anywhere in the state of Ohio, and among them is William L. WoUam, who is also a well-known automobile agent.

William L. WoUam was born on June 4, 1854, in Delaware county, Ohio. He is a son of Daniel and Rebecca (Evans) Wollam. Daniel Wol- 1am was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, in 181 5, and about 1840 moved to LTnion county with his first wife, whose maiden name was Lite, and who died a short time after her marriage, leaving her husband with one child, a daughter, who died about 1905. He afterward married Rebecca Evans, and.

in 1888, moved to Hardin county, where his wife died, in 1889, at the age of fifty-four years, while he Hved to reach the age of eighty-one years. He had four brothers and one sister. Peter, John and Jacob died in Union county, while Joseph died in Putnam county. Daniel Wollam was a son of Benjamin Wollam, who died in Fairfield county, Ohio. Benjamin's father was Baltzer Wollam, who died in Columbiana county, Ohio. Baltzer was a son of Jacob Wollam, who died in Berkeley county, West Virginia, in 1778. Jacob Wollam is supposed to have come from Germany. Daniel Wollam was a farmer throughout his active life, and owned a small farm and home in Hardin county, where he engaged in raising truck. He was a Democrat, and while he was a member of no church, he was reared as an adherent to the German Reform church, but was not an active member. Mrs. Rebecca (Evans) Wollam's parents came from Virginia, migrating to Ohio, where she was born and where she spent her womanhood.

Benjamin AVollam moved from Berkeley county. West Virginia, to near Martinsburg,- Fairfield county, Ohio, in 1804, and here he built a cabin on the banks of Rush creek. He owned two hundred acres of land seven miles from Lancaster, Ohio, from which farm his children went to and from Lancaster to school, and to study the Heidelburg catechism under old Father Wise, one of the pioneer ministers of the German Reformed church. They were trained to be thorough and, subsequently, were successful in whatever they undertook.

Daniel and Rebecca (Evans) Wollam were the parents of nine children, Charlotte, who died at the age of fifteen years; William L., the immediate subject of this review; Levi, of Ada, Ohio; Christina, who is now Mrs. Foss, lives at Bradentown, Florida, but were formerly residents of Ada, Ohio; John, a piano tuner of Cherryville, Kansas ; James, who died at the age of fifteen years; Frank, living at Columbus, Ohio, where he is a teacher in the public schools; Mary, the wife of Frank Wright, Ada, Ohio; Missouri, the wife of Frank Sliger, of Columbus, Ohio; Charles, who died at the age of nineteen years.

William L. Wollam grew up in Delaware county, Ohio, and came to Putnam county at the age of twenty-eight years in 1881, settling at Dupont, where he resided for fifteen years. He was educated in the public schools of Delaware county.

Mr. Wollam was married on October 7, 1882, to Ida Davis, a native of Vermihion county, Illinois, born on May 20, 1863, the daughter of Richard and Mary A. (Layton) Davis. Richard Davis was born in Pennsylvania on March 3, 1823. His parents moved to Marion, Ohio, about four years later, where he was married to Mary A. Layton, of that county, in 1845. They moved to Vermilion county, Illinois, in 1853, where they resided for seventeen years. They moved to Bryan in 1871, where they spent their declining years. Richard Davis died at Bryan, July 13, 1909, at the age of eighty-six years. His wife, who was born in Pennsylvania on May 10, 1828, died at Bryan, January 30, 1908, the age of eighty years. She moved with her parents to Marion county, in 183 1. Eleven daughters were bom to Richard and Mary A. (Layton) Davis, eight of whom are still living, Mrs. Wollam being the ninth daughter born to her parents. Mrs. Mary A. (Layton) Davis was a member of the Christian church at Bryan, Ohio.

William L. and Ida (Davis) Wollam are the parents of seven children, Zee, who is in the employ of the Ann Arbor Railway Company, of Toledo, Ohio, where she is in the auditor's office, and has been there for nine years; Roily R., living in Young America, Minnesota, where he is operating a meat market; Edith, the wife of J. H. Rutledge, lives in Montana, near Powers, on a ranch, and they have one child, William; Mary Rebecca, the wife of John Potts, has one child, Zoe ; Helen, at home, is employed in the Continental Bank, where she is bookkeeper; Walter, living at home, and Agnes, the youngest of the family, is also living at home with her parents.

William L. Wollam left Dupont, Ohio, for the farm he had purchased while living there. Mr. Wollam traded a horse and buggy, one hundred dollars in money, and a note for one hundred and seventy-five dollars for forty acres of land in Putnam county. He came to this place and cleared up the land, afterward returning to his old home in Delaware county, Ohio, where he worked for fifteen dollars a month to assist in paying off the note on his land, and by hard work, succeeded in paying the note, and now has a splendid farm. He came from Delaware county with several companions in a covered wagon, and hunted deer on the way. Mr. Wollam, subsequently, bought sixty acres across the road from his original forty. He farmed until March, 1913, when he moved to Continental, where he is now living. Mr. Wollam has written insurance for the past thirty years. He has also been in the organ and piano business for a part of that time, and sold musical instruments all over the northwestern part of Ohio. In June, 1914, he contracted for the agency of the Overland automobile, and has the exclusive right to sell this machine in Putnam county. He is active in the sale of automobiles and has built up a big business in Putnam county.

Fraternally, Mr. Wollam is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, having, taken all the degrees of this order, including the thirty-second. He was a charter member of the first Knights of P3^thias lodge in Putnam county, which was started in Dupont. He was also a charter member of the lodge of Independent Order of Odd Fellows in Dupont, but is not active in of the latter lodges at the present time. He joined the Masonic order at Kalida, Ohio, and became a charter member of the lodge at Continental, where he was the first secretary. Mr. Wollam belongs to the blue lodge at Continental, the chapter at Ottawa, the Knights Templar at Defiance, and the consistory at Toledo, Ohio. With the exception of his membership on the county board of elections, for the past eight A^ears, Mr. Wollam has not held office. He is a stanch Democrat. Mrs. Wollam is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Continental, For many years Mr. Wollam has been a member of the school board and active in educational afliairs in the community where he lives. He is an active member of the agricultural board and superintendent of speed which position he has held for many years. He is a man of untiring energy, well and favorably known throughout Putnam county and bears a high reputation in the community for fair and square dealing.

John Henry Meyer

Men who have cleared the land, drained the swamps and erected new buildings and fences, making the soil teem with growing crops, are entitled to the rank of the foremost citizens of any community. John Henry Meyer, an enterprising farmer of Liberty township, Putnam county, Ohio, has done all of these things.

John Heni-y Meyer was born at Glandorf , Putnam county, Ohio, the son of Gerhard B. and Mary (Moening) Meyer. Gerard B. Meyer was born in Germany, the son of Theodore and Anna Mary (Mersman) Meyer, who were born and married in Germany and came to Glandorf, Putnam county, about 1834. Theodore Meyer helped to build the canal. He had many thrilling experiences with the Indians who came to this place at that time. On one occasion the mother went to Lima to get flour and walked all the way, carrying the flour on her shoulder. Theodore Meyer cleared the land on Cranberry creek, southwest of Ottawa, and there spent his life. They reared a family of five children : Gerhard B., Bernard, Theodore, Mary Theresa and George Henry.

John H. Meyer is one of six sons and three daughters, of whom one son died when eight years old; the others are Henry, Theodore, Joseph Herman, Frank, Mary, Katie and Elizabeth. Katie married and died about

John Henry Meyer lived at home until twenty-two years old when, in 1880, he was married -to Katie Ellerbrock, the daughter of Ferdinand and Theresa (Kleman) Ellerbrock. She died in 1907. She was the mother of two sons and five daughters, Elizabeth, Theresa, Lucy, Minnie, Harry, Clara and Edward. Elizabeth is the wife of Charles Niese and lives on a farm near Ottawa. They have three children. Theresa, the wife of Casper Schmenk, lives in New Cleveland, Liberty township, and has three children ; Lucy, the wife of Theodore Ruhe, lives at Miller City and has three children; Minnie, the wife of Frank Schroeder, lives north of Leipsic in Van Buren township and has three sons; Harry is at home; Clara is the wife of Walter' Klass and lives at Miller City, and Edward is still at home.

After Mr. Meyer's first marriage he began farming about three miles southwest of Leipsic and five miles north of Ottawa, where he bought eighty acres of undrained land, and there were many water holes. He put this land in a state of cultivation and built an entire new group of buildings, including a splendid new brick house. He now owns one hundred and ninety acres of land, one hundred and fifty in the home farm and forty in Ottawa township. Mr. Meyer has operated a threshing outfit ever since he was a young man and is widely known as the most successful thresher in the community.

In 1909 he married Mrs. Annie (Lammers) Schroeder, the widow of John William Schroeder. She was born and reared at New Cleveland, the daughter of Henry and Gertrude (Siebeneck) Lammers.

Henry Lammers came from Germany and Mrs. Lammers was born at Glandorf, a daughter of Bernard Henry and Gertrude (Inkrot) Siebeneck. Bernard H. Siebeneck was born near Munster in Prussia and came to the United States, about 1835, and entered government land in Greensburg township. He remained there a year, when he went back to Germany and married there. Returning with his wife, they lived in Greensburg township the rest of their lives. Henry Lammers was a son of John Lammers and wife and came to America probably as early as 1850 and became a well-known farmer, spending the rest of his life on his farm in the northeastern part of Ottawa township, where his widow still resides.

Mrs. Meyer's first husband was J. William Schroeder, who was born on March 6, 1857, and died March 17, 1901. He was born at Glandorf, the son of Charles and Agnes (Hohenbrink) Schroeder. Charles Schroeder' was born at Ostercappeln, Germany, and came to America at the age of six years, about 1834, with his parents, Nicholas and Anna Schroeder, who settled in the wild woods of Greensburg township and suffered many privations of pioneer life, but in time the family prospered and Charles Schroeder became a successful farmer, owning over seven hundred acres of land. His son, J. William Schroeder, farmed at New Cleveland until his death.

Mrs. Meyer had seven children by her first marriage, four sons and three daughters : Charles, Frank, Jerome, August, Mary, Anna and Martha. Charles married Millie Kuhlman and has three children ; Frank married Mr. Meyer's daughter Minnie the same day Mr. Meyer married Frank's mother ; Mary is the wife of William Kuhlman; Anna married Charles Kuhlman and has two children living and one dead. Mr. Schroeder died in 1902. He was a life-long farmer.

Daniel Miller Allen

The history of a county or state, as well as that of a nation, is chiefly a chronicle of the lives and deeds of those who have conferred honor and dignity upon society. The world judges the character of a community by those of its representative citizens and yields its tribute of admiration and respect to those whose works of action constitute the records of a community's prosperity and pride. Among the prominent citizens of Putnam county, Ohio, who are well-known because of their success in business affairs and the part they have taken in the educational and religious affairs of the locality, is Daniel Miller Allen, now a well-known real estate broker and insurance agent of Columbus Grove.

Daniel Miller Allen was born on June 30, 1868, in Auglaize county, Ohio. He is the son of Silas D. and Permelia C. (Miller) Allen. Silas D.' Allen was bom on August 18, 1844, in Auglaize county, the son of Warren C. and Mary (Coleman) Allen. Warren C. Allen was a native of Fairfield county, and came to Auglaize county in 1836, where he settled on land entered by his father, Whiting Allen. He continued to live in Auglaize county the remainder of his Hfe, and died in 1859.

Silas D. Allen was reared on the old homestead farm and, at the age of seventeen, enlisted in the Forty-fifth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantiy, serving through most of the war. His enlistment was made in 1862, and he served three years, being discharged on June 9, 1865. His services were performed under Generals Gihnore and Burnsides. On November 18, 1863, he was captured at Knoxville, Tennessee, and held a prisoner for fifteen months and eight days. During this time he was confined in the military prisons of Atlanta, Richmond, Belle Island, Andersonville, Charleston, South Carolina, Florence, South Carolina, and Goldsborough, North Carolina. From the last jiamed prison he was paroled.

After the war, Silas D. Allen was married to Permelia C. Miller, who bore him three children : Mary S. ; Daniel M., the subject of this sketch, and Arvilla D. Mary S. first married Grant D. Martin, who died about six years -later. About eight years after her husband's death she married Isaac Willis Slagle and they now reside in Spokane, Washington. Arvilla D. is the widow of G. H. Daniels and now conducts a book store at Columbus Grove. For a time after his marriage Silas D. Allen engaged in fanning and then went into the boot and shoe business at St. John's, Auglaize county, where he continued to do business for several years, which business he continued after he removed to Columbus Grove. A short time later he took up farming and truck gardening, which he continued for a few days. He then entered the butchering business and finally became interested with W. A. Perkins in the lumber and fork-handle manufacturing business, where he retained an interest for four years. Subsequently, he engaged in raising potatoes and sugar beets.

Silas D. Allen's wife, Permelia C. Miller, was born in Auglaize county, and is the daughter of Daniel and Susanna (Kingery) Miller, the former a native of Piqua county and the latter a native of Paulding county, where they were pioneers.

When Daniel Miller Allen was about four years old he came with his parents to Columbus Grove, and here attended the public schools until sixteen years of age, after which he took a commercial course at the Tri-State Normal College at Angola. After this he returned to Columbus Grove, and a little later took a position with the J. R. Hughes Wholesale and Retail House Furnishing Company. After about one and one-half years he became the manager of this concern and continued in this capacity for about two and one-half years longer. On account of ill health, he returned home, and about a year later, on June 16, 1893, he entered the insurance and real estate business with G. W. Core. A year later Mr. AUfen purchased Mr. Core's interest and since that time has conducted the business alone. Mr. Allen has been very successful in this business and served a large clientele in the purchase and sale of real estate and in the insurance business. In addition to his other -business, Mr. Allen, in 1906, in connection with B. F. Lugibihl, organized

Daniel M. Allen was married on June 12, 1895, to Mabel Halcyon Long, the daughter of Newton S. and Carrie C. (Stahl) Long. Mrs. Allen was one of three children and the eldest of the family; Medway D., who married Edna Gable and is bookkeeper in the Peoples Bank, and Clyde M., who is .single and at home. Newton S. Long is now retired and lives at Columbus Grove. He has been a minister of the United Brethren church, as was his father before him, who was a pioneer circuit-rider and traveled over a large circuit in northwestern Ohio. He was a man noted for his strong character and for his wonderful voice. Mrs. Long's parents were pioneers of Sandusky county and came to this country from Germany in an early day.

Mr. Allen is a Republican. He has filled several positions of trust and responsibility, having been a member of the school board for twelve years, a member of the council for four years and a member of the board of public affairs for two years. Mr. Allen is a member of Lodge No. 364, Free and Accepted Masons, of the Knights of Pythias and of the Modern Woodmen of America. He and his wife and family are members of the United Brethren church, in which Mr. Allen is a trustee. In 1912 he was a delegate to the general conference of the church in Decatur, Illinois. Daniel M. Allen is a man highly esteemed in the community where he lives, a man known for his many good works, for his sterling integrity, his genial disposition and his natural powers of leadership.

Peter Seitz

The record of the gentleman whose name introduces this article contains no exciting chapter of tragic events, but is replete with well-defined purposes which 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 and the .systematil: and honorable methods which he has ever followed have resulted, not only in gaining the confidence of those with whom he has had dealings, but also in the gaining of material prosperity for himself.

Peter Seitz was born in Sugar Creek township, Putnam county, on October 30, 1882, and is a son of Benjamin F. and Sarah J. (Funk) Seitz. For a sketch containing his paternal and ancestral history, the reader is

Peter Seitz was reared on the paternal homestead, four miles northwest of Vaughnsville, and his education was received in the old Seitz district school. After completing his common school course, he took a normal course of study at the Palmer University at Muncie, Indiana. Upon the completion of his studies, he returned home and for a while farmed a portion of hisfather's land. In 1904, he was married and during the following four or five years continued to operate a part of the paternal farm and then took charge of the entire place, his father having moved to Columbus Grove. In the spring of 1913, Mr. Seitz bought eighty acres of land west of Hog creek, to the operation of which he gave his attention for to years and then,, in the spring of 19 14, returned to the old home place, where he now resides. Because of his character and the success which he has attained in his chosen vocation, he is well and favorably known^ throughout this section of the county. He maintains the farm at the highest standard of agricultural excellence and, by following up-to-date and progressive ideas, has succeeded in receiving a noteworthy success.

On February 10, 1904, Mr. Seitz was married to Dulia Dreasky, who was born in Jackson township, Putnam county, on April 7, 1880, the daughter of Arthun and Nora (Dray) Dreasky. She was one of three children, the others being Myrtle and Alonzo. Arthur Dreasky was born on September 28, 1853, near Bucyrus, Ohio, the son of George and Rebecca (Meadly) Dreasky, the former of whom was a native of Germany and a pioneer settler of Ohio. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. His wife, Rebecca Meadly, was a native of this country. Mrs. Seitz's mother, Nora Dray, was born in West Virginia, near Steubenville, Ohio, December 30, i860, the daughter of John W. and Judith (Fisher) Dray, both of whom were natives of Steubenville, Ohio.

To Peter and Dulia (Dreasky) Seitz have been born four children, Charles, on March 21, 1905; Clarence, April 13, 1906, died on September 25, 1907; Blanche, September ;27, 1907, and Myrtle, October 15, 1909.

, Mr. Seitz is a Democrat and takes an intelligent and commendable interest in local affairs. He is a member of the Ottawa River Christian church, of which he is a trustee and of which Mrs. Seitz is also a member. He is also a member of the Valley Grange, of which he is the present overseer. In every phase of life's activities, he has performed his part to the best of his ability and has earned the commendation and approval of all who know him..

Anton Kuhlman

Philosophy and experience teach us that society is more quickly ameliorated and best improved by the advancement of the individual. That is to say, if a person will attend to his or her own uplift, it stands as a matter of that the entire body of society will benefit thereby. The greatest factor in this work is example; the life and deeds of every individual are sure to- react upon their fellows. The proof of this is found in the study of the life of Anton Kuhlman, who has materially aided his community by a quiet and unassuming example.

Anton Kuhlman was born in Glandorf, Putnam county, Ohio, on March 26, 1850, his parents being John Theodore and Anna (Schwatzengraber) Kuhlman, who were also the parents of Theodore, Barney and Henry, who' live on adjoining farms in Ottawa township. Frank and John are both deceased.

Born in Germany, Theodore Kuhlman came to America with his parents at the age of fourteen. He was mechanically inclined, and when not working on the farm made machinery in a small shop, making three separators, two of which he sold, keeping the other for his own use. Altogether he accumulated six hundred acres of land, which he bought uncleared and made valuable by hard work. To each of three sons he deeded one hundred and seven acres, and to the other son, Theodore, he gave eighty acres. Theodore, the elder, followed general farming throughout his life and died on the farm January 6, 1889. He was a power in the community, a member of the Catholic church and was a Democrat.

It is related of Theodore Kuhlman that he was compelled, in pioneer days, to take his pork and grain to Defiance, in a boat built by himself, which would hold five hundred bushels of wheat. For this boat he hewed his own lumber; its proportions were seventy-four feet long and six feet wide. Pork was packed on fop of the wheat. Theodore slept in the boat during his trips.

Anna Kuhlman was also born in Germany and came to America with her parents about two years later than did her future husband. Her parents also settled in Glandorf. She died, August 18, 1877, mourned as a kind neighbor and a loving mother.

Living at home until his marriage, Anton Kuhlman located on the place him by his father, which he cleared, fenced and drained, and on which he built numerous new buildings. At the present time he is an influential farmer, an automobile enthusiast and a good roads advocate.

On May 26, 1874, Mr. Kuhlman was married a second time, to Agnes Lefken, the daughter of Henry and Theresa (Hundepohl) Lefken, the former of whom was a native of Germany, who settled on an uncleared Putnam county farm in the early days, and became a successful farmer. He and his wife had six children : Elizabeth, who married Barney Gerding; Mrs. Myrtle Kuhlman; Mrs. Anna Kuhlman, who died on December 2, 1910; Agnes, the wife of the subject; Magdalena married Frank Doepper and lives in Glandorf ; Mrs. Helena Becker is deceased. To Anton and Agnes (Lefken) Kuhlman and wife were bom the six children described as follow : Barney, who married Emma Helker, lives on an Ottawa township farm and has four children, Hilda, Leona, Bernard and Louisa; Wihiam married Mary Schroeder and lives on an Ottawa township farm; Andrew married Mary Lammers and lives on a farm in Blanchard township, and has three children, Arthur, Carl and Genevieve ; Emma, who married Joseph Schmenk, lives on Ottawa township farm and has four children, Rudolph, Mildred, Elmer and Alice; George married Susan Nadler and lives in the parental home; Harry also lives at home.

An active worker in the Democratic party, Mr. Kuhlman has never sought oilce. He is a member of the New Cleveland Catholic church, as is his family. Mr. Kuhlman is congenial, stands high in the regard of his neighbors, and supports all movements which will benefit the county. He is a kind and loving father and so lives that his example is a powerful agent for good.

Thomas Milton Teegardin

Among the men in Putnam county who has won the confidence and high esteem of his friends, neighbors and fellow citizens, is Thomas Milton Teegardin who has grown up in this community and has always led an exemplary life. Having kept within the bounds of the straight and narrow path in the pursuit of all that is good in this life and pointed out as one worthy of the recognition of the historian, it is without any limitation except for space that' we record the ancestry and work of the subject of this review.

Thomas Milton Teegardin was born on September 6, 1874, in Columbus Grove, Ohio, and is the son of Joseph H. and Sarah E. (Mayberry) Teegardin. His father, Joseph H., was born on March 19, 1840, in -Monroe township, in Allen county, and was the son of Henry and Rachel (Decker) Teegardin. Henry Teegardin was born in Franklin county, on September

19, 1810, and there married Rachel Decker on October 28, 1834. At a later date, they came to AUen county, where he farmed one hundred and sixty acres until the time of his death which occurred, January 31, 1856. To them were born nine children, Polly (Mrs. Knouse), deceased; Betsey (Mrs. jNlurphy) ; Joseph; Peter; Jackson; Sarah Ann; John, all of whom are now deceased; William and Daniel. After the death of Henry Teegardin, his wife was married, a second time, to James Mayberry, who died on April 10, 1867; she died, February 8, 1899. To this union there was one child born, Ida Annis (Mrs. Griffith), on May 22, 1862, and who now lives in the towni of Hicksville, Ohio.

Joseph H. Teegardin remained under the parental roof during his youthful days and received his education in the township schools of Monroe township. He remained with his father until the time of his marriage, after which he farmed a forty-acre tract which was deeded to him by his father at a later date. He remained on this place for a while and then decided to sell out and remove to Putnam coimty, where he located in Columbus Grove. In this locality, he made it a business to farm at various places in the township, his principal vocation, however, being the operation of a threshing outfit in season, and teaming. A few years later, he bought a farm in Pleasant township, northwest of Columbus Grove, where he continued the business of farming until the year of his death, which occurred on March 11, 1 89 1. His wife, Sarah E. Mayberry, was a native of Plum Creek, Pleasant township, this county, and was born May 13, 1843, a daughter of James Mayberry and wife. She grew to womanhood on her father's farm and, at the present time, resides in Lima, Ohio. Four children were born to their union, James of Sugar Creek township, this county; William, who lives in Michigan;, Thomas Milton, and Emma, deceased. The father was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Columbus Grove, and a supporter of the Democratic party, yet was not active in politics. He was brought up in the faith of the Christian church, but was not closely affiliated with church affairs.

After spending his boyhood days in the town of Columbus Grove with, his father, and later moving with him to the farm in Sugar Creek township, where he remained until his father's death, Thomas Milton Teeoardin wasmarried on December 14, 1898, to Cora Keirns, daughter of Samuel H. and Emma Jane (Deffenbaugh) Keirns, the life history of whom will be found elsewhere in this history under the name of Samuel H. Keirns. A short time after his marriage, Thomas M., moved to the farm of his father-in-law and remained there until he bought his present fifty-five acre farm in Pleasant township. On this farm, besides the raising of a general line of crops, he gives special attention to thoroughbred Ohio Improved Chester hogs-, and also feeds a large herd of dairy cattle.

To Thomas Milton Teegardin and wife have been born four children, Emil O. Roy, Samuel and Plummer, all of whom reside with their parents. Mr. Teegardin is an active member of the Knights of Pythias Lodge No. 376, Columbus Grove, he is a consistent supporter of the Democratic party, and the family belong to the Christian church, where the father is one of the trustees and a teacher of the boy's Sunday school class; Mrs. Teegardin also teaches the young women's class. Personally, he is well regarded by all his friends and acquaintances, is a good christian gentleman of genial, unassuming disposition. In a business way he is looked upon as a man of splendid judgment in live stock and is ever alert to lend his support to progressive ideas and modern methods.

William Basinger

In a brief sketch of any living citizen it is difficult to do him exact and impartial justice. Not so much, however, for the lack of space or words to set forth the familiar and passing events of his personal history, as for want of the perfect and rounded conception of his whole life, which grows, and ripens like fruit to disclose it truest and best flavor only when it is mellowed by time. Daily contact with a man, so familiarizes us with his virtues that we ordinarily overlook them and commonly underestimate their possessor. It is not often that true honor, public or private, that honor which is a tribute of cordial respect and esteem, comes to a man without basis in character and deeds. During a residence of nearly fifty years in Putnam county, the people have had an opportunity to know what manner of man William Basinger is. The testimony is ample that he is a good citizen in the full sense of the term and worthy of honor and public trust. Mr. Basinger is a man who has risen to a place of prominence in his community and who, in every way, has proved himself a worthy son of a conscientious, God-fearing father.

William Basinger was born on March 9, 1868, in Riley township, Putnam county, Ohio. He is the son of Christian and Regina (Lugibihl) Basinger, the latter of whom has been dead for many years. Christian Basinger, who is now living retired, is a man of sterling character and a man greatly esteemed by all with whom his busy life has brought him in contact. He resigned the presidency of the Peoples Bank at Columbus Grove at the annual election held in 1914, on account of ill health. He was compelled to seek relief by a trip West, to the famous Mayo Brothers Institute, at Rochester, jMinnesota. An operation here relieved him and he is now on the way to recovery.

Christian Basinger is one of the leading citizens, and has been one of the leading farmers in Putnam county. He was born in Riley township, Putnam county, on March 12, 1846, the son of John D. and Elizabeth (Moser) Basinger, both natives of Switzerland. John D. Basinger was of French descent and came to the United States when eighteen years of age with his mother, his father having died in the old country. They settled first in Wayne county, but, subsequently, came on to Putnam county. Elizabeth Moser was twelve years old when she came to this country. They were farmers in Riley township. " John D. Basinger died in 1885, at the age of sixty-nine years. Christian Basinger was one of seven children born to his parents, John D., who lives at Lafayette, Indiana; Mrs. Elizabeth Leibe, who lives at Columbus Grove; Mary, the wife of Peter Zeurcher, of Kansas City; Magdalena, who died shortly after her marriage; John Kratz and Peter, who died young.

Christian Basinger was reared in Riley township and there received his education. At the age of twenty-nine years, he was married to Regina Lugibihl, who was born in Allen county, and who was the daughter of David Lugibihl. She died in the fall of 1871, leaving two sons, William, whose history has been previously given, and Levi, the assistant cashier of the Peoples Bank, of Columbus Grove. Mr. Basinger was married, the second time, in June, 1872, to Barbara Bucher, who was born in Allen county, and was the daughter of Christian Bucher. Three children were born to' this union, but only one is now living, Susie Basinger, who married Frank Lugibihl and lives with her father in Columbus Grove.

Christian Basinger is a large landowner in Putnam county. In 1893 he erected a handsome home on his farm situated on the Pandora road which was destroyed by fire in March, 1905. Later he moved to Columbus' Grove, m the fall of 1905, where he built a modern residence in 1906. In this residence he has resided since that time.

Christian Basinger began dealing in Percheron and French coach horses as early as 1885 and made at least four different trips to Europe to select his stock for importation. He became connected with the Peoples Bank in

1892, and has been identified with that bank until the present time, for the most part as president. Christian Basinger is a member of St. John's Mennonite church. He is a valuable citizen of Putnam county and, in every respect, entitled to the esteem and confidence bestowed upon him during his declining years.

Wilham Basinger spent his boyhood days on his father's farm in Riley township. When William was eight years old, he came with his father to Pleasant township, Putnam county, where the latter purchased a farm of eighty acres from John Marvin. Subsequently, William Basinger operated this farm with his father until he was of age or until about 1891. He then farmed under a partnership arrangement until his father gave up farming and moved to Columbus Grove. William Basinger then took an active interest in the farming of eighty acres, which was deeded to him by his father, and to which he subsequently added two forty-acre tracts, making a total of one hundred and sixty acres. Mr. Basinger also farms one hundred and sixty acres belonging to his father, lying across from and adjoining his own farm of one hundred and sixty acres. He has been a stock raiser of wide reputation. Mr. Basinger made a trip to Europe in 1890, in the interest of his business as a breeder of Percherons and French coach horses. In connection with his father, William Basinger has been one of the leading horse breeders in this section of Ohio. He is not extensively engaged in the breeding business at this time, but has turned his attention more to general farming and operating his splendid farm in Pleasant township. Notwithstanding the fact that Mr. Basinger is no longer actively engaged in the breeding business, he keeps a considerable number of splendid draft horses and is a splendid judge of their finest points. He has been an extensive exhibitor at fairs, but has not followed this for the past twelve years. He owns a fine home, large roomy barns and has made many improvements upon his land. All of the buildings are thoroughly modern and there are plenty of them for any and all purposes. In fact, Mr. Basinger has one of the finest country homes in Putnam county.

William Basinger was married on June 14, 1893, to Minnie E. Risser, the daughter of David and Margaret (Krohn) Risser. She was born April "27, 1873, in Riley township. Her parental history is contained elsewhere in this volume in the sketch of David Risser. To William and Minnie E. (Risser) Basinger, six children have been born, Leonard, on March 22, 1894, who is a student at the college of agriculture, University of Ohio ; Marguerite Barbara, May 30, 1895, died on February 25, 1901 ; George Risser, December 7, 1899; Mildred Opal, October 26, 1901 ; Alice Evelvn, February 12,

Mr. Basinger is not a member of any lodge. With the exception of school director, he has held no public offices. Mr. and Mrs. Basinger and family are members of the First Presbyterian church of Columbus Grove and are regular attendants at its services.

In the fall of 1914, Mr. Basinger was elected president of the Peoples Bank, at Columbus Grove, to succeed his father, who had served in that office for many years. William Basinger is a likeable man of splendid habits and sterling character. He is one of the leading citizens of Putnam county, kind and sociable and thoroughly domestic in his temperament. He takes great pride in his home, family and farm, and is a man widely known. He is naturally a power in his community, not only for progress generally, but his example as a scientific, successful farmer has had much to do with the growth and prosperity of Putnam county.

Guy Irwin

Guy Irwin, a prosperous and enterprising young' farmer of Pleasant township, Putnam county, Ohio, is widely known throughout this county and is one of its honored citizens. His well-directed efforts in the practical affairs of life, his capable management of his business interests and his sound judgment have enabled him to add to the property he inherited from his father. His life demonstrates what may be accomplished by any man of energy and ambition who is not afraid to work and who has the perseverance to continue his labors in the face of disasters and discouragements. In all of the relations of life, Mr. Irwin has commanded the confidence and respect of those with whom he has been brought in contact. A biographical history of this locality would not be complete without a record of his career.

Guy Irwin was born on January 14, 1882, in Pleasant township, Putnam county, Ohio. He is the son of Benjamin Franklin and Lydia (Hayden) Irwin, the former of whom was born on November 30, 1821, in Fairfield county, Ohio, and died, May 22, 1902. The latter was the second wife of Benjamin F. Irwin, and was born on May 7, 1839, in Stark county, Ohio. She is still living on the old homestead place. Benjamin F. Irwin was the son of Josiah Kennedy and Catherine (Bartman) Irwin. Mrs. Lydia Irwin is the daughter of Nathaniel and Eliza (Bothers) Irwin.

J 252 Putnam County, Ohio

Benjamin Franklin Irwin, the father of Guy, was first married to Sarah J. Lease, who was born on April 26, 1836, and died on June 28, 1861. Guy Irwin is a son by the second marriage which took place on March 28, 1864, and he is the youngest of nine children born to this marriage. The others were Martha Emma, March 9, 1865; Clement L., July 26, 1866; died on September 19, 1866; George Thurman, September 20, 1867, died on January 30, 1897; Benjamin F., Jr., August 25, 1869; Nathaniel K., January 20, 1871 ; James A., March 13, 1874; Charles P., December 9, 1876; Kemerer L., May 16, 1879.

Guy Irwin grew up on the homestead farm itf Pleasant township and remained there until his marriage. He was educated in the public schools of Putnam county and, during the time he was attending school, performed the labors customary to this section of the country.

Mr. Irwin was married August 26, 1908, to Ruhama Anderson, the daughter of Evan Thomas and Loretta (Vandermark) Anderson. Evan Thomas Anderson was the son of Henry and Ann Anderson and was born on January 6, 1849, in Sugar Creek township, Putnam county. He married Loretta Elizabeth Vandermark, January 8, 1880, and to this union were born nine children, six sons and three daughters. All of these children are now living, with the exception of Alfred, who died, January 21, 191 1. Evan Thomas Anderson, during his life, was a member of Maple Grove Christian church with which he united in May, 191 1. He was a deacon in the church at the time of his death, January i, 1915, when he was sixty-five years, seven months and twenty-five days old. At the time of Mr. Anderson's death, he left a wife, five sons, three daughters, sixteen grandchildren, one sister and many relatives and friends.

After Mr. Irwin's marriage, he and his wife moved to his present farm, in section 31, of Pleasant township, consisting of eighty acres, sixty acres of which were deeded to Mr. Irwin by his father and twenty acres of which he has added himself. Mr. Irwin follows general farming. In 1907, he built a modern barn, thirty-six by sixty-four feet, and the year following built a splendid residence in which he now lives.

The Irwin family are all members of the Maple Grove Christian church. Mr. Irwin and his wife's father united with this church in 191 1. A Democrat in political views, Mr. Irwin is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows No. 464, at Columbus Grove. He is a quiet man, rather slow to make statements, yet progressive, open and above board. He takes a pride in his farm and home and is an excellent farmer. His success has come to him largely as a consequence of his industry, his good management and his wise economy. He is a representative citizen of Pleasant township and entitled to representation in this volume as such.

George B. Syfert

Conspicuous among the public-spirited men and representative citizens of Putnam county, Ohio, is the well-known gentleman whose name forms the caption of this article. He has made his influence felt for good in his community in Sugar Creek township, being a man of sterling worth, whose life has been closely interwoven with the history of the community in which he resides, and whose efforts have always been for the material advancement of the same, as well as for the social and moral welfare of his fellow men. And the well-regulated life he has led has thereby gained the respect and admiration of his fellow citizens, and entitles him to representation in a biographical work of the scope intended in the present volume.

George B. Syfert was born in Union township on February 8, 1864. He is a son of Abraham and Permelia (Clevehger) Syfert. Abraham Syfert was a native of Ohio, born in Fairfield county, in 1835, and di^d at the home of his son, George B. Syfert, in October, 1909. He was a son of Andrew and Rebecca (Guile) Syfert, both of whom were natives of Virginia, who came to Ohio in early days and settled in Fairfield county, where they spent the remainder of their lives. It was on the old homestead', which they established about nine miles southwest of Lancaster, that George's father grew to manhood. He was one of six children, three sons and three daughters, and remained at home until about twenty-one years of age, when he came to Putnam county, locating in Union township, and he was employed on a farm until his marriage. She to whom he was united, Permelia Clevenger, was born in Union township, in 1838, the daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Rimer) Clevenger, who were the parents of twelve children, six sons and six daughters, all of whom grew to maturity. After his marriage, Mr. Syfert started in to farm on his own account in Sugar Creek township, locating on a farm belonging to an uncle of his wife. He finally settled on a farm of forty acres, located one and three-quarter miles south of Kalida, on the banks of Hog creek, where he engaged in farming for several years, and later, he moved to other locations in Union township. Again he located just across the line, in Sugar Creek township, and his last residence was on a farm four miles south of Kalida. After giving up his home, he resided with his son, George B., at whose home his death occurred 'in October, 1909. His wife, Permelia had died on April 6, 1891, when they were living south of Kalida. Abraham and Permelia Syfert had thirteen children, eight of whom survive them: Eliza; Andrew; George B., the immediate subject of this sketch ; Catherine ; Eleva ; Matilda ; John C, deceased, and Louis.

George B. Syfert was reared on his paternal homestead, south of Kalida, and attended the district schools in that locality. He remained under the paternal roof until twenty-two years of age, and then moved three miles south of Kalida, locating on a farm of forty acres. This land was practically all covered by timber, only about eight acres being cleared, but Mr. Syfert boldly entered upon the task of subduing the land and creating a good farm. He first built a four-room house and a plank barn, the latter being later destroyed by fire, which was replaced with a log barn. Eventually, Mr. Syfert succeeded in getting his farm nearly all cleared, and after that, bought ten acres additional. After residing here about fourteen years, he sold out and bought sixty-eight and one-half acres of the old Guffy farm, to which he has since added eighty-two and one-half acres, making his total possessions now one hundred and fifty acres. He made some splendid and permanent improvements on his property, including a nine-room residence, a large and commodious barn and other necessary farm buildings. He carries on general farming operations, in addition to which he has for thirtysix years operated a thrashing machine, and in which work he has gained a wide reputation. He is up-to-date in his ideas, energetic in his methods, and numbered among the progressive and prominent farmers of his locality.

On November 11, 1886, Mr. Syfert was married to Margaret A. Mc- Clane, who was born in Sugar Creek township on April 18, 1863, the daughter of AVilliam F. and Elizabeth (Guffy) McClane. William F. McClane was born in Franklin county, Ohio, near Columbus, on October 24, 1828, the son of George and Margaret (Fleming) McClane. Mrs. Syfert's mother, Elizabeth Guffy, was the daughter of John Guffy and wife, and was born in Franklin county, on February 20, 1830, her death occurring on the old McClane homestead on March 31, 19 12. She came to. Sugar Creek township with her parents, when but a baby. Her father entered three hundred and twenty acres of land from the government. Here John Guffy built a log cabin on the place which is now occupied by George B. Syfert, and it was here that he created a home for his family in the midst of what was then a vast wilderness. He passed through all the privations and hardships of the early pioneer period, and was numbered among those who accomplished much for the advancement of the locality. To John Gufify and wife were born eleven children, seven sons and four daughters, one of whom was Elizabeth, who, at the ag-e of twenty-five years, became the wife of William F. McClane. After their marriage they lived at her home for about two years, and then moved to the old McClane homestead, where they have lived ever since. To William F. and Elizabeth (Gufify) McClane were born four children, George; John James; Margaret A., wife of the subject of this sketch, and Elnora Jane, all of whom are living.

To George B. and Margaret A. (McClane) Syfert have been born four children: Ellie, on September i, 1887, is the wife of W. W. Woods, and they have three children, Beulah, Ewing and Tressa; Myrtle, April 30, 1890, became the wife of Fred Rimer, and they have two children. La Verne and Raymond; William, April 3, 1893, and Oliver, August 28, 1898.

Mr. Syfert is an ardent Democrat, and has served as township supervisor and is a member of the school of Union township. He and his wife are members of the Ottawa River Christian church, to the interests of which i:hey are devoted. Straightforward and unassuming, genial and obliging, Mr. Syfert enjoys the good-will and respect of a wide circle of friends throughout his section of the county.

Joseph Losh

The true measure of individual success is determined by what one has accomplished. An enumeration of those men who have succeeded in their chosen vocation in Putnam county and who, at the same time, are impressing their personalities upon the community where they live, men who are conferring honor upon the county in which they reside, would be incomplete were there a failure to mention specifically Joseph Losh, a well-known farmer of Pleasant township, Putnam county, Ohio. The splendid success which has come to him has been the direct result of his careful application to his vocation and his upright and honorable life has gained him an enviable reputation in the community. He has carried forward to successful completion whatever he has undertaken. The best business methods have been in strict conformity with the highest standards of commercial life. He has always taken an in- .telligent interest in the civic, educational and religious life of the community

Joseph Losh was born on November 26, 1859, in Pleasant township, Putnam county, Ohio, on the farm where he now lives. He is the son of Abraham and Sarah Ann (Frost) Losh, the former of whom was boriri on July 17, 181 7, in Licking county, was the son of Jacob and Mary Elizabetk (Schuler) Losh. Jacob Losh was a native of Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, and immigrated to Licking county, in 181 7, where he died. Hisson, Abraham, came to Putnam county, in 1850, settling on a farm near Gilboa. He lived here for one year and then moved back to Licking county. In 1852 he returned to Pleasant township, where he purchased eighty acresof land, adding forty acres to this before his death. It was almost an unbroken forest. He built a log cabin here which still remains on Joseph Losh's farm. He farmed until his death, October 24, 1892, at which time he was seventy-six years old. He was a stanch member of the Lutheran church, but was not a member of the church in Putnam county. He exercised his right of franchise by voting the Democratic ticket. His wife, who was Sarah Ann Frost, before her marriage, was born on June 20, 1820, in Licking county, and died, May 31, 1880. She was married to Abraham Losh on March 20, 1841. She was the daughter of Joseph and Mary Ann (Schevaler) Frost, natives of Massachusetts, who came to Ohio in an early day, and who, without a doubt,, are descendants of the Puritan pioneers.

To Abraham and Sarah Ann Losh, eight children were born, Mary A., Henry, Hannah, who married John Geib, Joseph, the subject of this sketch,, and four who died in infancy.

Joseph Losh grew to manhood on the farm where he now lives. He received his education in the township schools and in the Fostoria Academy,, at Fostoria, Ohio. Subsequently, he attended the theological school at Stanfordville. New York, and remained in college until time for his ordination,, but he was never ordained. He was a local preacher in the United Brethren church and a student preacher in Putnam county for some time. In 1888 he came back to the farm.

Joseph Losh was married on January i, 1890, to Emma Bunte, the daughter of Jacob and Josephine (Hedrick) Bunte. Jacob Bunte was a native of Prussia, as was also his wife. They were married in Germany and came to America with a family of five children, settling first at Cincinnati, where they remained for a short time. He was a practicing physician and worked during the cholera epidemic of 1845. He taught a school in Cincinnati,' and was organist in the Catholic church there. He came to Delphos,,

Ohio, in 1846 and taught school during the pioneer days, when wild hogs ran. at large. He was the first teacher in the parochial schools at that place. From Delphos, he moved back to Cincinnati, thence to Toledo, from there to Albany, New York, and from Albany to Putnam county, Ohio. He practiced medicine at Delphos and was also organist in the Catholic church there. During a part of his life, he was engaged in the manufacture of pianos. Jacob Bunte settled in Putnam county, when Mrs. Losh was five years old. After acquiring a farm of eighty acres, he farmed until his death, at the age of seventy-eight. His brother was one of the early settlers of Glandorf and, at one time, was a large landholder in and about Glandorf. He was known as Doctor Bunte. He came to Glandorf with Professor Horstman, the founder of Glandorf, Putnam county.

Jacob Bunte and wife were the parents of twelve children, A/[atilda, Daniel, Amelia, Fredericka, John, Frederick, Joseph, Sophia, Josephine, Adeline, Anna and Emma. Joseph, Josephine, Adeline and Mrs. Losh are the only ones now living. Mrs. Jacob Bunte was born on October 17, 1816, and died at the age of eighty-two. Her daughter, Mrs. Losh was born at Albany, New York, on May 17, i88'i.

To Joseph and Emma (Bunte) Losh, eight children have been born, Abraham J., of Columbus Grove, who married Mary Kramer and has one son, Joseph, who operates the Columbus Grove laundry; Lewis, who married Anna Wort and helps his father on the home farm ; Mabel, who married. Lawrence Burkhart, a clerk in the War Department, at Washington, D. C. ;, Sarah, married Joseph Kastner, lives in Dayton, Ohio ; Sol H., and Stella, all at home; Leona died in infancy and Francis is living.

Joseph Losh follows general fai'ming and has made extensive improvements on liis farm. He is enterprising and has been successful in everything that he has undertaken.

Republican in politics, Mr. Losh is independent in state and national affairs. He is now a member of the Presbyterian church at Columbus Grove. At one time he was a stanch Catholic and he organized the movement to secure the first Catholic church at Columbus Grove; also secured the services of the noted missionary. Father Charles Martus, as a missionary who held two missions for non-Catholics in Columbus Grove, which c\ilminated in the establishment of the present church. Mrs. Losh and children belong to the Catholic church at Columbus Grove. Mr. Losh is widely acquainted in Putnam county. He has a splendid home and a fertile farm and is highly respected by his neighbors and honored by all with whom he has come into contract, and has one of the most diversified libraries in the county.

Bernard Joseph Meyer

Germany is among those nations that have contributed a large quota -of their population to that of the United States. No country has furnished better citizens. Hundreds of thousands of men and women, with the best blood of that country coursing through their veins, have come to our shores, and have become the most substantial citizens of the various localities in which they settled. Eorunate, indeed, is the community which has German numbered among its citizens, for wherever they are found they are always numbered among its most substantial citizens. The habits of thrift and frugality which they inherit from their ancestors make them valuable residents to the community at large. No one has ever heard of a German dying in the poorhouse. The examples set by the thrifty German citizens have been very beneficial, not only to our native Americans, but to the citizens of all other countries as well. Ohio has been fortunate in attracting to her fertile soil many thousands of good Germans, and among the promi- Ttent families of Putnam county of German descent is the Meyer family. One of the representative citizens of Putnam county, who is a scion of a thrifty German family, is Bernard Joseph Meyer.

Bernard J. Meyer was born on June 12, 1863, at Glandorf, Putnam county, the son of Gerhard and Anna (Moening) Meyer, whose life histories are found elsewhere in this volume. These histories give the Meyers family history.

Growing up on a farm near Glandorf, Bernard J. Meyer was married in 1886 to Mary Elizabeth Ellerbrock, who was born in Glandorf and who is the daughter of John Ferdinand and Theresa (Klemen) Ellerbrock. The Ellerbrock family history is also found elsewhere in this volume.

In the spring of 1886 Mr. Meyer purchased a farm in the southeastern part of Liberty township, and he has lived upon this farm since his marriage. He began with eighty acres that were largely covered with swamps, and, aside from being mostly cleared of timber, it was almost totally unimproved. Mr. Meyer has erected an excellent house, a large substantial barn with a tile roof and a number of other substantial outbuildings. He now owns one hundred and fifty-nine acres of fertile land, which produces abundant harvests. Bernard J. Meyer is a farmer and threshemian and is well known in Liberty township as an enterprising citizen and a successful business man.

Joseph Henry. John Ferdinand married Anna Susanna Gores, the daughter of George Gores, and Hves on his father's farm. They have one daughter, Mary Elizabeth. Catherine Wilhelmina is the wife of George Steffen and hves east of Leipsic. They have one daughter, Eulaha Marie. Catherine Agnes and Joseph Henry are unmarried and Hve at home.

The Meyer family have alw^ays been members of the Catholic church and contribute liberally to the support of this faith. Mr. Meyer is a representative citizen and a successful farmer. He is interested in all public movements and does not hesitate to devote his time and money to worthy public

John B. Norman

Among the representative citizens of Putnam county, Ohio, is John B. Norman, a well-known farmer of Pleasant township. Mr. Norman has impressed his personality upon the community where he lives and is honored and respected by a large circle of friends and acquaintances. Moreover, Mr. -Norman has made a creditable success of his life's vocation and he, likewise, takes an active interest in public questions, adding to the wisdom of the community by his counsels and helpfulness. On both sides of his family, he is descended from good old English stock, men and women who left their native land to find homes in the new country. . By marriage, Mr. Norman is identified with the Beam family, one of the best-known and most highly respected in Putnam county.

John B. Norman was born on February 17, 1859, in England and is the son of Samuel and Sarah (Beridge) Norman, the former of whom was born at Uppingham, Rutland, England, on August 7, 1833, and the latter of whom was born at the same place.

Samuel Norman was the son of Samuel, Sr., and Deborah (Pickering) Norman. Samuel Norman, Jr., left England in i860 and came to Huron Ohio, where he worked by the month for one man during a period of seven years. He lived in Huron county, altogether, for fourteen years and then came to Putnam county, in 1874, settling in Union township, on a farm of forty acres. He operated this farm for thirty years and then sold it and removed to Pleasant township, Putnam county, where he bought six and onehalf acres and farmed it until his retirement a few years ago. He now lives near his son, John B. Samuel Norman, Jr., was married in England, De- -cember 2, 1856, and was the father of two children in that country, Mrs.

Elizabeth Jane Buckingham, born in 1857; and John B. Samuel Norman, Jr., is a Republican and a member of the church of Latter-Day Saints. When he came to America, it took him twenty-two days on a sailing vessel. He landed in New York on Thanksgiving day and came overland to Huron county. Samuel Norman, Sr., came from England to America ahead of his son, in 1856, and settled in Huron county, where he farmed twenty acres. He came to Putnam county in 1863 and settled in Union township, farming twenty acres there until his death, January 16, 1885, at the age of eighty-two. His wife, who was Deborah Pickering before her marriage, was a native of England also. She died in November, 1890, aged ninety-two years. She was the mother of five children, Samuel, Jr., Ann, Jane, John and Eliza, all of whom are deceased except Samuel, Jr. Mrs. Sarah Norman, who, before her marriage, was Sarah Beridge, was the daughter of Michael and Alice (Wiles) Beridge, both of whom were natives of England, the former of Northamptonshire and the latter of Keton, Rutland. They never came to America. Mrs. Sarah Norman is still living.

John B. Norman spent his boyhood days in Huron county, Ohio, and came to Putnam county when fourteen years of age with his father, living with him until he was married. He first operated a one-hundred-acre farm in Union township. He began with forty acres which he farmed for about six years and then purchased the John Buckingham farm of forty acres, after which, he bought twenty acres from his grandfather, but, on March i, 1901, he came to Pleasant township and located on his present farm of eighty-seven and one-half acres. He follows general farming and is still active in this vocation.

Mr. Norman was married on November 27, 1884, to Lydian.Ann Beam, the daughter of Amos and Mary (Burkhart) Beam, the former of whom was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, on June 27, 1823. Amos Beam was the son of Jacob and Rosa (Carnes) Beam. Jacob Beam was born on April 13, 1796, and his father was Peter Beam, who was born on December 1^, 1732. The complete family history of the Beams is contained elsewhere in this volume. Amos Beam died, January 29, 1900, at the age of seventy-six.

To John B. and Lydian Ann (Beam) Norman, six children have been born, Nellie, who married Harmon Allen, a grocer, of Lima, Ohio, and has three children, Alice L., Norman C. and Ruth Olive; Rosa, who married Pearl Bowers, of Lima, Ohio, who is an engineer on the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton railroad; Sarah, who married Ray Sakemiller, a farmer of Sugar Creek township ; Zelma, who married Charles Stover, of Ottawa, and has one son, Norman ; Mary and Ruth, both of whom are at home.

John B. Norman is a quiet, unassuming man with a clean record. He is a good, substantial farmer, and in his community is well liked. His habits are thoroughly domestic and he is a kind and loving father, as well as a good provider. Throughout his life he has been a strong and ardent advocate of sound principles in farming and follows these principles himself. He owns a splendid home and a valuable, well-located farm. Fraternally, Mr. Norman is a member of Columbus Grove Lodge, No. 376, Knights of Pythias. He has always considered himself a stanch Republican, but of late years has been more or less independent in his voting.

Henry Kaufmanx

That tiller of the soil who knows the significance of the opportunities presented to him, and who takes pride in grasping those opportunities and developing them to the credit of himself and the commonwealth, is indeed fortunate. Such a man is Henry Kaufman and he is that type of man of whom a community might justly be proud.

Henry Kaumann's father was born in March, 1823, in Westphalia, Prussia, and came to America in 1860, first locating at Cleveland. Henry was born in the same town as was his father, on November 25, 1850, his parents being John and Louisa (Lentz) Kaufmann, who were also the parents Louis and William, both deceased; Mrs. Philomena Lammers, of Liberty township, Putnam county ; Frederick, who is deceased ; a child who died at the age of four, and Joseph, deceased.

The entire life of Henry Kauffmann has been lived on the home farm^ which he inherited at his father s death. This farm formerly had a log house and barn, but modern buildings have been since erected by Mr. Kaufmann, who also owns three eighty-acre tracts in Ottawa township and oneforty-acre tract in Pleasant township, comprising two hundred and eighty acres in all. The farm in Pleasant township is being farmed by his sons. The land is given over to general farming, live stock and grain being the principal products.

The marriage of Mr. Kaufmann and Theresa Niese took place on June 12, 1877, the wife being the daughter of John Henry Niese and Anna Catharine (Schierloh) Niese. To Mr. and Mrs. Kaufmann the following children were born : Mary married John Lammers and of their nine children five are living, namely : Loretta, Philip, Veronica, Stella and Frederick ;. Edward, who married Veronica Schroeder, is the father of four children, of whom Arthur, Edwin and Leonard are living; William died in infancy;. Joseph married Agnes Kuhlmann and tills a farm in Ottawa township ; Frederick, who married Emma Schroeder, farms in Pleasant township and has one child, Albert; Adolph and Stella live at home.

Mrs. Kaufmann's father, John Niese, came from Munster, Prussia, tO' Putnam county, about 1840, where he settled on land near Glandorf, where he cleared and improved fifty acres. He was born in 1809, and died in 1884, aged seventy-five years. His wife was born in Glandorf, Germany, about 1822, and died on August 5, 1905. The two were hard-working people and were successful in life. Their deaths on the homestead were mourned by the many to whom they had endeared themselves. They were the parents of thirteen children, as follow: William died in 1910; Rosa died in infancy; Mary died at the age of twenty-one ; Henry ; Mrs. Elizabeth Rosenthal, of Kalida ; Barney and John ; Mrs. Catherine Inkrot, of Liberty township, and Frank, are twins ; Laura died in infancy ; Theresa, the wife of the subject of this sketch ; Bernadina lives in Tiffin, and Anna, deceased.

Jovial and good-natured, Mr. Kaufmann is accordingly liked by his neighbors. Fie belongs to no fraternal orders ; his political preferences are with the Democratic party; in religion a member of the Holy Family Catholic church at New Cleveland, as are his family, with the exception of two sons, Edward and Frederick, who belong to the same denomination at Ottawa. Mr. Kaufmann's reputation as a farmer and a good father gives him a titleclear to stand in the company of the select of his county. Mr. Kaufmann is- practically retired from farming, but is still active in body and mind. Hisresidence is a good brick house, one of the best in the community. Mrs. Kaufmann is a kind woman, of motherly disposition and has contributed much to her husband's success. Mr. Kaufmann is a member of the building committee to supervise the erection of the new Catholic church at New Cleveland and is one of the most active members of this committee. The new church is to cost between thirty thousand and forty thousand dollars, and the task of the building committee is a very important one.

His paternal ancestors were of French Huguenot stock, the name originally being La Porte, but was anglicized as a rebuke to French infidelity and religious intolerance. They emigrated from Alsace-Lorraine to the state of Maryland prior to the Declaration of Independence, and came to Ohio in 1805, securing an entry of land from the government by letters patent. George Layport, the great-grandfather, and five of his sons were engaged in the early Indian wars. One of the sons, Thomas, was killed by Indians. Having been sent home to see how his mother fared, the Indians surprised them, burning the cabin and killed Thomas, while his mother and her younger child escaped in the forest.

The maternal ancestry of Rev. Edward Layport were Scotch-Irish from County Antrim, Ireland. His mother's name was Loughridge, and religiously they were Covenanters.

Reverend Layport was the eldest son of William and Jane Layport. Hewas educated in a country school, studied science in Scio College and the classics in Franklin College, graduating, July 4, 1876. He studied theology at Lane Semmary, Cincinnati, graduating on May 8, 1879. He was ordained to the Gospel ministry on June 3, 1879 and installed pastor over the Bluffton and Rockport Presbyterian churches, in Lima Presbytery.

On October 16, 1879, Rev. Edward Layport was united in marriage to Lilhe May Tripp, of Carrollton. One daughter, Mrs. F. M. Belden, Jr., of Akron, Ohio, was born to this marriage.

Reverend Layport held pastorates in Loudonville and Nashville. He was pastor at Columbus Grove from 1884 to 1889; of the First Presbyterian church, of Akron, for nine years, from 1889 to 1898; at Loveland, from 1898

In October, 1906, owing to impaired health, Reverend Layport moved on a farm near Columbus Grove, where he has since resided. For three years he acted as missionary superintendent of Lima Presbytery. He then supplied the Welsh Presbyterian church of Sugar Creek and, later, has had charge of the Leipsic Presbyterian church.

In the second year of his pastorate at Akron, Reverend Layport's wife died on May 10, 1891. On August 21, 1895, he married Laura Adella Trumbo, of Rockport, a daughter of Enoch and Martha Trumbo. One son, Edward Trumbo, was born to them, on December 10, 1898. He is now a student in the Columbus Grove high school.

Mrs. Laura (Trumbo) Layport is an alumnus of Leland Stanford, Jr., University at Palo Alto, California, and is prominent in missionary and temperance work. She is president of the Putnam County Woman's Christian Temperance Union, and has seen the number of unions double during her administration. She is also an ardent advocate of woman's suffrage.

John Henry Utendorf

Being numbered among the life-long residents of the locaUty in which he lives and having had a fair start and a fixed determination to succeed, John Henry Utendorf is worthy of the praise and admiration of his fellow men, because of his careful management, continued industry and set purpose and the fact that he has acquired a fair competence of this world's goods. His career has been one of honorable methods in all his dealings with those with whom he came in contact, and a history of the people of Putnam county, who are worthy of mention in a work of this nature, would be incomplete without his record.

John Henry Utendorf was born in Ottawa township, this county, on July 7, 1876, and is the son of Joseph and Catherine (Shulte) Utendorf, whose life history appears elsewhere in this work under the name of Benjamin R. Utendorf.

Remaining under the parental roof and attending the township schools during his early days John Henry Utendorf assisted his father until about the time of his marriage, on November 25, 1903, to Catherine Hueve, a of Joseph Bernard and Regina Gertrude (Kla^orm) Hueve. Her father was a native of Hanover, Germany, where he was born in 1822, and left that country, in his seventeenth year, accompanied by his parents, who came to the United States and settled on a farm some distance west of the -town of Glandorf, Putnam county. This farm was probably land entered from the government and his father farmed it for some time. The son, Joseph, left his parents when he arrived at the age of twenty-eight and went to work as an employee of the Miami & Erie Canal Company, which was constructing a canal through this region at that time, and, at which he continued to work for some time. After his marriage, in the year 1852, he returned to his father's home and remained with him for three years, then struck out again for himself and purchased eighty acres of land in Pleasant township, and for which he paid six dollars per acre. It was all timbered with virgin trees and here it was that he began his career. His first meal, in this section, was eaten on an old tree stump and after cutting the required amount of timber he erected a log house for himself and wife, also a log barn, and, eventually, cleared the entire eighty acres. It was here that he -suffered the untold hardships of pioneer days and many a time he was known to be at work on this place without boots or mittens to protect him from the elements of the weather. At later dates he added two other tracts, the first consisted of forty acres and another of forty-six, both in Pleasant township, and heavily timbered. It was on this place that he died. May 16, 1898, in the seventy-fourth year of his age, after living a most useful christian life.' His wife and the mother of our subject's wife, was also a native of Germany, where she was born on April 12, 1834, and died in this country, November 3, 1893. She came to this countrj^ with her parents when she was but two years of age. Their first experience after arriving in this, new land was sleeping in the timber the first night her parents settled on a place near the town of Glandorf. The mother died on this homestead farm, in Pleasant township, in the fifty-ninth year of her age. To their union were born thirteen children, as follow: Joseph, deceased in infancy; Mary (Mrs. Kleman), of Ottawa township; William; Anne (Mrs. Koenig), of Pauldino^ county; Theresia (Mrs. Moening), of Ottawa; Magdaline (Mrs. Brinkman)", of the state of Texas; Elizabeth and Bernadina, who died in infancy; Theodore, who lives on the old homestead in Pleasant township; Philomena Cath-

After John H. Utendorf's marriage, and in the twenty-seventh year of his age, he removed" to Pleasant township, where he started farming on his present place, which consists of one hundred and sixty acres. This land wascleared with the exception of about thirty-five acres still in timber. After doing considerable ditching and draining, fencing and otherwise getting things in shape, Mr. Utendorf has gotten this farm into first-class condition for general farming and he is able to produce the maximum results on a place of this size "Which is used for growing crops. His concentrated efforts and. careful management show everywhere. The buildings have all been built new or remodeled and his residence is an imposing structure, modern in every respect. All in all, he has made a success in agricultural pursuits. To their union have been born five children as follow : Frances, Edward, Mary, John and Anna, all of whom live at home.

Mr. Utendorf is a Democrat, but does not take an active interest in politics. Fraternally, he is a member of the Catholic Knights of Ohio and the Knights of Columbus, both of which orders have lodges in the town of Ottawa, where he belongs. The entire family are members of the Catholic church at Ottawa, to which they contribute according to their means. Mr. Utendorf has the reputation of being a man of genial and kindly disposition,., charitable, and always ready to lend a helping hand to the less fortunate who are plodding along life's highway. Personally, Mr. Utendorf is a man of unassuming ways and on account of his sterling qualities, honorable methods, and keen interest in all community affairs, is held in the highest esteem by all: who know him.

William J. Wischmeyer

William J. Wischmeyer, of Ottawa township, Putnam county, Ohio, is-' one of the well-known farmers of Ottawa township and is of an old family. He owns a comfortable home and is possessed of the satisfaction of having reared a family of children to honorable and useful lives.

On May 14, i860, Mr. Wischmeyer himself was born at New Cleveland, Putnam county, and is the son of Ferdinand Henry and Mary (Schmenk) Wischmeyer, the former of whom was a native of the Province of Hanover, Germany, born on June 24, 1836. A sister, Mary, who had married William Gulker, having come to this country, Ferdinand Henry Wischmeyer arrived.