Putnam County, Ohio - Biographical sketches, 1915 (part 5 of 33)

Mr. MacDonald is a stanch adherent of the Republican party, but takes no active interest in political affairs, preferring rather to devote all his timeand attention to his extensive business interests. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, while Mrs. MacDonald is a member of the Pythian Sisters. Both Mr. MacDonald and his wife are loyal and earnest members of the Presbyterian church, in whose welfare they are deeply interested, and to whose support they are liberal contributors. They are highly respected citizens of their community, enjoying the esteem -of a large number of neighbors and friends.

John Theodore Moening

Among the best-remembered successful farmers of the past generation in Putnam county was the late John Theodore Moening. Of this man it -may be said that he possessed strong and active sympathies ; his temperament was warm and ardent, his feelings deep and intense, and these and -other characteristics unconsciously drew him an unusual number of devoted friends, upon whom, under all circumstances, he could rely, and who, now that he has passed away from earthly scenes, revere his memory. He was a close student of human nature and comprehended with little effort, the -motives and purposes of men, and he was a lover of truth and sincerity. In he is remembered as a manly man, of pleasing but dignified presence, a student of many subjects and an influential man in the circles in which he moved. Of sound character and unflagging energy, he stood as a conspicuous example of the well-developed American, and his position as one of the community's representative citizens was conceded by all who knew him.

John Theodore Moening was born in Ottawa township, Putnam Ohio, -September 2, 1867, and was the son of Henry and Elizabeth (Ellerbrock) Moening, whose life history is given elsewhere in this work, under the caption, "Henry Moening."

Mr. Moening remained on his father's farm near Glandorf, Ohio, and received his education in the neighboring schools. At the age of twentytwo he was married to Matilda Brockman, which event occurred on November 19, 1889. His wife was the daughter of Joseph and Caroline (Lamvehr) Brockman and was born in Fort Jennings, Putnam county, Ohio. Her father was a native of Assurbrick, which is not far from Glandorf, Germany, and came to this country alone when a very young man. Having acquired a thorough knowledge of the carpenter's trade in Germany and believmg there were good opportunities for a man of his ability in the city of Cmcmnati, Ohio, he first went there, but later decided to go to Glandorf Putnam county, Ohio, where he farmed for a while and did some carpenter then removed to Fort Jennings, this county, where he was employed to build the St. Joseph's Catholic church and which was started in i8s^ After completmg this work he retired from active work in the carpenter Ime and went to live on a small tract near town, which he farmed in a small way until the time of his death in 1896, in the eighty-second year of his ^ge. He was a Democrat, but took no active part in these affairs He was a devout member of the St. Joseph's Catholic church. His wife Cai-oline

-(Lamvehr) Brockman, was a native of Glandorf, Putnam county, Ohio, and was born on September 25, 1845. She is now residing on the home- -Stead place, near Fort Jennings, this county, and at the present time is in the seventy-ninth year of her age. To their union were born eight children as -follows: Joseph, of Fort Jennings; Carohne (Mrs. Reavie), of Ottawa town- -ship, this county; Henry, of Dayton, Ohio; Elizabeth (Mrs. Moening), of Glandorf, Ohio; Mary (Mrs. Westfelt), of Kahda, Ohio; Matilda, wife -of our subject; Lewis, who resides on the old homestead near Fort Jennings, -and Christena, deceased; Josephine (A^Irs. Helcamp), of Ft. Jennings, was a daughter by a former marriage.

After the marriage of John T. Moening and wife, he went to live on his farm, which consisted of eighty-two acres, and continued to live -on this place until the time of his death, April 6, 1914. When he bought this tract, there were but forty acres of clear land and the rest of it was in heavy timber. A great deal of his time was occupied in clearing the place, draining and fencing, and today this place is considered one of the most productive small farms in this section. When Mr. Moening was a young man of eighteen he took a great deal of interest in threshing ma- and having bought himself an outfit of this kind he proceeded to :go about the county threshing for the farmers and thus gained a wide acquaintance and was generally known to be absolutely upright and fair in his dealings, and had the respect and high esteem of everyone who knew him. The direct cause of his death was cancer of the liver, from which he was a quiet and patient sufferer. His attending physician constantly warned him of the danger and repeatedly told him that he had but a short time to live, nevertheless he kept the true facts, pertaining to his condition, from his wife and family and always appeared before them with such a cheerful manner that they little suspected his grave physical condition.

To Mr. and Mrs. J. T. Moening were born five children, as follow: 1-evina (Mrs. Louis Schroeder), who lives on a farm in Pleasant township, this county; Adaline (Mrs. Arnold Schroeder) who lives in Pleasant township and has a son, Harold; Amanda, Clarence and Hilerious, who live at home with their mother.

Mr. Moening was not an aggressive politician in his day, but at one time was a member of the board of school directors. He was a Democrat and at all times stood for the progressive methods proposed by that party. The entire family were regular members of the Catholic church and Mr. Moening was a member of the board of church trustees for four years.

Personally, he was a man of broad ideas and ever alert to lend any assistance he could toward all meritorious propositions that purported to be tO' the best interests of the community, and on account of his wide acquaintance and familiar figure in important gatherings, his death will always be keenly felt by every one who knew him.

John W. Meyer

One of the best-known young farmers and stock dealers in Putnam county is John W. Meyer, whose attractive place in Union township is the subject of admiring attention on the part of travelers on the highway which leads past the place, and whose stable of full-blooded Belgian horses is known far and near throughout the county. Mr. Meyer is one of the younger generation of farmers who are taking advantage of all the latest research along agricultural hues and in consequence has one of the best-kept and most productive small farms in his part of the county. He is alert in all that pertains to his business, for he is a farmer who looks upon farming as a real business and not a mere haphazard strewing of grain, and holds a high place in his community. His progressive methods certainly .entitle him to mention among the men of enterprise in Putnam county and the biographer finds pleasure in presenting, at this point, a brief outline of the salient points in his career.

John W. Meyer was born in Pleasant township, Putnam county, Ohio,, on Christmas Day, 1887, a son of John B. and Catherine (Smith) Meyer, both of whom were born in Ottawa township, in the same county.

John B. Meyer, who is now living a retired life in the city of Ottawa, the county seat of Putnam county, is the son of George Meyer, a former well-known and influential farmer of Union township, this county, who came to this country from Germany, first settling on a farm near Glandorf, this county, where he married and where his children were born, and where he lived until the death of his wife, after which he bought a farm in Union township, the place at present owned and occupied by his son-in-law, Joseph Unverfurth, where he spent the rest of his life. George Meyer and his wife were the parents of the following children : John B., Joseph, Elizabeth, Theresa, Katherine and Caroline, all of whom were brought up in the Catholic faith.

the nearby school at Glandorf. Until his marriage to Catherine Smith, parents were among the early settlers in Putnam county, he lived on his father's farm, but previous to his marriage had bought a farm of hundred and sixty acres in Ottawa township, to which he moved upon .his marriage, and rapidly brought it to a good state of cultivation. He lived there for about twenty years, at the end of which time he bought a farm of two hundred and twenty-six acres on section 17, in Union township, on which he erected as fine a set of farm buildings as there was in that part of the county at that time. His dwelling house was large, roomy and comfortable, substantial in every detail, and the farm buildings were in keeping with the same. The barn, which Mr. Meyer erected at that time, was foi many years a veritable landmark in that section, its peculiar style of architecture attracting general attention, it being built in circular shape and was regarded as one of the finest in the county. Mr. Meyer lived on this place for about fourteen years and then sold that part of the farm containing the house and farm buildings, comprising forty acres, to his son, John W., who now Hves there. He then purchased a home in Ottawa and moved to the county seat, where he is now living in comfortable retirement from the activities of life, enjoying the fruits of his earlier days of industrious application to the business of the farm. About twenty years ago Mrs. Meyer, mother of the immediate subject of this sketch, died, and Mr. Meyer took to himself a second wife, marrying Catherine Hark.

To John B. and Catherine (Smith) Meyer were born four children, as follow: Mary, who married Michael Donnersbauch and lives on a farm near St. Clair, Michigan; August, who married Laura Erhart and lives in the town of Glandorf, this county; John W., the subject of this sketch, and Frederick, who married Susan Sleeter and lives in Ft. Jeniiings, this county.

John W. Meyer was reared on the paternal farm, attending both the district school of that neighborhood and the school at Glandorf. He married Josephine Dangler on July 8, 1913, daughter of Edward and Margaret Dangler, both natives of this state, who, after their marriage, located on a farm near Ottawa, this county, later moving to Defia:nce, Ohio, - where they lived for ten years, at the end of which time they moved back to Putnam county, locating on a farm in Union township, on which they still live. They are the parents of three children, Josephine, Alva and Genevieve, all of whom are members of St. Michael's Catholic church at Kalida, with which Mr. Meyer also is connected.

cellent results. In connection with his work of general farming he is deeplyinterested in the raising of full-blooded Belgian horses and is developingthis branch of his operations into a very well-defined business. He gives^ close attention to the general public affairs of his community and is regarded as one of the coming men of advanced thought in farming lore in that part of the county. He is one of the directors of the Mutual Telephone Company at Kalida. He and his wife take an active part in the social affairs of the neighborhood and are very popular among their large circle of acquaintances.

Sherman A. Wilkins

Among the enterprising farmers and citizens of Putnam county, none stands higher in the esteem of his fellow citizens than Sherman A. Wilkins. He has long been actively engaged in farming in Putnam- county and the years of his residence have but served to strengthen the feeling of admiration on the part of his fellow men. He has led an honorable life in every particular and set a worthy example for the young and rising generation. He is entitled to representation in any work which purports to set forth the achievements of the citizens of Putnam county. He has applied himself very closely to the work mapped out in his life's- career and has waited for the future to bring its reward, and today he is one of the substantial men of Putnam county.

Sherman A. Wilkins, one of the well-known farmers of Putnam county, was born in Blanchard township, Plancock county, Ohio, August 21, 1868,. the son of Jacob and Harriett (Stover) Wilkins. Jacob Wilkins was born in Licking county, Ohio, April 30, 1837, the son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Kritsinger) Wilkins, the fomier a native of Virginia and a pioneer of Licking and Putnam counties.

Jacob Wilkins came from Licking county when four years old, with hisparents, who settled in Blanchard township, Putnam county. His father lived in different places in Putnam and Hancock counties and spent the year 1846 in Iowa, returning at the end of that year to Putnam county. Jacob Wilkins spent his youth in Riley and Blanchard townships in Putnam county and here he received his early education. At the age of twenty-nine, he was married to Harriett Stover, in April, 1866. Mrs. Wilkins was the daughter of Daniel and Catherine (Claybaugh) Stover, who were pioneers of Putaam county. Daniel Stover entered land from the government during President

Jackson's administration, in 1827. After Mr. Wilkins's marriage, he lived for eight years in Blanchard township in Hancock county and then moved to Riley -township, Putnam county, where he received fifty acres of land from the Stover estate. He later purchased ninety acres. The original farm had contained only two acres that were cleared. This farm of fifty acres had a rude log cabin and no barn. Jacob Wilkins proceeded to clear the land. This work he almost accomplished dtiring his lifetime. He followed general, farming and was very successful. He was a Democrat. He died on Marck 8, 1905, at the age of sixty-eight. His wife died the following November,, 1906. She was a member of the Church of God and was a loving mother and a devoted wife. To this union ten children were born, Orpha, deceased,, who was the wife of David Fulton; Sherman, the subject of this sketch; Elizabeth, deceased, who was the wife of Wesley Neighbarger; Curtis, deceased; William, who died in infancy; Gertrude, who died at the age of fourteen; Delia, the wife of Herbert Harris; Callie, the wife of William Hartman; Grover, who married Lou Kissinger; Charles, who is supposed to havebeen drowned in California in 1914.

Sherman A. Wilkins was four years old when his parents moved to Riley township, Putnam county, and here he spent his childhood, attending the old district school No. i. After finishing the common schools, he took a special normal course in Leipsic, and then taught school for two terms. Mr. Wilkins was a successful teacher, but was inclined to farming and, after teaching two years, turned his attention to this vocation.

When Mr. Wilkins was thirty-seven years old, he was married to. Lydia McDowell, who was born on August 20, 1867, in Licking county and who is the daughter of Philitus and Nancy (Harris) McDowell, who were among the early pioneers of Putnam county. Philitus McDowell was born, in Licking county in 1832.

After his marriage, Mr. Wilkins continued to farm the old home place.. He has always done general farming and has been one of the most successful men in his community.

Mrs. Wilkins belongs to the Methodist Protestant church. He is a Democrat and has served his township efficiently as trustee. He is a wideawake, mtelligent and progressive farmer, one of Riley township's most valued citizens. He is well and favorably known throughout Riley township and Putnam county, and his reputation for honesty and square-dealing has. never been questioned. Sherman A. Wilkins is not only a highly respected citizen of his community, but he is a man of genial disposition and a man who IS much admired for his pleasing personality. He is known as a man. who "does things."

Judge Joseph Mersman

The present judge of the probate court of Putnam county, Ohio, is Joseph Mersman, who has been filHng this responsible position since 1909. A native of this county, he has spent practically his whole life here, and since he was eighteen years of age, he has always lived in Ottawa, with the exception of two years. He started when a young man as a clerk in a general store in Ottawa, and after following this for several years, he engaged in ^he creamery business and was the manager of the Riverside Crearnery, in Ottawa, until his election as probate judge of the county. In the administration of the duties of this office he has exercised great care and sound ifudgment and his decisions have always been characterized by fairness and «mpartiality.

Judge Joseph Mersman, the son of Bernard and Julianna (Bockhold) Mersman, was born at Glandorf, in this county, in 1858. His father was born in Hauenhorst, Rheinpfalz, Germany, in 18 18, and came to America "vhen he was about twenty-four years of age. The father of Bernard Mersman died in Germany, and a year or so after Bernard came to this country, his mother also came here and made her home with one of her daughters, Mrs. Meyers, in Putnam county, until her death, January 2, 1877, at the ad- age of ninety-six.

Bernard Mersman first located at Cincinnati, Ohio, upon coming to this country, but shortly afterward moved to Glandorf, Putnam county, where he lived the remainder of his life. He was a merchant and one of the founders of fhe Glandorf Woolen Mills, a factory which was of much importance in the early history of Glandorf. In addition to his store and factory, he also owned a farm near Glandorf, making this place his home until his death, in 1866, at the age of forty-eight. Julianna Bockhold, the wife of Bernard Mersman, was born in Germany, a daughter of John and Katherine Bockhold. She came to America with a relative and went to Cincinnati, later locating in Glandorf, where she met and married Bernard Mersman. To this union the following children were born, four of whom are living, the others dying in infancy, except Bernard and George. Bernard, deceased, George Henry, deceased, Joseph, Frank J. and Katherine, the wife of Samuel Hunchbarger, Mrs. Theasie Goede. The mother of these children died on March 23, 1909.

Joseph Mersman spent his boyhood days on his father's farm, near Glandorf, his father dying when he was but eight years of age. He worked -on the home farm and attended the schools of his township until he was seventeen years of age, and then went to Kendallville, Indiana, where he worked for one year, after which time he returned to Putnam county, and located in Ottawa, where he has since Hved, with the exception of two years. Upon locating in Ottawa he began clerking in a general store and for thirteen years was employed as a salesman. He then engaged in the creamery business and conducted the Riverside Creamery, until he became probate judge. For several years he has been active in the councils of the Democratic party, and in 1908 his party nominated and subsequently elected him as judge of the probate court, and so satisfactory was his service during his first term that he was renominated and again elected in the fall of 1912, for another term of four years.

Judge Mersman was married in 1880, to Anna M. Unterbrink. She was born in Greensburg township, this county, and, is a daughter of Ferdinand and Gertrude Unterbrink. Her parents were natives of Germany, and upon coming to this country located in Greensburg township. Mr. Unterbrink was a well-known farmer, a justice of the peace and a county commissioner for two terms. He was prominpntly known throughout the county. Mrs. Mersman is a woman of unusual attainments, and early in life began to teach in the public schools of this county, and for several years taught in Greensburg, Pleasant, Union and Ottawa townships.

Barney Feltman

In recent years much attention is being paid by the farmers of Putnam county to the breeding of live stock, cattle in particular receiving careful attention in this direction, it having been satisfactorily proved by many farmers that in judicious feeding lies the greatest source of profit. Not only more, but a higher grade of cattle are being raised in this county, many farmers being particularly careful to have none but the best strains on their farms. Among the farmers of Union township who lately have been devoting much care to the breeding of choice cattle, few are better known in this direction than is Barney Feltman. Mr. Feltman is of the third generation of his family in this county.

man, the former of whom was born in the town of Glandorf, and the latter of whom was bom on a farm in Ottawa township, both in Putnam county.

Barney Feltman, the elder, father of the immediate subject of this sketch, was the son of Henry and Angeline (Sager) Feltman, natives of Hanover, Germany, who came to America, proceeding to Putnam county,. Ohio, where they located, in the Glandorf settlement at an early day in that interesting German colony's history. The farm which Henry Feltman wrested from the forest wilderness became one of the most valuable tracts, in that part of the county, the site of the present town of Glandorf covering a large portion of it. Here Heniy Feltman lived until the death of his wife, after which time he made his home with his son, Barney, in Pleasant township, where he spent the rest of his life. He was a man highly honored throughout that section in his day and generation and he and his good wife were among the most influential members of the German colony, which did so much for the early development of that part of Putnam county. Henry and Angeline (Sager) Feltman were the parents of six children, Catherine,. Elizabeth, Agnes, Mary, William and Barney, the latter of whom was reared on his father's farm at Glandorf, receiving such education as the schoolsof that time and place afforded and remaining on his father's farm until his marriage to Louisa Niese, at which time he moved to a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Pleasant township, which his father had givem him. This he cleared and improved and later added to it fifty-three acres, which he brought to an equal state of cultivation, making it one of the best farms in that township. Barney Niese, father of Mrs. Feltman, was a wellknown farmer of the Glandorf neighborhood and lived there until the death of his wife, who was a Laefker, a member of one of the early families of that section, whereupon he moved to the home of his son, Barney Niese, in Palmer township, where he spent the rest of his life. He was left with six children, Louisa, Theresa, Agnes, Anna, Barney and Helena.

To Barney and Louisa (Niese) Feltman were born seven children, as follow: Mary, who married Frank Recker and lives in Ottawa township,, this county; Barney, the subject of this sketch; Joseph, who married Helena Niermann and lives in Pleasant township, this county; Edward, who married Bernardina Uphaus and lives in the city of Ottawa, this county ; August, who married Helena Kleman and Hves in Ottawa township, this county ,- Harry, who married Florence Schmueller and lives in Pleasant township, this county, and Arnold, who married Josephine Kleman and also lives in Pleasant township.

Barney Feltman was reared on his father's farm in Pleasant township, receiving his education in the public schools of that township, and remained there until his marriage in 1890, after which he Hved for a time on a rented farm nearby and then bought a farm of forty-four acres in the same township, which he later sold and bought eighty acres in sections 7 and 18, in Union township, later buying twenty-five acres in the corporation bounds of the town of Kalida. He has improved his farm in fine shape, the buildmgs being of an attractive and substantial character and the land well tilled and brought up to a high state of cultivation.

Barney Feltman was united in marriage on August 12, 1890, to Anna Ricker, daughter of Henry and Louisa (Hermiller) Ricker, prominent resident of Union township, this county, the former of whom was the son of Herman and Mary (Kottenbrock) Ricker, who came from Germany and settled in the Glandorf neighborhood in this county, where they reared a family of nine children, Henry, John, Mary, Catherine, Elizabeth, Anna, Herman, Frank and Wilhelmina. Louisa Hermiller was the daughter of Bernard and Bernardina Hermiller, both of whom were natives of Germany who came to America and for a time lived in the state of Massachusetts! later commg to this county and locating in Ottawa township, where they spent the remainder of their lives. They were parents of seven children Louisa, Rosa, William, Mary, Henry, Frank and Philomena. _ For a time after their marriage Henry Ricker and wife lived on a farm m Pleasant township, this county, later they moved to a farm in Ottawa township, and, finally, located in Union township. To them were born mne children, Mary, Anna, Elizabeth, Clara, Lucy, Herman, Emma Ignatius and Caroline. Mary (now deceased) married Henry Ellerbrock of Ft. Jennings, this county; Elizabeth married Joseph Ellerbrock and lives m Jackson township; Clara married Henry Ricker and lives in Jennings township; Lucy mar^ried Benjamin Barlager and lives in Kalida. The others are still unmarried.

To Barney and Anna (Ricker) Feltman have been born four children as follow: Frank B., born on May 31, 1891 ; Emma L., born on February 18, 1905 died in infancy; Mary, born on September 6, 1907, and Genevieve born on April 6, 1909. Frank has completed his course at Cincinnati in automobile engineering.

Mr and Mrs. Feltman are members of St. Michael's Catholic church at Kahda and their children have been brought up in the faith, all bein^ devoted to the church's interest and active in the various good works of the parish. Mr. Feltman is a Democrat and takes deep interest in matters relating to local government, being regarded as one of the leaders of the party in that part of the county. He has served his township in the capacity of assessor and is one of the directors of the Mutual Telephone Company at Kalida. Mr. Feltman is a good farmer and an excellent judge of cattle, taking much pride in his fine herd of full-blooded Shorthorns, to which he gives much attention and which he has found a very gratifying source of profit. He is pleasant in his dealings with his neighbors, courteous to all and is one of the popular men in his section of the county.

Gideon C. Steiner

It is a well-attested fact that the greatness of a community of state lies not in the machinery of government nor even in its institutions as much as in the sterling qualities of its individual citizens. In his capacity for high and unselfish efforts and his devotion to the public welfare, Gideon C. Steiner has conferred honor and dignity upon his community and as an elemental part of history, it is fitting that there should be recorded a resume of his career with the object in view of noting his connection with the advancement of one of the most flourishing and progressive sections of the great commonwealth of Ohio, as well as his official relation with the administration of educational affairs of the township honored by his residence.

Gideon C. Steiner was born in Riley township, Putnam county, October 23, 1864, the son of Christian and Magdalene (Lugibihl) Steiner, whose family history in found in the sketch of David C. Steiner, a brother of Gideon C.

Gideon C. Steiner was a regular attendant at the old Elm Center school, and he grew to manhood on the old home place. After finishing the common schools, he took a normal course at the Ohio Northwestern University, at Ada. Later, he did special work at Leipsic, and also special normal work at the Tri-State Normal at Angola, Indiana. Upon finishing his education, he taught school in Putnam and adjointing counties for eight years. Gideon C. Steiner was considered a successful teacher and many of his friends believe he would have risen high in the ranks of this profession had he continued a teacher.

At the age of twenty-four, on November i, 1888, Mr. Steiner was married to Mary A. Baumgartner, who was born in Wayne county, Ohio, the daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Althause) Baumgartner, the former a native of Adams county, Indiana, having been born near Berne, and the latter of Wayne county, Ohio. Daniel Baumgartner was the son of Chris- tian Baumgartner and wife, who were natives of Switzerland, and who settled in Adams county, Indiana, in an early day. In addition to being a farmer. Christian Baumgartner was a minister of the Mennonite church. He was the fourth child of his parents and grew up in Adams county, Indiana. He was born on December 3, 1844. After his marriage, he moved to Wayne county, Ohio, and here lived for a short time. He then removed to Blufiton, Allen county, Ohio, and after several years, returned to Adams county, Indiana, finally removing to Bluffton, which was his last residence. He was originally a farmer, and in addition to this, he learned the shoemaker's trade, which business he followed later in life, conducting a retail shoe business in Bluffton. Daniel and Elizabeth Baumgartner had five children, Mary, the wife of Mr. Steiner; Joel, of Salem, Oregon; Albert, of Bluffton, Ohio; Elmer W., who died at Leipsic, Ohio, in 191 1, and Lucy, who died in infancy. Elizabeth Althause, Daniel Baumgartner's wife, was the daughter of David and Mary (Kirchhoffer) Althause, who were natives of Switzerland, and who came to America at an early date. Elizabeth Althause was born on March 16, 1839, and died in November, 1886.

After his marriage, Gideon C. Steiner taught school for three years. Later he began farming for himself when he rented a farm of eighty acres from his father, three and one-half miles northeast of Pandora. A few years later he purchased this farm. After teaching school for three years, he devoted all of his time to farming. He has always done general farming and has been very successful in this vocation. When he removed to his present farm, it had few improvements, there being only a one-roomed log cabin and a log stable. Mr. Steiner has drained the land and has succeeded in clearing all but five acres. In addition, he has built a good eightroom, modern house and a large, commodious barn with other outbuildincrs in keeping with the surroundings. Today he has one of the finest farms in Riley township.

Gideon C. Steiner and wife have been the parents of eleven children, Orville Edison, born on October 20, 1889, who is a student at Fort Wayne,' Indiana; Edna E., bom on January i, 1891, and died on August 4, 1913; Myron, born on November 8, 1892, and died on February 28, 1901 ; Lillian,' born on July 12, 1894, and died on October 8, of the same year; Ol'ga, born on August 14, 1895; Zella, born on September 8, 1897; Arm'in, born on January 28, 1899; Clayton, born on November 16, 1900; Lysle, born on October 4, 1902, and died on February 10, 1904; Barbara Grace, born on November 24, 1903, and died on Decerhber 27, 1903, and Mary Arvilla, born on August i, 1906. All of these children have attended, or are at-

Mr. Steiner is a Democrat. He has been active in the educational affairs of his township and was a school director for six years. He was also a member of the township school board for seven years. He and his son are members of the Grace Mennonite church, while Mrs. Steiner and the remainder of the family are^members of the Missionary church. Gideon C. Steiner is one of Riley township's most substantial farmers. He is well-to-do and is well and favorably known, a man of more than ordinary attainments and, as a citizen, he has done very much for the welfare of the township in which he lives.

Edward Hilty

A man's reputation is the property of the world, for the laws of nature have forbidden isolation. Every human being either submits to the controlling influence of others or wields an influence which touches, controls, guides or misdirects them. If he be honest and successful in his chosen field of endeavor, investigation will brighten his fame and point the way along with others who follow with like success. The reputation of Edward Hilty, one of the leading farmers and citizens of Riley township, Putnam county, Ohio, having been unimpeachable from the beginning of his career, according to those who know him best, a critical study of his career would be a benefit to the reader of this volume. His life has been not only one of honor, but of usefulness also.

Edward Hilty was born in Riley township, Putnam county, Ohio, July 15, 1878, the son of Benjamin B. and Susanna (Steiner) Hilty, whose family history may be found in the sketch of Benjamin B. Hilty and of Isaac Hilty, an uncle. His paternal family history is found in the "sketch of Peter P. Steiner.

Edward Hilty was born on the old Hilty homestead, one and one-half miles east of Pandora. Here he spent his early childhood and attended the dd Steiner district school. At the age of nine years, his mother died, and for about three and one-half years his father kept the children together, after which they were placed with neighboring families. A year before the remainder of the children were placed in new homes, Edward Hilty, who was not yet twelve years old, was sent to live with his grandfather, Peter

Hilty, and his son Samuel. During his residence, here, his grandfather died, but he continued to Hve with his uncle. When about fifteen years old, his father gathered the children together again and they went to live on the old Jiome place. They remained here, with the exception of a few months after the old house burned, until Edward Hilty was twenty-six years old.

Edward Hilty was married on June 24, 1902, at the age of twenty-three, to Martha Sommer, who was born on the old Sommer homestead, one mile north of Pandora, March 15, 1881. She is the daughter of Jacob and Marian (Amstutz) Sommer, the former of whom was a native of Switzerland, born on January 20, 185 1, and who came to America at the age of eighteen, settling in Riley township, Putnam county. Here he married Marian Amstutz, who is the daughter of Abraham Amstutz and wife. They had three children, Daniel, Elias and Martha, the wife of Mr. Hilty. Elias <iied when a youth.

After his marriage, Mr. Hilty remained on the old home place for three years. Finishing his common school education and graduating from the Pandora high school in 1899, he taught the old home school for two years, in the meantime successfully passing the Boxwell examination, which admitted him to the high school. Completing the two-year term of teaching, he took a course at Blufifton College, after which he again taught, with the of two years, until 1905, when he left the old home place and moved to Pandora. During his residence here, for a year and a half, he was township assessor and also worked in a store. At the end of this period, he moved back to the old home place and took charge of the farm. In addition to the sixty acres in the old homestead, he rented eighty acres, in all one hundred and forty acres, which he farmed for four and one-half years. He moved to Bluffton in the fall of 191 1 where he took special studies at Bluffton College. In the summer, he employed himself at various occupations. In the winter of 1913 and 19 14 he taught school in Richland township, Allen In the spring of 1914, he moved to the farm of his brother, Albert B., two miles north of Pandora, where he now resides.

Mr. and Mrs. Edward Hilty have four children, Lenora Marian, born -on June 30, 1903; Glenn Wingate, born on October 21, 1904; Merwin Otto, born on January i, 1907, and Alice Susanna, born on March 14, 19 10.

Mr., and Mrs. Hilty are rnembers of the Grace Mennonite church. He is a Democrat, although he considers himself an independent voter. Edward Hilty is a clean-cut, well-informed, farmer and citizen. He is well and favorably known throughout Riley township and almost througiiout Putnam county. He is a man of more than ordinary attainments and from the be- ginning of his career, he has been a man whose counsel and advice have been sought upon many matters. He keeps fully abreast of the times and, during the periods of life when he was engaged as a school teacher, he ranked among the best in Putnam county.

Bernard A. Unverferth

The Unverferth family have been residents of Putnam county, Ohio,, since the early part of the thirties, when the grandfather of Bernard A. Unverferth came to this county from Glandorf, Germany, at the same time that a colony of his countrymen came to America. Professor Horstman and others had previously come to this county from Germany. Mr. Unverferth has spent his whole life in this county. He taught in the public schoolsof the county for several years, and, after graduating from the law department of the State University, began the practice of that profession in 1897,. and has made this his life work.

Bernard A. Unverferth, the son of Andrew and Katherine (Schumacher) Unverferth, was born at Glandorf, in Putnam county, September 22, 1 871. His father was born in this same county, west of Glandorf, in 1840, and is a son of Henry and Elizabeth Unverferth, who came here from- Glandorf, Germany, and located in Greensburg township, three miles west of Glandorf. Katherine Schumacher, the mother of Bernard A. Unverferth, was a native of Prussia, a daughter of Matthias and Elizabeth Schumacher, who were also early settlers in Glandorf, this county. Matthias Schumacher was a tailor and Henry Unverferth was a brickmason, as washis father, Andrew, and most of the men of the family. Andrew Unverferth was a cooper, as well as a brickmason, and he and his wife, who are still living at Glandorf, are the parents of eleven children, nine of whom are living, Matthias, Bernard A., Anna, George, Gertrude, Edward, Dora, Margaret and Francis. One child, Harry, died at the age of nine, and Louis, died at the age of thirty-one.

, Bernard A. Unverferth graduated from the high school at Ottawa, in 1890, and for the next six years taught in the schools of the county. He then entered the Ohio State University, at Columbus, and graduated in the spring of 1897, with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. Before this time he had studied law at home, and also in the law offices of Ottawa.

began practicing, in partnership, with Judges Handy and Ogan. Two years later he and Judge Handy formed a new partnership and have since been practicing together. Mr. Unverferth was prosecuting attorney of Putnam county from 1903 until 1908 and has also held a number of minor offices in addition to being prosecutor. He is chairman of the Democratic central committee, and also of the Democratic executive committee of his county, and a member of the Ohio state Democratic executive committee.

Mr. Unverferth was married in 1900 to Anna Berheide, who was -born at Fort Jennings, in this county, and is a daughter of Henry and Anna Berheide, natives of Germany, and early settlers in Putnam county, where they spent their lives on a farm. Mr. Unverferth and his wife have one son, Elmer, who is now thirteen years of age. The family are members of the Catholic church, and Mr. Unverferth is a member of the Knights of Columbus.

Albert Schutz

It is pleasant, and profitable as well, to contemplate the career of a man. who has won a definite goal in life, whose career has been such as to command the honor. and respect of his fellow citizens. Such, in brief, is the record of the well-known farmer, and stockman, Albert Schutz, himself a native of Switzerland, who has attained prominence and material success hi the country of his adoption. He is one of the most popular men in Riley township, where he has lived for many years, and where he has labored, not only for his own individual advancement, but for the improvement of the entire community, whose interests he ever had at heart. Mr. Schutz is a man who richly deserves the esteem 'which has been bestowed upon him by the citizens of his community.

He was born in the canton of Berne, Switzerland, January 18, 1859, and is the son of Jacob and Anna (Gruber) Schutz. Jacob Shutz was born in the canton of Berne, Switzerland, in April, 1820. Jacob Schutz's father was a farmer and cheesemaker, and when Jacob was about twenty-eight years of age, his father died. His mother had died when he was twenty. Prior to this time, Jacob had learned the shoemaker's trade from his elder brother. Christian. He did not follow this trade very long, however. As a youth and a young man, he worked at his trade and helped his father on the farm, where he remained up to the time of his marriage. Jacob was one of eight children, five sons and three daughters. The eldest son was Christian, who

Jacob Schutz, Jr., was married, when about twenty-eight years of age, to Anna Gruber, who was also born in the canton of Berne, Switzerland, in April, 1822. She was the daughter of Samuel Bruber and wife, both natives of the canton of Berne, Switzerland. The former was a cabinetmaker by trade. Anna had one' brother, whose name was Samuel, and who was a -cabinetmaker. After Jacob Schutz was married, he rented a farm in the canton of Berne, and it was on this farm that Albert A. and his brother John, referred to elsewhere in this volume, were born, as well as the three eldest children.

When Albert Schutz was five years old, his parents moved to Neuchatel Switzerland, on the Swiss-French frontier. Here they lived until 1885, and here the remainder of the fourteen children were born. Elizabeth resides in Indiana; Jacob died in infancy; Jacob, the second, also lives in Indiana; Gottfried died in 1903, in Switzerland; Albert is the subject of this sketch, John is referred to elsewhere in this volume, Anna came with her husband, John Zumbach, to America, but returned to Switzerland; Mary died at the age of two; Louisa lives at Pandora; xA.ndrew died in infancy; Emile lives in North Dakota. There were three boys, also, who died in infancy.

Jacob Schutz, Jr., and wife came to America in 1885, and settled first in Allen county, Ohio, where they remained one year, and then moved to Tippecanoe county, Indiana, where he spent the remainder of his life on a farm. The farm is located near Lafayette. Here he died at the age of seventy-five years in 1895. After his death his wife, Anna, spent the remainder of her life with her daughter, Mrs. Louisa Suter, at Pandora. She died in 1901.

Albert Schutz, at the age of twenty, came to America, in 1879, coming direct to Riley township, Putnam county. Here he obtained work in a stone quarry in the summer time, and worked at ditching in the winter. He followed this employment for five years, when he was married at the age of twenty-five.

Mr. Schutz was married to Elizabeth Geiger, January 17, 1884. She was born in Allen county in June, 1861, and is the daughter of Christian and Anna (Thut) Geiger, who were pioneers of Allen county. To this happy union one child has been born, Mary M., who was born on October .22, 1885, lives at home. Mrs. Schutz died, July 29, 1887, after a lingering illness.

Two years later Mr. Schutz was married to Sarah Bixler, November 12, 1889. She was born in Riley township, Putnam county, September 29, 1863, and is the daughter of Jacob and Barbara (Welty) Bixler. The former was a native of Wayne county, Ohio, born in 183 1. He died in Riley township, Putnam county, in 1886. The latter was born in Wayne county, April 14, 1832, and died at Mr. Schutz's home. May 6, 1912, at the ripe old age of eighty. Jacob and Barbara Bixler had but two children. The eldest, Mary, is the wife of Mr. Schutz's brother; John A., the youngest child, is Albert A.'s wife.

By his second marriage, Mr. Schutz has been the father of eight children, J. Raymond was born on August 3, 1890. He is a graduate of Otterbein University, class of 1914, and is now principal of the Pandora high school; Elizabeth was born on December 18, 1891 ; Walter was born on August 9, 1893. He is a student at Otterbein University; Bertha was born on June 21, 1896. She is a senior in the Pandora high school; Edmund was born on May 26, 1898. He is a junior in the Pandora high school; John P. was born on September 12, 1900. He is a freshman in the Pandora high school; Albert was born on November 22, 1902. Another child died at birth.

After his marriage to Sarah Biler in in 1889, Mr. Schutz took up his residence on the Stuter farm, of a hundred and twenty acres, two miles of Pandora. This farm he purchased at this time. It had an old adobe house, and a forty by seventy foot frame barn. About seven years later, in 1896, Mr. Schutz built a beautiful modern brick residence of eleven rooms, and in 1910, he enlarged and remodeled his bam. He built a cattle shed in addition, thirty by eighty-one feet in 1914. These, with other buildings and improvements in keeping with the surroundings, make one of the finest improved farms in Putnam county.

Mr. Schutz purchased the Lehman farm of eighty acres adjoining, his farm on the east in 1903, which gives him a total of two hundred acres. The land is unsurpassed, for fertility and productiveness, anywhere in Putnam county. Mr. Schutz has always done general farming and stock feeding and is an extensive raiser of thoroughbred Holstein cattle.

Mr. and Mrs. Schutz are members of the Grace Mennonite church, while he is serving as one of its trustees. He is a Democrat, and was a member of the Riley township school board for a number of years. He served in this position during the time the new high school was being erected and, completed. He is vice-president and a director of the Pandora Banking Company, and is president of the Pandora Hardware Company. He is one of Riley township and Putnam county's most substantial and progressive farmers ; a citizen who is well and favorably known, and a man of exceptionally high standing.

Herman W. Morman

Anyone interested in the history of Putnam county does not have to carry on a very great research before learning that Herman W. Morman has long been one of its very active and leading citizens in the agricultural and stock-raising life of this community. For many years he has carried on the business of general fanning, gradually improving his valuable place, and his residence in this neighborhood has strengthened his hold on the hearts of the people with whom he has been associated, who esteem him for his integrity of character, kindly disposition and good business ability.

The subject of this review was born on his father's farm in Greensburg township, this county, February ii, 1853, and is the son of William and Gertrude (Wortkotter) Morman. William Morman was born in Germany, November 30, 1822, and came to this country with his parents when he was nine years old. Gertrude (Wortkotter) Morman was a native of Germany, born on January 6, 1822, as also were her parents who immigrated to this country and probably first settled in Toledo, Ohio, but later removed from there to Pleasant township, Putnam county, where her husband first met her.

William Morman's father first settled on a forty-acre tract of heavily timbered, wild and swampy land in Ottawa township, near the town of Glandorf, Ohio, where he underwent the hardships of the pioneer and, besides farming to some extent, drove teams for the canal boats which passed through this section. At the age of twenty-one years Herman Morman's father was married to Gertrude Wortkotter and then bought a farm consisting of eighty acres in Greensburg township, this county, and continued farming for the rest of his life and where he died on January 29, 1908, at the ripe old age of eighty-fn^e years. He was a consistent advocate of the prmciples of Democracy, though not active in politics, and a life-long member of the Catholic church in Glandorf, Ohio. Mrs. Morman lived to be eighty-three years of age and died on April 22, 1905. To them were bom seven children, Frank, Herman, Mary, who is now Mrs. Mary Maas, residing in Custer, Wood county, Ohio, and Mrs. Minnie Maas who resides in Greensburg township, this county; besides those named there were Henry, Katherine and Anna who are deceased, the latter two dying in infancy.

Herman W. Morman was married on September 23, 1875, to Josephine Maag, a daughter of Theodore and Catherine (Pursell) Maag, both natives of Germany, the former immigrating to this country when about twenty years of age, the latter, together with her parents, left tjieir native country and settled in the city of Cincinnati. Theodore Maag first settled in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he was employed in the yards of a boiler-making industry where, after serving three years, he was given work on the inside of the shop. Owing to his small stature the employer found him a convenient worker at riveting boiler sheets. In the old country he had acquired a good knowledge of the wagonmaker's trade which helped him considerably in the boiler works. It was in Cincinnati that he married his wife and then decided to move- to Glandorf , Ohio, where he purchased a tract consisting of two hundred acres of virgin timber land and, after clearing it of the timber, devoted his energies to general farming, incidentally doing a little wagonmaking and repairing business for the neighboring community. In this particular line of work he was well-skilled and it was always a pleasure for him to furnish first-class material and do the work in a high-class manner. Instead of receiving actual cash for his services in repairing, he would exact a certain amount of clearing to be done on his land. Reaching the age of seventy-three," he died in 1879, after having spent a most useful and reputable life. His wife died on May i, 1901, after having attained the age of eighty-eight years. Her life was ever one of true devotion and loyalty to her husband and children. To them were born ten children, William, Denia, Frank, Mary, Agnes, Barney, Joseph and Josephine, all of whom are now deceased. The living children are Edward, who resides in Pleasant township, this county, and Meania Brinkman, who lives in Greensburg township, this county.

Henry W. Morman spent his youthful days about his father's fami, assisting in every possible manner to make the work of his parents less arduous, and he was so much needed around the home that little time was found for him to attend the township schools. In those days the knowledge he gained can be credited mostly to his keen observation and constant and perusal of newspapers, particularly the Putnam County Sentinel, and this is one way by which he acquired a fluent speech in the English language. For about a year after his marriage, he remained on hs father's farm, and then located on the present farm consisting of eighty acres, which he afterward purchased.' Originally, this entire eighty-acre tract was covered with virgin timber, which he cleared, ditched, drained and fenced, and where he built the residence and made other necessary improvements toward advantageous farming. Besides raising general farm crops, Mr. Morman gives -considerable attention to the raising of live stock, particularly to hogs, in the breeding and care of which he is very successful.

when eight years of age; Edward, who married Elizabeth Korte, and has^ five children; August, who married Agnes Brinkman, and has three children; Martha, who married Benjamin Warnecke, and lives on the home farmand has three children; Caroline, who died in infancy; Amelia, single and at home; Hildagard, single and at home.

In a political way Mr. Morraan gives his consistent support to the- Democratic party, but does not aspire to political office, though he served the people faithfully for a time as a member of the local school board. The entire family are members of the Catholic church in Glandorf, Ohio, from which church his beloved wife and helpmate was buried aftei* her death, which occurred on June 27, 191 1. Personally, Mr. Morman is a man of pleasing personality, fair and square in his dealings with his fellow men, and full worthy of any trust that may be reposed in him.

Carl Regie Van Meter

Men who have attained success in their life vocations are always honored and respected by the community in which they have lived and have accomplished so much. Dearly loved are those who always find time to work m the interests of the community at large. Inspiring others to loyalty and faithfulness. Able men never fail to raise the standard of their community, and the public generally is proud to record the chief incidents of their lives^ A well-known farmer of Riley township, who has been the recipient of unique honors, is Carl Regil Van Meter. Mr. Van Meter was elected trustee of Riley township as a Republican, although the township is overwhelmingly Democratic, and he is one of the first Republicans to have been elected to thisoffice in many years. His election is an evidence of the esteem in which he is. held by his neighbors and fellow citizens.

Carl R. Van Meter was born on October 6, 1882, in Monroe township, Allen county, Ohio, the son of George S. and Hannah (Reeder) Van Meter. George S. Van Meter was born in Monroe township, Allen county, and isthe son of James Van Meter and wife, the latter of whom was a Miss- Schriver, before her marriage. James Van Meter was born near Mansfield, Ohio, and came to Allen county in the early days, .settling in Monroe township! Here he owned over two hundred acres of land. It was here that he reared his family of two sons and six daughters, Susanna, John, Nancy, Mary, Louisa, Rachel, George and Elizabeth. It was on the old homestead here- that Carl Van Meter's father, George S. \'an Meter, was reared, and here he secured his education in the typical log cabin school. He remained with his parents until he was twenty-nine years of age, helping his father clear the land. He also worked for neighbors and cleared the forest under contract at the rate of ten dollars an acre.

At the age of twenty-nine, George Van Meter was married to Hannah Reeder, the daughter of William and Hulda (Howey) Reeder. She was born in Monroe township, Allen county. Her mother had come from near Pottsville, Pennsylvania, with her parents in an early day. After his marriage, George Van Meter settled on sixty acres, a part of the old home place, and since that time has added twenty acres to the farm. He has always been engaged in general farming and has very greatly improved his farm. It was here that his children were born. They are as follow : Harley, of Monroe township; Carl R., the subject of this sketch; George Howard, who died at the age of two; Carrie, the wife of Joseph Steele, who resides in Michigan; Ralph, who is unmarried and who lives at Niagara Falls; Clark, who is unmarried and at home; Paul, who died in infancy.

Carl R. Van Meter grew to manhood on the old homestead of his parentsin Monroe township, Allen county. Here he attended the district schools and. helped his father on the farm until he was twenty-three years old.

Mr. Van Meter was married on March 28, 1906, at the age of twentythree to Eva Belle Bowers, who was born in Monroe township, Allen county,, September 12, 1886, and who is the daughter of Charles H. and Anna (Wright) Bowers. Charles H. Bowers was born in Monroe township, Putnant county, the son of John and Ann (Cook) Bowers. Anna Wright was born in Tuscarawas county, and is the daughter of George and Jane (Holmes) Wright. George Wright and wife came to Allen county when their childrenwere small, settling in Monroe township.

After his marriage, Mr. Van Meter rented the Alfred Mayberry farm,, a farm in Monroe township, Allen county, and after one year, in January,. 1907, he moved to Riley township, Putnam county, Ohio, to the old Mark Laib farm, which he rented for three years. It comprised one hundred and seventy-five acres. After this time, he purchased eighty acres, which farm has been his residence ever since. Mr. Van Meter has always been engaged in general farming, but has paid particular attention to the raising and breeding of hogs. He has (5ne of the best eighty-acre farms in this part of Putnam county.

township. The fact that he was elected to his present office in a community where the Democratic party is greatly in the majority, indicates his position of high standing in this township. Mr. and Mrs. Van Meter are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Pandora. He is a trustee of the church and has served as assistant Sunday school superintendent. Formerly, he was choir leader in the church at Rockport. Carl R. \'an Meter deserves to rank as one of the representative citizens, not only of Riley township, but also of Putnam county, where he has lived for many years. He has made a splendid record in the office to which he was elected by the people of Riley township and has thus further established himself in the esteem and confidence of those with whom he comes in contact.

George A. Stauffer

The Stauffer family have been residents of Putnam county, Ohio, since 1870, when the parents of George A. Stauffer located in Ottawa township. Mr. Stauffer engaged in general farming and stock raising, until the fall of 1907, and then came to Ottawa and engaged in the real estate and loan business, which he has since made his occupation. He has been very active in political affairs and, as a member of the Republicfan party, has held various positions with it since 1895.

George A. Stauffer, the son of Abraham D. and Annie E. (Sigler) Stauffer, was born on April 14, 1874, in Perry township, Putnam county, Ohio. His father was born in Washington county, Maryland, April 16, 1844, and was a son of Dillon and Mary (Myers) Stauffer, natives of Switzerland. Annie E. Sigler was also a native of Washington county, Maryland, and was a daughter of George and Elizabeth (Vogel) Sigler, who came to this country from Germany. Abraham Stauffer and wife were reared and married in Washington county, Maryland, and lived there until 1870, when they moved to Putnam county, Ohio, and located in Ottawa township. A few years later they moved to Perry township, where Mr. Stauffer engaged in farming and carpentering. A. D. Stauffer was born with but one hand, but when the Civil War broke out, he enlisted from Hagerstown, Maryland, and served four years and nineteen days. During the war he enlisted three times and received an honorable discharge for each enlistment, first from the infantry; second, from the artillery, and third from the cavalry.

George A. Stauffer was reared on the farm and received a good common school education in the schools of his home neighborhood. As a youth he learned the carpenter's trade with his father, working with him as a contractor and builder in this county. After his marriage in 1901 he en- ^g-aged in farming in Perry township and continued in agricultural pursuits until in October, 1907. At that time he moved to the county seat and engaged in the real estate and loan business with B. L. Griffiths. They were partners until in June, 1908, since which time Mr. Stauffer has been conducting the same business alone. He and H. I. Kahle organized the Stauffer Investment and Loan Company in March, 1913,. which company has built up a thriving business in a short time. George A. Stauffer purchased the interest H. I. Kahle, January i, 1915, and is conducting it alone.

Mr. Stauffer has been a leader in the affairs of the Republican party of his county for more than twenty years. He was elected committeeman for Perry township in April, 1895, and served the central and executive committees of his party continuously until 1908. In that year he was elected secretary and treasurer of the Republican county central and executive committees and the same year was made vice-chairman of the Republican league of Ohio, a position which he still retains. He was elected a member of the state central committee for the Fifth Congressional District in 1912, and was chairman of both committees in Putnam county. He was re-elected to the same position in 1914. He was a member of the board of deputy state supervisors of elections for Putnam county for eight years, during which time he served as clerk of the board for two years.

Mr. Stauffer is president of the Ottawa Gazette Publishing Company, a position which he has held since 19 12. He is a stockholder in the Farmers State and Savings Bank of Continental, Ohio. He is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, a member of the blue lodge, chapter and council. He became a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Dupont, when he was twenty-one years of age and has filled all of the chairs of that lodge since that time. He is also a member of the encampment and the Daughters of Rebekah. He holds his membership in the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, at Findlay, Ohio.

Mr. Stauffer was married in December, 1901, to Grace G. Varner, who is a native of Greensburg township, this county, the daughter of Isaiah and Fanny fLandes) Varner. She lived in Greensburg township until her marriage, and for four years was a successful school teacher in the district schools of her home township. Mr. Stauffer and his wife have an interest-

On February 8, 191 5, Governor Willis notified Mr. Stauffer that he had appointed him inspector of oils for the state of Ohio, which position he declined. The governor, however, insisted he should be a member of hiscabinet and held the position open for two weeks, urging him to take it, to show the appreciation of his assistance in the campaign. Mr. Stauffer, not wanting any political appointment, declined, and the governor released him with an acknowledgment of the full appreciation of his services, with the mutual understanding that Mr. Stauffer was not in politics for revenue, but for the benefit of his state and party.

Elmer E. Bracy

Among the men of sterling worth and strength of character who have made an impression on the life of the locality where they live, no one has achieved a larger measure of success than Elmer E. Bracy. Mr. Bracy hasspent his entire life in Putnam county and the people have had an opportunity to know every phase of his character. That he has been true to life in its every phase is manifest by the esteem and regard in which he is held by all those who know him. He has won success by his own honest endeavor and indomitable energy, and has placed himself in the front ranks of the farmers of his community, by exercising these splendid qualities. Mr. Bracy has outstripped the less active plodders on the highway of life and achieved marked success in agricultural affairs. He has won for himself a name, which all men who know him, delight to honor.

John C. Bracy was born in Blanchard township, Putnam county, in 1849, the son of John Bracy, Sr., and wife. The family history of the Bracys may be found in the life-story of Isaac Bracy, an uncle of Elrner E.. Bracy, elsewhere in this volume. Mrs. John C. Bracy died in May, 1912.

Elmer E. Bracy was born on his father's old homestead, about two and. one-half miles southwest of Gilboa. Here he spent his childhood and youth, and here he attended the old district school No. 2. After finishing school,, he helped his father to clear up the old home place. He remained with hisparents until he was twenty years old.

At this time Mr. Bracy was married, May i, 1890, to Sarah Helen Buckland, who was born in Blanchard township, April 25, 1874. She is the daughter of Lewis and Mary (Agner) Buckland and her family history is to be found in the sketch of Elah Buckland, her uncle, contained elsewhere in this volume. Mrs. Bracy was one of seven children born to her parents, two of whom died in infancy. Those living are Sarah, Melvin, Nettie, Clyde and Delia. Mrs. Bracy's parents are both deceased. Her father died in February, 1912, and her mother died in September, 1898.

To Mr. and Mts. Bracy, eight children have been born, Flo Z. May, born on June 8, 1891, and died on February 27, 1893; John Lewis, born on October 31, 1893; Roxie Marie, born on December 6, 1895; Gladys Jemina, born on February 14, 1897; Maver Caroline, born on February 17, 1903; Brema Mildred, born on June 5, 1907; Ruby Lucile, born on April 6, 1913; Sadie May, born on April 11, 1915.

After his marriage, Mr. Bracy worked for the neighboring farmers during the first year, but the following year he rented land of Duff Bracy in Riley township and, subsequently, rented his father's old home place. After operating this farm for one year, he moved to forty acres of his father's land, three and one-half miles northeast of Pandora. This farm has been his residence ever since. He purchased this place from his father and also purchased one hundred and twenty acres in Lakefield township, Saginaw county, Michigan. Mr. Bracy has always been engaged in general farming and has enjoyed more than an ordinary success in this vocation.

Mr. Bracy is a Democrat. Mr. and Mrs. Bracy attend the Radical Brethern, of which Mrs. Bracy is a member. Elmer E. Bracy is one of Riley township's progressive farmers. He comes from one of the best families of Putnam county, of old pioneer stock, and he is well and favorably known for his sterling integrity and genial disposition.

Isaac Zuercher

The Swiss people may justly lay claim to the exertion of a greater mfluence on the world along lines of citizenship and the development of mdividual mdependence than has been exerted by the people of any other nation of their size. The rugged nature of their fatherland and their constant communion with the grandest scenic beauties of the world has fostered in the people an independence and loftiness of thought and action such as was exemplified by their national hero, Andreas Hofer. It is probable that from no country in the world have come such intelligent and thoroughly desirable citizens as have been welcomed by the United States on their arrival from Switzerland. In this respect Putnam county, Ohio, has been indeed fortunate, for many of the immigrants from the rugged and mountainous republic of Switzerland have settled in this county where they have reared families, the members of which are now ranked among Putnam county's ablest citizens. Not the least of these families is that of Isaac Zuercher, which came to this country during comparatively recent years.

Isaac Zuercher was born in Berne canton, Switzerland, August 14, i860, a son of Isaac, Sr., and Anna (Geiger) Zuercher. Isaac Zuercher, Sr., was born in Berne canton, Switzerland, Octoljer 7, 1826, both his parents having been natives of Switzerland.

Isaac Zuercher, Sr., was a carpenter by trade and, while in Switzerland, worked at making furniture. Pie also worked to some extent on a farm in that country. There he married Anna Geiger, who was born in Berne canton, Switzerland, a daughter of Peter and Marion Geiger, both of whom were natives of Switzerland. To Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Zuercher, Sr., were born thirteen children, as follows : Marian, deceased, who was the wife of Fred Geiser of Wayne county, Ohio; Daniel and Samuel of Adams county, Indiana; John, of Wayne county, Ohio; Peter, of Allen county, Ohio; David, of Wayne county, Ohio; Isaac, the subject of this sketch; Christian, who lives in Wayne county, Ohio; Jacob, who lives in Cojumbus Grove, Putnam county; Anna, deceased, who was the wife of P^ter Welty, of Pandora; Barbara, the wife of Fred Hanni, who lives in Adanis county, Indiana; Lena, the wife of Emil Kuntz, of Los Angeles, California; Eliza, the wife of George Eisenbeck, of Pandora.

Anna Geiger, mother of Isaac Zuercher, died in Switzerland on September 17, 1869. Her father, Peter Geiger, was a farmer and was also a watchmaker by trade. He died when his son Isaac was seven or eight years old, his wife surviving him for many years. Mr. and Mrs. Peter Geiger had one son. Christian, and two daughters, Barbara and Anna. Christian and Barbara came to America.

Isaac Zuercher was twelve years of age, when, after his mother's death, his father and nine children came to America and settled in Wayne county, Ohio. For about two years after their arrival the children were placed with relatives, while their father worked at his trade as a carpenter. He then went to Adams county, Indiana, where he married again, his second wife being Mrs. Elizabeth (Sprunger) Amstutz. She had several children and owned a farm in Adams county. There the subject's father lived during the remainder of his hfe, and there he died at the ripe old age of nearly eightyeight years, the date of his death having been on October 2, 1914.

Isaac Zuercher was twelve years of age at the time of his arrival in America, and he went at once to live with his cousin, Christian Zuercher, the fathers of both of whom were half brothers, on a farm in Wayne county, Ohio. There he attended school until he was seventeen years of age, after which he worked on the farm until he was twenty-one years old. He then went to Missouri, stopping on his way in Berne, Indiana, where he spent six weeks. He located first in Moniteau county, Missouri, where he hired out to a farmer for two years.

He married Mary Garber on January 24, 1884, who was born in Wayne county, Ohio, November 26, 1864, a daughter of Christian and Barbara (Hostetter) Garber. Mrs. Zuercher's parents were born in Wayne county, Ohio, and their parents were natives of Switzerland, having come to America during the early days of Wayne county. Mrs. Zuercher was one of a family of fourteen children, and went to Missouri with her parents when she was one year of age. She grew to womanhood in Missouri and spent her life there until 1884.

After his marriage, Isaac Zuercher rented a farm for a time, and then bought property in Morgan county, Missouri, where he operated one hundred and seventy-seven acres until February, 1901. He then bought eighty acres in Riley township, Putnam county, one mile east of Pandora, where he still makes his home.

Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Zuercher, as follow: Orpha, born on March 27, 1885, now the wife of Daniel A. Basinger, of Pandora, to whom two children have been born, Naomi and one who died in infancy; Bertha was born on December 30, 1886, is unmarried and lives at home; Lydia was born on December 29, 1888, is the wife of John Diller, of Pandora, and has one daughter, Mildred, and a son. Earnest, born on November 5, 1890, married Ida Kiene and lived in Pleasant township. He has one son. Earl Frank, born on February 18, 1892, married Celia Wensinger. They had twins - one of whom is. deceased. Elmer and Elfin, twins, were born on September 26, 1893. Elmer died on September 21, 1910. Elfin married Lula Marks and lives at Pandora. Wilbert was born on November 14, 1897, ^"d Pearl on November 29, 1909.

He is a supporter of the Republican party and has always taken an intelligent interest in political matters, but has never aspired to public office. Mr. and Mrs. Zuercher are both members of the Grace Mennonite church and are active in all church work.

Mr. Zuercher is one of Riley township's most substantial farmers. He is highly esteemed and respected throughout his community, both as a citizen and as a neighbor, and is regarded as being one of the foremost citizens of Putnam county.

Emmett L. Burkhart

Many citizens of Putnam county, Ohio, have come themselves, or are the sons of men who have come from the good old Keystone state of Pennsylvania, and where they are found in this county they are among the most prosperous citizens. It is a fact that the most venturesome and ambitious people are those who have the courage to make their homes in a new and promising country, and this accounts in a great measure for the splendid prosperity which has come to Putnam county in its history. The fact that its citizens are men of courage and determination, who came here to better their condition, has given this county a citizenship which has made for prosperity in every particular.

Emmett L. Burkhart was born in Riley township, Putnam county, August 21, 1884, a son of Levi and Catherine (Parcher) Burkhart. Levi Burkhart was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, May 6, 1822, and died on October 16, 1904. He was a son of John and Sarah (Good) Burkhart, who were natives of Pennsylvania. John B. Burkhart died when Levi was a small boy, and after his father's death, Levi went to live with an uncle.

At the age of twenty-six, Levi married Elizabeth Beyers, who was born m Franklin county, Pennsylvania, a daughter of John and Nancy Beyers. To that union were born seven children, as follow : John Y., born on May 12, 1849; Andrew L., born on June 11, 1851; Naomi, born on April 24, 1855; Lydia A., born on October 21, 1858, and who died in August, 1860 ' Samuel, born on August 28, 1861 ; Elizabeth, born on December 24, 1864,' and Amanda Ann, born on February 26, 1867.

and settled first in Franklin county, near Columbus, Ohio, and later, in 1854, came to Riley township, Putnam county, and settled two and one-half miles east of what was then Pendleton, now Pandora, where his wife died.

To this second 'union was born one son, Emmett L., the subject of this sketch, who was born in Riley township, Putnam county, August 21, 1884.

When Levi Burkhart came to Putnam county, in 1854, he bought the Douglas farm and gradually developed it and added to it until he owned four hundred acres, all of which lay in Riley township, except forty acres, which extended into Paulding county. At the time when he settled upon the homestead it was in practically a virgin state, heavily timbered and with only a few acres cleared. He first built a two-room log cabin and a barn, after which he proceeded to prepare his land, working at it from year to year until he had succeeded in getting it nearly all in cultivation.

He operated it as a general farm and met with marked success. He was a member of the Republican party, and was an active member of the Methodist Protestant church, which he attended faithfully. He was a hardworking, honest and upright citizen, and a man of high ideals.

Emmett L. Burkhart spent his boyhood on the homestead, where he attended the district school and helped his father with the farm work, his father at that time having been somewhat advaned in years. At the age of twenty-four, September 4, 1907, he married May Miller, who was a daughter of William and Sarah (Lutz) Miller. William Miller was born in Allen county, Ohio, August 18, 1855, a son of Wesley and Lydia (Steepleton) Miller. His wife was a daughter of George and Ustana (Weaver) Lutz.

After his marriage, Emmett L. Burkhart continued to live on the homestead. He purchased a section of forty acres from his mother and the other heirs of his father's estate, in addition to the section of forty acres which he had inherited from his father. On this land he is engaging in general farming and is meeting with marked success in his endeavors.

Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Emmett L. Burkhart. They are Stanley Milton, born on April 6, 1908, and Edith Eleanor, born on February 14, 1910.

has always taken an intelligent interest in political matters, he has never aspired to public office. Mrs. Burkhart is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Pandora, Ohio.

John William Cottingham

A well-known business man, of Leipsic, Ohio, is John W. Cottingham,. who has been a resident of this place for a score of years. Born in England, he came to this country when he was six years of age with his parents, and located in Delta, Ohio. Growing to manhood in that city he lived for several years in Deshler, Ohio, and then came to Leipsic, where he has since resided. Since coming to this city, he has installed the present electric light plant and has been engaged in this line of activity ever since. He is a man of unusual energy and ability, and one of the representative men of his city and county. He is a stockholder and director in the Essex Coal Company, of Columbus, of which he is also vice-president.

John W. Cottingham, the son of George Wattam and Elizabeth (Larder) Cottingham, was born in Market Rasen, England, in 1865. His parentscame to America in 1871, and with their five children located at Delta, Ohio, where George Cottingham engaged in the manufacture of pearl ash. In addition to his manufacturing interests he was also engaged in farming. George W. Cottingham lived in DeUa, Ohio, for the remainder of his life and became prominently identified with the life of the community. He served as a member of the city council and also held various other official positions. He died in 1903.

John W. Cottingham grew to manhood in Delta, Ohio, and received a good common and high school education. He went to Deshler, Ohio, in the latter eighties, and engaged in the manufacture of pearl ash, in that city. After living there for seven years, he came to Leipsic and, in 1896, built the present electric light plant in this place. He has since been engaged in the furnishing of light and power to the city and private consumers of the city. Mr. Cottingham was married at the age of twenty-three, to Laura Freeman, who was a daughter of James and Julia (Van Swearingen) Freeman, and lived at Delta from the time she was seventeen years of age. She came to Delta from Monte Valley, Missouri, with her mother, who was descended from a Revolutionary soldier, Joseph Van Swearingen, and has a certificate, giving the official verification of her descent. Mr. Freeman's father was a. native of Ireland, and Mr. Freeman, himself, was a merchant in Missouri, until the time of his death. There were five children born to the first marriage of Mr. Cottingham, Frances Elizabeth, the wife of William Thompson, of Springfield, Ohio; Vivian Louise, the wife of Lloyd Holderman, of Leipsic; Marion Agnes, Warner Van Swearingen and Margaret Joyce, the last three children being single and still living with their father in Leipsic. The mother of these five children died in Leipsic, in 1902, and, in 1903, Mr. Cottingham married Catherine Easton Harrison, who was born in Lincoln, England, and is a daughter of Levi and Elizabeth (Cottingham) Harrison. Mr. Cottingham lived in England until her marriage. Three children have been born to this second marriage, Dorris, who died in infancy; Dudley Harrison, and Phyllis Mary Grace.

Mr. Cottingham and his family have a beautiful home in the western' part of Leipsic, where they entertain their many friends with genuine hospitality. He has taken an active part in the civic life of the city and has served on the school board. While living in Deshler, Ohio, he served twoterms in the council of that city. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Cottingham is a member of the Knights of Maccabees. The Cottingham family trace their ancestry back to old Colonial times, when the first members of the family located in New England. Li England, the family had a coat-of-arms, and members of the family in that country still use it.

David Hummon

One of the best-known citizens of Riley township, Putnam county,. Ohio, is David Hummon, who, for sixty-six years, or during his entire life,, has lived in the township of his birth. David Hummon has been influential in the political and civic life of his township, and for many years, served the people of his community in an official capacity, having been identified with the educational interest of the township and entitled today for very much of the credit of the high standard of the public schools of Riley township. As a farmer, David Hummon has been very successful; as a citizen, he is respected and admired by his neighbors; having won a competence in life by his early labors, he is so situated that he may now enjoy the fruits of hisearly labors.

David Hummon was born on July 1, 1849, in Riley township, Putnam Ohio, the son of John and Alary A. ( Wyninger) Hummon. John Hummon was born in Wyandot county, Ohio, in 1815. Both John Hummon a-nd his wife were of German descent and came from Wyandot county to Putnam county, in 1832. John Hummon and his wife were married nine years before coming to Putnam county, where they entered one hundred and ^ixty acres of land and gradually added to their original holdings until, at the time of his death, John Hummon owned fully eleven hundred acres. Throughout his life, John Hummon was an ardent Democrat and was loyal to the Union cause during the dark days of the Civil War and contributed his energies and his money to the support of that cause. John Hummon died on Alarch 6, 1878, in Riley township.

The parents of John Hummon were Simon Peter and Mary (Kerns) Hummon. Simon Peter Hummon was a native of Pennsylvania, a farmer -and a distiller of whiskey and applejack. His wife was a native of Holland, who came to America alone, locating in Kittanning county, Pennsylvania, where she met and married Simon Peter Hummon. Six children were born to this union in Pennsylvania, and four more were born after their arrival in Ohio, in all, there were eight daughters and two sons, one of whom was John Hummon, the father of David, the subject of this sketch.

John Hummon and wife were also the parents of ten children, eight of whom are still living. They are, Levi, born on December 31, 1837; Adam, born on July 31, 1839; George, born on January 24, 1845; Minerva, born -on July 7, 1847, David, the subject of this sketch, and Simon P., born on June 8, 185 1 ; Clara E., born on February 15, 1855; and Ada, born on August 14, 1859, and died in 1888. One son died at the age of thirteen and a daughter at the age of two. The mother of these children died on September 29, 1881. She was a member of the Methodist Protestant church.

David Hummon was born on the old homestead in Riley township, where he now lives. It was the farm which his father entered from the governinent when he came from Wyandot county, Ohio, and consisted originally of one hundred and sixty acres. The present farm consists of one additional acre. Mr. Hummon attended the typical log cabin school and helped his father clear the land. He remained on the old home place until he was twenty-five years old.

David Hummon was married on February 4, 1875, at the age of twentyfive, to Mary E. Wilkins, who was born on December 26, 1851, in Licking Ohio, and who is the daughter of Albert and Harriett (Allison) Wil- kins. Her father was born in Licking county on October 9, 1820, and died in Putnam county, in June, 1890. He was the son of Daniel Wilkins and wife. Harriett Allison was born in New York state, in 1823, and died in Putnam county, in 1893. She was the daughter of Samuel and Bethsheba Allison, who came to Licking county in 1840, where he remained the balance of his Hfe. After his death, his wife returned to New York state, where she died. Samuel Allison and wife had five children, Samuel, Harriett, Rebecca, Isaac and Susan. Mrs. Hummon was one of five children, the others being, Edward M., Daniel F., George R., and Emma R. Mrs. Hummon came from Licking to Putnam county, Ohio, in the fall of 1856 at the age of five years. She was brought to Putnam county with her parents, who came in covered wagons. They settled about two miles south of Gilboa. The old two-roomed log house is still in a good state of preservation. It was on the old homestead that Mary spent her childhood and here she attended the district schools. She remained at home until she was twenty-four years old, at which time she was married.

To Mr. and Mrs. David Hummon, ten children have been born, Everett J., Zoe A., Bertha E., Charles Albert, Maude Velmah, Burl W., Maroa H., Glen Leo, Grover C., and one who died in infancy. Everett J., born on March 19, 1876, married Nellie Schifferly and has had four children, Dwight W. and triplets. Faith, LI ope and Charity, who died at birth; Zoe A., born on May 5, 1878, died on August 10, 1879; Bertha E., born on November 27, 1879, married Floyd Foultz; Charles Albert, born on August 21, 1881, married Verna George and has one child, Genevieve R. ; Maude Velmah, born on March 11, 1883, is single and at home. Burl W., born on February 4, 1887, died on January 26, 1888. Maroa H., born on February 14, 1889, is single and at home; Glen Leo, born on February 14, 1891, married Ida Amstut and has three children, Nevin B., Marvin D. and Marie E. ; Grover C, born on May 8, 1893, is single and at home.

After his marriage, Mr. Hummon continued to live on the old home place. He has always engaged in farming. A few years ago, he made a practice of feeding and raising a great many cattle and hogs, in which occupation he has been very successful.

Mr. Hummon is a Democrat. He has been trustee of Riley township for three years and a member of the school board for several years. He is also a director in the Union Township Insurance Company, where he held this office for ten years. Mr. Hummon attends the United Brethren church, as well as his family, but Mrs. Hummon is a member of the Metho- dist Protestant church. David Hummon is one of the best known and most popular citizens of the community in which he resides. He comes from an. old and highly-honored family and is a progressive citizen, a man of high ideals and in this respect is like so many of his worthy forbearers who. have preceded him.

The success of a man in raising a high-grade of stock depends upon many qualities, but especially upon good judgment and patience. One of the well-known farmers of Riley township, Putnam county, Ohio, who has made a splendid success in raising Percheron horses, and who today isregarded as an authority on this particular breed of horses, is E. D. Kohli. Mr. Kohli is one of the men of sterling worth and strength of character, who have contributed so much to the advancement of the commercial interests of Putnam county. So well known has Mr. Kohli become, as an expert judge of horses, that he was called to serve in this capacity at the Sandusky county fair, both in 1913, and in 1914, at the Wood county fair in 1913, at the Van Wert county fair in 1914, and at the Jay county (Indiana) fair m 1913. Mr. Kohli, himself, has won many prizes and is known as a Iman who breeds and raises the very best animals to be found anywhere.

E. D. Kohli was born on October 18, 1860, in Richland township, Allen county, Ohio. He is the son of John and Barbara (Hilty) Kohli. John Kohli was born in 1807, in Berne, Switzerland, and was the son of Frantz Kohli and wife. Frantz Kohli was a tailor in Switzerland, whocame to America, about 1819, with his wife and three children, Elizabeth, John and Christian. All settled in Wayne county, and here Frantz Kohli continued to follow his trade as a tailor. He also operated a farm and lived here for several years. He then moved to Putnam county and settled about one mile west of Pandora. Later, he moved just southeast of Columbus Grove.

John Kohli, his son and the father of E. D., removed with his parents, while still a lad, from Wayne to Putnam county. Here he attended the district school and helped his father on the farm. He was married, first to Fannie Snavely, whose parents came from Lancaster, Pennsylvania. To this union were born six sons and two daughters, Josiah, Samuel, Elizabeth, Andrew, Isaac, John, Eli and Sarah. John Kohli' s first wife died, and he then married Mrs. Barbara (Steiner) Hilty. She had nine children by her first marriage, Gideon, Mary, David, Peter, Barbara, Isaac, Elias, Noah and Fannie. By this second marriage, five children were born, Christian, Daniel, Emanuel, Adam and Amos. The last two died in infancy. John Kohh lived in a number of places in Allen county, and when E. D. "was born, he lived about one mile northwest of Bluffton, in Richland town- -ship. He continued to Hve in this place for ten years. It was here that £. D. Kohli's mother, Barbara, died, when he was five years old. She was forty-five years of age at the time of her death. John Kohli then broke up housekeeping, and the children were placed with difirerent families in the neighborhood. Three years after the wife's death, he gathered five of the youngest children together, Elias and Sarah, born to his first marriage, and Daniel, and E. D., born to his second, and moved south of JVIishawaka, Indiana. Here he located on a farm, but remained there but a few years, when he returned to Allen county, Ohio. He resumed farming, and continued for about two years, when he broke up housekeeping again, and went to live with his eldest son, Josiah. A few months later he died, December 22, 1872.

E. D. Kohli continued to live with his brother until he was fourteen jears of age. He then went to live with his eldest half-sister, Mrs. Mary -(Steiner) Thut. The following spring he went to live with his cousin, Isaac Hilty, for whom he worked at odd times for a period of six years.

E. D. Kohli was married on December 7, 1882, at the age of twentytwo to Sarah Schumacher, the daughter of Peter and Elizabeth (Suter) Schumacher. Peter Schumacher was a native of Basel, Switzerland, whose family history is to be found in the sketch of Noah Schumacher, contained elsewhere in this volume. His wife was a native of Alsace, and the daughter of Christian Suter.

After his marriage, E. D. Kohli purchased a farm of eighty acres from Jacob and \'irgil Stewart. This farm lies three and one-half miles northeast of Pandora, and consists of eighty acres and has been the home of Mr. Kohli ever since. When he purchased this, only forty-two acres had been cleared, but it had a good two-story house, which was destroyed by fire later. Mr. Kohli cleared the balance of the land and built a splendid modern residence of nine rooms, also a large barn, forty-eight by seventy feet, and other outbuildings.

For twenty-five years Mr. Kohli has been an extensive breeder of thoroughbred Percheron horses, and has been very successful. He has exhibited at the fairs in Putnam and adjoining counties, and has taken a generous share of blue ribbons. He now owns "Roland D.," a three-year-old, weighing about twenty-two hundred and fifty pounds, upon which he won first prize as weanhng stud at the Ilhnois state fair, Springfield, and also first prize as a yearling stallion at the same fair. He also has fourteen other thoroughbred prize-winning stallions, mares and colts.

Mr. and Mrs. E. D. Kohli have been the parents of ten children, all of whom are living. There are six sons and four daughters, as follow: Aldine, married Susan Geiger, and they have three children, Margaret, La- Vaughn, and Mandona, the last of whom died on February 20, 1915; Peter married Rose I<;iene; Elizabeth is the wife of Clare Green; Edward is unmarried, and lives at home; Homer is a student at Ohio State University, where he is taking an electrical engineering course; Hiram Susan, Orlin, Martha, and Odula are at home.

Air. Kohli is a Democrat, but he has never held office, and has never aspired to prominence in political hfe. He is a member of St. John's Mennonite church, and Mrs. Kohh is likewise a faithful and devoted men ber. Mr. Kohli is one of the community's most substantial citizens. He is a man of high ideals, and worthy ambitions, and deserves credit for the success he has made in life.

Edd. B. Simonds

The Simonds family were early pioneer settlers in Putnam county, Ohio, and the father of Edd. B. Simonds was born in the early forties in this county. Mr; Simonds was reared on a farm and has always engaged in agricultural pursuits. In the fall of 1913, he was elected trustee of Van Buren township on the Republican ticket, although his township is normally Democratic. His election speaks well for his reputation as a citizen and attests to his high standing in the community.