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BIOGRAPHIES
Source:
History of Allen County, Ohio
And Representative Citizens
Edited and Compiled by
Charles C. Miller, Ph. D.
Assisted by
Dr. Samuel A. Baxter
Lima, Ohio
Published by Richmond & Arnold
George Richmond; G. R. Arnold
Chicago, Ill
1906
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JOHN
T. ADAMS, one of the best known and most popular citizens
of Amanda township, who has resided on his fine farm of 127
acres in section 10 for a half century, was born Feb. 29, 1832,
in Champaign County, Ohio, and is a son of Thomas and Mary
(Long) Adams.
The parents of Mr. Adams
were natives of Virginia and Kentucky, respectively. They
moved to Amanda township, Allen County, in the spring of 1833,
taking their children into the wilderness with the expectation
of founding for them a comfortable home and rearing them well,
although home might for a time be without the advantages of more
civilized localities. But the father was killed by a
falling tree, when our subject was only four years old, an
accident not unusual at that time. The mother was left
with five little children to rear, which she did nobly and well,
lending two of them to their country in its days of peril.
Mr. Adams settled in section 10, Amanda
township, and built his log cabin on the banks of the Auglaize
River, to which the Shawnee Indians often came; but, as far as
we have been informed, with no evil intentions. Mr.
Adams did not live to see the results of his several
years of industry and probably never even imagined the
transformation which has taken place. A part of his land
he secured from the State and the remainder from a Mr.
Russell, who resided-near Piqua, to which point the family
was obliged to go to mill. The mother survived to the age
of 72 years and to her courage, industry, economy and good
management, much of the family prosperity was due. She was
deft in all housewifely arts of her day, could spin and weave,
sew, bake and brew and, on occasion no doubt, assisted her sons
in their tasks. Her children hold her in loving
remembrance. They were as follows: William,
now deceased, who enlisted for three years in the Civil War.
entering Company A, 81st Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf.; John T.,
of this sketch. who served 1oo days in Company B, 151st Reg.,
Vol. Inf.; James, of Champaign County, Ohio; and two
deceased.
John T. Adams very early became accustomed to
assist on the farm, and later, with his brothers, William
and James, cleared and improved it. He was reared
and educated main ly in Champaign County, to which the family
removed about 1839, and was 22 years old when he came back to
this county and entered into the serious business of developing
a farm out of the forest. To-day it is one of the most
valuable and beautiful farms on the river. Mr.
Adams has added to its natural advantages by erecting a very
handsome modern residence which overlooks the Spencerville and
Lima turnpike road. He can relate many interesting
incidents of the early days here, when the Indians traversed the
forest surrounding the home, in pursuit of the wild game which
abounded.
In 1867 Mr. Adams was united in marriage
with Violet Russell, who is a daughter of
Joseph and Celia Russell. She was born on a farm in
Champaign County adjoining the one which was his birthplace.
They have one son, Charles F. The latter was born
in Amanda township and was well educated in the public schools.
He manages his father’s farm, the latter having practically
retired. He married Eva Travis and they have
four children, viz: Ruth, John, named for his
grandfather; James, named for his grand uncle; and
Celia, who bears the name of her great-grandmother.
In 1900 Mr. Adams was elected a trustee
of Amanda township and at the expiration of his term was
reelected, but resigned in 1905. He is recognized as one
of the useful, reliable and public-spirited men of the locality.
Source: History of Allen County, Ohio, Publ. by
Richmond & Arnold, Chicago, IL - 1906 - Page 858 |
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C. L.
ACKERMAN, wholesale liquor dealer, is one of the
influential merchants of Lima, of which city he has been a
resident a little more than 10 years. He was born in 1866
in Mansfield, Richland County, Ohio, where he was educated and
commenced his business career. For about four years he
conducted a restaurant and cafe in Mansfield, then came to Lima
and also opened a cafe, which he continued until November, 1903,
when he engaged in the wholesale liquor trade. This
enterprise has proved most remunerative; two salesmen are kept
constantly on the road.
Mr. Ackerman is identified with several of the
leading industries of Lima, being a director of the Allen County
Oil Company, and of the Imperial Brewery, now in process of
construction.
Mr. Ackerman was married, in 1895, to Kate
Ziegler, daughter of Godfried Ziegler, of Wapakoneta.
One child, Margaret Louise, has been born to them.
Mr. Ackerman is a member of the Odd Fellows, the Eagles,
the Red Men and the United Commercial Travelers' Association,
and has formed many warm friendships since locating to Lima.
Source: History of Allen County, Ohio, Publ. by
Richmond & Arnold, Chicago, IL - 1906 - Page 682 |
Frederick Agerger |
FREDERICK AGERTER.
Among the former business men of Lima, who for years was
prominently connected with the city's machine interests, was
Frederick Agerter, whose portrait accompanies this sketch.
He was born in Switzerland, Mar. 3, 1833, and died in Lima,
Sept. 15, 1883.
Frederick Agerter had not reached his
majority when he emigrated to America in search of better
industrial conditions than he found in his native land. In
1858 he settled at Sandusky, Ohio, and worked at various points
until the outbreak of the Civil War. He enjoyed the
honorable distinction of being the first man to enlist from
Wyandot County, joining Company C, 15th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf.
After the close of his first term of service, he re-enlisted, in
Company D. 81st Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf. He remained in the
service for 15 months, when he resigned his commission as 1st
lieutenant, on account of ill health. Upon his return from
the war, he was elected county clerk of Wyandot County, and, by
a succeeding election, served in that office for a period of six
years.
In 1869 Mr. Agerter came to Lima, and
with four partners immediately engaged in the machine business,
the firm being known as Carnes, Agerter & Company.
They had extensive machine shops and greatly prospered, Mr.
Agerter remaining secretary and treasurer of the firm for
14 years, or until the time of his death. As a business
man he was energetic and capable, and noted for his thoroughly
honest and upright methods. He began life with good
educational advantages but no capital, and through energy and
perseverance he ac cumulated a fortune.
Mr. Agerter married Martha J. Brown,
a daughter of James Brown, of Virginia, her father being
a son of Captain Oliver Brown, of the Revolutionary War.
They had these children: Rosa J. (Hill), of Lima;
Sally L. (Mrs. A. D. Cameron); Harriet C. (Mrs. E. E.
Stoll), of Massachusetts; Martha W. (Mrs. H. M. Jenks),
of England; Caroline J., who resides with her mother in
the beautiful home at No. 890 West Market street, Lima, and
Frederick Brown, who died at the age of 28 years and left
one child, Harry M.
In politics Mr. Agerter was a Democrat.
Fraternally he was identified with the Masons and the Odd
Fellows. He was a man of sterling character, one who
commanded the respect of all who knew him. The family
belong to the Presbyterian Church.
Source: History of Allen County, Ohio, Publ.
by Richmond & Arnold, Chicago, IL - 1906 - Page 647 |
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W. T. AGERTER,
secretary and treasurer of The Lima Locomotive & Machine
Company, whose works are among the largest industrial plants of
this city, was born in Wyandot County, Ohio, Oct. 16, 1859, and
is a son of John Agerter, formerly a well-known civil
engineer who now lives retired at Upper Sandusky.
Mr. Agerter was reared and educated at Upper
Sandusky, and later completed a commercial course at the
Poughkeepsie (New York) Business College, after which he entered
the employ of F. B. Hedges & Company, at Pittsburg, as
bookkeeper. On Jan. 1, 1881, he assumed a similar position
with The Lima Machine Works. In 1884, on the death of his
uncle, Frederick Agerter, he became secretary and
treasurer of the Lima Machine Works, and continued in the same
capacity after the reorganization of the business and the
forming of The Lima Locomotive & Machine Company. He has
other business connections, being proprietor of The Dairy
Implement Company. He is also interested in the “Glen Oak
Stock Farm," situated 10 miles west of Lima on the Auglaize
River. He owns much valuable live stock, all of high grade
and much of it registered.
Mr.
Agerter married Carlotta Disman, a daughter
of George W. Disman, one of the proprietors of the Lima
Machine Works, who died in 1900. Mr. and Mrs. Agerter
have two children - Rose E. and W. T., Jr., both
of whom are attending school at Lima.
For eight years Mr. Agerter was a member of the
Lima Board of Education and is one of the most useful members of
the Lima Progressive Association.
Politically Mr. Agerter is a Democrat. He
is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Fraternally he is
a Knight of Pythias, an organization which, in Lima, numbers the
majority of the business men. Socially, Mr.
Agerter belongs to the Lima Club and the Shawnee Country
Clubs.
Source: History of Allen County, Ohio, Publ.
by Richmond & Arnold, Chicago, IL - 1906 - Page 742 |
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EDWIN
CLYDE AKERMAN, auditor-elect of Allen
County, Ohio, and one of the best known educators in this
section of the State, was born June 2, 1864, on a farm located
one mikle and a half northeast of LaFayette, Allen County, Ohio.
He is a son of William Henry and Mary Jane (Ransbottom)
Akerman.
The grandfather of Mr. Akerman,
William Henry Akerman, was a native of Pennsylvania.
He came from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to Ohio, in 1833,
settling first in Morgan County, but removing later to a farm
near LaFayette, Allen County, where he lived to a good old age
and reared a family of 13 children, giving three of his sons -
Samuel, John and Henry - to the service of their
country during the Civil War. He died Oct. 9, 1878.
William Henry Akerman, Jr., father of our
subject, was born in Jackson township, Allen County, Ohio, Apr.
17, 1840, and almost all his brief life was spent in this
locality, engaged in farming and teaching school. In 1862
he en listed in the Union Army as a member of the 81st Regiment,
Ohio Vol. Inf., and was the bugler of the regiment and
subsequently was advanced to the rank of captain of his company.
After nine months of faithful service, he was honorably
discharged. His lamented death took place on Oct. 25,
1868. In commenting upon his decease, a local paper gave
expression to the general feeling in these words: "A model young
man and the idol of the neighbor hood.” On Jan. 1, 1863,
he married Mary Jane Ransbottom, and two children were
born to them, viz: Edwin Clyde and Walter Clinton,
the latter of whom died aged one year and 10 months. The
mother was born in Sugar Creek township, Allen County, Ohio,
Oct. 2, 1840, and is a daughter of Wesley B. and Emily
(Wright) Ransbottom, natives of Virginia. She still
survives, being an esteemed resident of LaFayette.
Edwin Clyde Akerman was left
fatherless at the age of four years. He was seven
years old when he removed from the farm to LaFayette and he
remained in that village until 23 years of age, attending school
until his 17th year. He then began to teach and has
continued in this profession until the present time. In
1887 he became principal of the Bluffton High School and filled
the position most satisfactorily. He remained in charge
for four years and then resigned in order to complete his
college course in the Ohio Normal University, where he was
graduated in 1892, with honors.
It was in 1892 that he received a High School life
certificate and in the same year was elected to the
superintendency of the public schools of Elida, Ohio. In
1897 he returned to Bluffton to assume charge of the high school
and he remained in that position until 1900, when he was elected
superintendent of the schools of Bluffton. For these
important pos itions Mr. Akerman proved to be
eminently qualified. Politically, Mr. Akerman
has always been identified with the Democratic party. He
was elected to the office of county auditor in November, 1905,
his election being not entirely a party favor but in large part
a token of personal popularity.
He is one of the valued members of the Allen County
Teachers’ Association, the Northwestern Ohio Teachers’
Association and the Ohio State Teachers’ Association.
Mr. Akerman was married Aug. 27, 1888, to
Sarah Augusta Butterfoss, who was born in
Hardin County, Ohio, and is a daughter of C. W. and Millie
(Roby) Butterfoss. They have two children - Audrey
and Opal. The family belong to the Methodist
Episcopal Church and since 1895 Mr. Akerman has
been secretary of the official board. On Jan. 1, 1901, he
assumed the duties of Sunday-school superintendent. In
fraternal life he is a Mason, an Odd Fellow and a Woodman.
Source: History of Allen County, Ohio, Publ.
by Richmond & Arnold, Chicago, IL - 1906 - Page 644 |
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HARRY
A. ALBRECHT, proprietor of one of the
largest clothing establishments in Lima, was born in Delaware,
Ohio, and is a son of A. F. Albrecht, deceased. In
1865, when our subject was a child of four years, the
family moved to Spencerville and there he was educated. At
the age of 19 he secured a position as clerk in a clothing store
in Lima and about a year later accepted a more desirable place
with a similar establishment in Mansfield, where he remained
there 10 years. He then turned his attention to other
lines of industry, going to Chicago where for six and a half
years he was associated with his brother, F. J. Albrecht,
since deceased, in the publishing business. For one and a
half years he was manager of the clothing department of a store
in Youngstown, Ohio. On Mar. 1, 1899, he moved to Lima and
engaged in his present business, putting in a complete line of
gent’s furnishing goods and keeping a thoroughly first class
store. For the first five years the firm was Albrecht
Brothers; but in 1904 our subject purchased the entire
business and has since conducted it alone as H. A. Albrecht,
“The American Clothier.”
In April, 1885, Mr. Albrecht was married
to Margaret B. Ackerman, daughter of G. P. Ackerman,
formerly a leading business man of Mansfield, Ohio. Their
family consists of five sons and a daughter. Raymond R.,
the eldest, was educated in the Lima High School and following
this took a two years’ course in the military school at Miami.
He is now employed as timekeeper for the gas line company of
Delaware, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Albrecht are members
of Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church. of which he has been
steward during his residence in Lima. He is active in
Masonic circles and is also a member of the Odd Fel
lows and Royal Arcanum.
Source: History of Allen County, Ohio, Publ.
by Richmond & Arnold, Chicago, IL - 1906 - Page 801 |
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JAMES ALEXANDER,
an influential citizen of Allentown, this county, was born Dec.
31, 1842, in German township, Allen County, Ohio, about one mile
from his present home. He is a son of Adam and
Elizabeth (Howsel) Alexander and a grandson of James
Alexander, who came here from Pennsylvania about 1838.
James Alexander, subject of this sketch was
reared to manhood in German township, where he enlisted in the
118th Regiment, Ohio Vol. Inf., and served during the Civil War.
He was a farmer and upon returning home resumed his old-time
occupation. He owns a fine farm in section 32, German
township and the home residence in Allentown.
Among the near neighbors of the Alexanders was
the family of John and Nancy (Dougherty) Cremean, who had
also located in the county at an early day. The children
of the two families played together, attended the same school
and grew up together, and, on Dec. 24, 1865, a still stronger
bond was formed in the union of James Alexander
and Lydia Cremean. Six children were
born to them, namely: William, born Oct. 7, 1866, who
married Annie Coon, resides in Lima, and was the
father of one child, who died in infancy; Elizabeth born
Mar. 20, 1868, who married Richard Smith and is
the mother of six children - Terry Palmer,
Violet Chloe, Lela, Belbe, James
Berlin and one who died in infancy; Elizabeth, who
resided in Van Wert County, where she died May 30, 1905;
Charles, born Jan. 7, 1870, who married May Snyder,
of Albany, Indiana, and has one child, Beatrice - he
resides in Bloomdale, Wood County, Ohio, where he is engaged in
the ministerial work of the United Brethren Church; Oras
Albertus, born Mar. 12. 1874. who died Jan. 26, 1881;
Emma, born April 12, 1876, who married John
Bowersox and is the mother of two children - Irene and
James Cecil; and Harley, born Apr. 12, 1884,
who married Jesse Long and is the father of one
child, James Wayne. Mr. Alexander
is a member of the United Brethren Church of Allentown, and a
man of integrity and sterling worth.
Source: History of Allen County, Ohio, Publ. by Richmond &
Arnold, Chicago, IL - 1906 - Page 742 |
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FREDERICK ALTSTAETTER,
one of the prominent farmers of Monroe township, whose 200 acres
of well-improved land are situated in section 29, was born in
this township, Jan. 26, 1838, and is a son of Jacob and
Catherine (Bucher) Altstaetter.
The father of our subject was born
in Hessen-Darmstadt, Germany, Feb. 21, 1811, and came to the
United States in 1832. He spent a year in Maryland, where
he followed his trade of cabinet-making at Fredericktown, and
then removed to Dayton, Ohio, in 1833. In 1835 he came to
Monroe township, Allen County, where a long, busy and useful
life was spent. He owned a very large body of land at one
time, but prior to his death he gave his children all but 200
acres. He learned to speak the English language
intelligently, but the German tongue was the one usually heard
in the home. He was a stanch supporter of the Democratic
party but never cared for political office. He was a man
of integrity of character and was one of the leading Germans of
his locality. It was through his efforts and generosity
that the German Evangelical Church was founded in Monroe
township. At Dayton, Ohio, he was married to Catherine
Bucher, who was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, Oct. 26,
1816, and died in Monroe township, in December, 1903. On
the paternal side her people came from Switzerland and settled
first in Pennsylvania.
Our subject is one of 13 children, namely:
Elizabeth, deceased; Frederic; John, deceased;
Susannah (Haas), of Lima; Sarah (Zulinger),
of Lima; George L., of Monroe township, whose sketch
appears elsewhere in this work; Michael, of Lima; Mary
(Rummel), of Monroe township; Louisa, Catherine
and Bertha, deceased; Philip Jacob, living
on the old homestead, whose sketch is given elsewhere in this
work; and Abigail, deceased.
In 1866 our subject was married to Elizabeth Krouse
and they resided on her father’s farm in Putnam County for 12
years. Then Mr. Altstaetter bought his present
well-improved farm, where he has carried on general farming and
stock-raising ever since.
Mrs. Altstaetter was born in Richland
County, Ohio, Aug. 18, 1847, and was 20 years of age when she
accompanied her parents to Putnam County. They were
John and Margaret (Stein) Krouse, natives of Germany, but
both of them had come as children to America. Mr. and
Mrs. Altstaetter have three sons, viz.: John, a
merchant at Cairo; Charles, who operates the home farm;
and George F., who farms in Monroe township. Mr.
Altstaetter and wife are members of the German Reformed
Church. Politically, he is a Democrat.
Source: History of Allen County, Ohio, Publ. by
Richmond & Arnold, Chicago, IL - 1906 - Page 557 |
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GEORGE L. ALTSTAETTER,
proprietor of the "Pleasant Fruit Farm," a fertile tract of 80
acres, situated in section 17, Monroe township, was born in this
township, Feb. 5, 1846, and is a son of Jacob and Catherine
(Bucher) Altstaetter.
Jacob Altstaetter was born in Hessen-Darmstadt,
Germany, Feb. 21, 1811. Prior to coming to America he
worked as a carpenter, and during one year spent in Maryland he
continued to follow his trade. He desired a different
field of work, however, and thinking that Ohio would probably
afford it he walked to Cincinnati; soon after he removed to
Dayton, and while working at his trade there met the estimable
lady whom he soon after married. At that time he was 25
years of age and almost immediately after, in the fall of 1836,
he came to Allen County, and in the following spring settled on
40 acres of land, paying out all his capital, $50, for it.
He built a log house and shop on the farm and, as the seasons
permitted, alternated between work at his trade and clear ing up
his land. He was deft at furniture making and frequently
the midnight hour would find him still at work fashioning
chairs, beds and tables for his neighbors, for which they paid
him in labor. A man of his industry could hardly escape
accumulating capital, and he continued to invest in land until
he finally owned 600 acres, which through his own efforts he
almost entirely cleared. He was a hard worker all his life
and expected others to be industrious also. In appearance
Jacob Altstaetter was a well-set-up man, five feet in
height, with a pleasant, intelligent countenance and shrewd,
kindly eyes. He lived to be almost 88 years of age, dying
on the farm on which he had settled, Nov.10, 1898. He was
a stanch supporter of the Democratic party, casting his first
presidential vote in 1836. He was a worthy member of the
German Evangelical Church, very active in its work, and during
the greater part of his life was one of the trustees. He
was one of the first and prime movers in the project of building
the first church of his denomination in the locality, giving
first the ground and then the timber, and subsequently
presenting the church organ. He was always liberal in
church contributions and his advice and counsel always supported
the efforts of the ministers. He was a good man and a
perfect type of the thrifty, industrious, provident,
home-building German.
On Oct. 26, 1816, the mother of our subject was born in
Montgomery County, Ohio, not far from Salem; she died in Monroe
town ship, Dec. 28, 1903. She was married on her 19th
birthday and accompanied her husband to Allen County in the
following spring, living a happy, contented, peaceful and useful
life for 63 years thereafter. Her parents were John and
Elizabeth (Miller) Bucher, residents of Ohio, the former a
native of Switzerland and the latter, of Virginia. They
became residents of Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Altstaetter
had 13 children, 12 of whom reached maturity and seven of these
still survive.
Our subject, George L. Altstaetter, has resided
in his present school district all his life, and has carried on
agricultural work ever since he became old enough to hold a
plow, the only kind of farm labor his late father never did.
He remained at home assisting until his marriage, when he was 26
years old. His father was always just and generous with
his children and at this time he gave him an equity of $1,500 in
a farm of 80 acres which he chose from other tracts. Our
subject subsequently paid the remainder due to the estate, and
settled on the farm in section 17, which he has occupied ever
since. Along with other agricultural operations, including
extensive farming and the raising of considerable stock.
Mr. Altstaetter has paid a great deal of attention
to the growing of fruit. In addition to small fruits, he
has an apple orchard of four acres. The fruit-growing is
such a feature that the name, “Pleasant Fruit Farm,” is very
appropriate.
In addition to improving his land and adding yearly to
its value. Mr. Altstatter has erected good
buildings and a handsome residence, so that the appearance of
the place is very attractive. He has one of the finest
homes in the township.
On Nov. 9, 1871, he was married to Margaret
Olt, who was born in Hessen-Darmstadt, Germany, on Feb. 24,
1849. Her parents, Adam and Eva (Orth)
Olt, are both deceased, the father dying at the age of 36
years and the mother when 30 years of age. This is
remarkable as all four of Mrs. Altstaetter's
grandparents lived to old age, three dying at the age of 80
years and one at the age of 92. An orphan at the age of 18
years, she came alone from Germany, found plenty of friends in
Dayton, Ohio, and, as noted above, four years later was married
to our subject. To this union six sons and six daughters
have been born, namely: John, who died in his sixth year;
Barbara, who is the wife of Fred Haas, of
Dayton; Louise, who is the wife of Samuel Bower,
of Napoleon, Ohio; Otto, who died aged four years; Adam,
who died aged one year; Anna, who resides at home; and
Michael, who is a student in the senior class in Lima
College, and is a very bright young man, who can show a 90 per
cent average in all his studies; Emma, who died aged four
and a half years; Albert, who died aged five years; and
Elsie, Oscar and Freda, living at home.
Mr. Altstaetter has been identified with the
Democratic party all his life, and has been his party’s choice
for many of the important local offices. He has served
several terms as road superintendent, has been a school director
many terms and is now serving his third term as township
trustee, having served two terms some 30 years ago. Like
his father he has been a consistent member and liberal supporter
of the German Evangelical Church of Monroe township for years
and is one of the present trustees, a position he has held many
times.
Source: History of Allen County, Ohio, Publ. by
Richmond & Arnold, Chicago, IL - 1906 - Page 532 |
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PHILIP JACOB ALTSTAETTER,
who resides on the old Altstaetter homestead
farm of 160 acres, situated in section 18, Monroe township,
was born on this farm Aug. 10, 1861, and is a son of Jacob
and Catherine (Bucher) Altstaetter.
Elsewhere in this work - in the sketches of
Frederic and George L. Altstaetter, brothers of our
subject—will be found an extended notice of the parents of our
subject who were the early founders of the German settlement
here, and for many years very prominent residents.
Philip Jacob is the 12th in their family of 13
children.
Our subject was reared to plenty of hard work on the home
farm. as his father was a man who believed in industry and set
the example. His schooling was obtained in the district
schools and he remained at home until 23 years of age. He
then worked at the carpenter’s trade for two years at Dayton and
continued to be thus engaged for some four years after he
returned to Allen County. After his marriage, in 1889, he
went to Columbus Grove and there first clerked in a dry goods
and hard ware store, and then bought a half interest in a
furniture and undertaking business there, which he subsequently
sold, returning to the old homestead in 1898. Here he has
carried on general farming and stock-raising.
On Jan. 1, 1889, Mr. Altstaetter was
married to Emma L. Miller, who was born Jan. 1, 1868, in
Monroe township, Allen County, Ohio, and is a daughter of
Henry and Mary (Sauer) Miller, natives of Hesse, Germany,
who accompanied their respective parents to America in
childhood, the Millers, settling in Pennsylvania, and the
Sauers in Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Miller had 14
children and the wife of our subject is the third in order of
birth. Mr. and Mrs. Altstaetter have eight
children, namely: Emil Henry, Gilbert William, Clifford
Jacob, Mary Catharine, Waldo Emerson, Albert Arthur, Clara
Helena and Lena Albertina.
Mr. Altstaetter is a Democrat. He belongs to
the Knights of Pythias lodge at Columbus Grove. He has the
German’s gift of music and is an expert violinist. Among
many interest ing relics in the old homestead, he takes especial
pride in a fine violin which was purchased at Antwerp, where he
visited in 1885. This violin was made in Italy after the
pattern of one fashioned in 1715. The old homestead has
numerous examples of the cabinet-making skill of his father and
some of the pieces of furniture that were made from rough timber
in the pioneer days. He also prizes highly an old family
Bible, which is still well-preserved, although it was printed in
1745.
Source: History of Allen County, Ohio, Publ. by
Richmond & Arnold, Chicago, IL - 1906 - Page 514 |
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CHRISTIAN U. AMSTUTZ,
a well-known farmer of Allen County, and owner of 200 acres of
land in section 3, Richland township, is a Frenchman by birth
and an American by adoption. He was born Aug. 28, 1829,
and was five years of age when his parents, Ulrich and
Barbara (Clay) Amstutz, came to this country. The
father was a native of France and was twice married in that
country. By the first union there were three children, one
of whom died and the other two came with him to America; these
were Mary and Anna Amstutz. His second wife was
Barbara Clay, a native of Switzerland, by whom he had two
children. Christian U. and John U., who resides in
Richland township. The family landed in New York in 1834
and soon after settled in Ohio, locating in Wayne County in
1837. Later they moved to Allen County where they spent
the remainder of their lives, the father dying at the age of 77
and the mother at the more advanced age of 95 years.
In 1854 Christian U. Amstutz moved to his
present homestead, which at the time consisted of 80 acres of
woodland, and built a rude log cabin as a home for himself and
bride. He lost no time in clearing and getting his land
under cultivation, and has added to the original purchase until
he now owns 200 acres, 80 of which are in section 16. In
1866 he built his present commodious residence and the other
improvements he has effected make it in every way a desirable
home. Grain is his principal crop.
Mr. Amstutz was married in 1854 to Fannie
Neuenschwander, a native of Wayne County and a daughter of
Ulrich and Elizabeth (Basinger) Neuenschwander, both of
whom were natives of Germany. The following children were
born to this union, viz.: Eli, who died in infancy;
David, who resides in section 16, Richland township;
Samuel, a widower, who with his daughter Paulina,
lives with his father - his other child is dead; Christian
D., who resides in Bluffton; Barbara, who lives at
home; Adam, also living a home; Ulrich, who lives
at home and is a teacher of vocal music; and Ephraim who
lives on an adjoining farm. Mrs. Amstutz, who died
Dec. 16, 1895, at the age of 66 years, 8 months and 11 days, was
a woman of noble qualities and had scores of friends.
Mr. Amstutz is a Democrat and has served as trustee
of the township one term and as a member of the School Board for
12 years. He is a member of the Mennonite Church and for
28 years has been janitor of Ebenezer Mennonite Church, which he
assisted in building.
Source: History of Allen County, Ohio, Publ.
by Richmond & Arnold, Chicago, IL - 1906 - Page 485 |
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JOHN
AMSTUTZ, one of the prominent citizens of
Allen County, formerly County Commissioner, resides upon his
well-improved farm of 80 acres, located in section 2, Richland
township. He was born Feb. 7, 1846, in Riley township,
Putnam County, Ohio, and is a son of John and Elizabeth
(Steiner) Amstutz.
In many ways the father of our
subject was one of the most notable men that ever lived in
Richland township. He was born Nov. 22, 1811, in Alsace,
France. during the days of Napoleon, and remained cultivating
the patrimonial acres until he was 21 years of age. In
every sense a self-made man, he was one who deserved the esteem
and respect in which he was held until the close of his life and
the admiration expressed for his acquirements which, in many
ways, were equal to those of the fortunate ones who enjoyed
collegiate ad vantages. Yet the only schooling John
Amstutz ever had was a period of three months in a German
school, three days in a French one and two lessons in English.
For years he both spoke and wrote all three languages correctly
and easily.
In 1833 John Amstutz crossed the Atlantic Ocean,
filled with the hope that in a new land he would find
opportunities for both mental and material advancement.
The old sailing vessel landed him at the port of New Orleans
during a yellow fever epidemic and he was one of those who
survived its ravages. He remained one year in New Orleans
before he commanded enough capital to take him up the
Mississippi and Ohio rivers to Cincinnati, where he worked by
the day at wagon-making until 1835. He then came to Allen
County and bought 1o acres of land and on this little tract he
built the first wagon shop erected in North western Ohio. It is
said that he made the first school globe ever constructed in the
State. He continued work at his trade until he retired from
active life, at the age of 63 years, and his death occurred at
the home of our subject at the age of 80 years and 11 months.
This really remarkable man so appreciated learning that
it was always his great desire to advance the educational
opportunities of the community. He accumulated the largest
private library then in the county and not only absorbed the
contents of his books, was con versant with the best literature
of the day and was one of the locality’s best informed men, but
he was generous in his assistance to others. He helped in
the organization of Richland township and was the first school
director, the township having but one district at that time. His
character was so unimpeachable that his fellow-citizens would
gladly have elected him to every office. He served as
township treasurer for 20 years and for 27 years was justice of
the peace. Politically he was a stanch Democrat. His
faculties were remarkably preserved and it is related by his son
that his 80th birthday he celebrated by writing, without
glasses, which he never used, the whole of the Lord’s Prayer on
a bit of paper which a silver dime could cover.
In 1836 John Amstutz was united in
marriage, in Allen County, with Elizabeth Steiner,
who was born Mar. 17, 1815, in Alsace, France, near his own
birthplace. She died on the present farm of our subject at
the age of 53 years. Her parents were Rev.
Christian and Elizabeth (Sutter)
Steiner. Her father was born in Canton Bern,
Switzerland, and went from there to Alsace, France, and in 1835
came to Allen County, by way of the city of New York. He
was the first Mennonite preacher in this section and in 1836
organized the present Mennonite Church, which is the largest
church of that religious body in this vicinity. According
to the manner of filling the ministry, he was allotted to this
church and, although he also engaged in farming, he was one of
the most active pioneer ministers of his time.
John and Elizabeth (Steiner) Amstutz had 12
children born to them, our subject being the fifth member of
this family, the record being as follows: Barbara;
Mary Annie; Katherine, residing with our
subject; Elizabeth, a resident of Richland township;
John; Emma; Jacob, of Oregon; Alexander;
Louis; Christina (2) and Alexander (2).
But four members of the family still survive.
John Amstutz, our immediate subject, and his
father’s namesake, has always resided in Richland township.
When he was 13 years of age, he entered his father’s wagon shop
and was thoroughly taught the business, remaining there until he
was 23 years old. He then rented a farm and settled down
to an agricultural life, continuing as a renter for 10 years,
when he bought 80 acres of land in section 2, Richland township.
There has been 30 acres of this cleared but the only building on
it was a log cabin. Now the farm is noted for its fine
appearance, all of it being cleared with the exception of two
acres of timberland. Mr. Amstutz has always
engaged in general farming. For three years he conducted a
large quarry business at Bluffton, in partnership with his son
Wilhelm A. Amstutz, under the name of Amstutz &
Son, which gave employment to from 20 to 30 men. In July,
1905, our subject sold out to his son and partners and a stock
company was formed with five members, the business being
continued.
Mr. Amstutz was married Feb. 28, 1871, to
Sarah Klinger, who was born in Monroe township,
Allen County, Ohio, Aug. 25, 1851, and is a daughter of John
Adam and Margaret Eve (Hoffer)
Klinger, who were born in Hessen, Germany. They
came from their native land to Allen County, Ohio, in 1850.
Mr. and Mrs. Amstutz have had five
children: Lona; Paulina; Philip, who died
aged two and a half years; Wilhelm Albert; and
Malinda, who is a member of the class of 1906 in the
Bluffton High School. Wilhelm Albert
Amstutz, the only son, is one of the most highly esteemed
young men of the township, one who combines business ability
with the admirable personal characteristics which go far toward
the making of an honorable and useful citizen. He is of an
earnest, thoughtful disposition and has always shown a helpful
interest in the affairs of the Reformed Church. For two
years he has been superintendent of the Sunday-school, the
youngest who has ever held this responsible position in this
church. He has made many friends over the State and
through the county, as he has frequently been sent as a delegate
from the Bluffton church. He is a graduate of the Bluffton
High School.
All his life John Amstutz has been
closely identified with the Democratic party and has frequently
been elected to important offices. He served seven years
as township supervisor, seven years as township trustee, 14
years on the School Board, seven years as county commissioner,
and in every case performed his duties with signal fidelity.
He belongs to the Reformed Church, of Bluffton, of which he is a
charter member and for one year was trustee. He holds
fraternal relationship with the Masonic lodge at Bluffton, the
Odd Fellows at Bluffton and the Elks at Lima.
Source: History of Allen County, Ohio, Publ.
by Richmond & Arnold, Chicago, IL - 1906 - Page 683 |
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J. L.
ANDREWS has been a resident of Lima for
almost 20 years and during the entire period has been a powerful
factor in pushing the various industrial enterprises of the city
and, by his own example in kindling the interest and enthusiasm
of others until success was assured. Although a careful
business man he is, at the same time, progressive and
enterprising, and his name may be found among the stockholders
of many of Lima's leading institutions. Mr.
Andrews was born in July, 1849, in Pittsfield, Warren
County, Pennsylvania, and was there educated and developed into
manhood. At an early age he engaged in the production of
oil in his native State, and continued in business there until
1887.
At that time the industry was in its infancy in this
county, and Mr. Andrews soon took advantage of the
situation by removing to Lima and contracting for the production
of oil. He located here in November, 1887, and the oil
industry at once began to assume activity, continuing to
increase until it has reached its present importance.
Mr. Andrews is now operating in the Indiana oil
field, but his business interests have extended until they
embrace shares in the East Iron & Machine Company, First
National Bank, A. B. Klay Company (of which he is
director), The National Roofing Tile Company, and a number of
other enterprises.
In 1878, Mr. Andrews was married to Rosalia
A. Porter, daughter of the late A. V. Porter, of
Warren County, Pennsylvania. Two children were born to
this union: Blanche, who is the wife of George S.
Moffat, D. D. S., of Pittsburg, Kansas, and Orren L.,
a student of Purdue University, class of 1907. For several
years Mr. Andrews was trustee of Trinity Methodist
Episcopal Church, of Lima, of which he is a devout member.
He is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias of this city, and
is also prominent in Masonic circles, being a member of the Blue
Lodge, Chapter, Council and Commandery at Lima, Antioch Temple
of the Mystic Shrine at Dayton, and Lake Erie Consistory, S. P.
R. S., at Cleveland.
Source: History of Allen County, Ohio, Publ.
by Richmond & Arnold, Chicago, IL - 1906 - Page 616 |
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R. L. ARMSTRONG, well-known
among the attorneys of Lima, is a native of Mercer County,
having been born in Celina, where he reached manhood. His
father, Judge Stephen A. Armstrong, is a leading member
of the legal profession in Mercer County, and for more than a
quarter of a century, an honored and esteemed citizen of Celina.
Judge Armstrong is a native of Canada, but has resided in
Mercer County for the past 40 years. He ahs practiced his
profession in Celina for more than 25 years and was, for a time,
associated with ex-Senator J. D. Johnson, Judge
Armstrong was prosecuting attorney of Mercer County several
years, and is now serving his second term as judge of the Court
of Common Pleas.
R. L. Armstrong graduated from the Celina High
School previous to matriculating at the State University of Ohio
at Columbus. He graduated from that institution in the
class of 1900, and successfully passed his examinations for the
bar, when he at once located in Lima; opening his office in
August of the same year. He is a promising young
practitioner, having already established a clientage, whose
personnel speaks well for his ability and character. Mr.
Armstrong is an active worker in the interest of good
government, and takes a lively _ interest in political
questions. During the Spanish-American War he enlisted in
Company A, First Ohio Infantry, U. S. Volunteers, and entered
the service as 1st corporal early in 1898. He was mustered
out in November of the same year. Mr. Armstrong
is a member of the Knights of Pythias and is also a Knight
Templar Mason. He was married Dec. 29, 1904, to Della
D. Dow, daughter of Colonel C. F. Dow, proprietor
of the Hotel Norval.
Source: History of Allen County, Ohio, Publ. by
Richmond & Arnold, Chicago, IL - 1906 - Page 665 |
Mr. & Mrs. Arnold and Family |
SOLOMON H. ARNOLD,
proprietor of the "Golden Ridge Stock Farm," which is located in
sections 9 and 10, Jackson township, is one of the
representative self-made men of this locality as well as an
honored survivor of the Civil War. Mr. Arnold was
born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, 10 miles east of New
Philadelphia, Aug. 10,1843, and is a son of Hickman and
Martha (Garree) Arnold.
The grandparents of our subject were Solomon and
Barbara (Stonebrook) Arnold, who were born in Pennsylvania.
They were early settlers in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, where the
father entered land and also followed his trade of
cabinet-making. The family is of German extraction. Hickman
Arnold, father of Solomon H., was born in 1820 in
Tuscarawas County, and died on his farm there in 1848. He
married Martha Garree, who was born in Coshocton County,
Ohio, Mar. 16, 1827, and still survives residing in the vicinity
of Beaver Dam. She is a daughter of Joseph and Margaret
(Cochran) Garree, the former of whom was born near
Yorkville, Pennsylvania, and the latter in Scotland. They
had two children, viz: Solomon H. and Joseph.
The latter died May 12, 1903, in Fulton County, Indiana, where
he was engaged in farming. During the Civil war he served
one year in the 151st Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf.
After a period of widowhood, Mrs. Arnold,
mother of our subject was married to Samuel Fackler,
and they had these children: Philip, of Union County,
Ohio; Catherine (Welch), of Hardin County, Ohio;
Isaac, of Richland township; Simon W., of Beaver
Dam; Eva (Hesser), of Larue, Ohio; Henderson,
of La Fayette, and three children, who died in infancy.
Mr. Fackler is now deceased.
Solomon H. Arnold remained on the farm on which
he was born until his father died and his mother subsequently
remarried, when he was about six years old. The family
then located on a farm five miles south of New Philadelphia,
where Solomon remained until he was 10 years old, when
his stepfather purchased a farm of 160 acres at Beaver Dam and
removed the family thither. When but 14 years of age the
youth began to care for himself by working for the neighboring
farmers, and as he was economical and thrifty, by the time he
was 18 years old he had sufficient capital to warrant his
purchasing a farm of 100 acres of timber land, which he finished
paying for from the proceeds of his day labor.
Early in 1864 Mr. Arnold located in
Bureau County, Illinois, and in March entered the employ of the
firm of Moss & Fettro, who operated flouring mills
there, but he resigned this position on May 6th in order to
enlist for service in the Civil War. He entered Company A,
139th Reg., Illinois Vol. In., under Capt. E. R. Virden.
Col. P. Davidson and General Meredith. The
regiment was mustered into the service at Peoria, Illinois, on
June 6, and was ordered to Cairo where it relieved the 122d
Regiment. The command to which our subject was attached
was then transferred to the commissary department and later was
assigned to the duty of transporting prisoners up and down the
river, continuing in this employment until the ranks were
thinned by measles to which our subject fell a victim in August.
He also injured himself by carrying a heavy box of guns and was
therefore placed on the sick list.
Mr. Arnold was entered at the Cairo
hospital and was detained there under medical care until his
regiment was sent in pursuit of Bragg, who made his last stand
at Pilot Knob. Our subject did not accompany that
expedition, but was dismissed from the hospital and ordered home
on a furlough. He was honorably discharged at Peoria on
Oct. 28, 1865. Having profitably spent his furlough at
Princeton, Illinois, he returned there and engaged as a
carpenter with the firm of Archer & Robbins, but
in the following November he returned to Allen County.
On Jan. 25, 1866, Mr. Arnold was married
to Sarah Emeline Millikin, who was born
Aug. 27, 1843, in Richland County, Ohio, and died June 5, 1904.
She was a daughter of Thomas B. and Elizabeth (Moore)
Millikin, the father a native of Washington County.
Pennsylvania, and the mother, of Monroeville, Ohio. The
children of this marriage were: Thomas, of Bath township,
who married Alma Cramer and is the father of
Mabel, Madge, Harley, Wava and
Herbert; Emmet B., of Marshall County, Kansas, who
married Belle Robison and has three children -
Stanton, Maud, Hazel, Joseph and
Minor; William A., of Jackson township, who married
Eva LeRue, and has these children - Roy,
Thurman, Genevieve and Merrill William;
Joseph, who married Dile Ransbottom, has
had two children (now deceased) and resides with his father on
the farm; Carey C., who married Clara
Heifner and resides near. the homestead, and is the father
of Rolla, Walter, Wilbur, Garold and
Velma Levern; and Isaac Fremont, who
died aged two years. The death of the mother of these
children was a great blow to Mr. Arnold and
family, and a matter of deep degret to all, who fully
appreciated her as a kind neighbor and a faithful friend.
With Mr. Arnold she took the most affectionate
interest in her bright, intelligent grandchildren and her love
was returned by them all.
After his marriage, Mr. Arnold removed to
a farm of 100 acres two miles from the one on which he now
lives. This he sold two years later and bought the 160
acres composing the homestead, for which he paid $6,000.
Five years later he erected his present modern brick residence
at a cost of $3,000, which was the first brick house built in
the vicinity. He erected also a substantial barn, 57 by 40
feet in dimensions, and has added such other buildings as became
necessary. Later Mr. Arnold bought the
240-acre Milikin farm adjoining, 40 acres of which
he sold to his son, and on this property he built a barn 40 by
60 feet, and made many improvements thereon, including the
building of a wind pump. He has cleared 30 acres of each
farm. He also owns an interest in a farm at Beaver Dam.
He has been a very extensive dealer and raiser of fine stock and
the results of the 10 large stock sales which he has conducted
indicate that the products of the “Golden Ridge Stock Farm” have
a first class reputation throughout the State.
Politically, Mr. Arnold is a Democrat and
cast his first vote, while in the army, for General
McClellan. He has been township trustee, served six
years as infirmary director and has been many times selected as
a delegate of his party to important conventions. He
belongs to Mart Armstrong Post, No. 202, G. A. R. at Lima; is
president of the Farmers’ Institute, of Jackson township, and
was a member of the local grange until the work of the order was
discontinued in the township. He is a member and a liberal
supporter of the Methodist Church, being one of the trustees; he
was formerly Sunday-school superintendent and president of the
township association.
Personally Mr. Arnold, like the other men
of his family, is of fine presence and large and generous
stature. He recalls his great-grand father, John Garee,
as of similar appearance, and remembers sitting on the latter’s
knee and listening to his tales of the War of 1812 and of the
pioneer struggles with the Indians. Mr. Arnold’s
only brother, the late Joseph Arnold, weighed 229
pounds, was as large mentally as physically, and a very
successful business man. The younger generation is also
coming to the front, and the indications are that Mr.
Arnold will have reason to be as proud of his grand children
as he is justified in being of his children. Mabel,
when a little miss of 10 years, successfully passed a very
difficult examination at the Boxwell examination; she graduated
from the Lima High School in 1905, and is now teaching in the
Garfield School, Lima, as a substitute.|
A group picture of the Arnold family
accompanies this sketch, being shown on a fore going page.
Source: History of Allen County, Ohio, Publ.
by Richmond & Arnold, Chicago, IL - 1906 - Page 717 |
Francis Ashton |
FRANCIS ASHTON,
a retired business man of Lima whose portrait accompanies this
sketch, was for many years largely interested n the grocery and
lumber industries of this city. He is a son of Francis
and Elizabeth (Mackinder) Ashton, and was born Mar. 9, 1831,
in Lincolnshire, England.
Mr. Ashton came to America in early boyhood and
received his education in the State of Ohio. His first
business venture was at Kenton, Ohio, where he and his brother,
William Ashton, engaged in the hardware line. This
was continued until 1854, when he came to Lima and opened a
hardware store, which he conducted alone for about 15 years.
Soon after retiring from this work, Mr. Ashton
became interested in the grocery business, his partner being
John Wheeler. The firm of Wheeler &
Ashton was continued five years, when Mr. Wheeler
retired and his place was taken by Henry Ashton,
another brother of our subject. F. & H. Ashton
conducted the business very successfully until 1880, when
Francis Ashton became associated with Thomas R.
Dobbins and opened a lumber-yard on South Main street.
Here they soon worked up a prosperous trade, which was continued
until Mr. Ashton’s retirement from business in the
latter part of the ’8o’s.
Mr. Ashton was married in 1856 to Mary
Lantz and the following children have blessed their union:
Elizabeth, wife of Charles Dunan, of San
Francisco, California; Annie, wife of R. M. Hughes,
with the MacDonald Jewelry Company of Lima; John R., of
Lima; Hattie B., wife of Frederick J. DeGrief, of
Lima; and F. L., a prosperous hardware merchant of
Celina, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Ashton attend the
Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Ashton has been
prominent in Odd Fellow and Masonic circles for many years.
He was treasurer of Allen Lodge, No. 223, I. O. O. F., for 25
years and for several years held the same office in the Shawnee
Commandery, No. 14, K. T. He was also for many years
treasurer of Lima Council, No. 20, R. & S. M. He is one of
the city’s representative men, and has contributed largely to
the prosperity and advancement which have attended the community
in which he still takes a lively and substantial interest.
Source: History of Allen County, Ohio, Publ. by
Richmond & Arnold, Chicago, IL - 1906 - Page 491 |
John B. Augsburger |
JOHN B. AUGSBURGER,
one of the substantial farmers and representative citizens of
Richland township, is a large land owner, residing on his well
improved homestead in section 10, several miles west of
Bluffton, which embraces 80 acres of land; he also owns 135¾
acres in sections 3 and 4. He was born in a pioneer log
cabin in Union township, Wayne County, Ohio, Jan. 18, 1835, and
is a son of John and Magdalena (Balmer) Augsburger.
John Augsburger was born in Neuensberg,
Switzerland, where he was educated and lived until he was 35
years of age. At that time he married and he and his
wife departed the following day for America. They took
passage on a sailing vessel, which required three months to make
the voyage, but were safely landed in the port of New York and
made their way to Wayne County Ohio, where it is probable that
other friends had already settled. They lived for 12 years in
Wayne County and then located in Allen County, where John
Augsburger died, aged 65 years. The mother of our
sub ject was also a native of Switzerland. She died a few
years after coming to Allen County. The family consisted
of five sons and two daugh ters, namely: Benjamin, who
died in infancy; John B., of Richland township; Moses,
of Richland township; Mrs. Elizabeth Amstutz,
deceased; Alidia, widow of Mathias Badercher,
of Richland township; Benjamin (2), of Riley township,
Putnam County; and Aaron, of Bluffton.
John B. Augsburger can easily recall the journey
from Wayne to Allen County, which took place in May, 1847, when
he was 12 years of age. All the family possessions were
taken along. The great white, covered wagon was drawn by
two yoke of oxen, three cows followed peacefully behind, and
even the family watch-dog was not forgotten. The long
journey was mostly through the woods, and the route frequently
led across streams and over tracks but poorly broken. When
the family arrived at the place where the father. had bought
land, they found their only shelter was a log stable, and they
were obliged to occupy this until a log house could be built,
which was fortunately completed before the winter snows set in.
The beloved mother died in the following year, and the father
became so discouraged that he broke up housekeeping, sold the
household effects, and for two years boarded his children with
the neighbors. Mr. Augsburger subsequently
recalled the children and once more a family home was
established. Our subject remained there eight years and
then worked in the neighborhood for a year and eight months.
He learned to make shoes and for four winters before leaving
home he busied himself at his trade, finding patrons in the
neighborhood who were pleased with his work, his industry and
his perseverance. When he was 21 years of age, one of his
first purchases was an axe, with which he cleared timber land
for other parties. He also learned the business of shingle
making, which at that time was entirely hand work. That
Mr. Augsburger became a very expert workman may be
imagined when it is stated that he, with a companion, made
70,000 shingles from a tree that grew where the Cratz Church now
stands, the body of which was 70 feet high and seven feet in
diameter. In the following fall he helped to cut timber to
build the largest bank barn in this vicinity, which still stands
and is 46 by 109 feet in dimensions.
During the following summer Mr. Augsburger
worked until the latter part of August on this structure and
then returned to Wayne County, where he was married Sept. 3,
1857. He returned to Allen County, bringing his bride with
him, and remained with his brother-in-law, C. U. Amstutz,
until he had completed a comfortable hewed-log cabin on his
present farm and in which the house-warming was held on Dec. 24,
1857. During that winter he made 300 pounds of maple sugar
and 60 gallons of maple molasses, and cleared 18 acres of his
land. He continued the improvements of his property for 14
years and then built his first frame barn; previously he had
built a log house, a log barn, horse stable, corn crib and wagon
shed, all serving their purposes until he was prepared to make
more modern 1mprovements. In 1873, two years after
building the barn, he erected his present convenient and
attractive residence, and in 1876 he completed other substantial
buildings on his place. In 1877 a convenient summer
kitchen was built, adding greatly to the comfort of the inmates
in hot weather; he completed his improvements by building, in
1880, first-class workshop. Few mechanics have a
better equipped shop than Mr. Augsburger, and it
may be remarked, few know better the use of tools.
Mr. Augsburger has been generous in his support
of the Swiss Mennonite Church. He gave an acre of land to the
church and assisted in the construction of the present church as
well as the one that preceded it. The school house of
District No. 2 stands on his homestead tract of 80 acres,
opposite the church.
At one time Mr. Augsburger had the best
orchard in the vicinity, but a severe storm in 1895 partially
destroyed it. He has a fine system of ditching and
drainage, and has thus in a marked degree, increased the
productiveness of his land. He devotes his attention
mainly to the growing of live-stock, and raises large crops of
corn, wheat, hay and clover. He has a fine farm in which
he takes a reasonable pride, for he has worked faithfully in its
developing and literally brought it out of the woods.
On Sept. 3, 1857, Mr. Augsburger was
united in marriage with Barbara Neuenschwander,
who was born in East Union township, Wayne County, Ohio, Mar.
22, 1834, and died on the present farm of our subject, July 8,
1900. She was a daughter of Ulrich and Elizabeth (Basinger)
Neuenschwander, who were born in Germany near the
Switzerland line. The children of our subject and wife were:
Elizabeth, who is the wife of Daniel Moser, of Riley
township, Putnam County; Leah, who died in infancy;
Daniel, who died aged eight years; John, who died
aged seven. years; Sarah, who died in infancy;
Mary, the wife of Peter J. Moser, of Richland
township; Lydia, the wife of David Burkholder, her
husband operating Mr. Augsburger’s second farm;
Magdalena, the wife of Amos Neiswander, of
Richland township; Barbara, who died aged eight years;
Susan, the wife of Amos Thut of Richland
township; and Lavina, the wife of M. S. Burkholder,
who manages our subject’s home farm.
Mr. Augsburger has been a stanch and life long
Democrat, but has never accepted political office. He is a
devoted member of the Mennonite Church and has assisted in the
erection of three religious edifices, and has otherwise
liberally contributed to the cause of religion. A portrait
of Mr. Augsburger acompanies this sketch.
Source: History of Allen County, Ohio, Publ. by
Richmond & Arnold, Chicago, IL - 1906 - Page 731 |
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WILLIAM C. AUGSBURGER,
manager and half owner of the Arras Cream Separator Company, of
Bluffton, was born in Bluffton, Aug. 23, 1874, and has been a
continuous resident of the town. His parents are
Frederick and Sophia (Villiard) Augsburger.
The father of our subject was born
in Switzerland and came to Bluffton with his parents when a
child of six years. He married in Wayne County, Ohio, and
both he and his wife resides at Bluffton. Their children
are: William C., of this sketch; Lulu, wife
of Ross Bogart, of Bluffton; Elfa, wife of
Frank Moran of Mount Cory, Ohio, and Elmer, still at school.
While our subject was still a pupil at school, he
assisted in his own maintenance, employing his spare time in
selling newspapers. When 21 years of age his small
earnings having been saved by his careful mother, he was able to
buy a lot and was prepared to build a house on it. The
thrift taught him by his excellent mother has assisted greatly
in his success as a business man. When 16 years old he
left school and clerked in a hardware store for a year and a
half at Beaver Dam and for the same period at Kenton, and then
for eight years at Bluffton for John Fett.
In 1901, with Mr. Fett, he entered into
partnership in the manufacture of cream separators and they
formed the company which does such a large business under the
name of the Arras Cream Separator Company. Employment is
given 15 competent persons at the factory, and it is one of the
town’s flourishing industries.
In 1895, Mr. Augsburger was married to Belle
Lewis, who was born at Bluffton, and is a daughter of
W. I. and Eliza Lewis. They have four children, viz.:
Hazel, Donald, Howard and Villiard.
In political affiliation, Mr. Augsburger
has always been a Democrat. He has taken an active part in
local affairs, is a member of the Town Council and is chairman
of the finance committee. Fraternally he belongs to two
organizations —the Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of
America. He is one of the leading business men of the
community.
Source: History of Allen County, Ohio, Publ. by
Richmond & Arnold, Chicago, IL - 1906 - Page 629 |
NOTES:
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